a-mac-into-sh-iit

Deception

2006-03-03T22:16:00.000-08:00

How often do we try to wrap our life-stories in nice looking covers, so as to make these appear nice and well-rounded to people To yourself however, life is as it is...a mixed bag, minus the fancy cover.

The Perfect Sunday Afternoon...

2006-01-29T12:22:00.000-08:00

Wake up late. Stay in bed some more. Pig out on a brunch: it must be spicy bhurji and tea. Wow. The eyes are surrounded in a dreamy haze as you are polishing off the last bit. Back on the bed. Talk to loved ones. Sweet nothings. Get hold of a nice book. Preferably light reading. Put on some music. Its got to be a cloudy, gray and depressing sky outside. Draw the blinds and dump it out of your room. Create your own comfort coccoon. Get some coffee if you desire. Snuggle into that bed thats still warm. Doze off by the fifth page....

Its bliss. Ironically, its this burst of laziness that keeps me going through the week.

The Sound (or stink) of Money

2005-12-27T15:06:00.000-08:00

Went on a 4-day trip to NYC. It was like Alice in Wonderland. Never seen a city like this before. It just throbs with energy! OK, you'd say, everybody who comes here for the first time says so. But hey, I come from Mumbai remember, and that is as fast as it gets in India. NYC is phenomenal.

Did some awesome ice skating in Central Park on day one. Had a sprain in my neck, and a couple of bruises. But it was amazing! I now know that grace doesnt come easy. It needs patience and balls and a few falls! Day 2 was crazy: waltzed around Wall St. and rode the bull for kicks too. That place stinks of money. I could feel a rush simply walking through it. Was dead tired but happy by the end of it. Met a friend on day 3: this guy stays on the 40th floor of a 50 storey monster. If I hadnt taken a course on design of high columns, I wouldnt have come within miles of that skyscraper. Basically was floored by the ceiling. Then Times Square at night happened. Wouldnt commit the sin of describing a sight that is fit to be seen, not told. Finally, saw Miss Liberty on day 4. As the ferry taking me to the island left the shore, the legendary Manhattan skyline rose majestically in the background. Felt a rush again; not my first in NY.

Came back home that night, star struck and dreamy eyed.

a tale of 2 cities

2005-08-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

Mumbai and Moscow.

Small Things

2004-10-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

Life is going very very fast. Everything is such a blur. The only place that offers some solace, some steadfastness is this blog! Its not changed for a long time.

There is nothig sensational to write today - not that my earlier posts were sensational, but still. Been going to a lot of summits and conferences. This last summit was at the Taj. The Taj. Spent 2 days there. Its majestic - old world, rustic and charming. Unlike the chic and artificially done new ones that have come up. This one is like a classy lady. Getting better with age. Or like antique whiskey. Smooth.

Met this sweet lil chic there. I think shez quite nice. And cute. Enough's said :)

Obv, the job news is stale. Waiting for my offer letter to come down. Expected in 3-4 weeks. I got into this tech consultancy, hired as as associate consultant. Posting in Washington DC. Hear thats close to Shweta's place...gotta start brushing up on US geography. I didnt know there was a Washington state too...which is far away from Wash DC!

All in all, life couldnt be more satisfying. I am living an idyllic existence. Nothing more I could ask for...

THE HIGHEST HIGH

2004-10-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

GUYS,
GOT PLACED. AS ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT. IN THE CAPITAL OF YANKEELAND.
/~amac.

Tweedledee and Tweedledum

2004-09-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry to disappoint you, but the title has nothing to do with what I am going to write. It has nothing to do with Twee either. It was just to get your attention. Like one of those stupid commercials, where the start has nothing to do with what's being advertised. What the hell does suicide have to with a glue? Fevicol, dude!

So much for a start. I am thinking of what to write now. Shameful, eh! With my very first blog being critically acclaimed (Arundhati Roy too got the Booker in her first shot, dont forget!) and with a full two weeks to let it sink it, I should have had something to say. Hey, even the experts on the panel were of international repute. One from South California- newly migrated, earlier from Lokhandwala. But it still counts as US, ok! The other from Goregaon (who says its 5 minutes from Lokhandwala, though nobody really believes that!). Then one Romeo from Mulund. And one mermaid from the Moon too. That pretty much covers up the entire world, and beyond right?!

I try scratching my head. And other parts too. No inspiration forthcoming. I shift weight uncomfortably. Oh God! My ass hurts still. Found a topic at last. Why my ass hurts. Hope you get bored before you reach the end. And then I wont have to update blogs.

Lets flashback to 18 days from now. 31st August. Does that date mean anything to you? It better should. For if it doesnt, you dont mean anything to me either. What a load of crap! Potentially useful if I get myself a girlfriend. I was born 22 years ago on this day.

