feelin' ALIVE!!

ok...yesterday was a crazy day..

woke up and realized that there was really nothing to do...and then decided that why not score off one item on my bucket list!!

so...made a few calls...and was on my way to a suburb called picton...oh it was soo beautiful...just peace and quiet...all the way...until the moment of truth!!

should I just call it off...I mean this was too crazy...but then just thought to myself...will I ever get this opportunity again...I simply blew away my time at singapore...doing nothing!! (am not considering the countless number of times I watched raymond and shawshank!!)

so...well...I jumped off a plane...and damn it felt good!!

why...

why are we sometimes...nicer to strangers than we are to our 'supposed' close ones...??

why is it that at times we ARE required to stomp on others just to look better...?? is that the only way we know to impress people...??

obviously...this is a morning with mixed emotions...reasons for which are better left undocumented and forgotten...

I see the world...feel the chill...

which way to go...I do not know...

I see the verse in the rain...

And now...somehow cant seem to hold the pain....

Oh dear LORD, can you not see me now...

I am myself, like YOU somehow...

I'll ride the wave where it takes me....

I'll hold the pain...

I'll wait up for you to speak to me...

Release me...Release me!!

my bucket list…amongst other things…

I have been in Sydney now for five nites…and honestly did not think much of the place…at first sight…I mean…I had to wait at immigration for nearly two hours….and then there was elaborate quarantine checks…and you are not allowed to turn your fone on till this whole laborious process is completed….which honestly kind of upset me!! All the numerous occasions that I have flown back and forth to Singapore…I think the maximum time I have had to spend on immigration was about 15 minutes...

Anyway…it was raining till the end of Friday and I was like…is this the famed Australian summer?!?!?!…and Saturday morning the sun was out and the city just transformed itself into something surreal…

I came to know that an old friend/room mate/colleague works here and got in touch with him…and well…I am gonna have to type out a separate post about this guy…he exemplifies “LAID BACK”…that’s all I am gonna type now…

Watched a couple of movies with him…quantum of solace…I thought was very nice…and twi-light was really just one of those city of angels…meet joe black kinda movie…I mean…yes…it was ok…

Have been totally into play station 3…and the list of things that I am gonna have to take back home just keeps increasing!!

A very senior person from work sent in response to my mail to him which basically said I have reached safe and settled in well…was to shop during Christmas, watch the boxing day cricket match and lastly not to forget to skydive and if time permits get some work done...ofcourse he was just kidding…well… so…I am thinking I am going to make up for all the lost time at Singapore…during this trip…

Singapore Airlines…you are a beauty…

I had thoroughly enjoyed my previous two journeys on Singapore airlines earlier…ofcourse…it was not my first choice…but I flew because I wanted to be home at any cost…and obviously I did not regret spending the extra moolah!!

This time too it was not the first choice for obvious reasons but the very idea that I could be at work the very next day early for work just felt right to the seniors and yes....was at Singapore once again…for a little while…just about over an hour…and am not proud of it…but the damage within that hour which was mostly spent getting from terminal 2 to terminal 3 was around 200 bucks!!

Saw three movies totally…all personal favorites and of which I have copies back home…food was very nice…had a vegetarian meal specially prepared for the journey between Singapore and Sydney…even without my requesting for it…and not to mention I was impressed…and we reached about 15 minutes early…that was something never heard of with any of the Indian airlines!!

miracle...

when you expect to be taken for a ride...and you are not...I suppose that can be called a miracle...

after extended weekend with family...returned home...and as always had the early morning face-off with the auto guys!!  

just kept walking until finally one old man agreed to take me home for the rountine metered fare...plus the additonal early morning charge...on the way he missed a turn and I told him that he missed it...and he apologized and turned around...finally reached home...and I gave him the fare...and he returned 10 bucks extra!! I said his calculation was incorrect and his reply was 'No No...I missed a turn...so I have to deduct 10 rupees from the fare for it' 

you have got to be kiddin' !!

sub prime mortgage crisis...recession...pink slips...yeah yeah yeah...

well...the reason for this post is not all that...saw the news after a real long time...indian americans seek divine intervention to save their jobs...some temple there (Baltimore...I think...not sure...) is getting so crowded...that they have started accepting new applications for priests!!! the only organization that seems to be recruiting there....well...now thats not a bad career option...considering the current situation...

