Tuesday, March 31, 2009

My Tats have healed.

I am so happy to say that my tattoos have healed! They healed in just about one week whereas piercings take so long to heal. I'm so happy and both of my tats (which my friend called 'my non-identical twins') are very beautiful. I promise to upload a nice, decent picture tomorrow. I'm still wondering about my next tattoo, but I'm thinking 'Xena!'. Anyway I have one year to think!

xo
Magali

Friday, March 27, 2009

Can't wait for Bitch Slap!

Yesterday, I suddenly got in a mood to google Lucy Lawless. You know, the lead actress from 'Xena: Warrior Princess'. Almost everybody knows that I'm a really big fan of her's and I was hoping to look out for any new films in which she may be acting. I love to check out all the films in which she cameos or has a role. Her cameo in Euro Trip was hilarious!
I saw on imdb that she's acting as 'Mother Superior' in an upcoming film called 'Bitch Slap'. 
I love Indie films, and so I was pleasantly surprised!
But when I further read up on the yet-to-be-released film, I realised that she wasn't the only familiar face in it. Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle from Xena) was there too as Sister Barille and Kevin Sorbo and Michael Hurst (Hercules and Iolaus from 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys', Xena's parent show)
I was soooooo excited!! I mean, this is no concidence! I checked out some trailers and other stuff on YouTube and saw that I wasn't the only really excited xena fan. Tons of people were there, some hoping that this was a sign for a Xena film! As much as I'd love that, the possibility seems really bleak. But I can't wait for Bitch Slap to release!

xo
Magali

Thursday, March 26, 2009

My two lovely tattoos... The best Birthday Present ever!

Tattoos... What do people still think about them? Back in my parents days, tats were only for guys. Girls getting them was unheard of, except maybe if they got their husband's name. Like how the branding iron is used on cattle. I still remember reading an article about something that happened in the early 1900's in Japan. A girl was raped. But when the court ordered her physical examination, they found that she had a butterfly tattoo on her breast. So the case was immediately dismissed, the tattoo meant that she was promiscuous and so there was no way she could have been a victim of rape. That was the social stigma attached to them. Later on, tattoos, even on men, were only religious and anything else meant that the men were involved in a gang or something. I'm not sure exactly when my fascination with tattoos began. I remember asking my mom for a tattoo way back when I was 13. She obviously didn't think I was old enough and it was just a passing phase. That's what teens do, right? I was also deathly afraid of needles, and any visit to that pathology lab for a blood tests would have me squirming and screaming and shutting my eyes tight.
But I kept pestering. A few months ago, my mom and me went to a cousin's wedding. My mom was telling her long-estranged sister (who incidentally raised two perfect or perfectly boring kids. All they did in life was study, work and get married to whom their parents thought was good.) about how I wanted to get a tattoo and my aunt frowned and said something about how they look 'cheap'.
Yesterday, we finally went to get my tattoo. It took a little time to reach the place, and I was getting pretty nervous. I told him what I wanted, and he got those printed so the artist could draw a stencil. I had to wait like three quarters of an hour but the guy at the tattoo shop put on the show 'LA Ink' on his Laptop and that calmed me down and helped me to pass the time! Pretty soon it was my turn. The guys made my mom fill out the consent form and then told me and mom to go to the tattoo area. The artist applied the stencils on both my legs. He seemed friendly and I felt quite comfortable. He told me about how I have a cool mom because she came with me. I agree. He made me sit on the chair and started preparing the equipment. Watching all those YouTube videos payed off because I knew exactly what to expect. Strangely I was quite calm. MUCH calmer then when I was getting my nose pierced. I think the guys in that parlor freaked me out. But these people looked much more normal. So he prepared the machine, dipped it in the ink and sat down. By then my palms were really sweating and I was pretty scared. He sensed that and told me that it will hurt but not much. And that if I held still he would be done really quick. So he told me he was giving me a trial and touched the machine to my skin. My mom was sitting across the room, smiling. When he seriously started doing the tattoo, it hurt, but I just made a face and held absolutely still. The artist looked up and asked me if it hurt, I nodded and said yes, and he told me that I was doing very well. Soon the other guy from the shop was there, telling me how they thought I would scream a lot, as I was young and these were my first. They were telling me about how some girls screamed so loud you could hear them from the other side of the road. Soon my first tat, the star on the outer side of the left leg, was done. He then started to shade it, and that needle hurt less. The shading is not really color, just a black to make the lines bold. We both decided to keep the star empty for now, I may go in for colouring later.
Then he started on the second tat, the Aries symbol. This one hurt more, it is on the inner side of my left leg. The curves hurt the most, and he told me about how long lines hurt more. After he was done with it, he asked me whether I would like it shaded and I agreed. So he shaded the ends of the curves and the bottom in black, and the rest red. It looked awesome! They told me I was really brave, they've had grown men jump and run. I felt really proud and they put on the cling film and micro pore. My mom teased me saying that I looked like a 'wounded soldier'. I thanked them and left. They burned a little at first and bled a little on the way home, but right now they are just fine, the star is oozing slightly, which is perfectly normal for a new tat. I feel really happy, I am thankful to my mom for letting me go through with this, and convincing dad too. Dad said they looked good. Mom likes the star better. All my friends are really excited and want to see it! It's been about 23 hours now. I love how they are both seen when somebody looks at me walking from the left! I can't wait till they heal fully, which will be in like 15 days. I can't wait to see everybody's reactions! I especially love the extreme ones from the narrow-minded people.
Not a very good photo, but the best I could manage.
They look a million times better in person.
This is the Best Birthday Present Ever. It's gonna stay with me forever, when all my gadgets (my previous presents) are long gone.The photo to the left is horribly shiny with the greasy ointment I'm supposed to have on all the time. I'm sure they'll make a lovely picture when they are completely healed. Do tell me what you think!

