Bubblistic Words!

Scene:
Wimbledon 2016 J.W. Tsonga (FRA) vs A. Murray (GBR) on TV.  S and I are cuddled up on the sofa, G cooking dinner or doing something in the kitchen.

Conversation:
S: Where is Tsonga from?
Me: France, see it says FRA next to him for France.
S: Oh, but Andy is English, right?
Me: Yup, see, it says right there... GBR for Great Britain.
S: So, why is it not GFRA?
Me: What?
S: GFRA, for Great France.
S said it with all innocence that I gave her a tight squeeze, related the story to G and explained to her that even I cannot figure out what the hell Great Britain, UK, England and all them rubbish stands for. And then this video came along to explain it all so nicely...yup, no one still gets it! Bunch of bollocks to confuse the world.

These guys stole the words from Babs head.

A Commonwealth ART

Thank You

Friday evening both G and I were home from work at 5.10pm. We had no plans for the evening and nothing scheduled. Babs was with Pinki, her baby sitter and had plans to go swimming with them. We were asked to pick her up after 7.00pm. G and I sat down wondering what to do with the free time. His tennis plans got shelved as his partner had other plans.

So guess what we did? We went and played tennis. The last time I played any tennis was more than two years ago. I was just so happy to be on the court. G indulged me and I had a ball but I could not stand under the Texan sun for more than 40 minutes. I retired-tired. It was about 102F that day and I am sure standing on the concrete court it was more than that. We were both sweaty and nasty when we got out and drove straight to a Starbucks. Another thing we had not done in maybe five years.

G and I sat down, had a cold coffee each chatting about our life so far, politics, Babs, future, random stuff and we finally got the call from Pinki letting us know that they were back home. We had finally spent some alone time together, it was about three hours in all but enough to charge us up for the rest of the year.

There are lots of things we learn from becoming a parent, one of those is appreciating the small ways in people around us help. If not for people like Pinki, Pooja, and Anitha then raising Babs while still working in a country where G and I have to do everything (cook, clean, fold clothes, etc) and with G falling sick as well would have been a nightmare. So, I want to thank everyone, my baby sitter's, my friends and family for making my life fun.

Thank You,

ART

Summer is here!!!

We celebrated the Memorial Day long weekend by spending time with G's brother in Houston. Babs gets so excited at the very mention of her uncle's name. He pampers her and she has two little kids to boss around. She surprised us on the drive there by not wanting to pee even once and by keeping to herself the whole drive. She sang songs, talked to herself, taught imaginary friends something or she looked out the window. G and I were so happy that I did not have to look behind and answer a million questions. My little girl is growing up, no more diaper bags, no more extra set of clothes. On some days, we just get out of the house as is. What a change from me having to make a list and plan what I need to take with me and carry a heavy bag everywhere. I still carry snacks because she gets hungry at odd times.

Now that summer has officially started, her school is closed and the temps are touching 100 degs everyday for the past week, Babs is not going to her Montessori any more. She is back to her favorite baby sitter P. P has a daughter T who is a year older than Babs but they grew up together for a year and half and hence have a super strong love-hate relationship. The day starts of brilliant, the kids share, play together, do everything fun and towards the end of the day when tiredness sets in they cannot stand the sight of each other. But the very same night before going to bed, Babs tiredly asks me, "Amma, I will go to play with T again tomm? Please?" P tells me that it is the same story there too,

So in short, G and I feel so much at ease. P gives Babs a bath, has her well fed on Aloo Paratha, sabzee, fruits, and a good dose of Marwari Hindi (any Hindi maybe better than mine). Babs, I feel is much more relaxed. I don't have any tantrums to deal with since she started going to P. The last two months while she was at school, she was developing a temper but now that is gone. I am wondering if school was stressful for her. I am happy to see a relaxed hubby who does not have to get up early to drop daughter off at her Montessori and me because I have spare time since on most days Babs is already fed and taken care of. Thanks P, you are awesome! and Thanks for giving me and G also a much needed summer break.

