...From Pillar-to-Post

Reporting From The Officer's Training Academy!!

2006-06-18T10:38:00.000+05:30

Blogging after a long time. Frankly had no time, no permission and no will after the long long hours here to even move a finger.

The training is something that happens only once in a lifetime. Things you never dreamt you could do, you do. Thoughts you never imagined you would think, you think.

I just finished a 15 kms run yesterday in 1.5 hours with a fractured leg... pat me on the back guys!! And it turns out am almost a sharpshooter ;)

It makes you strong, coz you realise the immense potential that lies within you.

Will write more later guys

Nothing Lasts Forever

2006-03-20T11:38:00.000+05:30

You gain some, you lose some.

Am about to realise a dream which I have fostered for quite sometime. The passion is finally taking shape.

And it was just yesterday that I finally let go of the one person whom I have cared for for a long time now. I still care... but all the rest is gone.

Classic case of Ups and Downs. The mind is numb now. Just going with the flow....

Time to Pack Up!!

2006-03-10T20:52:00.000+05:30

Got my final confirmation today. Have to report for my training at the Officer's Training Academy, Chennai on 31st of March....Its the start of a totally new life...Its the end of a life so familiar and comfortable.

Hope I have the strength to carry on. In the meanwhile...its PARTY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still need the best wishes... really really do :)

Am I Beaming Or What??!!!

2006-03-06T10:34:00.000+05:30

A very happening week the past one has been. Things have been moving at such breakneck speed that have more than once felt the need to just stop in my tracks, breathe deeply and gather my wits about me. Two days of near complete sleep deprivation does not help my cause either.... But, am I complaining?? No sir!!

Coz am really really happy today. Happy in the sense that the heart seems to float in mid air and there is this incredible urge to sing out loud (Don worry... won't sing right now, afterall my co-workers do not deserve such third degree right in the morning).

The reasons being these:

1. Work was incredible last week. And have got a very interesting assignment up my sleeve. You could imagine how interesting this is just by the fact tht am looking forward to working for a change ;)

2. There was a great workshop last weekend at work where I think I did pretty well...and which put things in perspective as to what are the "few" weak links that I need to work on (read, Confidence!!)

3. P finally got what he wanted. He is going away and can't seem to keep his feet on the ground these days

4. Read both of Chetan Bhagat's books back to back on Sunday. Not literary marvels, but they were interesting enuff to finish off the weekend with a flourish.

5. And then there was this matter of the heart. Cannot provide graphic details because of the slightly scandalous nature of the whole episode. All I can say is every so often you come across some person in your life who can make you feel so special tht you could cry, someone who just by their mere presence can bring out all those silly girlie instincts in you tht you thought were dead since a long time ago and make you feel good about it :) , someone who is strong and sensitive enuff to take the time and effort to dig beneath the surface and understand the person tht you are.... The only downside in the whole story is tht I don know how to and if I will ever be able to make up for all tht I have got

I know it is totally inadequate and uncalled for, but all I can say is Thank You K

To cut a long story long :D

2006-02-21T11:47:00.000+05:30

A story culled off the net. Long , but very interesting I think ;)

Grandmother was pretending to be lost in prayer, but her prayer-beads were spinning at top speed. That meant she was either excited or upset. Mother put the receiver down. "Some American girl in his office, she's coming to stay with us for a week." She sounded as if she had a deep foreboding. Father had no such doubt. He knew the worst was to come. He had been matching horoscopes for a year, but my brother Vivek had found a million excuses for not being able to visit India, call any of the chosen Iyer girls, or in any other way advance father's cause.

Father always wore four parallel lines of sacred ash on his forehead. Now there were eight, so deep were the furrows of worry on his forehead. I sat in a corner, supposedly lost in a book, but furiously text-messaging my brother with a vivid description of the scene before me.

A few days later I stood outside the airport with father. He tried not to look directly at any American woman going past, and held up the card reading "Barbara". Finally a large woman stepped out, waved wildly and shouted "Hiiii! Mr. Aayyyezh, how ARE you?" Everyone turned and looked at us. Father shrank visibly before my eyes. Barbara took three long steps and covered father in a tight embrace. Father's giggling out of it was too funny to watch. I could hear him whispering "Shiva Shiva!" She shouted "you must be Vijaantee?" "Yes, Vyjayanthi" I said with a smile. I imagined little half-Indian children calling me "Vijaantee aunty!"

