Let it Rain, Let it Rain, Let it Rain!

It has been raining here all February. I mean literally all days in February barring one or two days.I am told how great the weather is in California.After my first year of living here I don't feel it is that great. I feel it is little bit hyped so as everything else here in states. Of course coming from Minnesota it is great but some how I can't give an A .
In one of those dry days I wore my good husband cap and went to a farmer's market near by. It's great. What I like the most is it's like in India where I used to go to market along with my Dad. It always used to be fun bargaining with the vendors there and listening to all the curse words from them if we don't buy it finally. The best part is to buy some fresh snacks hot out of the stove after we were done.I used to enjoy it always going to the vegetable Market.

Talking about enjoyment, Yesterday we went to the Mount Hamilton in the rain (it's actually snowing on the mountain) and saw one of the Giant Telescopes I have ever seen. It's really huge like 120 feet. It's in a observatory on the top of the Mt.Hamilton in south Sanjose and it is donated by a Guy called James Lick in 1876. You can find more information here. http://mthamilton.ucolick.org/
One side note the thing which surprised me more was James Lick is buried under the Observatory right under where that telescope is mounded.I felt it little weird to imagine that I am standing on a tomb. But the trip was worth bearing the snow and rain.

Super Bowl: My ecstasies

I was worried about this Super Bowl. I was really worried. No way the Giants could win. No way on their best day they could pull this off. Eli Manning is in Tom Brady's league, but not in his league, you know what I mean? No rooting interest as there were no Bucs. No love for Bill Belichick, particularly after that Patriots "spy camera" scandal, but no affection for Tom Coughlin either.Nothing about the New York Giants made me feel sentimental. It wasn't like this would be their first Super Bowl, the way it was a year ago for Indianapolis. No player to pull for, to say: "Please let this guy win one." Brady already owned three Super Bowl rings. The other Patriots, I mean, who cares? Junior Seau? Big deal. I couldn't care less if Randy Moss ever wins one.

Michael Strahan, that giant Giant with the big personality? OK, maybe it would be nice if he could win one. He was supposed to be retired by now. A funny guy, a fine football player.

So which team would I want to win? May be a little bit Patriots because of the Perfect Season. But really I don't care.

On to the Coin toss Giants call tails and it comes up tails. They elect to receive. And hey, they score first. Eli Manning takes them right down the field. Could have scored a touchdown, but settles instead for a field goal.

An omen? A sign that this could be New York's day? Oh, please. Don't forget, the Bears scored first against the Colts in last year's game. Happens all the time. Don't get fooled. Giants probably won't get lucky again.

Sure enough, Brady takes the Pats straight down the field. So, Easy just like writing an EMail. Laurence Maroney goes 43 yards with the kickoff. Maroney goes 9 more right out of the gate, his first rush. Maroney goes the final yard for the score.

New England 7, New York 3. This thing is over, man. Three quarters to go, but this baby is done.

I watch. I wait. I think any minute now, Brady will begin Long, textbook drives down the field. Surgical strikes to Moss and to Wes Welker and to Kevin Faulk, wait and see.

What I see instead is Brady under attack. No room to maneuver, no room to breathe.

Giants are coming at him from every direction. Strahan from this side. Osi Umenyiora from that side. Justin Tuck is hitting Brady with everything.
Halftime: 7-3.

End Of Third quarter: Still 7-3.

A low-scoring Super Bowl between these two teams?

We're inside a dome, for heaven's sake. They closed the roof. (Because of a threat of rain that never fell.) Ideal conditions for football ... unlike, for example,the last SuperBowl.

Is Brady hurt? Tired? What, hot date last night? Was he accidentally struck in the nose by a football.

Can't be that the Giants are this good, can it? They were 0-2 earlier this season. They were lucky to survive the Packers. They are two-touchdown underdogs.

Then there is Plax. He predicted a 23-17 upset for his side. I am not even sure he is in the game. Manning is throwing to Amani Toomer, throwing to Steve Smith. I have to look up Plax's stats in the fourth quarter to make sure he didn't call in sick.

