Things aren't that different lately. They basically remain the same, just a bit low profile. But we can't keep wondering or feeling let down by what happened isn't it? After all, there ain't any sure recipe of living a successful life because success itself varies from person to person depending on their goals, ambitions, view, knowledge and their geographical location.

Well, yeah our geographical location plays very major role in contributing to the definition of successful life. In a country like India, and that too South India, success is defined on how much a man leave behind for the next generation to live a comfortable life. Whereas in some other geographical location, it's all about your achievements. So I guess being too much obsessed with living successful does not give us any solution; instead it adds misery and takes all the time we've got thinking about trivial things that does not make any sense.

Most of the time our definition of success is based on our envy of other person's achievements & fame. For example; when I read about someone who has earned name, wealth & fame for being successful in my age in certain field, that stirs something in me and thus I wish I had done something useful of the same lifespan I've lived. Finally I envy the other person for achieving that and I make my definition of success as - 'Earning Name, Fame & Money'.

So I guess, instead of defining success based on other person's life, or looking at others and envying, we just have to live our life doing things that gives us a greater satisfaction. Who knows, we might achieve a lot along the way. The more we become conscious of being successful, we stop enjoying our every day life and end up living with guilt feel of not achieving anything in our lifetime.

Till I see you all again; Rhonald

• I was born intelligent - education ruined me.
• Practice makes perfect..... But nobody's perfect......  so why practice?
• If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?
• Since light travels faster than sound, people appear bright until you hear them speak.
• How come "abbreviated" is such a long word?
• Money is not everything. There's Mastercard & Visa.
• If your father is a poor man, it is your fate but, if your father-in-law is a poor man, it's your stupidity.
• Every man should marry. After all, happiness is not the only thing in life.
• "Your future depends on your dreams" So go to sleep
• "Work fascinates me" I can look at it for hours
• God made relatives; Thank God we can choose our friends.
• The more you learn, the more you know, The more you know, the more you forget The more you forget, the less you know So.. why learn.
• A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.... what more can I say........
  

Hi Friends,

It's a good feeling to be back to say a hello to my dearest friends. It's a good feeling to be back to visit them. It's a good feeling to be back and share few things that I wanted to share. It's a good feeling if they still remember me after my extremely long disappearance till now.

Well, I apologize for not visiting your blogs. I can give 1000s of excuses which might sound valid, but no, I am not going to give any reasons for my disappearance. Of course, work is always there and that's what I am doing for past 8 years while being up to date with my blogs and visits. I am not sure whether I will be regular for some time since I got hit seriously by blog burnouts for past few months and I guess, I am in peak of the infection.

But I wish to make it regular to visit my best friends' blogs and pass a few comments.

But definitely I am thrilled to finally sit down and write a blog. Okay now, after all these boring formal talks, let me brief what I was doing for past 3 weeks (I guess so).

My work is getting hectic now taking almost 14 hours of my time per day leaving less time for my Linux development, church, friends and sleep. As I remember I've said in my previous blog: Sometimes blessings come with a curse. The success of the first phase gave us contract for next two phases, but with tight deadline which result in cramped up schedules, meetings, requirement documentations. We are doing 4 modules at a time parallel with 6 people gathering requirements from the clients at the same time in different departments.

But on the bright side, first time I am heading such a big team and huge project. I am Project Leader, reporting to my Project Manager. I am learning a lot about being a Team Man and I guess I am learning it pretty fast and maintaining good relation between teams, team members and my bosses, as per the feedbacks.

Well, my prayer time has increased for past 2 months or I remember God frequently, hour by hour basis for the past 2 months than before. I definitely need His guidance right now because I know for sure I am not capable of doing such big things by myself.

Apart from my project tales, I visited quite few places (I've posted the photos, check out my photo gallery) and though slow, exploring my camera time by time. For past few week ends, I get to see the beauty of the desert and I am amazed by it. Of course, that does not include the hot and cruel summer. The winter part in desert is really beautiful. I get to take pictures of sunset, sunrise, mountains, desert, people (I can see people passing by with smile in winter).

My Linux evangelism is going on strong (I rather prefer saying it Open Source evangelism) with more people I know are converting to Open Source software and my success would be, converting my church to Open Source, which is my next mission.

