3 Weeks with Chicken Pox !!!

It was Saturday, 11th Jan 2014. I had come to Chennai to see my brother, who had 100+ fever from Thursday that week. He came to me and told, “I have a blister in my skin newly da”, and showed a white, round blister in his shoulder. My mother saw that and told, “This is Chicken-pox”. To play it down, it just told “Go and sleep, we will see doctor. Its only 5.30 AM.” Nothing changed when we met our doctor. He confirmed it to be Chicken pox.

2 weeks of suffering for him, that finally he woke up and had his first shower. In between, some ground rules were set for us at home: No hair cut, no shave, no nail cuts even.

By 25^th, I came again to see him, and it was high time I had to take a hair-cut and shave. Both were pending for long time due to this. So, on 25^th, visited my favorite Green Trends, and did a make-over. The Nepali bhai who did this asked,”Sir, head massage karenge?” I obliged without knowing what was in store for me.

Woke up on 26^th morning, and found something was not well with me. There were lot of skin wounds in my head, and one small red blister in my shoulder. After shower, when I wiped it with towel, it broke and I forgot it with that. Had a sumptuous meal, slept well, to wake up with fever in evening, and the blister had come again, somewhat bigger. All the way I was thinking something was wrong in the head massage. Some sort of skin allergy I thought. Since it was a Sunday post-noon, there was no doctor available in vicinity to get checked. Since some alarm rang in my mind, I cancelled my Bangalore trip that night.

I slept around 10 PM. Suddenly after sometime, I felt like someone was holding a ball of fire near my face. My sleep got disrupted and I went and saw my face in a mirror…there were some 20-25 blisters, white in color, and it took an hour for me to sleep again.

Monday, I knew very clearly that I had taken Chicken pox infection. And my brother and mother started yelling to me, “Don’t see the mirror!!!” I understood something was terribly wrong with my face. But I did religiously follow it.

It was really a punishment having this infection. I did not feel hungry during normal times in the day. I slept and slept, and will feel hungry at 2 / 4 AM. Had to drink something and again sleep after sometime.

By the end of first week, I had blisters throughout my body. I couldn’t rest my head on a pillow, since there were too many boils in my head. And after all this, in next two weeks my health did improve. In second week, whatever you eat / drink, you will feel hungry every hour / two. And you have to actually keep feeding yourself, which is a pain again J. It took almost 13 days from appearance of blisters for them to dry.

Now, after 20 days, I feel much better and looking forward to work again.

Precautions:

Actually there are no precautionary measures. If you get infected, by all chances it will bombard before leaving you.

Vaccination:

I and my brother both were vaccinated in our childhood. Still we got this. The explanation doctor gave was, the virus strain changes every 25-30 years. What we have got vaccinated for is no more existent.

Treatment:

1. Herperex 800, 1-1-1 for first 2 days, and 1-0-1 for next 3 days
2. A multivitamin of your choice.

Food:

1. No oil, no spicy food, only idlis / curd rice, with lot of small onions. Drink coconut oil, even if you don’t like, since it has a capacity to cure boils in throat and stomach.
2. At least 3 litres of water and juices every day. Take plenty of coconut water. First week take more fluids, since your throat will be a lot congested, and swallowing will be difficult.
3. Take lot of fruits. In case you cannot swallow them, get them as a mixed fruit juice and take. It gives plenty of energy.
4. Strictly avoid tea / coffee for at least a month.
5. If you need milk every day, better opt for Horlicks / Badam mix milk J
6. This infection generates lot of heat in body.  So take as much coolants as possible. Sweet Lassi is very good and filling also.

Dressing:

Use only cotton clothes during infection period. It removed some of my pain definitely.

