The Bucket List

The Bucket List is a comedy drama which released in 2007. Its a story which revolves around 2 terminally ill men who decide to escape from a cancer ward in order to head off on a road trip - a trip with a wishlist of TO-DOs before they "KICK THE BUCKET"!
Here's a review of the movie: Bucket List

I was watching a couple of scenes from the movie and it suddenly struck me - What are the things that I would want to do before I "KICK THE BUCKET"! Ok, doesn't sound like a fancy thought - but hey, all of us have wish lists, don't we? And all I'm saying is that we don't have to come up with it only when we feel we're done with LIFE! Wouldn't it be better to write them down now and work towards it through the years?

So here is my "BUCKET LIST" (subject to changes)

1) Resume SWIMMING classes (and this time for a change - LEARN TO SWIM)
2) Trip to the Himalayas
3) Get my hands on an AUDI-A8!! Whow!!
4) Buy my own house
5) Visit all the wonders of the world
6) Hold a python around my neck (It's not weird!)
7) Make a Tanjore painting
8) Resume Singing (Carnatic music)
9) Learn to play the guitar
10) A trip to Dubai and visit my school and friends (GOOD OLD MEMORIES)
11) Walk with stilettos
12) Visit Universal Studios and Disneyland!
13) Bungee jumping (I'll keep this to the end - not sure if I'll survive through it :-p)

Hmmmm....tough list! Can't imagine the feeling when I actually achieve all of it! :-D
Brings a SMILE to my face!

Mixed Emotions!

I picked this tag from Amrita's blog... (Thx!) ;-)
I'm half way through a not-so-exciting Thursday, and I have a couple of thoughts running in my mind...

I FEEL

Happy - that I have a lovely family; amazing buddies; a great job and most of all a CONTENTED Life!!

Good - about being HAPPY!! ;-)

Satisfied - that I have learned things the hard way!

Enthusiastic - about everything I do...and if it's a trip then I GO BONKERS!

Breathless - when I talk about something that I'm so totally involved with. I cannot break the continuity, you see! :-p

Excited - about moving to my new house in a couple of weeks! Yayyy...

Nagged - about unclean places, unorganized behaviour! Arghhhh...

Impatient - on every Friday evening!

Silly - when I crib about things that don't mean a THING!! Why do I do that??

Stupid - for discontinuing Swimming classes :-(

Blessed - for being the person I am!

Irritated - with people who tend to act like GODS!

Scared - when I think about how unsafe and unpredictable the world is today.

Depressed - when I lose my temper and realize it was so unnecessary.

SICK - when I'm lonely!

Just a random flow of thoughts...
You can tag yourself if you choose to! ;-)

Have you run out of blog topics?

Let me start by saying that the following pointers have not been entirely picked and identified by me. I have been reading couple of blogs and these points are what I gathered from most of it. Infact I even picked a couple of tips from them!

So let me get started.....
Have you ever run out of blog topics? I'm sure there would be mixed responses for this question.
From my side, I would have to say "YES"!
There are these days when I would have so much to write about but because of work or some other appointment I just wouldnt get the time! I don't understand why this happens only on days when I have so many thoughts and ideas to write down!

On the other hand, there have been some really DULL and gloomy days where I've had nothing else to do but BLOG. And somehow the timing isn't right to come up with something creative or even simple!!

Pretty ironical right?

For those of you who do experience this,...don't fret! I might just have the right tips for you (ALMOST!!) ;-)
Read along....

Rule No 1 : BE DIFFERENT
If you are the kind who has tons of readers stumbling across your blog every day, this tip might come in handy.
The key is to go "OFF-Topic". It's always different and gets your readers thinking about the various facets of your blog.
This is good to keep them guessing as to what your next post would be about!
Your readers get a break from the routine posts and also gives you a chance to showcase other interests of yours!

Rule No 2: KEEP THE SUBJECT INTERESTING
Let me describe this with an example.
When I started blogging, I was so completely addicted to it. I'd post random thoughts which wouldn't really fetch that involvement from the reader.
I felt so compelled to write something regularly. This perhaps was the cause of not coming up with an interesting subject.
When you get into this kind of mode, you can be branded as a blogger who blogs just for the sake of blogging. (I guess most of us who start off , fall under this category!)
The best thing to do in such situations, is to THINK! Think about subjects that are often spoken about in the news or papers, or some day-to-day events; or even some raging reviews.Anything that would help you keep your readers INVOLVED!

