Let your kids help you cook. The messes they make are temporary, the memories permanent.

Got to agree on this.

Also, it comes in handy on having to explain the mess or the cooking that is a near-mess !

No gifts for me ?

So, gifts are already appearing under our Christmas tree. Surprising none yet for Rebecca.

We did have intentions of getting our chimney cleaned this year. Just didn’t happen.

No, Santa's not going to do an extra special delivery before Christmas just for you.

That's not fair, she complains. Why don’t I get gifts from people in America?

Can hardly wait!

This is going to be quite a trip for us. Going Des-ward as a family after almost 4 years. I did sneak a solo trip 2 years back. This one will be different.

I am very very curious to see how Rebecca will take it. She is excited and looking forward to it. Yesterday, I went to her school, and it looks like she's told the whole school about her trip. Of course being there is totally different.

Dreading how Nathan will do the plane travel. Usually, he's prompt with his sleep schedule. Except the last couple of nights. Seems as if he senses the preparation at home, and doesn’t want to miss it!

Almost all the places that we are planning to visit has a long history and several layers of perspective to it. I don’t think I have a strong sense of belonging to any place. That comes out more prominent and obvious, Iam told in the South. So, Iam trying to condition myself not to be a tourist in my own native place this time.  All for the sake of the kids  L

We are hoping to attend the 'asanam'- the church feast - at my Dad's village. It’s been ages since I last went for that. Hoping to meet several of my Dad's siblings and my 30 or so cousins and their kids. We will all miss my chittapa (Dad’s younger brother) who passed away recently. I don’t think any of us have make peace with his demise. The hardest hit is my father to whom he was a close friend too. For me, the loss is crazy, and I am worried about the effect on my father. He has always been tough, but this is a cruel one.

I miss my Mom tremendously whenever I think of Tamil Nadu in general. Because she's been the bridge for us all the time. Since we visit TN only on vacations and such, the in-between fillers were always my Mom's doing.  She followed all the weddings, births and all the general events closely. And so, thanks to her, I guess I know all my clan, even if I haven’t spent much time with all of them. And now that she is gone the gap is getting a bit scary and too real. It is unnerving to say the least.

Apart from seeing close and not-so close family and friends, Iam looking forward albeit with some hesitations the changes happening. Like the last time I visited, I got a kick seeing auto-rishaw guys and maids using cell phones. I stared at them unabashedly. It’s nice to see technology being put to use like that. And then there were well marked trash cans in several places. The malls in Bangalore as hip as the ones here, young twenty-some things (IT, I am sure) zipping past in their cool cars, the consumer market expanding and meeting the quality demand. I am hoping not to see the mad mindless rush to ape the west. Handling break-neck progress while staying rooted has a titillating edge to it.

It’s really not to best time to go home. The intense heat in south and the pouring rains in Goa are not exactly fun. Add to that being wrapped in a sari day long and add to that heavy jewelry and being mindful and watching the kids and... What the heck, I will crib, but I can hardly wait!

Each day...

Each day a new journey begins

Covered Bridges

Highway 49 at Oregon Creek, Nevada City, CA

     

The Bridgeport Covered Bridge in South Yuba River State Park, CA. At 251 feet, it is the longest single span covered bridge in the US.

Autism

It is very hard for me to distill and organise my thoughts on this subject, because I encounter it through people that deal with it closely. I stand by them.

On a somber morning, I put down what came to my mind, and posted it online.

Here’s my URL for the iReport on CNN

Autism : Why I care


Disclaimer: This is not objective creative writing.

Because I need to put it someplace...

okay, this has no great significance, no profound purpose. Iam de-cluttering my work space, and here are quotes from planner pages saved. Now I can recycle the pages.

How we spend our days is how we spend our lives -Annie Dillard

Every great accomplishment is at first impossible.

Let him who would enjoy a good future waste none of his present - Roger Babson
Nothing will work unless you do.

