As usual, I am busy (?) on the laptop.
The kid shows her palms and says,
Mom What do I have in my hands?
I stop and think. (!)
She says, Come on! It starts with the letter Z.
I say, Zebra!!
(Z for Zebra is all that comes to mind
I wonder who was my KG teacher. She is to be blamed.)
No!!!! Not Zebra. Its a number!!
She is kind enough to give clues and I am dumb enough to not take it seriously.
There is NO number that starts with Z!!!
What are you saying?
There is! ZERO.
I have nothing in my hands!!
Gee...
Why do I have a feeling that this is just the beginning.
Of "smart kid dumb mom" series.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Bored kid... Help!!
Whats with children and "Mom! I am bored"?
Boredom is natural and according to me constructive. Spells of doing nothing for hours. Can help one develop patience, being introspective, even get more creative.
What with the 24 hour cartoon channels, On Demand and the internet, Boredom threshold has sure gone waaaay down.
The kid sets off for school 7:15, comes back 3:35. Has 2 of her favourite programs between 4 to 5. Arthur and Word girl. At 5, she puts off the TV, yells, "I AM BORED"...You JUST put off the TV kid! left thumb still on the TV remote power button....Bored?
And today morning, while I am surfing away, she is watching Spongebob Squarepants. She goes, "I am bored". I am like, "excuse me, i think you are watching Spongebob?" Yes! But its the commercial break!! And I am bored!!
Boo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!
Boredom is natural and according to me constructive. Spells of doing nothing for hours. Can help one develop patience, being introspective, even get more creative.
What with the 24 hour cartoon channels, On Demand and the internet, Boredom threshold has sure gone waaaay down.
The kid sets off for school 7:15, comes back 3:35. Has 2 of her favourite programs between 4 to 5. Arthur and Word girl. At 5, she puts off the TV, yells, "I AM BORED"...You JUST put off the TV kid! left thumb still on the TV remote power button....Bored?
And today morning, while I am surfing away, she is watching Spongebob Squarepants. She goes, "I am bored". I am like, "excuse me, i think you are watching Spongebob?" Yes! But its the commercial break!! And I am bored!!
Boo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Meteor Shower
As I lie down on the bed and look at the cloudy sky from the bedroom window, I say to hubby:
There's going be a Meteor shower tonight.
He is like, What Shower?
Meteor Shower!!
What is it?
Remember this thing that happened some 8-10 years back? Its like....
WAIT!!! Before you delve into a scientific explanation, just answer one question.
Err.... What?
Is it going to rain?
NO!!!
Then its ok. Coz if it does, I don't want to get up in the middle of the night to close that window.
@#@#@#@#
There's going be a Meteor shower tonight.
He is like, What Shower?
Meteor Shower!!
What is it?
Remember this thing that happened some 8-10 years back? Its like....
WAIT!!! Before you delve into a scientific explanation, just answer one question.
Err.... What?
Is it going to rain?
NO!!!
Then its ok. Coz if it does, I don't want to get up in the middle of the night to close that window.
@#@#@#@#
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Clean energy
We get our electricity from this company www.greenmountain.com
You can choose your electricity company and not rely on what's there. Say MSEB. We chose this one.
The electricity bill says something like this each month. Very unique.
Thanks for helping clean the air we breathe! By purchasing Green mountain energy electricity, you have helped avoid the emission of this much CO2, pollution over the past month
KWh Electricity used : 1,316
CO2 emissions avoided (pounds) : 280
Equivalent Automobile miles not driven : 312
Quite something to have on an electricity bill?
You can choose your electricity company and not rely on what's there. Say MSEB. We chose this one.
The electricity bill says something like this each month. Very unique.
Thanks for helping clean the air we breathe! By purchasing Green mountain energy electricity, you have helped avoid the emission of this much CO2, pollution over the past month
KWh Electricity used : 1,316
CO2 emissions avoided (pounds) : 280
Equivalent Automobile miles not driven : 312
Quite something to have on an electricity bill?
Monday, July 13, 2009
nimbooda
There's this small Indian restaurant nearby. They play hindi movies. Were there for breakfast on the morning of July 4. They were playing "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam".
The point where Aish gets married, she is reading the letters from Salman.
One of the letter ends like
Tumhara,
Khatta Nimbooda
Ok.. what I am trying to say? The best part about watching Hindi movies in US, for me, is the English subtitles.
