Endeavours

Jan 21-22nd 2012 Week-end

2012-01-24T12:44:00.000-06:00

G = Gopi
R = Ritzu
M = Me
This Saturday, the appt people had organized Bingo at 2pm. I was eagerly looking forward to it as in almost all the parties I am the organizer and this time I was looking to play..yaaaaaaaaaaaaay
Hubby went to do grocery shopping at 11:30, by 1:30 he had not yet returned, ufffffffff..he had promised to make sambhar for the dinner party we were having tonite, with no time Ritvik and myself eat rice, curd and pickle, hubby reached at 1:50, gave him a plate of the same thing and asked him to rush so that we can reach at 2 at the party hall.

Nov G got a new bedsheet for R and this monkey who otherwise does not want to sleep tells me -- Amma, vaangh..bed iil polaaaaaaaaaaam(Amma, come, lets go to bed). I tell him , No beta, there is a party , lets go and puts his pants and rushes both the boys out.
Luckily Bingo has not yet started, lots of prizes are kept and the tickets are free, finally we start playing and everyone around us is winning and all the prizes are going away, me &G manage to smile at how unlucky we are, when R says--Amma, appi vandache...(want to poop)..Timing, I tell you, had to immediately rush home and then clean him and it was 3 already, no point in going back, so gave him his new bedsheet and put him to sleep.
G got back winning a coffee mug and a puzzle game.

Night, we had invited soem friends over for dinner, G made sambhar, then I made potato sabji and peanut chutney, then made puris and finally made idlis. For starters amde soem strawberry milkshake. Total eeeeeeeeesh moment when I realized that 1-2 idlis were still kacha from inside, puris were just enough, I did not eat any myself,finally all left and we slept by 12:30.

Sun morning got up by 10:00, quickly made some idlis, we had to go to Sai Baba temple as ppl from our appt was doing the khana at 12:30. gave R his bath, took bath myself, then G took his bath, by the time we left home it was 12:30, when we reached temple khana was all over :(, since we already reached downtown we did grocery shopping from a Indian store, came back home by 3 and eat roti, and leftover potato bhaji and idli, tried to put R to bed, but he was not interested and so I slept and he finally napped 5-7, again slept late at nite by 12:30.

Tea for two and a piece of cake Tuesdays by Preeti Shenoy

2012-01-24T10:56:00.000-06:00

Preeti has started the Tea for two (and a piece of cake) Tuesdays! wherein you have to answer a creative prompt every tuesday until the end of February and leave a link on her post.
Preeti is a best-selling author, a very creative, inspirational,yoga enthusiastic and much much more including being a mommy to two very beautiful kids.
Attaching the banner of her 3rd book, I really loved the banner, it is so gorgeous looking

The creative prompt for today is

"If I could invite anybody for 'tea for two' today it would undoubtedly be .................................."

I pondered a lot about this, would it be parents or friends I lost touch with, or am still in touch with but have not opened our hearts out and spoken, or would it be ex-boyfriends or some celebrity and then as I looked at the title again I had the answer:-
If I could invite anybody for tea today it would be Preeti herself.

I would love to meet her personally and chat with her, Preeti being herself would surely share about how she gets ideas for her novel, her writing process, could get many ideas and in turn share mine too, chat about general things. It would be fun for sure...So Preeti, are you ready for the tea?

An Award and a Tag

2012-01-23T10:59:00.000-06:00

I have been awarded the Versatile Blogger award by Nancy from Reflections.
Thanks a lot Nancy. It is indeed precious coz this is the first time that I have been given an award. So another round of hugs to you Nancy.
Now before I get to carried away in my pyaar let me lay out the rules for the tag.

The rules of this tag:

 Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your Blog Post

 Thank the Blogger who nominated you

 Share 7 Random things about yourself

 Nominate 15 fellow Bloggers

 Inform the Bloggers of their nomination

Now to share 7 random things about myself.

1) I started doing Zumba recently. The newly gained pounds while in India was motivation enough and then the love to dance. So along with a few other girls from the apartment we have started this routine for 45 mins Mon to Thu. Hopeful to get back in shape soon

2) Yesterday was my nephew's 4th birthday. I baked some cupcakes as I had done for his 1st birthday. For his 2nd birthday he was here with us in the US and hence we could celebrate it grandly. For this 3rd birthday we had been to Hawaii and hence no cake was prepared. The cupcakes did come out very moist and spongy. Also got a new cupcake baking tray and now want to try out all different combinations of cupcakes

3)I love mangoes and so does my son. He can devour a whole mango by himself, hence what I do is cut pieces for him but try to keep more pulp near the seed and then devour the seed by myself. Cunning ain't I?? Oh, hubby does not get a single piece. I am mean in sharing good food

4) I finally won a giveaway. It is a beautiful necklace and am eagerly awaiting for it to be delivered. Will post pictures once I receive it.

5)I got some new cookware and cutlery and glasses. Interest in cooking has now resurfaced. We even got a new plate set for Ritvik (Toy Story theme)

6) I wish I could work from home and not drive to office everyday.

7) Every Friday is swimming day. Initially when I started it was as if tsunami is arriving with water splashing all over the pool but since last week I am trying to be subtle and doing good so far.

Now to nominate 15 bloggers. I do not know so many so will nominatethe ones I read often
http://memoirsofria.blogspot.com/

http://smilethesmile.blogspot.com/

http://deepa-duraisamy.blogspot.com/

http://mytumblingthoughts.blogspot.com/

http://readingthroughrsmind.wordpress.com/

Happy Birthday Parthu

2012-01-19T13:59:00.000-06:00

Wishing you a very Happy birthday Dear Nephew.
I can still remember that Saturday morning, 4 years back when I held you in my arms for the first time. You have grown up to be a smart, very naughty kid.
Love u.......muaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

2011 - The Year that Was!

2012-01-04T09:55:00.002-06:00

January - Welcomed the new year by visiting a pub with friends, which we had not done for quite some time now. Did a lot of gym to reduce weight to look good in clothes that I would wear @Hawaii. Went for a week vacation to Hawaii. Started watching Prison Break and got addicted to it, would wait to arrive from office and get glued to the laptop.

February - Enjoying so called honeymoon period with baby in India. Went snow tubing, still addicted to English sitcoms. Decided to quit TCS after 7 long years. Started job hunting and preparing for interviews. Did not get any call for the first 2 weeks but finally something clicked and got a confirmation by Feb end.

March - Applied for Premium processing for H1 visa. Anxiety if it would come in the 2 weeks time. Finally got H1 done. Joined new office. Sad about leaving old client.
Went to the casino and Gopis name was called in a lucky draw- he won $1000 Mystic Cash

April - Not liking new office, neither the commute, getting acquainted with everything and everyone, baby is back, excited to hold him in my arms after a long time, happy to hear him call me 'Amma'

May - Hectic month, bday came and went just like that,had gone to temple on bday, hubby got a ticket for speeding. Had to manage work pressure, home cooking 3 times for FIL, adjusting to baby's needs, sleepless nights, started baby in day-care, he kept crying(heart-breaks),managed to get through.

June - Baby settled in day-care, me settled in office, F-I-L left, a little less hectic, baby adjusted well here, Officially summer is here. Going out in the evenings, Ritvik making new friends and so did we.

July - Me & Baby managed to get viral infection, no one to take care, felt better to go to India, came out of it, weekends enjoying summer fun.

August - A month of celebrations as mentioned in this post

September - Tried to do a post everyday but left it mid-way. Reminder to self(should do one soon). Visited lots of fairs. Ritvik sat first time in the carasoul, merry-go-round and other rides and enjoyed it thoroughly. Broadmoor friends decided to organize a Diwali Dhoom even in October. Became in charge of Cultural Event Comittee.

October - Very busy and fun month. Meeting to discuss about Diwali Dhoom, Dance practise at nights, kids practise, oooooooooh I love being busy. Finally had the grand and successful event and then 2 weeks of birthday parties

November - My baby's 2nd birthday, making preparations, preparing for India trip, visa stamping documents, meeting office deadlines, had a gr8 birthday for Ritvik at Mall Of America, left to India on the 17th Nov, visa stamping on the nov 25th @Chennai, got the pink slip(totally lost), BIL's wedding Nov30th-Dec1st. Had fun shopping.

December - In India, wedding and after functions, got visa issued, missed hubby, wanted to get back soon. enjoyed at home(Pune), reached US 25th Dec, had New Year party and ushered in the New Year 2012

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-01T11:21:00.000-06:00

Wishing you all a very Happy new year 2012

Week day Menu

2011-12-30T18:00:00.000-06:00

Friday - 30th Dec
Bfast: Vermicelli Upma
Lunch/Dinner: Chapati/Rice + Fish Curry

Thu - 29th Dec
Bfast: Bread Toast
Lunch: Rice + methidal
Dinner: Chapati + Egg masala

Wed - 28th Dec
Bfast: Wheat Upma
Dinner: Capsicum Fried Rice

Tue - 27th Dec
Bfast - Bread Omlette
Dinner - Chapati + Tondli

Synopsis of my vacation

2011-12-28T13:41:00.002-06:00

Week1: Reached Mumbai , midnite of 19th Nov 2011, as soon as I landed and felt the heat of Mumbai, wanted to rush back to hubby's arms, met parents and drove to Pune.
Was jet lagged and tensed about visa stamping. Before I left itself everyone advised me not to travel as I had to get my visa stamping done and everyone knows what a pain it is nowadays(with all the various colored slips the consulate hands out). After 2 days, flew to Cbe. Next day travelled to Chennai for visa stamping. Got the pink slip. Returned back to Cbe.

Week2: Wedding week- 2 days of shopping and 2 days of wedding. Had fun.

Week3: @Home, tensed, no updates on visa, well usually takes 4 weeks or more, should I cancel my tickets, what if I don't get it, missing hubby, nothing to do, Got newly married couple home, went 1 day shopping with them, they went to the bride's home, only good thing was to spend loads and loads of time with Ritvik.

Week4: Wedding couple went for their honeymoon, again stayed at home, decided if visa gets more delayed can spend more time in Kerala and Pune(grinning abt that). Got message passport is gonna be delivered, no idea if visa is issued, more tension, courier is delayed by a day, still nailbiting awaiting, finally passport delivered with visa, happy, went shopping.

Week5: Back to Pune, 1 day went to Kirkee to meet old family friends, 1 day went to Dehuroad, next day bank work, realized have to go to Mumbai to get bank account closed, went to mumbai one whole day, last day went to airport and flew to US.

Back from Vacation

2011-12-27T11:52:00.000-06:00

Am back from a month long vacation to India. Me and my baby went to India for a month. Did nothing much, lazed at in-laws house for a month, was at my place for a week.
Hightlight of the trip was that my 2 yr old co-operated very well with the long flight, i had absolutely no issues with him.

Love u baby

Lady Bug - A different perspective

2011-11-08T15:24:00.000-06:00

So the other day we were having break-fast. I had made some upma. Gopi had some in his plate and he had kept the red tadka wala chilly to the side of the plate. Ritvik(my not yet 2 yr old ) walks by , looks at the plate and exclaims 'Lady Bug!'

We were surprised at the comparison for a minute and then burst out laughing.

