Red Eggs and Ginger day

This blog is a month old today- assuming a month in 30 days.

The post title refers to the relevant celebration, Chinese style. http://www.littlebuddhababy.com/TraditionRedEggAndGingerParty.html

Thanks all for coming by. Do visit more often and leave your comments when you are moved enough. (Also I will know you were there)

NO OFFENSE, ONLY NONSENSE
Q 1- Would Gandhi wear boxers or briefs?
Gandhi was a lawyer – he probably preferred briefs.

Q 2- What did Gandhi think of Western civilisation?
"I think it would be a very good idea." - Mahatma Gandhi

Q 3- Why did the gujju think Gandhi was enacted by a woman in "GANDHI"?
They read Ben( behn) Kingsley did the acting.

Here is wishing all a good, long weekend! Happy Ayudha & Saraswathi Pooja and of course, Gandhi Jayanti.

Maa Kali

Anushka gives her impression of Goddess Durga for Dassera. Fearsome huh!

The last couple of weeks, she promptly joins her hands in a prayer - like namaste when I take her to the pooja shelf.

And yes, any Ganesh is "Baba" to her

Till Death do us part

Swapneel and Shalini had been friends in college. A little later in life they progressed to being lovers. Very comfortable with each other, a common set of friends, some shared interestes and some unique. Swapneel was more flamboyant while Shalini was realtively subdued. When they decided to take the formal plunge, many of their college friends were surprised but only pleasantly so. They were a good match. Their "Mumbaikar "streak overshadowed any cultural differences there might have been between a Telugu and a Bengali. . Some wondered why they had not decided to go around earlier. This was about five years back. A couple of months ago, they parted ways. Shalini cannot find anything/ anyone to blame. But she is distraught.

Take two individually good souls, they may still not add up to a good couple together. It is like having avial with rotis ( individually excellent- not too good in combination)

Some thoughts on what make a marriage work, at the risk of sounding like Shobha De or some article from Femina:

• Enter with more realistic expectations from marriage
• Ensure you give each other space, trust in yourself and each other
• Never lose your individuality yet compromise when needed
• Confront but in private, Do not sulk or seethe in anger, always be honest
• Do not rake up the past, except to relive the "nice" instances
• Learn to laugh at yourself and with each other
• Find time at least once a day to show you think he/ she is special- surprise and romance sees no age cut offs
• Do not allow anyone ( repeat- anyone) define/ judge you/ your partner/ your marriage
  

Media reports indicate that in the West, vows like "For as long as we continue to love each other," "For as long as our love shall last" and "Until our time together is over" are increasingly replacing the traditional to-the-grave vow — a switch that some call realistic and others call a recipe for failure.

A relationship is the equation you create together. You not only love the Other but also love yourself for what you become when you are with the Other. When either of the two ceases, it is probably best to call it a day.

On the lighter side, here are some funny quotes-
To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer. To suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy then is to suffer. But suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer, or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're getting this down- Woody Allen

An archeologist is the best husband any woman can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is in her.- Agatha Christie

To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the wedding cup, whenever you're wrong, admit it; whenever you're right, shut up.- Ogden Nash

Navarathri Kondattam

Here are nine regional highlights, based on my exposure and experience, on the festival which celebrates my namesake- Durga. Those from the specific region are welcome to correct/ enhance my perception.

Bengal
One has to be here to enjoy Dassera with the aplomb that borders on a mass movement - public pandals and feeding- it is on the same scale as Ganapathi in Mumbai. Almost a carnival with the aartis around huge idols of Kali/ Durga Maa. (Drawn from memories as a 10 yr old)
"Pandals spark off romance, also marriage bureau. Bengalis by & large close the kitchen for the 10 days that they spend in the pandal."- Courtesy itchy

Bihar/ UP
The burning of The Ravan Effigy & you can enjoy gambling (no frowns-no chiding)
"Ramlila is enacted by the Eunuch community mostly. More often than not, the same fellow who played Ram will do the Ravan jalaana on the 10th Day"- Courtesy itchy

Karnataka
Possibly synonymous with the grandeur of Mysore Palace on Vijaya Dashmi day, this is rather like the Tamil Dassera minus the Gollu

Gujarat
What else but dandiya raas and Garba- lovely chaniya cholis on graceful and energetic maidens (not so) coyly looking around at equally colourfully dressed young men ( a surrogate marriage bureau) I always looked forward to this the two years that I spent in Gujarat.. No prizes for guessing why.