The above part was translated like-
Undersigned
Your's
Tangy Lemon
The point where Aish gets married, she is reading the letters from Salman.
One of the letter ends like
Tumhara,
Khatta Nimbooda
Ok.. what I am trying to say? The best part about watching Hindi movies in US, for me, is the English subtitles.
The above part was translated like-
Undersigned
Your's
Tangy Lemon
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Passports renewed in a week...yay!
Hubby and kid's passports had to be renewed.
After a month's procastination, I decided to take action. Made hubby fill up the online forms (read: harassed him) and get the printouts. Filled the blank spaces on the form with pen.
Decided to spend 18$ for passport size photos taken at Walgreens. Hubby insisted on taking prints from our digicam photos. But my decision prevailed. The last thing I wanted here was a returned application due to some issue with the photos.
Made out cashier's checks in favor of CGI Houston.
Got a stamp-pad from Office Max for the kid's thumbprint. I am sure she can now sign her initials, but may not be able to reproduce the signature. Thumb print was safer.
Printed out a Change of appearance form...for the kid...infant to child
Bought a set of 2 sized paper clips. organised the documents using small paper clips...eg utility bills together, marriage cert, 'add spouse name' application, my passport photocopy together.....and wrote on the top document what the bunch was for. eg- For addition of spouse name.
Took the small clip bunches together and secured with a large paper clip along with the application, remaining 2 photos(1 affixed on application) and original passport.
Went to the Fedex shipping center where they have a notary. Got all photocopies notarised. For passport copies, only the pages with a picture.
Sent everything to CGI Houston, along with a pre-paid self addressed envelope. It reached them on June 24. I got the new passports today, July 1. In exactly 1 week. I'd like to believe its the organised paperwork I sent, that got the process speeded up. Could be the efficiency of their staff? Yes, lets give them half the credit. :)
And for those of you who are in the process and have bumped into my blog looking for information
Photocopies:
Got 2 copies of my passport, 3 of hubby's and 1 kid's
a copy of my passport each with both their applications, a copy of hubby's passport with both (even his own...wierd i know) and a copy of both their passport for our records.
2 photocopies of both of their I94s and Visa pages. - 1 to be sent and 1 for records
Photocopies of marriage cert and kid's birth cert.
This is what i attached :
For husband
1. 3 passport size photos, including 1 pasted on the form
2. photocopies of first 5 and last 2 pages of passport, I-94, and visa page.
3. Passport application
4. original passport - along with the I-94
5. An application for addition of Spouse name
6. Two utility bills - cable and phone
7. Photocopy of my passport
8. Cashiers check 40$
For daughter
1. 3 passport size photos including 1 pasted on form
2. passport application
3. Original passport along with the I-94
4. Change of appearance form
5. Photocopy of both parent's passport.
6. Cashier's check 25$
After a month's procastination, I decided to take action. Made hubby fill up the online forms (read: harassed him) and get the printouts. Filled the blank spaces on the form with pen.
Decided to spend 18$ for passport size photos taken at Walgreens. Hubby insisted on taking prints from our digicam photos. But my decision prevailed. The last thing I wanted here was a returned application due to some issue with the photos.
Made out cashier's checks in favor of CGI Houston.
Got a stamp-pad from Office Max for the kid's thumbprint. I am sure she can now sign her initials, but may not be able to reproduce the signature. Thumb print was safer.
Printed out a Change of appearance form...for the kid...infant to child
Bought a set of 2 sized paper clips. organised the documents using small paper clips...eg utility bills together, marriage cert, 'add spouse name' application, my passport photocopy together.....and wrote on the top document what the bunch was for. eg- For addition of spouse name.
Took the small clip bunches together and secured with a large paper clip along with the application, remaining 2 photos(1 affixed on application) and original passport.
Went to the Fedex shipping center where they have a notary. Got all photocopies notarised. For passport copies, only the pages with a picture.
Sent everything to CGI Houston, along with a pre-paid self addressed envelope. It reached them on June 24. I got the new passports today, July 1. In exactly 1 week. I'd like to believe its the organised paperwork I sent, that got the process speeded up. Could be the efficiency of their staff? Yes, lets give them half the credit. :)
And for those of you who are in the process and have bumped into my blog looking for information
Photocopies:
Got 2 copies of my passport, 3 of hubby's and 1 kid's
a copy of my passport each with both their applications, a copy of hubby's passport with both (even his own...wierd i know) and a copy of both their passport for our records.