and...more and more indian americans have started to believe that it is safer to 'invest' in the temple hundis than anywhere else...

and yes...when you invite a guy who is so quick on his feet as russell peters is...I mean...come on...you cant have him in the house...and then start to think as to what to ask him!!! and you run out of topics that you end up asking him to dance on the floor...very very sad...

then there is always this character as part of the crowd...who is like...'how many proposals have you received so far on your trip to India...???'

lastly...the bucket list...is a movie very well made...must see...if you are a fan of morgan freeman and his brilliant narrating skills...

yet another futile attempt begins...

yes...I have started to work out yet again !! this must be like the 100th time I have started and just like every other previous time I hope this will last a really long time...well atleast this time around I aint spending a bomb...

there is a modest gym at the office...the way I see it is that it is a place filled with sweaty exhausted obese IT professionals...so you see I fit right in !!

the last episode of working out was at singapore in one of the best health clubs in the country...when I say best...I mean...work out attire...towels...steam room...free DVD rental...yes...FREE movies for members...well...these are the benefits...but the down side was the terrible complex developed as a result of directly interacting with super fit men and women !!

entertainment...

well...finally someone told it the way it really was...last evening...our team had the chance to meet the CEO of the company...his entrance was something like that of bon jovi's on one of the numbers from the album slippery when wet...(forgot which one...cant believe I did...there was a time I was obsessed with the band's music...speaking of which...just got reminded of another incident from the bon jovi listening days...which I shall save for another post here!!)

yes...coming back...the entrance...was like that...lights turned down...loud thumping music...and then suddenly...a loud scream 'heeeeeeeellllooooooooooooo bangaloreeeeeeeeee' and ofcourse...the audience was expecting him...to make a docile entrance...considering the circumstances...well...economic slowdown...pink slips all around...but here he was...lights turned down...loud music...dancing his way to the center!! impressive dance...considering his body mass!!

well...anyway...in simple words...I get to keep my job...no one is going to be 'eased' out like the other companies...but ofcorse...a lot of flexibility will be expected !!

there was everything in the meeting...vedanta...philosophy...management lessons...video...music...dance...some brilliant questions...some not so brilliant questions...wonderful display of wit and humor by the CEO...all in all total entertainment for the scared & dehydrated mind !!

resplendent effort...

from my past experiences...I can say most things are not worth the effort and wait...but this book certainly proved to be an exception...

most of the material used in the book were previously used in bits and pieces on ELR or his stand-up routines...but there were some really funny formulae in the book on sleep deprivation and other post-marital rituals...

all in all...total entertainment for two hours....thats all it takes to finish the book...not to mention it took nearly four months for me to get my hands on it !!

romano's ability to portray himself as a complete loser...in writing... in such a dignified, sincere and yes...funny way really amazes me...

everything and a kite - part 2

after months of extreme probing...the book has finally arrived home (madras)...and honestly...for some strange reason...I truly believe...that my entire outlook towards everything will change for the better...after I complete reading it !!

well...this outlook is the cognition of a series of events from my life and the lives of a few close friends...but...as 'Andy' from shawshank says...hope is a good thing...probably the best of things...

from...'what is the point really..??' to...'hope'...I must admit...its a good start for someone who is usually described as an avatar of pessimism...besides 'pyscho' and 'loser' !!

what is the point really...??

yet another week at work flies by...in less than 24 hrs...the weekend would be over...this really has been the 'business' for some time now...

friends getting married...friends becoming parents...friends eager to make more money....friends buying new cars...friends travelling overseas....friends returning home...friends setting themselves 'targets' on the bank balance when they retire...

honestly...hats off to them...for being so inspired in life...well...honestly...with each passing week...am finding it extremely difficult to find inspiration...

'what is the point really..??' has been the favorite question over the past fortnight or so...

anyway...I aint sure...if anyone is reading this...but whoever is...sincere apologies...cos..'what is the point really...??'

on my way to setting some record...am sure...

when you are single...and staying alone...and more importantly...way too lazy to leave the house unless really warranted...there isnt much you can do...

what I did do and am sure will continue doing is watching movies...

