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.

Inside Man

After a Mongolian (my fav) lunch, we went to the 'Inside Man' first show on the first day. Felt like those college days, if you know what I mean. We settled down in the last but one row and watched all the previews and sighed to each other, this one is good and this is just a 'nah' nod for the upcoming flicks.

The feature presentation 'Inside Man' started with its production banners and guess what's the background song is ?
Give up?

jinke sar ho ishq ki chhaanv
paanv ke neeche jannat hogi

Was taken back with a pleasant surprise and eager to watch what comes next. Then it all started with 'chal chhaiyaan chhaiyaan chhaiyaan chhaiyaan, chal chhaiyaan chhaiyaan
chhaiyaan chhaiyaan' the titles started rolling 'Denzel Washington', 'Jodie Foster' , 'Clive Owen' etc.,

While I was enjoying the beat and watching the titles, DH got restless, he leaned over and whispered, "Are you sure we are in the right movie?" I nodded with a big smile from one ear to the other and said, "Relax, it is just the title song". I can still see the doubtful look on DH's face, because the lyrics continued even after the titles stopped. DH is not much of hero, heroin running around bushes singing songs type. While 'sar ishq ki chhaanv chal chhaiyaan chhaiyaan' was going, DH must be thinking/ expecting Denzel coming out from a bush in his red suit and dancing with Jodie. That will be one Hollywood comedy hit, if it came into reality.

As far as the movie goes, it was Ok, lil slow and not much action role to Denzel. Jodie was cute, and not much romance added to the theme. If you are looking for adult language, you get tons of it.

Interpreter

When I have no deadlines, submissions, parties to cook for, timely Motrin doses to give, I occasionally read my future hoping to see something in there to look forward too.

Astro this Week:

The emphasis moves from partnerships to deeper matters of soul and soul-mate relationships. Joint financial affairs may also be on your agenda of issues to discuss or reflect upon.

(eyes rolling, I am thinking what does the first sentence mean to me, cause I do understand the second statement, this is the Tax month and we still need to file)


The Sun moves into Aries on Monday, and this is going to give you a chance to make a fresh start, and to birth new ideas that have been in your thoughts. However, if you are going to sign new contracts that could be worth a lot of money, it may best to wait until Mercury turns direct - wait until Sunday. This is going to mean that delays will be removed and you will find that progress is swift and smooth.

(New start! Darn! I thought I will start my new exercise schedule. Well I think I will have to wait until Sunday. Hopefully from then on it will be swift like the astrologer said.)


Jupiter is currently retrograde in your communication zone, so don't worry if advertising campaigns or mailings seem to be slow in bringing results. The seeds have been planted, even if you get the results some months down the line.

(Of course I have been asking DH to file taxes from last month, maybe he will make a mistake during the 11th hour and we will get our letter from the IRS in few months)


Saturday brings a need to be both practical and something of a visionary. Perhaps you would do well to take your intuition seriously and listen to those gut feelings. But be prepared to take a look at some far-out ideas that could make waves. Gather opinions from other sources as well.

(Kids are home, so have to be practical. Of course I have to listen to their guts too. Sunday I will write it in my blog and get opinions about how smart I dealt with Vin and his questions on one of those Violin class trips)

Damn! How do the Astrologers know about me so much?

Good Morning America

Vin and Chotu are busy watching Clifford. DH is busy in the kitchen. Mommy is feeding Chotu, eggy without yolk.

Vin: Daad Wherz my chocolate milk?
DH: I thought no chocolate milk for you today.
Vin: Huh! Dad, givve me my chocolate milk.
DH: Didn't mommy says no milk today? (DH loves kids tantrums in the morning)
Vin: Dad! we should send you somewhere else..
Chotu: Yahu...
Mom: Send him where ? Like Madagascar?
Vin: Yeah!
Chotu: (Jumping) Yay!
Mom: (Relieved ;)

We recently saw that movie and can't wait to ship off Daddy :)

Why do my cheese keep moving?

This is a spoof to "Who moved my cheese?" or just a frustrated Friday evening experience.

Our cheese keeps moving, everyday, every month, every year. We want a better smelling, color, quality cheese and keeps pushing ourselves in pursuit of it. We are not content, maybe we are designed not to be content with what we have. Someone superior is watching this whole rat race from up above and gets a kick out of moving all our cheese one inch a day.

We are at a age where the M mouse and the D mouse are always in a hunt for "the cheese", no matter how much cheese is in store, we are always running after it. I hope somebody, some day writes a book about, 'stop running for cheese' and it is O. K. to run out of cheese.

