Wish you a Kolaveri New Year (2012)...

Wait, what am I saying? Hasn't the song already been released in 2011? And enjoyed millions of views on Youtube? 30,031,106 to be precise at the exact moment that I write this. Not just that. All you need to do is type "wh" on Youtube and the first match is "Why This Kolaveri Di" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR12Z8f1Dh8. One simple song has changed the meaning of the word viral and gone from Kollywood to Bolloywood to Hollywood and more. The song was yesterday reviewed on CNN as THE MOST POPULAR song of the year 2011...

So what more can Kolaveri offer in 2012. More views? Sure, yes. The original video from the movie? Of course. But what else?

Think harder. Kolvaeri was a BIG IDEA! "The most powerful ideas are the simplest ones", they say and I say they are dead right about this one. Nothing could have been simpler than Kolaveri in its construction and form. Composed by a first time music director for a first time director of feature films and sung by a talented actor no doubt, but one who has no stars on his lapel for singing whatsoever. Playing on the age-old theme of boy hurt in love by beautiful girl with the clever usage of the expression "Why this Kolaveri (murderous rage)", which has been an"in-phrase" among Tamil youth.

The brilliance began when they key crew decided to shoot how this song was recorded in the studio with the singer cum hero, heroine, music director and director. Releasing that video on Youtube much ahead of the actual movie was a master stroke. And (I don't know how on earth they managed to do this), making sure there is only one video that comes up when you search for this song on you tube was the pièce de résistance. Result? 30 million & counting...

There is no doubt that Kolaveri has originated in a fertile field. After all, Tamil Cinema boasts of legends like Ilayaraja and the Oscar Award winning AR Rahman. But Kolaveri has probably surapassed the efforts of these legends and other illustrious artisans by the sheer popularity it has attained. Truly, I'm sure it has left not just the film industry but millions of people around the world wondering, "Sh*t! Why didn't I get this IDEA?"

I think it's safe to say that ideas like Kolaveri don't come by every day. That said, ideas like Kolaveri don't need a Mozart or a Beethoven to be produced. Neither are they produced in any particluar field of work. There is a Golden Idea waiting to be brought to the fore in every walk of life and it lies in the simple heads of simple people like YOU and ME. All YOU have to do is listen carfeully to what is happening around you, keep your eyes open to see what's new and most of all, to have fun at what you do. Nothing is silly, nothing is irrelevant. So long as you can keep that spirit alive, you never know how the dots will connect and when.

To me, that's the lesson from this Kolaveri...

So my dear friend. It is the last day of the Year 2011. The Year that gave us Kolaveri. Go listen to it a few more times today and increase its number of hits on Youtube to a 50 million plus. At the same time, put on your thinking hat. Don't just use Kolaveri to mope about your lost love.
Vow today that in 2012 you will strive to create ONE BIG IDEA that will change the world, no matter where your passion lies. There was a Google, there is Facebook and no one knows what the the Next Big Thing is? Who knows, may be it's sitting in YOUR HEAD. Just bring it out...

Happy New Year 2012! Let every minute of it be filled with Kolaveri...

My 2012 Colors...

Red & Gold
And many Holiday hues
What I don't want
Are Monday Morning Blues...

Neither Yellow Fever
Nor Green Envy
Only Pink Health
Will do for me...

Many Silver Linings
And Black Bottomlines
No fat tummy
Or Gray Hairlines...

Blazing Orange energy
A little White truce
A Year Full of Love
Is all that I choose...

What does it take?

What does it take to stay away from Chocolate Cake?
What does it take to see a mess and not walk away?
What does it take to know you have work and not watch TV?
What does it take to have talent and not make it work?
What does it take to be nice in a world of jerks?
What does it take to believe in a goal and never sway?
What does it take to make your boss see your point?
What does it take to keep up the exercise?
What does it take to finish what you started?
Whatever it takes, that's what I'm gonna do...

Sleepless in Richmond, San Antonio & Atlanta...

I am the Problem!

I could have got more sleep any day of the week. The Hampton Inn at Midlothian in Richmond pampered me with a huge King Bed. But, they also pampered me with a huge flat screen TV. So every evening I went there this week I spent marathon hours watching mindless comedy shows that I never did any of the work I was supposed to do. And then I woke up at 3 am the next morning to complete the work because my client was expecting it at 8 am. The fact that I ate a full Indian meal before I went back to the Hampton did not help either. It only made me want the King Bed more.

Next stop San Antonio, Wednesday night. Having a 550 pm flight from Richmond that gets into San Antonio at 1010 pm is not a good idea, especially when you have stayed at the Hampton Inn the previous night. (Hello, HINT! HINT! I woke up at 3 am EST). Then when the connection is delayed at Houston and leaves there only at 1045 pm, it doesn't get any better. When you touch down at San Antonio at midnight CST and finally check in to your hotel at 1 am, exactly 23 hours after you woke up, the misery is complete.

