Little Latin sensation

Check out this amazing dance performance by two cute little dancers

http://www.facebookvideodown.com/waka-waka-amazing-version--35246.html

Oregon and OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) - Part Two

 My father ran a free library as a youth. So we had lots of book on American and Russian history. All the books were translated in Tamil. It was thru my father library books, I learnt about Rasputin (it had couple of illustration of  half naked Russian women .So I never read that book in front my dad) . BTW, do you guys remember this famous BoneyM number Rasputin. We had a good collection of Boney M and Abba tapes when we bought our first tape recorder  in 19 78 or 1979.

We had this huge book titled “Origone Vazhi Pathai”  (Oregon Trail).  I read every book from my father’s library during summer holidays especially during my elementary years. Never in a million years, had I imagined that Portland, Oregon will become my home away from home. When we moved to Portland, Oregon, I read many books on Oregon Trail and visited Oregon Trail Interpretive center in Baker city, Oregon.

 I read about Lewis and Clark expedition and about the famous Native Indian woman named Sacagawea. When we see this famous landmark Beacon rock on Columbia River, I recollect Lewis and Clark passage thru this rock in 1805. Last week OPB aired very interesting documentary “spirit of sacagawea” . This film gave a fresh view on Sacagawea’s life as young girl accompanying Lewis and Clark thru the eyes of Native American people.

I read this book Columbia River Basketry: Gift of the Ancestors, Gift of the Earth by Mary Dodds Schlick in 1999 . Few years back Art Beat aired program on Mary Dodds Schlick. I wish to meet her in person someday.

OPB aired program on Samuel Hill (1857–1931), founder of Maryhill Museum of Art, and the man responsible for constructing the historic Maryhill Loops Road(http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/loops.html). The first macadam asphalt-paved road in the Pacific Northwest was constructed in 1909- 1913. Every time we plan to visit this museum something else would come up. This July 4^th weekend we were all set to start only to find that our new spanking Garmin GPS was missing. Later on (after a month or so) I realized that I kept the GPS on one of the decorative bowls along with other ceramic wares bound for Good will store this summer.  I think that CB’s christmas present was meant to be donated to Good will store : ).

Thanks to OPB I am learning lot about the my city Portland, oregon, My home sweet home. When you guys get time  check out OPB archives thru these two links.

http://watch.opb.org/

http://watch.opb.org/morevideos.html

Oregon and OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) - Part One

I love PBS. I love to (used to) watch PBS non stop on weekends. PBS reminds me of my initial days in US in Kansas and Idaho. It was the happiest time of my life as a new bride in new country with a laid back life style. I was so busy with work and school in Chennai so the first year in US was so relaxing being a housewife. I learnt to cook from dozens of Indian cookbooks I’d carried all the way from India. I started to experiment with International cuisine watching PBS cooking shows.

 

PBS kindled the artist in me. I resumed  painting after a long gap. I learnt to sew thanks to the quilting shows. I love their ad free programming. I love our local chapter OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) especially the “Art Beat” , “Oregon Field guide “ programs. We planned our weekend getaways (pre baby) based on the Oregon locations featured on that program. Their programs have unbiased views on religion, politics and world affairs.

I have special interest in programs based/filmed in India the latest being “The story of India”. Though I am familiar with history of India, this program narrated the history around the world along with incidents happened in India at that time.

I learn about current trends in arts (different mediums) thru Art Beat program, the latest being one of a kind photographic art. by the artist Natasha Bacca.  I feel very fortunate to live in a state which has great artists, restaurants, outdoors, good mix of cultures from all around the world and friendly people.  

 We organize summer picnics with friend’s  at Hagg Lake every year. It’s just a 30 minutes drive from home. This summer, I watched a program about the Hagg lake expansion to cater the growing needs of the population. When the expansion project completes, the places we drove around and the land we walked would be under water  I feel like a part of history being made and I might narrate this story to my grand kids someday.

I learnt the history behind my neighbourhood’s(Forest park) lush green forest trails and bike path watching this program Forest Park: Portland backyard gem. The current residents of Portland are enjoying this beautiful place thanks to the pioneers who thought about land use for future generation .

**PBS: Public Broadcasting Service

I love PBS

No , I am not talking about  Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) but the famous film play back singer P.B. Srinivas.I love his honey laced voice. I think it’s PBS voice which gave the (in)famous tamil actor Gemini Ganesan  his title “ Kadal Mannan” (Romance King).

If you walk past my house everyday , you’ll  most probably hear his music playing in the CD. If I am not at home you might bump into Meat loaf, Nazareth, or soft rock hits from  1960 -99 era. But we both like P. B. Srinivas . Thank god I fell in love with a guy who speaks the same language.

After my formal engagement ceremony in ’96 , we started going out to restaurant once or twice week for dinner after work . CB used to pick me up from my office in Numgambakkam High Road, Chennai. We frequented Woodlands Drive-In restaurant in Chennai due to proximity to my office and for their delicious “Channa Bathura”. I had the first taste of channa bathura at Woodland’s restaurant. We always sat next to the table where P. B. Srinivas used to sit. He was a regular visitor and we saw him every single time . He was always busy writing or reading so never thought of approaching him. I missed a golden opportunity to talk in person with my favorite singer.  I never had big urge (fanfare) with my favorite singers at that time but now I do. Either my life in US or becoming a mom brought that change. If I ever see him now , I would run to him like a crazy teenager wanting to get his autograph.

