Energy

We (all four of us) were watching the CNN's Energy crisis show on Earth day. Other than food channel, we do not have much choice to watch TV, with everyone in the room. This energy crisis show got our undivided attention (including Chotu). Cars stalling on highways with no gas, gas price going up to $8 a gallon, energy wars, alternate solutions etc., We as a family took a decision to buy a Hybrid as our next car (when on of our current car dies). The next day Vin wakes up and says he had a dream.

Vin: Mom! I had this dream.
M: What is it kanna?
Vin: I was a teenager and was driving a car and went to the gas station to fill up my car.
Vin: They had a sign board saying "No GAS!" comeback in 24 days.
M: um.
Vin: When I went back on the 24th day they still did not have any GAS.
M: Oh! what did you do?
Vin: I bought a new Hybrid car!
M: Oh :)

(this will be his reality whe he is a teenager)

After little awareness about world energy resources over the weekend we went back to work on Monday in two cars (btw we both work in the same building). We give many reasons for not car pooling (flexible schedules, errands etc.,). Any ways from CNN's show I learned Brazil is almost an energy independent country.

New Wine in Old Bottle!

I am on a short trip to Seattle. The flight from Pasco to Seattle as expected is not full. After the routine enthusiastic safety announcements, the air hostess severed beverages. More often, than occasionally, they serve wine on this flight. We have tons of vineries in and around our area. Halfway through the aisle of serving, AH (Air Hostess ) got a call on her line and she spoke for few minutes. I am sure everyone had their own thoughts about this gesture. The usual protocol on this 40 minutes flight is, you board, buckle, safety announcements, beverages, garbage collection and un-buckle. After serving couple of more seats, she announces we have a brithday girl in row #e, please sing a happy birthday song. I am sure the birthday girl was as embarassed as us, as we sang. This is also very usual in such small flights. The more unusual interesting part is yet to come. Finally she comes to my seat:

AH: Would you like something to drink?
Moi: Sure. Some wine please.
AH: (one minute stare and) Can I see your ID?
Moi: Whatt?
AH: I need to see your ID.
Moi: (my internal conversations are more like 'Timon' in Lion King series. Excuse me! She serves it to every bald, fat, old, long necked, gray haired, round bellied species on the flight and now she wants to see my ID. This is not an another 'Random my ### check' is it?)
Moi: Was trying to reach the hand luggage cabin.
AH: Hands me my bag.
Moi: I pull out my driver's license and flash it before her like some official and embarrassingly, "I am too old you know".
AH: That's ok.
Moi: But! you made my day, Thank you with a one mile smile from cheek to cheek.
AH: Laughs!

All yesterday I was on cloud #9 and am slowly descending to reality. But she did slash off 15+ years of me. That felt good, thanks to my kids who keep me on my toes and in shape, thanks to DH (Dear Husband) for his healthy recipes and thanks to my gym. Does this effect have on men? Not the wine effect- the under estimation of age. Or is it just a Women's privilege?

OT-VCT

One of Those Violin Class Trips..

Vin: Are any of your relatives from 'Gang'?
Mom: What?
Vin: You know 'Gang'.
Mom: You mean 'Gang'.
Vin: umhu
Mom: Where did you hear that word?
Vin: From Mrs. T.
Mom: Whats the context?, I mean what sentence did she use?
Vin: She was readin Jackie Robinson's Biography.
Mom: (felt stupid but had to ask) Who is Jackie Robinson?
Vin: Baseball player,...
Mom: Ok what about him and 'Gang'.
Vin: Oh! Mrs T said, being in a 'Gang' makes life pretty bad.
Mom: Oh! there are different meaning of 'Gang' like many things.
Mom: One is a group of people (friends) are called 'Gang' and the other one is the one you mentioned.
Vin: Oh! like many words that have two meaning one bag and good.
Mom: Yeah. To answer your question, NO- no one in my family is part of a 'Gang'.
Vin: Oh. Which kind of people join the 'Gang'?
Mom: Kids who are not good at school and who don't have parents etc.,
Vin: How are they born, if they don't have parents?
Mom: Sometimes, parents leave and also when they don't have money, they might join the bad company.
Vin: Oh.


Mom:(This kid is scaring the shit out of me)

During my spring break , I visited my Uncle in Seattle, who has two grown up boys. He consoled me "it is better to be aware of such things than being ignorant. He will be exposed no matter how hard you try. Just keep the communication open, it will always help".

Choti Moo Badi Baath

Chotu: (Blowing the birthday horn loud) booooo..
Mom: Chotu , Pls use indoor voice.
Chotu:Sees a glass of water and blows the horn in there making bubbles.
Mom: (The control freak in me) Chotu, pls don't spill water kanna.
Chotu: Keeps blowing bubbles with his horn.
Mom: (gives up, it will take me 5 seconds to clean up the mess)
Chotu: Mom, do you want to try it?
Mom: Without a second thought tries hard into the water and feels good about it.
Chotu: Smiles with a sparkle in his eyes and says "See you spilled the water and made a mess".
Mom: :-|
Mom: Ok guys cleaning time, please get the paper towel and clean it up.
Chotu: Mom, that's your mess pls clean it up.
Mom: :-|

My World View

Thanks to Vivek for this post. Was running out of ideas and this helped.

You scored as Idealist. Idealism centers around the belief that we are moving towards something greater. An odd mix of evolutionist and spiritualist, you see the divine within ourselves, waiting to emerge over time. Many religious traditions express how the divine spirit lost its identity, thus creating our world of turmoil, but in time it will find itself and all things will again become one.

Idealist		88%
Cultural Creative		75%
Materialist		75%
Existentialist		63%
Postmodernist		50%
Modernist		38%
Romanticist		25%
Fundamentalist		25%

What is Your World View? (updated)
created with QuizFarm.com

Motivation

What motivates one?

Vin is motivated and is on the writing spree. He loves to collect bionicles. DH promised him to give him a $1.50 for every good piece of art /literature that he puts it out to spend on new bionicles.

Chotu is not so motivated even after seeing his paintings on the interneth. What drives him is his passion for painting and the quality time he spends with his dad.

Money no longer motivates me to do anything. The challenge in a task motivates me.

Feel free to jot your motivation secrets.

Spring Break

Posting from headquarters Olympia (WA). Taking a semi-vacation at my sissy's place with my two boys. Updated Vin's and Chotu's blogs. Boys are having too much fun with the playstation while the gals (myself and sister) are having ya ya sisterhood time.