So, why was it called boring. Because, it has been a while since I made a personal post.

This blog sees two types of visitors, viz. those who visit my blog for the personal posts and those who visit my blog for the WordPress related posts, plugins and the theme.

When I started ajaydsouza.com in October 2003, I had only one thing in mind, blogging about my life. In fact, even till today, most of my posts are still filed under Personal.

Over time, things evolved. I got into WordPress plugin development, released my first and only theme and then started blogging professionally. So, little surprise that this blog moved away from the traditional personal blog to a blog that targets multiple audiences, those who read my personal blog posts, those who come for my plugins, those who read my reviews and those who come for the jokes.

And, I try my best to please them all.

So, what determines my blog posts?

It’s always been the life that I lead. When I was in engineering college, a lot of this was visiting restaurants, watching movies and trying to pass engineering.

When I got into work life, it revolved around visiting restaurants, watching movies and working my heart out.

When I got into MBA, I stopped blogging that frequently. This was primarily because MBA life didn’t give me a minute to blog.

In the second year of MBA, life eased out a bit. I was able to take up blogging professionally again. I also revived Techtites, which was dead for nearly a year before that. In fact a lot of my “free” time today is spent on planning posts on it.

Now, in my current day job, it seems a lot similar to MBA life when I didn’t have time to dedicate to my hobbies. However, if you’re tracking me on Facebook, you’ll realize that I do my best to do something besides work.

So, to wrap up this post, here’s what I have been up to recently:

Vincent and me when shopping for a new laptop he needed to buy. We ended up picking up the Gateway ID series laptop.

It is a really beautiful high-end laptop at just about 50K. As for me, I’m a Dell person. This December, my beautiful, but now old, Inspiron 6400 should get a much needed cleanup. I hope Dell support is as good as it was a year back!

We also attempted to visit the Pizza Hut in Forum, but they are under renovation. So, we ate at the Sahib Singh Sultan, which in my opinion is really out of place in a mall like forum. The restaurant was really delightful.

The restaurant is a tribute to a bygone era and everything from the interiors to the culinary experience is reminiscent of a mix of the traditions of Indian royalty and the British Raj.

The restaurant will transport you to the year 1853, when the first Indian train made its run from Bori Bunder to Thane. Much care has been taken to recreate the feeling, with the tastefully done décor, silk tapestry, and exquisite silver ware.

From one end of the wall to the other, there is a Pullman-style carriageway which makes you feel like you’re dining inside an actual train.

On the technical front, I have moved this blog to Media Temple. I’m not sure if this is the best option! In my bid to cut costs, due to limited income, this seems to be a compromise. I also need to work on optimising this blog, which is painfully heavy for some strange reasons. If anybody knows why please do let me know!

Now, it’s time to hit the sack. I begin a new week in a few hours. But, I promise to blog really really soon!

Visit: Techtites - Your Daily dose of all things tech!

It has been a very healthy year for my blog for sure. I hit into the top 100,000 websites on Alexa and today stand in the top 50,000. Good achievement for a small blog of a small person on the WWW

But, I do have a very very fluctuating rank as you can see in the graph above. I know a lot of users believe that Alexa is flawed, and i think so too, but at the end of the day, its the rank that gets the advertisers!

Site visits have increased as well. I have had 143,143 uniques with 214,533 page-views in 2006 according to Statcounter, currently averaging 440 uniques and 675 pageviews. Nowhere where I would like to be, but definitely better than a year back!

The graph above is my visitors in 2006. The spike you see was because of this post, which hit the front pages of reddit and Digg.

My feed subscriptions have increased as well with an average of a little above 100. Sucks when I compare it to most of the other blogs I read!

Now for the personal front I have nothing much to complain about. After I quit my job I have dedicated a good amount of my time to my studies, websites and personal life (in no particular order).
Unfortunately, the academic portion of my life hasn’t been too good. My future wrt MBA is still insecure and that is the only thing I am worried about right now.

I got a few exams lined up so I hope they work out well.

You will have your heart broken probably more than once
and it’s harder every time.

You’ll break hearts too,
so remember how it felt when yours was broken.

You’ll fight with your best friend.

You’ll blame a new love for things an old one did.

You’ll cry because time is passing too fast,
and you’ll eventually lose someone you love.

So take too many pictures, laugh too much,
and love like you’ve never been hurt

because every sixty seconds you spend upset
is a minute of happiness you’ll never get back.

Don’t be afraid that your life will end,
be afraid that it will never begin.

Everything I need to know about Life, I learned from Noah’s Ark

1. Don’t miss the boat
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat
3. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark
4. Stay fit. When you are 600yrs old, someone may ask you to do something really big!
5. Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done
6. Build your future on high ground
7. For safety’s sake, travel in pairs
8. Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs
9. When you’re stressed, float a while
10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

Also received a powerpoint point presentation of the same. Download and share it with your near and dear ones

Had planned to buy my cell this weekend, however it didn’t happen. Metup with Madam C around lunch time. After wandering all over the place we finally settled down to eat at Zaika which is near Stomach.

