As I go on ...

An irritated me

2012-01-04T16:20:00.002+05:30

It was a Saturday morning and I badly wanted to go home. I stood there in a long queue to buy my tickets for the train. The queue was only moving at a snail's pace. When the railway authorities know that there is a huge queue why the heck cant they open more counters to ease up the situation. Forget opening more counters at least even if they operate all the counters already available it would have been of some help for the passengers.

Standing in the queue for a long time was eating my patience up. As I was nearing the counter a young man, maybe in his early twenties, approached the person in front of me asking him to buy tickets for him and his friends. The man in front of me said 'No'. The man was pestering him saying his friends are waiting. I got furious hearing what he said. I still kept silent allowing the man in front of me to handle it.

The young man gives two options to the man in front. Either you buy the ticket for me or let me buy it. That was enough to provoke me. I had completely lost it. The daring devil that I was a that instant, just asked him "what do you think of yourself? Do you realize how many people are standing in a queue to buy the tickets? What makes you so damn special that you walk right royally and demand someone to get the tickets for you? Don't you think even others time is valuable? Are we people standing in a queue idiots?

The man in front of me din't expect that I would confront the young man in this fashion. To my dismay none supported me though I'm sure they would have felt the same but would not have voiced their thoughts.

As I was dealing with the young man, the man in front of me just let him to buy the tickets. Now all my anger turned towards this moron in front of me. I asked him why he did this? He just shrugged his shoulders and said what else can I do?

I just gave him a disgusting look and thought SPINELESS WORM!!!!

How will people learn if you don't teach them what is wrong?

2012

2012-01-01T23:01:00.002+05:30

A very eventful day!!! Started by wishing my family.. Then a visit to our temple where our pooja was organised for the day.. Then a nice lunch.. A very good sleep and on a move to visit families...

May all our dreams be realized in the coming year.

A very very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

2011-11-17T20:13:00.002+05:30

Who in this world doesn't like to be praised?

None!!!

Everyone like to be praised and gets very happy where they are... Strangely, I was worried when I was praised today. My manager had sent a mail to another manager praising my work and efficiency. When I read that mail felt like someone has placed a boulder on my head instead of a feather added to my cap.

The only thing that flashed in my mind was the responsibility and the efforts that I had to put in to maintain the praise. I then realized that it is easier to get praised but very difficult to maintain or keep up the good work...

So is making a mark but maintaining the same is a herculean task.... Boy!!! I must say how much work/ effort goes into it... :)

Boredom

2011-10-28T09:01:00.002+05:30

I wish life had a little more colour to it.... We always complain about life being so boring... but aren't we the ones who have to spice it up???? Funny me!!!

Mamma....

2011-10-27T12:46:00.003+05:30

Last week, I was hit by very high fever and was not in a position even to lift my head. The otherwise hesitant-to-take-help me, begged for help to all souls possible. I even asked my neighbour aunty to make 4 idlis as I couldn't digest the idea of standing to make one for myself.

Finally mom came to my rescue as she cargo-ed me to her house. I must say moms will always be moms... they are the best we can find on earth. I find it so strange to see how she easily slips into so many roles of a pillow, doctor, cook, maid, hair dresser, story teller, most needed friend, nurse.... Even the most bitter medicine tastes good when she hands it to me..

The moment I just lie down on her lap all the body pain just vanishes. She stayed awake the whole night to keep a check on me. With her around I realized what peaceful sleeping was...

I would love to be like my mom to my kid.. :D

Dhoop Kinare

2011-10-11T00:44:00.004+05:30

After getting bored with so many saas bahu serials or the female protagonist bringing the male lead on right track, am happy with sony bringing in a new track of a love story so different... KUCH TOH LOG KAHENGE!!!! There are so many comparisons with a Pakistani soap which was aired 25 years back. I was so tempted to see the version that I decided to watch it today... I just loved it...

Hats off to the creative team that they thought about such a plot 25 yrs back. I was so overwhelmed by the way the they had directed the soap.. No repeat shots... no multiple angles... no shocking faces... no too much glamour and also no touching touching.... the heroine not once slipped and fell into the arms of the male lead... :D Yet it was so touching.... catchy....

It was such a subtle love story where there is so much decency, jealousy, anger, frustration, desperation, separation, helplessness, milap... The story line is so nice that it can catch a mind that was born 25 years later... If people could make such nice plots then why are we not able to come to that level????

The background song is one such lovely piece... I'm falling in love with it each time I hear...

Raat youn dil mein teri, khoi hui yaad ayi,

Jaise veeranay mein, chupke se, bahar ajaye,

Jaise sehraon mein holay se chali, baad-e-naseem

Jaise beemar ko, bewaja, qarar ajaye

Translation:

Last night your faded memory came to me

As in the wilderness spring comes quietly,

As, slowly, in the desert, moves the breeze,

As, to a sick man, without cause, comes peace.

2011-09-29T11:48:00.004+05:30

Sometimes our mind longs for that one soul who would listen to us patiently and just return a assuring smile which says "Everything will become alright" and connect with my thought process.

Even when you have people around you as long as they don't reflect your mind its difficult to feel together. It is difficult to connect with such people and you only give a smile or just a nod for whatever they say but actually you have your mind thinking about something else.

Sometimes just being physically present is not enough. It makes ones existence immaterial when you don't connect with feelings. These are times when you feel disoriented towards commitment you have made. It makes me wonder why are you stuck?

Is there an answer I get to this question????

Blank!!!!

Customer Satisfaction

2011-04-19T15:46:00.003+05:30

What does customer satisfaction mean???

As far as I understand, its offering your services to the customer in the most satisfying way. Helping the customer in the most efficient and the swift way possible that his problem is solved.

Alas, this is being misunderstood by most of the companies that provide customer service. It simply reflects from their actions that customer satisfaction only means "speak in a polite manner irrespective of being useful or not, even to the most irritated customer". No matter how much he screams you reply saying "We are very sorry for the delay and you will definitely hear from us in the next 4 hours". Which is most of the times the only reply you get from their side.

We are shifting offices and want our landlines and the internet connection shifted to the new address. Its been three long weeks since we raised a request and its yet to be done. Every time we call we only get the 4 hours statement as a reply and the worst part of the whole process is that you don't get to reach the same person who is attending your case. Each time you get connected to a different person and have to repeat the whole story just to hear the same reply. Where is customer service here? The representatives are just trained to listen to whatever the customer has to say and reply politely but not trained to take necessary action to get the problem addressed in the effective manner.

Also, the long waits that you have to be online until you get to speak to the representative in spite of it being such a useless effort is such an agony.

Finally, we had to speak to the VP of customer service for just a shift request. After which, things are moving in the proper channel. How efficient are these guys? Do we have to reach tot he VP level to get such simple work to be done? This could have been solved by the first point of contact itself. Very soon VP's will become the first point of contact I guess.

These service providers have totally manipulated the meaning of customer service much to the dismay of the customers.

It irritates you the most when you receive a prompt payment request. They are very efficient with that. You get 4 copies of monthly statements for the same month. You get repeated phone calls to remind even before the dead line. You get repeated messages till the deadline for payment in spite of you making a payment well before a dead line just to ensure they get a timely payment. When they can take so much efforts for this then why not give a better customer service to the customers who are their main lifeline man. If no customers then who will you be servicing?

Will someone teach them to be effective and also the real meaning of customer satisfaction?????

A.P.R.I.L.

2011-04-18T11:04:00.020+05:30

April is a month which reminds me of unlimited joy. 2 months of holidays after the grueling exams. No books, full time play and the added benefit of a trip to some place. We get to meet cousins. No restriction on television and get to play all nice games like both indoor and outdoor.

Also, we have about 4 or 5 big mango trees in my house and April being the month where in you get those lovely yummy mangoes. We as children used to climb the trees to pluck those mangoes so that mom puts them in boxes filled with hay to ripe. We used to get payed with those yummy green mangoes. The taste of those green mangoes with chilli and salt is so yummy that it still gets my mouth water even after years. Every day it was our duty to open the box and see if there are any ripe mangoes and aerate the mangoes. We would just wait when the mango turns yellow.. :)

Eating those ripe mangoes itself was fun. We would be handed each one and we press and roll them between the palms and then remove a small portion of the skin and then eat the pulp...

We used to have competition that who eats the mango without a drop of pulp falling down would win. :)

We used to fight for the delicious sweet mango jam that mom makes. Slurp! slurp! slurp!

Another big reason for me to love April is those beautiful white jasmine flowers with a lovely fragrance. I somehow love adorning jasmine flowers on my hair. :) The fragrance will just make you feel so relaxed and happy. Sporting flowers is not a easy task a whole lot of process goes into it. We need to pluck the jasmine buds the previous evening. Differentiating between the buds which would bloom the next morning itself is a big technique to be mastered. :) Then make a jasmine strand out of the same.

Earlier my mother used to tie those buds with the dried pseudo stem. We used to dip the layer of stem in water and make thin parts of it much like a thread. The art of making a jasmine strand it a beauty by itself. In recent days where we find no time for anything mom conveniently uses thread to make a jasmine strand.

Can you see the dried portion in the picture below. It is from that we used to make the threads to make a jasmine strand. So many years out of school I have forgotten all botanical nomenclatures. :((((((((

Coming back to the process, after making a strand place it in a wet cloth overnight. The next morning it would be in a stage where it is half blossomed. It would be a visual treat to see that. Just fasten it on your hair with a clip and you get the traditional look instantly. :) It is a very common sight in South India. They even buy flowers when we go to someone's house or give flowers if someone comes to our house.

