Raman's Blog

Its been bit late but I am writing now. There has been some new good developments. Provigil was added to my existing Zoloft. This combo therapy is working much better for me. I have more active/functional hours now and less sleeping hours. So that makes me happy.

I read Naipaul’s Between Father and Son (family letters) … it was very interesting … I am liking Naipaul more and more and I’m now reading his best novel A house for Mr Biswas.  

I have also discovered the King library at San Jose. It has a great collection. I could get a lot  of old and difficult books. So I will be going there quite frequently.  

Also got good children’s books for the kids in last weekend’s book-sale at Palo Alto.

I am enjoying the life now …

It’s been some time since I have written last time. Things have been kind of OK. I have cut down on my time spent on books, games, etc and diverted that time for family and health. Also discussed with my Dr. He also agreed and insisted that I should not break the rules and try to keep physical activities and family/social interaction aspect taken care to make the full treatment work.  So I have started working on it seriously. It seems be giving somewhat better results so I am planning to continue this thing going on.

Things have been OK on the book front. Recently I purchased for myself and my son the DS Lite and Brain Age game. It’s a nice game full of puzzles and other brain games. I am having fun with it. It is somewhat addictive.

It has been kind of a mixed week. Some things are good and some other things not so good.. Things are OK on the books front. Health has been a mixed bag .. need to work on weight and cholesterol reduction. Also now taking 400 mg .. will try it for 2 more weeks and if fatigue problems are back than doctor has suggested that we will try combo therapy with Zoloft + wellbutrin OR Zoloft + Provigil.  Lets see how things go.

Money wise things are also going fine. Stocks have done well so I’m feeling bad that I missed the housing boat ..  Need to do some streamlining for the fin investments.

Some of the work stuff at office is becoming difficult. I have to literally drag myself to get it done.

Went to my doc and expplained that even upto 300 mg of dose is not helping. He wanted to add We or Pr. I checked with him if we can increase the dose upto 400 and that will be the last try. So I am now taking 350 mg which have worked fine so far (ie about a week) infact I am suppose to go on 400 from today if 350 turns out insufficient. However since it feels goo so I will probably continue on 350 for some more time. I hope we will finally put this to an end and I will be able to focus on my activities and interests.

On the home, this Sunday parents went from house. One shud not say this but  it seems like bit easier at home now since I am getting some time for my own activities.

Finished Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men.. I am liking his books. They have quick and street English which feels good to me.

I just got this device which will help me in converting my audio cassettes to mp3 files. I am so excited with this prospect. I just installed and tested and it seems to be working great. I am planning to convert all my audio cassettes to digital files. I will finally have full and easy access to some of the rare audios which I had only on cassette. This device will also be useful in future when I stumble upon any interesting audio cassette..

It was bit stressful last week. With parents around, son’s troubles and work and fatigue and everything else. I discussed it with N and after that I am feeling little better. Today I am going to see Dr and I believe we have increase the dose since even 300 mg worked only for a week. I am also going to check with him If I can increase within 7 days or 10 days. Let’s hope that it will stop at 400 mg and it will not continue on and on.

I haven’t seen any movies for so long. Waiting for things to settle down and then I will go for some movie. I finished ‘Sweet Thursday’ and now reading ‘Of Mice and Men’. I have got this scrabble game on my mobile and man its so addictive. I have urge to go on and on.. But time is always less…

Anyway better days are ahead and I am expecting a more relaxed and book-ful days ahead …

Right now I don’t have that much office work so it’s kind of good and bad. Good because no work related stress  but bad because its difficult for me to fill my time-sheets.  I am reading abha dawesar’s Babyji novel .. its good  though there is some overdose of sex and mischief .. also it seems like author’s other novels also have overemphasis on act of passions. Whatever it is atleast Babyji I am going to finish. If not anything else its probably liberating to see an Indian woman like the one portrayed in Babyji.

Last Saturday I went to the book sale and got some nice books for my son and for myself. At this moment I am having quite a books in an ongoing parallel reading here is the list…

• The Bookstore Moue


• Granta 57 (India Special edition)


• Freedom at Midnight


• Babyji


• Sweet Thursday

There are also atleast 10-20 other pretty interesting books waiting for my reading pleasure.

It’s kind of a mixed bag here. Parents are here. I have found a good writer in J Steinbeck.  I am reading Sweet Thursday now and planning to read Cannery Row and ‘Of Mice and Men’ soon. In terms of work things are going stable. I finished my first toastmaster’s speech and planning to do the next one soon.  But I have to keep myself dragged to  finish the office. Man I tell you , its tough.

It is sometime difficult to appreciate the philistine/backward activities of my folks. I am kind of in a loose-loose situation and I don’t what is the best way to handle it. Lets see how I manage this thing.

I have to become more strict with my exercise otherwise my tummy is becoming a gas factory. Here also I have to drag myself to do the exercise everyday.