My olfactory system (a.k.a. my nose) is unnecessarily active. My mom says I might have been dog in one of my previous “janams”. I need my food to have good aroma and not just the taste. My memory store is unnecessarily tied up with the olfactory system. There are some scents which remind me of some people.
Like the “Dabur Amala Kesh Tel” reminds me of my ajoba (mom’s father). He was great lover of perfumes. He would try different types of talcum powders and soaps for the sake of their perfumes. But hair oil was always “Dabur Amala”. His rack had lot of amazing stuff which we kids were not allowed to touch at all. I still remember the exact place where he would keep the oil bottle. It was the old glass bottle permanent resident there which would be filled in regularly with new small bottles. Years of spilled oil had peculiar aroma which would fill his whole room. We were occasionally given the duty to apply the oil on his head or his feet. And as reward we would get the small square salt biscuits or sweet supari powder (I donno the angrezi name for that?) or toffees from his cupboard. He used keep the cupboard keys under his pillow. Whenever he would reach the keys we would gather around the cupboard wide eyed in anticipation to get our share of biscuits. The cupboard had peculiar smell of naphthalene balls protecting my grandma’s saris from so many years mixed with different “attar”s (perfume) applied on them.
Sweet mango scent reminds me of my aajji (dad’s mother). We used to have large number of mango trees (at least a dozen of different varieties) in our farm. So the summer vacations were absolutely mango eating seasons. All the mangoes had different ripe time so there would be new mango variety coming home every fortnight. We had one room specially reserved for the mangos called “Ambyachi Kholi”. They would spread layer of dried straws on the floor and then layer of mangos and then another layer of straws on top of it. Every morning aajji would pick out ready to eat mangos in a bucket for us to eat another bucket for making “aamras”. Our days would start with mangoes and end with mangoes. We were allowed only peep inside the room. It had sweet mango scent mixed with the grass smell. I can still vividly remember my aajji sitting in that dark room and picking up sweetest mangoes for us.
The cabbage sabji smell reminds me of my hostel mess. For some reason our mess cook was in love with cabbage. So we were tortured with the sabji in every other meal. It used be only boiled vegetable with bare minimum masalas and a weird smell. It was utterly unbearable for me. We have skipped amny meals due to that sabji. And I still can’t eat cabbage.
… And the smell of detol, lifebuoy soap, hospital, cigarettes … all of them remind me of my dad. My dad was one totally dedicated (freak) doctor. His shirt would smell of hundred different things… lifebuoy soap he would wash hands with every time he examines a patient (hands would include the shirt sleeves too :-) ), detol used in operation theatre (though my mom claims that doctors are the most unhygienic people on earth), some blood spots here and there while delivering a cute baby (should I say babies) … and smoke of cigarettes, he would always find time for in his busy schedule. My sister and I would always tease him for wearing such smelly cloths I absolutely hated the hospital smell for some reason. I would never go inside unless I had some urgent to talk to him.
Now whenever I go to any hospital … all I can think of is seeing dad scolding some for something at the top of his voice, frown on his face for seeing me there (yeah, he seldom liked disturbance in his work), hurrying towards the operation theatre or delivery room, comforting the lady in labor or taking round in the ward and talking to patients like they have decades of friendship …
Hmmm… "smelly" memories isn’t it ? :-) :-) :-)
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Its Mumbai again
Serial blasts, ripped train compartments, deaths, cries, chaos, flesh, blood, bodies ...
It happened again...
City is scarred but not stopped. We will never stop.
But ... how long? How many more lives do we have to sacrifice?
Why us GOD... why us !!!
Current mood: Speechless
It happened again...
City is scarred but not stopped. We will never stop.
But ... how long? How many more lives do we have to sacrifice?
Why us GOD... why us !!!
Current mood: Speechless
Monday, July 03, 2006
Why should I reduce?
I have been getting lots and lots of advise about why should I be getting in shape
My friend (Guy): "You know Ashley, wavelength matching and all are bookish and imaginary things. These days guys go for looks first and then see anything else. You have everything but shape. You should do something if you really want to get married to a "good" guy"
My Friend(Gal): "Yaar Ashley, If you reduce a little bit, you will look very good"
Mom:"Dear, if you don't start taking care of yourself right now, you will have problems at later stage of life. I don't want you to get affected by diseases like hypertension or diabetes"
Salesgirl:[Loudly]"I am sorry M'am, we don't have this dress in you size"([To herself]Get life girl !!! what do you think of yourself, Aishwarya Rai ???)
Conclusion: I am getting too much obsessed with cloths so I must get in shape :D :D :D
My friend (Guy): "You know Ashley, wavelength matching and all are bookish and imaginary things. These days guys go for looks first and then see anything else. You have everything but shape. You should do something if you really want to get married to a "good" guy"
My Friend(Gal): "Yaar Ashley, If you reduce a little bit, you will look very good"
Mom:"Dear, if you don't start taking care of yourself right now, you will have problems at later stage of life. I don't want you to get affected by diseases like hypertension or diabetes"
Salesgirl:[Loudly]"I am sorry M'am, we don't have this dress in you size"([To herself]Get life girl !!! what do you think of yourself, Aishwarya Rai ???)
Conclusion: I am getting too much obsessed with cloths so I must get in shape :D :D :D
Friday, June 30, 2006
My career options
All these days I have been cribbing about my job and all the stuff. I am fed up with working on stupid stuff and most importantly working with so-called super performers who think they know everything in the world and take great pleasure in showing off how-great-I-am even when they don't have mere talking manners.
Anyways ...
So finally I have decided to stop cribbing and start looking for other options.
... And Bingo !!! I found various options right in my drawing room.
I see a loot of options for me in the daily Hindi soaps (Yeah I HAVE to watch them with my roomies :((( )
* Actor
- I think this is the best options. I don't need to act well or even look good. I should just be able speak up my dialogues in some tone. It’s ok if my face looks same in happy and sad times. I will get to wear most costly costumes no matter what my age, monetary status or social status is. If I am the main character, everyone will think I look good. I will always win contracts (nature of business doesn't matter), competitions, and people’s heart etc. No matter if I get married 3-4 times, kill people or do frauds and I will still be considered sati-savitri. If I wish to take a break from the series or check how popular my character is or I am fed up with my character, I can safely let the character die. I can come back as myself or some other “humshakal” of myself (depending on my interest :D ). I can safely romance a 70 yr old(he won’t look any older than his son) and have children of my age with out any pains.
