The Unexpected

For the Parents to be - Love from their friends

2010-10-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

Living far from home and family across the seven seas always brings tears in your eyes when it's a matter of celebration or being close to the near and dear ones during difficult times. It's been nearly 6 years for both Dipti and me living together here in US after our marriage. Dipti still remembers the day when the mere thought of being alone without family and friends would draw her to be sad and gloomy.

Fortunately, we are blessed with gem of friends that are at an arms stretch standing with us during all good and bad times. From having dinner together to going out for movies, from the boys night out to the wild girls night out, from shopping sprees to talking hearts out, from being mothers to running for each other, there is no dimension that we can think of not experiencing with our friends.

So when it came to yet another big event of our life (expecting our 2nd child), everyone was elated and decided to do something for the baby shower that will be a surprise for Dipti. I'd say it's become customary for the husband to eventually become part of the preparations and get a sneak preview of the surprise elements that the Mother-to-be friends are preparing for. I wasn't far enough and was able to permeate into the defenses of the plan that Dipti's friends were cooking. It's a different story that I'd pen down later of how it all happened.

With hectic work schedules and little ones by their sides, our friends did not leave any single weekend evenings without getting together and embarking their journey of the surprise. From many rehearsals to change in plans of dance steps, the final outcome was nothing less than spectacular. On D-Day (10/16), we were left in awe when we witnessed our friends enacting with masks of our family members, only to bring tears of joys in Dipti's eyes.

With many interesting games that involved not only the mothers, but also the fathers was simply fun to watch. As day continued and the joys of welcoming the new baby were unfolded, the love for our friends simply grew exponentially. Truly, we are blessed with friends that deserve a standing ovation for all the hard work and dedication they put for making sure that this day will be remembered throughout our lives. We will surely have hilarious and interesting stories to pass on to our next generation.

Part of our friends love is reflected on youtube
1) The Nok Jhonk
2) The Family is here
3) True Friendship

This was truly unexpected!!!

Ayodhya verdict - On the lighter side

2010-09-30T22:08:00.001-07:00

18 years of wait, billions of rupees spent and eons of playing with emotions of Indian public, the Indian judicial system took one of the boldest decision I will probably see in my lifetime. I am not the very "political" types, but something of this paramount size definitely caught my attention while I scribe from seven seas across the place where this all started.

Let me try to understand the real deal behind it. A land, rather temple claimed by Hindus to be the place where Lord Ram's birth took place in the holy city of Ayodhya. Ok, I do remember watching Ramanand Sagar's epic Ramayan that used to bring the entire country to a halt on Sunday mornings between 9:30 and 10:30 AM. On the other hand, the same place claimed by the Muslim sect to be theirs where the Babri mosque stands today. Add to this potent mix, a third element Nirmohi Akhara that also claims this to be the place which should be handed to them.

KUDOS to the court system that took the decision to split and equally share the land among all three parties. This way it satisfies everyone (you can think it otherwise). Reminds me of the batwara from a typical Indian television soap over a big Haveli or a huge business empire. How Bollywoodish!

A friend of mine quoted on his facebook page, that the best way to keep everyone quite from this issue would have been to declare the land and all associated assets as National Historic site. Spend couple of more millions to erect a marble statue of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi. Once done, simply sit back and enjoy the peace as no one would dare to challenge the aura and presence of Gandhiji there. Was it really that simple to bring this situation under control?

With Commonwealth games taking all the media attention these days and the simmering battle brewing between the Indian and Australian cricket team for Test Cricket supremacy someone had to bring the TRP ratings down. They very well did it by elevating the Ayodhya issue and also involving the creme da la creme of Bollywood (KJO should be looking to get a script from these events - A Shahrukh Khan starter perhaps).

For the common masses, it's life as usual as the creator (Bhrama), the destroyer (Shiva), the caretaker (Vishnu) and Allah can easily be approached not only in temples and mosques, but also at a cell phone near you (Do we have apps for the gods on iPad yet?). Frightened parents, troubled middle class business workers who closed the shutters down in anticipation of trouble and hopefully empty roads were the norm of the day.

For the Gen X and Gen Y, it's a wake up call to get their act together and unanimously call out acts and deeds that reflect the true emotions of a nation and not people divided by the same beliefs that different religions preach in their own terms.

As for me, I am simply the messenger to bring a lighter moment in every reader of this blogs life. Only if Sehwag and Dhoni would have hung on to the catch of Shane Watson, he may just become the limelight and the subjective element of TRP ratings for tomorrow's dailies and the idiot box.

Parenting - Starting all over again

2010-09-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

It's that time of life all over again......from changing diapers to sleepless nights, from going through the nervousness of being parents once again to the joy of having a complete family. The feeling is nostalgic and scary at the same time, but makes you live every moment of it.

Not too long ago when we had our first child, the act of parenting was very foreign to both me and my wife. Thanks to the support from family who was here for the first 6 months of our new changed lives, without their support we could not have pulled it over.

The feeling is no different this time. We are going through the same jitters and feelings, only we are a little better prepared for the second one as we were the first time. Some unknowns are knowns (at least we think) and some things will always be as mystical as the riddle of life after death.

Explaining our elder son what's going to change in our life after the little one gets out of Mommy's bulging tummy gets very comical at times yet keeps the focus on things to expect. From searching names for the new kid on the block to making the laundry list of things that are required prior, during and post birth is a paramount task that has taken numerous nights and dinner table discussions. Support from friends and family in this electronic "Social Media" age is pouring left and right. Not one day has gone when I don't see a smile on my face after reading loads of unique one liners on Twitter and Facebook suggesting us "what to expect when you are expecting".

The timing couldn't have been better for the little one to pop out and experience the cold and festive season during the year end. From Santa to Snow, there will be joys spread all over the family. Although life will be tough initially, but in words of Winston Churchill "We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us", will go many a miles in ensuring that we as parents do the right thing and provide all the love and care to this new soul as we did with our first one.

May god bless us to succeed in our noble journey.

Chicago style Deep Dish Pizza - Home made with a twist

2010-09-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

So it happens that I got hooked on to a TV show called "Man vs. Food". It's amazing to see how a mans quest to survive against the food is captured for the idiot box. From Hoagies to Sausages, from Burgers to Pizzas, from the beautiful surrounding of Yale campus to the picturesque St Louis, it's food everywhere and one guy is standing tall to show what being MAN is really about. I wish he has a great medical insurance policy and an equally satiating membership to some top notch GYMS in the country

A perfect evening to dine out and I came up with the idea to experiment with food. Inspired from the pizza episode on TV, I decided to create my own version of Chicago style deep dish pizza. The only difference being that I had never tried something like this and did not know if my better half and son will like it or not. Plan B was always on the cards.... calling Papa Johns.

I hurried to the nearest grocery store and got the perfect sized baking dish. Ok, I'm not too good at baking desserts, but this is Pizza we are talking about. How different can it be from baking a cake or pie? Regardless, with an ambition as tall as empire state building, I came back home with all the required ingredients. In no time, I was Chef-de-cuisine from the show of the past "Yan can cook" with the punch line, "If Yan can cook, so you Can". Eyeballs were rolling to see the speed with which i was chopping veggies and preparing for the next step.

In the meantime, my wife (many thanks to her) had already rolled out the pizza dough and made it into a perfect circle. Thank god to Indian mothers for equipping their daughters with the art of making perfect circles (be roti, pooris or for that matter realizing their other half's what they are). I greased the baking dish and very carefully laid the rolled dough on to the dish.

Next was the tomato sauce that I was preparing on the side burner. With the right potent mix of tomatoes, basil, pinch of garlic and all my love simmering in the sauce pan, it wasn't too late when my son stopped watching his movie only to come near me asking is my food ready? I extended his TV watching time by one more hilarious episode of Tom and Jerry while I continued with my magic touch on the sauce.
Once the sauce was done, I poured it over the neatly laid roundel of dough on the baking dish waiting to be infused with the flavors that reminded me of the flavors from Giordano's pizza dinner in Chicago. Next was the cheese that spread it all over the sauce commanding for some respect. Snowfall in summer (huh?). Garnishing it neatly chopped toppings from Green Bell Pepper to Baby Corn, Slices of Tomatoes to Juliennes of Ginger, I continued with yet another round of sauce and topped with a layer of cheese (yeah there goes being healthy for a while). The final touch came with garnishing it with roundels of tomatoes along with jalapeño peppers.

It was then put to rest and some test in the hot oven for about 40 min or so. Once 30 mins passed, my son came running again, this time not ready to get his TV time extended by yet another episode of Tom and Jerry but with rats in his stomach playing the match of their life. I gave in and finally after talking for about 10 min to him, took out the pizza from the oven.

The scintillating aroma of basil had spread all over the kitchen making everyones mouth drip. My wife did the honors finally to slice up my first ever deep dish pizza created at home and fed us like there was no tomorrow.

Graduation ceremony for Kids...You decide if we need one

2010-06-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

I happened to attend Graduation Ceremony of a Kindergartner yesterday in the same school where my son goes as well. The ceremony was glamorous with a very laborious effort from the school and all the graduating kids put into. At the end of the ceremony although I was very happy to see the smile on all graduating kids faces (and the relief and sign on teachers faces as well), I was however left with many questions in my mind that I think need some answers for.

1) What is the true meaning of Graduation?
2) Why do schools these days have graduation ceremony for every class they complete at the end of an academic year?
3) Hasn't the meaning of graduation lost if you do it every year?
4) Does this make the parents and child a little different towards the outlook of real essence of going to a school?

I completed all my education in India and the only time I ever heard of the word graduation was when I passed out of the University completing my Bachelors Degree. Getting promoted to a class during school days (leading up to high school) was simply norm of the year to which all students and parents looked forward to.
Out here in US, it's really different as I learnt it first hand yesterday. Every year, the academic year is marked by a ceremony where kids are promoted to the next level (in style). A big achievement for the kids and celebrations to mark that. However, with this trend being done every year, do the kids take it for granted? Does it really defames the true meaning of a sense of achievement?

Perhaps an alien idea to me, but I sincerely think that it's sheen is lost when things are done in excess. This however does not deny the fact that I will be participating in my son's graduation ceremonies every year and see him fly high in life. It's simply a thought that I will digest as time goes by and I continue to attend more and more ceremonies of my loved and dear ones one at a time.

