Unloading my think tank...

I'm taking a break from work. So what if its only for 15 minutes? I need it badly.
***sigh***
I've been working on an assignment from the past one week and its still not complete. I'm at my wits end on how to make it see its end, but lady luck has not been too kind to me on this front. This has been the longest that I've taken to finish something I've been given to do. Not a very good morale booster, I should admit.

For the lack of bloggable content, I thought of telling here what is the assignment all about, but figured it would only end up making me feel that I havent been able to complete it yet (which I already know), so plan dismissed.

Things at home are fine. We recently celebrated our 6-month wedding anniversary, had delicious food. Finger-licking, lip-smacking hehe. You know me, when it comes to eating, I... heh heh.

I watched Namaste London last night. Usual, run-of-the-mill, nothing new. Can skip this one without feeling guilty or left out. ;-)

I'm going away this weekend to meet my sis and her li'l kid, so that should be fun. Not to self - DONT forget the camera!

I'm hungry already. Or maybe, its the work thats staring me in face thats making my tummy growl. OK people, back to barracks. Work beckons, mi comrades!

Well, its over for most of us Indians. We care about the sport as a religion, mind you, fervently supporting and inventing "jupp for the cup" and all that jazz, but we give up sportsmanship when a better team beats us. OK, this post is about what I think should India do now - now that they have no shame left but will still endorse products and refuse to learn from their mistakes.

Instant action that should be taken when India returns:
1. Fire the coach, pronto. There were 3 contenders for Indian coach at that time, Greg Chappell, Desmond Haynes, and Tom Moody. For the green (monies) and red (fire) he showed, and the tall promises he made, Greg Chappell was chosen by the BCCI. Toom Moody is the coach for Sri Lankan team, who are doing great at the World Cup. Coming back to Greg, well, I would like to know of a single new strategy or technique that he has contributed to the team as a coach. What makes him worthy of a post that he cannot deliver? In fact, this is the cricket team at its worst best. If you cannot motivate the team, coach them effectively, of what good is your being one? And, just to drive home the point, I'd like to say one word - Saurav Ganguly.
2. Replace the captain, pronto. OK so he is the wall and consistent player. The wall - thats what he is literally. Too stone-ish and difficult. Difficult in the sense that he just cannot manage the team. He is zero at handling team dynamics, thats if he is aware of it. He does not come up with new combinations, and is hardly a risk-taker. Not to mention a bad idol to look up to as a captain. He lacks people-management skills, something which his predessor Saurav Ganguly excelled in. Rahul Dravid, in a sentence, has no fire in him to be the captain.

Some questions:
- Where else have you seen stellar cricketeers like Dhoni, Sachin, Dravid who have great individual records but just lack badly as team, at the time when its required?
- And why didnt Sreesanth and Kaif play?
- Why wasnt Lakshman selected for the squad?
- And pray, why, WHY was Sehwag included???
- The players can endorse as many products they want, date whoever they want, attend as many Page-3 parties they want - its their personal life. But, when they fail to deliver, they are answerable. The BCCI too, should be made accountable. After all, sponsors like Sahara and others spend lakhs on the team. Where and how is all that money spent??

What they need to do is some serious thinking. Some big time thinking.
1. First of all, they should stop playing too much cricket. You will never learn new tricks, or come up with new strategies or techniques by playing the game again and again, refusing to learn from any of them. Why, the Indian team did a tour of Sri Lanka just before the World Cup started, and look how badly they got beaten by the Sri Lankan team in the World Cup.
2. We should monitor the domestic cricket and groom them for the big 11. Thats because we need to have a strong backup when some of the senior and well-playing cricketeers cant deliver. You cannot put all your eggs in one basket.
3. Try and have a separate team for one-dayers and test cricket. I dont think they both can be played with same techniques, test cricket gives you time to take risks and recover and try out new strategies. One-day team, on the other hand, has to have a time-tested and well-thought of strategy to see you through the end of the game smiling. But there can be a couple of players that can be common in both teams. I also endorse this idea because the climatic conditions in India are not too nice to try the players too much, who are already over-dose with countless tournaments they take part in.
4. Get an all-arounder. At least one. I dont know how, but they should do it.

