Her name is Lucerne!
Just like all other Hollywood romances, ours began in Hollywood too. At the Hilton in Universal City (home of the famous Universal Studios), to be precise. At 345 pm on a cloudy Thursday afternoon to be even more precise. Just below the Sierra Ballroom in fact...
I usually don't do this in the first meeting, but within 30 minutes, I asked her to dance with me. It was still cloudy. The floor was open but filling up fast, so if we had to find our place on it, I had to move fast. Boy, was I delighted when she said, "Yes"...
The gentleman I am, I led her to the dance floor and first let her take her spot. After taking my own, I carefully took her in my arms. My left locked in hers and my right clasping her waist, I held her close to me and looked her in the eye. The music began...
We moved slowly at first. We made small strides and stayed in our space. We moved in tandem with the many others who had taken the floor with us. It was that time of the day the dance floor was full. Our moves were not only restricted but had to match the timing of the plethora of other dancers. We were told that soon, the crown would filter to only those who were in it long haul. We waited as we gently paced the floor...
The experts were right! The party hoppers soon left and only those remained who had sworn to dance all evening long. The floor that looked so tightly packed, opened up its expanse and beckoned us to be free. And just when we thought it couldn't get any better, the clouds vanished. The floor was bathed in sunshine...
We started to move. Our steps picked up pace and we even started to move across the floor. Sometimes, we would move just one right and left step, sometimes 2 and 2 and sometimes we went from end to end without breaking a sweat. Still, we were only getting in the mood...
I was dressed in blue and she was in white! I was leading her moves (like the man should do) and she jived to mine. My eyes were always roving the floor so I could lead her right. I never needed to look at her once. I knew I held her tight and I knew I'd never let her go...
Soon we were on song! The music just got better with every single number and we moved and jived along like we'd been together forever. We moved forward and sideways and left others behind. We were swaying with the wind and laughing in the sunshine...
Our hearts beat as one. Our feet moved in unison. Every minute I prayed that nothing would stop this run. And life conspired to create a magical ride. Even through nightfall and rainfall, we didn't lose our rythm...
We danced together for 5 long hours. We stopped only because we had to. If I had a choice, I would have asked her to dance all night. And I just know. She'd say, "Yes"...
She's not mine! But we share something special. And deep down in our hearts, we both know it. Because days like this are neither designed, nor dreamed of. They just happen...
The above is a metaphorical account of my blissful 5 hour drive through Interstate 5 (North) from the Universal Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles to the city of Cupertino in the South San Francisco bay on the afternoon of Thursday 12 April 12 in a lovely white Buick Lucerne...
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Talk...
You don't see each other
You don't speak a word
You write and you don't
But you say a lot...
You have your life to live
Yet you make some time
A picture here, a gesture there
Is all it takes to share...
You say what you feel
You feel it is right
But you know when you hurt
And you apologize...
You wait to hear
But never impose
And even a little Smile
Can cause a lot of cheer...
You know what you want
You'll wait for the time
A heart full of hope
And faith, that's so sure...
You talk...
You don't speak a word
You write and you don't
But you say a lot...
You have your life to live
Yet you make some time
A picture here, a gesture there
Is all it takes to share...
You say what you feel
You feel it is right
But you know when you hurt
And you apologize...
You wait to hear
But never impose
And even a little Smile
Can cause a lot of cheer...
You know what you want
You'll wait for the time
A heart full of hope
And faith, that's so sure...
You talk...
Friday, March 16, 2012
Right...
I woke up at 3 AM. I was shaken awake by Thompson. He was (W)right! He said:
"Tendulkar is a closed book. He smiles and walks to the center of the pitch. His play suggests he is bending under the weight, but he'll never admit it. Nobody knows how he feels about the century. What does Tendulkar think about the quest? He cares enough to keep chasing it, but maybe the media and the ex-players and the manic fans are missing the point. Scoring the century doesn't define his career, but the chasing of it does, the willingness to risk failing for the chance of success."
The India-Bangladesh Asia Cup encounter started an hour later at 4 AM US EST. I havevbeen toggling between MS Outlook, MS Project, MS Excel and http://www.hitcric.info/ ever since. It is 626 AM now and He just clipped the ball over mid-wicket for his 8th boundary of the innings. Remember, 6 of the 8 have come front of the wicket on the off side (very few will know what that means). He's batting 87...
