It's been a week since my last post because I was loaded with work suddenly which was a great thing. My brain cells are feeling very active once again and it felt great to get cracking on some new projects. However, like one would say in Hindi (bhagwaan jab deta hai toh chappad phaad ke deta hai) which was so apt in my case because suddenly I was pulled in different directions for all kinds of work. Anyway, now I'm steadily and calmly trying to finish everything off. It doesn't take too much for my panic button to go off and when it does, all hell breaks loose. The weekend looks tempting but the week in office is what I enjoy the most.
I am currently working on the IT publication called POP IT. It is my recreational project because I can go absolutely crazy and have fun with the communication I create.
I am a little saddened nowadays. One because I feel like I haven't been able to do justice to my last two designs. Multitasking is a task in itself which I don't do quite well. Considering I have been struggling with two three things at once, I haven't been able to devote my time to each of them individually. Two because Rovi is leaving end of this month which means the space two seats away from me will be empty. I think I will put up a snap of him soon enough. He just agreed to posing for me.Everyday after lunch, if I just glance at him he flashes his smile and promptly says "yeah, I'll get you chocolate". I told him that today would be the last day I'd ask him to get me eclairs so that he can spend his last days here not feeling like he's made use of and be seated in peace. In my defense, in my two months here I have asked him to get me eclairs just about 8 times. It doesn't do much for the fact that I ask like it's my birthright though.Today I will be sharing my chocolates with Placi (short for Placida and no, I didn't come up with that). She is our HR person and although I found her name amusing at first, she very much lives up to it. She is always calm and often calls up people at random from her desk to trouble them. She shares the nicknaming fetish with me. I am no one to talk about names. My parents decided to compensate for my most unusual surname by giving me a name which half of the country's girls have.
Okay. Work calling. I have to finish some things now. Blogging does not feature in the priority list when there is work to do. Later then.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Morning
So it's a new day and I'm back to work. Very few people have turned up so far. I have a really good position in the room because I'm in the corner and I sit perpendicular to everyone else so I can see everyone's faces and what they're up to while no one can see what I'm up to. So some serious advantage there.
Rovinson is here. Rovi is a little relieved because I have reduced the frequency of asking for eclairs over the past couple of days. He is bloody pleased as hell though, that I knew more than five Tamil songs by heart even though I don't understand a word of what I'm singing. Also that I have watched a few Tamil films, know the names of some actors and am even aware of some upcoming flicks which he is very excited about. If Rovi has a good book somewhere tucked in between his movie collection, I'm pretty sure I'm in there.
I have a thing for twisting everyone's names into a nick name which is annoying and I did that in the very month I joined, to most people I know. So Kimberly became Kimmie, Priyanka became Pinku/Pinky, Rakesh became Raka, Saswata became Sashu, Jagpreet became Jugs(Yeesh) and Shaily became Shailendra etc.I also squeak their names out every time they pass by and everyone else gives me the dirtiest looks possible on earth. It's the look which screams LOSER. Everyone secretly hates what I've done to their names but that's the beauty of it!
Arnab(Ornab) has just asked me to meet him in a bit. He is a 34 year old man from Bengal who is a delightful boy at heart. He has a distinctive Bengali accent. He loves the rest of the world and despises India. He speaks in metaphors constantly. He starts his day with a cup of tea, a banana, a samosa and some rusk. He eats meat every single day and loves to discover new people who aren't vegetarian. He sticks band-aids on holes in his t-shirts like they'll heal and somehow seal up. Is rarely seated in his place,walks like a duck dragging his slippers through the room with his hands folded behind his back and grin stuck on face to check what everyone is up to with great interest.I think he spends most of his time doing just that. He forgets what he's saying and gets distracted easily. It's difficult sometimes to follow a conversation with him because he darts into several other directions while trying to use metaphors and other complicated analogies that are supposed to make his point clearer but ends up just going off track. He is very passionate about his work with a keen and sharp eye for detail. A perfectionist, sometimes I don't ask him for feedback because I rarely reach a point of finality with him and he comes up with new problems with each review. His eyes light up when an idea strikes him and he's constantly thinking.
