Monday, 27 February 2012

My Heart Longs to be The Winner...


I have been a Cleveland native for a long time since 1991 to be precise.....
I have been a good follower of Cleveland sports...  Cleveland Browns (Football), Cleveland Indians (Baseball team) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (Basketball)..... unfortunately I am yet to see the day when one of them brings home a championship....

During the early nineties, I was an avid fan of the Cleveland Cavs....  unfortunately for me and the CAVS, the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordon and his croonies (Pippen and Rodman) stood in our way .... although we did have some great times with Mark Price, Dougherty and Nance...... (Elango am I taking you down memory lane?) it just wasn't enough to hold my interest....  and my interests shifted to Baseball.... Initially had an aversion towards baseball for the obvious reason - cricket ofcourse....   but was kind of forced into following the Cleveland Indians.... why forced? well, during my early career with Cap Gemini, I was working with a team which had this Cleveland Indian discussion after almost every meeting....  and I couldn't contribute for jack..... anyway once I got into it...   baseball turned out to be, not bad at all....  but even Baseball wasn't my saviour either....  instead of retaining the good players, the management traded them off and called each year a team building year....   we lost great players like Albert Bell, Loftner, Manny Ramirez, Sebathia to Chicago and Boston etc.... 
Amidst all this we had the obvious Art Modell situation which Elango and G Srinivas talked about in one of the earlier email threads. I am probably the only Clevelander who kind of supports Art Modell....  Art, the owner of Cleveland Browns( football team) had this old dingy football staduim which he leased to the Cleveland Indians to hold their baseball games...   The city decided to build a new stadium for the baseball team....  they also decided to build a new arena for the Cleveland CAVS but when Art asked for a new stadium for his team, the city refused since Art wanted not only the stadium built but also wanted the keys to the stadium...  basically wanted to own everything including Parking, concession stands, merchandize stands, ticket sales etc etc...  city didn't agree....  he threatened to move his team, city folks called his bluff and guess what - he did move the team overnight to Baltimore and named them Baltimore Ravens. And what is ironical is, the city did build a brand new statdium for the new team after Art left Cleveland.... wonder why? Art would have loved to own the Browns franchize but for the uproar of the fans.... It is the only case (I could be wrong) in NFL where a team moved but couldn't take the name along.... Anyway, the Cleveland franchize lost football season for many years while they built the so called expansion team. And for the records, I think Belichick is a great coach and Bernie Kosar was an overrated QB who did not perform.
Then all of a sudden....I heard about this high school player from Akron who was deemed the next Michael Jordon.....  he was awesome....   Cleveland CAVS got him in the NBA draft.....  a homeboy from Akron (Akron is 20 miles away from Cleveland) who joined the CAVS and brought new hopes to me and all the other fans....  Yes I am talking about the one and only Lebron James !!!!  And Guess what he does -- Self proclaimed King of Cleveland leaves Cleveland  to become the Chump of Miami. Go figure !!! If he really thinks he can share the limelight with the other two stars, he and the fans of Miami are surely mistaken and have another thing coming..... My proclaimation -- I don't know how but within 2 years, the trio will breakup....  Lebron's ego is too big and he cannot share the limelight.... You think Art Modell is the most hated man in Cleveland, not even close....  that title now goes to Lebron James !!!
So thats my history of following Cleveland sports....  ever hopeful but always disappointed. :-||||  Since 1964 (for me since 1991) when the browns won, I don't think Cleveland has ever won any championship...  so the pathetic, dissappointed sorry ass fans of cleveland including moi are taking solace in Veeramani's achievements.... Veeramani is a desi (abcd) and she resides in the same suburb of Cleveland as I do..... North Royalton Ohio.  What did she do, you ask ? Well she brought home a championship - Scripps Spelling Bee Champion for the year 2010  Yippeee !!!!! Shows how desperate we guys are in Cleveland, doesn't it?
GO Veeramani !!!!  :-) :-)


 Author:

Mr. Bharani


Doctors do have tears to hide..

A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call asap, changed his clothes & went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy's father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor. On seeing him, the dad yelled:
"Why did U take all this time to come? Don't U know that my son's life is in danger? Don't U have any sense of responsibility?"

Th...e doctor smiled & said:
"I am sorry, I wasn't in the hospital & I came as fast as I could after receiving the call...... And now, I wish you'd calm down so that I can do my work"

"Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would U calm down? If your own son dies now what will U do??" said the father angrily

The doctor smiled again & replied: "I will say what Job said in the Holy Book "From dust we came & to dust we return, blessed be the name of God". Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go & intercede for your son, we will do our best by God's grace"

"Giving advises when we're not concerned is so easy" Murmured the father.

