The movie is only about 4-5 days old and writing something about the movie...."Aal izz well" seems already cliche. What a fabulous movie!!
The movie just reinforced my fundas all over again. And it was important it came now, every now and then you tend to question yourself and every time you manage to succeed but it's good to sometimes get the reinforcement from outside.
If you ain't a happy person then aal izz not well mate. It's as simple as that.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
...and I can continue with my gibberish
I like looking forward to what life has to offer in the next 24 hours, a week or even a month from now. Beyond that I don't know, neither do I wish to know. Actually even a month seems a lot, but with holiday planning, it can go way beyond that.
It's nice to live like that, things are kept at acceptable levels, no fretting, no fuming. Up until now, I've had friends similar to me and they continue to be so. Just that none of us are stagnant and that seems to be the reason we aren't quite living it with each other, which makes us few and far in between creatures. For the most parts I don't think humankind is like that, probably rightly so but I am not like that. There is this notion (I am one of them) that one relates the most to people of ones region where you are most likely to find like-minded people. On the other hand, I like diversity but that's really just a temporal attraction.
I get along really well with people but I've noticed that it is often misconceived to be like-minded. I put a lot of stress on like-mindedness being the primary quality required to have a fun time, this includes having a sense of humour and/or a satirical take on life. But since it seems to be scarce or getting scarce, I wonder if it is at all possible to have a good-ish time with the acquaintances. Or is it time for a change, a major overhaul or just go back?
Or am I just spoilt for choices?
It's nice to live like that, things are kept at acceptable levels, no fretting, no fuming. Up until now, I've had friends similar to me and they continue to be so. Just that none of us are stagnant and that seems to be the reason we aren't quite living it with each other, which makes us few and far in between creatures. For the most parts I don't think humankind is like that, probably rightly so but I am not like that. There is this notion (I am one of them) that one relates the most to people of ones region where you are most likely to find like-minded people. On the other hand, I like diversity but that's really just a temporal attraction.
I get along really well with people but I've noticed that it is often misconceived to be like-minded. I put a lot of stress on like-mindedness being the primary quality required to have a fun time, this includes having a sense of humour and/or a satirical take on life. But since it seems to be scarce or getting scarce, I wonder if it is at all possible to have a good-ish time with the acquaintances. Or is it time for a change, a major overhaul or just go back?
Or am I just spoilt for choices?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas!
I wish I was back home right now. Nothing compares to Christmas in my country, in fact nothing compares to my country. I'm going for the second best option. Not too bad.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Profound Garbage
It certainly is a curse and by the same token a boon that we possess such a fleeting mind. Nothing in this world can have a lasting effect, persay; it can have a persevering effect but the very fact that everything changes with time makes it unsustainable. Is this notion true or do some things really last forever? My personal opinion is there are only about 1% of the things that I think (or atleast want to) are sustainable (only a ridiculously long period of time will really tell), the rest is pretty fleeting.
What this really means is that 5 years down the line, will all this that you hold important/dear/significant really matter? Unless of course it's in that 1% of things. Which means the happiest of people are the ones who just chill out in life cause they have figured out the futility of stressing about stuff that will not matter.
See, I always knew there was a profound hypothesis behind why everyone should chill out. I really can talk/write gibberish. But why not? After all it is my blog.
What this really means is that 5 years down the line, will all this that you hold important/dear/significant really matter? Unless of course it's in that 1% of things. Which means the happiest of people are the ones who just chill out in life cause they have figured out the futility of stressing about stuff that will not matter.
See, I always knew there was a profound hypothesis behind why everyone should chill out. I really can talk/write gibberish. But why not? After all it is my blog.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
LCD for the day
I value this life a lot. In fact a lot to be affected by others. Yeah I know for the most parts I am a kid, but I think I am capable enough to make my own decisions.
I think I can live with my own decisions, not other's.
Oh, btw my room is near complete/perfect.
I think I can live with my own decisions, not other's.
Oh, btw my room is near complete/perfect.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Guys - Uncles
I was reading through this article of Aamir Khan, an interview (I think) talking about 3 idiots. The question asked was about playing a 20 something being a 44 year old. He replied (please don't quote me on this) that he really still felt like 20 something anyway. He talked about this incident where he used to meet a 30 year old fellow and refer to him as uncle only for someone to stop him from saying that (considering his own age).
This part I can so relate to. Most of my friends, atleast the close ones that I know are guys. By the same token, I know uncles who are 20 something's too. Is it that I can only see my friends as "guys" having known them since childhood or is it that there are 2 varieties of male species; Guys and Uncles? I wonder what happens to the second kinds, how do they manage to look as uncles? Or are they "guys" for someone else? The same might apply to the female species but I am not venturing into that domain. Regardless, I have seen those uncles kinds to talk, walk and behave like uncles and ditto for the guys which makes me believe that it is the state of your mind that rubs off on your appearance as well.
Anyway, having written another one of my random theories, I am going to watch Angels and Demons tonight. According to me, the best book that Dan Brown has written and I am pretty sure the movie is going to butcher it up but hey, I would gladly watch a Tom Hank's movie anytime.
This part I can so relate to. Most of my friends, atleast the close ones that I know are guys. By the same token, I know uncles who are 20 something's too. Is it that I can only see my friends as "guys" having known them since childhood or is it that there are 2 varieties of male species; Guys and Uncles? I wonder what happens to the second kinds, how do they manage to look as uncles? Or are they "guys" for someone else? The same might apply to the female species but I am not venturing into that domain. Regardless, I have seen those uncles kinds to talk, walk and behave like uncles and ditto for the guys which makes me believe that it is the state of your mind that rubs off on your appearance as well.
Anyway, having written another one of my random theories, I am going to watch Angels and Demons tonight. According to me, the best book that Dan Brown has written and I am pretty sure the movie is going to butcher it up but hey, I would gladly watch a Tom Hank's movie anytime.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Last Minute. Good Minute.
My New Years might not be that bad (sane) after all. Too early to speak but fingers crossed :)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Fish, Sol-kadi, Long Drive and Awkwardness
It's official. Anish' mom is THE person to go to for any seafood preparation. Thank you Ashish, wait... don't blast me again, I didn't call you back out of sheer courtesy. :)
Aah, the joy of aunt's in phoren-land, the fish, the prawns and the sol-kadi and the sol-kadi and the sol-kadi to top it off. Bless you Aunty. Pet khush, dil khush, paisa vasool, thank you very much.
So Anish is one of the Ashish, Dennis category friends. One of the main (not proud of it) quality of this category of friends is that we are extremely pathetic at keeping in touch. So much so that I had made plans to come to Richmond more than a month back and I completely forgot that Anish is in Richmond too. Only for our man, Ashish Kulkarni, to remind me the same and that his parents are visiting him. Ata Kay! Aunty cooks, reverential sigh, Ashish is woken up at 8 AM in Pune, he curses, we grin, we eat, I'm sure he will read this post in sometime, he will curse again, everyone happy. Good Night.
Off late a few of my posts have dealt with quirkiness and one more to add to the list. So the situation is that you are trying to lighten the mood with some good (or agreeable) humor and there is this one person (in this case, could be multiple otherwise) who hails from another part of the country who either doesn't get the joke or just doesn't operate at that wavelength or lack of a wavelength (if you know what I mean). Now you are stuck in this situation when the only word that comes to mind is "Awkward!!" You have the entire family, friends, having a good time and this guy is just Awkward!! You don't know if you have pissed him off or he is just the way he is but the situation is mightily awkward. So the next time you crack a joke (or a harmless wise ass remark) you aren't incorporating him in the joke and you are very much aware of his presence or should I say absence in the conversation but then bhaat to do, no? Turns out when I did prod a lil bit with him, he is a proud native of whatever part of the country he comes from, which explains his aloofness ( if you ask me, dim wittedness)
Finally, you are on your way back home, about 2 minutes from home and this song comes on which you hear after ages. You have to complete this song which is why you drive past home and continue driving till you finish it. Happens, no? Or is it just me and my family? MJ, I finally saw "This is It". You were the biggest entertainer/performer of my time. Once again in your tribute and the song for which I don't mind driving past home. Every time.
Aah, the joy of aunt's in phoren-land, the fish, the prawns and the sol-kadi and the sol-kadi and the sol-kadi to top it off. Bless you Aunty. Pet khush, dil khush, paisa vasool, thank you very much.
