Roundup 2011

The year 2011 has been one of the most happening on a personal front. This year I was successful in breaking a few hangover issues and few jinxes.

I was being plagued if not seriously addicted to a online strategy game called Travian for close to two years. This severely impacted my social, professional, personal and negligence towards health. Towards the mid of the year when the last of the game servers was upgraded I refused to upgrade and relearn the game. Atleast this prevented me from getting back to the addiction. After done away with this most of the stagnation in life seems to be a passé on multiple fronts

Biggest movers

• Quitting from my Vertical practice and moving out to a different vertical at work
• Let go off the Travian game’s addition
• Move from east coast to the mid-west
• Discovering that my BP levels are on a high

Biggest Learnings

• Do something for yourself and keep engaged to improve self
• Keep pushing and pursuing a series of set targets
• Divinity and spirituality is never to be ignored
• Keep faith and keep working on. Learn from experiences and not to let loose

Best for the year

Top Albums/Songs
1. Jaane Tu Jaane Naa - Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
2. Bachana Ae Haseno - Khuda Jaane Kyu

Fav Movies
Harry Potter (1-8) Series

Fav Quotes -
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II'

Harry Potter: We have to go there, now.

Hermione Granger: What? We cant do that! We've got to plan! We've got to figure out -Harry: Hermione! When have any of our plans ever worked? We plan, we get there, all hell breaks loose!

Fav Holiday/Travel
- Washington DC
Fav Food
- Pizzaa
Fav Shopping Spot
- Premium Outlet, Pleasant Prairie, WI, USA

Fav TV Channel
- The Food Network

- NTV

Fav TV Shows

- Ancient Aliens (History)

- Chopped (Food)

- Restaurant Impossible (Food)

- Evadi gola Vadidi (TV9 / TV1)

- Na Varthalu Na Estam (NTV)

Closely followed issues

- Casey Anthony Trial

- Sakala Janula Samey in Telangana region

Chronological Milestones

January - Uncertainty
I had been waiting for some time to settle and stabilize myself in the USA. What I was looking was some bit of support and a long term assignment. My assignment in Delaware started to look questionable with potential delay / postponement of the project due to factors not in my control. By the end of the month it was inevitable and orders for my release where issued. Issues and competition between the client and our company coupled with delays in the current solution shifted focus and put my role in a fix.
Time flew at home with stagnant work and snow on the streets alike. I wanted to move out of my company and start looking for more stable opportunities, floated my CV and was trying to secure a moment.
February / March / April – Uncertainty Intensifies
Come mid of February, I bid good bye to the account team as I started searching for new avenues within and outside my company. Things didn’t seem to move much. I was also planning to purchase a car at this time as it was already becoming difficult depending on others. But the next assignments or lack of it put me in a fix.
As expected the issues at work during initial days of settling has become a reality in 2011. My ratings got hit and was not able to secure a promotion nor any salary hike.
The lack of future or direction seems to pinching me a lot by now. I tried spending most of the time at home (since Jan) photographing squirrels, doves, and rabbits through my apartment window to pass time. I challenged myself to get a few shots of jumping squirrels which I of course failed. I did buy a DSLR camera of
May
The momentums of things were not encouraging at professional front. I have not been billed to a client till now and with the apprehension and un-certainty I was more bent upon to return back to India and probably return back if there is a correct fitment of profile for me.
Also by this time my brother’s marriage was soon approaching and my wish to return back to be part of this last main family occasion added to me preference to return back. I was totally dissatisfied by the interest taken by my practice to send me back home. The see-sawed back and forth quite frequently on this adding to my woos. Most of the things have been packed and ready to be moved by never knew where the move is going to be.
In the mean while one of the long standing interview calls converted and the new team expressed to take me in to their new practice. Having just a couple of weeks to report I decided to make the best of these few days. While one of my closest buddies came down with his family we went on a trip to Washington D.C and Maryland. I personally liked the D.C trip the most. Though a short one it was well worth a look because of historical importance.
June/July/August
These are the times for settling down in the new place and new environment. Summer is here and I suppose this is the best season to be in this part of the world. I purchased a car (2002 Elantra) now that I knew I was going to be here for sometime and also the geography of the place with limited public transport ensured that I move in quickly for the purchase. Within the first couple of weeks it was a car and a new rental apartment to set in. Then soon enough the work, knowledge of the domain and building the relationship with the clients followed in.
All more excitement of working in a full fledge program with me being a focal point of all action was tremendous. But as days progressed the jinxes of previous project seemed to have followed me into this year as well. The eminent delays in projects ensured my waiting in the docks longer. While I started doing certain related activities nothing truly moved from a true true project sense.
While personally my wifey was back in India to appear for her final Master’s examination and also fill in the place for my brothers wedding. While I ate and spent time discovering the new village I moved into. The activities and happening life ensured that all of my weekends where busy.
While this move also ensured that I now formally stopped playing Travian, I quickly reconnected with trying to improve my health and bring down my BP levels. I initially started with Manthena’s tips and natural raw food. Then got into a bit of evening jogging and yoga. I was also actively getting into sports activities being organized by my company. Towards the mid of August I moved into Turbofire workouts and I never looked back. As of this year workouts are my new addiction. I workout close to 5 hours a week now, and its supported by modified diet and lifestyle. Much of the laziness, dizziness and fatigue slowly started to wane out but the process of self-improvement has truly started.
September/October/November
My gals back home from India and we continued to put back the lives together in the new place. Roaming a bit, shopping a bit while work moved at snails pace with lack of synergies at the clients organization. But working on few small things ensured that I was occupied and grew in my experience.
Also in October was when I joined Facebook. Yes finally am on facebook. I can recall my early social networking journey starting on Hi-5(2004), Orkut(2005), Linkedin(2006), Geni(2008) and now Facebook(2011).
My fitness journey did keep growing in knowledge and application with new gizmos and trackers being added on a continual basis. I feel am well educated enough to understand a few things to which I had no visibility to.
This period also meant it was the shopping season for me. Though not worth a mention the prices this thanksgiving seemed to be comparatively on a higher end than the last year.
December
This is the official holiday season in the US. That being said we have more than 4 official holidays in this month alone and possibly the least working hours. My assignments are seriously restricted or tapered as of this month. Being end of the year things have slowed down to gather steam in the new year.
At the end of the year we went on a drive to Chicago and returned back by the night. The chill and lack of parking space didn’t help me in any way. Probably the next time I plan I need to plan carefully and be choosy. End of year gift for my gal is a new Sony Vaio laptop which dark pink/magenta coloured one.

