Difficult to answer that question since I missed lots of classes in law school....ostensibly learning life ....
but one of the first lessons you learn on entering the service industry is that ur time is no longer urs....its effectively mortgaged to clients....ofcourse you are getting paid for that ...but for me that is a large part of the change that has come along with my new job....So time managment has become a new buzz word in my head.....and so far it has translated to the following:
a) gulp down the idli/dosa ( a can of coke will help you do that fastest)
b) run instead of stroll from the train station
c) read the newspaper in the train with others
d) most importantly trust the maid who comes to clean your house-so that you dont have to run after her also
e) recognise that you have no time for social niceties- so it is ok to not stay and talk to your nice neighbour
Ofcourse there are times when you wish you could just climb up 15 floors in 5 seconds (yes my office is on the 15th floor!!) and also that you could just jump down 15 floors (and also land safely I must add) instead of waiting for the lift to come up....
Oops time over for blogging.....part of my new "time managed" regime
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Good luck to all for all their treks...
Just to set things straight I am just not a trek person....and the reason for this is not cos, as someone once famously said , "what is the point of going up if you are just going to come down"....its more deep than that....and quite frankly it is tooooo deep for me to try and answer that..so moving on....
this blog is about people who actually trek...its about my extremely adventurous friend Shiks going with her dad for a trek to the Mansarover lake (or somewhere in the vicinity)....wherever it is she is going I want to wish her all the best ....Shiks come back with lots of news, views and ofcourse your digital photos.....and in the course of the trek if you find discover the meaning of life please do share with me....
Ofcourse living in Mumbai you trek everyday .... I meant the mandatory trek every day to work on the Mumbai local trains.....first it is the agony of standing at the "right" spot...and if someone has actually found that spot it is all about thinking on your feet ..... or rather thinking where to put your feet so as to ensure that at least some parts of your body get into the compartment...amidst the chaos brought on by the approaching train you grab your bag, your umbrella (in the rains), and your wits and make a lunge for the first class ladies compartment hoping that you have landed somewhere near the intended spot.... the cardinal rule is never to let go....... just grab the pole...or the person nearest to you who was lucky enough to get in....and off you go on your 30 minute "joy ride" hoping along the way that your freshly ironed shirt will have some remnants of it's crispness left when you reach Churchgate........when Dadar station arrives you will see how a safety valve operates....people stream out of the compartment as if a valve has been opened .....suddenly leaving a lot of space relieving you momentary.......but soon the load from Dadar enters shattering the 2 second utopia u lived in..... all is not bad actually.....u get to hear other people's love stories....u read books together (since its in your face anyways)....common fare include the Da Vinci Code , Paulo Coelho, chicken soup for the soul etc etc.....and once you reach Churchgate you feel as if you are part of a community....some things in life are indeed priceless!!!
anyways I better sleep now to get ready for my trek tomm morning..........
Cheers!!!
Monday, August 22, 2005
Counting sheep can make you sleep ..or in my case weep...
okk ...here I am at 11:30 in the night bright and sleepless.....this despite the time tested (and not to mention, failed) method of counting sheep....for one you really do need to concentrate to count the sheep and then also after a certain point of time the sheep actually get boring-all of them are white and lets face it..attributing differentiating features to them will take more time than you have for sleep...okkk I am going to stop this nonsense before somebody wants to shear me like a sheep.....
it has been one week since my new job....and I am still getting used to the place....especially missing the pantry service at IDFC.....at the click of 155 you could actually get any beverage you wanted...now clicking and ordering on the internet might get me things quicker than the pantry here....well its not that bad....most days I go down to "Tulsi" and eat my idli dosa bathed in sambhar....a practise that good ole chennai inculcated in me...but now I get to eat my idli bath while watching a fat round rat running around the place (taking away all the purity that is associated with the name Tulsi)...when asked, the manager put it down to the rains!! come on people ....what will we say next? the titanic sank due to the rains?? hmmm...or did it??
