tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12604438544377774742024-02-19T11:14:58.259-05:00A Garf SecretBeing what i am matters.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-87913177623528484262011-02-05T21:59:00.001-05:002011-02-05T22:01:53.044-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 14Today is a Saturday and I stayed in the room. I got up and had calls with my love, my friends who logged in and then by noon it was football time. First it was Arsenal leading a 4-0 to the Newcastle United who finally managed a 4-4 draw if not because of their bad luck which stopped them getting a win in fact at the 90th minute. The eventful match was followed by another match which marked an end for the Manchester United’s winning/draw streak in the English Premier League as they lost the away match 1-2 to Wolves. Well, Manchester United really needs players. Except Nani, I don’t see a soul left there. Anyways, after these, the time was for my favorite Barcelona to reap victory in a hat trick from Lionel Messi in a 3-0 win over the Atletico Madrid. There was no Forlan or Augero. It was Guardiola and Barcelona all the way through as they also got into the all time high record of 16 wins in la-Liga by any team in the history. You just have to love the way they played. Names like Xavi, Inesta, Pedro, Villa and Messi, they all sound synonymous. <br /><br />The football laden day rolled into my Roadies 8 show time at Youtube as Raghu ensured some real entertainment. Lunch and dinner was Pizza today. And I also got myself Bread and choco-biscuits as I exhausted my stock of foods for the breakfast. I am learning algorithms on my own. They say that that is what makes a difference. Algorithms are powerful and they always help you make your brain work extra as they teach you really cool programming stuffs. My tries to solve a few programmatic puzzles from the Facebook and coderloop.com has got me thinking into as to how to code the other way round. I just hope I see it till the end. <br /><br />It has started to snow again. It felt nice though, with lower temperatures to go out and get the food. As I watched the T.V. today I couldn’t help notice something which I would like to share. It comes from a commercial and I really liked what it said about the Canadians. I guess, if some Canadian is reading this, he likes it. It said “The self esteem of a Canadian doesn’t simply allow him to expect a warmer day. And to break the cold is just a national sport for the Canadians.” LOL…<br /><br />That’s all for today.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-36178426190869170752011-02-04T19:41:00.000-05:002011-02-04T19:43:12.035-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 13It was a tough day and I really had a lot on my plate as I struggled in the morning to remotely connect to my desktop in India. It was 2 hours before I finally was able to raise a ticket. The lady Indian in my team thought of helping me out and took me to the local admin. He was supposed to be a man of hard words. I didn’t like him and the way he spoke. I didn’t understand what made him feel so proud and tough. He came to my machine twice, did nothing and came back later post lunch to change the network cable and everything started up fine. It was the start of my day. I stayed and worked on whatever I could. I am not happy. My bonus and CTC hike keeps on coming back to me and I find it difficult to work. I won’t feel any good unless I go back and talk to my manager regarding all this. My love headed home today. I just hope that amidst my heights of loneliness, our communication doesn’t become bad. Its two weeks and I can finally say that yes, I am half way down my journey. Another week and on coming Saturday, I would travel to New Jersey for a week before I fly back to India. <br /><br />My lunch these days have got replaced by “Jimmy the Greek” and I have been away from “Thai Express” for the whole of the week. Well, MacDonald undoubtedly is on a record for the dinners. My Indian storage of cup noodles stands at a count of 1. They were handy and helpful. I can never forget the mornings when I gulped in two at a time, hungry and sleep deprived. <br /><br />I just realized today as to what can be a downside to blog anonymously. You always miss upon your network and people you know, for votes when you participate in some blog contests. Everything these days have become all about social networking and how much you can network. No one cares much about the quality or content you write. So, being an anonymous blogger, I guess I never stand a chance at any of these contests. Many a times I do feel like going public and declaring the true me, but this is the true me, without the name or the face. I know if I go back, I won’t be what I am, here.<br /><br />Tomorrow I have a Barcelona match to watch as they play against Ateltico Madrid in the la-Liga. Atletico always come up heavy against Barcelona. It’s time to see what they can do this time as Barcelona is at their historical best. On Sunday, it would be Liverpool against Chelsea. With Torres moving onto Chelsea and Liverpool signing in Suarez and Andy, it would certainly be interesting to see who draws more blood. That I guess speaks for my weekend plans.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-74439766009025753212011-02-03T18:54:00.001-05:002011-02-03T18:54:59.593-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 12I slept really long yesterday. I remember sneaking into the bed by 9:30 PM and it was 7 in the morning when I woke up. There is nothing to do except for waiting for friends to update on Facebook. And how many movies do you think I can grab a day? Going to work was the toughest today. After the blizzard here, roads were full of snow and it was sticky and the worst part; I wore formal shoes. I walked for some steps and got slipped forward for a few steps and managed myself from falling a few times and the fear of what will happen if someone else passing by skids was a constant companion as I walked the 1.2 km to walk to office. Not to mention the condition my shoes were in, I had to endure the same while I came back though it was much warmer then. My LOB manager wants me in another team lunch this Friday. Last time it was Sushi and this time it would be Italian. That’s the only fun left for me here. I am tired of having MacDonald burgers and Thai and Greek cuisines. I really feel desperate to go back. <br /><br />I am done with all the major OSCAR contenders. A post is now very much necessary, which I feel won’t happen before weekend. That puts an end to my today. Is that wonderful or disgusting? So small, to have a day, is………..Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-63853040989171056422011-02-02T18:48:00.001-05:002011-02-02T18:50:02.864-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 11It was the Blizzard day. I never knew what that was, until today. We heard of it being at the US yesterday and today it was Toronto. Since early hours in the morning it’s all covered up. My manager was caring to tell me that since my Canadian counterparts would be working from home, I can take a day off. Initially I felt that it would clear up as day progresses but I was wrong. Anyways, a leave really sucked except that it was a football day at the Copa-Del-Rey. By the way, would you believe me if I told you that I was on Skype calling up and talking to friends in India since 6 in the morning, till it was 12 in the noon. 6 hours, that is the longest I have been online talking to people. <br /><br />It happened to be the Joke of the day when, a school mate turn up online and complaints to me that he had been trying to reach me badly since days and that it was really bad of me having not told him that I have switched my contact numbers. And all of this crying and shouting is because he feels that he got married without me attending his marriage. Seriously, he wanted me to buy that. If it’s my marriage, and I really want someone to be there, I would get to him, whatever he might be at or wherever he may be. He was calling on my 4 year old number and he forgot all together to explain as to why he didn’t try reaching me via e-Mail or Orkut or Facebook……well, its now-a-days a fashion to tell you that you were being missed at the marriage. Its dual; it tells you that someone got married and that someone still wants to be in touch with you, though he didn’t invite or forgot to invite you. Simple!<br /><br />A short nap of one hour followed by a quest out into the snow and blizzard to get my hot pizza and diet coke and I was all set for the Copa-Del-Rey semi finals. Barcelona really play a good football. There is hardly any team out there presently who play as decently and stylish as Barca does. With Messi, Villa, Xavi, Inesta, Pedro and Puyol out, it was the younger ones trying their luck today. They scored thrice and Dani Alves had some really good effort today with the ball along with Bojan and it was disheartening to see him getting frustrated for a goal. Afellay’s first goal for Barca was really good and Adriano did some run till the goal post to open the score. Its time before this new breed gets mature and matches the quality of the seniors. A very satisfying 90 minutes for me which followed by a nice end up from the German, Mesut Ozil who saved Madrid from humiliation and sealed another Real-Madrid and Barcelona final. It’s time to see, with crossed fingers what damage Barcelona and champion coach Pep Guardiola inflicts on the second meet up. The last one, a clear 5-0 victory over Mourinho will be with me forever. Sevilla, who went down 0-1 to Madrid played safe and really lacked players at the front. I feel, that made the difference for the ball was distributed evenly. Ozil, unlike Ronaldo, Benzemma and Di-Maria is a tricky player who just doesn’t rely on shots and power. He is one who plays with mind when he is at the front of the goal post and certainly is according to me the most dangerous Madrid has. He truly belongs to Barcelona.