Thankful.....

... Is how I felt at the end of the day yesterday!

Yesterday(Apr 22) was my B'day (That's ur cue to go ahead n wish me :-P). The day started on a ominous note with the news of Husbands 85 year old grand mom being hospitalized! This coming close on the heels of uncles death made my mind go into a overdrive n  jump into worst of conclusions :-/. Everytime the phone rings, I would literally have butterflies in my stomach. Goes without saying that my Bday was the last thing on my mind...

Late eve, slowly things turned around with the news that grandmother was in no mortal danger! Haa the sigh of relief when I heard her voice on phone.

What made the day complete thou are  friends n family who took the effort to go the extra mile to ensure that  my frown is not upside down! From a friend who on knowing that I hv no plans for dinner took the effort to whip up a spl chicken curry for yours truly to another one who managed to sneak in a small cake right under my nose - simply cause they knew that bday is incomplete for me without the mandatory cake cutting n a grand dinner! Not to forget the friend who was my agony-aunt thru the day - haa the pleasure of having somebody who will hear u out n reassure u that things will tide over. Of course there was the gift galore - From books to dresses to 2 wrist watches  (Each meeting my specs of Big dial to the 'T'). 

The best thou was reserved for the last - my 8 year old niece who's still not got over the death of the man in her life - calls me almost post 10 in the night n literally whispers her b'day msg into my ear! Must be the best B'day wish I received this year :)

Definitely a day to be thankful for - To God, to friends, to Family, to destiny for making my day :)

Linking this to A2Z Challenge - T is for Thankful!

I wish someone told me...

.... that topping your class doesn't exactly qualify you for a free-ticket to a better job(read high-paying job!).

Should be common sense rt? Esp after being in the corporate scene for close to 7 years, one would have thot that this basic sense would hv creeped into this head of mine!

Am I glad I joined my current work place which is literally a ocean!! So U will hv a Diploma-pass rubbing shoulders with a IIM grad provide ofcourse he\she proves his\her mettle! This to a large enxtent has broken my bubble, but the damn creature of habit keeps raising its head once in a  while!!!

You think theres still some hope for me?

One lesson that I never miss passing onto the younger lot is to not to unduly really worry about their grades..... Nothing really depends on it!

Linking this to Write Over the Weekend Initaive by Blog Adda.. So what if am a week late :-/

Graham Bell never Invented Telephone!!!

Yosh! U heard it right..

Go look up these links to see what they say ~~ Here n here! Some news that huh.. Had ma jaw literally dropping when I heard this......

What led me into this google search in middle of weekday is a conversation that brewed over lunch @ work. Here's to some great conversations over umpteen lunch n tea breaks... One of the things that makes office bearable :-D

Aye Captian!

Almost every other day we met somebody ~at work, among frnds, among colleagues who are well jus toooo big for their shoes n this invariably when they must be jus a step or two above you in the value-chain!

But then you meet somebody, who defines what "Humility" means ~~ Somebody at work whose style of operation can be described only as ~~ "Underplay"! So here hes been working with a minion in the value-chain for the past few weeks (yours truly) and me in my ignorance have been treating him jus as one would yet another peer. Its only by chance that I learn that he is right there at the top in the value chain and all I could do was "Gulp" with surprise at his humility, humbleness!

The topping on the cake thou should be his story of "How I met my Life partner" ~~ Not publishing it here as well its his story to tell....

Somebody, who you would truly want to bow down to and say "Aye Captain" ~~ Its not everyday that you meet a true blue gentleman! Aye Captain!

Monday Blues..

... Well they jus dissapear the moment u land at office. N if u thinking its cause I enjoy ma work n so dono what it means... Ha all I will say is "I Wish!".

The answer is that on an odd day like this I don seem to hv even a min to breathe :(. Heres hoping tht these workaholic days don arrive  too often for my convenience!

100 Years Of 'THINK'ing....

... Is what ma comp celebrated Today .... Lemme do this simple yet elegant Video do all the talking!

Pic Courtesy TOI

Indeed to a great extent I would say am proud to be an IBMer but well pride doesn fill ur wallet does it! Hmm tht apart am sure every other person working there would agree tht its the place to be in.... But again cribbing as the BIG BLUE celebrates its big day does seem to be doing it justice after all the flexibility, the career opportunities it has given me and thousands of others especially the womenfolk    - so lemme reword my earlier statement to read

'Happy To Be An IBMer'

The 7 Year Itch.....

