I think I'll wed the TV..

Yesterday, I spent 11 and half continous hours of TV watching. I started watching TV as a resort to do nothing, but I kept watching movies, serials and other factual variety programmes for almost full of the day. I started at 10am and continued till 11.30 pm(ofcourse with breaks for necessities). After a point, I continued just to test my endurance and my prolonged enthusiasm. I enjoyed every moment of it and never felt bored. I think I really love the television and I'm thinking if I can marry it. A few reasons I could think of supporting my thoughts :

1. I enjoy the company of TV always.

2. I can mute it anytime I want to(or atleast the volume control is with me).

3. I can change channels whenever I want to(or the thoughts of TV).

4. I dont have to take it wherever I go.

5. And above all, I can switch it off, whenever I feel it's enough.

[Just that I get some headache if I keep seeing it. That's anyways a known compromise!]

The Great Debaters...

Let me start with the rating : 9 on 10. Yup, "The Great Debaters" is the movie I just saw this evening. And it is fantastic! It is basically a movie on life of black people in 1930's, but it includes a lot of other cognitive contents like inspiration, encouragement, courage and ofcourse involvement. I felt this movie was similar to a few of my other favourites like "To Kill a Mocking bird", "12 Angry Men" and the like. But taking such a movie in today's scenario is definitely a great attempt. The movie is based on debate competitions and how the team from a little school in Texas(with only colored people) goes on to win other colleges and ultimately even Harvard, under the able guidance of Mr.Melvin Tolson(Denzel Washington).

And I was surprised when I heard that it was directed by Denzel Washington himself, in addition to playing one of the lead roles. Denzel Washington is proving that he is a great actor again and again. I was impressed with his previous movie "American Gangster", where his performance with effortless ease made me wonder. And this time around in "The Great Debater", he has shown the necessitated variation and the docile on-screen appearance. From a gangster to a school professor - he proves that he is one actor who deserves more than a couple Academy awards.

The movie was a little slow at times, but it for sure demostrates what winning is all about. The last 15 minutes of the movie, where this final debate happens, the students from Texas talk about Gandhiji and Satyagraha, affirming Civil disobedience is right. And hearing our country's name more than a few times gave me a trivial proud feeling. And above all, the movie is based on a true story!

I only wish we make such movies in Kollywood or Bollywood...

Pakistan...

What can we do about them? If somebody wants to see how barbarics from ancient days would have lived in today's world, these guys are the perfect example. Or for understanding purposes, they can still be taken backwards in time and be compared to "Rakshasaas" from our epics. The only country, which is so keen to kill themselves and be completely oblivious of all other positive growths in this world. And US administration over them is like a rat hunter looking out for a dog in a pig's cage.

Maybe its time Pakistan changes the color of their flag to Red rather than green.

Christmas and my weekend...

What a weekend had this been?? My activities in a nutshell:

1. Paid a visit to New York City - Realized I still love my home away from home
2. Watched National Treasure – Understood treasure hunting is a little better than software industry!
3. Watched Mamma Mia Broadway show – Best thing that happened to me, of late
4. Met my friend on his bday – Got him a surprise gift, only to be surprised that he got the same gift for himself a day ago!
5. Tried Puerto Rican food – Made me realize I love India
6. Portrait of my face – After 20 mins of motionless stature, I saw the painting to realize I couldn’t recgonise myself. Phew…but one thing became clear: how difficult it would have been for Kate Winslet in the movie ‘Titanic’ (yaa yaa, so for DiCaprio)!
7. Went to Saravana Bhavan – Felt Puerto Rican restaurant was better
8. Watched Final Destination 3 and Poseidon – TV is the best invention in this world!
9. Watched 'Oram Po'(tamil movie) – Chennai Auto-rickshaws in street-racing! Enjoyed watching it.
10. Drove to Pittsburg on Christmas day – Had a darshan of Lord Balaji and lots of desis. No traffic in the freeway :)
11. Sad part - Did not watch even a single episode of Everybody Loves Raymond these 4 days :(

Saravaan Bhavan at New York...A Curse!

