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..