What's the big deal?

With all the hungaama going on about making Vande Mataram compulsory in schools, I wonder... Does it really matter? Does singing a song "define" how patriotic we are? I do not deny that it's a great song, with lots of history behind it.
Vande Mataram, in it's true sense was not a song. It was a "feeling". All our freedom fighters sang it in one voice. Nobody (at that time) even bothered if they were Hindu, Christian, Muslim , Sikh... They sang it for it's "spirit". How come it did not hurt their religious sentiments then?
Ok, lets assume that at "that" time, the only thing in their mind was "freedom" and didn't really bother about the intricacies of a song. But NOW.. Things are different, people "think" a lot.. (the MEDIA definitely adds on to the thinking!). So now they feel the song is inappropriate for Muslim beliefs. So be it! Let them not sing it!
When will we ever grow up? Doesn't the government (read Mr.Arjun Singh) doesn't have any better work to do? Don't they realize that making anything "compulsory" makes everybody want to rebel against it? Why this now? Don't they have anything else to think about? What about poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, education (oh yes! They took care of it with 50% reservation ;-)), female infant killings, goondaism, smuggling, drugs... Oh forget it! The list is endless.. But only to me! All HE can think about is how to rake up a controversy! He is bent upon dividing us! He is the modern age Shakuni. Grrrrrrr
I don't think anybody has to prove their patriotism by singing a song! I studied in a convent, and everyday we used to sing songs praising Jesus, did it make me any less Indian?
Ha!Ha! We boast our heart out saying we are secular.. blah! blah! And then we "enforce" things... Widening the already existing gap between different sects of people! God help him! God help our country!
Vande Mataram!

- A proud, but a very sad Indian!

The INDIAN Niagara...:) There you go!

Jog Falls is situated amidst dense forests of Western Ghats. She is river Sharavathi, making the falls spectacular to watch specially when she is flowing full. Raja , Roarer , Rocket and Rani are how the four different falls are called. River Sharavathi then moves on and joins the Arabian Sea at Honnavar. Feast your eyes with this vedio... I have been to this place before :) College trip! What fun it was.... We trecked all the way down to the bottom of the falls in the wee hours of the morning. And then I slipped on a rock which had algae and fell.. broke my back! Or so I thought! I could not move a muscle... And remember we still had to treck back all the way up. My friends used the push-pull technology to somehow get me back up there. My friend N pushed me from behind and L pulled me from the front..and we made all the way like that. Went to a hospital and took an x-ray, thank God! it was just a muscle pull and I had not broken anything :) By the way, L was holding my hand when I fell... so he felt guilty all thru the trip that he let me fall down! He used to line-marofy me ;-) This L thingy is a saga in itself... I will write about it sometime when I get time. For all you lucky guys out there in India, time to plan the next vacation? P.S: Thanks to Pavan! He told me "how" to put this video on the blog :)

Tip Tip Barsaa Paani.....

YAYYYY!!!! It finally rained in this desert!

It started with severe lightning and thunderstorms yesterday afternoon. Out fire alarm started yelling... It's not used to this you know... It needs some burning HOT sun... Sudden lightning and thunderstorms are not acceptable... So it yelled, cried, screamed like a baby for a full 45 minutes!

My ears were gone for a toss after that. I tried in vain to stop it, but nopes! It just would not budge. It kept the fire department people busy for atleast 30 minutes before relenting!

That's all you can expect.. Now come on it's 105+ from the past 2 months and suddenly out of the blue it starts raining like that... Anybody will get scared and start crying... Yes! Including the fire alarm!

Today morning. Woke up for the first time in 4 months without sweat in my hair! I was infact feeling cozy and comfortable in my bed, thanks to a cool night :). The morning looked beautiful! My coffee actually became a little less warm when I stood in the balcony sipping it! Generally it becomes more hot ;-) That is at 7 in the morning!

Finally the umbrella which I had carried and come from India for emergency situations like this came into use ;-) Opened it and "stylishly" walked to the car holding it :D I felt so nice then... Though I feel stupid right now... ***blushes***...

My car was washed in the "car-wash" just last week. But then, some crows found it very attractive to put their "mark" on it just after the wash.. And so it was there all these 4 days.. But now after this rain.. Everything is gone! Actually now thinking back, the car looks much much cleaner now than after the car-wash thingy! Nothing to beat "natural-stuff" huh?

Was in full josh in office... Generally because of the excessive heat... It drains out all the energy in me.. And I feel so tired at office. But today.... I was so happy, cheerful, energetic.. Whatnot! I am amazed what a little shower can do to your day to day life....

So I know I am blabbering... But then I am happy... I am happy that it rained.. I am happy that I got drenched in the rain yesterday.. I am happy that I walked to office with an umbrella in hand... I am happy that I am happy...

Yes!Yes!Yes! It's still drizzling slightly.... God... Let this go on forever...:) Do I even need to mention that I love rains?

The then Mahishapuri... The now Mysore.

One of my friends sent me this and I couldn't help smiling and agreeing with "each-and-every" sentence! Here it goes.

Mysore cannot be experienced in holidays or weekends. Like a creeper growing and encircling the staff, you have to live, and grow with Mysore to experience it. You have to be with the ajjis who have seen you from the time you were soooo small, where the maid who works in your house is your family maid, your ajji had "recruited" her mother.

Mysore is:

• When you go on an evening walk, and the poojari of the Ram mandir, stops and chats with you, and moves on saying there is a pooja at 5 next morning.
• When you walk a little ahead and the librarian says he has the latest copy of "Kasturi" or "Mayura".
  
• When the milkman sees you on a walk, and delivers an extra half litre without being asked.
• When you board a bus at the bus-stand and conductor-uncle gives you a ticket without asking.
  
