Get Me A Reindeer!!

I am not a Christian and I have nothing to do with Christmas and Santa Claus... but like Santa I do love the reindeers. It all began when I saw a picture of a little ethnic Sami boy riding a reindeer somewhere in Norwegian Arctic. Then I read about other people in Tundra and Arctic Circle especially people in Siberia and their association with the reindeer.

 

According to popular belief Santa Claus lives in the North Pole and rides a sleigh ridden by seven reindeers. I ain't greedy but since I don't have a ride and know you can ride a reindeer, for last 3 years I have been writing to Santa Claus if he could get me a reindeer. But so far, all negative... haven't heard from him yet. I don't know whether he was too busy or he never received my mail.

 

I didn't believed that Santa actually fulfilled people's wishes until today when on the eve of Christmas Justin Bieber announced his retirement. Yes, some dreams/wishes do come true. I hope even mine will come true this year. But if it doesn;t... I have decided, may be I have to make a trip to the Arctic be it Alaska, Greenland, Svalbard, Lapland or anywhere around to get myself a green-ride.

 

Post script: I won't be surprised if Santa actually sent me a reindeer via USPS and they lost it in transit. They do it just too often. On the other side, I strongly wish that Santa lives in Alaska and I can make a trip to go see him... but then, who needs Santa Claus when you are friends with Oelklaus?  

I Wish To Dream Again

Even with my eyes wide open
I can imagine you doing all the things I do
Strange? But I believe it is possible
When anyone has a crush on someone like you!

I dreamt about you first time, last morning
Wondered for a while if that was true
Tried hard to go back and fall asleep
With a hope that if I can be with you!

I am worried if my feelings will evaporate
And worried if I will get to see you ever
For all the time I was with you
I wished I could live in the moment forever!

It's about time for me to leave now
Not sure what awaits: sun, snow or rain
Whatever it be, I will face it with smile
If and only... I wish to dream again!

Friday the 13th!

Officially the last day of the semester or should I say the last day of my grad-school. I had a paper due for my Energy Economics and Policy class and had nothing to do after Monday when one of my other paper was due... but what did I do? Nothing! I told you, I am lazy and there is no motivation doing things on time when you have already graduated and still have papers due!

 

But now I am done, finally. Friday the 13th is considered to be unlucky day, right? Maybe it was... I am done with school. I will miss it. I actually got a ride to Denver for tonight... packed all my luggage, didn't know I still had this much stuff! I called it off thinking it would be too much. So, not being able to go to see my sister and niece, that's bad as well. And... I didn't see the 'Awesome Alaskan' today or yesterday... meaning the last time I saw her was 11/12/13... But I will remember the day and of course the fancy earring that she was sporting!

So, today is my last night in Laramie. After so many visits to Denver in between it feels kind of awkward when I think I don't have to come back here anymore. I will be gone once and forever... but I will be back sometimes soon. I promise. And I hope I will be missed!

Goodbye and good night Laradise!

Hello Goodbye!

I had never heard that Beatles song ever before until I heard the rendition by Gwen Stefani from No Doubt at Kennedy Center to honor Sir Paul McCartney. And lately I have been listening it quiet often... along with some Celtic drums and bagpipes... the second obviously has a very good reason behind it!

So after one year, three months, twenty days and a degree later, the day has eventually come when I have to leave this place. Time to say Goodbye! If you had asked me if I would like to come back to this place back in October, I would have probably replied I would better love to go to Iraq or Afghanistan than return here... but then God has different ways of changing one's heart. That is what happened with me as well. Laradise Regained! I am thankful to God for that.

I don't know how I survived the strong winds, snowfall, negative temperature or overall the hostile environment... I don't know. When I look at the pile of snow outside which has been there for a week, I wonder that happened last year as well, right? This place is no where close to paradise if you keep that in account... but maybe it is the warmth of the people, their affection that actually makes Laramie, "Laradise". 

There are people I have met who actually don't have anything good to say about people here... maybe if you had asked me similar questions in October, I would have responded in similar line... not as positive as they are now... but, maybe I was lucky to come across only the good hearted people. Or maybe I have changed and by now only look for the positives in the people... maybe. I do know few people whom I don't like much... the kind of people you feel like throwing brick at... but for all the love and affection that I have received from people over here... I forgive them all.

Post Script: I will miss those "Hi's" for sure!

11/12/13 Again!

If you have been following my blog lately, you must have realized what is my favorite topic to write about! Ahem ahem! So, Sunday last I actually got congratulated for graduating with a pat on my shoulder! Could I have imagined that? Could it get any better? I don't know! 

Lately I know this guy from Gabon who likes to talk a lot.. a LOT! His name is Christian and he is kind of funny. He doesn't remember my name so calls me 'Nepal'. I even handed him my MBA business card, he was so surprised when he saw that... he actually kept it in his wallet. Every time he sees me, he goes on and on... There are lots of Nepalese girls after me, do you think I am ugly... and all random stuffs... he even sang a song for me... that was hilarious.

So coming to the point, I was just talking to the 'Alaskan' and he pops up. Even though he doesn't know her, he goes on, "Do you know this guy, he is from Nepal!". She says, "Yes I do. We are friends." Then he goes on, "Do you think he is awesome?" I was wondering inside, what are you asking dude? You crazy? She says, "He is a nice guy." To avoid it getting awkward, I look at her responding in sign gesture that he is insane. She smiles, as she always do!

We talk about finals again. She doesn't have finals but two papers, one due on Wednesday and another on Friday. I believe the paper due today (Wednesday) is the same one she was working on when I met her in the library last week. I say how weird it is that even though I have graduated, I still have paper due on Friday. She agrees. I wish her Good Luck and she leaves.

Christian pops up again and goes on... "Is she your girlfriend?" After a brief pause, I reply - " I wish!" I don't know if I meant that but we both erupted in laughter after that reply! I don't think I have any complaints about what he asked though, even though it was awkward... kind of but it went straight to the pages of memories that I will always cherish!

