Web Analytics and Web Statistics by NextSTAT Caffeinated Cogitation: September 2006

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

A Lame Recount of Elixir 2006

Reality is an illusion. Only dreams are real.



The day is 18 September 2004. The venue – Dogra Hall (Insti - 1st floor) IIT Delhi.The time – 10:00 A.M.

The occasion – Spectrum 2004. An event every participating and (non participating) team dreams of winning.

It was on this day that 5 boys from an unknown college in an unknown place went head to head against, arguably, the best teams in the country (or at least the upper half of it).

It was on that fateful morning that they had a glimpse of what lay ahead of them. Teams showing and proving their mettle on stage.

They were in no way lesser than anybody who went on stage that day. They only did not know what to expect, what to present, how to present it and most importantly … how to nail it.

Quite frankly, their ouster from the prelims itself was justified.

Disappointed, but not yet destroyed, they vowed to return.

Spectrum 2005:

The 5 boys – and 3 girls, having rechristened themselves as F.L.I.R.T, returned to the same stage a year later to see what lay ahead of them.

A place in the finals, and more significantly, a chance to perform on the same stage with teams such as MLN, LSR, JMC and the likes, was what ensued.

Elixir 2006 :

All 5 of us were on training this time around. Our chances of qualifying started to look like a distant dream once the rules for Elixir (the new name for Spectrum) were out. A minimum of 7 people and off course the dreaded second round,

The prelims were scheduled to be held on the 19th. We became eligible for the event (Read gathered 7 people) on the morning of the 17th.

I shall skip most of the important part here as I have better things to do right now than type (read sleep).

We managed a second position in the prelims which, in itself, is a preposterously huge proposition.

On the day of the finals - The 21st of September 2006 – at 5:20 P.M we were the only team that did not even have a final CD ready to be played.

We hadn’t bathed and nor had we rehearsed the second round a single time in proper order upto that time - half an hour before the commencement of the finals.

Chaos ensued with people running left and right only to make it just in the nick of time to the O.A.T – The monstrously huge venue for the finals.

I can say this with reasonable confidence that no team, in the first round, came close to matching us that night. No, this is NOT an overstatement.

The second round, I believe, though, clearly belonged to IIT Delhi.

I remember sitting in the crowd during the announcement of the results. The judges declared IIT Delhi to be third which made my imagination run wild – What if … ?

SRCC took home the second prize leaving the first slot open for LSR, JMC and I.E.T Bhaddal.

Most of us were gunning for LSR to steal the thunder.

There was a slight pause before the judges formally announced the winner.
I remember looking up at the dark sky that time.

Something calmed me down.
Something that night made me feel secure.
Something removed all doubt from within me.

As soon as the judge announced the letter I everything went silent. I could see people screaming around me but I heard nothing. Not a word. Nothing. Perfect silence. Just cajoling by people standing near me. I’ve never run like the way I did that night from the stands to the stage. Hell … none of us ran the way we did that night.

As I went on stage there everything came back to me.

The faces of the 5 boys who were eliminated by the same teams two years ago.
The endless hours of practice put in over a period of 3 years, directly or indirectly.

The disappointments.
The triumphs.

The wins.
The losses.

The frustration.
The satisfaction.

The joy.
The pain.

I rarely emote in public but there was a hint of mist in my eyes that night.

Miracles do happen.

No power on Earth can stop a man who sets forth to achieve his dream.

This is just another example.

Thank you everyone who has ever given us the pleasure of dancing with them – boys and girls alike.

Thank you
Abhinav, Maninder, Sobby, Saurabh.

Here’s a song dedicated to all of you :

We are the Champions – Queen

F.L.I.R.T … forever …

Goodnight
A.G

Monday, September 18, 2006

Spectrum 2006

It is 3:07 A.M as I type these lines. F.L.I.R.T shall be taking to stage in approximately 31 hours at Dogra Hall.

We’ve assembled the strongest set ever performed by us at any fest at any given time. In other words … we’ve kept everything but the kitchen sink!

Formations can be found in abundance in our routines this time around. Positioning, stage setting, lighting etc have been planned out for a change. The only hitch is that we’ve had negligible practice.“Ill Prepared” is an understatement if you consider our preparation for the finals.

All in all … we're praying nobody goofs up and everything goes according to plan which, in itself, is a rarity.

The finals are on the 21st leaving us with almost no time for preparation for the second round.
Ahh … quality over quality must be our excuse as always.

Anyways, as always the entire routine leaves everybody gasping for breath, water and life.

And as always, we love it.

Goodnight
A.G

Note: If none of the above makes sense then please bear in mind that I am exhausted and do not know what I’m typing :)


Saturday, September 16, 2006

God Exists !

This is to inform everyone reading these lines that are 9 people ready to take to the stage at Dogra Hall at 10:00 A.M on the 19th of September.

The routines, positions, formations et al pertaining to the first round have been finalized. The situation of the second round, though, is the exact opposite.

I believe, if everything goes according to plan, we should be able to make it through to the finals. Off course if we had enough funds (read college support) things would have been easier but this is a tradition that we are becoming accustomed to.

We have four new people joining us tomorrow. Two of us shall go scouting for costumes tomorrow. The rest shall begin working on the second round and teach the others the routines.

We, as is usual with us, are running out of time but as always … we seem to work better when we’re in such situations.

Cheers to the past !
See you at Dogra Hall on the 19th

Goodnight
A.G

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Wanted : Dead or Alive

This is an open invitation to any male youth who wishes to perform at Spectrum (IIT Delhi).

We need one more person to meet the eligibility criteria of having a minimum of 7 people per team. We face disqualification if the above condition is not met.

Any help shall greatly be appreciated.

Please let me know … @ gill_aseem@yahoo.com or 098913 62707

Waiting … hoping … praying …

Goodnight
A.G

Friday, September 08, 2006

Rendezvous 2006 - The Mirage ?

Our plans to perform on the 20th have been put in serious jeopardy.

I dub thee unforgiven ...


Goodnight
A.G

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Disjoint Thoughts

It is Wednesday, 2:06 A.M.
We have less than two weeks to go before F.L.I.R.T takes to stage at IIT Delhi.
Rehearsal, finally, has started.
The entire track has been recompiled and edited.

The routines are being finalized, the beats are being mixed. All in all, we seem to have woken up.

I can feel my legs cramping up as I write this but I shall have to get accustomed to worse physical conditions in the coming two (and possibly three) weeks.

I have much to do these days though , I confess, it is not evident.


I’m working on a couple of projects for the presentation at the end of my internship. I do not know how many I shall be able to complete by the time. Time shall tell … just like always.

… MunnaBhai … is worth the money. Cars is not.

It has a song Pal Pal … inspired by the Cliff Richards classic Theme for a Dream.

If you’re the type that simply loves listening to melodies then I strongly suggest you give the above song and Summer Holiday a hear.

I promise you they’ll hold your attention.

It’s an unending list but here’s what I have on my play list along with the above mentioned songs :

Wind of Change – The Scorpions
Deliverance – Bubba Sparxxx
Aicha – The Outlandish Version
Yesterday – The Beatles
Suspicious Minds – Elvis (Any melody of his)
The Bluest Eyes in Texas – Little Texas … sigh …

I still can find bliss.
There’s hope for me yet!

Goodnight
A.G

Friday, September 01, 2006

K.I.S.S - Keep It Simple Stupid

The 10 Commandments contain 297 words. The Bill of Rights is stated in 463 words. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address contains 266 words. A recent federal directive to regulate the price of cabbage contains 26,911 words.

Think about it.

Goodnight
A.G