Anish - Smile, why Frown... :-0

Tea for two ---------

2012-01-25T17:42:00.001-05:00

"If I could invite anybody for 'tea for two'today it would undoubtedly be .....................(11 Indian players in Adelaide)"

It definitely has to be Current India Cricket Team(11 member-touring Australia- Adelaide),why so…

From childhood I have been on a constant diet of cricketand have idolized many past and current cricket players for various reasons, (Itis not only because of their playing standards but also for the character theydo play on and off field)

Along with me, I am sure many of you would be saddenstate witnessing the current performance of our beloved Indian Cricket Team isputting up in Australia.

During my childhood days, in my early schooling days,Once my mum had called me up made me sit besides her and explained me theimportance of scoring nice marks/grade as I did not fair well in one of therecent test we had, (As per her I did not do it well).

Second time around I was not made to sit but was questionedon why my marks/grade were sliding down and she was looking out for reasons whyI am not doing it correctly or has something changed…

Third time (did not came) but if it would have occurred,for sure I would have to under go a series of intense improvement session, I wouldhave to give away all my play/fun time, I had to cut short my cartoon networktime and many more so..

Similarly, I feel if out team is failing it is notbecause they do not have the class rather I will say they are the people whodefine class… collective our players have attained, have successfully reclaimedthe heist in each section of the game…

Why fail… it is easier for me to criticize sittingon the other end and easy enough to grunt on social media….

Why are we failing I am not sure…. But all I wouldlike to say to My India Cricket team….

‘We have another three day’ let try to do some soul searching….And lets put up an stand… do not look what has gone by… looking at them wouldonly sadden you and more important will only disguise your present…. Its timeto let go the past and look forward for the next three days…. I am not askingeach one of you should be scoring 100 and each bowler to take a hat-trick… all I wantyou to think is…

“Can we give a Stand… not to prove other (media /sobbing fans) what you can do… or rather… let say ‘Yes we can’”.

IndianCricket Fan forever….

p.s.
This post is the inspired from Preeti's new book 'Tea for two and a piece of cake', in one of the post she asks out for blogger to come up with this small quiz....
"If I could invite anybody for 'tea for two' today it would undoubtedly be ...................." (Post link)

Bye Bye Smartphone:

2012-01-19T18:08:00.001-05:00

Formore then two and half year I have been hooked to Smartphone (to be preciseiPhone 3gs).

Initiallywhen I started used iPhonei I felt as if world seamed different to me all of a sudden.I was able to reach out and grab anyone for a E-Talk which erased boundary, I wasable to comment on every social network site (I am only registered on Facebook),I was able to respond it any one was on a lookout for me.

I becamepart of the wired system, not like Neo in Matrix where I was able to travelonly via hard-wired telephone cable, for me I was travelling through thin air.

Worldwas relay different, for a moment Newton was wrong it was flat as everyone was happento be on same horizon.

UsingSmartphone will definitely change a person, for me I saw lot of changes happeningin me, as a matter of fact you to would realize and will agree on some listed.

- Startof a day changed from flipping through newspaper to Apps that gave collated allpaper headline into one small app, which told me I could arrange which and readthose news which pleased me, rather then being feed by the news how editor wantedto align.

- Talking to friends swapped with chatting themover social medium

- Startingleaving a life, over internet… what I mean in this… I started to post commentslike

‘I had dinner at so and soplace’

‘India lost again in test-match butthis time they survived 4 days’

‘Here are the pictures fromplace I visited today’

‘’This is where I amcurrently’ and so on….

- Bestway of de-stressing the day started with and ended with playing ‘Angry Bird’ ‘SudoKu’and many more amusing game… which made sure I am hooked to it

- Sleepthat was a leisure during commute transformed in to reading some article orpaying some game…

Itsbeen two weeks now, since I am undergoing Smartphone rehabilitation…

Ihave switched over to a Phone (Not a Smart one)… which would help me only calland send messages…

ChangesI am observing in myself since last week:

- Nomore clicking on reload all email (just to check and delete junk email)

- Nomore location based service, so if I am lost some where I have to ask, where isthe nearest ATM or bank (like yesterday I wanted to go to Bank of Americabranch, was lost and had to ask around), in a way I asked a stranger fordirection for the first odd time in last 2 years

- Sleepingand just Sleeping through the commute.

- Willnot be uploading any picture real-time

- Moreover I feel I have logged out from the System, and not being connected to it viamy Smart-Phone, and in fact, I am happy.

Fewchange I see in first 2 weeks…. I hope I am able to survive out in the woods…

p.s. Usually most of the post i submitted were initially drafted on my iphone.... Change is the only Constant.

Picture Speaks: Holiday times

2011-12-13T22:13:00.001-05:00

Holiday spirit is in the air, come December, citystarts glittering, walking down street on a chilly Sunday evening, with people coveredin shared of black, to conserve and protect all the warmth they can…. As theywalk endlessly in the ocean of people, an individual I like a drop that movesin tandem with other.

Some picture that I captured while walking by on aSunday evening, let the weather be -2Celcius, but city was full of people wantingto catch a glimpse of the Big Tree.

India, or Rs. 35 lakh?:

2011-12-11T13:48:00.001-05:00

India,or Rs. 35 lakh?: The dilemma of the World SeriesHockey, I say he should go for 35 lakh, as you have not been asked to change yournationality.

Please do not rate me as anti-social or anti-Indian,if at this point when I say ‘YuvrajValmiki’ should go ahead with accepting 35 lakh, it has a story behind it.

Why are we always in the lookout for sacrificefrom others, instead why are we not ready for any scarifies. We expect sacrificeand if they fail we are first in pointing that out and criticizing.

Look at what we have been doing and will continueto do.

When it comes to education, are we willing to sendour kids to a fully government aided school, first reaction we would hear is, don’tyou love your kid, don’t you want your kid be competitive and be ready to facethe tough life when he is ready to take it up. Will you like your kid askinglater in life, why he was not giving fair share of education as others had …

When it comes to health and medication, will yourush your ailing kid or parents to a fully government aided hospitals, I assumeno, why, a simple reason would be the well being of my kid or parents. I haveto make sure they get the best attention.

If in both cases were we are just thinking aboutus and making sure we are making it happen or are in pursuit of providing thebest to our family, doesn’t each one of us have the same right.

Why in a billion people nation we only support agame played by 11 people, and not any other sport.

If today Yuvraj Valmiki is not wearing nationaljersey and opting for the much needed money, that will make sure in helping himand his family raise a level above their living standards so ,why not opt for it ?. Rather than lookingat the reason why he has to make a tough decision of choosing between National squadand World Series Hockey.

We need to raise our voices and let the nationknow, sponsors should not only shower money on cricket whereas should also supportother sports as well.

Earlier I happen to see some more pitiful state ofother player across different sports, they have passion for the sport but arewe supporting them….

State level Footballers clean cricket stadium toreplace torn shoes

http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/item/181721-footballers-clean-cricket-stadium-to-replace-torn-shoes

World Kabaddi Cup 2011 Indian Team – Girls WaitingFor Auto Rickshaw

http://www.onlinepunjab.com/world-kabaddi-cup-2011-indian-team-girls-waiting-for-auto-rickshaw.html

So what do you say am, I wrong in not supporting ‘YuvrajValmiki’ to opt for money rather than National Jersey….

Picture Speaks: More than 1000 words

2011-12-07T12:32:00.001-05:00

As it truly said picture speak more then 1000 words, and thesame picture will narrate different story for its observers

Squirry (Gappusingh): Its been close to a year since he has befriended us, andlately we do wait for him, and check if is not visible… how do we know he iswaiting for his snack… he starts scratching or tapping on the door… time for a pieceof biscuit… at this Choc-chip to falls in his share…

Initial days when we opened the door he would run mile away…and today he is all ready to jump in for his treat…

Looking at his among his peers we feel he are the reason helooks chubby in the gang….

Diya: Dipawali. Festival of lights, a small light can drive awaythe most fearful darkness…

How thick and dark the clouds be, Sun will find itsway to enlighten.

Standing Strong and steady tide after tide andmaking sure Captain Jack Sparrow knows its port

Reading: Over and Over again

Malgudi Days.... Ta na na Ta na na na

2011-11-28T20:48:00.001-05:00

This one I happen to read out multiple times,
and still enjoy reading each time .

During ourchildhood one of the most amazing and best story telling was done by RKNarayan... All stories used to emerge from Malgudi....

Doordarshan (Theonly television channel we cherish during our childhood) used to air MalgudiDays...

Malgudi representedlike any small village with house scattered across, one school in thevillage... fields used to be playground when not plough, sunset meant to betime for dinner and sleep....
On some daysgrandparents would narrate stories to kids under moon lit night....

A big Banyan tree would be located centerof the village where all men would retire and talk politics though out thenight (neither the state legislative nor the local panchyat would have anyimpact due to the discussion) buy that the best past time....

One kid named Swamiwas also in Malgudi.... His cricket team was named MCC (Malgudi Cricket Club)sound real big... but lost all the matches they ever managed to play.... butwere determined that one day they will be champions...

Being inspired wealso named our cricket team MCC.... while we were visiting our grandparents in Kerala during summer school vacation...

MCC - Matangi Cricketclub, not to lie neither did we clinch nor had a nail biting for each and everymatch we played... but yes we did win once in a while against guys twiceour age…

Only noticeablething that happen was we all kid were being roasted and baked during the hotand humid Kerala summer… only to be refreshed with fresh coconut water…

All my memoriescame alive while reading tales from Malgudi....

No I can't

2011-11-14T15:43:00.001-05:00

Howmany times each one of us would have said in past... and would be saying backin future as well?

Whywe do say No I cannot, is it really because we are not able to or we do notwant to....

Mostlywhen we are to do any thing we looks forward for its ROI....

Pleasedon’t miss understand me as I am not putting forth any management concept... Iguess from our innocence childhood itself we were taught how to evaluate.....

IfI am quite and do nit trouble we will get something, it's kind of leverage weeach time if we should our best or did the best 'as directed'....

Toget better grades, I would have to suppress my though and have to express andframe answers or solution in the best and easiest way my exam moderator would understandand will yield better grades in any of the exams.

Overa period, we learnt when to say No I cannot, each n every time when the ROI wasnot so rewarding.

Isay some are fortunate and courage’s enough to stand by and continue what theystarted or supported.

Everyknow and then we come across things that for a moment make tiu realize I wish Icould, some take that chance and try fulfill their long pending desire toaccomplish it, where as for some the very moment vanishes in thin air waitingto get life once again next time.

Lastweek while walking across I heard some one playing guitar, he was striking theright code... many people surrounded him. I too thought to spare a glance andsee what is so special… that is when I realized how special the person was.... anexample of commitment, strong will power and inspiration to fight and survive.

Soit's the question for ourselves do we need to know the ROI before we are to doanything or we will be get something done unconditionally

Nature: Fall Foliage and First Snow

2011-10-29T14:05:00.001-04:00

Nature, it does fascinate each and every time with its seasonalcycle.

Fall Foliage: some years back fall color all meant wasShakrukh Khan and Kajol made to run around in park and Maple leaves falling(varied color) but since last few years I am able to witness nature most beautifulevent ‘Fall Foliage’.

Another fascinating part is snow fall, I always do love snowfall (but pother then couple of occasion I am a bit scared to snow) as earlierthis year Jan-Feb we had twice 20+ inches of snowfall over night.

How best if would be if one can see both natures best eventsin one go, today being one such day, I just feel sitting by the window and trackeach snow flake falling from above and smoothly landing. Currently after anhour of snowfall the whole area is covered.

Below picture says the story.

Since morning 2 cups of hot tea and not sure how much manymore…. I am already in love with the weather…. And the colorful display

Memories: Redwood Trails.

2011-10-09T01:37:00.002-04:00

Memories: We should be stories away all the sweet memoriesthat possible, as in this stressful fast passed, as one of my friend quotes…this generation is WTF…. Please don’t guess it other ways as I took it… he simplymeant (Wikipedia, Twitter, Facebook generation).

Everything is beendigitalized, we are even digitalizing all those childhood pictures that ourparents took on one fine Sunday evening, Family trip to the nearest photo storestanding in front of placards.

I have couple of them in digital format, I love watching themonce in a while.

I f I look back, all my childhood memories are in stator formatnarrated by my parents and grandma, and its fair to assume that those storiesdo get coated with a layer each time they do narrate. I still love to listeneach one of them with the same interest and eagerness each time.

In today ages, thanks to digitalization of photograph, aparent would have snapped 10 of thousands of images before the kid would havelearned to walk, back in my age I might have handful pictures lying on my tummythen I see myself standing and in some a few years older that the chronologicalorder of all the pictures I have.

I never had any interest in capturing moments and storingthem in my hard-drives, thanks to my camera I got in to that habit, Camera becamelike my survival kit on my each and every outing.

Of the most recent trips I had been to Redwoods trails, (I wasamazed by this forest when I first saw in movie ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’,this place Big Basin is one the biggest covered forest, of which Redwood isfamous.

Some of the Redwood trees are older than 2000 years, older thanbirth of Jesus Christ, if by any ways we are able to communicate to tree, theywould become the best historian, and would help us understand many unsolvedhistorical puzzle that have jumbled us.

It is one such place where I would love visit as many timesas possible, unfortunately when we visited it was raining still we managed tofight against the rain and took an hr long trail, walking by Redwood treeswould make you realize, ‘Statue of Liberty’ stand short in front of some of thetallest trees

Status of liberty stands at 305ft (Ground to Torch), whereas ‘Mother of the Forest', stands at an incredible height of 339ft and with anincredible diameter of 15.5 feet.

