"Thats my Daughter in the Water"
M - this one's for you. Father's Day gift. I've been working on this for weeks, sorry it took forever to get the website upload to work. Make sure your volume is on and switch to full screen.
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July 03, 2007
July 01, 2007
As the Pounds Creeps Up
And the summer swings on in the Nation's Capital..
But - first - where in heaven's name did June go? I quite remember May.. and now there's July.
1) I
can’t fit into my clothes from last summer… as a few more pounds have
surreptitiously crept up on me. So being forced to go shopping and buy new stuff.
I have started with this print dress… all the dresses now are those tents that hang from your chest that make
you look 8 months pregnant. I wore this to a party at Natasha’s some weeks back. Later
that evening I asked her “so you didn’t say anything about my dress.. .” “Yeah we need to talk about that.." Mean!
2) New
job is awesome as is new colleagues- kinda nice to be around very young people who are plugged-in ipod/youtube/green-living types after the ailing aging baby boomers shuffling through the corridors over at 1818 H Street. The first thing I noticed when I
got here was that everyone has really nice hair… or at least a significant amount of it …
which was an interesting contrast from before.
3) Finally bought a place in DC after a good couple months spent up
and down the NW postcode looking at some 30 or so properties. Its a nice little condo in Cleveland Park that backs right up into Rock Creek Park - like literally all you see is this thick green forest. Super quiet, very secluded, and just the kind of place I can disappear into for days without emerging. There is a little guest room - so now I can have visitors without me having to decamp into the living room.
4) HRH Dad has been here providing technical and moral support on the condo project - in particular he was instrumental in pushing me to actually sign on the dotted line, instead of looking and looking but never committing. Because well, thats me. Commitment, responsibility, and spending significant amounts of $$ on anything, are all anxiety-inducing events that make me wanna go bury my head in the sand. Or in the internet.
5) Dad's visit was, as always, replete with fabulous meals and great conversations full of insights and analysis.. he always comes up with some stuff that never fail to floor me. Like,
Dad: I am so glad you now have some really good friends that you actually enjoy being with.
Me: Huh? I always had a ton of friends!
Dad: Yes, on paper. But you never gave anyone the time of day.. to develop authentic sustained relationships.. from the time you were a kid, you always preferred some loner activity like reading books, or writing, or talking to yourself, than actual interaction with other human beings.
Me: Great! Thanks for sharing Dad. Glad to know am making progress.
6)
June 17, 2007
Daddies Cool
Here's wishing Happy Father's day to all Dad's out there. I would specifically like to acknowledge two exceptional members of the species known as "DAD"
Mali - new dad of 5 month old Ayushi. Congratulations - thus far she looks totally happy, you look totally relaxed - you must be doing something right.
This one's for you. "DAUGHTER"
My Dad - the lyrics of this song remind me of you. It reminds me of when I was like 3 and I met you for the first time, and I took apart that doll you had brought me from England. And then later, through the years.. every time I fell you caught me, every time I fell..
Everything she sees
she says she wants.
Everything she says she wants
I see she gets.
That's my daughter in the water
everything she owns I bought her
Everything she owns.
That's my daughter in the water,
everything she knows I taught her.
Everything she knows.
Everything I say
she takes to heart.
Everything she takes
she takes apart.
That's my daughter in the water
every time she fell I caught her.
Every time she fell.
That's my daughter in the water,
I lost every time I fought her.
I lost every time.
Every time she blinks
she strikes somebody blind.
Everything she thinks
blows her tiny mind.
That's my daughter in the water,
who'd have ever thought her?
Who'd have ever thought?
That's my daughter in the water,
everything she knows I taught her.
Everything she knows
June 14, 2007
OMG - My Mom is on Facebook!
Hilarious. We are SO in the 21st century now.
Facebook is the size of a small country - 24 million 'citizens'. Its a serious phenomenon, totally overtaking MySpace and all those other networking sites.
It started as - just for the kids - then the adults got in. But why are parents using it to spy on the kids?? Creepy.
Parents are increasingly visiting social networking websites to ‘spy’ on their children, according to a study by London School of Economics (LSE).
