Driving in Snow/Ice

It's been snowing all day today, all day!! When I woke up in morning I saw everything around the house covered with snow, including my car. And it was still snowing with chilly cold out there. I didn't have the snow-scrapper for car so I borrowed it form my housemate & cleaned the car. Took me 10-15 mins because there was so much snow!! I was frezing out there. And then driving in snow, or ice which is worst.. hmmmm!! Few things to take care while driving in snow/ice:

• Drive Slow. Be 10-15 miles below the speed limit and probably drive on the side lane or where you see road with less snow/ice. Don't worry if there's traffic beind you, just go as slow as you feel comfortable.
• Keep distance. Keep enough distance from the car ahead of you, curbs, signs, sidewalks & ofcourse people. If you see people, just slow down or stop & let them pass by.
• Do not apply sudden brakes, apply them slowly. Good to have TCS & ABS at such times.
• Pay attention on the road. No phone calls, distarcting music or anything. You need to know what's happening around you!!.

Being careful while driving in snow/ice is very-very important. I learned that from experience. I bought a snow-scrapper from CVS yesterday for $8 but I might return it as I am not sure if I need to use it. Anyways, Enjoy Snow & Drive Safe... to everyone else, PEACE!!

Charlie Chiang's & Breakers Sky Lounge

I went to Charlie Chiang's at Worldgate for lunch & to Breakers Sky Lounge at Herndon Clock Tower (yeah, same place where the racial profiling stuff happened, read here for details) for dinner. I like Charlie Chaing, they have some Asian-Fusion food includinf some nice Korean, Mangolian, Chinese, Thai etc kind afood. There lunch buffet is like $12 which is fine. The food options are good but they have no decent desserts. Just the lame jelly which I don't like. Breakers is not known for great food, it's a sports bar/lounge afterall. I tried quesadilla (pronounced as 'kussediaa' or /ˌkeɪsəˈdiː.ə/), it was okay. I saw that bartender again & he apologised for that day (the card thing!!). I said it's okay as long as it was not for the wrong reasons!! He said too many young guys come here & he has to be over careful sometimes. I accept his apologies and wul djust take it is a compliment that I look really young (legal age to drink in a bar in US is 21). So that was my day, fooding & fun outside.... Bye!!!

Falana Dhimkana: Kya Aaj Bhi Wo Din Aayega?

For Republic Day, I published a poem on my Falana Dhimkana blog which I wrote more than 12 years back (my 1st kavita), click & read it here & Enjoy!!

Racial Profiling/Discrimination in US, Again!!

I wrote a blog about Racial Profiling 2 days back & here comes another incident today itself. I went to this sports bar called BREAKERS here in Herndon, with my four new friends from my college. I go to the bar & the bartender (a bald young guy, ofcourse white!!) asks me for my ID. I show him my driving license which I got in Kansas. He checks it & denies accepting it saying it doesn’t looks real. What???? Really?????? WTF??????????? A valid driver's license issued by legal US Authorities, the DMV Kansas looks fake to that dumb stupid guy. I mean, really?????? I have had that card for more than 1.5 years and no one, no one ever has questioned it ever. At any damn place!! This is a card issued by US Authorities and any person with even a minute level of intelligence or little brain would and should understand that. But not for a real jerk standing at the bar as a bartender!!!! The douchebag, even denied my friends license from DMV Alabama. What's happening here?? He sees four brown people entering a bar and he doesn’t likes it, right?? Well... I went to the manager and he knew me already as I go there often, he accepted the mistake and said he'll fix it. I don't think he apologized actually, but he was cool. He kinda knows me and was okay. But the reason I am writing this blog is, what is this?? It never even happened in Boston, which I say is the most racist city I have seen. I will go to Breakers again and have fun as usual. But this incident was surprising, annoying and disturbing as well. Didn't expect this in Virginia… That guy, the bartender there tonight, was really @%$#! (I can't think of a bad word which I can write openly) Afterall, This is not our Country!!

Happy Republic Day!!!

Racial Profiling/Discrimination in US... First Time!!

