02.08.08
I miss …..
The past few days have been alternating between really busy days or absolutely lazy days. At times I am amazed by how much I can get done in a day or how I can avoid work altogether. Anyhow, my sugar and caffeine levels are dropping and I will be stepping out to get a cup of tea in a few minutes.
Staring out of the window for a bit and ….. wait …. XY just walked over to my desk here. Well she is the German technician who works in the lab and she asked me just now not to give out her name or initials. Super cool gal who is fun to work with.
Alright back to the post.
I miss:
1. Messing with new arrivals in Bombay especially when it comes to the local trains (cruel, if you haven’t done it. Not so when you have. It is fun ….. really).
2. Home-brewed beer courtesy of Rick in Oregon.
3. Playing with Nathan.
4. DG’s drunken desh bhakti. A friend who slept with the Indian flag on New Year’s eve.
5. Saying hindi gaali’s to people when I am getting out of a crowded train at Dadar. Some stupid f …. fool will hold on to the bar and refuse to get off in Dadar during peak hours. Such people rightly get slapped by everyone.
6. Conductors who never have change for you but will empty their pockets out for the babe in the bus.
7. Special cutting chai at the GK naka near SIES. (Word of advice: Never eat GK’s samosas. I have seen how they are made and its not a wonder even the cockroaches won’t eat it)
8. SP’s inability to breathe when she is laughing. She ends up combining the laughing and breathing resulting in high-pitched noises).
9. The utter respect the macchi-waalis command over regular people.
10. The gaalis that macchi-waalis give. I have seen the worst people blush over the utter crass nature of these gaalis. (These gaalis will be shared, if requested).
11. Trekking in Maharashra.
12. Being the only person who can understand what AB is saying. Now his wife (SN) can understand him too.
13. Aai’s idlis, vegetable upma and vague Tamil sayings (I think she makes them up. Hahahaha)
14. Dad’s burnt cabbage subji. We never eat it but I still miss the burnt smell which is a clear indication that he is in the kitchen and not Amma.
15. RI trying ridiculously to look cool with kids 10 years younger to him. They will call you Uncle, if you hang around kids too much.
16. Biking my way to Nilesh’s place.
Alright time for a walk and tea. Kulti.
(Translation: … too lazy to do it right now. Maybe later).
01.17.08
Control – 2
“Why the need to control our own thoughts?”
It is inherent in our nature to let the mind to roam around wherever. A spiritual answer would be that we have to keep it in check and focus our efforts towards a purpose. This purpose could be the completion of the task at hand to the best of our abilities. I have always leaned toward a spiritual need for the purpose. I am sure people have different views about this. To each his own.
“How much do other people’s actions or words affect our own thoughts?”
(I have to state the obvious first – I am only speaking for myself). I am very much influenced by my friend’s and family’s words and actions. Very much. Trust comes easily. With trust comes the standards I set for myself and others. This trust is an absolute blessing most of the time. A comfort during tough times. However, it can also be the wall that one builds around oneself. A wall that one builds so well that it becomes nearly impossible to break. A curse.
The dual nature of trust (that one places on others) is evident. Once this awareness comes, it would be foolish to delve into it anymore. (The dual nature of everything around us. Now that I will leave for a later time). It is crucial, according to me, to ponder on how to break free from this duality. True freedom comes when one is first aware of the chains that bind and then breaks away from the chain. Digression: (Adapted from the boy with the spoon) – Wisdom, in this case, would be to realize that there are no chains).
This brings us back to the influence other people have on our thoughts. I have now realized that it is not the other person but it is only me who reacts. It is not without but within.
To expect trust and love from others is wrong. However, when it comes to you, one should be grateful. Easier said than done. This brings us back to the first question I posited. The need to discipline one’s mind to keep itself within. To look for beauty within. If someone comes along and shares something beautiful (love and trust), then to accept it. I think this would result in the mind becoming completely open and yet not wandering. It would be open for everything – trust, love, heartbreak, jealousy, laughter, sadness, laziness, vigor. Everything.
12.11.07
For Tor
It is amazing when I think about it. I am aware that I should be writing more on my blog for friends and family and yet, I have somehow managed to be lazy about it.
Not anymore.
From this point on, all the blogs will be for Tor. I am hoping that this will get me out of my lethargic attitude towards writing.
10.03.07
Road trip to San Francisco
I have been slacking off too much about my blog here. Yeah yeah ….. Swamped with work and everything.
I drove up to SF to meet up with my ex-roomies from my Oregon State days. Frank and Susan. They have a two-year old son, Robert. The last time I saw them was in June 2006 when I was back at OSU for my graduation.
8 hour drive. Boring for the most part but there are certain sections that are simply beautiful. Take it from me, if one has to understand the beauty of this country then it is only by being on the road. The only time I have experienced a similar solitude, one experiences while driving here, is sitting for 30 min on Marine Drive during the monsoons. The vastness of Bombay, the rains, the ocean and the people can be simply overwhelming. In the US, the unending road, the prospect of reaching home, the vast country is an experience in itself.
A few notable things, on an otherwise lonely road are the California Aqueduct and a stretch of I-5 where one can find at least a couple of miles of cows! Yes cows! Its weird because I was so focused on my driving and looking at the aqueduct that the sight of cows took me by surprise. Kinda cool though.
Reached SF on Thursday evening. Went about the city. Chocolates. Talked about science and scientists with Frank. Scientists mostly. Went to UCSF to look at his lab. Spent time playing with Robert – who, by the way, is simply a great playmate. A couple of pictures were taken along the way. Susan made Apple pie for my birthday. She makes simply the best apple pie, I have ever eaten. Packed a large piece for the road.
(Sometimes I wish people around the world made some of their desserts, got around the table and just shared it with everyone. A good picnic. Possibly the first step towards peace – sharing a meal).
Woke up on Sunday morning. Drove to Sacramento to Abhijit, Aditi and Antara’s place. Abhijit is the brother of one of best friend (Akshay). Spent a few hours there. Ate some Indian food after a long time. Started driving back around 3 PM. Promptly ran into traffic in the LA area at 9.30 PM! Never fails to disappoint, this LA traffic. Had water with me and the apple pie came to the rescue. Milk and some ice cream would have made it perfect. Can’t really complain though.
Back in SD at 11.30 PM or so. Realized the next day, how lucky I was, when I was in Oregon. A brand new place half-way around the world. 7 years later, I am grateful to have friends like them.
