The tussle for remote

I guess in most households the tussle for the remote is among the couples. My home has to be an exception to the rule. For the last 6 years, I have been ruling the roost here, with hubby relegated to the background, where remote is concerned. In my defense, it is not as bad as made out, my hubby is least interested in spending time in front of the idiot box(quite unlike me). So that left me to spend time with the remote.

Even after my kids entered the scene, I did not once relinquish control. Which worked well, considering the disaster of handing over the remote to a 3 year old. The way it is been working is, the TV would incessantly play the kids program but the controls would be in my hands. All that changed suddenly this week, when 1 of my kiddos(M) innocently asks me “Can I please try pressing the button once. I will be very careful” How can you ignore such cute requests. My maternal instincts gave in and I taught her how to use the pause and play button. Oh!! the joys of discovery…seen in kids eyes are really worth dying for. The remote was her next fiddling toy for the next 30 mins or so, very carefully pressing the pause and play and in-turn not letting anyone watch anything in continuity.

This is when her sibling(T) who had been devoid of all the attention up until now, interjected “It is my turn now” After a flow of “No its mine…its mine” followed…..
(I’m just so accustomed to it by now. Its almost like music to my ears) T-> why cant we have 2 remotes(just like everything else is in two’s) My response -> When will you learn to share(lectured for the 1000th time) M -> “but its mine….mummy made me in-charge of it”. You see how the humble requests suddenly turn to control.
Me -> ok that’s enough. Nobody gets the remote except me.

Finally managed to get control of the remote(it feels so good to have it back in my hands). Today’s jobs done…tomo is yet another day and now remote is added to the list of tussle’s.

Memorial day and the sale

This memorial day I was itching to check out atleast 1 sale as I hadn't been to a store during sale time for a really long time. I'm not too bitten by the sale-bug, as in the US you have a sale for every small rhyme and reason. In fact every week there is a sale in some xyz store.

Last 2 weeks I was seeing the close-out sale at Mervyns. Mervyns not being top on my list I just ignored the initial pangs. The third week...my better half suggested maybe I should check out the sale and see if I find something for myself. Last couple of years
most of my shopping ends up with accumulating more and more junk for my kids. One of my kids wanted to tag along esp the fussier of the kids wanted to tag along. That should
have spelt disaster as it very often happens and I end up buying things I never intended.

So my plan was to avoid the kids section and head in a different direction. Since most
shops have the women's section right in front so I thought the plan would work.

Enter Mervyns and the first thing I see is hordes of kids clothes and nothing cheap as advertised. To myself "They really know their target audience" I think 30-60% is a gimmick as most thinngs end up at the upper limit. whatever, it worked well enough to get me in.

My daughter who has the weirdest dress sense for a 3 year old, rushes in and starts picking up the most outrageous dresses and all the wrong sizes. By now we have already spent a considerable amount of time and not got anything done. so I pick up a saner costume even if it means having to spend extra bucks, to dissuade my girl from what she had initially picked. couple of things later I head to the billing counter to see a huge tab.

Worst of all I tried to see if my Mervyns card fetched further discount, only to know I can only use it to add points. That dumb card hasn't been worth a single discount and only adds to the weight in my purse.

Just when I'm getting out of the store I see a small sign in the most obscure places telling me "Close out sale. We are moving to a new location opposite the road". To myself "ok so it is really not a close-out sale in the real sense of the word. and I'm 83bucks shorter with things none the cheaper and dresses my kids could have easily done without"

So much for the great memorial day sale!!

One year and counting

Today would be exactly a year since we moved into our new home. Just thinking of the past year a lot of memories come flooding. It is like a trip down memory lane, when thinking of what started as a casual 'open-house' with no intention to buy, to getting to know a whole bunch of new terms, to going through bidding process, to being proud and responsible home-owners(with a huge dent in our Bank balance).

It all started when the rents in our apartment was on the rise. We were on the lookout for a better apt for the same increased rent.

This is when a colleague of mine litrally sat me down and convinced me abt home buying. Same discussion that I have had with V often, except, maybe it sounded more convincing coming from a third person. V was also bought into the idea and after a few calculations we
were on the home buying expedition. For the next few weeks/months our days were filled with going for open houses, researching on the net and reading up stuff. We also banked on the knowledge base of our close friends who were buying around the same time. Thanks to them we were spared of re-inventing the wheel.

