tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11576335676221684612024-03-09T03:27:14.915+05:30NivisnookNivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-9067242285368570112020-04-13T17:36:00.000+05:302020-04-13T17:36:08.925+05:30They are not wrong... their actions are...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, for what seems like an eternity and is more like 2 weeks, I have been trying to get the kids to stop fighting over who sleeps in the least wanted corner of the bed, who sleeps next to me...who kicks whom all night long... I guess you've got the drift by now :)<div>
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Last night, I tried to replace this night time squabble with some virtuous prayers...happy to say that I somewhat succeeded, albeit the occasional distraction from Bittu's mobile games and fast songs. </div>
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So we tried to teach ourselves a small prayer from the net, the first line of the same being "Sarvesham Shantir bhavatu", which basically talks about blessing everyone with health, wealth, prosperity and peace. As we went through the new found lines, stumbling over the difficult Sanskrit words, Bittu declared that thieves should not be blessed, they should be punished. The wise one in our family, Dooby, gently chided her, saying that they were also "paavam" (poor things) because they stole out of need. Not satisfied with this piece of wisdom, Bittu declared that certainly rapists could be punished because they did such "bad"things. While I began to mull over her proposal, my wise child had it all sorted out... " their actions are wrong, Bittu, they are not wrong!"I quickly chimed in ( inwardly feeling a bit contrite) yes, we should help them correct their mistakes (my mind (read heart) wondering if I had it in me to actually think of rapists in such a sublime way).</div>
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My wise one, my first production, as I often call my kids in jest, has struggled with academics right through... I have lost count of the number of schools I have changed, in a bid to make "it" work...most of the time, she spends by herself in solitude, in the fantasy world of entertainment, simply because the "people" in this world dont judge her, dont nudge her to conform to the rules of the world. We spend most of our time alternating between fighting over her lack of interest in studies and asking her to grow up and just when I all but forget how "grown up" she actually is, she throws a googly at me like this.</div>
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I spend almost every morning listening to enlightened souls share their knowledge on all that is sublime and philosophical in life...I would like to fervently believe that atleast 1% has rubbed off on me somewhere...but at such times, I discover that the naturally wise one is here... behind all that child like behaviour that doesnt sit well on a teenager on the brink of adulthood, theres an old soul, a soul that doesnt know how to fit into any prescribed "mould" ... how can she, coz shes one of a kind!</div>
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I wanted to make sure that I write this down here, so I have something to revisit each time I lose my mind over her not fitting any mould.</div>
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Now, if only I were one of those exhibitionists... I would be freely able to write " I love you so much baby", but I am sure my baby knows that :)</div>
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-90171968270144512032020-04-05T15:57:00.001+05:302020-04-05T15:57:52.416+05:30Comforting spots during Covid 19 times...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, noone wants a crisis to last this long...but when there ain't no choice...then?<div>
...then one tends to search for the speed breakers in the roller coaster ride that everyone wants to jump off....</div>
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So I went down as usual with dog no. 1 (yep, I have two) and after some time I realised that the "young" 72 year old uncle was not out <b>jogging</b> as usual (now you know why I said <b>young)</b>.</div>
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When our whole world has been turned upside down by an invisible enemy, we tend to sleep each night wildly hoping that this whole thing is a nightmare and we feel so crestfallen to wake up and find out that things have gotten only worse, if that could really be possible. After a few weeks of enduring this new now, we slowly start searching for things and moments that make us dare to hope like Aamir in 3 Idiots that "All izz well".For me, chatting with Verghese uncle every morning standing at a safe distance :) has become a speed breaker of sorts...so when I didn't see him this morning...my mind started talking...I firmly said "shut your gob" but it kept murmuring in the background till I finally saw uncle in </div>
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the evening...boy was I happy to see him!</div>
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In the same vein...some other sounds that were so disturbing have become so comforting...ahem the sound of the alarm in the morning...it makes you thankful that yet another hopefully uneventful day has begun...the sound of your mom chanting prayers...makes the reluctant believer that I am atleast think of the Boss....listening to the sparrows chirp on the balcony ledge....</div>
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the sound of the lift going up and down, reminding you of so many selfless people working for you....all these sights and sounds keep you going...they make even the somewhat cynical person that I have become lately, believe that All izz going to be well...</div>
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-40498579187123461052020-04-02T22:31:00.000+05:302020-04-02T22:31:09.846+05:30Random rambling in Covid -19 times....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, today is a gift, thats why it is called the present.... some wise person said this... a very popular and common saying... we kept saying this often, used it in a very philosophical way on FB and the likes... but I think it has finally become real in more ways than one nowadays....</div>
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We thought we had this all covered... in American lingo "I've got this", every tiny bit of our lives were planned... career, family, savings, insurance, retirement plan, even weekends, annual vacation, name it and it was all chalked out. We never ever thought of "what if" . Slowly, but surely, the digital world we had created for ourselves ensured that the "chicken littles" amongst us disappeared...</div>