• When you collect little red 'gulganji' seeds on your way back home from KukkarahaLLi lake.
  
• When you come by the Tippu express, and you find someone going in your direction to drop you off.
• When elephants are marched in from the forests for Dussehra.
  
• When you wait for your copy of "Star of Mysore". - That's an evening daily.
  
• When the English movies are only at Rajkamal. Or Sterling.
  
• When you look for your KEB uncle to book tickets at Woodlands.
  
• When there are student body elections in Sarada-Vilas.
  
• Mysore is the eternal SJCE-NIE feud.
  
• When Jayciana is.
  
• When you got your project report bound at Venkateshwara Binders in Saraswatipuram.
• Having grape juice at RTO circle.
  
• Buying vegetables at Agrahara.
  
• Buying plantain leaves in NanjumaLige, savoring the aroma of the agarbatti factory behind.
• Eating ice-creams at Penguin. - That was the first "all-icecream" joint in Mysore.
  
• Eating dosa at Mylari Hotel.
  
• Having biriyani early in the morning, near Philo's church.
  
• Drinking sugarcane juice near kukkarahaLLI lake.
• Munching corn-on-the-cob in the palace foreground.
  

Mysore is when I grew up in Mysore. My Mysore.
Mysore before :

• GRS
  
• Underbridge in front of Saraswatipuram Fire Brigade
• Infosys
• Ring-Road.

Those who grew up in that Mysore, will relate to me more than those who came to Mysore, to work for Infosys, or those who came to study, or those who think Mysore is a good place to invest, or those who think chilling out in Mysore is just CCD or Pizza Corner.

Oh, How they misunderstand my pretty home !!!

Found out now.. that the "original" author of this post is viky
He has commented here!

Thanks Viky! For transporting me back to nammooru...:) When I was reading this, I forgot that I was in Uncle Sam's Land..and was actually visualising each and every place you had mentioned there!

Yes! I have GREY MATTER... But it's a PAIN!

Whenever I used to complain to my mom about head ache, she used to say "don't worry, it will go in some time. Sleep for few minutes. By the way, if you have headache, it only proves that you have "head" and that's why it aches ;-)"


I now have a terrible head ache. This is bad, pathetic what not! It's been there from yesterday afternoon. It's complete 24 hours now and yet it has no idea of leaving my head. Somebody please tell me how to get rid of this?

Now that it's proven that I have a head... I don't want to prove it more... Please ache.. Please go!!!!!


I tried the below mentioned remedies- none worked, in case you are still wondering!

Had a HOT cup of STRONG coffee - This one has been tried and tested before, and it has 99% success rate!

Put 2 inches of Amruthanjan - The ad claims, the head ache will disappear in 5 mins. It's 24*60 minutes now. Still no clue of disappearing

Switched off my laptop (with great difficulty) and just stood in the balcony for the whole of the evening! - Texas is HOT! So it was not exactly very pleasant outside. But still endured it to prevent myself from going anywhere near my laptop or the Idiot Box (read TV)

Had hot water - first drank some, and then took bath also!

I generally wear glasses while working on the computer. But yesterday I wore it even while in a meeting - Thought the headache was because of eye-strain

Haven't listened to music for full 24 hours - This is the toughest part. But yes! I tried that as well

Took an advil - I am generally against taking medicines for small things. But this time it was unbearable, so at the 21st hour, took it. But it's full 3 hours after that and still the head ache is ON

Somebody please tell me.. Apart from cutting off my head, is there any other way to get rid of this pain! Innovative ideas that will make my life more interesting are welcome ;-)

The BIG challenge

I don't know what's got into P. He has vowed that he will not speak to me for 15 days!
Why? Don't ask me... I have absolutely no idea. When I asked him what got to him? He said "He just wants to "test" how long he can stay without talking to me.

So today is Day 0.

It kinda feels very weird.. I am used to talking to him atleast 3 times a day.. Not long calls, just 5 mins each time. Sometimes he calls, and sometime I call. He has asked me not to call him over the weekend also...

A few reasons (based on the history), for him to stop talking to me. (None of them have lasted more than a few hours though):

• When we have a fight - Now that's quite obvious.
• When there is a India-Pakisthan cricket match being telecast live! - Absolutely "nobody" is supposed to talk to him during this time. And yes! This silence lasts for a full day - That's the longest!
• When he has quarelled with his mother or sisters... and I support "them" instead of him.
• When he is extremely upset with his friend A. - Don't ask me why he stops talking to "me" at such situations.. but he does that anyways.
  
• When either me or him are on-travel overseas.
• And ofcourse when he sleeps! - Nothing can disturb him, my phone calls are blissfully ignored.
  

In the present scenario, none of the above condition holds good... so why this naatak?

I HATE THIS!

God Bless America... and India more than that please....

"Indian" Independence day celebrations in America.

• Independence day March - American Flags held in hand with Indian Tri-Color as Shoulder belts.
• The march band - Not sure what they played, but were all some american numbers. That much I could make out. (They confirmed that later on while thanking the school band!)
• Shouting - Jai Hind, Vande Mataram , Azaadi Amarrahe and God Bless America all at the same time!
• The stalls - All "supposedly" authentic Indian stuff. The prices were well.........! If I ever loose my job, I am going to join this "business".. ;-). Buy something in India for 100 odd rupees and sell it here as "desi stuff" for atleast $30!
• Newly weds - clung together like they have been "joined" by fevicol. I wonder what's with desi couples in videsi envi... too much physical love for display! I can understand if it was some romantic place or something remotely close to that... but come on.. it's Independence Day celebrations remember? It's a big ground with some stalls around. I wonder what's romantic in that?
• Rows and rows of food stalls :-). No surprises in that. Indians are fond of food like ants are fond of sugar :-). So there is Gujju, Punjabi, Mumbai, Gulti, Mallu, you-name-it kind of food. We are celebrating world food day.. in case you are asking :P
• National Anthem - Sung by a female in a "raaga" of her own. I always thought you are not supposed to add any "beautification" stuff to the national anthem! It's not to display your singing skills. There are other songs for that.

