We were allowed to return to our homes on Thursday afternoon. Our home is safe though our yard looked like a war zone. Our Garage and our yard were covered with a layer of fine black dust, dry leaves and objects that flew in from others yard. We had no power, phone and internet for several days. Pretty much felt like camping in our own home.
We had quite a bit of cleaning to do especially the kitchen which smelt of spoil food, I had to throw out a lot of food. One good reason to clean my entire refrigerator :)
I am very glad that my fishes in the pond survived the ordeal though the pond was covered with ashes and dry leaves and they went without food for several days, It was a day's job to get it cleaned. we have our power, phone connection all restored over the weekend and life is comming back to some normalcy for most of San Diego. Even though the fire is not all out I am hoping they will be able to contain it eventually.
Kirthi is back to school; about 20 teachers and around 348 students lost their home in his school district. I would like to thank you all on behalf of jay, kirthi and myself for all your support and prayers.
31 October 2007
29 October 2007
Rain, rain
Chennai got to see non-stop rain on Sunday to the extent that the government declared a holiday for all schools on Monday. They probably expected it to rain continuously today too but fortunately the city woke up to a clearer sky and some sun. My son's little school also decided to make the most of the govt order and declare a holiday today.
In the night, we could hear a cyclone brewing as the wind lashed against our windows and the aluminium window frames trembled in the onslaught.
Just one day of rain and the rain-starved, water-starved city-dwellers feel they have had enough.
Chennaites almost sang:
Rain, rain go away
Come again another day (but not on a Sunday)
All of us want to shop
Do not show your face again (until Diwali at least!)
In the night, we could hear a cyclone brewing as the wind lashed against our windows and the aluminium window frames trembled in the onslaught.
Just one day of rain and the rain-starved, water-starved city-dwellers feel they have had enough.
Chennaites almost sang:
Rain, rain go away
Come again another day (but not on a Sunday)
All of us want to shop
Do not show your face again (until Diwali at least!)
Maha's missive
I spoke to Sunita over the weekend and promised her that I would update you all. Her house, fortunately is still standing although covered in soot and other debri. Some of her neighbours have lost their houses and Suni and her family are really grateful that their place wasn't damaged.
It was a nightmarish experience as she woke up at 3 a.m. and found everything around them - the mountains not far from them, burning. They had to evacuate with just their passports. Luckily a friend of theirs was able to host them for a couple of days. Schools were closed and employees were not expected to be at work. On their way out of ther campus they had to clear a tree that was felled by the fires.
Sunita was coughing a lot as she was allergic to all that was going on around her. Jay and Karthik were cleaning up.
The worst is over. The cleaning and reorganizing remains. Good luck guys and glad to know all three of you are well.
Maha.
It was a nightmarish experience as she woke up at 3 a.m. and found everything around them - the mountains not far from them, burning. They had to evacuate with just their passports. Luckily a friend of theirs was able to host them for a couple of days. Schools were closed and employees were not expected to be at work. On their way out of ther campus they had to clear a tree that was felled by the fires.
Sunita was coughing a lot as she was allergic to all that was going on around her. Jay and Karthik were cleaning up.
The worst is over. The cleaning and reorganizing remains. Good luck guys and glad to know all three of you are well.
Maha.
27 October 2007
Railing at the railways
I did something in record time today. I boarded a bus to the Central Railway Station, which is two stops away from my office - say 3 km - booked two tickets at two different counters and got back to work - all in the matter of 30 minutes! Amazing by Indian standards, I'd say.
For one, I didnt have to wait long to get a bus to and fro. For another, there was no queue at the ladies counter and the credit card counter being lunch time. Only I was surprised the booking was on at lunch hours. But then, I think each counter has a half hour lunch/tea break but they all dont fall at the same time. And luckily for me, both my destinations had a reservation clerk in attendance.
And mind you, they are not the unpleasant kind we had to endure when we were in college. We dreaded going to the Mambalam reservation office 15 years ago with the students' concession forms duly signed and stamped by the Dean's office. The clerk would somehow find fault and make us make at least 3 trips to the office - first to book our tickets before they were all sold out during the vacation rush, second to book a revised ticket with our concession forms in tow (but they would spot some error in it) and third with the foolproof form once again - seething inside, we pretended to be extremely courteous and polite while the clerk behaved as if he/she were doing us a personal favour. As if it were his/her personal funds and not that of the Railways.