No one knows if He will get to THE mark! We've got to wait and see. But when I read Wright Thompson's article last night, I realized something. Whether He gets his 100th Hundred or not, He's not going to be batting for very long. And I am not going to get many Fridays when a match starts at 4 AM allowing me the luxury of sitting on my couch in silence and watch Him bat. That's what it has always been about for me. Just "watching him bat"...
I am fond of this couch. About a year ago (may be 15 days short!), I stayed awake a whole Friday night for a similar early AM start of the most important cricket match in the world. The World Cup Final. I was logged in to Facebook all along and saw my friends, relatives and countrymen bash India as they gave away a huge total to Sri Lanka. At lunch (which was breakfast time for us), I ate hot white pongal and settled back on this very same couch. "Just sit down and watch the game patiently", I said to my son and wife. "India will win today"...
"Oh My God", I screamed sometime later, "Oh. My. God."! Those were the only words that I ever uttered in the next 3.5 hours of watching India bat. But no, that was not MS Dhoni clobbering one over deep long on to bring about the much awaited World Cup win. It was Sachin Tendulkar's straight drive that stayed just to the right of the stumps at the bowler's end and made the umpire jump up in the air on its way to the boundary. Those are the only 2 shots I remember from that entire World cup final, one of which I will never forget...
He just drove through extracover to go from 90 to 94. A little while ago, Neo Sports displayed a comparison of Sachin and Virat playing the inside-out cover drive. Both of them have very similar styles, the foot movement, how they transfer the body weight and lean into the shot. But at the very end, just at the very end, there is only one bat whose full open face one could witness. Tony Greig once said, "Sachin has 3 straight drives, Straight, Straighter, Straightest"...
The Man's now on 99! Only one moment separates him from history. But Raina gets a single of the last ball of the over. Raina sure knows how to make the world wait! My son who was asleep on the couch to my right just woke up and my wife is sitting on the arm rest to my left. And Raina has just scored one boundary, one brace (2), one dot ball and finally a single to give Him the strike of the last 2 balls of the over. He lets 2 dot balls go. This time he asks us to wait Himself...
Just at this very moment, Hitcric loses its stream! Good old Cricinfo it is and it shows Sachin Tendulkar 100 of 138! Since it was Thompson whose (W)righteousness who woke me up this morning, I guess it is fair that I witness THE MOMENT on ESPN Cricinfo. Oh My God! The world has waited for this for over a year. But I think, HE waited for ME to wake up and watch him do it...
He's quickly moved on to 111. And Raina at the other end is plundering away, what with the innings into the last 5 overs. A lot will be said about the way he got here. "He just stuck around for this", they will cry. "Oh, how slowly he played", some will moan. "What is so great about getting it against Bangladesh?", the world at large will say. I will not say anything. For, there are a few, only a few out there in this small world, who are connected at this moment (Facebook or not!), their hearts swelling with pride...
With 3 overs to go, there is not much left in this innings. Raina has got his 50 and just got out. Well played indeed. And The Man himself just got out 114 of 147 balls. What can I say? Sitting on my couch, I join the standing ovation...
India will likely go on to win this game and send Bangladesh home (wait, they live here don't they? And I stole that from the commentator on ESPN Cricinfo!). India will go on to their next one against Pakistan, on Sunday, same time. And I will be up at 345 AM and ready with my cup of coffee, sitting on the couch. He may score his 101th! He may get his 162nd fifty. Or he may be out bowled first ball. No matter what, I will be awake. Just to watch him bat...
Oh BTW Virat. Well played today (66 of 82 balls). Loved your delectable leg glances off fast bowling early on and the energetic punches through the off side later on. And oh! Good Luck shouldering the billion people who will be sitting on you, watching the every move you make, coming soon! If you can do it for the next 20 something years, I may wake up one morning when I am 60, just to watch you bat...
"Tendulkar is a closed book. He smiles and walks to the center of the pitch. His play suggests he is bending under the weight, but he'll never admit it. Nobody knows how he feels about the century. What does Tendulkar think about the quest? He cares enough to keep chasing it, but maybe the media and the ex-players and the manic fans are missing the point. Scoring the century doesn't define his career, but the chasing of it does, the willingness to risk failing for the chance of success."
