Happy Birthday Sis.....!!!!!

Birthday wishes are endless,
specially when it comes to you,
I have one wish, its simple,
I wish all your dreams come true.

I wish you all the success,
In whatever you pursue,
Happy birthday lil sis,
May all your dreams come true.

Thanks for being my best friend,
and there when I needed you,
though we had a lot of fights,
for reasons only you knew,

My childhood wud've been so boring,
if there hadnt been you,
Happy birthday lil sis,
May all your dreams come true.

How I came up with this,

I have absolutely no clue,

Writing a poem is not easy,
All I can say is, "phew"!!!

I am not gonna lie here,
I'll tell you what is true,
First 4 lines are copied,
Rest all are new :P,
Happy birthday lil sis,
May all your dreams come true!!!

Upcoming Hollywood Movies

Off late there has been a lull at the theatres, thanks to the ongoing Multiplex strike. A friend of mine wrote a great post about the whole "profit-sharing" thing going on, so am not gonna write about it.

With no new movie releasing, the multiplexes are re-releasing old hits. PVR Cinemas recently released "Sholay". Yup THE original Sholay and not the crappy remake. And I wasn't the one to miss this opportunity to watch "The-best-hindi-film-of-all-time". Though there were not many people in the theatre and the print and the sound quality wasnt the best but I enjoyed every minute of it.

So with no hindi movies on the horizon anytime soon I am looking forward to watching some good hollywood flicks coming my way. And there are a few big ones in the offing. Here is a list of movies that I am wating for:

1)X-Men Origins : Wolverine - Being a super-hero movie buff and an X-Men fan, I really want to watch this one. This one apparently has been produced by Hugh Jackman who featutes in the titular role. Am sure he must have gone all-out to make this movie His movie (at least the rushes suggest so). I dont know when this one's gonna release in India. (Trailer, imdb, & wikipedia)

2) Up - Guys at Pixar have this knack of picking up a simple storyline and weaving a dream world around it. If you thought Wall-E was the best Pixar movie, wait for this one to come out. (Trailer, imdb, & wikipedia)

3) Night at the Museum : Battle of the Smithsonian - The first movie was set in the American Museum of Natural History. It was 2 hours of total fun. The 2nd movie promises to be bigger, better and funnier. This one is set in the world's largest museum, Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC. (Trailer, imdb, & wikipedia)

4) Terminator Salvation - Apart from Terminator 2 : The Judgement Day, I havent seen or been a fan of Terminator movies. But ever since I saw the latest trailer on the big screen, I have been wanting to see it. Our very own batman, Christian Bale as John Connor is an added plus. (Trailer, imdb, & wikipedia)

5) Transformers 2 : Revenge of the Fallen - I can go on and on about this one. I am crazy about transformer movies. First one was just awesome. Full on action with ample doses of humour and a hot Megan Fox thrown in for good measure. Again a bigger and better fare expected here. (Trailer, imdb, & wikipedia)

6) Angels and Demons : Based on Dan Brown's novel by the same name. The book is actually a prequel to Da Vinci Code but the movie has been made as a sequel. I found this book better than Da Vinci Code and I seriously hope that this movie is gonna be better than Da Vinci Code. I had read this book a couple of years ago, so I am reading it again and am enjoying it even more now. (Trailer, imdb, & wikipedia)

Thats about it then. Am not really sure when these movies are goin to be released in India, but these, mark my words, are to be watched on the big screen for sure.

For Rafting.....On Bikes!!!

Me: A Three day weekend is coming, lets go somewhere.
My Colleague, Sanjay (All excited): Yeah Man, we should.

We go around asking other people in the office and everyone has some work or the other lined up for the weekend. We have no other choice but to be disappointed. I go back to my desk, sans all the enthusiasm I had before, and for a short while after, I got that (brilliant??) idea. I get back to my usual business of chatting (and you thought I was gonna say....work??).

