The last of the 20s!

Its that time of the year again. And it almost feels like yesterday when I was typing out the birthday post a year ago. I should simply call this year "Flash". Coz the whole thing seems like a blur.

And yesterday kinda sums it up coz I couldn't find the time to write this post. I suppose time moves faster when life is busy. And this is the good kind of busy. Where you're working on interesting projects, doing interesting things, meeting new people and having fun doing all of it, you cannot complain. The year was chugging along as usual for the most part until June when it really started to pick up steam. After that I suddenly seemed to have embraced the great outdoors. Maybe I should call this the year of the hike! I've hiked more this year than all other years combined. And even though part of it is coz I haven't been running as much as I want to, its something that I have come to enjoy a lot. I'm fairly certain I can run most of the hikes I did this year but I would not have noticed the beautiful scenery, had colorful conversations and laughed as much if I had. That's not to say that I'm moving away from running any time soon :).

Perhaps its also a sign that one always seems to have more on their plate(and mind) with every passing year. And this coming from a single guy still in his 20s. Good luck to the future me :).

Which brings me to the big three-Oh! For most people, the 20s is the decade that shapes them as an adult. Its almost a journey of self-discovery in many ways. And by the end of it, you probably have a quiet sense of self-awareness and self-belief that you can tackle pretty much anything that life throws at you. At least that's how I feel. I think that's also a good measure of whether you are ready to not just live for yourself but share your life with someone else.

So here's a toast to the defining decade!

Birthday blogday!

I think I have truly outdone myself this year. Not a single post since I left Santa Barbara. So indifferent have I been to this blog that I haven't even updated my location on the right side of this page. If nothing else, at least I have been faithful to it on this day.

Lots of new things this year. New job, new city, new running group. The Bay area in many ways is the antithesis of Santa Barbara. People, events, tech companies, traffic, noise and of course all things INDIAN everywhere. There are plenty of people I know who live around here and yet almost a year since I moved I find myself settled into a routine not too dissimilar to the one I had in Santa Barbara. Besides my job, honestly not much has changed. I always thought your surroundings governed your lifestyle. But I now believe that regardless of where I live I'd probably be doing the same set of things on a daily basis. Especially being the creature of habit that I am. I suppose the only thing that dictates your day to day life is what stage of life you are in. studying or working, single or married, kids or no kids etc.

Anyway, a year older, and definitely a year wiser, both professionally and personally! The lack of travel apart, I have no complaints.India trip was quite a different experience this time. Due to my unplanned prolonged stay I got to do things at a much more chilled out pace. Visited Ajanta-Ellora. Its one of those places which has a lot of potential for being a great tourist attraction. If only the government authorities took some effort in maintaining it. Bangalore was quite a lot of fun. Just for a brief time of the day enjoyed exploring new parts of the city. I've been bashing the city for the last few years and infact finding excuses to not visit it. But I can actually see myself living there for some reason.

A few people asked me today about birthday resolutions. I've had a few unexpected (and unpleasant) surprises thrown my way this year. In hindsight, I'd say I've handled them ok but I suppose there were things I could have done to be better prepared for them. So perhaps covering all my bases is something I should start doing more thoroughly from now on. Not the most interesting resolution, I know. oh and I promise to blog more often regardless of the number of eyeballs that glance at this site.

That belated birthday post!

I've been a tad pre-occupied with the events of today morning which explains the delay in this post. More on that in a following post. But in many ways 2009 was very similar to 2008. Did many of the same things (visited a new continent, india trip, lots of running). Kept up all the resolutions I had made a year ago.

And yet 2010 promises to be full of changes. Its both exciting and unnerving. But I can't help but feel optimistic.

Sailing smoothly into the second quarter!

Given how infrequently I visit this place these days, a post holds that much more value. And ofcourse, birthdays are always a good time to blog!! Infact I'm glad I'm taking the time out to do this now. Coz right through the day I was so completely pre-occupied with work that I wasn't even aware that it was my birthday most of the time. That made all the wishes I got through the day all the more special coz they were timely reminders that it wasnt just another day!

Just got back from the holiday parade right outside my apartment. Wasn't all that great. Except for the kids who are always adorable whether they are trying to play the kettle drums or do karate chops through the air.

The year that was. I think over the years I've become more disciplined. And it also sits well with my lifestyle which is that of a loner. I get to do exactly the things I want at any given time without being bound by anyone else around me. Ofcourse the downside of that is that all my birthday wishes I receive are only through phone calls and emails. Anyway, I guess at the end of the day we choose to be a certain way coz thats what we are most comfortable with.

Back to the silver year. Did a lot of travelling over the last 12 months. Got to backpack through the Alps which was probably the high point. That reminds I had jotted down a short list of things to do last birthday on a whim. That included seeing europe, running my first marathon, and making new friends. I guess two out of three is not bad. Ah, if only my damned leg had cooperated. No worries though coz I know I'll be running atleast a few marathons in the near future.

So this year's whimsical resolutions - well finish that cursed first marathon, learn a new musical instrument, learn to make desserts. The last one ofcourse starts tomorrow when I try to bake a cake.

Anyway I'm looking forward to spending my first christmas in the US in 4 years. That also makes my next India trip exciting. Coz I'll be in Madras for Saarang and Odyssey, and break my jinx of not having attended a wedding in nearly 5 yrs :).

That was quick and fun. I think I shall end with a note to self : blog, blog, blog!!!!