Anyway, even with all these.. it was a wonderful evening. Saturday evening (the pre-poned Independence Day celebrations!)

The best part was concert by some sa-re-ga-ma-pa singers. Though nothing fantastic, it was good.

The grand finale was fireworks. I will upload the video of it soon :)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY FOLKS!

Update:

We the people shall celebrate the anniverseries of these momentous events, which occur in 2007. What the governments seem to be ignoring, we shall celebrate in our own way.

Please copy the image above and put it in your own blog, along with this request.

Source: Jag's Blog

We are being ruled by MORONS!

Yes. This is exactly what I felt after reading this article!

The gist of the artcile, if you are too lazy to read the whole thing! (Frankly speaking these days I am more happy reading movie reviews than these news items. It makes me feel irritated seeing the sorry state of affairs!)

US embassy : Warned India of terror attacks by foreign terrorists - possibly the al-Qaeda - between Aug 11 and Aug 16.

Our Reaction (wah! wah!)

• Mr. V. K Duggal (Home Secretary): When we receive inputs, we will sensitize our state government and our police force as they go about making security arrangements based on the information provided. It's a very innocous advisory and that's just about it. In other words, promptly dismissing the "warning" as something "unlikely to harm or diturb anyone"!!! I wonder which part of the world does he live in? Has even heard of 7/11?
• Mr. Sriprakash Jaiswal (Minister of State, Home): Till now my ministry has not received any reactions and in fact as the advisory has come from abroad, it must have come to the MEA. If informed we will take all the appropriate steps. Wow! How cool is that! I mean these poeple are heroes man! They are not scared of anything! Wow! Hats off to their bravery! When it comes we will see attitude... when? after another 300 people are dead?
• Indian authorities have put major airports on red alert: Fantastic measure! Do they think that these terrorists are also morons like them to fly to India, just 1 day before they bomb the country! **Clap** Clap**. I am not saying that airports should not be on alert.. but boss! that is not a big thing that they have done and definitely not enough!
• Mr. A N Roy (Mumbai Police Commissioner): There is no need to panic. In case you come across any suspicious person or object, inform the police immediately.

The last one was super! I mean, terrorists attacks are not child plays. We have seen the samples of them! Be it 9/11 or 7/11 or everyday what's happening in Kashmir. And we are NOT "supposed" to panic? What then? Sit and wait for "anything" to happen?

And a normal Indian's day: Meet hazar people, busses, trains, road, theators wherever! And If I see anything suspicious report... What If I fail to notice the suspicious thing? What if it does not look suspicious?

Only GOD can help us! Each one of us have to be careful if the so called "protectors" are not doing their jobs. I am not saying that we should live with fear every single day. But just be cautious of your surroundings.

I also understand that it is not a cake walk to the intelligence agencies to find out who is plotting what plan and how to counteract it. I am just disgussted about the attitude of these people!

I want to see if they will talk the same if all the Z-security for them is revoked!

Hey! Nincompoop - will you EVER learn?

I will NEVER learn! I have been in this kind of situation a hundred times before.. but still!!! As some people say "Naayi baala donku" (You can never straighten a dog's tail!).

I can't say "NO" to people on their face. Be it official or personal. I always end up taking too much of work on my head in office, becasue some person will have some commitments and has to go early... but I cancel all my own plans and do his/her work as well! wah! shark wah!

Yesterday evening 7pm. One girl in my appartment block calls me and asks if she can stay with me for 2 months? And great old me says YES even without batting my eyelid.

She shifted all her stuff today... and believe me there is LOTS!!!!

Now I am regretting it. I can't share my room with one more person. I need some privacy!

Can somebody tell me how to kick myself?

The switch for my electric blanket is with somebody else...

Frankly speaking I do not know what to write about P. Should I write about him as a person all by himself? Or should I write about him as Mr.Shark? ;-)


P is very reserved to the outside world.. kind of keeps to himself unlike me who has some million friends and can talk even with a wall!!! He takes a LOT of time to come out of the "formality" mode and speak with people casually. So there it goes... our first difference :)


P shows his emotions right on the face. He CANNOT lie. This is good for me since I can always catch if he is lying to me about something... but bad for him because he can never hide anything from anybody ;-) Just by listening to his "hello" you can make out if he is happy or sad or not-so-ok or hungry (yes! you can make out that as well...) And all this is just listening to his "hello" over the phone... so you can imagine if he is right in front of you... you can even make out what he had for lunch ;-). This is difference number 2! I NEVER show my emotions on my face... I might be all gloomy and sad... but then I talk to people around me as if I am the most happiest person on earth! I rarely share my feelings with anybody.. sort of inside-myself kinds!


For P.., I am the most important person in his life. (Many people will be jealous of me.. I know ;-)). He will leave anything and come and meet me if I ask him to. This reminds me of an incident.

I was studying engineering at that time... and my semester exams were on. It was the last day of the exam.., It was a tradition of sorts for P to come and wish me for each exam personally. It so happened on this particular day he had to go out of town for some work. He had called me and wished me... But then, just as I was going to college, there he was! In the usual place.. standing and waiting for me.... He had driven some distance of 60kms inbetween his work... just so that he can come and wish me for the exam. He went back to work after that!!!!! P.., I fell in love with you all over again on that day... :)

Truly speaking I am not at all like that. For me also though P is the most important person in my life.. I am too practical!! I let my mind rule more than my heart! So there it goes another difference!

But then, even with all these differences, I have never felt that close to anybody else other than P. Yes! I am sort of a boring character.. I didn't even have a crush on anybody else before P!!!

