My team mate Shuva's friend's father is in need of blood to cure his cancer. And four of us decide to do our bit. We grab a quick lunch and hit the roads on Srujan's shiny new Innova.
It is a rather modest blood bank for a hospital like Bangalore Institute of Oncology, single blood-drawing room with just the two beds. The customary forms signed and funnily all of us scribble our own names against the Patient's :).
I am the first to take turn, lay on a blood-drawing bed and squeeze the ball (for perverts, its a soft rubber ball squeezed to keep the blood flowing into the pouch). The nurse starts with my right hand and kind of started looking out for my viens rather cautiously and attentively. My thin veins on both the hands posed him a bit of a challenge and makes us go with the right. And, the long, sharp needle finds its way into one of my veins and blood bag begin to get heavier.
In the mean time, Vivek gets on to the adjacent bed and starts his rituals. His bag filling quicker than mine. I calculate a equation and tell him "Your blood flow is one and half times faster than mine" with a nervous smile. Not sure if Vivek appreciated my wits(?) under those circumstances though :)
Finally my bag is full and weighed 450 ml, the needle is out and my hand folded. I sense a bit of uneasiness in some time, and was advised to extend my rest for a while. After a good 25-30 minutes of rest, I get out to gulp in a juice and biscuits. It felt better.
It was time to take stairs after Srujan and Shuva went through it. Just when I close the car, I sensed it. I get into the car and almost tell my mates that I'm about to faint, "I'm not good" or somthing like that. Done, there comes a blank and when I regain from my pass my legs are pointing to the car ceiling and my upper body almost horizontal (Thanks to Innova's pushback :)) with anxious coulleagues around. Its a common first sight after returning from the faint, finding your feet in the air with strange faces making not much sense around you. Another nervous smile as I'm taken in a streacher back into the hospital. A first for me, for someone back from a himalayan trek (well, its a blog for another day), kind of shaking my belief that I-am-fit.
The next one hour's rest eases me a lot, pumped that much more blood into my brains to keep me sane. The faint had lasted for 10's of seconds and felt a lot longer. Not sure if I should call it enthralling, but let me call it :). All the darkness, some imaginary figures spiraling or crawling, being taken into peace. It was not sleep-like but may be death-like experience. Triggers thoughts that, death might be an experience in itself.
With some postmortem and a bit of googling, it appears that I have only myself to thank for this. Drinking adequate water and having a heavier meal before donation could well have made a difference. Also, there are many people who have overcome their fainting both during and after the donation by being well hydrated and also by preparing themselves mentally. May be, there is a psychological flavor to this.
And I would like to be more prepared the next time I do it.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
kicking alive
It had been a long time wish of mine to take swimming lessons. Each time, we were out to a wet destination, I was left dry and high with only able to get into the waist high water at best. And, all those swimming around me looked heroic :-)
So, I finally managed to gleefully squeeze in this one hour class each night. Yes, its each night, swimming under the bright lights with a coach's eye on us. The coach is a sorry figure sometimes when one of us jumps into 7-feet with false courage only to end up waving hands in distress call :-)
Its been a very enjoyable so far (in spite of the chilling showers, both before and after the swim ;)) with what ever little arms that I've moved and the legs I have kicked to stay afloat and surge to the wall. I've come quite a way with my aqua-skills and still got long way to go :-)
So, I finally managed to gleefully squeeze in this one hour class each night. Yes, its each night, swimming under the bright lights with a coach's eye on us. The coach is a sorry figure sometimes when one of us jumps into 7-feet with false courage only to end up waving hands in distress call :-)
Its been a very enjoyable so far (in spite of the chilling showers, both before and after the swim ;)) with what ever little arms that I've moved and the legs I have kicked to stay afloat and surge to the wall. I've come quite a way with my aqua-skills and still got long way to go :-)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Not so glorious..
"Emphatic test series win in New Zealand after 41 years". Such an exaggerated fad. Firstly, for the reason India has played in New Zealand on very few occasions. Without donning a statistician-hat, one can say they haven't been there more than five times, after their last series win in the adventure nation. And secondly, frankly this was by no means any where close to being an emphatic victory for this New Zealand side could be their weakest in the history. With all the talks about India being the prospective test No. 1 team this scoreline of 1-0 isn't thumping enough. Especially, considering when there was a straight and simple opportunity to bulge the verdict to 2-0.
If Dhoni wasn't even looking to seal a win but just secure a draw with a safety-only approach. He might be someone to consider walking helmet-headed on the sideways :) And, he is not really as special as he's made out to be. He's just a lucky good cricket captain, not the great one.
All the talk about Dhoni being the master tactician may well be a little stretched if he was indeed intending to win that last drawn test. It's beyond logic to eat up precious hours of play to post 600+ runs for New Zealand's chase. After they were bundled out for meager 197 in their first outing. For New Zealand is not the greatest batting lineup. And even more glaringly rains were expected on the last two days of the test. This is a scenario not too different than what Dravid's team did in England last year. Somehow, Dhoni isn't getting half the flak as much as Dravid did for his over-defensive ploy.