Just thinking here about being of a different race in US, not a white or black or.... I had my first incident of mild Racial Profiling for the first time in USA when I was coming to Virginia from Boston in Amtrak. What happened? I was sitting in train watching movie when a Police Officer suddenly came & asked me, "Can I talk to you for a min, Sir". Yeah, he called me Sir. I said sure & went with him towards the train doors. He asked for my ID & started asking questions about me, where I am form, what I do where am going & why. Tells me that there are lots of police on the train and he's doing a random security check (really?? all the randomness makes you pick just a brown south East Asian guy!!). I answered all his questions and he was noting all that information in a notebook. I said I understand that he's just doing his job for our security and it's okay. He didn't bother me much though & asked how was my first Amtrak ride & I said it was okay (till then!!). Anyways, it wasn’t too bad & mostly it's okay. Boston sucked big time though, seemed like most racist city in world I have seen. These things are part of being a so called Alien. After all, it's not our country!!!! Read more here...

Tyson's Corner... Shopping Malls

I went to Tyson's Corner in Mclean today. It's one of the biggest shopping mall in the area. Tons of shops are squeezed in this huge mall and it seems all full. Tons of maps at every corner so that you don't get lost, they know you can get lost. These super huge malls are really overwhelming. And ususally things are so damn expensive in malls. Specially in India... You can find similar stuff for way less in retail outlets etc. I remmeber the days when there were no malls and we used to go to our town markets (bazaar) and buy stuff at usual stores. The regular bargains and stories of being a regular customer. There was only one mall inDelhi, Ansals Plaza. All the bollywood movies shooting for shopping mall in India, used to go to Ansals. We used to go there sometimes just to hang out. We could not even think of buying stuff there. Just get an ice cream at Mcdonalds usually, or stuff like that. Now there are malls just everywhere.  Malls, Malls & Malls!!!

Resume vs Curriculum Vitae

I didn't know that Resume and Curriculum Vitae (CV) are different. I thought my beautiful 5 page document was a nice resume. Turns out I was wrong!! A resume has to be 1 or 2 pages at max. I found this at my college class, so they are actually teaching us something... Resume is just a short document which summarises your career & experience. CV are more detailed and elaborate. I checked it online and this information is correct. No one ever told me that till now.... Well, I am updating my 5 page CV to 2 page resume now. Also creating a cover letter which I always thought was lame. But I am in job market searching for job now, so I need to all the right things. So this was about my 3rd lecture at college. I went in my car like last week, driving at almost 70 miles/hour (110+ km/hr) on the freeway. Reached there in less than 30 mins cool. Fun of the car, it's nice!! Everything else is nice as well.... Take Care!!

Geico vs Allstate

Just like having a car is fun, so much comes with it. I mean the not-so-fun part. Like the regular money for gas (petrol, you should remember that by now!!); maintenance, decoration, cleaning & everything else. I have been spending money like crazy since I got my car. Decorating it in & out and doing all that. And yes, the Insurance!! When I applied for insurance from ALLSTATE, they said that I do not have any insurance history in US so 1st time it's going to be $1000 for 1st six months which they may reduce later. I bought it knowing nothing. But then I called GEICO. They said they can do he same, or actually better insurance for less than $600. See... Allstate was ripping me off, or whatever. So I bought that & canceled the insurance with Allstate. Hopefully, now I am in good hands (without Allstate). But yeah, its so damn expensive to have a car. I need a job ASAP. Money in my account is going down like anything (what goes down very fast?? our politician's character & moral values maybe)... Everything else is okay. It was raining today & yesterday a lil. Weather is fine & so am I. Take Care!!

Falana Dhimkana: Kharbooje Ka Rang

Another entry on Falana-Dhimaka Blog bout how kharbooja changes the color with other kharboojas. Details later...

Tae-Kwon-Do

I joined martial arts classes today, for Tae-Kwon-Do. I have been looking forward to do some high level cardio for perfect fitness and wanted to go for either Kick-Boxing or Martial Arts. I picked this because it is close to my house for now and I have always had interest in Martial arts (baiscally, become & being called a black-belt). Hopefully it will be nice. One nice thing though.... when I was leaving, the master asked, "Are you driving home?". I said :yes (ofcourse in my new awesome car". He asked me "how old are you?". I said "** (I am not revealing it here)". he said "Ohh, I thought you maybe 16 or something (so not legal to drive)". So.... either the guy (the master/trainer) is too bad of a judge of age, or I look too young. I'll pick the second and just be happy. So, bye for now.... HAAA!!