Wait, not yet! Not when I suddenly realize I am hungry, also out of money, go 9 floors down to the lobby only to find out the ATM won't dispense any money (that too after taking me through the entire transaction), then I go back up to my room, scrape out the last 75 cents I have, go back up to the 10th floor, this time looking for a vending machine, desperately hoping that it would have something for 75c. Seriously? Dude. This is the Holiday Inn on the River Walk in downtown San Antonio. Nice try.

But then I get lucky. I find the Vannila cream cookie that is the solution to world hunger priced precisely at 70c. Sweet deal baby! I'm even getting 5c back so there's no stopping me. When I have consumed 4 of the 6 pack of cookies, I have wasted precisely one more hour of my sleep, albeit not a King Bed this time but 2 doubles. I realize it's been exactly 24 hours since I woke up. So now I hit the bed. Oh my God! Conference call at 630 am, breakfast meeting at 7 and an all day workshop coming up. Set the alarm for 6 am, no 530...

Sleep was not in scope for Thursday night even in the first place. My flight back home was not supposed to land until midnight and I had conference calls starting at 830 AM on Fri for which I needed to prepare (you do the math). But I started getting really dizzy when Delta airlines told me that my flight to Atlanta (connection) was delayed 2 hours and that I was not going to make my connection and so they would have to put me up at Atlanta for the night and fly me out to Philadelphia first thing in the morning. Now, I've done this before and I know how it works. We were supposed to land in Atlanta at 11 PM and I was thinking that if I had any luck I would get a full 3 hours of sleep before another long day.

My prediction was exactly right. I can't blame Delta though. They were super efficient this time (like Atlanta was on another planet or something). We touched down at 11 PM as re-scheduled and I was in my hotel room at midnight. The last time I had to do this, they took 2 hours just to assign me a hotel. I was quickly into a pair of comfortable clothes and sitting on the bed. My flight Fri AM was not until 730 AM for which I had to be in a shuttle at 6 AM. So there was a minimal 5 hour rest on offer and even a few more minutes if I could shower and change real quick.

I felt a little cold. I tried the A/C but it had no controls and was blowing cold air at full blast. I looked around to see if there was a thermostat somewhere on the wall but could not find any. I tried to tuck myself into the sheets and noticed that the sheets were too thin for a cold night like this. That was it. I could have easily blamed the cold air and the insufficient bedding for my sleeplessness. But it wasn't to be. It had to be me...

I slept that night at 215 AM and woke up at 520 AM because I decided I had to complete some work and reschedule some meetings I had planned for early AM on Fri. Strangely, a sense of responsibility seems to envelope me the closer I get to Friday. I went to great lenghts in those 2 hours to ensure I was up to date on everything and that my work was impeccable.

May be as a result of the sudden surge of work-consciousness, Friday was just perfect. My flight was on time, every meeting brought me the outcome I wanted from it and at 4 PM I was off to my favorite routine in recent times, taking my son to Boys Choir practice and goofing off at a coffee shop with a huge cup of hot chocolate. And not to forget, the perfect ending! Dinner in front of the TV and falling asleep on the couch...

It's 931 AM on Saturday. I am well rested and have already had 2 hot cups of tea (masala chai, to be precise). My son and I are snuggled on the couch watching cartoons while my wife is away at work. Looks like the perfect weekend has just begun...

It's Been a While...

It's been a while since I wrote. I've been writing other things, like project plans, powerpoint presentations and little prayer notes. No oil has been spared in my midnight lamp. Numerous missives have left my email outbox over the last few months while I have tried to stay afloat. It's been the busiest time of my life...

It's been a while since I ran. I've been running a different race alright. I've been running ideas through my mind, running errands and running from pillar to post. I have added some miles to my frequent flyer accounts, alright. Some have even given me Silver Status. Rest assured, it's been the only silver lining in the cloud...

It's been a while since I spent quality time with family and friends. I've spent a lot otherwise including what I will earn in the first quarter of next year. I've spent many sleepless nights doing meaningless work to meet the whims and fancies of my peers and customers, only to be told that I need to know how to say no and not take on more than I should. It's been a roller coaster ride...

It's been a while since I played. I played an important role in business meetings, at client visits and big project launches. Or, so i thought. I played the parts of driver, assistant, caddy, favorite whipping boy and sacrifical goat. Thank God, the part of toilet paper was excluded from the plot. I would have been the hot favorite...

It's been a while since I cried. I never cried when I was in pain. I always cried when a loved one was. I never cried when I was hurt. I always cried when I hurt one. I've never cried when I was sad, but I've always cried when I was happy. It's been a while since I was happy...

Perfect setting...

Gray Sunday afternoon. Delayed Denver flight. My favorite music plugged in my ears. Wait, I just shifted one seat left for a better view of the runway. Perfect setting for me to do one of the things I like doing most...

The sun is playing games. Appears every once in a while and then not. May be its the passing clouds. It looks like I am taking the isolated thunderstorms with me to Denver, at least according to weather.com.

