Random

Greed
When NFL decides to host Thursday games only on NFL network available only on cable for $10! Don't you guys make enough selling overpriced hats and shirts?

Best movie moment
In Godfather II, Michael hugs his brother Fredo at their mother's wake and looks at his bodyguard/right hand guy Al. That look said it all..

Surprise
When you walk into the Indian Consulate and the lady at the reception greets you with a Hello and asks how she can help you. Wow!

Hunger
When you are driving around and a Wendy's sign makes you want to pull over. Reminds of the Simpsons episode, where Nelson claims he is so hungry that he can eat at even Arby's.

Best loner moment
When you wake up at 6am on a Saturday, well rested, make yourself a coffee and play Madden on Wii. :)

Taste
Southern style pork ribs, chilli, corn bread, mashed potatoes and Belgian ale! Oh and pumpkin pie with cream.

Best chill-out moment
Sunday afternoon...Bears game...Parked on couch...J&B with club soda...shooting breeze with friends!

Joy
When your little daughter jumps out her mommy's arms to come to you.

Yikes
When the dude sitting next to you on train decides to eat his $4.99 all-you-can-fill-in-this-box chinese dinner. Come on man! Can't you wait 30 minutes and eat when you get home?

Best TV series quote
When Tony Soprano tells his capos (captains) "Shit runs down, money runs up". Ha! That doesn't apply to just the mob! :)

Best status report
One that you never have to send. Sigh!

Best sports moment
1996: Aamir Sohail b Venky Prasad 55

Best desi buffet moment
When you find yourself in front of the poori tray when it is being refilled! Yay!

Democracy!

One of my earliest memories of an election is that of my parents coming home after voting in general elections. I didn’t have the slightest clue about politics but like any young kid knew win vs lose. So I asked my mom who she voted for. She said Congress; so I ask my dad who he voted for and he said BJP. Hmm…Interesting I thought. These guys agree on every other thing in life but not on this? Why? I thought it was very unfair that some unknown thing could “split the vote” if I may, but when it came to my home work or school work or grades they were in full agreement. Why I thought. I asked my dad why they didn’t vote for the same person and my dad well aware of my limited knowledge explained it in very simple terms. Something to the effect of - I like this, this and this so I went with this and your mom just didn’t see it that way. How about Democracy huh? It could be that my mom was extending her voting rights to also voice her independence but however you spin this; it was democracy that made it possible.

Democracy, I salute you!

Growing up in India and in a household greatly removed from politics and very cynical about a politician’s motives I never liked following election campaigns or anything that had to do with politics. My dad followed every bit of news and had a great way of keeping up with current affairs, as they call it. I remember going through the newspaper as kid trying to memorize names of some ministers so that I could ask about it/him at the dinner table. My sister was quick to spot the depth or the lack of it, of my knowledge though.

So why am I saying this besides my need to be nostalgic?

I have never followed an election campaign this intensely before. The 2008 US Presidential election awakened the sucker for political news in me. I read election news, followed daily polls, liberal blogs, conservative blogs (ugh), podcasts of pretty much any reasonably good shows – Olbermann, Cooper, Mathews, Meet the press (not the same anymore! ), This week in Washington, face the nation, PBS, NPR etc etc. I couldn’t help but update my ipod every morning and listen to them all during my train ride.

What made it so interesting?

Barack Obama.

This is his moment. This is America’s moment. Enough said!