Fourth quarter now. Giants look stiff . But wait. Manning throws a touchdown pass to No. 85.

Who is 85? I look him up. David Tyree? Who the heck is David Tyree? Did I hear his name once all week?

Patriots in trouble? Nope, back comes the Brady bunch. A touchdown pass from Touchdown Tommy at last. Hey look, Randy Moss is in the game! He actually caught something. Only 2:42 to go. Now this game is over.

Manning won't make it. It's third-and-5 at his own 44. There are only 80 ticks left on the clock. Manning is in the shotgun formation. It is now or never.

He gets sacked. No, he escapes! He looks, he throws ... and No. 85 hauls it down!

Meet the new Ocho Cinco. Give up your nickname, Chad Johnson. I don't know how Tyree came down with that ball, but he pinned it against his helmet. Maybe he stuck some Glue on his helmet.

New life for New York at the 24. A 12-yard pass goes to Steve Smith, who used to catch passes from Matt Leinart. Life has changed for both.

Touchdown! Who caught it? Is it Ocho Cinco again? Is it Toomer?

No, it is none other than Plaxico Burress himself. The man with the plan. The man from Michigan State just personally stuck it to Brady.

Wow Plaxico! Belichick couln't believe it is true. It's so unbelievable he left the field one minute before the game is over. Brady was dumbstruck loses to two Mannings back to back. Elder Manning appears looks to be happy. I am little sad not because Patriots lost but have to see more Manning commercials for the next one year atleast. This time not only Peyton but Eli.

So that ends one of the really cool Super Bowls ever.

NFL Divisional Playoffs Predictions:

I think this weekend is the most exiting weekend of the Year with regards to National Football League. We usually see great match ups in Quarter finals in every sport and this week is not an exception. It features everything the Pursuit of Perfection, Defending Champions, may be the most exiting players to watch in Brett Favre and LT and also some showbiz news in Jessica Simpson.

OK, Here are my Predictions:

Seattle at Green Bay : It's going to another tough home coming for Mike Homegreen the place where he won a Superbowl. Although, the whole Seattle remembers the overtime lose in the playoffs at Green Bay in 2004 this Seahawks team is a different team on the road. They lost to even Carolina on the road and with Hasselback not 100% I think Packers and Brett Favre will be too much for the Seattle.

Prediction: Packers 28 Seattle 23

Jacksonville at New England: I think even Mother Nature wants Patriots to win this year. The big hope for Jacksonville is a nasty weather day with lot of wind but looks like it is going to be a good day tomorrow in Foxboro. Jacksonville has all the weapons to score some points but look for New England defense to stop them early.Also, this Brady and Moss combination is going to be tough for any body to defend and if they need to play catch up early in the third quarter it is going to be long night for David Garrard and Jacksonville Offense.

Prediction: Patriots 38 Jaguars 24

San Diego at Indianapolis: Being a west coast guy now, I like this San Diego team and I want to see which Rivers will show up on the Sunday. If he is going to play like the way he did last week with Tennessee it's going to be great game. But with Gates most likely out and Harrison in I think Colts will prevail in a tough one.

Prediction: Colts 27 Chargers 24

New York at Dallas: This is going to be my upset pick for this weekend. Giants are playing great football especially after their game against the Patriots two weeks ago and they proved it against the Bucs last week. With TO not 100% and Cowboys slumping the last few weeks of the season I am going to pick Giants in a huge upset in this rematch of NFC East showdown.

Prediction: Cowboys 17 Giants 27

Have a Great Weekend Everyone!

Is this News?

I don't know whether The Hindu is trying to become Times of India of South or People's Magazine of the East.
May be simply they don't have any news to report!
Shipa Shetty Visits Dentist

How is My Driving?

