Crutch Blues

After walking around in a crutch (spelt "CRUTCH" not "CROTCH"), it has become clear to me. I have to start my "CRUTCH Monologues".

It may be my "CRUTCH" talking, but, a woman would be very helpful at a time like this. When you realize, that you are having trouble moving your own body from point A to point B, basic functions like, turning out the lights before going to bed, becomes optional.

I don't know if any of you went to a new city and then got their leg injured like this, but the fun stops as soon as you realize, there are 100 slow painful steps from the handicapped parking spot to the grocery store cereal department, and back to the car. Oh you forgot to pay. Fuck it. No one saw you sneak out a cereal box.

Did I say sneak out? Who am I kidding? Or didn't you notice, it takes 2 hands and a leg to carry your busted leg and the rest of your useless body from point A to point B. Which hand are you going to steal the cereal with? That's why you don't see too many handicapped shop lifters. I have got an idea, I will get an accomplice. But then I wouldn't even have to get out of the car. The accomplice would get you whatever you need from the store. No need to steal.

I feel like I should start my own "CRUTCH Monologues". I know I would read it.
-Blue Grin

Soccer Blues

Here is a tip, that should NEVER be overlooked. If you are playing Soccer, never by-pass the stretch session before a game.

My soccer game wednesday was at 6:00pm. I made it to the game after work at 6:10pm. By the time I got there, there was this commotion to get me into the field as soon as possible. I barely got to put my cleats on, and I was in the game.

Within 10 minutes, I busted my ankle. I think the doctor called it torn ligament, soft-tissue hemorrhage and sprain. I also had an old fracture that I did not know about in the same ankle. Needless to say, my ankle looked like, it had a potato plant growing inside, may be it was giving birth to another ankle. Whatever be the case, I am out of commision for a week, until the orthopaedic sees me on wednesday morning. Till then, I am walking with crutches, wearing a stilt and singing the blues.

I took yesterday off. So you guys didn't see me blabber away on the blog. I got to drive to LA and drive the Pacific Coast Highway back to San Diego. It is truly California, on that drive down. Even with a busted leg, and an automatic american piss of shit car (because i can't drive my stick shift subaru with a busted ankle) I managed to have a lot of fun. Especially for being able to park in the handicapped zones all around town. If I get a ticket, I can authentically get away with it. How cool is that?

Life: Regular update

Last weekend, I took time out to drive up to Sacramento. Met another very old friend of mine, Kalo Roni. Its a guy. Not Veronica. I think of all the engineers I know, he is the only one who has successfully transitioned to the real estate business fully and successfully. He now has a great business, and is doing well. Of all the things he owned, the things that caught my eye are his vehicles. (Go figure). Of the 5-6 vehicles he owns, I like the Mercedes Benz SLK-55 AMG, the Yamaha Motor bike and the HUMONGOUS Jet Ski in his garage. He is the only one who owns the car model in all of Sacramento. Quite jawdroppingly impressive. I drove the SLK out for a cruise, (of course). With the top down and the music blaring and the clear starry california sky in the night and a country road ahead, I hit about 90 in that car. Don't tell Roni, he might not like it if he hears this. I had a little fun.

Then, I went to San Jose. Met Mahmud and Faria. They took us on a cruise on 17, 1, 92 then 101. These are Bay Area roads that I love. 84 is the best, but we had no time. We also had no time for Golden Gate, Lombard street and Muir Woods. I also met my cousin Rana in San Jose. These people treated me as a fellow Californian! Cool to be so close to everyone. I drove back from San Jose to San Diego on sunday night in 5 hours and 20 minutes. A personal record, since I have never taken the trip before!

I am going to my second Kung Fu class tonight. And tomorrow, I am going to play in the Camino Del Sol Community Soccer Team Number 5 (Team Gray). It is a coed soccer team. The guys are not allowed to touch the ball more than 3 consequetive times. Crappy rules. Awesome game.

I bought a Soccer Ball, Shin Guards and Cleats, all for $32. And that in San Diego, Priceless.

Let the fun times begin.

Meanwhile, the dreams of driving a convertible in California is lingering in my head. I think I am getting a convertible in less than a year. Don't tell the Subaru. I love my Subaru.

-Green with envy.

Litany against fear

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the Inner Eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I shall remain.

-Bene Gesserit Litany against Fear
Dune - Frank Herbert

Impossible is Nothing

Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary.

Impossible is Nothing.

-Laila Ali (Adidas Endorsee)

Bangladeshi Identity Crisis

On my trip to N California, Asif brought up a very interesting topic about Bangladeshis and their identity confusion. It is a topic that I feel that a lot of problems of our people stem from. Are we Bangladeshis, Muslims, Bangalis, Desis, Abcds, Fobs, or dare I say it , Indians.

Bangladeshis: Some of us like to separate ourselves from W. Bengalis by saying that we are Bangladeshis. And we call ourselves Bangladeshis. A lot of our choices in life depend on this thought or identity.