So one thing that came out of my 20-something cousin's visit was that she got me onto this craze, and I have now set up abode on what undergrads all over the world are calling the second most "in" thing ever (the first being iPod and the third being sex).
But here's my question: the Facebook platform is totally open, anyone can sign up, parents included. How is this going to affect the needs of the primary market segment of teens and twentysomethings- for whom privacy is key to sharing emails and pictures with their friends about music, movies, and the latest crush?
In 5 days I have reconnected with all kinds of ex-classmates and old friends. Here's a typical Facebook event: Lotta Takala-Greenish (a girl who went to high school in Switz with me) sends a message asking if I'd like to contribute a recipe to a gift book for Priyanka Senadhira's wedding - another friend from high school who also went to LSE with me, and who also happens to be my ex sis-in-law. I also learnt that Nimit Shah and Neel Bhatia who I went to Wharton with are now friends, and that yesterday Pooja Mall threw a sheep at Smriti Jha who later that evening joined "I Was At LSE in the 1900's - LSE Alumni of the Last Millennium".
If globalization made the world smaller, Facebook has made it micro - a tiny tiny little village - where we all know exactly what everyone else is up to.
June 10, 2007
The Allure of Family Gossip
Its so nice to have family visit. DC being the Nation's Capital and all, its an awesome place for anyone to wonder around and see lots and lots of 'significant stuff'. In addition, being that it was Memorial Day weekend, it was the perfect day to see all the, well, memorials.
Shivanthi loved DC so much that she's threatened to move here and move
in with me. Apparently the whole art-gallery-going-
starbucks-sipping-web-surfing lifestyle is so, like, her thing.
But the best part was, of course, the gossip. What is it about getting together with a favorite girl cousin, curling up on the sofa with a couple of strong black Ceylon teas and embarking on a mega chit chat about The Family, that is so delicious? Wish I could tell you the half of it.. but what was said in DC will stay in DC. ;)
April 24, 2007
3 Months on Earth
Dear Ayushi girl,
Happy 3 months on the planet!
And aren't you a fiery little beauty? You've definitely got the famous Fernando hair, and as I hear, the super-sociable Jha temperament. 
So, what was it like taking your first plane trip, and what do you think of Cool-ombo and your new home? I imagine a little too hot for you, and a bit craaaaaaaazy, what with monsoon floods and WW2 style air raids at night. I know! What were your parents thinking 'retiring' there?? I think its something to do with the 1 staff to 1 family member ratio of having a maid, driver, and nanny to look after you three.
What do you think of grandpa and grandma Fernando? As you will learn GM is very protective and very "on-top-of-everything". Absolutely nothing escapes her radar screen and monitoring. If your poo is a shade darker she will notice and she will bug your dad about it until he 'fixes' it. As for GP, I heard that you giggle incessantly when you see him - now whats up with that? Are you laughing with him or at him? We wanna know because when your dad and I were kids we were kinda scared of him. So whats your secret A-girl??
I heard you enjoyed the world cup cricket and rooted for the awesome Lankans! Yeah don't let your mommy take you over to the dark side on that one. I also heard that you are not much of a sleeper at night. Welcome to Bat World! Night time is our time! Don't let anyone make you feel bad for being different! Besides you are only 3 months - its totally your right to stay up all night if you want to - and its not like your parents have jobs to go to the next day anyway.
Well A-girl I hope to catch you soon on skype or IM - last week's webchat was awesome! Hey btw I loved that print dress you were wearing. Polka dots are all the rage now!!
I miss you terribly, love you,
-Hira Didi
March 24, 2007
Things to do with Mom
My Mom is the type that needs schedules and planned activities. She is not of the type that will wander off to a coffee shop and read the latest James Patterson (that would be Dad). And as this is like her zillioneth trip here, we have already covered the basics - White House, Congress, National Monuments, War memorials, and museums.
So whats a girl to do to show Mom a good time around town?
1) Mom-daughter manicure/pedicure: this is where you sit side by side and chit chat while 2 Korean ladies attend to both your hands and feet. Typically all zen and relaxing... except if you end up in some place with a crazy old lady and her 60 year old husband who is 'in training'.
2) An indie Art Gallery: A collection of photography and artwork under the theme "Love brings us together, Love tears us apart." Uplifting and melancholic at the same time. I thought my mother would find it too 'edgy' but she loved it. I liked it too, and even got some ideas for a collage I want to do with old faded family pictures.
