Showing up

Today I felt like showing up here, so a picture post for things on my mind for the past few days.

Idyllic! Perfect even!
here

My home is going to have this movie-watching-heaven attic!
here

It's easier to recreate the fairy-tale like spaces for day dreaming :)
here

Wish you all a merry Christmas and a grand year end ;)

the week in pictures

a 26 year old's advanced birthday 
gift to a 30 year old

Of course, Aai and KT think, we should give more age appropriate gifts. But then bro insisted and crossword was giving a 20% discount. Who would let go of a bargain on a gift ? :P\


Since then weekends, train travels have been scrabble-ed! And I am getting better at making a bunch of 30 year olds lose. sourly. bwahahaha.

The ganpati at home!

The better part of the week was spent in travelling and being creative. The ganpati at home gets a jazzy feel. Quite an achievement as we are pretty non-page-3 people! 

:D

I don't crack up at puneri paati jokes much, but this one found/spotted in Nagpur was hilarious! with its morbid tone and all!


P.S. In India, trucks, auto-rikshaw normally have some life gyaan giving messages painted at their back. This one here literally means - Money earned by dishonest means, comes out by tearing intestines.

Amazing tale!

Had a lot of fun judging a drawing competition for kids in our society. Some judge rain-checked, so I had to fill in her place. Also had triple the fun, reading this with a 9 year old cousin.


Neha I have finally read this most wonderful book! Am I part of the fellowship yet ? :)

So this was more or less my week. Full of shopping, meeting people, reading and eating great food!
Also took up a little home interiors project back at home. Will get to see its implementation during next visit!


Onto catching up all the un-read blogs NOW!


~nightflier

a little pilgrimage

Since the 4 of us (family) are hardly together, the moment brother announced his around new year's eve trip, we planned a little excursion to Shegaon (the karmabhumi of Gajanan Maharaj)


My views/thoughts about god are still evolving. Or so I think. And I have strictly no opinions about any religion. It always fails me why people get so instigated. To each his own I say, but then life/world would be too simple and there won't be any fun. For some. Anywhoo I digress.


What caught my eye the moment I stepped in the temple premises was the simplicity, the tidiness and the discipline. The darshan was arranged in such a way that it causes least problems to the bhakt. Even the wait in the queues (which are extremely well organized) seems easygoing on special days (like thursdays, weekends and public holidays). 


Later baba (dad) and mama (mom's brother) told us that the Sansthan (organization) which takes care of all the temple related activities has remained free of politics for the past 100 years and more (since the time it came into being). So the management remains less cluttered. Everyone is given an equal opportunity as a visitor. There is no VIP treatment given to anyone. I think that is a win-win. When people know there is no option but to wait in the queues, patience and discipline don't remain obligatory. Moreover the sevaks (volunteers) who work there for free are people from nearby villages, who come there in groups and are trained. They are really polite, patient and helpful. Even the food that is served to the bhakt/visitors is made everyday on a fresh basis with no (its not an understatement) mess anywhere. The plates that we were served in and the vessels that we were served from were impeccably clean (From whatever my eyes could catch from the distance). The coupon, serving and sitting system are so efficient that there are hardly any questions to be raised. Even about the food quality. The entire transactions of the Sansthan run on a no profit-no loss basis, so costs for anything and everything are so less that the trip doesn't end up being a financial burden for the common man.


I was mighty impressed with all these facts streaming in. So its not that difficult to run an efficient organization on the basis of good values and with the help of people. This can definitely form a really great case study for management students. From where many of our administrators can also learn. May be. :)


~nightflier

'GOA'ed

As one of the comments on my earlier posts said, Goa is a great way to end a phase and start a new one. Most of the times it would work.


I don't know if it has worked or is going to, but it feels great. I had actively stopped seeking answers to a lot of stuff and now things kind of seem fine to me. The anxiety, the restlessness, the lost feeling is somehow not nagging now. You know being with the flow and just doing routine things, sometimes one doesn't wonder but it does the magic. Like everyday's peaceful sleep ? Like being comfortable with oneself ? Like not exactly caring where the world is going and what it has come to, but being one with oneself ? Yes I am talking about the same feeling of warmth and cozyness you get, when you are eating king prawns recommended by a mallu uncle in a typical Goan shack! :)

at aguada fort

And the joy of re-discovering new friendships in old ones ? Isn't that magical ? Maybe its the festive season or the place itself if so full of joy and happiness, that one does let go of one's inhibitions and conversations just flow. Or maybe the comforting feeling that one has a bunch of goofy friends to grow old with. :)


And clicking random snaps and video shooting whatever is possible, creating memories and capturing them as we move on. That's therapeutic too. The over the topness with all the posing and the smiles. :)


Oh and the binge drinking. Kamikaze shots as and how much one can take should be an 'at-least-once-an-year' ritual. :)


Even though one was just hopping towns and sight seeing like a whirlwind, Goa is extremely relaxing. It has an calming aftereffect. No wonder its so hyped! :)


And the realization that even though one loves the journey but doesn't really like the travelling. Maybe its time to slow down. Be Me.