Muslims: A little more fundamental thinking on the previous group is that We are not Bangladeshis, We are part of the Muslim Ummah. We "belong" to this larger group. We are not merely Bangladeshis. A lot of our decisions in life flamboyantly reflect this line of thinking, like gay people flock their colors in the streets of San Francisco.

Bangalis: A lot of people think the birth of Bangladesh happened because of Bangla, the culture, the lifestyle. These people think that this identity is the original identity and rich in values and meaning. This is a dying breed in thinking schools, other thoughts seems to be overwhelming this one voice. These people do things to unite Bengalis together, despite religional and regional differences.

Desis: We are part of the Indian Sub-continent. Since we are in a country where the white people see us as Indians anyways, we must team up and call ourselves Desis, and unite in the bigger umbrella. It is not very common. But I have noticed this with isolated Bangladeshis/Bangalis.

ABCDs: (And Wannabes) We are cool. We are confused. I can't speak Bangla so, I must be cooler than you, cause you speak Bangla. I grew up with some of these people, As much as I wanted to strangle them when I was a younger, now I know that in this crazy zoo of a cosmos, these imbeciles have their uses too. No. I do not have much contempt for them. I just think they are retarded not to have learned who they are. Obviously, they think they are not confused.

FOBs: (And FOB Wannabes?!?) I don't think we identify ourselves as FOBs but classify others that way. And make self-deprecating jokes about ourselves when we call ourselves FOBs. I think when we do that, we become more of a FOB and more of a ABCD wannabe.

Indians: We dress like Indians. We watch hindi movies. We act like and lust after Aishwariya Rai. We identify ourselves and lust after this Indian filmstar mentality. We sell our culture to the Indians, one hindi movie at a time.

I think all of this stems from who we think we are inside. We would rather be slaves in another nation than masters in ours. Sometimes.

- Green Bangla

Subaru Rocks Baby...

I got to drive my Subaru yesterday. I and Asif drove to this bridge called the Coronado Bridge, that goes over the ocean water into the Coronado Island. The bridge is long and it bends at a right angle in the middle. The view of the San Diego Downtown from the top of the bridge is to die for. Literally, the dilemma is, whether suffer not looking at the view and drive on this crazy California Bridge with Crazy California drivers, or to enjoy the view and drive right into a 18 footer in the water below.

It was refreshing to drive my car again. It was a good break from driving that wretched rented Chevy Cobalt. I thought it would be cool to drive a car that I have not heard of before. Low powered automatic Gas Guzzler - complete antithesis of a decent ride. I am changing that stupid car to get a Dodge Stratus today.

All of us are driving to Sacramento tonight. I will get to meet another really old friend of mine from childhood. Roni. Kalo Roni! This California move has really brought some old friends back into my life.

San Diego: Love / Hate

10 things I HATE about San Diego,
1. Real Estate Prices are so high, I could buy Mount K-2 for the price of a Condo
2. Apartment rent is also extremely high (directly correlated to 1 for some reason)
3. Sunshine Tax in California is so high, I can feel somebody cutting a BIG hole in my pant pockets
4. Everything else is so expensive (Directly related to 3 and 1 for some reason)
5. Now that I have gotten rid of the curcial points, (MONEY) onto other objections, Very few trees
6. Almost no rain, rarely cloudy
7. I actually managed to find some rednecks here, (I think they follow me around or something)
8. No (I mean zero) Black People, Very few Bangladeshis (the latter could be a positive!)
9. Everyone is ALWAYS happy, its almost psychotic
10. Hard to keep in touch with friends

10 things I LOVE about San Diego,
1. Beaches, booties and bitches (need I explain?)
2. I understand why everyone is always happy (refer to 1)
3. Finest weather in the United States of America Main Land; it is always air conditioned here
4. There are a 1001 things to do outside
5. There are 2001 places to go to, and the drive is crazy
6. San Diego Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Lego Land, Disney Land, and various other parks within 50 miles
7. Don't have to suffer living in Los Angeles to enjoy Los Angeles
8. People are a zillion times more open minded, its almost psychotic
9. Everyone is ALWAYS happy, it is contagious
10. Making cool new friends, and learning cool new ways to keep in touch with distant good friends (thanks to bidyut for the idea)

Asif Iqbal and Hindi Movies

Many of you know that, I used to live in Kuwait, like a Gajillion Bajillion years ago; Ten to be exact. Well over the Tech years, I had been steering away from my Kuwaiti Lifestyle. But, something happened in San Diego that broke that dam of distance with a tidal force of memories. I met a very old friend of mine from Kuwait.

Asif Iqbal was the captain of my Cricket team in 1988. I was like 11. I last saw him in Kuwait in 1995. And then again in 1997. And never again. Mostly my fault. But now that we met again, we had a lot of things to talk about. Lot of friends whose faces are a blur, and some names are forgotten. His memory on the other hand is sharp like that of the Elephant, Dr. Tarek Taha.