PS - Congratulations to the parents and kids of the graduating class of 2010 Kindergarten from Virginia Academy School

Time to think.....

2010-06-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

First of all let me welcome myself back to blogging world. After the snowstorm that hit the DC Metro area back in Feb, I sort of went into hibernation with work and other priorities of life. With spring nearly ending and summer on the horizon, I am back from my hibernating world with a fresh new thought and outlook.

The spring of 2010 has brought many changes to life (both personally and professionally). Handling more responsibilities at work and getting engaged more deeply into the activities and politics at my work place is task as usual. In addition, planning for the things to be done in summer and doing a 360 on myself for the things achieved so far is also on the agenda.

With my parents in town for their version of US Spring/Summer, last few weeks have been really fantastic. From trips to DC to Las Vegas, being with family has a new meaning. Mingling with family and being awake till wee hours of morning is simply the norm of the day. Good home cooked food from Mom, the sense of protection from parents and the blissful guidance that only parents can give although is short lived, but the affects it will leave will last for ever.

Life also takes unexpected turns and requires calibration at every turn. All good things have to come to an end and so is ending the time I will be spending with my parents shortly. They are scheduled to depart in early July and we will be left again with fond memories and the wait for us to be with them again.

With every passing moment, I am beginning to cherish every moment life has to offer to me knowing that these are the moments I will live in my memories for ever.

I promise to be regular with my "Unexpected" thoughts and continue to feed in the need to visit my blog in everyone.

Let it snow...Let it snow... Biggest snowstorm in Washington DC Area - The saga goes on

2010-02-08T10:27:00.001-08:00

I had never thought that we will get to witness the biggest snowstorm in the history of Washington DC Metro area within few weeks after being hit by a major snow storm on December 19, 2009. I guess I was wrong. Mother Nature had some more surprises stored in for us and she made us realize that she is still the supreme when it comes to taking cover from natural events.

Friday (February 5) started as a normal day with me gearing up early in the morning to go to Dunkin Donuts and buy 3 dozen bagels. It is customary in our team for every Manager to treat the team every first Friday of the month with Donuts/Bagels. It was very evident that the day won’t last long in office as media had not left even a minute warning and preparing people about the upcoming snow storm starting from mid-day Friday. I was a brave soul showing up with 3 dozens Bagels at 8 AM only to realize that it was all over by 9 AM. I was surprised that folks did show up given the snow storm warning.

At 12 Noon, the office declared the building to be shut down due to worsening weather conditions and the bad roads that are famous to cause accidents especially in this part of the world. Driving in I-495 in snow at 20 miles per hour is usually the order of the day even when smallest of areas have rain falling over. I ventured out with my 4x4 truck and a smile on the face knowing that I will be safe on the roads, yet caution first was the primary motto.

By the time I reached home (some 30 miles from office), the snow had picked up and it was clearly evident that people had realized to get back home and the intersections leading to my home road was all but blocked. Finally, I reached home in one piece (sigh….) and started the enjoyment of falling snow at 1-2 inches per hour. By evening, my backyard, driveway and the front was well covered with snow. I was however brave enough to get out every 2-3 hrs and shovel as much as I can (learning from the mistakes of last winter storm). With the night maturing and snowfall catching up pace, I slept at 11 PM only to wake up the next morning at 6 to see the entire area covered in snow. It had snowed at least 2 feet by then.

I waited till the snow stopped at around 2 PM when I along with my neighbors ventured out to clean up the mess that had completely taken over cars, driveways and backyards. It took me over 4 hours and with help from my neighbors (team work) to dig out my car from the pile of snow that was mounting now close to 5 feet from the road. As expected, roads were really bad to drive with people spinning off in their cars. Many took to their foot with shovels in hands to help others.

Federal government, schools and many offices including mine is closed today and I am waiting working from home for the next wave of snowfall that is definitely bound to bring in another 8-10 inches of snow on the already piled up 5 feet of snow hills outside my house. I am sure, my son is enjoying the sliding and sledging in snow while his parents take care of other essentials things including keeping warm and get the life going in this historical snowstorm.

Mr. Al Gore, were you wrong in predicting Global Warming? I suspect, it should be Global Cooling/Snowing at least in Washington DC Metro area for this year!

Valentine's Day - Conundrum of Indian Masses

2010-02-05T05:43:00.000-08:00

As February 14th approaches near, I get more and more anxious every year not because I have a herculean task to find a date or plan for the romantic evening dinner with my wife, but for a simple reason that I have seen growing up and every year it gets worse. The inability of some Indian masses to accept the realities of life in this ever changing sociocultural economy of ours that is not only influenced (rather part now) by Western culture but also is blending the very essence of us being Indian.

How can Valentine's Day celebrations be detrimental to the Indian culture? Let's pause for a moment and try to gather the facts from fads. People claim that celebrating this festival brings a bad image to our culture. Boys and Girls roaming in open with hands in hands, the kissing behind the bushes in Buddha Jayanti Park (BJP) in Delhi or for that matter the cuddling of couples on Juhu Beach in Mumbai is simply destroying our culture.

Let me enlighten the folks with a harsh reality that we are completely overlooking. Lord Krishna in my mind was also no less than the couples of modern times. I mean he also did date many Gopias? Didn't he? Eventually he got married, but the depiction of his Rass Leelas is very well documented in our culture and in fact is also celebrated with great pomp and show. So how can the modern day Krishna's be different from him? One more example that may force you think your aptitude towards this. Many Kings in our history had married multiple times. Some of them even having multiple wives at the same time and practicing heterosexuality. If that was all right in our culture to be married to multiple women at the same time, I guess the modern day couples are not even close to them. They are at least being faithful (even if for 1 evening) to a girl that they simply want to take out and have some fun on an evening when the entire world celebrates the feeling of love.

Now let's look at some other aspects of Valentine's day destruction that comes along. Some anti-social elements on the name of Valentines day simply get avatar'd into Ravan, who we all know where it leads to. Destruction of public property, displacement of humans and their businesses is a very common theme when people turn into Ravan. Some politically motivated and some motivated by jealousy since they never had a Valentine when growing up. When all is said and done, who is accountable for all the loss that our society has to bear?

They stake claims to get every couple married who is seen together on Valentine's Day. A true incident from Bangalore where a brother and sister were going together to wish their father who was lying in Hospital (due to an accident) were kidnapped, beaten and then taken to a temple where according to Hindu traditions (in a very curtailed manner) they were tied in the holy matrimony.

Illiteracy and deprivation from a mentality to grow and a vision that will take us to the next level is simply the cause of all these issues in India. Let me say one more thing, If we Indians are so concerned about all these PDA (public display of affection), how come we are so backward to be the maximum baby producers in the world? With our population just behind China, I guess it's time for all of us to wake up and make people realize that having sex and making babies is not the only source of entertainment. Valentine's Day celebration is one of them where couples can go together, talk and discuss matters that concern their life and hopefully the next generation. Government should also strengthen their stand on such incidents and hopefully with young blood in government, some reforms can be expected that will give young lovers one more reason to cheer about and extend their celebrations for ever.

Guess what? I just realized that I have to make reservations for my Valentine... Shhh.... it's a surprise and don't want to disclose that I am taking her out for a candle light dinner at her favorite restaurant and will be gifting her favorite turquoise necklace that she has been eying for a very long time.......

Real Sovereignty - You decide

2010-01-25T13:58:00.000-08:00

On 60th anniversary of India's Republic day a sense of patriotism goes through my mind and gives me the chills that I have not experienced in recent past. Not because I am out of the country and missing the mother land, but because of the real meaning of Sovereignty that it means today.

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereignty), the true meaning of Sovereignty is is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a territory. Although modern times has changed its true meaning, I want to take this time to ponder on a very basic question. Are we really sovereign?

- Sovereign in our acts
- Sovereign in our thoughts
- Sovereign in our life

Turning the head 360 degrees around us will give a reflection of what this term really means to us these days. The very essence of what was really meant to be "Sovereign" has changed in the modern times and given us the conundrum of what we call is the "Modern Sovereignty". With war looming around the countries, natural disasters making scores of children orphan, the human greed to annex what is rightfully others is only a reflection of what seems to be a never ending cultural shift.

Looking at the black and white pictures of India's first Republic Day back in 1950, I said to myself, I wish someone invents the time machine in my lifetime where I can go back and correct the mistakes of the past and think as a visionary to lay the foundation of a place to live, a life to breath and culture that will be built on values that will last for eons.

"Aman ki Aasha", the new buzzword in news today, to bridge the widening gap between India and Pakistan has no meaning unless we really mean it and understand the truth behind the sacrifices that our forefathers gave to go through this brutal past. The slogan to "Rise from the Ashes" holds a very real meaning in these times when we need to be one and aligned for a common goal of betterment of the human society.

I still remember the golden words from my grandfather 6 years ago on this very day, "This is the day when our country gained its sovereignty, you are loosing yours my son!!", as I began the journey of my life with my life partner only to understand the true meaning of his wisdom thoughts. Surely, it's been an eye opener to both of us in many parts.

All I can say is that if I can't be the one to cross the boundaries that has carved the lives of our people, at least I can try to sow the seeds in the next generation to abreast them of the events that have occurred in the past. With every year passing by, the only thing that is constant is the widening of the gap between the lives of people that never knew the real meaning of sovereignty.

The Art of Cruising - A first one for me

2010-01-25T12:44:00.001-08:00

I finally joined the elite club of people who can proudly brag about their fantastic and lavish cruise vacation. The mere thought of it brings back the memories of a lifetime, the crystal clear blue ocean, the cascading sound of warm breeze on the shoreline and the picturesque locales in some of the most exotic places of the world. Thoughts can be equally scary of sea sickness, rough seas, bad weather leading to being indoor all cruise long and the pathetic food on the cruise lines.

For me, I was lucky enough to sail from the cold waters of Baltimore to the warm caribbean ocean and the beautiful island of Bahamas. A 7 day long cruise with my family and no tensions aboard of work, meeting deadlines and managing projects for team was the best thing that I was looking for. Equally important was the respite from cold that we wanted by heading south in the warm Caribbean waters.

Below are my thoughts that I have elaborated for first time cruisers like us who are always looking for some guidance and tips and overcoming their fear of cruising. I hope, I will be able to do justice from my experience and provide some insight of what to expect and what not to expect.

