Grade School Valentine’s

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Reena

Valentines day, kids valentine's, school valentinesHappy Valentine’s Day everyone!  V. Day has been all about my kids this year.  We had to make cute handmade Valentine treats for all my younger son’s friends and I got store-bought Dark Knight Valentines with pencils for my older son’s friends.  It was all very important and exciting for them.  I was happy to help them since it seemed very sweet and innocent and was all about friendship at this age.  There is no heartache or anxiety about potential romances yet.

Today I was at my fourth grader’s school to help the other PTO moms organize and distribute the Valentine pretzel-grams.  This is a sale where the kids can purchase a pretzel for themselves or any friends and on Valentine’s day that person receives a surprise pretzel-gram with a personalized message.  We went through a few thousand pretzels today since some kids received multiples.  I saw one child get a bag of 14 and a teacher was gifted 20 pretzels!  First of all I don’t know what any one person would do with that many pretzels but I guess it is the thought that counts and not the wasted food.  Then, ‘the thought of it’ got me thinking and feeling bad for those kids who for whatever reason may not have received any pretzels.  Even if it may not have mattered to them otherwise, I’m sure they would feel bad when a fellow classmate is receiving 14 pretzels.  It just becomes a popularity comparison for some and kids’ self-esteems are vulnerable.  I asked some of the organizers about this and they said that it had become an issue in the past so this year the vice-principal will be sending one pretzel-gram to each child who did not get one and they will receive it in the same delivery.  I thought this was a nice gesture.  I suppose the popularity comparisons can still go on but at least there is no child left without a treat.

Valentine’s Day can be an extravagant day of gifts and romance for some but for others it can be a depressing day that reminds them of what they are missing.  For me it is just a day to remind me to acknowledge and appreciate my husband and the two little men in my life.  I also don’t mind that this holiday celebrates one of my favorite things… chocolate!  I hope that my kids can enjoy Valentine’s day for many years before the pressure or cynicism about it sets in.  I hope that their friends or I can be their Valentines and they get joy from that.  Hopefully they don’t get caught up in the popularity aspect of it as they grow.  Today however, I will spoil them and enjoy them and thank Hallmark or whoever invented Valentine’s Day!

 

Posted in Education, Love, Parenting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bonding with my Boys over Sports

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Reena

sons, sports, sportsmom, bonding, parentingI have never been interested in sports…until I became a mom of 2 boys.  I still can’t say I want to spend hours watching sports on television regularly.  However, I have learned to appreciate doing that once in a while.  It is a nice way to hang out with my little sports enthusiasts.  I can still try to get them to bond with me by shopping or cooking but watching sports with them is not a horrible option either.  I would definitely rather we watch other things on TV but I can get excited about football too.  Watching their excitement is precious and that helps me.  I had a lot of fun watching the Superbowl with them as they had created banners of their favorite team and did a dance of joy after their touchdowns.

Maybe taking my boys to their sports games, whether it be soccer or basketball, has made me appreciate the professional games as well.  I enjoy watching my kids play on their teams because they are my kids and I pretty much enjoy all that they do.  But, those games have also tuned me in to all kinds of rules of the sport and the high energy.  So, if I can watch a team full of grade school kids play a sport then why not occasionally enjoy it to bond with my boys and encourage their budding interests.  I may never be ‘one of the guys’ and they may continue to have ‘boys’ parties’ with their dad when I’m not around.  However, I can keep up a little with their hobbies while also exposing them to mine.  In the end we may all be more well-rounded in life!

 

Posted in Fun, Parenting, Sports | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Happy Retirement!

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Reena

retirement day, happy retirement, aging, work, senior citizensMy mom retired today after 40 years of service and it got me thinking about the different ages people retire at these days.  Many people continue to work for financial reasons because in our recent economy, they can’t afford not to.  Others do it because they enjoy their work and can’t imagine life without that purpose.  Some are forced to retire before they would’ve chosen to because of downsizing or their own health concerns.

