Finally its summer, I thought it'll never come in Madison. But with summer comes my allergies. It seems to have skipped spring and caught up with me in summer. Last three days I have been sneezing like there is no tomorrow.. eyes itching, runny nose.... all the symptoms. I started the generic version of Claratin yesterday. These are 24 hour non-drowsy pills but they seem to only work maybe 12 hours and definately are not non-drowsy. They make me feel sleepy.

Dropped mom off today, early in the morning. Till yesterday I couldnt wait for her to leave and suddenly when I reached the airport, I didnt want her to go. The mind works in mysterious ways.. till she is around I want my space and suddenly when I have it, I feel like I am getting sucked up in a vaccum. Any how.. she is gone.

I attended a class on 'Building Customer Relationships' today. Lots of information from Dale Carnegie's 'How to win friends and influence people', still it was a pretty interesting class. More of those tomorow. Got some work done with expenses and work plans and emails. Still have a lot of work to do. Returned my swiss army backpack and got one of those roller ones for 40 bucks.. lets see if this lasts. I am already having double thoughts. I'll probably take it to LA this weekend.

Watched X3 day before yesterday and I was terribly disappointed. There is absolutely no material in it. They could have made it so well, specially the guy with the wings had potential. They could have shown more of him. They kill off key people too easily.. Gene is not very convincing in her acting. Overally its a pretty bad movie.

I should start running from today but I didnt plan things well. Its 9 pm and I havent had dinner... when do I run and when do I eat... hmmm....

It's not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game even starts. --Addison Walker

Fact of the Day:
Negativity costs the U.S. economy an estimated $300 billion a year! On the flip side, research shows that positivity pays -- quite literally! Donald O. Clifton was one of the first psychologists to study the link between profit, productivity and positivity. Diagnosed with cancer, he raced to finish the story of the research behind his famous Theory of the Dipper and the Bucket, along with practical suggestions for using it. Shortly before his death, "How Full Is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life" was published. Thousands of companies have benefited from Clifton's work, which mentions certain helpful, general rules. An example: the 3:1 rule -- which maintains that it takes three positive interactions to cancel every negative one at work. That's three smiles for every scowl! Find out more about the Dipper and Bucket theory and how to apply it. [ more ]

Since the weekend plan blew up I feel like I have lost my privacy. Every moment of the day there are just so many people around. It feels like I have lost the ability to think with so many people without anything to do hovering around. Maybe thats a good thing, but it does get on my nerves sometimes. Few more days and I will be craving for company... thats how it goes....

Yesterday was totally chilled out, we just stayed at home, ordered in and watched 24. This morning we went for breakfast to Einstein Bros, then mom cooked a complete indian meal in the afternoon and more 24 following that. We are at 17 and I have all the episodes till 22. I guess we will have to cut off at that !

Major change in weekend plans.. I miscalculated the time it would take us to go to Indianapolis from Madison. Instead of 4 hours like I initially thought it actually is 6 hours. Puneet's flight got delayed and he didnt get here till 1 am last night. We were supposed to visit my coz in Indiana this weekend but that changed after we saw the amount of time it will take us.

I am trying to hold on to these days with mom because I know there are a very few left and its going to be tomorrow and she will leave. I will be reliving this time for the next 6-9 months till I see them again and that would also be for a few days... but its difficult and time is slipping very quickly.

Got back in Madison with an earlier flight through Chicago (worst airport ever! ) and was able to have a decent indian dinner back in Madison on thursday night. Friday was very quick because of my meetings and a lot of travelling between verona and mineral point. Got back here after 1 and took care of a lot of admin work like doing expenses and travel. Next month is going to be pretty insane in terms of travelling. I am actually quite excitied about that! Its going to be about 7 cities in less than 25 days... maximum number of days in the same city will be 5.

Evening we had dinner in Shish which is a Syrian restaurant on University. We tried some really hot Picante sauce. Just thinking about it makes my tongue burn! After that showed mom Whole Foods Market, she absolutely loved it. Got back and watched a bunch of 24 episodes. Mom is pretty hooked on to it now!