Losing is different, our team just gave up on trying. And why should Bermuda beat Bangladesh so that India gets a chance? You didnt play well, you are out; dont depend on other teams to get you to the next round. I am glad they didnt make it further. They just didnt have it in them. All said and done, I think its good for the Indian team that they are out of the World Cup. Its time for introspection.

The code is working alright! Purrrrfect!! Gotto do some li'l nice-to-have tweaks, and I'm good to go!

Hubby is talking on the phone with his uncle. Their talks are making me wonder, in the sense that I'm thinking how different guys are from girls. Me and hubby had the following conversation few days back, and this is how it went:
He actually waited the whole evening so that he could show and tell about this in our room, door closed. The minute the door is closed, he can hardly contain his excitement!
Hubby (fully excited, almost jumping) - Oye Ritesh is back from Lagos oye!
Me: Aree wah!
Ritesh happens to be hubby's best friend, and I like him immensely.
Hubby: Guess what he got for me from Lagos.
Me: (at a loss, I have no clue what Lagos is famous for) - Pata nahi, you tell *full wife-ly smile showing my unconditional love for him; but in reality waiting to know what Ritz got*
Hubby: THIS!! so saying he opens a brand new bottle of ABSOLUT Vodka, his face showing the expression of beauty queens when they win a crown.
Me: (face dropped) This??! What in the God's name is this? Vodka?! Ye bhi koi abroad se laane ki cheez hai? Yaha pe bhi milti hai.
Hubby is full distraught at my response. He defends, "But this is ABSOLUT Vodka! Its the best Vodka there is! You have to taste it to know!"
Me: Whatever. I would've preferred a watch, perfume, or some expensive item like that ;)
Hubby: How predictable. I just love this!! *and he kissed the bottle*

Silly, I thought.

Cut to last evening, hubby and his uncle are on the phone. Hubby tells uncle about the Vodka, and both are thrilled!! As in, THRILLED just to talk about it! I thought, boo f'in hoo, the Vodka will get over someday! Why be so thrilled? And thing is, hubby has tasted it before when he was in UK, and also when Abhijit bought the SAME DAMN VODKA when he visited India earlier this year. Big fuss. I told hubby what I thought.

He says, "Well, think about how excited you are when you buy sarees! Its the same for us guys when it comes to booze."
I said, "Thats ridiculous! No two sarees are same, its completely different with lipstick and accessories to go with it each time. How can you possibly compare it with Vodka which tastes the same everytime??"
Hubby (with a straight face) : Well, last time I had it with Sprite, this time I'll have it with grape juice. Thats how.

Tongue tied! Guys just dont know the difference. Period. And at that moment, I had to give him a kiss for being so adorable :-)

I recently bought the uber-looking iPod shuffle, and my drive to work and back is now thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks to the shuffle feature, songs on my playlist are played out at random, as...

1. Maiee Ri - Euphoria
2. Shaam Se Aankh Mein - Jagjit Singh
3. Arey Ruk Ja Re Bande - Indian Ocean
4. Lets Get It Started - Black Eyed Peas
5. Beedi Jalaile - Omkara
6. Akkh Jaddo Soni Ji Kudi De Naal - Sukhshinder Shinda
7. Enter Sandman - Metallica
8. Bole Chudiyaan - Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham
9. Hawaa Hawaai - Mr. India
10. Patience - Guns n Roses
11. Say Na Say Na - Bluffmaster
12. Maula Mere - Anwar
13. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones

.. and so on. Cool, aint it? :-)

God I'm am so stuck! The code looks fine, dont know whats causing it to behave abnormally. Its been two days I've been racking my brains over it, still it stares at me in the eye and dare laughs. Please, give me the output as I want you to. Pretty please. I promise you an extra dose of comments and nice-sounding variable names *hands folded* I shall also make use of fancy names for methods and will use required imports rather than typing * and overloading you. I shall also promise that you will be my favorite language, moreso than English and Hindi. Also, Punjabi. No, really, you are and always will be my favorite language. *silly grin on face, prayer in mind*

*deep sigh* The program refuses to budge. I will try smooth-talking again.

