Films

Being bachelor for a short while is very good. I could roam around and see these films...

1. Chak De (DVD)
2. Jab We Meet (DVD)
3. Billa 2007
4. Taare Zameen Par
5. The Legend
6. Lakshyaa (DVD)

Job Security - revisited

Sometimes I make good notes... When i was going through my last year's posts I came across this post on Job Security.

"Put our job security based on the capacity to do the job, rather than the job itelf"

That is a good advice which I have taken myself!!!!!!!!!

1st class mutual funds

Refer Mutual Funds proposed by ValueResearch online for long term investment..

Raining

Chennai is raining heavily.......................

Came to office... but dont feel to work... Looking oustide the window and now enjoying the rains..... Thanks to Watchman, he brought me a hot cup of coffee from his share!!!!!

Tamil - Japan

I am finding many similarities btw Japan and TamilNadu
- love for language
- hardworking people
- promoting industries

And now Varewa (Valmiki Nagar Residents Welfare Association) is starting garbagge collection with the help of Govt in three-way - (1) biological wastes (2) non-biological (3) haxardous wastes.

The streets near our place are very clean as they are cleaned everyday.

When i came to chennai Jan 2006, there were mosquitos, so we used to close the windows before 6pm. But now there are hardly any mosquitos and we can leave the windows open all the time...

Things are improving fast in chennai..... Only because of its people....

I wish we ( in kerala) also could be like that.

These days.........

These days I am not blogging and also missing many episodes of "idea star singer".....

idea star singer

These days "asianet idea star singer" is taking away my blogging time........

Afraid of political and religious blogging

Recently a person was arrested for saying bad things about Sivaji the Maratha ruler. It was a 10th month long case and police finally tracked him down.

I dont know anything about Sivaji to comment.

But I had lot of things to comment about "Ram Sethu controversy".., and many recent events.

Should I comment ? Who knows what will happen to me if i comment.

Perhaps I should read Constitution and Laws of the state first, and then blog.

Exams

Lachu's 1st term exams end tomorrow (LKG)... ( she had monthly tests also last month..)

anyway as a responsible father i adviced her - "marks doesn't matter. atleast till BTech!!!!"

so told her to play rather than study :)

Tsunami Warning

I am staying very close to the beach... To get a view see one of my earlier posts.

On Wednesday evening we were issued Tsunami Warnings and people were evacuated from beach. This wass because of the Indonesia Earth quakes. We planned to go for some outing - cinema or shopping. But then the warning was lifted.

Offloading

Came to work, but decided against, and started offloading the Todo-list - travel settlements, claims etc etc.

Good, atleast i will get some money.

It seems my blog-topic has changed from car to money.

Last moments

On Sept 5, I was driving through Besant Nagar. Saw lot of crowd near a flat. They were watching a man standing in sunshade of a flat.

Today I read in "Adyar Talk", that he was trying to commit suicide, and it was his lat moments that I saw. Police and FireForce tried to prevent him by spreading a net, and his mother was persuading him. But he managed to move suddenly into balcony and jumb. He died on the way to hospital.

He was mentally ill.

Hope his soul gets peace....

Tax done

Finally I did pay taxes.

I had to pay a huge amount this time, as I got my areers from my previous employer only this year, and due to that my total taxable income went beyond the tax slab.

If i had the FORM-16 of previous year, I could have paid less tax, as I could have shown that it was for the previous year.

Anyway my money does not go waste... Let government use that wisely !!!!!

Portfolio Manager

I have started using ValueResearchonline's Portfolio Manager for tracking my funds.....

It seems to be very useful to manage the large amount of funds I have ( around 15) and the SIPs I run ( around 7)

It is adviced to keep total funds around 7-8, and run SIPs in 3-4. But still I prefer my style for no specific reason.

Tax Planning

Today I was busy doing my tax planning... Bought "Mutual Fund Insight" latest version for 100Rs/- and was selecting the best ELSS funds available.

I had some earliest posts on these - Mutual Funds 2007 , Tax Savings 2007/2008.

I am proud of myself, i am planning tax savings in year beginning itself. Good!

But my mood became upside down, when i realised just now, i have not filled tax returns for year 2006/2007. And I am paying interests everyday for the delay. Time to schedule my priorities....!!!!!!!!

Indian driving.....

finally back in indian roads.....

wanted to take car to workshop first before doing anything, but was forced to take the car on next day morning itself after landing in India.

and my car broke down in the busiest adyar junction, and that too on the rush hours. somehow managed to start car again after two minutes. had to suffer all the horns and curses from fellow drivers. and u cant imagine my plight. it again stopped two more times, but then i managed to enter a pocket road from the busy adyar junction.

Had no mobile and workshop numbers with me. So called my friend from a booth, and waited nearly for an hour before my friend came with the workshop guy. The guy told me no problem with the car. just raise the accerator so that valves get open up. he said i can drive home.

But my recent pasts have made me more cautious. I said i prefer to give it for full service. And then we were cruising through the 8 lane Taramani Road. ( I made him drive :) ), and then again the car troubles started. Luckily the workshop guy was able to switch the lanes fast and come to a bus bay before the car made a complete stop ( switching lanes is more easy in India!!!)

and then we had to wait for another one and half hour for the next workshop guy to come...... and the chennai heat has dried me up......

it took me 7000Rs to bring back Matiz's engine to be as smooth as before ( I changed a couple of things, and i dont know what they are for!!!!!). Its too much money for a 40,000 car !!!!!!!!!

I am still having bad lucks with car, or may be good luck as everytime I have nice escape.

from changi airport

from changi airport....

an eventful US trip has ended!!!!!!!

flat tyres

I did not take car after landing in SantaClara for many days. But on thursday I had to go go to bank, which was in Sanjose downtown. Me decided to drive. And I took the steering, and started ignition, it started making warning sounds. Tyre pressure was low in right rear wheels.

We took a look at the tyres, but were too lazy to investigate further. We drove through highways for 20 miles to and fro. And in evening only we went to gas station to fill in air. The air was not getting filled, and we noticed a big nail is inside the tyre.

Luckily we did not experience any problems although we drove with 10 PSI tyre pressure...

Next day we changed the car instead of the tyre... but it seems whenever I took the steering wheel something will happen. But my lucky angel is always with me!!!!!!!

hmmm

vaccation will end in another two days... Time to pack up things!

State Change

Back from a lonely hotel room to a crowded apartment...

Back from Mac and Pizzas to Dosas and Rice...

Back from a drizzling Tewksbury to sunny Milpitas...

Travel back to santa clara

Friday night after pizza partying with friends, I drove to apartment alone from Lowell. I dont know how I picked up the correct routes. It was a confusing rottery junction ( ? not sure the term is correct). Luckily I managed to find US-3 South and proceed. Came to hotel very late night, and slept immediately.

Morning woke up at 8am only. Had lot of things to do - (1) pack up things (2) return car 10 miles away (3) make everything ready before flightline shuttle service come to pick me up.

I started for returning the car at 9:30am. Driving in smalll roads in US is confusing to me now. The boards show 35mphr, but all drive at higher speeds. The divider lines are not very clear etc. Also i dont know to take U turns in those roads etc. I missed my left turn and went lot of distance because I was not sure when and how to take U turns and some cars were behind me, so i did not want to irritate them. Finally i did turn at some point and came back and took the correct path.