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And then, as though to wipe off that self assured smirk we all had on our faces (well some of us atleast), a tiny little virus reared its royal head at the fag end of year 2019.... Covid-19, as we all (even a little kid) call it is our New year "gift"...</div>
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Now, yesterday is indeed the past, the glorious past, where we all want to run desperately to...tomorrow is a day we think of with a mixture of apprehension and slim hope and today is really the only gift we have now.... a time capsule that we wish could last forever... The 21 day lockdown feels like a pregnant pause... as though we are all mice caught in some terrible science fiction movie where we just keep running in circles in the same place...at times, we feel suffocated and at other times, we take great solace in this "secret" attic that we have all run to, while the tornado rages outside. We keep washing our hands obsessively, while we fearfully watch the numbers climb quickly...at times feeling immensely thankful that we are all "locked down" and at other times, feeling a teeny weeny envious of all the people we see on TV in the middle of all the "action". Not a single day goes past without exploring all the possible scenarios ....is it a Chinese bioweapon or is it just an ordinary infection blown out of proportion for some benefit known only to the creme de la creme of the bureaucratic world....Emotions swing wildly from feeling downright terrified, to clinging desperately to all the doctors who say that it is just another infection or that some ordinary vaccine that you have already taken is the "armour". Incredulously, we just helplessly watch all the unbelievable pictures of all the coffins that seem to pile up with frightening regularity in Italy.... wondering for the umpteenth time, where we all went wrong... how did the scenes of the play we thought we were directing change so dramatically and so quickly???? </div>
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Then... after a few weeks...when I saw images of the dolphins in Venice, the otters in Singapore and the dolphins in our own Marine drive, the whole point began to sink in... old stories of the end of time began to resurface from the old, cobwebbed areas of my overworked mind...stories from different books held close to the soul by different religions...<br />
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Whether all these surmises are true or not, God alone knows... but deep within I feel that Covid 19 is the "reset" button that was long overdue....we all know that in comparison to the unrelenting and brutal abuse that we have subjected our "roommates" i.e. Nature to, Covid-19 is nothing... we have just crushed everything that has been in our path to a destination that even we dont have sight of.... its payback time now....yeah sure we will get through all this somehow, teeth clenched, hands folded in prayer or wringing in terror....someday this too shall pass for sure...<br />
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Right now, we are all frozen in this "comma" that the lockdown has put us in...hence my mind has moved on to the future, where we will all struggle and get past this.... the burning question in my mind therefore is, what happens after this Apocalypse? Will we all just go back to our old ways or will the world learn from this visitor?<br />
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Indeed, yesterday was the past, the past where we made ever so many errors in the pursuit of all that now seems worthless, tomorrow is the future for which we really need to use the gift of today..... to "reset" everything that will ensure tomorrow is also a gift that we look forward to!</div>
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-85397146644292877512017-06-20T19:14:00.000+05:302017-06-20T19:14:03.721+05:30Mr. G R Narayanan's house<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The other day, after what seems like a life time and is more like 20 years... I landed up in Mylapore... the part of Chennai thats steeped in devotion, prayer and old culture...this area also houses some of the creme de la creme of good ole Madras.</div>
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Ofcourse, 20 years is atleast 1/4th of a full life and since places these days seem to transform overnight, I was practically lost in this old- new place...After dropping my older one in her class, me n the lil one started walking up and down, searching for a tuck shop, to buy yet another packet of the orange chips (Lays).</div>
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After going criss cross around 3 times over, I got the chips and some more junk; it was on our way back to the start point that I noticed this old, almost dilapidated building standing like a sore thumb in the middle of the shiny new landscape. Reading the name "Sumanth apartments" was like turning on the tap to a flood of memories.... of days spent returning from Adarsh to Shanthis Aunty's house along with my bestie, Shobana. I just stood transfixed, lost in the past, until my lil one nudged me and asked me to open a packet of junk for her.</div>
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Driven purely by impulse, I started walking towards the apartment, whilst swiftly "turning" the pages of my life backwards until as if by magic, I could effortlessly remember my bestie's father's name. I term it magic, coz my lil sis will vouch for the total absence of RAM and ROM in my "computer".</div>
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So it was magical for me to simply produce the name so quickly,after such a long gap!</div>
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I peered into each block, seemingly impervious to all the strange stares and glares I received from old residents, until I found his name, printed on the name plate in the last block. I just dragged my lil one up the stairs until I reached the third floor... she kept asking me ever so many questions... how long was it since I met my bestie... how do I know her parents will still be there and so much more logic... </div>
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but I was determined to relive some of the best days of my life... </div>
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As I rang the bell and waited for the door to my past open, so many memories just flooded my mind, as though I were watching a lovely movie in fast forward... the days spent playing with Shobi and her lil sis Charanya... the lovely kuzhi paniyaarams Shanthi aunty would make, straight from her grinder, whenever we just turned up, unannounced... on an unconnected note, mobile phones have really spoilt the pleasure of having an unexpected visit from someone you cherish!</div>
