Sleepy Conscience

Art?

2012-01-09T10:17:00.000+04:00

Sands of time..

2011-12-26T11:25:00.000+04:00

I was born in a desert and my family is from the coast so I'd like to believe I have some connection with both the desert and the ocean. Watching the sun set in the sand dunes of Rajasthan I began to wonder which of the two I liked better. I've always loved the ocean, its beaches and the calming sound of the waves but the wide expanse of the golden sand was therapeutic as well. Both the desert and the ocean tell stories of survival. Both have stood the tests of time. Vast and endless...both can be unforgiving. However I think there is an element of sadness attached to the desert,the barrenness can be depressing while the water shows some hope. For this reason alone I pick the ocean, it is a pity though that I have to live far away from both in this concrete jungle!

From Paris to Pondicherry

2011-12-11T11:53:00.001+04:00

Wedding in June means Honeymooning in July. Paris beautiful Paris! A city by design that is charming. Sipping coffee and watching the world go by. Drinking wine by the river Seine. Singing along with other Parisians. Drinking champagne in Champagne!

August is when we turn old. A Cousin's wedding, a quick visit to Srirangam temple and the Brihadeshwara temple in Tanjore. Our combined birthday celebrations in Redhills. Breathtaking views of the hills, tea gardens and the emerald lake. A mischievous dog for company who doubles up as a shoe thief. People so warm in contrast to the cold weather. Good food and good times.

September was a quiet month. A sad month. Unexpected trips to Chennai.

October dictated that a long pending trip be taken off the list - Hampi. Enchanting and mysterious Hampi. Hiring a moped to discover a lost empire. Falling asleep by the banks of Tungabhadra where Purandaradasa once drew inspiration from. Mirchi bajji, girmit and hot chai - hot food in hot hot Hampi.

Come November, a friend's wedding and a weekend in Pondicherry. Moonlit beach, should I say anything more?

December is here. Where are we to go?

How is married life?

2011-12-07T08:20:00.001+04:00

How is one to answer that? Also when does one stop being 'newly' wed? Important questions. It feels like I have been on one long holiday this whole year giving 'marriage' as an excuse. Time to pull out the To-Do list and start doing things, which also includes blogging more often.Maybe starting next year?

Flying High!

2011-07-11T15:32:00.006+04:00

Hello new readers (if any!). My best kept secret is suddenly out in the open for all my facebook friends to see, thanks to the husband (still can't get used to the fact that I have one!). Funny how I liked to keep my virtual worlds separate - my blogging self/twitter persona different from the 'social me'. It wasn't intentional, just that I started writing really personal and embarrassing details, I didn't want people I knew to read it. In any case, not much harm done. Who has the time to read blogs these days!

Coming back to the being married part, this whole wedding business makes you think you are the center of the universe and everything revolves around you. I've been on a high past few days, don't think I've gotten this much attention before. And facebook further reinforces this with all the likes and comments people shower on you. But then for others it is just another event, another item on their news feed. Anyhow, its a nice feeling this, let me enjoy while it lasts.

Strange coincidences

2011-07-08T10:56:00.002+04:00

On March 31 2006, I wrote a post on which a stranger left a comment.
On June 26 2011, I married the commenter!

Beijing trip 2 (aka Adventure in Peking)

2011-04-28T08:16:00.003+04:00

As I set out on my second trip to Beijing, I called myself a seasoned 'international' traveler. Ok, I haven't traveled that much, but enough times to have mastered the drill and not get worked up. It was going to be a short trip anyway and was looking forward to get back more than ever.

The only weekend I was there started of with my visiting the Lama temple, a beautiful monastery. Sunday evening after a day's shopping or rather window shopping I took the usual subway back home parted ways with my friends who stayed in another hotel. It was dark and very very cold, just the kind of day for me to forget my jacket. I hugged myself tight and started to walk the short distance to my hotel. As I neared I could hear footsteps match mine and someone closing in. I've felt this way many times before, even in Bangalore, this thing about being a woman makes you suspicious all the time. I didn't have the courage to look back though, I just wanted to get back as early as I could. I relaxed entering the hotel premises but the footsteps were only getting closer, perhaps it was another guest eager to avoid the cold harsh winds. Not stopping, I continued, in the instant that I entered the revolving doors I could feel a man's hand grab my wallet from the bag I was carrying. I turned and saw a look on his face that I'll never forget. By the time I came out of the revolving door again he was gone.

Cash, cards and my beautiful wallet..all gone. Gone! I walked back coolly to my room and blocked all my cards within no time like a pro. This is what experience does to you. This has happened to me 3 times now. Yes THREE. First time in a foreign country though. (first time I just misplaced my wallet, was in college and broke so doesn't count I guess) What would have happened if I had decided to look back. Knowing how close he was to me, he might have done something stupid. Would he have brandished a knife? Or would he have ran? Also, I am out of kickboxing practice, he was a small man but I don't think I could have taken him on.

I told the hotel manager what had happened and I asked them to check the security camera. After long wait they said it hadn't capture anything. I insisted that I see the video. They made several calls to get permissions and allowed me to walk to the control room. Turns out they hadn't made much effort to look for the clip. After much sorting we finally found the tape and everything was caught on camera crystal clear.

Watching the video had a 2 fold effect on me. One I was convinced I wasn't imagining things. The hotel guys repeatedly were telling me that I probably lost it in the subway. I had a look of triumph when I finally found the video but I don't think the Chinese get 'I told you so'.
Second, watching myself on the screen and being robbed spooked me more than I could imagine. All the confidence I had built up vanished. I avoided the subway for the rest of my stay, borrowed money to pay my hotel bill and waited anxiously to return home safely.

Everyone says its not my fault, could have happened to anyone. I blame myself though. I let my guard slip. Was over confident and didn't take the necessary precautions I normally take before every travel. I have this natural tendency to attract disaster (Bridge Jones Syndrome) so should have been more careful. Losing the money didn't matter much. Money comes money goes. What I find very difficult to get over is the queasy feeling in my stomach, combination of guilt, being made a fool of, being gullible. On the plus side, it gave me something to blog about!

A walk to remember

2011-01-11T19:18:00.005+04:00

I've always wanted to go on one of the Bangalore Walks but hadn't for lack of company. Last Sunday on a cold foggy morning, I signed up for the Victorian Walk. I must admit having lived here for 20+ years I know very little about the city's past (Ok, so I don't know about the city's present, heck I cant find my way around here!) The walk started at the Trinity church which I had never entered before, with an enthusiastic group of about 30 people from all over the world. I was one of the few (ignorant) locals present. Arun, the man behind the walks was the guide for the day taking us back in time and enlightening us on little known facts about this city. For eg. How many of you know the significance of the names of the roads - Infantry road, Cavalry road, Residency road. Or can identify the statue erected in front of the Mayo hall and know its significance? The metro construction played spoil sport not only making it difficult to walk but also obstructing some beautiful spots along the walk. He was generous in his praising Bangalore, I didn't mind it one bit and was beaming all through out. It ended with a surprise breakfast (and was I surprised!) on a positive note with him saying we are a 'forward looking' city. The metros, the IT boom are all a promise of a better future.

For me, this city other than being home means so much more for the same promise it holds now - A bright new future!

Books 2010

2011-01-01T09:00:00.003+04:00

I kept track of all books I read this year. Not an impressive list but here it is. The ones in bold are the books I couldn't finish reading.
1. Roadrunner - Dilip D'Souza (Travellogue & Only non fiction that I read)
2. The Kalahari typing school for men - Alexander McCall Smith
3. Animal Farm - George Orwell
4. Dork - Sidin Vadukut
5. Lunatic in my head - Anjum Hasan (Must read)
6. Wizard of Oz - Frank L Baum
7. The Girl - Sonia Faleiro
8. Chasing Harry Winston - Lauren Weisberger (chick lit!)
9. Pride and prejudice and Zombies
10. Piggies on the railway - Smita Jain (chick lit!)
11. Neti, Neti - Anjum Hasan
12. Confessions of a listmaniac - Meenakshi reddy madhavan
13. Madam Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
14. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald (Must read)
15. Sputnik Sweetheart - Haruki Murakami
16. Sam's Story - Elmo Jayavardhane
17. Confederacy of dunces - John Kennedy Toole (Must read)
18. Carrie diaries - Candace Bushnell (chick lit!)
19. Diary of a wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney
20. Love in a Torn land – Jean Sasson (still reading)

Update - forgot to add this one!
21. Turbulence - Samit Basu.

Wanted to write a one line review on all the books but that will have to wait. Am glad I discovered Anjum Hassan and Murakami, beautiful writers both.

Happy new year folks!

15 seconds of fame

2010-11-28T18:26:00.012+04:00

So I was on national television for all of 15 seconds and frankly I don't think I made much sense. The question I had to answer was how as a woman I've contributed to the product I'm working on. Say what? I mean, I contribute. I do a good job. And maybe I do better than some other people would have, but how being a woman have I made a difference? Our roles are defined irrespective of gender and purely on skills and talent. Given the nature of my job I think I haven't really done anything special on account of being a woman. However, I believe that having a diverse team is an indication of a healthy team. Men and women are not wired the same, we approach problems differently and I guess it helps to have a mixed group when you are brainstorming or say tackling a problem. A woman's perspective might just come in handy specially so if it is a product you are designing with women consumers in mind.

As to why I got this opportunity, I wasn't the first choice, but the other person happened to be on leave and I volunteered. I'm camera shy and all that but hey I want to be famous too. :P Also funny how I'm usually never the first choice for many such events. Like recently,I got to go on campus placements (something I've always wanted to do) because someone else dropped out. That talk I gave once simply because no one else was qualified enough, the chance to 'garland' few delegates (in this case though I am not sure why I even agreed to do it).... Oh well, I'm not complaining.

China round up

2010-09-27T04:16:00.000+04:00

While in China, I obsessed over the title of the post that I would eventually write. Should it be 'From Bangalore to Beijing', you know like 'Chandini chowk to China'. Or should it be called 'Beijing Bites'? All along I made notes on random observations that would go into this post. Back home, the notebook went missing and provided the perfect excuse for not writing at all. Today, I found the book but believe it or not the page in which I made those little notes has vanished. Maybe the perfect post was not meant to be and you will have to make do with these tit-bits that I remember...