Infact I was not even interested to get married... I had seen too many troubled marraiges around me.. and somehow that had left me not to beleive in the institution of marraige and all this "mooha".

But then, the entry of P changed everything. No! It was not love at first sight! (Though, P claims it was for him.. but I don't believe him..;-)). He was first my "teacher". Yes! whatever little programming I know today, it's all because of him.. :). Then he was my friend.. and then he became my boy-friend. It has been a beautiful journey... :)

Some of the things that I like about P..,

• He is always straight forward. He tells what he feels. He does not think one thing and tell another thing!
• He is very caring, not only with me.. but even with his friends and family, Goes out of the way to help people around him.
• He does not care about money! I hate people who think 100 times before spending even 100rs. But he is not like that... and I love that! After all what is the use of money you have, if you can't spend it!
• He is smart... I mean the way he talks, the way he presents himself... man I love him for that!
• He is clean :D Yes! That had to be a major criteria for me :) He is extremely cautious about his clothes.. (just like me).. irons them neatly each and every day he wears them. Goes to office, very well dressed! I hate men who don't care about their attire.. and don't even bother to take bath to go outside leave alone ironing clothes!
• He is extremely sensitive towards my feelings. He is the ONLY person who can make out how I am feeling inside... though I might be just the opposite on the outside.
• And most important... man! is he a good listener... with me, who can talk on and on about anything and everything, you need a real good listener as a partner..! And he is more than what i asked for :D

Some of the things which I would have loved if he ..,

• I wish, he could stand Shah Rukh Khan! It's a big effort to make him agree to go for a SRK movie with me... (I strongly feel this has more to do with Jealousy rather than hatred for SRK.. but till now he has not confessed!)
• I wish, he could learn to talk in Tamizh.. :)
• I wish, one day he owns a mercedes benz... :D
• I wish, he controls his temper atleast a little bit... is he short tempered? don't ask!
• I wish, he hadn't had 7 girl friends before me!!! :(((( (Now, it's another matter that those were all those school-crushes kinds... and never went beyond buying an icecream in the evening types... but still....!!!!!)

P.., THANK YOU... :)

• For making my life so beautiful.
• For everything you have done for me.. and for us.
• For making me feel so special when I am with you.
• For being just YOU

So, finally... this is what I have learned from being with P all these 6.5 years!!! yes! it's been a long time.. but a beautiful journey!.

Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride
worthwhile.
~ Franklin P. Jones

I love this man... If only everybody thought this way!

Ladies are gonna love Indian men for thinking this way!!! Really worth the read...

It seems that an article was written to a well-founded magazine, by an English woman who requested a response from Indian men. She got what she asked for (and more)!!!

----------------------------------------------------------------

This letter was written in response to an article:

Dear Editor:

I'm sorry but I would like to challenge some of your Indian male readers. I am a White female who is engaged to an Indian male, good-looking, educated and loving. I just don't understand a lot of Indian female's attitudes about our relationship.

My man decided he wanted me because the pickings amongst Indian women were slim to none. As he said they were either too fat, too loud, too mean, too argumentative, too needy, too materialistic or carrying too much excess baggage. Before I became engaged, whenever I went out I was constantly approached by Indian men, willing to wine and dine me and give me the world If Indian women are so up in arms about us being with their men, why don't they look at themselves and make some changes.

I am tired of the dirty looks I get and snide remarks when we're out in public.

I would like to hear from some Indian men about why we white women are so appealing and coveted by them. Bryant Gumbel just left his wife of 26 years for one of us. Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, the model Tyson Beckford, Montell Williams, Quincy Jones, James Earl Jones, Harry Belafonte, Sydney Poitier, Kofi Anan, Cuba Gooding Jr., Don Cornelius, Berry Gordy, BillyBlanks, Larry Fishburne, Wesley Snipes...I could go on and on. But, right now, I'm a little angry and that is why I wrote this so hurriedly.

Don't be mad with us White women because so many of your men want us. Get your acts together and learn from us and we may lead you to treat your men better. If I'm wrong, Indian men, let me know.

Disgusted White Girl,

Somewhere in VA.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The Response:

Dear Editor:

I would like to respond to the letter written by A Disgusted White Girl.

Let me start by saying that I am a 28-year old Indian man. I graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in Atlanta, Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management. I have a good job at a major corporation and have recently purchased a house. So, I consider myself to be among the ranks of successful Non-White men.

I will not use my precious time to slander white people. I just want to set the record straight of why Indian men date white women.

Back in the day, one of the biggest reasons why Indian men dated white women was because they were considered easy. The Indian girls in my neighborhood were raised traditionally.

Nowadays, in my opinion, a lot of Indian males date white women because they are docile and easy to control. A lot of Indian men, because of insecurities, fears, and overall weaknesses, have become intimidated by the strength of our Indian women. We are afraid that our woman will be more successful than us, make more money than us, drive nicer cars and own bigger houses. Because of this fear, many Indian men look for a more docile woman. Someone we can control. I have talked to numerous Indian men and they continuously comment on how easy it is to control and walk over their white women.

I just want to set the record straight. I want A Disgusted White Girl to know that not all successful Indian men date white women. Non-Whites like Ahmad Rashad, Denzel Washington, Michael Jordan, Morris Chestn! ut, Will Smith, Blair Underwood, Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Chris Rock all married strong Non-White women. And, to flip the script, there are numerous white men, in and out of the spot light, who openly or secretly desire Non-White women over white women. Ted Danson, Robert DeNiro, and David Bowie to name a few. I just don't want the 'Disgusted White Girl' to be misinformed.

