Life in Sept 11, 2017 -Dec 31, 2017

Writing the Life In Series in March, 18 but ending on a date prior is going to be a first. But it had to be done as 2018 has gone off on a very different start.


Life in Sept 11 - Dec 31, 2017

It is amazing that memories are getting so fickle. Perhaps, all I can remember now of this period is the insane work that had gone in to make the NY season work for Events High. Indeed, from Oct end to Dec 31, I was thinking of just work. It was crazy but I enjoyed it a lot. While the results were good but little less than expected, in terms of journey, I am so glad that I did it.

Outside of work, my memory draws a blank. My phone camera serves that purpose of documenting my outings and I must say, it does a decent job at it. So, lets start the way back from Dec 31

- NY night was celebrated once all work was done and EH support closed for the night at around 10 pm. At home, there was an awesome pineapple cake to have.

- As is the ritual, Ruhaniyat was attended this year. Like always, it continues to bring some amazing talent that I had known of . This year it was this amazing group called Char Yaar (http://www.sounds-of-the-world.com/band/chaar-yaar/). First Char  Yaar also happens to be one of my fav song from the Sharaabi film. This group among bringing some amazing poetry to music also sang the famous Beatles' song "I am a dreamer" that too in Hindi. Once the dot was connected, it was amazing.
Watch their video here -

The other highlight was this Russian music duo - Two Siberians (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Siberians) They had some amazing instrumental compositions. Kachra Khan his group were there and the Qawaali at the end was by Nizami Brothers.

- Kanishka and I did manage to steal a weekend to run the KTM 2017 run on Nov 26. Weather was much kinder this time. We decided to have a car rental instead of driving down there which made it lot easier. But this time, we left at 2 am in the morning and were back by 12 noon after finishing the run. Feels good to have run KTM

- The Diwali tradition continued with this year we made Badam Katli at home. It was done in two batches with two slight variations in recipes. Making the Badam Katli was an easier process unlike others but the result said that we did missed a step as it did not match the commercial standards. 

- Out Diwali celebration in office involved a potluck. I experimented by making white cheesy pasta, a deliberate deviation from usual tomato based one. Also, office desk was decorated minimally, but other folks in office did a much stellar job at it.


- Gadayi Kallu trip is documented here - http://arvindbatra.blogspot.in/2017/10/gadayi-kallu-kadamgundi-waterfalls.html
A much needed break needed.


- William Gibson's Neuroamancer
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/888628.Neuromancer
Phew! Yes, Somehow I managed to finish this book. It was a great experience to have finished it. Book is definitely classy but written with a vision that requires a lot of effort to visualize and a language that is at times hard to comprehend.  It is a difficult read. Requires will to go through it. Some pages provide sheer joy and some just make the jaw drop on his vision was so wide and could be so true.

- The Absence of Guilt by Mark Giminez
After Neuromancer, which took forever, I wanted to get hold of a page turner masala flick, so I picked this one. Did not like a bit. Found it to be too dull for my taste. Needed more conspiracy and plots to make it more engaging.

- The Foundation by Issac Asimov
Absolutely brilliant. First, the premise which is so awesome is set in first chapter. Then the person behind all this setup is dead. What follows is a just too original, too much style, witty characterization, very smart narration. Loved it. Have ordered both the sequels.


- Movies :

Newton - 4/5
Thor Ragnarok - 3.5/5
Blade Runner 2049 - 3/5

Person of Interest - 5/5
Kanishka and I finished all seasons loving every bit of it

Mr. Robot - 4/5
Watched couple of seasons and it is a good watch.