Hope the Spirit blesses me !

Guys,

I have registered myself to participate in a marathon being organised at my office. September 15th  is going to be the D-day. So I thought, why not use this opportunity to take out those running shoes and actually flex those muscles...more of move feet, pant like a dog..and run like a log!

But it is a fantastic opportunity to become fit and at the same time participate in a social event. I think it is better than keeping any personal goals, such a public event makes you more responsible and hopefully punctual. I am trying to keep a diary of my preparation for this run. Let me see if I last !

Friends

Many a times I remember my friends, and try and imagine what they must be doing at this moment in time, although we all are spread apart, some very near while some thousands of miles away, I feel some consolation in the fact that at least we live in the same age and time. Just imagine the world to be your home, and then nobody would be far away.

My run-ins with the past

Sometimes the past hits you, like a force out of nowhere, shakes you up with all the long forgotten memories, it’s so difficult to not be affected by the thoughts rushing in, those moments of joy crystallized forever, the faces familiar etched in your brain, those dark days, the lifting of the clouds, the smell of the wet earth, wish you could relive those times, wish you could be young again. Oh, where are thou – time machine?

Ahhh...dear Feb you are here !

Ahhh...dear Feb you are here
Most romantic time of the year

Uniting people from everywhere
They say love is in the air

But the lone guy dont you care
For tomorrow is always there

And maybe today shall also be
For one never knows destiny

So once again we all dream and smile
Surely a new story will unfold in a while

The Mind Series - Overworked

I need some inspiration in my life.
Where have all those brilliant people gone?

Who could change the world.
Who had it in them to master everything they came across.
Who had hopes and joy and a bright future.

Did I miss out on them purposefully?
Because I was not good enough to be one of them.

But today my life is so mundane.
With no spirit and no spark in the game.
I desperately need some sunshine now, beg the rain Gods to go away.

The Mind Series

Oh my restless mind…
When will you be in peace?
Remember they say it’s not as easy as it sounds
Everyone has to pay a price

You do not know what you seek
You know you don’t want it to be just another week
Lost in translation and turbulence
With no idea if you took steps forward or were hurled away into anonymity

You continue to struggle and hopefully find a response
But we build our own destiny and future
Is it not right? Then who is to blame?
Don’t look left or right

With intentions noble and aspirations high
Slowly crashing to pieces and no utterance of a sigh
Wake up now otherwise it’s never
Dont let yours be a story lost forever

Mind Control

I wish I had a mind I could call my own.
One which only I could control.

I would ask it to keep logic and reality together.
Far away from emotion and defnitely anything surreal.

To my PC 2009-11

Dedicated to my entire PC. At the end of almost 2 eventful years, cannot help but feel different:

Its just not so cool anymore
The task done; mission accomplished
I need to find new peaks to be scaled
New paths to be trodden

Its just not so cool anymore
Without those meets and without a sense of purpose
I need to find a way to keep myself busy
New friends to be made

Its just not so cool anymore
Without those arguments and those opinions
I need to keep a few of those memories
A new life to be started

I am sure life will keep on giving us enough of these surprises, friends, challenges and we will continue to discover that happiness we all had together.

The 10 Commandments

Hi Guys,
Its studying time for tommorrow is the start of my trimester 1 exams. But suddenly i had to pause and write this post because i managed to write down few points which i felt i needed to follow.

1. Take your time to know people and do not judge them so easily.
2. Do not reveal yourself that easily. Do not trust others blindly. 3. Do not let yourself be burdened by unnecessary thoughts, guilt feelings.
4. Do not expect perfection for it is elusive.
5. Give your best and do not worry about the outcome.
6. It’s destiny that will decide anyways, so only do your job and leave the rest.
7. Be honest with yourself and do not fool your conscience.
8. Be calm and composed for that is the sign of true maturity.
9. Learn to enjoy each moment since that is the best way to spend it.
10. Always smile and be happy.

I am sure each one of us will find these useful. So its back to studying again! Enjoy!

FULL STOP

Hi Guys,

I don't know what i am doing writing at this point in time when there is absolutely no time! But you know what, i have never been able to say this......ki bas ab to time hi time hai.....there is always some or the other pressing commitment, and frankly speaking, i am tired of all this ! I feel like saying --- Bloody hell --- but then again, you know that you got to do it (whatever it is), when you have to do it.

