The weekend hadn't been going too well. The Cinco De Mayo festivities weren't worth writing about and I spent Saturday catching up on lost sleep. Later that night, after I was done singing Karaoke at Nir's birthday party, I headed to Twist. The place is huge, the music isn't very loud and people are conversing everywhere. I just wasn't in the zone, was a little sleepy and didn't drink any alcohol that night. As has become a ritual, we went to Broadway Grill for some food and more chit-chat. When I finally slept at 6am on Sunday morning, I considered Sunday to be a lost cause.
By noon on Sunday, I had spoken to my parents in Bombay, to Gundapps in Dallas and was walking towards my car to drive to Arash's place in Tacoma. Arash, Jyot and Puneet had called me earlier in the day and given me directions to their place. Puneet's car was stuck because she broke the garage door so I was to transport them around the area. Free taxi service anyone?!
The drive to Tacoma was a pain - it was raining, there was a lot of traffic and idiots were driving below the speed limit in the extreme left lane. Food arrived just as I got to my destination so I didn't complain much. Clearly, I was crabby because I hadn't eaten anything all morning so I got cheerier after the hearty meal. It did help some that the sun decided to show its face through the dispersing rain clouds.
We played two touch football, washed my car (it looks like new now), played a set of tennis (Marina and Puneet vs Arash and Manoj - the boys won emphatically) and did some crazy driving maneuvers before it was time for dinner. Okra is one of my favourites and it was on the menu with lentils and rotis - simple, indian fare but very satisfying nonetheless. We went to the beach for a short while after dinner and then I drove back home.
What I thought would be a washout turned into a memorable day. I really enjoy spending time with the kids because they are hella cool and I don't take offence to almost anything. I wanted to be around people yesterday and my wish was granted. To think my day started with the sad news that my grandfather expired, I didn't expect the day to end on the note that it did. Thanks kids, you made my day!
Monday, May 08, 2006
Friday, May 05, 2006
Manoj's Uncertainty Principle
Uncertainty and Happiness both cannot co-exist in one individual.
Who am I kidding, I know nothing about coining laws on uncertainty. What I do know is that I am not an expert at dealing with uncertainty (or ambiguity for that matter). I like it when people state their opinions and express themselves so I know how to communicate with them. In Managing People at Microsoft, I learnt about various types of people and was told what kind of person I am - expressive, talkative and curious for context. There was a time when not knowing something drove me nuts but that has now passed - praise the lord!
It should be no secret then that once I am familiar with a person, I interact openly and state my mind without fear of jugment. This tendency is precisely why guarded people terrify me. If I can't get a read on a person, I don't know what their loyalties are, which makes it hard for me to trust them. In my opinion, there is a time for uncertainty, a time for not being straight-forward, a time for games. It is vital to recognize when it is time for some ol' fashioned honesty and to be honest at that appointed moment. Who knows, good things might come out after the clouds of uncertainty blow away and the sun shines through.
Who am I kidding, I know nothing about coining laws on uncertainty. What I do know is that I am not an expert at dealing with uncertainty (or ambiguity for that matter). I like it when people state their opinions and express themselves so I know how to communicate with them. In Managing People at Microsoft, I learnt about various types of people and was told what kind of person I am - expressive, talkative and curious for context. There was a time when not knowing something drove me nuts but that has now passed - praise the lord!
It should be no secret then that once I am familiar with a person, I interact openly and state my mind without fear of jugment. This tendency is precisely why guarded people terrify me. If I can't get a read on a person, I don't know what their loyalties are, which makes it hard for me to trust them. In my opinion, there is a time for uncertainty, a time for not being straight-forward, a time for games. It is vital to recognize when it is time for some ol' fashioned honesty and to be honest at that appointed moment. Who knows, good things might come out after the clouds of uncertainty blow away and the sun shines through.
The days are getting busier
I have more to do at work and though a lot of it isn't coding related, it fills up the hours and keeps me busy. Soon, I will find something I actually excited me to the fullest extent but till that time, the status quo is acceptable.
The day started on an interesting note - I took the liberty of watching the end of Tuesday night's Veronica Mars episode because I woke up an hour too early (for my 10:30 meeting) this morning. The copious amount of food I had consumed last night needed some more time to be digested fully and the time spent on the couch watching the trial of Logan's dad unfold on screen was what the doctor ordered. I walked into WAR on time and though I didn't know this as I was driving, my day would be spent in meeting after meeting.
Natasha pinged me around 11:35 and suggested we catch up over lunch. We eventually ate at Chili's and here is an interesting fact - if you are vegetarian, there is only one entree that you can get at this chain of restaurants. This is utter bullshit if you ask me! I can't complain though since I ordered and devoured the Margarita Chicken entree - delicious it was. This is a new trend that started with dinner at Machiavelli's and hopefully, I will diversify my palette to include other meat. I am particularly interested in cultivating a taste for sea food...
Coffee while talking to Bambo and "The Friz" was highly entertaining, as were the next three hours of meetings that followed. It was the first time (and it was after 5pm) that I got to my office and stayed for more than ten minutes. I stayed till a little after 8 actually, at which point I couldn't take it anymore - it was time to stop slacking and start working out again. Arun and I started on the Ultrafit challenge today. Let's see how far we get before one of us quits.