2 photocopies of both of their I94s and Visa pages. - 1 to be sent and 1 for records
Photocopies of marriage cert and kid's birth cert.
This is what i attached :
For husband
1. 3 passport size photos, including 1 pasted on the form
2. photocopies of first 5 and last 2 pages of passport, I-94, and visa page.
3. Passport application
4. original passport - along with the I-94
5. An application for addition of Spouse name
6. Two utility bills - cable and phone
7. Photocopy of my passport
8. Cashiers check 40$
For daughter
1. 3 passport size photos including 1 pasted on form
2. passport application
3. Original passport along with the I-94
4. Change of appearance form
5. Photocopy of both parent's passport.
6. Cashier's check 25$
Friday, June 26, 2009
home coming
Was on India visit jan of this year. Stayed home for about a week,(remaining time at in-laws place) relished mom's cooking, had dahipuri in Shivkrupa, took my daughter to play in the park at Sagar Vihar, met old friends, And stayed home a lot. :)
Sitting there by the window, watching the chaotic traffic move by, most vehicles with no regard for the environment puffing black poison. Man! how did I never see it before? Was Vashi always so polluted? Was it always so difficult to breathe? Was it always this warm in January? The beautiful scene from the mini-seashore which i saw every evening...why does it look lost in fog? Wait! Is that the pollution? It wasn't there 6 yrs back. Or was it?
Have the roads always been so unsafe? Did I really cross these roads every day in full traffic? Were the drivers always this horribly rash? Little school kids forming a human chain waiting on the sidealk for a chance to cross the road. Was I one of them? Were the stairs in most buildings always this Dungeon dark? When were the buildings last painted? Whats the black soot like thing on every standing structure in the city? They looked so fresh a few years back.
Were my school age photos this yellow right out of the studio? Was our house this small? No, its got smaller over the years I am convinced. Was there so much dust behind the furniture before? When did the Fridge get its beautiful blue paint all chipped off? Did we never have a closed shoe rack? Was the neighbour's conversation always audible in our house? The adjacent building was not this close, looks like its moving closer by the day.
The TV, the dining table, the Fridge were much bigger. Believe me. They have been sheddding weight. The ceiling too was higher before, its caving in. The fans actually made the rooms airy and cool, not go in circles just for the sake of it. Like they do now.
A few years away from there, and how things have changed in my absence. huh.
Sitting there by the window, watching the chaotic traffic move by, most vehicles with no regard for the environment puffing black poison. Man! how did I never see it before? Was Vashi always so polluted? Was it always so difficult to breathe? Was it always this warm in January? The beautiful scene from the mini-seashore which i saw every evening...why does it look lost in fog? Wait! Is that the pollution? It wasn't there 6 yrs back. Or was it?
Have the roads always been so unsafe? Did I really cross these roads every day in full traffic? Were the drivers always this horribly rash? Little school kids forming a human chain waiting on the sidealk for a chance to cross the road. Was I one of them? Were the stairs in most buildings always this Dungeon dark? When were the buildings last painted? Whats the black soot like thing on every standing structure in the city? They looked so fresh a few years back.
Were my school age photos this yellow right out of the studio? Was our house this small? No, its got smaller over the years I am convinced. Was there so much dust behind the furniture before? When did the Fridge get its beautiful blue paint all chipped off? Did we never have a closed shoe rack? Was the neighbour's conversation always audible in our house? The adjacent building was not this close, looks like its moving closer by the day.
The TV, the dining table, the Fridge were much bigger. Believe me. They have been sheddding weight. The ceiling too was higher before, its caving in. The fans actually made the rooms airy and cool, not go in circles just for the sake of it. Like they do now.
A few years away from there, and how things have changed in my absence. huh.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Finan-sense
We, as a couple are not alike. Quite the case of opposites attract.
Inspite of it, thankfully we vehemently agree on money-issues. And that, is the secret of our happy married life :)
1. We don't head for Calvin Klein, Levi's, Gucci and their kin. (Man! I am having to rack my brains for brand names.) We both are happy to wear what looks good and is fairly priced. No, the factory outlets are no good too.
2. Our car is a means to get us from point A to point B. Without leaving us on the the road midway. As long as it can do that, we are happy.