Rule No 3: WRITE PILLAR CONTENT
This is something we all need to ask ourselves. Do we really have something concrete in our blog.
The idea might have been great, but the manner in which it is presented isn't! This calls for a serious introspection into the presentation of the blog.
Your main focus is to reach out to your readers. For instance, if you are talking about meditation as a therapy, then concentrate on getting the idea across. This is what I mean by PILLAR CONTENT. Try to keep things simple and straight without complicating the subject.
It's always a good practice to strike the point right at the start. This holds the attention of the reader.

Rule No 4: MAINTAIN BLOG NOTES
Like I mentioned earlier, there are days when your mind simply overflows with ideas and thoughts. By the end of the day, you hardly remember any of it.
The best solution to this is to maintain blog notes. The moment you have an idea in mind, make a note of it. This can be recorded in a notebook or even on your computer.
So the next time you sit to blog, all you need to do is pull out your blog note and VOILA! You have tons of topics to choose from!

Rule No 5: TAKE SOME TIME OUT
R.E.S.T! Your mind needs some time to relax!
I would say this point applies to those who are extremely committed to their readers. Your belief is that "A BLOG A DAY KEEPS THAT FROWN AWAY"!
Well, at the end of it all, you'll find yourself frowning at the poor quality of your blog.
Adequate rest is essential when you want to live up to the expectations of your readers. This keeps the creative sector of your brain always ACTIVE and teeming with content!

Rule No 6: JUST DO IT
This tip is for all novice bloggers! I picked this up from a blog I read recently and it's absolutely true.
Sometimes you have an idea for your blog, but not sure what direction to take. The best cure for that is to just start writing. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how you’re going to end the post, just get your ideas down.

You begin piecing, cutting, pasting, re-wording and before you know it, your article is nearly done! Sometimes getting started is the hardest part, and once you begin, you realize you’re half way home. ;-)

So there you have it guys! Six valuable (I hope it is!) tips for getting your blog into action! Share your thoughts and let me know if it made a difference!

What do you do BEST?

Have you ever sat and pondered over what you do BEST?

I'm not talking in terms of a profession. All of us are good at our work; atleast most us who 'ENJOY' the work we do; or even those of us who don't quite like it but still manage to PERFORM well!

What am trying to refer to is a TRAIT of yours that you find so unique; something without which you are just INCOMPLETE!
Have you ever felt that there are some qualities in you which make a difference to the people around you?

Somehow after a lot of thought; I feel I do make a difference! And that is to make people SMILE! :-)
I wouldn't say it's something which I've been born with but certainly that one trait which has had its effect gradually! :-)
And it really WORKS....works if you want to make people SMILE!! :-)

Ok, I'm not saying I'm a Cyrus Broacha or a Russel Peters....I have a style of my own! I can't really have a camera pointed at me and asked to act funny. I can't be made to ACT funny!!
Call it Slapstick or Jocosity or even a plain and simple jest ...I believe I have it in me!! ;-) And its just so spontaneous!
And I must admit I say it best in Tamil or English!! It's works wonders when you say/hear a joke in your mother tongue. Just don't get that effect when it's translated!!

Hmmm, so coming back to my very own and radically distinctive trait...I must say I'm proud of it! It sure can get better. Fierce competition among the male crowd!! ;-)

It's fun be at the receiver's end every time you hear a joke....but listen up! It's even more AWESOME to be the one who initiates it!!

Try it, develop it...and you'll never realize it...but you sure will bring a SMILE to everyone's face!!

Garfield

Time Pass

Bored???

Check these sites out!

http://www.spotthedifference.com/explorer.asp

http://www.jigzone.com/

http://www.websudoku.com/

http://www.hangman.no/

http://www.warbears.com/

http://www.popcap.com/games/free/bejeweled2

F.R.I.E.N.D.S all the way!!!

I guess I was in the 11th grade when I started watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S! And my eyes have been glued onto this TV serial ever since!
It's all about the characters and the humor they bring in with every episode! I LOVE the cast! Simply perfect!
I've seen every season a 100 times; but NEVER get bored of it! Even today, when I get back from work; I'm glued to the television for an hour! It's more like a silent hour that we observe at home every evening - I'm not allowed to talk nor do I allow other people in the house to talk ;-p
I just LOVE the whole series! Reminds me of some of the good old times with my best buddies!!

