Dreamz!

P.S.: *No, its not magical. Others, were much much better.
* I rate, this post, as my best, till date.

*Foreword: Not a funny post. May represent my narrow/shallow mindset. Advertising to close friends only; unless someone accidentally visits here!

1.2 billion people... 28 different states... innumerable religions... how many of 'em you think know the name of the countries, that exist? Vietnam? Indonesia? Ireland? Cyprus, ever heard of it? But there's a country which the entire population would know... could relate with... people would dream of, just being there one day... which is synonymous to 'phoren'... whose people are called as "foreigners"... popularly known as the land of "Amricaa..."!

So, this is a story of one such fellow, who felt that way...

A middle class boy, studying in a school, dreamed to earn Rs. 1000 per day, and calculated all the riches in the world he could get, with that money! He wondered, until his college days, why people would travel into an auto, or car, for that matter, when bus/train was comparatively so cheap? He wondered, why people bought Air Conditioners, when fan is enough to cool down? He even looked up the word 'passport' in Oxfords, dreamed of sitting onto an aeroplane one day... yes, that was his dream! And he dreamed big, well, at least he thought so!

That is how life is! If you are small, your dreams are small too! If you are big, you've got big plans in life.

With those dreams, the boy gets into the college - Science Stream, as he liked Science more than Economics ... and that too in a college, when he could 've got better colleges... well, again, he dreamed of being there! Whilst in 11th Std, he sees his dear friend using a computer, clicking and navigating through the folders so quickly, that he starts believing his friend, is a true genius! And in 12th Std, he starts by "ASDFGF ;LKJHJ" at a friends place.He chooses Computer Engineering, just because he doesn't possess a computer! Finally, finds a computer lab to hang on in his Engineering days, starting his day with - #include.

The frightened, low self-esteemed guy, changes to a more confident person, the next year... reaches late, but is never disallowed in... does not write assignments but submits them first... lets say, his luck gets him through! Last year arrives, and he gets a campus recruitment at *at*i (well, ITians will surely decode it), and thinks that his dream is fulfilled, with Rs. 1.8l p.a. As he is asked to join late, within a gap of 3 months... gets a few offers, and finally selects the company - Nirvana (an imaginary name, which I just love), for the simple reason, that he might get to finally conquer his quest of an airplane travel, doesn't mind if he flies to somewhere within India, but deep inside, he wishes, again he dreams, that he lands in phoren... in Amricaa!

Within a few months, he finally steps up on an international plane... surprisingly looks at people around, on what to do, how to behave, buckles up this seat belt, and takes off! Phew, only if it could be a country, which his people could tell!!

3 years, 3months and 19days later... a book is wide opened in front of the reader, but his mind is somewhere else, his eyes calm and fearless, he rests on a bench, waiting; thinking about the past... his childhood days, his dreams then... of how he looked in his school days... about, the fun he had in the farewell party... the butterflies in his stomach, on the first day of his college... the canteen's masala-paav... the first day of workshop at his engineering college... his assignment of completing his assignments, to others... the fullstop at the last engineering paper... the joy, in his dad's eyes, when he got the job... first day at his office... the cubicle... the first Pseudo code that he wrote... the day finally he stepped on the plane... the first day, that he met the customer... the first production at the site... the first appreciation he got... the project trips that he planned... the opportunities that he got... the 7 countries that he visited... it was, indeed, a marvelous journey!
Today, things have changed, he is more confident... he has high aspirations... the wrongs are rights... he is more practical... he is a transformed man!

But deep, deep inside, he...err... I, still am the same little boy, that I once was... waiting impatiently, with my fingers crossed... am having goosebumps... am excited, after all, I am waiting for the Boeing 747... for my very first trip, to the magical land of Amricaa!

Re-living good old days!

Well, folks! Just yesterday, I took a vacation of 10 days from the IT life... so... Hooray! However, with no outing plans, am back to the city of Mumbai! So, am experimenting a bit, and would like to live, as I used to... 3.5 years back!!!

This experiment, lasts until Thursday, December 3, which marks the end of my vacation era! Why Dec 3? Well, its a honor to re-join your office on a Friday!

The experiment includes cutting down on many things:

• Cutting down on the use of internet!!! Damn! Believe me, the most difficult part! Used to work with DIAL-UP of MTNL - 56kbps and was patient enough for web to respond! This means:
  

- No logging into facebook (Today was Day no. 1, and I failed. But I just went there to post my experiment status on my activity :) Ok, no excuses! No facebook from now on).
- No blog hovering (God, please please please help me).
- No facebook (I left Orkutting ages ago; Twits don't interest me)
- No commenting on any of the forums.

• No TV at all, and no sleeping in the afternoons. It is only later, that I started to doze off, in the afternoon.
• Cooking (Not that I used to do it that frequently 3.5years back, but hey, should have something to do atleast). Girls, yes, I can cook! And I can cook, really well.
  
• Wise spending on food. That means Cutting down on Restaurants, and thriving on roadside food. And believe me, I am loving it. Mangesh Vada Paav, Aarey Lassi, Shri Raam Snacks, Chaar raste ka patis paav, Naarayan ka sev-puri; the list is endless.
• Just read something physical (news paper, book, etc) until the clock strikes 17:00 hrs, look at my mom, smile, and run out of my house to wander somewhere... Yeah! 17:00-19:30hrs, that's the time, I am waiting for while I write this post.
• Hmm... Studying, while we used to do it in our PL (Preparatory leave) days... can't do this, can we, after 3.5 long years?
  
• Poinsur Gymkhana - The best hangout place during the 4 years of engineering. Have to get my Table Tennis bat out of the rugs. Yeah, its really lying there. And I just met my (our) MENTOR there today. Need to defeat him, now that he's 68!!!
• Sit on my computer (located in the hall), with headphones in my ears! But my mom, has lately stopped watching all those K-Serials!
  
• Re-live those days, when I used to write my thoughts/experiences NOT on a blog, but on a notebook, with a pencil! And draw cartoons, that should come naturally; after all, am practicing it in all the boring meetings, from last 3 years :)
• Meet/Talk_to many old friends.
  
• Watching movies, should be on the list. But cannot do it, with not many friends around.

Will I be able to do it? Hmm... that's why i call it an experiment, of Re-Living Good Old Days!

The Knight Riders' Diwali 2009

*Foreword: The post is to be enriched by pictures. It can be done only when the virus on our group photographers' computer, will decide to migrate! Currently, the virus is enjoying the Diwali, but sending out 'Happy Valentine's day' to all.

