A loves to use MS Paint like apps. He lets his imagination loose. Just have a look at the elephant he has “drawn”. He says that it is a baby elephant that is cute & talks. Apparently it is as cute as him and doesn’t trouble it’s mom to eat! He is very proud of his baby elephant and am proud of my baby!! 
He definitely is a plus in my life as much as I say otherwise!!
We were driving on a hot day (well all days are hot here in Chennai!!). My friend was driving with A sitting behind in the car. A was reading all the sign boards found on the road – on the sides, above and everywhere he could read something! (Should may be carry books in the car?! ) One of the signs he reads
Don’t drink & drive.
My driver friend feeling thirsty at that point of time, took a swig from the bottle of water in the car! It is now quite anyone’s guess about what followed! LOL! A goes…hey don’t drink and drive. It says so everywhere, that is the rule.
Now…do I explain about what is meant by drinking or do I laugh my head off!? Of course I did the latter. My friend went on saying hey..explain to him as he is not willing to listen to me! Fun time! 
So, had to tell him he is right, but there is a tweak to what the sign meant. He did not get what alcohol was or the effects. I had to induce that wisdom which made me think…how much do we say? What do we say? I guess now I must dread the birds & bees talk!! Or am I hitting the panic button a bit too early?!
I digress (as usual!). It was a fun day, had a good laugh thanks to A’s wisdom. I would definitely follow it, and urge everyone else to do so too!!
Don’t drink & drive. It causes accidents.
Stop, take a swig and go on 
Just kidding! On a serious note, personally knowing people who lost loved ones due to drunk driving, we must vow to do everything to stop that!
I got this in my mailbox. Here I was thinking I did badly as a blogger last year! Though I must say the following stats are pretty interesting!! Blog-Health-o-Meter™ says “Wow”!!!!!! (sorry I did have a laugh at that one! )
Wishing all a very happy new year!
I do not say I will write more…but hope I do have something to write about. Hopefully something good to share
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The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 8,400 times in 2010. That’s about 20 full 747s.
In 2010, there were 24 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 245 posts. There were 8 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 1mb.
The busiest day of the year was January 20th with 225 views. The most popular post that day was Urban Turban – an amateur’s review.
The top referring sites in 2010 were networkedblogs.com, heartscontentspartial.wordpress.com, words-flow.blogspot.com, acorn.nationalinterest.in, and lakshmusings.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for 30 questions, myheadtrip, random ruminations, 30 questions about me, and madhurika sankar.
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
Urban Turban – an amateur’s review January 2010
4 comments
30 questions February 2009
10 comments
Anybody there! ?! March 2010
18 comments
Abuse – not just physical! February 2010
13 comments
Update(s) June 2010
17 comments
I wanted to go to this movie on 25th June when this was released here. Had told Aaarti who also wanted to go. Well, did not get tickets. We finally went today Aaarti, lil A and I prompt at the theatre before the movie started so that we did not miss the Pixar short.
What can I say? I have not enjoyed a movie like I did this evening! All 3 of us were laughing, commenting. In fact was telling Aaarti wondering if I was too loud. Have not laughed out aloud like that in a long long time! The movie is super cute! For a fan of animated movies, especially the Pixar ones, I knew this would not disappoint me. It did not! It was amazing!! Starting from the short – Day & Night.
The short was also thought provoking. How we are afraid of something new, unknown, fear of the different and to how we must look at things, take that plunge – Trying that now along with trying to live life one day at a time
The actual movie if I start using adjectives it would all be superlative. What fun it was! Weird thing was the show…the theatre just stopped the movie and gave a break! Got so irritated about that break! Why in whatsoever’s name did we need a break in that movie!?!? Otherwise, this was such a treat for all 3 of us. Each doll has made an impact – apart from the old characters – the villainous Lots-o, big baby, chunk, chatter telephone, peas in a pod, dolly, bookworm, stretch…the list goes on. I am now sure that A would not let me donate/trash his toys! . He has watched the first 2 parts of this movie and knows every character. He did bully me into getting him Buzz Lightyear in the last visit to the toy shop. He also has a long list of toys to be added (Wonder where I am going spoiling my son like this… or may be I am spoiling myself collecting all this in his name )
Watch this. Would give the highest rating (don’t care if I am biased to Pixar animations – this movie is worth it. It lives up to expectations & more) I did not talk too much about the story as I do not want this to be the spoiler type posts
I guess the smileys on this one shows that I still have a grin on my face thinking of the wonderful evening!
