1 more day

And finally it's all about Mom.

4.30 AM - 5AM (thereabouts) when I finally get home, I will have Mutton Biryani, no matter what I do I am sure she will be wide awake to welcome me and that pretty much sums up everything and anything.

Oh btw, my Mom lives in Pune.

2 more days

The place is opposite Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan.
The place is where we crashed countless times.
The place has become our "goto" place.
The place has graffiti on top, jhula down, awesome people inside.
The place quite literally defines the essence of Pune.
The place is MJ's place.

That place is gonna be hounded again.

3 more days

So its about 7 PM. Done with the football match. We are all dead tired. If its Pune university then that means a trip to the univ canteens for a good cold neembu pani, samosa-chutney, sabudana khichadi. If its MIT ground then a quick trip to Durga for the good old cold-coffee followed by Pav Bhaji at Jijai and kulfi at chandni chowk. If its Pune camp then the sandwiches at Marzorin or the King Burgers and Thumbs Up at Burger King.

One thing common to all would be the long, pointless, lukkha conversations with no relevance to nothing. Just pure laughter and fun.

5-8.30 PM's in Pune were probably the most unproductive and best times of my life.

4 more days to go

10.22 AM. Darn! Late again. Quick shower, put my jeans on and off on my bike.

11.10 AM. College campus. I walk by the lecture hall. I shrug, its pointless having to hear the professor's rant again. Turn around and aah!! There is my fellow lukkha friend Amey. It doesn't take much to convince him the futility of siting for the 10.45 lecture. Cold Coffee is enticing enough and off we head to Durga promising ourselves that we would be back in time for the next one.

11.45 AM. 2 Cold Coffee' down, anda bhurji (1 by 2) has lured us.

11.50 AM. Whoops!! What the heck! It doesn't make sense to go back now. We continue our extended breakfast into lunch when are dear batchmates join us.

It's a cloudy day. Good chance it's gonna rain today. Ahem! Ahem!
Amey: "Sinhagad or Khadakwasla?"
Me: "Sinhagad. Bhajias and chai, don't you think?"
Geek: "What about practicals guys?"
Satchit: "Practicals!! What Practicals?" (chuckles)
Me: "Done! Sinhagad it is."
I call up Akshay. "Akshay!!! Wassup? Dude can you copy down the practical notes for me please. Thanks mate"

That pretty much summed up the 4 years of engineering.

5 more days to go

5 minutes - Ani's place.
10 minutes - Ashish's place.
12 minutes - Madu's place.
14 minutes - Rahul's place.
15 minutes - Anoop's place.

Where else but Pune.

6 more days to go.

You know the water in Pune tastes good too. You know like tasty water.

You know...

Just Another Post

Turning a few pages back wasn't really in my list of things to do but it happened. A little bit of pain crept in, I wouldn't deny the freshness of its intensity. The time passed by didn't seem to matter. I wrapped it up once again, never again to let it get out, atleast that remains the intention.

Is this always gonna remain with me? The only answer I get is not the answer to the question but the fact that I have a home to think of. I have a go to place at the end of the day. I've seen Americans building a home wherever they end up, but thankfully for me, I will have something that will always belong to me. I am gonna get to see it once again. I am gonna get to see home.

I have a greater happiness to live for than the pain. I thank God for that favor.

"Mumbai Spirit!"

I hear this over and over again.... "Do what you will with my city, you will never be able to destroy its spirit. Salaam Bombay!"

Seriously people, quit saying the same thing and look at the realities. Everyday lakhs and millions of people get into those locals knowing all too well the risks, cause if they don't, their families are left to bear the brunt each and every single day. I fear that soon life will be back to the same, all these fancy quotes will disappear, the government will freaking applaud the brave souls, applaud the "Spirit of Mumbai", provide those so-called hard evidences to the ISI chiefs and from past experiences, that will be the end of it till another terror attack.