The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy,
"Thank goodness!, your son is saved!" And without waiting for the father's reply he carried on his way running. "If U have any question, ask the nurse!!"

"Why is he so arrogant? He couldn't wait some minutes so that I ask about my son's state" Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.

The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: "His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son's surgery. And now that he saved your son's life, he left running to finish his son's burial."

Moral-Never judge anyone..... because U never know how their life is & what they're going through"


Author: Unknon
Collection by
Sanjay


Recollecting my Pleasurable Moments...

By Mr. Bharani

Aadi was facing the wrong side, resulting in Amita getting a c-section. The whole labor process lasted around 20 hours, during which my voicemail was inundated with threatening voicemails from my in-laws and my better half's other family members from India. I guess they felt that it was more prudent for me to leave my wife's side and get out of the hospital premises (since cell phones are not allowed) to give them an hourly update. I promised them a live video feedback for our next kid. That seems to have got them off my back, atleast for now.....

Kiddo developed jaundice and I learnt to hate the word bilirubin. Kiddo got a tan under the blue lights and I developed an uncanny interest in the number of times he went peeppee and the color of his poopee.....  for the benefit of non-parents, bilirubin (causes jaundice) is flushed out of the kids body every time he wets his diapers. Was a lil bit scary coming home from the hospital...  didn't know if we could manage alone....  Piece of cake..... just too tired to eat it though..... Friends helped out with timely advices and food...   

Life CHANGES after having a baby. I knew that... but didn't wanna believe it. I felt that by not acknowledging the fact that "Life does change", I could somehow remain in this Peter Pan time warp thingee. I couldn't have been more wrong. With my limited 9 months experience as a parent, I strongly believe that parenthood cannot be taught, it must be experienced. It is sweet...  it is intoxicating.... like a vintage merlot.... ofcourse with a strong hangover minus the sleep. I have seen changes in Amita and myself that I never fathomed possible.....  Parenthood is a job, a permanent job with no raises and no vacation....  however, unlike other jobs, the interview process was quite pleasurable and you didn't even have to dress up for it. :-) :-)
Aadi was an angel until he was 3 months old and then his grand-parents (my in-laws) arrived. Whats up with these grand-parents? Do they have a hidden agenda or something? I think spoiling the grand-kids is their way of getting back at us for all the trouble that we gave them while growing up.... now and then I can see a glee in my mil's eyes when ever Aadi is being a handful.... I swear I can. I questioned my mil if Amita was a good kid....   she closed her eyes, she shuddered and gave a huge sigh and she hasn't stopped sighing yet.... yep... I know, its payback time and we are totally screwed.

Kids have a calming effect on you. All stress pertaining to work, life and other things take a back burner in Aadi's presence. Who knew that a baby could replace a Killians?


AN ODE – TO “life”

By PV Subramanyam

“It’s about time I reconcile and live my life. Life? Mine? Really? Why this
Kolaveri? Am I really me? Me? Is there really a ‘Me’? Who is this ‘Me’? Identity yes
identity, what is mine? Do I have one? Hhmmm…..”


Let’s start from the beginning. Colorful, cheerful, not a care in the world, world
itself at her feet can conquer it at any time. That was the age of this wonderful girl who
was every one’s darling. She was a show stealer who ignites the surroundings with
her infectious enthusiasm and zeal. She is ever helping her mother in her daily chores,
showering abundance of love on her little brother, pampering to the annoyance of her
parents. She is also a faithful little sister to that elder brother who taught her how to
cycle, how to fly kites and introduced to the wonderful world of books. That smile she
brings to the grandparents. Even when she fights or angrily retorts why they couldn’t
wait for her to came and do their work instead of taking off on their own with no regard
to their own age. A faithful daughter to her father, only she could talk to the bread
earning short tempered man of the house. Only a daughter can fight with the father
when her brothers cannot imagine answering back. Also leading her pack, in studies
and pioneering in all fields and carrying dreams of excellence some day. She was a
perfect feminine angle, always caring, loving and giving as a sister, daughter (even as a
granddaughter) and a sincere student too.

