My Blog

Road Trip - 3

2009-07-20T10:40:00.001+05:30

I wonder how many people know all or atleast a majority of the people/friends who voted for them.

I am glad I am one of them. So what if I didn't get thousands of votes, I did get them from the people who matter :)))

Road Trip - 2

2009-07-10T14:46:00.002+05:30

A note to say thank you... & Getting back in touch with sooooo many friends...

In continuation to my previous blog... below is the link to vote for us... but before that... i just want to thank everyone for their support. It was just great to see such a overwhelming response :)))

http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/application/1246966010452376/

It was just great to see soooooo many responses, so many people were interested in what the contest was all about. I got in touch with sooo many people over chat whom I hadn't spoken in a long time. I am glad I got to do that.

I moved from Pune to Mumbai about a year and a half back. I got in touch with some of friends from Pune.
Its just that sometime's there is really nothing exiting/new to get talking into. It all the more difficult when u dont meet someone over a regular period of time. Its a different story altogether when you are in front of a person. There are so many of my friends/cousins/colleagues whom i dont meet/talk regularly, but when we meet... it seems as if there never was a break..

Coming back to chatting... at times even if u are enthu about chatting... the other person may/may not be at the same level of enthusiasm. Quite a few people have this thing at the back of their mind that ... we haven't spoken in such a long time... is it worth getting back in touch... what if the person doesn't want to talk... Luckily for me I kept those things aside and just pinged my friends and colleagues and the response I got was awesome !!!!!!! It was really nice to just chat to someone you knew ... even if it was after a really loooong time :)))

I thing everyone should have something or the other to look forward to. When things/life gets monotonous... take a break... do something u always wanted to do... take a small trip... write a book review/movie review ... anything which is not routine... i am sure u will enjoy it... I know I do... and trust me it works wonders.

I guess... things like blogging, chatting, orkuting, forwarding mails... are just ways to staying in touch... letting the other person know... I haven't forgotton u :)
The world is getting smaller by the minute... u never know when you bump into an old friend... staying in touch in whatever manner possible... will always keep you in touch with your loved ones :)))

A Road Trip

2009-07-08T12:34:00.003+05:30

Am back... for a Road Trip... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After a long time I return to something i used to do quite regularly... blogging. The reason for the long absence... no net connection at home and busy managing a home and working side by side.

To cut a long story short... my husband and I have applied to be part of a contest which lets us go on a road trip of our choice and a part of that application process, I need to let more and more people know about there contest.

Here is the link to the contest:
http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/

Our application is under review... so I guess you might not be able to see us on their home page as of now.
As soon as their review is done... I will update you about the link... where you can leave your comments, vote for us and wish us the best of luck.

On a personal note... i guess i needed the drive to start blogging again. I am glad it has finally happened and i hope to get back to regular blogging soon... till next time... check out the site and take care :)))

An eternal solution - TIME :)

2007-05-09T11:08:00.000+05:30

I am sure this sounds really fundooooo and highly philosophical.. but trust me this is the reality.. and i think it is true.

All problems which do not have a visible practical solution.. has its final solution as TIME :)

Again.. not that i have had too many experiences in life.. but whatever I have.. have taught me.. yess the solution at a lot of times is just time. To give a few examples, any relationship which matures, breaks, dwindles.. eventually matures more with time. I have had the privilege of having one of the other relationship changes with time in each of the above categories :))) Also... I think of these and privileges today... but yesterday they were probably just bad experiences and even today I feel some of them could have just been avoided and maybe i didn't want to learn the lesson I learnt the hard way :)))

Okie.. enough of philosophy.. the reason why i did choose to write on this today was that i had a concern about something in office.. which did bother me to some extend and i took it up.. i did get want I wanted.. a patient ear to my concerns. But at the end of the entire episode.. I did get one more lesson to learn.. things which have happened in the very recent past don’t always leave u.. nor will they continue to bother u.. its just that since we all humans.. even if we say we don’t remember things .. we do.. and when we say what has happened has happened lets look ahead, we invariably end up thinking about thing in the recent past... putting 2 and 2 together which is not really called for .. coz at the end of the day...
whatever happened has happened... it is going to remain.. and with only time things will change. It just a matter of how much time things take and how much patience you show for things to fall back into place :)

okie... i think this qualifies as one of the most fundoo blogs i have written.. something with a much deeper meaning. It might not be possible for everyone to maybe really understand this as the context might not be clear ... but for me.. this means the following 2 things:

1. Whatever happens... happens for the good & hence...
2. Waqt se pehle aur taqdeer se zaada na kabhi kisi ko kuch mila hai ... aur na milega :)))

Have fun and ENJOY !!!

Wedding of the Season

2007-05-07T13:14:00.000+05:30

Abhi Ash Wedding.. If u have not had enough already.. here is more :)

The day these guys were getting married, I got a call from my brother.. seeing his call early in the morning was a surprise in itself, I answered the call thinking this has to be serious stuff... my bro is calling me in the morning... to add to my surprise he says 'Jaldi TV on kar.. and see the breaking news'.
Here I am thinking as to what on earth has happened.. am running from one room to the other.. shouting.. dad .. where's the remote... there is some breaking news on TV.. and when I get to the desired NEWS channel.. this is what I hear...

'Some gal claims that Abhishek had promised to marry her.. she is heartbroken.. bla bla blaaaaaaah and there are atleast 50 camera men trying to record that'

It was one of the most hilarious and at the same time ridiculous 'Breaking News' I have ever heard in my life.This was a small thing in the news the day of the wedding.