Pakistan is a country just like ours, with innocent citizens who lead a life pretty much the same as any other world citizen and I do not mean any harm to them but sadly its true that among them, these rogues have safely camouflaged themselves and are operating without fear. Pakistani leaders says that are ready to work with us on every level. Wake up you Indian political malfunctions! It's time to declare war on terrorism. Get our brave army to trace out those terrorist outfits located on Pakistani soil (which maybe hard to digest, Pakistanis, but true) and wipe them out . I do not care to know what the Pakistani government is doing or will ever do anything regarding this, cause quite frankly its none of my concerns. What really concerns me is our political leaders (I rather call them malfunctions) are actually, all over again, using this attack to play the blame game. When will they rise up and act as our country leaders?

My heart reaches out to those killed and the bereaved families, I wish we had more to give them that just mere sympathies and condolences . I wish we had a government that would provide them with some kinda justice. I wish we have a government that would prove me wrong, at least this time. If and when that happens, we will truly be proud of our "Mumbai Spirit!"

And while at it, might as well...

Have you noticed. Most of the times, these cool instruments are almost always played by these coolness personified Jamaicans. Some people are just born to be cool.

Dave at Luther College

The man to the rescue again. I need to cut a CD for my car, I know my old laptop has most of his songs but I need to get that started (which takes roughly about 20 mins)

This one (and this version) was among my early favorites, heard it again. Masterpiece!

The man creates a masterpiece with his voice and 2 guitars.
Take a bow!

Leave of Absence

I have been counting my days to Thanksgivings but far away on the other side of the planet, 10 is the magical number. My absence on 23rd is overshadowed only by my refusal to acknowledge it. All the katta sessions, the tiramisus, the vasoo mamas, the apaches, the king burgers, the bike rides, the beef acharis, the kingfishers, the accha!s, the mutton biryanis, the heartbreaks, the late night chais, the maltaps, the dads, the man-u's, the liverpool's, the plan, the mega-plan, the back-up plan, everything had one thing in common; we did it together.

I am gonna take a leave of absence on the 23rd.

Stamford Falls

And who else to make it happen but Liverpool!

Aah! Glorious! Glorious!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/table/default.stm

.

My best friend gets married and I can't make it. I don't know where I will be on November 23rd but I sure know where my heart will be.

I always intended for this to be a happy blog so have decided to not write for a while.

George Varghese

My summers were spent in Bombay with grandparents. As a kid, I disliked leaving my friends and all the possible fun we could have had but at the same time the thought of being with my grandparents and the entire gang in Bombay was enticing.

My grandpa was one of a kind. There wasn't a concept called unhappiness. I knew not what sorrow meant, when with him, I felt secure. I remember grandpa to be a happy soul, cheerful and always content with life. He didn't have no worries in life me feels; quite contrary to the truth but that was the kind of man he was.

I wish I had half the strength as him, nevertheless I will try and that people, is what is called Osmosis. He lives on.

I love my car and the system. I need to go on drives more often.

The Last Pioneer?!?!

I just realized that I am alright.

The more I stressed, the more things seemed to get away from me.
The more I held on, the more it seemed to fall through the cracks.

I do not stress no more, I do not hold on to it. Tomorrow I will face it, maybe there won't be anything to face at all. Let life take its course.

Arshu brings me a lot of happiness, the dude has finally started mumbling stuff too. I love my kids.

Now Bhaat to do.

15th August - Independence Day back home.

For me its a Friday with a hopefully early start to the weekend.

Wireless is Working

Weekend: I kept myself happy in spite of stuff happening around me.

Tomorrow is a whole new day, 24 hours at a time. It's pretty clear how I intend to live through it. I wish I had a dumbass robot at my disposal who would bounce off anything said with a PJ. Even better, I need that kutta sessions where anything and everything was aptly translated to humor. I need a good laugh in spite of it.

3rd August, 2008

Huge day in my life. 3rd Aug, 2008. God taught me an important lesson today. I re-confirmed my faith in Him, to tell you the truth, it meant more to me than just that. People will come and go, some will stick around, some not so much but I can count on that something within me to be with me. Always.
I had lost it, buried it for quite sometime for reasons that made sense to me but that didn't take me very far. It's got a name now, a new entity within me, its no longer me within me, it's got a new name, Jesus.

