Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The simple things

I've cautiously refrained from posting much this past month, because somehow my words have been spitting venom. Put me in vicinity of a keyboard and I fall easy prey to my new found cynicism. It is so easy to criticize, so hard to praise. Even now, at a time when many things are ending and new beginnings seem far away, I find myself announcing relief instead of reveling in the memories behind or grieving at the unavoidable partings ahead. Such a state of affairs can not continue, no matter how poetic and romantic it may seem. Indeed, I loathe people who sit and criticize the world around them, wrapped safely in their mantle of superior cynicism, yet I am in great peril of becoming one such myself.

So instead, let's return to the simple things. Today was lovely. After weeks of stifling heat, there's a light breeze. Not enough to dispel the humidity, but it does contain a whispery promise of things to come. I saw clouds in the sky yesterday, timid, translucent clouds. They tried vainly to shield me from the sun. I don't need them, I have my SPF 30 sunscreen. Still, where there are clouds, there will soon be rain, I hope.

I made yet another cheat sheet today. I've lost count of how many such sheets I've made. Certainly, I've developed a skill for them. My masterpiece was a sheet for Quantum Electronics in February, in which after filling both sides of an A4 sheet almost solidly with microscopic blue writing, I proceeded to write in the milimetres between the original blue lines, in black. More wonderfully, I deciphered it all in the exam. Sometimes I surprise myself. In any case, it's good to know my cheat sheet making days are numbered. I can't think of a real life application where the skill of fitting unlimited amounts of text onto limited paper could come in handy, yet it is one of the many things IIT has taught me.

Four more exams to go. Then it will be time for lab experiments, blisteringly hot days, new faces, beach trips, ice cream cones, goodbye hugs, project deadlines, torrential rains, computer screens and a lonesome room.

8 comments:

SaiK said...

of all your last couple of posts almost every single one had a dose of nostalgia... sometimes subtle sometimes not so... good transitory phase isn't it!

Vikash said...

all the best for the exams. :)

Vibhav said...

true dat @ Salk... N, diversify. Make your next post about the benefits of Peppermint on terminally ill patients.

Unknown said...

"Then it will be time for lab experiments, blisteringly hot days, new faces, beach trips, ice cream cones, goodbye hugs, huge projects, torrential rains, computer screens and a lonesome room." cudnt help quoting this line.... u write so beautifully tht i fall short of words to praise ur writing :)

My Sweet & Saucy said...

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

Anonymous said...

The name cheat sheet itself indicate the freedom given for copying. In IIT in the name of vast syllabus we cheat, outside it is a trade. Students come with bits of papers tuck with rubber bands in between their knees, roll it up to copy smartly. But there are very valuable lessons that only IIT has and can impart.YOU ARE LUCKY!

deluded said...

haha!

cheat sheet making is a skill to be envied. a LOT.

goodluck for the exams, if Im not already too late!

Anonymous said...

Potential tool for sustainability of paper industry ?