To be or not to be, that is the question

The blog-o-sphere is a growing large by the minute. You can visit corners of the world in a manner of minutes - I have been the ‘silent’ Blogger for quite a while – lurking at other wonderful blogs, making very few comments where acknowledge my presence and even maintaining a level of anonymity on my own blog.

Honey often suggested that he would let all our friends and family know about my blog; but I made him swear he will never do that! Not that, our friends would find anything here that they probably already did not know about us, but I loved the level of anonymity through the online medium. My argument in favor was when you visit a new city, a new town you do not give out your bio every person you meet – though you might suggest to your friends how wonderful the place was and even recommend that they too see its wonders.

When I started to visit other blogs, I often landed on great blogs with humor, culture, fiction and with visitors & commenter’s reaching a 20-30 or more per article. Often reading the comments I would realize that people have made “virtual” friends who visit each other blogs often. This made me wish for the same thing. I have started to wonder would it be so bad to let my family/friends know that I write – I don’t think my writing is all that bad (though I agree it may not be the best either). But apprehension creeps in.

So to my limited viewer-ship I pose the question - which is better?

• To let others aware that you visited them today (leave a comment, email)
• To know about visitors to your site
• To keep up with the anonymity
• Or compromise on both ends a little?

Almost a boy

18 months or 1.5 years or 788 923.149 minutes. Any way I look at it - its time that has flown by the seconds!! Kutie will be turning 18 months next week and I am overwhelmed with emotion and excitement.

This is of course probably one of the wonderful times with little Kutie - on the threshold of becoming a boy but still a baby ... responding to us with his little antics, his own language (for example - calling Muthashan - muthu, or using "t" sounds for words starting with "s"). Throwing such cute temper tantrums (stopping his feet and running in a circle) that it makes you laugh out loud. Shaking his butt on hit Tamil songs. Wanting to read his "booka" right when I would pick up a book to read. Only saying "bye" when someone is on the phone, and then wanting to talk after to you hang up! Wanting to play rather than change the wet diaper. Insisting on watching Hindi cartoons on You Tube to eat lunch or dinner.

I am sure there will be many more things that Kutie will accomplish in the next years, that these little antics would most likely be seen as small things. But hopefully he will treasure these small glimpses into his past that will forever reside in my memory!

Duped by whom?

Interesting read based on my previous post! So was I duped by some random cheat or the big bad company?

Hit the Wall at Walmart

One of the best practices here in US is the policy of ‘gift card’. No, I am not talking about offering gift card for birthdays, and other functions, but the practice of stores giving out store gift cards when you return an item.

In theory this gives the customer the option of not only returning the item that they purchased or were given but also to buy something else instead. Now, the store is also pretty happy with the situation as I am sure more often than not, customers will forget about the gift card, misplace them and essentially they got money for an item that never left their store shelves.

I am sure that many ‘wise’ customers are aware of this and take precautions like keeping the receipt and the gift cards at a safe place and remember to make purchase quickly. But what happens when the store did not authorize your card correctly!!!

Here’s the story!

We bought a watch from Wal-Mart right before thanksgiving, along with some other stuff. After a few days, we realized that my mom (for whom the gift was) had a similar one and we decided to return this item. Being a lazy a**, that I am, I sent my dear honey on the errand.

At the store, of course (even with the receipt) they drilled him and entrusted a gift card as they (according to the salesperson) could not refund directly to the credit card as the purchaser (moi) was not present.

My honey came back with the gift card. Diligent that I was, I safely put the card into my purse. This Monday I finally got around to the shop to buy a few items. I double-checked that I had the gift card to ensure that I use it up.

After shopping (and I would add, for more items than the amount on the gift card) I reached the counter. Now the shocker! The sales person tries the card a couple of times and she get the message “Card not authorized”. Mind you, it does not say “no balance amount” or something to that effect. Not wanting to hold up the line, I purchase the items and move to the customer service section to ask them what the issue might be.

I explain what happened at the counter, and like clockwork, the salesperson tries the card one more time and gets the same message – Card not authorized. She asks me if I have the receipt of the receipt (the receipt that they give when the store gave me the gift card as refund) Ok now I am getting frustrated! Of course, I don’t have that. Sorry she cannot help me and informs me that she will call the manager.

After a few minutes, the manager arrives. Any guesses what she does after she heard about the issue – try the card – get the same message and ask me about the gift card receipt. I explain that I would not think about keeping the receipt after I have been provided a gift card by the store no less. She informs me that I will need to call the store manager the next day, and she will try to look me up with the help of ‘store web cams’ and provide me the refund!

Being pissed off helped me not to laugh at this outrageous comment! Can you imagine, a store manager on a call from customer going through various web cam pictures to figure out what item was returned and its price. How do you confirm the person on the phone is one and same? Have a web cam chat?

