Just a quote

I like being a mother, but hate being pregnant.

A Request

My father has been working on getting a permanent CBSE affiliation of Sri Sankara School in Kalady, Ernakulam Distt., Kerala for almost four years. The school was setup to provide quality education at minimal fees from the underprivileged students. The permanent affiliation is renewed once in three years, based on the audits conducted by CBSE on its specified standards.

During the initial settling years, he worked on standardising on qualification and quality and further on the salaries of the teachers. Gradually he moved onto standardising the infrastructure in terms of CBSE specifications (Classrooms, Auditorium, furniture, Labs, Staff etc.). After multiple audits, the affilliation was granted. As the school is run by the Mutt, there are very tight budgetary constraints. The school requires funds for books in the library, sports equipments and playground equipments for the primary school.

Request you all to donate generously for this cause. My father will get an Sec 80G exemption certificate as well. When the money is transferred, kindly mark the details to my father at ksvenkat46@yahoo.co.in. The account details are:

Sri Sankara Educational Trust
Union Bank of India, Kalady Branch
SB A/C No. 338602010018242
IFSC Code: UBIN0533866

Concertino

Ganesh's interest in percussions is still going strong. So while he is at it, Shiv thinks that he should be going to some class where he will be allowed to just sit and watch, may be for half an hour for a couple of times in a month. While enquiring for him at Purandara Bhavan, I got to know about other instruments and vocal classes. Because of their stringent age criteria of seven, I considered joining Hindustani classical for myself. When I communicated this to Shiv, he said, "I wish you join the Mridangam classes and teach him."
Me: I thought I will sing and he will play mridangam. ;)
Shiv: What? May be I should join the mridangam class and start teaching him.
Me: PLEASE. I don't think its a nice idea. People coming up with age criteria for starting, there must be some sense in it.
Shiv: Hmm
Me: Why don't you join voilin class and we can all perform together. JUST IMAGINE (with the dream-come-true-sparkle-in-the-eyes tone)
Shiv (Embarrased with the thought itself): Leave me alone for sometime.

Art of conversations

As Ganesh is growing up, it is a pleasure talking to the little person that he is. The clarity in his priorities and interests makes very interesting conversations with him.

He has a lot of interest in percussion instruments and enjoys watching different videos of concerts on the internet.  Even in live performances, he focuses more on percussionists. I asked him what he likes most. Mridangam, Chendai, Drums, Tabla or Ghatam.
Ganesh: "Thavil dhaan aettom pidikkum" (I like Thavil the most)
Me: :)

5:30 am. Milk time. He generally gets milk at room temparature and continues to sleep after that. One day, he had mild cough and had bouts of cough in the middle of the night too. That morning, I informed him that he will get warm milk. Fellow doesnt like the idea and tries to negotiate. In the process, he loses his sleep and further negotiates not wanting to have the warm milk. After being left with no choice,  he had to have it and immediately after that, he has a bout of cough.
Ganesh: "Paaru amma. Chood-a tinnuttum koraikkardu" (See amma. Even after eating it warm, I am coughing and repeats this statement for a couple of more times)
I had no other choice than to hold him tightly and kiss him on his forehead.

During one of the morning walks, he observes a person going on motorcycle and asks, "Shivakumar-te bike illaya?" (Why doesn't Shivakumar have a bike?). I replied," He had one, but somebody stole it."
He gets angry and throws expletives,"We should hit and fix him. We should hand him over to the police. We should leave him with the ducks."
(We take time to see what the ducks do at Manipal Hospital garden area during every visit there. So whenever he throws tantrums, I say, "I will leave you with the ducks and you eat what they eat.")
As much as I laughed at it, I thought to myself, if I am using right words with him when it is difficult to deal with him :(.

Happy New Year

On the onset of 2010, a dear friend of mine wished me with HNY. A tubelight that I am, just didn't get it. I had to google it and found another full form and as usual thought "Isko kya ho gaya!!!".

And after I realised that it was the new year wish, thought, "Aisa mere saath hi kyu hota hai?"

Nonetheless folks! Have a good time. Masst raho khush raho.