At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its
dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands..
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!
Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
How the Non-Resident Indian has fallen from grace
Some people may take this in the wrong vein, but I think it’s a well written simple article. Doesn’t say too much, but there is a sense of thought evoking poetry that the images induce in a nice narrative by mr. Dasgupta.
RIGHT & WRONG
How the Non-Resident Indian has fallen from grace
SWAPAN DASGUPTA
There was a time, not all that long ago, when the annual ‘home’ visit of the non-resident uncle or aunt was the most important item in the dreary social calendar of a middle-class Indian family. An air of expectancy would fill the household as the bulky suitcases were unpacked and the gifts distributed — a muffler for the grandfather, a cardigan and a bottle of perfume for mother, a duty-free Johnnie Walker for father, denim jeans for the teenager, chocolates for the neighbour and a compact umbrella for the old maid. We would be shown photographs of the spacious suburban house and the big car which would be contrasted with the creaking 12-yearold Fiat outside.
Until the early 1990s, India was home to a middle-class that lived in a state of permanent deprivation. However much we loved our country and waved the flag on the few occasions India won a Test match, our Third World status confronted us incessantly. Although life was never as unbearable as in the Communist bloc, we lacked those little luxuries that make drudgery bearable.
Leaving India was an idea assiduously nurtured if you were audacious and ambitious. The grass, it was known, was far greener in the West. There, despite the social and racial disdain an immigrant was subjected to, you could make it with hard work and some enterprise. In the social milieu of the West, the expatriate Indian counted for very little. Barring the odd exception, he could never make it to the inside track of the power structure. But he ensured for himself a relatively decent standard of living. True it was a life minus servants, but it was also minus the hassles of unending shortages, petty corruption and telephones that worked erratically.
It wasn’t merely the Green Card and, ultimately, the coveted blue American or red British passport that made the NRI feel more superior. It mattered to him that his superiority was recognised and acknowledged at home. Despite not being there for 11 months in the year, the NRI became the centre of attraction in the family. He was fawned upon when he came home to India; his pronouncements were heard with awe and reverence; and he was flattered by banks and governments into parting with his few surplus dollars, in exchange for extraordinary benefits denied to rupee earners.
Nor was the importance of the NRI confined to the family. Even mighty politicians and stand-offish babus courted NRIs with an eye on some crumbs of hospitality during visits abroad. In the 1970s and 1980s, i encountered many petty travel agents, restaurant owners and propertyspeculators in the Indian ghettos of London who counted for little in Britain but who had free access into the houses of our politicians.
All this seems a long time ago. The balance of power began tilting against the NRI sometime in the late 1990s. First, the government of India lifted the absurd restrictions on foreign travel and the purchase of hard currency by resident Indians. More important, you could use your Indian credit card abroad and not scrounge for NRI hospitality. Secondly, the spurt in domestic manufacturing and free imports implied that you didn’t have to depend on the visiting NRI for those little extras. Since many of the best global brands are available in India at competitive prices, the shopping list of discerning Indian travellers have shrunk dramatically to include only the exotic. Finally, the globalisation of Indian business signalled the end of a one-sided flow of capital. It’s no longer a case of India depending on NRI munificence but the West wooing Indian capital.
The average NRI’s fall from grace in India has been precipitate. The vacuous condescension that marked earlier attitudes has been replaced by desperation to find some accommodation somewhere. The big NRI players have no problem — they have seen their social worth in the West keep pace with India’s soaring reputation as a rising power. But the small fish whose tie and a twang once enabled him to lord over his less fortunate brethren in India has seen envy replaced with disinterest.
To the NRI confronted with a precarious descent into obscurity, there is only a small solace: interventions on the net. Taking advantage of a more connected world, the professional NRI (who knows no other identity) has stepped up his battles to cast India in his own confused image. No Indian website is free from the voluminous but pernicious comments of the know-all, ultra-nationalist NRI banging away on the computer in splendid isolation. From being India’s would-be benefactors, the meddlesome NRI has become an intellectual nuisance, derailing civil discourse with his paranoia and pseudo-superiority. It’s time he was royally ignored.
RIGHT & WRONG
How the Non-Resident Indian has fallen from grace
SWAPAN DASGUPTA
There was a time, not all that long ago, when the annual ‘home’ visit of the non-resident uncle or aunt was the most important item in the dreary social calendar of a middle-class Indian family. An air of expectancy would fill the household as the bulky suitcases were unpacked and the gifts distributed — a muffler for the grandfather, a cardigan and a bottle of perfume for mother, a duty-free Johnnie Walker for father, denim jeans for the teenager, chocolates for the neighbour and a compact umbrella for the old maid. We would be shown photographs of the spacious suburban house and the big car which would be contrasted with the creaking 12-yearold Fiat outside.
Until the early 1990s, India was home to a middle-class that lived in a state of permanent deprivation. However much we loved our country and waved the flag on the few occasions India won a Test match, our Third World status confronted us incessantly. Although life was never as unbearable as in the Communist bloc, we lacked those little luxuries that make drudgery bearable.
Leaving India was an idea assiduously nurtured if you were audacious and ambitious. The grass, it was known, was far greener in the West. There, despite the social and racial disdain an immigrant was subjected to, you could make it with hard work and some enterprise. In the social milieu of the West, the expatriate Indian counted for very little. Barring the odd exception, he could never make it to the inside track of the power structure. But he ensured for himself a relatively decent standard of living. True it was a life minus servants, but it was also minus the hassles of unending shortages, petty corruption and telephones that worked erratically.
It wasn’t merely the Green Card and, ultimately, the coveted blue American or red British passport that made the NRI feel more superior. It mattered to him that his superiority was recognised and acknowledged at home. Despite not being there for 11 months in the year, the NRI became the centre of attraction in the family. He was fawned upon when he came home to India; his pronouncements were heard with awe and reverence; and he was flattered by banks and governments into parting with his few surplus dollars, in exchange for extraordinary benefits denied to rupee earners.
