FRIENDS

There is feeling of something missing. I think I know and therefore the Friends pic on the blog.

Looking back over a decade, and where I am now, I simply can't find my close pals aka best friends along with me...the gals who I always used to run to when I needed someone to talk to, those only from whom I take an advice, those on whom I used to depend without any sort of give-take pressures.

I can't believe it has happened, quietly though, days and months have passed since I have had my heart to heart talks with my close friends (I can count them on my fingers, but of course, a person needs only one and not too many). Where are those pals who you want to share your joy, happiness and life's best moments with. When have we started to become so materialistic that the very event that should give happiness seems so shallow and unreal.

Social networking has helped us to be in contact with numerous people who have passed through our life's journey but this has not helped to maintain the sanctity of old friendships. There used to be days in my teenage years where I used the pen and paper to write multiple page letters to my close friends (that helped me with my hobby of stamp collecting). It did change in a few years when I started using the email to send and receive instant notes. Wow it was a great feeling to be connected, almost real time. Then came the group mails and social networking - daily we find ourselves inundated with numerous messages and posts that we barely find the time to skim them over. Now I find myself guilty when I think about my close pals (I still hope they do not berate my for my tardiness) - I end up thinking twice before I send them a message or pick the phone to call them.

I am not sure if this is some mid life crisis that is causing me to be so emotional. I do not know....I just know that I miss my friends and I need them back as a constant part of my life. Best friends, parents, siblings and so on, in that order !!!

Miami Heat

Hey to all of you who really thought I might start spouting quotes and thoughts about the NBA championships and the teams with huge amounts of adrenaline in their bodies.

To be more precise about my title, it is just an after effect of my recent visit to Miami and its hot spots :). But it is true, the place has a steamy effect of a sauna room along with a muggy wind in mornings and soothing breeze in the evenings.

There have been numerous visits to all the main sightseeing places in US but to be frank, the Miami visit was the best of all. It is not about the number of tourist spots or anything - I just feel that we just let go of our daily stress and routine when we stepped on the flight to Fort Lauderdale. And that really helped us to take each day as it came. We did not have a set plan or itinerary. Just knew the cities we wanted to visit in South Florida and during the waking minute of each day, we would just pick up a place we would visit that day.

Near and dear friends :) said why plan five vacation days in Miami - what is in Miami!?! Now after coming back knowing that five days was not enough, I have a reply to all of them. Enjoy every moment of your life without stress. When under stress, stop for a minute, step back and think about a lovely moment in life. Then proceed to do what you were supposed to do, at that point you will feel refreshed and surprisingly lighter. You may even finish your task in hand without even fussing about it.

The vacation was a wonderful stress buster....had to lug my laptop around but happy that I did not use it for checking my office mails. Lets vote for a stress free world :)

Central Park

Central Park, the mecca of NY Bollywood, the home away from home of the Karan Johar gang :) These were my thoughts on the crisp breezy morning in November 2009 when I first stepped into the place the old timers' call New York's own backyard. I had a couple of who were excited and all the more prepared to zig zag across the different paths that lead to the hot spots in the park aka television filmed areas.

First was the visit to the Bethesda Fountain which has a rising statue of an Angel, that had become famous (at least to us Hindi movie gawkers) through the title song of Kal Ho Na Ho. Next we had a stop at the Cherry Hill Fountain that had been replicated in the introductory scene of the 90's hit comedy series, Friends.

To all those who would have loved the New York white Xmas scenes in Home Alone Part II will remember The Pond at which the cutsie Culkin boy had been scared away by the pigeon lady. It is a place where you can feel a sense of solitude. The wintry day had given away to the darkness that gave an even more stunning effect to the skaters in the Wollman Rink.

The visit was part of my first visit to the New York City, a place that still gives me a feeling of joy by simply being a part of it.

The next time I visited the Central Park was the summer of 2010 to do what every tourist tries to do here - biking. I cannot say that this is the best way to enjoy the park but it is a different experience. You tend to notice the different lanes as you lose your way and the different vantage points in the park as you try to manage covering the entire space on a bike with a camera hanging over your neck. During this visit, we managed to reach Jackie Onassis Reservoir which had a beautiful backdrop of the high rises that surrounds this park. It was also mentioned on a writing that this reservoir used to be the back up water supply of the entire city in the 1860's for two weeks a year. We can just speculate how meticulous things were then.

On the way, we stopped at the carousel and I eagerly got two passes for Rishabh and I to get on two of the 57 horses rounding the platform. I must admit is was as much fun as getting on the swings and slides (mind you - without a huge audience). I do have the few snaps taken then which I am sure to cherish for time to come.

Since it was a sunny day, we found loads of people in the Sheep's meadow enjoying time to themselves - playing Frisbee, catch, picnicking, flying kites and believe it or not sunbathing in a park too. I think after two winters in this part of US, I am able to appreciate the fact why North easterners rush to the outdoors when the temperature peaks anything beyond 75 degree.

Biking is a whole lot tiring than I first imagined. Which is why I had to zoom past the Strawberry Fields, not stopping to see the Garden of Peace symbolizing John Lennon's music.

As soon as we reached the entrance near the Columbus Circle, I bid a farewell but only after taking a few snaps at the Maine monument. There is always a next time and since it is getting to be a good weather now, in the coming weekends I need to dig up a me time and head down to the Wonder of New York.