* Story/Script writer
- I don't need to torture my brain cells much in this profession. All I would have to do is mix and match certain set of events like never letting the hero and heroine marry each other in first attempt; always create confusions and misunderstanding between main characters(doesn't matter if the situations look stupid and obvious), they should marry at least 4-5 times, to different people; all my characters should do some business, win/loose contracts, should get salary on first day of their job, there should be atleast 2-3 deaths and comebacks, couple of humshakals, 20 years jumps, grand shaadis, few festivals here and there (no matter what festival they are celebrating … everything looks the same). Oh yeah how can I forget khandaan ki izzat, paramparan, saans-bahu, maan-samnmaan etc etc.
I can create as many relations as I want. Every house should have at least 15-20 people. I should always disclose suspense on Fridays (or whichever is last episode of the week). To help viewers who have missed few of the episodes, my characters should have attacks of recalling previous events. Oh yeah my characters should always promote other soaps of my producer and his (her) movies.
* Music composer
- I can get away with only few pieces of music for whole 5-6 year series for more than one soap… like dhan-tan-dhan ot dhish..dhish..dhish for some sensational scene, some sad music, couple scores for vamp characters, chanting of any Sanskrit shloka (I can use same recording for any occasion from birth to death). If needed I can use songs from my producers movies, directly or adding some custom lyrics to them to add some personal touch
* Cameraman/ editor
- I need to aware of few things. Flashing camera at least 3 times in some serious scene (should match with the music speed though), running around a character in slow and fast speed, always take close up shots of face. If I want to be more creative I can swing the camera once in while in 2-3 directions to get more dramatic effect. I should always keep handy my previous episode recording to insert the recall scenes (which are very often)
* Make up Artist/ Dress designer
- “Put as much make up material on every face as I can”. This is the basic thing I need to learn. Bright is always better. Costume color and Jewelry color need not match. Guys can wear whatever they want( Any shirt-pant normally, kurta-pajama for functions and festivals). All the ladies should be given expensive designer saris. Vamps must wear designer bindis (designer = any art you can make on their forehead) and have ugly hairdo. We can make a person look old by adding a stroke or two of white color to his/her hair.
* Set designer
- All the houses look same in All the soaps. They have to have lot of frames on the wall (even in a zopri). Again monetary status of the owner does not matter. Just need to add some floweres and duppattas here and there for any festival.
* Director
- I don’t have to do anything :D
* Last but not the least Glycerin supplier
- None cries more than the soap actors so they must be needing constant supply of glycerin :D.
Bottomline:- I need another TV for myself or TV tuner card for laptop (yeah I have bought a 17" screen mammoth baby) or at least internet connection so that I can watch some “human” programs :D. (cause I think all the folks in Hindi Soaps are "Super humans" )
Anyways ...
So finally I have decided to stop cribbing and start looking for other options.
... And Bingo !!! I found various options right in my drawing room.
I see a loot of options for me in the daily Hindi soaps (Yeah I HAVE to watch them with my roomies :((( )
* Actor
- I think this is the best options. I don't need to act well or even look good. I should just be able speak up my dialogues in some tone. It’s ok if my face looks same in happy and sad times. I will get to wear most costly costumes no matter what my age, monetary status or social status is. If I am the main character, everyone will think I look good. I will always win contracts (nature of business doesn't matter), competitions, and people’s heart etc. No matter if I get married 3-4 times, kill people or do frauds and I will still be considered sati-savitri. If I wish to take a break from the series or check how popular my character is or I am fed up with my character, I can safely let the character die. I can come back as myself or some other “humshakal” of myself (depending on my interest :D ). I can safely romance a 70 yr old(he won’t look any older than his son) and have children of my age with out any pains.
* Story/Script writer
- I don't need to torture my brain cells much in this profession. All I would have to do is mix and match certain set of events like never letting the hero and heroine marry each other in first attempt; always create confusions and misunderstanding between main characters(doesn't matter if the situations look stupid and obvious), they should marry at least 4-5 times, to different people; all my characters should do some business, win/loose contracts, should get salary on first day of their job, there should be atleast 2-3 deaths and comebacks, couple of humshakals, 20 years jumps, grand shaadis, few festivals here and there (no matter what festival they are celebrating … everything looks the same). Oh yeah how can I forget khandaan ki izzat, paramparan, saans-bahu, maan-samnmaan etc etc.
I can create as many relations as I want. Every house should have at least 15-20 people. I should always disclose suspense on Fridays (or whichever is last episode of the week). To help viewers who have missed few of the episodes, my characters should have attacks of recalling previous events. Oh yeah my characters should always promote other soaps of my producer and his (her) movies.
* Music composer
- I can get away with only few pieces of music for whole 5-6 year series for more than one soap… like dhan-tan-dhan ot dhish..dhish..dhish for some sensational scene, some sad music, couple scores for vamp characters, chanting of any Sanskrit shloka (I can use same recording for any occasion from birth to death). If needed I can use songs from my producers movies, directly or adding some custom lyrics to them to add some personal touch
* Cameraman/ editor
- I need to aware of few things. Flashing camera at least 3 times in some serious scene (should match with the music speed though), running around a character in slow and fast speed, always take close up shots of face. If I want to be more creative I can swing the camera once in while in 2-3 directions to get more dramatic effect. I should always keep handy my previous episode recording to insert the recall scenes (which are very often)
* Make up Artist/ Dress designer
- “Put as much make up material on every face as I can”. This is the basic thing I need to learn. Bright is always better. Costume color and Jewelry color need not match. Guys can wear whatever they want( Any shirt-pant normally, kurta-pajama for functions and festivals). All the ladies should be given expensive designer saris. Vamps must wear designer bindis (designer = any art you can make on their forehead) and have ugly hairdo. We can make a person look old by adding a stroke or two of white color to his/her hair.
* Set designer
- All the houses look same in All the soaps. They have to have lot of frames on the wall (even in a zopri). Again monetary status of the owner does not matter. Just need to add some floweres and duppattas here and there for any festival.