So Anish is one of the Ashish, Dennis category friends. One of the main (not proud of it) quality of this category of friends is that we are extremely pathetic at keeping in touch. So much so that I had made plans to come to Richmond more than a month back and I completely forgot that Anish is in Richmond too. Only for our man, Ashish Kulkarni, to remind me the same and that his parents are visiting him. Ata Kay! Aunty cooks, reverential sigh, Ashish is woken up at 8 AM in Pune, he curses, we grin, we eat, I'm sure he will read this post in sometime, he will curse again, everyone happy. Good Night.
Off late a few of my posts have dealt with quirkiness and one more to add to the list. So the situation is that you are trying to lighten the mood with some good (or agreeable) humor and there is this one person (in this case, could be multiple otherwise) who hails from another part of the country who either doesn't get the joke or just doesn't operate at that wavelength or lack of a wavelength (if you know what I mean). Now you are stuck in this situation when the only word that comes to mind is "Awkward!!" You have the entire family, friends, having a good time and this guy is just Awkward!! You don't know if you have pissed him off or he is just the way he is but the situation is mightily awkward. So the next time you crack a joke (or a harmless wise ass remark) you aren't incorporating him in the joke and you are very much aware of his presence or should I say absence in the conversation but then bhaat to do, no? Turns out when I did prod a lil bit with him, he is a proud native of whatever part of the country he comes from, which explains his aloofness ( if you ask me, dim wittedness)
Finally, you are on your way back home, about 2 minutes from home and this song comes on which you hear after ages. You have to complete this song which is why you drive past home and continue driving till you finish it. Happens, no? Or is it just me and my family? MJ, I finally saw "This is It". You were the biggest entertainer/performer of my time. Once again in your tribute and the song for which I don't mind driving past home. Every time.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
I need to revamp my room. One of the lamps is out of place and it's largely to do with one of the electric points not working. I need to put in some thought, maybe I also need a la-Z-boy in my room, although I don't know where that would fit.
Maybe after my Richmond trip. I am really looking forward to chilling with family. Binoy is going to laze around with a vengeance.
Maybe after my Richmond trip. I am really looking forward to chilling with family. Binoy is going to laze around with a vengeance.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The Kulkarnis
The time between 4:30 - 5:30 PM is a very important time of the day. The Kulkarnis know that better than most. A glorious tradition of Puneri siesta is brought to a close and another begins. A vessel is brought out, with some water, adrak (ginger), sugar, boiled, chai pathi (tea leaves) added and a pack of Parle-G and brought out in the living room of this certain house in Sanewadi.
The blissful first sip, the dipped Parle-G in your mouth and the conversation that follows defines the essence of that house in Sanewadi. There is a scientific explanation as to why this tradition is mandatory, the explanation being... because. I have tried a lot to emulate that tradition over here, and I have had good conversations/laughs during my chai-ParleG sessions with Roomie, but it just doesn't come close to that living room in Sanewadi. The reason being, you need the entire family to make up the tradition. The Dad's, the Mom's, the kids, the generation gap, the Dad's opinions (complete naansense), the kid's views about it (absolute ridicule), the Mom's (know it all) smile and the conversation/argument that ensues is very much part of that tradition. Come 5:30 PM, and you have experienced the perfect refresh button to get on to the next activity, i.e. getting your butts to the ground.
The Kulkarnis are missed every time I have chai and Parle-G which is right about now.
The blissful first sip, the dipped Parle-G in your mouth and the conversation that follows defines the essence of that house in Sanewadi. There is a scientific explanation as to why this tradition is mandatory, the explanation being... because. I have tried a lot to emulate that tradition over here, and I have had good conversations/laughs during my chai-ParleG sessions with Roomie, but it just doesn't come close to that living room in Sanewadi. The reason being, you need the entire family to make up the tradition. The Dad's, the Mom's, the kids, the generation gap, the Dad's opinions (complete naansense), the kid's views about it (absolute ridicule), the Mom's (know it all) smile and the conversation/argument that ensues is very much part of that tradition. Come 5:30 PM, and you have experienced the perfect refresh button to get on to the next activity, i.e. getting your butts to the ground.
The Kulkarnis are missed every time I have chai and Parle-G which is right about now.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
"What would it feel like to cut my own veins?"
Alright, I need to put in a few disclaimers before I start this post. The following theory is respectfully my own. No offense meant; no offense expected. It is a very relative concept, something I have only experienced in the recent past (5 - 6 years), so could be volatile and fleeting. Read it with a pinch of salt.
A "normal" human-being is an extremely rare occurrence. The first 20 odd years of your life (typical stat for an Indian, could vary drastically outside India), you will never notice what I am about to say, you need to step out of the comfort zone of your home and live independently to really notice that a fairly large percentage of the human population is not normal.
Sure enough, each and everyone of us have our own idiosyncrasies, quirks etc. Not everyone is smart, funny, patient, so on and so forth and I ain't talking about any of this. But as you experience the world outside, beyond the usual good and happy times, basically during the "behind the scene" times, you will be astounded to see that a number of people are just plain weird. There is just one word that comes to my mind. "Psychos". I kid you not, I have seen the most entertaining, fun-loving, smart people in good times to be absolute psychos behind the scene. And this is not a one off scenario, a huge percentage of the population fall into that bracket. The Psychosis could vary over a broad spectrum; could be a persistent psycho thought, psycho behavior on telephone, psycho state of being at some point in the day, psycho analysis of non-existent situations or just random psycho attacks. You know the dangerous part is that they are absolutely "normal" people in real life, in fact many of them are brilliant personalities.
You meet one of these kinds after ages, and sure enough, he is those interesting, vibrant kinds and you are tempted to think it's cool only to take a step back and realize "Woah! Well, not really. He did that again."
I have been very generous in my usage of the word "psycho", simply because I can't think of a better word. It's not as bad as to be a physically harmful scenario persay, but I hope you get the drift. There is a big time dearth of normal people in the world.
A "normal" human-being is an extremely rare occurrence. The first 20 odd years of your life (typical stat for an Indian, could vary drastically outside India), you will never notice what I am about to say, you need to step out of the comfort zone of your home and live independently to really notice that a fairly large percentage of the human population is not normal.
Sure enough, each and everyone of us have our own idiosyncrasies, quirks etc. Not everyone is smart, funny, patient, so on and so forth and I ain't talking about any of this. But as you experience the world outside, beyond the usual good and happy times, basically during the "behind the scene" times, you will be astounded to see that a number of people are just plain weird. There is just one word that comes to my mind. "Psychos". I kid you not, I have seen the most entertaining, fun-loving, smart people in good times to be absolute psychos behind the scene. And this is not a one off scenario, a huge percentage of the population fall into that bracket. The Psychosis could vary over a broad spectrum; could be a persistent psycho thought, psycho behavior on telephone, psycho state of being at some point in the day, psycho analysis of non-existent situations or just random psycho attacks. You know the dangerous part is that they are absolutely "normal" people in real life, in fact many of them are brilliant personalities.
You meet one of these kinds after ages, and sure enough, he is those interesting, vibrant kinds and you are tempted to think it's cool only to take a step back and realize "Woah! Well, not really. He did that again."
I have been very generous in my usage of the word "psycho", simply because I can't think of a better word. It's not as bad as to be a physically harmful scenario persay, but I hope you get the drift. There is a big time dearth of normal people in the world.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Saturday Morning
Woke up to this song:
Just about recovering from a cold sweep, perfect feel good song.
Just about recovering from a cold sweep, perfect feel good song.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Grad Life!
We reached Maryland. Housed at Ani's place, the bugger has moved to an apartment complex apparently just across the street to College Park and I am getting to experience the rigors of grad life again. Well, not really but at least virtually. And I am so glad I am done with it. The 2 years of your Master's life is just such a beggar life, teaches you a whole freaking lot but not something I want to experience again. I might get to eat some good crab today, something I haven't found to be well made here in the US.
I like Ani's university though... but only virtually. No more grad life for me again.
I like Ani's university though... but only virtually. No more grad life for me again.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Ab Bolta Kya!!
There was lotsa dancing. And a lot more of .....dancing and then the footballzz, the last session outdoor, now everything moves indoors.
