HP Trip – Day 1

We flew from HYD-Delhi. This is Sai’s first ever flight and she said “it is just like a big bus” and it was. Air travel has become so common in India; I remember reading somewhere that India and China will have worst air traffic in the coming years. NJ’s family picked us up and her DH (dear husband) drove us around Gurugaon and finally to their home. SV, NJ’s husband did his masters at the same time we were in our B.Arch, so we were talking about old times, meanwhile Deepu – NJ’s son got really bored. We had Pizza, played cards (KM card playing crash course begun) and head off to Sarojini Nagar Market. After living in U.S. for long, personal space is something I take it for granted or feels it is my birth right. I only realize it is a myth when I enter markets like Sarojini nagar. I avoid many shopping centers and temples for the same reasons. We did have lot of fun other than my people phobia. From there we drove to India Gate and I was surprised to see so many people. I have always seen India Gate in movies with no people except the filmi folks jogging etc. Relying on Airborne, I did have the yummy roadside 'bhel'. NJ’s family drove us off to a metro station. Delhi metros are no less to Europe metros. It was amazing to see how fast you can get to from point A to point B without traffic. Finally we landed at Old Delhi station and boarded our much awaiting train “Jammu Mail” that will take us to Pathankot (Chakkibank). The weather in Delhi was very humid and sticky, I was so glad to get into the moving train. Due to jet lag and the entire shopping gala, I dozed off very early, whereas Sai and KM kept chatting for long hours.

Anticipation…

Lot of planning and scheduling went into our HP (Himachal Pradesh) trip. I called up Sai one day and asked her if she would be interested in 3-4 day trip to some where we have never been. Sai and I have been to most of the south and northern India during our Architectural tours in college. She suggested “Dharamsala” over the phone and my mind got fixated on it. Did all the research on how to get there and what to see around. Meanwhile we asked NJ, Chakri and KM if they would be interested in joining us. NJ had visitors, KM agreed and Chakri had to drop out in the last minute. I booked flight tickets (very cheap if you book ahead) from HYD- Delhi and train tickets from Delhi- Chakki Bank (Pathankot). I did this booking with the help of my brother and his friend. We cannot use international credit cards anymore for booking online tickets. I am impressed with the online services how I booked all my tickets from here (U.S.). Sai and KM are in charge of lodging. Sai, KM and I are very excited about the trip; we told everyone that we could possibly tell. Sneak preview of HP trip... details coming up.

Chalo Bharath….

Packed my bags just a day before the Independence Day and was waiting impatiently for my Sis to arrive to give me a ride to the airport. Early morning Aug 15th while I was getting Chotu ready for daycare -
Mom: Chotu, pay attention to me, you are getting late, I will be late...
Chotu: I wish you could miss your flight...
Mom: What! Why do you say that?
Chotu: So you don’t have to go to India.
After all that planning, now the lil guy throws a curse on me and my sister has not yet left her house when I called she was still “leaving right now” and hung up on me as usual. For some reason I believed in “Bal Vaak Brham Vaak” some corner of my heart, so took the wheel from my Sis and landed two hours early at the airport. Took out the entire extra luggage and handed it to her and checked in very early just to prove Chotu wrong. Off to a three week vacation away from everything (work, kids, DH and everything…). Everyone was envious of the idea. Of course had to answer zillion times to everyone how I could leave DH alone with the kids and go on vacation.

IBL Program

Since summer is full of Sports, Science, Arts, and Jedi camps for Vin. I came up with up a super idea for Vin. Vin has been asking for another video game console Nintendo DS Lite. We all love incentives. I came up with an ‘Incentive Based Learning’ Program (IBL). I asked him if he can learn Telugu in this Summer, he can get Nintendo DS by end of August. The test is - he should be able to read 1st grade Telugu book and write three or four letter words without seeing any book. I asked my Dad to mail me a Telugu book last month and we received the book four weeks ago. Guess what? - Vin can write and read 1st Grade book. Phew! What motivation and inspiration these Video games are on kids. If we can channel those appropriately, they can be to our advantage. Of course no matter how many games and consoles we have in our house, the limit is two hours over the weekend. Chotu does not like this or any of my rules, but he has to live with themJ

Fact or Fiction

In this world of action figures Bob the builder, Sponge bob, Power Rangers, Spider man etc., chotu had an interesting question the other night while I was putting him in bed.

