Licensing should be included in the scheduling efforts..
I wish I had never come back from the redwood forests.. I am sure I have left something unexplored apart from the beach, the mountains, unseasonal snow, giant trees.. :?
Sameera, note down scope freeze points as a parking lot issue..
I wonder where we parked when I visited the Highest Road of Asia..I cannot recollect the name though :? I am sure it starts with "K".. Khardungla
Getting so many people for training in Helms will be a challenging issue.. the road to Helms is deadly..
I remember puking my guts out on the ghat roads of Darjeeling.. oh we spot a tiger in the open Tead gardens! and also remember the sikkim pass.. arghh I forgot the name.
This is where I flipped to the last page of my OfficeMax Subject Notebook and started chalking out the places I visited so far in my life of 24 years.
- Andhra Pradesh: Hyderabad, Tirupathi, Vijaywada
- Tamilnadu: Madras, Mahablipuram, Kanya Kumari
- Maharashtra: Shiradi, Bombay, Nasik
- Punjab:Patiala,Chandigarh and Ambala
- Leh/Ladakh
- West Bengal: Siliguri, Darjeeling, Calcutta
- Kathmandu
- Delhi/Agra
- Kerala: Ernakulam, Kanyakumari
- Gujarat: Surat,Baruch
- NYC, NY
- Durham, NC
- Raliegh, NC
- Charlotte, NC
- Atlanta, GA
- Miami, FL
- Orlando, FL
- St Petersberg, FL
- Midland,MI
- Detroit, MI
- Smoky Mountains, TN/NC
- Asheville, NC
- Charleston Beach, SC
- Clemson University, SC
- Wilmington and Carolina Belt, NC
- Myrtle Beach, NC
- Sacramento, CA
- Napa Valley, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Pebble Beach, CA
- Redwood National Forest, CA
- Auburn, AL
- Cookeville, TN
- Dallas, TX
- Boston, MA
I plan to write about my experiences at every place I visited that I remember. This should give me enough work for the rest of the year.
Sameera, can you prepare the PMI verification tables for change and schedule knowledge areas too???
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Quarterly Report
So, first quarter of 2010 is already over. This goes back to my post "Again!!!". Just a quick check to see where do I stand on my thoughts for the rest of 2010.
- Still good on no processed foods and coffee cuts. Yoga and Cardio?? - what's that :|
- Home Design.. quiet proud of my room right now :). Have a look
- Obsession with red and green - My room is all red.. Gardening.. This is the first time I thought about it after I wrote it the last time.
- The books are going on my wish-list as the complete editions of Astrix and Tin-tin are just too much for my budget right now.. I do think about them everyday though. I couldn't hold myself back from buying Milan Kundera's "The Joke" and Charles Darwin's "Theory of Evolution", so that is two more books on the already huge pile I have - pending reading.
- Still good on no processed foods and coffee cuts. Yoga and Cardio?? - what's that :|
- Home Design.. quiet proud of my room right now :). Have a look
- Obsession with red and green - My room is all red.. Gardening..
- The books are going on my wish-list as the complete editions of Astrix and Tin-tin are just too much for my budget right now.. I do think about them everyday though. I couldn't hold myself back from buying Milan Kundera's "The Joke" and Charles Darwin's "Theory of Evolution", so that is two more books on the already huge pile I have - pending reading.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Printemps
She could hear the shrill whistle of the bombs dropping. She closed her eyes tightly, but it was impossible for her to shut out the vision of what was happening all around her. The sky was ablaze, and she was deafened by the sounds of the automatic fire weapons, roaring planes, and the thump of deadly mortar shells. Huge mammoth structures were collapsing as if they were mere dust and terrified people were running in every direction, trying to outrace death.
From somewhere a voice was reverberating in her ear drums,’ are you alright miss?’
Slowly she opened her eyes in disbelief. She had faced hardships before but was never so close to death.
‘Miss—are you alright?’
She was in the ambulance when she gained consciousness. ’Yes, I am fine. Thank you. ‘
Inadvertently blinking, she came to senses with the man’s shrilly voice. ‘Wait a minute! You are the famous reporter of WBC. I watch you on television every night’. It must be very exciting for you to cover this war?’
‘Yes.’ Her throat was dry. She really couldn’t make out how one can find covering a war exciting. She was on her reporter duties at the war stuck Taliban. In her short visit, she saw people blowing to shreds, seen bodies of babies thrown down wells, and bits of human jetsam flowing down a river of red. It made her sick. The bombing and shelling had finally stopped. She was surveying the aftermath effects of the war - the physical and emotional destruction.
She was in an orphanage where small kids were looking at her with eyes filled with desperation to meet their parents. Some of them had lost their limbs and some were lost in thoughts. A small girl pulled her cloak and asked’ are u going to take me to my parents?’.
The caretaker told Sana that the girl lost her whole family and their was no one claiming her. Sana hugged her tears rolling out of her eyes.
And suddenly she was back in her own past.
‘Oh! Mama, lemme go, why do you always embarrass me? I am grown up mama.’
‘Do I? oh baby I am sorry ,next time I will see to it that I stop myself from hugging you every time I drop u to school’
‘You promise?’
Yes of course I do dear, now get going u are already late for the school. Bye
And she never got a loving hug from her mother again.
Memories flashed across her mind like a huge callous tide, receding and exploding spasmodically whenever she was let free for herself. But she was not going to break down so easily by emotional hurdles. She had learnt it the hard way and she was going to fight it the hard way. She was Sana Denver.
Sana was barely nine when she lost her mother in an accident. Her father took Sana to a boarding school. Sana was waiting outside the office while her father was in conversation with Sister Agnes regarding Sana’s admission.
Sana loved her father as much as she liked her mother though he had not returned a peck of gratitude towards her. She dint mind of course as she knew that he was a busy man. She was terrified at the idea of learning in a boarding school but was relieved on learning that on public holidays she could be back home with her father.
‘Sister Agnes was very happy Sana. She says she would be glad to admit u. behave like a nice girl’ and Mr. Hudson left.
‘Come in child. I am sure u will love it here. U will have lots of friends. Mr. Hudson is very kind. He tells me that he found you when he was on his usual holiday trips in the back countries and felt agonizing pain when he came to know of your ill fate. But as u see. He is quite busy he left u here’
Sana gave a shocking glance at the sister and then simply stared at her baggages as if trying to find words in a muted world and reconciled herself thinking that Sister Agnes must have misinterpreted her father assuring herself that she was going to see him this Christmas.
‘Oh come on girl. I have got other works to do’.
Sana struggled to keep her pace with the sister, double taking her steps. The journey to her room seemed endless.
And then she saw the huge emblem of a cross and below it was a caption in glaring red “ST. PETERS ORPHANAGE”.
Sana had believed her life was over. The orphans institute was a nightmare for her or rather she thought it was. She missed her mother a lot and felt excoriating pain when she thought about her. The strict routine bothered her even more. She listened to the agonies and heart touching stories of other orphans and thanked god for whatever she was now. At least she had the comfort of home shelter and the security of having a father, though she was not expecting him to come to her.