Am looking forward towards chopping if not dissolving my financial liabilities in the new-year. I think Rupee depreciating in value and rising interest rates back home should help me reach this goal. All together I am looking forward for a healthy, happening, and happening year and also be blessed with kids and promotions at work which are in my opinion long over due.

Keys, mouse, chips, webs, viruses......CiIlitetrate

Cilliterate....or Computer Illiterate
Yes you are if you failed to connect the above words.
Computer literacy can also refer to the comfort level someone has with using computer programs and other applications and technologies that are associated with computers.
My exposure to computers started quite early in my age. I had my own PC when I was in my 6th Standard thanks to my dad who envisioned that Technology is the future. I was only 11 years when I first got to work on a computer of my own. It was year 1992 and by those days standards I had a fairly fast and efficient system. The configuration of today's mobiles are better than my first PC. It was a
Intel 80286 (In an era of 64 bits 286 has had 7 predecesors to Todays P4/Athlons)
Running at 20 Mhz Speed (yes Mega Hertz was big in those days 1024 times lesser than that of todays)
1 MB Ram (we talk of 1 GB as miminmum today thats 1024 times lesser than todays capacity)
40 MB HDD
Display - MDA (Moncrome Display Array) - 14 inch B&W L&T Monitor
Sound card - Our only sounds we heard were beeps
123 Key - TVS Keyboard
Mouse - Never needed one
OS - MS DOS 5.00
Spread Sheet- Lotus Spread sheets
Word Processor - Word Star 4
Database - Fox Pro & DBase 4+
Languages - C, BASIC
Anti Virus - MSAV
DiskDrive - 5 1/4 Floppy Drives