Me (to Imran - A school mate of mine): What are you doing this weekend?
Imran: Going to Rishikesh along with a friend of mine for rafting. Wanna join us?
Me: You bet, I want to!!!

But there was a catch. Imran, being a hardcore biker, was going to Rishikesh (roughly 250Kms from Delhi) on his bike. And now I had to convince my parents to allow me to go. This part didn't take much effort and I was all set and raring to go on my first Road Trip on Bike, the Rafting part was the perfect icing on the cake.

We (me, Imran and Sachin) left early in the morning on Friday, the 10th of April and reached Haridwar at 11:00 AM. The ride was amazing. What was more amazing was the fact that we just did one halt in between for breakfast. The route we took was pictureque, a narrow road along a canal. What more can one ask for??

We were hosted by a friend of Imran's at Haridwar. I met Rachit and his family for the first time, and it never felt so. We had some good time and sumptuous meals at Rachit's. Plus the funny moments (sad part was I was at the wrong end of the jokes) we had with the Super intelligent girl with superb presence of mind and a superb vocab for a 3 yr old kid, she was Rachit's Niece (More on her on Kids Say...Version 2). After spending the day in Haridwar, we were all set to for the big day ahead. Me and Sachin had been waiting for the day with bated breath, partly coz it was our first time rafting and mostly coz of the description that Imran and Rachit had been giving us. We were really excited albeit a bit scared abt the whole rafting thing (did i, by any chance, say rafting was the icing on the cake??).

We reached the camp (Sea Hawk) at 10:30AM on 11th April and had the most amazing time. I dont have words to explain the fun we had. We did all sorts of R&D with a circular tube kinda thingy that we got. I got to do a bit of kayaking too. Post lunch we (Me, Sachin, Rachit, Imran, Rachit's dad, Amit Bhaiyya and Sheeba Bhabhi) geared up for rafting (some team that was). After a few instructions we were good to go. Rafting takes it toll on the arms but thanks to all the gymming for 2 months I was at ease.

Everyone took turns to sit in the front of the raft. Sitting in the front fills you with such a feeling that you alone are going to be the saviour, come what may. But this feeling was short-lived when the raft went through a terrible rapid and the raft almost became vertical. I lost my balance and I was lucky not to fall off the raft. There were 14 rapids in all, having weird names like Three Blind Mice, Roller Coaster, Initiation, Golf Course etc. Roller Coaster was the one that caused the most trouble. We did jump off the raft once, its called Body Surfing. This involves jumping off the raft and holding on to a rope called the life-line and floating along.

Then came the most thrilling part of the whole trip. The dreaded Cliff-Jump. One has to jump from a 30-40 ft cliff into open waters. For a non swimmer like me that was a huge ask. And once I had gone up I had no choice but to jump, after all I didnt want to be a coward in front of girls who were lining up to jump for the 2nd time. I went to the edge of the cliff, didnt look down and jumped. Those 3 seconds were the longest 3 seconds of my life. Man, that was the "Funnest" thing ever. I am gonna do that again for sure.

Back at the camp, we had a few Gaana-Bajana sessions and yours truly did sing a couple of songs :). After the delicious dinner under millions of stars, we spent the night in tents.

Spent a couple of hours playing in the water the next morning and we were all set to head back home. I was so not looking forward to sitting on the bike again as I was really tired. After about 150Kms, we stopped at Cheetal Grand for lunch and Imran asked me, "How are you feeling?" and I was like "I am feeling great about going back, its just that I can't feel my backside" :P

Like all good things come to an end, this full-of-surprises-at-every-turn trip too did. I made really good friends and had a whale of a time. I might get kicked on my already sore backside for saying this, but I would like to thank Rachit for the wonderful hospitality, Imran for taking me along, and lastly Sachin for taking care of me on his bike ;).

Hoping that this was just the beginning and there are many more trips to come, I am signing off......

Peg After Peg

Had received this from a friend, couldn't stop myself from posting it.. Its too damn funny!!!!