I'm wondering if this is the time most airport stalls make most money, when flights get delayed. A couple is digging into their slices of cheese pizza, a girl seems to like her pretzel and diet coke combo, a lady just cleaned up a large portion of french fries and my neighbour just came back with more coffee.

An US air express flight has just taken off and I turn my gaze back into the crowd to check on the two best looking women I've seen in the waiting area so far. One is seated straight ahead of me, albeit a clear 4 or 5 rows away and the other is standing in sort of a line that is expectantly forming to my far left. It's good to know the positions haven't changed in a while. That means only 3 stops for my head in every round, runway to the right, straight up ahead and extreme left. I like to keep life simple.

What happens now if I get up to go to the men's room? I am sure to lose my vantage position, for it is an overcrowded waiting area. However, everything else will remain the same. I will still have my favorite music in my ears and I will still be writing this, thanks to technology and my Bold Blackberry.

I like the walk. But the man driving the cart for the old doesn't. Apparently he was screaming his head off for me to get out of his way but I didn't hear a thing, thanks to my music. But he worked around me and the nice lady on the cart gently pointed out to me what happened, so all is well.

I'm back but my vantage seat is gone. The good news is my flight is now at the gate and the incoming passengers are getting off. The lady at the podium just said we are going to be boarding soon. But I am in no hurry. I only have my back pack and I was lucky to get an aisle seat in front of the aircraft so I can literally amble in as the last passenger with nothing to worry.

I found a seat. The only view I retained is the runway, but who knows who's's going to be sitting next to whom on this plane! The sun just peeked and this time I'm directly in its path. That one moment of sunshine was refreshing, but I'm now back to the gray.

People are getting more anxious. Some are texting and emailing their dear ones to let them know they are delayed, some are even waving their boarding passes at the lady at the podium, lest something change and they be denied going to Denver. It's confusing enough that the sign above now shows the flight to Durham 2 hours hence. I confirmed that we are still on for Denver. Status quo, only more anxiety.

The music gets better. I love the song titles that start with T on my blackberry. 1st boarding call for all passengers needing assistance. I'm surprised I even heard the call because I am now on full volume listening to my favorite AR Rahman song ever.

The rustle begins. People are now walking down the ramp and more gathering near the podium. Some lights are now on outside. The gray will soon turn black. I'm trying to think how it will be when I land in Denver 4 hours from now. British Airways from London just landed. And everyone to my right just stood up completely blocking my view of the runway.

I could do this all day long. Especially on a day like this. But the waiting area is now clearing fast and the crowd down the ramp increasing. I got to walk lest I intend to go back home. I know my wife will be thrilled if I do but my boss won't. Tough choices people. Life's full of those.

So adios. Sayonara. Or whatever. As another lovely song pipes through my ears. And before I lose connectivity.

What? You want me to walk to my seat still typing this so you can find out who's sitting next to me? Read my next one my friend. Coming soon...

Of Dad and Son...

It's difficult to understand my son. Why does he worship me? I hardly do anything for him. First of all, I travel a lot so I am hardly there for him. All the cool stuff he does like websites, books, "Lego" leagues and the "Mad Science" camps is all taken care of by my wife. She spends endless hours nurturing him and fueling his dreams. Really, he is her full-time job. So when he is asked to write an essay about "Who should be the next President of the United States" or "Who is the person who has impacted you most and how", and when he has only one answer, "My Dad", it truly surprises me.

Today was kind of a rude wake up call. For the second day running, he refused to go for a 5 PM showing of Cars 2, whose release he has been eagerly awaiting for a long time. "The reason", he said, "is I want to go to the park and play cricket with Appa". I have been recovering from illness over the long weekend and asked him if he can just go play with his friends and he said, "No Dad, I want to play with you". So I mustered all the strength I had and rode along to the park. Luckily a couple of his friends were already there so they started playing themselves. Just as I thought I will sit on the benches and enjoy the evening, he said, "Appa, can you field?".

I ambled across the grass and stationed myself somewhere between 2nd and 3rd base on the converted cricket field, from where I had a full view of everything. The boys were hitting the ball well but I was well positioned so I could always walk and retrieve the ball, on a day when running was simply out of question. It was then that it hit me. My Dad is my role model.

I grew up in modest middle-class Chennai in the 1980s. Both my parents had to work to support our huge joint family and my father was missing in action most of the time too. He would be gone for weeks sometimes, touring all parts of India, and we didn't even have realiable long distance calling within India, forget the modern amenities of today. Some times he would write us letters and most times he would arrive back home to receive the letter himself, such was the state of the Indian Postal Service. But, he always brought back something. Mostly it would be sweets for the family (wheat halwa from a Delhi sweet shop was a favorite), but sometimes there was special stuff for me. I will never forget my first white cricket sweater, a pair of nice cricket shoes and my first own table tennis racket. All three were very special to me and lasted me a long long time.