This past weekend, Babs and I went to Nasher once again. We had super fun. She did the scavenger hunt, the balloon room, art activity, yoga, hung out in the garden admiring sculptures and imitating them before finishing it off with the dance performance some kids put up. It was awesome, as hot as it was, we got to do something outdoorsy, thanks to the beautifully shaded garden, something educational, and something fun. I plan to take her at least once more before the end of the year. Hopefully she will go to the art museums with me because her father hates it.

And finally, saw Rafa beat Fed in the finals of French Open. Phew! Thanks...after seeing Rafa get beaten by Djoker so many times in the ATP 1000 series it was a pleasant surprise to see Fed in the final and Rafa playing his best. I really hope to see them face off in Wimbledon finals. Lets see how things go.

Now if only Mavs won the Championship....sigh...

Love
ART

Holi Hai!

Seriously, I have never celebrated Holi, to this level ever before. The last time I remember doing anything close to Holi was when I warned friends that they cannot put color on my hair, or most of my face other than my forehead and clothes was a strict no-no. In spite of which some of them got some color on my cheek and I promptly played spoil sport. I mean, come on ya, I am a South Indian, what did you expect? Have you ever seen or celebrated anything south Indian with loud music or dance or color? Other than of course the weekly temple loudspeakers that aimed at making people living close to the temple deaf. We believe in doing a Pooja for everything and make every festival as stuffy and boring as possible. Look at our weddings for example and compare it to a Punjabi wedding...thanks, I rest my case.

As we drove to the temple yesterday I recollected to G about my Holi experiences. I had read it in my CBSE Hindi text book at school. I say CBSE because I am sure the State Board Hindi syllabus might have  have gladly omitted such acts of color throwing. I wondered how those hand pumps would look and what people did after all the colorful mess?

Then of course there was the instance of stupid idiots on a bike who threw color on my neatly pressed school uniform. I had no idea who these guys were and I had just finished my plus two boards, literally the last day at school for my entire life, before I started college. I was  walking back with my girl friends (two Northi's and two Southi's) and we were drenched in colors. I had plans for that afternoon, the evening and the night and here I was with oil color on my face and my uniform. "Hell, this is still Tamilnadu," my friends screamed at those guys. I abused them in the newly learned words intermittently spitting out color. I hated Holi because I could not get the colors off my skin and I looked so funny because in Chennai you stuck out like a sore thumb when you went out colorful on Holi because those days only a few people knew about it.

Later, I avoided Holi, the bad experience remained in my head. I was the fussy one who hid and did a drama if anyone came close to me with color. I always wondered how people wanted to get nasty and what a mess it would be at home. I was the Holi snob.

Last year, G convinced me to go to the temple with him to see what was happening. Babs was 2.5 years old and she was just recovering from a mild fever. It had been raining the whole day and when we got there we saw people having fun. There was music, dancing and colors in spite of the downpour. I took a recovering Babs and danced a bit and requested people not to color us because we did not want to get dirty, and shocking! Everyone obliged. So we got out of the temple with just Tikka's on our forehead. I loved it. Just the music and dancing made it worth it. So we decided that we will try and making it in 2011.

And we did. G and I wore an old white tee and jeans, Babs wore her cute but short-now white halter dress. We got there with the colors and met with another friend who had bought water guns with her for the kids. By the time we left the place, we were all unrecognizable. We danced, we sang, the kids played with each other and we had a blast. Babs loved it. She asked me if she could go and play Holi again the next day...Sorry love, you gotta wait another year. But before that we have tons of things to celebrate....like for instance your mother's birthday Tomorrow!!! :)

Happy (Belated) Holi...Finally I let myself go and did not stop anyone when the color came my way and I did not spare anyone either. There was a certain sense of camaraderie, no stranger doused me unless otherwise they did a visual non-verbal permission check. It was fun, if you are in Dallas next year, maybe you should also join us!

Love
ART

PS: Really sad to see Rafa loose to Djokovic in the Indian Wells finals. But then Djoker did play awesomely well and somehow Rafa was just ok...could have been better. Anyways...it is another year of seriously Vamosing for me! and Rafa please do something and get back on track...

Tennis, Tennis, Tennis!

So this year I dont think I have written much about tennis at all. You know how much I love that sport. So anyway, first of all, I was super disappointed with Rafa for doing this video. Not because I am in love with him like my friends thought but more because I was just sad that Rafa, a legend in making did a video with Shakira. Whatever. Anyways...moving ahead.