well it has also been a week since I changed my hair to poker straight.......my sister took a look at me and said "its different"....and continued as if life was normal....a thot endorsed by my friend but who did say "I cant get used to this Alice"....other than the usual comments about how nice my hair looks (which I used to get even with my previous hair style) and also the highly expensive shampoos that I am mortaged to buy from now on, it seems like my new hair style has not materially altered my look....which only goes to teach us all a valuable lesson "you are better than your mane"....go figure that one out...
okk think I am going to bed...need to take a steam to relieve my cold and a long day awaits me tomm....but there is a yummy treat waiting for me at the station tomm morning...devika is getting me her home made idli and sambar (thankfully I dont have to see the rat tomm morning then ....yay)....yummy...sorry shyam...its only for women who battle men on the trains every single day....and btw ur coffee powder still smells yummy.....
so byeeeeee for now
P.S. A specialllllll thanks to those who looked after me during my cold and fever.....and to all those who missed my blogging while I was out of commission....
it has been one week since my new job....and I am still getting used to the place....especially missing the pantry service at IDFC.....at the click of 155 you could actually get any beverage you wanted...now clicking and ordering on the internet might get me things quicker than the pantry here....well its not that bad....most days I go down to "Tulsi" and eat my idli dosa bathed in sambhar....a practise that good ole chennai inculcated in me...but now I get to eat my idli bath while watching a fat round rat running around the place (taking away all the purity that is associated with the name Tulsi)...when asked, the manager put it down to the rains!! come on people ....what will we say next? the titanic sank due to the rains?? hmmm...or did it??
well it has also been a week since I changed my hair to poker straight.......my sister took a look at me and said "its different"....and continued as if life was normal....a thot endorsed by my friend but who did say "I cant get used to this Alice"....other than the usual comments about how nice my hair looks (which I used to get even with my previous hair style) and also the highly expensive shampoos that I am mortaged to buy from now on, it seems like my new hair style has not materially altered my look....which only goes to teach us all a valuable lesson "you are better than your mane"....go figure that one out...
okk think I am going to bed...need to take a steam to relieve my cold and a long day awaits me tomm....but there is a yummy treat waiting for me at the station tomm morning...devika is getting me her home made idli and sambar (thankfully I dont have to see the rat tomm morning then ....yay)....yummy...sorry shyam...its only for women who battle men on the trains every single day....and btw ur coffee powder still smells yummy.....
so byeeeeee for now
P.S. A specialllllll thanks to those who looked after me during my cold and fever.....and to all those who missed my blogging while I was out of commission....
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
First day
August 12th, 2005 will always be very memorable...it was the first day of my new job at ELP.... and it was the day my IDFC stocks just soared on the NSE giving me excellent returns for the 6 years investment at IDFC........
now on to my first day at ELP ...I waited at the lobby for what seemed like eternity but was only 30 mins....till Flora (the receptionist) gave me a desk to sit on.....as expected (actually quite unexpectedly) there was no computer at the desk and I was supposed to make do with this "temporary desk" till my desk was ready.....all would have been fine if I had not been saddled with work that required constant research and e-mailing from (yes, you guessed it right) the INTERNET!!...I kept jostling between people who were going in for meetings to use their computers...I think the tension of releasing the computer on time must have stressed me out more than my first day at work.....finally Indian independence day saved me...no August 15th didnt deliver me freedom from anything (although that remains a cherished hope to this day)...it merely ensured that people left office early to catch their flights for the long weekend......which gave me uninterrupted computer time till 9 in the night..... and at 9 in the night I was quite happy to go out with my new colleagues for a drink at Geoffery's....
This day was also punctuated by warm surprises.....evidence of people's concern and love for me....in the morning I was told that there was a bouquet of flowers for me at the desk.....and lo and behold the most beautiful red and yellow flowers greeted me...it was from Vaiju who had taken down my address and sent me flowers as a good luck gesture...I think my day was made then and there and I was confident that I would actually have a nice day...u r the best Vaij....and in the evening I was taken out for a spectacular dinner in celebration of my first day at work.....what more could I have asked for-thankkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk u.....ohh not to forget my insurance agent who also got me a bouquet the previous day as a farewell gift.....as a thankyou gesture i shall try to get him more LIC bakhras....