I think one needs to have a plan for after they retire and I don’t just mean financial planning.  I think people need to think about what hobbies or interests they have not had the time to pursue during the 9-5 grind.  I’ve heard many people say they want to travel when they retire.  Though that sounds like fun, that may not happen to often because of the costliness.  Also, no one really knows what health issues may creep up as you get older that may prohibit you from fully realizing that goal.  That’s why I think that people need to make simpler, more day-to-day goals for how to spend this newly found time.  I’ve seen some retirees who join gyms and regularly attend the free classes offered by their town libraries or senior centers.  This kind of thing might peak your interest in some subject that you want to get more involved in.  I think that even after retiring, people should have a reason to get ready and get out of the house and meet people.  I don’t mean having lunch with a friend every day, even if that would be nice.  I just mean seeing familiar faces who may say hello and smile at you and make you feel connected to the world.

If people don’t stay active, social and involved, it is very easy to age yourself prematurely or get depressed.  This work-life balance is such a complex art.  Many people work too hard and have no time for any other interests and find themselves unhappy and in poor health.  While others retire and have a lot of time on their hands that they may not have planned for and find themselves unhappy and suddenly feeling their age.  I guess it is important to try to live a good balanced life each day and find time for the things we enjoy and the people we love.  If we push it all off until we retire, we may not be healthy enough to do it then and may wish we had not waited.  So, seize the day but plan your activities for retirement as you approach that age!

Posted in Inspiration, Life, Opinion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

“The Following”- Chilling New Show

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Reena

the following, kevin bacon, fox, poe, james purefoy, kevin williamsonFox’s new thriller, The Following, is a must see.  However, it isn’t for everyone.  It is gory and intense but very well acted and keeps you interested.  This is not surprising considering its hero is played by Kevin Bacon, who is famous for his movies and six degrees of separation from everyone.  Bacon plays a former FBI agent named Ryan Hardy who was successful in capturing serial killer, Joe Carroll.  Carroll is played by James Purefoy, who I will always think of as Mark Antony of HBO’s Rome.  Purefoy does an amazing job playing a charismatic literary professor turned serial killer.  His killings are inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s works and he believes he is creating art.

(spoiler alert)In the premiere, Joe Carroll escapes prison and thus the FBI calls Ryan Hardy back as a consultant.  We learn that Hardy was stabbed by Carroll during the original capture and now he has a pacemaker and is not suited for field service.  Hardy’s passion for recapturing Carroll, however, has not diminished. Carroll eventually allows himself to be captured again but only after we realize that he has gathered a cult following who are willing to take lives or give their own at his command.  The plot also thickens as we realize Hardy was involved with Carroll’s ex-wife, played by Natalie Zea.  Carroll seems to enjoy the competition against Hardy and will only speak to him at the FBI.  This agent/killer connection is reminiscent of Silence of the Lambs.  In fact Purefoy’s character is so evil yet his charisma takes you in and makes him a more complex and interesting character.  Though, I’m still cheering for Bacon as the good guy even if he is a broken man at this point in the story.

I encourage you to check this show out but only if you like crime stories and getting in the head of psychopaths.  If so then I think this show, created by Kevin Williamson is a must see.  It is not a show that encourages violence or glorifies it but you do have to have a strong stomach to watch it.

Posted in Entertainment, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2013 Golden Globes

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Reena

Best actor, Les Miserables, Golden globe winnerI love awards nights so of course I watched last night’s Golden Globes.  My lifestyle doesn’t allow me to attend Golden Globe watching parties so I watched with my husband and texted girly comments and reactions with my cousin.  It was a fun night.  First time hosting team Tina Fey and Amy Poehler did a great job.  They were a good team and quite funny with even a few unexpected zingers.  It was also a treat to watch Pres. Clinton announce Lincoln as a best dramatic picture nominee even if it didn’t win the Globe (there’s always the Oscars).

