I just received an email from our Big Guy -- the CEO of our company -- about the company's response to the Tsunami disaster. Normally, dear Blog, emails from the Big Guy go directly to the trash can. I mean he probably has all the time in the world to talk endlessly (Note: His emails are always about a page long!) but we, the poor employees aren't as privileged to spend that sort of time. That's the case normally. But today, partly due to my recently diagnosed condition, and partly due to the fact that the email was about Tsunami, I continued to read on.

The email didn't prompt me for this post as you might infer. You see, the email had links to various websites for contribution. While I made mine 2 weeks ago, I just thought I'd check out the websites of some of these charities. Red Cross was one of them. Did you know Blog, that one could donate shares in the stock market or airline miles too? Hmm... it never occurred to me I guess? For the longest time, I associated charity with money, goods, or personal service. This was something new.

What I am seriously interested is how the airlines would actually treat Red Cross for redeeming the donated miles. We all know how much a pain in the ass those airlines are when it comes to that! Delta for one, I know, has one of the most inflexible plans available. Unfortunately I had the misfortune of dealing with them :( If you want to get lucky with Delta, the best time to make a reservation is 363 days before the day of intended travel! Now I don't think Red Cross would be able to avail that, right Blog? I just hope Delta has a better plan to accommodate redemption of donated miles! For the sake of humanity!

There was time Blog, when I was overcome with an urge to serve. It's interesting that back then, while I read about so many voluntary organizations, I never did check Red Cross! There are so many people out there, untiringly serving and achieving the purpose of their life. And here I am, making a measly contribution, sitting comfortably in the warmth of my home. It disgusts me....

I was just reading this piece about Reincarnation (Yes! Still suffering from my recently diagnosed symptom!) and I'm not so sure I want to believe in that Blog. You see, I am more of an instant results person -- microwave dinners, instant popcorn, instant noodles(God bless Ramen!), instant coffee -- you get the idea. I want to be good today and see the result tomorrow. Not be untiringly good all this life and only hope of reaping benefits next life! I mean who knows about next life? Please! It's not like I owe that person (err.... myself?) anything to ensure happy times for him/her (does the sex remain the same next time around too?) Clearly the person from last life (err... me again?) didn't do much good I can tell!

See this is how I think it should work. I will be good... and I mean GOOD... for say a month and then reap my results and boosted by that incentive, I'll continue to be good. Doesn't that make so much more sense? It's just like the bonus plans our companies have! You work like a dog this year and get the year end bonus. Well... those have been much as fictitious as the rewards of good karma too! Hence the newly accentuated syndrome (hint hint) :)

It doesn't make sense that you get crap dished out at you regardless of how good you are just 'cos the last guy messed up big time! Just like taking up a new job only to realize the guy before you screwed up big time. You bust your chops trying to fix that mess, while obviously dealing with the crap from the big guy! You finally set everything right but have to move on! Well guess what's going to happen to the guy coming after you? He steals all your credit and laurels! Thai ain't fair!

Bottom line... I am not happy with the karma process! I don't think it was well thought at all. A process reengineering is in the orders now :)

The news is out Blog! I am a certified Slacker! While there have been umpteen symptoms over most of my adulthood hinting toward this chronic disease, there was never a concrete diagnosis of the same. But today, during an hour long session with myself, after a 40 minute nap which just followed an hour and half lunch break, which just happened to be preceded by an hour of internet surfing -- Hey! I need to know what went wrong with Jen and Brad too! -- I think the verdict is finally out! I AM A SLACKER :(

Finally, there is an answer to all those missed deadlines and broken promises. While it is a relief to know that it is a very common ailment suffered by millions around me, it still comes as a shocker to me Blog. Why me Blog? Why me??? What have I done to deserve this?

Alas, I will have to live with it as there hasn't been any known cure for this terminal disease.

Yesterday mom wanted a ride to the local grocery store to pick up stuff (lots of stuff!) for Sunday. She has a big party. Yummmmm. But as usual she had to go to store A for milk, store B for chicken quarters, and store C for sugar! You ask me why can't mom get 'em all at one place, Blog? Well, simple reason -- SALE! Mom doesn't step out without checking the sale papers at least once! So unlike me who doesn't even check the receipt! I am a buyer-on-demand types. If you need something, you get it wherever it is most convenient! Am sure the shops love me for that!

Anyway, I was going to tell you about this genius of a sales clerk I ran into at shop C. Please note, the time was almost 10 and me was exasperated running all around the world! So, the deal? Buy one bread, get another free! So mom, who loves to stash things and then throw them out because it's passed it's use-by date, decided to pick up two loaves! Lovely! Walk up to the register, pay for the stuff, and walk toward the door. Happy that I am done for the day! But wait... mom stopped!!! She sees something fishy with the receipt! You must have guessed, it's about the bread, right Blog? Correct. And you must've guessed that the lady charged for both the breads! WRONG!!!