And then haaf course, the biggie: Anfield, Liverpool. My stadium, my team. All those cocky ManU sods had to swallow their words, pretty hard at that. :-)
5 more days and then Madu comes. We hauv partayy! We hauv Halloween and then we hauv Maryland/DC.
Good skill.
And then haaf course, the biggie: Anfield, Liverpool. My stadium, my team. All those cocky ManU sods had to swallow their words, pretty hard at that. :-)
5 more days and then Madu comes. We hauv partayy! We hauv Halloween and then we hauv Maryland/DC.
Good skill.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
There is this scene in "Wake Up Sid" when Sid is taking photographs of his neighbor's son and at one point the mom wants to take pics with her son and she starts tickling him so that he will laugh in front of the camera. Then she hugs him. kisses him and asks him with that motherly affection, "Why do you trouble me, beta?"
I am sure that exact scene resonates with most of our lives. I missed my mom so much after that. If nothing, that movie is worth its weight just for that scene. It taught me a lot of things, am grateful for everything :)
But just, for that one fleeting moment, I wish I could go back, that one moment I could experience again. I am my momma's boy.
I am sure that exact scene resonates with most of our lives. I missed my mom so much after that. If nothing, that movie is worth its weight just for that scene. It taught me a lot of things, am grateful for everything :)
But just, for that one fleeting moment, I wish I could go back, that one moment I could experience again. I am my momma's boy.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Saturday, October 17th, 2009
I intended to clean my house, I ended up cleaning my vacuum cleaner(VC). The instructions on the VC say that after rinsing the filter and the likes, I need to dry it for 8-10 hours before using it. Really?
Either way I ended up doing a late night clean up of my house, yeah my neighbours and the people upstairs mustn't have appreciated it but I would have felt pathetic about what I set out to do and ended up doing. Apologies (but not really)
Add to that, this was a Saturday night activity. Yes, I know, my weekend hasn't been the best.
But I played football and scored twice which pretty much made up for an otherwise lousy day.
Either way I ended up doing a late night clean up of my house, yeah my neighbours and the people upstairs mustn't have appreciated it but I would have felt pathetic about what I set out to do and ended up doing. Apologies (but not really)
Add to that, this was a Saturday night activity. Yes, I know, my weekend hasn't been the best.
But I played football and scored twice which pretty much made up for an otherwise lousy day.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Unrecogni(z)sable!!
Except for some obvious stuff like "color" and "colour", the difference between US English and UK English seems to be fading for me. Not a good situation to be in. The Americans think I am flaunting my UK style of speaking, especially with words like "aluminium" and the opposite is true when I say "education".
The one thing that will always remain unchanged is "football". There is football and then there is American football. Bas, nothing else. Again, there is football and then there is American football. Period. Do I hear someone say "soccer"? One final time, there is football and then there is American football.
The one thing that will always remain unchanged is "football". There is football and then there is American football. Bas, nothing else. Again, there is football and then there is American football. Period. Do I hear someone say "soccer"? One final time, there is football and then there is American football.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Bad Genes
Just a collection of brilliant status messages that people have on gchat:
"The greater the demands on me, the more I need to sustain my inner calm and stability.
"Never Will my Ambition soar below the sky...Eagle was I Born Eagle Shall I Die!!!"
"Dont drink water, fish have sex in it!!"
"To think I had given up on things.. Huh..But I perfect perfection. And it's my time now..!! So you better run and hide..!!
"Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high. There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby. Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true.."
"I stand in the center of loneliness letting go of all my ties.. Filling this truth with madness.. And this madness with lies..!!
"I stare in my face as I hear your voice. A rush of blood a quiet surprise.. I wonder how long has it been.. no sense of place and time..!! This pulse so loud pounding through my veins.. as I sit and watch this play in rewind..!!"
"To judge and be judged.. You're eyes are but just human.. You're anger is but just human.. My pain but just human.. I'm but just a bag of flesh and bones.. and you can't break me anymore than I can walk on water..!!"
"The greater the demands on me, the more I need to sustain my inner calm and stability.
"Never Will my Ambition soar below the sky...Eagle was I Born Eagle Shall I Die!!!"
"To think I had given up on things.. Huh..But I perfect perfection. And it's my time now..!! So you better run and hide..!!
"Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high. There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby. Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true.."
"I stand in the center of loneliness letting go of all my ties.. Filling this truth with madness.. And this madness with lies..!!
"I stare in my face as I hear your voice. A rush of blood a quiet surprise.. I wonder how long has it been.. no sense of place and time..!! This pulse so loud pounding through my veins.. as I sit and watch this play in rewind..!!"
"To judge and be judged.. You're eyes are but just human.. You're anger is but just human.. My pain but just human.. I'm but just a bag of flesh and bones.. and you can't break me anymore than I can walk on water..!!"
"One day you will ask me which is more important? My life or yours? I will say mine and you will walk away not knowing that you are my life"
"Let's see who is paying attention .... Every single one of you are on my Friend List as a result of a conscious decision. I am not only glad to count you as friends but also as family! Let's see who in my Friend's list actually pays attention. Copy and paste this in your status. I will be watching to see who really likes to read things"
"Winners win by pushing their limits until their limits become the norm"
"Sometimes and actually most of the times my best friend has been melancholy."
"Dont know, feeling like I am in a maze with self-obstructing and deceitful paradigms"
"I took a heavenly ride through our silence. I know the moment had arrived. For killing the past and coming back to life"
"Winners win by pushing their limits until their limits become the norm"
"Sometimes and actually most of the times my best friend has been melancholy."
"Dont know, feeling like I am in a maze with self-obstructing and deceitful paradigms"
"I took a heavenly ride through our silence. I know the moment had arrived. For killing the past and coming back to life"
I wish I could be as cool as them. Bad genes. Just bad genes ... ;)
This post will always be a "work in progress" post, will keep getting updated.
This post will always be a "work in progress" post, will keep getting updated.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Yeah Baby!!
And I wrote a little too soon. :)
Aachaey is happening. Madu cometh, we hauv partayy!!
So I planned a lil early but what the heck! Since India won't happen, I might as well... :)
Aachaey is happening. Madu cometh, we hauv partayy!!
So I planned a lil early but what the heck! Since India won't happen, I might as well... :)
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sigh!
The bad news is that Aachaey reunion might not happen now, not yet given up on it but it's better to be realistic. I am still hoping Madu gets the visa but knowing how the American embassy works, it's most definitely a race against time now. The good news is that my Thanksgivings will be in Richmond. Add to that the Christmas trip and I really coudn't do much more in terms of making up for the lack of India trip this year.
One of these trips I want to try and squeeze in a Raleigh trip, it's a 3 hour drive from Richmond and I really want to meet some of my old friends. But leaving my kids is a daunting task, nevertheless I think it's the thought that counts, no? I know for sure Ashish will agree with me, we hauv wonly benevolent thoughts :-)
Looks like 2009 will have a rather sane ending. So much for my "Decembers in India" theory, alas another New Years will be wasted in US.
Sigh!
One of these trips I want to try and squeeze in a Raleigh trip, it's a 3 hour drive from Richmond and I really want to meet some of my old friends. But leaving my kids is a daunting task, nevertheless I think it's the thought that counts, no? I know for sure Ashish will agree with me, we hauv wonly benevolent thoughts :-)
Looks like 2009 will have a rather sane ending. So much for my "Decembers in India" theory, alas another New Years will be wasted in US.
Sigh!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Mathew 6:15
Jesus said, "If you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions"
Such an important verse. How many of us can actually say that we have forgiven every man for his actions against you? Well, almost everyone, no? Think about it, if you can truly say everyone, how blessed you are.
There is a big difference between forgiving and forgetting, dont mistake the second one for the first. Happened to me quite often. I think even if you can forgive at a later stage, you truly are blessed.
Such an important verse. How many of us can actually say that we have forgiven every man for his actions against you? Well, almost everyone, no? Think about it, if you can truly say everyone, how blessed you are.
There is a big difference between forgiving and forgetting, dont mistake the second one for the first. Happened to me quite often. I think even if you can forgive at a later stage, you truly are blessed.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Liverpool 6 - 1 Hull City
... and Chelsea lose... would have been awesome if ManU lost too, but an awesome start to the weekend. Pork Chops grilled in the evening, Dum Biryani tomorrow, makings of a superlative weekend, no? :)
Monday, September 21, 2009
So Long!
