my little munchkin

Just unbelievable that 2012 is over.  Time is truly flying by.  I have spent the last several days just reflecting, and there has been so much to reflect on.  For the most part, I keep thinking of N, and the absolute joy he has brought into our lives.  Could not have asked for a sweeter, smarter, happier, and more loving child.  I am amazed today, that my munchkin of 4 years and three months loves airplanes as much as he does.  Obsession is more like it.  He can spend hours just standing by the runway Dulles or Reagan and watch the planes take off and land.  Over the holidays, he spent days at Udvaar Hazy and the DC Air and Space.  He can look at models, engines, propellers for hours on end.  He can fly paper airplanes for hours.  He has a dozen toy planes that he plays with over and over.  All they do is land and take off, but in his vivid imagination, they cross the skies over the clouds and oceans and land in distant places.  Only to take off and come back again. :-).  I asked him recently whether he wanted to become a pilot when he grew up.  He considered.  Then he looked at me and shook his head.  No?  Firefighter then?  No?  Doctor?  Chef?  Policeman?  No, no, no.  What then, I asked, really wondering.  And my little munchkin says, in all seriousness:  I want to go to the office like Mamma and Baba, and work on the computer.

No words.  Really.  :-)

Last man in Tower

~Aravind Adiga

Having thoroughly enjoyed his block-buster "White Tiger",  I had reasonable expectations for this one.  It is always the case.  So rarely does a second, third book of a debut winner measure up.  I headed into the book with an open mind.  Give it a try, I assured myself.

Well, here is what I have to say.  I cannot, in the recent past that I can recall, ever finished a book in one sitting.  Not even the White Tiger.  That's how good I found this book.  Adiga's writing style is just great.

Now, having said that, I was disappointed by the way the book ended.  I cannot tell you just how disappointed.  It had SUCH potential.  I think the reason the whole planet is not talking about this book is because of the way it ended.  I mean, c'mon, Mr. Adiga, surely you must have had alternate endings in consideration?  I would love to see them, to see what made you choose to end your super strong story in this manner.

I am not going to give any spoiler alerts here, because I sincerely still think the book is worth reading, despite the end.  I just wanted more in the end.  The build up was there.  The plot was certainly there.  The characters had all come to life in my mind.  I was waiting for the encounters.  I was waiting for the suspense to end with a bang. And in the end, there was poof - nothing.  Just a brief and un-fulfilling update to an ending episode that the entire story built up to.  Disappointing, to say the least.

But still, a very good book.  I will give Adiga another try.  But next time would probably be his last chance with me.

skyfall

Ok, then.  This was a must watch for me, of course.  And so I did.  And it delivered.  Yet another facet of 007's life and history are revealed, and he is presented to us for what he is.  An ageing spy, but still the one who can bring it on.  No, he's not defying death (not too many times at least).  He's not winning against all the bad guys.  And he's certainly not getting all the women.  But he's still the spy whose reason for being is justified, and glorified, and reveled in.  By his most ardent fans, friends and foes.

Oh, well.  Forget all that.  Bond delivers.  I just think Bond has truly come of age now with Daniel Craig.  Skyfall is sophisticated (indeed everyone of the previous Bonds were just jokers in comparison:  recently caught Die Another Day and just had to laugh at the ridiculous stunts on display), and doesn't try to make Bond into the super-hero that he's not.  It calls him out for what he is - an ageing spy.  But it still delivers in the immaculate style that is quintessential Bond, the thrill that Bond fans always seek out.  Now, the plot itself leaves something to be desired.  Why Bond would take M to a dilapidated mansion in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no back up nor re-enforcements to try and thwart out the evil-caneevil is beyond me.  But I don't really care.  What I really liked is how Bond has evolved.  Its a damn good feeling to know Bond is growing older and wiser, just like me, and countless other fans.  :-)

And of course, Craig as Bond and Adele make just an irresistible combination.  Simply superb opening sequence as Adele supercharges your senses with her masterpiece.

