Happy New Year to all my blog readers. How did you celebrate your New Year?

I decided to take it light this year and only went for the midnight mass with my family. Had plans on morning mass, but just later changed my mind.

We did have pizza last night before mass

The mass was good but long as expected. 2006 has been a long and good year for my parish with a good deal of achievements.

2007 has been declared the year for the marginalized.

Unfortunately, couldn’t get any good photos because of the bad lighting etc.

A new theme coming soon to this blog as well as a review of 2006 as I normally do at the start of the year. As for now, I’m catching up with news after almost seven days.

Brought in the New Year yesterday with mass at 10pm. Decided to chuck my regular black jacket for an older but more formal blue blazer (unfortunately forgot to take a pic of me in it!)

Mass was normal. Our church is celebrating the year 2006 as “Year of the Youth and Children”. Father gave a powerful sermon on how the youth today are so misguided. Will agree with him on many points, however I think he generalized a bit too much.

Left with Anjali immediately after communion in order to make it before 12am to Conrads place. We were the first there and it was already a little past 12!

Had made it a point to carry my digital camera and so grabbed the opportunity of being the first and immediately got to taking snaps of the decorations.

Here’s a picture of their crib:

And this is the bar in their house (tempting, but I don’t drink)

We had a good amount of jive before A. Anita served us our food. As usual we had a wide array to choose from and I made it a point to sample everything. The picture below definitely pales in comparison to real thing!

And also took a nice pic of my dear choir master and his wife.

Danced the rest of the morning. Made sure I danced with every girl out there. Being one of the few guys who dances helps
I have moved from the guy who never stepped onto the dance floor to one who is first on the floor. Got a nice pic of Anjali and me while we were still less zonked.

We left by 3.30am (I know early) because Anjali was leaving for Goa with the rest of her family. We did make a quick stopover at one of her pals places before I dropped her back home.

Had a great beginning this new year. Am hoping the rest of the year just gets better

Wishing all my blog readers a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2006!

There’s 15 days for Christmas and I am sure while many have already decided what they will do, there may be many others who are still deciding!

I’ve fallen perfectly into the latter. Have quite a few options, though I just am not sure which option to follow.

For the past four years I have been spending Christmas and New Year with my choir. It has usually be low key affairs with private parties held at someone’s house. I never had a date nor did I know how to dance hence the rule-out of popular places like Willingdon or Bandra Gym.

Times have changed and now I do know how to dance (a bit). And I thought I had a date, but I don’t think I will be able to spend the days with Madam C. (don’t anyone raise a finger at me!)

So now it will most probably be choir. Though, Melody made me a very tempting offer of Catholic Gym. Though, I am totally clueless of the days.

Another thing to worry about is that I can’t be so zonked that I can’t make it to work!

Anyway, moving away from me, what are you doing this Holiday Season? Do comment and let me know

Had a very good New Year Celebration yesterday.

Sang for the night mass inspite of my cough and by God’s grace, it didn’t affect me too much. Though, I coughed a lot inbetween hymns, I didn’t cough during one and it came out very good.

Went off to U. Conrad’s place after mass to bring in the New Year there. The party was good fun as it usually is. Had to restrict myself to only water and cold drinks would be very cold for me.

As usual, food was delicious and I ate a good amount. Danced a great deal. Did the jive, salsa, waltz and the cha cha cha uptil four in the morning. Am learning a lot of dance; you never know when you will need it.

Returned home by 4am. Sleeping has been a real problem, as the cold really affects me and was coughing away to glory. Did manage to fall asleep at slept soundly till 11.

Made a quick visit to my Uncle’s dispensary to get my cough checked. He gave me some medicines and hopefully I’m gonna be fine in a few days time. Since, I forgot my helmet at his dispensary, had to drop in at their place this evening to pick up the helmet. Will go off to bed now. Am rather zonked due to lack of sleep.

The first day of the year is almost to an end, another 364 to go…

It’s 6pm on the 1st of Jan 2004, while I sit to update my blog. Why so late? This is because, I got a call at 10.30 to drop into college. More in the post above.

The reason of this post, is to provide an update on my fantastic New Year.

Let’s begin with the 31st.

