Survival Tales

S: Wanted to congratulate you once again.
H: Thanks. So how are things coming along? Picking things up quickly?
S: Yes.
H: Did you go through the graphs?
S: Yes. I did this morning while I was doing the dml's. I also went through the UTP.
H (nods and smiles): I'm sure you wont let the team down.
S: I wont.
H: In a day or two you will have lots of work coming your way. You can take help from L and K anytime.
S: Hmm...and good luck...bye
(2 days into the new assignment and looking forward to being a firefighter!)

Holiday!

Holiday at Last! My leave has been approved(thanks to my project manager) and am I happy? :-) Going out of town next weekend and this is what I will do -

I will attempt getting up early once again and go bird watching at dawn. Should be fun. Can't wait to get away :-) 7 days to go!

Thanksgiving

Overheard a bit of a conversation. Did not pay much attention to remember the details but, the gist is that there is a person who has a disability since childhood and my colleague was trying to comfort the person over the phone.
It made me remember the lessons taught at school. They drilled it into us to say a prayer each night and thank God for making you whole and also say a prayer for those who weren’t blessed in the way we are.
What I believe is everyone is blessed in a way. People would say, "Its easy for you to say this…ask a blind girl how it feels not to be able to see the colors in life, ask a deaf man what he would not give up to be able to hear again, ask a person who has lost someone dear, what he won’t do to have them back in their lives?"

All these questions make me feel very small. I have tried to close my eyes and walk a few yards, and the darkness was so profound, I felt lost.

There are social initiatives for people who are challenged.
There are other initiatives that help kids study in areas that are economically unsound. It is always an honor to be a part of such efforts. Its not very difficult, and believe me it does not prove as a drain on your social life.

There is a movie by the name "A walk to remember". I first watched it some 3-4 years back and I have watched it over and over again, just to keep me awake and human, lest I become too complacent with what life has given me or too embittered by whatever it has stolen from me.

Walking in the rains (it has been pouring here for the past three evenigs) I have been thinking and taking stock. I remembered the time I had been in the himalayas rafting and went for a cliff jump. It is just like a trust fall sans the interlocked hands to catch you when you fall. It is just volumes of deep, dark water meandering through the mountains. It is scary. That was another time I said a desperate prayer and closed my eyes before I jumped. Then I let go. I heard the temple bells ring somewhere, came back to the present, took off my shoes and walked in. It is a quaint little place that I manage to find only during my evening walks. I don’t even know how it looks by daylight. I like to sit down and hear the bells ring and see the people kneel down and ask for their wishes to be granted, some just ask 'to be happy not only today but for years to come, always'.
I like that temple for another reason as well. They distribute ‘Prasad’ (offerings made to the deity) after the evening worship in little bowls made out of dried leaves. After a day at work, it tastes ethereal.

The bigger picture always will be elusive. We can only wonder at the scheme of life. The key lies in balance and not losig direction, standing up and walking ahead.
Disorientation, only makes things worse. Remember, you are not alone. Had you been on your own with no responsibilities, everything could have been different, bad and reckless in a way. Keeping your head on your shoulders is what is most important, and even more important is holding it high.

School was a place I will always miss. The games, the friends, the teachers, classes, the librabry, labs, the canteen, the fun, the resolutions,and the values will remain forever.

I can hear the bells again. This time very distant. And I say a little prayer. I ask for happiness, not only for me, but for all whom I love, not just today but for years to come, always.

The Kite Runner

"For you a thousand times over!"

We won! We won! was all I could say.

"I know", he said. "Inshallah, we'll celebrate later. Right now I am going to run that blue kite for you", he said.
"Hassan!" I called. "Come back with it!"

"For you a thousand times over!" he said.

