These are a few of my favourite snaps from the Michigan trip along Lake superior.
It was a stunning drive along side a frozen lake superior.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Michigan trip
These are a few of my favourite snaps from the Michigan trip along Lake superior.
It was a stunning drive along side a frozen lake superior.
Some snaps from the Whitney summit
From left to right Myself, Phil,Rick, Marc
L to R - Me,Rick,Marc,Deb
L to R - Rick, Me, Marc and Chris
L to R - Me,Rick,Marc,Deb
L to R - Rick, Me, Marc and Chris
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
I couldn't bring myself to write this note last week. On April 14th it was one year since Mohan died. I remember crying myself out that day last year.Santosh had come to me and had said 'Be strong'. I had said 'Bullshit!! - he is dead,nothing will change that'. I don't know why i replied that, but for some reason I was really very angry with the rules of life and could not come to terms with it.
Like Appu once said 'Death is a great leveller in life',it changes perspectives drastically.True.
I sometimes think of all the long philosophical conversations we used to have,his dreams, his plans and force a desolate smirk. Fate played its final card.
The mere mortals,that we are,injected with all sort of emotions,ideas,ideals,thoughts are left behind to conjure up different connotations and evoke an emotion and dwell in that.
Miss you,My friend!
Like Appu once said 'Death is a great leveller in life',it changes perspectives drastically.True.
I sometimes think of all the long philosophical conversations we used to have,his dreams, his plans and force a desolate smirk. Fate played its final card.
The mere mortals,that we are,injected with all sort of emotions,ideas,ideals,thoughts are left behind to conjure up different connotations and evoke an emotion and dwell in that.
Miss you,My friend!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Thank you Mr.Rembrandt?
I step out of my Apartment house with key in hand - all ready to scramble, Mahesh is waiting outside in the car with others,we are already late to the movie.
The minute i step out i just freeze in my tracks! I see this man in a golden helmet staring right at me! Something seems very vaguely familiar about him. I immediately scan my insanely crazy junkyard of facts in my brain trying to figure him out. The scan pops out with the result - Rembrandt! I am stunned. I am seeing the world famous painting of 'The man with the golden helmet' by Rembrandt right outside my door.I exclaim 'That's a Rembrandt!' This old lady who is trying to open her door turns around and says 'What did you say?'. I exclaim again 'That's a Rembrandt you have,where did you get it from?'.
She goes 'Oh! Is it, I don't know, I purchased it for the frame, I am throwing the picture away!' . I am left reeling. I touch the painting and realize its a print. But still its a Rembrandt - its art - you don't throw away art even if it's print.
Then i explain her about the painting and Rembrandt. She has never heard about Rembrandt. I sigh! But looking at my enthusiasm about the painting print she asks me 'Do you want it?'. Pat comes my answer 'Yes, of course! I cannot let you throw away something like that'. She says 'okay! I will let you have it once i take the frame'. I say 'Thank you!'.
Now after all this and being the curious kind, I just cannot help asking 'Why do you need just the frame?'.
She says 'Oh! I am a painter' . Now that's what you call a double whammy! My jaw drops! I just don't know what to say. A series of thoughts agonisingly goes through my head trying to make some sense,' a painter, does not know Rembrandt,but needs the frame, i never knew that the person in front of my house was a painter...'
I blurt out 'Oh! What kind do you paint?' She says 'Oil and water both,mostly landscapes and flowers and miscellaneous things'. Now being an admirer of Art,my curiousity just gets the better of me and i ask ' Can i see them?'. She thinks about it a bit and says 'Oh! Sure'. But i know i am running late for the movie and i immediately say ' I am sorry ,but i am running for a movie right now,can i come back later some other time?'. She says 'Oh ok! Fine!'. I run off.
Okay! Long story so far,but it's not concluded.
Days pass.I don't know how am i going to knock on her door and ask for that Rembrandt print and ask to see her paintings.I forget about it.
Fast forward to present.