My idea of long range planning is lunch - Frank Ogden

When in danger, ponder. When in trouble, delegate. When in doubt, mumble. - Robert F Wagner Jr.

Not all who wander are lost - J R R Tolkien

Good Catch

Read this at the back of a truck:
Fishing is fun, but my family is my best catch.
Hmm.
You’catch’-ed your family ,Like you had a choice ?

Can I blame you, please ?

At least, I have never done this before.
Iam mixing my morning cuppa of Joe, stirring in the cream, and the stirrer doesn’t move as easily - hey, what's that in my coffee?
I have a teabag in there!
Where did that get in from?
I look around - my kids aren’t around - so, I cannot blame them for distracting me.
No husband around either - Oh, man can’t blame Dharma either. No colleagues around - now, I don’t even have an excuse.
I try to play back. No avail.
As I gulp (can’t sip that stuff) my mint flavored regular coffee, it strikes me.
I know, I know it is all my doing.
But it's horrible not to have anyone to blame for.
Iam not liking that.

Kung Hay Fat Choy

Kung Hay Fat Choy - intriguing in its unabashed straight-to-the point wish. Wish you will earn more money - not May you have more money.
Sure, wishes for good health, prosperity follows, but let’s start with money ;)
And why not?
Why beat around the bush -
Some of the customs are so close to those followed in India.
Firstly, the day is based on the Lunar calendar.
It marks a new beginning - 'when firecrackers are let off at the midnight of the New Year Day, whatever was bad and unhappy will vanish without trace'.
The stories, legends, myths, and celebrations differ from province to province - we are like that too.
Exchange of the 'wealth god' in little red packets.
Bright red lucky charms are used for deco.
Traditionally the older folks give coins to kids. These were tied with red string and hung around the neck of the children as a protection charm.
That sounds familiar to me.
Some follow the discipline not to have any meat on the day. The day being auspicious. This one really got me - I am now Curiouser and curiouser.
Celebration involved includes cleaning the house, firecrackers, visitations, money exchange, and great food.
Talking about food - there is similarity again.
Looking at the traditional tray, I see several familiarities.
Is that petha? And that chikki ? Oh, this is a groundnut chikki, and that is a sesame chikki.Lotus seeds coated with sugary stuff. And that - for a thousand sons ;) _ keep away from that one.
Provides enough fuel to start an argument about the origin of the content - Maybe these are really Indian foods, which are so adapted by our dear neighbors. Nah, you copied us, we are the first.
And so the argument continues...till we hit the origin of fortune cookies.

I like reading the messages - they are fun, and I have to know what everyone else in the table got too. I know someone who is very serious about that. She collects them without fail, and I can tell she believe in them too. I think I believe in the ones that agree with me. The not-so-nice ones is stupid marketing, and obscure ones, I gladly forget.
The Joy luck club has a conclusion that the papers contain 'bad instruction' and not wisdom. Lol !!

Dim Sum gives a family style food experience that is friendly, warm and enjoyable. Sharing food across the table, pouring green tea for the people next to you (always before yours). You can be oblivious of the noise around the other tables, and the 'smell' and the fear of biting into a scary food.
And no visits on the 3rd day of New Year - because it can cause arguments.
No sweeping - Brooms, brushes and any sweeping equipments are not allowed to be used after the New Year Eve dinner and during the first day of the New Year, otherwise it symbolizes wealth will be swept away.Don’t want to take a chance on that.
People go to midnight prayer service s.
On the New Year morning, firecrackers were traditionally set off to welcome the New Year. Family members and friends greet with "Kung Hay Fat Choy" (Wish you will earn more money) to each other, in return children and the unmarried receive "Red Packet Money".
And then there is the year of the Ox. And the year when everyone gains a year - intriguing stuff.
Every culture has its traditions. And coming from a rich, diverse one I am glad to partake in from another just as rich. Ok, Iam not grounded in mine. But mine defines me.Just like us, people, everywhere follow rituals and traditions sometimes without getting too deep into the whys.
So, some get rejected, others adapted, and the rest are taken as they are- face value.
The only problem with that is – it is a nagging thought - did the right ones get to the right queue?
How do you detect that ?
No one knows.
But what the heck!
Enjoy the festivity, and if you can share it around, you've rubbed a little cheer.
And the exchange itself helps break done the mental blocks and helps in increasing tolerance levels.

