Suramya's Blog : Welcome to my crazy life…

July 30, 2010

Went to an Indian Ocean Concert yesterday

Filed under: My Life — Suramya @ 6:58 PM

Went to an Indian Ocean concert yesterday. They were performing at Hard Rock Cafe so we left work at around 8 and managed to get tickets. Unfortunately there was some confusion with the tickets and we ran short by one ticket, because the person who had the last ticket wasn’t available. Since Sid was driving and had to park the car he was the one who got stuck waiting outside while this was resolved as the rest of us were already inside.

Finally after about 1/2 hour or so everything was resolved and he was able to get in, but then it took him a long time to get all the way to the front of the crowd as we were right in front of the stage.

The concert was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. Once it got over we went back home and since none of us had had dinner Rithika made Maggi for all of us while Sherlock was entertaining the rest of us and trying to eat my fingers.

Can’t think of a lot more to write since I have had a long day. So this is all for now. Will write more later.

– Suramya

July 15, 2010

An interesting way to be woken up

Filed under: My Life — Suramya @ 11:42 PM

Was woken up at 7am today by a very active puppy (Sherlock) trying to eat my hair and lick my face. It was quite a rude awakening.

Thanks a ton Surabhi… She let him into my room at 7am because Sherlock was sitting outside my door crying and trying to get in. As soon as he got in he jumped on me and starting trying to eat my hair. When he was stopped from that he decided that licking my face was much more fun. Gah..

Try being woken up from a sound sleep by something jumping on you and then eating your hair. Not fun. Had to kick both of them out from the room so that I could go back to sleep.

What added insult to the injury was the fact that Surabhi just sat there and kept watching this entire scene without helping and had the gall to laugh throughout.

Ah well, tonight I am going to make sure that the door is locked before I go to sleep 😉

– Suramya

July 14, 2010

Funny Security measures by Kingfisher

Filed under: My Life — Suramya @ 11:23 PM

Last weekend I flew down to Chennai from Bangalore for some work. The flight from Bangalore to Chennai is about 1 hour long and the plane is one of those propeller planes (I forget the name at this time). So I boarded the bus totake us from the terminal to the plane and once e got there we had to wait for a few minutes in the bus to let them finish cleaning up the plane.

During this time I noticed a person in Kingfisher security uniform frisking a person who had just gotten out from the plane. I thought it was pretty strange but whatever… then another guy got out from the plane carrying a garbage bag and he too was frisked and the garbage bag checked. Once they were checked they walked away from the plane with the trash.

Now can someone please explain to me what the purpose of frisking a person who is leaving the plane is? I can understand them frisking a person entering the plane but why would you need to frisk a person leaving the plane. Its not like there is a lot of expensive stuff on the plane which can be stolen. The only item that they could steal really easily would be the food and I don’t think that would want to steal it.

Although, if the cleaners had access to the luggage hold then it makes a bit more sense. But then again most checked in luggage is large enough to make sneaking it off the plane difficult.

Watching this I thought that this must be some quirk at the Bangalore airport so when I saw it again at the Chennai airport during my flight back I was even more surprised.

Anyways, I thought it was interesting and funny so decided to share.

Well this is all for now. Will post more later.

– Suramya

July 11, 2010

Request for articles for the Chicken Soup for Indian College Soul

Filed under: My Life — Suramya @ 1:26 PM

I have been meaning to post this for a while now but kept postponing. Anyways finally remembered about this when I had computer access. so 🙂

Arti from friendsofbooks.com who is also the editor of the Chicken Soup book series contacted me recently and asked if I was interested in contributing to the Chicken Soup for Indian College Soul book which will be coming out soon. Basically this is a series of books that focus on heartwarming and inspiring aspects of everyday life.

At this time I can’t really think of any story about college that fits into the above criteria so I am going to pass on it this time, but if you have a college story that you think people would like then please contact Arti and let her know. Below are more details about the series/invitation:

———————————–
If you have a college story that you would like to share , please read the guidelines below and send your stories to: arti@friendsofbooks.com in the subject line please write ” CS for College Soul”

Publisher: Westland/Tranquebar
Last Date for submissions: July 22nd 2010 ( or earlier, if 101 stories are selected before that)

The write-up will carry the contributor’s name. Westland pays Rs 1000 per story and two copies of the book. A 3-4 line profile on all contributing authors is also carried in the book. We accept blogged and published work too provided the authors get the reprint permissions. The copyright of the story stays with the author.

Recipe for a Chicken Soup for the Indian College Soul

A Chicken Soup for the Soul® story is an inspirational, true story about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They are personal and often
filled with emotion and drama.

Chicken Soup stories have a beginning, middle and an ending that often closes with a punch, creating emotion rather than simply talking about it. A story that causes tears, laughter, goosebumps or any combination of these. A good story covers the range of human emotions. The most powerful stories are about people extending themselves, or performing an act of love, service or courage for another person.

Guidelines

1. Tell an exciting, sad or funny story about something that has happened to you or someone you know. Make sure that you introduce the character(s).

2. Tell your story in a way that will make the reader cry, laugh or get goose bumps (the good kind!) Don’t leave anything out — how did you feel?

3. The story should start with action; it should include a problem, issue or situation. It should include dialogue and the character should express their feelings though the conflict or situation. It should end in a result, such as a lesson learned, a positive change or pay-off.

