Hello there..

I have decided to continue posting my thoughts only at one URL and label them accordingly.

I won't be updating this blog, but please note that my thoughts will continue to flow on this url -

Soulthoughts -> http://krupa-soulthoughts.blogspot.com

Thank you...

~KrupA

It Rocks ~

It's music that rocks, it's the lyrics that rocks, it's the singer that rocks, it's his voice that rocks and finally it's his performance that rocks - The Incredibles

I have just come back from an amazing music concert in Oakland. I went with my friends and I absolutely enjoyed it to its fullest.

As always said, music drives me crazy.. if they had sung sad songs, I would had cried. And leaving no scope for wondering, (it was a live concert) that they had to sing peppy numbers, and they did. Except for 1 song, I have not sat on my seat, I have just danced all the times. I was enjoying each beat of the evening. I am glad I went to such a wonderful show where I can just dance without any hesitation. (I normally don't hesitate for dancing :) )

To my wonder, all the 15 people (other than me) also danced, they did hesitate in the beginning but then music can not leave anyone away from its magic and ultimately they joined the rhythm of fun, rhythm of unlimited enjoyment.. :)

I am just too happy to describe my experience on the blog.. so forgive me people.. and right now just put some music aloud and then just watch how your body reacts to that. You will know what I mean.

Cheers!!

~KrupA

Those were the best days of my life ~

Those were the best days of my life -

I remember the day when I changed my school, my uniform changed and then I had to wear a green belt - which was a woolen belt and then I learned how to knit the belt :)

When I used to go to school on my cycle (bike in US terms),
If there is a flat tire, I used to go to the repair person and then find out what is the best solution, used to wish that I don't have to change the tire. It just cost Rs. 25 but still I used to think twice :)

In Summer, when I was passing by the building construction area and the way the wet sand and wet cement used to smell... I just loved that.. I don't see any construction going on in US. I miss that... :(

When the rainy season starts, the first rain, I used to go to the terrace and have fun in the rain.. When due to heavy rain, the school areas used to be flooded totally and then we get a holiday.. wooow.. that was so much fun..

The feeling before every time exam results are out- is still so remembered.

My college was quite far away and If I miss my college bus, I can not go to college on right time then that used to cause attendance problem. And not to mention, but I really had to run for my college bus almost everyday. My bus driver knew me so well that he used to stop the bus for me when he saw me running towards the bus stand :) ;) (that was fun.. )

I can go on listing many such events which cause the feeling of nostalgia, but I don't want to :) Think why? Because you will also feel nostalgia ;) (I know you started remembering your life events already :) )

Check this song out Summer of '69
You will also feel more nostalgia :)

Well, though all these days are not there anymore, I know the life is still building up memory blocks right now which I am sure I will cherish later on.

We DO live worth remembering life, it's just that sometimes we do not notice and sometimes we forget. We have lived and we will still keep living the best life..

Enjoy...

~KrupA

Chasing the Clock

Something that keeps me thinking is my own struggle, man!!! I just have to keep chasing the clock.
Every morning I keep a target of reaching the office at 7. And hence I set my alarm by doing backward calculations.

Some factors that I consider are -
- How much time I wanna snooze before finally getting up
- If I miss getting up on a desired time, what could be the latest time that I should get up
- How much can I compromise on my breakfast so that I can survive till lunch
- What is my lunch so that If I miss my breakfast, I can rely on my lunch
- Is my lunch spicy or is it ok to have direct lunch and no breakfast - will my system digest it without problems?
- If I have light breakfast at home and if I wanna have something from the Cafeteria then do I have time in the morning or do I have meetings?

Uff!! Just to meet the time of reaching the office at 7, I have to think so much Or rather, my mind does all this stupid thinking exercise!

Actually, you might feel this as exaggeration, but this is really not exaggeration. I really have to think all the factors which are related to my diet, my dearest tummy. My tummy can not stay empty. It has to be full always.

Even though I make all the calculations to get up on time, I still have missed my timeline many many times. I put an alarm of 4:55 am and then I snooze it till 5:50 or 6.10 am :)
Tell me frankly, can you beat that? I am sure you can not... :)

Anyway... have fun!!

~KrupA

An Experience

They ask you some questions (again & again)! They tell you to sign almost 6-7 times and they tell you to wait till your turn comes.

The papers will look like a big test paper which you have to pass to get admitted to some college. And because of the fear that you might fail, they don't want to take responsibility and hence they make you sign the agreements thrice. Huh! Too much...

Finally, they'll take you to a room and ask some questions for which you already answered on a test paper (Do they ever care to look at the paper?!?!?). You'll feel that you are being attended, but hold on - don't feel so, because they are not yet attending you but giving you an illusion. After saying some soft words to express that illusion, they will leave from that room and now you are left alone there for almost another 10 minutes.

The room will have all kinds of weapons and pictures on the wall (Really Natural pictures - anatomy, you know). You can actually feel the silence in the room and then you may start thinking weird things like - do they have hidden camera in the room and do they observe you/your activities before attending you? hmm.. I have no clue.. And finally the moment comes, when that one man enters the room. That's the doctor of American clinic.