Nor was the importance of the NRI confined to the family. Even mighty politicians and stand-offish babus courted NRIs with an eye on some crumbs of hospitality during visits abroad. In the 1970s and 1980s, i encountered many petty travel agents, restaurant owners and propertyspeculators in the Indian ghettos of London who counted for little in Britain but who had free access into the houses of our politicians.
All this seems a long time ago. The balance of power began tilting against the NRI sometime in the late 1990s. First, the government of India lifted the absurd restrictions on foreign travel and the purchase of hard currency by resident Indians. More important, you could use your Indian credit card abroad and not scrounge for NRI hospitality. Secondly, the spurt in domestic manufacturing and free imports implied that you didn’t have to depend on the visiting NRI for those little extras. Since many of the best global brands are available in India at competitive prices, the shopping list of discerning Indian travellers have shrunk dramatically to include only the exotic. Finally, the globalisation of Indian business signalled the end of a one-sided flow of capital. It’s no longer a case of India depending on NRI munificence but the West wooing Indian capital.
The average NRI’s fall from grace in India has been precipitate. The vacuous condescension that marked earlier attitudes has been replaced by desperation to find some accommodation somewhere. The big NRI players have no problem — they have seen their social worth in the West keep pace with India’s soaring reputation as a rising power. But the small fish whose tie and a twang once enabled him to lord over his less fortunate brethren in India has seen envy replaced with disinterest.
To the NRI confronted with a precarious descent into obscurity, there is only a small solace: interventions on the net. Taking advantage of a more connected world, the professional NRI (who knows no other identity) has stepped up his battles to cast India in his own confused image. No Indian website is free from the voluminous but pernicious comments of the know-all, ultra-nationalist NRI banging away on the computer in splendid isolation. From being India’s would-be benefactors, the meddlesome NRI has become an intellectual nuisance, derailing civil discourse with his paranoia and pseudo-superiority. It’s time he was royally ignored.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Quick flash - cant call this a post.........just a jumpstart
Wow - Talk about the king of Procrastination. Actually, for a change I aint’; hiding under being lazy. I just didn't feel like writing- barring the fact that hardly anyone with an IQ above 154 would read the shit I write. But hey if there is some intelligence, in all this- do let me know - and I'll stop.
Oct 08 - My last blog - Thats - 1,2,3......duh 4....6 Months of no blogs.
If I do a flashback akin to mr. jumper from the movie jumper. I guess its been a saga of events – those can be stated and some that are best forgotten. Im kidding I only forgot, cuz I don’t remember it. This brandishing sense that there is a point at the end of this line. So here I blog again- just for the love of letting go at the keyboard – a verbal masturbation of sorts. Ok don’t do if that is ever going to be read in the right sense. But whatever.
Did a decent amount of clubbing and pubbin in Bahrain- saw a whole lot of movies cuz my saner half , also my partner in crime is with me. Wedding no wedding – It’s a treat to watch shit with someone who shares similar tastes, yet are so distinct. I really need to say how much I love this chick from being so entirely opposite to me and my system. Obviously, I would be expected to be go on with some epistle about marriage. Not me- The journey has just begun- and so far its abeen a pleasure- Lets see if the 5 year or 7 year or 70 year ITCH, bogs me down in the years to come. Stay tuned to this space!!!! Hopefully if my wife can withstand being around a nonsense junkie- I can blog more about that.
Till then it’s a simple life. Things we’ve done- malu events, restaurant hopping, 6 month anniversary – her birthday at café Italia, adliya, her maiden tript o dessange, our collective attempt at breathing sense to members of a higher order, Voicerovers for a play, clubbing, shots more regular to the movies than my mom’s insulin shots, couple of desi nights, meeting up with buddies who make life worth the effort, catchin Bigfoot at Bahrain International circuit, bowling, driving around, staying apart, travelling separately, shopping, eating, meeting, birthday bashes, and lastly the easter bash.
Yes, not that this is blasphemy, but this seems to be a good vent.
Stay tuned.
Not my best – but hey its an update / teaser/ whatever……..lots more to come.
G
Oct 08 - My last blog - Thats - 1,2,3......duh 4....6 Months of no blogs.
If I do a flashback akin to mr. jumper from the movie jumper. I guess its been a saga of events – those can be stated and some that are best forgotten. Im kidding I only forgot, cuz I don’t remember it. This brandishing sense that there is a point at the end of this line. So here I blog again- just for the love of letting go at the keyboard – a verbal masturbation of sorts. Ok don’t do if that is ever going to be read in the right sense. But whatever.
Did a decent amount of clubbing and pubbin in Bahrain- saw a whole lot of movies cuz my saner half , also my partner in crime is with me. Wedding no wedding – It’s a treat to watch shit with someone who shares similar tastes, yet are so distinct. I really need to say how much I love this chick from being so entirely opposite to me and my system. Obviously, I would be expected to be go on with some epistle about marriage. Not me- The journey has just begun- and so far its abeen a pleasure- Lets see if the 5 year or 7 year or 70 year ITCH, bogs me down in the years to come. Stay tuned to this space!!!! Hopefully if my wife can withstand being around a nonsense junkie- I can blog more about that.
Till then it’s a simple life. Things we’ve done- malu events, restaurant hopping, 6 month anniversary – her birthday at café Italia, adliya, her maiden tript o dessange, our collective attempt at breathing sense to members of a higher order, Voicerovers for a play, clubbing, shots more regular to the movies than my mom’s insulin shots, couple of desi nights, meeting up with buddies who make life worth the effort, catchin Bigfoot at Bahrain International circuit, bowling, driving around, staying apart, travelling separately, shopping, eating, meeting, birthday bashes, and lastly the easter bash.
