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Girls learnt ‘Shantakaaram sloka’ and in there comes ‘dhyanagamyam’. Suhani pronounces ‘dhayanagamyam’ absolutely fine but adds a little tag to it - gamyam ’Gum(chewing) is yum’. She asks whether Gods like Gum too??

While I was reading a book, Suhani kicked the book with her legs, so I told her not to touch it with her legs. So she asked me not to touch the book with my hands too. I said my hands are clean and she said her legs are clean. Then slowly I started thinking why are legs considered inferior to hands in Hindu tradition. Though hands are superior but again left hand is inferior to right. And it is said that castes evolved from body parts of Vishnu, where untouchables evolved from Vishnu’s legs. Actually,hands are used for much dirtier jobs such as clean dirty dishes, work in dirty yard, clean bathrooms, trash cans and dirty diapers. Somehow, I felt that we should not show any partiality within our body parts. Left or right, hands or legs should have equal importance as people from all castes.

Next day morning we woke up and went to Waffle House for brunch. Suhani accidentally fell asleep in the evening, after she woke up we went to Meenakshi temple which was 1 hr away and was built 30 years back. The temple made us nostalgic as it was most resembling Inidian temples with compound wall and huge gaali gopuram. Looking at Meenakshi ammavaaru’s ’s kaasulaperu, Suhani asked me “Why is she wearing a ‘belly dancing’ jingles around her neck?”.

We then went to Chaitu’s friends house to spend 31st night and played few fun games while kids showed their talent.

Next morning we packed our bags and went to Ashtalakshmi temple for Sudarshana homam and headed back to airport. Kids slept on our way back from Little Rock to Memphis drive. We reached home around 5:30ish and got fresh and went to temple for Ganesha Abhishekam. Suhani asked “Whenever I woke up, why are we going to temple?” As we went to 3 temples - Meenakshi, AshtaLakshmi, Memphis temple within 24 hrs, ofcourse everytime after she woke up.

We had a wonderful Christmas party at Srujana’s house on Dec 20th Saturday. We started to Little Rock early morning 8am and reached around 11ish. As we checked in late we did not get a seat for Suhani and the flight is overbooked. But luckily a good hearted person volunteered to stay back so we could be on flight together as scheduled. Then our luggage did not make it through. Chaitu’s and Sai’s new home house was beautiful. We rested all day that day talking, chating with them. Next day DP was busy at work and so rest went to Kohl’s shopping for the new house. After Sai came home we went to Vishala, an Indian chat restaurant. Then went to Fiesta, a mexican super bazaar and then to World Foods (Whole sale Indian/Pakistani/Mexican store). We then eat chapathi which we got it from Vishala.

Tuesday we visited Natural Science Museum and came home only to eat the best in the world - Chaitu’s Pani puri. On Wednesday which happened to be Christmas Eve visited Children’s museum and enjoyed all the extra activities, also ate out at a Mexican restaurant called Las Palmas that evening talking about Hari’s visit the next day. We made dosas that morning. Kids were waiting for Shiva Babai more than anything as he was their best playmate. Suhi went with DP to bring them home and was all excited about her Wii as a Christmas gift. Wii was immediately hooked up and was a big hit. We all then headed out to Bollywood six to watch Ghajini movie. More than the movie the whole experience was unforgettable for mainly Memphians. Brand new movie, first day release, ticket price was $5. Ghajini was being screened in 3 of those with an hour gap. And the real best thing was, they sell Mirchi Bajjiwith onions/Pakodi/samosa with small Mirchi/vegetable puffs/Desi chai. We bought almost everything and enjoyed eating in the theater.

Then Sai’s cousin Sai Pavan came from Florida that evening. We all 9 people (including Shivu and Suhi) together started a put a 500 piece puzzle which Hari got all the way from Chicago. That really was a fun challenge. While Chaitu made brownies and Dp made Fried rice we finally finished the puzzle after 4 hours. That was a great family fun time spent together helping each other with a strategy.

On Friday morning we made puris. Everyone went to different stores for Saturday’s House Warming cum Andaal Ghosti event. We then watched ‘A wednesday’ Hindi movie which was very different and nice. We all together then played literature for long time and decided to go to Panda Express after picking up chapathi from Vishala for next day. We came home and made all preparations for the next day. Sai’s cousin’s Uday and family came from Dallas that night. Shivani Suhani were excited seeing their 5 year old cousin Priyanka. I did not get to see Shivu and Suhi for next 2 days as they were glued to thier cousin.
I and Chaitu made Sambhar, Chakara Pongal, Curd rice and Raitha with out onion and garlic on event day morning. Chaitu ordered Potato bajji, Fried Rice, Vegetable Jal fry, Paneer tikka masala from Mayuri.

Andaal Ghosti - two hour event where Asta Lakshmi Temple (by chinna Jeyyar Swami) folks bring in Andaal and Ranganath Vustsava Vigrahams to different devotee’s homes everyday on all these 30 days of Dhanurmasam. Agenda includes chanting Thiruppavai, astotharams, explanation of that day’s pasuram (12th day of Masam), sing bhaja govindam.

During the event, Sai’s another cousin’s family came from Dallas and one came from Univ of Houston,totaling to a count of 17 relatives, after friends left, we all as a family watched a boring Telugu Movie ‘Victory’ eating left over food. But we compensated the boring movie with a great funny Indian-English movie named ‘outsourced’. Sunday after Sai Pavan and Uday’s family left we went to Ashta Lakshmi temple, then to planetarium and to Chaat house in Sugar Land.