<br /><br />These days, an image keeps back coming to me. It’s me flying back to India. My flight, supposedly to reach in the morning IST hours would, I hope, ensure the best sunrise I would be seeing in quite some time. I feel lonely here. It could have been bettered have I not been into the buck saving business, while on my trip here.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-63309432448242373562011-02-01T18:52:00.000-05:002011-02-01T18:53:57.326-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 10My trip to Toronto is turning out to be a Cast Away to Toronto. This city is great and people are nice, but I am on my own, stuck up this cold. I realized that like walking in this cold. Its freezing outside but that’s what makes walking fun for me here. Wearing all those heavy woolens and heading out, watching the hot air you exhale and the numbness in your nose, cheeks and ears are some experience. Here everyone walks faster than me. I find it hard to cross someone. Only, the old ones are the easy ones. And often I see couples, walking hand in hand on the streets. I feel like stopping them and suggesting them to go inside and order whatever they need. You are together and you go out in such cold. Born here, walking in this freezing cold could never be fun as against the case with me. Why not sit at home, relax and order stuffs you need. Nez, that can’t be generalized I guess. But really, doing the talk as you walk, here, is tough. I appreciate the ones who do the talk here while walking.<br /><br />My stomach is frustrated with MacDonald burgers and French fries. Either they are the lunch or the dinner. From food, to the time I spent at my room to the amount of talking I do these days, everything has become a test. I feel like being under some regime and under constant monitoring on my way to some extraordinary certification that would earn me accolades. Oh I forgot. Pay Numbers are out in India. I got information as to how much my salary has been hiked and the bonus I would be getting. And I am being asked about my opinion on those figures. They aren’t bad as compared to others in the market. They certainly do match the investment bank tag but my necessities are huge. I am still in a fix as to what I should be saying. Well, I guess I will just show my dissatisfaction and hint towards a better figure but as I feel, spelling out the exact is always tough. Life hasn’t given me many options. Eventually I have to start looking out again which I don’t want to do unless I get myself some amazing abroad opportunities in countries of my choice. So, let it start. I will tell my expectations. Rest, is destiny.<br /><br />My leave is approved, regarding the travel to my birth city, late in March. I hope something else doesn’t go wrong. I am dying to be there. Post job, its pending. I don’t feel much for being an Indian or a by caste, but I can die for the place I was born at. That’s me. And I feel good that there is something about my existence I love so much.<br /><br />That’s all I have for today. It’s time for my black coffee. And a big Happy Chinese New year to the ones who have it. :)Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-82253413434138779112011-01-31T19:19:00.000-05:002011-01-31T19:20:21.845-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 9It’s a bad Monday. First I wasn’t able to talk to my love and had to rush for office. Then, I didn’t take my cap as it was -3 yesterday and I felt fine. It turned out to be -13 today and I somehow managed to reach office. I wasn’t able to feel my ears and nose. My hair was wet too as I had just taken the bath and headed out. It was careless of me. I had to endure the same on my way back. It was -11 and by the time I reached MacDonald for my take away, my ears and nose were gone. So, I just hope that I wake up fine.<br /><br />My friend argues that I should visit the nude club in the locality. He says that’s what a man does. Well, I don’t really agree. I am in love in the first place and secondly, I don’t like nude shows. I wonder how people get the fun of such shows. I have this incapability to feel anything at such shows and I know that for sure. Then I guess there simply isn’t any point going there. And as to the second point my friend points out regarding alcohol, well, there is no fun drinking alone. I have done it many a times in India and I know how it feels to drink alone. That’s the last thing I would do when dollars are at stake.<br /><br />It’s not even 10 days and it feels months. Nez, I have Barcelona match on Saturday, 4:00PM EST which implies that one of my weekends is taken care of. Liverpool signs Suarez and Carroll, a nice breed and mix for Torres who heads for Chelsea. I guess, this would add onto Liverpool’s favor. Torres looked old and tired with Liverpool. Now EPL should become more fun. I hope ManU, ManC and Arsenal feel some heat. On another note, Real Madrid looses 0-1. I pity Mourinho. I pity him for he has always been a proud and egoist coach, quite jealous of Barcelona and have a high inability to cope with success and talent. Such teams can never soar high, for long. We beat them 5-0 and more is coming.<br /><br />That’s all guys. It’s time for me to immerse myself in the latest algorithm book I happened to come across, have my burger, call a few ones back at home and sleep for another day ahead.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-84486383673662698342011-01-30T19:41:00.000-05:002011-01-30T19:42:15.135-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 8Today was another day which I spent inside all by myself. I woke up and had calls with friends love and parents. That was when I was ready for my lunch and today it was Macaroni Pizza and a diet coke. It was filling. I kept aside my daily MacDonald engagements for the dinner, which I would start for in another 30 minutes. <br /><br />One big thing which came of today during my long online chats with friends is that I would be travelling to my birth town in the last week of March. I got the tickets booked today and we are almost set for the travel. It’s my friend’s elder brother who is getting married there. I had been longing to go there since years but since the day I started working, I never really could plan something. This seems to be a perfect opportunity to head down the memory lanes. That place has made me the way I am, good or bad and it always would be a pleasure visiting it. This time, I would try my best to capture as much I can in my camera. There is so much out there that I really get lost when I try to think as to what all I should focus myself on once I am there. Its nostalgia and it feels heaven…<br /><br />I had been watching the movies these days. I don’t have much left to do. It’s strange. In India, I was running out of the touch with movies and here, I am like back in, full throttle all over it. To give you something on that, I have plans to dedicate a blog post solely for the Oscar nominations and how I felt about them. They deserve that time and effort. Even if no one is really going to care about what I write or think, it’s salute. Movies are wonderful stuff. <br /><br />Tomorrow marks the start of my second week of stay at Toronto. You would be logically correct not to expect stuffs from my side. But, I am unpredictable and this time, I would like not to be. Just today as I was discussing my mental fight over visiting places vs saving bucks vs being alone, it came to me that of all the people we knew to be here, in the States and Canada, almost all of them have headed back to India. Some have done that as they are on vacation and some have moved back permanently. Strange but true, GOD really wants me to hit these places alone as of now. Well, as Barney says, Challenge Accepted.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-75179453916196096452011-01-29T21:21:00.000-05:002011-01-29T21:22:10.566-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 7I spent the whole day inside. MacDonald was my lunch and Thai Express was the dinner. I need rice and shrimps are always a favorite. I also searched for the Toronto tourist places and came across quite good ones. The CN tower with 180 storey as being the latest onto the modern world wonders is surely a must watch. I wasn’t able to find anything easier though. As said earlier, I would like to stay at my room as long as I can. It has been just one of whole three weeks down. Miles to go…<br /><br />My favorite Television show Roadies 8 is on air. I miss watching it on my TV. I have an LCD here but it’s just waste. It has only the Canadian channels and paid movies. Cable services in India really are amazing and better. They almost suit anyone from anywhere. Anyways, YouTube is doing the shows for me. In La-Liga today, Barcelona smashed Hercules 3-0 today and the 400th goal under pep Guardiola comes from Lionel Messi. And without an effort, Messi even scored his second. Not to mention the starter from Pedro. That was really an amazing score and surely places Pedro among the top brackets. <br /><br />I am still having tough time with the currency here. I keep on going to these shops for my dinner or lunch and I always spell the same thing out: “I am new here, can you help me with the coins”…They always do. That’s what I like here. People, though they happen to mind their own, do feel like humans. The lady who comes for housekeeping, the guy who came in twice for fixing up the internet and bulbs and the plumber for the shower issue, they all felt human and they all looked happy and they all sounded content. I don’t know what it is but it surely is good and something which India lacks for sure.