Today's been pretty eventful. We went to the Farmers Market around Capitol and then the Brat Festival which was a lot of fun. Went to an Indian Restaurant for lunch and then Siesta for 2 hours.

Finally its that time of the week... checking out in 9 minutes from Crowne Plaza, Grand Rapids and have someone at home waiting for me!

Well ok, not home - another hotel but still it feels great that someone there is waiting for me :-)

Yesterday went very smoothly, I am taking charge of all the presentations while Joe is sitting back and helping answer any questions. Just like it should be, I am grasping more and able to present better. Managing the balance between notes, visios, presentations and showing things in the system. Hopefully we can finish early as planned today, but my flight is not till really late so I'll probably end up waiting from 24 episodes on the airport .. again something I am looking forward to.

Ended up going to a Longhorn Steakhouse yesterday. They prepared a cheese quesadilla so I wasnt too disappointed. Specially the sweet potato was delicious. Got back here, did some work and went for my run. Thats 4 days in a row, I feel good! Some more work and then 2 hours of LOST season finale!

I dont understand why they had to bring Desmond back but it looks like they went full circle from first and last episode being about Desmond. I liked the last touch when Locke stops the keying numbers, desmond blows up the place and they get detected by Desmond's people...kinda gives you hope that they will survive.

I have a feeling they are trapped in the Bermuda Triangle!

Shine one corner of the world -- just one corner. If you shine one corner, then people around you will feel better. You will always feel as if you are carrying an umbrella to protect people from heat or rain. --Shunryu Suzuki

Inspiration of the Day:
Raymond Scott retired from Boeing after 30 years, so that he could focus full-time on giving Sierra Leone - his native country - a chance to shine. Scott and the New York-based custom jewelry firm Finesse Diamonds plan to introduce what they say are the world's first "fair-trade diamonds," mined on territory controlled by Scott's family and neighboring chiefdoms, and polished in newly built factories staffed by Sierra Leoneans. Today, the average mine worker earns less than $1 a day. One of Scott's current missions is to negotiate agreements with tribal leaders and landowners to create a collective of sorts, where each member is dedicated to fair-trade ideas such as livable miner wages, a rejection of child labor, worker safety, environmentally sound mining, and on-the-books diamond trading. This is just one of many ideas Scott is planning to put into action. [ more ]

Be The Change:
Shine the corner of the world you're in today, perhaps with a project, maybe an action, or even a smile. To learn about what Fair Trade is, click here. [ more ]

I need to catch up on this blog but I am too tired to write...

I have managed to run for 2 miles last 3 days... which is a great achievement while I work insane hours in addition to travel. I hope I can continue.. but I do feel exhausted.

The flight yesterday was quite uneventful, I was working most of the time. Got back in and vent for a quick working dinner with Joe to Mangolian BBQ. Worked till 10 after that and went for a run after that.

Today was a very long session at work, 9 hours seemed like a very long time there because you are up in front the whole time trying to rack your brains and on your toes. Besides I feel like Joe is constantly judging me, which wouldnt bother me before but his snickers are completely unwelcomed. Besides I have getting negative feedback about my behaviour from my Team Lead and Joe himself regarding my approach in certain cases for getting help or my general demeanor (which is frankly none of their business). Typically i am pretty good at incorporating this into making myself better but its been bothering me this week, I think the kind of feedback they give makes me think they are watching you to make sure you fail rather than to make sure you dont. Thats an aspect that gets on my nerves.

Anyways it feels like I am whining about this... maybe I am grumbling because I am tired.

On the way back we went to Don Pablos (reminds me of when I use to go with Namit for Margaritas every wed one summer). Got back and worked for 2 hours tying up the ends from today's sessions. I am still technicaly supposed to write up the Progress report and go over what we will be doing tomorrow.... welll.. so long....

Weekend's been pretty good on all those three fronts... watched Da Vinci Code yesterday, ate some great Nepalese food and its been fun hanging out with Samir trying to get my mind off work.

