Neocortical Impulses!

Two Decades of Writing!

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:31:00 +0000

I just saw it has been a little over twenty years since I started my blog! Well well, at least I am still here to see all those posts 🙏😊

Many of my 'blog' posts would have fit on a Twitter/X post but I am proud of consistently(not really consistent) writing for over two decades now!

In the time of War!

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:20:00 +0000

I don't know. I don't know where to start, what to write about. There are too many things going on right now. Let me tackle them one at a time.

It all started with the war. I was at work, seeing a patient and a warning sounded on my phone. I assumed(hoped) it was another one of those test messages and continued seeing my patient.

Then my phone rang. I completed my examination and saw that my wife was calling. I advised the patient and called my wife back after having seen the alert(it was not a test message). There was a hint of panic in her voice as we discussed the alarm on the phone.

I asked her to collect our son(he was playing in his friend's house on a lower floor - it was a Saturday morning) and go to the groundfloor. As we were speaking, she said, “They've bombed, they are attacking.”

The panic also travelled through the phone but I did not want to show it yet. I repeated my words and asked her to collect our son and head to the groundfloor.

I excused myself from my workplace and got into my car, my hands shaking. Most people did not know yet that we were hit. The closer I got home, the thicker the black cloud of smoke appeared above the damaged site. I drove on through the traffic jam; my wife calling me to say that the traffic near our house was stand still, the vehicles were not even moving.

She was with our son's friend's parents and they were just driving away from the area. Some of their friends were headed to a mall not very far away and we decided to meet there. I got there first and parked in a ground where everyone else seemed to be parking(probably a bad idea). I went to the mall and it was mostly deserted.

We kept hearing multiple explosions all through my drive and when I was close to the mall, the windows on the buildings rattled as well. The explosions sounded as if they were happening right above us and I could hear the fear in my wife's voice everytime there was a sound.

I tried moving into the interior most part of the mall, away from any windows or doors, as we had been advised. I finally got a call when I was pacing around an empty spot. My wife, child and their friends had arrived.

They parked in the same ground I had parked. I almost ran to them and saw they were all clearly rattled. We headed to the basement parking area of the mall(which is what I should have done) where the other family's friends were gathered.

Let me take a break here.

I don't know if this is too boring to read or if anyone will even read it but at this point, this blog has existed for most of my writing life and it has become more of a record of my life events. So, even if no one reads this, it is good to write all of this somewhere where I can come back and read all of this(hopefully) at a later time.

#War #workduringwar #myexperiences

A book knocked the wind out of me!

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 08:31:00 +0000

A book knocked the wind out of me!

If you are wondering if someone threw a really heavy book at me, the answer is no. Though the book in question is quite heavy.

I have been reading Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings from the past several months and the ending of Part Three just knocked the wind out of me.

I literally had to close the book and sit quietly with my eyes closed. Even then, my mind reeled for several minutes. I felt sick reading how Kaladin got his slave brand! I can't remember the last time this happened to me while reading a book.

After several minutes, I decided that I had to write about this somewhere. And the best place seemed to be my blog on which I had not posted in a couple of years. I had to write about it, I couldn't not write it. So, here we are.

More than three hundred pages remain and I am on page 792. Like I said, it is a heavy book. Things are starting to heat up and I eagerly await the Sanderlanche.

Among other news, I am happy to share that I self-published my first ever novel on Amazon!

Lady in the Scarlet Scarf was published in November 2024 and is available to buy on Amazon. If you prefer to read it for free, you can do so on Royal Road.

Until next time, take care and see you soon hopefully.

Hello Again

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 09:52:00 +0000

Is this the longest gap since a blog post? I noticed that it has been more than 3 years since my last post here.

A lot more has happened:

Our little boy is growing up fast!
I started some YouTube channels
Closed that other blog called ElevatedNine
Published a short story on Amazon Kindle, am in the middle of writing a novel
Am still working outside my native country but my family is with me now :)

That's all for now I guess.

What's Up?

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 22:06:00 +0000

I came back to my beloved first blog after what felt like a few months. It sure doesn't feel like more than two years since the ice-cream cake! A lot has happened since then though.

I am a proud father of a cute little boy now. But, I am stuck in another country because of the ongoing pandemic and miss my family and friends very much.

I was just going through my old posts and they brought back a lot of memories. Also, I couldn't believe that I had 85 posts. Wow! Many of the posts are more or less status updates😆 I didn't remember many of the things I had posted here and am starting to feel old now.

What else... I am trying my hand at video game making. Started another blog with my wife, it's called Elevated Nine. Have been living alone for the first time in my life and it has been more than a year.... tried my hand at cooking too!

I guess these are the most significant updates since my last post. I am mostly writing this to myself; this blog has become my diary. I do not have the heart to close the blog even though I am not able to write regularly.

There is no purpose or message to this post. It is just a random rant at 12.55 am. So it will be quite incoherent. That's all for now...

