mangala gao re..

Time: Early morning, saturday, 23 Nov 2008
Place: Redmond, WA

After a cup of coffee, with light sunshine streaming in to the hall, Sandeep and Archana started singing, and an impromptu song came about. I was sitting nearby on the laptop, and recorded it without letting them know.

Here is the result: (Scroll down to find the recording)
http://www.esnips.com/web/harishbsStuff

Surprise, surprise !

As usual, the delivery guy walked by in the morning with his loadful of packages. He stopped by my desk in the corridor, checking which packages he had to deliver, took a large box that could easily contain a printer in it and said Harish ?

Yes, I said, with a couple of thoughts racing in the head. Recently, I had ordered a set of Gevalia coffee packets (which came with a complimentary coffee maker, travel mug and other goodies for 20 $). Could this be it ? No, I most definitely did not use the office address.
Or, could it just be someone else's package ? I have been asked to sign for packets for nearby folks since I was the lone early bird.

Harish ?
I came back to earth, duly signed his electronic recorder device and quickly opened up the package. It seemed to be empty first, I kept removing more and more wrapping paper. And finally, compliments of Oracle Volunteers, I got a laptop bag, a colorful umbrella and a hiking water bottle, with a letter thanking me for volunteering in this project.



A most pleasant surprise, especially considering that the umbrella is a perfect gift back home, I didn't have a bag for my laptop and go hiking every so often. Thanks, Oracle !

That evening, I came home and saw another package waiting, this time from UPS. It was from Gevalia !

Look forward to another post on the coffee.

You know when you are early to work, if:

You know if you are early to work, if:
- The alarm radio is still on when you leave home. It means its not yet 8.
- You need to turn on the headlights, even though its not raining.
- You see several 18 wheelers carrying two bulldozers each on 101-North - the workers are just getting ready.
- You get a parking space close to the entrace of the parking lot. Never have I come so early that the ground floor parking slots are still empty.
- The security guy makes an extra effort to wish you. Obviously, I am earlier than the median arrival hour. He can sit and wish individual jana as they stream in.
- The lights in my floor go on as I walk in. God said, let there be light... and there was I !
- The coffee pot is empty and I will make the first pot for the day. Soon, the fine smell of Italian roast will waft through the corridor.

Its great to come early. Oracle looks splendid as ever, what with the fall colors visible on the trees and the pavements around campus. I especially love the totally yellow leaved tree next to our parking lot.
Awesome !

Mysore Filter Coffee!

This is as authentic as it gets, whatya say ?

- Cothas filter coffee with chicory.
- Old fashioned percolator.
- Froth on top.
- Aroma all over the kitchen.
- Served in a steel tumbler, darshini style; a drop and it will overflow...

Wah, Harish, Wah! :)

Home improvement

Already, the balcony seems like the favorite place for everyone at home. It has turned out to be a superb idea. Nice place to sit and read The Hindu and sip coffee! Admittedly, it will look better after the French door and a few potted plants are added. Stand here, and you can hear a large umber of birds chirping, perched on the huge tree right in front of our place. It is a very pleasant experience...

As an aside, I vividly remember seeing Ramakrishna Hegde standing in front of the brown gate, when he visited the Hegdes who live in front of our place. I was a young kid, and seeing a celebrity/politician in the flesh was a big deal then.

Another cool idea is the skylight. Half done, it looks like this. I especially like the eclipsed Sun effect from the inside, thanks in part to the Motorola Razr's simple camera. Too bad that tiling and painting will take a while more to complete. The architect took us around the first floor and explained what kinds of paint would do good. Was pleasantly surprised to hear about the scientific choices he suggested. Small rooms with less light will look good with bright colors. If you want to draw attention to a wall(say to highlight a painting on it), paint it a different, rather dark color. And so on.

How I wish my trip had lasted longer!