Day ended and weekend started.....in between running around for things I have been busy teaching my nephew new words....the latest being "I am awesome"....trying to inculcate self confidence early in his life......a point crucially missed by parents of most kids who take it upon them to point out only the flaws.....and also teaching him to speak on the phone....not an actual phone but a spoon that doubled up as one....it was cute nevertheless especially when he "hung" up on me when I asked him whether he was studying in school....well Christy (when you are able to read this) I am going to be asking you more uncomfortable questions in the future and you better not hang up on me.....
Thats the news from my side.....ohh did I also mention that I now have poker straight hair??
now on to my first day at ELP ...I waited at the lobby for what seemed like eternity but was only 30 mins....till Flora (the receptionist) gave me a desk to sit on.....as expected (actually quite unexpectedly) there was no computer at the desk and I was supposed to make do with this "temporary desk" till my desk was ready.....all would have been fine if I had not been saddled with work that required constant research and e-mailing from (yes, you guessed it right) the INTERNET!!...I kept jostling between people who were going in for meetings to use their computers...I think the tension of releasing the computer on time must have stressed me out more than my first day at work.....finally Indian independence day saved me...no August 15th didnt deliver me freedom from anything (although that remains a cherished hope to this day)...it merely ensured that people left office early to catch their flights for the long weekend......which gave me uninterrupted computer time till 9 in the night..... and at 9 in the night I was quite happy to go out with my new colleagues for a drink at Geoffery's....
This day was also punctuated by warm surprises.....evidence of people's concern and love for me....in the morning I was told that there was a bouquet of flowers for me at the desk.....and lo and behold the most beautiful red and yellow flowers greeted me...it was from Vaiju who had taken down my address and sent me flowers as a good luck gesture...I think my day was made then and there and I was confident that I would actually have a nice day...u r the best Vaij....and in the evening I was taken out for a spectacular dinner in celebration of my first day at work.....what more could I have asked for-thankkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk u.....ohh not to forget my insurance agent who also got me a bouquet the previous day as a farewell gift.....as a thankyou gesture i shall try to get him more LIC bakhras....
Day ended and weekend started.....in between running around for things I have been busy teaching my nephew new words....the latest being "I am awesome"....trying to inculcate self confidence early in his life......a point crucially missed by parents of most kids who take it upon them to point out only the flaws.....and also teaching him to speak on the phone....not an actual phone but a spoon that doubled up as one....it was cute nevertheless especially when he "hung" up on me when I asked him whether he was studying in school....well Christy (when you are able to read this) I am going to be asking you more uncomfortable questions in the future and you better not hang up on me.....
Thats the news from my side.....ohh did I also mention that I now have poker straight hair??
Friday, August 12, 2005
Time for change....
Y'day I bid IDFC goodbye after 6 long years ......change is always difficult and it was the same for me....I was quite frankly gripped with a certain amount of sadness at leaving the organisation I had come to consider as "mine"......now it was time to move on elsewhere ....
I will miss a lot of things about IDFC ....the pleasantness of being greeted warmly by Vaiju every morning....the luxury of turning around and talking to Shyam or Vinita about law or even about life......the opportunity to buy pastries and invite all the foodies (apart from Shyam and Vinita, Nari, Japs, Aditi, Nasra when she is in town etc ) and have them contemplate why the waist line stays the same..discussing gossip with Devika and Ranjan every morning...and being able to pick up the phone and talk to people without introducing myself......just the comfort zone.....
But now it is time to face the change awaiting me....
