Random Rants of the day

Yesterday I had decided that I was gonna work only for 8:30 to 6:00 come what may as I saw no point working 12 hours per day. On top of that I want to do my own homework after I get back after proper relaxing. Anyways, it didn't happen and I am really surprised to see my lead tell me "why are trying to rush like a girl?". I need to start setting some protocol upfront and tell him straight things aren't going to work if I am pressurized.

I should also start cutting down on lot of relaxation time especially the time when we enter the office in the morning and the time it takes to settle down and do the tasks. Added to that there is a snack break which is totally avoidable. Let me see if I can start tuning myself to the timings I set for myself.

I read 'Frozen Thoughts' today and I loved the concept of incremental progress and start doing anything any day by treating every day as a new beginning. So here I am today about to read MDX for an hour before hitting the bed.

Turned 5

Today I complete my 5 years experience. Recollecting the post I had written quite long time back about the expectations and the pressures around, its starting to show the effects now. I have gained tremendous insights and had a great exposure in Paris, meeting different people, holding meetings, getting client rapport. Its been a great smooth ride so far. Appraisals this year around put me in the third place. I was little hurt as I believe I deserved a better rating for all the amount of hard work I had put in and the client appreciation I have received. Talking to Chandan on the same day I have got some rationale behind the concept. From management perspective they need to do justice for all and since I had been given an onsite opportunity, it was compensated in this manner. This is what I have gathered from good many people. I can't do anything either excepting that I believe I need to put in lot more effort for the upcoming year to have a speedy scale.

Turning 5

Coming to the matters at hand, I am not really happy with the way things are and it's high time I pick myself up and start taking my life and career seriously. I have always wanted to learn and master the SQL Server Analysis Services, that aspect of SQL server which deals with real intelligence. I am so looking forward to the next 2 weeks when things will heat up considerably and then we are forced to learn and master the technology to be able to meet the deliverable in this new heavy duty project release.One disturbing thing though is that I am being forced to work on SSIS and SQL big time as all our effort is still focused on the first stage of our data transfer that purely deals with this aspect. To make the matters worse, Chandan currently roped in on to our project is going to handle the aspects. I am happy that it helps the overall progress of the project but it bothers me a lot when not being in a position to take up the role myself.

Anyways its just a matter of time now when things will heat considerably and I will be treading on the SSAS once and for all. The larger picture of course is that I need to make myself as strongly proficient as possible and become self independent and to able to master and command all the aspects of SQL Server BI stack. This includes extensive reporting, cube building and MDX querying.

Deviating a little here, I absolutely hate the discussing the topic of salaries or colloquially speaking, remuneration with my colleagues or with anyone for that matter. With my close buddies, especially banda, hari, mote, venky, chitti it feels ok to tell. Again I only them if they ask and never ask in return. For me, what matters the most is my job and how I deal with it. There is one stand out here though - Venky (SwamiNaidu). More than just hearing and occasionally jabbing fun of my incremental progress as others do, this guy just rips the heart out with his candid assessment and makes you feel like a imbecile and stupid. Any other person I wouldn't bother but with this guy it feels like a wake-up call. He tells me on the face of it (over the phone) that I am doing worse than most people among my fellow class mates.

With marriage on the cards, this becomes even more relevant and if I don't do something, I might become just contended with the life and take it as it goes. Without taking names, I indeed feel really low and in the heart of hearts I want to really go out and get into the best leagues out there. I remember during my first shift I was desperately searching for a break and Accenture proved to be the only best thing I could hold on to. Of course, MS plans were also partly responsible. Now the reality is different, and this time around I wan to be the guy calling the shots, with at least 4 to 5 offers in hand and to chose and decide what I want to be in. For this to happen, among many things, I need to get focus and concentration, the kind of passionate learning I was doing during my initial stint at Satyam.

Turning 5 indeed has now hit this point hard and hope to achieve the great heights in future both for my life and my to-be wife. 