<br /><br />I just recollected that I haven’t been smoking since 10 days. That is the longest I have gone without it. And on the flip side as you start expecting that I finally gave up something bad, I am now-a-days addicted to black coffee. That’s what I have in room and I love it without the milk and that’s what is growing upon me. I hope this doesn’t become the next addiction issue of my life. Well, that was all from the Toronto Saturday.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-62182733123003805302011-01-28T17:42:00.000-05:002011-01-28T17:43:37.567-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 6Today’s highlight: Sushi at team lunch. It really was good. I never had it before. And I am a big fan of sea food. So, I never had any issues with it. I really liked the hot drink which was served along with the soup and Sushi and the numerous types it includes, it looks and tastes amazing. <br /><br />I am tired of answering the same questions again and again. All they ask for is what is my plan for the rest of the day or for the weekends or what is it that I am having for the dinner. What am I supposed to say them? Isn’t everybody aware that I am all alone and the temperature is -10? I don’t understand.<br /><br />My first week at Toronto comes to an end. It was good. I somehow managed my time. What lies ahead of me is two full days at hotel room. I guess I will get exhausted and try out the Google map for local areas to visit which would be cheaper for me to access. I anyways have to go out for the lunch. I leave that onto time to happen. I wish I had a work Visa and come here for a longer interval. This is a nice place to be.<br /><br />It’s time for my black coffee. I guess I would stick to myself and work on the new website I am planning. You either have everything or you don’t have anything. It feels silly and foolish to hang around in the middle. Life has its own way….Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-17767485258726424972011-01-27T19:35:00.003-05:002011-02-04T18:37:03.353-05:009th Aug: My sad & happy Day...The below post (a real life incident from my life) is my entry for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/closeupindia">Close Up “Fire-Freeze” Contest</a>.<br />If you have lived any such moment where you felt contrasting emotions piercing you, you may participate. Remember to post your story-in brief-as a comment below this post. Thanks.<br /><br />I belong to a big, famous and common league: I am a software developer from India. When you become that, you feel good and especially more when you are a class bunker during your engineering days and addicted to novels, movies and PC games. Gradually, as I settled in my job, a want of better package made me a frequent job hopper. I was sitting at my 3th organization in 4 years. Things were worse for I had already been selected for an Investment bank (a dream) and was waiting for the offer letter. That would make it 4 in 4 years. I hope you don’t ask me WHY when I will tell you that I did that within a week of my joining the new org. It was a dream to work for an Investment bank, for me and opportunities don’t come twice, do they? So as I pondered more over my future, relaxing during my office hours, I thought getting an MBA done from some elite school would now make more sense for I am just about to move into something cool. How long can an offer letter take to reach me? Notice periods after you resign at your workplace are always rosy. All set, GMAT was the word.<br /><br />Internet got me all that I needed. Forums and blogs gave me a good head start. Within 2 days, I had all the stuff I would need and it stood at 4+ GB mark. I always start good. While a daily 2 hour preparation is usually suggested, I started at 5. Two weeks down, I was getting tired. The zeal was decreasing. One month down, I was almost done with my course. I was looking forward to another two weeks to be done with my revision and searching for a good online test series seemed perfect for the time. Being a born procrastinator, it also seemed logical to seal the deal and I booked my GMAT dates. But somewhere in the city, an accident happens, my colleague gets injured and out of work for no idea how long according to the doctors and the next day at work, my project gets shuffled and I along with another new joiner (Mr. X), is expected to work with someone (Mr. Y ) sitting at the onshore. My housewife days (I used to come home by 5PM in the evenings) were over. The famous onsite-offshore model started for me. It was now 10 or 11 in the night when I used to reach home. It took two days for me to settle in the sudden changes at work and after thinking it through; things still looked easy for the GMAT to happen as planned. Test series would be for the weekends with 1 hour revisions during the week. I was targeting for a 730+.<br /><br />Four tests down, I was at a 640, a well 90 points below of my target score. Numerous head and fist bangs over the desk, countless cigarettes and discussions with closed ones, subject experts and brainstorming couldn’t help me out. Logic suggested a change of date. And, my soon-to-arrive offer letter was already 2 Months delayed. I kept on submitting my proofs and the HR always came back asking for something different. Sometimes it was the tenant agreement or sometimes it was the format of my scanned copy. Background verification became a passport application. And my 10-11PM log off time from work got extended to 2-3 AM in the mornings as I got stuck up with Mr. X & Y, mostly to explain them no more than the basics for fresh graduates out of college. Everything was testing everything in me.<br /><br />A score of 630 in the 5th test on a weekday morning finally got the better off me. The test had to be rescheduled. It needs to be done tonight. 90 points increase in performance isn’t a joke. I reached home at 2 AM in the morning. With eyes red, I see the offer letter sitting in my inbox. Happy, I rush to make the other end fine. I log into the GMAC website and hit the reschedule button. It charges me $250, the equivalent of a new exam as opposed to the $50 it is supposed to, for rescheduling an exam appointment. I cancel out and retry the steps. Well, it stays the same way. Nuts, I check out the FAQ’s. My original exam day is on 9th Aug and today is 3rd Aug. You have to reschedule your exam at least 7 days before or else, you get charged the same as of a new exam. I never thought of ending my life more seriously. I am appearing the exam as scheduled initially. You think I am done? Nope. The real fun was yet to come.<br /><br />I had resigned at work but no one seemed to care about it. Everything stayed the same. There was no change in my working hours. I was still educating an 8 year old IT brain at onshore and a 6 year old IT brain at offshore about how data structures work and why I coded what. I actually had to work 12+ hours even during my notice period. Who does that? Why me? I didn’t want to take the exam but $250 is no joke. So, with duality all inside me, my preparation came to a standstill and now I was looking for luck on the day. <br /><br />It was supposed to be 9th Aug. And it should be a Tuesday for I remember that while booking it, I thought that I would get the weekend and then on Monday, at office I would fake a bad health and leave early and the next morning, on Tuesday, I would ace the exam. So, on Sunday evening, I went out with my friend to check out the Pearson center in my city. On Monday, I went to office and at 4 PM, I successfully faked my bad health to my manager and headed home. It felt heaven to come back so early. But I was sad. The final day lied hours ahead of me. The day which was supposed to be my day depended now totally on luck. People do end up getting a 50 point increase. Everything depends on the last few questions and how you start. That’s what I was reading in the forums to keep my fire burning. Anyways, I would have the real time experience of having gone through the GMAT when I would appear it again in a few months, to correct my score. The final score matters. A good sleep is most suggested. I picked up my handset to call up my girl friend and saw it was 9th Aug. Weird. It was 10’o clock in the night. I checked my system calendar. It was 9th Aug. I can’t explain what followed next…..<br /><br />9th Aug, 2010 was a Monday. I was happy that I escaped the exam unknowingly. I was sad that I finally did indeed make my $250 go into the drain. I was happy that I never got to see that score I hated. I was sad for I knew many around me thought I did all this intentionally. I was happy that I didn’t have to face what it feels like wanting to give 100% and not being able to, when it matters. I was sad that I, being the candidate, didn’t care to check the date and the day.<br />Life is weird. There are very few things which happen and with time, become increasingly hard to comprehend as to why they happened. Otherwise, time usually has the answer to almost everything else….I still don’t know whether I should be happy or sad about what had happened.