New Year...New me...

Posted by Aniruddha

Hey friends...

Wish you a very marvelous HAPPY NEW YEAR...

I know I am late as usual in doing things, but taken into consideration the last couple of days this is the best I could do...

Yours truly for a change was out of his 2nd hometown to Austin clubbing with friends where he celebrated his new year countdown being sober amidst drunk firangs, sexy gals, $ex starved desis (don't blame me for typecasting) and a cool DJ playing awesome songs and equally out of sync dance moves of you know who :P...

Austin was fun. A well deserved outing and the way I wanted to celebrate my new year unlike with butter chicken and vodka...We danced all night with the jovial crowd forgetting about the freezing temperatures. After the hangover (not mine) we went to Lake Travis, Mt. Bonnell and finishing up with some laser tag and bowling. Yours truly excelled at bowling and considering his debut after 25 years its something to boast of on my side. Don't harp me as to why I hadn't done this previously. Its just that I never felt that I should do it earlier. No big deal.

It was a pleasant change considering the past 1.5 month where I had been crushed with the copious amount of work. I had been working like crazy forgetting the difference between day and night for long hours. Things are falling in right place at least for now so I am pretty content at this moment. But there's still pressure to perform and time lines to keep and loads of stuff to learn from peers.

If someone would ask to retrospect on past year, I better not indulge myself with that. Hence I spared myself writing timeline the way I did in 2008. It was a year I will let forget or dump somewhere in my mind where it couldn't be traced back again. Nothing was right and hence its apt to move ahead while erasing the previous memories and move on ahead.

And since I had this wonderful start this year in Austin, I have my hopes high for this year. I have set some targets to achieve which may be pretty harsh to me considering under performance, but then that's the way I want my life to be. Each step of mine should keep me gasping for breath and yet I should move forward to carve better and determined part of mine.

I haven't jot down any resolutions this year, so most of my list is still in the hidden mode of my head. I will try to reveal it soon.

Yet my primary goal would be to keep myself calm, composed and happy all the times. I think I lack on some points on that part. Also I am experimenting to be a vegan for a month. Its just a time-pass experiment to have some change from regular...

Before I forget, yours truly can now officially be termed as 'battery' as he has been kind enough to joined the clans of bespectacled souls :D... (Honestly friends it $**k$ big time)...

PS: Don't think I am lazy as blogging has been slow, its just the work that's keeping me busy...

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    • Birthday Resolutions revisited...

    Posted by Aniruddha

    Its that time of year when I should revisit my birthday resolutions to see if I have done something with it...

    • Graduate with the MS degree. - DONE... :D

    • Devote time for some hobby. I want to get into dancing or learn some instrument. Lets see which one I choose first.
      • There wasn't any time left to pursue any hobby of mine. So this one I'm forwarding to coming year...

    • Get into a fit body. I have already started workout but want to set some goals. For this instance I want to see my self run at least 10K by next birthday.
      • Didn't run a 10K though I tried my best to be fit and have shed some pounds...

    • Try one adventure sport. I am planning for bungee jumping or sky-diving. I am surrounded by some fattu people but hope this plan would materialize sooner.
      • No adventure sports this year too... :( Can I list traveling US coast to coast as an adventure sport...

    • Travel to great new places. (That depends on my job, but will do it.)
      • Yeah...Traveled to some great places, but I'm still longing for few more...

    • Learn some recipes and increase level from amateur in the field of cooking.
      • Some definite improvement in this field, still lot to catch up...
    PS: I hope you guys don't throw any quizzical looks at me for these color codes...

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    • 25 things about me...

    Posted by Aniruddha

    I got the idea from here, but rather than sticking to just 10 honest things, I am pushing myself bit more to 25, afterall I should also have some say in my blog... :D

    Since today I complete supposedly quarter part of my life, I thought it would be cool to let some of the things about myself here...

    So here are 25 things about me...


    1. I love INDIA. Don't care if she's imperfect, corrupt or plagued with thousand different problem, my love for her is eternal. I love the way we are passionate about everything, excitement around festivals, the food, culture and traditions, families tied together, joy of dancing, villages and not to forget the weddings. I am crazy for everything about INDIA.

    2. When it comes to Nagpur, my hometown, I am even more crazy and will go to any length to prove how it is the best city in INDIA (though I don't need too, its already is :P ). I like the life of Nagpur, its laid back normal paced lifestyle, blazing summers, roadside foodstuff and the time I have spent there.

    3. I tend to forgive but not forget. I forgive people easily because I believe each one has its individual characteristics and everyone can't be same. Also I know myself very well. If I am after someone, I never strike to cause pain, I strike to destroy (he he)...