17th Oct 2009... 23:00hrs... It was time to leave from 'Albela', a local Chinese outlet, when we observed that Ravi is blessed with a baby bike (Honda Unicorn - 150 cc - Jet Black color). My Pulsar and his Unicorn, both black, were going side by side, and the photographer (a.k.a. Aarti Iyer, in the real world) exclaimed - "It just seems like an excerpt from the Goa Trip".

My crazy head spun at this remark, and I said (while we are still on 45kmph speed - well thats what Ravi's bike limit is, for the first 1000km) - "You know what. This will be a crazy thing, that you'll remember we'd done together. Lets go to Juhu Beach". At this remark, the bike speed decreased exponentially to 0 mark. After convincing our Jerry (Chin2) [We missed you Tom] to join us, he needed 30minutes to do his needful - eat, after having Diwali snacks, sweets, a cola, and a soup!

30 minutes then, two bikers with plain shorts, two helmets head-on together, and a snap started our celebration. Here was the plan, that we came up with:

• Its 00:00hrs already, and we need to find a few fuljharis on the way.
  
• Lets get to Juhu Beach, and celebrate Diwali by lighting the fuljharis.
  
• On our way back, hit Anna's coffee (also known as 'tapri' coffee).

A simple, yet enjoyable plan it turned out to be indeed!

Hitting the highway, within a tolerable limit of 45kmph, we took snaps on the way with a snap that I'd rather delete! Chin2, I am going to kill you! We photographed Amitabh's two bungalows too, which was decorated quite well.

And at 01:00hrs, we found it! Just across the road, lied a fireworks shop. Of all the things that have been invented in the crackers world, we selected the good old fuljharis!

We reached Juhu beach @ around 01:05hrs, and were surprised to learn that it is indeed a crowded place! So, there we stood, in front of the waves, lighting fuljharis against the wind! (Chin2 was the matchbox man or the ignitor, and the matchbox was borrowed from some1, which we didn't return). I don't know whom more to thank, the camera, or the photographer, who made us look simply excellent. God bless them both. The fuljharis motion could be captured, and it will definitely look photoshopped, when I publish them. After several individual pics (one with Ravi's a** on fire), it was time for a group photo. And we were damn scared whom to hand over the precious camera to, and the situation worsened when I recalled an incident where in the street guy fled away with the camera! We finally got a person to do the job. Can you guess who could it be? The most trustworthy person - a lady cop! Yup! She had come us to shooo us away, when we politely handed over the camera, and snap! What a pic it was! Really memorable!

And on our way back, we hit Inorbit Mall at around 02:15hrs (Thank Chin2, the navigator), and we could find our best dinner place! Anna's cycle! Wanna know the menu items, that are sold on a cycle? Here it is:

• Idli Chutney
• Coffee, Tea, Boost
• (Boost + Coffee) --> Customized Menu, which we enjoyed --> We name it "Anna's Moccacino"

And believe me, it was the best food, that we had in months! Awesome taste!
We bade our good-byes, and were off to home..

Well, that's all folks, that was our Diwali 2009! A simple way of celebrating Diwali, in a special way!

Two fuljharis, friends, a nice place to celebrate, that's all we need, to celebrate the festival of light! Go ahead people, celebrate it!

P.S.:
Ajay, we missed you... rather... you missed it!

My trip to Bali!

Thanks, God!

I got to see Bali, and it was awesome!

I thought, I would roll out a blog on Bali.
So, I created many things:

1. Bali Travel Guide - Click Here to download it!
2. If you want to get to Bali, here is the Read me blog - http://culturalbaliblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/cultual-bali-readme-blog.html
3. Here are the pictures - http://picasaweb.google.com/reachmanav/TripToBaliOct200902#
4. Some very interesting things I came across are here - http://culturalbaliblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/interesting-things-at-bali.html

Its a paradise to be!

Luwak Coffee

Foreword:
This blog is dedicated to all those coffee lovers out there, who are just taking another sip of their favorite drink, while reading this blog. All the non-coffee lovers, do not read this blog, while eating/drinking; you might just puke on the screen.

So, where do you think the most expensive coffee comes from? Italian? French? Arabic? Kenyan? Nah... Actually, it comes from Indonesia! And it can cost you as high as $600 for a pound.
And yes, I did manage to buy, a small fraction, of it!

Apart from the cost factor, the interesting part is the source of the coffee.
Non-coffee lovers, just back out right NOW.

Ok.. here's the deal.. just read the attached picture

To your left is the derivation description, the center shows the actual Luwak's coffee-xxxx, and the right shows the bottle, after processing!


And so, you surely have to be a coffee lover, to drink that sip!

Interesting ideas to encourage voting

The Maharashtra State Assembly Elections are round the corner... and memories from the elections, earlier this year crossed my mind; especially TATA's jaagore.com initiative. It seemed to be a major youth awareness in a long time. But inspite of their sincere efforts, only a few people turned up, and majority, enjoyed it as a holiday.

So, here's my version of as usual, stupid ideas to encourage voting:

• Give away 1kg of free sugar, to whoever comes to vote. This will surely encourage many you-know-who.
• Make all the theater shows tax-free on the E-day, only after you show your voting mark.
  
• Perform lucky draws on the candidates who come to vote, and give away free vouchers, from the sponsorers. You can do so much to promote our own governmental services. (Free IRCTC Bharat Darshan voucher for family of 4, Khadi Gram Udyog Vouchers, Taj Hotels Spa Voucher, Years supply of Amul products, Detergent supplies, 3 nights and 4 days stay @ wherever, Watches,...)
• Lucky draws and the family gets to meet the President/Prime-Minister, gets to see the navy dockyard, or a chance to meet the military.
• Organize elections in malls (or open grounds), as everyone's found here, on a holiday.
• Organize elections in open grounds and lets re-create and re-live, that mela like culture again. Giant Wheel, flavored ice, and Candy Floss...
• Show only Rakhi Sawant shows through out the day on the Television. This will encourage my next point.
  

All said and done, consider the paradox in my mind...
Now:
People voting - about 40% of the total population
People voting (without any candidate/party research) - 20% (aka Blind votes)
People voting (with minimum candidate/party research) - 10% (includes me)
People voting (who actually eye the correct vision of the candidate/party) - 5%
Also, Probability that the correct candidate is chosen AND he actually does what he's supposed to = 1% (excludes any environmental and econimical breakdowns, which worsens the process)
If:
We have 100% Voting, and if everyone comes to vote, I am quite sure that there will be more BLIND Votes, than the current ratio, which would influence wrong candidate/party coming into power, and... damn!!! I should definitely stop thinking, for a while!

