The Story!

Once upon a time there were no problems in the land of milk and honey. People seemed happy, the birds were singing, the frogs pondered, the sheep meadowed and the kids imagined.

In this land there were eight days a week, giving everyone ample time to do anything their heart desired. However, something seemed to be lacking in everyone's life. So while everyone seemed to be happy, they weren't completely satisfied. This bothered Jude and he decided to do something about it. He put on his old brown shoes and followed the long and winding road to Rita's home. There Sally was visiting as well.

Rita had just picked some sea cucumbers from Octopus's garden. She made some cucumber sandwiches for her guests. While munching on these crunchy sandwiches Jude shared his thoughts. He talked about how everyone had enough food and sufficient time to do everything they wanted, but if you looked deep into their eyes, they just looked like glass onions, lots of layers but so fragile. This made the girls think and realise what this boy had said held weight.

Now that they had acknowledged something was amiss they decided to go to Doctor Robert for help. Perhaps he would be able to help them in this endeavor. They followed the Blue Jay way to his clinic. There, after much discussion over a taste of honey they concluded that a critical emotion was missing. They realised that across the universe they were living in a world without love.

To fix this, they decided that they must all come together like dreamers do and visit the land that holds the 'illusion'. Because, that'll be the day when their ticket to ride will be revealed.

Morning headstands/yoga

'Plash makes a discovery!!!!

'Up' to NO good!!!

Working out!! Phew!

Hanging out :)

When 'some' people are bored...

Almosttttt....the smarties still elude!

An afternoon nap :)

'Quirt facebook stalking

'Quirt pondering life

Squirt, Splash and Stomp

Squirt, also known as 'quirt is the green turtle. He followed the EAC (East Australian Current). After following the current for a large part of his short life, he decided to stop being a follower and start being a leader. He now lives in the Chancery apartment 503. He loves his new life and the choice to do as he pleases. His favourite hang out is the green ooze.

Splash, also known as 'plash is one of 'quirt's best friends. He comes all the way from the South pole. After realising the ice shelves were disappearing in the arctic zone he decided to try the temperate zone. He seems extremely happy here and has found true friendship in 'quirt and 'tomp.


Stomp also known as 'tomp is also 'quirt's best friend. He has moved here from the North pole away from ice shelves and crazy winters to meet 'plash who typically inhabits the other end of the world. He misses the ice on occasion, but at such times steps into the freezer. Unlike 'plash, who after his introduction to this area in the freezer, never goes back there.

The three get along famously and are inseparable for the most part.

Raki and the 'Stick'

Raki has an immense stick fascination! Once off his leash in the park he must go collect them, irrespective of the size or the absurdity of the inconvenience of trying to get that particular stick. Of course, absurd in human and dog dictionaries may differ, and what we may consider absurd, they may consider quite normal. Hence, though the following narration may be highly amusing for us, Raki may think it as normal as wanting ice cream on a hot sunny day.

In the wooded area of the park where I walk Raki, he obviously never stays on the trail. The trail that I do stick to! There lies a fundamental difference between man and dog. Man stays on trail, dog does not. Anyway, as Raki scampers about, he finds what I for all practical purposes would like to call a really thin tree. What it actually was, was a really long branch from a tree, the branch wasn't very thick, but long for sure. It had multiple branches branching out. So much so that it seemed like two branches were heavily entangled. And hence, for all practical purposes, a tree! Raki of course thinks it is a stick (need I emphasise the vocabulary difference again?) He bounds toward it, and holds onto to one end, feverishly tugging at it. What his purpose was, I am not completely sure. But his tugging went on, MUCH to my amusement. There was no way he was going to break that mess up, and get a piece of it. After watching him for a few minutes I decided to go to his aid. However, he had other thoughts and would run everytime I came closer. Finally, after several attempts I did manage to put my foot down on some part of the tree. And as he tugged another part, we split the tree. In this process, he had managed to bend one part of the branch, so that if it broke away it would be a stick. I decided to continue to help him. I held on to the bent part, while he tugs at the rest of the branch! As he does the tugging, he encircles me! He wrapped that damn tree around me! I let out an "Ouch!!", which he seemed to understand (perhaps an overlap in the two dictionaries???) and backed away. The rest of the walk progressed normally. Or well, human normally anyway.

National Parks

Isn't it sad, that all the forests left in the world today, are 'National Parks'? The only way for natural landscape to remain is for it to be a National Park. Isn't it unfortunate that being given the most evolved brain has instilled in us the belief that we can take over and own this world? That we treat every other living being as if they are merely a tenant of this world we 'own'?

I miss...

...the beautifully manicured roundabouts.
...the shawarmas available everywhere.
...the picnics every Friday.
...uncle Naginder's farm.
...swimming in the Qantab sea.
...swimming at the Sheraton pool.
...standing on the 'island' and talking.
...my room.
...home.
...picnicing at wadis.
...rains that bring a welcome drop in temperature.
...falajs.
...boat rides in the crystal clear waters the Arabian sea
...Riyam park.
...hookah at the beach.
...Lebanese food at Arab world.
...a life that will never be again.

Few but Forever...

I think of you each time I pass by or walk into a starbucks, every fall/winter when the bushes sprout those differently coloured balls (berries???). Every fall when I see the hues of red, orange and yellow I think of the trip I took with you to Longwood gardens, a little too early that year :). Each winter when I remove my warm clothes I remember my first winter shopping was done with you. Every cherry blossom season as I walk around the tidal basin I remember you telling me how the cherry blossoms represent happyness after a long bare winter. Everytime I go to the Pentagon city mall, I remember walking to your apartment building and thinking about how it looked so much more like a hotel than a residential building. Everytime I visit New York, I remember fondly my first trip there visiting you and your friends.
With you, I have Few but Forever memories.
I love and miss you so much!

Save the home of the Orangutan from palm oil!

Today I signed this:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/save-the-home-of-the-orangutan-from-palm-oil


with the following message:

Such a precious habitat for Orangutans must be saved, not replaced for the monetary benefit of humans. The world is for all of us to share, as leaders of this world it is our moral duty and obligation to not steal what we don't deserve and to not take away from the healthy living of fellow planet dwellers. Our moral conscience must speak to us and realise we are here on earth to share, not own.