Happy Birthday My Li'l Princess :)

Dear Ananya,

Today you are 1 year old. Wish you a very very very happy birthday.

This 1 year has probably been the quickest one year of my life. Watching you grow, smile, crawl, giggle, play, tumble, walk.....have been my favorite past time.

You are too young to understand the happiness that you have brought in our lives. Our lives now completely revolve around you. There have been times when we have changed some much awaited plans because you would have not been comfortable. There have been times when we had to rush back from rare weekend outings as you were getting cranky. There have been times when your crying has got on the nerves. But you smile once and everything becomes worth it.

I love you beta. 

Love,

Deda 

The cab should be here in another 15-20 minutes. I am all set. The drive to the airport should take around an hour. Then a wait for a few hours and then a 3.5 hours flight. It is still a long and anxious wait to get back to my country. Cannot wait to reach INDIA!!!

The taxi is here!!! Probably, he sensed my excitement.

1 More Day To Go..............

2 More Days To Go......

Miching You

O ri chiraiya, Nanhi si chidiya,
Angana mein phir aaja re.......

Some tough steps required

Gopal Kanda is on the run. Cannot believe that he is not getting sufficient assistance and cooperation from some biggies in politics and/or police. But, why is the judiciary so helpless? Why cannot they announce that for every day of avoiding the arrest, 6 months would be added in the punishment and he would have to serve this punishment even if not found guilty for the original charges. Take such stern steps and no one would dare to make mockery of the system.

3 more days to go...

Happy Independence Day!!!

First Independence Day outside India :( Missing my country all the more.

May our country also get freedom from corruption, CONgress, economic volatility, terrorism, naxalism, rising prices,dictatorial ministers, communalism.......Hmmph!!! Happy Independence Day People!!!

Jai Hind

Do not know exactly why but I am feeling really low. I am getting this strange feeling that I may not make it. Really want to meet all the loved ones and hold my daughter......

4 more days to go....Hmmphh!!!

Travel Ready

I am supposed to travel a week from now but I have already started packing. I must say this is early even by my standards!!!

Typically, I start making plans or a list of things to carry much before the actual date of travel. This ensures that I do not miss anything significant during my trip. In any case, people who are fond of photography have to do extra packing. 

I think through the entire trip. It goes like...I need a cab to take out RM 80 for that...on return we will need RM 120-130 so carry that sum as well....3.5 hours flight so I need so much movies/music/games on my tablet. However, the tablet wont last the entire journey so carry some other source of entertainment. I need to carry so much Indian currency for the taxi and other requirements during the train ride. In India, I have to go to two banks and deal with another. They may ask for XYZ documents, photographs etc etc and so I have kept multiple copies of the documents that I think they 'may' ask for. 

To add to that, I consider the worst case scenario for everything. "What if they do not allow hand baggage more than a certain weight limit....I should carry an empty bag to be able to check-in any extra hand baggage". I make list for everything!!!

More often than not, I end-up carrying 2-3 times more stuff than I actually need. Since, this is going to be my first international return, I am planning all the more to ensure that I do not get into any hassles.

As I said, this is early even by my standards. There are two reasons to it...(a) what if I do not get enough time in the coming week due to existing or new work in the office (another worst case scenario) and (b) there is nothing better to do. I am getting royally bored.

During this process, I have also been complimenting myself. I looked for some old documents, which I need to carry and was able to find them quickly. I could also find every piece of my camera equipment in absolutely no time. It is not that I keep things in the right place. My stuff remains all over the house. Every cabinet, every drawer, every room. It is just that I know my mess.

I have already packed my hand baggage. There will be two carry-on bags....a laptop bag, which will have the ticket, passport, other key documents, hard disks and of course the laptop. The other will be camera cum 'entertainment' bag. Both these bags are almost ready to travel. Only the laptop is missing....since I need it to write meaningless blog posts. I have already 'laid' the suitcase that I am planning to carry in a manner, which will help me in packing. Most of the 'to-be-carried' stuff has been placed around the waiting suitcase so that it can gobble everything quickly. 

