Sunday, October 18, 2009

..."In the city of Blinding Lights..."...

...it's not that i am busy... it's just that i don't have time to blog these days... specially when i am with my family... on vacation...

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

..."What's Hitting a Bull's Eye and Believing in Karma have in common?"...

... i am not in *that* philosophical mood to dwell upon such apparently obscure topics... and yet i think it is important that i put them in record here today... for what i am doing is not just an outcome of momentary 'high tide' of emotional and psychological effects... it is an impression... of those and many other events and beliefs and thoughts and even myself, perhaps, in this corner of the vast and i guess equally complicated world wide web... i wonder if the amount of time and energy we are spending upon researching and studying and understanding our own past will bring any fruitful wisdom for us to use... i also wonder if the generation which is yet to take birth will be able to do any justice by giving time and energy and resources and effort to understand all that is being created in the real and virtual world by us...

... we have yet a lot to learn from our past, are we not over burdening our future generation by generating even more thoughts and perspectives and beliefs and above all 'data'? ... and if i am sounding 'sarcastically pessimistic' ... for the record... i will be leaving for the Capital city of the world's largest democracy in less than twelve hours from now and i happen to stumble across this video from Beyonce (featuring Shakira) ... which means that i am happy and excited and writing my last post of this month from the Automotive Capital of this country...

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

..."I'm not indecisive. Am I indecisive?"...

... after forty posts, close to forty five days, one hundred and fifty profile views, one comment and one follower later, i guess, i can throw some tantrums... i am a celebrity! my blog is famous! people from all over the world are falling heads over heels to access my blog... i am inside google search box and it is giving results!!! ... and then... blip! ... i was 'powerless'...

... there was some uncertainty on saturday if it is going to be 'off' on tuesday... being election day here in this part of this huge country... so when i came to office on monday morning i was already in 'weekend' mood! ... ever imagined that? coming to office on a monday with this feeling lingering on you that u can enjoy tomorrow morning in ur bed... again! :) ... okay ... hold it! ... i was already enjoying the monday morning in my bed and feeling so lazy... that i completely forgot i was suppose to shave... after close to five days of healthy growth, my facial hair were like paddy fields... and they were like that on purpose... i wanted to keep the 'french beard' for a change ... before flying to my hometown... and as i said i was already feeling lazy... so i just did what was essential for the day...

... and after seeing my PC locked by Spicy, my 'happy monday mood' turned a bit bitter... luckily i got Waxy's PC for work... i guess he called in off that day... neways... the day was more or less monotonous except that Rabbi snapped on Sharya at the crack of day... and then for meeting, Rabbi decided to attend it himself after getting the 'status' from me... and after that ... he neva gave me the feedback!!!... and as if this was not enough... he left for the Diwali holidays without any greetings... it is my Project Manager's enthusiasm that makes me feel good about my time in office...

... and when i reached home i realised that i have only one day for all the preparations for the trip and since i have always been a 'late starter' in this matter ... i thought why not enjoy some movies and snacks and then i will post and then late in nite will start for the packing shacking... wait! who is that?? Mr. Murphy!! Jeez! ... it was almost as planned till the power was snapped! WTF!!! on monday evening?? argh! ... and it was out for close to three hours...

...and it went like any other saturday nite... staying late and then sleepy morning next day... the only difference being it was a tuesday... rather it is ... :) ... and that should explain 'why i missed my monday post?' ... and now i guess it is time i should start for the long long trip i am starting on thursday... all the way to home... sweet home... Dilli meri jaan! :)

Sunday, October 11, 2009

..."vedna in samvedna... why i never wrote on this before?"...

... as it usually happens in the second shifts of mine... it starts with the fun and excitement and some skepticism about the 'life' and 'job' and stuff... and then in the midweek i am 'into the groove' and by the time it is weekend... i become so habitual to the nite routine that i remain awake from saturday nites to sunday mornings... result is... spinning head, growling stomach, blurry vision and truck loads of guilt of not managing the week productively enough ...

