Friday, April 27, 2007

Quotable Quotes...

Here are some of the quotes that I really really really... (well, you get the picture!!) like.
They make sense and some of them make me laugh...
I include one such Quote in the "Good Morning" mail I send out everyday to my friends.
Here goes -

  • Life is an echo; all comes back,The good, the bad, the false, and the true.So, give the world the best u have &the best will come back to u.
  • A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours!
  • "A moment of Patience in a moment of Anger can help you Avoid a thousand Moments of Sorrow…”
  • Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
  • Don’t live your life in ‘What was…’ or ‘What will be…’
    Live life in ‘What it is…!’”
  • 'The new broom sweeps clean but the old broom knows the corners.'
  • "dream as if you'll live forever..live as if you'll die today.."
  • "Calmness in mind brings accuracy in judgement."
  • "Growing old is inevitable. Growing up is optional."
  • "Not to decide is to decide." - Havery Cox
  • "There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist or accept the responsibility for changing them. "
  • "When you are going thru hell, keep going"
  • "If it's hard to do, then you're doing it wrong."
  • "Happiness Is Not A Destination. It Is A Method Of Life"
  • "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo Da Vinci
  • "Doubt your doubts and believe your belief and don’t doubt your belief and believe in your doubts"

Some more:

  • “Life's disappointments are harder to take when you don't know any swear words. “ - Calvin.
  • A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort...
  • Mark Twain said “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you do not mind, it does not matter.”
  • 'Life is Like a Box of Chocolates .............You never know what you are gonna get ...- Forrest Gump'

There are so many more... Do you have any favorite Quotes that you really like? Do post them in the comments section!! :)

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Dowry - Discrimination...

Another post on the same topic and how my blood actually reaches high boiling points when these things happens and that I am so powerless and that I can't stop such things from happening...
Here's the whole story -

We were teasing a team mate of mine who is getting married about where he is going for his honeymoon, party, bachelor's party etc - the usual set of bad jokes were being cracked and everyone was having a nice time....
Then another team mate of mine N pipes in and says: Hey, ask him how much Dowry he is getting!!!
This again is said in a very light tone, we all freeze, turn to him and expectantly look at him hoping he will deny that comment, but the guy doesn't and just blushes!!!!!
We look at N again and he smiles and says: 30 Lakhs!!!!
we are stunned and its like WTF???????????????
N looks smug and continues: It's not just money da, there's a house and 4 acres of land attached as well!
The guy who is getting married, shrugs and says: It's there in our community da, how can it not be followed??
WTF??
Can't you, an educated man who is earning pretty cool and big bucks tell his parents that he doesn't WANT the money??
I was pissed... (that's putting it mildly!)
I asked him: You are a grown and well educated man, can't you say no? I mean, if people like us - today's generation don't condemn such things, how are we setting an example and how do we even try to build a society clean from such things?
The guy looks at me and says: H, you are very naive! (WTF???) these things happen and they are part of our lives and I say no, the girl's parents will also think that something is wrong with me!!!!!
So, I ask him(I've gone RED by now): So, all your earnings, you are going to save so that you can pay your daughter's dowry is it?!!!!
He replies: H!!! Don't say such things!!! Please take it back, we don't want a daughter!!!!

I am so... shocked and saddened by this whole incident. This is the kind of society we live in...
Dowry still exists and is still rampant in all Indian societies, castes and across different religions.
And there are so many well educated people who say in shocked tones that they don't want daughters....
I spoke about this now with my husband and he looked at me kindly and said a few things which were truly shocking -
It exists in his community too!!! But, in a very discreet manner and the dowry is expected in GOLD!!!
The more jewellery the girl wears, the better "catch" she is!!!!
The MIL of the girl makes sure SHE is in possession of all the jewels!!!
I am glad my parents and my extended family don't belive in this. And I am so thankful to the Good Almighty for giving me such a sensible, strong willed husband...
But, I am appalled and shocked by all this... Am I really so naive? Will our society ever change?
What can I do to contribute to make it a better place ?
It's sad....