Lal Mirchi (best possible image i could get)

Happy Diwali 2011

2011-10-26T11:07:00.001-05:00

Wishing all my readers , family and friends a very Happy Diwali

Week-end Oct 15th -16th 2011

2011-10-19T14:23:00.000-05:00

Busy Busy Week-end. First things first, as it is I am pretty busy with the Diwali Dhoom organizing and dance practise part of it.
So Fri eve we went shopping, had to get pants for Ritvik, initially thought of eating out but then came home and fixed a quick dinner of mor curry and bhendi sabji and all the effort is worthwile when you see your baby eating munching away the food :)
Sat woke up lazily at 8, after calls to home made poha for breakfast, kind of lazed the day as evening we had to attend a bday party. Got ready at 6:30, wore saree, had to call a friend for help, went to the party at 7, had gr8 fun, serving drinks and cake, munching on food, returned by 10:00, then went for practise till 12.
Next day woke up by 8:30, again had another bday party to attend, this time in the morning, so went there returned by 3- slept till 6, then went around the apartment for a walk, made some lemon rice, had dinner and rested.

Diwali Dhoom & a Disapearance

2011-10-07T12:16:00.000-05:00

Do not get misled by the Title. I know its not Diwali yet but I had disseapeared for some time from the blog world and the reason is Diwali Dhoom.

The ladies in our apartment complex decided to host a Diwali Dhoom get-together on the ocassion of Diwali on the 22nd Oct 2011.
First there was a committee meeting of about 10 ladies though gradually the group reduced to 5, lots of meetings,decisions to be made on how and when and what to conduct.
After much delibration it was decided to have registrations for the occassion.
We then got busy with preparing of Notice boards, putting out the content and then actually being there for 3 different days on the end of September to actually allow people to register.
Now let me tell you that each meeting for this used to last for about 2-3 hours(yeah, that is how it is with ladies, we go to the very minute details)
I got myself assigned as the Program Committee incharge. We also decided to have a ladies dance and kids dance.
Along this by the end of September came Dussera. Now that almost all the ladies knew each other we decided to do Nine days pooja at each ones house.

I volunteered to do pooja at my house on the Sunday but I had to attend pooja at other people's house. So coming from office @5, make tea and boil milk, cook food, then go for pooja, then meetings, and night dance practise.
Whoa! very hectic days ahead and so people that is the reason for my disapearance.

Linking to a Giveaway

2011-09-19T15:20:00.000-05:00

My way of entry to this giveaway is by commenting on my post, providing a link and giving a chance to all my readers to be a part of it.
So if you have not yet done it, go to this link here and be a part of the giveaway.

The pirze is a blue Ikat crescent shaped Hobo from Tignanello and the last day is tomorrow.
So why wait! Rush your entries Now!

Car Show - 2011

2011-09-18T11:43:00.000-05:00

Which is your favorite?
Since I do not know the original model of the vintage cars, I am going to give my own names.

The Elegant Black

Long Nosed Red

The Grey One

Sparky Blue

Lengthy Red One

The Sturdy Jeep

Super Pose Green One

Chilly Red

Magnificent Yellow

So I cheated

2011-09-13T15:15:00.000-05:00

So I had decided to post everyday of this month but I missed the 9th post for reasons to be mentioned later and sice I missed 1 day I just Let it go.

The reason why I missed that day was that it was a Saturday (well, so what?, u may ask) arre week-end na baba, do not touch computer on week-end isiliye.
Yup, I do not log into my work PC on week-ends and since we share a common one at home I do not use it much just for ocassionally checking FB/Gmail.

I could have still taken the effort to churn out a post at night but hubby happened to put the movie - ZNMD, so sat watching it.
By 3/4th of the movie I couldnt wait for it to end, did not like it at all.
I have read good reviews on blogs and many have majorely fell in love with Farhan Akthar. I loved all his movies in the past but not this one. Bagwati??Really?

And then Mon morn on my way to office my car broke down. Just after I got off the highway it came to a stop. Since I do not carry a cell phone had to walk over and ask a gentleman for help. He willingly called 911 and I called hubby who in turn called the insurance.
Now the car is in repair mode....

So that's it for me from here......Rest in Next.

Happy Onam to all my readers......Post 8

2011-09-08T22:03:00.000-05:00

Wishing all my readers a very Happy Onam

7 years ago........Post 7

2011-09-07T21:45:00.001-05:00

I first laid eyes on him 7 years back on Sept 8th 2004. I was on my second project assignment to US, in the state of Minnesota, in a city called Eden Prairie.

I reached the place at midnight of 7th Sept 2004, I was assigned a new project and I did not know anyone onsite i.e in US. I was told someone would pick me up at the airport and sure enough when I landed I met a guy who introduced himself and took me to my apartment which I would share with another girl.

Sept 8th 2004 (Wednesday), me and my roomie woke up and got ready to go to office.
This same guy had a car and he would take all of us. We both girls got in the back seat as the front seat was already occupied. He then introduced me to the front-seat occupant saying, This is G, who works with us, the entire company depends on him and the first thought that came to my mind was--Really! this lanky looking guy, what does he do that is so important? Well soon enough I learnt that he managed the databases which is the core of almost anything in IT industry.

We had an argument in the first week itself and then on whenever we spoke we were always on the opposite sides of the table. I have already mentioned in a post here if he was North, I am South , that different is our opinion on all things.
I remember one incident where in there was a migration going on and most of the people were working late night. My roomie happened to be one of them, in the morning G got some break-fast for her. After he left, my roomie says to me, Isin't he sweet and my reply was, "Yeah, a bit too sweet". It is a known fact that girls fall for bad guys and I was in that category too.
One thing led to another we soon became friends and got married 4 years back.
There was no formal proposal or anything from either side for us to remember and celebrate but we both remember this day and always celebrate and cherish the first moment we met each other.

So darling, wishing you once again and may we celebrate many more years of togetherness.

How do you feel when you return home at the end of the day? -Post 6

2011-09-06T22:36:00.000-05:00

So today for lack of topic I am going to take the one from the NaBloPoMo prompt.
How do I feel when I return from home, in one word - Excited.
Excited to hug my baby, Eager to hear about his day, Earnestly cook for the day and then go out with baby. Meet up with friends and relate the days events.

MN-State Fair - Post 5

2011-09-05T20:29:00.000-05:00

This week was a long week-end for us and also the last day of the State Fair.
Catching the 11:30 State Express bus we reached there at 12:00 and spend about 7 hrs there. Though there are a lot of things to be viewed since we have our baby we went to the animal section and then the Kiddie section.

Ritvik had a great time in the Kiddie section, riding all the rides and wanting even more.
Finally we left there by the 6:30 bus and reached home at 7pm.
A well -spend day indeed.

On changing names - Post 4

2011-09-04T21:52:00.000-05:00

A rose by ay other name would smell as sweet - William Shakespeare.
We each have a identity of our own per se our name. In Indian tradition though many change it to reflect their husbands name.
In our present generation many stick to their maiden names, many change their husbands name, many others add their husbands name to their maiden name and so on and so forth.

Each one do what they feel is right or comfortable with and I am not voicing my opinion on it. What I am about to narrate is how and when I changed mine.

In our community we do not have any surnames and so all I have is a first name and last name in my passport. Now during the time I got married the company that I work for came up with a new process. They made the surname field mandatory in passport and so I had to renew my passport once again with the name change. As I was getting married, I decided to change with my husband's name as that way any further travel documents that I would require would be easy to get.
Now one thing I know for sure is that I am not getting any divorce only to avoid going through the process of name change :)
At my workplace my name was still my father's name and my email id is still the same. Changing my name will not change me, I will still remain my daddy's precious little princess for ever.

Do you feel strongly about your maiden name or are you okay with changing it to your husbands name or a combo of both.

Ganesh Chaturthi - Post 3

2011-09-02T22:29:00.005-05:00

Ganesh Chaturthi has always been one of my favorite festivals. I love Ganeshji, he is like a friend to me and am sure to many others too.
Now Pune is famous for all the Ganpati mandals and big celebrations, growing up we would always go to the bazaar to see the different type of mandals and decorations they had.
For 16 years I stayed at Dehuroad Estate and every year they would keep mandals and have various programmes. During the last 6-7 years of our stay there the mandal near our house used to organize really fun programs for the 10 days and year after year we would wait for them.
There would always be Antakashri competition, Fancy Dress, Rangoli and it would be concluded with Tambola.
A huge crowd would gather to play Tambola and whenever anyone won and went to get their tickets checked we all would scream out loudly 'Bogie, Bogie'. This was like a chant till the person was declared a winner or else it really turned out to be a bogie ticket.
Now there is an incident related to this, one day I received a letter(now during those days we rarely received any letters, as luck would have it my mom did not open it and when I opened to read it it turned out to be a love letter from one of the guys and the only hint was 'Bogie').
Well, I was not very interested anyways but even if I was I had no clue who the sender of the letter was.

After we left from there we moved to our own home so I have never been part of any Ganpati celebrations.
I miss those fun days with my friends and family.

Happy Birthday Dad -Post 2

2011-09-02T09:29:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday Daddy and may you have many more to come

NaBloPoMo for September - Post 1

2011-09-01T07:40:00.000-05:00

So I decided to join NaBloPoMo for the month of September here. This means that I have to post every single day of this month.
The site does provide prompts which you can take as a topic or else write one of your own.
The theme for this month is Return

Let me return to those childhood days
When playing outside was so much fun.
No laptop or Internet
But we had all the fun we could
No phone calls to make
And no mobile bills to pay
No bearing grudges or ego to be kept
When 'katti-katti' and 'puppy' made it all up
Let me return to those wonderful days
Those innocent days of childhood

August 2011- A Month of Celebrations

2011-08-27T13:26:00.000-05:00

Though August is still not over, it was a month filled with lots of outings & celebrations.
It all started on :
Aug 2nd 2011:The apartment complex we stay in decided to host the National Night Out which is an event meant to increase awareness about police programs in communities. You can find more information here.
Two big bouncers were got for the kids to play in(even adults if they cared), me & hubby both played c/o my little one. They had hamburgers given out, plus a DJ with a very cute African American who did some really cool dance steps and gave out gifts to all the kids.

Aug 3rd 2011: Darling hubby's bday. he got to cut 2 cakes. One that his friends got and 1 was a yummy upside down pineapple cake that I prepared. The picture of the cake I prepared does no justice to the softness and the yumminess of the cake.

Aug 6th 2011: We had to attend a baby shower and the whole afternoon went in having fun with friends.

Aug 10th 2011: Had a happy hour with the team at work

Aug 13th 2011:Aug 13th 2011: Visited the Carver County Show. Lots of petting animals and Ritvik sat on the merry go round for the first time and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Aug 15th 2011: India's Independence Day Celebrations, again some Indians decided to have a celebration among all Indians complete with flag hoisting, singing patriotic songs, snacks and beverages. Kids came out dressed in their traditional best. It was a proud moment as each one sang the National Anthem in another country.

Aug 20th 2011: Went to Kite Festival and created our own kites and then went to the park for a friend's farewell.

Aug 21st 2011: Went to the Renaissance Festival.The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is a medieval village complete with royal court, peasants, jesters, knights-in-armor, and ladies-in-waiting. It is asthough one has been transported back to another world.

Aug 23rd 2011: Kids Play Date. So gain another dear friend in the apartment complex took an initiative to organize a Kid's play date or Kids Sports day if you may call it. The kids were divided into 3 groups and there were lots of activities for them.
The sports included Musical chair, lemon & Spoon, bowling game etc. Later on snacks & juice were provided and the day ended by flying lots of helium ballons in the sky. Dress code was red and it was amazing to see all the wonderful kids in the red attire.

