Coffee ~ My Private Affair!

I enjoy having coffee very much. Coffee is something without which, it is difficult to live life conveniently. Maybe because it is a habit or a feeling or whatever it is. Coffee definitely gives me wonderful feelings, it brings back great memories, great ideas and thoughts, genuine happiness, rejuvenates energy. Overall Coffee makes me feel like a Man! Yes! Just like how they say having cigarette makes people feel like a man, Coffee gives me that kind of a feeling, grown up, adult, independent. To say it in style, "I felt like a Man!" I felt like writing about coffee because it is a private affair to me. Coffee is very personal to me. I enjoy it for my own self. It is an experience that is worthy of blogging, though it would not reflect the completeness of my private affair with coffee.

I love the taste that lingers after having a nice coffee. I love to sing the songs of advertisements like the Colgate, Thumbsup, Limca, Hutch etc. In that list ads that I love, the coffee ads which I love are embedded all over this post.

I like the many coffee ads.
"Manchi ruchi gala udayam kotta sunrise..."
In Telugu song goes like this...
"మంచి రుచి గల ఉదయం కొత్త సన్ రైజ్.." meaning "A good morning taste... new Sunrise..."
In Hindi song goes like this...
"जीवन में अप्पकी नया सन राइज..." meaning "In your life.. new Sunrise..."



The quote that greatly appeal to me and I live by it.
"Men like Chocolate and Coffee should always be rich."


The coffee brands I love are
Chennai Filter Coffee at Saravana Bhavan
Bru Coffee
Nescafe
Starbucks Capachino
Starbucks Cold Coffee
Cafe Coffee Day
Barista Coffee
Tim Hortons double double
Tim Hortons Cafe Mocha
Coffee at Tirumal from the small vendors
Coffee tastes amazing in Puttaparthi Canteen
College Coffee
Srinivas Coffe Powder
Nescafe Classic


Favorite Coffee shops, that I can remember of the mind now
Dunkin's coffee shop in Middletown, Connecticut near Balaji Temple
Amethyst in Chennai
Coffee Day at Isphani Center in Chennai



Come alive to great moments... Nescafe....

So now those great moments with Coffee that come alive always...

Like the ad "जीवन में अप्पकी नया सन राइज..." I always have a coffee between 10 and 11 AM for second time on weekends, because, we finish the work to some extent and want to take a break or get rejuvenated for the rest of the day. It is remember so well that I always used to ask Swapna to give me coffee for second cup of the day on Sunday mornings around 10.30 AM, after I come from the fish and vegetables market. She would give it to me before she starts the heavy Sunday cooking.

Another fond memory, is when I am with my brothers, my Mom will definitely give coffee to Ajay, Vinod and myself when we are together be it morning or afternoon. Ajay rarely drinks coffee though. We do a lot of chit chatting while sipping coffee. Really wonderful moments.

Swapna and I went to Mc Donald's for breakfast near Niagara Falls, and had complimentary, introductory, promotional free coffee during breakfast on her birthday Sep 9!

Preparing at Amethyst, in Chennai along with my Polaris Colleagues for Best Young Managers Competition conducted by All India Management Association!

Pot Coffee at Dolphin hotel during our MBA College days along with my friends.

Coffee at the Vizag railway station along with my buddies during many times in teenage.

I used to spend time at Amethyst alone while Swapna went for delivery, reading books and working on my laptop at the coffee shop. I got into a wonderful coffee culture.

The precious moments I used to spend with my mentor Sriram, while I used to take coffee breaks at Polaris Spencers Plaza office.

Weekend Coffee with mini tiffin Saravanan Bhavan while I was a bachelor.

These days, when I chat with my online friend Vivek, I tell him that "It's Coffee with Vivek" and he says "Tea with Ram" because he drinks Tea.

Coffee I have at my desk when I don't have time to sit and eat breakfast at coffee shop because of an early morning meeting. I love such busy weekdays.


I remember, when Swapna and I were making our home after our US return to Hyderabad, we carefully decorated our home. And in between, I used to drink lot of coffees. Sweet Memories.