Cruise Planning

1) Plan your cruise in advance (at least 3-4 months if possible). This way you'll be able to get a decent pricing/deal on the cruise of your choice.

2) Don't out rightly book from travel websites or calling up agents. Yes, they do offer some good deals at times, but do your homework and check this website [Cruise Compete] I used them to gain the least possible rate for my trip and on my terms and conditions.

3) Once booked, complete all formalities relative to your cruise documentation early on. Don't wait till last minute.

4) Call cruise line a week or just 2 days before the date of departure and check for complimentary upgrades. If the cruise is not fully sold (hardly a possibility), they may upgrade you to a better room.

Getting to Cruise

1) Request a friend to drop you off to the port (save $$$) and have them pick up as well (will require you to bring some souvenir back from cruise)

2) Reach early at port and get all the required documentation completed (visa/passport etc). It's funny that even though we had Bahamas visa, the port authority did not even bother to check it (as if they really don't care to see who is going to Bahamas)

3) Once on-board, definitely go up to the higher decks to get an awesome view of the port and city.

4) Do not miss the safety drill (Yes, the cruise line won't depart from port if you aren't there)

5) Tip your Cabin Steward the very first day so that he can take care of you all along your cruise for any request even at 2 AM

On The Cruise

1) Eat, Eat and Eat a lot.... yeah that's what people say.... you will at least gain 5 pounds before you realize anything. I think it's ok if you start dieting or shed off the flab before the cruise.

2) Explore the ship the first day. Grab the ships detailed plan (map) and start marking areas that you want to explore. We headed to the Camp Carnival (Day Care for Children) to register our son.

3) Book the tours that you want to do on port of calls. Although expensive, sometimes it's convenient to get it on-board and not worry about transportation back and forth.

4) You don't have to book all the on-shore trips at once. Wait to get off ship at certain ports of call and you may get lucky in getting a better deal. Bahamas (Nassau) for example had offered $25 per person city tour which was offered at a much higher price for the same kind of transport.

5) Engage in as many activities that you want on cruise (Casinos/Discos/Games/Shows etc)

6) Definitely visit the spa. It's just so relaxing and refreshing. **Hint** - Try booking on a day when ship is at the port of call. It's cheap.

7) Definitely do the formal night dinner (at least twice).

8) Request for special meal (if required) a day before your dinner. This way, the chefs inside can cater to your request.

9) Definitely get posed in front of camera on formal nights. This is a once in lifetime experience and you don't want to miss it.

10) Relax and enjoy the sea. It's really amazing. Go to the top deck and just grab a chair and admire the calm winds and sound of ocean.

11) Put your kids in day care (as many times you want.. it's free after all) and enjoy the togetherness with your partner in a sensuous massage or just a stroll on the deck with the sun setting in front of you.

Ports of Call

1) Get out early from ship and spend the maximum time off the ship.

2) Plan ahead and stick to original plan (circumstances may change plans, but generally follow your thoughts....)

3) Do one or two things rather than everything at port of call (it's just impossible to handle everything in the limited time you have)

4) Obey the rules from Cruise line to return back to ship. Trust me, they will leave you behind if you are late.

5) Stack up on gift items. They are cheap and yes, people do haggle and bargain even in US (Port Canaveral)

The Journey Ends Here

1) Keep a close eye on instructions as provided for off boarding on television

2) If possible carry out your own luggage (instead of requesting a pick up). This will save you time while off boarding

3) Check your bill (might give you a sticker shock) when off boarding. All tips and other sundry expenses are added by default by the cruise line.

4) Last but not the least, capture the memories and good times that you have spent on cruise for a lifetime. I remember waking up the first morning still thinking that I was on cruise and had to go to deck 9 (Lido Deck) to have breakfast.

In all, our first time cruise was a remembrance, the thoughts of which will hardly be erased from our mind and heart. I wish I can do it again (not the same year), this time also with my extended family and or friends.

Happy Cruising!!!

The beginning of new year

2010-01-18T06:21:00.000-08:00

The holidays are over and the warm winds that cascade through my hair and touch my body from Bahamas are a thing of past. Life has started as usual in the new year with many challenges lying ahead and dreams that are never ending to accomplish.Yet one thing has remained constant. The element of surprise and the unexpected things that life brings to us.

I had not even completely settled down in life from my vacation, forget about the office mode, i heard my phone ringing at 8 AM in the morning. I looked and saw that it was my boss.... Not being rude, I picked with a cheerful smile on my face and a tone that was refreshing and filled with zeal to start my work week, I heard my boss saying that " Welcome back from your vacation. I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted, as come back to work and we have tonnes of issues that have piled up while you were gone. I even have a bad news for you...........".

I was surprised and those 40-50 min or so to my work were the worst that I can ever imagine. The thoughts of what bad news would I receive when I arrive all refreshed from a wonderful and relaxing vacation had already erased the sweet memories of my vacation the previous week. All thoughts of talking to my friends and peers about the adventures that we did in Bahamas were shattered.

Once I reached work, I was greeted by my boss only to realize that there was a major issue with one of our systems and that was causing loss of revenue to the company. "All hands to deck" was the slogan for the day and everywhere at work people were simply amused and working mechanically to resolve the issues and stop the bleeding that the company had witnessed. Adding more the the agony was the fact that my computer died on me (hardware crash) and I was good for nothing for couple of hours.

Although the days succeeding to this event passed with high alert on work and overall monitoring of the systems, I had never imagined that life will be so unexpected specially after getting back from a vacation. The whole work week felt as if I had worked for more than 2-3 weeks without a break and I was all ready to go back for yet another vacation.

I sit here in my living room remembering the golden words I once heard from many learned and educated elders, "Gold shines only once it's baked in the immense heat".

Taking a break in the new year - Heading to a warmer location

2010-01-02T18:23:00.000-08:00

Happy new year to all the readers of my blog. With the new year kicking in and the old year thought of the past, life will continue to march forward. It's time to pack in the Christmas tree, undo the holiday lighting, make up all the resolutions for the year to come and head back to work with a new vigor, I have decided to take some time off at the onset of this new year. I am heading for a week long vacation and will be back the following week.

Until then, continue to enjoy the postings from 2009 and I will definitely be recharging myself for beginning of a new chapter in 2010.

Happy new year once again to everyone who has read and contributed to my "Unexpected" thoughts and I will surely not disappoint you this year too.

Let it snow...Let it snow... Biggest snowstorm in Washington DC Area

2009-12-19T16:19:00.000-08:00

So it finally happened, the first big snowfall of the season bringing in the holiday cheer and a reason for the families to enjoy the day in abode of their home, sipping on warm tea or coffee and just chilling out.

Although the hype for the biggest snowfall of the decade in the Washington DC area was already built up, me and my family was genuinely awaiting for it, not because since it was on a weekend, but because, it was so close to Christmas day that the desire of a White XMas was nearly going to be fulfilled.

I woke up at about 2 AM in the night and saw an even coat of snow depositing on the roads and the white pick up truck of my neighbor, who apparently forgot to park inside his garage. I had done my due diligence in making sure that both our cars were neatly parked in the garage to be saved from the wrath of white snow.

The day started with my son waking me up only to go outside in the snow which by 9 AM was falling at nearly 1 feet per hour. I glanced outside of kitchen and could hardly see the snowman that has been making my neighbor proud since last 10 days. It was covered in all snow and the real meaning of snowman was realized. I took my son, packed him in 3-3 layers of warm clothing, mittens, hat and his snow boots and dressed myself up warmly as well. I got my snow shovel and started cleaning the walkway, entrance to my house so that we could barely make out in worst case scenario.

My son was simply enjoying his first biggest snowstorm of his life and the joy on his face was clearly visible. We took turns throwing ice balls at each other while my dear wife simply watched us from inside the warmth of the house. She couldn't dare to come out and have some fun. Finally she did make out to click some pictures for us while drenching herself in the white powdery gift from Santa.

With snow comes the desire to eat spicy and hot food. We ensured the previous day that our stocks for food were complete and we were ready for the worst case scenario of being snowed out in case grocery stores were closed. We enjoyed the spicy Indian food along with tea many a times. Samosas did make the menu of snacks after being teased by one of our cousin from Texas.

The night has finally fallen over and it's still snowing. I can now barely see the grill in my backyard and the patio set has a stack of nearly 3 feet of snow on top of it. We'll go back to our bed with the warm memories of a snowy day that will be with us for the rest of our lives.

Only If the snow had fallen on a weekday instead of weekend, I would have spent more time with my son and wife watching movies and sipping on hot coffee along with more Samosas. I hope my XMas wish comes true.

Let it snow... Let it snow...!!
Ho! Ho! Ho!

The Big Finale on Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-06T08:23:00.000-08:00

The day was finally here and the huge build up (thanks to many readers and contributors to my previous post), the stage was all set for the showdown. I still feel that my 12th (High School) board exam result day was less nerve racking than this Thanksgiving. The butterflies finally subsided and the morning of thanksgiving, I was a man on mission. With a clear goal and a focused vision, I clearly was aiming to be the "Arjun" of the "Mahabharat" who could see nothing but the eye of the revolving fish.

The day started just as fresh as the ingredients in my refrigerator that I had carefully handpicked and purchased the previous day. My menu was going to be the traditional menu barring a twist that no one had expected. Turkey was going to be replaced by Veggie Loaf, something that I had already tried on some friends the previous week, only to perfect it for the night. Green Beans, Creme of Asparagus, the sweet Cranberry sauce, Mashed Potatoes flavored with Dill, Corn Bread Stuffing and Mexican Rice also made it to the top finalist for the night. One thing missing was the Pumpkin Pie that was replaced by Fruit Custard and small pumpkin flavored muffins.

After grueling 5 hours of cooking, the Chef-de-cuisine was going to give the final touches to the big night. The aroma of Dill was spread all over the house that was being complemented by the garlic bread that was slowly radiating the buttery garlic.

The family got ready and set the table, arranged the cutlery carefully making sure that it did give a professional look. Apple Cinnamon spray gave evening the holiday feeling that was welcomed by the guests who arrived right on time for the evening gala. Greeting them with our Plan B (Pizza ordered from the store), we could clearly see the look on their faces and I knew that my prank had successfully ruined their palates that they had been nurturing all week long for this big night. After one glass of wine, the atmosphere cheered up with the announcement of warming up the food.

