Irene was here & she was not bad...

This is not my girl or friend, this is Hurricane Irene ofcourse. People were heavily panicking & all that. Putting tapes & boards on window glass, buying grocery/ration for days/weeks, buying tons of water, infact all the flash lights were sold out at home depot. Stuff closed early Saturday & was closed until today. BUT.. it wasn't that bad, & that's good. I walked out yesterday afternoon & it was windy but not bad. It did rain with wind all saturday night & mild flooding, but all ok. I hear some places lost power, internet, cable etc & flooding etc too but all was fine here in Jersey City and there was no extensive damage. BTW, few people were complaining that they were disappointed with Irene, how it wasn't as bad as they expected. REALLY? So, you wanted it to cause serious damage & devastation  Be thankful that it wasn't as bad & we are all safe & fine. Like Earthquake pretty much.... I honestly ended up having good time at home though - Thank God!!

The cast & Pin removed from my Hand | Warrior 2011 Movie - 8/10

So... after the injury & surgery, I had a cast on until today. Today the cast was taken off & the hand is free. Feels much better to not have cast on. Now I need Therapy for few weeks to get range of motion & strength back, hope all goes really well. Poor hand  looks like a Prisoner of War...

Also I watched Warrior with an advanced pre-screening again. Such an awesome movie. I'll easily give it 8/10, I would've given 9 but the plot is not exceptional. But definitely one of the best action movies related to boxing/fighting kinda stuff. For a change, there is no "bad guy". Both the fighters are not just male lead actors but also brothers. Brothers separated after parent's divorce, with an estranged relationship with their father. One guy is an ex ultimate fighter of lower caliber changed to High School Math teacher; and other is an ex-soldier & war hero. One is fighting for saving his house & family and other for helping his dead friend's family. Both have noble cause & good reason to fight. Both are kinda underdogs. But they come through challenges & emerge is Winner Warriors. The fighting & action sequences of mixed martial arts are very well choreographed and well done. The performances by all the lead actors - Tom Hardy & Joel Edgerton are great and Nick Nolte as drunkard old father, Jennifer Morrison as a struggling wife of struggling family, Kevin Dunn as the school Pricipal are just great. It's quite tight & crisp movie which is very enjoyable & lot of FUN. Go watch it!!

Earthquake in New York.... Hurricane Irene coming!!

Well, some of you might have heard that already that yesterday there was an earthquake in East Coast U.S. affecting Virginia, Washington DC, New York and even North Carlina & Boston areas. I didn't feel anything, guess I am used to 'rocking the world'. I think it's good I didn't feel it i.e. it was not bad enough.  No serious/considerable damage, it was quite lemurable.. oops, I mean bearable. But people at work said they did. Some buildings around here were evacuated in Downtown NYC, not ours. I was at Chipotle getting my lunch, no affect/reaction there, just get your food in loud/crowded environment. Last time I did see/feel something was in India during the great earthquake of 2001 in Bhuj, Gujarat. I was at Mother Dairy booth in New Delhi, buying milk & I see this high rise building swaying. The guy said nothing happened but then we heard news of earthquake in Bhuj. Nature is strong, very powerful. Even with all advancement & technology, we cannot control natural calamities. Katrina & other hurricanes, earthquake in Japan & all of that. I hear that there is a Hurricane Irene coming here. Good Luck, to all of U.S.!!

My Dad's reaction/response:....

Yaa bete,
Saw public reaction... People are gathered here n there. THANX GOD, it's not of higher scale. May GOD bless and save people of America.
AAYUSHMAAN bhao bete. Take care.
 Your loving DaD
....... (OPEE)

Jai Sri Krishna.. Happy Janmashtmi!!

Sri Krishna's B'day again.. Full day fruity fast until midnight & then b'day celebrations at the temple... chatting... chanting I mean. all the lovely bhajans, singing & then swaying krishna's cradle. wow... reminds me of my younger days in India. Going out with parents or sometimes without, to have fun by myself or friends. Decorations all over in streets, lights, people dressed, celebrations in all the temples around & everywhere. The waiting in long lines for Krishna Darshan i.e. to see Krishna Idol. Saw similar madness at Govinda Temple in Journal Square, Jersey City. It was interesting/nice.... Haathi-Ghoda Paalki, Jai Kanhaiya Laal Ki!!