Enjoyed the coffee, I had with all my MBA gang sitting on the wall opposite to Dr. LB college or at Sai Ram parlor near my house at Eenadu in Vizag.

During our bachelor outing to Araku Vally in Vizag on a stormy day. We stopped while going uphill on bikes due to lack of visibility of even 2 meters distance. That time we were all wet wet wet and cold. We had a very nice hot coffee on the road side with cigarettes for those who smoke. It was good fun.

Now a days, my coffee conversations with my team members and clients is a norm. We go to Tim Hortons for discussions and conversations over coffee.

There are many such exotic moments I have while drinking coffee each and every day. I am running out of my memory and words to get them all here.

How I got used to Coffee...? It all started with taste for drops of coffee. Coffee is for adults at my home. During my childhood, I remember I was in 1st standard, when I always wanted to drink coffee because all the adults were drinking. Until, I am in first standard, I don't remember, but I guess even if I asked they never gave me. But, I do remember insisting and crying for coffee. Then, my mom used to dip her finger in coffee that she is drinking and put a drop on my tongue to taste. That way, she used to get rid of me and my persuasion to drink coffee. That is the beginning of my taste towards coffee. Sooner or later, I moved from milk, Bornvita, Horlicks to Coffee. I used to like coffee very much because the coffee my mom used to make is very strong and also sweet. So, I had a strong taste for coffee and also have a sweet tooth. Hence, my taste towards coffee developed. I liked coffee with such sweetness maybe, but now I reduced from extreme sweetness to low sweetness and should eventually move to no sugar, no sweetness coffee.

The maximum coffees I drank in a day of 24 hours was maybe 12 cups, if I remember correctly. The maximum days I lived without coffee for entire day, after I got used to drinking coffee every day, was I guess 2 days maximum.



Sip the coffee... lick the cream... mmmmmmmm........

I do feel a bit of inconvenience when I don't have coffee. The worst coffee I ever tasted was the one which I prepared. Forgetfully I added salt instead of sugar. I gulped it and realized it was Yack!! I don't like black coffee when compared to coffee with milk. But, i guess eventually I will like black coffee too. Like how I like coffee with less sugar now. But for sure, I will NOT like coffee with salt. LOL ;-)

Coffee tastes really good after having masala dosa, or dosa with a spicy chutney, poori curry etc during breakfst. It tastes wonderful immediately after having Upma as breakfast.
The time when I used to be in Java Training at Intelligroup, I guess I had 10 to 12 cups of coffees from machine because it was free. Within a week from then I stopped drinking readymade machine coffee at work place. Later, I used to have coffee from prepared from the stove or filtered. The other time I remember having loads of coffee was during the wedding of my friend Vamsi's sister. I remember we were involved in the wedding arrangements and so as bechelors we freaked and did nights out. That day I remember having around 10 to 12 of cups of coffee just for the sake of it. Coffee goes will with Pakodi or bajji on a rainy day or at the beach in India.

The favorite coffee cups / mugs among the many I have are, A coffee mug given by Polaris for 'Get up, Get Noticed!" competition at Polaris. A Red Nescafe cup which I still have in India. You can see the coffee cup in this ad below. Enjoy the ad song.



There are numerous best moments with coffee that I experienced over and over again. It is more of a good morning feeling, or a hot coffee in cold weather, or having roadside coffee when in journey early morning on a long drive, in the chillness of Tirumala hill, while I am alone thinking for myself during weekends and many many more.

After marriage, I really loved and experienced the situation in this advertisement. It touched my life because, this ad used to come when Swapna and I were in Chennai and we were expecting Srimaye. It was so much to the context that time and we enjoyed every moment and continue to do so.



My coffee consumption, stats on how much I consumed and I will consume over a life time.

Every day 1 cup of coffee for sure.
Monthly I consume 100 grams of Coffee.
Annually I consume 1200 grams of Coffee.
Since I started at the age of 5 years, I must have consumed 37, 200 grams or 82 lbs of Coffee.
In my lifetime, probably I will consume 84,000grams or 185 lbs of Coffee.

