Dont Stop Dancing....

Topsy Turvy

2011-08-21T22:05:00.009Z

Do you remember that one episode from Friends where Ross, Chandler and Joey try to party all night like 21 year olds and end up exhausted? I feel like that today. Two successive night outs (one to party and one to work :-/) on a weekend have left me with a throbbing headache and a tired feeling.
So what do we do to feel better? A nice comforting breakfast ofcourse! :)

Scrambled Eggs, Mushroom stir fry and Fruits

Garden Omlette, Fruits and Chai :)

Just Like That...

2010-10-01T03:50:00.001Z

So here it is...a post after a long time.
I had nothing to blog about lately, bcos life is mostly confined to courses, college etc. Hence, did not have any post for quite sometime. Unless somebody reminded yesterday and wanted something interesting to read on their blog roll :P
I cannot think of anything interesting that has happened lately...except for the following few things:
* While at lunch, I asked a fellow colleague about how they find food in the cafeteria. I meant to ask if they find it good or bad. I got a reply "I come from that door and find it here" :D
* Few days back there was a power outage for 15 mins at midnight, which is a strange thing to happen in US and hence I find it interesting.
* What is more interesting is that I texted a friend asking if there street was also without power and got scolded in return. Forgot for a second that incoming texts also cost money :-/
* Today heard a bunch of 10-12 year olds use swear words like it was no big deal. Sad and interesting at the same time.

Its good to be back. But the above post shows that my writing skills have become rusty. Hoping to get over it soon!

Joke of the Day

2010-01-06T01:34:00.002Z

The husband and I are talking about our childhood days

H: Were you ever slapped really hard on the face by your dad for some mischief? Have u ever experienced how it feels?

Me: No, not really. But I guess that would hurt a lot.

H: Never? Really? But you were a serious pain In the a** kid, very adamant, not listening to anybody and upto no good.

Me: What?!! You didn't even know me then! What makes u think I was all that?

H: Well, you haven't changed much since then.

The last blog of 2009...Probably

2009-12-30T00:24:00.002Z

Posting from Microsoft Word…Word 2007 has a blog template which automatically links your post to the blogsite! Just got my laptop upgraded to Windows 7 and Office 2007. Win 7 has some pretty cool features like OneNote etc. I wonder if I would blog more often as this seems to be more convenient!

After working the a** off over the semester, winter breaks have been super lazy. Getting up late, watching X-men evolutions, movie marathons, xbox and so on. Highlight was the first snow experience. Viv and me went on a drive to Snoqualmie Pass where I saw and felt the snow for the first time in life. Avatar in Imax 3D was another experience to remember, the 6 storey tall screen is freakkin crazy. Tried out Moroccan cuisine, interesting combo of sweet meat, realizing all over again that nothing beats the spices of India. That again sparks a craving for paani puri in me….will drag the husband to an Indian place tonight :D

Slowly, the time to get back to studies is approaching. And I hope I am able to get over all the holiday laziness.

Wishing all friends a very Happy New Year.

Law of the Seed

2009-12-22T19:52:00.003Z

A very inspirational article shared by our beloved professor at the end of the semester. Posting it here to share it with everyone and also for my own easy reference!

Law of the seed
Take a look at an apple tree. There might be five hundred apples on the tree, but
each apple has just ten seeds. That's a lot of seeds!
We might ask, "Why would you need so many seeds to grow just a few more apple
trees?"
Nature has something to teach us here. It's telling us: "Not all seeds grow. In life,
most seeds never grow. So if you really want to make something happen, you had
better try more than once."
This might mean:
You'll attend twenty interviews to get one job. You'll interview forty people to find
one good employee. You'll talk to fifty people to sell one house, one car, one
vacuum cleaner, one insurance policy, or a business idea. And you might meet a
hundred acquaintances just to find one special friend.
When we understand the "Law of the Seed", we don't get so disappointed. We stop
feeling like victims. We learn how to deal with things that happen to us.
Laws of nature are not things to take personally. We just need to understand them -
and work with them.
IN A NUTSHELL
Successful people fail more often. But they plant more seeds.
When Things Are Beyond your control, here's something that you must NOT DO so
as to be happy: You must not decide how you think the world SHOULD be. You
must not make rules for how everyone SHOULD behave. Many times, such
thoughts can bring you spiraling down into more unhappiness.
On the other hand, let's say you expect that:
Friends SHOULD return favors.
People SHOULD appreciate you.
Planes SHOULD arrive on time.
Everyone SHOULD be honest.
Your husband or best friend SHOULD remember your birthday.
These expectations may sound reasonable. But often, these things won't happen!
So you end up frustrated and disappointed.
There's a better strategy. Demand less, and instead, have preferences! For things
that are beyond your control, tell yourself:
"I WOULD PREFER "A", BUT IF "B" HAPPENS, IT'S OK TOO!"
You prefer that people are polite.. but when they are rude, it doesn't ruin your day.
You prefer sunshine.. but if it rains, it is ok too!
To become happier, we either need to:
a) Change the world, or
b) Change our thinking.
It is easier to change our Thinking!
IN A NUTSHELL
It is not the problem that is the issue, but rather it is your attitude attending to the
problem that is the problem. It's not what happens to you that determine your
happiness but rather how you think about what happens to you!

Pheww!!!

2009-09-16T01:47:00.002Z

Long time no post!!
So much has changed since the last time I posted here that it will take ages to cover that gap! All I can say is life has turned around completely. Theres excitement, enthusiasm, new people, new life...and yes lots and lots and lots of work. School is ON....and I never expected it to be this hectic. I had 4 assignment submissions in past 3 days...phew! And now I open my mailbox to see that more assignments have been posted for every subject...So 4 more assignments due in next 7 days...howzzat!!
Lifes revolving between classes n homeworks, but I am not complaining. It is so much fun to get back to school :) Now I understand why students miss grad life once they get out of school.

More later.

Thought of the Day...

2009-06-07T17:23:00.003Z

Over all these years, I have realized one thing. There are only two moments in life when you experience true, genuine happiness:

1. When you are extremely thirsty for long time and spot a restaurant nearby, and take in that first sip of cold water...bliss!
2. When you have to pee urgently and you are holding it from a long time and you spot a restroom nearby and....bliss!

:D

?

2009-05-06T13:20:00.001Z

Everyone keeps getting such promotional offers...I wonder who falls for these....!

Dear Anushree,

Fabulous News!

XXX XXX Book Club has launched its FREE GIFTS FOR SUBSCRIBERS Program.
You have subscribed to our email lists and thus qualify to receive Fabulous Free Gifts under this program. There will be a new Free Gift waiting to be claimed so look out!
Today you can get a Satya Paul Designer Wallet worth Rs 1295 for FREE!
Just pay Rs 499 towards applicable taxes, gift processing and delivery charges.

Thought of the Day...

