Necessity is the mother of invention!

My title says it. I would not have believed it if I had not seen it with my own two eyes. That's Rohan trying to close the microwave door. Obviously, it is too tall for him, so what does he do? He bends down, opens the cupboards beneath the counter, picks out a flat bottomed colander and positions it right below the microwave and stands on top of it and then tries to close the door!! I was amazed when I saw him doing it for the first time. He is 19 months old and what brains for that age!!!!

I have been constantly amazed and floored by these two boys of mine. Their older sister Kahini was a different kettle of fish. A diffident child - she was by no means slow in activity but not as destructive and innovative as these two. It probably helped that Kahini was in day care by 14 months and she let off a lot of steam there. By the time I got her home at 5pm, she was pooped and so was I. All we wanted was to eat dinner and read books. Dad used to take her to the park and the library once in a while. Having said that, after raising Kahini , it is a shock to the system to handle these two.

I am not looking forward to the teenage years with hormones raging out of control and two boys eating me out of home and hearth. Rohan had two scrambled eggs today. I was stunned. Kahini eats two eggs now and she is four!!

Anyway, I hope to be blogging more about my darling boys in the future. Watch this column folks!!!


Kay

Obama's Running Partner

This I've got to share! I was working out with my personal trainer Jim at 24 Hour Fitness last Thursday. It was my usual intense personal training session and I was really working hard and was very focused. A bit of background information on Jim. Jim is a young energetic 22 year old fresh from Oregon. He wanted to try it out at LA as an actor and did a small gig there for a year before he found out that acting was not what he wanted out of life. He moved to the Bay Area and is working as a personal trainer and at the same time doing his online degree in fitness training from Oregon State University at Portland.

Coming back to sweating, while I was working out, I try to indulge in a little bit of light conversation just to take the edge off of my exercise. So, in between my squat and my double press lunge across the room, I started off my conversation.. Here is how it went:

Me: Hey Jim, did you hear about Obama?

Jim: What about him?

Me: He's looking for a new running partner!

Jim: Really?

Me: Yes! Even though he has not got... (Interrupted by Jim!)

Jim: Is he planning on running cross country or long distance or just in the gym?

Me: ??? What?

Jim: What type of running is he planning on doing? Is he an athlete?

Me: What are you talking about?

Jim: Well, what kind of running is he going to be doing?

At this point of time, it dawned on me that Jim had not got a clue about what I was talking about! He literally was thinking about running! He was a personal trainer and had no clue about the Democratic nomination or Obama choosing a vice presidential candidate!

After laughing for about 3 minutes straight along with Jim about his ignorance, I finished my workout and was driving back home. It struck me then I had not laughed about Jim not knowing about Obama's vice presidential hopeful candidates but it was more about how Jim was so refreshing and candid about not knowing the above. He really did not keep track of the Democratic free for all going on everyday. It was like a breath of fresh air. Any newspaper from The New York Times to the Sacramento Bee and any magazine from The New Yorker to Allure - they all have a column, editorial or an article about Hilary and Obama! At this point I am saturated with Obama and Hilary news. I am sick of it. The rivalry, the back stabbing, the public digs, the private phone calls, the preacher, the philandering husband, the cocky daughter.. Enough is enough. About time people started thinking about other things that really matter in life!

Jim opened my eyes that day. He taught me that not everyone is jaded and worked up about the upcoming elections. In fact there are people who don't care a damn. It doesn't matter who wins or loses. At the end of 4 years, there are going to be new problems and new candidates postulating new solutions and cures for the new problems. It's a rat race. There's a rat in front of you and a rat at the back. After 4 years, the rats change. For the public there is no change in scenery. Just a different rat to beat upon.

Happy Exercising!!!

Kay

Thought for Today

Laws Of Success


The greatest mistake - Giving up.
The greatest crippler - Fear.
The greatest handicap - Ego.
The most potent force - Positive.
The greatest victory - Victory over the self.

I got this yesterday from a friend of mine. How apt? The last bullet made sense to me totally. The greatest victory is over oneself. Be it weight loss, lack of confidence, commitment, self esteem to name a few, most of our battles are with ourselves. With our egos, our decisions, our little circle of habits from where it is incredibly hard to step out, etc, etc..

From my 20s to my 40s I've been constantly challenged by various issues like weight loss, anger management, exaggeration and family issues to name a few. It's taken me well over a decade, almost two in fact to get in control of most of these. I am still not in total control for some issues. Still struggling. I wonder if I ever will master them. Knowing me, I would say high nigh impossible.

Anyway, when I read the thought yesterday, it suddenly struck me that a good percentage of the population is probably in the same boat with me. Struggling to win over issues one has with oneself.

Having said that I composed a list of things that I have trouble declaring victory over and I welcome the public to submit theirs. Here it goes in my particular order:

1. Weight loss!!!!!
2. Dealing with relationships.
3. Keeping up with the Joneses.
4. White lies. (Exaggeration.)
5. Self esteem.
6. Shopping.


Let me know people...

Kay

Mummy Leaving

Poor Mummy is leaving for India on Thursday.. She is so distraught at leaving Pallu behind. I can understand her anguish. Pallu - was a difficult child from birth. He has severe eczema issues at birth and for the first 14 months of his life was crying for the better part of the day every day. He did not eat well , did not sleep well and was always in pain from his scratching.

Mom took him on like her own kid. She raised him and fed him and bathed him and made him sleep. Kahini was always daddy's girl and I took care of Rohan. Pravan was patti's pet. Having said that, for her to leave him and go to India must be heart wrenching.

I think about the idioscyncrasies of the human mind. Especially a mother's mind! To have a child, raise him or her, go through the trials and tribulations of early infanthood, childhood, adolescence and teenage tantrums!!! It must be pretty traumatic. After all that , when things just seem to be getting better with one's life after your kids are settled and you get a financial break and just start to take a breather, along comes a grandchild and brings down all your defecnces. The love of a grandchild supercedes the love of a child in many ways I think. Just the fact that one has all the experiences of life behind them and all the time in the world to spend on a child's child is justification enough to love a grandchild. In a grandchild, one sees oneself, one's spouse and also one's kid! It is just too beautiful for words... A beautiful sangamam so to speak..

Having said this, I am very sad that mom is lleaving for India. I will miss her sorely and Pallu will very much miss her...

Take care mom and come back quick...

Love
Kay