[at] 25 !!!

Always wanted to do this... Just 25 min to go though ... so ppl please ignore errors, if any... There will be many...

Will be mostly like Rapid Fires:

BEGINning on a serious note...

NULL;

END; /* Just today wrote a PL/SQL block */

Birthdays After joining 'Nirvana':

• 24-Sep-2006 - In a party with Friends (Also, lost my Nokia 3300, first mobile phone)
  
• 24-Sep-2007 - Bday@Jakarta.
  
• 24-Sep-2008 - Bday@Vietnam.
  
• 24-Sep-2009 - Bday@Jakarta.

What after 25 more years?
Well, if everything goes well, a restaurant @ Mumbai, where I will prepare 'Chef's special' every evening.
Rest of the time, would like to have a small fan club and just blog!!!
That's retirement plan! World's best job, as it is rightly said...

What drives you?
IT humor, and the fact that I actually get paid for doing that.

Whom do I idealize?
Scott Adams (The Dilbert Guy). Follow him blindly. He's our GOD, if you are in IT industry. Read - THE DILBERT PRINCIPLE.

My best slogans: # All are copied from somewhere #

• No one knows what I do, until I stop doing it.
  
• Success means, never having to wear a shirt!
• IT PREAMBLE
  ===========
  "We the Unwilling, lead by the Unknowing, are doing the Impossible for the Ungrateful. We have done so much for so long, with so little knowledge that we will one day qualify to do anything with knowing Nothing."
• Water is good for you. Unless you're at the bottom of the ocean with an anchor tied to your ankle. Teamwork is like that.
• Home is where the .bashrc is
  

A birthday gift you always wanted:
Well, believe or not, I am trying to do this from a long time. Get 7 black plain t-shirts, and get the following printed, one note each:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday :P

But my MOM ain't gonna allow this :)
But I've more than 39 black T-shirts now in my closet!

Dream Sunday, may be 10 years from now?

Get up @ 8.45 am in the morning... Call up 2 of my best friends... Find out the matinee movie being played in the nearby theater; while cursing 'em for being Kumbhkarans... Complete daily chores (includes 'bath'), and walk out of my house, tricking my mom to NOT know that I did not have that glass of milk, wearing shorts (may be the best brand) and a simple T-shirt... riding that lovely bike of mine... may be doing a Swades...

After the movie, discussing the movie, as we used to, a few years back, in the PG, playing Table Tennis...

One Samosa Pav and then the amazing AAREY Lassi (whose taste is the same from last 10 years) ...

And then running back home for lunch... Yeah... You cannot miss this!

A nice Vietnamese Coffee in the evening should conclude it!

Well, did someone exclaim that we would be married?
The trick is to sacrifice our cars for 'em, and ask 'em to what women do best... Shopping!!!


P.S.:

• Retirement job (Chef's special and blogging) does not mean the IT industry bores me. I just love the IT world.
  
• Nearby theater means the one having lowest fare, with lowest crowd; where you can actually by pop corn, @ pop corn rates.
  
• Asking them to shop implies that they'll bargain (some peace for our soul).
• For all the enthusiasts ( I know there would be none), here's my current contact: +62-87886078609.

There's a surprise waiting for me, back @ home in Mumbai... but no one would tell me, what it would be...

When I look back at any point of my life, I will definitely remember these 25 wonderful years... A toddler just born... who cut his birthday cake with friends, when he was 1... who required help from mom and dad both for oil, tie and shoes... who looked more into the clock than his books for the clock to strike 4:30pm, to play until 7... who then went ahead to use a fountain pen... went to the college, using Mumbai Local trains... who bunked lectures for canteen... loved Mithibai College... who made decision to take up Computer Engineering, just because he may have a computer... to the engineer Don Bosco shaped... learned from DUCS (DBIT Union of Computer Scoiety) ... to an IT fresher... to understand the business processes... who then stepped first time on the plane... who grew into who people call a IT professional... to what I am, commenting on everything the life showed me...

Ten Travels of my professional self

How ever, one (read 'I' ) may blame one's workplace, I am what I am, and what I am is because of my first and current work place.

Well, I have to confess that I am a lucky lad! While possessing no special *skills* whatsoever, it seems I was the chosen one. Customer Travels, formed an integral part to shape my personality that exists today. I have had the opportunity to travel 10 times (of which 9 were international), the log of which I constantly update and share with Ajay and Nirav (very few {only} of the real names that you'll ever find in my posts. Thanks mates!)

Cities visited (in ASC order of where first visited):
- Jakarta, Indonesia. [Count=3]
- Singapore [only a few hours...]
- Larnaca, Cyprus. [Count=1]
- Hanoi, Vietnam. [Count=2]
- Malaysia [only a few hours...]
- Hyderabad [Count=1] ... Well, I consider this to be international :)
- Dublin, Ireland. [Count=2]
- Pune. [Final_Count=1] ... Local onsite < style="font-style: italic;">Nirvanas (codenamed of course)? How to behave, and whom to talk, were his biggest problems then... he even confused the domestic airport with the international one, for God's sake!

Well, I have just loved every place I have been to. However, Indonesia remains a special one, being my first travel, and Vietnam, the most adventurous of all...

Immense confidence is what I have gained...
Have opened up my mind in real sense...
Have unlearned to learn...
Changed my definition of good and bad...
Adapted... Restructured...Revised...

If you met me three years ago, then hey... its time for a new introduction! From you waiting for an introduction from someone, to you introducing your peers... From a Yes Sir... No Sir... kind to a fundae philospher... From just a plain listener to a strategic dictator (too many exaggerated adjectives, ahem!)... its been an amazing journey!

And why am I writing all this? Coz, a lot of memories are springing back to life... my tenth coincides with my first ... as I am currently *back* to Jakarta!

P.S.:
Next Post - My first travel!

A must read - God's Debris

Everytime, I find something interesting, I end up promoting it so blindly, that people think I work on commission!

So, in relation to some conversation, I suggested the book - God's Debris, by author Scott Adams (of Dilbert fame), to two people whom I happen to know. Of which, he finished reading 80-pages (the book is just 131 pages), and could read no further.

The preface of the book is most important:
1. This is not a Dilbert book.
2. Might Hurt religious sentiments and understandings.