Last night, I was hoping that Rafa and Feliciano Lopez will have a fun game like Ferrer and Verdasco's fighting five setter but it ended rather easily for Rafa. BTW, Verdasco, HOT or what!! Seriously! Something with all the Spanish players! All of them are super Cute!!!

So hopefully this year, Rafa will at least see inside the finals. But who knows, this is one slam which has evaded him. But with serves ranging over 130mph we will never know until the weekend!!! And I cannot wait. Yesterday I prayed to GOD, I should loose 5 lbs and Rafa should win US Open. Both are feats that have never been achieved...

Off late, G has been complaining that I am not watching as much tennis as I used to before. I get very excited before the game and just as the game starts I fall asleep. I was super mad and had to remind him that in US Open most of the good matches start after 9.00pm. By 10.00pm my battery is completely down nowadays. Pre-Babs days I tried to see all the matches but now if I see a Rafa and a Roger game I am happy and thank my stars.

And did anof you notice the RAFA tennis shoes? Are they not super cool? Of course you cannot wear it with jeans!!! But they are awesomest, especially since they say RAFA at the back. Me wants!

 

With that image to lust on I bid adieu saying VAMOS!!!

ART

PS: Remember those white canvas shoes that we used to wear in India with white uniform? It said Tennis Tennis Tennis at the back? I miss those shoes, growing up they were my epitome for sports shoes other than brown NorthStars (Hand me down from my brothers). Now let us compare the first shoe image below with the one above! We have come very far!

 

One day it is OZ and then next day...

its Wimbledon??

So on Tuesday when we played tennis, like I said, it was like 100F+ and we were both burned to our bones and on Wednesday when we got to the court it started to drizzle. We decided that we will play and take the risk against lightining. We played a good 20 minutes before the rain beat us out of the court. We got back into the car soaking wet and giggly.

One day we played like the conditions would in Australian Open and the next day it was like Wimbledon...Love Texas and Texan weather...love it!

ART

Tennis!!!

I remember the times clearly. Summer vacations in BHEL Township when I was a little girl. My brothers, dad and I would take our tennis net (ya we owned one) and go to the tennis court. Put up the net and then play tennis for the next few hours. We started at 5 in the morning and went on till my brothers could move no more. My brothers played tennis for the state and they practiced like crazy, dad was their coach and I was their designated ball girl.

We had to buy our own net because BHEL tennis courts would put up the net each day at 3pm or later only, so to practice early mornings with no one else bothering us dad just bought us our very own net. Brothers were ruthless and played with such focus that it was always fun to watch them play. Me on the other hand did sprints, excesises, ball picking and wall practice a lot. I loved it.

When we got back home, mom would have raw eggs ready for us to gulp down before we had our shower and cleaned up for breakfast.

When I was in grade 5 my brothers decided that it was time for me to ball pick for them in the evenings too. I diligently went with them and did the ball girl duty for them until one day few boys wanting to play doubles in one of the courts were short of one person. My older brother told me to

go and join them. I was more than eager and ran and took my place.

Boys are always boys, at first they just used me as a prop until of course I began kicking their ass and then I became a threat. So from then on my brother encouraged me to go and play with everyone so that I can develop a court game. So I had graduated from being a wall practicer to a tennis player. Phew! That felt good.

And again boys will be boys...they ill treated me. They would make me wait till 7 in the night before letting me play a game. Then I took matters into my hand and bought my mother along. Things sorted out and I played when my turn came up and I continued to kick their ass! Jerks.

I had solid foundation. I could (at that time) hit the ball to the wall and back straight without dropping for an hour. The rest of them bought a raquet and thought they could play tennis. Plus I practiced with my brothers too everyday. I mean what were they thinking. Seriously.

So now y'all know why my first love in sports is Tennis.

I played a bit of tennis on and off after coming to US but then again the jerk of male friends I have do not want to play with me because I am a girl. Which probably is true now because I do not drink raw eggs and neither do I work out regularly and I am rusty as a 100 year old nail submerged under the ocean bed.

Last Saturday I was at my BIL's house and we decided to play some tennis and it was so relieving. I felt so happy and I lived through my childhood days all over again. Everytime my family gets together we do a tennis evening when all of us get our raquets and hit the court.

