Breaking my Silence

Once you take a break from anything, it becomes harder to get back to it. When I started job hunting, I had multiple windows open with different job sites and technical sites in my computer.
Taking time off that task seemed like a sin then. I cut myself off from browsing blogs and commenting. It looked like something would happen soon. But nothing major happened.

Time flew. I started working towards PMP Certification. I am still working for that. So whether or not something happens in the job front, I have something to focus on.

A major milestone was taking Nithin consistently to his new preschool. He goes part-time and the transition to the new place was not easy. He cried and protested in the mornings when he knew he had to go to school. It has gotten much better now. The first time, he spotted a classmate from the new school in a gathering, increased references of the teacher in his talks and now, the stories and names of his classmates - it was a tough journey, but we are getting there! Every time he cried, I told myself not to give up or give in to his tears. Kind of feels cruel, isn't it! But I believed firmly that if I give in (now that I have a choice of keeping him home if he cried too much!), it only becomes harder for him the next day. So far, I think he is making good progress with the adjustment.

He seems to be going through a radical change - all of a sudden he is becoming a social butterfly. Wonder what happened - but that is a welcome change. Non-stop chattering!All his dialogues amaze all of us.

Another grand milestone was B's post-graduation. Yay! I bet having a family with two kids and pursing a part time Masters was not easy. He DID it and I am proud of him. We went for the graduation ceremony last week and I edited a post about it in my mind, but never typed it.B's parents, kids, B and I went for a dinner right after the ceremony. It was a fun evening.

Now that I broke the silence, I think it will be easy for me to talk further. Thanks to all those who checked with me via emails or comments to see how I am doing. Promise to be more regular!

One year back..same day..kya hua..

In the beginning of last year, I started looking out for a change of job.

Some emotions I recollect are:
-Determination to do something about my life then.
-Apprehension about what my value will be in the job market.
-Attending calls/sending job related emails stealthily.
-Receiving the call that I am being offered the job was a Eureka moment, but I was keeping my reaction controlled!
-Worried about the long commute in the highways, B and I did some test drives.

Just a week before the joining date, I resigned the previous job and then went on the already planned cruise to Bermuda. Just B and me. Even when we were in the cruise, the tension of the new work place and the highway-fears peeked here and there.

I joined the present job EXACTLY one year back (June 18,2007) . (BTW, on a side note, B and I also completed 8 years in United States on June 13, 2008....time flies!)

I was absolutely having nothing much to do in the initial months.The transition from the desi atmosphere in my old job to the 'apne kaam se matlab rakho' (let us all mind our own businesses!) culture here was really tough for me. I felt alienated and isolated, but I learnt to live it the way everyone lives it here. Walks along the riverside with the cell phone hooked to my ears, I started finding my avenues.

One such avenue I discovered was the world of Blogs. Reading Laksh everyday, I was inspired to start my own and soon I did. I did have a website from before (Sujathaworld.com) , but I did not feel like changing anything there. What I was really in need of, is exactly this blog that you are reading now. Thanks for the inspiration, Laksh!

Then came the busy Fall season, and I had no time to breathe. Another period of lull in the winter and another crazy Spring work season. I really enjoy the work when I am busy. The job demands working through weekends and late nights, but now I know to look forward to the end of the season and chug through it.

Thanks, Laksh, UL, JustSomeOne, Suman, Akay, Anila, Noby, Achayan (my Mr.B) and my Appa for being the good e-Pals that you are. Your comments brighten my day and inspire me to write more. Writing by itself is enjoyable, but when I hear back from you, I am glad that I'm heard and I am connecting with you all.

In the tunes of old Hindi song, SAU SAAL PEHLE MUJHE TUMSE PYAR THA..I would like to sing the below lines!

ek saal pehle, mujhe blog se pyar hua...aaj bhi hai ....aur kal bhi rahega!

Athu s(h)ari, wonder how I connected my job anniversary to my blog career. You can tell I am waiting for some new task at work, right!! Ciao!

On blogging

The stream of thoughts and confusions that struck me when I started to think of blogging. That is what this post is about.

The bunch of blogs that I frequent are typically authored by Indians and sometimes South Indians. Majority of them are ladies, some are guys. I am amazed at the courage demonstrated by all those ladies in sharing what is going on in their lives. I am very doubtful if I will be able to share all that is going on in my life with such openness and boldness.

Here is a list of questions I would like to collect answers from bloggers out there.

Do you feel comfortable writing things as is? Or do you leave the unpleasant parts out or tailor the posts to be more polished?

Do you feel compelled to write everyday? Or does it come to you naturally?

Would you write what you want to write on against what will receive more comments/responses?

Do you establish contacts and try to maintain it with the people who comment on your blogs?

Is there an element of competition/comparison with other bloggers that you feel sometimes?

Have you had any personal problem/argument with anyone related to anything you posted?Just yes or no and how you dealt with it.

I am yet to commit to regular blogging due to these questions in my mind. FRANK answers, please!

Hope to hear from some!

My internet addictions

During the last year, I did not even realize how I got addicted to these.

1. Orkut - when I logged in there for the first time, I was cursing whoever sent me the invite - who has the time for all these, don't people have anything else to do, how many such websites are being created and for what - as cynical as I can get. Before long, I was there hunting for my old friends from school and college. I would type names of lost friends and click on the results - alas, so many hits, but none with the picture resembling my friends. I was angry at those profiles without any real picture.However I did get a lot of old friends. Not that I am touch with them every day, but having them in friends list, at least gives me a feeling that I can reach them at any time.
Seeing the updated albums of friends is the easiest way I can get a glimpse of their families.

I recommend orkut. Use it with caution - applies to anything in the world.

2. Blogs - I should say, I got into this also via orkut. Landed someone's blogs and found it interesting and searched for more. It is interesting to see what other people think and how they express their ideas. I am inclined to read more of those I can identify myself with.

3.Youtube - catching quick glimpses of Mallu or Vivek comedy scenes or watching the songs of the movies I watched recently is something I enjoy.Thanks, Youtube!