New Phase

It had been a thought always, but finally happened. Quitting from my first company – Infosys. It was a biggie, leaving the familiar places and the people. The new one I took up, far from the boundaries I have known so far – St. Paul in Minnesota. Central America – an hour behind the timing I am used to. It’s quite a change, and still trying to fit myself in. The bare time I get is immense, trying to figure out what to do. I was running short of time for everything in Charlotte. Missing everything I knew off. Sambhu, home, friends, the streets, the fun and all that is possible. I have started bugging people, calling em up and forcing them to speak. Messaging service in my phone is kicking its heights of performance. Trying to substitute the solitude with the virtual media. Not a winner thou.

I guess the city awaits me to explore it. Roam around and find the places. I want to be the leader, by the time my friends visit in. This is a quaint one, and may turn out interesting. The weather pleases me, it’s same as Charlotte. Work place is nice, good folks around and a peaceful environment. Still working around the induction kid and documents. No work to do irritates me, but feel I should take it slow. It is not the old race, where you forget if its day light or dusk. I may like the whole thing, but still need to run back home. I have a whole story going in there!!!

Slow Down!

Confused, mumbled and absent minded!!! I fit into these titles at times. Not that I am a dumb person, believe that I am a fairly intelligent woman, who is aggressive and crowd catching. Guess I get it from my mother, used to love her for what she is.
Though you know you are there, have it in you n just have to speak up, but feel like slowing down. I see people racing, trying to stamp on one others. It's difficult to sort out how you reach there and who you end up hurting. I had been there many a time and done all of those. Taking a short pause and looking back and you find them futile. Appreciate if things can be taken a bit slow.

This is just momentary and may be coz i am running a dull day. Solitary moments and slow songs ticks up the "different me" and I end up thinking much. Now that is enough for a Thursday eve 😊!!!

Wesley Blues

I am super excited with the housie thing. Bought a new house in Charlotte. Both the better n the best halves boiling a good part of our times with the new home décor. It’s all fun to see new furniture arrive and walls getting some color and life. The patio, yard and the wide whole place, I feel like a kid in the Barbie town. As people hear call it – “Welcome to the home owners club”.  This is the happy side of the story.

Now it is again time to bid good-bye. It may sound strange, as I even connect a lot to the places I dwell. Leaving the “Wesley Village”, the apartments– it did ache. The past 5 years, I have stayed at multiple places, and this strange feeling always come along. Things are a little different with the latest. This is the place which I have set up the whole house all myself. Started living alone – I mean, away from all familiar faces and friends. That was a bold move, as you practically land up staying in a place where you have no one to interact with. Had friends advise me out of the choice, with all possible reasons. But since it was the very me…..it was all that I decided which did matter at that time. I am lucky to have lovely folks around every time, who take good care of me. I was not being difficult, may be needed a break from the whole pampering!!

Shifted to the new place and did set up the place. First couple of days, was a bit odd, as there was no one who I can speak with. Most of the talking part was via call, to my hubby and friends.  Gradually, I could figure out that I had plenty of time to play with. Started watching movies, serials (my gateway to Grey’s Anatomy), books. Quality time for self pampering – the new colors to the nails, a self facial, trying out different attire combos and many. I was too lazy to cook just for myself, but could do some creative cooking if there were folks to relish them. A dear friend who stayed close, who used to be my guide to the new apartment and was the sole source of company.  – I have tortured him enough with my whining and cooking adventure.  He is a wonderful friend, and probably “Wesley Village” is one of the reasons which brought us close.

I used do circles around the apartment complex, while I am on call with my hubby, mom or even offshore. The pool was awesome..have tried swimming with my little skills. The club house is very live and active –The random wine tasting events n much more fun stuff. There was a park close by, and I used to go walking at times. Most often, used to lose my way and roam around. Could see a bunch of pretty houses and it used to feel like a French colony. When it used to rain with lightning and thunderstorms, I used to hold on to the pillow with my eyes tightly closed. All the little bit of me studying, was being witnessed there!!!... There were moments of fun, joy and loneliness, all of which I still cherish.

As everyone say, change is positive and is for the good. It’s true as I relish every minute I spend in my house. There are often slices that are left behind which pricks your memory, scrolling back a few pages. They are unique and memorable!

Fly Emirates

The last India trip by itself is a longer story. Right from my sleeping pattern to running around and paying visits to all who have almost forgotten my face. The schedule was fantastic that I crossed the same district some multiple times for different reasons. Visa and the stamping, worst of all and had me hop between states. Not to be totally unfair, had a wonderful time catching up with my dear ones. Towards the close of my vacation I was all tired, wished to get “another vacation” to ease off my India vacation.

Finally my usual spot, the airport. Boarded from Trivandrum international airport. I was flying with Emirates (Trivandrum – Dubai- Dallas - Charlotte). I am quite a talented one for my running/sliding adventures which happen for every visit to the airport. This time being way very early for the flight, realized how boring airports can be. Though the concept of “queue” was supposed to be practiced, everyone seemed to be in a hurry. Pushing one another and drifting – all this is not required – “Boss we all are going in the same airbus and it will not move an inch unless each one of us make it to our seats”. At the security check-in, things looked to be a little different. One line/queue  was getting split into 2-3. I was not sure, which side I had to move and was confused with the logic of partition. I moved to the line one and started loading my stuffs to the conveyor belt. A security guy stepped towards me and told – “Madam not this one – the other lane”. He took my things and I had to follow him. I was still trying to find out what is different in there.

