Get Yer Ketchup Flavored Chips Here!

The End.

2007-06-09T16:16:00.001-05:00

not sure what to write in this final post....except that this is the end. i'm done with law school and this blogging effort will not survive as i move on to my new job and return to atlanta...laterz.

The Vedas as Western Thought

2007-03-07T20:14:00.000-05:00

This is an interesting link my friend sent me. Check it out. A western professor talks about how Sanskrit and Vedic tradition is actually tied to the western thought more than we think.

Video

Earth, Fire, and Water

2007-02-11T21:44:00.000-05:00

so this weekend i finished my long awaited viewing of the deepa mehta trilogy - earth, fire, and water. i must say that my favorite was water as far as its emotional impact. earth really did wrench my guts. fire was a bit odd, yet fit into the director's overall message.

i think one of the quotes in the movie water was that only Gandhiji was a man who listened to his subconscious - his atma - and engaged in action. imagine if more people did that. water was an amazing film. the work of the little girl - chuyia as a widowed child was endearing and impacting. lisa ray was ravishing and this drove in the point - she too had been widowed as a child and yet is forced to spend the rest of her life a widow, a prostitute, devoid of any natural love or respect from the society that walks by her and countless other widows everyday. of course the movie was set in the past, but things have not quite changed today. more needs to be done.

earth just reminds us that man is capable of much misery. yes the british divided india. but the indians (hindus and muslims) divided each other. is religion to blame? are the british to blame? or as aamir khan's character points out - is there an animal in all of us that is just waiting to leap out? is man that predisposed to violence against his own?

fire was certainly off the beaten path. while i could not much relate to this movie, i think it drove the point home - people can be ignorant and uneducated which breeds blind traditions without regard to whom it benefits or harms.

all these movies do an excellent job in igniting one's passions and beliefs. no wonder deepa mehta had so many problems filming the movies. its movies like these that people can learn from and improve themselves to ensure movies like these one day will not have to be made. indians have much to be proud of, but don't be fooled that it rises above other cultures far superior in every respect.

2007

2007-01-18T22:33:00.000-05:00

well...back from india...i filled pages in a travel journal...and don't really feel up to posting it all up here...i might try and scan the stuff and put it up...when i get a sec...which so far is NEVER...

this semester is turning out to be super busy...boring and tough classes...plus add on life and there you go...2007 is off to a crappy start...

oh well...i'll post again when i feel like it...pics from india are on facebook...laterz

10 years.

2006-12-11T16:50:00.000-05:00

that's how long its been since i was last in india...wow! i can't believe i'm finally making it back...this should be a great trip...i'm planning on touring south india with my family...going back to gujarat as well...and just enjoying myself and seeing how far everything has come over the past decade...i'll be posting pics and travel blogs up here....stay in touch...

also my friend is posting her india trip on another blog...go to: www.travelblog.com and at the bottom enter the username "atlglossy"

Strange or Ironic.

2006-11-25T23:28:00.000-05:00

I'm not talking about the GA-Ga Tech game. That was expected. We love Reggie. In fact, our student section cheered his name every time he came out. You look into the Tech section and they look confused (probably IE majors, all of 'em).

I'm talking about this news clip - LexisNexis founder dies. Kinda strange....

Buffalo Wing Omelet

2006-10-30T17:21:00.000-05:00

haven't written in a bit...did something crazy to my traps at the gym...so i've been in a state of agony...between the hot water bottle refilling and shoulder circle exercises i'm losing it...hopefully will be back in full force...until then enjoy this recent discovery...i was in the kitchen one day not wanting my usual omlelet (or omelette if you prefer)....so i found a bottle of buffalo wing sauce...put some in...5 mins later i was very happy...enjoy

4 eggs (discard two yolks if you feel healthy; discard two whites if you need that chubbalubba)
2 tbs milk
1 tbs buffalo wing sauce
diced onions (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Mix briskly. Heat up a pan. Add some olive oil spray or whatever you use. When its hot, add half the egg mixture. Lower the heat and....you know how to make an omelet right? OK - do it. Fast forward to enjoy and thanking me for tantalizing your taste buds.

Cali N' Tito's

2006-10-19T08:34:00.000-05:00

you know i'm always goin on about food and cooking...i seek out restaurant reviews in the flagpole...i might as well post some of my own...i don't eat out as much, but when i do i feel its my duty to fellow eaters to report from the front line...

so yesterday a bunch of us tried out this new place on lumpkin called cali n tito's...its a cuban joint with other latin / mexican flavors...its got this crazy beach scene going on...complete with palm trees (hope they don't die in the winter)...beach umbrellas...a capsized boat, etc....you order inside at the bar and they bring out your food...i'm already tired of writing this review...ADD prob...umm...lets see...i had the verdura taco - pretty good on fresh, small warm tortillas....i had the veggie empanada...really good...especially with the verde sauce...and the tostones - fried plaintains...a bit dry, but still yummy...my friends had chorizo tacos and cuban sandwiches..they all liked it...i heard the chicken quesadilla was a bit bland...

next time i'll try their fruit smoothies - like papaya lime...and also a veggie cuban...that should be good...

i really don't see myself writing any more reviews...i have better stuff to do...like go eat some breakfast...so savor this moment...bon appetit.

Thriller Bollywood Style

2006-10-10T22:24:00.000-05:00

I'm sure most of you have seen this - but this is soooo funny. Its in Telugu (a South Indian language) and is a riot even for a brown boy...

Watch it.

Hema warns me of what lies ahead in a married life.

2006-10-10T07:42:00.000-05:00

Context

2006-10-09T20:41:00.000-05:00

So...we all complain about gas prices...well check out this link and see if you still think you're worse off....

There is shit in the meat.

2006-10-03T16:20:00.000-05:00

Probably my fav line from the book...the portion of the book (Fast Food Nation) that focuses on the slaughterhouses and meatpacking industry gave a grisly view of what really goes on in there...the taking advantage of migrant workers...the high rate of injury...the focus on getting as much meat through as possible while discounting safety or hygiene...

"The cattle now packed into feedlots get little exercise and live amid pools of manure."

Due to rising grain prices, slaughterhouses look to feed less expensive "materials" to cattle. About 75% of cattle in US were routinely fed livestock wastes - the rendered remains of dead sheep and dead cattle - until Aug, 1997. They were also fed millions of dead cats and dogs purchased from animal shelters. FDA banned this after the outbreak of mad cow disease. Alas, they are still fed dead pigs and horses today. COWS!!! ARE!!! HERBIVORES!!!!

Today, regulations now also allow cows to be fed dead polutry, but allow poultry to be fed dead cattle. Nice.

Waste products from poultry plants - including sawdust and old newspapers are also fed to cattle.

In 1994, 3 million pounds of chicken manure were fed to cattle.

All of this is tied to the spread of dangerous e. coli and get this - the USDA does not have the power to force a meatpacker to recall meat. Money talks in Congress.

Sick. Sick. Sick.