I am on the Interstate, driving behind one of those cars that are not exactly slow but traveling at a nagging pace. By nagging pace I mean those 68 miles/hr 'ers when you can easily do 70miles/hr . The guy is not slow enough for you to be able to pass him but irritatingly not fast enough cos of which you have to keep applying the brakes. So now you have 2 options, either accelerate to about 74-75 miles/hr and hope that you are not caught for speeding or continue to be nagged. No point to this, just something I find irksome, especially since my last post dealt with my quirkiness too.
The previous week I was in Portland again, this time on work. I experienced again, everything that I have come to love. If you ever happen to be in Portland, or driving past Portland, do consider taking exit 289 (Sherwood) on I-5 that takes you through the forest for about 10 miles before you can re-join the Interstate. Will give you a brief idea of what Portland is all about. We had our end of season Saturday night bash where I discovered one of the funniest guys I have met, Nishant. Lot of dinners, lots of lunches, mouth-watering mutton dished out in various forms, bakhlava, chicken cafia, so on and so forth. Saturday night Dandiya and Garba was the awesome-the-ness. I danced after such a long time, total dhamaal.
Having said that I think it's time to move on. I am too attached to Portland for my own good. Not that I mind getting pampered, not in the least, but I gotta move on, really. On my flight back I realized I am holding on to something that really doesn't belong to me now. And like I have come to live, I refuse to give anything the power to control me. This is the nature of anything that's good, it comes to an end at some point and that's just how it is. But I think I am enthu enough to look forward to something new. Portland is not going to feature in any of my future plans, at least for some time. A tad sad but it's cool, I couldn't be complaining considering the amount He continues to bless me.
East Coast might get hit upon more often now. I am thinking of finally visiting Raleigh, I don't think the guys there will believe me :) ... but maybe I should pay them a visit. I am pretty desperate to go to Boston, one of the two cities alongwith Chicago on my list not yet done but I am not sure if I have close enough friends to visit them. Some day I will.
Ooh!! (I had to write this) all this I write/type on my brand new Lenovo Thinkpad. Yeah baby!!
No I ain't bragging, just you know, FYI ... ;)
The previous week I was in Portland again, this time on work. I experienced again, everything that I have come to love. If you ever happen to be in Portland, or driving past Portland, do consider taking exit 289 (Sherwood) on I-5 that takes you through the forest for about 10 miles before you can re-join the Interstate. Will give you a brief idea of what Portland is all about. We had our end of season Saturday night bash where I discovered one of the funniest guys I have met, Nishant. Lot of dinners, lots of lunches, mouth-watering mutton dished out in various forms, bakhlava, chicken cafia, so on and so forth. Saturday night Dandiya and Garba was the awesome-the-ness. I danced after such a long time, total dhamaal.
Having said that I think it's time to move on. I am too attached to Portland for my own good. Not that I mind getting pampered, not in the least, but I gotta move on, really. On my flight back I realized I am holding on to something that really doesn't belong to me now. And like I have come to live, I refuse to give anything the power to control me. This is the nature of anything that's good, it comes to an end at some point and that's just how it is. But I think I am enthu enough to look forward to something new. Portland is not going to feature in any of my future plans, at least for some time. A tad sad but it's cool, I couldn't be complaining considering the amount He continues to bless me.
East Coast might get hit upon more often now. I am thinking of finally visiting Raleigh, I don't think the guys there will believe me :) ... but maybe I should pay them a visit. I am pretty desperate to go to Boston, one of the two cities alongwith Chicago on my list not yet done but I am not sure if I have close enough friends to visit them. Some day I will.
Ooh!! (I had to write this) all this I write/type on my brand new Lenovo Thinkpad. Yeah baby!!
No I ain't bragging, just you know, FYI ... ;)
Friday, September 11, 2009
Southwest
I am, for the most part, pretty happy with Southwest airlines. I don't agree with people on their problem of "herd mentality" boarding. For me, I have seen Southwest to give me pretty convenient flights, the free check-in luggage still applies with them, seats are not bad.
Having said this, there is one thing about them that distinctly irks me. I have noticed that none of their flights (at least the ones I have been on), ever start "on-time" persay. Everytime it takes off about 10... 15...20 minutes late. The flight attendant informs us that we will make up time and eventually we do make it to the destination on time. I kinda feel they do this on purpose, I don't think they ever intend to start on time in the first place.
For the umpteenth time now, I am waiting for my flight to Portland, it apparently takes off at 7.20pm. It's 7.04PM now and the flight plane hasn't arrived. It will arrive, I am sure, in the next 3 minutes, we will, like always, take off about 15 to 20 minutes late and process repeat. I don't know why they do this, just have the take off time at 7.40 PM for all I care.
And just like I mentioned, I can see the flight arriving. Process repeat.
Having said this, there is one thing about them that distinctly irks me. I have noticed that none of their flights (at least the ones I have been on), ever start "on-time" persay. Everytime it takes off about 10... 15...20 minutes late. The flight attendant informs us that we will make up time and eventually we do make it to the destination on time. I kinda feel they do this on purpose, I don't think they ever intend to start on time in the first place.
For the umpteenth time now, I am waiting for my flight to Portland, it apparently takes off at 7.20pm. It's 7.04PM now and the flight plane hasn't arrived. It will arrive, I am sure, in the next 3 minutes, we will, like always, take off about 15 to 20 minutes late and process repeat. I don't know why they do this, just have the take off time at 7.40 PM for all I care.
And just like I mentioned, I can see the flight arriving. Process repeat.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
http://www.idem-remarketing.fr/catalog/images/LENOVO%20R400.jpg
Aich!!
Miami was awesome, Mangoes brought back memories of my Spring Break Trip, '06. Roomie, Bevad, Big D, Gautam, Teju, Niksbhai, Mangoes is still pretty much the same as before. I didn't get one of those pictures taken this time though :)
I think Miami is worth at least one more trip before I am done with it.
Aich!!
Miami was awesome, Mangoes brought back memories of my Spring Break Trip, '06. Roomie, Bevad, Big D, Gautam, Teju, Niksbhai, Mangoes is still pretty much the same as before. I didn't get one of those pictures taken this time though :)
I think Miami is worth at least one more trip before I am done with it.
Friday, September 4, 2009
I am getting ready to go to the airport.
Miami....Aich!!!
And then I look for my wallet and can't find it. Shoot! 20 minutes into the search and nothing. And suddenly Miami dreams evaporate. I am thinking of getting my license done, canceling my credit cards, debit card... what the!
Finally I do find it in the pile of my Expense Reporting bills and receipts, but those 20 minutes are absolutely not something you want just before a Miami trip, especially a MIAMI trip.
One thing about those 20 minutes, it never seems just 20 minutes, seems to last for eternity and yet not enough time before you can start off to the airport. Enough said.
Miami beckons :)
Miami....Aich!!!
And then I look for my wallet and can't find it. Shoot! 20 minutes into the search and nothing. And suddenly Miami dreams evaporate. I am thinking of getting my license done, canceling my credit cards, debit card... what the!
Finally I do find it in the pile of my Expense Reporting bills and receipts, but those 20 minutes are absolutely not something you want just before a Miami trip, especially a MIAMI trip.
One thing about those 20 minutes, it never seems just 20 minutes, seems to last for eternity and yet not enough time before you can start off to the airport. Enough said.
Miami beckons :)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Summer Time :)
Mid-week Grilled Pork. Home style.
Aich!!
Done. My home in Pune will have a grill in the terrace/patio.
Aich!!
Done. My home in Pune will have a grill in the terrace/patio.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
MJ - Tribute
The man I grew up watching, the reason I love dancing.
Oh did I tell you, Raiders won the Aid Tournament yet again.
Who had the last laugh mate? :)
Oh did I tell you, Raiders won the Aid Tournament yet again.
Who had the last laugh mate? :)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Nostalgia!