Checked in, and started roaming around the lounge. The bookstall on which I had my hopes on was not open yet. Ate some samosas from the cafeteria. I usually plunder all shops in the airport while in any transit. I could see some antique and souvenir shops open at that time, which were abandoned with no visitors. Wanted to check on what was exclusive there and approached one. The guy there, was all excited to see me. I don’t blame him as he would have placed his sole hopes in me buying something from there. He started explaining me about the heritage of Kerala and the famous places. He also mentioned that Padmanabha Swamy temple is the one I should not miss to visit. Wanted to yell at him – “Dude, I am a Keralite n I look like one. All my 23 years of my life was spent in this very city and the temple you just mentioned is like 5kms from my house. I had been much before I could walk on my own”.  Just did not say anything as I will land up doing nothing but embarrass him. Started talking to him in Malayalam and had a quality chat for some 20mts. I was more than desperate to kill time.

It was time and boarded the flight after one last call to say bye to my parents. The feeling was strange,  in fact missed the place a lot. The transition which comes to one’s life is always at the cost of missing the most dearest. This was a routine feeling every time and to get over with it  started watching some random movie. All through the voyage could not catch a single minute of sleep. Watched bits and parts of most of the movies. Reached Dubai in next 4 hours. Seriously admit the fact that Dubai has one of the biggest airports ever.  So big and huge and whatever, now I have another big queue for the security check. Placed all my cabin bags in the trolley and moved along with the mob. Started feeling a bit chilly irrespective of all the heaters mounted in every corners. I started checking for the jacket and guess what…!  can’t find it.  It is not new that I lose things, but this time it was my favorite jacket. I couldn’t  just let it go. Planned to sprint back to the aircraft and start searching. One look back, could see a whole city population behind me and it was no more a choice.  I always try to track back events to exactly find what has happened in the past. It is like a photographic memory…. picking back scenes, pictures, dialogues.  Lol – this is no skill, everyone have it in them.  I always appreciate myself using it :-).  I could remember roaming around with the jacket – in Trivandrum airport, the queues. But don’t remember it when I at the souvenir shop. I could trace it – lost it at the security check. It was the security officer, he missed to pick my jacket when he moved queues for me.

“What now” was the question. I did all that which is a routine during the panic hours. Called up my spouse and whined, he told me to forget about it as we can get the same thing again. He was asking me to get another jacket from the airport and get back home sooner!!!.. That was comforting but I was still stuck with the very thing. Called up home back in India and filled up my parents with the story. My mom called up the airport and confirmed that they have the “commodity” under their custody. I gave my mother all the details I could think about the jacket– its make, company, color, style. Finally my mind was clear as someone tracked it down and I would get it back someday.

I had a longer transit gap between Dubai and Dallas. During the wait time, bought some book and not_so_useful_things! As it got late and dark, it went crazy cold. I had to find an alternative for jacket. Searched around the concourse for a while and could finally find a shop which was selling caps and jerkins. All the jerkins were flashy and the only one which could get close to me was a black hooded-jerkin. It was a plain one, with a stitch – “Fly Emirates”. Not much to think, I took it and that was my comfort the way back. Got back to Charlotte safe!

I started using the jerkin, once a while. I could not just leave it as, it was my only help throughout the whole journey.  Every other person who see me in the outfit has a question or rather make fun of me, why did u get a souvenir one, you look like an airport ground staff. I get tired detailing the story. Once I went to the gym and had this jerkin on. A lady came and asked me, with all excitement – do you really work for “Emirates” wow! That was one of the best moments. I just wanted to tell “Yeah..yes I do”. I nodded her no. That time, it browsed me through all that happened during the trip. The long lasted tale among my travel freak-outs !

Welcome 2013!!

There falls the curtain to another wonderful year with a grand applause. It was more than an eventful one. It’s a fact that every year seems special and dearly. But still think some of the most wonderful things in my life are marked with 2012 J.

Moved to a happening community and I am totally happy with the place. It’s a delight to see the city skyline from my apartment.

The travel saga between Ohio and North Carolina is put to an end. Relieved to finally settle in the same place with my spouse. The hopping and travel part had been a trouble always. I miss the airport adventures thou ;-).

My little sister got engaged, it is one of the most cherishing events of my life. Got to attend the ceremony and meet her fiancé and family. Along with the function I could manage a short vacation to the home land after 3 long years. Though it was a crazy schedule with the little days with me, I had a wonderful time catching up with family and dear ones. Spoke to my favorite friend, he was missed for long.

Got to know and hang out with a dear friend. Always used to seek for the person to whom I can stone in and I guess I have found the one.  One stop shop for all my merry times and whining J.

Taking a driver’s license and more over driving a car. I know this sounds silly, but things are bit different with me. Had been running away from the very thing all the time. The past 5 years in US never attempted to think about it. Now I have a minion with me which I drive around.

The holiday season and the Christmas Tree. Oh I loved it, this time decorated the whole thing from scratch right from buying the tree to mounting the tail star. I guess I did glow more than the whole tree!!!..

The short trip before the year ended - highlight being the gambling. Won some money which I was excited about. May be the ‘beginners luck’ but never anticipated that I have a winning hand.

Wish this year keeps all of us happy and smiling….Happy New Year..Cheers!!!