Wishing one and all . . .

Merry Christmas!

At the close of another year, my family and I greatly pause to wish you a warm and happy Holiday season and a peaceful & prosperous New Year 2010





Cheers to all!

Shared thots (december 20, 2009) - FORGIVE & LOVE

It doesn't matter what our outer circumstances are either, because the Kingdom of Heaven is within us. Don't spend the rest of your life searching the world for happiness then.

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Just look in the mirror and laugh. Just let the happiness flow from your heart, mind, and soul until it fills your life and the lives of all those around you..

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"treat others as you would want them to treat you"... every religion urges the believers to do so...yet this is the most difficult commandment to live up to... and yet, once the 'sack of ego' is unloaded, the easiest thing to do, as well.

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Credit: the above contents have been posted as received through SHARED THOTS from my uncle Mr. Mohandas K P

Shared thots (14th Sept'09)

The following story is an ideal testimony to a saga of life-long pursuit of true love. . . may be this is too ideal to achieve in today’s material world but nevertheless is a lesson...of what True Love is to the immaterial world of make believe, fast food, virtual realities… et al.

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It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On examining it I saw it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors and got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while! As she is a victim of Alzheimer's disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm and thought, That is the kind of love I want in my life. True love is neither physical nor romantic.

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True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

I want to share this with someone I care about, today... Life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain. The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs.

But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Almighty God, you will make it to a place called Success.

Love is everlasting. It is the first fruit of the recreated human spirit. We all have ability to love inherent in us, we only pretend when we hate.

“God created man to love."

God bless,

our first pic together

pictures from past. . .

Nandambakkam house

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Indira Nagar house

Does LOVE need a reason ???

Lady : Why do you like me..? Why do you love me?

Man : I can't tell the reason.. but I really like you..

Lady : You can't even tell me the reason... how can you say you like me? How can you say you love me?

Man : I really don't know the reason, but I can prove that I love you.

Lady : Proof ? No! I want you to tell me the reason. My friend's boyfriend can tell her why he loves her but not you!

Man : Ok..ok!!! Erm...? ? because you are beautiful,
                                    because your voice is sweet,
                                    because you are caring,
                                    because you are loving,
                                    because you are thoughtful,
                                    because of your smile,
                                    because of your every movement.
 
The lady felt very satisfied with the man's answer.

Unfortunately, a few  days later, the Lady met with an accident and became comma.

 
The Guy then placed a letter by her side, and here is the content:

Darling,

Because of your sweet voice that I love you...  Now can you talk? No! Therefore I cannot love you.

Because of your care and concern that I like you...   Now that you cannot show them, therefore I cannot love you.

Because of your smile, because of your every movements that I love you..  Now can you smile? Now can you move? No, therefore I cannot love you...

If love needs a reason, like now, there is no reason for me to love you anymore. Does love need a reason? NO!

Therefore, I still love you... And love doesn't need a reason 

" Sometimes the best and the most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, cannot be touched, but can be felt in the heart "

Yours only forever

Urvi's Choroonu

On the 90th day of Urvi coming out into the world, she was given her first taste of the normal food at Guruvayoor Sri Krishna shetram.

The celebration was performed on 20th April 2009.

She has a good taste for sweet and appreciate it more than anything.

Urvi

Below is the video, with compilation of Urvi's latest pictures. She has started smiling, and the video is bout that...

on youtube

URVI

747-400 in Delta Colors

Delta has rolled out a Boeing 747-400 series aircraft in its livery. This aircraft was previously in Northwest colors.

Click on the below heading, to veiw the view of re-paint

747-400 in Delta Colors

Urvi

MARRIAGE . . .

The story really touched me, it conveys a lot and I suppose every person who are in this stage have to try this and mend differences, but let the other person know how important they are before it is too late.

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When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. 

Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. 

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked mesoftly, why? 

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her asatisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Dew. I didn't love heranymore. I just pitied her! 

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement whichstated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of mycompany. 

She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I feltsorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not takeback what I had said for I loved Dew so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now. 

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writingsomething at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleepand fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Dew. 

When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again. 

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. 

She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage. 

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. 

She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she wasgoing crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request. 

I told Dew about my wife's divorce conditions.... She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. 

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over tenmeters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office. 

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time.... I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her. 

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. 

On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Dew about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. 