... silly guilts apart... i really look forward to this day of the week... i know everybody likes 'sundays' ... it's just that mine work week being for 6 days and i happen to be living close to 1000 miles away from those who care for me and love me without any preconditions and among those who are so indifferent that it makes me wonder if they ever experienced human emotions...

...i stumbled across this blog copla days ago... and it instantly reminded me of the reason i started my first personal website and first blog somewhere around 2002 when i was in college... and it just happened as a coincidence that this movie that i ended up watching last nite which had a similar conversation between 'Donna' and 'Stanny' ... "I think you should write stuff down not to be rich or famous or something... just to express ur self" ... i guess it pretty much nails the reason why anyone and everyone who has access to the internet has a desire to start a blog and many are very successful in this endeavour...

... as for the rumblings that Varun has posted in his blog... i guess he has 'read shelf loads of books' for that kind of 'wisdom' ... it all went over my head! :)


to give u some idea of his writing skills and wisdom herez some piece of his blog post:

"Cultivate a skeptical attitude. I have just made this up .If you believe it; start making a habit of always challenging new information, especially if it surprises you. Start with statistics. Trust yourself. Speak up. You might be right. Check yourself. In a class (world) full of creative fire (mind), where everybody knows the answer, winner is the one who raise hand to answer first.

Keep your creative fire hot and burned. However, Creative solutions and ideas don't always have to come from struggle and sweat. Innovation is sometimes right under your nose, around the corner, or back home where you grew up. Work like an investigative reporter. Get up and go get the facts.

Speak it. Dig it. Google it. Read it."

u must read the original and complete post on his blog... good work Varun... keep posting...

and hey! it's Vishal Barde's Birthday today! and so is Amitabh Bachhan's! :) ...

Saturday, October 10, 2009

..."Why does it take a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye?"...

... i was planning that today's post will start in the morning... however after seeing someone's gtalk status message as:


>There is "adam" in "madam", "Mr" in "Mrs", "man" in "woman", "he" in "she", "he" in "her", "male" in "female" and "lad" in "lady<


i thought why not at least start in the middle of the nite and then i can always edit the post before it finally goes 'online' ... although my previous experiences with late nite conversations are not very good... and yet they were not that bad either... u know what i mean... :) ...

... and as for the SM... it made me wonder whether it means that "no woman is complete without a man" or does it mean "man is essentially a part of a woman"? ... and since we don't have 'jury' system here ... i can't say that 'Jury is out' on that... and of course i am entitled to be partial on my blog... right?... so i will chose the latter interpretation ... and you are free to disagree ...

Friday, October 9, 2009

..."All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That is his."...

... my body clock crashed last nite! ... and it is still 'under observation' ... hope to revive it this weekend which i am waiting so desperately to come and provide the little joys i enjoy the most! ... sleeping and more sleeping and of course some delicacy thrown in ... i dunno like pizza may be? ... am i becoming too 'umrikan'? ... the thing is that it easier to order a pizza over a phone than to visit a nice restaurant nearby for the wholesome food that is healthy for your body and soul and which gives you a better sleep (now that's a different story!) ...



... and dreams apart... it is my project review meeting today... and since i am in second shift, i am going to take my own sweet time for this meeting and will reach the office 'just-in-time' ... unless i get bored in my room ... which is most probably going to happen in next half an hour or so...



... was chatting with Jaggu few minutes back and just now realised... after the IE crash and comments on her first 'karvachauth' photos ... that i better start for the office now...

Thursday, October 8, 2009

..."...Tata Indigo Manza Unveiling on Oct 14..."...

... i have already posted my first impression of this sedan some time back... however now that it's public knowledge ... going by the reviews on the Internet... it would be safe to provide a refresher on the matter...

...to keep it simple and short ... the sedan is worth it's money... and i guess this is the first sedan from our stable that is designed (styled?) like a sedan... i mean unlike the present Indigo... whose styling appears to me more like an after-thought of adding the boot space to Indica... as if someone in the review meeting pointed out...
"err... what about the suitcase?" ...
"Gee!! gimme a box of cardboard or something!" ...
"Here! what if we stick this at the back of Indica?" ...
"Whoa!! Ladies and Gentlemen! (wait! what ladies?) ... we have a sedan!" ...
"What shall we call it?" ...
"Since we can tell India to GO for long rides ... we will call this as 'Indigo' ..." and Indigo was born...