An ice cream cake, a matinee movie and dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 10:41:00 +0000

The icecream cake was from Ibaco, movie was Jurassic World: fallen kingdom and dinner was buffet at Kabab Studio. A relaxed day after a long time, all to ourselves.
The occasion was my wife's birthday :)

12 years of blogging!

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 08:00:00 +0000

It has been more than 12 years since my first post on this blog! More than 10 years since I seriously started blogging. And more than 3 years since my last post on this blog. Time seriously flies!
I was just going through my previous posts, most of them from the year 2008. It was as if my life was playing out in front of my eyes. Lots of fond memories, few frustrations....
Feels good to look back on old memories. Should get back to active blogging. I have started a new blog related to technology:Technology Addict
Hoping to continue writing!

Married man!

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 12:45:00 +0000

Yup, that's what I've been for more than an year now. It also has been more than that since I've posted here. Marriage might be one of the reasons!

Done with comprehensive ophthalmology fellowship at Dr Solanki Eye Hospital.... Currently, I am working in Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences. Those are the significant updates in the past year or so.

Happy New Year😃

Dr. Solanki's eye hospital

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 17:02:00 +0000

Have joined dr solanki's eye hospital as a general ophthalmology fellow. Have been working there from July 1st and got my first pay cheque today:-) this is my first real salary, with deductions of professional tax as well:-p. During internship and post graduation, my pay used to be called stipend....
Lots of camps that I've been going to have been enriching experiences. Some pics from the camps

Completed my MS

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 16:11:00 +0000

and by the way, am feeling very happy to have completed my MS ophthalmology....

Doctors also need to be treated as humans first

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 15:47:00 +0000

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/315728/doctors-stir-strikes-sacred-oath

this was one of the articles published in deccan herald on march 1st. i gave a reply by sending an email to the editor. the letter never got published. here is my letter:

Sir,

This is with reference to 'Doctors have a legitimate right to strike' (DH, March 2) and 'Doctor's stir strikes at sacred oath' (DH, March 1). The rigors that a doctor has to undergo just to become a doctor, to complete his MBBS course is well known. After 4 and a half years of studying and 1 year of internship, the coveted degree is conferred. And then, most 'doctors' have to do post graduation in a field of specialization. During internship and post graduation, doctors are considered students and paid stipend as pay. Some doctors do not get any pay. So the plight of married people who are doing post graduation without any pay can only be imagined. And for doctors who are still considered students- post graduate students and interns, a night duty means working from 9 a.m. or sometimes even from 7.30 a.m. of one day till next day 4 p.m. at least, sometimes longer depending on the work left. And the next day is not off, they have to report to duty at 9 or 8 a.m. as the situation demands. There are other days of double duties where there are 2 days of consecutive duties, from 9 a.m. of one day to at least 4 p.m. of the third day. That is more than 55 hours of work at a stretch with no 'off' the next day. The labour laws don't apply to 'students'. After all this, some people have to do superspecialization in a field or a fellowship. A respectful environment and a decent pay is not guaranteed even at the end of this.At the end of the day, after almost 10 to 15 years of struggle, it is the expectation of a doctor to be treated with some basic respect a human being deserves and a decent pay for his services. Why is it that only doctors are expected to work in poor living conditions with minimal pay? To be posted to rural areas without proper infrastructure or security? Why is it that in some other non medical sectors of work, a person is offered jobs, before even completing his degree, with pays a doctor can start earning only after a few years of establishing his practice? Is it wrong of a doctor to expect to get treated with respect, to expect decent living conditions and pay?

ps: also, now the govt. wants us to serve as medical officers in rural areas for 3 years after post graduation for rs. 35,000 pay. not as specialists but as medical officers....

Sunday opd in BLCH

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Am in opd on a Sunday in bowring and lady curzon hospital after a really long time.... Here since 9 am with a junior pg. Hardly any cases.... Yawn

Return of sudbum

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:08:00 +0000

Met my close friends sudhir and shashank yesterday. Sudhir after 3 years and shanka after 6 months I think. Was funny to see sudhir speaking in the serious British accent:-) was really nice reminiscing the good old days including the school days. Hope to meet up a few more school friends soon- almost like a mini reunion....

Some Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:51:00 +0000

Good to see some bright sunshine today after the relentless rains yesterday. Had got badly drenched yesterday due to the un seasonal moderately heavy rains. Had ended up with soaking wet clothes and shoes and worsened cold and cough.
This bright weather itself does so much to lift my mood.

Everlasting songs

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:59:00 +0000

Listening to o saathi re sung by kishore kumar.... One of the most intense feel songs I've heard....
I feel like listening to this song over and over again today....
There are some songs which I can never get enough of. Yaare neenu Cheluve is another one of them. I have spoken about this song in one of my previous posts with a link to the video as well.
Two other such songs which I like are: may it be by Enya and my heart will go on by Celine Dion....

Coffee time

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 13:26:00 +0000

Coffee time in CCD.... With sunayana.