4. Above all, let it come from your HEART! Your story is important!

Story Specifications

Stories should be non-fiction, ranging in length between 300-1200 words.
——–

More details on how to submit/additional information is available in this blog post: Inviting stories for Chicken Soup for the Indian College Soul.

Please contact Arti if you have questions about this. All the information I have about the invite has been posted here.

This is all for now. Will post more later.

– Suramya

July 5, 2010

The Destined Queen (Umbria Book 03) by Deborah Hale

Filed under: Reviews-Fantasy,Reviews-Romance — Suramya @ 9:17 PM


The Destined Queen (Umbria Book 02)
by Deborah Hale

Description:

Can the Queen who has once done the impossible ever be free?

After awakening the “Waiting King” — the one destined to free her country from the long occupation of the Han — Maura Woodbury thinks her duty to her country completed. But Maura’s task has only just begun. Rath, once a notorious outlaw, has no magic, and thus no power to expel the invaders from their kingdom. Yet the people expect a miracle. And so Maura, still new to using life-magic, is their only hope . . .

Maura must journey into the unknown, searching for a magical staff — one that will grant the awakened king one grand wish. But separation from her consort breeds jealousies, devastating secrets and ties to an intimate enemy. Stricken by doubt, Maura and Rath are tempted to ignore the call of fate — but what will happen to the country if they do?

Buy From:

Rating:

Review:The waiting king has been found but he doesn’t seem to have any special powers or magical weapons. So how does a former outlaw and a wizard’s ward defeat an entire nation’s army?

This is the question Maura and Rath have to answer. Luckily for them they have help from an unexpected source. However they soon learn that nothing is easy even with magic assisting them. So Maura sets out to find a legendary magical staff while Rath battles the Han on the battlefield.

The characters and plots that we saw in the first book are further enhanced in the second book and a lot of things from the first book start making even more sense that they did in the first book.

The plot was a bit more complex than the first book but still relatively simple compared to some of the other fantasy novels out there in the market.

The characters are even better defined than the first book and the author really captures their hopes, desires and doubts in the book.

Final Recommendation: An excellent read

July 4, 2010

The Wizard’s Ward (Umbria Book 01) by Deborah Hale

Filed under: Reviews-Fantasy,Reviews-Romance — Suramya @ 9:14 PM


The Wizard’s Ward (Umbria Book 01)
by Deborah Hale

Description:

They were as different as night and day — an innocent sorceress and a notorious outlaw — but now all Maura and Rath have is each other. After Maura’s guardian, an old wizard named Langbard, is brutally murdered, the two are thrown together on a quest to find a legendary king and restore a conquered nation.

Umbria has long been under the yoke of the ruthless Han. So long, in fact, that many Umbrians have forgotten the Elderways — the magic, myths, and belief systems that once gave the country its strength. Langbard is one of the few who still remember the old ways, and he has diligently passed his wisdom on to his ward, a sheltered orphan named Maura. When Langbard informs her that she is the Destined Queen who must find and waken the Waiting King to overthrow the Han, she doesn’t accept her task — until Langbard is killed by Han death-mages.

Buy From:

Rating:

Review:What would you do if you were told that you were the legendary destined queen who would wake up the waiting king and free your people from the Han who have oppressed them for generations?

This the question that Maura had to answer when her guardian told her that she was the destined queen. Unfortunately for her he was killed soon after so the only person she could depend on was Rath, an outlaw who had promised to guide her to the person who would point her in the correct direction.

The plot is relatively simple and the obstacles that they both face sort of seem contrived at first but as you read along you realize that all of them have a deeper link to the story and each of them furthered the story in some way. Although the main ‘twist’ was something I had expected from pretty much the start, knowing it didn’t spoil the book.

The main strength of the book is the character development which was excellent. Some of the side characters could have been a bit more defined but the main characters were pretty well defined.

Final Recommendation: A great read

July 3, 2010

Kitty Goes to War (Kitty Book 08) by Carrie Vaughn

Filed under: Reviews-Urban Fantasy — Suramya @ 9:12 PM


Kitty Goes to War (Kitty Book 08)
by Carrie Vaughn

Description:

K itty Norville, werewolf radio call-in show host, gets a call from an old friend at the NIH’s Center for the Study of Paranatural Biology, a friend with a problem, who doesn’t know where else to turn. Three Army soldiers who have recently returned from the war in Afghanistan are in custody at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs. They’re also werewolves suffering from post traumatic stress, unable to control their shape-shifting, unable to interact with people. Kitty agrees to see them, curious and wanting to help. Meanwhile, Kitty gets sued for slander after featuring Speedy Mart – a chain of 24-hour convenience stores with a reputation for attracting the supernatural – on her show, and an old friend-and-adversary has just been released from jail.

Buy From:

Rating:

Review:The latest book in the Kitty series which stars a werewolf called Kitty is a good read. Kitty has her own pack now and is happily married to another werewolf.

The book didn’t re-cover most of the history of the major characters but at the same time covered just enough that we didn’t feel lost while reading the book.

The plot was decent and inspite of not having any twists and turns was interesting enough to keep my attention. This time Kitty’s radio show was sort of in the background as compared to the previous books where it had a more prominent role. Which was kind of disappointing for those of us who like the radio show a lot but still it was a different take on the story and kept the series from being repetitive.

The book was a very light read and I would recommend it to anyone who doesn’t want to read a book with a really heavy plot.

Final Recommendation: A great read

Powered by WordPress