Some of the images would help you gauge what I am beingtalking all about.

Mother of the Jungle, aged more then 2000+ years, taller then Statue of Liberty.

This particular Redwood has an amazing story,this tree was on fire and it burnt for 14 long months and still survived , butthe fire created a permanent hollow, and the tree looks more like a old burntout steel factory Chimney from inside. As the tree survived and is still growing.

Day 2: Universal Studio calling

2011-09-30T11:34:00.000-04:00

Day Two, has some different fun and events all listedcompared from day one, drive on Highway One.

IF you have to compare street between NY and LN, it’s easieras all across in LA you can spot Palm Trees, where as in NY you can spot treesonly in Parks (Central Park..)

Today we did plan to visit Universal Studio, it was indeedan amazing experience, living through all those remarkable movies that had camefrom Universal Studios.

One of the tour listed was ’Special Effects’ we all wouldhave screen and enjoyed when we saw the mighty King Kong running across the streetsand muscling stunts with Dinosaurs, in movie King Kong is a 7ton 30foot beats,but in movie filming term King Kong at certain scenes was mere 18inches.

Some sets were larger than life the one if you happen torecall when a plane did crash in Steven Spielberg’s ‘War of the World’ the plane looks no smallerthan 737 planes.

We watched 4D movie for the first time ‘Shrek it wasthrilling, the 3D was amazing, after which I realize all so called 3D movie donot make a stand in front of it.

As yesterday some picture that to say more words.

At the entrance of Universal Studios

We with the Swamp King and Queen, Shrek and Fiona

Ste from show Water World, impossible to express in words.

After the show took stills with 'Tim Sitarz', this will help you recall all those who watched 'Kambakkht Ishq' he was one of the bad guys, its the same movie which starred 'Sylvester Stallone'

Vacation Calling - West Coast: Day1

2011-09-29T12:02:00.000-04:00

One such word for sure would bring smile across anybodyface would be ‘Vacation’, after intense planning and deciding when to traveland for how long we finally have started our vacation touring to West Coast,

Sounding West Coast strike few place in your Mind,LA(Los Angles), San-Francisco, Beverly Hill, and the most striking Hollywoodsign.

Our day started rather too early, we boarded the 5:00amflight to LA, definitely not have woken up if it was not or a planned vacation.

Pictures do will speak for themselves rather me narratinga story for it.

Morning Sun-rise over charlotte airport, our transit journey.

Our ride for next 3 days.... its a silent beast on road.... reallyt impressed with Nissan Murano

A Drive, you will remember for long time, Mountains covering one side, endless ocean inviting to swim and surf, and the long winding road.

US Open Federer v/s Tsonga

2011-09-09T21:37:00.002-04:00

A Dream come true, watching Roger Federer play was always inthe list of things that I wanted, and only what best if you witness him winningcursing easily throughout the match.

We have booked tickets for Quarterfinals match of USOPEN, the match as per schedule was dueon Thursday evening, but unless things are not spiced up what the fun, this timerain main sure to show off its mighty strength.For 2 days all matched scheduled were cancelled.

So Tuesday and Wednesday completely washed out were wefinger crossed for our match, from morning onward I was glued on weather.comand was fanatically refreshing to check evening forcast, somehow rain had holdup for the entire day and play resumed as normal.

We reached ‘Arthur Ashe stadium’ by 7:00pm match wasscheduled to start by 7:45pm, finally announced ‘Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’ and ‘RogerFederer’ entering the court, the whole court erupted in cherish and praying therain is at bay.

With Federer leading the set by 3 : 2, here comes the rain showering,and in no time and fresh flowers sprouting, you can see umbrellas of all color poppingacross the stadium.

In most matches you can spot on or few celebrities around,Will Farrell, as usual was making sure bring big wide smile across people whowere braving rain.

After a lot of cat and mouse game between rain and clear sky, playerswere back on courts for some real tennis this time and this time around rainhad no role to play.

Being a Federer fan the best result I was looking for was straightset win, and finally I got what I want to see and match ended at 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Anyone would have loved a 5 setter but not me when my startid playing in the court, I see the opponent is demolished and crumbled and warriorwaiting un-scratched.

Some moments I would remember during the match was this man,dancing during each break and making sure people go along with the tune

Match still in progress

US as the us Open, battled rain and enjoyed Federer win over Tsonga

This is me, outside the arena

Unbroken:is Louis Zamperini

2011-09-03T12:39:00.001-04:00

After months of non picking up a non-fiction novel for reading,New York bestseller ‘Unbroken’ was my pick, the reason I picked was couple ofthem:

Author: LauraHillenbrand, her previous work was ‘Seabuiscuit’ (check link its one of my bestmovies)

Subject: Thestory is about survival and how much a person experience in his life time - Louis Zamperini

As a Kid: he madesure that the whole town ‘Torrance’ has stories to narrate relating to his mischief.

As a Teenager: hestarted running, that’s when he realized what he wants to achieve and where hewants his name listed (As a best Miler – race of one mile), he wanted him to listas Olympic Medal winner.

Olympic Stint: Louiedream of participating in Olympic came true, at the age of 19 when he wascompeting in the finals of 5000meter race (Athletes peak performance age is 24-29)he finished only 7^th but something will make him famous, the lastlap of the race, the race winner took 69.2 seconds but Louie finished the lastlap in 56seconds, and Louie final time was 14.46.8

The record is Unbroken,fastest one mile run (a mile run is a 3 lap race with timing 61.2, 58.9 and59.1 seconds) Louie is still 3 seconds faster.

World War II: Heenrolled himself, becoming a bombardier for B-24 (Bombardier, is the guy who islocated at the tip of the plane and identifies the target and makes a drop) hewas in many bombing and rescue missions.

POW: In one ofthe rescue mission his plane crashed in Pacific ocean, he and his 2 otherfellow survived in a raft sailing almost 2000miles, later being captured as aPOW

Life after War: A hero back home, life followed him ever y where.

He was a torch bearer for 1984 Summer Olympics.

In his sixties he was still clocking less than 6 minutes amile. At age 81 he took Skateboarding

And still rocking strong at age 92

Whereas yesterday running my 5k run on thread mille tookwell over 26 minutes, and my best 1 miles run timed, 7.15 minutes, were Louieclocked under 6 minutes well in his 60’s, I am a long way to beat him at hisage on a mile run.

Love

2011-08-31T17:17:00.001-04:00

I was taking a late coffee break with a colleague from work,small break are always welcome in between, and we were chitchatting talking aboutall non-related topics.

I transit bus stopped just in front of me, I was leaning ona building wall, I saw this elderly man stepping out with a cowboy hat, a sweetlooking old grandpa, he stepped out with a walking stick hanging over his arm,and was looking inside the bus.

I was waiting to see who would be coming out, slowly andsteady with little baby steps comes out a cute granny, she was old enough andrequire support walking she would have taken good time to step down from thebus, all this time grandpa was waiting.

As she was stepping out, he offered his hand, and see tookhis assistance and stepped out, with walking stick in her other hand, they bothwalked slowly and steadily over the pavement.

Time was about when people left from work and are rushing tocatch bus / train to reach home, rather I say I any metro round the clockpeople are buzzing off, people were just passing by, but this old couple didnot bother at all, holding each other hand and swiftly talking. In some time, Ilost sight of them…

I wanted to take a picture and paste it, but I wasmore keen in watching them walking by and fading in crowd.

Govinda Ala re Ala…..

2011-08-21T10:54:00.000-04:00

Today being Janmashtami, I am missing few of the keyingredient with a mix of will make any perfect celebration for any occasion.

As anyone who loves, he would like to keep check of his setof spices and perfecting any particular recipe. Similar way celebrating anyfestival, also do require some specific ingredient that defines success andflavor of celebration.

In Holi, if you are not soaked in water and faced pointed inall shades resembling from point company, I say something missing

In Diwali, if you do not have sweets/ firecrackers (I know Iknow its against pollution – I say I will compensate my share by not drivingfor a week), without which we missing Diwali celebration.

E-Id, how could you say you celebrated unless you had anamazing Biryani .

Likewise Janmashtami, celebrating birth of Lord Krishna, tohas its own way of celebrating, this festival I more children’s, as permythological stories Krishna during his young age was the most innocent troublemaker kid.

Few of the missing moments during this Janmashtami for me:

- As most in my age group kids were bought up intheir non Cable-Television era, we had only savored on Doordarshan programs,and during this time, we would be having the most iconic song played (sung byMd. Rafi and acted by Shammi Kapoor) ‘Govinda Ala re Ala’ this song has createdits mark.

This time around its saddens the most toknow that Shammi Kapoor is not amongst us

- Dahi-Handi: Human pyramids are formed in the attemptto break the Handi (earthen pot filled with curd and fruits) its symbolized to Krisha’sacts from his childhood.

Tribute to the legend and keeping up the festive spirit.

Do you fall.....

2011-08-19T22:46:00.002-04:00

Do you fall or stand back....

How many times have you or rather how often we have fallen...

From the day we learned how to crawl... Just before the first step we took, would have hugged ground few hundred times, the first few fall would have hurt us bad and not to let us attempt next couple of days...

Once the sore went off and the eagerness took over fear, we would have mastered how not to get hurt when we fall next time...

Eventually the most awaited day arrives, when we take our first confident step and are able to manage our own body weight and started yo walk...

The literal fall takes different meaning over times...

Your fail to score the goal for your team during inter-school championship

I assume that would not have quit playing football(soccer)....

Time passes by, you graduate and the next big thing in life... Time you earn your own bread, in that pursuit you venture seeking of a nice paying corporate job that would get you a Aston Martin

You fail your first interview, assuming you would have cracked it easily...

I bet we would not have given up job seeking... From the fall you learned few tips and tricks to gauge next one... You rise... You shine...

So eventually in life you would be facing many such daunting task and moment were you would fail and will fail again....

Does it mean you lost it..

Does it mean it's not your cup of tea...

Does it mean you are not the one...

Does it mean it's bad to dream....

I say no... We fall we learn from the fall , and strive to rise higher and higher, consider each fall as part of strengthening your foundation.

We will face people around you, who will make you feel bad and not let you rise.., but as the saying goes 'Take what you want'

Be like the Phoenix of Dumbledore... to rise again from it's own ashes.

In mythology, a phoenix is an immortal bird that, when it dies, bursts into flames and is reborn from its own ashes. "To rise from the ashes of the phoenix" means to make a miraculous comeback.

Nature Rain… Click…

2011-08-14T13:20:00.001-04:00

If you love photography, or rather if you just love clicking,Nature is the best source of best stills, and most of the still would make sureyou end up with mouth wide open and gasping from more images, as its rainingover this part, I got some nice stills.

Moreover a big thanks to digital source of photography it hasinspired armature photographer (or a person like me with Camera), just pointshoot and download on to your laptop. Picasa being helpful and allowing uploadimages and share them, all in a jiffy.

I still remember those days when I bought my first camera (backin year 2002, it cost me 1100 Rs it was a major part of my paycheck), them to Iloved clicking, but the only grim side was the wait period, of completing theroll 36shot get them developed, and assume all have came well. At time I wouldhave to wait for occasion as I have not consumed all 36picturres

If I look upon the latest album I shot, its been rainy sincemorning much before I woke up, and I loved the way it was raining it remindedme of the rain back from my native place (Kerala –Kannur, where when it rains, itjust rains un-interrupt) today rain is somewhat in similar fashion, no wind tomake sure the clouds will find a new place.

Below are the pictureI took some time back and some of them have came out really well (as I say I lovedthem), I so easy to click 50 pics in 10 minute span and create an album of 5,ahh technology I love it.

As most rain lover back home would love to have a cup of GaramChai (hot tea) and savory Onion Pakodas

Foodies.... We..... Compatible

2011-07-30T18:41:00.003-04:00

When two people from different walk of life play to dwell a single life… still require a lot of support and commitment, and quote often, we tend to hear questions, so how did you guys start of, so how is the cultural gap working out between you, and I am sure you guys have some common grounds to stand on.

What generally is done by most of us, try to wade through the question and look really over it, as you both know it’s not the culture that binds you….

In our case we have a strong agent of binding ‘FOOD’ please doesn’t be surprised, its true, down the live we have know that we really do have strong taste buds and more over we love preparing food.

Just to tell an incidence, couple of weeks back we both were watching some TV show, and in that we so them eating ‘Bread Pakoda’ (to explain: you prepare a mash potato add all spice required, stuff it in between 2 diagonal slice of bread, dip it in Corn-Flour mix and deep fry), so back to the story in net 45 minutes we both were savoring the delicacy.

I would love to share some of the dishes we prepared in last 2 weeks or so (Not to mention we have a whole album on Picasa to support)

Pasta and Sangaria... on a HOT Saturday Afternoon Jul 24 when Sun was blazing at 45Celsius

Manu prepared Shahi Tukda....

Indo-Chinese any day special, Veg manchurian: Manu prepared this way better then earlier versions

Thai Yello Baby Corn curry, Thanks to Mohita, long back she gifted a Curry book, which helps me still to prepare some special dinner.

Manu prepared Hot and Sour Soup, way better then resturant class

Manu, prepared Baby Corn cilli...Thanks to Sanjeev Kapoor recipe, he is a gem in Indian Cuisines

Time flies by… 12 years have gone by….

2011-07-25T15:48:00.001-04:00

Why,a post looking back in time… I ask why not… it is the best source of learningand helps us to evolve….