His flight came in at the normal time which was contrary to the itinerary which put it there 30 minutes before so as usual I went through my normal stack of 'The New Yorker' , 'GQ', 'Economist' and a new one this time 'Primiere' (movie magazine with a special on X3).  I took the normal road to the airport from Middleton this time but the detour has now been extended and I went through a cute little swiss town called Waukesha (i think) before I got to airport still 30 minutes before expected arrival time. *I really need to workout, i feel so fat after this weekend... * Went to PF changs and then Eno Vino.

Yesterday was a long day, got up early and started the tour in Union as usual. Highlights this time, no babcock ice cream, first farmers market of the year, Nepalese food for lunch, drummers on the street... After Siesta went showed him my workplace and then Da Vinci Code.

With the dull reviews, my expectations were quite down about this movie but I was pleasantly surprised that it was a good movie. It follows the book pretty religiously so if you havent read the book, I dont think you would enjoy the movie. I enjoyed it, followed most of it. I am still unsure how they got the word 'APPLE' from all that, but otherwise it all made sense. Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou do a good job but I really enjoyed Ian McKellen's role, he really does a wonderful job. Silas on the other hand was weak. Even the Bishop really didnt get enough screentime to make an impact. Thats my little spiel on the movie.

Went back to Madison in the night to Essenhaus (which I found out means Eating - house in German).  Had some really cheesy stuff and some great Hoff  Brau  Lager. More food again this morning at the Hubbard Avenue Diner.. I need to go for a run soon! 

I think we risk becoming the best informed society that has ever died of ignorance. --Reuben Blades

Inspiration of the Day:
When the average North American sits down to eat, each ingredient has typically travelled at least 1,500 miles ... thereby increasing the use of petroleum products and carbon emission by more than 17 times! On the first day of spring, 2005, Alisa and James chose to confront this unsettling statistic with a simple experiment. For one year, they would buy or gather their food and drink from within 100 miles of their apartment in Vancouver, British Columbia. [ more ]

Be The Change:
Read the thirteen reasons why Alisa and James recommend "local eating for global change". And then, try the 100-mile diet! [ more ]

Just saw 5 hours to TV, 1 episode of Sopranos and 4 of Six Feet Under - Season 3. Its been a very quiet but pleasant evening.

Work has been pretty heavy for 8-9 hours of the day. I come back home and I am either looking at doing more work, some expenses and running errands. Today it was different because I came home by 3 and then stopped working after 5.

I dont know what was in those Veggie burgers at catered lunch this morning but it gave me a splitting headache. I had to leave by 2 and go get me an Advil. Came home straight after that and took the 1.5 hour phone call.

I finally convinced my manager how much I need a land line and an increase in cell phone plan. They said they typically do that when they see crazy bills so I just have to wait till then.

I need to develop something besides work, an interest in something else.. atleast take up reading or workout rather than vegetating in front of the TV after 10 hours of staring at the laptop... but for today it was great!

Now playing: Rent soundtrack (OST) -  La Vi Boheme!

At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities. --Jean Houston

Fact of the Day:
It turns out that laughter might just be the best medicine. Especially for diabetes. New research in Japan shows that a chuckle helps the body process blood sugar. A study of type 2 diabetes -- the most common form of the disease -- found that laughter was linked to lower blood sugar levels after a meal. [ more ]

Fasting? umm.. not really :-) I love food too much but I have been eating way too much last few weeks so yesterday was time to skip a meal. Had a bread butter/chutney sandwich for lunch and then skipped dinner and had an ice cream while doing my expenses later in the night. Felt good in the morning.

Dad left for Germany yesterday and before he left I exchanged my car to a 2-Door Solara because he is a big fan of these sports cars. Took it to a parking lot and there he drove some.. I think we was a bit disappointed that he couldnt drive much because both my sister an I were super jumpy when we drove, he tended to swerve to the right a lot. Anyways thats the best I could do, I almost had tears in my eyes when he got nostalgic about how the roles were reversed and that he used to get new cars and have us sit up front and all excited about it while he used to drive.