Cel-Ray

2006-10-01T17:25:00.000-05:00

a bit bored...so thought i'd mention some interesting things from the weekend....lets see - my brother was visiting and so i went home this weekend...we had some people over and mom and i became a pizza factory...i was tired by the end - scrap the idea of working in a pizza place before i start working as a lawyer..hah...can't stand the oven heat blast....saturday i was supposed to go see hema play soccer...but it was not meant to be - my car started hiccuping (is that a word) and stalled on me a couple times...i got back home and had a DIY project ready for me...rubber boot from the mass airflow meter was cracked...air filter was dirty...and my neighbor told me it could be the fuel filter too...so i borrowed his car (and his kids) and went off to the BMW dealership...i let them check out the new Z4 M Coupe while I got robbed - $45 for a stupid rubber tube...then i spent the rest of the afternoon fixing the car...seems to be working fine now...but who knows...she's temperamental...

today my room-mate told me that our stupid noisy neighbors woke him up last night at 3:30AM...except this time their patio conversation was about coke and how they got a bad batch of it...with this tid-bit of information, goose promptly told them to take their asses inside...i think they'll refrain from being too loud lest we mention their convo to the cops...weirdos...some of their other convos are down right gross...ask goose

what else - i had some celery soda today for the first time...interesting...i don't think i'll have it again...it was kinda like cold soup in a can...i dunno...i also bought this big plantain at the farmer's market...gotta do something cool with that...

thats about it...eventful weekend...back in athens now...dawgs won again - just barely...falcons won too - nothing to gloat about either...

anyhoo laterz...

Another one bites the dust...

2006-09-26T17:09:00.000-05:00

The rock has been delivered.

Fast Food Nation

2006-09-25T13:07:00.000-05:00

i've started reading fast food nation after it caught my eye at a bookstore in london...i dropped in that london bit just to show you how much of a world-traveler-snob i am...haha...anyway - it has some interesting stats that i wanted to mention...i'll post periodically with new factoids and such so that you lame-o's don't have to read the whole book...these facts are all based on the book and are dated as of 2001

Americans spend more on fast than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music - combined.

1 in 8 workers in the US has been employed by McDonald's at some point in their life (i'm still waiting for my chance)

McD hires more than any public or private employer - 1mil+

McD earns more money from the rent its charges for its restaurants - not from the food itself (hmm...what kind of food has no profit margin)

McD is the nation's largest purchaser of potatoes, beef, and pork; second for chicken

the only group that earns less than restaurant workers are migrant farm workers

The US has more prison inmates than full-time farmers

more to come later...

Pasta on Boil

2006-09-21T16:59:00.000-05:00

hey...so hema asked me to post...so i am...nothing really new to say here...oh yeah - going to india for a month this december...10 year reunion...should be pretty intense....probably visit some old places and find some new....i'm excited...

school's mundane as usual...nothing much going on...billy and i are starting a tutoring program for a local middle school...hopefully get to expand that to involve other students...right now we're waiting on the school to set it up so that we can start...also coming close to deciding where to work next year...decision should be out in a few weeks...doesn't look like my half-hearted attempt at a clerkship is having much luck...oh well - wasn't that gung-ho about it anyway...where does the word gung-ho come from...is it like kung fu? hmm...now kung pao is some good stuff...i'd like that right now...yum...oh yeah - pasta on boil...let me go check...

books wise...tried reading shalimar the clown by rushdie...couldn't get into it...he's got a weird writing style...then i thought i'd read the alchemist...well i got the wrong one! i read one by mark illis...which was actually not that bad...but anyway - i'm supposed to read the one by paulo coelho...so i'm reading that now cuz benovelent goose got it for me..haha...

movies - saw all the president's men...that was a sharp movie...now i know what deep throat means...hahaha...not what you thought...hahaha....gonna see raging bull later tonite...

getting cooler down here...its football season...went and saw UGA crush UAB...which was expected but it was still fun....gonna go to the Colorado game this weekend as well...falcons winning too...could this be the year? we'll see....

in other news...nothing..ha...will post again when something cool happens.

Nothing.

2006-09-05T18:40:00.000-05:00

well...nothing much to write about these days...no cool pictures to post...school has started and is mundane...blah...missed the first football game - but caught the trouncing on TV....watched some good movies lately...lets see kiss kiss bang bang was fun...a dark comedy that had a contemporary filming style...then jarhead was good...a look into desert storm...how marines operate and stuff...it doesn't quite come off the way it was intended...but still worth watching...syriana was the best though...gives you a cross-section of the world oil business...how it operates at different levels...how life struggles all tie into it...how the gas at your pump is mixed in with corruption, terrorism, and high-powered politics...

went to tallulah gorge again this past weekend....took hema on an impromptu picnic...unfortunately they ran out of passes and we couldn't go to the gorge floor...so gotta do that some time...other than that nothing going on!!! bored!! thats why this post is boring!!!

The Trip.

2006-08-20T20:10:00.000-05:00

its been about a week since i've been back from ireland and england....had to get back in the swing of things with school...ireland was a lot of fun...its a very picturesque land...we stuck to the rural area...with the small artsy towns and rolling hills...much like the von Trapp family would do..ha...from there we flew to london....that was fun to see my cousins after such a long time...we hung out most of the time since i'd done the touristy things before...the way back home was much more exhausting...the terror plot meant that we had to go thru extra security and no hand luggage...that meant no extra goodies to bring back...it was great to finally make it back to atlanta...

school's back in session...which means football season is right around the corner...woot....good to see all the guys back in town...last year...gotta make it fun...

2006-08-17T07:18:00.000-05:00

With my cousins in London

2006-08-17T07:15:00.001-05:00

With mom in Bus Eireann

2006-08-17T07:15:00.000-05:00

A ghostly image from the Cliffs of Moher

2006-08-17T07:13:00.000-05:00

That's me right before a monster grabbed me from behind and...

2006-08-17T07:05:00.000-05:00

A massive Church built of stone in Killarney. Felt cold and forbidding.

2006-08-17T07:04:00.000-05:00

An alley in Killarney, Ireland.

Holiiiiiiiiiday!

2006-07-31T12:23:00.000-05:00

well the past few weeks have been a blast....i'm finally done with my clerkships...went rafting on the ocoee again with the AGG folks....that was a lotta fun (one of the summers fell out ha)...also went to the beach boys concert at chastain...john stamos was touring with them...it was great to hear some of their classics...we had dinner at horseradish before and that was cool too...went to some more fancy dinners as well....and now i'm off to ireland and england for a couple weeks before school starts...should be a blast...pics to come soon...

Elvis Costello and more...

2006-07-18T14:05:00.000-05:00

had another fun weekend that extended into monday...friday - was supposed to go to sap's birthday party, but she bailed as everyone else bailed on her...and hema and i had a "misunderstanding" and so i spend friday nite workin' out and makin myself an omelet dinner...yippee...things picked up on saturday though...went down to the airport to a shooting range...tried my hand at some skeet shooting...it was a lota fun...the guy said i was really good...cuz i got 4/5 on my first try...and i also got the double shots pretty well....of course i imputed it to my room-mate shawn's wise training...ha...tell ya what - its kinda freaky holding a shot gun and knowing what its capable of...thats a pipe of power...ha...then saturday evening went to sap's birthday party to milan...don't like the place...after that nite i surely don't like the place...the guys put pepperoni in my calzone...and then when i told him to take it back he insisted it was sun-dried tomatoes not pepperoni...so i had to fish out a circular disk of meat and wave it in front of him...geeze...everyone else liked it though...sunday went to swadhyay...which was cool as they talked about the origins of the caste system as a model of efficiency and not status...marxism in a way...i agreed with some points, but disagreed with the basic philosophy that you set up what someone does for life right when they are born...wow...finally sunday afternoon went and played whirlyball for the first time...that was crazy! i love that game....and then sunday nite just went to barnes and noble with mom to plan the upcoming trip across the pond...

monday was the best though...went to chastain...again...this time i saw elvis costello...ha! i don't think i know a single song by him...but i enjoyed myself...nice catered dinner...sat down in the pit of the amphitheater....he had Alan Tuscon (sp?) and Band...they stole the show...especially Big Sam on the trombone....that guy screams N'Orleans!!! so for all the jump and jive stuff i was off my seat and swayin' having fun...then elvis brings out this little G Bush doll and calls it a presidential action figure...then continues to poke fun of the president by saying that it was "actual size" and uncommon to the world of action figures, this one actually does "nothing" and that he affectionately calls it "Junior"...haha...then proceeds to play a song called Broken Promiseland or something...

thats about it...went to federal court this morning for a hearing in a Coke v. Pepsi matter - that was interesting...and now back at work pondering about ethics laws in NY and GA...laterz.