So long story short, the money on the card is lost plus the additional money (and time) lost in trying to get something else for the gift card amount. You would really think, I should return the new items that I purchased and try this all over again!!! Maybe this time follow the wise-geek advice to “ask the cashier to check the number on the card against the bar code … make sure the correct amount is on the card you purchased.” But then again when a VP of the company is caught up in gift card fraud, it makes you wonder will safety tips work?

Little droplets from heaven

Dark and desolate, the day begins
The mighty thunder not far behind
A plate of cookies by our side
We jump in bed,
hiding under covers
We take a peak
A bird is out, all wet
Maybe we can dance out in the rain!

The blue bird

A little boy, I see
Out by the fields, he plays
alone

A little woman, I see
Reading a book, she sees
the worlds she will never know

A little bird, I see
Fluttering around, dripping
blood

The boy runs, stops
at sight. She walks
away, a bird captive in her hands.

Happy 2008 Everyone!

Merry Christmas To All

Boo!

I ordered a Sesame Street Giggle Medical Kit from Amazon last weekend along with a few other items. This particular item was sitting “To be shipped” status for the past 5 days. I finally emailed them today AM about it and the response:

Updated Delivery Estimate: February 29, 2008 - March 3, 2008. Please approve this delay by Jan, 18.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?

This is totally depressing! This means now I have to drive to the mall, park someplace far, walk in the cold, look for the toys, stand in line and drive back!!




(Picture courtesy of Microsoft office clip art)

Online "Window Shopping" Anyone?

Amazon.com is a great website – I love it! Great products, at good prices. Having bought tons of things from it, it’s become one of my first stores for online shopping. Now here’s the issue – I never, that is until last week, gone on a shopping spree at Amazon. Unfortunately, I have realized with this Christmas shopping spree Amazon is not built for window shopping!!!

Here’s why (I hope someone from Amazon reads this!):

I am looking to buy something for Kutie – I don’t want to spend too much, but might consider buying a couple of items (more boxes under the tree) for him. I go to the toy department at Amazon. The big banner says “Deals” – Ok that’s good, it caught my eye and I go for it! Now here’s the problem. Sorting by age does not work! (Ok go ahead try it, I know you want to. Try Age 2 – 4 and you get a bunch of items that for “Recommended for 4 – 6 years”). I guess the engineer did not do a good job at filters. Of course its age 4 thats throwing it off, but come on I am sure there is some complex algorithm to fix it!

Another quibble, is the limited amount of pages that gets displayed, I cannot jump around! Maybe these are the effects of using Google for everything, but wish Amazon did the same. Only 3 pages displayed the first time, and then if you hit next its not 4, 5 & 6 but just 4!

Sorting by price may or may not work (I think I have figured out that it’s because of the category that you fall into). But when it works, it displays some crabby doll for $1 (this might be just me, but what do you do when genders dictate that I get cars for boys!); and when you want to move some pages ahead, you can’t – because it doesn’t display it!! Also, could you please tell me how many pages are there in all? I want to know ahead of time, if I need to go through 10 pages or 20 before I get to the last item!

Arrgh!

Of course, the argument against all of the above needed features is to give customers less options. But when filters are not working, and no end is in sight I would prefer to be given the choice of choices. Thank You!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

As the post title suggest, its dad’s birthday. It sort of had slipped out of my mind until yesterday when I happened to check the date. I wondered how I could make it special for the man that I adored, the handsome guy who taught me how to ride the bike and play badminton. He was always jovial and had a mischievous smile about himself (tha I now see in Kutie). Now retired, he keeps telling me that he seems to have a lot of time, but to me he is busier than ever. Traveling all across Bangalore in his little scooter – the new found freedom seems to have done wonders! The twinkle in his eye as he dashes across the busy streets is just of pure joy of being able to do things his own way!

Kutie seems to enjoy his company now as well. And in true grandfather mode, ‘Muthu’ is always in defense of the little guy. Often to my dismay, he would burst out laughing to his little antics that most likely would be one of the ‘wrong’ things that he might be doing. But I guess its grandfather’s prerogative.

But back to making the day special for my dad, I got him one book (since he is into reading), waited from Kutie to wake up to get him to give him the present. I was thinking of going out someplace, but with no car (another story, another time) we were restricted to our walks. But it was a great day and we did have a good walk. Overall it was a great day, and since it was weekend, it was nice relaxing Saturday. And I am happy to report with another holiday tomorrow it can be an extended celebration for the big guy!

Happy Birthday Dad/Muthu. Hope it’s was a great day!

The joys of holidays

- Elbowing into a parking spot
- Shopping
- Busy malls
- Long lines
- Crying babies on Santa’s lap (see what I mean here)
- Gift lists
- Not finding them
- Re-writing lists
Ah! The never-ending process!

Here's to 2007!

Few weeks remaining in 2007, so what do I do …. Make a list! What else did you expect?

