Road Tripping

After a really long time, the family took a vacation. We did a road trip to see my sister's family.

The plan was set into motion by the great master who wants to drive all the time - The GG. I shivered as I looked up the distance - 900 miles each way. Google said 14 hours! I almost fainted, had a huge argument and then went to sleep. A few days later, G broached the subject again and this time, since I had done some thinking, I told him 'Let's do this'. G had the biggest silly boy grin on his face.

So we started thinking how we were going to keep 2.5 yo twins entertained for 14 hours and not let them get stir crazy. We equipped ourselves with lots of food, fruits and snacks, nursery rhymes and barney videos. We bought extra long cables for the ipad and kindle and we were set. We also decided to take frequent stops and let the kids decide on how long we could drive.

The trip has been done and I am super excited to tell you that the road trip was a resounding success!! We divided the trip into two parts each way, 7 hours of drive time in each. The kids didn't complain more than once each, they ate random stuff, nothing nutritious, but I wasn't trying to each Mom of the year trophy either, so I was okay with it. We played 'spot the truck' games, sang songs and played peek-a-boo. When we ran out of things, they watched videos. All in all everyone was happy and we made it back in one piece.

The kids had a blast with their cousins, and they were showered with so much love from their Aunt and Uncle. It was a very relaxing trip for us too, since the kids were pretty much on their own, they would play with their cousins, wake up and go to them and didn't even bother to wake us up. Aaah, fun times.

Here are some pics from the road trip.

We did a lot of kids things - lots of swimming and splashing in splash parks, went to a country fair where they rode lots of rides (the train was their favorite), children's museum which was a blast and even got our teeth cleaned by our personal dentist ;), saw July 4th fire works and they even held sparklers and were not scared at all.

All in all a very successful road trip and I am so thankful to G for making me do it. Now I probably won't have such a negative reaction when he broaches up the trip to New Mexico that we are thinking about :D

Anyahaseyo!

Anu introduced me to Korean Dramas and now I am hooked, there is no looking back.
I love everything about these shows, the lifestyle, the culture, the soju (alcohol) drinking accompanied with anju (snacks).

So far I have seen
Lie to me
Coffee Prince
Coffee House
Fireworks
Capital Scandal

and bits of
Summer Scent
Protect the boss
Boys over flowers

And movies:
My girlfriend is an agent
Relation of face, mind and love.

I have to say I am in love in Kang Ji-hwan. Isn't he cute. So most of the shows I have seen so far,  and all the movies have him. He's not just hot, but a really good actor. I don't feel like he's getting his due though.

So I compiled a list of things I find common in KDs:

1. the guy is always rich and the girl is from a poor family, but not helpless 
2. there are always 2 guys, nobody likes the girl in the beginning and then all fall for her.
3. this is always the story of second love.
4. if the guy is rich, he must drive a german car.
5. karoke is very popular
6. of course drinking and eating
7. if one can speak english, one is looked upon.
8. skin looking good is very important
9. If a guy or girl has been seen naked by someone or there's a kiss between two people, you can be sure they are the ones who will end up together.
10. Rolling up of sleeves is a very common phenomenon.
11. Grabbing girls by the arm is very common and it's super cute too.
12. Everybody is so thin.

So far those are my observations. I love how innocent the dramas are. I am falling in love with S.Korean culture too. So like India, they have words for relationships, it's not just Uncle and Auntie. There is a lot of respect among peers and people maintain space. I do find it funny that if someone is a Director or Chairman, they are always referred by their title. So it's Director Cho or Chairman Park. 

I cannot wait to watch My fair lady, after I finish Prosecutor Princess. Yipee!!

2.5 years

Puchhi and Gunnu are now 2.5 year old. Who are they you ask? Puchhi is M and Gunnu is N. Those are the names we gave them when they were still inside my belly. Gunnu is the cute version of Gundu because well that's what he is. Puchhi because I had imagined my sweet little M to be an angel. Of course God didn't listen to me there.