Asif is into Hindi Movies. We watched a Bangla movie, "Chokher Bali" and a Hindi Movie, "Swadesh". No, things aren't that boring in San Diego. I can't believe I am writing this blasphemy for all to see. But, Swadesh, if you forwarded through all the songs, actually had some content.

We played some Tennis. I think Time does not change some things. I still can kick Asif's ass in any sport. Over all we had a lot of fun catching up.

"I think this is the beginning of a very old friendship." - Grinner.

Wachovia Bank SUCKS

After 10 years of banking with Wachovia, I realize how bad Wachovia sucks. No branches west of Texas. Can you believe that, even after doing all those mergers and all those acquisitions they are still an east coast bank! Now, I have to sell my soul to Bank of America. The long bond of customer loyalty has been broken, I think.

Wachovia, I "walk all ova ya"!

- Grinner

Steve Jobs: 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech

"Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish!" - Steve Jobs

Click here to get a video of the keynote Speech by the Apple Computers and Pixar Animation Studios Co-Founder.

Thank you Pouyan for the link.

- Hungry Grin

White Dragon

Yesterday, I did something extremely unlike me. I joined a martial arts school. It is a Kung Fu school that is very close to work and home. I had my first lesson yesterday.

I was told to go wearing something loose fitting. So I did. I was introduced to my instructor. Todd Pickerson. The dude is like 6'4". And solid iron. My first thought was, I don't want to get beaten to a pulp by this guy. Then he bowed gracefully. I tried to imitate. Let's just say, I was not as graceful.

Next Paragraph!

He showed me some blocks and some punches. He started slow, then sped it up. He claims he started giving 60% of his force into the punches. The blocks were working. It felt good. Then he showed some kicks. Some chops. And finally some sets. One of the sets felt like it was a minute long set.

Never having done anything remotely similar, it felt enticing. The teacher was very friendly. It felt like I would do well here. It is also a good change from the gym work out scene. I think I will start mixing it up with Bally.

So, next time you guys see me, don't mess with me too much. I have learned my first lethal blow.

-Grin away

Car and Apartment

The Subaru arrived last night. Oh God, I missed the sight. They brought it to me with no scratches. There were some dead bugs on the wind shield, but that is to be expected.

On Saturday, I found an apartment that I liked.
It is:
10 minutes from the beaches
20 minutes from the mountain ranges
4 minutes from QUALCOMM
5 minutes from Mt. Soledad
8 minutes from La Jolla
2 minutes from Bally Fitness
1 minute from Groceries
2 minutes to the theaters
15 minutes from San Diego Downtown/Airport
2 hours from Los Angeles
25 minutes from Mexico

Only $1045 per month. I can't believe I said "only". 1 Bed 1 Bath. What else can a guy ask for eh? They even have air conditioning. Air conditioning is not common in apartments and condos here, because people don't need them. I even have parking for the Subaru. Even that is not common.

I still haven't applied. I will this weekend. Pray to the Cosmic Grin, its not taken. It should not be, there are 9 openings.

-Grinner Out!

Sea World: Home of Shamu

Sea world is about 5 miles from where I live. Shawon, Amit and I went and said hello to Shamu. Shawon was very squeamish about touching the dolphins and the sting ray's. But Amit and I enjoyed touching these marine life forms. Going to Sea world this time has answered two of my long unanswered questions.

1. Are sharks fishes or mammals?
A. Fishes, because they have gills, stupid.

2. Are dolphins giant blue and white hot dogs?
A. Possibly, but the general consensus is, they are not! The jury is still out on that.

We also went to the Pacific Beaches. Inspite of there being a red tide issue beach-wide, the pacific is amazing. And the ocean waves were really powerful. There are lots of surfers. Lots of babes.

Mount Soledad is like a 3000 feet high light house. You can see all of San Diego from the top.

La Jolla Village is sight that no tourist in San Diego should miss.

Remzi Kucuk

My Office mate is from Turkey... Cool dude.

He is showing me the ins and outs of Qualcomm Campus. Very easy going guy. Between him and me, I am confused who is more laid back!
His motto: "Life is short; do everything that you desire to do!"

Joined QUALCOMM, Bumped in to Murat Guler

Leaving Atlanta was not easy. Memories flowed and saddened my 10-year-relationship break up of my stay in Atlanta.

But, San Diego is new, sexy and a easy pill to make you forget the past. I moved into the hotel on Sunday.

Today I am already working at Qualcomm. Something right out of the Improbability Drive of Douglas Adams happened. I ran into Murat Guler in Qualcomm. I knew he worked at Qualcomm, but didn't realize he was right opposite my office. I was going to look him up and surprise him. But this sudden bump into each other shocked and surprised both of us. We are colleagues and office mates.

I am already making and regaining friends. How cool is that?