Stuff

There are a few stuff off late that's been hogging its share of my mind.

Career

My impending job change. I have been out of project for about a week and my last day in my current org is 25th of this month. I have learned now that job switch are equally a pain as much as they are rewarding. I have made a choice of where I will be continuing my career. It has been a decision backed up by weeks of thought process and I am not going to look back.

Domestic

Its sad that we get only 3 months as maternity leave and this means that she has to get back to work soon. The advantages of a nuclear family are many and I have been on the beneficial side so far. My son is definitely my lucky charm, but he will miss out on having grandparents watching over his growth. I for sure had that honor. My maternal grandparents were with me as I finished school and I sure have a lots to thank them for (also my mom).

We are hopeful a house maid/care taker will fit in and solve us of these worries. I am just hopeful.

Others/Misc

There are certain other things on my mind which I cannot freely write about, but I am happy that all these take a back seat when I see the one thing that has bought a lot of cheer and joy for me.

See for yourself.

Arjun

A packed weekend schedule

1. Pavi my cousin is getting wedded. That is one. And this in Coimbatore. (I am going to be visiting the Sharadambal temple again. Three and half years have gone past.) - Happened
2. Juno and Pallavi are heading to Erode for a 4-5 month rest and recuperation period. That is two. - Done
3. I need to re-renew the lease for my house in Coimbatore. Thats three. - Did not happen

The plan

1. Leave early 12-Feb. Planned for 4:30 AM.
2. Breakfast and refuel at A2B, Thoppur.
3. Lunch at Erode, then a kutti rest.
4. Drive to Pollachi, via Kangeyam and Palladam, Dinner at Pollachi. (Night halt in Erode and travelled in the morning to Pollachi, Father-in-law accompanied me)
5. 13-Feb, drive to Coimabtore with Mom and get together with family for the wedding occasion.
6. 14-Feb, the wedding.
7. Leave Coimbatore 14-Feb, late afternoon and drive back to Bangalore.
8. Dinner at A2B Thoppur and reach Bangalore, late at night. (Reached home at 1 AM, smooth no issues drive unlike last time)
   
   

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The Road

1. Bengaluru to Erode: Drive through NH7 from Bengaluru to Salem is a breeze expect for some rough patches as we reach Hosur and the Thoppur ghat also slows down the drive. Took the NH47 from Salem to Chittode and this road is good with no exceptions. Chittode to Erode is a ~10 km drive through moderate lanes.
2. Erode to Pollachi: Erode to Kangeyam is a SH and is quite decent patch to drive on. Kangeyam to Palladam is NH67 and is a breeze though single laned, quality of NH vs SH can be appreciated on this drive. Palladam to Pollachi is again through SH but a slightly jolty ride.
3. Pollachi to Coimbatore: NH209 - poor poor poor. Road is moderate but narrow and traffic is perpertual.
4. Coimbatore to Bengaluru: NH47 from Coimbatore to Avinashi/Perumanallur is a difficult and time consuming drive till is crossed since work is in progress. This will easily take about 2 hours in peak hour traffic. Beyond that it is a true multilaned NH. NH7 to Bengaluru is retracing the route taken onward.

ICC WC 2011 schedule on Google calendar

Thanks to Sunil for putting together the ICC WC 2011 schedule on Google calendar.
Click on "+ Google Calender" button to import directly to your google calendar and get alerts for each match...

Moving over to GMail

Its been a long and rather eventful journey with Y! mail. Unlike the city folk who opened their mail accounts with Y! or Hotmail when in school, it was while in college that I opened my first personal mail account with Y!. It was Dec 2000 during the winter recess.

I scooted halfway through the 'Priyamanavale' movie in Durais theater in Pollachi to visit the neighborhood browsing center to open my personal mail account on Y!.

After more than 10 years I have decided to no longer use my Y! account for personal mails because of spam problems time and again. I have been rather late to move because there is so much history behind my Y! mail account, but I have had enough. 

I am moving on... and GMail will be my primary personal mail id henceforth...

Love at first sight

The day is the 18th of January 2011, time about 4:45 pm. The place is the Fortis hospital at Bannerghatta road, Bangalore. We have some news. The wait is over. The verdict is out and accepted. The docs have concluded that we had waited enough and advised a C-section.

We have been at the hospital since 2 days. Mom-in-law has been with us for about 4 months now. But these couple days have been her loneliest. She was at a hospital amidst voices in a unfamiliar tongue. She needed some reassurance and I turned to the closest help at hand - my Aunt. She took a day off from her work and arrived at the hospital.

So far going has been good. Dad-in-law has been informed and he has started immediately. It is a 6 hour journey to Bangalore from Erode (via Salem). My mom has been informed and she is trying to get to Bangalore from Pollachi. Its the start of the week following Pongal festivals and buses and trains are running full. My mom has to wait.

4 pm, Dad-in-law has just reached the hospital and we are in the wait. 4:45 pm, the docs have just visited. The decision is taken. Pallavi is relieved that the wait will be over, she seems prepared, but I am not sure. Things move swiftly. The OT is getting ready, we around are getting anxious, there is bound to be action shortly and we are not sure if we are ready.

5 pm, the attendants wheel her - bed and all into the OT. She is smiling, we are praying. These days it seems to be a minor procedure, but signing requisite forms gives me the creeps. After all its all human. But I have faith, things have been good so far, there is no reason for me to worry, but still there is adrenaline and I cannot hide from that.

5:30 pm, I look around, My dad and mom-in laws are deep in meditation. Looking at their serene faces gives me some comfort. I clutch my aunt's hands and chant my prayers silently. I do not know yet if its going to be a boy or girl, I only pray that things go fine and my two other lives will come out of the OT with good health for the rest of their lives.

5:45 pm, the doc comes out. We hold her in high esteem, she has been so much assuring and involved and we have gained so much confidence in her. I greet and meet her. "Congrats, its a baby-boy. Things went well. Blood loss was normal. There is no worries". She seems elated. Well I am too, things went well. I inform the others. There are tears of joy, we were hopeful of a baby-girl, but relief that things have gone well. I shed a tear or two, it just escapes me.

6 pm, my aunt and mom-in-law are busy on phone calls, there are two family trees to be informed and the communication responsibilities are shared. My dad-in-law and me are waiting, chatting, hopeful to meeting the people out. Its the nurse on her way out of the OT to the delivery rooms. In her hands is a green bundle, she meets us and displays the contents of the green bundle.

Tiny face with little round eyes. The cutest, tiniest and freshest pair of eyes that I have ever seem. They seem confused. The eyeballs are rolling, the gaze shifts between the nurse, dad-in-law and me. "Whats with you people? Never seen a just-born before? Stop staring or I will feel embarrassed." His face is so flushed its the brightest baby pink as he meets and greets air for the first time. I am glad he is normal and lets the nurse carry on into the delivery room.

I think this is love at first sight...