Came home and watched Ten Commandments movie. This morning we made Pav bhaji as brunch and eat Pani puri as lunch. We gave send off to Hari and Shiva and went to Chaitu’s friends house for Andaal Ghosti. Surprisingly, I met my 10th class friend Hamsini. I never ever met any of my old frineds before. This was the first time and I was pretty excited about it. Then came home and here I am watching ‘Topical Thunder’ while kids watching ‘Fly me to the moon’ along with their Chaitu pinni.

I cannot believe we have only 2 more days before new year’s when we will fly back to Memphis……

We were all excited (all includes - Koka’s and Grandhi’s) about our to visit Chicago to see Harini Pinni and Siva Babai…or to be honest for Indian food. Hari and DP planned our trip of where to eat what and when. Around 4pm Thursday we started heading towards Chaitu’s house - Chaitu, Sai, Dp and Me with kids. Reached there and as Aparna called that morning from India to get my measurements for Kuchipudi dress, so filled the form emailed Aprarna, packed itty bitty last things and started our journey at 6pm.

Reached Chicago at 2:45pm, parked our van next to Hari’s Altima and chit chated for a while and went to sleeping bag. Morning while Siva going to office, he called DP from down stairs saying that the 2 vehicles were missing. Then realized that they were towed as it is guest parking. Guys got them back after paying $150 fee for each piece.

I took kids for swimming, which was right at the back of their house. Kids had great time. Got ready and went to Hot Mirchi which was 3 miles away. Recently opened very small place not much variety but the food was absolutely good. Realished every item and went back home. in the evening went to IKEA did some shopping and went to Chat place. Ordered different kinds and went back home, We all together went to Swimming, eat all kinds of indian junk food, ordered PPV, again eat dinner (Harini made) and called it a day.

Saturday Morning:  Took kids to swimming, guys went to get freshly made somosas from Patel bros, then went to Hot Wok (Indian Chinese), ate stomach full and headed out to Navy Pier, jumped on to the Ferris Wheel, then eat at Haagen Daaz, started to Devon for more food. Drank Sugar cane Juice, bought 5-6 varieties of Osmania biscuits at Mughal Bakery, went Sukhadia’s for chat snacking and started to Malathi Padmakar’s house. Grilled some chicken; Interesting part is they can buy marinated Chicken directly for a $ more. When we came to their house we said we cannot eat anynmore food except this delicious chicken but we batted home made curries with rice sayting that would be the last item for that day. But they used some sentiment ointment and made us eat home made Kulfhi which was very nice. While Koka’s and Pasumarthi’s at Jr Damaraju’s house Grandhi’s went to visit couple of friends. We then reached home at 12:30ish.

Saunday Morning - Wokeup and Koka’s kids + Pasumarthis went for swiming mean while DP and Sai went to PAtel Borthers for the ULTIMATE banana chips + indian junk snacks for our long drive + gas filling, clean van etc. Then we all went to Udipi restaurant for Lunch Buffet which was a mile away and headed out down south around 1:30pm and came back home to Chaitu’s home around 10ish. Slept there and came to work directly from there.

July 3rd - Tuessay - Left work early around 2ish, Kachi and I went for Pedicure, did little shopping at Holidays which was 2 shops away. Then went to “On the Border” restaurant, me - Dessert and Kachi - chips/Salsa; Later in the evening, we attended Sankata Hara Chathurthi at the temple. It is considered auspicious being the event falling on Tuesday, it may coincide only 2 times a year. Then went to Prasuna’s house to watch Collierville Fire crackers from their patio. Both kids and adults had good time.

July 4th - Cleared lot of DPs clothes and cleared almost all kids toys - literally most of them. While all girls were wacthing movie ‘Happy’, all guys went to get new CD palyer installed in Van with IPOD playable and got Firecrackers too. Kids were waiting for them with utmost desire for crackers. Shivani did 2 Kumon homeworks pretty quickly. Guys cleaned van - spick and span. Kids saw that and they started cleaning their barbie Jeep.

The most interesting part is that they did not have anything to carry water to Jeep so the used a  “Polythene Bag” to get water and by the way it did work pretty good.

Started crackers around 7:30pm continued till 9:30pm in our backyard. Both the kids had a Blast (fun, not crackers ), they immensly enjoyed and to my surprise they were pretty brave and almost lit everything we bought, except for few sparkles. They saved those for our Chicago trip, which we were going the very next day to see Hari Pinni and Siva Babai.

Hurray!!! Dp’s MBA is DONEEEEE - Last Class was on June 30th Saturday 2007! We had a great weekend after so many months.  The previous night was a full moon day with absolutely beautiful weather just like in India, with the nice breeze; we with kids spent almost 2 hours in the backyard doing a picnic. We ordered Pizza online from Pizzahut and played great.

On Saturday, Dp went to class and I took kids to Kumon + G’twn library + Gymnastics. By the time I got home DP made a good lunch. Grandhi’s were here and we started the movie marathon starting with movie Ranam. Went to Prasuna’s house for dinner and had fun making dosas on deck. Came back and kids went to Chaitu Pinni for sleepover and we watched Chakram, Woke up and went to Cracker Barrel for my fav pecan pancakes followed by Lowes; came back home freshed up and went to watch Live Free or Die Hard - Full action packed movie. Went to Chaitu’s house eat lunch at 5pm then watched Khatharnak followed by Swami; then we called it a great weekend.