Once upon a time....

You always want what you don't have, and don't want what you can easily have. But then again, chasing the challenging goals is so much more fun, isn't it?

W-O-W.. and that's all I have to say
FOR NOW.

Summer Classes for Men at
THE ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED
by Friday, August 27th 2008
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL
OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM

Class 1
How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays--Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM..

Class 2
The Toilet Paper Roll--Does It Change Itself?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3
Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub?--Group Practice.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor--Pictures and Explanatory Graphics..
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5
Dinner Dishes--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM

Class 6
Loss Of Identity--Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7
Learning How To Find Things--Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming.
Open Forum
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

Class 8
Health Watch--Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health
Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9
Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost--Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined

Class 10
Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.

Class 11
Learning to Live--Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.
Online Classes and role-playing
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined

Class 12
How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion
Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy--Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 14
The Stove/Oven--What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.

You know the funniest thing that I have been spreading in my household? I have been talking and thinking in the same vernacular style as the characters of religious TV soaps like Ramayana and Mahabharat. Yesterday when my dad was a little upset, I told him in a coy, obedient voice, "Kshama kare pitashri, kintu itna uttejit hona hamari parampara ke virrudh hai| Mujhe khed hai ki main aapki vyakulta ka karan bani huyi hoon, parantu aap mujhe apni bhool samajhane ka ek avsar to dete ", and all his anger melts away as everyone bursts out laughing. It is downright hilarious to have everyone at home talking this way. Good thing our neighbors don't understand a word of what we say, otherwise they'd think we're either insane or ancient :P

I take forever to update my blog, don't I? Well, what can I do - there are just so many things I can learn and do at work as a newcomer that I never have time or the isolation to blog, and once I am home, I do not feel like even touching my computer again. On the flip side, I have been reading books, watching religious epics, spending more time with family, trying to become healthier and figure out what I want from this life (and yet I hated philosophy in college, GO FIGURE).. Hence, my apologies to all my blog friends who stop by frequently and are not entertained by the exact same content that they saw ten days ago. I am going to have to use the same old cliched excuse of not having time to blog, but if you'd prefer, leave me a comment (if you haven't already) and I will be sure to inform you as soon as my next post is up!

Photo Courtesy of NBC

When the game started with Rogers and DalHausser against Araujo and Magalhaes, it seemed like the Brazilians were killing the US players. Every smash serve by Dalhausser initially was either blocked before it had it a chance to cross over the net and peek into the Brazilians' court or returned with equally violent fervor. This made rookie Olympain Dalhausser so nervous that he drove a few shots outside the court boundaries. Rogers and his teammate were not nimble enough to return the vehement and well-placed shots of their opponents. BUMMER! I was too sleepy at that point to finish watching this one-sided game, and I predicted that US had lost this gold medal. But, and that is a big BUT, this morning's news were pleasantly surprising. The game must have taken a turn right as I went to bed and U.S. eventually beat Brazil 2-1 to grab the gold medal! That's a good enough reason to be excited all day, isn't it?


P.S. this is an extract of my text written for a discussion board. Figured I would copy-paste it here since I haven't written anything in a while.


Photo Courtesy of National Geographic

Maybe I need to do my part before I expect anything from anyone else. Expectation without perspiration is always a cause of grief. Dang it! Just remembered to pay off a bill that's going to charge me $100 in late fees - purrfect ughh!!!

