Around 40 people including some of my close friends. Close shave…Thank lord for small mercies
Cheers
S
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
And I live to fight another day...
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sleepless in Hamilton
It’s been 10 years since I finished school- Last week I was writing to a friend of mine and I mentioned
“I also realize that I have gone through a hell a lot over the past 10 years and am quite happy at where I am in life. Very few regrets”
Its true- I am very glad as to how the last decade had turned out – Quite a few personal highs (I am no world beater but am happy with some of the things that I have done) and some lows- but nothing has been soul-shattering. Just as I finished reminiscing, a mate of mine pinged me to find out if I was ready to attend what is now widely referred as “The Meeting”. We were supposed to have a business update that morning- A meeting which big boss addresses once a quarter and we were expecting it to be along the lines of the previous 2 meetings where he tells us – There is a lot of madness in the market and the financial power houses are struggling to keep up but still we are doing reasonably well- However, we do not know what’s in store and do not want you to believe any of the rumors that are doing the rounds”. Most of the sane ones think this exercise is a waste of time as he is not telling us anything new and is only sowing the seeds for more rumors as people start reading in between lines.
Rather reluctantly we went for the meeting- boss had a rather serious look on his face and the news wasn’t too good- We had decided to let go people and this could be as early as next week. So after weeks where most of the company was in denial- (like an ostrich with its head firmly under the ground and believing the world is dark) we were brought down to reality. We didn’t know how many people were going and more importantly who were the unlucky ones. The process was going to be a long and painful one- At least it will seem long as we had a weekend in between and a lot of negative energy in the system. Ideally, I would have it as quick as ripping a band-aid and be done with it- But I would also like to be a millionaire and marry Ms Jolie but I don’t think god concurs.
I was also thinking that it would be a huge dent on my rather fragile ego if I was on the list- because in my not so humble opinion I think I deserve to stay- but that’s not how it works- it will have to be a combination of whose accounts are doing well/performance of the individual/the whole Bermudian vs non-Bermudian thing (rightfully so – I have come here to make a living and the locals should get preferential treatment in a crisis situation- It’s not like I am inventing a cure for cancer- I am just an accountant and there are enough people on the face of earth who can do my job). I have had enough sleepless nights since last week and believe you me I have even seen big boss lie next to me in my bed (in my dreams obviously- you naughty perverts). The whole thing is just bloody scary- I don’t even want to think about being without a job in these troubled times.
Some one once said - A recession is when your neighbor loses his job, a depression is when you lose your job- Sounds right to me
Cheers
S
PS: The only positive out of the whole sleepless nights is I stayed up to watch A R Rahman collect his Oscar and rather strangely I haven’t been able to get the smile off my face. Congratulations son- You have done us all proud- Jai Ho
“I also realize that I have gone through a hell a lot over the past 10 years and am quite happy at where I am in life. Very few regrets”
Its true- I am very glad as to how the last decade had turned out – Quite a few personal highs (I am no world beater but am happy with some of the things that I have done) and some lows- but nothing has been soul-shattering. Just as I finished reminiscing, a mate of mine pinged me to find out if I was ready to attend what is now widely referred as “The Meeting”. We were supposed to have a business update that morning- A meeting which big boss addresses once a quarter and we were expecting it to be along the lines of the previous 2 meetings where he tells us – There is a lot of madness in the market and the financial power houses are struggling to keep up but still we are doing reasonably well- However, we do not know what’s in store and do not want you to believe any of the rumors that are doing the rounds”. Most of the sane ones think this exercise is a waste of time as he is not telling us anything new and is only sowing the seeds for more rumors as people start reading in between lines.
Rather reluctantly we went for the meeting- boss had a rather serious look on his face and the news wasn’t too good- We had decided to let go people and this could be as early as next week. So after weeks where most of the company was in denial- (like an ostrich with its head firmly under the ground and believing the world is dark) we were brought down to reality. We didn’t know how many people were going and more importantly who were the unlucky ones. The process was going to be a long and painful one- At least it will seem long as we had a weekend in between and a lot of negative energy in the system. Ideally, I would have it as quick as ripping a band-aid and be done with it- But I would also like to be a millionaire and marry Ms Jolie but I don’t think god concurs.
I was also thinking that it would be a huge dent on my rather fragile ego if I was on the list- because in my not so humble opinion I think I deserve to stay- but that’s not how it works- it will have to be a combination of whose accounts are doing well/performance of the individual/the whole Bermudian vs non-Bermudian thing (rightfully so – I have come here to make a living and the locals should get preferential treatment in a crisis situation- It’s not like I am inventing a cure for cancer- I am just an accountant and there are enough people on the face of earth who can do my job). I have had enough sleepless nights since last week and believe you me I have even seen big boss lie next to me in my bed (in my dreams obviously- you naughty perverts). The whole thing is just bloody scary- I don’t even want to think about being without a job in these troubled times.
Some one once said - A recession is when your neighbor loses his job, a depression is when you lose your job- Sounds right to me
Cheers
S
PS: The only positive out of the whole sleepless nights is I stayed up to watch A R Rahman collect his Oscar and rather strangely I haven’t been able to get the smile off my face. Congratulations son- You have done us all proud- Jai Ho
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Boys do cry
It was a cold morning in December 2007 and I was speaking to a newly married B about the missus and how life has changed in the past 3 weeks (B’s typical answer was- It’s all the same-No difference). B and I are close in a very different way- we don’t talk much about life/feelings. We just keeping calling each other to ensure our life and career are on track. To avoid the awkward moment, and knowing no other mechanism, I had to say something funny- So I quipped- “Now you have someone to take to a movie and make out”- B tried to keep me happy and let out one of those fake laughter’s- You know the one we use your boss says something and think its really funny when its not. He went on to mention that he and the missus had watched Taare Zameen Par last week. Most of my friends are movie buffs and everyone had waxed lyrical about the movie and told me that it was impossible not to cry. So I asked B if he cried and he said yes.