2009-04-20T03:43:00.010Z

While watching IPL downstairs at 102, we were switching between Set Max and HBO. And there was a Colin Farrell movie going on on HBO. From what I could make out, the movie was about Belgium and some of its problems. They said the word Belgium a lot in the movie. I asked A what the name of the movie was and he said it was something related to Belgium.
Later that night, I was chatting with a friend who is doing his Masters in US and he told me he had been offered internship at a research institute in Belgium. I thought that is weird. You dont hear about Belgium that often, maybe once or twice a year. So when you hear about it in two totally different contexts, that too on the same day, that must be something.
Next day, a bunch of us were visting a friend in the evening. We talked a lot over various things, pulled the friends leg over why she owns a certain "Chindia Rising" book and various other stuff. Later while having dinner, another friend mentioned about Susan Boyle and her mind-blowing stage performance on Britains got Talent.
As we reached home and I was checking emails, I got an email from another friend, who had sent the youtube link to Susan Boyles performance. This is still explainable I thought, given that the video has been making rounds everywhere since it happened.
But later when I was sleeping I opened TOI, only to stumble on the article "Its goodbye Chindia and hello Chinamerica"! And I was kind of surprised.
Thats when I decided to blog about it. While I was thinking of what all to write..the belgium incident etc, I unexpectedly got a call from the friend who was going to the Belgium university. Coincidence? or is it...?

:D

Joke of the day...

2009-02-19T09:59:00.003Z

Lately I have been watching marathi family soaps with mom.
Here goes a conversation from yesterday, after watching what we will call Serial1. The plot is the usual Ekta Kapoor inspired story where a woman who is sole heir to a big time property is murdered by her mother-in-law. The woman actually doesnt die and comes back to take revenge, with her face changed :D
So in Serial1, a guy proposes to this woman (named chandana) and wants to marry her.
After half an hour, I see the same guy asking another girl to marry him.
Me: Mom, this guy wanted to marry Chandana right? Is he cheating on her?
Mom: No baba, that was in Serial1. This is a different series.
Me: Ooo..didnt realise when it changed.
(Change of scene on TV)
Arre why is this lady sick? And she always wears jeans na. How come in saree today?
Mom: No! She wears western clothes in the other series where she is a vamp. Here she plays an endearing housewife....and ...(Mom updates me with the whole story)
It comes on Zee Marathi and this is ETV Marathi. Cant you even differentiate between the two?
Me: Hmm, there is a serious dearth of actors in Marathi television industry mom.

And in the one hour following this discussion, I see 3 more actors playing different roles in different soaps. I still dont know who plays what and where :D

Confusion prevails...

:D

Nostalgia...

2009-02-10T14:33:00.004Z

This is one song from when Salman mania was at its peak. I would have undoubtedly heard it a million times. One of those things which makes you genuinely happy...
Heres to old times!

On a lighter note...

2009-01-19T14:38:00.001Z

Lifestyle Off Sale...Upto 50% from Jan 16th to Feb 15th

As soon as these letters flash across the newspaper, ladies put on their shopping gear and go hunting...err shopping! I think women have an eye for this stuff, they instinctively know when the lifestyle sales goin to commence, when the happiness sale in central starts and you always, always get to know it a day before from some female friend of yours!
This time when the off sale started, I had one reason to go, although I had shopped aplenty before marriage - lifestyle gift coupons :D
So, after thinking a lot on what to buy, I reached the Oasis mall. The usually almost deserted place was bustling with people. And when I say people it was mostly women! Giggling groups of teenage girls, whiny groups of married women, and some families! So while we talk about families, i must tell you a common trait amongst all husbands present there that day. All were completely disinterested in what was happening around and looked like they badly wanted to go home. While some stood there staring blankly into nothing, some just followed the wives (i mean respective wives! :D), nodding their heads in affirmation at whatever the wife wore or showed! And then there were the cranky ones, who werent embarrased to yell at their wives in public. Like one guy whose wife asked him about a particular dress, and he dismissed it immediately. "kya utha ke laati ho, color bhi dekha hai? ekdam ghatiya hai" he retorted. The wife was embarrased, she looked around to make sure no one had heard and her eyes met mine! I turned my back and started walking away wondering why men even come along if they dont want to.
When i joined the long queue at the trial rooms, right ahead of me was a lady with a baby in her hands and a 10-12 yr old girl by her side. The husband was standing beside her, not speaking a word. Eventually after 10 mins in the queue the baby in the ladys arm started crying uncontrollably. On this the girl who was fiddling around, came running to her mom, gave the baby a big hug and said with a smile, "sweetie, thank u so much for crying!! finally mom has to get out of this place! Mom, we hav been here for 3 hours!!"
Now, the husband looked a bit relaxed too. :D

Sale does crazy things to women I say :D

Ten RandomThings

2009-01-19T08:41:00.006Z

A follow up of Rahuls post!
Rules of the game: Check if your name is at the end of this blog post. If so, type out a similar blog copy-pasting these rules. After that, list down 10 random things about yourself (that many do not know) and then tag 5 more people who have to do the same.

My List:

1. I wash my hands with soap atleast 10 times a day. I think I can actually feel the dirt settled on the palms when they get dirty.

2. I am addicted to orbit white. You will always find polo or orbit white in my purse.

3. I like Xmen and I always wish I was a mutant with some supernatural abilities.

4. I judge people by the way they keep their bathroom.

5. I feel strongly for social work and want to take it up more seriously and on a larger scale.

6. If I dont talk to my parents for more than two days, I feel something is missing.

7. Procrastination is the one thing I hate about myself.

8. Ganesha is my favourite God and I treat him as my imaginary friend.

9. I adore Jeff Corwin and Steve Irwin more than most people.

10. I can watch Animal Planet the whole day.

My Tags: Indi, Pranjal
(sorry, i know only two people who havent been tagged already! :( )

Rahul says I get 2 extra points for promptness.... yay! :)

11. I have a deal with a cousin to visit Borneo and spend 7 days with the orangutans once in our life!

12. Given any cuisine from any part of the world, I think nothing beats the awesomeness of the simple yet flavorful, our very own desi...paani-puri. Its legendary!! :D

Rahul, why dont you also write two extra points!

Travelogue 2008

2009-01-08T09:00:00.020Z

Inspired by another blog post, I am going to list down all new places I visited in 2008. I think its a nice way to document your travel experiences so that you can look back and relish the moments in future.

1. New Year celebrations for 2008 started in Kolkata. Went there for a friends wedding and roamed around a lot!! explored as many places as possible in the 3 days we got there. right from historic monuments within the city to ports like Diamond harbour, to eateries serving famous puchkaas, to a hunt for authentic bong fish curry, to experiences of the local trains and trams..we did it all!

2. February started with a trip to Belur and Halebid, two towns in Karnataka of historical importance from the Hoysala empire. Ancient temples with intricate architectures was the highlight of this trip.

3. After a lull in months of march and april bcos of hectic worklife, managed to catch the trip to Bandipur and Wayanad. Covered Bandipur wildlife sanctuary, Gopalswamy betta near Bandipur and Edakkal caves, Kuruva Islands in Wayanad. A comfortable stay at a cottage and breakfast at Kamaths are some of the highlights of this trip :D

4. The next outing came only in August which was to Pondicherry. Two days of amazing beach fun, delicious food and comfortable accomodation at a resort. Covered Tiruvannamali temple and Gingee fort on the way.