TodayI saw a friend of mine posting a message ‘How many of us really remember whenwe first met???, I replied ‘Do not remember the day but it is 12 years backwhen I first met you FY BCS (back in 1999 some time between Jul-Aug when westarted our First Year in Bachelor in Computer Science).

A thoughhad already started ticking 12… 12 … 12 … 12…

How fast time really flies infront your eyes, and I still recall my college days as if it was just couple ofsummer ago, and I have just started of with the job after college. However morethen a decade has passed, all this time it was not I just steered over calmwater over time I have stumbled, fallen face down only to get back on your feet,re-grouped myself and kept going.

Istill recall those days when I had finished my 12^th standard exams,people around used to ask, ‘So what are you going to do’ all I used to do is ‘Shrugmy shoulder, indicating not sure’, and then I would be bombed with suggestionwhat to do and what not to do. Soon after results arrived as expected mypicture was not in Newspapers (for my picture to publish, it would have been a 1000page newsletter that day…).

Mostof them suggested to join Engineering, I wanted something different, all I rememberis that I announced I am taking admission at a local college for BCS.(C forcomputers, and until then I had used it only to play Prince of Persia)

AllI thought was I would be joining the new young blood IT brand who was again tryingto stand on its knees post Y2K slump… was it a good choice or bad… i guess timehad to decide on that, all I could do is stay affirm on to the decision I havetaken.

Iguess that is what life is all about, you take one decision and follow it, youwill reach where you want to, but that do not mean you will flow steadily, youwill fall, you will stumble and will have to steer through high rapid,eventually to reach…

Overthe years I have cam a long way, looking back reminds me of all moments thathad create a curve or flow like a stream of water, so let see what where as howI will be leading ahead with time…

Picture Speaks: Each as its own story

2011-07-24T09:58:00.005-04:00

This happens to be first post in 3 weeks time, and it was not like that over this time I did not intended to write a post, if I recall more than three instance when I wanted to write a post but each time I jumbled and was missing the continuous flow thought and to a extent lacking commitment to wrap the post to a complete state. I assume I was over burned with many other tough and loaded with office works,, as we been having week over week releases.

Ahhh I guess I should leave my office stuff at the revolving door of the office, only to pick up next day when I head inside.

Meanwhile yesterday morning it was way hot and humid not for a moment I missed my Native Kerala but the temperature never creped past 40, but since last week we have witness how Sun wanted to bake cookie on earth…

I was still having my hot cup of tea…. When I saw the steam coming out I could not wait taking pictures and add tag lines to them.

I see a human dance on some Bhangada music, and as most of us adore Hrithik dance move, why not call it 'Hrithik groves'

As my Sun Sign happen to be Aries: I was able to visualize my sun-sign in it

Hand of God: This reminds me of Deigo Maradono goal against England during 1986 World-Cup QF.
Below clip will help you recall.

Day 4: Journey Continues: Hot-Water tub / Zip-Line

2011-07-05T12:17:00.002-04:00

The cabin we booked was really nice, we wanted to spend some time, and thanks to the hot water-tub placed onlooking the mountain range along with Jacuzzi a much needed treat to our soul to make a chunky dip in the bubbly water tub, and sip Carona's

Other then this we wanted to have some fun and adventures activity lined up for the day....
So it's time for Zip-lining (Smoky Mountain - Zipliners) its a 18 stop Zip-lining course total distance close to 2miles and the longest stretch spanning 580feet

It was a amazing experience scenic mountains in your backdrop time to enact George in a Jungle and live our dreams of swinging by trees hurdling over bushes screaming like Tarzan and Jane for next 2hrs. On one particular location they had spy camera's to capture some realistic snaps.

Later it was Go-Karting time... Time to burn some rubber and spun on track... We tried breaking current record set by Sebastian Vettel (Current Formula 1 champion)

Later we retired back to cabin and planned for a gala dinner and indeed it was gala....

- Veg Manchurian
- Stri-Fry Noodles
- Spice Fried Rice
- Vodka + fresh Watermelon Juice (It turned out to be a nice combination)

Clock ticks away we ended our Day 4 with loads of memory and stories to share with.

Next day a new beginning awaits us... Until the Rosters wakes us up all...

Day 3: Journey continues: No network Zone:

2011-07-05T07:47:00.000-04:00

We became victim by telecom giant AT&T, whose tagline reads (we cover 97% of US) and some how I feel I end up in those 3% however after a long time I was disconnected from network and felt a but good, so no email checking(it would be mostly from 100 place's where you would have registered)

Okay back on track, relating our day 3 activity, we had a nice long ride before we reach to our next checkpoint 'Whitewater Rafting at Nanthala Gorge -VIrginia'

Before this time I had been three times for rafting at 'Delaware Water-gap' all those were rafting spanned for totaling of 4+ hours and covering close to 8 miles in distance....
This was a worth while experience and far more the best rafting experience I had and each raft had a Coach who makes we have the best time invading or conquering raging lake...
Emiley 'Raft Coach' had amazing had loads of share, and we shared Hindi with her... 'Aage -- Forward' and 'Rooko -- Stop' we guessed as she wanted to catch couple of Hindi words from us, later part of rafting was all about Aage and Rooko...

In next 90minutes we covered 8miles of stretch.

Later in afternoon we headed to our cabin - Country Oak located in Smoky Mountains in Tennessee (Majestic Mountains), we found this amazing place to stay for couple of days...

More to continue as our vacation progress

Day 2: Journey continues: Hiking

2011-07-03T09:41:00.000-04:00

So as our day 1 was all about onset of our journey.... For day 2 we had plan outlined, only point was how good we would be able walk down path we intended.

After all the wake up buzzer we were out of the hotel by 9:30...
Next Checkpoint 'Hiking at Seven Sisters Trail - Virginia'

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=208898
Length: 4.8 miles

Like in most cases... How we came to this particular hiking place of all places...

Saturday night we had our reservation made at Comfort Inn Johnson City located 400 odd miles from Friday night halt.

Moreover 'Seven Sisters Trail' had great review considering we fall in moderate category of hikers, as in past non of us had actually returned from 'Mt. Everest base camp' (in future I may).

We reached the trail place, and our was the only car in the parking area, thanks to the sign board we still assume we were at the right spot... The area was heavily forested, Sun struggled at times to pass warmth to the surface.

Next 3 hours we did not see any soul unless someone spotted us(am I able to creep like some suspense movie).... I will rate the trail as one of the best trail i have ever been to for:
- Less difficulty lots of twist and turn
- Narrow lane
- You can hear leaves falling
- Hear dried twigs breaking under your feet

Journey so far has be amazing and mostly we are still able to walk on the dotted planned lines (If we fall back it is easier to draw a new line)

Time to check-in... As another planned day lays ahead of us, watch out more for Day-3

On the signing note: we met officer Willee, she was happy to pull us of the road and give us a 15minute break... To cut the long story short we were stopped for speeding....

Day 1: Of the journey: away from Work

2011-07-02T07:56:00.004-04:00

The word journey it self bring thills... And being Friday and for sake of saving a day... As most people did I WFH (and trust me most of them would have just made sure to tap mouse / Keyboard once in a while so that the status is online... Me neither an exception....

As usual we went over board with packing and gathering things as if we are boarding 'Noah's Ark'... be it... somehow we managed to close trunk of the car, load full as termed as need for survival rofl...

Here we go.... Our destination.... Drive 275 miles and reach 'Winchester VIrginia -- Holiday Inn' were we plan to hold our put for night...

A new day and a new plan waits to unfolds... when you are on a vacation we should be over ambition in successfully striking out all the plan you would have painted on the drawing board...

So wait and see how day 2 would has to offer.... Starting with when we left our crusader....

Below pic was taken by 'Sarave' when we went to pick up all the necessary supplements required for a successful journey (prizes for right guesses)... as we picked up the last supply she wanted a pic of us to be taken, and this is we...

20 Hour Day….

2011-06-26T00:32:00.002-04:00

Itsrare lately when my day spans for 20 hours, sorry my friend it not due to latenight party or watching back to back late night movie…. If I look from minuteone how the day started it is all amazing… and not a single minute was spendlazing around….

Buzzersgo off at 4:30am… before the snooze goes off again, my phone rings, on theother end, my friend ‘Bhai… me reaching in 5-10min’ that all and he hangs up…

4:45amI am standing outside my house and am dropping my friend to Airport… a nice 45minutes ride and during whole time we talk… just to make sure he is not sleepingon the wheel….

Ihad my continuing plan of visiting my wife’s cousin 4 hours and 30 minutesdrive (last time it took us 7:15 hours) I guess we were lucky this time.

Afternoonwe visited UMass Lowell Campus, it happens to realize that it is my maidenuniversity tour. As a student I never happened to visit a University (as minewas a affiliated college) old stories apart, it was a nice visit, walking byall the department, and happened to see the project work of a Phd holder and ofanother person who would he defending his thesis by year end.

EveningI watched a nice comedy / love story ‘Mickey Blue Eyes’, and had awesome dinner

That’swhen I just though let me check my office email ‘IF some one was throwing flags’I had to log and perform some checks, that took close to 3 hours…. Resulting to the post title ’20 Hour Day’ ---4:30am to 12:30am

I hope to catch a nice sleeplike a log, Beatles songs suits just right…

‘It's been a hard day's night, Ishould be sleeping like a log’

Friday: How an awesome morning it was....

2011-06-26T00:07:00.002-04:00

It’s been a while for me since I last blogger, seams to me the lastmarathon series I took a month back dehydrated all my thoughts, or to say themighty soldier who is always prepared for a battle, wear his amour sharpens hisblade and wait for the day, and meantime he trains and trains himself hard.

And the day arrive when he feels he will attain all glory and have a rewardingfight for his lands and those who challenge… and the constant fight and striketakes a toll and when the dust settles he who was felt glory in raising hissword and shield, would be a bit more offensive.

This seams to me my stage… I always prepared for the war, and when itcame upon, I fought each and every day and when the time came to rest thesword…. I laid down my pen…. Nevertheless, as the soldier who can never laydown his sward, I to would be back in a constant flow of blog post.

Today morning as I stepped outof house, instantly I felt something is not right, as I was in my officeformals and was heading to office… what would have been best, either I layunder warm layer comforter or Sip a warm cup of coffee or in-fact I should be ridingmy bike…

p.s. I realized that i had not published this one, had written this on my way to office, as i had to spend rest of the day behind monitors and under under open sky

Brunch: will it be picked in Food Magazine

2011-06-11T14:45:00.000-04:00

How should a weekend start….

Most of us would be loving to start our weekend in the cozy comfort bed… tucked under warm layer of comforter, especially when the weather is all overcast, and the clouds are pick dark, in a dilemma and checking their watches to decide is it time or do they have to wait for some more time…. As the mighty sun was blazing all week long….

I am still looking at the sky…. Just to feel the rain… it reminds me of the time I was in Pune… start June… any weekend it rained we friend would love ride our bikes towards Lonavala (which is a rain catchment area so it just rains heavily). But this time I would rather sit by the window and enjoy the rain with hot sipping cup of coffee.

I wanted to have breakfast, but was lazy what to make, so with my laziness I decided to prepare only Bunch (in a way to avoid any Lunch as well).

When I prepared I thought of preparing it a bit more fancy:

So what you see is ‘Egg-Roll’ on the sides, and in the center I lined up kiwi some strawberry and with some back grapes…. Volla we have a recipe from ‘Best-Brunch’

Broadway Show: The Lion King

2011-05-26T11:32:00.001-04:00

Last evening we have been to our first Broadway show.... Lion King... I had heard amazing review of the play... It based on a Disney Story of Lion King...

Over the years, 50million people across the global have witnessed the extravaganza mind-blowing show, so we thought my not be part of the huge group....

We had our own anticipation on how the show be on what scale it can be... To my experience the show is way far greatly choreographed beautiful executed and has a huge wow factor as it unfolds in front of you...

To say the story would be a simple one about the journey of life of a Lion Cub until he becomes the King of the Jungle.... Nevertheless, what is special about the show is how all character play their role, their are moment where in you feel which way to look and the cast ascend down the hallway...

I would say if you happen to be thinking of attending any of the Broadway Show, do make Lion King at top of the chart...

In the jungle, the might jungle, the Lion sleep tonight... This is what I have been humming and singing since yesterday evening....

Below is a sneak peak how elaborate the show is:

Attachment and Detachment ???

2011-05-18T17:09:00.011-04:00

Attachment and Detachment, sounds so simple but if we are to put this in terms of human relationship the discussion would be endless, resulting in very little conclusion as generally people do fall under three groups and would like to make sure their stand.

Attached: as per me people who cannot live fully in isolation and require to be attached to the system (Not like Neo attached to cables in Matrix). Attachment do not mean mere physical... its emotionally, and more in terms of an affirmation that we are been watched and taken care by the close knit of people around us.

Detached: As per me it is a group of people that proclaim they are totally detached from any emotional or social bonding. I will refrain from taking sides or commenting I clearly see my self not part of this camp.

If I have to state an opinion I would state complete detachment is it true or pure hypothetical, as human belong to category called 'Social Animal'

Matrix: This group would be most populous and fits for most of us. As it gives us the flexibility of hopping On and off over time, at time we all require some attachment and even in other ways some one would be looking forward towards you for that emotional support and you be the best listener as possible as you can. Once a while if you are seeking some amount of isolation or self-time.

Moreover each one of us would have come across this case where we try to put up a point just to prove and say no I am attached but not dependent on any one...

Being dependent should not be confused and termed as attachment, both have it own set of unique identifiers.