Wyoming Poem

It's winter in Wyoming
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty five below.
Oh, how I love Wyoming
When the snow is up to your butt.
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.
Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around.
I could never leave Wyoming
'cuz I'm frozen to the ground.
-Anonymous

Done With Grad-school!

One year, three months and fifteen days! That's how long it took me to get my MBA. That's a long time, I think... but a fast-track considering the degree which usually takes about two years. Whatever it be, I am done with school for now.

 

There are people here mostly Nepalese who have never seen me before and they ask me if I just came this August or so. I used to tell them I came last August and I will be done in December. Then they used to follow up with another question, "Are you exchange/transfer student?" Hah, no! I don't have to answer those questions any more. This MBA is one of the major write off from my bucket list!

Did I say that they announced my name wrong when I walked down the stage to receive my degree? Ah, whatever. Interestingly I am the first international student to get an MBA from University of Wyoming. Hope they will remember me for that. And I am grateful to them for having this wonderful bunch of people as my classmates, my friends. I don't usually forget anything... but even if I was forgetful, I wouldn't have forgotten them... I mean how can anyone forget friends like these?

 

Post script: I am not sure when I will go to school again or what I plan to study next if I eventually decide to... maybe Finance, Economics or even International Relations... I got no clue as of today... but for a while I am a free man. My brother always said, once you are done with your MBA study something that you like to, that you are interested in... I hope I can find something soon. I am thankful to my family and friends for being able to make it here today! Dhanyabaad! Thank you God!

Rewarded For Being Lazy!

Chosen By The God!

There is a thing about me that I don;t like, I am so damn lazy at times! Lazy as if no one can beat me for being so... I would have too much stuffs to do and still I will end up doing everything else, wasting my time besides what I am supposed to do! For hour and hour. I am someone who will do a work for like 10 minutes and treat myself with an hour long break!

So, I had my finals this week... lots of stuffs to do, assignments, presentations, exams and what not? Had a five day break last week for Thanksgiving, and since I don;t celebrate it, I had plans to get most of my stuffs done! On first day, I thought "Oh! I have still four days to go, I can finish my stuffs easily!", I did nothing that day but went to Thanksgiving potluck with my classmates. Had a wonderful time. The next day? I went to Cheyenne for Thanksgiving at my friends' place. Had wonderful time again!

Asked my other friends if they had started doing their stuffs? Most of them had hardly started... I felt better. Thought maybe I will start writing my papers on Saturday like most of my other friends. I hardly got anything started until the fourth day! Wasted most of my Sunday as well doing nothing... but then wait! I had one paper due next morning... now I have no more excuses... so I head to the library... and start writing my paper at 8:00 pm on the last day of my five-day long holiday break! Worked till late, went home early morning... made it before deadline, luckily!

Then I had another 10-15 page research paper due on Friday, today. I decide to start it on Tuesday as I had most of my research done. Went to the library at 8:00 pm as if that was normal for the finals week... just edited the researched data here and there... got nothing done even though I stayed there till early next morning! Sounds pathetic? Wait there is more.

I decide to go and finish my paper Wednesday night. Kept on postponing the time I will start writing the paper. I decide to stay at the library all night. Oh, did I tell you how hard it is to find a computer during the dead week? You should consider yourself lucky, and lucky I was. Rather than starting to write my paper, I helped a friend write her HTML codes which I did for a week or so years ago! Surprised that I still remembered some of that. But the thing is, I hardly got my paper started, even though I stayed there almost all night and went home early morning as if now it was normal. That sounds too much.

Book & Bean ... and Memories!

So here it is a day before the deadline, I now seriously decide to finish my paper and get it done anyhow! I start early, earlier by my standard!, at 5:00 pm on Thursday... took a break once in a while... but by this time I had few other stuffs to worry as well, the presentation for the paper that I was working on and exam for my Financial Trading class. I finally get my rough draft ready around 1:00 am! Bingo! And tell you what? I was rewarded for that accomplishment, at least that is what I think.

After working for so long, once I got my rough draft ready, I wanted to stretch for a while. "Oh maybe I need to go get drink some water", I said to myself. So as I told you, when you have to study, you feel like doing everything else but study. On my way to drink some water I see a friend outside Books and Bean... Ok, I will go talk to her for a while, I thought after she saw me and waved. We talked for a while, she is like "Oh! You are graduating this Saturday. You won;t be around? I will miss you." Not bragging, but I have heard that from too many people in this last few weeks! And as I am talking with her, I look around and whom do I see? Alaska, Alaska! And she was looking at me! Oh My! And we greet each other and smile. I talked to my friend for sometime and after a while she left.

Do you call it emotional stability or what but even though I get very excited whenever I see her, I act as if I am normal. So I decide to go talk to her. She said she was there since like 9:00 pm working on her paper and I saw her just now! Damn bwoy! I must have been working seriously on my paper, otherwise how could I have missed it!? How? We talk about the finals week... I tell her how lazy I am when it comes to doing assignments and how my final week was going so far. And then she asks me, "Are you coming back next semester?" I reply, "No. I will be done tomorrow and I am graduating this Saturday."... She lays her right arm on the table, and puts her head over it, smiling as ever and looking my way, she says, "I have just known you for a while, and you are leaving!?!"... Oh bwoy! I could have died there and then... was I dreaming? Of course not even though I was kind of sleep deprived during the week. I reply with a smile, "I will be around, down in Denver."

After a while, eventhough I wished to talk to her all night long, acting normal I get back to finish my paper and let her finish her's. I didn't see her leaving but probably she was there till 3:00 am or so... So, I get my paper and presentation slides done. Decide to go home and study for exam. It's 4:00 am now... dozed off while I was studying... it was hard to stay awake. But I think that's normal when you have not slept for over almost a day, right?