We finally sat at the dining table only to be vowed by the subtle light that was falling over the dinner table and was giving the appetizing food even more glaze to its garnish. With everyone's eyes set on the food, we took a moment to thank each other for being there for each other through out the year and prayed that we do celebrate many more years of togetherness and continued friendship.

At last, the soup was served that simply tantalized the tongues and kept everyone waiting for more. The eldest friend honored us by cutting the veggie loaf and the fun time began with everyone reaching out to the best cooked veggie thanksgiving dinner that we had ever had. Dinner over a healthy discussion and reliving the past years moments with friends - Priceless.

PS - Recipes for all my Thanksgiving dishes can be found out at Culinary Voodoo

Build up to a veggie Thanksgiving Dinner

2009-11-23T07:40:00.000-08:00

It finally comes down to the last 2 minutes of the game when either side can take the game away from their opponents. Exactly, in a similar fashion, I decided to try something out different this Thanksgiving overtaking my friendly neighbor and a very good friend by inviting them to our place for a warm Thanksgiving dinner - Veggie style.

They have been kind enough to invite us every year since last 2 years at their place and satiate our hunger with immaculately amazing delicacies done by them. From Turkey to Green Beans, from Mashed Potatoes to Sweet Yam and the mouth drooling Pumpkin Pie, we have always been a very kind and avid eaters of the feast. I can't say the same about the Turkey as we are vegetarians and I jokingly say to my friends and neighbors that I'll eat the bird/meat if you can convince me if that particular bird has never eaten non-veg in it's life. I see nothing but shocked faces.

So this time, we decided to bring a little twist in the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The surprise element was all vegetarian food and invite our hybrid couple friend (one of them is from India and the other born and brought up here in America). The biggest challenge was to creatively come up with the menu that still resonates with the tradition and is indeed palatable to the guests as well. Voila, we did come up with many alternatives for Turkey.

Veggie Loaf was born keeping the good healthy ingredients and hopefully the same consistency of Meat Loaf. With Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry sauce and finishing up with Pumpkin Pie, we are confident that we will do justice to our hyped culinary skills compounded by the warm Indian hospitality.

I tried, rather experimented my Veggie Loaf on some other friends of ours that we knew will not run away or demand for extra trash bags if the taste went horribly wrong. Thankfully, my 1 hour recipe and immense patience and numerous prayers to god made the loaf into something that everyone liked even by the looks of it. Although, the consistency wasn't the same as that of Meat Loaf, I have already learnt to improvise on it and make it look exactly as it's meaty brother.

At the end, dinner plates went absolutely clean, the baking dish did not have more to say and the refrigerator was denied the opportunity for a left over post our dinner. Many thanks to my friends who participated in being the guinea pigs for my experiment, only to be perfected and gain many accolades and extend an evening full of healthy dinner, laughs and memories that will last for ever of a perfect veggie thanksgiving dinner.

AMEN!

Effect of recession on modern art - in public US Restrooms

2009-11-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

On my recent trip to Boston to visit my family and friends, I witnessed something that I never expected to see at least in public toilets here in USA. Although common in many countries of the world, it's really hard to imagine something like this.

We were en-route to Boston when crossing through Pennsylvania, we stopped for a "Bio-Break" as they say it. My nearly 4 yr old just couldn't hold his bladder and was about to burst out. As a father, I had no option but to stop and relieve him from the bulging bladder. It was a proper rest area on the interstate I-78 with Mc Donald's, Subway and other known brands in the rest area.

As soon as I entered with my son in the restroom, I saw these strange markings on the wall. In my first look, i didn't realize what they were as they were relatively small and I was more focused on getting my son properly relieved from his suffering. But once he settled down on the toilet seat, while standing I noticed the scribing on the wall. It was from love quotes to abuses, from swearing on to politicians to a friendly note stating that "XX was here on xx date".

Honestly, I was shocked to see this, but later on realized that perhaps US is also not as civilized when it comes to urinal etiquette. People after all are made of the same carbon, no matter where they live or come from. On the lighter side, it's not a bad time pass while doing your business.

I am surely convinced now that recession in US has definitely led to situations where people aren't able to show off their creativity on canvases, instead are choosing the more easy and affordable way of art depiction.

My experience did result in a very long conversation over the next couple of hours. Thanks to my co-passengers for enlightening the room while we drove through multi states.

The funny side of H1N1

2009-10-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

It's really hard to miss out a piece of news or gossip these days about the H1N1 virus that is causing and spreading the pandemic Swine Flu. From radio to television, print media to mobile media, the news of H1N1 is everywhere and one cannot miss it even when trying hard.

Flu season is usually marked by sneezing, coughing, parents staying at home and taking care of the kids who amazingly bring all these sorts of viruses from their school and friends. I have personally experienced and witnessed many incidences about the horror stories of people being scared to death and the paranoia that continues to swoon around them and their immediate surroundings that leads to utter confusion. I feel sometimes that a Bollywood script is written right over there.

Offices usually are panic stricken when someone sends an email out to the team with the infamous headline "Out of Office - Under the Weather". Instantly, everyone on the team jumps on the bandwagon, not only to express their concern about the person who is sick but also thanking them in a politically correct fashion, "Thank you for not coming and making us sick! You sicko!". Well, the person may only have a cold or an itchy throat, but the paranoia grows exponentially. Even funnier, people will not shy by suggesting that "Hey did you check who all people are sick in your office?". Now come on, as If by collecting this metrics, it will be beneficial to either myself or them to keep away from flu.

Agreed that it's a virus that will stay in the body for some days and there isn't really any cure for common cold that effectively works (at least on me), so I better suffer for next 5-7 days and get over with it. What's the fuss about it?

My neighbor started wearing masks 24x7 and forced his family to do the same as if this was the end of world. He even walked up to me enlightening me with the different brands of masks that are available in the market and the best place to get them w/o spending an arm and leg for them. Can someone please go and tell him that his son was rolling all over in the mud in the play area with his mask on. Surely, he did protect his nose from inhaling all the dust that rose from his rolling while the father was busy talking on phone, perhaps continuing with "How to use masks - Part 2" to some of his friends.

**No intentions to harm anyone here and this is not my personal opinion**
The best I ever heard was from a friend who sent me an email stating that US Embassy in Mumbai had issued a memorandum to all Gujaratis living out there. "Please do not apply for H1N1, it's not a VISA category". That was the best ever that I had heard about how low and shallow people can go in tainting the image of Virus to be treated as a Visa. I was simply ROTF and LOL.

As they say, all's well that ends well and I hope that we all will continue to maintain our sincerity when it comes to experiencing the lighter moments of life regardless whether they have a sneezing effect or not. I will continue to find such light moments of life and post it here for all those folks who have been struck by some sort of cold virus and will not shy to go to any limits for making us read posts like this.

Happy cursing the H1N1 Virus.
(image courtesy www.h1n1jokes.com)

Feedback is the ultimate breakfast of Champions

2009-09-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

I was in a training the other day when our instructor said that "Feedback is the breakfast of Champions". I didn't realize the true meaning of the sentence until this weekend that transformed my view of how I look and take things with people. The quote was simply used as a mean to make the student body comprising of Directors and Managers of the company to learn not to wait until the last minute in order to apprecaite or provide healthy criticism. In fact, a proactive approach only loosens the relationships in the corporate and ensure smooth relationship between a Manager and his direct reports. It is also used as a motivational tool from the numerous tools that managers have access to. I was surely short of that motivation this past weekend when my wife snubbed on me serving me with the feedback that has indeed led me to be a champion.

The issue: Sitting idle on a lazy Sunday watching the football game

The real issue: Can't see husband relaxing for one skins game (that they lost to Lions)

Mode of communication: "Until I motivate, no one works on a Sunday" (my son glanced at me, gave me a cynical smile and continued with his cartoon on tv)

The punishment in mind: Shopping from Bed Bath and Beyond to get Window Treatments

The final verdict: Either be happy or married (just kidding)

Result: Champion of putting window treatments is born and is ready to take on another project

My dear wife dragged me out of home in the first quarter of the Skins-Lions game that was both boring and interesting as I was cheering up for Lions maiden win in over 21 months against a depleted Redskins team. It was hyped so much that some skins fans are already talking about the practice season during their next off season (LOL). We reached Bed Bath and Beyond (BBB) with tonnes of coupons in hand (at least 10-11) and headed out straight to the window treatment section.

For the first time in my life, my wife just took 20 min to decide on the color/style and other factors to pick up an item that usually takes eons (very common for the female species all around the world). My son was so bored in just 20 minutes that he decided to take a nap in the shopping cart. Poor guy, I brought him a feather pillow and placed it around his head that was now resting easily on the handle of the shopping cart and giving him a good support for the brooding head and neck.

We checked out with at least 10-15 items and with only 10 coupons in hand, we decided to let go some of the grudges of not calling up all the friends and waking up the neighbors to request additional coupons. Finally, with bill paid and carrying the cart, I could sense the feeling of some achievement on my wife's face that was gleaming with the success that Lions were getting on the field against the skins.

We reached home and even before I could think of switching on the television (this time to only check the score of a not so lucky South Africa being routed out by the least expected England), I heard the marching orders to help in putting up the treatments. With excruciating pain and agony, I dragged myself in the act of bringing my in-famous tool kit and climbed up the stool. With a man on mission to live up to the healthy criticism, I pulled up my socks and finished installing the curtain rod, sheer and the actual curtain in over 90 min. Yes, it was demanding, hot and sweaty, but the fruit of it was a beautiful smile on my wife's face (I was duped with the smile as it was for how brainy and smart my wife is in making me work and getting the window treatment done without paying those pranksters from either Home Depot or Lowes).

I was proud of myself too, with the accomplishment of putting down one set of curtains on the window all by myself, was something that I had never dreamt in my life. The feeling was short lived as I turned my face to her and realized that the inevitable has happened. No, the curtain was not on the wrong side, neither was it incorrectly hung, we simply had forgotten to bring in all the required items from the store which will make me go through one more round of pain and agony to miss yet another game (perhaps next weekend).

As a super woman, my wife headed to the store to get the remaining items, while I took this opportunity to really be the champion and show to my wife that "Feedback is indeed breakfast of the Champions" and I was not going to be left behind. I single handedly completed the installation of all rods, curtains and sheer on the longest window of our house only to surprise both myself and my dear wife who was already dejected by the fact that stores had closed on a Sunday evening (it was past 6 PM) and we have to wait yet another day before she claims victory. Although compliments, hugs and kisses flew in from left and right for the wonderful achievement, the pain of not being able to complete the project on time (and within budget) still left her gloomy and sad.