Aug 25th 2011: Had a lunch outing with team

Aug 29th 2011: Mommy's birthday.
Wishing you a very very Happy Birthday Mom

Letter to my darling Ritvik - 21 months

2011-08-10T11:49:00.000-05:00

This Friday August 12th 2011 you will complete 21 months and I feel the need to let you know all that you have been doing till now.
In the morning as soon as we get you ready and put your shoes on, you cant wait to get out of the house and will go around the house telling 'key','key', which is an indication that we should take the car-key and take you to day-care. Though you still cry at drop-off, it is much better now that you have adjusted there and can even call your teacher by her name 'Jenny'

You have suddenly entered the 'No' phase. For the past 2 days you have been telling 'No' for everything we ask you to do, driving us nuts at times and giving us lots of chuckes in the process. Infact yesterday night you were shouting 'No' even in your dreams. This led me to think of how many times we stop you from doing things by telling 'No'. No Ritvik, dont spill the milk. No Ritvik, dont climb on the stool. Well you are giving us a taste of our own medecine and so we decided to omit the work 'No' from our vocabulary to teach you to say 'Yes'

We love the way you dance whenever music is played. Infact at a gathering bny the apartment friends were amazed to see you dance as soon as the music started. You rock baby!

You can speak single words very well but have not yet started speaking sentences, Well for some words you would just tell the endings and for some wors you have your own vocab like 'Bawa' for duck, 'Ina' for water, 'Pi' for Topi(hat) and so on.

You don't go very easily to strangers and still need Amma & Appa to be near you while you play but you are generous in sharing your toys.You eat & sleep well but sometimes if you are hungry (especially in the early mornings), you get all cranky and then start screaming. At times like these I fell like throwing you out of the window, when I tell you this later(when you are in a good mood), you smile which melts my whole heart.
You are so generous with your kisses and you shower me with them on my fore-head, eyes,nose,2 cheeks and chin.

Luv you my baby boy
Umaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

Happy Birthday!

2011-08-03T11:29:00.001-05:00

Wishing you a day filled with happiness & joy

Luv,
Dumz

Picking a Tag!

2011-08-01T14:47:00.000-05:00

I picked this tag from here. So go ahead and indulge if you like

A. Make a list of 5 things that are in reach.
Keyboard, notepad, bottle of water, headset & pen

B. What is your favourite holiday?
@Kerala or lazing at home

C. What is your fashion style?
Wearing clothes that are comfortable and I can carry off well with my figure.

D. What’s your occupation?
IT

E. What do you hear right now?
Doors opening in the hallway.

F. Who was the last person you hugged?
My hubby.

G. What random song just popped in your head now?
Husa Busa..all fall down, oh yeah..my kiddo sings this all the time now.

H. What did you do today?
Got up, got ready for ofc, dropped baby at daycare, saw a live snake, now at office.

I. What was the last text message you received?
No cell, no message, does work Indbox count?

J. What websites do you always visit when you go online?
Gmail, Times of India, Facebook, other blog Sites.

K. What is your next big planned purchase?
Hmm, A land probably.

L. If you could afford to go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Home(India).

M. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A stay at home mom with one more kid running an NGO.

N. Where’s your tattoo/Where would you like a tattoo?
Would love one just above my butt.

O. What are you doing this weekend?
Attending Baby Shower.

P. If you could play any musical instrument, which one would you play?
Guitar.

Q. What’s the one thing you need the most now?
Sleep..lots & lots.

R. Are you a creeper?
Nope.

S. What is your dream job?
To host Top Chef :).

T. What’s the last good movie you saw?
Not sure about good but latest will be 'Beyond a Reasonable Doubt'

U. What’s your favourite quote?
"Whatever happens, happens for the Best"

V. What is your favourite colour?
Blue

W. Give us three styling tips that always work for you:
-Kajal in my eyes
-Hair left loose
-Clothes that fit

X. Coffee or tea?
Tea

Y. What do you love to do when it is drizzling?
-- Read a book.
-- Eat hot bhajis.
-- Cuddle with hubby.

Z. What inspires you?
Books and Blogs.

Busy Week-end - July 23rd 2011

2011-07-25T11:26:00.003-05:00

So it all started with guests coming home on Fri nite, then we had a Movie nite sponsored by the apartment (pizza and juice included).
Sat morning we went to the works musuem which was a really fun place. There were lots of things of interest like light filters, gears, we could also build our own race cars and circuit lights. Returned home by 3 an put baby to sleep. He slept from 4:30 - 7. then at nite we went downtown to see the fire-works(end of Auannetial festival) which was very spectacular.
Sun morning cooked payasam for pot-luck, went to Bryant lake park and returned by 6.
All in all a well turned out busy week-end.

Small Potato Biryani

2011-07-22T11:22:00.000-05:00

Well, I hardly make any dishes from potato so when I got some baby potatoes from Farmer's market I was at a loss what to do except fromt he usual frying as I wanted to try out something different.
I happened to see this receipe at Rak's Kitchen and immediately decided to try it(ofcourse in a different version)

Ingredinets:-
Basmati Rice - 1 cup
Baby potatoes - 6 nos
Youghurt - 1/4 Cup
Corriander Leaves - 1/2 bunch
Bay Leaves , Cloves, Cardamon - 2 nos
Salt - As needed
Oil - As needed
Spring Onions - 4 nos
Garlic - 2 nos
Ginger - 1/2 piece

1) Wash and soak rice in water for 15 mins
2) Pressure cook potatoes for 3 whistles, was, peel the skin, dry them and then deep fry in oil till brown(Next time onwrds will shallow fry)
3) Make a paste of youghurt and corriander leaves
4) In cooker add ghee, when hot add ginger & garlic pieces, along with Bay leaves, cardamon and cloves.
5) Next add spring onions and salt, Always add extra salt as we are going to add rice.
6) Add coriander powder, red chilly powder, Biryani masala, turmeric powder(basically any powders to enhance the taste, of course refrain from talcum powders--hehe PJ)
7) Now add the potatoes and then add the curd+coriander paste, let it heat well for some time, let the potatoes absorb the flavour
8)Then add rice along with water, close and pressure cook for 2 whistles.
9) Garnish with top part of spring onions
Delicious potato biryani is ready to be eaten.

Why did I marry the guy I married?

2011-07-21T13:57:00.001-05:00

because it was God's wish..............................................
So when people hear I am a Malu and he is a Tam the next question immediately is "Oh! so love marriage", Well, how do I answer this question without giving a detailed explanation as to --No, it was not our parents who met first as in typical traditional weddings but we who decided to get married and No, not becuase we fell in love at first sight or we were the most compatible people together but for the simple fact that I was 27 years, wanted to get settled and he was a good friend who helped and ofcourse God's wish..I tell you how...

So I first set eyes on him on 8th Sept 2004 and when someone introduced him as , "This is the guy the whole company resides on, no he was not the CEO, just a DBA", I was thinkin in my mind, Who this lanky looking thin guy, Really!!!"
Well, after we sort of decided to get married after his parents said Yes, we decided to go together for a trip to Niagara.
He flew to NY and I had booked a 2 day Niagara tour on one of the very famous Chinki buses. So this was our fist official date. Now I knew we were poles apart. If I was North he was South but still I thought I could live with him.

So the 1st day of the trip we sit in the bus, it is an 8 hr drive to Niagara with a mid-way stop to Corning Glass factory. When we were in college we friends used to always tell, that we did not care about looks in a guy, all we wanted was someone who could talk well, now my guy hardly opened his mouth, No no he was not tongue-tied, just that is his nature, so the bus sped away and here we were sititng silently, after all the huge expectations that I had from my first date, this was a major disaapointment.
Infact it was so bad that I started speaking to myself after I got bored looking at the sights outside. Speaking to myself also involves speaking to God and I was asking him, Really, this guy, will I be happy?, will I be able to go through this, now I couldnt even reject the only 1 guy who was ready to marry me, else would have to start the searching process all over again..Now by this time we had reached our first destination (Corning Glass Factory), So they asked us to take a tour of the factory and then finally there was a demonstration at the end of which they would give a prize. Tickets were given to us as we left the bus.

As we entered the hall where the final demo was to be held I was telling God, ek ishara de dedho(yup, Dil to pagal hai types)jise mein samajh jau yehi mera zindagi hain...Now God just cannot scream and tell his wish(not practical na)so I normally think of something to help him help me, like this time I said, if you want me to marry him, we should win the prize, now the hall had about 500 people. After I made my bargaining with God, I asked G to give me his ticket as the attender was collecting everthing in a bowl for the lucky draw and whoa! G did not even know they were handing out tickets, so I asked our bus host if he had more tickets and he gave us the last one he had.
And when they called out the winning ticket number who should win it but G, yes his ticket was the winning one and he asked me to go and get the prize(a flower vase) from the stage. I still have pictures with me.
Well I just looked up and thanked God, if that was his wish who was I not to follow...............

Lazyyyyyy Week-end

2011-07-18T15:37:00.000-05:00

Fri was working from home due to the thunders and lightining, so it was a very rest ful day, took a nap from 12-1, had lunch and logged off from work PC by 4. evening went to pick baby at day-care, went to Costco, Indian store and cooking puri-chole at night, pretty much day is done. Put baby to sleep at 9:30pm and lo! slept with him, woke up at 9:15 am :)

Sat after a breakfast of chai and bread(hubby not well this week), in-laws came over webcam, after chatting made lunch, feb baby with lunch, put him to sleep and also slept from 2 -5. woke up and went to Water Ski show, back by 8:30--some other cousins came over web-cam, made ragi dosa, had dinner and slept.

Sun morn woke up by 8, again breakfast of bread and chai, played with baby, read some books, evening had to attend a bday party, so went to mall at 5 to get a gift, attended party, cake + dinner, back hoem, back to bed.
What a nice and relaxign week-end indeed!

And then they turned red........

2011-07-13T12:51:00.000-05:00

Yeah...my eyes. It all started with on Wednesday July 6th 2011 when my right eyes turned a little red, I thoguth a blood vessel must have broken,by evening it had a little swelling. Thu morning I decided to go to ofc and hubby was surprised thinkin I'll rest at home, and with all this the sore thoraty sensation had already started. By evening, in ofc I started shivering, went home and had so much shivers and jitters, throat had gone all bad, redness in the eyes still persisted, but I did not take any medecine
Fri morn felt better but redness still persisted so decided to get an appt, so difficult to get same day appointment, luckily had an opening for 2:30pm. Went to the doctors and again fever started. She saw my throat (very red and white marks) and with eye infection, she gave antibiotics and eye-drops and asked to take medecine for fever.
Came home took all medecines and slept. I should be fine by evening I thought.
By evening felt better but eyes still swollen and bloody red.
Had made some dal but eat plain rice, at night took medecine and slept.
Sat morn still not better (both eyes infected now), fever + horrible sore throat, managing to cook for baby and get along.
By evening fever is gone to be replaced by a splitting headache. Night not able to eat much food, went to sleep, woke up at 5(hungry/weak/tired), got some milk and corn flakes, immediately felt dizzy, managed to catch the chair else would have fallen down, next think I know is sitting on the bed, lied down, that feels good, slept. Sun - fever gone, body weak and tired, managed to cook and eat something. Sun passed by stugglingly.
Took leave from ofc on Monday. Felt much better. By Tue redness had decreased. Had a bath at night. Getting back to normal.

10-day-challenge-post-10 - One picture

2011-07-03T10:41:00.002-05:00

Final day of the tag

10-day-challenge-post-9 -Two Songs

2011-07-02T15:30:00.003-05:00

I am not a big music lover, I seldom on my own initiate songs but I do like to listen to good numbers
On that account my favorites are:-
1) Tujhe na dekho toh chain mujhe aata nahin hain--ek tere siwa koi aur mujhe bata nahin ahin--kahin mujhe pyaar hua toh nahin. I know this is picturised on Divya Bharati.