This was the system I had and continue to have (of course its packed) as an antique since 1992 with a bundle of 5 1/4 and 3 1/2 inch floppies. The software which is stored in it is specific to that system and none of todays software runs on the system. I wanted to add some bit of interactivity to the system and install Windows 3.11 which used to run as a front end for DOS, but decided against it as it was too resource hungry for my system.The system then costed my dad a little over 30K rupees without monitor and printer (dot matrix).
All my initial days I learned and played on this system. I was envied by adults and kids alike. I was able to speak a language which many where not even aware off. My first computer was operational to the fullest till 1999. After 7 years it was replaced, I moved to adapt a non intel processor.
I got an AMD K6 in later 1999 (Pic - my cousin - with L&T Dotmatrix printer and K6 on Viewsonic). The system had 128MB RAM, with Windows 98 and 20 GB HDD and 400 Mhz (20 times faster than my older 286)with a 15" Viewsonic Monitor. I used this system during my engineering till 2004. This is system which provided me my first multimedia expereince and internet expereince. Those were the early days of internet and it was costly to have an internet connection. I remeber using various dial-up connection and due to my high internet usage at times our telephone bills used to run up quite high. My primary dial-up those days were Dish-net connection and occassional a Tata Nova. I used to borrow accounts to meet my craze those days. During my early days of internet I was hugely into intenet contests. Quite popular and an addict I was for Contests2win, Hungama.com and occasional MTV contests. I at one stage used to get gifts and memorobila on an weekly basis from these sites (mostly Hungama). Loved collecting points for playing contests and redeeming the same for some cheeky gifts. Approximate count of gifts I collected run in excess of 200 items.
Next I got an AMD Athlon 1800. It was a 1.6 Ghz processor with 384 MB RAM. I got it assembled at Parklane, Secunderabad before carrying it all the way to IIM-K. Incidently I ran Windows 95 on this system.This system I used for 2 years while I was in Kozhikode between 2004 and 2006, and later dumped it at K before returning back to Hyderabad in March 2006. Post which I continue to use my bro's AMD Athlon and my bro's Dell Inspiron laptop which he got it from US.
While in Genpact I was using the companies provided Dell Latitude D510 model. I felt this was the most robust and sturdiest of all Desktops and Laptops I ever got to use.
Moving from Hardware to Software I started with BASIC based programming and games like Prince of Persia, Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego, Genghis Khan
From Banner Mania, Wolf Pack,Para Trooper, Packman, Test Drive to name a few. As years went by and technology improved I got newer games. I still remeber I used to steal a few bucks from my dad's change and save enough to buy one single game from a small computer shop (PARAS Computers) on the road connecting Mozamjahi Market and Koti. Each floppy game costed 20/- then. Much for privacy of today :).
Initial utilitis like Banner Mania and Paint pro were fun to work and impress the guests who came in. I also remeber we used some Basic based application to generate Astrology charts. It was so much fun those old days, for uniqueness is definetly something to cherish.
Today as I blog this I am amazed at the journey I made from 1992 to 2009. 17 Years is time taken, I have moved from a 80286 to a P4 mobile processor, from floppies to SD Micros, from PC Games to Playstation, from B&W monitors to 32" LCD's from beep speakers to 5.1 DTS Home theatre from a small selffocus cam to a Compact DigiCam . From Bannermania to Photoshop; from DOS to Windows Mobile; from PacMan to NFS; from text to HDDVD authoring, I feel I have come offage in technology. It's not that I thrive on getting the latest Gizmos, but addition happens automatically; If that technological tranformation is not happening am afraid to say that one is Technophobic and Cilliterate.
Yes there might be circles who differ on amount of adaption technology in daily life, lets not debate it today. Technology is part of parcel of modern day's life.

Roundup 2008

As a continuation to the last years blog, I wanted to sign-off on the last year in my blog, but as my constraints on limited blogging time continued to restrain me from completing this activity. The year 2008 started where 2007 ended with lots of unanswered puzzles, frenzy state of mind and dwindling state of mind with a directionless, aimless career, professional life and a personal life. Life was very much at cross roads, and slowly but surely admist all the confusion life slowly blossomed toward the last quarter of the year.

Biggest movers
- Quiting from my first Job and moving out of Hyderabad
- My attempt to reach back and re-engage lost relation with involvement of my family.
- Trip to my native place Machilipatnam, after thirteen (13) Years
- Lived a proper bachelors life after studies.
- Married once and for all now !!!

Biggest Learnings

• Never let go of love and hurt loved ones
• To take life easy and not to pressurise self.
• Understand and respect others feelings.
• Let time take its time to heal and set things right.
• Have immense and never ending belief in God.
• Trust the inner voice, learn to cultivate to let the inner voice to speak.
• Being positive in life does immense good.

Best for the year

Top Albums/Songs
1. Jaane Tu Jaane Naa - Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
2. Bachana Ae Haseno - Khuda Jaane Kyu

Fav Movies
None
Fav Quotes -
Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa
Skipper: Who says a penguin can't fly?
Skipper: We should be up and running in say... 6 to 9 months.
Alex: Sixty-nine months?!
Skipper: No! Six to nine.