The Audichya Brahmins have a number of ‘Gotras’. The ‘Gotras’ are Vatsa, Bhargava, Dalabhya, Dron, Maunas, Gangayan, Sankratrutya, Sankruit, Panlastya, Mandakya, Shaunak, Bhardwaj, Kaudinya, Artio,Krushnatri, Swetatri, Chandratri, Gautam, Kutsas, Anfiras, Vashishtha, Upmanu, Udvah-Audvah, Parashas, Laugashi, Kashyap, Shandilya, Gabhil, Pipplad, Udalak, Audalals, Garga, Kaushik, and Hirnyagarbha. There are more than sixty different ‘ataks’ (Surnames) among the Audichaya Brahmans. These atak names which are used as surnames are based on their profession and field of proficiency. The most common among them are Dave, Pandya, Thaker, Upadhhyaya, Trivedi, Jani , Pandit, Acharya, Raval, Joshi etc. Earlier there were only 16 Surnames but in course of time the number went upto 60. The Brahmans who studied and taught the Vedas to other Brahmans were known as Acharya. The Brahmans who study and teach the Vedas in different regions come to be known as Upadhyayas are also referred to as Ozas, Pundits, Pathaks and Pandas. The Brahmans serving Rajput Kings at the marriages of princes and princesses were call Purohits irrespective of their original surnames. Brahmans residing in Panchal Pradesh were called ‘Pancholi’ while those who were well versed in Astrology are known as Joshis. Thakar Brahmans were those who gave up their original vocation to manage their villages. The Brahmans who possessed the knowledge of all the four Vedas were known as Chaturvedis, those who possessing the knowledge of three Vedas become Trivedis or Tripathis and those familier only with two Vedas are called Dwivedi and Dave. The Brahmans doing clerical work were called Mehtas and those who were experts in making preparations of Yagna were called Yagnik. The Brahmans possessing knowledge of the Vedas were called Vyas. One can understand that the community self perception of its status is on a pride in occupying the biggest position in the varna hierarchy.

Yes, we all do. I don't know if we have seven people in the world who can be our imposters, but there is definitely someone somewhere that can look just like you! Just look at the child model in this video. Everyone in my family who has seen this video says she looks like me when I was little. That makes me happy :P

People change. All the time. So do I. I know that is how it is supposed to be, and yet I want to restrict changes, hold on tightly to the past and go back to what I was like four-five years back. The ironies of life are confounding.

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

- 'Fire and Ice' by Robert Frost
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHAT is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?—

No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

- 'Leisure' by W. H. Davies
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I want to go set myself free in Europe for a bit to experience the life-style and culture there! I want to see how every single European goes on a vacation for three months of summer, and how the shops close down for siesta everywhere in Italy!

Ever had a unique idea that could potentially help you become an entrepreneur? Ever been happy to see that there weren't really any patents directly imposing upon your idea? Worked diligently at figuring out how your idea could be turned to reality, and been content that it seems feasible? Done all this and come to the realization that it
is going to need some help from elite people to become successful? Yes, that is a very frustrating BOTTLENECK because I have no higher up contacts whatsoever and because I have a job that takes away most of my time.

P.S. Don't laugh at me. Peace.

So many thoughts. Such little motivation to write. What's on my mind right now? This is: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7496725.stm ... makes me somewhat uncomfortable... Stupid countries that want to continue selling arms under the pretext of self-defense! Jerks?

Among other things, Narendra Modi is still being denied visas to visit US on charges that he has violated human rights by not taking any action during Gujarat's hindu-muslim riots. Super controversial topic. I was in the area when the riots happened after Godhra accident. I only know what I heard, read and saw on TV and I am in no position to pass any judgments. I hate to see or hear about genocides - it makes me bitter at everyone!

I never had a slice of bread,
Particularly large and wide,
That did not fall upon the floor,
And always on the buttered side.

How do I make a fresh pesto sauce?
The basic ingredients you will need are: fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, parmesan or pecorino cheese, salt and pepper. Put the basil leaves into a blender with the pine nuts and salt and pepper. Add the oil slowly while you are blending, until you create a creamy smooth paste. Dress the pasta with the pesto and serve with parmesan cheese if you wish. Yesterday I had pasta with pesto and I chopped some good quality black olives on it. You can use it on fish, and meat, whatever you want.

- Courtesy of Chef Gino D’Acampo, Italia.

Try not to laugh too hard if you are at work. Tell me what your favorite joke is from this whole act? Jeff Dunham is a superb ventriloquist!

I think that I might have just tipped over the balance towards the superficial and selfish side. Eww

I miss mugging GRE words. It's so cool to be equipped with that vocabulary. Like WOAH.





P.S. Randomness.

For good or bad, life moves on.

Sometimes I worry. Sometimes I laugh at myself for being an hyperchondriac. Sometimes I scold myself for not taking things seriously. Sometimes I wonder what the grand scheme of things is like? Sometimes I try to decide if coveted things really matter? Sometimes I wonder how one classifies the evil of 'Maya'... and then sometimes, I wonder if I would ever understand why an Almighty REALLY created this world???