Did you ever notice the " How is my Driving?" caption and a 1-800 Phone number below it on the back of a Truck/Semi? Well I had some experience with it yesterday.
I went to the Twins Ball game last night and was little dissapointed as twins lost to the Division rivals Whitesox in my first live game at the Metrodome. I was driving back home and here this is truck guy who came into my lane ahead of me, so suddenly and closely that he really scared the hell out of me. I was so pissed that immediately I dialed the number on the back of the truck anticipating some body from the truck company will pick it up so that I can complain them about this guy's driving. But, all I heard was some thing like this

Wat's up from the adorable phone slut!!!!
Great Summer!
Phone Sex Songs!
A gift? From your mistress
Oh, babies...
Strike a Pose Phone Sex
Are you up?
I may be a little naughty.
Taste of the exotic
Well hello there boys........

I was so dumbstruck after that I just laughed out loud and drove safe back home!

An Open Letter to ESPN!

P.S. This is for all sports fans. If you don't watch sports please ignore this post.

Dear ESPN,
Being an ESPN viewer for what 13 years now I am writing you this open letter after getting frustated watching ESPN day by day. I excused you a lot. I excused you when you had Dave O Brien the Monday night Baseball analyst for the Fifa world cup even though he sounds ridiculous reading the players Bios from what he gets from the Production manager. The reason you gave for that sounded even more ridiculous you want to reach everybody via some household name. Common Dave O Brien is not a house hold name. I excused you when you are showing Barry Bonds every home plate appearance when one of great success stories on any sports Roger Federer winning his 4th wimbledon or Rafael Nadal stopping him from the tennis immortality the Grandslam at the French open, will feature in the sport center late night telecast that too may be in the middle of the program. I excused when you have the little league world series as the main headline on ESPN and tennis if it is a Grandslam will feature a small link on some where in the corner. I excuse the fact that if I want to find tennis I need to click on the More button on ESPN.com and scroll it to the bottom.Common More is not for tennis More is for Curling, Cricket( although I am a die hard cricket fan I take that) or may be Bowling.
Yes, I forgave you when you made me wait for eternity for a grandslam semifinal or a final as you need to finish a Paint ball competition. I forgave you for showing tape delay matches as if they are live.Common cut some slack here. Do you think I don't know that in this internet age. And lastly I also excuse the fact when you take a Reuters or AP match report and put it on your website.
But I can't excuse you when I saw Sean McDonough as a play by play analyst for a master series event. Common he is not a tennis guy.He sounds so dumb. Let him call one of those Friday night Base Ball games. We all Know Roger Federer forehand is best in the business. We don't need that we expect more. Please do something here.
I am sure you can do better than that.

Sincerely,

A frustated Sports (especially Tennis) ESPN Viewer.

Interesting Books!

As nothing happening in the sports world after one of the Memorable wins of Roger Federer at Wimbledon other than the never ending Baseball season, I found lot of time reading books and I want to mention couple of them here.

1. It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins

Do you know cycling is one of the grueling and most toughest sports in the world. Imagine you are cycling for three weeks at a stretch morning to evening for about 2,500 miles baring cold, heat, mountains, rain and what not. That is Tour De France and to win it 7 times in a row is no mere feat. What is more special is to know how he did it being a cancer survivor.
This is one of the great books I have read all time as it's not only a feel good story but to see how a person can come out from the jaws of death and become one of the greatest sports persons ever is truly inspiring. I wonder why Hollywood still didn't start a movie based on it as it is a too good story for a Hollywood movie but when I think that this all happened for real I can't stop admiring Lance and his achievements and in fact now started to know what's going on in the Cycling world.

2. The Intelligent Investor By Benjamin Graham
I started the latest revised edition and very soon I realized why it's an classic. The best part of this revised edition it is original Graham unfiltered by any body else. I am novice in investing but the way he explained each and every aspect of investing is truly a master piece. If you want start investing and start reading a book on it I strongly recommend this book.