Suddenly, my colorless existence in Madurai had perked up. For at least the next one week, life promised to be quite exciting. Soon we were eating lunch at home. Barbara had changed into an even shorter skirt. The low neckline of her blouse was just in line with father's eyes. He was glaring at mother as if she had conjured up Barbara just to torture him. Barbara was asking "You only have vegetarian food? Always??" as if the idea was shocking to her. "You know what really goes well with Indian food, especially chicken? Indian beer!" she said with a pleasant smile, seemingly oblivious to the apoplexy of the gentleman in front of her, or the choking sounds coming from mother. I had to quickly duck under the table to hide my giggles.

Everyone tried to get the facts without asking the one question on all our minds: What was the exact nature of the relationship between Vivek and Barbara? She brought out a laptop computer. "I have some pictures of Vivek" she said. All of us crowded around her. The first picture was quite innocuous. Vivek was wearing shorts, and standing alone on the beach. In the next photo, he had Barbara draped all over him. She was wearing a skimpy bikini and leaning across, with her hand lovingly circling his neck. Father got up, and flicked the towel off his shoulder. It was a gesture we in the family had learned to fear. He literally ran to the door and went out. Barbara said "It must be hard for Mr. Aayyezh. He must be missing his son." We didn't have the heart to tell her that if said son had been within reach, father would have lovingly wrung his neck.

My parents and grandmother apparently had reached a non spoken agreement. They would deal with Vivek later. Right now Barbara was a foreigner, a lone woman, and needed to be treated as an honored guest. It must be said that Barbara didn't make that one bit easy. Soon mother wore a perpetual frown. Father looked as though he could use some of that famous Indian beer. Vivek had said he would be in a conference in Guatemala all week, and would be off both phone and email. But Barbara had long lovey-dovey conversations with two other men, one man named Steve and another named Keith. The rest of us strained to hear every interesting word. "I miss you!" she said to both.

She also kept talking with us about Vivek, and about the places they'd visited together. She had pictures to prove it, too. It was all very confusing. This was the best play I'd watched in a long time. It was even better than the day my cousin ran away with a Telugu Christian girl. My aunt had come howling through the door, though I noticed that she made it to the plushest sofa before falling in a faint. Father said that if it had been his child, the door would have been forever shut in his face. Aunt promptly revived and said "You'll know when it is your child!" How my aunt would rejoice if she knew of Barbara!

On day five of her visit, the family awoke to the awful sound of Barbara's retching. The bathroom door was shut, the water was running, but far louder was the sound of Barbara crying and throwing up at the same time. Mother and grandmother exchanged ominous glances. Barbara came out, and her face was red. "I don't know why", she said, "I feel queasy in the mornings now." If she had seen as many Indian movies as I'd seen, she'd know why. Mother was standing as if turned to stone. Was she supposed to react with the compassion reserved for pregnant women? With the criticism reserved for pregnant unmarried women? With the fear reserved for pregnant unmarried foreign women who could embroil one's son in a paternity suit?

Mother, who navigated familiar, flows of married life with the skill of a champion oarsman, now seemed completely taken off her moorings. She seemed to hope that if she didn't react it might all disappear like a bad dream. I made a mental note to not leave home at all for the next week. Whatever my parents would say to Vivek when they finally got a-hold of him would be too interesting to miss. But they never got a chance. The day Barbara was to leave, we got a terse email from Vivek. "Sorry, still stuck in Guatemala. Just wanted to mention, another friend of mine, Sameera Sheikh needs a place to stay. She'll fly in from Hyderabad tomorrow at 10am. Sorry for the trouble."

So there we were, father and I, with a board saying "Sameera". At last a pretty young woman in salwar-khameez saw the board, gave the smallest of smiles, and walked quietly towards us. When she did 'Namaste' to father, I thought I saw his eyes mist up. She took my hand in the friendliest way and said "Hello, Vyjayanthi, I've heard so much about you." I fell in love with her. In the car father was unusually friendly. She and Vivek had been in the same group of friends in Ohio University. She now worked as a Child Psychologist. She didn't seem to be too bad at family psychology either. She took out a shawl for grandmother, a saree for mother and hyderabadi bangles for me. "Just some small things. I have to meet a professor at Madurai University, and it's so nice of you to let me stay" she said.

Everyone cheered up. Even grandmother smiled. At lunch she said "This is so nice. When I make sambar, it comes out like chole, and my chole tastes just like sambar". Mother was smiling. "Oh just watch for 2 days, you'll pick it up." Grandmother had never allowed a muslim to enter the kitchen. But mother seemed to have taken charge, and decided she would bring in who ever she felt was worthy. Sameera circumspectly stayed out of the puja room, but on the third day ,I was stunned to see father inviting her in and telling her which idols had come to him from his father. "God is one" he said. Sameera nodded sagely. By the fifth day, I could see the thought forming in the family's collective brains. If this fellow had to choose his own bride, why couldn't it be someone like Sameera?

