Long day at work. Crawl in early, but leave early too..around 4:30pm. Drive back home..pick up groceries mid way...answer a few phone calls...mind still partially occupied with the office. Scurry up the steps to the library. Hmmm....long time since i read Vikram Seth. And whats that! A transaltion of Sivasankari...hmm.. Will probably settle for John Updike now. Must catch the Branson autobiog sometime....saunter back to the car still sorting out if Sivasnkari should be read in Tamil or translation.
Traffic jams...so take the internal detour. Heart rejoices at seeing vacation spirit in full swing. Kids of all ages ...cricket in the middle of the street along with skating, badminton, cycling.. a few 'older' ones exchanging ten rupees at a shop for ben ten cheetos and bumbaaloos.
Ah, the final turn towards my home appears. I 'wake' up with a start....where are my kids? what would they be upto? how will the home look? At its best its a zoo of stuffed animals or a car showroom. At its worst its a tsunami town, with powdered Marie bicuits to guise the ruins. Monopoly? Sand Craft? Play Doh? Oh NNNNNOO!
If S is IN the pool, what about V? Will they be doing some stupid acts of bravado in water? i hate the game they play called Life Saver...Perhaps V would be at her friends place. Will they be nice and playing doll-doll? Would they have scratched each other, and made a scene? May be they would all be rolling in the sand. Maybe they would be having a nice game of cricket. May be cycling...a few bruises.
How are their grandparents through all this.Should i be prepared to see them ready to leave by the next possible means of transport to Chennai?
Reality always dawns only at the last turn home.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Spring
I am happy to report that Banglore has escaped the effects of global warming for this month. There have been a few spells of magical showers after a hot summer day, so typical of the Bangalore of yore. The full blooms of the Jacaranda trees add to the though that Alls Right with the world.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Ageing
1. I have absolutely no enthusiasm or energy to do any activity with the kids on my own - gone are the days when I would go on long drives with them, travel fourteen hours by flight or train, or just enjoy sitting around them doing some silly collages and finger paintin - all without any support from spouse or nanny.
2. My husband insists that we can no longer be refered to as a 'couple' - even by well meaning DJs at sundry parties. Its a term, he says, that is reserved for 20 somethings only.
3. My older one S, refuses to be part of any mom and kids dances.
4. My younger one, V, has assured me that I no longer need to carry milk powder and a flask of hot water whenever we travel.
Sigh, Sigh
2. My husband insists that we can no longer be refered to as a 'couple' - even by well meaning DJs at sundry parties. Its a term, he says, that is reserved for 20 somethings only.
3. My older one S, refuses to be part of any mom and kids dances.
4. My younger one, V, has assured me that I no longer need to carry milk powder and a flask of hot water whenever we travel.
Sigh, Sigh
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Hope and Happiness
The point in time wherein you feel the least happy, is always the point wherein you have the least hope. Can this hold true at all points?
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Election
I found it so difficult to tear myself from the TV at 10:30 am this morning. Had been randomly watching the US election coverage since 6:00 am, while getting throught the ususal weekday routines. Gradually realised i was late for a 9:30am call, which I conveniently logged on from home itself.
It was 10:00 and absolutely the outer limit to step out from home in order to maintain a professional image. But no, at that very momment, I had to get hooked on to McCains speech, and was completely rivetted by a speech by a pastor(I am not yet sure who this person was) to the wonderful crowd at Grant Park, Chicago. Delivered with such conviction, dedication and hope. There was such an infectious spirit of optimism in the whole scene. Oprah Winfrey included. Now I desperately wanted to stay on and watch Obanma
With a heavy heart, consoling that I could catch his speech on the web as soon as I get to offcie, I left home. I have watched this fight quite closely with a lot of interest. Though I havent yet read his Audacity of Hope. But then I usually have a tough time gettting through biographies.
Last evening I read a review of Toni Morrisons latest book woven around the haunting tapestry of slavery in US. The review itself was so gripping that I cant wait to take a few days off and read the book. And then there was a recent revisit of Jefferey Archers short story 'A Change of Heart', written against the backdrop of Aparthied in South Africa. This election's results should signify something personal to so many races across the world, that have struggled and still struggling...for basic human rights.
I guess its not madness to hope that politics in my country too would change...probably in ten years time?
It was 10:00 and absolutely the outer limit to step out from home in order to maintain a professional image. But no, at that very momment, I had to get hooked on to McCains speech, and was completely rivetted by a speech by a pastor(I am not yet sure who this person was) to the wonderful crowd at Grant Park, Chicago. Delivered with such conviction, dedication and hope. There was such an infectious spirit of optimism in the whole scene. Oprah Winfrey included. Now I desperately wanted to stay on and watch Obanma
With a heavy heart, consoling that I could catch his speech on the web as soon as I get to offcie, I left home. I have watched this fight quite closely with a lot of interest. Though I havent yet read his Audacity of Hope. But then I usually have a tough time gettting through biographies.
Last evening I read a review of Toni Morrisons latest book woven around the haunting tapestry of slavery in US. The review itself was so gripping that I cant wait to take a few days off and read the book. And then there was a recent revisit of Jefferey Archers short story 'A Change of Heart', written against the backdrop of Aparthied in South Africa. This election's results should signify something personal to so many races across the world, that have struggled and still struggling...for basic human rights.