After that day also I have heard/read a zillion things.. and there seems to be no end to that. I just heard some more news on their wedding. Boyy.. it must be tough to be a star :)

Here is my list of top 3 winning ridiculous things I have heard over the past few weeks:

1. Abhishek jiss ghodi pe baetha tha.. ussa naam 'Chandini tha'... and our dear Radio Mirchi had this entire day long contest as to what the ghodi 'Chandini' was going through. One the best answers for the day being... 'agar me chandini hota.. to mai abhishek to kahi door jaake phaekta and khud ash se shaadi karta'... wah wah

2. Shaadi ke ladooo kiss kiss ko mila ya nahi mile... isski wajah se kisske dosti me daraar aayi aur kiske nahi. The top runners for this include Rajesh Khanna, Shatrugan Sinha and Rakesh Roshan.If you think that's all... surprise.. there was news some time back (BREAKING NEWS) that the 'shaadi ki sweets' were sweet indeed... meaning they weren't sour ;)

3. News about where Salman and Vivek were.. how they spent their time .. falana falana.The best was a forward - i wonder who wrote that... bade aaram se likha hai.. here it is

What will be the Ukhana by Aish in her shadi ????????????????

Shagun chya mithai la chandi cha cover,Abhishekrao che naav ghete me Salman chi Lover ……… :)

I was thinking whether I should write that or not.. fhir soocha.. forward hai.. lets take it in that spirit :)

Here's wishing Abhi - Ash a very very happy married life :)))

Guys..Happy Reading/Viewing... if u still want more.. here it is.. ENJOY :)

<<http://puranijeansaurguitar.blogspot.com/2007/04/thank-god-it-is-over.html>>

PS: I am sorry if this one had too much to Hindi/Marathi... let me know if you want me to translate that :)

Sound of Music

2007-04-21T07:35:00.000+05:30

If you have not guessed.. well this one of my all time fav english movies.

I am sure I have seen it for more than 20 times if not less.. can sit again and again to see the movie. I one of my dream destinations for travelling ... were the locations where this movie was filmed. The moment I was in Europe.. I knew my trip would be incomplete if I didn't go to Salzburg.

Finally, the day came.. when we drove down to Salzburg from Stuttgart. Both Rohini and me are biiiiig fans of this movie. We knew that we came to Salzburg only for this. It was very sporting on behalf of Nagraj to come with us on the tour of 'Sound of Music'. The ticket was a good 30 Euros... quite an amount for sightseeing. But since Nagraj agree, we were all set to roll. The pick up vehicle which came had just the 5 of us and an British couple, both me and Rohini were thinking for a minute.. ok.. looks like we are the only jerks who have come all the way here to go on a 'Sound of Music' ka Music tour. Luckily for us.. we weren't the only crazy fans.. there were literally truck loads of people at the starting point who had come for this musical tour.

This pic you see here is of the Gazebo where the song 'I am 16 going on 17' was shot.

As a matter of fact, 60% of tourism in Salzburg is thanks to movie fans like us.
Salzburg being the birthplace of Mozart, the movie 'Sound of Music' never drew a huge crowd when it was released. Most of the local people have not even heard of this movie even though it draws about thousand of people to this lovely town.

I was going through a photo albumn sent by one of my friends who visited Salzburg. My reactions and memories of that place are all linked to the movie. I guess that is what it means when you say 'Its a matter of perceptions'... For me, the Sound of Music Bridge will remain the Sound of Music bridge and not 'Mozart Bridge', Mirabell Gardens, the place where 'Do - Re - Me...' was filmed and so on :)))

Here are a few more details in case u are interested - ENJOY READING !!!AND DO SEE THE MOVIE IF U HAVEN'T :)))

Leopoldskron Palace - used as the von Trapp family home, the children were boating on the Leopoldskron Lake and fell into the water. The Venetian room was copied from the castle and used as the ballroom.
Nonnberg Abbey - the oldest convent in the German speaking part of Europe. Maria was a novice there. The baron and Maria were married here in 1927.
St. Gilgen and Lake Wolfgang - the beginning of the movie was filmed at Lake Fuschl on the way to St Gilgen. Like the Mozart family, visitors from all over the world appreciate the beautiful village in the Salzkammergut.
Wedding Church Mondsee - here, the film-wedding between Julie Andrews as Maria and Christopher Plummer as the Baron took place.

Constant Things in Life !!!

2007-04-14T07:30:00.000+05:30

Finally a small post... I hope :)

3 constant things in life (According to Stephen R Covey)
1. Change
2. Your Values
3. Your Choices

I dont think I can disagree with this. All experiences in life so far (dont want to sound like a person with toooo many experiences in life)... this has been true for me :)

Was just replying to one of the blogs written by my friend Balaji.. when I thought I might as well post this thought.

Thank u all for writing comments for my previous blog... it definately helps and u feel like writing more and more... not becoz someone will read.. but becoz u like the idea that someone read it and choose to mention abt it. Will reply to most of u in an email.

Enjoy reading.. and keep posting comments :)

Aji

2007-04-06T07:21:00.000+05:30

Aji means grandmother in Marathi Language।

My grannie passed away last to last sunday... so since then I have been thinking of writing a blog on her।

Dont worry I don't intent to make this into a serious blog as the previous line might sound :)Death although is a not very pleasant thing to think about but at the same time it should be taken as a time of remembrance.
My earliest memomies of my Aji are that of her being a strict lady who insisted on things like studying, dressing up well and then of a person who would keep telling us things about life॥ her experiences and the right things to be done by वन

My grannie retired as a headmistress and has literally been the backbone of the family ever since he lost her husband very early in life। I have been very fortunate to have spent a great amount of quality time with her. To me she was one hell of a woman who had very very strong principles in life... very clear about what she wanted to do and what not.

To give an example... when I was just going through the stuff which was left behind॥ i saw a bunch of papers which looked quite familiar, they were the follow up papers for a complaint she had logged in the Consumer Court against a agency which did not refund the amount due to her।।

Here is the background... when she was getting old॥ but still going strong... she decided to move to a old age home.. not because she didn't want to stay with any one of us.. but because she thought it was time for her to move on and spend time with people of her agegroup... or just some time alone। Being the lady she was.. we all agreed to let her stay where she desired.

