In love with Manhattan..

It has been two consecutive weeks since we have been visiting Manhattan. Last week, A and A took us there - Mr.A cruising through those Streets and Avenues gave us a tour of all those eateries to be visited and landmarks to checkout when we come back. The one evening with them there was a fun prelude to what was to follow the next week.

We parked in Trenton for overnight parking and took the train.

B and I booked two nights in a hotel right on Times Square. Did not expect a luxurious stay but wanted to be close to the hustle-bustle. Got just that. We checked in to the hotel and stepped out. We took a stroll around and found ourselves in the Rockefeller center. We called to India to speak with the kids and chatted with them. After a round of appetizer in an American place, we were walking. An hour later seeing this Desi restaurant, we felt it is time to have something Indian. Dinner there and then walked back to the hotel to crash.

When we step out in the morning, there you are - you can see the city on the move! And you have this amazing feeling that you are part of the happening place and you cannot afford to sleep in a hotel room anymore. It is time to start moving!

Breakfast is no other place than Saravana Bhavan in Lexington Ave. Which other place is open at 8.30 AM to offer you food close to home? We enjoyed the South Indian food and took a cab to Central Park.

Central Park was amazing - the more we walked and we looked in the map - we figured we still have so much more to explore. Every direction you turn there is a fountain or some nice scenery. Groups of friends playing volleyball and stuff. Parents walking behind kids running away from them. Canadian anniversary celebration. The Lake. The Cubbon Park style grass meadows with couples here and there. The bikers made me regret I came unprepared to rent a bike and roll! Some other time..

The next stop was the Broadway Show. Thanks to A who recommended 'The Phantom of the Opera'. The story line as well as the rendition was captivating. B fell in love with it. I liked it but I guess it was my nap time.Ever paid money for an excellent show and fought with your eyes to keep yourself awake? May be I was too tired from the wandering around so much. The Phantom's character made an impression in my mind.

I had made reservation at Vatan Restautant. I learnt a new term - Prix Fixe menu. It was Gujarati food - bit pricey but I had heard so much about it that I had decided to explore the place. Great ambience and the setup of a village is nice.It was a good experience. I had read so many bad reviews about their service - but it was really nice in our experience.

The next morning, B insisted we go to Saravana Bhavan again - usually it is me who wants to go there, but this time it was him. Then was the adventure ride in Subway to Financial District. There was a moment when we stood in the hot and humid subway station that I thought we are completely lost. But we made it. Lots of things to figure out when you ride subway the first time - but we reached where we wanted to. We were thrilled to get the first glimpse of Freedom Tower. We saw the Bowling Green Bull which we had visited 13 years back with a friend's family. Roamed around more and eventually my feet were extremely sore. Then we took a train to Grand Central Station and were wowed by its majestic architecture.

Had a quick lunch from the "dining concourse" as they called their food court. Time to go back to the hotel, grab our stuff from the locker and head to the train back to Trenton. Quite a memorable experience!

N and N - my boys - I have made a list of all the places to take you both in NY. We missed you when we ate good food and especially when I tried the Icecream Soda in coffee flavor, I wished I could ask N1 to try. Now Appa and Amma are well versed with the Streets and Avenues - especially with Google Maps in Appa's phone, we can conquer Manhattan. Lovely city!

A school year later..

When I hopped into this blog after a long time, I realize I had not posted even once after we moved into our new home.

A week ago, was the completion of an entire school year in the new school district. Initial days of my older one complaining about the new atmosphere and not having friends. The days when the younger was lucky enough to find a friend and hang on to him. The school bus change and concerns around timings/pickup/drop off. Then it rolled off smoothly.

I took part in some Elementary school activities with the younger one. I would feel totally lost in the beginning since I knew nobody there. I missed the old school where you walk in and you could recognize faces. Now at the end of this school year, I can say I can recognize some faces.

Long story short. Kids have gone to India with grand parents. It is just the two of us. You will be surprised
how much our lives revolve around kids that you don't know what to do when they are not there. But I would be lying if I say that I am not having a good time - I am doing things which we cannot think of doing when a normal routine school week is going on. I went for Nails after 2 years with a friend. I am meeting girl friends for dinner and lunch. Last week, B and I went out couple of times for dinner. We went for a long walk in atrial.  It is almost like a bachelor life. Every evening we watching a movie or a half of it until we know it is too late.

All friends are making plans for evenings with us. It is a break for them too. Make hay while the sun shines!

Nearing it..

As the closing date to the new home approaches, mixed feelings emerge once again.

Past 5 months, we were in a temporary home. That holds true for everything about our life. More than half of our things boxed up in the basement, we were living with what is utmost necessary. When seasons changed, we went on the look out for winter clothes in suitcases. We realized that however good you label your boxes, it is not possible to quickly get to what you want.