Remember the time when the entire family would gather in the living room, 8:00 PM -Wednesday, Chitrahaar. Uninterrupted film songs till 8:30 PM, really, I am serious, no Advertisements. At 8:30 PM, the family would disperse, Mom into the kitchen to heat up dinner, the kids into their rooms to make a last gasp attempt at homework, Dad probably would stick around, the only soul still interested in Hindi Samachar. 9:00 PM and everyone's back for Byomkesh Bakshi. The man with the plan, the Bengali detective, (one of the coolest guys). Dinner is consumed and so are our nails. If your family was the late night kinds, then it didn't stop at that. 10:00 PM - Surabhi. Siddharth Kak and Renuka Shahane, travel the country and show us every tradition and 'rithi rivaj' associated with places, and who can forget the question of the week, and the lakhs and millions of correct letters in which the man would literally dive into before picking up the winning letter.
T.V and Doordarshan meant the same thing to us. Multiple channels was not a concept and we were happy being ignorant. Series like Nukkad (the cool guy Guru), Mongarilal ke Haseen Sapne, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zhabaan Sambhalke, so many more to mention, the entire country watched one and the same thing. And then there were the Ramayan's where in the battlefield, Ravan or one of his sidekicks has just launched this nasty black, violet-purple arrow and our hero Mr. Ram, is cooly in his prayers before launching his bright white arrow (time-lag not a problem). Even better, the white arrow is now 10 white arrows. Now comes Ravan's turn to pray and get his 10-black ones and they clash!!
Back then in India, there was only one white guy, American or English, we had no clue, but there was only one white guy, name Tom Alter. Any and every serial that needed a representation of white coloured guy would have to be Tom Alter. A legend in his own right.And who can forget the Sunday morning educational animation series, the 'Ek Thithali, Anek Thithiliya..... Sooraj Ek, Chanda Ek, Taare Anek' ... :). Priceless!
Growing up in the 1990's had its own perks, the biggest of them being that family time was a given, an effortless activity. I think my generation has been the most blessed generation, no?
"Jungle Jungle Pata Chala Hai, Chaddi Pehenke Phool Khila Hai, Phool Khila Hai"
:)
T.V and Doordarshan meant the same thing to us. Multiple channels was not a concept and we were happy being ignorant. Series like Nukkad (the cool guy Guru), Mongarilal ke Haseen Sapne, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zhabaan Sambhalke, so many more to mention, the entire country watched one and the same thing. And then there were the Ramayan's where in the battlefield, Ravan or one of his sidekicks has just launched this nasty black, violet-purple arrow and our hero Mr. Ram, is cooly in his prayers before launching his bright white arrow (time-lag not a problem). Even better, the white arrow is now 10 white arrows. Now comes Ravan's turn to pray and get his 10-black ones and they clash!!
Back then in India, there was only one white guy, American or English, we had no clue, but there was only one white guy, name Tom Alter. Any and every serial that needed a representation of white coloured guy would have to be Tom Alter. A legend in his own right.And who can forget the Sunday morning educational animation series, the 'Ek Thithali, Anek Thithiliya..... Sooraj Ek, Chanda Ek, Taare Anek' ... :). Priceless!
Growing up in the 1990's had its own perks, the biggest of them being that family time was a given, an effortless activity. I think my generation has been the most blessed generation, no?
"Jungle Jungle Pata Chala Hai, Chaddi Pehenke Phool Khila Hai, Phool Khila Hai"
:)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
These Punjabi's I Tell You
Palak Paneer, Aloo Rasa, Parantha, Roti, Bhaigan ka Bhartha, Chaval, Ghee.
Rubdi.
Aaah!!!
Long live the Kakkar family.
Rubdi.
Aaah!!!
Long live the Kakkar family.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Go Raiders!!
We won. Raiders won the semi-finals. My trip was every bit worth it. No points for guessing, I am going back to Portland this weekend for the finals. :)
Perfect scenario! We meet our old foes Ghillies!
Let me back up a bit. So Ghillie was the team I first played for when I first came to Portland (I know the name is yikes!! Completely agree) . Well not really Ghillie, but Ghillie Rockets, the B-team of Ghillie. That same year, we met Ghillie (A) in the semis and defeated them. Three of us from that team, Sushant, Munish and myself struck such amazing camaraderie that we knew we couldn't be part of the Ghillie formation. The statement after the league, "Tum log agle saal Ghillie (A) mein khelenge", especially irked us to go out and form a team of our own. Thus came about Raiders and it's been amazing ever since. In our first year, 2008, we won the Aid's Tournament. The spirit in the team has been fabulous, the fun quotient ;second to none and last but not the least, we made the team. This was the story till last year.
And like it always happens, all good things come to an end, I took up this new role within Mentor, moved to Boulder. Sushant, our captain, had enough of US and was India bound. Raiders lasted that one year and we achieved it all. Well it was supposed to end this way but not. :) . So recession hit, Sushant came back to US. We formed the team again and this year too, we made it to the playoffs. I went back this weekend for the semis and the trio was re-united. Exciting stuff, right? Well if not, just play along, cause I am loving every moment.
And now we meet Ghillie in the finals. Come full circles eh! Another adrenaline filled weekend and I am desperately hoping it's a happy ending. Well whatever be the outcome, I am thankful to God for everything. I have made some fantastic friends here, a point worth mentioning cause I always thought I could/would never again make the kinda friends I made till graduation.
I am hoping this weekend God gives me another moment to freeze in memory.
Let's go Raiders!!!
Perfect scenario! We meet our old foes Ghillies!
Let me back up a bit. So Ghillie was the team I first played for when I first came to Portland (I know the name is yikes!! Completely agree) . Well not really Ghillie, but Ghillie Rockets, the B-team of Ghillie. That same year, we met Ghillie (A) in the semis and defeated them. Three of us from that team, Sushant, Munish and myself struck such amazing camaraderie that we knew we couldn't be part of the Ghillie formation. The statement after the league, "Tum log agle saal Ghillie (A) mein khelenge", especially irked us to go out and form a team of our own. Thus came about Raiders and it's been amazing ever since. In our first year, 2008, we won the Aid's Tournament. The spirit in the team has been fabulous, the fun quotient ;second to none and last but not the least, we made the team. This was the story till last year.
And like it always happens, all good things come to an end, I took up this new role within Mentor, moved to Boulder. Sushant, our captain, had enough of US and was India bound. Raiders lasted that one year and we achieved it all. Well it was supposed to end this way but not. :) . So recession hit, Sushant came back to US. We formed the team again and this year too, we made it to the playoffs. I went back this weekend for the semis and the trio was re-united. Exciting stuff, right? Well if not, just play along, cause I am loving every moment.
And now we meet Ghillie in the finals. Come full circles eh! Another adrenaline filled weekend and I am desperately hoping it's a happy ending. Well whatever be the outcome, I am thankful to God for everything. I have made some fantastic friends here, a point worth mentioning cause I always thought I could/would never again make the kinda friends I made till graduation.
I am hoping this weekend God gives me another moment to freeze in memory.
Let's go Raiders!!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
August 11, 2009
One of my good friend's gone back to India, for good. I am so gonna miss her, at least till the time I go back for good too. It's almost like I lost a friend. I know communication now is not a problem, global village and all that jazz but honestly I wish life just came to a standstill at college days, I wish all this would just disappear and transport me back in time to when life was all about which restaurant today, Sinhagad or Mulshi, football or football, tennis or cricket, Anoop's place or Ashish's?
I don't understand how people cope with growing up? I don't think I will ever grow out of being a kid. There are a lot of things that have fallen into place but as time has gone by the things that were a part of your life, by default, now no longer seem to exist.
On a lighter note, another set of fun trips coming up. Again I have to cramp up more than I can in the Portland trip, no complaints there. Miami-Orlando should be fun. Aachaey re-union in Maryland - DC - NY should be kickass, I have a lot going on before that but October end when I make the trip to DC, I am beyond doubt, that's gonna be the best of the lot.
I just realized I am gonna meet Ani for the third time in 6 months. Seems like the bugger has always been in University of Maryland. I remember during my NC State days, I had seriously considered getting transferred to University of Maryland, College Park, just because. We are so accustomed to calling each other once in 6 months that actually meeting thrice in the same span seems weird now. Crap, I just said "NC State days", which was like 2 years back. How do I control time??
I don't understand how people cope with growing up? I don't think I will ever grow out of being a kid. There are a lot of things that have fallen into place but as time has gone by the things that were a part of your life, by default, now no longer seem to exist.
On a lighter note, another set of fun trips coming up. Again I have to cramp up more than I can in the Portland trip, no complaints there. Miami-Orlando should be fun. Aachaey re-union in Maryland - DC - NY should be kickass, I have a lot going on before that but October end when I make the trip to DC, I am beyond doubt, that's gonna be the best of the lot.