Choosing a choice - Darn difficult

Somehow yesterday I just got to thinking about few things that where we need to make a constant upgrades and it ain't easy at all. Here is how they go -

Facebook Profile Pic-

Facebook has so become ubiquitous that it has now become a common practice for everyone to conciously smile and always lookout for that profile pic. It's a huge thing amongst all the folks. Getting that right facebook pic is like a million dollar thing. I have observed this when I was roaming around countries. People literally shriek "Yeah! Got my facebook pic". Once you get it, you then start eagerly looking forward to comments and stuff. Needless to say I fall into this category. Its been ages since I updated my pic but I don't see any good ones yet, so I will let it pass.

Wallpaper-

This is the toughest of all. Ask around any geek folks you will find that the most difficult task of the week is to get a right wallpaper.One keeps searching for that elusive wallpaper that you want to get noticed by at least 2 or more people. This is more to impress others than having something that looks good and again this is the most sought after by Indians. If you start searching google the top most would be santa banta.and the wallpapers there suck big time. I am guy who loves wallpapers of animie or animation or  movie wallpapers and they are darn hard to find. Relentless search for one stop solution for my next best thing literally takes up weeks sometimes and now I have a permanent solution for it - wallbace.cc. This is THE greatest wallpaper site ever much better than the other chincese sounding wall paper site.

Ringtone/Callertune-

Both are difficult choices. I can't believe myself that I have had this ringtone of 'Ninne Pelladutha' for almost a year now. Before that I had the tune for 'Manasa' of Munna movie. I would love to keep one classical sounding music -calm, non disturbing and soothe full to hear.

Well, frankly when I started off I had so many things to write but the week itself was very hectic, so right now I am just wrapping it. Would definitely write a sequel to this.

Online Shooting - A month Later!

Funny how time passes so quickly. It's been a month now since I first started searching for my soul mate, my would be, my should be or my love. So the much awaited "shootings" didn't happen as somehow the Rajhmundry party were not ready for the shooting yet. Sad I just thought I can bank on this first experience to gain in-depth knowledge on what exactly happens in a shooting.

Anyways there are 2 more prospects that are actually offline that my dad has shortlisted. One by the name Sruti and the other girl who Mohan Rao Tatha knows  but are just waiting for the nakshatra match. Quite suddenly yesterday I got a 'Express Interest' from Sravani in Shaadi.com with all the favorable conditions both to my parents and myself. Looks cheerful, sporty, trendy, and one with modern outlook. Currently as per what she said in the profile, she is at US on onsite deputation and is expected anytime soon. She is smart enough to keep her full name with which one can find her easily on Facebook. That gets me to thinking it wouldn't be such a bad idea to keep mine too.  I am now very excited and curious on how to go about now. Should I or should I not become a premium? I am in the same quandary as before. I think she also has kept her profile very recently. Let me have round 2 talks with my folks and based on that I will proceed.

And yes, it turns out I gotta kuja dosham because of timing of birth. Tough luck now with all the mindless people zeroing on that aspect. That's about it. 

Mom's Pleasant Surprise - True Lies

Mom had me completely flummoxed with her ingenious act today and I would remember this for long long time to come. Early this week my parents had called me up and asked me to come to Guntur for weekend for my first debut (the details of which will come soon). Keeping mote's points in view I agreed as food is a major weakness for me. Since mom is staying at Guntur while dad is in Eluru it was decided that both mom and I are going to come to Eluru. Mom, a highly devoted worker, was very much reluctant to take leave on Saturday and top of that Saturday being only half a day, there was no point in taking a holiday.

She told me that she would be coming by Saturday evening. On Friday with all the packing done, I first phoned dad to find out if mom had taken the laptop away to Guntur as I was planning to do some work on it. He said no and that the laptop is still there. I then asked him about what he had for dinner and which movie was coming on t.v. It seems that he had a nice pizza with veg puff for accompaniments and he also told me that he was watching 'True Lies' and then we cut the call.

After 15 minutes I got a call from my mom. As I was really busy packing my stuff I didn't have time to pick up the call and only phoned her after reaching to the pick-up point near Keshav Reddy sweets. I told her about the huge baggage of clothes that I was bringing and also told her that as planned we would be picking her up on her journey mid way back to Eluru at Vijayawada to have a nice wholesome lunch. I again talked to her for 10 more minutes asking her about the dinner plans and what she was doing. She also told me that she was watching 'True Lies'. I immediately quipped "Arre nanna kuda ade chustunnadanta. Manchi movie maa" and I cut the call and told her that I would give a message once the bus starts.

