To My Darling Sister

It has been almost two weeks since I wrote a post. Life is super duper busy with too many things going at a time. But today is very special. Its my little baby sis birthday. And miss her and the birthday party ;-) Well so I celebrate it my way. Here it goes ----

!! A very happy birthday to my dear darling baby sister !!

Hey sis - I wrote that in blue your fav color


It has been more than a year since I have seen her and I miss her a lot – my little baby sis..muahh! I am here, working in California and she is back in India, so a lot of distance to be travelled for a weekend trip :-)

She is only 4 yrs younger to me but has been pampered a lot…less by mom dad and more by me. Never mind, you deserve it. Love ya. There is not much we have in common except that we love each other a lot – Unconditional. And that is enough for a lifetime.


You are a river boat when am a thrill ride
You are the catch when am a strike
You are the eye when am the sight
You are love when am life


We fight and argue on our points
As we are two different souls and minds


You are my blood and equally stubborn
But at every intersection
The heart feels the connection
I cherish the journey when you do the destination
You settle for awards when I celebrate nomination


Nothing can set us apart forever
No matter we were born different altogether
Our love is enough for a life
You love life when I make it smile

If I Were...

I am tagged by Mitch on this "If I Were..." meme and its great fun to do it.....




If I were a month, I'd be October
If I were a day of the week, I'd be a Friday evening
If I were a time of day, I'd be evening
If I were a planet, I'd be Venus.
If I were an animal, I'd be a squirrel
If I were a direction, I'd be upside
If I were a piece of furniture, I'd be a Tiffany Lamp
If I were a liquid, I'd be a strong coffee
If I were a gemstone, I'd be a diamond
If I were a tree, I'd be a redwood
If I were a tool, I'd be a pen
If I were a flower, I'd be a big carnatians
If I were a kind of weather, I'd be a cool sunny day
If I were a musical instrument, I'd be a flute
If I were a color, I'd be orange
If I were an emotion, I'd be happiness
If I were a fruit, I'd be a mango
If I were a sound, I'd be the wind chimes chiming
If I were an element, I'd be the water
If I were a car, I'd be a Lexus
If I were a food, I'd be a anything Italian
If I were a place, I'd be the beach
If I were a material, I'd be a flexible
If I were a taste, I'd be salty
If I were a scent, I'd be citrus
If I were a body part, I'd be a heart
If I were a pair of shoes, I'd be a boots
If I were a facial expression, I'd be the smile

Thanks a lot Mitch!

As for the tagging part, I tag all my dear friends HERE and everyone who stops by and reads this post. Have fun!!

New Look! New Music! New Awards!

NOTE:  My first LONG post; courtesy Gnetch Awards. Let me know honestly if you managed to read it all

24 hrs of patient searching, googling, you tubing, RSS feed and blah blah blah……I finally gave my blog its first makeover..ta da!

I downloaded some 20 odd templates, tried then on and shucks! Just wasn’t getting it right. So the geek inside me knocked and I edited the html myself. M a software engineer afterall ;-) couldn’t stop tweaking around. And guess what yesterday was "Happy Geek Pride Day". I came to know of it reading another amazing blog from Eline @ RPG Called Life

Still a lot to do but here is its first look.

I was dead for almost the entire week and came back to life after reading some of my favs blogs. And she did it again :-) Yes Naughty Gnetch tagged me for A-W-A-R-D-S

Award 1.
A photo meme where I have to post the 8th picture from the 8th folder in My Pictures. So here it is.

Maymere Falls

This is when I was in Seattle. I and my hubby visited the Olympic National park, Washington. Seattle has been one of my best memories so far with regards to natural beauty. I am in love with the place.
  
Award 2.

Thanks Gnetch! I can be a brag now ;-)

7 facts about me 

• I am a human :-D
• I love music and can’t imagine myself without dance in my life
• I have only read two books in my life so far. The first one was enough to bowl me over and I failed to love reading. Though I did read Harry Potter
• The Hard Life by Charles Dickens
• Harry Potter series
• I am a chatterbox. Probably nothing new for being a girl. But when I am quite people around me know for sure I am not fine
• I am an independent person and responsible enough not to blame anyone for what happens in my life. Afterall it’s my life and I make my decisions. So why crib
• My first crush in high school was Leonardo Dicaprio. Yes Titanic. But I was crazy to an extent that I totally believed I was Rose in my last birth (I am rolling)
• I love making friends and am really good at it

Ain't it lovely when people let you talk about yourself :-p

A Bag Full of Goodies

It has been over a week since I wrote my next post. And I know how much I was missing blogging all these days. I was missing my mom on the Mothers’ Day as she is back in India. I spent most of the afternoon reading my bloggers friends’ posts. Some of them were touching, some happy, some sad. But they shared one thing in common – immense love and respect for moms. And as I was reading Mitch’s blog I found an award for me :-):-):-) The Master of Karate and Friendship Award!