What i want now most is one full night's sleep - and i have a presentation and a test lined up 2moro, but for once i have decided that i just dont care, my mind is saturated and i need a breath of fresh air. The coming week we are going to see quite a few tests and as usual, its going to be a case of ,yaar ....kuch bhi nahi ata.....but yet you go through the grind and sometimes the results are good, some bad and some just okie dokie.

Sometimes i wonder why am i here ? Why did i chuck up some of the comforts i had back home and head here, where there is a constant race against time ? ....but like dark clouds invariably give way to sunshine, you learn some or the other interesting thing in the course of your daily life here which makes the whole thing seem worthwhile.

Before i start writing something else, i will stop. I will just go and take a break.

My Theory !

Ah guys,

Its been some time since i have cared to visit this page myself. No not forgotten, or not the same old story which happens to so many things in our life. We take something up, start with a lot of enthusiasm and somewhere down the line it just wanes off, and before we know it , its already gone.

They say that to work something out / do something , the most difficult part is to start. And then even harder is to start again. I never realised the meaning behind this, how do you start again when you have already started ? But i think i can comprehend something now - really you always have to start again. Because everyday is a new day. And each day is as important as the first one. The one who is successful is not because he is is extraordinary, but because he is extraordinarily persistent.

And the other day i was in a statistics class and from somewhere a thought crept into my mind. I was just trying to classify human resources into categories which any recruiter should watch out for. I think i could call this 'The Weeding Out' Theory :)........a take on so many theories which i am learning now !

1. The Coccons: Cocoons as per their inherent attribute, remain only in their own shells. They may have immense knowledge but still team-work is not their cup of tea. They fail to make a positive contribution.
   
2. The Butterflies: These seem very good at first and may impress you in an interview. But butterflies find it very difficult to hold on for long. So these may desert you when you need them the most. Not steady and hence cannot be trusted.
   
3. The Caterpillars: The most dangerous type of human form in the job marketize. Caterpillars are a burden to others in a team. Not only they consume resources, but also are work shirkers. Their job is to criticize, but not improvise. Basically, they are blood suckers.

The basic funda is to have people believe in your mission, vision and values. The company also is equally bound to create 'that' enviroment and share 'that' relationship with its employees which will make them feel like family. And yes, watch out for cocoons, butterflies and caterpillars !

The Matrix love-story

Dear Neo (The One),

I do not know what it is,
It is unfathomable; it is not precise,
It is somewhere deep down there,
But i know it does exist.

It goes by many names; some call it 'love',
many more call it 'passion'; It might even be
'infatuation', or just another 'craze'.
But what exists between you and me,
cannot be defined; it can only be felt.

Unaffected i was; no strings attached,
I loved it that way, that feeling of independence;
But with you; i realised a higher joy,
The ecstasy of being very special to someone.

People defend their choice. They say 'because',
Some wonder 'why', while few think 'how',
But do we really need a reason ?
I need you and that is all i know.

I do not know what the future holds;
Neither do i care what our pasts were.
What i know is we are meant to be together,
For the simple fact that - You complete Me !


Yours,
Trinity

A sea-change !

Hi Guys,

The reason for not posting are numerous and all valid !! First, it was the hectic preparation in the run-up to Amsterdam, then there was the 10-day break to Bangalore where i just lazed around and watched as many movies as possible and read as much as the remaining time allowed me. Then i was back to mumbai and about to start my visa prep, but out of the blue came the call from IIFT (for the uninitiated, its Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, a premier Indian B-school specializing in foreign trade). Yes, there was a chance for me to kick-start my MBA. But the call gave me a lot of heart-burn, it came at a time when i was totally unprepared for it. I was all set to go to Amsterdam and explore the world outside India !

To add to my misery, i just had 1 week to wind up everything and start with the course. Worst thing, i had to arrange for 2.25 lakh rupees in just 3-4 days. And to add fuel to the fire, mom and dad were out on a trip to Badrinath and Kedarnath with limited connectivity. But in the end, everything turned out well. All my colleagues were so upbeat about this opportunity, the first day it was they who were convincing me to go to IIFT and i was telling them that i did not really think it was possible at so late a stage !!