Yes, not that this is blasphemy, but this seems to be a good vent.
Stay tuned.
Not my best – but hey its an update / teaser/ whatever……..lots more to come.
G
Thursday, October 9, 2008
My happening LIfe
My life past couple of weeks
Eating, meeting, working...........and all the other in a random cycle with eating happing on a more intermittently chaotic fashion.
My wife shares my sentiment, our bed and also vouches that the middle east is vicious when it comes to food.
Im calling u as i type, ............ur unreachable........its thursdya......my weekend begins....
Will maill u mroe later
kochu? whos that?????
well when u heading back............Dont sell ur car - RENT IT out as service apartment..........- u know - leather seats, music system, views on all 4 sides, 24 hours petrol and washer fluid, great proximity to all amenities - Depending on where u are parked.
Been a crazy season with ramadan, eaid, and then Mani's reception at Bahrain - not necessarily in that order.!!!!
what else - o i bought a ferrari - sold of my ranch in nevada for 12 million more than what i bought it for and taught monica belluci how to kiss better - other than that Sumam gave john abraham tips on hari care .
Together we are taking over the world one Pin code at a time..........
G
Eating, meeting, working...........and all the other in a random cycle with eating happing on a more intermittently chaotic fashion.
My wife shares my sentiment, our bed and also vouches that the middle east is vicious when it comes to food.
Im calling u as i type, ............ur unreachable........its thursdya......my weekend begins....
Will maill u mroe later
kochu? whos that?????
well when u heading back............Dont sell ur car - RENT IT out as service apartment..........- u know - leather seats, music system, views on all 4 sides, 24 hours petrol and washer fluid, great proximity to all amenities - Depending on where u are parked.
Been a crazy season with ramadan, eaid, and then Mani's reception at Bahrain - not necessarily in that order.!!!!
what else - o i bought a ferrari - sold of my ranch in nevada for 12 million more than what i bought it for and taught monica belluci how to kiss better - other than that Sumam gave john abraham tips on hari care .
Together we are taking over the world one Pin code at a time..........
G
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
This day......This year
SEquence of events for my great grandkids to blog and see that hey- thier grandad rocked!!! ps: Brangelina have proved after adopted differentially abled and pigmented children, may still happen......
lets jsut get to the date shall we......
31st July - the "Madaram" function
2nd August 11am - The wedding at Cochin, india
2nd August 1pm - The luncheon reception at Cochin
2nd august 8pm- The evening Kerala - themed wedding extravaGanza at Denny's island.
3rd August - Hitting Trivandrum to rendezvous with a visibly pregnant Jean santosh. stayed at Mascot hotel
4th August - After a quick breakfast at the appachai's at kv-20, dashed off the Maldives.
HIt kandooma a gorgeous contemporary expression of the resort architecture. Latest resort in maldives that opened in
June 2008. talk about timing!!! The water villa set the tone for the newly weds to get wet and wild/........oops!!!
7th august - moved to kurumba the oldest resort at maldives for a dash of beach
10th - The exodus from Maldives was met with a brief tour of male with an efficient tour poerator and then a dash
to Lanka to soak in geoffrey Bawa and the local shopping
12th - The Dash from Ahungalla to gaulle to colombo and finally to Namma Bengaluru, India
16th - wow we're in Kochi again- Ammaachi's aand, Kevin's engagement all dotted along the busy route to the airport
17th - Ammchi Mumbai - met the in-loves and was showered on with love sprinkled with shopping and movies.
19th - The Grand welcome or Grihaprabesha of the new bride into the new home. Abuzz with energy and a an army of
close friends the session was loud and beautiful.
23rd - The Baby clan threw us a fantastic reception with a true to the script Play, song, fun and
dance....wow..touching....
Come September
8th- Mexico-zying in casa mexicana to celebrate susha's 4th or 6th birthday.
12th -Onam-istical experience - sadya, kootam, paayasam, loose unfurled lungi et al
18th - Soman Uncle's 18th birthday- quiet with a dash of insanity
19th - Onam again- this time the grand bash at the newly inagurated bahrain keraleeya samajam
23rd- Wow we went to lulu hypermarket for the nth time.......Ok i think the pace of my blog is dipping.
24th- Mani n madhu have jsut arrived after their 2 engagements and 3 weddings.
For pictures - visit Orkut or picassa
http://www.orkut.co.in/AlbumList.aspx?uid=8058143766654159739
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
the marr.i.aGe SaGa
Its interesting how I am getting married.
The tickbox akin to Quality Checksin most large companies reminds of the most basic things that you tend to overlook. I aint praising QA/QP but its got its way.
O coming to the marriage, well Today is the 20th day of july in the year AD two thousand and eight.
The scenario – it’s a fairly pale day IN Bahrain today. The summer sun , masquerading behind the glass, while our commendable double insulated Glass panels ensure light hits you minus the heat and glare.
The mood: Its 3pm, I ve just finished part of a huge workload before I move to Cochin later this week on 24th July to subsequently get married on the 2nd Of August.(for more dramatic effect you could read it with a morbid tone in the same manner written above- My god who talks like that)
Well Ive distributed cards to every soul in the office today, except Raghavan, the office lizard, who has improved his traction and 4WD ability, by sticking onto the glass in a clumsy manner. Never saw a lizard on glass before. It’s a baby- hence kinda stupid- hence the nubile attempts at GL-ICE Skating.
Well Im working on a couple of jobs. O did I mention I was an architect. Typo – make that AM an architect.
I just realize I wanted to blog about marriage, and document this piece for reference to see how things change like the way people say.. Couples stop laughing, the sex diminishes, the touching becomes time-tabl-ish, the company becomes morose. Ok I am getting quite a lot of negative stuff bout relatiships that are supposed to be forever and ever.