Too many things going on...

2006-07-13T15:36:00.000-05:00

haven't updated in a while...thats cuz there is too much going on....just went to a chastain concert for the first time yesterday....saw peter frampton....never knew who he was till i heard the "baby i love your way" song....it was fun...we had seats right at the stage...and a picnic dinner catered all fancy....it was a good time...i'm going to go see elvis costello on monday....and perhaps beach boys the week after that...

in between all that there are several dinners....going to go skeet shooting....play some whirlyball....whitewater rafting....

summer's always got something going on...and thats the way it should be...will post pics soon...

Michelangelo

2006-07-03T17:43:00.000-05:00

yea...that's right...i'm a painter....well...actually thats just how i chose to spend this fourth of july weekend...the first project i tackled was repainting our kitchen walls and ceiling...and the breakfast area too...after the gastronomical dirty bomb terror attack earlier this year (don't ask) that riddled the walls as far as our TV with little rice pellets enveloped in the deadly staining agent turmeric (think khichri for all you desis) the kitchen always had this grunge abstract art look to it....well anyway...so i did all that last saturday...then today i painted mom's bedroom...i did this peachy-mango color that she liked....anyway...it was a blerry hot day....and i had some surgical scrubs on as my paint clothes...well lets just say it got too hot...and so it was more like strip painting after a while...haha....i worked nonstop from about 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM...stopping only for some lunch and a trip to home depot...oh yea...i also had to stop every time Q100 played shakira - hips don't lie....that was three times total...bust out some crazy latin dance moves all by myself...i don't know why i'm broadcasting this...now i look like an idiot...anyway - it really is true - hips don't lie...hmmm.

thats it really...thats my weekend...did have some fun yesterday...made fresh guac and salsa...and devoured it with mom watching a movie...we also had a pretty stupid incident...we decided to touch up the house with left over kitchen paint...well guess what? the kitchen paint was a semi-gloss...nice...lets just say 'parts' of my house look bling bling now...haha....thats another project for another day...right now i'm gonna sip this here nice glass of water and pretend i'm on the beach with a mojito...

i say good day to you.

2006-06-25T22:49:00.000-05:00

At Dry Falls

2006-06-25T22:48:00.000-05:00

A drop in a puddle at Dry Falls. Why do they call it Dry Falls when everyone gets wet?

2006-06-25T22:47:00.000-05:00

Bust Your Butt Falls. Notice the "X" mark - that's where we jumped from, into the icy water. Suh-weet!

2006-06-25T18:18:00.000-05:00

The view from Rabun Bald.

Highlands Trip

2006-06-25T18:05:00.000-05:00

just got back from the highlands trip...had a blast...drove up on friday afternoon....and checked into the well-appointed Lodge....the rooms had plasma screens, fireplaces, and bvlgari amenities - damn! then we went to happy hour with the rest of the firm and moved on to dinner which was a catered bbq...the veggie option was not really cool, but hema and i had feasted on the appetizers - so we were alright....

the next day we had breakfast and then went on a 4-mile hike to Rabun Bald...it was a pretty cool view of the Appalachians...i guess all the working out helped me get up top without feeling tired...hema kept up as well...we had some lunch up there...i took a couple pics too...then it was back to the hotel...but a few of us decided to do something crazy...of course - this always happens when i go on vacation haha...so we went to this place called bust your butt...we were supposed to go slide down a rock...but instead (since the water level was low) we ended up climbing up to a sort of ledge 25ft or so above the water and then jumped in (i have posted pics to help you visualize)...the water was freakin' ice...the locals assured us it was warmer than usual....the jump itself was pure adrenalin...because as you jump you actually have time to think for a couple secs before you hit the water...it was great...

we went back...showered...took a 15-min nap and got ready to go to a partner's vacation home up in the mountains...that place was outta this world...and it had all this history...made from parts of an 18th century barn...the food was excellent...we had a great time...one of the lawyers even did a rendition of 'baby got back'...hilarious...we got back and pretty much turned in after a while because no one had a word on where the after party was...

the next morning hema and i decided to check out this place called Dry Falls...it was one powerful waterfall...we took some cool pics and then headed back to atl...

anyway...starting at K&S tomorrow...so gotta go iron the suit...laterz.

2006-06-21T19:01:00.000-05:00

Hema, Uday, and Heena

2006-06-21T18:58:00.000-05:00

Caught in one of my gyrating moves...

2006-06-21T18:55:00.000-05:00

Charmi and me

2006-06-21T18:53:00.000-05:00

Dressed for the reception... (we have the same exact suit)

2006-06-21T18:51:00.000-05:00

Another silly pose...

2006-06-21T18:50:00.000-05:00

The photographer made us... I swear.

2006-06-21T18:49:00.000-05:00

Punching the groom... (not traditional, but oh well)

2006-06-21T18:47:00.000-05:00

With the groom...

2006-06-21T18:46:00.000-05:00

My brother and me in front of a Ganesha statute at Milan's wedding.

2006-06-05T17:20:00.000-05:00

Yeah - I got a tan.

2006-06-05T17:19:00.001-05:00

A view from our Kayak at Western Lake.

2006-06-05T17:19:00.000-05:00

Biker Chic

2006-06-05T17:18:00.000-05:00

Santa Rosa Beach, FL. A view from our resort.

Braves v. Dodgers

2006-06-01T12:29:00.000-05:00

had a pretty interesting last night...after work i met up with a partner, his son, and a fellow summer associate to go down and watch a braves game at turner field...first we went to the bullpen to grab some grub...a grub-grabbing if you will....then we went to the field...and wow...the seats were four rows behind home plate...a bit to the right of home plate...swank...you can actually see the players' faces from down there..haha...anyway...so at one point i get out to go use the john...come back and david is on the line...he's asking me to act crazy so that the camera guy would focus on me...well turns out where i was waiting in the aisle - the camera guy was already focused on that area...so david is screamin that he saw me on TV!! and then i waved and he saw me waving...all very funny...of course i was later told that i could be ejected for my behavior...go figure...

to top it off...i made some celebrity sightings as well...several rows over - mia hamm was seated cheering on her hubby nomar....and then on the way out...we saw andre 3000 of outkast...he was just chillin with some fans...

so it was a fun night...one more day until florida!!!! can't wait to go back to watercolor...

Hema & Me.

2006-05-30T09:04:00.000-05:00

The color coordination was all Hema's idea...I swear.

Milan & Neha, Hema & Me

2006-05-30T09:02:00.000-05:00

Going for the mafia look.

2006-05-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Farewell.

2006-05-30T08:55:00.000-05:00

The bride and groom leave in an antique Buick (only to come back a few hours later for the reception..haha)

The Wedding Mandap

2006-05-30T08:52:00.000-05:00

This is where the actual wedding took place - pretty elegant.

Neerav, Milan, and Me.

2006-05-30T08:35:00.000-05:00

Outside the Marriott, at Kiril's wedding, in our Indian zoot suits.

Pictures from the Pool Party

2006-05-26T08:21:00.000-05:00

the girls

ok this top one is freaky - its like a blurry fly posing with dix...

below is dix' reaction after i explain how delicious a veggie kielbasa can be....

i'm not sure what shawn is doing or why goose has those hotdogs displayed

just hangin out at the pool

Back from the dead.