I promised her to complete the project before we head out tonight to celebrate Dussehra and kick-off our celebrations during the festive season of Diwali this year. I am surely now the "Champion of Champions" in fixing window treatment all because of the power breakfast she served me with her very healthy feedback.

My experience with my son's Back-to-School event

2009-09-10T09:49:00.000-07:00

Growing up has never been easy specially going to a new school and making new friends, meeting new teachers and acclimatizing to the new environment. It so happened that my 3 year old started his new school this Tuesday (Sep 8, 09) and we parents felt that more than him being excited and worried, we were getting the jitters and butterflies in our stomach.

A day prior to start of the school, we attended the in-famous "Back-to-School" session, a culture that we had never seen and experienced when growing up in India. Our school days were usually getting ready the night before, with parents ironing our clothes and packing our bags and getting us ready for the next day of school. Out here in US, they do everything big (now is that a good sign or not.... you decide it) and how can going to school can be left out. I rushed from my office battling the traffic on the Capital Beltway (I-495), crossing the Dulles Toll Road (I-267) and finally reaching home just in time to quickly change and head out with my son to his school.

The atmosphere outside of school was similar to a Multiplex in India after a show is over. People and cars were all over the place and we had to search for parking for at least 5 minutes before we parked in front of my wife's office (yeah, she works in the building next to my son's school). With parents from all sorts of backgrounds with large bags containing supplies for the kids for the school year were rushing for the orientation for their kids. As soon as we entered the school, the receptionist and many others from school welcomed us and directed us to a large board where lists of kids and their respective classes was posted. It reminded me of the days when I used to flock to my school on result day to see have I really passed my final exams this year or not? (Fortunately I did that every year with flying colors and made my parents proud)

Aadeesh (my son) was placed in K3-Section A and we headed over to his class. To our surprise, the class was full of parents and students who will be attending with my son. The class was jam packed with tables and chairs (I have to admit, I can hardly fit on any of those as they were so tiny) with each students name clearly written on a white piece of paper. We found Aadeesh's name and started to fill up the paper work that was placed against his name tag. Once completed, I handed over the paper work to the teacher and engaged in a long discussion as a worried parent (all parents are worried, I thought I am the most worried one...) to discuss about the things kids will be doing, the eating schedule, the food that will be provided (we are vegetarians hence had to double check in the land where people call Fish/Sea Food as vegetarian food) and many other questions that I had on my mind.

The teacher calmed me down with appropriate answers after which I thought to meeting other parents whose kids are going to be in my son's class. To my surprise 80% of the students were Indians from different cultures and the remaining 20% completed the diversity in this land of mixing bowl. I said to myself, "There you go son.... you have some competition from we desis". Half an hour into the room, the teachers of his class explained us what to expect from tomorrow for kids, what will they be doing and where to drop off and pick them up before and after the school.

Thankfully, Aadeesh is full time in the school until 6 PM, but we decided to bring him home everyday around 4 PM. After all, how can a mother's heart let her son be away from her for so long? (Mom/Dad- if you are reading this...... I now understand your worries when you left my hand and let me go in my school for the first time in Mathura). With all questions answered and all formalities completed, we did end up making many friends whose kids will now be Aadeesh's classmates and spending this school calendar year learning and growing together.

We finally took a tour of the school and showed Aadeesh his school and he was very excited to see the toys and fun places (including a Rain Forest and Sea play area with familiar faces of Nemo/Aligator and others). Our inquisitiveness about the school and all the things the kids will be doing was satisfied and we started back for our home with a sigh of relief half way through. The other half brought us back the demons of letting the piece of our heart go into an oblivion that we know is good for us, but only hesitate to let him go from our comfort zone.

After all, parents will always be parents.... they too have to grow up.......Aadeesh started his school the following day and is giving me many more opportunities to write all about his experiences as growing up in the land of opportunity.

Should Holiday be declared when a high profile politician dies?

2009-09-03T06:54:00.000-07:00

Unaware of the happenings in India, I was informed while on my way to work today that Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (AP) Mr. YSR has been killed in a helicopter crash. He apparently along with four (4) others scummed to death in the hilly area of a remote place in AP. Entire state of AP along with the country has been mourning for a huge loss and it was a bad new for the ruling Congress party as they lost a very strong leader in the state which will now weaken their strong hold on the political system of a very important state. A day of holiday is planned on to be observed to mourn the loss.

What the F*** was my reaction, after listening to the latter part of the conversation. I was like, I am sorry for the loss as country has lost a great political leader which has created vaccum in the political arena and will have dire consequences on the face of AP and even National politics. But declaring a holiday (state/national) for the mourning? You must be kidding.

Honestly, I don't know a lot about YSR and for that matter all the good and bad work (if at all) he might have done for the state. In fact, I am even ignorant about the profile of Ms. Sheila Dixit aka the longest reigning CM of Delhi, forget about trying to even keep up with the politics of other states. I am just not that kind of a person. Yes, I do keep a tab on world politics (including India) at times, but that's all about it. Day to day politics really isn't my cup of tea and does not affects me. But what really affects me is if I am getting a day off and am liable to pay more taxes (indirectly) as a result of a state declared holiday.

Yes, I do enjoy the time off and spend it with my family. Perhaps go out for a picnic or even spend the evening lazing around in a restaurant or enjoying the spicy chaat near the best Bitto Tikki wala, but apart from that there is a very dark reality behind the day off that many people do not understand and realize. Let me enlighten you from what I mean.

With our nations approximately Rs 72 Lakh Crores of money locked in some Swiss Bank, we a country of 1 Billion+ end up paying huge taxes that is directly passed on to the common man. With that said, a day loss in closed office/trading only means one more opportunity lost for a potential day of making huge amount of money. Additionally with this loss, the sentiment in the heart of the followers close to the deceased influenced by the anti-social elements of society will eventually take on to streets torching public property and perhaps even indulge in acts that are completely derogatory and cause both time and money on us tax payers part to fix that.

Now that is a huge loss, isn't it? How much are we as citizens to continue wait and watch this game and be ignorant of the facts that it's a loss to ourselves and no one else. We are the ones paying the debt and leaving the country into shams for the generations to come. The politicians will not leave any stone untouched to ensure that there is continuity of their games for their betterment and to be in power. After all it's all a matter of "Kissa Kursi Ka"

Listen up people and think twice that do we really need a holiday in the name of a politician's death only to mourn for couple of hours that is being televised on national TV and to erect statues on the cross roads only to let birds enjoy it for their own droppings. A better way to really mourn the death will be an efficient legislative process by finding the right replacement who will work for the community and fill the vacuum of the person deceased by good deeds and work that will eventually live for many years to come.

Adopting a child - The big question that I need answers for

2009-08-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

I was playing with my son the other day in children s play area when I saw this cute little white girl nearly 4-5 years old trying to climb up the slide. She tried at least couple of times but failed. I approached her and offered my hand for her to climb up the slide. To my surprise, I heard a voice from behind, of a man who very commandingly told me to stop and let the girl try it one more time. I backed out and watched her try once more. She grasped my shoulder this time and with all the power in her legs, she gave it a final push as if it was a matter of life and death. She made it to the top this time and turned back to me with a big smile.

I did not realize until that smile that the girl was a special gifted child with certain disability. With her intoxicating smile on my mind, I couldn't stop thinking while glancing at her, the luck she has brought to herself in this life. What a cute girl and what a price she is paying for a reason that god only knows about. I stepped aside and saw her father coming to her with a feeling that only a winner can feel after winning the gold medal in Olympics. He hugged her, took her in his arms and threw her up in air in excitement. The proud father then let her go and she vanished into other kids while the father went to take care of his second child a 3 year old son.

The incident made me go through a sleepless night constantly thinking about the unfortunate kids who do not get an opportunity to live a life that some others do. The ability to live a perfect life, with perfect home, parents and brothers and sisters to play with. I woke up the next morning turning to my wife talking about my thoughts of adopting a child in the family. At first she was amused to see me talk on this topic as she knew that something was bothering me. Eventually, the morning coffee and bright sun helped me ease out my thoughts to her.

She supported me in my noble thought but also advised me to introspect if I was ready to bring a new child to family that was not going to be mine. Her simple questions were

- Will you give this child the same love that you will give to your own?
- Will our parents accept this decision of ours?
- Will our own son who when grows up and realizes the truth be able to handle it?
- Will the new child itself be able to handle and live the fact that we are not his/her real parents?

I hoped that my situation will get better after talking my heart out, but the opposite happened. I was even in more confusion than what I was before I went to bed last night and was unable to see clearly through. I wasn't able to convince myself with the questions that my wife had asked me and it was like a world split between the feeling of helping a kid, a soul that will never get an opportunity to spend a decent life otherwise.

We have been thinking this ever since and have been unable to reach to any conclusions. I am of the opinion to adopt a child and provide that child a life that he/she will never be able to get if left alone in some foster house. I am pretty sure that I will be able to do justice with my love and affection to both kids and will treat them equally. I am seeking advice from parents/friends and family members on what do they think. I hope to be better educated and will arrive at the right decision of life by supporting an unfortunate kid who will never have to miss his/her parents or family for the rest of his/her life.

Winds of changes across the US - Kick starting the economy

2009-08-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

US Economy in recession, Consumer confidence is all time low and there aren't enough jobs being created here in US, thanks to the continuous outsourcing to countries like India and China are some of the most common things that you will hear these days regardless of the media that you choose.

On my recent trip to Sesame Place in PA, I was reminded by my wife while taking some food for everyone, that how come chains like McDonald's and others don't sell vegetarian options? With so many people turning green and vegetarian and not to mention, the ever growing population of immigrants (specially Indians), it will really help the masses to have more menu choices that suits their palates. Not only will it bring the people back to restaurants, it will have a positive affect on the overall economy of US with increased sales of their food items and also attract a totally different clientele.

That sounded logical to me and I was really thinking that it's just not the vegetarian food that will drive the economy, but also many other things that can really help draw attention of the US leaders. With opening up the gates of Immigration reforms by giving Green Cards to millions of pending eligible cases (many of them Indians/Chinese), there could be a ripple effect in the economy. With the highest percentage of tax payers on time, Indians and Chinese stand out prominently to their US counterparts and are waiting for their Green Cards to make heavy investments in the Housing Market of US. Imagine that scenario of housing market going up again and money being pumped in economy yet again.

