Repackaging the Old Stuffs

Call it a makeover, a facelift, a repacking or a renovation, but you can definitely see the changes.

• The first one is the template. It's more aesthetically appealing now.
  
• The second change is the blog title. I've been noticing that I've been doing all my blogging in the wee hours when I cannot sleep. So, I decided for a more apt title. Well, there's also a pun on the title - I'm leaving it for you to discover it.
  

But rest assured, my faithful readers, the quality (or the lack of it) is still the same. I promise to keep you to entertain with all the creativity and sarcasm that comes to an Insomnia's mind. Do drop in your comments.

Au Revoir,
B(t)IJ Chabs

The Best things in Life are for Free - Almost

Insomnia can be really insightful. I was thinking about the best moments of my life and it didn't involved things like having a conversation with a beautiful lady in a luxury cruise. (Not surprising because I never had that experience). They were actually free. I'm listing my top ten best moments of my life so far...

1. Watching the sunset across the lake, with your gf.
2. The "Finally, mera code chal gaya" experience.
3. Getting a good news of a much awaited academic result.
4. Playing basketball in the rain with your friend (yh, of the opposite sex).
5. Snoozing happily in the back seat of the car while your other friends are watching the sunrise on top of Nandi hills.
   
6. Snuggling up with an exciting novel on a rainy sunday afternoon.
7. Trying out a new dish, your own creation, even though you've to throw it afterwards.
8. Finally finding a small tea shop selling ciggarettes at 3 am after you realized u've run out of stock at 2 am.
9. The feel of the cold night air while riding your bike on the deserted highway at 80 kmph.
10. Watching a really senti movie alone in the room and tears running down your face (and later laughing at your friend because he/she admitted he/she was crying at the movie).

So far, so good. But since i still continued to have insomnia, my cynical persona came out and started asking really insightful questions whether those things were actually free. These were the questions he asked with respect to the above points...

1. Well, how much did you have to spend on the fares to come to meet her to make the event possible? And the std calls, gifts, etc, etc?
2. They say time is money and how much money (read time) have you wasted before your code works?
3. How much did you have to spend for all the treats? (You never realized you've so many friends and well-wishers until this moment).
4. How many coffees and chocolates did you had to buy for her before she finally agreed to play basketball in the rain with you?
5. Ok, it seems you've forgotten the expenses on those beers, the dinner at the dhaba and the petrol cost.
6. How much did the novel cost? And the bean bag you're so comfortably settling into?
7. Hmmm, with sky rocketing gas and vegetable prices, you can afford to do that?
8. Again, petrol for driving for 1 hour? You're not caught for jumping the red light? Or forgetting the DL?
   
9. Same as above.
10. You actually cried? Ha ha ha.

I hate this cynical B&*%ard and I hate him even more because he's right.

Au Revoir,
Bij Chabs

Day 2, Slot 1, 11th hour Signed out

Finally my ordeal is over. I got placed in the last company to come in Slot 1, IBM. I'm won't reveal my feelings right now but let it suffice to say that it's a mixed feeling. There's this relief on the one hand, I don't have to undergo the whole ordeal for two (or more) days. Then, let's just say it's not my dream company but mind you, it doesn't mean that I'm disappointed. I got short-listed in only 4 companies, so there's nothing much I could have done. It's a bad feeling knowing that you're not even getting a chance to fight. Of course, people who got rejects after rejects after being short-listed in most of the companies will beg to differ. I haven't gone through their experience, so I left it to your discretion. A few people are lucky – they got signed out really early from the company of their choice. Some were happy to realize they finally made it to a company of their choice. Many are happy to have got into their preferred area. Some are disappointed they didn't get into their preferred area and many are still keeping their fingers crossed.

As for me, well, when I have nothing else to say, I say, "Everything happens for the best".

Well, I'm looking forward to the whole summer experience. I hope it turns out to be a good experience with a good project, something from which I can actually learn. I'll be going with an open mind and try to extract as much value-addition and fun as possible. Wish me all the best.

And to all the guys, who made it, congratulations.

And to all the guys, who are still to make it, remember u're an XLer, nothing's gonna stop you, it's only a matter of hours. Best of luck, guys.

Now, I'm going to sleep in the happy knowledge that I can ignore those irritating early morning wake up calls.

[Here I'd like to mention that for any details regarding the whole process and the actual numbers, please contact the official placecom cell. Forget it if you think I'm gonna reveal anything right now or ever.]