Backyard Tangerines...

This is what I would call the real fruit of labor. Many people have put in a lot of effort for these honey sweet tangerines that I was able to relish today for the first time. My mom was responsible for taking the initiative to buy the tangerine sapling. My brother drove her to the nursery to buy the sapling. My dad planted it. My wife and in-laws watered the plant. I watched it grow and relished the fruit of this united effort. That would explain my contribution in this.
To me, this is more than just a tangerine that I relished. It is a family team effort in many ways. This shows how sweet a fruit a untited family can bear...

Fans...

My blogging has started to gather some fans these days. Over the past few days, it has managed to attract few visitors who have not visited my blogs before. The fact that they do not leave any comments clearly shows that they are very close relatives of mine and are very prompt in conveying it to my face. So far it has been encouraging. If this continues for a while I may actually get into serious blogging. I have been trying to give the holiday season as an excuse.
Often times, my better half asks me how come I don't blog everyday. I tell her that blogging needs a specific kind of mindset and I don't get that very often. Kudos like the ones pouring these days are very hard to come by and so the drive to blog remains at a all time low. I also try to motivate myself sometimes and try to blog whatever runs through my mind. I have gotten into problems because of that and have to retract a few blogs. I have been warned not to blog during one of those moods.
Anyways now that my blog fan club is gathering some moss, it may prove to be a energy boost for my blog drive. So lets see how long this lasts.

Suitcase opening ceremony....

How much ever I try not to get excited when seeing folks just returned from India, I fail miserably every time. My parents just returned from India and opened up the suitcases to distribute stuff that they brought from there. The sweets and savories, provisions and textiles, calendars and home made stuff are just a few of many things that traveled the pacific ocean. Every time I would be amazed at how my parents could remember those tiny little things that we would need in our day-to-day lives and pack those stuff in those suitcases.
Packing the stuff into those suitcases is a very intricate process perfected only by a few that I know of and my grandmother and dad have Ph.Ds in that. Suitcases have to be packed and weighed to withstand some of the worst conditions in the hands of the baggage handlers. It never fails to amaze me how those fully packed 70 pounders actually make it the whole way without giving away. It has given away a couple of times for us and the airlines have been kind enough to refund us for the losses.
The suitcases opening episodes are the best part of these trips. All of us sit around the suitcases as each item is removed and given to its rightful owners. I never ask for anything so whatever I get is always a surprise for me. Every item in that suitcase will have a unique story behind it on how it got to travel this 10000 miles. I would wait for those stories.
I think, I will have to wait another year for the next suitcase opening ceremony.

Frysland.....

Legoland, Disneyland, Frysland.. That's right. I just realized that I was like a kid in a candy store when I went to Frys the other day. For folks who are not familiar with Frys, its an electronics store in class of its own. I would call it the concept store. I never realized that I would say these words, but yes, I do love shopping... at Frys.
I was there at Frys yesterday and spent a good part of 2 hours in the store. I found some items on sale and wanted to get it. So with the Frys ad tucked under my arm, I strolled into the Frys store close to my home. I could sense the familiar smell greeting me as I was passing through customer service and into the store. I knew exactly where each of the items were in that huge warehouse like store. So I go straight to that section to collect the items that I wanted. I also found myself helping out a couple of folks with some technical insights on the differences between an AGP and a PCI graphics card. I felt the same way my 6 year old nephew would feel when correcting me when I make a mistake between a mickey mouse and mini mouse characters at Disneyland.
I go from one section to other slowly checking out the items that were on sale and also making sure that its worth the price. In my past experience I have noticed that just because an item is on sale does not mean that it is worth buying. Quality does matter. So I have to also look at the various features from different brands before I make the decision to buy. I still end up going back to return some products since I have not been satisfied with its quality. I also use that as an excuse to visit Frys one more time!!!
Its the only place that energize me while actually shopping. So I better start making hay while the sun shines...

Are you bald?? .....

No way!!!! Your head is just taller than your hair... I thought that could be the most optimistic way of looking at baldness. I came across this in one of the "Home Improvement" episodes..

Back in time for Christmas....

I am back to the blogworld in time for Christmas!!! Did I just say Christmas and did not twitch??? For over 22 years, to me, Christmas was just a festival celebrated by Christians. It was a small 2 week vacation with lots of homework to be reported at the end of it. No celebrations, no fun, no gifts, nothing.
Today, our house adorns colorful lights outside and we have a brightly lit christmas tree in the living room greeting the visitors as they walk in. Friends and family visit us, drop the gifts under the tree, have fun and leave. I have also been programmed to buy gifts for near and dears, wrap them neatly and leave it under the tree for them to be surprised on Christmas day. I have been promoted to an offical Santa Claus position for the past 4 years.
Our family boasts of multiple Santas during Christmas time. Everyone takes pride in their role and make sure they do justice to their position. And I am proud to say that they have delivered it every single time.
When did this all start? When did I start embracing Christmas? Although it does not have any religious significance for us, this has become to be a time to share warmth, friendship and love among one another. This is the second year that we have a Christmas tree at our house and it is already filled with gifts. It was as if these gifts were waiting for the tree to be setup so that it can litter around it.
I have been introduced to a new tradition and have been forced to look at Christmas from a new prespective. Its not just the holidays that I look forward during Christmas. Its the brightly decoreated houses, overflowing gifts under the Christmas tree, visiting relatives and friends and most of all a surprise waiting for me at the end of it... I am sure there is one waiting for me this year also.