I went to Nikhil’s place with Abhimanyu to work on the presentation for our project vivas. My mom called me around 5 pm to tell me I got a call from Sister Lima. I call her back and she tells me that she wants me to read for the Thanksgiving service before midnight mass. I ok it and went to Holy Spirit Hospital to meet her and pick up the readings.

Next went off to pick up my sexy new trousers which were ready just in time for New Year’s mass. I got ready and went off for mass.

We started the Thanksgiving service a bit late, and I did my readings, which went off rather well (IMHO).
Next was mass which was said by a very fabulous, young, energitic prient named Fr. Gilbert Lima, who gave a beautiful sermon on love.
Did I tell you that we were singing for mass? This went off rather well for me, inspite of not having gone for practise on Tuesday.

Next was the party at Earl & Vanessa’s place!

The entire choir was present at the party. As usual I went home first to leave my blazer and tie. Didn’t change into casuals because I simply loved what I was wearing, my new pant and the sexy lavender shirt which Melody gave me for Christmas.

We entered into Vanessa’s place hearing the sound of lots of paper trumpets just a few minutes before midnight. We waited for the Lobos (i.e. Anjali’s family who walked in a little after 12) and then counted down to the New Year, which was brought in with screams and whistles and music to shake the building!!

This time we had lots of DJs, including Clayton, to play music for us and it started with our usual freestyle music. We moved onto jive tracks rather quickly and as usual I went and sat down (remember I can’t jive). I had hardly been seated for a few minutes when Havilah and Amita (Anjali’s younger sis) who pulled me up and insisted on making me dance.

After my usual protestations, they started to teach me to jive. Amita is a fabulous teacher and a great dancer. Runs in the Lobo family, though Anjali has never succeeded in teaching me till now (“I have no patience”, she said.)

Learnt quite a bit of jive (though there is lots more to learn) and danced for a long long time, mainly with Amita, a little with Havilah and a little with Anjali. I actually started leading, so the beginning was really good. Thanks a lot Amita.

Next we had the slow songs, and as usual pulled Anjali on the dance floor. She’s a perfect partner for me (she’s going to really freak out when she reads this), as her height matches mine nicely and then again, she’s an awesome dancer. I got a lot of learning to do there. Need I say that she looked simply gorgeous tonight, as she normally is.

The party went on till 4 am, though we stretched it beyond 4 by having two last songs. Anjali refused to dance at first as she was tired and sleepy (When isn’t she!!). But I convinced her enough to dance with me for the last two songs.

Yes, I do dance with others. Besides Anjali, I also danced with Amita, Marilyn and Havilah.
Let me also comment on the boys, without whom the party would not have been as much fun. Allwyn stayed the whole night, inspite of having exams on the 2nd. Clayton finally danced instead of being DJ. Elton and James are the most demanded guys, especially for jiving, as they are simply fabulous at it.

I reached home after the party at 4.30 am and finally dropped
r
off to sleep by 5.00 a

m. Not as late as the New Year three years back when I slept at 6 am. But I had a simply FANTABULISTIC time:O. I had an awesome time at Christmas and New Year far outdid it.

Read for the thanksgiving, learnt to jive properly finally, partied all night long and had a great time. Who said the best things in life are not free?

Went shopping today for stuff for New Year. People usually go for Christmas, however for me Christmas is with my books, so no shopping there.

I bought myself, a new spectacles frame, with anti-glare lens. This isn’t exactly for Xmas or New Year, but the timing is good. I also plan on buying myself contact lens after I narrow down on my choice. (Sadly  I will have to pay for this, but I believe it an invest worth making)

Next on the list was a trouser matching my blazer. Went off to Cambridge in Andheri West to buy one (same place I bought the blazer from). We found one, but being the tally I am, I needed to find something longer or get it stitched. I settled for the latter option. Bought a pant piece exactly matching my blazer and gave it to my regular tailor of stitching. I get it on the 30th, which is in time for New Year. I wonder why I am doing this, because in all probability I may be at home bringing the New Year, with my beloved PC.

Next on the list was getting my passport photos done. So I got the 24 for Rs. 20/- at a photostudio in Andheri West.

Thats when I remembered that I needed a pair of black shoes. Stepped into Woodland, where I found no range and beyond budget. So, went off to BATA, where I bought a really neat set of leather shoes.

Picked off a DIC book from my cousin Seema and then headed back home.

And here I am giving you the news of the day.