Its a nice read, which questions God's existence, his omnipotence! One indeed, needs to keep an open mind while reading this book. It took me one flight, and two lazy Saturday afternoons to finish this 135-paged book for the 3rd time.

After all, there is only one Avatar at a time!

August 14, 2006

A lot of old memories are running through my minds, and so... expect a lot of OLD posts now...

It always starts with those good old childhood days... You are always very excited to visit the workplace... Because you don't work... Your dad does! He brings you in through the office gate, and the watchmen smiles and asks your name... You enter the office, and the chai-walla asks, whether you would like to have a Gold-Spot or a Limca (GoldSpot remains my favorite!) Dad then proudly shows you his work area... A wooden chair, A wooden table laden with paper files, God's and family photos, and an inkpot! Fan-on-top if you work, and an additional table-fan if you get promoted! He then takes you around introducing to all the people in the way, and then to the room for Cold Storage, and you experience that first wave of some device called Air Conditioner, and you adore it! And you wonder, when will I get my room with cool air around me?

And then years pass on... Cafeteria servings become food, Smart people become dudes, Coca-Cola becomes Coke... and you graduate!

It was 14-Aug-2006. With the perception of a normal (government like, where babus sit - with wooden chair&table and fan on top) in mind, I walked inside with pride... (Imagine the musical score from Black, the movie)... and it seems like a dream come true...

Moving from Mumbai to Pune, was then, my worst decision... which turned out to be the best eventually... I even considered going back, just to be with the family, and take up the offer which paid exactly 50% of what this company offered... My roommate then and office colleague now, even suspects tears in my eyes, when I bade my family goodbye on that first day... :)

Coming back to the musical score from Black...
You observe most of the things, that seem ridiculous:

- The floor covered in glossy-reflecting-shining granite, and you have a look at your local-branded shoes!
- (Non-artificial) Plants leaves are wiped clean using water and a napkin
- The intersecting joins within a staircase, being cleaned by a tooth-brush
- Free Food (Includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, fruits, beverages - This surprises some of my friends, even today)
- Free travel services
- The Hotel Accomodation charges bill amounting to Rs.40,000/- for 15 days.
- A separate Table Tennis, Billiards, and a TV room.
- No Dress Code (Wore a shirt exactly twice in 3 years while in office - once when interviewed, other when went to onsite for the first time)
- Tissue Papers everywhere
- Good looking girls (However, either committed or in the neighboring projects!)

After coming over the surprises, you start with your first day at work... but you feel no different... The Induction lecture starts... but you listen this time around...

Few days pass by, and then... your first salary arrives! Nothing seems to match this feeling... you have earned it! Then you go to the ATM, take out your first bill of 100Rupee Note, and laminate it to remember it for the rest of your life...

And this is how it all started... three years back!

Blah! Blah! Blah! [at] a Training

Phew!!! Back after a long time! Believe me when I tell you that

facebook is actually killing my blogging act! Just kept writing something crazy on my WALL, only to find out that No One's listening! So here it is, for me.

I am currently just loving my 5-day profession. Going as a full-time trainer, for the 3rd time in a row, I would love to make it my profession. For all of you who are reading this, am in the software industry, but out of all the techie work, and just socializing! Socializing, I think, I need to write another blog... woooh! Too much to write!

Anyways, at the training, there are a few interesting things happening:

• I wore a shirt! - Yeah! This is top-of-the-list. You'll never ever find me wearing one of those dreaded things!
• Background - Something which can be taught in 2-3 days, is to be streched over 5 days.
• I have, however, convinced them that 5 days is too less, a time, for getting there.
• I say, with full confidence, by looking right in their eyes, that we ought to start exactly @ 9, and I have no problems, whatsoever, in streching beyond the regular hours; but just smile within when they ask me to start by 9.30 and conclude by 5.30. Its a relief!
• It's a record, being the closest ever ONSITE opportunity ( <>
• More the people, the better it gets! - My philosphy from a trainer's perspective! More the people, there always exists a person, who leaves the meeting room for something; and then you just WAIT!
• Carried my personal (and NOT Office) laptop, just because I could get my WINDOWS and ANTIVIRUS definitions updated. (For the geeks - I've never ever installed an IT software, beyond Microsoft Powerpoint till date; It is just meant for games, music, and movies in that order).
• Was active on facebook for about 2 hours, while training the peers.
• I ended up speaking 70 minutes, for the matter worth, not more than 7 minutes. And it was a master piece!
• "All that you require can be CONFIGURED" - The statement I've used at least a hundred times!
• Sighed for SWINE-FLU, and for Michael Schumacher, not returning to the FERRARI Grid, for a couple of minutes.
• One of the participants is down with COLD and COUGH, and the other participant's room-mate feels feverish and has sore throat. Ever heard those ridiculous symptoms?
• Went for a long drive (on my bike), after my quick lunch; but was still the only person to return back to the training.
• Had plenty of freshly ground coffee! Something atleast, for my poor soul!

However, exaggerating all this might seem, I truthfully respect the opportunity, and give it a best shot, so as to fulfil all the training needs! Ahem!

Stay tunned... for more updates! I am just loving it.

16th Grand Slam, against Rafa?

Wimbledon Finals: Roger Federer defeat Andy Roddick
	Roger Federer (2) 5 7 7 3 16 Andy Roddick (6) 7 6 6 6 14

Whoooooaaaaaaaaa! What an exquisite final showdown at Wimbledon!

With injured Rafa pulling out of Wimbledon, everyone of us suspected there was no one stopping Federer now... but after running through the finals of Wimbledon 2009, you'll agree when I say, Big things, never come easy... does it ?

There are just too many thoughts haunting me at this time while I write... stay with me! That is, If I tumble, just put me back on the chair!

Star Studded Match
Pete Sampras, her beatiful wife Bridgette Wilson, Bjorn Borg, Woody Allen, designer Ralph Lauren, Russel Crowe... Does it get better?

Through Pete's Mind
Just wonder the thoughts going through Pete's mind... while on court, he grabbed 14 of them. Undoubtedly, the conditions then, and now differ, and need not be compared, and while his records, still hold, people will truely remember him... but here plays a man, who is trying to get over him... onto the 15th... just like erasing your name from the history book, and replacing it with mine... did he really wish him to go past him???

Interesting Statistics
For his 15th Grand Slam, he had to wait for four hours and 15 minutes, and had to go past his 15th set!