Time moved on, I went from Madhapur to Nampally, pickup point where there is another 1 hour waiting time. During this time nanna called and asked me about where I was and I told him it doesn't look like bus is gonna come anytime soon. He in his usual tones blasted all the private road transport folks for harrassing people and then told me to give him a call once he reaches and he would tell the directions to take by auto. Got in the bus, enjoyed the movie, came to Eluru, got down, came home and cow-a-bunga! - Mom was already Home! Awesome mom! I gave her a tight hug and told her this was one of the best moments I would cherish. Even though it wouldn't have mattered waiting till 5 but I always wished she to be there to spend my 2 whole days. THE best surprise indeed. Now I know the WHOLE meaning of 'True Lies'. 

Big cheers to my mom and dad for playing his role well! 

Fun with Movies on Volvos!

Yesterday I was on the bus from Hyderabad to Eluru. Unlike the regular buses that start as expected and land at the destination as expected these buses are one hellava exception. They first take you from Madhapur to a pick-up point and then your waiting starts. I had waited almost hour and a half. Quite Irritating.

Much before net on the phone, I always used to spend my time reading some novel. They just whisk away the time and make you wonder if there was any waiting at all. Now I have altogether interesting way to do the same by reading the blog posts via the fantastic Google Reader app. Of late I am not having the time I need to read the blogs at office, hence the unread count keeps going on and at certain point you lose it. I can't remember when was the last time I was updated with Mashable/GigaOm posts. If I see any of my friends posts I would of course read it then and there and the same applies to some rare and best blog that I folllow especially Jabberwocky. There I was flicking through the Likaeable Bloggers category and reading all the new ones. I loved reading the one on Sports and one with Xena. So cute.

Once on the bus my thoughts were focused on the movie that was being played. Getting very impatient with the guy blocking my way in the middle who couldn't figure out his seat number and kept asking the driver (emandi seat number 44 ekkadandi?). It was right at the end. I pushed him aside, got my window seat and then got immense unbelievable satisfaction of watching the T.V. on a volvo. It was Allari Naresh movie and good fun too. It looked recent and I was little sad that the movie was in its second half. I unconditionally love all the journeys in the Volvo's for the sole purpose of watching a movie in it. I get so pissed off during those rides when I find that for some mechanical/electrical trouble, movie becomes unavailable. There is something about the journey and luxury of watching a movie alongside that makes the ride so very comfortable. Has anyone felt that? Of course that's not to say every movie they keep is a blockbuster but most of it, even though I might have seen it before, I still enjoy it. I think that's one of the great things here in India. Back at Europe when I was touring between the countries those buses lacked this basic commodity. I used to pity them a lot for missing this out but again they had WC fitted in the bus. That's something we need to catch on. Anyways if I haven't been clear enough so far, I LOVE volvo bus rides with movie in them.

Mom's Action Points and tasks ahead

One of the things about my mom and to lesser extend my dad is that they have certain things to tell and they want it done exactly that way, right away. Mom had two major gripes about me and she has her own way of telling it - like repeating it at least minimum 5 times. In those 5 times the tone first starts patronizingly, and then slowly picks up the speed and at the end I become a useless creature unable to maintain my daily life. Such it goes. I don't know, why don't they just stop with saying it once and hearing my response out. Nope, the show has to go on and you just can't do anything but listen.