It was not what he brought back. It was what he was, and still is. He always rose at 5 AM. He would brew fresh coffee to last a couple of rounds for the big family. He was disciplined about his routine and encouraged all of us to be on time. He always dressed right for work and worked really hard. But most of all, he put others above himself. He was always the last to eat at a party, he was always the last to buy clothes for Diwali. Whether we were taking a rare vacation or we went to watch a test match at Chepauk, he always made sure that the children had food of their like. No matter how many times he had to wake up at night to take care of us when we were sick or even to turn on the bathroom light, he never complained. Why, there were times he had to put others' children above his own, but he took care of them like his own, that they remain indebted to him for life.

My son and I fight all the time. "My Dad is better than your Dad", I tell him. "No, he's not", he says. "Yes, he is", I push him on and then he climbs on me and pounds me while he squeals, "No, no, no, no, no, no...". His dad is his hero, but I sure am right about this one. As I walked across the grass to pick up the ball, it hit me today. I was not there for him for the first five years of his life, working nights and up to 14 hours a day. And though we then moved to the US and I started working days, I also started travelling. I don't do many of the things my Dad did for me. But something I do does it for him. I can't say what it is. Cricket is only a recent passion for him, though I'm sure it's big on his list right now. It could be the bear hugs, the international lullabies or my repeatedly saying, "you're my favorite person in the whole world".

I will never really know which one it is. But I sure did wake up to something today. He is giving me a real chance to be his role model and it is up to me to take it. And all I have is a small window of opportunity. I've got to be there for him, I've got to work harder and I've got to be always right in his eyes. As I sit here writing this at 1045 PM, I realize how hard that can be. Even though I'm sitting next to him on his bed, he's reading "Why is the Sky Blue", with his mother. I will sleep here in a few but will be up at 3 AM to be on a shuttle at 5 AM and be on the road for the next couple of days. I wished my Dad "Good Night" a little while ago and he assured me he will be up to make me my first cup of coffee.

Aha! It's all so clear now, not tough any more. I just have to do for my Son what my Dad did for me. Still does and always will. It's that easy...

Solstice...

Jun 21, otherwise known as Summer Solstice is the longest day in the northern hemisphere. That is public knowledge. What is not public knowledge is that the day has turned out be true to its name for me. What began at 445 am est (after only a 4 hour sleep) has still not ended at 1145 pm cst as I have just boarded Continental flight 2450 from Houston to San Antonio and I will land there just as it strikes midnight in that zone. I have to say the long day has been a productive one and also one with some very pleasant experiences. And as always full of love from my family.

What is also public knowledge is that Jun 21 marks the official beginning of summer. And what is of consequence to my family and us alone is that it was officially the last day of school for my son. Which means that for the next 2 months and more, my wife has a full time job of minding him from dawn till dusk and it is of no consolation that the days will continue to run long. There will be Wii, TV, evenings of cricket at the park and trips to the beach if we are lucky. But more importantly, there will be the struggle of what we think he should be doing everyday and what he thinks!!!

The doors of my aircraft will shut here in a moment and I will have to turn my cell phone off, but even as I wind up on Jun 21 or Summer Solstice, I have this feeling that I too am about to embark on a significantly long journey in my life, in search of my destiny. And something tells me that while it may be a long wait, I am about to simply enjoy the ride...

Nine days to go in beautiful "June" and lots more to do...

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer ahead.

Sh*t...

One of the least conspicuous (but most meaningful) items in my home is a green bamboo basket that is placed next to the pot in my bathroom. (If you're not into "gross" I suggest you leave this page right now because this is only going down the drain from here!)

The green basket holds a lot. A couple of newspapers, couple of Tinkle comics, sometimes a Reader's Digest and always the book that I am currently reading. Lest you get funny ideas about my reading habits, let me just spill the guts and say, every morning when it's pot time I catch up on my daily reading. It's usually short and occurs at a time when my family is still asleep so it really doesn't cause anyone any harm. Sometimes, especially on weekends, and if the book is in its nail-biting parts, that could be a much longer time and that's when the green basket becomes the object of my wife's ire.

Yesterday I finished reading my last one, a high school masala called "When it Happens". Coincidentally, yesterday was also Father's Day so my sweet son presented me with a book that I had recently read from our local library's "7 days only" section and simply loved that I wanted a copy for myself. It could not have been a better gift and I was so happy that my son was so thoughtful. Gotta love him.

So today, I replaced "When it Happens" with my new book in the green basket (no disrespect to my dear son here, I still love him and he's my favorite person in the whole world). But again, it made so much sense. That's the purpose of the green basket, I just finished reading my last book (perfect timing) and to top it all, the name of the book is "Sh*t My Dad Says". I mean, how much better can this get?

If you haven't read this book, I whole-heartedly suggest it. It's hilarious. Actually that's an understatement. Trust me, I wouldn't buy my own copy if I don't see myself reading a book over and over again. So you can imagine how many times this book will make it to the green basket and how perfect my home is going to look. Talk about homes that have a theme...

As far as my son goes, is he going to feel bad to see where his precious Father's Day gift went? Sure, he is. And he is going to be furious to see I even blogged about it. But hey! Look at the bright side. I just gave him his first chance at instant fame too. Now he has the opportnity to write his own book - "Sh*t My Dad Reads".