Begins today :-D

N ofcourse to all the women in my life (real n virtual)~~ Thank U for jus being what u r ~~ U rock!

The week thts Been!

Hmm been quite a week - atleast at the work front (translate to no personal time ~~ Hmpf!)

The gr8 news first ~~ Yeaa!! I cleared my examination!!!! Yippie Yippie Yip Yip!

The New facet Of Life News - Well if u remember the post, I went with the sexy mistress option :-P (Well shouldnt it read sexy mister ~~ Me straight U c .. Lol!) Well the option was kinda made simple for me bursting ma bubble..... The upper realm decide me no good for Option A... Yea I know its staid-n-Boring(Case of sour grapes... He He He)!


So here I am kick starting the new facet... Well a few hrs I hv spent there has already left me wondering what am I upto here! Me shit scared....  Yeah yeah sexy mister take a bow! Plzz wish me luck!!! I havent yet bid good-bye to ma wonderful team (v soon to be ex-team)... While it means a few more days of happy-faces (The new place seem to be full of serious morons!) it also translates to 10 hrs of work everyday for a month (Howl!)

N yeaaaa I hv ma little niece (hopefully ma sis too) visting me for the long weekend! Yippppeeee... Now I gotta get ma manager approve ma leave for tommo!

So incase I dont catch u guys b4 weekend here is wishing u a happy, colorful, Joyful Diwali!

PotLuck AaHo!

Does the pic look straight out from a Foodie blog! N no no no dont swoon I didnt cook up all of this!

This a part-collage from the pot luck we had @ work the other day.... Yummmmm isnt it! N this as I said is part of the big picture ~~ The best part ~~ The dessert I mean is missing! From pulao to Mattar-panner to Poori-Aloo to chicken to parthas to kuzhi paniyaram to rasgulla-jamun-payasam it was an amazing spread :)

Trust me nothing bonds people as much as food (N Booze :-P)!

Do I hear u saying whats my contribution here... right most pic in top row! N b4 u ask the question tht I know will know ~~ Yea the cooking story did follow the usual routine!

Hmpf! As I write this I realize if things go as planned on the career front I may v soon hv to bid good bye to this wonderful team... Well lemme not jump the gun n park the good bye post for now :)

N this is ma entry for Color Deckor's Weekend WrapUp!

A new Facet of Life!

Hmmmm am at a junction of ma career! A junction where I hv the option to choose....

Option A is the tried n tested that comes with the security blanket of 'Comfort Zone', the flexibility to work-from-home, to work amidst people I know(But well nobody tht I care for!)! But the only grouse? The working hours... well thou at times I think thts more a blessing in disguise! But again these luring factors makes it a non-exciting feature!

Option B is a complete cup of new tea which is what makes it exciting! I know its a start to a 'drem-role'.. a role tht i eyed from the very start of my career! But it doesnt hv any of the above mentioned 'comfort-zone' factors... No people i know of, will hv to work my ass off! N yea I hv been told that this is gonna boost up ma learning-curve, is a challenging role n give me 'exposure' (yea! yea! Try selling tht to somebody else not me) Yeah the working hours are the conventional 9 -6 but that means no office-cab pick up n drop N considering my driving disability it means I gotta fall back on public transport(shudders!)!

N considering the laid back kinda person I am, I would hv bet my ass that I will blindly chose option A considering a few other personal obligations too!!! But why why why am I so inclined(Truth be told... I hv already decided) to take up option B? Why is the sane, down-to-earth sensible me opting for the glittery mistress as compared to the sensible house wife back home (Heeeeeee..... I liked the comparision)!

Plz do wish me luck  N pray that the glittery mistress doesnt end up burning ma fingers! Hugs to mee! N grrrrrrrr why am I given options to choose from.... ooph!

PS: I am going thru this mind games as I hv almost taken this decision without really getting the 'green-signal' from the person who knows me better n would hv been the best judge at weighing the pros-n-corns for me! Sigh! How I miss it!!!

Where in the Hubbs is sent back home from office.....

.......for improper dressing......... ROFL!!! Haa there is at last justice in the world!!!!!

So this is the background... my hubs translates to what I call a "Brat" at office... somebody who boo boos at all the rules @ work but gets away with it cause well thou I hate to agree he is good at what he does..... Na na me not one of those wifes who thinks pati is the parameshwar......LOL at the very thot of it!So on a monday morn u will see him walking into office in  jeans n tee n walking with no qualms whatsoever...  N so was the case yest tooo!