Rajdhani Temple & Dollar Tree

Today is Tuesday and I keep fast on Tuesdays. For part religious & part health reasons. Religious as in its a day of Lord Hanuman and people fast for that (you'll get a nice husband they say, considering the fact that Hanuman Jee was baal-brhamachaari how exactly does that happenes??). I understand that fasting once a week is good for health. it cleanses body and makes us stronger. I just eat fruits & milk today. No grains specifically and no sugar, salt, spices or any oil/fat as well. I've been doing it for more than an year now and I am quite fit as you know (Really??). I also went to Rajdhani Temple today (3rd time in 4 days, I didn't go even once when I stayed here earlier.. wow!!) and particicpated in Arti/Puja, it was nice. I remember Hanuman Chalisa completely so sung it aloud and other bhajans-keertans as well. Took the prasadam laddu which I can't eat yet as I am on fast (was almost tempted to eat that besan ka laddu, yum!!).

Then went to Dollar Tree. OMG, Dollar Stores suck... why? They have a board at entry that 'pick a cart, because you will need one'. And yeah, the cart was so full by the time I was half done. Everything there is for one dollar, grocery, food, utensils, home stuff, bathroom stuff, decoratives, medicines.. I mean everything!! And I just keep picking stuff seeing it's so cheap so I can definitely find some use for it somewhere. Atleast ends up spending 40-50 dollars. Well, they are not bad as they have some nice stuff for so cheap. Just too bad for someone like me who has addictive shopping, specially at cheap deals or great bargains. Yesterday I did nothing actually. Just cooked my famous Pachranga/Gamda Daal, it was actually nice. Nothing special I think so I'll close for now. Thanks & Take Care... JAI HANUMAN!!

Falana-Dhimkana: Car bina Bekaar, Car mili Sakaar

Click here & read my small & sweet Hindi Poem (Kavita) I wrote on the auspicious occassion of my car purchse on my other awesome blog FALANA-DHIMKANA. Thanks in advance & Enjoy!!

I bought a CAR... Awesome!!

Well, if you read my blogs you would know this already that I bought a Car, my first car in US (if not then click here & read and check out features/pics here). One of the most awesome cars actually. Everybody who has seen it or driven it has just loved it. Some say its like Mercedes, some say Bentley or Jaguar. It is actually a KIA AMANATI. Really an awesome car. As first thing, I took the car to Rajdhani Temple yesterday. My first visit to any temple in Virginia (it was not like the priests and others were just waiting for my visit, no flower shower on me or jai-jaikaar yaar), I never went when I was here earlier for such a long time. Then went to college in my car (not like our bollywood movies though, where I get out of awesome car & just start singing/dancing with 100s of other students joining me in chorus like thats all we have been studying/practising forever), awesome!! And also went to a club later in night in my car (No wonders here as well, I was no star of the night at the club like our heroes who sing/dance better than those poor paid performers of that place). Well, all accomplished, lol.... I am so happy to have a car and that too such an awesomely (is that even a word?) great one, really just Awesome!!

Kia Amanti, my Car's features & PICS...

Features: 2nd Row Bench Seat with accessible trunk, 4-Wheel ABS/TCS, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, AM/FM Stereo, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Alarm, Aluminum Alloy Wheels, Auto-Off Headlights, Auto-On Headlights, Auxiliary Power 4 Outlet (front, mid & rear), CD player with 6 CD Changer, Cassette, Child Safety Locks, Climate Control, Cup holders (front & rear), Digital display at dashboard (external/internal temperature, trip statistics, left fuel/miles, current mileage, average speed etc plus day/date/time), Leather Seats & Interior with wooden finish, Cruise control, Driver Air Bag, Driver Lumbar, Dual Zone A/C (individual control for driver, passenger & rear), Emergency Trunk Release, Fog Lamps, Front Floor Mats, Front Reading Lamps, Front Wheel Drive, Full Size Spare Tire, Heated Exterior Driver Mirror, Heated Exterior Passenger Mirror, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, Keyless Entry, Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel, Pass-Through Rear Seat, Passenger Air Bag, Power Door Locks, Power Driver Mirror, Power Driver Seat (with two memories), Power Passenger Mirror, Power Passenger Seat, Power Steering, Power Sunroof/Moonroof, Power Windows (all fully automatic), Premium sound system (by Infinity), Rear Body Air Bag, Rear Floor Mats, Rear Head Air Bag, Rear Seat Heat Ducts, Remote Trunk Release, Remote fuel-lid release, Side Air Bag, Side Head Air Bag, Steering Wheel Controls (music/sound, cruise etc), Tires - Front All-Season, Tires - Rear All-Season, Vehicle Anti-Theft System and many more....