    4. I love wild animals. One of my favorite is Royal Bengal Tiger and I always wanted to pet one :D. As I grew older I realized this isn't possible and that's when I diverted my attention to dogs. Someday I will have one of my own (dog I mean)...

    5. I am a decent cook. I can at least cook different dishes all 7 days to keep a person alive. But I hate doing dishes. So, to my future wife, I can cook whole week, promise me you will do the dishes and cleaning afterwards... :P

    6. I am a foodie. I love everything about food. The way it looks, tastes and smells. Hungriness is one of the major reason you will find me cranky. So when it comes to food I am a glutton. And I love all types of cuisine.

    7. When it comes to gals, I'm big loser. I was always shy: afraid during earlier days and blunt guy afterwards (never too cheesy). So I have saved loads of moolah by not buying gifts on birthdays & special days, eating bhuttas on a rainy day (which I eventually did with friends though) etc.

    8. I am not sure whether I am an introvert or an extrovert. A mixture word would be apt.

    9. I am very easy going person. I gel easily with people (thanks to some of my silly dialogues) people find me affable. So if I'm talking to you, believe me I like you, else I can be rude too...

    10. I am not much possessive about my stuff. I hardly deny anyone my personal possessions. I care about them though and expect others to do so if they are using it.

    11. I am big fan of movies. I love Bollywood. With years I lopsided more to Hollywood, South Indian movies and other languages too. But my loyalty is still with the crappy Hindi cinema (not to forget the B graded one too)...

    12. I can't claim to be the ardent music lover, but need it going on all the time. If there's none you will find me humming.

    13. I hate liars and hypocrites.

    14. Only other people joining them are educated people unaware of damage they are causing to environment which they could prevent. Forgot about orthodox (superstitious too) people.

    15. I would love to go backpacking, travel all around the world, climb those mighty mountains, swim in the lakes and rivers.

    16. I love to dream a lot. My thought processors always work overtime (except for the few times when I am simply doing nothing). I dream about everything in all possible directions.I have so many dreams and ambitions stuffed into me. Driving a Formula 1 car, bungee jumping etc are few of those apart from being successful. (Complete list here...)

    17. I love my friends and thankfully am surrounded by awesome people at all times.

    18. I spend a lot of time thinking about the good things about life and celebrating them. And that's not just because I am generally a happy person. The other reason is that I am terrified that some day, without my own knowledge, I might reach the 'point of no return'. (The 'point of no return' is this horrible place in life you may end up at, where you dislike everyone and everything, and you trust no one and nothing, and you think the whole world is out to get you.) copied from here...

    19. I am not religious, can call myself agnostic. I loathe the fact that our lives are most of the times hampered by silly superstitions and rituals. So my visit to temples depends on the quality of food they are serving that day... :D

    20. I get elated with small things in my life. Small talks with friends, nice food, good music or just silly time-pass is enough to give me a push for a time.

    21. I am a minimalistic guy. Was never much into flashy stuff. A few things here and there are enough to keep my life going. Not a spartan though... :D

    22. I was never into sports, so much that I would always be a 'kachcha nimbu' while playing any games during my earlier days. My tryst with sports was swimming, running and cycling which I do even today. But coming from a cricket crazy nation people get shocked when I tell them that I don't know the difference between 'leg-bye' and 'bye'.

    23. I like partying with friends. But I don't fit into the new concept of booze and fags. My concept of party is food, dance and enjoyable time. (Cute gals are always welcomed at the venue :P)

    24. My dream job would be ummm...Always confused about that. I like my programmer way of life. But many a times I long to a Defense personnel (Fighter pilot...), chef or someone into adventure sports.

    25. I love my life. I know it sucks sometimes, but then I don't care...

    That's just me...

    PS: Sorry, since I am shamelessly copying no. 18, but I couldn't find any better way to put this.

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    • Long break...

    Posted by Aniruddha

    I will be taking a long break from my blog. Don't know when I will be returning back as these days I am not in a mood to write anything, so its better to let it go for few days or maybe months.

    Those who have subscribed to my feeds, my apologies to you people and thank you for being with me. Give me some time and I will surely be back...

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    • Coming back home...

    Posted by Aniruddha

    Moving back to Houston was one of the positive thing that has happened to me in many months. It felt so good getting back to all the people, the one who care for you. Initial days were spent leisurely in catching up with the stories of Houston and moving through the neighbourhood where I had spent my last couple of year.