Well, the fact is the Indian Railways is trying to seem more people friendly with a cut-throat businessman of a Minister heading it. But Laloo has straightened quite a few things with India's largest employer. The PSU in fact is reaping profits. What with Tatkal tickets booked at Rs.75 (AC 200) in the off season of July-Sept. and Rs.150/300 in the remaining season, and a charge of Rs. 10 extra for return tickets booked and many other such little charges... And they still sell like hot cakes. And no one is complaining either.
* I know the above topic might not interest many of you, but I hope this will fill the interlude till Miller's epic post comes.
For one, I didnt have to wait long to get a bus to and fro. For another, there was no queue at the ladies counter and the credit card counter being lunch time. Only I was surprised the booking was on at lunch hours. But then, I think each counter has a half hour lunch/tea break but they all dont fall at the same time. And luckily for me, both my destinations had a reservation clerk in attendance.
And mind you, they are not the unpleasant kind we had to endure when we were in college. We dreaded going to the Mambalam reservation office 15 years ago with the students' concession forms duly signed and stamped by the Dean's office. The clerk would somehow find fault and make us make at least 3 trips to the office - first to book our tickets before they were all sold out during the vacation rush, second to book a revised ticket with our concession forms in tow (but they would spot some error in it) and third with the foolproof form once again - seething inside, we pretended to be extremely courteous and polite while the clerk behaved as if he/she were doing us a personal favour. As if it were his/her personal funds and not that of the Railways.
Well, the fact is the Indian Railways is trying to seem more people friendly with a cut-throat businessman of a Minister heading it. But Laloo has straightened quite a few things with India's largest employer. The PSU in fact is reaping profits. What with Tatkal tickets booked at Rs.75 (AC 200) in the off season of July-Sept. and Rs.150/300 in the remaining season, and a charge of Rs. 10 extra for return tickets booked and many other such little charges... And they still sell like hot cakes. And no one is complaining either.
* I know the above topic might not interest many of you, but I hope this will fill the interlude till Miller's epic post comes.
26 October 2007
The wildfires of CA
I had not seen this message from Sunita until now. I hope posting this on the blog will benefit those who didnt see it in their email inbox.
"Thanks for inquiring, it means a lot to us. 3 houses in our area completely burned down. I hope ours will still hold up. We are not allowed to go back yet. We are still at our friend's place. I am not sure when we will be able to get back. I hope it is sooner than later. But eventually what matters is we are safe.
Lot of our neighbors had to move couple of times since the place they evacuated to were not safe either. One of our neighbor had to move three times before they eventually managed to get back to Del Mar ( to their relative's house) were the authorities let the residents move in. Rancho Bernardo is were we live and it is still off limits since it was one of the hardest hit areas. As of now around 280 homes have been completely destroyed just in Rancho Bernardo alone. It seems like we will not be able to go back for another couple of days???? I hope we( not just us but the whole of San Diego) can put this ordeal behind us as early as possible. I will keep you all posted as much as I can.
Regards, Sunita"
"Thanks for inquiring, it means a lot to us. 3 houses in our area completely burned down. I hope ours will still hold up. We are not allowed to go back yet. We are still at our friend's place. I am not sure when we will be able to get back. I hope it is sooner than later. But eventually what matters is we are safe.
Lot of our neighbors had to move couple of times since the place they evacuated to were not safe either. One of our neighbor had to move three times before they eventually managed to get back to Del Mar ( to their relative's house) were the authorities let the residents move in. Rancho Bernardo is were we live and it is still off limits since it was one of the hardest hit areas. As of now around 280 homes have been completely destroyed just in Rancho Bernardo alone. It seems like we will not be able to go back for another couple of days???? I hope we( not just us but the whole of San Diego) can put this ordeal behind us as early as possible. I will keep you all posted as much as I can.
Regards, Sunita"
23 October 2007
Usha the dancer
I will try and put some more pics of our conventions talent show. Check out UST dancing sitting! Our whole family was there. You can check out the website for more - www.yuvajanaconvention.com
22 October 2007
20 October 2007
European English!