I got a chance to read this book quite late. Maybe because I never had set my heart on it. Now that I have read it, I feel, a few words over it are necessary, especially because this book has made it to my list of favourites. There's something about this book that stays, lingers on, haunts. Its like living amidst Amir, Hassan and the streets of Kabul. Its like weaving in and out of a dream, with big poplar trees, shady alleyways, warm sunlight over the hills on a winter afternoon and knee deep snow. It echoes. It is set against the backdrop of the life and times of the country itself. Another line that hits me hard is, "there are a lot of children in Afghanistan but little childhood."
It is the story of 2 little boys in Afghanistan who grow up together. One was the master and the other his playmate, ready to sacrifice everything for his friend. It is the story of the varied faces of human nature...It seamlessly dwells on the realms of honour, love, betrayal, fear, struggle, remorse, redemption and passion.
I have just put it down, but feel like reading it all over again.

A very honest book and I love it.

मन स्थिर कहॉ

कुछ सोच कर लिखने बैठे थे
स्मरण क्षीण पड़ जाता है
कितना ही सरल है मनुष्य
कभी किसी बात पे खुश
कभी किसी बात से परेशां
कुछ सोच कर लिखने बैठे थे
अब याद नहीं, मन स्थिर कहॉ
एकाकी एकटक नीले नभ को
तारों को, देखकर कुछ गढ़ा था
कविता लिखी थी शायद
तन्मयता के उस क्षण, कुछ सोचा
अब याद नहीं, मन स्थिर कहॉ
मिट्टी की सड़क पे, आहट रहित
दबे पैर, धुआं उड़ते देख
पैरों तले कि सुनहरी धूल देख
एक छन्द रचा था,
अब याद नहीं, मन स्थिर कहॉ
हाथ में कलम पकड़े,
कागज़ को मेज़ पर रख
उसके कोरेपन में विलीन हो
कुछ संवाद बुने थे
अब याद नहीं, मन स्थिर कहॉ

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Finally :-)

What I intend to do here is remind myself to preorder a copy for myself and anyone else who may be interested to get their copy soon. The book's releasing on 21st of July.
http://books.rediff.com/offers/harrypotter-books.htm

Sorry for the pixelated quality of the image above. It took me 15 long minutes to reconstruct this from the rediff bookstore page. Apparently these people had 3 pictures to form this one image. I had to juggle them up(thanks to photoshop) to get a single file.

Yippie! A Long Weekend Away

I was in two minds about the holiday on May 1st. I could have taken a day off on the 30th of April and gone home or visited other relations nearby. I had been hunting for online low fare tickets for quite sometime, but never could decide on the place to visit. And I had given up the whole idea until yesterday. Finally I have decided on the place and I have the tickets in my pocket, and have applied for a day off from work! Hopefully it will get approved :-)

I am looking forward to reading lots of asterix comic books(over again) and I have to catch up with a few movies(Flushed Away, Meet the Robinsons) and do a lot of shopping and talk lots as well :-)

Looking Forward to the small break. Should be fun.

Nothing Better to Do

Have been in and out of sleep all morning. Another weekend and a lazy one at that. I have only a few things to do later in the day. Since I had nothing better to do in the morning, here I am :-)
There was a storm and heavy rains till late yesterday night. The gods in the Bangalore skies seems to have relented a bit. Thanks to them, the weather has turned really pleasant.

7 Steps to a new You ( msn)

Step 1: Make sure you're ready for change

Step 2: Set Goals

Step 3: Track Yourself

Step 4: Eat Mindfully

Step 5: Commit to Move More

Step 6: Get Support

Step 7: Plan for Life

Updates from Mars(msn news)

Friday,April 13th

There's fresh imagery this week from NASA's robotic emissaries at Mars, including video of dust devils spinning through the Spirit rover's field of view and pictures of a scary-looking route down to the floor of the crater that the Opportunity rover is investigating. This comes in addition to the latest view of the Face on Mars, provided by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

To Infinity and Beyond

"Princess, there's one thing I've learnt on my many adventures - you never win if you're busy counting the reasons you'll lose."

