… read this and this before this.

… as seen today together with a team that has scaled much bigger heights… always pulling each other up… Chris, Matt, Karthik, Sunjay, Garry, Jemin… and many that did not make it today…

Many could not make it but the ones who did was enough to remind me how many strong shoulders I have had the fortune of getting support from in my professional life. One afternoon is too short to say Thank You to Matt and Chris who had welcomed me to Equifax on my first day, Sunjay – who started almost on the same day as me, Karthik – who moved to Atlanta to help me after we had worked together for quite some time in Dallas, Jemin – the ever smiling face that simply seem to get things done without too much fanfare and Garry – my ultimate friend, philosopher and guide!

Thanks to Chris who had picked the place and time. It was a great day to be out and about with some of the best executives I have had a chance to work with.

P.S. It was a great day to motorbike too 🙂

I think they decided that the next meeting will be in our cigar bar – but this time with Cuban food. This, I gotta see!!

You might remember a few months back, The Roam-ers and I had an Indian lunch together. Given the wonderful support and service the Roam staff give us (it almost sounds strange to call them Roam staff… after these many years, we are more friends than customers), Sharmila and I thought we should treat them to another Indian lunch. It is like Thanksgiving came early. From the “Indian” side 🙂

Seriously though, nothing gets me started on an office day better than a friendly banter with Zach, Katie or Micalah first thing as I get thru that glass door upstairs every single morning. Nothing keeps the day going as well as the two cappuccinos they make everyday either!

Katie’s favorite is still the “Pappadam” and apologies to the terrible papal reference in the post title 🙂 Could not help with the name being Roam… Italy…

In any case, Sunjay and I had a great time sitting down and sharing lunch with Zach, Katie, Micalah, Erin and Juan. (Coincidentally, we had the good luck of somebody from corporate Roam that day join us too, but I never caught her name!).

I do not smoke at all but the evenings with Avi at the local cigar bar are always memorable. First, there are all the new folks I meet (last night met somebody who was born in Finland and another person – Robert – who is moving right next to where we lived in the Dallas area). Then there are the old folks – the owners, the barpersons – Susan, April, the cigar guy – Mason. It is always great to catch up with them.

And then after everybody leaves – the deep discussions and reflections on life we two do. Last night we were there till about 12:30 am before we slipped out from the outside gate. The previous time was about the Declaration of Independence. This time it was about relationships of human beings. We both agreed that we need to pick up from where we left next time we meet. It is too long a topic to finish in a day or two.

Great times!!

It was long time in the making. Finally caught up with the Das family. I recollect meeting them for the first time when Atanu was the invited artist to sing at my 50th birthday. That was about four and a half years back. Gita used to come to Chalupa – the local running group – but I think she dropped out and in any case, I started running at different times than the group.

Caught up on a lot of stuff in one evening! How is an evening with the Das-es, you ask? “Das” ist good!! 🙂

Needed to work a little late last night. In between did some chapters on random sampling methods (in stats) with Niki. Looks like she is taking a liking to statistics just like me. (I started studying statistics in my junior year to – but that was in 1983).

Anyways, after everything was over – joined Sharmila, Dipanjan and Parijat for a quick drink at the local pub.