Our time in Goa has come to an end, and truthfully it was fairly uneventful here. We expected much more partying to happen than actually took place and I’m currently sick which doesn’t help matters. However, I do have to say that the sunsets are gorgeous here, and being on the water it’s not as hot as it could be (which is always a plus in my book!).

New Year’s Eve was marked with attempting to get into various parties unsuccessfully with one threat of getting arrested (long, long story). But the good news is that we avoided foreign police capture, had a great meal at this restaurant called ‘Over the Flames” and marked the coming of 2008 with a toast and talking about our goals for 2008. Here are some of mine:

1. Sell 3 photos to people I don’t know (2007’s goal was to sell 1, which happened in November!)
2. Bike one 50-miler (this is much less a fitness goal and more of a mental one).
3. Ship the new product I’m working on for Microsoft by the end of the year.
4. Take the bus to work at least 4 times a week on average.
5. Go home to visit my family at least 5 times. 2007 was marred with severe out of country travel restrictions due to my Green Card, but that has now passed. I’m anxious to see more of my niece and nephew!

I have some other more personal goals that I’ll opt not so share Hopefully everyone has thought about the coming year and has some goals set as well.
We fly out of Goa tommorow afternoon and, after 2 layovers, will end up in Cochin early evening. Well be spending 3 days there followed by 2 days in the backwaters of Kerala living on a house boat.

Happy New Year everyone!

Since starting to take the connector bus about a month and a half ago, my life has gotten considerably better by eliminating the stress of the commuter traffic, and giving me about an extra hour a day to read.

One of the unexpected highlights has been the crazy array of characters I’ve seen while taking The Connector. So in the spirit of Overheard in New York, here is the first installment of As seen on the bus.

Dear Mr. Sweaty Man,

You got in all in a hurry the other day looking quite frazzled. From the the way that you were panting, the casual observer would have thought you ran for miles (or even a few blocks) to get to the Connector. However, you and I both know I saw you cross the street from your apartment building exactly one block away.

You proceeded to sweat uncontrollably the entire ride. So much, in fact, one might have been scared for your health. The panting you had initially when you got on the connector had passed, but for some reason your body wasn’t in agreement. You looked so hot for the first 15 minutes of the ride, but then you started to sweat through your entire shirt. Half-way through our commute, your shirt looked like saran wrap and we could see the pores of your skin. I hope that your jacket and bottom of your shirt helped cool you down as you wiped your face.

Proof that it’s a good thing that we have on-campus showers.

Love,

Me