Monday, February 28, 2011
November 2010, Lincoln, MA
November 1, 2011
Badri to NY 1st through 5th.
November 2, 2011
Voted today
Had a conference call with Lauren at Aperian and Biogen about the upcoming training.
Brought Molly to have three sealants put on at the dentist, Vidya Reddy in Concord.
Badri to NY 1st through 5th.
November 2, 2011
Voted today
Had a conference call with Lauren at Aperian and Biogen about the upcoming training.
Brought Molly to have three sealants put on at the dentist, Vidya Reddy in Concord.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
June 2010 Update from France and the U.S.
June 1, 2010 Paris, France
SIM card. Carousel. H&M for warm clothes. Lunch at sidewalk cafe: 4 sandwiches, FF, sodas. near Beauborg, Kids tired by 3pm.
June 2, 2010
Cite des enfants, geode ocean movie (63E), hippodrom(?) for lunch (50E). Fed pigeons at Notre Dame, Badri paid 8E and climbed 400+ steps to top. I went in free line with kids through Catedrale. Lg stained glass beautiful. Saint Rita.
June 3, 2010
Wandered around Quartier Latin, cafe for coffee and 4E oranginas, street performers fun.
Really warmed up today.
June 4, 2010
Left hotel at 9:40am. Reached top of Eiffel Tower at 12:05pm. By 12:50, on way down. Tour d'eiffel 53E + 12E for 2 cafes, 2 beignets and 1 pain au chocolat.
Had a picnic below the tour d'eiffel
Took Vedettes parisiennes 2-3:15pm. About 46E for family. Gorgeous. Charlie fell asleep in my arms. Early dinner at Leon de bruxelles, a chain restaurant serving mussels 4-6pm a la terrasse. Great people watching.
Rue de lappe, used to be gangster lane, but about 20 years ago changed. Cielito lindo, thai, cuban-havanita. 1990. Que pasa. so much smoking!!
Metal pointus across from hotel baudelaire, down rue de lappe to right.
Grapes from India. Namdharis written on box!! At alimentation generale in bastille neighborhood. rue de la roquette.
Free jazz concerts every sat and sun in June in Parc floral de paris (metro chateau de vincennes).
Joey's graduation today.
June 5, 2010
Relaxed departure. 10:40am. to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur. Taught girls how to take holy water and do sign of the cross. Put coins in box for Virgin Mary and Saint Rita.
Paul Laszlo sketched in charcoal Maya and Molly 40E. Kelly necklace at Anokhi 8E (later gifted to Patty). Kids ice cream 5E. 2 cafes 11E. Batteries, baguette, milk, OJ: 30E.
Bought tin jewelry coated in silver at metal pointu's bijoux: earrings, necklace and bracelet with money Janaki auntie left me.
June 6, 2010
Another late start: 11:30. It comes from staying up late with the late sunset. Breakfast, kids helped hang clothes on line, did some math and reading before giong to Luxembourg garden. Reached park by 12:15.
Charlie and Maya collecting pine cones, Molly climbing tree. Swish toilet at Odeon Place in basement. Badri not feeling great--sore throat since day before yesterday.
2E to rent a sailboat on pond in front of Luxembourg Palace for Maya and Charlie. Went to paying playground with Molly: 2.50E/kid, 1.2E/adult. Popsicles 2E each. Cafe au lait 2.5E each.
Work/life balance a little better here than in Bangalore. Hardly any dads on mobiles at playground compared to many in Bangalore.
Went to Theatre du Luxembourg. Fondation Robert Desarthis. 4.5E ticket. Les trois petits cochons en 2 tableaux (There Little Pigs).
Got pizza at what Clarisse (the apartment manager) says is the best place in Paris. A couple from Perth sat at our table. They bought a one bedroom third floor walk-up apartment in Paris in 2002 for 140,000E and it's more than doubled in value, in le Marais.
June 6, 2010
10:30 departure. Ran into Clarisse who led us on shortcut to the Bastille open air market. Fantastic fish, vegetables, fruit, bread, bubbling cauldrens of chateaubriand, paella and other one dish ready-to-eat meals.
Kids played in fenced in park while we were at market. Then went to the Louvre. Huge line, and didn't realize until we got in that today is the first Sunday of the month, so we got in free.36E savings. Before we got in Molly had to go to the bathroom, so we walked across the Seine until we found one hotel open. Jemiel, the front desk person, was a sweetheart and let us in to use the loo.
Saw the Mona Lisa in Denon wing and Charlie was exhausted. Badri took girls to see Egyptian exhibit while he rested.
Tip of the day: choose cafe au lait over capaccino--more coffee, less foamy cream, and one euro less. 17E at Louvre McDonald (yes, there's a "forum" mall attached to the Louvre now, with McDs). 4E for happy meal including sandwich, chery tomatoes or fries, toy, drink, applesauce or yogurt. One euro to use the toilet at Louvre forum (apx $1.33). Order sandwich and drink separately and cost is 3.30E plus 1.50E.
June 7, 2010
Woke up at 7:15am. 10:05 left for airport. Got Clarisses's address:
Clarisse de Buzonniere
68 Boulevard Beaumarchais
75011 Paris France
+33 686651422
Clarissedebu@gmail.com
Flight Air France 0332 13:40.
Charlie's quote of the day: "Where you live first, you miss a lot" said on the way to the Charles de Gaulles airport. I think he was saying he already missed Bangalore.
Had such fun chatting with security about not being able to take the cassis home that later we thought Maya lost her back. But we discovered we'd left it back at security.
Flight went fine, but it was a huge plane and not very new: first time in quite a while we had to watch a movie on a shared screen: Valentine's Day and Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.
Mary picked us up around 3pm and we switched to our car at her house. Said hi to Andrew, Max, Alex, and Mom, and went to Methuen. Chilly weather. Stuffed cabbage for dinner. To bed by 7:30pm. Exhausted. Just lost 8 hours in flying time.
June 8, 2010
Up by 6:30 with Charlie and Mom. I wondered why Mom left a bathrobe in my room yesterday and this morning I knew why--it was chilly out! Charlie kept warming his hands over my coffee.
Badri mowed Mom's lawn today.
Went to park near Mom's house by 9:30. Walked two miles (about four loops) while Mom watched kids on playground. Two dogs--Bailey and Romeo--that the kids adored. Spaghetti for lunch. Yum. Kids helped around the house--washing and drying the car, clipping vines. Then they climbed tree in Mom's front yard. Played with next door neighbor's kids CJ and Luke. Then I took them to Chuck E Cheese for one hour, 30 tokens total.
June 9, 2010
Went to Mary's after lunch and hiked in the Harold Parker State Park, then had a cookout at her house.
Badri had a meeting in Waltham with Healthcare Analytics.
Veronique, Emmanuel, Matthias, Marie, and Jasmine left for France today.
June 10, 2010
Kids did math for the 2nd or 3rd time since coming home. Trying to do math and reading daily. By the time school starts in September, they'll have had five months off.
Went to play with Max and Alex. Rode bikes and scooters behind Mary's. Made rajma for dinner. Mom came over. Kids had a blast on the swingset in the backyard and with water guns.
I took a nice long walk to Harold State Forest on my own.
June 11, 2010
Lincoln pool opens.