* No google, facebook, twitter. The Chinese have their own versions of all these sites which they claim is far better than the original.
* People, people everywhere!
* And they look great. Wonder how they stay so thin and look young. Could it be the tea that they constantly drink?
* Had to face the horrid summer heat. It rained on only one day in all the time I was there and that was on my birthday.
* The traffic and the one hour long journey to work everyday made me feel at home. Even then it is not as chaotic as it is here.
* Communication was a big problem. It was like playing dumb charades everyday.
* This trip reminded me of my Turkey visit for many reasons. The feeling of old meets new, history lingering in every corner, the sense of pride the locals have...but then it is not the same. People are less friendly and guarded.
* There are quite a few Indian restaurants, I even found a Kamats restaurant. But wonder why Indian cuisine hasn't had the kind of influence Chinese has in India.
* Speaking of food, Indian-Chinese beats Chinese-Chinese any day ;)
* I didn't interact much with the locals there, my only source of information was the daily English news paper which I eagerly looked forward to everyday. Other than the daily news they'd write about how men were finding it hard to find women, of parents trying to 'arrange' their kids marriages, how they try to escape the one child policy...all in all very interesting.
* The subway system though crowded is the best way to travel within the city. Cheap, fast and efficient. I cant wait for Metro to take off in Bangalore.

That is all for now..here are some pics. Enjoy.

Tears for the nameless slob

2010-07-21T19:37:00.005+04:00

So I very rarely cry watching movies but I was crying like a baby watching this scene from Breakfast at Tiffany's :

And I think it had nothing to do with her sudden realization following his monologue or them getting together...I think I just felt sorry for the cat. Maybe I miss B.

Anyhoo beautiful line this one is,

Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.

5

2010-07-04T16:43:00.001+04:00

..is just a number!

2010-06-19T09:09:00.003+04:00

Very old friends of my parents (henceforth referred to as uncle and aunty) have come down for a visit from Mumbai. My parents reconnected with them without the help of facebook, orkut or the internet for that matter. It took a single phone call and though they are meeting after 20+ years, it doesn't seem like that.

They had last seen me when I was 1.5 years old. Aunty said I look the same (she said that twice). That is good news.

Knowing that my mom is an artist Uncle asked me what is it that I have learnt from her. I was about to smile and say nothing really when my dad interrupted and said 'She visited US.......and she cooked for herself'. Now, I'm sure my parents are proud of me but I think I need to pick up some skill like knitting or something. I mean, 'Yes she knits very well' is so much better than 'We raised a daughter who has life skills'. Also funny how 'visiting US' is considered as an achievement. Or at least a cover up for not being talented.

Uncle said my dad was the best engineer in the company. It is something I knew already but was good to hear that from someone who actually worked with him.

Aunty claims she knows astrology and on reading my horoscope says I have some defect which has something to do with snakes. I think what this means is I might be a parseltongue. I am thrilled.

Chief I'm awesome Officer

2010-01-19T07:53:00.000+04:00

I have always envied people with really cool designations. I once almost took up a job because they offered me a position that had an important sounding name though the profile was pretty ordinary. Unfortunately in the last few years I've had to make do with standard (read boring) designations. Not that I have a problem with my current role. I like what I do but on paper it translates to something very ordinary. I find myself searching for words trying to describe my role when people throw at me their oh-I'm-so-good job titles. This one time I chose a fancy name for my business card, it was rejected by someone who didn't even know me citing some obscure reason even though my manager had approved it. I never applied for any ever again. This is also one of the main reasons I never updated my profile at LinkedIn. Every time I tried, that horrible 'title' text box kept staring at me as if it was mocking, 'Really, is that all you are?'

Coming up with a summary or headline is an art in itself where being modest can work against you. I have much to learn, meanwhile I'll live with what I have - code monkey.

Dear 2009, Thank You for the memories

2010-01-09T15:10:00.005+04:00

Late for the customary year end post,I'm sorry I was busy recovering. 2009 was a good year despite everything. Started with a bang and ended with a bang and it had the perfect mix of fun, personal achievements and disappointments. Looking back, I now realize that I did everything right....well almost. You cant blame for not trying. That's what I like about 2009, I have ~~zero~~ very few regrets. Another belief that was reinforced time and again last year was that eventually, everything turns out for the good. Let me see what I can turn this year into.

Happy 2010 people! All 6 of you :)

Sysdate

2009-12-17T17:38:00.004+04:00

Today I dreamed that I was visiting my brother in LA meeting his friends and then I have this deja vu like feeling and I start predicting what will happen next. I keep asking my brother what the date is and he says its 'sysdate'. I ask him again, 'No, no, tell me the year'. He says the same thing, sysdate. Then he notices that whatever I am predicting is coming true. Like, I say this friends brother will turn up in sometime and he does. And then I say this line 'I have seen all this happen before. And its not happened in the past. Its from the future'. Thats when I woke up.

Reunion

2009-12-08T22:29:00.004+04:00

This friend of mine is visiting from US and she suggested that we organize a college reunion. Five years since we graduated, it will be interesting to meet everyone. This isn't a school reunion and everyone is more or less in the same profession so I was wondering what parameters they might use to judge others. I mean take any reunion movie, the nerds become super rich, the not so pretty turn into beautiful swans and the bullies end up as real life losers. We were all nerdy so its slightly harder to identify a 'success story'.

Here is a list of parameters I could come up with (I don't necessarily use these to judge others)

Is married

Married college sweet heart

Has kids

Living abroad

Studied further

Survived recession

Owns a Car

Owns a house

Gave up job to pursue dream/passion

Excelled in any other field
Aged well

I score pretty less in all above departments (except maybe the last one) but then I am not competing :P
Also while listing this I realized we often use such parameters to judge people we don't know well but not our close friends. Our friends, we revel in their success however small and grieve for their losses. For us they are always winners. Next time I brand someone as a failure, I'll remember that person could have been a friend.

Read-Only

2009-12-06T09:40:00.003+04:00

Observing people is what I do best, I love being the bystander watching the world go by. I have been on read-only mode for past few days on twitter and facebook and I recommend that you do it too sometime. Resist that urge to say something and let others have their say. If you can manage to filter out the noise you will find people who inspire, people who do make a difference. Even conversations (between others) seem more interesting, many a times we are so bent upon getting our point across we fail to understand what others want to convey. As a silent observer, its easier to be non judgemental and unbiased. The downside of this read-only behaviour is that I tend to get too passive and derive amusement out of this rather than going out there and doing something myself. But once in a while, it is good to shut up and just listen.

2009-12-05T12:31:00.003+04:00

My dog who unexpectedly fell sick was put to sleep today after 2 long weeks of suffering. Miss you B.

Update

2009-11-04T22:18:00.003+04:00

Much has happened since the depressing post I put up last - festivals, a hectic vacation, gatherings and family get-togethers. All is well with the world again - well at least my world. For now.

If wishes were horses

2009-10-11T09:07:00.006+04:00

I'm the kind of person who dwells in the past. I love looking back, replaying events in my mind and looking at it from all angles.

When I left Hyderabad few years back, I left behind a life and friends that I had dearly loved. I was the first to leave the group and every time I called them I'd be green with jealousy even if all they were saying was how the maid was on leave and they had to do the dishes. I hated the fact that I was not part of it anymore. It took me a great deal of time to make a new beginning when I eventually did there was no looking back.

Two months after my return from SLC I am going through a similar phase. I am struggling to disconnect and move on. Struggling to make a new start. And this time there is also this gnawing feeling that I am not even sincerely trying. Social networking sites are making it worse, photo and status updates on orkut/facebook are constant reminders of what I am missing.
I don't regret my decision to come back. I did what I had to do. But I wish could look ahead and plan my future rather than worry about whats gone. I wish.

Conversations

2009-08-29T09:20:00.003+04:00

Them : We have to discuss this. Please let me know if 8:00 pm is a suitable time for you.
me : How about we schedule it in the morning, 10:00 am?
Them : No, I am not free. Please let me know if 8:00 pm is a suitable time for you.
me : Ok then, how about at 9:00 pm?
Them : I have a meeting. Please let me know if 8:00 pm is a suitable time for you.
me : Ok, it is.

----

Them : This is the design we came up with, please let me know if you have any suggestions.
me : Umm, it looks a bit complicated, how about we do this instead?
Them : No, it has already been approved and finalized by higher management and their higher management and by God himself. Nothing you ever say will make any difference, please let me know if you have any suggestions.
me : It looks good.

----

Four and 24 days.

2009-07-29T07:13:00.002+04:00

I forgot my blog's birthday! That too when it turned 4, old enough to realize the ways of the world. I have reached heights of self obsession - forgetting MY blog's bday where I rant about ME.

Appy b'day bloggy, I'm sorryy!

3rd year birthday post
2nd year birthday post
1st year birthday post
0th year birthday post

Sentimental fool

2009-07-29T07:02:00.003+04:00

That would be me. This is so typical of me. First, I complain when there is a big change about to happen in my life. Then I begin to love that change. And when its time to get back, I complain again.

I'll miss all of this. *sniff*

Now if you will excuse me I have some senti mails to send. See ya!

Escaping Reality

2009-07-08T19:00:00.005+04:00

Is that even possible? Can one pause time, take a break from life and escape into a world unreal? Yet, many back home tell me that I am doing just that by being here. I am not escaping anything. The people I've met, the places I've seen, the lifetime of memories I've collected, those strong emotions, they are real. Unfortunately unless you have reached the milestones set by others for you, no matter what you do or achieve is as good as doing nothing at all. They mean nothing. I should learn to care less but it makes me sad. And in the process of convincing others I wonder if I am convincing myself. This is real. How can it be anything else?