My CAR

First Car in US

Another first amongst so many in my life these days... Turns out the biggest news of the year till now is "I bought a Car". What? Yeah, I finally found a car today and bought it as well, today itself. Really? Yes, really. Wow!! When? Today ofcourse, as I just said. Ahh, okay. How? Hmmm, went to a dealer, saw the car & just loved it. Then I drove it and loved it even more. Metallic silver color big car, can fit 5 people comfortably. With all leather interiors, wooden finish, all power, all automatic, front & rear seat AC, driver passenger dual climate control sunroof, premium sound, ABS/TCS, Airbags, & on top a V6 3.5 engine. There is so much I am still missing to say. I mean it has just everything I could think of, a real luxury car. So I just bought it today. I can't believe I did it. Can you? LoL, Congrats Rahul... Thanks!!

Happy Makar Sankranti!!!

Makar Sankranti is celbrated all over India with many different names. In Uttar Pradesh it's called "Khichdi", in Punjab its "Lohri", in Andhra it's "Bhogi", in Assam it's Bihu, in Tamil Nadu it's "Pongal", in Gujrat it "Uttarayan" and many such different names in diferent states of India (if you didn't know, there are 28 states in India). It's basicaly a harvesting festival where people come together and celbrate the harvest or just celebrate (cuz not many farners these days but we all love to celebrate). Every place has there own rituals & ways actually. But I remember it as the day of eating lots of nice stuff like ghazak, gudpatti, chikki, moongfali with revari and what not, mmmmmm (I am getting water in my mouth while writing this). Ofourse missed all that being here in USA but I did my first cooking here this year and enjoyed myself. However just had one meal s didn't get time to cook whole day because my car search being on. But eveing food of awesome egg-curry was finally great. Well everyone, HAPPY SANKRANTI!!

Happy Lohri!!

Lohri reminds me of the nice lohri campfire and great music playing really loud, dancing around, throwing groundnut & popcorn into it and just having fun. Specially in Delhi or in Punjab where this is a major festival. Traditionally, by the end of the first week of January, small groups of boys go ringing doorbells and chanting some kind of doggerel with each line ending in “HOYE” (in chorus). Lohri songs are rhymed nonsense, at times very funny. For example:

Saalee paireen juttee

Jeevey Sahib dee kuttee

Kuttee no nikalya phoraa

Jeevey sahib da ghora

Ghorey uttay kaathee

Jeevey sahib da haathee

Haathee maarya padd

Dey maaee daanya da chajj

(My sister-in-law has slippers on her feet/ Long may live the Sahib’s bitch./ The bitch developed a sore/ Long live the Sahib’s horse./ The horse has a saddle/ Long live the Sahib’s elephant/ The elephant let out a loud fart/ It gave the old woman a start.) Happy Lohri to all my Readers. Have fun!!

Dulla & Lohri Song

I lost my map...

Yeah, I mean the visitor map... where it used to show millions and billions of my visitors (I can say any number I want now). Turns out yesterday they archived it because I had completed an year with them. Ummmm.. I can understand that I guess. Just keep on adding red dots to that map & all what will be left soon is just red dots and no map (maybe not with the nuber of visits I used to get). Why is it important?? To see who all are visting you and from where, to cater to taste of your audience, to brag about your number of visits on the blog (if it's good, or just lie if you can)... but honestly just because it's cool to have it. Well as anything else, or manythings else... a new vistor map has started and hope it does even better than the last one. Until then, Thanks a lot all my dear visitors & readers!!