Chotu: Mommy, Is Bill Gates real?

Mom: Yes, Kanna- he is.

Chotu: Is he rich? (source- his bro)

Mom: Yes. He is the richest man on earth.

Chotu: How much money does he have?

Mom: I don’t know but lots.

Chotu: Oh! Where does he have all his money? All over his house?

Mom: Nope. All is not in the form of money. He owns Microsoft, Xbox and many other things like buildings etc.

Chotu: Does he own you?

Mom: Hahaha! Nope.

Mom: He also gives out lot of his money to the poor people.

Chotu: Oh!

Mom: Ok, now no more questions , go to bed.

Challenge me

Chotu always likes to solve a puzzle or two before going to bed.

Chotu: ok give me a hard one

Nanna: What looks like a donut but not sweet?

Chotu: huh! Bagel. That is so easy, I want another one.

Mom: Come let me ask you one while I put you in bed.

Chotu: Ok!

Mom: What is the fastest animal in the world?

Chotu: Jaguar! This is so easy. You need to ask me challenging ones.

Mom: Oh! I don’t know what is challenging for you and what is easy. Why don’t you ask me?

Chotu: Sure. Ummm . It looks a snake and on trees- what is it?

Mom: Python .

Chotu: No- it looks like a snake, not a snake. It starts with a ‘V’.

Mom: Viper, Venomous snake …

Chotu: No Mom! It is a vine. See! This is how you need to challenge me.

Mom: :-

Big Brother

Vin: So what’s going in school?

Chotu: ‘A’ has been chasing us and bothering us?

Vin: Did you tell your teacher?

Chotu: – No

Vin: Then?

Chotu: She tells on us and the teacher gives us time out.

Vin: Oh! Chotu- this is what you guys should do. Kick her and run.

Chotu: Yeah! But teachers don’t believe us.

Mom: Vin! What are you teaching? That is not nice.

Chotu: But Mommm! ‘A’ is always bothering us and getting us in trouble.

Mom: You should always tell the teacher, you should never hit anyone.

What's Next?

Finally the fat lady sang! It is really a great experience walking the aisle. Many popped the question –“what’s next?”. Shrugged off – I quit school. There is so much to do outside of school, and need to focus on Vin and Chotu.

Upcoming posts- Vin giving advise to Chotu on how to handle gals at school.

Haunting Flavors

Talking Rain

Bigelow Green Tea

Zone Perfect Protein Bar

Victor Cafe's Panini Sandwich

Starbukc's Carmel Machiato

Vanilla Ice cream with freshly cut strawberry pieces

Chotu’s 2 Cents

DH usual routine on the computer browsing local news papers of desh .

Chotu: Dad why are they colors everywhere?
Dad: In India there is a festival where everyone plays with colors…
They have lots fun, you can paint each other faces…
……..goes on explaining without giving a chance to chotu to respond.

Chotu: After patiently listening to his eloquent dad said “ Oh! You mean Holi”?
Dad: With a smile on his face appreciating his knowledge and embarrassed for underestimating.


At the lunch table:

Chotu: Oh! Fish sticks! I can’t eat fish, because we need to kill fish to make fish sticks.
Dad: Please eat this time; you don’t have to eat next time.
Chotu: Why can’t we eat meat balls? No fish anymore, so we don’t have to kill fish.
Mom: Where do meat balls come from?
Chotu: You know! From animals or somethin.

Growing Pains

Chotu’s list of complaints (with a frowny look) to his dad yesterday at the dinner table

1) Why do we have so many rules in this house?
2) Why do we have to eat dinner everyday?
3) How come we have to go to bed everyday early?
4) Why do we have to listen to you everyday?
5) This is no fun!
6) I want to have fun everyday.
7) Why can’t we watch TV for long time?
8) Why can’t we play X-box?

