My Passion

Any guesses? yup!!its Sangeet..

Sangeet hai swar Ishwar ki
har swar mein base hain Ram
Ragi jo sunaye ragini
Rogi ko Miley araam..

Proud Mom

She earned it on her own - her name in the Dean's list. Has done that 3 times this year. Last year I hardly knew these lists existed. Maybe she dint like something about 3rd grade. I dint mess with her.. just consistently made sure she did all her work.

I was born and brought up in India. Education system is quiet different from here... and my US school curriculum knowledge is that of my daughter's who is a 4th grader. As I say to all my friends here I am learning alongside my daughter the academics as well as school curricula. Theres a different sense of pride in doing that.

Last week when she got her results she was sad cause she missed the Head As list by 2 points. This is exactly how I wanted it. Not the other way round. I dint want to coax her to get good grades. I wanted it to dawn upon her the happiness of self achievement. Yes I verbally reprimanded her when she got poor marks in anything in fact asked her why she dint get it.. we talked... she explained and I took the help of edHelper.com(gradewise practice exercises suggested by a friend). but I realize she has the potential and she will do her best always and go beyond her when the time is right. Frankly I dint help her with her assignments, projects or HW. She did it on her own. I just made sure she finished her HW.
Now you know why I am the proud mom. She has her shortcomings.. which kid doesnt.. but I am happy with her progress.

Bhaiyya - All Iz Well!

Well!! nice movie with melodrama.. I hear the original story written By Chetan Bhagat - Five Point someone gives altogether a succinct picture. That sometimes is the problem with commercial hindi movies.. importance is attributed more to colorful presentation - song , melodrama, overacting,etc.. acting typecaste, with aamir in lead role and his 2 sidekicks though they are equally good actors.. name brand prevails in Bollywood I would say ;)...
the message from the story is not averse to any person who has had their initial struggle in their career.. I should specify the 'Indian mentality'.. ladka hua to engineer aur ladki huyi to doctor'... trying to get that niche.. trying to get into the best of colleges and so called prestigious universities.. My Regards to all those revered institutions of education.. no offence.. but This life of ours being a RACE is what bothers me most.. how often do you feel you are always running opposite course to what life has actually offered you.. how often do you feel - somethings missing? How often do u feel u r stuck in a rut? it may not always be possible to look back and change course.. but if you believe you can .. and you summon up the courage to do so - who knows where that different journey might take you.. for many of us who have come this far in our journey its like a hiccup.. 'Time is of the essence' - foot locks u, handcuffs or causes a mind freeze.. well!! its a question that will remain with me unless I find an answer myself.. I think I realize the problem but dont know how to fix it or maybe I dont.. who knows..
until then - sing in unison - Bahiyya!! Al iz Well!!

Wake Up SID and Parzania

Films from 2 different genre.. yet related to human relations.
Loved both movies for their singular contents..
Wake Up SID:
-Confusions regarding relationships
-You have a preset idea of your better half/companion/whatever you name it and then along comes SID..
-Most of the time what is yours is right in front of your eyes .. you just fail to see it.
-breaking rules about relationships, career goals.. nothing stands in the way of absolute independence
- we are created as individuals so just living that without any societal bindings is wat adds colour and beauty to life
-mind you there are some limits.. we are civilzed.. but one shouldnt limit ones creativity or soul.
-beautiful acting by both Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen(my fav actress).. so dignified.. so untouched.. so realistic yet a mystery.. so simple yet so profound..

Parzania:
Again human relations crossing barriers of cast, creed, religion.. alls well when the World is smiling.. yet a disaster during a crisis.. all relations get fed to the dogs in the name of religion..
Wont say I am a movie Buff.. but enjoy movies which have something that speaks to my soul. These did. Theres an unknown satisfaction in enjoying good movies or books like these.