As I grew older I started identifying myself with one of the characters. Every time I watched it, I'd wonder "Oh man, is this how I am with people" ?? ;-)
I've always related myself to MONICA - with very similar traits. Her annoyance with unclean surroundings (a CLEAN freak basically), an overly organized nature, irritating at times :-p;...All these traits resemble me a lot!
However I must admit I'm not so great in my cooking like she is ;-p - I'm Average in that department!!
Resemblances apart; my favorite character was - I mean is CHANDLER BING! He has an amazing sense of humor; anything he says gets you rolling on the floor instantly! :D

I loved the episode where Ross goes to this Salon to get himself a nice and hunky tan - The result of which was HILARIOUS!! Haahahhaa!

In contrast, the saddest episode was the last one; when all of them left the keys of the apartment just before they could vacate it! :'-( ....Painful!!!
The entire series was like a journey! With happy moments, sad times, moments where you needed to laugh your head off....a mix of all emotions! I guess that's what makes F.R.I.E.N.D.S so complete!
So for those of you who watch it, continue watching it! (I'm sure you will! )
And for those of you who haven't got your hands on a CD yet, it's about time you did! Trust me, you won't regret it!

So tell me who are your favorite characters and what is that you find so amazing and different about FRIENDS!

Modular Kitchens

Ever imagined having a kitchen which has the right things in the right place?

Well, make your imagination a reality by opting for a Modular Kitchen.
The best way to make use of your kitchen space!
From an Indian market perspective, certainly it involves quite a heavy investment...however, times are changing!

Gone are the days when people run around to buy materials, assign a carpenter to make the cabinets and monitor the work on a daily basis. Modular Kitchens have gone a step ahead by making it easier for you to design your kitchen according to your needs and leave it entirely to the dealer to take it forward from there.

You have wide ranges of wood to choose from such as normal plywood, MDF (Medium Density Fibers), Rubber wood, Solid wood, Teak, Natural wood....
You also get it in wide range of colors on which you can have a laminate or a glossy finish! Different finishing styles to render a Classy / Traditional / Mystic / Elegant / English / Modern look...All left to your choice!

The concept of built in accessories such as your carousel units, pull-out units, plate racks, spice racks, corner units, cutlery trays etc are so user friendly and add so much value to your kitchen!

And believe me its fun to go visit these showrooms. They have tons of kitchen models displayed and guide you through each one of them! Now, you may wonder what's making me write a blog on this. Well, I'm currently getting my kitchen 'MODULARIZED'....and after all the background study, multiple visits to the showroom; I finally managed to complete the design and order for it! :-) And honestly, I think its something that everyone who is in the process of renovating or constructing a new house should think about! It's worth the time and the money (I HOPE!) ;-)

So once I get it installed, I'll show you what it looks like!

Oh, and just to add to it; my favorite part in the entire design was the crockery shelf. Simply loved it!!

What's so fascinating about Social Networking sites?

"Heyyyyyyy, how have you been? So looonnngg since we spoke or met. Where are you now?"?

Similar reactions when you catch up with a friend or an acquaintance after years?
Well, that's why social networking sites are so fascinating!

Breaking barriers through simple networks!
I guess that's what makes it so addicting! It's easy to use, fancy and quick! What more do you need - to stay in touch?

And what's more - all the value-adds to make your profile look like a colorful and elaborate diary! COMPLETELY EFFORTLESS!!

Experimenting with the site itself is addicting! Adding pictures, albums, corny moods, messages, sending ecards, playing games (not just you but with your friends as well!), making sketches, cute emoticons, crazy quizzing, ....and the list just goes on!
Wonder who coined this idea and made it the ultimate WAY of staying in touch!! Creative, I must say!

Technology just keeps making things easier by the minute!
By the time you realize it, you'll find your thoughts being read by a MIND READER and automatically SCRAP it to people across a thousand miles! Howazzat?
Cool eh!...........Well, not really! I wouldn't vouch for it :-p

There are some things in life which just can't change, no matter how advanced technology gets...

The happiness you get when you read a letter HAND-WRITTEN by a person you love!
Catching up with friends after years and not say a word, still knowing that they know what you're thinking!!
Give your mom a call at night to tell her how much you miss her cooking and can't wait to get back home to her!
Sitting with your family and playing a game of pictionary....