Captain America | Fright Night

Captain America is good movie. Another not just super hero movie but more than that. Captain America  (reminded me of Tiranga) seems like a real man, a man with more than average or more than above-average powers but still human. A guy who hates bullies (guess who's the world's Big Bully now?), Nice!! A thin, weak & bullied guy turns into this super hero who decides to fight against Nazi' special division head Red Skull. After a stint with singing & dancing on stage, LOL. Good performances by Chris Evans as Captain & others as well. Good to show Japanese Americans & African Americans fighting with White Americans. I would give it 8/10.

And ofcourse I had to watch another movie Fright Night, to recover cost for expensive ticket. Fright Night was surprisingly interesting too - 7/10. I like Colin Ferrel, good performance as next door Vampire. Anton as next door human & David as fake Vampire Slayer/Expert were good too. It's a so called horror comedy & I guess I like the genre. Although I didn't watch it in 3D cuz I think 3D is becoming a scam to just mint more money from us, I H it.. Anyways, nice weekend overall!!

Happy Independence Day India!!

Today is Indian Independence Day. India was liberated from British Rule in 1947, on this day. It's been 64 great years of Independence. I hope we understand the true meaning of it, & the sacrifices many-many people made to make this happen. I hope we are able to take our independent great country on our shoulders to greater heights of success & prosperity. And we all have to chip in, every single person counts. So let's do our bit & make it happen.... JAI HIND, JAI BHARAT!!!

Last year, I went to the NYC Indian Independence Day Parade; this year maybe Jersey or Washington DC (Press Statement byHillary Clinton for today). Preity Zinta was the Flag Carrier plus Sridevi (like anyone cares about her.. actually ppl do) was a guest too. Was kinda cool. I hear they do it third Sunday of August, so maybe next Sunday... Today reminds me of childhood too. There is no fancy parade like January 26 Republic Day Parade on Independence Day. Only flag hosting etc. As a kid, we used to have flag hosting in the school in morning & rest of the day off. That was the high of the day, plus getting the pack of sweets 'boondi or boondi laddoo'. Which I never liked, but would try to get as many as I can, just to boast about it. LOL, sweet memories...... Happy Independence Day to all my fellow Indians & to our great nation of India - VANDE MAATRAM!!!!

Happy / Sad | Rakhi / Shammi Kapoor

HAPPY: Today was Raksha Bandhan, rakhi festival. Happy Raksha Bandhan to my sweet sister!!

SAD: Shammi Kapoor, the great Indian actor died today. OMG, so sad. So many memories, of Chitrahaar on Wednesday nights & YAAHOOOOOO. It became my favorite song. And his dancing style, like monkey or junkey, dunno.. but Awesome. He was a great actor, a fun actor. I loved him. Many of us.. all of us will miss him. But he'll always be there & live in our hearts.... Rest In Peace!!

Visit to Amish Village... Memories of my Indian Village

So, I had an opportunity to visit Amish Village in Lancaster County, PA. This was my first time at an Amish Village/Property. It does reminds me of my village in childhood a little, just richer. they don't use electricity but use the electrical equipments by making it Air/Gas operated. They live in handmade houses with almost all the usual luxuries you'll expect: like nice bed, fridge, gas stove, fireplace, nice kitchenware etc. They don't have A/C though. They don't have lots of clothes, as they wear plain clothes & have 3-4 pairs to change. Women have to pin there dresses like all over, kinda funny/ridiculous/hard. They are not allowed art & stuff on wall but allowed calendar. So they can have 10 calendars in a room with fancy pics/portraits etc. Our tour guide didn't seem to b a supporter at all & was bitching & bickering about them a lot, LOL. They ride horses & buggies and have goats, chickens etc too. They run there own schools where they teach English, German, Maths, Religion etc. The school we went to, teacher didn't know german herself. I hear there are 250,000 Amish people living in U.S. now, big number. They are a closed community which believes in working hard & helping each other out and following there culture. BTW, the tours are not run by Amish People but others, cuz they are not suposed to....