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Aerobics and Me!!!!

I am creaking and aching all over!!
Wondering what I'm talking about?
Well here is the complete story - I am on a mission to lose some weight in the next 2 months, so I went and joined the Gym for Aerobics classes after work!
It's not that I'm fat, but I have put on a few extra Kilos which I HAVE TO Lose!!!And so I have started attending these classes in order to lose those few extra kilos...
My Aerobics instructor is Wonder Woman!!! Why? She doesn't tire, she doesn't rest nor does she let you rest!!! So, after 45 mins of continuously running around, jumping up and down my body aches in places I didn't know it would ache!!!
And I'm quite sure that by the end of 2 months - I would have lost all the extra kilos and some more if she keeps me going like this!!!
Ah... my poor aching legs - it's difficult to sit on a chair regular because of the leg pain,so I'm sitting crossed-leg (Indian Style) on a chair while working!!!
Yes, I look weird!!The first day i was so completely tired out - I went home in my tracks and over sized t-shirt(my husband's!!).. Oh.. I was such a sight!! LOL
So, here's wishing me all the best - not just to lose weight but to walk properly also!!!
I will keep you guys updated on what happens in my next class which I attend tomorrow!!Cheers!!!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Discrimination

I have been reading, following a lot about the Blank noise Project which is very commendable – fighting against sexual harassment on the streets, in homes at work places…
We need more awareness that this is NOT something which happens, something which should be taken in stride and more men need to get themselves involved in the same.
But, at the same time, when we do a reality check on what’s happening around us –
it’s really disheartening to know that how much ever you may fight, this is one battle which we are losing and one which we women have lost before we started fighting…

Before any of you raise your voices, let me give a few examples…

For a child to come up to his/her parents and tell that some "uncle/aunty" touched you in the wrong way - the parents should trust their children...
One of my very close friends was molested for 5 yrs by her Table tennis coach - when she spoke to her parents about this, she was spanked for telling untruths about such a "nice" man!!!
She grew up - a bit twisted, she distrusted all men and boys in her life and had never fallen in love till she met her husband (arranged by her parents).
But, thank goodness that now after years of stable friends, and a very good husband she is
alright. Even till date, her parents don't believe her... whose fault is that?

How any of us have really helped out a girl/lady in distress in a bus stop, canteen, college campus when she is being harassed by guys? Very few dare to voice out... all that most of us do is bend our heads and walk away very fast, praying that we are not targeted next...
Very few of us actually hit, punch back when a guy touches us.
How many parents out there teach their sons and daughters to respect one another?
How many parents teach their sons to respect girls and women and teach them that they are equals and should not be treated badly?
I have seen mothers discriminate against their daughters and favor the son - what kind of impression are you as a parent building in the mind of your young son?
I have seen my friends being discriminated baselessly against their brothers.
My best friend was denied milk and ghee in her diet while she was growing up because her brother needed more...
her brother is a grown man who doesn't respect any of the women in his life - wife, mother or sister.
What kind of an example is he setting for his children then?
the argument is a long one and will not end...
I will end this post by saying that unless we change our mental makeup and the way we function in our society, this battle can't be won.
It's wonderful to know that small steps are being taken, but do remember when you have children - you make sure that as a parent you teach them trust, respect, kindness towards fellow human beings is very important.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Conventional.... and Marriage

Anyone who knows me will say that conventional is so NOT the word to describe me!!
But, a few years back when I was still single, I surprised everyone including myself by agreeing to go "groom hunting" - the good old fashioned way - wherein a girl gets "interviewed" by the boys entire family including fourth cousins and aunts who are cousins etc etc even before meeting the boy!!!!!
Well, in my defense - my husband hadn't proposed yet and I didn't know that I would be marrying him!!!
Here are a few classic "interview lines" which I will never ever forget - they made me laugh back then too!

boy: Ummm... so, you are really interested in working?
me: Duh!! (in mind and trying to keep a straight face) Yes, which is why I did my Post Grad.
boy: How would you feel about giving up work after marriage?
me: WTF???????!!(In mind of course!) I wouldn't do that! I work hard and enjoy working.
boy: But, even if the boy is earning enough to lead a comfortable life why should you work?
me: (Seeing RED...) I work not for financial reasons, but for satisfying my intellectual needs...

