Dumb Ducks etc...

We woke up late on Saturday...K1 dutifully went down to the gym, with K2 snoring softly (still asleep) ...I toasted a slice of Cinnamon Bread and made myself a cup of ginger tea...morning went by in blissful procastination and K1 and I decided last minute to drive down to Gilroy for shopping...did we shop much...not really...but it was wonderful driving down to nowhere land for a couple hours away from it all...did I mention the temperatures were at 108 degrees...Sizzling Hot!

On Sunday, I was driving down to the Farmer's Market for my weekly shopping...you know me, I was driving at 22 mph in a 35 mph zone...I knew our area is notorious for its gaggles of geese and a paddling of ducks who thought they owned the roads...suddenly out of nowhere this goose flies out of the sidewalk with no warning and slams into the front of my car...I stop the car on the side of the road, turn my flashers on...can't really stop shaking and am very close to tears because I think I have killed a living thing...I get out of the car and the damn thing is standing right in the center of the road with a dazed look on its face, otherwise quite fine...suddenly I look up, there are 3-4 cars coming down the road...with curious onlookers watching, I physically shoo the hissing goose to the side of the road...I wait for 2-3 minutes to make doubly sure it is alright...it calmly gets to pecking and eating stuff off the ground in a minute...hmm, why was I still shaking like a leaf then...I slowly make my way to the Farmer's market cursing - dumb ducks, geese and there were mutters of Foie gras from me...hey, I am human !!!

I have 2 books on my reading list currently that I picked up from the public library -

(A) How to Talk so Kids Will Listen & Listen so Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

(B) Mangoes & Curry Leaves: Culinary Travels Through the Great Subcontinent by Jeffrey Alford

I will definitely post a review on both the books once I am done reading them...I did watch the movie District 9 and my word of advise, don't waste your 10 bucks unless you want to see a movie like the Blair Witch Project...enuff said. I have been definitely keeping an eye on my grocery spending habits, I had mentioned on one of my older blogs that the Recession has had a very positive effect on our wasteful spending (which was not really that much anyway)...the Frugal Product Manager has been cooking up some whiz bang food on a reasonable budget. Some ground rules -

(A) Very Little Meat

(B) Lots of Lentils, Whole Grains and Fresh Produce

I have focused on buying in season fruits and vegetables.I am not ashamed to take shortcuts and buy some pre-cooked meals for those super busy days. Sunday Dinner was a thin crispy Tuscan Chicken Pizza from Digiorno paired with some roasted red potatoes and fruit salad ( ~ as Whole Foods Value Guru put it about $3/ a person). Monday dinner was a Garlic Naan (Indian Flatbread) with a spicy chicken seekh kabab (from the frozen section in the Indian store) and a quick green salad with Red Onions, Cherry Tomatoes, Crisp Cucumber, a lovely carrot, Mixed Greens (Lettuce, Arugula, Raddichios), one spicy jalapeno, a bunch of fresh Parsley, Fresh Lemon juice.... and how can I forget a Reed's Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic) to wash it all down....(again about $3-$4/a person and the best part on the table in less than 25 minutes...

I have for some months now followed key ground rules that I had learnt on MSNBC -

(A) Don't go shopping on an empty stomach...you will buy more than you need

(B) Shop the perimeters of the shop...especially works for Whole Foods...Produce, Bulk Grains, Dairy...

(C) It's ok to watch Sales and buy stuff on Sale
I am happy with my decision to live simple, waste little and not covet more...its difficult to live by this principle sometimes...but most days I know its the right decision...

How was your weekend...did you run into any Dumb Ducks...ahem sorry Geese?

Looking Glass Self

K2 is wilful. stubborn and very forceful. He doesn't like sharing, he is rude and not very gentle in his interactions with people...and to be fair he is not quite 3 years old. I have an "opinion" of how he should behave and he doesn't play by my playbook...it bothered me a lot before but in this gradual journey of motherhood, I have learnt to give up some control...yet deep down I am a sociologist and I believe that at some level my son is watching and learning from me...I can't be at my best behavior everyday...somedays I am worse than others...but most days I try to be an example my son can emulate.

In the early 1900's Cooley used the phrase looking glass self to emphasize that the self is the product of our social interactions. The process of developing a self identity or self concept has three phases.
(A) We imagine how we present  ourselves to others
(B) We imagine how others evaluate us
(C) We develop some sort of feeling about ourselves
A critical aspect of Cooley’s looking glass self is that “the self” result from individual’s imagination of how others view him or her. As a result we can develop self identities based on incorrect perception of how others see us. I believe that to be absolutely true. As a teenager I had weight issues and had a sense that people were judging me by my weight...and I overcompensated with a forceful personality...eventually I realized that my perception of other people's view of me was actually my own view of me.