June 12, 2010
Went up to Ski and Elena's in York, Maine for Elena's graduation barbecue. Lobster bake with clams, lots of Greek appetizers: tzaziki, stuffed grape leaves, steamers. Aunt Tula and Uncle George and Aunt Victoria and Elena's mom Maria and husband Michael. They all came over in the 70s from Greece. It's amazing how they've held on to their Greek accents. Living in California and Maryland.
Went to Mark and Sandy Gagnon's for Kate's high school graduation party. Unbelievable how the kids who had been little squirts only [what seems like] yesterday are walking around bald and with pot bellies.
June 13, 2010
Met Erin and a diner in Lowell for breakfast. Terrific catching up.
June 14, 2010
Went to the Lincoln School with Mom and the kids. Met with Stephen McKenna and Sharon \Hobbs, the K-4 and 5th-8th principals.
Afterwards headed over to Cindy's twin sons' birthday party at an Andover club. Cindy's a friend of Mary's. Mom used to babysit the twins when they were first born.
June 15, 2010
Drove to Woburn at 8:30am. Mom brought back the car and we took the 9am bus to Logan for an 11:20 flight to Miami for Badri's interview with the start up. I didn't have a photo i.d., so security took about 20 minutes questioning me to verify who I was. They asked me lots of questions, but the one that did it was when I told them we owned a home in Lincoln, MA (even thought we weren't living in it yet). Badri had gone through security with the kids when they started questioning me. I'd just been so used to Badri carrying the passports when we traveled over the last six years. I'd rarely used my driver's license in India, so had just packed it up with everything. It all turned out okay in the end.
Stayed at a great service apartment in Miami on the 9th floor, with a pool and fitness club on the 7th with a view of the canal, trees, Nordstrom, JC Penney's, etc. While I was on the treadmill I could watch the kids swimming. Had dinner at a Pan Asian restaurant about two minutes walk away.
Celtics lost to the LA Lakers in the playoffs tonight.
Kids went swimming and I read while Badri exchanged the rental car: the GPS system didn't work and one passenger seat armrest had been broken off. Poor quality for Hertz.
June 16, 2010
Badri went to interview with Third Solutions. I spoke with realtor about rentals. Very tight market in Coral Gables and Pinecrest. $3100 + 3700/mo for 4 bedroom. People renting rather than buying since housing market still going down. Schools reputation down here pretty bad except Pinecrest and Coral Gables.
June 17, 2010
Looked at houses with Guillermo. Very depressing. Stopped at Mexican restaurant for yummy lunch.
Went to Miami Beach. Swam in very warm ocean for a couple hours. Lime rickey conditions.
Back at the apartment, kids went swimming and Badri and I worked out. Made mango chicken and Joe came to dinner. Watched celtics lose to L.A. Lakers in game 7 of the Championship Series.
June 18, 2010
Kids did journals and Bridegwork (workbooks to work on during the summer between grades) so their brains don't get rusty while out of school for five months. Went swimming by 11am. Badri and I slept til 9am!
June 19, 2010
Headed to Naples for Saturday through Monday to visit Patty, Joe, and the kids. 2 1/4 hour drive. Swam in pool. Had steak and salmon for dinner.
June 20, 2010
Went to Clam Pass beach all together. Great fun swimming and jumping into the water from trees along the shore.
Went out to eat for Father's Day with Patty, Joe, Katie, and her boyfriend Diego.
June 21, 2010
Patty colored and cut my hair. Left Naples by 1:30 and arrived in Miami by 3:30.
June 22, 2010
Molly and Charlie went swimming and i worked out while Badri went on Third Solutions interview. Maya didn't swim because the water was too cold(!).
Left service apartment 12:50pm for Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Leave 1pm. Flight 3:37. Arrive 6:54.
June 23, 2010
Badri had an interview with Shiva Kumar at IBM in NY.
I went to Logan with Mary to pick up our air shipment.
Went to Pomps Pond with Mary. An idyllic place with docks to swim out to and jump off of.
Started to swim at Barry Pond, but Alex got a fish hook in his foot and Mary stubbed her toe. They left with Maya and Badri and I went for a 45 minute walk with Molly and Charlie. Molly was in her element.
Went to Weathervane for dinner. Then Molly and Charlie stayed at Mary's, and Maya and Alex came with us to Mom's.
June 24, 2010
Maya and Alex spearheaded the lemonaide stand enterprise, and Max and Charlie helped.
Mom provided the haddock, and I cooked them up at Mary's for dinner.
June 25, 2010
Went to Pomp Pond swimming with the kids. Badri had an interview with Enernoc. We picked him up afterwards at the train.
June 26, 2010
Helped mom bring stuff to yard sale.
Went hiking in Newburyport at Maudsley State Park with Molly and Charlie. Got an annual pass for state parks. Took the Pasture Trail.
June 27, 2010
Visited Prajna and Andre. Swam at the club pool in Framingham with them and their sons Adam (8) and Owen (12) . All the kids got along great. Molly loved Checkers, the rat they're ratsitting for a neighbor.
June 28, 2010
Camp starts at Andover 9-3. Got kids settled. The kids go to Pomps pond from 10-12:30, then are at the Recreation Park til 3pm.
Went for a walk with Badri. It was like the old days--going on walks by ourselves.
Molly started gym at Gymstreet in Wilmington. Teacher Sam is very nice and Molly had a great time. $163 for 10 lessons.
June 29, 2010
Badri had lunch in Woburn with Third Solutions board member.
SIM card. Carousel. H&M for warm clothes. Lunch at sidewalk cafe: 4 sandwiches, FF, sodas. near Beauborg, Kids tired by 3pm.
June 2, 2010
Cite des enfants, geode ocean movie (63E), hippodrom(?) for lunch (50E). Fed pigeons at Notre Dame, Badri paid 8E and climbed 400+ steps to top. I went in free line with kids through Catedrale. Lg stained glass beautiful. Saint Rita.
June 3, 2010
Wandered around Quartier Latin, cafe for coffee and 4E oranginas, street performers fun.
Really warmed up today.
June 4, 2010
Left hotel at 9:40am. Reached top of Eiffel Tower at 12:05pm. By 12:50, on way down. Tour d'eiffel 53E + 12E for 2 cafes, 2 beignets and 1 pain au chocolat.
Had a picnic below the tour d'eiffel
Took Vedettes parisiennes 2-3:15pm. About 46E for family. Gorgeous. Charlie fell asleep in my arms. Early dinner at Leon de bruxelles, a chain restaurant serving mussels 4-6pm a la terrasse. Great people watching.
Rue de lappe, used to be gangster lane, but about 20 years ago changed. Cielito lindo, thai, cuban-havanita. 1990. Que pasa. so much smoking!!
Metal pointus across from hotel baudelaire, down rue de lappe to right.
Grapes from India. Namdharis written on box!! At alimentation generale in bastille neighborhood. rue de la roquette.
Free jazz concerts every sat and sun in June in Parc floral de paris (metro chateau de vincennes).
Joey's graduation today.
June 5, 2010
Relaxed departure. 10:40am. to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur. Taught girls how to take holy water and do sign of the cross. Put coins in box for Virgin Mary and Saint Rita.
Paul Laszlo sketched in charcoal Maya and Molly 40E. Kelly necklace at Anokhi 8E (later gifted to Patty). Kids ice cream 5E. 2 cafes 11E. Batteries, baguette, milk, OJ: 30E.