Finally, I am done with everything. Graduating tomorrow. But doesn't it sound weird when you are graduating tomorrow and still have two papers due for the week after? I think it is. It is snowing like crazy in Laradise and it is -31 Celcius. I hope my sister and niece can make it here tomorrow with some family friends for graduation. God, you listening to me? I hope it won;t snow anymore, at least till tomorrow. I want them here!

Post script: I will probably remember Laramie for warm memories than this cold weather though. Now it feels like these 16 months passed too fast! And a part of me feels that I will be back here, sometimes, someday!

There Is Pleasure In The Pathless Woods

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,

There is a rapture on the lonely shore,

There is society, where none intrudes,

By the deep sea, and music in its roar:

I love not man the less, but Nature more,

From these our interviews, in which I steal

From all I may be, or have been before,

To mingle with the Universe, and feel

What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal.

 

- Lord Byron

Shall Be Good

That topic is a pun, similar to the American drama of 1997 in which Damon and Affleck starred... actually rocked! So, since last week I am in that awkward situation where I don't know whether I should be happy that my school is almost over or not for the same reason. And all of that has to do with this Awesome Alaskan that I lately came to know and is a friend now!

 

You know what? For a while I had a huge regret that I missed Friday Coffee Hour for a year or so, and never been there before! Just because I thought if I had been there before, I would have probably talked to her earlier. But wait... today I realized she was in China beginning August last year when I arrived till June this year... so maybe I don't have that regret, not a big one!

Last week my friends in class were like, "How was your weekend?", with a big smile I replied "Awesome! Probably the best weekend since I came here!" And, probably it was it. Since that eventual day, first time I talked to her over dinner, she has occupied the Wall Street of my head! And tell you the truth my eyes long to see her again... and lucky they were and so were my ears when she called my name when we passed by! One of the best feelings ever!

I was reluctant to tell about her to my friends, but eventually I did. I said, I have a huge crush on this Alaskan! They were excited and wanted me to bring her to the Thanksgiving potluck that we are celebrating a day before Thanksgiving on Wednesday. That didn't make any sense to me! I mean, I only have talked to her once, maybe she's going home, if not she has friends, maybe she has plans, she knows nothing about me... and I don't want to ruin this friendship. That's it. It would be kind of awkward to ask her to come, and I am not even sure if I will ever get to see her again!

I don't prefer it to be called 'stalking', 'secret admirer' maybe... I was going through her albums... and during her time in China she went to Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam... I envied that. It is an open secret that I would love to travel the world sometimes, so does my brother... but after going through her pictures I was like 'maybe we have a connect in that case'... I wish, I wish, I wish... if we could, together!

She actually inspired me to be better person, indirectly... she is so so good... I need to improve. I am all in love with my life again... I wish to learn a new language, play drum, how to shoot a gun, swim, go to Alaska... actually travel the world. I seriously wish our roads will cross sometimes, someday in our lifetime even if I am gone from this place. And till then I wish my heart will beat with the beat of her drum!

Mystery, Alaska!

Whenever I thought of Alaska, I rembered the cold snow covered mountains, Aleutian Islands, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Denali or the movie Into The Wild... but more or less it was the chilly weather and grizzlies... and being an Energy MBA student a little bit of oil reserves out there, not to forget the Yukons, Igloos and Inuits. But from yesterday evening I have one more thing to remember from The Last Frontier! Maybe the best one, a wonderful new friend!

 

I am all praise about her. Seen her playing African drums during Friday Coffee Hour at the Union months back as well as friday last. And maybe few other times on campus. I can see her enjoy playing the drum when most of others, not everyone, were playing with a serious or straight face. She looked as if she was having fun... smiling all the way... and that is something I can relate to. I play not to win, but to have fun, and as I say - that way even if I lose, I win.

 

So what should I say about her? No name taking for now... but she is tall, beautiful, have amazing smile, went to China for a year on scholarship, knows Chinese, nice to everyone and what not. She is such a wonderful human being you can instantly fall for. And I had the pleasure to talk to her yesterday evening  for a while over International Etiquette Dinner.

 

Maybe her smile was contagious as I still have that smile while updating this blog. I wish we were on the same table so that I could have talked to her longer... I mean talking over the line for dinner with hundreds of people around is kind of awkward, right? And did I say she knows my name?

 

And to wrap it up, she was elegantly dressed in black and I wished I could dance when I saw her rocking the dance floor! Oh my! I think I have a huge crush on her or should I say massive if that sounds bigger and better! Lord you not doing good to me! I mean, all this when all I have is less than 20 days of school remaining? I will miss Laramie till May just because she is graduating then! :D

11/12/13

Looks like a fancy date right? It is... but I will remember it to be the last day of my parents very first visit to the States. Once in a while whenever I went to Denver my friends were like 'Are your parents still in Denver? You're so lucky!'... but nomore, they are leaving early tomorrow morning... I wish they could stay here till my graduation next month. I hope they have a safe journey. I luff them, always have. I will miss them.

Laramie, One Last Time

Not a mood swing. Came back from Denver this evening after bhai-tika. My parents are leaving Wednesday, next... I couldn;t make to Denver then, so it was my final adieu to them for a while... leaving to Casper hopefully early tomorrow morning with the MBA class, not sure if I would be able to get up at 4:00 am... but in between I don;t know what changed... nothing that special happened... but with some home made sweets, I got my old self back from the Mile High City... so Laramie, I forgive you for all that was.

Worst Series Of Bad Luck?

Just read my blog from two weeks ago and you may think I am among the happiest being on the surface of earth... fast forward those weeks and now I feel to be among the most unfortunate lot. I must confess, I had a series of bad lucks and don;t have any idea when this is going to end! Oh God! You;re not doing good to me!

 

First it was Germany. Everyone in the university was talking about it all year long since the previous batch went there. We were the next, everyone knew. And when the time came I had to return from the airport just because they didn;t realized I would need a visa! So they left me there. Dumped in Denver International Airport. Someone's dream, someone else's nightmare!