I think this is my 15th or 20th visit to Saravana Bhavan at Lexington Avenue, in New York city. I have been one of their regular customers and an ardent connoisseur of their food, from the day of their inception. But nowadays, I'm starting to feel otherwise. I see their quality, service and the organisation deteriorating pretty consistently. It is difficult to maintain that kind of a consistent 'down-slope' in the performance and Saravana Bhavan gets an easy 10 on 10 on that. During my last 3 or 4 visits I have been experiencing that 'untold desi racism against desis' and a lucid display of attitude issue among the waiters. It is pretty disturbing to think of it. And today when I went in for lunch, it was 3pm and thanks to the crowd, me and my friend had to wait for over 15 mins after writing our name in the 'waiting list'. Then we got the call to get inside. We also witnessed the OPEN neon lights changing to CLOSED during our wait time. All the waiters were in absolute hurry and the moment they gave us the menu card, they instantly asked us to order the food. Maybe they expected us to know the menu by heart.

We ordered for South Indian thali. The quality of the food was good and as usual. But they did not serve us water thru-out. Nobody even bothered about it. And while we were having our food, I was able to sense the 'hurry' in waiters. One guy even asked me once if I'm done, when I was not even half-way thru. It was a little embarassing to tell him that I was still working. He hurried to the next table and asked the same question. Maybe he was hoping that people would finish off and get the hell outta there ASAP. And they did not ask us if we would like any desserts and they gave us the checks in moments.

I asked for suggestion book, which they did not have obviously. They surprisingly asked me why do I need one. I said I have some comments and the waiter told me write the comments on the back-side of the check. I knew it would be in vain to write, but still I did, atleast to satisfy myself.

If they want to close the restaurant, why don't they put the CLOSED sign in advance? I feel they should treat the customers well, no matter what time they come in(during the closing hours or opening hours). They just can't hurry people in having food. I hope they become aware that they are not doin us any favor and they are serving us for what we pay. In not learning that, they are only losing customers.

There have been days where I have recommended Saravana Bhavan to many of my friends and colleagues.

But now I'm saying - McDonalds, Burger King and Chipotle serve you much better!

MAMMA MIA..!!

I happened to goto one of the famous Broadway shows in NY this weekend. In spite of the fact that I was a resident of New York city for almost 3 years, I never got a chance to make it to one the shows. But now that I moved to Pennsylvania and came down to spend this weekend at New York, I made it to "Mamma Mia", one of the famous shows running for over 5 years. Maybe the adage "Nearer the temple, lesser the devotion!" held true i my case. Whatever.

And my reaction to the show was nothing short of a gaped "Wow!!". I have seen many stage plays in Chennai, both at the amateur level and at the professional level. As a matter of fact, I have performed myself in many stage plays and skits during my school and college. But what I witnessed at the Winter Gardens was nothing close to whatever was even in my imagination. I got a strong feeling that you gotta stock more talent in yourself to act in a Broadway show than in Hollywood movies. People say Broadway shows are the stepping stones to Hollywood. I felt it should be the other way round.

The on-screen co-ordination the artists show, their choreographed movements, their musical gestures, their dialog flow - everything was stupendous! In the two hour show, there wasn't a single speck of flaw, whatsoever. If the on-screen artists contribute 40 percent to the success of the show, the orchestra contribute another 40 percent. For this was a musical show, the entertainment and enthusiasm would be null, sans good music. The orchestra, who were under the stage were in complete sync of the show on the stage, under the able direction of the Conductor/Music director.

Almost all the songs were a hit already and the way the orchestra played them made the audience go foot-tapping most of the times! And the remaining 20 percent of the success is contributed by the lighting and the stage organization. Yeah, be it an island or a bedroom or a dance bar, they were able to depict it as-is on the stage. And if the heroine dreams in her sleep, they were able to delineate that as well. All with just lighting and characterization. Wow!

And the last 5 minutes, every single person in the audiences was clapping in sync and I knew most of them were doing that involuntarily, falling trap to the music and the entertainment. They were completely glued to the stage, as the characters made their final appearances and bowed to the audience. Most of artists received standing ovation and am sure they deserved it.

Overall, when somebody spends 8 to 10 times the cost of a single movie for a Broadway show, they do expect ENTERTAINMENT and the Broadway show folks make sure they do!

To say in a simple sentence, "I felt the purpose of my birth"!

Heights of desperation!!