I heard a man today say "Beta, fasna nahi!" Huh! At the end of such an important ocassion, I realized what an important step I had taken to put my trust in Him and do it for the right reasons rather than a man. I wish I had my mom to share this with, I wish I had my grandpa to hug and tell him that I had given him one more chance to be proud of me. I am sure he is partying up there :) .

I've re-confirmed the lessons taught to me, I've decided to keep my foundations intact. Now I need to get back to the people that have been with me through everything. The people I can count on, default per say. Apart from my family, the first name that comes to me is Ashish and my Aachaey gang. They are my reasons to be thankful to God for, I need to carry them along with me.

I like!

One Rare Day

Today was a strange day. I felt so many emotions, be that of anxiety, to that of surprise, some of realization... then despair, then comfort to peace to laughter to nothingness.

Little things leave a mark on me while the most "intensive" thing goes by without a blip. Fact is apart from me, only one entity knows my ways and I must say He knows it all too well.

Everything packaged in one day is a rarity. I had the chance to interact with a lot of people today but I didn't. I didn't feel like it, just like that. Some of the people who have come to become my own here still do not know how much I value simplicity. Partly because my brain can't simulate too many complications and partly cos laziness kicks in. But it mostly has to do with the fact that I need to execute everything that I do (or think of) perfectly (atleast in my sight) and simplicity helps make that job easier.

Having said that even though I do a good job of simplifying anything to a yes or a no, I do not undermine the efforts that go into the execution of the "yes" or "no". I made couple of decisions today, just a simple "yes" but I cannot possibly fathom the effort I will have to put in to execute it (atleast one of them). Binoy needs to grow stronger.

It's simple. Tomorrow is Friday.

I heard some heavy stuff today. It was one of those talks that has a lot of gravity in it but me being me, I fail to see a practical implementation to it. The core funda is a given but the stress on impossibility makes me wonder what will ever be enough.

One things for sure, what I have learnt over these years isn't futile. One's experience teaches more than one can imagine. I can't answer my own doubts, neither can I say I've it all figured out but it still makes sense to keep it simple. It always does.

I don't wanna be on a high just to see it drop and lose its purpose. I am in it for a sustained attempt, one that will bear results. It's a personal choice, at the end of the day things are only as good as you make it out to be.

Yep, that thing again!

I got to be honest to myself, so I did what I did. Now I gotta take it and go to the next step. I've been like this all along but this is the first time I will have to deal with it(particular place, particular scenario). What happens next is not in my hands but I should be able to deal with it cos I didn't let myself down now.
I be.

One' Good. Two' Better.

Tomorrow is an important day. Finally some action to kick start all that has been going on in my tiny lil brain and heart. I need some of my ppl to be with me to pull it off.

Finally let it be God's Will.

You bet I can crib

So I am little bored. Bored of having too much on my plate at work, bored of having to think, bored of taking time out to do nothing.

Why does 7:17 AM come so soon?
Why does a meeting have to take precedence over football?
Why does pending work and deadlines live through the next 48 hours?
Why is it that Arshu grows up in Pune and I sit here with only her voice to contend with?
Why is it that my future is of great concern to one and all?
Why do people around me have to talk sense and things of responsibility?
Why is it that great summers in Portland are lived without the satisfaction of mangoes?
Why aren't evenings accompanied with chai, parleG and conversation?
Why is mom just a voice or an email?
Why can't Nov 23rd, Dec 17th and Jan 1st be the same day?

Is there no one on earth seriously contemplating making a time-machine?
I still try to be.

Laziness with a Difference

I've been swamped with work off late. My weekends are packed too, there is just so much going on in my life at the moment. Again, I aint complaining but every now and then Binoy must go back to laziness. That is kinda essential and when that doesn't happen, something is obviously wrong. They say that one must find a balance between professional life and personal life. My theory is a lil different though, I need to find the right balance between everything else and laziness.

