The pages keep turning...

Boris Yeltsin, one of the statesmen who featured on numerous covers of Newsweek while I was growing up, died earlier this week.

He became Prez round about the same time as Bill Clinton in the U.S. His legacy, very much like that of Clinton's, is pretty patchy - but unlike Clinton who's legacy got the rotten egg because of his womanizing, Yeltsin was a patchy politician. His presidency was dominated with instances of poor judgement and sometimes - impaired judgement (induced by some vodka). And yes - his method of privatizing state owned industries made millionaires out of a few. A few who contributed to his re-election campaign in 1996. Anybody wants to know how Roman Abramovich got so rich?

The day after BY's passing, a 'know-it-all' at work asked me (in front of my entire team) whether I knew who Boris Yeltsin was. This is the kind of ignominy I face daily at my work-place. But more about that when I quit this place.

Its my birthday week!! And I will hit 30 on 28th. Many folks I know who hit 30 before told me about it being a strange feeling. I always thought that if one felt young and kept fit - no increase in years really mattered ... especially 30. Come on!! Its just 30!! You know, 26, 27, 28, 29 ... and 30. Big deal!!

But I have to admit - I notice young people more often now. I look around - I see college kids and kids in school uniforms. And I think youth is wasted on the young*. As I get older, the skirts get shorter!! When I started working, I was 22. Back then if someone asked me my age, I said I was 26 - just to be taken seriously. Sigh.

I remember Sabarish. And Ranadeep. And Sajjad.

I figure that the sooner I get over the fact that in 10 years I'm gonna feel even more fucked when I turn 40 - 30 doesn't look or sound bad at all. And I reckon I am in terrific shape - both mind and body. All I need is to sort my life out professionally - and set the path ahead for my wife and the family I hope to have with her.