Netting the stars

The children have discovered that they can watch Mr Bean and Tom and Jerry on Youtube, so the moment one switches off the TV, they run to the computer. They have even learnt to google for Tom and then find their way to jerry and the youtube videos.

 

The sense of touch seems to be very important for Ash. As I explain the solar system and the universe, he likes to know what will happen if he touches the sun, the stars, the moon etc. I tell him he cant get anywhere near them as the first two are too hot and too far away. He still persists: Suppose I reach, thottaal entho pattum?

Phew!

 

Disenchantment

http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/21/stories/2010112164311000.htm

Why blogging has taken a backseat. Me included.

The Robo sapien

My transformation as a true-bred Madrasi seems complete. I was able sit through the entire length of a Tamil movie, a Rajni-starrer at that, yesterday. As feedback from people who had seen it had not been very positive, I thought I would have to walk out half way through it. However, we found Endhiran (The Robot) eminently watchable. The kids were intrigued, awed and tickled to their bones by the robot's heroics. Aishwarya Rai looked gorgeous as ever while superstar Rajnikanth hid half his 60 years in competent make-up, trademark wig and an agile body. He was wonderful throughout as the robot though his real self as the scientist who makes the robot looked exhausted.
Being a week day, the theater was half empty - the majority of the patrons were Muslim families celebrating Bakrid. I wonder how true the hype surrounding Endhiran's success is. The Rajni jokes that are doing the rounds on the net seem more popular.

Refined tastes

A busy week at work meant that I could not churn out a suitable science project for Ash, for the Children's Day exhibition in his school last Friday. The topic given to him had been Water and its Uses.
However, I took him as well as Mira and the maid to see the projects exhibited. He walked around happily looking at the exhibits not realising that he was to have brought one too. While I chatted with his class teacher, the maid and Mira got familiar with Ash's friends. Mira felt very important that day since her bandaged palm got her a VIP reception in her classroom later. (She is taking an extra week at home, since her teacher seemed worried about other kids getting careless about the finger. Right now, I bandage it at home after it is washed and dried every day.)
Coming home, the maid remarked to Ash: "Your girlfriend G... doesnt look very pretty."
"But she looks pretty to me," he replied.

His latest fascination are big, swank-looking cars. He is after V to get rid of his Honda City and buy a Mahindra Scorpio. Occasionally the demands include racing cars and high-end luxury cars that he sees in The Business Line Smartbuy. My latest headache is knowing the approximate price of each car on the road.

Another visit

A second tooth is getting ready for the tooth fairy, and Ash is all excited. "What will the TF bring me this time?"
"What do you want from her? A gift? Money?"
"Money, money," he insists. He is already planning a trip to the school canteen with the money.
He cant fathom how the tooth fairy will enter the bedroom in the night when we keep all the doors and windows closed. I tell him she can walk through the walls. He doesnt understand how she can.
"Where does the tooth fairy keep all the teeth?"
"Heaven."
"What does she do with them?"
I would have liked to say she builds a tooth castle but explaining the building of a castle is tricky. So I say, "That is her hobby."
***

Finger's fate

After a week of ups and downs, we have some good news - Mira's finger is looking better. Though at the first two reviews, the plastic surgeon looked satisfied with the progress, the 3rd and 4th reviews were worrisome - there was bleeding at the finger which made the dr feel that the finger would need further grafting as the composite graft hadnt set.

I broke into a sweat when he told me that, wondering if the new graft minus the lost tip would make it look like an ugly bulb. Anyway, the warning was enough to make us make Mira take better care of her hand - at least holding it elevated.

She will stay put at home for another week, to be on the safe side.

Each trip to the hospital gave us a few new friends - a burn victim from Sri Lanka and another from the neighbourhood including. Mira with her bandaged palm got VIP treatment at the waiting area with even elders being ready to give her a seat. Dr. Girish and the nurse have been extremely sweet and friendly with her.

Recipe buff

One of Ashwin's latest interests include pulling out my old copies of the Malayalam magazine Vanita and feasting his eyes on the recipes.
"Would I be able to eat this, ammama?" he asks the maid as he flips through the pages. He also watches all the cookery programmes on the Malayalam channels with her, hoping there would be some dish he can eat.
Which means I have a task in hand once we enter a maidless phase in the future - making interesting snacks that are egg-free, lactose-free and maybe gluten-free.