Meeting at 9.30 in the morning at office

My Manager V: R, reschedule that escalation meeting to 9.30 in the morning tomorrow.
Me: Sure, will do.

I go ahead and grudgingly reschedule the meeting to 9.30 next day.

My colleague U: R, is it ok to call V now. Is he in a bad mood. I have a problem in one of my projects.
Me: Yeah, he is in a bad mood. But go ahead if it is urgent. Asked me to reschedule the meeting to tomorrow at 9.30.
U: Oh. Then that means we need to come in early tomorrow, atleast by 9.15.
Me (grudgingly): Yes.

I leave at 6 pm sharply. Why? Preparing myself to come in early tomorrow.

I go to sleep early and had even planned to set up the alarm on my phone to get up early the next day. Had ditched the idea later telling myself that I can do it myself.

In the morning, my parents were surprised to see me get up before my usual time.

My dad: R, what is wrong with you. You usually don't get up at 6.30 in the morning?
Me: Don't ask me. Have a meeting in office. Wait, did you say 6.30?

I then start doing the math on how much time I would need and then go back to sleep for another 30 mins and get up at 7.

I finally start from home at 8.30 am and don't take the usual shortcut lest there is traffic on that road. I take the main road hoping to reach office by 9. Let us just say, I have absolutely no luck.

Traffic was bad in the route I took today and I had to use my driving and maneuvering skills to reach my office. I gave myself a pat on the back for reaching office on time. I even got a parking space in the first row for my bike. I then pulled out my gloves to look at the time.

Imagine my surprise, when my watch showed 9.35 am. Damn!!! I grabbed my helmet and started running towards the elevator. Today the elevator stops at all floors!!! How is that on the days you run late, there is always traffic jam, the elevator always stops at all floors.

 Thankfully I had the presence of mind yesterday to schedule a web ex meeting that starts automatically at the scheduled time.

And then I rush to my seat, put in my bag and practically run to my manager's cabin. My manager gives me a look that says, R, this is going to go in your appraisal.

Everything is forgotten as everyone argues in the call and voices are raised. This goes on for another half an hour.

I finally sit in my chair and wonder, what exactly went wrong today. How the hell did I reach office late?? See, that is why we schedule calls only after 10 in the morning.

Irony of the situation - the official work timings in my company is 9 am to 6 pm 😉😀

How many relationships have been broken due to horoscopes and food choices

During a conversation with one of my friends, she told me about a potential groom who turned out to be a good friend. They met through an online matrimony portal and liked each other's profile. 

They started chatting and gradually became good friends. When he popped the question, her family did a horoscope match. And that is where the problem started. They both had the same birth star and that meant they were not compatible as per their birth horoscopes. Her family did not agree to the match. He asked her to ignore astrology predictions, to have trust in him and marry him. But she went with her family's views and he went on to marry someone else. After his marriage, he stayed in touch with her.

I was surprised to hear this. This was the first time I had heard of such a situation and wondered how many relationships have been broken due to astrology and horoscope compatibility checks. Am sure half of the marriages in India would have been easier if not for this astrology stuff. 

We need to come out of all these - astrology predictions, horoscope matching, caste, religious differences. I know of many people who would only marry a bride/bride groom who is a vegetarian.  Don't we realize we as a community are moving backwards. 

When two people belonging to different nationalities or religious back grounds can fall in love and marry each other, why are we giving too much importance to food preferences. One's food preference is bound to change. I could change into a vegetarian tomorrow, a vegan next month and then back to being a non vegetarian after a couple of years. These are personal choices. Why do parents always hold these small things close to their heart??

People in India have to stop being so narrow minded and open up to include people of different back grounds. Those differences would make life even more beautiful.

Effect of changing the top leadership

Many years back when the Academy group in my company started publishing a literary edition on communication and vocabulary, I applauded the move.

Each edition was unique. They included synonyms, antonyms, usage of words in sentences, Language Trivia, idioms, translation of words in different languages - German, French, Confusing words, Misused words to name a few. Some editions also had a comic strip and some interesting snippets.

They kept it short and simple. I used to look forward for those periodic editions. They usually arrived once a month in my inbox. Some of the editions had quizzes and the answers in the next edition. It was fun and very creative.

But as they say, all good things must come to an end. We had a change in our top management and I don't know what happened, but suddenly the content changed. These days the editions have a synonym and usage of the word and a comic strip. But the words and the content were chosen carefully to align with the company's vision and goals. For example, words like goals, leadership, performance, winning, change were chosen. There was also a section for what to do to "connect with the team".

The joy I had in reading these editions gradually faded.

It was as if the company was using these editions as a means of communicating to the employees of the policies, of what the company stands for and what they need to do.

I couldn't help wonder why they did this. They have so many means of communicating to the employees. Why poke the nose in something that was completely independent of the goings in the company.

I realized how changing just one top person in the company can affect and influence every thing in that company. 

A mosquito free night!!

In the past few days, the number of mosquitoes has increased rapidly. I don't know if some other country has launched an attack on our country by letting out mosquitoes or if the opposition party is trying to tarnish the ruling party's name by doing this 😆😁

Two nights back, my mom tried all ways to kill them (the mosquitoes I mean!!!) - closed the doors early in the evening, lit a neem cake in the room, switched on a light device that attracts mosquitoes and contains them, switched on the mosquito repellent, used the mosquito bat to kill the mosquitoes and finally switched on the AC to cool the room.

Still, they just kept coming and coming. The whole night they kept us awake. I wished it was shivaratri. We would have atleast got some blessings from Lord Shiva for not falling asleep even for a second the whole night 😀

Anyways after many sleepless night, amma wanted to have atleast one night of good sleep. She started the preparations in the evening (well ahead of our bedtime) and used the mosquito bat, the repellent and other stuff.