2006-05-25T16:23:00.000-05:00

man! i haven't posted in forever...nor have i been online...its been tough since exams ended...we had a celebration pool party...volleyball was good although i lost every game...the cook-out was fun - some veggie kielbasa...yum...also grilled sweet potatoes and portabellas...but then the next day we had to clean up and pack up and get the hell out!!

so i got to atlanta on the 16th...and started work on the 18th...been quite busy...lots of legal research and writing going on...plus a ton of social activities...so far i've been to a huge mansion summer party (crazy money i say)...a private screening of the da vinci code complete with free concession stand...various lunches...going out tonight to a restaurant called vine...

well i'm going to post some pics as soon as dix gives them to me...slacker...if you read this - send me the pics!!

Rang De Basanti

2006-05-04T20:05:00.000-05:00

rang de basanti...you can learn from this movie...as long as you know hindi - cuz otherwise the subtitles might not convey the raw energy this movie brings across...

the movie crosses generations, religions, personalities, and more....it juxtaposes india's past to its present...and makes a statement - nothing has changed....the youth are apathetic today...not just the youth - everyone is for that matter....the leaders are corrupt...everyone passes the buck...everyone's in it for themselves...no one wants to do the right thing...and i don't know...the movie inspires me to do whats right...reinforces the point that we can't just sit around and watch our lives go by....

we need a passion...most of the world doesn't need to fight the imperialist brits like the indians did anymore...but there's always a cause...always a struggle...what do your life stand for? whats your purpose?

i'm worked up from this movie right now...so i'll stop right now before i keep runnin my mouth...the movie is excellent...great characters...great acting...music...direction...style...finesse...watch it.

Poetry.

2006-05-01T10:05:00.000-05:00

i know i promised no more posts...but exam frustration and a conversation with billy inspired this...i'm not sure what it says about me...but here you go...

The pregnant river swept by me,
As if belabored by its watery load.
It seemed desperate to give way,
The floodwaters breaking loose
From its silt-heavy loins.

Crunch Time.

2006-04-30T22:04:00.000-05:00

its officially CRUNCH TIME...no blog posting (unless absolutely necessary) until after exams...you have been advised.

The Story of the Turtle and the Hare

2006-04-20T16:52:00.000-05:00

well its storytime children....but this isn't the usual story of the turtle and the hare...you know the one where the turtle is slow, but steady...and that stupid hare is fast and cocky - in the end the turtle wins....anyway...so i go to the gym today and turns out dix took the last treadmill...i have a few choice words for him...but thats another story...so i decide to go back and run in the woods behind my apartment...

so i'm running...its a great day...all of a sudden i see a hare! its scurrying about ahead....of course it hears my thunderous footsteps and scrams into the brush...but that was kinda cool...it was brown and cuddly looking in case the women in the audience want to know...thats also the last you'll hear about the hare in this story....i know its name is in the title...but it was more of a guest appearance...

so i keep running...through fields of daisies and butterflies....i'm serious...its kinda like the discovery channel back there...anyway...on the way back...i decide to go for a run in the abandoned baseball field...as i'm running the perimeter...i see something strange...a moving rock! enough foreshadowing...turns out to be a turtle...about 10 inches long....so i prod it a bit as expected...and it goes into its shell...so as a peace offering i show it some leaves and try and make it eat...yeah...no i wouldn't want to eat either when sensing a predator about...go figure...so i decide to go for another round to see if it will scurry away...it does not...then i wonder...how the heck did this turtle get here in the first place...perhaps the hare left him there to cheat in the race..haha...no...so to ponder this...i make another round....finally i muster up the courage...i pick up the turtle and begin a perilous journey to the river nearby...my quest is to set it free...

i take care to hold it right in the middle....sensing its flight through the air now...it sticks its head out and starts snapping...kinda scary, but i forge onwards....finally we get close to the river and just as i am about to set it on a ledge...it sees the water and sticks out its legs - claws and all and starts snapping ferociously...a bit of spittin' too...this just freaks me out...in my panic i let go...and hear a thud, thud, and ker-plunk as it bounces off of two rocks into the water...i really got scared that it might have cracked its shell...but it swam away...

i hope that turtle knows i was not going to make turtle soup...i was just trying to set it free...

2006-04-13T19:22:00.000-05:00

Clockwise from Hema -- Me, Amy, Belinda, Granville, Billy the Toddler, Shawn, Erica, Goose (in hiding), Dixowicz, Emma

2006-04-13T19:20:00.000-05:00

Hema and I at Thai Nite - happy after some Thai Iced Tea!

Scientists find the cure to cancer and AIDS and...

2006-04-12T16:46:00.000-05:00

a recent new story leads me to believe that our scientists are sincerely out of work and do not have real world issues to focus on...

in other news...wireless companies must really be hurting...in trying to force people to use their silly camera-phones...sprint PCS has come up with bona fide loser of a marketing idea...i will spare you my take on it...just click here.

Chuggin' Along...

2006-04-08T21:53:00.000-05:00

haven't written in a while...just been busy with a bunch of stuff...school...and all that...well...another birthday...i'm still chuggin' along....it was fun...we went to a comedy club in atlanta...and so some improv that rivals comedy central...it was awesome...and then today spent the day at mom's...just eatin' some good indian food and hangin out with her and hema and her siblings (the kids)....got some cool presents from hema and mom...

last week....we had thai nite....it was a huge success...about 30 people showed up...the food was great...i tried this new mango dish....pretty cool...

so what's ahead this year?? a summer full of work and fun...starting my last year at law school...going to shawn's farm for the 4th of July...couple weddings...should be good...

well my laptop is living up to its name (crapple)....so i haven't been online much to update...but i should be getting some pictures soon from anna...will update then...laterz

I failed Lent.

2006-03-24T15:57:00.000-05:00

i haven't been online for a whole week...gave up MSN...AIM...and just stuck to e-mail, phone calls, and personal contact...it was my way of supporting my catholic friends (of which i have none) and doing something for lent...well turns out that staying off AIM and MSN is just too freakin' hard...so my lent experiment (hey that rhymes) is over!!!

school is shuffling along...five more weeks till exams...yikes!!! next week - i've organized Thai Nite for the law school...hopefully we'll get a good turn out like we did for sushi nite...although the RSVPs are a bit short so far...we're going to hema's fav. restaurant in the whole world - Thai of Athens...she's probably drooling if she's reading this...haha...anyway...that is the only thing i have to look forward to next week...shawn has sadly informed me that football season for the gang is over...i might just go play on my own though - through the ball really high then run over and catch it on the other side...might guilt them into playing with me...we'll see...

well i'm outta here...i will see you ONLINE..haha...laterz

Its Funny.

2006-03-16T11:01:00.000-05:00

i just think its funny how many poor souls happen upon this blog looking for "ketchup flavored potato chips" - ahh the search powers of google...i guess the super-smart dudes and dudettes at the googleplex haven't figured out context and relevance...hopefully they won't - let humans have some purpose...geeze....anyway if you're a poor sap lookin for those awesomely crazy good ketchup chips (they are too) - just click here and indulge.

well the rest of spring break is on - in the happenin' town of marietta...hangin out at momma's house...R & R.

What Happens in Miami Stays in Miami.