This is not about Dhoni-bashing. But the best guess is Dhoni misread the game. That's lesser of the two evils above. After all, Dhoni isn't so helmet-headed :)
If Dhoni wasn't even looking to seal a win but just secure a draw with a safety-only approach. He might be someone to consider walking helmet-headed on the sideways :) And, he is not really as special as he's made out to be. He's just a lucky good cricket captain, not the great one.
All the talk about Dhoni being the master tactician may well be a little stretched if he was indeed intending to win that last drawn test. It's beyond logic to eat up precious hours of play to post 600+ runs for New Zealand's chase. After they were bundled out for meager 197 in their first outing. For New Zealand is not the greatest batting lineup. And even more glaringly rains were expected on the last two days of the test. This is a scenario not too different than what Dravid's team did in England last year. Somehow, Dhoni isn't getting half the flak as much as Dravid did for his over-defensive ploy.
This is not about Dhoni-bashing. But the best guess is Dhoni misread the game. That's lesser of the two evils above. After all, Dhoni isn't so helmet-headed :)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
High on wheels
Almost 20 years ago, for the first time I got to set my feet on the roller skates. Those were the summer school breaks for which I would wait year long. One such summer, I joined my cousins in their skating exercise.
Being the late starter among all and for being there for about just a month or so, I had a little extra consideration. My turns came often than others and they lasted a little longer as well. The momentary elevation on the skates would thrill me of a tall view. The wheels underneath, took me faster with little effort. Biting the floor was my last concern till I had a decent hang with those skates. The slightly long living room was our skating rink, where we took turns and practiced for hours from one door to another.
Next summer break, there was something new more exciting and the skates were forgotten. That was the "20 years ago" captioned part of the movie in black and white :) (gives me a nausea that I'm talking in terms decades :( )
Enter presence, Mr.Me gets another chance to have a go at the skates in Innovative film city's skating rink. I started very shakily with very less belief that I could regain my childhood expertise. But as the time moved, my skates kept moving better. Soon, I was managing with out the support from cushioned fences. And Finally I was at a decent speed with my typical chicken-dance-kinda arm movement to balance the go. It was immense joy of finding something back that I had not missed so bad but relished whole exercise.
May be, "Skills once acquired are nearly forever"
Being the late starter among all and for being there for about just a month or so, I had a little extra consideration. My turns came often than others and they lasted a little longer as well. The momentary elevation on the skates would thrill me of a tall view. The wheels underneath, took me faster with little effort. Biting the floor was my last concern till I had a decent hang with those skates. The slightly long living room was our skating rink, where we took turns and practiced for hours from one door to another.
Next summer break, there was something new more exciting and the skates were forgotten. That was the "20 years ago" captioned part of the movie in black and white :) (gives me a nausea that I'm talking in terms decades :( )
Enter presence, Mr.Me gets another chance to have a go at the skates in Innovative film city's skating rink. I started very shakily with very less belief that I could regain my childhood expertise. But as the time moved, my skates kept moving better. Soon, I was managing with out the support from cushioned fences. And Finally I was at a decent speed with my typical chicken-dance-kinda arm movement to balance the go. It was immense joy of finding something back that I had not missed so bad but relished whole exercise.
May be, "Skills once acquired are nearly forever"
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Best ever rivalary
Roger Federer and Rafeal Nadal might make up the best ever rivalry for the world of tennis to have witnessed. They are players of contrasting features. Federer silky and all class while Nadal is about athleticism and relentlessness. Without each other, they could dominate Men's tennis like none other. It's a sheer treat to have them play at the same time.
After 2008's Wimbledon epic final these two have continued to treat the tennis lovers with their supreme brand of tennis. As I blog this, Nadal stops Federer yet again from that elusive record equaling 14th grand slam at Melbourne. Another long five setter with tennis of highest quality and many to follow.
After 2008's Wimbledon epic final these two have continued to treat the tennis lovers with their supreme brand of tennis. As I blog this, Nadal stops Federer yet again from that elusive record equaling 14th grand slam at Melbourne. Another long five setter with tennis of highest quality and many to follow.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Wings and Roots
Since the last time I had been home, wings and roots have been creeping through my mind. Enough impetus for me to pen down the below. Go on...