Bought tin jewelry coated in silver at metal pointu's bijoux: earrings, necklace and bracelet with money Janaki auntie left me.
June 6, 2010
Another late start: 11:30. It comes from staying up late with the late sunset. Breakfast, kids helped hang clothes on line, did some math and reading before giong to Luxembourg garden. Reached park by 12:15.
Charlie and Maya collecting pine cones, Molly climbing tree. Swish toilet at Odeon Place in basement. Badri not feeling great--sore throat since day before yesterday.
2E to rent a sailboat on pond in front of Luxembourg Palace for Maya and Charlie. Went to paying playground with Molly: 2.50E/kid, 1.2E/adult. Popsicles 2E each. Cafe au lait 2.5E each.
Work/life balance a little better here than in Bangalore. Hardly any dads on mobiles at playground compared to many in Bangalore.
Went to Theatre du Luxembourg. Fondation Robert Desarthis. 4.5E ticket. Les trois petits cochons en 2 tableaux (There Little Pigs).
Got pizza at what Clarisse (the apartment manager) says is the best place in Paris. A couple from Perth sat at our table. They bought a one bedroom third floor walk-up apartment in Paris in 2002 for 140,000E and it's more than doubled in value, in le Marais.
June 6, 2010
10:30 departure. Ran into Clarisse who led us on shortcut to the Bastille open air market. Fantastic fish, vegetables, fruit, bread, bubbling cauldrens of chateaubriand, paella and other one dish ready-to-eat meals.
Kids played in fenced in park while we were at market. Then went to the Louvre. Huge line, and didn't realize until we got in that today is the first Sunday of the month, so we got in free.36E savings. Before we got in Molly had to go to the bathroom, so we walked across the Seine until we found one hotel open. Jemiel, the front desk person, was a sweetheart and let us in to use the loo.
Saw the Mona Lisa in Denon wing and Charlie was exhausted. Badri took girls to see Egyptian exhibit while he rested.
Tip of the day: choose cafe au lait over capaccino--more coffee, less foamy cream, and one euro less. 17E at Louvre McDonald (yes, there's a "forum" mall attached to the Louvre now, with McDs). 4E for happy meal including sandwich, chery tomatoes or fries, toy, drink, applesauce or yogurt. One euro to use the toilet at Louvre forum (apx $1.33). Order sandwich and drink separately and cost is 3.30E plus 1.50E.
June 7, 2010
Woke up at 7:15am. 10:05 left for airport. Got Clarisses's address:
Clarisse de Buzonniere
68 Boulevard Beaumarchais
75011 Paris France
+33 686651422
Clarissedebu@gmail.com
Flight Air France 0332 13:40.
Charlie's quote of the day: "Where you live first, you miss a lot" said on the way to the Charles de Gaulles airport. I think he was saying he already missed Bangalore.
Had such fun chatting with security about not being able to take the cassis home that later we thought Maya lost her back. But we discovered we'd left it back at security.
Flight went fine, but it was a huge plane and not very new: first time in quite a while we had to watch a movie on a shared screen: Valentine's Day and Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.
Mary picked us up around 3pm and we switched to our car at her house. Said hi to Andrew, Max, Alex, and Mom, and went to Methuen. Chilly weather. Stuffed cabbage for dinner. To bed by 7:30pm. Exhausted. Just lost 8 hours in flying time.
June 8, 2010
Up by 6:30 with Charlie and Mom. I wondered why Mom left a bathrobe in my room yesterday and this morning I knew why--it was chilly out! Charlie kept warming his hands over my coffee.
Badri mowed Mom's lawn today.
Went to park near Mom's house by 9:30. Walked two miles (about four loops) while Mom watched kids on playground. Two dogs--Bailey and Romeo--that the kids adored. Spaghetti for lunch. Yum. Kids helped around the house--washing and drying the car, clipping vines. Then they climbed tree in Mom's front yard. Played with next door neighbor's kids CJ and Luke. Then I took them to Chuck E Cheese for one hour, 30 tokens total.
June 9, 2010
Went to Mary's after lunch and hiked in the Harold Parker State Park, then had a cookout at her house.
Badri had a meeting in Waltham with Healthcare Analytics.
Veronique, Emmanuel, Matthias, Marie, and Jasmine left for France today.
June 10, 2010
Kids did math for the 2nd or 3rd time since coming home. Trying to do math and reading daily. By the time school starts in September, they'll have had five months off.
Went to play with Max and Alex. Rode bikes and scooters behind Mary's. Made rajma for dinner. Mom came over. Kids had a blast on the swingset in the backyard and with water guns.
I took a nice long walk to Harold State Forest on my own.
June 11, 2010
Lincoln pool opens.
June 12, 2010
Went up to Ski and Elena's in York, Maine for Elena's graduation barbecue. Lobster bake with clams, lots of Greek appetizers: tzaziki, stuffed grape leaves, steamers. Aunt Tula and Uncle George and Aunt Victoria and Elena's mom Maria and husband Michael. They all came over in the 70s from Greece. It's amazing how they've held on to their Greek accents. Living in California and Maryland.
Went to Mark and Sandy Gagnon's for Kate's high school graduation party. Unbelievable how the kids who had been little squirts only [what seems like] yesterday are walking around bald and with pot bellies.
June 13, 2010
Met Erin and a diner in Lowell for breakfast. Terrific catching up.
June 14, 2010
Went to the Lincoln School with Mom and the kids. Met with Stephen McKenna and Sharon \Hobbs, the K-4 and 5th-8th principals.
Afterwards headed over to Cindy's twin sons' birthday party at an Andover club. Cindy's a friend of Mary's. Mom used to babysit the twins when they were first born.
June 15, 2010
Drove to Woburn at 8:30am. Mom brought back the car and we took the 9am bus to Logan for an 11:20 flight to Miami for Badri's interview with the start up. I didn't have a photo i.d., so security took about 20 minutes questioning me to verify who I was. They asked me lots of questions, but the one that did it was when I told them we owned a home in Lincoln, MA (even thought we weren't living in it yet). Badri had gone through security with the kids when they started questioning me. I'd just been so used to Badri carrying the passports when we traveled over the last six years. I'd rarely used my driver's license in India, so had just packed it up with everything. It all turned out okay in the end.
Stayed at a great service apartment in Miami on the 9th floor, with a pool and fitness club on the 7th with a view of the canal, trees, Nordstrom, JC Penney's, etc. While I was on the treadmill I could watch the kids swimming. Had dinner at a Pan Asian restaurant about two minutes walk away.
Celtics lost to the LA Lakers in the playoffs tonight.
Kids went swimming and I read while Badri exchanged the rental car: the GPS system didn't work and one passenger seat armrest had been broken off. Poor quality for Hertz.
June 16, 2010
Badri went to interview with Third Solutions. I spoke with realtor about rentals. Very tight market in Coral Gables and Pinecrest. $3100 + 3700/mo for 4 bedroom. People renting rather than buying since housing market still going down. Schools reputation down here pretty bad except Pinecrest and Coral Gables.
June 17, 2010
Looked at houses with Guillermo. Very depressing. Stopped at Mexican restaurant for yummy lunch.
Went to Miami Beach. Swam in very warm ocean for a couple hours. Lime rickey conditions.