The big television winners were Homeland which took best actor, actress, and dramatic series awards and Girls which won best actress and best series in the comedy category.  Game Change also received three awards so a big night for HBO and Showtime.  I haven’t yet watched Girls but I did think Game Change was worthy of its awards.  I’m also an avid fan of Homeland but wasn’t sure it deserved all those awards this year since this season, though compelling to watch, wasn’t as strong as season one.

As for the movies, Argo took best director and best drama while Les Miserables won best film in the comedy/musical category.  Hugh Jackman also won best actor in that category while Daniel Day Lewis took best actor for a dramatic role.  Both were extremely well deserved and both gave very eloquent and heartfelt speeches.  Ben Affleck apparently forgot to thank a couple of people (including George Clooney) so his wife did it for him when she went to present another award.  Cute and very convenient I would say.  The best actress in a drama went to Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty and Jennifer Lawrence won for comedy in Silver Linings Playbook.  I still haven’t seen either of these movies but now I will be more motivated.  Isn’t that the point to these shows (well besides all the glamour)?

Speaking of glamour, everyone looked pretty great.  There were a few stunners and a few disasters as usual.  In my opinion, Helena Bonham Carter had a crazy look which has become a norm for her.  She is so beautiful but seems to want to dress like her wacky characters.  I also wasn’t a fan of Jessica Chastain’s look.  Her dress did nothing to flatter her figure or coloring.  On the flip side, Claire Danes chose well and the fact that you can’t tell she had a baby recently doesn’t hurt.  Taylor Swift also looked very stunning in her aubergine colored gown and Stacy Keibler looked perfectly elegant in her black Armani prive gown.  She was a great match for George Clooney who looked dashing in his tux.  Most of the men, including Leo and Ben, looked quite dapper and I didn’t see anyone wearing anything odd this year.  It was a fun Hollywood night to be part of (even from your own home) and I’m now looking forward to Oscar night!

Posted in Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Things I Never Got a Chance to Say….

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Reena

Harry, Goodbye, Missingyou,My dear Harpreet, or Harry as we prefer to call you, there are so many things I never got to say to you.  I hope you knew some of these in your heart because otherwise I’m left with much regret.  I had just planned a trip to come visit you in India but sadly it is too late since you were taken too soon.  I don’t understand how this happened.  You may have been my cousin by blood but you were my mom’s god-daughter and my little sister.  I spent more quality time with you than any other cousin and we shared so much through many stages of our lives.  I have a deep bond with each of your four sisters but you shared so many experiences with me that it made us even closer.

On my early visits to India I remember you as the cute little girl with the twinkling eyes and skinny legs that hurt me when you sat on my lap during cramped car rides to fun places.  Then your first trip to visit me was for medical reasons as you were diagnosed with a rare illness.  You had to endure hospital stays and 2 surgeries.  Though you were barely older than my older son is now, you showed strength and patience that I could not imagine from him or any other adolescent.  Those were not ideal times but you stayed with us for a while and we got close.  You got to know our lives and friends and everyone adored you.  When you left you were healthier and stronger and had made your mark on our lives forever.

Your second visit was definitely under more pleasant circumstances and we were both in our twenties and got to have fun.  I remember going out with you for a new year’s eve party in NYC and having a great time.  We curled your hair but your silky locks would not stay.  You looked so beautiful with your flawless skin and winning smile.  Guys were asking you to dance and though I was proud, I hovered around you like a bodyguard.  It was such a great time.  On that trip and on my visits to you, we would chat for hours into the night.  You listened to me through my heartbreak and all other silly problems of life while rarely complaining of anything yourself.  As we got closer you let me in and I got a glimpse of your dreams and ambitions too.  You were everyone’s sweetheart but had a very strong mind and character as well which I truly admired.

Your last visit to the U.S. was great for me since you stayed with me and my family for months.  My kids were young then but adored their Harru massi and took full advantage of your attention.  You became a complete part of my life as we spent our days and nights together.  Each day you wanted to try new foods and see new things.  I loved your adventurous spirit.  We then enjoyed planning and participating in our brother’s wedding events and traveling to California for it.  It amused me how your  sweet sense of persuasion got a group of hesitant elder family members to join you on a roller coaster at Magic Kingdom.  No one could deny you and not because you were a brat or out of guilt but because you were so loving and kind.