Though I do not know Karate et’ all…hehehe

Thanks so much Mitch!

I love your blog and look forward to reading every next post. Glad I found you. Talking about that, friends please don’t miss reading Mitch’s latest post “My Heaven on Earth” – a beautiful post supporting a beautiful school organization.

And here is another one from Mitch again. She is amazing and truly deserves this award! This is my 4th award in two months and I am on cloud 9.

Following the rules of this award I need to pass it on to seven friends and write about 7 things about myself.

  

7 things about myself

• I am a positive person in love with life…no complaints
• I feel blessed to be have married the one I love
• I can’t imagine my life without dancing
• I love cooking
• I am opinionated and feel probably I should not be
• I am a chatterbox ;-) and make friends easily
• I am proud of my parents for shaping me up

 7 friends I would pass on this award

Eatomanic :) yummy blog with lots of vegeterian receips

Neeti -- my dear friend. we had lot of good times when she was in US. A recent blogger but doing a great job

Jennifer Marie - Her Blog brings a smile to my face everytime

Mary - a Hawaiian blog

Vivian L - a cool blog

Rihanaa - the style blog

Ria - The serious shiny blogger

Tiffany - a lovely stylish blog

Don't Talk To Aliens

"To my mathematical brain, the numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational. The real challenge is to work out what aliens might actually be like." – Stephen Hawking



For those who are not updated with this documentary, please refer to this article. The scientist and physicist said: “If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.”.


Stephen Hawking is a great scientist. Words from such great people do weigh in a lot and should be taken seriously. Many examples could be quoted where great discoveries were not taken seriously though became the pillars of modern science later. Even Galileo’s discovery was treated as a joke first. Many might not take Stephen Hawking’s words seriously but no one has seen the future.

He also said, “Do not expect them to look like Marilyn Monroe”. Hmm..I personally quite did not understand this part. Probably the number crunching mathematician did not get a chance to watch Hollywood alien movies. When did humans ever imagine extra terrestrials beautiful? Though I wish they did. As the only thing I thought while watching any alien movie was – “can the writer/director for once not portray them to be better looking?”

The curious human minds have made many amazing discoveries and someday if finding the extra terrestrials gets added to the list, I would not wonder. As if it can be earth why not any other planet!

But why do we humans always consider them ugly, non cooperative, violent and dangerous? For something which we do not even know if exists, is it not a rude thought? We have always considered them as enemies. And now the thought is supported by Hawking. But why?


Well probably because deep down we know how have we treated the other species on earth. Our greed has led to extinction of many species. Hundreds of other species are on either the edge of extinction or having tough survival issues. All this is due to the greed of mankind. The negativity is us makes us believe that this unexplored species would treat us the same way as we did others.

I personally believe if we start loving and respecting every form of life on our planet, we would probably search those out in universe with positivity. If we have brain, the others forms too are potential owners. They can not be mindless to hunt down us humans who are looking for them for knowledge, love and respect for various life forms.

Appreciation Matters

Here comes another award for me from my amazing friend Gnetch. And I love to show it off on my blog. Don’t forget to check her at Thank Goodness for Good Ones. I just love her blog spirit. I have read her latest blog thrice so far and it brings a smile on my face.

Thanks Gnetch.

This is my second award and it feels great to receive it. Appreciation Matters! Keeping that in mind I pass it on to my other great blogger friends –

Ratz - What Can I Say : ur posts about sister is what I really loved. Great writing.
Aly -   My Solace : amazing music with her posts
Ria -   Serious Stuff About Life...ooo Shiny thoughtful blog
Mitch - Upside Down  great blog
Tiffany - Stylish ChatterBoxing the name says it all
Kinsey - I dont know why

That's How Things Are Done Around Here .....

Today I want to share a story with you all.

5 monkeys were placed in a cage with a ladder in between. On top the ladder were kept some bananas. Every time a monkey went up the ladder, a cold shower was turned to soak the other monkeys. After a while, any monkey that went up the ladder was beaten by other monkeys. After some time no monkey dared to go up the ladder regardless of the temptation.

Now, one of the monkey was substituted. The new monkey tried to go up the ladder and the other monkeys started beating him. After several beatings, the new member learned not to climb up without knowing why.

A 2nd monkey was substituted and when this new member tried to climb up, the 1st substituted monkey participated in its beating. The 3^rd monkey was substituted and the same got repeated ; beating and both 1^st and 2^nd monkey participated. Slowly all 5 monkeys were replaced. So this new group of monkeys even though never soaked in cold shower, continued to beat up any monkey who tried to climb up the ladder.

