News- 'A' rating

TV has so much objectionable content nowadays!! Earlier certain movies and some channels were off limits for kids. Then some songs. Then some programs at regular TV viewing time. Then some ads .... even the News yesterday was unpalatable. What a sorry state of affairs!

I do not believe in depriving kids of TV completely ( they just substitute it with the net/ CDs and they miss out on some interesting pop culture and infotainment). But I do regulate time spent on it and oversee the content.

Am I glad that Aditi is not a TV viewer yet and even Anush has only a few select programs she watches.

Drive me crazy

The other day I saw a man driving his car in peak traffic with his lesser than 2 yr old baby on his lap!

Did he not care for himself or the baby? What about the others on the road?

Then I began wondering why he was doing such a thing? Maybe a single dad? Maybe an emergency? What do you think?

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And yes, we know little kids like to 'drive '- Aditi does too. But only when the car is completely stationary.

City Slickers & Stories

Went to Chintamani again this weekend for more family time there.

We were stopped in a few places by protestors ( seri-culture min price related) and let go after some detours and some waiting. So a journey that would have been under two hours stretched to 3 hours but enriched us all the same.

The girls were real sports and enjoyed the lovely farms and hamlets we got to see.

More importantly Anush got a feel of bandhs, their motivation and so on.

These things make you thank God for all the many blessings you have. Touch wood.

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Missed the Kathalaya story telling sessions on Sunday, part of the Kathotsava 2011.

I heard positive feedback about the Ola and Geeta Ramanujan from a trusted friend.

Love in Tokyo?

Japan was one of the countires I wanted to visit as a kid- besides Canada, Greece and Australia.

I admired how such a small sized country could do so much. I loved the cherry blossoms and the wonderful literature they turned out. My teacher had told me that Japanese women and Italian men are the most gorgeous looking and I realise she was not off the mark.

I hope that the little big country bounces back and soon.

I wonder if Rajni will reach out to his fans there in their hour of need?

Natural disasters are shocking reminders to live life to the fullest and do what counts.

To Be or not to bee

We have a beehive in our apartment. A Huge one. In the balcony.

No one noticed it till I did and no one is reacting like me either.

It is not in my balcony- it is on some unoccupied flat on the fifth floor. Still.

I must be a through city bred....

Enabled

My phone went out of order!! It was a nice change not to have a mobile for a couple of days. It was not at all crippling barring my use of the cell as a phone number book.

Now been given a temporary one while it gets serviced. So back to being "enabled".

Here is Aditi mock talking on the phone-she does it with any object- newspaper/ comb/ toy/ rattle/ remote ...

Tantrum

Was in Chennai yesterday on work. Got back by the last flight.

Witnessed 3 incidents of very hyper passengers. Felt bad for them- venting their frustration that way in public - all futile effort and even if they were in the right, they came across as tantrum throwing spoilt brats!

Young children are almost expected to throw tantrums / have meltdowns once in a while but rolling on the ground/ hitting head on the floor / wall seem unacceptable even from them.

There must be a way of being peaceful and getting one's point across even when wronged. Gandhi was a very powerful man.

Gone too soon

A couple of days back I read about the murder of this young lady, a maths teacher in Bangalore . Her husband is a suspect. If he is innocent, that is really sad and if he is a culprit, then it is worse. The lady had it bad anyway.

Today I heard about IHM's loss. I was shocked. Though I had lost a family friend to dengue.

Gone too early. Lives that are yet to be lived. Reminders that life is too short. Enjoy and live each moment like there is no tomorrow.

So much on my table!

This pic is for Patty's post on what is on your table today. A pencil cap-doll from Bali.

I was in Chennai yesterday and did not have to do the overnighter. Anyway I cannot escape it next week. I managed to get photos printed at my regular shop in Velachery and sorted and placed them in two albums during my wait at the airport. Got back at about 11pm to find Anush asleep. Aditi woke up to welcome me !

Just realised there is so much to do (apart from the regular routine )and so little time:
the Great Prabhat circus ( on only till this weekend)
a much postponed trip to Kaveri emporium
Our Native village
a trip to Mysore - with the zoo and the rail museum for a nostalgia trip
an art show by a cartoonist
a cousin is auditioning at Voice of Bangalore at Garuda Mall
a much needed trip to the parlour to control the return of the jungle
meeting chox & kids( long overdue)
a trip to Cmani with my SIL
just plain chilling out at home ( no- not an option)

The are movies to be seen- Once upon a time, Inception, Khatta Meetha, Tere bin laden and so on

BTW last week bought a cd off nowhere, Toy Story 3. It turned out to be in Russian without subtitles!

Do I hear you saying" Serves you right for encouraging piracy. Hmmm." Can't refute that.

Finished reading Palace of Illusions - great concept, gripping, not tight enough in style/ editing.

The Fire dragon and do nots

Last night the fire alarm went off in the building. We all heard it but did not quite understand what it was. ( ignorance is NOT bliss)

Then I got Navy to rush down with the kids. He was waiting at the steps for me and my grandma to come ( mistake number 2)

I requested my grandma to come along and she started quizzing me. I could not lift her bodily and so I tried answering and explaining( took about 3 minutes to get her out.)