I am not a huge movie fan for a couple of reasons- One – When I go to theatre – My constant need to yap and make smart ass remarks puts off most people and they start hurling abuses at me. Two- I have the attention span of a three year old. But I wanted to watch this movie and find out what all the fuss about. More importantly I wanted to see if I will cry. My sister sobs like a “two year old who has had her candy taken away” every time she watches Kuch Kuch Hota hai and it pisses me off so much for I really think there is nothing to cry about. I thought TZP was another KKHH all over again. So I did end up watching the movie. I did cry when I watched the movie but in my defense it was not for the Dharsheel kids acting but for a small documentary which comes in the movie. So it really doesn’t count.
Fast forward, Jan 2009- Cold February morning- I wake up at half seven and turn the TV on to watch the Australian Open final- Watched a fantastic game between 2 great champions and thoroughly enjoyed the contest without holding an ill-feeling towards the opponent (Nadal- I am a Fedex fan but not a big one- Once Agassi quit I just picked Federer because I thought he was the man who is good enough to knock Pistol Pete off the perch) which is something which never happens when I watch a football /cricket match. My hatred for all things Liverpool / Sachin (Not any more) is/was so intense that I enjoy a perverse pleasure when they don’t perform as well which is not in the spirit of the sport but I couldn’t care less-(Actually I could I am just not trying harder) .
I bawled like a baby when I watched Fed getting all emotional about his defeat. The man is a champion and he hates loosing (I know how he feels exactly). It got me thinking – I have cried so many times while watching a sporting contest- Be the numerous occasions when Lara couldn’t inspire the Windies/ United’s defeat to Benfica to get knocked out of the Champions league/ Our gut wrenching defeat to the blue noses on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Munich Disaster. How can you not cry when you see Pete Sampras pull out a note from his pregnant wife to over come a difficult time in a game, when Sachin gets a hundred a mere days after his dad attains heavenly abode and looks up in the sky,or David Beckham scores the penalty against Argentina in 2002 world cup and cries thinking about all the hate emails/chants he has had to endure after his moment of madness in the 98 world cup. Sport brings out the raw emotions in people- players and fans alike.
This is when I actually realized what people mean when they say I actually cried when I watched the movie. Art and Sport have this unique ability to make you relate to people we don’t even know in flesh and blood but still make us feel for them. What will we all be without Art and Sport? I shudder to think
Cheers
S
PS: Veteran Actor Nagesh has decided to leave us mere mortals and go back to where he came from. Rest in Peace great man- You have given us an opportunity to realize how brilliant you were for something’s are treasured only when you no longer have them. One of the few times I remember crying when I watched a movie was – Nammavar Scene where he tries to keep his calm after his daughter’s death- Absolute genius
I am not a huge movie fan for a couple of reasons- One – When I go to theatre – My constant need to yap and make smart ass remarks puts off most people and they start hurling abuses at me. Two- I have the attention span of a three year old. But I wanted to watch this movie and find out what all the fuss about. More importantly I wanted to see if I will cry. My sister sobs like a “two year old who has had her candy taken away” every time she watches Kuch Kuch Hota hai and it pisses me off so much for I really think there is nothing to cry about. I thought TZP was another KKHH all over again. So I did end up watching the movie. I did cry when I watched the movie but in my defense it was not for the Dharsheel kids acting but for a small documentary which comes in the movie. So it really doesn’t count.
Fast forward, Jan 2009- Cold February morning- I wake up at half seven and turn the TV on to watch the Australian Open final- Watched a fantastic game between 2 great champions and thoroughly enjoyed the contest without holding an ill-feeling towards the opponent (Nadal- I am a Fedex fan but not a big one- Once Agassi quit I just picked Federer because I thought he was the man who is good enough to knock Pistol Pete off the perch) which is something which never happens when I watch a football /cricket match. My hatred for all things Liverpool / Sachin (Not any more) is/was so intense that I enjoy a perverse pleasure when they don’t perform as well which is not in the spirit of the sport but I couldn’t care less-(Actually I could I am just not trying harder) .
I bawled like a baby when I watched Fed getting all emotional about his defeat. The man is a champion and he hates loosing (I know how he feels exactly). It got me thinking – I have cried so many times while watching a sporting contest- Be the numerous occasions when Lara couldn’t inspire the Windies/ United’s defeat to Benfica to get knocked out of the Champions league/ Our gut wrenching defeat to the blue noses on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Munich Disaster. How can you not cry when you see Pete Sampras pull out a note from his pregnant wife to over come a difficult time in a game, when Sachin gets a hundred a mere days after his dad attains heavenly abode and looks up in the sky,or David Beckham scores the penalty against Argentina in 2002 world cup and cries thinking about all the hate emails/chants he has had to endure after his moment of madness in the 98 world cup. Sport brings out the raw emotions in people- players and fans alike.
This is when I actually realized what people mean when they say I actually cried when I watched the movie. Art and Sport have this unique ability to make you relate to people we don’t even know in flesh and blood but still make us feel for them. What will we all be without Art and Sport? I shudder to think
Cheers
S
PS: Veteran Actor Nagesh has decided to leave us mere mortals and go back to where he came from. Rest in Peace great man- You have given us an opportunity to realize how brilliant you were for something’s are treasured only when you no longer have them. One of the few times I remember crying when I watched a movie was – Nammavar Scene where he tries to keep his calm after his daughter’s death- Absolute genius
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