Andy and the Killer serves
With Federer unable to find a way pass to correctly break Roddick's serve for the 4 hours of play, many critics would sympathise with Roddick for his loss, in spite of being the better one. True, but then its a crazy game called Tennis, says Roger!

Through Andy's mind
Here I am... this is me... There's no where else on earth I'd rather be?
On serious notes,
Here I am... If I win this one, Pete's record still holds! If I lose, Roger creates history! Today, I am/was the better one... but I've not yet made my mark in the Tennis world! Am I just no one?

Success never never comes easy
With everyone thinking that the 15th Grand Slam would come easy in lieu of Nadal's absence, nooo... it definitely wasn't! I could feel the shiver, quiver, and the chill run down my spine... He was made to wait... and wait... and wait... I asked myself ...

He has given his best for all the previous 14 Grand Slams... he has put in more than 10 years of international tennis.. but still, everything boils down to that last set... 16-14... he had to wait for another 10 sets to get there...
Seemed like God wanted him to wait... true! The victory couldn't taste any sweeter!

Back to World No. 1 Federer
The 15th Grand Slam has brought back his World No. 1 Title, with it! Hail Federer! When asked about his feelings, he expressed this year as fully crazy. He somehow felt funny about winning back his Wimbledon title, and all coming good this year!

Good gift for the new one to come
When asked about his feelings about creating history, he expressed this year as crazy. He somehow felt funny about winning back his Wimbledon title, and all coming good this year! Mirka Vavrinec, Federer's wife's been 8 month pregnant, and what a gift it would be, for them, this year, everything falling correctly in its place.

16th Grand Slam, against Rafa?
Many wanted Federer to create history, against his greatest sought competitor... Rafa! Well, so what he couldn't make 15th against him... 16th isn't far away! What say, folks?

Goa, the place to be!

I remember my good old childhood days, when we use to plan our vacation to the "Nehru Hatti Garden" (a.k.a. "The last garden" - R.A.M, this is to irritate you!), a place which is not more than 200 metres from our building gate. Everyone of us, will bring in something, which when mixed, will taste like bhel (never mind the ingredients), accompanied by Rasna packets!

Add 15 years to your age then, and after you've got a few bucks, and some1 asks for a vacation venue, one of the favorites will surely be GOA! And that's how we started - myself, Ajay, his sister, his cousin!

Packing the bags dint take more than 15min, and the thrill and excitement of the trip starts right here! With the bus to Goa to leave @ 8.30pm from Gokul Hotel, Borivali, there I was... helplessly trying to call up Ajay @ 7.43pm, to know whether he forgot to pick me up for the trip. But at last, we reached! But nah.. the excitement ain't over...

With Ajay sighting an Arrey Lassi counter, he was just uncontrollable, and hopping badly to get there to quench his thirst for Lassi, sorry.. Arrey Lassi! His sister, was at the doctor's and I doubted her arrival on time. With his cousin wanted to buy specifically "Paragon" Chappals , he started hunting for it right away! Believe me when I tell you that Catching the Bus was least on everybody's mind ...

But all goes well, when the best of friends are around, and there we were, playing with the semi-sleeper seats of Neeta Volvo bus service, on our way to Goa.

Special thanks to:

Ajay's cousin's sister: For making excellent Noodles! Can we have this again, while Ajay heads back to France? Also, for the tempting sheera...
Ajay's Mom: For making jam, and chatni sandwiches (yummmy...)
Ajay's Dad: For chopped cucumber pieces, and buying a knife@ bus stand to cut tomatoes, to make our vegetable sandwich on board
My Mom: For making theplas, which made way into our stomach for the first lunch@Goa.

And after watching 2 Govina movies back to back, we reached there finally... GOA !!!! Ahh.. !!!

Where did we stay?
- Hotel Mellorosa, Arpora, 2kms away from Calangute.

Cost? And how did we bargain?
- Rs. 900/- per day for 4 people.
- Excellent bargaining skills from Ravi, and me, wherein we said to Mr. Jaan, the receptionist:
* We dont want extra matresses. Hum log zameen pe soyenge...
* Swimming pool mein mere badle tu jaa..
* Hum log ek hi light use karenge...
* Hum log paani kam use karenge... in fact... hum naahaenge hi nahi... 2kms petrol waste kar ke Calangute se paani laayenge...
* Hum log students hai... kuch to rehem karo...
* And many more... Ravi pls add it in comments!

Transportation
- We rented one Pulsar, and a Bajaj Avenger for Rs. 250/- per day (petrol charges extra) from Bhushan, the guy next door to the Hotel.
- We enjoyed a 250kms drive throughout the trip.

Places we visited
Day 1 (Evening)
- Calangute
- Wagator, in search for the disc, which disappeared due to the off-season nature.

Day 2
- Arambol (32kms drive from Calangute). Excellent empty roads!!! Ajay and myself enjoyed a nice bike fall, with some minute, but painful injuries.
This was the best secluded beach of Goa. A seemingly trained dog accompanied.. rather lead us to the sweet water lake, which is just adjacent to the beach! "Ahhh..." was our call in unison when our feet touched the sweet cool lake water! Thanks doggy for escorting us here!
- Wagator. Excellent place adjoining the beach, which serves some tasty omlet-paav breakfast. Just buy an Amul Butter, enjoy it with the omlet-paav, and you'll love it. Dip the buttered toast in the chaai, and aahhhh... you'll taste heaven...
- Wagator - Sikrim - Calangute drive. Calangute, if you just go aloof the crowded area, you will see some cleanest water to get drenched! Whoaa.. what a bath, it was!
- Chapora Fort, Wagator! 30min before the sunset spot! Everyone visits in here, but not the adjoining hill connecting it to the Wagator Beach. The hill we climbed, gave an exquisite view of the Wagator Waters! We imagined a lady, a dragon emitting fire, a rat, a rabbit of the clouds. Splendid, it was!
However, Ajay's request to wait for the sunset was denied. Instead, we asked him to take a photograph then, and label it as "30minutes before sunset". What an idea, sirjee!
- Back to Hotel Mellorosa. We'll not forget the amazing dinner served by the hotel staff, minutes after closing the restaurant!

Day 3
- Uff! We're late
With a tiresome last day, everyone was awake late, and we started the day at 10.30am.
- Mayem Lake
55kms away from Calangute, this is an excellent hidden lake, in the center of Goa, which I found the calmest of all. And if you can peddle a boat in the calm and cool water.... man... that's life!
To get here, you have to cross a "Cable Bridge", which is a long streched road, where in you can vroooom your bike easily till 100kmph. Its a bridge, which you should always cross!
- Panjim Market
The trip ended with shopping for family and friends, and with the Kwality Walls ice-creams!