P.S. My son is all of 9 years and has no idea of the contents of Justin Halpern's classic. He's a good kid and will always be my favorite person in the whole world...

Idea...

Nothing is as powerful as an Idea!
Nothing makes me feel better than one
It's when a good Idea comes by
I feel I'm having a lot of fun...

Whether it's work I'm planning
Or my child's next Birthday party
It's getting that one Idea
That makes me feel most happy...

When I'm down in the dumps
And sometimes feel depressed
Nothing can make me bounce back
Better than an Idea I created...

It comes sometimes in a flash
Sometimes I need to think a lot
But when I GET the right Idea
I always know it in my heart...

There's times I get an Idea
When I stay awake all night
And yet I'll go through the next day
Always feeling fresh and bright...

Lots of things make me feel good
Like food, friends and laughter
But none of other's life pleasures
Can truly send me into raptures...

Whenever I see a good Idea
It always makes me smile
But those I worship that make me wish
"Oh my God. Why were they not mine?"

Sunday Evening Sitting on the Balcony...

The weekend is over. It was meant be a long one but I don't remember when it started or how it went by, but it's over.

The view from the balcony is nice. The parking lot is filling up. The dogs, their walks done are returning to their abodes. The chirruping of the birds is slowly being replaced by crickety noises. A kid watching TV is screaming, all excited about the NBA finals which is live at this moment. At least, it's a cool night compared to the heat wave that has consumed the east coast of the USA in the last week.

I can't complain about the weekend. There's been enough to celebrate and a variety of food to go with. Plenty of rest and pleasant memories. Loads of goodwill, tons of blessings and the opportunity to connect with hundreds of friends that I don't talk to everyday. Bright ideas, brilliant performances and lessons learnt. Enough to ride over the minor disappointments and the inertia that persists in some aspects.

I understand the inertia. I'm struggling to hold on to something I think I need to let go. I've made myself clear, I've done everything I should, now I've got to leave it to life. I need to plan for the week ahead that's filled with promise. I've got commitments to keep, new worlds to explore and much fun to be had. But not before I set everything aside, put everything behind and get some good rest.

Rest assured, I'll be waking up early, working really hard and waiting for the next weekend.

Have a great week everyone...

Men in Honda Accords should not look at Women in Mercedes...

How often has this happened? You're on your way back from work on a nice day. You pull up at a red light. The next thing you know, a silver Mercedes pulls up right next to you. In the shortest instance of time that is ever known to mankind, you turn to see who's in that car. It's a man's instinct...

And you're right! It's a woman. She's fair, perhaps even good looking or in a high probability of cases, totally hot! You're desperately hoping that she'll look back at you, but she won't. Face it. She's in a gleaming beauty and you're probably in a 60,000 mile old work horse purely meant for economy.

Let's assume for a moment that she does turn your way. Its most likely because she is so impatient and can't bear to stare at the unchanging red light, so she needs to look the other way. And she had to choose your direction because the 'other' other way is either the median or the shoulder!

That's it! All you needed was that fleeting glance. Your left hand flips up your shirt collar, caresses the hair at the back of your head and lands on top of the steering wheel (where it's prominently visible), all in one motion. Your right hand adjusts your sun glasses in place and slowly turns the volume dial on the radio.

You start to whistle the song that is currently playing. You are not even sure of the tune, but you are whistling. You don't want to look back at her because you think she is turning to look at you every now and then and you don't want to be caught staring. It's a man's instinct...

Just then, the light turns green! The man in you takes over. The left hand still in the exact same position on top of the steering wheel, your right hand pushes the stick shift to 1st gear and you push the pedal to the floor. Your economy vehicle surges ahead. In your mind, that minute, you have no respect for speed limits...

Alas, your economy vehicle has its own limits. The pole position that you managed to gain for the same fleeting moment is soon destroyed. The silver Mercedes appears in the corner of your eye and even as you make your most well-timed head-turn in her direction, she is whizzing past you at 5-over the speed limit.

The man in you wants to throw caution to the winds, tear open your Accord's engine and race forward so you can catch up with her, carefully match her speed, stay in a parallel lock and make that famous head turn from time to time. I feel the same way too you vain man, but here are some of the reasons, you absolutely should not...

First, gleaming beauty vs work horse meant only for economy. Enough said. (b) I repeat. She did not look at you because you are hot but because she was bored of staring at that red light. Tres! She's going fast. She'll probably be seeing more than one man at the same time. Four, full and final: You'll crash. It's basic instinct...

Heed my advice. Go as far as being the first off the blocks at the light. Savor that look you get of her as she passes you. Then use your life-gifted imagination. Let your mind take you places you have never been. That way you'll go really far before you safely get home. And when you arrive, you'll still be smiling...

I took my own advice. I came home, played with my son, had a great evening and I just wrote this sitting comfortably in my own bed, next to my beautiful wife. Good night and have a great rest of the week...

From the bed through the Blackberry...