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The door opened and there stood Uncle... I waited with bated breath (also because I was panting after climbing 3 floors, lol) for him to recognize me... it seemed impossible to me, until Uncle so accurately said "Shobi's friend, right?". My lil one just kept looking at my delighted face, coz she was so intrigued and puzzled all at once..</div>
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It seemed as though time had stopped in Shobi's house... everything was the same.. from the dining table to the same good ole grinder in the same place... the same cupboard with the golus in the same shelves and even Shanthi Aunty's collection of Ganeshas.... I realized that day that it is so comforting to see that nothing has changed atleast in some part of your life... somehow it makes you feel like you have more of a grip on it.. I know its just an illusion but I let the illusion comfort me atleast briefly.</div>
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I was disappointed and a bit forlorn to hear that Shanthi Aunty had just gone to the temple.. I so wanted to see her. Uncle was as cheerful as he always used to be... this despite a paralytic stroke! I marveled at how well they both seemed to manage everything all by themselves, despite the impediments presented by old age and disease... only I felt a wee wistful that they were all alone... he was so beatific and upbeat...</div>
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After waiting for some time, I gave up hope of seeing Shanthi Aunty and after sharing my number, I got up to leave. As the door closed, I felt oddly sad.. as though the door to the carefree me had suddenly closed. I went down the steps slowly, trying to come terms with the closed door and thats when I saw her, sitting in a chair just outside! I was so delighted to see Shanthi Aunty! It looked like she was taking a break before climbing the three floors up. </div>
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I hugged her and was thrilled to see that the feeling of delight at rediscovering each other was mutual :). For a moment, I was transported to the past; I felt like the young girl I used to be, so full of so many dreams and my heart on my sleeve! Memories of exchanging ever so many Mills n Boons, so many afternoons spent dreaming about the "perfect guy" who would walk into our life..sighh I guess Sanju Baba was right about the "Jaadoo ki Jappi" ... this "Jappi" took me back in time:)</div>
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I wistfully left, after promising to keep in touch... with her and myself... 20 years ago.</div>
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-6315694202942504732017-06-07T13:24:00.000+05:302017-06-07T13:24:26.297+05:30On the brink of an old life...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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And so I made a choice.... a choice I had toyed with for the past two years.... a decision that could change my life, certainly my bank balance and hopefully make my kids super happy... its easy to guess... yes I finally quit... after being in the dilemma for 2 years or more... after going through the whole process in my mind over and over again... I finally chose my kids...At one point, I really thought I would have to keep those "chits" that I have heard of... usually folks keep chits at "The big Boss' " feet and then they wait for his august vote. The deal is sealed, when a flower falls on either chit and voila, the decision making is taken out of your hand, just so you can easily thank or blame "The big Boss" later... yep at one point my mind was so befuddled that I really felt like choosing this course of action...Stress is bad and some times its good as well.... extremely stressful times propel you into making big decisions before you can think it through the umpteenth time... and for that I am ever so thankful to the past not so awesome 2-3 weeks... they just made me press "Send" before I could yet again press "Shift Delete"So now, here I am footloose and fancy free, in my notice period... I am full of so many feelings that I feel like a cocktail...guess I could use up many of those swanky emoticons we have on Whatsapp :)So theres a dollop of fear, fear of whats gonna happen when theres no paycheck soon, a dash of insecurity, coz, now I am back to being just a housewife, though God knows that a housewife is like around ten people rolled into one...but still theres a dash of that cliched insecurity that all women of the present have...a pinch of worry, coz again like the women of this generation, one worries that now that theres no paycheck attached to me, I am no longer a racehorse... I may just be relegated to the sidelines y'know... coz of that... a wistful feeling lingers right through, like the base of a good cocktail... coz I am certainly going to miss so many wonderful true friends that I have made over the past 4 years....But and theres always a but... over and above all these feelings.... like the beautiful garnish that adorns a glamorous cocktail.... theres happiness, a sense of peace and a feeling of freedom... akin to having stepped out an awesome beautiful jail... right into the fresh air that beckons me!!!The sense of being free from ever so many schedules, brings a rush of thoughts... a long list begins to build in my mind... with ever so many things I put on the "back burner" waiting for the elusive "time". This list is just getting longer by the day and while I know I may never get to doing all of them.... just the thought that I can if I wish to, makes me feel like I suddenly have this big bar of Cadbury's Silk :):) and whats more its all for me lol.Wish me luck, folks as I step into a new chapter in my life... it feels new, yet its actually old...coz in the beginning and in the end (whenever thats going to be), I was always a mother first and thats what I am going to be always... I may don many other hats off and on... but I discovered the tough way that this hat is the one that should be on most of the time:)<br />
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-59473570783798156702017-06-07T11:15:00.003+05:302017-06-07T11:15:57.997+05:30There's two of me!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ofcourse I am not pregnant (thank God), nor am I having double vision, but when I am a whopping 91 kgs.... I am convinced there's one more version of lil ole me hiding in there below all the grease and grime:).</div>