Live and Loud

2009-05-17T09:23:00.009+04:00

One of the first things I did after I had settled down was to look for listings of bands performing in town. I could recognize only 2 in the list, one was Travis and the other Keane. (It is ok if your reaction is 'who the hell are they'. I think worldspace (radio voyager) introduced me to both the bands. Look them up maybe you'll like their music) Anyhoo, I attended both the concerts. Travis performed to a smaller crowd and it almost felt like they were performing just for me. I had done my preparation well before they came to town and had grown very fond of their music. Frank Healy, the lead singer with his sexy Scottish accent and beautiful voice wooed the crowd. Even my friends who had never heard the band before ended up enjoying the whole night. This is easily one of the best live performances I have seen. Keane, I had decided to not go because I couldn't find company but changed my mind just hours before the show. A much well known band than Travis, this drew a big crowd. I did have a very good time but there was something amiss. I couldn't connect to them. And then, he (Tom) sang 'Somewhere only we know'. Beautiful, beautiful song.

Closer -Travis

Somewhere only we know - Keane

Live performances. Me likes. Makes me happy.

Bands/Artists I want to see performing live
- A R Rehman
- Sonu Nigam
- Shubha Mudgal
- Bon Jovi
- Green Day
- Coldplay
- Madonna

Will add more to this list, why cant I think of anyone else right now?

Las Vegas and The Grand Canyons

2009-05-15T06:10:00.003+04:00

What man with all his money can do what nature with all its force can. I'm impressed.

PS : there will be no pictures. You seem them before a million times already, haven't you?

For you to come back

2009-04-22T08:18:00.004+04:00

Living in the US creates an illusion of affluence. Life seems easier, money is good (especially when you convert to Rupees, heh) and it feels like there is always time to do things you want to. Even with the current economy and depression, people seem..whats that word-happy. I can see why people want to be here, it is this illusion that keeps everyone going. Back home in India, there is no escaping the troubles. They are constantly staring at you, it takes a humougous effort to look away and to be detatched.

Maybe I've got it all wrong, I haven't been here long after all. My friend tells me that I'm confusing living alone to living in the US. That my observations aren't accurate, reason why I like it here is because I'm on my own, there is no answering to anyone. I don't think so, I've lived alone before, in India it isn't the same. I've never been this busy in life and I've never enjoyed being this busy. As if I hadn't had enough to do, I've signed up for Kick boxing classes! I know this will all end soon and I'll have to go back to the life (which btw wasn't as bad as I make it sound). I hope I take back with me this enthusiasm and this energy. I hope I don't let the petty issues bog me down, maybe one need not be detached, maybe there is some middle ground one needs to find?

When I asked my eleven year old cousin brother what he wanted from America, his reply was 'For you to come back'. Sigh! While life here is good I must not forget things and people important to me. Will call him this weekend, I'm sure he wouldn't mind something other than just my coming back.

Sleepless in Seattle..

2009-04-14T04:06:00.013+04:00

...only because I stayed up late catching up with The Friend. Raven was missed muchly.
Daffodils at Skagit valley

Pike place market

Lake Washington

The Space needle View from top of Space Needle

Langley, Whidbey island

Possession beach, Whidbey island

2009-04-01T08:51:00.001+04:00

Stay hungry, Stay foolish...and perhaps selfish too?

Best Friends

2009-03-19T09:12:00.004+05:00

I get to meet a lot of people because I frequently move in and out of projects at work. Which is a good thing you might say but it is also increasingly difficult to keep up the friendship. The last time I made best friends was in Hyderabad, almost four years back. And only one later, no wait four more in the last four years. I need more best friends, not just friends.

Weekend in LA

2009-03-17T08:41:00.005+05:00

Itinerary :
Day 1 : Breakfast at Paradise Cove, Malibu, watched a few wild street performances at Venice Beach, went to Hollywood Boulevard, drove around Sunset Boulevard, walked along Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, attended a dinner party where I was the guest of honour!

Day 2 : Universal Studios, Shopped at Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, watched sunset at Santa Monica Peir.

Interestingly the most fun I had on the trip was the dinner party, meeting new people and getting to know their views on the city. Most of them sympathized with me because I lived in Utah. I don't really mind, coming from chaotic B'lore the peace and quiet of Salt Lake City is suiting me. I guess I now finally got a glimpse of the real America, it is pretty but maybe only from a distance. Will try to visit LA one more time before I leave. Finally a line I came up with 'LA is what Mumbai could have been and Bangalore should have been'. Whatever that means.

Blogpost format courtesy Balaji

Thank you!

2009-03-08T09:56:00.007+05:00

This place has been kind to me so far. I've settled in. I've made friends. I have fun, sometimes I think way too much. I am lucky. Lucky to have a job in these times. Lucky to have found the people around me. Lucky to have gotten this opportunity. I am thankful. I really am.

Acclimatization

2009-02-25T08:15:00.005+05:00

Burnt ocra for dinner today. I am out of practice, not that I was a good cook but at least I never burnt food before :(. And whats with the taps here? Every single tap is engineered to make it as difficult as possible to for a newbie to figure out how to turn it on and why are there so many choices! I just want to buy cough drops to help me soothe my throat, don't waste my time throwing me a million flavours to choose from.

Few pics of the snow clad mountains. Havent been able to organize my thoughts well enough to put up a decent post, you will have to make do with this.

I want to hold your hand

2009-02-20T10:44:00.004+05:00

This song played in a loop on the flight from Paris to SLC and is now stuck in my head. New place and a new life, expect very many senti/predictable entries from a first timer in Amricaa.

Oh yeh, I'll tell you something,
I think you'll understand,
Then I'll say that something,
I wanna hold your hand...

Stepney

2009-01-14T17:01:00.006+05:00

You were introduced to Glue sometime back, now to introduce a new term called the stepney. Does it often happen to you that you have made plans for the weekend with someone and they got canceled at the last minute, thanks to the other party? There is a good chance you might have been his/her stepney. Meaning you were that person's alternate plan and his/her last minute cancellation is an indication is that his/her primary plan has worked. I often end up being people's stepney and am stuck at home sulking most of the time. Its not fun being a stepney. While I myself have an embarrassing record of canceling on people I'd like to believe they were for genuine reasons and I usually let them know in advance that such a thing might/will happen. The extreme opposite of stepney is the kind of person who gets invited everywhere. I know one such person and I envy him so very much. I don't think he has ever initiated anything yet he gets to go on the most awesome trips. I cant exactly point out what it is that he has but some people are just born as main tyres.

In other news, what a start this year has seen! All the enthusiasm and optimism that I could muster at the beginning of the year has now successfully gone down the stinking drain. Anyhoo don't be a stepney, demand for commitment!

2009-01-07T20:51:00.001+05:00

Have been advised not to blog today but seriously, what the fuck!

There's always a new start..

2009-01-02T23:06:00.004+05:00

Resolution for the year is to crib less and do more. Happy new year all you peoples!

The End

2008-12-26T22:35:00.000+05:00

What hurts most when a relationship is nearing end? Rejecting the other person or being rejected? Having been on the both sides I know it sucks either way. The guilt of being the bad person while you are the one rejecting and the downward spiral one descends into on being rejected. It never is easy.

Here is to another crappy year that is nearing end and hoping the next one will be better!

Kemmanagundi Day 2.

2008-11-22T15:23:00.015+05:00

Plan for day 2 was to go to 'Hebbe Falls'. They took us in jeeps on a 10km bumpy ride. Kemmanagundi literally means ditch with red soil. By the time we reached we were completely red. From there we set out on another 2 km downhill trek through a coffee estate and crossed three small water bodies to reach the falls. The sight was splendid! I hadn't planned to get in the water but it was very inviting and got fully drenched in the ice cold water. Back the same route in same jeep this time wet and tired, it was time to leave. What I fail to describe here is the awesome fun that we had every single moment. I guess its not just the place you see and the things you do that matter but the company that really makes the difference. And maybe because it had been so long since I had had such unbridled fun this trip will be remembered for a long time to come.

Kemmanagundi Day 1.

2008-11-22T10:35:00.010+05:00

So we did go on our trip, a beautiful hill station 250km from B'lore. Day 1 started with trekking to 'Z point' uphill. The guide kept saying it was an easy terrain, I beg to differ. It only got scarier as we took the narrow path leading up the hill (mini mountain rather),the view down wasn't helping either. One wrong step and you would go sliding all the way down to the jaws of death. With the guide saying things like 'keep to your right...I mean your left' I was sure I wouldn't be going back home after this. En route we stopped at a tiny water falls called Shanti falls. Plan was to reach the hill top to see the sunset, by the time we reached it was pitch dark and the moon was out. Though we were jubilant the thought of reaching back down in the dark was gnawing me. We took the same route back, I don't remember much except there were a lot of nervous laughter until the time we were fully safe. Tea and pakodas later they took us some 4km from base camp in the wild where we were to camp. Save for the bonfire there was absolutely no light, even the moon decided to hide, look all around one could see vast nothingness. Few games,laughter and a good dinner later we retired to the safety of our tents. Sure it was preplanned and there were lots people but this was by far the most adventurous day in my life.

Planning a trip and women at work

2008-11-22T00:59:00.000+05:00

I hate organizing trips or organizing anything for that matter. This time however I was desperate to travel, so I volunteered. People at work were excited about the idea of going on a holiday, all we needed was a plan. And a location of course. The guys wanted a place that served cheap booze (read goa or pondy), some preferred mountains while some preferred the sea. After much discussion we had come up with probable list of places to visit. Zeroing in on one place was turning out to be a challenge. I started my research, whichever place was most viable would be chosen. After about 2 days of googling, calling up travel agents, hotels and taxi drivers I finally found out a perfect package tour to a place none of us had visited. Planning the whole trip myself was turning out very taxing and this looked perfect. Whats best, even though this wasn't on our list everyone readily agreed. I was ecstatic. Agreeing on a place followed by choosing a date is the hardest thing when you plan a trip with many people. We had successfully managed to do both. It was a good sign, maybe we were going to pull this one off after all (I have a high failure rate when it comes to going on trips, don't blame me for making a big deal out of this). After the initial inquiry mail I got a reply from the organizers that kids below 11 weren't allowed. My friend who has a 3 year old son (who btw is very cute calls me chechi) was distraught. She asked me to choose another place instead. I wasn't willing to let go and tried my best to suggest alternatives. Maybe her husband could take care of him for the weekend? Maybe she could bring him along but stay away from the adventure activities? When she wouldn't budge I hinted that she should drop out instead of all of us canceling. When she didn't get the hint I gave her an option, I asked her to do all the hard work, come up with an alternate place, make the arrangements and convince others, if she managed to that I'd have no problems else she'd have to back out. It was an impossible task she gave up almost as soon as she started.

