The Reading Woman

The gracious simper!

Is it what she is reading? 

How I wish I knew?

This bronze statue of Roman Goddess Minerva is located at the entrance of Minneapolis Public Library, Downtown, Minneapolis. The sculpture of this ancient Goddess of Wisdom, made by Jacob Fjelde, was installed in 1889. Since then, the reading woman with a pleasant smile on her face has been an inspiration to many book readers.

Do you read books? If so, how do you define an ideal reading experience? That feeling of gentle rapture, that moment of euphoria? The feeling you get when you are deeply absorbed in your favorite book, the intense pleasure that soothes your life's little troubles in that moment?

The City of Entertainment

Las Vegas, The City of Entertainment

Awake thou wintry earth

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

We, in Minnesota, are yet to see Spring in full green. I think it is just a few more days of wait, after all no winter stays for ever and no spring forgets its turn.

Reflections

View from the cafeteria of my new office which is located in 9th floor. Quite a view to spend breaks between work, isn't it? You could see the shadow of me clicking the photograph in the reflection. Also, the logos of Pepsi on the vending machine makes it to the reflections.

In the picture above, on the right is a lake still frozen despite the temperatures being a little more than 0 Centigrade these days. Below is a picture with complete aerial view of the frozen lake.

Reflecting up on today, all I could remember is Indian cricket team winning against their Pakistani counterpart. Moments of joy!

Snow covered car

Snow cover on Toyota Camry 2011 over night. Have encountered worse than this though! Waiting for the summer now.

Posted for Thursday Photography contest

Memories of 2010

Picture of the year; This is the view from my window and I have shot pictures of this view for a period of one complete month. This particular shot depicts Minnesota in the true sense, the state known for its severe winters and sunshine. You would see sun shining with its full might even when the mercury reads sub zero Fahrenheit.

For me 2010 was the year of travel and movies, majorly. Some of the significant changes that took place in my life were my graduation, and my comeback in blogging. Needless to say about the wonderful acquaintances I made in this blogging world.

When the year started, I was in India for the new year, and spent quality time with family and met some good friends back home. And, I had been to lots of places and did lots of things. I posed in front of a US Senator's podium in a Senate building in Washington D.C. and been on a cruise touring some of the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. I met some good friends in San Francisco and had been to super busy one day trips to New York, San Jose and Chicago. Also, went on a long road trip to Mt. Rushmore and Badlands in South Dakota, and had a gala time with lovely people in Wisconsin Dells and in West Lafayette. Not to mention all those innumerable wonderful places in and around Minnesota I had been to along with friends, and those trips to Duluth.

I have no clue about the number of movies I have watched in the last year. One hundred, or may be more. There was a certain time - about a month - when I would slog the entire day working and watch at least one movie with out fail before the day ended. Only to get some mental satisfaction and make myself happy that I was trying to take some time off for my self by watching the movie. And those were the days I would sleep early in the morning and wake up in the morning. Of all the movies, I must say I was awestruck watching "It's a wonderful life" by Frank Capra in 1946. I was equally impressed with the way the movie was taken at that time and the subject of the movie. And, realized I have a thing for feel good movies where no one is a bad thug. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy mindless action movies like "The A Team". And, I must confess I regretted watching "Machette". Sheer nonsense and F grade, the movie was!

Just like any other year, there were good and bad times as well. And that's part of life, isn't it?

What was 2010 for you?

Learnings from my ice skating experience

I have, for the first time in my life, gone ice skating in St. Paul downtown during Christmas break. That's one of the advantages living in places with severe winters. We had to pay only $2 per person for renting the ice skates, and the entry was free of cost. Definitely a very cheap deal!

Being a beginner I was quite apprehensive initially, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience. We spent more than 2 hours trying to learn and we were only left with a feeling to go back again soon after the entire session. The best sight I have come across was little kids of 3 - 5 years skating effortlessly, a visual treat to watch them skate.

A few things I have learned are

Regardless of the temperatures outside and your skill level, it is a good idea to don your winter gear properly since you will be exposed to cold for quite sometime skating on the ice rink outdoors. When I say proper winter gear, wear all your layers - winter hat to woolen socks, scarf to gloves and jeans to winter jacket.  

You really don't need to feel awkward that you don't know how to skate when you do it for the first time. You would see a lot of people falling down on the rink in an attempt to skate, and you will fall down as well. That adds to the fun part of the experience.

Be it a group of friends you go along with, your significant other or your family, ice-skating also proved to be a social experience. You would get a feeling that you have spent quality time with your group.

And, hell yeah, it's a great source of exercise. You would sweat a lot even though you skate outdoors in the freezing temperatures for hours. 

Trying hitting the nearest ice-skating rink and there is a good chance you would like the experience.

Lights

The theme for this week's photo contest is "Lights". Here are some hanging lights from World Financial Center in New York City. Definitely a treat to the eyes.

Let us also add Minnesotan element to this theme.

 

Ring out the old, ring in the new

With fizz of champagne
And sparkle of fire works
A New year begins

Light the lamp of hope,
Of freedom, but leave behind
despair of darkness

Here is wishing you all a prosperous new year. On this New Year, let us for a little bit pause ourselves from the mad rush of our busy lives in the rat race for success. Let us revive ourselves and think of the little change we can bring around us for the good. Let us ring out the old, and ring in the new. Let us ring out the darkness and ring in the kindness.