On the sixth day, when Vivek called from the airport saying he had cut short his Gautemala trip and was on his way home, all had a million things to discuss with him. He arrived by taxi at a time when Sameera had gone to the University. "So, how was Barbara's visit?" he asked blithely. "How do you know her?" mother asked sternly. "She's my secretary" he said. "She works very hard, and she'll do anything to help." He turned and winked at me. Oh, I got the plot now! By the time Sameera returned home that evening, it was almost as if her joining the family was the elders' idea. "Don't worry about anything", they said, "we'll talk with your parents."

On the wedding day a huge bouquet arrived from Barbara.

"Flight to India - $1500.

Indian kurta - $5.

Emetic to throw up - $1.

The look on your parents' faces - priceless" it said.

Confession

2006-02-17T11:20:00.000+05:30

Have started writing Urdu shayari. I think they are really good. My colleague laughed his head off at me. Now I am pissed and determined to write more...

Be scared...be very scared!

The Movie Game!!

2006-02-15T16:20:00.000+05:30

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

BTW, I loved the movie too :D

Sev made me do this!! ;)

2006-02-15T10:01:00.000+05:30

Yes..its a tag ...MUHAHAHAHAHA (I feel evil today)

Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so.

doris
Radmila
Riri
SEV
Anita

Next select five people to tag

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Was so sure of what I would be doing, which was to become a cardiologist. But then the conviction gave way and settled for a far more easier life

What were you doing 1 year ago?

Looking for a job. And reading tons

Five snacks you enjoy

Salted peanuts
Ruffles Lays (seriously, can't eat just one :))
Tapioca chips (have u guys tried it? its amazing!!)
Marie biscuit
Chocolates :D

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:

American Pie - Don McLean
Time of your Life - Green Day
Ironic-Alanis Morrissette
Kajra Re - B&B
Leaving on a Jetplane - John Denver

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

Travel the world 6 times over (6 is my lucky number)
Adopt a hundred children
Hire the best technology guys to work gizmos for me (I suck on tht front :( )
Buy myself the Lourve (think one needs to be a billionaire for tht, many times over)
Publish my own book (does one need to be a millionaire for tht?)

Five bad habits:

Looking too much before I leap
Lazy lazy me
Being too blunt
Cracking my knuckles all the time
Being too loud

Five things you like doing:

Reading
Riding my bike (also going on long drives)
Eating :)
Listening to music...highly mood dependent though
Grinning...a lot :D

Five things you would never wear again:

Fluorescent T's
High heels
Oxidized jewellery
Gulf bought perfumes
Red nail polish

Five favorite toys:

ahem ahem!!
Not really a toy...but Monopoly
Can't think of anything else :s

Bliss

2006-02-12T20:05:00.000+05:30

After a lot of screaming. kicking, nagging, pestering and many such undesirable activities, got Mr. P's priviledged company to watch Rang De Basanti. And was it worth all the effort!! The movie as all must already know is pure bliss. Me being one of the last to watch it, won't put everyone thru another review...No sir!!

There was another highlight today. Discovered this Awesome (notice the capital "A") joint called "Urban Tadka". Mind blowing food. Hogged like pigs :) and loved every moment of it. And its just not the food (which is undoubtedly the bestestest punjabi fare I have tasted in Mumbai), but also the ambience which is first rate, classic Dhaba ishtyle.

All in all, a highly satisfying weekend. I could sing.... :D

PS: Whats with all the pinks and reds? I know V Day is breathing down our necks, but "pink"???!! Why why why???

A Drop of Sunshine

2006-02-06T11:28:00.000+05:30

Ok, so I havent been a good blogger. The days have been whizzing by. And its a dizzying feeling. Been upto a lot lately....where do I start?

Using the principle of LIFO, the weekend that just went by was eventful. Have been "trip"ping a lot lately, the most recent being the one to a place called Dapoli (6 hrs drive from Mumbai, close to the infamous Enron power plant). One of my more affluent colleagues has a couple of farmhouses there and trust me...it was amazing. Barbeques, tequila shots (not for me though), neverending supply of food, music, friends et al. And such a beautiful place, waking up in the morning after abt 2 hrs of sleep and still feeling good abt it because of the gorgeous sunrise. Didnt want to leave the place... And to top it all there was a beach ...havent seen a more fantastic beach in my life. Not a soul around and sand whiter than snow... Once again, didnt want to leave the place :(

The next few posts would probably resemble travel guides, coz have never travelled so much in such a short span of time :) Kindly bear with the wanderlust maniac :D

Cant wait for the weekend after next ...thts going to be some gem. Biking to somewhere far and back. Hope it pans out *fingers and toes crossed*

Huh?