General points:

1. Strictly avoid TV and magazines. Don’t strain your eyes at any cost.
2. It was very difficult for me to look even into my mobile during the first one week.
3. When you wake up in the morning, your eyes will burn like anything and tears will flow non-stop for some time J keep water dipped cotton in eye-lids before opening them. This will reduce irritation in eyes.
4. Once you get cured, avoid commercial soaps / shampoos. Use some herbal powder.
5. Avoid hotel food + spicy oily food for another 2 months.
6. No shave, hair-cut if someone is infected at home. Reason is, it opens pores in your skin, through which virus finds an easy way in.

You will be up again :)

Save your Heart !

Being the cardio week, our HR had arranged for an hour session with a Cardiologist from Fortis, Bangalore. In late 30s, he has worked mostly in US research labs, before coming and settling down in Bangalore.

Key points:

1) Sedimentation in heart walls starts from age of 2!
2) The fight is always between your High density Lipids (HDL), and low density Lipids(LDLs).
3) LDLs and triglycerides are the ones which increase risk of a heart attack.
4) LDLs are increased by, Non veg, Smoking ( effect of 1 cigarette is seen in blood for 6 hrs), drinking (Red wine is also injurious to health, against misconception that it is good), Red-meat, Pizzas (read  pt 10 below for explanation), and sedentary life style.
5) If you exercise for 30 mins, for 5 days in a week regularly, you can protect your heart.
6) More than 2 cups of coffee, is not OK.
7) Tobacco is equally bad for health, and not only leads to cancer, but heart diseases also.
8) WHO recommends ECG from age of 20, once in 5 years, from 30, once in a couple of years, and once an year after 40.
9) Indian digestive system is highly unfit to digest Non-veg and alcohol, without side-effects. Its OK with western people, but not us, in the name of being modern or culture.
10) While this Dr was in philadelphia, he had a blood sample from a 60 yrs old lady, who donates blood for regular research. When he centrifuged it, there was serum at top, and blood condensate in the bottom of the tube, but a new yellow fatty looking substance, separating both. When asked for, what she had for lunch, she replied, "Slice of pizza with a cheese topping". Same cheese was flowing in her blood! Be doubly cautious, when you dine in Pizza hut just to flaunt before other people :) When the D-day comes, it will be you alone, and no one else.
11) When you work-out regularly, HDL is produced in body automatically, and LDLs are flushed out.
12) In case some one has a heart-attack, don't panic before them and make them still tense. They have 6 hrs in case of heart-attack, before the end comes. This is the case with most people.
13) Badam (almonds) are the best nuts to increase HDL. Cashews and raisins don't increase. Ghee is very good, when Cheese, butter, and any animal fats are bad for health.
14) Any grade-A olive oil sold in India, is the least quality which are rejected outside, so don't mind buying olive oil in the  name of health and waste money.
15) Ajino-motto, added in restaurants as taste enhancers, are really addictive agents, which cajoles your brain to have the same food again and again. Avoid as much as possible.
16) Coconut oil is the best for cooking, and grated coconut is good for health. Only dried coconut has higher fat content.
17) Having a bowl of vegetables / fruits a day is damn good for your heart.
18) Eating once a week in a restaurant itself is a luxury. It gives you more bad than good.
19) If someone collapses in front of you in heart attack, pump their chest, so that they will have a chance to revive.
20) Above all, it beats 100000 times a day, through out  the year, so save it :)

Just like that !

Has been a long time, since I penned in my day-to-day blog. Suddenly thought of writing something, so that I don’t lose my touch in this.

6 months have gone by in this year, with lot of musicians losing lives. Though they are octogenarians and nonagenarians, it’s sad to see them dying. I have enjoyed listening only a few of them, last two generations would have enjoyed them a lot.

Kedarnath is a strong proof that nature knows to sustain itself. Very painful to see this, but happy that the Shiva lingam shrine is safe-guarded. Was planning a trip to Kailash, Badri and Kedar this year, but didn’t materialize. Very unfortunate to survive in this world though J

Amidst all these things, some good songs have caught my attention. “Ayyayyo Ananthamey”, “Sollitale ava Kathala” and above all “Azhagey Azhagey” from OKOK, is excellent. Missed all these songs for quite some time now.