Lazy Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 06:12:00 +0000

had breakfast half an hour back..... chatted with pratap on sms. feeling quite lazy. not well from the last 4 days. the headache because of the frontal sinusitis i get is really bad. hmmmm..... yawn

Back again!

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:21:00 +0000

Hmmm. I know it really has been a long time since I've posted something on my blog. One reason was I am supposed to be busy with my pg life. It is not so busy that I couldn't post anything. Well now is the time to get busy actually. To get busy studying.
Am in my final year of pg life. Finished submitting my dissertation titled 'Evaluation of morphological patterns of uveitic macular edema using Optical Coherence Tomography' on 17th of November if I remember right:-)
Few months left for the exams.... Studying anatomy and physiology of the eye for now....
By the way, this is the first time am posting a blogpost from the android application for blogger from my mobile.

Day out on a bundh!

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:18:00 +0000

well,it's hard work being a doctor-you have to go to the hospital even on bharath bundh! i decided to use the public transport today as our bmtc buses were supposed to ply despite the bundh;i also thought it would be safer to travel in a bus than a two wheeler today. i had so much confidence that i even bought a daily pass when i got a bus in the morning-call it over confidence.....
it was actually very pleasing to see our bangalore roads so empty and the weather was pretty cool too today; i reached the hospital 10 minutes late as i had not got a bus quickly enough....
in the hospital itself,i think there was 50% attendance!
a cool morning started turning into an irritating afternoon-i had noticed that only one bus had gone through the road in front of our hospital since morning.... when it was time to leave, i saw that the auto drivers were having a field day.... i trudged back to the great k.r.market bus stand to find one police van parked there and nothing else!
i finally had to fall prey to one of the auto drivers and had to shell out 150 bucks to reach home. i had to bear his slow driving while he was looking for more potential customers-asking "ಎಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕೆ ಸಾರ್?" to everyone he saw on the road! to top it all,the auto driver was pissed that he had to come such a long way and i was paying him only double the meter charge!

talk about bharath bundh and the losses incurred by the various sectors today,but the auto-wallahs sure made some quick buck today....

German juggernaut rolls on!

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 17:19:00 +0000

well,well, the germans gave done it again-score 4 goals in an important world cup match,its the third time this world cup. what an entertaining second half it was! to score 4 against argentina..... wow.... the counter attacks against england were impressive, but today, the passes were incisive and the deft touches decisive! looks like they`ll go all the way and even lift the cup this time. i was a staunch supporter of england before the cup began but i am rooting for the germans now,they have made me a convert!

waka waka

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:21:00 +0000

watched the argentina v/s nigeria match yest, i feel nigeria squandered too many chances,they could`ve easily secured a draw....
here is the waka waka video

sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:03:00 +0000

this is the first real sunday-holiday i`ve had since i started at moh. had the full day off today,got up later than i had in maybe 5 years.... it`s been quite a boring day overall till now,i just dont know what to do. i was longing for a holiday and when i finally got one,i dont know what to do....

maybe i`ll watch a movie later in the day;for now, its time for lunch-i know its a little late,but i did start the day very late....

found this video while browsing youtube

Mixed Feelings

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:22:00 +0000

it was with mixed feelings that i had ended my last real post and i start this one with the same mixed feelings. i am happy for having been lucky enough to get a pg seat in my first attempt in bmcri-m.s.ophthalmology!
yet,it was not the first subject in my order of preference.....
i still miss my ug days at bmcri.... with great power comes great responsibility,haha.... i have quite a responsible job now,cant get away,now, with mistakes that might have been forgiven in internship.
being in school was better than being in college was better than being in mbbs was better than being an intern was better than being a pg.....
change is the order of nature and life has to move on,so be it....
onto greater (ad)ventures then!

Jungle book ( Mowgli )

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Sun, 23 May 2010 15:54:00 +0000

brought back fond memories from my childhood!

Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Mithrandir) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:45:00 +0000

tomorrow is officially our last day of internship, but because of a 4 day strike we went on, in the beginning of internship last year, we have got to do a 4 day extension:( socials coming up on 9th, graduation day on 13 th(as of now).

am already feeling so bad about internship coming to an end,about college life in general coming to an end.... can`t imagine how it`ll be without your closest friends around you;am surely going to miss everything about bmc. am feeling pretty depressed even as i type this.... but life has to go on, we have to move on to greater (?ad)ventures in life,isn`t it?

Neocortical Impulses!

Two Decades of Writing!

In the time of War!

A book knocked the wind out of me!

Hello Again

What's Up?

An ice cream cake, a matinee movie and dinner

12 years of blogging!

Married man!

Dr. Solanki's eye hospital

Completed my MS

Doctors also need to be treated as humans first

Sunday opd in BLCH

Return of sudbum

Some Sun

Everlasting songs

Coffee time

Lazy Sunday

Back again!

Day out on a bundh!

German juggernaut rolls on!

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waka waka

sunday

Mixed Feelings

Jungle book ( Mowgli )

Updates