My managers at work supported me in my decision and made sure that separation and all formalities were completed in least time possible. And how could i accomplish mission impossible without the support of all my friends - Subu, who can just read my mind, Namita and Pradeep - who knew what i needed and instantly agreed, and Ashu - i cannot believe that somebody whom you have known for such a short period of time can place so much faith and trust in you. And i realised what Paolo Coelho said in 'The Alchemist' - When you want something really badly, the entire world conspires so that you can achieve it.......Its something on those lines !!

So friends, i am here at IIFT, kolkata to be exact and starting a new phase of my life ! More on life here in later posts ! Till then, enjoy reading !

A new leaf ? (Maybe, just might be !!)

Hello guys,

its been quite some time since i have penned (type is more appropriate) down something informal / non- thank you mail /non- follow-up /non- escalation reply /non- update etc etc stuff. So the itch to write is back and yes, a lot of things have happened meanwhile.

I am probably going to Netherlands soon as a part of my SAP support work. ( pls read the word probable carefully). All of us know that business is always dynamic and so requirements exist one day and are not valid the day after. ( this is what my boss will say if the trip gets cancelled :)))) So, lets just keep hoping that i do cross the Atlantic ??? no no , i am not goin to the U.S., hmm, do we need to cross any ocean to go to europe ? , my geography was never so weak, wait , let me chk, google - my friend is always there, as long as it searches, i hav no issues..yes, some part of Indian ocean, and then its middle east and then its europe !!...Amsterdam to be precise.

So last week had a meeting with old friends and have already started a shopping spree,..that brings me again to retail therapy, there is nothing like it to lift ur mood ! I simply wonder how a lighter wallet makes the heavy heart go light again ? Maybe a dress here and an accessory there, but the feeling of owning a new thing really makes you feel better.

Guys, just yesterday i checked out the DEll Inspiron laptops at croma outlet (mulund) and believe me, they look like superstars !! It is another thing that i booked my laptop prior to this visit, but when i saw what i am going to get, i felt blessed ! Today morning sleep was disturbed by an sms from bluedart that my laptop is arriving tommorrow, so be prepared for its pics !

In June, i am going to Bangalore on a 10 day break. Summer vacations just become a distant memory when you leave school, but seriously, i think these are necessary for ppl to get refreshed. All work and no play does make us dull. Other than that, trying to cope with the mumbai heat and enjoying aam-ras and thanda thanda watermelon !

With all of this, i am still having trouble to figure out how to do my post-graduation. I am very keen on doing an MBA, becuase i know that is the way to get into the business and not remain in a support function all my life. Have troubled my colleagues over this matter , but hopefully some way will be there sure! Of course, as the song from Jaane tu ya jaane na goes,.....Kahin to hogi woh duniya jahan to mere paas hai.... !! As of now i am left sighing,....Jaane na kahan woh duniya hai, jaane na woh hai bhi ya nahi.......(it better be !)

Chalo, guys, c u all soon !

Gossip - Feel better !

Hi guys,

Again its the fever, which keeps going back and forth, and its good-natured friend Mr.Persistent Cold and his all time favorite accomplice Mr.Heady Headache which keep me from posting. The summer here is getting worse with the mercury tipping 40 ( degrees centigrade if i am not wrong), and this scorching summer really gets on my nerves. I am not exactly sick and not exactly well enough.

Too sick to go out but not so sick as to skip office. Since if i skip work, it will pile up anyways and ultimately i will have to slog more to finish it.... Aaaah..not such a good situation. I wish our country had the climate of the Mediterraneans, slightly warm, sunny and breezy at the same time. I hope i am right with the description. You see, i have never been there, but all the ppl claming it to be the most beautiful region to holiday in ( all the swish set haan, i don't think the middle class can afford such a luxury) , so i assume its weather would be like what i describe here.

Today in the Sunday Times i happened to read about a term called 'blogbuster' - the one who attempts to dish out a scoop via a blog, this term has again come into the highlight becuz of the ongoing IPL, where a supposed KKR player (Kolkata Knight Riders for the uninitiated) is playing to the gallery by providing supposed inside info via a blog called 'fakeiplplayer'. The blog has had an astounding number of hits in a matter of few weeks, just goes on to prove how scandal-stars-sex-money-stories sell like hot cakes ! The blogger has done some amazing work in the form of nicknames for the leading parts in the IPL-KKR drama, now that requires some creativity. I read all the posts and am waiting for some more racy information. Now u might say, oh and we thought you were not feeling well ! Gossip makes anybody feel good i think !