Compare the planning of the trip to a project, my friend a team member, I was being the mean old insensitive manager! Just because she had a family (she was the only one married in the group) I was giving her a tough time, hadn't paid attention to her needs and was asking her to step down from the project. All these years I have been bitching about my male bosses and how selfish they can get, how women get a raw deal and how it is doubly tough for women to survive in this industry thanks to bosses like them. Am I then a hypocrite?

Maybe the comparison is not fair. My friend was being unrealistic and I knew it. At one time she even mentioned about bringing along her in-laws. She was going to ruin it for everyone and it would have been a complete failure of the project...I mean the trip. I'd have to be the one to take the blame. Her being a woman or her being married had nothing to do with it. It was a tough decision but I had to act in the interest of everyone. As for the mean old managers who think married women don't make good employees, they can go to hell. I am going to plan another trip sometime next month that everyone can make it to, not because a good manager would do so, because a good friend would do so.

Bangalore's Anthem

2008-11-18T16:22:00.003+05:00

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a JAM  you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better now
You're stuck in a JAM and you can't get out of it

And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if your way should falter
Along the stony pass
It's just a JAM
This time will pass

Before you start protesting, translation to Kannada is in progress. Patience.

On being a loser

2008-11-10T10:46:00.004+05:00

Early this year I entered a poetry competition at work. I am no writer and certainly not a poet but I gave it a shot anyway. I figured that I probably had a small chance of winning because I was competing against my colleagues, how many software engineers wrote poetry anyway? I didn't win. But I wouldn't settle for it. They had only announced the winners, I wrote to the people who organized it to publish the winning poems so that everyone could appreciate it. Real reason was I wanted proof that the winning poems were indeed better than mine. They never responded. I then wrote to the winner congratulating him and asked him if I could read his work. He didn't respond either. I gave up after that but I concluded that there was something fishy. The winner knew the organizer perhaps. Or maybe he his work was not original and he had fooled the judges.

Yesterday we (we were a team of 2) lost at a coding challenge at work. I wont go into the details of how I think it was unfair and how we deserved to win. That will defeat the purpose of this post. What really happened was we ran out of luck, my partner thinks it was because God was angry with her. After the contest I called a friend who on hearing the news said girls cant code anyway. I wanted to murder him. Today my manager tells me he was expecting us win. It hurts. As you might have guessed by now I am not good at this losing thing. In this case what also mattered was who I lost to. Last month I lost a promotion to the same guy who won y'day. If he wasn't a good friend I would have hated him. It is not validation that I need, I know exactly where I stand. But I guess I was using this contest as forum to prove myself and it hurts because I failed at that. This might just be a silly contest but thinking about how I have reacted to all major setbacks in my life, I do exactly the same thing. I cry foul, I sulk and I mope and then I spring back to normal. I don't have a problem about the sulking and moping but I guess the crying foul has to stop. I might be wise and responsible but I still have some growing up to do. And I need to put a leash on my ego before it goes out of hand. That or I need to win more often ;)

Lamp without lady

2008-10-27T19:45:00.001+05:00

One thing off my list

2008-10-23T19:32:00.003+04:00

I don't have a bucket list. Nothing that is documented at least. But yes there are a few things I want to do before I kick the bucket. One of the things on that list as I remember saying it to a friend was 'To give a good talk in front of an intelligent audience'. Last week I had the opportunity to do just that. It was a big event open for anyone to attend and it went ok. 'Ok' being not too good not too bad. The turn out was poor plus mine being the last talk people were losing interest, I had to rush through the presentation and hurry up. I hadn't really volunteered to do this and I hadn't done any of the hard work. It was a good opportunity that had come by, I just took it up.

Technically though, it was a good talk and even if there were very few people who attended I'd like to believe they were intelligent. So thats one thing off my list. Given the kind of inactivity this year has seen this also gives me something to blog about. So there.

The Tag in which I talk about that four letter word

2008-09-21T17:16:00.007+04:00

I am tagged. And its called ahem, 'The love tag' *blush*. Of all the things I could write about now, relationships is one topic I don't want to touch upon. But see rule 2 below. Since I am such a stickler for rules I'll let go of my guard and do just that. Rinchen, I hate you for making me do this.

RULE #1 People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs and replace any question that they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.

RULE #2 Tag 6 people to do this quiz and those who are tagged cannot refuse. These people must state who they were tagged by and cannot tag the person whom they were tagged by continue this game by sending it to other people.

1. If your lover betrayed you what would your reaction be?
I'll walk out and think of ways to hurt him back. When I am done with the crying and plotting I'll get on with life.

2. If you have a dream come true, what would it be?
I'd want to go back in time and set few things right.

3. If you could, whose butt would you like to kick?
Theres only one person I can think of right now. And I cant mention him here.

4. What would you do with a billion dollars?
I'd buy a private jet and go beach hopping.

5. Will you fall in love with your best friend?
I am very much the fall in love with your best friend kinda person. But the problem is if break up you also lose your best friend.

6. Which is more blessed: loving someone or being loved by someone?
Being loved.

7. How long do you intend to wait for someone you love?
I wouldn't wait.

8. If the person you secretly like is attached, what will you do?
Bitch about the one he is attached to and then go find someone else to secretly like.

9. If you could root for one social cause, what would it be?
This question makes me feel guilty. I used to volunteer at a children's home near by. I don't anymore but yeah it would have to do with providing basic education for kids. Theres so much talent out there its a pity lot of it goes wasted.

10. Do you lie?
Yes sometimes. Harmless ones.

11. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
I cant see myself 3 months from now, 10 years is too far ahead. I hope I have enough stories to tell from all that I have done in the next 10 years.

12. What’s your fear?
Being lost, not finding my way out.

13. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
Rinchen, Shes witty, forthright and intelligent. So much I can tell from her writing and I love her blog! She also has good taste because we seem to have a lot in common.

14. Would you rather be single and rich or married and poor?

I am single and rich. Why cant I be married and rich?

15. If you fall in love with two people simultaneously who will you pick?
I somehow don't find myself in such situations.

16. Would you give all in a relationship?
Yes. Its not a relationship if you don't.

17. Would you forgive and forget someone no matter how horrible a thing he has done?
Nope. Refer question 1.

18. Do you prefer being single or in a relationship?
Being in a relationship because that way there is always someone even if at times you have to hate that someone.

19. Your all time favourite song. Only ONE. And why?

The song from an old hindi movie that goes like this :

Aa chal ke tujhe, main le ke chaluun ik aise gagan ke tale jahan gam bhii na ho, aansoo
bhi na ho bas pyaar hii pyaar pale

It talks about a better place. And someone taking you there. Its nice.

Too much mush. I am glad this is done.

And I tag only two people (who also happen to be my bestest buddies) so you guys have to do it 3 times each! Sorry no breaking the rules.

realistic dreamer : Time you started writing again.

raven : This will be your very first tag! Aren't you glad I tagged you now?

What have you been up to?

2008-08-24T22:07:00.006+04:00

'But what have you been doing all these years? Where have you been?'
I felt then as if I had been called upon to justify the entirety of my existence, to account for the years I had spent here.

-Excerpt from Amitav Ghosh's The Hungry Tide.

The reason I keep low these days mostly on social networking sites is because more often than not people ask me the same question; 'What have you been up to?'. And I feel exactly the same way the author describes in that passage. That people want me to justify the time I've spent. Don't get me wrong, I am always asking people the same question as a conversation starter but when I am asked this its not so much that person wants to know what I have been up to but mostly why I haven't been doing things people my age should be doing. Maybe I am reading too much into this, maybe I am disappointed with the answers I come up with, maybe I am really not happy with what I have been up to, what ever it is, it is one question that I have begun to dread.

What I'd really like my answers to be like when someone asks me next :

I have been touring the Bahamas.

I have been busy with research work for my PhD.

I have been busy signing a deal with umm [insert rich business tycoon/celebrity name]

I have been working on a script for a new television show.

I have been preparing for my speech that I'll be giving at [insert prestigious university name].

You get the point.

Anyhoo, to deviate from the topic I have always been very prejudiced when it came to Indian authors. I have avoided them on the pretext that most write unnecessarily complicated, long and boring books. The last book I liked was Shashi Tharoor's Riot (This was before people knew him and it was okay to say you liked him in public). The Hungry tide has changed my opinion, I am now shopping for more of Amitav Ghosh's books and will also catch up with other good authors whose books I have missed.

So what have you been up to?

Golkonda Fort

2008-08-23T15:00:00.007+04:00

Lastly set of pics of my favorite place, the Golkonda fort.

Chudi Bazaar

2008-08-23T10:03:00.007+04:00

I love bangles. Just the sight of it makes me happy.

Hyderabad, one more time.

2008-08-22T22:18:00.009+04:00

Back from an eventful trip. Pictures for now.

Charminar from a weird angle.

The four minars.
Bhagyalakshmi temple at charminar.

Orange and Green.

Fashion Advice

2008-08-07T16:51:00.003+04:00

At the bus stop a girl aged around 12 years takes an interest in me and this is the conversation that ensued.

Girl : Why do you wear pant and shirt, I think you look good in chudidhars.
Me : Erm, have you seen me before?
Girl : No this is the first time I'm seeing you.
Me : But this is a kurta, not a shirt.
Girl : I still think you'll look good in chudidhaars.

Sigh. Fashion police everywhere. At least she didn't say I looked bad in what I was wearing.

Another chapter ends

2008-07-30T19:16:00.003+04:00

Quick notes on happenings and my experience working out of a client location in the last 3 months.