Got this forward from a friend. I don’t know the original source – Liked it and thought of sharing
Rather the team A was routing for won It was an amazing evening. Last minute plans, A, Aaarti & I ended up having tickets to the Chennai Super Kings Vs Rajasthan Royals match in DLF IPL T20.
This is the first ever cricket match I watched in the stadium. I used to vacillate between wanting to watch it live there and on TV. Never got the opportunity to do the former; so ended up saying…hey! it would be way better to watch it on TV with all the angles etc.., Lets just say that it was the case of sour grapes!
The experience watching the match live in the stadium was amazing!! The adrenalin rush. It was so clear who the audience was supporting. We are from Chennai Though I must say, there was polite applause for achievements by the other team (ok…may be few RR supporters were there! )
We won!!! though there was a point where it was possible for Rajasthan Royals to make it. We were wondering what is wrong with Chennai super kings who could not defend the highest total made in DLF IPL effectively. As in taking it to the last over!!
Having said all this, I must add, the “security” was not that effective. We were not to take cameras, water bottles, outside supporting merchandise….but saw all of it all over the place. I had upset A by not getting flags! Pacified him by begging for one from a neighbour!
Next the tickets! Must have been first…well… anyways… Paid double the cost. Then a bloke comes and says hey let me in, you can take A in without a ticket. Thinking he would pay up…he gets inside, pays less than half of the actual ticket price!!! I think he must have seen me coming right from when I started from home!!!!! The rest room facilities – stinker worth not mentioning (I guess public sanitation in India would be a separate post – rather…let’s just leave it there!)
A did enjoy himself. His star Dhoni (who by the way scored a duck) won according to him! Had to teach him that CSK won not Dhoni!! On mentioning my offspring, I must say that it was coincidence that whenever he asked us to get him something and either Aaarti or I stepped out, RR lost a wicket. It was noticed so much, that the lady in front of us actually turned around and asked him to demand for something from us to make us leave at the fag end of the game!!! LOL!!
This is one memory I will cherish. Have quite a list I have to check off on. As of now, one down – Watch cricket match live sitting in the stadium
Hope to plan going to the stadium next time around, get good seats with no hassles and of course not getting ripped off and re-ripped off!!!
PS: I texted Vishesh asking for scores for the Barclays EPL as Man U were playing Chelsea and Arsenal against the Wolves. He did not respond 
Just got home and checked the scores. Wanted ManU- Chelsea draw! Chelsea won!!
The day started off really well, just the kind of weather I like . I got to know that I would be having a job for the next 9 months. That was great news!! I went over to spend some time with colleagues prepping for a halloween party. By the time we were done, it started to pour.
I love the rains!! I started to put my hands out and catch the downpour, ended up just going out and twirling around, getting wet. I did not want to ride home in the rain and this was the way I spent the time waiting for it to subside. People around me must have thought “Crazy woman!!!” but I loved every minute of it. Lightning, thunder and a heavy downpour. Enjoyed it.
The downpour came down to a drizzle. It was getting late, A was waiting at home!! (yeah I remembered I had a kid to go home to ). I drive down, the roads are flooded. Traffic everywhere!!! To top it all, my bike stalled every other minute. Was wondering each time whether it would just die. My bike’s headlights did not function. Icing on the cake, my fuel gauge was edging towards “empty”. I rode on. The thrill of what might happen felt nice.
I know I have cribbed many a times of wanting to know what is in store. How is this different? Well, for starters, I knew what I had to do. It is not like life off late where I did not know what is in store, had (have) no plans and even if I did have plans they did not work!!
Reached home and hugged A (who asked me to change cos I had wet clothes on!! Wonder who the parent is!!!!! ). Felt like I loved life all of a sudden. Was it knowing I would be employed for the next few months? Was it just spending the evening and feeling free!!!??? Whatever it is, it felt good. It feels good to share this here!