Anyways, for some time i was really thinking hard abt retail therapy and its effects, and was planning to do some serious R-N-D about it. Who doesn't like shopping ? So maybe a post abt this might be seen in the future. Currently i am re-reading 'It happened in India' - the pantaloon story by Kishore Biyani, did not read clearly the first time around, so re-reading. Then there's another book on weight loss. This one is by Kareena Kapoor's dietician Rujuta Diwekar. A post is due for that as well. I just need to find some good time guys. Maybe as soon as i feel better !

Till then, keep writing in ! Cya all soon !

The reel life !

Hi Guys,

For quite some years i have always yearned to watch movies, i was never a regular at the theatres / multiplexes (has something to do with the place where i stay, there was never a silver screen in vicinity, now yes, a multiplex has come bang opposite my house, but still old habits die hard :)))...that means i am myself to blame for not watching enough movies /tv ) nor a watcher of the tv channels dedicated to movies, i think there are quite a few, star movies etc etc.

Although i am quite updated about recent releases, forthcoming screenings, stars and directors, the latest chartbusters, but the only point where i fail is actually watching them. By now, a huge list has piled up of the movies which i wish to see one day on a giant plasma screen, lounging on a La-Zy-Boy !! Yet, these days, i have got a chance to watch some movies and cannot help but say something about each one of them !

If i try to remember the flicks, sorry, i don't why movies are called flicks, it sounds so flimsy, maybe most B-C grade movies can be called flicks, but then the real efforts are movies ! Ok, so movies which will feature here are : Fashion, Dostana, Delhi 6 and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. No importance attached to the order in which they appear.

I had been waiting a long time to watch Fashion, it was so much in the news not only for its National Award winning director Madhur Bhandarkar, but also for its all-star-female cast comprising Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut and newcomer Mugdha Godse. It also had Arjan Bajwa ( i hope, i am right with this name), and Arbaaj Khan (in a meaningful role after a very long time). The movie intended to show the dark underbelly of the glamorous world of fashion, and yes it did succeed ! Priyanka Chopra was brilliant, i have always liked her, right from her villianous andaaz in 'Aitraaz' , to this meaty role ! I am sure all of you know that the story revolves around the character of Meghana Mathur, played by Chopra, and tracks her life from her humble beginnings as a Chandigarh girl dreaming to make it big as a super-model. A local contest win spurs her on for a mumbai visit and she lands up right there ! Slowly and surely , she understands the rules of the modelling world, and plays by them like an ace !

On her way to displacing the eccentric, constantly on-the-edge and drug-taking top model Shonali Gujral, played by Kangana to perfection, Meghana feels no qualms in sleeping with the boss of the fashion house 'Panache'. Although i admire Meghana's sense of ambition, somehow compromising with your core set of values, always backfires in the long run. Once Meghana achieves her ambition, she conveniently forgets / hurts all the people who helped her on her way to the top. Nevertheless, as she says in the movie, on your way down, u meet the same ppl.

The downfall is also captured brilliantly with enough justice done to portray the emotional after-effects. Although the clothes used in the movie were a disaster, but the strong storyline and the amazing execution more than made up for it! Even after the movie had ended, i was thinking about it for a long time. (You would say, thats not unusual for you :P) Thinking abt the changing value system, about the ways and methods which are considered legitimate in the quest for success, about drugs and alcohol abuse, about the moral vacuum in the lives of ppl caught in a web of dangerous compromises, about seemingly glamourous and beautiful lives which are hell underneath.

In contrast to the hard-hitting fashion was the feel-good, fairy-tale type Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Directed by Aditya Chopra and with SRK in a be-spectacled, moustache-sporting new avatar, it quite generated some initial interest in the movie. When i saw it the first time, i thought it was a totally stupid attempt. SRK, i feel, hams and haws his way through most of his movies. Somehow the star SRK has overtaken the actor SRK and that reflects very badly in the movie. I tried (just tried) to watch OSO, Billu Barber etc, but i cannot tolerate the torture that amazingly rubbish acting inflicts on me. Why can't SRK just be the character ? Anyways, thats some pondering for SRK to do, not me !