Mumbai
Falguni Patak and various sabhas and samithis which compete to Bollywoodise dandiya and certain bodies trying to impose time limits on the festivities

Tamil Nadu
It is all about sundal, Gollus in Kanjeepuram saris and paavadias. Rehearsing to sing at these gollus also comes to mind. And of course, Saraswathi Puja when we can legally not-study. Andhra is similar but more sweets than sundals.

Indians in the US of A
They are likely to have enough Indian friends to meet up, dressed in fine ethnic wear, reminiscing what lovely times they had back home with amma- paati/naani's cooking.

My way this year
Anush was too little last yr and I spent Dassera by singing a lot of songs for her. This year will be her full initiation if all goes as planned-
Visit a friend for Gollu. Wonder if she will have the Marapaachi bommais of yore? Eager to eat the sundal in any case ( hope it is brown channa )
There is also a dandiya raas invite . Have a nice ghaagra for that occasion for Anush.
And of course there will be Saraswathi pooja at home.

Rest of the World
Where Dassera is unknown should probably visit this informative blog I chanced upon. Indian Culture- http://indiatemple.blogspot.com. An extract-
" 9 types of rangoli are made at home for each day.
Day 1: Rangoli is made with dots
Day 2: Rangoli is made with squares
Day 3: Rangoli is made with flowers (lotus, rose etc)
Day 4: Rangoli is made with steps (like gollu puja)
Day 5: Rangoli is made with birds
Day 6: Rangoli is made with one of the names of Shakti
Day 7: Rangoli is made with Vittarani (designs from the palm of the Goddess's hands, like shanka, flowers etc)
Day 8: Rangoli patterns with the trishul (trident) she holds in her hand
Day 9: Rangoli is made with Hridaya Kamalam (Lotus of her heart)

Tell me Why

Caution- Rather graphic. Not for the weak hearted.

Had gone to a fairly upmarket restaurant on East Coast Road, ( weekend tradition pre-Anush continues unabated despite warnings to the contrary from co-parents) Anush enjoyed herself watching the golden orange fish swimming around and her amma messing up at the potter's wheel.

After a little bit of naan, some saag & a piece of papad, Anush decided she needed to answer nature's call and an eagerly awaited double whammy at that. I quickly took Anush to the utility. I found there was no platform/ seat for diaper changing. Not even a counter top basin which could double up.

I surely did not want to share this gasp worthy smell and sight with all the patrons of the restaurant. ( Cannot say the same for the management though) So a mad search for a fairly clean and private corner ensued. Ended in the car park, in our car. A quick change of diapers and a few wipe cloths later, Anush was good as new.

And how to dispose of the evidence? Back to the loo I went. So the diaper ( fully loaded since the flush would not work ) was wrapped in some more wipes ( yes, no toilet paper either) and left in the garbage can. (Yeah! there was one with a lid )

The episode left me feeling like a criminal with a super sleuth at my heels.

Why is there no provision for child seats in loos/ malls/ restaurants?
Is it part of a larger ploy on the part of the promoters to limit traffic to their restaurants?

Not directly connected with the above episode but:
Why are there hardly any ramps/ special provisions for the handicapped?
Is it to isolate the already troubled and tell them- "you are different and we do not care." ?

Why is it that senior citizens have to wait in the hot sun in a queue for paying up electricity bills and the like in Chennai?
Is it not possible to make payments online or have a cheque drop box facility like any of the larger metros?

And yes, Why is there nothing I do about it other than lament in a hardly visited blog?

First time

Last year this time, we were flying to Mumbai from Chennai. Anushka's first flight.

She was a little over a month old. I had consulted everything from Spocks to the Panchamgam, from my local gynaec /pediatrician to my friends abroad. I wanted to be sure that I made it as comfy as possible for Anush. I was drawing fro theory/ experience everything. She was a doll. Slept right through the entire journey. Was a little disoriented once we got home but was overall an uneventful journey.

I preserved her flight ticket- her very first.