Then came an intersection without any signals. There also it was confusing for me how to take left. I was coming from a small road. The vehicles moving to the right direction had stopped and there was path for me to go. But i cant see vehicles from left direction. Anyway I took left to the main road immediately. I decided, I should read traffic rules book immediately once I am back in SantaClara. ( and i have started reading that today...!!!).

After giving the rental car back, it took some time for me to get a taxi. Its very good to watch those towns while someone else is driving. Very small towns - Tewksbury , Wilmington etc. very beautiful. If i had company, surely i would have explored more in those areas.

It was heavy rain during the time i started on my shuttle to airport. And the rain literally continued through out the day. My flight came on schedule. But it got delayed, because the staff were not able to load the luggage in heavy rains. And finally when we were boarded to the aircraft. But then also the plane was not given permission to fly because of heavy lighting and thunder in the Manchester area. I was hoping some beautifil ladies to occupy my side seat. But as usual that did not happen. One small child and her mother were my seat partners. But it was fun. They started playing good games using cards, making some shapes etc. So i got some ideas on what more should i buy for lachu..............!!!!!!!!!!!

After some time, the plane took off and six long hours in the flight. I spend time seeing my favourite movie "Legally Blonde" and also "History Channel". Good, finally arrived on san Jose airport. Limousine from my company dropped me to Milpitas airport. After three weeks in Boston, now have a stranger feeling in Milpitas!!!!

Lunch at Boston

It was a good "international" gettogether lunch we had today...

We had a

- 1. Iranian Parsi
- 2. indian Hindu ( who eats beef also )
- 3. Chinese guy
- 4. White American

Good combination of global team!!!!!!!!

The food was not international, it was chinese. But the dishes we ordered had "chicken", "pork" and "beef"... and some shrimps in my fried rice too :)) Now feeling sleepy....

Anyway its my last day in boston office!!!!!!!!

"Pick up your fights" - fortune cookie tells

My fortune cookie tells -------

"Pick up your fights. Lose a battle and win the WAR"

hmmmm

I was taking 30 A B C exit to US-3 S, and before taking 30A exit a trailer truck came by my right lane. I slowed down to take the right lane, and put indicators ON. Man, it was a long truck, i was expecting it to end. By mistake i almost took right before the truck was completely gone. It was a narrow escape. And a foolish thing to try.....

Also it was fun after taking ramp, when lanes merged mine and another car came on the same lane together.... hmmmmmmm

Boston rocks!!!!!!! Full of events :)

More lessons....!

I always love easy parking....... Mostly I park away from the shops and houses and walk towards them. My friend has warned me not to do that.

"

Dont give an option for people to lift your car.. Dont give temptations to them.

Dont put anything inside car that may be tempting to others to break the window!!!

"

I am getting too much advice these days.....

Telephone manners.....

I hate sitting near to Indian people...... expecially ladies in 30s..

Always chatting in phones in loud noise to their kids.., parents.., in-laws.., friends in their local language.

Its irritating. Am i racial ?

driving lessons in boston..... ( have i learned ?)

i did my serious mistake when i visited lowell.... My friend asked to look for Liqour shop as a landmark and drive left. But i missed that landmark slightly and had to go straight and take a bridge. I was very much eager to get back and when i reached the end of the bridge i took U-Turn immediately. There was no "NO U-TURN" sign. But I got a couple of horns. That intersection had vehicles coming from all directions, and i should have taken either of directions and then take U-turn from those roads to come back. A serious mistake. My apologies to all american drivers....... sometimes this happens to me..

I never commit a mistake for the second time. But have made it a habit to make new new mistakes everyday.

Secondly I was warned by my friend, that my driving is very provoking. I dont Stop the car when i see pedestrians.I dont know whether that is fully correct... I think i am braking... but my car not fully stoping ? :) Anyway he has warned me...

I want to be a good boy. I want to follow every rules and norms.....

Back in chennai I am considered a very safe driver who slows down on yellow lights... (I get scoldings even from my wife, for slowing down when yellow lights appear). I keep the lanes in chennai... i drive slowly through residential areas.. i wear seatbelts..... But in US..? I have to improve!!!!!!!!!

Sony Handycam Camcorder (DCR-SR200

Got hold of a Sony Handycam Camcorder (DCR-SR200....

Perhaps 3.5 years late to buy a camcoder... missed to capture lachu's infant days !!!!!!

Updates from Boston

My stay again extended for a week. Decided to make atleast coffee. Bought milk, sugar and coffee powder. And only reaching the room realized that i bought flour instead of sugar...:) I dont know how i do this type of mistake. Now drinking coffee without sugar.

Eating is the hardest part. Spends more than 10$ a day but nothing goes inside.. It seems finally I will start cooking..

Today has been one of the day i was feeling like i was in India. When i took the ramp to the freeways I was not allowing the cars in the left to take off before me. And during lanes merger I was fighting with the bigger cars to win the race. Hmmm.., I got a couple of HORNS also.

Spendin lot of time in orkut. perhaps i need a break from orkut!!!!!

Days are Long, Weeks are short

I now have this strange feeling - I am feeling that my days are becoming longer.., and weeks are getting very shorter.

Its difficult to be alone in hotel rooms, listening to music and watching TV and spending time in orkuts, youtubes. Days have become larger.., and its difficult to spend time.

But at the same time, I am feeling weeks are moving very fast. Have been in US now for the last 5-6 weeks, and feels it went in a second. How can days go very slow and weeks go fast.... Perhaps its because of the "incompleteness" feeling... targets not getting achieved. Perhaps need to schedule the priorities well !!!!!!!!

talking about others......

In a telecon with end-customers today, we all from same side logged in early. One guy said - "before actual customer comes in let us talk about our side.."

And we started talking... I was slightly afraid.. even we three are from different locations and we dont see each other. Who knows somebody else is not there ?

And when people started joining from other side we stopped our discussion. And we were enquiring about Mr.Mike who has not joined yet.

To our surprise , Mr.Mike was already there, hearing our discussions. He was listening silently to what we talk. He praised us for understanding their concerns and said thanks to us. The things we discussed were mainly the lack of documentation in providing proper cases to the customer, and the necessity to make them fast!

Luckily we did not say anything bad :)

Perhaps we should always have it in our mind when we talk about somebody else - that he is listening to what we say.

Being an Orkuttan

US life have made me becoming a 100% Orkuttan!!!

I should get out of this Orkut, before lachu enters :)

Tewksbury rains.........!

Its drizzling continously in Tewksbury today...

And i really love rains..

( Btw I heard its raining heavily in chennai everyday at night nowadays...)

Rat Trap

A rat caught at my home...... Poor guy!

One week in Boston

Celebrating one week in boston today!

Living in a small town called Tewksbury. Office is 10 miles away and have to take freeways to reach there. Had doubts in my mind whether i would be able to drive safely as had little experience in driving in freeways in US.

On sunday itself I took a rental car. Called a cab, and to my surprise the one that came was a big luxurious car!!! I dont know whether no yellow-cabs are there? Cursing myself, I got into the car.. Had to spend 40$ to reach there. I dont know why my company books a rental car for me - from 9 miles away ? From the new malibu in Santaclara to the old Ford Focus in Tekswbury I was disappointed.