Wings and Roots
------------------
Stars and planets have lit up to
set a glittering fresco
above and broad like none
triggering a wish deep inside
wanting to fly high and high
taking off with sparkle filled eyes
longing to merge with the clear sky
spreading the wings with wide eyes
sailing through the clouds
claiming the open horizons
pretending all the tallness
gazing the great distances
the ever fluttering wings
never ending empty skies
have had their toll
high spirits taking a free fall
remained a single possibility
crashing onto the ground reality
broken bones to befriend shattered dreams
dust all over blocking the earthy scenes
crawls in a earnest, faint call
soothing the battered soul
gaping all over for the angel to spot
there rested the firm and deep into ground
the very roots to let
the wings blossom
Wings and Roots
------------------
Stars and planets have lit up to
set a glittering fresco
above and broad like none
triggering a wish deep inside
wanting to fly high and high
taking off with sparkle filled eyes
longing to merge with the clear sky
spreading the wings with wide eyes
sailing through the clouds
claiming the open horizons
pretending all the tallness
gazing the great distances
the ever fluttering wings
never ending empty skies
have had their toll
high spirits taking a free fall
remained a single possibility
crashing onto the ground reality
broken bones to befriend shattered dreams
dust all over blocking the earthy scenes
crawls in a earnest, faint call
soothing the battered soul
gaping all over for the angel to spot
there rested the firm and deep into ground
the very roots to let
the wings blossom
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Marina Bitch oops....beach
I was presented with this opportunity to visit Chennai. This was my first entry into the south city. I did have a preset perception of the city already, specifically Marina beach.
On learning about the convenience of the travel from my hotel to Marina, I decided to board the local public transport, that kind of lets you feel the pulse of the city and its people. The roads were good enough for the traffic at hand. It was a little hard to find someone knowing a common language, thats how I found myself well past the Marina stop (free excess trip though :)).
Determined not to have another excess drive, I took care to sit next to someone who looked likely to share a common language with me. A chinki guy(chinku?) from north-east saved me with his english.
It was a long walk from the road to the so much crowded beach. No wonder the sea was not to be heard in the mob noise :). With my lee coopers on, I walked as though each of my legs were tied to heavy sacks of sand. If this is what a walk is to be, I would never "walk the talk" agian...LOL
The sloppy walking with those heavy steps were complemented well enough by the beating sun and shabby surroundings with all the throwing. I bet garbage collectors have a bright future on Marina. I saw things like paper wrappers, plastics, left over fish dishes (on which a large number of crows pounce to get their pound of flesh). I thought "I'm at the most littered beach in the world!".
No wonder there were all sort of stalls on the beach to supply such never ending garbage. Shops that sell articles made of shell, funny sunglasses, toys, clothes, fried eatable, boiled eatables etc etc... Another stall had tens of helpless balloons hung on a board waiting to be shot. The long guns with fillers probed me to have a go at those innocent balloons. I decided not to embarrass Abhinav Bindra :)
But this stall takes the cake. It had all the tamil super stars (right from Rajni saar till hot Asin and hotter Thrisha) lined up for you to get flashed with. Yes, they were all life size portraits. Isn't it quite an "IN" thing to get clicked when you have Thrisha by the side with Marina roaring at the back (if worse, there is a possibility that the background could include some peeing in the open :) )
And here I was finally at the sea. Serene with the waves following a pattern known to none. Some people had found their playground at the sea shore, having a dayout with family or an odd ones with their girlfriend (they are odd not to indicate that they have a girl, its just that they were less numbered). Those in the sea playing "throw-coconut", truly south indian version of throwball.
On learning about the convenience of the travel from my hotel to Marina, I decided to board the local public transport, that kind of lets you feel the pulse of the city and its people. The roads were good enough for the traffic at hand. It was a little hard to find someone knowing a common language, thats how I found myself well past the Marina stop (free excess trip though :)).
Determined not to have another excess drive, I took care to sit next to someone who looked likely to share a common language with me. A chinki guy(chinku?) from north-east saved me with his english.
It was a long walk from the road to the so much crowded beach. No wonder the sea was not to be heard in the mob noise :). With my lee coopers on, I walked as though each of my legs were tied to heavy sacks of sand. If this is what a walk is to be, I would never "walk the talk" agian...LOL
The sloppy walking with those heavy steps were complemented well enough by the beating sun and shabby surroundings with all the throwing. I bet garbage collectors have a bright future on Marina. I saw things like paper wrappers, plastics, left over fish dishes (on which a large number of crows pounce to get their pound of flesh). I thought "I'm at the most littered beach in the world!".
No wonder there were all sort of stalls on the beach to supply such never ending garbage. Shops that sell articles made of shell, funny sunglasses, toys, clothes, fried eatable, boiled eatables etc etc... Another stall had tens of helpless balloons hung on a board waiting to be shot. The long guns with fillers probed me to have a go at those innocent balloons. I decided not to embarrass Abhinav Bindra :)
But this stall takes the cake. It had all the tamil super stars (right from Rajni saar till hot Asin and hotter Thrisha) lined up for you to get flashed with. Yes, they were all life size portraits. Isn't it quite an "IN" thing to get clicked when you have Thrisha by the side with Marina roaring at the back (if worse, there is a possibility that the background could include some peeing in the open :) )
And here I was finally at the sea. Serene with the waves following a pattern known to none. Some people had found their playground at the sea shore, having a dayout with family or an odd ones with their girlfriend (they are odd not to indicate that they have a girl, its just that they were less numbered). Those in the sea playing "throw-coconut", truly south indian version of throwball.
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