The pattern of lifestyle I have followed post [one that must not be named] has been pretty rudimentary. Stick to the basics, keep myself happy and let the rest fall into place or take care of themselves. Simple, easy and can be easily incorporated. Laziness accounted for too. The interesting point comes when I see the same fundas in action but for a different purpose altogether. What surprises me most is the bunch of overlap. How many times can you say that person reminds you of yourself? Not very often, isn't it? Interestingly enough, I know that I can make a big deal of it or let it be and somehow I don't wanna just let it be. Conflict in fundas; yeah but there is also something called inquisitiveness. The curiosity to know what's the commonality between us. Why is it that we match so vividly but have vehemently different lives?

I am resting on the fact that some day I will have the answer. This is one exception to the rule, letting go..... not happening.

And just when I started to enjoy existential living, change is lurking around the corner.

I have been in US for about 3 years now but the past one year has debunked certain assumptions. Positive connotation though. Binoy wants to be in a place he can call his own, atleast until Pune beckons. Is it too late? That's not gonna be answered, is it?

Convenience

Try minimizing the focal aperture of your eyes and look at the thing you have been looking at again. It would seem different. Try doing the same thing and look at life, it most certainly would seem to have changed. Slight aberrations to the Obvious is not a bad idea you know. Don't go to the extent of befuddling the entire situation but a little bit of it helps.

You can choose to not get affected by the world.
Sit back , relax and have fun!

Why is it that winning is the only way out for me? Everything else just seems unacceptable. I have this rush of energy that keep urging me on. I am not sure if this is a good or a bad thing. I know in sometime I will make my peace with it but till then I will torture myself with self-contempt. I need to learn to not let this affect me and the people around me.

You know Binoy, the problem with you is you don't wanna end up being "nearly the best". Everything is about winning, enit?

Life' just like that

It's really really weird how life has its ways. No matter how much you're tempted to feel you're on a high, bang! right there, life gets you back to earth. Thankfully for me, I wasn't too high and I had a not too awkward landing.

Relinquishing control. How many of us really understand what that means? I don't know about the world but that means a heck of a lot to me. It's huge, its massive, its humongous. Above all its scary. And as time passed by I realized it's not really about relinquishing anything rather strengthening an already existing foundation. What is making me write this? I don't quite know but what I do know is in between all this there is a chance of one getting a jolt out of the blue.When that did happen what made me get up and go on was the foundation that I had unknowingly built all these years by just living life. It's funny in that the least expected channel could potentially sabotage everything, make a crack in those foundations or ... or the very same channel could be a true test of its resilience. There is a fine line between the two and I for one kept dwindling between them till I made my peace with it. Long confusing rambling made short, I am what I am and I made myself proud today. I have only God to thank for.

On a lighter note, I heard my friend say this about someone that had me in splits. "Waste of Mankind!"
Let me say that again. "Waste of Mankind!"
Do you realize that there is not one good comeback from that. Its such a freaking brilliant statement. No seriously, try imagining the statement. Waste of mankind. As if there isn't dearth of humankind on this planet, to actually be called the "waste of mankind". Brilliant! I am sure not many will even fathom what I am saying here but whatever be it, I laughed so hard and so long it reminded me of aachaey laughter sessions.
I truly be.

Banal

I happened to go back and read one of my own posts and was amazed at how long ago it seemed. I think I would like a time machine at my disposal.

And with time my simulation runs seems to be taking longer and longer. May 8th, 4:12pm,Building E, Office 3349. Thanks to a certain Ms X (name changed to protect privacy) it seems a much better life than those Intel Managers who don't do squat and make the poor interns work.

This is how a bored, sleepy and listless engineer sounds like.

Formulating an Answer

May 4th, 10.50 pm - May 5th, 1.30 am , 2008.

I hope I can maintain this. It's a start and maybe this is the time God decides to bless my mom. Everything is through her, that wont ever change.