Blockbuster Final

"Flawless" was the word Federer said when asked about his tennis in the Semifinal against Bjorkman at Wimbledon. The way he played in the semifinal today left everybody at the center court in such a awe that even Greek will wonder how come these kind of angles which he creates on the court are not even thought by us when we invented Geometry. He moves like a cat on the court so silent and some times it appears that he won't even sweat a drop, bad idea for the Nike to market the vented so called air conditioned shirt via Roger. Looks like Bjorkman gave up even before he entered the court today saying that he will have fun and enjoy his semifinal. It happens with almost all the players on the circuit especially when they are playing against him on grass but with one exception "Rafeal Nadal".
This 20 year old kid from Spain not only can cover the court like the way cheetah runs so fast but now he showed the whole world that he is not a mere Spanish clay court player. Already termed has one of the best clay courters ever with a record 60 wins on clay and still going, he showed his dedication and determination that he can play on grass by the way he rushed to come to England after that triumph at Roland Garros beating Roger. Once after he came back almost from defeat against Robert Kendrick the journey man from USA in the second round he steam rolled his opponents including Andre Agassi in the third round who is playing his last wimbledon of his career. Its amazing to see the way he adapted to the surface with his so called weak serve said by everyone including Roger.
What makes this final so intriguing is Nadal doesn't care whether Roger was playing on grass or on planet Venus. He plays his game and with his clear domination over the past two years over Roger it gives him so much of confidence that he thinks he can beat Roger. I think it finally comes to who is strong mentally than just tennis. If Federer can play the way he is playing this whole tournament "flawless", I think he is clear cut favorite. But if Nadal gets into his head we are sure going to see a new Wimbledon Champion who is not just a mere clay court player but the player which we are going to watch for years to come. Either way it should be fun.

A Year in the Merde

Want to have some fun. Just read this book A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke and it is hillarious. I read lot of stories about France and French people before but this is really fun.

Asset Bubble

I feel we are on a serious Asset bubble right now. This feeling increased after my recent visit to India. I was shocked to see the real estate prices increasing like anything. As everybody know the stock market is rising like anything in India till last week and I am very bullish about the Indian stock market . I am very happy that I predicted that Sensex highs will be around 12K before it crashes. Don't get me wrong here I am a layman in this stocks, economy and other financial stuff but I am getting into it day by day.

Coming to the bubble I am talking about, Yes the real estate is on crazy boom in India. The biggest problem is the amount of black money involved in each and every transaction. We can't sell or buy even a Sq.yard of a land without involving black money in it. There is always a difference between the price set by the government for that particular land which it approves and the land which is sold by the sellers. The difference is so enormous. It's not that this business is going on secretly. Everybody knows it and everybody is getting used to deal it that way. The scariest thing for me is, I think people in India are getting tough on these kind of issues. This is how it works is the kind of attitude it is set there in everybody's mind.

I think also the root cause for this problem is people have money now. With all this globalization and people getting high paid jobs and as the demand for the land is increasing day by day due to increase in the population I think we r getting to the peak very soon.

I just hope Government does some thing to regulate this because this is creating huge holes to it's tax money.

Subway

One Napkin(tissue) for a foot long Sandwich. I don't get it. Are these cost saving measures or trying to be eco-friendly?

Obsession

I know people are obsessed for things but I think this is the maximum I ever saw. Here is my co-worker he gets a large black coffee everyday from Starbucks. He even comes to meetings late but he wont miss his cup of coffee. I was surprised this morning to see him without his coffee and when I asked him the reason, I was shocked to hear his answer. He didn't get it because the girl who usually gives his cup everyday is off today. I remember my roommate telling me other day that people won't drink their drink if the person who makes it changes; I can understand that because they prepare according to their choice but to get a cup of black coffee I don't know whether the person is that important. I thought he was insane.
Talking about my roommate of course he is one of my best friend's he has obsessions too. He is so obsessed with some things for example he likes to come into the apartment using the same entrance always. He doesn't like to change even he is closer to other one.

Speaking of my best friend's one more best friend of mine I think he is the maximum. If he likes something he will do that all day long. I am not exaggerating here I mean what I say. For example,if he likes some dish in the lunch he will prepare same dish for may be 20 days and eat the same for lunch and dinner. Same with watching movies, sports and what not everything.
Seeing all these people and in order to self satisfy myself for not being consistent I always remember this old quote.

"Is not consistency the Habit of Fools."