2006-01-16T18:20:00.000+05:30

Been out of circulation for long. Well, 18 days is a long time you know! Just recovering from a bout of food poisoning (i guess, coz I never go to the doc). Missed the Mumbai Marathon :( I hate this!!!

The good part being that I watched "Band of Brothers" non-stop...all 10 episodes! Its amazing, the series. Also, reading a fantastic book "Out of India" by this lady Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Its amazing, the book :)

Delirium does this to me. Forgive me the redundancies and lack of eloquence. I have truly missed my space here. Its like home in some ways. I have no clue if what I am writing makes sense, but the thoughts are flowing, random yet strangely lucid.

Will fix up the next rendezvous soon....

PS: Any ideas on how to deal with a female stalker?

Yippppeeeeeeeeee

2005-12-30T12:21:00.000+05:30

Right now am so so happy could do cartwheels in my cabin and literally jump with joy (actually have already done tht part!!)

Love it love it...this feeling. Can't stop grinning. Hope the people around don't freak out wondering what the heck is wrong with me!!

For All You Boys :)

2005-12-28T22:16:00.000+05:30

2 Pegs of Whiskey - Rs.500
4 Tequila Shots - Rs.1000
6 Cans of Beer - Rs. 300
Driving home the girl who has drunk all this - PRICELESS!!

PS: Courtesy my good friend K!!

Love, Longing and Late Nights

2005-12-26T19:15:00.000+05:30

Been a busy busy week. Partying sure does take a toll on you!! Recently re-discovered the joy of dancing into the wee hours of morning. Its not a luxury that has come by too often for me in the recent past. Also, the late nights have been instrumental in forging some really good friendships...relations which were until now stiff and formal at best...

Met a friend of mine today and realised one thing. Men can be really really loyal and hopelessly romantic or can be crass, bungling, insensitive fools....there is no middle way for them!! (This is strictly an opinion and can be debated upon...its a free country after all).

A little background check for the uninitiated... This particular friend of mine is right now not in the best frame of mind. The reason being that his lady love of many many years has gone away for an extended period of time to a distant city... He's been pining away for long now (read, going over and over their love story right from day one) and yesterday he finally did something that came as quite a surprise!! He flew all the way to meet her for precisely 7 hours and flew back the same day. Also, he unabashedly confessed to crying all the way back home... :(

Now now...this particular dude, if caught on any normal day, is probably the wittiest, sharpest and "i-care-two-f***s" kinda guy, but listening to him today was a complete revelation. It wasnt really pleasant coz I am not very good at handling emotional situations....but it did make me think that there is probably no luckier girl in the world right now (apart from me, of course!!).

Lasting love is truly so hard to find...especially in these times of quick dating and quicker break-ups. Silly, some might say...Not worth the wait, other might declare...but, hoping, waiting and finally finding the one person you want to spend the rest of your life with is according to me a joy next to none. The kind of love that is unconditional, unquestioning and mature, the kind of love that makes you stronger and complete as a person, the kind of love which makes you look forward to every moment with anticipation, excitement and true enthusiasm....thats the kind of love that all of us should aspire to and (I believe!!) all of us deserve!!

There were these words I read somewhere which were really beautiful...simple, yet beautiful..

All the love that history knows,

Is said to be in every rose.

Yet all that could be found in two,

Is less than what I feel for you.

PS: Don't worry people, will snap out this "so-not-me" mood really fast :)

PPS: Wish All of You a Really Really Belated Merry Christmas *sheepish look*

Rate Your Life...Thanks to Ashish!!

2005-12-20T14:37:00.000+05:30

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	8.3
Mind:	7.1
Body:	9.1
Spirit:	7.1
Friends/Family:	5.9
Love:	7.7
Finance:	7.7
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

What’s the World coming to…?

2005-12-16T09:47:00.000+05:30

Watched “Kalyug” over the weekend. Why? Because the options were “Neal n Nikki” and “Ek Ajnabee”. Surprisingly it wasn’t as bad a movie as I thought it would be. There are some nice songs, really soulful. And a really really cute girl in the first half. Now, before you jump to conclusions, she isn’t uber pretty or anything. But she’s talented, and refreshingly so!! You got to watch her in the act to know what I mean.

As a senior colleague of mine put it – “Kalyug starts off with sleaze, neatly categorized and segmented as an industry and also mentions the precise market shares…well, well totally appeals to the man with the MBA in me!!” Crude, but True.

It’s a nice concept, but callously handled. There are a few things though that struck a cord somewhere: The very fact that there are people in this world who would go to any lengths to achieve “success”, the fact that the moral fabric has degenerated to such an extent that I wonder if there is the possibility of looking back now.