But I guess, I am too optimistic of this scenario as I still don't think so that US in spite of electing a Black President (in the name of change) is ready yet to embrace even a larger change of giving some thoughts to either food or immigration matters. Hopefully, the winds of changes will blow across the entire nation and the economy will kick-start with these suggested thoughts.

Corporate Lessons - Thanks to a friend for sending this

2009-08-21T06:47:00.000-07:00

CORPORATE LESSON #1:

_______________________________

A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower when the doorbell rings. After a few seconds of arguing over which one should go and answer the doorbell, The wife gives up, quickly wraps herself up in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, The next door neighbor.

Before she says a word, Bob says, "I'll give you $800 Just to Drop that towel that you have on". After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands n*ked in front of Bob.

Bob has a close look at her for a few seconds, hands over $800 and quietly leaves.

Confused, but excited about her good fortune, the woman wraps back up in the towel and goes upstairs. When she gets back to the bathroom, her husband asks from the shower "Who was that?"

"It was Bob the next door neighbor," she replies.

"Great," the husband says, "did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?"

_______________________________

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Share critical credit information with your Stakeholders to Prevent Avoidable exposure!

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_______________________________

CORPORATE LESSON # 2

_______________________________

A priest was driving along and saw a nun on the side of the road, he stopped and offered her a lift which she gladly accepted. She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to open and reveal a lovely leg.

The priest had a look and nearly had an accident. After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg. The Nun looked at him and immediately said, "Father, remember psalm 129?"

The priest was flustered and apologized profusely. He forced himself to remove his hand. However, he was unable to remove his eyes from her leg.

Further on, while changing gear, he let his hand slide up her leg again. The nun once again said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?"

Once again the priest apologized. "Sorry sister, but the mind is weak."

Arriving at the convent, the nun got out, gave him a meaningful glance and went on her way. On his arrival at the Church, the Priest rushed to retrieve a bible and looked up psalm 129.

It Said, "Go forth and seek; further up, you will find Glory."

_______________________________

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Always be well informed in your job; or, you might Miss great Opportunities!

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_______________________________

CORPORATE LESSON # 3

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There were these 4 guys, a Russian, a German, an American and a French, who found this small genie bottle. When they Rubbed the Bottle, a genie appears.

Thankful that the 4 guys had Released him Out of the bottle, he said, "Next to you all are 4 Swimming pools,

I will give each of you a wish. When you run towards the pool and Jump, you shout What you want the pool of water to become, then your wish will come true."

The French wanted to start. He ran towards the pool, jumped and shouted WINE". The pool immediately changed into a Pool of wine.

The Frenchman was so happy swimming and drinking from the pool.

Next is the Russian's turn, he did the same and shouted, "VODKA" and immersed himself into a pool of vodka.

The German was next and he jumped and shouted, "BEER". He was so contented with his beer pool.

The last is the American. He was running towards the Pool when Suddenly he steps on a banana peel. He slipped towards The pool

And shouted, "CRAP !!!!!!!........."

_______________________________

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Mind your language, you never Know what it will land you in.

************************************************

_______________________________

CORPORATE LESSON # 4

_______________________________

A young executive was leaving the office at 6 PM when he found the CEO standing in front of a paper shredder with a piece of paper in his hand.

"Listen," said the CEO, "this is a very sensitive and important document and my secretary has left. Can you make this thing Work?"

"Certainly, Sir" said the young executive. He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.

"Excellent, excellent!" said the CEO as his paper disappeared inside the machine."I just need one copy."

_______________________________

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Never, ever assume that your BOSS knows everything.

Thank you Prateek for sharing this.

The father that I want to be.........

2009-08-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

It was a lazy Saturday morning when my son woke me up at about 7 AM. Glancing to my right and looking at the watch on the bedside table, I had no intentions of waking up specially after a late Friday evening that was marked by a sumptuous dinner and equally tasting chilled white wine. But as they say, once a father always a father, I scummed to the smile and naughtiness in my son's eyes that forced me to wake up and tend to his needs.

Not too long ago, I was of the very same age when I used to wake up my father on a Sunday morning asking him to do all the things that I had been missing while he was off to work every morning. The energy that used to build up over the entire week of not having spent a lot of time with my dad daily once he was back tired from his work, made me even more demanding.

My father tells me stories of the good times when life was easy in his small town called Pratapgarh, where everyone knew everyone, irrespective of which Gali or Nukkad (Street or Corner) you lived in. Elderly people used to gather around the so called Chowks (Crossroads) and continue to discuss their experiences and things that were happening. It really did not matter whether talks were related to the Mango crop that year or the water level of the Talaab (pond) that was frequently going down due to extreme summer. A common theme at the time was to simply get around in plain clothes and enjoy the company of others.

From the stories of my grandfather's childhood to my son's childhood, I can draw a bridge that encompasses 4 distinct generations, each filled with their own experiences in an era they lived and grew up. The colors of their lives can be spread over the canvas of my life that I will definitely want to pass it on to my son so that he remembers the same stories when narrating it to his grand children.

I finally pushed myself out of the bed following my son to his room which by all means was a junk yard where all his toys from cars to airplanes, animals to books were all over his room. What caught me by surprise was not the fact that how messy the room was, but the fact that my son wanted me to sit down and show the photo album that he had found from one of the closets. At first I didn't realize what he wanted me to show, but then things became clear.

He opened the album and images of my past flashed before my eyes. The image of my Dad holding me up in his arms with my Mother besides me smiling made me nostalgic. the black and white picture which I clearly remember was taken when I was about 3 years old back in the days when were living in Mathura, UP. My son looked at me for a while and sensed the silence in me trying to imagine in his own way, as to what i was thinking and about to do after this?

We finally spent the next 20 minutes slowly going through each picture in the album with me talking to him about each family member and the moments of the picture. He woke up and and gave me a big hug and said, "Daddy, can I be the son that you are in this picture?" I said, "Yes, you are already the son that I am in the picture". I finally asked the question to myself, "Am I the father that my father is in this picture though?". The answer still baffles me till this date as no matter how hard I try, I guess, I will have to introspect myself very carefully to define and understand what it takes to be the father that my father is in the picture.

We finally brushed our teeth and went on to have a happy conversation over breakfast with my son teaching me how to act his new "Caterpillar" poem that ends up in a "Butterfly".

Totally Unexpected - Chilling out during the day

2009-08-10T12:02:00.001-07:00

The sun was shining bright and high,
That's when you woke me up from my bedside,
With peaches and apples in my dreams,
I was nothing but a puppet in your theme.

You hold me, touch me, and kiss me everytime,
Only to ask me, "Honey" it's payback time,
I gave in all my love and cash,
for what? Just a bright big red rash!!

The happiness for me is a thought of the past,
I wish I could turn the ticking clocks at last,
With you standing next to me,
I could barely see the train coming at me.

No matter how hard we try,
the love between us never ceases to die,
With all my devotion for you,
Don't you have better things to do.

This can continue for the rest of the day,
Alas, I have but only 1 hour to waste today,
I'll surely come back tomorrow with a new rhyme,
Hopefully, I'll make some connection this time.

So all your readers of my blog,
Just don't take stress to your heart,
For this is not meant to be a boring one,
But if you think so, I can't help you anyone.

I'll see you all again with something better this time,
Hopefully to get more spicy comments online,
Cheer up and show a smile on your face,
For you all, gone are the crying days.

एक्सपेक्ट द अन एक्स पेक्ट एड (Expect the Unexpected)

2009-08-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

A lot of my friends have questioned me for two things. One, why the hell in this world did you choose your blogs name as "The Unexpected" and two, who the hell is Ooglers Googlers?

Good question, I said to myself. "And I need an equally good answer", said my conscience instantly. I thought a lot about it for many days and months and still don't have an answer. All I could find when I tried to introspect myself was the fact that what is after all in a name? Ok, don't get me wrong, I definitely am not going to the movie "Namesake", nor I am going to even make an attempt to replicate what the punch line of the movie was.

In true essence, Unexpected is a pandora's box of my thoughts and the moments (short or long lived) that sometimes hit you at the right place and makes you brood your head for that instance on what just happened. It's a quasi-state of mind where reality meets practicality, water and fire tend to fight for supremacy and that's when my mind oogles (ok my own terminology for pouring) the very best of me (at least this is what I think). From topics of my own growing up to my road trips, from people with their gestures to celebrities trying to increase their popularity, I cover the entire spectrum of topics and thoughts that come to my naive mind.

I once read in my Sanskrit class in form of a Shloak (verse), "Mind is the only thing that travels faster than light", when asked by the Yaksha of the magical pond from where the Pandava brothers tried to quench their thirst and ended up loosing their lives for arrogance and attitude. But for only Yudhisthir's calmness and presence of mind, I would have not been able to write this had he not answered all the questions that were posed to him by that Yaksha.

They say that mind is free to roam around the gardens filled with flowers filled with aroma of life that also follow the cycle of nature. From spring, when the buds are just coming out to bloom in summer and from autumn when the time has come for them to say good bye for a snow winter. Just like that I have my mind filled with thoughts that take birth when things occur in front of me and overflow when the heart cries along. Once I had wept completely, I shut down the flow of emotions to save it for the next heart touching event in life.

And for the name that I choose, that is also really unexpected and honestly, I simply liked the way it rhymed when It first came out of my mouth. As for you all my friends and readers of this blog, I truly wish and pray that you continue to read my thoughts and provide me with encouraging feedback in order for me to continue excercising my brain with the experiences that I will have in my life.

"We have but for one life to live and enjoy" - A very dear friend of mine

The Warm Hospitality of Indian Diaspora

2009-08-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

As I walked down the cafeteria yesterday at around 12 Noon, I was rather surprised to see large gathering of people around one station of specialty cooking. It did not take me long to realize that the aroma of succulent curry infused with the warm spices can only be an indication of Indian Feast. My company, Marriott had finally given in to the Indian Diaspora and the numerous Non-Indian food lovers working at their head quarters here in Bethesda, MD.

