Recently, my nephew and niece visited me in California. AS long promised to them, I took them to Sea World at San Diego. The day was bright, and my 2 year old neice, Shama, was excited to the core waiting for her namesake's show to commence - "Shamu - the killer whale ". The show started and I heard a piercing squeal over the hum of the crowd, followed by a dull thud on my arm! Innocence personified, it was Shama squealing excitedly
"Chitthi - anga paaru FISH!".
Rumour has it that the poor killer whale attempted to drown itself in its own pool on hearing what its namesake called it! That poor whale spends a major portion of its day consuming 180 pounds of fish, and proudly weighs 3000 pounds. To have an umbrella sized character call it a "Fish" is enough to dampen the spirits of even the most optimistic whale!
Without further damaging the whale's ego, I moved onto the Penguin area only to have her proclaim loudly to the crowd : "AAAAAIIIII DUCK!!!"
I discovered to my utter horror that in her world all species in Sea World could be classified in two:
(a) Ducks
(b) Fishes
I loved the fact that they travelled 8000 miles across the globe to see ducks and fishes! Kids - tut tut tut!
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Tennis for the uninitiated
T'was the golden month after our wedding. I had just adjusted to a new place, new people and the works. One day, at one of our get togethers one enthusiast suggested Tennis to keep the mind and body in shape. Soon, the tennis club took shape, and there was a flurry of excitement all around. The venue was fixed, and all the necessary gear was purchased (You did not see me roll me eyes did you?!)
I was invited to witness the game, and being the new bride took it upon myself to encourage thy husband in all his endeavours. So, the day dawned bright and fresh. Being the first day, around fifteen phone calls flew back and forth. What I least expected was 15 balls flying back and forth during the game. Oops...did I say 15 balls flying back and forth? Let me amend that to 15 balls flying uni-directionally. I waited patiently for 22 minutes and 33 seconds before the first serve was returned!
So much for all the pomp and splendour!
It is fun being married, and having lots of friends, I guess.
I was invited to witness the game, and being the new bride took it upon myself to encourage thy husband in all his endeavours. So, the day dawned bright and fresh. Being the first day, around fifteen phone calls flew back and forth. What I least expected was 15 balls flying back and forth during the game. Oops...did I say 15 balls flying back and forth? Let me amend that to 15 balls flying uni-directionally. I waited patiently for 22 minutes and 33 seconds before the first serve was returned!
So much for all the pomp and splendour!
It is fun being married, and having lots of friends, I guess.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Grandpa has a sore hip!
Keerthana's Grandpa(alias Thaatha) has been complaining of hip pain. Of course, we all know that she is responsible for it in some way, we just did not know exactly how. So, we investigated the matter further......
Everyday, as part of the camaraderie to feed her, thaatha holds the important role of distracting Kunju to open her mouth. So sometimes, he brings various fruits along, and shows her apples, bananas, oranges and the like. Sometimes, it is the drum, dog, anything! Vocal support for this is provided by Grandma (alias Paati). She has a rich repertoire of songs that she unleashes - much like "Paravai Muniyamma". There are stories also - and I am pleased to inform you that there is a jobless prince who goes to the forest several times a day to kick off the race between the rabbit and the tortoise - "aaamai". Sometimes, Paati gets to enact how the tortoise went - "ippi ippi pochaam ma tortoise"
One day, when Kaju Katli was giving them an especially difficult time, Thaatha got carried away, and started enacting a dog running. At his age, it isn't easy to shake your hips around and act like a dog or a rabbit! He is now fighting with Paati that she always takes the slower animal, and he gets to do the faster one - poor Thaatha. I do feel sorry for him. Can any of you tell us what to do?
Ammilai is really becoming a brat!
PS: Ammilai, Kaju Katli, Kunju all refer to the pint-sized character in our home who can make a strict Thaatha enact a dog, and a strict school teacher Paati enact a tortoise!
Everyday, as part of the camaraderie to feed her, thaatha holds the important role of distracting Kunju to open her mouth. So sometimes, he brings various fruits along, and shows her apples, bananas, oranges and the like. Sometimes, it is the drum, dog, anything! Vocal support for this is provided by Grandma (alias Paati). She has a rich repertoire of songs that she unleashes - much like "Paravai Muniyamma". There are stories also - and I am pleased to inform you that there is a jobless prince who goes to the forest several times a day to kick off the race between the rabbit and the tortoise - "aaamai". Sometimes, Paati gets to enact how the tortoise went - "ippi ippi pochaam ma tortoise"
One day, when Kaju Katli was giving them an especially difficult time, Thaatha got carried away, and started enacting a dog running. At his age, it isn't easy to shake your hips around and act like a dog or a rabbit! He is now fighting with Paati that she always takes the slower animal, and he gets to do the faster one - poor Thaatha. I do feel sorry for him. Can any of you tell us what to do?
Ammilai is really becoming a brat!
