There is always something to laugh about

Hot Air
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A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced the altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted. "Excuse me... can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The woman replied, "You are in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees North latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."

"You must be a Scientist," said the balloonist.

"I am," said the woman.

"How did you know?"

"Well", answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."

The woman below responded. "You must be a politician."

"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"Well," said the woman, "You don't know where you are or where you're going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep,and you expect me to solve your problem."

She continued after a moment of silence: "The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."
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Labor of Love
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My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned ... couldn't concentrate.

Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the ax.

After that I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited for it.

Next I tried working in a muffler factory but that was exhausting.

Next was a job in a shoe factory; I tried but I just didn't fit in.

I became a professional fisherman, but discovered that I couldn't live on my net income.

I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draining.

So then I got a job in a gymnasium (work-out-center), but they said I wasn't fit for the job.

I finally got a job as a historian until I realized there was no future in it.

SO I RETIRED, AND I FOUND I AM A PERFECT FIT FOR THE JOB!

My mantra for success

Here is the sum total of my experience that I would love to share.
To me success comes :
- When I do my best and let the Universe or God take care of the rest
- Do what I love to do
- Manage thoughts , emotions, time and energy well - i.e. have happy thoughts, feel positive, be punctual, systematic, methodical and never procrastinate.

My Mantra for success in life (not from self-help books, but based on my experiences) :

• Work hard - Know all that is there to know.

• Keep commitments

• Focus and concentrate
  

• Be creative

• Be passionate - it shows

• Network well - i.e. build relationships, you never know from where it comes

• Relax and let go - This is most important so mark it well

• Laugh and play often- it keeps spirits high and makes you light and attracts more good to you

• Set timelines or deadlines - but let go of the time frame in your mind, i.e. don't freak out when the expected thing doesn't happen in the intended time-frame

• Be very specific with what you want - i.e. the only way you can ever reach your heart-cherished destiny - write all the details in paper very very clearly but don't be attached to any specifics. Let go and always have your mind, heart and soul open.

• Be open to adventure

• Let go of fear and worry

• Communicate well. Ask good questions till you exactly know what was the intended meaning. It saves a lot of pain.
  

• Never take anything personally. Remember when people are mean to you, it's not about you but about them

• Always do your best and let God take care of the rest

• Help everyone from the bottom of your heart and soul. Be good and do good

• Watch your words. Say what you mean and mean what you say

• Thank God always! Say a gratitude prayer often

• Be patient...always!

• Always visualize the end goal that you seek with a lot of feeling and emotion

• Be very excited about what you want
  

That's it, you've conquered the world! Now chill :).

INS...Ufff

What is going wrong with INS. It says something (i.e. Immigrants under all categories can apply to get their I-485) on June 12, raising hopes, revokes that decision and dashing hopes, and today once again reinstates the older decision... The whole thing is soooo confusing. The new decision came after a lot of hard work put by the immigrant community, including protests a-la-Gandhigiri ishtyle.

For all those who already have a US Greencard or those who don't plan to get one...glad you're out of this mess.

Another 2006 wishlist!

Here are some of the activities besides work and usual stuff, I hope I can get engaged in this year. Let's see next year at this time, how many of them are off this list :).

1. Learn skiing this winter. It's been a while I've been wanting to do it, hopefully I can get a chance this ski season.
2. Learn professional photography. I plan to enrol in a course in UC-Berkeley extension by the end of this month.
3. Try snorkelling and scuba diving.
4. Learn a new language. Maybe French.
5. Try ballroom dancing.
6. Hopefully I can get a chance to go for more camping, kayaking and hiking this year.
7. Try golf.
8. Incorporate a fitness program on day-to-day basis.

I'll leave at this point. That's quite a list for now.

Some dream destinations ...

I love to travel. I have had an opportunity to live at different places since I was growing up and travel to different countries. The longest I have lived at any given place till now is seven years (actually that's pretty long!). Let's see how long I can hold to this record :).

I happened to glance at the book "100 places to see before you die" at a bookstore. I haven't read the book but this book gave me an idea to make my own list of places that I'll love to visit in different continents in my life. I am sure this list will grow longer (or may be shorter, if I actually end up visiting most of these places) with time.

USA: Alaska, Hawaii, Death Valley, Key West, Maine, Vermont (in fall), Utah. Drive on highway 1 all the way to Oregon from California, Yellowstone National park.
Canada: British Columbia, Banff (Alberta), Montreal.
Mexico: Yucatan peninsula(Mayan ruins)and other Mayan ruins elsewhere, Peubla, Cancun...
Central America: Belize, Costa Rica ...
Brazil: Rio, Sau Paulo, Amazon Jungle, Iguassu falls...
Peru: Maatchu Pitcchu, Inca ruins ...
Argentina: Patagonia, Buenos Aires, glaciers with the blue tinge (I forget the name) in the extreme south of the country ...
Chile, Ecuador(Galapagos Islands): ...
Bahama Islands.
Cuba. Barbados
New Zealand.
Australia: Barrier Reef, Sydney ...
Bali in Indonesia ...
Cambodia, China (Shanghai, Great Wall), Japan(Mt. Fuji)
India: Leh, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshdweep, Kerala.
Male in Maldives. Colombo in Sri Lanka. Thailand.
Jerusalem in Israel.
Egypt: Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, Pyramids, Sphinx, Aswan dam ...
Morocco, Turkey. Travel across the Sahara.
South Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Kenya (Wildlife safari).
Europe: Prague(Chezch republic), Poland, Hungary, England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Croatia, Holland, Portugal, Greece, Russia ...