Mom left for Boston yesterday, she is tired of this country, she wants to get back to routine back home. Last thing she said was 3 weeks is more than enough a break.. I kinda agree! Even though I love to have them here I'd rather get back into my schedule after 3 weeks!

Resumed my schedule yesterday, had like a 4 hour call with my customers yesterday which was kinda pushing it. They got pretty cranky by the end of it and I dont blame them, I'd hate to hear my voice that long too :-) We are developing a model system with our product so 3 days we are having a retreat on that. I am kinda on my own in my application because Joe is out on his Go-Live. 7 hours of sitting around working while others are busy chatting away is kinda annoying but I got some substantial work done.

Last night I caught up on LOST, finally! downloaded both the episodes I missed, hoping to catch up with Sopranos today.

I heard the wierdest thing yesterday from the Hertz guy: Getting out from the back-seat of a 2-Door car is like 'Being Born'  !

I am having such an overdose of Gujarati right now.. it feels like I have taken a trip to India and I am flying back tomorrow. Specially the weekends when I have no real contact with work or anything I feel like I am India. Its wierd, just the presence of my parents around me is enough for me to feel Indian, feel like I am back home in my past which seems so far removed it can only be revisited by a trip outside this country or  a long stay with family. The longer I stay with them the more confident I get about adjusting to living conditions in India.

Finally convinced my parents they need a new set of bags, that was hard! They wouldnt let go of the 60's bags that they carry around. Dad was easy to convince, mom... that was another story, Where will they store it in Bombay? Will it be suitable for trips in India? What about fitting them under seats in Indian Trains? Overhead bins in Indian planes? ... but I guess I won them over by answering patiently. Ended up with 2 polo sport bags one for a carry-on and another mid-size 10 day-er.

Yesterday was relaxed, we chilled out at home the whole day and then  went for Missing Impossible III which was something that was really  targetted to the non-english speaking population or non-thinking movie audiences which I believe we all are at some point. Lets not think about the hows, and whyz just go-with-the-flow, however illogical and non-sensical (if thats a word at all). Lots of blasts and lots of explosions. Pretty exciting.

Followed that with dinner at Abeulos, the mexican chain. Now they have a vegetarian menu which is really nice and got some non-alcoholic Pina Colada's and I had a virgin (i know, i know...I can hear the jokes already) Margarita. Good times....

Signed mom and dad for delta skymiles this morning, probably going to go to the temple. I know dad's least interested, probably take him to Milwaukee and show him the brewers stadium with the retractable roof (I know TGIF has a good view) and drive around the Art Museum... lets see where the buick takes me...

We can be aware, when we chew the food, or when we look deeply into the food: we can see the ingredients, the elements that have come together to produce that food. --Thich Nhat Hanh

Fact of the Day:
Consider this the next time you force the nutrition in: researchers have found that food that's unfamiliar or unappetizing winds up being less nutritious than food that looks, smells and tastes good to you. Does this mean we should be reaching for the donuts and forgoing the raw cauliflower? No. The food has to have nutritive value in the first place. And how does the mind affect nutritive value? The explanation is found in the digestive process itself, in the relationship between the "second brain" — the gut — and the brain in your head. Delectable smells and sights tell your brain that food will be enjoyable, and the brain responds by pushing your salivary glands into high gear and ordering your stomach to secrete more gastric juices. Result: more nutritional bang for your buck. [ more ]

Just finished an episode of Six feet under and this song is stuck in my head, specifically these 4 lines:

" And I think it’s gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I’m a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone"

Finally got around to seeing this, I have had the netflix DVDs for a month and was stuck at season 3 start. Unfortunately I had to skip 2 episodes because of a bad dvd where a lot of stuff happens but I guess I'll see it eventually. Thats another good thing about Six Feet Under, continuity doesnt really do too much damage.

Work was very productive last 2 days, mom and dad were keeping busy with sister doing the usual shopping. It seems like US for them is simply shopping. Today we moved to the one bed room at Staybridge, they helped with the whole move. Sis left for Detroit today.