Special finding during the trip was Hotel Vrundavan @ Mapusa Bus stand, which after discovery was our sole place for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. With raising our hand like "Hail Hitler"... the waiter will serve you in no time! Must try - Lassi (which we suspected to be curd plus flavored milk), and surely "Baby Corn Mushroom Tawa Subji"

There were a lot of jokes and fooling around. Devang Patel reminding Aarti of some one, whereas some1 wanted to buy something for someone.
Jhaagda is baat pe hota ki xxxx k piche kaun baithega... does this ring a bell fellow tripmates?
We missed Chin2 and DhanO, our Tom and Jerry, throughout the trip, and imagined situations if they had been here!

The whole of Goa seemed to be shut down during this trip, but the scenic beauty still remains! And if you are a bike fan, the empty roads have never been better! There are 100s of those unexplored places guys, pack your bags, and start hunting now... dont forget to vrrrrooooommmmmmmmmmmm...


P.S:

Let me not forget the mention the fifth character on our trip. When Ajay's sis Aarti wears those numerous sweat jackets, the ZooZoo comes alive, wearing the ZooZoo type shoes too! Will try to publish ZooZoo merchandise pics shortly...

Mumbai to Pune Biked !!!

"
Inexperienced Biker... Attempting Mumbai to Pune tomorrow morning... Will I make it? Else.. its Good Bye and Good Luck
"
read my status note, the night before...

I was unsure of whether I should transport my bike (which includes removal of mirror, emptying my petrol tank, plus additonal risks), or should I just drive...

So, I chose! With my good friend *om***w**, who was excellent with the driving directions, started our journey from Mumbai on morning of 11th May 2009.

Here, were the statistics:

Start Time: 05:02hrs
End Time: 08:33hrs
Meter Start: 38396
Meter End: 38607

Waiting only twice during the journey, with the never ever tasted before like raaste ki elaichi- coffee.. the journey was a perfect vrrrrrooooommmmmmmm!!!!

With my Mom startled at myself reaching Lonavala, in less than 2hrs, it was indeed a journey to remember!

But the joy and the pride with which I reached Pune, remains vivid. I even carried my helmet to the office desk, to express my feelings.

I've done it man!!! Finally, the moment has come... it did take 2.5years for this goody to come, but definitely worth the wait... so... I have a HONDA UNICORN (2nd hand) at Pune... and just another BAJAJ PULSAR waiting for my weekends @ Mumbai...

Been there, done that!

Voting dilemma !!!

Jaagore.com was this year's definite resolution... a great empowerment initiative by the youth for one and all... It was a definite hit this season of elections. After the advertisement, I saw mass awakening of people, in getting their voters' card made. But the glitch starts just about here...

I have my voters card ready. Now, do I know who is standing from our constituency? Well, I suppose we have answers too, for this -

http://www.myobv.org/

http://www.myneta.info/

Its a nice website which describes each candidate, and gives a comparison chart describing:
- Financial Assets
- Liabilities
- Criminal Cases
- Action Plan
- Time required to implement
- Expected Impact

Well, this does sound good, to help a citizen decide whom to vote... or does it??? Think again... I recognized 99% as total strangers, and have to select one of them based on the informative data present on the above site.

To choose my candidate, I had to use the technique of "Selection by Refutation"... Yes... Reject other candidates, and narrow your decision. Some hilarious comments, that I came across for this elections:

1. Action Plan
A nice to know word from the contestants; however seemed too vague to me -

"We will fight against corruption and injustice" --> Don't you have anything specific in your mind yet?

"We will raise our voices and make India an economic power" --> Man, this fundaebaazi is real crap! Please elaborate.

2. Implmentation Time
When will you implment this Mr. Contestant?

"As soon as possible" --> Ohhh.. that sounds good :)
"Within six months, if I get elected. Within 1 year after I get promoted to MP, which I will" --> Most hilarious of all!
"Within one week" --> Why not complete this, b4 elections then? :)

3. One contestant says that he will ban helmets, and remove first class compartments. Its a nice statement onto the open though. I am clear as to reject this contestant immediately, as he definitely does not understand the real problems.

4. Top 3 surprises to me being the following:
- Sonia Gandhi does not own a house, as an asset.
- Rajiv Gandhi does not own a car.
- Sharad Pawar does not own a single square foot of land.

5. If you are a criminal, you can stand for elections. However, if you are a criminal AND you are not contesting, you cannot vote. Whoaaaa !!! These are like writing rules, as they come to someone's mind. No justification, whatsoever!

The real dilemma comes to choose the party over the contestant, or vice versa.
eg: To choose a party with a far-sighted vision (with a poor contestant), or to choose a better contestant belonging to party which does not seem to think beyond the local issues.

Nevertheless, in spite of the above mentioned flaws, am specially here to vote... vote for some one... and my vote will surely count... but will my decision be correct, given very limited exposure of the contestants, that I have?

Any comments, to set my thinking alright? I promise free food to everyone, who comments. And a nice trip back to your home too. And a nice gift. Well, there I go again !!! I can do it too!

A Series Of Unfortunate Events !

I don't know why I am laughing while writing this blog... this is supposed to be painful.
A series of unfortunate events has rolled up my sleeves!

Everything seemed to be going well, until last month, when I thought, as always ... "Man.. This is the take-off time of my life's journey... Everything is going to fall just in place!".

But I have to tell you that Someone's really out there sensing your happiness, ready to play tricks on you!

Summarizing the events, whether good or bad, the way life treats me:

- Health of my family is in jeopardy! Just too many unlucky events surrounding it!
- Someone's job is in trouble. Need to plan something about him, very soon.
- Never shop a long list, even if you think that now you can. No, you cant! It's a rule!
- Finances and other expenses are looking bad, were totally unplanned for.
- No bonus to be expected this year end, and also worried about the next appraisal occurence (if exists).
- Loss incurred of Rs. 40k and expected to be more, for my investment assets until this year end.
- Unable to think and judge what's right or wrong, or really worth it!
- My Television broke! Meaning ( (-ve)20k bucks) in my bank account.
- My 1500 bucks gift (shoes) to my brother, got robbed outside the temple.

What's more in for me, I think!