Fav Holiday/Travel
- Havelock Islands, Andamans

Fav Food
1. Vada Pav
2. Aloo Paratha

Fav Shopping Spot
1.Big Bazaar, PCMC, Pune
2. Fathima Nagar, Pune

Fav TV Channel
- CNBC TV18

Chronological Milestones

January - Uncertain Days

I got my first Job confirmation from Ocwen for a very succesful process that got concluded in Dec 2007. I was offered a position in Mallad (west), Mumbai for joining its integration team of NCI (NationWide Credits Inc). I put in my resignations in on 9th of Jan 2008 from Genpact, marking an end of era. Here is where my hardships started. Genpact failed to release me on time to join Ocwen, forcing the latter to withdraw the offer and I forced to serve a 3 months notice period as against promised month release by Genpact HR. I went on to take new assignments.

I moved to take charge of a small assigment of setting up Quality team for Merrill Lynch's operations at Genpact. The role, the team and vertical I dreamt since my IIM days. But with this opportunity came in my old Gal and with resignation papers on table made it quite difficult to make a favourable decesion in favour of Genpact.

I finally broke off the emotional bond with my ex-fiance on a final phone call in a much inspired Jab-we-met movie fashion - "Flush karde life se"

February

As time progress I wait impatiently for my release, making short trips to DLFH Genpact office, and applying for other offers. HP, Infosys, EDS, CTS, BoA, CFC, HSBC where in fray but due to year beginning paradigm no confirmations. Rough times for me this month. Had vivid thoughts of going back to old time and undoing all that went off.

March

Got confirmations from CTS and EDS and was contemplating on what to join while I was chilling on time. Marriage talks harden back home, I was in a storm as I didn't want to risk another turn-down and have a hear break. My state of mind was not to be associated with any other girl and if any chance patch up for proven older relation.

April

I finally got relieved from Genpact in 1st week of April. This was after 2 years I decided to move on, I was shifting to Pune to join CTS. BoA was delaying its decesion to close in on hiring till the last date, while HP offered their role after I joined CTS. Infy and Wipro followed HP too late for all. Later on in May EDS was acquired by HP, both where offering me roles at that time. EDS role was attractive with onsite posting and frequent travel, but apparent lack of focus from the EDS team proved deterrimental in joining the team.

I packed and shifted to Pune in a haze without much hulla. Earlier I started my prayers and got my astrological redone to get some deeper insights. I started using two more stones Cat's eye and pearl to improve my present situation. Felt more nostalgic about my previous Gal though she was not in forgiving mood, try to make it up for my sinful acts of letting go.

My parents shortlisted a girl and my mom was wildly escastic about the girl she looked at that she ordered me to fly-back the very weekend I joined the company and confirm the girl as they will run into inauspicious times. Half-heartedly I come and agree to the wishes of the family. I was totally unprepared for all this

May / June / July

Joined a Life Sciences team at CTS, as a Quality Reviewer for the delivery team. Started learning, understanding, adapting, accomodating, adjusting to the new environment and people. Moved into a bachelors house, started a life of Bachelor after a long long time. I started using public and company transport more often. Travelling has become a Passe of life now. Music decorated through my headphones and books and magzines in my hand where a signature look I had. I slowly started finding peace in the role and with myself.

I used to travel back home every fortnight and really used to make out a hell lot of time. Started to read books. Got introduced to self help books like The Secret and Paulo's books by accident and found a new found love in reading. Blogging continued to gain momentum during this time. With access to pirated Telugu movie DVD's I used to frequently watch the new flicks more often than earier.

I hesitantently started preparing for an eventuality called marriage which was to happen in August, buying clothes etc. My communication with the fiance and her family was highly restricted and contained, nor I encouraged the same. I was still very undecided on the marriage all the time. But my parents interest kept a hold on everything.

August

The month proved to be the roughest of all times I ever had. I reached by to my earlier relation to patch-up and make up for the lost ground. I didn't want to risk another relation and make unjustice to my first love on grounds of me getting married. Involved lots of people from my parents, relatives, friends and well-wishers to my fiance relatives. After a period of nervous weeks I fell to the inevitable for what looked neither good or bad. I got married on 21st Aug in Hyderabad to Vijaya. Whats install for us in the future needs to be looked into as times goes by. Had the toughest, roughest, and the most emotional of times this month as I went into the marriage bandwagon. So much was my pain due to uncertainity that I had low BP for weeks and I could hardly talk and express myself. I love the innocense in my Wifes face. I love the eyes and her tender looks used to offer me the much required solace.

