Sunday, December 21, 2008

Experiencing generosity

9am:
We ordered and ate breakfast at a local cafe, before realizing that neither of us had local currency. We managed to scrounge up enough coins to pay for it, meanwhile shopkeepers were friendly.

11am:
Tire was punctured by a large bolt. Drove to tire shop immediately to get help, and the shop didn't accept credit cards. Owner kindly told us to pay the next time we came around, and didn't want to take our phone numbers. He waved us away.

12noon:
A good friend bought us lunch.

5pm:
Went to church, gracious people who remembered a lot about us and welcomed us back.

8pm:
Met old friends having dinner at the same place, who secretly paid our dinner bill and left.

Sweet day, experiencing generosity from others.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Transit

We were supposed to fly off this morning, but characteristically (of particular airlines), it got cancelled. One of us got put on another flight, the other didn't. It was a few minutes of flurry as we tried to figure out what was happening.

Turns out, there was a mechanical error of sorts, and we are flying at 6am the next day. Meaning that we got to be at the airport at 4am...meaning we should leave around 3am to get to our friend's place (who is kindly getting us to the airport!)
Should we sleep tonight?

So, we've been kinda dazed today, all the luggage is still packed.. and fortunately we had friends to have lunch to add a touch of warmth to the day.

Now, we have a few hours to go..with a longer transit time at the next airport. I guess we should er..repack.. and get ready to leave again? or sleep first then go again?
hopefully we get to leave this time, and not inconvenience our kind friends again!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Gym

The hubby and I are members of a gym near our house, and my estimate is that membership at the gym is about 40% over 60 years old, 30% are 45-60 years and and the other 30% spread out from are below 45. I could be very wrong of course ;)

There is a cozy indoor heated swimming pool and the average age of swimmers is about 70. Yes, that means wrinkly cute elderly folks. I think its great that they are exercising, socializing, going for these waterobics classes and happy in their bathing suits. I hope to be as snazzy when I'm old. The heated pool attracts them because its warming to the bones and has low impact on them joints and stuff. Pretty ideal exercise for that age group.

There are land exercise classes too, and I'd say most of them are about 40, with a handful of 20-somethings and a handful of 60-somethings. Conversations you overhear go like, "After my fourth child..." and "My grandchildren...". This is not to say the class is easy, in fact, it gets you pretty sweaty, and sometimes push-ups and sit-ups go up to a hundred. The instructor for this 100 repetitions class is probably close to 50 (seriously) and definitely a lean bean. She does Pilates too and while I start shaking in the first few seconds, she's asking the class if we want to go some more. The 40 something year old in the front row says, "More! More! Roar!!!" Obviously, I try to grunt as quietly as possible in the presence of these muscle-women, who are about 20 years older than I. So much for slowing down when you get older.

There is a pretty big weights room upstairs and various treadmills, stairmasters and other torture devices. The age up here is varied, but when someone says, "Excuse me young lady", he or she is usually well-qualified to do so.
So, I stick with my estimate.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Sad surprises

A friend from school passed away this week, in Mumbai.
I had seen the news of the terrorist attack on TV earlier, and was horrified. The report highlighted that the terrorists were scoping out people with US and British passports to be kept as hostages, the rest let go. Thus, I never thought anyone from home country would be hurt, but unfortunately, she was.
My heart goes out to her family.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Wall-E

I didn't think I'd like this movie much, but I do!
In fact, I feel like I could watch it a few more times. haha.
Things that were cool:

robot and cockroach dialogue

simple definition of intimacy

reversed roles of humans and machines

straightforward emotions we can relate to

*shing*....*shing*

*beep*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e16U8UsT4I

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

SAD

Seasonal Affective Disorder. (SAD)
It's when you are affected by the weather, mood-wise.
Its easy to see why... it looks bleak and un-green out of the window, temperatures do not promote outdoor living (unless you are a ski instructor).
Specifically, according to the Villanova University website,

http://www.villanova.edu/studentlife/counselingcenter/infosheets/psych_topics.htm?page=winter_blues.htm

* SAD has been linked to a biochemical imbalance brought on by the shortening of daylight hours and a lack of sunlight in winter
* Your mood is partly influenced by sunlight, melatonin, serotonin, and vitamin D (cholecalciferol)
o Melatonin (sleep hormone) decreases when it is light
o Serotonin (hormone associated with wakefulness and elevated mood) increases when it is light
o Vitamin D helps the body maintain ↑ levels of serotonin during the winter
o Light stimulates the production of cholecalciferol, which the body eventually transforms into vitamin D

So basically, you tend to hibernate against your will.

Let's look at some risk factors,

* Limited light exposure -YES
* Younger people and women -YES
* Distance from the equator -YES

* January and February – the most difficult months - YES
* Feeling let down after the holidays - HUH?

Poem

Sent to me by someone special... hope it brings a good touch to your day.


IT MATTERS TO ME ABOUT YOU

My child, I know thy sorrows,
Thine every grief I share;
I know how thou art tested,
And, what is more - I care.

Think not I am indifferent
To what affecteth thee;
Thy weal and woe are matters
Of deep concern to Me.

But, child, I have a purpose
In all that I allow;
I ask thee then to trust Me,
Though all seems dark just now.

How often thou hast asked Me
To purge away thy dross!
But this refining process
Involves for thee - a cross.

There is no other pathway
If thou would'st really be
Conformed unto the image
Of Him Who died for thee.

Thou can'st not be like Jesus
Till self is crucified;
And as a daily process
The cross must be applied.

Just as the skillful gard'ner
Applies the pruning knife,
E'en so, I too would sever
The worthless from thy life.

I have but one sole object -
That thou should'st fruitful be!
And is it not thy longing
That I much fruit should see?

Then shrink not from the training
I needs must give to thee;
I know just how to make thee
What I would have thee be.

Remember that I love thee!
Think not I am unkind,
When trials come to prove thee,
And joy seems left behind.

'Tis but a little longer
Until I come again;
What now seems so mysterious
Will all be then made plain.

Take courage then; and fear not!
Press forward to the prize,
A crown of life awaits thee,
Glory before thee lies!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008