Maybe during teenage years this song was very apt and so it still lingers on my mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrReiaUcVp4(link)

2) Miri ariyahde vanu nee miri....from the malayalam movie 'Niram'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6_2zEYa2dQ(link). I love this movie and all the songs.

10-day-challenge-post-8 -Three Movies

2011-07-01T10:15:00.002-05:00

1)KIREEDAM
Mohanlal plays Sethumadhavan, a man who is forced to be a criminal by the society and the circumstances. He did a fantastic job in the movie, thus claiming the National Special Jury Award for his fantastic perforance. Mohanlal has given all he had to this character Sethumadhavan, who goes through different states of life, not as a cop as he desired to be, but as a criminal hated and feared by people.

He is even hated by his own father who is a head constable whose desires of his son becoming a police officer goes in vain.
I am a big Mohanlal fan and this movie truly lives to expectations

2)Taare Zameen Par:- A movie about a dyslexic kid and how his teacher helps him to overcome his disability. Great performance by Darsheel

3)One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) is one of the greatest American films. Its theme is set in the world of an authentic mental hospital (Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon), a place of rebellion exhibited by a energetic, flamboyant, wise-guy anti-hero against the Establishment. Brilliant acting by Jack Nicholas. This movie was re-made in Malayalam (Thalavattom), again brilliant acting by Mohanlal

10-day-challenge-post-7 - Four Books

2011-06-30T10:40:00.005-05:00

Top on my list is:-

1) The Diary of a Young Girl - Ann Frank - This book was recommended to me by a friend. Though I dont read non-fiction much I finished this book in one sitting. It is very emotional and though-provoking.

2)The Prodigal Daughter - Jeffrey Archer(My first JA and totally loved it, inspires me that if you really want to you can achieve anything)

3)The Inscrutable Americans -Anurag Mathur (Really humorous and I read it after my 1st visit to US, so could totally relate)

4)All Sidney Sheldon Books

Only 4, could pen down so many more.

10-day-challenge-post-6 - Five Foods

2011-06-29T10:50:00.003-05:00

Today's post is five foods and my question is how can they limit to only 5

1)Fishy fry,Shrimp & Lobster Fry

2)Chicken Biryani-yummmmmmmmmm

3)Ice-cream, simple vanilla will do. I can eat however much I want, it is only for healthy eating habits that I resist myself

4)Tiramisu- if you have not tasted this sweet, you definitely should.

5)Anything made with paneer I can devour.

10 day challenge - Post 5 -Six Places

2011-06-28T10:34:00.004-05:00

1) Dehuroad, Pune - This is the place where I spent 16 years of my life and I absolutely love the place. From my childhood to teenage lives, all the experiences, all the fun, totally rocking place.

2) Kerala, my home-town, used to love going for vacations every summer, living in huts, playing in the oceans and sand whole day, eating coconuts and mangoes, this is one gorgeous palce to be in.

3) Florida, USA - Hubby and I had 2 totally fun packed vacations here before marriage and both of us love the place

4) Stamford, USA - I was here for a year and boy it was a total masti filled place, never did I gamble so much, or play cards so much or danced so much or give gaalis so much or laughed so much. Totally rocking and rocking friends!

5) Lonavla, Khandala -- Had gone one monsson with friends, It is beautiful, all the greenery and you can see water on the leaves. We had great fun.

6) PP, Pune:- Home where my parents live. I can go home over the week-end and not step out on the verandah also, love it here

10 day challenge - Post 4 -Seven Wants

2011-06-27T10:15:00.004-05:00

hmmm, this is so interesting, I used to always think If I got 3 wishes, what all I would ask for and this is seven. so let me go wild here

1) A Jeannie to do my housework like the one in 'I dream of Jeannie' except a more tame one

2) Lifetime membership to spa for face/body massages

3) Monthly Salary without doing much work or no work would also be great

4) Food generating machine, so all I have to tell it is what I want and it would be ready, ooo all the tiramisu and ice-creams and chicken tandoris that I can eat

5) Well to be a little practical, with pt 4 I would also always want to have an hour glass figure

6) Romantic vacation in Italy

7) To be able to complete things, I am so good at starting new things but do no thave the patience to take them to completion, so lots and lots of patience or a magic wand :)

10 Day Challenge - Post 3 - 8 Fears

2011-06-26T11:48:00.005-05:00

1) Dying - yeah truly scared of dying and more scary than that is NO 2
2) Losing my loved ones before me...
3) water--scared of drowning, trying to overcome by learning swimming but still a long way to go.
4)Going Blind - scared of dark
5)Living alone - I need people around me
6)Kids getting abused
7)Had to think a lot for this one - - getting handicapped
8)Catching fire & burning

Whew! this was a tough one

10 day challenge - Post 2-Nine Loves

2011-06-25T09:45:00.003-05:00

Post2 of this challenge is Nine lives.
So here's the list:

1) My son

2) Myself(yeah, I am very selfish that way and this would have been my no 1 point except after my son was born I realized I can do anything for him)

3)Mummy,Daddy,Chechi & Paarthu

4)Hubby dearest(still is only 4th on the list)

5)Reading(Books & Blogs)

6)Food - All types of it.

7)Travelling --visting new places

8)Playing Cards

9)Being happy - I dont get offended easily

10 Day you Challenge Post 1- Ten Secrets

2011-06-24T11:10:00.008-05:00

I had come across this challenge at one of the blogs I read and found it interesting. Now that another of my favourite and everyday read blogger Preeti was doing it here and asked us to join, how could I not.

So here's the challenge
1) I was a big time sucker for maintaining friendships all the time but now realized that it is not worth it always

2) I love my parents and in-laws a lot and can do anything for thier happiness. Even more tham my son, yes this is true I cant even start thinking about the millionth + 10 things they have done for me.

3) When I was a teenager I wanted to marry someone whom I was madly, passionately in love with , but over the years and experiences I decided better to marry someone who loves me that way, I did that and now I am relaxed and happy in life.

4) It is better to marry a guy who can help in household work than one who can talk well and do nothing

5)I hate it when people say they will do something and then conveniently forget about it. My reasoning is dont say if you are not sure of doing it.

6) I never understood why people have gfriends/bfriends. Being committed to one single person was so lame, you always found the next one better. I decided to remain single till marriage, uske baad to hopefully ek hi rehenga :) though I still refer to my ek lauta ek pati (abh tak)

7) My house is messy most of the times and I am too lazy to clean it and really I dont see anything bad in it :)

8) I do not spend long hours on phone when I am with someone, so If I am out with friends my time is thiers completely, or with parents(it is thiers),or with hubby infact I dont even have a cell phone

9) I never plan in advance for anything, everything is kept till the last minute

10) It is very difficult for me to say 'No' to anyone.

So here are my secrets, do join in if you are intersted.

How to wake up kids

2011-06-21T14:36:00.004-05:00

I love my sleep.
I have meetings starting from 8:30 am in the mornings at my new job. Normally I attend the 8:30 - 9 meetings from home, get the baby ready, drop him off to daycare, drop the car back at home, take the other car to work, which means if I am lucky to leave home by 9:15 I can maanage to reach office by 10:00.
Now as it happens my baby does not open his eyes before 9, I hate waking him up and normally he would wake up by 8 but if not I kiss his hands and his legs until he stirs and tosses the other side. Gently call out his name until finally he manages to open his eyes.
Now I remember when we were kids and during summer vacations or week-ends we would like to sleep late, mom wanted us to bath before 9 as after that water would stop.
I remember daddy trying to wake us up and how he would wake me up was,"Papa, get up", no response, "Wake up my Princess", hmmmmmmmmmmmmm" Wake up daaaaaaaaaaaaaaa", this would continue for a few minutes till I pulled the bedsheet over my head and went to sleep again and then my mom's voice from the kitchen, "Are you getting up or should I come there" and the next moment I would be by the wash-basin brushing my teeth :)

A week-end Outing

2011-06-21T14:36:00.001-05:00

The forecast for this week-end was rains which was nothing new considering the trend we are in now. Saturday morning, Ritzu woke up at 7:55 am, if it was a week-day he would not have opened his eyes before 9 , I am sure :), so I had to drag myself out of bed to make his milk. Immediately hubby made a demand of poha as bfast. After that was done and since I was too lazy too cook anything for lunch we decided to go to the temple. They had the 5-year Anniversary celebration, so off we went.

Reached temple by 12:30- had darshan and then went to the eating room. For $5 we got masala vada, curd rice, plain rice, dal, chana, masala rice, papaddum and pineapple sheera.
After this and lots of photo sessions outside the temple we returned home. Ritzu still di dnot want to come inside and started playing at the new play-area they have started int he apt complex. Finally after a hr, I managed to take him home and put him to sleep at 4:30. We woke up at 6 and then decided to go to the mall.

We wanted to get shoes for R, at the shoe are he liked one with a car picture on it and was very xcited to wear it and show-off, so cing his xcitment we decided to buy that one. A mall visit is never complete without going to the play area, R was exhausted with all his play, came home had dinner and off to bed.

Sun morn again R woke up at 7:50 am, after a break-fast of upma and banana we decided to go to the History Musuem. After taking our bath and getting ready we left home by 12:00 and reached the musuem by 12:40. Since it was Father's day we got free entry to the musuem. There were different secions, there was even a play-area for kids where me and R went up above and came down. From there we went to the St Paul Cathedral, after praying and taking in the calm and peace of the church we went to the State Capitol. It had the Senate Chamber and the Supreme Court, there were also lot of beautiful paintings put up. There were huge pillars aligned along the stairway.
Then we decided to return back, On the way we stopped at Champs and had some Cajun Shrimp pasta and apple-pice cake, reached home at 5:30, R played all the time till 8:30, finally had dinner and slept and today morning(mon) he did not open his eyes before 9:15!.

and baby Paarth goes to school

2011-06-16T13:55:00.003-05:00

Yes, this June 13th 2011 was the first day my baby nephew started his LKG at a new school. he had been toa nursery near our home which he did not like much and even after a month would cry everyday morning. So everyone expected this to be the same. But maybe he has grown up fromt he baby he was or some other factor he went there without crying, attended class and came back, good as a brick, am so proud of u my cutie-pie, loads of umaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Baby at day-care - part 2--

2011-06-09T15:36:00.002-05:00

He had a good day she says--That were the words of my baby's daycare teacher when I called to ask how his day has been today.
He eat well, napped for almost an hour and most importantly did not cry but enjoyed himself, what more can a mommy want.
He still screams when I drop him off, hopefully it is a matter of time before he starts screaming if I dont drop him off.