~nightflier


P.S. I remember talking to a friend a month back. He bantered 'so when do you actually plan to start working?' And I had said very naively 'you know the best friend's wedding and then the goa trip..don't you think I should wait for the new year' :D to which I got the most human 'rolling eyes' I have ever seen!! :) 
So moral of the story, may be its in the head..to end something and to start something new.. :)

of aaji, mamas and mamis

Since childhood we have had this tradition of meeting both sides of the family at least once an year. With baba's side all being pretty elderly and now family sizes growing with cousins getting married, and everyone dispersing and settling down, the meets are now normally confined to big family functions like weddings. Otherwise normally it used to be summers. With aai's side everyone being relatively younger and 2 of my mama's residing in the same house, the meets happen often. But with us (me and brother) growing up and moving away for education and jobs, for us the meets happen around Diwali. So this post is basically about the mother's side and the meets. The father's side and their stories for sometime later.
[Sometimes I have this compulsive need to be fair. I am pretty sure no one would have cared if the stories from father's side come or not! :D]


Ok one more fact, both sides of family are INTO food. They love cooking and indulging in the same.


So when my mama (mom's brother) saw me after more than an year, he was awed that how I am surviving by eating air - literal translation for hawa khana (remember I am infamously skinny). There are really few people with whom I don't really mind the banter on weight issues and who don't take things personally. So we immediately made plans to feed me. It started with the doodhwala, who brought us the most delicious homemade malaai wala dahi (curds). Apparently this guy has his own cow-farm and gets such delicacies on a regular basis. No wonder people go ga-ga about small towns and the fringe benefits.
I also ate with my mama in the same thali (plate) after ages! Normally I do have a habit of sharing my plate with baba at home, sometimes aai, little cousins who normally throw tantrums but eat well when sharing with an elder taai (sister), Rinku during hostel days and also when I recently visited her. It felt so wonderful to not start at the tv and eat but have a conversation with mami (mama's wife) pampering over us by serving piping hot chapatis and aaji (mom's mother) fussing over how I should eat this and then that. To tell the truth I couldn't take so much attention on a daily basis but it felt blissful during these 2 days!! :-)


We decided to make crab curry in the evening, but owing to my novice in cooking crabs, it was decided that we buy the crabs and get the curry done from someone. Now isn't this the most amazing way of cooking! :D
It was my second time eating crabs. Boy! it was such a hard work. We all were having dinner for like 1.5 hours! It seemed never ending. But crabs are the tastiest non-veg food ever! Worth all the efforts.

I feel kind of foolish not to have take a pic of
the original one.
*courtesy - google

But the highlight of the trip was the barbequed chicken curry that we made today! Shaukeen that my mamas are, they have a chullah (a movable one unlike in the pic) in the first story backyard. In their old house they had a permanent one and I can tell you stories about how we cousins used to fight over who should fire it and who should sit by it or help aajoba roast eggplants/papad. The connoisseurs of Indian food can appreciate the importance of the chullah and the taste food cooked on it gets.And even if you haven't eaten anything cooked on it I can guarantee you that its very different and super tasty! So our grand preparations started with getting the masala (blend of spices) right! We decided to go all rustic and be minimalistic with stuff and depend on the chullah's magical cooking for the taste! So we used all basic spices like daalchini, black pepper, badi ilaaychi, cloves first roasted with onions, dhaniya and dried coconut and then ground in a coarse paste. Firing the chullah and getting the right flame was the toughest task. Took us 15 minutes to make sure the flame was getting evenly spread and was not too smoky. Aai also helped us in coating a layer of wet soil over the cooking pan to make sure it does not burn. We roasted the masala in sufficient oil for almost 30-45 minutes, with a sprinkle of water from time to time (to make sure the masala did not burn or stick to the pan). Then the chicken was added and we let it cook for another 30-35 minutes, with occasional mixing and stirring. Then copious amount of water was added to get the not too thick gravy. Getting that consistency right is proof that how close one gets to the minimal and rustic theme. End results were super delicious! All worth the hard work. (again have no pics to share :-/)


And thus my hog-till-you-get-tired weekend came to an end. I have realized eating great food is *happiness*. And if you have the most jolly, fun, sarcastic company then the ride just gets better!