Ah, Bond.  You entertain me so.

The White Stuff

Woke up this morning to see a layer of white on everything outside.  Best part if we didn't expect it.  First snow of the season.  There's a good 2 inches now, so its the real thing.  N jumped out of bed when he heard of it.  And then he put on all his gear and went outside to make "footprints in the snow".  I still see them outside the door.  Tiny prints, running around in circles.  Excitement and enthusiasm.  That's what he experienced.  Peace and a sense of calm.  That's what I am feeling.  Somehow a winter and no snow don't seem to go together anymore.  At least now, we have the real stuff.  Especially when I see the neighbor's kids making snowballs and throwing them at each other just now.  The innocence and joy of childhood.  Its what makes this world a better place.  Really.

Sun and Sand

Feels like an annual tradition now.  Winter sets in, and we head south.  This time it was to Key West.  And so it was, several balmy days of sun and sand, and eighty degrees.  I was unprepared for the topography of the place.  Basically marshland turned tourist mecca.  The Everglades - showed up there literally on P's insistence.  And I'm so glad I did.  As I sat on the boat and coursed through the brackish backwaters of the everglades, looking at the flora and fauna, a sense of calm descended on me.  Miles and miles of marshland. We spotted crocodiles and alligators (only place in the world with both), and tons of birds and dolphins too. It was just spectacular.  Tip of the continent, we gazed out at the vast Atlantic.  Just beauty, and it felt fairly untouched.  It probably is.

Then onto Key West, the southern most island of the Florida Keys (some thousand little islands).  Basically miles and miles of bridge get you there.  Its amazing, you drive literally through the ocean, on a bridge for the most part.

The next few days were either in the pool or on the beach.  Getting a tan.  Soaking in the sun and the island and all that it had to offer.  Out a few miles into the Atlantic to look at coral reefs and amazing under-water wild-life.

N started to bawl when he realized we had to come back.  He thought we had relocated there.  Poor child.  Oh well, as long as we stay in this winter wonderland, we know that we will at least seek out a warm and sunny destination to bask in, albeit for a brief while, every now and then.  So, that's reason enough now.

Ran baby, ran!!

When: October 27th 2012
What: Walker Whitman AIDS Run
Where: Washington DC
How much: 5K
Time: 28 mts

And so, on a gorgeous fall morning, it was that moi ran my first long distance race, along with a thousand or so others.  Not bad for a month of on and off training.  Not bad for having plantar fasciitis (often painful) of both feet.  Not bad for doubting I could ever be a runner again.  Not bad at all.

Would I do it again?  Oh, yeah.

inspiration

Navy Airforce Half Marathon in 2 hours.  Way to go P!!!!  In Nayan parlance - "Hug and Kish!!"

Nadia

Lovely rendering of this fusion piece originally composed by Nitin Sawhney.  This rendition is composed by Shankar Tucker who I am a fan of.  Tucker is an American clarinist who is now studying music in India and came to the world stage through really neat compositions spread through the "ShrutiBox" on youtube.

This piece is based in Raag Desh (a personal favourite of mine) and although kudos is to be given to Nitin Sawhney the original composer for the musicality of the piece, Jaunita John here more than does justice to it.  Don't miss how Tucker ends the piece with his clarinet.  Lovely.

And this is the original commercial version of the song.  The song is about a girl singing in longing for her lover who is on the other side of a raging river.  The river doesn't let her cross over, in spite of her pleading with it.  Her beau ('saiyyaan') calls her, but in vain.

And finally, check out this version by Jeff Beck.  How awesome is it?

All in all, not tiring one bit of this tune.  

Running

Never thought I would sign up for this.  But here I am.  Bravely entering the realm of long distance running.  In spite of the naysayers.  In spite of the doubters (biggest one of them all being yours truly).  In any case, here's to trying, and hoping to not give up.  There is, I am finding, a certain zen-ness if you will, in the whole affair.  And it is as much of a mental commitment as it is a physical one.  And therein lies its very power.  

khamaaj

Humble attempt.  This one is for you.