Many a times you would have 'I m feeling homesick' generally from hostilities or from people moved to a new place, (And most of the time guys prefer to say ‘No’ as they feel it’s against Male testosterone) anyways at I have misunderstood when I hear those words.

If I think it is completely acceptable, as each one of a would have a degree of attachment and it is not that easy to just walk out of the nest and say 'I am a free bird, and can do anything i please to'

So are you… Attached or Detached? Mention you opinion.

Why you should wake up with a smile...

2011-05-17T09:09:00.018-04:00

Sometime you start you day a bit wrong... And you see a domino effect...

I am attending a 6 week training session which starts at 7:30am --- 9:00am

When I got the calendar invite I was simply looking at the time for couple of minute, as the time make me of no where why so....

If I have to attend session from home I would end up catching 9:15 bus (and swear by god, the bus takes the longest possible route not sure who designed the route-map) it would only reach office by 10:30am which is a bit late.

Good God I miss my India office timing, as we had flexible timing, and I make sure to stretch it to the most by reaching office only at 11:00am but my day generally ends only by 8:30pm.

As I do not have similar liberty, I intended to leave home by 6:40am to have a early to start office day by 7:30.

This is what happened my morning unfolded…

Today morning I was really lazy to get up by 6:00, somehow I managed to drag myself out by 6:10....

We usually have a 6:30 am Tuesday status call, i dialed in only to hear the soothing Beethoven (I wish they played Morning Raga 'Bhairavi' and the weather is best suited for bike ride from Pune to Lonavala as it foggy and we have dark clouds looming around)

The morning call got rescheduled only at 2:30am and my no means I would be reading that emails, I got to know only after waiting for 10 minutes hoping someone would join.

The Bus lane is a single lane route, which assures that 95% of the time we will reach New York faster, but today it happened to be in the elite 5% as had a bus disabled on that lane...

Finally, at 7:15am we received an email ‘Today’s Session Cancelled’ and I only had to say ‘Good’ as I reached office only at 8:00.

After all this minor morning hiccups what do I take back....

Of-course a blog post

Next time when you don't feel like getting up from bed, please don't get up :-0

More realistic one, put up a smiley face and say 'The day would be just amazing and easy'

I bet this three mantra would work better for me'

Driving: The saga continues....

2011-05-13T12:44:00.002-04:00

I am back with my favorite topic on my blog.... ‘Driving License'

Currently I am in a state where in I can attempt and write a book relating to life cycle of owning a driving license with special notes on how to make things not work for you :-0

So you would imagine why I am the most frequent visitor to DMV, i have lost the chronological order also of all my visit.

Not to mention I would have visited more number of time in last one year then people visit in their life time....

So here comes the latest post on DMV visit saga, this time it is for renewing my Provisional License (it’s a bit of wacky rule, at first I was given a 3 month Learners License after that I cleared driving test and got Provisional license valid for a year and then comes the day when you can proclaim your permanent license. I feel it a bit longer wait).

In my case it has never been easy I was would always find myself in some exceptional case, and this time my VISA expired in 7 months. So I see myself again standing outside DMV with all the possible document that I can gather to renew by Provisional license, which means I have another visit pending to claim my Permanent license.

License expiry dates are tagged with your VISA expiry date, with a 3 months grace period, where in they assume that by then VISA would get renewed. I had my finger crossed as last time my VISA renewal took 8 full months

So after all the wait I was at the window, what had never ever happened it happened in next 90 seconds I had my renewed license in my hand and I was out of DMV… phew with a sigh of relief

Mother’s Day

2011-05-07T16:47:00.003-04:00

T his is me and my mom, this picture was taken when I was inPune last December, during my last trip to Pune. Looking at the calendar itfeels as if some time had passed away, but for me it more like yesterday of asolder as of last week.

Like any other kids I too am bit closer to my mom, for manyreason, for not only because what I am today is all because of her teaching andher patience that she had shown in my bringing up., but for many other reasonalso, she backs up and motivates me.

Many camp would say why we are trying to commercialize thesweet relation between mom and kids, i have a different opinion, it true thatwe are not to show our affection to mom only on a particular day of year,rather it should be year around. Why not to have a special day.

Mom would not be asking us to shower her with loads of giftor flower, she only want that her kids share the same love they had all duringtheir childhood (back when we used to write essay titling ‘My Mom’)

So leave all apart, time it say out loud 'I Love you MOM'

Blogathon, End, for a new start.

2011-05-01T22:53:00.002-04:00

Blogathon: For now came to a closure:

26 days ago, I took a plunge into an unknown territory of Blog-marathon (Blogathon) which aims that a blogger would post daily for a month.

I start on 5^th April and as April neared to its end I had already posted 22 times, in terms of Blogathon it is not a completed race, In similar why if you participate in a Full marathon (26miles) if we drop down after 24 miles in terms of completion we were not able to complete, but in terms of personnel terms it is an accomplishment for me

I started blogging for the very first time back in Dec 2008 () back then I had no idea I would be able to see 50 post, but today this would be mine 162ns post, and I I really do not see an end to my blogging soon.

Few of the interesting post from Blogathon:

'I Can' and not 'I Want'

Evolution of Indoor Games

Smile :-0

I would like to thanks all my followers who would spend time on my post, that inspire in me continuing.

All I could say I would keep on posting some interesting post over time, love the tag ‘Johnnie Walker ‘ – Keep Walking

See you around soon.

Biking Trail

2011-05-01T22:12:00.003-04:00

After couple of weeks planning finally this weekend we both set out for our first biking trip, all previous attempt weather played a spoil sport, which denied us from have this trip.

But this weekend was just amazing for any outdoor activity temperature wise it was in 20’s, we went to 'White Haven' some 110 miles from our place, splendid location, a place you would definitely love to have a nice big retirement home watch birds fly by winds buzzing around long unwind roads huge open farmlands, I bet it would be a dream place to be including mine.

Special thanks to Amol, for believing in me and let drive his car in his absence, so I took full advantage of it.

As most of the time we goof up at last minute so we planned to reach 30 minutes before, but due to bad traffic we were full 90 minutes late, only to know that the group had left as we did not report on time.

So either we plan next time or we could take the local city loop spanning 12.5 miles (20km) this section had some cycling in state park open farm land with lots up ups and down.

We were provided with map and details directions, so next 4 hours we both we cycling / walking / taking loads and loads of picture.

At the end of the day, we were determined to visit once again.

But one reaching home we both preferred sitting on Pillow :-0 (Your bum hurts after 4 hrs of cycling).

Picture from the trail, and i bet would amaze you and you to would want to bike at this stretch.

Towers, tall and short: Post 22

2011-04-28T22:03:00.003-04:00

Please do not confuse this with the quarterly repot or even with stock market movement based on some superficial or highly anticipated news, or nor even with the building structure from New York skyline from midtown to downtown.

These is the tower that depicts how vivid caller I was for AT&T but as the calendar year changed my sincerity and long lasting commitment towards AT&T took a huge plunge. Then started the era of rather named as consistent follow through, that is seen in the last three tiny sprouts, barely coming out of the ground.

How all this realization happened, I was just glancing at the monthly statement, which had a link to ‘Show Past data’ and out of curiosity I clicked on the link. So all those skyscraper were during my courtship period prior to marriage, and all those short and timid towers are post marriage…. I bet AT&T or any other cellular operator would love their customers to be on other end.

Brake-fail / Beautiful / Late: Post 21

2011-04-27T12:59:00.000-04:00

The morning bus journey that I take to work usually last for 40 minutes, only if the day is good, in terms of not being stuck behind a broken down bus:

Just to make morning office going crowd a bit privilege... It is called express lane (sounds fancy) as most of the times we see in adjacent lanes other vehicle waiting in an hour long drive through tunnel busses pass in under 15 minutes, but as we are bound to ‘Law of Universe’ (Newton popularized it) every action has equal and opposite reaction, why to bring thing point.... At time the 40-minute ride becoming impossibly long thanks to broken down bus

These are the few common pointer you cannot miss noticing when stuck in traffic:

- Say if we are stuck for 30 minutes behind a non-moving bus, the driver will not be sitting on the horn and exhaust the battery

- This are the same people who run (leaving behind Usain Bolt, not sure I always want to chase him down I have mentioned against him in couple of post) sit more patiently and calmly the Gautam Buddha

- Few of the pretty ladies get extra time to highlight their eye liner and use various beauty assisting equipment (sorry I am still new in understanding these terminology I should be catching up, as it been only 4 months of marriage time)

- Some gentlemen and fairer sex also gets more time to catch up on what’s cooking in Financial section / Sport page

- For some ladies who are gone through mirror less makeup session have time to scan Vanity Fair or review new summer line, feel real pity for Martians, be it any weather (-20 to +90 Fahrenheit) we will be seen in stripe or plain shirts.

- And once in a while you can hear the sound of discomfort (no idea how to spell it)

After all the drama and fuss I am late again for the meeting (and will blame Lincoln Tunnel for its snail-paced traffic)

Spell out your daily travel story.... I hope it to did not had stomping on brakes

Love: Post 20

2011-04-25T12:04:00.000-04:00

Love: One such word that everyone be it of any age group like to hear once in a while, but most of the time when it comes to say we show a sense of scarcity and show a bit of hesitance.

Why do we doubt love?

If someone says 'I Love you', most of the time our instant replay would be 'Really'.... why do we ask back for affirmation, don’t you feel you can be loved.

On the contritely, if someone says 'I hate you', we won’t be asking back 'Really' instead if you want to avoid argument we would just walk away... so do this mean, 'We are sure to be hated, then loved.

Love does not only mean loving your Girl-Friend or your Spouse, it is a general term which would bring joy and happiness to the one who say and to the one who hears.

If i am to search dictionary for Love, it answers we various other forms:

- A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

- Affectionate concern for the well-being of others: the love of one's neighbor.

- Strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything: her love of books.

- The object or thing so liked: The Theater was her great love

And not to forget

- Chiefly Tennis. A score of zero; nothing.

We come across people, who would say there is no one who loves me; we should ask have you tried loving someone or something instead. A person who has a feeling of not being in love tends to be depressed, and if anyone is in depression many wrong and unfortunate things could happen that could hurt him and other around.

Love do not come alone it is accompanied with Fun, happiness, smile and laughter, so you are not alone any more in the crowd.

On FB, I came across 'Free Love Day' this group is all about to ‘promote awareness on suicide and depression, as well as to advocate a LIFESTYLE of unconditional love.'

So today on take a step and starting expressing Love, to each and everyone, love you family / friends / neighbors.

On of my favorite song, that Beatles have sung:

Gappusingh... Post 19

2011-04-24T01:01:00.000-04:00

I am losing a lot of body fat… I am looking more like ‘Amir Khan’ from Gajani…. I really intend not to look like that…. What the use of all the 6 packs if my memory is not to last for more than 15 minutes.

Looking at me don’t you feel like that I should be served a 6 course gala meal

I am hungry… and real hungry, if you see I lost my tummy (and have this 6 pack, which i wanted to get rid)

Hmmm yeah I am loving all the yummy mouthwatering Nuts (Nuts for Nuts) I am still loving it can I get some more and more and a bit more to retain all the lost fat over the time

Hmmm know I am all set for rest of the day or till the next meal…

As we see we were all busy in the gala lunch menu, forgot to introduce ’Guppu’ aka ‘Gappusingh’

Evolution of Indoor Games: Post 18

2011-04-23T01:12:00.001-04:00

Back during our childhood we would have spent most of blazing summer afternoon playing carom board this was only after we would have spend all our morning and would be planning for later in the evening.

As we know evolution is the only constant phenomenon, so as we see a lot of evolution happening in indoor gaming section we had…. Over time we moved from ‘Carom Board’… hand help video game into picture, and here come the Play Station / X-box, that made sure indoor games had reached a different stratosphere level all together, and when we felt the pinnacle had been reached, move apart. Motion sensor ventured into our drawing room and that’s when the realization happen evolution is only constant.

I was never ever fascinated with remote controlled games, (I would have spend hours watching my friend play all war racing even strategy games) but when I saw Nintando-Wii, I felt that what I guess I have been waiting all the time.

With Nintando-Wii, I felt I was able to give better return than Roger Federer in tennis, I felt I was able to hit more home runs then Derek Jeter in Baseball, and also was able to score more ‘Birdie’ and ‘Eagle’ then Tiger would have ever imagined.

X-Box came back in picture and did not wanted to trail behind, and stated why do we require a handheld remotes, why can’t the player itself be a controller, and with Kinect, I was able to bend it more like Beckham, and at time was able punch faster than Ali or even Tyson.

Till the time we see any new ground breaking games techniques we will enjoy all the games we do have.

Life, best the way it is: Post 17

2011-04-22T02:15:00.001-04:00

Are we happy for the life we have and how we are... I bet we are... On no I am not talking about small hiccups we face now and then, majority of us do cherish the life we have and aim to make it a better and nice each and every day

Why all of a sudden I am starting a post that talk more on valuing life that we have and the way we are...

Have you ever met or confronted with a transgender:

I had been confronted by transgender couple of times and at one odd time I had to give away some money.

I assume most of us would have somewhat similar story to share(getting away by paying some money, rather than being cursed...

But my view towards transgender is a bit different... I do not feel pity for them, I feel as anyone of us feel, we are best the way we are so in the same way a transgender do not feel sorry or pity on the way they opt to be, it is we who are the culprit and try to downright them and make them stand a lower level the human race.

Today I was watching a episode of 'Dus ka Dum' hosted by Salman Khan.