I recollect the other day, when I was driving towards Chennai from Pondicherry (100 miles south of Chennai) after attending one of my friend's wedding. It was May and a little earlier than peak noon. And that is the period Chennai would try its level-best to beat any of the blistering cities and try to claim herself as the "hottest city in the world". And it appeared to me, as if she almost won that day. Thanks to the AC in my car, else I would have to squeeze my little brain to recollect whatever we call as "Pleasure of driving!" The tarmac on the coastal road was literally boiling, burning my tires and persistently keeping my urge for a sip of tender-coconut on the crescendo. Just then, I passed (or rather overtook) a crawling Pulsar motor-bike (one of the so-called ‘powerful’ bikes in India) and the guy, who rode was making not more than 30 kph. I wondered for a second, why would a guy ride so slow in the scorching weather, that too in the freeway with sparse vehicle flow. And then I saw thru my rear-view mirror that he had a girl in the pillion, both of whose hands were almost touching the handle-bar of the bike, creating a temporary illusion of four hands driving the bike. I realized she must be hanging onto him like a lizard on the wall, leaving enough space behind her to take one more person (which created an illusion as a single-rider bike, a few seconds earlier before I overtook them!). And her dupatta was not seen at the normal place as well, I mean it did not server as a burka. It remained, where it is supposed to.

They must have been discussing something very significant about Global warming or their immediate future or something of pressing importance. Whatever. But it takes a lot to enjoy such a drive. And they were completely oblivious of the physical fact about the increase in the heat generated, when two materials fray in prolonging. I completely understand if it was North-American autumn/fall where that sort of a rub could get the warmth, for both the mind and the body. But this one in Chennai summer…

What else can I call that than "Heights of desperation"!

And a few minutes later when I stopped for my favorite tender-coconut, I saw the same motor-bike yet another time. It was more like déjà vu, for they remained the same and so did my thoughts about them!

Are you with me?

He : "Its ok, lets go for it."

She: "C'mon, I am not with you. I know where you are heading towards?"

He : "Oh, you don't have to be bothered."

She: "Are you nuts?

He : "Hey, there's nothing to be scared of. This is what people do!”

She: “I know. Guys are always like this” *sighs*

He : “Hey dear, please…”

She: “You don’t have to beg like this. Just think about it once”

He : “Yaa, I did think. It is perfectly fine"

She: "Did u even forget that I'm elder to you?"

He: "I'm sure its ok"

She: "How can it be ok?? What would the world talk about it? That too on the christmas eve"

He : "Why do you have to think about the world. It always talks"

She: "No way, I am not doing it"

He : "Hey, I'm sure it'll remain a secret between us"

She: "Secret. How come? Somebody in the house would definitely see us"

He : "Nope. I'll make sure that nobody sees. You don't have to think this much"

She: "How can I not think?"

He : "Just look at me once. It is me who's asking"

She: "That’s what is making me think"

He : "Please…"

She: "Are u sure it'll be only once?"

He : "I swear to God, it'll be only once"

She: "You sure we'll not get into any trouble later?

He : "No, not at all. I'll even forget that we did something like this"

She: "Ok then. Just this once. Lets do it"

He : "Yes!!!"


And the kids arranged the stool and started stealing the christmas candies from atop the fridge.

Me, my smile and girls...

Now that my previous post was on Christmas and my wedding, Venky asked me if my next post would be on New year and my divorce! Ohh, Divorce has become a sequence to marriage, just like New year to christmas. That appears funny to me, but what is bothering me right now is the following:

I have always wanted to ask, why don't these "chennai-girls-at-a-foreign-country" remove the crowns off their head? Maybe they have an orotund feeling that they are a couple of notches more beautiful than Aishwarya Rai... Or maybe they think they have some sort of a 'halo' around their head...And that too, when you happen to pass by them and God forbid, you offer a smile as a courtesy, they don't return your smile and instead give that "Don't look at me!" kind of a weird look.

Though they clothe jean or formal-suits or any of those "I-think-I'll-look-good-on-this" attires that they haven't even thought of at home, they forget to realise they are still the same "Churidhar_wearing_vethu_figure" inside.

I can only pity them!

Christmas and my wedding!

This is the festive season. The apartment I stay, all houses that I see during my commute and even my workplace is completely embellished with flowers, lights and of course the Christmas tree. Though I don't celebrate Christmas, this whole decorations gives me a feeling as if I'm very much a part of this. And all my colleagues are busy spending their evening and weekends, shopping. They ask me ideas and I suggest them a gift or two. Most of their objective is to give their kins or friends, a big surprise. They wanna make sure it's the right gift and something their friends or kins would love. They simply wanna see the recipient happy. But the one who receives the gift wouldn't know until the gift is opened.