* Director
- I don’t have to do anything :D
* Last but not the least Glycerin supplier
- None cries more than the soap actors so they must be needing constant supply of glycerin :D.
Bottomline:- I need another TV for myself or TV tuner card for laptop (yeah I have bought a 17" screen mammoth baby) or at least internet connection so that I can watch some “human” programs :D. (cause I think all the folks in Hindi Soaps are "Super humans" )
Monday, June 26, 2006
It’s been long since I have written anything. Thanks to my laziness off course and yeah I had the US trip as excuse :-). Well well well... now I am back and jumping again ;-).
Life is getting hectic...traveling in BMTC buses in rush hours is worse that traveling by Mumbai locals (on central line in peak hours). Though it is definitely better than traveling on Hosur road in comfortable company bus (yeah my office is shifted to a city location now :) )
I am half dead till I reach home... Don't feel like cooking or even eating something. I need to change my eating habits and start working out otherwise it won't take long before I fall sick. And most important... I NEED a two wheeler.
I want to write about so many things but these days I just don't have the energy to do anything. I need rest... I desperately need it. I had hoped this 2 months break will help me sorting out the complications I have created for myself but it seems they are just as it is. I donno why do I have affinity towards stupid things. As they say "To err is human and to repeat it is stupid". It applies to me perfectly :-). I want to be like Miranda Hobbs in "Sex and the City", strong and confident. I have been watching that series regularly and I think none can captures mentality of single and independent women better than that.
After coming back, I had been to home for a week. I was sleeping all the time as usual. Only good thing I did was going to school. I have been planning it since long but finally did it this time. My school has special place in my heart. Once upon a time it was supposed to be the best school in area and not just for education but for the extra-curricular activities. It was due to different activities taken up there that I could develop my debating skills, interests in general knowledge and sketching. To be honest, it is really difficult to pursue these things in the area where I come from because people think sole aim of sending their children to school is to enable them to score good marks and send them to engineering and medical colleges. It’s the best example of sorry state of today’s education system. There is no concept of acquiring knowledge or overall development of a child. And even many teachers encourage such behavior because all they want good statistics for their school or classes.
I wish to change that situation. I know it is not going to happen overnight but at least it has to start somewhere. Students as well as parents need to be educated about various career options available. And that these are as good as engineering and medical professions. I want to tell them that there are many books in the world other just the text books which give us more knowledge. These are one of the brightest students of their generation and I am sure they will excel in not only studies but different parts of life if given chance and proper guidance.
I awe a lot to my school and I want to try to return at least small part of it.
Life is getting hectic...traveling in BMTC buses in rush hours is worse that traveling by Mumbai locals (on central line in peak hours). Though it is definitely better than traveling on Hosur road in comfortable company bus (yeah my office is shifted to a city location now :) )
I am half dead till I reach home... Don't feel like cooking or even eating something. I need to change my eating habits and start working out otherwise it won't take long before I fall sick. And most important... I NEED a two wheeler.
I want to write about so many things but these days I just don't have the energy to do anything. I need rest... I desperately need it. I had hoped this 2 months break will help me sorting out the complications I have created for myself but it seems they are just as it is. I donno why do I have affinity towards stupid things. As they say "To err is human and to repeat it is stupid". It applies to me perfectly :-). I want to be like Miranda Hobbs in "Sex and the City", strong and confident. I have been watching that series regularly and I think none can captures mentality of single and independent women better than that.
After coming back, I had been to home for a week. I was sleeping all the time as usual. Only good thing I did was going to school. I have been planning it since long but finally did it this time. My school has special place in my heart. Once upon a time it was supposed to be the best school in area and not just for education but for the extra-curricular activities. It was due to different activities taken up there that I could develop my debating skills, interests in general knowledge and sketching. To be honest, it is really difficult to pursue these things in the area where I come from because people think sole aim of sending their children to school is to enable them to score good marks and send them to engineering and medical colleges. It’s the best example of sorry state of today’s education system. There is no concept of acquiring knowledge or overall development of a child. And even many teachers encourage such behavior because all they want good statistics for their school or classes.
I wish to change that situation. I know it is not going to happen overnight but at least it has to start somewhere. Students as well as parents need to be educated about various career options available. And that these are as good as engineering and medical professions. I want to tell them that there are many books in the world other just the text books which give us more knowledge. These are one of the brightest students of their generation and I am sure they will excel in not only studies but different parts of life if given chance and proper guidance.
I awe a lot to my school and I want to try to return at least small part of it.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Back to college
I just came across this amazing video made by my college juniors.
Its made very beautifully and catches the campus life very perfectly.
great work guys !!!
*Sigh*.... I miss those days ....
Its made very beautifully and catches the campus life very perfectly.
great work guys !!!
*Sigh*.... I miss those days ....
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
A milestone (!!!!???)
Today I turn 25 !!!
Whoa!!! that's too much of age ... isn't it?
When I was kid, I had decided to be a billioneer before I become 30 .. I swear. When I would see Steffi Graff or Martina Hingis and what they had achieved at so young age. I also wanted to be be like one of them. I wanted to do something different...something worthwhile...some path breaking innovation to my credit... I never wanted to be just another person in the croud.
Hmmm...
These dreams may seem childish now...
Well lets talk of reality...
Here I am... just another s/w engineer breaking my head over unnecessary things... Haven't manged to do a single thing which will make me feel proud about myself (not even a bf ... :D :D)
I don't feel like working in office any more. My thoughts are wondering all over... anything other that the "required" topics.
I feel like I have lost the fire ... to do anything ... or its just a negative thoughts creeping in from somewhere.......
I gotta do something about this...I can't let go of my dreams so easily.
Cheer up baby .... :-) :-) !!!
Happy Birthday to Myself !!!
I am missing my country and my people very much.
Whoa!!! that's too much of age ... isn't it?
When I was kid, I had decided to be a billioneer before I become 30 .. I swear. When I would see Steffi Graff or Martina Hingis and what they had achieved at so young age. I also wanted to be be like one of them. I wanted to do something different...something worthwhile...some path breaking innovation to my credit... I never wanted to be just another person in the croud.
Hmmm...
These dreams may seem childish now...
Well lets talk of reality...