Picked this from the buzz lightyear comic book.

http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/buzzlightyear/

I love this character, he's so gutsy and funny at the same time!

Rains! :-)

First rain in the city since I moved here and I love it.
I can smell the rain on my terrace as I write all this hurriedly. I must go back and enjoy it while it lasts.

A Weekend to Remember

Saturday was a day I love. I had written a detailed post on it, but removed it and thought it a better idea to write a single post encompassing both Saturday and Sunday.For the first time since 15th of February(the day I reached the fabled city of Bangalore), we(my group of friends which has 4 P's, one K and me a J) decided we would get together at my place and cook lunch, and watch a movie and catch up with current and old times. Everything was perfect in its imperfection. What with the rice being less than required? What with me snapping at P1 when he was teasing me over the phone? No one actually minds. P2 was missing. She had more pressing commitments, and I forgive her;-) although she should have been with us! We cannot claw back what or who has moved on, however much we may wish. I must not forget to mention another P and a T who unfortunately do not live in Bangalore and are very much happy in their new lives. They surely are missed by me. Back to the party(wasn't actually a party). It is strange, we haven't changed much since college. We still quarrel, we still play games like 'Killer Detective'. We still tease each other over whatever is going on in our lives. We still make fun of movies, however glum they may be! We still live each day as it comes. We have a life devoid of complexities. We can speak absolutely anything and be assured the second person will not judge. They would tell me upfront..."Look J I did not like what you just spoke" ! And the trouble gets sorted instantaneously.That was Saturday.

Sunday was another story. I decided to go on a road trip with 3 friends to Coorg. It is a beautiful place in the hills away from Bangalore.I have been on lots of road trips in the past but they were different, because invariably someone more responsible (like my big brothers or dad, or school teachers, or college professors) would be in command. An unplanned trip! This sounded more adventurous. I was apprehensive, but hoped for the best. We started the day with tea and cakes at a wayside CCD. We stopped to take a few pictures with the Mysore Palace in the background. Asking our way at petrol stations, we finally reached Coorg around 12.30 in the afternoon. It was hot and sunny, but the place we had lunch was good and we set out again. The Abbey falls is a small waterfall hidden in the forest around 8 kilometers from Madikeri. By the time we reached Raja Seat, the sun had relented and it was windy and pleasant. The soft mist in the hills was enchanting. I just sat solitary on a bench, watching the waves the hills made on the horizon, and listening to the wind whistling by. We then had ice creams. On our way back we stopped over at another CCD on the highway for the evening tea. Then we drove back to the city. After dropping my friends at their places, I finally reached mine, tired.It was a long weekend, but each day was so different and complete or incomplete in its own right. Saturday made me happy. Sunday was good but tiring. It was a learning experience. The following is what I learnt from the trip:
1. Unplanned day trips are fun, but the distance of the destination should be considered.
2. Don't quarrel over who is to drive.
3. Keep shut until you are required to speak when you don't know all the people you are travelling with.
4. Listen when sensible people tell you to plan things better.
5. Don't crib when people tell on you. It was your doing in the first place.
6. Don't consider yourself very lucky if you escaped admonitions for being rash just because your associations are too gentle and kind to scold!
7. Think before you run away on another unplanned trip.
8. Grow up.

Despite the realisation, insanity prevails!It really was a weekend to remember.

