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As You Know-part II

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As you know, sometimes time really flies, and this has been one of those weeks. I cannot believe that we're at Thursday already, the last working day of the week(out here)...it seems like it was Thursday only yesterday. So how did a typical day pass this last week? 0445 AM: Wake up via mental alarm and switch off the real alarm before it goes beep beep. 0500 AM: Have a cuppa tea, and watch Comedy Circus for 1/2 hr on News 24. Or, if it's Comedy ka daily dose, see if it's interesting. If not, switch to the DV  of Seinfeld/Everybody Loves Raymond.(Nothing like a laugh or a chuckle to begin the day, is there?) 0530: Go for walk. 45 mins to 1 hr. 0630: Return from walk, take a shower, etc. Say prayers in the tiny prayer zone I've created on the table. 0700: Breakfast time. Go down. Yesterday was a bit of  a change. The board said"Breakfast at Chandni'"...I was wondering why they'd serve breakfast at a bar with dancing gals and all, but it...

As You Know...

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As you know, I don't post when I'm not in a good mood- and boy, this has been one bad mood week-mainly work related. With the weekend coming up after just one more day, that's something to look forward to. Till then, read my article on DXing- from the '90s...was published in Upbeat mag- one of my favourites, but no longer on the stands-here's hoping they revive it.:) ---- Wish me luck- that nothing makes me feel irked tomorrow...maybe I'll take a 'precautionary' combiflam in the morning...just in case...hahahahahahahahahahaha...and, of course, read 'The Secret'. And watch it,too..And, continue reading The Power(Second part of The Secret)..have read just 4 pages so far.

Tag: School Days

Time for a fun tag, now. Many thanks to Ms. R  for tagging me. The questions and her answers brought back so many similar memories of what is probably one's best period of childhood, but, we don't realize it then.:) What was your favorite back to school item to buy? Brown paper rolls, to give that smooth,silky feel to the notebook and books as covers, sticker labels with my favourite cartoon characters(Laurel&Hardy,Richie Rich,et al) for these books, English Textbooks(Shocking, huh?Books are the last things someone would look forward to) What was your favorite subject in school? English. If I’d not gone where everyone else was going(Engineering/Medical), I’d have done BA in English, journalism Did you ride the bus or get a ride from Mom/Carpool? From horse and carrot,er, cart(buggy), or, the ghoda-gaadi/tonga as they used to call it, to cyclerickshaw, to a city bus with a teacher, to bicycle drop-off by Dad, to my own bicycle( an olive green Hero something) in t...

Funny Names

Quote for the day: Nature gave us two ends: one to sit on and one to think with.
 Ever since then, man's success or failure has been dependent on the one he used most…..Robert Albert Bloch ------ Been a week already since I landed on these shores…doesn’t seem like it, but then- time does fly, out here. Let me recount some of the funnier moments of the past few days. How @ these two items from a restaurant menu: Pappa Mango Nutty Lessi I know you’ll guess the second one. But, how @ the first one? ------ Talking of unusual names, I found these to be quite fit for their purpose: Chai pani: New shop in Baroda. No prizes for guessing what they serve- but, I couldn’t check them out. You know, this is one of the commonest phrases I’ve heard in Baroda, so it was high time someone came up with a brainwave of titling their shop thusly. Munna Munni: Kiddy clothes shop, again in Baroda. Golden Scissors: Barber shop out here. Cold Cuts : I first thought it was a non-veggie ...

Fortunes

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a. In a few days' time, Jupiter returns to Pisces for a stay of a little over four months. This period should enable you to revive certain exciting ideas and take advantage of the thrilling new ones that are bound to come your way. b.Meet and greet to feel complete. The people you meet this week might change your life in a positive way. You might be the centre of attention--which is good for your ego and confidence levels. c.Sometimes contentment comes in accepting those things that are wonderful, and not wondering why they happened or how long they'll last. Simply enjoy the fact that each day's events are bound to be a welcome surprise. d.The pilot light of love is buring brightly. Someone's warm feelings are ready to leap into full flame at the merest flick of the 'on' button. This is a good time to prove to someone you are true blue. ------------ From The Secret Daily Teachings: Begin your day by feeling grateful. Be grateful for the bed you jus...

News, updates, etc

Hi all!! Yes, I haven't blogged since a week, I know. No excuses. So, let me go back to Thurs evening, and the Dxb-Abad flight. I really thought my hearing was impaired. One hour went by since I was at the airport and no funny talks/ events/happening? Ah, but then...it started. First: The Boarding Lounge/Zone. Couple sitting in seats behind mine. And, the talk started 'Khaava maan shoon chhe'(What did you carry, for food?)- and, quick as a rabbit, the guy's wife brought out paper plates, theplas, achaar, etc and they began munching away. Boarded the plane(this time, they didn't offer a reduced rate upgrade, so I was in Economy and that was good. Why? Read on!!)..I occupied my window seat, and was observing the stream of people (It was a full flight, even though it was a Jumbo aircraft)rushing down the aisle, worried that the overhead lockers would not have space for their bag+the 4/5 extra bags they were carrying from the Duty Free. Two rows ahead, the air hos...