I just realized I am gonna meet Ani for the third time in 6 months. Seems like the bugger has always been in University of Maryland. I remember during my NC State days, I had seriously considered getting transferred to University of Maryland, College Park, just because. We are so accustomed to calling each other once in 6 months that actually meeting thrice in the same span seems weird now. Crap, I just said "NC State days", which was like 2 years back. How do I control time??
Monday, August 10, 2009
Yep, Again and Again and Again and Again.
You know the reason I will not brush tonight is that I do not want the taste of awesome goat curry to leave my taste buds.
Aaah bliss!
Aaah bliss!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Raider Time
Weekend was the awesome-ness.
And now Portland beckons. Raiders get back to business, we got a title to win. :)
I know a lot of vintage cricketers will disagree with me and to some extent I do get their point, but tennis-ball cricket is lotsa fun too. I am actually sacrificing season cricket for tennis-ball cricket to help my team win the championship. Totally worth it, Raiders are every bit the fun-loving team that I am proud to be a part of.
Lotsa adrenaline, passion time. Aaich! I like!!
And now Portland beckons. Raiders get back to business, we got a title to win. :)
I know a lot of vintage cricketers will disagree with me and to some extent I do get their point, but tennis-ball cricket is lotsa fun too. I am actually sacrificing season cricket for tennis-ball cricket to help my team win the championship. Totally worth it, Raiders are every bit the fun-loving team that I am proud to be a part of.
Lotsa adrenaline, passion time. Aaich! I like!!
Friday, August 7, 2009
No Offense but it's Hilarous
Scenario: Facebook
Friend 1 status: "I am tired."
Friends 2, 3, 4 (random): Put the "Likes this" tag to the status
Friend A status: "I am super-excited."
Friend X, Y, Z (random): Put the "Likes this" tag to it.
Friend 1 status: "I am at the airport."
Friend 2, 3, 4 (random): Again, the "Likes this" tag attached.
Really!!!! Hehe, I apologize if this comes across as judgmental but you guys are the reason I have a lot of fun on facebook.
Someday I will get down to putting random "Likes this" tag on random status messages, just because.
Friend 1 status: "I am tired."
Friends 2, 3, 4 (random): Put the "Likes this" tag to the status
Friend A status: "I am super-excited."
Friend X, Y, Z (random): Put the "Likes this" tag to it.
Friend 1 status: "I am at the airport."
Friend 2, 3, 4 (random): Again, the "Likes this" tag attached.
Really!!!! Hehe, I apologize if this comes across as judgmental but you guys are the reason I have a lot of fun on facebook.
Someday I will get down to putting random "Likes this" tag on random status messages, just because.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Salute to Kate Furneaux
From the little I knew you, you always brought a smile to my face and I am sure I am one of the few millions touched by you.
In your tribute, I am posting your note on "25 things":
I was supposed to finish some work today, but daydreaming took over......I am sure wherever you are, that place has just become a brighter place.
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you (and you're someone who I think might have fun with this kind of thing and hasn't done it already!).
(To do this, go to “notes” or the "+" sign under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people--in the right hand corner of the app--then click publish.)
1. I love drinking tea and all the traditions associated with it
2. I’ve always wanted to have a strong Cumbrian accent like my cousins. When I was a kid I used to try to speak “proper Cumbrian”. It didn’t work.
3. I’m always late – to arrive, to finish things, to leave….. I never intend to be, and I’m sure people wonder just exactly how I’ve managed it.
4. I really love football. I think the irrationality of a football supporter is brilliant.
5. I’ve never been to a football match out of the UK – yet.
6. I love India.
7. I would love to find out if Jamon really is the tastiest food in the world, as all Spaniards tell me – but being vegetarian stops me!
8. I’ve been known to convince myself I can eat Mussels as a vegetarian because “they don’t have brains”.
9. I once got a lift across the Tanzanian-Kenyan border on the back of a push bike to avoid work permit issues – and got a marriage proposal from the guy riding the bike.
10. I’m really indecisive. Especially about food.
11. I like it when people are straight to the point and honest – it makes life a lot simpler.
12. I love picking fresh fruit and vegetables. Especially raspberries.
13. I love fresh air, wide open spaces, and silence. But I’m not very good at the silence part.
14. I love baking cakes. And then sharing them.
15. Laughing is brilliant.
16. I wish I was better with words. I either muddle them up, or sometimes offend people by saying something I didn’t mean. I hate offending people.
17. I admire spontaneity.
18. My close friends always know exactly the right thing to say to me. And I often wonder if I ever manage to return the favour.
19. Juvenile Harlequin Sweetlips are the most brilliant fish – for the name alone.
20. I’m ashamed of being a bit scared of cows since my Uncle and Granda were dairy farmers.
21. The number of stars in the sky is amazing – I struggle to get my head around the Milky Way though.
22. I discovered that snakes can travel up walls when I was hiding from one on the top bunk.
23. I think anyone who can speak more than one language is really talented. And brave.
24. I think really cold places, with snow and blue ice, are beautiful, but I always get cold hands so I can’t stay outside and play for long.
25. I think if I could be a rainforest creature, I’d be a gibbon.
Goodbye Kate.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Relative happiness is such a dangerous concept. Every time you dabble with it, you are sure to get burnt. Done.
Also this weekend I got to have fun. Enough work, enough multi-tasking. I am not making good use of summer, I gotta get something of mine going, aisa to kick-start the season. That something is not happening. Camping, I think that's it.
Done.
Also this weekend I got to have fun. Enough work, enough multi-tasking. I am not making good use of summer, I gotta get something of mine going, aisa to kick-start the season. That something is not happening. Camping, I think that's it.
Done.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Spaced Out
You know the feeling you get when you finish countless million things just like that and now you have nothing to do. You know the feeling of laziness, now that you have earned it, to be able to do just nothing.
So I start off thinking what next? What next in this time span of nothing? Should I sleep or stare or not even do that. Just nothing. Then I decide maybe I should read a book (yeah right!!), then I think I should just dream but eventually I get down to cooking. I experiment with fish curry. For a change I decide not to make it the usual mom taught way but just let instinct flow. Result, priceless!!
Now I have a full tummy with a new fish dish I just learnt and I am back to doing nothing :)
So I start off thinking what next? What next in this time span of nothing? Should I sleep or stare or not even do that. Just nothing. Then I decide maybe I should read a book (yeah right!!), then I think I should just dream but eventually I get down to cooking. I experiment with fish curry. For a change I decide not to make it the usual mom taught way but just let instinct flow. Result, priceless!!
Now I have a full tummy with a new fish dish I just learnt and I am back to doing nothing :)
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Just Cooking
God's blessed me with one thing. Atleast I am not gonna die for lack of tasty food. The ability to cook your own favourite dish is just priceless!
For those not in the knowing, I am a carnivore. Goat curry (and I say goat and not lamb cause lamb is such a cheap imitation) is by far the best thing mom made and passed it along to me, Mutton Biryani is still some distance away, but 95% mom-like goat curry is good enough for me.
For those not in the knowing, I am a carnivore. Goat curry (and I say goat and not lamb cause lamb is such a cheap imitation) is by far the best thing mom made and passed it along to me, Mutton Biryani is still some distance away, but 95% mom-like goat curry is good enough for me.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Stud vs Sweetheart
I am already scared of Aarish. The dude is gonna turn out to be one heck of a stud. The dude already gives me the chilled out, "it's cool!" look. And the smile, just precious!
This, by no means, has any impact on Arshu. She is my sweetheart, I will love her and protect her even while the dude turns into the stud he is threatening to be.
Their parents have pretty interesting years ahead. I just get to do the good part, pamper them, spoil them and that's it.
Shucks I just met them a month back and I already miss them.
Mom if you thought we kids were a handful, wait and watch these guys.
It's all good :)
This, by no means, has any impact on Arshu. She is my sweetheart, I will love her and protect her even while the dude turns into the stud he is threatening to be.
Their parents have pretty interesting years ahead. I just get to do the good part, pamper them, spoil them and that's it.
Shucks I just met them a month back and I already miss them.
Mom if you thought we kids were a handful, wait and watch these guys.
It's all good :)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Surreal!
