So many things…First and foremost,Diwali:)
Remember the list I made a few days ago..I have done much…Something else is going on..I cant say anything about it just yet..may be will be able to share more in a day or two.
Next is weddings..suddenly,so many people I know are getting married..cousins friends..acquaintances..some have found happiness second time around..I wish them all luck..and wish I was there to enjoy their wedding dinners.
And there are babies…its literally raining babies…old friends,blog friends,DH’s co-workers..new friends..
Then,ofcourse there is the driving…I am enjoying it more and more..Its almost like an addiction.
Speaking of addictions,I am addicted to Farmville and Sorority life.I set aside time for these brainless games:D..and I must say I enjoy it immensely.
I finished Sewing a sundress for Aadya..well almost..just have to finish the hemming,tomorrow.
More later..my strawberries are ready to be harvested:)

This little guy and his siblings,started off as granny square coasters…and then,a friend suggested that if there was a mobile cover with the central square of the granny sq,it would look cute!So,I folded the square like a burrito and sewed the seam with single crochet,added a slip stitch strap and ta-da..you get a granny mobile cozy!

For this project,I used-
Spotlight basics -Multi colored 8 ply cotton yarn
Pattern was my very own.
If you need a a set pattern,leave a comment and I will put it up here.

The mobile cozy in the middle,the blue one,is another one of my crochet as you go..its just right for the iPhone.I used shell stitch in that.

Today was again cricket time,for DH and Mum-Aadi were alone. Yeah I know you cant be alone,if there’s two of you..but still..you know what I mean.

I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned..to declutter my mind of all the irritation.Its hard enough that S is gone all week,working long hours..and then,this cricket thing started.I try to be understanding about it..I know he is really passionate about it..but,then,what about family time?If you think,I am being unreasonable,Please dont tell me,that there is Sunday..just listen to me vent and hold my hand,atleast today..Tomorrow,you can come back and yell at me,and ask me to get my act together:)

I told him,today,that I have no issues about his sports..but he needs to be home in time,on weekdays.I don’t  care if he is gone all day on saturday,provided he comes home, at a decent time( not just in time for dinner).If we do things together on week nights,and I get some alone time on Sunday,I am alright with him being gone all day,on Saturdays.

I feel like we talk and argue and discuss this thing back and forth,back and forth,over and over again.Its about time,we found a solution to it.Its just too exhausting for me,being the sole carer/housekeeper/cook,all week long..week after week.And where we stay,there aren’t too many people around..its a nice quiet suburb..you hardly see anyone outside.I am hoping thats only because of the weather.It just gets very lonely…:(

And then,there is the driving.I feel very trapped,without being able to get out on my own.I mean I can go upto the town center.I can walk up there.There is a bus stop there from where I can get to the nearest station and a couple of malls..but if you are relying only on  public transport,then,you have to look at the weather..and on days,when its cold or  rainy,we are stuck at home.I know,not everyone has a car..but then,they live close to the public transport,rite? I love the suburbs too,but,I hate not being mobile.And when Aadi fell sick last week,I decided enough was enough,I have to get my driving licence.

I cleared my learner’s permit in May with 98 percent!!I was so thrilled.I was taking an exam after so many years and to score 98% in that,was great for my ego.There was a mandatory 3 month wait,after that,before I could take my driver’s permit.So,ideally,I could have taken my driver’s test anytime,in August.But,I never got around to taking lessons..one month my ILs were here,then one month,we couldn’t afford to spare any cash and then,something or the other kept happenning.You know how these things keep getting delayed and side tracked.Anyway,not digressing now…I told S that I want to practice driving with him.It was a big thing for me,to keep my mental block (OMG-I-am-scared-of-the-SUV) aside and attempt to drive.

And since the first moment,I sat behind the wheel,he kept telling me,in a disappointed tone,that you are not driving straight,this is wrong,what is the point..blah blah.Let me tell you,I have had,just one lesson with the instructor,and one 10 min stint with S..and despite that,I think I did pretty well.When I first drove with my instructor,Dee,I was super scared,didn’t know how to turn and didn’t know when to brake.Atleast now,I am doing it all by myself.But,he yelled and screamed.Finally,I pulled up,in a traffic island and asked him to drive.I was so close to tears,but I didn’t cry.That was yesterday.

Today,we went out for a dinner and I was super tired..but I have decided I want to drive each night,NO MATTER WHAT!So,I told him to take me to a mall parking lot and I said I wanted to drive there.He let me get in the driver’s seat and started playing games on his I-phone!GAWD!IHATE THE DAMN PHONE!!!I really really hate it.And when I told him,to pay attention to me and the car,and he says,if you are driving then you should be responsible!WTH!!!!And I thought,I was learning.I drove straight,practised turning,left and right,reversing and he yelled,every now and then,telling me,how I would be hitting the cars,how I wasnt driving in a straight line..and how he thought I should practice on a smaller car!Then,why the F did he trade in our SMALL car for the big beast CRV!!!WHY??