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-21335942317286417132011-01-27T18:08:00.001-05:002011-01-27T18:10:12.978-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 5Five days down. That implies I am well into the middle of my stay. A couple of issues which still linger include washings, morning bread and cup noodles. They might be near but they are in dollars. That is one thing I am trying to skip. Now a day I am quite happy with my Thai food in the lunch and MacDonald burgers in the dinner. The room coffee maker keeps me good too during the evenings and office work is smooth. Even the climate is warm outside, comparatively. So, in short, everything is just fine and calm.<br /><br />Tomorrow I would be going out for team lunch. And Saturday does have me visiting a colleague’s house for spending some Indian time together. Though I am not at all eager to go, I really can’t help it. I don’t understand what to talk about and what not to. I take it as another task. <br /><br />I am getting these weird ideas of creating a website and its gradually growing over me. It would be ideal to focus on it seriously. It can become a potential time killer and would always help me further my skills. I just fear the procrastinator in me. Things never had a problem starting up with me but they never grew up and that list is endless. I don’t want it to grow any further. Being a Gemini, sticking to a cause is tough. I am a perfect example of the same. That’s all for today.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Note</span>: Don’t curse me if at all you are here. I know I am being poor here in uploading pictures of this amazing city but, I hope that you understand that being alone is tough. I don’t want to make it tougher for me. :)</span>Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-17970215371649584402011-01-26T17:32:00.001-05:002011-01-26T17:33:41.212-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 4It seems that I have made a mistake by having started the Toronto trip series. After the initial two days, life has kind of settled down here and I can see a routine emerge out of it. My reluctance to spend and lack of friends are the facts from my life to blame. <br /><br />You have to agree that you cannot enjoy a place and feel good if you go on visiting places alone. That’s exactly my case. Even though I don’t know when I am going to come back to Canada, will that ever happen in my lifetime or not, I just can’t carry on with my two eyes and legs. And when you have financial issues in your life, going alone and spending that buck out would be the last thing you would ever do.<br /><br />I went to office and came back. I had Thai food during the lunch and MacDonald awaits me for dinner. Rest of my time in Toronto is spent over the internet with my laptop. Whenever I happen to look outside and see that skyline from my room, that’s when I realize that I am no more in India. It feels good, in a way that I am here. But it does feel sad too, spending time at home when you are at a place new and you do no not know if life is ever gonna get you that second chance. I leave all of it to god. I am happy believing that he being the know-it-all entity understands me and has a reason for me to be here, this way. I am here just to fit into his plan. <br /><br />Here it’s getting warm though. It was -3 degrees centigrade today. Toronto does <br />indeed impress me. People look nice as they walk fast trying to escape the cold and snow and covered up in the woolens. Streets look white with snow. Air feels to be purified in cold steam. There is something about the cold chill in the air that hits your face and you feel something inside you. The thing with cold air and winters can never escape you if you really do pay attention to it. And be the one behind the wheels or the street walker, both has respect and time for the other. It’s decent and clean. Take my word, it’s quite a place to be.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-9385268175241975112011-01-25T19:07:00.000-05:002011-01-25T19:08:35.086-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 3As expected, today was just another day.<br /><br />I don’t believe I am writing this, but today it was a lot warmer day at -8 degrees centigrade. You really have no idea how it feels like to walk in -30, especially more so when it’s your first day and you don’t even know where you are supposed to go. I reached office on time. The lady in team invited me over to her house in the weekends and I found her very nice. She looks strong, weird and twisted but, o me she has been good. She deserves the same back I guess. And I also have a team lunch in my honor of visiting Toronto. All of it feels nice, yet embarrassing. I am really poor in handling these matters…<br /><br />I came home to find my internet connection not working as expected. It took 2 calls to get it fixed. That’s a relief. My whole lot in India is sleeping as I write this and the more I think about it, the more I realize my present and where I am and why I am here and what great I am doing being here and….its endless…..it is better I stop myself going there.<br /><br />Food is gradually crawling up my list of issues. It has been 4 days and I am all on MacDonald and my cup noodles and my biscuits. I wonder how long I am going to be good that ways. When you are alone and when you know that you need to save some dollars, having food outside is the last thing you would ever wish to do. So I wait for the real call to come from inside before I give in to my cravings……Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-19183262008593065922011-01-24T18:31:00.001-05:002011-01-24T18:33:04.062-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 2Today my life started at Toronto. Till now, it was just the wait for work is why I am here. The morning started for me quite early which has never been the case with me since years or may be never before. It started at 5 Am which usually is 9 AM for me in India. <br /><br />It’s strange how life differs over the time zones. While I am trying to brush my teeth and get ready, my fellow mates at India are wrapping up their Monday. It’s simple for the world rotates yet amazing for that makes lives so different. Nez…the first news of the morning was a good one and a bad one. My love starts working from 1st March instead of 1st may. That’s bad for her stay with me for 3 months before she joins work has to be cancelled. That implies a more-lonely me back when I am at India. And it’s good because she would get paid which implies my salary increases and I start getting more bucks for us to live. I now feel that it’s more bad and little good. Nothing can be a substitute than to live together when you are in a distance relationship.<br /><br />It started falling snow the moment it hit the clock at 6. And it never stopped. It came to become the coldest day of the year at Toronto. It was my first day and I didn’t have the slightest idea as to where my workplace was. I started out in the snow as I felt my nose going numb……and after managing to call up my colleague at the work place and having walked more than a kilometer as I tried not to fall on the snow covered lanes and not to freeze with the cold air I was breathing in, I finally reached where I was expected. Everything can never go right for me. So, the remote desktop didn’t work out. I wasn’t able to check my mails. I did some coding as was needed for the day and started back home at 5PM. That’s really a good thing about working anywhere except India. You come on time, you don’t any shit at work like play TT or gossip around or go for long breaks and you finish your work on time to head home early. That really makes you aware of how important the work life balance is. <br /><br />Oopss..…I forgot my lunch hour. My team brought boxes and so there was no one who could accompany me. It was again an adventure waiting for me. So I started out and as I asked the other fellow member in the lift, he helped me out as we talked about our work. That’s another good thing about not being in India. I don’t say that Indians aren’t friendly but that the people here are more reachable. I would have thought twice if I were to ask someone at India and would have never dared had it been a girl. Here humanity matters more. You can feel it. And it feels good. Well, amidst a hundred shops and thousand unknown faces, I decided for a roasted chicken sandwich and a diet coke. My lunch ended in 15 minutes as I watched people around and that was it. <br /><br />Evening walk back to my hotel room had similar colors as the morning but it wasn’t that cold either or might be that I am getting accustomed to it. MacDonald’s has an outlet nearby and I did deserve a value meal after countless cup noodles, cakes and biscuits. I got that packed and as I write this, I am already done with my hot French fries. The burger and the coke have to wait for the dinner. I got my Skype credit charged up today. Hopefully, now I would be able to make some calls to India for cheap. And before I end my post, the last feather in my cap of Toronto would be that I finally was able to brew coffee using the coffee maker. Google is all you need when there is no help available. My first brewed coffee doesn’t taste bad, if I am to be realistic. That implies my tomorrow morning should start on a good note.