In the month of April and May, my house is filled with jasmine fragrance and not a day you can see me without those flowers. :) Unfortunately, living in the North, I hardly get a glimpse of the flower. :(

Attach Attachments

2011-04-11T12:22:00.004+05:30

How many times I would have sent a mail detailing everything about the attachment and finally end up forgetting to attach it. Right from the time I was a software engineer with a top MNC I have been a prey for this mistake [though not unreasonably often.. :)]

And today.. Wrote a mail in detail and hit the SEND button. There pops a dialog box. Being so used to it my first reaction was to check the email id... Man its correct...

Checked the subject line.. I have filled it too.. I have typed a big mail so the body of the letter exists..

Then why do I have a dialog box????

I gathered the efforts to read the micro sized alphabets. It read: Your mail reads "Please find the attachment along with the mail" and there is no document attached. Do you still wish to send?

I'm zapped. Man this is super cool. I'm not going to miss any attachments anymore.. and immediately send an apology mail with the document attached. :)

Bless the Google team.

Pat on my back!!!

2011-04-06T13:49:00.005+05:30

Birthdays.... The very thought fills me with happiness, excitement, presents, wishes and new dresses. Birthdays have always been a day filled with surprises and excitement for me. :) I have no doubts that everyone feels the same.

I was more than happy when I heard that excited voice of my friend, when I wished her for her birthday today. She was in such an elated state that I remembered her birthday. I'm sure she would have least expected my call today. We went to the same school 10 years back and since then it had been just one or two calls a year.. Time had its spell on us.. :)

I would also be very happy when someone remembers my birthday and wish me. I would always remember my friends birthday and make sure I give them a call early morning. My friends used to tell me that my call is always their first call.

As we speak of birthdays my mind is flooded with memories.. When I used to be in the primary school, they used to announce the names of the children who celebrate their birthday, in the assembly. This used to happen on a daily basis. The child would be called to come to the stage and everyone in the school used to sing the birthday song. Man what a moment it would be when you get to showcase your new birthday dress and also when everyone sings for you. Then you distribute chocolates in your class, then for teachers and friends...

My mom once worked as a teacher and everyday we used to search for chocolates or toffees in her bag. This was one added advantage we enjoyed whilst she worked in a school.

As we progressed in to the high school it became a little different where in you used to get gifts from friends and once into college all cake cutting and posing with a cake smeared face was a ritual to be followed.

One thing which I used to hate in the birthday celebrations was the Birthday bumps. Of course it was done only to the boys in my class. I used to be scared that they dont injure the birthday boy by kicking him hard.

My birthdays usually starts with hugs and kisses from family and special food, gifts, non stop phone calls starting right from 12 in the night that continues till the fag end of the day...

I make sure I call my friends for their birthdays irrespective of I call them often or not.I was so glad that I made my friends birthday special by giving her a very very surprised call. Pat on my back!!!!!

How to save yourself during Earthquakes - Triangle of LIFE

2011-03-24T15:50:00.003+05:30

I came across this article recently and wanted to share it.

God forbid the need for the use!!!

Where to Go During an Earthquake

Remember that stuff about hiding under a table or standing in a doorway? Well, forget it! This is a real eye opener. It could save your life someday.

EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON 'THE TRIANGLE OF LIFE'

My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI ), the world's most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.

I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries. I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years, and have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.

The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene -- unnecessary.

Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them - NOT under them. This space is what I call the 'triangle of life'. The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the 'triangles' you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.

TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY

1) Most everyone who simply 'ducks and covers' when building collapse are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.

2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a bed, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.

3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.

5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.

6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!

7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different 'moment of frequency' (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.

8) Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible - It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.

9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.

10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.

Spread the word and save someone's life...

The entire world is experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!

In 1996 we made a film, which proved my survival methodology to be correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul, University of Istanbul Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific test. We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did 'duck and cover,' and ten mannequins I used in my 'triangle of life' survival method. After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the results. The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under directly observable, scientific conditions , relevant to building collapse, showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck and cover.

There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people using my method of the 'triangle of life.' This film has been seen by millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of Europe, and it was seen in the USA , Canada and Latin America on the TV program Real TV.

Subject: Save your life with "The Triangle of Life"

"Triangle of Life":

Without listening or reading, simply by looking at the following self-explanatory photos, you can learn more than in a thousand words about how to protect yourself during a major earthquake...

If you are inside a vehicle, come out and sit or lie down next to it. If something falls on the vehicle, it will leave an empty space along the sides. See below:

What is Happiness?

2011-03-22T14:18:00.008+05:30

Of late, this question has been haunting me and I kept brushing it aside. Yesterday, as I was on my way back home it struck me again. So I wanted to probe on it. Immediately, my mind zeroed to a list of thing which would make me happy. I wasn't satisfied with the reply and thought is this list happiness? In that case, if there are n number of people on earth, then there would be n number of definition for happiness, as the wish list would vary from people to people.

Fine, even if we take the wish list to be one's definition for happiness, isn't the wish list a momentary thing? When I'm in the womb, I wish to see the world, when I come out I want attention as a child, once I get that I want food, then want to crawl, want to walk, then run, then school.. Now I want to excel, next want to get into a good college, next a good job, next happy marriage, then kids, then their education... My wish list gets longer and longer and longer...

I work hard to achieve, what is there in my wishlist and sacrifice every small happiness that come in the way to achieve my aim and once I achieve it, I celebrate. Now the moment I celebrate, my other wish to maintain or keep excelling starts. So when am I really happy?

For a pauper in the streets, going in a cycle is happiness, for a cyclist going in bike is happiness, a motorcyclist wishes to be a proud car owner, a car owner wishes for a latest brand top end model. So where does it stop. No one is happy at where they are? We are only happy in the eyes of others. For A thinks, that others who have, what A wants is happy.

Even the 5th world's richest man will have a wish list and would want to beat the 4th and in turn the 4th, the 3rd or the 1st. The wish list becomes bigger and bigger at each level. At their level, the agony is, they don't have the time to enjoy what they make rather strive to maintain or grow.

So what is happiness now?

Shouldn't we strive to grow big?

Shouldn't we aspire?

I still don't have an answer but I think, we need to grow in life, we need to aspire but it should be an individual marking for self. It should be a self zeroed goal and not a one, we have framed with other's growth. If we make goals only considering us and try to achieve the goals, we definitely wont feel stressed and worked out. Rather, it would help us enjoy the journey we take to achieve the goals and will fill us with the energy to achieve our next.

Once we start marking our growth with others, the problem begins. Happiness is out of us even before we reach a goal and we wouldn't be happy even when we achieve the same. We need to look back into our past, the goals we achieved and the approach we had to reach the same. May be that satisfaction is what we call happiness.

This thought would definitely fill you with positivity and you become happy. Once you are happy, you spread happiness around. Happiness doubles by sharing. Even a big genuine smile can make you happy. You begin to see everything around you with a different outlook. You seem to enjoy everything around. Even a bright colored flower is enough to make you happy provided you are filled with an unadulterated mindset.

If we become the reason to put one genuine smile on others face, that would become a big sole reason for us to rejoice.

What is right?

2011-03-11T16:18:00.005+05:30

Recently I read an update in a social networking site

I dont believe in taking right decisions, I take decisions n then make it right. Believe in yourself.

How true can this statement be? Rather I would ask how wise would it be to think or do this? My instant thought was "How successful will one be if they follow this?"

The chances of first decide and then make it right is very low. Even the very wisest man can't be 100 percent sure. He will still be taking chances.

It shows how overconfident the person is. Also the person thinks that only what he thinks is right. Doesn't it pave way for clashes?

The efforts that you would be putting in to make things right will be too much. Rather you could have invested time and could have taken the right decision. it would have been a one time effort whereas in the first case you would have to do it multiple times to set things right and a trace of your previous efforts will always remain however hard you try to conceal it.

When I questioned the person, she said this is sign of optimism and also self confidence. Agony was there were many people who supporting the same. Somehow I still cannot see it as a sign of confidence rather I would say its over-confidence and to be even blunt I would say insanity.

I wonder will a wise man accept this statement. What argument will he keep forth? Think he would brush this aside telling "Kids, grow up!".

Will workout, work out???

2011-03-08T08:50:00.004+05:30

Every morning there is a ritual that I follow religiously expecting some magic to happen. Nothing much, just stand on the weighing scale expecting it to show at least one kg less. My mind knows it is definitely not going to happen as I do not do anything to help it reduce. Nevertheless, hope remains... Immediately, I take a oath that I will work out from today. I won't say tomorrow as I believe tomorrow never comes but the agony is today doesn't work either.

Fine, the next thing that strikes my mind is I cant go to the gym rather I would work out at home. Never succeeded. Brain says, lets diet. The day I decide this I end up feeling super hungry and eat more than usual. Aiding to that I have a colleague who will lure me with her everyday lunch called Pizza and Chocolate mousse. So dieting goes to the bin. So by now mind feels so dejected.

Suddenly, Bipasha Basu's sugar free ad or the climbing the stairs ad comes on TV and my sulking mind immediately pops its ears to it and revitalizes thinking Oh superb man! I live in the Second Floor and work in the 5th so start climbing stairs. That should suffice for a beginner. So, the next day I step out of the house happily remembering to climb the stairs. By the time I reach office, my memory ditches me and I take the lift very conveniently. Once I step out I remember, Oh Sh*t! I was supposed to climb stairs. So this plan also goes ruined.

Then I reach office feeling very guilty that I dint climb the stairs. To cheer up, I decide will start surya namaskar. Immediately open google and search for how to do surya namaskaram. Happily read allt he steps and feel very satisfied. Reach home and by then plan to do surya namskar. Forget the steps but somehow remember it should be done properly otherwise you can end up with some problems. So I end up cursing my memory. So goto bed doing nothing.

Next day morning get up and something catches my attention. Guess what???

Its my weighing machine telling me come to me. Sheepishly, I again go stand on it just wishing it shows a kg less. You know what it would be....