Anyway,I drove on..I was this close to giving up,but I didn’t I kept driving,till I got tired,then,went and parked the car,rite in the between the two white lines,put the hand break,put the gear on P,then got out..He got down,looked the car from all sides and then said,”wow,you parked perfectly!” I just held my head up,defiantly and said,”I know” and got in on the passenger side.And then,I just told him,to kindly forget that I was his wife..but instead think of me as a friend or acquaintance,whom he was teaching..hopefully then,he wouldn’t yell so much.today also,I was soo close to crying..but I didn’t.And the small praise,did nothing to soothe my bruised heart.

After,I said,all that,then,he started showing me patiently..and explaining what he was doing.I swear,if driving,involved just me and if I wasn’t scared of hurting others,while I was learning,I would just learn it myself..but,sadly,it isn’t..so,I am just going to develop thicker skin and continue,practicing with him.I know with time and practice I can do it.

I turn 30 in february and I want to get my licence before that.I am saying it here,because it sort of makes it more official.Wish me luck..:)

Let me tell you the untold tales of our grocery expeditions with the little Diva.

18month old Aadya,went grocery shopping with her dad.Her favorite word,then,was-Tight.She used it-when she was hot,when she was tired of sitting in the stroller/car-seat/grocery cart..and also,when what she was wearing was actually tight.The chant of “tight” would start,the moment,she wanted to be let out of the stroller.So,Baba happily took her grocery shopping..so,mom could get some time off .All was fine..Baba strapped her into the grocery cart and they cruised the aisles,until..she spotted a juice pack that she just HAD to have.Baba said  No,it being dinner time and all.That was all it took to start the chant of ‘tight’.
“Tight” she said,Baba ignored.”Baba tight” Baba told her nicely,it’s not tight..Tight hai tight hai tight hai…she kept insisting..Baba went on cruising,picking up things from the list.
A nice old woman was walking towards them,she smiled sweetly at the duo..And then,Aadi,said in an exaggerated tone,”Tiiiiiiiight” almost painful!!
The nice old lady,shook her head at Baba,and said,”may be it is really tight..can you check?” and she waited for him to check.Ofcourse,Baba being Baba,got flustered,checked and showed her,that the belt was tight..paid for the things already in the cart and raced home.Poor guy was so embarassed.His opening line,when I opened the door was,”I dont care,what you do..I am never going to the store alone with her!!!”And I?But ofcourse,I laughed till tears ran down my face.

Baba and  2 year old Aadi went to the grocery store,to pick up milk.Aadi wanted a basket…Baba told her,”its stuck”..The little diva,trots off,pulls one basket out,proudly telling,Baba,”don’t worry baba,I help you!”
Yet another quick grocery run,this evening..Aadi walked inside the store,purposefully towards the basket stack,pulled one out and said,”Mamma,I helpyou”..And DH pulled another basket.We went around,I picked up some things for tomorrow’s lunch..and DH picked up some fruit,for his snack,during the match..and Aadi,well she,touched  everything that I touched,insisted I put the lunch things in Aadyabasket and not in Bababasket .When DH looked at some berries and then chose half a water-melon..Aadi,looked at some dates and then,carefully went through a selection of strawberries and then,after much deliberation,picked up a b0x of strawberries.
And then,between running from DH to me,asking if we needed her help,she reminded us,of the things,that we had told her,we wanted to buy,helped me decide between yellow and red flowers,told us,which toys she wanted Santa to bring her(at this rate,Santa is going to have to bring an extra bag) and then,crossed her hands on her chest and frowned and said,”I am angry,Mujhe Nahi Chahiye”..I don’t remember what that was about..
Anyway,grocery trips are so much fun now..and also more expensive,though I try to restrict her shopping to one thing only,but I don’t like to say No to fruits..The next few months are going to be tough,what with the stores decorated with christmas stuff..but,she did so well today..walked on when we told No,put things back and then,asked us,before picking up..I don’t remember what that “I am angry”bit was about..but I am pretty sure,it wasnt about something that she wanted…because I remember laughing that there was no connection.
Anyway,Weekend begins tomorrow.We are going out with friends,to celebrate a friend’s Promotion and the rest of the weekend,just sprucing the house up of Diwali.What are you doing,this weekend?

