Paddy and Passion

(Bangalore, 1:04 Am, 1st Feb)
Rajesh Padmanabhan and I have a lot in common
We joined CMC on the same day
We are Graduates from Delhi University
We both had love marriages (even got married the same month)
We love programming
We believe in dreaming and taking it a step more,
We both have faith in our abilities to convert our dreams into realities.

This conversion of Imagination into Action is what God defines as Passion in the Book "Conversation with God". The reason my good friend Paddy is my role model is for the reason that he spells Passion with capital P.
I have not an iota of doubt that
I am smarter than him but he is the one working for Microsoft
I am the one who has clear cut PM skills but he was PMP three years before me
I am the one who is more athletic but he is the one who ran a marathon

Paddy would have himself vouched for the statements if not for his ego. So how does this guy who is 2 years younger than me achieve targets 3 years before me ? Must be "Luck By Chance" (which by the ways guys is a good movie ... see it if you get a chance)

Our conversation is limited to maybe once in six months but I do not believe that has any negative impact on our friendship because we do catch up each and every time (btw: this friendship is 12 years old). My wife always commented that after our sporadic conversation I would always be bubbling with energy to try and do things.
This article is also triggered by the conversation we had today just a few hours back so I have no qualms in sharing that this guys has been my role model for the last six years.

Last year we had gone cycling together in Seattle and as soon as I was back I purchased my 21 gears Octane NV and have taken my kids out cycling most weekends. Though I have done a lot of cycling back in Delhi, UK and US .... Reigniting the flame is credit to Mr Passion Paddy.

Friendships are special and there are strings of memories that one holds on to, may it be the trip to Nainital (1997) or Seattle (2007). The beer in Rishi flat in Janak Puri or the orange bar we used to eat on the return from movies at midnight. Though we both are into Data Warehousing we never ever worked together except for a ping pong game we made on his PC in his flat in Paschim Vihar.

The beauty of the thing is that there has never been any jealousy between us whether it was when I went to abroad first or when he got into Microsoft. When I got my Master in UK or when he did his PMP back then. When I was travelling all over Europe or when he travelled all over US. Today when I left my lucrative career in IT for a stint in teaching, I know he understands and appreciates my passion. When I did the Road Trip to Delhi he applauds my success and on the same hand brutally frank and truthful if I make some mistake or if I am on an ego trip.

I am sure you all have very good friends and understand where I come from.

There are some who only see things with their 'Scaly' eyes as "Peer Pressure",
for them everything is relative.
But I for one see my good friend "Passion Paddy" as my inspiration,
for me its is always elative

Goal Setting for Year Two Thousand Nine
A marathon which would be mine
Inspired by my friend who blogs about Wine

Aditya’s Birth Story

Aditya’s Birth Story
(Written in 2005 when Adi was born)
(Narration by Daada, Emotions from Mama, Elations from Didi)
Contractions kick up on the eve Hospital Bag packed and bursting at its seam
Everybody standing on their toes
Because after all only God Knows
This comes to pass when the child is about to be born
At midnight after Anu Didi went to sleep
The contraction reached its peak
A dash in the car was in storeWith pain difficult to endure
This comes to pass when the child is about to be born

Water broke on the hospital door
Hospital Staff rushed us indoor
Medical Staff ready at hand
And Mama in a determination to withstand
This comes to pass when the child is being born
Emotions swell up
Cup of Joy overflows
Across our heart there is a brand new dawn
This came to pass when Aditya was born

A silent prayer was on our lips
To hold the baby … O what sweet bliss
The last two years with our princess has been ecstatic to say the least
Now with this prince our family feels somehow very complete

Born on Dec 30th the day Rudyard Kipling and Tiger Woods were born
6.12 pounds and 20 inches long
With a nose like Anu is very clear to see
We ask you to pray that he grows to be
Outrageously happy whatever the case may be

Our Princess

Our Princess
(Written in 2003 when my daughter Anu was born)

Well there may be many thrills in life,
but we doubt whether any can better this.
Out of 24hrs this ladysleeps for 14 hrs (and make sure we don’t sleep more than four)
feeds for 6hrs (and does not care an iota about our woes)
cries almost an hour a day (and keeps us on toes)
expects us to toil for her as she soils her clothes.

But
Her 1 yawn
Her 1 smile
Her 1 stretch
Takes us to cloud nine
And Fills us with pride

Gazing at her is peace
Holding her is success
She is what makes us feel complete.