To do or not to?

2011-03-07T09:38:00.003+05:30

There are many kinds of people. One who learn from other's mistakes. Two, who learn when things are told to them. Three, who learn only when they suffer the consequences of their mistakes and the last who never learn.

It is OK for one, to digest the fact that, you need to be told the consequences of one's action, but how tolerant can one be, when they never listen to what is told and that too for their own good. What should be done with such characters? At a stage you are only left to feel "Get Lost". It is even OK to ignore when their actions does not affect you but what to do in case if it is going to have a huge impact on your life.

When will they learn??? Will they ever learn???

I feel sorry for them and at the same time perplexed as to how to help them as I would be doing the same mistake of not learning.

2011-01-28T10:12:00.002+05:30

Everyone gets angry, what makes the difference is the way, how one deals with it.

Memory vs Pencil...

2011-01-19T21:06:00.003+05:30

"A blunt pencil is better than a sharp memory" I heard my friend scream to someone on a phone. I was pondering on the thought. It just struck me how many times my father has told me this as I goto the market to buy things and end up missing something or the other. From then on I started to note down things which is much helpful as we tend to forget things.

Also after I started using the phone, my phone has stopped remembering numbers. At times I don't even remember my own number and have stored it in my mobile. Unfortunately I have cultivated this habit of forgetting my mobile phone at home when I leave out from home in a couple of occasions. With my brain betraying me, I feel like I'm an orphan child in a big city totally unconnected.

So when my friend said these words, I shed the pride of being able to be good with the numbers and ensured I get a pocket diary to note down important numbers and keep it handy with me always.

Happy growing!!!

2011-01-13T14:41:00.003+05:30

I was discussing about 'life' in general with my dad yesterday and he said "any abnormal growth, be it good or bad is cancer".

Those words kept lingering in my mind and I ran a thought on it. I was amazed at the fact that how true it is... We think that when we grow in life that too in a very fast manner, its all positive growth but somewhere or other there is some damage that is developing alongside your growth.

It is always better to grow in a gradual and normal paced fashion where in you get your foundations strong and also you can have a check in every inch of your growth chart.

I found this thought to fit in, in every sphere of life... not just with one's success or growth. It also is very similar to the old tamil saying "Alavirku minjinal amirthamum nanju" which means "even when you have the nectar of life in excess its poison".

So happy growing!!!

2011-01-12T13:28:00.002+05:30

People just use others to get their work done. Then talk so sweetly with honey coated words when they want work to be done and when their work is over treat them like used tissues???? What kind of an attitude is this??? They think they are too smart and can carry off such an attitude with great efficiency but they forget that the other person whom you are dealing with need not be a dull head every time. Just because they digest your attitude doesn't mean that it makes you smart. How long will it take them to question you back and you will be left with no answers...

What is wrong in showing people some respect and being a little modest????

I pray God puts some sense and manners in them...

Delhi ki sardi...

2011-01-06T13:21:00.003+05:30

There was a time when I wanted to live in Delhi... but the weather is so cold now that given a chance I would flee from here.... I'm freezing in this weather. :(

For a person who was born and brought up in the southern parts of the country where the weather is not so extreme and who has never sported woolen garments, I feel like I'm a brand ambassador for woolen clothes. Name it and I sport it. :( It gives me a feeling of an alien :)

Thanks to the Gurgaon transport system, it is an awful experience to travel in a rickshaw in this weather.... It just chills your bone.

I only thank God that I did not have to live in Ladakh where it the temp is somewhere in - 20 to - 23 degrees..

Doing the household work before leaving to work is the highlight of the season. How much I crib to wake up from the bed int he morning... :( What a pleasant feeling it is to be wrapped in all possible beddings.. And what tops my hate list is the alarm that is set for 5.30 am.. :( grrrrr

and what would be in my wish list???

1) more warm clothes

2) uninterrupted power service to have my heater on

3) hot hot bajji (onion, vaazhakai, cauliflower)

4) somebody to cook for me

5) paid holidays

the list goes on......

May her soul rest in peace

2010-09-14T20:54:00.003+05:30

It is a big loss for the south indian music industry. Swarnalatha was a great singer and I love most of her songs.

May her soul rest in peace.

2010-09-10T20:52:00.002+05:30

There is so much I feel like writing about but then not able to put it down in words. :) Why am I feeling so stuck????

Fine let me start with this.. Eid Mubarak ho!!!!!

Right now I'm listening to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan saab's song..:) I'm becoming his fan day by day. :)

The vegetable prices in the market costs like gold...

Cricket season starting again from today... I'm not going to get the remote for sure... I hate this...

My colleague uses the F word so often that i get to hear it at least a minimum 100 times a day... Why cant people talk a little decently???? Do they think they are considered to be very modern and belong to the hep circle if they use the F word??? It sounds so indecent....

Somehow I dont like girls drinking and smoking... Coming from a state which doesn't approve of all this and living in the capital now makes a load of difference..

ok no more thoughts is turning into words right now.. :(((((((

I love week ends.....

2010-08-14T09:12:00.003+05:30

Back to work after 2 years of hibernation... It is one week since i joined work and my clock has been moving so fast. No time for anything. I wish if there was some more hours added to the day. The alarm goes buzzzzz at around 5 am and then cooking then other household work. Full day's work at office and then back home... again work. By the time i hit the bed i'm like a dead log. :D

Today being Saturday what a bliss it is to get up late and be lazying around... You realise the importance of something only when you get it in ration or when you dont have it. How much i miss these days where you have all the time in the world for yourself.

I love week ends!!!!!!!

2010-07-21T13:23:00.002+05:30

Its 3 months since i moved to this new place. There is a school near by and today morning i happened to hear the assembly. I was taken back in time.

Its years since i attended the assembly in school but still the memories are fresh... I used to be in the choir and we used to sing everyday in the assembly. It used to be quite a long assembly. First the song, then the prayer, then pledge, then newspaper, thirukural, then one of the faculty used to give messages everyday. Finally back to classes with the music on. :)

Then we would be called by our music teacher for practice for the next assembly. :) As i reached class 12 we had to choose SPL for the year. I was one of the candidates. Of course lost the election. :) but i had the opportunity of conducting the assembly when the SPL was not available.

So my day started with the memories of my school.. What a great time i had..:)

A visit to Agra

2010-07-11T09:42:00.023+05:30

It was the 6th of July... my dad's birthday.. So the day started well with a birthday cake..yum!!!!We had to celebrate early as we had planned to leave to agra that day..

So at 6 in the morning we started our journey to Agra. The Palwal roads were pathetic. it took some time till we reached some proper roads. It was a nice journey as it had rained the previous day and the chill breeze hitting your face. It was almost 10 when we reached Agra. As we neared Agra the roads were so bad. It has a world wonder and is a very famous tourist place yet the approach roads and the surroundings are not maintained well. Its sad to see such a plight.. Finally we reached Taj Mahal. We finally got down in the parking area.

The Taj Mahal is almost 1 to 2 kms from here. You have battery cars and also jatkas (carts pulled by horses), hand rickshaws and camel rides. The rates are very very minimal.

So after a long journey we wanted to use the rest room and asked for one. The guy whom we hired to take us till the taj mahal showed us one. Man i would never step into it again if i was asked to do it. It was so damn pathetic. Absolutely nothing near to even 2 % of sanitation. The agony is the guy charges you for such pathetically maintained rest rooms. I wouldn't mind paying even more if it was kept clean. No proper buckets, mugs, lights, mirrors, wash basin, taps... yuck!!!!!

Then we got back into our hired battery car. The driver was busy giving information about the place. He said as there is a danger of the taj turning black because of pollution, the govt. has ordered that in a radius of about 1 km you cant drive any vehicles. Only pollution free vehicles can run that too only till the entrance. There is no industries here it seems. People have small cottage industry like handicraft work or the hand rickshaw type of vehicles. The govt. has given them free battery car for which they charge very minimal charges for their expense otherwise its free.

The Taj is closed from 10.30 am till 11.30 pm for cleaning. As we were there by 11 the driver took us to the meena bazaar there nearby. We got to see sarees made out of bamboo, banana which would just pass through a small finger ring with no difficulty. They are crease free... Quilts which can be folded into very small package. They are very light and thin too. You can really pick up some nice stuffs from there. All these are made by residents of the Agra jail. Best part is you can return them once you want to discard them too as these materials are re-usable. You get a 50% return value too. Shoes made from camel leather.

Finally its 11.30 and we are all set to go visit the Taj Mahal. There are 3 gates and finally we are at the Taj. Man its a sight to see... I loved the vast expanse.. There was nothing that could hinder your view. Shah Jahan definitely must have been a man with taste. hehehehe.. Lovely environment... beautiful gardens... You almost have to walk to the Taj for about 5 mins... As you enter you have guides and photographers mobbing you to engage them.. I tell you its worth having one. They get you some nice pictures. :) In fact there is a special place allocated for photgraphers. :) They charge you about 50 to 60 rupees(sorry i dont have the symbol downloaded yet :)) per photo and they deliver it in 45 minutes.. We also had few photo sessions done..

Then we strolled towards the Taj hogging as much as we can through our eyes. :) It was drizzling then... Lovely experience... Taj looks beautiful with its blue background (sky)... Everything about the Taj is so artistic... Let me add a few pictures...

As you enter the gates....

Wah Taj Boliye!!!!!!

I loved the flooring.... Symmetry is something you will notice everywhere in Taj...

Each colour semi precious stones were brought from different countries of the world. If you throw light you will notice its hollow and it gleams in the light. You can find this work everywhere in the Taj... Such beautiful designs.. I was touched by his love for his wife...

Such beautiful patterns are done through out..

The Yamuna....

Even the drain were given such attention and done tastefully..

A window

Parapet in front of the Taj

Taj through my eyes.