Weather's been pretty lousy this week, it was in 70's and 80's last week and then by wednesday it started to get cold and rainy. It literally rained on my parade, we had to cancel our chicago plan which ofcourse is very walking intensive and with weather in 50's its going to be near impossible for mom to walk around. She wears a sweater when its in 60's and 70's. Even a jacket and sweater aint enough for her.

On a positive note Madison is very green right now... its beautiful to an extent that I dont recognize some streets. Mineral Point Rd is very scenic ofcourse. We went for Ethiopian food yesterday, mom and sis discussed the entire production from Tej to Injera.

Plan to see MI III tomorrow...

Paul Fleischman

Gratitude isn't merely an extra, an outflow of meditation. The deep peace of meditation gushes up from the realization that an infinite series of events have crystallized into this moment of equanimity in me. A long history, on many stages, with a changing, numerous cast, is contained within this moment�s peace. My peace in this or any moment is the principle of peace, guided, purified, manifesting now in me. Any individual�s equanimity is a product of the same laws of peace, whose shafts enter and illuminate us. All peace is an inheritance; every moment of equanimity glows from the same invisible gift. [...]

Every future �- next minute, next year, next eon -� will itself be only a present that will change into something else. The realization within yourself, through direct awareness of sensations, of the fluidity and impermanence of every particle of your being, and of the universe itself, eradicates all fantasies. Instead, insight into this truth leads you into the present moment, immediate and unadorned, which changes.

To the extent that I can cultivate and maintain this awareness, I feel liberated and I�m living the truth, which is peace. In that moment, I am free from fear, free from yearning, purified of myself. There is the simple truth of the moment, changing into the next moment, in infinite series, forever. There are no ideas, no constrictions, no knowledge in absolute truth, which has no final form. In such a moment, a person is a solution through which truth and peace pass. [...]

Initially we seek peace for personal, self-serving reasons. This is only sane: we want to suffer less. As we find more peace in our hearts � even though it is intermittent, even though so much of our lives remains a struggle within the illusory drama of our selves, even though our purity is partial ... our goals change. Ultimately, the goal isn�t to contain peace but to transmit it, isn�t to have peace but to Be peace. The goal of the peaceful life is to be a vehicle of love, compassion, joy, and peace, not directed at any single target, without any circumference, just flowing out and penetrating whatever it encounters.

So I talked about balancing but that means i am cutting down on sleep and getting really gung ho about this deal... it cant last!

I worked over 9 hours yesterday and in addition got lousy sleepy the night before because of some unknown reason (i blame it on my sister trying to reclaim lost real estate on the bed). In the evening took them to Best Buy which was boring as hell for me.. nothing new and then we watched a really crappy movie Malamaal Weekly which is no where close to the original Malamaal, because no one really wins the lottery till the end and its the whole build up with every aspect of bollywood drama in a lame attempt to be funny. I was working while I did it (beyond the 9 hours, cuz i couldnt think of anything better to do). Ordered Pizza for dinner. Lunch was pretty authentic gujarati cuisine so that was the highlight of the day.

Today started very early because I still managed to sleep at 10.30 last night and this time with the window open got really good sleep. I get up at 5.45 and then go for a workout and a run outside. Work starts around 7 and continues till 6 with a break for a haircut (Tangles baby!) and 30 minutes for lunch (lemongrass soup and leftover pizza). Lots and lots of work to do, managed to do a sizable amount but still a ton left. I definately made a dent in the pile tho which is quite *pat on the back* commendable !

Probably go to state street tonight, have some sub-saharan food that my sis is really excited about.

Tip of the day: Green Tea Oregon Chai Tea Latte SUXXXX!

Sacrifices you make while balancing work and family makes both parties unhappy. Something that I realised in last two days while I am trying to catch up with my work emails and making sure family settles in allright in the two bedroom staybridge suites apartment for the week.