So..they're talking more now, demanding more. M loves to say 'yes' now. A VERY big milestone. N is still getting there. The most emphatic yes I get from M is when she has pooped and if I ask her she'll say the biggest brightest 'YES'. Or if she spots ice cream. N will just grin knowingly when he sees ice cream..he knows it's coming.

M has somehow caught onto saying 'No mommy no, stop it.' It was cute and funny at first..but now it just sounds rude. So at first I tried asking her to say 'Please stop it', like that was not so rude. So now she's finally stopping her self when she wants to say 'Stop it' and instead says 'Please don't'.

N on the other hand is using his hands now for expressing displeasure. He will pull M's hair or push her. But the good thing is he knows he has done something bad and will say sorry or hug her.

We went to the Nasher Sculpture Garden this weekend with bestie A. The kids had a blast and they didn't throw any fits or get bored, they just did what we asked them to do mostly and actually ate lunch also somewhat peacefully.
Nasher had a sculpture of a woman who was embarrassed and she is shown covering her face with her arms. N and M took this interpretation "Aunty ear hurt".

Apparently I talk to my mom the most on the phone, everytime the phone rings, they're saying 'Nani phone?'

Barney is still the favorite most show, followed by the gummy bear song.

N is getting better at throwing the ball and can catch a ball that has bounced once, meaning the force has been halved and he can gauge the speed and direction better.

M doesn't like playing catch as much as she likes kicking it. Definitely got more leg eye co-ordination than her mom.

N has gotten out of his phase of calling me by my name. It was cute and I miss it. But I don't encourage him.

They're getting more confident in the play ground and are not averse to trying new things, but they are always very careful and I am thankful for that. I see other kids running around without a fear and then I see mine, gingerly climbing and I think would I prefer that, then I think not. I like that they are careful and like to test the waters before they jump in.

So far the 2s haven't been terrible at all. They're been terrific if anything. Keeping fingers crossed.

Pet Peeve #456778

I see a number of people post about positive thoughts and positivity on Facebook and Twitter, but I know these people and they have not a single positive bone in their body. They never emulate these thoughts in their day to day lives, so what is this about? Why is my FB storyline getting filled with such silly 'pasted from elsewhere' posts? How much I love to hate social networking!


:)

5 Floors

She ran from the class, constantly looking at the time, willing her legs to carry her home faster. It took all of seven minutes, but she knew it was seven minutes too late. She cursed her professor for keeping them five minutes extra in the class. She reached the apartment complex and sure enough the motorcycle was already in it's spot and she had missed sharing one minute with the most handsome guy on the planet. With a heavy heart she dragged herself to the elevator and pressed the right button. She stood there waiting, turning every so often to make sure the motor cycle was his.

She gave herself a wry smile, she didn't even know his name. She had heard his voice and it was just as sexy. The elevator came and she went up, promising herself she would be on time the next day.

He stood by the window in his apartment, the windows here didn't open, and they were tinted, so she couldn't see him, but he saw her. Saw the dejected look that came to her face when she saw his bike parked in the parking lot. He smiled to himself, he didn't know her name, but she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. The only thing he knew about her was that she was a student, unlike him, she loved to wear sneakers and she had quite a collection of those, she dressed casually like all students but she carried herself well. He looked forward to the 1 minute ride in the elevator they shared sometimes. He had tried once to have a conversation with her, but a little boy had entered and she and the little fellow started talking about some comic book they both liked.

He walked out to his door and stood there to see if he would catch a glimpse of her when the elevator came up. He stood for five minutes, eventually it came up, the door opened and his neighbor came out and waved bye to her. She saw him then, and impulsively he raised his arm and waved her bye, hoping his face conveyed to her that she would never see him again. She looked perplexed, but before she could react, the doors shut and he could hear the hum of the elevator.