We never understood why our parents love is so unconditional
But we have an idea now why.
So much emotions in the last 10 days
Labour,Birth, Jaundice .. smiles and tears.
Bless and Pray for herUncles/Aunts/Grandpas/Grandmas/Bros and Sisters

This is our princess … as you may have yours.
This is our bundle of joy … which knows no bounds
This is our baby – “Anukriti”Our life from now on.

Statistics
DOB 11.12.03
Weight 2.9 Kgs
Delivery : Normal
Looks like: …. Ummm can’t say yet
Had Jaundice but is now fine.

Second Childhood

Second Childhood
Jibrael Jos, Karnataka Express, Delhi – Bangalore, Jan 2009
Context: Raising Children can be a lot of fun and sometimes father’s miss out on this due to heavy workload. I experienced the satisfaction one gets when one squeezes time for playing with children. The satisfaction is not in doing something which I am supposed to be doing or some contrived sense of duty but the sheer pleasure of living your second childhood along with your child and again not limited to observing the child

Five years back on a winter afternoon my daughter was born and two years later in another winter night my son was born. Success and happiness was redefined. Though I cannot claim to understand what love is but I got an understanding of what love can be. Somebody very nicely had put it that having a child is like letting a small part of your heart walk outside your body. So here was the two aspects of love which always alluded me “unconditional love” and the need to “let go” for the growth of the one you love.

Seeing my children smile and laugh is so very uplifting and on the same hand seeing them sad is heart wrenching. I am well aware what I am feeling is quite universal but the depth of it one feels only when one has experienced the same, just like somebody explains you the taste of Besan Ka Ladoo versus biting into one and sensing the texture of ladoo mixture and tasting the ghee and sugar literally melt in your mouth.

I had a head start with children, thanks to all my nephews and nieces I have. So the returns one get when playing with them is pretty good (in terms of the satisfaction) and when I had my own child the ROI on the same scale was excellent to put it mildly. The difference I guess is due to the bonding one develops over time when one takes complete onus.

Love Expressed is Love Enhanced
My children love singing, acting in plays, dancing, playing with blocks, playing hide and seek like most kids but what I really like is that they love to play with me all these things too
· They run with excitement every day I return from work
· They like to hear a story when ever they get a chance
· They love to share the stories and events which happened in their day at school
· They make birthday cards for my birthdays
· They hug and kiss without even requesting
· They pray for me at time of some exam and when I am unwell
· They share that they miss and love me when I am on some tour
I am sure you all have seen such miracles in your homes but how did this happen ?

Playing with children
At each stage of development there are different games which excites children. There may also be a variation in taste from child to child. Each child is a unique wonderful creation and measuring one against another just does not make sense, so on one side my son loves his favorite engine Toby my daughter loves her doll, but both love to play hide and seek and build with blocks. Adi loves the sea but my Anu hates the waves, Anu thrives with friends but my Adi prefers playing on his own.

Playing with children is the reason I call this my second childhood. Setting up the tracks for the train to run, building my daughters first play house with a bed sheet and two chairs (when she had not even learned to walk). Like most task you start loving it after you have put in some initial effort.
· Almost 90% of my days, whatever time I return from work I take time to play with my kids, read them stories, draw/paint with them.
· Every Saturday I take them out cycling and on the way we discuss different things, sometimes listen to songs on my mobile and sing along with it.
· Going to Church with them on Sundays
· Giving them bath on weekends with their bath toys
· Exploring nature / zoo
· Dancing to a song they like together
· Singing poems one after another
· Enacting plays like “ Red Riding Hood”
· Playing Train – Train with chairs
· Going to beaches and making castles
· Going for a movie with them and see them enjoy

With practice each one of us can do things which we would not have fathomed even possible in our wildest dreams. For instance I have stitched two dresses for Anu’s dolls. Not that I have done this before but stitching the sides on a sewing machine , giving a running stitch on the hem and stitching a press button and beads can be very satisfying compared to buying the same in a mall.

There are things that we sometimes consider it as a thing which the mother does by default but sometimes changing the norms can be very satisfying. Why not hatch up a meal for your kids on the weekend just a simple omelet with a little pepper and salt, maybe some pasta or Kebab keeping in mind of their palette.

Word of Caution
It is also important that children have time for their own, but I am sure in these career oriented times it is quiet impossible to be too obsessed but there are cases.