5. A religious trip was due from a long time. Finally the desire to visit Siddhivinayak temple at Kanipakam was fulfilled when Tirupati and Kanipakam trip was planned in September. No photos available right now.

6. The year ended in STYLE :D
The honeymoon to Singapore was magical and New years eve fireworks were simply unforgettable. Undoubtedly, the best new year celebrations till date :)
A picture of the beautiful singapore skyline.

Thought for food...

2009-01-07T11:36:00.003Z

This ones for you Indi!
Today I was reminiscing the day we (read you) made chinese food !! I still remember your running commentary almost like a professional chef while candy sat there looking for any leftovers that spilled on the floor :D. Your were chopping the veggies at a speed they show in the cookery shows, explaining to me and nikhil why a certain ingredient should be put before another, smaller intricate details like how a vegetable should be chopped in a certain way, how much sauces should go in...so on and so forth! And finally coming up with a yummmmy chilly panner (with gravy!) and veg noodles !! Thoroughly enjoyed the cooking process and the food which was gulped down in no time. :D
Damn, no one took a photo at that time, else i would have uploaded it here today!
Anyway, thanks for teaching me how to come up with a yummy meal! I would definitely give it a try, though i know i wont be as swift as you !

hmm...i am hungry already, lets go and check out the cafeteria :D

On a lighter note....

2009-01-04T17:59:00.010Z

Scene 1: (Month of December)

Anushree has just boarded the Rajdhani from Bangalore to Nagpur. She is the first one to reach her compartment. After arranging the bags she settles on the berth.
Soon a lady and her 10 yr old daughter enters the compartment. Anushree thinks to herself...gosh not a kid ! Kids r whiny, they throw tantrums, cry or laugh for no reason :D
But unfortunately they are in her compartment. From the lady yelling at the small girl, turns out the girls name is Adhishree. What a coicindence, Anushree thinks, anushree and adhishree both board the same train and are in adjacent seats to go to Nagpur. :D
Turns out Adhishree's mom is a typical hygiene conscious family woman.
Anushree know all about them, her mom being one of those kinds :D (thanks to pilani, it saved her from turning into one)
As you might be knowing, food is served all along when you travel in Rajdhani. They stuff you with food throughout the journey at regular intervals of time.

So when the waiter comes with soup and soup sticks for starters, Anushree quickly picks up the stick and is about to take a bite when she glances at Adhishree. Adhishree is gaping at her with her mouth wide open. She carefully observes how Anushree undoes the small box containing butter, sprinkles pepper over it and dips the stick in it. Her eyes follow every movement of her hand.
When Anushree is about to put the stick in her mouth the Adhishree's mother yells "Adhishree te che che aahe, tu nahi khayacha". (which translates to "Adhishree thats unhygienic, you cannot eat it")....And Anushrees hand stops right in front of her mouth that was wide open to take a bite.
When the woman knew I was about to eat that, she shouldnt have said that Anushree thinks. A bit angry and a lot hungry, she still goes ahead and takes a bite. Adhishree is still staring at Anushree ignoring what her mom is saying. Her mom continues telling her she has got home made paranthas for her and that railway food is horribly unhygienic and she should never eat it. All this while Anushree is eating the stick albeit with humiliation!!
But Adhishree is oblivious to her moms constant chatter and is interested in only one thing. She likes the way the soupstick looks when dipped in the butter. She liked how everyone takes a bite of it and follows it up with a sip of the tomato soup.
So she goes ahead and takes the small box of butter in her hand. Opens it, sprinkles pepper over it, all this while looking at Anushree. And when she is about to take the soupstick in her hand, her mom yells "ADHISHREE, WASH YOUR HANDS FIRST!!!!" The mothers frustration at her daughters actions is visible in the screams!
On hearing her yell Adhishree shudders as if woken up from a dream, the soupstick falls down from her hands and she quicky runs following her mom towards the basin!

Anushree takes this as a welcome break and enjoys her soup, all the while feeling bad for Adhishree. Looks like, the mother has never travelled by Rajdhani. A wicked smile lightens Anushree's face when she starts thinking of how Adhishree will avenge all of this once she grows up and is on her own. How ridiculous all this will sound when she moves into a hostel and will have to eat all sorts of food.

Anushree decides to just wait and watch... :)

And On this lighter note, wishing everyone A Very Happy 2009 !!!!

Gloomy days

2008-11-28T05:16:00.005Z

Day1: Gloomy day, bangalore rains, terrorists in mumbai, open fire, common man, CST, vile parle, paddy's roomates friend killed, cafe leopold, taj, trident, nariman house, militants, AK-47s, Maharashtra Police, ATS, Karkare, Salaskar, Kamte, Navy, Al Kabir, MV Alpha, grenades, NSG, taj on fire, blasts heard, waiting families, death toll reaches 125, barkha dutt, arnab goswami, sagarika, hostages, british, israeli, spanish, american, tourists, video footage, 25 terrorists, police, rescue, discussions, mud slinging, deshmukh, what'll happen?, nothings certain, when will it end?
Day2: Gloomy day again, bangalore rains, taj, trident, NSG in nariman house, bomb blast heard, choppers, surveillance, narendra modi, 1 crore, when will it end?

lifes pretty much revolving around just these things from yesterday. These are the only words heard, only thoughts coming to mind. Hoping that this will end soon is what we do now....
For,

Hope is a thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings a tune without the words,
And never stops at all....

Cheap thrills

2008-11-20T14:11:00.014Z

Want to make a movie work amongst the crowds? Heres why i feel Dostana has got the recipe of success right:
1. Throw in a song with John Abraham showing off his worked out torso, move the camera all over his body in each and every angle possible. Show plenty of beach girls drooling over him as he emerges from the sea waters.
Till date i havent seen such a sensuous portrayal of the male form in all its glory. Although Salman is the original hunk who dared to bare, the director and his camera work take it to another level with this film.
2. Add the gay angle to the story, will add immensly to the humour quotient.
3. Make sure you shoot the movie at an exotic location, capturing the vibrant lifestyles of people, and make it look like a perfect world.
4. Fill in the gaps with a couple of side actors who ham their way through the scenes to provide the extra dose of humour.
5. If all the above is not enough, throw in a kissing scene of the pretending-to-be gay couple in the movie! geesh!

Dostana is clearly made just to pull the crowd. Its not storytelling for the purpose of telling the story, infact its the most commercial a cinema can get. But hey, i dont want to complain and whine about it. After all entertainment is a business and kudos to Tarun Mansukhani for nailing it in his debut movie!