Leaving from ofc to see my chukoo baby
Luv u
umaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

Baby at day-care

2011-06-07T12:29:00.002-05:00

So this time we decided to settle on a proper Kindercare for my baby.
After a little bit if searching decided to go with one near our home.
May 16th 2011 was his first day. Well the poor little thing did not know anything and very happily came in kaaaaaar with amma & appa. At the day-care they were giving juice which my boy very happliy drank and then it was play time- so with everyone else he went out. At that time we decided to leave.
After going out he realized we were not there and then was sad for the 3 hrswe left him there.
We decided to start with 3 hald days, so the next 2 days he was practically crying all day, not eating. But once we got him home he was fine.
The week-end he got cold and so we did not send him until Thu where he spend the half-day crying and so on Friday.
The 3rd week also we decided to do half-days, Tue he eat his lunch but was crying consistently and would not nap also, would nap for 10 mins and then wake up screaming. Wed we got him home early as his grandpa was leaving for India but he had a better day, Thu was crying most of the time, Fri he warmed up to one of the substitute teachers and after waking up from nap also did not cry.
6th June 2011 started his 4th week, Mon when I left him he cried a lot, poor thing breaking my heart in a million pieces but after 1 hr he was fine and did not cry the remaining time. He did eat his lunch and nap for an hour.
Today when I left him he kept crying int h car itself and would not let me go..let's se ehow today is :(

I think I did a good job

2011-06-01T13:53:00.002-05:00

So today the FIL left. Sadly I could not go to the airport as office is far from there and would take lots of time back and forth.
So it was one month of cooking for me non-stop. I really appreciate and wonder how the ladies manage home and jobs and father's, mother's, in-laws, brothers,sisters in short the entire hosuehold.
I keep wondering how the ladies in Mumbai cook food, leave early to catch the train and return alte at night and still manage to cook dinner + take care of the kids etc, really hatos off to them.
I had a good tiem cooking, 1st experience for me to make all 3 square meals but boy was it tough with the job and sometime food did not taste all that great also.
But all in all I did manage to cook 3 meals- all different varieties for a month.
Now I need a long long break from everything :)

Babies crying are noise for some and heart-breaks for some

2011-05-23T10:22:00.002-05:00

It is strange how when we hear kids crying as in not screaming but even crying we really might glance do an Ohhhhhhhhhh and walk away, until it is your own kid that cries and all you hear is your own heart-breaking.
Yup, i say this because my baby started day-care this week and he cries when I leave him and the whole day I can do nothing more than just think about him. My heart-breaks a thousand times from when I leave him till when I know he has been picked and at home.
Even before I started I heard so many parents tell- my baby cried for 2 weeks, every time I drop off, he cries, I nod my head, just listening really coz I dont realize how they feel until I have to leave my own and he cries and I can melt down in tears too any time soon.
God, give him the capability to get adjusted to his new surrondings and me the strength to bear with his transition.

May 4th - Menu

2011-05-05T11:03:00.000-05:00

Breakfast - Bread Toast
Lunch - Rice + Sambhar
Dinner - Rice + Fish Curry

May 3rd - Menu

2011-05-04T16:29:00.002-05:00

Previous days were:

Cabbage Sabji
Potato Sabji
Black Chana
Pulav
Mota dosai

1st May 2011
Fried Rice for breakfast
Chapati + Cauliflower for lunch
Idli for dinner

2nd May 2011
Chapati + Lady's Finger for breakfast
Rice + Rasam for lunch
Tomato Rice for dinner

3rd MAy 2011
Today morning was upma for breakfast.
Lemon Rice + Curd for lunch
Chapati + Beetroot + Egg Buji for dinner

Dear Dad - my Hero!

2011-04-25T13:04:00.003-05:00

As a baby I do not remember much about you except for the family lunch on Sundays. I knew you travelled 25 kms daily for work leaving at 6am and returning only at night.
But I do remember the wonderful stories that you told me and Chechi every night.

It was only once we moved to Dehuroad that I remember the times with you.
Now that we had to travel to school 25 kms by train you would come with us everyday morning, put us in the rickshaw and then travel all the way back to go to work.
I dont remember how many days you did this, but then we had other girls travelling the same way so you could stop the tedious journey you made everyday.

I remember how when you got new clothes stitched I would first wear your shirt and pant and only then you would wear it. For me my Dady was the one person on this earth who would do no wrong and would never lie. Infact during Xmas functions when you had drinks with friends I never thought drinking could be wrong in any way. Infact if dady did it then even I could drink and I remember taking small sips from your glass and you never stopped me which leads me to have this blinded faith on you. But I do remember how you scolded me once when I had a sip with one of the cousins telling that I could take a drink only and only if you were around.

I remember how every summer vacation you would make it a point to take us out for vacations, not many parents did it at that time and we went to Mysore, ooty, chennai, Delhi, how when we went for vacations to Kerala you would write long letters, how when I sometimes fought with Mommy, you would try to patch things between us, how when you told me that I am the most beautiful girl in this world I beamed with joy and when you told me you loved me more than Chechi I was and still am beaming from inside.

I remember how when I would loose something mom would go on yelling but you would be super cool about it whether it be a new bag, new umbrella or even a gold ring. I remember how you would call me "Princess" and "Lovely", those words wew music to my ears.

I am amazed at the wonderful memory you have and the knowledge that you have about everything and how you can talk about it (though sometimes I get bored). I know you wanted one of us to become a doctor and one an IAS officer which we both did not do but hope we have been successful in you being proud of us.

I am indeed thankful that all the confidence in life that I have got is because of how you have brought me up.
Love you Daddy,
Your's little girl.

Life is Beautiful

2011-04-19T12:04:00.002-05:00

This was a very though provoking post put by Preeti and I had to do my part in linking her post here

There is so much more in life to live for. Never ever think about giving up the Beautiful Life God is provided you.

My baby is coming back

2011-04-18T16:27:00.002-05:00

Yes, another 10 days and my baby will be back in US. I can see him walk, talk, run, smile, shout, scream and yes I can do all the silly things that I wanted to always do with him.
But along with all these thoughts is a sense of fear. He is coming along with his grandpa, Grandpa will leave after a month. Within that time he has to get adjusted to us, the new house, the new city, the new weather and worst of all,the one that I am truly scard of is- a new day care.
I hope he settles well over here.

Hope my baby enjoys
And plays with
Lots and lots of toys

Hope my baby smiles
Spreading happiness
Across miles

Hope my baby dances
Trying out new steps
in balance

A comment to a Post

2011-04-09T21:09:00.004-05:00

Here is a link to Preeti's post Marriage and Freedom

I started writing my comment to her post and realized that it was a topic which struck home and there was so much to write that I thought I should blog about it.
Preeti--A very realistic and thought provoking topic indeed.

My thoughts about freedom after marriage was totally as Preeti described, having ones own space and indeed I have been very lucky to have a very trusting husband indeed. He never cares for my passwords or emails, he has no problems with me hanging out with other guys.I also happened to be friends with my exes because well I really believe in the institution of friendship. Now unfortunately for me sometimes the exes dwell about the past..some remark here and there which I really don't care about much, and since it is really not important to me I just ignore the comment without telling them not to talk like that to a married women, but an incident occurred which nearly led to my loosing hubby's trust and that led me thinking, "Is it worth risking your life, your happiness having such friends", "Would they like it if someone spoke to their wives in the same way". I mean my husband is the guy who married me when they did not and not because he was madly in love with me but because he considered me his BEST FRIEND. A friend whom he wanted to help, so is it not better to stop talking to these so called friends rather than risking my marriage for this.
Or else who knows, I just pick wrong friends :)

April 2nd 2011 - India wins the World Cup

2011-04-03T18:16:00.003-05:00

Today the Indian Cricket Team won the World Cup under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. I simply love the guy and the reason I love him is because of his down to earth nature and his ability to remain cool in all situations.
Since we are in the US, the match that starts in India at 2:30 pm will start for us at 4:00 am in the morning. I have not followed any match of the WorldCup except for some highlights here and there.
This being the finals hubby and friends decided to watch in on the projector at their place. He got up in the morning and was making so much of noise that my sleep too vanished and I joined him.
Initially Srilanka played really well to put a good score of 274/6 in thier alloted 50 overs.
During the break we came home and after refreshing ourselves we went again to watch India innings. They were reeling at 32-2 and then there was a great comeback by the rest of the team. We cheered at every run and boundary that was taken by the Indian team. Finally Dhoni hit a huge six to take India to victory and bring the cup to our nation.
You did us proud Indian team. Let the party continue.

Happy 3 year wedding Anniversary

2011-03-09T12:05:00.004-06:00

Yes, it has been 3 years since I officially got married to the guy I did not fall head over heels in love at first sight :) but has gradually grown over the years.
And yes I truly cherish what a wonderful person he is simply beacuse "He married me"
I have written about my wedding here and about my first Wedding anniversary here
The second year we had our Baby and parents at home, so not much celebrations, well this year i was not expecting anything but Surprise..........
I got a necklace with a very beautiful pendant which I am wearing right now.

Lazy Sunday Morning

2011-03-06T22:36:00.002-06:00

oooooooooooooooooooh- I have been getting these shoulder aches fro quite some time now, so finally I decided to go to a chiropracter. I took an appointment for this Friday but at the last minute on talking to one of my friends changed my mind and decided to get a good massage.
So I had a coupon to one of the massage places but they were not open on the week-ends and so I thought I would take an appt on Monday.
Then on Sunday morning I realized I had another massage place near home which was open on Sundays, so I called them and as they were totally booked on Sundays took an appt on Monday.
Now as all this was happening hubby dear got into the mood and mentioned he would like to give me a free massage, well what more could I ask.
SO he goggled on You tube for some good techniques, set up the table, warmed the oil and gave me a good and proper full body massage.
What a heavenly way to start a Sunday morning.
Truly blessed. :)

Do I miss my baby?

2011-03-02T21:01:00.003-06:00

Here is how the conversation with other mommies go?
Mom: How is your son?
Me: good
Mom: U must be missing him na?
Me: uhhh-ah--not really, all the time in my mind I know she is expecting an answer like --ofcourse I do, so much...........

**********************************************************
Does that mean I don't love my son? Well no, it just means that I live in the present.
I give my time and attention to the person i am with currently in this case my hubby, yes I know my baby is happy where he is and soon we will be together but until then we both will have to wait.
Even when I am at my parents place I will spend time with them, not talk over the phone with friends or browse for long hours on the computer, all that is a big No - No for me.
When I am with friends I will be with them talking and joking or whatever it is we are doing together, you wont find me on ph with my hubby (if he does not happen to be there at the moment)
So you do get the drift ............and I would like it if others remain like that with me as well, not checking over thier cell or attending other calls when I am there.

Bored of the same routine

2011-01-28T15:04:00.004-06:00

Winters in US are very boring. First thing is the weather which depresses you to no end. Second is the cold brrrrrrrrrrr..you don't want to go out anywhere in this snowy weather.
My daily routine is changed to office- home- episodes of Prison Break ..gym..cooking..movie and sleep.
Thanks God for gym which gives me a good boost in the evenings and prevents me from feeling lethargic.
An addition to our evenings has been the series Prison Break. Prison Break is an American television serial drama created by Paul Scheuring, that was broadcast on the Fox Broadcasting Company from 2005 until 2009. The series revolves around two brothers; one has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and the other devises an elaborate plan to help his brother escape prison.

The first series was so suspense filled, adrenaline pumping, nail biting, could not figure out "What's Next"..by the 2nd series I was getting a little pissed off that it got way too much attention from my hubby :) yes things like this can piss me off to no end, by the 3rd series I wanted to strangle the main characters with my own hands, in fact I even decided to stop watching it but none the else..continued on and the 4th series it turned to a comedy one, hubby and I keep laughing at all the fake seriousness around. 4 more episodes and will be done with this one, then we intend to start on LOST ..another American sitcom...:)

An alphabet Meme

2011-01-25T15:32:00.011-06:00

I got to see this first at Preeti's blog and the original is from Sunday Stealing

So let me plunge into it........