I wake up today,sunday morning,11 AM,i brew a cup of hot filter coffee(yup the old fashioned way) and sit to work,lots pending.I hear a knock on my door and go to check who it is, its Ruchi, our neighbour,she is looking for her kid who normally keeps running around. I say he is not in our house.As chance would have had it,this lady is again entering her house and she turns around and says 'Hey! I have that painting print kept aside for you,would you like to see my paintings'. I have a hot cup of coffee ready inside waiting to be savoured,but i think heck 'Yeah,sure'.
I go into a very neatly kept house,there is a painting of lilies right near the front door. I admire it. Then she takes me to the living room with lots of painting. I am simply amazed,most of them are land scapes - mountains,sun,beaches,moon,houses.Then she takes me to her working room ,there is a half finished painting and it looks beautiful already.
Being the art lover, I started asking about her and her paintings. We were talking about the philosophy behind her paintings and i mentioned that 'I am really in awe of your paintings,I am always amazed by human talent and feel inspired when i see talent like yours that shows what humans can do, you know - i used to paint and draw quite a bit as a kid,mostly water colours, and somehow it dwindled as i grew up,maybe due to different interests and lack of time and somehow i am not sure i will ever have time to get back to it,though i would like to get back to it'
She looked at me. 'You look very young. How old are you?', I said 'I am 27'. She -'Hmm, Do you know how old i am?' . I said 'U look probably around 65+'. She gives out a wonderful laugh and says 'Oh dear! Do i look so young,thank you! But,I am 86 years old'. I am stunned, I just cannot believe that the human being in front of me is 86 years. She continued 'I started painting at the age of 80- I sowed for a living for 50 years'. I was in a dizzy, I just did not know what to say. She continued 'Don't ever give up on anything,as long as you have life in you , you can do whatever you want to do,don't ever give up!'.My heart just soared looking at her, I felt so much love for her and life at that moment when she said that.
Then she showed snaps of her family,her grandchildren. I finally got up and said ' You know ,i think i got up on the right side of the bed today, I am extremely privileged and honored to know you,thank you for sharing all this with me,you have no idea how much you have inspired me!'
She took out the Rembrandt painting and offered it to me.Then she noticed the painting print had scratched off a bit in the corners, she offered to paint that portion for me and give it to me later.
I got up to go and then i remembered i never asked for her name. I asked her 'Can i know your name'.She laughed and took out a pad and scribbled her name and gave it to me. It said 'Wilma K Farmer'. She never asked mine.I guess it did not matter.
I had mixed emotions and thoughts when i stepped out of her house.
Post script: I got to know that 'The man with the golden helmet' which was long thought to be painted by rembrandt was later discovered to be not his at all. Right now that painting stands painted under the name 'Anonymous'. Life's funny isn't it.
The minute i step out i just freeze in my tracks! I see this man in a golden helmet staring right at me! Something seems very vaguely familiar about him. I immediately scan my insanely crazy junkyard of facts in my brain trying to figure him out. The scan pops out with the result - Rembrandt! I am stunned. I am seeing the world famous painting of 'The man with the golden helmet' by Rembrandt right outside my door.I exclaim 'That's a Rembrandt!' This old lady who is trying to open her door turns around and says 'What did you say?'. I exclaim again 'That's a Rembrandt you have,where did you get it from?'.
She goes 'Oh! Is it, I don't know, I purchased it for the frame, I am throwing the picture away!' . I am left reeling. I touch the painting and realize its a print. But still its a Rembrandt - its art - you don't throw away art even if it's print.
Then i explain her about the painting and Rembrandt. She has never heard about Rembrandt. I sigh! But looking at my enthusiasm about the painting print she asks me 'Do you want it?'. Pat comes my answer 'Yes, of course! I cannot let you throw away something like that'. She says 'okay! I will let you have it once i take the frame'. I say 'Thank you!'.
Now after all this and being the curious kind, I just cannot help asking 'Why do you need just the frame?'.
She says 'Oh! I am a painter' . Now that's what you call a double whammy! My jaw drops! I just don't know what to say. A series of thoughts agonisingly goes through my head trying to make some sense,' a painter, does not know Rembrandt,but needs the frame, i never knew that the person in front of my house was a painter...'