But it leaves me wanting more..some quality entertainment.
Clearly, I am still not over "Rock On"...wish to see a good movie soon. Fingers crossed for Yuvvraaj which releases tomorrow. :)

Joke of the Day... :D

2008-11-09T06:16:00.002Z

Here is a part of a conversation today at the beauty parlour with the parlour lady. Usually when you go to a new parlour, the ice is broken with questions related to your native place...So here goes...
Lady: So where are u studying?
Me: (studying?..what the hell..!)...Umm, I am working..
Lady: ohhh. Are you from Bangalore?
Me: No, I am from Maharashtra (thinking that she would definitely not know Nagpur and will confuse it with Kanpur, i gave the name of the state)
Lady: Ohh...Maharashtra is in UP?
Me: (almost getting choked on the gum I was chewing)
NO!!
(sshh..lady..if Raj Thacekray comes to know of this, he'll send his goons and the parlour will be a part of the history..!!)
NO!!...Do you know Bombay...Mumbai?
Lady: Ohh, its near Bombay?
Me: (umm...lets just say Yes so she stops asking and i feel less disappointed) No. Maharashtra is the state and Bombay is its capital.
Lady: (giggles) I didnt know it!!

And so the ice was broken and we got to talking, strictly avoiding geography for the rest of the time!!

:D

3000 !

2008-11-01T16:49:00.008Z

They were 3000....a daunting army of the soldiers of the night. And she was alone....armed with a single weapon.
They were pouring in as if from nowhere, in groups of hundreds, crawling from the depths of the dark. Soon her supply of arms exhausted and she knew she would not last in front of them. But unexpected help arrived!! And now they were 2 against a population of teeming hundreds! The growing number of opponents surprised them..But they had no choice but to fight back. And so the war was waged...with a visible few at first. Then the hidden forces were extracted from behind, forcibly taken out and slaughtered in broad daylight (read tubelight)!
The 2 soldiers hadnt been a part of such a gory massacre before. And maybe because it was their first time, one soldier gave away....her back had bent beneath the burden of having killed so many. But another soldier did not lose hope. He marched forward, carried on single handedly, fought the battle valiantly against an army of thousands, not losing hope even once. Finally he was successful in eradicating the enemy completely....Victory was ours!!

For those who r wondering what i am gabbing about, here are some pics of the battlefield post-war.
And the bravery award goes to Mr. Rahul who fearlessly took over the task of removing the menace....all 202 residents should be grateful to him!! And a treat in Little Italy will not be denied!!

RIP little soldiers...I am sorry that you had to be "mortein"ified.

Weird concoctions...

2008-10-17T09:01:00.005Z

So while at office, some weird mixes were invented which turned out good in taste!
So, try these when you are stuck at office under truckloads of work:
1. Cold milk mixed with Pepsi/Sprite/Fanta (i am guessing should be quiet common)
2. Cold milk mixed with tropicana apple juice, served with chocolate cornflakes!
3. Want a gingery sprite?! dip a couple of ginger tea bags in chilled sprite to get that hint of ginger :D
4. Want an ice tea with soda? dip tea bags in little warm water and add chilled sprite !
5. current favourite is pudina lassi, the tantalizing taste of mint with the buttery lassi...yumm!

i love food :)

Farhan Akhtar ROCKS!!!

2008-09-12T04:26:00.006Z

Nothing much to say here...title says it all. I am totally in awe of this guy. And have been crooning only Rock on songs since last week!!!!

Lo Yeh aa gayaaa.....

2008-08-26T15:47:00.005Z

The mans a natural!! He acts, dances and does comic sequences with equal flair!
Although a new kid on the block, he gives an impression of a seasoned actor. Well, what they say is true. When its in the blood it shows!
Bachna ae Haseeno is a total entertainer. Although movie becomes a bit draggy at times, so many pretty faces on the screen keep you involved. Of all three pretty lasses and their encounters with Ranbir, Bips and Ranbirs story is the most interesting one (in the first half and the second one too!). Me not a big fan of Bips owing to her bold dressing styles and bling bling accesories, but felt she did justice to her role. Deepika as always a pleasure for the eyes. Looks jaw-droppingly awesome in every frame. Be it a simple attire or a party one.
Minnisha looked a bit old for the boy but suited her role to the T.
And ya the title song is a total paisa-vasool!! Overall, a fun evening with the 3 pretty ladies and the handsome Kapoor! :D

Joke of the day... :D

2008-07-24T09:18:00.001Z

What will KungFu Panda be called when its dubbed in hindi?
..... Kung. Fu. Pande

You might find it lame but it took me half an hour to return to normalcy.

:D :D :D

Neil Simon's The Odd Couple II

2008-06-16T13:38:00.007Z

Happened to catch The Odd Couple II on HBO. And I was swept away by the comedy!
Never thought that a movie without any young, handsome actor would be so engaging :D
Its a sequel to "The Odd Couple" which released in 1968. And here the two protagonists are a bunch of oldies now meeting after seventeen years and heading to California to witness the wedding of their children.
Sit back with a steaming cup of coffee and enjoy the sparkling chemistry between the two old men. Let the witty dialogues and sarcastic humor entertain you! Heres a snippet from the film! Enjoy!!

A dialogue when both the old men are stranded in a dry stretch of land while trying to reach the destination and are accidently sprayed all over by a crop dusting airplane from above.
Felix Ungar: What the hell was that?
Oscar Madison: They purposely did it. They hate New Yorkers.
Felix Ungar: Who's going to pick us up now? We look like a couple of Pillsbury Doughboys.
Oscar Madison: Well we'd better get out of the sun before we start to rise.

Murphy's law

2008-06-14T15:47:00.005Z

Went for Sarkar Raj today. Enjoyed it. Powerhouse performances by the whole of Bacchan clan. Movie is quite engaging...doesnt slip out of focus and RGV's camerawork and background scores put soul into it. Gets over in 2 hours and doesnt have any songs and unecessary jazz.
Btw I am blogging to write about Mr. Murphy. We went to the multiplex for Sarkar Raj only to find out that the hall screening "Dasaavataram" was houseful and we were like only a handful people who had come to see Sarkar Raj. But thanks to Mr Murphy and his laws, even when almost the whole of the theatre was empty except for around 15 people, the noisiest group with a baby and a 10-12 yr old girl came and sat just adjacent to us. Thanks Ramu, your background scores were gripping enough to keep us hooked. Bcos, the girl sitting next to us had started complaining 1 hour into the movie that she wanted to go home. Then I remembered the tagline of the movie "Power cannot be given, it has to be taken". :D Inspired by it, I glanced at her and signalled to keep quiet, expecting that would calm her down...just like Big Bs simple gestures in the movie had such an powerful impact on all! But my impact didnt last for long and she started pestering her father for popcorn.
And then the baby in the ladies arms gave a whimper...confirming my worst fears...that the baby would start crying any moment. I waited with bated breath for the moment when the silence of the suspense going on the screen would be broken by a shrill cry. But miraculously the baby had drifted back to sleep! Perhaps, out of mercy, mr. Murphy decided against it.
Thankfully the movie was over in two hours. The impatient kid had already started jumping on the seat by then. So, today i learnt, when it comes to kids (that too others kids), power cannot be taken!! :D

No use crying over burnt milk :D

2008-06-01T08:35:00.003Z

It happened twice in two days. I left the milk to boil on the stove and forgot all about it...Only to realise later from the smell of the charred milk !! By the time i rushed to the kitchen it was too late. The vessel was all black and I have been struggling since then to somehow scrape the carbon off.
Thats not why I am writing this...I am writing this because both the times this happened when i was reading "A thousand splendid suns" by Khaled Housseini.
Its a gripping saga about two women in Afghanistan and how their lives take a turn between the political turmoil in Afghanistan. The book is full of pathos and you get so absorbed in reading that you forget whats going on around.
So, if you are planning to read this book, make sure you sit besides the stove when you are boiling milk!
:D

The Style The Tashan and The Bhaiyyaji !