~nightflier

The southern sojourn

So when I was struggling to get my bearings straight on the Indian timeline, a dear friend who now lives in Chennai asked me to visit her. After the initial inertia from mom dad about the ayodhya verdict, its implications etc (which proved out to be nothing thanks to all of us maturing) they conceded :D


So off I went to Chennai for a refreshing visit to a dear friend. This was going to be my first visit to a city situated so down south in India. So my excitement kind of knew no bounds. But the hot humid airs of chennai made sure I kept myself in check. After a day's rest we embarked on an adventure reserved for every non-Rajni fan. A show of his latest flick Enthiran, in a huge theater amongst hooting, cheering crowds. What an experience! And what a movie! It is truly god level. With so many layers including the artificiality of Mrs. Bachchan, I loved it. Note to self : do not deprive yourself of such stuff in the future!


The next day was marked with visiting the real Chennai. So friend and me ventured in the killer humidity to T nagar, the market place of chennai. It seemed to me as if the entire Chennai had gathered there. We went to Pothys and did some sareee shopping. After that we visited the big daddy of Big Bazaar, the Saravana stores. Walmart guys should take a look at it before thinking of opening their branches in India. What eh spectacle this 7 story shopping store was! After such tiresome activities the time came to quench our hunger. And only typical south Indian food could do it. So we went to Murugan Idli. They serve the bestest, softest idlis I have ever eaten in my life. With 4 different equally tasty chutneys and sambhar. And seeing my liking my friend made sure that we visited them almost everyday to try all the stuff from their menu :D


Next day we visited Besant Nagar beach. A nice place to chill away from the city hustle bustle. I tried my hand at balloon shooting and got 5 on 8 targets :D

backwaters on way to Chunnambar beach

Then came the weekend and the much awaited trip to Pondicherry. Not at all overhyped. Its serene beaches and quieter townships (the french colonies) left me wanting for more. Next time I am planning a minimum 7 days trip to this place. We visited the Promenade beach and the lovely Chunnambar beach. 
Due to time constraints we could not visit Auroville. Btw we had a tough time finding a good place to eat in Pondi, as we reached pretty late. Then our driver suggested Anand Bhavan and we found it to be a really decent place to hog. Plus the fact that its situated right in the middle of the market place and french colonies made it our hang out spot for the day and half that we were there. And its on these same street side shops that I bought an H&M cotton top for Rs. 150, after much haggling though. Neha you were so right about H&M clothes! :D


On our way back to Chennai we visited Mahabalipuram. A world heritage site with amazing architecture. It was worth wrapping up a bit early in Pondi to catch Mahabalipuram. A must visit once again!


And oh on my last day in Chennai, we visited a 7 story gold jewellery's shop just for fun. No offence to anyone but MY GOD! south Indians and their love for gold! I am still amazed.


And so my impromptu southern sojourn came to an end. It was fun. I hated Chennai weather due to its humidity but loved the food and the chaos. And its always a pleasure to visit old friends and be a part of their life. So am thinking where to plan my next trip :D any suggestions ?


~nightflier


P.S. somehow I am not able to transfer pics taken from my mobile camera..would have been a better post with few local pictures.

Life in the slow zone

Most of you will agree that life as a student is slow except for those elevated periods of activity and exhaustion during exams and semester end. But on a routine basis if you follow a time table life is more or less the same. Having done that for almost 2 years I was REALLY looking forward to get my hands dirty in the real world and start working. It seems god or one of his subordinates with a mean sense of humour has different plans (cos I think I have a friendly relation with mr. god. I know he is reading this! coy smile). 


Anyhow that throws me in the slow zone (what I sometimes also call the unpredictable zone) once again! To tell the truth, I did get caught a bit off guard here. But after 4-5 days of lamenting and sob stories (to myself), I am back to being an optimist. Sigh..


I am planning to learn a few new programming languages/tools (Strictly for AwareNet purposes).
Also in the pipeline is a lot of reading. The pending reading list seems to grow by day and looms on me menacingly. In a wake up you lazy ass way.
The evening walks are an integral part of my day now. Planning to add badminton sessions. Any bakras in picture or vicinity ? Well, playing with imaginary friends doesn't quite look appropriate for my age now. 
And in the cooking section we have Mark uncle making a re-entry. Of course he will be on Minimalist and me in my kitchen.
On the gadget front if I can carry it off then try to download cool applications and games for my iTouch. Seriously it must be feeling ignored/rejected/sad with my meagre musical needs and limited use. But pretty soon I will be as cool as Tony Stark. Hope floats!