First item on the menu is the maid's money. 
How in the world are we agreeing to pay 800 bucks just for cleaning the house, cleaning the utensils (which again I hardly cook, or don't cook at all according to them). Instead why can't we just pay 200 more and get our clothes washed by her? Unnecessarily I am just wastng away money. Frankly I am also not sure if we are paying high/low as I remember back when I was with Nikmo it was somewhere around the same price. Also, did I even think about asking around how much others are giving? It is certain that I am paying exorbitant price just for nothing.
Action Point - Fire the maid, ask around for cheaper options, or pay more and get additional work done (see point below)

Next up is Washing Machine.
Why didn't I get my stupid washing machine fixed even though its been one week since I moved? Why don't I get a plumber and get it fixed rather than watch a stupid movie on Saturday? (Just to be clear here my movie was in the evening and I don't know how these two link up). I am therefore utterly lazy and just don't care about the basic necessities of living. If you haven't figured out yet this and the one above together form a single point. Just for sake of clarity I am splitting into 2 pieces. The wholesome conclusion is that I either fix the machine soon or give little more money and get it done by the maid.
Action Point - Get the machine fixed.


Next is my hair. I have a huge dandruff problem.
Among umpteen ways to tackle it the best way according to my mom is rubbing lemon on my scalp on a daily basis. For some days I did and then I became lazy as I prefer to shampooing every day. When peddiah and peddama had come recently to Hyderabad they suggested some shampoo that they say is highly effective. Being the lazy person I am I didn't note it down which never went unnoticed by mom. This came to the surface again and then she tells me I have completely stopped caring about you. Why should I tell you? It's your problem and you should have written it down. I don't know what will happen of you. That small hair you have also will disappear soon and no one will marry you. Of course the last bit was in slightly humorous tone.
Action Point- As Indrani atha suggested to me I would consult a hair specialist as it is a problem within that cannot be cured by external shampoos or conditioners or whatever. It needs to be attacked on the source. When/Where? yet to be sorted out.

Lastly its the bed.
Suddenly when I am moving all my stuff out of I realized I didn't have a bed to sleep on in the new room This was on Monday and I definitely knew I had no choice but to borrow a bed from there temperorirly till the week ends. The first weekend though whisked away as I spent time getting things needed for the house like mugs, buckets, chair, shampoo, heater rod, etc. Also that was just one weekend where I spent my self fully occupied by going to Aliens Space Station and in the evening to a movie. I wanted to postpone this event to the next week. Only this week I am here in Eluru. Mom is understandably livid with fury as I didn't have the decency to buy new one and return back the old one soon. How did I not think that Avva's house would require beds and Avva would get tensed arranging the beds? Good point actually. As you grow old and knowing my Avva fully, if the guests start pouring in, which is expected sometime soon this month, she would want to arrange beds, linen and everything. With one bed missing she will get upset and starts getting cranky. That effect is seen on Amma and in turn on me.
Action Point- Go to Kurl-on and buy the bed as soon as I can along with a cot. 

Well..that's for now and lot more to come. Man, I enjoy having it written so that I can know where I stand in all these.

Masala Dosa maane Red Chutney is a must

After years and years of having Masala Dosa it is an unwritten rule that when you ask for Masala Dosa its not just the aalu that one should keep inside but also the red chutney made from onions. That's how it always has been in any tiffin center across Andhra for good number of years. This was one of major gripe when I was at Bangalore.

Sadly this is how it has become now in some of the tiffin centers here too. I really hate seeing Masala Dosa without red chutney spread in it. Period.

Online Shooting - Lost Opportunity

The girl who had accepted my interest the day before rejected me today. I guess she was waiting for the response and as it turns out another major fight had occurred between my dad regarding how in the world did I express interest without consulting them. I hate to say this but my dad is fully into the community thing. He feels the culture and the caste of a person is everything.

First I phoned mom and told her about this. She said go ahead, pay and talk to her. I then phoned dad and that's when the whole fight began. He also told me to wait for sometime from my end in the search process. We have now made a rule that I will not express any interest till they see and they say that it is okay to express my interest.

So yesterday night I sent the sms about my details to my dad and I don't know still what's the response for it. Today I logged in and see that girl has now declined my interest ( :( ). I feel really terrible now. I should have gone ahead and paid and phoned her.

Even now I can pay and give her a ring and find out about her. Something is holding me back. Anyways the search goes on. I can now foresee major fights ahead with my dad as I know that the only check they are ready to do is the caste and nothing else. I have decided that I will go through this process of first short-listing, sending them mail, wait for their approval, phone and fight about validating the disapproval two times max. After that I will entirely stop online thing and just go with what they say even though it might take LOT of time.