I will miss a lot of things about IDFC ....the pleasantness of being greeted warmly by Vaiju every morning....the luxury of turning around and talking to Shyam or Vinita about law or even about life......the opportunity to buy pastries and invite all the foodies (apart from Shyam and Vinita, Nari, Japs, Aditi, Nasra when she is in town etc ) and have them contemplate why the waist line stays the same..discussing gossip with Devika and Ranjan every morning...and being able to pick up the phone and talk to people without introducing myself......just the comfort zone.....
But now it is time to face the change awaiting me....
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Go-aaaahhhhhh
Finally I did what I have always wanted to do...without waiting for time or tide I went and booked myself a holiday in Goa...3 nights and 3 days.......
It was the prime of monsoons...and Goa was green.....and unlike last time when I went with my friends where the concentration was only on finding an inexpensive place to stay near the beach I was able to appreciate the non-sea beauty of Goa this time round...very much like Kerala for those trying to get a picture in their minds..... but the best site that greeted me was the HUGGGGEEE ship that was marooned on Calangute beach....apparently it floated just too close to the shore in the storm...and now it looks like somebody had planted it there to enhance the view of the sea from Fort Aguada....
Fort Aguada was all that I imagined it to be ....beautiful, comfortable, fun and just peaceful....the perfect recipe for a great holiday....my room was a garden view room facing the sea.....quite a pretty picture .........I also lazed around by the pool....slept like a log whenever I wanted to.....went for a walk on the beach.....and even rented out a bike to go buy wine...ever since I sold off "Herbie" (my old bike in B'lore which was very generously named so by Toto for having a mind of its own) I have never ridden a bike ... so this was like a re-enactment of my Bangalore days......and it was awesome!! Anna if you are reading this we must ride a bike again someday.... Sitting in Goa I seriously contemplated taking a 10 day long backpacking holiday in Goa when my equally enthusiastic friend Devika suggested it....she has promised to take me to the nooks and corners, not yet touched by the non-goan civilisation, where I can contemplate and mull over the historical bearings of the State........and one more piece of information that Devika provided me was that Goa is the only state that has a civil code!!! did anyone know that??
Coming back to Mumbai was the hardest part.....after the most awesome holiday.....but here I am writing this story....going to IDFC for the last few days...and then onto my new job on the 12th....in the meantime my advise to all those reading this -TAKE A BREAK!!! NOW!!!
It was the prime of monsoons...and Goa was green.....and unlike last time when I went with my friends where the concentration was only on finding an inexpensive place to stay near the beach I was able to appreciate the non-sea beauty of Goa this time round...very much like Kerala for those trying to get a picture in their minds..... but the best site that greeted me was the HUGGGGEEE ship that was marooned on Calangute beach....apparently it floated just too close to the shore in the storm...and now it looks like somebody had planted it there to enhance the view of the sea from Fort Aguada....
Fort Aguada was all that I imagined it to be ....beautiful, comfortable, fun and just peaceful....the perfect recipe for a great holiday....my room was a garden view room facing the sea.....quite a pretty picture .........I also lazed around by the pool....slept like a log whenever I wanted to.....went for a walk on the beach.....and even rented out a bike to go buy wine...ever since I sold off "Herbie" (my old bike in B'lore which was very generously named so by Toto for having a mind of its own) I have never ridden a bike ... so this was like a re-enactment of my Bangalore days......and it was awesome!! Anna if you are reading this we must ride a bike again someday.... Sitting in Goa I seriously contemplated taking a 10 day long backpacking holiday in Goa when my equally enthusiastic friend Devika suggested it....she has promised to take me to the nooks and corners, not yet touched by the non-goan civilisation, where I can contemplate and mull over the historical bearings of the State........and one more piece of information that Devika provided me was that Goa is the only state that has a civil code!!! did anyone know that??
Coming back to Mumbai was the hardest part.....after the most awesome holiday.....but here I am writing this story....going to IDFC for the last few days...and then onto my new job on the 12th....in the meantime my advise to all those reading this -TAKE A BREAK!!! NOW!!!