1998

We were a decent team. A goodish squad with a fair amount of talent up front and a defence that could hold its own against any attack. Our opposition, Don Bosco High School, one of the favourites to lift the cup; man to man comparison and they were couple of notches better than most of us. But you see with football you can eliminate all of that with just one word, Passion.

August 1998. This was gonna be the last year for me in school before moving on to college. For years I had been the talent but this year was gonna be different. Its easy to just be the talent and score goals and revel in the popularity that comes with it. But this year I was the senior and people looked up to me for inspiration. We had been without a decent coach for 2 years now and it was upto a few of us to guide the rest. I was venturing into unchartered territory.We had 3 good strikers and I wasn't in the mood to rest any of us. I decided to play myself in the position just behind the 2 strikers. A surprising decision to push myself back but it was to pay dividends later on. I knew by doing so I was exposing the midfield and it was upto me to fill that gap. Haah! You see if you've been a striker all your life, its extremely painful to get back helping out when all you really wanna do is make runs off the last man. I was no different but today I would have to control that urge and play for the team.

Into the first half and they were all over us. They worked their passes elegantly and I wasn't doing a good job of this new role. Our midfield was non existent and I was largely to blame for that. They ran all over us and before we knew it the scoreline read 0-2. A first half to forget. I was disgusted with myself but I couldn't show. The team was down and the guy supposed to lift them up was filled with disgust himself. I swallowed the disgust and pepped up the team. I was determined to lead them by example on the field.

The second half started off much the same way but in the fifth minute (thereabouts) I won a tackle and that got us going. We strung some passes and got the ball into the final third of the field. The winger blasted the ball wide off the goal but that was the first sign of life in the team. A little later we were back with the possession and this time we played the one-two's to get the ball through to Parag (striker) who struck the ball goalwards. The goalkeeper saved it but fumbled the ball, Parag was there to side-foot it past the goalkeeper. 1-2! Not the most good looking of goals but we weren't complaining. We were back and I could see the spirit running through the team. The midfield was beginning to win most of the tackles, we kept losing the ball in the final third but we doggedly persisted and kept winning back the ball. I attempted an audacious chip into the path of the 2nd striker who slotted in the ball from close range. 2-2! The team erupted. 12 minutes left to go and we had made the most remarkable of all comebacks. The match wasn't done just as yet. Don Bosco was pegged back and they no longer looked like the force they were a few minutes back. They made one good attack and our defence was upto the task. The ball was cleared past the half-line and I was there to collect it. I dribbled past one of them and was now into the last line of their defence. From 30 yards I took a shot. It sailed through into the left hand top corner of the goal. 3-2! You know how in those typical bollywood movies time stops right there. It did to me too. No, seriously! That moment got stuck into my memory so distinctly that I can replay it even today. I ran back to the defence celebrating like a guy possessed. The comeback was truly complete. We had won a near impossible match and had made it to the semis.

That second half truly demonstrates what passion does to us. Now when I look back I do feel that second half makes me get up and get going every time I need that little bit extra. We had done the school proud but more than anything it provided me with one of the most cherished moments of my school life. Personally I cherish that moment way more than coming second in school but then that's just me.

It's all good. :)

Happy

7 pm. I watched the movie. It was bold but it was real. It was sweet. At the end of it, I was a happy guy. I prepared dinner and it felt good. Sometimes in life you don't need to dig deep to find the stuff, it's right there in front of you.

You can keep it simple ... if you want to.

Mid - March Bliss!

Pune was fantastic. I expected nothing less and got nothing less. Just 2 weeks and I cramped in about a month's worth of of living. No wonder this past one month seems to have lasted an eternity.

I am one of the blessed few to have the privilege of being a Punekar I wouldn't do half as justice to describing the essence of the term as Ashish does but I am very much that and this trip just re-instated my faith. Only a Punekar will understand this and I really don't care to explain much either. I experienced my past life again and it's all I needed to re-affirm where my future will be. I've a bunch load of people to thank for such an amazing trip but the truth is, that's always the case when I go back.

