The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch is an excellent book for readers of all ages. After reading the stories of Dr. Pausch's life and classroom, I was heart-broken that he left this world after so many accomplishments. I wonder if he had more time, what other things he would have done.
I am happy to learn that in his short life, he fulfilled all his dreams. First of all, he realized what his dreams were and kept up with them. After reading the book, I thought about my childhood dreams, and honestly, I can't think of any. I mean now I have goals and dreams in my life, but I think about my childhood dreams, it is sad to say I have none. I mean when I was little, I never thought of what I wanted to become, or things I wanted to accomplish. I went through college and met people and then I decided what my dreams and goals are.

His book definitely inspired me. I think this would be one of the books that I would want my kids to read. His life is inspiring. Even though his life was short, he accomplished so much more. His family and he deserves a standing ovation. Lastly, hats off to him for dealing with his illness in such a calm way.

However, I did not like how the format changed in the book. Initially the chapter transitions were nice and smooth, but later in the book, I felt it got little choppy. He jumped around a little bit with no connection between chapters.

Overall, it is an excellent read. I can't wait to watch the lecture on video. And I am thinking about checking out the program Storytelling Alice. Maybe I will learn a thing or two about computer programming.

Heaven Yesterday...Hell Today!

Yesterday was amazing. The snow brought in a new atmosphere...Gloomy day suddenly became a day filled with laughter. It was like heaven on earth. It started around 8 I believe. Here is the picture of plants outside the house:

We got ready to go out wearing heavy snow jackets (the ones I bought when I went to Chicago...finally some use for them). We took pictures and played in the snow. Then our neighbor came out and their 2 little kids started playing with us. Then the parents went to the backyard and brought back buckets full of snow that had piled up on their trampolines. Finally, being completely numb, I went inside and got under the cozy blanket to keep warm. The next picture shows more snow:

This morning when I woke up, it was still white. It was damn cold though. Before leaving for work, I took more pictures:

It was all good until I left my house. I got on I-10, and in few minutes, I crossed an accident on the opposite lane, where an 18-wheeler was overturned and a car was burned to nothing. I just wish nobody was hurt. I also felt bad for the people stuck in traffic behind that accident. I know that feeling.

Then I crossed another two accidents, and in one, the car's front was complete gone. Again, I wish nobody was hurt. I finally got to work. When parking in the garage, we were told the the top floor is all iced, so I had to park at the very end. I was super late to office today.

Then when I read the news, I saw an article in Houston Chronicle titled, "Unusually High Number of Traffic Accidents Reported." So that didn't help how I was feeling. Then on CNN, they just released that they found some child remains near Anthony's home. I have been following this story, and I was just wishing that Caylee was not dead. I am sad that her life had to come to an end at such an early age, and her own mother was somehow involved. She was just a little girl. Makes me sad to know that people like Casey Anthony exist in this world, who are so cold-hearted that they go to such extent as to hurt their own child. I hope she gets what she deserves.

I hope we will have a safe winter.

My Heart is Crying...

I am drowning in mixed emotions right now. I am mourning over the loss of a loved one. What I feel inside, nobody can feel or tell. But I must show my emotions to the damn society.

Loss in a family is the greatest sorrow. Their importance is felt after they have left us. But when they were alive, we ignore them or take them for granted. The respect grows after they leave. Their accomplishments are remembered after they are gone. We always wish that they had lived few more months or few more years. But death is inevitable. It will strike and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Our death is decided when we are born, and no doctors can use science to extend it. Birth and death are two things that God controls. He has already decided where we will be born, where we will die, and how.

This brings me to loss of those innocent lives in Mumbai attack. My heart cries out for the victims and their family. Their end was destined in that attack thus they were at those locations. In some cases, it was their first time visiting the hotels and this tragedy happened. This tragedy proves that there is little or no humanity left in this world. Leave humanity, nowadays people don't even respect relationships. Siblings are no longer siblings. From hearing and watching the news, now there seems to be some fault in the relationship between parent and their child. Lastly, the pure relationship between husband and wife is being ruined by money and divorce. Not to discredit anyone, some people still exist that love and respect others.

