Quote from a fortune cookie in my office cafeteria:
"People who are late are often happier than those who have to wait for them".

Seems like the premise around which the interesting concept of "Indian Standard Time" is built.This doesnt refer to a time zone.It refers to a state of being. When someone tells me that they will meet at 6:00 PM , I know that I wont see the person till 7:00..and no explanation offered/required. It may be very odd for someone unaccustomed to this culture [and sometimes annoying for people accustomed to it too...], but thats the way it goes.

This habit is changing. and its for the better I feel.Take for example , a North Indian Wedding. The marriage vows will be exchanged somewhere during the early hours of the day. I mean 1:00 AM !! . Now the brides family waits for the groom to show up in a traditional procession called the "baraat". The wedding/reception commences when a baraat arrives. The wedding invite may say that the baraat will arrive at 8:00 Pm..but that can mean that the grrom may show up at even 9:00 or 10:00 PM..Imagine the frustration caused to the brides dad [He swallows it as it is a part of tradition], and the hunger pangs consuming the guests :)

Why is that we have this tendency to keep up with the Joneses. [Now dont lie to me that you have never ever had this feeling. Oh..you may be Swami Vivekananda.] Anyways, I was having this discussion with the Mrs. about this. Why should I have a better car than my neighbor. Or maybe a better salary..Why cant one just be content with his 60 inch Plasma TV, with a 1000+ channel cable, high speed wireless internet access [working off a neighbors feed will make it doubly sweet :)]and a fully loaded Honda Civic [See..I dont want that BMW].

To cut a long story short..I do get those feelings sometimes..but I try to curb them..not supress them, mind you. Just to take a step back, look around and then pat oneself on the back.Udybaby, you have done well..:) Inspite of coming from a country like India, and staying in a city like Mumbai, it is easy to lose sight of the perspective. I guess it is important to be content with what one has and to improve oneself if one becomes dissatisfied [But wait..doesnt that mean I just compared myself to someone?Or does it mean I compared my possessions to something new on the market? So I guess if it is the 2nd one, then I wouldnt be trying to keep up with the Joneses in the truest sense..Anyways..]

Pet Peeve: Guys [or gals for that matter] who acquire an American accent within 2-3 years of coming to the States. It becomes hilarious when you have a local Indian accent [Punjabi/Maharashtrian/Gujarati ..whichever] combined with the newly-acquired American accent and a poor vaocabulary..
I can understand people who have been staying here for decades acquiring the accent. That is natural. But 2-3 years..Give me a break people..Its just so not happening.Talking about accents..India is rich with them..The south indians feel that they have the best vocab in the country..Sorry..you may have the best vocab, only if the other person can get pastyour accent..

Being a native maharashtrian, it would be unfair to leave them out here :).
"I lost my pain in the train" ..before you jump to conclusions about a magical train in India [coupled with the snake charmers ;)], the person probably just meant that he lost his "pen" in the train..

Disclaimer: Some of my best friends are South Indians..So if any one of you is reading this [I doubt that], you know me :)

Still wondering what to do on the july 4th weekend..

Dubey pointed a funny thing on the website for the VNIT hostel.

"Students are not allowed to keep weapons including NANCHAKOO etc. in their possession in the hostel."

Hmm..makes me wonder..Too much of Bruce Lee perhaps !! :))

I work with an amazing set of people..Amazing, not for their brilliance or creativity, but for being some of the most dense people who have held this job.

I think it was in the "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" that a species builds the greatest computer to calculate the Ultimate Answer to Life. After 7.5 million years it comes back with the answer "42".

"Forty-two!" yelled Loonquawl. "Is that all you've got to show for seven and a half million years' work?"
"I checked it very thoroughly," said the computer, "and that quite definitely is the answer. I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you've never actually known what the question is."

I think I am that computer in some ways.. I may be a bit slow but the other one is definitely in the dark ;)

or maybe look at Alice in this Dilbert strip here. Perfectly describes the situation..

This is purely a rant post.
My project just moved across management teams. One of the member who has joined as a result has become a real pain in the a**. He has this annoying habit of adding the word "thingy" at the end of just about every sentence.
Lets go for the lunch thingy.
Lets write the email thingy.
Lets complete the document thingy.
Lets have the meeting thingy.