Everyone knows there is so much wrong and warped about our existence today. Yet there are these innumerable invisible shackles that stop us from doing the right thing. Its not a nice feeling, you know, helplessness. Probably if we take it one step at a time, one person at a time. Then maybe……. Just maybe.

I "just might" be in the Army now!!!!

2005-12-10T18:11:00.000+05:30

Well...thts where I was all this while. Away for my Army selections (also called Service Selection Board or the SSB). And thanks to all the good wishes, have qualified!! And also sorry to all u guys for being so elusive....as I said, in times like these I suffer from some extreme bouts of superstition...sorry please ;)

Cannot express the heady feeling tht it gives me to think tht out of so many girls who came in hoping to make it, I was among the few who did. Heady and Humbling rolled into one....WONDERFUL!!

Have spent the past 11 days at Allahabad going through all kinds of tests to determine whether am fit for the services. And in this short time itself have realised how difficult it actually is to become an Officer in the Indian Army. It is also an experience second to none. The people from such varying backgrounds, the physical stress tht can push you over the edge, the pride and sense of purpose. Seriously, what is life without tht extra dash of challenges, heh?? ;)

There are a few more hitches to clear though. Like the merit list which is as difficult as the actual selection procedure. Its due in 2 months time and in the meanwhile am keeping my fingers, toes (and all other appendages capable of the same!!) crossed!!! The result, if the merit list favours me, would be 6 months of intensive training and a posting as Captain anywhere in India. Ohhh what I wudnt give for tht honour!!!

I know some people might beg to differ when I say tht the forces are not just a job, they are a way of life. But its a belief I truly stand by. I dont know what tomorrow holds, but am thankful for atleast the opportunity to experience a small part of their life at such close quarters :). Hoping for the best. More about my adventures later. Ciao guys and I still need your best wishes

Just 5 More to Go...

2005-12-04T20:08:00.000+05:30

Hey you all...Will be back in town in another 5 days. Am away on the journey I had alluded to in one of my previous posts (Me being so technologically challenged have not yet figured out a way to add links to my posts :( )

Anyways...your best wishes worked....will be coming back with the satisfaction of a work well done. More details to follow... The past week was probably the most exciting in my short life..yet!!!

Cant wait to tell the world about it...but not the time and place...Ohhh I hate this!!!!

Democracy : dēmos = people + -kratiā = cracy

2005-11-23T12:04:00.000+05:30

This post is not on the lines of one of my regular posts. You might find it sad, laughable or plain stupid. You may proceed to read at your own risk. You stand warned!!

So the Lalu reign in Bihar has come to an end. The JD(U)-BJP alliance has successfully packed him off, lock stock and barrel (I hope!).

It was an emphatic win to say the least...In my opinion a triumph of the masses over a sham regime built on the foundations of indiscriminate castism and an irreverence to the very concept of democracy. Hope Bihar prospers, the people there deserve atleast some relief from all the negativity.

As I always say, Hope is a strange thing. It makes you want to go on, it pushes you to the limit, it cajoles you to reach places you never dreamt off.... and in the end makes you smile at all your follies and wonder at your own endurance and resilience. Yes Sir!! I thrive on Hope...

By the Way...I liked Lalu in a way. He sure was entertaining ;) Especially the bit which said "Jab tak rahega samose mein aalu, tab tak Bihar mein rahega Lalu"...Well I guess the samosa had the last laugh afterall!!!

Evil-ly Yours

2005-11-22T16:04:00.000+05:30

"One of the things that worry businesses is the number of unemployed on the payroll."

Heheheh...hope they are worried sick because of me!!

Counting Days...

2005-11-21T11:49:00.000+05:30

The weekend’s come and gone…when? Off late things have been passing by me (probably on tiptoe) and I am so happily oblivious. Well well well

Took CAT on Sunday for the third time. Now, before you jump to conclusions…the two times I took it earlier was not a complete waste of resources (read, money and time). I did get through a couple of colleges. But me being the pig headed fool I am, have stuck on in the race to find a “better” college. Aargh!! Sometimes I feel like kicking myself…Sometimes I think I probably should!

Met G after a long long time yesterday…. was great talking to her (correction, to listen to her as she spoke spoke n spoke !!). I would get murdered if she ever read this!! Anyways…what I was driving at was that there are few, very few people whom I have really bonded with during college (friends from school are so often so much more closer to your heart). G is one of those precious few who I have connected with in college. And it was a pleasure to talk about the days gone by, the present (by which I mean her present of course!!) and a lot of other stuff that made no sense at all…. It was truly refreshing, a break from all the sensible, stiff and uptight people I have been associating myself with in the recent past!! No offense meant to anyone who knows me!!