And not on the list is any TV related activity. Because I pulled up a crazy stunt of watching 5 seasons of Lost in 15 days (Each episode lasts for 42-45 minutes :-|) Now I have a pretty good gist of how its going to end. If you have heard of parallel universes and infinite dimensions you might know what I am talking about. And if you are somewhere between season 1 and 5 or don't watch it, then don't bother. This isnt even a spoiler. So I hope there are no chappals or chopsticks coming my way ? Phew!
Waise in my defence I thought any free time before starting work is like your last few days on earth before doomsday. Well watching 5 seasons of Lost will not be anyone's choice in such situation, but let's agree people are weird. Waise I am on episode 4 of season 6 now, if you were still thinking.
The effect of this incessant Lost bombardment has been tremendous on my nervous system. I have lost (the verb) appetite for tv. That also makes my stomach churn at the thought of movies. Now that's pretty bad for a fanatic. So I beg you to not suggest any more new tv series by amreekan versions of Ekta Kapoors. I also hope the damage does not last long.


So now coming to the point behind this non stop badbad, please suggest me good books on design of products, entrepreneurship and marketing. Not my cup-o-tea all this stuff. Par kya karein karna padta hai.
Also if any of you at any point of time has developed a facebook/mobile custom application, kindly let me know. 
And be a good girl/boy and help your technologically challenged (lazy more like) friend by suggesting nice iTouch/phone applications (needn't be useful). Also let me know what your plans for summer are, in case things get really slow, I might gatecrash (into ?) them.


Parting songs of the moment(s) : 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91QBcm07kXE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8me1GXijJA


(Go ahead my friend. Click them. Sometimes clicking unknown links can make all the difference :))


~nightflier

homely post

Lots of free time, normally should translate to lots of activity on blogosphere and lots of posts (refers to non-sense here).

alas..

I use that time to unravel the deeper mysteries eluding humankind, trying to decipher the meaning behind the metamorphosis this world is undergoing, in short making sense of it all ....

BULL-CRAP !!! (these days in India they give english subtitles on english movie channels. Imagine I said S***)

Instead I am sleeping, eating, televisioning, reading, studying, cooking. Listed in the order of priority. During my brief excursions on the internet these days, I realized, my blog was getting opened out of lack of options to open any interesting websites and not out of pure urge to write and check out what other people have written. Then I also realized I dont take myself so seriously!! Except while choosing an ice-cream flavor. May be.

So while indulging in these extremely mind-numbing activities, I have realized I just need to participate whole-heartedly.

The bed is always made up. I just have to go and sleep in it.
Food is always getting served by others (and always the stuff I prefer). I just have to sit and hog.
That sacred place on the couch is always kept free for me. And in case its not, a slight desire to watch the tv and voila !!
And sorts...
(Now you do get an idea, why people want to be a kid again.)

But you know what, folks at home always treat you like one. No need to specifically try to transform. A stay at home and you will realize, however grown up and mature you have become for the outer world, things never change at home.
There are other places also, where the kid in me is always alive. Amusement park, cooking alone in my apartment, (others can't be mentioned here) :P.
While being outside, we are constantly surrounded by people or situations, where we need to be the decision makers, the mature lot, the civilized ones. So this kinda treatment is rocking!

Also , I am back from a trip to Pune. Newsflash from the land where the swine flue paranoia is at its peak!

I saw love-aaj-kal. Read this for my overall views. The only high point was a deserted E-square on a friday night! All E square lovers will appreciate this fact. So no long queues for tickets, no hassles while eating your popcorns peacefully in the not so crowded waiting lounges, no waiting in the washing rooms and the best no random pushing or pulling to get entry into the screening hall.

I met all the friends I could manage to meet. Hostel gang and college class mates topped the list. It was good to see the married lot settled into their domestic lives. It was a bit weird to be a part of it (even if for a day). Though did not manage to do random crazy stuff, as earlier. Guess things change :) But meeting old friends is like sipping nariyal pani on a hot Indian summer day. It can't get any better :)

The most amazing thing about the trip was, it dint feel like a visit after an year. I still knew all my routes and short-cuts. I could still notice the small changes roads/places/shopping malls, in short favorite places, have undergone. I took in all that I could of one of my favorite cities. I think this is the best form of love I know :)

I was a bit anxious about getting back safely, though. I was traveling by the chariot for the poor (gareeb rath) and it was scary to see people roaming all around me in masks. To all my friends who are not in India and would like some first hand news, things are pretty ok back here. People are taking extra precautions and even places like railways stations have become cleaner. Schools are closed for the next week to avoid an epidemic. The media is again being accused of raising panic levels amongst citizens. So if you read some outrageous stuff, kindly trust the authorities.

baki to sab changa hai! A huge list of shopping awaits me. Guess I should become a bonafide member of shopoholics Inc. ;)

will be back with interesting stuff soon.