With people waiting in the long queue holding their tray in hand, trying to get a glimpse of the menu, I saw someone who looked like my grandfather (although he passed away some years ago, I still see him guiding me in dreams many times). Nearly the same height, the same attitude with his head held high in air and with a commanding voice that will divert anyone’s attention at least for a second, was standing nearby with a smile on his face and his hands folded welcoming the people as they were standing in queue to get their food.

I stopped for a second and thought to myself, what a great gesture this person is showing. He is here to make money by selling the food from the restaurant that he runs. Although he has no reason to be so hospitable in his gestures, he is doing partially because he wants to gain the business and partially because it is imbedded in his genes from the upbringing that he has had as an Indian back home in India. A simple smile definitely went a long way as even people who were standing in the queue at the Bar-be-cue section were forced to stop by and at least say hello and for the lesser known “Non Indians”, they definitely had a heart to heart discussion about the food that was being presented.

All during my lunch I simply could not stop thanking my parents, the rich culture and heritage that I have grown up with all these years that has given me this opportunity to shine in the land of opportunities amongst people of different cultures and race to make a mark of my own. I made a promise to myself of making sure that I pass down this sense of hospitality and openness to the generations that are yet to see, feel and understand the true meaning of being born to an Indian family.

I today understood what I had learnt in my 10th grade Sanskrit class about the true meaning of hospitality and being warm to others. No wonder, the old man with his charming personality and the gesture of greeting people personally with his hands folded will land him a huge contract at Marriott to cater Indian food.

Is it time for me to tell my wife to stop cooking for my lunch as I can surely learn a thing or two during my lunch?

My Delhi Rains - My very own personal pains

2009-07-27T19:41:00.000-07:00

When the sun scorches at more than 45 degree Celsius, the mirage on the road when traveling on Outer Ring Road to my house in Rohini takes me into a world of mystery filled with the thoughts of what would happen if there were no rains/water ever pouring in Delhi. Conversely when the rains come down, the very thought of mystery turns into a reality of pain and agony, remembering the good old days of sweating in heat and enjoying the cool moist air of Coolers.

So it rained finally in Delhi; thanks to the rain-gods that showered some mercy on the smelting land of Delhi. In a matter of few hours the land once ruled by great Mughals where Yamuna used to flow near the Jharokaas of Red Fort was soon filled with the feeling that people have been waiting for weeks. From couples out in the rain embracing each other, holding hand in hand, feeling the first wet sensual touch of this new monsoon to kids who simply can't resist throwing all their homework and play to gather in tolis with their like minded friends and dancing to the tune of Barso Re Megha, Barso Re, were definitely making A R Rahman proud of his filmfare award winning score.

But there were others that weren't too excited by this change. Although the temperature had cooled off their temper at work, the bosses were still insisting on getting the work done until late in the evening ensuring that adequate coverage was provided in seving the Gora clients across 7 seas. The Charted buses went packed from Noida to Gurgaon, passing through the posh localities of South Delhi to the common mans land of Punjabi Bagh. With Minto Bridge and under the wrath of rain-gods, people weren't shying off to share Samosas and Jalebis that were gonna go bad had it not been for the estranged travelers in the bus.

The government was staying put in their Janpath quarters hoping not to reveal the truth of business decisions and deals that were made with the greedy contractors that were hoping to rake in money for the upcoming Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi sometime in the future. People in anger giving cues to Sheila Dikshit to resign if she were to be watching Breakfast News on NDTV.

How can we as tax paying citizens continue to be in the state of Selective Amnesia towards the crippling state of the city which is labeled as the next big thing in India. A place that reflects the true picture to the western world. No wonder when people ask me here at work, "Do you still ride in Bullock Carts?", I now really wish that we were to riding in one, since the only mode of transportation that would not go kaput would have been the hard work of a Bullock trying to pull the inventions of modern day civilization that once Mr. Henry Ford promised to change the life of every citizen in this world.

Indeed, life has changed for Delhites who are at an absolute mercy by hyming Hanuman Chalisa to drain the water that has not only flooded their homes, but also an icon of Delhi, the Indira Gandhi Interntional Airport. With water dripping from its ceiling and Airport Authoirty workers toiling hard in vain to sweep the water, it was a true reflection of a democracy that has gone awfully wrong.

Although I can only sit here and blog about this, I wish that the people in India wake up to the reality of what has been put forth against them. This rain is no worse than the terrorist that shook up the very foundation of Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, as it continues to terrorise the very essence of our daily life both mentally and emotionally.

Did i just wake up the masses soaked in their very own version of Baad (Flood) and Keechad (Dirt) that for surely continues to drip one Baalti (Bucket) at a time.

Mockery of an Indian Wedding - Raakhi ka Swayamvar

2009-07-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

TNT should pay all the money they have in their bank account to get exclusive rights for the event that has everything from Drama to Romance, Sex to Glamor, Boredom to Pathetic, you name it and this new show on Indian channel NDTV Imagine is raking all the TRP ratings that one can imagine.

The show is all about an Indian ITEM GIRL celebrity as she is known to the common man, Raakhi Sawant is conducting the modern day version of Swayamvar, a very old indian ritual where great kings used to invite warriors and other able kings and princes to get their daughter married by holding a contest and letting the daughter pick the one she likes the most.

With as many as 16 candidates from all across India from varied background of Marketing to Actors, Police Officers to Unemployed folks have flocked down to the city of Udaipur, where the set of their wedding chapel has been erected in the Fort of Fatehgarh. The contestants have to woo the beauty in front of them by hook or crook and survive the game of elimination.

Marriage to me in the real sense is an institution that is made in heaven. No matter how hard we try, there is someone made for us somewhere. The idea behind the swayamvar in olden days was for the parents to find the perfect match for their daughters in a person who was capable in all sense of world to keep their daughter happy and provide all the elements of a married life. Qualities that were judged in the prospective groom sometimes varied from physical strength to intelligence or simply the overall quality of the person no matter what his color, creed, caste and religion was.

The current version of episiatmic trauma is simply humurous in its very sense. How can people who know that the girl they are contesting for is an actress who is nothing more than an item of decoration on the mantlepiece. Her history of being labeled as the item girl in the industry will surely bring laurels to the family and even the person who will eventually marry her. More so, I wonder how long will the marriage eventually last. Given the Elizabeth Taylor and Saif Ali Khan phenomena now very much part of our day to day life, it won't be long when the couple sees the lines of splitsville.

For guys, its a good opportunity to ride on the fame at a national level where in a population of 1 Billion+, this seems to be the best option to get printed on the daily newspapers and be labeled as Mr. Raakhi Sawant. Others are simply there for temporary fame in the show and will definitely be raking in loads by being interviewed by those Page 3 connoisseurs.

As far as Raakhi goes, no women in her true sense would like to display her misery in a better fashion that what she is doing by televising the choice of would be husband extravaganza on national television. Has she gone down so under that she is unable to attract producers from Bollywood that she needs to make money by selling her privacy? From what I see, she still has the potential of beating any upcoming item girl with her vuluptous bod that has only curved more around the right areas after the diet programs that she has gone under for this show.

I only wish that whatever she and the person who ultimately ties the knot with her live happily for whatever the time they have to and make in all the moolah for publicizing their act of modern day swayamvar. It's that time of the day when I hook on to watch yet another episode of comedy in "Raakhi ka Swayamvar" and add more to this thought of mine.

Ciao.

Independence Day - Celebrating it across the seas

2009-07-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

"Get the grill in and let's get ready for the big Bar-BQ", were the words that we spoke over the phone here on 3rd July on the eve of Independence Day.

4th of July as it's commonly known as the long weekend here in US marks the celebration of freedom of spirits, liberation of thoughts, culture and the passion that people of this country have in them. In a way this is not merely a regular holiday for the people here in US, but is a day when vibrant colors come out, families get together in all spirits and flock to places to be part of the history in evening when firecrackers light up the tinsel sky.

With sun setting down somewhere in the west and night just maturing, we gathered at a friends place to watch the fireworks from the deck of his house. Preparations were going on from last night when we decided to have a vegetarian barbecue (kind of different for the locals here). From Paneer (cottage cheese) marinated in limey mix of yogurt infused with spices and the flavor complimented by chunks of bell peppers, onions and squash, to Portabello Mushrooms soaked in Balsamic Vinegar and the juicy Cauliflower marinated in lime and Barbecue Sauce was surely going to make the evening a special one.

The grill heated up and smoke started to cook the food inside. While all this was happening, I remembered the nostalgic days of growing up back home in India when on our Independence day (15th August), the first thing to do was to get ready and head out straight to school where National Anthem was performed by all the students followed by flag hoisting either by the Principal of the school or some local celebrity and then the best part of the day, distribution of sweets to everyone in school.

We as kids at the time never thought the true meaning of the independence that was hard fought and earned by our forefathers during a dark era, who sacrificed their future for our present. The struggles that they (forefathers) went through is common across the countries whether it is India or USA. The sincerity of purpose to attain freedom and stand on our own feet has led to these two vibrant nations that are so different in culture and stand out uniquely on the map of world.

I paused for a moment and said to myself, "Let me compare the real meaning of independence in its true sense between the two countries". For US, Independence means flourishing as the most advanced nation in the world, technologically savvy, leaps ahead when it comes to innovation, modern and evolved higher education system, a very mature socio-economic culture, more than required legal infrastructure and a sense of belonging to the country. For India, our independence still revolves around getting pass by for the basic necessities of life in many parts of the country. Corruption at the most basic roots of our very own democracy has crippled the society filled with insatiable amount of hatred and anger for each other due to limited resources. Although we are hailed as one of the top emering nations in this world, its localized to some pockets of the country only where our politicians and our very own self inflated demons of culture have become an impediment to the betterment of our society.

The other side of coin made me think, "Wait a second, who am I after all to say this, specially when I still have the image of a country from some 10 odd years ago?". Check out the new generation and the amount of change that has been brought into the society. With my Bai (housemaid) owning a brand new Nokia phone, with every child in the house now well versed with what's happening in rest of the world, our society is taking giant steps for the new millenia. As everyone says, that Rome wasn't built in a day, a country where 1+ Billion people reside in less than half the size of US, it is imperative to say that life will slowly but definitely change only if we continue to understand the true meaning of Independence to its deepest level.

Loads of work has to be done in building and shifting our thinking to take us to the next level where we are not bound with the stone age demons of culture. Citizens have to understand that submissive nature of our very own breed will not poise us towards the advancement that some western cultures and world has achieved so far. Keeping a very good blend of our roots and the modern world thinking is the key to unlocking secrets of a bright future for the present day generation.