My parents casually ask me, if I'm ready to step into the "Marriage market". They want to see me "Settled in life". I wonder how come this word "Settled" in all Indian family lexicon means the same - "get married and have kids". I don't know how come they equate "getting married" and "Settled". For me, the word "settle" presents a different meaning altogether. I simply can't think of it as getting married, for I would still have a lot of things to do even after wedding. But when I think a little hard, I understand that "Settle" is a subjective term. And one can call themselves "settled", only if they don't have any more desires to be satiated. And i presume getting settled is more like counting till infinity once. And I tell my parents that I need some more time, maybe a year or two. They say they are absolutely okay with it. Once i give the green signal, they'll spread out my "jaadhagam" and my profile to strangers. It is more like uploading your Resume in job sites. And it doesn't stop there. I need to see the photos of those "matched" profiles and I'll have to serve as a HR guy, recruiting the right candidate. Or perhaps not to hurt "Bharathi Kanda pudhumai penngal", let me rephrase the word "Recruit" to "Merger". So, I'll have to select the right company to have a merger. And "equality of rights" is evident from the fact that rejections are likely from both the ends. All these, just by looking at something called "profile" and a "photo". I would never know who or what or how the bride would be, unless I marry her. But my parents say they would get the best(huh?) girl for me. They simply wanna see me happy.

But nobody would know unless it happens. In more ways than one, I think Christmas gifts and Arranged marriage looks the same to me

I'm yet to see both! :)

Weekend - OB

My latest cacoethes is this: I cannot pass even a single day, without watching, at the least one episode of "Everybody loves Raymond". I simply love Debra! Only if I get a wife like her...Hmmm.....Well, I might probably be the 135, 367th person to think so! And what a weekend, without watching atleast one tamil movie. And I saw two this weekend :

1.Evano Oruvan: Story of yet another tamil brahmin, turning into a terrorist in an attempt to cleanse the society and screw his own life up royally! I don't know why the film directors target brahmins for such roles(In the lines of Gentleman, Anniyan, etc.). Maybe to prove some stupid point like "Saadhu Mirandaal, Kaaadu thaangaathu" or something. Whatever...but not worth writing a big review. Still Sangeetha, as Maddy's wife and a middle-aged aunty was ccuuuuuutttte :)

2. Kalloori: It took me a while, to find out who the hero of the movie was. But a natural movie, characterizations were apt and the story, as the name says is of a group of college students. The movie, I think is taken as a dedication to the poor college students at Dharmapuri(in South India), who were burnt alive, during one of the political riots, a couple of years ago. Heroine, like a lone flower in a garden was pleasant to watch and this movie is recommended for "Nothing_Else_To_Do" saturday noons. I anyways hate tragedies :(

I am Legend!

I am of the type, who can't enjoy Fiction movies . But "I am Legend" is one movie, which gives you the edge-of-the-seat excitement, almost thru-out the 2 hours of the movie. And Will Smith, as an actor has done an exquisite job. If this movie turns out to be a success, 80% of the credit should goto this man. I would compare his performance to Tom Hanks' in "Cast Away", for the role of Will Smith in this movie is a little complicated, taking into account the expression of fear and the survival traits he shows. He has meticulously handled a lot of close-up shots and some for prolonged durations, posing the perfect expressions. He is for sure maturing as an actor, movie by movie. If his performance in "Pursuit of Happyness" was good, "I am Legend" it is very good. He gets a 9 on 10 for sure. For most part of the movie, Will Smith and his sole-comrade, German shepherd run the show. Dr.Robert Neville(Will Smith), being the sole human survivor in New York City, after an incurable virus attacks the world, tries to survive and find a cure too.

The graphics in the movie is impeccable and I have not seen New York city in such a dilapidated shape in my dreams too. My eyes fell for it. But the only thing I don't understand is why wild Animals get into New York city, when the city becomes devoid of humans for 3 years(because of a virus attack). Other than that, I found every aspect of this movie captivating. The movie has got a clean logical story line, threatening sound effects and the right screenplay to be called a horror-fiction entertainer. Now I want to read the book written by Richard Matheson, on which this movie is based.

"I am Legend" is for sure, worth a watch. My rating : 8 on 10.

What the hell??

I miss home, when I go to work. I miss work, when I stay at home. I miss homefood, when I eat at the restaurant. I miss the eatery food, when I attempt home-cooking. I miss my old friends when I hang out with my new friends. I miss my new friends, when I spend time with my old-friends. I miss web-surfing, when work presses. I miss being busy, when I do too much of browsing. I miss my ex-girl friends, when I think of my futile life. I miss my vain life, when I think of my ex-girl friends. I miss being single, when I imagine getting married. I miss married life, when I realize I'm a bachelor. I miss alcohol, when I tell to myself that i am a teetotaller. I miss being an abstainer, when I think of alcohol. I miss sex, when I remain a virgin. I miss virginity, when I dream of having Sex.