I blurt out 'Oh! What kind do you paint?' She says 'Oil and water both,mostly landscapes and flowers and miscellaneous things'. Now being an admirer of Art,my curiousity just gets the better of me and i ask ' Can i see them?'. She thinks about it a bit and says 'Oh! Sure'. But i know i am running late for the movie and i immediately say ' I am sorry ,but i am running for a movie right now,can i come back later some other time?'. She says 'Oh ok! Fine!'. I run off.
Okay! Long story so far,but it's not concluded.
Days pass.I don't know how am i going to knock on her door and ask for that Rembrandt print and ask to see her paintings.I forget about it.
Fast forward to present.
I wake up today,sunday morning,11 AM,i brew a cup of hot filter coffee(yup the old fashioned way) and sit to work,lots pending.I hear a knock on my door and go to check who it is, its Ruchi, our neighbour,she is looking for her kid who normally keeps running around. I say he is not in our house.As chance would have had it,this lady is again entering her house and she turns around and says 'Hey! I have that painting print kept aside for you,would you like to see my paintings'. I have a hot cup of coffee ready inside waiting to be savoured,but i think heck 'Yeah,sure'.
I go into a very neatly kept house,there is a painting of lilies right near the front door. I admire it. Then she takes me to the living room with lots of painting. I am simply amazed,most of them are land scapes - mountains,sun,beaches,moon,houses.Then she takes me to her working room ,there is a half finished painting and it looks beautiful already.
Being the art lover, I started asking about her and her paintings. We were talking about the philosophy behind her paintings and i mentioned that 'I am really in awe of your paintings,I am always amazed by human talent and feel inspired when i see talent like yours that shows what humans can do, you know - i used to paint and draw quite a bit as a kid,mostly water colours, and somehow it dwindled as i grew up,maybe due to different interests and lack of time and somehow i am not sure i will ever have time to get back to it,though i would like to get back to it'
She looked at me. 'You look very young. How old are you?', I said 'I am 27'. She -'Hmm, Do you know how old i am?' . I said 'U look probably around 65+'. She gives out a wonderful laugh and says 'Oh dear! Do i look so young,thank you! But,I am 86 years old'. I am stunned, I just cannot believe that the human being in front of me is 86 years. She continued 'I started painting at the age of 80- I sowed for a living for 50 years'. I was in a dizzy, I just did not know what to say. She continued 'Don't ever give up on anything,as long as you have life in you , you can do whatever you want to do,don't ever give up!'.My heart just soared looking at her, I felt so much love for her and life at that moment when she said that.
Then she showed snaps of her family,her grandchildren. I finally got up and said ' You know ,i think i got up on the right side of the bed today, I am extremely privileged and honored to know you,thank you for sharing all this with me,you have no idea how much you have inspired me!'
She took out the Rembrandt painting and offered it to me.Then she noticed the painting print had scratched off a bit in the corners, she offered to paint that portion for me and give it to me later.
I got up to go and then i remembered i never asked for her name. I asked her 'Can i know your name'.She laughed and took out a pad and scribbled her name and gave it to me. It said 'Wilma K Farmer'. She never asked mine.I guess it did not matter.
I had mixed emotions and thoughts when i stepped out of her house.
Post script: I got to know that 'The man with the golden helmet' which was long thought to be painted by rembrandt was later discovered to be not his at all. Right now that painting stands painted under the name 'Anonymous'. Life's funny isn't it.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
My latest quirk..
My latest hobby - Playing Bridge. Its a complex card game but extremely fun. I am still trying to get the hang of it completely. The bidding rules are so complex it just leaves you dizzy. I normally go online and play and i royally suck! I enter as a 'beginner' and play with the so called experts online and get royally kicked out of tables for wrong bids,wrong moves and have suffered enough online abuses. But heck I am under an alias and nobody knows who i am,so i just move on to another table. You have umpteen bidding rules which i still have to master. Give it a shot if you can,trying to remember 52 cards being passed is quite fun!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
A humbling perspective...
But one can draw their own conclusions ..
Antares is the 15th Brightest star in the sky.
It's more than 1000 light years away.
Antares is the 15th Brightest star in the sky.
It's more than 1000 light years away.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Polar Bear plunge video!!
Okay!! Here's the video. Comments on my dance totally welcome!! Lol!! Yeah
Kinda reminds me of this girl dancing in the cadburys ad.. Lol!!