Ooohhh, there he is waddling over now to check what I'm up to. Later then.
Rovinson is here. Rovi is a little relieved because I have reduced the frequency of asking for eclairs over the past couple of days. He is bloody pleased as hell though, that I knew more than five Tamil songs by heart even though I don't understand a word of what I'm singing. Also that I have watched a few Tamil films, know the names of some actors and am even aware of some upcoming flicks which he is very excited about. If Rovi has a good book somewhere tucked in between his movie collection, I'm pretty sure I'm in there.
I have a thing for twisting everyone's names into a nick name which is annoying and I did that in the very month I joined, to most people I know. So Kimberly became Kimmie, Priyanka became Pinku/Pinky, Rakesh became Raka, Saswata became Sashu, Jagpreet became Jugs(Yeesh) and Shaily became Shailendra etc.I also squeak their names out every time they pass by and everyone else gives me the dirtiest looks possible on earth. It's the look which screams LOSER. Everyone secretly hates what I've done to their names but that's the beauty of it!
Arnab(Ornab) has just asked me to meet him in a bit. He is a 34 year old man from Bengal who is a delightful boy at heart. He has a distinctive Bengali accent. He loves the rest of the world and despises India. He speaks in metaphors constantly. He starts his day with a cup of tea, a banana, a samosa and some rusk. He eats meat every single day and loves to discover new people who aren't vegetarian. He sticks band-aids on holes in his t-shirts like they'll heal and somehow seal up. Is rarely seated in his place,walks like a duck dragging his slippers through the room with his hands folded behind his back and grin stuck on face to check what everyone is up to with great interest.I think he spends most of his time doing just that. He forgets what he's saying and gets distracted easily. It's difficult sometimes to follow a conversation with him because he darts into several other directions while trying to use metaphors and other complicated analogies that are supposed to make his point clearer but ends up just going off track. He is very passionate about his work with a keen and sharp eye for detail. A perfectionist, sometimes I don't ask him for feedback because I rarely reach a point of finality with him and he comes up with new problems with each review. His eyes light up when an idea strikes him and he's constantly thinking.
Ooohhh, there he is waddling over now to check what I'm up to. Later then.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Inference
I have had a rather tumultuous five days. It started with a heated argument with one of my close friends who was leaving the city and the reaction of that was taken out on another close friend. The three of us are very close. We've known each other six years now and I wouldn't say it's a normal relationship we share. We all behave like we're romantically involved with each other so our problems sometimes take over our lives to an extent one can't imagine.
I keep wondering why it's like this. It's probably because we've lived and studied with each other for so many years that we became family at some point. I have come to realize that I (and they for that matter) behave like how a family does. In my case, I grew up in a family where we all took each other for granted to the point of no return. I grew up not being able to separate boundaries and sometimes even now, I have to watch very carefully where I tread lest I cram someones space. Which happens most of the time actually. The past four days have jolted me back to a reality which is unpleasant, unsettling and so harsh that I have to make an attempt to digest it.
What does it mean to co-exist in a space with someone who you're extremely close to? This is something I am trying to figure out for myself. It's important to separate myself from them as a being because our spaces and souls get intertwined sometimes and distinguishing between anything is practically impossible for me. I'm one of those extremely emotional people who swings often and extremely between two ends of any spectrum. Finding balance and peace within is a constant strive for as long as I can remember.
I think it's easier to achieve something within if you stop trying so hard to do exactly that. Dispersing some of that emotion and energy into something outside of me will probably help stabilize my state of being. This blog was also started with a similar thought.
I have now lost my chain of thought thanks to a friend of mine who lights up my life nowadays with his random and sometimes utter nonsensical talk. Anyway, more later.
I keep wondering why it's like this. It's probably because we've lived and studied with each other for so many years that we became family at some point. I have come to realize that I (and they for that matter) behave like how a family does. In my case, I grew up in a family where we all took each other for granted to the point of no return. I grew up not being able to separate boundaries and sometimes even now, I have to watch very carefully where I tread lest I cram someones space. Which happens most of the time actually. The past four days have jolted me back to a reality which is unpleasant, unsettling and so harsh that I have to make an attempt to digest it.