At two o’clock every Friday afternoon, the boys and girls would line up as prospective foster parents arrived to evaluate them and select one to take home. As each Friday approached, the excitement and tension among children rose to an almost unbearable pitch. They would wash and dress neatly, and as adults walked along the line, each child would inwardly pray to be chosen.
Every Friday was the same, but Sana would still wait hopefully as the adults examined the line of candidates. But they always picked other children. Standing there, ignored, Sana would be filled with humiliation. It would always be someone else, she thought despairingly. No one wants me.
Sana wished desperately to be a part of a family. She tried everything she could think of to make it happen. One Friday she would smile brightly at the adults to let them know what a nice, friendly girl she was. The next Friday she would pretend to be preoccupied with something, showing them that she didn’t really care whether she was chosen or not, and that they would be lucky to have her. At other times she would look at them appealingly, silently begging them to take her home with them. But week after week, it was someone else who was taken away to wonderful homes and happy families.
Miraculously, one day as usual, she smiled at the couple who seeked to adopt a girl.
The only thing she knew was that Mr and Mrs Scott were happy to adopt her. The orphanage was overrun by children and perhaps the staff wee too busy to check the credentials of the couple. Within three days Sana was sent to be part of the family of Mr and Mrs Scott.
She had only known their surnames but what she dint know was a looming ill-luck was following her. There was no Mr. and Mrs Scott. The two of them harassed Sana to death and then she realised that they were traffickers who sold Sana to a brothel.
This was the last thing on earth she had expected to happen. She was arrested in a dark room with faintly anything visible and could hear voices from outside. All she could make out was that she was the scapegoat and the customers were bargaining the price of the scapegoat. Somehow Sana was not as frightened as she had anticipated. She was engrossed in the lacerations and deep cuts which were tearing her apart. Fate had been wrong with her for so many years but she was used to it now and she had learnt at the orphanage that right things happen at the right time, and she was waiting for the right time to arrive.
Sure it did. Before Sana could become the victim of the evil human desires she was set free. The brothel was raided by the police accompanied by a non profit agency aimed at improving the lives of ill fated girls like Sana. From then on Sana spent her days at the reformation camp, went to school and struggled all along her life and is living on her own as a renowned journalist.
‘Excuse me maam but you are hurting me’ cried the girl. Sana frisked the child out of her grips and asked her what she wanted to become when she would grow up. ‘I will become a doctor. All my friends here are sick but there is no doctor to take care of them’. And the girl looked into Sana’s eyes and for a moment she thought she was looking at herself, the girl fifteen years back who was waiting eagerly to be adopted. And she could listen to the silent appeals of the girl asking Sana to take her away from this hell. As if it was understood between the both, the girl said ‘my name is Renée. My mom used to say that it means rebirth’.
Would u like to come with me? We will have a nice time together.
Renee plunged her arms across Sana and then she felt the same warmth she had felt the last time she hugged her mother and told Renée ‘right things happen at right time! Don’t they?
Renee smiled at Sana and said’ sure they do’.
From somewhere a voice was reverberating in her ear drums,’ are you alright miss?’
Slowly she opened her eyes in disbelief. She had faced hardships before but was never so close to death.
‘Miss—are you alright?’
She was in the ambulance when she gained consciousness. ’Yes, I am fine. Thank you. ‘
Inadvertently blinking, she came to senses with the man’s shrilly voice. ‘Wait a minute! You are the famous reporter of WBC. I watch you on television every night’. It must be very exciting for you to cover this war?’
‘Yes.’ Her throat was dry. She really couldn’t make out how one can find covering a war exciting. She was on her reporter duties at the war stuck Taliban. In her short visit, she saw people blowing to shreds, seen bodies of babies thrown down wells, and bits of human jetsam flowing down a river of red. It made her sick. The bombing and shelling had finally stopped. She was surveying the aftermath effects of the war - the physical and emotional destruction.
She was in an orphanage where small kids were looking at her with eyes filled with desperation to meet their parents. Some of them had lost their limbs and some were lost in thoughts. A small girl pulled her cloak and asked’ are u going to take me to my parents?’.
The caretaker told Sana that the girl lost her whole family and their was no one claiming her. Sana hugged her tears rolling out of her eyes.
And suddenly she was back in her own past.
‘Oh! Mama, lemme go, why do you always embarrass me? I am grown up mama.’
‘Do I? oh baby I am sorry ,next time I will see to it that I stop myself from hugging you every time I drop u to school’
‘You promise?’
Yes of course I do dear, now get going u are already late for the school. Bye
And she never got a loving hug from her mother again.
Memories flashed across her mind like a huge callous tide, receding and exploding spasmodically whenever she was let free for herself. But she was not going to break down so easily by emotional hurdles. She had learnt it the hard way and she was going to fight it the hard way. She was Sana Denver.
Sana was barely nine when she lost her mother in an accident. Her father took Sana to a boarding school. Sana was waiting outside the office while her father was in conversation with Sister Agnes regarding Sana’s admission.
Sana loved her father as much as she liked her mother though he had not returned a peck of gratitude towards her. She dint mind of course as she knew that he was a busy man. She was terrified at the idea of learning in a boarding school but was relieved on learning that on public holidays she could be back home with her father.
‘Sister Agnes was very happy Sana. She says she would be glad to admit u. behave like a nice girl’ and Mr. Hudson left.
‘Come in child. I am sure u will love it here. U will have lots of friends. Mr. Hudson is very kind. He tells me that he found you when he was on his usual holiday trips in the back countries and felt agonizing pain when he came to know of your ill fate. But as u see. He is quite busy he left u here’
Sana gave a shocking glance at the sister and then simply stared at her baggages as if trying to find words in a muted world and reconciled herself thinking that Sister Agnes must have misinterpreted her father assuring herself that she was going to see him this Christmas.
‘Oh come on girl. I have got other works to do’.
Sana struggled to keep her pace with the sister, double taking her steps. The journey to her room seemed endless.
And then she saw the huge emblem of a cross and below it was a caption in glaring red “ST. PETERS ORPHANAGE”.
Sana had believed her life was over. The orphans institute was a nightmare for her or rather she thought it was. She missed her mother a lot and felt excoriating pain when she thought about her. The strict routine bothered her even more. She listened to the agonies and heart touching stories of other orphans and thanked god for whatever she was now. At least she had the comfort of home shelter and the security of having a father, though she was not expecting him to come to her.
At two o’clock every Friday afternoon, the boys and girls would line up as prospective foster parents arrived to evaluate them and select one to take home. As each Friday approached, the excitement and tension among children rose to an almost unbearable pitch. They would wash and dress neatly, and as adults walked along the line, each child would inwardly pray to be chosen.
Every Friday was the same, but Sana would still wait hopefully as the adults examined the line of candidates. But they always picked other children. Standing there, ignored, Sana would be filled with humiliation. It would always be someone else, she thought despairingly. No one wants me.