About 2 weeks to move out of this apartment townhome, it does not still feel real. When the structure was being built, we would swing by every day to see what is new. Every little change was exciting and it was a ritual for our family to drive by every day. Once the structure outside was complete, then we started getting inside the home to look for any changes within. And then came a stage when we were locked out. We can only get in with the builder's help. It has been exciting so far.

This temp home was so convenient in one aspect - we had the school bus stop right outside the home. Never had it so close before. So when my 1st grader is ready, we get out of the home and wait for the bus.

We have fun conversations at that time. Once the bus comes, I wave bye to him and he blows me kisses.It is like we do not care how stupid we look to others and I have never done that with my older one even when he was small. Once my older one got on to the bus, I could never see where he was.  Also this is much different from my to-be teenager now who does not want to see me anywhere near the bus stop.

I think that is what I will miss most when we move out of this home. The memories of me waving bye to my younger one and him smiling to me eye to eye!

Change is good

Last week, we had the most exciting days. We sold our current home and moved to a rental place. All the foundation work for eventually moving to a new home in the near future.

After spring break, we put our townhome on sale. The one month and odd when our home was on sale - constant cleaning up, refraining from cooking inside, take-outs and eat-outs, yelling at kids to not mess up the house, getting out of own own home for others to walk through it any time - thank God that all ended when we got an offer. It seemed like a very long time though! We could not believe it that it ended since during our Open House we did not even have a potential buyer come in and the response that was so great in the first 2 weeks we put it on the market dwindled down very very soon. Just about when the hope was running low, we got an offer.

Then came the stages of inspection, mortgage appraisal from buyer's loaning company ..one step at a time. We were really afraid to tell anyone for sure since anything could go anyway. The date was fixed by the buyers to settle - it was the same day they were selling their home.

Now the challenge was to find a rental place which fits our future school district needs. We were looking at a new construction from time to time and working out our agreement with them. After a bit of struggle, we signed a lease with an apartment where our kids would go to the same schools when the new home is completed.

Last week was the big  move. Even after the movers took the bulk of everything, we were shocked to see how much more needs to moved to the new place. It was a marathon loading our cars and unloading stuff in the new place.

The settlement meeting went smooth. Now we slowly settling down in the rental place. I am even enjoying the rental place and unpacking boxes - I do curse when I hit a box on the way or can't find what I am looking for right away..it is all part  of the game!We embarked the journey now on making selections and finalizing options - will take some months to get our home. One step at a time...but the changes are really exciting.

The Year That Was

So why was I procrastinating so much from writing? Finally I hope these thoughts will see day light.

The Year That Was - I am talking about the year I decided to quit my job and be home. When

I quit the job, I thought I will be home for 3 months. How that went to a whole year (and a couple of months) is a story.

Once I put Nithin into the half day Montessori, my life revolved around that schedule.

Memories:

• Early morning walks in the Mall when no shops have been open yet. I would buy coffee and wait around to return something in a shop. Somedays I was to early in the Mall after dropping him that I had to sit in the car, kill time with iPhone until it opened.
• Times when I always early for everything including the one time I was 1 hour early for a doctor appointment
• Times when the radio station talks about traffic in the Turn Pike, I switched it off because I don;t bother about it anymore.
• Times when the people I interacted most were automatically non-working moms.
• Afternoons sitting on the king size bed with Nithin and reading to him
• Evenings when I would look forward to work with Nikhil on Kumon or something - so I feel like we accomplished something together!
• Days when I had the enthusiasm to cook and days when I hated it so much that I escaped it
• Sundays when I felt and enjoyed the relief of not being compelled to go to work the next day
• Days when my Google Calendar consisted of nothing other than kids' birthday parties

In an effort not to break the rhythm of Nithin's half day school, I did not feel like looking for a job. B had a 1 year timeframe in mind after which I should start looking for a job. Summer went by like a breeze with my parents' visit and with kids out of school.

September began with the worry of how Nithin will adjust to his schools - he was to continue the AM in his montessori and the PM in public school. I had worried about this all year, but other than the the first day's crying, he adjusted beautifully. I started getting bored at home - so automatically I started job-hunting - as per plan.

The next couple of months I went through the frustrations of

a job-hunter. I was back in the same state that I was after my layoff (2 years back). Trying to market my skills - except that this time I was looking for new role completely. I did not want to commute too far and did not want to travel for my work either These really narrowed down the options I had.

After some weeks of hope and despair alternating, I should say Thank God for that phone call.

Ek Pal Mein Zindagi Badal Gaya...

I heard the golden words - We want to make you an offer. My old work place. The product in which I had worked for 5 years before. A chance to start off officially as a product analyst. B will be my colleague once again. Commute = 5 min.