Thanks G for the accompaniment.

Such a boy!

Obsessed with airplanes.  Its amazing to watch.  He's been to the Udvaar Hazy Air & Space museum here in Chantilly oh around 100 times in his 4 years and yet he would go there anytime, again and again.  Once there, its a common sight to see him stand in front of an airplane engine, mouth open, absorbing the way it moves, and works, wondering, putting it all together in his little brain.  Fascinating.  And at home, he has a score of planes, different shapes and sizes, and he'll play for hours on end with them.  Imagining them taking off in DC and landing in Bangalore (that's his favourite destination!).

Other obsessions include cars, and trucks, and motorcycles and trains (building the entire track set).  Planes are still the standing favourite.

Oh and of course - taking anything apart and putting it together.  P involves him in all such projects these days, and its really cute to see them together.  Little engineer in the making?

Such a boy.  I wonder is it because he doesn't have girly toys?  What would happen if I bought him a doll, I wonder.  How much of this is conditioning (even though I had at one time resolved not to bring him up with stereotypes)?

I recall an incident at daycare, that I will never forget.  This was when he was 2 years old.  In the class, you have a good mix of boys and girls and you have all sorts of toys.  Whenever I would drop and pick up N, I would see him play with all sorts of toys, but never with the dolls.  The girls on the other hand would be "mothering" the dolls - rocking them, putting them to sleep, putting a blanket on them and patting them gently, etc etc.  It was a really cute sight.  I'm sure N would observe and wonder what that was all about.  Well, one day, I guess he figured he would try it out for himself.  I walk in there one evening, and I see N "playing" with a doll.  I use the word "playing" extremely loosely here.  Because this is what I saw - N had procured a doll.  He then proceeded to throw it on the ground.  Then he snatched a blanket from the shelf.  He threw it on the doll, covering it completely - face and all.  And then, he kneels down, and starts whacking the doll hard.  I guess he thought he was doing what he saw the girls doing (patting their babies to sleep).  Only that instead of putting the doll to sleep, he was actually beating the life out of it.  What's more, he had a gleeful grin on his face while he was whacking away to glory, as if to say "See, I can do this too!!!".

As for me - I didn't know whether to laugh my insides out, or to feel sorry for the doll.  I decided to let him play with planes and cars for the moment!!  Gosh!

Socially unacceptable and therefore supremely entertaining

Put yourself in the mindset of a four year old and what do you have?  An extremely acute understanding of socially unacceptable/embarrassing behaviors and topics to talk (even sing songs) loudly about.  And that, is exactly what is unbelievably fun to bring up and indulge in.  The more public and proper the situation (and therefore more inappropriate to indulge in), the better and funnier it is.

Thing is, it actually is funny sometimes.  Not the behavior itself, but the mirth it induces in my four year old.  And its a struggle to either contain my own laughter or hide it/laugh when he's not looking, and find the right level of seriousness to chide him about it.  What's worse, a scolding only results in even more mirth, often ending in uncontrollable laughter.

Honestly don't know when this phase will pass (really hoping it is a phase).

The topics/behaviors in question have to do with pee-ing, poop-ing, burping and farting.

Sigh.

Fall is in the air

Sunshine aplenty.  Sixty five degrees.  Crisp breeze.  Foliage turning hues.  Driving through classic Virginian country-side.  Rolling hills.  Winding roads.  Listening to Pink Floyd.  Peace.  Love.  Gratitude.  Life is good.

Luray

Situated in the Shenandoah Valley, this is a spot worth seeing and experiencing.  Second visit here, but was equally enchanting.  Huge sprawling underground caves with hundreds of stalactites, stalagmites, columns, pools and other formations that are simply breathtaking.  So beautifully preserved and showcased.  Thoroughly enjoyable.  Took hundreds and hundreds of years to form.  Puts time and space into perspective for a few seconds.

of serial killers....