2006-03-13T19:51:00.000-05:00

ok...well maybe not all of it stays there...some of the kosher stuff can be talked about...so i was in south beach, miami this past weekend...for milan's bachelor party...all in all it was fun, tiring, and a bit of a strain on my student budget...but hey - once in a lifetime for the ol' guy....its worth it then...silly thing is that he's not even a bachelor technically...but thats a different story..ha

so we started fairly early...left ATL around 6:30AM....didn't get to south beach till about 6PM that night...crazy driving that much for a weekend...got a glimpse of star island but we never ended up going around it...thats where all the stars live - shaq and company...our hotel was a bit of a dump but it was in prime location...although we had to constantly play spy moves to get extra towels...so first night...we got ready...grabbed some grub right on the ocean...we got gypped though...the special was drinks - 2 for 1...turns out they just double-price the drinks...so you end up buying two regular-priced drinks...doh! then we chilled for a bit...headed back to the hotel to get our drink on...i had agreed to play along and broke my drink-fast...had some rum...got a good buzz...well as we got ready to go out...one of the guys fell sick from the alcohol...and then the other just got really tired...milan was pissed...then another friend of his flew in...we got some more grub....hung out for a while...and called it a night at about 3AM...

the next day...we went to the beach...it was a bit rough...but still fun...then from there we went back to the room...got ready for dinner...i really wanted cuban...but i don't think everyone else was on board...so we found a really cool mexican place - senor frog's...had a good meal and some margaritas...the tables were outside...so we could watch all the people walkin by...we made the perfunctory cat calls when necessary...tried to get milan to use some dirty pick up lines but he was too chicken...saw some crazy nice cars that weekend...bentleys, rolls royces, all rollin around like toyotas...it was nuts...later that night we went to a club called opium...stupid bouncer wouldn't let us in cuz we didn't have any girls with us (too much sausage i guess)...said he would let us in if we reserved a table - meaning cough up $600 for three bottles of champagne...uh no...so instead we headed over to a place called nikki beach...supposedly thats where the celebs hang out...it was a cool place to bring women...we had some crazy expensive drinks ($11 for a jack/coke) and headed back out...at this point it was 1AM and i headed back to the room cuz i had first shift driving...we had to wake up in 4 hrs...the guys went on to some seedy "gentlemen's club"...no thanks...

the next morning...we high-tailed it outta there...droppin our friend off at the ft lauderdale airport...the drive back home was long and uneventful...we did happen to visit historic hahira, GA...good subway franchise..ha...that was it...

Happy Bachelor's to Milan - hope he has a joyful marriage ahead cuz i ain't driving 24hrs for another bachelor party!!!! haha....laterz

2006-03-08T22:41:00.000-05:00

you might think its cute...its just part of my diabolical plan to take over shawn's farm one day...step 1 - learn how to ride a tractor...step 2...

2006-03-08T22:40:00.000-05:00

hema's first contact with a goat...she later contracted foot and mouth disease and was deported back to england...

2006-03-08T22:39:00.000-05:00

A panda enjoying his bamboo.

2006-03-08T22:38:00.000-05:00

as what happens with any man after the woman keeps up the nagging - he gets fed up and sulks.

2006-03-08T22:37:00.000-05:00

hema with her new man! maybe i'm biased, but i think he looks like a gorilla...

Hilarious. Valentine's Day Came From India.

2006-03-08T15:34:00.000-05:00

You have to read this with an Indian accent. Compliments of Hema.

Not-withstanding, what nonsense you've been told by a priest, the truth is that the Valentine Day was originated in India, and to top it, in Gujarat – a state of Mahatma Gandhi who preached Non-violence! Interested? ...........................................Read further.

Well, it is well known what the people in Gujarat are like, especially the Patel men folk. It is a known fact that they (Patels) don't treat the opposite sex (their Patalanis) with the respect; some of the firebrand members of the opposite sex(wives) thought they deserved.

One fine day, one brave Patalani (Patel lady - her name is thankfully lost in oblivion), had enough of "Atyachar"(Torture) perpetrated on her, by her husband, and then she finally chose to rebel by beating up her husband with a Belan...Yeah, the same Belan with which she made chapattis for him everyday; only this time, instead of the dough, it was the husband who was flattened like a chapatti, albeit an oblong one.

This was a momentous occasion for all the Gujarati women and a revolt soon spread, like a wild fire, with several housewives beating up their, bad as well as good, husbands with Belan; and there was an outburst of moaning chapattis all over Anand and Ahmedabad.

This was a long time, some 400 years ago, when Mahatma Gandhi was not around. The Patel men folk learnt their lesson and behaved a bit better with their Patalani partners. However, there was no putting down the burgeoning feminist spirit of the times, and each year that day the womenfolk, if only gingerly and lovingly, as a token gesture, beat up their husbands to commemorate that eventful day, which had contributed substantially to better their lot.

The men folk also submitted to this, in good humor, since they didn't really get beaten up anyways. The entire ritual soon became a caring and loving affair, with wives having the satisfaction of beating up their husbands, their husbands cringing in mock fear and pain, and the guys having the supreme joy of submitting to the whims of the women they loved. This custom continued for many years, even when the British occupied India.

As Gujarat fell more and more under the influence of Western Culture and language, some of the more fashionable and educated women, sometimes wearing leather boots and clothes (this even created a fad for leather Belans for a short time, but it soon passed, as they could not use them to make chapattis) on that day appeared with a Belan in hand, and called out to their husbands "Belan time" before starting off.

This was noticed by the British, and they were quite amused and endeared by the peculiar ritual. They also saw it for what it really was, i.e. a manifestation of love, not of hate. The ritual soon spread to Britain and many other Western countries, -specifically, the catch words "Belan time!". Of course in their foreign mouths, it was bastardized to "Velan time" and then to "Velantine". And from that day onwards, 14th of February, since it was indeed that day that 400 years ago an irate Gujarati Patalani housewife nearly committed man-slaughter, came to be known as Valentine's Day. The custom of hitting with Belans died a natural death, but 14th of Feb still stands as a symbol of undying and universal love.

And as Paul Harvey would say…
“And now you know the rest of the story”

The Two.

2006-03-06T11:09:00.000-05:00

hello people...haven't updated in a bit...just had our two year anniversary last week...it was a lotta fun...went to IMAX to watch an african safari...went to the zoo...its like jungle love for us...haha...kidding...it was a lotta fun...hema did a great job planning....i guess next year she's gonna expect me to do something....have to top that...gotta start planning now!!! she also got me some cool things from india - a blue kurti and a tintin book on herge and the comics...oh yeah - and potato chips from india and england...i'm crazy about weird potato chips...magic masala here i come!!!

saw some good movies too - the insider, clockwork orange, bad day at black rock...also some good books...by ira levin - boys from brazil and the stepford wives...

well off to miami later this week...will write about it later....oh yea....and pics from the zoo - u gotta see me at the petting zoo..haha

Movies.

2006-02-25T10:33:00.000-05:00

saw some interesting movies lately...mangal pandey: the rising is about the first spark in india's fight against england to tell those limeys to get the hell out...the movie was ok...does make you feel proud though...and the hindi spoken by the "goras" is pretty funny...they don't know what to emphasize....all in all worth watching...

next up is The 39 Steps...hitchcock's first movie to bring him some fame as a spy-thriller director...it was well done...good bit of suspense..humor...and hitchcock's classic way of bringing things full circle...enoyed it...

finally taxi driver...what a nutjob de niro can be...this makes watching meet the fockers a bit scarier...ha...a good comment on urban blight...jodie foster was tooooo young...wow...

thats all..back to studying evidence..sob.

Chicago. -21 degrees. Hilarity and Chillarity.