Kinda reminds me of this girl dancing in the cadburys ad.. Lol!!
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Watch out men!!
Saw the 'Watchmen' in IMAX yesterday after the plunge, Storyline is a bit complex,but visually stunning.Hoping to read the book.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Polar Bear plunge!!!
Okay, I decided to be a polar bear and take a plunge in icy waters!! Yup!! Craziness re-defined!! Polar plunge is an event where they cut a section of the frozen lakes and people jump into the sub zero waters just for the heck of it!! I decided to have a go and madhu joined me in this latest quirkiness of mine! The video will be posted a bit later on,but here are a few teaser snaps!! (wink)The temperature was 18 F(-8 C) and it felt numb!! The craziest feeling is when you hit the water,its like a shock going through your body. Totally cool!!You gotta experience it in life!!
link on fickr covering the event - http://www.flickr.com/photos/rkupbens/sets/72157614934872588/
Another wonderful snap on flickr covering this - http://www.flickr.com/photos/84853337@N00/2305791586/
Madhu and me taking the plunge!!
Doing a victory dance!! I went crazy after the plunge!!
link on fickr covering the event - http://www.flickr.com/photos/rkupbens/sets/72157614934872588/
Another wonderful snap on flickr covering this - http://www.flickr.com/photos/84853337@N00/2305791586/
Madhu and me taking the plunge!!
Doing a victory dance!! I went crazy after the plunge!!
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Dear Ms. Earhart,
I love that you could touch the sky. I think about you sometimes and I wonder how it is that a little girl from Kansas learns to fly. I'm 48 years old and I still can't walk in heels.
Tell me, Amelia, did somebody infuse you with so much confidence that you always believed you could do anything you set your mind to? Or did somebody cut you so deep that you always believed you had something to prove to the universe?
Were you ever tired? Were you ever lonely? Did you get scared a lot? I like to imagine that from time to time you were all those things, but what I find so really remarkable is that if you ever did feel exhausted or isolated or fragile, you never let it stop you from taking off.
Still, I have to ask, didn't the concept of changing into something made of flannel, ordering in a couple of sushi rolls, and renting a good movie ever tempt you even a little? Because frankly, that's my idea of a perfect evening.
It's not that I don't experience a touch of wanderlust periodically, it's just that for all my talk of missing the swashbuckler gene, I'm currently off on an adventure of my own.
An article in CNN.com by Lisa Kogan,made me smile.
I love that you could touch the sky. I think about you sometimes and I wonder how it is that a little girl from Kansas learns to fly. I'm 48 years old and I still can't walk in heels.
Tell me, Amelia, did somebody infuse you with so much confidence that you always believed you could do anything you set your mind to? Or did somebody cut you so deep that you always believed you had something to prove to the universe?
Were you ever tired? Were you ever lonely? Did you get scared a lot? I like to imagine that from time to time you were all those things, but what I find so really remarkable is that if you ever did feel exhausted or isolated or fragile, you never let it stop you from taking off.
Still, I have to ask, didn't the concept of changing into something made of flannel, ordering in a couple of sushi rolls, and renting a good movie ever tempt you even a little? Because frankly, that's my idea of a perfect evening.
It's not that I don't experience a touch of wanderlust periodically, it's just that for all my talk of missing the swashbuckler gene, I'm currently off on an adventure of my own.
An article in CNN.com by Lisa Kogan,made me smile.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
I do not want to give this post a subject line.. In life,if you see it the way i see it, you are born! Born somewhere in this world ,which you cannot decide. As a causal of that,you become associated with few people who you call as family,you develop a bonding with them, a very special kind of bonding which exists throughout your life,Life is all about memories and people. You may do a zillion things in life but ultimately it boils down to people. I keep thinking - of the 6 billion people in this world how many people do i know - maybe around 500-600. Of these 500-600 people how many do i really know and would share their pain,joys and sorrows? The number drastically comes down. I dont even know why i am writing all this,somehow i felt i had to give a preface and my mind is running like this now,maybe later i will think 'What the *#$% ?',Okay, enough preface! I will not justify anything here now for i am myself essentially flawed with my moods,emotions,knowledge,etc.