Back at the apartment, kids went swimming and Badri and I worked out. Made mango chicken and Joe came to dinner. Watched celtics lose to L.A. Lakers in game 7 of the Championship Series.
June 18, 2010
Kids did journals and Bridegwork (workbooks to work on during the summer between grades) so their brains don't get rusty while out of school for five months. Went swimming by 11am. Badri and I slept til 9am!
June 19, 2010
Headed to Naples for Saturday through Monday to visit Patty, Joe, and the kids. 2 1/4 hour drive. Swam in pool. Had steak and salmon for dinner.
June 20, 2010
Went to Clam Pass beach all together. Great fun swimming and jumping into the water from trees along the shore.
Went out to eat for Father's Day with Patty, Joe, Katie, and her boyfriend Diego.
June 21, 2010
Patty colored and cut my hair. Left Naples by 1:30 and arrived in Miami by 3:30.
June 22, 2010
Molly and Charlie went swimming and i worked out while Badri went on Third Solutions interview. Maya didn't swim because the water was too cold(!).
Left service apartment 12:50pm for Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Leave 1pm. Flight 3:37. Arrive 6:54.
June 23, 2010
Badri had an interview with Shiva Kumar at IBM in NY.
I went to Logan with Mary to pick up our air shipment.
Went to Pomps Pond with Mary. An idyllic place with docks to swim out to and jump off of.
Started to swim at Barry Pond, but Alex got a fish hook in his foot and Mary stubbed her toe. They left with Maya and Badri and I went for a 45 minute walk with Molly and Charlie. Molly was in her element.
Went to Weathervane for dinner. Then Molly and Charlie stayed at Mary's, and Maya and Alex came with us to Mom's.
June 24, 2010
Maya and Alex spearheaded the lemonaide stand enterprise, and Max and Charlie helped.
Mom provided the haddock, and I cooked them up at Mary's for dinner.
June 25, 2010
Went to Pomp Pond swimming with the kids. Badri had an interview with Enernoc. We picked him up afterwards at the train.
June 26, 2010
Helped mom bring stuff to yard sale.
Went hiking in Newburyport at Maudsley State Park with Molly and Charlie. Got an annual pass for state parks. Took the Pasture Trail.
June 27, 2010
Visited Prajna and Andre. Swam at the club pool in Framingham with them and their sons Adam (8) and Owen (12) . All the kids got along great. Molly loved Checkers, the rat they're ratsitting for a neighbor.
June 28, 2010
Camp starts at Andover 9-3. Got kids settled. The kids go to Pomps pond from 10-12:30, then are at the Recreation Park til 3pm.
Went for a walk with Badri. It was like the old days--going on walks by ourselves.
Molly started gym at Gymstreet in Wilmington. Teacher Sam is very nice and Molly had a great time. $163 for 10 lessons.
June 29, 2010
Badri had lunch in Woburn with Third Solutions board member.
Friday, January 14, 2011
June 2010 Update from France and the U.S.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Preparing to leave beloved Bangalore April 2010
April 2010 Preparations to leave beloved Bangalore
April 1, 2010
Met Vini on Brigade Road--huge commercial street in Bangalore, festooned with Christmas lights and decorations in December--and for food and clothes shopping.
Did voiceover with Lakshmi and Sherry. Amazing the miles I put on the car in Bangalore, going from downtown to south Bangalore. More than the miles though, it's the time! One hour to go about 12 km!
Picked up Maya at Mt Carmel after basketball.
Good Friday. No school.
Molly went to Iccha's birthday slumber party. She's so excited to wake up with Blob, Iccha's golden retriever.
April 2, 2010
Molly to Monkey Maze for Iccha's birthday party celebration.
Phil and Marion are in town and came over for dosa, then we went to their hotel in Koramangala, the Mercure, for a swim. That's where Kirsty and Andrew stayed when they were leaving town. Marion told her boss at Reuters that it'd be tough to leave her family for a week for business in Bangalore (they moved back to the UK last year or year before), and he suggested she take them with her, so Phil, Benjamin, and Josephine were happy to go.
Molly went to Khushi's birthday party. Two of her best buddies' birthdays in the same week!
Went for Girls night out organized by me and Sagarika at High Note. Joining us were Anusha, Reethika, Sohalia, Vini, Kitty, and a few others. Most moms from Charlie's class, but a few from Maya and Molly's, too. Great group.
Molly had her last Bangalore haircut. 440rs by my favorite stylist at Passion, Lucie, the owner.
April 3, 2010
Molly to gymnastics, which she's completely gaga over. And the coach is fantastic with her.
April 4, 2010
Easter. Kids very happy to hunt for eggs. Before I woke up, in fact:) Molly and Maya went to art at Nilu's.
Went to Vini's swimming and for dinner. Sikh hospitality is legendary, and Vini is right up there with Marylouise (married to Inder) who put out at least six or seven dishes per meal when company comes.
April 5, 2010
Maya had her last soccer session at Hebbal. I won't miss the drive! It's about 45 km (27 miles) from Indiranagar to the airport and that takes about an hour with no traffic. So to Hebbal must be about half that, and at 4pm it takes about one hour.
April 6, 2010
Working Globally training at vmware.
April 7, 2010
Went to school with the kids on the bus. Charlie's class had a big party and I was so happy to attend. What a blast all the moms (I think one dad dropped in, but didn't stay long) and kids had a blast with food, kids playing instruments and singing, and art projects. Rhoda Rodriguez rocks big time and we'll miss her SOOOO much. Along with Jhumki and ??reading specialist who rides bus with kids
April 8, 2010
Maya went to a pool party at Zaki's for his birthday. Went to pick her up and spent some time chatting with his mom Nupur. She's one of the people I wish I'd really had more time to get to know in Bangalore. Big trekker and bicyclist.
Janaki auntie came for a visit here. The kids were more comfortable today. The last time she came over they were shocked at how much weight she'd lost. She and Babu uncle really had a great time being together with the kids.
One of the blood banks came over today to draw blood from Molly and Charlie and check for allergies. 3590rs for testing for allergies and ACTN-3 (the "athlete" test that shows whether kids are good at endurance or sprinting sports).
April 9, 2010
Went for a walk with Divya.
Shyam here for a playdate, and Pragya, too. Molly went to Priti's for a lesson and then to visit Mia. Later, Anushae came for a playdate with Charlie.
Badri returned from Boston. Over the last year he's spent one month in the west, one month in the east. He's seen more movies with Mom than he has with me over that time!
April 10, 2010
Today was Rahul S's bithday, Reethika's son. She's another cool bird (as Brigit would say). Badri went for this one.
Molly went to gymnastics. She loves going twice a week.
April 11, 2010
Maya and Molly went to art at Nilu's. She wouldn't let me pay for Molly. Says she won't until Molly is really learning from her. Right now Molly's pretty much doing her own thing and not taking instruction. Pay 1500rs for Maya's four classes a month--'tis but a pittance.
Had a potluck dinner at Kitty's with the kids.
Today was Charlie last day of YFCC football. He had such an amazing blast with all his buddies. Not a bad player either.
Had a swimming playdate and lunch with Vini and kids.
April 12, 2010
Maya and Charlie started tennis in Jeevan Bhima Nagar with instructor Mukesh. They go 8-10 am MWF for 2500rs. It's about 208rs (apx $4, or $2/hr) a lesson. Badri figured, wisely, if they were at all inclined to play tennis, it'd be cheaper to get them started here in India. (In September 2010, we paid $14 per hour, so about seven times more expensive here).