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown sothin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. 

Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. 

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mum out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become anessential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closerand hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid Imight change my mind at this last minute... I then held her in my arms,walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day. 

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy. 

I drove to office..... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind... I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Dew, Ido not want the divorce anymore. 

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, Isaid, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. 

Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and thenslammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and droveaway. 

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart. 

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead. I know how her heart could not bear to hear my last words now. I still carried her, my last one...this time with my wreatched heart.

The small details of your lives are what really matter in arelationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank, blah..blah..blah. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage! 

If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you. 

If you do, you just might save a marriage.

Shared Thots ! ! !

Time can make us forget some memories, but there would be some memories which make us forget the time and those make the life worthwhile.. ...

Don't go the way life takes you but take the life the way you go.

Remember you are born to live and not living because you are born...

Adhuamma, is no more - may her soul rest in peace!

My Grand Mother "Madhavi Amma - 'Adhuamma' who know her close" passed away at about 1.45 PM on 2nd April 2009. 

This pic was taken in 2008, during her better days with good health, except for no eye sight.

She was 102 and looked frail, quite obvious given her age, but looked content and peaceful as she leaves this material world to the next abode with The Almighty. She seemed relieved from the physical anguish of the past 2 months following the crippling (and now fatal) fall. She looked proud leaving behind such a legacy of family members.

Adhuamma was cremated at the Edavalathu Tharavadu premises right next to where her doting elder brother's (Chirakkal Achappan) worldly journey was consummated by Agni in 1997. Her journey of life ended at 1.45 pm IST,

2nd April 09 and her physical being was reduced to ashes at 12.45 pm, 3rd April 09. 

She leaves behind a family who will mourn her passing with the deepest of grief. We can only take whatever consolation there is in the knowledge that she lived a full life with the abundant love and affection of all those who were dear to her.

The 4th day function (Sanjayinam) is on the 5th April and the 12-13th day functions (Adiyantharam) will be on the 14-15 April 09 for those that can make the journey to Mavilayi.

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my daughter. . . URVI

Urvi my daughter is now nearly 3 months old, ears have been pierced and she is improving day by day on weight.

Urvi is now in Coimbatore with her mother and grand parents and even though she is small, yet she manages to attract maximum attention of all and especially her grand mothers. 

I am sorting out all formalities to try and bring Urvi and Premi here back in UAE by the end of April 2009. Very eager to have her in my arms and cherish bringing her up.

Missing U da ! ! !

My baby girlo. . .

Premi and I are please to announce the birth of our first baby girl, born on 21st January 2009 in Ottapalam town, Kerala, India.

She weighs 2.5kgs and is healthy and has embrased the changes (from mothers warm body to outside world) with good spirits.

We have not yet named her, but have finalised a name. The naming ceremony is planned for the 17th Feb'09 (28th day). Will have to wait until then to disclose.

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our girlo (in the loving arms of Premi's mother)

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Holding my baby (what a great feeling, emotionally charged)

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sort of family pic (premi's care taker in the back ground)

My parents, were very thrilled to become grandparents again and more so to get a girl perakutty. Their long cherished desire and dream has been fulfilled. I was told that Amma, became emotional upon knowing that the baby born into the famly was a GIRL.

Unfortunetly, I was not there durin the delivery, but reached 2 days later. Anyways, I cherished each and every moment I was there with the baby and Premi. Holding her in my arms and being aware that this is a part of you and as being partly responsible for its existance, Gotta experience it, no words can explain or convey that...

I cherished what ever limited time, I was able to spend with them.

All that I can say was "you both mean a lot to me"

@ Ottapalam

Yogesh had accompanied Premi and Me to Ottapalam for a few days. We both were quite surprised when he jumped at the opportunity to say that he was going with us and yes he did make the trip and he ensured he had loads of fun too.

He ensured that he was being kind, polite yet himself at every time and anyone who met him were bowled out and people had only good things to say. Premi and I became the bad people, for always being at his back and checking on him. Anyways, He is a darling! No doubt bout that.

A small Lotus and Lilly pond was his favourite place to spend time. Wake up early, rush to the pond and sit there looking at fishes was his main activity and I must say "he was not getting bored at sitting there for 2 or 3 hours at a stretch". He then would cook up stories about the fish to tell us.