~nightflier!

Someplace Else

That's my new address (and is also an eye-catcher!).

7 year olds are the only people I get along well with these days. The one I am talking about is a cousin, who was not very much acquainted with my ways. I am sure now she knows whom to look forward to when she fancies a tickle fight and a TV remote fight. Oh well!
This bright kid is also someone who only speaks Marathi (our mother tongue) but does not learn it in school. So what sometimes follows at home between us is really hilarious!

few examples:

me: please, give me the remote (with the undertone of 'else, I will switch off the main switch which is high above your tiny hands' reach! muhahahaha')
she: hargeez (hindi word) naahi (marathi word) (means No ways !!)
me: rofl

me: (trying to twist myself to the song twist)
she: these people don't let me do film dance! sigh..
me: whaaaaaaaaa..rofl

me: (hid her math book in a vain attempt)
she: sagle (marathi) hamesha (hindi word) asach kartaat (marathi). (everyone always does that!) (in a very understanding tone)
me: (going nuts over that tone!!)

Apart from our stupid sounding antics, we did have a good time; eating chocolates, watching harry potter and some Chinese cartoon called asira chan (where asira grows into a watermelon after eating melons 24/7!!), solving math problems in a record 35 minutes, getting complements for our similar diets!

And now I cannot stop wondering about how adorable kids are. Sigh, I already miss her.
I will take the videos of her pledge recitals (something she was distracted into doing, so that I could take control of the TV remote..muhahahaha)!

On other notes, I have a new found liking for TV, now that I survived 3 days and 3 nights without Internet. My other address is the couch in the living room in front of TV. Its an amazing life style change. For once I am happy that simple things like doing nothing without using one's brain power are possible!
And strangely I also saw a whoopish triumphant grin on my dad's face, when the DSL cable near my house was finally repaired. Darn it! I am coming for you my beloved! (the TV remote, duh!)

Listening to the songs of Love Aaj Kal for quite a few days now. Twist and Chor Bazaari steal the show. Twist has that quirky Indian touch with the pubbish feel. And it is really good to twist to, too! Chor Bazaari is amazingly refreshing. Even the video shot in Delhi haats looks superb. Rest songs are pretty ok. Loads of strings everywhere. One also gets the typical Punjabi and Preetam feeling. Definitely Imtiaz Ali's earlier offerings were musically superior. Remember Socha na tha (the goa and title track) and Jab we met (Rahat Fateh ali khan's soulful Aaoge jab tum and Mohit Chauhan's mesmerizing Tum se hi). But a good album after a loooong time. Makes me look forward to the movie for a change.

I also read Matthew Reilly's Seven Ancient Wonders to get rid of jet lag. Thumbs up if you like the Dan Brown kind thrillers, filled with trivia but a typical plot and predictable situations with little emotions thrown in, genre interesting. I found it extremely fast paced and a store house of knowledge. I had never wikied so much while reading a book. An informative read, indeed.

Rest is great. I am doing the meet people, be a good girl, tell them how life in America is exciting/boring/difficult routine. As long as interesting and good food accompanies I am not complaining. Fringe benefits of every situation, that's optimism for you!

Well, now its dinner time in Someplace Else. (What!!)

~nightflier

ORD to Charles de Gaulle

A travelogue of my flight from Chicago to Paris.
(the real post sits tight in my lappy's crashed hard-drive, never to get retrieved :()

From last minute travel plans to the last minute rush to reach the railway/train station or airport in time, I can be awarded a PhD. (Since this blog is all about myself, I know you guys don't mind this self obsession). Anyways, as me and a friend (he was kind enough to accompany me to the airport mainly to help me carry those humongous bags foren returned people carry) made way through the check in counter, I knew I had done it again. I was checking in at 4, for a flight supposed to take off at 5.15. phew...

The best part in all this was, I had a window seat. I have a fascination for windows which can be explored at a later point. So after some customary calls, I was all set for my longest journey in an year.