Here's the math and logic she used. She charged $1.29 for the white bread and immediately took it off. And then she charged $1.59 for the Wheat bread (which she claimed was the price of it anyway). So me thinks she just charged the larger amount of the two and took off the other. But her explanation was, "white bread's on sale and so you get it FREE(?!!!!?????) and I had to charge for the Wheat bread." "Uhhhhh... Excuse Me??? So if I had taken 2 whites, they'd both be free?", I asked innocently. Her reply, "yes mam! It's buy one get one free!"

All I can say is "I AM APPALLED!". It was a 30 cents I wasn't going to waste my two cents on!

I had read that word on many a billboards and book covers but never quite wanted to figure out what that meant. Well today, I know what it means in its entirety! And it's not good :( The wrath of the seas that swallowed thousands into itself is just too sad an occurrence :( I can only imagine the plight of those places... those people. Nine countries caught completely unawares is just too outrageous I think! Wish they had better warning systems in place :(

And just imagine those who were out vacationing! One second you're on a beach... sun-bathing and enjoying the warm weather. Another you see a 20 feet high wave coming at you! It's such a scary thought Blog! All the people wiped out without a trace! An outbreak of an epidemic is the last thing those countries would want. Hope the toll doesn't rise much more...

Hope and pray is all we can do for them from this far away I guess. This ain't too kind of you St. Nick!

Whoever dreamt of a white Christmas sure has their dream come true! While I didn't particularly dream of this one, I think I like how it looks right now. Tons of snow freshly delivered from the flake factory! Umm... umm.. good :) J thinks Santa's coming to this town for sure for why else would this place become the North pole? Wonder if St. Nick's got my present yet :)

I know I know! There is no Santa! Joey told me so :) But isn't there a childish want somewhere hidden in each person that secretly wishes for Santa to be real? Something about the season that says to us that it's okay to dream a li'l! It's okay to hope for something magical to happen. Hmm... between you and me, Blog, I am hoping for something magical to happen :)

A fool-proof way of ensuring your happiness, I have come to realize Blog, is to never wish anything. You don't wish, then there's nothing that can't go your way. You haven't defined your way! How then, will the spoil-sport, Mr. Destiny, know which party to rain over? Seems like lately there is someone out there with extra keen hearing powers sitting all glued to their antennas to pick up even the faintest wish that I could make. And even before I can complete a half-assed wish, they are all gung-ho to make things go the other way! You think I am being funny, don't you? Well then smart ass, you come up with a better reason for the way things have been working out around me!

One... not one thing that I ever hoped for has seen so much of a ray of daylight! Except for, of course, Starbucks setting up shop in grocery stores and service areas! I mean come on! The Starbucks fairy sure has a huge clout, I must say, for she beat the all mighty power of my wish and made it happen! I bow to thee!

Coming back to my newly found path to happiness Blog, I truly believe that there is nothing one can rob you of if you don't have dreams... if you don't have wishes. And so I've made up my mind! Henceforth, I will not so much as remotely even think of anything that might even remotely make me a tad bit happy.

Things weren't so before. There was a time when my wishes came true and I was truly happy with everything around me. Now... it's a different story altogether. Not a day goes by when my eyes haven't welled up for some reason or other. No!!! Don't even bother trying! I have considered that already! Yes, there is a possibility that I am developing some kind of depressive syndrome. But circumstantial evidence says otherwise Blog. If one thing... even one thing went my way, I'd be a happy camper. Trust me! It doesn't take much to make me happy. And yet people have their way about sucking the very life from me :(

Talk about quitters! Here I was talking about so many people shutting off their Blogs and look at me! Been over two months since I posted anything here. And heaven knows, a lot has happened in these two months, Blog! But what prompted me to get back here you ask? Well, let's just say it's the fall in the air that drew me back to you, my dear Blog :)

Don't you just love the changing colors and the fresh crisp air? I can't wait to be flying so I can catch the aerial views of all the splendor. This fall though, I do want to catch some of those colors in my camera. Will that happen? NO!!! You doofus! Don't you know you weren't ever supposed to spell your wishes out aloud? DOH!!! Oh yeah Blog, that's one thing I came to realize over the past few months. Wishes aren't really meant for me! They say, if wishes were horses then beggars would ride. Well let me tell you something! I sure don't know how to ride this crazy horse! It keeps throwing me off it's back like nobody's business! And I still try to ride it... even with broken limbs :)

Well Blog, there's a lot more I need to tell you about but for now I bid adieu. But I will be back! And hopefully it will be sooner than two months!