Exhaustion finds expression! Even though I am beat I want to write. A good weekend just came to an end. And a productive week promises to begin.

Nothing much to write but still so much to say. My eyes are closing but Still I'm trying to stay awake. Biting my fingernails won't help because if I bite I can't type.

Why blog from the bed through my blackberry? In fact, why bring the blackberry to the bed at all? It has a function under the pillow, it keeps me honest when I need to rise.
Better than missing my wake up call or better still from not sleeping at all. So much to accomplish this wonderful week. Really miles to go before I sleep.

"June" has been great so far. Only 5 days done and I've done a lot already. More work than I would have done in a week and more fun than I would have had on a weekend.

My eyes closed for a moment so its time to hit the sack. Thank you Blackberry you disappear under the pillow. Thank you Life for this very moment and thank you God for everything.

Have a great week everyone...

FGH is the new ABC...

It's Sunday morning and the first 3 things I did are Facebook, Gmail and Hotmail!

Eureka! It's the same every morning. Thank God, at least, I brush my teeth before I pick up my computer, walk over to the kitchen, set it up on top of my water filter (out of harm's way) and even before I have made myself that first cup of coffee, I am done with my new ABC...

Reports from reliable sources tell me that some people don't even do that. They wake up, pull out their smart phones from under their pillow (because they used it as their alarm device), do the new ABC and only then get to their morning routine. And most of them have their phones on them all day, so it's ABC all the way...

I do this everyday, so why this sudden realization this morning and the need to blog about it? One of my dear cousins who lives in Miami delivered her first born late night on Friday and I knew about it on Saturday morning when I did my A: Facebook! What's more? My cousin was on Facebook all day because she was responding to all the best wishes she was getting.

I was totally impressed. I was happy that she was feeling good enough to be up and doing Facebook from her smart phone. I even joked with her if she had introduced Facebook to her little one? But seriously, that remains a distinct probability right? Think about it. This morning, my father, who is close to 70 and not Facebook savvy was asking me if my cousin had posted pictures of the baby on Facebook!!!

You got to give it to Zuckerberg. Creating "The Next Thing" is one thing but changing life's fundamentals is quite another. Honestly, I don't think Zuckerberg really knew that this would happen. I don't think anyone knows what more can happen?

But as of 830 AM on Sunday 5 June 2011, I can sure say, move over ABC, it's generation FGH...

Have a great Sunday everyone...

Cymotrichous...

If you don't know what Cymotrichous is, google it. Chances are you'll land on all the news items that showcase why this word is now world famous. 14 year old Sukanya Roy strode to fame yesterday in the USA by holding her nerves and spelling this word correctly in the nationwide 'Spelling Bee' contest.

And the world instantly goes "Cymotrichous". Every news channel and every portal worth its name is carrying this on the front page. Facebook is full of "Cymotrichous" statuses and comments ("Like" it or not!). And "Cymotrichous" suddenly enters the annals of world history.

Why are we always so "Cymotrichous"? It's just a word. Good thing Sukanya Roy knew the spelling and her closest opponent didn't otherwise the result could have been "Cymotrichous" for Roy. And the the Spelling Bee contest itself would not have probably had such a "Cymotrichous" finish.

Honestly, what is even more "Cymotrichous" is the fact that I am sitting up in my bed, a little past midnight on a Friday night and writing a "Cymotrichous" blog. What's worse. I will now post this on facebook and even as I am sipping my first cup of coffee in the morning I will be looking to see how many "Cymotrichous" comments people have posted to this...

Honestly, there is nothing remotely "Cymotrichous" about this word. That's the funny part of communication. If you have been carefully reading this "Cymotrichous" passage, you will notice how at each place I used this word, you could have assumed your own "Cymotrichous" meaning for it and it sounded so "Cymotrichous" each time.

So don't get so "Cymotrichous" about life. It just means "Having Wavy Hair".

It's supposed to be a beautiful sunny weekend, so go out to the beach dear friend and have a "Cymotrichous" one...

Ace, King, Queen, Jack...

"June" 2 did seem like the starting line up in the card game Ace of Spades...

The Ace was My Son. It was a big day for him, it was the day of the Spring Concert at his school and he was slated to both sing in the choir and also play solo on the recorder. He started the day by dressing up for the occasion and looked like a million dollars. And the very first picture of him today, quickly clicked on the iPhone and uploaded to Facebook got some rave reviews...

I felt like King myself. One of my goals for June is not just to work hard but to ensure that the work I do impacts a positive outcome. In project management parlance, one may call it milestones. I decided that each day in "June" I will pick 1 milestone in each project I handle and work in a way that the milestone is accomplished. I picked 3 today and hit Gold all ways...

The Queen has risen. If you think "June" being special for me is all a matter of my mind, on June 1, my wife signed up her first student for the summer 2011 schedule for her new initiative (www.mindbytes.co). And June 2 continued to be a good day, for her phone started ringing and enquiries started flowing through her website. Miles to go for sure, but she is not sleeping either. Best of Luck, my Queen...