She was a extremely health consious person॥ so she would take the filtered Bisleri water you get now a days rather than the tap water given there। She had a small room to herself where we would keep 2-3 such huge water bottles (each with a capacity of 15-20 litres). To get these bottles she had to pay a deposit of Rs 500-800, which would be returned once the bottles are returned for good. When the time came for her to leave the old age home becoz of the her health, she insisted she get the deposit back from these guys from where we had got the bottles. The guy in this company said that since the bottle we returned did not have the stamp they had when they had given the bottles, they were not in a position to return the deposit. Now in India, it very common that you take such bottles from one shop and get they refilled from the other if the need arises. She was correct in the sense that the deposit should have been returned to her and that this condition was not told to her initially.

We went there a couple of times and were denied the refund। Now an amount of Rs 500 was not a biiig amount which my grannie cudn't afford... but for her it was a question of being right. She wrote and sent 3 registered letters to this company. On not hearing from them, she made sure we lodged a complaint in the consumer court. The consumer court is in the heart of pune city॥ somewhere on lakshmi road.. and we were staying in Pashan then. We told her that in the process of going to the court every now and then we would spending more than the money which was due to her. She refused to listen to this logic of ours and would literally do an emotional blackmail if we showed her any inclination of not being interested in doing this.

I think we did follow it for some time॥ till aji was in good health and she was reminding us of this... but then later didn't really pursue it।The first thought that came to me after seeing those papers were.. yess i am gonna continue with my fight/struggle for getting justice abt a matter which I have at work. I'll write abt it in detail maybe/maybe not later... but i am convinced that whether or not I get the justice which i think is fair.. i will atleast make an effort to fight for my reasons :)))

The more I think of my grannie... the more I seem to realize that I am also like her in a lots of ways। Both by grannie's for that matter have/had very modern thoughts... something you find difficult in India. At times I have seen/heard them rebuke a custom saying it has no logic what so ever... and I have had to think... ok I was doing this coz i thought this was expected of me॥ but it really isn't required if they can think the way they do.

Today it happen's to be the 13th day after my grannie passed away॥ she did not believe in any of the so called customs which are followed generally in India once a person passes away... her idea of us remembering her was ... if u all get together ... go out for a picnic have fun। She was a lady who didn't really believe in god.. but never forced her belief on any of her sons/Daughter in law's or even grandchildren for that matter. When we started having Ganapati at home.. her enthu would be amongst the highest. For her it was something which her loved one's wanted to do... and a great occasion for everyone to just get together once a year.

I think i can just keep writing and writing about her and all the good times I have shared with her.. but I think this blog is also becoming a lengthy one... so will try to conclude.. I think there is nothing more to say then.. I luv u Aji and hope to live up to all the things u have told me ... I have always loved ur company... listened to a zillion of your views... some which didn't make sense.. and do now.. some which I am yet to experience in life... and yes.. I'll remember the things you have told me...'mahatva cha tujhe kaama var neet laksha daeen' ;)))

Ideal First Date...

2007-03-19T17:46:00.000+05:30

The blog I promised to write ... 'The Ideal Date'

I haven't really written about my views on marriage... love/arranged ... which is better, which one should one opt for etc etc। I feel everyone including me is an expert on the topic of marriage and certainly have very strong opinions about the same।

'The Ideal Date' would be a good title for some one who is single... ready to mingle and who doesn't mind going ahead with dating someone on the basis of the experience of the sooo called First Date। For now I am also gonna include the so called 'meeting' in/for a arranged marriage also under the 'date' category। Reason being... well i guess they are equally exciting and are good fun... u get to meet an individual + the guys also pays for the lovely breakfast/lunch/dinner u have... Trust me, an ideal date for me has to be in the evening... and not b'fast and lunches... but with time problems... and people taking out times during b'fast and lunches isn't eventually that bad an idea :)

ok... things for a ideal date:

Venue and time:Evening and some place with a nice ambience। I like Mumbai Blues for some reason for that... But having said this the best times I have spent with some of my very good friends have been at the places with what u wud call the worst of places to meet They are not exactly dates to begin with ... but it's just meeting up As some of u might know the mumbai॥ In case you decide to meet a friend who stays at VT and you are Andheri at work... just think of the best place to meet... i think it wud be Andheri station (Right outside/inside McDonald's)। It takes close to an hour to reach from office (which is also in Andheri) to the station and another hour for both people to reach thier respective destincations.

Clothes:People should dress well ideally... but what the heck॥ come in clothes in which u are .. Am not saying this just for the heck of saying this.. maybe not applicable entirely for a first date.. but eventually.. dressing up matters.. if u want it to.. nahi to ... it really doesn't :)

Conversation topics:Again all of us are experts... we have our fav topics and preconcieved notions about how to evaluate a guy/gal based on certain feedback/opinions u get/dont get. According to me.. jo mann me aaya bolo.. there is nothing as things which shud or shud not be spoken... topics will come as the conversation flows. It wudn't be too difficult to talk if u do happen to get along well with someone u are meeting.. even if it is the first time.
I will write my next blog on.... questions people ask॥ the replies they expect and a whole lot of confusion just because of the same :)

I guess this is all what comes to my mind instantaneously... so here is summary of my views .... u are going to meet a new .... so it is going to be a gr888 experience one way or the other ;)
soooooooo Have fun & ENJOY !!!

Ammmmmmm Back ...... with Nehudi

2007-03-08T06:04:00.000+05:30

Helloooooooooo........... this is how I would start on a looooooooooooooong mail after a reasonably long time... so i guess I can start on the same note :)

Feels goood to be blogging again... i knew i had stopped for a while in between and know that am back to blogging again. One of the reasons for me not blogging a while ago was the immediate effect of reading a blog... as to why people should blog... how much of personal info is a blogger willing to let go. I read the blog and also ended up deleting a few of my blogs which i thought were too personal in the first place. Then I spoke to Balaji (My friend on whose blog i got the link abt blogging)... and he told me that 'Pooja blogging is a completely personal choice, with whatever content you wish u have' and that u do get a hang of what u wanna write in due course of time.