What the hell is this word "Miss" all about??

And the word "Miss" being complicated and unmarried women addressed as "Miss" - is that coincidental??

Back Ground Music...

Why dont ya'all stop chewing, while on call. Please educate yourself that conversing on phone with somebody is synonymous to keeping your mouth upclose to their ears(literally) and talking. And when you chew a gum or your tasty food, that 'chouwk chouwk' sound you generate is not something close to a pleasant BGM from ARR or IlayaRaja.

It's just plain "uuwwaaackkkkkk!!".

Fried Rice - Harbinger of Violence

I'm finding it tough to communicate to those "No-English-still-living-in-this-country" morons. It's an ordeal to order a Veggie fried rice thru phone to them. And it is all the more difficult to make sure that I dont need egg in that.

They better learn english soon and I'm gonna Nuke them one day...

Despair...

Thou shalt give me the Remote Control

or I wish be killed in Thy hands...

Anger in "Vishwaroobam"!

I feel devastated and I race to the apex of irritation. I run out of words, to speak nor to type. I feel numb. Ire on a crescendo. I hide it under my thoughts. Something tells me if I let it go, it would explode with the strength of tsunami to the power of 10. I don't want to make my frustration contagious, for I know that's where this is heading towards.I fume like hell. And like a smoke engine of the 1930's. But I let out lesser than what the "Hydrogen-Honda-Civic-2008" lets out.

I observe silence and feel better.

[For i let it all out now!]

I still cry...

He makes funny faces like he is crazy.

He speaks like he is still learning to speak.

He points at the moon and he sings and dances.

All this to make me laugh And I still persist to cry..

[If I have a 6-month old baby author a 4-line story, guess this is what he might write!]

AI - Artificial Intelligence or Apprehension Imminent!

As I had nothing to do this Saturday, I sat down in front of the TV and was browsing thru the channels. I heard somebody ringing the calling bell. Since my room-mates were out, I opened the door. Two handsome men (in their mid 40’s) dressed up in suits and nice coolers were standing there. They then asked me if I’m Neo, the software programmer. I nodded and they handcuffed me and took me with them. In less than a minute, it all happened. I was completely flabbergasted by their actions, as they neither did answer my questions nor did they treat me like a human. Since they looked more powerful, I didn’t resist. As we neared the parking lot, a lady in black attire approached in a fast-bike and even before I could see her completely, she shot the two men down and they died instantly. She then aimed the gun at me. I was sh*t-scared for a second and after all, I wasn’t prepared to die at that moment. I closed my eyes-tight and she pulled the trigger, without any mercy. The bullet tore up the shackles and knocked off my handcuff. I couldn’t believe my eyes. She came near me and told in my ears “Hey Neo, I’m Trinity. We both have to save this world together. Those two men are not humans, they are AI machines!” My eyes went wide open. I enthusiastically said “Oh, I’ll be happy to save this world!. So, what is our next plan of action” I waited for her reply. “Oh! You want to save the world now? Wake up and have some coffee you dumbo! After all, you have started speaking in your sleep too nowadays! Are you Keanu Reeves??” this was my room-mate. Pppppuuffff, it was all a dream!!


I had my coffee and I was thinking about the movie “The matrix”, I watched this noon. Though I had seen it twice already, this third time somehow made me think. And it made me believe that something like that is quite sure to happen to this world and to humans. I just couldn’t digest the fact that I may not get a chance to see the world, as late as 2199. That gave me a weird feeling and an urge to imagine that world today. Maybe that’s what caused my dream. Looking at the way the technology grows in today’s world, we may not be surprised if Artificial Intelligence rules the world, much before 2199. Movies like iRobot, Island, Matrix etc, make me look like a believer in all these concepts. It would certainly be nice, if we have machines living with us/helping us. But just when these movies show how the world goes astray, with over-utilization of technology, a chill runs down my spine. Involuntarily, I start worrying about my grand-kids and their grand-kids. It is for sure they’ll undergo all that they show in these movies, yet uncertain as to how and when. As much as I love Technology, I tend to hate it.

The calling bell rang again. I went to get it and I saw two men in suits, not very handsome this time. I still prepared myself to say "No", in case they asked me, if I'm a computer programmer. Of course, dreams play that kind of a trivial role in my mind all the time. They introduced themselves as the new security folks for our apartment building. I smiled and thought to myself that it is no era of Artificial Intelligence yet! I'm so happy that I live with humans!