His voice captivates every generation in my family right from my grandmother, my mom and her sisters and brothers ,my sister and her daughter and me and NR. I was pleasantly surprised to hear my five years old niece singing P. B. Srinivas hits when I visited her in 1999 from US. They moved from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu just a few months back before my visit. So, my niece had no chance of hearing old tamil songs in the radio. Within few months she learnt the lyrics just by listening to his songs in TV and would sing along with us.

Though we used to hear lot of tamil and hindi songs from Radio I wasn’t familiar with every play back singer’s name or the movie exception being some hindi songs . My mom used to tell us the name of the singer so I got familiar with Mukesh, Dilip kumar and other hindi singers.

My first introduction to P.B. Srinivas came during my middle school year. On one of those  years the district N.S.S officer was the Chief Guest for our school annual day. After his speech he sang his favorite song which is P.B.Srinivas memorable melody “Chinna Chinna Kannanukku”. There was pin drop silence from the audience Even the Kindergartener’s were mesmerized by his voice. And suddenly we heard female voice sobbing and crying uncontrollably. It was my sixth grade history teacher Leema . Later that day, I learnt she lost her infant (baby boy) to tetanus just a month back and could not bear hearing him sing that song.

The incident that happened at the school day function made me listen to lot of  P.B. Srinivas songs . I became a hard-core fan of him.  His voice gave life to  Kannadasan’s lyrics and he made each song a memorable one.

Here are few of my favourite  songs by P.B.Srinivas

1. Chinna chinna Kannakukku

2. Kaatru Veliyidal Kannamma (Bharathiar song)- Kappallotiya Tamizhan

3. Kalangalil Aval Vasantham

4. Ninapaithalam nadanthuvitall

5. Oruthi oruvanai ninaithuvittal

6. En Aruey nee

7.  Thennankeetru Oonjalile

 

8. Intha mandrathil odivarum

9.       Mouname Parvai oru pattu pada vendum

10. Nilavey ennidam Nerungathey (not able to find any link for this song)

P.S: While searching the songs for this pr,  I saw the actual film videos for couple of  song fo the first time. OMG. It's good thing I heard his voice on radio first than seeing the movies : ).

Remembering V and R

It’s been a year since I lost my good friend V. Time does fly. The evening is so fresh in my memory.

First week of October, While driving to a store, I took a left turn and drove through the road and crossed the apartment complex where V used to live 10 years back. My eyes welled up and cried so much in the car to the point I couldn’t see the road. It was dark and raining and it could have been worse . I stopped at a business place and gathered myself (well I cried more) and then continued driving to the store.  

 I met her for the first time in that apartment complex and R was a toddler at that time. He hangs around his mom even when she attended the customers in her home based beauty salon. He knew about each beauty procedures  well and the time it took to complete. I often heard him complain to his mom that she was just supposed to do eyebrows not facial since it took long time to complete. He would ask me if I can come tomorrow for a facial so he can go out with his mom today. She would wink at me and give her trademark smile. He was a sweet little boy. Mom and son duo were inseparable.

She was a sweetest woman I have ever met in my life. She had a big heart and a big smile. And I wanted to remember only that and not the incidents that happened last November.

Autumn

Life has been busy in general during the month of October with festivals and other celebration.. Many of the post written during October are in draft stage since I am spending my time watching lot of television before going to bed and talking for hours with my family and friends back in India.

I liked my commute to work during autumn looking at all the trees covered with red/yellow leaves with mild weather. Autumn marked the start of festive seasons both Indian and western. During autumn I frequented restaurants during lunch. I loved the cozy corner and comfy table in my favorite restaurant drinking my warm soup served with bread. There is a lot of good restaurants in Lake Oswego /King city near the place I used to work and having variety meant happy lunch time. I miss going out to pubs/restaurant with friends /colleagues in the evenings and having good time. My friends loved having a friend who doesn’t drink. I was their official designated driver .

Ten years back, every weekend we went out for bowling or had friends for lunch or dinner at home especially 3 of my husband's colleagues. They came home for lunch and used to spend the afternoon and evening watching games and go home after having dinner.  Not once I complained about them hogging our weekend or all of them conveniently forgetting that we were newly married couple ; ). Well, things changed when they got married. And my husband learnt a lesson.

This is first year, I missed going to Garbha ( I even attended garbha just six months after delivering NR). Autumn started with vengeance in portland with cold , damp nights/days. I was in no mood to get dressed in traditional costumes and drive out in the pouring rain. Garbha starts at 9.00pm and goes till 1.00am . I curled up on my cozy warm bed and watched TV instead.

This is also the first year I didn't make any deepavali sweets/snacks. NR kept me busy during the day and after dinner I was too tired (or just lazy) to make deepavali sweets/snacks alone. This year deepavali at my house was a low-key affair.

When I don’t work, I’ll start hibernating during cold season. And this autumn/winter I am thankful that I am not working. I don’t have an hour’s commute to work in blazing winds and rain.  Every morning we (NR and me) get to sleep till 8.30 -9.00am  and I love this part of my SAHM life. Well, I am grateful to have a husband who makes this possible.  Thank you lord for this special luxury I enjoy even after becoming a mom.