Painting Blues

Due to snowy weather we are stuck at home since last Wednesday. We have tried our best to keep us active. All of us did at least one painting each, which was updated in their respective blogs. Hopefully we will go back to our normal lives this week. We had a nice warm Christmas in CA with Friends and Family of course with Mickey, who would miss him. We are paying back for having warm Christmas:(

Candle light day and nights

The greater Puget Sound area lost power due to a severe storm for the past few days, which includes us. We were freezing, practically camping conditions. We had running hot water and cooking gas range with no power. Awesome combination for family get together. We did not have telephone, cell phone, no schools, and no work. Just get dressed like penguins with double layers, socks, sweaters and gather around the candle. We never prepare for emergencies like this unless we are in one. We do have flash lights, candles and match boxes- all in a secure place that even we could not find. We need to push up the garage door instead of switching the button, and drove to the nearest grocery store. It was a scary scene, most of the pine trees uprooted across the streets and branches all over the place. Finally got to QFC, the store was running on generators. Most of the gas stations were closed; the few that were opened had hundreds of cars in lines. There was no bread loaf left or the non-scented candles. We quickly picked what we could and back to home. We did manage to find a 9v battery and a radio to listen to what’s going on around. We don’t realize how much we depend on electricity. We spent a day and two nights with candles while we heard stories from my MIL and my MOM. We thank all those who put their lives on line to get our normal life back.

Hola!

Trying to kill sometime and peeked into all my blog links and felt like I owe one post. It’s high time to dust this place and cleanup for the holiday season. The boys are growing up with Seattle showers. I am hooked onto Zee TV soaps. I am punctual and very attentive, would not get distracted or diverted from 9:00PM to 10:30 PM watching all the family drama. After that I have to switch to Bollywood channel or Teja for fresh dose of Hindi/Telugu movie. I have spent last three years in pursuing my second masters, where I spent my whole nights doing home works. I was deprived of my entertainment time, so getting the most of it now:) Vin and Chotu are editing the Christmas wish lists everyday, guessing if Santa would really give them Nintendo DS this year, because Vin thinks he was average mean (not the math mean) this year. Moved by his introspection Mom decided to get him the latest and hottest Xbox 360. I can use this as my emotional weapon for another couple of months:)

Getting to know me

Souj send me this a while ago. I am behind on blogging so thought you might enjoy. Also updated Vins and Chotus blogs too:)(don't miss out on his third painting- I think that is our retirement source;)

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30 am

2. Diamonds or pearls? Of Course Diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw in the cinema? Departed – Must Watch

4. What is you favorite TV show? Friends

5. What did you have for breakfast this morning? Protein bar (addicted to it)

6. What is your middle name? Ratna

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Thai

8. What food do you dislike? Chinese

9. What is your favorite chip flavor? Jalapeno

10.What is your favorite CD/song at the moment?

11. Favorite sandwich? Sub-Factory SW

12. What personal characteristic do you admire? Enthusiasm

13. What would you not be caught dead out of the house
without... on? Deodorant

14.If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation,
where would you go? Tibet

15. When you look back on your life, what nano-moment brought you the
most joy?
Carrying Vin in my arms the first time

16. Coke or Pepsi ? Coke

17. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Night owl

18. What is your shoe size? 8 Wide

19. What would you do for a living if you knew that
not only would you not fail, but you would also become
a phenomenal success?
Management

20. Which of your friend's dreams do you wish would come true for
them?
Souj’s and Raja’s

21. If you could change one thing about the world we live in what
would it be?
Poverty – leading cause to many problems

22. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with family or
friends?
We will be moving into our new home in two weeks

23. What did you want to be when you were little?
Judge, Lawyer, Doctor, CA, …..

24. Most likely to send this back? Whoever is interested

25. Least likely to send this back? To Souj again

Back to School

It is a pleasure to drive Vin and Chotu to school and listen to them talk about things.

Chotu seldom speaks, he is usually lost in his thoughts. In spite of my enquiries he would look out the window into his own world. Sometimes it is my luck.
On one of those lucky days while I was driving to his school last week through a very hilly area covered with pine trees. We could hardly see the sunlight.

Chotu: Mom, drive carefully, you missed the speed limint.

Mom: Yeah kanna I will. (Wow, it is so beautiful to drive at this hour and watch the smog still at the tip of the pine trees as if the veil is being lifted)

Chotu:What is that sound?

Mom: It is the blinker kanna, we need to go left to your school.

Chotu: Oh! What happenes if we go right?

Mom: Nothing, we will miss your school.

Chotu:Oh! Can we do that? Mom plsss

Mom:I will get late to work kanna, some other day ok?

Chotu: No Mom lets go today, it is ok to miss school.

Mom: I promise I will take you that way some other day.


Chotu: huh! Okkkk.

He love the goats in his school and his class work alot. His school is at the foot hill in a valley. The class rooms are small hut shaped buildings that gives you a feeling of you are nothing in this huge lanscape. The first day I saw his school, I thought this is perfect for him. His friends now are Keshav, Neel, etc.