1. 1 year olds – I really (if I had the money) would pay the money for a time machine today. I never thought I would want to go back in time for anything but to see Kutie all over again, would be wonderful. Its with full nostalgia and pride that I tell people that Kutie is big boy now.
2. Buying a home – Ok I have owned a lot of things – books, clothes, appliances, but a house tops all of them.
3. Having parents at home – The joy of having the morning cup of tea ready!
4. Being a mom – Yes I applied and I love the job so far, even for all its downsides.
5. Blank – now we all know why I am so bad at lists! Arrr

New Job Opening

{If anyone thinking of applying for the job and to all parents & grandparents, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis.}

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :
... Long term team players needed for challenging
permanent work in an often chaotic environment.

... Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

... Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!

Travel expenses not reimbursed.

Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

... The rest of your life.
... Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
... Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
... Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
... Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
... Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
... Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
... Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
... Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys and battery operated devices.
... Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
... Must assume final complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
... Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.

Your job is to remain in the same position for years without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required, unfortunately.

On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

... Get this! You pay them while offering frequent raises and bonuses.

... A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.

... When you die, you give them whatever is left.

The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.


FOOTNOTE:
THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!!

I loved this FWD email that I received today, wish I had read it in 2006 :)

A recuring dream?

Me: (to a boy who is ready to hit the bed) Let’s go Kutie, its time for bed. Lets change your diaper, brush your teeth and get to bed.
Boy: (stamping little feet) AAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Me: We can play with the cars tomorrow, now its time for bed
Boy: (inching further away, car still in one hand) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Me: Come on, let’s go.
(Few minutes pass by and we go through the same conversation again)
(Finally picking the squirming baby)
Boy: Wailing loud
Me: (trying to distract) Look at the clock, its late. See the Tweety bird, its going to fly away, if you don’t stop to cry.
Boy: (trying hard to get away) Wailing louder
Me: Almost done. There we go!

I pick up the little one, and move towards the bathroom.
Me: Let’s brush our teeth. How do we do it?
Boy:(doing the brushing action, with one hand) eeeeeeeee – eeeeeeeee
Me: Here we go, brush, paste lets do it
Boy: (looking horrified) Nooooooooooooooooooo
Me: Let’s do it together
Boy: (moving the head too fast) Crying

10 minutes later, boy still crying, but teeth clean!

Me: Ok all done, stop crying dear one. We are done
Boy: (not too sure yet) sobbing
Me: Shall we go to bed?
Boy: (Nodding yes)
Me: Shall we say ‘Good night to everyone’?
Boy: (nodding)
Me: Here’s Muthu
Boy: Gunut
Granpa: (laughing) Goodnight, little one
Boy: Ammammama ….
Grandma: Yes dear
Boy: Gunut
Grandma: Goodnight dear, sleep well
Boy: Attta
Me: Honey, he is calling you.
Boy: Atta
Honey: Ah, yes
Boy: Gunut
Honey: Good nite
Me: Shall we go?
Boy: (nodding)

Entering bedroom
Boy: Phan
Me: Ok lets switch on the fan
Boy: (smiling, jumping on the bed!)

Can you guess, whose recurring dream reality this is?

Bring out the cheer! Bring out the good-will!
Santa is coming to town!


Graphic courtesy www.coolholidaygraphics.com

A time traveller

Years ago, I had met one my dad's friends who had just retired then. When my dad asked him about how he spends his time now, he chuckled and said that he is having a time of his life! He is now able to spend hours on end with his grandson - playing, napping, eating and seeing things through innocent little eyes. He mentioned that he was unable to do the same with his own two sons, since he was often busy at work. I remember this incident now, every time I am at work, away from my little one.

Time is such a intricate part of life and its best seen through the eyes of your parents and children. Parents can tell you stories of what even you might have forgotten from your past, of bygone years, of ways to do things that are today unheard of… Today I see it though my son. Each day, he is doing something new – saying a new word or even trying to say it, because it wasn’t there yesterday and he will soon grow out it!

In another 25 years, it might be my son writing up a blogs about his mother – her ‘old’ ways that now interfere with the his ‘new’ thinking! Ah! the pains of growing up ...

Mahalo!

What a wonderful time we had. Kutie was scared of the ocean at first, but after two days he settled into it as if he had know it for ages. He played in the white beaches - running & walking. Since it was a great weather he walked around everywhere and enjoyed not being couped up inside the house.

Honey and Dad, went para-sailing and snorkeling - enjoying every minute of a fun-filled adventure. I completely forgot about work, home and everything in between in the few days of glorious sunshine.

Look at this beautiful sunset and beaches and wouldn't you thank the wonderful God for giving us an opportunity to see His wonderful creations! Mahalo!

Sunset on the beach



























Aerial view of the beach

The S word

10 Words that describe our wonderful Hawaii trip!

Sun
Sand
Summer
Shopping
Sand castle
Shore
Shells
Snorkel
Sea
Scenic

Hawaii - Here we come!

ALOHA!!!
Sun, Sands, Summer

Can't wait for the Thanksgiving holidays to hit the sunny beaches of Hawaii. I am sure it will be greatest fun for all of us. Now I only need to figure out which stores might still have a few summer dresses ...