________________________________________________

I never take risk while drinking

When I come from office in the evening, wife is cooking

I can hear the noise of utensils in the kitchen

I stealthily enter the house

Take out the bottle from my black cupboard

Shivaji Maharaj is looking at me from the photo frame

But still no one is aware of it

Becoz I never take a risk

I take out the glass from the rack above the old sink

Quickly enjoy one peg

Wash the glass and again keep it on the rack

Of course I also keep the bottle inside my cupboard

Shivaji Maharaj is giving a smile

I peep into the kitchen

Wife is cutting potatoes

No one is aware of what I did

Becoz I never take a risk

I: Any news on Chopra's daughter's marriage

Wife: Nope, she doesn't seem to be that lucky. Still they are looking out for her

I again come out; there is a small noise of the black cupboard

But I don't make any sound while taking out the bottle

I take out the glass from the old rack above sink

Quickly enjoy one peg

Wash the bottle and keep it in the sink

Also keep the Black Glass in the cupboard

But still no one is aware of what I did

Becoz I never take a risk

I: But still I think Chopra's daughter's age is not that much

Wife: What are you saying? She is 28 yrs old... Like an aged horse

I: (I forgot her age is 28) Oh Oh...

I again take out potatoes out from my black cupboard

But the cupboard's place has automatically changed

I take out the bottle from the rack and quickly enjoy one peg in the sink

Shivaji Maharaj laughs loudly

I keep the rack in the potatoes & wash Shivaji Maharaj's photo & keep

It in the black cupboard

Wife is keeping the sink on the stove

But still no one is aware of what I did

Becoz I never take a risk

I: (getting angry) you call Mr. Chopra a horse? If you say that again,

I will cut your tongue...!

Wife: Don't just blabber something, go out and sit quietly...

I take out the bottle from the potatoes

Go in the black cupboard and enjoy a peg

Wash the sink and keep it over the rack

Wife is giving a smile

Shivaji Maharaj is still cooking

But still no one is aware of what I did

Becoz I never take a risk

I: (laughing) So Chopra is marrying a horse!!

Wife: Hey go and sprinkle some water on your face...

I again go to the kitchen, and quietly sit on the rack

Stove is also on the rack

There is a small noise of bottles from the room outside

I peep and see that wife is enjoying a peg in the sink

But none of the horses are aware of what I did

Becoz Shivaji Maharaj never takes a risk

Chopra is still cooking

And I am looking at my wife from the photo and laughing

Becoz I never take Risk ...

Happy Birthday to me.......!!!!!

I turned 26 today. Since the day little kids started calling me Uncle or their parents started introducing me to them saying "Say hi to Kartik uncle", I figured that I am getting older(or should I say, wiser) now. :)

20th Feb 1983 was the day I came into this world. Looking back, its not been a bad journey at all. 26 years have passed, and I have lived each day to the fullest. So here I make a list of some facts which people close to me may or may not know (and maybe when I look back at it after I get really old it'll be good fun to read).

1) I am a Typical Piscean. I dream a lot. Spend most of my idle time(office time too :P) doing that.

2) When I was born, I didn't cry at all. I guess there was something to that coz even in sad times I try to be happy and cheerful.

3) I am pretty good at remembering dates. I feel very guilty if I forget to wish someone on their day.

4) I was really short when in School. I think at some point, I was shorter than the shortest girl in class and I use to live in constant fear that I will not grow. But thank god, I attained a decent height.

5) I am CRAZY about cricket. I can go on and on about it.

6) I am CRAZY about Hindi music too. I have a knack of remembering the complete lyrics of songs after listening to them a couple of times. And I don't know how many song I know fully.

7) I love to sing as well n do a decent job at that :P. I was quite shy to sing in public when I was young (for those who missed, I-am-26-now part) but now I am not.

8) I love kids and kids love me too... :)

9) Never in my life I have been in a relationship. So I dunno if I am lucky or unlucky in that respect.