But very bravely i made a second attempt to watch it (out of sheer boredom) and got an OKayish feeling. The underlying message that 'Every simple jodi is an extraordinary love story' sort of appealed to me. But certainly not the dancing jodi.


The Tarun Mansukhani directed Dostana was another movie which was hyped so much and sadly failed to live upto its reputation. It was marketed as a comic-light-hearted take on the gay fraternity, but i could manage a quick smile only on few occasions. The only plus points were the styling and the amazing looking Priyanka Chopra once again ! Sorry guys, although i like John Abraham, but skin show by guys just does not work for me. I better liked a dressed up Abhishek. Some of the songs like 'Jaane Kyun' and 'Desi Girl' are my personal favorites !



Delhi 6 was another dampener :(. With the kind of songs that were streaming in (all A.R.Rahman magic :)), an ensemble cast of the handsome Abhishek Bacchhan and the beautiful Sonam Kapoor, and with the directorial reins in the hands of 'RDB' fame Rakyesh Om Prakash Mehra, i was expecting nothing less than brilliance. There was an obvious effort to capture the Indian ethos but it fell flat. It appeared more preachy than intended, sort of a forced attempt to present a slice of the multi-cultural-yet-co-existing 'Indian' population. Abhishek's attempts to put on an accent to portray the America-returned-garndson were not upto the mark. Sonam Kapoor could have easily left a lasting impression as the wing-clipped 'Bittu' , but i think she took the role very lightly. Perhaps some preparation other than that on clothes would have helped. Anyways, the only thing that stood out were the songs ! Do not fail to hear them, especially the 'Masakalli' one !

I felt good that at last i did see some new films and managed not to let them get added to my 'TO-BE-SEEN' list !

Signing off guys, see you soon !

My Top 10!

Hello guys,

I was listening to FM today, just aisehi. Although i just listen without bothering too much about any specific RJs, but careful to cut through all the ads, and jumping thru stations searching for the ever elusive favourite composition. They keep on churning tracks after tracks and playing the umpteenth hit list. Just for the heck of it i decided to make a 'TOP 10' list of my most favorite songs. Although a difficult task, becuase where there is choice, there is always confusion. And with choice also comes the responsibility to choose the best. But still within 5 minutes i had picked up the 10 tracks which i would always like to have on my player.

Although could not arrive at any specific order, and i declare beforehand that my sphere of listening is limited to hindi bollywood stuff and the occassional international hit track , and that i really hate sad songs, so i never tune in to a melancholic melody, that simply is not my cup of tea. I am biased towards songs which are chirpy and lift your mood instantly. So romantic songs form a big chunk of the hit list. So the lucky ones are:

1. Tujhe dekha to ye jaana sanam - Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge : The evergreen romantic song with Raj and Simran lilting away in the sunflower-decked fields with the cow-and-bell in the backdrop ! Lata Mangeshkar and Kumar Sanu really bring alive the raw romance of young age.
2. Pal pal dil ke paas tum rehti ho - Blackmail : Probably the only in this list from the old era, but Kishoreda's rendition never fails to make it sound oh-so-lively and pleasing. I did not know that it belonged to a film called blackmail, anyways took the extra effort to adhere to the syntax. :)
3. You're Beautiful - Back to Bedlam : The guitar playing at the onset creates a very beautiful and mesmerising tune indeed and that is what makes this song stand apart. I particularly like one line - 'But we shared a moment that will last till the end'. Isn't that sweet ? The guy knows that he will not get the girl but that does not stop him from spilling his heart out. Brillinat job by James Blunt, and thanks Pranav for letting me know this one ! It's my ring-tone till date !
4. Lose Control - Rang De Basanti : The ultimate rebel song ! Masti ki paathshala ! The coolest lyrics which will make any college-goer sway, it was our anthem when the movie was released. A.R.Rehman as usual , has given a very different treatment to this song and the result is for everyone to hear and just enjoy !
   