1. I felt valued again after a long time.
2. My ego which had taken a beating got a nice boost.
3. Met some really cool and interesting people.
4. Figured out exactly the kind of work I want to do.
5. Was admired and I couldn't understand why.
6. Learnt that I can sit through a 3 hr journey within the city doing nothing.
7. Saw how a big international corporate giant works. Not sure I like it.
8. Realized eating alone sucks more that I thought it would.
9. Gained 3 kilos.
10. Lost an umbrella.
11. Realized people problems are everywhere.
12. Found a new role model.
13. Realized that documentation is not so bad.
14. My public speaking skills improved though it still needs a lot of work.
15. Wrote my first ever farewell mail.
16. Not a single person asked me why I wasn't married yet. (except my classmate from college who I met but he doesn't count.)
17. Bridget Jones Moments were only two, when I almost fell out of the bus and when my umbrella went flying during a conversation with the boss.

Sigh. Time to move on.

Unfinished posts - 2

2008-07-19T19:16:00.003+04:00

6. Untitled (8/11/07)
Much has been happening at work and I realize there is a lot involved to a functioning of a project other than the 4 lines of code that we write. Being good friends with the analyst helps, he tells me after very many calculations and function point analysis and what not that my team will need 6 months to finish. Then comes the manager who unaware of the discussion I had with the analyst tells me we have 3 months only. Much fun it is and Dilbert makes more and more sense everyday. All this estimation though was demystified seems bloody complex. And I began to wonder how budget and time estimations and planning is done for a big project in other industries. Think about movie making. A big bollywood potboiler. Do they have a tool where they input number of heroes and villains. Number of twists. Is it a love triangle? Quadrangle, more people so more time. Evil inlaws...who die so more people but not so much money. Comedian, he comes free, no change in numbers.

7. Untitled (9/7/07)
Nothing seems to be going right. For people around me. I am helpless...

8. Do you care to know where I've been and what I've seen? (9/23/07)
Back from Pune from an official trip. Feels good to be important. Especially when someone at the airport is waiting for you holding up a placard with your name. I wouldn't know because they had the wrong name up. The city though decked up for the festival looked old and worn out to me. But then I really didn't get a chance to see much of the city. Meanwhile back home, B'lore doesn't feel like home anymore. It is crowded and alien. I have never wanted to get away so bad. Also reading 'A thousand splendid suns' doesn't help. It is similar to Steinbeck's Grapes of wrath in the sense that the suffering just doesn't end. And to think it could have actually been a true story, that women in war torn troubled Afghanistan fought battles of survival everyday makes my spine shiver.

9. Untitled (3/5/08)
Its that time of the year (where I work) where everything we have done or not done in the last year is questioned, judged, appraised or ignored. Is there a way in which this can be done in a fair unbiased manner? The way it is designed right now is that it all boils down to one person and your relationship with that one person. The boss. That is in my opinion is unfair. And most people would agree the boss is not always your best buddy at work. To make things a bit confusing we recently turned into a 'flat' organization (whatever that means) from a hierarchical one. That is just a load of crap because there hasn't been any change in the reporting structure, all they did was throw at us some fancy new terms for existing design. To grow, one has to climb up the ladder though they tell you there is no ladder. So how does one get on top of this invisible ladder?

10. Khuda ke liye (4/7/08)
Maybe because I went in with high expectations I was disappointed watching this movie. The message is that Islam is misinterpreted and Muslims wrongly targeted and branded as terrorists. But this post is about the music which so totally rocks.

Unfinished posts -1

2008-07-13T18:49:00.006+04:00

Writing doesn't come easy to me. I struggle for the right words, the right mood and the right composition every time I set out to write something. And I have a so many posts drafted that I actually don't remember now what I set out to write that day. And few posts though complete just didn't feel right hence never got published. Rather than them just sitting as drafts I'll publish those unfinished posts here, sometimes its good to not know how a story ends...

1. Is it only me. (12/3/05)

Do you ever get excited when you get a message on your mobile? You are tired of pressing the refresh button for the nth time, no new mails, suddenly you hear the message alert, your heart starts racing, you never get bored of seeing that '1 message received' icon, you try to make a guess, is it going to be that person you are thinking about? Is it a forwarded message? ....then of course you open the message to see its the service provider telling you about one of their promotional offers. But receiving sms's are so much more fun than getting calls, I mean where is the suspense when you see 'XYZ calling'?

2. Untitled (4/11/06)

I sometimes hate myself for not using this space to discuss important issues or things that might be interesting or useful to people. This blog has been about me, me and me. Its not that I don't care about the world around me, I most certainly do. Its not that I don't try, like today I really wanted to blog about the sorry state that Karnataka CET (entrance exam for proffesional courses) is in but I read this on my gmail tool bar "Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect."

3. Combating laziness (7/8/06)

I could have achieved so much more if I weren't this lazy. Erm.. let me rephrase that, I could have achieved something if I weren't this lazy. Yes, it is my biggest enemy and to this day it has ruled me. Several attempts to fight it resulted in nothing simply because I was too lazy to do anything more than just make an attempt. Starting Monday (Procrastination has got nothing to do with laziness, no?) I am going to put myself through a rigorous test for a week where I make the most of time and try to be as productive as possible. The rules are simple.

Be disciplined : follow a fixed routine. (I have already completed 2 weeks of getting up at 5:45 in the morning and going for walks. Clap. Clap.)

Do it now : No putting off things for tomorrow.

Keep things in place :You think this is easy? I am a born klutz, the word 'order' doesn't figure in my dictionary (neither does simply because I don't know what they mean but that's not the point) This will also require me to designate a place for everything I own, right now everything is everywhere, the only rule I follow in keeping my things is 'Keep it out of Dog's reach'. I will do the designation part tomorrow after I clean the mess. (Boot camp starts Monday, I am allowed to put off things for now)
If it doesn't build character or if it doesn't pay don't do it.

Oooh I am so excited.

4. Untitled (9/19/06)
When I got my new phone, I decided not to blog about it. Didn't want to be called a show off. The fact that i am a show off doesn't change but didn't want to be called one. My iPod got attention here but my cell wasn't supposed to. But there is a need to set somethings clear. I chose this baby after 4 months of careful research and consultations from different qualified people. And yet people have the nerve to tell me that it isn't a good choice. Are you kidding me? Yeah ok, maybe it isn't as sleek as your Motorola Vi3. But hello??? Does it have a 2MP camera?

5. Untitled (5/20/07)

So we did make it to the movie, dad insisted that we carry odomos, lest giant killer mosquitoes in the small theater attacked us and on reaching mom regretted not carrying kingfisher headphones because the sound was abnormally loud. Odomos smelling, red kingfisher headphones wearing freaks, ladies and gentlemen, thats my family for you. Anyhow, we didn't look like freaks and all of us quite enjoyed the movie. Very DDLJish, but its fresh and green and wet (what do you expect when the movie is called monsoon rains!). And theres a hot dimpled guy who turns up in the end who makes up for the Ganesh scenes in a vest (not baniyan, my sis corrects me). I am no authority to speak on Kannada movies the only movies I watched were Anant Nag movies (no surprise I liked Mungaru Male, Anant Nag is as good as ever) or few artsy movies by Girish Kasarvalli, but I think the movies coming out these days are much more matured than ever. They have done away with the 'cheap' image and are catering to a wider audience. Radio is playing a huge role. I only hope they make more original movies and stop copying from Bollywood.

Btw, dad paid for tickets and popcorn and pepsi, feel guilty now for not buying mom a gift :(

Fear Factor

2008-07-12T16:51:00.005+04:00

Yesterday coming back from work there was this old guy (old compared to the otherwise young IT crowd) in the bus who mentioned there was some tension in the city. People got excited and there were frantic calls being made to learn more. The guy though wouldn't stop, I heard him make at least 15 calls calling different people warning them about the incident and with each call exaggerating a bit. So, he probably did a good thing by alerting people but I felt he was just creating panic. I called up a friend who works close by, he dismissed it saying the situation was under control and there was nothing to worry. This guy however, lets call him oldie, asked the driver to take a different route though the usual route hardly comes close to the affected area. He then made the driver switch on the radio to listen to the news, it wasn't even mentioned! After a lot of fidgeting and 'panic creating' he finally gave up realizing that the situation was probably under control. I heaved a sigh of relief and was about to go back to my music when oldie next made everyone in the bus close the windows. "Chinkungunya mosquitoes are coming in" he said. This after two giant mosquitoes had just bitten me. While his intentions were both good he was unnecessarily panicking and worse spreading the fear. And I could see he enjoyed it. Shows what an uninteresting life he otherwise has if this is how he derives joy. I spent the next one hour in the bus wondering how many days I'd have to take leave if I contracted the disease. Loser.

One, Two, Threeeeeeee

2008-07-04T07:51:00.003+04:00

Blog turns 3 and I feel like I am 103! Reading few of my older posts I ask myself, when did I stop being funny?

This old age I tell you.

2nd year birthday post
1st year birthday post
0th year birthday post

Travel blues and greens and yellows

2008-06-29T12:15:00.008+04:00

So it takes 2hrs for me to get back home from work. On a bad day 2.5 hrs. About 1.5 hrs to reach work in the morning. Surprisingly I don't have as much problem with it as people (including me) thought I'd have. It doesn't bug me so much. Maybe because I was prepared, I knew it was only for a short duration and I am not really loaded at work. I also don't have to come home to screaming kids or a nagging husband and cook or do anything of that sort. So yeah, it turned out ok. What did surprise me though was that I didn't know the traveling would actually help me. For one it is a perfect ice breaker when talking to people. 'So how long did it take today?' , 'Were you stuck there?' I only have to start ranting about the traffic and next thing I know is I am discussing elections with a complete stranger. Second, I quite enjoy the sympathy I get from everybody. 'You come from so far? Really? Must be so tiring'. Third, I escape from work as early as 4:00 pm, only to shop at the factory outlets lined up near the place. No one objected, I live so far you see.

The only problem I have though is that at the end of the day I can't help feel that two precious hours of my day is lost doing nothing. I don't mind the travel in the morning, not being a morning person those hours don't count. I do exactly what I'd do otherwise: Sleep. Traveling back home, I've tried everything possible, I cant sleep, I cant read, I get bored of my playlist easily. With the crap that they play on radio, listening to it is not even an option. So all the two hours goes in daydreaming and introspection. Both of which are useless and unproductive.