Now with car in hand, I really needed to find the way to office and back from it. Luckily my NeSTian ( old company mates) friends came, and we had a drive to office and back. And that gave me the confidence I needed.

On monday morning, I was driving nicely, and was watching for exits 30 A-B-C from I495S freeway for joining another freeway US_3S. But just before I reached the exit, a police bike was just behind me. For a second, I was watching him, and by the time i regained my focus, the exit was gone.. Having confidence in me, i continued... I know what now i have to do is take the next exit and come to 1495N ( reverse direction) and take exit on 30A.

I took the next exit..., but took again 1495S :) So i had to continue on the same direction for another 6 miles , where I took the next exit... and i continued my way through the exit. Drove for sometime, and luckily saw a lady park her car in a school. Went and asked for help. She taught me, how to take 1495N. So I went to take I495N and was in a left lane ( which should exit to 1495N). But then i dreamed again and went straight. But this time woke up fast, entered a gas station. From there regained my direction sense, and returned to 1495N.

Also there were some issues on later days because I was not yielding properly when taking right turns. Luckily no accidents.

But now I am a better driver......

Living alone in hotel is boring....... Nobody to talk to

But saturday was fun, as with friends we went to Boston downtown and nearby places. Had a glimpse of MIT buildings and in the evening had Kappa and Meen Curry. Bought a lot of fruits from Boston Market, so this week I am having fruits for breakfast!!

Let me see how the next and final week in Boston goes..!

my favourite lullaby

Copied from http://malayalamsonglyrics.blogspot.com/2006/10/alliyilam-poovo.html

ചിത്രം : മംഗളം നേരുന്നു‌
സം‌ഗീതം‌ : ഇളയരാജ
ആലാപനം‌ : ടി.എന്‍.കൃഷ്ണചന്ദ്രന്‍

അല്ലിയിളം പൂവോ ഇല്ലിമുളം തേനോ
അല്ലിയിളം പൂവോ ഇല്ലിമുളം തേനോ
തെങ്ങിള നീരോ തേന്‍‌മൊഴിയോ
മണ്ണീല്‍ വിരിഞ്ഞ നിലാവോ
അല്ലിയിളം പൂവോ ഇല്ലിമുളം തേനോ

കല്ലലം മൂളും കാറ്റേ പുല്ലാനിക്കാട്ടിലെ കാറ്റേ
കല്ലലം മൂളും കാറ്റേ പുല്ലാനിക്കാട്ടിലെ കാറ്റേ
കന്നിവയല്‍ കാറ്റേ നീ കണ്‍‌മണിയെ ഉറക്കാന്‍ വാ
കന്നിവയല്‍ കാറ്റേ നീ കണ്‍‌മണിയെ ഉറക്കാന്‍ വാ
നീ ചെല്ലം ചെല്ലം താ തെയ്യം തെയ്യം
നീ ചെല്ലം ചെല്ലം തെയ്യം തെയ്യം തുള്ളി തുള്ളി വാ വാ‍

അല്ലിയിളം പൂവോ ഇല്ലിമുളം തേനോ
തെങ്ങിള നീരോ തേന്‍‌മൊഴിയോ
മണ്ണീല്‍ വിരിഞ്ഞ നിലാവോ
അല്ലിയിളം പൂവോ ഇല്ലിമുളം തേനോ

കൈവിരലുണ്ണും നേരം കണ്ണൂകള്‍ ചിമ്മും നേരം
കൈവിരലുണ്ണും നേരം കണ്ണൂകള്‍ ചിമ്മും നേരം
കന്നിവയല്‍ കിളിയേ നീ കണ്‍‌മണിയെ ഉണര്‍ത്താതെ
കന്നിവയല്‍ കിളിയേ നീ കണ്‍‌മണിയെ ഉണര്‍ത്താതെ
നീ താലിപ്പീലി പൂം കാട്ടിനുള്ളില്‍
നീ താലിപ്പീലി കാട്ടിനുള്ളില്‍ കൂടും തേടി പോ പോ

അല്ലിയിളം പൂവോ ഇല്ലിമുളം തേനോ
തെങ്ങിള നീരോ തേന്‍‌മൊഴിയോ
മണ്ണീല്‍ വിരിഞ്ഞ നിലാവോ
അല്ലിയിളം പൂവോ ഇല്ലിമുളം തേനോ

lachu in uniform!

Short term goals!!!!!

I liked the way our Manager here has set his goals...

As a long term goal he needs Total quality for the product, and build an effective team.

And as a short term goal - he wants his team not to get exhausted. He wants us not to get stressed out...

And he has a committed work force also. Good for everybody.

Clog in the Blog

These days I am filling my blog with all "shit" posts. I dont care about readers if any. This blog belongs to me.

and finally my problems with Closet and Clogs are over.

As promised Steve came on time. He came in a Van titled "Speedy Rooters". He was a friendly guy.

Steve: are u the same indian guys which were there before ?
Me: No... i came just two weeks before ( and within that time i clogged the toilet)
Steve: I came here 3 months before, at that time 6 indians were here and two tiolets had problem

Then we visited our toilet.. He was happy seeing my toilet. He said its very neat ( this is the first time i am getting compliment for my shit )

After seeing my toilet he fixed the price - 125 $. Great!!!!

Then he described the state of the toilet when he was here last time.. "Man 6 people... the closet was full of XXXX!!!!! this time its neat!!!!

And he came with his BIG closet auger... and within two minutes everything was cleared.. 3 or 5 hard pushes with the one metre long tip of auger... and my 125$!!!! ( hope i will get reimursement )

Anyway we asked how to maintain these closets - he adviced

1. USE LESS TOILET PAPER
2. AFTER THE USE FLUSH 2 or 3 TIMES
3. U CAN HAVE EVEN AN INTERMEDIATE FLUSH

anyway i will always remeber his advice.

And also this will be the last DIRTY post. From tomorrow I will be neat in my posts. Clog is removed.

Snake also does not work!

"Snake" also does not work! Need to call the real plumber... ( and he is on the way)

Man, US life is very hard!

One of my friend adviced me. To survive in US toilets u need to
- use less toilet paper
and
- eat only american food

Till plumber comes for me "extrusion" is not possible....

Santa clara life sucks!

Closet became clogged!!!!!!!

Plunger does not work!

I am studying home videos now - How to unclog a toilet ?

Now i have to buy a Snake - hope it will be handy.

I want to go back..

Self improvement books

One of my friend has warned me against reading any further self improvement books. He has adviced novels instead. He knows I have reached the threshold :)

But my other friend - has given me his favourite book - "Emotional Intelligence at Work"

I am confused !!!!!! The book is lying in front of me. Should i go to sleep or read ? Its already 12 midnight here.

Better sleep.

good bye , Matiz

Started driving in US.

I dont know whether i can drive in Matiz now after a month when i am back... Huge difference. My left hand is still searching for gears, and i have a tendency to take the left most lane always. but apart from that driving is easy here.. even no need to put ur legs into accelerator :)

Google Maps - now street view available

Now street views are available in Google maps... I wonder how they do this ? They have installed machines to take photograph ?

Anyway its a cool feature...

Chicken Vindaloo....