It is key that your perception of "Self" is a positive reinforcement which grows rather than hinders...as Cooley wisely said it - ""The thing that moves us to pride or shame is not the mere mechanical reflection of ourselves, but an imputed sentiment, the imagined effect of this reflection upon another's mind."


Raising my glass to raising a child with a proud and vibrant looking glass self...

Comfort in Food...

Worries go down better with soup. ~Jewish Proverb

For the past couple days, I have had a scratchy throat...K2 very obligingly passed along his enthusiastic germs to me. Trying to get better, I craved something non-complicated and hot...like Chicken Soup. It is no wonder the term "Chicken Soup for the Soul" is used so frequently...some say Chicken Soup has medicinal qualities...in fact a team of Doctors in Nebraska led by Dr. Stephen Rennard conducted a study which proved that Chicken Soup has anti-inflammatory properties that could explain why it soothes sore throats and eases the misery of colds and flus.
So after a brief sojourn to Whole Foods where I picked up -

(A) Organic Free Range Chicken Legs (2Lbs)
(B) Organic Carrots (3 medium)

(C) Shitake Mushrooms ( 1 Carton)

(D) Eucalyptus Essential Oil (not for the soup but for putting in the humidifier :-) )

(E) GreenLee's Cinnamon Bread (it is the best cinnamon bread in the world)

(F) Pirates Booty for the little guy

I busied myself in the kitchen, cutting and chopping 2 Red Onions, Half a small Garlic Bulb (yes you need that much), the Carrots and the Mushrooms. After some chopping therapy, where I let out all the tension and cleaning the chicken (I am still squeamish about that part)...I got my big pressure cooker ready for some action.

I sauteed the Red Onions and the Garlic in very little olive oil. When the onions were light brown I added in the Carrots and the mushrooms...after sauteing for about 3 minutes I added in the Chicken. Cooked the chicken till it was cooked half way and then added in a dash of Worcestershire sauce (Lea & Perrins), Some Dark Soy Sauce (a generic Japanese brand) and some mirin...Coarse Sea Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper to taste....I added 5 cups of water. When the water came to boil, I put the lid of the pressure cooker on. I let the whistle go about 8 times (yes that seems like too many but just trust me!) and then brought the heat all the way down to Low and let the soup simmer for about 2o minutes...

I let the soup sit on the gas about 1/2 hr... I am super cautious around my pressure cooker...I give it enough time to seethe and splutter...when I removed the lid of my pressure cooker...the smell of the soup/stock was pure magic....the taste was pure, unadulterated comfort. I savored my soup with an extra dash of black pepper while I watched a re-run of Iron Chef on TV. And for that half hour it felt like the world was my stage....and I could put forth an Oscar Worthy Performance...

Chicken Soup is a wonderfully forgiving recipe...so I don't think you can go wrong with this recipe...Try it at home, try my version or get inventive and add your favorite ingredients

I have read the book "Chicken Soup for the Soul" and there was a beautiful quote in it that I cherish -

Family means sharing inadequacies, imperfections and feelings with each other and still loving each other. But even when you set out to love, you may not always be a likable person. And when you're not perfect, forgiveness for yourself and others becomes important. Then you get up the next day and start again. It is a process, like the opening of a bud. It is a flowering, a blooming, and blossoming.

Here's looking forward to the weekend...R&M, we look forward to seeing you and S over the weekend.

The Fearless Warrior...

It was Tuesday evening, and I was using every excuse I plausibly could to stay longer in the office...ignoring the righteous voice in my head reasonably saying - You promised to do Yoga...get healthy! At 5.05 PM, I had everything wrapped up and just had no excuses to hang my hat on and so left work. I told myself 101 would be jam packed with traffic, there was no way I could make it to the Gym in 25 minutes...Fate once again conspired against me and I saw myself whizzing through 17 miles in less than 20 minutes...I got a parking right at the entrance of the Gym and was in the class "almost" on time. I slunk to the back of the class just while the breathing exercises were happening (not a huge fan of breathing out of my mouth with my tongue hanging out)...so I pretended to be warming up for the next 2 minutes...