(We pay a premium price for India channel only 3 and at time we see shows aired 3 years old)

This was for the first time a transgender was called in to be a participant, named 'Laxmi' she is amazing person, (based on the work she is being doing for general upliftment)

Laxmi dispelled some age-old myths about the transgender community. Laxmi is a post-graduate and works for social causes in her community. She is one of the 11 people and the first transgender person to be selected to represent the community at the UN to work for human rights.

So next time when you happen to come across a transgender please do turn around your face and discriminate them, they are proud the way they are similar the way we are proud for ourselves

Pictures Talk: Post 16

2011-04-20T23:45:00.001-04:00

Wordless Wednesday: It a blog where people post their picturethat is for sure speaks more than thousands of words, and there are time whenpicture talk better than any subtitle you want to provide:

Special Dinner once in a while

Smile :-0 .. Post 15

2011-04-19T23:32:00.002-04:00

The best gift human has, which is harmless beneficial andhighly contagious dare you can run away from it without being gripped by it.

How often it happens that we come across smiley andinstantaneous see ourselves with a smile....

So why do keep it reserved let’s start sharing each and everytime possible never mind if it is with a completely unknown person and thereare high chances you would get smile back in return.

Passing a Smile is not only to make you happy, moreimportant It would be for the other person, who might not have got a chance to sharea smile, and with the smile you passed it would increase the chance to make hisrest of day better.

As in today’s fast and nucleus life we happen to share veryless light hearted moment, most of the time we are always in a rush:

- rush for waking up early

- rush in reaching up to bus stop on time

- rush in reaching office on time (in case we happen tostuck in traffic we end up with a frown face)

- rush to reach office desk and join the status-call on time

- rush scanning reading and replying all the accumulated emailsover night

- rush in catching up on some more discussion over coffeebreak and lunch break

- rush in reaching home...not to be with family, rather tolog-in to wrap up some pending task

By time we reach home our body would have given up, and ontop of it at times you have to dial in a late call...

So in all this activity did you find a moment to smile or tobring smile ob some one's face. If you did it good to many people directly orindirectly associated....

So keep passing the precious gift, Smile is an assetappreciates each and every time you pass it on... so what are you waiting for….Pass a SMILE.

This is one best smile or laughter moment we shared

My favorite video on Smile is of the great MJ:

Sam Daam Dand Bhed.... Post - 14

2011-04-19T01:44:00.000-04:00

Today I was reading out a book and got quite late, I was about to switch off my laptop that’s when I remember ‘hey Bhagwan…. My Blogathon’ I did not cover the required distance I am required to cover for the day, and I am in no place to miss a day of run that would leave out of the contender ship of completing the marathon with head high and still have few breath left in my lungs.

So as far as the post is considered, many a times it we would have been in a spot when we happen to hear or listen about a topic or a person, we instantly build up few pointer that would describe it all.

So what come to you mind… if I only have to say ‘Chanakya’

The most famous Niti (Quote) that come to my mind ‘Sam Daam Dand Bhed’

Saam - the policy of getting work done through brotherhood

Daam - the policy of getting work done through money

Dand - the policy of getting work done through punishment

Bhed - the policy of getting work done through creating differences

Some time back I bought a book on Chanakya (Maxims of Chanakya) which list his famous quotes on various topics.

I would live to mention few of them that caught my eye:

One who desires speedy accomplishment of tasks does not look to the stars (to know his fortune)

In daytime the crow kills the owl, At night the owl kills the crow. (The time of fight is important)

Alliance should not be concluded for the sake of money or position. When these are lost, the alliance fails.

The bee is capable of cutting wood, but it is harmless in the lotus-bed (There are many bonds, But the bond of love is something different)

Chanakya was an amazing statements, he happen to quote and mention things that we can learn from animals around us.

Even a fangless serpent should raise its hood, for with or without poison, a raised hood is frightening

From Cock one should learn four things, getting up in time, fighting, division of responsibility among relations and enjoyment after attacking.

Qualities from dog, desire for much, satisfaction with little, deep slumber, quick awakening, devotion to master and bravery.

So can we use some, any or all of Chanakya Niti (Quote).

Don’t get honked.... Post 13

2011-04-18T01:06:00.002-04:00

If I am to drive or ride in Pune I have to make sure of few things,,,, and the most important of it would be make sure that my vehicles HORN is in working state, as at each and every corner you can see as part of precautionary measure ‘I have to Honk’ and ‘Everyone has to Honk’ … and we all HONK in harmony and make sure I am safe and all are safe on road.

So over here, the concept of driving is all lot of different, one of the think what is not required is a HORN, at time I guess a rider / driver would get no chance of listening how HORN works in his own vehicle.

So why all the story I am putting for HORN, is because in spite I got my license (I could I ever forget how I got my license after many back and forth… to be precise I had to pay 6 visit to the DMV to get my license, I would have faced all the roadblock one could not have imagined – My Own Driving Saga series)

After all this hoo-lla-hoop I have not being driving, finally when my old roommate was travelling to India I opted to be his chauffer and drive him off to the airport and the total drive back and forth would have been more than total driving I did including the driving lesson I took earlier last year…

And how did I do…. Ahh not to say that I did not get HONKED all the way to and fro, so I assume that I did pretty good….

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

For the post i remember a song... from Chalti Ka Naam Gadi.... the video is really amazing... but nothing close to that happened... :-0

Catching up.... Tring Tring... Post 12

2011-04-16T17:04:00.003-04:00

Catching up with Friends:

Its been a while since i followed by usual Saturday.... what better way then catching up old college time buddies over phone.

First we received a email on Tue from one of our friend asking or rather demanding 'guys its really been a while that we had our long Conf Call.

I really wanted to pick up phone and get everyone in a call and start with and hour plus long chat thast the least friends can talk I guess... the only visible problem was time as we being separated or spread over different time zone that adds a bit of twist when to make a call and when not to make a call (say for e.g. if it 8:00 pm IST then it would be 3:00 pm in London and ends up being 10:00 am in NY)

These are the time when I really wanted Earth NOT to the spherical, how different it would have be if earth was to be flat, as titled by 'Thomas L. Friedman -- The World Is Flat',

Ahh for a moment it is fine to forget all the gravitational theory, Apple falling on your head, and forget any Physics law you are aware of.

Due to the varied time zone, it become hard to catch up with all 5 together, this time at a point we 4 were able to be in call, and the usual friends blah blah started resulting in not deciding how and when, as couple of them are getting married in Month of May, were were deciding how to travel and so.

As usual what’s with friends it best without planning anything as accomplish all what you have dreamt of.

Cheerios, until again a next Saturday we are all tuned in and let the stories go un-ended.

Friday Fill-Ins : Post 11

2011-04-16T09:51:00.002-04:00

I am really sorry for not keeping up and writing up my post as part of the blogathon, what I would take this day off as I am running my maiden marathon, on reaching to the half way I was all exhausted, I took some time off and grasped as much long deep breath I could, this clearly do not mean I am disqualified from the marathon, all front runner hold on, I am still in race and set for the last minute final finish run.

Friday evening was the day, I would be remembering it for a while and gradually as all events it too would fade away in the midst of all the memories that we try to remember: So I happen to drive and drop my friend to airport, a nice 80 miles drive, in my whole life till date I would have drove under 70 miles (includes my driving class), know I feel a bit more comfortable.

I got this Friday Fill-In (Every Friday, a set of sentences are posted on this site and those who participate have to complete the same on their respective blogs) I got this link from Preeti, and I though why not me be also it:

So here are the set of question as posted for this Friday:

1. For me, it was _____.

2. _____ at my local supermarket.

3. Behind the sound of the wind in the trees, I heard _____.

4. _____ is something I always wanted to do.

5. When it was over, _____.

6. _____ but I never felt alone.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

And here is what my answers are:

1. For me, it was an amazing Friday evening that I would be remembering for a while, as for me driving was never there, As my friend was travelling to India, he needed to be dropped at the airport.... so I jumped in and told not to worry my friend I am there (80+ miles drive.... phew I feel on a different level.)

2. Last time I been to get a bunch of tulip on a Friday evening on my way back from office: at my local supermarket.

3. Behind the sound of the wind in the trees, I heard by heart speak and right them i knew it, what i am have been thinking would happen and we would be more than happy to be in the place where we want to be. (Sorry for keeping the reader in limbo... i would share when it happens, till then it is better unheard)

4. A person with nice listening skill and able to keep a check on my aggression... sorry to admit earlier I was in a state of not able to control my aggravation, but over last couple of years I am improving and would love to strength myself and be as much calm I can be, and this is something I always wanted to do.

5. When it was over, today I watched Ice Age, each time i watch i feel i should have a pet, what the harm in having Mammoth as a pet.

6. Before Manu walked into my life, it was a bit alone, know i do not know what it means to be alone, but I never felt alone.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Drive of my frined to airport and to much of it reahc back home as the way it is (unharmed), tomorrow my plans include a big NOTHING (its been a real long since we did not had any plan) and Sunday, I want to a another big NOTHING (i am loving it when i am writing this as i would love to be at home and watch the gloomy weather a bit of rain as per weather channel and have hot cup of coffee)!

Memories.... Vishu - Post 10

2011-04-14T23:43:00.000-04:00

Memories... as if today that’s all what i have.... This being the 3rd year I am not at home with my family...

These are one of those special days which i cherish since my childhood...

During our school days... We visit our native town (kannapuram-- Kerala) once every two year, but at times due to our final exams which used to coincide with Vishnu, but it was not the case we mostly used to visit, it the best time of the year in terms of festive season in Kerala, but if you are to look at weather, worst time witness the most hot and humid

Cherukunnu Temple (I was amazed to see a facebook page of this temple) hosts one of the biggest festivals in kerala for Vishu, spanning for more than 10 days. Each day Pooja would be on a bigger scale then previous, followed by a procession each day would end with a spectacular display of firecrackers

Some more details of Vishu or rather how it is celebrate at my place. In Vishu, Vishukkani, hold the most impart part of the day, Vishukkani is the first thing to be seen on Vishu day post waking up.

This is how, Vishukkani, was at our home @ Pune is for this year

Generally overnight mom would arrange everything in for 'Vishukkani'. It is a ritual arrangement with following, Grains (Rice / pulses) Vegetables, Fruits (Banana / jackfruit / Apple ) Flowers (Most important would be Kanni Konna, can be see on left of the image) Jewelry , Coins , New Cloths (Mund / Shirt) and Sweets.

All this would be placed in front of God and Goddess and many lamps (Brass Metal lamp as seen in image) would be lit, Mom would wake us up covering our eyes and make sit in front of Vishukkani and offer our prayers.

Another important part is Vishukkaineetam, where Elders of the family distribute tokens of money, called Vishukkaineetam, to children and youngsters

As any festival, celebration is incomplete if we are not have a Lunch / Dinner feats, Vishu Sadhiya (Special Lunch) make sure of it.

All and all I can say next year I would try and be at home to enjoy the festive occasion.

How many i help you today... - Post: 9

2011-04-13T18:19:00.000-04:00

Over the years due to strong competitiveness, telephonic customer care has undergone a huge makeover., with sole purpose of making sure that we are served faster and better…. But at time….

I have been facing problem with my web login for Citibank, I was hoping a quick call at the toll-free customer care would help resolve my issues say in fewer than 10 minutes.

This is how it went:

I called up the customer care number as expected it started with a Beethoven music, I feel they should have chose for selecting music, top 10 Hindi pop / top 10 US chartbusters would be more fun to call up customer care frequently.

Lately most of the system starts of with automated assistance with an aim to capture as much details as possible so it be used for further reference during resolution

After juggling and keying in some two dozen numbers like Card Number / Date of Birth / Phone Number, I finally heard the message 'You would be transferred to the next available customer Representative'.

Time elapsed 05:00 minutes

So Mr. Chris welcome me and after listening to my problem say my problem would be best assisted by there "Web-Troubleshooting expert', god know where they come from with such fancy titles and I was put On-Hold

This time 'Mr Shiv' welcome me, and as a standard procedure ask me quarter dozen security questions, (DOB / Card Number /Security Question) and ask me to follow few instruction in attempting to resolve, all resulting in failure.

Time elapsed 12:00 minutes

I was routed to a L-2 support, and so Shiv added 'Mr Rishad', before leaving, Shiv says 'Ahhh Sir Belated Happy Bday on behalf of Citibank and me' I felt that personal touch in customer care

However, the call total time reads 18:00 minutes elapsed

So again Mr Rishad as part of the security protocol ask me the same set of question (by then I had memorized my Card Number / Account Number)

After much of debugging, bingo we found the problem, my details was mapped to some expired Card, Not sure how

But requires a Supervisor ‘Mr David’ to override it.

Time elapsed 32:00 minutes

Finally after multiple back and forth I am able to log in to my account

Time elapsed 42:00 minutes

Wow, this is just amazing, when in i was assuming i would be wrapping up in 10 mins as a usual call, i ended up conversation with 4 people and most important, i found a theme for Blogathon:

Time to share your Story:
Say your last experience you hard with Customer Care:

Pacemaker.... over the horizon...Post 8

2011-04-13T00:18:00.000-04:00

Day 8 and I am running my own Full Marathon (30 days 30 post- Blogathon)

An athlete has to cover a distance of 42.195km in order to see the finish line and to set a new world records and proclaim glory and get enlisted in the record books....

You might ask what will a pacemaker do in a Blogathon....

Marathon, in a full marathon, if i ask what count the most:

Is it your preparation

Is it your strength

Is it your stamina

I say along with all, what matter most is your 'determination'.