Dev came for a playdate with Charlie after tennis class.
Had a meeting and lunch with Priti.
Swam at Park Hotel with the kids and Badri stopped by for a visit. 3390rs for swimming fee, plus two beers, two hot chocolates, and one sweet lime soda.
Vini left for the US, so I won't see her again until we meet up in the US at some point. Or if we go visit Bangalore and she's still there. I think Mohanjit has a couple more years on his contract with a venture capital firm based in the bay area.
Molly went to Khushi's for a playdate and Maya to Lakshya's.
Badri had a meeting with Wipro.
Met Badri at Fabindia and we chose curtains, then went to Thar where we picked a cabinet and designed it so they could change it into a bar. Gorgeous dark wood, with tribal artwork on the door from Chattisgarh. 25,800rs. total of 29,800 including conversion. $580
April 14, 2010
Went to Wonder la. Always a favorite with the kids Amazingly not crowded. Had a blast in the wave pool. Molly has no fear and goes to the very front where the waves are about 12 feet high.
April 15, 2010
Molly to Preety's for a lesson.
I met Nupur at Ants four coffee so that she could pass along a gift to Maya from her son Zaki. So sweet--it was a grain of rice on a necklace with Maya's name written on it.
April 17, 2010
Maya and Molly went to art, and Charlie for a playdaet to Gitushka's at Embassy Woods apartment complex. Whenever I go here I think of Marylouise and Inder, because this was their first place in Bangalore.
Speaking of Marylouise, we went to her place in the early evening to get together with her family, and Marion and Brigit's families. While there, Hugh got a call from a friend in New Zealand asking if he was at the Chinnaswamy Cricket stadium. The Twenty20 (a shorter form of cricket) was going on, a match between Mumbai and Bangalore, and a couple bombs went off injuring 20 people. Amazingly, the match went on, only postponed by an hour. That's how crazy Indian fans are about their cricket!
April 18, 2010
Maya went to piano, then the whole family went to the Inox movie theatre to see "How to Train Your Dragon." Strongly reminiscent of "Avatar" with dragons flying through the air.
April 19, 2010
Suhasini and Vedarth came over for lunch. Vedarth is one of Charlie's classmates and soccer buddies. Suhasini is one of my favorite moms from his class.
Did a Ms. Smith phone call for Deepma Jadeja, who was conducting a training.
Summer school has started, and I have the kids signed up for various activities. From 2-5, Charlie went to Pure Play, and Maya and Molly had Bollywood dance.
In the evening, Badri and I went out to dinner with Tiki and Phil at Road Trip. They're leaving Bangalore in the next couple weeks after being here for a few years. They'll spend some time in Japan and then figure out where to next.
April 20, 2010
Badri and I had quite a fun time shopping at Sunri, a place I'd wanted to pick up things since I first ventured in a couple years ago. We spent 38,500rs on a musket box (20k rs), coffee table (17,500rs), foyer table (10,500rs), antique stool, and eight whimsical coat hooks made out of giant colorful flies. Hmmm, that doesn't quiet add up, now does it?
Veronique and Emmanuel, our friends from France, came over for dinner. They lived only about a block from us when we were in our first house (next door to Tutu and Sangeetha), but now they're only a ten minute walk. They'll be leaving Bangalore a few months after us. They have three children, like us, and it's been fascinating to see their oldest two, Matthias and Marie, make the adjustment to India, especially to the language. Matthias had quite a "silent period" which I know was very difficult for him and Veronique. Then he came out with English like a flood. Since Marie was even younger when they came (I think they came about three years ago, when she was almost two), she's not even considered a second language learner by Neev School. It's like she has two first languages! How cool is that?
April 21, 2010
Went for a walk with Divya. Namrata came over afterwards and I parted with all our Thomas the Tank Engine stuff. Her son Vidur will get a lot of use out of it.
Phil, Josephine and Ben came over for a visit before heading back to the UK.
Further furnishing of our Lincoln house from Fabindia: 11,500rs for a bookshelf (later we'd get to Lincoln and kick ourselves for not buying two!).
Molly to Iccha's for a sleepover.
Koyal came over to watch the kids, and Andrew, Alice, Andy, Badri and I had dinner at Medici's, a new Italians restaurant on 100ft rd. not far from our house. Not bad at all. And we had a fantastic time. Terrific senses of humor those Brits and Aussies, if I may massively generalize.
April 22, 2010
Had the girls--Divya, Brinda, Chaitali, and Deepdi--over for dinner and had an outrageously fun time. These women know how to enjoy themselves. They're all moms to Molly's classmates, except for Deepdi, whose son was Maya's classmate at Neev.
April 23, 2010
Janaki auntie, Babu uncle, Rishi and Kajoli came over for dinner. Somehow we all knew that the nine of us would never break chapati again all together. But Janaki auntie was in good spirits.
April 24, 2010
Went over to Sheena and George's for a visit. Maya was great friends with their son Justin at Neev, and Melvin was in Molly's class.
April 25, 2010
Had dinner at Kitty's.
April 26, 2010
Walked with Divya.
Molly started swim classes at the Koramangala Golf Association Club, many thanks to Irfana, who is a member there and is allowed to have a guest. Lessons go until May 16. Molly and Alyna became even closer friends over this time. These lessons are wildly popular because Nisha Millet is the coach. She was the first Indian swimmer to qualify for the 200m in the Olympics.
This evening had Nilu (artist and teacher), Jhumki and Miss Jamal over for dinner. All three have been our favorite teachers in our time here in Bangalore. We'd also asked Rhoda Rodriguez, Charlie's prep (kindergarten) teacher, but she was unable to come. Except for Nilu, they're all at Mallya Aditi International School. Miss Jamal had been a full-time teacher there for years, then was called back to work part-time as a reading specialist. She has a gift for recognizing what's special in each child. All three kids read with her, but Molly I think benefited the most. Jhumki was Maya's third grade teacher and Maya was thrilled to be in her class. She really has a way of turning kids on to learning. Kids playfully call her "the dragon" but she is very calm and commands respect from kids like I've never seen, while being loving at the same time.
Helped Maya pack for her first away camp.
April 27, 2010
Sent our longtime coffee table over to Molly's tutor, Preeti. We'd bought that table in San Diego about 13 years ago from our Hillcrest neighborhood. Unvarnished wood planks with black legs and latticework shelf. Really not a fine piece of furniture, but I was kind of sad to see it go, dog-chewed corner and all.
Went to book club at Alice's with Alice, Alla, Marylouise, Sheena, and Kitty. They gave me an incredibly beautiful wooden box (it had Thar "written all over it"). Inside was a scarf, glasses case, and jeweled notepad. Thoughtfully chosen by Marylouise to keep by my bedside for book, glasses, and notes. Alice, ever the amazing host, put out an amazing spread that very few can keep up with.
April 28, 2010
At the crack of dawn, Badri brought Maya to the train station where she departed for herfirst overnight camp--six days! We were all a bit nervous about it. I had a nice talk with Maya last night, asking her if she was nervous. She has such confidence and throws herself so enthusiastically into projects that sometimes I forget that she's only nine and, sure enough, she felt a little nervous about leaving me and Appa for the first time for so long.
