My First day at work!

I’ve been dreaming of having a job that I joined today! So I really have been looking forward to entering office for the first time as an employee … for almost a month now, I’ve passed by the building wishing I’d be a sitting in a cubicle inside it some day! Why is it so special… hmmm for starters, I can walk down to office. Yeah I didn’t risk it today coz it was the first day. Took me 5 mins on my Honda Activa… home gate to office entrance!!! I was in so excited that I didn’t even want to park in the visitors section. But no amount of persuasion prompted the security guys to let me into the employee section without a badge… but they apologized instead… yeah, must have realized how jumpy I was about working at NXP Software. I’ve decided to walk to office from tomorrow… my daily doze of exercises … I can’t really stop grinning even as I type this post out. Started the day with a 3 hr session of usually induction formalities. Practiced my signature around 50 times on 50 different forms… there were 2 others who joined with me. One of them was to join my team and the other was appointed to do very similar work as I had to in a different team. I really felt that the welcome was warm. The HRs really took time to see that we were comfortable. Now, it’s not the first time I felt this warmth. I had 2 practice interviews (at other companies) before giving this interview a shot last Wednesday. After a 2.5 hr technical grill, they decided I was the one. It was followed up with a nice team intro and I was really surprised when team members came to meet me immediately after the interview… after another 30 min session abt the company and structure and finding out where I’d fit in the best, I was taken to lunch. It was followed with another hour of HR interviews, the usual I should say, I am much better at this round that the techie ones. When I walked out of that place I knew I was gonna grin away to glory for the rest of the day. Sure enough I got a call and the letter the next day. But unfortunately it was a holiday on Friday and the pre enroll med tests delayed things by another 2 days… so it felt like ages before I actually felt employed. The teams are very small, but the members are real value for money. I just watched how the guys interacted and went about usual business all afternoon. All I know is that I have to really be at my best to match any of their achievements. Just as good as they are individually; they sure compliment each other so well with their strengths. The business hours are usually. 9am-6pm, Monday through Friday, thanks to the transport service the company provides. But in those 9 hours (an hour or so for lunch an walk after that) I should believe it’s always work considering how much work is done. Naah, it’s just as much fun with people walking around cracking their smart jests, with the surrounding junta joining in the laughter ever so regularly. The CEO of the company called me into his chamber and spoke to me in such an informal manner that I was overwhelmed. I REALLY FELT GOOD! An ideal first day! No matter how I am going to feel about this place a few months later, this is a day to cherish. Yeah a few more freebies from the HR along with a drinking water bottle and a calendar with quotes completed the goodie package for the day! I am so looking forward to beginning work tomorrow, my manger came walking upto me this afternoon and said chill out for the rest of the day and get to know people, and you’re here to work for the rest of your life anyway!!!!!!!! AMEN

Now this feels like home...

Been a guy who watches sport a lot on TV ever since i remember.... so depriving myself of it for almost 2 yrs during my masters was one hell of a sacrifice. When I was looking for a new accommodation towards the end of last month i was praying that somebody would just give me a place with a TV, cable and of course my fav sports channels and yeah God does exist! Not only did he hear my prayers but in grand style.... imagine, there's a 53" projection TV (if ur used to say a 25" one then this is 4 of them placed together!!)at home with ESPN, Star sports and the Cricket Channel!!!! The 2 other guys i moved in with are just as crazy abt sport as I am. Watched most of the Wimbledon matches after ages... unfortunately missed the final boo hoo, watched the replay thought. British F1 race couldn't get much of that too... but did get a glimpse of the imp moments. che... why did I have to be so busy over the weekend and yeah now I cant wait for EPL !!! Unfortunately the much awaited Ind-Pak ODI got washed out, was ready for it with chips and lying cozy on the sofa!!! Yeah, it just felt like home!!! Bring on the matches now....

What the poster in my new room says!

I*M*M*O*R*T*A*L*I*T*Y Your physical body is composed of light that comes from your every thought. When u feel lost and afraid remember that you are a spirit that is infinite, timeless, tireless, indestructible, sacred, protected and immortal

Prosperity... that's what I would like to say!

I think mirrors in all the bathrooms in this world must be removed. All they do is show you how flabby u are :(. Everyday, u look at urself in one, that paunch makes u feel like a 40 yr old. I'm not saying it OK for me to have one even then... It's just I never realised when the tight set of abs worth showing off during college days disappeared under this protruding bulk of fat! Guess it's only gonna be a 'crunch'y way out!

Finally ...verity

Time for the truth: the response to this previous post 1 . True. Lived in the St. John's Hospital Quarters till I was age 7. Could see the planes land and take off from the HAL airport in Bangalore (was very different back then in the 80s) and wave at them like any other kid 'aeroplane tata aeroplane tata' ... always wishing i would fly one someday! 2. True. Was born premature(7.5 months). My grandma said i actually fit in her palm. :-) 3. True. I really did hate eating until I joined work a few years back. It's a very different story now though! 4. Very True! As absurd as this sounds, I had a very different idea of what is DONE! Until of course the pics and videos that they provided enlightened me. (Didn't take bio in PU). 5. True. Feel dizzy when i look vertically downwards from heights. 6. False! Surprised I'm sure. I did have those glasses. Will probably post a pic sometime. But It was only coz my mummy dear forced me to wear those big fibre frames instead of sleek metal ones. Her reasoning was that metal frames would heat up in the sun and cause burn marks on my nose. Only mums can come up with such things and still make u believe in them. Yeah all the girls i planned to hit on did run away at first sight! 7. True. No surprise here. 8. True. I think they are slimy, gross and mess up the whole place with poop. 9. True. He still boasts about it during friends meet-up days. Me though just like joining in the fun. I'm sure he'll give that another try if i let him do it again! Ok ... one last statement... see if u can detect how much of it is true here After UKG, during my summer hols I would roam around the St. John's Hosp Quarters area with a bunch of 5 guys (3 of them were 2 yrs older and other 2 were my age) and 2 street dogs (Jimmy n Andy), chasing chameleons and what we called back then 'King Chameleons' cause they were orange and black. At the end of the hols Jimmy died of rabies and my parents saw Andy jump on me a few days later. Had to take the anti-rabies vaccines cause of this incident beginning month of 1st standard. My love for dogs, nature, friend groups and hatred for lizards all started during this time!

