Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing everyday that scares you Sing Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours. Floss Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself. Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. Stretch Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.. Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Dio!!


I still remember the day when I was asked to choose between a vehicle and a gold chain for myself. It had sounded such a absurd thing to be asked, cos vehicle was the obvious choice. It is a different thing that dad gave me a chain too, later on. This was almost six years back. Then, selection of dio over an activa, for the points in the looks department and not looking like a scooter. Then, everywhere I went, I used to take the dio, thus reducing any exercise.:D But, that was one thing, I was attached to, at that point of time. Even the four years of college, dad wouldn't use it much, only enough to make it fall. But how I used to love it and miss it at college.
And then I had to leave it at home while coming to Bangalore. Had tears when I patted it last time before coming here. But cab strikes at Bangalore came as a savior and the subject for emotional advantage to get it to Bangalore. I forgot the anger and the helplessness of being lost, with it. Just love it.....
Now its come back from service with the front body replaced. Even the small hole in the front is gone now!!!!As good as new, I so like it........
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
happy writing :)
I had intended to write about this book I had read a few days back- All creatures, great and small by James Herriot. A very simple book but some kind of an implicit message in each story. I had started the book with a little apprehension, it being gifted and hoping to like it for the sake of the person who gave it. By Jove, I liked it and would have liked it even it was to be given by some arbit person down the road.
The small things in life, which gets one so much of happiness, which people search everywhere. The vet comes to this small village as an apprentice with a lot of questions in his mind. And by the last page of the book, he settles beautifully, married and as a partner at the same village. Along his journey, he meets some great people, very diverse in nature and culture from the people he has met before in the city. The simple lifestyle with the animals being a part of their families and the love they show towards an outsider reminds me of Mom, who will take care of some even the constable’s comfort who had come for election duty. The life at small places is so very uncomplicated. Each call in Herriot’s day brings a new experience. The house itself, not devoid of experiences, each day in the village bringing something to look forward to.
Now, not knowing how to review books or to pass comments on the writing style, I would just say that it gives a very simple pleasant reading.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Nothing matters
In a better thinking process now. It did a lot of good. gave the intended visibility, the independence, learn a lot of new things etc. I don't think that kind of an environment will be provided again for a while now. I was here, responsible for whatever I wrote and no one else. The transition was to happen anyways. But the disheartening part is that you never would know how good or bad you were, so that you could improve. But you can't help such things sometimes.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Arbit
Text found in different word documents in the comp.
Maybe i do think a loot. And I still don't like to be thought of to be what I am not. Infuriates me, which goes off as smoke once I have told my opinion. :) Now, I don’t know if it’s a good thing. And when some have a wrong opinion of you, on a positive side, you tend to do just the opposite, without realizing. They expect you to be smart and all that, so you be extra dumb. I don't do it consciously, but I do that all the same.
I need to go for some anger management course. To control my temper and also to show my anger on the person guilty, rather than direct it towards myself.
Sometimes it is so difficult to decide if the decision you made was right or not. Unfortunately, in matters related to the mind, no amount of experience, prior data becomes useful and the situation of applying differentiation nil. It might happen that the decision is right but the consequences not so.
Why is this big question mark over everything? Where does the life of a techie end? With respect to the code written, what does it offer? Will it result in boredom after a while with the too monotonous a schedule? How challenging will it be? The path just got a little longer for me, thats all.
Now, on the other side, there are the b schools. Getting there is difficult. But is the life after that really worth the trouble? The hectic schedule and the chaos associated. Some love it and I admire them for it.
FY08
Sudhir's sudden appearance and telling that I would be moving on the 1st of August i.e the FY09 got me down the memory lane. What an year it has been! Eventful wouldn't quite justify it. The doctor, the convocation- I wasn't keen on attending, trust gone, the house- all add up to the things in the past. But it started some new journeys for the future.
Getting back to office after a long break had been seen with a lot of apprehension and the first three days of training was just proving it. Then came the team allocation. It had all been dreary when the mood was already in the dumps. 'Par kehte hain na, Jo hota hain acche ke liye hota hain.. saheen kehte hain'. Life has taken a turn, it might not be completely attributed to this, but good things have happened.
The house had done a lot of harm with regard to miscommunication with old friends. But even that could be seen in good light. The house got me new friends as cabmates and the team something more. The cab was fun, the long philosophical chats about nothing at al, the different eat outs, getting out in the same Intuit t shirt. It was fun. I was happy enough to get angry with them.
Been part of two wonderful teams. It might be seen as one of the quietest over here, but really nice people. I say this even when I don’t have to, just for the sake of better reviews for the teammates. Purely official!!! And foosball, I just love playing it with this team.:)
Sans the office now. Got my priorities right somewhere at least. What a mess, it was. And how much patience I demanded from everyone! The art of living lessons, then the wanting to stay alone for a while, this year had everything. And it has been good. Got stronger and more mature, to the extent that sometimes I am mellowed. And all the trips, with Pune still pending. Finally went to Ooty and
Have dreams and hopes once again. Less of a narcissist now, loving everything.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
What generation is it?
94.3 is now the radio for the move on generation. One of the channels to play Hindi as well. Before being the 'move on' radio, it was for the phata-phat generation. So two RJs 'fell in love' phataphat. That was the topic of discussion in all shows. What gifts he gave her, where they went etc etc. Suddenly today it changes the tagline. And guess what, the same people aren't a couple anymore. How cheap can you get? Like arbaaz and malaika forging a breakup for some reality show. Thats a bad thing to bring a relation between people to the forefront just to increase the ratings.
Maybe life in a metro doesn't run on emotions, which makes sense sometimes. Prevents a lot of tears, on people not worth it. But I am happy being in a metro and highly senti about somethings. There are times, I get the priorities completely messed up, but am learning. A teenager makes mistakes. Not completely an optimist, there are times when my mood was in the pits, when everything seems to be against you, all connected events. But how can I forget the rest when I was flying without any drugs? When I laugh like I am on vodka? I still have hopes on the metro and everything else:)