But "June" 2 goes to Jack. The Fleetwood Spring Concert had 2 sessions, afternoon for students and evening for parents. At 655 pm, we strode into a full auditorium. In exactly 5 minutes, the performers trooped in and took their places. In a matter of seconds they were all organized in a compact crew, boys and girls, in 4 rows set by height and mixed well for color.

All eyes were fixed on the grand stage, when this little boy in the front row stepped out of line. He was clad in black khakis, a slick white polo shirt and was wearing the most stylish black hat of the evening. For a moment I wondered what was wrong with the poor boy. He was clearly moving in the direction where his music teacher stood. Was he afraid? Or overwhlemed?

It turned out he was neither. In just a few quick steps, he moved to the left end of the stage, clasped the microphone with elan and said, "Hi everyone, my name is Jack and I am in Ms. Teacher's 4th grade class. The 4th graders are now going to present the opening piece of tonight's concert, the Sing, Sing, Sing, Song. We really enjoyed learning this special song and we hope you will enjoy it too". Applause...

The music began. The most delightful music wafted through the air for the next one hour, accompanied sometimes by dancing and enactment. A new announcer arose before each new performance, even the Ace appeared for his famed solo. But for the better part of the hour, my eyes were fixed in one place, on Jack!

I clicked pictures, I stopped to clap after every song and I went through the motions for the full hour. But every now and then my gaze would return to Jack. There was something about that one opening moment in which he had instantly captivated me. In all but a flash, Jack had made me his biggest fan of the night. Clearly, there was something about Jack...

That's the way I am. Meteoric moments of brilliance last forever in my mind. And the joy I feel from them is unexplainable. "June" 2 was a good day for Ace, King & Queen, but if at all I remember "June" 2, it will be for Jack. Way to go Jack...

Lessons Learnt from a Little Man

My favorite month has just begun and I have already grown as a person. Little did I know that the most significant lesson of the day would come from a "Little Man", (or so I thought he was)...

It was one of those Wednesdays. A calendar filled with calls from 730 AM to 5 PM and the phone plugged to my ear well after that even as I was out with my family. I stayed true to the 'June' spirit of working hard and got much accompished, and for that I was happy. And then, at about 430 PM, just before I officially stepped away from my desk, it happened.

A colleague at work, in a crucial conference call, stood tall in his conviction. Remember I said "Little Man" earlier? It's true, he was the lowest on the totem pole among those on that call. And for several reasons, he was up against the wall. Yet, when it was his turn to speak, he said it like it was, without the least fear of being politically incorrect. He was not abrasive or rude but just plain forthright.

For a moment, when he was done, there was a stunning silence (a rare moment in a typical Wednesday). That said it all. He had made his point and the others had listened. No comments were offered and no one needed to speak furhter. It was decisive.

I've struggled ever since. Like I have always struggled to do this. I don't blame myself because I grew up trying to BE NICE. And when you are trying to be nice, it is sometimes difficult to say it like it is. I've struggled ever since trying to understand how to strike that balance...

Even as I struggle and try to figure this out, I can't but remember the man who made the difference in my day today. Thank you "Little Man". June began, because of you, in a most special way...

I want to be there...

I want to be there where the days run long
I want to be there where I was first born
I want to be there where happy summer springs
I want to be there when June begins...

I want to be there where I grow happy feet
I want to be there where everything is sweet
I want to be there where I enjoy little things
I want to be there when June begins...

I want to be there where nothing ever fails
I want to be there where life never wails
I want to be there where joy is in giving
I want to be there when June begins...

I want to be there where the spirit never dies
I want to be there where the norm is being nice
I want to be there where it's a special feeling
I want to be there when June begins...

I don't know why I feel this way
But I know for sure it's here to stay
Of all my life's favorite things
I want to be there when June begins...

No more reason not to blog...

It's 745 pm on Monday 30 May 11. It's the memorial day holiday in the US and just at the end of what has been a pretty good holiday weekend, I have just discovered my next new reason to keep blogging. I recently upgraded from a Blackberry curve to the BB Bold and just a couple of hours ago I figured out how to get past the http 400 error that I was getting on several favorite websites, sometimes as simple as gmail. Ever since I have jsust checked the latest cricket scores on cricinfo, watched a couple of favorite videos on youtube and then I had an Aha! moment. "Why don't I try blogger.com", I thought and it worked. Having been a while since I posted something here and given that I did not have much else to do, I threw myself on my black couch, stretched out my legs on to the center table and decided to do this right away (even as I move my eyes away every now and then from this screen to a larger one where my son is witnessing a replay of the baseball game today between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals).

Honestly, I've been thinking about returning to my blog page for quite a while. The list of excuses for why I didn't can be a post in itself so I'll save it for another day. However, with everything that's been going on in my life, coming back any sooner may have resulted in me only venting and nothing productive. Also I firmly believe that there is a right time for everything in life and now is the right time for this. A good weekend that has livened up my spirit, a BB Bold that let's me go beyond phone and email and all this right on the eve of June.