After eating Pastaas and cockroaches from the canteen, finally today we got Chicken Vindalooooo.....

taking responsibility

one of close friend - warns me - in between

"Anoop, you always rely on the excess money you have to get things done. ( say finding an apartment - not ready to look for cheaper ones which has the same facilities - just i jumb to the first one which i like"

"You should be taking more responsibility ( say cooking ) and should not reply on others ( say servant ) to get basic necessaity (say food, tea). U see how europeans and americans live."

"in older days of life, it may not be as smooth, so u have to prepare urself now"

may be he is true.

And within a week of my stay here my house mates look me with suspicion - anoop is not doing any cooking - he is relaxing at sofa all the time. Perhaps its time to start cooking and learn to live when tough days come ahead.

santa clara ( available for lunch and dinner ?)

first week was boring, but now lot of old faces are recognizing me and calling for lunch and dinner.....

If you are interested, call me at 2637761 ( encrypted)

Santa clara ( smelling....)

My friend did advice me to buy perfumes, deodrant etc from singapore airport before landing in Santa clara, because Americans prefer good smells.. !

as usual i discarded that advice.

And today I was entering the lift. A chinese guy also entered. The white ladies inside was commenting to the chinese guy.. "u have a nice smell".

i dont know.. whether its the perfume of the chinese guy or my natural body smell that attracted the ladies...

anyway i cant take risk. better i buy perfume.. americans smell everything.. ( and i cant smell because of my chronic synus. my nose is completely damaged)

Updates from home

lachu is not feeling well....

Santa clara ( LOST at Great Mall )

Sunday I was working....... and Monday we had a presentation. It went very well, and I wanted to leave early. My manager offered me a trip to my town house....

I had the maps with me........ so even though its only a day since i reached here I thought i can find the house easily....... and in the car i realized i did not have the map with me... but still i felt confident as on sunday i had a walk around the locality and i know i could manage...

I asked my manager to drop me very near to the Century theatres near the great mall... and when he turned near that.. i senses the locality of my apartment, and i asked him to drop me near that.. And after saying thanks to him... i walked to the house..... reaching near to that i was confused... there was no way to get inside... the gate was locked... and i was confused whether it was the complex containing our house...... Then i started looking for a road to the house ( because the driver on saturday dropped me very near to the house ..)

I walked and i was totally confused......... There is no road nearby to the house.........

Then i started looking for one thing - when i walked on saturday i could see "Century Theatres" name on display....... My manager dropped me at 5:30pm and it was almost 6:00pm. So i thought i would take advantage of the situation... I would take this as a chance to walk around Great Mall.... and can see the places and can also make sure whether there are any other house complexes... so by doing this early I will reduce the risks ( of not finding the apartment..). So i decided to do the Hard Part First ...... Anoop is very intelligent!

And Anoop started walking around the Great Mall... The first round was very fine... I was even thinking of getting into a film - but none of the films interested me - spider man 3, pirates of the caribeen, shrek etc etc.. So i decided against that........

After one round, I was confused, i could not figure out which direction is my apartment. There was "century theatre" display atleast in three directions.. But still apartments and houses were only in two directions... so i could narrow down it to some extent.. But still no idea to reach it......

I thought of calling any of my friends near by -------- anil or vinod etc. And i checked my bag for their numbers. But along with the googlemaps they were also misplaced... I could only find one number....... our CFO's number... along with the invitation papers... I was slightly disappointed for some minutes... But then i was cool... when some situations like this occurs, i come into a freezing mode - where i dont have any sort of pressure or feelings. Then i thought of my next escape - i know my house phone number - 2637761 (encrypted!), so if i call there after 9pm my friend will be there, and he can pick me up. So since a last resort is there i can still investigate other silly options.....

I wanted a friend at that time..... So i went to a shop..... thought of speaking to the shop keeper... but then thought i should buy something first so that he will be more friendly with me... So i looked for options to buy - and finally bought a 'RED BULL'. This is the one drink that i look forward to.. when odds are down.... Bought a RED BULL and while paying the cash... i asked him does he know where the Imagination Place is...... He had no idea where that is.. He also replied negatively to my question whether there is a internet cafe nearby......

So i thought of my options
- ask people
- walk around
- phone CFO
- get a cab and go to Nortel

If i have found a cab i would have gone to Nortel....... but no cab was seen there.......

So i looked for a phone,, and it needed coins.., and i did not have enough coins.. so i did not phone...

Again i decided to go to the place where i could see more apartments... When i walked around a Desi person was coming opposite to me.. I smiled at him, and he smiled.... Suddenly i saw a friend in him,, and i walked to him and asked him i need a help. He was ready to help. I asked him the address and he had no idea. But he was ready to help me.

I asked whether i can get his mobile, and as a courtesy i said i can pay. He said no need, i can use his phone.

I said thanks, and i called my CFO.

CFO: hello
Me: This is anoop, i work for XXX, i came here on satirday, and i am staying in Milpitas apartment, and today my Boss dropped me near Great mall, and i am not able to find the apartment. I thiought i had maps with me , but unfortunately its misisng.. Can you tell me the directions ?
CFO: who are you
Me: iTs anoop, i came... .. here... on saturday
CFO: i dont know who you are. nobody told me
Me; i am working for XXX ODC, and i am here etc etce tec etc
CFO: you dont know the direction.. and ...
Me: sir, i thouht i had the direction..
CFO: are u first time here ?
Me: sir, i am in this location for the first time
CFO: let me find outr.., is it the XXXapartment
Me: No sir, its the Milpitas apartment.. 320 Imagination place
CFO: i am checking
Me: yes sit, you can check google maps also..
CFO: no need, let m,e check
Me: sir , i will call after 5 minutes

and the CFO started checking, and i talked with guy. He is a srilankan Tamil - Prasanna.. We started talking about kerala, tamil, malayalam, srilankan tamil etc etc. He said srilankan tamil is talked like malayalam etc etc

He was supposed to go in the light rail.., but he waited for me..

Then after 10 minutes i called the CFO........

The also he was speaking nonsense..

CFO: what made you to come like this. Do you think Great mall is like food court in india ?

At this moment, I want the directions only. No need to argue. I said sorry.

Then he started telling I should take a taxi.... I said no taxi is near.. i would walk and he can say the directions.. And he started telling directions.. I was not able to follow properly.. i asked him to spell the roads .., but he was not doing that properly. If i asked to spell, he would say to take Taxi.

Finally Prsanna came to help. He took the phone... He asked me to get a pen also... I ran towards another Desi and got a pen... Prasanna took the directions..

Take south main street ( 0.5 miles).., q(C)urtis aveneue, Town drive,sillebtration(celebration ) avenue etc etc.... I thanked Prasanna and took his number..... returned the pen to the other guy and started walking....

I found Main street and started asking people which is south direction... many were confused..... and seeing a Police Car, i went and asked him for directions. I said the address. I was surprised he was not even dropping his window glasses of the car.. Bad Milpitas police. I asked him for the doors and he had no idea.... I was surprised.. Then i asked him what is south main street.. To my surprise he gave a reply to that... Thanks God

I walked along South Min street.. and after some time i saw CURTIS avenue... ( in mine it was written Qurtis avene )....... Then i knew the path is correct... Finally i reached apartment at 9pm.. after 3.5 hours....... And within few minutes my friend also reached there.....

It was very tough .., walking 3.5 hours with a laptop bag in my shoulders.. My shoulder pain has restarted.. and today pathru bought me some "heat shoulder bag" for my relief.

