Burstmode

I always tend to work in burst mode. There are long periods when I do nothing interspersed with short bursts of intense activity. I finish any sitcom, watching 15+ episodes on the trot everyday till all episodes available are seen.

This time, I started (and soon finished) with Smallville. The character I liked the most is Lex Luthor (played by Michael Rosenbaum). He is very witty and sarcastic (bald, on extreme right in the image). His dialogs are exceptional.

After finishing all Smallville episodes, I saw Sweet November, and to my pleasant surprise, recognized Michael Rosenbaum in it too.


I yearn to do research, but the burst mode might not work well with it. Started some preparation of AGRE which I am writing on Nov 3. Payed a visit to the library after months.

Donkey and the Carrot(s)

Ok, let me first of all accept that the title of this blog has been flicked from here, blogged by my good friend (senior) Manas. So, even though I have finished my General GRE test, theres always the next carrot awaiting.

Registered for TOEFL on Oct 21, and GRE Subjective on Nov 3. Had a nice conversation with HT Maam. So I am all set up for applying to the top US Universities.

I was really touched by a mention of the 5 stages of grief in House MD, Scrubs and Grey's Anatomy, some of the TV Series I have been whiling my time :
The stages are:

1. Denial: The initial stage: "It can't be happening." (It can't be true)
   
2. Anger: "Why ME? It's not fair?!" (either referring to God, oneself, or anybody perceived, rightly or wrongly, as "responsible")
3. Bargaining: "Just let me live to see my son graduate." (Let me have one last talk)
   
4. Depression: "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"
5. Acceptance: "It's going to be OK."
   

I am glad that I have reached the acceptance stage finally.

Truth, Love and Duty

This is the motto of my alma mater, Sacred Heart Convent School.

I was in the choir group, and I knew a lot of prayers. I had lots of heated arguments with almost all my teachers about the irrationality behind the existence of God.

I was a very introvert guy in the school. Sagar Gaikwad was my bestest friend. And we dint want anyone else. (P.S: I am not gay, dudes). School life is always cherishable. Waking up early in the morning (5:30 am), cycling to school, morning extra classes, prefects, class monitors, sharing tiffins, not accosting girls, singing in choir, english elocution, debate, unit tests and term examinations, being Roll of Honour (topping in school), minding primary school kids, playing basketball and football without any rules, painting, homework, studying, assembly, dramas, Gold House Day, ...

I am reminded of a prayer :

"Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can, and
the wisdom to know the difference."

GREat Relief

Finally, my GRE is over. I got a score of 1400 (800q + 600v).

The verbal questions were pretty bad. Got a 110 line RC at 11-12th question.

Some words I remember are downplay, charade, surreptious, sanguine.

The antonyms and SC options were pretty close in meaning, and sometimes ambiguous.See the community http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=170660 for more updates.

GRE tomorrow

My tryst with destiny is tomorrow at 1 pm. Yesterday night, I went to octa, to check out new threads for verbal, and I met Prasanna. He suggested that I stay at his home in Chennai.

So here I am, blogging from his comp. I really owe this to him. His bro and parents' hospitality makes me feel absolutely at home.

Everyone has been wishing me luck, left right and center. Felt really great to get best wishes from all my orkut mentors and co-mentors.

Tomorrow is the day. I dream of getting the perfect 1600, and at the same time, fear I will get a low score around 1200. I should get something in between the two : around 1400 will be fine. But come what may, I am not going down without a fight. GRE, here I come...