And, last but not least, samiappapalanivelan.wordpress.com takes lot of my time, in an organized writing. So, see u in next blog J

Layakku illatha waste !!!

Till today morning 10 AM, I was really proud of our railways...150 yrs of history, one of the largest networks of the world, more than million employees...still one of the cheapest means of transport...With all these in mind, I sat down to book a train ticket.

It was 10AM, and I tried log-ing, to book a tatkal ticket. After 14 mins of refresh and new trails, slowly the traditional blue screen came up...I was so happy to enter my user name and password !!! Evvalo periya sadhanai? I clicked Login, and BOOM...the screen went off...HTTP Connection Error - 503!!!

Appadina enna? I didn't know...so I googled it :) Irctc site window summa gummu nu appadiye ninnudichi...Coming to 503, net told me that its an error code happening when the server couldn't take more connections. Seri, learning no. 1...

I tried till 10.24 AM...login aagala...enna koduma saravana ithu !!! 10.25, it went inside my login and I got the travel planning window. Entered the details...Quota as Tatkal...pressed " Find trains"....sathiyama, I couldn't find the connection at all...after some 5 mins of anti-clockwise turns in status, web page got reloaded to the same initial window, "Plan my travel"...dei...oru ticket ku ethana thadava da naan plan pannanum?

Till 10.38, I was trying the same Planning...truly speaking, I have never planned so many times even for company interviews :)

When I hardly gave up, suddenly it went to the trains page, and I selected SL...hufffff...athukku appuram, I waited for 14 mins...In the availability window, there was a chakra rotating...naanum evvalo naazhi thaan athu nikkum nu nenaichu pakkurathu? Finally I stopped it at 10.52, to get the error message "Problem in Connection"...dei...ithellam too much da...seri nu, I gave one final try...every thing was though in one shot...I was so surprised to click SL and window loading automatically, only to find the tatkal WL no. as 62...

I thought of breaking the monitor, aana, this is company property..."Unarchiya kattu paduthu da palani" :(

Athukku appuram, for one hr, I spent time on thinking, eppadi intha site and railways a thittalam nu...10MBPS linekey ithu thaan nelamana...

"Waste na waste, layakke illatha waste !!!"

A forward from Ms.Vidhya Shankar, whom I have never known, in a mail groups ! But worthy read definitely.

Mr.Kalayanasundaram worked as a Librarian for 30 years. Every month in his 30 year experience(service), he donated his entire salary to help the needy. He worked as a server in a hotel to meet his needs. He donated even his pension amount of about ten lakh rupees to the needy.

He is the first person in the world to spend the entire earnings for a social cause. In recognition to his service, the American government honoured him with the ‘Man of the Millennium’ award. He received a sum of Rs 30 crores as part of this award which he distributed entirely for the needy as usual.

Moved by his passion to help others, Super Star Rajinikanth adopted him as his father. He still stays as a bachelor and dedicated his entire life for serving the society. 

http://www.hindu.com/lf/2004/08/22/stories/2004082209260200.htm

Tale of 4 Boyfriends !

A worthy forward from my Bro, Sakthi !

Once upon a time there was a girl who had four boyfriends.
She loved the fourth boyfriend the most and adorned him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.
She also loved the third boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.
She also loved her second boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.
The girl's first boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend, although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!
One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, 'I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, will I be alone?'
Thus, she asked the fourth boyfriend, 'I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company? 'No way!', replied the fourth boyfriend, and he walked away without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.
The sad girl then asked the third boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?' 'No!', replied the third boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!' Her heart sank and turned cold.
She then asked the second boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the second boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'
His answer struck her Like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.
Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.' The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.
Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!'

In truth, you have four friends in your lives:

Your fourth friend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your third friend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it will all go to others.

Your second friend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

And your first friend is your spirit. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, your spirit is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the realm of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

Pranab Da ! Give us Alms !!!

Disclaimer :: This is aftermath General Budget 2012-2013.

