Ambal's Amusings

MARCH 7, 2017

I might have said in the past that the man who helps clean up after my child’s vomit, the man who eats my HOT Parangikai (Pumpkin) Kootu and the man who wakes up in the morning to help get my child ready is the sexiest one on the planet. That is all true. The geek in … Continue reading The Sexiest Man Alive is one who can run Math Modeling on Excel.

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Ambal's Amusings

APRIL 3, 2017

After raising one for 14 years, you would think I got some tricks of the trade under my belt. Sadly, no. I begin all over with the second one. Take for example, yesterday’s bedtime happenings. Adi stuck with homework. Kumar sitting beside Adi and playing chess on his computer. I am tasked with getting Ari to … Continue reading How my Second Son Raises Me?

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Examples 100

Ambal's Amusings

MARCH 4, 2017

This persimmon tree went completely bald in winter. Last couple of days, it has been sprouting leaves. I could write an essay on how I find the sprouting completely magical. But, I don’t have to. Because Dr. Ian Malcolm Jeff Goldblum said everything there was to be said in “Jurassic Park” – “I’m, I’m simply … Continue reading Signs of Spring.

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Ambal's Amusings

MARCH 27, 2017

I have been sharing my love for math, science, quantum physics, metaphysics and more with Adi for as long as I know. Even before he knew what a wave or particle meant he had possible heard about wave-particle duality. Even before he could pronounce Heisenberg he had possibly heard about Uncertainty Principle. There are many … Continue reading The UnReality of Reality – Fascinating Digital Images.

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Ambal's Amusings

MARCH 20, 2017

If I didn’t have worldly responsibilities, I would possibly be climbing mountains. Because, 2 eyes, 1 lifetime, 1 soul is not enough to enjoy God’s work from mountain peaks. This shot was taken from my tiny camera at about 14,000 ft in the Inyo National Forest on my way to bagging the Mt. Whitney peak. … Continue reading If I didn’t have Worldly Responsibilities.

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Ambal's Amusings

MARCH 13, 2017

“I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I’ve become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me. I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature. I lost the … Continue reading Grow up and Stay Cool.

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Demand 100

Ambal's Amusings

FEBRUARY 27, 2017

There is nothing sexy about being a parent. It is often boring and tiresome. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year…you wake up and do what humanity has done for its off spring to thrive. Yet, when Kumar wakes up before all of us…then starts nagging us to wake up … Continue reading There is nothing Sexy about being a Parent.

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Ambal's Amusings

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark. – Rabindranath Tagore When I was a young girl, Thatha and Appa told me – “Kovil illa oril kudi irruka vendam” It means “Don’t live in a city or town that doesn’t have a place of worship.” Thankfully, I have always … Continue reading Live Near a Place of Worship.

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Ambal's Amusings

FEBRUARY 14, 2017

I have told the boys that I don’t need any gifts for birthday or Christmas or Valentines Day. So, they usually take me out to lunch or dinner or cook a meal… to spend time together. This Valentine’s Day, Adi surprised me by giving a Jawbone… it is some wearable gadget to lead a healthier lifestyle. Its lean … Continue reading Valentine’s Day Gift.

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Spending Leads Lead Marketing Qualified Leads 100

Ambal's Amusings

FEBRUARY 20, 2017

Parenting is filled with several precarious moments. like thee one I have today morning. Remember your long forgotten wonder? The wonder you felt when you put that sea shell or conch close to your ears and you heard the sound of the ocean waves? The wonder you felt when you brought the sea shell or … Continue reading Today, I let Wonder Win.

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Ambal's Amusings

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

It is one of those evenings that I really want to end. I am sleepy and tired. I just want to get in bed and not wake up until my body has had enough rest. Alas, I can’t do that… yet. So, I put on my plastic smile and trudge along with the boys. I … Continue reading Miles to go before I sleep.

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Ambal's Amusings

JANUARY 30, 2017

There’s just something obvious about emptiness, even when you try to convince yourself otherwise. -Sarah Dessen, Lock and Key.