The India-Bangladesh Asia Cup encounter started an hour later at 4 AM US EST. I havevbeen toggling between MS Outlook, MS Project, MS Excel and http://www.hitcric.info/ ever since. It is 626 AM now and He just clipped the ball over mid-wicket for his 8th boundary of the innings. Remember, 6 of the 8 have come front of the wicket on the off side (very few will know what that means). He's batting 87...
No one knows if He will get to THE mark! We've got to wait and see. But when I read Wright Thompson's article last night, I realized something. Whether He gets his 100th Hundred or not, He's not going to be batting for very long. And I am not going to get many Fridays when a match starts at 4 AM allowing me the luxury of sitting on my couch in silence and watch Him bat. That's what it has always been about for me. Just "watching him bat"...
I am fond of this couch. About a year ago (may be 15 days short!), I stayed awake a whole Friday night for a similar early AM start of the most important cricket match in the world. The World Cup Final. I was logged in to Facebook all along and saw my friends, relatives and countrymen bash India as they gave away a huge total to Sri Lanka. At lunch (which was breakfast time for us), I ate hot white pongal and settled back on this very same couch. "Just sit down and watch the game patiently", I said to my son and wife. "India will win today"...
"Oh My God", I screamed sometime later, "Oh. My. God."! Those were the only words that I ever uttered in the next 3.5 hours of watching India bat. But no, that was not MS Dhoni clobbering one over deep long on to bring about the much awaited World Cup win. It was Sachin Tendulkar's straight drive that stayed just to the right of the stumps at the bowler's end and made the umpire jump up in the air on its way to the boundary. Those are the only 2 shots I remember from that entire World cup final, one of which I will never forget...
He just drove through extracover to go from 90 to 94. A little while ago, Neo Sports displayed a comparison of Sachin and Virat playing the inside-out cover drive. Both of them have very similar styles, the foot movement, how they transfer the body weight and lean into the shot. But at the very end, just at the very end, there is only one bat whose full open face one could witness. Tony Greig once said, "Sachin has 3 straight drives, Straight, Straighter, Straightest"...
The Man's now on 99! Only one moment separates him from history. But Raina gets a single of the last ball of the over. Raina sure knows how to make the world wait! My son who was asleep on the couch to my right just woke up and my wife is sitting on the arm rest to my left. And Raina has just scored one boundary, one brace (2), one dot ball and finally a single to give Him the strike of the last 2 balls of the over. He lets 2 dot balls go. This time he asks us to wait Himself...
Just at this very moment, Hitcric loses its stream! Good old Cricinfo it is and it shows Sachin Tendulkar 100 of 138! Since it was Thompson whose (W)righteousness who woke me up this morning, I guess it is fair that I witness THE MOMENT on ESPN Cricinfo. Oh My God! The world has waited for this for over a year. But I think, HE waited for ME to wake up and watch him do it...
He's quickly moved on to 111. And Raina at the other end is plundering away, what with the innings into the last 5 overs. A lot will be said about the way he got here. "He just stuck around for this", they will cry. "Oh, how slowly he played", some will moan. "What is so great about getting it against Bangladesh?", the world at large will say. I will not say anything. For, there are a few, only a few out there in this small world, who are connected at this moment (Facebook or not!), their hearts swelling with pride...
With 3 overs to go, there is not much left in this innings. Raina has got his 50 and just got out. Well played indeed. And The Man himself just got out 114 of 147 balls. What can I say? Sitting on my couch, I join the standing ovation...
India will likely go on to win this game and send Bangladesh home (wait, they live here don't they? And I stole that from the commentator on ESPN Cricinfo!). India will go on to their next one against Pakistan, on Sunday, same time. And I will be up at 345 AM and ready with my cup of coffee, sitting on the couch. He may score his 101th! He may get his 162nd fifty. Or he may be out bowled first ball. No matter what, I will be awake. Just to watch him bat...
Oh BTW Virat. Well played today (66 of 82 balls). Loved your delectable leg glances off fast bowling early on and the energetic punches through the off side later on. And oh! Good Luck shouldering the billion people who will be sitting on you, watching the every move you make, coming soon! If you can do it for the next 20 something years, I may wake up one morning when I am 60, just to watch you bat...
Friday, March 9, 2012
Someone...
Steve Jobs is dead. Sachin Tendulkar is almost out. The world needs "Someone"...
