Desi Sweep

Slumdog's win(s), while monumental, seems to have overshadowed the success of two other films originating from India.

Smile Pinki and The Final Inch were both nominated in the Best Documentary Short Subject category, with Smile Pinki garnering the prize. Both films are extremely poignant and inspirational. And that's from viewing the trailers alone! I'm going to have to figure out where to watch these short films. There aren't enough theaters promoting them.

Watching the Oscars last night reminded me of another time in my life where I felt this rare pride and connection to India - rare because it wasn't elicited from my parents' stories or our trips to Kerala - but from this never-spoken but understood awareness of my heritage. It was when Sushmita Sen won the Ms. Universe pageant back in 1994. She was the consummate ethnic underdog. OH the YELPS and SQUEALING my parents endured that night.

I came close to feeling that yesterday. I guess I was so overwhelmed by all the Indian films nominated that my enthusiasm numbed. Nevertheless, 2009 is beginning to feel like the year of the crossover.

A full list of nominees and winners here.

Soundtrack to My Life

Almost as stupid as the 25 random facts thing.

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For the first question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button TWICE

Here goes...

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

Opening Credits:
Mine Again (Mariah)

Waking Up:
How does She Know you Love Her (from the movie Enchanted. Well of course my movie's going to be a fairy tale!)

First Day at School:
All I want for Christmas Remix (Lil'Bow & Mariah. Um...I do love Christmas!)

Falling in Love:
Something Good (From The Sound of Music. That scene where Fraulein Maria and the Capt'n fall in love?! I kid you not!)

Fight Song:
Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice. HAHAHAHAH oh yeah this is REAL *badass*)

Breaking Up:
Single Ladies (Beyonce. OMG that is freaky.)

Prom:
Open Spaces (Instrumental from the movie "There Will be Blood." Is it just me or does this invoke a "Carrie" moment?)

Mental Breakdown:
Spiderman Theme (The Michael Buble/big band version. Peter Parker and I on the same wavelength. HAHAHHAHAHAH)

Driving:
Livin' La Vida Loca (Ricky Martin. I must admit this is the kind of tempo I need while driving!)

Flashback:
If It's Over (Mariah. Ok yes I know I have way too much of her...can't help it!)

Getting Back Together:
In the Morning (Mary Mary. A Gospel Tune? I guess that's appropriate. Hallelujah we're back together again!)

Wedding:
Smooth Criminal (Alien Ant Farm. Oh DEAR.)

Birth of Child:
Buddy Holly (Weezer. What the hell? Big milestones in my life will feature music by Alien Ant Farm and Weezer. Wow.)

Final Battle:
Breakable (Ingrid Michaelson. This seems more of a Flashback song. But I suppose it's melancholy enough for a final battle)

Death Scene:
Le Freak (Chic. I take my last breath on earth to a disco song. PERFECT!)

This was actually fun and ridonkulous! Ok...back to work again =/

Being Nostradamus

I don't know if I can classify this story as a dream or a nightmare. I relayed it to Shirl who is probably still peeing in her pants from laughter and suggested I blog about it.

Last night I dreamt that I was living at my uncle's house, a house he lived in several years ago. This is an uncle I would NEVER live with. Somehow I ended up walking to the local Subway (as in the sandwich chain). The Subway looked like a bar/lounge but the people behind the counter were still dressed as Subway sandwich makers/cashiers. I ordered six turkey subs, but the guy who took my order ignored it. Instead he started hitting on me. He pulled out six foot-long wheat breads but never bothered to actually make the sandwich. For some reason, I still paid for the sandwiches and then after fifteen minutes, decided to forget the sandwiches and leave.

I started walking back to my uncle's house and felt someone was following me. I looked back and it was the subway guy! I picked up my pace and when he started doing the same, I turned around and shouted...

"Stop following me!"

Subway guy: "I'm not!"

Me: "Then why are you behind me?!"

Subway guy: "I live around the corner."

Me: *gulp*

After that encounter, a day seems to have passed in my dream (you didn't hear about this part, Shirl) and the next morning I hear the bell ring. When I open the door, it's the subway guy again. With my six sandwiches.

Subway guy: "I have your sandwiches."

Me: "I don't want them!"

And then I woke up.

I told my friend *Teddy* this dream and she, being the soothsayer she is, attempted to unravel it for me. The following is paraphrased.

"Gin, the six sandwiches are a good thing. They represent nourishment. You'll never starve! (me: duh! i don't think my appetite would allow me to). But the incident with the subway guy probably goes more to your insecurities about marriage. You are internalizing your want or your mother's want for you to be in a relationship. (me: HA!) Someone will pursue you but you'll probably reject him. And you're living at your uncle's house because you're trying to compromise your family's wishes with what you want."

Oh Teddy I think it's all a bunch of hooey.

Ok reader(s).... tear it apart. All interpretations are welcome.