I have seen over 30 movies in the past 10 days...some brilliant ones...and some not so brilliant ones...

casino royale...the recruit...the sentinel...are few which belong to the first category...

beerfest...atonement...are some in the second category...

dosa with daddy !!

well...I had the first guest over at my new place...Jagannathan Sr. dropped by enroute to hubli...where he has some work...he absolutely loved the place...and has promised a stop over on his way back...I was so happy to see him...we had dinner at one of the many 'sagars' in bangalore...the nearest one to home...and discussed one of the topics we never ever discussed before...life post retirement for him !!

He will retire in a year and three months...and when I asked him for plans...he replied "theres still so much time for it...we'll see then"...so typical !!

I have missed my family in the past...missed them the most in s'pore...I know I am just a few hours away...and more importantly just a few hundred rupees away...but I still miss them a lot !!

powerful words...

A thorn in my side, a chip on my shoulder
A lump in my throat, the size of a boulder
The chill up my spine, can't get any colder
And you wonder why i can't smile

A knot in my gut, an ape on my back
In the heat of the moment, i'm knocked off the track
You drop the ball,i pick up the slack
And you ask me why my hairs gray

Twisting, turning
Losing all sense of yearning
Living and learning
The pressure keeps on burning my soul

I say it's green and then you tell me it's red
Keep your thoughts and ideas
Locked inside of your head
We've got someone
Who can think for you instead
And he sounds just like the last one

Twisting, turning
Losing all sense of yearning
Living and learning
The pressure keeps on burning my soul

Responsible thinkers
Throw caution to the wind
But i find myself
Speaking from within
I can't live my life
Walking on eggshells
To stay on your good side

Using your words
Controlling my life
Can't you see it's my words
That gives you your life
So i hurt your feelings
Well i'm really sorry
But i don't give a shit...

Twisting, turning
Losing all sense of yearning
Living and learning
The pressure keeps on burning my soul

obviously the words arent mine...dream theater - burning my soul !!

my pride...

woke up...fairly late on saturday...I was home...and ofcorse I was feeling real lazy...turned the TV on...too lazy to even see what DVD was on...simply turned it on...it was season 9...disc 3 of ELR !!!
my bro has taken a liking to ELR and I believe it is his second cycle of the entire series...I watched a couple of episodes and as is always the case with all the mothers in this whole world...got a nice little lecture on brushing my teeth !! and so...I was forced to move my posterior...finally !!

coffee...bath...lunch...and I was all set for the remainder of the episodes of ELR season 9...and I dont know why I asked ma...where he was...but I did...she told me that he had a cricket match and was playing...my bro has been playing cricket from since he was 13...and there was a time I watched most every game he played...and honestly...I forgot when I watched him play last...so I decided that was the plan...

reached the stadium at around 3...and I couldnt believe I couldnt figure out which team was playing and I simply couldnt spot my brother...then after a while I did...by that time I came to know my brother's team was bowling and he had done his job extremely well...three wickets in a single over...and he was given the ball again...over one maiden...over two maiden...over three another wicket...that made it four wickets in this innings for him...over four...he got the batsman out...and started to celebrate with the rest of his team on getting his fifth wicket...but the batsman didnt walk...and the umpire didnt give him out...he walked back obviously dejected...came into bowl the next ball...it was a fast bouncer which nearly took the batsman's face off !!! man...aggression !!

he is a talented fast bowler...but well...I am not too sure if talent alone can get you places these days...unfortunately for my bro...he is just...my bro...!!!

I dont really pray or hope for things...but I cant help myself...I really do hope and pray he gets whatever he wants out of his cricket...because I know he is really good...and more importantly...he works real hard...I mean...can you imagine...running in and bowling in the hot and humid conditions of madras...I know I couldnt bowl a single over without just falling flat on my back !! He bowled 18 overs that day for his four wickets and felt bad about not being able to get his fifth !!

am really proud of him...his committment...his drive...his bouncer that took that almost took that guy's head off !!

trip to madras...(includes dissonance in the train !!)

Obviously I am not against having fun during the course of a five hour long journey...but seriously...when this ‘fun’ is shockingly inconsiderate behavior I think I have a right to be pissed off!!