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-77647466184251971852011-01-23T20:21:00.002-05:002011-01-23T20:23:03.930-05:00My Trip to Toronto - 1My first trip abroad has started. I travelled to Toronto for 3 weeks from where I am supposed to go to New Jersey for a week. And that is all about it. Today, I am trying to put down everything possible about my arrival to Toronto via London.<br /><br />The cab to pick me up was supposed to come at 2:00 Am in the morning. As remains the case, they never turn up on time. After a customer care call and my efforts to guide the driver as to where my home was, I finally was downstairs watching him load my baggage into the cab. I bade goodbye to my roommate and in the chill, the journey begun. International section was new to me and as I was travelling for the first time, I really wasn’t aware of the process which lied ahead. I reached the airport a good 40 minutes ahead of time. After the wait, with red eyes and a light head I met the person over at the counter who checked my two luggages into the cargo and the handed over the boarding passes to me. Without any further delay, I headed for the security check and got seated in front of the gate 32 where my flight was supposed to arrive. It was British Airways and my first international flight. I plugged in the cell phone pods and tried being as much relaxed as possible. But, I failed. The tension and apprehension of what lied ahead hardly allowed me to relax which I guess was good as I didn’t fell asleep.<br />I had a connecting flight from London. There were many things ahead which I didn’t have the slightest idea about. Things like how much does it take to reach London, what it feels like to be seated for 8 plus hours on a Boeing and whether I would be fine having food during the flight considering that I was a nausea patient and …….well, the answer to everything is just to face it. I landed up besides a little boy and her mother. I ate all that was served. I tried sleeping as much as I could. London was waiting for me after flying for 8 hours.<br />Another wait started as I sat myself in the waiting arena. It was a 4 hour wait. But it was post the security check up. Compared to India, the security check up at London was pretty impressive. They didn’t take anything for granted except for my sports shoes which was no interest to them. My laptop, purse, belt, socks, bag…everything got scanned. I was carrying INR & CAD, so I tried keeping myself away from the shop nearby. Watching people usually is boring. But not when you are in a foreign land. 4 hours didn’t feel like being 4. <br />The flight for Canada had me sitting by the window, alone. I tried capturing as much London as I could. I can say that I loved it. The roads, the people, the climate, the surroundings, the view…they all looked great. This is what they say as being the largest city in the world. It kept me yearning for more which is a feeling I really like. These are the ones which makes you live life. Nez…my flight to Toronto was again all about dim lights, foods and occasional trysts with sleep. Another 7 hours and I saw snow for the first time. It was -18 degrees Centigrade outside. The airport too seemed to be lonely for 730 PM in the evening. The customs was a formality. I had confusions about private laptop declaration which the lady sitting at the counter helped me with. I came out, collected my baggage and called up Bloomingdale Limo service. They have a reputation of being reasonable and good. An Indian picked up, booked a cab and made me aware of the process. As I came out of gate no 29 to meet the person sitting at the prebooked counter, I tasted -18 for the first time in my life. It was cold, refreshing, clean and new. I breathed for a few minutes before I came inside and waited for my cab to arrive. Another Indian greeted me as he drove me towards my hotel. He came here 32 years back and has a child aged me and is now settled in Canada. He was all praise for the city. We shared a few words about India before he gave me his contact and waved off. The hotel, Marriott wasn’t bad either. Thankfully, my 220V adaptor worked out good for the 110 ones here. Connecting to the internet had wire and wireless as the options. My cup noodles gave me a good time during the dinner and there I was, sitting on the 17th floor watching a snow covered clean Toronto lying before me. <br /><br />Its -25 today. I went out for 5 minutes and felt lucky to have come back to the hotel, alive. It was becoming difficult for me to breathe out there. I wonder as to how I am going to make it to the office tomorrow. That’s the next big thing ahead, tomorrow. Hope, things will work out for the good. Presently, it feels nice to be here. I don’t know how it would stay like that.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-72202863127987799502011-01-18T13:14:00.003-05:002011-01-18T13:16:15.380-05:00My New Year celebrations just got over....The New Year celebrations just got over for me. That explains where I had been these many days post my Christmas post. It was the same routine life except one additional premise which imparted a whole new meaning to these normal, routine, lame days from my life. It was my love who was staying here with me. <br /><br />She was the mornings I always wanted. She was the smile I always longed for in the goodbyes and welcomes. She was the taste my buds always searched for during the dinners and the in the food out. She was the voice I always wanted to hear when I get home. She was the company I always needed when I headed out for the movies or a good time out. She was the support I always prayed for in times dark. She was the life I always asked for, in my life. <br /><br />No one else had mattered. It was a proud display of arrogance on my part for I had what I always needed. Friends, family and no-idea-who-all got neglected. The same sheets, the same room, the same air, they all are here but what they used to have is what is missing today. There is no substitute or shortcut to living life in & with love..<br /><br />Today, as I sit here writing this post, she is traveling back to her city to complete her course and I am looking forward to a business travel to Canada/US in the next 3 days for a month, alone. The next one month will test all that I have. The temperatures are low, I would be on my own and the expectations from me to deliver are high and I am traveling abroad for the first time. So, it’s missing your life plus the insecurities and challenges that lie ahead for me. Be it a win or a loss, it’s just another match which needs to be played. Matter of time before I am into it…..do wish me and us, luck…Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-89504171106224472612010-12-25T12:40:00.001-05:002010-12-25T12:41:53.228-05:00MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_i7dCn2bkBI0SBgNcalyTgJteCiwCOe7BB2sszshgjeiYqfuH3vJkLFMlQzBBsQA00Il5ncu-EqmZkKb2ef3Y9l1nBhFo99KXbfCImK_p2IjsuDxIxrOgr42JafsfVoGFiRJNBl5uAFo/s1600/xmas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_i7dCn2bkBI0SBgNcalyTgJteCiwCOe7BB2sszshgjeiYqfuH3vJkLFMlQzBBsQA00Il5ncu-EqmZkKb2ef3Y9l1nBhFo99KXbfCImK_p2IjsuDxIxrOgr42JafsfVoGFiRJNBl5uAFo/s320/xmas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554676326558691954" /></a><br />I just read my last year’s Christmas post. Last year, I wrote I was happy as I had two job offers and was serving my notice period with my employer. This year, I find that I am still looking for a job change. This time I want to go abroad and earn in foreign currency which can make my future better in India. So, basically nothing has changed. Why I didn’t do it then (what I am doing now) is a valid question and I don’t have any answers to that. If any of you has ever job hunted, probably you know then, what a big pain it is. And for the records, I have been doing all through 2010. Some year it has been. I don’t even have a count to the number of interviews I have appeared and taken too, for my firm. <br /><br />It’s 25th December and I didn’t had the blast I always want to, on Christmas. I went to the church to see Christ, burned candles and came home and took my parents for dinner outside. Another year down and I still have my dream with me, untouched and pure. The dream to spend Christmas with my love amidst snow falls and freezing temperatures in some far off land amidst a lot of Santa’s…. :D<br /><br />Well, with no idea when that’s going to happen, let me wish all of you once again…MERRY CHRISTMAS. And I hope Santa makes his presence felt for I still believe in his magical presence at the North Pole. All I will do now is to go out in the cold and stare at the star studded sky…it feels magical and I find myself a little more away from reality, closer to Santa….I find peace.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/atxjen/2626107257/"><span style="font-style:italic;">Image Source</span></a>Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-66656131656002495982010-12-24T07:08:00.002-05:002010-12-24T07:15:37.990-05:00My Happiness: Decoded<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnwTUM4xGnJ7cSfa0WhnUKZbqOgC3S0zDHZmZhyphenhyphenGlev0sHua3I_CioFPu17gVGAcPzrmQVJwsKqDWKHb61h_Us9DOgxDskQssCJPshadbZVpoZQxsNGENPNaHQdneJvYEKjN1zEDqmtTw/s1600/happy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnwTUM4xGnJ7cSfa0WhnUKZbqOgC3S0zDHZmZhyphenhyphenGlev0sHua3I_CioFPu17gVGAcPzrmQVJwsKqDWKHb61h_Us9DOgxDskQssCJPshadbZVpoZQxsNGENPNaHQdneJvYEKjN1zEDqmtTw/s320/happy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554220081826448962" /></a><br />It’s Christmas Eve and I am sitting at my room, alone. As I take a bit of a dark chocolate, I can sense that I am elated. At this point, I am really feeling good. It seems to be a perfect time to have a look at things that really do or can make me happy. Here they go…..