Shilpa's Science Project on "Camouflage in Leaf Butterfly - Diorama

Interesting project. The only annoying aspects of this is the forced participation of everyone at home. Of course, the result is gartifying.

As the year begins...

To Blessed to be stressed.

Is it just me, or are these being seen more lately ?

Now that's a thought.

Interesting

http://www.babelgum.com/index.php

Volunteering - at last!

I have a whole new respect for teachers now. And the system of education.
The very thought of being surrounded by 20 little brats - eh, kids terrifies me. And then the thought that Iam supposed to engage and teach them - now that's too far to picturize even.
Dharma had done it a couple of weeks ago. He thought it was nice. So, we have given to the school our dues. We could put away volunteering for a while.
Except that Rebecca thinks that it is Mommy's turn now. Today. Okay Tomorrow then.
I thought it is easier to simply go, do it instead of trying to beat around it with her.
kids!

So I emailed and said that I am available. And immediately started to agonize.
It is hard enough handling my own two kids.
Yet I braced myself, and ventured on.
And am glad that I did.
The whole idea is to get involved. And it is a great way to watch the kids. Sure, they amaze you by their questions, and keep you on your toes.
I started out with some paper work, and then watched them as they listened to instructions. The schedule is well packed and dynamically updated. 2 of the reading groups did not have a teacher? No, problem - this is what we'll do.
A problem seems to crop up every now, and then, and an immediate solution to it too.
This is exciting action every minute.
'I know you are Rebecca's mummy- but you don’t look like her at all' I know who you are, and other comments keep me amused.
The homework projects say that parents can fill in for their kids. That sounds like going the length of school all over again. And again, for me.
But this is time well spent indeed.

Note : I wrote this piece long ago, and forgot to post it. Anyway, here it is now :)

தமிழில் வலைப்பதித்தல்

என் முதல் வலைப்பதிப்பகம்! ம்ம்ம்ம் நன்றாக தான் உள்ளது.

Wonder why ?

See a picture with 2 people seemingly laughing / smiling, and the caption always says 'joking' ?

Little Flowers

Beth Barnard wrote a song, Little Flowers, and here are the lyrics. 

  

Little flowers never worry 

When the wind begins to blow. 

And they never, never cry 

When the rain begins to fall. 

  

Oh, it's wet and oh so cold, 

Soon the sun will shine again. 

Then they'll smile unto the world, 

For their beauty to behold. 

  

When the clouds begin to gather 

And the storm begins to blow, 

Little flowers don't complain, 

Though they're tossing to and fro. 

  

Oh, I guess they've learned the secret, 

They don't fret because they know, 

If it never, never rained, 

Then they'd never, never grow. 

  

So, let it rain, let it rain, let it pour, 

Little trouble keep on knocking at my door, 

If we'll learn the right from wrong, 

It will help to make us strong. 

  

Lord, please help us learn the secret, 

Even little flowers know, 

If it never, never rains 

Then we'll never, never grow. 

Its ringing in my head

plan.
set the schedule.
plan.
Set the timeline.
Plan.
set the deadline.
plan.

yuck ! yuck !

Make it happen

not so yuck !

Did you see that?

Just back from El Novillero for Brent's luncheon. the plate is plentiful there. When you are famished, its a good place to feast on.The sign near the door says - we provide shirts if needed.

hmm !

Do I have to return them back ?

The place is well furnished Mexican style, and somewhere on the lobby wall, there's a tiny ceramic plate that says - '.... now featuring restrooms'

You have to really look to spot that. !