Outsourced

As part of Diwali celebration in Cisco, the movie Outsourced was screened. This movie is about a call center manager's job getting outsourced to India - and he in turn has to train employees and his replacement at the call center.

I went to the movie not expecting much. However, 5 minutes into watching the movie - I was totally into the movie. I totally enjoyed the humor in the movie. It was hilarious. Added to the fact that these days I want to watch only comedy movies - Outsourced was super funny. I totally recommend this movie. Of course, there are points in the movie that one will not agree with - but come on - no movie is perfect. Watch a bollywood movie and do such analysis, and you will go crazy.
I hope the movie does well. There was a Q & A with the author and director after the movie in Cisco. This was my first time to listen to a movie script writer and it was interesting.

Watch the movie (but - not with kids).

motorola Q

My new Motorola Q phone is active. It's decent - but the one thing I would have liked (as compared to a Treo 650) is a button to switch between silent and normal mode. So many times, I am in a meeting and want to switch to slilent/vibrate mode - and have to look at the phone and select the options. Treo was nice - it had a simple button - without looking - I could change modes. Yet to try out various functions. Our company has Good messaging deployed and this is a battery hog. Luckily the phone has a USB charger so I can charge it anywhere.

need to watch what we watch..

Last week my 3.5 year old daughter Urvi wanted to go out. On asking her where, she told me "I want to go to the disco' huuhhhh where did that come from? on further digging - who told you about the disco - she says "grandma (aji) told me about the disco". Very funny - got to call up grandma and tell her not to install disco values in the children. But grandma stays across the globe - and has never been to a disco (AFAIK) - and I don't remember the last time I went to a club. So looks like the idiot box has been influencing her thoughts. Need to switch it off.

job change

After working for 5+ years on MeetingPlace integrations, I decided that it is time to change. I transferred within Cisco to an emerging technology group called "Digital Media Systems Business Unit". This is a young and fun - startup kind of group.
One of the perks I get is a 41inch LCD tv in my cube. The sad part is that I am not supposed to be wathing TV on ;-)

remodel done

Kitchen remodel is done. We got it done from a remodeling company called ZMC. They did the job efficiently in 8 days. I would recommend them.
Now the tough part of putting back the house in order has started. It will take another weekend to get the house back in order.

Kitchen Remodel

Whats on my mind: kitchen remodel.
We really want to remodel the kitchen. Basically want to open the space. Its to cost a lot of $$$ but then there is always HELOC. Given the current financial environment, there are loads of people who want to give loans. Well, I should take some pictures of the current kitchen and then after we update it. We visited a few remodeling companies, and they all gave similar quotes.

PICT alumni meet

The PICT bay area had a bbq party on Saturday - 7 july 07. Was held in Ponderosa park in Sunnyvale and the organizers did a good job. Met folks who work in the bay area.
Well, I think a lot more ex-PICT'ians are around the bay area - but did not turn up. Maybe they were shy and a few were not around as it was the long weekend. I handled the bbq for some time - and then gave up. Found out that a couple of people work for Cisco.

Sunday went to farmers market. It was house cleaning day on Sunday. Urvi and Anvi got up late in the afternoon - and we missed the time - slot to go and see Ratatouille.

back from camping trip

Its been more than 4 years since we had camped. So this was a test. With 2 girls, aged 3.5 and 1, this was not expected to be a smooth camping trip. We started Saturday morning 11 am, and reached Grover Hot Springs State Park around 4 pm. We took a 45 min break on the way.
Going via Highway 88 was nice. It is a very scenic drive from the Stockton. Couple of beautiful lakes on the way. I was tempted to stop - but decided against it as the girls were sleeping.. Cover as much distance as possible was the idea.

We were set to camp with Desai family and they had reached an hour before us. The kids had a blast on seeing each other. Lots of squealing and screaming. around 6pm, a ranger came and asked us to keep the noise level a little down. It meant that the kids very enjoying.

We camped 2 nights. First night Urvi wanted to go back home. 2nd night she fell asleep in less than a minute. She had played a lot throughout the day.

Anvi on the other hand did not like late evenings. When it got dark, she would stick to mommy and not let mommy do anything. On the 2nd night we lit a campfire, and this gave enough illumination and she was happy again.

Desai family left early on Monday. We followed and headed towards Sacramento. We planned to relax for 2 days. 5 years ago I would not have dreamed of staying in a hotel in Sacramento - but life changes after having kids.
We stayed at Wingate Inn. Was decent and kids loved the room and made a lot of noise - jumped on the beds.. etc.
After 1 night, I did not see any point in spending another night at the hotel, so we packed up and left the hotel. Went to Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town that is opposite to it. Urvi enjoyed it. It was extremely hot in Sacramento - so we decided to visit an ice cream parlor. Ate a lot of ice cream at Leatherby's Family Creamery that prompts me to go on a diet. We headed back around 6pm and reached home round 8pm.
A nice trip - might go camping again.

N400

Important day today - as I put in my n400 application.
Time will tell if this is a good decision.

Back from a vacation

Spent 5 weeks in India. Mid april to mid june - and it was hot.

People talk about India booming. I dont think India is booming - I think India is blasting off. I actually like the changes happening. The changes do come with some negatives - but the positives are great.

Memories I will have of the trip is
1. eating mangoes
2. my 1 yr old daughter in diapers and a singlet. Would have been plain evil to put more clothes on her.
3. real estate boom

About Mangoes: There is tradition of eating mangoes. What I realized is that people spend loads of money on mangoes. I have strong memories of buying boxes of mangoes. These boxes are large - 4/5 dozen and this year a dozen mangoes cost anywhere from INR 225 to INR 450.
Back in US, I dont spend that kind of money on fruits. Peaches in California cost max $2 per pound. Cherries can get to $3.99 (these are the price points I buy at)
oh well... maybe thats why the economy is booming.

The next US president will be..

Barack Obama ...
I am impressed by him. Hopefully, he has not hidden skeletons in the closet. Damm... he is impressive. I had to and look up on the internet about him - after seeing a skit about him on MAD TV. Lets see, if there is betting going on - I would put my money on Barack.

Now I need to get his books. I have not read any books on American politics, so this will be a first 'The Audacity of Hope'.

Home alone

So my wife n kids are visiting the grand parents. So I find myself "home alone". I almost dont believe it - but life is just not the same. Other than missing my family, I realize that family plays an important role in 'motivation'. Motivation to do the daily chores and to do something new. Wonder if I will ever get the pool motor fixed.