It is my duty also to contribute to the best intellectuals in the world who are surely on the path of socio-economic nirvana and the day is not far when thoughts of "Athithi Devo Bhav" (Guest is like a god) will resonate the corners of world, "Thank you", "You are welcome" and holding the door for the person behind you while coming out will become part of our very own society.

I was brought back to reality by the hissing sound on the grill that was an indication that my veggie kebabs were ready to be mixed with seasoning of lime juice, chaat masala and be enjoyed by sipping on the margaritas and other thirst quenching drinks. Shortly after, I was sitting on the patio set of the deck with my camera ready to capture the fireworks show that we all had waited for over an year only to remember the good days of Diwali that were well spent and celebrated back home some 2-3 months after the Independence day.

The healthy way of using Cheerios for a fusion food lover

2009-07-06T06:39:00.003-07:00

Ingredients:

- Cheerios - 1 Packet
- Spring Onions - 1 No
- Ginger - few nicely sliced (julienne)
- Soy Sauce - 2 tbsp
- Rock Salt - a pinch for the ultimate taste
- Thai Chilli - 1 No (nicely cut into very small pieces)
- Tomato - 1 No
- Salt and Pepper - to taste

So here is my ultimate recipe that I have created over the years to improvise on the bland taste of the amazing Cheerios that I sometimes hate to eat with milk. It was honestly an accident that led to this discovery. Although, I have created many fusion dishes, I like this a lot as one of the quickest and most acceptable to everyone's palate.

All you have to do is mix in the ingredients and toss it a little. Just add a dash of any of your favorite sauce (from chipotle to hot sauce), the taste I guarantee will entice all food lovers and will make them come again and again at your place.

Need not to mention, I have already tried this on many of my friends, relative and acquaintances and I get repeat customer again and again. I honestly wish only if our life and people in this world were to live so happily by fusing with each other.....there won't be a requirement for a specialty cuisine restaurant.

More to come in my later posts.....Promise from a fusion chef

The death of an icon - Michael Jackson

2009-07-06T06:39:00.001-07:00

I had barely entered in my teens when i was first given the taste of music by a man who would eventually become the "King of Pop". A black man at the time with a voice and moves that would even make a stone dance was perhaps the best thing that continued to rock my entire teenage hood.

From "Thriller" to "Bad", from "Black of White" to "Dangerous", it was Michael's move all the way. The moonwalk, the break dance combination moves combined with the amazing voice was the in-thing while growing up.

With the news of his sudden demise today, I couldn't believe like many millions who had been waiting for him to return for his tour this July. With so many expectations from him and the legacy he had created over all these years, it will perhaps take many eons to digest the fact that he as us all is mortal and will be immortal with his music that defines the persona he has created in this land of opportunity.

I guess, I'll be spending this weekend reading a lot about him and all the heights he achieved via fame (good or bad), yet died living in a rented apartment leaving a question for all of us to ponder upon - Is life really a "Thriller" or "Dangerous" when "Bad" moments fail to identify whether you are "Black or White".

Programmers Kitchen

2009-07-06T06:38:00.001-07:00

From aromatic kitchens filled with herbs and spices to the Desktop of my computer has been a long journey filled with inspiration. To take the dotcom business and create a virtual restaurant of my own filled with perspiration to reach the impossible.
I was a hotel management graduate filled with zeal to serve the community and be a part of the ever growing services industry, but for that day when I was in the Crystal Ballroom managing the largest ever party hosted by the hotel in welcoming the biggest software professional of the country while he was in town to unfurl his latest innovation to be offered to the world.
The audience of 1000 +, pressmen all over the ballroom, shining lights to cover the inauguration of the site on television was making me feel a little uncomfortable and a little inquisitive as I began to think the fame this person had achieved at the age of 28 by taking the entire country and the world by storm by a little thing called a website.
I was influenced so much that I decided to convert my dreams into reality and make a mark on the Multi-Billion dollar Dot Com Industry.
It wasn't easy to change the winds from "Devils on Horseback" to understand the loops and the syntaxes of the computer language but with strong determination and keeping the dream in the mind I had to accomplish; I did manage to learn the loops and the syntaxes of the language.
It took me a year to get the hold of the new lingo I had grasped, leaving behind the all important sauces and dressings for the salads, as I was about to have a new dish in my course, though served on a platter but all in raw state as I had the uphill task of cooking and garnishing it into a nouvelle dish.
I got a job as a programmer in a start up company and it was then I realized that converting dreams into reality wasn't an easy task as there are miles to go ahead and this was the beginning of a new era in my life. Working day and night with full devotion and an urge to make a mark on the industry, I committed myself to the work where I let myself bake in the heat to make a crisp career out of it.
It wasn't long when I had the first promotion in the company and was given the opportunity to lead the team and independently take on the projects and also was asked to incorporate my marketing and communication skills I possessed by virtue of having worked in the service industry. I started handling the clients educating them about the future of Internet in the country and the manifold benefits a business can make by reaching global levels, getting more projects for the company and also balancing my newly acquired technical skills, amalgamating them with the seasoned communication skills.
Time passed by and it was a year I had ventured into the Internet business, when I had the opportunity to work abroad for a Multinational company. It was then I had started realizing that my dreams were coming true and my virtual restaurant was about to take birth, unfolding its services to the entire world.
Having worked for another 2 years I had acquired enough skills and experience that I decided to give birth to my restaurant and make it a real entity. I started off with my own company and made my dream come true.
It is now that I am sitting in the executive suite of the hotel where I had the dream of making it in the IT industry and waiting for sunrise, for a rendezvous with the man who inspired me to these heights to become business partners and serve the entire society with better value added services and a little more human touch that we all care for…….

Butterflies in stomach and one in mouth......
"Ever felt these feelings... in your life.....? If not here is something that I have felt on numerous occasions in my life and would like to share the same with you.....", were the opening words of the speech by an ordinary human being, whom we all know and lives within us all the time, yet we are unable to realize his presence most of the time.
Wondering as to what feelings he is talking about, kept me curious and made me sit for the entire 3 hours that he was there on the podium standing wearing a white shirt and a black trouser with spectacles on his eyes and tinge of gray hair that showed the experience and the depth of the words that this man has achieved in all these years.
Why we always fail at the last moment when we are so near to victory, yet are unable to cross the last hurdle and remain in agony and pain to only see that someone else has taken over us and enjoying what would have been a sweet victory for you.
Why always failed to ask out the most beautiful girl from school days for Friday night and why failed to pay your bills and taxes on time and then blame the government for having a cumbersome process for all the things that you have been missing out....

Well this is life, and so are we, and there is no denial that good time always comes after a patch of bad time when we curse for our own self existence and try to find out the faults in system.

To know what is happening wrong is something that not everyone can realize until he himself has experienced the consequences that happen after the thing is done... and little is left after the shattering experience to gather all the pieces and try to find out the cause and the preventive measures from that calamity.

"Learn from the experience that comes your way and try to encapsulate the root cause of the happening and isolate the piece that causes the flow of adrenaline in the system by manifolds.", was one statement that made me realize that it is not him speaking from some book, but speaking from his experience and the wounds that have healed in time only after he has learnt to master the art of smiling even when he is in a punishment and has won half the battle...

Its a long battle not only for me, but to you all to win and learn to live with those butterflies in your stomach and make the wordings mentioned above.

Oops.... did I hear that girl asking me out for a date this Friday night....guess a butterfly in my mouth.....

And you thought.....

2009-07-06T06:37:00.000-07:00

"And you thought that this will be something that you will care about for the rest of your life.....", were the lines that came to my mind and I don't know what they mean, still when I look into the words and try to analyze, they mean a lot to me...

I was behind the wheels driving my way to Boston when this came to my mind, looking straight on the road avoiding changing of lanes and speeding up on the highway was the prime directive that i had to follow.

Change is the only constant thing in the world and it accelerates slow enough, to just keep you wondering and inquisitive to learn the real truth behind it and this is what I I felt on my way to a journey that I will never forget for many years to come....

Life was so smooth until now when I had to drive all the way from Washington DC to Boston in Massachusetts, a good 9 hrs drive and that made me a little jittery and questioned my driving skills in USA.

People speeding from the left and right breaking all the laws laid down by the authorities and making me feel little more nervous on the 70 miles speed expressway to the darkest and scariest tunnels under the sea, the busy George Memorial Bridge of New York City and long green woods of Connecticut shaping the way from a hairpin running all across the mountain to the straight roads of Massachusetts Turnpike.

Life seemed to be so amazing and challenging that I started comparing the roads and my journey with out life that we are here for struggling day and night from the hard work and impatience that sometimes leads us to nowhere.

The long roads were the life that one has to live and drive all his being on this earth and reach the destination taking the shortest possible way or long routes meeting various places and people as we meet and intersect on other highways and enter different stated and cities.

The lush greenery and the woods seemed to be the angels and parents and friends that take care of you on your way to reach the eternity and make your trip comfortable by laying you on their lap and showering the flowers as they do in fall when the season is about to change.

People riding with you are the one with whom you have to spend the rest of your life in all circumstances and your success depends on how your navigator guides you not only through the roads to reach the destination, but also leads you from all darkness to show you the correct path filled with light.

Breakdowns of the care are stumbling blocks that teach you something in life and make you prepared to face any difficulty and challenges that come across your way with a smile and a cook head.

Night seems to be that unknown angel that attracts you with its capability to drive fast and reach the destination, only to cause accidents and other incidents that force you to think twice that "A known devil is better than an unknown Angel".

Finally you reach the destination, leaving behind all other co drivers on the road and meet the people you had started this journey for.....complementing it to that part of everyone's life when he has to come to a rest and start over again for another long journey filled with unknown and deceptive path and come out again as a shining sun the next morning......

"And you thought that this will be something that you will care about for the rest of your life....."

The Mirror in you

2009-07-06T06:35:00.000-07:00

Look at yourself when you wake up in the morning......what do you see? A person little lost or a person happy with what's left from last night? A warrior with shades of victory or a looser with hair pulled out? A person for whom the sun is rising or a person for whom the night should never end?No matter what you see, the reality is you get to see what you want to see in the mirror of life!!

Ever thought of bending the light around the mirror and see where the light really comes from? The mirror is really in you...............