There was this ‘fun’ gang of colleagues who I had the ‘privilege’ of traveling with from Bangalore to Madras last weekend. The gang was a mix of young women and men and not so young women and men!! But having watched them for whole five hours...I can safely say that their combined IQ would not exceed that of a five year old...

Well...I got onto to the train never suspecting that I would be doled out such penalty...after a night of searing headache combined with regurgitation!! Things started off pretty slowly...until breakfast was served and then…they just let loose...thanks to one of the ‘smartest’ members of this gang...who proposed the brilliant plan of playing anthakshri!!

Its one of life’s real cruelties...when all you hope for is a peaceful journey home and what you are actually dealt with is abominable...

Well...it wasn’t just the noise that was being created…but they all just stood in the middle just blocking the passage to the lav...I excused myself…the first time and I was given exactly the space of two fingers to squeeze through...the second time the same happened…and I had to speak out...”Its extremely flattering that you guys think I am so thin but the reality is I need some more space!!” to which the girls just looked at each other and giggled and gave me another finger’s space to squeeze through again...

samosas sent to airline offices..?!?!?!?!

well...well...well...this is the land where creativity reaches unexplored heights !!

ticketing agents whose main revenue is obviously the commission paid by the airlines have sent hot samosas to airline companies' offices...

reason...the airlines had decided to cut down on the commission paid to these agents and they decided to 'protest' this way.

A letter stating "Please accept a sample of delicious samosas which is a new line of business we are getting into, after our travel agency days are over. Later we will be offering one samosa free with every ten that you buy, with no other hidden costs or surcharges." was sent with the samosas !!

creative indeed !! well done !!

back to where it all started...

you can run but can never escape...you can only postpone but never avoid !!

am back in Bangalore...the place...where my ‘exciting’ career as a business analyst kick-started!!!

I would like to imagine that I have come a long way since then…but well…I try being as honest as possible in this blog...so...the truth is...NOTHING has changed in bangalore....except the house rentals have touched the sky and the autowalas have become a little more insensitive !!

remorse...

oh yes...remorse...last weekend I had visited a good friend of mine...he stays a bit far from the main part of singapore...in a luxurious condominium...this was the first time I had been there in almost the two years that I have spent here...

it was exquisite...the view from the living room...picturesque...and yes...the most comfortable couch that I have sat in...which induced sleep in less than five minutes after I got my posterior on it...brilliant television set...DVD player...oh it was bliss...ofcourse you would think...I am exaggerating...but if you have actually seen my room...you would instantly realise that the reason for my awe for simple things like a television set and a DVD player is justified...I stay in a shack...in possibly the worst part of singapore...

anyway, the visit to this friend's apartment has had a depressing effect...I should have just done that...shared a condo...with some friends/colleagues...and had a good time...and right now its too late...as I am scheduled to return back home in a few days...

well...yes...the resolution is ofcourse...given an oppurtunity like this again...LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST !!!

ministry of sound

am not really into clubbing...well...come to think of it...am not really into anything !!

anyway...this good friend of mine...decided that he would show me this most happening club in singapore...its in a place called clarke quay...now clarke quay is this place...where most of singapore hangs out during the weekends...fine restaurants...pubs...clubs...live music...the place is vivacious...

ok...back to this club...yes...ministry of sound...is an interesting place...very nice decor...excellent acoustics...really enjoyed the thirty minutes we spent there...

guess am just getting old...well...not really old...but may be just in that phase...where I just prefer watching raymond at home...

why the title..??

just in case...you are wondering...why this blog is titled...the way it is...the movie shawshank redemption is one of my all time favourites...and 'get busy livin or get busy dyin' is what tim robbins tells morgan freeman...after he talks to him about his wife and how he was indirectly responsible for her death...

just watch the movie...I know I will (yet again)...over this weekend...honestly lost count on the number of times I have seen it...

everything and a kite

well...ever since I discovered that ray romano had written a book and whose title was 'everything and a kite'...I havent been able to think of much else other than getting my hands on the book...for those of you...who do not know ray...you may want to check out www.rayromano.com

anyway...as luck would have it...this book is not available in any of leading book stores here in singapore...however...after 'googling' for it...I found a person on the website www.bookcrossing.com who had purchased this book from a used book shop here...ofcourse I wrote to her immediately and she has very generously offered to lend it to me....there are nice people around after all....