Scout update

In recent developments, Scout has learnt to use his index finger (pointer) to point to things that catch his attention. He has learnt to say 'adu' (for 'that'). He has learnt to shake his head sideways meaning "no". Now combine all the three together for everyday situations at the Average household. 

Scout: "adu" *pointing finger in general direction of ball, choo-choo train, book etc.*

Amma: "ball-aa?"

Scout: *shakes head sideways*

Amma: "choo-choo aa?"

Scout: *shakes head sideways*

Amma: "book aa?"

Scout: *shakes head sideways*

Amma: *finally catching on* phone-aa?

Scout: "adu.. adu.. adu" *outstretched arms and a mouthful of smiles, grabs phone and proceeds with his business*

Then there was the time the Scout was pointing to Appa and going "adu.. adu". Appa was kicked that his son was asking for him and could be seen running in filmy slow-motion to embrace the son, only to realize that the son was actually going "adu.. adu" for Appa's glasses and not for Appa really. Amma was smirking and declaring that this incident had unquestionably demonstrated son's affinity towards the madre. But even before she could stop preening at the victory, the son made it clear that when he pointed to her and went "adu.. adu", he was only angling for her earrings and not for her. By and large this "adu.. adu" business seems to be showing everyone their rightful place in the household. Ah, well.. I'm waiting for the time I can park a used battered Honda Civic next to a spanking new BMW and tell him "Son, here's your gift from us as you go off to college" and point in the general direction of the cars and say "adu.. adu". :D

Voiceless

Lost real voice completely, virtual voice somewhat, while the voices in my head are as loud as usual. Scout is confused. GI is sometimes relieved, sometimes exasperated. In the universal list of ailments, I can check Laryngitis off.

Wedding limericks (tag)

MFT's post reminded me of this game played in weddings where you are asked by aunties and others to "take" your new partner's name by making up a limerick. I believe, like most other games meant for weddings, this helped to build camaraderie between the bride and the groom in the days when people got married without having known each other. 

Here's my (apology of a) limerick from our wedding. 

My husband <GI> knows a Meena

He even knows a Reena

But I have his keys

And also the house lease

Am I not the queen-ha?

Gah, I shudder at how juvenile it seems now. [But Hey! they don't give you even a few minutes before they all gang up on you to make one up right that second.]

I'm forcefully tagging chox, mft, mim and sands to take this up as a tag and kick my lame limerick ass. 

Why I want to have a second one.

There might be many reasons but right now, my top reason to have a second one is so that the Scout has company when he sleeps in his own room at night. Yeah, my 10 month old has moved into his own room for various reasons, but mostly because he sleeps better when he doesn't see me! Yeah, that's right, as non-intuitive as it might sound. The minute he sees either of us, even in the dark room in the night, he stands up in his crib and gets either excited or cranky, wanting us to hold him. So we decided to try making him sleep in the other room and although I'm not thrilled with the fact, I should say he has been sleeping much better over there, which means we have been sleeping better and everybody is bright and cheerful in the mornings. Baby moving to the other room has somehow resulted in a well-rested, happier family. So far so good. But then when I'm about to drift off to sleep and the night is getting cold and I think about him sleeping all alone by himself, I feel it in my gut that there is something not right about this. I want to give him the company of another. He needs someone he can secretly whisper to, someone with whom he can share his fear of monsters, someone who is just there with him in the same room. Argggh! Damn these maternal instincts. I sure am going to wonder in a few years as to what hit me on the head to get so naively sentimental about it all.

Diwali is in the air!

There's a nip in the air. The prez lit up his house for the festival. People are making sweets. Can smell the aroma of jaggery and ghee from some homes. A party is being planned with friends. Party tasks are divided and delegated and people are enthusiastic about doing their parts. Happened to find some simple paTaaki in a Chinese store which I bought for the group. A candle arrangement contest is being planned as the pre-dinner activity. Thinking of rangoli or other designs (may be a Ganesha or may be the Taj Mahal?) for this. A VIBGYOR potluck is in the works and I have chosen to contribute the 'Violet' to it. Wish me luck with my purple potato tikki. The girls have decided to even wear clothes of the same color as the dish they picked for the potluck. Yeah, so wish me luck in managing my violet (or is it purple?, can never tell the difference between the two!) lehnga along with the Scout in his red kurta.  The guys? I don't know what they are up-to. They are good as long as there's grub, good banter and card-games I guess, which I'm sure there will be enough of. I haven't been so excited about Deepavali in a long, long time. Can't wait for the weekend!

Wishing you all a spectacular festival!

a question you’ve always wanted to ask a fellow blogger but didnt know what she would think… (tag)

The mim and her mo-joe are back and cracking the whip with a joe-cular tag. :)

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rules of this tag

ask a fellow blogger one question that youve been puzzling about…

and pass it fwd

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My question to choxbox (w.r.t current header pic): How many chox in the choxbox did the choxbox eat?

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And to answer mim's question, what can I say but that I married up! :P

palkova contd.

palkova contd from here. 

He was reading the newspaper and casually remarked -- "That palkova is Diwali bonus from my boss". Her heart sank as she walked into the kitchen to get dinner ready. She gasped! Dinner was ready. Curry, sambar and rassam awaited. As she turned to look at him, he smiled and went back to his newspaper.

Update: continued here.

Abominable Obamanobel

What? Why? How? Uhuhuhhuh!

The 10 step guide to being actively passive aggressive

(a.k.a silent treatment in marital terms)

1. Do not read. Then he won't even know you are silent because of something he did. He conveniently assumes you are silent because you are reading! It's OK to begin imparting the silent treatment and then start reading.

2. Do not watch a movie with him. You will forget you are fuming and start discussing the plot.

3. Do not go to a friend's place with him. You cannot be silent there any more and he will happily assume that the storm has blown over. 

4. Do not go for a walk if he has the habit of tagging along and making a 'date' out of it. 

5. A child is a great distraction in this situation. A child has the ability to dissipate such situations with great ease. Beware!

6. Do not cook anything even border-line palatable. He will start showering compliments like it is his last meal and that will be the end of that!

7. Do not accept ice-cream or candy or rasmalai from him just because he offered, ever so sweetly.

8. Do something that you know that he knows you detest like scrubbing the bathtub or doing the laundry. 

9. Do not make eye contact except to glare.

10. Do not smile or laugh. Be dopey, sleepy, anything but not happy. Grumpy works best.

Rumi vs. Roomie

[With sincerest apologies if this comes across as being irreverent in any way. The following came up when reminiscing with old friends about roomie squabbles :)]

Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field. 

I will meet you there.

-- Rumi

Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field. 

Let's take it out there.

--Roomie

Talkathon prep

I'm making a list of things that I need to talk to the GI about when I call him next. The list has mundane things like bills that need to be paid or papers that need to be signed etc, that are boring but important and not to mention urgent, and I'm sure I'll forget a few of them if I don't have a list. Although I make a number of lists, I think this must be the first time I'm making one such list to aid me while talking to the husband. :) This reminded me of a girl in college, years ago, who made a list of things that she needed to talk to her boyfriend about in their regular evening 'talkathon', otherwise they wouldn't have much to talk about, she said. (Note: her list also included corny stuff). I had subtly pulled her leg for having to make such lists. Now my smart mouth comes to bite me back! Sigh!