5. I knew i loved you before i met you - Affirmation : As you read it you might feel the lyrics to be a tad too interesting, even i felt the same way when i first heard it, how can you love somebody even before you know them ? But then Australian band Savage Garden - of Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones tell you how it is possible. Just check out the song and go with the flow!
6. O humdum suniyo re - Saathiya : This energy-filled track has an unmistakable Rehman print all over it, its hard not to feel exhilarated once it starts. The tune is zippy and you never know when you become the humming bee !
7. Kehne ko Jashn-e-bahara hai - Jodha-Akbar : This elegant melody is penned by none other than Javed Akhtar which transports you into the Mughal era. The video is also shot brilliantly showcasing all the opulence and grandeur. Aishwarya Rai makes the perfect Jodha and the track depicts amazingly the unspoken feelings between the emperor and his queen.
8. Aashayein - Iqbal : The antidote to listen to when feeling dejected / chips are down. Kuch aisa karke dikha, khud khush ho jaye khuda......and no wonder you feel spurred onto doing things better for there is always the beacon of hope - the aasha ki kiran !
9. Tum se hi - Jab We Met : The best track from one of my favourite movies. Mohit Chauhan has sung it such that it touches your heart. Simple lyrics, but good rendition and the background score, especially the 'aa aa aa aa ....' part makes this song extremely special. I don't know if this is composer Pritam's original score (:P), but anyways , its really good !
10. I want it that way - Millennium: To round off this list, i decided to choose something which i used to like long back, when the boy bands were such a craze, especially the good-looking ones ;), so here the Backstreet Boys had an album called 'Millennium' and this was the opening track i think. Its easy on the ears so that everyone can enjoy.

I am sure you all must have listened to these , but if not, please do ! Anyways, me signing off ! Take care!

Such is life !

Hey guys,

Took some break from writing ,rather had to, with health reasons stepping into the picture, nothing serious, just the occasional fever and fatigue :(, and although i wanted to pen this post earlier, somehow just couldn't find enough time to do it.

Anyways, better late than never, and here i am going to write about something i have always felt strongly about. Very recently, i read Lance Armstrong's autobiographical work ( just scroll below to get the review of 'Its not about the bike: My journey back to life). Now ppl, don't think that i am besotted with this guy..what with back-to-back posts about him. But while i was reading the book, i was trying to find some reference about the singer - Sheryl Crow, because as far as i could remember, while i was still at school, the 'News Around the World' column in 'The Times of India' regularly used to carry reports of Lance and Sheryl as a couple, while i knew that they were set to marry and then had also separated, but still i was thinking that the book would carry some sort of hint about her.

But i was surprised when i saw an entire chapter dedicated to his (then) wife Kristin Armstrong. I was wondering, when did he marry ? and then when was Miss Crow in his life ? I know that i have no business peeping in other's personal lives, but to confess, its so hard to act that you are indifferent ! You always want to know some gossip! (Atleast, i love to read such stuff....oh my my, should i really let you know all this ?).

Anyways, i read what Lance had to say about Kristin, the way this girl came into his life after cancer, and how they both hit it off together. I read that Kristin was always an independent woman who would not change herself / her life for a man. She was smart, worked in a firm handling their PR, promotional activities i think. That is how she met Lance, when his cancer foundation was working with Kristin's firm. Kristin was portrayed as protective about her emotions, and somebody who would not let anyone hurt her.

Then i see, how she fell in love , rather swept off her feet by the charismatic cyclist, how they get married and how Kristin's life changed forever. Now her husbands cycling career became the mainstay of her life. She left her job, sold her house, gave away her dog, and settled in Europe (France), so that Lance could prepare for the tour. I saw all the efforts she put in to change houses, settle in a different culture, learn the difficult french..all for her husband. When he suddenly vaccilates on his decision and says that he wants to go back to america, she is horrified , but nevertheless still supports him. You see that back in america, she copes with a man trying to come to terms with his career, and this indeed is a painful process. Becuase Lance does not know what he wants to do in life, he whiles time away, playing golf, eating mexican food and generally turning into a slob- the retired sportsman type.