I , as all those who went before , pledge to make her laugh-at me, with me, at other people who wont understand why Sim n I click the way we do. Not that its some superhuman coochi coo couple like in Honeymoon travels. But, with a few minor tweaks and barring the occasional eruptions, which im told are humanly normal (Im not).- so like I said barring that its fine.
Whether I will have the readers’s (that is you) patience to read this whole episode, a then actually reflect or deflect as the case may be, is another story.
I m going to get married to someone I love, and I guess it’s a good feeling. And it is this strength that I want to cherish, so when we’re 74 on the patio, I could still be hooked onto a ventilator, but yet Wink at her, and she’d be coy.
Too much to ask? Too much to give?
There’s only one way to find out.
Btw- If I havent’ invited you for the wedding, its only cuz I don’t want sumam to know the truth yet.
The tickbox akin to Quality Checksin most large companies reminds of the most basic things that you tend to overlook. I aint praising QA/QP but its got its way.
O coming to the marriage, well Today is the 20th day of july in the year AD two thousand and eight.
The scenario – it’s a fairly pale day IN Bahrain today. The summer sun , masquerading behind the glass, while our commendable double insulated Glass panels ensure light hits you minus the heat and glare.
The mood: Its 3pm, I ve just finished part of a huge workload before I move to Cochin later this week on 24th July to subsequently get married on the 2nd Of August.(for more dramatic effect you could read it with a morbid tone in the same manner written above- My god who talks like that)
Well Ive distributed cards to every soul in the office today, except Raghavan, the office lizard, who has improved his traction and 4WD ability, by sticking onto the glass in a clumsy manner. Never saw a lizard on glass before. It’s a baby- hence kinda stupid- hence the nubile attempts at GL-ICE Skating.
Well Im working on a couple of jobs. O did I mention I was an architect. Typo – make that AM an architect.
I just realize I wanted to blog about marriage, and document this piece for reference to see how things change like the way people say.. Couples stop laughing, the sex diminishes, the touching becomes time-tabl-ish, the company becomes morose. Ok I am getting quite a lot of negative stuff bout relatiships that are supposed to be forever and ever.
I , as all those who went before , pledge to make her laugh-at me, with me, at other people who wont understand why Sim n I click the way we do. Not that its some superhuman coochi coo couple like in Honeymoon travels. But, with a few minor tweaks and barring the occasional eruptions, which im told are humanly normal (Im not).- so like I said barring that its fine.
Whether I will have the readers’s (that is you) patience to read this whole episode, a then actually reflect or deflect as the case may be, is another story.
I m going to get married to someone I love, and I guess it’s a good feeling. And it is this strength that I want to cherish, so when we’re 74 on the patio, I could still be hooked onto a ventilator, but yet Wink at her, and she’d be coy.
Too much to ask? Too much to give?
There’s only one way to find out.
Btw- If I havent’ invited you for the wedding, its only cuz I don’t want sumam to know the truth yet.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
TRAVA-Blo-G-ue
Trava-Blog-ue
Trava-blog-ue
I did it ..!!! 3 weeks of work, 14 million cups of caffeine and a numb rear in tow, i have just set foot onto planet vacation .Maybe next time ill settle for a trip to Casablanca, but this trip is dedicated to the friends who make life worth the effort. I need to get away ...and Im on my way to Mumbai, Bangalore and on a maiden (no pun) over to Kolkata.
The trip:
I flew Jet airways bahrain Mumbai for hte first time, and Yes it does make me proud- Great service, seats the normal xl people fit into, a tasty fare at 200000ft off the ground and needless to say Good looking indian women, who show the world that honey - the maharajas came from INDIA, so we are kind of the best in hospitality.Either I really needed to get out, or I may have been besotted with the competitive service the Indians have to offer. Jai hind!! Ok Patriotism is jiving around.roll out the gadar and Krantiveer DVD, Mr. G is heading to Indiaaaaaaaa.......
DAy 1 - APRIL 18 - FRIDAY
Simple. reach mumbai, pick up ma cherie and scoot. Hmm met the in-loves on the way. reached Bangalore after a tedious shortly spaced trip and voila went straight out meeting buddies.
Jeff and his wife ranju came in and we went for grub at herb n Spices. besides the broken fish that was awaited to swim in from bavaria, the food was near about average basking in the midst ofan interior concept pioneerd by ONLY PLACE, off st.marks road. I mean the central courtyard with a a tiled roof concept is kinda being done to death. I dont own ma own restaurant, hence budgets for a ncie interior are only secondary at this point.ha!!!
Maadu's sangeet (yet another bodhi-tect bites the dust) would have been enjoyable if i didnt bask in the jet lag that i fooled myself prevailed.
System shutdown at 12:07 am.
Day 2 APRIL 19- SATURDAY
Ouch !!! sleeping till 10am.....wow thats a vacation. But im not the type. guess was just tired outta ma wits.
A couple of TV shows, newspapers and coffees later I emerged as the proverbial phenix and landed up at couch. great food, ncie music and an interior that doesnt beg for attention.
i guess the candid shots will summarise the events which seemed like an episode out of friends, with central perk being replaced by COUCH.
A beautiful evening. The pics kinda say it all. Thanks George, AMy, Jeff , ranju and Sim for making it a glorious evening!!!! DJ Ajay - we need to talk....that was some tripping music. Nice ot know that some guys out there undertand the word TEMPO>
Day 3 APRIL 20- SUNDAY
The Biryani day, saw us gorging on a biryani sponsored by Parachute Oil. ouch savoury. I tossed all over and then ran to Hari, the owner at Prince salon, who was garcious to change me from an unshaven wonder. Himesh bhai - no hard feelings.