The trip

Was excited abt the Miami trip. Heard so much about the weather, beaches, fun and frolicky life - 'Miami calls u Baby'. o wow!! with the cold cold heartless weather here, it was a respite to be in miami.. so set out with another family. the drive was long from Nashville. Abt 15 hrs. we took breaks on our way and a truck stop close to Florida border. Horrible motel it was - Rodeway Inn.. dont go in there with a family cause they arent cheap either.. dint have a choice.. we did drive about 8 hrs after work that as far as we could drive.. paid a load yet facility was not that well maintained .. if u r alone.. who cares.. anyways.. woke up early next day so we could reach Miami as early as we possibly could.. wow the route to Miami was welcoming.. palm trees lining the roads and all.. summery weather.. the jackets stacked to the rear end of the car.. woohoo!!! summer blast in winter.. who wudnt like it.. it was a pleasant day too.. we reached the condo that we had booked beforehand.. the road our condo was in - collins avenue..lined with stretches of hotels and condos.. and bayside area lined with yachts and a luxurious lifstyle.. that was obvious everywhere I looked.. ppl seeped that luxury in every moment of their stay there.. everyone in shorts and Ts and need I say more? come on guys that city is famous for its beaches!!! u guessed it right !!

dumped all our belongings in the condo to checkout the view.. wo!!! awesome.. the sound of the ocean.. the serene beach and the strong wind.. it was all that mattered.. being there.. quickly took some shots .. ones in this post.. hung out @ the balcony for sometime listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the beach. Then cooked up a quick dinner while my other friends checked out the neighborhood..

woke up next morning - it was christmas day.. we all quickly got ready cause we had to drive all the way to Key West another 3 and half hrs drive. the drive they said was awesome with US 1 highway being the road thru the bay. it was alrite.. nothing compared to the CA US-1 drive which is flanked by ocean on one side and mountains on the other.. but yes the most amazing thing for me was seeing pelicans from a close range.. they were everywhere all thru our drive keeping us company.. some largish birds these are!!! eating food out of people's hands.. during our trip to Key west we actually crossed several keys.. forget the names now.. but enjoy the picture of this Pelican anyways :
After checking in with information and tourist centers on reaching Key West, we finally figured out that the main beach was @ Fort Zachary Taylor park .. it weaved thru a french oldish Key West town with carriage rides and rickshaw pullers.. it was pretty much like any other US old downtown heritage areas. But the real deal about Key west is its Rocky beach and also watersports... which we cudnt avail cause had children .. sports like parasailing, jet skiing,scuba diving and u name it.. but the beach was beautiful.. One particular thing that marked Miami and its surrounding areas was the color of teh ocean - sea green or blue ...heres a picture :
spent some time @ the rocky beach and kids had loads of fun too getting wet in the water.... time to get back..
we went back to Miami and headed for South Beach.. The Place to Be...woohoo!!! some nite life.. its so vibrant and colorful.. dint find a metered parking so had to use a parking area which costed us 20 bucks.. phew!! outrageous..
anyways we walked along ocean drive and peeked @ the ocean too.. the beach was pretty dark @ that hour.. but Baby o Baby thats wat ppl come here for - beach and nite life ... it was obvious.. colorful ppl everywhere.. street was lined with innumerous restuarants and clubs with dainty ladies walking around.. rest I leave for your imagination..

next day - was a little chilly for Miami.. we set off to see the Everglades wetland famous for its Alligators.. we took the famous Air Boat ride and also saw some Herons.. white big majestic birds... the guide was talkative and the ride was exhilarating too.. the wetland was much like the sunderbans.. with grass growing on water... but the air boat just zipped thru and made stops for alligator and rare animals and bird sitings.. that done we headed to North Beach - spent some time @ the beach.. it was getting chilly but the kids had fun making sandcastles only to be swept away by the ocean.. o we did see a lady on the beach taking some glam shots.. probably creating a portfolio for modeling.. she did hold many men's gaze for a long time with her skimpy dresses and ....... that done we went back.. we needed a change after the beach rezendevous.. the evening called for a boatride @ bayside.. o wow!!! we finally got to see downtown Miami up close.. it was beautiful with tall skyscrappers and hi-fi life style.. the boat ride took us around Fisher Island, Star island and the likes.. beautiful buildings flanked both side of our ride.. the the miami skyline - gorgeous!! guide was a chirpy spaniard part of whose deleberations we struggled to decipher.. heres a peek - my camera dint do justice:

something that stood out stark - Miami dint look much like any other US city.. it is densely populated with Mexicans and Cubans.. bayside area is another center for entertainment with open air concerts and street shows of all kinds.. hung out there for a while and finally headed back.. it was altogther a good relaxing trip and we did cover whatever was there to see of Miami.
Next vac - probably Orlando - who knows!!
Wish I had a dollar tree growing in my backyard.. even the backyard isnt mine.. belongs to the homeowners association ... sigh!!!!!