Even through this, Kristin tries to feed sense into him, networking with his friends and planning to get him back on track. So eventually, its time to go back to Europe once more and set base there. Then again, Kristin does all this very heriocally. Lance goes on to win the Tour de France and becomes the toast of the cycling world. And then there are back-to-back victories later on. The wife endures IVF treatment to become a mother to 3 of his children. The procedure is decribed in depth in the book and i really see how bad it is , with so many injection shots to endure. The book ends on a high note with a perfect picture of the couple strolling on the beach alongwith their son Luke, with their backs to the cameras !

After finishing the book, the next day i Googled Lance Armstrong determined to unravel the mystery in my head. And here i stumbled upon the facts of his life. The book was published in 2000. Lance and Kristin were married in 1998. The couple filed for divorce in September 2003. It is then that Sheryl Crow came into picture, so it was here that i had been reading the news about them. Finally Crow made an exit from his life in 2006. After that , he has beeen linked to a lot of women - known and unknown. I could not help thinking about the line in the book where he says, that as a teenager into sports, he missed out on a lot of social life, well Lance, you more than made up for it later on ;). Never mind. In fact, my colleague Sandip joked that probably the next Armstrong book must be called 'It's not about the wife: My journey back to singlehood' (:P).

I was intrigued about the divorce and tried to find the reason for it. The image i had of Kristin was of a devoted wife and dedicated mother. So what had happened which made her decide that that was the end of the relationship when the book stresses that they were nothing better than soul-mates and who understood each other perfectly as partners ? Well, i stumbled upon some back-dated divorce news reports and also some columns written by Kristin herself. Here , she says that in the marriage she lost a part of herself, lost her identity, and lost her say on things. Never once to hint that Lance forced any decisions on her, but still she gave up her independence and her free spirit.

To quote Kristin precisely : "Here is the truth as I see it: Marriage has the potential to erode the very fiber of your identity. If you aren't careful, it can tempt you to become a "yes woman" for the sake of salvaging your romantic dream. It can lure you into a pattern of pleasing that will turn you into someone you'll hardly recognize and probably won't like. I am warning you because I only wish someone had warned me.".............Hmmm, then again i also found some stuff written by other people where they said that Kristin's advice is rather scaring becuase not all marriages are such that only the woman sacrifices. Even men have to bear that cross many times. Sandip was quick enough to give me examples of successful women like ICICI head-honcho Chanda Kochhar, Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi who have won both the world and their hearth as well. And they did it with their husband's support. In celebrity marriages, it is but natural for one person to get most of the attention while the other basks in reflected spotlight. So when you enter such a marriage, you have to understand the special demands to keep it working.

I was left wondering about a few questions:

1. How difficult is it for a woman to retain her identity, as in a sense of independence and be married as well ?
2. Is it necessary that for a relationship to work, one of the partners has to put his dreams on the back-burner and support the other ? Also, aren't women supposed to volunteer for this automatically ?
   
3. Where and how should a person draw the line so that they are independent and still not be selfish ?

I know these are difficult questions with no precise answer. So i am leaving this post open for you to think about it and let me know your views. This is food for your thoughts ! See you soon.

Some blogoshopping ;)

Hello ppl,

i was actually searching for these thing since quite some time. Those little little accessories , tiny trinkets, oh-so-loveable gadgets, useful widgets, the adjectives seem endless. Since i am new to this sphere, was unaware where the shopping market is. Some tinkering around, rather i should say, accidental discovery, and i found the button in customizing called 'Add new gadgets'. And i step inside and see, quite a lot of merchandise !

Thats what a girl wants ;) Lot of options !!! hehehe !! Could not resist myself from adding a few things to the blog. I was searching in particular for the method by which i could link others blogs to my own. It serves 2 points:

1. When you don't have any new posts, at least your readers can entertain themselves by window-shopping the linked posts.
2. You are giving visibility to your friends. ;) More like you promote me, and i will promote you. :))))
   

Wicked haan,but do not worry, the other gadgets are really useful. The next one i picked was a 'Quote of the day' gadget. Now that's something i really like. I remember sacrificing every new year diary given by my father's bank to write more and more of thoughtful quotes, collected from newspapers back then. Even today, the Sunday Times has a section where it gives a handful of famous lines. They really make my day. Sometimes outright funny, other times smart and witty. I hope this gadget gives some really good quotes; to keep the stream of visitors entertained :P.