Loads to write. Don’t know where to start. Probably when my head is a little less muddled. Probably when words are not so difficult to come by.

Two for the price of One!!!

2005-11-16T14:48:00.000+05:30

This is a double whammy.... Am completing two tags at one shot (Sid and Geetu...kindly excuse the extreme bout of laziness am going through!!)

Anyways...here goes...

20 random (or useless) things about Me!!

1. I am a total foodie....I can eat almost as much as any three average adults put together. But the best part?? I never ever put on weight!! MUHAHAHAHA

2. I am a hopeless romantic *blush*... I can do the craziest things for the person I am in love with... (I hope that someone reads this and feels really privileged :))

3. I can beautifully imitate the way Hema Malini speaks :) ....have lost count of the number of times have been asked to repeat her famous "Nahiiiiii"....

4. Am patriotic to the core...would never leave India and settle elsewhere for anything....

5. I own a Honda Active which I truly treasure....since it was the first possession I bought with my own money...and anyone who calls it a "scooty" is asking for BIG BIG trouble...

6. H-A-T-E cosmetics and make up!!

7. Am addicted to working out...so much so that I wake up every morning at 5:30 to run a couple of kilometres!!

8. I am a reasonably good singer and dancer...have been trained for 12 years of my life in the arts (which I think was an investment my parents were making...afterall there should be something about me which sells in the marriage market...hehehe!!!)

9. Vodka is my drink...yeah baby!!!!

10. I get along with guys more than girls!!! Just that I cant handle gossiping and love beating up people.... (kidding kidding) :)

11. Some people say I have a sexy voice ...(I said "some people"...wasnt really showing off you know!!!)

12. I almost became an architect before engineering happened to me....and that is one thing i regret most in my life :(

13. Love Love Love P.G.Wodehouse, Calvin n Hobbes and Tom n Jerry!!

14. Have mastered the art of solving the Times Crossword in record time!!

15. Have a footwear fetish....anytime I travel by a bus or train...or am sitting somewhere doing nothing....I start noticing people's footwear!!!

16. No one has ever won a staring match with me!!! nor has anyone won an arm wrestling match for that matter!!! Appearances can be deceptive!!

17. I have a very infectious laughter...it sounds crazy and people inevitably are forced to laugh (at me or with me...doesnt matter)!!

18. Had gone and shaved off my head in school once...interesting look tht was!! Will be doing the same sometime soon

19. Am a sucker for Black n White photography

20. Love travelling...the more unconventional the mode of transport...the better!!

Well....I thought I would never be able to write stuff about myself!!! but 20 seems to be a small number when I got down to it!!

Thanks Sid n Geetu for making me do this....it really was fun :)
Maybe I will write more about myself later *evil grin*

Come Hither...Ye League of Procrastinators!!

2005-11-16T10:02:00.000+05:30

Whats tht whooshing sound eh?? Ohhh...thts "time" rushing past me....

Ever felt like Aamir Khan in DCH when he's walkng all across Sydney with the world hurrying past him???
Ever felt that you have so much to do but don't know where to begin???
Ever felt the passion to do tht one thing in life and then discovering you are bogged down by so many other trivial activities tht is almost impossible to break free???
Ever felt tht I am using too many punctuation marks in my posts??? Awww...am digressing again :(...

I have a dream....and its on the verge of realisation. Whoever said tht the moments just before you hit solid gold are the darkest (Bet it was a prospector during the California goldrush!!) cudnt have been more right...hit the nail on the head, I say...bang on target, methinks!!!

Its too painful to wait....but wait I must....dear blog....what would I have done without thee??!!

Will be embarking on a journey soon (clarification: the actual travel type journey...not the philosophical quest/journey...wohkay). So so want to talk about it...but me being me and the silly superstitions I suffer from....*sigh*....

Please wish me luck people...I so need it right now. But then again..."I am the master of my fate ; I am the captain of my soul"

Amen

Ode to the Days of Yore....

2005-11-14T16:54:00.000+05:30

Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.... true true :)

For all the people in the world who are still babies at heart....heres wishing you all a very happy Childrens Day .......

There is nothing more magical than the days of freedom, innocence, inquisitiveness, pranks....et al ....dont you think?? (Would have liked it if I were more eloquent...but the words just arent coming to me)

Pinch or Pilfer...same difference!!!