A Memorable Evening

I went to a concert last night performed by Ustad Zakir Hussain and it was really a master piece. Let me tell you this, the auditorium where the concert was held was amazing. It's called the Minnesota Orchestra Hall and I have never been to a auditorium which is as big as that and it has perfect acoustics that we don't even miss hearing a small beat coming from the performance.
I always used to think this kind of concerts are very boring may be because of the all the classical I used to see on Doordarshan ( National TV in India) especially when a leader passed away it's on all 24 Hrs. I never understand the point to telecast it all day, are they forcing us to cry all day? Or , Are we supposed to enjoy the music? Any way what ever reason it might be it used to be a night mare especially when there is tennis or cricket on the TV.

Coming to the point, watching the concert live yesterday it was really amazing. The music when it comes from the masters on the stage is truly something. The best part for me is to see them enjoying the every moment of what they are doing on the stage. I wish I can always do what I enjoy the most.

Most Boring weekend

It is raining for four days now and this weekend was really boring with all this rain. Its always nice this time of year here in Minneapolis. But this year still I feel like I am in winter. The last winter is mild too here so I am thinking summer is going to be the same which sucks. I watched the NBA playoffs and I am happy to see Dallas won the third game to make it 2-1 in the west semifinals. Although Dirk got hurt I am guessing they are going to win the series. I think this is the year for Mavericks.
The only positive from this weekend was the tennis match which I watched yesterday. Sometimes it's a pity that a tie don't exist in tennis match. I just got the tennis channel this weekend and I am very happy for that when I watched one of the best matches yesterday in Rome at Italian Masters between world number 1 Roger Federer and World Number 2 Rafael Nadal.
The moment the match started under the cloudy European skies at the historic Italian fort to its end after 5 hours they are great rallies hard hit forehand to forehand, wickedly spun backhands, crisp volleys, great lobs on both wings, exclusive passing shots and lots of ooo's and aaah's from the crowd. Not till the final second,seeing the usually reliable Roger Forehand's sailed long and Rafa falling on the court with red dirt everywhere on his shoulder to his long capri's none would have expected the outcome of the match.
It was a close, intense, hard fought battle. It's great to see Roger matching shot to shot to obvisously one of the best clay courters all time Rafael. I wonder what else he can do to win against him. I don't think he can play any better than how he played yesterday especially on the red dirt.
I think this is developing into one of the great rivalaries which whole tennis world is craving for and also a curtain raiser for the French Open at Roland Garros.

I am fed up with my apartment Management. First of all they couldn't get rid of the bugs which came into my apartment inspite of repeated visits from the pest control guy. Now they are asking me to pay the expenses for the pest control as I am responsible for bringing them in. Common, cut some slack here. They are inefficient and blame me for it. What do they think that I am a schmuck to bring them in and suffer.

Do you ever have one of those days where you have all day meetings and when you are back at your desk you think how to get all these work done?

It has been a while I have written a blog, guess what I am on a vacation whole last month and its nice to have a vacation after four years. It's spring time here now in Minneapolis and its gorgeous out here. I bet you get the best weather in spring and summer in midwest than any in part of the country.
I need to get back into shape very soon so I am planning to get back my bike seasoned and get ready for this summer. Ofcourse there is tennis as usual and its nothing more fun than playing tennis. For me I think its kind of addiction and its good that we can't play it in Winter otherwise it will be worse getting addicted to it.
Talking of addiction I went to this concert last weekend by Mandolin U.Srinivas and it was great. Well, I listened to his music on CD'S and online and also on tape when I am kid on the small tape recorder we have it in my house but nothing beats watching it live. The way he mesmerized some 200 plus audience with his high and low notes is truly amazing. Dont get me wrong here I dont know much about Carnatic music, but I bet anybody can appreciate listening to it.