Here I am... just another s/w engineer breaking my head over unnecessary things... Haven't manged to do a single thing which will make me feel proud about myself (not even a bf ... :D :D)
I don't feel like working in office any more. My thoughts are wondering all over... anything other that the "required" topics.
I feel like I have lost the fire ... to do anything ... or its just a negative thoughts creeping in from somewhere.......
I gotta do something about this...I can't let go of my dreams so easily.
Cheer up baby .... :-) :-) !!!
Happy Birthday to Myself !!!
I am missing my country and my people very much.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Meeting the bigots
The day we came in Jeff (My Project leader) took us around have a look at the office and meet people out here. Boy !!! it was amazing to see their offices.
Can you imagine most of them have been working on the OS even before I was born...10 yrs..15 yrs...30 yrs !!! I thought that was really amazing. In India we have to think twice or sometimes 100 times before asking for a new desktop and they have VAXs and Alphas and Itaniums at their disposal just like that(These are the only platforms my OS runs on. And their price is range of million dollars for real...not a joke). Its like they have a mini lab in their office...Yess everyone has his/her own office with 10x8 ft dimension and walls high enough to separate yourself from rest of the world. And they have a whole world inside...Photos, logos, posters, stickers and what not. Each one is unique in its own way and its real treat to see.
(Though we met so many people that I forgot names of most of them :D)
These are the people who have actually developed significant parts of this historical OS and have been around since earlier versions of the OS if not exactly version 1. They are the "VMS bigots". You can see posters, magnets and other stuff put on display,dating back to the late 70s and early '80s. You feel like walking into the history. And its amazing to hear the stories from them.
We had team dinner yesterday evening... sort of knowing the team less formally. They were telling stories of their old "Digital" days. The days when the joined the company, it used to have its own planes... the "Digital planes" and that's not all. They had helicopters to ferry people from one office to another !!! That's very true... I have seen the helipad in this facility. As they tell us, digital had 20 odd offices in this eastern part of US what is called New England and people used ferry in helicopters for meetings and stuff. Most of the people at the table had flown more than once. By the way the company Digital I am talking here is the same company we know as DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) from our computer science books, one of the early software companies which has many break through engineering innovations to its credit. I was overwhelmed by their stories. You can see their eyes actually twinkling when they are describing you those glorious years.
Though, all this has a darker lining. The original company went down because they has poor marketing and over pricing of the products. Now my company wants to move all their jobs to India or other cheaper country so many of them are loosing their jobs. They are really apprehensive about having the "new engineers" in their team. I can understand their feelings. Its really hard to accept these facts.
I will always cherish these moments. And now I get to be small part of this history too.
Life is great !!!
Can you imagine most of them have been working on the OS even before I was born...10 yrs..15 yrs...30 yrs !!! I thought that was really amazing. In India we have to think twice or sometimes 100 times before asking for a new desktop and they have VAXs and Alphas and Itaniums at their disposal just like that(These are the only platforms my OS runs on. And their price is range of million dollars for real...not a joke). Its like they have a mini lab in their office...Yess everyone has his/her own office with 10x8 ft dimension and walls high enough to separate yourself from rest of the world. And they have a whole world inside...Photos, logos, posters, stickers and what not. Each one is unique in its own way and its real treat to see.
(Though we met so many people that I forgot names of most of them :D)
These are the people who have actually developed significant parts of this historical OS and have been around since earlier versions of the OS if not exactly version 1. They are the "VMS bigots". You can see posters, magnets and other stuff put on display,dating back to the late 70s and early '80s. You feel like walking into the history. And its amazing to hear the stories from them.
We had team dinner yesterday evening... sort of knowing the team less formally. They were telling stories of their old "Digital" days. The days when the joined the company, it used to have its own planes... the "Digital planes" and that's not all. They had helicopters to ferry people from one office to another !!! That's very true... I have seen the helipad in this facility. As they tell us, digital had 20 odd offices in this eastern part of US what is called New England and people used ferry in helicopters for meetings and stuff. Most of the people at the table had flown more than once. By the way the company Digital I am talking here is the same company we know as DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) from our computer science books, one of the early software companies which has many break through engineering innovations to its credit. I was overwhelmed by their stories. You can see their eyes actually twinkling when they are describing you those glorious years.
Though, all this has a darker lining. The original company went down because they has poor marketing and over pricing of the products. Now my company wants to move all their jobs to India or other cheaper country so many of them are loosing their jobs. They are really apprehensive about having the "new engineers" in their team. I can understand their feelings. Its really hard to accept these facts.
I will always cherish these moments. And now I get to be small part of this history too.
Life is great !!!
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
I am in US of A !!!
Yeah thats true .... !!!
Finally I am in US, in once piece... Up and Jumping... :-).
Last few days were real tiring. I had to run around for my IDP (yeah I am gonna drive here) then there was huge shut-down in Bangalore because some film actor died (sometimes people can be real stupid na !!!), last minute shopping and packing (I actually bought my bag at 9pm and checked in at the airport at 11pm... Cool na :D)
It was loong long flite from Bangalore to Paris and then to Boston...close to 24 hrs :-(. My legs were completely cramped. Nothing much interesting on the flite except that they had personal screens so I could watch 3 movies (:D) and play games.
Our PL had come to the airport to pick us up. He is a real nice person. He gave us a small tour of the city on our way to Lowell (Thats where I will be staying for next few days). We actually drove past MIT and Harward campus !!! It was cool... not much exciting though... They seem like normal residential area. I heard they don't have restrictions about who can come into the campus so I am sure gonna go down there sometime and have a look around there :-).
I have got a huge 2 bedroom apartment all for myself (as of now). My room has a king sized bed, biiig closet and window overlooking gardens, kitchen with microwave, gas oven and dishwasher, huuuge fridge.... mmmm I just love it.
Weather is just perfect. The spring is about to start so days are bright and sunny. It gets bit colder in the evening though. Most of the trees are dry without any leaves. Some of them have just white flowres all over them. Its a treat for eyes to see those white covered trees. Streets are much more crowdeed than I expected... :-)
Sunday we went to Boston for site seeing. We followed what is called the Boston freedom trail. Will write about it in detail later. I am planning to have sort of travelogue next few days . I will try to write in detail about my experince here. Lets see how it goes :-)
Right now I am learning to drive here.