 

Everyone is back now. I thought the management will at least have their part of story to tell to me, but so far I have heard from no one. I am disappointed. And whenever someone asks me about the trip, what goes through my head? It kind of feels humiliating... it sucks! I am tired of telling my part of story to everyone, I am done... with everything, this place, university... I want to be here no more... just some weeks ago I wanted the time to never pass, and now? My world has turned upside down... I can;t even wait till December to graduate... even though it;s just over a month time. I never wanted to return to Laradise(?) after what happened, and with the way things are going right now, I wish I could have stayed.

 

We were supposed to write 1500-3000 words essay about the German trip but after I was dumped, I thought may be I don;t have to do that. But tell you what? The professor had some other idea, she has exact same questions, same companies and now I have to write an essay relating those companies with context to Nepal! Is she trying to piss me off! Others would be fine with that just because they were on the trip, but me? How can I do indepth analysis of those companies and relate to those back home? Maybe I need to complain... I will just see if I can find something enough, else I need to talk to the professor.

 

I was there in Denver during rice-feeding ceremony of my niece on 23rd last month just because I was not in Germany... and since I was supposed to be abroad my sister scheduled the date for a party the week after I would arrive, on 2nd of November. Since I had some good friends, she also wanted them to come along... and now I have that trip cancelled as well. One of my friends has two mid-term exams next week, so he can;t come... another friend agreed, but later called me this evening that he realized he has to go to a dinner tomorrow evening so even he couldn;t make it. I call my sister, and she is pissed off!

 

Back to graduation, we were to order our gown and caps online and the deadline was 1st November, mid-night. Earlier this week, I went to MBA office to find out the size of my cap. Was busy all week. Tried to make an order on Wednesday, but they won;t accept my debit-card. So I call my sister at 7:30 this evening, tell her about it, she was just back from work about to eat and then make Siya sleep, so she says she would call me after she is done. She calls me at 10:05pm, I was ready with the form since 7:30 pm, everything filled-up besides her credit card details... I press submit! And to my utter disbelief, another bad luck! The deadline was mid-night Eastern Time! I was late by 5 minutes... now I have to wait until December 4-5 and purchase my gown and cap at University Bookstore at higher price, and not sure if I will get the right size!

 

Should I say more? ... maybe yes, nothing going right these days. I don;t know how many bad lucks are yet to follow.  Maybe I should just get the graduation certificate without going to the commencement. I don;t like this place anyways, anymore... and then I am not American as well, maybe the commencement is not for me, the lone international student in the MBA program!

Post script: At present, I hate myself like nothing else. I wonder when was the last time I felt so low? Maybe when I was in grade VI when I was not doing good in school. My confidence has tanked, and I can;t even fake a smile!

It Is Nomore A Paradise [Un-edited]

Don;t go with first impression
You;re still to witness the best
Windy barren swathes of land
That;s Wyoming, forever west!

If you are to ask me now
I don;t want to come here ever
For the moment you left me alone
I will forgive you never!

I am not sure if it was beauty
That I first saw through my eyes
All of that is gone now
For me, it is nomore a paradise!

One Last Time

Some words are better left unsaid.
 

North From The Sunshine

So far away we were
And yet we were so close
When it came to understanding me
Better than you, who knows?

I just don;t know why?
Time always has to change
Move you away from loved ones
Life is so strange!

You can;t imagine how much I hate
My decision to move away
But I don;t think I would be much help
Even if I decide to stay

I wish things will fall into place
If not now, sometimes someday
I would be carrying a restless heart
From now till that eventual day!

You Are Special

I don;t say I luff you
More than / As much as others do
I don;t say I will do
Everything that they will do

I don;t say I will bring the stars
Down to the earth
For me you are precious
But me? Not even half your worth

Try to understand the silence
As the word seldom fails
Truth be told, I luff you
More than I luff anyone else.

I Don;t Miss You At All

Be it the cold nights of winter
Or the colourful days of the fall
Be it the things you said to me
Or your gestures too small
My memories are upto a conspiracy
I ain;t making a claim too tall
Truth be told... I miss you so much
That I don;t miss you at all

Rose For Mother

A man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived two hundred miles away. As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing. He asked her what was wrong and she replied, “I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother. But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars.”

 

The man smiled and said, “Come on in with me. I’ll buy you a rose.” He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother’s flowers. As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home. She said, “Yes, please! You can take me to my mother.” She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.

 

The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mother’s house.

 

Moral: Life is Short. Spend much time as you can loving and caring people who love you. Enjoy each moment with them before it’s too late. There is nothing important than family.

 

Source: From the web

Self Appraisal

A little boy went to a telephone booth which was at the cash counter of a store and dialed a number.
 

The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation:

Boy : “Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?

Woman : (at the other end of the phone line) “I already have someone to cut my lawn.”

Boy : “Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price than the person who cuts your lawn now.”
Woman : I’m very satisfied with the person who is presently cutting my lawn.

Boy : (with more perseverance) “Lady, I’ll even sweep the floor and the stairs of your house for free.

Woman : No, thank you.

With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver. The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.

Store Owner : “Son… I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job.”

Boy : “No thanks,

Store Owner : But you were really pleading for one.

Boy : No Sir, I was just checking my performance atthe job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to!”

 

Source: From the web 

Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Story

One stormy night many years ago, an elderly man and his wife entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia, USA. Trying to get out of the rain, the couple approached the front desk hoping to get some shelter for the night.

“Could you possibly give us a room here?” – the husband asked.

The clerk, a friendly man with a winning smile, looked at the couple and explained that there were three conventions in town. “All of our rooms are taken,” the clerk said. “But I can’t send a nice couple like you out into the rain at one o’clock in the morning. Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It’s not exactly a suite, but it will be good enough to make you folks comfortable for the night.”

When the couple declined, the young man pressed on. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll make out just fine,” the clerk told them.

So the couple agreed.

As he paid his bill the next morning, the elderly man said to the clerk, “You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel. Maybe someday I’ll build one for you.”