Camel rides available outside the Taj. They ply from the Taj to the parking area.

Horse carts...

It was noon by the time we came out and then we headed to the Agra Fort. You can see the Taj from the Agra fort and vice versa. It was a great feeling being inside the Fort. Though many rooms were not for public view still we can get hold of the life style of the Moghuls.

I was busy capturing them in my camera and finally my battery got exhaushted.. :P My parents and husband were then happy as i was worrying them to pose for the pics and was delaying by taking pics.. :) Typical me... but its a must see place

Other places which you can visit is the Sikandra; Akbar's tomb... Also if you have time you can touch Vrindavan...

It was such a memorable day in my life.... A day with history....

2010-06-18T07:50:00.001+05:30

thinking of what to cook for the next meal drives me crazy... :((((((((

2010-06-16T10:31:00.002+05:30

Sometimes when you are angry you have the right to be angry, but it doesn't give you the right to be cruel and hurt others.

Happy Anniversary to me!!!!!! :)

2010-05-23T10:05:00.002+05:30

Stepping into the third year of marriage!!!!

2010-05-20T18:16:00.003+05:30

Are bouquets a real nice way to express love or achievement or happiness??????

In fact I felt really happy when i got them... Those lovely coloured flowers impeccably arranged looked so damn fresh and so lovely... I was just so happy to get them... But the very next day when i see them all drying up i felt like they were all crying... I felt like all those beautiful roses pleading to me with their heads bowed saying you could have left me in those plants where i would have lived for a little longer...

I would rather prefer a bouquet made of scented paper flowers than real ones... for they dont die soon and also remind you of the occasion for a little longer....:)

Bugged up

2010-05-17T11:04:00.002+05:30

I'm bugged up with Facebook... I keep hiding the applications almost everyday but then these guys have no limit for the number of applications available... Each day something or the other crops up... Sucks man...

Of course i would like to be in touch with my friends but then i'm not interested in their stupid status messages and the new applications they add to their profile... The daily horoscope is the worst thing you can ever find. Why should i know about their daily horoscope or who they love, who they want to kiss, who they want to date, who they were or are in their earlier or next birth... grrr... a total humbug...

Farmville another stupid application where in one spends so much time... Ask them they say so damn interesting... Ask them to get into the fields for real... As though they will..... They wouldn't dare to walk bare foot where will they get into agriculture... A friend of mine said had it been that this farmville was in real then the produce would have almost eradicated starvation, malnutrition and illness across the world... and i also happened to read in rediff.com that a lady went into labour thinking of farmville... and she asked her husband to water the plants... Man god save this lady.... So much addiction?????

Worst part is that i tried to deactivate my account but then it still is available when i log in next time.. Finally had to send a mail/request to them to delete my facebook account.

Maybe i'm old fashioned but still much happy with Orkut.

2010-05-16T12:38:00.002+05:30

Nothing is a waste.... Everything can be put into proper use.. It just needs a bit of creative mind...

Over the last 2 weeks there were so many things which i would have usually thrown out as waste being turned into such great use.. it was like magic..:) Now i realise the power of the saying which i once read in Tamil..

"Siru thurumbum pal kutha udavum"...

Meaning : Even a small stick can be used as a tooth pick... ;)

Think..... Discover.... Live....

2010-05-14T21:14:00.002+05:30

A boat docked in a tiny Goan village. A tourist from Mumbai complimented the Goan fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

'Not very long,' answered the fisherman.
'But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?' asked the Mumbaite.

The Goan fisherman explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The Mumbaite asked, 'But what do you do with the rest of your time?'

'I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, play guitar, sing a few songs... I have a full life.'

The Mumbaite interrupted, 'I have an MBA from IIM-A, and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.'

'And after that?' asked the Goan.

'With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can
then leave this little village and move to Panjim, or even Mumbai. From there you can direct your huge new enterprise.'

'How long would that take?' asked the Goan.

'Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years,' replied the Mumbaite.

'And after that?'

'Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting,' chuckled the Mumbaite, 'When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!'

'Millions? Really? And after that?' asked the Goan.

'After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings doing what you like with your buddies.'

'With all due respect sir, but that's exactly what I am doing now. So what's the point wasting 25 years?' asked the Goan.

And the moral of the story is?
Know where you're going in life. You may already be there.Life in the present world is indeed a rat race. Many who have qualifications from reputed universities too do not know where they are going in life.

2010-05-03T10:20:00.001+05:30

The best gift you can give is a hug: one size fits all and no one ever minds if you return it...:DDDDDDD

2010-05-03T10:13:00.001+05:30

Growing old doesn't necessarily mean you are turning wise!!!!!!

will we learn????

2010-05-02T11:46:00.002+05:30

We have been introduced to pencils and pens right from the time we were taught to write... We all know how important they are when it comes to writing. Have you ever been to the bank or post office???? The most common help that is asked is can i borrow your pen????

One very well knows he or she is going to the bank and they definitely need a pen. Then why doesn't it strike them that they have to carry one????

The worst part is to follow... That is you still go out and help them with the pen but then after getting it they don't have the courtesy to return it back... It just gets on my nerve... You have to go searching for them in the crowd asking for your pen... Then they show the most stupidest expression you can ever see in your life.... Man when you get something from someone at least be mannered enough to return it back with gratitude.....

We keep making plans for all big things in life out of air and fail miserably in all such small things which we actually perform often in our day today life...

When will will we learn????

Strange

2010-01-19T10:16:00.003+05:30

I'm a person who loves being in the crowd and always like to be talking :) People find it strange if they see me silent. I belong to the talkative(though never damaging) clan. Love to be in the fun filled area. I'm famous for the number of friends i have and for the number of people i know when i pass by and for my friendly nature... :)

Today when i logged into orkut i dint feel like scrapping even one. I was going through my friends list and ended up not even scrapping one.. Its a very strange feeling... Why am i feeling separated? Whats happening?

Why is failure so painful????

2010-01-17T16:45:00.005+05:30

We all face failure one time or the other... as a matter of fact we face more of failure than success.. Every question in this world however big the concept behind might be, boils down to an one word answer "yes or no". This yes or no may be in other term like success or failure, win or lose, correct or wrong... Everyone who has a question or expects a result knows only this can be an answer... You can avoid answering the question in a diplomatic way; still it has an answer which is one of the above mentioned choices. It can only be either this or that... then why is that we feel so bad when we lose??... when we fail???? isn't it a known option to us??? then why????????

As we are waiting for an answer, we begin to build up so many associated expectations based on the success of the answer. For example, you give an interview and are waiting for a result. It can only be a yes or a no. In the time we await the response, we build expectations based on the job we get (in actual we are still awaiting). We think we will buy a vehicle, take a home loan, buy this, buy that, do this do that, go here, go there.... too much expectations.. and when they come true, you feel unlimited joy, thinking about all those dreams you had are going to come true, but when you get an answer no or face failure, all the expectations that you had built along with the one event based on which you made your dreams, is shattered. There by you feel too much pain. All those hopes running into drain gives you the shock that you are not able to bear the failure.

Winners are those who succeed from this trauma... how do they do it????... they keep the dreams alive and fit those dreams into another event.. and try to get the first event right... when it comes into reality, then they realise the dreams that they saw...

But is it easy, not to build dreams based on something? God knows... even now i'm thinking of all associated things i would be doing once the thing for which i'm awaiting an answer comes true...

Wish u luck Gul!!!! you need it now.. :D Hope 2010 brings in a lot of pleasant changes...

Obey or not?

2009-12-22T10:51:00.001+05:30

If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun!!!

This is my fortune for the day in Orkut... What are they suggesting me??? Follow and be a good girl or disobey and be a brat?

2009-11-19T17:31:00.001+05:30

Whew!!!! I have given a damn new look to my blog... :)

Gul and Tea...

2009-11-19T15:56:00.003+05:30

My morning starts with the alarm sound going on at 5.30 am.. trrinnnnnngg... It takes another 5 to 10 mins to wriggle out of the bed.. hen by the time i open my eyes widely its 15 mins past my alarm... oops i got to pack things for H.. :( Let me start..

I do everything properly except one... As i dont fall into the category of those who drink tea and coffee this often slips out of my mind... I happily get the other stuffs ready and in a half sleepy mode sit on the couch.. its then H asks for his coffee.. man i then remember i haven't even kept the teapot on the oven..:P

How much i said i will marry a guy who never drinks tea or coffee so i need not it make it... but now???? this is the only complaint against me saying "Aunty, your daughter doesn't make tea for me without me asking for it... I got to ask her every other day to make some for me..."... oops.. sorry..:D gee

Anyways I thank God as H is not a teapot asking for tea always..:P thereby me making tea is very limited to twice a day.. mostly its only once..:P God knows how it tastes for i have never tasted tea in my life. and the tea i make seems to be ok and at times good..:P hear say guys...:)

world or part of your world???????

2009-11-11T17:35:00.005+05:30

Last week as i was talking to a friend of mine the conversation steered towards the concept of spouse being everything to you. I was on the contrary saying that a spouse can only be part of your world though the percentage of how much he/she means in your world being a different issue but definitely cant be your world. She argued that "NO. Your spouse is your world"..

Though our conversation stopped at this limit on that day it was a big question within me and kept me thinking more and more on it. How can your spouse mean the world to you? In that case nothing others matters is it?

One makes his or her own world till the he or she gets married and all of a sudden erase everything and make your spouse your world? How on earth is it possible? As far as i think you can make him or her very much to be a part of your world and as time moves on and as you get to know your spouse more and more the percentage of how much they mean in your world changes but still you have your own world.

Each one forms his or her own world according to his/her fancies. Some have books as part of their world.. some dance.. some music... some friends.. some cooking.. some home making... some their garden.. some cars... some bikes... or some little of everything mentioned above...They have their own personal space in which they do not let anyone step in be it anyone....