Wish good luck to all the people driving on highway 93 for next couple of weeks !!!
Finally I am in US, in once piece... Up and Jumping... :-).
Last few days were real tiring. I had to run around for my IDP (yeah I am gonna drive here) then there was huge shut-down in Bangalore because some film actor died (sometimes people can be real stupid na !!!), last minute shopping and packing (I actually bought my bag at 9pm and checked in at the airport at 11pm... Cool na :D)
It was loong long flite from Bangalore to Paris and then to Boston...close to 24 hrs :-(. My legs were completely cramped. Nothing much interesting on the flite except that they had personal screens so I could watch 3 movies (:D) and play games.
Our PL had come to the airport to pick us up. He is a real nice person. He gave us a small tour of the city on our way to Lowell (Thats where I will be staying for next few days). We actually drove past MIT and Harward campus !!! It was cool... not much exciting though... They seem like normal residential area. I heard they don't have restrictions about who can come into the campus so I am sure gonna go down there sometime and have a look around there :-).
I have got a huge 2 bedroom apartment all for myself (as of now). My room has a king sized bed, biiig closet and window overlooking gardens, kitchen with microwave, gas oven and dishwasher, huuuge fridge.... mmmm I just love it.
Weather is just perfect. The spring is about to start so days are bright and sunny. It gets bit colder in the evening though. Most of the trees are dry without any leaves. Some of them have just white flowres all over them. Its a treat for eyes to see those white covered trees. Streets are much more crowdeed than I expected... :-)
Sunday we went to Boston for site seeing. We followed what is called the Boston freedom trail. Will write about it in detail later. I am planning to have sort of travelogue next few days . I will try to write in detail about my experince here. Lets see how it goes :-)
Right now I am learning to drive here.
Wish good luck to all the people driving on highway 93 for next couple of weeks !!!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
My favorite Day
What is the your favorite day in the week?
Well it may sound weird but I have my favorite day in week.
I like Wednesdays. Well there is no particular reason but I like the day just like that :-).
When I was in school Wednesday was the day when we could were our regular dresses to school. (Yeah... In my area not all students could afford to have two sets of school uniform. So we used to have Wednesday and Thursday off for uniform. ). So I always used to look forward to Wednesdays to wear new cloths :D
The trend continues till now. I still wear new clothes particularly on Wednesdays.
Then they used to have "Chitrahaar" on TV. Our only source of entertainment in school days.
It continued in college too. Initially, our only source of entertainment was the "Chitrahaar" on Wednesdays (and yeah "Chaayaageet" on Sundays). So we would make sure that we are in mess right around 7:30, grab our plates and find a seat near to the TV. Some gals would even grab place on floor near the TV. We wouldn;t even hesitate to climb on the mess table to get perfect view of the tiny TV set. We would sing along with all the songs. It used to be helluva fun !!! :-) And yeah .... we would even get relieved from ragging in first year as all our seniors used to be busy watching it :D.
Hmmm... So the point is
I love Wednesdays !!!
Well it may sound weird but I have my favorite day in week.
I like Wednesdays. Well there is no particular reason but I like the day just like that :-).
When I was in school Wednesday was the day when we could were our regular dresses to school. (Yeah... In my area not all students could afford to have two sets of school uniform. So we used to have Wednesday and Thursday off for uniform. ). So I always used to look forward to Wednesdays to wear new cloths :D
The trend continues till now. I still wear new clothes particularly on Wednesdays.
Then they used to have "Chitrahaar" on TV. Our only source of entertainment in school days.
It continued in college too. Initially, our only source of entertainment was the "Chitrahaar" on Wednesdays (and yeah "Chaayaageet" on Sundays). So we would make sure that we are in mess right around 7:30, grab our plates and find a seat near to the TV. Some gals would even grab place on floor near the TV. We wouldn;t even hesitate to climb on the mess table to get perfect view of the tiny TV set. We would sing along with all the songs. It used to be helluva fun !!! :-) And yeah .... we would even get relieved from ragging in first year as all our seniors used to be busy watching it :D.
Hmmm... So the point is
I love Wednesdays !!!
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
9 2 11
They are two complete strangers.
One taxi-driver and another spoiled brat… completely from different backgrounds
One is crazy with 23 jobs in 15 years, loves his wife and lies to her all the time. Hates each and everything in world… blaming people around him for the problems he has.
Other is son of filthy rich father who is all of a sudden has been dispelled him from his father's property and now he is ready to do anything to get that back.
They meet each other and what follows is the most bizarre day in their life…
They fight, curse and even try to kill each other
At the end of the day, they find each other. They are no different… And yeah… its their birthday (Yes … they share same birth date)
They are like soulmates.
Crazy isn’t it ?
But I think it is very true. You never know whom you would end up with. Sometimes you are living with yourself for years and still you don’t know who you are.
So what is this "soulmate" thingie all about?
Someone you would marry and spend all your life with (and crib all your life about it) or someone whom you would meet for fraction of a time and your whole world will change upside down. Your soulmate doesn’t have to be your opposite gender.
Who knows?
I guess not everybody is lucky enough to meet their soulmate or identify them if they really come across each other.
I am searching for mine. Its real tough task.
Where are you my soulmate ?
One taxi-driver and another spoiled brat… completely from different backgrounds
One is crazy with 23 jobs in 15 years, loves his wife and lies to her all the time. Hates each and everything in world… blaming people around him for the problems he has.
Other is son of filthy rich father who is all of a sudden has been dispelled him from his father's property and now he is ready to do anything to get that back.
They meet each other and what follows is the most bizarre day in their life…
They fight, curse and even try to kill each other
At the end of the day, they find each other. They are no different… And yeah… its their birthday (Yes … they share same birth date)
They are like soulmates.
Crazy isn’t it ?
But I think it is very true. You never know whom you would end up with. Sometimes you are living with yourself for years and still you don’t know who you are.
So what is this "soulmate" thingie all about?
Someone you would marry and spend all your life with (and crib all your life about it) or someone whom you would meet for fraction of a time and your whole world will change upside down. Your soulmate doesn’t have to be your opposite gender.
Who knows?
I guess not everybody is lucky enough to meet their soulmate or identify them if they really come across each other.