What I have learnt so Far

1. Time never turns back.
2. I am what I am, I cannot pretend to be someone I am not.
3. I believe what I believe. I am ready to change if what I believe is wrong. If what I believe is wrong, prove it.
4. In real life, there are just two shades - black and white. There is nothing in between, however much we try and paint things differently.
5. When I am happy, I am not overwhelmed. When I am sad I am not overwhelmed.
6. What could have been done differently should have been done differently in the first place. You cannot undo what's done, and there's no point languishing over it. Better do what you will in a way it should be done and re-build.
7. Speaking with friends really helps.
8. Respect people who are older and wiser than you.
9. Be very honest.
10. Hiding behind books and blogs is a respite, suited only for early mornings and nights on weekdays. Better go to the theatre to watch a nice movie and have dinner at a good restaurant over the weekends.
11. Driving with sane music is good for the nerves. Don't overdo it, you wouldn't want to contribute to global warming.
12. In the evenings, driving with the car AC turned off and windows rolled down is "very" good for the nerves.
13. Going to a friend's place when you anticipate a nightmare is better than watching "Chicken Little" over and over again.
14. Most Disney movies are good and can be watched more than 4 times.
15. When everything is a mess, just chuck it out of the window and go out for a stroll.
16. When you don't want to do something just be brave and admit you don't want to do it.
17. When you can't do something, be humble and brave and admit you can't do it.
18. When you can do something and yet don't do it, you are wasting your as well as others' time. Just admit you are lazy and let someone more capable get the work done.
19. When you listen to someone, don't listen just for the heck of it. Empathise.
20. Be reasonable. The second person is also a human and trying real hard.
21. If you can neither empathise, nor be reasonable, don't expect the same next time you stand the test.
22. Respect people for what they have achieved. They worked hard for it.
23. When you don't want to cook keep instant noodle handy. They fill you up pretty well.
24. When you have finished your stock of noodles, buy a bigger stock. They don't hurt you.
25. Different people are different, there's no reason they should be expected to behave in a manner similar to yours.
26. You should be tolerant and patient towards those who behave differently than you do.
27. What is unethical is nothing but unethical. You must not put up with it.
28. When you sit over your electricity bill until the due date, you cannot pray for their office to be open on a Sunday. You will have to wait till Monday to pay it.
29. Don't let someone else's indifference hurt you. You can do better than that for yourself. Even if you are hurt don't show it, they will hurt you more.
30. Don't waste tears over people who don't realise their worth. Never attempt it to their face. Do it when alone. It cleanses your eyes.
31. Try not to cry when you have a cold. If you do, keep tissues handy.
32. If there are three roads and two sets of people expect you to move with them, their way, just dig your heels down and turn the third way. You will reach where you want to go, without getting lost, even if you walk alone.
33. When you want to eat a muffin or a chocolate insist on having it. Don't always expect people you went to have coffee with, to appreciate your idea and wait for their approval.
34. What has to happen will happen, don't tear out whatever little hair is left on your scalp in frustration.
35. When you wake up suddenly at night, turn on the lights and write something, or watch Tom and Jerry.
36. Don't change until you are convinced you are changing for the better. When you are convinced, don't be lazy.
37. When you know you are right and just, don't care for what people say. When you are wrong and unjust, just move back to the right track.
38. Don't ever hold a grudge. Forget. It makes you happy.
39. Education is very important and adds to your self worth.
40. Money is not everything in life, actually it is nothing. It leaves behind a bitter taste.
41. Never get too busy for the people who really matter.
42. Dance till you are too tired to stand. It really helps.
43. It is OK if you forget to brush your teeth twice once in a while.
44. Don't ever forget to switch off the lights and never waste water. Dont be selfish. People after us will need them as much as we do.
44. Don't hurt anyone.
45. Don't give up on someone, just because people tell you too. Hold on yet give them space.
46. Don't give up on love for anything in the world. It is what helps to re-build what's lost.
47. If you have something to tell me, I will listen without any biases.
48. Don't listen to people who try to push you back.
49. Don't lose your temper if two people push their way into the queue before you. Lose your temper when 3 do. Yet tell them politely that they should wait their turn.
50. Don't go where you feel you are not wanted. Don't waste your life.
51. Don't let people trample over you.
52. You don't have to live in a grand palace to be somebody.
53. Let go.
54. Don't keep putting off what should be said and done. You don't want to be late beyond help. Life is short and time is running out.