Last month - Anushka's first train journey- an overnighter. She enjoyed it thoroughly. When she was on the middle berth she kept pointing her finger at/ to this gentleman who really responded much to her glee.

At the station, in the waiting room, on the way back, Anush got very restless and suddenly began wailing. Tried cooing to her, feeding her and consoling her- she would not stop. An elderly gentleman came up to me and offered me some Odomos lotion. I was so moved.

I forgot to preserve the ticket. But I will treasure the memory of the uncle's gesture- so
simple, so thoughtful.

Babies- what a wonderful way to start people

A chant that began as " Healthy Happy Intelligent"
Like all parents we want the best for our daughter, Anushka. We wish that she blossoms into a spirited, confident, independent individual who cares for the people around her.

It is important that the school she goes to complements our efforts at home. In the sense that it should nurture her curiosity, help her develop and validate theories, get her to explore the world around her, relate to elders and peers in a healthy manner.

Moreover in today’s competitive world, we would like to instill confidence and pride in her, focus on her strengths and capabilities and hone them rather than follow the herd and expect her to adhere to standard definitions of success.

This was a school application request for Anush. Made me think.
We want the world for our children- try capturing the world in a few words!

"God in His wisdom made the fly"

And then forgot to tell us why. said Ogden Nash.

Pests come in many types, occupy your house, make you shriek and shudder.
Some you put up with and some are downright revolting. Of course, this depends on your tolerance level as well.

Roaches- The most resilient they will poach on your kitchen
Rodents- Ratty by nature, they litter and nose about
Termites- They bore you to dust
Flies- They come is hoardes and reduce you to a swatter.
Ants- They bite and they don't even have teeth or do they

PEST BUSTERS

• I have a friend who says " Look at it from their angle- poor things!" Maybe you could offer her all those pests in your apartment - for keeps- for free!!
• You can keep a bigger pest to rid ourself of the smaller ones. Size does matter.
• Do NOT see Bugs Life, Antz and The Ant Bully - you might change your mind
• Maybe consider cleaning up your house.
• If you are the sensible ( & pestified) variety you could visit - Pestcontrol

Bzzzzz: Any resemblance to human pests in any part of the post is purely intentional.

Moving Pictures

Did anyone watch Mackenna's Gold on TV yesterday? We were debating how old it was - 1969 was when it was made. Did you know that Clint Eastowood was to play Gregory Peck's role initially? I cannot even imagine him in it.

I thought I would jot down what spontaneously comes to my mind as some of the movies that really touched me:
MUSICALS- Classics from my parent's childhood
Mary Poppins
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
My Fair Lady

KIDS- They respect the child as a thinking being and do not talk down to them
The Never Ending Story
Lion King, Shrek, Toy Story, Babe, Finding Nemo

ACTION- If you can call it that
Guns of Navrone
Mackenna's Gold
Mission Impossible

HUMOUR- Make you see the lighter side of life
Gods must be crazy
Double Trouble
Tootsie
Woman in Red
Runaway bride
One Fine Day
As good as it gets

SLICE OF LIFE- Make you sit up and think
Cocoon
On Golden Pond
Dead Poets Society
Life is Beautiful
Philadelphia

Will some one do their take in Hindi and in Tamil?

Call it Quits

Jyothika announces her retirement from acting post her marriage.

This has sparked such a debate- in the office, on NDTV, on the bus, in the loo. It is not as if there is a dearth of good actresses. It is not as though she has retired from any and every kind of work. One would think she is joining a monastery the way people are reacting. She has only hung up her acting shoes- for the time being. As with Khusboo, she may reinvent herself or come back like Kajol did. Or she may stay content being Surya's wife and her in laws DIL. It is her decision after all.

Marriage and maternity can turn out to be the reasons for a well deserved break for most women- not for men though- oh no, no sabbatical for them! Under the guise of spending time on the home or your child- you can say bye bye to long hours in the office, avoid having to commute, nagging bosses, inconsiderate subordinates. Then again is it hardly a break to be slogging at home or mooning around the house ( if your hubby works late hours and you are in a nuclear family) or have to listen to endless banter if you are in a joint family. And yes, not everyone enjoys diaper changing and hourly feedings all the time.