I just feel like kicking him in his thingy thingy ..

thats it..

Was in Boston this weekend. Met a lot of friends after a very long time. T, Swapnil, Pal, Gohil..

T made excellent Idlis. I admire the guy for his cooking skills apart from other qualities..

The Greyhound ride from NY to Boston [7 PM till 12 PM] was extremely tiring..I gues thats because we were seated right besides the toilet at the back :)
Me an Dubey purchased a mango smoothie at a stop. I was able to finish the drink, but dubey was half way through when the sleep gods struck. He dropped the half finished smoothie, right at the toilet door step. It looked like the toilet was overflowing. Scared a few few passangers seated nearby :)))

Wondering what to do about the long weekend coming up. Most probably will drive down somewhere..Cheasapeake bay perhaps..Lets see.

I have to now start thinking very seriously abt completing the applications for the various schools..

May drop in at IKEA over the next week or so to furnish the house a bit more..

Oh..and saw Van Helsing again in Boston..I like these kind of movies..

Saw the The English Patient again after a long time...This time with my wife..
It was as good as ever..

I am trying out the new Performancing plugin for Firefox..
Seems pretty cool..Easier for me to blog from work ..hehehehe

Was in Stamford over the weekend..Nice little place..A person could really enjoy staying there..
But my friend , dubeyji has just shifted in , and has no ACon, not even a table fan to circulate the air..And boy was it hot this weekend.

Summers finally here.

And my good friend 'T' :) got engaged a week back..So we will be in Boston next weekend to celebrate..Busy weekends lately..too much fun :) ...Well there can never be too much fun..


Update: The damn plugin doesnt work..Humph...back to the old way..now probs..

I must say that the get-together with Alan, Mickey,Manny,Rodney, Bimal and Dubey was just great fun !! I guess we were meeting up after more than 2 years.No one seemed to have changed at all..Same old jolly bunch..There were so many things to catch up on and so many things to remember too :)) It even funnier when everyone is slightly high, even if it is just wine :)

Completed a whirlwind tour of NY with Medha moushi..It was tiring but fun..I guess we covered every major landmark in the city :)

I hope to see a Hindi movie tonite..Will let you know if I like it..

"Never become indispensable..You wont get promoted" ..I think thats true..
I would like to add, that you may never get a vacation for the rest of your life, and you probably will end up being unhappy with your job.
Wow!!..just seemed like I described my job :)
Actually, I am at a project which has undergone a lot of team and management changes. And I am unfortunately in a position , where I am the only surviving member of the original team..Hence I end up doing almost everything while the rest of the team plays catch up.

Well..what can I say..I am working towards changing that situation..Will know in a few months..

Saw Memoirs of a Geisha a few days back..Umm..Its a good movie..Not a spectacular one though..Anyone following Hindi films will be kind of reminded of Umrao Jaan. That was an excellent film.

Have you ever noticed that drinking a whole bottle of Iced Tea leaves you with a taste of ..well.. tea leaves..Duh..But I find it akes me more thirsty than ever before..Must be the damn sugar in the drinks.

I am going to over to meet some old colleagues and friends over at Salaam Bombay tonite..looking forward to it..the food and the company as well :)

Saw Match Point by Woody Allen...
Good movie.
Scarlett Johansenn is a good actress [See her in Lost in Translation]..

My aunt, Medha Moushi, is going back to India tomm..So we get to spend a day with her in NY during her stopover from Cleveland to Mumbai..Should be fun..

Just got back from a 12-hour GreyHound ride from Cleveland..
Got a strange buzz in my head..

Got the official GMAT score card..scored a 5.0 on the AWA...
Pretty happy with that..

Saw taxi 9211. I liked the movie...Got to see some Mumbai too :)

Oh how I miss the parathas at Khasiyat...Mmm..

Dubey was in town this weekend. Lots of fun..
Went to a friends wedding party last night. Had so much wine after a long time..:)
and great food..
I have to now start seriously on the B-School apps and visits.
I'll try to lose some weight before visiting these schools :D

TOEFL still remains scheduled for 15th July..

And by the way, thats Dubey with the shades on and your truly in Maine.