Meeting My Venus

Project #2: Let's Get Personal
Manual: AC - Storytelling
Sep 25, 2009

Since mid of 2003, two of my girl friends urged me to marry. As I was in U.S I was able to avoid them for quite a while. One was my Mom and other one was my Gradma. My mom jumped into search and literally contacted all possible sources for a match, but for some reason or other none worked out. I was "happy" about it, as I thought that wedding and children would load me with more responsibilities and I may not be able to achieve my goals in my life. Well, there was a saying that happiness doesn't last forever.

It was November 2004. I left to India for my sister's wedding. Since I was physically there my mom started prodding me. I was able to manager for first couple of days. On third day, when I woke up I saw my uncle discussing with my parents. He had brought a horoscope of his friend's daughter. Now, I had to face the situation head on. I told that I am not interested. But my mom insisted and this time my dad also joined the other side. My mom threatened me that I won't see her, if I don't agree to the wedding. I said "Well, you won't see me, if you force me." As the debate heated, my uncle told that first let's see the horoscope and if there is a match, then we can discuss about it later. I was relieved. But the relief didn't last long. Yes, the horoscope met the minimum criteria for the match. The debate started again and this to me around my dad asked me to go and see the girl. "If you don't like, then we are not gonna force you." He also said that just my uncle and I can go and see. That sounded fair to me.

That evening I went with uncle. The girl's mom served juice to us and my uncle went inside to explore their house. In no time, I drank the juice and I was all alone in the hall. Each second seemed too long. I decided, what the heck and went inside to look for my uncle. When I passed the dining room, I saw a girl 5 feet 2 inches standing in Indian casual dress. During bachelor days I used to watch lot of movies. In all those movies the girl would be dressed up in our traditional dress, which is a "Saree." So, I thought this would be a maid. I asked her where my uncle is? She just pointed me to the room and I found my uncle there.

Few moments later, we departed their place. I was shy to ask "Where is the girl?" because all along I have been opposing the wedding. On the way my uncle asked, "Did you like the girl?" I was like "Are you kidding? You folks were busy discussing other matter and didn't even bother to show the girl to me." He said that the one whom I saw in the dining room was the "girl." Well, now I can't even tell that I didn't like the girl, because I didn't even see her properly. Now, I need to prepare for round two. That night I quickly composed a questionnaire and called my best friends to do a group review. At last I finalized the questions. I had so many questions that I spoke on the phone, no no interviewed, for 45 plus minutes to cover all the questions. After the interview, my mom asked me whether I like the girl now? I told that I am undecided. She said without liking her, why did you speak for so long? Well, I didn't know the rules. Then I confessed that "I didn't see her properly when I met her. So I can't make the decision."

On the day of my sisters wedding my relatives arranged for a formal session. Now, this is the final round folks. I saw the girl my good part told me to go for it. My evil part keep on warning me. After all these, I was undecided and confused. I couldn't say that I don't like her and at the same time couldn't say I am ready for wedding as well. The battle between good and evil began. Well, you know folks than in the end good always triumph the evil. I got married to a wonderful woman, Vidhya, and we are living happily there after.

The Three Wishes

Project #1: The Folk Tale
Manual: AC - Storytelling
Aug 14, 2009

Once upon a time there lived a poor man who had a pretty wife. They were so poor that they had hardly enough to eat and hardly enough wood to make a fire. But one winter evening, the man found a shiny brass coal scuttle, piled high with coal by the door. He thought that must a gift from divine and brought it to his wife. She loved it and they both decided to at least have a good blaze that night.

As soon as they sat down to warm themselves, wife began her usual talk about the neighbors. “They are happier than we are only because they are richer,” said the wife. She wished that they could meet a fairy, who would grant “A” wish, then they would be happier and richer than all of them. No sooner the man concurred with her, a lightning stuck on their fireplace and a fairy appeared before them. Fairy flapped her wings, winker her eyes innocently and offered to grant a wish they desired for. But the wife greedily asked, “Three would be better.” Fairy smiled skillfully, granted just three wishes and she vanished away.

The man and his wife were delighted and settled down to decide what to wish for. His wife thought that an embroidered silk purse, full of gold would be a better wish. “What a silly wish,” said her husband. “Why one, you could wish for ten silk purses, 20, or even a hundred. But what use would they be to you if you were sick? It would be much better to wish for health, happiness, and a long life.”

Wife argued back that a long life would be horrible, if they remain poor. She told that fairy should have granted a dozen wishes; so that they could have everything they want. Her husband nodded and suggested that if they take time and think carefully, then they could make the most of the three wishes. They decided to think through all night and make the wishes next day.

The cold got bitter, so she poked the fire until it flared up nicely to warm them. Soon her stomach rumbled with hunger. She sighed, and without thinking, wished they had a length of sausage to cook for their supper. She had hardly said these words when a length of sausage, more than enough for two, came down the chimney. Her husband was furious with her foolish act. He shouted that she wasted a good wish for a sausage. He wished that ridiculous sausage got fastened to the end of her nose.