Finally her efforts bore fruit. Yesterday, we all had a good night sleep without any interventions from the mosquitoes.

I would have done anything or given anything to my mom today morning for all her hard work. She is our savior!!!

The auto driver and the road shortcuts

A few months back, I had taken an auto to go to office in the morning. At that time, I did not drive my two wheeler regularly to office.

The auto driver drove through some of the usual roads that I used to take. In the end, he took a different road to reach my office. When asked he told me that this was a shortcut. I ended up telling him that I drive to office occasionally. He continued to explain to me the route and advised me to take that road since it had less traffic and was better maintained.

Finally, before dropping me he asked me if I had memorized the route. I thanked him for his advise and was glad I took the auto that day. 

After a month, I started driving everyday to office and diligently followed the route that the auto driver had taught me. It helped me in saving time and in avoiding traffic. Bless that man.

Fast forward to this week -
It had rained a little heavily in Chennai this Monday and I had to ditch my bike. After failing to get a cab, I finally booked an auto in the morning. How frustrating it is to wait for a few minutes for your booking to be confirmed and then getting a message saying "No cabs available at the moment". I don't like it when I get that message 👿 

Anyways, back to the point. The auto finally arrived and as soon as I got in, the driver asked me if I know a route that has less traffic and can get us faster to the destination. I told him I do know one.

I usually refrain from giving directions unless asked since some cab drivers tell me that they want to take the route that the app advises.

We finally got started and I patiently gave him the directions. I quickly surmised that he did not know the route since he kept asking if he has to take a left or a right turn at every corner. When we reached a junction, he asked me what road should he take.

Me: The one in the left is in a bad condition. The only advantage is you will have a traffic signal to cross the main road. 

Whereas the straight road is maintained well. The only problem is at that connecting junction, there is no signal. You have to cross to the right looking out for vehicles coming from behind. I leave it to you on which road to take.

Driver: It is ok, I will take the straight road. The other road is bad.

Me: Ok. you are right

When we were just a few kms away from office,

Driver: Actually I know two more shortcuts to your office.

Me (getting interested): Really. Can you please tell me the shortcuts?

Driver (dodging the question): The amt is ###. Do you really want me to go inside the campus.

Me: Yes. That is what I have given as the destination. Although they will not allow autos to go to my block. You need to take a "U" turn as soon as you bypass the security.

Driver: I know that. I have been to DLF.

Me: Then you should know that they allow autos to go just upto the Auto dropping point. By the way, can you pls tell me the shortcuts. I know this one because of another auto driver. He was the one who helped me understand this route. 

Driver (again dodges my question)

My mind voice: Leave him, R. Either he does not know any of them and was chumma saying it to you or he is selfish. 

I finally got down at my drop point, paid him the amount and thanked him for the service.

I am still not able to get past that conversation - did he really know two more shortcuts or was he selfish?

What happened after that - well, Iam trying to take a little detour whenever possible and discover another shortcut on my own.

Getting a driver's license

While travelling yesterday, I watched a girl driving a two wheeler, practicing for her driving test. She was trying to drive in a virtual track shaped as "8".

Memories of my two wheeler driving exam came back to me. I still remember that day.

I had already got my four wheeler driving license a couple of years back. I had wanted to get a common driver license that allowed me to drive both four wheeler and two wheeler. I had learnt to drive a two wheeler when I was young. I took my dad's TVS Scooty Pep and practiced for two days in the small roads near my neighborhood on my own.

We wanted to avoid all hassles and had registered through a driving school. I did not take any classes since I already knew how to drive. On the day of the test, we were asked to meet the owner at his office. My dad drove me to the office. There was another girl who had reached there in her two wheeler. We were given some forms to fill and then the instructor asked us to go to the place where the exam was conducted. My dad drove our bike and the other girl (G) drove on her own with the "L" sign hanging from her bike. She had apparently taken classes with the instructor.

When we reached the exam site, the instructor was very confident that she would clear the exams. On the other hand, he was sure I would have trouble in clearing them.

We had some time to kill until the exams started and I started practicing again trying to drive in a virtual track shaped as "8". I practiced for almost 20- 25 minutes trying to do everything right.

The examiner finally arrived and all of us were asked to drive when our turn came in. I was able to drive expertly, without making any mistakes. On the other hand, the other girl who had come in with me, made many mistakes and was not able to complete the test.

The instructor was surprised and looked at me with more respect. I was asked to go to the office, get my photo and collect my license. The instructor had to spend a lot of time and money (let us not get into that) to get the license for that girl.

An example of people being judgmental without knowing anything about the other person.

Online shopping and packaging waste

A month back, I had ordered two chocolate bars at an online site. It was delivered to me in the usual cardboard box. Inside the cardboard box, the chocolate bars were wrapped in a shiny sheet of paper, bundled in a bubble wrap along with two gel packs.

Packaging material that were used

Gel packs

Bubble wrap and the sheet of paper

Cardboard box

I was pleased with the packing and delivery. They were in good condition and the delivery was on time. But what got me thinking was the amount of paper and plastic used in packaging these two chocolates. If I had bought this directly from a store, I would just asked the shopkeeper to hand it to me without putting it in a bag.

I forgot about this until last week when I went to pick up the mobile cover I had ordered online. The cover was wrapped in a long bubble wrap.

I realized that as people buy more items online, the amount of package waste that is generated is going to grow at an alarming rate.

Is there a solution to this. Is anyone even thinking about this. What are the business firms and governments doing to stop this.

Do we stop buying stuff online?