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.