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More than high time, I focused on "turning the heat on" and melting the fat to find the ahem beautiful person almost forgotten inside :):):)</div>
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One more to add to the already groaning list, saved for when I am done with the notice period... of course this item seems like more for asap!!</div>
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Wish me luck, folks, I shall keep up an update on my weight loss tales, trials and tribulations:)</div>
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More on the KG overload same day next month!</div>
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-75248525223412177092017-06-02T11:40:00.000+05:302017-06-02T11:40:12.447+05:30New wounds heal the old....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I felt compelled to "dust the cobwebs" and pick up the lost threads of my random thoughts here.... so here I am...</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Life is strange and I am certainly not the first person to say so...just mentioning it coz i can feel its strangeness now.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Though it seems quite improbable to me, recent events were so stressful that it required all my energy and (non existent) patience to sort of sail through it all... once in a while here and there, I almost felt like I was drowning.... at such times, my better half was right there beside me, with his hand out to bail me out of whatever felt like a whirlpool....</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A marriage is a life long partnership.... a promise to be there through thick and thin... again this is not something new.. I am merely quoting the marriage vows...but often some "thin" parts of this life long association really test your belief and faith in each other.... there are some places where you feel you are alone.... where you even feel cheated, some parts where its not even "thin"... you just see holes.... and then you find it hard to forgive your soulmate.... for making you cross the holes all alone...</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And when it seems just impossible to forgive... when it seems like try as you might, you can see the "crack".... a time comes when the "road" is just not there... and just when you are so frightened and cynical all at once... you find your soulmate right there matching your every step or even sometimes guiding the way ahead in a journey where there's no road right now...</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Unbelievable as it may seem, you find that a stressful event which you somehow grappled with, paved the way to healing a sore "wound" that you had almost written off... like a bad debt..</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Though the past few weeks have been very stressful.... I felt a sense of peace wash over me.... as I was finally able to close one open chapter in my marriage... I finally found myself forgiving my better half... as they all say... when you forgive you feel better...so do I... It does feel immensely relieving to forgive....</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></h4>
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com0Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India13.0826802 80.27071840000007812.5876862 79.625271400000074 13.5776742 80.916165400000082tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-58171143980470512492015-12-25T08:58:00.000+05:302015-12-25T08:58:39.940+05:30Snippets from our Pondy trip in the Christmas break<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yess, we are visiting our second home... Pondy :). We are not sure why, but both the hubby and I have taken to this small town like fish to the water..... or ahem should I say fish to the spirits :):) lolz.<br />
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Yep, the elixir is definitely a strong contender, but that apart, somehow I have always loved small towns, kinda like seeing my life swirl past on that tiny 21 inch screen, which I dont think anyone has anymore....And since Pondy is the closest fix for this yearn to be in a small town and do the cliched "run away from it all" we mostly land up in Pondy for all our holidays... once in a while we go to other places, but those are mostly due to family events and not just for a break.<br />
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En route to Pondy... we stopped at the Croc Park; Dooby had seen them all when she was five, we thought it was time to show Bittu as well, now shes around 6, so am sure she wouldnt forget them...ofcourse if you ask me, one sight of those crocs is a sight to remember for life..no matter what age....lolz.<br />
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Anyhow, as expected, Dooby was still excited to see the crocs, all in different sizes and from different parts of the world and Bittu was not very enchanted :) (mummas kid only in this aspect). Very soon, she was ready for her juice and chips fix, while Dooby was totally taken in and ready to explore the whole place :). So me being the wonderful mother I am lol, I gave her company, clutching her hand, if you please, because I honestly got a bit freaked out and was ready to puke at the sight of so many :). We also got to see some huge pythons as an added "benefit". After I clutched her hand for the umpteenth time, my wise lil one as usual set me on the right track... " Mumma, even Lord Shiva has one on his neck... so they are not yucky, ok! and mumma they are all animals, you only told me, na!"... sighh, I should think twice before I freely dole out lessons I havent learnt well myself :)<br />
And the same girl finds garbage repulsive.... crocs are apparently amazing.. children have their basics right, as usual.<br />
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At the aquarium.... Bittu tries to put her hand into the water and I scream "Bittu the machine and lights in the aquarium are working on electricity, if you put your hand in you will get a shock!"<br />
B: Then Mumma, how are the fish managing??.... hmm no answer from Mumma... mumma busy scratching her rusty grey matter...<br />
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At the beach....<br />
D: Why is the water in the ocean salty? Both mom and dad, immediately say a heartfelt thanks to Google :)....<br />
How are waves formed?... thankfully this time, she proceeded to answer her own question... through the energy in the water :)<br />
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We wound up the day at Pizza Hut....<br />