<br /><br />Chocolates and Ice Creams: For me, always a mood lifter, a welcome anytime and satisfaction guaranteed.<br /><br />Nights spent outside: My night affairs with nature always gear me up. Even if it is one of the deepest lows ever, I get the zeal to jump back. The cold breeze, the silence, the darkness and the awkwardness of the hour makes me feel more in tune with myself. It has always been a mood booster.<br /><br />Trip/Travel: They are fun to plan and they are the best way to unwind. Though currently I see myself doing that once a year, the target to have them quarterly. Trekking and photography are tightly bound to it and all of it always is very exciting. It’s definitely something which has kept me in motion.<br /><br />Coding: It is just a 4 years old love story. But it takes me off to another vertical. I feel much more at ease and in control when I see a system or a problem in front of me that needs coding. Java is the city where we first met and it has been all love since. Nothing like a busy day at office, coding the time away.<br /><br />Games: I love being a gamer. PC Games kill time like no other. They distress me and I feel creatively engaged in something heavenly and unique in a masterly skillful manner. I just love them. Period.<br /><br />Electronic Gadgets: Whenever i get one, i feel atop the world. I don't have a huge set of them but i do remember the way i felt when i got my Laptop, Digital camera and Phone. Its an occasional indulgence, but worthy enough to last long.<br /><br />Movies/Blogging: They aren’t a regular always welcome and that’s the reason I name them at the last. But they do have the power to dress up my mood sometimes. Movies have always been a favorite and blogging helps a lot in putting my mind in place. <br /><br />That looks like a small list. They say i am materialistic in nature and may be i am. But its all of the materialism i care for. :)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnyfarts/4971557123/sizes/m/in/photostream/"><span style="font-style:italic;">Image Source</span></a>Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-22388950815408323392010-12-19T10:57:00.002-05:002010-12-19T11:02:11.463-05:00My 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSJv5ArOePGA9G9NI_8R98h1yBlRLgSuKxLi_yQzej40oCVz3Yjo00hceZ1OshOvyPrRLFz2yZ5unfwmR1kmcdpg6eWWTijp3CYDBzvq8MdwP00lfImAjOw4Fsr97RFU7ZT_L19ooYa7_/s1600/2010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSJv5ArOePGA9G9NI_8R98h1yBlRLgSuKxLi_yQzej40oCVz3Yjo00hceZ1OshOvyPrRLFz2yZ5unfwmR1kmcdpg6eWWTijp3CYDBzvq8MdwP00lfImAjOw4Fsr97RFU7ZT_L19ooYa7_/s320/2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552423190798513938" /></a><br />Another year comes to an end. The habit of putting in 2010 has to end soon. There won’t be another chance to re-live it. It would forever remain a special one for me. As I always love doing, let me retrospect and try revisiting all the major turns and corners of 2010.<br /><br />The good ones go as below:<br /><br />1. I got recruited. I got offers from multiple organizations. I successfully shifted whenever I needed to. To add more to that, I had shifted twice this year. I know that is bad. I say that is good because I ended up in one of the major Investment Banks of the world. I know where I started and I know where I am today.<br /><br />2. My love got recruited. Believe me you all, this is the best part of this year. This singular fact makes me say that I am never gonna forget 2010 ever in my life. You say it’s no big deal. I say it is. I know what I was into, what we were into and what she was into. It was so big a relief; it was so much needed, it was so essential for us that I don’t even mind terming 2010 as the best year of my life till date.<br /><br />3. This year gave me football. I was always crazy about it. But in the past few years, I wasn’t living and thinking it. Now I do. I always love madness. Today when I stay awake till 3 AM in the night for matches of Barcelona, I really feel good. It makes me feel I am alive. I have even surpassed my English Premier League fan-friends in covering La-Liga and Champions League. I must Seria-A and Bundesliga are in queue too. The passion for the game which the world cup ignited doesn’t seem to end.<br /><br />4. I was never appreciated at work. Today I am. I have also been asked to visit US and Canada. That’s not a biggie. Well, it is. It is so new to me that I am not going to let go the feeling. I must admit that it’s very dear to me. I am not someone who can manipulate and oil people up the hierarchy. And when being the person that I am gets things because I deserved it, it deserves to be remembered.<br /><br />5. I traveled a lot this year, for fun. I had been to Bhandardara, a beautiful hill station near Mumbai and Goa on an official team offsite meet. While the earlier was really crazy with all friends and love and trekking into the hills and having good time, the latter was all about boozing carefree, exquisite lodging experience and flight travels for free. Had it not been for my documents, I would also have travelled to Canada and US this year. Nez…<br /><br />The bad ones go as below:<br /><br />1. I scheduled my GMAT exam, forgot the scheduled date and wrongly thought it to be the next day. No one does that. These days, something pretty wrong is on with me and dates. I keep messing them all the time. I lost a good deal of money and my 2 Months. It was hard to get over it.<br /><br />2. I gave up MBA. Today I can say a NO to an MBA for at least the next three years. I would have loved to do that. But I realized the hard way that I need bucks to take care of my dependents. MBA needs motivation. Motivation is the last thing you can expect of yourself when you have money and responsibilities at hand. The hour asks me to make a difference. I have to try. I had to give up on my MBA dreams. <br /><br />3. At the start of the year, I moved out of a brokerage firm and got myself into a service based organization. That was a huge mistake. I should have expected bad things to happen when I am moving out of a product based firm. I got amongst people who played politics, who never cared for what I know and soon I found myself doing work which ideally suits graduates fresh out of college. I gave my days and nights for accusations and manipulative mails undermining my merit. I had to give up. I gave up in 3 months, much sooner than what I had expected. I got into a major investment bank. It was great but I did that at the cost of another organization experience on my profile and with a 0% hike. To the people who see my profile today and to me, we only understand how all of this looks today.<br /><br />4. I got my parents over to stay with me. I always thought that my being the only son added to their woes and left them lonely. I was wrong. They stayed here for six months and they are worse here. They miss their place, they don’t have anyone to talk to, they feel being caged and all of it makes them behave in weird ways. So they are going back. All of this was a big mistake. I did it as I thought of saving bucks as we stayed together. I never thought that staying together was the last thing on their minds.<br /><br />5. I have become possessed about money. My needs have taken care of me. I always used to be the one who joked about going abroad and my friends know how badly I hated the thought of being left alone in a far off land. I have given them nightmares with my logic and views over the same. It’s the same me which is now in the cat race of going onsite, working abroad and earning bucks. Certainly it’s not the old me anymore. The currency seems to matter a lot to me now. Staying alone doesn’t scare me anymore. I am excited and hopeful about my new thoughts but I am scared too. On the whole, I feel the change which has come in me, is bad. Who likes being driven by money?<br /><br />That was 2010 for me. I always get emotional and sentimental about the year coming to an end. It always reminds me that nothing stays the same, ever. That change is the only constant makes more sense during this time of the year. But I also wonder what all of this is about. I hope that I am able to do all of this the next year too. And I wish the same for all of you too. Life is strange. As one of my favorite movie quotes go "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you get".<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30588268@N03/4233865658/"><span style="font-style:italic;">Image Source</span></a>Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-7139382664348216462010-12-18T03:30:00.003-05:002010-12-18T03:39:43.046-05:00Why/How to Blog?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7duAzMpaJgsk3UyRGPd-E7jVvN2WiBSJ7sC0IVn7k0wWm95hUKFOMk1zhgvrhWC6yu4Zg08eZxAyuKZ33BlE2TXI2c6WW7NCsHkLLp5q_3S2Pk5NFkB9_Ei0mIiTKe3uGQnTkSJcYlXA/s1600/blogger.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 201px; height: 68px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7duAzMpaJgsk3UyRGPd-E7jVvN2WiBSJ7sC0IVn7k0wWm95hUKFOMk1zhgvrhWC6yu4Zg08eZxAyuKZ33BlE2TXI2c6WW7NCsHkLLp5q_3S2Pk5NFkB9_Ei0mIiTKe3uGQnTkSJcYlXA/s320/blogger.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551936988425128274" /></a><br />Let me try to address the question “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Why/How to Blog?