xo
Magali

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Getting Inked!!! The Best feeling ever!

Just a few hours ago, I got my first tattoo... and second! Yes, I got two in one shot, and it was great! It did hurt but WOW!!! I've never felt better. Even my nose piercing didn't make me this happy. I am two jumpy to write now, so I'm gonna put a lengthy post about my tattoos (with pictures) tomorrow.

xo
Magali

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Please don't call!

Yesterday, mom and me went to get the camera that I had decided to get instead of a tattoo! And guess what! The damn thing hasn't been launched in India yet! The shopkeeper promised to call when it was.
But after we took the train back, at the station we saw a guy (maybe European or American, not sure) and he had this beautiful tattoo on his neck. Only a part of it could be seen, but it looked lovely! I love tats! And I wanna get one! Please hope that my mom agrees. And my dad too! I think I may either get a nautical star or the tibeatian symbol! I just wanna get one and I don't want that stupid camera. Why do I have to be so fickle minded?

xo
Magali

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Reckless Barter?

Yesterday was a very busy day for us. Mom got up in the morning to clean (OK, maybe I slept in while mom kick-started the cleaning) and when Mom woke me up she was in an extremely fowl mood, all angry and screaming and insulting.
So we cleaned up, dressed up and went to see a play ('Murder on The Menu'- produced by Raell Padamsee and directed by Karla Singh. It was fabulous.) Then Dad came home, and I was roaming the house in the Vietnamese traditional dress at Midnight. Scary, I know. Anyway, this is not really what the post is about. Just before we left for the play, the subscription copy of my favorite magazine arrived. This month was a gadget special. I expected the same old nonsense, iPod, Laptop etc. Yeah yeah I have it all. But when I opened the magazine, I saw this really really cute pocket video camera. Yes it was a little expensive, I don't have that kind of money at the moment. But it was Love at first sight. The camera was on my mind the whole time, and when we had reached the venue of the play I recklessly bartered my potential tattoo if my mom would buy me this camera (the camera costs of triple how much the tattoo would have!) now that mom has agreed, no more tattoo for me, and I am waiting to get my hands on that sweet camera! Mom was joking about how one issue of a magazine changed so much!

xo
Magali

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Welcome Home!?

If you're wondering, the title of this post is not a typo. I'm seriously wondering whether it should be an exclamation. I mean, any normal daughter should be overjoyed! Daddy's coming Home this Friday (20th)!
Usually, most children of sailors are happy to see what exotic stuff their dad has brought for them. When I was a kid, my dad used to get me LOADS of stuff. Trinkets, toys, Barbies, Barbie accessories, clothes, a microscope, a compass, books, etc are just some of the things that I can remember at the moment. But very soon his little girl grew into an adolescent with very strong likes and dislikes. Obviously my father didn't know what to get me. No more Barbies, and clothes he would get me would be 10 sizes too large. So I became too unpredictable for him. But there was one thing he still knew about me. I LOVE GADGETS!!!! And so got me my first iPod nano, my first cell phone ( a very expensive one at that!)
But still, generous and full of good intentions that he may be, that man can get on anybody's nerves! It's not that I don't love him, I really do. But I'm just used to living without him most of the time.
His first days at home are lovely for of of us, because he's been missing us and vice versa, but when his leave is coming to and end and is time to join back drawing close, mom and me are sometimes just waiting for him to go (of course we do feel extremely guilt when we see his sad face just as he's leaving). So it's a continuous cycle, and just about a year ago I remarked to my mom that dad being a sailor suited the three of us just fine, and then she solemnly reminded me- 'Retirement is drawing close...'

xo
Magali

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Tattoo- When? And more importantly, WHAT?

As all my close friends, family and blog readers know, I have been wanting to get a tattoo since a really long time. I think I will be getting it sometime soon, but every second day I keep on changing the design and the location (on my body) of my tentative tattoo. I wonder if I'll ever be able to decide?

xo
Magali

Thursday, March 5, 2009

'Marley & Me' makes me feel very sad...