I must have spent around $50 per annum only on coffee powder and so far I must have spent $1550. In a lifetime, I maybe spending $3750, around Rs. 1,61,250 Indian Rupees. :-) These stats and costs are ball park figures and do not account for coffee that I buy etc. Though a very very rough estimate, rather a guesstimate this is very interesting. :-)

Enjoy the lyrics of the Nescafe ad song... Open Up... the singer is Shunza

You can be rich With no money to spend,
You can do everything When you understand…

You can be mother When you are a man,
Open up… You know that you can…

Open your eyes Open your mind
Open your thoughts Don't stay behind…

Open up, open up… Open up, open up…
Nescafe.

The key is inside you To open your mind,
You know what is out there Your heart can't be blind…

Open your eyes And open your mind
Open your thoughts Don't stay behind…

Open your eyes Open your mind
Open your thoughts Don't stay behind…

Open up, open up… Open up, open up…
Nescafe.

Erase all the borders And start in your head.
Open your mind To thoughts seldom said…

Open your eyes And open your mind
Open your thoughts Don't stay behind…

Open up, open up… Open up, open up…
Open up, open up… Nescafe.

Finally, it is not that I am ending it, because it is never ending. It is open ended.



So, Open up Open up...

ये वोह बंधन है जो कभी टूट नहीं सकता

A time when extreme joy is overshadowed by loneliness. A time I have see profound change within me and around the world which already existed. Only on this day, I have realized the change that already existed.

Today, is a very important day in my life as we are celebrating House Warming Ceremony at 50-44-1, P&T Colony, Seetammadhara, Visakhapatnam - 530013, Andhra Pradesh, India. The idea of renovating our house was parked for more than 10 years, If I remember correctly. Or probably it was my Dad's dream to renovate the home. Definitely, the force behind this idea coming into action is my beloved mother. She is the biggest influence on any major decision that has a significantly positive effect in the lives of me and my brothers. The idea started getting into action around September 2007 I guess. After taking a lot of resistance, twists and turns the idea got into action. When I returned from US, I had taken a good look of it while it was under construction and have participated in the Ganapathi Homam and placing of the Main Entrance Doors "Mukha Dwaram". It was sheer joy to be a part of that festivity. From the time, I came to Canada, during my conversations to India, most of the talk has been around the construction status of the house. Mom used to give me a detailed progress on how things are happening, how Vinod and Ajay are putting their best foot forward inspite of lot of difficulties etc.

On this day, 9th Nov 2009, the House warming ceremony is celebrated. I really was excited to hear all the auspicious music, the way the whole home is decorated with flowers, green mango tree leaves and banana stems and leaves. It all is so sacred and lively as much as I can imagine and much more than that. The house is named as Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Nilayam.

Hearing all this over the phone, I felt really delighted. As I am in Canada, I really missed all the good joy and fun. Suddenly, a kind of gloom overtook my joy. I started feeling lonely and was very disappointed for missing all this fun. Lot of questions raised in my mind.

What is important in life?
Why did I miss such a wonderful event in life?
Why is Srimaye, Swapna and myself who are an integral part of this so far away from the joy of house warming?
Why did I not decide to attend this House warming ceremony?
When Swapna and Srimaye stay abroad, taking all the pains, why is it that they missed this festivity in the family which they are very much an integral part of?
Why is it that my brothers or mom did not feel that they should wait until I participate in the house warming ceremony, come what may?
If my Daddy was alive, will he agree to do the house warming ceremony without me attending to it?
Is it that I did not go and I am putting the blame on someone else for missing the ceremony?

So many questions, leading questions raised in my mind... that I was almost absent minded at work today. I managed to complete my work and reached home. I realized it is all in my own hands, my own decisions, my own thoughts, my own actions and my own deeds. So, at the end of the day, I have found answers within myself. I am neither sad nor over excited. I am just the way I am, Happy!!