The boy is at complete loss of words - I really think till date that he was a moron!

Scene 2:
boy: Taking care of elders is very important, do you agree?
me: Umm (Not sure where the conversation is going) (Nodding) yes... very true. I will take care of my parents in their old age (I could see my mom cringe!)
boy: (Raising his eyebrows) Oh! I was not talking about your parents, but about my old granny and my parents.
me: (Completely pissed) Well, since both of us work, we could hire a trained nurse to take care of their needs!! (My mom is suppressing laughter and making weird sounds from her mouth!)
And that was the end of THAT!... The tradition that when a girl leaves the house, her parents cease to be parents and even if they are dying on the streets, the girl should look after only her ungrateful in-laws SUCKS!!!

There are so many such scenarios... Maybe it was me or maybe all the boys I "saw" were complete morons... their parents certainly were!!!
One mother said "nanna maganna, nanna kanalli ittu belasideeni"!!! (roughly translates to - my boy has grown up in my eyes!!!) LOL !!!
Well - my mom too was protective about me and my sis and we were completely pampered and spoilt - we still are!!!
Why do mothers of boys assume that the girls' parents will NOT have taken care of their daughters and that once their darling son gets married - he gets hitched with a terminal disease called WIFE??? Then, don't get him married off for God's Sake!!!

I will not go into an argument about that nor do I say that all arranged marriages suck, but I am really glad that I married the man I loved as a friend, a man I knew...
And I am really really glad that my husband proposed when he did!!!! :)
Both "arranged" and "love" marriages have their ups and downs and as I told my friend just now - whatever be the type of marriage you have had - it needs time, commitment, adjustment and a healthy dose of compromises from both sides, trust and faith to work out.

Monday, March 26, 2007

I'm Back!

Hello to the very few people who read my blog!! :)
I am back after a very long hiatus of 5 months!!
It wasn't that nothing happened, but I was just too lazy to actually write anything new!!
(It's called as writer's block!!)
Now, what's happened in these past few months? Nothing much really...
For a very long time now, I have found my job to be extremely satisfying and it's really nice to see your efforts being appreciated and I can actually see how I've grown over the past few months. This, believe me, is very strange and happens quite rarely!!! (I can see a few of my friends raising eyebrows in disbelief over this statement!!!)
The other day V and I were talking about wishes and what would one wish for if we had that luxury.... He wished to be a pilot, but me - I wished for an island, books, no one to bug me and peace!!! As long as I was wishing, I also wished for unlimited money supply - I had asked for peace - which meant not coming to work everyday!!!!! And I really do need the money for the books and food!!!!
V said, all that is fine, but you do need to charter a plane and for that plane to take you where you need to go - you need a pilot and voila!!!
You know what that showed right - he wanted to get invited to my private island and a share in that peace too!! (I can hear the well aimed curses and comments from him now!!!)
Well, V is a good friend and as long as I get the plane, he could share the island also, I suppose!!!
Cheers to wishes!!! How I wish it were true - I can picture myself there - rather than sitting and working in a stuffy office - with only meetings to look forward to!!!!!!!

Friday, October 27, 2006

Work and Fridays!