There, as I watched the kids tuck in, I saw another couple with a kid fight bitterly.... in the beginning, I was listening idly, after a while I started feeling sad for them all... we have all been there, done that at some point... and have always wished that it didnt happen or that one of us would dispel the moment of bitterness that had somehow crept in....As I got up to leave, a sudden impulse caught hold of me and I walked up to the lady and held her hand... asked her to just let go... assured her that I did it too all the time :)..... immediately her face softened and she promised me she would.... we left after wishing them all a very Merry Christmas.....indeed by giving I had got... an undeniable feeling of purpose and peace....<br />
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Merry Christmas ye all!!!!Tis the season of giving!!!<br />
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-49122241621093787012015-12-23T12:52:00.001+05:302015-12-23T12:52:28.663+05:30Nirmala Aunty's daughter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Often, when we were kids, mom and dad would say, "I am waiting for the day when people will ask "Are you Nivedita's mom"....; this ploy was often used to instil the value of all things good :).... as time passed, indeed we came into our own and for my folks' sake I hope it is for all the good reasons :).<br />
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After an age it was really a special feeling to receive a call early morning, asking me if I was Nirmala's daughter... this "playing all grown up" aint all fun y'know..... so refreshing to go back to being just your mom's kid :):):), also very inspiring to note that your parents will be always your "parents", no matter what you achieve or "who" you become!</div>
Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-3370722434345149742015-12-21T18:17:00.000+05:302015-12-21T18:17:03.474+05:30My "adopted" hibiscus shrub<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While it is fairly established that it is possible to have a deep lasting relationship with your pet, up until now, I never felt that kind of bond with a plant... well yes I did learn in Science that "All plants are living things"... yes also that they grow well when you play music(soothing) to them... some have a soft corner for Beethoven and so on... but I personally never felt this bond... until I chanced upon a discarded hibiscus shrub around seven- ten months ago. it lay there, uprooted, with almost no leaves on it... my older one and I were in the "planting obsession" phase and while she has moved on... I am still in it... to get back to the story, we both pounced upon the poor plant and I proceeded to plant it eagerly.<br />
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I would keep looking at it everyday, almost willing it to sprout a new leaf for days on end.... my mom, like all wise people assured me it would and lo and behold, it sprang to life one day and from then on, there was no looking back :). It flourished into a healthy shrub and started flowering lovely orange flowers!! I was sooo thrilled!<br /><br />
Cut to the recent past.... the flooded days... yes I know we all want to "bury" that week, but bear with me just this once...<br />
While everyone else in my complex looked woefully at their cars and bikes, I was the only (mad, according to the hubby) soul who spent every morning of those dreadful days looking wistfully at my submerged plants....almost all of them were submerged... excepting this brave hibiscus shrub, a part of her stood tall amidst all that water... the second day into my gazing at my plants like this made me suddenly notice that she was flowering even through all these floods!!! I was so amazed and yes obviously thrilled!!! The days went past and each morning, I would be welcomed with yet another flower..... at last when the floods receded and I could get to my plants once again.... trust me, this was the very first time I actually felt like giving a plant a tight hug.... she kept up my hope by flowering each and every day.... I felt as though this was her way of thanking me for keeping up her hope when she was bereft...our bond was sealed forever.</div>
Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-90188060745527206132015-12-16T17:11:00.000+05:302015-12-16T18:11:32.959+05:30The Sparrow's nest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So me and the hubby have been hosting a pair of would be parents.... just one small clarification... they are sparrows :).<br />
Yes we were done with pigeons, saw a family or two shape up from scratch and then fly away... this time we spotted a cute quaint sparrow couple building their nest from scratch on top of the utility cupboard in our balcony :). transfixed, yep we were transfixed to first see our childhood companion, its so hard to see the "commonplace" sparrow these days and whats more, a couple building their nest!!! Boy, we were so enchanted!!I even shared this good news with anyone who would be willing to listen :)<br />
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Bit by bit, they both painstakingly built their nest of grass blades. They both would untiringly fly back and forth, bringing a blade of grass with them. Soon enough, we had a cozy home up there on the cupboard. A week or two later, we woke up to the cute chirping sound of the little ones!!! We felt like proud grandparents!<br />
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One time, the mother even made a bad landing at the bottom of our balcony... like anxious grandparents, we ran down and picked her up...... all was well.... until this morning, I am not sure how one sparrow (not sure if its a baby) landed really low for my dog, Shadow to pounce on :(:(:(.<br />
Unfortunately, I caught him at it too late :(.... I tried really hard to save it, by giving it a drink of water, putting turmeric on the wound, but in vain :(:(:(<br />
Me and the kids were so sad.... and I scolded Shadow roundly and gave him a whack... he looked sad and puzzled, because he couldn't figure out what he had done wrong....<br />
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As I went on, raving and ranting at him, my older one stunned me with some wisdom, only a kid can share...<br />
Here goes...<br />
"Mummy, why are you punishing Shadow?<br />
" He hurt the bird and killed it!!<br />
" But Mummy, even we kill and eat chicken, so we should correct ourselves first and then him!" She even proceeded to tell me a story about Gandhiji and how we should emulate him!<br />
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Obviously I decided to shut my gob, what can I say in the face of such wisdom!<br />