When asked why did they beat any monkey who tried to go up the ladder to grab a banana. They said

“I DON'T KNOW – THAT'S HOW THINGS ARE DONE AROUND HERE”

Does this sound familiar?

There are many who ask themselves why we continue doing what we are doing if there is a different way out there. And more who don't.

Next time exploit the power of reasoning human are blessed with.

“Two things are infinite: Universe and human stupidity. And I am not so sure about the former” - Albert Einstein

!! Tagged Tuesday !!

Between loads and loads of work and numerous meetings, I opened up my personal mail and saw a blog update from Janjan. I had like 10 min between my meetings and decided to have my lunch reading her blog and it brought a smile on my face :-)

I got tagged! Yeyyyy! 






Thanks much Janjan. It really made my day.


Janjan is my new friend through Google friend connector and a 20sb member. I haven’t met her yet but her comments encourage me writing and loving the entire idea about blogging. Now c’mon who on earth doesn’t get inspired being appreciated.


As I have recently become active on 20sb, I first wasn’t sure why she had put my name in her post. But just seeing my name made me so excited that cheating on the meeting I started finding links to understand what does “Tagged” means…hehehe. I just want to make sure I don’t ever share my blog with my boss ;-)

Navigating I reached to Gnetch blog, which no doubt is in my fav list, to understand what does tagging and getting an award means. To find the rules click here


Rule 1: Thanks again Janjan. You are awesome:-)

Rule 2: List the things that make me happy

• Getting back home everyday in the evening after work to a lovely husband -->
• I was in a travelling job earlier and used to get back home only on weekends. Seriously, I used to hate going back to my hotel room after work. Call me home-sick.
• Cooking -->
• I work long hrs and the only stress reliever for me is cooking.
• Shopping -->
• For some reason I am never have the right dress for any occasion. I buy a new every time. Even if the occasion are on the same weekend ..lol
• When someone leaves me a comment -->
• Feedback plays a key role in keeping things going well.
• Seeing my blog followers list grow -->
• It gives me a feeling people like reading me and I should not disappoint them.
• Music -->
• Music is the food of my life.
• My friend Jaya -->
• We commute together to work everyday. I met her early 2008. Have been together since then. She is an amazing personality. Very talented, down to earth and the go-to person. Thanks for being such a good friend Jaya.
• My work -->
• My work is my passion. I cant remember when did I took a day off as probably never felt the need. I love my job.

Well I am happy soul. I make my own choices and hold myself responsible for results. So I have no complaints from life. So this list could be never ending. Before it eats up my writing space, I better switch to the last rule.


Rule 3 : Hey friends, I tag you all -:

• Audacious Tori
• Working Girl Two
• Megan K

Is Sharing So Difficult

A co-worker ready to roll off was asked to conduct some knowledge sharing sessions for the entire team in the last week. In the very first meeting, he said – “I did not sign up for this.”

Feeling off board for few minutes, the colleagues asked the reason and he said – “I do not feel comfortable sharing my knowledge. Its mine.” That said he hung up the call.

Is sharing that difficult? Is knowledge limited to an individual?

Our minds capabilities are immeasurable. However, if we exhaust all our energy keeping it close and safe from opening up for others, it would be rusted. School always taught us - Sharing knowledge helps gain more and learning is a life long process. Is it so easy to forget all good things we learned as we grow up?

The one thing that took me aback in this story was the thought of an individual having absolute knowledge. I tried to get into his shoes and understand the perspective, but unfortunately could not. Calling the knowledge “mine” sounds quite disappointing and insecure. No knowledge is absolute. Its all relative. Sharing it doesn't take it away from you. And there is always to learn something in return.

So there are three kinds of givers -- the flint, the sponge and the honeycomb. To get anything out of a flint you must hammer it. And then you get only chips and sparks. To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you use pressure, the more you will get. But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness. Which kind of giver would you want to be?

Breaks

The weight of some words change in no time. It seems it was yesterday when she and her gal friends made plans to hang out and have fun during summer breaks. Winter breaks and X-mas fun was ever awaited with every year. It’s hard to forget the college semester breaks. Loaded with fun and fuss. These memories are so sweet and afresh, seems like it was yesterday. Relishing old memories and I get two calls -


Call 1: I am devastated. I broke up with him.
Call 2: I was breaking off on the interview call. They got frustrated and ended my interview. I lost the job


Two different kinds of breaks and both left my friends morose.

And that’s when I realized how good were times back when breaks brought a smile over what break does today to grown ups.

Summer breaks, Winter breaks, Semester breaks v/s Break ups and Break off