... however in the case of Manza ... the well flowing C pillar meets the boot and the entire silhouette gives an impression that it was designed like a single entity and not as a 'modular' concept... the dash is refreshing and unlike that of Vista is like a regular car... it's the dials that made my heart skip a beat... they appear smaller yet functional and seductive in black! ... the profile of the dash is similar to that of the Honda Civic sans the glittering of neon lights... also the tail lamps remind me of Chevy's Optra model... the boot is enough for the 'average Indian family' trips...

... i liked the fit-and-finish of the product and in my personal opinion if gentry here is buying the ugly and boxy Suzuki Dezire then they must fall heads over heels for Manza ... i liked the car and had i been searching a C segment car presently i might have given a preference to this sedan... and since i am not... i will keep posting about some more interesting stories ...

... if u do happen to stumble across this blog by some random occurrence of events ... i would appreciate your generosity for comments :) ... and if u do feel like more than that... you are of course welcome! :)

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

..."There is a difference between casual elegance and putting a lot of energy into looking lazy"...

... the timing was great! ... i stepped out of the auto and my umbrella handle dislodged... and of course it was raining... now this would have received just a grunt from me had it not ruined my plan to go in late G shift and coming early... so now i have to get this thing repaired before i can go to office... meaning that even though i enjoyed the morning i had to suffer in the afternoon...

... and then started the trouble... for the first time i reached late in office and that too in second shift! ... reason? ... no autos and no buses! ... was there a strike or something? i dunno... however wen i did reached the office i was greeted by the usual pessimism of energy sucking BPK a.k.a Spicy a.k.a 'Kongo' ... the good thing was that i was able to make some progress on the Cruise front and then with the suggestion clearance with Rabbi...

what made my day ... rather nite... was running Sumo Grande on the 'high speed test track'...now i do have the 'Level 1' permit which allows me to take the vehicle inside the otherwise well controlled area... so first run by 'Dev-aanand' @ 110KMPH was comforting ... however the fun started on my turn ...

Dev: "u are not shifting the gears"
me: "it's not working" (btw we were driving @ 60kmph on the track with 'followers')
Dev: "try gently"
me: "Jeez!" (and we stopped right in the middle of the 'doughnut track')
Dev: "why are u not able to shift the gear?"
me: "it is too easy to do that in this vehicle!!"
Dev: "okay i will show you now..."

...i realised the problem... i have been driving a vehicle which requires some 'hardship' in gear changing ... and so i was changing gears like a complete fool... anyways... it was fun driving the vehicle in nite @ high speed test track... i won't do that in the near future though...

... the day ended with some people posing with the latest offering from our company... and since she is yet to be officially displayed to media... i cannot say much now ... not in this post at least... so keep following if u are interested! ...

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

..." i would walk 500 miles and i would walk 500 more just to be the man who walked a 1000 miles to fall down on your door..."...

...the plan was simple ... i will start late in the day and will reach well before the second shift.... it wud be more like a late G shift and then after the dinner i wud retreat back home.... it will keep everyone happy and above all it won't wreck my body clock... and as planned i reached just before the lunch... enjoyed some time and did some work and then ... after the dinner for some reason... remained in the office... the result i spent whopping 13 hours in the office!!...

... i guess it's good that i don't have anyone close enough in the city to care about these mis-adventures... or it wud be hard to explain such things! :) and i dunno if it is good thing or bad! ... as of now i am just waiting for the Diwali holidays or vacations or sabbatical or watever u call them... so while i enjoy the last week of B shift in the office ... you keep reading this blog!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Sunday, October 4, 2009

..."If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it"...