Sana wished desperately to be a part of a family. She tried everything she could think of to make it happen. One Friday she would smile brightly at the adults to let them know what a nice, friendly girl she was. The next Friday she would pretend to be preoccupied with something, showing them that she didn’t really care whether she was chosen or not, and that they would be lucky to have her. At other times she would look at them appealingly, silently begging them to take her home with them. But week after week, it was someone else who was taken away to wonderful homes and happy families.
Miraculously, one day as usual, she smiled at the couple who seeked to adopt a girl.
The only thing she knew was that Mr and Mrs Scott were happy to adopt her. The orphanage was overrun by children and perhaps the staff wee too busy to check the credentials of the couple. Within three days Sana was sent to be part of the family of Mr and Mrs Scott.
She had only known their surnames but what she dint know was a looming ill-luck was following her. There was no Mr. and Mrs Scott. The two of them harassed Sana to death and then she realised that they were traffickers who sold Sana to a brothel.
This was the last thing on earth she had expected to happen. She was arrested in a dark room with faintly anything visible and could hear voices from outside. All she could make out was that she was the scapegoat and the customers were bargaining the price of the scapegoat. Somehow Sana was not as frightened as she had anticipated. She was engrossed in the lacerations and deep cuts which were tearing her apart. Fate had been wrong with her for so many years but she was used to it now and she had learnt at the orphanage that right things happen at the right time, and she was waiting for the right time to arrive.
Sure it did. Before Sana could become the victim of the evil human desires she was set free. The brothel was raided by the police accompanied by a non profit agency aimed at improving the lives of ill fated girls like Sana. From then on Sana spent her days at the reformation camp, went to school and struggled all along her life and is living on her own as a renowned journalist.
‘Excuse me maam but you are hurting me’ cried the girl. Sana frisked the child out of her grips and asked her what she wanted to become when she would grow up. ‘I will become a doctor. All my friends here are sick but there is no doctor to take care of them’. And the girl looked into Sana’s eyes and for a moment she thought she was looking at herself, the girl fifteen years back who was waiting eagerly to be adopted. And she could listen to the silent appeals of the girl asking Sana to take her away from this hell. As if it was understood between the both, the girl said ‘my name is Renée. My mom used to say that it means rebirth’.
Would u like to come with me? We will have a nice time together.
Renee plunged her arms across Sana and then she felt the same warmth she had felt the last time she hugged her mother and told Renée ‘right things happen at right time! Don’t they?
Renee smiled at Sana and said’ sure they do’.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Randomness
I really don't know what to write. All I know is that I want to write. Everyday I think of jotting down something interesting about something I have been thinking about but I never actually get a chance to do so. As soon as the first sentence is typed the rest is lost in my imagination. The end result is always strikingly different from what I actually set out to write. So, this time I thought I will just keep typing whatever is going in my mind - "real time". Quiet interesting isn't it?? This reminds me of the book "Catcher in the Rye" or may be I think the title reads "Catcher of the Rye". Anyways the point is that the book is a classic example of free will writing. The book goes on about the random encounters of a teenage boy and his totally disconnected thoughts. I was overwhelmed by the narration of the young boys racing thoughts whose name I cannot recollect.
This brings me to ponder at the capabilities and incapabilities of a human mind. Left to imagination its one of the most beautiful things ever. So many thoughts running simultaneously in such a short span of time just amazes me. This is the very reason I enjoy my dreams. I love the dreamland - It is one thing on which I have the sole control on. Only I can define the stream but I have no control whatsoever on what direction the stream takes. I am amazed at the complexity of my dreams and the script is no less than the artistic skills of the writer of the movie "The imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus". The movie is spell binding. For me it was as if I were sitiing and watching my own mind when it is left to itself. The only difference is that my dreams are often hazy, the movie on the other hand is crystal clear, thanks of course to the technologies I can't even name.
At some point, I was very concerned about my abilities to remember my dreams fresh as they had happened almost everyday. Its not very common as I found out (not from a concrete source but from the experiences of the few people around me). The matter of concern was not my dreaming but the fact that you are said to have incomplete and half sleep cycles which leaves you exhausted in the mornings. I don't know why I did not try to find any remediation for this problem. I stopped thinking too much about it. And what more, I like to have the pallet of colorful dramas in my head (may be not so colorful as all of them always seem to retain the same haziness as if watching through a glass full of water). I somehow believe that it makes me the person I am. It influences my thinking, creativity and my life.
As I said before, I had no idea what this blog was turning out to be. But I have a feeling that when I am done, I won't be disappointed. :)
This brings me to ponder at the capabilities and incapabilities of a human mind. Left to imagination its one of the most beautiful things ever. So many thoughts running simultaneously in such a short span of time just amazes me. This is the very reason I enjoy my dreams. I love the dreamland - It is one thing on which I have the sole control on. Only I can define the stream but I have no control whatsoever on what direction the stream takes. I am amazed at the complexity of my dreams and the script is no less than the artistic skills of the writer of the movie "The imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus". The movie is spell binding. For me it was as if I were sitiing and watching my own mind when it is left to itself. The only difference is that my dreams are often hazy, the movie on the other hand is crystal clear, thanks of course to the technologies I can't even name.
At some point, I was very concerned about my abilities to remember my dreams fresh as they had happened almost everyday. Its not very common as I found out (not from a concrete source but from the experiences of the few people around me). The matter of concern was not my dreaming but the fact that you are said to have incomplete and half sleep cycles which leaves you exhausted in the mornings. I don't know why I did not try to find any remediation for this problem. I stopped thinking too much about it. And what more, I like to have the pallet of colorful dramas in my head (may be not so colorful as all of them always seem to retain the same haziness as if watching through a glass full of water). I somehow believe that it makes me the person I am. It influences my thinking, creativity and my life.
As I said before, I had no idea what this blog was turning out to be. But I have a feeling that when I am done, I won't be disappointed. :)
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Again!!
Calendar check.. It's a new year again. Stretching skin, blobbing body, dark circles, stability, responsibility, maturity, interest in things which once were seemingly uninteresting - all signs of the grand finale of a wonderful teenage. Yes, I will turn 24 this year. Year 2009 was a crucial year for me which I did not realize until it was finally close to an end. I have changed quiet a bit in terms of personality, speech, outlook and knowledge. I guess I can call the year a 'transformation terminal' which mostly turned out to be fairly well for me. The interesting part of all this was how I developed certain interests and hobbies.
I look at all the married woman and I swear to myself not to let myself appear that way almost every second of my day. This leads to my obsession with healthy food and exercise although I haven't started anything concrete yet because of my random schedule away from home in recent dates. I am trying to stay away from anything unnatural as much as possible. Breakfast bars, processed food, fast food etc. The good news is I don't have to force myself to do so, I just like living in an archaic way. I can still not keep myself away from chocolates and aloo fry. Yoga and cardio are top priority for the new year for me. I was able to reduce drinking to a great extent this year and I am learning to keep myself away from a cup of coffee I have everyday at work. This in a way has become a hobby - being healthy!