I have one more month of traveling to do. I think I am going to miss the travel and the conversations after that. But I really hope in years to come traveling within the city becomes easy. Two hrs a day is not worth losing in commute.

Glue

2008-06-27T10:01:00.004+04:00

Are you friends with someone because he/she is a good friend of your friend. You know, A knows B, and B knows C. So A knows C. A, B and C hang out together and have a good time though if B is not around A and C are just ok, not that great together. B is the glue.

I am glue to few small groups but most importantly I know many glues and hence know quite a few people through the glues. But off late I am been lying low. Not doing a good job as glue. And not keeping in touch with glues. My social circle is thinning rapidly and this is not good news. All this because I have not been blogging/gtalking/orkut-facebooking/phoning as much.

So why have I been lying low? No apparent reason. Just. The change that I was dreading turned out to be great. Excellent, in fact. I am now a firm believer of the age old saying change is good. More on it later.

Anyhoo are you glue? Or more of a glue-befriender?

Kyunki padosi bhi humans hai

2008-05-15T18:58:00.007+04:00

Yesterday night as I prepared to turn to bed, I heard loud voices followed by sounds of wailing women. Curious and worried I looked out of the window only to see my neighbour's family fight right in the middle of the road. There was some yelling, name calling, scuffles and few tears. The girl was to get engaged the next day, an inter-cast wedding, a drunk father, a house full of relatives, the scene was set for a typical family drama except it wasn't happening behind close doors but in the open for all to see. I kept watching them for sometime guiltily, hiding behind the drapes. Trying to piece together what might be happening and guessing who was who. Soon I got bored, the voices drowned and the silence of the night took over.

The problem with Indian families is that we worry too much about others, what they think and this whole so called 'image'. We prefer pretending to be perfect and put up a show even if the pretending is causing more damage. When such a thing happens people sympathize but are secretly glad to know that they are not alone. That lives of others, green as it may seem is not always so.

I think we should all once in our lives come out in the open, scream/shout/fight and stop pretending to be perfect. Because no one is anyway.

Today, the girl's engagement party went on with pomp and show, no one in the family showing the slightest trace of what happened yesterday. Because thats one good thing about Indian families, we stick together no matter what, even if it is just to put up a face.

Scrubs

2008-05-01T20:40:00.002+04:00

“The easiest way to lose something is to want it too badly.”

-JD in Scrubs.

Out of my comfort zone

2008-04-25T11:18:00.006+04:00

I wish I hadn't made this post. Starting Monday I have to travel 20km (or more?) to work. I am going to be positive about this though knowing that my plan backfired does bother me....just a little bit. Politics at work if nothing is vary vary interesting.

In other news, I am 19 according to the voters list. Good it feels.

Coming soon 'How to make best of 4 hrs (or more?) of travelling a day'. Watch this space.

2008-04-18T18:34:00.009+04:00

I use google news only partially to get my daily dose of the news. If you see my web history, I rarely click on a news item and if I do its usually general news.

Yet google grossly underestimates my intelligence by recommending either bollywood or other sleazy news.

and...

My search history is also very clean. I wont post a snapshot of that ,you'll have to take my word for it. Whatever profiling they do is obviously not working.

I am not one bit happy about this :X

Virgle

2008-04-01T19:20:00.001+04:00

I didn't fall for this, this year. But I know some people who did :D

Team Lunch

2008-03-29T19:34:00.005+04:00

Organizing lunch for a group of 30 is a stressful affair. There are people opposing the location, cuisine, the seating, the lighting and just about everything. But then they (the hungry ravenous souls ) eat like theres no tomorrow. Stress apart, I now have to explain the exceeded budget to the PTBs on Monday. Bah!

B'lore is under construction, please visit later.

2008-03-27T21:10:00.006+04:00

A post that I had drafted few days back when I was terribly annoyed and irked, I decided not to post it then but I see no harm why shouldn't now. The cynic in me has a strong voice, dominating my thoughts and opinions but I'd like to think that one day things will get better, that this city has hope.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The worst excuse I ever heard was at a conference few days back where the person on being forty five minutes late says "I apologize on behalf on Bangalore's traffic for being late". What the? By now everyone knows you can't state traffic as an excuse anymore. Traffic is bad (to put it mildly) and that is that. Even I am sick of cribbing about it all day long. The problem with us is we wait till we have a problem, wait till it gets worse and then discuss the problem endlessly until we tire ourselves. Like the new airport. Why weren't there enough people talking about the bad choice of location and the innumerable transport problems when the project started rather than now when it is nearing completion? That time, I actually thought it was a good idea to have a new airport considering the bad state the present one is in, why was I so short sighted? Why don't we have enough people to predict the problems we may face and prevent them?

Ok so I am rambling here but the noise, the chaos, the mess is driving me nuts and when I hear myself complain about it to the next person it drives me all the more crazy at my helplessness and the ridiculousness that the situation is. The same things are being said over and over and over. So I blog.

Right now I'd rather be the person living out far away reminiscing about the good times, about VB dosas, MTR idlis and by-two Kapi rather than be here and eat the dosas.

I know why the caged bird sings.

2008-03-23T10:13:00.007+04:00

Weekdays revolved on a sameness wheel. They turned into themselves so steadily and inevitably that each seemed to be the original of yesterday's rough draft. Saturdays, however, always broke the mold and dared to be different.

-Excerpt from Maya Angelou's 'I know why the caged bird sings'.

I had been looking for this book ever since Oprah mentioned it on her show some five years back, the book was either out of stock or never stocked. And then I forgot about it until I saw it at a book fair few months back. I couldn't have chosen a more perfect time to read this. It is the perfect book for summer (more so if is raining in summer) and it coupled with the long laid back weekend reminded of everything I missed about summer holidays. It reminded me of a time when everyday felt like a Saturday.

Autobiographical work of Maya Angelou, it is about growing up black in small town in Arkansas. Beautifully written, a must read especially if you loved Harper Lee's To Kill a Mocking bird.

Dear Raghu, Part 5

2008-03-23T09:50:00.004+04:00

Dear Raghu,

This episode was fun because it was fair. So much that one could see shreds of humility even in Anmol. Could it be possible that all the episodes be fair and just? But then I guess the show wouldn't be as popular and I might not be writing these pointless letters to you and asking questions to which answers I already know.

Btw, I would love to audition to be a judge on Roadies 6. So would Ringchen. How does one apply, not be a roadie but to be a panelist? We are willing to provide our services for free. Please let us know.

Shradha

Previously,

Dear Raghu, 1
Dear Raghu, 2
Dear Raghu, 3
Dear Raghu, 4

Dear Raghu, Part 4

2008-03-16T12:42:00.005+04:00

Dear Raghu,

All the effort you put in designing the tasks and games are an utter waste of time. Why don't you change the format of the game to something like this :

1. Put all roadies in a room, let them all fight and call each other names all day long. (You might want to change the name of the show to MTV Roomies)
2. Make sure your favorite person or HER team wins immunity one way or the other.
3. Have a vote out.

Much simpler, no?

Sigh, even my letters to you are getting predictable. But I must say I am looking forward to the next show where you tell the roadies what a horrible job they are doing, its time someone told them that.

Until then, be good.

Shradha

Previously,

Dear Raghu, 1
Dear Raghu, 2
Dear Raghu, 3

Dear Raghu, Part 3

2008-03-09T17:37:00.005+04:00

Dear Raghu,

Last episode was ugly. Did you intend on it being this way? It is sometimes hard to believe people on the show are kids, some as young as 18 and 19. Sometimes I don't like what I see. They constantly say its all in the game, but its not really, what we see is a reflection of their personalities. There is only so much one can fake.The cursing, the bitching, the backstabbing, the plotting and scheming is not part of the game it is part of who they are. Given this, it scares me to think that Shambhavi at 18 can be a conniving little fox (I don't like the world bitch- how is a female dog derogatory? I like the word bitching though) and makes use of people to such an extent. And Anmol, I hope someone gives her a does of reality, she thinks she doesn't want to be around the others truth is no one wants to be around her. To make things worse these people actually think they are on the show because they are special. Next season the Shambhavis and Anmols will be forgotten but what will happen to them? Do you think they are going to see themselves and the ugliness on television and wake up? Will their experience on roadies help them be better people or will they grow more obnoxious? Or maybe, hopefully, they will just grow up.

This is why reality shows are fun. You see real people and real emotions, see them make fools of themselves and you secretly thank that you aren't like any of them. So yeah for me it is entertainment but I also sometimes worry for them. Do you ever?
Does your conscience bother you that you meddle with the lives of young people and make money out of it?

Shradha

Previously,

Dear Raghu, 1
Dear Raghu, 2

Law of Time vs Enthusiasm

2008-03-05T21:00:00.006+04:00

The desire to do new and different things that interest you is inversely proportional to the spare time you have.

I am now relatively free at work and my enthusiasm levels to do anything have dropped to zero. Being 'available' on gtalk gives only momentary relief from the boredom. I have four posts drafted, will post them when I get busy again.

Postscript :
At the end of each post I face this arduous task of finding labels or tags that best suit the post. Believe me its not easy. There is no 'reuse'. I create different describing the same things (office, work???). I now realize there is no label for boredom. Which is impossible because so many of my posts are boredom inspired. The feature that I dearly welcomed in the new blogger is now turning into a pain in the you know where and the whole purpose is lost. Pah!

Dear Raghu, Part 2.

2008-03-02T17:29:00.005+04:00

Dear Raghu,

Why do I get the feeling that some things are fixed on your show? Like the part where Shambhavi wins the roulette? This is like Bani all over again isn't it? I thought her winning the 'advantage' was also unduly unfair. To quote from what you said to Snehashish the other day, 'you are making it obvious'. Maybe you should cut it down a bit next time, don't you think? Besides I don't understand why you picked Shambhavi this season, Bani was fun, this one is pure evil. Well, lets see how long she lasts, or how long you let her last.