Rainy days... ah!

Wake up! watch that beautiful sunrise from the balcony.... all set to go to the lab an hr later... see those dark gray clouds show up from no where... reach the lab just before the showers naa... no mood to work, go to the canteen ... nice cup of tea with hot curry puff (wish it was a maddur vada tho) watch the downpour... feel blessed... meet a friend. chat abt all the goodness of life :-) Great start! Have a nice day too! Post Lunch Update: Cool breeze blowing!!! Sun's out with all the might... Oh Lord! I love Thee :-)

Écoutez!

Finally.... RADiOVERVE the website that plays songs made only by independent Indian artists... an amazing collection of music (no bollywood, no hindi yet) ... My favorites ... There's a Konkani channel... finally a way to still keep in touch with my roots.. Even better a Gospel channel... man Benny Prasad(I adore thee), Swapna Abraham (that angelic voice... haven't heard better) just too good. That not all... there are 6 different genre as of today... The look and feel of the website is just great... To say I personally know (n taught) some of the ppl who made this place happen gives me a lot of pride :) Keep up the good work guys...

IX point something....

When i restarted this blog i sure realised it wouldn't be long before someone tagged me.... didn't even have to wait for a month before pizzadude did... so after a revamp of the blog .... (too many links i clicked on looked like mine)... here goes... 8 truth's abt me and ondu sullu (a lie) 1 . I wanted to be a pilot as a kid... that too wanted to fly a passenger plane only!!! Thank God for making me a myopic adolescent, ppl still have faith in airlines today! 2. I weighed 1.7 pounds when i was born. I always believe in alleviating pain :) 3. hated eating as a kid.... and would come up with funny reasons not to. I once told my mom that the banana was too hot and would eat it after it cooled down the next day! 4. My sex education didn't start until i was in the 3rd yr of my BE... when a few scandalized friends did take it upon themselves as a challenge to educate me with the 'truths of life'! (nope... haven't tried it yet!) 5. I suffer from vertigo! but i also consider rock climbing to be one of the best things i've ever done. I live on the 19th floor of my building too! 6. I had this huge crush on a girl back in high school .... who was a big fan of BR Ambedkar... that's why i picked up spectacles just like the ones seen on his picture. Yeah, she never fell for me.... neither did any other girl till i changed them to metal frames which didn't happen for the next 3 yrs! 7. Wasn't allowed to go Bungee jumping coz i was underweight as a 22 yr old... (the min lmt was 58 kgs!) 8. I am scared of lizards! 9. A classmate of mine carried me on his shoulders and ran a 100 mtr dash just to prove why i was called '2D lamina' in engg college... :D i did enjoy the free 'ride'! So are the lie detectors on work yet? OKie if it's time for me to pass on the tagging then it's Lakshman's and Pills turn! Tripti, i'm not sure u want to... but here's ur chance to get tagged!

Missing too much...

Cricket in Bangalore again.... I wanna watch a cricket match at Chinnaswamy Stadium!!! Need to check my bank balance n see if I can squeeze a quick trip back home... so what if jammy's not playing... PS: Donations to make poor home sick soul feel better are always welcome... a/c number will be provided to generous hearts.

How late is too late...?

There have been times where i've given up on tasks way before te actual deadline... for instance, last sem I had this project to submit the next morning at 10AM... there was absolutely nothing working and I had almost given up hope.... 17th April to be precise.. I just went to a friend in the next Lab, as my final hope to salvage some pride and guide me in that crucial step that was eluding me all month... after all it could cost me a subject and plunge my self conidence down to great depths... The guy worked on my project thru out the night.... finished it by 8AM while i lay staring at his lappie wondering how he had so much enthu to do somebody elses job .... not for 1 sec in those 11 hours did he give up!!! At the end of it all ... i left his house still awestruck.... wondering why God was so merciful. I couldn't get myself to present it ultimately, but got an extension and presented another piece of work and fortunately the prof was understanding enough. What ultimately came out of it .... i'll know in just over an hour from now!!! All I could say then is "Thank You Saurabh"! Yeah, I did give him a big bar of choc too.... but truly, i promised my self 2 things on that day.... Never to give up until its the end Help anyone if i could .... if i can make the difference then so be it! On the same lines of thinking..... watch this video another friend sent to me..... The moral ofcourse goes just the same way.... I wonder if the calf did survive for too long after.... but yes it sure will give u the a great feeling.... The joy of living a life... Have a good one :-)

History repeats....

Never in my wildest dreams did i think I'll start my blog again.... it took me 6 months to post after creating the profile the first time... which of course lasted for about 6 more months before a complete frustu day prompted me to delete it all... and now I'm back again! (lets see how long this lasts) Woke up this morning to find that i had a laptop at my disposal lying right there on my desk... yeah it's been a long wait and its still not even mine... just borrowed it for weekend from my boss ... yeah i have a very generous one. Won't be too long before i own one ... Its been on its way since 2 months. Thanks to the delivery delays!! First a credit card limit overshoot, then the Chinese new year and so on and so forth... man this is killing... staying so far away from home and deprived of the favorite communication (Y! rules). Nowadays i even daydream about working on a new laptop... WHERE IS IT?????