GROSSo

Time to blog again, now that Espana lost (albeit unfairly). Henry bumping Puyol and getting him a yellow card was max cheap, but nothing compared to Grosso’s act against the Aussies, who played so much better than the Azzurri and deserved to win. Zizou’s goal was super, but not as cool as Totti’s penalty though. I read later that Spanish fans made racist comments about France, so I’m not so sore anymore about their loss. The crowd is worse than last WC. I’m now backing Germany who look to be the only team that can stop Brasil.

Alonso won in Montreal. I’m beginning to like this guy. None of the immaturity of old. In contrast, it was Kimi who went on the marbles and let Schu thru on the last lap 😦 However, McLaren’s new-found speed is heartening. I hope they can, with Renault, make amends next weekend at Indy for last year’s debacle. May Schu go down the drain. My fave tourney is also under way. Nadal almost got thulped y’day and somehow architected a lucky escape. Reminded me of how Beckham (newly nicknamed Skin of England’s teeth) is saving England. Well, I hope Agassi fries his ass in the 3r. My faves are mostly going thru’, except for Philippoussis (who was a wildcard this time). Fed absolutely murdered Henman, hehe. For the 1st time, I felt sorry for the latter, ‘cuz he was getting some good shots in.

My fave 20 are in this order: Fed, The Scud (out), Ancic, Jarkko the Finn, Blake, Agassi, Roddick, Bracciali, Santoro (out), Safin (out), Ginepri (out), Tursunov, Hewitt, Haas, Rusedski, Baghdatis, Ferrero, Grosjean, Nalbandian and Murray.

geht Deutschland!

[Listening to: Kryptonite – 3 Doors Down – The Better Life (3:53)]

va España

My fave team played y’day and got their first victory in the opening game of the WC since ’50. When I was ten, I played the FIFA game on Amol’s MegaDrive2. I was new to soccer and SEGA, but a veteran at videogames. The influential guys chose the big teams and I had only Spain left to take. But I went ahead with it to win the League Cup, by which time I knew the players’ names by rote. Hierro, Raul, Enrique, Morientes, Puyol, Nadal. Since then, I’ve rooted for them at every World/Euro Cup, but they’ve never got beyond the QF. We went to CCD today and their new WC Menu did not even mention Spain among the dozen teams featured. That goes with my tradition of supporting underdogs (except Federer of course). Go Raul, Go Casillas!! N’ of course the new guys Villa and Torres..!

[Listening to: Running Away – Hoobastank – Hoobastank (3:00)]

NiceDay (hopefully)

Good day to resume blogging. The last few days have been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. On Sunday, (+) inspite of having held up MS effectively, (-) KR came only third and JPM was 6th. (+) Biked to LoR in the evening to watch the soccer match and (-) discovered on my way back, to my utter consternation, that Federer had lost to Nadal. Again. To make things worse, Error called up not to just let me know, but to crow.. 😦

(-) Had a couple of interviews scheduled for Monday, so I bunked work and went 30 km away. Travelled halfway (Mayo Hall) in a BMTC bus with a Rs.25 day pass, hot n’ squashed (tho’ I got a seat later) and the remaining in an auto (overpriced of course) and reached a good half-hr late. Got belted badly with n’w-ing fundae ‘cuz I hadn’t prepped at all. Was so p*ssed at the end of it that I bunked the other interview (having decided to resign myself to fate and current org) and went to meet Kittoo, who was at home with a fever.

(+) Shaavi came over n’ we picked up AnandRV (who joined ABG @ Bombay and has been assigned Madura Garments n’ is in B’lore temp’ly) n’ went with him to his HSR Layout Guest House (nice locality indeed!) to collect his clothes. Proceeded home n’ played a li’l tennis with Shaavi and swam with RV for an hour and a half afterward, which significantly picked up my mood, getting 3/5 flat fast serves right not being the least reason why.

(-) Woke up on Tuesday only to discover I’d lost my keys. Came to office and the sorrow of the screwed-up interview sunk in completely. Finished Fight Club (really depressing ending) and read the Delacroix execution part of The Green Mile (terribly distressing). Had the usual conf call to do and couldn’t leave on time. (+) Caught the 7.30 shuttle however and went to Neville’s house, picked up Gaurav on the way to the airport and gorged on pizzas before seeing off (-) Hari who’s off to Norway for a few weeks.