A shave in time and a massage saw my grey cells wanting to go for lunch break. The body rested, the mind was on vacation and the stomach was showing - parking full sign.Hmmmm.......nice evening again!!!! Went for Rohit's wedding to Harsha. Cute couple. Though i might have been arrested for being party for this Baal-vivah!! i mean do all madu guys look pretty much the same - in terms of vital
stats/....well the horse retired from the reverlry, and amde was dethroned onto a chariot like chair. No mr.freud,
there are no double meanings to that.
met up with ..hmmmmm...vishwesh, vanessa, chaitra, ayesha, joleen, nikhil, sumit, umair, mahen, preety, mallika, anuj, tutool, chaitra, nidheesh, lester, srujal and ruchi. anyone else?hmm........ The wedding entourage did land up geoffrey's though to celebrate anuj and Molly's day out, wherein there adorable 1.5 yr old ladykiller karan was lapping up the love of life. Lotta pointers on the cricket, the market tumbloing, the bleak future of IT, the property rates, and parenthood ....helped everyone lap up the beers that Anuj so benevoletnly footed.
The trip aint over - A midnight drive to Jeff's place to usher in his birthday led us feeling like columbus with every gally feeling new. Luckily the cricket bat takent o hit jeff wasnt used on too many wrong people. Waking a couple up from sleep abusing them, then eating cake at their house and then ramblign till the wee hours of the morning wherein they didnt ask us to leave for love of courtesy. ha!!!
Day 4 APRIL 21 MONDAY
Summarising the last couple of days is not a menial task!!! Done!!!
I believe today was SUBWAY day - The routine was simple - woke up, blogged, subway'd and then slept till jeff' call set my ringtone and alarm on orgasm mode simultaneously.
Wait a minute I packed in 3 hours to watch U, Me and HUM - Kill me.........slowly.............good second half. for movei reviews I willge tback to ya.......So where was I..... Bang - Its time to gorge on jeff's birthday at the swanky new joint - BaBque Nation at Indiranagar - At rs450 per head its a steal- ur right - they steal from you. Ha!! No i liked the concept - Ajay Abraham thanks for the ti[s on how to cook your own goose ....i meant meat. I cant believe we all packed in that much!!! I think the surprise bash had jeff stumped a day earlier. he's a smart guy - he figured it out!!! So there we were 15 of us on our best behaviour - till all heel broke loose. The pictures showed the gala we had.
Arresting the whole JINGBANG- of moi, sim, brunzz, amy, george, sunil and naz who ushered in the good the bad, and the F'ugly at HINT at bangalore central. I guess the music was ncie enough to get us swaying and the Bollywood night actually had us all in a nice mood.
Wait it aint over............A dash at 12am to the Taj West End, went on till 3:30 am. Wow and was that a mjor bitchin session or what.................ha in hindi BaKKchoddi is the term that was coined in my college days.......interesting its still part of my jargon.
Day 6 APRIL 23 WEDNESDAY
Action packed day again with meeeting my Saviour Saju, and listening to tryst with politics, life in general and more politics. Wow Nikki, you're doing well. If you read this, understand it !!!! A quick dash to the bodhi tree for eating, meeting and cheating.
Gaurav got packed in with the It was nice to go around to the tree, then onto hundredhands
The cute meeting with the ever dashing, and genuine gaurav set the lightson flashback lane on , but had to be cut short bby our rendezvous at the kandolkar's..............a cute shack at micheal palya boasting of Bangalore and Goa's finest Pav Bhaji.......be warned the couple is newly married and took us in to be bored by an ATKINS marketing session by moi. Vishwesh and Vaness - didn't i tell you carbs were not good for me........pity you guys!!! lovely time......thanks again!!!
That dash for my 3rd view of RACE was a heart wrencign finish to a beautiful evening......
Day 7 APRIL 24 THURSDAY
Epsilon was the main attraction, post the cosy lunch at Ruby Tuesday's and the book hunting with sim at blossoms. A quick stop at the bodhi tree again to pay respects to the alma mater was good in itself.
Got to see Sim's work at Epsilon and the contemporary bug that bangalorens have lapped up with ease. very very international upmarket houses....... Got 7-8 crores. Come one - lets move in. Still cheaper than mumbai.....ha!!!!!
DAY 8 APRIL 25 FRIDAY
Jor Bole ki kor bole.............AAMI KOLKATA........ yes Ive made it - to Kolkata............West Bengal .......land of the V's (all B's are replaced with B), land of mocchi, land of the Bipasha's and rani's , land of the howrah, and the Dada's........
A quiet morning spent rejeuevenating and undoing all the doings of Bangalore. Food at the Restaurant on the First floor (how typical) was enought o drive me back into bed. Another trip to the aiport to pick up Gaurav......and voila the trio unite..........before asif runs me thru - someplace else, most of kolkata, roxy, tantra, park street and pretyt much a large part of the city.
Day 9 APRIL 26 SATURDAY
bakkchodi day.........
TASHAN...........
Someplace else....
RAGHU DIXIT .......u rock.....
underground.......
bonie n Dhrubo
Lapping it up at ITC Shonar Bangla
Day 10 APRIL 27 SUNDAY
SUrjeet.......ODIBOY arrives
lunch again at
Kali's wedding
Charles Correa - City center
someplace else,
bakkchoddi
moulin rouge
DAY 11 APRIL 28 MONDAY
lunch again at the RAFF
photo sesssion
kolkata Shoppping
AAMCHI MUMBAiiiii
dinner with Sim........candelight.....
DAY 12 APRIL 29 TUESDAY
Lunch from Noorani's - chicken Sesame.........wow....
the Lab stuff at Kalba devi
watched "SIRF" at inox
hidesign
Dinner at THALI
blog update
Zzzz.......