I have started developing a lot of interest in home design, so unlike the shopping malls where I find myself out of place, I can spend hours in Ikea or crate n barrel. It is kind of ironic as in this year I did not spend much time at my apartment. 70% of my time is either at work or travelling or at some plush hotel or at someone else's place. I believe its because of the yearning for coziness and 'feel home' feeling. Also, I can spend hours thinking of that perfect home that matches my grandparents house. That's worth another blog. Let's say that I like being in the older simpler times.
I have somehow acquired a great obsession with the colors green and red this year. Why red? I cannot think why. Fresh green takes me into a trance. When I was a kid my father always used to drag me out of the bed in the mornings and made me stare at the vegetation in our small kitchen garden. It did make me feel fresh, I still do. So, when my boss asked me what do I want to do once I retire, I impulsively said I want to farm. So I have decided that I will start with gardening and give it a shot in my 900sq ft apartment. Gardening it is!!
I feel at loss when people make conversations about their childhood readings and comics. I stuck with chacha choudary, tinkle, champak and readers digest as a child. I like stories and fiction and reading so it should't be hard for me to finish the classics. I am very much looking forward to it. My first adventure would be all the series of Asterix followed by Tin Tin. I am somehow not inclined to Nancy Drew (I did read a few when I was in college :P). Suggestions are hugely appreciated. Chip in!!. I am also gonna hold myself not to buy any books until I finish the books that I bought last year. Books Aye!
That pretty much sums up most of my targeted hobbies/interests/goals for this year.
Some good things about the year: I am finally getting used to living an independent single life. I can go to a restaurant alone and eat alone without feeling overtly conscious of the fact that I am the lone warrior holding the fort. Strengthened bonds with my family virtually, I feel much more closer to home than ever even though I am miles apart. I have developed a thought process mostly based on reasoning and aftereffects and it seems to be working great for me. I have strengthened my beliefs on the non-existence of the super power, fate, destiny and other such non quantifiable words in the dictionary. I seemed to be motivated by great people in the likes of Nandita Das, Barkha Dutt, Annie besant, Amartya Sen, Yonus Khan, Salman Rushdie and Darwin to name a few. Although I can still not generate/participate in discussions -intellectual readings, books on history and magical realism is something I have discovered as one of my interests this year.
I may have lost the most rosy things of teenage but on a brighter side I am a much more confident woman now. I strongly believe I will never be able to change the basic person I am although I might develop a new perspective every once in a while. I am inherently the same People! but officially deemed to be a woman - you can throw the girl term away :)
I look at all the married woman and I swear to myself not to let myself appear that way almost every second of my day. This leads to my obsession with healthy food and exercise although I haven't started anything concrete yet because of my random schedule away from home in recent dates. I am trying to stay away from anything unnatural as much as possible. Breakfast bars, processed food, fast food etc. The good news is I don't have to force myself to do so, I just like living in an archaic way. I can still not keep myself away from chocolates and aloo fry. Yoga and cardio are top priority for the new year for me. I was able to reduce drinking to a great extent this year and I am learning to keep myself away from a cup of coffee I have everyday at work. This in a way has become a hobby - being healthy!
I have started developing a lot of interest in home design, so unlike the shopping malls where I find myself out of place, I can spend hours in Ikea or crate n barrel. It is kind of ironic as in this year I did not spend much time at my apartment. 70% of my time is either at work or travelling or at some plush hotel or at someone else's place. I believe its because of the yearning for coziness and 'feel home' feeling. Also, I can spend hours thinking of that perfect home that matches my grandparents house. That's worth another blog. Let's say that I like being in the older simpler times.
I have somehow acquired a great obsession with the colors green and red this year. Why red? I cannot think why. Fresh green takes me into a trance. When I was a kid my father always used to drag me out of the bed in the mornings and made me stare at the vegetation in our small kitchen garden. It did make me feel fresh, I still do. So, when my boss asked me what do I want to do once I retire, I impulsively said I want to farm. So I have decided that I will start with gardening and give it a shot in my 900sq ft apartment. Gardening it is!!
I feel at loss when people make conversations about their childhood readings and comics. I stuck with chacha choudary, tinkle, champak and readers digest as a child. I like stories and fiction and reading so it should't be hard for me to finish the classics. I am very much looking forward to it. My first adventure would be all the series of Asterix followed by Tin Tin. I am somehow not inclined to Nancy Drew (I did read a few when I was in college :P). Suggestions are hugely appreciated. Chip in!!. I am also gonna hold myself not to buy any books until I finish the books that I bought last year. Books Aye!
That pretty much sums up most of my targeted hobbies/interests/goals for this year.
Some good things about the year: I am finally getting used to living an independent single life. I can go to a restaurant alone and eat alone without feeling overtly conscious of the fact that I am the lone warrior holding the fort. Strengthened bonds with my family virtually, I feel much more closer to home than ever even though I am miles apart. I have developed a thought process mostly based on reasoning and aftereffects and it seems to be working great for me. I have strengthened my beliefs on the non-existence of the super power, fate, destiny and other such non quantifiable words in the dictionary. I seemed to be motivated by great people in the likes of Nandita Das, Barkha Dutt, Annie besant, Amartya Sen, Yonus Khan, Salman Rushdie and Darwin to name a few. Although I can still not generate/participate in discussions -intellectual readings, books on history and magical realism is something I have discovered as one of my interests this year.
I may have lost the most rosy things of teenage but on a brighter side I am a much more confident woman now. I strongly believe I will never be able to change the basic person I am although I might develop a new perspective every once in a while. I am inherently the same People! but officially deemed to be a woman - you can throw the girl term away :)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Free Fall
So, I am driving back home from work listening to the title song of 'kaminey'..the song goes on to tell about this man, everything and everyone around him including himself at some time is a kamina - worthless rascal..I couldn't agree more..I feel like that most of the times these lazy days and I like it in a way.. it makes me appreciate anything and everything in the world.. and if you are wondering would I ever write about nicer positive things, yes, I will talk about nicer things but just not yet..
So, yes, I am driving back home and I realise how much I love the solitary time to myself, confided in the small 4-door, continuously rattling 98 corolla as if shaking its body to the rythym old music system, noisy air condition and screeching breaks!.. I get a sense of lightness, of escape, of free will, as though I am falling, falling from the sky, the lightness of being nothing.
I am driving on a slope now. I keep falling on the steep slope inside the confinement, hurdling towards I don't care what, I am too happy to care.. OH! how I wish it wouldn't stop!! how I wish I just kept falling.. and then I see the solid wall of a red brick building apporaching and a pump my breaks, lawfully halt at the stop sign, wait for three seconds, look left and then right and make a turn and continue on the road home.
So, yes, I am driving back home and I realise how much I love the solitary time to myself, confided in the small 4-door, continuously rattling 98 corolla as if shaking its body to the rythym old music system, noisy air condition and screeching breaks!.. I get a sense of lightness, of escape, of free will, as though I am falling, falling from the sky, the lightness of being nothing.