Luckily, there is nobody at home <'luckily' only from the 'mission packing' stand point> because right now, if someone shifts anything from its place, I will certainly explode!!! 

I just realized that, though I hate him, there is little bit of Sheldon Cooper in me.

Why do I love you so much............

Created in December 2011

Waiting for you Deda :(

One more week to go....India!!! I am coming!!!

New Lens and a Coin

Cleaning the house for the Maid

I must be the only person in the world who cleans the house before the maid comes to clean the house. That is because I make such a mess that I do not want the maid to 'give-up'!!! 

I would like to believe that I am pretty organized. I am told that I am extremely systematic and organized in my office and with my work. At home, I do clear things and also make a lot of plans to be even more organized and systematic. It is just that I am lazy as well and my laziness overcomes me and my plans. 

King of Impulse Purchases

Here are a few examples:

1. Went to buy grocery and bought a refrigerator worth INR 9,800!!! We already had a big one at home but bought another one to stock beer
2. Went for some window shopping and bought a foot massager worth INR 34,000!!!
3. Went for weekly grocery shopping and bought a reclining chair worth INR 17,000!!!
4. This one is classic. We went to a sports store to enquire if they would be willing to purchase my treadmill. I had bought the treadmill for INR 24,000 but it had been hardly used (of course). It was taking up a lot of space so we decided to sell it off. I did not manage to sell the treadmill but did purchase a cross-trainer worth INR 24,000!!!
5. I have spent thousands on online shopping in purchasing stuff that I like to collect but hardly use. Bags, knives, camera equipments, gadgets etc etc
6. The day before, I went to a mall to purchase a watch for my dad and bought a camera lens worth RM 1,500 (~INR 26,500)!!!

Project: Jump from the top of a 20 Floor Building

Project Background:

The client sends an RFP, which requires us to jump from the top of a 20 floor building. The reason has not been shared by the client and the sales team did not care to ask

Project Scope:

There is a building which has 20 floors. The area around the building has concrete floors. There are two landing spots. One is an air bag but is 50 feet away and the other is made of iron, is 100 feet away and cannot be moved from its place. Both are 2 feet in diameter. The client wants us to take two attempts and jump on both landing spots once

Participants in the Proposal Process:

Sales Team and Consulting Team

View of the Consulting Team:

It cannot be done. However, since we have such good relationships with the client and we would like to help them, we will try to find a way to jump on the landing spot, which is closer. But for that, the client will have to reduce the expectations. They will have to bring the landing spot closer and make it bigger. If possible, they have to give us a permission to jump from a lower floor as well. As the other landing spot cannot be moved, jumping on it cannot be attempted at all.

We would also like to understand what does the client want to achieve with this as we may be able to suggest a better alternative

Comments from the Sales Team (which, more often than not, talk like client representatives):

Seems the consulting team is not trying to help the client at all. Seems they are saying no without even fully assessing the situation. They should commit to the project (and our job will be done!!!), then go on top of the building, stand on the corner and then decide whether they can jump or not. If they still conclude that they cannot, they can then communicate it to the client. > Simple!!!

Jal Krida

My swimming statistics:

If Olympics had swimming events based on weight, I could have fetched a medal for India in my weight category!!!

Main, Meri Tanhayee and some fine Australian Wine.....aksar yeh baatein karte hain ki tum donon hoti to aisa hota.....waisa hota............

Ek Aur Kaansya Padak!!!

Saina won her match!!! Not the best way to win as the Chinese opponent, who was leading, forfeited the match due to injury. However, it means a Bronze medal so who cares!!!

1 Silver and 2 Bronze. Waiting for that rare Gold. C'mon Vijender/Devender!!!

I am happy that the Indian duo lost!!!

The much prepared team of Bhupathi and Bopanna lost in the second round of Olympics Doubles.....

...let me clear my throat.......

.....hoooohahahhaahahhaaaahaahaahaha!!!

They never had my support. They jeopardized India's chances of winning rare Olympics medal and I am extremely happy that they lost.