Again going back to the profile her partner preferences only reads for Sr. Managers, VP, Team Leads, from India, US, UK. Maybe she had accepted me by mistake or maybe she realized something wrong with my profile. Am I being stupid? I don't know, its all so confusing. 

Online Shooting - May Day! May Day! Got a Hit!

Finally after almost 30 rejections in 4 sites (yes, my counter need to be updated) I have got a hit yesterday from a beautiful and smart girl in Bangalore. She is of age 26 and working as an Architect and interestingly she was one of those persons who had in the partner preference with mother tongue as Kannada. Aaduvari matalaku arthale verule anna pata loni satyam ippudu bayataku vastundi. 

Anyways the flip side is both of us turns out to be Free Members. So all we can really do is just see the name and nothing else. I need to become a Premium member and that's where I am now little hesitant. It costs me about 5k for 6 months visibility which gives me the provision to send messages, chat with the fellow members, get profile highlights for 90 days etc. Should I take the plunge? As Patnayak says, "Really yaar, this is your long term life partner, you shouldn't be thinking about all that". Doing this would mean, going in with the Shaadi guarantee that says - "We guarantee you Express interests or money back". This in turn would mean something really might happen in the next six months which is kind of pressure situation for me.

Because of such thoughts, I have for the life of me I can't understand, started doubting the authenticity of interest expressed. Why did she chose me when she clearly had her preferences as people from US/UK/India? I know I am turning out to be a jerk but I really am getting tensed and worried about it.The thing is though I want this to happen, I don't want it happening real fast and I am looking at marriage somewhere next year.

On second thoughts I can always tell the would-be to be that I am ready for marriage only next year. The only problem now is broaching this subject with my parents. First about Shaadi.com which shouldn't be a problem but again I will put to grilling for my preferences. I hate to see a repeat telecast but I would need to do that.

And yes, finally I would like to admit that I was having a wonderful and over the top feelings all throughout the day yesterday. Getting your interest accepted is a real special feeling. It is now left to see how this will culminate.

Stats-

Interests Expressed by me - 45

Accepted so far - 1

Declined so far -30

Waiting for Responses - 15

Interests Expressed by others - 3

Accepted - 0

Declined - 3

Yippie!

Online Shooting - Week 4

As expected my interest levels have come down a bit with the lack of responses. I still do check the sites regularly to the extent of seeing if anyone has accepted or rejected my profile. All the people I liked or expressed interests in mostly had their partner preference to be of certain Mother Tongue or Religion/Caste specific to a community.

I see lot of good looking profiles from Bangalore/Delhi/Mumbai and also occasionally from Andhra/Kerala. Even though I knew that they had certain partner preference with those two criteria I was hoping they actually meant that first preference would be that and they are open to everyone. Apparently I am proving to be wrong. You see the site also gives you the ability to put 'Any' and 'Your Preference' both. Its up to the user to decide what she means. So number of declined have increased.

Over last week all I did was search and peruse through profiles all the way till page 33 when I thought enough is enough. Interestingly one good thing I have found out quite accidentally and which should have been obvious is giving me good reasons to take it as the way it is going. You see all the sites have more or less called me to inquire when I will be willing to change to premium membership, when I am planning to get married. Somehow I felt a bit choked and told them I will apply when I think time is right and not to push me further.

While 3 of them have just called once, the ones from my community site have called me at least 4 times by different persons so far urging me to jump. It is in one of those calls that I heard the guy tell me "Sir, daily we get at least 4000 profiles, premium membership will give you maximum availability". They don't end the call the usual way, "thank you sir, Is there anything else I might assist you" they just slam the phone down abruptly. No Kidding. Anyway the point to take away being 4000 profiles a day I know if I keep my frequency of checking weekly once I will now have new set of 30,000 profiles to check. Even if 100 people are logging in I would have 700 new people to look for.

Of course this 100 would come by taking out preference, salary, mother tongue etc.I also think its time I change my bio. This I have felt middle of last week much before Mr.Mote woke up from his slumber and gave me valuable tips. Somehow I know that what I wrote isn't as appealing as it should be and I don't see any emotional punches in it. Will give it a grilling tonight.