I also happened to speak to my cousin Shruti last week... after going through her blogs... we both concluded that for the moment it seemed next to impossible for us to write about stuff which didn't involve people or real life incidents. Now I feel that maybe I can start writing imaginary/fiction stuff... but that it is gonna be in a different league ... and it is something to be experimented with :)

I know what my next blog is gonna be ... 'An ideal date....', so watch out this space for more ;)

I always knew that I would get back to blogging... it was just a matter of timing... and come to think of it yesterday was an auspicious day for me to start writing my blog... it was my friend Deepti & Cva's birthday... an easy date to remember :)
I wrote this entire blog yesterday... but thanks to some problem on the laptop with saving notepad files... i had to retype the whole thing :(
come to think of it... i am yet to start on the actual blog ;)

so here is the second part of the blog... without further adue :)

Nehudi.... well what i call my dearest darling pyaar se :) My cousin Neha.
She has just moved to Australia for her higher studies and I miss her a lot. We luckily still get to chat a lot... so still feels as if she is here only :)

I was going through some pics of her... and saw this pic... and rembered that I had promised her that i wud write about this on my blog. so here is a small background as to under what circumstances this cute pic was taken :)

It was during Ganapati last year that amod, saurabh (her younger brother n younger cousin resp), RADA (her adorable friend), neha and i had gone for a small drive around the society where she stays. Madam had just had finished eating a 5-star chocolate and then she just casually threw the wrapper out of the car. Now being the elder sister who loves to lecture her... i sunaoooed her for littering in public... his sporting gal not only stopped the car... but went back and searched and picked up the piece of wrapper she had thrown. This picture is the proof that she did pick it up :)

I am not sure how any one else would have taken this, me giving a lecture in front of her younger brothers and friend... but Neha was at her sporting best... and also promised not to litter in public again. 3 cheers for neha... Hip Hip Hoooooray Hip Hip HooooorayHip Hip Hoooooooooooooray !!!

I hope u enjoyed this as much as I did... typing the same contents thrice before actually posting it :)
I also hope that people reading this blog take a concious effort against public littering... then whether it be the US of A or India :)))
JAI HIND !!!

2 Poems...

2006-11-10T21:18:00.000+05:30

Have been thinking of putting up this poem on mz site for a long time... since the time I read it in the book titled 'Rich Dad Poor Dad'. I thought i would finish the book soon... but for some reason I continue to be a slow reader.. so i thought i might as well put it on the site...

Here is the famous poem by Robert Frost...

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Since I hadn't written for quite some time... i thought i'd aleast put this poem..
I was then thinking of some other peoms on the same theme.. and the first thing that struck me was 'If'...
This is something u can read anytime... and draw inspiration :)

ENJOY !!!

IF...

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

RTI (Right to Information Act)

2006-10-25T18:35:00.000+05:30

This is something I had thought of writing some time back, something which was always at the back of my mind. The other day I got a forward about RTI and decided it was high time i wrote about this.

In simple words, every person has a right to know things or has right to information. This means you could find out as to why a company XYZ got a public tender, why do our roads have so many pot holes.. is any work being done on those.. whose is doing that and as to how much time will it take for it to be completed.
U think of what u could need information... and guess what... it might not be too difficult to get it too :)

I consider myself fortunate enough to meet people like Mr Shailesh Gandhi. He is the reason as to why i am writing about RTI today. We had a presentation by Mr Gandhi given to us in our office. It was an amazing session and u have to listen to him talk about RTI, get motivated and then motivate others too.

I had gone through some reading material on RTI which was distributed during the presentation. It was probably the easiest material to comprehend consider the subject RTI.
I was trying to search for the same material online and stumpled over quite a few interesting articles.

This is the one link which says it all
Right to Information

and here is something about Mr Shailesh Gandhi which was featured in The Times of India

'Shailesh Gandhi insists that one need not pay bribe in this country to get information. His reason: It is easily available through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which is a legally-enforceable citizens right to acquire information about government and semi-government bodies and their functioning.

An IIT-Powai graduate, this 59-yearold is so driven about the RTI Act that he sold his successful business to devote himself fully to it.'

As a common man, it might seem that getting some information might be beyond our reach. This is exactly the mindset we need to change :)))
If I remember correctly what was told in that presentation was that the cost of filing an RTI was just 10 Rs. The concerned person/department in turn has to reply to the RTI in a months time, if they fail to do so the goverment puts a fine on them.

I have at times complaint to the police about rickshaws who charge me 1 and a 1/2 times the meter even during broad daylight. The reason why I write this is coz... at every junction .. u have two choices.. either u are ok with whatever is happening or u decide to change the way things take place. This might not be a very relevant example... but I do that if every educated individual raised an RTI... about the things they dont follow or disagree.. we are looking at a much better governance and society to stay in :)))

JAI HIND !!!

Hooked to the phone and the net...

2006-10-25T10:56:00.000+05:30

At times u dont realize the importance of things till they no longer exist or u have to struggle to get them. This could be taken in a more philosophical way tooo.. but right now i am just talking about me realizing as to how much i am hooked onto the net and the phone.

Net... has ofcourse been just off late. There is a constant temptation to be online... see if any one has sent me an email, check if anyone is online..chat and do general net surfing.

Phone ... where do i start...i think talking on the phone apart from being one of my hobbies... is some thing i can't imagine living without :)

I luv talking on the phone.. if talking in person is not possible. If i feel like talking to someone.. I have to call that person, then it doesn't matter if the person is in the same city, country or even continent. I have seen myself get restless if i can't talk to people i wanted to at the given point of time :)

I wanted to call my maushi for diwali and since i cudn't get through her number on sunday... i was just dying to talk to her. So when I called home last night, she was the only person I really wanted to talk to. I was just soooo happy to hear her voice :))) The thing is there is no reason behind this.. its just something i feel i need to do at that point of time.

There are a lot of people i wish I cud have called for diwali.. but since it was not possible for some reason... i wasn't feeling that bad about it.