2008-04-27T17:03:00.010Z

Its ok once in a while to subject yourself to a bad movie. Today six of us went for this one...and all for a good cause. Most money from this show was going for charity.
So inspite of knowing the reviews, the trash that critics and viewers alike had thrown on the movie, we went...! Braving all bad reviews, we were present at 10.00 am in fron of Cauvery theatre!
Maybe it was for the very low expectations, that i ended up enjoying the movie! Ohh that doesnt mean it wasnt total trash! people now call it "Torture Tashan" and rest is for you to see...innumerable angry reviews that you would find on the blogosphere! :D
So the story starts with Saif donning the attire of a call centre guy named Jimmy Cliff. (at the end you wonder why Saifoo agreed for such a dumb role, hes neither cool nor brave, and doesnt get the girl at the end...oops! spoiler :D)
The Jimmy Cliff falls for Kareena the Pooja head over heels, tries to woo her and gets trapped into Bhaiyyajis dark world..now Bhaiyyaji (Anil Kapoor) is a Kanpuriya settled in Mumbhai...and has a "lanka" that runs on extortions and murders. Bhaiyyajis Tashan( ohh puhleesee) is to learn English...and thats why Jimmy is hired (u think THIS is lame? then read further!) And when Jimmy and Pooja run away wid Bhaiyyajis paisa, Bhaiyyaji hires THE Bacchan Pande!! Ohh the only thing good in the movie is the dependable Akshay Kumar. The man puts life in his Ganga Kinaare waala character. There was a wave of claps and whistles in the theatre when Akki entered the frame!! As if people were hoping perhaps he would save the fate of the movie, which was slipping down the hill so fast..!
Now Bacchan Pande is a man of steel...He would put Rajnikanth to shame with his action sequences. I bet even Spider man would have wondered how he could jump across buildings so swiftly without any spiderwebs!! So you get to see a royal mess of action sequences copied (miserably) from Matrix, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,
all rajini movies and Kareena K doing a Tomb Raider.
Anyway, I cant narrate the whole story to you because....there is NONE!! The movie mindlessly wanders from one frame to another, lost in its own world, and with flaws so glaringly in your face, that you wonder if the director would have intentionally made the movie stupid. Because no sane person can unknowingly make such a crass, over the top, devoid of logic mess.
The saving grace of the movie (or perhaps not) are the songs...You would wish the movie director worked as hard as the music directors!!
Kareena is surprisingly thin...all for a 10 sec bikini shot which gets over before you can relish (as told by my male friend!!)
So, you see....this is how i spent my Sunday...watching the movie and then wondering the rest of the day why on earth I watched it!! Only to realise later that all the mind numbing nonsense portrayed in the film and the gimcrack made me enjoy the movie !!
:D

Giving up Candy :(

2008-02-12T14:42:00.000Z

Day before yesterday our maid spotted Candy while sweeping the floor. And as per her, girls of my age should no longer have dolls. She asked me to give it to her for her younger daughter. From what I could understand , I could make out that she was pretty excited about it. I tried telling her in my broken Kannada that it was mine (idu nannadu) but ended up saying "naale kodtini". (will give it tomorrow). And the whole day i mentally prepared myself to give her up.
Guess the little girl needs candy more than me :)
I hope she is happy :)

Generation Gap !

2008-02-09T17:07:00.000Z

So theres this Govt school where I go on Saturdays with a couple of friends from work for some volunteer work. We teach them, show movies, organize competitions.
Now just today, we decided upon showing them "The Jungle Book" movie. My peers would know how popular the jungle book was in "our" days. Kids in all villages , cities and towns would wait for Sunday morning 10.00 to watch Mowgli, Balu and Bagheera set upon their adventures. I remember throwing tantrums and crying out loud one day when there was no power on Sunday! The famous title song "jungle jungle baat chali hai..." was a favourite humming tune amongst all the kids.
So I got this CD and we showed its cover to the kids in the school. Surprisingly, no one had heard of the Jungle Book. No one knew about Mowgli or Sherkhan!
And then it dawned upon me, Girl it has been like 12 years since Jungle Book was screened on TV!
Agreed the kids we teach come from financially weak backgrounds. They might not even have the liberty to watch TV. But even then in "our" days the characters were famous throughout the country.
I keep freaking out on how old we have grown thoughts. And this is just one of those days! Still cant digest it when kids call me aunty! Well, there are benefits of growing up. One being you start earning and then spend on shopping ! (eh...so typical of a girl...or is it woman? )
I wish someday i feel comfortable with my age :D
As a dear friend always says,
"har nafas umre gujishta ki hai mayyat fani,
zindagi mar mar ke jiye jaane ka naam hai"
Which means with every passing moment, a part of your life is dying...
So I say...live the rest to the fullest! :D

If Everyone cared by Nickelback

2007-12-17T18:03:00.000Z

Always remember, you can make a difference. A video that emphasizes this fact.
Jet, thanks a lot for this one :)

Lyrics:

From underneath the trees, we watch the sky
Confusing stars for satellites
I never dreamed that you'd be mine
But here we are, we're here tonight

Singing Amen, I'm alive
Singing Amen, I'm alive

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died
And I'm singing

Amen I, I'm alive
Amen I, I'm alive

And in the air the fireflies
Our only light in paradise
We'll show the world they were wrong
And teach them all to sing along

Singing Amen I'm alive
Singing Amen I'm alive

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died

And as we lie beneath the stars
We realize how small we are
If they could love like you and me
Imagine what the world could be

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died

We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day when nobody died

Filmy News!

2007-12-16T04:53:00.000Z

I got the news yesterday that the 1997 Salman starrer Judwaa is being remade as an animated version by the producer, Sajid Nadiadwala!

I was so excited on hearing this. I still remember, we went to watch the movie as a huge group of around 15-16 girls. And we literally broke into a dance in the theatre during the song "Thoda sa jee lo thoda thoda mar lo"!! The movie fared well on the BO and songs were a rage that time...and so was Salman :) . I feel his comic timing in that movie has been the best so far.

His potrayal of the shy yet adorable Prem and the street-smart rogue Raja is a treat to watch!