Stop thinking that because you are white that you are some type of goddess. Remember, when Non-White Egyptian Queens like Hatsepshut and Nitorcris were ruling Dynasties and armies of men in Egypt, you were over in the caves of Europe eating raw meat and beating each other over the head with clubs. Read your history! It was the Non-White woman that taught you how to cook and season your food. It was the Non-White woman that taught you how to raise your children. It was Non-White women who were breastfeeding and raising your babies during slavery. It is the Non-White woman that had to endure watching their fathers, husbands, and children beaten, killed, and thrown in jail.

Indian women were born with two strikes against them: being Non-White and being a woman. And, through all this, Still They Rise!

It is because of the Indian women's strength, elegance, power, love and beauty that I could never date anyone except my Indian Queen. It is not just the outer beauty that captivates and draws me to them. It is not the fact that they come in all shapes, sizes, colours and shades that I love them. Their inner beauty is what I find most appealing about Indian women. Their strong spirit, loving and nurturing souls, their integrity, their ability to overcome great obstacles, their willingness to stand for what they believe in, and their determination to succeed and reach their highest potential while enduring great pain and suffering is why I have fallen in love with Indian women.

I honestly believe that your anger is geared more toward jealousy and envy than snotty looks. If this were not so, then why do you continuously go to tanning salons to darken your skin. If you are so proud to be white, then why don't you just be happy with your pale skin? Why do you continue to inject your lips, hips, with unnatural and dangerous substances so you can look fuller and more voluptuous? I think that your anger is really a result of you wanting to have what the Non-White woman has.

BOTTOM LINE: If I were looking for a docile woman, someone I can walk over and control, I would give you a call. But, unfortunately, I am looking for a Virtuous Woman. Someone that can be a good wife and mother to my children. Someone who can be my best friend and understand my struggles. I am looking for a sou l mate and; unfortunately, you do not and CANNOT fit the bill.

No offense taken, none given.

Signed,

Indian Royalty.

Long Time Pending Snaps - Part 1

Here are the photos which were long time pending.... :)

A guitar performance in San-Antonio River Walk



A 300 year old tree :) wow! It does look green and young.. wonder what's it's secret!



The tower of San Antonio



That's the river walk at night! Isn't that beautiful?

More pictures on it's way... keep watching this space :)

Realisation - At Last!

I have realised that ...

1. The Lonelier you feel, lonelier the world makes you feel.
2. Words had hurt me more than the wounds I had suffered in life.
3. When you have nothing to lose, you show your true character.
4. No matter how many times I pray, I only get what I rightfully deserve.
5. When I am estatic about something, there are never enough people to share it with.
6. You can't have happiness, unless you are already happy.
7. If you make decisions with your heart, you are bound to regret them later in your life...
8. Kids are never at fault, they just mirror our faults.
9. Every relationship has an expiry date.
10. I am better when I am silent!
11. Tears convey more than what words can ever say.
12. ................................

Kargil Vijay Divas - JAI HIND

Today is VIJAY DIVAS: 26th JULY, 1999 we captured our last hill from Pakistan.

But... we lost some of our most valuable, great, brave, warrior BROTHERS.

I SALUTE to all those who have pledged their lives, for our PEACE - JAI HIND

This salute is for those who... :

• Lost their lives, trying to save the lives of millions of Indians
• Thought that Country comes first and their own family later.
• Bravely faught the war
• Gave everything that they had.. without expecting anything in return.
• Never slept nights together so that we could sleep peacefully.
• Left their wives and children... for the safety of the Nation
  

I see that Americans have this yellow ribbon on their cars, which expresses how grateful they are to their troops... I really liked that Idea.




Here's a song to our troops, who sacrificed their precious life for us! - By Russ Morgan

Around her neck she wore a yellow ribbon
She wore it in the springtime
And in the month of May
And if you ask me why the heck she wore it
She wore it for her soldier who was far far away


Far away, far away
She wore it for her soldier
Who was far, far away

Around the block she pushed a baby carriage
She pushed it in the springtime
And in the month of May
And if you ask me why the heck she pushed it
She pushed it for her soldier who was far far away


Far away, far away
She pushed it for her soldier
Who was far, far away

Behind the door her daddy kept a shotgun

He kept it in the springtime
And in the month of May
And if you ask me why the heck he kept it
He kept it for her soldier who was far far away


Far away, far away
He kept it for her soldier
Who was far, far away

And this one, in our own Language :)

aye mere vatan ke logon
tum khoob laga lo naara
ye shubh din hai ham sab ka
lahara lo tiranga pyaara
par mat bhoolo seema par

veeron ne hai praan ganvaaye
kuch yaad unhein bhi kar lo
jo laut ke ghar na aaye

aye mere vatan ke logon
zara aankh mein bhar lo paani
jo shaheed hue hain unki
zara yaad karo qurbaani

jab ghayal hua himaalay
khatre mein padi aazadi
jab tak thi saans lade vo
phir apni laash bichha di
sangeen pe dhar kar maatha
so gaye amar balidaani

jo shaheed...

jab desh mein thi diwali
vo khel rahe the holi
jab ham baithe the gharon mein
vo jhel rahe the goli
the dhanya javaan vo aapane
thi dhanya vo unaki javaani
jo shaheed ...

koi sikh koi jaat maraatha
koi gurakha koi madaraasi
sarahad pe maranevaala
har veer tha bhaaratavaas
jo khoon gira parvat par
vo khoon tha hindustaani

jo shaheed...

thi khoon se lath-path kaaya
phir bhi bandook uthaake
das-das ko ek ne maara
phir gir gaye hosh ganva ke
jab ant-samay aaya to
kah gaye ke ab marate hain

khush rahana desh ke pyaaron
ab ham to safar karate hain
kya log the vo deewane
kya log the vo abhimaani

jo shaheed...

tum bhool na jaao unko
is liye kahi ye kahaani
jo shaheed...

jay hind jay hind ki sena

jay hind, jay hind, jay hind

I was listening to this song today... and I am amazed the kind of patriotic feeling it brings out in you....