December went by knowing that I have a work place destined for the next year. Parties and holiday gatherings. Dressing up. Apprehensions and tension as usual about the future. How will it be?

More later on how life has changed after joining work.

The Week That Was

Monday started off with preparing mango pie to be taken to Nithin's school for the Diwali celebrations at the Montessori.

Tuesday was the Diwali party. All the Indian moms contributed to a couple of hours of Diwali joy with music, food and crafts from India. It was a beautiful sight to see all the kids dance to Bhangra and Bollywood Music. We indulged in eating the goodies and savories made by other moms.

The week day evenings were busier than usual for the past few weeks due to practices for the upcoming Diwali Party for our community. Nithin was going to the Diwali dance with his age kids. I was happy that he was not clinging to me like last years' practices. I could just drop him off and pick him up and he went into the routine without issues. He is growing up fast and he is already 6!

Nikhil also was going to ramlila practices. B was playing guitar in the band that practiced songs for the Diwali party. I sang two songs - so music practice meant we four would go to the venue and the kids would play DS - but they were being good boys letting us sing. In fact, they also would sing our songs when we are back home.

Wednesday I had lunch with two of my fellow friends/moms. As usual, we chatted a lot about us and kids and this time we had lunch at the Thai restaurant near by. Fun times.

Friday was the arrival of B's parents. Their flight got delayed and it took them much longer in the travel than usual. They all got home at 1pm in the night.

During the day was the Halloween parade at the school which I missed at the last minute. I had mehndi applied in my hands by my beautician neighbor and that made me handicapped totally. I did not factor in the time required to get the mehndi dry, so I figured B has to go to the Halloween parade! It was a torture because I could not even make a phone call or pick up a call using my iPhone. I had gloves on my dried mehndi, so my swipe action would never work. Finally I had to use the thumb of my foot to swipe it ON and receive a call. Next time, I swear I will get it done towards the night, so I can sleep without feeling handicapped (pun intended!)

Anyway, mehndi was done and it looked colorful!

As I wait with bated breath for the much awaited Diwali Party in Saturday evening, Saturday morning begins with snow. All of a sudden, the weather turned unbearably cold. We had different engagements throughout the day and B and I were in the car on and off over the snowy roads. We did get through the commitments, went to party hall and set up music instruments and mic etc and came back home to get ready for the party.

The attire was decided already this time. B had bought me a saree just for this party from his India trip. I had also got the blouse stiched by an Indian lady. I discovered her through a friend and thank God, she had the bandwidth to stich my blouse in this festive season. So I was super thrilled about getting a blouse stiched in the US for the first time. With B's mom's help, I wore the saree, jewelry and the rest of the boys wore jubba.

The evening went by smoothly with our music performances. The disturbances of the mic were annoying. It was hard as usual to get the talking crowd to pay attention and keep quiet. But I was happy with our performance. I have to mention here that I could sing one of my all time favorite songs - I had been suggesting this song from before but the time time came now. It is 'Janeman Janeman tere Do nayan'.. from Chhoti Si Baat. I love Amol Palekar's innocence in this movie. So being able to sing my favorite song made the day for me!

Also I sang a duet with B - 'Sham' from 'Aisha'. Of course the whole orchestra gang did a great job and we all enjoyed the practices and the performance. The public review was encouraging as well.

Sunday was marked with the halloween parade within neighborhood. We lost power for the whole day almost. Heating up food in the stove without microwave is a pain. Thank God it came back toward evening and life soon became normal.

Monday evening was trick or treating. So finally it feels like we can breathe. That is the story of how eventful and happening last week was.

Zumba

It was a pleasure attending our favorite Zumba class once again last evening.

Some of my friends were pretty regular at a point months ago in attending this class. That is how I started getting hooked to this one. The instructor is very good and she plays vibrant lovely music. Also, my experience says that if you are regular, even somebody like me (!) can pick up dance steps. The class gets filled up so much that if you need a decent spot, you have to arrive early. Decent means that you can get a good view of the instructor to copy her moves - or you are right behind one of those good dancers so you an refer to them when in doubt - and also there is enough room around you so that you don't risk stepping on somebody.

When each song ends and the next song begins, it is a pleasure to realize it is a song that you know and you have danced to in a previous class. She does bring in latest hit songs and introduces many new ones. It takes a while to get used to them and from then on, I am happy to hear them being played since I can manage the steps. She also brings in some Bollywood songs. I was super thrilled to hear this catchy song as a Cool Down song. I would have almost been dancing instead of doing stretches yesterday when I heard this particular one. Since I am not so up to date with new songs, it took some googling to locate this one.

Pee Loon from Once Upon A Time in Mumbai.

Anyway, this post is just to proclaim that ZUMBA is fun and if you have a chance to try it, PLEASE DO!