The Past, The Present, The Future

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How accurate fortunes can be. Like, two of them from this week's papers here for my sun sign(Pisces)  say: After a demanding past several months, the return by Uranus and, in early September, by the bountiful Jupiter to Pisces leads to breakthroughs in several areas of your life. Suddenly past arrangements spring back to life. --- This week Uranus returns to your sign for a stay of seven months. It first moved into Pisces in 2003, and since then you've learnt a great deal. Now, you have an opportunity both to analyze the recent past and consider the future. Take good advantage of what could be a remarkably enlightening period. ---- Of course, I usually believe the fortunes I want to believe in...*grins*, and ensure they come true. So, what do I read in this one? Wait, let me not guess- you tell me what you understand.:)(Austy, awaiting your interpretation) ---- For some reason, I've been remembering games and toys from childhood. Wonder how many of you enjoyed such...

Hi all

Happy Independence Day, everyone! Am just watching the live telecast on the National Network, and our hon'ble PM is giving his speech. Purba's done a nice post on things which are a necessary part of our lives, even after 63 years of freedom. ------ Out here, it's the Holy month of Ramadan. For those not in the know, what happens during this month is: - No eating/drinking(water/juices....The bad drinks are banned throughout the year) on the streets or, you face a fine/jail for the month. -Restaurants upturn their chairs onto the tables during the day, to show that they're not soliciting(is that the right word?) during the day, right upto Iftar(breaking of the fast) time...quite a depressing sight, that one...but, methinks they also do it so that the floors can be scrubbed clean easily. -People stand outside restaurants /wait on the waiting chairs of restaurants, 15-30 minutes prior to them opening for business in the evening(Haha-I know, coz I did that yesterd...

Hi all

Hi,all!!Just a quick update.. I always feel guilty, posting the next post, if I haven't replied to the great comments you people leave on the previous post(s)......so,armed with a smile, I sat and read all the posts and their comments, and, yes....replied to all of them...:) So now, I'm 'up-to-date'...and, let me begin the next post in a short while.

Good Fun

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Hi, all!Let's see now-a lot of things kept me smiling this week...or, musing, rather.:) To begin: Firstly, I always used to rue not having a notepad and pen with me, when I see/saw interesting(read'humorous') articles. Last week, I realized 'mobile hai na'- now, I still use the mobile only as a phone, i.e. incoming calls/outgoing calls/messages. I've no idea @ what my ringtone is, since I always keep it on silent, ever since workload went up manifold....and, that's anything from more than a year.  I realized it has another good purpose- saving ads like the below one in the draft messages folder, rather than trying to remember them till I'm ready to post(In any case, tell me, would you be able to recall such ads word for word??hahaha) How's this: Ad on a box in a Japanese store here: "There is tendency that because body wastes leeches if attach tree vinegar sheet to a person who suffer by squeak of person disease that health becomes wea...

Seinfeld

Scene: Seinfeld and friend Elaine are discussing a lady who visits the gym at the same time as they do. Elaine's convinced that the lady's 'b e sts' are fake. (too spectacular to be true, is what their discussion is about) Elaine: You've dated women with nose jobs before. Seinfeld: You don't touch the nose. You don't aspire to reach the nose. You don't unhook anything to get to a nose. And no man has ever tried to look up a woman's nostril." Elaine: You've really put a lot of thought into this, haven't you? Seinfeld:Well,I take it very seriously. ------------- The whole episode runs from one scene to another-Elaine trying to judge about what she calls 'silicone valley' when she's in the sauna with the lady, how she trips over a stool in the sauna and is saved because she grabs'them'.(Nooo...they didn't show any adult content- it was just Elaine tripping, and the rest is left to your imagination..:)) ...

Messages

Tell me, is this a serious email? " Dear Mr. Amit, Please find attached Statement of account and do the need full urgently, because your account is not coming on phone line and conveying massage by secretory. Please do some thing I am in very bed position." ---- And,this one from a lady supplier: We have been constantly trying to contact you for last two days, but have not been able to get through. Had left a massage in your voice mail & also with your receptionist yesterday. ---- hahaha. Life's good fun,na, if you keep your eyes open!!:)

Collections

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A phillumenist. .. a person who follows phillumeny...in simple terms, a matchbox label collector. No, don't look at me with a new respectful eye...even I didn't know the term, but then, for most words/phrases/madness round the world  that I don't know about, my favourite phrase is 'google hai na'.:) So, I googled 'match box label collectors are called' and came to know of the term. ----- Let me admit- I haven't collected a match box label since ages...not since I was in school, rather. Maybe because the matchbox has become somewhat obsolete, in these days of 'instant lighters' of the electronic type, which followed on the heels of gas lighters. One click and voila, the cooking gas is on.  Of course, I( as do most people who do pooja with agarbattis) still need a matchbox to light the agarbattis.(Incense sticks) for the pooja- hate to light those with a lighter that gives off a flame that could singe the eyebrows, right? ------ I was reminded...