Staying in touch with people is soooo soooo important and phone and net are just means to do it. Phonecalls are like a lifeline for me :) As much as I luv calling people and recieving calls.. I hate it when I miss phone calls. Over here, its even worse... if u miss a call... all the info u have is that someone had called and it goes to ur voice mail. I haven't learnt german enough to understand how to retrieve voice messages.. so then it's all a guess work as to who would have called and hoping the person who called would call again :)

I was wanting to write yesterday about me liking to chat more of late, but then since I got a message in the morning reminding me that I need to call someone.. I though about writing about this instead.

Marathon for a cause :)))

2006-10-20T14:24:00.000+05:30

Helllooooooooooooo ....... Before I start writing.. here's wishing all of u a very happy and prosperous Diwali !!!

Before I start on the marathon thingie.. something about AID (Association of India's Development) ... my friend Matin mentioned it in a comment in one of my previous blogs... well I didn't forget about AID... I just didn't mention it as I haven't got the oppurtunity to work for AID. Infact one of the first sessions I attened as a part of ASHA was a lecture given by one of the founder members of AID.

Here is the link
http://www.aidindia.org

Come to think of it was Rohit and I who had gone for that session last year. That's about when both of us got involved with ASHA. We had ran the Seattle half marathon last year to raise funds for ASHA.

Since I am not running the marathon this year for ASHA the least I can do is ask people to sponsor my friend's run. Quite a few of my friend's from last year are running the marathon this year.

Here is the something.. i picked up from the mail my friend has sent to me ...
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I would encourage you to make a donation in whatever capacity you're able. Anything from $1 to $200 would cause waves of change in a child's life. The proceeds of my run will be distributed among following three projects:

Shikshana Vahini (KARNATAKA)
Shikshana Vahini
Rural Development Trust (TAMIL NADU)
Rural Development Trust
Bhoomi Heen Sewa Samithi (UTTAR PRADESH)
Bhoomi Heen Sewa Samithi

If you are able to make a donation, please click on the following link:

http://www.ashanet.org/seattle/events/marathon/profile_head.php?rohit
(click on the Donate button on bottom right corner)

If you're not able, but know of someone who can, please forward on this message to them!
--------------

I guess that's all for now...

If u guys are interested in reading more stuff... here is what i wrote on the site last year when i was to run the marathon for ASHA ... ENJOY !!!

http://www.ashanet.org/seattle/events/2005/marathon-2005/runners/poojat.php

My Europe Plans !!!

2006-09-27T20:30:00.000+05:30

This was gonna be the last of the blogs I promised to write.. but sitting here in office... that's the only thing which comes to my mind.

To begin with .. I reached Stuttgart, Germany on Sat. I have come here on a project. My dates and travel plans were finalized at the last moment.. that's why I cudn't tell a lot of people as to when I would be travelling.

I had a nice flight... SLEPT thru the entire route.

I landed in Stuttgart and checked my mail for the hotel accomodation which was done for me. I thought of taking a cab till the hotel, but when I went to the information booth.. the guy out there suggested I take a S-Ban and then a U-Ban (2 types of trains) all the way to the hotel. So carrying two huge suitcases and a carry on trolley I made it to the basement from where I would be taking the S-Ban.

The moment I reached there.. it was quite evident that it would be close to impossible to manage on my own. Luckily for me, a helpful soul by the name of Tapan was around.. he offered to help me get to the hotel. I just met this guy at the train station and he was really kind enough to help me. Things like these make u believe about being optimistic and believing that there are people out there who are always ready to help :))

Having visited the US earlier, travelling in Europe was not all that difficult in terms of moving around in an unknown region. There is a small language problem.. but it's not that big that u can't manage. The public transportation system is one of the best I have seen so far. I still believe that with the population we have, the public transport system in Mumbai is reallllly reallllly goood :))

Since the flight was just an overnight flight... we could get down to sight seeing immediately. We ... i.e. me and a few friends from office went to the local stuttgart fest on sat evening itself. On sunday we took the trains and went to Titisee and Triberg... places in Germany .. close to Stuttgart. It was a really nice experience.. roaming around in Europe on your own. Athough the 3 of us... Rohini, Kedar and me had gone together... it still felt as if the 3 of us were all on our own in this place.. we had a good time.. travelling to unknown places and seeing/exploring whatever we thought was the best.

We plan to go to the Oct Fest in Munich this weekend... so yesss.. my Europe plans are finally ON.. I plan to make the most of this trip and see all the places I can.

I guess that's all for now... not much to write today.. + need to get back to work.

I'll just upload 2-3 pics.. which I think give a good idea to Europe .. Germany in particular ... ENJOY !!!

NGOs - Primary Education is on it's way in a BIIIIIG way :))

2006-09-19T12:04:00.000+05:30

Finally I get to write a blog after a month or so. I do not claim to be lazy for a change.. I think I was little busy ;)

Came back from Banglore.. had an amazing time there and then got a little busy in office and other activities.

I have been wanting to write for quite some time now .. here I things I wish to write whenever time permits:

1. BNI & I
2. RTI (Right to Information Act) and the things we need to do :)
3. 3 mins of Fame (Yipppppie I made it to the small screen .. The Chamatkar show, where I was a contestant was finally aired on National Television last Sunday)
4. My Europe Plans

As for today.. I think I'll just keep it short and sweet about the 3 NGOs I have got to know over a matter of a year or so.

I am sure a lot of people are going to be happy with the fact that I am going to write less :) Personally I think I would have loved to write much more as I would be treating this as a comeback to blogging :)))

ok.. NGOs.... how did I get started on this.. I had gone with a few friends to see a Marathi Natak in Seattle .. where none other than Tarun Bhalla came on the stage and spoke about the ASHA Seattle chapter and the 'Miles for Smiles' program they were promoting for ASHA.

As an individual, when u are out of our country u feel like doing a zillion things for ur country. So even before the movies 'Swades' had been released a lot of Indian.. the NRIs ... wanted to do something for their country. I must admit I was also amongst one of those .. wanting to do something.. not knowing what that something was.

