The world I live in

Got the e-book version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows a few days before I got the proper book copy in hand. Thanks to a colleague I can now read the book during all those odd and snatched bits of time. I've reached the portion about Harry, Ron and Hermione reaching Hogwarts. Decided to take a break, complete some work and blog a bit too :) Monday evening I discovered that my diet didn't let me lose any weight. I hadn't gained any either. Still weighing 79 kgs on the Dr. K's weighing scale. Getting the book on Monday evening did help me get a good start on the final story. Tuesday, read the book very little. Wednesday, the day I had to undergo Cross Culture Sensitivity training. Eating food with a fork and knife has never attracted me. I discovered why. It felt as uncomfortable as it looked. Had a trip down 'GUILT' lane since I had to eat paneer, rice and a yummy chocolate pastry as a part of the training. Was able to avoid bread and butter. This morning...

Reached Udupi on Friday night. As usual Amrith had come down to Mangalore to pick Joel and me. Had a quick dinner at home and set off. Reached Udupi in good time even though the roads weren't any better and we had to stop to buy Joel a packet of biscuits. The plan on Friday night was to have breakfast at Diana of Sat morning. But that somehow got cancelled out since most of us woke up late. After a latish breakfast, Amrith set off to college. Ajit, Julie and I didn't do much. I had a bad cold. Joel and Keziah set off playing and writing some stuff on paper. By lunch time, Amrith was back. Ajit and Julie were packed and left by 1:00 p.m. to catch the Matsyagandha at 1.:35 pm. Came to know from Amrith later that the train was delayed by about 20 minutes. The afternoon was spent just catching up on sleep. Woke and went to get the much needed waxing and pampering that I wanted. Sunday morning, went for mass. And then set off for Haleangadi to Richie uncle's place. Picked up Mai...

This statement was made just as I got of the local bus with another Infoscion. It reminded me of my kindergarten days. My class teacher said I talk too much. It also was a neat comment on my progress card. The only addition this time was: You talk too much for a librarian. :)

I did meet Sangeeta last Saturday. She had a very busy morning and I had to take her around. The last time I saw her before moving to Udupi was after her haircut. A further update from this morning: The straps on the pair of shoes I keep in the office too broke too. That's 2 pairs in just one day!

Alright, it's not 'Japani'. It's very much Indian made, bought during the visit to Mumbai during Dec 2006 and has been quite a relief for my feet especially when i had to walk distances. This morning while commuting to the office by the local bus, I'm not sure what I did that the toe holder snapped. Getting down from the bus was awkward. And then I was stuck with a choice. Take a rickshaw, go home, wear a new pair and come back OR just walk into the office and wear the spare footwear I keep and hope that 1. the spare pair doesn't do something similar 2. I find a cobbler to fix the broken pair Chose option 2. I'm so grateful that the flooring in the office is sparkling clean that I could take of my shoes once inside the building and walk barefeet to my desk. I hope to read this some time later when I've forgotten such an incident happened and have a hearty laugh at my predicament this morning.

My Samsung E730 finally breathed its last this morning after a full power recharge. Although I did get sufficient warning signals from the phone last week, I never believed it would die on me so soon. I've had a lovely time with this phone. Starting with a few months after Joel's birth till date, I've been using it's camera and memory slots to keep my set of memories alive in digital format. Keeping in touch via phone calls, listening music and the 200 sms's space too have been used to maximum benefit. That's not all, Joel has drooled over it and chewed it and whacked it on floor and used it as a floor scrubber on numerous occassions. And it still had the will to stay alive. I guess this morning was the last straw when Joel used it like his toy draggy around the place with the cell charger attached to it. It just couldn't take it anymore. Sigh! I'm going to miss the phone a lot. Since I have to stay 'in touch' and be 'available' constantl...

The weekend was nice and fun on the whole. It was good to see Keziah again. I'm sure Joel enjoyed having her around too. Wish I could have a few more days off and just sit at home with her. She's a sweet heart. Ajit, Acha and Julie went to Gandhi Hospital to get the executive profile. Thanks to Acha's 'vast' knowledge, they got a few basic minimum things done. Executive profile is still unheard of in most of Udupi today save the TMA Pai and KMC hospitals. Ajit looks well. Came to know from Amrith that his reports came out pretty clean. I'm glad. Acha's and Julie's reports too are clear. Back from Udupi last evening. The drive back to Mangalore was filled with a lot of insights from Amrith. As it is, the conversation between Ajit and Julie over lunch on Sunday was a little shocking for me. I expected them to have a cosy comfortable marriage. But it kind of looks otherwise. All in all, I'm beginning to dislike false pretenses. I hope I can stay the way...

Sis has shifted to Bangalore yesterday. She'll be home tomorrow. I hope to meet her during the weekend. If not, missed opportunity. I'm most probably staying at home in Udupi on Monday. Hope that time is sufficient to get Joel and Kezu reacquainted. With Ajit and Julie around, I hope that all's well and my temper and tongue are kept in constant check. On the workfront, Anitha's getting a transfer to Mysore, finally! I can't figure out why, what, how of what's happened till date with her. Should enlighten my boss that he needs to be a lot more careful and prepared in his dealing with everyone. Got informal feedback from a project person that he cuts a very sorry figure. This morning one more person wasn't very happy that he was anchoring Minfy Scholars. I'd like to defend the guy but he makes it impossible for anyone to stay happy with him.