The clerk looked at them and smiled. The three of them had a good laugh. As they drove away, the elderly couple agreed that the helpful clerk was indeed exceptional, as finding people who are both friendly and helpful isn’t easy.

Two years passed. The clerk had almost forgotten the incident when he received a letter from the old man. It recalled that stormy night and enclosed a round-trip ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay them a visit.

The old man met him in New York, and led him to the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th Street. He then pointed to a great new building there, a pale reddish stone, with turrets and watchtowers thrusting up to the sky.

"That,” said the older man, “is the hotel I have just built for you to manage.”

“You must be joking.” – the young man said.

“I can assure you I am not.” – said the older man, a sly smile playing around his mouth.

The older man’s name was William Waldorf-Aster, and that magnificent structure was the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The young clerk who became its first manager was George C. Boldt. This young clerk never foresaw the turn of events that would lead him to become the manager of one of the world’s most glamorous hotels.

Don’t be afraid to reach and touch someone’s life, you never know who’s heart you may be touching.

 

Source: From the web

Everything Is Connected

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon.

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.
 

"How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.

"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The winds picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn."

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improves.

So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

Source: From the web

God Answered

A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication for her daughter.

When returning to her car she found she had locked her keys in the car. She was in a hurry to get home to her sick daughter, she didn't know what to do, so she called her home and told the baby sitter what had happened and she did not know what to do.

The baby sitter told her that her daughter was getting worse. She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door."

The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been thrown down on the ground possibly by someone else who at some time or other had locked their keys in their car.

Then she looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this." So she bowed her head and asked God to send her some help. Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought, "Great God. This is what you sent to help me????"

But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful. The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help. She said "Yes my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car, I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car."

He said, "SURE." He walked over to the car, and in less than one minute the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said,"THANK YOU SO MUCH..... You are a very nice man."

The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour."

The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud..... "THANK YOU GOD FOR SENDING ME A PROFESSIONAL!"

Source: From the web

The Rickshaw Puller

In 1987, a 74-year old rickshaw puller by the name of Bai Fangli came back to his hometown planning to retire from his backbreaking job. There, he saw children working in the fields, because they were too poor to afford school fees.

 

Bai returned to Tianjin and went back to work as a rickshaw puller, taking a modest accommodation next to the railway station. He waited for clients 24 hours a day, ate simple food and wore discarded second-hand clothes he found. He gave all of his hard-earned earnings to support children who could not afford education.
 

In 2001, he drove his rickshaw to Tianjin YaoHua Middle School, to deliver his last installment of money. Nearly 90 years old, he told the students that he couldn't work any more. All of the students and teachers were moved to tears.

In total, Bai had donated a total of 350,000 yuan to help more than 300 poor students continue with their studies. In 2005, Bai passed away leaving behind an inspiring legacy.

If a rickshaw-puller who wore used clothes and had no education can support 300 children to go to school, imagine what you and I can do with the resources we have to bring about positive change in our world!

Source: From the web

The Scorpion

An old man saw a scorpion drowning and decided to pull it out from the water. He calmly extended his hand to reach the creature. When he did, the scorpion stung him. With the effect of the pain, the old man let go the creature and it fell back into the water. The man realizing that the scorpion was drowning again, got back and tried to rescue it but then again it stung him. He let go of it again.

A young boy standing by, approached the old man and said, "Excuse me Sir, you are going to hurt yourself trying to save the evil-vicious creature, why do you insist? Don't you realize that each time you try to help the scorpion, it stings you?"

The man replied, "The nature of the scorpion is to sting and mine is to help. My nature will not change in helping the scorpion."

So the man thought for a while and used a leaf from a nearby tree and pulled the scorpion out from the water and saved it's life.

Moral: Do not change your nature. If someone hurts you, just take precautions. Some pursue happiness while others create it. Let your conscience be your guide in whatever you do.

Source: From the web

The Frogs

A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a restaurant if he could use a million frog legs. The restaurant owner was shocked and asked the man where he could get so many frog legs! The farmer replied, 'There is a pond near my house that is full of frogs - millions of them. They all croak all night long and they are about to make me crazy!' So the restaurant owner and the farmer made an agreement that the farmer would deliver frogs to the restaurant, five hundred at a time for the next several weeks.

The first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs. The restaurant owner said, 'Well... where are all the frogs?' The farmer said, 'I was mistaken. There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they sure were making a lot of noise!'

Post script: Next time you hear somebody criticizing or making fun of you, remember, it's probably just a couple of noisy frogs. Also remember that problems always seem bigger in the dark. Have you ever laid in your bed at night worrying about things which seem almost overwhelming like a million frogs croaking? Chances are pretty good that when the morning comes, and you take a closer look, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

Source: From the web

Please Tell Me

Tell me,
If you ever thought about me,
For a while.
Or for a moment,
If I was the reason you smile.

Tell me,
About the days you missed me,
All the time.
Or just for a second,
If I ever crossed your mind.

Tell me,
I wanna know,
It's killing me inside.
Then I'll tell how I feel,
To you I;ve got nothing to hide.

You Can Take Me Anywhere

The world looked so perfect

Suddenly it fell down the stair

Far away from here

You can take me anywhere.

 

The more I try to avoid

The more I start to care

Far away from here
You can take me anywhere.

I don;t want these eyes
That look at me and stare
Far away from here
You can take me anywhere.

I can face the world
Friends? I don;t think I dare
Far away from here
You can take me anywhere.

Just help me find an answer
So I think it was fair
Until then,
Far away from here
You can take me anywhere. 

Maybe I Need To Ask The Question

I don;t ask questions... rarely I do.. But after the Deutschland fiasco maybe I should ask one, to Steve, our MBA Director, and John, acting Dean of College of Business who are right now in Germany with my fellow MBA classmates. What was my fault and why am I not there?