A is for Age:
Yooooooooooooo-hoooooooooooooo
I am thirty-two

B is for Beer of choice:
Taj Mahal - which I used to have with my Uncle :)

C is for Career:
System Analyst

D is for favourite Drink:
Do you remember - Gold Spot- The Zing Thing..will always remain my favorite Drink

E is for Essential item you use everyday:
Kajal for my eyes

F is for Favourite song at the moment:
Kithne bhi tu karle sitam...hans hans ke sehenge hum,...yeh pyaar na hongaaaaaaaaaaaa kum
Sanam Teri Kasam

G is for favourite Game:
Playing Cards: Rammi

H is for Home town:
My 2 favorites: Kerala and Dehuroad, Pune

I is for Instruments you play:
Tried the guitar but not an accomplished player

J is for favourite Juice: Pineapple

K is for Kids: My one and only baby boy

L is for Last kiss: Last nite from hubby

M is for marriage: Enjoying till date

N is for full Name:Seema Gopalan

O is for Overnight hospital stays:20 years back for a surgery and last year when my baby boy was born

P is for phobias:Dark

Q is for quote: The Best is yet to come

R is for biggest Regret: I really do not have much regrets in life but there is this one guy whom I wish i had not befriended much

S is for sports:Volleyball

T is for Time you wake up: 9:15 or later :)

U is for colour of underwear:Maroooooooooooon

V is for Vegetable you love:Brocolli

W is for Worst Habit:Lazyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

X is for X-rays you've had:For Dental definitely

Y is for Yummy food you make:Fish, Mutton Curry

Z is for zodiac sign:Taurus

And then she entered my life..................

2011-01-06T16:51:00.003-06:00

And then she entered my life. N has been and will remain always special to me. It was not that we hit it off instantly because even after they moved opposite to our building I hardly spoke to her. She and another friend R were always together being from the same school and all.
In fact initially when they moved in her Dad asked her to go out with us and she did come for a night walk but me being the introvert hardly spoke to her, my sis did all the talking.
Somewhere at the end of my 10Th std examination is when I got talking and hanging to her and R. Slowly we both realized we had way too much fun with each other. We could talk about anything and everything in this world, could talk out loud of all our dreams & aspirations without being judged by the other.
Could ogle together at good-looking guys :), play mischief on aunties in the colony, puncture cycle tyres, climb trees to get mangoes, cheat in carom, monopoly..we always had each others backs covered.
She was the one person whom I could tell about anything wrong that I have done without being judged. She is the one and only person till date to know all my secrets.
We went to the same college and so got more time to spend together though in college we had different groups. We always exchanged cards/gifts on Friendship Day.
Those Summer vacations I was never at my place, all the time hanging out from morn till nite, inface we even had a schedule for that. Morn after breakfast we would play carom with the bachha party, then come home for lunch, then again go and play monopoly or just ghupshup, come home for tea, then go out again to play, come home for dinner and then again for night walk, in fact it came to such a point that our dads started complaining that they hardly got to see their daughters..well hanging out with friends was more important at that time :)
Now she is married and has a Son, we are in touch via email but will definitely meet her when I go back.

Till then to N for always being there for me.

Old Friends and New Friends

2011-01-03T12:28:00.002-06:00

Old Friends and New Friends
We make as they come
These are the people
Who bring joy a ton
Oh! what a life we would have to live
if it wasn't for this Family of Friends

Jan 3rd 2011 - My Sister - My Friend

2011-01-03T12:09:00.005-06:00

So once we moved to Dehuroad somewhere in the year 1983 it was a small community of people we got acquainted with. There were not many kids and majority of the few ones were boys..so my sister and me spend most of the time together...we were always together to go out to the library at the club or to parties at the club..she helped me with my studies..helped me to learn bicycle..ofcourse we fought a lot too.
Infact in some fights we would hit each other too, my parents learnt early on never to interfere in our fights bcoz if they did, after some time we would resolve our fights and they would turn out to be the villians...:)
We could never stay without talking to each other for a long time though...she would cut my hair like the famous sadhna cut at that time and my mom would yell at both of us.
She would do all the housework which ended up in me being lazy as a bum..sometiems when she was angry she would tell my mom--why do i have to do everything , why cant she? but when I would go to wash the dishes or something she would not allow me to do anything..
She would tell me all her secrets..oooh she can talk non-stop..after college life, when she went to work it was morn to late at nite and we got to talk very less, then she got married and then we spoke even more less...some hardships in her life where I tried but did not help much..infact at that time I was myself very angry with her and to add to all that I had some of my own personal issues.
Thankfully all that has been left behind and we have come out of it once more friendly and even stronger bond between us.
Luv u Sis!

Jan2nd 2011 - A friendship poem

2011-01-02T22:37:00.002-06:00

A friendship so true

It feels so pure

Lucky is you and me

To have found this beautiful ring

Jan1st 2011 - My First Best Friend

2011-01-01T11:44:00.004-06:00

My first childhood friend J in Kirkee. Our family were friends and being of the same age it was just obvious that we got friendly. We played together..had nightouts together..eat dinner together..celebrated Christmas together and without actually trying were with each other. We happened to go to different school's though but that did not matter as all evenings we were together.

Then we got transferred to Dehuroad but even then we did meet up once in a month when we went to their place or they came to ours. There was no telephone at that time that we could talk regularly, but when we went I remember how we would tell each other that in letter writing in English she wrote a letter to her best friend addressed to me and I was so happy to hear it.

After a few years the visiting became less frequent and we made other friends and went on with our lives

She is now mommy to a beautiful daughter. We still meet at family occassions though very rare but still have all news about each other as our family is still in touch.

But dear J you will always be my first best friend.

Joining NaBloPoMo Month for January

2011-01-01T11:37:00.003-06:00

The theme for the month is Friends.....................

Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-30T12:50:00.008-06:00

Wishing all my friends and family a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Year 2010 - Flashback in Months

2010-12-30T12:35:00.002-06:00

Jan 2010: 1st Jan, baby Ritvik's first major outing to Hindu Temple, car broke had to borrow another car..Mom,Me,G,Ritz and Paarth went in the cold winter..though baby slept almost entire journey. 2nd Jan -- had a New Year party in the eve at Parkway..was tensed baby will create havoc but peacefully slept entire time. breast feeding going on normally now and baby playing more.

Feb 2010: Started going to ofc, sis came for 10 days..took Paarth with her when she left..was again tensed how baby will sleep with mom but turned out he adjusted well. naps for mom & baby from 2-5, then playing with baby. Grandpa now spending more and more time with baby tellign stories.

March 2010: Baby turned on back..1st major milestone achieved..parents left last week of march. 1 week stayed at home to take care of baby..did everything for baby ..njoyed very much...last week in-laws came.

Apr 2010: Went to Chicago for 3 day trip. 7hrs drive one way, baby did pretty well, now can tke for longer trips :) Did baby's Anna Prasaana in Hindu temple..

May 2010: 6 months completed for baby..going out for walks with grandparents in the evening and then interacting with others, started solid foods.

June 2010: baby started crawling, now can move about everywhere, have to be careful with everything.

July 2010: Went to LA-LV-san Diego with baby and in-laws. In-laws left for India, started puttign baby to Day care. got 1st cold. 2nd week of day care not going well, baby crying a lot

Aug 2010: Baby not ready for daycare, staying at home with baby..went to India for 1 month, attended 2 weddings.

Sept 2010: Back to EP, baby still not gettign adjusted at day care. weather changed , Went back to India to leave baby at in-laws

Oct 2010: Missing baby, started gym, work going on fine.

Nov 2010: Same routine..Started TT, Won $150 at Mystic Lake on Thanksgiving. Started Salsa class with hubby.

Dec 2010: Missing baby but happy he is njoying. Celebrated X'mas with new group of frnds, was absolute fu..now waiting for 1 more day for new year..

Once more an Aunt

2010-12-28T13:26:00.001-06:00

Once more an aunty to 2 beautiful twin baby girls.

25th Dec 2010 - Merry X'mas ..How the celebrations changed over time

2010-12-25T13:46:00.003-06:00

I still remember as a young kid ..how excited I got on X'mas day. At this time we stayed in Khadki, Pune. Morning after breakfast we would go to Jaihind bakery in Kirkee market and get a nice yummy x'mas cake with Santa on top. This we would take to my parents family friends house(Samuel Uncle) and after a delicious lunch of chicken, rice and other delicacies..we would return home in the evening with the Santa toy which we collected as part of our collection.
Few years down the line we moved to Dehuroad and our neighbors were Christians, so for another 10 years or so both families celebrated it as a joyous occasion with lots of good food, drinks and festive cheer.
Then we moved to our own home at Pimple Gurav..still for X'mas we always got a cake and some wine, we did have some friends come over for good cheer.
But nowadays there is really not much celebration left. It is just a phone call from parents to their friends, just a small cake bought at home and some good cheer with the family.

MILLIE'S MOTHER'S RED DRESS

2010-12-16T13:40:00.000-06:00

MILLIE'S MOTHER'S RED DRESS

It hung there in the closet

While she was dying, Mother's red dress,

Like a gash in the row

Of dark, old clothes

She had worn away her life in.

They had called me home

And I knew when I saw her

She wasn't going to last.

When I saw the dress, I said

"Why, Mother - - how beautiful!

I've never seen it on you."

"I've never worn it," she slowly said.

"Sit down, Millie - - I'd like to undo

A lesson or two before I go, if I can."

I sat by her bed

And she sighed a bigger breath

Then I thought she could hold.

"Now that I'll soon be gone,

I see some things.

Oh, I taught you good - - but I taught you wrong."

"What do you mean Mother?"

"Well - - I always thought

That a good woman never takes her turn,

That she's just for doing for somebody else.

Do here, do there, always keep

Everybody else's wants tended and make sure

Yours are at the bottom of the heap."

"Maybe someday you'll get to them.

But of course you never do.

My life was like that - - doing for your dad,

Doing for the boys, for your sisters, for you."

"You did - - everything a mother could."

"Oh, Millie, Millie, it was not good - -

For you - - for him. Don't you see?

I did you the worst of wrongs.

I asked for nothing - - for me!"

"Your father in the other room,

All stirred up and staring at the walls - -

When the doctor told him, he took

It bad - - came to my bed and all but shook

The life right out of me. 'You can't die,

Do you hear? What'll become of me?'

' What'll become of me?'

It'll be hard, all right when I go.

He can't even find the frying pan, you know."

"And you children - -

I was a free ride for everybody, everywhere.

I was the first one up and the last one down

Seven days out of the week.

I always took the toast that got burned,

And the very smallest piece of pie."

"I look at how some of your brothers

Treat their wives now

And it makes me sick, 'cause it was me

That taught it to them. And they learned,

They learned that a woman doesn't

Even exist except to give.

Why, every single penny that I could save

Went for your clothes, or your books,

Even when it wasn't necessary.

Can't even remember once when I took

Myself downtown to buy something beautiful - -

For me."

"Except last year when I got that red dress.

I found I had twenty dollars

That wasn't especially spoke for.

I was on my way to pay extra on the washer.

But somehow - - I came home with this big box.

Your father really gave it to me then.

'Where you going to wear a thing like that to - -

Some opera or something?'

And he was right, I guess.

I've never, except in the store,

Put on that dress."

"Oh Millie - - I always thought if you take

Nothing for yourself in this world

You'd have it all in the next - - somehow

I don't believe that anymore.

I think the Lord wants us to have something - -

Here - - and now."

"And I'm telling you , Millie, if some miracle

Could get me off this bed, you could look

For a different mother, 'cause I would be one.

Oh, I passed up my turn so long

I would hardly know how to take it.

But I'd learn, Millie.

I would learn!"

It hung there in the closet

While she was dying, Mother's red dress,

Like a gash in the row

Of dark, old clothes

She had worn away her life in.

Her last words to me were these:

"Do me the honor, Millie,

Of not following in my footsteps.

Promise me that."

I promised.

She caught her breath

Then Mother took her turn

In death.