The movie is a laugh riot , there are a few melodramatic moments too but somehow you never get bored! Its been my favourite movie of all times and Zee Cinema screens it religiously every year. I have watched it more than 15 times now and cant wait to see the animated version. And looks like Salman is lending his voice to the animated characters!

Its dance all the way...

2007-12-01T18:09:00.000Z

Aaja Nachle is a treat for Madhuri fans. For the diva is back and how! I dont understand why critics have written it off. Sounds more like a conspiracy to me. Because Madhuri is as graceful as ever. At 42 years, she doesnt show any signs of aging. Wish all of us age as gracefully as her!
If you love to dance, chances are you will love this movie. The movie has lot of foot tapping songs and seeing Madhuri dance with the naughty expressions reminiscient of the "dhak-dhak" days, make all the dance sequences worthwhile.
The movie is the usual feel good one. Sometimes, some sequences are far from being realistic. But that doesnt make it boring. The rest of the cast too has done justice to their parts. Kunal Kapoor as the rowdy Irfan and his transition from the rough guy to a romantic majnu is good. Konkonas character has a funny edge to it though not explored much. But she fits in well as the tomboy Anokhi.
I especially liked the whole Laila-Majnu musical play presented by the cast. The lyrics, sets, dance sequences and Madhuri's narration make sure your mind doesnt wander anywhere else! Great job by the choreographer.
The movies plot is predictable and also the bad guys are shown pretty vulnerable to emotional flattery. But that is OK in Hindi cinema ;)
Just go and watch it if you want to see the lady dance...

The phenomenon called Deepika...

2007-11-28T05:21:00.000Z

I have been a hardcore Hindi movie buff since the time I can remember. And must say, during all these years of observing the Hindi cinema, havent seen such a marvellous debut of any actress. The enchanting persona that this lady carries has floored not only guys but girls like me too cant stop raving about her. I remember reading about her almost 3 years back in a small article in TOI where the writer had predicted that she is going to make it big in the industry soon with her ravishing looks and supreme confidence.
So, what is it in Deepika that has left people smitten by her beauty? Is it the grace, the poise that she exudes with every step forward? Is it the lovely smile with an equally befitting dimple that glitters like an early morning dew on a fresh and tender leaf? Is it the tall and slender built of this Mangalorean lady and the stable head that rests on her shoulders?
Yes! Its all that and more. She has a freshness to her face which makes us go ga-ga every time she is in the frame. Being a supermodel, she has sported bikinis for shoots, walked the ramp like a million times, been part of advertisement campaigns. But everything she does has a certain amount of dignity which sets her apart from the rest. And all this at just 21 years of age!
Hats off to Farah Khan for her apt choice for the character of Shantipriya. For now its difficult to imagine anyone else filling her shoes in OSO.
Well, I never imagined that I would ever write about an actress. But then its Different, because its Deepika :)

Wonder years :)

2007-11-24T08:20:00.000Z

School...our first step out of the confines of our family bonds. And an unforgettable and intergral part of school...school friends :) Friends who have known you since you were a dumb little kid with a running nose. Friends who have watched you grow. Friends with whom you have shared secrets, gossips, stories and problems. Friends whose mere mention brings back the memory of all the good times.
Recently a dear school friend created this video about us all. 'We the people' unleashed, from childhood to this day!
Sandy, Thanks a lot for this amazing video. We all will cherish it for years to come.

Its all about Hockey now!

2007-08-28T11:02:00.000Z

Thats the new cult film....Chak De India. A film about 16 girls and their date with destiny.
No lead actress, but the able shoulders of SRK, who proved yet again that in the Film industry only s*x and SRK sell !
And the movie has done it. While the 16 girls are basking in the Box office success, the actual Hockey champs are in the limelight too. Turn on any news channel and at any given point of time, there would be atleast one channel talking about it, with discussion panels and guests of honours from the Hockey fraternity.
Who knew before this that the Indian Womens Hockey team has been a defending champion at the Commonwealth Games?
Some people argue, that this is all temporary...the effect will fade away as time passes. And in a few months things would be just as they were.
But I still feel this would revive common mans interest in the sport. Its high time we share the happiness of these women, just as we do when it comes to cricket.
Its amazing to see how much of an impact a movie and the media can make. This is what happened when Munnabhai2 was out. There was a surge in the sale of books on Gandhian thoughts which had been on shelf for too long. Well, lets just say let the feel good factor continue to cast its spell....
I'm happy :)

Orangutans

2007-07-20T10:05:00.000Z

Orangutans are one of the most adorable creatures on the earth. These quiet , lovable great apes are facing the threat of extinction due to extensive poaching by humans.
A video showcasing the conservation efforts for rescued orangutans in Borneo.
Touching..
http://www.quantumshift.tv/v/1178084064/

B'day resolutions

2007-06-07T10:40:00.000Z

Its time to take Global warming seriously. And as my B'day falls close to the World Environment Day, here are my resolutions for the year:

1.Not to waste water.
Did you know that a 5 minute shower costs you almost 3 buckets? Instead switch to bucket bath!
Dont keep the tap running when you brush your teeth or wash your face. You end up wasting an awful lot of water.

2. Not to take a vehicle to nearby shops. Walking is the best option.

3. Not to ask shopkeepers for polythene covers. Instead carry one jute bag always.

4. To use only bio-degradable garbage bags for garbage disposal.

5. Not to waste electricity unecessarily (like keeping the computer on stand by, keeping the geyser on longer than required)

6. Next time I use the search engine, I wont Google, I will Blackle!
http://www.blackle.com/about/

----->a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen

They say the world has only eight more years to curb the effects of Global warming. The revolution has to begin on a larger scale. Eventually, the rich and the poor have to pay the price alike.

So, are you ready?

Thought of the Day....

2007-05-07T12:47:00.000Z

Ignorance is Bliss...
...as long as you are not caught ! !

:D

Stark Contrast

2007-04-25T05:49:00.000Z

How effortlessly we take the water gushing through our taps for granted.
Read on the following piece of news which appeared on ibnlive.com:

Patna (Bihar): It takes a long, hard trek, across harsh terrain before the women of Chainpur can get what they are looking for.
Water is scarce in this part of Bihar, and the five-kilometre walks daily are what keeps the village going.They are also the reason that over half of Chainpur's men are being forced to stay single.
Says a villager, Ram Dular Yadav, "I'm 50 now and still unmarried. I have no children to take the family name forward."
Villages like Chainpur can only be reached after a long walk across hilly country.
The villagers rely mainly on their women for water and so, not surprisingly, few families from outside these areas want to marry their daughters to a man from the village.
Says another villager, Babu Lal Bind, "Looking at all these problems, no one wants to marry their girls here."
Adds Pinki Kumari, "Everyone is a bachelor here. No one is being able to get married."
This is the difference between haves and have nots. Water, which has no value here in cities is causing somebody dearly - so dearly that many will remain single all their life.
These helpless lots are anxiously waiting for a helping hand to bless them with enough water so that they don't remain untouchable all their life.