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-12704758681979130682015-12-15T18:10:00.000+05:302015-12-17T13:41:37.817+05:30And we have picked up the pieces and moved on!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sighh, and it took a flood for me to pop in here again after two years!!! Well, in part it was because I started working..... and in most parts because I didnt make the effort...ahem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well, I am sure we all have stored away our own images and memories of the natural cum man made disaster that took over Chennai for a week.... but my "lessons to be learnt" from all this mayhem were:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1. Nature is king and ahem "Amma" is Queen... both together wreaked havoc...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2. Our body was designed for so much hard work and all we do is to move the mouse.... and then we complain about overweight, diabetes and so on...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3. How to store food without a fridge and consume it before it gets spoiled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4. How "less is indeed more"; so many people lost everything.... this thought is a nice wake up call when tempted to pick up something we "need".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And the rest I will learn in Part 2.... yup all kinds of dire predictions floating around with different date combinations... lets hope the rains dont keep up their date with us!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile do read <a href="https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2015/12/14/after-the-waters-recede/" target="_blank">this</a> article from the Hindu.. pretty much summed up my thoughts ....</span><br />
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See ya!!<br />
<br />
edited to add:<br />
1. Certain stickers were suddenly unpopular....<br />
2.For a week there, the roof top, to be more precise the top of the water tank was the "hotspot". Most of us were seen perched up there, waving our phones desperately, hoping to "catch" the signal somehow. Long queues were found only up there, as ahem the rest of the whole city was under water :)</div>
Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com2Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India13.0826802 80.27071840000007812.5876862 79.625271400000074 13.5776742 80.916165400000082tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-54481736881793203142013-02-13T22:25:00.000+05:302013-02-13T22:25:47.882+05:30Mother in law tales....<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have all bitched about our mils at some point of time;there are so many cliches about mothers in law;almost always daughters in law and mothers in law are pitched against each other, but this one is for a really sweet and thoughtful mother in law:), no, not mine but my lil sis'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So my sis casually told her that she liked some saree in some wedding album and voila! the same saree with a blouse stitched to perfection and accessories to match arrived with the next person going to US!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was so totally overwhelmed, I had to record it for posterity!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So three cheers for Aunty, because she broke the cliche :)</span></div>
Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-82838171367783427992013-02-11T22:40:00.000+05:302013-02-11T22:41:29.412+05:30The most thoughtful lemon<div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Dooby's school asked us to send a bag with a list of veggies and Rs.50/-....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dooby was very excited, obviously:). Early morning, she made a list;I told her I wanted potatoes and tomatoes;told her to add her favorite veggies, i.e. carrot and cucumber and then very virtuously added Spinach to the list.Like any other parent, I wanted the teachers to be impressed with her list:):)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She came back in the evening, very excited and happy.Obviously, she started arranging everything one by one, potatoes, tomatoes, carrot, cucumber and then, she took one lemon out and told me, "Ma, I tried to hard to think of everything and then I suddenly remembered,she turned around and gave it to Bittu, saying, you love lemon juice, dont you, I bought it for you"!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say, I was so touched;now I know that your heart really does burst with pride:):)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often, I worry about the number of fights they both have, sometimes they say such horrible things to each other, Bittu is at that really trying age, she really does try D's patience, so sometimes I worry about all this;but going forward, whenever I start thinking this way, I shall always think about this little lemon :):)</span></div>
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-61159419231469000442013-02-10T08:09:00.001+05:302013-02-10T08:09:48.543+05:30Fickle fights....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dooby and Bittu having a serious talk....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">D: I dont like this Maitri...shes fighting with me,she didnt give me that nice bottle (one old miranda bottle) so I wont invite her for my birthday..Bittu being D's follower, immediately says yes, yes. Btw, birthday is in ....June, yep that faraway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">D:Bittu we will invite her for our birthday, shes nice, she gave me the cocoa bottle...Bittu ofcourse nods vigorously:):)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wish we could also resolve all our fights so quickly!!!Instead, most of us hold on to our vengeful feelings for years and we never let go, so we also carry a heavy burden, of course this includes me as well :):)</span><br />
<br />Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-82649139486655411282013-02-08T15:38:00.002+05:302013-02-08T15:38:57.020+05:30History repeats....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me and Dooby with her Math homework....</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: Reads a problem, Ok Dooby, so now what should you do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">D: Looks a little blank and says a bit hesitantly, is it subtraction??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: Frowns and says no!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">D: Then it is addition....multiplication??.......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few minutes later, with a sigh of relief, it MUST be division.......:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sigh!!!!It is all so familiar...why did my non math genes have to pass down??? :(:(</span></div>