To more such days!!
Or must I say From Thailand with love?!
A couple of days back, I came home to find mail with my name on it! I knew that Sulz would be sending this over, yet when you see the actual package, it just brings a smile to your face, a flutter in your heart. Physical mail has become so much of a rarity off late. Even the bills are e-bills!!
So, Sulz – here goes!! A big big thank you!!! I am so glad that I did sign up for your project – A piece of Thailand.
I did feel guilty about making her spend on postage and the piece of Thailand. She assured me that it is alright! I hope it still is
First thing that struck me, what a beautiful handwriting!! Mum also said the same. A was too wired up to know what was inside the envelope with birds and my name on it. Opened it up to find a beautiful picture post card and a magnet. Will sure aim for the moon Thanks again Sulz!! You made our day. Once again – beautiful handwriting. The magnet now is added on to A’s collection which currently is one Tom & Jerry, one Superman sign. He claims it as his own!!
This has been in my drafts for a really long time. I was just waiting for my aunt to send me the pictures to post along with this.
I never liked stereotyping but as I am experiencing some things off late, I now understand the reasoning behind it. Though some border around ridiculous. There was this one time when I was talking to some one in the US ( back in those days ). I distinctly remember this conversation because it made me wonder. Is this how people still think of India? This lady I was talking to had this weird impression that elephants roamed around on the streets of India. The typical elephants, snake charmers image. It also made me wonder how ignorant she was. Of course, I was polite enough to just tell her that things were not so …blah blah… Yet in the back of my mind I kept thinking that this was weird!
Anyways, on that note, I wanted to say that after close to 2 years and immense effort, I finally showed an elephant to A! On my trip to Tirunelveli late last year, we went to the Nellaiappar temple. There I was told not to take any pictures. Then how do I now have pics to post? Well, money talks. One could sit on the elephant and go on a ride in the corridor for a price. The mahout said, give me a little more money and you can take pictures too. So, there you go! A glimpse of the elephant in the temple.
By the way, the one other time A might have seen an elephant would have been at the Bronx zoo. Though I have a feeling he took a nap just around the time we were near the elephants.
So much for being in India the land of elephants supposedly roaming on the streets!!! On a parting note, I am yet to see a snake charmer in all these years I have lived here!!! Hmm….next post? May be I should make a field trip to go in search for one now that A’s school is on summer break till mid June!
PS: I am sorry that I have not been very active on the blogosphere due to various circumstances. I know that that is just an excuse…pardon me. Hope to get back to commenting and replying to comments – get a semblance of normalcy in my life too that way!
Vishesh has tagged me yet again!!!!! The smiley man wants us to spread smiles here through this tag.
The objective -to make people smile.
Well, it is a nice objective don’t you say?
An onion can make people cry, but there has never been a vegetable invented to make them laugh – Will Rogers
Don’t know about vegetables, but I will try my best to meet the objective of the tag! What makes me smile? I am way too easy to please! Smile at me, I smile right back Comic books like Asterix & Obelix, Tintin, Suppandi, Calvin & Hobbes, Dennis the Menace – name it; I love them. Comedies be they on TV or movies – I enjoy them. Who does not like to break into a smile or laugh?
So, now how do I get you all to smile? Hmm….
(WP does not allow me to upload the MP3 file directly here. So sorry for the inconvenience )
has never failed to bring a smile on my face. I think it would bring a smile on anyone’s face. It is the sound of innocent laughter – my son when he was around 2 (supposedly happier times!) laughing away watching his jack in the box go pop!
I love the book series (and of course the TV series) of Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister. They have a timeless charm. I guess those instances would fit to a tee any time in any political scenario So, here is a clip I have enjoyed many a times.
A sport I like to watch – cricket. I have been told by some that it is a boring game. I have often told them, that there are moments that happen on the field that are wonderful to watch. Here is one of them.
Leaving the rest of the picks for others to choose from (and making the post a wee bit shorter )
I hope I brought a tiny peep of a smile at least on my readers’ face.
