A recap

Really the last two weeks passed so fast that I am getting time now only to re-gather some part of it. I won’t and shouldn’t talk about my work life. There are two reasons: first, I don’t want to spoil my blog and second, as per one news article (I read it last week only), companies have started firing people writing job stuff on their personal blogs. I love both my blog and job.

Anyway, just to mention, contrary to my earlier fears, it was a very sedate time on work front; thankfully, as it allowed me some more time to ruminate. But the most happening things happened during the return journey. I started off from Champaign, in a resigned mood about the impending 24-hour journey seated, sleepless and foodless, in a plane. The weather had started to get inclement too. Portents of delayed flights, held luggage, harrowing time etc. - my rumination had already started. At the airport, check-in happened and then, the long queue of security check waited. As my turn came, the lady at the counter said that I had been marked for extra security check, and she didn’t know the reason why. Damn it, everyone knew why, and one knows more so, when one and also one’s friends had to go through the same exercise during the onward journey too. It was embarrassing. I can’t write shorter than this. No wonder, the disquiet about discrimination has reached everywhere. But as a learned person, I sobered myself. The rumination though added some more views to my already partly-conceived topic of similar nature (should be a part of another blog item soon)

I passed the security check. Did I need to write this? I don’t know. Anyway, my journey to Chicago was a non-descript as I kept my eyes closed almost all the time. The small jet was literally shaking in the fast-blowing winds J At Chicago, I waited for the next flight to Frankfurt, and as I went to the counter to get my boarding pass, I was told that I had been put on stand-by due to the flight being overbooked. I knew this. They had done this to me last year too. But I had managed to get on board that time by constantly haggling with the counter people. So, this time too I shamelessly kept going to them, but as time passed, it seemed the rugged idea won’t work this time. The plane was indeed overbooked, and they were looking into arrangements how to send the held passengers in later flights. As a deflated but hopeful passenger, I tried the last time and stood at the counter. Sometime later, an attendant took note of me, and after some searching glances beyond me, asked for my stand-by boarding pass. Yes, a passenger had not turned up and I was getting on board. I knew it, because you know, last time too, this had happened. I boarded the plane only five minutes before departure.

I was given seat 12E, and when I enquired the seat position from the standing flight attendant, she ushered me to the anterior part where the board of ‘Lufthansa Business Class’ stood in front of me. Good, gosh, jolly! I again thanked the lady at the counter umpteenth times. So, then … I opened my shoes and sprawled on the big seat with an affected aura around me to look the part. I read financial newspaper which I never do; opened my laptop to scribble something, and when done, nonchalantly put on my i-pod. First time experience can border on nasty showiness. After sometime, I started talking to my fellow passenger who was much senior to me. He was a German, going back to his country after attending some business conference in San Diego. More talks revealed that he was the founder and Chairman of a pharma company, even though small, in Germany. Good to share the space with him. He knew a lot about India too, and we talked like business partners for long. On his recommendation, I tried shrimp and salmon fish too. Another first for me. And in the end, slept well to conclude an easy ride to Frankfurt.

I thought it may not be the end. Another flight, back to Larnaca awaited. I boarded the plane on time and this time, much to my dejection, I got an economy class window seat. By the way, my ticket said economy class only J My adjacent seat remained empty for sometime, and then I saw a beautiful girl hurrying from the front door, and landing straight on my empty adjacent seat. Things were happening. The plane also took off. My mind too was bordering on the brink, thinking about not-so-have-happened things. Could it be the day? I kept thinking; time passed; I slept; she slept; Larnaca arrived; she walked; I walked. And it all ended. An anti-climax for day? No way! I was smart. I didn’t want to take a chance to put a blot on my day. Moreover, my day had taught me that unthinkables happen only when one doesn’t think about them. So, it will happen, if it has to happen someday, in the most unthinkable way. Otherwise too, it is cool J as it has been till now.

I wore off my jet-lag, sleeping in the office next day, even though tons of work had been pounded on me as soon as I came. Back to real world Mr. and again a time to ruminate, this time though about defects and assignments. Ha ha ha

2nd Coming, US

I am in Champaign, Illinois right now, and scribbling this stuff at 4 o’clock in the morning. I slept yesterday continuously for more than 12 hours from mid-noon to mid-night crossing two days. I don’t know when I had slept this much last.

Though it is a hastily arranged 2-week business trip, it feels nice to be back in US. The US remains the paragon of development for any nation. Things are so immaculately planned and developed that you wonder how much time any other country is going to take to reach the same level. Even a small city like Champaign looks so posh, even though it has a likable green rustic look to it.

I was here last September for three long months, and explored quite a bit of it. I was able to experience the change of weather too from post-summer to pre-fall. It is relatively hot though right now. Also I don’t think I will get a chance to add to my sight-seeing this time around due to the hectic work planned. Work comes first, every time!

This time, unfortunately, a few things are more glaring than last time around. The news channels are obviously occupied with the Obama-Clinton showdown, or rather the end of it with Clinton withdrawing her nomination. But also there is the much abominable news of schools’ shootings, killings, minor-rape charges etc and unidentifiable TV programs of reality shows, sex talks etc. Well, equally bad news but of different kind is replete in TV channels in Cyprus and India too, but as said, it is of a different kind. I don’t know which one is worse, but it just goes on to show, the world is diversified even in bad things.

The perennial oglers

I received a mail forward yesterday from one of my ogler-set friends. It was an old one but its amusing power wasn't diminished. Excerpts from it:-





Especially hilarous was the comment at the end. As if the girls really mind. I don't know, may be. But it is medically certified now. Not posting the pictures (meant to provide some exercise)attached in the mail here for obvious reasons.