The only regret is - i lost Prasanna's number.. I hope to find him by googling... I have to say thanks to him.

I may be intelligent............ BUT I DONT HAVE ANY COMMON SENSE or PRESENCE OF MIND.

Man..., i have lots of miles to go before I sleep............!

Santa clara ( driving........ )

I have not started driving here... have a confidence issue.... needs a partner for driving...

But in my nature, i may suddenly woke up a day and start driving......

Now taking Light rail for transport btw Great Mall and Great American parkway.......

Santa clara (cooking skills )

I have restarted my cooking ( .... after 7 years ... )

I now (re)started making tea..... Its not that i am a male-chauvinist and my wife makes me tea.. we both does not make tea.. either parents or servant used to make.. anyway i need tea all the time, and here is no one to make me some when i demand...

but my tea smells fish sometimes... we use the same one vessel both purposes.. and thanks to my chronic synus , i dont get any smell as my nose is fully out-of-order!

I have (re)started making rice..... but unfortunately i did not wash rice when i did for the first time after my visit here... that step i forgot... but now i am following all the steps..... and it feels better that you can make rice using rice-cooker.

I am improving. Good work, Anoop!

Santa clara ( at apartment )

From airport......., our compnay had arranged transportation to the milpitas apartment ( if you want to reach me through googlemaps....... its at 320 Imagination Place, Milptas ).

While sitting in the car, i was worried.... whether somebody will be at the apartment... its saturday. The driver dropped me at apartment, and went... while i was walking to the apartment i was thinking what i will do, if nobody is at the apartment ? Me with the luggage, have to stand outside......

I was thinking of "contigency plan" that has to be taken... I will smile at someone and will ask for his ( or preferably her) and use her mobile.......

But luckily David was at the apartment......

He was surprised to see me there............ Because he had called back in chennai to know the time of my arrival, and my colleagues told that i will reach on sunday only. So he was planning to go to office, but luckily he felt sleepy and so decided against......

So atleast everything started well in this trip............. as usual my luck saved me!

Santa clara ( news at airport )

Its been 4 years since i traveled to United States..., everything looked slightly odd at the Chennai airport. I was not feeling comfortable...

After checking in and passing the security, i still had about two hours before i board the aircraft. I spend time reading "erlang" the language we mainly use in our products. And before few minutes before boarding the aircarft i realized that i dont have the contact numbers of my manager in US. I was worried because in case any deportation chances happen at the US immigration, i can give the number to the officials as a last try. anyway without that i boarded the aircraft....

I felt very tired during the journey to singapore... After reaching singapore, i had few hours where i mailed to my manager and got his number... so i felt nice and confident... But could not spend much time at the singapore airport.., which i always love as i had another flight to catch.

Met Anand at singapore airport, and luckily he was on the same flight... but at two ends of the plane......! we also had a break at Seoul, where anand bought me biscuits and coffee. It was good, as i was not feeling good with the food served in plane.

After reaching SFO airport i chose a queue where Indians are less... And when i reached my turn i gave my passport...... These conversations too place:::

He: Are you on business ?
Me: Yes ( may be my voice sounded "sort of")
He: How long ?
Me: 6-8 weeks....
He: What sort of business is that........
Me: Its for requirement collection of the next version of our product.. detail schedule is attached..
He: And can you say what is your product
Me: Its a Security product.....
He: Can you explain...
Me: its for Remote access... blah blah

He started doing the stamping process... but for my surprise he started saying.....

He: You should be coming on L1.. have you travelled before for 6-8 weeks..
Me: for last 7 years i have travelled only once, and for 1 month. But before that i have stayed for 6-8 weeks.

He: ur company is misuing B1 Visa.. They should be sending on L1... please take care next time.
Me: ( did i say yes ?)
He: else also no problem... we will cancel the B1 visa...

and he gave me the entry for three months..........!

and one week after today my friend is travelling to US on B1.... Hope he gets through.....!

Updates from home

In Santa clara now......

Updates from home says --- lachu forgets something at nursery everyday and brings it on the other day.

Tuesday: Lost her shoes
Wednesday: Got her shoes and Lost her two books and Water bottle
Thursday: Got her books and water bottle and lost her tiffin box

Perhaps its a trick from her part, to have two pairs of everything!!!!!!!!!!!!

06 06 2007

Lachu's school started - she is wearing uniform with tie and shoes etc at the age of 3!!!!

I am having a feeling that i reached an important milestone - like its her marriage or so.

She is really enjoying all the hardships.... going to/by bus ( her father accompanies in car to school and from there ).

May be i should post some photos...

Driving "chat" lessons - for california

jojan: have you driven any automatic gear ones?
poonaji: no
poonaji: never
poonaji: i am having "doubts"
jojan: there are two pedals for the right leg
jojan: Break and Accelarator
jojan: there is a pedal for the left leg also
jojan: the "HAND BREAK"
jojan: if you press once, it locks
jojan: press again, it releases
jojan: there is no clutch
poonaji: i am hearing all these for first time!!!
jojan: even though it is automatic
jojan: it has a gear lever
jojan: with positions marked
jojan: "D"
jojan: "P"
jojan: "R"
jojan: D - drive
jojan: P - Park
jojan: R - reverse
jojan: You have to start in P position
jojan: otherwise the car wont start
jojan: that is a safty feature
jojan: the procedure is
jojan: check whether the "Hand Break is on
jojan: Release it
jojan: press the Break
jojan: Move the gear lever to park
jojan: then start
jojan: now move the gear to "D"
jojan: now release the break
jojan: press the accelarator - it starts moving
jojan: thats all
jojan: easy
jojan: sometimes, you will try to apply "CLUTCH" and you wont find a clutch there - instead you may apply break!!!
jojan: you have to re-learn!
poonaji: okpoonaji: this might be enough
jojan: it is like driving a toy car
jojan: now, the other one is cruise control
jojan: search for cruise control in how stuff work
poonaji: may be i dont need that now
jojan: correct
poonaji: i will ask somebody there
jojan: it is useful in freeways
poonaji: i have taken a print out of califirnia driving rules
jojan_t_antony: try to get a teacher also

writing on notes

i dont like dirty notes.. i dont like notes with writings on it...

but all the banks itself have the bad practice.. after counting the notes, they put a rubber band and then write on the top note - the no. of notes in that bundle..

RBI should stop that practice.

Let our notes be very beautiful and tidy.

Investment magazines

Investment magazines.., are boring. They are repeating the same old stuff - just like women's magazines.

So this time , i made a better investment. I bought Filmfare ( Trisha cover) instead. Here i will atleast get the latest gossips.

So may be like "self-impovement books", i am done with "investment-magazines" also.

I am graduated in both now!!!

My first anniversary

My first anniversary with my blog! I love you.

My first anniversary with my blog! I love you.

2000 end - DDG Tour

Photo memories of a nostalgic tour!

I was a great man on those days... with all my fans around...
i was very thoughtful on those days... full of ideas!
i have never drunk in my life... but i am always "fit" all the time!!!

Questions

Q1.Should i do ?

Q2.Do i Want to do ?

Q3.Can i do it ?

I never get to the third question. I am always stuck at the second question...!

Santa Clara

God willing... I may visit Santa clara on June8th. The last time i visited Santa clara was 28th May 2000. So 7 years! long 7 years.