2005-11-11T16:41:00.000+05:30

I saw the following words scrolling across a blog (Saikat's Blog) on one of my blog hopping sprees (on office time of course...silly!!).... BTW...has the word "blog" appeared 3 times in the last sentence??? *sigh*

I think they are quite nice....not really prize winning literary stuff....plain simple "nice"

I was sitting alone staring up in the sky
When I saw the pics of my life flying by

They smiled at me and pulled me up high
Then led me to the journey of craziness called life

Smiles and tears, those childhood games
Sometimes I do wonder if life will remain the same

Those colours of passion, that innocent smile
Has always pushed me to walk that extra mile

Hey have I ever told you what made these pics so beautiful?
It was you and your smile which has made it so colourful

Whenever I was down you pulled me up high
You made me learn those words ‘never say die’

Today when I stare at these crazy pics around me
It’s your smile and spirit that I see all around me

Closing my eye..when I reflect back on my life
I only see the ‘Crazy Pics’ ....Crazy Pics of my life

A rather interesting test I took online....the results are so flattering (cant stop blushing :)) that I thought the world should know...worth a dekko!!!

My Inner Hero - Paladin!

I strive to help others, and to bring truth and harmony to the world however I can. Whether times are good or bad, you can always count on me. I'm a shoulder to cry on, a champion for the helpless, and an all around nice person.

How about you? Click here to find your own inner hero.

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

2005-11-10T15:16:00.000+05:30

Am reading 3 books simultaneously at this point of time.... Yes...its a kind of its-still-not-enough syndrome that I suffer from...

As I said already...the three scripts subject to my rather eccentric juggling acts are:

1. Catch 22...for probably the hundredth time
2. To kill a mocking bird... more number of times than Catch 22... am sure!!
3. The Monk who sold his Ferrari.......By Robin Sharma

Thats the book am posting to tell the world about....

Complex in its Simplicity...Hard Hitting in its Gentleness...the book is a beautiful amalgamation of the opposites....the perfect blend of sense, sensitivity and pure simple logic.

Recommended for anyone who is young, old, stressed out, relaxed, worried, at peace, complacent, craving for more....In short...recommenced for "anyone"...

PS:Am not usually the kind who flips for self help books...but this is one of those with a marked difference....it connects!!!

Nahiiiii...(Hema Malini Ishtyle!!)

2005-11-08T17:59:00.000+05:30

There cannot be a crisis next week sir...
My schedule is already full

Ohhh Yaaaaa

Invictus

2005-11-07T14:34:00.000+05:30

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever Gods may be...
For my unconquerable Soul.

In the full clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud,
Under the bludgeonings of chance,
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years...
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how straight the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley (1849–1903 )

PS: Inspiring...to say the least

Gimme a neck...and I will strangle it for you...sigh

2005-11-06T11:08:00.000+05:30

Whoever said that "Boys will be Boys" was, in my opinion (which is all that counts on this blog ;)...kidding kidding !!) , the most profound...even more so than, say, the wise Confucius!!

And whoever said that men are from Mars...couldnt you really find a farther away planet so that they could all be dumped on it and I would never have to encounter another one of the species again!!!

Moi counting...1...2...3...4......10...a little relaxed (Hey the number counting works!!!)

PS: Male bashing is not something I do as a rule...infact I get along quite well with them...but then sometimes...sometimes...even angels lose it all!!

PPS: A very very Happy Bday to my friend RJ...(out of touch for ages now...but then some bonds last...really long!!)

Words from the Wise (so listen up!!)

2005-11-04T17:47:00.000+05:30

My sincerest advice to anyone who is listening:

1. Never mix drinks (you can drink as much of one stuff as you want....but cocktailing drinks within your tummy is a strict no-no!!)
2. Never bet on a game of cards when you have a bank account which resembles the Sahara desert in the peak of summer!!

Trust me...thts experience talking (loud and clear!!)

Partied last night....fabulous food, deadly drinks, mellifluous music, charming company et al...

But missed him the most....Its so much more fantastic when he is around....the party never seems to end!!!

PS: Eid Mubarak S and A!!

The S Factor...Curves, Angles et al

2005-11-03T07:25:00.000+05:30

Am in office since 6:30 a.m...Why? Coz am filling in for a friend who couldnt make it early for her first shift...Angel, am I not??

I don't like this particular work shift for two reasons...One, theres nothing decent to munch on at this time of the day (yes...A foodie that I am, work without munching is a nightmare!!!). And two, it plays havoc with my exercising schedule....(no smiles, grins, chuckles or watever...have a very tight health regimen...and am disciplined enough to stick to it...at least most of the time.... :))

A few friends who must have read my posts would have realised that my post titles are mostly out of context...what the heck!!! they make no sense at all!!!

But, may I inform you that each title is profound in its own way...an insight into the mysticism and wonderment that the universe offers us mortals!!!