PS: Ammilai, Kaju Katli, Kunju all refer to the pint-sized character in our home who can make a strict Thaatha enact a dog, and a strict school teacher Paati enact a tortoise!
Ever wondered....
Ever wondered what it takes to train for a marathon?
Well...my husband set out to find out. It all started one fine day when he came home wearing an informative look on his face, and started talking to me about Dean Karnases. (We had just read the book, and it had managed to seep through our thick exterior to inspire us enough to undertake physical activity again.) It's true - he had set his mind on running a marathon.
The first purchase towards that end was a book titled 'Non-runners guide to Marathon training'. So, he spent several couch-potatoed days reading the book,and digesting the contents. Finally, it was time to "move", and he went for his first run.
The next day he was complaining loudly that the contours on his feet did not match the shoe shape, and hence required a new pair of shoes (Legitimate demand, although the explanation must have come from the book, no doubt!) I made room for a wonderful pair of shoes - what I did not make room for was an expensive pair of cotton socks! Yes....cotton socks! Some sales guy, apparently, doing a remarkably good job, sold him a pair of socks called 'Running' socks. They looked ordinary to me, and often times get mistaken for regular socks. I could not for the life of me figure out why one would pay so much for a pair of socks. But, the lady of the house has to be appeased. So, after the subsequent run, all I could hear was the tremendous difference the socks made to his life! Not a squeak about the fantastic pair of shoes, but all praise for the socks!
Though, I continue to tease him about his marathon training stories, I am a proud person watching him near the 10 mile mark in so short a span. And if more cotton socks are the key to a successful marathon - then so be it!
All the best to you dear!
Well...my husband set out to find out. It all started one fine day when he came home wearing an informative look on his face, and started talking to me about Dean Karnases. (We had just read the book, and it had managed to seep through our thick exterior to inspire us enough to undertake physical activity again.) It's true - he had set his mind on running a marathon.
The first purchase towards that end was a book titled 'Non-runners guide to Marathon training'. So, he spent several couch-potatoed days reading the book,and digesting the contents. Finally, it was time to "move", and he went for his first run.
The next day he was complaining loudly that the contours on his feet did not match the shoe shape, and hence required a new pair of shoes (Legitimate demand, although the explanation must have come from the book, no doubt!) I made room for a wonderful pair of shoes - what I did not make room for was an expensive pair of cotton socks! Yes....cotton socks! Some sales guy, apparently, doing a remarkably good job, sold him a pair of socks called 'Running' socks. They looked ordinary to me, and often times get mistaken for regular socks. I could not for the life of me figure out why one would pay so much for a pair of socks. But, the lady of the house has to be appeased. So, after the subsequent run, all I could hear was the tremendous difference the socks made to his life! Not a squeak about the fantastic pair of shoes, but all praise for the socks!
Though, I continue to tease him about his marathon training stories, I am a proud person watching him near the 10 mile mark in so short a span. And if more cotton socks are the key to a successful marathon - then so be it!
All the best to you dear!
Conjuring up the image of 2 loving sisters!
Recently, my home looks like a storm hit it - and I am amazingly happy with all the chaos. I have a niece who is 2, and my daughter who is 10 months old at home right now. The reigning situation can be summarized by the following algorithm:
/* Keerthana is the 10 month old, and Shama is the 2 year old */
If (keerthana.state = 'awake' and shama.state = 'awake') then
begin
household.state = 'alert'
household.activity = 'separate brats constantly'
end
If (keerthana.state = 'asleep' and shama.state = 'awake') then
begin
household.state = 'be careful while dealing with Shama'
household.activity = 'keep shama happy - don't say no or raise your voice'
/* She is very touchy now because she has been the centre of attraction all this while, and cries loudly at the drop of a hat :) */
end
If (keerthana.state = 'awake' and shama.state = 'asleep') then
begin
household.state = 'be careful while dealing with Keerthana'
end
If (keerthana.state = 'asleep' and shama.state = 'asleep') then
begin
household.state = 'ENJOY!!!!'
end
One wonders when we can conjure up the image of 2 loving sisters playing harmoniously!
/* Keerthana is the 10 month old, and Shama is the 2 year old */
If (keerthana.state = 'awake' and shama.state = 'awake') then
begin
household.state = 'alert'
household.activity = 'separate brats constantly'
end
If (keerthana.state = 'asleep' and shama.state = 'awake') then
begin
household.state = 'be careful while dealing with Shama'
household.activity = 'keep shama happy - don't say no or raise your voice'
/* She is very touchy now because she has been the centre of attraction all this while, and cries loudly at the drop of a hat :) */
end
If (keerthana.state = 'awake' and shama.state = 'asleep') then
begin
household.state = 'be careful while dealing with Keerthana'
end
If (keerthana.state = 'asleep' and shama.state = 'asleep') then
begin
household.state = 'ENJOY!!!!'
end
One wonders when we can conjure up the image of 2 loving sisters playing harmoniously!
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