(+) Woke up today and had a brainwave. Went to Woodrose to inquire at the pool whether they had my keys. Found my shorts n’ t-shirt there. Searched the pockets but couldn’t find the keys and asked at the reception and got ’em! 🙂 Rode Chubby’s bike to Karthik’s place after a nice heavy b’fast. Things are good at work too. I’ve started using my PM’s ClearCase view to check-in/deliver stuff ‘cuz my view’s so screwed up. In the recent past, its been the most irritating part of work- maintaining code. Wish they had someone else dedicated to this. 😐

[Listening to: Time (The Old Tree With The Winding Roots Behind The Lake Of Dreams Mix) – The London Philharmonic Orchestra – The Symphonic Music Of Pink Floyd (10:42)]

6/6/6

Not a good day. Word is crashing (nothing new), Chubby got angry with another driver (now thats new) and stomach cramped during ab crunches. Started the day off with Nirvana songs which got quite irritating after a while. I haven’t been a big fan of Nirvana ever. Followed it up with some soothing Enya. The client hasn’t replied, uncharacteristically. She usually does within the hour. Deb’s back. Not that he’s going to be of much use, but at least I don’t have to check-out, check-in and run tests.

Wonder when I’ll get time to buy some nice new shuttlecocks. I’ve a conf call tonight (I hate Tuesdays ‘cuz of this). I’m feeling quite cynical today. Not a good mood to be interviewed in. As for the house, the maid has cleaned it up commendably, but clothes are still strewn around the place ‘cuz we don’t have wardrobes. Jopesh hasn’t been very proactive in procuring them and y’day he’s asked us to buy them (he’ll reimburse ob’ly) so we’ve to run around for that now. Bother! TGFS (for Shaavi)

Hari and I are planning to buy Karthik’s bike. Its a ’02 Bajaj Caliber. He lives closeby and we can leave the bike at his place n’ walk with him to the Ring Road (15th Cross) to board Chubby’s car that way. Translates to more time at the gym. The instructor appears pretty decent. I didn’t have my undies today, so I didn’t exercise too much. Will commence full swing tomorrow. I’m quitting beer also. It doesn’t help my paunch too much.

The new foam mattress just doesn’t agree with me. I can’t wake up early, so I’m using the old cotton stuff. I’ll pro’lly decot (like dethrone) them tonight ‘cuz I love sleeping on the floor. I sure hope it doesn’t rain today. Appropriate album!

[Listening to: Only Time – Enya – A Day Without Rain (3:37)]

TGIM

Thank God Its Monday?! Yes, Neville, Patil, Padi n’ Dead came over on Sat’day. We played tennis, b’ball (with my new Adidas ball) and soccer (I bought a Reebok football) and then they left. Shaavi and I then swam (I’m coaching him) and we crashed out.

We played tennis on Sunday morning and followed it up with a swim and a light lunch. We then played TT while we waited for a Baddy court to be vacated and after tossing a bad shuttlecock to and fro a while, we decided to check out the billiards room. Swam again afterward and crashed out after a light supper. Re-energising during the week..

Somebody else is also becoming sportesh. Chechi tells me Darshan (my nephew) is in Kobe form. He netted ten baskets on the real court (!!!) with his small ball and almost got the regular b’ball to the ring 😮 For a little guy turning three, thats pretty incredible.

[Listening to: Finding Me – Vertical Horizon – Everything You Want (4:32)]

TGIWD

I never thought I’d thank god its a week day, but Woodrose is making me..
We enrolled y’day and Hari and I tossed a shuttlecock. We repeated the process today morning. Shaavi and I went to the tennis court first though, but the ubiquitous buddas are not missing here either. They play from 6.30 to 9, so that rules out my playing on weekdays. I’m OK with that ‘cuz the swimming pool was empty, so I’ll hit that next week onward. I’ve to buy trunks, tennis balls, a soccer ball and a spongy grip for the badminton racket Gaurav gifted me sweetly. I’ll collect the b’ball from Anoop also, so that we’ll be all ready to milk each of the facilities offered by the club asap! 🙂

[Listening to: We Never Change – Coldplay – Parachutes (4:09)]