What could be worse than, the D mouse is afraid of the situation where he cannot go on a hunt for the cheese, because of a family situation? The D mouse expects the M mouse to have all the answers and solutions. Wow! that must be one super mouse he got there.

The M mouse is ambitious and at the same time responsible and is expected to tackle the situations giving the D mouse his space for the ultimate cheese hunt. I despise the cheese hunt quality in M and wish can stop it, in spite of writing it in a blog.

The cute lil baby mice coughing their guts out with their lil elbows covering the mouth, so that the hunter mice doesn't get sick. The baby mice not exposed to the cheese hunt scenario would just want to cuddle up with the warm M and D mice forever. Thank god to the authors who have not yet written about- 'Success cheese hunt for six'.

What a cheesy experience that would be! Let get more cheese :)

You would know..

answers to many of these questions, if you are a second grader

Q: How would you make a witch scratchy?
A: By taking away the 'w'

Q: What did the boy Octopus ask the girl Octopus?
A: Can I hold your hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand.

Q: Why did the boy take a ruler along to the bed?
A: To see how long he slept.

Q: What do you call a snail on a boat?
A: A Snailor. Get it!

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: To get some eggsersize.

and many more of course.

While you were busy...

As my quarter ends, I needed to wrap up some data analysis and write up some reports. Like you care. Yah, everything is warming up on this side of pacific. Vin has more questions than ever, I don't know what he asks in the school, he got a "continuously curious orca" award twice. Last week, when we were working on his science fair project:

vin: Mom! what is gay?
Mom: **I wish I did not know, but looked straight into his eyes and said**- 'HAPPY'
vin: **With an unsatisfying look**- Is there another meaning to it?
mom: Like...?
vin: the teenage gay..
mom: I am not sure about it..

I should get a most "shocking questions listener award" grrr.


On the lighter side..when putting chotu in bed

chotu: momy, can you thell me a dragon bosther story?
mom: **happy he is not asking about Ramayana anymore** Yeah, once there was a big red dragon booster..
chotu: why is it red? and why is it not blue?
mom: Because he ate lot of apples.
chotu: oh!
mom: he was walking in the jungle and ..
chotu: was it dark?
mom: yea...h and there was nobody **whispering**
chotu: say it loudly momy **angry**
mom: Ok, and he was looking for food.
chotu: whath does he eath?
mom: apples, broccoli, beans, chicken , these are all good for health
chotu: oh! if I eath those will I be like Bheema?
mom: **oh man!**. Yeah, ok listen the dragon goes home and gets into his bed and sleeps.
chotu: Oh! goodnite momy, I love you.
mom: I love you kanna, sleep tight.

Time Slice

At the breakfast table

Vin:Do you want to get married?
Chotu: No.
Vin:No, I meant when you grow up.
Chotu: I am not growing up Vin!


After a fight

Vin:I hate him, I am never talking to him.
Chotu:Same here, I don't care about you too.
Vin:Why does everybody choose him over me?
Chotu: I am nottt playing with you anymore.


Late Evening

Chotu:Can Vin sleep in my room plsss?
Vin:Mom! Can I sleep in his room?
Chotu: plsss, plsss..
Vin: I love him so much.
Vin: As a matter of fact, I hate him some times, but I love him.
Chotu: Ya! me too.

Substitute

Remember the ban on Ramayana for Chotu. Ramayana is substituted by painting lessons from DH. First Chotu wanted to paint only Thataki and Soorpanaka. Eventually this blog is turning out to be a family blog of painters. Chotu has his own blog now called Chotus Canvas. As opposed to Vin's paintings, Chotus work will be more guided by DH(because he still listens unlike his bro). And yes, I did change the look-n-feel of my blog like everyone.

Dream Busters

Who else?
Vin and Chotu jumping on my bed playing power rangers..
Dishoom dishoom Power ranger SPD dyano thunder..
I gott the bad guys..yahh..

Is going on in the back ground while I was in the middle of a suspense thriller dream today morning. I was late for an International flight and am driving a lorry through buildings etc., and there comes my dream buster.

chotu: Mom! wake up it is morning.
Mom: pch! (It is only 9:00AM) ok.

chotu gets under the comforter( blanket) and puts his cold feet and hands on me.

Mom: chotu! please don't put your cold hands on me.
chotu: Ok. (he keeps doing it)

Mom: chotu, I asked you not to keep your cold feet on me.
chotu: But, I am warm.