Made my trip to Machilipatnam tracing back to my roots and to seek blessings of my Grandparents and Janma Bhoomi after over a decade. My new innings as a husband, and a son-in-law starts off.

September

After the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities at home I set back to Pune after nearly a 20 day stay in Hyderabad. I started to look out for house for us, while Vijaya continued to work in Hyderabad. Rough weather, lack of housing supplies, high brokerage only increased the agony of zeroing in on house for us Pune. Towards the last week paying a 13k brokerage I decided on moving into a decent 1BHK house in a very calm and homely locality. Bought a Honda Aviator solely meant for commuting for a family life (:)). This purcahase would be my second vehicle purchase after my TVS Victor bike in Sep 2003.

October

Spent quality time at home in Hyderabad for the Dusheera. I was supporting office from Hyderabad which drew a bit of flank from my supervisor. I had completed my bout of Pooja and Havan's for the year. Post the festivites I set back to my new home in Pune accompanied by my wife and my maradhi (bro-in-law). The whole month witnessed one of the frenziest shopping by me ever as we slowly set to settle down in the home. We made it back home to celebrate diwali braving all the odds of hardships of travel by train in this Diwali journey.

Novemeber

Things slowly setteled down with regular friction between the newly weds. Work pressure and volume began mounting, while we still continued to shop and celebrate our life. Trips to Hyderabad continued, though nothing significant happend. My gal was searching for Jobs, with most of them not in her fit.

Decemeber

This was a month of Vacation to be. We had been on our holiday trip to the Andaman's. Had a blast on the trip though we would have done better with slightly longer trip. Post this my Gal had to stay back at Hyd for 15 days for her exams and I took her along not before the Cristmas celebrations at home.

Regular blogging could improve your social life

Just happpened to come across this interesting piece of article from the web. Thought of posting and documenting the same, for my blogging habit picked me up from the shambles of life I as getting into after the turn of events that I had during the last part of 2007. I had my sense of being alone, socially withdrawn, professionally written down, mentally and physically stressed out. The blogging which I revived after the course of events actually kept my focus and concentration very much away from not so obvious and obnoxious twists ahead. Helped me regather and take a few steps towards unfulfilled dreams. Though I am not fully 100% out, but the blogging a few times made me a better person, without eating into other peoples time.

Anyways Here's the Article
Sydney, Mar 4 (ANI): A new Australian study has found that blogging can boost people's social life, by making them feel less isolated, more connected to a community and more satisfied with their friendships, both online and personally.
This evidence is the result of two related studies, conducted by the Swinburne University Technology in Melbourne, Australia, which found that after two months of regular blogging, people felt they had better social support and friendship networks than those who didn't blog.
In the first study, researchers Susan Moore and James Baker compared the mental health of people intending to blog with that of people not planning to blog.
The study, published in the latest issue of the journal CyberPsychology and Behaviour, involved messaging 600 MySpace users a survey link; of which 134 completed the survey, 84 intended to blog and 50 didn't.
"We found potential bloggers were less satisfied with their friendships and they felt less socially integrated, they didn't feel as much part of a community as the people who weren't interested in blogging ... they were also more likely to use venting or expressing your emotions as a way of coping," News in Science quoted Moore, as saying.
"It was as if they were saying 'I'm going to do this blogging and it's going to help me,' " she added.
The follow-up study, which is yet to be published, was conducted after two months and was sent to the same group of users; only 59 individuals responded.
Those that originally intended to blog reported feeling more satisfied socially as a result of being a part of a group of like-minded individuals. Those same individuals expressed a feeling that they could rely on others for help as well.
On the whole, all MySpace users contacted felt more at ease and less stressed after spending 2 months of steady social networking on the popular site.
"So going onto MySpace had lifted the mood of all participants in some way. Maybe they'd just made more social connections," Moore said. (ANI)
(http://www.yahoo.com/)
Though, just blogging might not be the best of the answer and the support I got. I had lot of support all through the current phase of life. From my parents, to relatives (Vanadana, Ramana, Balaji, Sreenu, Sudha, Vanimavayaa, Maheshmavayaa, Peddamma, Tatha, my brother by his invisible presence) collegues (Shankar, Adivi, Venkat, Kamal, Divya, Naaz, Amol, Amit, Vasu, bosses - Munish, CK Rao, Arun & Manda to some extent in their own unique way), friends (Ramya, Ram, Tarak, Naresh, Madhu, Duggu, Madhavi), well wishers like Divya, Ajay and Rama Aunty, and my own confused little sister Sreelekha, and last Poorni whom I am indebted to with my life for all the the troubles whoz very survivability instincts boosts me up.

