My Daddy BEST!!!

This morning I was reading an article that had the wisest advice from history's famous dads. But wait a minute, before I look at the Famous Dads, how much have I heeded my Dad's pieces of advice??!!! I have been lucky like every other kid in the world to be guided by my Father!! Some advice hard, very hard to follow, some take eternity to be mastered. I have fallen down so low sometimes deviating completely from following them and then try hard to fall in line. So far I haven't been able to match him in anyway although he practices all of them with such discipline, persistence and so naturally.

Archu,
what is your greatest advantage;
your free time. isn't it,which you wont get back even after two decade.
so make best use of it.


1.Invite beings of light - HOW; BY DRIVING AWAY BEING OF DARKNESS MANIFESTING IN THE FORM OF LAZINESS
2.PLAN YOUR WORKS FOR THE MONTH FOR THE FREE TIME AND COMPLETE IT AHEAD OF TIME.THAT IS HOW YOU BECOME MASTER OF TIME MANAGEMENT. IT WILL HELP YOU SO MUCH WHEN NECESSITY COMES.
3.WHEN YOU READ ANY BOOK MEMORISE IT LATER. IT IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN
4.WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING PLAN WELL IN ADVANCE AND CARRY EVERYTHING REQUIRED FOR THAT WORK.
5.ALWAYS DO THINGS IN ADVANCE.
6.BE A LIGHT NOT A JUDGE
7.BE A MODEL TO SET EXAMPLE TO OTHERS NOT A CRITIC.
8.BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION AND NOT A PART OF THE PROBLEM.
9. WORK ON YOU
A)FOR A FULL DAY LISTEN TO YOUR LANGUAGE
B)MAKE A COMMITMENT TO YOURSELF TO EXERCISE YOUR FREEDOM TO BE PRO ACTIVE.
I DONT WANT TO BORE YOU ANY FURTHER
HOW ARE YOU AFTER THIS PROLHAMM (He means Prolonged hammering :-))
I HOPE YOU WILL BECOME MORE STRONGER
WITH ALL BEST WISHES TO TITTU&ACHUTHA (That's what he called me lovingly)
YOURS LOVING HAMMER

--------------------------
Another Mail from Dad!
--------------------------
how are you both babbies,
HOW DOES LIFE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
BYLIVIN LIFE WELL
MEANS
TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE;
1. IN LISTENING TO OTHRS
2. BETTER RELATION WITH EVERY BODY
3.IMPROVING EFFICIENCY IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE RIGHT FROM COKING,KEEPING THING IN A BETTER WAY
4.MORE COMMUNICATIVE
5.SHOWING IMPROVEMENT TO YOURSELF EVERY DAY
HOW
1.TRY TO IMPROVE THE FOLLOWING COMPARED TO YESTERDAY
A. YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH PHANI
B. YOUR KEEPING HOUSE
C.EFFECTIVE IN YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH EVERYBODY
D.KEEP YOUR MAGNETISM HIGH BY ADDRESSING OTHERS WELL AND PRESENTING BETTER THINGS OF YOU ALWAYS
E. WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO DO,DO IT NOW AND KEEP TIME FOR OTHER THINGS.
THAT MEANS DO THINGS FAR IN ADVANCE SO THAT YOU CAN ENJOY LEISURE. TO BE EFFECTIVE IN YOUR LIFE THIS IS VERY ESSENTIAL.
F.NEVER DO THINGS IN THE LAST MINUTE
G.BE AHEAD OF YOUR SCHEDULE
WITH ALL BEST WISHES TO PHANI AND ARCHU
YOURS LOVING
UNCLE AND DAD

For every kid their Fathers are the best and so for me MY DADDY BEST!!!

Visitors on my Patio

The sun is shining in gold hidden by the green trees of the spring. Birds are in plenty all joyful and gay and I say to myself " it's spring time!!!" I had missed this feast to my eyes for long and I'm so enkindled now.