Badri's cousin Ranjan, his wife Jaya, and six year old daughter Meera came over for dinner tonight. We gave her lots of western and Indian clothes that Maya and Molly don't fit into or wouldn't use in the states. Good to know it's going to someone who will appreciate it. Meera's such a little cutie.
April 29, 2010
Badri brought Molly and Charlie to see "How to Train Your Dragon" for the second time, and I met Marylouise for lunch.
April 30, 2010
Badri's eldest brother, Ravi, came for a few days visit with his wife Malani and son Appu. Brought them to Unicorn, a restaurant specializing in Mangalorean seafood that Priya and Kush had introduced us to. It was so adorable to see Charlie dress up for dinner. He wore a pair of black dress pants I thought he'd never wear, as well as a buttondown shirt with a collar. He adores and idolizes Appu and it's so cool to see.
May 1, 2010
Went for breakfast at the Egg Factory--our favorite breakfast joint--then to UB City for a tour of the over-the-top opulent mall. Then dropped by Alla and Chris's to see them and Bruno. Had an interesting conversation about the Indian economy. A few minutes into the conversation, I mentioned to Chris that Ravi was a business editor, and Chris
April 1, 2010
Met Vini on Brigade Road--huge commercial street in Bangalore, festooned with Christmas lights and decorations in December--and for food and clothes shopping.
Did voiceover with Lakshmi and Sherry. Amazing the miles I put on the car in Bangalore, going from downtown to south Bangalore. More than the miles though, it's the time! One hour to go about 12 km!
Picked up Maya at Mt Carmel after basketball.
Good Friday. No school.
Molly went to Iccha's birthday slumber party. She's so excited to wake up with Blob, Iccha's golden retriever.
April 2, 2010
Molly to Monkey Maze for Iccha's birthday party celebration.
Phil and Marion are in town and came over for dosa, then we went to their hotel in Koramangala, the Mercure, for a swim. That's where Kirsty and Andrew stayed when they were leaving town. Marion told her boss at Reuters that it'd be tough to leave her family for a week for business in Bangalore (they moved back to the UK last year or year before), and he suggested she take them with her, so Phil, Benjamin, and Josephine were happy to go.
Molly went to Khushi's birthday party. Two of her best buddies' birthdays in the same week!
Went for Girls night out organized by me and Sagarika at High Note. Joining us were Anusha, Reethika, Sohalia, Vini, Kitty, and a few others. Most moms from Charlie's class, but a few from Maya and Molly's, too. Great group.
Molly had her last Bangalore haircut. 440rs by my favorite stylist at Passion, Lucie, the owner.
April 3, 2010
Molly to gymnastics, which she's completely gaga over. And the coach is fantastic with her.
April 4, 2010
Easter. Kids very happy to hunt for eggs. Before I woke up, in fact:) Molly and Maya went to art at Nilu's.
Went to Vini's swimming and for dinner. Sikh hospitality is legendary, and Vini is right up there with Marylouise (married to Inder) who put out at least six or seven dishes per meal when company comes.
April 5, 2010
Maya had her last soccer session at Hebbal. I won't miss the drive! It's about 45 km (27 miles) from Indiranagar to the airport and that takes about an hour with no traffic. So to Hebbal must be about half that, and at 4pm it takes about one hour.
April 6, 2010
Working Globally training at vmware.
April 7, 2010
Went to school with the kids on the bus. Charlie's class had a big party and I was so happy to attend. What a blast all the moms (I think one dad dropped in, but didn't stay long) and kids had a blast with food, kids playing instruments and singing, and art projects. Rhoda Rodriguez rocks big time and we'll miss her SOOOO much. Along with Jhumki and ??reading specialist who rides bus with kids
April 8, 2010
Maya went to a pool party at Zaki's for his birthday. Went to pick her up and spent some time chatting with his mom Nupur. She's one of the people I wish I'd really had more time to get to know in Bangalore. Big trekker and bicyclist.
Janaki auntie came for a visit here. The kids were more comfortable today. The last time she came over they were shocked at how much weight she'd lost. She and Babu uncle really had a great time being together with the kids.
One of the blood banks came over today to draw blood from Molly and Charlie and check for allergies. 3590rs for testing for allergies and ACTN-3 (the "athlete" test that shows whether kids are good at endurance or sprinting sports).
April 9, 2010
Went for a walk with Divya.
Shyam here for a playdate, and Pragya, too. Molly went to Priti's for a lesson and then to visit Mia. Later, Anushae came for a playdate with Charlie.
Badri returned from Boston. Over the last year he's spent one month in the west, one month in the east. He's seen more movies with Mom than he has with me over that time!
April 10, 2010
Today was Rahul S's bithday, Reethika's son. She's another cool bird (as Brigit would say). Badri went for this one.
Molly went to gymnastics. She loves going twice a week.
April 11, 2010
Maya and Molly went to art at Nilu's. She wouldn't let me pay for Molly. Says she won't until Molly is really learning from her. Right now Molly's pretty much doing her own thing and not taking instruction. Pay 1500rs for Maya's four classes a month--'tis but a pittance.
Had a potluck dinner at Kitty's with the kids.
Today was Charlie last day of YFCC football. He had such an amazing blast with all his buddies. Not a bad player either.
Had a swimming playdate and lunch with Vini and kids.
April 12, 2010
Maya and Charlie started tennis in Jeevan Bhima Nagar with instructor Mukesh. They go 8-10 am MWF for 2500rs. It's about 208rs (apx $4, or $2/hr) a lesson. Badri figured, wisely, if they were at all inclined to play tennis, it'd be cheaper to get them started here in India. (In September 2010, we paid $14 per hour, so about seven times more expensive here).
Dev came for a playdate with Charlie after tennis class.
Had a meeting and lunch with Priti.
Swam at Park Hotel with the kids and Badri stopped by for a visit. 3390rs for swimming fee, plus two beers, two hot chocolates, and one sweet lime soda.
Vini left for the US, so I won't see her again until we meet up in the US at some point. Or if we go visit Bangalore and she's still there. I think Mohanjit has a couple more years on his contract with a venture capital firm based in the bay area.
Molly went to Khushi's for a playdate and Maya to Lakshya's.
Badri had a meeting with Wipro.
Met Badri at Fabindia and we chose curtains, then went to Thar where we picked a cabinet and designed it so they could change it into a bar. Gorgeous dark wood, with tribal artwork on the door from Chattisgarh. 25,800rs. total of 29,800 including conversion. $580
April 14, 2010
Went to Wonder la. Always a favorite with the kids Amazingly not crowded. Had a blast in the wave pool. Molly has no fear and goes to the very front where the waves are about 12 feet high.
April 15, 2010
Molly to Preety's for a lesson.
I met Nupur at Ants four coffee so that she could pass along a gift to Maya from her son Zaki. So sweet--it was a grain of rice on a necklace with Maya's name written on it.
April 17, 2010
Maya and Molly went to art, and Charlie for a playdaet to Gitushka's at Embassy Woods apartment complex. Whenever I go here I think of Marylouise and Inder, because this was their first place in Bangalore.
Speaking of Marylouise, we went to her place in the early evening to get together with her family, and Marion and Brigit's families. While there, Hugh got a call from a friend in New Zealand asking if he was at the Chinnaswamy Cricket stadium. The Twenty20 (a shorter form of cricket) was going on, a match between Mumbai and Bangalore, and a couple bombs went off injuring 20 people. Amazingly, the match went on, only postponed by an hour. That's how crazy Indian fans are about their cricket!