I will be writing more often to you now so watch this space.

I love you less but I still love you,
Shradha

Previously,
Dear Raghu, Part 1.

A letter.

2008-02-13T20:43:00.003+04:00

Who is Raghuram?

2008-01-21T20:53:00.001+04:00

Executive Producer of MTV Roadies/judge....yella ok, but who are you really? Just want to say, I love you. If I ever want to take up that course on psychology and human behavior seriously, I will come to you. Please be nice to me.

2008-01-06T13:37:00.000+04:00

I don't forget conversations. I remember your every word, the way you said it, the awkward pause, the disappointment in your voice. And I play them in my head over and over until I want to hear it no more. Sometimes I wish I hadn't said the things I said. Sometimes I wish I had said it better.

I hate photography.

2008-01-03T18:56:00.000+04:00

I hate photography. And here are some random thoughts on the subject, random because try as I may I cannot put them across in a coherent way.

1. I am your muse.

From being extremely camera shy to being obsessed with my own photographs, I have made an incredible progress. There are more pictures of me taken last year alone than whole of my adult life put together. Heh, the cafeteria people at work even used my picture as a backdrop in their mails to promote a 'biryani' festival. Without my consent that is. Twice. If they use it again I will sue them (or ask for royalty) But yeah the narcism is all thanks to digital cameras, gone are the days when an entire event had to be captured in 32 pics. I now insist on taking 32 pics of one pose, at least one is bound to be good.(Good = human, not zombie like). But I still hate photography. How else can you explain the 31 bad pictures? (Bad = zombie like, zombie from another planet that is)

2. Shutterbug = blabbermouth?

Yes I know you take pride in knowing every minute detail about the camera, every single part it is made of down to the very tiny screw that holds the I don't know what......but keep the gyan to yourself. I am happy being ignorant and I'll keep it simple. How hard is to press one button really? In my opinion, too much technicality ruins the joy. Besides all that talk about filters, exposure, light mumbo jumbo only gives me a headache. It should be impulsive. You see something nice, you click. You want to capture a moment you click. Like the time I saw these two tiny pups tugging on its mom's tail. Or like when I saw that board that said 'Don't stick any bills. Stickers will be prosecuted'. Those make good pictures, not your knowledge of how the camera came into existence.

3. There's a camera in the way.

Do you sometimes get the feeling that when you are having loads of fun, taking pictures actually comes in the way? And many a times, you get so preoccupied with taking pictures that you stop having fun and fuss about the snaps. I'd rather enjoy the moment than worry about it not being 'picture perfect'. You know all those photos that people put up on orkut or facebook? They aren’t really having fun. They only want you to believe they are.

4. My friend, the camera.

The only times I have enjoyed taking pictures is when I am all on my own. Holding a camera is the perfect excuse to not look awkward or loserish. Traveling alone, the camera makes a perfect companion. Otherwise, I am happy with my 2MP mobile phone camera, that is all that I need for impulsive photography. And your smuggled, flashy (pun intended) one of a kind state-of-the-art, high precision camera does not give me a complex. Oh, I also hate complicated equipment.

I hate photography. But I like photographs. So save me the lecture on how you took them and how you fixed them, just show me the damn pictures. They should speak for you.

SMS story...the year that was.

2007-12-27T21:23:00.000+04:00

With over 1000 text messages, my cellphone inbox is overflowing. I need to make space and deleting them is painful. Recording some of them here, those that aren't very personal yet mark important happenings of the year that 2007 was. Some are edited from sms lingo to readable language.

01-01-2007
B : Happy New years..This is B from the same school you studied...D gave me your number.

05-01-2007
SR : Yes Im having a candle lit dinner with my estranged boyfriend! now u shoo away and leave us alone. :P
07-01-2007
MP : I am going now to get my wedding photos from my dads friend's place. Come by 1:30. Sorry for the inconvenience caused :P

15-01-2007
SR : You lucky dog!! I get romance with a slap. :D

15-01-2007
NK : Hi whats up? I came home, really shocked to know about M, will she marry again?

16-01-2007
MP : I wont be coming to aerobics today, need to be in ofc by 9.

18-01-2007
SSR : Be prepared for todays session.. L is attending, maybe M has asked her to evaluate us.

19-01-2007
NK : Do you know some galata is happening in shivajinagar?

25-01-2007
SW : They did of course notice you and were very inquisitive about you. My mom was so glad, she said you were very good antha..

27-01-2007
SW : How is punjab? Did your teammates bug you?

27-01-2007
SW : Is there a lot of greenery? Like they show in movies?

30-01-2007
SS : How is the trip going? I envy you...a week with friends away from home and work. U owe me a treat when you come back. Enjoy!

14-02-2007
DP : happy valentines day da.

14-02-2007
NK : Is your valentine party over or what?

15-02-2007
SR : WHAT!!!! the nerve of that girl! What do we do? I am soo angry!!

17-02-2007
PM : Busy shopping? I will be there at the concert at 7:30.

26-02-2007
PR :Ay Russel Peters tomorrow anthe. Gube.

06-03-2007
M: All the best. Have a nice trip. Pls call me if there are any issues.

07-03-2007
PR : Check if driver is hindu and marry him.

11-03-2007
PR : You should have seen these ppl. Don't come back. Marry that taxi driver. BEST.

12-03-2007
PR :OMG. I got through XXX. I cant believe it.

14-03-2007
PR : OMG I CLEARED IT! Shit Im in the top 24!

17-03-2007
CT : How are you? Did you move to new hotel? Do you need anything?

18-03-2007
PR : I think I am going to faint. I made it. Im one of the top 12 now.

12-04-2007
OB : Ahh! We are here, come to say bye!

13-04-2007
LS : Welcome back to India.

16-04-2007
NK : K is serious, P told.

01-05-2007
MN : Yes Dear. ;)

05-05-2007
RN : I know, let me enjoy this moment :)

10-05-2007
PM : Packed and ready?

13-05-2007
SR : Ye thanks a lot..got a silly XX for company. irritating me no end!

25-05-2007
PR : I give you such a nice review and all you say is hmm?

02-06-2007
SR : Its ok. Forget abt the play. You take care and be with your mom.

22-06-2007
RN Yippee...congrats, lets party.

14-07-2007
MP : Orkut is banned?

18-07-2007
RN : Where on earth are you? No reply on mail..not picking the call...gimme a call imm. need to book for potter on saturday.

21-07-2007
PR : S is already in line. Lets leave fast. I am not takin bath.

21-07-2007
NK : How is Harry? Is he dead or alive?

23-07-2007
SW : Oh man! I was trying to spot you on TV. Am proud of you.

28-07-2007
PD : My kid n I have come home. Leaving for hyd next week.

29-07-2007
RK: Join us for lunch

29-07-2007
RK : Get lost.

02-08-2007
PR : This guy full flirting flirting.

15-08-2007
NK : Main bhatak gayi thi. Mujhe maaf kar do. I'll watch in theatre only.

18-08-2007
NK : Hey happy bday again. Couldn't talk properly due to hiccups.

28-08-2007
RN : NOOOOOOOOOOO...get the dates changed.

04-09-2007
RN : She died yesterday night.

08-09-2007
SW : I have been messaging from past few days. No response.

10-09-2007
SW : Can you meet me at j'nagar in the evening. Its for my wedding saree.

21-09-2007
AC : P is English. Londoner.

24-09-2007
VG : One wicket should fall now, I am not watching so double tension.

24-09-2007
VG : Congrats :D

26-09-2007
NK : Are you performing? Wear skirt.

1-10-2007
RN : My radar is on for you. This place has many tamil and mallus...beep beep.

05-10-2007
AR : Flight is at 2 in the night. Kal baat karte hain.

09-10-2007
RN : Still around...got visa...date not fixed. I'll mail ya guys tom.

14-10-2007
SW : Guess what I am qualified for the party.

19-10-2007
AC : Do you want to buy iPhone?

21-10-2007
SR : I love Marley!

04-11-2007
NK : He is from IISc. His friends are like scientists.

06-11-2006
SR : Its for the best I am sure...u don't owe him an explaination.

16-11-2007
PR : Hahhahahaha. You are funny.

16-11-2007
AC : You have won a dvd from raj of cnn.

20-11-2007
SW : Me at in-laws.

20-11-2007
SR : Happy Journey!

2-12-2007
MN : Lakki magalu namma balige bandiddale.

04-12-2007
SJ : Hi, How are you? I was listening to disco and thought of you...

10-12-1007
RN : We have got to do this before one of us moves out...

13-12-2007
AC : It is like Taj Mahal

13-12-2007
AC: Sorry Leaning tower of pisa. it will not be made proper but be historic.

15-12-2007
MN : Nammibarigoo kooda tumba khushi ayitu. Matte yavaga sigodu..aunty!

17-12-2007
AC : Please let everyone else enjoy your vocal skills. Upload the file somewhere.

19-12-2007
MN : Aunty thanks for nice sweater and dress. Wearing them today :D

25-12-2007
AC : You are wicked. Please buy chocolate cake and give it to them.

2007-11-04T21:23:00.000+04:00

Turns out I have been looking at life the wrong way all along. Am going on yet another hiatus. When I come back, things wont be the same. Be good.

Talk about google.

2007-10-28T18:42:00.000+04:00

Is there a bug in gtalk? I show as online even though I don't login for days together. Just so that people know I leave my status as 'Not at my desk' these days and I changed my password to be safe. This could just be a bug but I am suddenly scared now. If someone hacks my gmail password, with just one password, my blog, photos and orkut account all becomes accessible. There is just too much information out there and I don't know if I can trust google with it. I am tempted to move my pics and maybe my blog even. Apparently you cant delink your orkut account with the gmail account. Don't be surprised if I disappear from orkut one day. I somehow don't like google anymore. Paranoia may run in the family but I have reasons to be worried.

2007-10-12T20:58:00.000+04:00

Mano Murthy is probably the best thing that has happened to Kannada film industry in a long time. I am hooked to his music. Current fav is 'Ade Bhoomi' from Ee Bandhana. And the fact that Sonu Nigam sings most of his songs makes it just perfect. Lovely lovely song this one is.