My patio doesn't reflect the fantastic spring time. So I decide to pot some plants and place a bird feeder.
I wait the whole day to see not a bird around. I wait the next day and the next and the next. The days are getting hotter. I can see the sunrise earlier. On a fine rainy morning, I see a host of sparrows chirping and feeding on the grains I had left for them days back!!!
Finally! There they are!!! I wake up every morning to hear this little ones quavering and realize, 'Oops! They are waiting for their share of food for the day.' I give them their share and have my breakfast.

I sit the whole day making new job trials and I see them come over and over again for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner!!!

The visitors at my patio have increased by the day. Apart from the house sparrows, there are a couple of House Finches, that look just like the house sparrow except they are red on their head,

Mourning Doves, very quite while eating and loud when flying, a Blue Jay, bigger than sparrows with beautiful blue and white feathers. The Blue Jay gives guest appearances just one time a day while the rest of the flock almost dine and wine with me the whole day. And now, there is a squirrel that wants the grains too. The Squirrel finds its way from the ground to my first floor apartment for sharing the grains!!!! Very wonderful, I thought!
And then there are, baby sparrows along with their mommy (I guess). They would open their mouth wide to which mommy throws grain(s). Its such a warm thing to see in the morning. Now I can see how those little ones grow each day and start to feed their own tiny stomaches.

I wonder at how such varied species SHARE the grains in the same place at the same time in harmony. They are never late from bed (Nest, I must say!), always in tune with nature, healthy and happy all the time. They probably have no idea that there is someone watching them and speaking of them to a whole lot of people. I think they have become a part of my day quite as much as my best companions!!! I barely sit at home during the day without their presence in front of me with their sweet tweets. My day sure does feel brighter in the presence of my charming mates.

Magnificient Motherland/Heavenly Homeland

Its been 1Year that I have been in USA but mannn...that feels like a lifetime. That good old life in India, when I was a bachelor ;) are fresh memories in mind. I 've been blessed with wonderful family who supported me, encouraged me, point out to me and mold me.
I can never forget those long late night discussions with Dad and Bedtime stories with Mom. I silently enjoyed it when she scolded me.

Next time I'm gonna be to India I wish to experience every moment to the fullest and make it feel very very heavenly!
I wish to re-experience the love my parents show in action and in their eyes. I really miss that now.
The kids gang in my apartment, dancing with lots of energy and enthusiasm
How can I forget Nellore, Grand Ma's home made sweets and savories. I have been seeing her for 25yrs doing things for us as affectionately as ever before despite her health conditions. Me and Mahesh sure are very lucky to receive their love.
And My Grand Pa, He used to call us one at a time into a room where he gave cookies to each of us(His grand children) with so much Love. I can never forget that.
Mom's baby like sobbing while we leave home
Family get-togethers, Biryanis and silly jokes with cousins and Serious discussions with Pradeep, Photo sessions, Anniversary celebrations, Birthday Celebrations, Seenu Uncle's entertainment.
Traffic Jams
Waking early morning painfully only to miss the bus. Prakash (He drove the Office bus) was too punctual for me.
CRs, GSM (Can't believe Harish, Kishor and Me did the activation of the first GSM prepaid mobile number in production), Virgin GSM (So-my-aahhh and Ramesh bared me!), Team meetings(I used to sleep with my eyes open and was known in the Team for that! Got scolded for this too..), Negotiations with clients, Coffee breaks, Lunch breaks and silly jokes with Chadrika & Jo, Team outings, 13th floor Birthday parties, Subways and Pizza with extra cheese (I can't even dream about eating extra cheese now).
Paani Puri and road side food, Hyderabadi Biryani and sweet paan, Ice-cream in the open breeze at Melting moments and walk at KBR park.
Walks around the office building
Group Meditations, Volunteering activities, Team work, Frictions and affections, Hatha Yoga
Visit to NGOs, Super Brain Yoga for Kids. I can never forget how excited these kids get for a simple shake shand with them. I enjoyed their joy!
Poyyi in hometown, smell of the Earth after rain, Monsoons, Mud puddles, Crowds, Fighting with Auto walas
Sight seeing with dad ans shoppings with Mom. She bared me while everyone gave up on me while shopping.
Kavita's sweet lime juice(she loved making juice for me), late night calls, text messages
Power cuts, sweat oozing, cool breeze
Shopping in General bazar, Sultan Bazar, Koti and Charminar
Bike ride with Sunita, Auto rides with Bhargavi, lectures and love from Anna, Silly jokes with Kishor and Suraj, Serious talks with Lavanya and Swati But ultimately and unanimously proclaimed 'KID',
waiting to eternity for the elevator in the office. Enthusiastic and energetic SIT Team