What does it mean to co-exist in a space with someone who you're extremely close to? This is something I am trying to figure out for myself. It's important to separate myself from them as a being because our spaces and souls get intertwined sometimes and distinguishing between anything is practically impossible for me. I'm one of those extremely emotional people who swings often and extremely between two ends of any spectrum. Finding balance and peace within is a constant strive for as long as I can remember.
I think it's easier to achieve something within if you stop trying so hard to do exactly that. Dispersing some of that emotion and energy into something outside of me will probably help stabilize my state of being. This blog was also started with a similar thought.
I have now lost my chain of thought thanks to a friend of mine who lights up my life nowadays with his random and sometimes utter nonsensical talk. Anyway, more later.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Arrival
I just arrived at work. Not too many people have come in yet although Rovi is here. I'm hoping today is a lot more productive than yesterday. My design was scrapped yesterday because it was better suited for a high end brand unlike the one we're currently designing for.So I ended up spending most of my time post the review reading and writing.
I started my day with some soft appes (balls of rice dough) and spicy garlic chutney made by my mum. My mum is one of the best cooks I have ever met. I wonder sometimes if I'll ever be able to create half the magic with ingredients like she does. My sister has taken after her though. She seems to be flowering beautifully in that aspect. Otherwise too actually. She's older than me by the way and anyone can guess that I am her biggest fan.
I've been itching to grab my camera and take some pictures. Practically every day, I spot something that I want to capture and I just don't have my camera. Also, my memory card was misplaced by my ever so adorable cousin long ago. I haven't bothered to replace it ever since. This week, I most definitely shall though.
People have started pouring in now and I can see my team head cautiously walk towards all of us, trying to gather us for a meeting. I can also see everyone avoiding him conveniently. Shantaramji is doing his thing by serving us tea. A sure shot sign of work starting. At this point it would be ideal and such a proper thing to say "I have to get back to work now" except that I don't really have any.
I started my day with some soft appes (balls of rice dough) and spicy garlic chutney made by my mum. My mum is one of the best cooks I have ever met. I wonder sometimes if I'll ever be able to create half the magic with ingredients like she does. My sister has taken after her though. She seems to be flowering beautifully in that aspect. Otherwise too actually. She's older than me by the way and anyone can guess that I am her biggest fan.
I've been itching to grab my camera and take some pictures. Practically every day, I spot something that I want to capture and I just don't have my camera. Also, my memory card was misplaced by my ever so adorable cousin long ago. I haven't bothered to replace it ever since. This week, I most definitely shall though.
People have started pouring in now and I can see my team head cautiously walk towards all of us, trying to gather us for a meeting. I can also see everyone avoiding him conveniently. Shantaramji is doing his thing by serving us tea. A sure shot sign of work starting. At this point it would be ideal and such a proper thing to say "I have to get back to work now" except that I don't really have any.
Work Break
While I sit at work and contemplate about what I can do without attracting too much attention from my co-workers about my current lack of assigned work, I thought I'd just ramble on.
Rovinson who sits two seats away from me glances at me and flashes a smile.I think he finds me a little amusing. For starters, I call him Rovi in a sing song manner (which I know is very annoying) which I don't think anyone in the world has ever called him. I also instruct him to get me 5 eclairs from the shop below practically every day after lunch. He rarely speaks and most people didn't know he can. He spends most of his time watching Tamil music videos on youtube and chatting online with his friends. He is very sweet though. I know that because he smiles every single time I call him Rovi and ask for my self proclaimed eclairs. That's Rovinson for you.
While I shuffle between my inbox and my design on Illustrator which has now been scrapped, I realize I have absolutely nothing to do. My inbox lies open perpetually even if I'm not chatting. It just lies there to feed into an obsession of sorts. People around me are chatting and working side by side. Our peon Shantaram just went around serving tea. I really like him. He is always smiling and is very sweet.