Ade bhoomi, Ade baanu ee nayana nootana
Ade daari, ade tiruvu ee payana nootana
Nanna mooda nanna hadu nanna kanase omme nodu
Nanna cheluvina nandana
Yeno madhura ee bandhana

Tonty-Tonty

2007-09-26T18:42:00.000+04:00

Thanks to the super-duper twenty20 finals, the hits to this blog have increased 10 fold mainly due to people who come looking for shirtless pics of the captain. Not that my blog has them but remember this? (Tip: Use image search, isay)

But what a match it was! Yes yes we all cheered and we'll talk about this for very many years but enough with the awards and cash prizes already. Not fair that I slog for 3 years, all I get is satisfaction while they win one tourney and make millions overnight. Coincidentally, tomorrow I get awarded (not in cash) for my work and all, satisfaction doubles. If only satisfaction could buy that Europe tour for me!

Some more bad photography

2007-09-23T18:16:00.000+04:00

Was on a official trip to Pune during Ganesh Chaturthi. Here are some badly taken pics from my phone, some of them from a moving vehicle.

2007-09-07T21:59:00.001+04:00

Independence Rock.

Freedom jam.

Dolapdere.

Lounge piranha.

New years 07.

Level 9.

I like music, live and loud.

Missed opportunities

2007-08-25T23:21:00.000+04:00

They are haunting me.

And...

2007-07-22T17:42:00.000+04:00

..its finally over, the wait and the story. Finish. Time to get back to reality!

THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING!

2007-07-19T18:58:00.000+04:00

If things can go wrong they will. And they did. My perfectly laid out plans for a perfect potter weekend have been disrupted to such an extent that I want to scream at the top of my voice 'THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING TO ME'. But of course as always they are happening to me. Saturday is working for a few of us! The last time I worked on a Saturday when we had to compensate for the Rajkumar riots. No riots this time but I am working. Which means I will have to spend nearly 6 agonizing hours in office while the whole world is rejoicing Voldy's fall and mourning the losses. And of course no tickets for Sunday(Well going by the reviews I don't really mind)

Anyway here's the new plan

Reach store at 5 am.
Get back home read as much as possible.
Switch off cell.
Go to work.
Keep away from mails, fan sites and the world wide web.
Get back home.
Avoid sister (She would have read by then)
Read all night.

More on Potter

2007-07-18T19:17:00.000+04:00

The story so far and what to expect in Deathly hallows.

Filler post

2007-07-15T18:42:00.000+04:00

I am alive and all that. No inspiration to write. Yeah, I know what you are thinking, I do need inspiration to churn out whatever crap that goes here. Not as gifted as you are. So anyhoo, I go to my college yesterday, thought I'd drop in because I was in the vicinity. Apparently they don't let girls in after 6 in the evening. What? Have they got Umbridge for a principal now? Heh, its not like our principal was a Dumbledore. And no I haven't watched the movie yet. Cant get tickets, not without magic at least. Its like what Ron says about everyone sporting tornado badges 'they are all not real fans, they are just jumping on the bandwagon'. Yes I am bitter and I think all the pseudo fans are making it worse for me to get tickets. And yes the marathon is going on at a very slow pace than I expected owing to unexpected turn of events at work. Nevertheless I am reading Half blood prince now so I am just in time for the Deathly hallows. So there, I can write with no inspiration at all. :P

New Look!

2007-07-07T16:39:00.001+04:00

Am so excited! Tell me how you like it :D

Two years old.

2007-07-04T18:56:00.000+04:00

Blog turns two today. Most people land here when they google for the title of this blog. I don't know what you are looking for but I know you don't find it here. My sincere apologies.

One year birthday post here .

After 10 years.

2007-06-19T19:02:00.000+04:00

This post is an agreement entered on 19th day of June 2007 at Bangalore by and between the owner of this blog and best friend/confidante of owner of the blog, stating that 10 years from today, come what may (husbands, kids, pets, neighbour's pets or any other excuses 35 year olds may come up with) both parties will together embark on a historic trip to China irrespective of which part of the world they are in, irrespective of what life would have done to them in those 10 years. Both parties agree not to include any third party(husbands, kids, pets, neighbour's pets) in the trip. Both parties agree to equally contribute in the planning of the trip (Tickets, stay, what to wear etc). In an unlikely even that the blog is closed down during the above stated period, the agreement still holds good since it has got nothing to do with the blog but with the blog owner.

Deathly hallows....

2007-06-17T16:32:00.000+04:00

Coming few months are going to be tough. What with the release of the last of the Harry Potter series and me turning erm 25. Whatever be the fate of Harry, that being the last book will leave a void in my life and turning 25 has never been easy on anyone. I have a plan to deal with both but for now starting today I am going on a Harry Potter Marathon. Wish me luck and join me if you care to.

Save the environment

2007-06-08T16:58:00.000+04:00

Few days back I swore not to be so self-obsessed and decided to at least make an attempt to care. Needless to say my blog which primarily focuses on me, had to be neglected. Also two months back, I stopped traveling by autorikshaws. There just wasn't anything to write about.
I genuinely am concerned about the environment so this is not just an attempt to keep the blog alive. Read on.

June 5th being environment day, a lot is being written and discussed about the saving the environment. I just intend to add to the list of dos and don'ts, something that will make a difference and will go a long way in saving the environment. My humble suggestion :

Please don't burn effigies. I am not judging you. I realize you are sensitive and are appalled when you see/hear about the shameful happenings that occur everyday. Like when a certain person is hugged by a foreign national. Or when someone paints your God and is crazy enough to display it. Or when a certain somebody refuses to sing the national anthem. Such atrocities! I sympathize with you and I realize the responsibility that you have taken upon yourself, to set things right in this insane world, to preach us about our culture and tradition. Enormous task it is indeed! My only request is, please don't burn effigies. See, when you do so, you are helping destroy this already fragile earth. Every time you feel the need to burn some one's effigy which is almost everyday, plant a tree. Name the tree after the person who has angered you. The plant will be a living testimony of the heinous crime for years to come instead of mere ash/smoke that your burning would otherwise cause. Your grandchildren will be proud of you. And maybe someday some celebrity will marry the tree and you will be famous again. Thank you. Peace.

2007-05-19T11:24:00.000+04:00

So its my mom's birthday (tomorrow). And I announced I wanted to do something nice for her. This statement alone caused a lot of excitement at home and the focus shifted from actually planning the birthday to discussing what in the devil's name had gotten in to me. Anyhoo, I say 'May be I will cook a full course meal'. It has been over a year since I last entered the kitchen, my confidence levels in the kitchen aren't exactly 'full course meal cooking' worthy. Idea no. 1 dropped. Anybody can bake a cake but I am not anybody. Idea no. 2 went down the drain. Dinner at a nice restaurant? We are just back from a holiday and I cant take anymore of the 'nice restaurant dinner table conversations'. Idea 3 not even consider worthy. And then of course someone else comes up with that one brilliant plan, you wished you had thought of yourself. Movie! We never go out for a movie together. The only movie I have watched with my parents is umm errr.... Dr.Do Little. Yeah. Don't ask why. Coming back to the plan, we aren't going to watch any movie, we are watching The movie. The movie that people still haven't stopped raving about 3 months after its release. The movie that has broken all records, the movie that is so amazing it will tug at your heart (considering it is a Kannada movie, some add), the movie whose songs are still played on the radio, 100 times a day. (I love them btw) And when your dad knows the actor's name of a Kannada movie, there must be something to it. Yes, we are going to watch 'Mungaru Male'. And we are going to watch it in PVR. Parents are not movie friendly people so the fact that I was taking them to a fancy multiplex is a bonus. Except there is one small problem. YOU DON'T GET TICKETS TO ANY FRIGGING MOVIE ON A WEEKEND. I mean its just a movie. 3 months since the movie released, surely everyone must have watched it by now! No, you need a month's planning just to watch a movie!! Sheesh!! Good news is the theatre in our neighbourhood still has tickets. Thank God for small stand alone theaters. Never watching a movie in a multiplex ever. They are for the jobless who have no better business than to book tickets in advance so that they can act smug and sneer at the last minute decision makers like us. Get a life is what I say!

La la...we are watching The movie. Ganesh is it possible that you could wear a shirt in the movie just for me? Multi colured baniyans doesnt go well with me. I am thinking my parents will not like it either. Nothing much we can do about that I guess. Ganesh, if you didn't guess is the actor in the lead role. Not some random guy who wears baniyans. Lets just hope the movie doesn't disappoint.

Mungaru Maleye, yenu ninna hanigala leele.....

Almost forgot, happy birthday Mom!

The Kite Runner

2007-04-21T21:37:00.000+04:00

This now figures in my list of all time favorite books.

2007-04-14T10:57:00.000+04:00

From Bambi:

Mrs. Rabbit: What did your father tell you this morning?
Thumper: [clears throat] If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all.

I am going to be following this from now on.

2007-04-07T11:33:00.000+04:00

Hard work and sincerity still pays. Makes me happy. I met a very beautiful couple yesterday, makes me happier.

And lets just pretend the last post didn't happen shall we? I didn't mean to delete it, I updated it from office, now I see it never got published! Whatever.

Gmail Paper!!

2007-04-01T23:50:00.000+04:00

2007-03-31T12:38:00.000+04:00

Day Light Saving makes no sense to me. You advance your clocks and you pretend its some time you want it to be? Rubbish! Sometime back I attended a seminar on cultural differences between the east and the west. And this is one of the points the speaker had brought up. That Indians live by the biological clock while in the west it is mechanical. And that in India everything follows a cycle, the day follows the night and so on. Which is why we tend to be relaxed about timelines, its not the end for us theres always tomorrow. I agree to some extent but he was bang on about the biological clock. Every morning the alarm on my clock screams it is 7 but my body clock refuses to believe it because it only 6! As I struggle every morning I wonder what the effect of DST be in India, if implemented. How do you tell 1 billion people to advance their clocks? The chaos and confusion it would create....And another excuse to tell your boss why you are late 'I forgot to advance my clock'.