Some women, are prepared to juggle the two. Some who quit work view motherhood as a second career and envision starting a third when they're ready to return to work. Some of these women are educated professionals who have invested years in higher education and are at the peak of their careers. I guess to each their own.

My father says " You need to be involved & not attached to your work." I think that is so true in my case. I remain involved at work and attached to my home front.

It is a BIG decision and either way it seems like a compromise. But I hope none of us including Jyothika regrets our decision- which is indeed a very personal one, despite all the public ramifications it has & whatever bloggers may say about it.

Blogger's Block

I am not sure what I want to write about today. For the many(!!) who regularly visit me, I thought I will take up starrynights' offer on my first tag. But unfortunately the post has been deleted. ( Now I am facing blogger's blocks)

So here is a link on the Bloggers Conference in Chennai.
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/13/stories/2006091300890100.htm

And here are some NEW RULES FROM HR

TRANSPORTATION:
It is advised that you come to work driving a car according to your salary.
a) If we see you driving a Honda, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore you do not need a raise.
b) If you drive a 10 year old car or taking public transportation, we assume you must have lots of savings therefore you do not need a raise.
c) If you drive a Pickup, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.

ANNUAL LEAVE:
Each employee will receive 52 Annual Leave days a year (Wow! said 1 employee).
- They are called SUNDAYs.

LUNCH BREAK:
a) Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch as they need to eat more so that they can look healthy.
b) Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.
c) Fat people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim Fast and take a diet pill.

SICK DAYS:
We will no longer accept a doctor Medical Cert as proof of sickness.
- If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

TOILET USE :
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilets.
a) There is now a strict 3-minute time limit in the cubicles.
b) At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the door will open and a picture will be taken.
c) After your second offence, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the "Chronic Offenders" category.
d) Subsequent pictures will be sold at public auctions to raise money to pay your salary.

SURGERY:
As long as you are an employee here, you need all your organs.
- You should not consider removing anything. We hired you intact.
- To have something removed constitutes a breach of employment.

INTERNET USAGE :
All personal Internet usage will be recorded and charges will be deducted from your bonus (if any) and if we decide not to give you any, charges will be deducted from your salary.

Just for information, 73% of staff will not be entitled to any salary for next 3 months as their Internet charges have exceeded their 3 months salary.

Cheers Paati!

I have been meaning to write about you for sometime. Biologically, the mom of one, a grandma of one and a great grand mom of one. But a grand old lady who is the universal "amma" to all of amma/appa's friends, "paati" to all my friends.

What do I write about - the impish smile when you say that you were called kondhai in your childhood, your hair that refuses to grey at seventy six, your dancing for Anush, your objecting to being called " paati" by Navy's father ( fair enough - he is just 10 yrs younger than you), your wonderful morekozhambu & paal paayasam, the classic moment when Navy and I were arguing and you said "Take it easy". . .

Appa will read this to you ok? (And I will tell him to do so when you are not watching Slevi or Kolamgal)

Cheers paati- you really add a lot of cheer to our life!

The shortfalls of being tall

I love being tall- always have. But sometimes it is too much of a good thing.

Way back:
Queues in school were always height order wise- do tall people feel less hungry? Any less urgency to visit the loo?
Always assigned the boy's role in all skits in an all girls school
Never got to wear the Bata "Ballerina" school shoes post Class VIII because toes would not fit- managed with the ugly flat front
Not allowed on some rides in amusement parks because I looked tall for their cut off age ( Appu Ghar- I still hate you)
Invariably needed to prove my age on the train

Today:
I dream of finding a pair of shoes that fit me fine- a strappy smart one that does not have 4 inch heels! Actually even a pair of beautiful "ladies" sneakers will do.
I feel clumsy to have to add on at least 2-3 inches length/ height to every ready-made salwar and sometimes even saris
I fear getting bumped on my head without fail, when the door is rather low
I sink into the movie seat because the dude behind can barely see the screen through my head
Sometimes have shorter perverted men look inadvertently "you know where"

And yes, then and now, THE most boring of all, is to be asked " How is the weather up there"

The Laughing Buddha frowns

Have you ever heard of that ? Well this one happened to me. No. It is not like the Milk miracle or The Weeping Madonna. This is my own Little Buddha- Anush.