The teacher said - Set the intent for your practice

! My intent was very selfish...I wanted that righteous voice in my head to go away...make peace with my conscience and take a teensy weensy step towards health. So to a heavily accented incantation of some of my favorite Sanskrit Shlokas, the gruelling practice began...

We had to maintain the integrity of a "V" shape in the downward dog...I swear I could hear my bones creaking for the first few dogs...no I am not quite pushing in years...gimme a break...By the time we got to the "Balancing Poses", I had broken into a healthy sweat...for some reason balancing has never been my forte...so after hopping around like a scatterbrained chicken instead of standing still like a tree (Vriksha Asana)...I smiled at the humor of the situation...here I was the reluctant Yogi with a dubious intent...the first half hour actually revived and renewed me...made me focus on my actual intent - Get Healthy!

We next got to the Warrior Poses and I tried to push myself beyond my comfort zone...trying complicated wraps and the half moon...sometimes my body just screamed "enough" but at others it loosened and lengthened and let me experiment a little more with the pose. By the time we got to the "Pigeon Pose" my absolute favorite of all poses I was thinking less about the intent and enjoying my practice...by the time we got to "Corpse Pose" (about 85 minutes into the practice) I was glad, I had listened to that little voice in my head instead of ignoring it...

As I rolled up the Yoga Mat and hopped up to quickly beat a retreat and hang out with the two K's....I had this stranger walk up to me and say " You do good Yoga for a Flat Footer"...HUH! from Nirvana & Relaxation and a clear intent back to the land of constant Judgement and criticism...

My back is stiff today and I swear I can still hear my bones creak...but this fearless warrior will strengthen her will, deepen the pose and sink into it with the right intent - Health, Humility and Humor....Life is too short for judging and getting judged....

In for the marathon, not the sprint...

Does anyone else feel like they are running a sprint with juggling a career and motherhood with active kid(s)...most days I do. Usually it is a balancing act where I end most days glad that I got most of my tasks completed...and put K2 to sleep, and get a cuppa hot herbal tea (Mighty Leaf : African Nectar with a dash of Honey if you are curious).

Most days are a battle of will with a two-almost-three year old, where his favorite word is No...

Product Manager Mama : K2, do you want to eat?

K2: No

Product Manager Mama : K2, can you put away your toys?

K2:No, Mama YOU clean up

Product Manager Mama: K2, want to watch Mickey Mouse?

K2: No, want to watch Abba (translated:Mickey Mouse)...

I am stumped !!! I can manage flawless executions of product strategy, juggle multiple products and release schedules, manage aggressive deadlines and present to a crowd...yet this not quite three year old has me throwing up my hands in despair....but he is wonderful...especially when he realizes he has upset me and cuddles up to me and says - Hug! Mama...what's a girl to do!

Last week had been especially interesting...work was as usual (but not quite as intense as the week before) and on Thursday K1 was gone on a business trip and I came home to a toddler with a 101 degrees temperature...not fun. Friday was a daze and Saturday and Sunday have been equally quiet. We tried to keep it low key for K2...I don't even remember what we did on Saturday...Sunday -Farmer Market's Bounty - Heirloom Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Habaneros, Asian Pears, Peaches, Apples (Gala and Sommerfield) and some Plums. I tried my hand at making some Parathas (see what a paratha is here) for Krish's lunch box for school on Monday . My parathas had a twist - I used Sweet Potato Puree instead of water, some ghee or clarified butter to hold together and jaggery to sweeten...took me an hour to make on a Sunday evening...

My son's Monday morning lunch box was a work of art - (A) 3 tiny Sweet Potato Parathas (B) 2 Dino Chicken Nuggets (C) Cut Strawberries sweetened with Agave Nectar (D) Cantaloupe. Everything came back home uneaten today...such is life.

As I drink my herbal tea and ponder over life's complexity --I realize that raising a child is not about instant gratification. It is hard work...sometimes you feel like you are failing...sometimes you really ARE failing...but it's alright...I am going with my gut. I am doing what I believe is right for K2...I will probably have a number of emotional ups and downs in the coming years but I am in this for the long haul...Hope your weekend was more relaxed than mine.

P.S: I reached my dream weight today and I didn't feel a twinge of joy...I have not been to Yoga in more than a month...I haven't been eating healthy for a long time now. So my resolution is drop another 10 Lbs without dieting and with exercising...BACK TO YOGA with a vengenance

P.P.S: We just got Ice Age 1 and Ice Age 2 from our public library. I think I am more hooked to Ice Age than K2...I googled Mammoths and read up on them for quite sometime today

Land Before Time...