June is my favorite month. It's a no brainer, I was born in June, but June is also special to me in many more ways. So every year in June I try to do something new, to re-invent myself, include a pep in every step and work really hard. So this year, on top of everything I have decided to do to become a better professional, I have decided to go out and run at least 3 times a week and blog every single day. I did this in the last ten days of 2010 and it wasn't bad at all. Now I'm going to take it up a notch. And what a better time than June to try this. Especially given that I can blog from pretty much anywhere with my BB Bold.

No reason not to blog at all.

Quake, shake, heartache...

An earthquake in the Pacific moved Japan's coastline by 8 feet and changed the earth's axis. The force of nature terrorized the people of Japan and shook their deep-rooted belief that they were well prepared for such disasters. The rubble is still clearing and if that's not enough, nuclear plants are now threatening to cause irreparable damage to the environment.

While the Pacific is boiling, the Atlantic is no cooler. Heartaches persist. Relentless toil amounts to nothing, leaving at the end of the day, only the feeling that something is still missing. Nothing really suggests that life is falling apart but surely life is not whole. It's like I have everything and I have nothing. I like the silence. At least, it says something.

Technology helps. Chat and email have helped people stay connected to their friends and family in the far east to ensure their well-being. But look at the irony. Youtube and Facebook enjoyed record viewership, participation and perhaps advertising revenue as people the world exchanged pictures and videos of the misery. Don't forget the smartphones, ipads and other mobile devices!

And yet, nothing helps. Sleep only delays the inevitable. It only hastens the deadlines on the multi-various project plans I have to coordinate in India time, deliver on UK time and follow up on US Eastern Standard time. The fun is fun while it lasts but the magic wears out faster than I know it. Then what? The mind soon follows the laws of physics and gravitates to what's missing.

Even as Japan is struggling to restore, afteshocks have appeared. Though not enough to disrupt the recovery activities or damage life further, they have been enough to provide hungry news channels with more reels of footage and attention. The Nikkei plummeted even as the Richter hit the high. Business and life have come to a stall, not much is really moving in the world's most industrious nation.

Everyday I think I have accomplished something, I only receive some feedback that suggests I need to do more. I wind up at 10 PM thinking I have addressed everything I need to for the day only to have a rude awakening at 5 AM about something that is due at 8. I'm spinning the wheels at a frenetic pace but not moving forward. The impasse is only good. It makes life seem so certain.

Don't stop watching the news yet. Japan will come back, soon and strong. Do Hiroshima and Nagasaki ring a bell? And they won't even need help from the immensely larger or notionally more powerful nations of the world. They will recover through sheer diligence and ingenuity. Fear will be replaced by faith, horror by hope and human loss by the indomitable human spirit.

It's just a matter of time for me too. When time tests me, I choose to Endure. Ask me why Ernest Shackleton is My Hero! I know I have to go through it because I'm not asking for anything lesser than the MOON. And I'm working hard enough to give myself a reasonable shot at getting it. But most important of all, deep down in my gut I BELIEVE that's the only way it will be. I WILL BE BACK...

When the World is Interestingly Poised...

The world is waiting with bated breath on what will become of the Middle-East. The Mobaraks and Gaddafis have ensured that 2011 has kicked off with no shortage of excitement. After England forced India to a tie, Ireland shocked England in the ICC Cricket World Cup in what became the highest run chase ever in the 36 year history of World Cup cricket. England came back strong to rout South Africa in a low scoring tie all within a week. Certainly, the World (Cup) interestingly poised...

"My World" in 2011 has been no less exciting. After being on the road for work across the US, Canada and India since the 3rd of January, I ended the month of February in the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania, picking up a new skill, namely skiing, and some new friends on what turned out to be a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the 40s, making for a perfect family one day outing.

2011 has been a mixed bag so far with work, family and social musings evenly interwoven. It's also had its share of ups and downs with extreme pressure situations, minor victories and even some utterly funny moments. But amidst all these, there has been a singular focus (like my honorable cousin from Albany likes to call it). And as Sunday the 6th of March has rolled by some interesting ideas have taken shape in my mind.

New projects are getting added by the day, new plans are being made and new insights being gained. New lessons are being learnt and a new confidence is emerging. The next few days will be critical as I continue on the path of focused execution while keeping my ears and eyes open. Listening to what those around me are saying is critical and converting the opportunities into happy notes will determine success. And of all the virtues I have grown to develop and represent over the years, patience is going to be prime...

2011 has also been different in a strange sort of way. While I have only grown stronger about what I BELIEVE IN, I have also been asking for a lot more out of LIFE and also getting it. I'm deeply grateful for the lucky breaks but am also increasingly sure that I will get what I deserve, so long as I keep giving it everything I have.

It's 1037 PM on Sunday 6 March 2011 and it's time I went to sleep. There's a lot more to give when I wake up in a few hours from now. Cause it's only 65 days done in 2011, 300 more to accomplish everything that I WANT to do this year. And my only prayer to the ALMIGHTY is, "Let me DO only what I WANT TO DO" now and forever to come...