The idea of doing a marathon for a gooooood cause was the best motivator. I'll try and add the message I had written on the ASHA site so that people would sponsor my run for ASHA.
That was how ASHA started and thanks to Tarun, I joined ASHA as a co-ordinator for the event itself. Come to think of it.. I was just a co-ordinator for name sake.. I really didn't go for the training sessions.. although I did get 2 more runners.. Rohit & Satish.. who were definately more dedicated than I was :)
None the less .. I ran the marathon and completed it in 3hrs 12 mins :)))
With little or close to no practise.. all I knew was that I had to complete it.. and I did it :))

Tarun wrote to me a couple of times after I came here.. to take up some ASHA work.. but for some reason... i cudn't involve myself to the extend he had hoped for.

Here's the link to ASHA's website:
http://www.ashanet.org/seattle/index.php

This was the first NGO I was ever associated with :))

Next... was a 'Dream India'
I happend to see my friend Deepti carry an chart for 'ABC' in office one day. I casually remarked as to why she wanted to study 'ABC...'. That's when she told me that she is part of an NGO and that she has started their Thane chapter. She said he taught construction site workers close to where she stays. I just mentioned ASHA to her that day and asked her to take me along her one of these days. That's when she introduced me to Shankar aka Kartik. (or the other way round) Shankar is also a volunteer with Dream India.. he was the one who took me to the 'pada' in Aarey colony and showed me the work they do. The day he took me there.. there were no other volunteers.. so I got to teach some kids there. The experience was just AMAZIIIING !!!!!!

That's when I got inolved with Dream India. We are in the process of registering our NGO. I had infact joined BNI for 'Dream India', but latter had to withdraw for some reasons.

Here's the link to Dream India's website:
http://www.dreamindia2020.org/

Last but not the least ... the NGO for which my aunt... Ranjan Kaki is a member.. 'Soroptimist International Club of Poona'.

I was just talking to her one day about 'Dream India' when she told me as to what she does. I always knew that she used to teach and help in the administration of some institutions like this.. but never knew the details. It was just today morning that I was reading through the material she had given me on Sunday that I decided to write a blog today no matter what :) Hence the blog on NGOs.

The success stories which they have are all INSPIRATIONAL stories in themselves.

Through BNI I have met so many more people working for NGOs and doing other development work that I can picture a new India.. where Primary education is going to be achieved one way or the other.

If any one of you reading this blog wants to contribute to either one or all of these NGOs.. just drop me a mail or give me a call. We always have work and help is always appreciated. Everyone does gooood work one way or the other.. it's just that if u can do much more than u normally do.. I suggest u do :))

My Aji.. i.e. my grandmother retired as a Head Mistress close to 2-3 decades back. I have always seen her teach people who used to come and work at our place. I probably never saw the value or the intention behind it as a child, but today I see as to what she wanted to do and as to why we all should do the same. I dont remember whose saying this is.. 'Each One Teach One'... if I am not wrong.. this was said by none other than Mahatma Gandhi himself. This is something which I know my Aji always meant :))

Now that I have mentioned about my grannie.. I just wanna conclude by saying.. I have seen her as One Strong Lady... and I hope to take forward the small things she did... at least teach the person who comes home to work .. and give a lecture whenver possible on family planning .. 'Hum Do.. Humare Do'. (Something which she loved to do)

Here is a small story for the same: On one of our road trips.. my grannie was talking to a villager and telling him as to why they should not have more kids. The poor villager had four kids and my aji was trying to explain things to him.... that's when someone wispered to her.. 'Before u advice people.. look at the number of kids u have' ;) This was the best joke we had in our family for a looooooong looooooooong time. :))))))))))

I guess that's all for now.. have a gr88888 day !!
JAI HIND !!!!!!!!!!!!

When will we change???

2006-08-13T10:58:00.000+05:30

what is this blog about... it is a small insight as to how we still treat our own people.... people who are Muslims.

This is probably the first sooo called serious topic I think I am writing about. I never decided to write about this till this small incident happened in the morning.

Before I start.. here is a little 'Thank u' for the 'anonymous' person who has written me a couple of comments. Thanks u Mam/Sir. (Ladies First ;)) I would prefer if u cud just write your name... so that I could reply back to your comments.

Getting back to the point.. the incident in the morning. I had gone done to the basement of my friend's building in Banglore, and while going down the stairs, we saw a group of muslim kids (approx 15 or so)... in pure white kudta pajamas... these kids must have been in their 10 std... not senior than that... but they looked nice, elegant and slightly senior as they were dressed the way they were :) Amongst these kids was a very elderly person... a person who looked to be somewhere in the age group of 75-85 or maybe more. The look he had on his face was that of a very learned person.

That was all I saw. The young lad's ... gave me way.. as I was coming down. A nice guesture.

The reason we were downstairs was because.. they was a problem in some pipe.. and the residents were asked to come down. Since I was already awake... and I luv all the action.. I also went downstairs.

Some of these kids, came out after some time running around to the vehicle parked outside the gate and ... picked up some stuff and went back into the building.
The so called gentleman in the basement.. immediately asked after looking at those 3 kids.. do they stay in a rented accomodation or is it a flat of their own. I wonder what he would have said had he seen all the 10-15 kids together. I kind of got the feeling where this was going... so all I said was ... there was a very elderly person with these kids. The moment I said that ... the discussion was over.. I am sure it would have gone on had I not been there.

Not only this, there was a 'puja' going on in the adjacent building.. when someone asked... it this 'puja' done by them... that was unfortunately the most riduculous thing I heard. The 'puja' that was going on was some kind of a japp done by some 15-20 people. I said that first of all it is a 'Hindu puja' from whatever I can make out. Secondly if we as 'Hindus' have 'puja's' at home.. why not them. I just think that over a period of time... I have just developed soooo strong views/opinions about somethings.. that people think I am very egoistic/agressive & strong headed. NOT THAT I CARE... u think what u have to... I will do my thinking bit ;))
It turned out later that the reason for this question was just to know where the puja was going on.. this building or the next. I guess because of what happened downstairs earlier.. I just had a one track mind.