In this case how can a spouse be your world... I have a question here.. You get married and your spouse is your everything.. Fine... After some years when you have your kids aren't they part of your world too? Then how can you say spouse is your world? Why your parents who sweat so much to bring you up aren't part of your world after you get married?

So I concluded your spouse is a (significant) part of your world and not its entirety...

I posed the same question to few others too and got answers of both types...

God Bless them all!!!

A rewind button...

2009-11-09T17:42:00.009+05:30

A: Hey pose for the snap..

B: Hey no.. I dont like to pose for snaps..

What is wrong in posing for a snap? Why being so fussy?

We always remember the past and at times also feel that it would be nice if we can live it again. What if we have a time machine? We want to live those moments again isnt it? But we all know we cant and its impossible to recreate the magic....

The simple solution is photographs.. Don't you think so? Its the greatest way to capture the moment and its fun when you look at it years later... I have pictures taken from day 1 of my birth. Its fun when i look at it now. My favourite pass time is to bring those big big albums and sit with mom and see all the pics. While doing so we talk about all those happened during that time. :) We almost get back to those time.

In fact i had sent home the pics i took last week and on seeing it dad said she has the same kind of pose when she was 1 year old... ie.. as walking on the road i just turn my head back to see... :) I don't remember what happened when i was 1 year old but then the fact that my dad had gone back a quarter century was a nice thing..:)

Living so far from my loved ones photographs are the only way i keep in touch with them... Every change that happens with me is shared with them through photographs... be it remodelling the house or something i cooked or my new hairstyle, my new wall hanging, my new furnitures..:D Sounds crazy but for a person who has always grown discussing everything with her parents this means a way that can bridge the geographical separation..:)

You can find the photograph-fussy-people saying no no i dont like to pose for a photograph... no please.....no please.... man nobody thinks you are a Katrina Kaif or a John Abraham... Its just to capture the moment as it brings nice memories when you see it later...

Not necessary that you have to stand in the picture but even pictures of landscapes make you remember the events that happened when you visited that place...

Whatever be it or whoever fusses for posing but for me framing the past is the best way to rewind time...:)

Happy photographing and Happy posing!!!!!

i'm back...

2009-11-05T18:01:00.003+05:30

Its been quite some time since i have been to my blog world... There were so many things that stopped me from coming here... One of the reason being Laziness... :P

One main reason that made me come back is that i was in facebook and was also doing well with farmville... but somehow got bored with facebook as such and thought rather get back to my blog world and do some useful stuffs too...

So i'm here.. :D and have been busy writing.. Man this is my third post for the day... :P

Cya...

My Hero...

2009-11-05T17:34:00.005+05:30

I love him the most....

I respect him the most...

He is my all time hero...

He is my teacher...

He means the most to me...

I can do anything for him...

He is my... Daddy!!!!!

This is how i call him. He was the one who taught me to be bold and face any situation. He taught me how to make decisions. He taught me the difference between the man's world and the women folk's world. He also taught me how to bridge the gap and is still helping me around with it as i'm new to it for now i'm in a position where i got to make decisions. :)

He taught me the value of being transparent in a family and how any situation need to be handled. He taught me to be honest and imparted all the moral values and principles of life. He has always been an armour for our family and i'm so proud to be his daughter. Having worked with the nation's force he also taught us what discipline is. :) All these morals might be small as a word when you hear it but when you live with it then you realise the real meaning.

He was the one who taught me that life has to be lived with principles and not anyway. He also taught that one should have control over situation and not let the situation control. He was the one who taught me to stand by what i decide and be firm on it come what may...

We have had the best of interactions which i will always cherish...

At times i wonder how i would have been if i was not his daughter but then i think that could have been the worst curse i could have ever got.

I miss you daddy....

What made me write this post?????

There are a few instances where i came across those people who don't have the best of relationships with their father. One says she hasn't been talking to her father for 2 years now and the other is always rebellious to a father who loves him the most and would do anything for him. How can one behave like this to a father for whom their children mean everything?

Though you know it yourself i have never told you that...

I LOVE YOU DADDY!!!!!

and i know you will always be there for me... :)

Life

2009-11-05T16:50:00.001+05:30

If you feel life it is a tragedy,

and if you think about it its comedy.....

2009-09-06T13:34:00.009+05:30

What is important, the way things are done to get the solution or just the solution irrespective of how you arrive at it?

A cheap Stunt...

2009-08-30T19:20:00.009+05:30

Just to show oneself good why do we have to show others bad? Isnt that character assassination? How long will such type of a show last? How difficult it is to build a right image and all in drain just for one's selfish cheap stunt?

Call of the day!!!!!

2009-08-29T08:04:00.005+05:30

The quantum of air that we breathe, the quantum of food that we eat are all the same except for the purity and nutritious value is the same. Then why do we show too much discrimination. Arent everybody the same? Then why this show off everywhere?

Is GILT the call of the day???????

Love

2009-07-23T17:43:00.006+05:30

Love is a beautiful feeling wherein, you are more than willing to change yourself for others rather than trying to find who will suit you the best.....

2009-05-16T19:42:00.007+05:30

Reading blogs have become one my new interesting time pass.. I wouldn't exactly say a time pass coz at times they are a nice entertainment and at times they make us think... Blogging these days have become a nice medium where one can pen down their feelings.. Let the world know what they have to say.. There is no right or wrong for what one feels is right is wrong for someone else..

Leaving all that apart, today i read a very nice post which talks about housewives... A very nice narration.. The world looks down on us when one says she is a housewife. Here the author describes in an aptly fitting description..:) She calls herself a "Research Associate in the field of Child development and Human Relations" :)

I just loved her post and here comes her post as follows...

A woman named Mili renewing her driver's license at the Clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

"What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a...

"Of course I have a job," snapped Mili. "I'm a mother."

"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation... 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it, I do not know... The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't), in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family), and already have two credits, (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistant - age 13 . Upstairs I could hear our upcoming experimental model, (a 7 year old ), in the child-development program, testing out a new 'interior designing' pattern.

I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother."

Motherhood...What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"? I think so!!!

I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants".

How dependable????

2009-05-14T17:27:00.007+05:30

It is said that our brain is much more superior than a computer.. It can think and perform so many actions. Accepted..but off late how much we depend on electronic gadgets.

Before i had a phone for myself, I used to remember so many phone numbers.. there wasn't a need for me to have a phone book to remind me of numbers and also i used to remember all important events in the family and outside like birthdays, wedding anniversaries and so on... but now that i have got used to the phone i don't remember any number.. and having an alarm set for events has made me forget all important dates...

To be frank I don't remember my own number at times and have it stored in my phone... Living outside my country i should at least be remembering a few important contact numbers, but I'm so dependable that i don't even make an effort to remember any. I just cant imagine if i lose my phone then i will be left stranded... Its always better to have a few important numbers written down in a seperate pocket diary or to remember just in case of any emergency....

Hope I try to change this habit of mine and try to remember at least a few important numbers...

And today is my best friend's b'day and i totally forgot about it.. Usually its I who wish him first at 12 in the night. :) Its been a ritual strictly followed for the past 8 years... Yesterday for some reason or the other i couldn't fall asleep and was thinking why??????? Finally i remembered... Though I was half an hour late I did wish him...:) Thankfully i remembered.. Else I would have felt very bad... :)

2009-05-12T18:39:00.007+05:30

What are you left with when you forget your TODAY thinking about your TOMORROW?

A nice thought...

2009-05-06T13:35:00.008+05:30

Got it as a forward....

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.
What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eying each other's cups.

Now if life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change. Some times, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

Don't let the cups drive you... Enjoy the coffee instead.!

Silence

2009-04-21T12:29:00.002+05:30

Since i have come to Dubai my phone has become completely dormant. No phone calls, no sms... it has become totally inactive. The only phone call i get is from my husband to let me know about his whereabouts. Missed calls from home so that i come online to talk to them.... Otherwise there is no use of my phone..

There were times when my phone was full time engaged. :) Those were times when i was in college and at work. Evenings were totally dedicated for phone calls. How much i used to be scolded by my mother. :) Hours of gabbing because of CUG. Missed calls to say "Miss U... " during holidays after exams.... or simply to irritate...:)

All gossips and revisiting what happened during the day or giving updates of what happened at college....along with dad's scolding "Wrong use of graham bell's invention... Phone is for passing on important information and not for spending time..."

How much revision has been done during exam times. Important portions, important questions, even lectures... Calls at inhuman hours to friends before the exam day.

Non stop rubbish just to keep me awake in the cab when i used to leave late from office...

How can i forget about birthdays... phone starts ringing right at 12 continuously... and it continues through out the day.

Now.... at times i forget to check whether there is charge in my phone or not... :(((((((( Absolutely no junk sms.... :) How much i used to get angry when i get the same repeated sms n number of times; but now i feel there was a kinda closeness which always puts the senders face in front of your mind...

how we used to send long stories in sms as calls were charged and smses were free... :)

Cheers!!!!
Gul...

2009-04-16T18:45:00.003+05:30

நான் தமிழில் எழுதி பல நாட்கள் ஆகின்றது. இன்று போஸ்ட் செய்யும் போது தமிழிலும் போஸ்ட் செய்ய முடியும் என்று அறிந்து மகிழ்ந்தேன். பல நாட்கள் கழித்து தமிழில் எழுதுகிறேன். மிகவும் சந்தோஷமாக இருக்கிறது. பல தடவை நான் தமிழில் எழுதுவதையே மறந்துவிடுவேன் என்று நினைத்தேன். ஆனால் இன்று தமிழில் எழுதியது மிகவும் மகிழ்ச்சியாக இருக்கின்றது.

வாழ்க தமிழ் வளர்க தமிழ்!!!!!

