Furnishing my home

US is a strange place. Here services are really expensive especially the ones that involve physical labour. For example - to get a plumber to repair your faucet would take nearly 40 dollars... totally different from how India operates... where we are so used to cheap labor.

Anyways we (me and my roommate) figured out that to get furniture for our home, we would have to do it ourselves, else it would be too damn expensive... So after some intense browsing through the different sales in different parts fo the town in websites, we finalized on a couple of deals - couch, mattress (my roomie had one, I was sleeping on a thin comforter on the carpet floor) etc...
We then decided to rent a U-haul - a truck renting company which helps in moving stuff, there was a maddening rush for trucks as it was month end... Anyway finally we managed to get a pickup truck which was open at the top - thought that would suffice... We were told that the pick-up location for the truck was in the twin city St. Paul which was around 10 miles from our place...

We then decided to get the directions to the different places through google maps. We would first go and get the truck and then go get the mattress and then the couch and then back home... We had no idea of what an eventful day we were going to have.

We went to the U-haul office and that guy said that there was no reservation in our name... We were shocked and then he checked and said that they had the reservation for 5:30 and it was 3:30...

No point in going back to minneapolis... my friend started feeling hungry and we decided to eat at a Chinese place... I ordered for Chicken Fried Rice and my friend ordered the solitary vegetarian dish... The fried rice was good but the quantity was way too much - I had that till sunday night - three times! my friend was clearly struggling with his vegetarian dish... He said that he was a "bakra" even in the literal sense... He struggled with the vegetation that was given to him and some white "stuff" (which resembled a tail and a small head) - they called it mushrooms but I had my own doubts. I aired them to him and that was the end of his lunch - he decided he had enough of the stuff...

We went back and took the truck which was now ready (we had it till 9 am in the morning). We then headed for the first destination "mattress" After following the directions, we realised that the map was not too good... We missed an exit thanks to it.. We decided to call the person and tried to figure out the direction... He said head on West Drive Road and take a turn at mississipi drive in... We did that and we came to a locality but we could not locate his number... Then he said there are two mississipi drives on west river road!! Then we went ahead and we saw that this road turned into some russel drive - Now we were totally lost!!

Now where do we go - my roomie said with a gulp - I am completely lost man, no idea what to do... We then landed in a supermarket for some help with directions, where they gave us a book which had all the maps and there we realized that there were two west river roads and they both had mississipi drives!! Crazy...

Finally we reached the house we intended to and then slowly started uploading the King Size bed. A king size bed has a steel frame and then two box springs and then a mattress on top (similar to a double bed in India)... It took about half an hour to load into the truck and the huge mattress was quite a pain - we managed to keep it vertically along with the boxes...


Then we slowly started driving to the location where we would get the coach... As we were taking an exit - I suddenly exclaimed - Hey where is the mattress.. My friend turned back and he was also equally shocked - It had fallen off!!! Now this was really not what we had planned for... we drove back and we saw that the mattress had fallen on the side of the freeway and we could not park our truck in the freeway - so we had to keep it around 50 metres off the place as it had fallen off near an exit and then slowly haul it manually!! It was quite an exercise and we finally got it into the truck and drove on to the place where we could get the couch!!

When we reached there after getting lost a couple of times (we were getting used to this by now - seemed to be the norm of the day). The person was kind enough to keep the couch in his driveway - we loaded the couch on to the truck and drove down to our place...

After a lot of struggle and three trips in the freight elevator aat our place , we managed to get the couch and the mattress into the house and set it up - Then we went to drop off the truck, we left the truck in the shed and by the time we reached home it was around 11:30 pm!! A really hectic Saturday - sat down and watched the ending half an hour of "My cousin Vinny" on TV and slept off

Sunday morning: we were up at 7 as we had to drop off the keys of the truck at U-haul. After we dropped it off, we drove another 20 miles to a location called Eden Prairie where we would get the dining table, computer table and some chairs...

When we reached there, we realized that we had more stuff than we can handle for the car... Luckily they could be dismantled... so slowly we started getting the furniture dismatled part by part. I had my eyes set on the office chair which was also part of the deal, but my friend it was too bulky for the car... But I decided that we would take it one way or the other... We loaded the dismatled stuff and then tried putting the chair in the backseat - It was too big too go in one piece...

The inevitable was that we had to leave it there!! I was quite dissapointed but then checked out the bottom of the revolving office chair and realized that it could also be dismatled - we did that and then managed to fit it into the car and drove back home...

My friend and I started discussing that we could start this as a part-time business as we were getting pretty good at moving stuff. Finally we got them to our home and set it up, which took about an hour or so...

It was totally worth it - now we had a couch to sit, a computer table to work, and more importantly I had a bed to sleep. The bed was awesome - a huge bed with springs for extra comfort - it was quite comfortable considering that I used to sleep on the comforter on the carpet floor before!!