News is, India thrashed Bermuda. Oops, old news that would be. Nonetheless, BERMUDA?? BER-MU-DA? This whole cricket world cup thing is getting so stale. Really. Hubby's all gung-ho and buys the Pepsi Gold (told you he was still a kid) and sulks big time when an Indian batsman (dont ask which one, they all are a bore) doesnt hit a six off an easy ball. He refuses to eat any dessert (cuz its sweet) when India loses a match. He jumps off the couch, making me go 1 feet high in air, and rams his fist into the air and yells, "YESSSSS YUUSSSSSSS" almost, everytime, startling me. He makes a sad face and asks, "Will India qualify? Please say yes." Well, how would I know honey? But I dare not say that. I have to say India will win, and the world will be a better place to live. Makes him happy as a 3 year old. Thats adorable I think :-)

And dont let me get started when its hockey! Enough said. Its fun anyways :-)

M breaks the news that her mom has breast cancer, advanced stage. Scary. 6 months of chemo. She's cool about it, and says thats because her mom is so. I hope and pray things go well and she recovers painlessly.

Makes me think. No one should ever get a disease. No one should ever die. They should pack their suitcases and leave, if its absolutely necessary, as they'd leave for a vacation. That would make everyone a strong person.

And looks like I'm the sounding board for everyone I know. They (friends, colleagues, you get the picture) come to me with problems and its so hard keeping all of their secrets. The gossip monger in me cant do anything about it, and its like I've been sworn. Darn! If only...! Jokes aside, I try and help. Else, I ask them, "Whats with the rising price of potatoes?!!" or "So seen any UFOs lately?". Throws them way off the track, and the expression on their face is priceless :D

I am here at my desk, with a pile of work waiting for me. Well, it can keep waiting. Sometimes I don't just feel like working. It seems like what you would term as "repulsive". Usually happens when I get to some point and then am stuck. I try and I try, and if it is to no avail, I start procrastinating. And start my spree of nonstop chatter, reading gossip, and sometimes news. Oh yea, blog too.

And why is it that I feel tired these days? Try as much as I do, to cook, work in office, read, watch TV, catch up on news, I end up feeling really tired. A little bit of extra somethings added to everyday life and I get the feeling. Wonder why. There was a time I would wake up at 6.30 AM, bathe, eat, go to office, come by 8 PM, dinner, TV, listen to radio, and was a voracious reader. What happened to that girl? Where's she gone? Bring her back please.

Then again, sometimes, I think its all just in here *points to her head* I need to be composed and stop worrying my little head over trivial matters. I sometimes worry so much that I think my head will just explode. Of course, I tend to, how the English might put it, go overboard with my emotions. But mind is a hard thing to control you see. Sages go to Himalayas to do that.

Focused. I need to be more focused. And *brrrrrrraaahhh* shake up and loosen a bit. Amen to that.

I noticed something. I havent made an entry in my other blog for a long long time. Thats good. It means time away from re-living all the not-so-good things happening in my (personal) life, and now it also means less of those unpleasant things. Good.

Well, for now, its back to barracks :)

... meanwhile, I am working on the assignment, which I'd love to forget. Things at work are, not exactly hectic, but paced. And I am running out of time and ideas and patience to get through my part, and also oscillating between updating my diary and finishing P G Wodehouse. His latest book I mean. Too may things going on. Keeps me busy, and thats (kinda) good.