SOUL MATE Vs 1 BILLION DOLLARS

After a cramped day in office... Yes! All (15 of us) sat in one conference room for the whole day... We are moving to a different building.. and hence this "adjustment" for a day till the facilities moved all our stuff...

I don't have anything else in my office.. I carry around my laptop everywhere.. But I am amazed at stuff people have here in their office.. one guy has 7 boxes of stuff to be moved.. No! Nothing "office" stuff...;-) Photographs, A small fan, Some hazar pens, Letter pads (I wonder who uses them these days with all the e-mail, g-mail mafia!)

Anyway, all that aside, Ride back to home.. Friday evening.. heavy traffic... 5 mins ride becomes 15 mins... Car Radio is blasting off with "Mitwa...mitwa..." (I am very very very eagerly waiting for that movie.. :D :D)

Song over, RJ starts of with the "billion dollar" question...

"When you come to a crossroad in life where you
have to choose between your soulmate and a billion dollars, which will you
choose?"

I expected everybody to shout and say "Soul Mate"... after all atleast that's what people "say" right? But no! I was in for surprise.. 1 in 5 said "1 Billion dollars"!!!

I will write the merits and de-merits of both, will you help me choose?

SOUL MATE

For:

• Life is made. You will live happily ever after. (Atleast that's how it's supposed to be theoretically).
• Not everybody is lucky enough to get their soul mates, so when you have yours don't let them go!
• He/she will be with you during your times of ups and downs
• You can "talk" your heart out to your soul mate.

Not For (I will not say "against"):

• How will you know who is your soul mate?
• Ok First of all... "define" soul mate, please!
• Money buys you food and shelter.
• All said and done, nobody can live happily without money!

1 BILLION DOLLARS

For:

• It is a LOT of money!
• You can "own" whatever you want... just name it you will have it!
• You can roam around the whole world.. how many ever times you want to.
• Whatever materialistic things you need... you can get it without having to think "can I afford this?"

Against (Here I will say becasue somebody(not me though!) said "Money is bad!"):

• You cannot "talk" to your money.. nopes you can't talk to it.. you can make others talk with it though!
• You will have more enemies than friends if you have so much of money.
• Even, friends will be after your money and not YOU.

K that's all the inputs from me.. what do you guys and gals say? Go ahead shoot!

Are we in some stone age era?

Please read this!

• Isn't crime a "CRIME" irrespective of who committed it!
• If a "woman" helps in committing a crime against another woman.., isn't it all the more reason to punish her!
• What does "woman can't commit rape" mean? - Isn't "attempt to murder" equally bad as murder?
• Why should there even be a consideration for any gender when it comes to punishing the guilty?

I know, I am now writing against a woman! But please! She helped her husband in raping some other woman! How miserable can people get?

In my opinion, she should be punished all the more! More than her husband, because if she being a woman can't empathize with another woman who else will!?

It's because of women like these that our country is struggling hard to come out of the dungeons!

Isn't it surprising that "most" of the injustice committed against woman is by another woman?

• Dowry Violence/Deaths - Most of the times Mother-in-Laws are behind this. Reason? Money!
• marriage breakups - Unreasonable in-laws - trouble in the family - should I have to mention that mother-in-law : daughter-in-law affair?
• High infant (female) death rate - Mothers killing their own children!

It's high time we women stop treating other women like a piece of shit. We should first respect ourselves.. And then expect the rest of the society to follow!

Wake up women wake up! Today you helped someone commit a crime against your fellow female.. Tomorrow you will be on the receiving end!

THE weirdo that I AM!!

I was so happily yapping about my holiday pleasures and just as some people say "happiness is short lived!"... I get TAGGED!!! Yes! And that too to tell the whole world out there about how weird I am! Adi I am going to kill you for this :P!

See, that's No.1 weird behaviour of me! I don't know "sometimes" (really... truly...) how to react to certain situations. Now was I supposed to be happy that I got tagged?? **I will let you readers decide that**

No.2: I am a clean freak! I used to clean my house so much... (and make my sister also do it so much..) now she just refuses to clean the house... she says she has already done cleaning the house when I used to stay with her which is enough for another million years to come!

No.3: I "cry" for anything and everything! No! Not that booohooo types, but I get tears in my eyes almost instantly for anything and everything. I get happy, I cry... I get sad, I cry... I am not sure how to react, I cry.... I even cry watching K-Serials!!! Now! Everyone knows that those serials are anything but waste of time... even I know that... but still...**blushing**. Tears... damn them!

No.4: I can't do any "work" (by work, I mean office work...) without listening to some music. Nopes! Not even for half an hour... I am so addicted to music.

No.5: I am too lazy to fill my water bottle at work... I mean, I will be thirsty and all, but still refuse to go and fill in that bottle! But yes I know theoritically that water is really good for health...blah..blah...blah....

No.6: I can never get ready before time! Specially when going to work... I always make up my mind "each-and-every" night that I will get up early the next morning and get ready "aaraamse" and go to office aaraaamse... but alas! that has never happened till date! Nopes! Not even once! I always get up just 30 mins before leaving to office and "fast-forward" all the activities and barely manage to reach office on time!

No.7: I can't say NO :(! This has landed me in terrible situations all my life.. but I have never learnt my lesson... I end up over commiting myself and then struggle really hard to get things done!

No.8: I can NEVER stop talking... I can go on and on about anything and everything under the sun!..

Somebody stop me...... please... lest I reveal all my secret weirdness to the whole world! ;-)

Oh! Before I forget.. let me continue the chain... I tag,

hardu

winterblue

Girl Interrupted

Happy Blogging you poor "tagged-souls" :P

The Saga of July4th Weekend - Day3 : South Padre Islands

We had arrived at this place on the previous night. For a change we had done our homework. We knew exactly what we needed to do in that place... (surprising? well yes.. sometimes god bestows us with good sense also!)