When I was a kid, we didn't have electricity in our village so no electric appliances etc. Wooden fire stoves were used for cooking. We had cattle we took for grazing. Oxes fro ploughing land. And it all ran fine & seemed fine. Now, it's all changed. We have all modern equipments etc & grew with time. I think that's good except we don't do as much farming etc.... Anyways, weekend was fine. Still unpacking etc going on & will go on for a while. I got A/C off of craigslist & bough bunch of other small things from C-Town, CH Martin, Target etc. Still need to shop more & this unpacking will go on for a while. Wish me LUCK!!... & U too, for w/e U may need it.

Was Jesus Black, Jewish, Italian, Californian, American Indian, Irish, or a Woman?

 

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Jersey City to New York City - PATH vs NYC Subway

Well, I haven't moved back to the city (yet), NO. Just talking about my first day of commute from Journal Square to Downtown Manhattan, FIDI (pronunced as Fie-Die, Financial District) as New Yorkers call it. I walk from my place to Journal Square & then take PATH.  I get off at World Financial Center (not WTC anymore) station & walk to my work at Wall Street (I had to mention that to let you know that I work at mighty Wall Street). It's not bad at all. The commute from Jersey city to NYC could be probably less than even being in Manhattan (If you live above midtown, far from Subway.. & you are close to Path in Jersey CIty coming to FIDI etc), or almost same as other Burroughs. You are not in the "City", but I am just talking commute here, which is cool. And there are benefits to living in Jersey too (gotta convince myself, U know).....

So lets do a quick PATH vs NYC Subway check... PATH's monthly pass is $54, $50 less when compared to NYC Subway Monthly Pass. You have to buy a $5 plastic card  called smartlink card from automated vending machine & then refill or recharge it at another machine. Kinda non-intuitive (I struggled like a dumbo for 10 mins) & lotta work  (I had to be "walked through" the whole process) for first time. But there was someone to tell/help which was good. The PATH looks cleaner & nicer too. There is no food & drinks allowed, which must help. I don't see any trash/garbage cans in PATH stations either, which is weird. People might bring stuff & you gotta have place to throw. Frequency & service is good, almost every 10 mins in peak hours. It runs 24 hrs as well. So, I like PATH. But unlike many people, I liked subway as well. You have to understand that there are so many lines & trains they have to run, with so many stations to manage. PATH just has 4 lines & 13 stations. And subway is so old as well. At least is 24 hrs unlike most of rest of the world I guess. LA, Boston, DC, London, Delhi, none of the places have 24 hrs metro service. It may not be very comfortable but it's absolutely convenient. So my verdict is, both are great public transport... Love NYC, Love JC!!

Moved to Jersey City... I am not a New Yorker??

I left Manhattan yesterday to move to Journal Square, Jersey City. Quite a move.. I got movers to move my stuff which cost me $200 + cab ride of $45. Movers were $55/hr + tip, 2 russian guys. And the cab guys says that as soon as they go out of Manhattan, the cab fare doubles + toll $9, so I didn't tip him. Also to went Newport Mall & did some shopping for curtains, rods, home stuff, fan, brita jar etc. So much to do when you move in to your own place. & SO much to unpack/adjust. I am really stressed I guess. Moving is not as much fun, specially when you have to do so much, all by yourself, & my not that enabled/capable hand. But I do like Journal Square so far. I ma 10 mins walk away from PATH, lots of stores around - 99 cents, C-Town, CH-Martin & Bunch of Indian stores at Indian Sq. Also was able to get chinese food at 11.20 pm on sunday Night. Impressive & happy so far, lets see how it goes. BTW - Got lot of help in this move from Tani, thanks a ton!!... So, until next time, Good Bye & Good Luck!! (Am I still a New Yorker??)

Hand in 4 week cast / Dinner Cruise in Manhattan

So I went for  doctor's review after last week's hand surgery. The 7 stitches were taken out, although pin has been left in, with the new blue cast which I have for 4 weeks. I have to go back after 4 weeks when they take the pin & cast off & then I have to go through occupational therapy until I get my strength & motion back. My right hand did look thinner & weaker than left hand (like it's starving), but otherwise it's okay so far. The new fiber casting is quick & impressive. It's like a wrap which they wrap around after putting some cotton base, then applied some sorta medical lubricant & it hardened into a cast in few minutes. I had choice of white/blue/black color; I picked blue because it's darker but you can still write on it... So, Doctor says it's all okay, so I have to take his word. I'll only know when I get my hand fully back!!

