A "Flood" of Emotions....

We have had a lot of rain this past week, on top of the few feet of snow piled up on the ground. With all the water, rivers have been flooding. I took the following pictures with my mobile phone while I was out running by the DuPage River. As my thoughts turned towards the romance of the year that is almost over. After serious emotional involvements in 2007 and 2008, I am looking forward to next year, when I can accomplish more intellectual work.

Running through the Fog

Today was a very foggy day in Chicagoland...Midway airport was closed in the evening because of poor visibility.
I went out running in the evening, and tried to cut through the junk fogging my brain. Sometimes it is hard to do, when one's feelings are involved. But one needs to keep moving on, and perhaps take a fall or two.

Where are you, when the Sun comes down
So far away from me...

Dire Straits.

Feminine Intuition- Does not make the market go up

In March 2007, I got acquainted with a nice Indian woman from New York. We had a fun, romantic relationship that lasted just three months. Unfortunately we broke up while I was in Hawaii for a conference- needless to say that I did not particularly enjoy the beautiful location.

After my return I was talking to her one day and said that I had shorted the S&P 500. She, being a former CEO and a capitalist who made a ton of money through stock options, warned me to close my position because being short was rather risky and not warranted, according to her. Even though I told her my longstanding views on the market, my short position only confirmed her view that I was a very risky (foolish) person financially.

When I look back today, and see where the market is, I would have to say that my bet and my confidence in myself have been well-justified. Feminine intuition can be wrong, sometimes!

To this friend's credit, she did take me to Central Park so that I could run around the Jacqueline Onassis Reservoir and take in the sights. Thanks!

RND- Running, Nurses and Doctors

Yesterday I had to go to LMC to see an ophthalmologist. The nurse, Sara, was excellent, and in the course of conversation told me she went to NU, which is my Alma Mater too. She is also a runner, and her brother has run 5 marathons. The doctor who eventually saw me, is also a runner, and has run half marathons but not a full one.
It is always a pleasure to meet health professionals who keep fit. Gives one some confidence that the person knows how to take care of his/her body and also the mind.

Memories of an Indecent Education...Brotherhood of Man

I lived in Alakananda hostel in my first year at IIT_Madras. My next four years were in Narmada- known for "high-fliers."
I used to listen to some fabulous music in our "Common Room" while reading the newspaper or some magazines, or playing carroms. Some of the music I listened to...
Brotherhood of Man- Long ago, high on a mountain in Mexico...
Simon and Garfunkel
Saturday Night Fever
AC/DC- Back in Black
Deep Purple- Smoke on the Water
Bread
Lobo
Beatles
Supertramp
Abba
and so on..
The Dark Side of the Moon was the piece de resistance..

I also had the great pleasure of listening to many wonderful compositions of Ilayaraja in Tamil.