Mom: No! you are cold.
chotu: I said, I am a "wormm".

Mom: (plans to continue my dream are busted)

Blooper

Vin: What is that book? Lemme see
Mom: No! This is my work.

Vin: What is it about?
Mom: This is my Lab note book.

Vin: What do you have in there?
Mom: When I do experiments, I record everything about it.

Vin: It is same as what we do in class. Like our Science Journal.
Mom: Yes.

Vin: Why do you do second grade stuff?
Mom: :-

My Valentine

Papa Talk

Vin: Nanna, what does having a crush means?
Nanna: It is similar to liking someone.

Vin: So I have a crush on Ash.
Nanna: Umm, no you just like her.

Vin:Can I have a crush on guy, if I like him?
Nanna: No.

Vin: (points his index finger and explains to him) There isss a boy marriage.
Nanna: (Hates to agree) Ohh.

Nanna: You are not allowed to have crush at the age of six.
Vin: How old should I be, to have a crush?

Nanna:21
Vin: Oh man! I cannot have crush until I am 21...

Side Note:
Turtles Can Fly: Was the movie, I watched yesterday. Awesome! beautifully directed and portrayed. Simply superb, yada yada....

Winds swept low

On this side of the Pacific North West, we have severe winds blowing at this time of the season. Tumble weeds rolling along and the fine dust in your nostrils is a some kind of experience. On NPR (National Public Radio) yesterday, the hostess mentioned , none of us need our hair styled. The wind does its job. The moment I would step out of my car, the well groomed hair ( I would like to think so) would stand up against the gravity. Not that any people notice the so well groomed hair, but it is an uneasy feeling - do not know which part of your bald or grey is showing. Skirts, Hats, and hair do s are bad at this time. Updates on the home front, DH and Chotu are back and showing off their cranky side of the jet lag.

Are we there yet?

What the heck, we will be late for the meeting by only two hours - is the attitude of the people living here. I love it. But, I don't think I can do it. The last ten years of my lifestyle has tuned me to do something always (if possible productive) . It will take me another ten years to un-do it.

Can we take along?

Mom: Ok, lets go..
Chotu: No!
Vin: She's so cute..
Chotu:Ya, mom can we take her home?
Mom: Ok, common lets go..
Chotu:No! Mom , you go. Bye

One of those violin class trips..

Vin: What is O2?
Me: Oxygen
Vin: What is H2?
Me: Hydrogen.
Vin: We all know H2O, is there O2H2?
Me: Yeah. There is OH too, it is called alcohol.
Vin: Awww. Is this the smoking alcohol?
Me: Yeah, that is the bad Alcohol.
Vin: Do people in India drink alcohol?
Me: Yess.
Vin: Is alcohol bad for body?
Me: Once in a while, after 18, it is not that bad.
Vin: OH! so I will have alcohol after 18 once in 5 Years.
Me: Oh!
Vin: Well my friend "X" drinks wine.
Me: There are some festive occasion in Churches, that sometimes the Father of the church gives wine.
Vin: I am an American, I can go to Church and get some wine.
Me: Yeah, You are an American born to Hindu parents. So you are Hindu.
Vin: I guess, I have to wait until I am 18.
Me: (Oh! my god..)
Vin: I will get married to Ash and then come back to America.
Me: When you grow up and when it is time and when you both like each other , then you can get married.
Vin: I like Ash now.
Me: If you like someone, it doesn't mean you marry them. Any ways long ways to think about it.
Vin: Yeah...
Me: (Thank god it is only 15 minute drive to Violin class, otherwise I would not know how to answer his questions)

Once in India, my mom made "Bobbatlu" (sweet chapatis), Vin loved those.While I was putting him in bed, he asked me:
Vin: Mom! we need to ask ammamma (Grandma) this recipe. I need to learn how to make "bobbatlu and make it for my family.
Vin: You know, once I get married and have kids and all. They are awesome. I need to learn.
Me: Giggles. Ok Kanna. We will ask ammamma tomorrow for the recipe.

It is cute to hear such stories, but it concerns me of his planning. I don't even plan for tomorrow.