You gave me strength when I was around you because you never complained about the limitations that your illness caused.  You were even supportive of me with my minor health issues and lifestyle.  Always giving me advice and comparing me to your sisters, you made me feel closer to all of them.   Thank you for all of that my dear.  There were many things you did not get to have in your short life but your positive attitude and grace was remarkable.  You were loved by so many and you will be in our hearts forever.  I’m glad my husband and boys got to know and love you too.  I still hear your cheery voice in my mind.  ‘Hellloo Reena!’  Well I never got to say goodbye, Harry……but I guess we weren’t meant to.  Instead I’ll just say, ‘Til later Harry’.  I love you and will miss you til then….

Posted in Inspiration, Life, Love | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Decline of Morality

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Reena

Society, Safety, Morals, Crime, Evil, GunsReading the news lately has been especially painful and disturbing.  It just seems like instead of growing and becoming more civilized as you would expect, many elements of society are deteriorating. A friend recently remarked that 12/21/12, according to the Mayans , would mark the end of civilization but the recent shooting of innocent children indicates that ‘civilized society’ has already come to an end.  I should hope that is not true since I see many good people and good deeds going on as well but the kind of evil we hear about lately is definitely disturbing.

I could not stop crying, like many others, after reading about the Sandy Hook School shootings.  It really hit home for me since I have elementary school age children.  My husband and I became terrified thinking that we would not be able to keep our kids safe since nothing could have predicted a massacre like this.  None of those parents were able to do anything for their helpless children.  I just kept thinking about how someone could do something so evil.  I also kept thinking about why there is such easy access to guns in this country.  I know people in this country like to hunt, or go to shooting ranges, or believe a gun in the house will keep you safe.  I’d rather ban all guns but at least there should be certain types of restrictions.  None of those hobbies or self-defense reasons requires people to have these automatic weapons and large magazines that let people spray 30 or 100 bullets at a time.  There should also be restrictions on people with mental problems having access to guns.  Of course we also need to pay more attention to mental health issues in this country.  Obviously, there are many disturbed people out there and maybe if they had gotten the needed help they would not have committed these atrocious crimes.

Then as I was still reading about funerals of children I read about a gang rape of a 23-year-old woman on a bus in Delhi, India.  As I read the details of how she and her boyfriend were assaulted, she was brutally gang raped, beaten, stripped and thrown from the bus, I wanted to vomit.  My stomach turned at the senseless, evil violence that happened in daylight on a bus in the capital of an emerging country.  This was not a village in a war ravaged country somewhere where people’s morality is clouded by the violence that surrounds them.  This is in a big city in a developed country that is emerging as an economic power.  I read that no one attempted to help her or her boyfriend for an hour while they lay helpless on the side of the road.  How can things develop so much economically in a place while the morality of society is degrading?  This woman may not survive her physical injuries but even if she does she will never have a normal life again.

There was no reason for any of these violent crimes nor so many others we’ve heard about lately.  There appears to be no sanctuary from violence, not schools, houses of worship, theaters, etc.  It’s awful that all this transpired but I hope that it helps people step back and look at themselves and our society to rethink our values and laws.  People are always fighting over things like gay marriage and how by allowing that we are bringing a moral decline in society.  Well, I don’t really care who loves whom but I do care that nobody is allowed to hurt, rape or kill anyone else (esp. children).  I think we need to refocus on those basics.  That kind of morality is agreed on by every religion and even just for humanity’s sake.  I hope that we can make our society more good and safe.  If we can’t then there is no real value to all our other advancements.

Posted in Life, Opinion, Parenting | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Twenty Angels

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Reena

My sentiments exactly but as a parent not a doctor.

spicylittledumplings's avatarLittle Rays of Sunshine

All of America is heartsick over the news of the Connecticut elementary school shooting. Undoubtedly, every parent feels nauseated and chilled by the evil story that unfolded. As a mother and a pediatrician, I am having a visceral reaction to the loss of TWENTY beautiful innocent lives as well as the adults who succumbed to a mad man’s rampage. When I saw the news on CNN and ABC, I felt doused with icy water and nauseated to my deepest core.