8th October-Its my mom’s birthday today. What used to be a special occasion before,is now a day of fond memories.
I am so addicted to farmville,that I completely neglected my real world plants..So,today was well-spent tending to the garden.First,we tackled the garden in the front..I dug out weeds,while Aadi pretended to dig..then,she went out for a walk..The rule is she can walk on the grass patch,and keep talking to me.So far,its working..dunno for how long..
I re-planted some marigolds.I had dumped some seeds..in different patches..and a few sprouted..what was heartening was to see small flowers and buds on a plant as talls as my little finger.
Then,I cleared up the veggie patch..The spinach was turning yellow..it was spreading so fast.I dug out the ones that I had already cut some leaves from,leaving only the newly sprouted saplings.I pulled out all the methi(fenugreek) ..I had first planted it in april..since then, I harvested it atleast 10 times..I had so much methi,I gave it away to almost all of our guests.Tomorrow,I will sow the next batch.
I also transferred the tomato and mint to the ground.
The princess dreamt of cakes and so it was bake-time in the evening.I dunno how I dozed off with her,but the day just ended abruptly.DH got swine flu vaccine today and the poor guy is so tired.
Its Day-7 of DaBloPoMoand if you are still here,reading evryday mundane stuff of my life,Thank You.

Today was another rainy gloomy day.
And Aadya spent yet another day on the couch..head in my lap.We watched a movie,read some books,sang some songs…The only thing that irritated her was,Pedialyte..Its hard work,coaxing a kid to drink something if she doesn’t want to.She has lost so much weight in the last 3-4 days..there is hardly any food in her body.
She was better after her nap..ate a little khichdi..Sanj was feeling sick,all day too..so,khichdi was the only dinner option.Both father-daughter went to bed shortly before 10.00.
Diwali is just round the corner..and I started some spring cleaning.I remember when we were growing up,as soon as the diwali vacation started,mom would pull out the festive show-pieces and it was our job to dust and shine them.We would clean the house,re-arrange furniture..some years,there would be fresh coat of color..But the festive spirit would come over all of us..
The festivals,here are generally,lacking in spirit,but this year,I want the Diwali cheer to fill our house and lives..
Here’s my to-do list-

•  Declutter one room a day.
• Change all the fused lite bulbs.
•  Bring out the christmas lights.
• Look for low-sugar/fat-free diwali recipes.
• Help Aadya make Diwali cards,for family and close friends.
• Organise/alter clothes for Lakshmi Puja.I will add more,as I go.

What is your to-do list before Diwali?

big time!
So we always buy two big cans of milk(3L).I give warm milk to Aadi,before her nap and at bed-time and first thing in the morning.And almost every other time,I check the date on the can.
I don’t know what happenned this time.The expiry date on the can was 1st Oct and I realised on the 5th morning.I was also very tired those few days..and couldn’t understand the reason..Aadi was alright,mostly..just not very keen on drinking milk..I found that weird..because she loves milk.Anyway,thank GOD,I didn’t force her to finish her milk.She wasnt eating much either.And then,on Sunday,after I came back from the market,we were all tired..we gave her milk,again the same milk..and she had some and then,vomitted.
We started assessing her diet that day..and blamed it on the eggs.It was only next morning when I was warming up milk for her,that I saw the date…and I felt so horrible.Sanj was so upset too,with himself.For a change,we were both blaming ourselves,rather than each other.
She was fine,yesterday but not eating and was very lethargic.But she perked up in the evening,when we went to wish our friend K for his birthday.
But today morning,she was tired and cranky,again not eating.I gave her a light lunch of yogurt and rice and she threw up…and by evening,her condition worsened..she couldn’t even keep water in…We rushed her to the doctor..I called my friend S & her husband,K,they came over right away and that was a big help ..Sanj was unreachable..
The doc confirmed that it was mild food poisoning..andwe have to wait it out,unless,there fever or diaorrhea.There has been some diaorrhea,since we got back..and so we are on high alert..hope she feels better soon.
Life is no fun,without Aadya Antics:)

Its been a year to the day we moved Down Under.And we have come to like it.We still don’t love Melbourne or Australia,whole-heartedly..we still miss America..but we have developed a fond aquaintance with her.
In the past,reaching the one year mark,meant dusting the suitcases..because it would be time to move soon..hopefully not this time(anti-jinx!).
We came here with 6 bags,some baby gear,and a suddenly-gone-quiet toddler,a broken heart,an excited spirit,almost no friendsand most importantly a new job.
Now,the 6 bags are half filled with things we don’t need and/o can’t part with..the toddler can’t stop talking,the broken heart has since mended,the spirit is tired but still going strong,the new job is not so new any more. We have met many many new people..and made some friends for life.
All in all,a nice year..I think :)This is by far the quickest one year for us.

P.S.-I have been trying to publish this post for over an hour..