Speed thrills ...... but

I was traveling on the NYC thruway (and I should say minding my own business), when all of a sudden I saw bikes flying past me. One thing I wondered at that point was 'Hey, where are your manners. How dare you behave this way on a road shared by millions'... Probably 15 minutes later, I was forced to drop a notch from the XX miles per hour...Uh oh, I had thought this would be a smooth ride to the city but well, it seemed that there was a huge pile up of traffic. I am sure every one can relate to what could have been going through the mind at that point ($@!!$!@).
Slowly but at a real snail pace, the cars were moving. I think we had to go 3 miles before I could make out the source of the mess. Immediately my mind went blank and then again in some time, the first thought that popped up was 'oh no' and then it became a mix of guilty feelings and sadness.
I could see a paramedic van and couple of police cars. The whole area was kind of shut off and cars were directed to move through two lanes. A green car stood with the back wheel over a bike. I do not think I need to explain the condition of both the vehicles. I had that gut feeling that this was the bike I had seen miles before. Now when I think about it, I wonder it could have been any bike that could have entered via the exits. But at that moment I could only berate myself for being so cruel - why did I have to be so critical about anyone's mistakes. I could have just uttered those words 'Lord, save him' and maybe he would have not met with this mishap.
Somehow, even though it was not as fast as I would have wished for, my car passed through the area and traffic started moving as before. Guess I could added one more line in the worry creases on my forehead - but the scenes were moving in and out of my mind - what if !
Reading about it makes it much easier but seeing something like this makes you feel nothing is worth it than the joy of being with loved ones. Also it made me realize how easily I tend to find fault with everything and everybody. A slip of a tongue, a shoot out of mouth - how it can backfire with no scope of regret.

Time flies....literally

I came into the world as a cuddly little one and now I have my own little one to cuddle, kiss, hug (also pinch, scream at - man, the social workers will be behind me now that the truth is out). Gosh all this makes me wonder about the miracle called life.
The past 10 years starting from the time I entered college, then graduated, got a job and then sped through in my career to where I am now....really guys,, time flies fast. The mind still has those memories fresh as if it happened just yesterday. Leaving the comfort of home, moving onto new horizons, I was a girl who just happened to be a tad complicated with hundreds of fears that she decided she cannot do a dissection of a roach, so she moved onto the world of computers. There were those days when you spend with the big books of engineering and then imagine what it would have been if you had chosen to enter the medicine field (our parents have set our brains in such a manner that you do not realize there is anything in life other than the title of Doctor or Engineer). Thanks to Erich Segal for "Doctors" which helped to boost confidence and be happy that you just need to read about THEIR load of work in books.
Fast forward to 2005 to my first job (actually I think it should be my third due to the fact that I did spend some months as a IT trainee and also a few months as a teacher - wow.......a backup profession) - big conference rooms, bigger lobby and the biggest team. Thankfully I had colleagues who took it upon themselves to become the gurus and guides which helped me to do better every year.
Just when I thought I might get into a rut...voila I came to US. Now I simply cannot count the days and minutes, everything just rushes past you..so many things to do and so less time!! I have been here for 4 seasons and still I have loads of things that I hope to experience. Actually being here has given me a new perspective over life. Whatever you do, wherever you go - if you have the spirit to enjoy what God has given you, then you would never be idle and depressed.
Thanks to my loved ones for pushing up my optimism needle to green.

Bheja Fry

Have you had one of those days where you are very sure that everyone out there are just focusing on how to get you to stumble...I for one, have always noticed it happens in a weekly basis and mainly on Mondays :(
The shower is running COLD, the milk takes time to boil, you are out of bread and eggs, husband rushing off for work and there is no one to iron clothes, kid wailing his head out - and in the middle of it all, you have people messaging you non stop. Some how you manage to get dressed for work, shut down the laptop and drop kid at his play school. Just when you think you are ready to drive to office, you realize that there is a meeting which is scheduled to start in exactly 10 minutes. Well, you know that you don't have a Batmobile and even if you did, you know that NYPD can spring unexpected surprises on the way - so you decide not to risk it.
You log in for the call and hey people have not yet joined - how miserable is that. Finally you finish off the meeting, head for office and then you see the parking lots close to the entrance full :( Ah well, not my day you say and park the car in the next village (that is what we call the parking areas in the further end) and walk down.
As soon as you settle down, it is time for lunch and then again back to back meetings - it would be a surprise if I can accomplish useful work in such days.
Again a love me hate me war between the developers, managers and clients - by the time that ends you would have exhausted the last drop if energy you had. Now to drive back home in that dreaded traffic ...... but well the thought of home sweet home energizes you. Little do you realize, better to phrase it this way, little do you remember that you have a list of unfinished business waiting for you..

Theme Parks Doppler Effect

I quit ..... This is not for me ... I simply quit ... No more dreams of being hard and strong, like a superman or batman (wonder why don't we females have our own super heroine characters), no more crying and cribbing, no more procrastination of the doom hours, minutes or seconds - I quit.
I know for sure one person who is bound to be happy by my claims - and that would be Vin, who has struggled to keep his mind sane with my insane worries, deep clawing nails and most of all my recent efforts to stop screaming using his right arm as a deterrent.
Adventure theme parks and their ridiculous high speed tall never ending roller coasters can be safe without my high pitch voice contributing to the wondrous noise pollution which they term as their thrill quotient measure. Bha to all that.
Whoever says this is a proof for me to accept my age, they can take a hike. I love my heart so much that I can't leave it on those tumultuous contraptions. Whichever is a way to keep my feet on firm ground - I will accept that challenge.
Maybe to showcase the no fear attitude, last Saturday, my hands picked out a pair of gorgeous pink roller blades. It fit my feet perfectly. I didn't have to pester Vin for his approval since he was behind me to agree on his selection of a new black shirt. Well, we both came out happy with our purchases. He immediately inaugurated his new find by wearing it to the weekend trip and I for one still have to find a companion who will come along for exploring my inborn talent of skating. So much for the self motivating pep talks...but hey - I for one, can DO IT.