He soon felt sorry, but the sausage jumped immediately and stuck fast on the end of his pretty wife’s nose. The wife wailed in disgrace and they tried to separate the sausage from the nose. Her husband gave it a pull but it stuck. She gave it a pull but it stuck. They both pulled so hard that they nearly pulled her nose off, but it was really really stuck.

His wife cried in plan and the man apologized again. He asked whether he should after all wish for the silk purse to hide the sausage. She asked how she could hide the sausage dangling from the end of her nose with a silk purse. She wished that the sausage would drop off. The very instance, the sausage dropped off the nose and fell to the floor.

“There goes our last wish,” groaned her husband. His wife sobbed as well. Then they sat down and thought for a while, until at last they came to their senses. They asked for too much and the fairy has punished them appropriately. From then on they decided to count their blessings. They were glad that they had a scuttle half full of coal and a sausage. Which was more than they had to begin with. They decided to cook that delicious sausage for their supper and enjoy it by the warm fire.

Fellow Toastmasters, like the man and his wife, in certain moments we too forget to count our blessings. Instead, we spend our time and energy in worrying about the problems that pop up. Next time, if you worry about the issues at work, then think about the jobless person in this economy. If you complain about the bad weather, then think about the homeless person, who suffers from that bad weather throughout the year. If you fear about public speaking, then think about the person who cannot speak at all in his or her life. Also, think how blessed we are with this wonderful group of TGIF Toastmasters.

My "star" adventure

[The project was to tell a college or high school event using the transparency (cartoon image).]

If I ask you “how many have seen stars?” pretty much all of you would raise your hands. But, “how many of you have seen stars during the day time and that too within hands reach?”

Well, during my freshman year at college I had that opportunity, which also taught me to take calculated risks rather than jumping off the cliff without a parachute. It’s sometime in 1994, the year I went to GCT, one of the prestigious institutions in my native state, to get my bachelors degree in engineering. As the college was not close to my home, I stayed in the dorm. Dorm life was full of adventures, but fun with several friends around and not much responsibility. I had a friend named THICK. Thick and I were from same native place and went to school together. However, thick was allotted a different room in the dorm. Thick’s roommate was Strong, who is 6 feet two with well built body and exercises regularly. On the other hand, thick was 5 – 10 with moderately built body and does exercise now and then, as he was studious.

Thick and strong always gets into debate as “who is stronger?” On one fine day they ended up with a challenge that whoever lifts the heaviest object would be declared as stronger. Strong lifted 20 lbs, thick lifted 40. Strong did 60 and thick did 80 – during the process he was gaining over confidence. They didn’t have weight greater than 80 lbs. I was the only one who was close to 100 lbs – others were much heavier. They asked whether they can lift and hold for some time to prove who is stronger. I agreed. What can I say; college life is full of adventures isn’t it? We were so involved that we didn’t even bother to keep soft items such as pillow on the floor. It’s right time to note that, unlike carpet floors here, floors in India are as hard as rock. As there was nothing to hold in my upper body, they decided to lift me standing upside down, so that they can hold my hip bone for grip. Strong lifted me and held for 15 seconds and slowly placed me on the ground. Now, it’s thick’s turn. He lifted me and held for 10 seconds, he was tightened the grip and held for 15, 20, 25 and then boom. He dropped me from almost 2 feet and my head banged on the floor. I don’t know what they saw, but I saw colorful stars & dollars within hands reach.

[PS: Shown below is the scanned copy of the cartoon image I drew.]

My Dream Home

[The project was to paint a picture without using the pictures and show the picture at the end to see how well we did.]

A cute little home in the midst of the farmland. Acres and acres of green pastures surround this sweet home. A railway track like pathway runs from the home down to the lake, which tries to reflect the trees and the farm uphill. The serenity of the lake brings any soul in the universe back to its home. However, the mild breeze creates smooth ripples on the lake that distorts the reflection.

Few feet about the lake floats a flock of milky clouds trying to sip more water from the lake. This whole vicinity is surrounded by a mountain range. On this range lies few patches of snow that are still immune to the warmth of the sun. The whole scenery is sure to make any eyes mesmerizing. That's one such home I dream to live in. Who wouldn't?

[PS: Not sure whether you are really spot the home in this tiny image :-(]

Niagara Falls

[The project was to paint a picture without using the pictures and show the picture at the end to see how well we did.]

Imagine a nature created adorable, tri colored veil that spreads its over a vast area of land. This gigantic veil is 2500 feet wide and 50 m tall. Its view with green border at the top, blue at bottom and white in between is gorgeous. More than half a million gallons of water flowing over, I should rather say falling from, the edge carving the land into a horseshoe shape creates this adorable veil.

The fierceness of this monstrous fall creates a gigantic sized mist that rises even taller than the falls itself. Neither words, nor picture can do justice to illustrate this marvelous view. Over the blue veil floats a large vessel that carries thirsty souls closer to this monster to quench their thirst. It sure does give not only a spectacular view, but also a free shower.