I was watching this animated movie about an orphaned baby dinosaur and his search for the elusive "Great Valley" and one thing that stuck was that in some way we are all searching for our Great Valley -- for some it is companionship, for some it is wealth, other's health...wisdom, adventures...laughter, contentment...the list goes on. As I sit watching K2 enjoy the small joys in life, I feel I have found my Great Valley...

This week has been a quiet one...mostly for running errands, closing out on some deliverables at work and how can I forget - K2's first week at preschool...he was a champ, not a tear...I think I sat in the parking lot for half a hour cloudy eyed, waiting for the call that K2 was in tears and asking for me. I made some wonderful south indian food that warmed my soul and reminded me of home and my mother - Hot Comforting Sambhar with Radish, Spicy but reviving tomato rasam, Potato Fry and an Egg Plant/Yogurt Relish...

I spoke to S my cousin sister who is FOB from Calcutta, she is sick and home sick...her travails remind me so much of mine the first week I landed in the US. My geeky brother left for work in the morning, and he forgot that there wasn't really any food in the fridge. I got up fuzzy after 35 hours of travel...found a carton of moldy chinese takeout...which I was smart enough not to eat...what was left was Milk, some instant coffee and a half packet of Pringles....so guess what my breakfast and lunch was --- yup! Coffee and Pringles...of course I didn't know how to operate the TV remote, so the TV was stuck on Jerry Springer, so you can imagine the mental scarring :-)

I soon discovered Chinese Take-out, Taco Bell and the hot dog stand by school and soon life was good...here's wishing she settles down and starts to enjoy life here in the US.

K1 is travelling today and back tomorrow. We have plans to take K2 to the Aquarium of the Bay on Saturday...

I am posting a picture of K2 when he was 18 months and Jinx our cockerspaniel was so totally protective of him...

Jai Ho...

I walk in quite randomly to pick up a puzzle book for K2 at the bookstore and lo! behold the Animal Puzzle book I wanted to pick up for him was 50% off...magical! An issue at work magically resolves itself...a presentation runs smoothly...the lamp I was eyeing at Pier 1 imports is now suddenly half off...and other magical things happen with my service that I would rather not talk about. You might think these are small things...But after weeks of frenzied work, a worried mind due to a sick baby...things seem to be falling into place. Among all of this, every time something positive happens,I can't seem to stop Cliff Richard's from crooning in my head the song "Lucky Lips" -

Dah dup dap dap dup dah dup dah dah
Dup dah dup dah dah dup oh_

When I was just a little baby
I didnt have many toys
But my momma used to say son, you got
More than other boys
Now you may not be good looking and you may not
Be too rich
But youll never ever be alone
cos youve got lucky lips...

K2, the baby genius completed his 28 piece puzzle in less than 20 minutes...did I tell you he starts preschool this Monday - I am terrified and excited all at the same time. I did get a chance to hang out with my good friend E and the team at Cascal...we shared some light moments over Caprianas and Tapas on Thursday. Friday,K1 and I took K2 to ToysRus and got him Baylene the Brachiosaurus from the Walt Disney Movie...Dinosaur. My general knowledge on Dinosaurs in improving leaps and bounds. We are in active search of a Iguanodon which is what Alador the lead dinosaur in the movie is...

PF Changs and Buddha Delight was my lunch of choice today...we are planning to spend the evening with R&M for some R&R and we will watch the fireworks in Great America. If you are wondering what "Jai Ho" means apart from the much publicized AR Rahman Oscar winning Song from "Slumdog Millionare"...it means may victory be yours. India celebrates her 62nd Independance Day today. A dichotomous country that instills in you the utmost love and yet at times frustration...filled with peace and war, the pinnacles of riches and the chasms of poverty...democratic in parts and autocratic in others...but Jai Ho...Here's to growth...good times and prosperity of this beautiful nation...

The picture above is a random one taken while walking down the streets in Finland...

A Lazy Sunday...

What else would you call a Sunday where all you want to do is lay in bed, pull the comforter over your head and let the whole world pass by uncaring...yet soon a small voice bright and chirpy goes - "Mornin Mama"...and I think to myself, if this little sick tyke was exhibiting so much cheerfulness, I better get a backbone...with a loud rendition of Gloria Gaynor's song " I will survive" going on inside my head which was already throbbing to a sinus headache...I drag myself out of bed and go through the morning with K2 - brush teeth-check, change diaper and clothes and massage - check, make breakfast and feed - check , I still have to drag myself to the Farmer's Market for some fresh vegetables and fruits for next week for K2. The key when things don't seem going your way is - create a plan and stick to it (and yes have a back up plan)...yes works perfectly both at work and home.