2009-04-16T18:21:00.002+05:30

What am i doing now?

Jobless... :P

just chatting with my friend and watching June ponal on SS Music...

Man i want a changeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Life sucks as its become a little monotonous.

Made me feel special

2009-03-25T22:22:00.003+05:30

I'm so happy today. There are two reasons for it. One is that my best friend is getting engaged to his long time girl friend and i'm very much excited about it. The engagement was fixed one day prior to my visit to India. I was very upset about it. And there came a call from him saying it has been postponed to the day i reach India so that I would be able to attend the engagement. Wow.. i'm so very excited. My joy is boundless. I just dont have the words to explain. :) I feel so nice to have such a great friend who has made me feel special in so many ways. I was the one who first knew about his lady love and now he has got his engagement changed for me. :) TOUCHWOOD!!! I pray we remain such great friends forever. I'm so happy to have found a great friend in him.

May God shower his choicest blessings on them.... :)

2009-03-17T12:39:00.004+05:30

Today morning I felt very lazy to make breakfast... so was just lazying around.... but of course i felt very hungry... was simply drinking some water to postpone my getting up from the bed to make breakfast... and my next-door-aunt was making some delicious dish which smelt so damn good... i wished she knocked my door and gives me some to eat... :(

Its how long since i ate something that is not cooked by me.. Everyday i have to cook my own food... man its boring!!!!! How much i liked, mom cook food for me and even serve it on my plate to eat... how much i would wait till she serves it for me... self service was something not in my vocabulary.. :( and now i got to cook.. i got to serve my own food..... grrrrrrr and the agony is i have to eat it alone....

How much i used to hate those idlis... ask me now??? i will do anything for those steaming white idlis...

I still remember telling "ma!! why are you making the same thing again and again? Everyday idli, dosa or chapathi... vera edavadu seyungalen...." Now i spend hours to think what to cook for the next meal... i harldy get any idea... thanks to the samayal blogs.. else i would have become obsolete by now...

A friend of mine from my school days.. She used to be very chubby then... Though we were in touch through phone i happened to meet her when we joined work... We happened to work in the same area... I was shocked to see her so slim and nice... I asked her.. "Hey Sandy epdi di ivlo slim aaite?" She said "Slim my foot... Podi podi... hostel sapadu panna vela..Ippo en amma pullu (grass) platela vaicha kooda naan sapiduven..."..It was then i udnerstood it was not slimming but the effect of being malnourished for four years in her college hostel.... I also feel the same i will eat anything my mom makes without any question... not even to ask her how she made it....

Seriously there is no comparison for home made food... and especially if somebody makes it for you... man its bliss....

I still remember how U aunty used to send me akkaravadisal in a separate tiffin and another tiffin for the rest....

And how can i forget her tasty tasty rice payasam....

man i wish someone cooks for me today and i sit and eat... ok let me go now and make something to eat.. :(((((((((

2009-03-04T18:34:00.000+05:30

This is how it works....

2009-02-25T09:55:00.006+05:30

I saw a poster which read the fine amount on violating the traffic rule for the first time is 5000 dhs (for Dirham to Rupee conversion click here) and on the second time it would be 10000 dhs... 5000 dhs is more than the monthly salary of some people in this country... No wonder with such a high amount as fine anybody would think about violating the rules... A friend was spot fined a amount of 6000 dhs for violating the rules....

Here the speed limits is controlled by radar and there is no chance of you escaping without being noticed... Your fine amount will automatically be added to your account for each violation... The other day i heard in the radio that a woman has accumulated an amount of 75000 dhs in Dubai and the other emirates.. out of which 35000 dhs is in dubai itself... I dont deny the fact that there are traffic violations here but mostly people do follow the traffic rules...

People cross the road only in the pedestrian crossing... otherwise people are fined... Signals function properly... Even at round about where there is no signal vehicles wait and let the other person go and then move... I have not seen any traffic police standing there at every signal... Vehicles do stop well within the limits in the signal... they do follow the lane rules...

Lanes rules are something that is only in paper in India.. How many times have we witnessed that vehicles just speed up at the moment you have the red signal... How many times have we witnessed people crossing the roads just like that not waiting for the signal... how many people cross the median which has iron grills (barricades)...

We awe about the lane disciplines being followed in foreign countries... but how many of us are ready to put it in action... Why is all the rules only put down on paper and not in action? How many signals are not working? its only in the month ends do we see all men in action to book some cases like not wearing helmet... not using the seat belt... no license, not carrying RC book, not stopping at the signal, over speeding... blah blah blah...

When will all these rules be put in action stringently and have severe punishments for violations.. and that is how things will work......

It would be a welcoming effort if traffic rules are being taught in schools... They must be made aware that it they who can bring a change in the future... This must be inculcated in them right from when they are small.... They should be taught that following the lane discipline can save somebody's life....

Act!!!!

2009-02-18T18:35:00.004+05:30

How many of us do what we really think or wish to do? Definitely, I don't fall under this category. There are only quite a few who do things what they really want without thinking about the consequences. Otherwise most of us think too much over it and end up not doing it...

What stops us from doing it?????????

Is it because of the fear of what people might think? Or just think how will it end up when its finally done? Or is it because we think whether its the right or wrong thing to be done? What the consequences might be? Will i be able to do it?

Whatever the reasons be we end up not doing it... How many such things remains in our list that we really wanted to do but did not... and when we turn the pages of our lives after many years we do regret for at least few of the things which we did not do... We do feel things could have been different if we had had the courage to do what we really wanted... and face the consequences..

Somehow I feel its better to do what you wanted to (of course with a little right or wrong quotient in your decision) and stand for what come may....

Is this the right way?????

2009-02-07T19:37:00.002+05:30

I happen to follow some Singing reality shows due to my interest in music (for the sake of enjoying some nice singing by some trained singers).... These reality shows are to find that talent who is really capable of and is worth it... There are a few judges (of course all musicians) who tell the participants about their singing and the ways how they can improve... They pin point all technicalities... And each participant is given a code and the public has to vote for their favorite contestant... it goes like... "If you want your favourite contestant to go to the next level then please send your votes to 52525 and you can also call and give the code of the contestant and the code for GULMOHAR is GULMOHAR 01"

Is this the way we really have to judge the talent... People get regional votes... Suppose if a person is from a X state.. even if the singer is not as talented as other participants just because the contestant is from that particular X state gets the vote... By this way are selecting the correct talent... All this voting system just to make money... What rubbish?????

Because of this judging system many trained singers are voted out just because they don't get enough votes... Funny way of judging and the worst part is the show is claimed to be the best in the TRP rating...

Isnt it the same way we select people for leading us just because of favourism and not really thinking about their vision and capablities....

Hail Public's judgement!!!!!!

Walk along the Corniche

2009-02-02T09:35:00.004+05:30

After many hitches, today I started my walking again. It was 5.30 when I got up and it was very dark... So started by 6.30 and planned to walk in the park near my house.. It was a little crowded and so I changed the route to walk along the Corniche near my house... I haven't been in that route before.

The Corniche street is very close to the creek and is a 6 lane road. It has huge buildings and lovely lawns near the pavement... There is a row of Date Palm trees on either side of the road and lovely yellow colored chrysanthemum flowers at the base of the trees.... it was a lovely sight to see them in the morning... As i walked along the Corniche street, and took a U turn I was taken by surprise to see the sea.... I never thought I would get the view of the sea so near to my house... This street is one of the nicest places I have been in Sharjah....

(The road behind the Hotel Radisson is Corniche street... )

On the return, it was a little bright and all birds were flying and the road was busy with traffic.. yet it was a beautiful sight to see the vehicles following the lane which is a rare sight in my country :(

One can never expect to start a day in a more pleasant way than this...:)

Hope I continue my walking with the same zeal and shed those extra pounds i gained... :)

Happy walking!!!!

My visit to the temple in Dubai

2009-01-31T16:45:00.003+05:30

Its almost 4 and half months since i moved to Sharjah... Since then i wanted to visit the temple here and it finally came true yesterday... It is the only Hindu temple in Dubai... This makes my visit a little more special to heart.. :) So my travel consisted of taxi drive, then bus, then walk, and finally a ferry ride to the temple... It was fun... Its almost after so many days did I go to a temple... Had a good dharshan.. though was not allowed to stand and pray more than few seconds... happens when it is the only temple... but my mind was very peaceful after that.. :)

From there I visited the DSF (Dubai Shopping Festival)... It was such a fun to watch such a crowd... Did some shopping and it was almost midnight when I returned back home...

On the whole it was a nice change being outside... :)

what a pain???

2009-01-09T22:05:00.002+05:30

Be it a strike for whatever reasons but how much the public are affected.... Its sad that people are not able to go to hospitals, schools... all commodities required for day today life are not available... vegetable prices have shot up like rockets... that too in such a crisis time where people are being kicked out of their jobs... What are people gonna do?????

Anyway its good to see the strike has come to an end...

God save people...

What am i missing?????

2009-01-07T09:27:00.004+05:30

Missing home, mom's food, friends, work, radio mirchi, sunday's biriyani, phone calls, messages, get togethers, outing with friends, birthdays, weddings, glass bangles, shopping @ T.Nagar, my dog, my bed, fights with my brother, watching tv with family, hugs from my loved ones, my sarees, train journey, bus journey, long drives, paati's thuvaiyal, idli dosa sambar, mom's muruku, kalkal, rose cookies, samosas, the warmth being at home, gossips with friends, fights for the remote, team outings, team lunch, bike rides, books, flowers......

the list goes on and on and on...............

The end is a new Beginning....