Not to mention what a friend she is to that bunch of Eves in all the thicks
and thins. All that laughter over the trivial issues those pranks on the un-expecting
decedents of Adam. A rosy picture, never realized when that bunch of bubbling buds
blossomed. They are discussing about the poor little souls who come to see them for
alliance. They used to wait round the corner of their friend’s house whom someone had
come to see. The girl herself would be thinking, “when will this clown leave, so that I can
fly out and discuss him with my friends”. If only the poor souls heard all those
comments, they would have never dared to meet another girl at all. One by one all
friends tie that holy knot of commitment, and start drifting. Our life, (let us call her that),
meets her chosen one. Life goes into any unimaginable bliss. That long talks on the
phone, ever waiting for the postman for that letter, almost fighting that he missed
delivering her letter the day before, drifting away in the middle of a conversation,
blushing when a pal had to bring you back to the present, bursting into laughter at the
dining table, with father giving you admonishing looks and mother smiling
understandingly. Never realizing the implication nor the gravity till you sit in the car, next
to him and start moving towards his house, leaving behind 25 yrs of your life, into a
new unknown future, silent tears rolling down.

Next day of your arrival into his world, away from all in a distant land, far away

from all the known ones, he leaves to work with a sweat kiss and among a bunch of
unopened boxes. Lost unsure, never realizing how time flys, it’s time for him to come
back for lunch, you hurriedly prepare lunch just in time when he comes home. Those
unsure looks, expectation for appreciation of efforts but that fool gobbles up the food
without a word and smiling throughout, but he helps in doing the dishes. It takes a while
to understand that stranger not withstanding that long chats on the telephone and those
long never ending letters. Love blossoms, acquaintance to familiarity and liberties and
just love. Now this becomes your life. The day you had to leave to your parents place
those uncontrollable tears in the railway station leaves a confused husband on the
station as your train moves taking you towards your own parents place only for a while.
Those experiments with the culinary skills, ever waiting for the sound of his bike to rush
to the door, stealing glances in a crowd, rushing to get the breakfast, his dress, his
approval, “shall I wear this, how do I look, hope it’s not too spicy”, turning to a interior
decorator to do up your small nest, small teasing notes in the house, ever around for
him or just cuddling up together….now your life.

Fruits of love come as bundles of joy. ‘Happy nappy changing’. Sleep, hunger
and self no more significant, that tiny angle fills the thoughts and world, in between
pulled towards your love and your own creation (your bundle of joy). You turn to be the
guardian, a teacher, a friend, a companion, a councilor, the protector, a guide, a guru, a
mother. You grow up with the child passing each class with them, taking each step with
them, acquiring new skills be it dance, arithmetic, basketball coach or simply driving a
vehicle to chauffer the family to their various activities. It’s time for the birds to leave the
nest they go in search of their destiny. You take a deep satisfied sign and say now it’s
about time….

A short recess it’s time for your bundle of joys to find their love and their bundle
of joys follow, you are ever there as a reliable pillar of feminine strength and support.

Looking back in life with pride, life looks at a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother,
and those laminated originals (educational certificates) as proofs of her dreams.

“It’s about time I reconcile and live my life. Life? Mine? Really? Why this
Kolavari? Am I really me? Me? Is there really a me? Who is this me? Identity yes
identity, what is mine? do I have one? Hhmmm…..”

Yes.………. life!



Author:
Mr. PVR Subramanian


You can find his contribution to technology here:
http://seopep.blogspot.in/2012/01/touching-your-lives-making-difference.html
                                                    Previous posts:
                                                    http://themagazinebhelhss85.blogspot.in/2012/02/story-untold.html

Monday, 6 February 2012

Are We Getting New Desks

By Ram Kumar

OK.Here is what I remember...



We had  a few desks which were old and some were new.The desks which were old were being replaced but only if they were broken completely.We had a teacher absent in the 6th period or so and no one filledin for that teacher.Most of the boys and girls went out but there were a handful of us who were in the section and got this crazy idea .what we did was lifted the cover of the desk and using a screw pressed the cover against the screw there bybreaking the desk.So everyone in the room followed the same procedure.so that we can get a new desk.7 th period was Physics and in came Sarvani teacher. Just to avoid the class some one said that "my desk is broken"and she said you can go to the gym hall and get a new one.All of us stood up and told that all our desks are broken just to get new desks.Then she got confused and asked how could all these  desks break...One of the girls (Part of the forum now) just told that her that these  guys stayed back in the class and broke the desks...That's it ....First it was Sarvani teacher who hit us.Then it was Indrani teacher with a cane close to the canteen and then Nageshwar rao Sir with the cane...I still remember Vishnu escaped the first shot with his sporting skills and Sir fell down and the rest of ushad to take the next few blows of the cane before the cane finally caved in...We all were made to assemble in the office room next to YP's room.At 430 or so we were asked bring our Dad's to the school the next day...I personally did not report the incident in my home ....We assembled the next day along with Sarvani teacher ( she wasfeeling as if she caught a bunch of organised criminals)But on a positive note we all met YP personally for the first time.With her soft hands (I can still feel it today) she twisted our ears and slapped us and told us "DO NOT REPEAT THIS AGAIN".... 