These are a few favourite people(favourite word does not justify what i feel for them) of mine whose snaps i have. We have come a long way in life..all my life or their life i guess.:)
Disclaimer: The photos are limited to only my childhood snaps(read below 9 years) and with people who had the honour of posing with me!! (wink) I wish i had a few more people who i had taken a snap with when i was young!
okay!! The goat was a joke!! Hey!! I like the snap!! I have another with a bear!!Ping me if you want to see it,of course i will charge you to see that!
P.S: I realized that in the course of writing this blog i changed from philosophical to cranky!! Please bear with me! That's me!!
These are a few favourite people(favourite word does not justify what i feel for them) of mine whose snaps i have. We have come a long way in life..all my life or their life i guess.:)
Disclaimer: The photos are limited to only my childhood snaps(read below 9 years) and with people who had the honour of posing with me!! (wink) I wish i had a few more people who i had taken a snap with when i was young!
okay!! The goat was a joke!! Hey!! I like the snap!! I have another with a bear!!Ping me if you want to see it,of course i will charge you to see that!
P.S: I realized that in the course of writing this blog i changed from philosophical to cranky!! Please bear with me! That's me!!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Skiii away to your heart's content!
After coming to Minneapolis I have sort of become a skiing addict!! I cannot believe that two flat 6 inch plastic blades and two sticks and snow can be so much fun!
This weekend i had taken off on a two day skiing trip to Northern minnesota to a place called 'Giant ridges' which advertises itself to be the No 1 skiing resort in Minnesota. Not surprisingly its very good! Since i know the basics, I took intermediate skiing classes and pretty much licked all the black diamonds at the resort! It was an adrenalin oozing weekend to say the least! Good fun..
I am the guy in Yellow!! (wink)
Few snaps from the trip ..
With Rajendra and Divya,Don't i look wierd!! :)
Madhu,myself and rajendra
Shankar and myself!
This weekend i had taken off on a two day skiing trip to Northern minnesota to a place called 'Giant ridges' which advertises itself to be the No 1 skiing resort in Minnesota. Not surprisingly its very good! Since i know the basics, I took intermediate skiing classes and pretty much licked all the black diamonds at the resort! It was an adrenalin oozing weekend to say the least! Good fun..
I am the guy in Yellow!! (wink)
Few snaps from the trip ..
With Rajendra and Divya,Don't i look wierd!! :)
Madhu,myself and rajendra
Shankar and myself!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Elements...
I have realized that I am most happy when I am interacting with the elements. As long as i am connected to nature in someway I am extremely happy, I have this feeling of peace,ecstasy,euphoria..
Water -I love Swimming,kayaking,canoeing,scuba diving,got to try snorkeling.
Ice and snow -Oh boy,do i love snow and ice -Has translated to Skiing,ice skating,Mountaineering
Air - Of course sky diving, Having tried it twice i want to take a course this summer in sky diving.Of course i love looking at the sky and clouds and gazing at the stars.
Earth - I love running(nowadays),trees,hikes through forests,canyons,deserts,nature in any form is wonderful.
Fire- I literally burned down my house playing with fire. :) I have always had a great fascination for fire.
I believe in a way i have found a connection between my passions.
Water -I love Swimming,kayaking,canoeing,scuba diving,got to try snorkeling.
Ice and snow -Oh boy,do i love snow and ice -Has translated to Skiing,ice skating,Mountaineering
Air - Of course sky diving, Having tried it twice i want to take a course this summer in sky diving.Of course i love looking at the sky and clouds and gazing at the stars.
Earth - I love running(nowadays),trees,hikes through forests,canyons,deserts,nature in any form is wonderful.
Fire- I literally burned down my house playing with fire. :) I have always had a great fascination for fire.
I believe in a way i have found a connection between my passions.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
I have realized that everything in life tends to reach the ideal. Every person tends to reach his ideal within his/her own circle of knowledge,experience,capacity, consciousness and circumstances and tries to live the best possible life he/she can.In the process they come to their own conclusions on life and definitions on various things like love,faith,trust,good,right,wrong,success,failure,tolerance and umpteen other concepts :)...
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