I am searching for mine. Its real tough task.
Where are you my soulmate ?
Friday, March 10, 2006
:)
"Hello"
"Hi. can I talk to xxxx"
"Yes speaking. may I know who is this?"
"I guess you know who am I?"
"... Yes I know. But still I want to hear from you"
"Hi. Hows you?" (Oh no ... I am in tears)
"I am great. Hows you? Kitane dino tak wait karwaya tune"
(I start crying..as usual !!! This guy always makes me cry :D )
"Ab tak roti hai. Kab sudhregi tu..."
And all the fights, bad feelings were washed with them. Its been real long since we talked. More than a year ! There was a time when he was the only person I would run to in my happiness and saddness. My all time victim for crying sessions :D.
Hmm.. My Best friend.
So good.
I was just thinking ain't I blessed with crazy bunch of people around me. One ambitious techie, one hyper active guy,one pschyco gal, one akaru designer, one dreamy mallu ... ohh yeah !!!
Why do I need to cribb about problems in life when I have these people to support me in good and bad times? They are always there to bear my gibberish talks, sudden mood variations... so many things
Well .. I am really short of words here ... :)
Saying thanks will be just stupid of me ...
"Hi. can I talk to xxxx"
"Yes speaking. may I know who is this?"
"I guess you know who am I?"
"... Yes I know. But still I want to hear from you"
"Hi. Hows you?" (Oh no ... I am in tears)
"I am great. Hows you? Kitane dino tak wait karwaya tune"
(I start crying..as usual !!! This guy always makes me cry :D )
"Ab tak roti hai. Kab sudhregi tu..."
And all the fights, bad feelings were washed with them. Its been real long since we talked. More than a year ! There was a time when he was the only person I would run to in my happiness and saddness. My all time victim for crying sessions :D.
Hmm.. My Best friend.
So good.
I was just thinking ain't I blessed with crazy bunch of people around me. One ambitious techie, one hyper active guy,one pschyco gal, one akaru designer, one dreamy mallu ... ohh yeah !!!
Why do I need to cribb about problems in life when I have these people to support me in good and bad times? They are always there to bear my gibberish talks, sudden mood variations... so many things
Well .. I am really short of words here ... :)
Saying thanks will be just stupid of me ...
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Loss of concentration
So I am having this training ...
Supposed to be verry verrry important for my project. The GOD is training us.
But as usual I am off ... Either feeling sleepy or letting my thought wonder all over the world.
Well I have tried and tried real hard to increase my concentration. But most of the times I just go blank.
I hate meetings. I hate sitting at one place for more than half an hour.
My main job in our team meeting is too draw pictures. Thats the habit from childhood. My notebooks are filled more with sketches than what actually used to write in them. Back pages of the notebook full with dictation (or just few interesting words) from speaker's speech. I actually have list of words that my manger uses, noted in my notebook longer than minutes of the meeting. When all other people are listening to him religiously, I am sleeping. I try hard not to sleep or get distracted by other thoughts.
If I have to put in 'Anne of Green Gables' words, I like to imagine myself wondering in woods or walking on garden lawn barefoot or watching out of the window glasses or something interesting like that... or just throwing the speaker out of the conference room...(:D)
I don't lose my concentration when I am reading a book or listening to great piece of music, watching a beautiful picture, an animation movie or I am thinking about something really good... or anything interesting like that. Its only when I am working here. And I can't force myself to do things I don't like. I just can't.
I forget half of the things. They say I am absent minded. Sometimes I feel very ashamed of not being serious about my career, my work...blah blah. I feel lost when all the people around me talk about this code and that company and blah policy and blah strategy. But then I am not that bad at my work...not at all. I do finish my work...always in record time... I don't work extra because I don't find it interesting. It is very monotonous and boring. Well nobody has forced me into this profession. In fact I had to fight with my so-called well-wishers to let me choose engineering over medicine. At one point of time I dreamed of becoming the best software professional. But now I don't feel so !!
Is it just me or everybody has this problem ?
PS: I am writing this sitting in the training room :D
Supposed to be verry verrry important for my project. The GOD is training us.
But as usual I am off ... Either feeling sleepy or letting my thought wonder all over the world.
Well I have tried and tried real hard to increase my concentration. But most of the times I just go blank.
I hate meetings. I hate sitting at one place for more than half an hour.
My main job in our team meeting is too draw pictures. Thats the habit from childhood. My notebooks are filled more with sketches than what actually used to write in them. Back pages of the notebook full with dictation (or just few interesting words) from speaker's speech. I actually have list of words that my manger uses, noted in my notebook longer than minutes of the meeting. When all other people are listening to him religiously, I am sleeping. I try hard not to sleep or get distracted by other thoughts.
If I have to put in 'Anne of Green Gables' words, I like to imagine myself wondering in woods or walking on garden lawn barefoot or watching out of the window glasses or something interesting like that... or just throwing the speaker out of the conference room...(:D)
I don't lose my concentration when I am reading a book or listening to great piece of music, watching a beautiful picture, an animation movie or I am thinking about something really good... or anything interesting like that. Its only when I am working here. And I can't force myself to do things I don't like. I just can't.
I forget half of the things. They say I am absent minded. Sometimes I feel very ashamed of not being serious about my career, my work...blah blah. I feel lost when all the people around me talk about this code and that company and blah policy and blah strategy. But then I am not that bad at my work...not at all. I do finish my work...always in record time... I don't work extra because I don't find it interesting. It is very monotonous and boring. Well nobody has forced me into this profession. In fact I had to fight with my so-called well-wishers to let me choose engineering over medicine. At one point of time I dreamed of becoming the best software professional. But now I don't feel so !!
Is it just me or everybody has this problem ?
PS: I am writing this sitting in the training room :D
Monday, February 27, 2006
Thats me ... :)
This is just like me ..