I celebrated my birthday in Pune after what seems like eternity; it was the most random party ever. Me and Rahul have, on more than one instance, had the opportunity to form really hybrid groups but this party beat them all. My friends (the ones that were officially part of the party), the entire Gokhale hostel, two Americans, two Mexicans and one German made up the numbers. How did we get together is an entire story in itself but nevertheless kickass night. That was followed by Holi and our dear old friend Nikhil was greeted with a good old fashioned Bakra to Pune. To my surprise the bloke took it really well and I am really proud of the bugger. A big thank you to all the characters especially Ms. Radhika Kale aka Shreya Teegala and es es Ashish Kulkarni. I had tears in my eyes, fantastic performance! You literally had your two minutes of fame :)

Pune seems to be growing by the minute literally. I am alright with all the developments but Pune Central in Model Colony broke my heart. It's like a dagger right through the heart of the city. Those dumb idiots! The pain factor associated with the city seems to be gradually greying out.

I'm back to Portland and back to the grind. Portland, in many ways, reminds me of Pune and thank God for that. I am gonna make the most of my stay in Portland. There is still plenty of stuff to be done here. It's Friday night, I feel a tad lonely but writing this post has kept me in good spirits.

... And I finally saw Binoy trying to make his way back. Finally it's started :)
I be.

Respect

Passion. An emotion that drives so many people to achieve whatever they intend to. It's such a pleasure to be part of such a passion just for the heck of it. I've come across a few of 'em off late and I admire the way they set about doing their tasks with the sole motivation to succeed. I don't care what it is about, some career-oriented, some others benevolent but its just such a grounding experience to watch them in action. There are a few things that I've been passionate 'bout and even though none of them relates to the other there is a common sentiment that comes out pretty blatantly. It's the drive that keeps egging you on to not give up. At times you keep it burning, at times its self sustaining but to keep it consistent over the period of its life is what goes on to determine its worth.

At the end of the day, irrespective of the outcome, I'm filled with admiration for such people and they will always be the ones held in high esteem. This is my last post before the India trip, I can't wait to be back to my way of life.
Pune.

Appreciation Galore

Every time I go to Portland downtown I regret the fact that I don't have enough people to share the fun with. It's such an amazing place. I know of so many people that would be a kickass fit here but unfortunately aren't here. Then there are others who are all over the country and I pray they get their asses whilst I am here and experience what I have come to cherish.

A downtown with all that you could wish for and surprisingly not overpopulated. You walk into one of the top notch places and there is just the right amount of crowd and the perfect dose of fun quotient. The rain is a stumbling block for many, I would imagine, but once you learn to live past it, the whole playing field just opens up. Not a lot to ask for, you know, if you learn to appreciate the beauty that comes with it but then lets leave that discussion for another day. For now I do intend to go there more often and plead all my friends to come see this place.

It's fabulous, trust me.

There' Never Enough Places

I've been meaning to write for sometime but just haven't had the bandwidth to sit down and do so. It's been a travelling Feb for me and once again it was a series of trips one after the other.

Going back to Raleigh was fantastic, I really had an awesome time (quite unexpected really) I spent two years of my Master's life there which doesn't necessarily translate to me getting all nostalgic 'bout the place cos quite frankly I don't. But it was different to see the place in a new light. As a visitor. Friends were visited, close friends were wined and dined with, I apparently was engaged in a skirmish with a certain Mr. Vishwas (for some reason I referred to him as bharosa.com) I leave the interpretation of 'some reason' to the reader :)

San Jose was the next destination. Even closer friends were visited, dined with and end of it all hugs were exchanged and thats it. Nothing particular to write home 'bout.

Time to change destination, Houston. It is this whole other country where 'massive' 'huge' 'vast' is literally the order of the day. Texas, people, doesn't know what it means to be conservative, pragmatic etc etc. Everything (and I mean everything) is large and expansive. Be it the roads to the buildings to the parking lots to the Texans. I was also able to put face to one of the blogs I've been a regular at; which was one of the upsides of the trip. Apart from that I'm content just knowing Houston houses NASA and all that jazz. Good, very good but thank you very much.