April 18, 2010
Maya went to piano, then the whole family went to the Inox movie theatre to see "How to Train Your Dragon." Strongly reminiscent of "Avatar" with dragons flying through the air.
April 19, 2010
Suhasini and Vedarth came over for lunch. Vedarth is one of Charlie's classmates and soccer buddies. Suhasini is one of my favorite moms from his class.
Did a Ms. Smith phone call for Deepma Jadeja, who was conducting a training.
Summer school has started, and I have the kids signed up for various activities. From 2-5, Charlie went to Pure Play, and Maya and Molly had Bollywood dance.
In the evening, Badri and I went out to dinner with Tiki and Phil at Road Trip. They're leaving Bangalore in the next couple weeks after being here for a few years. They'll spend some time in Japan and then figure out where to next.
April 20, 2010
Badri and I had quite a fun time shopping at Sunri, a place I'd wanted to pick up things since I first ventured in a couple years ago. We spent 38,500rs on a musket box (20k rs), coffee table (17,500rs), foyer table (10,500rs), antique stool, and eight whimsical coat hooks made out of giant colorful flies. Hmmm, that doesn't quiet add up, now does it?
Veronique and Emmanuel, our friends from France, came over for dinner. They lived only about a block from us when we were in our first house (next door to Tutu and Sangeetha), but now they're only a ten minute walk. They'll be leaving Bangalore a few months after us. They have three children, like us, and it's been fascinating to see their oldest two, Matthias and Marie, make the adjustment to India, especially to the language. Matthias had quite a "silent period" which I know was very difficult for him and Veronique. Then he came out with English like a flood. Since Marie was even younger when they came (I think they came about three years ago, when she was almost two), she's not even considered a second language learner by Neev School. It's like she has two first languages! How cool is that?
April 21, 2010
Went for a walk with Divya. Namrata came over afterwards and I parted with all our Thomas the Tank Engine stuff. Her son Vidur will get a lot of use out of it.
Phil, Josephine and Ben came over for a visit before heading back to the UK.
Further furnishing of our Lincoln house from Fabindia: 11,500rs for a bookshelf (later we'd get to Lincoln and kick ourselves for not buying two!).
Molly to Iccha's for a sleepover.
Koyal came over to watch the kids, and Andrew, Alice, Andy, Badri and I had dinner at Medici's, a new Italians restaurant on 100ft rd. not far from our house. Not bad at all. And we had a fantastic time. Terrific senses of humor those Brits and Aussies, if I may massively generalize.
April 22, 2010
Had the girls--Divya, Brinda, Chaitali, and Deepdi--over for dinner and had an outrageously fun time. These women know how to enjoy themselves. They're all moms to Molly's classmates, except for Deepdi, whose son was Maya's classmate at Neev.
April 23, 2010
Janaki auntie, Babu uncle, Rishi and Kajoli came over for dinner. Somehow we all knew that the nine of us would never break chapati again all together. But Janaki auntie was in good spirits.
April 24, 2010
Went over to Sheena and George's for a visit. Maya was great friends with their son Justin at Neev, and Melvin was in Molly's class.
April 25, 2010
Had dinner at Kitty's.
April 26, 2010
Walked with Divya.
Molly started swim classes at the Koramangala Golf Association Club, many thanks to Irfana, who is a member there and is allowed to have a guest. Lessons go until May 16. Molly and Alyna became even closer friends over this time. These lessons are wildly popular because Nisha Millet is the coach. She was the first Indian swimmer to qualify for the 200m in the Olympics.
This evening had Nilu (artist and teacher), Jhumki and Miss Jamal over for dinner. All three have been our favorite teachers in our time here in Bangalore. We'd also asked Rhoda Rodriguez, Charlie's prep (kindergarten) teacher, but she was unable to come. Except for Nilu, they're all at Mallya Aditi International School. Miss Jamal had been a full-time teacher there for years, then was called back to work part-time as a reading specialist. She has a gift for recognizing what's special in each child. All three kids read with her, but Molly I think benefited the most. Jhumki was Maya's third grade teacher and Maya was thrilled to be in her class. She really has a way of turning kids on to learning. Kids playfully call her "the dragon" but she is very calm and commands respect from kids like I've never seen, while being loving at the same time.
Helped Maya pack for her first away camp.
April 27, 2010
Sent our longtime coffee table over to Molly's tutor, Preeti. We'd bought that table in San Diego about 13 years ago from our Hillcrest neighborhood. Unvarnished wood planks with black legs and latticework shelf. Really not a fine piece of furniture, but I was kind of sad to see it go, dog-chewed corner and all.
Went to book club at Alice's with Alice, Alla, Marylouise, Sheena, and Kitty. They gave me an incredibly beautiful wooden box (it had Thar "written all over it"). Inside was a scarf, glasses case, and jeweled notepad. Thoughtfully chosen by Marylouise to keep by my bedside for book, glasses, and notes. Alice, ever the amazing host, put out an amazing spread that very few can keep up with.
April 28, 2010
At the crack of dawn, Badri brought Maya to the train station where she departed for herfirst overnight camp--six days! We were all a bit nervous about it. I had a nice talk with Maya last night, asking her if she was nervous. She has such confidence and throws herself so enthusiastically into projects that sometimes I forget that she's only nine and, sure enough, she felt a little nervous about leaving me and Appa for the first time for so long.
Badri's cousin Ranjan, his wife Jaya, and six year old daughter Meera came over for dinner tonight. We gave her lots of western and Indian clothes that Maya and Molly don't fit into or wouldn't use in the states. Good to know it's going to someone who will appreciate it. Meera's such a little cutie.
April 29, 2010
Badri brought Molly and Charlie to see "How to Train Your Dragon" for the second time, and I met Marylouise for lunch.
April 30, 2010
Badri's eldest brother, Ravi, came for a few days visit with his wife Malani and son Appu. Brought them to Unicorn, a restaurant specializing in Mangalorean seafood that Priya and Kush had introduced us to. It was so adorable to see Charlie dress up for dinner. He wore a pair of black dress pants I thought he'd never wear, as well as a buttondown shirt with a collar. He adores and idolizes Appu and it's so cool to see.
May 1, 2010
Went for breakfast at the Egg Factory--our favorite breakfast joint--then to UB City for a tour of the over-the-top opulent mall. Then dropped by Alla and Chris's to see them and Bruno. Had an interesting conversation about the Indian economy. A few minutes into the conversation, I mentioned to Chris that Ravi was a business editor, and Chris
Friday, October 01, 2010
October 2010 Update from Lincoln
October 1, 2010
Heavenly morning. At around 6:15, the beginning of sunrise had the sky dappled peach. I called Maya out and I had my coffee and she her egg and toast. A gorgeous breeze blowing through. Charlie said yesterday "Maple trees rule!" because he loves the color of their fallen leaves. We have mostly small yellow leaves falling from the massive tree in our backyard.