And oh yeah line from the book/movie the Namesake,
'The greatest journeys are the ones that bring you home' also did ring in my ear :P

On board waiting for moi was a surprise!! An 8th grader, Kayi who was flying for the first time to visit family in Paris, was going to be my neighbor. She was also the only non-french-speaking member of her family. So quite obvious, with crores spent on hospitality management to kill the competition, we were the hot favorites of the entire crew. I wonder even the flight captain knew about Kayi!! So quite promptly, the responsibility of Kayi's well being was thrusted on me. I was to be the primary source of solutions for her every woe from motion sickness to emergency exit. (And don't be surprised) but I was damn thrilled. Only to realize later that, being an American kid, Kayi preferred 'He's just not that into you' over talking to a stranger (I did take care that I don't sound creepy by asking questions like 'So how many boyfriends you have?', etc etc) :|

So I was left with my window and staring into thin air act. It was pretty good. I saw an entire world made up of clouds from up there. Cities, castles, palaces, roads, cars, animals!! My idea of another world also has pretty much the same stuff! Sheesh ...

I watched the remaining part of Babel, Bride wars (gave it a shot for the new found respect for Ann Hathaway). Simply hogged on the food. Plus dad had given my preferences for food as Indian, so I was getting my food before everyone, with different contents and it tasted delicious too!

Since I did not have much time to plan this trip, I made a list of things I was looking forward and not looking forward to during my stay.

So stuff which would make the stay pleasant:

1. loads and loads and loads of home-made food.
2. catching up with mom-dad.
3. meeting friends
4. spending my brother's earnings on some fruitful shopping!!
5. sleep, sleep and sleep and not go out much, just relax, eat, watch TV, and not follow a routine.
6. visiting my granny

This is all I could think of.

And the non-pleasant stuff includes:

1. ending up in a quarantine.
2. falling sick and proven a weakling!!
3. being treated as a foren returned. I simply hate special treatment!!
4. laptop crashes (this has already happened and I am over it now :()
5. Indian summer (OK call me a typical amreeka returned, but I was finding 30 degree Celsius quite unbearable in the US :-/)

So we reached Paris in 8.5 hours, without any delays. I was damn excited about locating the Eiffel from up there and to my amusement I could locate 6 Eiffels :D
Seriously, I wanted to see the Eiffel from the flight. Some of my fantasies fail me :-/

As I stepped on the land known for the louvre, cycling, and a phonetically strange language, the entire crew of Air France once again thanked me! Kayi (if you have already forgotten, shame on you!!) was into safer custody to be united with her family and I was left to explore CDG :)

From CDG to Chatrapati Shivaji terminal, coming up next!

~nightflier

The Bird(ie) and The Racket

What happens when a bunch of Indians teach a South American how to play Badminton ??

Racket Ball.

Well our poor South American friend was as usual caught between us (badminton enthusiasts) and him (a basketball freak) and the sweetheart that he is, he agreed to play badminton with us. Little did he know about the chaotic way we play the game. Mind you all of us had different opinions on the point system and serve area (Its amazing to know that we also localize a 'sport' in different parts of India!). Since it was not helping the new bee much, we thrusted the responsibility to the better playing Chinese girls on the neighboring court. Kidding !!

We actually took the route many corporate firms are taking. In these bad times most of them skip the training part by directly involving new joinees into project work and calling it on job experience. We decided to skip the training as well, just that our decision was motivated not by poor economy but lack of agreement. We taught him individual techniques. Like I taught him how to serve (which was hilarious). Another friend taught him about angled drop shots and another one the art of holding a racket (Yeah! you heard it right!). So after 3 hours of hard work and toil, our friend was feeling comfortable and starting to like the game.

And then we decided to play a finale to reward our efforts. I decided to play with the rookie. The game was wonderful. I don't remember who won, as we played for fun more than anything. 

At the end, the new bee asked me, 'Tell me, why was I the only one jumping/running around the court, when you guys were comfortably moving around ?'

me: ermmm... (He had once told me that he used to play Tennis. I also realized the difficulty in teaching him how to serve. And things started to fall into place. I promptly said) 'Dude, cos you were playing Tennis on a baddie court !!' 

At that very instant, we both burst out laughing. I also mimicked some of his antics to involve others. After a long time I laughed till my muscles ached and my throat dried.

Cheers to the South American friend who played baddie just for the fun of it :)

~nightflier

P.S. After that 3 hours of workout on the court all the muscles in my body are making their presence felt as I write this. Ask me about stretching oneself to limits. Also let me know if they teach how to curb your enthusiasm while playing a sport/game after an year's break. I would definitely like to enroll!

will you ....