The leftovers from last night's elaborate 4 course dinner were as tasty this evening as they were last night. It feels weird to eat all by myself, that's for sure.
The day started on an interesting note - I took the liberty of watching the end of Tuesday night's Veronica Mars episode because I woke up an hour too early (for my 10:30 meeting) this morning. The copious amount of food I had consumed last night needed some more time to be digested fully and the time spent on the couch watching the trial of Logan's dad unfold on screen was what the doctor ordered. I walked into WAR on time and though I didn't know this as I was driving, my day would be spent in meeting after meeting.
Natasha pinged me around 11:35 and suggested we catch up over lunch. We eventually ate at Chili's and here is an interesting fact - if you are vegetarian, there is only one entree that you can get at this chain of restaurants. This is utter bullshit if you ask me! I can't complain though since I ordered and devoured the Margarita Chicken entree - delicious it was. This is a new trend that started with dinner at Machiavelli's and hopefully, I will diversify my palette to include other meat. I am particularly interested in cultivating a taste for sea food...
Coffee while talking to Bambo and "The Friz" was highly entertaining, as were the next three hours of meetings that followed. It was the first time (and it was after 5pm) that I got to my office and stayed for more than ten minutes. I stayed till a little after 8 actually, at which point I couldn't take it anymore - it was time to stop slacking and start working out again. Arun and I started on the Ultrafit challenge today. Let's see how far we get before one of us quits.
The leftovers from last night's elaborate 4 course dinner were as tasty this evening as they were last night. It feels weird to eat all by myself, that's for sure.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
To Get Modied
Definition:
You Get Modied when a lady friend walks up to you and shakes your hand, when she could very easily have hugged you. This term mocks the act of shaking hands, it doesn't celebrate it.
Thanks to the original Mody who was the motivation for the coining of this neologism.
Usage:
Dude, you just got Modied!
You Get Modied when a lady friend walks up to you and shakes your hand, when she could very easily have hugged you. This term mocks the act of shaking hands, it doesn't celebrate it.
Thanks to the original Mody who was the motivation for the coining of this neologism.
Usage:
Dude, you just got Modied!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Enough of this lazy existence
I used to be totally on top of things. Of late though, I have become remiss, relaxed and started letting things slip. I don't care about most of the things that I've calmed down about but I hate the fact that I don't take care of my car as much as I'd like to. This ends now, the buck stops in May.
Starting this month, I'm going to get my car in shape - get regular oil changes, get it detailed regularly (if I have to do it myself, so be it) and be a good car owner. This is the second resolution of May - the first is to try the Ultrafit challenge. This is achievable in my opinion though so I'll do it. If you know me well, you know that you'll have to keep tabs on me but hopefully, I'll get things done right!
Starting this month, I'm going to get my car in shape - get regular oil changes, get it detailed regularly (if I have to do it myself, so be it) and be a good car owner. This is the second resolution of May - the first is to try the Ultrafit challenge. This is achievable in my opinion though so I'll do it. If you know me well, you know that you'll have to keep tabs on me but hopefully, I'll get things done right!
God Damn Lower Back
I had to clear out my storage space last night because the space is no longer on my lease. There wasn't too much in there to begin with - a few boxes, a microwave oven, a couple of suitcases and one tall box with some old knick-knacks. I think it is time that I threw stuff away - I haven't even looked at all this stuff in the last three years so clearly, I mustn't need it, correct?
I start moving the boxes out and all is going well till I pick up the tall box. It wasn't really that heavy but as I put it down, I knew I had messed up my lower back. Now my lower back isn't the strongest part of my body - I injured it a few years ago while playing squash (without stretching) and it has been my achilles' heel (or back) since. I got through moving all the boxes into the apartment last night but have been in a great deal of pain since. Nothing has helped - icy hot, moov, ice, steam, bed rest all have reduced the soreness but haven't taken it away. I am going to have to wait this one out...
This is very demoralizing because I just started on this great workout program. Now, I'm going to have to ease into my workouts again, which will take an entire week. Maybe this is my body's way of telling me, "You are old Manoj, all this intense working out isn't for you!" I don't believe the old part so once I become okay, I'll be sure to add core strengthening exercises to my daily workouts. This won't happen again.
I start moving the boxes out and all is going well till I pick up the tall box. It wasn't really that heavy but as I put it down, I knew I had messed up my lower back. Now my lower back isn't the strongest part of my body - I injured it a few years ago while playing squash (without stretching) and it has been my achilles' heel (or back) since. I got through moving all the boxes into the apartment last night but have been in a great deal of pain since. Nothing has helped - icy hot, moov, ice, steam, bed rest all have reduced the soreness but haven't taken it away. I am going to have to wait this one out...
This is very demoralizing because I just started on this great workout program. Now, I'm going to have to ease into my workouts again, which will take an entire week. Maybe this is my body's way of telling me, "You are old Manoj, all this intense working out isn't for you!" I don't believe the old part so once I become okay, I'll be sure to add core strengthening exercises to my daily workouts. This won't happen again.
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