Here's the list of things that we planned to do.

• Loaf around in the beach
• Para Sailing
• Horse Riding
• Visit the Butterfly Garden
• Take an educational tour of Sea Turtles
• Take a cruise ride for some whale watching (This was only if time permits, anyway we had seen enough whales in San Antonio..;-) )

So, good list huh? I am improving... not bad! **:D**

First we went for Para Sailing, thought it would get too hot later to go up there, better to finish it before it gets too sunny. But then, since it's the star attraction there, we couldn't get any slot before 4 in the afternoon...

Beach: So, we went to the beach to give ourselves a good tan (not that we are very-fair or anything... but come on... brown complexion can also get a tan.. only, we will look "black" later on..;-) that's all na...). Played endlessly in the water.. where is all this enegery on a monday morning in office?**thinks**. The water was not very wild.. but I was really terrified to venture too deep into the water.. why? I don't want to drown and die in a foreign land!!!!! So, after 4 hours of beach fun.. we went searching for a bathroom... Now here's the most surprising part.. In this advanced land.. I expected to find a bathroom somewhere close to the beach! What do people expect? Go back home with all the sand on your body and not to mention hair? My hair was a mess to say the least with all that salt water and sand in it ...***yukkk***. But then we didn't find any! nopes! none! How were we supposed to get back now? After searching around the place for quite some time... finally found a place.. and guess where is this? In the middle of the road!!! What was that? I mean do they expect us to take bath in the middle of the road (yes! It was an "open" bath!) So ditched the idea.. just washed the hair... to make it a bit more bearable... Changed clothes in the rest room and rushed to grab something to eat before we could go for para sailing.

Lunch: Managed to get only french fries! Yes! That's the price you have to pay for being a vegetarian and not have enough time to hunt for a place which serves some ghaas phoos!

Forget it.. Lets move on to Para Sailing!

Para Sailing: That was a wonderful/fantastic/beautiful/whatever experience to say the least. It's an amazing feeling when you are up in the air and see the whole of an Island in just once view! When the cool breeze dances on your face! When you can actually see a lot of colors in the sea apart from the usual blue that we see from the shore! When you actually feel that you are so small in this world! When you feel that time should just pause at that moment and you can enjoy it forever! I missed a heartbeat or two when there were some strong winds which kind of swayed my parachute quite a bit ! oooooh I felt chilly *smiles~*. All in all a wonderful feeling worth every cent of the 45 dollars I coughed up ;-))

Horse Riding: It was evening by then, and we went for Horse Riding on the beach side. I expected that for an amateur like me, somebody would hold the horse by it's mouth and take me along for a ride.. Or even better some handsome hunk would sit behind me and ride me along....****mmmm drifts away in dreams*** (No please.. No.. P don't read this....pretty please..) But No! That was not how it was! They gave a horse all to myself! I know! I live in Texas but there's still a real long way to go for me to become a cow girl!!! Anyway they gave me a 2 mins "training" on how to maneaver the horse and lo! I was all alone with my Dixie! It was a bumpy ride but felt really nice and adventourous :) After one hour of galloping (ok I know I am exaggerating! I never galloped! I just "rode" on the horse for 1 full hour).

Butterfly Garden: We then thought we will visit the Butterfly Garden... Found out later though that it was closed at this time of the year! Come on! The call centre female had said it would be open! I am sure she was not even sure what I was asking about till then!!!!

Sea Turtle: Garden ditched, we moved on towards the Sea Turtle Centre.. We had the address and all and everything (remember our homework?) so went straight to that so called place and guess what it turned out to be? A house! A normal residential house with a family in it! All they had to attract the attention of Yahoo Vacation guys was that they had these huge sculptures of turtle all around their house.. and some paintings as well :))) So, they told us that they are not conducting any "educational-programs" but were just preparing dinner for the evening! And we were not the first ones who had ended up in their house thinking that it was some site for some turtle watching..;-)

After such an eventful day, we went to have dinner in a sea side retuarant. My is the sea beautiful at night... worlds fail to describe it!

I know my own soul, how feeble and puny it is: I know the
magnitude of this ministry, and the great difficulty of the work; for more
stormy billows vex the soul of the priest than the gales which disturb the sea -
John Chrysostom

After some really nice vegetarian pasta and some yummy salads we were all set to head back to the hotel... I opted for a nice stroll on the sea shore alone while the others listened to some music being played in the restuarant.....

The Saga of July4th Weekend - Day 2: San Antonio Sea World

I woke up to a nice morning filled with freshly brewed coffee smell..... mmmmmmmmm
Took a nice long hot bath. Now comes the difficult part, to "choose" what to wear! Not that I had too many choices, since I was on vacation, I had taken limited clothes.
But, then I had bought this skirt some time back and was dying to wear it... but was not sure whether I should or not! Reason? It's atleast 10 years since I last wore a skirt...**blushes**.
Anyway, I had to choose between Capris, Jeans and Skirt. Ok finally after lots of trails decided on the skirt.... Abbah! A big acheivement :)

Had a nice yummy breakfast (though it cost us quite a bit! - anyway who cares! vacation time... don't think about money...;-))

K. First of all let me give a brief description of what Sea World in San Antonio is about.
As the name suggests it's a world of sea animals. There are shows of tamed killer whales, sea lions, penguins etc etc. In some places you can even feed these animals. There are also some water rides and some dry rides (the usual fantasy park kinds). There is a 4D movie theator. Some water sports like water siking etc are also present.

We had only 1 day with us and we wanted to cover as much as possible, so we kind of short listed what shows we would like to watch and what rides do we go for.

