10 May
2014
10 May
2014
From the bartender’s corner – Window Pane
This is a decidedly rainy day drink. The whiskey gives the strength and the blood orange smooths it out…
Scotch whiskey, blood orange liqueur, simple syrup, lemon juice and mint leaves. Garnished with a slice of orange wheel doubled and a sprig of mint.
Usually served in a old fashioned double glass.
Had to throw away twice before I got the right mix of the edge of the whiskey and the softening of taste by other ingredients…
10 May
2014
The 98 year old matriarch is no more!
10 May
2014
Another old friend!!
Here is an intersection point with a difference. I did not create it. The other person did!
I was a speaker at a Big Data and Analytics event in Atlanta yesterday. After I was done, as I came off the stage, there were a few people who wanted to ask a few more questions and introduce themselves. It is after all, a big networking opportunity. I noticed one guy waiting and I thought I had seen him somewhere before but could not immediately remember. My best guess was I had met him in a similar event previously.
As my eyes met his, he stepped forward and asked “Do you recognize me?”. I had to admit “I remember your face but cannot place you.” His next statement simply floored me “I am Harish Pandit. You taught us object oriented programming in 1992”. I went like “What?” I had to hear this. I pulled myself out of the crowd and got some quiet space with him.
And he told me the whole story. I had joined my first job in 1991 in Bombay. He joined the next year. Our training department had roped me in to teach Object Oriented programming to the new batch. And he gave me specific examples I had given the class to explain the whole concept!!
I was astounded by his memory!! He brought me up to speed about some of those juniors. Seems like my students – if I can call them that – have done mighty well in spite of my efforts 🙂 Also got his contacts to catch up with him later. Turns out he lives not too far from me.
Had he not recognized me I would have completely missed this intersection point that I would be in the same room with somebody 22 years after being in an another room together half a world away!!!
8 May
2014
Why I am skeptical about news media
It is all about the sensationalism. Unfortunately they cater to us – so obviously we buy this kind of news.
Checkout the online version of CNN and USA Today. There is a prominent news article of a cop in Texas who shot a 93-year old. I did not even open it after reading the headline.
I found on FB about a different cop incident. I searched on Google. Not a single hit came from CNN or USA Today. Here is the top link I got.
I really really wish I could get a little more coverage on these kind of news…
8 May
2014
Funny Bone: Huh?
8 May
2014
Mile markers on running route!
7 May
2014
From the bartender’s corner – Bloody Mary
6 May
2014
School Alarm?
Ok, this one does not involve my inlaws, for a change 🙂
Some of you who know our house in Milton probably also realize that our property line backs into Summit Hill Elementary school – which is where Nikita goes. You cannot see the school from our house since there is a good five acres of forest in our property but you sure can hear all the commotion of a playground with kids in it during all hours. Which is, by the way, one of the best sounds you can hear in the mornings. The mind goes back to my own school days and the pure fun kids have on the play field with nary a worry.
You can then well understand my consternation when I heard a fire engine clanging from what seemed to be the direction of the school this morning. I tried to figure out whether it was one of the drills for the kids but the noise persisted for some time. With all the scary and unfortunate incidents in various schools, of course, the parent’s mind in me immediately got worried and started jumping to worst case scenarios. Illogical fears started creeping in. I remembered dropping Nikita in the morning and she was dressed smartly for the day – it was Career Day in her school. She was excited to be an Interior Designer and was carrying carpet pieces, measuring tape and such with her. I was feeling sorry if all that excitement got canceled due to whatever it is that had happened for which the fire engine had to be called.
I was anyways on my way out for a doctor’s appointment. I rerouted myself so as to drive on the road where her school is. I was totally relieved that there were no swarms of cop cars near the campus or road blocks. However, I also noticed a big fountain of water – it seemed like they were trying to douse something. Because of a small mound, I could not see any of the action – just the high water spout. The good news is that the water was being thrown AWAY from the school building. I figured out, in the worst case scenario, it is grass fire (although it is too early in the season) or a car on fire.
And so I drove on. At the next STOP sign, I saw an ambulance coming towards me (headed in the direction of the school) with the lights lit up! I could not help myself anymore. I panicked and called up Sharmila and asked her to call up the school to find out what was going on.
A few minutes later, Sharmila called back, extremely irritated. Evidently the folks at the front desk had a hearty laugh. In fact, they said “it is very cute that you were concerned”.
Turns out that the school had arranged for the local fire engine and emergency services to come and demo to the aspiring students on what a career in emergency services entails!!
Ha! Ha! I am so glad I made her call up the school 🙂
6 May
2014
