funscopic view of life

Musca Domestica is the zoological name given to the common house fly. The term seems to indicate that the fly was adopted by humans. But it is the fly that has adopted our houses for its living. I understand that the house fly is capable of long flights of up to 4-5 kms. So perhaps the fly has many homes and it keeps changing its residence often.  One morning a fly decided to visit my house resulting in a war between self and the fly. The first indication as to its presence was when it landed on my nose directly after a long flight (perhaps). I can understand that it is tired from the long flight and needed to rest. But my reaction could not be helped. It was swift and the goal was to swat the fly and possibly kill it. That it resulted in a broken nose and scalded skin was another matter. Apparently my reflex reaction overrode several objections from the thinking part of my brain- such as 'Please do not do it. There is a cup in your hand- it can hurt your nose. The cup has hot coff...

Having successfully done 10K a few times, I was itching to have a go at a half marathon. The task did look daunting. For one it is more than twice the distance I have done so far, and I was not sure whether my age will permit a quantum jump. So I read several articles and blogs. Most said there is no age bar for half or even full marathon. However, there were a few reports of sudden death in some long distance runners.i.e one starts the run and either finish the run or the run finishes you off. On the flip side, that is perhaps a good way to go- no hospitalisation, no tubes down the throat and no worry of insurance coverage. So with no worry for this or my next life, I started preparing for my first half marathon. Is it 'half marathon' or a '21.1Km run':  Calling it a 'half marathon' gives one an exalted feeling that we are already on the half way mark of a future goal (which may never be achieved). However calling it a '21.1km' is rather odd. Why the de...

Music they say is in the genes (not sure if a mutation/ single nucleotide polymorphism has been identified). My mother used to sing and play Veena- although mostly for her own satisfaction. As a child I used to sit with her during her weekly lessons. I could sing along with her with my child's voice till my voice broke at around 12-13 yrs of age. It was as if my voice broke free of all inhibitions. Suddenly I had more than one voice to contend with- emanating from the same laryngeal box when I tried to sing. I had to learn to concentrate on one of the several frequencies (simultaneous lower scale C and E with middle scale G for example) so that in my mind at least it sounded like a harmonious tune. Like most people I continued with my bathroom singing (believing that the genes will take over at some stage), oblivious of the cacophony since by now I developed an automatic switch that cuts of other frequencies from the feedback. To my thus blanketed brain, my singing resembled that o...

The place where I work is blessed by visits of several swamijis who come to make a courtesy call on my boss. Each time a swamiji comes, we get a call from the boss' secretary to come down and take his blessings. But I have had this mortal fear of Swamijis since childhood. I used to believe that they have a hotline of communication with God and I was always worried they will sneak to God about my shortcomings- so much so- that the very sight of a Swamiji in saffron clothes and wooden sandals triggers unnamed fear in me akin to facing your headmaster who is reviewing your performance in the examinations. Mentally I will be going over all the recent things I have done to see whether they will pass muster or will they be considered sinful. I will try to justify that the balance sheet is not too bad; that the good I have done compensates for the sin I have committed.  One can understand what kind of effect this thought process has on the physiology- aptly described as 'fear reaction...

More preparation:  Having acquired 'proper running shoes'. my mind was on to more acquistions in the name of 'running'. I bought the 'Apple watch' to monitor my pace and bought a 600 dollar ear buds for listening to music while running. I understand that I am not the example of a perfectly formed male, but I was surprised that the asymmetry in my body extended even to my ear canals. The left sided ear bud refused to stay in place for more than a few seconds. While I was busy scratching my nose, the earbud popped out and rolled into the nearby drain. With 300 dollars down the drain and the other 300 dollars in my right ear, I returned home. After a lot of research I came across the bone conducting earphones. They sit on the mandible and are stable unless I break my mandible. The downside is that one hears all ambient sounds and your childhood friend can still scare you with a loud 'Boo' from behind. Now that I am well settled with shoes (and socks), music...

I was 62 and going strong. I was physically reasonably active but went out for morning walks only on and off. One fine day the 'running bug' bit me. It is funny if we look at 'running' as an activity and its connotations. Humans are 'Born to run' says Christopher McDougall. Our fore fathers-'the hunter gatherers' had to run to feed themselves and their families. There were perhaps no exceptions- every one had to run. Their coronary arteries must have been 'whistle clean'.  In the present day a significant percentage of population do not move much (couch potatoes or perhaps couch yams!) or are moved by mechanical devices (scooters/cars). When we hear of 40-50 yr olds having stents placed in their coronary arteries, it is no surprise that at 62, I started to wonder whether I am living on borrowed time and the clock is clicking away (you know what clock I am referring to).  All of a sudden, I became conscious of a certain bulge in the middle which r...