</span>”<br /><br />Many are there who question the same, and many start a blog and give up someday. As I reach the 150 post mark (nothing great but feels great), I thought it would be apt to pen down a few pointers as to why we blog and how we should. Hope it helps someone, somewhere, someway……<br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight:bold;">A blog isn’t only about writing</span>. There are blogs about everything that you can think of. Blogs range from photography, cartoons, movies, wines, cooking, jokes, self-learning, technology, travel, politics, current affairs, share trading, business ideas, books, games, MBA, sex stories, school days, memoirs, fashion, festivities, hobbies and anything that you can relate yourself to. The trick which makes a blog tick is to choose and blog about what you feel for. It need not be words and words only. It can be anything. It can be anything that you want to keep an online journal about. The more you fit in to this road, the longer you shall last. It’s about being YOU, online.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight:bold;">A blog isn’t about followers and comments either</span>. When you post, mostly you love it when someone reads it and follows your posts. Comments do feel motivating and are inspiring. But even if you don’t have whole of the world with you, who has? The number you see there is just a number. Blog for yourself and you shall rule. Whenever you feel you don’t have ample readers, remind yourself, you blog for yourself. Doing it matters more than to have people seeing you do it.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Blog is highly beneficial</span>. For me, a post helps me when I am high and happy and when I am low and sad. It helps me getting my mind in place. It helps me gauge my direction and the distance I have covered. It helps me question myself, my beliefs, my thoughts and my days. It engages my mind in something I call as “being creative about ME”. It feels great when I see words from my life out there in the World Wide Web. It reassures me of my presence. And above all, it is fun and satisfaction, guaranteed. On another note, I gathered information about GMAT, MBA and schools which i never thought i could. It wasn't Google. It was blogger.com.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight:bold;">A blog helps you connect</span>. Believe me when I say this, bloggers are just awesome. I have hardly come across a blogger who isn’t being real out there. For if you aren’t being real, you can’t last. And that’s what makes this whole of blogsphere so cool, so real, so good and so true. I get a positive vibe when I visit pages. It is wonderful to sneak into the lives of people around you. You connect to souls living god knows where and share. Visit any blog placed randomly in some forum, go through the pages, hang around there and you will realize.<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Blog only when you want</span>. Get over that habit of posting every day. There is no compulsion. Stick to one most important motto: post only when you really want to. A blog shouldn’t be about writing something about something every day. It is also about making others know were there. It is about enjoying and experiencing all of it that is out there. Don’t forget to be a honest reader/follower, if you are.<br /><br />6. <span style="font-weight:bold;">A Blog is simply you</span>. It’s expression online. So try to be “YOU” in whatever ways you can. Only you can feel yourself. Get those feelings onto your blog. Let the blog be what you are, what you were and what you can be. For example, don’t just post something about the Christmas coz everyone else is doing that. Post about what you relate to. Honesty matters most.<br /><br />7. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Publicize your blog, if you want to</span>. These are the days of facebook and twitter. When the social connectivity is THE THING, it’s normal to see peers bragging/sharing/talking about their blogs. Its publicity and it does help. But not everyone. If you aren’t comfy with publicizing your pages, don’t do it. There is no rule. Being you is the rule. And the same applies to the tons of tools out there like monetizing your pages, feed burners, blogger forums, contests, do-follow blogs, blog networks etc. The point here is not to burden yourself with things which isn’t you. It may cloud you blogging experience.<br /><br />8. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Visit your blog</span>. You should be your best reader and follower. If you don’t find yourself doing that, the case might be that you don’t really like what you do out there. I often visit my blog at work. It makes me wonder if all that is mine. It’s private and confidential, yet for display. And to be honest, I find my blog always the best. :)<br /><br />9. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Blog isn’t a necessity/compulsion</span>. If you can’t relate to it till now, don’t blog. Having a blog just because everyone has will get you nowhere more than an additional web link that you need to log into. With life going crazy online, there might be things which are for you. An unfinished venture hurts more than the one you never started.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/colinzhu/54784620/"><span style="font-style:italic;">Image Source</span></a>Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-47302407555408688392010-12-12T10:08:00.002-05:002010-12-12T10:23:19.767-05:00Top Se7en reasons: Why DECEMBER.1. I love the night of 31st December and the morning of 1st January. The end and the start, they both make me feel very different. In India, a new year usually means no more than a night party with all the boozing and friends around. Some go on for vacations and some spend it at home with their closed ones. But for me, when I say it makes me feel different; I don’t refer to any of these. I like stopping and looking back. It always makes more sense; it enables me to see where and how I was and where and how I am today. It’s a feeling which encompasses nostalgia, memories, past aspirations and plans and dreams. It feels good and bad, alike. And it is this time of the year that makes perfect sense to be chosen over the others. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAK1XuyW40mj6gQYtesocWV1sJ5oFraVuAnS3nwEAqQsySUi1S6QAyq6qX5fti2zgozjNYIyxNRo84QQoNhTg7e5eAmmIdr7a97xXf5TqdBngUeKahexnJAcGzaZhbyyGnGzTazoZxhPQj/s1600/tree.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAK1XuyW40mj6gQYtesocWV1sJ5oFraVuAnS3nwEAqQsySUi1S6QAyq6qX5fti2zgozjNYIyxNRo84QQoNhTg7e5eAmmIdr7a97xXf5TqdBngUeKahexnJAcGzaZhbyyGnGzTazoZxhPQj/s320/tree.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549814066344012562" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mika/306510405/"><span style="font-style:italic;">Image Source</span></a><br /><br />2. I love Christmas. I am not a Christian but I make it a point to visit the church every year on this day, wherever I might be. I was operated at the age of 10 in a Christian hospital and from that very age, I am aware of the Bible, Christianity, churches and Christ. Strangely, I never find peace at a temple. I always find that at a church. It’s too personal a view but that’s how it happens with me. For others, how can you turn your back to those beautifully decorated churches, the candles, carols and jingles, the rum cakes and the star which never fails to catch attention? If you have never been to a church, be there and you will see for yourself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNwJqhCdhkiAtmtSIBgmNXSAkQEeaZTRjNVme74LVigKCUaP-0RiD974Ev3vMcG1rT64KuzogR2SEcZ5hRhc8US6Vl2e6a6rNaPAybmsXivl9tsZlQWHhdKQup7H2FEe4q6C3xOJG4yu8/s1600/star.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNwJqhCdhkiAtmtSIBgmNXSAkQEeaZTRjNVme74LVigKCUaP-0RiD974Ev3vMcG1rT64KuzogR2SEcZ5hRhc8US6Vl2e6a6rNaPAybmsXivl9tsZlQWHhdKQup7H2FEe4q6C3xOJG4yu8/s320/star.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549814777891578578" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luchilu/2122762150/"><span style="font-style:italic;">Image Source</span></a><br /><br />3. I proposed my love on 1st December. She means life to me. So, I am alive since December.<br /><br />4. My love got her job on 10th December, this year. I cannot be happier and never have I ever been. <br /><br />5. I am an Information Technology guy and my clients are almost always based in the US. This time of the year is a sure holiday for them. At my level, it means more peace at work, easy hours during the day and less burden. It is live and let live, but practical and for real.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zO-feqjTLNQmQ3TST0T2GNzDEAlCG6Qne13xVMWM0aGWBXIrCIdf-tSvqS7T63MCY9xR2WY7Wxt7GcTR3Isj4JwUND_XaDkMAhtOKtM892S8HlA8Tvwq5WTLWgXqkCbmIcVfYcmRnKO4/s1600/Church.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zO-feqjTLNQmQ3TST0T2GNzDEAlCG6Qne13xVMWM0aGWBXIrCIdf-tSvqS7T63MCY9xR2WY7Wxt7GcTR3Isj4JwUND_XaDkMAhtOKtM892S8HlA8Tvwq5WTLWgXqkCbmIcVfYcmRnKO4/s320/Church.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549816351754565138" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/powi/371298273/"><span style="font-style:italic;">Image Source</span></a><br /><br />6. Do you believe in Santa? Whenever I tell myself, there is no Santa, I remind myself of the “Polar Express” and those countless times I have seen and heard of him. Snowfall without him makes no sense. And although it might sound childish and silly, at night when I stare up at the sky and wish it would have been falling snow, Santa fits in the best in those starry skies. So, there it is. Even though I know that he doesn’t exist, I love believing that he does.