 

I am having a nice time with my family here in Denver for a week, but then what? I have to go back to Laramie where a lot of my friends and other people think I am in Germany... what will I say when they'll ask me about my trip? Should I say I was denied to board the plane because I was not American! I may explain the reason to a few close friends but when I think of having to explain to a lot of them, I feel horrible. And why not? I was the only one who had to stay behind... the only international student in the MBA program. It would be a torture to face their questions for sure!

 

Now I don;t want this week to pass, I don;t want to return to Laramie. I am graduating in first week of December, meaning I have just over a month of school to graduate, but even that doesn;t motivate me to go back. The more I think of all my friends having a nice time in Germany and me being left alone, alone to face those mocking questions, more horrible it feels!

 

I hope Steve and John do have an answer that I can use to face those people... I seriously hope they do have one... it already feels horrible whenever I think about it now! Kind of humiliating! Why me? I need a miracle, NOW! God, you listening?

Post script: I have already started blocking peoples in Facebook to avoid any questions as of now. Hey Steve, can I complete my remaining classes online?

I Luff You, Nomore!

When we decided to part our ways
I acted normal, but my heart was sore
I am happy leaving everything behind
I don;t want you back in my life anymore.

The memories are still fresh up here
Of wonderful time that we spent together
But time has come a long way now
Those memories will be memories forever.

I am happy in a different world now
Don;t ever try to knock my door
Even if you do, don;t expect an answer
I am long gone and now I luff you, nomore!

Post Script: I Luff You

I had a strange feeling today... I am leaving for Germany this Saturday with my MBA class for eight days, but don;t know why I have a feeling that I won;t come back... maybe something will happen to me!... It's weird I know, but still I want to make a confession in case something actually happens... I love my family more than anything else. Thank you for being there, always! Luff you Mamu-Daddy, and my siblings Sabina and Probin, you're my best friends! Luff you Siya... and Luff you Rox! I owe all my happiness to you. Thank you God, I feel blessed!

A Crush Is A Crush Is A Crush

Crush: a burning desire to be with someone who you find very attractive and extremely special.

 

That is how Urban Dictionary defines a 'crush' to be. I don;t know if my crushes actually fit into that definition or not, but then I don;t care... whatever it be, who cares about the limitations of definition when you can actually afford to have a crush! A crush is a crush is a crush. Enough said.

 

I have never talked about my crushes with my siblings, maybe I felt awkward about that... even after updating this post, I don;t think I would like to talk about it in person, but they can always go through this blog, that;s fine with me... and again, a crush is a crush is a crush... nothing serious, if there is something that looks like going for a long term, then obviously I will always let them know, for that their opinion counts.

I am just uploading this post because its always fun having crush, and it has got high repeat value when you go back and relieve those moments, you;ll either feel awesome or awkward, but still it won;t fail to bring smile to your face. I have always said, a crush is a wonderful way to keep your heart beating...

You can fall for someone on a first sight, but then you can have crush on someone for years as well... it all depends upon the person, you never know... sounds like it is as weird as falling in luff, maybe... atleast some of their characteristics overlap, and that is expected.

So, here is my account on my crushes so far... both crushes and crashes, as much as I remember till this day... all the way back from school to recent past!

Where shall I begin with? I don;t know... maybe I liked few in my early school days... but the first that comes up to my mind is the girl from Galaxy who was in the same bus-stop as mine when I was in Grade VI. During that time I was at all time low in my entire school days, rock-bottom in my rank and grades... and then I had crush on her... kind of mongoloid-face and there was always a helper carrying her bag... never had courage to go and talk to her, I had no guts... I was a kid, I was shy, I was afraid... and I had my siblings by my side during that time... I just wish I had known her name... I wish, but still I remember the face... I am not sure, but that lasted till some time until I was in Grade VII. By-the-way, I was doing good in class when I was in Grade VII, so maybe she had some positive impact on that!

Come Grade VIII and I fell for The Girl Whose Name I Don;t Know, and I fell so damn hard! It took me almost a decade to get up and walk again! Few people have the ability to turn your life around, for me she was one of them... since she donned Irish green shirt during sports days for her school, I will call her Eire! And maybe I will keep the name of the school secret as well. Funny but true, from that day my favourite colour is Green! By the way, she was from my bus-stop as well... sounds like I was living in heaven or so, with all the angles falling by my bus-stop!

When I saw her for the first time, she had short hairs... I still remember it was my first day of Grade VIII, a day after my birthday. That short hair made me notice her the very first time... God is a genius! In the days that followed I realized that she had her bus-stop just next to mine, what else should I ask for? The story began... I never missed a chance to see her, either she was getting into her bus or I was getting into mine. She had a friend with her, and that made situation a bit complicated to break the ice! And as we all know, the confidence tanks in situation like this! The status-quo prevailed.

Year passed by, still no improvements! But I was changing, for good. I looked at her and thought 'she is too good, I need to improve', and so I did... I started keeping myself engaged, sketching, painting, poems, reading out-course books, and what not? I made my mind to do at least one new thing every year, even if I sucked in that, I would be happy at least I tried... and then there was my family who were always behind me, always!

Finally in Grade X, I tell my best friend that I liked that girl. So, he comes to my rescue and assures me to help break the ice... and she don;t have her friend around these days. So, the next day, my friend comes to my bus stop and we go to talk to her. That voice! I can identify that even in the crowd... he makes formal conversation, turns out she is one year junior to us... but then after a minute or two the script takes a wrong twist, that day her bus comes early!

Nothing was same from that day, I fell deeper! And to my bad luck, never had chance to talk with her again... in over 3 years I saw her about like 50 times, at times even near my tution center, informals... have I turned back and looked at anyone else besides her till date? Hell, no... she was one of a kind. The last time I saw her during school days was in December, that day she turned and looked at me! That was the killer blow, I was stung! And it took forever to move away from it. I don;t know where she went, never saw her again... but one day I was coming back home, back from my Grade XII board exam, and whom do I see? No point for guessing. Thank you God! I still remember... I went home and drew a sketch that day, May 10! I still remember almost everything, I need not even close the eyes... that voice, that curly free flowing hair... I fall short of words when it comes to talking about her!

