Saturday 19 December 2015

Only men eat crab...

Overheard at a restaurant, from a table that was belting crabs...

Father to son: You have to put your finger in and scoop it out. It's a man's job! You're eating like a girl...

My blood boiled and I really wanted to say something to the man about teaching his son these life lessons with sexist undertones. I went into a full-blown moral dilemma about whether or not I should teach him how to parent, or if it was my place to do so. I did wonder if I was being a tad too intolerant.

I didn't tell him anything though, and picked up my food and left. In retrospect, I wish I had left him a note or something, so I could get the point across, without undermining him in front of his family.


P.S. I too had crab for lunch and I did perfectly fine.

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Gratitude

Sometimes help comes to you from the most unexpected places. You ever felt like consoling random strangers you've seen crying? Not always, but there is something so sad about it, especially when they are by themselves.

Woke up feeling a little shaken after a horrible, horrible dream featuring an auto driver, a tornado, a blues concert at Freedom Park and an old friend from school who I haven't spoken to in many years. Had an excellent breakfast followed by a spectacular fight with my mum. Door slamming, nasty exchange of words, the works.

So here I was in the auto feeling sorry for myself and alone as alone can be, silently sobbing as we made our way through traffic. The auto driver glanced at me in the rear-view mirror a couple of times. By the time I reached office, I had sort of made peace with the situation and was calmer. The sobbing had certainly stopped. I got down to pay the auto driver, who then had a few kind words for me.

He said, "I saw you were upset. Don't take tension (every south Indian's favourite phrase), everything will be ok. You go eat something and sleep for a bit and then when you wake up, everything will be ok." Yaaay, food and sleep - the solution to most problems!

The effect his words had on me was amazing. Almost immediately, it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. 

It really is wonderful how kind words from strange, unexpected quarters can lift you up. Thank you dear Auto Anna. I'm sure to have a good day! 

Tuesday 24 February 2015

Kill me now! (or Two short poems dedicated to an extremely boring man)

I attended a couple of sessions that were part of Social Media Week Bangalore earlier today. The first one on making social media 'snack'able was actually rather palatable (pun intended, of course). Though it really went over those things that are commonly known (content should be simple, use videos, should be worth sharing etc), a revision of sorts never hurt anyone. And it reiterated what most social media experts that I have met have been shouting out loud - SHAMELESSLY PROMOTE! 

The second one on the other hand, was about how essential social media was to integrated marketing. This featured a man with a tri-religious name, much like Amar Akbar Antony. That was all that was remotely interesting about him. He did not speak much about social media, not did he address what it meant for integrated marketing. 

For the most part of the session, he kept talking about himself and his company. And when anyone asked him a question, he only said, "Free consulting you want? Hahahaha," before giving them a vague answer. He also had atrocious spellings and his knowledge of pop-culture was clearly from some article he had read before he put the deck together. Here are some of the gems from his session. 
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly 'Hollows'
  • 'Ganganam' Style
  • 'Kate' Perry
Well, you get the drift... So to keep myself from dying of boredom or cracking up, I took copious notes. Here's what they look like. I also wrote two little ditties dedicated to this specimen.

Ditty no 1
This man does not stop talking
Oh, I feel like walking (away)
I probably will soon start baulking 

Ditty no 2
Vomit, vomit,vomit
Shoot me with a gun
Dammit, dammit, dammit
This man is no bloody fun 

As boring as he was, I do have him to thank for this month's post. 

Wednesday 7 January 2015

I've got a diem to carpe!

"Come on, Steve. We've got a diem to carpe!"
- Cloudy with a chance of meatballs

In my head I'm still waiting for the new year to begin. Of course like most people I did bring in 2015 with much pomp and celebration, perhaps a bit much even. The onset of a new year is meant to be a fresh start. To me however it hasn't started. I'm yet to have a clear plan for 2015. I'm yet to make a set of resolutions. I'm yet to unpack from my vacation! And I doubt that will happen if I continue to wait for the right moment.

So here's all that's meant to be for this year. This year I will be organised and well planned, on a personal and professional front. Health, wealth, work and family are my priorities, in no particular order. I aim to get inspired and be inspiring. I will finish what I start. I will write more. Expand my horizons. Be and stay active. Travel.

And when its time to look back on this year, I know for sure that I will be filled with a sense of fulfilment and content. This is my fresh start!

Happy new year to me! 

Reassurance in new company

Good. A buzz is extremely good. A rum and coke certainly takes the edge off. Cheers! 


Strange strange surroundings... What does one make of it? One thinks one should let go of inhibitions and do whatever one pleases. 



Notes to self on socialising 

  • Be confident
  • They are not better than me so there is no need to feel overwhelmed
  • I am not better than them either so there is no need to be patronising
  • I will have fun
  • I will not be moody
  • I will trip responsibly