DAY 13 APRIL 30 WEDNESDAY
Sarkari rendezvous at churchgate
SHAURYA at Ebony lounge metroa
school stuff again
lounging away at marine drive
DAY 14 MAY 1 THURSDAY
A hint of shopping
INDU AUNTY and manav bhaiya meeting
IRON MAN
FORBIDDEN KINGDOM
DAY 15 MAY 2 FRIDAY
kalbadevi the Lab stuff
DAY 16 MAY 3 SATURDAY
Back to Pavillion Sakrar........
Trava-blog-ue
I did it ..!!! 3 weeks of work, 14 million cups of caffeine and a numb rear in tow, i have just set foot onto planet vacation .Maybe next time ill settle for a trip to Casablanca, but this trip is dedicated to the friends who make life worth the effort. I need to get away ...and Im on my way to Mumbai, Bangalore and on a maiden (no pun) over to Kolkata.
The trip:
I flew Jet airways bahrain Mumbai for hte first time, and Yes it does make me proud- Great service, seats the normal xl people fit into, a tasty fare at 200000ft off the ground and needless to say Good looking indian women, who show the world that honey - the maharajas came from INDIA, so we are kind of the best in hospitality.Either I really needed to get out, or I may have been besotted with the competitive service the Indians have to offer. Jai hind!! Ok Patriotism is jiving around.roll out the gadar and Krantiveer DVD, Mr. G is heading to Indiaaaaaaaa.......
DAy 1 - APRIL 18 - FRIDAY
Simple. reach mumbai, pick up ma cherie and scoot. Hmm met the in-loves on the way. reached Bangalore after a tedious shortly spaced trip and voila went straight out meeting buddies.
Jeff and his wife ranju came in and we went for grub at herb n Spices. besides the broken fish that was awaited to swim in from bavaria, the food was near about average basking in the midst ofan interior concept pioneerd by ONLY PLACE, off st.marks road. I mean the central courtyard with a a tiled roof concept is kinda being done to death. I dont own ma own restaurant, hence budgets for a ncie interior are only secondary at this point.ha!!!
Maadu's sangeet (yet another bodhi-tect bites the dust) would have been enjoyable if i didnt bask in the jet lag that i fooled myself prevailed.
System shutdown at 12:07 am.
Day 2 APRIL 19- SATURDAY
Ouch !!! sleeping till 10am.....wow thats a vacation. But im not the type. guess was just tired outta ma wits.
A couple of TV shows, newspapers and coffees later I emerged as the proverbial phenix and landed up at couch. great food, ncie music and an interior that doesnt beg for attention.
i guess the candid shots will summarise the events which seemed like an episode out of friends, with central perk being replaced by COUCH.
A beautiful evening. The pics kinda say it all. Thanks George, AMy, Jeff , ranju and Sim for making it a glorious evening!!!! DJ Ajay - we need to talk....that was some tripping music. Nice ot know that some guys out there undertand the word TEMPO>
Day 3 APRIL 20- SUNDAY
The Biryani day, saw us gorging on a biryani sponsored by Parachute Oil. ouch savoury. I tossed all over and then ran to Hari, the owner at Prince salon, who was garcious to change me from an unshaven wonder. Himesh bhai - no hard feelings.
A shave in time and a massage saw my grey cells wanting to go for lunch break. The body rested, the mind was on vacation and the stomach was showing - parking full sign.Hmmmm.......nice evening again!!!! Went for Rohit's wedding to Harsha. Cute couple. Though i might have been arrested for being party for this Baal-vivah!! i mean do all madu guys look pretty much the same - in terms of vital
stats/....well the horse retired from the reverlry, and amde was dethroned onto a chariot like chair. No mr.freud,
there are no double meanings to that.
met up with ..hmmmmm...vishwesh, vanessa, chaitra, ayesha, joleen, nikhil, sumit, umair, mahen, preety, mallika, anuj, tutool, chaitra, nidheesh, lester, srujal and ruchi. anyone else?hmm........ The wedding entourage did land up geoffrey's though to celebrate anuj and Molly's day out, wherein there adorable 1.5 yr old ladykiller karan was lapping up the love of life. Lotta pointers on the cricket, the market tumbloing, the bleak future of IT, the property rates, and parenthood ....helped everyone lap up the beers that Anuj so benevoletnly footed.
The trip aint over - A midnight drive to Jeff's place to usher in his birthday led us feeling like columbus with every gally feeling new. Luckily the cricket bat takent o hit jeff wasnt used on too many wrong people. Waking a couple up from sleep abusing them, then eating cake at their house and then ramblign till the wee hours of the morning wherein they didnt ask us to leave for love of courtesy. ha!!!
Day 4 APRIL 21 MONDAY
Summarising the last couple of days is not a menial task!!! Done!!!
I believe today was SUBWAY day - The routine was simple - woke up, blogged, subway'd and then slept till jeff' call set my ringtone and alarm on orgasm mode simultaneously.
Wait a minute I packed in 3 hours to watch U, Me and HUM - Kill me.........slowly.............good second half. for movei reviews I willge tback to ya.......So where was I..... Bang - Its time to gorge on jeff's birthday at the swanky new joint - BaBque Nation at Indiranagar - At rs450 per head its a steal- ur right - they steal from you. Ha!! No i liked the concept - Ajay Abraham thanks for the ti[s on how to cook your own goose ....i meant meat. I cant believe we all packed in that much!!! I think the surprise bash had jeff stumped a day earlier. he's a smart guy - he figured it out!!! So there we were 15 of us on our best behaviour - till all heel broke loose. The pictures showed the gala we had.
Arresting the whole JINGBANG- of moi, sim, brunzz, amy, george, sunil and naz who ushered in the good the bad, and the F'ugly at HINT at bangalore central. I guess the music was ncie enough to get us swaying and the Bollywood night actually had us all in a nice mood.