I can't understand people who want to purchase certain expensive software just because it looks graphically stunning while they can attain better functionality in Open Source community with less or no price at all. I guess we have to spend money and our energy to make people feel the freedom they get through Open Source softwares.

Well, I can't keep talking about here anymore because i) you might get irritated with me ii) Uncle gates would revoke and ban my space considering it's against his organization. I don't have problem with Uncle Gates' Organization, it's just the proprietary software vendors make me angry by the way they play on the ignorance of people and loot their money.

During my disappearance, I was in touch with my cyber mother Gail and glad to be in touch too.

I have lot to say, but...

I give my word to visit you all frequently even if I don't blog frequently.

Have nice day all.
Love & Prayers: Amigo.

Well, I am not sure it’s a blessing or curse good things happen in this country. Sorry, I’ve disappeared yet again after those promises to be active, etc.

Our project got a big approval and the client gave next 2 phases of the projects to us. My mind was bothered for sometime until what bothered me came true. The client is not interested in giving 7 months (which actually will take to finish the project), instead they have to finish the project in 4 months (crazy isn’t it? well, that’s how the people are in this part of the world… They believe programming is just like typing, nothing else).

While our management is flirting with the idea of saying ‘yes’ to them (I hate management people, they don’t understand a bit technically… well, no offense… it always happens between IT guys and Management guys), we, IT guys are strongly opposing to it. We are urging the management to scrape out the project because it’s going to take the developer’s sleep for months.

We won’t get the week ends, holidays (world is so cruel to IT guys, they have to work over hours, they have to sacrifice week ends most times, leave, sometimes even families *its noticeable fact that Highest number of divorce occurs in IT field*). Anyway, we decided to have a fair understanding of the requirement and then decide. As a result, I lost my sleep couple of days (3 days completely – not continuous 3 days) and finally we’ve given our report.

After sometime, I had my first week end this week (Friday and Saturday). I went to meet my old buddies… speaking of them, two of my friends are getting married on March 1st of 2007. God bless them… Then, after meeting my buddies, I left to my cousin’s house and then left to Al-Ain (another state in this country which is 140 kms far from Dubai/Sharjah) to my uncle’s house with cousin and her family.

We spent the night there, cracking jokes, teasing each others. I watched Rocky VI there (I love the Rocky series) at that night. Stallone astonished me a lot… At this age, he has got the determination to make a boxing heavy weight movie Rocky. The next day, we left back to Sharjah – my cousin’s place. My sister and brother in law joined us there.

We went to the beach evening and since it was too cold (18 degrees is considered as too cold here), we left the beach without swimming and got into the shopping mall. I was checking out a Multi-format recorder (DVD, HDVD, DivX, AVI, MOV, Nero Digital, etc) to buy.

Then I checked out on watches since I wanted to buy one. Well, since I have this love towards watches and I loose them within weeks, I stopped using watch (ha ha ha… I know you are considering me as a stone age man now… but I do have my mobile to check my time and most time I am not bothered about time anyway, unless I have to meet someone on appointment).

After that, we had our dinner together in the Food Court (you always end up eating fast food when you resolve to avoid them… ha ha ha) and left Abu Dhabi, parting from the others.

Oh well, last week was so funny on newspapers with them splashing the news of Indian Actress ‘Shilpa Shetty’ being target of Racial Abuse in a British Television show ‘Big Brother’. Well, on the sad part, I don’t fell anything except pity over people judging others based on their skin colors, education, ascent, origin, etc…

I think it’s a bit over hyped controversy. I’ve been a target of some racial abuse sometimes back too and I definitely know how it feels that despite how good, success you are, people put you down because you different in color, culture & origin. God be with them.

But it’s kind of funny when I read that Indian parliament and British parliament discussed about it… Ha ha ha... what a wonderful way of spending Tax Payers’ money? Anyway, they don’t give a damn about Tax Payers, don’t they?

Apart from these.., I have successfully converted 11 of them to Linux and Open Source and their feedbacks are encouraging. Basically, those people are from my church who don’t want to spend bucks on upgrading their computers for Vista and also convinced that Microsoft will stop support for Windows XP anytime soon to push Vista. They asked consultation for any alternative and I have one big alternative.

Have great time. I apologize for not visiting you all. But I will be definitely visiting.

Take Care,
Love & Regards, Amigo.