Direction Check for New Year - Blogthings (Fun)

You Had a Fantastic Year(2007)!

Compared to most years, last year was definitely great. Overall, you're living a much better life than you were twelve months ago. And nothing is a better mark of a good year. Here's to hoping next year is even better!

How Did Your Year Rate?

You Are In a Good Mood

Starting this year, you're feeling pretty together and happy. While not everything is going you're way, you're keeping things in perspective. And it seems like things are looking up for you!

Your Job Satisfaction Level: 33%

Your job is definitely a bummer, and you probably should get a new one. Make sure you know what's getting you down. Is it your co-workers? The work environment? Your boss? Getting a new job is important, but so is not repeating the same mistakes.

Should You Get a New Job?

The Part of You That No One Sees

You are balanced, peaceful, and sincere. You're the type of person who goes along to get along. And you're definitely afraid of rocking the boat. Underneath it all, you fear your world falling apart. You'll put up with a situation that you don't like in fear of changing it. Disruptive and forceful people intimidate you - and sometimes exploit you.

What's the Part of You That No One Sees?

You've Changed 44% in 10 Years

You've done a good job changing with the times, but deep down, you're still the same person. You're clothes, job, and friends may have changed some - but it hasn't changed you.

How Much Have You Changed in 10 Years?

I Belong in London/Kolkatta

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

Almost Ready to Date

You're over her... well, mostly. Truth be told, you still think of your ex on occasion. Enough to effect any new relationship you may start. Give yourself time and space - you are 90% there. And don't swear off Women, just make sure to play the field.

Ready to Get Married??

You've done more than dream about the dress and the honeymoon In fact, you spend a good deal of your time thinking about what makes a relationship work And from your answers, it looks like you have the skills to say "I Do" and mean it You've dated enough, learned your fair share, and you're ready to settle down.

A 89% Tortured Genius

You totally fit the profile of a tortured genius. You're uniquely brilliant - and completely misunderstood. Not like you really want anyone to understand you anyway. You're pretty happy being an island.

Are You a Tortured Genius?

Your Love Life is Like Pretty Woman

"I want the fairy tale" You believe that love is truly blind, unpredictable, and surprising. Two very different people can easily find true love. At least, that is how it will happen when you marry a gorgeous billionaire someday ;-) Love style: Sensual and flirty Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Surprisingly happy

What Movie Is Your Love Life Like?

Your Life is Rated PG-13

Your life isn't totally scandalous, but you definitely don't shy away from adult themes!

What is Your Life Rated?

Reconciliation or more questions !!!!!

Today is the 31st of December 2007, the last day of a very if I were to refer it as a(u)neventful year. Am sitting all alone half naked infront of the interface to blog, is that loneliness that's what I ask myself as I blog. Turn of the year I do feel a great need to examine what has happened to me on two major fronts of professional and personal endeavours.
I feel that a few wrong choice here and few choices there and bit of short sightedness and probably overlook and take it easy attitude made things as complicated as they are not meant to be. A choice of continuing with the career and more to overlook things in my personal life
worked against me. These very decisions led me away from my potentiality.
At times I've been confronted with no meaning and absolutely no sense of direction, at times I felt a sort of huge emotional vacuum that has been creating threatening to consume me into the infinite void of unknown and wanting to establish a desperate need of relations....failing at this steps only mounts to compounding distrust on pockets of people who dump you, and leave you to dust to rot. I felt that life has been heading towards loneliness and gloominess towards the vague end of the year, so much to desire yet nothing to attain.
For these very factors are causing so much unrest, so much turmoil for this little soul at this vulnerable age, for I suppose this is right time to learn and harden my defence, for life would be more aggressive going forward. For aggression seems to be the best defence. And I wish to examine the possibility of changing a few variables to set the equation right and get everything on the fast track. Am talking about my work place, my role at the company, the company itself, my attitude, and everything which would make me comfortable and passionate about myself and the very life. I wish to regather and atleast now put down the roots tight and hard.
Well for now of all the damned things, I don't seem to like girls nor appreciate their interference in my life. I've bent on to the extent that I can't trust any girl and I don't seem to like the girls who seemingly like me, adore me and love me. People who want to talk to me on this bluntly turned down. I still haven't answered my self on how to find a right girl, a right kindda girl ...my kinddaa girl. Social taboos, changing and transit mindset of the present generation girls, family expectations, frequency drops, lifestyle hangovers, invisibly-visible controls and rigid expectations all having a potential to lead to a recipe of big hot & sour soup of agony.
I still haven't refined my recipe of stability. The recipe would of well balanced professional and personal life is the most mouthwatering to imagine, hard to cook, harder to serve, hardest to taste. Its only about time that things should fall in place or we take control of the same, and serve the same to the fullest.
Wishing all the best for the new year, new challenges which lay in the path.