Wait it aint over............A dash at 12am to the Taj West End, went on till 3:30 am. Wow and was that a mjor bitchin session or what.................ha in hindi BaKKchoddi is the term that was coined in my college days.......interesting its still part of my jargon.
Day 6 APRIL 23 WEDNESDAY
Action packed day again with meeeting my Saviour Saju, and listening to tryst with politics, life in general and more politics. Wow Nikki, you're doing well. If you read this, understand it !!!! A quick dash to the bodhi tree for eating, meeting and cheating.
Gaurav got packed in with the It was nice to go around to the tree, then onto hundredhands
The cute meeting with the ever dashing, and genuine gaurav set the lightson flashback lane on , but had to be cut short bby our rendezvous at the kandolkar's..............a cute shack at micheal palya boasting of Bangalore and Goa's finest Pav Bhaji.......be warned the couple is newly married and took us in to be bored by an ATKINS marketing session by moi. Vishwesh and Vaness - didn't i tell you carbs were not good for me........pity you guys!!! lovely time......thanks again!!!
That dash for my 3rd view of RACE was a heart wrencign finish to a beautiful evening......
Day 7 APRIL 24 THURSDAY
Epsilon was the main attraction, post the cosy lunch at Ruby Tuesday's and the book hunting with sim at blossoms. A quick stop at the bodhi tree again to pay respects to the alma mater was good in itself.
Got to see Sim's work at Epsilon and the contemporary bug that bangalorens have lapped up with ease. very very international upmarket houses....... Got 7-8 crores. Come one - lets move in. Still cheaper than mumbai.....ha!!!!!
DAY 8 APRIL 25 FRIDAY
Jor Bole ki kor bole.............AAMI KOLKATA........ yes Ive made it - to Kolkata............West Bengal .......land of the V's (all B's are replaced with B), land of mocchi, land of the Bipasha's and rani's , land of the howrah, and the Dada's........
A quiet morning spent rejeuevenating and undoing all the doings of Bangalore. Food at the Restaurant on the First floor (how typical) was enought o drive me back into bed. Another trip to the aiport to pick up Gaurav......and voila the trio unite..........before asif runs me thru - someplace else, most of kolkata, roxy, tantra, park street and pretyt much a large part of the city.
Day 9 APRIL 26 SATURDAY
bakkchodi day.........
TASHAN...........
Someplace else....
RAGHU DIXIT .......u rock.....
underground.......
bonie n Dhrubo
Lapping it up at ITC Shonar Bangla
Day 10 APRIL 27 SUNDAY
SUrjeet.......ODIBOY arrives
lunch again at
Kali's wedding
Charles Correa - City center
someplace else,
bakkchoddi
moulin rouge
DAY 11 APRIL 28 MONDAY
lunch again at the RAFF
photo sesssion
kolkata Shoppping
AAMCHI MUMBAiiiii
dinner with Sim........candelight.....
DAY 12 APRIL 29 TUESDAY
Lunch from Noorani's - chicken Sesame.........wow....
the Lab stuff at Kalba devi
watched "SIRF" at inox
hidesign
Dinner at THALI
blog update
Zzzz.......
DAY 13 APRIL 30 WEDNESDAY
Sarkari rendezvous at churchgate
SHAURYA at Ebony lounge metroa
school stuff again
lounging away at marine drive
DAY 14 MAY 1 THURSDAY
A hint of shopping
INDU AUNTY and manav bhaiya meeting
IRON MAN
FORBIDDEN KINGDOM
DAY 15 MAY 2 FRIDAY
kalbadevi the Lab stuff
DAY 16 MAY 3 SATURDAY
Back to Pavillion Sakrar........
Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Anvil of 08- Shit-rospective - edition 2- (limited though)
Well its not a bad way of saying the year was bad!!!But hey you learn so much more every year..every day every sec. Its the only way to feel that there is more to life. I personally hate routine- Kills life, but you can only hate it if you do it.
Work - Home - work is a journey that lasts 5 days. Does that term u a workaholic or lazy or un-zestful (forgive me o Swamy Oxfordanti) .
Well coming back to the cycle of life that is twrling the baton of fun in ur face. Is life all about fu - are we working to have fun -or to make money or getting career all set or are we letting work define who we are.
Me - i want to work hard every day- Its the duration that gets to me.
Hmmm.......ideal day -
1) Wake up at 6- possibly walk to the office - max 10 mins (More than that and I'll be friendly with car owning neighbours or jsut buy one again)
2) Reach work- greet watchman- - greet office boy- who brings in mail - I still ove hardcopy post - not talking bout printing emails - bu the real thing. its become a myth- except for Bills.
3) read the paper at work- while the office comp switches on.
4) the Blinds should move and bring in sexy view of 15th floor view -with greenery from mrs. Sex-hai-na's terrace garden.
5) start work - The normal way- Meetings, blah blah, - A movie should always play in my office. Which one - depends on the mood.
6) finsih work at 1:00 -
7) Lunch
8) Put on a nice flick - dose off till 3:15
9) get ready for a game of basketball/ squash - If required and if there is a nuclear holocaust we can go to the gym
10) back home at 6- NIce Shower----------hmmmmmyeah
11) 6:30 - meet people - home, den, pub, coffee shop / event
12) 7:30 - Dinner and meet mroe people
13) Club 3 days a week - rest days in between and Make time to learn something new everyday - 20 mins _ I keep thinking our ability to learn changes our ability to live. I want to learn so much-----
14) Movie / at home - quiet time for me and the loved one.
Now in between this we need to pack in emergency, bill payments, laundry, bill payments, cleaning up, shopping, lil more shopping, birthdays, financial planning, shopping, etc
Question is then what is a holiday--what would u do on the weekend!!!
Work - Home - work is a journey that lasts 5 days. Does that term u a workaholic or lazy or un-zestful (forgive me o Swamy Oxfordanti) .