Food was good and well within budget. We spent some time at Bandstand after this and I dropped her home around 4.30pm.

Went over to Melody’s house afterwards.

Elvis and Delilah are back and Melody had booked tickets for St. Andrew’s Parish Zonals. I was under the impression that it would only be a serious of plays. However, it turned out to be more.

I was really impressed by the talent of the youngsters especially those on the piano. And when I say youngsters I mean really young.

The plays were moderate and so the instrumentals and the singers were the real show stealers. The plays went on till nearly 11pm. And after this we decided to go to Gondola’s in Pali.

Had plans to go to Mocha’s but couldn’t find place and we got really bored of waiting. Wandered around Bandstand for a while around 1am which is a bit early in the morning, crowded and swept by cops so dropped that idea as well.

So we just dropped Delilah and Elvis home. Got back and Melody realized she hadn’t carried her keys. So waited a while for her folks to get back (thankfully they weren’t too far away) before I made my way home around 1.45am.

What I have completely forgotten to mention so far was me losing my contact lens at Melody’s place. Or so I thought…

I displaced the lens of my left eye and suddenly the world around me was semi-blurred. Caused a good amount of chaos because Elvis, Melody and me were on fours in her house looking for the lens. Adding to this her Mom and Dad also came down to look for it, with her dad armed with a torch. All in vain.

We were getting late for the play and so we set off without the lens. On the way there, I decided to rub my eye and behold I could see. The lens had shifted below my eyelid and so couldn’t even be seen by anyone staring into my eye.

Well, the whole episode ensured a good amount of laughter and a lot of teasing for the rest of the evening!

Before that she woke me up around 8am to say her usual Good Morning

Went to the bank in the morning and met up with Madam C around 2.30pm.

We first went to Pizza Hut in Bandra to find Melody there with her friends :O

After a good meal, we went to Suburbia for the movie. Thankfully we got tickets.

Having seen the rating on IMDB, I wasn’t too sure I would enjoy it. Turned out quite the opposite.

Stealth is hypersonic speed, stealth technology and artificial intelligence all rolled in one and given the form of a fighter jet called EDI nicknamed Tin Man. Eddie is placed on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific to learn combat maneuvers from the human pilots. Unfortunately, the AI takes over and Eddie goes wild. It is now upto the human pilots to reel EDI in.

The tale took a few good twists which is what made it different and interesting. The special effects rock. The movie has many cockpit view scenes and watching the world through the pilot’s eye is really cool.

The acting is moderate, could have been better.

After the movie we went to Biona’s for milkshake and shawrma (not as good as Muscat), but nice.

Dropped Madam C home after this and went home straight. Was really tired and went to bed rather early.

This was mainly because my Nokia 6230 started giving problems! (

The menus have started behaving very weirdly and I guess it is because of it getting wet in the rains that stormed Mumbai last week!

On my way home I’ve given it for repairs.

Been told what I guessed and the software has to be upgraded. Should get it tommorrow.

Anyway, am planning to buy a new phone within the next week. Possibly, Nokia 3230 or Nokia 7650.

However, my tech geek friend Gautam suggests Nokia 6630 or Nokia 6681 or Nokia 6680.
Comparing phones on GSMArena.com. Let’s see what I turn up with.

Any suggestions, recommendations?
Remember the prices should be around those of the three above. As I’m a very poor boy

Until then, it’s my Mom’s Nokia 2300 (

Monday was a nice day at work. Didn’t go for practice as I had to work in the evening.

Tuesday the 26th will always be remembered as one disastrous day in Mumbai history.

It is the day that Mumbai received the highest rainfall of 944mms in Indian history since 1910 when Chirapunji got 830mm of rain.

The simple result was flooding of all low lying areas and several others which normally do not get flooded.

To make matters worse it was high-tide and the waters couldnt recede into the sea. Adding to this, several dams were opened to prevent overflowing of the lakes and so the water levels just got higher.

Even my area which seldom gets flooded had water upto waist level in certain areas.

The flooding all over Mumbai and Navi Mumbai left thousands of people stranted at their offices, schools and other places.

I was at work on Tuesday when the torrential rains began. Around 4.30pm our UPS tripped which meant no work that day. I didn’t realize why, but I think because our basement got totally flooded.

Though we wanted to go early, the buses weren’t available and so we had to wait till 6pm to leave.

The Andheri bus (in which I travel) driver was stuck in Mankhurd, which meant no bus for us. Got into the Borivali bus and though I would make my way home from there.

Rhea called (surprisingly she got through because all the phone lines were jammed and several places the network was down) and told me that the situation in Andheri was bad and I would be better off staying away.

Thankfully, I was in the Borivali bus and was able to stop over at Abhijeet Jana’s house in Thane.