The point being.. when do we change??
We haven't changed in the past 50 years.. I wonder how we are gonna change our attitude now... with terrorist groups like Al queda being sooo active. Exceptions are there everywhere.. never generalize based on one experience. The same is true for me.. I am not none of us have changed ... all I am saying that the percentage of us who have not changed is alarming.

I have sooo many muslim friends. When I talk to them... I cannot afford to think... he/she is a muslim... so I can/cannot be friends... or I need to do/not do falana falana. I relish 'Biryanis' and other food.. made by Muslims. One of my dad's closest friend is a 'Muslim'. So is my mom's. I never wanted to write about my 'shaadi'.. but here I go.. people I meet tell me .. find a guy for urself.. koi bhi chalega.. bus 'Hindu' chahiye. I haven't really been vocal about this whole thingie.. coz I think it is futile to even explain to some people.. the people who give me this advice are generally my elders... so it will also sound rude if I express my true feelings.

My point is if I have to find a guy.. be rest assured he will not be from the same community. I cannot fall in love with people by finding out their background beforehand. Tommorow if I actually do meet a really cool dude.. who happens to be a Muslim.... and I think I have to go ahead with this... I will. I dont even want to think/write aage.. coz it's worthless.. like they say.. we'll cross the Bridge when we get there ;))

I have a lot of other points to make.. but my friends, uncle & aunty are waiting for me for coffee outside.. so I need to run.. catch u later...

okie.. the coffee session's done.. but I still feel like writing.. like one of those 'Tell my Why' series... More, Still More, Lots more and Here's more :))

So here's more.. how many of u know what is 'Madarsa'.
If not.. type this word in google.. and check out the links which open...

Different people have different views about the same..
Here is my version...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madarsa
I read a nice saying yesterday about truth:
"There is always two sides of a story.. one is ur side.. the other is the other person's side... and then....
then............. there is the TRUTH'.

I also did not know about the Madarsa's till I saw the documentary made by Rakhee, Rana & their other 7 friends from college.
When in doubt.. refer 'WIKIPEDIA' ;) [Fultooooo marketing.. people think I work for google & WIKIPEDIA]

Chalo.. i guess i'll end at this.. the above read is a good one... if u wanna watch the gr8888 documentary these girls have made... let me know.. i'll ask Rakhee to mail it to you.

I'll end this blog.. by just saying ... we are one of the largest democracies in this world... how about just living upto it :)))

JAI HIND !!!!

Survival of the Fitest !!!

2006-08-13T10:41:00.000+05:30

I had just mentioned about Change in one of my earlier blogs.. and here is a blog dedicated to 'Change'.. A success story for changing with times... and the story of none other than my mama.. Rajeev Potnis.. aka Raju mama

He is the Managing Director of the Company Technomech Engineering Private Limited which was started in the year 1994 by four directors.

Raju mama started his career in 1977 in Machine Tool Industry and joined a Multi National Carbide Manufacturing Company in Bangalore in 1979. There he acquired the following experience in various departments for about 12 years:

Ø Research and Development
Ø Design and Development
Ø Production
Ø Marketing in Pune
Ø Technical Services Department as Product specialist of Deep Hole Drilling Tools like BTA Drill Heads and Gun Drills.

With the vast experience of the promoters of the company in Tool Engineering, particularly in deep hole drilling area, the company started its manufacturing activity in the year 1994. At present they are manufacturing a variety of Precision Engineering Products like BTA Drill Heads, Gun Drills, Ejector Drill Heads, Gun Reamers and Guide Bushes for deep hole drilling. They also manufacture drawing dies for Defence. Their range of products is further extended to manufacturing of Tungsten Carbide precision wear parts and components.

During the last year they have developed a prestigious hi-tech product namely BTA Drill Head required for drilling the outer tube of front fork assembly of motorcycles.

Thier products are being manufactured by using the World's best sources of tungsten carbide tips and lugs, procured from the leading carbide manufacturers in Europe. The seamless tubes for gun drills are also procured in rolled and heat-treated condition from Europe. With the result their products are performing much better than their competitors.

Along with the superior quality of their products, they also associate themselves with their customers for product / process improvements and tool tryouts. They also serve their customers by stocking the fast moving sizes of their requirements, thereby enabling their valued customers to reduce their tool inventory.

In fact I am writing this blog sitting in his factory in Banglore :)
Only only this blog.. but the earlier two blogs were also written from here.

With this not soooo brief but required introduction here is the real story.
CHANGING with time... and leading change.

We (Me & my Cousins/friends) always have a debate as to whether it is better to have a salaried job in a company or to be an entrepreneur and run your own company. Both of them have their own disadvantages and advantages :( :)

But the common, rather basic thing for both is willingness to change and accept change as the only constant thing in life.

Here is Raju mama's success story for not having given up and changing and now trying to lead change :))

Their company had a business agreement with a company Gabriel India Ltd for supplying Tungsten Carbide tools to manufacture the component 'Front Fork' for their company. Again this agreement was to supply 100% of their tools for manufacturing the 'Front Fork'. Everything was going fine for a couple of years, till the day they got a intimation from Gabriel India Ltd saying that they are proposing to import latest generation tools maufactured in Japan, which use Diamond instead of Tungsten Carbide. Hence they would be constrained to stop doing business with his company.

At this point of time, an individual not only has to worry about his/her business being affected, but am sure has to think about a zillion small/big things.

At this juncture, Raju mama decided to not only develop the cutting tool with the latest technology using Diamond, but also do that indigenously. After a lot of hard work & trials.. he finally was able to manufactue the cutting tool with a diamond tip. He not only supplies the tools to Gabriel India Ltd today after a gap of 2-3 years, but is also back in complete business with the company i.e. complete 100 % of tools are supplied by his company.

I tried to make a small graph to show the same :)

These tools of Diamond are now established with other major users in India and the initial batches have also been exported to Indonesia and Thialand. Very shortly, he will be visiting Italy to introduce these tools there.

A clearcut EDGE in technology !