I am driving on a slope now. I keep falling on the steep slope inside the confinement, hurdling towards I don't care what, I am too happy to care.. OH! how I wish it wouldn't stop!! how I wish I just kept falling.. and then I see the solid wall of a red brick building apporaching and a pump my breaks, lawfully halt at the stop sign, wait for three seconds, look left and then right and make a turn and continue on the road home.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
I stole my happy ending
Its been two years today. There has been tremendous amount of change inwards and outwards. Discontent, that remains the same. A chemical engineer with a masters in Engineering Management working in a construction management firm. My boss says "Your parents must be proud" - hell yeah. This is what runs in my mind - I am one of the millions who come to the US, earn in dollars, save have fun and live my life - my parents are still proud, they will always be. I am not.
I have two cups of coffee everyday. I fake my smile and accent to an average of 30 ppl/day, sleep about 8 hours, busy for about 5 work hours, enjoy my time in the office loo especially in the mornings (I get up early, just enough time to dress up) when no one else is sharing it with me, avoid on average 3 people/day, look at the mirror 15 times/day, day dream most of the time, curse my car, look at online catalogs for 2 work hours and stare at never ending excel sheets, files and maps the rest of the time. I watch TV soaps, think of exercise, watch a movie a day, flatten the sofa cushions, think about sex, worry about my body and looks, speak to people back home and fall asleep in a hope that it should be days before its 6:45 am (time when my alarm goes off). It kills me to know that these are all my days at least till I quit.
What do I see myself doing everyday? Wake up not having to worry about answering a bunch of people in those scary outfits as to why I overslept, stare at the green for a while like how I used to do in my childhood, have ample of time in the loo in the mornings, read a few pages, discuss everyday issues with people around me, not worry about how I look when I go to work in the mornings, walk to the small gates, give away the little wisdom at the school, not worry about checking my accounts, bills, millions of paperwork (the way I have to do it here), tune into some local channel on a TV and not on the computer, sit around with the old ladies and small kids in the house, play some pachisi, walk through the paddy fields, retire with a nice meal not worrying about how much I would put on. It would be ideal. Seems like that would keep my heart stable for a lifetime. Happy ending.
I have two cups of coffee everyday. I fake my smile and accent to an average of 30 ppl/day, sleep about 8 hours, busy for about 5 work hours, enjoy my time in the office loo especially in the mornings (I get up early, just enough time to dress up) when no one else is sharing it with me, avoid on average 3 people/day, look at the mirror 15 times/day, day dream most of the time, curse my car, look at online catalogs for 2 work hours and stare at never ending excel sheets, files and maps the rest of the time. I watch TV soaps, think of exercise, watch a movie a day, flatten the sofa cushions, think about sex, worry about my body and looks, speak to people back home and fall asleep in a hope that it should be days before its 6:45 am (time when my alarm goes off). It kills me to know that these are all my days at least till I quit.
What do I see myself doing everyday? Wake up not having to worry about answering a bunch of people in those scary outfits as to why I overslept, stare at the green for a while like how I used to do in my childhood, have ample of time in the loo in the mornings, read a few pages, discuss everyday issues with people around me, not worry about how I look when I go to work in the mornings, walk to the small gates, give away the little wisdom at the school, not worry about checking my accounts, bills, millions of paperwork (the way I have to do it here), tune into some local channel on a TV and not on the computer, sit around with the old ladies and small kids in the house, play some pachisi, walk through the paddy fields, retire with a nice meal not worrying about how much I would put on. It would be ideal. Seems like that would keep my heart stable for a lifetime. Happy ending.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Words
Words always seem to fail me, or may be, I fail words. I always have a problem expressing my exact opinions, feelings, thoughts and other things I can’t find words for in words. Some people are jack of languages. I envy them. Authors, poets, lawyers and boasters fall in this category. They always seem to know what they want to talk or write. By the time I am done writing this little jig, I would have gone through this masterpiece a thousand times and yet it shall lie in anonymity. I wish I could go back and “proof talk” what I speak to avoid the awkwardly embarrassing pits I have fallen into.
Of course there are a zillion ways of expressing emotions. Words, works, wands and what not’s. The one which leaves a strong impression is the physical way of expression. What we write we remember better, what we physically feel we recall well. I always felt a touch of hand, a reassuring kiss, an open embrace and in most cases a stern stupefying stare, which is quiet a frequent phenomenon with me, work wonders than a string of broken words coming out in various intensities. I have had the best conversations in silence. I have had the worst altercations in speech. So alls fine as long as I am in the physical vicinity of people and if I keep shut which although is a burdening task, works well and then we all live happily ever after. Unfortunately that is never the case. What cripples me in this fast growing yet vastly shrinking world is the non verbal form of communication. Chat rooms and archived conversations – my recent nightmares. I can no longer differentiate between genuine and ingenuine thoughts. And well, look who is not left behind - awkward silences follow the trail here too. Meanwhile, browsing through the past histories, digging up issues has become an addiction in an attempt to prove few points.
I wish we could go back to the time when people cherished the few hand written words written once in a blue moon rather than fouling over accessible conversations. I wish we could go back to the time when languages were treated as a form of art, means of profound expressions. I wish we could go back when words flew like a river, fluent, vast in meaning, when people knew what they were talking and when people could understand each other without having to go through thousand conversations, when the narrations of true love and fierce wars left an impression in our minds. I wish I knew that one language perfectly so that you would understand what I am trying to say.
Of course there are a zillion ways of expressing emotions. Words, works, wands and what not’s. The one which leaves a strong impression is the physical way of expression. What we write we remember better, what we physically feel we recall well. I always felt a touch of hand, a reassuring kiss, an open embrace and in most cases a stern stupefying stare, which is quiet a frequent phenomenon with me, work wonders than a string of broken words coming out in various intensities. I have had the best conversations in silence. I have had the worst altercations in speech. So alls fine as long as I am in the physical vicinity of people and if I keep shut which although is a burdening task, works well and then we all live happily ever after. Unfortunately that is never the case. What cripples me in this fast growing yet vastly shrinking world is the non verbal form of communication. Chat rooms and archived conversations – my recent nightmares. I can no longer differentiate between genuine and ingenuine thoughts. And well, look who is not left behind - awkward silences follow the trail here too. Meanwhile, browsing through the past histories, digging up issues has become an addiction in an attempt to prove few points.