In the time I spent explaining to her, I took a couple of diapers (yes!) and some jewelry that was at home. ( wrong priorities)

Unlike us, who at least tried ( sloppily), not a soul had bothered to come down and gather at the safe area! We did not know which was the exact designated safe area. ( I found out today)

And no it was NOT a mock drill. But it did turn out to be a false alarm- some child had set it off. The watchman discovered that and informed us.

What if there had been a real fire? How prepared is your family in case of an emergency?

This book seems like an intersting way to explain to little ones.
We spoke to my grandma and Anushka on what their response should be in such a situation, ( move safe but fast/ use only steps not the lift ) while emphasising the need not to be afraid/ panic.

We always assume these things will not happen to us, right? For instance, how many of us pay attention to the earnest air hostess's announcements?

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From the fire to the frying pan.

Anushka enjoys one doughnut a week ( she was amused when i told her it is a sweet wada) and so far it has been from French Loaf and a far second in Daily bread. She likes only the sugar one.

Yesterday my father on one of his long daily walks, went to Malleswaram and discovered The Donut Baker and got his grand daughter the very yummy maple doughnut. And then we realised it has so many branches!!

Lakdi ki

This prized pony is falling apart. A couple of eleven year olds who visited us sat on it!!

I get mad when adults sit in the swing in the play park meant for kids. They could possibly do it if the swing is sturdy enough and also ONLY if there is no kid waiting to use it.

I usually give them a piece of my mind...

Id lie

What would happen to a typical Udipi joint if the idli batter does not ferment/ rise by morning...

Would they not serve idlis that day?
Would they outsource and sell? In which case, they will purchase as FG- idli itself or the batter alone?
Would they give substandard idlis?

What do you think?

Answers stating that I have become mad/ velaa are not valid.- too obvious an answer !

Books and (dis)comfort

Discovered a jigsaw puzzle from Karadi( wonder if they make jigsaws anymore). This is a 6 in 1 - about The Birth of Krishna. I did not even recollect it. I seem to have left it a while ago, maybe even before Anush, for my niece, at my ILs' place. Anush is having great fun with it now. Such hand me downs are wonderful!

But this particular one is also difficult in terms of having to explain the story- why anyone, however bad, would kill a baby.

On similar lines had difficulty with And Land was born from Tulika which talks of God tearing up a baby jugni mata...though that ends better with more jugni matas being born...

The latest issue of Chandamama, carries a letter which states "Mister Muthu was marvellous!" The online updates come with a time lag and are also pending on the website. So cannot link up to the episode which may have elicited that response.

Scary and Bugged

Last night or should I say early this morning ( 1.30am) I was literally alarmed by my cell.

I was further startled since Navy is away in Mumbai and had not called on landing last night...

It was a colleague announcing his son's birth. Since he is not a close friend or relative, I think he could have shared the news at a more earthly hour...what do you think?

Here are the Bug and the Scary Rainbow man-

We marked attendance at the Artsy Crafty this month since we did not participate last month. In fact even this time I got Anush to do it on the last day after some gentle reminders from Shruti. Hats off to Shruti for pulling this event off so well, each month.

Parents by Choice

One of my friends, P,  who is thirty plus, said recently " I do not know if I even want to have kids"

After two children, it is difficult to be objective about the matter.
But I told her that it was fine to feel that way.

It is better to not have kids, if the only reason for doing so is to adhere to society's requirements...after all,the parents nurture the child not the society- at least largely. And an innocent child cannot be made to feel unwelcome.

It is a decision that the couple has to make and something they will have to live with either way.

Are  we ever fully ready to be parents? I do not think so. We also learn parenting along the way.  Most of us try it a couple of times even. Some of us even get good at it!
Yes, children bring chaos & responsibility but they also bring unconditional love and laughter
No kids means freedom but can also mean small twinges of regret and lonliness

If you wish to have one later and your biological clock has ticked away?? asked another mutual friend.

P had no answers. I had one suggestion.There are many children in need of love and care. You can always adopt one of them. They will be glad and so will you.

Where do you stand on the matter?

Matter of safety

I could not figure out how to unlock Anush's cycle chain lock. A simple number one at that. And I even had the combination right.

Just the alignment was wrong!!

108 on air?

On my flight to Chennai this morning , there was a medical emergency .

The flight crew asked for a doc and fortunately there was one and he rushed to help

This was a really short flight, there was doctor available and the problem was manageable

It set me thinking as to what all could happen and how would it have been handled on a long flight....

MMM

Chandamama Feb issue carried this glowing letter from a reader on Mister Muthu- I am flying!!
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Pl catch an interview of Sowmya Rajendran at Saffron Tree- a really charmingly witty author.

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Bt brinjal aside, I wish to state my concern that I hardly get to see Kamala oranges anymore. Ditto with Indian corn We found a few Kamlas yesterday and I was telling Anush their name, since she called them baby oranges, when she chuckled and said Kamala Narayanee Aditi?

Make me a watch

Took Anush to the nearby watch shop- to get her watch cell changed and my mother's strap reset. Anush was fascinated though scared by the guy with the eye glass.

I was wondering is there some historical reason why the experts at baking bread/ naan katai, watches, leather goods, tailoring, embroidery, books are usually Muslim?

tell me why...

A not so close friend passed away last night in Bangalore.

People die everday and suddenly but... she is my age and has kids about the same age as mine

God has strange ways!!

And this is a not so gentle reminder to review if one is living ones life to the fullest!