He walked back in, picked up his already packed up bags and his keys and left the building. He had a flight to catch and a wedding to get to, his own wedding. A bride of not his picking, but his parents and that was all.

Restrooming the book

A lot of us like to read in the potty. Newspapers, Magazines, books and now from smart phones and tablets. It just makes a necessary yet boring process more enjoyable. I know of some people who sit long after the deed is done so they can finish what they're reading.

I do this too - but I only take my books to the RR and not the books I get from the library or the books I borrow from friends. I won't let a magazine that has been in the RR come back into the normal circulation of books around the coffee table because it's just dirty to me. The one thing that I am extremely mindful of is not to take a borrowed book to the RR, it's not mine to defile. There's something unsanitary about that whole act.

So the other day, I visited a friend and she had borrowed a book from me. I had to use the RR and I went in and guess what - there sat my book next to the pot. I was transfixed for a moment, not knowing what to do, I had an urge to dump the book in hand sanitizer liquid sitting on the counter as well (this was also a major cause for concern - but i digress). I stood there wondering what I can do, if I can even do anything.

When I came back home, I went to the study and looked at all the books critically. Had someone taken them to the RR and defiled them? Had the book I had just borrowed from another friend been there too? And the ones from the local library? Suddenly imaginary germs and creepy crawlies were materializing on the books in front of me. I felt a chill and walked away. I am at a loss, I cannot toss the books, but I think this weekend I will put them out in the sun - my Mom always said that sun rays have therapeutic qualities. So maybe airing the books will make things better for me? Of course I will use gloves to carry the books out!

Seinfeld had an episode about this, when George takes a book from the bookstore, goes to the restroom and tries to put it back on the shelf. Of course the store wouldn't allow it and he has to buy the book, then he tries to get rid of it, but is unsuccessful, since the book has been flagged. If it were up to me, I would 'flag' George and not let him enter the store, but who's listening to me!

So dear friends who I lend books from - rest assured I will not take your book to the RR - but if you borrow a book from me - there is a really good change it's been to my RR, but please don't take it to yours? I wonder if this is something we all think about and it's one of those things that bothers us but we try and ignore it? To be honest, it's not the first time I have thought of this, but the first time, it's really bothered me.

Which brings me to the best part about this whole post - EBOOKS!!! They are the solution to this whole nasty affair. I am sure when epub, ibooks etc were created, they had this nasty problem on their mind ;)

As for that friend - she can keep the book and she is flagged - not lending her books anymore.

Tornadoes and an almost twister

I NEVER want a repeat performance of what we witnessed yesterday. But we live in the glorious state of Texas and such and more is bound to happen, if not again this tornado season, then the next one.

So this was the first time that a tornado was rummaging through my neighborhood and the kids and I weren't together. I was in such a panic mode. For 2 hours I was stuck to the news channel on my computer at work. My heart telling me to run to the kids in the Montessori and my brain telling me to stay put. Neither was it safe to drive in that condition, nor would I have helped the chaos.
The challenges at the school were pretty big, they had to wake up napping kids, carry some, make some run to the the bathrooms and closets and contain them there. I spoke to Ms E and Ms J at the school and they were so good spirited about it, I know it must've been a HUGE challenge, not to talk of the responsibility that was on their shoulders. So proud of them and so happy.
I asked the kids later if they were in the bathroom at school, and their reaction was 'bathoon?' and they walked up the bathroom at home. Oh well!

The images from Forney, Tx are heart wrenching, one of the house only has the bathtub and the wall adjacent to it remaining, thankfully the family is safe because they were in the bath tub taking shelter. The entire house was gutted. There are other house, which though partially standing will have to be built from scratch. One of the schools is closed and there are about 10,000 or so houses without electricity still.

Nature yet again brought me to my knees yesterday. Not something I want to live through again.G and I sat last night and made sure our papers were all still in the bag which is the bag we pick, get the kids and run to safety. This tornado made everything so surreal.

God bless all those families who were not as lucky as us.