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!!!