Good Old Murphy..!!!

"Phew...!!! Damn, I almost got myself banned from the supermarket there..!!!" - A silent thought graced through my mind after a pretty interesting morning at the supermarket. (Am glad none of the supermarket employee are reading this though, else they'd ban me for writing this, after having done what I had done..!!!)

On the whole a normal day, or what it was meant to be, started off with a customized domino effect, created by yours truly, me (Ahem..!!!). I am sure the curses that followed are taking their toll on me now, as a weird symphony is being played in my stomach right now. I am a believer in big breakfasts, but as the week progresses, my tendency to snooze my alarm increases drastically, from once on a Monday to 'n' number of times on Fridays (Whoever invented the snooze...!!!) . Oh the point, well, this affects my breakfast preparation time, from leisurely preparing them on Mondays to buying them in the supermarket by Thursdays and Fridays (And it sucks, not to buy them but to eat them..!!!)). Anyways, I got my breakfast from the  supermarket today, being a Thursday. As I got down to get a sandwich, my headphones wires got stuck in the price tag and as I got up with a jerk, it flew and fell on the overflowing fruit stall. An artist or a photographer would have appreciated the scene of falling fruits, but you cannot expect the same appreciation who spent the entire morning trying to arrange them (Of all places it had to fall on the fruit stall...!!!). That almost explains how my morning was. I heard something being murmured (blasted actually) in German, my only response, with the most awkward smile ever, "Entschuldigung..!!!" (Sorry..!!!). The fury in the supermarket lady's face was quite evident (Why would she try to hide it..!!! But aren't the customers always right..!!! A concept lost in Europe I presume..!!!). They could be quite edgy when they have to get up and come to work at 7 am on a cold, wintry morning. Well, I was thankful for not getting getting my ears-full, but my fate was still laughing at the events to follow. As I turned and walked around, my bag, which is not over-sized at all, gets caught in yet another price tag, this time on a stand. I was lucky to catch it before it fell and leave the scene, before being caught by that female again. I was just starting to feel good about my reflexes of having caught the stand, when at the turn I ended up dashing against one of the other supermarket ladies (Apparently reflexes work only once..!!!). In this case we both were looking in the other direction, me towards the price tag on the stand (Although am not sure if the curses followed...!!!). Finally, when I reached the counter, I picked up one of the wafers, which had an offer, when another lady at the cash counter says, this offer is only if you get 2 packs together. When I bring the second pack, the lady sees, checks something and says, "Oh sorry, this is an offer with 3 packs together". A thought went through, "could this be revenge for what I had done..!?". Nevertheless as I turn around and go to get the third pack, this time my bag hits on another one of those damn annoying price tags on the stand (Seriously guys price tags on a stand in the walkway, not happening..!!!), and I just gave up trying to catch it. It falls with the most annoying sound ever. If I was glad that no other customers were there at supermarket, it was my agony too. I was surrounded with an audience of annoyed supermarket ladies, extremely irked with this scene (including the lady whom I had dashed upon, why would she miss a chance to put the blame on me..!!!) and with an expression of this being done intentionally. I just turned around got my third pack and came to the office, with one of the most difficult shopping days in a supermarket, where I had got only a sandwich and some wafers.

Like I said, I am glad that I am not banned from the supermarket. Although am not sure if am blacklisted or not, since am a regular customer there and I have a customer card though..!!!  

P.S. - BTW the catch here - I was wondering the reason for this Mozart symphony being played in my stomach the entire day, even-though my diet was nothing out of normal. Oh wait, but it was, remember I bought (or was made to buy) 3 packs of extra wafers, and finished almost two of them..!!!

Food for 'Thought' - 2

Yo people..!!! Ok the 'Yo' is not some-confused-slang which I have learnt, just coz I am living abroad for while now (which again is not blowing my own trumpet, phew!!! ), its just an exclamatory statement! (Like this one).

So, after a pathetic start to this topic (a total useless statement), let me get straight to another irrelevant note, 'yes, I am back, baby!' And there it is, yet again 'nth' time, me returning, trying to keep this space alive. Looks like most of my posts are full of 'this' crap, than the other ones. Nevertheless, moving on..!!!

Just a briefing so far, I have been living my professional life in Linz, Austria, which is quite a beautiful city, with all the landscapes, the lakes, the sunbathing scenes(ahem..!!! ), I mean sunny scenes!(Oh well, too much of information) Visit to find out for yourselves. And most importantly, this stage has made sure that I stay alone by housing me in a comfortable studio apartment and it sucks!