In the evening we went for a dinner cruise (7-10pm) with Bateaux Cruise New York from Chelsea Piers. It goes all the way to Interpid first & then back south to Downtown & then towards east side of Manhattan until Empire State - cross Manhattan Bridge & then very close to Statue of Liberty (it's beautiful at night) & then back. The food was nice on the cruise & live music was very good. Only bad thing was their photographer, who was really mean/selfish & bad. Tried to force people to buy pictures, not give enough time to think or try good positions, just ridiculous.... Anyways, overall we had a wonderful & great time!!... You should try it too, if you can, & feel free to ask any questions/comments..... I am HERE

MY MOTHER'S VISA APPLICATION GOT REJECTED AT US EMBASSY IN NEW DELHI... AGAIN!!

OMG... REALLY?? HOW CAN YOU DO THAT. I AM A LAW ABIDING LEGAL RESIDENT OF USA, PAYING BIG TAXES & DOING MY SHARE TO HELP THE ECONOMY, ALONG WITH VOLUNTEERING & STUFF LIKE THAT. AND MY MOM'S TOURIST VISA TO JUST VISIT HER SON FOR 1-2 MONTH, WITH HER HUSBAND, IS GETTING REJECTED 2ND TIME. WTF?? WTF IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?? I AM UPSET, REALLY UPSET & MAD, REALLY MAD. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?? AND THEY DIDN'T GIVE ANY REASON EITHER, NO REASON. THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS!!.... ANY COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS??

Fight Club | True Grit | Perfect Host

The week was busy & scary(?) with my hand surgery, but the weekend was nice. Good Movies:

Fight Club (9/10) - Great movie, amazing plot, great performances. This was a BIG-BIG surprise just for me, cuz I didn't know about this movie. I would have given it 10, but I could guess even before half of the movie, the real identity of Tyler Durden. But it's just a great movie with excellent camera work, story line, editing & performances. Great job done, great movie made!!

True Grit (9/10) - Great movie, very good plot, excellent performances. One of the best westerner movies I have seen. The cinematography & camera work is awesome. Everything looks real & convincing. The story of a 14 yr old girl trying to hunt her father's murderer with the help of 2 bounty hunters is just amazing. Everyone has put in great performances & its just a great movie to watch.

Perfect Host (7/10) - Good movie, nice plot, very fine performances. This was a surprise actually. Never heard & never knew abou t it. The story is about a escaped prisoner/convict who takes forced refuge into a man's home & ends up being the victim. How? Just watch the movie... David Hyde Pierce is mind blowing!!

+ good food & lot of nice rest. That's what good time is all about in this HOT New York Weather!!

My first surgery in US - MCP Joint RCL tear & subluxation

The surgery was at Beth Israel center at Union Sq. I was there before 11 am, 2 hrs before surgery as suggested (surprisingly... very unlike me). I was alone, all by myself. They had me fill this huge 10-20 paper form with my injured hand, funny!! Then this lady filled all info on computer, which was using DOS based system, with me. She told me that  I NEED to have an escort or somebody to pick me after surgery. Thanks to my roommate Eddie who agreed to come.  I had to wait little more before they took me in & asked me to change into hospital clothes. They gave me free Beth Israel bag & asked to put my stuff in locker. Now i waited in this small room with a TV for more than an hour. Then nurses, anesthesiologist & my doctor came asking same questions & filling more paper. In another hour, we were ready to go for surgery. I go in surgery room & start feeling cold even before anesthesia. They cover me up with blankets & stuff & sedate me. Sedate me fully to make me asleep & nerve block on right hand to do the surgery. I remember talking to anesthesiologist & assistant surgeon (I was asking if I am talking too much or everyone does that?.. r u angry/pissed at me?.. good luck!!) and then passed out. Next I wakeup, I am in recovery room surrounded by nurses/doctors & with no feeling in right hand. And suddenly it starts hurting, a LOT - 9/10. Nurse gave me some injection & I pass out again. Then I wakeup with 8/10 pain. Injection again & passout, wakeup again with 8/10. She forces me to take percocet & now i feel 6/10 for few mins. But then 7/10 again. The nurse says I can't leave with pain like this. I am smiling. She asks a question from her Nursing stuff: 2 patients saying 8/10 pain, one is smiling & other is crying/screaming. Who you treat? BOTH... Different people can have different pain thresh hold & reaction, but all need treatment. Good Point!! So now I lie to nurse that I am feeling okay, so I can leave. They do let me leave after this, with my roommate Eddie who was there by then. We first went to pharmacy to get my prescription medication & then we go for dinner at Coffe Shop Union Square - I hadn't eaten since last night. It's nice place & I got nice burger but I am in pain again. So we take a cab to go home. Takes almost an hour in cab to go to Hell's Kitchen from Union Sq. But finally I got home, straight to bed. That was my day of my first surgery in US.

