The Naughty Tricycle

The peapod is usually with me in the kitchen when I am preparing dinner. Watching me. Infact she is all over the place wanting to do everything I do, wash stuff, store, pick stuff from the fridge, add masalas so on and so forth. She uses her tricycle to come stand next to me to get a good view of the kitchen platform. The tricycle was gifted to her by my cousins on her first birthday. She uses her legs to waddle around the room. She still doesn't peddle it but she is found on it, in it almost all the time she is home. Anyway coming back to the point, the other day she stood on the cycle next to me to watch me do stuff and then the cycle rolled backwards when she tried to lean forward. She immediately went down and instructed the puppet on the tricycle which is the horn to "stand straight". She stood up again and leaned over me and again the cycle rolled. She went back down and smacked the puppet and said 'parazhille, stand straight' meaning, didn't I tell you to stand straight. The third time over she went back making little frustrated noises and said, "cycle naughty aa, time out venam?" meaning, are you naughty? do you need a time out? I couldn't help laughing and I told her peapod is very funny. Ofcourse my little mallu kutty had not heard the word "funny". She did not understand. She look at me puzzled "Mumma enda pazhajne(forgive me my manglish spellings), peapod ne pani illa, mumma marrannu poi?" meaning, Mumma what are you saying, did you forget peapod doesn't have fever(funny = pani)?
And then I had to explain how she was making me laugh and so she was funny :).

Sometimes I just want to kiss and freeze her innocence in a time capsule.

Vote Earth

I invite you to join Earth Hour,a global movement by World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness about climate change.

VOTE EARTH

YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF is urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights.

In 2009, India joins Earth Hour for the first time. New Delhi and Mumbai are among 825 cities across 80 countries and territories that have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet.

People from 825 cities across 80 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour on Saturday, March 28, 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time.

March 28th is the peapod's birthday and we will be holidaying. Lets see what I can do about putting off the lights at the resort where we will be but atleast the lights will be switched off back home :).

Join the movement by signing up at http://www.earthhour.in/

A little this and that

The amount of money I pay in taxes and the amount of money I spend towards punctures, new tyres, servicing my 2-wheeler, doctor, medicines and take-homes because my back is hurt(ok maybe that is just one of the 101 excuses I use) is so not fair.
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PMC is finally building a parallel bridge and a flyover over the Holkar bridge. I am not sure I will be crossing this bridge by the time its done but its still great to see bridges being built. When we came to Pune in 1998 from Bombay we thought it was a very sad place. We have cried and told dad that this was a bad decision. This city has grown on me and I love it now. Going back to Bombay now gives me the nightmares.
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It wasn't enough that I was addicted to a handful of mommy bloggers and a few more that now I am addicted to a handful of design and gardening blogs as well. I feel so good for nothing.
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I joined a fitness center AGAIN last month after paying obscene amount of money. I have been out all of last week since I was down with cold. I have been dreaming about the cheque they will present this month and that made me get up at 5:30am and go gyming. In 4 weeks I haven't reduced 1 kilo. I can not follow diets. I believe I eat healthy and I can not have roti instead of rice at night. A mallu after all.
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After way too many arguments, thoughts and counter-arguments we have moved to a rental house very close to my mom's place. I feel so domesticated. I have managed breakfast, lunches in dabbas, peapod's school & dinner. I never knew I could do it. This is the second time I am moving to a rental place and starting from scratch, spoons, cookers & bed. The first was in the US when us, 4 girls moved to a rental place after deciding to let go the luxuries of a company provided flat and car for more money. It was fun.
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The little boy in the family, as I am typing this, I hope finally has a name. Its been long overdue. My sis & my bro-in-law have been switching between Neil & Johnathan for over 2 months. Which one do you like?
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The peapod is scared of cats. I threaten her with cats every morning while she gulps her milk. She hates milk. I hate it too. My mom hated it too but I wasn't spared, so I don't see a good reason to spare her the torture as well.
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I miss seeing and hearing the jellybean. I call her and after talking to me for less than a min will demand to talk to the peapod. And then they share stories about cats and dogs and school. I didn't know the peapod knew she was going to playschool untill I heard her tell jellybean. The peapod threatens me with a 'You are not going to Baroda' when she has nothing more to say.
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One afternoon the peapod got up and said she dreamt Appacha (grandfather), the one in the photograph. I was shocked. Maybe the grandfather who was in such a hurry to go, wanted to play with his grand daughter.
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P surprised me one morning with tea in bed. Wow!!! And ever since I have asked him to take it over. I know, I should not expect any more surprises in a long time to come.
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I have begun teaching 5 year olds in Sunday school. It is very very difficult to teach 5 year olds. This sunday trying to teach them to care and help, I asked them who do they love best, expecting to hear mom and dad but it was the brother or sister they named and some even said xenna the dog and katie the fish. So all you mommies and daddies all this running around is in vain, you are always second or third on that list.
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There are a whole lot of birthdays this month and each one of them are a personal favourite in one way of the other including my daughter's. So in case I do not get to each of you in time as has been my record, I wish you all lots of happiness and good health and through out the year. May God bless.
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Life is good :)