On a lighter note - 2

2007-04-24T10:23:00.000Z

As if "Kyonki saans bhi kabhi...." (sorry, tooo tired to write the rest!) wasnt enough....there is a plethora of long titles hitting the silver screen. While surfing channels one fine evening, i stumbled upon a trailer for an upcoming soap on Sahara...OK. it might take me a while to recollect it though i am trying my best. Got it! It was "Baabul ki bitiyaan chali doli Saja ke" !! Phew!
And here are a few more..."Beti- Apna ya paraya dhan?", "Meri awaaz ko mil gayi Roshni" , "Suno...Har Dil Kuch Kehta Hai" !(Dont worry, i havent been watching them. This is courtesy www.starplus.indya.com ! ) I mean do such whacky titles appeal to people?! I wonder who all watch these soaps!
Indian soaps are synonymous with Ekta kapur ,with a necessary element of a vamp and with over the top make up ..the stories might have been beaten to death and still going strong, but atleast it provides good spoof material. I mean its really fun to watch all the gags of KSBKBT, KGGK on the laughter shows and MTV. Definitely more fun than watching the original although in both cases carrying ur brains along is a strict no-no.
Anyway, i would urge you all to give me more such long titles you are aware of. Would make a good read!

Kissa Kiss ka...

2007-04-17T10:58:00.000Z

I got a dream y'day night that i was introducing myself to some American lady.
Me: Hi, I am Anushree. I come from India.
Lady: Ohh, India! The country where they dont kiss!
Me: Excuse me? What!
Lady: Ohh is it not? The whole Gere-Shetty thing! I mean just a few kisses planted on the cheek led to massacres in India we heard!
Me: What! err....Well not massacre but ya there were some protest in some parts by some political parties.
Lady: Yeah! Big news that made.
Me: (Yeah thanks to the media to blow it out of proportion. Come bollywood and we have every news magnified to the power of n i thought) Ohh.

And i see myself fleeing the scene!

Well, when i got up i thought what a "wonderful" image of India we potray to the world. The huge contrast of IT revolution, elephants, maharajas and yes no kisses....Thats what India must be to the world!
But the incident really made me feel bad. Richard Gere has been active in AIDS awareness in India for almost a decade now. Gere is a Buddhist and a staunch supporter of Dalai Lama.
Though the ageold Indian saying asks us to treat the guest as a god, more often than not we do the opposite. If you have ever visited Agra, observe how much trouble the foreign tourists have to go through sometimes. Inspite of that, the monument of love manages to attract people from world over....and that is quite amazing.
Coming back, I want to say that this man deserves respect and appreciation for the contribution he has been making towards our country for so many years.
But with this news of effigies being burnt by some nationalist groups reaching the international headlines, we have become a piece of mockery for the world. This is ridiculous. Instead of doing something productive, we just love to crticize anything and everything , relate it to our moral values and stage protests. Why cant we just mind our own business?
The Shetty lass is right this time. She says she doesnt want Indians to look like idiots in front of the foreign media. The mob protests have stalled the shooting of her upcoming film and all this is being aired on the TV. Not only was the wrong piece of news given undue importance , the purpose of the AIDS campaign which should have been the news was lost.
Well, thinking of the situation I just wish my dream doesnt come true!

Thought of the Day...

2007-02-23T12:43:00.000Z

Borrowed lines but definitely thought-provoking:

"All those rich people who go to seminars and talks on India-Pakistan peace, why don't they actually travel by the Samjhauta Express to see what India-Pakistan peace is really about?"

On a lighter note... :)

2007-02-08T05:44:00.000Z

"Really Mama?"
"Oh ya definitely Son. Just this interview for the First Std. admission and you would be in one of the best schools of the city. No worries then!"
"Really Mama?"
"Yes Kid. Now go to bed, we need to get up early tomorrow!"
-----------------*-------------------
"Really Mama?"
"Oh ya definitely Son. Just these Board exams for 10th and you would be in the best junior college of the State. No worries then!"
"Really Mama?"
"Yes Dear. Now go to bed, you need to get up early tomorrow!"
------------------*-------------------
"Really Dad?"
"Oh ya definitely Son. Just these Board exams for 12th and you would be in one of the best Engineering colleges of the Country. No worries then!"
"Really Dad?"
"Yes Dear. Now go to bed, you need to get up early tomorrow!"
------------------*-------------------
"Really Dad?"
"Oh ya definitely Son. Just these campus interviews and you would be in one of the best MNCs of the World. No worries then!"
"Really Dad?"
"Yes Dear. Now go to bed, you need to get up early tomorrow!"
------------------*-------------------
"Really Boss?"
"Oh ya definitely. Just this project and you would get a paid holiday to Switzerland. No Worries then!"
"Really Boss?"
"No you moron. WORK!!"
---------------*-------------------
Thats Life...in a nutshell :)

Roadies or Rowdies???

2007-02-02T11:20:00.000Z

The other day i was watching Roadies...MTVs supposedly cool reality show that many are crazy after. This was the second time i was watching the show...and that was the final episode with 3 contestants competing for the most coveted Roadies spot. But what i realised over the show was that even if they didnt earn the title of Roadies, they certainly had become Rowdies in the process! Ask any grown up about todays generation and they would just make a "cant-help-it" face. Todays teenagers find it hard to believe in the Indian value system and are heavily influenced by The West. The abusive language is used more than the normal greetings, and let us not even talk about their takes on other cultural beliefs of our country.
So in such a scenario how does a reality series like Roadies help? The fact is that it doesnt. It does more damage to the mentality of the already bemused youths. The dirty politics to vote out the competitors, the mud-slinging, the abuses, the violent outbursts.....infact encourages erratic behaviour. And to air this all on the TV so that youngsters all over the country watch it....what to say on it? In this crazy world where TRP ratings matter so much for a channel, they will screen anything and everything to fatten their wallets.
Since when did manipulation qualify as a means to rake the moolah?Spirit of Sportsmanship stands for the fact that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness and ethics and respect and fellowship for one's competitors. Agreed this is not an Olympics game which has to abide by the ethics (really?). But then it is not a true Sport either. Because all it does is corrupt and adulterate the already hazy minds of the youth. A game which could have inculcated values of tolerance, fair play just ends up filling their hearts with disgust for fellow-mates and nothing else. What is the future of India if these have to grow up as responsible citizens some day? Think about it.

LVP Disintegrates

2007-02-02T10:58:00.000Z

Finally, its done. LVP has disintegrated. The inmates have left for other abodes. Me and aanchal will be the last ones to flee.
Doesnt feel good. The entire thought process of planning out the action feels good. But when the action commences, you are tired even before you start. That is because there are memories attached to the place, there are certain firsts attached to it. Your first job, your first birthday in the city, your first day as an employee.
Well, but it had to happen. The way things had progressed in the past few months, there was a clear sign that it was the beginning of the end.
After all what is the point in sharing a place physically with almost strangers? Instead solitude will be preferred. Yes, we are grown ups now. We want our "space" and comfort. And yes, the power to spend pampers your thoughts. Then you say "Why not? Isnt this what we earn for?"
Anyway, its time to focus more on the future. Its time to overcome emotions and gear up. Its time to make things happen....

