Day 232 : Annual Day!

It was Madam's Annual Day celebration at school.

Earlier, when I showed (according to her, undue) excitement at the idea of her dancing for it, she told me, "It is a boring dance". So clearly I wasn't supposed to be this excited. So I tried telling her that a boring dance it may be but still she would be going on stage and that counts for something. So she replied, "It's a boring dance on a boring stage."

Oh well.

Anyway once at school, she seemed to be more interested in the activities and happily got dressed, complete with make up. She also played along and did her part well enough in the "boring dance on the boring stage" and I was super proud of my little one.

The husband and I enjoyed the performance, applauded real loud for Madam, stuffed ourselves with the vada pav from the canteen (perks of sending your kid to an Indian school) and generally had a merry time.

Here's a rather unclear photo of her's at the performance... she is the little one on the left side.

268 more to go. 

Day 231 : In "Spotlight"!

Today I discovered that Pularum Iniyum Naalekal has been selected as a film "In the Spotlight" at the Calcutta Cult International Film Festival! Happy!


269 more to go. 

Days 229 - 230 : The Joy of Normalcy!

Finally we had a "normal" weekend. By which I mean that neither the husband and I are travelling, there are no festivals or celebrations (which are fun but tiring), no guests, no "things to do", nothing. Just a very chilled weekend doing routine things like taking Madam to her ballet class, getting her a haircut followed by ice cream, date night with the husband (after many, many weeks), and a movie at the theatre (after a few months!), some exercising, a couple of glasses of wine, afternoon naps and peace.

I love routine. I love normalcy.

270 more to go.  

Day 228 : Before We Visit the Goddess!

Another beautifully written book from one of my most favourite authors Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. As always it is less about the plot and the story, but more about her characterizations, the flow, the poetic language and the fact that you can't help but fall in love with it! Beautiful!

272 more to go. 

Day 227 : Chakrasana - Check!

What a happy, happy day!

For the longest time now (maybe for 4 years or more) I had not been able to do chakrasana (wheel pose) on my own. I always could hold it once I was up, but never seemed to be able to hoist myself up on my own. So whenever chakrasana came in a yoga video, I would simply do a bridge pose instead. However, today as I was following one of Lesley Fightmaster's yoga videos, on a whim, I decided to try out the chakrasana together with her. I prepared myself for it with zero expectations and pushed away at the mat. Lo and behold, there I was...hoisted well about the ground, in a full chakrasana, much to my own surprise!

I couldnt believe what happened, so I was convinced that this was just fluke. So I tried again, and could do it again. Oh my dear God.

Chakrasana - CHECK! The joy!

273 more to go. 

Day 226: Run!

It's been ages since I've gone running. My last many months had been focused on yoga or dance or Fitness Blender workout videos at home. But I decided that I need to run - you know, be out in the nature, away from screens, all that stuff.

So I downloaded Runkeeper again, bought myself a customized running plan and started to run.

At the end of the run, Runkeeper asks you whether you felt bad, good or great. And I felt absolutely "GREAT"!

274 more to go. 

Day 225 : The Results

We met Madam's neurosurgeon today morning to talk the scan results.

Good news was that the tumor had not grown or spread. What wasn't so great was that the tumor is still very much around, deeply embedded in her brain. Of course, this was very much expected but you still can't feeling disappointed every time you hear it.

The doctor recommended to go for microradiosurgery (non invasive radiation treatment) within the next 6 months and earlier the better, because she is now old enough to get it done. It would be about 3 - 4 weeks of daily treatment.

This treatment again, was not unexpected but we had been expecting it to happen only next June or Dec. However, now that he thinks we should get it ASAP, the coming December seemed the best option. She would be having term break for a month and work would be lean for us as well.

So yes, just like that, my plan for December, for both her and me, changed from attending film festivals and holidaying in Kerala, to a few weeks of radiation therapy.

But then that's how the Universe works I guess.

So yes, bring on the lemons.

Am already planning the Christmas party that I will throw when she is back home after her last day of radiation treatment.

That would be my lemonade.

275 more to go.