At the end of the exercise, I realised how important it is to be self-sufficient here... you had to do everything yourself - you wash your own clothes, you iron your own clothes - you even move your own stuff. One cannot rely on getting help as it was way too expensive... It is so different from India, where we are so used to getting labourers/porters etc to carry our stuff and at extremely low prices... I realised the value of these people this weekend!

Right here waiting for you

Last party in engineering college. Party was in full swing - the atmosphere was awesome - dance numbers were being playes. Alcohol was flowing and slowly we started getting high... Initially guys were just humming the numbers but slowly one after another, they started hitting the dance floor shedding their inhibitions... People were dancing to songs that they have never heard before too... Most of the steps that had no rythm in them - but the enthusiasm was clearly visible.. Guys were head banging near the speakers... some guys made a train and ran all around the hall...

Alcohol does wonders - people just freak out shedding inhibitions and have a good time - some go overboard and end up sloshed. Guys who knew exactly when to call it quits enjoyed the most...

Late into the party the music became more sober and then softer romantic songs filled the air... There was this particular song that was being played "Right here waiting for you". I sat in a contemplative frame of mind on a chair next to the large speaker soaking into the lyrics of the song.

Lot of thoughts were crossing my mind and I was singing along softly when a friend came to me and said - Da, Will you just keep waiting... A simple statement but said a lot. He was saying - will you keep waiting or will you do something... I just looked at him and said - I dont know... He smiled and left...

Years have passed, situations have changed, people have gone different ways, but I still sing the song "I'll be right here waiting for you"

Centre of Attraction

Many instances in my life have made me believe that I am quite attractive

At Pantaloons, a pretty looking girl once asked me" Whats the price of this top". I felt quite happy and said that you will have to ask the people at the store or check the price tag. She said "Sorry" and went away with a sheepish grin on her face. Maybe she felt her question was not a great opening and had not got my attention enough. Poor thing.

Once in a hotel, when I was walking towards the restroom - a lady wanted to see whether I am chivalrous and asks me - "Can I get a glass of water". I told her that I would have loved to but they will not allow me in the kitchen as I do not work here. Again she said "Sorry" and her friends started giggling at her. She was blushing profusely - guess she understood that her her first move to me was not smart or maybe she was shy as the girls were pulling her leg with me. Girls!

Sometimes I am so attractive, that girls (even women) can't just help asking me for favours. A couple of times in the railway station - pretty women have become quite bold and said to me - "Hey Cool, please help me with the luggage" - I guess cool is like short form of "cool looking guy"

The most audacious move was made by a lady in "Fabmart" and she took a kurta and said "Will this size fit me" - now if that was not like being direct with her intentions. She just could not resist me I gues. Man, I am on a roll. I just said" you will have to try it out - I myself am looking for a kurta of my size". For some strange reason, she too apologized profusely. Must have been that she felt she was too open and I did not respond well enough. Ladies, go slow - do not lose control of yourself when you see smart guys..

Numerous instances like this - girls coming to me in Supermarkets and asking me - where do I pay for this, whats the guarantee on this etc.... Oh my! Do I stand out or what in a crowd or what

I have started believing that wherever I go, I am quite a centre of attraction and the fairer sex can't just help noticing me ...

My "Best"

Best English Movie: Shawshank Redemption
Best Hindi Movie: Satya
Best Tamil Movie: Michael Madan Kamarajan
Best Malayalam Movie: Manichitrathazhu
Best Action Flick: Terminator II
Best Animation Movie: Finding Nemo

Best English Song: Everything I do it, I do it for you (Robin Hood- Prince of Thieves OST)
Best Tamil Song: Yen Kaathale (Duet)
Best Hindi Song: Raat Chandni (Sifar)
Best Malayalam Song: Aaro Viral Meeti (Pranayavarnangal)
Best Sentimental English Song: When Love and Hate Collide
Best Sentimental Hindi Song: Ishwar Allah (Earth)

Best Comic Book: Tintin
Best Cartoon: Tom & Jerry
Best Comedy Show: Everybody Loves Raymond
Best Reality Show: Fear Factor

Best Hollywood Actor: Tom Hanks
Best Hollywood Actress: too many actually
Best Bollywood Actor: Amitabh Bachchan
Best Bollywood Actress: Tabu
Best Malayalam Actor: Mohan Lal
Best Malayalam Actress: Shobhana
Best Tamil Actor: Kamal Hassan
Best Tamil Actress: Jyothika

Best male singer(English): Bryan Adams
Best female singer(English): none
Best male singer (Malayalam): Yesudas
Best Female singer(Malayalam): Chitra
Best Music Composer: A R Rehman

Best Dish: Chicken Biryani
Best Fresh Juice: Watermelon
Best Aerated Drink: Coca Cola
Best Alcohol: Gold Label whisky
Best Beer: Corona

Best Bike: my Black Samurai
Best Pastime: Watching movies
Best Outdoor Sport: Cricket
Best Indoor Sport: Table Tennis

Best Friend: the person knows it and thats all is important!

