17 April
2013
16 April
2013
Losing innocence
Flying lost its innocence in 2001. Sadly, it seems we will mark 2013 as the year when running lost its innocence.
There is nothing that is as basic as running. You can do it by yourself. You can do it without any gadgets / tools / equipment. You can do it most anywhere. You do not need a lot of money to run – in fact the poorest countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Jamaica have produced consistently great runners!
There was a time we ran to catch our food so we could eat. Now we run because of the amount of food we eat 🙂 There was a time mail was delivered by “runners” (running mailman). Now, we have problems running a postal system 🙂
But above all, every runner that you see on the road will tell you that they do it because it is “fun”. Some are competitive, some see it as a social activity – but all see it as a “fun” thing to do.
I should know. I am one. And I know many runners. Starting with my wife. And my closest friend. And my boss…
The important thing is that while some idiot might have taken the innocence out of running, it is up to us to keep the fun in running.
So, if you are a runner – continue to have fun. Go run with somebody you have not run in a long time. Inspire a child to run with you (bribes work more effectively on them 🙂 ) Get your family out for a Sunday run.
If you are not a runner – when you see a runner, do something fun. Lower your windows and wave at them as you drive by. They get a great kick and will wave back.
And if you are a Facebook friend of mine and follow my travels, drop me a note if I am near you if you want to go for a run, try out running or simply talk about running. I will surely be there to have some fun.
15 April
2013
Quick 5K
14 April
2013
“Run”-aiya “Bastob”-aiya
5K run on a very cool morning in Fowler Park. Arup and Amitesh was there but we missed Manas and Samaresh. The cooler temperatures helped us run at a pretty good clip (8:30 min/mile). The Starbucks coffee was accompanied by our stories of moving violations. The incidents of all the traffic tickets that the three of us have cumulatively gathered convinced me that the speed we lack in running – we try to make up in driving 🙂
13 April
2013
Fountain pens!
13 April
2013
Twitter Music
12 April
2013
Fountain Pens!
When asked to describe me in one word, my wife once had said “Quirky”. If you know me, you know that is as close a word as it gets to describe me as any. If you know me even more, you probably also know that one of my quirks is that I do not use any pen other than fountain pens. (I have modest collection of them too).
Today, I finally realized how my wife feels in those clothes and dress stores she seems to go to all the time 🙂 Went to the Atlanta Pen Show that opened today. I am easily distracted by a nice fountain pen (especially with fine nibs). They had hundreds and hundreds of them!! Some were of unbelievable vintage. And I met a couple of guys who hand made some of those pens. I was like a kid in a candy store. Really really did not want to come back.
Ah! well!!!
12 April
2013
Baldness has its own appeal!
Like every year, I got a pronounced tan during the spring break – thanks to a lot of beach sun. (yes, Indians can tan 🙂 ) And like every year, three days later the skin on the scalp started peeling off 🙁 Not sure why this happens only to my head. Cream has never helped. Looks unseemly as I start moulting on my head like a snake.
With all that peeling on the pate, my baldness might finally have some “appeal” 🙂
12 April
2013
Our own “Hwang Ho”
Hwang Ho is a river in China often referred to as “The Yellow River”. It is also called “The River of Sorrow” due to its frequent flooding.
Today we had our own version of “Hwang Ho” in our parking lot as the quick rain washed pollen from the pinetrees, car rooftops and the air which has been causing a lot off sorrow to Atlantans to form small yellow rivulets…
11 April
2013
Catch 22
The one day I come back from office early (5:30), I am immediately rewarded with having to bring Niki from the horse farm, get Tasha prepared for her math tests, move all the furniture out of the arbor, file taxes….. Okay the last one is unfair since that is why I came home early to begin with.
But the following conversation with Niki as I drover her back from the horse farm completely made it worthwhile:
Niki: “You know dad, I am afraid of other cars on the road. I think I will not learn how to drive”.
Me: “Really? How do you figure you are going to go from one place to another when you grow up? ”
Niki: “Ummmm…. I think I will make my husband drive me everywhere”.
Me: “Okay. And how are you going to find a husband without visiting places?”
Niki: “I will marry somebody from my office”
Me: “And how do you propose you will go to the office to begin with?”. (I was fairly determined to see where she would logically end this conversation)
Niki: “Oh! Once I have money, I will bribe somebody to take me to office”
Me: “How did you get the money to begin with if you have not been going to office”?
After a brief pause, she admitted “You know, I think then I have to steal from you and mom”!!
That was as good a logical endpoint that I could draw as any!!