~Carol Lynn Pearson~

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet

2010-12-09T13:53:00.003-06:00

"What's in a name" the all famous phrase from Shakespeare that we all know about. This is about how Indian women have to change to their husbands name after wedding. In earlier days it was a necessity but nowadays women are more liberal and tend to add their husbands name to their surname.
For me I never gave it much of a thought as I did not think I would change my name bcoz that was the identity I grew up with but due to some govt formalities I had to go for a name change after wedding and I decided to change it to my husbands name.
Now if you ask me about it I really don't care one way or the other. I love both my dad and my husband a lot and keeping ones name and dropping the others does not really change any equation..so as i said initially - What's in a name"? you are still the same person you used to be :)

Luck Riding High!

2010-11-29T14:09:00.002-06:00

Nov 27th 2010 - 4 days of thanksgiving holidays, what do you do if there are no trips planned for this one, well laze, laze and then laze some more :) I had a pretty consistent schedule all 4 days, wake up by 10:30, prepare break-fast, lunch, then read my books, nap from 4-6, gym, bath, cook dinner, watch a movie, goodnite.
Well Saturday hubby was really bored and decided to go to the Casino to play Cosmic Bingo. We went a lot the first year we were here, last year I had my precious little baby to tend to....so I skipped the casino entirely.
Cosmic Bingo was to start at 11:00 pm. We reached by 10..so decided to try some blackjack, well luck was definitley my side as I hit 3 Blackjacks(dont recall the last time I got a profit :)), after getting a profit of $15 we left for Bingo.
Cosmic Bingo is always fun with the lights & music. On the 4th card I was waiting for 1 number to complete my horizontal line and then she called - G-49. Bingo I screamed, my ticket no was read and I won $100. Then I was called on stage to spin a board and I won another $50 and a %20 bingo voucher. Well!Well, someone's luck was really riding high.

10 pros & Cons of leaving my baby in India

2010-11-24T12:01:00.003-06:00

Top 10 Pro's
1) He is in India :)
2) He gets to spend time with his grand-parents
3) He can breathe fresh air daily, not stay indoors in the winter here
4) He can lead a diaperless life :)(this is my personal favorite)
5) He can mingle with relatives and lots & lots of other people
6) He can eat well cooked home food everyday
7) He gets to attend all the festivals
8) He escapes the cold winter
9) I get to laze as much as I want
10) Me & Hubby get time to spend with each other

Top 10 Cons
1) I miss my baby
2) Miss Hugging him
3) Miss kissing him
4) Miss his smiles
5) Miss his bites
6) Miss his laugh
7) Miss his cries
8) Miss carrying him
9) Miss putting him to sleep
10) Miss! Miss! Miss him

Diwali - 2010

2010-11-16T10:28:00.003-06:00

This year Diwali we decided to have a Diwali get-together at Eden prairie, not many people around, the total group consisted of about 25 people. Officially Diwali was on 5th Nov but due to high booking of party hall we got it the following week-end on 14th Nov.

Girls were requested to do a dance and so were the boys. Girls dutifully started their practise 2 weeks in advance. I was in the games team, I decided to organize Bingo/tam bola.. we also decided on Treasure hunt, had to decide on the the hiding places, the clues, organizing is quite an effort.

Finally on the d-day the program which was scheduled to start at 5 was an hour late as all the pretty ladies had to get ready in their Saree's. All looked lovely for the delay :) next was the Diwali pooja, followed by treasure hunt, it was fun to see all adults running around the whole apartment complex as kids.
After starters was the next game- pass a polo using toothpics, then was the much awaited perform aces by girls and Boys, followed by dinner and then Bingo.
After this it was dance by all which was a blast. Cleaning the hall and went back to our homes ended the great day.

Happy Birthday Son

2010-11-16T10:24:00.001-06:00

12-Nov-2010: You are loved a lot and may God bless you on this Special Day!

Happy Diwali

2010-11-05T13:18:00.002-05:00

5th Nov 2010: Diwali day and I am in office. Nothing much to do , called home, wished family and relatives. Will go home at noon and cook some sweet dish :)
Today a year back was when my parents with my nephew visited us in US.
I still remember me and G going to the airport in the afternoon and waiting for them at the terminal.
As passengers poured out of the exit my eyes were scanning for them all the time. Finally I saw my dad, Mom and my baby nephew walk out. Joy knew no bounds to see them after almost an entire year.

Why do we miss people?

2010-10-18T13:49:00.002-05:00

Why is it that we miss someone in life. I for one person tend not to miss much in life, normally I am content and happy with whereever I am, if not I try to make my surrondings happy :). Ofcourse there are days that I miss being at home and likes but soon I get out of it.
But now I miss someone, someone very very precious to me and that is my first born baby.
I know he is happy at his grandparents, absoutley sure he has no reminisince of me but I miss him so bad, at times I have tears in my eyes when I think I am not with my baby.
Well, what's stopping me from leaving everythign and going to him, you may ask?
Here is where the practicality sets in, we will be together after 3-4 months, till then I'll have to live with his memories :)

Love you my baby.

Importance of being Parents

2010-10-11T16:14:00.003-05:00

I think that one never really understands the true value of parents till you become one yourselves. Right now I want to protect my baby boy from all the troubles in the world, I know I would worry like hell if he would get sick, I want to protect him so that he does not fall down while trying to stand because one tear from him will break my heart. And this is when I think about the n number of times I have fallen down while playing...I never cared about falling down but now I think how much my parents must have worried. Growing up my I went to school and played with kids in the colony, mom cooked, washed our clothes, helped us in our studies, woke us in the mornings but no big deal I thought --that is what all moms did and dad went to office to work, I hardly saw him when I was a kid..but again that is what all dads did..No big deal......Teenage life I was most of the time out with friends..though as a family we did have vacations all over India...There was a time when I though my parents did not even like me much..nothing that they said or did but just my thoughts...In my First year of college I had to undergo a minor surgery and 1 week later we had to go for the check-up...Once the doctor removed the stitches I don't know if it was seeing him do it or the medicine smell as soon as I came out I fainted. Unfortunately for me, my finger got jammed in the door and my first and only fainting of life till day lasted not more than a minute or two. The doctor came out and said everything was fine. But it was later I came to know that within that 2 minutes my mom fainted and my dad had tears in his eyes. That is when I realized and I knew for sure that my parents would be heart-broken if anything happened to me, they loved me so much, they would be shattered.

After this I realized that so many times we take what moms do like cooking, waking early and making break-fast, as granted but it in fact is a tremendous chore to do. I don't fuss over food, never did even as a kid..nor at my place nor anyone else coz I understand the pains a mom has gone to get that done.
Dads--working in office from day to nite just so that we can be happy..staying by our side when we are sick..just so that we can sleep well.
Luv u both M&D

To my Darling Baby

2010-10-07T14:49:00.003-05:00

7th Oct 2010
My dearest baby boy,
I never knew I could feel such unconditional love the way I feel for you. I never knew I could love someone so selflessly the way I love you. I never knew that I could give up my beauty sleep for you. This and many many other things which I though I never could or would do I would do only for you.
On Nov 12th 2009 when the nurse first game you in my arms, it was love at first sight ........then started the sleepless nights of feeding you/changing you, making sure you are fine.At night even if you stirred a little I would wake up, spend as many hours holding you while you were sleeping and not putting you in the bed to make sure you had a good sleep ans you would wake up when you were put on the bed. After 3 months when I started working I had already got in the habit of the morning and nightly routines and was no longer tired waking up 4-5 times at night to feed you.
Slowly you started smiling, we all were thrilled to see you smile for the first time, we enjoyed playing with you, you tried to turn on your tummy and we encouraged your every little move. Soon you started crawling around and then there was no stopping where you would reach.
Your food intake included solids now, so I had to start cooking and feeding you food, it was a joy to see you eat.
At 9 months we had to leave you at the day care......for a week you were fine..and then whenever we left you there you would cry.It broke our hearts to see you cry.I literally stopped going to work to take care of you. 1 month down we travelled to India,I was worried whether you would adjust in a new country . You were so excited, happy being there.
On returning back the climate in US had changed, summer was over and winter started..we could no longer take you out, you would cling to daddy's leg in the evenings..neither were you happy being at the day care. Finally with a lot of pain we decided to leave you in India for 5 months during the winter.
A very very difficult decision to live without you but all the time we were thinking about yours and only your happiness.
1 week after we had returned from India I travelled back to drop you at India. My heart broke when I left you there, the only consolation i had was your happiness.
Today it's exactly a week since I left you but there is not a single moment that i don't think about you.
Let me tell you this my baby- we both love you a lot and miss you a lot!!
Hope you enjoy your stay in India and cant wait to get you back in my arms-my motapi

Baby Food- Tried till now

2010-07-25T13:17:00.002-05:00

Little upma and pureed carrot
Steamed Apple
Steamed Prunes and Apricot
Steamed Apple
Steamed Spinach
Steamed Beetroot

Food for my baby

2010-07-25T13:11:00.004-05:00

Now that in-laws have left and I am solely incharge of my son, I intend to do away with store bough baby food and cook them on my own.
Well I did right that but wait a minute - he just does not eat them.
Whoa! this is not what I had in mind, so now I have to try various tips and tricks to get him eating.
Will be jotting them down.

Steam apple pieces, offer as finger foods- refuses to open mouth after first bite.....
Feel sorry for myself, try to put it in his mouth by doing various antics but no luck- have to throw it.

Steamed apple again , this time pureed it in mixie- baby gobbles it up.
Sat: July 24th : Baby is down with cold, cannot give him his favorite banana ..
Morn: gave him a readymade pear/strawberry/granola fruit which was the last of the store bought.

Lunch- Boiled spinach in shallow water and pureed. Added some rice cereal to this. Baby loved it.

Eve: Bread piece.

Night: Cauliflower pureed with mango--he seemed to like this too

Tagged by Reflections

2010-07-19T23:34:00.009-05:00

Today I have been tagged by (author of Reflections). Looks quite an interesting tag- ‘My Sins against Gender-Stereotypes’. We are supposed to list at least ten things you have ever wanted or done which your gender is not supposed to do .And you must tag twelve blogging friends or else you will be cursed to wear blue clothes pants if you are a woman and pink shirts if you are a man – for next twelve years.

I had been tagged quite some days back but saw the comment only today hence the delay....

1) To get topless @home or outside --would just love to do this.

2) Hate putting make-up, getting dressed up or for that matter even combing my hair.

3) As a kid I was with guys all the time, my neighbors were 2 guys and the only kids around at that time climbing trees , scaling walls, trying stunts on cycle...:)

4) Never helped my mom in cooking/cleaning/ironing......namely any household stuff, it was all done my my sister.
5) Love gambling and expert on any card games

6) Hate hate taking girly walks and gossiping, instead would spend time playing some games.

7) Hate reading Mills@Boons novels, tis too girly for me :)

8) Love love love blue color.

9) Hate shopping, I get easily bored after 15-20 minutes.

10) Lazy like hell, love to do nothing and sleep on the couch

Here Nancy..I have done my tag and thanks for tagging me :)

I tag Scorpio, pink dogwood and sulo badri

A Love Poem

2010-07-09T12:20:00.002-05:00

I dont know when it started
But I know it's true
All my thoughts now enclose You!

Whenever we are out
I always take a peek
And its your eyes that I seek

Even though I may not say it often
Looking at your moods I soften
Keeping to myself my wishes my frustration

Do you realize the essence
In the increase of my patience
I hope you realize I love to be wanted
And not always taken for granted

July 4th 2010 Trip

2010-07-07T15:45:00.002-05:00

July 4th 2010: This year we had in-laws here and so decided to go to Las Vegas / Los Angeles. Now you can find my earlier trip details to Vegas here.

This time I had an option to stay at home with my bay for 4 days but hubby dear told very sweetly that we should come (that is what I recollect) though after the trip-- when I mentioned it was the worst trip till date(you will soon know why), he asked me why did I come? which would contradict my earlier statement.

