Old Hobbies ...

Yaaay ... Remember I once said that, there are so many childhood hobbies that I would like to start again ... and one of them was painting ... So last week I decided to finally start it again ... not painting exactly but sketching ... so here's my first sketch in the last 6 years .... Looks like I still have a little talent left :) ...

Click on the picture for higher resolution ....

The first half ... took about 2 hours ...


Completed ... took about 3 hours total ....

Reality Check Again

We all like to think that we have some control over the events in our lives, and a lot of the time we can fool ourselves into thinking that we really are in charge. But then something happens to remind us that the world runs by its own rules and not ours and that we're just along for the ride...

-- Allie Kyes from Taken

The Art of Parting

I finally found the article that I promised you I would find. Yes I'm talking about my tenth class English composition about the art of saying goodbyes. No, I didn't google it :), although that was the first thing I tried and it showed me some really weird results. I know few of you guys and gals, with whom I had the pleasure of sharing my last few memorable days at school, do follow my blog. I hope you will be happy to read this beautiful article, which was one of the few last amazing compositions given to us by Padmaja Ma'm, again. So here it goes,

Everyone wants to make a good first impression. But have you ever thought the importance of the last impression? A well delivered farewell can secure a friendship forever. A well chosen exit line can close a business deal.
In any walk of life, dealing with partings partings positively and optimistically is not just a matter of good form, it is the way to make the last impression as memorable as the first. There's an art to leave taking and it can be learned. Good byes should be imprints of individual personalities. If you are the strong silent type, you don't have to be flowery or sentimental. A firm handshake, a straight look in the eye, or a simple "I'll miss you" is enough. The essential thing is to make the moment an impression of yourself and your feelings.
Goodbyes mark important changes. A goodbye signals a change, and change is rarely easy... Sometimes it breaks our hearts. When we sever ties with people, places and things we love,a thread of our own being is cut.
Goodbyes needn't always be in words. When you are tongue tied, a simple embrace or kiss is more poignant than overripe words. Touch has always been the most magical means for sealing people together. They can be momentous. The most meaningful goodbye gift is imbued with some measure of yourself. They come from the heart.
The final goodbye, of course, is death. Often the one departing has no chance to big farewell (really ...! :).. I very vividly remember saying this in my head during that exam). Few of us can compose a farewell statement eloquently, but then, we don't have to. All we need to do is speak honestly and sincerely from our hearts. That's the real secret of Good Byes.

I don't know if my English teacher has written this on her own or taken it from somewhere else. All credits go to the original creator of this article. Any comments will be most appreciated. Here's a nice song to go with it.

Reality Check ...

When everything in your life is right on track, it's easy to believe that things happen for a reason; it's easy to have faith. But when things start to go wrong then it's very hard to hold on to that faith. It's hard not to wonder whose reasons these things happen for.
-- Allie Kyes from Taken

Qwerty n Me ...

Once upon a time (really long long ago), I used to wonder, why the hell would some one call a keyboard with that name. Who the hell coined that word, such a peculiar word. How did he even come up with such a queer combination of letters. Then one day as I sat in front of my screen, thinking hard what to type, qwerty was staring back at me and laughing its heart out. Hahahaha ....

Rain Rain Come Again ...

I stepped out of my house early in the morning and found the streets drenched in rain. It was beautiful with overcast skies, a cool breeze and a very pleasant temperature. Felt so fresh early in the morning. Went in, put on my shoes and went for a long run. I wish its like this everyday. Hey I even got a free car wash :P.

First Impressions ...

I guess you all know the importance of first impressions. One should always make a very good first impressions as it will take him/her a long way. But I have begun to doubt if it can be relied upon. I think (its my opinion, if you don't agree, then I don't care.), that the first impression should not be given so much of an importance. Why, you ask. Because, it is often misleading if not complete. People put on fake impressions just so they are able to achieve whatever it is that they are striving for.
In my opinion, its the last impression that should take the limelight. For example, when you leave a job, its very important that you leave the right way. My manager, Tony (The best and only manager I ever had) keeps telling me this over and over again. Not that he suspects that I may leave, but just so I know. Its very important that you never leave in the middle of a project that you are a part of (If you can help it that is). And even when you leave, its very important that you make sure that the person who's filling in your shoes, finds it really easy to do what ever you used to do. If you do otherwise, then no matter how good you were at work, people are going to bitch about you a lot for making their lives miserable.
Not only a job, but say even when you leave school and say good bye to your friends. You should make sure that you take their contacts and gives yours to them. You talk to them or not later, thats a completely different matter. What matters is that you let them know that you care about them enough to ask for their contact info and give them yours. Why contact info?? Well, thats what came to my mind right off the bat and I mentioned it. It can be anything to let them know that you valued their friendship. A memorable gift or may be a going away treat... yaaay... I am all up for that one....
What I want to emphasize is that, the memories of the last impression, live longer than the first impression. In some cases they are eternal. And the if the last impression that you left was not a good one, then even though the first impression might have been extraordinary, it does not matter any more. The last opinion that they have of you is tarnished and completely different now and it would remain that way till you take the effort to change it.
So my dear friends and readers, no matter which walk or aspect of life it is, always make that extra effort to learn the art of saying good bye the way it should be said and done. That reminds me of a very nice english composition we had when I was in 10'th standard "The art of saying good bye". Don't worry, I'll hunt it down for your benefit :).

Love ...

No it's not mine. And I dunno who wrote it either but I like it a lot ...

A kIsS iS jUsT a KiSs,
TiLl, YoU fInD tHe OnE yOu lOvE.
a HuG iS jUsT a HuG,
tIlL, iTs ThE oNe YoU aRe ThInKiNg oF.
a DrEaM iS jUsT a DrEaM,
tIlL, yOu MaKe iT cOmE tRuE.
LOVE iS jUsT a WoRd,
tIlL, iTs PrOvEn To YoU.

Will Update Soon ...

So sorry for the long long absence guys. A lot has been going on in my life and I also have been super duper busy with a lot of work load. I promise that I will post an update very soon. Prolly this weekend. Thanks for your patience.

Love ya all,
Naren