Today I have a lot of work and today is Friday!!! So, what you may say? Judicious workers can and should work onany given day and time!!! Don't mistake me, I am as judicious as the very next person (N, in this case!!), but Friday's is an entirely different story!!Today, I'm reviewing someone else's work, so I need to be more careful... One way it's good, 'cause I won't feel sleepy inthe afternoons!!! But, the bottom line is "IT'S FRIDAY!!!!"
But, for the excel sheet, it doesn't matter if it's a Friday or a Wednesday, it needs to be reviewed, comments includedand sent across to my Module Leader, so while others (N here again) enjoy their afternoons, me the ever judicious worker will get back to work and plough on and on and on...!!!
***SIGH***

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Deepavali - Festival of lights

Deepavali, is celebrated across India as the festival of lights, which basically means the triumph of good over bad/evil.
For me, Festivals, especially Deepavali has been the time for family and family get togethers.
When we were kids, all my aunts, uncles and cousins used to come over and we used to have a lots of fun bursting crackers, lighting diyas all around the house!!! Ofcourse, new dresses, plenty of sweets were all part of the celebrations!
But, as we grew older, priorities changed for most of us and the family get togethers gradually stopped....
But, even then Deepavali has always been fun at home with my parents and sister. We still light diyas all around our home and mouth watering sweets and other delicacies are a part and parcel of this beautiful festival.
This year too, the festival was special since it was my first Deepavali after marriage. The family bonding was there and it was extra-special since my sister's B'day was also celebrated!!!
Deepavali will always hold a special place in my heart and I would go on to say that its one of my favorite festivals!!!

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Afternoons..... ZZzzzz....

Its my second post on the same day!!! WOW!!!
Actually, I hadn't written anything for almost a month... now after changing jobs, I seem to have more time on hand... :-)
Which is good right? I mean, my training/transition is going on and that will be for max 3 hrs everyday... remaining 5 hrs is basically time given to study...
Oh dear!!!! That studying for 5 hrs is the difficult part!! I mean, we finished all that in college right?!! But, no, these people seem to think otherwise... so, most afternoons I study or atleast I try to put in an honest effort into doing so!!!
But, when you feel as though you have iron chains pulling your eyelids shut, its quite difficult to put up a fight and actually concentrate on studying!!!
I guess this breakis a good one and will help us when work starts...
Anyways, Wish me luck!! I really need it, especially to stay awake in class after lunch!!! :)

Last Meet......

She knew the time had come. She had to say good-bye to him as a new life awaited her.She pulled the shawl closer to her as she felt a sudden chill. She knew even without looking back that he had come.
She turned around and saw the all too familiar face, the slightly unshaven cheeks, the deep brown eyes which had lost its twinkle.
He tried to hold her hand, she pulled away, too scared about the all too familiar touch which had once ignited the passion from the bottom of her soul. He kept looking at her with one question in his eyes for which she had no answer...
He: Is it time to go?
She: Yes
He: Again, i am asking you, why?
She: It wasn't meant to be....

He pulled her close to him, for the last time.. Smelt her hair, her perfume for the very last time.He kissed those lips that he thought was his for the very last time.
She pulled away and there were tears in her eyes asshe slowly walked away from the only person she would ever love...
She walked away into the fading evening as he stood watching silently with tears in his eyes...
She turned back just once and then kept walking....
He watched her till he could see her no more and then turned back and walked away from a thousand dreams, hopes and the only love of his life....