10) My full name is Sri Ranga Kartik. When I was being named, my Grandpa wanted "Ranga" to be in the name come-what-may n my mom wanted to name me Kartik. So Sri Ranga Kartik is my name as in I have no family name or surname. Weird???

11) I am completely petrified of wasps, bees and other stinging insects.

12) I wish to get a tattoo done on me someday.

13) I am a Harry Potter buff. At some point in time I knew everything about Harry Potter(Story and Characters) in and out.

14) I always wanted to be an Electronics or Computer Engineer, I had vowed not to study mechanical engineering but I ended up being a Mechanical Engineer and I have no regrets.

15) This point I think everyone knows and agrees with, that I am a nice guy. A guy you can take home to your mom :)

16) Though my dad was a Naval Officer, I cant swim for my life. :(

Of New Year Resolutions

I know its pretty late to write about New year resolutions(& some would say its too early for next year). Actually I started this post way back in January(time really flies) and I have been way too lazy to finish it. I speak about having a kind of creative satisfaction after every post I write(its a kind of feeling that I have never experienced before) and I sometimes am so damn lazy that this post is an apt example of that fact. So here I go.

I have surprised myself lately by actually fulfilling my resolutions for 2 years in a row. Yup thats right. Normally people make resolutions just for the sake of making them, some just make the same resolution every year, and some just dont follow any by saying that resolutions are meant to be broken.

Every year I have the most boring new year's eve. When everyone else is partying away on the last night of the year, am either unwell, or watching TV at home or both. And like everyone else, I used to resolve to spend the next 31st Dec partying and same used to be the case every year. But it was not the case in the year that went by. After mulling over going to Goa, I made up plan to go to Mysore along with a dear friend. And man, did I party...!!! It was the awesomest party ever. Drank and Danced all night till 6AM and then we went to a 24hr Cafe and had Ice Cream (at 6.30AM). Some fun that was....

Next one on my list was to start excercising. This too, I am sure, everyone has on their list. Years were ticking by and I didnt want to look 40 by the time I am 30. So this year, starting Feb I joined a gym near my house. I was reluctant to join at first but a lil pressure from my sister helped. So not only I go to the gym religiously, everyday, even more surprising fact is that I go early in the morning at 5.30. Some dedication that is(aint it??). By the way, I am loving it.

Learning to play guitar is the next one, I still havent started anything on it. Its still March and I have ample time left in the year :D.

Lastly, being the good guy that I am, I dont have any bad habits such as smoking, etc(??), which I can resolve to quit. So am done with the resolutions for this year at least. :)

Note: Started in Jan, published on 13th March 2009

Kids Say....

First things first.. A very happy 14 day old year ;) to all the readers..

In the last 2 months, I made 2 trips to Bangalore. I assume people reading this blog are familiar with the one in November. The second one was when I went to Mysore for the New Year and I had a blast, plus it was a welcome break from the Delhi shivers, albeit for 4 days.

In both those trips there were a couple of funny incidents involving kids and hence the title of this post.

I went to an old colleague's place. We had worked together in my earlier company. I had met his family while they were in Delhi, a couple of years ago. He has a cute little boy of 4. So I was sitting in the drawing room when this lil guy came in.
My Colleague asked, "Hey, do you remember this bhaiyya??"
And this kid goes, "No, the last time I met him, he looked different!!!!!"

On December 30th, I was on board a plane to Bangalore. There was a lady sitting next to me with her son. This kid looked to be about 10 Years old. There were routine safety demonstrations going on and there were routine announcements as well. What was different was, the Pilot was a Lady and everytime she spoke, this kid would chuckle. I wondered what was so funny. When the plane made a smooth landing, this kid laughed and said, "Not bad for a Lady pilot!!!". And you know how his mom responded?? Its the standard 2 words that every man has to hear from every woman, be it a mother, sister, girl-friend or wife, "Shut Up!!!"