Poles apart

Friday evening... the much awaited release of the movie... Aamir coming back after 4 years... reviews stating that it would be the movie of the millenium... critics claiming that "The Rising" would go a step forward and win the Oscar... and what not...

The marketing and promtion campaign of "The Rising" was a splendidly done job -and it became the hottest topic in Media next to only the "Mumbai floods"...

Anyways getting back - we reached the theatre quite early - First day first show of a huge supposed to be blockbuste movie and Friday evening.. the combination was potent enough to ensure huge rush for tickets...

The film started with a jarring sound blaring across the speakers... "Jagooooo " - I was shocked... A.R.Rehman was sleeping while composing this or what... Besides that the start of the movie was quiet poignant and the entry of Aamir and the setting up of the whole plot in the first 15 minutes was decent...

Then out of nowhere Rani comes in the story and when we are just getting used to her "abrupt" entry... Amisha pops up... With these two sub-plots - Captain Gordon and Amisha, Aamir and Rani - the film keeps abruptly switching from scene to scene jarring the flow... In one of the few well-shot scenes in which Aamir gets really emotional as he has just shot a fellow Indian, in a second a mujra starts in which Rani is dancing and I am like - what the heck is going on... Songs are ill-timed and really slow the pace of the film - they seem out of context and out of music - pretty sad album by Rehman...

And if you are bored and try catching some sleep, that irritating "Jaago" song which is played many times will wake you up - I guess Ketan Mehta noticed that many people slept during the premiere and hence decided to play this song every 15 minutes in the movie to ensure that people do not go into a deep slumber...

The reason for Mutiny is pretty decent because it is exactly what is etched in history but then all of a sudden, lot of characters (kings and queens) pop in and everyone is colluding and ask these Aamir and his fellow sepoys to plan a grand scale war etc...

The second half is a shade better. The British get hang of the plans of rebellion in the sepoys and try to nip the rebellion in the bud. They corner Aamir and arrest him and then it goes on... For total filmy scenes, Rani Mukherjee comes to the jail before he is to be hanged to marry to him - how senti - pathetic

When he is about to be hanged, Aamir shouts: "Aakraman" - why was this scene "Cut, copied and pasted" from Braveheart!! Can't there be any originality in the supposed prospect for Oscar...

Rani has a small role, Amisha has an even smaller role and Aamir also does not seem to have a good role and anyways he does not do justice to his role. Funny thing is Aamir does not stand out as a main character which is quite unlike his earlier movies where he becomes a central figure just by his power packed performance... The Englishman who plays Captain Gordon seems to have the meat of the role and is the only person who has really done a good job... At the end of the film, I was telling my friends - It should have been called "Goron Pandey" instead of "Mangal Pandey"...

After seeing "Lagaan - which I feel was a really beautiful movie - I had expected a lot from "Rising" - but in the end I was really dissappointed.. I came back home dejected, lighter by 10 dollars and wiser - I made a resolution of not "Banking on Media hype and Reviews before going to watch a movie"

Sorely dissapointed with "The Rising" (I can see its box office collections only "Falling") all I can say is that "Lagaan" and "Rising" are poles apart...

Gratitude

Saturday evening - I and my roomie were watching a movie on DVD and waiting for the cable guy to come and install the cable modem... He was already late for his appointment and when he finally arrived it was around 8:00 pm

He was not an American - he seemed to be an immigrant from some African nation I guess - his English was heavily accented as well... He took about 15 minutes for the installation and we did a routine check to see things were working fine...

The guy left and we continued with the movie... 15 minutes later one of my friends asked - What do you use this box for (he was pointing to a steel box which had a clip on one of its faces to hold papers). All of us were staring at each other with a puzzled look and slowly it dawned to us that the cable guy had left his box...

We checked the contents of the box and it showed a lot of receipts and cheques and we garnered that it would be important for him and gave him a call right away...

It was difficult communicating to him that he had left something behind - in the beginning when my friend called, the cable guy thought we were accusing him of taking something

I took the phone and explained to him that he has left his work box behind and slowly the truth dawned upon him - that his whole days work and collections was in that box - He quickly apologised and said he would be there in 15 minutes and was really sorry for the trouble

An hour later the cable guy calls and my friend goes down to give him the box... When he came back he was holding a 1 litre Mountain Dew bottle... I asked him - hey you bought soda is it -

My friend said "No, the cable guy gave it to me...".

I was pleasantly surprised... There are a lot of instances when some unknown person helps us and we just say a thank you - and go on our own way..