Well coming back to the cycle of life that is twrling the baton of fun in ur face. Is life all about fu - are we working to have fun -or to make money or getting career all set or are we letting work define who we are.
Me - i want to work hard every day- Its the duration that gets to me.
Hmmm.......ideal day -
1) Wake up at 6- possibly walk to the office - max 10 mins (More than that and I'll be friendly with car owning neighbours or jsut buy one again)
2) Reach work- greet watchman- - greet office boy- who brings in mail - I still ove hardcopy post - not talking bout printing emails - bu the real thing. its become a myth- except for Bills.
3) read the paper at work- while the office comp switches on.
4) the Blinds should move and bring in sexy view of 15th floor view -with greenery from mrs. Sex-hai-na's terrace garden.
5) start work - The normal way- Meetings, blah blah, - A movie should always play in my office. Which one - depends on the mood.
6) finsih work at 1:00 -
7) Lunch
8) Put on a nice flick - dose off till 3:15
9) get ready for a game of basketball/ squash - If required and if there is a nuclear holocaust we can go to the gym
10) back home at 6- NIce Shower----------hmmmmmyeah
11) 6:30 - meet people - home, den, pub, coffee shop / event
12) 7:30 - Dinner and meet mroe people
13) Club 3 days a week - rest days in between and Make time to learn something new everyday - 20 mins _ I keep thinking our ability to learn changes our ability to live. I want to learn so much-----
14) Movie / at home - quiet time for me and the loved one.
Now in between this we need to pack in emergency, bill payments, laundry, bill payments, cleaning up, shopping, lil more shopping, birthdays, financial planning, shopping, etc
Question is then what is a holiday--what would u do on the weekend!!!
MIx masala Thursday 29 DEC
Hmmmmm......well a couple of friends are tired of attending other people's parties and complaining. So to get screamed at personally, and be humiliated in front of a crowd alrger than 327 people already!!! They or we are throwing a party at Coral Beach on Dec 29 2007.
Like i say..
ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like i say..
ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Anvil of 08 - -shit-rospective
There is an amazing sense of pride as I write this. I am going on Holiday, after a self imposed exile, where I ostriched my head into work. Yes using this w-ie-ord for the second time. Im looking forward to it. Its been a while. Its shocking that Next year I will be celebrating 5 years as an architect, getting married to a sweetheart (ooops does she know bout it?) and also getting geared for the next phase.
I guess my whole temporary goal pursuit, has been a quick jump into the rat race, where by God’s grace I landed on my own two feet. I am not proud that I have achieved, still a lot more than can be done, but that fact that I can achieve.
Those of you who know bout my tryst with Mr.Destiny on a bustling railway platform in Kottayam, know bout the twists that chanced meeting caused. To cut a long story short, I selected architecture from the “options available board”, much to the dismay of my dad. Dad probably thought a little Chemistry or computers would head me to Harvard to take on the world.
Luckily, I took a decision (I like the ability to take decisions and to stick by it- Free will is the gift of the heavens that is squandered by the mere.- Georgi jose, contemporary S-thinker) . Almost dropped out of archi school, got back, and finished with a vengeance- Don’t expect Ayn Rand to be inspired. Started working – all against the tide of Leaving Architecture in my 3rd year.
This keeda to do more and more , and from design junkie cum spot boy cum sexbomb, I jumped into Atkins. I still retain the sexbomb designation (except when it comes to Tinxx- another story.sigh)
Well I guess 5 years later, Im a little more educated, a lot more focused and in control and horribly bordering on FatTtT. Yes I said it in print. I need to work out!! I want to be thinner. It’s a state of mind,
I have gone on savage reductions twice in my life (none of them mechanical – just hard work). The effects have always been positive. I have hiding behind work too long, and Its true, I do work a lot, that’s only because I can and because I want to do all this faster and retire at 35.
“So 2008, sees me reducing to half, just to accommodate a better half.” – wow – is today punchline day or what!
Wish me luck. I feel like running already!!!!
Something tells me reading this 4 months from now – is going to be a good and bad thing!! Paradoxxxxxxxx!!!!
I guess my whole temporary goal pursuit, has been a quick jump into the rat race, where by God’s grace I landed on my own two feet. I am not proud that I have achieved, still a lot more than can be done, but that fact that I can achieve.
Those of you who know bout my tryst with Mr.Destiny on a bustling railway platform in Kottayam, know bout the twists that chanced meeting caused. To cut a long story short, I selected architecture from the “options available board”, much to the dismay of my dad. Dad probably thought a little Chemistry or computers would head me to Harvard to take on the world.
Luckily, I took a decision (I like the ability to take decisions and to stick by it- Free will is the gift of the heavens that is squandered by the mere.- Georgi jose, contemporary S-thinker) . Almost dropped out of archi school, got back, and finished with a vengeance- Don’t expect Ayn Rand to be inspired. Started working – all against the tide of Leaving Architecture in my 3rd year.
This keeda to do more and more , and from design junkie cum spot boy cum sexbomb, I jumped into Atkins. I still retain the sexbomb designation (except when it comes to Tinxx- another story.sigh)
Well I guess 5 years later, Im a little more educated, a lot more focused and in control and horribly bordering on FatTtT. Yes I said it in print. I need to work out!! I want to be thinner. It’s a state of mind,
I have gone on savage reductions twice in my life (none of them mechanical – just hard work). The effects have always been positive. I have hiding behind work too long, and Its true, I do work a lot, that’s only because I can and because I want to do all this faster and retire at 35.
“So 2008, sees me reducing to half, just to accommodate a better half.” – wow – is today punchline day or what!
Wish me luck. I feel like running already!!!!
Something tells me reading this 4 months from now – is going to be a good and bad thing!! Paradoxxxxxxxx!!!!
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