Each and every athlete would have under gone somewhat same intensity of preparation and somewhat same stamina, but the person who would be standing head hight at the end is the one who is already a winner in his heart and mind.

So what role does a Pacemaker has in a marathon, is the one set the pace in the marathon he would be leading the race for most of the part, but would fade away in the last section, why so, say if you are the one who is the favorites to create history, if you happen to see over the horizon a pacemaker, that all you would want, your mind take control and in an instance all your fatigue would vanish and you would be neck and neck with the pacemaker and at the end you would be standing tall...

In my case, as this happens to be mine maiden blogathon, I am looking forward for the pacemaker who would make sure i am still in the contender ship and i see myself standing at the end of blogathon.

Let me put some of the amazing real pacemaker stories

Pace making gained much usage after Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway successfully paced Roger Bannister to break the four-minute mile for the first time in 1954.

In 1994 Los Angeles Marathon when veteran marathoner Paul Pilkington was paid to set a fast pace then drop out. When the elite athletes failed to follow his pace, he kept going, ultimately winning $27,000 and a new Mercedes to the surprise of the expected favorites.

Time to Shed - Post 7

2011-04-11T23:55:00.002-04:00

As day pass by, temperature sour up in the red, and make sure all passing day would bring new color in life, the color none other than GREEN, the color that would bring life to all plant and would spring back life into them, and the time would come again when we can spend our time under the shade of tree, spending time with our loved one, reading the pending book, watching kids play in the park…. It’s the same effect when you were waiting for the jolt that would push to the end make want you run the extra mile, or the last few hundred meters.

Be whatever it is the feeling of SPING coming back to your life is amazing the days are gone when it feel amazing to walk in your formal shirts and not cover ourselves under light observing color or simpler to say BLACK, and it the time back again when we can get out all color full and vibrating colors.

We both always wanted to get some plant in our home, but we did not got that till recently, until then we made sure that at all time we do have some flower around us, the presence of any plant or flower in home make the environment a bit lively and spreads positivity around.

We happened to get ‘Epipremnum aureum’, it’s a small house hold decorative plant, and couple of days back it had a new leaf, I guess it is fair to assume it has adopted to its new home. Ahhh my bad I should have told we got ‘Money Plant’ as we all popularly know.

So the long wait has ended, time to walk straight to skin care section and grab some sun-screen lotions… time to enjoy summer….

Cherry Blossom - Post 6

2011-04-11T00:21:00.001-04:00

Last weekend we were in Washington D.C, wanted to see ‘Cheery Blossom Festival’ we had heard a lot about it was stated that more than a 1mm people were to attend the festival, we also though why not be part of the crowd, but gosh it did not happen the way we anticipated, as on Friday it witnessed heavy rainfall, and that was it all the thrill and frill we and along with all the people happen to just washed away…

But Washington is not only famous for Cheery Blossom festival; each and every building around Downtown Washington has amazing historical monuments and below is some proof of it.

This looked more like the castle back from Roman era

One of the last few tree's that had some blossom left.

Set to bloom

Capitol Hill: grazed over by empty benches.

A long wait yet... Still waiting for Spring..

This one from 'Smithsonian Art Museum' one of the old story from kindergarten, 'The Fox and the Crow'

Brands And Technology…– Post 5

2011-04-10T01:18:00.001-04:00

Its day five of my Blogathon, Blog Marathon that I started inspired by Preeti (whom I follow regular)... and today I am late… as I have already sneaked into day 6 or 10 April, what really matter is the push I have for continuing my blogathon.

After long time we had chance of roaming outside under bright sun light and flaunt t-shirt as all this it used to be under multiple layers of winter clothing’s ....

Today again as usual like most of the weekends we happen to go again for shopping... This particular shopping mall (Premium Mall) is designed in a way that once you enter you will not be exiting before sun sets, it is located outside city limit, and you say ahh what else lets walk in and out of each store and end up with half a dozen bags… and by then you would have to confess that you are a ‘Shopaholic’

How will you not be glued to it...

We happen to enter Sony's store and straight away my eyes glued at Sony Bravia’s 60" LCD... I was so I had to be dragged away from the store….

The behavior is fairly natural, as generally most 'Venusians' get carried away in discussing or even admiring fashion related products, which most of 'Martians' can never understand.... Martians love to adore latest technology... their pulse rate vary during any major technologically announcement and the anticipation is bigger in case for Steve Jobs, As 'Venusians' might love to adore waves on silver sand beach rather Martians would love tracking technology stock price fluctuate in a wave pattern so for each high they would sell and for each low they would buy... for which they would loved to called a the great surfer....

I guess I am getting carried away in the never ever ending topic....

Back again what a way to end the day... we watched 'Source Code' IMDB has rated 8.0/10 i to would go with the same or can go a inch higher, I would rather not break the suspense... would recommend you watching this movie in theater... it is worth watching on a big screen.

On this note... it is already 1:00am need to gather some sleep and Sunday Morning is waiting..... with a hot cup of tea...

IPL…. World cup jubilation fades away… - Post 4

2011-04-08T13:32:00.003-04:00

It only 6 days ago, since India had won world cup after 28 long years of wait, as expected for the final all eyes we looking towards Wankhede Stadium, it was a day when all cricket lover and followers were watching how Team India will perform in the Finals.

First half went the way we all expected or rather wanted... and as the second half started we wanted Sachin & Sehwag give us a blazing start, and more over we wanted to see 100th International Century scored by Sachin.

But some different story unfolded in quick span Malinga made sure we have to relay on Gautam and Kohli... slowly but steadily we inched closer and Dhoni smacked the ball for a SIX!!!! and out wait was over, the whole nation erupted and that evening we witnessed Diwali in the month of April.

I wanted to live in world cup winning glory for some more time as it not easy for Indian coming together and supporting as one, during this time we sang we danced cheered and cherished each moment.

Here comes IPL, and for sure, World Cup winning jubilation will slowly fade away, as we will either support team based on player we like or the city we live. In my case as I am from Pune… it may be ‘Pune Warriors’… and as I am a Mallu by heart so will it be ‘Kochi Tuskers’…

Nevertheless today IPL first match is between Chennai - Dhoni leading the team) and Kolkata - Gambhir the New wall in our team.

Okay getting back on checking scorecard we have a exiting match in progress… let see who will hold the nerves and walk away as winner in the inaugural match.

Political View: Satyagraha v/s Tomahawk - Post 3

2011-04-07T14:04:00.002-04:00

As of today, we see Military action taking place in mid-east, and Tomahawk being fired, and on other end in New-Delhi we see 71-year-old determined Anna Hazare raging a silent protest against Corruption. Any result from both actions, we people are at the other end.

Anna Hazare: 21st Century Gandhian, currently fasting (fast unto death) and is on a mission to make India free from clutches of corruption, it was his 3^rd day onto fasting, and this time he is adamant on his view and he had a large followers backing.

I bet national Government and highest level political leader would not have assumed Anna Hazare would get this large support, as we see across the nation, rallies and silent protest have been initialed in support of the movement.

India as a nation that has unlimited potential if we all are to play our role for it’s betterment, but we as an individual are always striving hard to make our own life better, and end up with no time for supporting any social activity that would help society.

Moreover, it is easier to say then to act.

These do not mean I am asking to become activist or to start a movement.

Say if we are educated and are aware of any social activity that taking place and feel it would have any impact it would be better to support rather then walking by, anticipating over will help.

Currently we still in a euphoric state and celebrating our World Cup victory, that retuned back after 28 long years. In addition, at this moment we have again geared for next 54 days, as IPL is set to start we would glued to our television sets or Cricket scoring website, IPL would be served as entrée on our Lunch and Dinner table.

We will be back in Cinema hall, as Bollywood did not release any movie during last month time.

Still lets spare some time and support in anyway (web / person / facebook) so we see building of a better Nation.

Ahhh this would be my first post where i am discussing or enraging myself on a topic that part of our life.

I would love to see your view and comments

Love my Nation

Ask not what your country can do for you - Ask what you can do for your country -- John F. Kennedy

Up in the air.... - Post 2

2011-04-06T23:35:00.001-04:00

I am kind of person who rarely give rating 1star or even 2stars Some had argued with me for not supporting them in saying 'Gosh this movie was horrible... I bet all whole unit didn't had anything to do so they all met and ended up with a movie and made sure they S@#K two hours of our life... At that moment I avoid commenting as I would have already rated the movie 3 sparking stars not those Swarovski one glittering on top of Rockefeller Christmas Tree

Coming back to the movie..

I happen to watch 'Up In the Air' and I say that 'George Clooney' plays the perfect roles of 'Ryan Bingham' who Job Roles requires him 'Passing the Bitter News - You are Fired’, as employers scare to convey the news' So his job and pay flourishes when there’s recession.

It is one such movie that make me think on few of the question which linger over us at times

Let’s spend some time and think few pointers:

- Can I do better then what I am doing

- Am I following my dreams?

- Will I be having the same approach as I had today of will I have a new game plan, so end up with better results today or tomorrow or say even next month.

I am not asking you to quit, neither am I quitting, but thinking on this lines might help strike a new chord generating a new music that you heart might love to hear, and you might find the reason, to be go getter.

I have quoted couple of things from the movie, which i loved the most.

Ryan Bingham, while he is trying to convince Jim, who was turned cold fêted on the day of marriage, Ryan ask his following question:

Ryan: Try recalling your favorite memories, the most important moments in your life. Were you alone?

Jim: No, I guess not.

Ryan: Life's better with company.

Jim: Yeah...

Ryan: Everybody needs a co-pilot.

Another one, while Ryan Bingham on one of this inspiration speech:

How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you're carrying a backpack. I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you have in your life... you start with the little things. The shelves, the drawers, the knickknacks, then you start adding larger stuff. Clothes, tabletop appliances, lamps, your TV... the backpack should be getting pretty heavy now. You go bigger. Your couch, your car, your home... I want you to stuff it all into that backpack. Now I want you to fill it with people. Start with casual acquaintances, friends of friends, folks around the office... and then you move into the people you trust with your most intimate secrets. Your brothers, your sisters, your children, your parents and finally your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, your girlfriend. You get them into that backpack, feel the weight of that bag. Make no mistake your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. All those negotiations and arguments and secrets, the compromises. The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live symbiotically over a lifetime. Star crossed lovers, monogamous swans. We are not swans. We are shark

‘I Can’ and not ‘I Want’ - Post 1

2011-04-05T16:04:00.002-04:00

Blog Marathon:

Marathon: As it means ‘any long distance race’

All this time I had considered my self as a sprint racer, why so it is a bit easier, all you have to so is accumulate all your energy set off and volla you have a post and the cycle continues once a week. Similarly It would be easier for me to target and finish 100m race of today, but it require a lot more determination and commitment to finish a marathon, I might take 12-14 seconds to cover 100mts (could have written 10sec but felt, I would be bit harsh on Usian Bolt. He is true to his name is Sprints like a lightning Bolt)

Generally I have 5-8 post in a month. The longest blogging series I attempted was '7 Days of Positivity' Link, this time I feel I can last a bit more then 7 days.

How would you know you could aim to see the finish line unless you try, best way is to judge yourself.

Over the course of marathon, day by day, bit by bit I would have gathered energy that I can utilize to stay afloat for a long time. Similar to Polar Bear, during long brutal winter, it maintain a low profile and waits under thick layer of ice until next time sun rises from horizon and it can start back its hunting.

So it is time, let me judge myself, can I survive Blog marathon. I would require some help and all your backing, for the last stretch I would be grasping for breath, dehydrated, require the last extra push, but all what matter would be the sense of accomplishment and the most it would prove ‘I Can’ and not ‘I Want’

Winter, it is time for a Vacation:

2011-03-28T23:45:00.000-04:00

Hey, winter is it not times for you to go on a nice long vacation…. Your much-awaited annual vacation is long time due a trip to a secluded island; away from all time self in solace.

You have being working real hard for long… we have seen at or rather multiple time over last some months how hard and effort-full you have been and making sure the land is covered in white and never end snow and a dream true winter time for all ski lovers

No one will ever doubt all hard work you have put and this has definitely earned you a much-needed vacation.

Do you not think it time that you should be applying a nice coat of SPF 100 sunscreen and get a bit of tan, roam around in short and t-shirts, play a nice volleyball game on silver sand beach.

Have a nice long swim in warm ocean water

Build sand castle and sculptures across the shore and let them battle out during the next high tide.

Don’t you think it time you want ride on mountain bike on a long unwind dirt track.

Don’t you want walk over the horizon with hand in hand with your loved one.

Don’t you think it time again to challenge the twisted unwinding rivers, and so some kayaking and rafting?

Don’t you want to see flowers blooming… tree coming back to life after the long wintery hibernation, it’s been long since they have been in their old drown skinny attire, its time for them to swing and feel warm breeze blowing around, look beautiful in green.

Moreover it's time for us also to get from cover and shed away all the black and shade of black that has been covering us all this time…. It’s time that we to see color in our life….

So I do ask ‘Winter’ please take a vacation break.