Year 2055...

I think of my fav food - I get it.
I think of my fav place - I'm there.
I think of love.
I keep thinking.

I wish I save some snow...

I peek out of my office window. It snows in a gentle, smooth fashion. Some drops fall onto the tarmac. They disappear at the blink of an eye. Some drops rest on the branches of the trees. Those must be the happiest. They sit tight, hoping the weather doesn’t get any warmer and wishing they live forever. They know pretty well that it’s only matter of hours before they die away. The trees, devoid of all their leaves still feel the energy deep within. Seems to me they these trees know there'll be snow flakes, who would take temporary refuge on them. Maybe that's why they shed in autumn. And the snow flakes in return, cover and dress the trees up - making the whole arrangement picturesque. Makes us forget that these are trees without leaves.

The snow-fall is still steady. Like a baby loving to play with all his toys at the same instant, the snow-fall has laid its foot everywhere - on all the branches of the trees, all the cars in the parking lot, the side-walk and even on the hood of those walking-people with their jacket on. The snow fall, I think is the perfect example of being impartial. I imagine, how nice would it be, if God's blessings are just like snow-fall - A complete impartial Grace for everybody in this world! I keep looking at the snow-fall. The city slowly turns white. No birds in the sky. Light vanishes as softly as evaporating water. The nights arrive, but not the stars in the sky. Clouds form huddle barricading the stars. Everything comes to rest, but for the snowfall. It is still falling, slowly but steadily. I reach home. I retire to my bed. No dreams today. Casio wakes me. A dull morning. Sun turns up late. He doesn’t like this white town. I know he would simply wish to call it an early day. I look thru my windows. Nothing has changed from last night. The place has only grown whiter. Or purer, as white, they say, is the color of purity.

I take a walk. The snow fall trickle on me, like thousand babies trying to touch me. When I try to reciprocate, they vanish. I walk, my jacket hugging me, giving me the warmth. The warmth, I get to feel only when the temperature drips this low. Wow! How good does it feel to feel cold and to feel warm!

I had to wait through scorching afternoons, storming rains, the color-changing trees, shedding leaves, shrinking daylight, plummeting temperature, raging winds and finally, an army of miniscule, confused white-particles appear all around, that we call snow! I don’t want to let them go now, just like that!

I only wish I save some snow, for myself!

Mafia - Impact!

Another one...

The telephone at the Cop's house rang.
He was busy thinking about the mafia case.
He picked up the receiver, which exploded and split his brain.
The brain stopped thinking.


[I'm reading the book "The Godfather" and the effect of it I guess!]

UFO...

Another one of my 4-liners:

He thought he saw an UFO speed past above him.
He wondered and took pictures.
The UFO exploded, killing him instantly and the camera.
"Oh my God!", his sleep-scream woke his wife up.

Four-Line Stories...

I have read here and here about 55-word stories. The concept of writing short stories with exactly 55 words. I was kind of attracted towards that idea. But two things stopped me - firstly, I did not want to copy the same idea and secondly, I'm too impatient to count the words of my stories to be 55 words exactly! So, I thought about writing stories in exactly 4 lines. This is my first attempt in writing such short stories and I'm planning to write a few more, atleast till I find this idea boring(for you and for me!).

Here we go - my first one:

Confused IT guy:

He waited to go onsite.
He was sent on a short trip.
He spent the first day, missed home food, friends and family.
He waited to go offshore.

My second one:
Confused IT guy - 2nd part:

He waited to go offshore.
He was sent back.
He spent the first day, missed the cool climate, easy commute and the work culture.
He waited to go onsite.

One Story a Day!!

I came across this blog, which is hosted by one Mr.Ankur Shanker. Ankur is an Engineering graduate, aspiring to do his Master's in LSE(London School of Economics), but he is falling short of 55k pounds required for the tuition, boarding and lodging. He is now planning to take up his Masters in 2008, with the support from fellow-bloggers and from fellow-browsers! Yes, he has started a blogspot and he is planning to earn the tuition fees, thru the Adsense. To have people visiting his blog, he is planning to write one short story a day for 180 days.

I dont know if it is the smartest way to plan for your tuition fees, but sure it takes a lot of have such a 'thought'. Thats what I would call Determination. This guy has the right spirit and I went thru his stories. He is doing a decent job. I wish him success and and just thought i'll write a post for him and spread the words. !

Check his blogspot at http://milliondollarstory.blogspot.com/.