Published on public demand.

For all that is good in us and for all that is not so bad,

For all that is open ended in us and for all that does not close,

For all that is grown up in us, and for all that is yet so small,
Will you give friendship another chance ?

For all that is innocent in us and for all that is not so naive,

For all that is genuine in us and for all that is not fake,

For all that is wise in us and for all that is yet so stupid
Will you give love another chance ?

For all that is precious and for all that is not so valuable,

For all that is harmonious and for all that is not chaotic,

For all that we pray for and for all that we take for granted,

Will you give peace another chance ?

P.S. Written in extra senti mode. But this all is the cosequence of playing word challenge and getting the title of a "poet". It's their fault they told me my vocabulary was in the league of Shakespeare and Keats. I got carried away..mebbe !! :D

P.P.S. sorry addu, the "poet" in me got too exausted for a forth stanza. 

favorite quotes

Well its been many days since I wrote "some"thing (except for copied songs and terror attacks and laments). So here's something I have been trying to pen down for a long while now. Again this is a collection of what other people say. A bunch of quotes may be. But I loved them. Anyways, here's the list of my favorite quotes.

The Terminator : I will be back. - terminator 2 judgement day (the conviction in the words makes you trust even the terminator)

Howard Roark : Most people build as they live as a matter of routine and senseless accident. But a few understand that a building is a great symbol. We live in our minds and existence is the attempt to bring that life into physical reality to state it in gesture and form. For the man who understand this, a house he owns is a statement of his life. If he does not build when he has the means, its because his life has not been what he wanted. - The Fountainhead

Howard Roark : But I don't think of you. - The Fountainhead (says this to Ellsworth Toohey)

Calvin : Nothing spoils fun like finding out, it builds character. - Calvin (love that sarcastic undertone)

Louis Vuitton ad - Can there be a greater journey than love ? (the ad features andre agassi and my fav steffi graf :))

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore : To the well organized mind death is but the next great adventure. - harry potter and the sorcerer's stone

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore : It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities - harry potter and the chamber of secrets (this quote also appears in book 4, some words here and there)

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore : Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike. - harry potter and the order of the phoenix

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore : Youth can not know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young. - harry potter and the order of the phoenix

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore : People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right. - harry potter and the half blood prince

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore : It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. - harry potter and the sorcerer's stone

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore : In fact being rather cleverer than most men, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly huger. - harry potter and the half blood prince

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore : Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love. - harry potter and the deathly hallows

well, again, it seems I have no life. Only dumbledore!! But these books and rand's writing have been great influences and motivators for me. I will keep adding stuff to this post. I can be a bit lazy on Sunday mornings :)

till then,

wish you all a merry x'mas !!

may the stars watch upon you.

Minnesota diaries - day 2

Actually I have no mood to write this part. Feeling too lazy.

But as I had already mentioned about it in the earlier post, I can't run away from the responsibility of giving my readers the updates about my 'oh-not-so-boring' life !! (yawn ....)

The second day was marked with a bad start. People were struggling with hangovers. Not that I minded a late start to the day with an already long previous night and very little sleep. 

So as planned we reluctantly started off towards 'River Wild State Park' to watch fall colors, with a rented car and the car stereo. This was the first time that I saw use of the GPS application for directions. I don't know if I liked it or not. I am more of let's explore and find our way types, when it comes to such expeditions. But in the lands of the organized and meticulous planners, this thing is a must. May be its good to have some sort of guide in the unfamiliar terrain. Not that the GPS thing was a great help!! Thankfully (for me) and disdainfully (for others) it could not recognize the start address. But like in India, we had a chalta firta guide on roads and freeways friend. We did make it without any hiccups. For our surprise (in that sleepless state nothing could really shock us!!) the fall colors were no where to be seen. Only barren trees and their leaves on the grounds, waiting for the winds to sweep them away. The team of 5 got separated in 2. 3 of us (who were proved not so smart enough, me not included, of course !!!) went in for canoeing in the st. croix river. I and another friend opted for exploring the woods.

It turned out that the canoeing team had a really tough time, as they had to row against the winds while going up and row against the river flow while going down. The 2 hours when these people were inside the waters, we took a long 5 mile walk in the jungles. We visited the small museum, 'the visitor center'. There was loads of useful info about wild flaura and fauna. The concept of 'an alien species' specially amused me. After reading the definition (I don't remember it word by word though) I actually started feeling comfortable. I constantly had this out of place or somehow I don't belong here feeling, from the moment I landed in this country. I would feel weird at the use of the word 'Alien' on every official document I filled up here. Were not Aliens just Sigourney Weaver movies or the enemies from Independence Day who threatened our planet? Anywho the denial of accepting the fact of being a foreigner finally ended in the small museum in the woods. 