Now we get to the topic, it is about food. Last week, I found myself completely abandoned by the 'Food Luck'. Not once, twice but thrice, I had my food burnt. The worst part, it was the same food, which I burnt thrice, so you could feel the pain I had to bear to eat it. Ok, the option why I didn't throw it is, its just that I hate to throw food, I'd rather wait till it gets completely spoiled and inedible before I decide to throw. I remember eating breads which were cultivating fungi on the half surface (ofcourse I didn't eat the fungi part). And it was not even a complicated one, just simple rice and dal. Well to a major extent its a side effect of the FAD (Facebook Addiction Syndrome). So I thought I had enough of punishment for burning food, but the 'Food Gods' had other plans, this time freaking me out.

 I was casually hogging on the most important meal of the day, Breakfast (Oh yeah, I make sure to have routine meals!). I had two slices of bread, omlette, apple, pear and a few dates fruit. As I was eating I saw a small insect crawl on the plate near the dates, I just removed it and continued to eat. A few minutes later, I saw a small white worm, yes worm, around the same place where the insect was. It was in the larva stage (if I remember my biology), moving around. Now that freaked me out a bit, I started looking in the bread, apples and pear, everything looked fine. The plate was also clean. And then I cut open the dates, voila, I discovered it! The dates fruit providing a very beautiful home for the growth of these insects. And then it struck me, the dates fruit, WHICH I HAVE BEEN EATING FOR A MONTH, providing a nest for these insects! I felt nauseated, for a moment. It was a 250 gms package, I had eaten almost upto 3/4ths of the package. Well whats done is done, its been 2 weeks now, I haven't had anything weird so far, other than my mind playing games with weird crawling sensation throughout my body. I still keep my fingers crossed though, that all those worms (if any), should have dissolved as proteins, and nothing else. Now I have started praying to 'Food Gods' to bring me more 'Food Luck', as in no food with such kind of worms or burnt food, just normal food. Actually it'd be cool if I got some kinda super power through this, become a worm-man or something, but that'd be just disgusting!!! (And I know I have been watching one too many super hero movies).

P.S. - Oh BTW, read at your own risk of getting nauseated. The writer shall not be held responsible for any such kinda feeling setting in...!!!

Many food luck and happy hogging to all. Till next time - signing off..!!!

Somethings are never right..!!!

Friday, July 17 2009, 13 30 hrs(Present day):

Harish: Machan, something is not right..!!
Bhuvan : ??
Harish : Its quite unusual for us to sit so cool, before the final test of anything and the fact that our simulation results were good, almost a week back, does not comply with our usual race against time and ass on fire theory.
Bhuvan : Thats true alright. Lets see, who knows times might actually change.
Harish : I just hope the world doesn't come to a halt.

Back in time:

Well just a quick recap, for easy understanding, there was this project lab called VHDL, a Hardware Descriptive Language, also deciphered as Very Hard Descriptive Language, which we decided to take, just to appease ourselves on pursuing another challenge through Masters. Some might call it ass-cholesterol, like taking an easier option out when available might have been safer, however, we do get these aberrant impulse to learn at times and so we registered. VHDL, a fairly new subject to me, meant most of the work load fell on the scapegoat, Bhuvan's shoulders', due to his early experience :D. Nevertheless, we managed to pull it off well ahead of time, or atleast thats what we thought. The project, to design a bicycle computer, well actually speedometer, I still wonder the motive behind the name computer, sounded quite easy and quite apparently was otherwise.

Thanks to a combined-group-effort of 5 teams (total people in the lab 11, split into 5 teams), the deadline got extended by 2 weeks. However, the notable point here was, a week before the deadline, today, our team's (Bhuvan-me) results were quite good. Everything was perfect, or atleast we thought so and half an hour before the final test, this eery feeling resulted in the above mentioned conversation. The fact still remains that our simulation results are still good, however, the hardware test uses a different simulator (#%$%^#$@#$%$^..!!!).

Friday, July 17 2009 17 45 hrs (For the final seasoning of Red chilli powder on the wounds..!!!):

I get a call at 11 30 today morning from the lab. Another team, comprising of two more people, needed my help in sorting out one of their modules for the output, which I gleefully accept to and reach the lab by noon and somehow we manage to get the required output. At that point a thought goes through my mind, that it is usually us in this position, nevertheless brushing it off, we continue being confident with our design. Now I donot need to mention the next few scenes, nevertheless, just for legibility, yes their hardware test was successful, which we were happy about, as the seasoning hasn't started yet. However, those guys were really good, as they stayed back after their test to help us sort out our problems. Now, the seasoning started like this:

X: Ok dude, guess we'l take off.
Harish: Sure man, thanks for whatever you suggested so far.
X: No problem. However, you could use our module, incase your output doesnt work out..!!
Harish (Bhuvan would have noticed the hot air blowing from my ears..!!): Suuuurrreee man, thanks..!!