3. Furniture doesn't have to come from from Ikea. We look for good deals on Craigslist. Heck with so many people moving back to India, its so easy.
4. We lived in California for 2 years and never, i repeat never even thought of seeing Las Vegas. I'd rather not get started on whys of it. Would just quote Liz Pulliam Weston, the famous personal-finance writer.
"A city based on the squandering of wealth really should be allowed to melt back into the desert from which it came."
5. Most movies are not worth spending 15$ per person for ticket and insanely high food prices in their cafeterias. Not to mention the fuel expenses.
We prefer to wait until it comes out on a DVD. Rent it for a dollar. Enjoy it from the comfort of home. Make sure the volume is in control. (And most songs are skipped altogether.)
6. Alcohol and cigarettes is something we both have never fallen for. No estimates on how much we save, don't even know what it costs to be alcoholic. But going by popular opinion, I assume we save there. And have better chance of being healthy grandparents.
7. With all the attention and love I get, I don't feel the need for make-ups and manicures and haircolors and so on.(its afterall for attracting attention, ain't it?) Guys, another money saving trick.
The list can go on, but for now, I'll be frugal with the blogger space and end it here. :)
Inspite of it, thankfully we vehemently agree on money-issues. And that, is the secret of our happy married life :)
1. We don't head for Calvin Klein, Levi's, Gucci and their kin. (Man! I am having to rack my brains for brand names.) We both are happy to wear what looks good and is fairly priced. No, the factory outlets are no good too.
2. Our car is a means to get us from point A to point B. Without leaving us on the the road midway. As long as it can do that, we are happy.
3. Furniture doesn't have to come from from Ikea. We look for good deals on Craigslist. Heck with so many people moving back to India, its so easy.
4. We lived in California for 2 years and never, i repeat never even thought of seeing Las Vegas. I'd rather not get started on whys of it. Would just quote Liz Pulliam Weston, the famous personal-finance writer.
"A city based on the squandering of wealth really should be allowed to melt back into the desert from which it came."
5. Most movies are not worth spending 15$ per person for ticket and insanely high food prices in their cafeterias. Not to mention the fuel expenses.
We prefer to wait until it comes out on a DVD. Rent it for a dollar. Enjoy it from the comfort of home. Make sure the volume is in control. (And most songs are skipped altogether.)
6. Alcohol and cigarettes is something we both have never fallen for. No estimates on how much we save, don't even know what it costs to be alcoholic. But going by popular opinion, I assume we save there. And have better chance of being healthy grandparents.
7. With all the attention and love I get, I don't feel the need for make-ups and manicures and haircolors and so on.(its afterall for attracting attention, ain't it?) Guys, another money saving trick.
The list can go on, but for now, I'll be frugal with the blogger space and end it here. :)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Foodie talk - 2
Samosa
Deep fried cone pastry filled with potato and peas.
Utthapam
Indian pancake with the topping of Bell pepper, Onions and Tomatoes
GulabJamun
Wheat flour balls dipped in flavored sugar syrup
Rasmalai
Homemade cheese balls with ceamy sweet sauce.
Deep fried cone pastry filled with potato and peas.
Utthapam
Indian pancake with the topping of Bell pepper, Onions and Tomatoes
GulabJamun
Wheat flour balls dipped in flavored sugar syrup
Rasmalai
Homemade cheese balls with ceamy sweet sauce.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
fork
Not the better half of a spoon.
The supposed fork/s in life.
At some point you reach a fork they say.
You can go one way or the other.
The choice makes you who you are.
All the forks you cross
make the life you want for yourself.
How I would like to reach one.
I cannot even see any fork.
The only one direction available
is the one i keep going on
No choices available.
Its all decided for me.
The only choice I have here is
to be happy on the predestined road
Or curse the fate, be unhappy.
What choice do I make you ask?
happy I choose to be
but wait, unhappy at the same time.
The supposed fork/s in life.
At some point you reach a fork they say.
You can go one way or the other.
The choice makes you who you are.
All the forks you cross
make the life you want for yourself.
How I would like to reach one.
I cannot even see any fork.
The only one direction available
is the one i keep going on
No choices available.
Its all decided for me.
The only choice I have here is
to be happy on the predestined road
Or curse the fate, be unhappy.
What choice do I make you ask?
happy I choose to be
but wait, unhappy at the same time.
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