This week has been very busy at work...and the predictions are that the next week will be even busier. I took K2 to the pediatrician on Friday and the verdict was he had a sinus infection and needed Antibiotics. Friday was incidentally K1's b'day and me and the in-laws took him for lunch to a nice Turkish restaurant, after which we went and watched "Julie & Julia"...my MIL went teary eyed when Julie made a toast with the words - "you are the bread to my butter, the breath to my life"...I got K1 a chocolate raspberry cake and we still have some of it lying in the fridge, if you see it in the breakroom Monday -- you know who it is from....

We dropped the in-laws off at the Airport on Saturday and went to N's Baby shower...she looked great. There was a Mehndi Lady who made some beautiful intricate designs for the ladies and (Ahem!) the men...what is Mehndi you ask me -- here is what about.com has to say -

The art of mehndi (or mehandi) has been a long-standing tradition stemming from many ancient cultures dating back as far as about 5,000 years, but is most known today for its history in India. Today, it is still used in religious and ritualistic ceremonies in India, but has also gained appreciation in other countries as a beautiful art to be appreciated at any time. So, what exactly is mehndi?
Mehndi is a temporary art done on the body with henna. Henna powder is derived from a plant (actually a bush), Lawsonia inermis, commonly found in the Middle East and other areas where the climate is hot and dry. The bush is harvested, dried, and then crushed to make henna powder.

We chilled at home on saturday evening and Sunday is almost half done and it sure feels like a lazy one...

Intangible threads...

Love -- you know you feel it,

A feeling which brings with it pain-pleasure-emotions.

It expands your heart...grows your mind...

Makes you sing and more importantly makes you human...

Love was what I first felt when I saw you I am sure...I guess you were probably the second or third person I ran into when I was born (Ma, Dad and you)...Ma tells me that I really was mean to you...troubled you, fought with you, stole your toys and tattled about you to Pa and apparently you patiently patted my head and said - my baby sister...I don't know when the picture changed but I remember growing up with you, having the same friends and then you grew away...developing a hip crowd that the "bookwormish" sister was never a part of...yet we remained close. I don't know where time flew away but soon we were saying -- Bye to you and you moved to the great promising lands across the sea...when I moved to the US you were there for me --- guiding me along the way, always there an invisible support that made me reach out for larger things -- K1 and you were close, always discussing the market and the industry and supporting me through life's journey...

You have been away the past 5 years, creating a new world for yourself, new friends and a wonderful family -- yet there is this intangible thread holding us together. I have never been big on the showy stuff -- the hugs, the words of affection, cards and what nots -- you have hardly ever got a Rakhi from me --- yet today is special -- Happy Raksha Bandhan! I know in India the sisters tie a rakhi asking the brother to promise eternal protection --- If there is a role reversal here's one -- I am wishing the "world for you on Raksha Bandhan" and promising to be there for you if you ever need me --- these intangible threads bind you so tight and hold you in a forever bond....

What I learnt from the Next Food Network Star?

Have I ever told you...that in my frequent flights of fantasies...I don a crisp white apron and looking like a stunning domestic godess I deliver fluffy pancakes, crisp dosas, delicious pastas...and divine curries...all without breaking a sweat...and of course looking the part of a "stunning domestic godess...fast forward to ground breaking reality...we manage one-pot meals, sometimes the soups are inedible...as are some of the adventerous concoctions...and I still adore my day job...ok I am digressing...

For the past 10 weeks I have religiously been following "The Next Food Network Star" vocally rooting for Melissa...the mother of 4 with her transparent style, her frazzled persona which slowly developed into a confident insightful person who definitely appealed to me...with her ready tips, practicality and above all humanity...she showed that a confidence in yourself and your abilities and sheer hardwork can really make you stand out in a crowd and shine...YAY ! Melissa I did do a little victory dance when you won...

This week has been busy on the home front, a sick child...finding the right pre-school for my ray of sunshine, while getting ready to say Bye to the in-laws who are leaving next weekend...K1 and I did take a mini break and go out for dessert to "The Melting Pot"...it was an interesting experience...I am watching a movie called "Videsh" by Deepa Mehta right now...

How was your weekend?