It is like she saw a Jim Carrey movie and decided that she should try out some of his moves.Time being the facial moves, can't even imagine if she graduated to the other moves.

She has this look which involves- looking up at you, squeezing her eyes, opening her mouth wide in a smile and then pouting and snorting away like a pig. God it looks obnoxious! I have not and will not capture it on camera.

When she is guilty/ sheepish about something & you admonish her, this look is sure to follow. Maybe she thinks I will avoid scolding her to avoid having to see that look.

Hope it is a passing phase ( face)...

A little Prayer

Gosh! it is September 11.

It did not even strike me that it was this ill- fated day in history, till just now. Is it because I am so far removed from the event and no one I know was affected?

God bless all those who lost loved ones/ injured themsleves. Pl let them have the courage to move on. May good sense prevail and such things never happen in any magnitude to anyone on earth.... so much for Malegaon...

OTBT - Through the eyes of a Foodie - Part II

Because Part I was just the appetizer. No seriously, I live to eat. If I cannot feel slim I can try to fatten up the world so that the theory of relativity works in my favour.

Madras Bhel Puri- Few meters into the first right adjoining Naidu Hall, T Nagar- A salad made of crunchy fresh veggies mixed with some mixture and porrie( murmura)- a very refreshing interpretation of Bhel Puri. They also make a good juice but road side type.

Murugan Idli shop- Inconsistent across branches- their idlis and the chakkarai pongal are excellent NOTE-The Besant Nagar one is very average, the T nagar ones are good ( opp Sundari Silks and on GN Chetty road)

Mansukhs- Good for a nice Rajasthani/ Gujju meal- don't miss the daal baati and also one of the few places that you get Bombay style farsaan. Even the hardcore non veggies like this veg place.

Karpagambal Mess- ( near the temple in Mylapore)- recalled by hiphopgrandma in the previous post- If you are the fussy type, better to pack and carry since the place is rather stuffy. But their food is really yummy and so are the podis( powders to accompany rice/ dosas etc). Almost as good as Grand Sweets ( now with a branch in Anna Nagar) ready mixes.

Ajnabee Chaat- Tucked inside one of the Egmore Malls, right of the flyover as you are approaching from Greams Road - Synonymous with Farsaan ( namkeen- Bakshannum)- you get authentic vada paav and kaakra and so on

Eatalica- CP Ramaswamy Road, Near Kaliappa Hospital- Erstwhile Kenzos, not for those battling the bulge, good burgers and pastas- they make a lovely spinach macaroni bake

Cornucopia- Opp Dhaba Express, Cenotaph Road- Reminds me of St Xavier's College Mumbai- Maybe the guys with a guitar who occasionally drop in or the patrons who seem so comfy with themsleves-. BTW the dessert section is great

Cup & Saucer- A chai place ( only one I know in Chennai), next to New Odyssey, Adyar- a place for araam - lovely mix of ambience, bean bags, interesting books, teas and a cuppa for every taste- to soothe your senses- they never ask you to leave even if it is only a basic cup of tea that you have had.

Sanjeevanam - Yes Prakash, it is an interesting experience. The die hard Kerala ( health) foodies will enjoy it though I miss the poppadams ! These guys do not use tamarind or sugar only Honey and Jaggery and lime/ raw mango. Was there yesterday for the Onam Sadhya- all good except that the daal payasam was terribly burnt and yet being served. On a normal day, the Rajakeeyam meal (available only for lunch) is a conversation piece. The meal begins with the raw ( juices/ salads) moves on to lightly cooked/ blanched & finally well cooked food. There is a set order in which things have to be eaten. Rice is served at the end. Ashamed to say, I had to top off the meal with a Subway burger to fill my stomach.

Pazhamuthir Nilayam- Thanks Visitor - This fruit/ veggies shop deserves a mention. Original one is in Tnagar ( opp Residency Towers)- really well stocked- they brought rambootan, kiwis and lychees to Chennai. Good fruit salads and juice available but I would rate the juice second to the one in the Petrol Bunk featured in Part I.

