Shifted to new residence today. A lot of work still pending, the workers are still there in various parts of the house.
Since past two nights (days are too busy to entertain any thinking) the one thought that preoccupied me was how can we leave a place we have called home for so many years. Infact, both i and Tarique have not slept well since past two days. This new place is big and its better, but its still not home. Guess that will take some time.
This morning, I asked aasim as to why was he acting nervous. His reply was “any kid would be”. Reason – he started with his new school The Jain International School.
Till last year, the school he studied in was his home turf – he knew everyone – classmates, seniors, teachers, school principal everyone.. and people knew him. He could get away with a lot there. Getting nervous about change of school is ok and he dealt well with it.
This new school was something which he was looking forward to go to so, was excited about its lovely campus and location.
He just returned back beaming with excitement, he has already made a few friends, and has choosen swimming as his primary sports activity.
We all read newspapers, form opinions, sometime discuss it with friends and family, and forget about it -however, slowly things seem to be changing. With Internet, people and artists blogging about such things, writing their personal opinions and some day, I am hopeful, it will wake up enough people to make a difference.
http://shubha.underscorerecords.info/2007/05/12/leave-art-and-artistes-alone/
Here’s what he wrote yesterday
“My tooth is breaking. It pains very much when your tooth breaks. Its like being pregnant for a few days.
Till now eight teeth of mine have broken. The first two were taken out by the dentist The dentist recommends you to have ice cream after he or she has a tooth taken out”
Aasim – “Mamma, what happened after the Wright brothers took their first flight?”
I – “They became immortal”
Aasim -“ who was the second one fly the plane?”
I – “Aasim, no one remember’s the second person who did anything, its always the first one that the world remembers”
Aasim (with a very straight face, emphatically) – “The third person is always remembered.”
I – “huh?”
Aasim -“ I was talking grammar!!”
This made my day today – I am currently learning Raag Ahir Bhairav on Sitar and was itching to play since morning today, could not get a chance.
Moral values and loyalty are a matter of convenience for today’s young.
Stardate 315770.599695586, reporting from Bangalore, Its the first manager’s meet for FOSS.IN 2007, slated around the end of the year.
Things started earlier this year and we expect it things to finalise earlier for the FOSS.IN/2007.
Stay tuned for more details
Yesterday was a day which we will not forget all our lives. Returning back from the new home (site) while I was driving at a breakneck speed of 75-80, Tarique told me stop the car immediately. “STOP STOP VULTURE!!!” Tarique almost shouted.
I shushed him “ stop day dreaming! vulture, here? you are crazy!!, must be Osprey or something”. But, by then I had already slowed down a bit and I stopped a little ahead. I spotted something too. Sitting on an almost bare tree, along with black kites, was a form that looked much bigger than the black kite and the form did look like a … (gulp) Vulture. 
So, while Tarique stood guard, I rushed back home to get the camera (our current home is just 1.5 kms away from the sighting place) I made a few phone calls to city birders thinking if it really is a vulture, more pair of eyes should see it, I reached back 15 mins later, to see the bird still sitting there, Tarique took over the camera, while I parked the car and followed him. The clicking begins, and we see the results, IT IS A VULTURE!! WOW!!! more frantic phone calls and I found out that people have already left their respective work places and residences to reach the spot. We prayed, this bird should wait here for some more time atleast till some of the birders arrive.
We also discovered a carcass down below , black kites were troubling the vulture and we were perhaps approaching nearer to its comfort zone, the vulture flew, right over my head, but the sun shone in my eyes so could I not identify which vulture. We left the identification to later and kept clicking. The bird then flew away far after being with us for a good 35-40 minutes.
Jaimesh, Mr. Gopal Thosar (Hon.Wild life Warden ) and Dr. Pimplapure arrive and see the photos, discuss the carcass (it was a calf freshly killed by someone and thrown) and while we all were gloating over the find when all of us shout again almost in unison IT’S BACK! the majestic bird, as if to prove a point, came back and circled for about 10 minutes and then vanished.
So which vulture was it? Long billed ? White back? No! it was the Red necked Vulture AKA the King Vulture
Yesterday night.
“Mumma, can i ask you a question? it is very personal and silly for a man to ask but… ”
“How does it feel to have breasts?” “I mean, do they feel heavy or something”
“it does not feel strange, they are a part of a woman’s body. Do you feel strange to have hands? or heavy”
“no”
“its the same with breasts”