I think I can speak for most pediatricians in my expression of the horror and futility racing through our vessels when we hear such stories. This act of violence and evil counteracts the very premise of our medical practice or vocational mission: to promote the happiness, health and well being of a child. We know how hard it is to raise children, we’ve been in the trenches with all our…

View original post 475 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Houses are a Money Pit

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Reena

Money pit, house repairs, home, renovations, expensive

Owning a home is part of the American dream.  Though that dream can sometimes be a nightmare when you have to worry about all the upkeep and unexpected repairs.  This is happening to me with a simple leak turning into having the shower fully renovated, tiles and all.  The expenses are exorbitant but the hassle and stress are even more upsetting.  As in my experience, it is causing me to be stuck at home to watch the contractors and thus cancel all my other appointments.  This would be even worse for someone who had a full-time job and no flexibility.  Also, trying to get tiles or parts can be a pain since things get discontinued and you often don’t know where the original parts were purchased.  This results in either an even bigger, more costly project or trying to match things in someway that is not ideal.  Both options have their downside.  The latter leaves you feeling uneasy and worrying that your renovation won’t have a wow factor after all that money and time and could work against you during resale.

These days owning a house is not as simple a goal as it was for our parents generation.  The baby boomers all strove to buy a house for the family and as an investment and tax shelter.  Nowadays, the investment part of purchasing is not so great thanks to the real estate crisis and the dip in home prices.    The tax shelter part is also at risk since many politicians have discussed the idea of eliminating the mortgage interest deduction at some point.  Though this may not happen it is still a risk so that benefit is not secure.

I guess there is still a sense of satisfaction in having ownership of something.  We still like feeling that we are not ‘throwing away’ thousands of dollars each month on rent and it is adding up to something we can get a return on someday.  Well, I guess we have to feel happy in a home and not go in over our budget and hope that the money pit will not suck us in!

Posted in Life, Opinion | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Chicago Fire- A New Favorite

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Reena

chicago fire show, nbc, dick wolf, firefighters, jesse spencer, taylor kinneyOne of this season’s new shows that has made me a loyal follower is Chicago Fire on NBC.  Each episode gets you interested with the stand-alone stories of rescue.  However, the ongoing character development and insight into the personal lives of the firefighters and paramedics keeps you hooked.  It is produced by Dick Wolf of Law & Order fame and also has a great writers from movies like Wanted.  The talented cast is full of good-looking faces, some famous and others who are newer.  My three favorites would have to be Jesse Spencer (House) who plays Lt. Casey, Taylor Kinney as Lt. Severide, and Monica Raymund as Paramedic Gabriela Dawson.

Each of these characters, along with the others in the show, has a difficult personal story that they put aside during each crisis to work together to save lives.  Casey is going through a separation with his fiance and also works a second job as a contractor.  Severide is dealing with a spinal injury that causes him a lot of pain which he hides from his team for fear of being put on disability.  He deals with it by illegally acquiring prescription drugs which he also needs to hide.  Gabriela is a strong woman who tries to do the right things even though they get her in trouble.  She also has secret feelings for Casey.  Many of the characters are also dealing with the loss of one of their own and that created some tension at the start of the season.

The actors all do a good job but I am actually really in awe of seeing what the firefighters and paramedics have to do for a living.  They really are heroes and there is so much more to their job than just putting out fires or rescuing cats.  They are first responders to all kinds of disasters.  They have to risk their lives in crumbling buildings, car crashes, raging fires, etc. to save lives.  They deal with some of the most unusual situations that I never realized could be part of their job.  It may be fiction but the subject is one of such heroism and it’s done well so it really leaves you in awe.  Check it out.  It will definitely make you want to donate to your local firefighters!

Posted in Entertainment, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment