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Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Find us farther than to-day. Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. In the world's broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act,--act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o'erhead! Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Saili...

Something which bothers me is why do educated, well informed people spend like crazy on their weddings -- Why cant we start a culture of doing some thing good on the wedding day, like the couple planting a tree ?  Feeding some poor people on the wedding day. I don't say that people should not celebrate and rejoice, but dont over-splurge --save for the future --its not a day to make a point to the society --there is an entire life ahead of you. Anyways at the end of the wedding, the guests end up complaining --why please such people ? Help some poor people and you may not receive gifts but genuine heart felt wishes from them! Is it really so difficult to change our mindset to do this ?

Ya Nizamuddin Auliya, Ya Nizamuddin Salqa Kadam Badhaa Le, Hadon Ko Mitaa Le, Aaja Khaali Pan Mein Pee Ka Ghar Tera, Tere Bin Khaali Aaja, Khali Pan Mein Tere Bin Khaali Aaja, Khali Pan Mein Rangreza Rangreza Rangrezaa… Ho… Rang-rezaaaa….. Kun Faya Kun Kun Faya Kun Faya Kun, Faya Kun, Faya Kun, Faya Kun Kun Faya Kun Kun Faya Kun Faya Kun, Faya Kun, Faya Kun, Faya Kun Jab Kahin Pe Kuch Nahi Bhi Nahi Tha Wahi Tha Wahi Tha Wahi Tha Wahi Tha Jab Kahin Pe Kuch Nahi Bhi Nahi Tha Wahi Tha Wahi Tha Wahi Tha Wahi Tha Woh Jo Mujh Mein Samaya Woh Jo Tujh Mein Samaya Maula Wahi Wahi Maaya

Teri ummeed pe thukra raha hoon duniya ko.. tujhe bhee apne pe yeh aitbaar hai ke nahi .. jhuki jhuki si nazar ... Jagjit Singhji: You will remembered as someone who brought life to poetry. And gave us such beautiful songs!!

Finally!!! Returned from a fabulous trip to India! And got this good news!! Wuhooooo!!! Feels super good!!! I am loving it!!!

I had just started thinking that things are falling in place, but now I realize its the wrong place. Such a disappointing day!

A 45 minute bus drive from the Aveiro city took us to this beautiful little town called Costa Nova! We went there along with Vikram (the photographer) and Ganga and Sujit. Had home made idlis and Dibbe rotti made by Ganga and some "Bundi Pulav" which I managed to cook that morning. A nice lovely trip. Date : 26th Feb 2011

Not that its any different day for me, but well its always worth a mention. I guess this day holds a lot of excitement for the college-goers, teens, just engaged or freshly wed couples. Else I really doubt, from my perspective that there are many Indians who really celebrate this day. Well, couples who generally are too busy may find a good way to reconnect on this day but for the aam-aadmi and the common junta like us, its another day, in passing. Except for the moral policing guys --remember the Pink-Chaddi campaign --hahaha.These self proclaimed guardians of our culture must be really waiting for this day to get out, bash up some innocent teenagers and get some media coverage. Or the shopkeepers for which any festival is a money making venture! :) ! Well reading my own post reaffirms the fact that age makes us cynical.. In any case Happy Valentines to everyone! Its been almost 4 yrs of mrg and touch-wood its lovely to be in a beautiful relationship. So To love! Cheers ! --D

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” - Mark Twain

Have to pen this! We have been having these special food-festival weekends together with our Indian friends whom we met at the university and who love making food and are really good at it. 2 weeks ago we had the Pasta day where we had 3 kinds of Pasta for lunch at our place. The weekend after that we had the Paratha day and the day before yesterday we had Dosa day (Rava Dosa, Plain Dosa, Masala Dosa and Cucumber Dosa) !!! The next weekend is a south indian breakfast item day! With poha upma,sabudana khichdi, and shavige bhaath (may be idlis and wadas but we have done that many times already). We are planning to have an all rice day :) spread over two weekends. More later .. -D

About finally submitting the paper! Getting my residence card .. And the super unhealthy cannelloni with spinach and loads of ricotta cheese ... which i ate ... yummy! Too bad the university residence apartment doesnt provide an oven ..

Got the FCT grant. So am happieeee!!! And so some decisions have been taken for me! I hope I can make most of it! Definetly the best news on the career front since I have landed in Porto... Am so thrilled!

2010 had its share of ups and downs... Had some really wonderful days and some extremely bad ones.. Well, thats whats life about! Well am looking forward to a happy year ahead!!

Loved both the versions : The original one by Keith Whitley and the one by Ronan Keating. "When You Say Nothing At All" It's amazing How you can speak Right to my heart Without saying a word, You can light up the dark Try as I may I could never explain What I hear when You don't say a thing The smile on your face Lets me know That you need me There's a truth In your eyes Saying you'll never leave me The touch of your hand says You'll catch me Whenever I fall You say it best When you say Nothing at all All day long I can hear people Talking out loud But when you hold me near You drown out the crowd Try as they may They could never define What's been said Between your Heart and mine The smile on your face Lets me know That you need me There's a truth In your eyes Saying you'll never leave me The touch of your hand says You'll catch me Whenever I fall You say it best When you say Nothing at all

The lights are off ... And the blinds are down ... Like a gothic lane ... In an abandoned town ... Some few known faces I can see here and there The same bored feeling, I'm sure they share :) Hey all u ppl on a fest, hope u're having some fun On your way back here do bring in some sun And all the noise and talk thats missing out here That keep the lab alive and so very dear!

The theory looks fine, The data looks crazy, When i sit to code it its all so hazy ... About caches and misses and instructions and code Need to write a paper ..Gosh Iḿ so bored! But such is life ..some days are good On a lazy afternoon like this, work i should .. With no mails and no fb updates to read, in the last 10 mins this is what i did!!!

There is pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not man the less, but Nature more, From these our interviews, in which I steal From all I may be, or have been before, To mingle with the Universe, and feel What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal. LORD BYRON

Finally found some drink that i liked! I dislike tea and coffee and that meant no way to take breaks ! :( ... Although i always hang around ..but its not so nice when u dont have a cup in hand .. So all these days i was trying to find something nice .. So i found it ..A fruity herbal non-teaish non-milky tea! Aha!

  Feels good to write this blog.After a long time went for a nice long trek. Last month we visited Guimaraes and really loved it. Also we met one Senhor who organizes "walking tours" as he calls it. He was kind enough to take our email id and invited us to a trek with a group of 15 other people. This place is his ancestoral property up in the Penha mountains and it was very pretty. We also visited his friend's estate which had a small strawberry farm and a vineyard. Am looking forward to September and a visit to the Douro valley for the grape picking season! :)