I thought of asking her "Are you giving us New Desks"but i was so afraid that time we could barely talk to her...May be she would have given me my TC....We never got new desks ........ 


WOW   ...It was "SERIOUS" fun.... 


About the author:

Mr. Ram Kumar

Saturday, 4 February 2012

A Story Untold



            Friends it was a day which came across like a whiff of cold breeze in the scorching heat of life, sweet taste of pure water to the parched lips, balm to the bruised lives, a day which brought back life to our lives. Like a smile in a tense atmosphere, like the full moon on a dark night, like a cloud in the summer sky. We all lived our lives just for that day as if there was no tomorrow. Memories of that one day can carry me through this life in search of another day of life in my life. It brought back so many sweet memories, sweet experiences, sweet acquaintances and sweet pain……
            Pain, are you sure? Well what do I call it pain, a sense of regret or just emptiness or call it vacuum. You decide what to call it. Sitting among such an infectious atmosphere it was difficult not to get carried away in that euphoria. But amongst all that laughter, all that joy, merriment, festivity there was always a part which was shedding silent tears. A sense of, helplessness, despair and anger on oneself.  When one has to live his life for that one day, then why this strange feeling of dissolution.
            When the gathering rushes back to you memories of that someone, those memories you have buried deep inside and was bluffing yourself that you had forgotten, or was just fool enough to think you grew beyond those and  realize how much you miss that someone.
            It’s the story of a coward who could not find words for his feelings.
They came across in the school the usual leg pulling, the fights, those pranks and the mischief. Among all this he never realized when they grew up from boy and girl to young man and woman. Her sight was the sun rise, her presence was the only being, her words were breath of fresh air and her smile was life. Staring into her eyes he got lost oblivious to this she chattered away, those fights in which she always got to snatch a book or a pen from him, all the coincident encounters in the corridors or en route to the school or even in a shopping complex. That inadvertent touch on the staircase would send shivers up his spine, when she slipped in the corridor what a fool he made by rushing to her, which left her friends in fits of laughter. 
            It all sounds like right out of a movie, waiting round the corner to catch up with her en route to the school, lurking around her house to catch a glimpse or make some small talk, on her birth day waking up early in the morning and secretly leaving some flowers at her door steps, with the telephone came some blank calls too. When she fell ill that visit to say get well soon, volunteering to help her with her studies, the combined studies which became regular after that, and even for the exams. Then that competition, not to score less than her.
            Never realized when it was time to say bye to the school, that hand shake to wish each other best of luck, was like the end of the world, that shake seems to have drained his entire life and light, it was like darkness all over. He leaves for a far away land for training; thankfully they caught up in the vacations. Those long letters were like life line during his tough and trying training times. In the middle on the night sitting under a thick blanket impervious to light, with a table lamp light (if caught with lights on beyond a time would mean punishment) he read her letters and wrote back, she had to ask once why he spills water while writing, if only she knew it was the sweat from the heat of being trapped in a blanket with the 60 watt bulb.
The outings during the vacations, attending her college for fun, those bus journeys to the city, ever managing to find a seat next to her. Then they attend a marriage of their friends, it was like staring at another reality. Walking back home in the middle of that night how close he came to expressing the feeling and failing in the last moment, that long chat standing outside her house, well all seems like a dream.
            Work takes him farther away, the letters stop, only the news of she doing well in the college, going for higher studies, he never loses touch and then the news of her marriage…………

            Life drags on with pleads 
            Sapno me hamko sathaya na karo     
            neend se hamko jagaya na karo    
           Dil   me cubhi is khante ko chedaya na karo  
           Manme basi is gam ko jagaya na karo


 Author:
Mr. PVR Subramanian

You can find his contribution to technology here:
http://seopep.blogspot.in/2012/01/touching-your-lives-making-difference.html