Roundup 2007

Well I thought of wrapping up this year 2007 on the blog. I for sure know that this year is perhaps the most dynamic year of my entire life. Drawing a weird parallel to earth's tectonic plate moment, my life has had so twists and turns I could have ever imagined. The seeds might have been sowed in Oct of 2006, but the major action was in 2007 itself.

Biggest movers
- My movement/promotion to a black-belt,
- Chance to work with Alumni coupled with lot of learning
- Identified and bought my first house/flat.
- Movement & Focus in my personal life.
- Family relations-all round improvement
- Engaged and then a fall-out of the same.
- Dozen of my friends got married this year.

Biggest Learnings
- To be assertive, proactive and aggresive both at professional and personal life for if you are not one is stamped down.
- Not to give free hand to any girl, for one looses one's individuality and self respect.
- Dogs bark as an elephant passes by, and are to be ignored.
- Loving someone and caring is the thing which keeps me the happiest, more than being loved and cared.
- To be organised and planned in all aspects and try to be perfectionist, for the era of perfectionist has started.
- Live to make one's dream come true. Sense of achievement over a blossoming dream is amazing and automatically sets pace for everything else in life.
- Multi-tasking is a skill, and is to be mastered.
- One needs to be cognizant of professional burn-outs and have limits to achieve work-life balance.

Best for the year

Top Albums/Songs
1. Saalam-e-ishq
2.Happy Days

Fav Movies
1. Happy Days
2. Bomarillu

Fav Lines
1. Om Shanti Om
a. "Ek chutki sindoor ki keemat tum kya jaano...eeshwar ka aashirwaad hota hai ek chutki sindoor... suhaggan ke sar ka taj hota hau ek chutki sindoor har aurat ka khwaab hota hei ek chutki sindoor"
2. Happy Days
a.Tyson - "Neeku Estam aiythe raa, bayaam vesthe vadu"
b.Sravz - "Seniors ni juniors Question cheyakodadhu"
c.Tyson - “Max four years lo mee Andarini nenu panilo pedtanu anipistondi”
Fav Holiday/Travel Spots
1.Bhimatal-Naini
2.Mumbai

Fav Food
1.Pulihora
2.Veg Manchurian

Fav Shopping Spot
1.Big Bazaar, RTC-x-Roads, Hyderabad
2.Forum, Koramangalam, B'lore