I was a small boy waiting at the bus-stop, about a 20-min walk from home, alongwith my sister and other school friends for the PCMT bus to come. Walk back from school was even better, with samosa and imli chutney along the Dairy Farm route.
20 odd years hence that small boy might just be traveling all across the globe to approximately the same place (pinpoint), in a different capacity, with different ambitions. What do I call this? Progression or whatever it may be, living life is just such a wonderful experience. To me, I have got the greatest gift of life, Thank You God.
My contribution to this has been just living each day as it comes. Pretty rewarding, no?
20 odd years hence that small boy might just be traveling all across the globe to approximately the same place (pinpoint), in a different capacity, with different ambitions. What do I call this? Progression or whatever it may be, living life is just such a wonderful experience. To me, I have got the greatest gift of life, Thank You God.
My contribution to this has been just living each day as it comes. Pretty rewarding, no?
Sunday, July 5, 2009
PDX
Neil, Rosanne ...Taruna.
Margarita's, Chocolate Delight, Fudge.
4 AM good the nights.
Food, food, exotic food, food, food, exotic food.
Margarita's.
The boats and the fishing.
Rock Bottom. Beer. Pool. Buddies.
4 AM good the nights.
Kamal, Betsy, Pastor.
Food, food, exotic food, food, food, exotic food.
Ani, Pratibha -- Aachaey.
Linda - BBQ.
Riverfront - Fireworks.
Jerry, Neil, Rosanne, Taruna, Aura Lounge.
4 AM good the nights.
Church.
Food.
Conversation.
Gulab Jamun, Ice-Cream. Tea.
Conversation.
Well Done!!
Yeah long weekends in PDX have quite a bit of Pune in it.
Margarita's, Chocolate Delight, Fudge.
4 AM good the nights.
Food, food, exotic food, food, food, exotic food.
Margarita's.
The boats and the fishing.
Rock Bottom. Beer. Pool. Buddies.
4 AM good the nights.
Kamal, Betsy, Pastor.
Food, food, exotic food, food, food, exotic food.
Ani, Pratibha -- Aachaey.
Linda - BBQ.
Riverfront - Fireworks.
Jerry, Neil, Rosanne, Taruna, Aura Lounge.
4 AM good the nights.
Church.
Food.
Conversation.
Gulab Jamun, Ice-Cream. Tea.
Conversation.
Well Done!!
Yeah long weekends in PDX have quite a bit of Pune in it.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Lukkhagiri comes at a price
Firstly I gotta thank God for everything. Secondly I am surprised I am not being able to maintain the same level of enthusiasm as I have right this moment.
I am super excited. Partly cos I have again begun to make fun plans and partly cos I wanna execute them impromptu. Plans and impromptu?? Yeah, keep wondering but that's how it is. I don't need a lot to get excited but I do need this level of enthusiasm to sustain. Right now I think I have the ideal dose of "dont care" coupled with the determination to be happy.
It's midnight and I think I am gonna be online for quite sometime, because.
Tomorrow I have tons of work but that doesn't matter, because.
Tomorrow evening I am gonna play football followed by mutton (goat) cooking, because.
Day after I will see New York (the movie),because.
I am super excited. Partly cos I have again begun to make fun plans and partly cos I wanna execute them impromptu. Plans and impromptu?? Yeah, keep wondering but that's how it is. I don't need a lot to get excited but I do need this level of enthusiasm to sustain. Right now I think I have the ideal dose of "dont care" coupled with the determination to be happy.
It's midnight and I think I am gonna be online for quite sometime, because.
Tomorrow I have tons of work but that doesn't matter, because.
Tomorrow evening I am gonna play football followed by mutton (goat) cooking, because.
Day after I will see New York (the movie),because.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Random Observation
A thing about football. I see a lot of guys practicing really hard on fakes. It's a good skill to have in your armory but I see them becoming a prisoner of that skill than effectively utilizing it. So much so that if you play with these kinds regularly, it's much to obvious that they are gonna fake than move ahead. Pointless really. Essentially now you are faking yourself.
Football is a beautiful game. At some point, you reach a stage where it's only you and the ball and you can literally dictate what you want to do with the ball. It becomes really simple then. I don't understand why you would want to put excessive fakes which destroys your rhythm and effectively accomplishes nothing.
Oh btw, I fake too, just that I don't fake myself.
Football is a beautiful game. At some point, you reach a stage where it's only you and the ball and you can literally dictate what you want to do with the ball. It becomes really simple then. I don't understand why you would want to put excessive fakes which destroys your rhythm and effectively accomplishes nothing.
Oh btw, I fake too, just that I don't fake myself.
Friday, June 19, 2009
All in good time
Home is where I want to be.
I'm still hoping things get pretty straight-forward for me. I am kinda tired of all of this now. I have finished this work-week on a high. This weekend I intend to have loads of fun, again to keep myself happy... and that's just how it is going to be with me.
Home, right now seems some distance away. I have to work my way through it. How I achieve what I wanna achieve, is in God's hands but I have to keep my journey least stressful. Hiccups are part of the game although I do have the hope that at the end of the day, God's gonna make it all worth it. It's always been the case with me, right? This time too, right??? (This is the point where You answer me God. But anyway...)
I am again expecting it to be met the hard way but eventually it will happen. Well, hopefully. I want absolute happiness and for most parts I think it is the case, but at some level, it tends to get relative. That's when I need to be careful and get back to absoluteness.
All in good time and at the end of it, it should be worth it.... it will be worth it.
I'm still hoping things get pretty straight-forward for me. I am kinda tired of all of this now. I have finished this work-week on a high. This weekend I intend to have loads of fun, again to keep myself happy... and that's just how it is going to be with me.
Home, right now seems some distance away. I have to work my way through it. How I achieve what I wanna achieve, is in God's hands but I have to keep my journey least stressful. Hiccups are part of the game although I do have the hope that at the end of the day, God's gonna make it all worth it. It's always been the case with me, right? This time too, right??? (This is the point where You answer me God. But anyway...)
I am again expecting it to be met the hard way but eventually it will happen. Well, hopefully. I want absolute happiness and for most parts I think it is the case, but at some level, it tends to get relative. That's when I need to be careful and get back to absoluteness.
All in good time and at the end of it, it should be worth it.... it will be worth it.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
All Of Mine
Bombay - Bethel Villa.
Pune - Just About Everything.
People - Just spent a good chunk of time thinking of all of 'em.
Football - Happiness
Good Times - Aaah! Many more to come
Life - God
Recap, review, now forward.
Pune - Just About Everything.
People - Just spent a good chunk of time thinking of all of 'em.
Football - Happiness
Good Times - Aaah! Many more to come
Life - God
Recap, review, now forward.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Prayers Please
It's all upto you God. Give us the strength.
Rini and Valsamama. I beg You to protect them. Strength.
Rini and Valsamama. I beg You to protect them. Strength.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
It Never Ceases to Surprise Eh!
I just discovered that things aren't quite what it seems to appear on the outside (particular place, particular scenario). Yeah yeah I know I ain't saying anything new but I am surprised here. Reason being it is such an inconsequential thing that it doesn't deserve a 'thought' and yet amazingly enough, it has been befuddled to a great extent. It amazes me how much people thrive on just living life entirely convoluted, actually I quite honestly sympathize with them. Or maybe I am missing the point here, I guess simplicity is just too boring a life to lead.
Saddening really. I lack the will to pursue interaction with such kinds. But then what else do I do, I am definitely the odd man out here, the 'kinds' I am talking about constitute almost 95% of them. It's almost like education, common sense, basic fundas, acceptance are all mere words. Not to be implemented or has nothing to do with real life. It's just something you learn to get your degree and put it back into the shelves (or maybe not even that). To the ones being referred to, don't mistake yourself to be religious or spiritual, the word is "Stuck-Up". Tolerance is a virtue, imbibe it before you move on to anything else.
This post is just to remind me that the seemingly 'alright' kinds aren't quite alright. Point noted, digested and to be executed in future. I still do think there are good people out there although that quantity just shrank a little more.
Saddening really. I lack the will to pursue interaction with such kinds. But then what else do I do, I am definitely the odd man out here, the 'kinds' I am talking about constitute almost 95% of them. It's almost like education, common sense, basic fundas, acceptance are all mere words. Not to be implemented or has nothing to do with real life. It's just something you learn to get your degree and put it back into the shelves (or maybe not even that). To the ones being referred to, don't mistake yourself to be religious or spiritual, the word is "Stuck-Up". Tolerance is a virtue, imbibe it before you move on to anything else.