But my friends are coming to India, when i am visiting there. Too bad! Hope i will be able to meet atleast some of them.

Not that much excited. Travel after having kid and wife is very tough... and if we take them its more tougher!

I have been adviced!

I have been adviced by my lone "regular" reader to slow down my reading - it will allow me to relect atleast some of the things i read on my life.....!

But will there be any good- ? as amir khan said in dil chahta hai ---

"Vaise bhi perfection ko improve karna mushkil haii"

8th habit - boring!

I think effectiveness is enough.., greatness not need. The book 8th habit - by Covey is a boring read.

May be self-improvement books are enough for me.. i have gone through 100 pages. but nothing has gone to my heart or mind.

I visited the nearby bookstall and its full of these type of books ----- "how to stop worrying", "how to influence", "how to build trust" etc....

May be i should try relegious scriptures instead..... than these man made books.

"My philosophy has roots in religion not political science.Dr.B.R.Ambedkar "

My best friend's marriage!

Year 2028 ( God Willing..)

Copyright: I got the below story as a forwarded mail. I dont know who wrote it.

The Stranger
She was getting engaged.
And all I could do was stand by and applaud along with all. I didn’t dare open my mouth for fear of saying something stupid.
Something like “I love you”.
I remembered the other day when she had come to me with red eyes. Her “best friend” was going away. It had never mattered to me that her best friend was a guy. I thought I was above such things. But her tears awoke the sin of jealousy in my heart. Fighting it, I had consoled her and given her chocoloates to eat. She proceeded to rest her head in the crook of my arm. And promptly fell asleep. I chuckled at her baby-like innocence.
But now, as I applauded, I felt something stabbing at my heart. Again.

She was getting married.
I saw her come down the stairs decked out in her bridal finery. Never before had I seen her looking this beautiful. I saw her taking the seven rounds around the sacred fire with the man I had come to hate, holding his hand. I saw her exchanging garlands with him.
She was a total stranger to me now.
I was standing near the car when they both came over to me. I wondered what they wanted. I wondered how to say farewell to the departed.
Nevertheless, as my daughter and son-in-law touched my feet, I blessed them. She was crying openly. I told her not to worry. That I’ll always be here.
She responded by hugging me.
And I could not stop the tears any more

Stephen Covey

I am into one Stephen Covey book - "8th habit : from effectiveness to greatness". Its not that i practice 7 habits! I like learning, than practising. But atleast that make me recommend books or gift books to people.... ( i like even ground, so i even recommend good practices/books to my foes also )

I have read these books ----
1 7 habits of highly effective people
2. First things First
3. 7 habits of highly effective teens ( by Sean covey )

He is different from Marcus Buckingham . Marcus relies on detailed researches, focuses on inherent talents, how to build your recurring patterns to strengths, and capitalize on that etc. Covey believes on universal principles, how to practice better habits that will help u as a better human being in family, social and work life.

The first chapter on 8th habit have many references to Marcus book "Now discover your strengths" and also regarding Strengths etc.

So may be i will be able to find some convergence between these two after reading the book.

So I am starting to read it.

disclaimer: i certainly wont mind me becoming a better person. But more than getting the results, I like the "learning part". May be thats why i am called a learner in my StrenthsFinder test.

AnoopG adhava Anoopji

To force lachu to do something..., i act like "Anyan" film. I will turn into a villanous character "AnoopG" and then force her to do it. She enjoys it, and i will be able to do what i intend. Good for both of us.

Apart from some intimate friends.., many call me AnoopG from my school days to NeST days ( i do have intimate friends who call me AnoopG also). It was irritating in the past, and from 7th standard many call me Poonaji also ( which i do like, as it was better than many of my other names - say "PakalManyan" from my TKMCE days !!!)

But in chennai, its different. They dont call me AnoopG even by mistake. They are afraid that somebody else may think that as Anoopji and doubt whether they are giving me respect. Anyway its a boon for me. "AnoopG" calling is less here!!!!!!!!

Marcus Buckingham

I have now gone through his three books -

(1) First break all the rules
(2) Now discover your strengths
(3) One thing you need to know

All his books say the same these - "Focus on your strengths"

Its one idea i always have adored and was in my mind before reading the book. So when i read the book, my initial thought was - hope many would read it!!! ( because majority tried to fix weakness in themselves and in others, and does not try capitalizing on theit strengths).

"First break all the rules" is one book everyone should read. It talks about what great managers have in common - they capilatilize on each person's unique strengths.

It talks about the different roles Managers have to perform efficiently.
1. selecting right people
2. defining right outcomes
3. Focussing on their strengths
4. Rewarding

Bad managers spend most of their time with their most unproductive employees, but good managers do the reverse. They spend the best time with their best ones.

So can weakness can be left untouched. Perhaps no.......
1. may be you can stop doing that activity, and reassign someone else
2. may be partnership helps
3. some workarounds may help etc etc . some tution :) perhaps
4. put some of ur strengths in place to work around weakness ( my writing skills are not that good, but i do follow-up regularly with chat or phone and make sure that acknowledgements are received when its necessary, also have no hestitation in saying apology wherever unnecessary. so i have never had an uncomfotable moment except in appraisals where my communication skills are put to low :) )

The 12 questions Marcus/Gallop has derived for their polls is excellent. It gives you a clear picture whether your employees enjoy their work:

"1) Do I know what is expected of me at work? 2) Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right? 3) At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day? 4) In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for good work? 5) Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person? 6) Is there someone at work who encourages my development? 7) At work, do my opinions seem to count? 8) Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel like my work is important? 9) Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work? 10) Do I have a best friend at work? 11) In the last six months, have I talked with someone about my progress? 12) At work, have I had the opportunities to learn and grow?"

I tried interviewing people in my last company during my IIM project and it gave me a clear picture on what happened ( will talk about that sometime later )

This is one book you should read, definitely.

The second one: Now discover your strengths is attractive since you will get a "key" for doing a StrengthFinder test. I did mine - see the results.

The book is not very attractive. You better read "first break all the rules a second time".

The third one - "One thing you need to know - about great managing, great leading, sustained individual success" is a great read. I liked his writing, his examples. It does not much, but still its more worth than the 300 odd Rs i paid for it.

The one things are:
Managing: "Discover what is unique about each person and capitalize on it." Leading: "Discover what is universal and capitalize on it." Sustained individual success: "Discover what you don't like doing and stop doing it."

I liked the third one........ I have never done that. May be i should try!!!!! The "one things" may not be that attractive.., but read the book to get his perspective.. it has real work-life stories, perspectives and how they achieve excellence and statisfaction at work place.

Time is the most constraint resource we have - perhaps moving away from what we dont like, may be a good idea!

Mid cap SIPs

Despite Anish's warnings as comments I started SIPs on these two funds:

Birla Mid Cap - Growth ( 5 start rated fund by valueresearchonline)
ICICI Pridential Emerging Start - Growth ( not rated as its relatively new)

I like to experiment on my theories. I may re-think my position if they lose their start ratings.

MF experts tell concentrate on 4-5 funds. But i already have 7 funds in which SIPs are running ( very small amount...) . But i can manage my 7 ones.

I am hoping India.inc will be strong on 2049, the year in which I am planning to withdraw these for lachu's kids education!!!!!