I had hand surgery... MCP Joint RCL tear & subluxation

This is just a quick note for all of you who must(?) be worried about me. Surgery is done & was successful as per the doctor. I am back home & resting. I do feel moderate to severe pain right now. Also the pain medication is making me drowsy/groggy. Right hand is not usable atall, which kinda sucks & has to be kept elevated. Its fully wrapped from fingers to below wrist. So I am just resting. Anyways, All izz Well overall. Thanks to everyone for your help (although I did take care of this myself), support (expectedly/unexpectedly offered/not-offered)  & well wishes.... All the Best, to ME!! (U realize this is all written by left hand only. I'll provide full details of surgery tomorrow..)

Good Weekend - Journal Square/Harry Potter 8 & Super 8

The week didn't start as nicely with the news of Hand Surgery. This weekend was supposed to be celebration weekend for my 1 year completion in NYC. It was celebrated by me finding a new place in Journal Square, Jersey city to move out of NYC. Ironic.. huh?? I think it's fine. I have kinda finalized on this place which very close to PATH Station, 5-10 min walk south/south-west of it. Let's try Jersey & see how it works out.

Then went for Harry Potter 8 last night, quite an ordeal. We had thankfully tickets in advance & went an hour early but still were way back in line & had to sit on side row. It's because we watched it in IMAX 3D which is $19, so expensive. Sometimes it seems like this whole IMAX & specially 3D is just a scam to mint more money from people. And AMC gave such cheapo glassed which sucked & I was very unhappy. The movie is alright, 6/10. I expected better. I think it's the worst movie in the series. Specially the second half which is so ungrand & unconvincing. They are trying to be funny & cheesy & it just didn't seem to work. Expect poor Snape who did make few 'people' cry. The ordinary & silly way Voldemort died was pathetic. Not the finale I expected.... But still, it's kinda funny to see Harry & friends grow old like this. It's like our kid who were small & young in front of us & now grown up. Goodbye Harry Potter & friends...... I also saw Super 8. You have to see 2 movies to recover the expensive cost of movies I guess. It's a nice (8/10) sci-fi/horror movie, right between E.T.  & Cloverfield. Also watched Tees Maar Khan (4/10) on Netflix and Incredible Hulk (7/10) & Pirates of Carribean 3 (7/10) on T.V.

So... who do you think will be next Harry Potter? Any opinions/suggestion about Journal Square & Jersey City?? I have the hand surgery coming this week, let's see what do I have to report. Until then.... Thanks, Goodbye & Good Luck!!

I am a New Yorker... 1 year in NYC!!

I have spent ONE YEAR in NYC. Big Deal? I guess. It was exactly an year ago when I came here to live. When I came here first time more than 4 yrs ago, I used to say I have a love & hate relationship with NYC. Now I have to say that I have a love-hate-love relationship with NYC. More like a real New Yorker, huh? I don't know. I did get cheated a while ago, that's not a good sign. But isn't that part of experiencing real NYC? (Probably more of getting fooled & not being a smart New Yorker). It's been quite a journey, living in THE CITY, in REAL CITY i.e. Manhattan. 3 blocks from Times Square. 15-20 mins walk from Central Park. 10 mins walk from Bryant Park. (these are all walking times of New Yorker, not regular walk. New Yorker walk, a lot), Next to Western Piers. Working at WALL STREET. Dream life, huh? Dunno... It did used to feel special walking through Times Sq to get home everyday. Now it feels maddening. FUNKING TOURISTS!! I do say that. It could take half hour to just cross Times Sq. They walk so slow, i.e. not walk. Take pictures, ask you to take pictures, expect you to not come in there pictures... GRRRRRRR (like I never did that myself). And I still walk from there everyday, sometimes still feel cool, special. I never thought this will happen. Not while growing up all over in India - Gujarat/Bengal/Delhi and playing around never worrying what to become, what to do in future. USA was not in the dreams, surely not NYC. And now here I am, 1 year in NYC. I tell people: If you can survive in NYC for an year & still like it, you are a New Yorker. Immigrants who moved here in recent future agree & like it. People who grew up here, H(ate) it. But yeah... I am a NEW YORKER!!