I buy a lot of toys because back in my childhood I had very limited toys and most were made by myself from tooth paste cartons and other loose ends. But on hindsight this economic drawback had its advantages, it developed an imaginative side in me and also a deep appreciation for things in life. So look out for opportunity to create an extra zing with your and your child’s imagination.

Over a period of time I saw that my children did not take care of the toys as much as I would have liked to take care of them and many got just dumped into the common toy box. I made it a point to make sure some of the key sets like train, blocks, animals and certain games I kept out of their reach and only took it down on their request maybe once a week. And I have seen them value it much more now.

Birthdays is a time when kids get flooded with gifts and again we need to make sure we do not end up creating an environment where a child gets satisfaction in only getting things and not in actually using / playing with these gifts. Also if the child has a set of crayons with her there is no point in opening a new box without need

Conclusion
I share these moments because many a parent loose out on this opportunity in their very busy lives and also for those who do this as their duty and take the joy and soul out of these activities.

So let us all take in this fresh air.

All good things come in three I have one more innings, my third childhood …….. (Grand Parents !!)

Bangalore - Delhi by Car (Summary)

From: Bangalore
To: Delhi
Duration: 17 days
Mode: Car - Alto
Distance: 3321 KMS
Dates: 24th Dec 2008 to 9th Jan 2009
Purpose: Travel across India in car, see places on the way with a special interest in history so read about Heroes,Events and Construction of the places I touched on the way. Get in touch with the folk tales of the location I visited (so spent money on tourist guides )
Read About: Stone Temples and Hoysala Empire, Jainism, Shivaji, Fort Construction in India, Portugese in India, History of Old Goa, Rajputs of Rajasthan, Mahatma Gandhi, Mughal Rule in India.
Route:
Karnataka

• Bangalore, Srvanabelagola, Hassan
• Halebidu, Belur, Chikmaglur, Shimoga
• Sagar, Jog Falls, Karwar

Goa

• Cancona - Palomel Beach
• Panjim Beaches
• Old Goa
• Anjuna Beach, Vagator Beach

Maharashtra

• Pratap Garh (Shivaji Fort)
• Raigad (Shivaji Fort)
• Mumbai, Pune

Daman
Gujarat

• Surat, Baruch
• Baroda, Ahmedabad, Himat Nagar

Rajasthan

• Udaipur,
• Chittorgarh (Fort) : By Train
• Jaipur (Amber Fort)

Delhi

Road Condition:

On hindsight it was good that I traveled from South to North because as I moved from Bangalore to Delhi the road condition steadily improved. The road condition has definitely improved considerably in the last 10 years. Toll was directly proportional to the quality of the road but I am sure I would have saved both on time and fuel on these stretches. No car breakdown and no flat tyre is a testimony to some well spent tax money.

Top 5 Road stretches (in my route)
Rank 1: Mumbai – Pune Expressway : (Toll:Rs 140) This road had six lanes all the way from Navi Mumbai to Pune and the condition of the road was very good. The reason I rate this stretch the highest is that this stretch of 120+ kms (since I joined it at Navi Mumbai) was through the Western Ghats. The tunnels, bridges and road layout were impressive and reminded me of the driving in US. Speed Limit was 80 km/hr; most cars were speeding with ease at around 100 km / hr.

Rank 2: Gurgaon – Delhi Expressway: (Toll: ) This 8 lane expressway, was cool with the roller coaster ride over the flyovers (due to the umpteen number of intersection). A must see for those who have not see it. Exits to move away from the expressway is also well planned. Traffic was heavy but no delays in toll gate.

Rank 3: Vadodara - Ahmedabad : (Toll: Rs 70) Called the National Expressway 1. This is part of the Golden Quadrilateral. This 90 km stretch had the highest speed limit I had seen in India till date 100 Km / Hr. In fact I was actually driving in this stretch below the speed limit, I thought I will wait for my Alto to grow into a Merc before pushing on the gas.

Rank 4: Himmat Nagar – Udaipur: (Toll : Multiple Tickets) 90 % of this stretch was a breeze and the quality of this stretch is the main reason I made it all the way to Udaipur. This and NE1 gave my highest distance (450 Kms @ day) . The rugged terrain gave a different perspective to my tour.

Rank 5: NH 17: Karwar – Goa - Mumbai, not an expressway but a scenic stretch and the ride over the rolling hills of Goa and Maharastra was a pleasure. Though not all of NH 17 is good the Calicut – Udipi stretch is pretty horrible.

Other strecthes are also very good for example Ajmer: Jaipur and some parts of Jaipur - Gurgaon