All travel arrangemetns were done by hubby to which I had no clue off, all I knew was that we were flying to LV on a 4:00 pm flight (Fri- 2nd July). I shopped for 3 consecutive days prior to our departure. We were in all 11 of us going.5 from our family. My in-laws, hubby, baby and myself. Another family and 3 bachelors.
July2nd (Fri) we reached the airport got our boarding passes, passed through the Security check and boarded the flight. it was my baby's first air-travel and he seemed to be njoying it. We reached LV by 5:15 pm (local time PST which is 2 hours behind our time.)Baby pooped and had to clean him, the restroom was crowded, baby clung to me whole time was really difficult to clean him and get him out of there, anyway once that was done,we took a shuttle to the rental office. Two cars were booked to take us to the hotel. The other friend who was supposed to drive forgot his license. As I was the only other driver available I had to drive the other vehicle. So my family sat with hubby (who was one of the driver) and I was officially the chauffeur for the others.

We reached the hotel(Stratosphere) by 8 pm, got ready , went to a nearby Indian restaurant for yummy dinner and then went to Bellagio to see th dancing fountain. All co-ordintation witht he other party happened over the phone.we did not meet them and as it was already 12 pm we decided to head back to the hotel.
Once we all reached back we went up the tower to take a look at the breath-taking view and from there back to our comfy beds.

3rd July 2010(Saturday) - We decided to leave the hotel by 10 am , do a quick tour of the Strip and then head to the airport to fly to LA. But the others in the team decided to again head to the towers, we(me ,hubby and my sleeping baby) waited in the room for them..no camera to take pics :( as that was with my FIL.
When they returned there was no time except for lunch at the Indian restaurant and then back to the rental to return the car and then to the airport. Again we checked in for our 1 hr flight to LA. It was a tough task to carry all the luggage plus the baby (in shifts ofcourse)
We reached LA by 4:00 pm, again took the car and drove to Venice Beach which is supposedto be the oldest beach in California. Played for some time in the water and then it was a 2 hr drive to San Diego. We started to drive back by 9pm. I wanted to be with my baby but could not as I was chauffering..:(. Finally we reached the hotel at San Diego at 1 am which is 3 am for us officially. My back ached and hands and legs hurt..infact I ha dslight fever and was totally not up to go anywhere the next day.

4th July 2010(Sunday): My baby woke up at 6:30 am, my head hurt hard..I did not want to open my eyes. In-laws and hubby were ready , I did not want to move but had to, finally got dressed took some medicine and drove to San Diego. Weather was chilly - I had packed light clothes..was cold and miserable.
At Sea world we sawthe different shows like Pets Rule, Blue Horizon, Sea Lion and Otter Show, Shamu's Show. All were fun. we did not wait for the spectacular July 4th fire-works as we had a 2 hr drive back to LA.
We reached LA hotel at 12:00 pm and after a dinner of Pizza we slept off.

5th July 2010 (Monday): Today's destination was Universal. Me and Hubby decided to stay back with the baby but again since we were the drivers we had to take the rest off te gang to th Studios, after leaving them there , had to come back to the hotel, check-out and then we went to the Kodak Theatre. Fromt here we went to Griffith Park and then finally to City Walk where we met rest of the team and drove back in our respective cars to the rental and then to LA. We had a late night flight and we reached home early in the morning. No sleep inthe plane of course.

To summarize I could not spend time with my family, my baby and all the fatigue added to it.
Worst trip till date.
Epilogue- No more driving for us on our next vacation. it is too tiresome
Photos will be coming soon.

Blog 23 - Last blog of the marathon

2010-06-30T12:31:00.002-05:00

Today is the last day to post officially, to keep a commitment to myself to write for the month of June.
Thanks to Preeti by whose blog I was motivated to take this challenge.

Another thanks to Scorpio who visited my blog daily after a certain point of time and left her comments.

I am happy that I have re-started blogging and hope to do so............

Blog 22 - My Proverb

2010-06-29T22:22:00.002-05:00

I believe in this particular saying "Whatever happens, happens for the BEST."
I am a strong believer of this, and this is what makes me going in LIFE.

However hurt you maybe at a particular incident or at that time you may feel why me-- always believing that God intended it for a reason helps.

It makes you calm faster. It has always worked for me.

Whenever in life I have been through bad times, things that I think should not have happened to me.......something always happens later which makes me realize that what happened in the past happened for good.

That's my proverb...........what's yours??

Blog 21- Been Tagged finally :)

2010-06-28T13:29:00.005-05:00

I went reading Preeti's blog for today and guess what - I was tagged before I reached the end..
Yup yup I decided to take the tag...so here it is.

1. What curse word do you use the most?
Oh Fish........

2. Do you own an iPod?
I gifted my husband one...but that is his to use..so technically I don't own one.

3. What person do you talk to on the phone the most?
Mommy

4. Do you still remember the first person you kissed?
Yup--very much

5. Do you remember where you were on 11/9/01?
Very clearly..Dehuroad, Pune

6. What was the last movie you watched?
Karthik calling Karthik

7. Has anyone ever called you lazy?
Me myself..yeah am big critic of myself

8. Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep?
Not required till now.

9. Has anyone told you a secret this week?
Sadly No, I miss my friend who would tell things with the first dialogue being.."But dont tell this to anyone, ok" :)

10. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
Just a connection that I might feel with them...

11. What are you looking forward to?
Shopping for ongoing trip to LA/LV

12. Do you own any band t-shirts?
None...........

13. What will you be doing in one hour?
Still @work..........documenting work done.

14. Is anyone in love with you?
Yeah....my hubby and baby and parents

15. Last time you cried?
Thu afternoon..lots and lots bcoz I did something really silly, does not look so silly to others

16. Are you on a desktop computer or a laptop?
Desktop Computer--the slowest in the ofc I think :(

17. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos?
Not for me

18. Would you ever date anyone covered in tattoos?
Nope

19. What were you doing before this?
Having lunch

20. When is the last time you slept on the floor?
Sept 2008, EP..when we jsut moved to US and had no beds.

21. How many hours of sleep do you need to function?
Min 8 , Max: infinity :)

22. Do you eat breakfast daily?
Oh Yeah..MY MIL prepares yummy food which just cannot be resisted..really heavy ones too.

Anyone reading this is tagged..especially you Scorpio...waiting to read what you have to say.
I got the tag details at preeti's blog here

Blog 20 - Nursery Rhymes for my baby

2010-06-27T17:33:00.002-05:00

Nursery Rhymes are very important for babies to listen too and so is music .(read it somewhere)

so while I am too lazy to open the laptop and out on music I make my own songs for my little baby to put him to sleep.

I knew I should have noted most of them ....

Here is one of them.

My baby boy, I so shy

He does not cry

He wears no tie

He tells no lie

So time to say

Bye- bye

Another one is...

All you people, listen to me

I'll give you a big kick

Bcoz my name is Ritvik

One more

Oh Sleep Fairy come and give my sweetu baby some sleep today

All this I sing with made up music.

Blog 19 - Graduation Party

2010-06-26T19:58:00.002-05:00

Today for the first time in US I attended a Graduation party. In India, graduation means whne you are done with your studies, unless you plan to do Post- Graduation.....mostly engg, 3 yr degree college or something like that.but here it is so common, even a kid going from pre-school to school graduates to it and I am not sure if parents have a party for that as well...

Since June first week is when typically school ends here the month of June and July will be full of graduation parties. If you happen to stay at a housing area, you will see lots of garages hosting them.

So since this was the first time I really did not know what to expect, but it was a good experience.

The party was arranged in the front yard and very informal. Lots of food was laid out with lots of sweet dishes too but we really could not eat all that.

All in all a fun event.

Blog 18 - Holiday Inn

2010-06-25T22:20:00.002-05:00

Today I went to Holiday Inn, there was a company meeting hosted there. The sole purpose for me to go there was to check out the hotel, I had no interest whatsoever in the company meeting and in office there was not much work...

I have already been to Westin and Sheraton, so time to check out a new place.

It was not like the Holiday Inn in India and outside it looked like any Motel 8, with just 2 floors of accommodation I believe....

On entering in one has to cross the indoor pool to reach the hall that we were seated in. Quite a nice thing they had done with the pool with sculptures around it and tables arranged by the side for lunch.

The session had the usual breakfast with bagels, muffins, coffee.................

Lunch was a really good affair with Pasta, Salad, Chicken breast and soup..All the items tasted delicious...I should have put it in their feed back form but left a little early so as to not hit peak traffic.

So in all it turned out a good event, well the session was not 2 bad either :)

Blog 17- What do you do when you realize you are the "guilty"

2010-06-24T22:12:00.002-05:00

All the while when he was not talking, you thought it is his problem. You analyzed and reanalyzed the past days and knew you had done no wrong.

You were wondering why he was behaving so childish.

Wasn't he mature enough to realize he should keep his feelings to himself?

Why trouble you and others?

And then out of the blue it comes, the reason for all his behavior is YOU.

When he pours it out, the realization hits you like lightening.

It is you who caused him all this trouble.

It was you whom he was trying to protect all this time

You were the sole reason for all the pain.....and what do you do when you know it hurts so bad , even saying SORRY a thousand times will not erase the pain.

Blog 16 - My current read

2010-06-23T22:23:00.003-05:00

Today I chanced upon Chetan Bhagat's new novel - 2 State. The Story of my Marriage.

Started to read and I am already hooked, quite hilarious too, tickles the funny bone.

I have read his past books- Five Point Someone, One Night at a Call Center, 3 Mistakes of my Life...........................

Lets see how this ends for me?

Blog 15 - Why are we affected by other's moods?

2010-06-22T21:58:00.003-05:00

Strange as it may seem - as humans we are very much affected by not only our mood, but also the mood of our loved ones.

Even though we know it is entirely up to them how they want to behave and no fault of ours we still our depressed when people we love the most our depressed.

Why cant people just keep their grumpy moods to themselves and show only their best side...

Why don't they realize that their being in a bad mood will only spoil others mood too.

Why don't they understand that the are hurting people who care for them, where as those who don't care are really not bothered.

Am sure anyone reading this will also be depressed.

Be happy as life is too precious too waste over silly things.

Blog 14 - Cornbread@Redstone

2010-06-21T15:40:00.004-05:00

Today I tried some cornbread & maple Syrup from Redstone which a colleague had left at office and it was simply delicious.
Initially I did not want to try it but after taking one bite-- it was 2 delicious to resist.
They have the recipe on the website but I cannot bake & eat my own..prefer to get it ready-made.
Wish I had my camera to take the pic

Blog 13- Sunday shopping dissapointment

2010-06-20T22:41:00.004-05:00

Sunday I decided to get out and do some long awaiting shopping, gathered some friends and decided to go to a outlet mall. GPS could not give correct address , so after hunting for an hour, decided to ditch that plan and go to another mall nearby.....Went to 3- different shops but did not find anything that fit me :(...I have to seriously decrease some weight.

Came back with nothing-- will have to do some shopping over the week-days

Blog 12 - boring Saturday

2010-06-20T22:41:00.001-05:00

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz me & Ritz slept from 11 - 2pm, that actually sums my Saturday.

Blog 11- Hurray - tis Friday

2010-06-18T21:29:00.002-05:00

Long time now today we have a good summer weather for Friday and expectations are that weather is good for the week-end tow. In fact today evening there were no kids outside, everyone must have gone out..sad bcoz we were the only ones outside with 2-3 little ones.Played some throw ball & spent time with Ritvik as usual :) baby kutti needs mamma's attention big time now.

Luv u my sweetu pie......