I wish we could go back to the time when people cherished the few hand written words written once in a blue moon rather than fouling over accessible conversations. I wish we could go back to the time when languages were treated as a form of art, means of profound expressions. I wish we could go back when words flew like a river, fluent, vast in meaning, when people knew what they were talking and when people could understand each other without having to go through thousand conversations, when the narrations of true love and fierce wars left an impression in our minds. I wish I knew that one language perfectly so that you would understand what I am trying to say.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Your Planet Needs You
It is amazing how humans evolved as the rulers over the ages and how 99% of all the species that have ever lived are now extinct. Survival of the fittest, guess Darwin was right. It comes as no surprise as evolution is one of the inexplicably balanced phenomena of nature. What arrives as a problem is when this occurs unnaturally or is induced in the normal cycles, which as we all now is mostly attributed to the human interventions. According to a 1998 survey of 400 biologists conducted by New York's American Museum of Natural History, nearly 70 percent believed that they are currently in the early stages of a human-caused mass extinction, known as the Holocene extinction event. Studies have shown that global warming may drive one quarter of all land animals and plants to extinction by 2050.One of the major challenges that the survival of species faces is the threat by mankind's insatiable demand for resources. The private sector has a huge impact on biodiversity through its use of natural resources, such as timber, soil and water, and extracted resources, such as minerals, oils and gas. Consumption is also being driven by our sheer numbers: the global population has more than tripled in 50 years to over 6.5 billion resulting in new businesses that are using up raw materials far more quickly than the planet can replenish them – having devastating impacts on species and ecosystems around the world.
There should be awareness in industries about creating great inroads into supply chains across entire business sectors, helping consumers to speak their minds through their purses. The solution lies in looking for alternative resources which do not portray going green as “hindrance to development”. The world needs a “Green New Deal” focused on investing in renewable sources of energy, eco-friendly infrastructure and energy efficiency. This will not only create jobs and spur recovery but also help tackle global warming. If we invest even part of the substantial new economic stimulus packages in the green economy, we can turn today’s crisis into tomorrow’s sustainable growth. Businesses also stand to gain from getting serious about sustainability, through boosting their competitiveness, increasing their profits and improving their reputation. Also, some thought should be given to establishment of sustainable societies designed to focus on issues such as balanced harvesting, poverty, deforestation, degraded soils, polluted water, disease and environmental crisis.
Mother earth is as much a home to the innumerous species as it is to humans. The impact that the depleting resources and extincting species will have on the balanced ecosystems is unfathomable. Humans have to find the thin line between consumption and conservation for their own good. As I always say, until we are able to live in Mars this is the only planet we have and somewhere the thought that “You need the planet” should inspire all of us to create sustainable businesses and work towards the theme of this year’s World Environment Day (June 5th, 2009) – “Your Planet needs you”.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
World for All
India, the largest democracy in the world, the second largest populated nation, plethora of cultures and religions and also the house of Asia’s largest slum. With 42% of the Indian population below the poverty line, India is still standing large and strong with optimism for a greater nation beyond social, cultural and more importantly economical barriers and yet envisioning a religious balance and equality to be known to the global community as “truly secular”. Too far fletched a dream? In a world where everything is explored from inside of an atom to what lies beyond milky way, from cure to weirdly named diseases to solution for wrinkles, there should be enough room for innovations to further the goal of “World for All”. Leaving behind the religious harmony which entirely is dependent on the mindset of people, the economic stability is something where there is a need for great practical visionaries. Clearly, capitalism or communism is not the solution. Distribution of wealth is rather a strain on the existing balance as these concepts “force” but not further the cause and which almost always leads to fear and ultimately rebelliousness as proved by the history. Creation of wealth should be the goal rather than distribution. The solution lies in change “from the people – for the people”. Few examples of exceptional innovations are applications of microfinance, microcredit and social business. All these systems harness the power of free market to solve the problems of poverty, hunger and inequality.
Microfinance and microcredit as we all know is the provision of financial services to low-income and self-employed clients. Microcredit is an excellent paragon of tweaking a conservative system, in this case – Capitalism, to the benefit of people. The lending of micro loans without collateral has helped many self sustained small businesses to create their own world of opportunities. It would be unfair not to mention the contributions of Muhammed Yunus, Founder of the Grameen Bank, while discussing a “poverty free world”. He pioneered microcredit, the innovative banking program that provides poor people, mainly woman an opportunity to launch businesses and create a sustainable source of income. In the past thirty years, microcredit has spread to every continent and has benefited over 100 million needy families.
Social business, on the other hand is a completely new way to use the creative vibrancy of business to tackle social problems from poverty to pollution to inadequate health care and lack of education. A business designed to meet the social cause. Businesses continue to grow, global trade is booming, multinational corporations are spreading like never before – in between all the corporate money making why anyone would consider a low profit business in developing and third world nations which are potentially a threat to development? What does social business provide to them in terms of profits? The answer lies in the question if strategically looked for. Expansions and cross-continental presence is a key to success for a business in the globalizing world. More and more businesses have started realizing this potential as a great way to market them which in turn adds greatly to their reputation. The results of this win-win situation are more apparent in a product based business. Group Danone, a French based food products company has greatly benefitted from introducing a social element to its business. Danone has infused in most of the developing nations and promises low cost and high nutrition foods to the needy. Its products have bought more profit than ever even in the developed nations like the US due to its reputation of a ‘social business’.
Applications of social business in service sector are not left behind. Although not as huge as Danone, www.babajob.com, founded by Sean Blagsvedt, a previous Microsoft employee, is a small attempt to improving the conditions of vocational workers at the same time benefitting from the venture. Currently focused in Bangalore, the site aims at providing a streamlined job search engine for the tertiary worker class like maids, drivers etc. The site includes no fee from the job seekers but charges the employers instead who look for domestic services which is otherwise a highly luck based effort.
I am sure there are a lot of unheard examples out there like Group Danone and Sean Blagsvedt. This is where exactly the young India is needed in bringing about the change by introducing novel ways into the system.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The dying shadow
She stood beneath the searing sun
evil rays burning her eyes,
knees on earth, her gaze far beyond,
only to meet the amaranthine.
A million voices raging behind,
swords, arrows, roars and raves,
they curse the star-crossed witch,
with a ferociousness that shook the waves.
Towards the east, she runs to the lord
Seeking shelter from the unknown
Alas, it’s too late,
Eating the dust, the sun is down.
The raging stream passes her by,
the voices now emanating from the bow,
searing the black beneath her feet,
they devour her heart through her soul.
They sprang like a violent lot,
unveiling the enemy, flashing her thoughts,
to which the vixen could only sing,
it was me, all this time, it was just me!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Flight of Icarus
Thoughts which I scribbled while waiting for the flight in Mumbai.. just found the paper so penning them down.
"Our present is a failure.. actions which are direct consequences of our never ending attempt to mend the past.. in a hope of a future which is right at the back of our minds every night.. perfect"
Past-Present-Future
The only three facets and the only time frames which a common man strangled in emotions can ever understand. The three constantly moving parts of the drama called life. Life goes on, so does the parts, in a vicious circle.. man plays it.
Sitting here at the airport, waiting for the flight of Icarus, the flight to my destination..
Varied images.. anxious, scared, longing, desperation, nostalgic, excited, fear, energetic, lazy, apologetic, glad, yearning, confused. Confused. Confused. a web of emotions vibrating cohesively out of the throbbing mystery box.. confused, my favorite word.