I have asked him to come to France for the PDT Europe 2006, not only to give us morale support but also to meet people to help expand his business.

With the ways things are going.. I am sure he is going to have a perfect exponential growth.

HERE's WISHING HIM THE BEST OF LUCK !!

We needn't go elsewhere for inspiring stories.. the moment you look around you... u will see tons of them :))

CHEERS !!!

2006-08-02T07:07:00.000+05:30

Yes.... My first blog.... was wanting to write one for a long time... and finally the day has come when i have a blog site of my own. My friend Balaji has had a blog site for quite some time and so has my cousin Jay.. so i have been reading their blogs and wondering as to when I should start.
So that's where I started with anything related to blogs.. Balaji and Jay's blog sites... both of them write really well :)

Moving on... I wanted to write about something special for my 'First Blog' ... and then it came in the form of an article in the newspaper 'DNA'.. Daily News & Analysis... these guys just completed one year of circulation last week.... and the article they had was really inspiring. Everyone reading this has to read that article. It had a listing of the 50 most influential guys in Mumbai. I am a Mumbaikar for the time being.... so I just loved it. Read the complete article... there are 50 people on the list and close to another 20 who have written about these 50... so if u wanna know who's who in Mumbai... u need to read it.

Any Guess who toped that list? Its not that difficult.. it's none other than.... Mr Ratan Tata :)

Although I just did a training in TELCO as a part of my Mechanical Engineering S/W course.. I still treat that training as my first love .. my first job. So yes.. I am a very loyal TATA person.
It's just coincidence... that I now work for TCS (Tata Consultancy Services)... and that too have been with them for the past 5 years :)

I think I need to write another blog for what TATA means and stands for me.

Everyone on that list.. is in a way a role model for me.. not only the people who made it to the top 50.... but also those who wrote about them. The list includes my fav actress.. Preity Zinta.. and all my fav actors.... Aamir Khan, Rahul Bose, Amitabh Bachchan etc etc
It also includes people like T Chandrashekhar.. whom I really admire for the work he has done in particular for 'Thane'.

I'll probably write about most of them ... one by one.. sometime later.
Here's the link ... for DNA:
http://www.dnaindia.com/
I'll search and add the link for that article soon :) I have the article with me... so if one wants to read it ... just let me know.

Since this is my first blog...... I want to cover or atleast touch everything and everybody close to me :)

My FOUR pillar of strength....... First... without any doubt...... My dearest brother Neil..... the only guy I think who really know me ;) ... the only one who will tell me things I already know about... but which I will never take/admit if anyone else tells me about the same. He tells me things I need to hear...... my greatest critic and greatest supporter.

2nd and 3rd........ My Mom and Dad....... When i was small... if any one asked me .. whom do u like more .. Mom or Dad.... the answer used to be (Still is) 'Dad'. Fathers are known to pamper their little girls. Mom's are the one's who are the strict ones.. coz they need to manage the house. With my dad being in the Armed Forces.. there was more reason as to why she would be the 'bad' one amongst the two of them... coz she was the one to ask us to do the homework or call us back home if we stayed down a little late playing or doing TP. Since Baba is home once in a while... he is the goood guy :)
Having said this... now the real story..... between the two of them.... I think my Mom's the stronger one ... when it comes to anything related to the family...... I guess that's true for almost all families. She is more bindaaas..... does not take tensions easily.... if she is tensed.... something is really wrong. She is my best friend ... after Neil.. as she also know 'quite' a few things about me. When I say quite...... it is actually true.... she knows of all my crushes, who approached me ... whom I approached etc etc. I was lucky to spend some 'Quantity' time (6 months) with her.. after a long time... when she had come down to Seattle. She has seen me through all my so called tough phases in life... and was sooo supportive ... that is really difficult to write about it in so little a space. I mentioned the word 'Quantity' only coz... there was 'Quality' time within the 'Quantity' time.... never the less .... i now believe that 'Quality' time is any day better than 'Quantity' time.
So in short my parents have been my pillars from day one.

FOURTH ....... Last but not the least.... my family and friends. There is such a close line (not for me ... but for others) between my family and friends that I wonder how I would have survived without them. My family ... right from my grannie, uncle, aunts and cousins are my friends.. with whom I share soooo many things..... and my FRIENDS...... are my family. There are tooooooo many people .... for me to mention. A better way would be to just check out my 'Friends List' on orkut. My friends & family (in that order) have been with me when i was feeling not too bright in Seattle. I was terribly home sick... I just wanted to come back to India.... eventhough more than half and to close friends and relatives were in the US. Infact even though my Mom was there with me.. i was still homesick. I cannot write all the names.. but I cannot do without writing about my friends who were always there for me.... Nitin, Satish, Vidya, Trupti, Shirali, Rohit, Hrishikesh, Soamesh, Shankha, Pijush, Cva, Bhaskar, Anish, Sunil, Sarit, Vikram, Jay, Amu and even Alice Aunty. I know there are sooooooooooo many more names in my mind and I am not doing justice by not writing them... but i'll make up for that :) Friends from here.... Neil, Rohith, Appu, Surabhi, Swati & Bodhi and Neha in a manner she doesn't even know about ;)

Okie... if i have written itna might as well write a few more names.... Avi kaka & Vandana Moushi, Muneer, Rakhee, Sheetal didi, Krupi, Amdi, kaplu, Shobha Mami, Deepti, Atul & even Hari for being so patient. Again..... many more names in my mind .... will write about them soon :)

So those are my 4 pillars of Strength !!!!!!!!

I guess this is more than enough for my first blog....... keep seeing this space.. for more... and more includes.... blogs about my gaddi... my 'maruuti 800' .... me an AOL (Art of Living), ASHA (Seattle), Dream India, Orkut etc etc.

Hope u had fun reading it..... as much as I enjoyed writing it :) .. I luv writing :)))

+ve feedback is always welcome.
-ve is even better ..... that's my scope of improvement :)

Cheeeeers !!!!!!!!! Have a GOOOOOD day !!!!!!!