So, between my second crush and third one, which had a gap of a decade in-between, I had eye-vitamins! They are just one grade below crush, they were different than the rest of the people in the sense they stood out... made an impression at least to me... and they made me a regular in college for all four years... I just missed a day or so, and even that for family reasons.

Did I see anyone during my +2, I don;t remember... maybe not, even if I did, maybe wasn;t pretty enough... otherwise I wouldn;t have forgotten! I always had class at 7 in the morning, but that was fine, as I was used to waking up early since I had early morning classes during my +2 as well. The eye vitamins were additional motivation to go to college!

I have always said that, there weren't a single girl in my class that I thought was pretty... not a single one, and I have admitted it infront of everyone. I ain;t complaining, good for me... that way I could concentrate on my studies... and then there were eye vitamins in between classes and before/after college! During my first semester, there weren;t much student in the college, we were the first batch... no seniors to look forward to... then we had this Econ Maa'm who was a France return... she was a different class, amazing personality... and her son was studying +2 in India! She literally didn;t look like even 30! Later I saw her in 2011 or so outside my bank, she looked old now... and truth be told, that was the only subject in which I got a 'B', throughout my undergrad!

Come second semester, I went for different one... with change of season. Hekate, that's what her Hi5 name was! She was short, straight hairs, studied Social Works... and I at first thought she had attitude... but later realized she pulled it off quiet well. Don;t know much about her, but heard she was aspiring for US those days, didn;t make it though... maybe she could get some inspiration from me, I got third time lucky!

Third semester, and I was back to square one... No, no.. I didn't started seeing someone over again... back to the bus stop... I had a new eye-vitamin now. She was kind of dusky... a bit less fair complexion than mine, tall, straight hairs, always with eye liners on, properly dressed up... and avid fan of Avril! For first few times I saw her randomly before I actually noticed her... I had no idea where she went for college or where she lived-at in the neighbourhood!

After sometimes she moved back to the same bus-stop... she took local vehicle as well, and I am not sure we were in same vehicle once or twice... that's it... and she dropped in Old Baneshwor that time. Now I had new motivation to wake up on time, not miss the class and be at the bus stop on time as she would be there for a fraction of time and board the vehicle to college.

Every morning when I went to the bus stop, most of the time she would be in a fancy-shop en route, that felt good... and after a while she would arrive and board the vehicle. Was that a clue? I know, don;t! I tried to figure out where she lived, but in vain. One day I went to see my friend of school who studied in a college at Old Baneshwor, tell you what? I see this girl getting down from tempo and coming my way where I was talking to my friend. Damn! they study in the same college. I ask my friend if she knows her, and she did... but she didn;t like her much, her nickname was 'Crow'... I called her 'Rox' from that day, and yeah! I named my present dog after that! I once went to talk to her, that's it, and that had nothing to do with telling what I thought about her... all this time I noticed, she rarely smiled, and I pretended as if I give it a damn! No progress. Finally, I figured out her house and when I used to go for evening walks, I saw her often! She lasted till seventh semester prolly!

I don;t think I had any eye vitamins during 8th semester... I had internship and I was busy with that. No time for site-seeing! And after I was done with my undergrad, I joined the bank to work... good for me, no eye vitamins there as well, meaning I can concentrate on my work!

November of '09 things started to change again. An old school mate joined the bank... never had I talked to her before, but I had noticed her since grade VI. Why? Because she looked like the girl that I had crush on during those days, the one from Galaxy! She was shy in school, never talked to her... never even heard her voice... and it took me by surprise when she came to talk to me at work when I was leaving for lunch! And she knew my name! I wasn;t expecting someone who I have never talked to, come to me to talk and know my name as well. Was I that popular in school? I don;t think so... I mean we were almost 250 students in that batch. Turns out we were together in same class thrice!

She looked all the same, always smiling... that happy look and a wonderful human being. I got 'friendzoned' in those small 'Hi's and 'Hello's. We were a complete mismatch, position wise, background wise, tastes... everything. She was a wiz-kid! But she was down to earth... and it took time for me to understand (?) her... slowly and steadily I had a crush on her. I didn;t have courage to admit that. I always wanted things to fall into place before I make a move. She asked me if we could do our MBAs together back home, but I always dreamed of joining my sister here... American dream! So, I explained and declined. My bad. And finally I dared, after I came here to say how I felt!

What happened next? Maybe I should keep it upto there, it's a secret... no conversation about that in private as well, let alone in public. Consider it to be chapter closed back home... if that makes it easy... so that's it, my crushes and crashes so far... maybe I should make a seperate post for the States, probably.

Post script: There are currently few eye vitamins whom I admire, the first one is a red-head Ginger, whom I noticed during summer... she is full of life and artistic, talks less. Then there was this girl who had kind of familiar face... never knew her name, but accidentally found she has a YouTube page where she sings and does other stuffs, and that sounds interesting. Then there is currently this girl, don;t know if she is American or what, but for me she looks kind of French... actually looks like Zeta-Jones, must be Welsh! She doesn;t talk much as well. Let's see, I still have just over a month of school left, if there would be any progress!

Old Fashion Redemption

From the very beginning till this day
I have come a long long way
Through the mountain and the hill
Regrets I have none, won;t have any
That;s what I feel.

For a moment felt like if I would have one
Turn of the year, and even that risk is gone
Worried I was baring my heart to you
Redeemed I am now,
You;ve got no clue.

Worries seems like a thing of the past
Feels I found myself at last
The dark cloud ain;t looming over me anymore
My heart is basking sun now,
In an idyllic shore.

I Got It Right, Finally

Before the summer break, my friend Josh, Cowboy Joe or lately Snapchat Joe, sent an email to everyone in class if they were interested to volunteer for Special Olympics that would be held sometimes in May. Without hesitation I responded 'Yes'. I so much wanted to part of it. We were done with the Spring semester, then came summer... summer project got kick started! I get email from organizers that they need volunteer for the Olympics at 1:00 pm on 15th!

