When spouse drives..

Every man has a story to tell when it comes to teaching his spouse driving. That's precisely when the whole marriage undergoes the extreme test of patience!
Don't know why women don't get it when it comes to watching rear view mirror, blind spot, side view mirror, all while maintaining speed and then change lane :-)
My wife's driving lessons can be published in volumes - like that lagging yet interesting "Kill Bill" movie.
She started off taking lessons in late 2005. Maintaining the car in the same lane was the first challenge. She swings from one side to other side of the road and would still claim that she is in the same lane. After a month of shouting and screaming, I arranged a mallu tutor for giving her lessons. He came one day and at the end of the class he said "continue practicing with husband. call me once you are ready for the dmv test.". I think he meant to say "sorry, I have a family to take care of. You can put your husband at risk and don't ever call me".
Luckily (for me) she had a major distraction to handle when she was expecting Kunju in 2006.
The saga restarted on late 2006 again. This time we called a vietnamese guy. I had high expectation on him. He gave two classes and said "continue practicing with husband. call me once you are ready for the dmv test."!! I was shocked, as far as I knew, he didn't have a family. But sometimes people care for themselves too :-(
Meanwhile her DMV learners license expired twice and she took written re-tests in flying colors (practice.. practice.. practice!). The last time when she went there, the DMV official shook her hand for visiting maximum times in an year (in my exaggerated version I tell people that DMV director came out of office to welcome her :-) )
Year 2007 mostly went with the same vietnamese guy coming only when he is so desperate for money. We moved apartments thrice and our 'chinky' guy sometimes was shocked to see us at new place (we give only address for the student, not the name. So he would know who he is going to teach only when he reaches). One time I asked him "is she a good driver now?" and he said "no, she is a dangerous driver".
Priya's driving lessons turned from an urban joke to more of folklore standard. Mallu people around started using this as a saying - like "kuttiyar kollathu poya polae" or "priya driving class edukum polae" etc..
Year 2008 I decided to change the tutor. Anyways, the vietnamese guy didn't like Ho Chi Minh.
We went for the hard working central travancore christian family run institute. After the first class the guy said "let us finish this as soon as possible". I said in mind "or she will finish you as soon as possible".
However, that proved one more time that there is nothing that can beat the perseverance of central tranvancore christians. It came in the form of a license with a smiling face :-)

PS: This is reviewed and blessed by my better half. She has been cooking beef fry for her beloved, while he was writing crap :-)

The inertia to leave United States...

The following fact has puzzled me always...
Once you are in United States it takes a great amount of 'will' to go back to India.

You agree or not, that's the truth for most people.
I have been based in California for past 4 years. When we came here in 2005, I used to tell people that I want to go back to India and will be doing it in short term. It's been 4 years and I am still saying the same thing.
How much is 'short term'? few months? couple of years? A deeper thought would reveal that 'short term' is a just 'big excuse' to stick on to US without feeling the guilt of staying away from home land or family. Bitter, but truth.

Now let us call this inertia. What is causing this inertia? Few facts could be -
a. Money - needs no explanation. The more we get, the more we want. The more we make, the more we invest. It's a loop.
b. Comfort - A less tiring life is another popular justification I have heard around. That's true. Most people stay close to work. "Close" is say ~10 miles. A 10 or 15 minutes of drive would let you reach home. Compare it against the hours of travel you need to do from Electronic city to Koramangala! (I have done it tons of times, so I know!).
c. Better place for bringing up Kids - Yup, another truth. (or rather, my wife says so..)

If you agree, add to my list. If you don't, feel free to comment with cons -
I welcome this wholeheartedly. Because I am looking for a reason here.. a reason to break the inertia.

Selective blindness

India - World's most populated democracy - conducted a national election in 18 days. The result came out in 24 hours with a stable alliance elected with minimum majority ..
Still, all CNN could do was a weak display of journalism by giving single post of this news in some corner!
Slumdog millionaire was all over CNN when it won Oscar.
Don't you see the western 'selective blindness' when it comes to India?
If you follow multiple news agencies/magazines, you can notice this very well. No media is impartial. No media is priority-less.
CNN celebrated when Mr.Zardari got "elected" as President of Pakistan. I was like "What?!". Why would anyone care for this guy or his flirting with Sarah Palin. I don't understand who determines what's important enough to come in the top of the list. When it comes to Western media, probably the alliances the home country has with rest of the world plays the role. And eastern media is a lot more influenced by regional politics/religion than national agenda.
End of the day, today's Media has gone 'selective blind' and it sucks!

Romantic poem by E E Cummings

I carry your heart with me
I carry it in my heart
I am never without it
anywhere I go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling
I fear no fate for you are my fate, my sweet

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart
I carry it in my heart