Feedbacks on my blogs

Two feedbacks on my blog from my office:

1. For a third party i look like a frustrated person who wants to improve... ( reading books of Covey etc gave him the trigger to say this )

2. I am writing for myself, i am not offering much to the readers ( i confuse them at the end, by saying "its bull shit" etc)

Usually i give "frustrated" tag. but i want to improve, so i am giving a more possitive tag this time :)

also i decided to make it colourful!!!!

some MF investment styles

Disclaimer: I dont have any knowledge on investments

high-cap - Buys shares of mainly of companies whose market share is more than 5000 crores

mid-cap - Buys shares of mainly of companies whose market share is between 500 and 5000 crores

small-cap - "" less than 500 crores

diversified - name says it all

contrarian - looks for stocks and sectors which are out of favour now

flexi cap - it moves around high-cap, mid-cap, small-cap based on the favourability of market.. if mid-cap is going to do well, it will invest in mid-caps.. else etc etc.

value: it looks for companies which have matured... value based companies gives dividends and bonuses frequently to share holders.

growth: it looks for companies which have potential for growth

---------------

Based on the MFs i have selected I seem to follow diversified ( large-cap focussed), growth focussed equity mutual funds!

----------------

Forget everything you have read. Its bull shit.

Mid Cap selection

All the funds which I am investing systematically are large-cap oriented. I need to select some mid-cap funds also to diversify my portfolia.

I was wondering - all the high performing Mid cap funds - say SBI Magnum Global, Sundaram Select Mid-cap fund, Reliance Growth etc have huge money to manage now. As per MF experts, having huge funds is not that good while investing in mid-cap. Risk will get averaged out, but performance can get degraded.

I was thinking of selecting some funds like Birla Mid cap or ICICI Emerging star etc. Not sure..

( lack of ) presence of mind

Yesterday i visited Spencers daily. Had shopping and was ready to drive away. But just behind my car somebody else had parked. There is a person to regulate the parking there, and he used to take keys from cars parked behind. But the driver was sitting in the car, so there was no need to take the key. And when we came out there was no driver and we were stuck.

The person in charge came and told sorry to me and explained. I said "no problems". My better half scolded me "lachu is waiting. dont say no probs. go and ask him". As usual i hear everything and take no action. I preferred to eat the chinna samosas that i bought from Spencers. In the mean-time peron-in-carge of parking (PIC) opened the door of the car behind me and started "horning heavily". But no response.

After waiting for around 15mts, the person in carge (PIC) came and asked me, can i take my car if he moves the car on the right side. With difficulty i agreed. It was very difficult. I did all aerobics with my car and it got stuck finally. And i asked PIC to help me. He was definitely a better driver than me. He could do much better but still could not make it.

After all these exercies only we noted that the door was open in the car behind us...... ( PIC even "horned" from it). Finally he entered the car behind, changed to neutral and steered ( and pushed) out of my cars way.

Anyway it was just another realization to me that i dont have presence of MY mind when it matters.. Luckily PIC's brain worked after the 30mts of battle and we were saved!!!!

Resolutions ----

weekly resolution on dont touch blog and orkuts during office hours have been success. It has good results also. Less interruptions, more time now to spend for tea breaks!

Perhaps i should revisit some of my new year resolutions.

I would really love to have some more weekly resolutions.
- drink lot of water ( chennai heat is killing me )
- eat lot of Pankajakasthuri or something similar which reduces my sinus.

You may find this boring. But i have decided to impove. Have you ?

7 highly effective habits for Teens

I gave this book as a Vishu gift to my Teen cousin.... he was excited receiving this.

Its written by Sean , son of Stephen R Covey - the author of "7 habits of highly effective people".

The contents are same, but the language is very simple, the book is a very easy readable one with lot of cartoons, inspirational quotes, exercies etc.

The only drawback i found is too much references to sex, drug addictions etc.

You make Habits, then Habits make you.....

This book can help you a lot in making habits that will help you lifetime.

It deals with the habits that can give you private victories:

(1) Be Proactive

(2) Begin with the End in Mind ( mission statement)

(3) Put First Things First

The ones that can give you public victories:

(4) Think Win-Win -

(5) Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

(6) Synergize

And the most important one - continous renewal

(7) Sharpen the Saw

Whatever said in the book is based on natural principles. It helps you in the same way a relegious scripture guides you.

I am sure, I have done a good thing by presenting this book instead of a shirt or few bucks!

identifying good cocunut ?

I dont know how to identify a good coconut. I usually can see people shake the coconut before taking. I also used to shake, but whatever the output i select it. Nowadays i stopped that practice. Instead i select the coconut which is clean and white. And that is working!

But somebody if knows better than me pls comment.

Vishu Movies

Saw 4 movies - Vinodayathra, Chotta Mumbai, Big B and Maya Kannadi..... The 3 Mallu ones I saw alone and mayakkanadi in a bachelor company.

But definitely Mayakannadi was avoidable... There is nothing thrilling in the movie. Navya has over-acted well!!

Man, felt i was seeing "Desperado". Really a brave movie making attempt. Its a totally different film. Four adopted sons revenging their Mother's death. Its not a typical Mallu movie. Guns and Roses are handled with ease, Mamookka is superb and i liked his one liner - "Kochi pazhaya Kochi allennu ariyam, pakshe Bilal pazhaya Bilal thane"!

This is the story of Chotta B's..... kochi background... but not guns... small small thattipus... it also doesn't have a story.. some characters and funny scenes. But definitely entertaining.

The Ad for Vinodayathra says it all - "Kandu padickananee Chithram". Vinod ( Dileep) learns a lot in this movie through his interactions with the people he meets. I also learnt somethings out of the film.

"Tholkan Theerumanichal pinne tholkanne neramundavoo.. jeevithathe possitive ayyi kannuka"

"Jeevithathe showcase cheyyathirickuka"

"Kannil kannunna jeevitham manassilakkathe othiri onnan undittu karyam onnum illa"

etc etc. I liked this movie( although many have branded this film as nothing new in it)

-----------

Perhaps i may have to see one or two among this now with my wife!

Boyfriends

Lachu has started dating with her boy friends! They have even started coming to our house.

Mission Statement

Mission Statement of my blog:

To generate curiosity for my known and unknown friends in what i am
thinking and doing :)

Weekly Resolution

I have made a weekly resolution not to touch orkut, blogs, non-official websites during office hours ( morning to 7pm). And that means I am not able to blog now.

Hope my weekly resolution gets longer than a week!!!

Chicken pox over!

Chicken pox is over... feeling ok now...

I had all these medications these days:

1. Zovtrax 100 mg (1-1-1-1-1 x 5 days)
2. phexin 500 ( 1-1-1 x 5days)
3. dolo 650 ( 1-1-1 x 5days)
4. allegra ( 1-0-0 x 15 days)
5. xyzal 5m (0-0-1 x 15 days)
6. polybion (1-0-0 x 15 days)

Please everybody go and take Chicken pox vaccination. Its lifetime effective!

I am thinking of taking HEPATITIS vaccination now.. I dont want to get bed-ridden again.

Surely getting back to office, i will get everybody vaccinated against chicken pox.

Perception

You cannot avoid how people perceive you. But you can avoid yourself believing
in that!