About a month ago, I wanted to buy a book. I wasn't sure which one, so, on a whim, I picked out Marley & Me by John Grogan. I read it whenever I got time, and I must say that it is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. Funny, heartwarming, with healthy doses of exaggeration and sarcasm, I loved every chapter of it, from start to finish.
The earlier chapters can make you roll on the floor with laughter, while the last two can make you weep a lot. A must read for everybody, especially animal lovers!
Anyways, the author repeatedly describes the joys of having a dog, and how when he lost Marley, people replied with condolences and fond memories of their own dogs. I've always yearned for a dog, ever since I was five, but my mom had told me that there was NO Chance of any dog ever living in our house. I know she's just being realistic, we live a pretty hippy lifestyle, go on small trips for hours, sometimes visit relatives overnight, and take of on three week to one month holidays twice a year. How would a dog ever fit in that lifestyle? My mom has always said that dogs weren't meant to live in apartments. And I've always said that I'm a city girl, I could never adjust to a more rural lifestyle. But part of me has been dreaming of a lovely yellow Labrador puppy, I wonder if those dream will ever come true...
John Grogan with young Marley.
xo
Magali

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Jade Goody Wants A 'Diana-Style' sendoff!

First off, I'd like to begin this post by saying that I have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AGAINST Cancer Patients. I have personally known many cancer patients who fought this deadly disease and eventually lost the grim battle. They were real fighters.
Like many people in India, I hadn't actually heard of Jade Goody before the whole Shilpa Shetty fiasco took place. Weren't there enough so-called celebrities already? We then had to make room for unpleasant, ugly and overweight so-called 'Reality Television Stars' (I mean for God's sake! Stars?!) Her relentless and jealous tormenting of the very plastic Shilpa Shetty hit the news everyday during that season of Celebrity Big Brother. OK now, unlike most Indians, I wasn't feeling too much pity for Shilpa, or rooting for her to win. Why, you ask? Well I'm not sure, maybe it has something to do with the fact that even though that evil, ugly Jade was tormenting her so, she just chose to sit and sob so as to gain the sympathy of everybody on National Television. And I must admit, it worked like a charm! A struggling has-been from Bollywood was suddenly propelled to international celebrity status. But I'm straying from the point. Ugly Jade Goody, so visible jealous of Shilpa Shetty's enviable figure, attributed it to the fact that Shilpa cooks chicken raw, and then made the statement that all of us 'bloody Indians' are slim because we eat chicken raw. But I guess such baseless accusations are expected from a dimwit! Now suddenly, she wants everybody to give her a Princess Diana Style Sendoff? I didn't know too much about the princess but I know for sure that she was much loved and didn't go about abusing and insulting people on National Television. She wants people to cry at her funeral? I would me more likely to cry at the funeral of Hitler or Saddam Hussein!
I hope you know Jade, dying will be one of the most charitable gifts you could give to human civilization. You can rot in hell for all I care!

xo
Magali

Sunday, March 1, 2009

The only way?

Just before sitting down to use the computer, I idly walked to my bedroom window and peeked outside. But what I saw outside kind of surprised me! There were three or four men entering, holding what at first looked to me like comically large butterfly nets. They were being followed by each of the wing's watchmen and two of my colony's dignitaries. I called out to mom to come and see what was going on. My mom's mind worked quicker than mine. "Dogs!" she exclaimed. And at once I knew that she was right.
Let me rewind a little here. Mumbai has a very serious problem with stray dogs. My Dad recounts that in the days of his childhood, the do pound van would come and take the dogs away. Nobody knew for sure how they were dealt with, and it's possible that the solution was not a humane one, but one way or another, they were dealt with and the stray population kept under check. Then came the days of a lax municipal corporation and supposed 'animal-lovers', namely a woman who was married to a politician. When he died, she was denied a seat in the party and so she took to becoming an animal lover with her own hidden agenda. She was even against sterilizing female dogs, a good solution. I had always hated the stray dogs in my old colony, the nuisance that they were, they dirties the place and multiplies faster than rabbits. Nobody really cared. But I moved last year. My new place is posh, full of people with money (black or white, don't ask me!) and so they took to beautifying this place, making it one of the best colonies in the whole of Andheri East and I am proud to live here. But when I saw the few dogs in my colony running for their lives, I couldn't watch. It was just too tear-jerking. A few minutes later, it was all over. The two dogs were carried away like dead livestock in nets. They were absolutely still. I know that these people who caught them are not from he municipality, and I'd rather not think how those dogs will be dealt with. I just hope it will be quick and painless. I know that the society members did what they had to, there wasn't any other option. I know that he dogs will no longer dirty this colony or multiply or dig holes in the sand-pit. Even if some other dogs come in, they will soon suffer a similar fate.
But I know as much as this colony is a better, cleaner, safer place without them, I will surely miss them. Is killing the only option left? When will the municipality wake up?

xo
Magali