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Ambal's Amusings

JANUARY 28, 2017

“That’s the nature of being a parent, Sabine has discovered. You’ll love your children far more than you ever loved your parents, and – in the recognition that your own children cannot fathom the depth of your love – you come to understand the tragic, unrequited love of your own parents.” – Ursula Hegi, Stones … Continue reading Quota on seeing the Evening Sky.

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Ambal's Amusings

JANUARY 24, 2017

IF By Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal … Continue reading 5 LIFE Changing Poems YOU Should Read.

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Ambal's Amusings

JANUARY 23, 2017

Many of you ask me – “Ambal – How do you have so many things to say about every day boring things and occurrences?” I don’t know quite know how to answer that question. So, let me do a show-and-tell. Top: #dominantalleles (or something of that sort) Gets the fix-things-and-help-Amma genes from both sides of … Continue reading Every Day Life is very Interesting.

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Ambal's Amusings

JANUARY 18, 2017

I can feel it. I can feel it crawling on me. When I look back, I think 2017 might stand out as the year…that I started turning cynical. I kid you not. Slowly and steadily, my cynic index is growing. Take for example, yesterday evenings happenings. Kumar didn’t return home travel until later in the … Continue reading Turning Cynic?

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Examples 100

Ambal's Amusings

JANUARY 16, 2017

A dog will teach you unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won’t be too bad. – Robert Wagner.

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Best Practices 100

Ambal's Amusings

JANUARY 9, 2017

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed Everybody knows the war is over Everybody knows the good guys lost Everybody knows the fight was fixed The poor stay poor, the rich get rich That’s how it goes Everybody knows Everybody knows that the boat is leaking Everybody knows that … Continue reading The Truth is so Brutal.

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Ambal's Amusings

JANUARY 2, 2017

“Because children grow up, we think a child’s purpose is to grow up. But a child’s purpose is to be a child. Nature doesn’t disdain what lives only for a day. It pours the whole of itself into the each moment. We don’t value the lily less for not being made of flint and built … Continue reading Glorious Childhood.

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Ambal's Amusings

DECEMBER 30, 2016

It all started a few weeks ago. I gave Kumar one of my awesomely brilliant bright ideas. “Dey Kumaru, boys have had a busy and rough year. So much has happened this year and we haven’t traveled much. Why don’t we take the boys somewhere…someplace quiet… just to relax” The rest, as they say, is a … Continue reading A Wild Trip to Mexico.

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Business 100

Ambal's Amusings

DECEMBER 19, 2016

I usually don’t buy anything other than bare necessities. That said, I bought this flask during my Summer trip to India in 2014. Since we moved to Austin right after I returned from India that summer, the flask ended up in a box. Kumar found it for me in Summer 2016. Then, for a few … Continue reading Everything happens…when the Timing is Just Perfect.

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Ambal's Amusings

DECEMBER 15, 2016

Just 2 nameless people hanging out among the sea of parents waiting for Ari’s winter concert to begin. I find this moment of being lost in the crowd absolutely refreshing and delightful because it puts things in perspective about who the true stars are in the life of all these people gathered here. Speaking of … Continue reading Just 2 nameless people hanging out amongst the sea of parents.

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Ambal's Amusings

DECEMBER 14, 2016

I know Adi is supposed to study and all. But, I swear. I never studied like “this” in high school. He has never really studied up until he hit high school. I want my son back. I want to pull him out of this room. I want to drive far far away from this madness. … Continue reading First Finals in High School.

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Studies 100

Ambal's Amusings

DECEMBER 21, 2016

I have been very bad this year. Also, I know Santa put me on his Naughty list in early Jan. It is ok. I don’t really mind. Because, look what my friend Jyotsna Rao brought over. The world’s best sweet potato casserole. Yum!! Thanks J! I hope y’all are winding down the year and getting … Continue reading The World’s Best Sweet Potato Casserole.

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Best Practices 100

Ambal's Amusings

DECEMBER 8, 2016

We all need at least one friend to make us soup/rasam when we are sick. What if you are lucky enough to have both mushroom soup and sukku (dried ginger) milagu (black pepper) thippili (long pepper) rasam within a couple of days from 2 different friends? In my dictionary, that is kind of like winning … Continue reading In Sickness and In Health.