I donot blame the guy, coz his gesture was too good, but one just cannot compromise with the human's ego (mine in this case..!!). The rest is history.

Friday, July 17 2009 18 45 hrs (Back to present..!!):

Bhuvan: Hey machan, chuck the face..!! we are out of the lab..!!
Harish: yep, we still got a week. Good, chalo, the world is functioning normally.
Bhuvan: he he, yeah..!!
Harish: Most people fail to realize that we saved the world from doom..!!

Moral : Murphys theory : If you perceive that there are four possible ways in which something can go wrong, and circumvent these, then a fifth way, unprepared for, will promptly develop ---> HENCE PROVED..!!!

"Nice cut" - say what..!! @#@$%@#..!!!

4 months, 23 days - the time span, after which I finally gave in to the luring of the automatic-razor, to mow my hair, and provide a neat cut. A very straight-forward difference between developed and developing country, the Barbers here use more of automatic-razor than a scissor, pretty concerned sight for any person sitting for a hair-CUT and not a shave. The history of hair cutting for me has always been, ahem, shoddy, and so I had very little hopes and considering the high expenses for hair-styling saloons (yes, I did consider them..!!), I thought, lets give it another chance, naturally my mistake.

After around half an hour's wait, I heard the person calling me to take a seat. I dont know if it always happens with me, whenever, I consider that this barber is cutting well and I should stick with this guy, the next time, somehow, that doesnt work out. Probably, a conspiracy, for all the first-timers, of letting loose their 'handicraft' on me. sigh..!! Nevertheless, expecting the worst I sat on the chair (a reverse psychology theory, which failed miserably..!!). As I started speaking in german, the owner, directed the barber to speak in english, I think. "Finally, some luck going my way", were the first words, and also the only instance where things seemed to go in the right direction.

"Please cut in half the length, evenly in all sides". The guy had a confused look and then wobbled his head sideways, reminding our peculiar way of nodding. One thing about the european people, when I say they know english, it means a literal translation of the sentence in their language, and so the verbs could go haywire. A reason why, I have a new respect for Wren-&-Martin for authoring the wonderful book. Alright, the biggest fiasco of the day is yet to happen, and its not the cutting part. I dont know what prompted me, probably the confused look on his face, but I asked him to give a suggestion, and the guy suggested for a mushroom cut. Nevertheless, I asked him not to make too short, and the rest is history, as my worst nightmare had already begun the moment I asked him for his suggestion. Ironically, after the cut, the guy shows an extra mirror asking if the cut was aligned properly at the back, I only took time to think which would be the apt curse for him, which almost came out of my mouth when he let out the words "Nice cut..!!". Fighting hard to keep my mouth shut, I paid the 10 euros (Oh yes, thats the cheapest..!!), and left the place. After coming out and looking at a glass window, I could only laugh it out, as nothing else could be done and realised that I wouldnt need a cut for the next 6 months.

'Dementor-ed'..!!!

A hectic day, with Murphy doing a Disco on you with all his laws, the last thing you would want to see is a pathetically foggy evening, completely sucking out all the glimpse of cheer from you (Dementor-ed - to talk in J.K.Rowling's language). I almost experienced a Harry Potter, except for the Dementors. Right then, after glorifying winter, the snow, the ice, etc, in my previous posts, I cant help but only lament, not coz of the winter but its duration, lasting for a bloody 7 months. Too much of anything always gets on the nerves, and this is a perfect illustration (as if I asked for one...!!). The sun, with its celebrity status in this part of the world, makes sure that its importance is acknowledged (wouldnt mind spending some time for suryo-tsavam, if available..!!). The last summer, having experienced just a month of frost, I wondered about people going crazy during the summers. The sounds like, "Hey its summer..!!", "we are going for a hike..!!" , "lets go cycling..!!", "BARBEQUE..!!!", "woah..!! swimming", "fishing..!!" (in God's name please..!!!) and lastly "what are you planning for summer?" would reiterate. The only thought that would come across, quite obviously, "so its summer, big deal..!!", after coming from a place where summer lasts for major part of the year. Less did I know that realization would blow such a jackhammer. At lunch, with my colleagues, the only discussion I get with me, "so, how are you handling the winter?" and each time my answer has only got bitter and bitter. The seniors had also warned that winters are depressing and I got my answer to the question, which had prompted then, "Winter..depressing..!!??" Its not like I havent experienced winter, but only for 3 months. What could get even worse, or in a way is also a positive part, is lurking behaviour of the sun. If it appears for 2 days, making it a pleasant day, it disappears for the next 5 days. The positive here is, atleast it appears for those 2 days. "Who's complaining of the sun or the heat now?" Time does reverse..!!! I surely need some tea (substitute for chocolate) and a patronus charm..!!

