Happy Morning

I'm in the process of learning to say "Happy Morning" instead of "Good Morning", especially when I really mean it. This has been passed on to me by my dad-in-law who has come over to visit us these days. So, does it work? Yes, I must agree.

Saying "Good Morning" has become so routine you deliver it without even giving a second thought and hence it's also received in a same way. And when you change the way you greet people, it comes out more genuinely, make the opposites person take notice and brings smile on their face.

So, next time when you really mean to say "Good Morning", try "Happy Morning". Spread the happiness.

Have a Happy Morning Every Morning, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

Small Change Big Impact

The Petition

There Will Be Blood

Over a year ago, I changed by job and had to work at a client's place which is right next to Red Cross office. Everyday in the morning, I walked across their office and thought to myself, I should donate blood. After about couple months, I got letter from Red Cross politely reminding me of blood donation - I was registered with them couple of years back when I went for my first ever donation. I thought to myself, now that their office is just next door I do not have any excuse of not to donate. Next day I went to my office was determined to visit them during lunch time. Unfortunately, work was hectic and I couldn't do it that day.

Couple of days went past, days became weeks, weeks became months and months turned into a whole year. In between this, I heard that it takes long time in there , ie., at least an hour, if you go to donate during office hours. Also, I thought of asking some colleagues, friends and ex-colleagues who work close by and see if they are interested to go and donate as a group but I never gotten around to do that either.

Now everyday when I walk past their office I think, bloody hell you haven't been in there yet. Also, seeing their adverts at bus stops or on the buses I take everyday didn't make my life any easier. And last weeks event in Mumbai has just compounded my guilt. I fooled myself all these days by saying, "will definitely do this today", but that today never came.

I'm not sure why I haven't done this yet. How can I not take some time off to go and talk to them and arrange some time to donate? Is it becoz I have turned into this unsympathetic monster who doesn't care? Is it becoz no one close to me has yet required blood and hence I'm unaware of the importance of donation or gravity of the blood shortage situation? Or Is it that I'm thinking what difference does it makes if one person doesn't donate? But then if everyone thinks in this way and I am sure most of them are, then who will donate?

So today, I'm gonna courageously call up Red Cross and will take an appointment to donate in a weeks time. Also, will email all my close friends and colleagues and see if anybody is interested in joining me. Yes, this time I promise myself that I'll donate blood and do it regularly and as usual I'm "sticking to my...".

Quote Hanger

Here is where I hang my original quotes. You can rent them for free, but an acknowledgment would be nice.

1. Babies are nature's clever marketing & packaging trick to get us to buy into.
2. Sometimes, ignoring is bliss.
3. Why does it take life-threatning-moment to change our life around?
4. Ask not if it is right time or wrong. Ask if it is your time or not.
   

You like them or hate them, I am "sticking.." of quotes.

Movember

but my wife would leave me :-(.
So I donated instead.

Defining Moment...

Let me start by saying, I wish I could vote in this election.



Barack Obama in the above video starts with, "At this defining moment in our history, the question is not that if you are better off than four years ago, we all know the answer to that, the real question is will our country be better off in four years from now.....".

And the video ends with subtitle, "Barack Obama - President". Cocky or Confident? We will know answer to that very soon.

Yes, definitely it is a defining moment in not just American history but world history and hopefully they - Americans - don't make a stupid mistake third time in a row by choosing McCain.

BTW, I believe, as most of you do as well, world would have been a better place without Mr. Bush as a president and I am "sticking...".

Do dreams ever come true? – II

....Continued...

11-10-2008 Sat: Got a call and was called for a quick audition. Wasn’t happy with it and thought would fail the audition miserably. While driving back home, got an idea, did a video shoot at home, posted on a youtube and sent the link to the producer.

12-10-2008 Sun: Got a call from the producer, he said the youtube video did the trick and got me the role. I was elated.

13-10-2008 Mon: Got the full script. Had to search and take a note of scenes where I’m supposed to appear.

14-10-2008 Tue: The main cast, director arrived from Indonesia. Went for rehearsals, gave around 20-30 takes, and failed terribly, I was disgusted with myself. Came home midnight dejected, slept couple of hours, got up at around 3 am, re-wrote some of the dialogs, went back to bed bit more relaxed.

15-10-2008 Wed: D-Day arrives.
Went early - 8:00am - for the shoot, waited for couple of hours for everything to be in place and was ready for the 1st scene.

• Scene 1: As I didn’t have any dialogs and just had to dance carefree, it went well.

• Scene 2: had a monologue and was the one which I had failed in rehearsals and hence was bit worried. But I am not sure if it was the costume, or location or my dialoges, I gave my best shot and came out triumphant in about 4th or 5th take. I was the happiest and most relieved person on the set...or may be it was the director.

• Scene 3: I was not aware of this scene unti th last moment. The script I got did ave this. But anyways, shooting for this scene was physically hard. I had to crash into the main character of the movie, some how had to make my turban come off with the whole wig of long hair still sticking on my head and also had to utter a one liner in Indonesian language. I would have given at least 3-4 takes in 3 diff angle and by the end of it I was literally dead. So was the make up lady as every take she had to do the turban again.

• Scene 4-6: These were very easy compared to above ones. Just had to stare at the camera or the protagonist and utter a word QUALITY. My nuclear family joined me at the shoot by then. I could see how proud they were of me. I could see it in their eyes; especially my 7yr old was speechless.

By the time I finished shooting it was 11 pm. It was hard work but was very satisfying. THANK YOU ‘Kambing Jantan’ team for the unforgettable experience.

Now, waiting for my pay ;-)

Yes, dreams do come true sometimes. Keep dreaming...