Nah... not blaming dear God of course!
He was and is going to be with me, while we laugh off my jeopardy, and I am going to tell him - "Don't yet fall off the chair, just wait and watch, there's more!"

News sad, but stupid reasons!

This news is sad, but the reason is really stupid.

Read this link -
http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6149088/Nigerian-footballers-in-deadly-bus-crash

If the above link is dead by then, here's in it for you -

"
A bus crash in Nigeria has killed fifteen members of the Adamawa football club. The accident occurred when the team bus collided with a cattle truck in the city of Plateau.

Only one month ago, another bus crash in the same area killed eleven members of a women's football team.
"

Its a tragic death, but in the most stupidest ways possible!!!!
I should mourn, but could not help a hearty laugh, after I read the stupid cause of the death.

The cattle trucks is definitely killing footballers of the country!

Improving Political Tamasha

Imagined how many TV channels do we have now? I think, after 100, we just stopped counting! Anyways, to improve our political processes, I wish to add one more fish to the pond, by having one more TV channel to do the trick!

Here’s my idea-

We do have our geographical area divided amongst the ruling party’s politicians all around. This means that each zone does have one representative, who needs to pay his duties for good of the people.

I would like to bring each of those representatives, one by one, on this particular channel, broadcasted Prime Time Live, and to give statements about just two things –

i. What was done during the last monthly cycle/quarter?

ii. What is planned for the next month cycle/quarter?

The programs that would be broadcasted here in would comprise of following break-up:

1. Country Progress Check: (2 days, preferably weekends)
1. Here, each of the ruling party’s politicians, who represent the country as a whole, would be answering the questions (i) and (ii) mentioned above.
2. This will help a citizen of India aware of all the decisions being made to project India’s progress at global level.
3. Representative would include, someone like –

- Prime Minister

- President

- Finance Minister

- Etc…etc...

2. Individual Zone Check: (4 days)
1. Here, each of the representative of the zone, would come up, and again answer the above two questions.
2. This will make the citizen of that particular zone aware of the happenings in his area. So, a citizen of Bandra, will watch this program only, which really affects him.

3. Watcher’s Grievances: (1 day)
1. As we have “Reader’s grievances” section in the daily newspaper, I would have Watcher’s grievances, where in you can simply call up, and raise your concerns in case of any mishaps or wrong doings in your area by any one.
2. Each week, one of the subjects would be chosen and any one can call up, and directly take names of the officer, who might be involved in some corrupt behavior.
3. Also, a TOLL FREE NUMBER would be given to all the citizens to register complaints against such acts. An action squad would be responsible to sort out the cases, prioritize them, and take suitable action within a maximum period of 2 weeks.
4. This way, we could keep track of no. of cases solved every month, and thus, surely measure our progress, as a nation.

The fliers of schedule can be distributed, put on the net, or published on the media.

The above mentioned activities will result in following two benefits:

1. Understanding of the political process, and measure its progress:

Each citizen gets to understand an track the progress meter of the political behavior.

2. Transparent Political behavior

Each citizen will know how politics is advancing in the nation, and will surely give a clear picture of how things work.

3. Better Competitions, amongst the politicians themselves, to serve people better:

A citizen now sees, which politician is doing good for his people, and hence, in the next elections, a citizen has a clear picture, on who to elect, as he can select from a group of politicians.

I don’t think, taking an hour off the politician’s time every month (or every quarter), would be that hard. But this idea’s implementation will raise quite a few voices. We should definitely give this a try, for sure!

Many heavy pocketed business iDeAs!!!

I seem to have a lot of Business iDeas lately. But they seem to have just one problem. All of them are too heavy on my pockets! So, anyways, as these not be implemented by me, there's no risk in leaking 'em out.
Would surely be happy to update this post, as life goes by!

So, here they are -

1. Buy a property in Mumbai Outskirts, and rent it for marriages:
The trend nowadays in Mumbai, is to select the marriage dates, as per the availability of a marriage hall. I wish to somehow, convince my friends Nirav, and Ajay, who i assume will be earning quite well, in a few years to pool in the money, to buy this property.

Implementation Methodology:
During the first six months, just lend the whole of the ground for marriages. Say 30,000 bucks per day basis. No catering, nothing doing, just take this on rent, and give it back to me as you took it. If its not clean enough, I will charge you 5000 bucks extra.
Now, next six months, as I would have developed many contacts, I will give complete marriage arrangements' solution and will provide just about everything - decorations, photographer, catering, even the expensive bride and groom's rang of wardrobes on rent.
Gradually, I will create a 6 floor building altogether, and simultaneously 3 small halls would be available readily (1st, 3rd and 5th floors). 6th floor will be a business meetings suite, and will be given to corporates only. 4th floor will be a store house. On 2nd floor, I will have a "SALE" on every second Sunday of the Month, where in you can come, and sell just about anything!

Now, with so much of money, for sure, will again go, and buy a land, and the cycle would continue.

Surely, this would be it !!!

2. Creating an ICE World in Mumbai (exists in Hyderabad already):

I am really very unsure why don't we have any ice skating grounds around in Mumbai (except Essel World) for now! I know, the maintenance is high, and its not so easy, but there would be some business person somewhere, who surely has the initial capital to host this !!!
Just imagine yourself, entering into a mini-world full of ice. Will have the following for sure in this world -
- Igloo made of Ice
- Will have artificial snow falls.
- Ice Dance (instead of Rain Dance).
- Snow man, for sure.
- Will serve ice-cream (or even hot coffee), in an ice-cup.
- Will have all the chairs and table of the restaurants made in ice.

Simply superb!

To be continued ... chk this out for more!

How do we pass our time in IT?

One of my dear friends blogged about how we pass our times of our life?
Life's too long to remember. But I surely commented, as usual, about the ever exciting IT life.

Here's my comment for IT to him -

Years 1 - 2
- What is it that is done?
Years 3 - 4
- What is it that is supposed to be done?
Years 5-6
- Why is this thing supposed to be done?
Years 7-8
- Did we understand what is to be done?

In real or 'ideal' life, its supposed to be exactly in the reverse fashion (Read from Years 7-8 and back). Its hilarious!

Wonder, why I did stop at Year 8?

Coz Year 9 and on.. you just stop thinking !

13 Point someone, yet again!!!

Read this one, before it again disappears!

This time too, no success!!!

But am happy (Grapes are definitely sour), heh heh !!!

Funny Grading Processes, it has been! Its just my 2^nd Grading Process in the IT life, and I’ve lost the top grade’s charm already.