Zaras / New Yorker- A must for all the nostalgic veggie Mumbaikars in Chennai- go there and you will know why

Oily Bajjis/ Cotton Candy/ Corn on the cob on Elliots Beach- Nothing can beat this on a cool evening.

Need to try Anu Hasan's Squash'd- at least for the innovative name & because I loved her in the movie Indira ( in Adyar and Egmore)

Weekend Masti

Look at this picture. (with due credit to Calvin Klein)
What do you think happened here and what will happen there on?
Write in not less than 10 words and not more than 200 words.

Bye for the weekend.

Off the beaten track - Through the eyes of a Foodie

Not great places to impress clients, Not private enough for a rendezvous with a lover, No waiting for tables ( well mostly), Earnest service and Easy on the pocket ( not necc on the stomach)

Karthik Idli Stall- Near Nilgiris, Anna Nagar. The local version of Just around the corner- only similarity being it is located on a street corner - serves a delectable array of chutneys and wonderfully fluffy idlis. If the idlis are sold out then try the dosas- almost as good but definitely second choice.

??? Juice Shop- At the Petrol Bunk, near Pizza Hut, Nungambakkam. Run by a pleasant set of Keralites, they make a cool juice/ milk shake! What is more the quantity is also large ( they serve one and a half glass) almost always.

Abhinandan Restaurant- In Hotel/ Lodge Ashoka- Egmore- This one is a must for all Andhra meals lovers. A hygienic and wonderfully fulfilling meal ( only miss the omlette though). I am told their N. Indian food is also worth trying- this place is so crowded with Gujjus that it might be true.

Mathsya- Egmore again- A lovely Udipi joint , just recently redone, with table papermats that proclaim accolades from The Hindu. Must have Baajari Dosa with melt-in-the-mouth coconut- jaggery accompaniment

Krishna Boli Stall- Near Lakme Parlour, Velachery- Good for their idlis- all else avoid.

Khaana Khazana- On Elliots Beach road, a far cry from Sanjeev Kappor's. When you are lazy and feeling like a romantic drive by the beach- a quick fix dinner of stuffed parathas on the footpath.

Any other suggestions of less known but must be tasted eateries in Chennai?

The third person in my bed

I have a pati, patni aur woh situation. The significant third is, you guessed right, my little devil- Anush. Soon after I returned home post delivery, every night, we put her in between us since the pediatrician told us that it increased bonding. My friends abroad thought it so cool since they needed to keep their baby in a separate room of his own.

When she was little( littler) she would sleep straight and it was ok. Now she occupies a pretty good part of a queen sized bed, keeps changing poses like a supermodel at a photo shoot and I, being horizontally challenged, have it tough. Navy manages a larger portion of the bed as always for some magical reason. Anyway, now we cannot not imagine it any other way.

But how do you tell a baby- " Ok we are in a mood- can you sleep now and quickly" Or even this would do - " Ok now that you are asleep let me build up a mood(!) and yes- pl don't wake up too soon"

Seems like it is a good bye to all those spontaneous bursts of "energy"

P.S. I think I should delete this before Anush learns to read.

Navigators Anonymous

I am one of those supposedly blessed with a great sense of direction. Talk about wolf in sheep's clothing!

• You are juggling between keeping baby away from that spot of dirt on the kitchen stool, stirring something on the stove and chopping some veggies by the side, someone calls the better half for direction and suddenly you have to balance the phone as well- maybe I need blue tooth for my landlines?
• Spouse dearest decides to stay in the left most lane when we need to take right and says" You did not tell me in advance"
• When in doubt and would like to cross check with some kind soul on the road and the better half says" I Know" and you have this sinking feeling that the journey is no closer to its destination
• I decide to keep quiet and then we miss the turn altogether and when I cannot help but point out - to be told" But you were supposed to guide "
• When a co traveller keeps taking digs on spouse's sense of direction and spouse begins to resent me for it
• Covering my tracks when I botch up- the smirk on the enemy's face is unpalatable
• Now there are Navigator systems accessible on the cell phone which may prevent couple trouble but may also make me highly dispensable

Don't you think it is time for Navigators Anonymous?

Happy Teachers Day Amma

As I see it everyday is Mothers' Day but Teachers' Day comes once a year and I guess it is time I wished you.