He wanted a lotus pond in Coimbatore house, but hopefully we have convinced him out of that and probably by now, he would have even forgotten about the tadpoles, fishes and what not that was in that pool. 

Do we need a small lotus pond in Coimbatore house. Mmm.... think I'll anyways ask parents bout it. What harm would it cause, by asking? Probably, they might like the idea too....!!!

One thing that is similar with Yogesh and Me, we both adore Cars, Planes, Ships, Comics, Cartoons, play crazy things, come out with wacky ideas and not to be missed "get bullied badly" when amongst family members. But we both do not bother about bullies and we are having fun too... So much similarities.    mmm....

I was so thrilled at seeing the Ambi in Premi's house the first time I went there that I was mentioning about me liking Ambi and after marriage I used to sometimes tell my FIL to take the Ambi if we have to go somewhere near. By the way, my FIL also loves Ambi, so he does not hesitate at this suggestion.

While Yogs was in Otap, when ever we had to go out, he would run and get into the Ambi first and my FIL was too happy to see a small boy of this current generation taking a fancy for his good old Ambi. Yogesh completely bowled my FIL and end result, he used to get a lot of Ambi rides.

We had fun at Otap. Also Yogs and me had that bit of extra fun than Premi, when we both returned to Coimbatore by train.

"Aishwarya" - coimbatore house

This is Ashokettan's house in Ganapathy area of Coimbatore. This is a township "GEM Nirmaalayam" consisting for around 80 Villas and 60 residential apartments. We have named the house "Aishwarya". In front is parents car.

Amma's back garden, many plans and she hopes to have some good garden vegetables.

Newly laid lawn in front, Achan's area for watering and maintenance.

Achan in the back drop of nearly 15 hanging pots and about 20 potted plants right from the gate upto the main door (scattered though)

Achan & Amma

My parents are now happily settled in Coimbatore after 50 years of living in Chennai. The change and shifting was no way easy, but the end results are positive and in all angles and thoughts, we have achieved what was intended. They have settled in.

This house is Ashokettan's gift for parents for the years to come. Achan and Amma are having a great time there with many friends and now the complaint is that they do not have enough time. Its sometimes nice when they say that they are with sme neighbors or doing something and that they will back after they are done with that. It feels so nice that they are occupied at something or the other. That was what we all wanted, for them to be happy and to know that they are happy, makes all the sons and DIL's more happy. Over all, a hapy family...

Parents are very occupied with maintaing the plants, Achan takes care of the lawn, potted plants and basically to all plants in the front side of the house and Amma to a small vegetable garden she is developing. She has in the back garden some "Cheera", "Methi", Curry leaves for now and in a short while she would be having a small lemon plant, coriander, pumpkin, chilli etc. They are exploring what all they can grow.

I am eagerly looking forward to the occassion when the full family can be together under one roof for a get together and barbacue if possible with some chill beer and what not to tag along. . . in all probablity there would be another new member in the family by then, probably few days /  weeks or months old. yeah, I am refering to Premi and my Kiddo, expected sometime in Jan'09.

boy's beware. . .

He didn't like the curry
And he didn't like my cake
He said my biscuits were too hard...
Not like his mother used to make.

I didn't prepare the coffee right
He didn't like the stew,
I didn't mend his socks
The way his mother used to do.

I pondered for an answer
I was looking for a clue.
Isn't there anything I could do?
To match his mothers shoe

Then I smiled as I saw light
One thing I could definitely do
I turned around and slapped him tight...
Like his mother used to ! ! !

BEST LAW STORY OF THE YEAR ! ! !

BEST LAW STORY OF THE YEAR, DECADE AND PROBABLY THE CENTURY.

Charlotte, North Carolina.

A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars then insured them against, among other things, fire.Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy, the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company.

In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost 'in a series of small fires.'

The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason, that the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion... The lawyer sued..... and WON!

(Stay with me now......... ......... ......... )

Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous!!

The judge stated nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company, in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be 'unacceptable fire', and was thus obligated to pay the claim.

So, rather than endure a lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling, and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss of the cigars lost in the 'fires'.

(NOW FOR THE BEST PART........ ....... )

After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON!!!

With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicte of 'intentionally burning his insured property' and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.

This is a true story and was the First Place winner in the Criminal Lawyers Award Contest.