blogger and google accounts

So one more google service integrated into my google accounts. Right now the integration seems like just able to sign into blogger with my Google account, which is great as i don't have to keep typing my password and remember my numerous user names. Of course there are some other Googly features like lables, which I am yet to use. And I love the new UI where I can create a new post right from the dashboard. I guess we will see more coolness here, like integration with Talk etc.

29

well, inspite of all the problems with power outage and stuff, we all managed to have lot of fun over the weekend. Sunday night we (Sree, Srijan, Eera and I) finally got down to playing 29. Sree and I were a team, and totally won the game!! Srijan's total bluff over bidding for points on random cards showed me a new side of the game. We had always played it mostly truthfully.

This totally reminded me of the time years back when Ankit, Parul didi, mummy and I used to play 29 late at night during the summer vacation. It was such wonderful time. Parul didi and I were always a team, because I think Ankit believed that mummy is the best and he will win in her team :D. I don't really remember who used to win, and anyway we have played so much, maybe there was no pattern. I remember how we used to open sheets after sheets of reds and sometimes blacks., how Ankit used to be in crying mood once they had too many blacks and how mummy used to tell him, its ok, they will close them all in one game!! how sometimes the partners used to fight over putting the trump, and we used to make even 29 points.

The other game we used to enjoy so much, and I am yet to play here is कोट-पीस. There were coats and gu-coats!! Those were really some of the best memories of childhood I have.

Power outage - day 2 & 3

Saturday morning as usual we got up really late, though still not rested well, who could sleep well with full bright light outside and Palani's snores inside. We had a good breakfast of noodles, then heard that light is back at some places in Redmond, specifically at Eera's and Palani's places. So we packed our bags and headed back to our side of the lake. Coming back to Bellevue seemed like coming back to a ghost town, everything was still in a mess, and there was no light and no signals anywhere, and by now as people had settled in their places, there was very little traffic also. There was no sign of any progress near Srijan's place, though power was restored at some of Microsoft blgds, of course they were the top priority!!

So we decided to have a good hot bath in MS bldg 50. There were a bunch of people with same mission there. After bath all poor homeless 4 of us (Sree, Srijan, Aparajita and me again) went for a very late lunch. The restaurant was as usual packed, with lot of people not able to cook. Our schedules were so off by this time and I was really tired from lack of sleep Friday night. So after dinner when we setup our camps at Eera's place, I went for a nap. Got up, still no power, no idea of time, no e-mail, nothing, we played more, watched movie, cooked more food and just had fun. It was turning out to be not so bad a weekend, like camping in winter, inside a house :)

Saturday night sleep was good, got up around 9:00 on Sunday, still wanting to sleep more. More late breakfast, late lunch, more lachcha and time pass. I made a round of my room with Sree to pick up some clothes. On the way back we decided, its time to burn some calories. So we went to Marymoor park to run the washington river trail. Ran for 4 miles, it felt really good. Back to our adda at Eera's place. I took a nice long refreshing bath. Then we played Clue, it was ok. Then finally my landlord called me to tell that we got power back! It was such a sign of relief. But anyway I stayed for a game of 29 before finally heading back to my room.

Well, it did not turn out to be that bad afterall!!

Power outage - Friday night

While we were having the late lunch, Sree and Aparajita also finally arrived, all powerless homeless people. We were all packed with clothes, sleeping bag, blancket and pillow, ready to just camp anywhere, roaming like nomads. From Swati we heard that there is power at Shayon's place, who was conveniently in India. The logical thing to do was camp at his place where there was at least heating. So we all headed out there, joined by Palani, Swami and their gang. We had also packed bunch of games, all prepared for a night out.

In Seattle, Swati and Ravi also joined us. It was kind of fun with everyone there, no worry about work or anything. We made some great dinner at Shayon's place, and had another hearty meal. After dinner we started on a game of Sleuth with some vodka, tequila and orange juice. Sree was thankfully away at another party (he hates the game). The game was as usual fun. After the game, we all headed to Pioneer square to have some fun, and of course dancing. More surprises, Srijan actually danced, and with a gori!! I am still to get a photo of that and upload it here. it was so nice to finally hit the dance floor after long time.

After dancing, all exhausted, we came back to Shayon's place. People were still not done though, there was more card playing and it was judgement again. I played a game and then gave up and went to sleep.

The power outage

Nature is not happy with Seattle and I don't blame it. Thursday (12/14) we had another big storm here, this time it was not snow, but water and wind. It was pretty much predicted, but I guess as in case of snow, we were not at all prepared for the aftermath. The storm brought down lot of trees and with that power lines. Power went out in most parts of King County (Bothell, Kirkland, Redmond, Bellevue) and some of Seattle on Thursday late night. The seriousness of the situation had not hit me yet, so I got into my rajai and thought we will just sleep it off. The morning brought a surprise, no power yet. I had a 7:00a.m. meeting, so inspite of what my head told me , I won't believe that there is no power in office. So I got into my car @6:30 and headed to office. On the way, no lights, no signals. Once near office, I could clearly see that it was a lost cause, no power there also. Missed the meeting. Back home, thought it will come, and then I will have maggie for breakfast.
10:00a.m., still no light, it was time to get worried. The house was getting colder, and there was nothing to eat. By this time it hit me that there is no power anywhere. So I started calling friends to figure out what to do, or at least just get some food. More surprise, the phones won't work!! The call to anyone just won't go thru. Finally after more than an hour of trying I could talk to Sree, I had never been happier to hear his voice. Finally we synced and decided to meet at Srijan's place, he after all had gas stove, so we could cook! I packed my bag for 2 days, grabbed my blanket and pillow and left my room not knowing for how long.

In the absense of signals, it took me more than 45 min to get to his place, and it was so nice to see their cars parked outside. Inside it was different story, the stove will not start without electricity, well it needed matches, which Srijan did not have. So after some time we walked to crossroads to find a shop which is open and get some matchboxes. There were trees walken everywhere, and the walk reminded me of the walk I took in snow storm after abandoning my car on road. Only this time thankfully I was not alone and not nervous. We found matchboxes at sports authority. Back to Srijan's place, we heated some food, and ate it. It was pretty good food.

Another record breaker

We are not done with record breaking storms yet, and this time its wind and rain and it is indeed serious, not just a American style storm. Sitting in office it was feeling nice, all the rain splashing on my window. Then power flickered and a mail came that parking garage is flooded! I could not believe it, first snow and now water! Rushing out, I was met with another swimming pool on the road. Thankfully rain had turned into a drizzle by now, but it was so windy that my umbrella had no hope. Where was the fancy rain coat when I needed it!!
So anyway I braved the water filled road in my new like high heel leather boots, found another river flowing with the speed of a mountain river near office. Reached office to find almost knee deep water in the garage, flooded lift. Someone dropped me into the garage in his Jeep.
Stepping into the very filthy water bare feet reminded me of the monsoon time in school, we used to walk through that water, splashing, enjoying the dirt! Thankfully today also I did not flinch at the thought of putting my feet in it, good to know that I am still not civilized enough :) If I was not worried about my car, I might have enjoyed it.
So anyway I got into the car, drove it real slow out on the street. Then also decided to drive back home and not leave the car there, and not take the freeway. It turned out to be a good decision. As soon as I got out of the downtown area, road and traffic was almost normal. There were some puddles of water on the side, but it was much easier to drive thru them slowly than it is on the freeway. I was home without incidents this time and in less than 20 min :)
Now at home, the power is flickering and threatening to quit. Well, now that I am home safely, I am not that worried about it, will just get in my rajai and sleep it off.