Ha n there comes the twist in the tale.... as soon as steps in he's informed of a impromptu conference where all top-shots would be in attendance so my dearest hubbs had no option but to go home n change from his fav V-Neck tee  into a complete 3 piece suit..... ROFL!  The transition was a treat to ma eyes(complete with a evilish grin on ma lips) Ha! Yesterday I atlast had the last laugh.........

To Good Times.....

Well if there is one thing that isnt been painted so very rosy n colorful then that should be my work!!! Now Now I would be lying if I at all I say I love my work... Cause well dont we all know the truth better :) N when I made a jump from Satyam to this new place the change was overwhelming...... new work place, new work culture, New work(!!!!!) and above all learning to manage people.... first few months I kicked myself for jumping from one hell (a known one at least) to a unknown devil!!! But well perseverance n a few same mangers saw me thru... N of course the fact that am a quick learner that I am (:-D ... It took me a year n am still clueless)!!!


Ha now for the team...... I agree there was a phase when I was less-than-fond of them:-P. But well people tend to grow on you... n u slowly but surely tend to love them and today I am happy to be a part of them!(Yeah yeah! About time u say) n the great time that I had over the weekend on trip Mudhumulai was a testimonial for it!! N of course with ma fav mgr accompanying it can just be a topping on the cake (I cant hv fav among mgrs u say - well well this is my personal space so scoot off). Indded If You Really Desire Something from your heart and soul the entire world conspires in helping you achieve that! Thank You :)

The weather was more than co-operative... Imagine while its been raining cats n dogs the last few days there wasnt a drop of rain those two days n if tht wasnt enuf there was no sun beating us down Either... it was just picture perfect!!! Guess that happens when u hv a person in midst of u who isnt taken a break for 6 years n people are truly hoping for the person to have a good time(:-D)! But well its not the weather neither the place that makes these trips memorable... its the people, its the silly jokes, the stupid antics that u end u doing when u are sloshed (me too :-P n not to forget some dearest people trying to slap in some sense then... I enjoyed the latter part too :)), The sad n happy stories that u blurt out, the harmless teasing, people riding horses n chasing squirrels when drunk, dancing to ringa-ringa-roses .... all making u let out a happy sigh now!!!

Ha but today as I recollect the trip - its these few things that stand out - my team, my fav manger, the drunken blizzard!! But the one that truly captured the spirit is the 15 mins that I spent swinging slowly lost in the soul of a beautiful song sung by a even more 'beautiful' hunk(:-D) as you have a cool breeze caressing ur face and a full moon lighting up the area for u!!!!! At peace with everything I was for tht moment :)

                                         Love u guys! Here is to more trips n more fun!!!

Ma Fav:)

PS: A grrrrrrrr the worst punishment that was meted out for getting sloshed!!!! N thnx Mr.Akay I owe u more than this for making the trip happen(U know the operative words there)… I know I know I owe u A levis whatever for it!

Monday Fever Anyone?

Well well am usually the most susceptible of 'Monday Fever' syndrome..... Blame it on all except myself!!! But kya kare paapi peth ka sawaal he... thou peanuts is what I still get!


But well well nothing like a few small unexpected surprises to make ur day! A small but thotful message scribbled on a piece of Napkin n placed put on ur desk... isnt just that gesture enuf to brighten up the day! Thnx Abby Boy!!!! U n ur silly acts makes any day at work much more bearable.

Ha n as if tht is not enuf, the angry young man of the team comes up with a surprise gift! Hv a look!!! Beautiful isnt it?????????????? Thnx Man! I loved it. N thnx Dennis James for the pic!

N hey U Mr.AKay, Never got around to tell u....... Its great to hv u around! I know how much the very thot of sending that DMH report late in the night used to ruin my day as well as weeekends... A real heartfelt Thank You for taking thois over... thou I realize this should have been a 50-50 task even without a whimper or me asking for it u do my share of it too..... Thank You :)

Ha N the joy of wearing a dress on monday which even I acknowledge isnt 'Formal' by any definition n getting away with it :-D

An Consolation Award Is Worst Than No Award!

Period.

Edited To Add: But as they say there "Behind Every Cloud is a silver lining" - N when the silver lining is in form of people who ensure that your smile remains intact you know how to count your blessing! Thank You :)

Ha not trying to be secretive or anything here! Just another day at office where I was miffed at being given the award 'Second-Hand' (:-D) but when you have people who take in the extra effort to ensure that the ’Second-Hand' is better than the best ... Now thts bliss :)