Thursday, May 27, 2004

40 Days and 40 Nights - the reprise

I'm going to do this again. No incentive other than getting back to a 100% fitness - so here's the no-no list for the next 40 days:

- Chips
- Cookies
- Ice-cream, all variants
- Deep-fried food
- Cakes - anything that contains more sugar than other ingredients
- Junk Food - no McDonalds, Wendy's, etc, etc

Don't know how long this will last, but I hope it lasts all the 40 days. Most incentive for me, a sense of achievement...

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

It's a book

That's as close a description as I can give to my life in 1 word. It's fascinating how events that have occurred in the past can be strung together to reflect a coherent phase in your life; the string becoming the headline, the title of the chapter that you just finished. And like any book I've read, one chapter bleeds into the next, sometimes seamlessly and at other times jarringly. But the previous chapter helps the story move forward. And so, another chapter begins in my life...

A lot has occurred since my return from India - some good, some bad. First the bad (the good is oft interred with the bones - NOT!) My squash game has tanked (I lost to Kristen for the first time today, a budding 16 year-old and a world-beater in the making), recovering from the India hangover has been excrutiating and I'm emotionally a wreck. The good - my game is on the upward trend again, I'm shedding the skin I grew in Bombay and work has been hectic. I'm most excited about the last thing on that list - work. The time of uncertainty seems to have passed or maybe, I've decided to overlook the uncertainty and make the most out of my opportunity. I don't care for what tomorrow brings anymore, if today rocks, tomorrow can go fly a kite...

Friday, May 21, 2004

And where is the Sun?

Oh I forget, I'm in Seattle. And in May, the Sun only makes Guest appearances during the day :) So be it, it's 60 degrees on a May morning and it's not uncommon to see people wearing jackets. Hiiii! Let me not belabour or bemoan this minor technicality and proceed on with the happenings of the day gone by. Kill Bill Vol 2 the second time around didn't add much to what I absorbed the first time around. I walked out of the cinema wondering if Quentin, in all his gusto, put too much gore in the first installment and too much talk in the second. Walking this tight-rope is a tough act so I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt to the man - the two movies put together make for some of the best cinematic experience I've had this past year - with the exception of The Return of the King. I don't think I've still recovered a 100% from the Jet-lag itself :) I dozed off during parts of the movie again but that isn't as good a sign as my stomach growling for food at all odd hours. Did I write this earlier? I woke up last morning dreaming of biting into pastries - and it was not even 5am for crying out loud :D

I'm reading a very interesting document that is giving me insights into the Pentium x86 architecture so I'd better get back to that. Looking forward to the game of squash tonight but honestly, I don't know how the night's activities are going to shape up. I guess we'll have to make do with the meagre Night-life that Seattle has to offer. In the end though, it's all about the company isn't it - I'm sure Geni's company will make it fun.

Thursday, May 20, 2004

The Dust Has Begun To Settle

This is the third morning since I've been back in Seattle and things haven't yet fallen into place. The oddities began to creep up on me the instant I arrived at the airport. Being finger-printed, checked by customs, made to feel like a second-class, underprivileged citizen and I still hadn't hit the road. And the drive back, geez - people driving in lanes, open spaces, clear-blue skies, no honking, no manic over-taking - where was I? Bombay figuratively seemed miles away.

Entered my apartment and was shocked at how un-chaotic things were in my life in Seattle. Everything I needed was in its place, a place I knew of. If I didn't have something, I knew I didn't and would have to make a trip to the grocery store. The need to ask my mom if something existed was totally obviated, there was no mom who stashed seemingly unnecessary things in the many vaults around the house. And then loneliness struck...

To say that I am lonely here would be incorrect. I have friends, colleagues and work but after being with family for the better part of 4 weeks, there is a void that just can't be filled by friends. Most people tell me that after the passage of a week, I'll get used to their absence and suck it up. Cest La Vie or so they keep harping on. I wonder though, is the compromise worth it?

And what about the beast they call jetlag? It's been 3 days since I've woken up before 7am and been dead asleep by 10pm. I couldn't keep my eyes open through Kill Bill Vol 2 the night before last. Has it affected my squash game? Yesterday was my first foray back on the courts and how I sucked :) I still had some touch but not enough, not enough at all. Another week and I should be ready to fire on all cylinders.

And finally, I'd like to thank everyone who made Bombay a memorable experience. Barring the usual suspects, this time around was made special by the travels around the country. Here goes though; Rachna, Nikhil, Vishaka, Shyamal, Nandu, Mayur, Gaurav, my parents and family. You are all very special...

Edits: Thanks to super brain, "rapid english speaking course in american accent"-taker Nandu! So see, someone actually does read updates ;)