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The Slide

Random thoughts were flitting in and out her head, like butterflies she had seen the other day at the park.
She jumped off the swing and ran to the slide... She still wanted to try the big one, but her mom had told her that was for big girls. She was indignant about that, she was a big girl at least that was what her daddy had told her when she had visted him the previous week. But then, she reflected, her dad always disagreed with anything her mom said or did. She did a lot of reflecting these days and she reflected now that she was big enough for the big slide.
She checked her wrist watch, which had been a gift from Tom and saw that there was still half an hour before her mom picked her up. She took a deep breadth and looked out and saw that no one was there.
Her heart pounding, she approached the Big Slide cautiously... She said a prayer to God and then grabbed the railings with her small hands and slowly climbed the steps.
She looked down and was awed that the caterpillar looked so small from way above!! She then Smoothed her skirt and sat down at the beginning of the slide... she was scared, but then took a deep breadth and let go!!!
She wizzed down and felt a kind of thrill she had never felt before!! and before she knew it, she was on the soft pile of sand...She grinned and climbed up again.... and slid down with greater excitement!!!
She told her froggy Penny that it would be their little secret!! She then picked up her bag and waitied for her mom near the gate.
She saw her mom's car and wondered for a moment if she would know, then mom smiled her sweet smile and asked her how her day went for which she replied great with a twinkle in her eyes...
She looked back at the slide and hugged herself for her delicious secret and got into the car and went home, waiting excitedly for the next day when she could slide down again feeling greater freedom and joy than she ever felt!!!

Thursday, September 07, 2006

A game of Table Tennis

I am going to tell you all how the game of Table Tennins is played in the world of software engineers...
Here goes, you are the unfortunate ball in the middle and you have your tls/pms on either side, hitting you hard and ferociously like they were playing as if their life depended on how hard you get hit!!!
Now, you may think... why am I talking like this?? The reason for me not blogging for like 8 days is because I was stuck in the middle like the poor table tennis ball... even if the ball goes out of bounds, it gets brought back and hit once again!!!
I could even comapare it to the apes in Mysore Zoo... you know, there are 3-4 of them in a huge enclosure and the big ones always gang up on the smallest ape... I remember this scene when I had gone to the zoo when i was a kid...
Whenever the small ape approaced the big one, it used to get smacked on the head!! and the small ape used to scuttle off to this corner... then after a while, the big apes drag it back and smack it again!! and in the midst of all this, you have the people standing outside the enclosure all pointing and laughing...
Thats the life I had been leading for the past one week!!! Well, now that i off to greener pastures in a different company, I just hope that God gives me the sense of humour to turn back one day when Im old and laugh off everything!
Till then, its just praying and hoping for the best!! But, one thing is sure... when Im a TL such things aint happening to my team mates!

Thursday, August 24, 2006

How Hard is it?!!!!

How hard is it?!! i mean its basic comman sense and its very easy especially since its 2 different countries!!!
Ok, so I don't make sense... what I'm actually talking about is very simple, at work today, we were getting the set up done for 3 countries (different countries!!). Each country has a different name right? Apparently, according to one of my team mates, I am wrong and 2 different countries have the same name!!! He re-wrote the work I had done all afternoon with his own and now I have to re do mine because he "forgot" to give the names right!!
Like I said before, How Hard is it to get country names right?!!!! For a guy with 4 yrs of working experince, he sucks big time!!!
Gotta go now, since I have re do all my work again!!! The only word that comes to my mind when such things happen is "BLAH!!!!"

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Dave Barry - hilarious!!!

Here's one more Hilarious post!! This is a Dave Barry Article.. (I really love the way he writes and I miss reading his articles now that he is on a break)
Everytime I read it, it makes me laugh, I hope it makes you laugh too.. :-)

Just call me Studboy.com
I started lifting weights. But not for the reason you think. You think I want to look ''cut'' and ''ripped'' and have bulging muscles like the ones on male underwear models, who for some reason are always shown posing outdoors, looking sullen, as if a group of even more-muscular models stole their pants.
You think I want to have muscles like that, so women will look at me and think: ''Wow! I would like to see HIS syndicated column!''But you are wrong. I'm lifting weights for sensible medical reasons, which I learned about from the highest possible medical authority: the Internet. If you ever experience a medical symptom, such as itching, you don't need to waste time sitting in a doctor's waiting room reading 1997 issues of Redbook. Instead, you can go to the Internet, and with just a few mouse clicks, you'll discover the reassuring truth: There might be a worm in your brain.
Really. According to a medical site called Medline Plus (''Trusted Health Information for You'') sponsored by The National Medical Library AND The National Institutes of Health, itching can be a symptom of a condition called ''visceral larva migrans'' (literally, ''a worm in your brain'').