Trivial Pleasures

2006-10-03T06:11:00.000Z

Sometimes the smallest of things in life end up giving you maximum joy and comfort.
Last month some time, the screw attached to the plastic face shield of my helmet gave up.
I tend to be a sloth in such cases. So, ended up wearing the helmet with one side of the face shield dangling while i drove around! It was a pain but i didnt find any roadside repair shop to get if fixed for days and days. Driving from AP road to office was a pain with this.
Never mind the curious onlookers who stared at the condition of my helmet..it already looks like it has been through a few accidents and survived.
Driving no longer was fun. I used to curse myself for not getting it repaired and then drive the
never ending 10 kms through clouds of smoke and confused traffic, trying with one hand to set the dangling shield right which with every road bump i encountered fell from its place to hang in the middle. Needless to say, this was a bit risky too! And the definition of roads in Bangalore being "A series of potholes maketh a road" the shield was hanging most of the time, and i was loosing patience every time it refused to stay.
This went on and on for some time, my patience levels going down every morning when i got up with just this thought in the mind.
Finally, today morning coming from Kor, i decided to stop by at every roadside helmet shop and ask them to fix the shield with a screw.
No luck for the first two times, i was stopping by and pointing at the helmet on my head asking them "iska screw hai kya?". The guy actually said "itna chhota screw nahi hai". I hope there was no sarcasm and he was actually refering to the helmet!
Finally, when the fellow at the third stall nodded his head in affirmation, i felt a sigh of relief. I waited in anticipation as he took my helmet and searched frantically in his "toolbox" for a matching washer (i guess tats wat they call it) and then a screw...he took a long time and all the while i prayed to god that he finds the right spare parts and fixes it!
and Ta Da....he found it !! after 10 mins of meticulous work he gave the helmet back...i thanked him and wore it proudly as if the helmet was no less than a princess' crown. I was ready to shell out a 50 bucks if he had asked me...after all the fellow had got rid of the problem i was facing for a month. But surprisigly he asked me just for 5 rs! I handed him a 10rs note and asked him to keep it. Not sure though what he thought about it. Well, then i flew from the place...drove like never before. Didnt have to strain my neck to prevent the shield from slipping. Everything seemed to be fine, driving was a pleasure again. So, i learnt that even seemingly trivial things sometimes make u happy.... :)

Happy ?

2006-05-25T08:16:00.000Z

Munnar...heaven on earth!
my heart longs to visit the place again....

Mindspace

2006-05-25T08:14:00.000Z

Mindspace

Lessons of Life

2005-11-22T10:43:00.000Z

Many times we r confronted with harsh situations in life. every time we learn a lesson from it.
this is what we call learning from experience. but sometimes we tend to forget these lessons...so i am going to write down all life has taught me & will be teaching in the near future.
so here i go:
1. From todays experience: Learn to say NO. the more you give in the more people take advantage of you. ofcourse adjustments are done only for people who really matter to you. that includes mom n dad as well as some near n dear ones.
2. Life is a learning process: No matter where you are there is always something to learn. So be observant and inquisitive. In technical world, there is so much that i have to learn and inculcate.
So i have decided that i will make it a point to learn something new every week. That might need studying on weekends..will definitely give it a try... :)
3. Anger is potentially dangerous. Control it.
4. Dont get bogged down, for there is always hope.
Hope is a thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tunes without the words,
And never stops at all....
5. Someone has rightly said, "You loose 100% of the shots that you don't make"
So never stop trying...Eventually it pays off.

TGIF !!!

2005-08-30T09:36:00.000Z

Wondering wht TGIF means? or probably most of the working ppl out there know dat!
yeah "Thank God Its Friday" !! thts a theme restaurant in Bangalore n also thts wht most of us hv in mind when friday comes. as i started working suddenly friday has become the most awaited day of d week. not that work is boring. but after giving ur best in all those gruelling weekdays who doesnt wait for a break. n good tht the western work culture is of 5 working days a week!! so work like dogs n the party hard is d mantra of d generation!!

2005-03-26T06:30:00.000Z

Sometimes i desperately feel that GOD should give me some superpowers...just like superman or spiderman. then i could straighten up all things,people going wrong. well, this is one of those times. I happened to watch Page 3 just now. it's a madhur bhandarkar's movie. very few people have the courage to unleash the harsh realities behind the resplendent world of glamour.that too in such a bold way. I loved the movie for this. but at the same time it gives u a poignant feeling. because it makes u realise how small u r in this world. while i was watching it, i could totally relate to the feelings of the journalist madhavi. i am so much like her. i feel the way she felt & i hope many do. but then we see the world through rose tinted glasses...everything seems so fine when we r doing well personally. the human mind is fogged with its own interests, goals & passions. there r very few ppl who r genuinely interested in the well being of the fellow humanbeings or for that matter any other form of life.
The fact that we r so helpless kills me. if GOD ever asks me for a wish i am going to tell him to either make everyone in the world good at heart or give me superpower so that i can make the world better.
Sometimes even i feel i shud be rich, a millionaire...shud earn highly n lead a luxurios life, be famous. but after watching it i felt if this is what fame is all about, then no need of it. i am happy the way i am. i m happy that GOD gave me such loving people around me, n my life is not adulterated with all those fake smiles, false emotions, false relations.
but it is not the same for everyone is it? several innocent people are taken advantage of. n what r we doing? nothing? is there any way to stop this? is there any way to eradicate corruption from the whole system. Only a miracle can save our country...& the world as a whole.
Please GOD give me the power so that when i grow up i have enough strength to stand against all this. i will help in my own way. i can help to improve the life of some atleast if not many.
i will try my best.

2005-01-07T14:51:00.000Z

The other day i was a bit down. Thinking abt past memories, friends & loved ones who passed out frm campus...leaving behind the times we spent together, the times which we long to spend together again.
Campus seems different when ur dear friends are gone. n then u realise that more than the place it is the people who matter. When u roam around the campus the familiar places revive all the cherished memories n then u relive the past moment. Feel the urge to see that person then & there itself...start wishing to urself why should the world change? Cant things be the same way they have been for the past 3 years? A surge of emotions starts in the heart n finally rolls down the eyes. Well, but things dont change for u...infact they change the way they r supposed to. n you inspite of knowing that cant just keep ur heart away from this dearth. U keep on experiencing it again & again until u become oblivious to the surroundings..But then it dawns on u that change is the only thing permanent...face it or be drowned in a sea of stagnant thoughts that'll take u nowhere.
There is no use clinging onto the past craving for it to come back. Its true that this thought often crops up subconsciously in the mind. u constantly feel an essential elemnt missing in ur life. especially when one knows that the changes have happened for ones own better future, the heart needs to be reminded of this. There is so much to life, so many new horizons to explore, so many new ideas to be dealt with n so many courses to be studied indeed!...unleash the hidden talents, learn new things about self & the world, make ur loved ones happy n make this world a better place...