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KaoTUjrOQyoom8OowHPcSrIUPlYLolFyB7MdCbwMzV-lSeJ7Krz6j66AcBw9vMoms1I3pj-fJTlVW-exD03UzneVGgrZj5NDvglUnjqKYwFIb-MALn9Wl1tRX64adTe52ctZYvDRAS1Q/s1600/Santa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KaoTUjrOQyoom8OowHPcSrIUPlYLolFyB7MdCbwMzV-lSeJ7Krz6j66AcBw9vMoms1I3pj-fJTlVW-exD03UzneVGgrZj5NDvglUnjqKYwFIb-MALn9Wl1tRX64adTe52ctZYvDRAS1Q/s320/Santa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549815268721505762" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ana_fuji/4075678147/"><span style="font-style:italic;">Image Source</span></a><br /><br />7. I love nights. Cold nights are the best. December guarantees that it would be the coldest. Go outside, roam around, listen to music and feel that breeze all over your face through your hairs. Its solace redefined and fulfilling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAM4fQ55SjxVffYGCmGLDxUv2o5c1dob9kFm4XhdSBbsPuzPaflJBB5AtIKUbV0UTgP9GV7KRmM-JuClEf-z429Y-QdjlqicAOO3bzhfd3IP3u-xQV08ZMz1IpWNmg19DBw5xc8i7duibC/s1600/nights.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAM4fQ55SjxVffYGCmGLDxUv2o5c1dob9kFm4XhdSBbsPuzPaflJBB5AtIKUbV0UTgP9GV7KRmM-JuClEf-z429Y-QdjlqicAOO3bzhfd3IP3u-xQV08ZMz1IpWNmg19DBw5xc8i7duibC/s320/nights.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549815715933040658" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dawn_perry/233997267/"><span style="font-style:italic;">Image Source</span></a>Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-14724133771686897422010-12-10T11:21:00.002-05:002010-12-10T11:22:46.809-05:00My love got a job.The news is just in and <span style="font-weight:bold;">10th of December, 2010</span> would forever be in bold letters henceforth in the pages from of life. My love got a job placement through campus and this marks a successful end to her MBA. It also marks an end to the long journey she had till today, we had till today and I personally had till today. To see this day, she had been through all that could possibly go wrong for her in all the corners of her life. <br /><br />She didn’t sit for the placements during engineering because I wasn’t fine with her doing a job as I was an over possessive lover. Day by day I was becoming suicidal and things trivial were enough to put me onto depression. Still, she stayed with me through all of that and spent another two years at home trying first six months for her tuitions to work followed by a GATE preparation phase marred finally by her sudden illness and a year preparing for her MBA with all that she had left in herself. She finally made it to a college as countless nights of fights, tears, loneliness and frustration came to an end. But it was just another start. One year rolled by and for the last five months we have brainstormed about masking her almost 3 year break in career while she stayed at home. We have failed countless times with things getting worse as companies visiting her college campus refused to take her in. She got rejected several times in the final round and all we had to blame for was the gap she had. It was logical to do that. Yesterday night was no other. We discussed hours trying to look at the case from alternate options. <br /><br />As I always say, destiny knows when, how and what. And none the different has it been. She finally got through today and I thank you GOD from the bottom of my heart with all that I have. Today I feel relaxed off a huge burden and guilt. I know what has happened because of me can never be compensated but still, I am happy. Today I won’t complain. Saying it once didn’t work quite well, so here it goes again. I am happy. I am more than happy. I am so happy that I haven’t read anything since I heard the news. And I am so happy that I really don’t care what happens tomorrow as I sit for my technical interview written test. And I must say, I am proud of my love. <br /><br />This has been some journey.<br /><br />Cheers.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-65523018853805558872010-12-09T12:37:00.003-05:002010-12-09T12:38:15.028-05:00It just happens...oopss..Whenever I head towards something with focus, things happen. It’s a rule which applies only to me. Over time, I have adapted myself to it and now all I do about them is to face them and smile. <br /><br />On Saturday I am going to appear for a technical test for an opportunity at another Investment Bank and I have high hopes that they can pay me more. A high pay, onto the scale which I am looking out for, would solve many a problems for me. It’s another topic all together how I realized that it’s almost a year since I started looking for a change. It surely has been a year, endless nights of preparation and two companies which got added onto my profile and I am still there in the market, dreaming and trying everyday for a better paying job. Anyways, onto the story at hand, I decide to take a day off from work and prepare at home. My manager calls me up and asks to come over to work in the evening as my business head from U.S. is in the city and an all hands meet has been planned across teams which report to him. Bored with myself, I head for office, sit and hear him happily wondering about the things that are left to be read and I get a recognition award as he announces my name and in the next 20 minutes, I am told by my manager that I would be rated as an exceeding expectations candidate in the appraisal which is one month down the lane and that she has already decided the ratings. I head back home with so many good feelings. And that’s the problem I was referring to.<br /><br />When you are a hopeless void (i.e. an empty black hole sucking in everything around which is not just good but all the bad too) and you try day in and day out to make things different, something which can put you off your tracks or makes you feel better is actually deceptive in nature. Staying focused and doing what you were becomes so much more difficult. That’s bad. That’s fate not playing fair with you.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-59928551709797054282010-12-08T02:56:00.006-05:002010-12-17T12:03:58.287-05:00Playlist 2010The year is rolling towards an end. It makes sense for a list of songs that rocked my days the whole year with an assumption that something new won’t come up in the days left and sweep me off my foot. And the list goes as below...<br /><br />Just the Way You Are - Bruno Mars<br />Baby – Justin Bieber<br />Somebody to Love – Justin Bieber<br />My World - Justin Bieber<br />Need You Now – Lady Antebellum<br />American Honey - Lady Antebellum<br />Love This Pain - Lady Antebellum<br />Only Girl (In the World) – Rihanna<br />Teenage Dream – Katy Perry<br />Last Friday Might (T.G.I.F.) – Katy Perry <br />California Gurls – Katy Perry<br />Firework – Katy Perry<br />The One That Got Away - Katy Perry<br />Alejandro - Lady Gaga<br />Mine - Taylor Swift<br />Back to December - Taylor Swift<br /><br />A special mention for the two albums which were simply amazing as a whole…..<br /><br />A Thousand Suns – Linkin Park<br />Dark Horse - Nickelback<br /><br />That summarizes the music of the year 2010 for me. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinkDL0gmPutQVc1R2DfMgm0KgbJoM7i8yA73v040jLLus9t2IBrNU0ceB2IXMhQjdM-J7PR5dgZ2TvroSXLExcSqpZ7uwQWJfRd6kAA99YLCo2wlIZhhhKZmFJR83wowUSPgYg-e2pcAn/s1600/Front+Cover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinkDL0gmPutQVc1R2DfMgm0KgbJoM7i8yA73v040jLLus9t2IBrNU0ceB2IXMhQjdM-J7PR5dgZ2TvroSXLExcSqpZ7uwQWJfRd6kAA99YLCo2wlIZhhhKZmFJR83wowUSPgYg-e2pcAn/s320/Front+Cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548218987009874466" /></a>Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260443854437777474.post-83614647201406269212010-12-05T07:34:00.003-05:002010-12-05T07:36:19.753-05:00A NEW me.There are things in life which I want. I want to have a better life and enjoy the so called materialistic world. When I was yet to start working, I always felt that there was nothing I can’t have. That belief is still there. There are friends/people around me who often wonder if they would ever own a BMW and Europe trips at leisure. My response to them has always been a “Why Not”. <br /><br />During the last few months I can see that faith in myself dwindling like never before. I am working in one of the biggest Investment Banks, I know what I do and I am better in what I do than people around me. I also earn decent bucks. Ok, to answer where the problem lies, my responsibilities are huge. And as I head towards a 30 and a marriage in coming 1-2 years, I question myself about what my friends used to wonder a few years back. It’s pain that I feel inside. I am not afraid of losing. I am afraid of not having tried.<br /><br />It has been a year. Never did I have a day when I could come back home from work and enjoy myself. It has remained a relentless journey to excel and better my situation. In these four years of work, I have read more than anyone can during their four years of engineering. And all of that hasn’t gone futile. I have been lucky with interviews, jobs and employers but not with money. That defines what my problem is.<br /><br />An Indian Information Technology Male who used to be onsite-hater and mock people dying to travel abroad is today seeing that as the only way ahead. I ended up at the same corners. That’s life. It always asks you to portray how badly you want things in life. Rest, in some cases only, gets taken care of.Garfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770560263385007142noreply@blogger.com2