Donald Trump for USA

As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”

 — H. L. Mencken 

KG On the Kanjur Marg Turn-Off

Sometimes to go Right you need to turn Left.  

26-07-16 

Considered today why anything sours.

Marriage, Status, Wealth. 

There is an idealized version in our minds of that state. But reality is different. 

Is there a way to maintain the early stage joy, into a longer more enduring time frame ? How exactly ? 

Also, today I saw a man in the back seat of his car, praying and bowing to his mobile phone. Perhaps some content on it. But absurd all the same.  

New Beginnings

There is a new beginning in every end. 

Wisdom by KG (On completion of 1st colouring page in book) 

Malshej Ghat

02-Jul-2016

Malshej Ghat is about a 4 hour drive from Bombay, so we made a DayTrip of it. Never been there before and was looking forward to being out in the countryside during monsoon.

Geeting out of the city took the most time naturally, but a the rest of the drive was lovely. Visibility on the Ghat was barely 20 feet, and waterfalls all around us. Beautiful!

We found a nice Kamat Udipi restaurant along the way and had nice hot Idlis, Vadas & Dosa. Just our kind of food. And did I mention Freshly Coal Roasted corn ?! Yummy.

                                       

                                            

Deepa's Poem via Whatsapp

1705 hrs 01-Jul-2016

Love is where you are -
and anywhere you are -
is where i want to be - no matter what may happen -
no matter where i go - your arms are home to me  ❤

Robert Frost and the Dark Inviting Woods

Driving past the mangrove forests on the EEH this morning, and I had a sudden flash of new insight into a line from a poem :


"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   
But I have promises to keep,   
And miles to go before I sleep,   
And miles to go before I sleep."


The pull of a vagabond dreamer, a poet and a romantic to explore the woods both physical and mental, and the corresponding pulls of everyday life and its responsibilities.

Armaan Turns 12

26-06-2017

Armaan's Twelfth birthday, and he had some friends over for a PS3 party [ as usual ].
After which 3 of us went off to Smaash for GoKarting [ as usual ]

Happy Birthday Armaan !

On Clothing

Why do we wear clothes ?

Once we're past their functionality - waterproof, warm, light etc.

It seems to be a socialized behaviour , primarily designed to cover sexual organs at its bare minimum.
Why sexual organs ? To conceal intent. Leading me to find them deceptive.

Modern usage of clothing conveys this deceit further -- padded bras, corsets, hip shapers, shoulder pads etc.

Humans can be very deceitful.

Alisha makes Banana Fritters

She made these for her breakfast.

Conversation with Deepa

On the way back home, I casually enquired of Deepa, about what if any - were the benefits of preserving a minority culture ? What happens if the mainstream majority is crazy ?

It it better to join a common denominator that is larger ?

How does this work at various levels of human organization ?
Social, Religious, National etc.

Parasailing at Kamshet May 2016

Summer break for the young 'uns. And something I've been wanting to do for a while now.
So we booked ourselves for a weekend of Paragliding fun at Kamshet, about 110 Km from Bombay.
A nice and secretive lake, home grown affair. 

Reached there Saturday morning with jumps from nearby cliffs planned at 1600 hrs the same evening. Got to the jump-site apprehensive, excited and with a nice strong wind developing.

Big turnout  for tandem rides as well as student enthusiasts learning the skill.
Came back to the hotel around 2000 hrs, tired yet excited and to a nice hot dinner laid out on the rooftop overlooking the lake.

Fresh figs from the Fig Tree.

Armaan Makes Breakfast

This morning Armaan woke up at what seems to be 0530 hrs, he made Tea and Omelettes for Deepa and I and then woke us up at 0600 to surprise us. That is the sweetest thing ! He is such a Gem.

Real Zombies

Deepa and I encounter Real Zombies everyday on our way to work.

They are connected into their mobile phones, but they are zoned out, walking around dazed and disconnected. 

They are a hazard to themselves and others, they have been brainwashed into being the living dead. 

"Not even their dreams are their own" remarked Deepa.

Somethings are just Timeless

Watermelon Cut by Deepa

TTL [ Take Time for Life ] - Ep 1 at Aromas

An evening of good conversation, bottle of Rose wine, and Chicken Stroganoff.

Alisha As a House Prefect

It was the evening before Alisha was to be Commissioned a House Prefect. Her Principal met with the new appointees and briefed them on their future roles and responsbilities.

Alisha and I hended up having a long talk about Maslow's heirarchy of needs.
A very detailed discussion with interpretations and limitations of the theory.

She is incredibly smart, perceptive and mature for her age.

Armaan's Keen Eye

24-01-2016 1855 hrs

Sunset over the city.
Armaan spotted this photo-op from his bedroom window just now, and I took this with the Lumia 620.

Alisha Says

19-01-2016

She found a birthday card addressed to me on the dining table. Read it from front to back and said :

" this card has travelled more than me. It was made in China, went to Birmingham, and then sent to India".

RiP David Bowie

Put on your Red shoes
And dance the blues
To the song they're playing. . . .on the radio. . .

Week 01 - Jan 2016

Started the New Year by staying at home and treating ourselves to some nice home cooked food. I didn't feel the need to go out to any party, where people seem like they're trying very hard to have a good time. To be able to spend time with my family was more than good enough for me.

On the morning of 1st Jan, Deepa and I spent a relaxed day talking about how nice it feels to live in a deliberate way, consciously and un-apologetically living, loving and celebrating our lives in the way we like.

That evening we went to an open air field in Airoli to light up and send skyward our Chinese made, purchased at signal, hot air Sky Lights. It was good fun as we lit them and watched them rise, glow in the moonless night sky, catch the air current and travel along. We kept doing a tele-tubby big hug each time we sent one up -- 5 in all.

The children have made individual goal sheets and we have made ones as a family too. Last years family goal sheets were re-visited only once or twice at the start of the year, but we still managed to accomplish quite a few subconsciously.

Deepa and I have refocused our commitment on healthy eating and we're being very mindful on our diets. I am still working on my sweet cravings though, and I intend to work around that soon.

Alisha turned 14 this year. A midweek celebration at school, mostly quiet and at home. A little cake, and home delivered food.
She is growing up into a very fine and sensible young girl. I had wanted to do a vision quest hike with her, and haven't yet found the right time. Maybe a weekend sometime soon.