3) Author reading @ Politics and Prose. One of my favorite writers, Anne Lamott, who writes modern memoir with a spiritual bent, has got a new book out called Grace (Eventually). She writes in an wry, irreverent and contemporary way about old subjects like faith, compassion, and "learning to cooperate, with grace, when life rears its very confusing head".
4) DC Environmental Film Festival: screening of a short film about Rachel Carson's cult book Silent Spring followed by a talk on it, at the National Archives. Very important book, credited with founding the modern environmental movement.
5) An intimate dinner out with your closest friends and Mom. They'll all jabber away while you sit back, relax, and take in the place. But try to avoid having your friends and your Mom ganging up on you with "anecdotes" that only they find funny.
6) Looking for aprts/homes on Capitol Hill. If you are thinking of buying anything, getting parental involvement/approval early on is always a good thing. a) They love that stuff, and b) otherwise you'll never hear the end of it. They like to ensure its a 'suitable' neighborhood, that the walk/drive to the dry cleaners is 'reasonable', and that the guest bedroom is 'large' enough for them. All critical matters.
7) Shopping, shopping, shopping. My mother and I are the exact same size and body shape. The same stuff looks good (or hideous) on both of us. We also have the exact same taste (except I'd say I am a little more classic, she is a little trendier) and we have similar budgets. So its fun picking clothes to try on, and buying a handful of stuff that either one of us can wear.
February 11, 2007
Baby Poo and other Delights
This is the closest Ive come to holding something live that has part of my own genetic material! Its amazing. But also a little scary (what if I hurt her by holding too tight) and a little crraaaaaaaaaazzzy. M tried to show me the whole diaper changing thing... I saw the poo, got excited and knocked over the water bucket, he nearly slipped and dropped the baby, and well.. long story short... that didn't really work out for me.
Ayushi babe is delightful. Soft pink skin. A swoop of jet black hair. She has Mali and my hair. Straight, silky, sleek. Sumi's cute button nose. Perhaps Preethi's mouth. Mali's forehead and eyes, and far away expression.
She loves to be hugged, she likes cuddles and warmth. She doesn't like water or baths I think. She eats a lot, throws up a lot, sleeps a lot during the day, and stays up all night. Yeah that last.. remind you of anyone?! :)
She's quite low-maintenance, and really, a good baby. Here, she is taking a nap after reading the business section of the Sunday papers. 
And here, she's posting a comment on my blog. Isn't she awesome??
February 09, 2007
Pillgwenlly must be Welsh for
in the bloody middle of nowhere. Because thats where I am. Pillgwenlly - somewhere in Wales. Stranded, in a snowstorm.
An hour ago I was on a bus from London to Cardiff, fast sleep of course, only to wake up to a complete blanket of white, and going nowhere fast. Its not a massive snowstorm by East-coast US standards but clearly 'debilitating' because we were moving about 500 meters in 2 hours. Finally, I got off the bus.. and found myself in some quaint little Welsh town, in the middle of a Charles Dickens story.
I wondered around a bit dragging my bag in the snow, it was still coming down pretty hard, I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of me. But surely there's got to be a Starbucks around here. I passed a cosy looking Pub called Tŷ’r Cerbydwyrwyryryrwr (these dudes are really into their Rs and Ws but clearly don't like vowels) but decided against it and kept looking for some kind of cafe. Then this guy whizzed past with a takeout coffee cup that looked like.. it was from a chain coffeehouse. So I ran after him, slipping and sliding on the ice, shouting, "Young man! Young man! Yooohoooo". Finally he turned around.
Me: Hi. Where did you get this coffee?
Him: cerddi am 'r chornela a 'na 'ch
Me; You the, who the, what???