(Copied song ... off course .. :D)
I hate the world today
You're so good to me
I know but I can't change
Tried to tell you
But you look at me like maybe
I'm an angel underneath
Innocent and sweet
Yesterday I cried
Must have been relieved to see
The softer side
I can understand how you'd be so confused
I don't envy you
I'm a little bit of everything
All rolled into one
I'm a bitch, I'm a lover
I'm a child, I'm a mother
I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your hell, I'm your dream
I'm nothing in between
You know you wouldn't want it any other way
So take me as I am
This may mean
You'll have to be a stronger man
Rest assured that
When I start to make you nervous
And I'm going to extremes
Tomorrow I will change
And today won't mean a thing
Just when you think, you got me figured out
The season's already changing
I think it's cool, you do what you do
And don't try to save me
I'm a bitch, I'm a tease
I'm a goddess on my knees
When you hurt, when you suffer
I'm your angel undercover
I've been numb, I'm revived
Can't say I'm not alive
You know I wouldn't want it any other way
(Copied song ... off course .. :D)
I hate the world today
You're so good to me
I know but I can't change
Tried to tell you
But you look at me like maybe
I'm an angel underneath
Innocent and sweet
Yesterday I cried
Must have been relieved to see
The softer side
I can understand how you'd be so confused
I don't envy you
I'm a little bit of everything
All rolled into one
I'm a bitch, I'm a lover
I'm a child, I'm a mother
I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your hell, I'm your dream
I'm nothing in between
You know you wouldn't want it any other way
So take me as I am
This may mean
You'll have to be a stronger man
Rest assured that
When I start to make you nervous
And I'm going to extremes
Tomorrow I will change
And today won't mean a thing
Just when you think, you got me figured out
The season's already changing
I think it's cool, you do what you do
And don't try to save me
I'm a bitch, I'm a tease
I'm a goddess on my knees
When you hurt, when you suffer
I'm your angel undercover
I've been numb, I'm revived
Can't say I'm not alive
You know I wouldn't want it any other way
Thursday, February 23, 2006
I am a dreamer...
I sit by my window and look at the wide blue sky... I dream of flying
I dream of spreading my wings and rise above this world.
I dream of being on the top of the world.
I dream of changing all the tears to smiles ...
I dream of changing all the hatred to love ...
I dream of removing all the worries from the world...
... I dream of being with you
They say I am crazy... I don't care for people around me. I don't follow the "Rules" ...
I run behind things which I am not supposed to... I do things which will give me nothing but pain.
I am difficult ...
I fall down.. I get hurt... I cry...I get frustrated... I get cheated
... and I fight back
I haven't stopped living. Nothing has been able to fade my smile... Nothing has been able to take away my trust from life.
I love the way I am...
I am a fighter
I am a believer
I am dreamer
.... I dream of a perfect world.
I dream of spreading my wings and rise above this world.
I dream of being on the top of the world.
I dream of changing all the tears to smiles ...
I dream of changing all the hatred to love ...
I dream of removing all the worries from the world...
... I dream of being with you
They say I am crazy... I don't care for people around me. I don't follow the "Rules" ...
I run behind things which I am not supposed to... I do things which will give me nothing but pain.
I am difficult ...
I fall down.. I get hurt... I cry...I get frustrated... I get cheated
... and I fight back
I haven't stopped living. Nothing has been able to fade my smile... Nothing has been able to take away my trust from life.
I love the way I am...
I am a fighter
I am a believer
I am dreamer
.... I dream of a perfect world.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Lifes like that ...
There are many moments in life which come to you unexpectedly...
You are not ready to handle them or you are just to stupid to undesrtand their importance and let them pass... And when they are gone you are left with nothing but brooding about them... wondering if you could have prevented what happened. I don't know if its right or not. Somewhere I read ...
"The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have."
Life rarely gives a second chance. You have to accept what has happened and move on.
Lifes like that ....
Current mood: Not so happy
You are not ready to handle them or you are just to stupid to undesrtand their importance and let them pass... And when they are gone you are left with nothing but brooding about them... wondering if you could have prevented what happened. I don't know if its right or not. Somewhere I read ...
"The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have."
Life rarely gives a second chance. You have to accept what has happened and move on.
Lifes like that ....
Current mood: Not so happy
The Happy Gene
I have always got complements for my smiling... or laughing face. They say I have the "Happy Gene"...
Ohh really ?
I guess so ... :>
I thouhgt why not make a list of things which make that keep "happy Gene" in me always going ... somebody might be graced with the knowledge you see ... :-D.
Basic funda of being happy ....
Don't worry be happy !!!
You don't need to go around telling everybody how much sad you are... nobody cares.
"Dard bhoolane se kum hota hai aur Khushi batane se badhati hai".
When you decide to enjoy each and every moment that comes you way ... everything just falls at right places ... :-). If you start expecting from life and you don't get... it starts all the problems. It doesn't mean that you should go with the flow... but always keep your head up and Enjoy madi !!!
Whatever happens happens for good ...
Positive attitude is very much important. Very much depends on how you see your glass of life "half full or half empty"
Believe in yourself ...Let the world go to Hell !!!
Make loot of good friends....
The world is full of nice people ... you have to go out and find them out. They will make you forget all your problems.
Last but not the least
Laugh out loud ...
Laugh with all your heart out... It scares away all the saddening elements around you
Hussshhhhh
....Sooo much philospphy isn't it?
I think I can become a preecher one day :)) :)) :))
What do ya say ?
"Log kahate hai hume adat hai hasane ki
Log kahate hai hume adaat hai hasane ki
Wo kya jaane ...
yehi to adaa hai gum chupaane ki"
(Wah ... Wah !!!)
Ohh really ?
I guess so ... :>
I thouhgt why not make a list of things which make that keep "happy Gene" in me always going ... somebody might be graced with the knowledge you see ... :-D.
Basic funda of being happy ....
Don't worry be happy !!!
You don't need to go around telling everybody how much sad you are... nobody cares.
"Dard bhoolane se kum hota hai aur Khushi batane se badhati hai".
When you decide to enjoy each and every moment that comes you way ... everything just falls at right places ... :-). If you start expecting from life and you don't get... it starts all the problems. It doesn't mean that you should go with the flow... but always keep your head up and Enjoy madi !!!
Whatever happens happens for good ...
Positive attitude is very much important. Very much depends on how you see your glass of life "half full or half empty"
Believe in yourself ...Let the world go to Hell !!!
Make loot of good friends....
The world is full of nice people ... you have to go out and find them out. They will make you forget all your problems.
Last but not the least
Laugh out loud ...