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-89121812540484177182013-01-30T23:30:00.000+05:302013-01-30T23:30:39.498+05:30My train is running late by one and half hours..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">therefore, I am just rushing through the day, trying hard to finish everything. My mind seems to be running faster than my feet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was so rushed this morning that while I was doing something, my mind was already in the next chore.But I just kept on until a sudden jolt made me stop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I kept a pan on the gas to finish off a dish and then I decided to give the girls a bath. And a few minutes, rushed out of the bathroom, only to be enveloped in smoke!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ran to the kitchen and found that the pan was on fire!Thankfully, I didnt sprinkle water, I just closed it with a lid.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ofcourse, in the rush, Bittu who was sitting on the pot and holding on to me also fell off. She didnt get hurt though, thank God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then finished whatever was left and dropped them off at school and then drove slowly back, just going over all the events, trying hard to figure out where I went wrong. Then I just decided to sit down in the building lawn. I knew that there were many other chores waiting for me at home and if I went back, I just wouldnt let my mind slow down. At first, it was really hard, then I could literally feel my mind slowing down, somewhat like a merri go round, slowly coming to a stop.Finally, the fog cleared and I could actually hear and appreciate the birds chirping; I finally noticed the gardener and the sweeper looking at me strangely:). They are so unused to seeing anyone sitting around seemingly doing nothing in the lawn in the morning hours:). Then, of course I followed it up with a call to my friend, philosopher and guide, no not my hubby, my mom:) and then all was well in my world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ofcourse, moral of this somewhat long story is I need to get up an hour and half earlier for my train to be on time, every time:), plus I need to eat a few more of those almonds:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an aside, have you ever noticed that we all seem to get to work/school and back, almost on auto pilot?I have often reached home and almost wondered how I got there, because all the time that I was on the road, I was deep in thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hmmm....looks like my mind really needs some reworking:) and some R and R. lol</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See ya!</span></div>
Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-4049417830377595402013-01-30T12:27:00.000+05:302013-01-30T12:27:07.882+05:30North vs South<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me and the kids were at the park as usual. The kids were obviously playing and the mums were most obviously chatting BUT not gossiping:):)</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I have a few friends whom I meet regularly, I cant say we are close, however we do meet almost everyday, so we know each other fairly well. Both the women in question were from the North, one an Assamese and the other a Maharastrian. We kept discussing something trivial, until somehow we started discussing Chennai in general and both said almost in unison that they would be thrilled if they could be back in Mumbai as soon as possible.I just smiled then and then the topic changed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, later on, I was idly thinking over it. Though they are really pleasant and nice otherwise, I have always felt they sort of "tolerate" Chennai and its people. Somehow and this is not the first time, I have always felt that when folks from the north come here, they subtly look down upon us and just about put up with things here. They are mentally there and physically here.The same folks somehow, gel with South Indians when they are abroad, because then we become Indians living abroad:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we go live in the North, we always try to learn the local language, never look down upon it, never ever say that it sounds like marbles shaking in a tin;try our best to adapt to local culture, food et al and mostly embrace the city as our own. I can personally vouch for this because most of my immediate and extended family, including myself have always lived in the North. We usually always find a whole lot that is great and different about each place and mostly love to be friendly with everyone, not just people who speak our own language. In fact, I take great pride in saying that I know Marathi and Hindi:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So whats the deal, exactly?Are we just more accepting and tolerant of others?Why do I always get the distinct feeling that North Indians just sort of "suffer" their stay here in the South? What is really missing here from their point of view?Arent we all in one country with the same facilities?Guess, we could just talk about the change in weather, right?</span></div>
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-31217295671018560972013-01-29T19:29:00.001+05:302013-01-29T19:29:32.989+05:30Happiness in a bag<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I have always been like this;when I write, I keep writing and then poof I disappear:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So please bear with my verbal diarrohea, I will settle down to decent level of posting in a bit:) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So Bittu was collecting her toys to take to the park as usual...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> B :Mummy there is sad and there is happiness, yummy yummy happiness:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: Is it? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> B: Yes mummy and then shows me her bag and says, "you want to see happiness?
See, its in this bag:) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is so simple, straight and uncomplicated for a child:). A bag of toys is happiness:) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wish we were also able to see yummy happiness in simple pleasures:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and I also wish it were really possible to capture it in a bag!