Top of the world - anoopg

If somebody would be give me money for studying and writing exams it would have been good... I really enjoyed doing that in the past..!!!

family photo - 30yrs before!!!

a family photo taken more than 30 years before! nostalgic one... Now i am in the agregroup of the people who are standing... hopefully i should have a photo now.. and also 30 years after...

btw: the dress my cousin manoj is wearing is my dress! my mother gave the best dress to him, and gave me the ugly stripes one. I protest!

UKG Classmates

It seems I have become darker by the time i reached UKG!!! Many of these friends were with me till my Pree-Degree ... and I still have contacts with atleast few!!!

Classmates!

My first classmates... ! There should not be much difficulty in indentifying me. so no prizes, but i would be curious to know ur findings!!!

Finally it happened!!!

i finally got chicken-pox and its all over my body.. hope u r happy.

last year when everybody got here in chennai, i was spared.

i have not yet decided whether to take this as a setback or a break! will decide in coming days...

Boy Cut!

Outdoor

You dont need TEETH to SMILE!

Paruthiveeran Anoop

My day at home!

I dont need medicine!

Can you identify lachu ?

Choices

"Whether to sink in self-pity or swim in the ocean of knowledge is a choice
we are called upon to make in life"

Reviews

I purchased Shivaji audio without even hearing it once. It was this news in papers that fooled me "A R Rahman finally pleases rajni fans with Shivaji music". For many days i tried to listen to its music and told myself to love it. But i dont like any of its songs. And i had to lower the volume when sreedevi enters the car. Else she will fire me on wasting 45Rs. Now anyway i have removed the cassette, and its available for second hand sale.

Mayavi is a very good comedy movie... Mammootty at his best. Gopika looks very nice in the movie.

You should not miss Mozhi. Jyothika is great, PrithviRaj is charming and Prakash Raj very vibrant..!

I dont have time for review... But please dont miss Mozhi

Sorry dilemma

"If you are sorry about something, don’t do it. If you are doing something, then don’t feel sorry about it"

- Alexis

Maturity

"Maturity - a term used in psychology to indicate that a person responds to the circumstances or environment in an appropriate manner; often this implies a response that is reasoned or learned rather than impulsive"

Atleast i agree on the definition.

Now i have to see
- what is appropriate
- what should be learned and what should be filtered out
- how to control your impulses.

Pseudo Code
-------------
In your handler put a sleep of 5 minutes
Your choice learning thread should learn the possible choices
After sleep, see whether choices are got
anyway go for another sleep
Make a decision based on the power of choices
Go for a sleep
Evaluate it again
Go for a sleep for a day

By this time there will not be any need to make a choice.... you will be relieved.

Power of choice - dont make a choice!

Consensus

"When I don't make a decision, it's not that I don't think about it. I
think about it and make a decision not to make a decision"

P V NarasimhaRao

happy blog!

When i meet any good old friend, i cant resist talking about my blog... also my orkut profile also contains blog link. and it seems i project my bad image here.

now onwards my objective is project my happy and good image. Staring with a smiley!!!

"I dont know" syndrome

I have got many feedbacks ( not only present).., but in past also.., that i dont have to be always humble and honest :)

i have to present myself in a good way - so that i dont need to say - "idont know" always expecially to juniors.

i have tried... but always i will come back to "i dont know" as that is the easiest way out.

perhaps i have got a remedy for that.. i should fight on the core-issue :) i have to know, what i should know.

perhaps i should know the things i should know better than any one else. so my integrity will be preserved !!!

And the things " i dont know".., i will say "i dont know".

Updates

- i bought a Basha DVD for Rs 34/-.. Thanks MoserBear for releasing DVDs at such a low cost.

- we now use orkut for filtering matrimonials for our bachelor friends. we find out u in orkut , read ur testimonials and scraps, find ur closer mates, investigate them and give report. ( god knows, when i will lose my job and friends because of my blog writing )

- i was not in a mood to work. so i wanted to offload some of my Todo-List. I registered for a "vaccum cleaner demo". Then I went to bank.., but it seems a holiday for bank. So i went to besant nagar beach at noon today. And found it too hot. so wanted to do car-washing!!! went there. he said it will take upto 3:30pm. I said will come back. i did not want to return to office. so i went to "muruagn's idly" and ate meals. Then went to bookstall and bought vanitha, outlook money and business world. now i wanted a place to sit and read. went to beach again. was looking for shade. and very inside the beach there was a broken monument. i slowly walked towards that.. after walking for sometime, felt it was miles away. by this time i had travelled far enough. still decided to return back. then an idea struck, and went to dollar store. nothing to purchase, i started reading all the movie stories witten on the back of VCDs. after spending a long time there i finally had to get down of the shop. Then went to the car-wash, but their job was only half done. waited another 1 hr there and finally reached office at 5pm. today no mood to work. forgive me!!!!

Investment Advice ---

I gave two investment advices in the past two weeks!

advice 1:

one of my friend was going to take "LIC money plus" insurance scheme. I notified him of the realities of "market linked" schemes. I asked him if he needs insurance or investment. I told him to consider "term insurance", as he has good financial back-up. People who have financial back-up why need insurance... The only thing is --- if something happens to them the family should get equivalent of the financial benefits which they would have got if he was alive.. only "term" insurance provides that... The other insurance are basically insurance plus investment schemes...

But i have a child education insurance scheme only which yields only some 6%.. i dont know whether i want to continue that... Instead of that i should have invested that money in MFs and plus one good term-insurance... If your partner knows how to manage money, then term insurance is better... perhaps i need to take one!

Or.. ?

advice 2:

my friend (colleague).., seeing my blog, asked me advice on how to save money for his sisters marriage which will happen in another 3 years.. i was shocked... blogs are dangerous..!

i gave him the new Mutual Funds Insight magazine ( 100Rs!!!) i bought two days before! i said i can suggest him fund houses plus equity funds if he is interested....

i told him to calculate the money he needs after 3 years! Then plan the investments to achieve that...

=>Perhaps he can --- invest 5000Rs as SIP in MS in 5 separate funds or he need not start SIp.. he can invest periodically in MFs systematically...
=> He can start buying the yellow metal... perhaps as biscuits or coins... or if his sister is sure of the ornaments then ornaments itself.. ( later she should not change that )
=> he can invest the rest in banks or debt instruments...

Anyway good.... But ater reading all these and writing i am not planning anything... perhaps i should plan for lachu's in a 22 year timeline... ( should book some NRI's son nowitself!)

I dont need any retirement fund... my last days are at manasarovar. amen.

Frustrating hobbies...

I am killing time...'

cliecking "next blog", "next blog", "next blog"... finding out new blogs and reading...

taking wikimapia and travelling through it... yesterday i travelled from islamabad to moscow..

what for 2007 ?

Reading a lot of investment magazines these days --

I have become a regular buyer of "Outlook Money", "Money Life", "Multual Fund Insight"...

I am investing more in magazines... and investing only a comparative amount in MFs :)

I hope i prepare less, and do more!

But i am a learner, not a investor..

But if you want to invest in MFs consult me.., my investing decisions may be poor, but i can give you the info that i read...

Lets make this world a better investing place !!!!

Jai Investor.

if you can't do

"if you can't do, teach. And if you really can't do, consult about it" -
Marcus Buckingham

I would better give consultation for others!!!

Suffering

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional"

Moods vary in a week