13 February
2014
11 February
2014
Datenight with a twist..
9 February
2014
Same place, same time, new person…
Just like last Puja, this time too in the evening I walked up to the restaurant nearby (from where the Puja was going on) and settled down at the bar for a glass of wine. This time Sid joined me instead of Rupak and Amitesh. The bar still has a chessboard. So, Sid and I tried to solve the 8 queen problem again manually. Sid came up with one very quickly and that is pretty much all we got this evening….
7 February
2014
Patron Cafe, anyone?
One of the best things of the team I work with is the end-of-week or sometimes end-of-day call for “Let’s go for a drink before we go home”. Unsurprisingly, we have solved a lot more problems at a bar than actually sitting in a office. Today’s rule was – “No office discussions”.
Gasan, the team entertainer introduced Sunjay and myself to a new drink – Patron Cafe. It is a shot of coffee and tequila. While we were impressed with his knowledge of the history and owners of the drink, he was no match to our ultimate question – “Tequila makes us sleepy. Coffee wakes us up. Why go thru that hysteresis curve?” 🙂
6 February
2014
Another intersection point..
In 1983, I met a guy called Manajit in my junior year (11th grade). Last I saw him was in 1985. Our paths ever since could not have been more different. 29 years later, found out that he lives in Denver. Was waiting to find an opportunity to meet him some day. Today was that day !
Saw him after almost three decades over dinner this evening. It was mind blowing remembering those dorm (hostel) days (we were in a residential high school) and he reminded me of at least half a dozen friends that I had nearly forgotten about ! Looks like more intersection points for me to seek.
I was certainly exhilarated to hear his life story. Served as a reminder to me that hard work can overcome most setbacks and obstacles. Good to see him succeed so much. Hard working people deserve the best!
4 February
2014
6K in dark Pine Mountain
Karthik and I got out in the cold dark roads of Callaway Gardens at 6am for a 5K run. Myself in layers, earmuffs, headgear etc wondering why did I forget to pack in the gloves. He, in shorts and half shirt. No caps either! You want to guess which one of us studied in Wisconsin? 🙂 Btw, we landed up running 6K since we got lost on the way 🙂 🙂
1 February
2014
Great Evening…
Great evening with the family at Azul with the new tapas menu. Amitesh, Sudipto and Mishti joined us to make it a perfect evening. Chris, Holly and Jenny took great care of us. Lauren belted some mind blowing songs. Owners Chuck and Saloni were unbelievably gracious, as always! Got to meet the Consular General of India too!!
The new Indian tapas menu is perfect !!!
30 January
2014
The other 4 ounce spilled over!
27 January
2014
Kondal !!!
Another guy I was able to spend an hour and a half this week was with a long lost friend – Kondal! We worked together in my first job in Bombay back in 1991-1993. Had a fleeting glimpse of him and his family a few years later at a restaurant. Was able to sit down and chat after a long long time. I still marvel at my friends from my first job who stayed true to their love of technology. He is surely one of them – and I have lost all ability to code these days… He was waxing eloquent on “cloud” and I was wondering if it might rain in Dallas 🙂
It was simply wonderful seeing him after such a long time and catching up on so many people he has kept up with and I have not….
25 January
2014
Houston crowd
It was a little late by the time the meetings ended. But that did not deter a couple of my friends and their families to come and meet me. Subrata and I went to middle school together. Nirmalya (much younger than me) used to play together with my brother and myself and other neighbors every summer when he visited his uncle – who was my neighbor! The last time I saw his daughter was when she was barely standing up in his apartment. Now she is a sixth grader!!
That was one of the best Indian food I had. And certainly the most awesome “adda”!! Also, I can’t remember the last time three forty-something Bengali guys sat down with so little hair to show for themselves 🙂