How Time Flies

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Good heavens-is it Thursday already? Five days from the last post? Ah well, pretty eventful week this has been. Let's see now. Barely an hour after posting, the reception people called me and asked whether I'd mind shifting to another room,since they were doing maintenance on the floor where I've been, since June. They did say it was due to pest control, but I believe it was also coz they wanted to put a less sensitive smoke detector in the room- because the agarbatti(incense) smoke after I did my 'quick pooja' daily, used to let off the fire alarm every other day...haha.:) --- So, I opened the curtain, and there was this cute lil birdie peering at my from the balcony.Tsk-before your imagination runs wild, let me show you this birdie. So, anyway, believe me, it being the second half of the weekend(First day, Friday, goes in my mad rush to walk/walk for 2-2.5 hrs in the morning, followed by a big of newspaper readng, a short nap @ noon, and nothing too much in g...

Inspirational Beats

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So how's your weekend been so far, you ask? W alk,walk,walk,diet,diet,diet.....:)Great exercise, great for the body, great motivation.....:) Currently, my mp3 clip player has the following songs that keep me on my toes, so to speak, during my 1-1.5 hr walks, morning and evening: (If anyone wants to begin an exercise routine with these songs, let me know...haha) ------ All the best                                -All The Best Dostana                                    -Jaane Kyun  Love Aaj Kal                           -Twist Kaminey                                  - Om Mangalam Main aur Mrs. Khanna             - Happening Dostana ...

Stores,serials and weekends

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Continuing from the previous post, after that enjoyable time at the bookstore, I went to Virgin Megastore. In the past, I'd never really spent much time in this store, but, two months back, I just wandered in out of curiosity, and found it a great TP, besides finding bargain comedy serials like Coupling, at a heavily discounted price.  There's books(ahem!), music, movies, photo frames, tees, watchesand lots of other trendy stuff. Plus, there's the merchandise that Hollywood brings out when a movie's being released, and once the hype and hoopla is over, they sell it off dirt-cheap, if it gets sold of course.:) Let me just say-it's a 'different'store, something like what Planet M's trying to emulate there..somewhat successfully..would love to franchise such a nice outlet.:)Want to see more? Here's the link for their stores on this side of the world . ----- I'm really hooked to comedy serials...as I've said in the past- hardly see any movie...

Books

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Hi,all...well,I've had all good intentions to blog regularly, but, it seems time doesn't agree with me...or,maybe it's my current diet-walk-reduce program that takes away my spare time.Or,maybe it's the hi stress level at work, that ensures I just watch a comedy show like According To Jim or Seinfeld, when I'm home..ah well, always good to be busy, I'd say..have lots to write about.So, let's begin with last weekend. ---- I finally(after two weeks) decided to go and pick up the books prize I'd won in one of the leading local dailies here. Decided to go by the Metro-for some reason, I'd not used the Karama Metro station ever since it opened, so it was something to look foward to. Entered the station and whew!What a nice long walk to the platform(specially in my current walk-walk mood..haha) , in airconditioned comfort,but naturally. Reached there and the next train came in, in 4-5 minutes. After a nice ride(More on the ride later), I reached Mall Of ...

Tag:What's in your bag?

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(Disclaimer: all the briefcase pics are courtesy goo-gling) Sush ,nee, SS has tagged me(thanks for that,SS)-the (ahem) only guy picked to do the tag...curiosity @ what I carry in my briefcase,apparently.:) So,here goes...be ready to get shocked??Not really.. ---- Currently: Answer is : Nothing..:)hehe..why? Coz I don't carry a bag or a briefcase. Some months back, I decided that I was fed up of carrying...(Well,that appears below)...anything to work. Just decided' Khaali haath aaye the hum, khaali haath jaayenge' applies to my work place,too..and..the rest,as they say, is history..so while people look proud lugging their laptops,their lunches, et al everyday to work..and sweating away in this humid weather, I'm cool,calm, collected...no pressure on the arms,so to speak. All the 'necessities', from otrivin to homeopathic medicine to headache tabs,biscuits,sweet awla,sunflower seeds ..are kept in the drawer of my desk. ---- To continue the tag from the...