And before I get a bunch of nasty letters from irate physicians attacking me for unnecessarily scaring people, let me note that another symptom of brain worm is -- and this is a direct quote from Medline Plus -- ''irritability.''

But getting back to weightlifting: I found out from the Internet that when you get to be my age (old), you lose bone density and muscle mass. This alarmed me, because I never had any muscle mass to begin with.Men: You know how, when your wife can't open a pickle jar, she gives it to you, and you're supposed to smile in a manly patronizing way as you effortlessly twist it open? That's not what happens in our house.
What happens is, after a grim struggle lasting several minutes, I wind up lying on the kitchen floor, exhausted and whimpering, while the pickle jar, unopened, laughs and flirts boldly with my wife. Sometimes it gives me a wedgie.I've always been puny. As a youth, I totally missed the boat to Puberty Island. It sailed away with all my classmates, leaving me standing on the dock.

When it returned, down the gangplank came tromping all these young adults between six and eight feet tall, sporting muscles and beards and bosoms (sometimes all three). Whereas I was still this little hairless dweeb with a voice in the Pinocchio range.It was a difficult time for me, but one day my mom, bless her heart, had a talk with me.
She told me that girls were not interested only in looks -- that the qualities that really mattered were brains and a sense of humor. That little talk was long ago, but it taught me an invaluable life lesson I have never forgotten: Moms lie when they have to. The truth is that -- and I speak here as a trained humor professional -- women are definitely more interested in muscles than a sense of humor. You will never hear a woman say: ''I wish Brad Pitt would put his shirt back on and tell some jokes!''But let me repeat in a non-defensive manner that this has NOTHING TO DO with why I'm lifting weights.
I'm doing it for mass and density, as clearly explained on the Internet.Is my weight training working? Consider this: After just one week of lifting, I can no longer move my arms. I feel as though oxen have been clog-dancing on my upper body.
I have to brush my teeth by holding the toothbrush still and moving my head up and down.The problem is that weights -- follow me closely -- are heavy.
When you lift them, your muscles hurt, which is your body's way of telling you: ''Stop lifting weights, moron!'' (Or, in some cases: ''There's a worm in your brain!'') But I'm making progress: This very morning I ''bench-pressed'' a total weight of -- and here, to make it look more impressive, I will use the metric system -- 4,082,331.33 centigrams.
Lying on my back, I was able to lift this weight INTO THE AIR, then bring it back down onto my chest, thus completing a ''bench press.''Unfortunately, I couldn't get the weight back off my chest. Seriously: I was trapped.
My wife had to come rescue me. She thought it was very funny; I heard her laughing all the way back to the kitchen.
I bet the pickle jar was laughing, too. I will kill it with a hammer, if I can ever lift my arms again.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Sometimes...

This is "borrowed" ofcourse!! Liked the sound of it though!

sometimes it's tough to bid 'adieu'
sometimes it's tough to start 'anew'
sometimes it's tough to say 'I care'
sometimes it's tough to say 'I'll wait'
sometimes...
bon Voyage to life, bon voyage to love

Quarter-life Crisis?!!

For those in their twenty-something... This puts it all into words perfectly. They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis!"
It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.
You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones.
What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.
You look at your job, It is not even close to what you thought you would be doing!! Or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared.
You miss the comforts of college, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.
You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not.
You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.
You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lie in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.
You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.
You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender! What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it.
We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out!


Finally!!

I finally did it!! My very own blog...
It has taken every inch of Vicky's http://vikkiwrites.blogspot.com persuasion powers to get me to blog and my sis http://wisegirl109.blogspot.com also inspired me to start this!!!
thanks you guys...
i can now write abt anything and evrything I hate, like, love!!!