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Ambal's Amusings

DECEMBER 12, 2016

Happy Karthigai Deepam! Every Karthigai Deepam the person I miss the most is my mother-in-law Girija. She made the world’s best Adai and paniyaram to celebrate Karthigai Deepam. The boy and I lit lamps around the house and made adai with lots of coconut pieces. It is my way of paying homage to my mother-in-law … Continue reading Happy Karthikai Deepam.

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Personalization Best Practices 100

Ambal's Amusings

DECEMBER 12, 2016

Today, my thoughts are about “munn vasanai” (In English: the smell of the ground) Home. What does the word mean to you? Is it a place? A house… 4 walls… nice roof? A mountain perhaps? A country? A town? A sweetheart’s arms? Home. Is it a thing? Is it a feeling? What is it? What does home … Continue reading The Smell of the Ground.

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Ambal's Amusings

DECEMBER 5, 2016

To all those that are repulsed by and shocked at my lack of interest in shopping … check out philanthropist Sudha Murthy‘s brilliant interview and her comments on shopping.

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Ambal's Amusings

NOVEMBER 28, 2016

Myth: The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Reality: The ONLY way to weasel your way into a girl’s heart is through an awesome salad…especially when she comes home hungry.

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Ambal's Amusings

NOVEMBER 3, 2016

It is a rainy day here in Austin. So, I made chai and pakora for the boys. I know what some of y’all will ask in shock. That is right. The pakora came from a frozen pack. I just stuck it in the oven. The evening got better as my neighbor Jyothsna dropped of another … Continue reading Rainy Day Snack.

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Ambal's Amusings

NOVEMBER 22, 2016

In a mad rush through the evening chores, I went to the backyard to drop off some plastic stuff in the recycle bin and saw this beautiful sight in our neighbor’s yard. Don’t message me with – “Ambal, WTH? You are beginning to lost it yo. It is just a bunch of (bull) blurry lights.” … Continue reading Holidays Almost Here!

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Ambal's Amusings

NOVEMBER 21, 2016

Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things. – Chaim Potok When tea becomes ritual, it takes its place at the heart of our ability to see greatness in small things. Where is beauty to be found? In great things that, like everything else, are doomed to die, or in … Continue reading #cupofchai.

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Ambal's Amusings

NOVEMBER 14, 2016

As much as I love fine food and adore the folks who make it, I was never intent on cooking fine food. The simple reason being…I always have had access to excellent food. Family and friends cook yummy food that I can partake off. Works out alright? Right? In the midst of this “I ain’t … Continue reading Fancy Olive Oil.

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Intent 100

Ambal's Amusings

NOVEMBER 7, 2016

When I was very young, Thatha (Granpda TVS) told me that if a man is free of 3 greeds, he can live a happy live: poon (love for gold – also means love for money and other good things in life) pen (lust for a woman or man, in the case of a woman) maan … Continue reading The Mindset to Enjoy the Little Things in Life.

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Ambal's Amusings

OCTOBER 31, 2016

I look out of this window and I think this is a cosmos, this is a huge creation, this is one small corner of it. The trees and birds and everything else and I’m part of it. I didn’t ask to be put here, I’ve been lucky in finding myself here. – Morris West.

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Ambal's Amusings

OCTOBER 24, 2016

Today. Morning. Just single cup of coffee. Crazy Monday morning routine. Then, errands in the afternoon. By the time I started driving back home… was starving. My sakha (friend) Rohit told me to stop by for late lunch. He had this waiting. God bless the hearts of those who feed the hungry (and too lazy to … Continue reading Migas!

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Ambal's Amusings

OCTOBER 17, 2016

I know. It just looks like some road side yellow color flowers. It is. It is also more than that. As I take a walk with the boys discussing something utterly foolish… this bright colored flower bush catches my eye. It adds a spring like feel to late summer. It also add a spring (pun intended) … Continue reading Spring like feel to Late Summer.

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