Well. there are some things that TECHNOLOGY can't buy; for everything else there is always a Facebook, Orkut, Twitter, myspace...... ;-)

My all time FAVORITE english numbers!!

It's been a while since I sat and listened to some of my all time favorite English songs. So I decided why not write a blog on this...After all MUSIC is what spices up any mood!! :-)
Here goes....
My favorite english numbers (In no particular order)

Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams
Takes me back to those good old days in school. Young and energetic! This is one song I can listen to any time!!

Inside Out - Bryan Adams (again!)
I LOVE this song. A very simple chord, but touches the heart the moment you listen to it! Reminds me of some of best buddies!!

When you say nothing at all - Ronan Keating
I guess anyone who loves this number would understand the true emotion it brings out!
Love goes beyond words!! :-)

Thank You - Dido
This is one song which I listen to almost every single day! I sing it on way to work and back. However, I love the original! Peps me up instantly!!

Like an Animal - Savage Garden
A totally fun song to listen to. Just go crazy and feel like becoming a kid all over again!! Savage Garden rocks!!

Country Roads - John Denver
Ever wondered how lovely it is to drive by the country side; looking beyond fields and old thatched houses;...serene and quiet valleys!! ....This song brings that out!!
It's LOVELY!!

Be with you - Enrique Iglesias
Hot and husky voice!! Who can beat this guy? An awesome and sensational number!!

All that she wants - Ace of Base
I grew up listening to ace of base. Every number is not stuffed with sounds and noise. It plain, simple, catchy...and certainly a classic number in my opinion.

I'm Alive - Celine Dion
I love most of her songs. But this one really brings me ALIVE!! The most unique female voice I've ever heard!

Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
When I feel low and disgusted with life; annoyed and irritated ; this song just brings me back to normal! I love the lyrics!!

Daddy Cool - Boney M
My dad's favorite song. Somehow it got a place in my list as well. A classic in itself and has its own Style!! I;ve set this as my ringing tone!! :-)

Braveheart OST
This original sound track from the movie Braveheart takes me into my dreams! The tunes of the bagpiper makes you feel like you're walking on the clouds!!

As long as you love me - Backstreet boys
You'll know why I like this song once you listen to it!! :-)

When you sang to me - Mark Antony
Magical in it's own style!

There are lots more on the list...However, I'll limit myself to this for now!!
Infact I wrote each one down as I was listening to it!

Tell me what you think of my list? Or if there are any other songs which are your favorites? Or any song you think I should listen to!!

Have a musical day ahead!! :-)

Climbing up the ladder

I have been wanting to write this in a long time, but somehow something kept coming up and I just couldn't!! I finally managed to find the time!!

Oct 2005

It seemed like a new life; a new role to play; finally I get to live on my own; earn my money.....
Yeah, it was the first day of my first job. Nervous and still uncertain with what this new responsibility had in store for me; in the back of my mind there was this sense of pride;happiness;...a feeling of independence!
It felt great...I was experiencing one of the most challenging phases of my life!

I guess its something which everyone goes through when they get a job...particularly when its the FIRST!

Jan 2006
Life seemed to have a very monotonous routine in place.
Fewer hours of sleep; poor appetite; run to catch the early morning shuttle to work; ....Training sessions all through the day (Spent 8 hrs each day not knowing how these so-called training sessions would come in handy on the job!)

April 2006
From what I remember this was roughly around when I got assigned to a project(Sounds Fancy?? ...Not really...This is a buzz word in every software engineer's life)
How different was my routine?...Well, instead of training sessions with a million books;...I now stepped into a more practical approach to all my learning.....
WORKING WITH CODE!!


September 2006
Oh yes, my birthday.....Wish I had taken a day off! Instead lost my brains and headed off to work.
By now I had tons of work on my plate....CODE and CODE all over the place....but how much of it I understood ?? ZILCH My life had got so meaningless...seeing myself literally digging my own grave....in simple words...I HATED MY JOB!!
Thought I had a mental block; but nothing helped....
At the end of each day I'd desperately look out for someone who could understand my state of mind....and the by the time I could feel comforted by their kind words..it was morning! Time to get Back to the dungeon!!

December 2006
Alright, by now I had got a bit smarter...I had started looking for alternative job profiles. No kidding, but this was the time when I surfed the net (SERIOUS STUFF), networked with people, got introduced to new and interesting roles, juggled between locations to get more clarity on what I had gathered...
It sure was a struggle. I grew mentally strong as I realized there was a way out...there was certainly some hope of setting the foundation for a successful career.