Vennetlo Godari Andam.. (The beauty of river Godavari in Moonlight)

The fertile delta between the River Godavari branches is most depicted in Telugu movies as lush green villages. My friend Sai and her husband are from around here. So, we put in a request to Sai and Vissu (Sai's DH) for a short trip. Itwas worth every second spend there. We (we four, my MIL, Sai and Vissu) rented a Qualis (10 seater) one Saturday early morning (3:00AM) and hit the road towards the great konaseema. It is also refereed as East and West Godavari. It was a 8 hour drive with beautiful sceneries. We spoke, ate, sang, stopped for bath room breaks for Vin and Chotu along the way. We finally reached Sai's Uncle's place.
We were received very very cordially, (it is one of the characteristics of konasemma-hospitatliy, is given high importance). We visited Sai's grand fathers house - a small thatched (with coconut leaves) mud house, with a huge backyard (10-15 acres if you must know) of agricultural lands. The old couple manage the whole thing. We got Vissu to climb up a ladder and get us some sweet coconuts and briefly looked at Cabbage, drum sticks and few other vegetable gardens. After the refreshments (fresh coconut water and pulp) we headed to visit the villages along the river banks. We stopped in a village called Kapileswaram where there is a "Veda Patasala" that DH heard about earlier. This school is run by a rich Zamindaar (Land Lord) for girls to learn "Hari Katha". It is a four year degree for students with good music and Abhinay skills after high school. The students reside in the premises and learn music, dance etc., from very famous visiting faculty along with the resident gurus. The girls sang 3 songs for us. It was simply melodious and divine.
We were asked to look at Zamindaar's residence and we had to leave in a hurry because we promised the kids a boat ride on the Godavari and it was getting dark. Finally we managed to reach the "revu" and boarded the boat that is rowed by a single man (our hero). That was a scary moment for a while, we all could not move, because the boat would loose its balance even if we moved slightly. Chotu was getting restless. It almost got dark and we could see the real beauty of river Godavari in the Moon light. It was the most beautiful evening I would never forget.

The best of the two worlds

World A:
You get best filtered coffee.
Dosa/Idli/Upma for breakfast.
Very short days.
People, people, people everywhere.
Honks, dust, smoke, traffic jams.
Colorful outfits, different languages.
Head and feet are always on the ground.
Smiles, tears, pain, spiritual, anger, relations etc.,
Small day-to-day life hurdles.
Diversified economic sections.

World B:
Very quite mornings.
Bagle/10 grain cereal/Protein bar for breakfast.
Long uneventful day.
Hardly see anyone.
Plain ride, foggy mornings, fresh air, and smiley faces.
Optimistic, ambitious, goals oriented.
The same feeling of no feeling everyday.
Not so diversified economic sections.
Dreams come true.

I love my worlds.

Back to home from home!

Had a wonderful trip! Had tons of fun. I don't know where to begin, so will just write as it comes to my memory (no chronological order). The first thing I did, after I landed (of course after refreshing) in India, I surprised my friend (Sai) by going straight to her work. It took her one day to recover from it. I spent most of the time on this trip in Interior Designing of a single bed-room apartment. I don't like to call it Interior Decoration for some reason. For most of you who don't know my background, I am an Architect by training and never practiced officially other than few design suggestions to friends and relatives.
We have a single bed-room apartment close to my MIL's place (Mother-In-Law) that is by all means must have been designed by the contractor himself or a Civil Engineer or by a compromised Architect. The bed room has no ventilation except for a small opening into the shaft. They were cement shelves in each room and the floor was marble got a Wow! effect in the family. The half dying Architect in me shouted aloud, Help Me! (quite dramatic ha). Any ways so walked to Sai's (practicing Architect) office and said and I need some renovation done to my apartment. She was like, "OK - What do you want to do with it". I need to cover those shelves and do something with the bed-room lighting. It took two days for us to meet with their Interior Designer. I told him what I exactly wanted done to the apartment. He didn't expect a very decisive client who is an Architect by training at first, later we understood each other very well. I designed the whole thing, Sai implemented it in Auto-CAD and the ID (Interior Designer) suggested the labor and materials. You need to have lot of patience and money management skills to get work done. You need to be there 24 X 7 while the work is going on, otherwise things turn out to be just the opposite of what you want :) Ma'am this looks great! Moi, No! I want it like this was the quote of the month. Meanwhile DH (Dear Husband) was getting fits with my construction/renovation budget. It looks great already what are you doing to it? Huh! Please wait until it is done- me on the other end, miles away trying to convince him of my Architectural abilities. It is a three-week story, I will post some tidbits later meanwhile enjoy the pictures. At the end the single-bed/single-bath turned out to be a cute double-bed/double-bath apartment. I was happy to have completed it with utmost satisfaction and so was everyone including DH.