Cricket a sport or a Sect:

2011-03-24T21:50:00.003-04:00

As any individual, I would have spent hundreds or rather thousands of hours on various aspects, irrespective of when was the last time any of us actually played cricket. It really does not matter as we live in cricket…

We love discussing, suggesting, and commenting on below

- How a batsmen should have batted

o A particular bowler

o A particular bowl

o A particular inning (if chasing)

- How a bowler should have bowled

o To a batsmen

o In a particular inning (if defending)

o During final over’s

- On Fielding:

o Who should field where

o How he should have fielded

o How many fielder on a side

o Slips / gully, etc, etc

- Batting order:

o Who should come if a wicket fall

o Who should come next at a particular stage of game

- Bowling Order

o Who should bowl the final over

o When spinner should be introduced

o When should we get our strike bowler back

o Whom should be bowl next over

- Who should play a particular match

- Who should be rested for a game

- Player combination

What if some thing goes wrong or rather should I say what if something do not go in the way I wanted… Skipper is the culprit…. We love to pour all our geniuses out and say… Dammm he is not playing for India, or is the 12^th man paying for the opponents.

Long back during one such match a play-card or banner read somewhat like this

Cricket is my religion

Eden Garden is my Holi Shrine

And Sachin is my God

For any crucial match we followed all 4 principals the great thinker Chanakya offered Sama, Daana, Danda, Bheda (treating with Equality, Enticement, Punishment or War and Sowing Dissension.)

As end of the day all it mattered was, we had won the match.

Today India had a crucial match against Aussies (champions since 1999), this match was equivalent to final, and for sure it has it highs and lows… a time was there when I swear ‘If we are to lose today, for sure I will boycott watching Cricket’

Eventually I can still follow my Sect and praise my god… Sachin

Moreover, as every Indian (cricket loving Indian), I will love to see Sachin holding the current World-Cup trophy…

A Splash of Color:

2011-03-19T18:10:00.002-04:00

A splash of color thrown in air… applied on face and a bright smile put and laughter in air… that’s what symbolize HOLI… and you need not be the great Gabbar asking out to his sidekick ‘Samba’, ‘Holi kab hai…kab hai holi?’

Holi is the time of the year when we love to spend time with family and friend and with night long chit chat and catching up time that passed by….

If I have to look back over all the years how HOLI has been a part of my life… I have story to tell that would last for hours for each passing year

I have tried to can all my inbox and fetch some snaps that remind me of all the HOLI I had over the years.

2007: by the time this photo was taken we would be has been already soaked in color and water for more then half a day…. Going from one place to another, pockets loaded with colors.

2008: This one back from our office, back those times we had an amazing group, which made sure we celebrate each and every occasion…. Be it Holi / Diwali… or be it even festival no one knows about… as we believed only celebrations

2010: This one is of last year… weather was to cold so we had no scope of paying HOLI outdoor… it not fun to be wearing layers of clothes and colorful holi… so it was all indoor… we did not find any bhang so ended up ‘Carona’

So let splash some color with our family and loved one and let us try and reach out to all friends whom we have lost over the years.

Happy HOLI

The longest run....

2011-03-08T00:26:00.005-05:00

Way before I had joined gym... I used to wonder... Won’t it be good to run in open under open sky, rather than running in a closed environment on a tread mill

Later when I happened to on other end I realized it is much better to run on a tread mill, then on city roads / pavements some of the most prominent excuses or say reason
- tine constraint when you have only 30 mins with you
- when you don't have to bother about who would be crossing by, who would be sharing your path
- you need not have to watch out for anyone..
- and the most important, say while running you get totally exhausted then how will you return back, it would real embarrassment when you end up asking for a ride back...

Say for all those many more reasons I would prefer run / walk / sprint / jog on a treadmill

Today I happen to run / sprint door the longest distance non-stop till date, I was happy to see 2.7miles (4.3km) in under 24 minutes... I am not sure if this is any form a better time, and please I am not expected this timings to get registered in 'Guinness Book of World Records' if that happens the all those long distance runner from Ethiopia and Kenya it's time for to practice more as you have a strong competitor in making....

195… 194.. . that’s what heart monitor was flickering, by far its faster ever recorded phew is it supposed to beat so fast…

Hmmm I guess I feel I felt my heart beat faster when I proposed my life partner back then to my girl friend

Next goal is to beat clock and to improve on the distance...

Till then have a healthy run and a happy heart

Bucket List: or things that i want to do....

2011-03-06T12:46:00.002-05:00

Bucket List:

Just watched 'Bucket List'.... story of two strangers who happen to share same hospital room but as time passes () by they become more then friends and live a life which many would have dreamed.

'Edward' played by 'Jack Nicholson' and 'Carter' played by 'Morgan Freeman'.

They share same room in a Hospital and were they being treated for 'Cancer' that's when they get the news they have only 6 months or more.....

In reality, it’s hard to find a person who wants to know how much time he has.... in general were we want to plan every decision in our life this would be one such decision where 95% people would opt not to plan, if you ask me I would be part of majority let’s not wait in Trains Stations ‘Waiting Room’ and wait for the one thing, rather leave life to the fullest.

'Edward' and 'Carter' were aware how much time they have.... 'Carter' happens to prepare a list titled 'Bucket List'. It lists things that he wanted to do in his life time.... and that’s when 'Edwards' ads his own fancy list... and their journey to live life starts....

Wont it be good, we also have some list, where we list things that we want to do in next 6 months or in a year’s time... or in next couple of years... it should not happen later in time we realize how busy and how entangled we were in our daily life and we did not happen to give time to strike our anything from the list, the same was best explained in 'UP', where this young couple (childhood friends) get married and they decide for their dream vacation and start saving, but each time they stumble upon some other expenses and were not able to plan their dream vacation, I hope we are not in the same limbo state.

So what’s my Bucket List... let me work on the list and will plan to strike out as most of it in due course of time....

I guess it’s time that you also have list prepared.... and 'Find the Joy in your life'

p.s. Please don’t rate down as I am depressed or I am tensed, this though came to my mind when I saw the movie… but I still agree on the list :-0

State of Mind...

2011-02-17T21:37:00.004-05:00

Am I missing... or am I short of thinking... or am I hiding somewhere…

It been a while, or better to say close to five months since I have been a frequent blogger.... people of know me of read my post any guess why so if you can please share with me.... As I am not able to think of a reason... at time I feel, I should be coming up with a reason, concluded as this thought have been on, and off since last few days.

At times we all might have such phase of time, where in we feel we are missing something or we are looking out for something but are not able to figure out what we have been missing or what we are looking for, but all we know is…. A big question mark… eventually we all reach or find a solution that gives sigh of relief.

So hmmmm whom do I crucify…. Okay let me blame this brutal harsh winter we had this season… at first it was nice… but as time went by everything was frozen… the worst wintery evening was 22^nd Jan when temperature dropped till -2F (yup its in Fahrenheit and not Celsius) sure to freeze all brain cells…

On 5^th Jan when I was back from \Pune i wanted to see lush green lawn and park near our house but all I could see was white landscape...

From last couple of days it been a bit warm (mostly temperature in 10C, what a time when we quote 10C as warm) still we have loads of human made ice mountains.

At first when show starts they come down in form of flurries, in a while every bit of land is covered in soft snow (like from fairly tales Snow White playing). However, as time passes by and we see the nice soft snow turning into rock solid ice… as in this season we happen to witness close to 55+ inches of snow.

I am sure i will find my way back and will post more frequently

Until then all my friend, you have a nice time....

p.s. Please don’t consider this post, as if I am retiring from blogging and you might never see a post coming from me...

I might be back tomorrow itself you might never know

We are foodies…

2011-02-11T00:10:00.001-05:00

As I mentioned in my last blog ‘Dinner Tonight’… where I was emphasizing on how complex and tough at time it becomes when the decision has to be made ‘What’s cooking for Dinner’ as usual today also it was not any different.

But today it happened to be bit easy… as we had some rice prepared… not sufficient for two of us that lead to an easy and simple decision of preparing Chinese and India snacks as we prepared ‘Fried-Rice’ and ‘Pakodas’

Need i that it was yummy….

While we both were preparing for dinner, she commented… ‘It is good that we both are foodies, else it would have been tough if any one of us was not that inclined in all preparing process’

And guess what I myself feel the same…

Ahhh… we didn’t had any Wine to toast for tonight’s dinner… nevertheless the dinner was amazing and we enjoyed it over a nice ‘Desi Romantic movie – I Hate Love Story’

Friends... Callling... Friends Calling

2011-02-09T15:05:00.000-05:00

Tring- Tring

That the sound of Phone bell ringing and yes we love to listen to the very simple noise ‘Tring-Tring’ I feel the tone became immortal due to ‘Matrix’.

We 5 college time buddies currently located at 5 different places, once in a while we all get over a long chat over phone. Mostly I being the co-coordinator and get into a conference call, and this time after long email thread, mostly delayed as I went missing mostly I was caught up in some office work, and yes finally last Sunday we all were able to get in a call.

What’s the tough part, getting all together is tough part, geographical location (time-zone) added more flavor to it (10:00Pm in India / 4:30pm in London / 11:30am New-York), and mostly time zone is not an issues… the promise that I made to setup the call was something similar to the promises that our dear politician make. However, unlike politician i fulfilled my promise.

Agenda for this time, was to finalize our next India trip and two of my buddies are getting married (may there Bachelorhood rest in Peace, may they live they life fullest till the last moment)

This time to we were not able to catch hold of a friend as he was driving his way back home (as he pretended to an idol motorist, Not to talk while driving)

Did we reach a conclusion: oh yeah we all are in a FIX,

Me: As my VISA is expiring not sure when will I be getting renewal petition (last time it took 8 months, would be a rare care, but not sure would be a usual pattern in my case)

Mirror-Axe: Ahh this Dude has his own trouble not sure what would be his project state would be…. So in short he in a limbo state but yet we all count on him

Vicks: (The Groom No. 1) has is own problem with some documentation, still in doubt will he be able to make up for ‘seconds friend wedding’ Good to know that his plan are fixes, nothing new with him as usual plan works better in last minute

The Perfectionist ‘U’: What to say about, he is the ‘YES Man’ in our gang, He will say YES to each and everything, until the very last moment, you can tell or at time I guess even he cant tell what will happen, but he will make all possible attempts

Groom No.2: hmmm, at this moment nothing decided. If you all have seen Matrix 2: ‘Where in Neo, is stuck in a train station not sure which way to go, time is the Key’ ame is the case with him, he in between switching jobs & City not sure were he will be, I bet the soon he make his mind.

Awaiting for the next email thread to being so we all are getting back in a call….. tring… tring…

This is the our latest pic, whene we all met after 4 years:

Dinner Tonight!!!

2011-01-31T23:17:00.001-05:00

It is one such question that I can bet would be haunted to many of us…. I used to feel this question scares the most if you are staying alone (Bachelor life… I cont disclose the benefit of it… as I am no more in that elite group)… but to say the truth it do not matter if you are a couple….

Whenever this question comes…. I feel I am pushed back to my school days when I not prepared for the surprise quiz I would be completely clueless and would be mumbling… the same effect still take place at time when I, and now we both are confused… what cooking tonight… or what’s for Dinner tonight

So as usual we were sitting and chit chatting and were having a hard time to decide what to cook for dinner… and we both mumbling and not able to decide what to and what not to….

But know as the Rotis are being prepared…. I should say that we are having a nice full course meal….

Dal prepared by her…. Soybean sabzi prepared by her, and Rotis again by her….

It’s time to savor the nice meal we prepared…. bon appetite….

After all this effort we are done for Monday only… this do not assure again tomorrow we will not be chased by the same question…. why to worry today thinking of tomorrow…

Mantra of life…. ‘Live in the moment’

So what did you had or what are you having for dinner tonight…..

This is what we both had....

Bryan Adams live in concert

2011-01-29T11:48:00.003-05:00

Dream come true.... Bryan Adams

Yesterday for the first time me and my wife got a chance to attend a acoustic show of the one and only ‘Bryan Adams’ (thanks to my dear friend

s who gifted us the tickets).

Bryan Adams a name that does not require an introduction, many of us has spent our thousands of hours listening to his songs….

My first experience of listening to Bryan Adams songs I remember is when I was at a friend’s place, who had bought a new Desktop computer, the person who assembled his computer was good enough to dump tons of songs and loads of software (which is bet would be still sitting in cold storage to be used).

While we were scanning all the songs ‘Summer of 69’ caught our attention, that was the day and 27^th Jan was when my dream came true as we were at ‘Beacon Theater – NY’ watching Bryan Adams singing songs that we would have listened more than million times but still listening those songs from Bryan is for sure to get goose bumps

Wait ended at 8:10pm… when Bryan came on stage with Greg (who was on Piano)… and they stated jamming and first was ‘Run to You’ followed by ‘Cuts like a knife’ ….

He made the mood high with funny little jokes and liners…. The one I have to mention…. Before that some things about New Yorkers, they love to use the most versatile word in English vocabulary ‘Fuck’…

So Bryan starts with this incidence ‘He was walking down Park Avenue, where he saw a car met with an accident and it was being towed, he stopped and asked the person, ‘Hey what had had happened’ and the guy replies…. ‘Hey you are the Bryan Fucking Adams, hey Joe see we have Fucking Adams’ (This is a gesture of excitement’) to under one should listen ‘Rajneesh (OSHO) – the ultimate speech on work fuck’

Bryan then kept on singing his famous number and kept on his small talk… As the evening passed his songs made each one of us reach a trans state.

Bryan would have bowed and said good night 3 to 4 times, and each time he came back and continued…

And finally with ‘have you really loved a woman’ he signed off for the evening, but this evening I would be remembering for ages to come.

Remembering people not by their name

2011-01-12T16:59:00.000-05:00

If we are to sit back and recall all the people we know or we have met, we generally group them, based on where we met say most common group if we form would be family / friends / relative / school friends / office friends, and so on.