This post is just to remind me that the seemingly 'alright' kinds aren't quite alright. Point noted, digested and to be executed in future. I still do think there are good people out there although that quantity just shrank a little more.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day
Mom's the best thing that has happened to humankind. If you ever wanna experience selfless love, this one woman demonstrates that. Over and over again. My mom and now my sister.
To all those mother's out there...
Take a bow.
To all those mother's out there...
Take a bow.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
That One Thing
It's the one thing that is my ticket back home. The one thing that could potentially bring back all that I hold dear to me. The one thing that would allow me to let go of all that is make-shift.
That one thing has conceived. Finally the wait has a reason to wait. :)
That one thing has conceived. Finally the wait has a reason to wait. :)
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter
Easter, after Christmas, easily qualifies as the most gluttonous day of the year. My Bombay khandaan are complete foodies. Sometimes I do feel even that is an understatement. I have been spoilt bad growing up in the Varghese family.
Easter especially holds special meaning, partly cos mamaji observes Lent every year and partly cos thats the second time in the year that the family re-unites. Mutton Biryani is one of the oldest and the most pristine traditions that has been handed over from generation to generation and each generation adds its own variance to the above mentioned constant. Beef cutlet is another. This combined with Chicken chilly, Kaala (Beef) Curry, Meen (Fish) Curry, Mor (Kadi), Meen Fry (2-3 varieties) and your talking just about the complete list. Everyone gathers after church in Bethel Villa, sarcasms fly all over the place, the womankind (bless you) do their culinary wizardy and the kids brace themselves for the fight that will ensue over the prized pieces. Lunch couldn't come sooner, the dining table is raided, every plate is literally licked clean (yeah we kids did it). This is quite fittingly drawn to a close with paysam. Sloth ensues and back then, this would be followed by a good old Mohanlal movie. I, for one, always ended up waking up at 5 PM only to find the movie all wrapped up and everyone dozing away to glory.
Flash forward, the same thing happened this year albeit most of the kids are now spread all across the world, the khaandan still maintained the tradition. This is just one of the things that I have continued to miss during my stay here in US. Well in the small way that I could, I commemorated the day with a juicy Lamb Shank at the Med. Not quite there I know but Mutton continues to be a part of our tradition.
Easter especially holds special meaning, partly cos mamaji observes Lent every year and partly cos thats the second time in the year that the family re-unites. Mutton Biryani is one of the oldest and the most pristine traditions that has been handed over from generation to generation and each generation adds its own variance to the above mentioned constant. Beef cutlet is another. This combined with Chicken chilly, Kaala (Beef) Curry, Meen (Fish) Curry, Mor (Kadi), Meen Fry (2-3 varieties) and your talking just about the complete list. Everyone gathers after church in Bethel Villa, sarcasms fly all over the place, the womankind (bless you) do their culinary wizardy and the kids brace themselves for the fight that will ensue over the prized pieces. Lunch couldn't come sooner, the dining table is raided, every plate is literally licked clean (yeah we kids did it). This is quite fittingly drawn to a close with paysam. Sloth ensues and back then, this would be followed by a good old Mohanlal movie. I, for one, always ended up waking up at 5 PM only to find the movie all wrapped up and everyone dozing away to glory.
Flash forward, the same thing happened this year albeit most of the kids are now spread all across the world, the khaandan still maintained the tradition. This is just one of the things that I have continued to miss during my stay here in US. Well in the small way that I could, I commemorated the day with a juicy Lamb Shank at the Med. Not quite there I know but Mutton continues to be a part of our tradition.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Guitar
I am thinking it's time I start on the one thing that I haven't yet accomplished. I need to get some kinda schedule in place and keep myself motivated. I know I have been wanting to do this for a long long time, now I have the chance and I should probably do it.
The 3 months that I did go for a class during engineering was a disaster. That man made it such a boring exercise, I lost all my love for it.I need to get some flair into this schedule, some deadlines to achieve.
Let's get started!
The 3 months that I did go for a class during engineering was a disaster. That man made it such a boring exercise, I lost all my love for it.I need to get some flair into this schedule, some deadlines to achieve.
Let's get started!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Ashakya Goaal!
I played again and it's not even the weekend yet. I have a roommate who is equally football crazy as I am. How cool is that?!?!
Aaich Azzurri!
Aaich Azzurri!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Goaaaal!!!
I played football after eons. Massive, massive comeback to life and it feels so freaking good to be back.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Perception is Reality
You know the times when things happen unexpectedly, but not really. You always knew it coming and where it is coming from but its good to get surprised.
You know the times when mom tries to be so good, so good that it is sometimes "wrongly" good.
You know the times when all you wanna do is just nothing, just because you can.
You know the times when a prayer can last an entire day, just because you incorporate Him.
You know the times when a pickle inside Maggi isn't a bad idea....at all.
Most of those times, it's just you.
You know the times when mom tries to be so good, so good that it is sometimes "wrongly" good.
You know the times when all you wanna do is just nothing, just because you can.
You know the times when a prayer can last an entire day, just because you incorporate Him.
You know the times when a pickle inside Maggi isn't a bad idea....at all.
Most of those times, it's just you.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Awfully Long
After such a long time I am finally getting the time to write. So Liverpool is having a mixed season once again, Ashish and Nikhil are back to Pune, bpconsultants.com has taken shape, my new apartment rocks, the river walk in San Antonio is pretty neat, College Station trip was ridiculously short, Portland trip was awesome (as usual), I am still trying to get to terms with small talk, I still fall hopelessly short.
Rest later.
Rest later.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Jan 26th
It's been a year and I haven't forgotten to trace back.
Wow this blog has certainly proved to be everything I wanted it to be. So much can happen in a year, its amazing!! Absolutely and utterly amazing!! I am so blessed to just be living this life. 365 days, think of it as a puff of wind or a lifetime, sometimes both apply. Too many things have happened and yet its gone past in a jiffy.
What I had thought of then (basically nothing) and what I am doing now, no connection absolutely. I narrowed in on this awesome place, hopefully God willing everything will work out just fine and I will move into this new apartment.
Fingers crossed.
Wow this blog has certainly proved to be everything I wanted it to be. So much can happen in a year, its amazing!! Absolutely and utterly amazing!! I am so blessed to just be living this life. 365 days, think of it as a puff of wind or a lifetime, sometimes both apply. Too many things have happened and yet its gone past in a jiffy.
What I had thought of then (basically nothing) and what I am doing now, no connection absolutely. I narrowed in on this awesome place, hopefully God willing everything will work out just fine and I will move into this new apartment.
Fingers crossed.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Arshu & Aarish
I can't begin to explain how much joy kids bring you. Your heart breaks when they cry, you yearn to get a smile out of them. Above all you long to just be with them. The good news is that aint too far away. I am waiting to welcome them back again.
My India trip was awesome, this time for different reasons. I haven't had this much happiness in a long long time.
My India trip was awesome, this time for different reasons. I haven't had this much happiness in a long long time.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
I am getting into this frenzy. World Tour...or something to that effect. Something hatke, especially since all I see people doing is just one thing.
I wanna do a World Tour..... or India Darshan... or something worthwhile. Like Rahul says, enough of self-upgradation, I mean something phun!
Shucks, tomorrow is Monday.
I wanna do a World Tour..... or India Darshan... or something worthwhile. Like Rahul says, enough of self-upgradation, I mean something phun!
Shucks, tomorrow is Monday.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Republic Day' coming
I am this close to changing directions yet again. Only this time I am not sure which direction to take. Something needs to change...and fast.
I am already getting bored of just looking forward to the next trip, India perhaps or some other place. This is probably the first time things seem at a standstill, I am not sure if I should rotate around or just change directions or what is it that will get that thrill, excitement going again.
This is the first time I don't have that something to stretch out for.
Not good.
I am already getting bored of just looking forward to the next trip, India perhaps or some other place. This is probably the first time things seem at a standstill, I am not sure if I should rotate around or just change directions or what is it that will get that thrill, excitement going again.
This is the first time I don't have that something to stretch out for.
Not good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)