    And then I had one of the best night and Kiran and A's place who planned for a small get together. Everything was planned (and cooked) by both of them. All we had to do was go and enjoy, not to forget feast on the tasty food (this is the field where your's truly is simply unbeatable). Since most of the other people were busy the reunion was more sort of in batches where we went in first and rest of the gang kept dropping in till 1 am. The time was well spent as we all were meeting after many months and even if that would have been days, I bet it would have the same euphoria. While the hungrier part of mine was gorging on food, the other part was just happy to be these wonderful people.

    Everybody left somewhere late at night and I decided to stay back as I want to spend more time there. I didn't cared whether I was breaching the privacy part, hope both of them they understood it and welcomed me. Its strange for me too as how selfish I can be sometimes. I didn't knew what I was going to do staying back there as apart from talking long talks I am hardly a good company as I am not an entertainer but still I wanted to be there with both of them. We sat and talked again till late night discussing and retelling so many varied things.

    Tired after a long hiatus we decided to call it an end. Suddenly A asked me - "subah nashte me kya khayega?" (What will you have for breakfast?) I couldn't believe my ears. The words itself exuded the warmth which I always felt around A that I was speechless. The last time someone asked me this was way back in my life (my Mom). For couple of minutes I went too emotional (I know that's bit exaggerated for someone like me but I was in that state). For a guy who is enduring cereals and omelet's, the question itself make me feel like I was in elysium. Promising to decide it in the morning we called it off and I slept giving my thought processors a very hard time.

    The morning started with usual fare and soon it transformed to the days I had enjoyed in INDIA (ref this...). I was taken care of like a child and I enjoyed that. I feasted on their hospitality all day from breakfast till dinner finishing all her creation. To give you an example half of the halwa that was made was vanished by my trick :D. Soon we were joined by more of the remaining people and again had a blast. Few of my pals can truly make you roll over the floor and thats what I was waiting for. We cracked jokes on each other, made fun with loads of humorous stories and made some future plans.

    Didn't wanted to but then I had to say bye and get back to my place.

    For more than 24 hours I was pampered making me feel the same old again. Both of them they didn't let me do anything and I shamelessly followed all their orders for not working. I felt human again.

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    • Over to Houston...

    Posted by Aniruddha

    Few days back I moved back to Houston from PA. To tell the truth its a refreshing change. No matter how much I had hated this place back in my past, coming back was like returning to my abode. Yeah it sounds crazy but Houston is now my second home after Nagpur, whatever good or bad it has now it is part of my life. I have all the dear friends surrounding me, taking care for me, making me feel special in the troubled times and to laugh with me in my foolish happiness.

    I had moved to PA with a hope, to change my life. I have the same hope instilled in me but will have to get away with few of chances that came my way. Even though its a small amount of time I won't be able to forget whatever I have achieved there. The place made me a better person and a student. I was able to tie few more knots of friendship with nice people. Even though the times were grim we had been together keeping our spirits high. May be thats why you need people around you to propel yourself whenever you feel low, so that you don't fall into downward spiral.

    I realized the ways of professional life, its day to day ritual, colleagues bonding and some facets of my IT corporate world. More than that I will remember PA for making me more determined. It made me humble, showed me that there's still lot more to achieve before you start boasting about something. Those days carved the better part of me.

    I was more concerned about everything that was related to me and happening around me. New heights were gained in almost all the fields that I had longed for. How can I forget that I successfully completed 5K run that too I couldn't do it for 1 min in the start. Experienced the joy of road racing like never before. Those peaceful runs at Memorial park where my body was treated to pain and runners high that I got with each sweat.

    Getting back into the water after couple of years. Being the same kid as I used to be in my earlier days. Finishing laps after laps in a PA weather when water is cold that makes your lungs gasp for warmth. I hadn't experienced such pure joy may be in a decade.

    Then there was the beauty of PA that kept me gaping. It has nice icy weather, cool temperatures, evening rains and lush green mountainous region till the horizon. US I know is blessed with beautiful landscapes but being the part of it in first person would make my day each time.

    Over these past few months I had been to metropolitan New York, sleepless Miami and two road trips, then there was awe inspiring Niagara. I hadn't travelled this much compared to my period of stay in US. Each trip had its fun filled stories and moments to cherish. Few I know will treasure all my life. It gave me opportunity to get back to few of friends whom I always love and are part of my life.

    There was so much to learn back at PA, but I had lost patience with the ongoing time and whatever happening to my life. I am not naming people that helped me survive these days as it would be a selfish and unjust act from my side. The decision was made on my part and may be I could meet these people again. For now I bid my adieu...

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