Mom's here so that makes me happy :) The house is fullhouse as of now! Am getting used to it, actually. Not quite sure if its a good thing though. I got my performace review comments and my boss had all the encouraging things to say about me. All praises I tell you. Puffed up my chest and felt good. I told my husband about the comments and he was mightly pleased. None too subtle, he's the kind to be all loud and celebrate-y about it :) Asked me, "Did you ever think you'd come here and have so many changes done to your life?" Set me thinking. Quite. After all, you dream and work towards it, hope things will be great and leave the rest to fate/God. I had least bit of idea I'd be in this city (of all in the world), yet be happy at my work and family life (but not with the city, yeah). I had dreamt of going abroad for work and exploring a whole new life. Who would've thought God said to Himself, "Yea right, but not yet." He sent hubby into my life and with that a lot of happiness. Of a different kind. Of course I was happy before, but now its a whole new different feeling; I am not complaining.

And I am continuing with my dreams. Only now, hubby dear is also a part of them. And vice versa.

And look what am I wearing to work today!





Not exactly the same one as above, mine is black with green. Beautiful. Sarees so bring the feminity of a woman out :-) Elegance and grace added. And I feel super-beautiful in it! Ahem.

... I dont know what to write. Work's been keeping me busy, and work at home too aint like having a scented bath (ah that would be so good right now). I am in by 9 AM and leave by 7 PM and then its sleep time in a wink and wake up again. Its like I never slept! Results - author now feeling zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

But no! Sleep I shalnt my comrades! Work beckons me, and when duty calls, beauty (ahem) should be there!

I saw Hotel Rwanda. Hutus want to take revenge on Tutsis (hope I got both tribe names right) and go on a massacre; a million killed in under 6 weeks. A kind Hutu man bribes the militia and saves few Tutsies. So in a way, it was like Schindler's List. Which, by the way, was a very very good movie. Touching to say the least.

I also saw The Pursuit of Happyness.


Oh man what a movie! Had me in tears. How inspiring! Dealing with homelessness, struggling to make end meet, raising your child while juggling multiple jobs - its inspirational. I would recommend that movie to everyone - please watch it. Will Smith is a treat (he's matured from his MIB days) and the movie is inspired by a true story. Chris Gardner of Gardner Rich.


Yes, thats right. Here, go to this link for more on him and the movie.

I am planning to buy some knitting yarn and get somewhere with that knitting dream of mine. For now, its programming that I should get back to - it makes sure I get bread home daily. (Boy I am so melodramatic at times :D )

... just buzzed out. My head's spinning. Ah, just when I thought I found the bug in that code.

Anyways, time I had a creative pursuit. I'm craving from within to create something really beautiful and have it adorn the walls of my home - like a painting, or scarves, just about anything. My mom is coming over this weekend, and she's a self-taught pro in stitching, embroidery, crochet et al. I will bug her for sure.

Side note - Is it weird that, post-marriage, I don't get homesick? I do miss my mom, at times. But my friends keep asking me whether I feel homesick, and quite frankly, no. Strange?

And Karan Johar, that guy keeps cracking me up when he's hosting KwK. He says things like, "but at the end of the day you all are professionals". And start of the day are they sworn enemies?? Another one - ".. at the end of the day he is a married man with kids, such rumours are bound to affect his family". Well, during lunch was he a bachelor? Silly, he cracks me up real silly I tell ya :-))

I will end this post by writing a recipe on how to bake a vanilla cake:
1. Buy Pillsbury Vanilla Cake mix.
2. Read, and follow, instructions on the back of the packet.
3. Eat.
4. Thats it no more steps ;-)

And be nice by inviting me over to have it with you, since I worked so hard to type the 4 steps. No kidding. Seriously. (cough I am so funny cough)

1. I dont drink enough water, just about 1 litre per day.
2. I dont exercise at all
3. I am not into any kinds of sports since last 4 years.
4. I have gotten so slow in reading books and novels, that even thin books like P G Wodehouses' takes me weeks together. I am just plain lazy but work like an alcoholic drinks.
5. Green leafy vegetables are seldom included in my daily diet.
6. I forget to drink fresh coconut water on a regular basis (both the forgetting part and not drinking coconut water are on regular basis).