Does the previous sentence make any sense at all to you?? Re-reading the aforementioned sentence....I am reminded of my very dear...darlingest (is that even a word???!)....absolute fav cartoon character (it hurts to call him such!!)....Ladies and Gentlemen...presenting..."Calvin" and his faithful side kick "Hobbes"..... (applause...applause)

I must confess that have developed an interest in the doings of this little maniac since not too long ago...but the chemistry was electric!! (huh?? am not making much sense today...kindly excuse)...Ya...so where was I....Calvin as the quintessential little boy with big dreams (and a bigger mouth) and Hobbes as his friend, confidant and the-guy-who-covers-his-ass....are so totally endearing!!!

For those who havent yet initiated themselves into their world I suggest you should...FAST!!! Coz in the ups downs and abouts of the workplace...C&H are a sure shot recommendation for stress relief (particularly when you give up all work on a busy day and spend "quality" time with them!!)

Once more am tempted to say....Amen

Diwali Special :)

2005-11-02T10:06:00.000+05:30

Exhibiting my well known penchant for tardiness....and apologising for the same... Here's wishing everyone one I know (and dont know!!) a Very Very Happy Diwali!!

I truly hope you all have a great year ahead...and to keep the ball rolling let me put in a couple of words I found appropriate..(the words are in Hindi...and anyone who knows me would guess tht its not an original!!!)

Khushian ho overflow,
Masti kabhi na ho low,

Dosti ka surur chaya rahe,
Jeb me bhari maya rahe,

Dher saare pyaar ki ho bauchar,
Aisa aaye aapke liye Diwali ka tyohar!!

Gambler's Den!!

2005-10-28T17:23:00.000+05:30

Diwali is all about lights, love, laughter, colour....
But for us it signifies...gambling at work!!...Today we had the mother of all gambling matches!! Amazing experience methinks :)
As a matter of fact....coming up with such innovative solutions to put a boring day at work has always been our forte (by "our" I mean a bunch of over enthu public...including me...who were hired, I believe, for the sole purpose of creating a ruckus at the work place!!)...However I am digressing... So acting like a propah lady of few words.......

Post lunch
Boredom
Heavy Eyelids
Brain Wave (or Pleasant Dream)
Gamble
Big Bucks
Call friends
March to Conference Room
Shut all Doors and Blinds
Bet on money...(After all its Diwali...we have to celebrate...right??)
Play noisily
WIN 50 BUCKS!!!( on the first attempt at "tash")
Troop back happily to desk
Get hounded by "the bunch" for treat
Eat stuff worth 300
Curtains closes!!!

The End

Blabberings of a Brainless Bummer...

2005-10-26T09:10:00.000+05:30

If you havent already noticed....I have a thing for alliterations (how proud my std 8 English teacher would be with tht!!)....and if you havent noticed again....I have developed a "B" fetish for my blog titles (ekta kapoor...the days of "K" are over...do you hear me...???? OVER!!!)

Anyways...coming back to blogging with a vengeance is me - a mighty interesting week tucked safely under my belt (is tht the right expression??? or was it below the belt??? BAH!! who cares till the msg gets thru...)...

Ya...so where was I??? Oh yes....my interesting week...well its got nuthing to do with my slightly self depreciating blog title...infact have been getting regular ego massages all week...and trust me...its heaven!! :)

For starters...2 assignments down and gone with minimum repeats or errors...was a personal record of sorts!!! A highly visible (and audible) word of appreciation from N, a reasonably senior person in my organization....

And I finally found someone who acknowledges all the work I have done till now :) Before you howl with obscene laughter...let me make it amply clear that am a highly under rated asset to my company and will soon rise as the lone shining star!!....

On this note remembered a couple of lines I had heard (shero shayari, you know)...

"Dil ko khush karne ke liye Ghalib....ye khayal bhi accha hai!!!"

Amen!!

Of Boredom, Bosses and Bullshit...

2005-10-17T15:17:00.000+05:30

After much ado about nothing...I have finally decided that working is a total waste of time....Which is why am utilizing the precious time in office to post this!!! Actually not a lot has changed (or unchanged) since I last posted, but monotony and boredom seems to be on the verge of taking over my world....

Here I am sitting at my terminal ...desperately trying to figure out what to do next when I chance upon the brilliant idea..."Why not do nuthing at all??!!!" Pure Genius...aint it??

People say that bosses are a pain in the a#%.....well...i say balls to all of them....if it werent for bosses who would tell half wit nimcompoops like me where to go next....what to do???

Boss I MISS you!!!!

The Beginning...

2005-10-13T09:43:00.000+05:30

So have started blogging.....and I hear my well wishers ask "So What??"
Well....after browsing through numerous funny, inspiring, agonizing or plain entertaining blogs on the net (courtesy the fav links tht a lot of bloggers provide)...I am sufficiently geared up to try out this phenomenon...
Hope it works....(hope is a strange thing)