Fav Airliner
1. Paramount Air
2. Kingfisher

Fav TV Channel
1.NDTV Goodtimes
2.History Channel

Chronological Milestones

January - A month of Uncertainty
Started with lots of uncertainty in terms of professional move at Genpact. After my stint with Genworth, I was asked to move out of Finance to Insurance core in Gurgaon, but I choose to wait for a new role in Credit Suisse, which eventually flattened out. The tremors of my movement in Genpact shook people in Gurgaon as I was wasting time to move on. Then decided to head to Herecules, Kolkatta and to USA. At the last moment I stayed back in Hyderabad as Black Belt for NBCU, which promised a lot.
February - Mixed bag
Formally moved into NBCU as a Black belt, had to adjust to late hours at office vis-a-vis a comfortable time in my earlier assignment. Had loads to learn, do and apply in this new role/
Personal front pressure on me to get married by April, for which I and my parents where totally unprepared. Lots of confrontations and rough patch with my relationship with my parents on this.
March - Stable ground
Some bit of focus at office, sense of direction to head and goals to achieve at a professional level. Starting to like and starting to learn more from the role. Personal life still worsening no one to compromise on my marriage issue, huge pressure built up has already happened. For the first time I start speaking from my heart to my cousins and slowly my Uncles, and kind-of arrived at a firm decision not to rush and fall into anyone's whims and fancies over the wedding. Arani's engagement culminates and trip to Guntur helped me a lot to understand things in different fashion.
April - Mediocre Tremor
I express my intention of not marrying and to stay focused on much priority things. I hoped this period would help me identify whats my true self and make me a better person rather an aware person. I started to explore opportunities for Land/ and property as a first step, started taking care of my financials, and start to harden my base to withstand any further shakes. Inputs from Aunts and uncles start pouring in. Arani gets married in the last week of the month, a good family get together during this time.
May - My place on Earth
Got my first property of my life. Froze it within a week of identifying the apartment. A 2 bed room, 1065 Sft apartment at Nacharam is what I choose. Had finally got one which I truly liked, and this took me a good 10 months of search to zero-in on one. Great moods.
June - Marriage Search in full Swing
The search for my partner starts of with full Valour, amidst lots of hustle and noise. Internet, friends, relatives every possible mode was initiated. I joined French classes Finally to get over my past proposal and personal issues. Great fun and learning from the French classes. Made good company and enjoyed a lot.
July - Match clicks
Finally the move of my life. By destiny or luck don't really know one of search lead to a profile which was closest to my dream. Everything I ever wanted was in this girl and everything went on so smooth and fast that I was left grasping for breath many a times. Met the girl and agreed to the match. My projects going great, and good feedback all over from my teams.
August,Septemeber - Happy days
The mid-of the year was a high-flyer for me, got my engagement fixed everything planned and falling in place. Been speaking to this girl and every bit of it I enjoyed the most and was the luckiest soul on the planet. My weeding dates fixed, was on cloud-nine never coming down from there.Job going on great, mobile bills soring high, weekend parties two months life I lived to the fullest.
October - Fracture lines, Quake - Richter scale - 10
My long conversations with my Fiance and her family started slowly but surely impacting my work and drop in my performance. My AVP started taking note of time with the teams and my concentration due to the same. I had the largest of warnings, scoldings from my Boss which can never be comparable to any in my life. As it was not sufficient fracture lines started surfacing all over in my relation. The mean attitude of FOB took its toll and ripped apart the marriage just 20 days before the date,. A very crucial juncture at which cards had been distributed and preparations are on full steam. Gruha Pravesham and Chamundi homam over Duseera all culminated during this month/
November - After Shocks
After the big Quake a series of after shocks continues, in form of feedback from the Fiance I received over the whole issue. I felt absolutely worthless of anything, I felt that I deserved no place on this planet, and felt that I lost the purpose of my life. Professionally things started looked shaky on back of all this, my superiors and colleagues though sympathised could not help me any further. Dr.Pratyusha got married in this month, been a wonderful trip to Bhadrachalam for the same.
December - Move On...
11 months into my new role I decided to move on unable to cope with turmoil and torture going on in my head. I want a change from my current role, position, company if possible. Started looking out and started applying in parallel too. Been travelling a bit and meeting a couple of friends so as to feel at ease. Spending most of the time with my family at home, as I've become quite irregular at office given the vacations and holidays that coupled this month. As of now tentative movements within Genpact and outside are possible with fair amount of travel, And I look forward for a very tough and dynamic career.

Lets see where I head and hopefully I will be more positive than ever before and take more challenges sucessfully.

Crazy about....Things to lookout for 2008

Offlate I have been thinking of freaking out a bit and am quite inspired to take an uncanny risk for having that adrelane rush.
Racing and fast driving has been my order of the day. While biking I've been consistently been above 60kmph but my bike doesn't have a great pickup for me to go from 0-60 in say 4s's. But somehow still keep pushing it to screach. 70-80 is what my bike manages but on the bisy roads thats all we can expect. Though I want to upgrade to a 200cc if not a 150cc bike, I've been warned against doing so, and spend money on a 2-wheeler instead get a car. Probably I will if I move to a new city.
Anyways my Favourite Car has changed. Earlier I was just bowled over by Octavia. The showroom at Raj Bhavan road had suited sales woman, very modern and sophisticated, the car was amazingly new. The interiors were none that I ever I saw, and wanted to own it when I get my car. But after so many years and so many new cars in the market am just touched by one car the Honda Civic, very contemporary and futuristic design, love to own it and zoom away in this beauty.
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Fast & Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious & Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift had there impact on me on the cars front. Lets see when I will get to drive so crazily.

Next found interest that's been bugging me in my me in my head is to own a dog. Been an a animal lover for long but not a dog lover, scared of taking its responsibility. But don't really know why this feel, these days. I want to own a doggie, possibly a beagle if not a Labrador. I want a doggie to play with and have fun, so that I can forget the world an be happy. I want to be loved and pampered whenever it seems me, and run and go around me whenever I am with it. Hope I do get a permission from my mom on this.