Clearly, I am the problem (I always was and I always will be). I believe in iCons! I believe that when great people, who have changed the world, leave, they leave behind not just a legacy, but a hole. I believe that they leave behind big shoes to fill. And I believe that those shoes cannot be filled. Maybe because I feel that when one that great leaves, that he or she should be missed. That those around should feel the pain of not having them. Clearly, I am a sadist...
I walked past an Apple store today and saw some new stuff in there. I saw some snazzy displays. A screen in a cloud. What was that? Everything else looks the same. The minimalistic design. The men in blue t-shirts. The Genius Bar. The flocking crowds. And the aura that comes with an Apple store. But something was missing for me. "Someone"...
Rahul Dravid retired today. So many friends on Facebook said he was their favorite cricketer. One even said, Sachin should take the cue and retire himself and not wait for his 100th hundred. I'd waste time trying to convince those who think that's why he's still around. So I'll let it rest. But the day he decides to hang up his boots, rest assured, my fever for cricket will end. I'm telling you, I am the problem...
I try to think back to what people say. "iCons are missed, no doubt, but the legend never dies", they told me. "The trail continues to blaze. Only now, the torch is carried by someone else"...
I try to think back to my favorite stories. When Pele was gone, it took a Zico to be the next No. 10, not just anyone. A Federer followed a Sampras but only in a while. Jeff Immelt, is no doubt a worthy successor to Jack Welch, but he will never be the Businessman of the Century. Why, it took a Tendulkar to be the next Gavaskar, none more, none less...
The legend goes on, for sure. The trail will blaze. "Someone" will come. But don't get me wrong. Tim Cook can never fill Steve Jobs' shoes. And Virat Kohli will never be Sachin Tendulkar. Because, what it takes to change the world is not "Someone" random, but "Someone" special...
"Someone" truly INCREDIBLE...
Clearly, I am the problem (I always was and I always will be). I believe in iCons! I believe that when great people, who have changed the world, leave, they leave behind not just a legacy, but a hole. I believe that they leave behind big shoes to fill. And I believe that those shoes cannot be filled. Maybe because I feel that when one that great leaves, that he or she should be missed. That those around should feel the pain of not having them. Clearly, I am a sadist...
I walked past an Apple store today and saw some new stuff in there. I saw some snazzy displays. A screen in a cloud. What was that? Everything else looks the same. The minimalistic design. The men in blue t-shirts. The Genius Bar. The flocking crowds. And the aura that comes with an Apple store. But something was missing for me. "Someone"...
Rahul Dravid retired today. So many friends on Facebook said he was their favorite cricketer. One even said, Sachin should take the cue and retire himself and not wait for his 100th hundred. I'd waste time trying to convince those who think that's why he's still around. So I'll let it rest. But the day he decides to hang up his boots, rest assured, my fever for cricket will end. I'm telling you, I am the problem...
I try to think back to what people say. "iCons are missed, no doubt, but the legend never dies", they told me. "The trail continues to blaze. Only now, the torch is carried by someone else"...
I try to think back to my favorite stories. When Pele was gone, it took a Zico to be the next No. 10, not just anyone. A Federer followed a Sampras but only in a while. Jeff Immelt, is no doubt a worthy successor to Jack Welch, but he will never be the Businessman of the Century. Why, it took a Tendulkar to be the next Gavaskar, none more, none less...
The legend goes on, for sure. The trail will blaze. "Someone" will come. But don't get me wrong. Tim Cook can never fill Steve Jobs' shoes. And Virat Kohli will never be Sachin Tendulkar. Because, what it takes to change the world is not "Someone" random, but "Someone" special...
"Someone" truly INCREDIBLE...
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Big Bang Theory...
You're travelling all Monday. You plan to work on the plane. But you watch Big Bang Theory.
Tuesday. You're in a different time zone. You wake up tired. You have a long day ahead of you. You get started in earnest. You knock a few things off your plate. You start to have a migraine. You get a coffee. It doesn't get any better. You pull through till lunch. You think you feel better. You get some more work done. You're feeling worse. You take off. You get some sleep.
You feel better. You try to think what next. You turn on the TV. Big Bang Theory's just starting. You fix yourself some dinner. You watch the 1st episode. You pick your computer. You check your calendar. You have tons of work to do. You have just watched the 2nd episode. You tell yourself you need to switch off the TV. You try to work. You can't concentrate. You watch episode 3.