And why wouldn't I? A visit to my doc on Monday evening showed that I had lost 4 kgs. I don't feel the loss and definitely don't look like I've lost much. But what the heck, the diet's paying off. Another 2 weeks of sticking to the same thing before another visit. During these 2 weeks, the only additional items I can have are 1/2 an apple, 1/2 a pear, blueberries and butter fruit. Don't know what the last 2 items look like. Should stop by Niligiris and check.

Pretty close to the end of my 2 week diet. Coming Monday I visit Dr. K and find out what's in store for me next. Glad the weighing scale showed me back on my original weight of 83 kgs. It said 84 till last evening. Which means, on Dr. K's weighing I would be 82. Good. Have been in touch with Seafarer, Copywritrix, Mumbai Call Guy and Hyd chap during this week. Glad to hear that they are doing well except for Seafarer. He lost his voice due to his treatment for the mouth ulcer (or was it cancer!). But then, in his words, the rest of him is still fine and working great. That does bring my thoughts to the other thing which 3 of these friends share in common - an active interest and sex life. Seafarer's married with children who are on the verge of adulthood. Copywritrix, the sweet heart kind of guy, is single and too buried in his work. Mumbai Call guy, single too and I think his age and hormones don't help his control and will power much. All's the same and usual in t...

After finding a blood sugar level higher than the accepted, and insulin levels low on fasting, the health conscious diet has begun since last Monday. Broke the rule once last evening to gobble a small Snickers bar. Couldn't resist. Had been craving for something sweet to eat.

It's a normal day. Loads of things to do. And I never get around to actually doing it. My work space is a mess. Not sure when I'm going to clear it up. Hope to do so before the long weekend starts. Weddings happening in plenty. Amrith's cousin is getting married on 28th Jan. Puttur is too far away from Udupi. And I'm too lazy to travel on a Sunday just for a wedding. Hence giving the wedding a skip. Looking forward to Aunt Merlyn and her family dropping in. It'd be nice to see them again. Been a while since I've corresponded with Nimmy too. Acha should be back by Thursday. So a little family reunion time once more. Uncle Alex hasn't improved much. Still bent on troubling Acha. Sigh! When will he ever learn and grow up. Bought a few more things at Fabindia. Amrith finally found the capris and bush shirt he was looking for. Bought Kala a set from there too. I hope she likes it. Thoughts at this time in life are revolving on how to lose weight. The Jane Fonda C...

I haven't typed in anything for so long as I had just enuff time to read and look at the pics. At work, life's been pretty hectic after the vacation. Mumbai trip was so-so. All 3 of us had an attack of loose motions. Joel's recovering slowly. He's abt 75% back to normal self. Didn't go around much since Joel wasn't able to adjust much to place. He loved travelling in the locals out there. On the flight back, something about the air hostess's butt tickled him. He kept whacking each hostess's butt everytime they walked passed our aisle seat. The one benefit we all had was meeting all the relatives. The next trip to Mumbai can be delayed for a very long time. Back in Mangalore, the weather has lost its chill. One fair closed. And Karavali Utsav has begun. Fabindia's come to town. 2 malls and regular events are making people in Mangalore spend. Exams coming up. College Fests and School Days happening in plenty. Rumors of bundhs and strikes keep coming an...

Finally got this photograph from HR after a long wait and a few reminders. This was taken after the big bash we had for celebrating MInfy 11 and Infy 25 at the Convention Centre (T.M.A Pai) in September 2006. That's Anshu, me, Mukesh Pancholi, Shads guy, Rahul Vaidya, Navaneeth and Pavana. Mukesh and Rahul were contestants for the first Indian Idol. Man! it's been 3 months since I last fit into those jeans. I need to lose those extra inches I gained FAST!

The Rangoli at the entrance to lifts One of the 2 exhibits The yummy lunch

Devendra Rithesh had a swell time dressed up as Devendra. He was the colorful attraction of the day. Never seen a chap so enthu as him to get painted and stuffed as he was that day. Minfy sure has got a lovely person here. Jeethy, me and Girish We were part of the welcome committee. Jeethy's one of the 2 people from my dept. The other is Thanu who's on maternity leave. Waiting for her to get back to work. Would love to see her daugher too :) Usha, Sangeetha, Divya A few more colleagues and a friend. These 3 ladies make playing throwball interesting. Breaks from work with them send me back with a refreshed mind and attitude.

Meet Veena B Smiling - worried - determined - J2EE lady Rithesh Kumble: A sweet guy - great lunch mate - the Campus Connect & .NET guy Girish Aithal Boss - mentor - a wiz at using Excel - overloaded! The other 2 from my department have yet to be captured on my camera

It's been a while and a day since I last posted here. I've just come back to work after lunch at home. This morning while I was at work, my mom received a phone call. Lady on phone: "Does Veena live there?" Mom: "Yes". Lady on phone: "Is she married?" Mom: "Why yes! She's married and has a year and half old son too." Lady hung up. Why I find this so amusing is that Mom had this eternal worry when I was single that her daughter would run out of proposals or never get married. After 2 and half years of married life and a son, this feels sooooo good. I remember mom smile as I type this. :-)

It's been a while.. and then some. Had a nice work week.. 4 days of holidays, followed by 2 work days and then another 3 holidays. Wow! I love working in these conditions. I hate it though when i had to spend the 3 holidays in the office. Not that I was in the whole time, but life just existed between going home to Joel and coming back to my comp at work. The only good thing that happened during this time is that Amrith was in town. Joel learnt to sit and I'm pretty happy that I got some time together with both of them. Family!