The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.
As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".
In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.
In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where! more komplikated changes are possible.
Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.
Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.
By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as
replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".
During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensi bl riten styl.
Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.
Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas. ul
If zis mad you smil, pleas pas on to oza pepl
As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".
In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.
In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where! more komplikated changes are possible.
Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.
Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.
By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as
replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".
During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensi bl riten styl.
Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.
Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas. ul
If zis mad you smil, pleas pas on to oza pepl
17 October 2007
Back to basix
I am on a comic reading spree now. After finishing Asterix and the Golden Sickle, I am now reading Asterix and the Magic Carpet.
No, I am not reading it out to my son. A colleague is lending them to me and I am reading them at work breaks - which explains the blog silence.
Asterix has been a favorite reading material for me though I was introduced pretty late in my childhood - or was it adolscence? Tintin had been an equal favorite but now I feel Asterix makes more enjoyable reading for an adult.
I am told that the entire Asterix series is available at the Hindu shopping plaza on the net for Rs. 12000 odd. You also get 22 Tintins free. Not bad, eh?
No, I am not reading it out to my son. A colleague is lending them to me and I am reading them at work breaks - which explains the blog silence.
Asterix has been a favorite reading material for me though I was introduced pretty late in my childhood - or was it adolscence? Tintin had been an equal favorite but now I feel Asterix makes more enjoyable reading for an adult.
I am told that the entire Asterix series is available at the Hindu shopping plaza on the net for Rs. 12000 odd. You also get 22 Tintins free. Not bad, eh?
09 October 2007
CONVENTION-DETROIT 2007
The national conference was this time our church 's (DETROIT) responsibility. From the day it was announced it was tensions, meetings, raising funds, organizing - the last few weeks even sleepless nights for convener's and others. Dance/song practices were all part of other things for sleepless nights. For topic and some comments/photos you can check out in the web site http://www.yuvajanaconvention.com/
We had 1 Bishop, 5 achens (priests), 3 main speakers for the topic"ROOTED AND CONNECTED IN CHRIST AS A DIASPORA COMMUNITY" . Sam George (1 speaker) has published a book called " coconut". website... http://www.coconutgeneration.com/He talks about his personal life.. in the symposium ,and rate of divorce increasing.. identity thefts-struggles of Indian American youth,raising children is like baking cake,can have disaster's!Children feel uprooted, scattered, transplant them and they are like invisible people- children feel exposed. Need care and attention like plants re potted. Have cultural disorientation- can't perform. His favorite was Tarzan, Phantom; he showed "Tarzan 2 Disney's" cartoon the kid trying to find who he is.."someone tell me where i belong..i got to find my way... place where i could be.. a place i fully belong" song.. these are the feelings of 2nd generation... the Ape later tells Tarzan "u are simply u".. we have to find our uniqueness.
Take the healthy habits of the generations' American/our cultures.
Sam George ended the talk with quote from Mother Teresa' Whom he had met.."By blood &origin Am Albanian,by citizenship I am a Indian, AM a catholic nun, as to my calling I belong to the whole world as to my heart I belong entirely to Jesus".
Reny Samuel spoke about traditions ,language and other things which an Australian survey did -their results .Her emphasis was on the Diaspora meaning, transition-not able to understand Lang..structural or multilingusiam.. ,pluralism-Lang,religion,ideology..
our goal is the binding factor.Borrow positive core values.
These are the few sessions I sat through.And took notes like in college.. We gave all who registered a file with pen, paper pad,name tags a book with songs, worship/meeting times/food serving time...
They had Bible studies, kids session ,group discussions,competitions,talent night,camp fire which kept everyone awake from morning 6 sh to late night 3 ish...our church got prizes for solo/group song competition,quiz too.
I was part of food committee that meant i had a reason to disappear.so sat through only part of the program..what with running round getting kids ready for dance, food/snacks clean ups, getting our selves ready for our talents..!
our bodies are all aches and pains.. everyone of us trying to catch up on sleep too!
hope this will keep the blog awake. Rosh, is this enough!
hope you all had a good week end. please do find time to write a few lines.. either in chat/comments/blog.
God bless.
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