Spent the night there. Most of Mumbai didn’t have electricity as the power companies had switched off the supply to prevent electrocuting people.
As a result almost all of Thane was closed. We were able to find a restaurant and have our dinner there.
After getting back home we chatted for a while and hit the beds.
Jana lent me a pair of his shorts for the night, so I didn’t have to sleep in my wet trousers

It wasn’t hot because of the rains but the flys were irritating.

Woke up a little later than I do on weekdays, mainly because we knew there wouldnt be work on Wednesday.

We went for lunch around 1.30pm and then I headed for Mulund Checknaka Bus Station to catch a bus for home.
Unfortunately the BEST buses were in major shortage as only 450 of their 3000+ buses reported back on Tuesday night. Many were unable to because of either breakdown or were stuck in traffic.

So, that meant a long wait of over an hour before I finally got a bus to get me home and then had to stand in the crowded bus for more than an hour.

On my return journey as we passed Powai lake I could really see the effect of the rains, because the water level had risen several feet.

Near Saki Naka (which is the scene of a major landslide where the deathtoll is very high) there was a large number of abandoned cars and buses lining the streets.
The death toll in Mumbai as of today stands over 400 and way over 1000 for the state of Maharashtra.

My bus which was supposed to go to Andheri East suddenly took the route to Andheri West and I ended up walking a good deal to get back to the East bus stop only to find that there were no buses there!

Rickshaws refused to come near my area (which is really sick attitude especially during such troubled times) and at long last I found a person willing to take me home

On getting back home, heard Mum’s experience of Tuesday. I had been able to get across two SMSes to them informing that I wont be coming home, so they weren’t that worried.

She walked a home from Santacruz on the flooded Western Express highway, because her bus couldnt move any further as the highway was blocked with many people having abandoned their cars.

Wednesday and Thursday were declared public holidays by our Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

We didnt have work as a result. Besides, we wouldnt have been able to as there was no electricity nor water.

Had work on Friday and Saturday to compensate for the holidays.

Needed to work those days as my project delivery dates are nearing and I must confess am in a bad state.

Saturday especially was pretty bad. Though we didnt have Internet for most of the day, I didn’t need it at all.

Day ended rather rough as well and I was rather irritated with myself. Well, it’s work. I won’t complain about it.

Have spent the whole of Sunday at home today (except for mass in the morning) and I don’t think I will be leaving the house as well as the rains have begun again and warnings have been issued to stay indoors.

I do hope I have work tomorrow. Lots of things to set right!

And I really hope that the week to come will not be like the week that went.

Had choir practice on Monday and A. Anita treated us as it was her birthday last Sunday.

Went out with Anjali on Thursday evening for soup to Lom Chings. I only like the place because of the soup. Not much for their dinner.

This once in a while outings with my pals keeps me uptodate with their lives, though I know my girlfriend isn’t always very pleased that I go out with other girls. Well, she’s a real sweetheart and trust is something our relationship is built on so well… no problems so far

Didn’t go for practice on Friday because I was really very irritated on some situation that had cropped up on Friday. Won’t post about it here because it would be bad publicity for those it concerns.

Saturday was the much awaited weekend as usual. Woke up nice and late.

Had to rush to the bank because of this. Visited my barber for a haircut and shave and after a quick wash rushed off to meet Madam C.

Since there wasn’t any good movie running we just decided to go for lunch at Lucky’s. After a good lunch (yes, her eyes are still bigger than her stomach) we went to Bandstand.

Placed turned out to be rather hot, being mid-afternoon, so we went to Reclamation which has a kindoff subway. Unfortunately, there happened to be some film shooting running there and we weren’t allowed there. And we were too bored to leave by then, so we just hung out along the wall there until nearly 4.15pm.

Left her home early as she was off to Khandala with her choir pals for a picnic.

Went to Melody’s house after this for a while before heading back home.

Woke up early this Sunday morning to go for 9.30am mass. Dropped Rhea home after mass and then went home. Had a late breakfast and so skipped lunch.

Spent a good deal of the afternoon working on WebberZone as well as the graphics for Canossa.
Went there in the evening. They like my work. Just few modifications.

Few hours left for today. Plan on going to bed early today. Yet another long tiring work week begins tomorrow.

Picked her up near Lucky’s and after withdrawing some cash and filling petrol, we went to Biona’s (it used to be Hot Bread’s).

The Chicken Tikka Plait (or plate or whatever) there was ok, but the chocolate milkshake was really delicious. So was the shwarma that she ordered.

After this we went to Reclamation (this seems to be our new haunt) to spend some quality time.

I sometimes do not understand how time really flies when I am with this girl. (All hail Albert Einstein!)

Anyway, dropped her home around 7.30pm and headed back home.

Wanted to go to bed early, but went to bed rather late because my brother was busy watching yet another Hindi movie on TV and I was busy completing the graphic for Canossa.