G and I went out and played tennis at 6.30pm last night in 100F heat. We came back home roasted and hot and we could not for the life of us believe how players work under 100F+ temps in Aussie Open. Probably because they practice under similar conditions too.

The bottom line for me is that Tennis Rocks and I love playing the game. I would be so happy if Babs also develops an interest in the game so G, me and Babs can go play and enjoy a sport as a family...lets see how things turn around...

Love

ART

Love Ping Pong too... to play and not to watch though :)

And the winner is...

One more history creating, record breaking Australian Open 2009 came to end Sunday early morning and we saw the King shed some tears. He does not realize it probably, but he will always be the KING no matter what Djokovic's mom thought last year. Once again, the better player won and Rafa took the cup home. Under normal circumstances I would have gloated being the only Rafa supporter among many Fed lovers, but then I do not want to disrespect FED for what he is and where he has raised the level of tennis.

It is like this, you cannot enjoy what sweetness is unless you taste bitter and you will not know what good tennis is until you see Fed and Rafa playing. The rest are all just comes-n-go's in Tennis as far as I am concerned right now.

The other day I saw watching Fed play Berdych and after the first set I was telling G, do not feel bad at the way Fed is playing. He is a legend. Nothing can change who is from now on. He will always be the great one. And I compared him with Rome...the great kingdom which went to ruins will always remain in people's mind for what it was and what it stood for. But G would not buy any of it. How could Fed not outwit Berdych...which is of course what happened later that night...

If it was anyone else, we could have easily said...he should be happy, he made it to finals. It is FED. He has won 13 grandslam titles...what is winning one more to him? Should have been easy but it did not happen. And my heart melted for him. As happy as I was about Rafa I did not beat my chest and gloat his victory (not like I won...but it matters whom I support).

I am glad at the results but I am now all ready for the French! If Fed can get better off Rafa in this, I think it will assuage his pain a little :) Until then I will give rest to my tennis posts :)

Argh! Tennis again.

Last year I was sure...I knew whom I liked and whom I disliked. It was pretty simple...I even wrote it down at the end of this blog. But then I had to take some disciplinary actions towards my fav #3...Djokovic because:

• He was mean to Roddick at the US Open 2008. Not that I like Roddick...hell NO! But he should be treated like a sportsman. When Djokovic made fun of Roddick he expected him to take it in good spirits but when Roddick made a smart-alec comment he got mean to him on-court right after he defeated him...Bad Nole.
• He really kept falling ill all the time on-court.
• His family is annoying...Remember OZ 2008 his dad wanted Nole's entire entourage (bar his mom) throw their tee's to the crowd? Cheap. And then his mom's comment about King FED..mean!

So now Nole does not rank in my top 3. Well I don't have a top 3. Now it is just top 2...Rafa and Fed in that order...

I saw Verdasco play yesterday against Murray (can't stand him). I liked Verdasco's game and he is gorgeous (yes somehow this is important too!). So if he continues to be good then probably he can come to my #3...I still like Gonzalez...but not sure if he can make my #3 yet. I like Santoro, just for his spirit but then I don't know how much longer he is going to hang around the circuit...Oh! And there is Berdych...hmm...well now it is between Verdasco and Berdych. Lets see!

So the point of this blog? You ask? Of course is Tennis. Last night I saw Nole fighting Andy in temperatures like 132F (like some 62C). Can you imagine that? I was so surprised to see Andy playing it cool when Nole was obviously buckling down under heat. Now this cannot be held against Nole becuase these are really bad conditions to play in. I am surprised that the Rod Laver Arena did not close the top. Why would they want the players to suffer from a heat stroke? Andy or Nole or anyone for that matter?

And like last year I ask again, how come the women get paid the same but get the privilege of early matches? And not to forget the 3 setters? I think it is unfair. And they should do something. For the next game Andy is going to be tired and so on and so forth. This is a test of talent and not a test of endurance. Not a test cricket match.

And last night for once I was torn between supporting my ex-#3 Nole or Andy who is on my "I cannot stand you no matter what" list. Because I could see Nole suffering and Andy trying to do what is fair.

Anyways your thoughts?