Auld Lang Syne

Another year gone. Its time to welcome 2006. Any resolutions going? My resolution this year is, get this... to never make resolutions again. Cliche, I know, but I've learnt it the hard way. For example, my resolution for last year was to keep my room neat. Ya right, at this point of time, my table looks as if its been hit by a combination of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and last years tsunami. Its a miracle I can find anything on my table. Anyway, thats digressing. Also the events of the last couple of days a likely to put a dampener on the festivities in Bangalore. Pity; not that I join in those festivities, but lets just say I live vicariously through others.

Best wishes for 2006 everyone. Happy new year.

Chow for now.

Arul.

'Tis the week before Christmas... Really?

This has been a weird week so far, i kid you not. I was told on Tuesday that I might have to go to Delhi on Wednesday. As it turned out I didn't need to but I believe I might have to go next week for a day. Then, today I got a flat as I was driving to work. As I was getting it fixed I got a call from a guy from the office telling me to head straight to Three Quarter Chinese as we were to have a Office Christmas party there. The lunch was pretty good and then we went bowling after that at Amoeba.

Christmas is almost upon us but it doesn't feel like it. Gonna be working all the way till Friday which means I'll just have one day before Christmas to spend with family. Sad but true.

And finally, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Dad. (20th Dec)

Chow for now.

Arul.

A Prodigal's Return

My friend and colleague, Santhosh, returned from Philippines this Monday. And since then we have pretty much partied in every way except for killing the fatted calf. Its been wild with parties every alternate evening since Monday with Wednesday being the wildest. Whoo-hooo... that was one hell of a party. Had vodka after quite a while and when we were done, my ears were ringing so bad it was as if someone had cast the Muffliato spell on me (for reference on what I mean by that, read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince).

Also, two guys, Gowda and Raj, whom I haven't heard from in quite a while, chose to call me on the same day. Good talking to you guys, catch you Saturday.

Oh, and Peter, that comment that you left on my last post about the new Dark Lord's wand. I was right, I've had terrible nightmares since then.

Chow for now.

Arul.

Hey, I'm still alive

I'm really sorry for not having posted on my blog for over a week. Things have been rather hectic at work and also was involved in organising a programme for last Sunday. All in all, rather tied up which was the reason for the long period of inactivity at this site. But no longer.

One thing that did happen is that I went to the Strand Book Festival at the Chinnaswamy stadium last Saturday. It was pretty neat with a lot of books spanning a host of different genres. Picked up a few good ones.

I finished reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. So has Peter and so have my mom and sis. The consensus... a bit of a let down for all the hype, especially the ending. Lets hope the seventh one can revive it.

Finally, Peter, remember we were debating on who'd make the perfect Voldemort and we batted a few names around but couldn't come up with any good nominees. Well, I've thought of one and he wins hands down. He doesn't need makeup as he looks scary enough already. And all teenage boys are, or should be, afraid of him. Yup, you got it; Michael Jackson. So move over Ralph Fiennes, the real Dark Lord is here, and he's "Bad".

Chow for now.

Arul.

Raise your glasses

I know I'm a little late on this but a couple of good friends celebrated their birthdays this weekend so here's to them. First of, to Owen, may your tongue alwasy be as sharp as it is now. And to Dushyant, what can I say, you've dug your own grave. Cheers dudes and Happy Birthday to both of you.

However, no toasts to the new Harry Potter movie, the Goblet of Fire. Too much important stuff was left out and one of parts of the book that I was really looking forward to, the Quidditch World Cup, was left out. Also no mention of the Marauder's Map or the house-elves who play such an important part in the story. And Voldemort looks more like a plastic surgery gone wrong than a Dark Lord. I believe they did think of splitting it into 2 movies and maybe they should have done so. A great book reduced to an average movie.

Finally I have been criticised by Peter for my last post which he felt was too philosophical. Point taken and will try to correct this failing. However, I can't resist putting in one more good line that I heard and it goes like this, "It is not our abilities that show who we truly are, it is our choices." Now, Peter who said that?

Chow for now.

Arul.

Our Greatest Fear

Here are some great lines that I found. I actually didn't find them but rather heard them in the movie "Coach Carter" (great movie by the way and definitely recommended). Its from a poem by Marianne Williamson (nope I hadn't heard of her before I heard these lines).

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our dark that most frightens us.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people don't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Made me think a lot as it goes against a lot of what we commonly believe to be true and yet in a strange way it makes a whole lot of sense. You're free to post your thoughts as well.

Arul.

Coffee junkies of the world unite

Allen, you've got a good question, man. Life before coffee, Is there such a thing? Heck, I get withdrawal symptoms nowadays if I dont have my daily quota. Anyways if anyone has the answer to that one, do let me know.

Here's also to one of our coffee buddies Sumesh (Chacha) who is in China for a conference.Way to go.

Sayonara.

Arul.

What, me blog?

So I finally have a blog of my own. Why did I do it? Dunno, maybe cuz I couldn't post a comment on my dumb pal's blog if I didnt have a blogger id. But now that I have it is kinda fun.

As for the human integration angle, as mentioned its cuz I work for a company doing business integration; ergo human integration. Go figure.

Watch this space.

Arul.