A quick pit-stop at Dallas, a night with mom and the kiddos and I was off to San Diego.
San Diego. Aaaaah! Doesn't the mere mention of the city change your expression? No seriously, doesn't it? Laid back Southern Californians, old town native Mexicans who still find it hard to digest the fact that the city is no longer a part of Mexico, beaches, I can go on but I will stop at that and change topic to my long lost best friend. I meet him after eternity and he's become this cool chap sailor guy with a house in the north side of the city. Perfect life, no?

Cutting a long story short, Binoy is running out of cities to visit in the North American continent. I'm back to Portland and gladly so. Couple of quiet weeks/weekends will be followed by another trip to the other side of the world. Next stop, Pune. -- Kay Ata!!

P.S: A big thank you to Ms. Dhara Parikh for introducing me to the Tiramisu at CPK, I owe you for that.

An Effort

I am rather appalled to see how things work in this world. I am not the revolutionary kinda guy; out here to change society but I think I have enough motivation to do whatever I can to let the deserving people get their due. And thankfully this time I have the resources to see it through.

Let me re-iterate this once again, I am only just trying to use the system to do something that seems the right thing to do. I am determined not to get worked up if this doesn't work out but I think I am smart enough to pull it off. Rest let things take its own course.

Old Dirt Hill

Dave Mathew' one of a kind. He just seems to go on and on doing his thing and boy is he brilliant or what? This is my current favourite track and symbolizes everything that seems to be going on in my tiny lil brain. All the fun, the naiveness, the thrill, the risk, the nostalgia, everything... just everything seems to come out in this song.

Try and see his live version that he performed at Radio City. I know of many people who just can't seem to understand what he is upto. That's precisely it, he writes as he thinks, doesn't matter if the world agrees or comprehends, it sure makes mighty sense to him. And if you are able to relate to it, then it so bloody hell does make sense. Watch the master doing what he does best and you'll know what I am talking about. If not, what the heck, it makes for a good listening.

Old Dirt Hill

"Bring that beat back to me again

Come on take me back, can't catch me can't catch me
Bring that beat back to me again
Come on take me back, can't catch me can't catch me

Can't catch me ride my bike down the old dirt hill,
First time without my training wheels.
First time I kissed you I lost my legs,
Bring that beat back to me again.
I hear scream and shout out loud of innocence
And days when all we did would never end.

Bring that beat back to me again
Come on take me back, can't catch me can't catch me
Bring that beat back to me again
Come on take me back, take me there, can't catch me can't catch me

Smoking under the railroad bridge
I used to ride my bike down that old dirt hill
The first time I kissed you I lost my legs
Bring that beat back to me again
I hear scream and shout out loud of innocence
Days when all we did would never end

Screaming down that old dirt hill

Bring that beat back to me again

She stole __
That's when the days I remember seem so far away

That's just a kid. That's what I miss. Just a kid.
That's what I miss

Oh take me back, take me back to that beat again
Smoking on the railroad bridge

Bring that beat back to me again
First time all with good, good friends.

(Can't catch me, can't catch me)
Bring that beat back to me again

Take a bow.

Resolutions And All That Jazz

An event less week in office was accompanied by a rather lethargic Saturday. Very little, if at all, has changed in the last one year for me. But if I have to look beyond that, I probably wouldn't be able to relate to it now.

"Change is an essential part of life."
"Everything happens for the best".
I've heard this too many times and to be honest I am not really a fan of the 'eventual happiness'. All that does is instill some kinda false hope, an expectation that things will, hopefully one day, be alright. This thought is drilled into our heads since a very early age. Most of us go about achieving it in our own ways but not all really know the finish line, let alone reaching it.