Saturday due to detours and construction everywhere we didnt get to the hotel till 2 pm after which we went to PF Changs where ofcourse there were people I knew much to their surprise because of my frequency there. At the rental counter we ended up with another Buick- Lacross this week which I will be keeping for the next month. It runs smooth but the braking is kinda staggered. Luckily I drove a buick last week so I am pretty comfortable with the other settings. Its got leather seats and wooden panel finish which looks pretty sleek.

Evening we ended up going grocery shopping and indian store .... tired me out. Sunday we got everything out of storage, arranged all that; had a heavy breakfast and lunch and then I decided to get some work done which went on all evening and I had to ask them to go out by themselves with my sis in the evening. We had Pani Puri for dinner which was a welcome change.

Today its been in and out of different offices for me while I come back and do some work, hang out a little with them and then do some more work. Probably have to go to best buy with them in the evening even though I have tons of work to take care of... Aight gotta finish some laundry while I do some spreadsheet importing...

Its going to be an interesting week....

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was You. --Unknown

Inspiration of the Day:
A child's grace and forgiveness have inspired Boston. 5-year-old Kai Leigh Harriott looked up from her blue wheelchair in the hushed courtroom and faced the man who fired the stray gunshot that paralyzed her nearly three years ago. "What you done to me was wrong," the dimpled girl with purple and yellow plastic ties in her braids said softly. "But I still forgive (you)." [ more ]

For pictoral inspiration, check out this adorable picture of Kai Leigh! [ more ]

It was a great sabbatical from all things related to what I seem to refer to as my previous life. Not like I have had a born-again kinda experience or anything, it just feels to different to not have internet for 7 days and then come back to it again. Its like I was losing touch with the world I was familiar with and learning a whole new lifestyle..

Ok.. enough of faffin! I am just pissed cuz my vacationz coming to an end. Its been a great week. Some highlights:

Day 1: Saturday April 29th
Introduce mom and and dad to Chris, my taxi guy. Mom is surprised to meet such a nice black man (she is mortally afraid of African Americans for an unknown reason, I believe the cause is unfamiliarity). Sweet talk delta agent to get on the same flight and then sweet talk the hertz agent to give me a sweet Buick Randevous (ok not that sweet) for the week for minimum price. Drive to Orange Lake County with sis and Puneet joining us. Studio apartment, little but cozy. Can see a hint of the beach, quite a bad view really. Evening event: Mini Golf. Try to go to Hard Rock later in the night but turn back due to fatigue.Parents first experience with Mexican food in a sports bar.

Day 2: Sunday April 30th
Trip to Cocoa Beach, check out Ron Jon. Evening we walk around Downtown Disney. Introduce folks to Caramelized Apples, Dulce de Leche ice cream, spiced Chai Tea Latte and many other snackies. Dinner at Rainforest Cafe, weirded out but still worth a visit to this dinner in a fake rainforest.

Day 3: Monday May 1st
Trek to Downtown Orlando, Rollins College and check out the cute neighborhood. Decent Lebonese food and great weather. Drop Puneet to the airport. Evening we order indian food in the resort.

Day 4: Tuesday May 2nd
Sea World, check out most of the shows. See Shamu's new show 'Believe' quite something. Long and tiring day. Finish early and check only urgent emails.

Day 5: Wednesday May 3rd
Drive down to Miami. Check out South Beach area and Biscane Bay. Bayside Pier and take a cruise to see all the different artificial islands with those amazing houses. Check into the Holiday Inn which is right on the beach.

Day 6: Thursday May 4th
Spend the entire morning on the beach, sunbathing and swimming. Then drive down to Coral Gables and walk around Coconut Groove. Drive back to Orlando later in the evening.

Day 7: Friday May 5th
Get into shopping groove and shop for 10 hours at the outlet mall by Buena Vista... parents have lost their marbles and realised they have too much money and dont know what to do seems like... so they are going crazy shopping... I am done with my summer shopping :-)

So thats it.. major highlights of the week. It wasnt where I went in this vacation, it was the company that I had. Lots and lots of chatting about life plans, past and present. People we know and people we dont know. Ideas about life in general...

Its been a rare week and I am dreading next week where I catch with with my sh*t!