Just as soon as we stepped out of the hotel, it started raining! Now! I love rain.... but not when I am about to go to a fun park for god's sake! Anyway we dared the rain and went... and guess what! it was a blessing in disguise :) There was no crowd at all though it was a long weekend! hurray! we needn't have to wait in long queues for everything!

We first went to "feed" the dolphins. No! I did not feed them! I can't even stand the smell of dead fish, do you think I will hold in my hand and feed the dolphin! No way! So I blissfully watched others feed them...~smiles~.

Then we went to watch the sea lions show... my! was I impressed. They actually enacted a play with the sea lions doing their part... It was just way beyond my imagination... fantastic!
Toward the climax, a big sea lion actually did crunches!!! can you believe that? That was really an enjoyable show..

Next we went for the most awaited "Shamu Show". In this show they have trained killer whales giving performances. It was ming boggling to say the least... people have managed to tame such huge creatures.. and the way they listen to their trainers.. and dance to the tunes of music... too good....

Then it was time for a 4-D movie .. This was dissaponting...:( I had been to one in Disney Land in Paris.. (hardu you remember?) and that was atleast 10 times better than this one.
This one hardly had any special effects...

Lastly we went for a dolphin + whale show.. along with some people doing acrobatics... It was also very nice.. everybody well trained and performed to perfect synchronization.

By that time, it was time to start our 5 hour jouner to South Padre Islands... that's what's going to come next on my blog...:)

P.S1: My other laptop in which I have all the snaps betrayed me...:( The screen is gone! No display.. so I am unable to put the pictures. Once I get the repaired, I will put all the pictures..:)

P.S2: I am right now listening to some of the compositions played by U.Srinivas (I have randomly selected some)... and guess which one I heard just now? "Gaanamoorthe Sri Krishna Venu"... My! Do I love that song!
My mothers sings this song beautifully to say the least... Amma, I dedicate this song to you!

The Saga of July4th Weekend - Day 1

I wanted to write something on a happier note (my blogs recently have been cribbing so much… I am myself feeling depressed… normally I am never depressed..!!)
Anyway pavan suggested the best way to “brighten up” my blog would be to write about my long weekend trip. It was a holiday on July4th for American Independence day, and I conveniently look off on July3rd to make the weekend really long..;-)

Well… we planned for something at the last moment, to be specific on Thursday! Not that we plan well ahead on other occasions…! But that’s the thrill of life… everything should be instantaneous… ;-))

Anyway, the initial plan was Saturday- San Antonio, and Sunday-Monday- South Padre Islands. Does anything for us work according to the plan? Hah! Fat Chance! So our trip started pathetically to say the least…:( (Is that a surprise? Not for me at least ;-))
We were “supposed” to start at 5:30am but ended up starting at 8am! Forget it… this was kind of expected because none of us have time sense ha!ha!ha! ;-) And anyway this was supposed to be vacation time…. ;-)

100 miles from our house and a flat tire in one of our cars! Struck in middle of nowhere. The road side assistance took 45 minutes to reach there and another 15 minutes to put a donut tire. Obviously we could not continue our long journey of some 300 miles on a donut tire, so had to get the car changed (this was a rental car by the way.) And yes! You guessed it right.. there were no "National" rental places nearby where we could go and change the car.. and to top it off it was a Saturday and hence the few ones near by were closed! So what next? That poor fellow and his wife had to return back :( what a way to start off the wonderfully planned vacation!!!

With all these time delays we finally reached San Antonio at 8pm! The main intention of visiting SA was to go to the Sea World. We were too late now for that so we went for a walk on the river side. My! Was it crowded?
Anyway who cares about the crowd… we surely had a nice time there.

We went for a long ride on the boat around the city, a beautiful one at that. I was really impressed at the way they have preserved each and everything of their small small treasures. For instance there was this tree which was some 100 odd years old.. and they had a small story around it, they had decorated it and it was treated so specially. I am sure there are lots and lots of such trees in India… but do we even care? I know I know.. I will refrain from complaining about “anything” from now on in my blogs..:) So however we are.. that’s how we are!

There are cute small bridges around the river all over and all of them have a story behind it. There was one in which a female didn’t want the government to divert the river after a series of floods and hence painted a beautiful painting depicting how it could look like if the surroundings were “built” and infact succeeded in getting them implement it :D

There are some 9 species of fish in that river! (is 9 such a big number? The guide atleast made it sound like that! ** Am I missing something here? **)

After a nice relaxing ride in the boat.. it was time for a nice stroll on the banks with some photo sessions of course! After all walking and clicking, we finally settled down at a Mexican restaurant on the river banks. I was expecting to get some nice food which we generally get in Mexican restaurants in Dallas… but this is what I got finally :D

Anyway it tasted quite nice… though it was just fried vegetables… The best part was live music. There were some 4 people who would come to each tables and play songs which people requested for. We have a fantastic knowledge about Mexican songs so we gave them the choice to play any song of their choice (he!he!). They played some foot tapping numbers, that’s all we could make out of the song ;-)

So, after a tiring but enjoyable day, half empty stomach and humming Mexican tunes we were back in the hotel to catch up on some sleep….zzzzzzzzzzz

P.S: After some of my recent "close-to-crying" posts, my friends have been mailing me with great concern... thinking that something has gone wrong with me.. Dears, thank you so much for your concern.. But I am not depressed... nopes I am as happy as before... Leading a bindaas life as ever... Only that some of the happenings around me have been bothering me that's all. I am upset with rest of the world... But not with "my" world. I am happy :D infact very happy :D

P.P.S: This phrase in fanaah has really touched me...

Tere dil mein meri saanson ko panaah mil jaye.
Tere ishq mein meri jaan Fanaa ho jaye.

P... are you listening :)?