2006-02-21T22:00:00.000-05:00

ok..perhaps chillarity is not a word that will catch on...but its my contribution to the world's lexicon...so leave me be...this past weekend i attended a conference for law students in chicago...i also happened to go at the COLDEST moment in chicago's winter this year...being a goh'gia boy...i did not have much to take with me warmth wise - not even gloves - this would later prove to be almost fatal....

we left on friday...we being rakesh and anita (hey anita! you are officially mentioned on the blog!)...anyway...we get to the airport on time...only to find out that our flight is a teeny weeny jet...so small that even our carry-on luggage is checked at the gate...so we get to chicago an hour late as expected...the icy air hits us like a sack of marbles ( i dunno who still carries around a sack of marbles...)...so we figure out where to take the train that goes to our hotel...in a race to escape the cold and catch the train...we make a mad dash...we almost lost anita to a turnstile as she valiantly fought its three arms of steel in attempting to transport her luggage and self through its vice-like grip...she made it...we finally made it to the hotel..

after some rest...we decide to venture out...there was a party planned at Club Funky Buddha (i'm not sure who picked that for a S. Asian Law Student Conference - definitely not tuned into the cartoon riots)...we get there a bit early and plan to walk a few blocks to a thai restaurant...as we begin walking...we realize that no on else is on the streets...we also realize that unless we keep moving our cheeks they would freeze over...snot bubbled out of our nose and then proceeded to freeze...it was straight out of a survival movie...apparently the wind chill that night was -21 degrees...realizing we were idiots...we turned back and found a cool little italian place for dinner...after some really good food...we went across the street to the club...only to find that we had missed free cover by 5 minutes and would have to pay 20 bux to get in...hell no...so the three of us found a coffee shop and had a great time on our own...

the next day was the conference...we got up on time...again froze our faces walking to the IIT-Kent Law School...but the conference was great...great discussions on civil rights...networking...profiling..and much more...they fed us and kept us happy...later that night...we went to a place for drinks and appetizers...then later that night we went to a club called mix...but turns out that we still had a watch on EST...so rakesh and i are dozing off and anita is yelling at us to get to the club because it almost 11pm...so we rush and get there at.....10:15PM!!! yea...we had the wrong time...so we end up sitting around for people to come...meanwhile anita has found an old high school friend who has come out of the closet since...rakesh and i like a couple of lame-os crash a booth and watch scarface to the backdrop of hip-hop music...its still a good movie...then the girls get in...anita and i decide to start it off with some dancing..a few people join us...just as the music gets good...rakesh complains his tummy is aching...so we call it a night around midnight...and head back...

later that night...i was awoken by a blue aura coming from the room...i get up to see that rakesh has his laptop perched on his stomach and appears to be surfing the net...so i go back to sleep...only to hear a loud crash! apparently rakesh was not asleep and the laptop fell...later that morning we would find out that the screen cracked...doh! we returned to the Law School for closing remarks...they were awesome...inspiring...then we headed back to the hotel...checked out and went to explore the theater district...after a good lunch and some shopping (while avoiding a huge fashion faux paus with anita picking out a granny dress)...we headed back to ATL...

we didn't think we would make our flight...only 30mins left to board...but in true delta fashion...our flight was again delayed an hour...oh joy...we finally got home around 9pm...to WARM 50 degrees in hotlanta...then we made a pit stop at anita's house for some really good southern cookin...i mean southern indian cookin'...her mom made a feast of all these cool things....we all tucked in till we had to open the belts a couple notches...then back to athens and in bed around midnight...

that's the trip...

Salaam Bombay!

2006-02-12T21:53:00.000-05:00

if you haven't already...watch this movie - Salaam Bombay! Its by Mira Nair - the lady who directed Monsoon Wedding...it tracks the lives of some street kids in Bombay...one in particular (Krishna / Chaipau) who is trying to save up enough money to go home to his mother...these kids can't be more than 13-14...its inspiring...wrecking...and the music is haunting...(English Subtitles)...

the movie brought back something from the back of my mind - that i really want to do more selfless acts in my life...i was even thinking of working half / volunteering half...who knows if that idealistic view will make sense 10 years down the road...but that's my desire...

watch the movie. today. now.

The Upanishads.

2006-02-11T16:07:00.000-05:00

just finished reading (part-skimming) The Upanishads by Eknath Easwaran...it was a really good book...just as an intro - the Upanishads are ancient writings that belong to the Indo-Aryan civilization that inhabited India thousands of years ago...they are in sanskrit...and are numerous...they generally are attached to the Vedas (another set of manuscripts that set the foundation for the vedic practice and rituals)...anyway - basic point is that the Upanishads are very important to understanding the thrust of the Hindu religion...so i thought i'd read a survey book to get an idea about it...what i found was pretty amazing...and i have a better understanding of what Hinduism stands for...i definitely recommend reading this book...

i just wanted to share a couple of translations / explanations by Easwaran that i felt were inspiring...this comes from the Mandukya Upanishad:

The word "AUM" - you hear a lot of people meditating use this word - is of great importance...it represents the supreme state of reality...the ultimate goal in life...so first let me explain the different sets of reality or consciousness recognized by the Upanishads...

First is Vaishvanara: this is everyday life we are used to...in which all the senses are turned outward - we see and realize only the external world as it affects us. Second is Taijasa: this is the state where we are dreaming in sleep...this is where our senses are turned inwards...and one enacts the impressions of past deeds and present desires...Third is Prajna: this is deep sleep...this is where you don't dream or desire...in fact you are in a state of consciousness where you don't even recognize your mind or body...there is no separateness...Fourth is Turiya: this is basically the Prajna state, but while being awake! this is the ultimate goal...and the way to reach this goal is through meditation (real meditation - not that hokey stuff in the strip malls)

So this state of Turiya is represented by AUM...though indivisible as a whole when you say it...it has three sounds that compose it...A stands for the Vaishvanara state..."Those who know this, Through mastery of their senses, obtain The fruit of their desires and attain greatness." U is for Taijasa. "Those who know this, By mastering even their dreams, become Established in wisdom. In their family Everyone leads the spiritual life." M corresponds to Prajna. "Those who knows this, By stilling the mind, find their true statureAnd inspire everyone around to grow." Together, they stand for the state of Turiya - the supreme state of consciousness.

Double Standard! The Mohamadden Pastry.

2006-02-07T20:21:00.000-05:00

most of you have been following the Danish Cartoon incident with skepticism as the violence and protests get worse...embassies burned...riots...murders...its terrible...i doubt the shari'a can be read to engage in such behavior...

what is not surprising is the double standard some fanatics engage in...for example they have no problems bombing mosques...or killing innocent civilians who most likely never had anything against them (think 9/11)...in the most silliest of examples of this double standard - take a look at this news clip...apparently Iran has barred all Danish imports....not only that - it has renamed a Danish pastry as a Mohammaden pastry...perhaps taking a page out of US' book (think Freedom Fries)...but still...how is that not blasphemy? you're attaching the name of your prophet - the holiest representative of your religion to a fatty, gooey, jelly-drippin', artery-cloggin' pastry?!?!?!

these are the days when you think - where the hell is mankind off to now????

Spooky.

2006-01-29T21:34:00.000-05:00

this is really spooky...i just checked out the very first post i put on here...and guess what - it was from January 29th...same date as today!!! to make it even more spooky - as in spookier - in that first post i also talked about hema being in india....i'm freakin' out man!!!

Bachelor for a fortnight.

2006-01-29T21:21:00.000-05:00

well...just said my goodbye to hema...she leaves for london/india this week...which means i get to be a single man for three weeks!! i can't believe my good luck - i mean i will miss her so....sniff sniff.

well...already lined up a trip to chicago...that should be fun...perhaps go shooting again with shawn...umm...there's super-bowl sunday to look forward to...so much to do...so little time...

played football again the other day...goose totally played dirty...i made this mad sprint to get shawn's pass and goose pushed me down...so i went into a roll but stopped suddenly right before i hit the fence (cat like reflexes)...i scraped up my knee...it was blerry and swollen for a whole day and a half...i don't know...but i think goose just might be threatened by how athletically superior i am to him...i'm going to keep an eye on that one...hmmm

saw the producers today...i only saw it cuz it was at the dollar theater...it was soooo funny...they did a pretty good job...all of 'em...uma thurman was hot....will ferrell was funny as usual...what else...oh yeah...was waiting for hema...so i entered the Jones Soda Co photo contest...basically if you are unfamiliar with the concept...its a soda company that puts up pictures submitted by people on to their soda labels...so you get some pretty whacky stuff...well i put up about 10 pictures...hopefully i can get you guys to vote for my pictures...so go here and then search for Anuj (that will bring up my pics) and then vote!! check out the site...its pretty funny...

tomorrow is another school day...gotta get up early cuz my first class is at 2:30PM!!! haha...sucka...adios

Bored.