I remember how Mom used to wake up on-time irrespective of her health condition to prepare breakfast and lunch before I leave to office. She never let me step out of home without having breakfast even when I'm rushing. Wonder how I missed these few details before.

Suguna Aunty's supportive and caring calls.

I'm not sure whether I'm pondering on the past or being aware of the sweet little details in life too late. But the deprivation has made these memories very precious I guess. This time I visit India I will capture these memories in picture/video and preserve them.

Response for my first Post!!!!

Started off very SMALL with Blog writing and got a BIG Dhamki from BIG Anna!!! ;) 

 

Eden Prairie, Minnesota

23 - 28, November 2010

We had been to Eden Prairie for Phani's nephew's birthday on the Thanks giving weekend! The time from Thanks Giving till End of the Year is Holiday season in USA.

Eden Prairie is a city in Minnesota which is in the Mid-western United states. And like all the other states, Minneapolis is the biggest city of this state but Saint Paul is the capital city ;-) which is also the Twin city of Minneapolis! If you have read my first post you will know why I made a wink for the capital. This is one city which Phani loved after his first visit and would talk about very often!

Eden Prairie is on the Bank of Minnesota river which is a tributary of the Mississippi River. Eden Prairie has been tagged in the "Best places to live" in the USA. The winters are supposed to be very cold. It was winter when we visited this place and the whole city and the surroundings was already covered with snow like a white blanket.  It was my first snow experience too!!! Loved the place!!! Phani's first visit was in summer and it makes me feel this place is worth a visit in the summers too...may be I can feel for myself why the city is so popular. Hoping to see our cousins next time in the summer ;-O I have read that Eden Prairie is known for having the least unemployment rate of 5% and is supposedly family-friendly which means lot of safety to the people living here and better schools, it has nature's beauty embedded with 17 lakes around for swimming in the summer to skating in the winters. Also it is supposed that the residents are some of the healthiest in the nation. Probably that justifies why it's in the "The Best Places to Live"!

We had been to Minneapolis downtown and it lies on the bank of the second largest river in the USA, Mississippi! Minneapolis is called the City of lakes. Our cousin who we came to visit works in Minneapolis downtown for Oracle.

I wish I was a better photographer! Couldn't capture the buildings more clearly :(

Another place of interest is Mall of America. Its the second largest mall in the USA but has the highest number of stores with place for dining and theaters as well. Celebration was in the air with Christmas round the corner.

The holiday season showed itself in the decorations of the mall. The Christmas trees look less green and more white?!!! Yes, that's how a natural Christmas tree would look like here because the snow settles all over the tree wherever possible! This Mall is very happening with lots of rides for kids of all ages and adults too. Me and Phani got into Orange streak coaster and Ferris Wheel. We are not so "rides crazy" so kept ourselves just to these and accompanied our nephew for the little rides which he enjoyed thoroughly. And how can I forget mentioning the caricature me and phani got done ;-) Honestly, din't look like our faces but it was fun and something different from the usual!

Looking back I see Minneapolis as a best of a lot of things. Although seen very few places feels like we have covered the best of kinds like for the place of stay, the shopping mall and of course the rivers! The color white is what comes into my mind for this city as the time that we have been there, it was really really white...wish to call it a "Fairy land".