Vin is not yet familiar with these names and was surprised and asked him "are you sure those are real names"? Yessss! Those are my friends names.

Dear Virgos

Happy Birthday!

Don't call me names now. I happen to know of so many birthdays this month (this sun sign), worth a post by itself. More than 50% of my readers and my friends happen to be Virgos. You will see. Whats so special about them? I am one of them:) Here is the list:

Vin, Bhavani, Bhavani Atta, Chitru and her hubby, Swathy, Kiran, Buchi mavayya, Uma S, SKU, M, Sunil, Sivani, Vivek and many more (including myself). Please let me know if I forgot to add your name in the list.

Wondering, which sign, rest of the 50% comprise? Mostly Sagittarians, Leo, Aquarius and the list goes... Virgos do flock together.

Face the music

Finally I set the date to take kids for Music lessons. We have a wonderful music teacher who teaches keyboard along with Hindi and Marati songs. She lives in the same building as we do (how cool is that?) for those of you who chauffeur your kids around will know about it.

First Day:

Vin: It is awesome we are here:) (with his big eyes and ears smiling away)

Me: (Finally I am able to do this)

Chotu: I am hungry, will she have anything to eat (He just finished his dinner)


Me: No Chotu! We will not eat anything here, we are just here for music lessons.

Door bell rings! Greetings, Introductions etc.,

Chotu: ummm something smells what is that smell?

Teacher: Grandma is cooking something. OK Lets begin.

Chotu: Why are they so many buttons on this.

Teacher: I will tell you everything one by one.


Me: Teacher already warned me , that Chotu have to wait until he is five. Me very proudly said, lets give it a try, because he always hums 24X7. Teacher must have seen tons of parents like me, she glady agreed to give it a try.

Me: Decided in the first five minutes, Chotu will not attend any music lessons until he can sit and listen to someone for five minutes.

Ok the lesson continues...

Teacher: Chotu, you are not listening, which hand do you want to use, make up your mind

Chotu: Left, ....umm no no Right....um Left.

Vin put up with this for thirty minutes with lot of patience.

Finally Chotu decided, to go home, I jumped out of the sofa, took leave from the teacher and asked Vin to come home after his class.

Social Science

What is this ? I heard this on the TV the other day and was shocked. I am just speechless. Our social system has no experience of two breadwinners, so now they blame it on the career women? "After all, your typical career girl is well-educated, ambitious, informed and engaged" since when this is bad?

"Women's work hours consistently increase divorce, whereas increases in men's work hours often have no statistical effect." and the BS goes on and final conclusion is to stay single. Please read for yourself if you don't believe the new meaning of marriage in this piece of junk.




Saturday morning, Chotu snuggles into my bed and asks me a serious question.

Chotu: Mom, Why are grals (girls) brats?

Mom: (sleepy head) With a slight smile, Are they kanna?

Chotu: Yes! Mom. They are very boring of me. (He meant I am bored of them)

Mom: (Chotu is getting enough summer training from Vin)

Mom: I am a gral. Am I a brat too?

Chotu: Nope, but you a mommy.

Mom: (he he he He does not know the truth)

Khabi Alvida Nah Kehna...

Nice to be back after a while. I miss blogging (boring you all). So many things to write, so will just blurt not in any chronological order. So, we are officially in Redmond, WA now. That means, more Indian Restaurants, Desi Movies (my fav) and lots of desis (hate to use this word). It feels like HYD. Last Saturday went to this boring, forever never ending movie. I waited all long (last two months) for this movie for its hot caste and in the intermission, felt like the movie has to run for another 1.5 hours bored me to death. Any ways, if you have not seen it, sorry to spill the beans.

Vin and Chotu are excited about the move and with all the pine trees in Seattle. They think we moved into a Jungle/Forest. It is very green and heavy terrain in few areas contrasting scenery to the Tri-cities flat occasional greenery. Yet to make new friends, for now Ammumma (my mom) is their best friend who takes them to the garage for playing, and plays caroms with them.

We have a Dosa party in our house today evening and a baby shower for my sister this weekend. So, you can see why Moi is very busy. The schools begin on Sept 5th, so (@Kumari) still time for back to school stuff. I am up to date with Zee soaps and whose who on Zee. My semester ends today and hoping not to take classes in the near future.