Timpi Moments

Timps and Aditya and Anitha left for India on 29th April. The fact that Aj and I won't be going didn't really register with Timps until we started saying goodbyes at the security checkpoint. Felt cruel making him go from hopeful to surprised to disappointed. On 1st, on the phone, all Timps said was - "comecomecomecomecome, c'moncome, r u coming? come pleeeease come comecomecomecomecome" and repeat.

Ani says he is not missing us so much anymore. He got busy retelling Curious George's antics to little unsuspecting kids! If he could, my Timpi would become Curious George's ambassador to the world. He is always spreading the word.

More proof life can be more entertaining than fiction

If there is a God, (s)he most certainly has a sense of humor (Platypus never convinced me)! Found this on Mental_Floss. The characters' quips couldn't be better!!

Laughter is good. *Sigh*

p.s. that first link about Platypi quotes from the movie 'Dogma', which made me a fan of Kevin Smith. He directed and acted (and I think wrote) the movie. Its gross but funny. Another gross but funny movie of his - Clerks II. I think since 'Airplane!'(1980) my sense of humor has become twisted forever!

Korpiklaani - Stuck in my Head

Can't get enough of this song - 'Keep on Galloping' by Korpiklaani - warning: link opens video. The video is somewhat dark, but I Love the music. They are influenced by Finnish folk music. Here are the lyrics I found after a search that required unusual effort. (I intend to learn it and sing it when no one's around, specially Finns).

Keep on galloping
my black horse
carrying me
to unknown shores
through these outlandish woods
and with confidence back home

Lennä, laukkaa heposeni,
lennä, laukkaa hallavaharja,
kiiä halki kangasmaitten,
murjo poikki pientareitten,
kanna minnuu maailmalla,
kulettele kuskiasi,
näytä kaikki nähtävyyet,
uuet maat ja uuet paikat.

Mikäs täss' on matkatessa,
mikäs täss' on elellessä,
kaikkee saam mie matkav' varrelt',
kaikkee mitä tarvittenki.
Paljon nähty maailmalla,
paljon vielä nähtävätä,
monta maita minun mennä,
Kuulla noita tarinoita.

Laulan, tanssin, soiton soitan,
revin riemun näistä teistä,
näistä teistä, elämästä
täällä Pohjantähen päässä .
Tääl' on miun kotopaikka,
tää on reissun päätepiste,
heposeni tallipaikka,
liinaharjan syntysija

Keep on galloping
my black horse
carrying me
to unknown shores
through these outlandish woods
and with confidence back home
...back home

My first animation!

I found this website to make simple animations online. Very easy! And above is my first animated stick figure with a belly. It is an animated gif image. Blogger won't show it moving. Will have to figure out how to make it play here.

Bit of a Storm

We had some severe weather yesterday evening, between 5 and 6 I think. Some trees have fallen near my building.

The power went off and wasn't back until about 1 A.M. Reminded of times in Tumsar when I thought papa could bring back power anytime. Another tree:

I wish they'd plant them back and the trees would survive but I suspect they'll simply cut them and haul them away.
My flower pots (2 if you count only the ones with non weed plant life in them) survived the storm well. This is the little survivor which made the journey from last spring to this in spite of my year long neglect! I was surprised a few mornings ago when I saw the flowers. I never knew any of my last year's plants were still living:

And lastly, the new moon on night of April 7th. Thats the day I celebrated Ugadi/Gudi Padwa and took this pictures right outside the temple. Click on the picture to actually see the moon!

Wake me up Jeeves

If you were fan of P.G. Wodehouse's Wooster and Jeeves, and have watched Hughg Laurie and Stephen Fry play the parts, this alarm clock is just what you need to wake up smiling. Click on Enter, then click on one of the first two clock links to listen to Jeeves. I know it is not cheap what with the dollar trailing the pound and all. Learned about the clock at mentalfloss.com.

Wait Wait in B'ham

As I had expected and wished, Roy Blunt Jr. was on the panel at the Wait Wait show. The others were - Charlie Pierce and Paula Poundstone. I now have a leaflet from the show autographed by them all plus Peter Sagal and Karl Cassel(and so do about hundred others who waited till after the show). The hall was packed, I'd say a couple hundred people. The show was as good as I had expected.
This is where it happened, Wright Center on Samford University campus.:

The two on the left are Karl and Peter! And the one on extreme left at the red table is Roy.














The Not My Job Guest was Jimmy Carter of 'Blind Boys of Alabama' who are a Gospel music group with all it's members blind. He was very inspiring and impressive. I am glad I attended.














And lastly here's a short clip from the show, near the end.