Interesting, yet disturbing. The emotions attached with each of these emotions makes me inexplicably familiar. Deja Vu. Familiarity with the forgone things in the past. Familiarity with the upcoming events of the future and the familiarity with the on going altercations of senses in my head.. presented by the present.
Your only chance. Live it up :)
"Our present is a failure.. actions which are direct consequences of our never ending attempt to mend the past.. in a hope of a future which is right at the back of our minds every night.. perfect"
Past-Present-Future
The only three facets and the only time frames which a common man strangled in emotions can ever understand. The three constantly moving parts of the drama called life. Life goes on, so does the parts, in a vicious circle.. man plays it.
Sitting here at the airport, waiting for the flight of Icarus, the flight to my destination..
Varied images.. anxious, scared, longing, desperation, nostalgic, excited, fear, energetic, lazy, apologetic, glad, yearning, confused. Confused. Confused. a web of emotions vibrating cohesively out of the throbbing mystery box.. confused, my favorite word.
Interesting, yet disturbing. The emotions attached with each of these emotions makes me inexplicably familiar. Deja Vu. Familiarity with the forgone things in the past. Familiarity with the upcoming events of the future and the familiarity with the on going altercations of senses in my head.. presented by the present.
Your only chance. Live it up :)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Global Warming - A myth?
I am sure we all must have read or heard about the dire effects of global warming. At the same time, it is not surprising that we hear controversial statements about it all being a huge shallow myth.
The most respected scientific bodies across the world have stated unequivocally that global warming might be the next war for mankind if necessary precautions are not taken. There is no debate among the scientists about the basic facts of global warming’s cause and effects. There are many ‘irreversible’ effects observed by the research communities like climate change, glacier retreat and disappearance, sea level rise, acidification, oxygen depletion among many others, which in turn impact the many bio layers. Unchecked global warming affects the terrestrial eco-regions and the stable ways in which nature acts. In the coming centuries, it is predicted that global warming can trigger a mass extinction of about 50% of the current flora and fauna on earth. Global warming can particularly have a harsh effect on the socio economic conditions of people and countries. The likely severe impacts included increased hunger and disease due to decreased rainfall and severe weather events. No wonder that there is an increased awareness and urge regarding this matter in
all parts of the world.
Does it sound like exaggeration? How can everyday phenomenon have such drastic and huge effects? It is not surprising that many people think that it’s nothing more than a huge swindle. Earth has through centuries, gone through so much more and has yet been able to survive. The climate changes, disappearing species, submerging islands are not something new. The same science which talks about the adversities of global warming also talks about the good effects it has in maintaining the stability of the nature like infusion of increased methane and the belief of many economists that the warming produces a net benefit of increased income and better standards of living. It takes a lot more to implement green practices in terms of energy and economics to justify global warming’s effects. Supporters of this argument state that if the cause of warming is mostly natural, which in fact it is, then there is little we can do about it.
As quoted by Blaise Pascal “The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble”, I personally believe in simple logic of nature. Any minute disturbance shakes a stable system to some extent which has long term effects over a large period of time, good or bad. In the case of global warming, I believe that the consequences are greatly bad. As a part of this system, I feel responsible too. Even if the whole issue is controversial; the whole essence is that we should protect the space we live in. May be the effects are exaggerated, or the consequences too small to have gained such great attention but it is something we should be concerned of and as said, prevention is better than cure. I staunchly believe that it is the right time to act. We all in spite of the varied thinking agree to the fact that this is the only earth we got.
Man has been bestowed with the best in the life possible, the ability to think, the virtue of creation and unfortunately the power to destruct.
The most respected scientific bodies across the world have stated unequivocally that global warming might be the next war for mankind if necessary precautions are not taken. There is no debate among the scientists about the basic facts of global warming’s cause and effects. There are many ‘irreversible’ effects observed by the research communities like climate change, glacier retreat and disappearance, sea level rise, acidification, oxygen depletion among many others, which in turn impact the many bio layers. Unchecked global warming affects the terrestrial eco-regions and the stable ways in which nature acts. In the coming centuries, it is predicted that global warming can trigger a mass extinction of about 50% of the current flora and fauna on earth. Global warming can particularly have a harsh effect on the socio economic conditions of people and countries. The likely severe impacts included increased hunger and disease due to decreased rainfall and severe weather events. No wonder that there is an increased awareness and urge regarding this matter in
all parts of the world.
Does it sound like exaggeration? How can everyday phenomenon have such drastic and huge effects? It is not surprising that many people think that it’s nothing more than a huge swindle. Earth has through centuries, gone through so much more and has yet been able to survive. The climate changes, disappearing species, submerging islands are not something new. The same science which talks about the adversities of global warming also talks about the good effects it has in maintaining the stability of the nature like infusion of increased methane and the belief of many economists that the warming produces a net benefit of increased income and better standards of living. It takes a lot more to implement green practices in terms of energy and economics to justify global warming’s effects. Supporters of this argument state that if the cause of warming is mostly natural, which in fact it is, then there is little we can do about it.
As quoted by Blaise Pascal “The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble”, I personally believe in simple logic of nature. Any minute disturbance shakes a stable system to some extent which has long term effects over a large period of time, good or bad. In the case of global warming, I believe that the consequences are greatly bad. As a part of this system, I feel responsible too. Even if the whole issue is controversial; the whole essence is that we should protect the space we live in. May be the effects are exaggerated, or the consequences too small to have gained such great attention but it is something we should be concerned of and as said, prevention is better than cure. I staunchly believe that it is the right time to act. We all in spite of the varied thinking agree to the fact that this is the only earth we got.
Man has been bestowed with the best in the life possible, the ability to think, the virtue of creation and unfortunately the power to destruct.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Epiphany
It’s been a while since I have written anything at all. Not that I write on a regular basis and now hat I wish to, I want to start with what is truly running in my head at this very moment. Some mind doctors might want to term it 'free association writing'.
I am finally tired of hanging nowhere. Disgusted at being that point in the graph where there are always points above and below me, a lame mediocre. Every time I visualize this graph, I think of millions of confused souls like me symbolizing the middle finger people keep pointing at each other, between the lines!, between the points.
But now that the boredom and disgust is literally creeping my insides and reminding me of the entire fairy tales where the lazy bum in body and mind is punished at the end of the day, lessons learnt. I, today take an oath upon the things I love the most, sleep and food, that I would become a better person by introducing some sense in my everyday life. If I fail myself, naaah there is nothing much to lose, a little self respect may be, and then back to the graph hoping that everyone might average out at my coordinates some day. ;)
And while I am writing this, I think, does it matter? Does anyone give a shit if you moved ahead or back, up or down? If you are the mediocre, the middle finger, the hanging lose thread or the ridiculed lazy grasshopper? No, it does not. All that matters is in the answer to these questions - have you done justice to your co-ordinates and space without losing a face? Are you content with the little things in life, can you accept yourself as yourself?