To be precise, it was midnight and just after - of the 31st. A regular hostel at a regular institute. Which means noone sleeps and lets sleep before 2. At midnight, the night's still young. Music blaring. A well-directed expletive at a frequency of every 45 seconds. First yearites trying to sleep, in vain. Second yearites watching movies. Third yearites cogging lab reports. Fourth yearites, having done it all, wondering whats left to do yet. Pretty much regular stuff.

At midnight, I am sent for. The location is the landing in between two wings. Enough space for 15 people. 30 if crammed. I count some 25 right away. They all have come solely for two purposes - to kick some serious ass, and then to eat cake. The stage is set. Eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. One pair however, is slightly nervous. Eager hands lift me up. I am suspended, by my hands and legs. I close my eyes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
SNIP! SNIP! SNIP! CENSORED! (Its India remember?)
-------------------------------------------------------------------

An hour later, I realize a lot of things: My ears have chocolate cake inside, my butt doesnt feel anything and my birthday has begun. With a bang, that too. I am soaking wet and cant even walk. My voice has gone hoarse. My canteen account has gone for a toss (a sudden 500 buck deduction in 20 mins flat). I also realize that sleeping on your tummy is damn difficult. Any effort to sleep any other way is met with a sharp pain somewhere in between my legs and my chest. An unceremonious start to a ceremonious occasion.

Next day is worse. Public scrutiny at close quarters. 'How's that ass, baby?' Everyone knew how it was. Enough is enough I decide. Time to go home. I pack my bag. And head for my bike. Only to realize that riding a bike with a sore ass was far tougher than riding anyone else. I still manage to sit in the weirdest possible way. And on my way. Out of the main gate. At the Juhu signal, this chick-in-a-rick looks curiously at what exactly I was upto. And sniggers. Whatta bitch! I try not to pay attention.

Once I reach home, things get boring (except for the dinner, which is at a seafood place). Not really fit to warrant mention in my elitist blog. I am gifted a wallet - my dahlin sis cant bear to see the state of my current one. Its fashionable to say that the phone never stopped ringing, but to be honest, it did, intermittently. Maybe I dont have enough friends. But my ass has a different story to tell. Its still hurting a wee-wee bit.

Of Toefl, Sushi and Bacardi!

2004-09-12T05:24:00.001-07:00

hmmm! life can take you high and then low and then high again! weird - isnt that wat ur thinking of me right now? and if you are, because i guessed it right, it makes me even weirder!

Monday the 6th September was one such weird day in the wierd life of a weird man. Had toefl in the morning...at 9 am! had to wake up at 6.30, and its difficult if you've slept off the previous day at 3 am, after a bout of late night chatting. so its no wonder that i fell asleep (well, thats just to add some masala...i almost slept!) in the middle of the exam. still recovered in time, woke up, managed to complete it and all. came back and slept the remainder of my sleep.

at night went to tian...guys who landed up a job were giving a treat. man that place is expensive. and like a fool me and anshul ordered sushi for starters. for the ignorant, sushi is raw fish tied to cooked bland rice with a string of sea-weed; inspite of this its a delicacy worldwide. the point is, its ugh. period. maybe the restaurant makes bad sushi. maybe sushi actually sucks, the world is a fool and im the only gutsy man who exposed this fallacy. whatever.

then comes the icing. rather the ice. ppl ordered bacardi (rum, not breezer). and coz it was such a momentous occasion, i decided to raise toast. as it turned out, i raised more than just a toast. i drank it in a tearing hurry, the waiter thought i wanted more, and made me a stiff second. surprise, i had that one too. then comes the climax. ppl challenge me to have one neat. the third one neat. i know i know. some of u can drive right under the nose of a traffic cop with 5 pegs down n all. but hey...arent i a beginner?! so, i have the third one neat. and go higher very neatly too. im kinda floating. know what i mean? there seems prawn rice in the bowl. i try taking some...it never reaches my plate...wonder what happened? i come out..the fresh air is intoxicating. or its intoxicating to the intoxicated mind. whatever. i dont go home, upon the advice of my sober friend. which, in hindsight, was the one of the best pieces of advice given to me. ever. i go to my hostel with everyone. hostel is like a mistress. ready to welcome you at any hour. no hassles. come in, go out, anytime. home is like a plucky wife. you have to be on your toes. careful while talking, careful while going in, going out. careful about what you watch on tv. careful about the volume of your music. i sleep a drunk man's sleep.

8 AM. wake up. no hangover! do i have an intrinsic capacity for liqour?! whoa! i go home. to my wife.

PS> i am not married. just pretending to be. and its a horrible thought.
PPS> i am not gay. Not even pretending to be.
PPPS> i am single.

day 1

2004-09-12T01:30:00.000-07:00

just started off...dunno wat to write. so lemme leave u at that.