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Storm before the Calm
Wouldnt it be nice to believe that the Storm is actually over and the calm is now on....anyways not going to delve too much on the rains anymore...as with everything people have a short memory and the mumbai rains is likely to be submerged in the annals of history as one of the many natural calamities that hit India....ofcourse the fact that Mumbai overtook Chirapunjee in having the highest recorded rainfall might stand for a long time to come....so I guess my great great great grandchildren/nephews/nieces might be able to relate to their friends about how one of their ancient relatives was stuck during the deluge of "Torrential Tuesday" on 26/7....well nice to know I am leaving behind a legacy and something for the future generations to talk about ... and I am still so young :)
Otherwise the rains have enabled me to spend an awful amount of time with my nephew Christy...with my penchant for making children cry it is kinda of surprising that my nephew follows me around like a little puppy...almost like that orange ad that shows the cute little puppy following the little boy with the caption "wherever you are we are there"....well in the case of Christy he also bites me like a dog...something that my sister accuses me of inculcating in him....well what could I do -his nose was sooo tempting....hahaha....okkk all your child activitists please calm down......in my defence it was a reenactment of a scene from "Finding Nemo".... but it is amazing to see them pick up adult habits....like the other day when people called me on the phone he kept asking me to tell them "can I call you back later?"...something that I have often told people when at my sisters place....I didnt even realise he was listening to me.....the only thing that makes him quiet is the Tom and Jerry show....
Everytime I see him I keep thinking....Hats off to all the mothers for taking up the hardest job in the world ..... over and over again..... 1 billion times over in India....
Otherwise the rains have enabled me to spend an awful amount of time with my nephew Christy...with my penchant for making children cry it is kinda of surprising that my nephew follows me around like a little puppy...almost like that orange ad that shows the cute little puppy following the little boy with the caption "wherever you are we are there"....well in the case of Christy he also bites me like a dog...something that my sister accuses me of inculcating in him....well what could I do -his nose was sooo tempting....hahaha....okkk all your child activitists please calm down......in my defence it was a reenactment of a scene from "Finding Nemo".... but it is amazing to see them pick up adult habits....like the other day when people called me on the phone he kept asking me to tell them "can I call you back later?"...something that I have often told people when at my sisters place....I didnt even realise he was listening to me.....the only thing that makes him quiet is the Tom and Jerry show....
Everytime I see him I keep thinking....Hats off to all the mothers for taking up the hardest job in the world ..... over and over again..... 1 billion times over in India....
Monday, August 01, 2005
Rain rain go away....
well....monsoons are soo strange...just when it started in the beginning of July it stopped....and there was a lull for about 15 days....days were getting warmer...and there was even a talk of how the water levels in mumbai was going to go down.....and I kept longing for more rain....mumbai is at its romantic best during the monsoons....and I kept wishing that it would rain again...
and boy did it rain!!! a years supply came down in one day....and before you could say "thank you God..now please stop" there was another deluge today....drowning some parts of the city yet again...once bitten the administration was better equipped this time round....there was information available this time round....and offices were forcibly shut by 2....pity for the people who actually managed to reach office after almost risking the normalcy of their lives...and surprise surprise the police were actualy using boats to reach people....so my idea of building a boat was not that far fetched right?:).......and as usual the most reliable source was the FM stations...prompting me to wonder how one could create a radio station for these kind of emergencies.....any ideas anyone?
its pouring outside...luckily I am at home....not someone elses for a change....watching the news to figure how badly my city is doing.....
and boy did it rain!!! a years supply came down in one day....and before you could say "thank you God..now please stop" there was another deluge today....drowning some parts of the city yet again...once bitten the administration was better equipped this time round....there was information available this time round....and offices were forcibly shut by 2....pity for the people who actually managed to reach office after almost risking the normalcy of their lives...and surprise surprise the police were actualy using boats to reach people....so my idea of building a boat was not that far fetched right?:).......and as usual the most reliable source was the FM stations...prompting me to wonder how one could create a radio station for these kind of emergencies.....any ideas anyone?
its pouring outside...luckily I am at home....not someone elses for a change....watching the news to figure how badly my city is doing.....
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