So here it goes. My plan of action. Start believing that you are THE person everyone dreams to be, the surreal feeling which lurks in some dark evil corner of our mind. I am forced to steal Obama’s nation spinning Cliché line here, pardon me, but ‘I CAN’. I shall shamelessly accept the conceited person inside me. I love myself the way I am. If someone begs to differ, I shall politely say go fuck yourself. Does this work? Well the good part - at least someone takes pride in you ;) and the rest will fall into place.
I am finally tired of hanging nowhere. Disgusted at being that point in the graph where there are always points above and below me, a lame mediocre. Every time I visualize this graph, I think of millions of confused souls like me symbolizing the middle finger people keep pointing at each other, between the lines!, between the points.
But now that the boredom and disgust is literally creeping my insides and reminding me of the entire fairy tales where the lazy bum in body and mind is punished at the end of the day, lessons learnt. I, today take an oath upon the things I love the most, sleep and food, that I would become a better person by introducing some sense in my everyday life. If I fail myself, naaah there is nothing much to lose, a little self respect may be, and then back to the graph hoping that everyone might average out at my coordinates some day. ;)
And while I am writing this, I think, does it matter? Does anyone give a shit if you moved ahead or back, up or down? If you are the mediocre, the middle finger, the hanging lose thread or the ridiculed lazy grasshopper? No, it does not. All that matters is in the answer to these questions - have you done justice to your co-ordinates and space without losing a face? Are you content with the little things in life, can you accept yourself as yourself?
So here it goes. My plan of action. Start believing that you are THE person everyone dreams to be, the surreal feeling which lurks in some dark evil corner of our mind. I am forced to steal Obama’s nation spinning Cliché line here, pardon me, but ‘I CAN’. I shall shamelessly accept the conceited person inside me. I love myself the way I am. If someone begs to differ, I shall politely say go fuck yourself. Does this work? Well the good part - at least someone takes pride in you ;) and the rest will fall into place.
Friday, February 6, 2009
A moment
Resting on the road, a hot summer night,
crescent moon rising high, calm and quiet,
the black on my face, the whispering leaves
by the cool summer breeze, I lie
I travel on a shining route, to nowhere
yet touching my effervescent heart, everywhere
the odysseys of millions, under my feet
by the cool summer breeze, I sleep.
crescent moon rising high, calm and quiet,
the black on my face, the whispering leaves
by the cool summer breeze, I lie
I travel on a shining route, to nowhere
yet touching my effervescent heart, everywhere
the odysseys of millions, under my feet
by the cool summer breeze, I sleep.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Cultural shock or plain ignorance!
Clarification : This blog is not a recipe guide and has nothing to do whatsoever with cooking or food or appetite.
Now that I have cleared most of your doubts about what the posts are going to be, I will get back to the usual 'anecdote' posting stuff. Like every blogger who has migrated to a different country... here are my(well not exactly mine) 2 cents to the classic American experience.
--> So its been just two days you are here and damn!! you learnt English so fast!!
--> Two of my fellow Indian friends tagged on facebook which read
" Eating their first ice-cream ever"
--> I had to argue with my manager that 'learnt' is indeed a word and that I did not misspell it :O
--> So.. do you commute by camels in India?
--> Nice costume! (its a dress :x not a halloween costume!!!)
Now that I have cleared most of your doubts about what the posts are going to be, I will get back to the usual 'anecdote' posting stuff. Like every blogger who has migrated to a different country... here are my(well not exactly mine) 2 cents to the classic American experience.
--> So its been just two days you are here and damn!! you learnt English so fast!!
--> Two of my fellow Indian friends tagged on facebook which read
" Eating their first ice-cream ever"
--> I had to argue with my manager that 'learnt' is indeed a word and that I did not misspell it :O
--> So.. do you commute by camels in India?
--> Nice costume! (its a dress :x not a halloween costume!!!)
--> well it turns out.. it indeed is a Halloween costume.. I was in one of the Halloween marches and found that 30% people were dressed like indians.
Thinking of it sometimes, all of us are not so unaware of the life in the US..even back home. May be its just that we made an effort to know for obvious reasons of flying dreams. This would probably provide an explanation to the two bizzarre ways of thinking, one fully aware and the other.. well as it is supposed to be.
Its just hard to understand if all this is plain ignorance or just a part of the cultural shock. I believe, we are going to ponder on that note for a long long time!!. Till then... enjoy them!.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Red Chillies
I walk in the crowded streets,
and yet, engulfed in solitude..
the air, profusely filling my lungs,
with every step, every breathe..
and there it was.. a sharp aroma..
a million emotions, a million feelings..
sweet, sour, strong, mild..
the smells of spices driving me wild..
I turn on an empty road,
and yet, magically accompanied.
Ever wondered what happens to those thousand anecdotes in our lives? There are a few events, that vibrate the otherwise highly stable everyday soul of ours. Well these "small tinge of spices..bring a second of feelings, a minute web of thoughts, an hour of conversation .. and then sadly are thrown into a lifetime of oblivion"...exactly like the spices.
In this blog, I attempt to record a few of those spell - 'soul' binding experiences drawn from everyday life, extracted from the movements that go around me, the horizon of which is limitless..
But why the weird metaphor of spices and anecdotes? Well, I think they are very similar in the sense that they bring almost the same kind of effects . Almost every human emotion is characterized by a spice..every soul has a spice of his own.. My favorites are the red chillies. The enchanting red.. which adorns the spicy Indian gourmet dishes. I use them everyday in my cooking.. and the aroma that infuses in my body when they are fried in the oil is just heavenly.
Next time when you are cooking, or just savoring a meal. take a moment to yourself and try to identify the aroma that effects you the most... its just amazing how your heart jumps up like a child, the next time you identify that particular spice in your next meal.. good luck ;)
and yet, engulfed in solitude..
the air, profusely filling my lungs,
with every step, every breathe..
and there it was.. a sharp aroma..
a million emotions, a million feelings..
sweet, sour, strong, mild..
the smells of spices driving me wild..
I turn on an empty road,
and yet, magically accompanied.
Ever wondered what happens to those thousand anecdotes in our lives? There are a few events, that vibrate the otherwise highly stable everyday soul of ours. Well these "small tinge of spices..bring a second of feelings, a minute web of thoughts, an hour of conversation .. and then sadly are thrown into a lifetime of oblivion"...exactly like the spices.
In this blog, I attempt to record a few of those spell - 'soul' binding experiences drawn from everyday life, extracted from the movements that go around me, the horizon of which is limitless..
But why the weird metaphor of spices and anecdotes? Well, I think they are very similar in the sense that they bring almost the same kind of effects . Almost every human emotion is characterized by a spice..every soul has a spice of his own.. My favorites are the red chillies. The enchanting red.. which adorns the spicy Indian gourmet dishes. I use them everyday in my cooking.. and the aroma that infuses in my body when they are fried in the oil is just heavenly.
Next time when you are cooking, or just savoring a meal. take a moment to yourself and try to identify the aroma that effects you the most... its just amazing how your heart jumps up like a child, the next time you identify that particular spice in your next meal.. good luck ;)
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