I guess its not madness to hope that politics in my country too would change...probably in ten years time?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
11111
Thats my car's odometer reading this morning. Translated very enthusiastically by S as Eleven Thousand, Eleven Hundred and Eleven.
Three cheers for the event! It has taken 22 months for it to get here. Over this time it has experienced three flat tyres, a drained battery, a few gashes mostly unleashed by bangalore autos (can I ever be at fault?), a huge crater in the front caused by a speeding bicyclist who rammed into the car. Thank God he managed to hold himself steady after that and continued to speed merrily.
Now, thats almost 500 km a month. If one were to assume that Bangalore Traffic proceeds at 20 km an hour, I have spent close to 555 hours in it, close to 50 minutes every single day over the past two years. Not bad, considering it doubles up as my dressing room, puja room, pantry and thought lab.
Three cheers for the event! It has taken 22 months for it to get here. Over this time it has experienced three flat tyres, a drained battery, a few gashes mostly unleashed by bangalore autos (can I ever be at fault?), a huge crater in the front caused by a speeding bicyclist who rammed into the car. Thank God he managed to hold himself steady after that and continued to speed merrily.
Now, thats almost 500 km a month. If one were to assume that Bangalore Traffic proceeds at 20 km an hour, I have spent close to 555 hours in it, close to 50 minutes every single day over the past two years. Not bad, considering it doubles up as my dressing room, puja room, pantry and thought lab.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
In contsant search...
for the perfect lunch box.
Have been at it for the past thirty months. And still havent achieved any satisfaction. At the end of each working day, between mom and two kids we fill the sink with 50 pieces of these items to be cleaned. This is excluding the lunch bag itself and the water bottles (which are a constant battle issue).
I had started with plastic ones. Simple two-tier stuff, with clasps at the side, in bright colours. Winnie-the-Pooh and Bob-the-Builder smiling sweetly from the lid. The colour pleased the kids and the simplicity thrilled me. My then two-year old could open and shut without much mess. Cool. But, the fancy wore out, the clasps didnt hold for more than a month and one tier kept falling off, even as I was about to place it in the lunch bag.
Then came the rainy wintry days of Bangalore. Ought to give them warm food. So, I bought those insulated ones, with microwaveable containers inside. Super duper find, I commended myself. Once again the colours pleased the kids and the ease of use gave me warm comfort. The 2.3 year old could still unlock the containers because it had grooves on the lid and neat arrow marks to guide her on the right way to open.
The joy was shortlived. Those grooves began to accumulate the following in multiple strata: mud stains,ghee from rasam mammum,VIM and atoms of steel scrubber. The yuckiness freaked me out at the end of week one.
Ah! When i am on this slippery a slope how can Tupperware not catch my attention. Found an ardent salesperson who said stuff like spill-proof ya, very good quality plastic ya, lifetime replacement guarantee ya. Okay, done. Three combinations purchased. It was okay for a while, but then the smell of the last days food always seems to linger in all plastics. Especially when stuff has ghee and/or turmeric in them. And my maid who is totally ignorant on how to wipe utensils dry, just adds to my head ache.
With a vengeance, this week I have returned to good old STAINLESS STEEL. They may look less natty but they remain stubbornly smell free, with minimal intervention. Have got those Milton ones inside a soft insulation. The only thing of concern now is the fact that they have plastic lids on the steel containers. In the meantime, I am sending my maid to a refresher course on wiping vessels.
Have been at it for the past thirty months. And still havent achieved any satisfaction. At the end of each working day, between mom and two kids we fill the sink with 50 pieces of these items to be cleaned. This is excluding the lunch bag itself and the water bottles (which are a constant battle issue).
I had started with plastic ones. Simple two-tier stuff, with clasps at the side, in bright colours. Winnie-the-Pooh and Bob-the-Builder smiling sweetly from the lid. The colour pleased the kids and the simplicity thrilled me. My then two-year old could open and shut without much mess. Cool. But, the fancy wore out, the clasps didnt hold for more than a month and one tier kept falling off, even as I was about to place it in the lunch bag.
Then came the rainy wintry days of Bangalore. Ought to give them warm food. So, I bought those insulated ones, with microwaveable containers inside. Super duper find, I commended myself. Once again the colours pleased the kids and the ease of use gave me warm comfort. The 2.3 year old could still unlock the containers because it had grooves on the lid and neat arrow marks to guide her on the right way to open.
The joy was shortlived. Those grooves began to accumulate the following in multiple strata: mud stains,ghee from rasam mammum,VIM and atoms of steel scrubber. The yuckiness freaked me out at the end of week one.
Ah! When i am on this slippery a slope how can Tupperware not catch my attention. Found an ardent salesperson who said stuff like spill-proof ya, very good quality plastic ya, lifetime replacement guarantee ya. Okay, done. Three combinations purchased. It was okay for a while, but then the smell of the last days food always seems to linger in all plastics. Especially when stuff has ghee and/or turmeric in them. And my maid who is totally ignorant on how to wipe utensils dry, just adds to my head ache.
With a vengeance, this week I have returned to good old STAINLESS STEEL. They may look less natty but they remain stubbornly smell free, with minimal intervention. Have got those Milton ones inside a soft insulation. The only thing of concern now is the fact that they have plastic lids on the steel containers. In the meantime, I am sending my maid to a refresher course on wiping vessels.
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