I need hand surgery... MCP Joint RCL tear & subluxation

of my right thumb injury from last weekend. I have a grade III tear which mostly can't be successfully fixed by casting/immobilization, so requires surgery to fix. How do I know all that? Cuz I am smart & awesome. And also because I went to Hand Orthopedist at Beth Israel in NYC today. He did a review, some X-Rays (no MRI) and said that surgery is best solution to ensure (although doctors never 'guarantee' a fix from surgery, it just mostly works) full recovery/fix where they'll do an incision at the RCL joint of MCP, put the dislocated joint together properly and sew/fix the broken ligament, then put a pin in there to stabilize it, immobilize it with a cast. Then they take off the pin in 10 days & keep hand in cast for another 3-4 weeks. After that they take off the cast & put a splint/brace on & I start occupational therapy/rehabilitation to gain strength back. And after all this, I am back in motion. If I don't do surgery, it might heal by itself with the splint/cast/brace (at least it looks cool) they have put me in. But it might heal crooked or with bump. I might not get full range of motion or have pain or even future arthritis. All "might" happen (or I might get totally fixed!!), kinda SUCKS!! Doctor's suggestion is surgery & I am not very excited about it. But 2-3 months of pain for lifetime of no problems (guaranteed?) isn't that bad. I am still thinking of getting a second review... Any suggestions/comments??

The week & weekend was spent mostly relaxing & taking it easy, still working though. Got outta bed after 4(pm) on Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday. Sometimes its just god top lay in bed to feel that it's really a day-off, I felt good. Went to Sheep Meadow in Central park for sun-bathing; I love central park & I am even a member & do donations to them. It's so big & confusing though sometimes, need to explore more. Also went to Bryant Park which is small & cool & nice. That's it. Will keep posted of new updates, until then.... Good Luck to me, & U!!

Hurt Again... I injured/broke my thumb

First, Happy Independence Day & 4th July!!... Second, it totally sucks. Not 4th July, my injured/broke thumb. Total Bummer... How? We went for White water rafting to Harpers Ferry West Virginia. As per RiverRiders, the place we went to, 'White Water Tubing' is there most popular & exciting sport. They put you in a tube in the river & you flow down through the rapids. No protective gear like helmet, gloves etc or paddles; you just have to use your hands. They do give you a life jacket thankfuly so non-swimmers like me & you cna put there life in danger (just kidding!!). It's lotta fun actually. Very different form rafting & very independent too. If you are not with big team or wanna try something new, tubing is kinda cool. They had this luxury tube with cup-holder & bottom too, so its liek mini raft of yours. You could pick flat-water tubing but the adventurer in me wont do anything less than  AWESOME, which in this case meant White Water Tubing. It went well, I had a good time.

EXCEPT... There was a big rapid/mini fall & I got stuck by the flow in there. I did think it'll be more adventurous so I went for it. It was kinda cool but the tube flipped over & I fell out. I hit my right thumb on a rock & it was injured. Not bent or anything but swollen & hurt, really HURT. But I continued the sport with some help from "awesome people". Went to historic town of Harpers Ferry & had nice Dinner there. AND then drove all the way back to Virginia too. The next morning was not good. Thumb was hurting & swollen & I thought I had a fracture. I ran to Urgent Care and they did an X-Ray saying there is no fracture but just some subluxation at MCP Joint i.e. the second joint of right thumb may be little dislocated. Suggested to see Hand Orthopedic. Gave  me a sad looking finger splint to put on thumb.

Anyways... also watched the July 4th Fireworks in DC, awesome but too short, just 15 mins?? And also watched Transformers 3 (6/10), Kinda nice. All in all, still had a nice weekend!! What about you????