Today I felt something I have known for sometime but haven't had the time or willingness to accept it. I have learnt the art of being a journeyman and taking pleasure in not knowing the finish line. I don't recognize people by their actions, I rather experience them and move on. The same old people that have been a part of my life continue to intrigue me; the newer ones keep me interested. I might be digressing a little from the topic here but I wanna write down this part for future reference, lest I go another path later. At least I will have written proof that I, for once, walked this path too.But I think I am here to stay for sometime, I like being in this domain than anywhere else. It's simple, convenient, allows me to be more lazy, pretty much lays to rest all the possible doubts. Yep. I seem to have found my comfort zone.

Off-late I have found many interpretations to that. A friend of mine says I've lost it. Another says I am taking time off (pretty long I must say). But it's alright really. This is the best thing, it's all good. Oh yeah I almost forgot. "You've become a stone" hehe. That's alright too mikey!
I am looking forward to seeing how this churns out. May be next year this time should be a good breakpoint, I might find myself in yonderland but then what the heck! This is way better than those new year resolutions that people keep forcing me to stick too. Stick too? Seriously! There are those who want me to stick to something I have never made in the first place. With all due apologies, not my cup of tea. Jan 26th. Hopefully I will remember the breakpoint.
For the countrymen, Happy Republic Day!

I be.

Thursday Night Rambling

I go through this phase every now and then. I wonder in spite of everything I do, will anything ever complete me now. I try and travel a lot, experience new places, different company every time, different kinda fun. I play every sport I can lay my hands on. Even now, evening time, I get desperate to leave office and just play. Come weekend and I invariably am out, there is never dearth of enthu public.

I know I shouldn't be complaining and mostly I don't. But time and again I find myself coming to a halt. Full-stop. It could be something as mundane as eating a subway when all of a sudden I stop and just stare. Today coming back home from baddy, I parked the car and just sat there for some time and did the same, stared. That's all I did, bloody stared... into nothing. I had, some time back, let go of certain expectations, certain wishes. I lived past them, I succeeded to a certain extent but with that I also gave up something that defined me within me. I don't think its something I have lost, just buried deep deep inside. Few feeble and futile attempts at uncovering it were made but rather easily tucked away.

I think I will sleep now.

Finally!!

The Tiramisu at Macaroni Grill!!!!
Now that's what I am talking about people. Ameeta finally has some competition. A close second, I would say.

Finally some justice to my taste buds.

Back Home or Thereabouts

I am tired. Dallas - Vegas - Portland - Vancouver in the past 2 weeks, I wouldn't complain but now I am thoda tired. Good to be back home, sitting on the couch and back to mundane life.

I wouldn't say that Vegas isn't the place to be for New Years but ladies and gentlemen, me be from Pune and thats where all my Decembers are gonna be henceforth, thank you very much. Bas. Done. Period.

I liked Vancouver a lot. In spite of the fact that I went there the wrong time of the year, the city has an undeniable charm that doesn't go unnoticed. Some claim it to be the best city in the world, I can see why they say so although my personal favourite will always be Montreal. Its maybe not as enriched by nature as Vancouver but its one of those cities you want to build your summer home in, not to mention the personal attachment I have with Montreal. I was in Vancouver for about a week and I really feel the students at UBC are a blessed lot. Situated right in the middle of paradise. Absolutely fantastic university.

Back home to Portland for now. It's amazing what that word 'home' does to me. When I reached Dallas, met my sis, niece, nephew, mom it felt like home. Now when I'm back to Portland I get a similar feeling. Multiple destinations - Home. I am not going through an identity crisis or anything, just love it when my body shrugs off all tiredness at the sight of home. Be it Dallas or Portland, I can feel the tiredness flowing out of my body at the mere thought of home.

Why am I talking about home? I wonder too. Over the 3 odd years that I have been here, these so-called homes have given me the little pleasures of what it really feels like to be back to where I belong. I don't care where my ancestors came from, what was their identity, all I really care is the warmth, the sense of belonging I get when I think of home. And that to me is Pune. It always will be. Everytime I return back to Pune, the thrill and the excitement of a child returning home from boarding school will run through me.

I will start making plans for my India trip soon. Pune, my home. :)