2006-01-21T12:42:00.000-05:00

well...new semester charm is officially over...i have the most boring set of classes - tax, corporations, evidence, uggh. i also have trial litigation document drafting...which is kinda cool...the prof made pulp fiction references in a practice problem...can't be that bad...oh yea - watched pulp fiction for the first time in its entirety yesterday...only then did i make the connection from class...

law review is kinda over...turned in my note...ended up being a humongous 143 pages...not deliberately...just kinda happened cuz i kept finding holes in my analysis...oh well...its over...hopefully i won't have to revise it much...

so...now i'm bored...with a lot of free time...so i'm trying to do more physical stuff...played some foozball yesterday and i'm sore today cuz i didn't stretch...but me and Vegas sure beat the crap outta Shawn and Justin...well - ok...most of my touchdowns were interceptions...but damn! i had like 8 interceptions...haha...and one of my touchdown catches was hilarious - i think the ball bounced all over my body before i caught it...

well..going into town tonite...neha's birthday...prob going to twist and then who know's what...well..i'll write if something fun happens...but adios for now...

2006-01-11T17:05:00.000-05:00

ok ok i posed for this one - kaena point...gorgeous...later i went exploring and found fish, crabs, and an eel slithering about!

2006-01-11T17:04:00.000-05:00

me doing king kong cuz of the mountains in the back...get it...convincing huh!

2006-01-11T17:03:00.000-05:00

in the back is an island called chinaman's hat...in the front is some idiot...wouldn't it be awesome if the chinaman came stomping out of the water...

2006-01-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

me and niraj chillin at some scenic point outside waikiki

2006-01-10T21:52:00.000-05:00

chillin' with friends - shez and shaqs

2006-01-10T21:46:00.000-05:00

as the sun sets...i motion to my weary traveling companions to venture onwards for a truly amazing sight...kaena point.

2006-01-10T21:44:00.000-05:00

pearl harbor...the memorial is that white floating bridge on the right...it lies right over the sunken USS Arizona...the black blip in the sky is probably a UFO.

2006-01-10T21:42:00.000-05:00

my washed out bum look for GQ...haha...i swear i didn't pose for this...nice wave crash in the background.

Mahalo.

2006-01-10T21:35:00.000-05:00

wow...runnin' on no sleep...just got back from oahu this morning...ran home...grabbed some stuff...and headed straight to athens...showered and then straight to class....then had to study...and blah blah blah...you're not interested in all that...

well the trip was def fun...my bro has an awesome flat that overlooks waikiki beach and a canal...got to see rainbows on several occasions....did all sorts of fun stuff...surfing...snorkeling...swimming...hiking...and just chilling....it was awesome...can't go into all the details up here (cuz i'm tired and lazy right now)...but i'll just post up pics randomly...

got some grades in today as well...i was refraining from checking them while in hawaii...all's well...now i gotta buckle down for another semester....yeesh...

i'm gonna go post some pics now...and then crash...adios.

Resolutions.

2005-12-26T22:55:00.000-05:00

so i haven't really thought about any resolutions for the coming year...i'm just so close to perfect that its no use...i keed i keed...well something was bothering me the other day...not for long...but long enough that i thought i should focus on it...

i want to improve on the philosophy of giving to give. period. i think i've done a pretty good job of not expecting anything in return over the past few years...but over the past year or so i've gotten annoyed at times when i do stuff for others and expect that over time there will be a similar reciprocation - and there isn't any whatsoever...whether i'm spending my time doing things....or going out of my way to help out...or even just doing something thoughtful...i usually don't expect anything in return...but when you give repeatedly and the other person remains a taker and nothing more...it gets to me...and so thats what i need to improve on - getting back to the basics...have no expectations...just giving to give...what else...oh yea.. i don't want to take on another resolution and just break it...but for hema - i resolve to get a haircut in the new year! as of now i remain her lovable gollywog.

well its off to hawaii in a couple days...can't wait to get in the water - surf, snorkle, get eaten by sharks...i'll be posting pictures during my downtime...you might just get one of me hangin ten off waikiki...duuuuude. meanwhile - i leave you with my uber-cool-i-think-i'm-james bond-in-a-tux pic.

Kite Runner. My take.

2005-12-20T22:43:00.000-05:00

if you haven't read this book by Khaled Hosseini (his debut novel) - you have to...i started the book this afternoon and only stopped for dinner...i don't want to give away more than the back cover...briefly its a story of two boys growing up in kabul - one the son of a powerful merchant, the other the son of their servant...the story unfolds from the early 1970s through present day Afghanistan - so mixed in is a backdrop of the comings and goings of religious/political turmoil...i just thought i would talk about a few things that i took from this book...(note that some of the accounts in the book will make you uncomfortable)

the story is definitely haunting...i think it will take me a few days at least to stop thinking about the main characters - hassan and amir...Hosseini did a great job with character development...i think i identified with the story more because i'm a guy and i could relate to some of the boyhood in the story - especially flying and running kites...i want to say more but i know some of you are reading this book - so i won't...

i thought one of the lines from the book was pretty thoughtful - there is only one sin in the world - lying...everything else is just a variation of lying...think about that - the book will definitely explain if you're at a loss....

the book highlights loyalty...perhaps this is given a centerpiece because it is so interwined in the fabric of pashtun culture...i can identify with that as well...yet the book takes loyalty to where it becomes a fault...that really troubled me...it made the story dark for me...yet it was necessary to give the story life...to make you question why such loyalty existed in the world...

there is one line in the book that is a delight for pessimists and really grabbed me - one character says, "I'm so profoundly happy . . . . Happiness like this is frightening . . . . They only let you be this happy if they're preparing to take something from you." i know that line is somewhat like the daily fortune in the paper - hindsight is always 20/20...but i dunno - the pessimist in me identified with that line...my past can definitely attest.

the other line in the book that really connected was when one of the characters, beaten at life, resigned to his fate says - "I want my old life back." i definitely know of moments some time ago when i might have muttered the same...

finally - the story is ultimately about redemption...i'm not giving anything away - the book starts off with the foreshadowing comment - "there is a way to be good again..." here...redemption is ugly as it should be...and the ugliness is begged for, but cowardice keeps it at bay...and so as times passes, life only makes it even more wretched than it started out being...my question is - when an inherent character flaw is the foundation of your mistake that haunts you for the rest of your life...is it fair to burden your conscience? to make you atone for that supposedly involuntary sin?

but in the end...the book haunting and melancholic as it may be is just great literature...its powerful...it makes you think...it connects...wraps you into the story...in fact - i who have never been to afghanistan and thought it to be a land of bleak mountains and ruthless clerics found myself connecting to the land and its culture...part of this may have to do with some of its ties to a common culture in the indian subcontinent...but part of it was simply the powerful writing...involving the reader so that he was not an outsider...of course there are some literary flaws in the plots/characters/storytelling - but this is his first novel...and to say in the words of rahim kaka - bravo.

Things to look forward to...