Heavenly morning. At around 6:15, the beginning of sunrise had the sky dappled peach. I called Maya out and I had my coffee and she her egg and toast. A gorgeous breeze blowing through. Charlie said yesterday "Maple trees rule!" because he loves the color of their fallen leaves. We have mostly small yellow leaves falling from the massive tree in our backyard.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
September 2010 Update from Lincoln
September 2010 Update from Boston
September 1, 2010
The kids are back in school, kids are back in school! And we have plenty of company: Byrne's Landscape is here clearing out all the undergrowth and we subcontracted New England Household movers who picked up our shipment from India at the port. It arrived last Friday (August 27) and went through customs. They x-ray 80% of the containers (ours is a 20 ft container) and Diem (with the shipping company in Texas) had told us beforehand it could get held up, but we were lucky. It did stop in Italy on the way here, and we had to pay $150 extra (I wonder how many lira that is--or euros, I suppose) for customs inspection there.
September 18, 2010
Brought Charlie to soccer.
Maya had a game at Concord. Ended in a 2-2 tie. We went along with the team to Bedford Farms in Concord for ice cream. Ruby's mom Nina was there and she mentioned that Maya said she misses school in India, where you walked in outdoor hallways between classes, rather than inside a building. She seems the least enthusiastic about school here at this point. She really loved Aditi.
Badri and I went to the John Coltrane 33rd Memorial Concert at the Blackman Theatre at Northeastern University. Left home 5:45, picked up tickets at 6:30, walked over to Our House--a favorite old bar of Badri and his buddies--for a drink, then back at the theatre for a 7:30 (almost) start.
September 22, 2010
I'm still getting emails from MAIS, Mallya Aditi International School--where Maya went to school in Bangalore from 2007-2010, and Molly and Charlie in 2009-2010. My eyebrows went up as I read the latest email from Satish Jayarajan, the principal, "In light of the uncertainty prevailing over the Babri verdict, [examinations will be postponed and and parent teacher conferences re-scheduled]." Janaki auntie was always lending me books, and the last book she gave me weeks before she died was Indian Odyssey by Martin Buckley. Written in 2005, it weaves tales of his adventures in India over the years (first in the 1980s and then in 2004) with his abridged version of the epic Ramayana. Why the raised eyebrows? The Babri verdict refers to the courts deciding who is right--the Hindus or Muslim--s. 60 year dispute Badri just said his friend Praveen was when the Mughals invaded Ayodya, they destroyed Ram's temple and built the Babri masjid on top. So in 1980 the BJP's Hindu fundamentalist stormtroopers destroyed the mosque. So this verdict is all about deciding who's right and who's wrong--the Hindus or the Muslims.
September 1, 2010
The kids are back in school, kids are back in school! And we have plenty of company: Byrne's Landscape is here clearing out all the undergrowth and we subcontracted New England Household movers who picked up our shipment from India at the port. It arrived last Friday (August 27) and went through customs. They x-ray 80% of the containers (ours is a 20 ft container) and Diem (with the shipping company in Texas) had told us beforehand it could get held up, but we were lucky. It did stop in Italy on the way here, and we had to pay $150 extra (I wonder how many lira that is--or euros, I suppose) for customs inspection there.
September 18, 2010
Brought Charlie to soccer.
Maya had a game at Concord. Ended in a 2-2 tie. We went along with the team to Bedford Farms in Concord for ice cream. Ruby's mom Nina was there and she mentioned that Maya said she misses school in India, where you walked in outdoor hallways between classes, rather than inside a building. She seems the least enthusiastic about school here at this point. She really loved Aditi.
Badri and I went to the John Coltrane 33rd Memorial Concert at the Blackman Theatre at Northeastern University. Left home 5:45, picked up tickets at 6:30, walked over to Our House--a favorite old bar of Badri and his buddies--for a drink, then back at the theatre for a 7:30 (almost) start.
September 22, 2010
I'm still getting emails from MAIS, Mallya Aditi International School--where Maya went to school in Bangalore from 2007-2010, and Molly and Charlie in 2009-2010. My eyebrows went up as I read the latest email from Satish Jayarajan, the principal, "In light of the uncertainty prevailing over the Babri verdict, [examinations will be postponed and and parent teacher conferences re-scheduled]." Janaki auntie was always lending me books, and the last book she gave me weeks before she died was Indian Odyssey by Martin Buckley. Written in 2005, it weaves tales of his adventures in India over the years (first in the 1980s and then in 2004) with his abridged version of the epic Ramayana. Why the raised eyebrows? The Babri verdict refers to the courts deciding who is right--the Hindus or Muslim--s. 60 year dispute Badri just said his friend Praveen was when the Mughals invaded Ayodya, they destroyed Ram's temple and built the Babri masjid on top. So in 1980 the BJP's Hindu fundamentalist stormtroopers destroyed the mosque. So this verdict is all about deciding who's right and who's wrong--the Hindus or the Muslims.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
August 2010 update from Boston
August 10, 2010
Moved into Lincoln last week, or 9 days ago. Moving van showed up, miles long, and i almost had a heart attach, thinking it was all our stuff. Nine other families things were loaded on the van.
Big switch from urban to rural. But it's really beautiful. Hot and humid, but so nice to see so much greenery around. Kids thriving. Taking swimming lessons at Codman pool, outdoor pool that's open from June to September.
Meeting some nice families with children the kids' ages. Sarah Liepert is my first Lincoln friend. Met her at the tennis court, and she has a daughter Ava who will be in Maya's class. Met Cecilia at the pool last week, whose son is Aidan, Molly's age. We met the next door neighbors day before yesterday. Craig and Louise have daughters Lucie and Maya, who are Maya and Molly's ages. Today met Elizabeth, whose daughters Chloe and Sylvie are Maya and Molly's ages.
Going on month five of kids being out of school. They finished up at Aditi on April 7, and here we are the 10th of August. I guess technically it's "only" four months, but it feels like five. Why five months out of school? India's summer (when kids are out of school) is Apr/May, and here in the US they're out from mid-June til first week of Sept. I just have to remember that they'll be grown up before I know it. Mom gave me a lovely framed saying: "Speak kinds words and you'll hear kind echoes." Gotta remember that daily.
Fantastic first visit to the library last week. Librarian Debbie got them all set up with cards and told us about activities there.
Moved into Lincoln last week, or 9 days ago. Moving van showed up, miles long, and i almost had a heart attach, thinking it was all our stuff. Nine other families things were loaded on the van.
Big switch from urban to rural. But it's really beautiful. Hot and humid, but so nice to see so much greenery around. Kids thriving. Taking swimming lessons at Codman pool, outdoor pool that's open from June to September.
Meeting some nice families with children the kids' ages. Sarah Liepert is my first Lincoln friend. Met her at the tennis court, and she has a daughter Ava who will be in Maya's class. Met Cecilia at the pool last week, whose son is Aidan, Molly's age. We met the next door neighbors day before yesterday. Craig and Louise have daughters Lucie and Maya, who are Maya and Molly's ages. Today met Elizabeth, whose daughters Chloe and Sylvie are Maya and Molly's ages.
Going on month five of kids being out of school. They finished up at Aditi on April 7, and here we are the 10th of August. I guess technically it's "only" four months, but it feels like five. Why five months out of school? India's summer (when kids are out of school) is Apr/May, and here in the US they're out from mid-June til first week of Sept. I just have to remember that they'll be grown up before I know it. Mom gave me a lovely framed saying: "Speak kinds words and you'll hear kind echoes." Gotta remember that daily.
Fantastic first visit to the library last week. Librarian Debbie got them all set up with cards and told us about activities there.
