ARJUN IN INDIA

Hi! I am Arjun. As I am too little, my grandpa is writing this for me.
I came to India on 9th March and left on 30th March. It was a hectic schedule but I enjoyed it much.
Lots of people to carry me, play with me and admire me. So, all the time I was all smiles. I even liked the stranger in Geetha cafe who played with me.
I had gone to Tirupati where I gave my hair to Lord Venkateswara and had my birthday celebrated at Hyderabad and Kavali.
Here are some photos of my sojourn in India. Keep in touch and keep loving me.
Arjun (by the hand of SLN)

That's it---


more photos---

Happy Birthday Arjun!!!

Happy Anniversary Amma/Nanna

Facebook: The bright side

I like the punchline ending of your comment, SLN..very dark :)

Let me take the contrary position for once. I use facebook regularly. In a busy life, it helps me keep track of the diaspora that I am unable to interact with on a regular basis. It helps in keeping at least the feeble embers of a long distance relationship alive, using which I will be able to kindle the relationship back to its warm glow someday. Otherwise, people that you used to have a connection with will disappear from your life. After all, are we not doing the same thing with Singampalli Happenings? One can argue that even SH is a shallow way of keeping in touch. Or one can argue that it gives us a much needed medium to communicate, when all of us are so far apart. That was the Raison d'etre of SH- we all wanted to get back in touch.

I also disagree with the term 'shallow friendships', let alone that FB encourages such friendships. There is no such thing as shallow friendships. What I have realized is that deep friendships are formed early in life (college days!) and formed based on mutual affinity. Those are few- the rest of the 'friendships' are really acquaintances.   A shallow friendship is an oxymoron. Even if one forms deep friendships later in life, physical proximity (colleagues, neighbors) is usually needed. Ultimately, at 37 my best friends seem to be family members and a few select others. This will be true for most people. So if FB were not around, it is not as if I would have a hoard of pals with whom I am always partying. Friends are few and hence precious- FB has nothing to do with it.

As for the claim of narcissists having a free reign, my response is: People will be people. Nutters will be nutters. If not FB, they will find other means to make themselves felt in annoying ways. And sometimes they provide entertainment through their nutty ways.

FB rules!  :-)

Congrats Mrudula

On Day 1 of employment.

Facebook's 'dark side': study finds link to socially aggressive narcissism

Is this really a surprise that needs a study? Facebook just replaced the school cliques or "kitty parties" as the place to show off your life.

I have been actively unsubscribing from the relentless feeds of a few "friends" over the past few months, declutturing my online social life much like I had my home life.

"The research comes amid increasing evidence that young people are becoming increasingly narcissistic, and obsessed with self-image and shallow friendships."

I disagree with this particular comment though!!!!! I am not sure if Facebook is making people increasingly narcissistic or if people who are already narcissistic are more active on facebook.......


http://m.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/17/facebook-dark-side-study-aggressive-narcissism?cat=technology&type=article

Comment / Thoughts??? Any one defending facebook??? For once I am arguing on the conservative side of things :-)

Happy Birthday Nanna!

A few haiku

I came across these haikus recently...some of them really fine. A refresher on Haiku:

 - Usually 3 sentences
- Usually has at least one word that indicates nature and season
- One line would be a twist or a cutting of the flow of thought of the other 2 lines
- Usually about the current moment
- Leaves a good bit unsaid and implied

new year's day

last night's snow

heavy on the trees

note: how well it evokes the burdens we carry from yester year

dawn fog clears-

showing their toddler

the ocean

note: growing up is a revelation

in the morning  

a winner declared

the comforter is hers

slow-rising sun

the old oak yellows

branch by branch

From time to time

The clouds give rest

To the moon beholders..

note: a classic. what an elegant way to announce the advent of the rainy season

blossomless

but not unloved

the old magnolia

rain settles

some of the pollen 

some of the plans

many oysters opened 

for a single pearl 

my  haiku stash

Science Fair - Experiment on how Thermometer works

Speech Rehearsal

Adi rehearsing his speech for his book report presentation.

Arjun goes to the karma bhoomi!!

How is Arjun doing in India? Has he got chance to see thatha and nainamma yet?

Many Happy Returns of the Day Krupa and IS!

Vimal's visit to Plano

Vimal, Poonam's younger brother was in Plano last week, en route to India from the UK. This was the first time he was meeting Raghav, so it was a special visit. Snaps here:

Raghav with his mama

Other snaps here (UPDATED LINK-hope the snaps are visible now): https://plus.google.com/photos/106282958929086778800/albums/5716658720492199793?authkey=CKf3rPXEgsDPhAE

My experiments with bread 3 - Hamburger Buns

Plain, with Sesame seeds and with Cheese.