These are the things I need to change. I wrote them as it is, so that it whenever I read it, it should make my spine chill and immediately put me on track. Contra-positive method, say psychologists (also my Math teacher when he used to teach Calculus). Make a list of wrong things that you are doing, and upon reading it, be inflicted with a shudder/scare/realization (take your pick) that the right step needs to be taken pronto. Re-reading the list helps. Its THE method for hard-to-crack (read lazy) people like me.

Manford a.k.a Manny - the fur-covered mammoth who is very moody, but really kind :)

Diego - the tiger who is saber-toothed (makes him so scary brrr), one who stands up for his "herd" and saves their lives (awww)

Scrat - this squirrel has some perseverance!

Some of my favourite dialogues are -

Scene - When Manny decides to help Sid return the baby to its "herd" (cute)
Manny - Okay okay I'll help you return the baby to its herd, but promise me you'll leave me alone after that.
Sid - Okay okay hey whats your problem?
Manny - You are my problem.
Sid - I mean, look at you, you are all fat. Its hard to get so fat on all that vegan diet.
Manny - I am not fat thats just fur.
Sid - Okay you have a problem when you are ready to talk about it, let me know!


Scene - When Diego tells them they need to track humans before they make it glacier past
Diego - ... unless you know how to track.
Sid - Hey I'm a sloth! I see a tree, eat the leaves thats my tracking (you should see the expression on his cute face!)


Scene - Soon after Diego joins them to help track the humans, and the baby is crying
Manny - How about some milk?
Sid - Yea I'd love some!
Diego - Not you, he was talking about the baby.
Sid (to Diego) - Hey I aint exactly lactating right now pal!
Diego - You are a little low in the food chain to be moppin' off!


Scene - When the two hippos run to catch Sid, and he runs for life and comes to Diego
Sid - Oh Diego! Thank God! (shouting aloud so that the hippos can hear) Oh nooooo!! A ta-hai-gerrrr! Hellllph! Helllph!
Diego - What are you doing?
Sid - Quick, grab me!
Diego - What?
Sid - (again shouting aloud) Oh nooooooooo he got me! Ack!
Sid sees the hippos approaching closer and kicks the tiger in the rear. Diego roars and grabs the sloth by his mouth (lol). The hippos grumble a bit and go away, in comes Manny.
Manny - ... and Diego, spit that thing out, you dont know where its been.
Diego spits Sid out.
Sid - Oh, for a minute I thought you were actually gonna eat me.
Diego (with an attitude only tigers can have) - I dont eat junk food.


Scene - When the trio ask Scrat the squirrel for directions.
Manny - Ask him directions.
Scrat proceeds to start a game of dumb charades to tell the directions!
Sid - O O O O I love this game I love this game... 3 words... first word... stomp...
Manny - Pack!
Sid - Good one Manny!
Sid - Pack of lies, pack of troubles... pack of flying fish!!!
Has me in splits every single time! :))


Scene - In the night after Manny saves Sid's and Diego's lives. Sid lights fire and...
Sid - I am a genius! mmmmmmuuaaahhh!
Sid - From now on you refer to me as "Sid - Lord of the Flames!"
Manny - Hey Lord of the Flames, you tail's on fire.
Diego helps Sid put it out and...
Sid - Thanks :D From now on I'll call you Diego...
Diego - Lord of Touch-Me--And-You-Are-Dead.
Sid - (scared) Uhhh

And then, sane scene, after Manny's asleep...
Sid - You know, Diego, I've never had a friend who'd risk his life for me.
Diego - Yea... Manny's a... he's a good guy.


I can go on, but... here are some more dialogues said at some point in movie. Aint in random order :)
Sid - C'mon you can lick this, you are a tiger!
Manny - Thats what you do in a herd, you look out for each other.
Diego - Save your breath Sid, you know humans cant talk.

Priceless!! I totally love the movie!
And I'll be watching it again tonight *so excited!*