I have always had a soft corner for people who serve us. Especially because I grew up with servants at home who literally lived with us and became part of our family. My mother always made sure that we treated them with respect. I couldn't even address them as bai (maid) and called them maushi(aunty), didi/tai(older sister) instead. I still can't.
In India where we have it easy with ten people at our disposal, I often wonder about how we don't think twice before we take certain liberties of treating or rather ill treating them. They have no choice is what I hear ever so often. Circumstantially bound, they serve us and never ever dare to fight us. However, I feel sometimes that there is always a choice. I don't mean a choice to find a better life for themselves and other idealistic/romantic bullshit like that. I mean one can always say no. What would we do then if one fine day our maids, drivers, gas station workers, peons, conductors, bus drivers, auto fellows just decided to not serve you anymore because they just didn't feel like it?
Yeah, spare time to think and create unusual scenarios in my head but these things affect me ever so often. Of course with time, I have resorted to taking the quintessential road of indifference and arrogance wherein I think feeling bad for people less blessed in itself is a thought that creates that divide of affluence or class. Then again, I can't help but feel or think now, can I?
Rovinson who sits two seats away from me glances at me and flashes a smile.I think he finds me a little amusing. For starters, I call him Rovi in a sing song manner (which I know is very annoying) which I don't think anyone in the world has ever called him. I also instruct him to get me 5 eclairs from the shop below practically every day after lunch. He rarely speaks and most people didn't know he can. He spends most of his time watching Tamil music videos on youtube and chatting online with his friends. He is very sweet though. I know that because he smiles every single time I call him Rovi and ask for my self proclaimed eclairs. That's Rovinson for you.
While I shuffle between my inbox and my design on Illustrator which has now been scrapped, I realize I have absolutely nothing to do. My inbox lies open perpetually even if I'm not chatting. It just lies there to feed into an obsession of sorts. People around me are chatting and working side by side. Our peon Shantaram just went around serving tea. I really like him. He is always smiling and is very sweet.
I have always had a soft corner for people who serve us. Especially because I grew up with servants at home who literally lived with us and became part of our family. My mother always made sure that we treated them with respect. I couldn't even address them as bai (maid) and called them maushi(aunty), didi/tai(older sister) instead. I still can't.
In India where we have it easy with ten people at our disposal, I often wonder about how we don't think twice before we take certain liberties of treating or rather ill treating them. They have no choice is what I hear ever so often. Circumstantially bound, they serve us and never ever dare to fight us. However, I feel sometimes that there is always a choice. I don't mean a choice to find a better life for themselves and other idealistic/romantic bullshit like that. I mean one can always say no. What would we do then if one fine day our maids, drivers, gas station workers, peons, conductors, bus drivers, auto fellows just decided to not serve you anymore because they just didn't feel like it?
Yeah, spare time to think and create unusual scenarios in my head but these things affect me ever so often. Of course with time, I have resorted to taking the quintessential road of indifference and arrogance wherein I think feeling bad for people less blessed in itself is a thought that creates that divide of affluence or class. Then again, I can't help but feel or think now, can I?
The First Nibble
I spend too much time thinking and wondering about whether or not I should take a step towards doing something. Most often then not, I end up not doing it at all.
This time without having spent too much time bothering about language, content and diction I decided to just go for it.So here I am. Almost 4 years since I made an attempt to start a blog, I have finally managed to post something.
I will deliberately refrain from making too many promises about structure, content and frequency of posts because I have created this blog to defy exactly that.
This blog is not restricted to any particular theme, subject or conversation. Hence the name!
Happy Blogging.
This time without having spent too much time bothering about language, content and diction I decided to just go for it.So here I am. Almost 4 years since I made an attempt to start a blog, I have finally managed to post something.
I will deliberately refrain from making too many promises about structure, content and frequency of posts because I have created this blog to defy exactly that.
This blog is not restricted to any particular theme, subject or conversation. Hence the name!
Happy Blogging.
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