Blogging'2011

It's been a while ....more than two years to be precise.

I have thought about it multiple times but never took the time .....the fun with writing is that you get to go back and read your old blogs and be amazed at how amateur you were, how differently you perceived things and how life changes in a matter of few years.

Living in Rochester

July 28, 2006 was the day I entered upstate NY for the first time eveR.
A few unique things I noticed:

- the exits are about 17 miles apart so you better keep a tab on your fluid intake.
- the trees on either side of interstate I-90 were in plenty and had a rustic look to them. Maybe you see that in Ohio as well but something was surely different! Take a trip here and you'll know what m I talking about.
- for the first time I saw exit signs for THE FALLS and even exit signs for another country!

Well since then living here has been fun in more ways than one - frigid winters, snowy environs add a little bit of flair to the usually quiet neighborhoods and uncluttered highways. Two big local universities (U of R and RIT) ensures the local bars/restaurants are always full of legally & illegally drunk youths.

Eastman Kodak's empire is nowhere close to what it used to be two decades back but Kodak is still one of the largest employers here, along with Xerox, Bausch and Lomb and Paychex.

By far the biggest perk for desi Rochestidents (of course it is a word!) is that you get free training as tour guides to Niagara falls, thanks to all the visitors to this mecca of upstate NY. The visits start in early spring and run through late fall; the result - well, in just two seasons (that included abt 15+ trips) we know everything about the falls: the most breathtaking views, the cheapest lodging, delicious eateries and even free parking!!

So all in all, living in Rochester is a lotta fun....and the story is only half over...hopefully there are many more experiences to share...stay tuned!!

Stark reality

So the writing is on the wall ....barring a miracle, Indian cricket team is out of the world cup ...Yes! we can't even make the cut into the super 8s ...Bangladesh cAn and they wiLL..
I know it's easier said than done and it is the men who actually represent 'India' on the field face the real heat, but then that's what they are paid for ...and so are the players from other teams ...
Everybody knows what's the most popular sport in India:
Not hockey, ...Not soccer, ...Not tennis ....definitely not F1.....
Yet all we, the passionate fans, get out of it is pLain disappointment ...year after year ...tournament after tournament....

For some reason Cricinfo.com still happens to be in my list of favorite webpages ...if the s.o.a doesnt improve I will soon turn to NFL.com and NCAA.com

No force for chores?

Have realized over the past few months that it is not the zeal of getting a task done which drives us but the general state of affairs...or maybe the utter discomfort associated with normal laid-back routine-

Clean the utensils only when there is no more space in the sink to add dirty ones....

Pick up (or skillfully re-adjust) the useless mail sitting on the coffee table only when your remote goes missing every other day

Clean up the house only when the visitors are due to arrive in 15 mins

Pay your bills only when the frequent late fee starts seeming 'unaffordable' or you are concious of messing up your credit history

Do your groceries only when you have totally run out of everything or have gotten sick of eating out everyday

Go to the gym only when you start hating your look alike in the mirror every morning

Buy a map of your city only when you have lost track of where to go and where you came from (and guess what! that's the only time you'd end up using it)

Do your laundry only when you are out of 'you know what'

Deposit your checks only when the 'void-after-xx/xx/xx' date has come too close for comfort

and the list goes on n on n on....

Will it eveR change?

Could I miss it today?

I have had a really long day .....This new project is just killing me ....man it's already 6:15 ....long long day .....I think I deserve some rest today ....Will definitely go tomorrow and definitely spend like 2 to 3 hours there
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It is freezing cold outside ...who goes to the gym in this weather? Even if I somehow make it to Bally's ....there would be like nobody there...I m sure of that..maybe they would have closed the whole thing down coz of severe cold or something
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Ok if I go now ...I will probably make it back by 8:30 ...gotta cook after that...will eat late ..sleep late ....get up late....will reach office late and be dozy all day! is it all worth 500 burnt calories?
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The whole body is aching ...don't think it can take any more abuse for this week...will start afresh next week

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Games that my mind plays every evening

Cushy Sat morning n a omelette

I have been missing my breakfast for so many Saturdays and sundays now...all determined to better my eating habits starting today!!

Ingredients:
6 Eggs (best before Jan 17, good enuf)
Lotsa Onions
Some green peppers (it's capsicum u half-amru-turned NonReturningIndians ..lol)
Red chilli powder
Salt
Tava fry (adds awesome flavor)

Recipe:
1. Fine dice the onions n capsicum
2. Whisk eggs, onions, capsicum and spices into a bowl for exactly 3 minutes
2. Add minimal amount of healthiest oil you can find (olive/canola better than vegetable) in a non-stick pan
3. Heat the pan and tilt it to coat oil on all sides - very crucial for getting a crisp one-piece-omelette
4. Add egg mixture into the pan n hold on - any impatience at this point can ruin it all....remember there is a fine line between a beautiful omelette and naively-prepared scrambled eggs
5. Once you are convinced that the side facing the pan is set...expertly flip the omelette - don't be disheartened if u mess it up here...not everybody is adept at doing this; keep practising
6. Both sides should be set and the composite should look like light-brown-colored-reinforcements in a yellow matrix - once that happens transfer it to plate

What the hell are you waiting for?

Favor? Sure

Is it me or is the world really this materialistic? Many of us try to help friends AND even acquaintances to the best of our ability.... even when sometimes it involves going out of your way .....Usually we do not expect anything in return...or do we? maybe sometimes....But then just because you know that a person is more likely to oblige than not, do you keep asking for favors shamelessly?

I can understand if it is for a friend 'in need'. You don't really mind helping in that case. But I just don't see myself asking somebody I hardly know for a fortune of a favor...There are folks who do

What's even worse is the fact that you keep helping this person once, twice, thrice,.... 'n' number of times ....finally comes this day when you are genuinely busy and have to attend to something more important; instead of acknowledging your help in the past you would be snubbed straight-out!

I guess it is a special talent that I aint endowed with...thank heaven