Laugh with all your heart out... It scares away all the saddening elements around you
Hussshhhhh
....Sooo much philospphy isn't it?
I think I can become a preecher one day :)) :)) :))
What do ya say ?
"Log kahate hai hume adat hai hasane ki
Log kahate hai hume adaat hai hasane ki
Wo kya jaane ...
yehi to adaa hai gum chupaane ki"
(Wah ... Wah !!!)
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Break the rules ...
I recently finished reading "The Zahir" by Paulo Coelho (author of the Alchemist). Amazing book I must say. I loved the part where he talks about Love .... his concepts of love and life.
I liked this concept very much. I am just putting it down in my own words.
Why are railway tracks apart x meters .... ??
Simple question isn't it ? But it has long history that leads back to roman times. The distance between railway tracks is equal to the distance between wheels of horse carriage. That distance is due to size roman roads which was defined by length when two horses put together. Nobody questioned this length and blindly followed it till date.
Ok.. so what ?
Isn't our life like that ? We always try to follow some or the other rules all our life without knowing their actual meaning. We are given some script given by our parent, teachers, friends and society ... we follow it religiously. You should go to school when you are young , go to university after that, get married when you are of this age, do this and do that ... all sorts of stuff. but we never think what we actually want to do. Always try to run in a straight line. May be on parallel tracks with what we actually want. And most of us never realize this all their life. We put measures for each and everything... "One is successful only if he/she earns blah amount of money, earns these many degrees" and all sorts of things. Why do we need to measure our success against things that don't matter to us at all?
Life is not just about sacrificing for our loved ones. Who would like their beloved people to get pains for them?
Will you?
NO
Then why do you think you can make others happy by giving pains to yourself.
.... Very true isn't it ?
Forgetting your past.
Best way to forget your past is to keep it repeating again and again to others. Unless your story becomes story of other people and you gain enough courage to let go of it. I found it really interesting. How many of us have that courage? The courage to tell others about your dark side and not to run away from yourself... I think very few of us really have the courage. Most of us just try to hide it and get haunted by those memories for all their life.
I liked this concept very much. I am just putting it down in my own words.
Why are railway tracks apart x meters .... ??
Simple question isn't it ? But it has long history that leads back to roman times. The distance between railway tracks is equal to the distance between wheels of horse carriage. That distance is due to size roman roads which was defined by length when two horses put together. Nobody questioned this length and blindly followed it till date.
Ok.. so what ?
Isn't our life like that ? We always try to follow some or the other rules all our life without knowing their actual meaning. We are given some script given by our parent, teachers, friends and society ... we follow it religiously. You should go to school when you are young , go to university after that, get married when you are of this age, do this and do that ... all sorts of stuff. but we never think what we actually want to do. Always try to run in a straight line. May be on parallel tracks with what we actually want. And most of us never realize this all their life. We put measures for each and everything... "One is successful only if he/she earns blah amount of money, earns these many degrees" and all sorts of things. Why do we need to measure our success against things that don't matter to us at all?
Life is not just about sacrificing for our loved ones. Who would like their beloved people to get pains for them?
Will you?
NO
Then why do you think you can make others happy by giving pains to yourself.
.... Very true isn't it ?
Forgetting your past.
Best way to forget your past is to keep it repeating again and again to others. Unless your story becomes story of other people and you gain enough courage to let go of it. I found it really interesting. How many of us have that courage? The courage to tell others about your dark side and not to run away from yourself... I think very few of us really have the courage. Most of us just try to hide it and get haunted by those memories for all their life.
No confusion ...
It seems everybody is having understanding that I have written all the poems posted here ...
Huuuuh ... I wish I could .... :D
All of these poems are copied from somewhere or other .... Please don't confuse me for a poet ... :)
Huuuuh ... I wish I could .... :D
All of these poems are copied from somewhere or other .... Please don't confuse me for a poet ... :)
Thursday, February 02, 2006
"Seeing" a guy
There are somethings in life which you cannot avoid ...
Being a Indian girl and so-called "eligible" to get married, and not having found a life partner on your own, yau have to pass a ceremoney called "seeing" a guy (word-to-word translation of "ladka dekhana"... :-D). There you are supposed to dress-up, speak good things about you, answer all the questions. I heard even they ask you to walk in front of them (just make sure you don't have any defect in your feet)... Great !!!
How can you judge someone in just one look ??
I have funny anology for that ...
Its like a product being shown to a potential customer.
As a manufacturer you take all the care to make you product "presentable". Most customer go for the look of the product...reliability matters least.
When you go shopping you check out the look and feel of the product, color etc, you cannot predict about its reliability and functionality. Try to get reviews from different sources, evaluate with other compititive products, see the manufacturing companies history. And then decide on the product. After that the reliability and usability depends on all your luck and also how you handle it.
Only difference is we cannot replace(or just throw) the product easily... and all we left with is to cribb all our life .. :-)
... Hahh...
Our Indian arranged marriage process goes more or less like that. First you see "kundali" of the guy or gal, see the photograph, enquire about their family, evaluate with other prospects and then decide. Its all stupid. We all do agree with that and still go for it for whatever reasons ...
Being a Indian girl and so-called "eligible" to get married, and not having found a life partner on your own, yau have to pass a ceremoney called "seeing" a guy (word-to-word translation of "ladka dekhana"... :-D). There you are supposed to dress-up, speak good things about you, answer all the questions. I heard even they ask you to walk in front of them (just make sure you don't have any defect in your feet)... Great !!!
How can you judge someone in just one look ??
I have funny anology for that ...
Its like a product being shown to a potential customer.
As a manufacturer you take all the care to make you product "presentable". Most customer go for the look of the product...reliability matters least.
When you go shopping you check out the look and feel of the product, color etc, you cannot predict about its reliability and functionality. Try to get reviews from different sources, evaluate with other compititive products, see the manufacturing companies history. And then decide on the product. After that the reliability and usability depends on all your luck and also how you handle it.
Only difference is we cannot replace(or just throw) the product easily... and all we left with is to cribb all our life .. :-)
... Hahh...
Our Indian arranged marriage process goes more or less like that. First you see "kundali" of the guy or gal, see the photograph, enquire about their family, evaluate with other prospects and then decide. Its all stupid. We all do agree with that and still go for it for whatever reasons ...
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