That too when you have taken VRS for reasons you never make a big deal about. When you will be away for the first time from the roses and the wishes of all your dear students ( some not so dear as well)

Thank you for being a patient and encouraging mentor, exemplary in a lot of ways ....persistent always. Never hesitating to point our areas to improve even if it meant taking the medicine without the sugar.

Stay the same and I do hope your grandkid proves to be a better pupil that I have been
Always learning from you, yours truly.

Onam Special

No- I am not referring to a train.

Here is how you can celebrate Onam & make it special. This is also a tribute to the Mallu half of my lineage/ heritage- not sure which is the apt word.

Onam marks the homecoming of King Mahabali. It is the day when a grateful Kerala pays a glorious tribute to the memory of this benign king who gave his all for his subjects - I think it is reason for all of us to consider what was the last selfless thing we did- not necc Mother Teresa types- can be just some small thing we did.

For your taste buds (In Chennai) - Sanjeevanam and Copper point- GRT have on offer Onam Sadhyas. If you are not in Chennai, you can always try any of the recipes given here: http://www.webindia123.com/cookery/festival/onasadya/index.htm

Malayalam movies are often entertaining albeit a little depressing at times & I do think Mamoothy is a mighty handsome fellow. As of now, eight films have announced that they will get released for Onam. They showcase every star in the box office during the season. 'Bhargava charitram Moonam Ghandam’ is a mass masala thriller with Mammootty ( as a goon) , Sreenivasan and Padmapriya in the lead roles.

Wishing all of you ( both Keralites and non Keralites) a very Happy Onam!
Visit http://www.onamfestival.org/ to know more about this festival

Paper Boys

One of those unusual days when I woke up early, it had rained all of the previous night and the weather was salubrious (had to use that word- there is a new gym in my area by that name- it claims to give the best "physic"- when asked the owner says numerology forced him to spell it that way!!)

Anyway on to the subject of the post- I saw a lot of paper boys. Began wondering how it would be if their mood varied with the news of the day. And supposing that mood in turn affected the way the paper got delivered? Dressed up in a satin bow ( I mean the paper) when there is cause to celebrate, sort of soiled when there is a depressing turn of events, a crushed look when defeated... so much for my imagination.

To begin with not all of them were boys- many were way into their thirties. They seemed content doing what they were up to- organizing the papers/ stacking them / covering them with plastic wrap, placing flyers of local businesses - all very methodically. The next time I think I will chat up with them.

Did you know that putting in inserts/ flyers without the knowledge of the newspaper guys is an offense?

Baby writer

nmb bnkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkmx ht r4tvccxcjjjjjjjjjjjjj

Anush's first attempt at blog post- possibly more creative than my first post??

Why are babies keen on pressing any kind of switch/keys anywhere? The noise? The pressure they need to exert? The result?

Anyway it is fun to watch but for the "not so safe" bit!

Appa! Tell me....

Years ago, if I came across any difficult word I would ask my father " Appa- what does it mean?" He would say" Why don't you look up the dictionary? "
I would think why doesn't he just tell me- it would be so easy for him to do so and would have made my life that much simpler.

Appa, I cannot look for answers to my questions in the dictionary any more. ( except while reading some blogs maybe)

But thanks for teaching me that answers are not meant to be found easily. One has to make some effort and may even find some new meanings in the process.

Come September

Did you know that September is BABY SAFETY MONTH?
I was not even aware that such a month existed.

Anyway keeping your infant / toddler safe is a full time occupation. Captured well in this quote- "Making the decision to have a child--It's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~ Elizabeth Stone

Here is a link for more details:
http://www.jpma.org/consumer/SafeSoundBabyBrochure/SafeSoundBaby1Up.pdf

Purple Violets and White Lilacs

There are some shades/ colours which always elude us. Navy & I were debating what distinguishes a violet from a purple. Well we both know the textbook definition- " when mixing paint, violet is equal parts red and blue, whereas purple has higher saturations of blue" One is named after the dye that comes from a sea-creature (purpura) and the other is named after the flower.

Here is an interesting link on violets (the flower) which does not always stay true to its colour ( pun intended)- the state flower of Illinois is the Purple Violet!!
http://www.4to40.com/earth/geography/htm/flowersindex.asp?counter=133