He pointed up the hill and what looked like a turn to the right. I followed the directions and came to... Marks and Spencers! It had a cafe. I had hot scones and marmalade. Then I did a spot of shopping. M&S Lingerie??!! Are you kidding me??! I have made special trips all the way to the UK just to buy M&S underwear and their super-supportive -while-being-pretty-underwired bras (yeah, the ol mount kilimanjaros need something serious as you know). But coming upon it just like that? Nothing short of finding a big fat duvet to crawl into could have made me happier right then. Now some (ie. anyone under 50yrs) may claim that M&S is for grandmas, but I prefer them any day to the totally impractical pieces of string and bling Victoria's Secret crap that passes for lingerie these days. So ghetto! In any event I shall have you know that M&S does 5 pack low-rise thongs now.
After my little shopping expedition, I went back to the Cerbydwrdwrr whatever pub, and there was a machine where you can put in coins and get on the iinterrrrrnnneetttttttttttttttt (yeah!)... which is where I am right now, waiting for M to come pick me up.
January 24, 2007
A Little Girl Without a Name
Was born today, 24 January 2007, at 17.16 GMT at Prince Charles Hospital, Wales, United Kingdom. 
Hey little girl, you are so beautiful. Too beautiful for just one name. If you were mine, I would name you all of these. And I've only covered A, L, N, S, and T thus far..
Alissa, Arianna, Athina, Amelia, Aiyanna, Anneka, Lara, Lily, Lianna, Nadia, Nayomi, Nikita, Sahira, Tahlia, Tara, Samantha, Sienna, Sephira, Zara, Zarina.
January 18, 2007
Dear Baby,
This is the first post I write with my new laptop, the delivery of which was almost as anticipated as your arrival still is.. so it makes sense that it should be dedicated to you.
We are eagerly waiting to welcome you. Finally, we know that you are on your way. We imagine all kinds of things about you - like whether you are a boy or a girl and what kind of features you'll have, whether you'll have your mom's pretty smile and your dad's funny nose.
We kinda know that you are big and that 8 days from the scheduled delivery date you still haven't got into position to come out. I don't blame you. It must be so nice and dark and quiet in there (like my bedroom). Beats me why anyone would want to come out to the glare of bright lights and the noise of people. I totally feel that I didn't have enough time in the womb. So little one - seriously - just take your time.
Your mama may not agree. The poor thing has not see her toes in 5 months or pee-ed properly for nine. But hey she also gets to feel the good stuff.. like your kicks and dances. Your dad likes to poke her belly so that we can see you move. Has that been fun for you? Because its been fun for us!
These are interesting times and you are being born to very interesting people and their families. Your daddy, who is my only sibling, is kind of.. well.. how shall I put this.. a goodlooking smarty pants. He's got the whole 'tall, dark, and handsome' thing going on but don't let that fool ya. He is the leader of the Geek Squad, and if you are anything like him you'll be born partitioning the hard drive and cateloging MP3 files. This is usually what he does while your mom watches Bollywood movies and dances to chunari chunari. Your mama likes to talk. A lot. To anyone. To be able to chitty chat away with friends and strangers, distant relatives and co-workers alike is a rare talent to have. It will come in handy at your PTA meetings.
Anyway life on this side of the womb is not too bad. Let me share with you some random thoughts. Life is a funny thing - we are all kinda busy looking for the key to unlock some great secret but all it is is a chance to grow a soul. A series of moments. Don't worry about what you'll do when you grow up. Because as soon as you start doing what you always wanted to do, you'll want to do something else. Don't worry too much about who you'll end up with either, in this day and age it can be girl or boy, one or many, or no one at all. (Although your mom has told me that she really really wants to organise your wedding so you might want to check with her on that one). Anyway the point is nothing really matters, nothing really sticks for long other than whats in your heart and the small choices you make on a daily basis, because how you spend your day is ultimately how you live your life.
And finally, baby, don't wait for your ship to come in... Swim out to it. Grab the railings. Climb on board. Sail away on your own adventures.
Ultimately you'll shape your own destiny. But we'll be there cheering on every step of the way.
Love, Hira
December 27, 2006
Holiday Party & Pics
Christmas 2006 in Switzerland with Mom&Dad, the Gomezes, and the Sadacharans.
The highlight was Dad's organization of 'Midnight Mass' at home (!!) replete with a bonafide priest, carol singing, and Holy Communion. The Mass was videostreamed live to family and friends who could not be with us this Holiday.
Meanwhile, in Wales, M&S had their own little party.. and celebrated their last few days as a two-some before the arrival of the little 'un.