I was constantly remember this song "Yeh jo desh hai tera, swadesh hai tera..." from SRK's film Swadesh. From the time I have seen this film, it has been my favorite song and will continue to be. I love the lyrics of this song and it is an apt time for a dedication of this song my own self. I love myself more than anyone for it always helps me in loving others. Sing.....

ये जो देस है तेरा , स्वदेस है तेरा , तुझे है पुकारा
ये वोह बंधन है जो कभी टूट नहीं सकता !!

मिटटी की जो खुशबू , तू कैसे भूलाएगा
तू चाहे कहीं जाए , तू लौट के आएगा
नई नई राहों में, दबी दबी आहों में
खोये खोये दिलसे तेरे, कोई ये कहेगा

ये जो देस है तेरा , स्वदेस है तेरा , तुझे है पुकारा
ये वोह बंधन है जो कभी टूट नहीं सकता !!

हम्म हम्म हम्म हम्म हम्म हम्म ....

तुझसे ज़िन्दगी , है ये कह रही
सब तोह पालिया , अब है क्या कमी
यूँ तोह सारे सुख है बरसे
पर दूर तू है अपने घरसे
आ लौट चल तू अब दीवाने
जहाँ कोई तोह तुझे अपना माने
आवाज़ दे तुझे बुलाएं , वही देस

ये जो देस है तेरा , स्वदेस है तेरा , तुझे है पुकारा
ये वोह बंधन है जो कभी टूट नहीं सकता !!
हम्म हम्म हम्म हम्म हम्म हम्म ....

ये पल है वही , जिस में है छुपी
कोई एक सदी , साड़ी ज़िन्दगी
तू न पूछ रास्ते में काहे
आए हैं इस तरह दो राहें
तू ही तोह है राह जो सुझाए
तू ही तोह है अब जो ये बताये
चाहे तोह कीस दिशा में जाए वही

ये जो देस है तेरा , स्वदेस है तेरा , तुझे है पुकारा
ये वोह बंधन है जो कभी टूट नहीं सकता !!

हम्म हम्म हम्म हम्म हम्म हम्म ....


For those who would love to watch the video of this song... here you go...



Lyrics of the song Yeh jo des hai tera in English transliteration...

Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara…
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta) -2

Mitti ki jo khushboo, tu kaise bhoolaayega
Tu chaahe kahin jaaye, tu laut ke aayega
Nayi nayi raahon mein, dabi dabi aahon mein
Khoye khoye dilse tere, koyi ye kahega
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta

(Hmm…hmm…hmm…hmm…hmm…)
Tujhse zindagi, hai ye keh rahi
Sab toh paa liya, ab hai kya kami
Yun toh saare sukh hai barse
Par door tu hai apne gharse
Aa laut chal tu ab diwaane
Jahaan koyi toh tujhe apna maane
Awaaz de tujhe bulaane, wahi des
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
(Hmm…hmm…hmm…hmm…hmm…)

Ye pal hai wahi, jis mein hai chhupi
Koyi ek sadi, saari zindagi
Tu na poochh raaste mein kaahe
Aaye hain is tarha do raahein
Tu hi toh hai raah jo sujhaaye
Tu hi toh hai ab jo ye bataaye
Chaahe toh kis disha mein jaaye wahi des
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Hmm…hmm…hmm…

Journal O Ram

The song of the day today is "Mattu vadalaraa... niddura mattu vadalarr... mattulona padite gammattuga chittauduvu ra..." from the movie Srikrishna Pandaveeyam Telugu movie released in 1966, music by P V Raju. It is the context when Bhima is appointed to guard the house made of Lead in which the Pandavas along with Draupadhi and Kunti reside during their vanavaasam.

At that point, Bhima does not realize the threat that the Pandavas have as he is not aware that the house in which they are asked to live is make out of Lead. While guarding so, he will fall asleep. Then Lord Sri Krishna appears into the scene and alerts Bheema through this song. The Vendanta which Lord has said withstands the test time. Be it in Dwapar Yuga or Kali Yuga.