After this enlightening self acceptance, I prompted to take a way which seemed closer. Not that we had a map of the woods or anything. You don't get 100 points for guessing that it was a Wrong Turn. Well, I also have this instinctive quality of confidently suggesting a wrong way. But in self defense I would say, it makes the journey meaningful, longer and more meaningful (with the way I get cursed for being such a dodo, it sure sounds meaningful !!)

Anyways, we found a kind enough American couple who gave us their used map, after we gave in the fact of being officially LOST. We were not in such a bad position after all. We found a shorter route along the river stream (just 3 miles you see) which would take us to the canoeing team. On my way, I collected some interesting foliage. I wish I had the craft books we used to have in schools, to paste the evidence of my trip, right away.

The river stream made us so cheerful that we totally forgot the fact that the canoeing outing was a disaster for the other team. The journey back was not so great for the friend who was driving, as we conveniently dozed off in the back seats. 

In the evening we went to St. Paul Cathedral (Minneapolis and St. Paul form the twin cities and the capital of Minnesota). We reached in time for mass. End to the day could not have been more peaceful. The cathedral had this calming and soothing quality about it. Its spectacular interiors did take my breath away for a while! After that we went to St. Paul Capitol Hill. Another beautiful monument, full of roman architecture. After posing for some tired snaps, the day finally ended. Oh I forgot the dinner at the Chinese joint. It was amazing as well. Specially, the way the cook made the chicken fried rice really spicy to make sure that the toilets will remain clogged for the next 2 days !!!! No kidding, it was so spicy that, we wasted it thinking good about the toilets.

Anyways, my trip ended there. A 2 day break from god knows what. But a trip makes you think about small things in life. Things which you normally leave unnoticed. The many facts about yourself and your daily lives. It lets you unwind. So do plan something the next time you get a chance. Its a nice way to indulge.

nightflier :)

Minnesota diaries - day 1

The plan of spending fall break at Minneapolis started as a joke and in the swarm of mid-terms I did not even realize that, the fall break had already arrived. Thanks to my thoughtful and serious with her vacations roomie, we already had the tickets in hand. 

Sadly the journey was overnight, so missed watching the amreekan countryside (if it exists!!). Don't be shocked, I love my sleep. Especially if your standing-last-in-the-queue skills win you (yeah..win you..) the last 2 seats (the position..duh) on the Mega-Bus. Anyways hope to watch it on my return journey.

I knew only one fact about Minneapolis beforehand, that it is very cold. And I was held totally wrong, when it turned out to be very very cold!!

The sightseeing routine started with the visit to University of Minnesota. The sprawling campus spread across the sides of the Mississippi river took my breath away. The word HUGE describes it the best. But checking out an university campus just at the start of fall break does not sound a very exciting thing to do!! So with very serious ideas of having fun, we headed off to the Guthrie theatre. The theatre hosts many plays and cultural shows and houses an amazing restaurant and a bar with a spectacular view of the stone arch bridge on one side and Minneapolis downtown on the other side. Nature again played wonders at lifting up my spirits and left me smiling.

{The damned internet connection is not letting me upload the pic. So imagine it}

The above picture is just a proof of what I just said.

The stone arch bridge is just too perfect for a solitary walk. It's the only bridge built entirely out of stone (obviously as the name suggests) on the Mississippi, giving it you an out of the times feel. You feel like walking in some Victorian era, except for the roller blading kids and fitness freak joggers! The river Mississippi looks messy and unclean from here. The kind of stuff rivers normally are in reality. Anyways some fact files. The bridge actually increased the transportation of goods and people across the river. It thus is a cultural symbol of growth of Minneapolis.

After this wonderful walk, as we were passing a park, I happened to witness my first American wedding. And lucky me reached there when the vows were being taken and the 'now the groom may kiss the bride' dialogue was being said. It was sooooo touching. I hope no one noticed the tears in my eyes :) Fuss about weddings on one side and the joy of watching such ceremonies on one side. I will vote for the later definitely. I hope I will be the object of attention of such a holy ceremony, one fine day !! :)

We ended the day there, as others wanted to hit the bars early in the night. Of course, I am going ;) It would be fun to see people get talli and chill out. Miss my girl pals and some special friends with whom I took the liberties of trying weird stuff. Company matters to me in such matters!! 

Post on day 2 will come soon.

adios,

nightflier..