Happy Valentines Day guys! It has been 27 years and still I am searching for my valentine, I dont know whether people found me absymal or I am insane I couldn't find a girl in my life till now. All my friends say you need to to try for it, you can't watch and play sports all the time and think that you dont have a girl. May be that's right too but whatever reason I think about this on Feb 14 of every year and hope to be a different next year but itls all the same till now.
Speaking about sports, superbowl XL was one of the dumb ones I ever watched. The way Seahawks played it was like "operation success patient failed" they did everything right but failed to put some points on the board and also we all need to kick Janet's butt. Half time show was one of the dumbest I ever watched. You know what I am saying it all started with so called wardrobe Malfunction. The commercials are not that funny too although I liked the fed-ex commercial very much.
Of course in cricket India won the last two one-days in pretty convincing fashion and as I wrote before its nothing better than a victory against Pakistan. It's great. Btw,, my friends are coming this weekend and we are going on a ski trip and I am thinking it should be great.
Alright, Have a fun day everybody!

Well as I said last week it's back to regular week after two weeks of buys schedule which include tennis, cricket and Football and to make it worse India lost to Pakistan in the 3rd and final test of the series and believe me its nothing worse than losing to Pakistan. I know people talk about the the rivalaries in sport like ASHES in cricket, Boston-Newyork rivalary in baseball but nothing comes close to this. If you take Ashes and multiply by 1000 may be it is like 1% of the rivalary between India and Pak. We always had great series with Pakistan but this time we got short. I think just one bad day in the last test match costed us the whole series.
But, atleast I am exited to see Roger Federer taking one more slam and making the total to 7 now. But its funny to see him cry in the presentation ceremony. I think of all the qualities we compare him to the great Pete Sampras we need to compare this crying quality too.
Talking about Cricket, I am planning to visit India may be in a month or so for vacation and I am very exited about it. It has been almost four years I have been there and all my friends are saying it changed a lot and I am very exited to see the developing India. It's a great feeling to know India developing and I am positive that one day we all will wake up and feel the way great Poet Sir Rabindranath Tagore have written in his Gitanjali. I just want to mention that great Poem here
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action---
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Well, I am also little nervous of visiting India too. Yes, I think all software engineers who are here working know why. My parents are looking for a girl for me and if everything goes according to the plan I may get married and come back in a month of vacation. Yes you are reading it right, I will go to India and look for girls who my parents already had selected from a bunch of the proposals they got who they think that will suit me and I need to decide marrying one of them. This should all happen in a week, and then marry her and live with her for the rest of my life. Pretty scary Huh, Yeah thats how it is and trust me this is working for decades in India.
I always used to make fun about people doing this way but here I am trying to travel in the same boat. Hmm, I guess we can't escape it, can we. It became so common in our day to day living to get married this way but imagine marrying a girl we talked may be once and saw her couple of times and then living with her for the rest of our lives. Pretty scary isn't it? Wish me good luck on that .
Meanwhile, I am also getting ready for the One day's which are scheduled in few days from now. Hope Indian can come top out of it. So next two weeks atleast should be fun.
Alright, time to get back to work.

I can't believe I a writing a blog here but I started this because I just want to write how cramped my schedule was this january. I know you might be thinking why the hell I am writing a blog if my schedule was so cramped. Well, dont get me wrong here I am big big sports fan and especially big time tennis and cricket fan and with NFL in the playoffs, Aus open,IND-PAK cricket series and not to forget the VB series in Australia and occassional NBA matches I am hardly sleeping these days but it's the most fun. It's getting so crazy now I am sleeping for 2 to 3 hrs a day but the worst part is from next week everything will be over and it will be so dull and empty.
I dont know why but I love watching sports. I get inspired by seeing the people compete and I am fascinated about the sports casters presenting the programs and dream to be one of them in the future. Well coming to the Aus open I think its one of the most fun slams of the year down under in the Aussie summer heat it has all the drama, hype and action.Ofcouse the surprise story of this year is Marcos Baghdatis 20 year old from Cyprus who stormed into finals beating world number 2 Roddick on his way. Today is the other semifinal between my all time favourite Roger Federer and I hope he makes it to the final. I am a big fan of federer, I dont know why I like what ever he do the way he speaks, his composure and ofcouse his game. He's the best in the business right now and I am sure he will be in the greats of tennis if not the greatest. O.k guys I hope I didnt that bad of a job for my first blog, time to go home now.