Knowing the Enemy -

The other major change I have done is to change the profile pics and play around it for a while. This morning I have also seen the other way round i.e. knowing the enemies. I began going through grooms and I see that I stand fairly good chance with this ( after setting some specific filters of country-India, Working as -"software", Age-"25-29", with photo visible to all,caste -...) on page 3. The first 2 pages the people were looking really bad. By removing the filters of 'software' and 'caste' I am nowhere to be seen in the first 10 as all the folks from all parts of country are getting piled up. Well that ain't a easy task pushing everyone aside.
Profile tweaking would be the first step definitely and then I am still not sure if I need to jump on the Premium bandwagon yet.

Stats -

Interests Expressed by me - 27

Accepted so far - 0

Declined so far -13

Interests Expressed by others - 3

Accepted - 0

Declined - 3

Online Shooting - Week 3

Finally the confrontation has begun, the one I didn't want and the one I know I will fight for. Ever since I have ventured online I knew that I had to do it in private and on my terms. Having my privacy intruded is a huge source of  discomfort for me and the way mom and dad keep asking questions I was sure my search wouldn't be pleasant.

So far there have been 2 major verbal brawls

Rejection - How to properly say NO to no -

Last week Nanna had sent me the photo of a girl which he had found the most perfect and rightful girl. He also went on to tell me that if I was okay getting married in the next year early months. The icing on the cake, I was told, was that usually in our community finding girls of that height and that fairness is nearly impossible and that this was a God sent gift for me. Anyways burdened with so much expectations and fully knowing that this girl doesn't meet one of the mandatory criteria I had kept for myself (a working girl), I finally had a chance to look at the photo.

I didn't like what I saw. I just felt she was little short, little stout, looking little aged and this is all from the photo.This is what I told them on the phone. Dad wasn't happy, Mom too wasn't happy. They kept persisting that in photos sometimes the girls don't come good and I need to see her in person. Like that's THE golden rule. Furthering adding to this bizarre logic is that the girl's is hailing from a town where Balu annaya's wife is hailing from. Even after telling them not to bother finding about her, my parents went on to do their own background search and their joy knew no bounds.

Everything was just perfect except me agreeing to it. I now am forced to see the girl even though I don' want to see her. Just irking them further was my stupid admission that I rejected a girl on the matrimony website hailing from Kadapa. I had a good 30 minutes hearing from my fuming mom and dad on the phone with my side of conversation being only saying 'ok' for every 30 seconds literally. I just wish they first had seen the girl and why I declined.

Drinking and Non-Veg- Really? How can I?

This is more to do with my profile. One of the things that I hated the most during Prat's profile set-up was my parents insistence that he keep his profile as 'Vegetarian' even though he loves chicken like a second skin. He later turning out to be a vegetarian for the respect for Gowthami is entirely different subject and yes, he has now turned back to non-veg.

I hated such display of profile. Its a blatant lie and I firmly decided then that I would never want to do the online matrimony with my parents hanging around. Circumstances now forced me to relent to them and I had my profile put up in the site few days back with the way I wanted.

Yesterday was when finally they really read that I had kept 'Drinks Occassionally' and 'Non Vegetarian'. So over the phone I had 20 minute duel strongly arguing with them, putting out all the sentimental punches like 'I don't like it but I am doing it for you. Please don't expect me to be happy with such display' etc.

Rethinking over what has happened I now feel 'Drinks Occassionally' can never be justified in the eyes of the  Indian thinking of uncles and aunties, no matter how truthful I am. As Chandan says "Your occasionally might be one week, how would they justify?" So I am not consciously hurt now when I have changed my drinking habits to 'Never Drink'. Besides it's the bride I need to impress upon not the father-in-law.

Putting it as 'Vegetarian' though is completely out of question.

This is the decision I have now come upon - I am no longer going to visit the site that my parents have forced me to change my preference.

Interests Expressed by me - 23

Accepted so far - 0

Declined so far -10

Interests Expressed by others - 3

Accepted - 0

Declined - 3