2008-12-24T08:20:00.006+05:30

The end of a seed is the new beginning of a sapling,
The end of a sapling is the new beginning of a plant,
The end of a plant is the new beginning of a tree,
The end of a night is the new beginning of a day,
The end of a year is the new beginning of another,
The end of a season is the new beginning of another,
The end of a thought is the new beginning of an action,
The end of colors in a palette is the new beginning of a painting,
The end of a barren land is the new beginning of a paddy field,
The end of a question is the new beginning of an answer,
so, isn't the END a NEW BEGINNING?????

Even in this age????

2008-12-23T09:28:00.003+05:30

Earlier there were days where the groom and the girl don't meet... They get to see each other only on the day of the wedding... There wasn't much hype on this matter.. It was just that the families meet and see whether the families would be compatible and the bride and the groom will live happily. There were no choice of going around and no talking to understand each other... The most modern thing that could have happened is make the bride and the groom see each other in a temple that too not being introduced to each other... made to see from far.... If the families were ok then no question of saying NO to marriage even if you don't like the groom or the bride.

Then things did change... The groom and the girl were introduced and allowed to talk for 5 mins or so... then photos exchange...

Then times changed still more... these days they are made to meet and talk. Marriage is finalized only if the guy and girl are ok with the marriage. They do talk for long hours over phone, chatting, going out, exchange gifts, movies, dinner, parties and so on....

Girls are bold enough to say i will accept only i see the boy personally...

But I happen to witness a strange marriage where my friend was asked to book his tickets back to India in Dec because he is getting married.. It was kinda an open invitation to him to attend his own marriage... he did not see the girl. Not even her photo. Did not know her name. He called me two days back and said finally he managed to see her... :) (2 days b4 marriage)... I just could not imagine how did he accept to such a wedding...

Is it possible in this age????? I have no choice other than to believe...

Yes its his wedding today...

May God shower his choicest blessing on the couple.....

I need answers...

2008-12-19T10:30:00.003+05:30

Questions.. questions... questions...

I'm being bombarded with so many questions... Everyone i meet.. everyone with whom i talk... my dear ones.. ppl who are total strangers to me.. everyone has questions ready for me...

Its me who doesn't have any answers....

I hate to be in such a state where i have lots of questions around me and no answer for even one... Worst part is i have questions for myself and no answer... In a state where I don't know how to proceed...

I NEED ANSWERS.....

Ignorance is bliss

2008-11-19T12:00:00.003+05:30

'Ignorance is bliss' - how true this statement is.... faith is something that can help you come out of a particular situation... even if its only a possibility with faith sometime it does happen... it goes like this... we work positively with hope which eventually aids in coming out of any trying situation...

Went to the doc when i was not feeling well... the doc did some test and finally prescribed some medicine..then i was in full hope that i will become alright soon... came home did some googling on the medicine... and there comes the problem... lots of side effects mentioned... it may happen it might not but still mind works only on that... if its the medicine that is going to work 50% then its faith, hope what not that will cover up the remaining portion.... How on earth will this work then when my faith goes down the drain with my research on the medicine???

Now i realize how difficult it would be to treat doctors... They very well know how much this medicine can cure them...

Now doesn't the statement 'Ignorance is bliss' sound sensible??????

Letters......

2008-11-13T14:14:00.005+05:30

Read a novel, 'Letters to my Mother'..... A story which talks about a gal who wrote letters to her mother about her day today life and when she read that how she recollected all the related things that happened.... It seemed to being past to the present...

Its an electronic age now and everybody uses the mail to convey messages or send sms if it is really that short... Nobody spends time to sit and write a letter and post it...now everything is communicated over a click of the 'send' button.

I used to write so many letters to friends and cousins... What a nice feeling it is when i get to read those hand written letters that we had written years ago.... it may seem old fashioned but still there is a personal touch... it does bring the person alive in front of us for the moment when we read those hand written letters.... all those are cherished moments... :)

i still remember how i used to send rakhis inside the letters to my brother and receive replies.. it was always a pleasure to receive letter from the post man... i still remember how we used to run to collect the letters... and at time when we return from school mom would have collected the letters and kept... all those letter which carried wishes for all the exams and esp for the board exams... all those are very close to my hearts....

will all those times come again?????

A nice read..

2008-11-12T13:54:00.003+05:30

'The Best Laid Plan' - A soft romance between a structural engineer and an architect, which started off more in a tiff in the plan made by the architect. It then moves how he cares for her and teaches her to come out from the hard core shell she had built around her and also teaches her how to love.... and how he sticks with her during the time she needed him the most.....

How strange it is?????

2008-10-29T09:55:00.002+05:30

Isn't it strange how a 20 rupee note seems like such a large amount
when you donate it to temple,
but such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at Temple,
and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying,
but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bhagwad Gita,
but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel ?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games,
but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Jagran?

Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event in a temple 2-3 weeks before
the day so we can include it in our agenda,
but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others,
but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say,
but we question the words in the Bhagwad Gita?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven,
but they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

is TV useful or not?????

2008-10-23T09:39:00.002+05:30

All Tamil channel has a 'patti mandram' (debate) on any festival be it deepavali or pongal or any other festival... and u will definitely have a topic on 'tholai katchi payan ullada illaya?' (is TV useful or not) and one side will talk about the disadvantages of TV and the other the advantages... and the judge will give some judgement at the end of the show...

I don't know whether TV is advantageous or not but it has become an integral part of my life.... For a person who was always surrounded by people either at home or at office and now who is in a situtation to be inside the house through out the day anticipating darling husband to come in the evening.... TV is the only friend i have... not really that i watch any program but the tv is switched on through out the day, just to hear some sound and to keep somebody talking to me... :)

TV has become my companion these days.....

Funny....

2008-10-23T09:19:00.005+05:30

Tried launching blogspot site.... it took a few seconds and i saw the most weird thing... All i could see was the blosgpot site but i could not see English anywhere but only Arabic... As i'm in UAE i thought maybe thats how it is... Then with some vague memory of the screen i'm used to, i tried to log in... I typed my user name and then my password..but then i got the message the password doesnt match for the username... I had recently changed the password so thought may be i have not entered it properly.... tried again..

Same error message... i got wild then checked the username and i was surprised to find my password there in the username field... was wondering how on earth did this happen..it took a sec for me, to realize what had happened....

As the site launched, i saw in Arabic. There were two text boxes.... being a software engineer and used to this i knew what to do next... Typed the user name in the first box and the password in the second (that is how it generally goes).... Was so used to do this and did not see what was getting typed.... Also the point that Arabic is read from right to left had just skipped my mind... the 1st box had been for password and the second for username.... and no wonder why i found my password in the username text field.... OMG!!!! Check out the drop down box in the top..even that is in the reverse man.....

Man!!! this is funny...

2008-10-12T11:54:00.005+05:30

its one since i left India... :( Last month same time i was in the flight for the first time... It was a great experience... i liked it.... at the same time i hate flying also.. I liked it because i was above the clouds but hate it as it did have its spell on me...

Being a people person traveling alone just killed me... was just waiting when will i land... It was such a relief when i landed... i also hate the flight as it took me away from my family...

Being away from India now made me realize how much i miss it... I used to wonder why people living abroad show the feeling of being an Indian in a little higher percentage than those living in India... Now i can feel the same.... No wonder even i'm gonna be one when i land in India..:)

1 night.....

2008-09-10T21:50:00.002+05:30

He is desperately trying for a job that would pay him so that he can support his family in a better way... He keeps applying for jobs in the job sites...one day he gets mail, stating him to join a very esteemed organization, with a very fancy salary and many details... there is no limit to the happiness he is filled with...he did not get any sleep that night.. stayed awake late in the night making plans for life, without knowing that, that happiness is not going to last for more than a few hours... it dawned.. and also dawned on him to check the genuineness of the mail..

He did...

Only to find that it was a hoax mail.... it just shattered the dream he built in 1 night....

How many such people are affected.... what not they do believing such hoax mails??? They invest so much of money... They make so many plans.... just to be cheated so badly? What do they get by playing around with somebody's feelings? Doesn't it pinch their conscience?????

Why?

2008-09-09T21:07:00.004+05:30

We have made progress in so many fields and have marked our footprints on the moon too... if we can just see around us then there seems to be nothing that cannot be achieved by we 'humans'... we claim ourselves to be advanced forms who possess the most celebrated common sense.... but do we really have them???? do we really use them???

People are superstitious in many ways... they say you will soon have a child if a small baby eliminates the liquid waste on you... ridiculous... in that case why do all the medical fraternity strive so hard to dicover different ways like artificial insemination.. test tube baby... surrogate mothers...to help a couple who dont have a baby... isnt making a new born baby eliminate the liquid waste on you, enough?????? How can be people be so stupid???? why dont they apply their common sense here..

It was almost 5 pm in the evening.... Happened to hear a woman say that she is going to see her daughter who has met with an accident... The accident had happened in the morning but she was informed only in the evening... just because it was a 'Tuesday' and you are not supposed to go out on tuesdays... fine it is ok when you wanna do something in some good time (though there isnt any demarcation like that) but even for an emergency????????? that too for one's own daughter?????

Holy Shit!!!! isn't this heights of being superstitous????????????

Will we?????

2008-09-08T17:38:00.003+05:30

it was 3 days after Ganesh Chaturthi.... we were waiting at the signal... happened to see a small van with Lord Ganesha's idol.... and through out my travel that day that was the only idol i have seen...

Earlier there used to be Lord Ganesha's idol in every street corner and here used to be Ganeshji's bajans being played with amplifiers... you hardly would be able to hear what you speak.... there would be vendors who make small 'pillayar kodai' (umbrella) with bead hanging from the tips... beautifully decorated.. Ganesh statues being made out of mud... and new stall which would sell all pooja items necessary for the pooja...