However, of all the groups and subgroups we form we definitely will have an untitled list where we happen to remember people not my any categories or my their names, we remember them as we happen to meet them at various point of time

My last trip back to my home was really nice and not less then a roller coaster ride, truth me if I say I got married (I guess I need not have to give nay further explanation how busy and happening it can be)

I happen to meet of have come across few people during this visit that I would be remembering them for a while (thanks to volatile nature of our memory)

Chotu (as I would name him)

We were waking down MG road (Pune), when we was stopped by a young boy barely 10 years of age, and this is why I would remember him:

Chotu: Sir main apka shoes saaf karu (Sir shall I clean your shoes)

Me: Nahi yaar (No buddy)

Chotu: Main accha saaf karoonga (I will clean it very nicely)

Me: Nahi bets chod (No please), and I tried to offer him some money.

(And that is when I got this reply in English and I was kept thinking for a while, I wish or rather we all how ever possible should help people in any form)

Chotu: No Sir, I do not beg for leaving, Pay me for my work.

Dadi Maa

(In India most old ladies are addressed as Dadi-Maa in respect)

I happen to meet this sweet woman who is strong and determined at 89 years of age. I doubt if we all would be that strong at that age.

With her age of experience, she had to offer vast amount of good will message, she was explaining how in general people have evolved and how relationship has shrunk in this fast paced life style, she names our current generation as ‘I care for myself generation’.

After all the conversation she insisted that she would prepare a cup of tea, which I was not able to decline, I will remember the sweet of the tea and the lady for long time.

Bade Bhai

It was a hour long bus journey deep interior of Kerala, that when I happen to start of a conversation in Malayalam( I am a Keralite, and mostly I only have conversation in Malayalam with my Mom and handful of relatives) I always wanted to test my Malayalam skill when i am in Kerala.

I started conversation with this people, and that’s when later I knew we both had many similarities.

- My Dad and person share similar Name.

- Twenty plus years back we lived in Pimpri (town close to Pune – India) where we lived sixteen years ago

- He worked in Pune city (I used to work in Pune City)

- He had some relatives close to my Dad’s Family home

This are the few people whom I came across while I was travelling and was on vacation, I felt that I better put them in writing before my memory fades away.

I am sure many of you can recall some incidence, which helped them to remember a person not my name, as Shakespeare quotes ‘What’s in a Name’

Updates from my end….

2010-12-30T01:11:00.000-05:00

It has been more than three weeks since my last post that I titles on my route to Home.

These three weeks was a real life changing roller costar ride, I have loads and loads of stories and small memories to share with and all that I feel is I will not be able to cover them all, few of them will later fade through our porous memory.

Still I will scribe and write of some of the already few missing link that happened in last 3 weeks, before I go in more details let me mention ‘I am a happily married, to the most beautiful person who agreed to share a life time with me, (I am not sure do I need to believe in after life or re-birth) it is always better to live the life we have at present.

19^th Dec was the day when we started a new phase in life of being together.

And if you are to guess like most of the couple we would have crashed in to a exclusive Honeymoon tour, in that case I would have to say our was a different story all together to say.

We travelled close to 2000km (if that would have be air miles it would have been easy not in our case, we travelled that distance via RAIL / BUS / SUV / and some distance on foot) to be part of my best friend engagement (Kasargod -Kerala), not to live my spouse to enjoyed the trip. We travelled to Kerala (my Birth place) for the engagement.

As we were advised after marriage we have to visit a temple (Mookambika Temple) located some 300km from (Kasaragod -Kerala).

As soon we were back we had to head back to Mumbai for the VISA interview and following on next day we had to attend another close friends wedding (this is the first time I attending a Christian wedding).i love the most about the Reception followed by the wedding is the amount of fun / music / Dance that’s planned in the reception, The Wedding march, the First dance then you to get a dance to tap the dance floor.

After all this event and moment know I hardly have time to do some further shopping before I travel back to NY with heavy heart , each time I leave Pune I fall in more love with this place.

Singing-off for know but will be back with few more post, with small memories and moment I would love to cherish.

On my route... to Home

2010-12-07T22:45:00.002-05:00

I am in favor of transit flights… Please don’t say that as if I am not in a hurry to meet my dear and near one.

I might be a bit of selfish in this term, as against a direct flight, as traveling from NY you get a option to stop-over a major European cities based on the air carrier you select (usually one select based on the cheapest tickets that is available not to shy away from the fact)

A short transit break during a transit journey is like a small get away I wish you should allow a small tour based on the request where in you can roam some part of the city….

This time I am halting at Heathrow LN airport I have close to 3 hour to spend before they make final announcement, I arrived at 7:00 in morning, as of last week it snowed a lot, but today early morning was a bit chilly and foggy.

I was a bit hungry and was look out for a nice breakfast as per the local time but not sure what based on my body clock, I came across a nice eat-out place called ‘Giraffe’ with a lovely tag line ‘LOVE EAT LIVE’ I had a nice hour long heavy breakfast, and during that time the server ‘Lucia’ kept on having small conversation…

Waiting at the gate, the backdrop across the runway was really nice, it was overcast and a lot more cloud cover lot at all like 9:30 am

Dec 6th 12:30am finally I reach Mumbai…. My life is to take a whole lot bigger turn, but the only thing I am sure about is it all going to be a experience (a fabulous one)

Can’t wait to mention this one… the cab guy was waiting for me, I made my self comfortable and the cabbie ‘Sadhashiv’ tuned on the radio… and the song it played ‘Zor ka Jhatka’…. I broke out with a loud laughter… (for those who are not aware this Bollywood song is played for the guy to is about to married, and it warns him not to get married)

Signing-Off

2010-12-04T18:35:00.000-05:00

Signing-off

It is my first post in more then a months time....

Until then I was a frequent blogger... But as many wise guys say... Marriage will change every thing means every thing...

Or rather I still feel it might not change, but your surrounding will make the changes and eventually you will see yourself in it.

Over the last one odd month I have came across this question in each and every walk of life as many times as possible, and most of the time i used to dodge the question or able to get away with a smile...

Few of my favorites that I love to list...

- Hey I guess its only a month for your marriage....
- Hey you will be more nervous as time approaches
- Hey for sure thing will be different by then
- Hey happy days are over dude...
- Hey so how do you feel...
- Hey has all the preparation been done...

I will not be running away from this questions any more...

It is true in spite of I not being in Pune i was and am equally nervous and there were times when i was in a confused mode i bet this are totally normal state, it be would be one of the reasons i was not able to post any in last one month...

And today as i boarding my flight to Pune, I feel a bit more relaxed as if I am on my regular vacation....

So to all my followers... I shall see you when I see... till then its take care....

Pictures: On the Go....

2010-11-21T10:29:00.000-05:00

PENCIL Company: been a long time since I hold a pencil and wrote something long lost school days… when Pencil were an integral part of childhood… its long gone I guess since the advent of Leap-Frog (computer aided learning play toys)

FRIDAY: what a better way to start celebrating all the holiday lined up… Friday we had couple of Pool game over beer… it was fun after a while.

FIRE: Firefighter to doze the fire of to set fire… This pretty looking cheers girls we on a Vintage Fire-Engine on Veterans Days at Times-Square

Moon Overlooking: yesterday while we were on our way… Happen to catch this glimpse… which was really nice, I wished I had my SLR… I loved the whole picture…. Backdrop Sky touching Empire Estate, Old factories in Foreground, and Full MOON overlooking

Hope: This tree spreading message’ Winter still at bay’ One of the last few tree, which still adore and spreading message that we have some more time before winter grips

Prepare: Time to prepare as winter approaching time for a long hibernating state, converse all what you have to next spring

No Stopping: Time-Square is the place to witness anything or everything, Not sure what the theme was I was rushing to office still took time to capture this moment.

Happy Dipavali

2010-11-04T23:34:00.001-04:00

Dipavali…. In India itself various regions different mythological stories associated which culminate and we celebrate Dipavali… or the best way to quote it is celebrated the victory of good over evil.

As soon I and many of us hear Dipavali, a broad smile is supposed to pass on everybody face, the first and foremost things that come to mind are, new Clothes, Fire crackers, Sweets (all sort of sweets) Dipavali lamps and Diyas, specially the earthen one, and fun time with families and friends.

The one we kept on the passage stairs.

Back during our school time, I guess every year till 7^th standard we were to write essay about Dipavali and in our craft and drawing classes we were asked to prepared Dipavali lamp and were asked to make sure we put them at our house

Suring our childhood we used to eagerly wait for the Dipavali vacation (3 weeks) those were amazing fun time with friend, I remember we used to help prepare Killa (usually children’s build replica of forts or castle in memory of ‘Shivaji Maharaj’ as the great warriors happen to capture his first fort (Torna Fort) at the age of 16, back them itself he had amazing guerilla warfare techniques)

As we grow older we happen to stand at the other end and gaze children’s preparing those forts.

Diya: the one we lit at the entrance door

This year’s Dipavali is very silent as compared to last year, as last year I was in Pune and had great time, this time I am away from home, but last week while doing India grocery, I happen to buy those earther Diya’s which I had lit up, when all light are turnoff, and the light spread by DIYA’s is enough to engulf the darkness, that the simple message we have to inherit, and make sure that small Diya spread enough light and we find the way in our life.

So on this note: Happy Dipavali, have a bright Diwali not a noisy one.

Friends.... Wine.... Cricket....

2010-10-26T15:55:00.002-04:00

Friendship is the only relationship that a person can choose, all other relationship are inherited, or rather it better to you u are added to the relationship tree.

Some how I consider it is the best gift we possess that we can choose friends or the other way round some choose you as a friend.

Over the time, we become close to many friend in our walk on life, starting from our childhood. In our childhood, all those kids who shared their toys became our friend, those who had Cricket bat with them; they were undoubtedly the best friends.

Garfield and Odie are the best friends....

However, of all this we all end up having couple of nice friends this friends are not need basis, like those earlier one, friends for criket bat, if I choose to play some other game I might not be in contact with my cricket bat friend.

As time progress, we leave school behind; we cruise through college get entangled in our professional-personnel life, in all this race our friend circle keep on changing. Similar to weather, but as we sometime have unpredictable rainfall in summer time, we bump up with some lost yester year friend, and that when they try to dig up laugh out all those sweet memories they had.

Friendship is like wine; the more you preserve in wooden barrel the more it ferments, similar friendship over the time it ferments and they mature over time, and that when you do not require assuring and re-assuring about the importance of a friend.

But at time when wine is not stored properly, or it their was a leak in the wooden barrel, the natural ferment process do not work, similar at times, we to hold out for some small incident that leads to bad scar

Is it good is it bad, every one will have his or her voice in this…. But for friend this was not good I assume.

Leaving all apart I still love cricket and wine, leave all difference and watch a cricket game over wine… you will be back as those olden days…

To Friendship, it is the invisible link that we share, which other will not see.

Fall Color: Color of life

2010-10-16T11:58:00.000-04:00

Fall Color: This is the only time of the year when nature adores itself in best looking color… that will sooth your eyes, as else you can see in this way also, nature wants be in the best looking way just to make its self stand one last time before the winter start, as next few months evening would be covered in slow… leaves will be long gone, and slow flakes would take their place, and the long wait for spring when plant and tree will wake from the long winter, and would be spring back to life with small green tender young leaves….

Summer is the time, when you can see people or rather better to fairer sex in their bets colorful dress for the summer, walking down the city lanes will make sure you will catch glimpse as if rainbow is spread on street, with long sunny day, pleasant weather to travel freely…

Picture taken 2 years back, outside of the apartment.

As fall approaches, one can fell the slight chill in the air and with each passing day we happen to see less bright day… which indicates it the time the pass on color people to nature… this is exactly what happens, we can see all those color full dresses and designer fashion trends packed back in wardrobe and made way for Black and Grey winter clothes….

But this weather cycle is amazing as each one get his chance to adore colors…. And Halloween comes around the same time, why let not pumpkins show of how pretty they can look.

Halloween Time: when funny and colorful pumpkins all around

Another nice Sunny weekend... Bus Ride to remember...

2010-10-11T02:15:00.002-04:00

This weekend... We start our usual weekend planning by mid week

For a change for this week we planned to visit a Ganesh Temple... After a long time i am visiting a temple... it is located in Flushing NY, when we had reached it had very less people around that the best time I like, You happen to be a sacred place the silence soothes your mind.

If we look at the travel it is a bit long journey considering the travel time
Take a bus to New York City, which took 40min thanks to traffic
Take a subway to Flushing 45min train journey
Take a bus ride a rather short ride 10 min
And finally a 2 min walk...
As the day was bright and sunny we did not feel the journey....

The funniest bus ride on our return...

The bus only accepts coins $4.5 and we both did not had any coins along with us...

Firstly we went to a store and bought bottled water, asked him to rerun back on coins he no no no not all coins... he gave us $3.75
We went to next store and bought another bottled water and finally we had our required fares....

Some funny thing about NewYork buses

Some buses accept only coins

Some accepts Coins and Currency Note (That to only $1 note) this funny incident happens some time we three boarded this bus

I asked the lady driver what the fare for us

Lady Driver, tell it is $7.5

I was happy as I had exact change (one 5 and 2 singles and rest in coins)

She smiled and said u put any Currency Note the machine will read as $1

I was like ahhhh..

She toils it happen I know u are putting the total money correctly let the machine thin other way

I said that is awesome and thanks for the ride

So back where I started the temple we visited was really nice, its being expanded so lot of work in progress state.

Below picture I took of one of the entrance

This is one of the side entrance, Once all work is complete the temple will look splendid.