.....only the good ones.  For that's what he is, ya?  A good bad guy.  And I've mentioned before that I like that sort.  Latest TV obsession, this.  Have to say, its been done really well.  I really like Dexter's internal dialog.  Very humanized.  Got a call from G last week at 3 AM his time in India.  When asked incredulously what he was up to at that ungodly hour, he replies that he and the wife are engaged in a marathon Dexter viewing session.  !!!!.   Good to know we are not the only crazies in existence.  Blood does run thicker than water....blood...hehe, get it?  No?  Go watch the spatter analyst at work.  Tell me you don't find it at least somewhat intriguing.

back to the basics

Feeling this overwhelming, totally compelling, excruciating need to simplify everything.  To get down to the basic elements.  To remove all superfluous layers of so-called sophistication, drama, and complex explanations for everything.  To get back to the basics.  To simplify, simplify, simplify.  To bare the truth, the fundamentals, the core.  To find acceptance.  To be reminded that in the end, your needs, your actual needs are really fundamental and few, and that if you focus on just that, and filter out all else as irrelevant, then clarity might, just might  begin to seep its way in....soooo, here's to trying, then.

acoustic

Nothing more appealing than just a guitar and a great voice.  Acoustic is the true talent.  Great rendition, this one.  Rob Thomas is good, but do check out the guitar segments.  So, so neat.  And oh yes, the back-up singer is really, really good.  This is why acoustic is so appealing.  It showcases all aspects of the performance and gives credit to real talent.  By the same argument, every flaw is easier to see, and the basics (like your voice) have to be really strong in order to appeal.

long weekend

Finally time to wind down a bit.  Its been non-stop and taking off a few days with the long weekend finally presents an opportunity to breathe.

Luray Caverns, Virginia.  What a wonderful experience.  The caves are magnificent.  The trip was so nice.  The place is so peaceful. set amidst the Shenandoah mountains.  Natural beauty and serenity abound.  Skyline drive presented breath-taking views of the area.  All in all, peace.

Tomorrow, the water park awaits.  N can barely contain his excitement.  And hey, I'm looking forward to it too.

just like a love song...

New song repeating on my running play list.  Worst thing I did to myself in the past few months was to not work out like a maniac.  Stress makes you want to stop everything.  Big, big mistake.  Am so happy I am back now.  This kind of thing needs to be like an addiction.  Listening to the beat while the sweat drops and the muscles stretch is almost like an aphrodisiac for the mind and soul.

Jesus to a Child

Great performance.  Such confidence, heart and soul.  Beautiful orchestra accompaniment.  Loving the composition and the lyrics.  Listening to this one over and over.

Kindness in your eyes
I guess you heard me cry
You smiled at me
Like, Jesus to a child

I'm blessed, I know
Heaven sent, heaven stole
You smiled at me
Like, Jesus to a child

And what have I learned
From all this pain
I thought I never feel the same
About anyone
Or anything again
But now I know

When you find love
When you know that it exists
Then the lover that you miss
Will come to you on those cold, cold nights
When you've been loved
When you know it holds such bliss
Then the lover that you kissed
Will comfort you when there is no hope in sight

Sadness in my eyes
No one guessed, well no one tried
You smiled at me
Like, Jesus to a child

Loveless and cold
With your last breathe you saved my soul
You smiled at me
Like, Jesus to a child

And what have I learned
From all these tears
I've waited for you all those years
Then just when it began
He took your love away
But I still say

When you find love
When you know that it exists
Then the lover that you miss
Will come to you on those cold, cold nights
When you've been loved
When you know it holds such bliss
Then the lover that you kissed
Comfort you when there is no hope in sight

So the words you could not say
I'll sing them for you
And the love we would have made
I'll make it for two
For every single memory
Has become a part of me

You will always be
My love
Well I've been loved
So I know just what love is
And the lover that I kissed is always by my side
Oh, the lover I still miss
Was Jesus to a child