New Year Wishes from Minnesota; Photo from Minnehaha Creek, Minneapolis

Although written about two centuries ago, this particular poem still stands good in the current scenario also. And this is 106th Canto of "In Memoriam A. H. H." written by Lord Tennyson.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind

For those that here we see no more;

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife;

Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,

The faithless coldness of the times;

Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes

But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Badlands

The good place that has got a bad name.

Badlands National Park in South Dakota provides a picturesque view with the colorful ridges, sharp spires, steep canyons and deep gorges formed out of volcanic ashes. These volcanic ashes are carved ans sculptured into breathtaking forms by erosion caused due to rainfall and winds over the years. The name These lands made the lives of our ancestor dwellers very difficult to cross them during their exploration, and hence the name Badlands. For more information on Badlands, follow the link here.

P.S. Watch for Rattle snakes when you go there.

Posted for Thursday Photo Contest (Theme: "Brown").

Snowfall

A new beginning
Echoes with the leafless trees
Clad in silky snow

Snow started all of a sudden this year. What was a pleasant sunny city until yesterday morphed into white color completely after the sudden 6-inch thick snow fall today. Here is another photo of this place early this morning and the snow-lady we built for the record. :D 

Posted for

Haiku Heights

One Single Impression

Crazy Horse

The mountain carving on the background of the picture is supposed to assume the shape of the miniature version with a warrior on a horse in the foreground after completion. Crazy Horse is the name of the warrior in this carving, a Native American who fought and died for the freedom of Native Americans in the history of USA. When completed, this mountain sculpture will be 641 ft wide and 563 ft high (source: wiki). Due to funding constraints and lack of proper support, the construction of the memorial which was started in 1960s is going on at snail pace and now looks what it is in the picture.

After being defeated in war the Native Americans waged against the encroachment of US government into their territories and their living, when a white man asked him "Where are your lands now?". To that Crazy Horse responded "My lands are where my dead lie buried". Crazy Horse Memorial with this warrior pointing at their lands was started to honor his quote and to make history remember the truth untold. The truth about their glorious past and their unfulfilled future.

Knowing about what they went through is definitely one of best experience that happened to me when I went on a trip to South Dakota.

Posted for Thursday Photo Contest

Crazy week

Hours of sleeping time in the past 5 days - 16

Amount of coffee consumed - looots

Food taken - who cared

Work levels - shit loads

Moment to remember - Walking alone on the roads from 4 AM to 5 AM in the morning missing the bus and being afraid of getting mugged while crossing through a dark street.

Current mood/state - Freaking tired, but unable to sleep. 

This week was totally crazy, never had such a busy week in my life so far I guess. Very happy it all ended now, although I'm not really happy about the results of the work done during this period despite lots of effort. On the other hand, now I hope I will have some time to blog every once in a while again. 

Haven't been doing much of picture-less posts. To maintain the trend, here we go with one. Although non-contextual, but wanted something to set a happier mood. :P

Clicked using friend's brand new iPhone.

Vee

Food for thought for the day - Will you be a chicken if you shove feathers up your butt?

Healed

lonely and peaceful,

far from hustle and bustle.

a blemished heart healed

 

Here is me exploring and enjoying the nature at Custer State Park in South Dakota.

 Posted for

Thursday Photo Contest

One Single Impression

Haiku Heights

Fall colors

A treat to the eyes
When nature tries to show off!
Rejoice the colors.

It's about time for Fall colors. Last year we didn't have proper colors due to an early winter. 2008 was one of the best in terms of colors. Here is a picture of 08 colors from the Minnesota campus.

Last Saturday, I've been to Duluth along with friends exclusively for Fall Colors. Although the colors are not at their best, it still was a feast to the eyes! The picture below is from Savannah State Park, Duluth, Minnesota!

Posted for

(Prompt: Rejoice)
&
One Single Impression (Prompt: Try)

Immersed!

That's me working in Immersive Virtual Reality a while ago!

 Almost Minority Report, ain't it?!

Posted for 

Thursday photo contest

Motorcycle escapades and life

With wind in your hair,

Experience the bliss with

Power and Freedom

In the past, I've written lots of posts on going in and around Bangalore. Now, every time I see these funky guys on their funky motorcycles in the US, it reminds me how much I miss those good old days! This post is dedicated to Bangalore and the days I had fun exploring Bangalore on my motorcycle. The picture was shot on the way to Devarayanadurga.

Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear! How true with life! The road to impossible is very far and without a sign. But, have a look at it through a mirror of hope. Everything seems a little closer, and the task a little lighter making your life a little brighter!

 For
Thursday Photo contest
&

Return

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 14; the fourteenth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

Sliver of hope and
Stillness in heart, I return.
Strong and confident!

Vee...

P.S.1: Thoughts on my mind inversely proportional to words on my post.

P.S.2: This picture was clicked by my friend Sri. Do check his wonderful creations.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

Fun in Frozen Winters

This is the Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis completely frozen during winter. And this is how a typical day during winter is, in Minnesota. Personally, the least temperature I've experienced is -40Centigrade (which is also -40Farenheit) in December 2008. Fun place, isn't it?! :) 

Posted for Thursday photo challenge for fun and learning through photographs.

~Vee...

Itasca State Park

This week's Photo Theme for Thursday is Outdoors. Here it is, a photo shot in the 8 mile bike trail in woods at Itasca State Park, Wisconsin last summer. This is shot using a regular point and shoot camera. Go green!

~Vee...