...is there anything wrong in living your life by 'autopilot'? ... or was it 'auto universe'? ... i can't recall the day or the date... however it was bright and sunny... and the place was some school somewhere near the Pusa Campus... all set on my seat i could see quite a large number of 'future managers' sitting around and about to write the 'entrance test' for ICFAI... as i tried to fit in that cramped seat... i saw this girl wearing a red sleeveless top and blue jeans on my right hand side "@ 2 O'clock position" ... and when i glanced over her 'desk' i saw CAT admit card... for a moment my heart skipped a beat... was that required for today's test? ...

i asked her... and the reply was "they asked for some ID proof"... ah! i had it! ... and after the test for some reason known to God... i asked how was the test... and then we chatted till we came out of the test centre... and then she took a piece of paper and gave her email id... and she wrote it with a pencil... so i had to remember it hard lest it gets 'lost' ... we remained in touch for quite some time may be for year or two... never had a chance to talk much... untill i arrived in pune... and it was december of 2007 i guess... and we had exchanged quite a few phone calls by then... it was just another courtesy call and i was trying to be friendly... may be too hard...

... as for today! it was a sunday like any other sunday... and since it has been raining since last nite i wasn't too eager to get up and start the day... although i was pretty sure that RPR will be here soon for the construction work and so i just grabbed a cup of tea and copla toasts... and then it was... the entire day spent with the feeling of 'deja vu' ... and no coincidence that i watched that movie today... 'deja vu' i mean... denzel washington has done justice... like always and paula patton is pretty... like always... :) ...

... it's second shift from tomorrow onwards... although i am planning to go in "late G shifts" whatever that means...

Saturday, October 3, 2009

..."Time is the longest distance between two places"...

... the plan was to come home early and finish the chores to enjoy the sunday! ... and like all the saturdays ... i ended up watching movies and enjoying the nice meal and then chit chat with my sis...

... so more blogging tomorrow... :)

Friday, October 2, 2009

..."The time to stop talking is when the other person nods his head affirmatively but says nothing"...

... it was the usual friday morning... and in fact i even got the local bus to reach the office... and wen i saw BPK in the canteen @ breakfast i just thought of finishing the 'farsaan' fast and log into my system... coz i knew he is not in shift AND i have some work to do ...

... as the fate may have it... he reached first and logged in... now it is always amicable ... at least it has always been... however i lost it today... and i made my displeasure apparent... so to clear my mind i went to the tear down facility and then to the makeshift canteen @ the material gate for some snacks ... i had no idea it even existed... thanks to this guy in NPI ... and then came back to tear down and got a chance to sit in Honda Civic... and after some more time there... i was tired... so we went to the main canteen... had a full lunch and then returned to our places...

...it was time to attend the project review meeting lined up @ 2.30 ... BPK was supposed to organise the meeting... and of course Rabbi and ABG were the highlights... it was the 'chai wala' whom i found elusive! :( ...

...the best part of the day, however, was when ABG asked Rabbi that project management and performance tasks be 'assigned' to me... i never saw that coming and it felt immensely great! ... i am looking forward for my next 12days in office... before my lift-off for the Diwali vacations! :)

Thursday, October 1, 2009

..."We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine"...

... while the conversation with 'Vakhy' yesterday went smooth... with his ever inflating ego i feel it's better to leave him to his fate... and then... today the conversation with Rabbi along with the team mates regarding our elusive 'appraisal letters' was uneventful as well ... and this ol'man from AED is such a prick that i dunno how this company can afford to keep such people on the rolls!... and from rolls i recall Rol'S ... i dunno what to say and i am not even getting any hint from the devil that resides in the darkest corner of my soul! ...

... i watched the movie 'Defiance' yesterday... it was good... considering that i have a soft corner for the movies that have a storyline that depicts some kind of struggle ... be it for survival, self-esteem, lost pride, money, existence or love ... i am also getting this funny feeling that i must start spending more time on things i used to spend when i first arrived in Poona about 2 and a half years ago! ....

... and i am talking about the good things ... i guess they were all good things because i was happy and excited and looking forward towards everything in life... with hope dripping from every action of mine, with every thought and with every word... i was not the only one who was happy and excited... it seemed to me that every one was happy... full of life and zest and beauty and that everyone was there to help you and that everyone was a friend... btw have you seen the movie 'Kaminey'? ... i liked that movie... :)