Past couple of days, this has caught the thunder everywhere. When Dinesh Trivedi increased rail fares after 9 long years in terms of 2/3 paise per km, Mamata came out thundering that it affects "AAM AADHMI" !!! Little does she know what happened in Tamil Nadu couple of months back in terms of milk and electricity and even city bus charges. More than this, this is a regular slogan of Congress, whenever there is an election, that too in development deprived states of UP / Bihar and so on. For people who don't know Hindi, this just translates to "Common man". Soniaji is ruling India for favoring "Aam Aadhmi", as is quoted by Congress.

Since I am not a Govt. "Babu" and a person of public fame, I too think I belong to this category. I was very eager to hear today's budget. Of course this was fueled by some programs yesterday on how this could bloom.

CNN had "Axe the tax effect". They projected too many things and some were useful also, like when the slabs in taxes were introduced, when medical exemptions were given and other stuff. Some made me happy since they were introduced by Chidambaram, one minister whom I really have some respect on.

NDTV @ 9 yesterday, had a big debate :Will Pranab introduce any big ticket reforms and more than that, will Mamata quit if he introduces something. Bullshit it was, that nothing happened. Half an hour viewing was utter crap.

Finally it was 11 AM today and I started online listening in office. Initially I got a doubt, if at all, am I streaming any fish market live-stream? There was so much of hues and cries, and after 5 mins I understood it was all about PF rate slash. Pranab Da started to read the Budget. I was listening and listening and God, it was over!!! No reforms, No big-tickets. Vada pochey !!!

As an Aam aadhmi, I felt really bad on many segments:

1) Medical reimbursements were not increased. Same 15K for long time now.
2)Tax slabs were nothing but crap. For a 5L individual, he will have 2k more in the end of the year. What will you do with Rs166.67/- every month?
3) Medical insurance for parents didn't have increased limits. When the premiums go higher in April, it will be too much to pay from pockets, may be?
4) Infra bond investment limits not altered. Could have been more money for development and also lesser tax burdens. But intelligently, double infra structure bond limits, but no tax benefits !!!
5) No concrete steps to curb inflation menace...Simply not sufficient to tell inflation is higher, but should have explained the Fuel subsidy bill more.
6) Service tax hiked by 2% in addition to existing 10%
7) No Info / reference to Diesel De-Regulation !!!

And Mamata's comment was "Budget is good"...How is it good Mamata Di? every 100 rupees you spend, you are going to pay 112 instead of 110, which was existing. More or less same 2 paise what Dinesh Trivedi asked. Hopefully the difference is only one thing : Dinesh put it in English, people got it right. Pranab put the same in Economics, so no understands easily.

But looking back, I really felt a lot in terms of slabs. Lets see how the world has changed in last 10-12 years...

1) Morning coffee - Milk has almost doubled in last 10 yrs, coffee powder too.
2) Bus charge / Auto charges :Bus has increased 1X to 1.5X, autos are out of proportion. Recently there was a fare hike in Bangalore and drivers are even more demanding. Don't know what they think of people who travel in their vehicle.
3) Food rates have quadrupled everywhere. Lunch, you pay more and eat less, with long standing issues with your health.
4) Rents have doubled / tripled.
5) Govt fees have gone higher for any work. Atleast the brokers make it so.
6) College fees / tuition fess and why not, Pre KG, LKG fees have gone up considerably higher than the fees which I paid for M.Tech 7 years back.
7) Loans are costlier, thanks to Subba rao.
8)Vegetables which are sold at 20 per KG in residential areas are sold at 40/- near tech park residences.

Only good aspect is Salaries have gone up. But to put the truth in writing, there are so many vultures around you to eat your flesh, rather than taking the proper amount to do the work. Their simple strategy - Software people earn a lot, so let me get my share out of them. So, after giving to all of them, literally we are left with nothing. This budget is gone, without giving anything to salaried class.

Taking all these into consideration, Pranab Da, atleast in next budget, GIVE US ALMS !!!