2005-12-12T20:03:00.000-05:00

its almost time to call an end to the madness....one more exam to go...and then i'm free baby...free! certain restrictions apply to free anuj. shipping and handling extra. must give a lot of attention or product will break down and cry. please see your nearest anuj for details. so as i'm studying for this last exam...i am constantly searching for reasons to daydream and think of anything except the "dead hand" rule (ask me about that some time...its quite horrific)...

so i've compiled a list of things i look forward to doing...these are in no particular order...but feel free to leave suggestions on other things i should be doing or that i missed...

# watching movies. tons of them! i'll have to see syriana (so that i will finally stop telling goose/shawn about the movie), harry the pothead, narnia, history of violence, gigli (no wait...joking), king kong, and some indian ones too (chocolate, bluffmaster, etc. <-- have to keep up with my bollywood masala)

# going to granville's birthdindrinkathon. i will finally get to set foot in the vast temple that is Peking restaurant in Athens...this will likely translate into....me being made fun of yet again for eating tofu...and then returning to a legal scholar's abode for a libation or sixty..where i will stand by and watch as my friends fall yet another notch in their usual level of tomfoolery.

# hema. uhh...that should be enough...but let me expand...apparently any time that is not spent in the bathroom or sleeping or categories mentioned here WILL be spent with hema...i think she's getting an itinerary ready...i have also been informed that chez desai will be preparing his signature dishes for madame (pizza, basil rolls, eggplant parmesan)...seriously though - if this list were numbered - this would be up top...i mean it babe!

# finishing my note. ok ok this should be on the list of things i'm not looking forward to...but that would be too much work...cuz i would have to find other things for that list...and frankly i don't want to to do that...i mean...look...i've already spent too much time arguing why i should have this here...so well yeah....i'm gonna finish that sucka!

# ice skating. because i suck at it...and yet i love it....especially when i fall and raise my hands high in the air so that no one slices them off as they whiz by...those four-year olds are devilish on skates...

# Hawaii. ok this should actually be at the top of the list...but don't tell hema that...she's jealous of those polynesians who scantily clad frolic the beaches...sigh...ahem...what i meant to say was that i'm going to pay my brother a visit and bring him much needed company...yea...that's all...i'll prob be in bed by 10:30PM on new year's eve...yeah...really...i'm serious man.

# Vinocity. i've been promising to take hema there for almost a year...should happen within the next decade...perhaps in a week's time...let's see.

# Hema. wait. did i already say that? just making sure - CYA.

# Sugar Bowl. i'll prob catch it at a bar in hawaii. how exotic...this is how stewie would watch a ballgame..you know it.

i dunno what else...i should prob go...waste like half an hour doing this...let's get back to the dead hand shall we....

Random

2005-12-01T13:31:00.000-05:00

i called this post random...cuz i was just gonna talk about random things...but then as i started typing...i realized i had a plan of what to talk about...so actually its not random...so then its planned...like any other post in the past...hey post in the past...that sounds funny...cuz only one letter is off...post in the past...hmmm...wonder if i can take that any further....post in the past is last....ok that one was lame...hmm...i dunno...

well first random (or planned) thing to talk about it is that i finished the death-knell of exams....constitutional law...uggh...i mean the course was relatively interesting....taught by a zealous professor...is zealous a word? i mean - overzealous is...so zealous should be...too lazy for spellcheck...anyway...the exam was pretty tough...and pretty long..to compare...the other constitutional law exam by another professor was 1 essay question and 20 multiple choice...our's was 3 essay questions...and 40 multiple choice/true-false...uhh...anyone see a slight difference....plus the questions were written to confuse the bejeebers outta you...so in the end...i hope everyone did relatively good...but who knows...

moving on...the next exam is health law...but i can't get myself to study for it...actually i don't know how to study for it....the whole semester was a mix of paying attention and party poker...plus the organization is poor...we'll see...

i am finally over the spell of cooties that i had...just had to use some ancient indian tricks...did anyone say turmeric??? anyway....i shouldn't be sick for a long time...unless of course i fraternize with the enemy...haha...

i can't think of anything else...i'm sleepy...there's a nice sun spot on my bed....and i feel like a cat right now - just gonna stretch really long...squint my eyes....and then fall asleep in the sun....soo..zzz

Cooties

2005-11-25T11:10:00.000-05:00

in this season of joy which brings us such pleasant gifts like the common cold, flu, and the hot new trend - the avian flu...how can one forget the most feared of all childhood diseases - cooties...

i was jokingly telling people that i don't have the cold, but i have cooties (much to hema's annoyance)...and then of course...being the dork i am...i had to go research the subject...of course...i went to wikipedia while i won't bore you with all the details...it has a pretty interesting history...from its possible roots in a malaysian word - kutu (biting insect)...to head lice....to world war II...of course i got the cootie-shot just to be safe.

since i'm watching the news while typing this...i'm going to do a "grind my gears" segment ala Family Guy style...

# - the recent proposal to tax hybrid cars to make up for the fact that they consume less gas and thereby pay less federal fuel taxes...ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! that's the whole freakin' point!!! oh my god....the congressman who introduced this must be impeached for being the absolutely most irrelevant factor in mankind...good god - how far does the big oil lobby reach?!!

# - teachers who sleep with their students...seriously - was our public education system not crappy enough...might as well rename the schools Jerry Springer High...or wait - that was middle school...yeesh!

# - finally - the commercialization of the holidays - ok i'm not christian...but really thanksgiving = shopping?!?! i just read about a brawl this morning at a wal-mart...then wal-mart gleefully reports 2 million shoppers in one hour! i really think we're spiralling downwards...well i better wrap this up - gotta see if i can still make it to TJMaxx and get some deals!! i keed...i keed.

and that america...is what grinds my gears!!!

Caption Contest Winners

2005-11-15T22:35:00.000-05:00

before i forget...the winner of the caption contests:

for the one with G pointing at something - the winner is no one...they were all pretty lame...

for the one with me feeding the goat - the winner is anonymous - the one with the Sir Billy Goat caption...

ah yes...so anonymous - step forward to win your prize...i'm offering $100!!! ah..but wait...you can't...you're anonymous! that must suck...oh well...i will just keep the money...better post your name next time...idiot.

I am a Hinjew.

2005-11-15T22:23:00.000-05:00

you know...i always joked with my friends that i was part hindu and part jew - making me a hinjew...the hindu part coming from my spirituality...and the jew part coming from my "smartness" with money (if you're gonna have some PC reaction to this - click the X on top right now...)...anyway...i seriously think both cultures have a lot in common...but a recent news blip sent over by the Toddler gave credence to my theory...before you read further - let me reiterate that i don't mean any offense by this attempt at humor..

Indo Jew Bowl VI - a football bowl like no other...and guess what it discriminates...damn straight! if you're not an indian or a jew - get lost...well actually i think they let some haitians and random asians come along...anyway...i thought that was pretty funny...so i decided to give it some press through my overly popular blog [checking today's stats - 2.6 people viewed this page...wow!]...oh yea - here's the news story

the funniest thing i found was that the indian team was primarily composed of people from the state of gujarat...now if you know me - i'm gujarati...and lets just say we're not the "sturdiest" fellas out there...i mean in a pinch we could make some trouble...but lets just say if you cross a gujarati in a dark alley...you can likely pick him up and throw him at the real goon as you make your escape...of course...i'm the exception...being massively ripped and all...

well...that was all really...nothing else going on up here...school's a drag...i might quit...and pursue my aspirations in farming if shawn would only sell me his farm...one day that pecan orchard will be mine...muhahaha [evil laughter continues]

2005-11-08T22:22:00.000-05:00

*** INSERT CAPTION *** What is Granville saying in this picture? be creative...

2005-11-08T22:19:00.000-05:00

Twister. We play it a bit different here in the south..hahahah

2005-11-08T22:14:00.000-05:00

shawn's hand...oh and me too.