This cable guy showed us a lesson or two about how to show gratitude... It was not about the Mountain Dew bottle - the guy was a poor man and I am sure he would be finding it hard to earn his living but still he had heart to give us a gift to show his gratitude... And also teach us a lesson or two in Humanity

We pay the price!

Was watching TV and there came a short episode of 5-6 minutes in which a person questioned the high taxes in US...

He said that for the sake of deterrence, America had built nuclear capability capable of wiping out the entire planet. Why does one need that kind of capability - is beyond comprehension!

US Army has 21 stealth bombers - each of which cost upto 1.5 billion USD. Had they bought one plane less, they could have wiped out poverty, illetracy from a whole nation in Africa...

The army has numerous tankers and they are continuing to amass many more and in today's scenario, many of these are outdated - and just maintaing them costs billions of dollars

And it went on to submarines, military forces etc...

The essence was "Mindless spending on arms and ammunition in the name of National security" and who paid for these - the People...

Things are not much different in India too...

The Maze

Got up in the morning and glanced outside - it was 7:30 and it was quite dark... There were dark clouds looming and I did not have to be a weather forecaster to know that it was going to rain today!

I used to walk down the street but today that would not have been such a good idea. So I decided to take the alternate route that I had always avoided - the Skyway

Skyways are interconnecting covered bridges that connect first floors of different buildings in Downtown and form a network similar to a network of roads through which one could walk from one building to another. The skyway is centrally airconditioned/heated as the case may be and therefore is technically weather-proof...

I do not think many cities around the world have skyways - for one no city in India has it. Reason: they don't need one at all...

Necessity is the mother of Invention. In winters, temperatures drop to -30 degree centigrade and sometimes exposure to upto 7 minutes can lead to frostbite... This forced the people in this state to come up with this innovative idea of connecting nearly the entire downtown with skyways, so that people could come to work without standing in the cold for too long!

The reason I avoided it is that skyways are extremely complex - they zig-zag a lot, go right through shops, buildings corridors and the people relatively new to the skyway can get highly dis-oriented in it. For example: My office is dead straight from my house by road but by the skyway I have to take nearly take 15 turns and go through 8 - 10 buildings before I reach work....

Whether I like it or not, this is going to be my road in winters - so I better figure it out fast, else I may end up going around in circles in this maze!!

When Love and Hate Collide!

My "Vault" CD does not work anymore - tried it for the nth time yesterday - scratched beyond repair.

Luckily life is not like that - there are ups and downs - but scratches in Life heal with time - atleast thats the Hope and it is that Hope that carries me on!!

If anyone has that song in mp3 please let me know - would love to have it back in my collection...

Miss my Math classes

Used to be a part-time Maths faculty. Unfortunately since I had to relocate, I am unable to pursue this anymore though I would have loved to...

Part-time teaching helps a lot - it builds confidence, sharpens one's communication skills and more importantly keeps you in touch with your basics which you learnt early in life

More than all that - I just used to love taking the Maths classes - explaining problems in detail - listening patiently to the questions that the students had and answering them. When I had to explain tough problems, I had to use different approaches to get the idea across and this was sometimes a challenge - but I used to like the challenge.

Teaching was a welcome break from the routine office work and was also a good pastime as all I did in my freetime was watch tv, go for movies, eat-out or yeah crib about work!

I definitely enjoyed taking classes and this is something that I would like to do when I get back to India. Hope my students enjoyed the classes half as much as I enjoyed taking them!

Spoilt One

Never washed my clothes ever.
Never ironed them.
Never washed vessels (never even washed my plate - just dumped them in the sink).
Never had to cook.
Never had to clean my room.
Never had to walk to work.
Never had to shop for groceries.

Now I have to do all of them and a few things I will discover painfully soon - and all this by myself!!! Where is justice in this world! How can they burden a human being with so many chores and make them do this repeatedly...

And ironing is such a hassle - the shirt in your hand behaves like a mischevious child and does not stay still on the iron table and when you move the iron, it curls and up falls to the other side causes a crease, when you try to remove one - another one mysteriously appears... After 10 minutes of fighting these creases, I gave up... Today I wore a shirt which has creases like a Z - well a couple of hippies who had looks on their faces like "We are not the only wierdos here"

And to imagine - one guy used to iron and neatly fold my shirts for 2 Indian rupees... A maid used to come and clean the house spic and span and do up my bed... I used to throw my clothes in the laundry and the whole supply chain was so automated that clothes would come neatly pressed in 3 days... A parcel used to come sharp at 7:30 with dinner... Never had to worry about one of these things ever in my life... That was Life...

Yeh Kahan aa gaye hum!!

When I was busy complaining about this to my Spanish American friend and she giggled saying something like "C'ouvre cito" - not sure what it was - sounded something like that... I asked her what the hell was that, she said it translated to "u Spoilt one"...