So, what exactly did happen, in my meeting, where I almost lost it? All those typical reasons yet again; I was almost there, but I just couldn’t cross the bridge over; (Well, I am yet to see the bridge which does not exist, leave aside all those special techniques I require to develop to ever cross it).

What I did during this year, which went wrong? Or Rather, What I should have avoided, which the top grader cautiously avoided, to get on the top.

• Did spend a bit of time in figuring out something, which was not known by the entire team.
• Moved to a great project (a dream project actually), and pulled back (But was very happy to be back, frankly. Grapes definitely not sour, this time).
• Imagine yourself given a Task A, while you go onsite. But after a week or two, you are given an additional Task B, which your project strongly requires and you finish it excellently. Due to this, Task A takes a back stand, and you show some loose threads in there. Acceptable? You really think? Nah… The real lesson I got was Task A was actually my primary task, and needed my total ownership.
• Could not handle 16 people at once. (Such a shame!)
• Debated out my superior (again, a good friend), trying fruitlessly, to prove that he was actually wrong at managing. (This was the most fatal reason, I frankly think).
• Provided with real lessons learnt (which are harsh for obvious reasons). Many people did warn me to put the standard lessons which do not raise any eye brows.
• Spent my useless effort in being one of the Innovators of the Year 2008. Did my project gain anything out of this? Duh- uh! What a waste!
• Shared all what I know, with the entire team. Disastrous! Just imagine you found out something by researching for 13 days, which you share with the entire team in exactly 37 odd minutes. So, if the same task is given to someone else, he completes it in 1 day (i.e. with 13 times more efficiency as compared to me). What a disgrace!
• Kept my group active and lively, by sharing some of my foolish remarks.
• Provided with some crazy, but good suggestions in possibly all fields:
• Business Communications
• Business Ideas (Widely accepted).
• Cost cutting solutions.
• Innovating.

Of course, none of the above earned even a single penny to my project.

• Thought that this time at least, since I was an all rounder, had a slight hope of getting the top grade.
  This is like doing the same mistake twice in a row now. Boy, will I ever learn from my own mistakes!

So, what are the plans for the New Year? Any changes in me? Well, definitely!

• Will I work as a work machine, as expected to which given an input, you get the expected output? Nah... I believe in working logically, not always efficiently! Will ask myself two things –
• Which is the correct way (not the faster one) to do this?
• Why am I doing this?
• For getting the top grade for your employee, they have to fight. I say, why fight ever? I will give no reason for them to fight. It’s a heinous crime, you see!
• I will continue with my slow-paced attitude, and sharing all that I understand, and make the entire group efficient, and hence myself lesser efficient.

To hell with the grade! Top graders are chosen round robin anyways!

You want efficient and effective behavior? Well here I hide underneath my desk!!!

* The Usual Disclaimer:

The current top grader is one of my very good friends around, and all my allegations and talks against him are highly exaggerated and baseless; rather thoughtless. Of Course, I cannot think of having any opposition from such good, and powerful top graders too. J. The last line was again a punch back, for which I don’t want to add another disclaimer; Just Go to Label “*The Usual Disclaimer”.

Well, some good news !!!

After all, some good news for the new year !!

On a lazy Saturday afternoon (or so I have to say so as to emphasize - not during office hours :) ), I thought why not, and why not only if it is just a click away !!!

So, I just sent 2 pics, of my Vietnam Trip, and bang !!! It was the PIC OF THE WEEK !!

I proudly said to my friend today that, well, my name flashed in the newspaper too :)

Clipping:

 - 10_Jan_2009 HT Cafe (Mumbai), Page no. 11 --> Parting the waters

It's a no achievement really!!

If something is to be appreciated, its the place itself, and may be my camera; but my pic on the newspaper, makes me feel happy. 

Happy for the smallest of my achievements, is all what can be said !

That's too bad !!!

Well, we do have to accept our failures, and so it goes !!

But, definitely a very poor start for the year 2009, and one of the worst moments - 

But, I have definitely not put more than 40min worth effort for the preparation. 

Well, was definitely very stupid to give the best management entrance examination, as the first mock !!!

But as *rav*n* says - 

"You were half way through already, without any effort ! "

Really, not sure, what I need to do with this thing!

Study for it even more seriously, or find some other easy way out !

Welcome to the New Year!!!

Wishing you a very happy new year, to all !!!
May this year bring fortunes, and create magic in all your lives!!!

So, one more new year, eh? Its just 15min past the new year, while I started writing this one, and there is hell lot of noise around, in my locality. I have no musical ears, but I can definitely tell, there are at least 10 different songs being played together, and gives you a remix like atmosphere, along with crackers bursting, which gives up some added beats! I have absolutely no idea, what I wanna write, but surely I do want to 'write' with the new year...

New year resolutions???? A lot.. I have decided to do some serious fun this year. Lets see how far can I go .. or how life treats me .. :P

Presenting the Wish List of mAnIaC's life for the year -

1. Learn driving a Car
Yeah... I don't even know how-to. This is a must-must activity to learn.
2. Learn Swimming
I do know swimming; however it would not let me stay alive for more than 2minutes, and hence, again a must-must activity.
3. Read some sensible books
I do read stuff off the net, but most of the reading involves self-improvement activities, like how to avoid stress, by working less and gaining more ;)
4. Developing some managerial skills
Don't know how I would be doing this; may be by not working at all and still surviving on-the-job !!

Wish to get into management soon, but don't know if I should study some management before hand. What do you think?

5. Reading newspaper
I did read the 31st Dec 2008 newspaper though, and it gave back a jolt in terms of the news we get these days!! Surely, need to catch-up!!!

6. Attending all Shaadis
At least 15 people around me are getting married this year! This surely is going to be the wedding year, and wanna make sure that I do visit, and congratulate them on their mistakes :). I don't want to miss their faces, when they are neither bachelors, nor married!!!

Anyways.. other superior wish-list exists too. Don't wanna describe that... as it would be like asking for too much from life -

7. Horse Riding.
8. Revolutionizing company by Innovating
9. 'Working', as my colleagues expect me to.
10. Not commenting in at least one meeting.
11. Sleeping at night, and getting up early in the morning.
12. Reach my office @ 09:15am
13. Revamp my old boots.
14. Making my parents proud.

And No... Losing some weight is definitely not on this year's list due to some critical personal unfavorable conditions (whoaaaa!! what a reason) ... postponing it to 2010.. yeah.. it will be the only activity for the full year then... :P