Final Destination..!!??

The lecture was at 10 am, and surprisingly I was ready by 9 30 am, to catch the bus. Obviously something was not correct, considering my previous history of being just in time when the Prof starts to close the door or eventually even later. Nevertheless, I just thought that it was one of those nothing-goes-wrong day. So as I was about to leave my dorm, I pinged Bhuvan, to check if he was ready, and we set out to catch the bus at 9 32am, precisely. The bus stop is around 5-8 mins from the dorm. When we reach the bus stop, a rather, ahem, interesting conversation commences between Bhuvan and me and when we say interesting, we generally narrow down on very few predictable topics of sports, the recent diplomatic stories (or rather our own international diplomacy..!! :P) and ofcourse the main, 'Women'.

Bhuvan: Dude, am so much reminded of Bangalore, when I see this place. Anyways when I was in Accenture, Mumbai, there was this hot chic called Richa Sharma, whom we used to call rank 1 and there was a friend of mine, whenever we went for lunch, he just used to say here she comes, without even looking at the entrance.

Me: Bhuvan (in an irritated tone), for once stop comparing everything to your so-called-Bangalore. So talking about Richa, looks like all the Richas are the hot ones. I knew someone named Richa and she was phew! Going by statistics, the same applies to few more, like all the Aditis'.

Bhuvan: Thats so true man..!! Yeah and there used to be another chic, we used to call her rank 2.

Me: You should have had a better numbering order, well looks like bus no.5 's here, its a round trip in this, and is followed by bus number 14, which is crowded, lets wait for 3.

Now Bus No :5 takes a longer route to the uni while bus no: 3 is the direct one.

Finally the bus (which we thought to be bus no: 3) comes.

Now the scene in the bus.

Bhuvan: Yeah statistics says, the sowmya's can be approximated around 50-50.

If you are wondering what 50-50 is, it means 50% of the girls are good looking.

Me: yeah and generally they are more of book worms. But yeah the Shruthis', they goto around 80-20

Bhuvan: Noways, 60-40 will be better. But there's only one Aishwarya machan.

Me: Thats so true. But now even thats gone. The last movie where she looked amazing was, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and a bit in Devdas. Going by this rate, Minissha Lamba will lose her charm soon. But the one still in the race is Preity Zinta

Bhuvan: Yeah Minissha, she's 26 right. But Preity, I dunno machan.

The discussion and research, pretty constructive, completely took over us and we hardly realised where the bus was headed to.

In the meantime the bus stop here was Botanischer Garten. Our stop was 3rd stop from here on the left. On any other day, generally the bus takes a left after stopping at botanischer garten, however, we were a bit surprised to see the bus taking the right and going on the outer ring road and the time was already 9:50am. What made it even worse, the bus just didnt stop anywhere near and when we reached the stop, it had already traveled for 15 mins (which is a long distance in this small town of Ulm..!!). When we got down, both of us uttered in a typical Sachin's ad campaign, "Main kahan hun? (where am I?)". Luckily help came to us immediately, as a girl who had noticed Bhuvan's panic, when the bus took the other direction, directed us back to uni. The bad part was, we had to walk all the way back to uni, as the next bus, was only in the evening 4pm. Now the big question, was, what was the bus we took. As I got down, I made sure to take note of this which was bus no: 45, evidently quite a late information. So with temperatures of -2, we started our way back to uni. It was a long journey of 20 mins, eventhough we found a short-cut among the lost paradise :). Now Murphy couldn't have been more wrong. As we reach the bus stop close to the uni, Bhuvan, the genius, decides to draw some cash from the bank (just adjacent to the bus stop) and it so happens, we miss yet another direct bus. It was definitely written somewhere that it should be a long-walk-day for us, with another 10 mins walk to uni. So we land up in class, missing the first hour. However, the one good thing here was, the walk greeted us with some amazing landscape beauty . When I sat for the lecture, I thought that it was almost nothing-go-wrong day, except that, the thought went wrong.