February 2007
What do you do when one fine day you are asked to BUZZ OFF and are not given the privilege of earning the few BUCKS that you used to??
----Yes, PANIC!!!!
Here I was...without a job, without a professional experience which was worth mentioning in my job resume, without a clue of where my career was heading off to...
I was shattered.
My desperation of getting a job was evident; however I stuck to my interest..I didnt want to make a mistake again!! I hunted for jobs. My visits to the temple started getting frequent. Somehow when you're depressed; you feel there is some mysterious strength out there...that'll help you get out of all the mess!
Well, I did get out of the mess...and quite fast ...I GOT A JOB!! :-)

March 2007
My first day at my second job! Hmmm...not the kind of enthusiasm I had back in my first job. No expectations! Just a feeling of relief that I was back on my own!!

September 2007
Life had never been better. Work was fun! I learned it well and executed it better.
Got my confirmation letter, additional responsibilites, made good friends,...It was amazing!

January 2008
I was doing great. But somehow I got the feeling that my job got less challenging by the day. There was nothing to look forward to. I guess my time management skills excelled by all bounds; I completed my tasks way before the deadlines!
This got me thinking....if my job had just got too easy to handle!

March 2008
I got PROMOTED!! All that hard work and struggle had finally paid off!
A higher grade in designation, salary hike, new tasks,....it all felt good!
But there was no motivation. No kind of challenging task to take up. You always feel good when you are made to compete with the best. But this wasn't the best...
So there you have it...I was all set to get back to job-hunting. However, this time it was not out of desperation...it was a very conscious move!

June 2008
After 4 rounds of interview I managed to crack it all and got the opportunity of a lifetime!! I resigned from my current organization...No regrets, no apprehensions, ...Just plain and simple - CONFIDENCE and FAITH!

July 2008
My first day at my third company! No expectations this time around as well!! But I was back...mentally strong, confident, mature, diligent....This was the first time I realized what the last 3 years had taught me! I learned from my mistakes and never let success take over my thoughts. I balanced the two pretty well!

January 2009
I got my confirmation letter! Certainly a great feeling!!
But the best comment I received was - Quote "You are an extremely lively person. You enjoy your work and make others enjoy their work too! Truly appreciate your commitment towards your work."
I'm one of youngest members in my team. I take every day as a challenge - I treat every day as a NEW day for learning NEW things...and most importantly ENJOY every bit of it!

I believe I have climbed the ladder of SUCCESS with every passing year. I still have a long way to go,.....but I'm sure its going to be worth the CLIMB!!
That's my story!! :-)

F.U.E.L Woes

When do you find yourself in such situations?
- How do I get to work?
- I need to reach the hospital
- Will my provisions be delivered?
- Will I find any vegetables in the market?
- How am I going to shift to my new apartment?
- When will life get back to NORMAL??

HOW?....WHEN?.......

Well, I'm not sure how many of you get up in the morning just to find out that the country's 37,000 fuel stations are all dried up. All the Public Sector Oil companies are on an indefinite strike!!
Certainly not the best way to start off your morning! Gosh, I was so annoyed with myself for not filling up my vehicle's fuel tank the previous day - partially because of my laziness to go to the gas station which is about 100 meters from my place. Arghhh!!
All the gas stations had barricades outside. Nowhere was there fuel of any kind! And I stared at the road wondering how a normal, routine life comes to a halt without FUEL!
All I could see on the NEWS - people running with cans to the nearest gas station, vehicles coming to a halt, vegetable prices rising due to transportation woes.....OH MAN!! All because of that one simple yet EXTREMELY ESSENTIAL element without which life feels so crippled.
Isn't there a way out?....and then it just hit me that I was already late. How am I going to get to work? I decided to go by the Volvo! :-(
Feel so handicapped without my bike....Ouch!!!
And there I was trying to find an autorickshaw to get to the d@mned bus-stop. I landed up paying triple the amount than I would on a normal day!! :-(
Well, anyway...I reached work.....Still feel so helpless without my bike!
....I'm going to take the shuttle from work. Hope these guys don't throw me out as I don't have a valid pass!! If they do, then you'll find another blog about how I strolled back home!!
Alrighty, got to run.....