You put away your computer. You make yourself some coffee. You've done episode 4. You make yourself more coffee. You're down episode 5. You pick your computer back up. Your coffee is kicking in. You start updating that project plan. Episode 6 is done. Big Bang Theory is over for the day.
You finally start concentrating on work. You still leave the TV on. But this time you're serious. You get the work done. You send out a few emails. You look at your calendar again. You plan your next day. You've dotted the I's and crossed the T's. You feel good. You put away your computer. You check the time. It's well past midnight. You decide to sleep.
You turn off the light. You pull the covers over yourself. Your coffee is still working. You decide to fall asleep after a few more minutes of TV. You pick up the remote. You start browsing channels. You do a full round. You see nothing interesting. You give yourself one last try. You stop a minute to watch that funny commercial. You linger one more minute. You hit Gold again.
Coming up Next, back to back episodes of "Big Bang Theory".
It all started with a Big Bang. It's likely to end in a Big Boom! Wish me luck for Wednesday...
Tuesday. You're in a different time zone. You wake up tired. You have a long day ahead of you. You get started in earnest. You knock a few things off your plate. You start to have a migraine. You get a coffee. It doesn't get any better. You pull through till lunch. You think you feel better. You get some more work done. You're feeling worse. You take off. You get some sleep.
You feel better. You try to think what next. You turn on the TV. Big Bang Theory's just starting. You fix yourself some dinner. You watch the 1st episode. You pick your computer. You check your calendar. You have tons of work to do. You have just watched the 2nd episode. You tell yourself you need to switch off the TV. You try to work. You can't concentrate. You watch episode 3.
You put away your computer. You make yourself some coffee. You've done episode 4. You make yourself more coffee. You're down episode 5. You pick your computer back up. Your coffee is kicking in. You start updating that project plan. Episode 6 is done. Big Bang Theory is over for the day.
You finally start concentrating on work. You still leave the TV on. But this time you're serious. You get the work done. You send out a few emails. You look at your calendar again. You plan your next day. You've dotted the I's and crossed the T's. You feel good. You put away your computer. You check the time. It's well past midnight. You decide to sleep.
You turn off the light. You pull the covers over yourself. Your coffee is still working. You decide to fall asleep after a few more minutes of TV. You pick up the remote. You start browsing channels. You do a full round. You see nothing interesting. You give yourself one last try. You stop a minute to watch that funny commercial. You linger one more minute. You hit Gold again.
Coming up Next, back to back episodes of "Big Bang Theory".
It all started with a Big Bang. It's likely to end in a Big Boom! Wish me luck for Wednesday...
Sunday, January 29, 2012
One...
One Road with No Speed Limits
One Love with No Expectations
One Cause to Die For
One Moment to Live For
One Idea that can Change the World
One Thing I'll be Remembered For
One Shot at Greatness
Is all I ask from Life...
One Love with No Expectations
One Cause to Die For
One Moment to Live For
One Idea that can Change the World
One Thing I'll be Remembered For
One Shot at Greatness
Is all I ask from Life...
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Views...
They said Manila offers a lot of great views. Here's a list of everything I viewed on my recent trip to Manila:
Crazy Stupid Love
Just Go With It
Harry Potter Deathly Hallows 2
Beyond Borders
Big Fish
Throw Mamma From the Train
He Said She Said
Scott Pilgrim vs Rest of the World
The Losers
Golden Eye
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
The Dilemma
Honey
The Tourist
The Last Song
Crazy Heart
Burlesque
Labor Pains
Ladybugs
Sunshine Cleaning
I Just Don't Know How She Does It
Needless to say, Manila was Great Fun! Maraming salamat po...
Crazy Stupid Love
Just Go With It
Harry Potter Deathly Hallows 2
Beyond Borders
Big Fish
Throw Mamma From the Train
He Said She Said
Scott Pilgrim vs Rest of the World
The Losers
Golden Eye
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
The Dilemma
Honey
The Tourist
The Last Song
Crazy Heart
Burlesque
Labor Pains
Ladybugs
Sunshine Cleaning
I Just Don't Know How She Does It
Needless to say, Manila was Great Fun! Maraming salamat po...
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