There is lack of humanity but at the same time, we have this damn society breathing down our necks. If we do something, it is not acceptable. If we don't do something, that is not acceptable. Somebody will speak up. So we are suppose to act as puppets, who are going to smile and cry as ordered by the society. If we don't follow, then we disgrace our values, traditions, and parents. So the bottom line is, we come in this world to breath and move at the order of the society. So when the society will say, "Your mourning period is over, and now you can smile," I will cry and show them I don't agree. I don't give a damn about society. Why should I respect them, when they made me feel like a nobody? Why should I?

After all this ranting, I want to know where we stand in this world and what will happen to us. What kind of world will it be 10 years down the road when our kids will be born? Will we have the values and traditions of our ancestors? But that is not the question. The question is will our kids or our next generation accept those values and traditions. Will there be any harmony between the older generation and the new? These questions are just the few to ponder. The true question is "How will we survive?"

Most Joyous Occasion - Weddings

On Saturday, I attended a wedding. It was such a heart-warming experience. We saw the Groom's excitement as he waited for his bride/soon-to-be his wife. Then everyone sent him away because he was not suppose to see her before the wedding. Then the ceremony started. The groom stood at the front of the church waiting for the bride. We all turned around waiting for her as well. We saw her standing there with her brother as he walked her down the isle. That moment was ... (I do not even have words to describe it)...beautiful...joyous...

She stood next to him. The priest/father started the ceremony. Everything he said was in Spanish, so I did not understand a single word. Nevertheless, when the groom turned around to say his vows (I think), I saw the bride brush away her tears. I just watched her and saw how important this day was for her. I was very happy to be part of this day, and felt special that she had included me. After about 30 minutes, the wedding was over. The bride and the groom walked out holding hands. Her mother was shaken up, knowing that her daughter has stepped in a new life, and was no longer just a daughter. She has now become a wife, and will someday become a mother.

After the church, we went to the reception hall. The bride and the groom ate, and we waited. We waited for them to start the celebration. The bride visited her family, which included her in-laws now, and the groom did the same. The DJ started the music to catch everyone's attention and asked the audience to watch a slideshow honoring the bride and the groom. Again, that was beautiful. Finally the time came, when the couple danced. They danced hand-in-hand. That was beautiful. I could not stay to watch them cut the cake (white wedding cake for the bride and Corona cake for the groom :p)

While watching and enjoying all this, I thought about the day when my day will come and my prince will come. I was sitting there dreaming and hoping for the best.

Congratulations to Saul and Melly! I wish both of best of luck with all the happiness in the world.

2008-2009 Author Challenge

The original challenge I saw was for a year. But since I started so late in the year (November)...I figured I will make it Challenge for November 2008 to October 2009 so it is a year challenge after all.

The books I am reading are italized.

A – The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

B – Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; Tales From The Arabian Nights: Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves And Other Stories by Sarah Butcher; A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels & The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

C – The Alchemist by Paulo Cuehlo
D – 30 Years of Laughs & Lasagna: The Life & Times of a Fat, Furry Legend! by Jim Davis
E – The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
F –
G – Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Garner;
H – Book of Thousand Days by Shannon Hall
I –
J –
K – Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney ; The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella; Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd; For One More Day & Five People You Meet in Heaven by Albom Mitch
L – The Fairy's Return and Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine; Unaccustomed Earth & Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
M – Wicked by Gregory Maguire
N – The Darwin Awards Next Evolution (Darwin Awards) by Wendy Northcutt
O – Songs for the Missing by Steward O'Nan
P – The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Q –
R – The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
S – The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold; The Ultimate Life by Jim Stovall; Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris; The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
T – Death of Ivan Illych by Leo Tolstoy
U –

V – Incredible Coincidence by Alan Vaughan
W – Yukon Ho by Bill Watterson
X –

Y –

Z -