It would sell like hot cakes:):)
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Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-80248091418343248572013-01-29T15:08:00.001+05:302013-01-29T15:08:33.193+05:30So happy he forgot...
our wedding anniversary!For a fifth year in a row!
Because he forgot, he felt so bad,I got flowers and a really lovely card!
It was a lovely day, almost felt like my first wedding anniversary!
Maybe you are wondering why am I happy that he forgot;well its because otherwise, R doesnt believe in celebrations of any kind and in five years, this is the first time I got roses!!!
I had become so accustomed to treating my anniversary like an average day, that I was really elated!
Just had to record it for posterity:)
In other news, another event I just have to record here is that Miss Bittu has finally started having medicines!!!!
Well, I am sure you cant really gauge the magnitude of this announcement, but as parents we really do:).I really cannot describe the joy I had in throwing away an empty bottle of antibiotic:) And I give full credit to a new paedriatician I found close to my house.Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-12060145440053607772013-01-27T22:14:00.000+05:302013-01-27T22:22:18.252+05:30Counting....So Bittu was having her chocolate fix for the day....
B: Mamma, I want 2,3 chocolates
So I give her 3 eclairs...
B:I want 10!
A bit horrified, with a poker face, I put just one more in her bowl and say 10, loudly....
....and she walked off happily:)
Sigh, I guess I have just a year left and this tactic wont be of any use:):)
Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-17361403975804221532013-01-26T23:33:00.001+05:302013-01-26T23:33:56.777+05:30Rip van winkle woke up!So, I am back!!!!!!
Its been so long, that believe it or not, my own posts seem funny and witty to me! (Ya, I know,we all are ahem, very proud of our own handiwork, but I am not trying to fish for compliments here:)
Well, what kept me away so long, you ask?Nothing phenomenal, though I must say some phenomenal things have happened in these 2 years that I have been away, like my lil sis getting married,I started a business or two, mil had a brain haemhorrage,though, I cannot take refuge under these events and blame them for my absence.Just one word and that is laziness, or probably just one more, since I have never been a woman of few words, we can safely add boredom as well:)
So what brought me back?I closed down my business, automatically, I began to actually register and record my kids' antics once again and a wish to put them down somewhere for me to wistfully read and laugh,started this ramble here:)
Lets hope I am here for good this time, having a laptop makes me feel more hopeful that I will hang around this time :)
Now that I have wiped the "dust" off, lemme catch up with what everyone else has been writing:)
Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-38462585053457854192010-12-22T17:05:00.000+05:302010-12-22T17:05:52.216+05:30Visual thinking...So mom told me about this great visual yoga, which helps your child visualise things better, helps improve memory and all that.<br />
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Artwork is equal to punishment for D.So Mom told me to try out this new technique;<br />
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D:Try and imagine a pink rose....<br />
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A few mins later;So, what do you see?<br />
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Mom, shes not very big, shes small...<br />
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Me:Very impressed;not bad, shes getting there, shes even able to think of the size...<br />
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Oh wow, so how big is this rose, sweetie?<br />
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Mom, shes in Ukg, as big as me, you know that!!!!<br />
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Sighhhh...so much for visual thinking!!!, ask her to think of a rose and she thinks of her classmate!!<br />
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On another note, we are off to Pune!Yes finally, the D day has come, D's countdown is over, we are leaving for our Christmas vacation tomorrow:)<br />
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Happy hols everyone!See you next year! cliched, I know:), dont beat me:)Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-19375657609929124052010-12-10T13:53:00.000+05:302010-12-10T13:53:38.108+05:30Lunch time...D is having her lunch and muttering<br />
"The chicken is so spicy and oily and...<br />
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Puzzled I ask her who shes talking to<br />
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"Mamma, I am playing pretend Masterchef!!Shush!<br />
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Please note that she correctly picked only the part where they criticize stuff!Talk about being precocious!<br />
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P.S.:For those who dont know, it is a program in which amateur chefs compete with each other to cook the best dish and win the title of Masterchef and yes, we watch only Masterchef Australia!Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157633567622168461.post-90748233356233272692010-12-01T12:42:00.000+05:302010-12-01T12:42:01.976+05:30Feline and canine.....The difference between a cat and a dog...ofcourse there are many;<br />
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I recently befriended a cat and her one meal is now spoken for;<br />
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This morning I saw her perched on the wall and I called out to her...she lazily just surveyed me from her perch and languidly sauntered off....<br />
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I just pet my neighbour's dog whenever I see him;thats it.Now, even if he hears my voice in the vicinity, he yelps and jumps and wags his tail as though his life depended on it!<br />
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Sighhh, I tried hard to like a cat, but I still LOVE dogs.Period.Nivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08279835129549587629noreply@blogger.com11