 

But then my summer project raised it's ugly head again! On 15th I had a conference call meeting with the five oil companies that we were benchmarking on at 3:00 pm. See, I got another reason to hate my summer project, besides not letting me go to Denver and spend some time with my family. I had regrets for not being able to be part of that 'special' event.

 

Fast forward five months. Today. As we decided earlier, Greg and Josh wanted to play table-tennis with me for a while. Actually, Josh wanted a 'revenge' for beating him during NOLS! So, after we were done with our presentation of our summer projects to the College of Business members, around five-ish we head to the Coffee Hour at the Union, dressed up in suits. Turns out the board that was 'free' is occupied, so we opt to rent another board for an hour for five-bucks. Before that I used to play for free, they just worked with the International Student Association about the charges just this week or so. We were there to have fun, so there we go. Josh leaves early without playing due to some work... so here I was showing my ping-pong skill to Greg and Allegra! With the ceiling too low, I couldn;t use my 'loop' as much as I would have wished though.

I beat Greag easily, then Allegra...and while I am having a rematch with Greg, a boy on wheel chair comes and watches us play. Thought if he was interested, we ask him to join us... so the boy, Sam, and I play on one side and Greg and Allegra on the other as doubles partner. We make sure that he has lots of fun, and encourage him. After about twenty-minutes or so, Greg is hungry so wants to have a rematch with me before he leaves. So, we play one-on-one, and who wins? No points for guessing! I. So, as the fare for renting the board and bat was to be paid at the end, I go to the guy and hand over the cash to him. He is like, "That was a great sporting spirit, you need not pay!"... I was like, "What? Ok, have a nice day."

Never during that evening I/we ever thought about it, I was like, we came here to have fun, we loved playing with Sam, giving him some moments of joy... and that came back to us, sort of! So, even though I was unable to be part of the Special Olympics and had regrets, now after this evening I finally  got redemption!

Post script: Thank you, Greg and Allegra, without you it was not possible. You people showed a great spirit and helped me redeem!  

What I Missed Until This Time

I don;t usually regret too many things... not at all, never... but lately I realized I have been missing too many things... and do I regret that? Yes I do, big time!

 

I am an introvert, always have been. I don;t go out or party hard but keep myself away from the crowd most of the time... but things are changing lately... I;ve started opening up, trying new things, and enjoying everything as much as I can. And I should thank my friends for that.

Last year when I came here, during the weekend I used to go to Denver to see my sister, and in case if I was not going, I would either watch movie or just lay down on my bed, I was super lazy. My friends used to ask me about my plans for the weekend, and most of the time my plans included Denver... so after a while they kind of stopped asking, presuming I was missing home and probably going to Denver on weekends to see my sister. But things started changing this summer, for better!

I made a lot of friends this summer. A lot! Most of them international students from Mexico to Egypt to China to Vietnam and you name it. And then I started getting involved in outdoor activities as well... soccer, baseball, hiking, basketball, cycling, tennis... and that helped me during my NOLS days! Truth be told, whenever I am playing any sport, I play it for fun... just to enjoy the game rather than to beat someone or win, that way even if I lose, I win... and that is the best part.

Now lets talk about partying! One day my Mexican-American friend, Francisco, asks me if Santiago and I could join him in a Mexican birthday party around 10 at night. We are like, 'Ok, let's give it a try'... that was fun! Lively music, dance and more dance... we ended up coming back home after 2! Have I been out that late before? No! Never!

Volunteered for International Student Association to raise fund during one of the Cowboys games... participated in Soccer Fiesta... playing with the German's Unicorn team , even though we lost in penalty shootout, it was fun! Went to Friday Coffee Hour for the first time, tell you what? I loved it! Changed my every schedule just to make sure I can be there every week! But then since I will be done with my school in December, I only have around 8 Fridays remaining and of that I could make it to only 5 of them as I will be out of Laradise for some Fridays. I will regret not going to Coffee Hour all this year so bad! How did I miss that?

Then just over a month ago as my friend was tired rather than going to play tennis late-night, he was like let's go play pool at Mingles, Adult Daycare and Lounge, one of the most happening place in Laradise. I was like, 'Ok. Let's do it!'. If it was other time I would have probably said, maybe some other time or just told him to take rest. So my another friend from school texts me what I was doing tonight? I tell her, I was going to Mingles! She is stunned, and asks me if she could join me with another classmate there? We had a wonderful time.

After that I am 'in' in thier party plans... had College of Business dinner this evening, it was fun... got out at around 9 pm! My classmates were not yet done. So what do we do next? "Let's go to 3rd Street Bar!" Even though I don;t drink, I had a wonderful time... and it was raining hard. So, even though we have busy schedule with assignments and presentation next week, we decide to have a table-tennis match after our presentation tomorrow during the Friday Coffee Hour and maybe go to Mingles after that. And on Saturday, it's homecoming match between Cowboys and New Mexico, so we will tailgate that afternoon, go to the football match and then Mingles again!

And after I am done with exam, presentation and papers by next Thursday, I got to go to Denver that night to celebrate Dashain with my parents, will miss my big-brother, as I always do. Then my friends are coming to pick me up Friday night and we are bar-hopping in Denver till late that night. And the next day I will be heading to Germany with my class... where I will also be meeting an old friend from school for the first time in Cologne!

Damn bwoy! I am getting a life. Thank you God for everything! You;re my best friend, aren;t you? 
 

Laradise Regained [Ginger]

The paradise was abandoned
All the angels flew away
I wished to fly along, but
Manacles forced me to stay.

The sun was up and bright
And the sky full of stars at night
My world still lost in darkness
Desperate to find the light.

I longed for the days gone by
When everything looked so perfect
Hoping someone would come by
In their eyes I could see it reflect.