Now hardly can you see any shop nor a vendor selling pillayar (Lord Ganesh) or umbrellas.... What has happened? Why is there no excitement or enthusiasm around? Not only with Ganesh Chaturthi but then with any festival.... Why are people not finding joy in celebrating a festival????... This country was definitely a very religious country.. here religious sentiments take more value than anything... there were so many festivals.. but now we hardly celebrate any.... in a country where there used to be festivals throughout the year, now there are celebrations only for major festivals like Diwali, Pongal among the hindus... christmas among the christians and ramzaan among the muslims... even during these festivals people dont really enjoy themselves very much...it seems like they just celebrate it coz they are used to it...

what has made us not to enjoy celebrating these festivals? now a days we only find time to sit in front of the TV not knowing which channel to watch... for all channels are screening new movies... interviews of film stars... do we meet our relatives or friends on these festivals... do we invite them home? NO WAY... we only want to make some easy dish and sit right in front of the tv.... we dont even bother to call and wish ppl... Where are we heading to?

In the days to come will we be celebrating any festivals??? Will we remember there were such festivals or do we have to dust the old books to find about them??????

Bye Bye AIRTEL!!!

2008-08-19T19:41:00.003+05:30

I still remmeber how much i wanted a mobile phone 8 yrs back... I did not get one as i was only a day scholar then. Phone was a necessity to those who were in hostel... :) And during the final year, i got a mobile with AIRTEL connection... i still remember how happy i was then to possess a mobile phone ..:) right from then i only had airtel connection despite of the fact that it a bit costly blah blah blah stuffs.... have been an ardent customer to airtel... but now after so many years, as i have to reloacte to a different place i just called up the airtel office to disconnect my connection... just feeling sad like somebody in my family has gone far away from me... such was my relation with airtel despite of network problems blah blah blah....

?????

2008-08-12T20:49:00.002+05:30

Life has changed drastically that i dont know what to do now... made some big decisions that has changed my life and its effects are still to sink in me... So many questions in my mind...
--> What am i going to do next?
--> How am i going to make things work out?
--> Will i succeed?
--> Will i see myself where i want me to be?
Somehow need to find an answer to all these questions....

2008-07-02T19:17:00.002+05:30

We meet so many people in a day.. They might be related to us as friends, colleagues, acquiantances or in many more ways... Not that everyday we have pleasant experiences with all of them... When there is some misunderstanding we tend to adjust with people who really are nto very close to us but when it comes to our loved ones we just explode... For instance, we stand in some queue and somebody budges in we try to keep quiet though we are angry, maybe our manager screams at us for no fault of ours , or maybe there is a fight in the bus... we adjust in all these places... but when there is a small issue like you want to leave on time and ur brother is late by 2 mins to drop u, or u wait fo 5 mins more in the bus stop for ur friend... we scream at them or are very angry with them.... arent they are loved ones???? after all its with them that we are gonna live... why do we ahve to scream at them??? in fact we have to adjust with these ppl are very much close to us....
I'm no different from others in this... but the only thing is i'm trying my best to adjust with my loved ones... i will succeed for sure :)

Somebody gimme food... Please!!!!!

2008-07-01T19:19:00.002+05:30

How many of us do really think about those who dont even get one proper meal a day????

How much do we spend for 1 pizza??? How much we spend for a world tour? People think about building a skewed building which will be the first of its kind... but do we ever think about those who starve?

dil yeh maantha nahi....

2008-05-10T09:47:00.003+05:30

Meri hatheliyon ki lakeerein se dhoor ho tum,
meri hathon ki pahunch se dhoor ho tum,
phir bhi dil yeh maantha nahi,
ki kisi gair ki amanath ho tum....

Just loved it.... Wish i was the one to pen those lines.... Not my cup of tea :P

pyar...

2008-05-10T09:43:00.003+05:30

Dil chaha tujhe dua du,
tere zindagi khushiyon se bhar jaye,
tujhe hasta dekh chand sharma jaye,
tere kadmo tale phool biche ho,
bhale hi....
kanto par ham chal rahe....

Kal Ho Na Ho...

2008-05-09T21:27:00.002+05:30

Dil ki galion mein koi gham na ho,
hamari yeh dosti kabhi kam na ho,
bas yehi hai dua ki tum kush raho,
kya pata hum agar
KAL HO NA HO....

My ambition quotient...

2008-04-29T22:04:00.003+05:30

Just wanted to test my ambition quotient... so clicked on that link and answered the questions asked there... End result below...

You are ambitious, wise and balanced. Having fun while you work and living a life complete in every sense is important to you along with career growth. You know what you want and you work your way up patiently through your performance and attitude. Sometimes, you may need a little push, but you will get there. All the best! .

Seems to be good and interesting huh????? :-)

How true????

2008-04-28T17:40:00.000+05:30

The philosophy of one century is the common sense of the next...

The 25th of April 2008

2008-03-25T19:35:00.013+05:30

'TODAY' the 25th of April 2008 - What a memorable day? Have had mixed emotions today!!!! People with whom i have spent nearly 2 yrs of my life are responsible for making this day a very memorable one... Its not that i have spent 2yrs time will all but i have only known few of them only may be for a couple of months... Does time really count as a parameter to judge the quality of friendship??? (NEVER, in my view)

Yes today was my last day at my workplace and i had a farewell... We have had so many farewell so far but there were times when some ppl used to be reserved but today in my farewell i found everybody to be their real self including me..

Spent the day with a very good friend of mine. Today i learnt the real meaning of "Unheard music is sweeter" The time i got to spend with my friend is so valuable that words cant just explain the feeling... there will be so much untold... :)

Got to meet all my friends in a day... God knows how i managed it... Met all of them in my DC in a day... Eventful :-)

When i sat in my place for the last time i just could not control my tears... Just broke down and so did my team members... An awesome team all together.. TOUCHWOOD!!!

I had all my friends come out to send me off (which i can proudly say none of them who left the team earlier would have experienced)... Miss u all...

Stopping here as untold words are sweeter!!!!!!!

Bye da!!!! (The current usage in my team....)

The good in me...

2008-03-25T19:35:00.007+05:30

Last time when i went to the shop, i saw a man buying some things...he payed the bill and he got the change back... As he counted, he found that he had got 10 rupees extra so he returned it back saying that they had given him a 10 rupees note extra... The shopkeeper said "Two people have counted it.. inspite there was 10 rupees extra? " and took the note back... I was happy to see that the man returned what did not belong to him though the amount was small... I thought how nice it is to see such people...

After two days went to a shop to buy and i was supposed to get 1 re change... instead got 3 rs. As i got the money back.. i was amazed with my spontaneous reaction... I said " You have given me 2 rs extra" and returned it... It was only while returning i remembered what happened the other day... I was more than happy to spot the same good samaritan in me... :-)

For myself..

2008-03-25T19:35:00.005+05:30

How nice it is to do something for yourself...
all small things you do for yourself, gives u a great change and spices up life... :-)
1. Finding old friends in networking sites
2. mailing friends
3. calling old friends
4. writing new posts in my blog
5. changing the feel of my blog..
6. listening to music when u r alone...

Mind..

2008-03-25T19:35:00.003+05:30

How powerful and important is this positive attitude?????????
If you don think that you can, then you wont...and if you think you can, then you can do it... everybody of us know this... but how many of us really think positive in a real crunchy situation... atleast definitly i dont...
i was wondering that, the other day how positively i was giving a lecture to a friend of mine who was a little disappointed over something... i gave a real big lecture but the very next week when i was in some tight situation at work i know how tensed i was... working at not being so... is it because we expect too much and want things to be perfect. The fear of failure or not upto the mark remark makes us get worried... in a way it is ok, for it gives u an urge to complete things in the way you want.. but too much of the same makes you feel down and doesnt let you work on what you really want...
isnt it always nice to be calm and composed always??? but again being calm in a place where we shouldnt will leave us behind... its upto the individual to take a call depending on the situation...

2 months from now...

2008-03-25T19:35:00.001+05:30

Exactly 2 months from now.. mama and papa will leave me in my in laws place and return home..:-(

Will miss u mama, papa and chotu..:'((((((((((99

Life!!!!

2008-03-19T21:05:00.004+05:30

Living in a very beautiful phase of my life... There is no words to describe it... i'm just living it.. :-)

Pray God everything remains the same forever... :-) TOUCHWOOD!!!!

What a great start???

2008-01-01T14:17:00.000+05:30

Today's fortune: Your love life will be happy and harmonious

Wish i find one soon... :P

Happy New Year Sweety pie!!!!!

2007-12-21T08:37:00.000+05:30

So many talks around... lets see what happens...just waiting for the small pieces to be joined so that a bigger picture is visible...

2007-12-19T08:37:00.000+05:30

It is raining continously for the past 2 days... Today morning i saw mom standing near the doorway with something in her hand... I was just looking at her to find out what is she going to do... She was throwing something out.. once she threw it there were lots of birds eating it and then i realised that she threw a handful of grains for the birds to eat thinking that they might not get food in the rain.... What a nice thought...Of course not many would not think like that... where do we have the time to think about all this? Fine.... now lets see whats happening at the place she threw the grains... I found some crows, squirrels and few small birds like sparrows.. These crows being in a bigger size were not allowing the squirrels and the smaller birds to eat the grains.... Then i realised that, not only in the human race but also in the animal and the birds kingdom do we have politics playing a major role... :D

God save everybody....

My practical session

2007-12-19T08:34:00.000+05:30

In the morning just before leaving home, i was thinking what are the pros and cons of having a mobile and here i am at office forgetting to carry my mobile.. ;-) So today i'm going to be in the not reachable state...:-) Think God had decided that it not ncie that i only have a therotical idea of not having a mobile in hand and i should have a practical session too.. Gee :D let me see how it turns out to be???????????

crash course...

2007-12-19T08:32:00.000+05:30

Attending crash course on life from Dad and very soon mom will start her crash course on cooking... :D