After going through a whole bunch of houses(some shown by our agent and some on our own) --> we found houses that were - over the budget/too old/not a good school district
/high maintenence....in short nothing to our liking.
Just when we were about to put a break on our search, our Agent sent us the link to our
current home. We were not too keen on it, due to the extra commute involved. But everything else fitted the bill so it was not easy to pass.

The first time I set sight on it....It wasn't exactly the dream home I had imagined or read about. But came very close to it. The selling point for me was the open and beautiful re-modelled kitchen and the backyard.

Its been a year since then and the house has undergone a lot of transformation - got a dash of color/remodelled floor/fireplace etc and every now and then something breaks down/needs fixing. It gets quite stressful at times with having to fix one thing or another. Nevertheless the immense satisfaction from knowing your efforts are invested in something you can call your own is
extremely gratifying and makes me completely forget the sub-prime issues or any minor irrants associated with the house. Its simply a great feeling when I don't have to walk a block to get my clothes laundered/when I watch the kids frolic in the backyard/just enjoying the space....I think it more than makes up for the hefty mortgage. V, would agree to disagree on the last part ;-)

Here's to more memories and fun-times.

The junk that came

My hubby once in a way takes pity on me and takes it upon himself to get my handbag in order. By that I mean he litrally just empties my handbag and keeps it in sight so I have no option but to sort out the junk.

On my part to avoid accumulating junk I have tried downsizing my handbag. My logic if there is no space to store, there will be less clutter. I thought it was working fine, until yest when I saw what came out of my small handbag.

12 pens. yup!! V just gave me this look..."Really?Are you stealing at work". For this I plead selective amnesia. What can a poor girl do if she forgets it is in her purse all along. And I have so much going on to keep count of pens in my bag.

Next is my collection of to-do lists or to-buy lists. abt 20 in all stuck in different pockets and waiting to be trashed. To this what can I say I'm so good in planning see how diligently I have written out the lists. V countered with "if only you were as good in executing" It did not stop with that he went on to read the lists. one of the weekend to-do items "Try to keep kids as entertained as possible" V (lol) -> "Are you planning to put on an act". But believe me this is a task in itself....although doesn't need to be on the list.
V after going thru the lists "aren't you being over-zealous....I mean how on earth are you planning to get all this done in 1 weekend with 2 hyperactive toddlers in tow" My response " Who said I need to get everything done....I just over planned so that atleast somethings on the list actually get done. If it is not done it would get transferred to the next weekends list.Simple.".

Moving on...next is a bulky purse which holds the credit cards and other essentials. Thats a must have how can you argue with that. V -> atleast it can be a less bulky purse. Me -> No thats not possible I really like the purse. it has always been with me(even though I have misplaced it numerous times....it hasn't managed to leave me)

Next accessories. V-> why do you have a comb, chapstick, and 3 hair clips. Me - "Hello you call that a lot. you should have had an American wife then you would know what accessories mean."

Bills -> truckload of them. ok that needs to be torn and trashed. Point taken.

Yay!! My bag does feel lighter today. I signoff with that until the junk starts accumulating again.

Happy Mothers Day!!!

Maa - Taare Zameen Par


Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Andhere Se Darta Hoon Main Maa
Yun To Main,Dikhlata Nahin
Teri Parwaah Karta Hoon Main Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata,,Meri Maa

Bheed Mein Yun Na Chodo Mujhe
Ghar Laut Ke Bhi Aa Naa Paoon Maa
Bhej Na Itna Door Mujkko Tu
Yaad Bhi Tujhko Aa Naa Paoon Maa
Kya Itna Bura Hoon Main Maa
Kya Itna Bura Meri Maa

Jab Bhi Kabhi Papa Mujhe
Jo Zor Se Jhoola Jhulate Hain Maa
Meri Nazar Dhoondhe Tujhe
Sochu Yahi Tu Aa Ke Thaamegi Maa

Unse Main Yeh Kehta Nahin
Par Main Seham Jaata Hoon Maa
Chehre Pe Aana Deta Nahin
Dil Hi Dil Mein Ghabraata Hoon Maa
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Hai Naa Maa
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Meri Maa

Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Andhere Se Darta Hoon Main Maa
Yun To Main,Dikhlata Nahin
Teri Parwaah Karta Hoon Main Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata,,Meri Maa