After spending almost an hour in the entire pre-processing, the doctor comes and performs some kind of observation for five minutes and then writes the prescription for you where the game ends. Can you beat that? 50-60 minutes of pre-work, so called paper work and only 5 minutes of doctor's attention? hmm poor me :(

After taking the prescription when you go to a (an American) Medical store and ask for the medicine, they will also ask few questions regarding your insurance and all, then they'll take away your prescription and leave no choice to you by saying - 'Do you wanna wait for 25 minutes Or wanna come later?'
You have to leave then, what would you do time pass with in the big medical store? Though there is no much choice, I did some time pass and bought some energy bars :D

That's the experience worth sharing. I wish no one has to go to visit doctor in America, it's irritating because they are too unfair(Waiting time Vs Attention!!).

~KrupA

Ooops.. meeting over? !?!?!

Since Last two weeks I was feeling so restless to write about this but somehow could not make it. Anyway.. Hope the excitement to write about this before two weeks is reflected in this one.

Let me try though...

In a software industry, typically you have to attend meetings and discuss the design, status and issues of the project. I definitely enjoy those to its fullest. Good part of such meetings (when you are not a lead) is that, you don't have to speak much. But hold on.. don't think this meeting ends so soon just because I don't speak. One and half hour meeting to discuss status is really not enough you know ;)

hmm..As you know me by now that I am a continuous observer, I keep observing the way my lead tries to manage everything during this one and half hour. Working in a team where some members are geographically not at the same location, we have this conference call methods to communicate. Now before the meeting ends, the meeting bridge gives a warning before last ten minutes. Warning says something like this: "Your meeting will end in ten minutes" It's kinda warning to us that "People.. understand that you will be able to talk and make people tolerate for only next ten minutes" ;)

I normally sit quite and try to keep awake [meeting happens in the morning times :( ]. When the lead starts talking, there comes up many other things in mind. Who can control the mind man? Mind will bring every related things up right there (where it is not required at that time!) and then we end up talking about things other than agenda but of course those things are important. How can I say that my meeting is of no use, definitely it is. But trying to manage each and everything in that one & half hours has been a kinda challenge for my lead.

Team lead has to talk about so many things, and hence forgets sometimes that we are running out of time. So the moment when the 10 minutes warning comes, you must see his expression. Restless, impatient and frustration are some of ALL words which can define that expression suitably. I love to see that. ;) This has been happening since quite many meetings, and each time I see there's a different approach to handle the same meeting, same agenda. But as I said, mind has to bring all related stuff up and it can not be stopped. :D Then he ends up with the expression in the title ... meeting over?!?!

Things keep coming and going..project moving in a different phase, but the struggle to finish the meeting in time is still ON. I must say though that the last time we had a meeting, it was better and we finished before time. Ten minutes warning did not change the expression this time ;)

~KrupA

Feelings

This is my favorite topic. How much I enjoy observing people!

Looking at anyone, I can make out what that person feels about himself. Some people have this no-hiding effect in their attitude and hence it's easy to identify what they might be feeling. Now fun is not there when what the other person 'feels', matches with what they 'think' about themselves. Complex sentence?

Here is elaboration - When someone looks so handsome and smart and that person also feels that "I look smart", then in that case there is no fun. But when someone doesn't look smart at all and still that person's attitude shows that he feels 'I am smart', then it is tooooo much fun. Observe such people and you will enjoy.

Why this is my favorite topic? - Because it's simply a time pass for fun.

Let me take some scenarios to make you enjoy this better.

Cute feeling -
I know some people, who try to behave as if they are the cutest. They smile artificially. They might shout unnecessarily. They'll wear a baby shoes and pink socks, when they go shopping, they will show the excitement for clothes which has got 'cute bear' on it (though they won't buy it). Well, once in a while it is good to face the reality gal - "Not cute, but you look stupid!" huh..

Normally I've seen this feeling in girls than guys. (In fact, I observed that guys can't bear the word 'cute' for no one but only kids.)

Sexy Feeling-
Girls when they wear their favorite dress and put their favorite jewellery - just look once how they walk. :D You can definitely make out that they feel that they look so sexy. The way they manage their hair, hold their purse, wear a sandal - all are evidences of how they feel!

And guys! - The way they use their cell phone, the way they take out their wallet and give the credit card to the waiter in hotel, the way they keep checking their hair style in any mirror they find during the day and of course the way they walk to make sure their big stomach is not coming out .. ha ha..ha... Sometimes they are so consicous doing the activities which show they are smart, that they end up making some bloopers. "Buddy, you will look bearable if you don't show off ..." ;)

Feeling Efficient-
When doing some work, some people feel that the way they are working is a very efficient way of doing that work and (I bet) you can find this in their attitude. It is not difficult to note this. Believe me! Generally people with this feeling - walk faster and their each step looks little more confident than others.

There are many other feelings which I can go on writing about - like feeling innocent, feeling 'haapy-go-lucky', feeling like a manager, feeling of having good personality, feeling very rich, feeling poor, feeling like a great speaker, feeling in-control (this is normally seen in drunkards :)). But let me not give scenario for all of these here.

To be frank, everyone feels something or the other at almost every point of time. And I don't keep observing people always. But this is a REAL timepass thing. When you are out in a group then watch people and observe them :) it will be lots of fun.

Some tips for what to observe - Walking style (most important), talking style, smiling style and what matter they laugh at and yeah.. Basically, body language!

Enjoy...

~KrupA