You can view the song on youtube at this location.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOKNHjBbnz8

The lyrics of the song is wonderful with a great message and speaks lot of Vedanta.


అపాయంబు దాటడానికి ఉపాయంబు కావాలి
అంధకారం అలమినపుడు వెలుతురుకి వెదకాలి
ముందు చూపు లేనివాడు ఎందులకు కొరగాడు
సోమరిఅయి కునుకువాడు సూక్ష్మమ్ము గ్రహించలేదు!

మత్తు వదలరా నిద్దుర మత్తు వదలరా
ఆ మత్తులోన పడితే గమ్మత్తుగా చిత్తుధువు రా...
మత్తు వదలరా నిద్దుర మత్తు వదలరా ....

జీవితమున సగభాగము నిద్దురకే సరిపోవును
మిగిలిన ఆ సగభాగము చిత్తసుద్ధి లేకపోవు
అతినిద్రాలోలుడు తెలివి లేని మూర్ఖుడు
పరమార్ధం గానలేకే వ్యర్ధంగా చెడతాడు...

మత్తు వదలరా నిద్దుర మత్తు వదలరా

సాగినంత కాలము నా అంతవాడు లేడందురు
సాగకపోతే ఊరక తతికిల పడిపోవుదురు
ఖండ బలముతోనే ఘనకార్యము సాధించలేరు
బుద్ధి బలము తోడైతే విజయమ్ము వారించ గలరు

మత్తు వదలరా నిద్దుర మత్తు వదలరా

చుట్టు ముట్టు ఆపదలను మాట్టుబెట్ట బూనుమురా
పిరికితనము కట్టిపెట్టి ధైర్యము చేపట్టుమురా
కర్తవ్యమ్ నీవంతు కాపాడుట నావంతు
చెప్పటమే నాధర్మం, వినకపోతే నీ ఖర్మం...

మత్తు వదలరా నిద్దుర మత్తు వదలరా
ఆ మత్తులోన పడితే గమ్మత్తుగా చిత్తుధువు రా...
మత్తు వదలరా నిద్దుర మత్తు వదలరా ....

English Transliteration:

Apaayambu daatadaaniki upaayambu kaavali
andhakaaram amaminapudu veluthurukai vedhakali
munduchoopu leni vaadu endunaku koragaadu
somari ai kunuku vaadu sookshmamuni grahincha ledu.

Mattu vadalaraa niddura mattu vadalaraa
aa mattulona padithe gammatthuga chittaudhuvu raa...
Mattu vadalaraa niddura mattu vadalaraa...

Jeevithamuna sagabhaagamu niddurake saripoovunu
migilini aa sagabhaagamu chitta suddhi lekapovi
athinidraloludu thelivi leni moorkhudu, athinidraloludu thelivi leni moorkhudu
paramardham gaanaleke, vyardhamga chedataadu...

Mattu vadalaraa niddura mattu vadalaraa...

saaginantha kaalamu naa antha vaadu ledandhuru
saagakapothe thathikila padi povudhuru
khanda balamu thone ghanakaaryamu saadhinchaleru
buddhi balamu thodaithe vijayammu varincha galaru

Mattu vadalaraa niddura mattu vadalaraa

chuttu muttu aapadhalanu maattu cheya boonumura...
pirikitanamu kattipetti dhairyamu chepattumuraa...
kartavyam neevanthu, kaapaaduta naavanthu...
cheppatame naadharmam, vinakapote nee karmam.

Mattu vadalaraa niddura mattu vadalaraa
aa mattulona padithe gammatthuga chittaudhuvu raa...
Mattu vadalaraa niddura mattu vadalaraa...

Meaning:

To over come the threats one needs to have a plan.
When darkness is spreading search for the light
One who does not have foresight can not go anywhere
One who lazily dozes off can not identify the obvious.

Forgo dizziness, Forgo sleepiness
If you fall into that sleepiness you will surprisingly be defeated

In life, half the time goes in sleeping.
Rest of the half of the life, doesn't have purity of heart.
One who oversleeps is a stupid who doesn't have intelligence.
Can't see the ultimate meaning of life and wastefully goes awry

So long as one goes, one claims to be the best
When it gets tough, one just falls apart in distress
With physical strength alone you can't achieve great accomplishments
When the power of the mind accompanies, Victory can be embraced.

Aim to eliminate the threats that surround you
Shred your fears and behold bravery
Duty is your part, to save is my part.
To tell is my responsibility, if you do not listen it is your fate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Courtesy: I came to know of this song from my friend Sridhar's mom. She once mentioned to me about this song and how much she likes this song. After listening to this, I was happy to get to know of such a wonderful song. More so because it speaks of so much of Vedanta.

Journal O Ram

Song of the day today is "manujudai putti, manujuni sevinchi anudinamuna dukkhamandanela..." another classical Annamacharya Sankirtana

I like the lines...
"Juttedu kadupukai chorani chootlu chocchi...
pattedu kootikai bratimaali...
puttina chotike porali mansu batti...
pattila pattamu vadalanrudu gaana..."

which means...
"to fill a small stomach going around all sorts of places pleading for little food...
strive towards the place where you have come from,
with strong determination you hold on to that path."

Idea:
It is very important to track the progress of any goal, aim or project. It helps to bring back to track in case of any deviations. I have to track my actions to cultivate some good habits. The idea is to actually cultivate the habit of keeping track of things.

Actions cultivate to habits if practiced with self discipline and commitment.
I am trying to build some habits like daily workout etc. Lets see how the idea executes. This reminds me of some of Polaris' terms like "Execution Excellence", "Good to Great". Polaris is the organization which I presently work with. I joined Polaris at Chennai location on 1st Dec 2003. I have enjoyed my stint at Polaris and have several achievements and wonderful moments of success at work place. I cherish some of the greatest moments at Polaris. More on the work life at Polaris later in a different context.

Journal O Ram

Song of the day today is a rendition of Annamachrya Kriti "Satyam Gyanam Anantam Nityam Anaakaaram Bhuvanaakaaram..." by MS Subbalakshmi. I miss those wonderful evenings when I used to drive all the way from Royapetta home to Besant Nagar Indira Women's hostel during the Music Festival Season (Dec - Jan). It is a bliss to attend the live and lively performance of the accomplished artistes. A "satsang" and an amalgamation of music and divinity. Purely Blissful experience.

Today at 10am the PMP session beings Introductory class / con call. Hopefully I will complete it this time. Yes, I flunked the first time. Reason, I did not prepare. Why? Because I was a lazy bum! The session was OK or maybe good. On the sample test I scored 80% (26 upon 30). No big deal as it is not even one percent closer to the actual exam.

After finishing with the PMP session, I cooked rice and dal. It was tasting good but was a little too sticky. No choice but to have the food. I returned the call to Krishnaji and Joel. It was good fun as I had a long chat with Joel. Joel and I have good laugh during our conversation as we have a similar frequency for jokes. So is the case when I speak with my friend Praveen. I also talked to Joel's elder brother Danny who is in Miniapolis now at Joel's place. Danny told me that he remembers me as a kid only, when I taught him how to play Chess. I was amazed that I taught Chess to someone. It was very good to know that he remembers it. I felt happy. Had a good laughter time and conversation with Joel.

My elder brother Vinod arrived in Los Angeles Airport on his Business trip for two weeks. I talked to him over the phone and I am happy that he arrived. I get to see him here in USA. Now Vinod is in LA at Krishnaji and Deepthi Vadhina's house. Krishnaji and Deepthi Vadhina are renowned to be very good hosts. Their hospitality is appreciable in spite of their busy lives. An inspiration. Their home has good interior and well maintained. I like the duplex style of their house and the wood finish to the hall, the wall color light and well ventilated and most importantly they have Heavenly Sai Baba photo placed rightly while climbing up the stairway.

Is this the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning? This was the question of my little sister Deepthi, on her Orkut profile. I have personal interest in these life questions, doubts and quotes and always try to answer or find answers in a better way. To the question,
Is this the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning? my answer is
There is no beginning or ending, it is only that sometimes it is a Pause in the continuation!

Another quote on Deepthi's profile is:
Your Future Depends on Dreams - So go to sleep
I would like to put it this way:
Your Future Depends on Dreams you fulfil - So wake up!


Your Future Depends on Dreams - So go to sleep....
If your dreams are not fulfilled - there is no Future...
If there is no Future, you won't get sleep
To sleep well, you need to get your dreams fulfilled...
Your future depends on Dreams you fulfill... so Wakeup!
Deepthi, My Sweet Little Sister!!

Some of the personal B's which are very personal to me start with,
My Biwi is on top of the list because I love her a lot. She is a wonderful person and showers lots of Love to my daughter Srimaye and myself. I will write in detail about Swapna and Srimaye in another context. Presently, Swapna and Srimaye are in Shirdi along with mom, attayyagaru, ajay, vadhinas, akka, Ramakanth bavagaru and all kids. They are enjoying the pilgrimage along with the family as it is Swapna and Srimaye's first visit to Shirdi and first Darshan of Sai Baba in Shirdi. I am happy to receive a phone call from Swapna that Srimaye and Swapna had a wonderful Darsha of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba and Srimaye is offered

Achievement of the day today is that I have started my Bhakti Cult through this blog titled Bhakti O' Ramji at the location http://bhaktioramji.blogspot.com/
It is one of my greatest achievements in life as this is one of those form or paths to my childhood dream to start a Bhakti Cult. I am blessed to take the first step towards My Lord Srimaha Vishnu.

And now the rest in the list follow as starting again:
My Beti
My Biwi
My Blog
My Blackberry Pearl
My Bigger city life (New York, SFO, LA, Singapore, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderbad) as of now
My Bajaj Pulsar DTSi Bike
More and more best of B's to add to life
My B.. what next?

Journal O Ram

This a journal of my life simply the daily activities, events and happenings as is. I enjoy pretty simple things in life. I enjoy myself very much. I like the independence of life and love my freedom. So today this blog is a good way of getting my urge to write, which I always have in me. I like letter writing, I have a love for language, like to 'Think in English", like to understand the intricacies of Telugu language. Telugu being my mother tongue. I love to learn new languages Spanish, Sanskrit for now.

Song of the day today is Dil se re from the movie Dil Se. I love this song the way AR Rehman's music starts and the beat in the back ground that goes all along the song and amazing distant voice of AR Rehman which goes like 'ek suraj nikhla tha....' Overall I love this song... one of my favourite songs.

I enjoy cooking. And today I prepared Chicken curry. Thanks to my beloved wife Swapna for motivating and in fact persuading me to have chicken. Without her explaining the recipe to me, I would not have cooked tomato chicken curry so deliciously. It is amazing in taste and smell and I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch. So, I will have the same for my dinner as I have this curry saved for my dinner too. From what Swapna told me... the preparation goes like this.

Recipe:
Start heating little oil in the pan. Add cut onions, salt, chillies,
Take the chicken, cut into small pieces wash and put it in a bowl. Add little bit Indian masala, salt, chillies powder, corrieander powder and curd to these pieces and mix them well in the bowl. Keep it aside. Get tomatoes, green pepper cut into small pieces.
Once the onions turn golden brown color, add cut tomatoes, green pepper it. Keep the flame more than medium. Then after five to seven minutes, add the marinated chicken pieces. Mix them well with the already cooking ingredients. Ensure that the flame is above medium. Let it cook for 10 minutes and then mix the ingredients so that it doesn't get burnt. Ensure that the flame is right, put it in simmer. Please use some common sense. LOL ;-) After 10 or 15 minutes enjoy the feast of tomato chicken with hot rice or roti.

Courtesy for the recipe: Swapna

The greatest feeling of today is that I started this Blog O' Ram http://blogoramji.blogspot.com/
which gives me a great sense of achievement today.

Blissful Blogging!