Ok Ok, the shopping is still not done. Because i ran into a thesaurus. This little search window allows you to just pop in a word and will churn out the meaning.....you might need to use it frequently on my page ....hahahaaa ! ( bahut ho gayi self-appreciation ;)). Ok, so me done...and the page looks so much better ! I plan to do some more of this kind of shopping when i get bored with the current additions...after all iske paise to nahi dene padte !! Win - Win situation for anybody ! Chalo guys, enjoy the page ! Cya all soon !

It's not about the bike : My journey back to life by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins

My good friend Rohit Keluskar (whom everybody calls Kelu) had the presence of mind (:P) to give (...........rather i should say , lend - that is the more appropriate word ;)) me this book - written by Lance Armstrong , the world famous cyclist whose name has become synonymous with the 'Tour de France'. The book is co-authored with Sally Jenkins and was published by Random House. The first edition came out in 2001.

The book traces the life of one of the world's most talented and celebrated athletes , Lance Armstrong who evokes strong memories of the fist-pumping winner of the Tour de France - the mecca of the cycling world. But as the title suggests, the book is not about his biking exploits but about his journey back to life after being diagnosed with testicular cancer at the young age of 25. Imagine having the world at you feet and then suddenly you are thrown off-gear ; not just that you are almost smashed to death with less than 40% chance of survival.

But as the author says, the book is not meant to be polite conversation. It is Lance's way to tell the truth, about cancer, about brain surgery, about being rendered sterile, about survivorship and lastly about beating the odds. The book starts with Armstrong discovering that he has cancer, and then goes into flashback mode, detailing his childhood, his upbringing, his mum's efforts to raise him notwithstanding all the troubles and tensions. It describes his fascination for acceleration; speed; restlessness which is then chanelled into high-activity sports. The book describes the initial days as a triathlete and then discovering his special cycling abilities. How he makes the impression on the radar of the cycling world as a young prodigious talent and then making the mark with national and international wins.

The cataclysmic moment comes after being crowned world champion with the discovery of testicular cancer which has invaded not only his lungs but also his brain. Armstrong is left numb, out in the cold, unable to face the sudden death staring in his face. Fear is what you realise when you hear the words -"You have cancer." he says. Through the book Armstrong tries to detail each stage of his cancer treatment, right from the extreme shock and then to the painful realisation of the same. He stresses the importance of knowing what you are afflicted with and have a plan to fight it, the fact that second, third and even fourth opinions must be sought and no stone must be left unturned. The book sheds light on the facilities available today ( i am sure, things have advanced even more as of now :)) to fight cancer and also details the brain surgery he had to undergo to remove lesions ; the horrible chemotherapy process where toxins are seeped in your blood which kill cancer cells but also end up blowing out the healthy ones. Throughout the treatment, Lance made sure that he remained active irrespective of his health. Also the book shows how his family and friends support him wholeheartedly.

He feared that his career as a cyclist was over because the cancer eats you out. After the treatments, he recounts his comeback and the various problems associated when faced with withdrawals from sponsors, no contracts and almost being without money. But the tough and determined individual that he is, he fights every obstacle in his path to win the ultimate honour for any cyclist and that is the 'Tour de France', putting many nay-sayers to shame.

The book talks about cancer and cycling in the same breath and makes us aware of the various terminologies involved in both. So you realise what is a peloton (The main group of riders formed during a cycling road race), what is bonking (the condition when an athlete suddenly loses energy by failure to eat and drink enough during the race ), how cyclists attack (A sudden attempt to get away from another rider), the strategies used during 'Tours' , the yellow jersey- the ultimate joy ! (Feel free to refer to the pdf in the link at the end for more cycling terms.) As also you learn about oncology (branch of medicine dealing with cancer tumors), chemotherapy, various markers used to diagnose, etc etc.

The book is written in a very Texan manner, just like how Lance Armstring is, loud and flamboyant. You can't help but marvel and learn a lesson or two regarding enduring determination from this guy. He shows you how to keep fighting when the chips are down. A book worth a read. To get inspired and to break free. Read it for the sheer beauty of seeing someone come back from the dead.

Cycling terms:
http://www.usacycling.org/events/2005/trackworlds/mediaGuide/2005%20UCI%20Track%20Cycling%20World%20Championships%20Information/cyclespeak.pdf