SRI SAID 2014

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Dec 2014
Sri and her friend Emily had a competition to draw another girl in her class. 
Sri said "So, Emily drew her with a scarf,
boots, jacket, and a pony tail. I drew her with a simple dress, but she looked beautiful." 

Sri won the round. The model said "I don't like the way Emily interpreted me!
I like yours Sri. It looks so pretty." And Sri added "how accurate!"
I was positive that the last bit was Sri's sarcasm (at 11!)/
I asked "Sri, did she say how accurate?"
Sri giggled!


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This morning Sri woke me up rollicking with laughter. I found a cleft on her chin and was teasing her that only flirts have clefts.
"Are you flirting?" I teased.
"Mom! The boys are super annoying. The trend now is to
say In your face" to everything.
For example, if I say "the wall is spotty, they would
retort "like your face!"
The science teacher banned this game.
But, the computer teacher joins in and encourages them!

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She went on to talk about her drama class today (Sunday). 
"Aha! Drama on Sunday? Who are the boys in Drama?"
"They're mostly 7th graders!" she said.
"7th! Are you sure about not flirting?"
"Mom! Most of them reach up to my hip. Besides, what kind of a boy would join the play Legally Blonde?"
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Sri signed up for Debate on the only free week day she was class-free.
I was looking for Christmas gift ideas. I said,
"Sri, I want to buy you a Kindle for Christmas"
Sri says " Mom! No! I argued against ebooks in Debate and won!".
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Nov 2014

Today, Bala left to Chicago. After we dropped him off at the airport, Sri got into the car and said "All Girls Week! Let's spend all the money we can! Chipotle every day!!" Bala does not like to eat out much..and he does not care for Mex food.

So, we headed to the mall from the airport and shopped till we dropped. Sri walks back to the car and says "I am so happy to buy so many fragrant soaps and stuff and carry all these bags!" 
I thought to myself "What have I done?"

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Oct 2014

Since Sri started school in Sep she's been out for 10 hours a day. I've been missing my time with her, but she seems ecstatic to be with friends and have a packed schedule.

Today, she told me that her teacher taught time management. They had to make a list of

all things they actually do during each hour. Then, they had to make a list of things they want to do more. I asked "What are things you want to do more?"

She says "I want to watch more TV (she barely sees 5 minutes of TV now). I also want more family time!" 

Out of the mouths of babes and horses.

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Sep 2014

Last night, I was singing the famous U2 number "But, I still haven't found what I'm looking for!"
Sri quips "Go to Google Maps!"

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Sri learned this awesome story in her Greek myth class and told us tonight:

Around 350 BC, King Philip II of Macedon started invading Greece. After he had several key footholds under his command, Philip decided to start putting pressure on Sparta, and sent them this threatening message: “If I win this war, you will be slaves forever.”

"You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city."

The Spartans' laconic reply was one word: "If".

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Sri's story today:
"I was doing my home work next to two older middle school boys. They used the word "dude" a zillion times. Dude...did you check out the new game? Dude, are you going to this game? Dude, do we have a test?
I looked at them annoyed and said "hey guys, can you stop DUDING? I am trying to do my home work. They stopped. Then, they said 1, 2, 3...DUDE!!! together!"
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Sri went to Great America Parkway with some friends. I asked her how it went. She said "Mom, they were eating and then they asked me to trash popcorn. I did it. Again, they asked me to trash some papers. I did it. The third time they said "Srinidhi, can you please trash this?" I said "Ok, I will throw it away for you. But, after I finish my lunch, you must throw my trash away!" They just laughed.

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She was telling me about this boy in her class who is very annoying. I asked, "What makes him irksome?"
"Well, yesterday our Math teacher asked us a question and said those who know the answer raise their hands. This boy raised his.
The teacher called on him.
He said, "I don't know the answer. But, if you raise your hand like this it means Hail Hitler!"
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Sri went on a play-date with her friend. I asked her how she liked it. She said, "Mom, we were playing a pretend game. I was assigned to be Stabie."
My friend said, "Ok, you are Stabie, clean my bed."
I said, "I am Stabie. I am not a maid!"

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Sri started middle school! She says, "It was so hot yesterday and we had to run in the playground 5 times. I was among the top runners! I imagined that someone was chasing me and I was running away...then, I looked behind me and I saw Munir panting and puffing!"


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Aug 2014
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I had a ton of chores to do, so I asked Sri "Hey, Sri are you feeling tired or active?"
Sri said, "I am not tired mom. I feel active."
"So, can you please fold the laundry in the living room?"
"Not that kind of active. Watch TV kind of active!"

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Sri turns nouns into verbs and it is rather funny.
Last night, we stepped into the garden to fork some mud out to make a Ganesha idol.
Sri says, "Let's go mudding."


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I was telling Sri that I found the song "Try" by Pink very motivating. I admit that I've only heard the chorus the most.

She says, "Yes, the words are inspiring. So, I checked out the YouTube video
of the song and found that they were just trying to have sex!"


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Sri said today, "Mom, Hema chithi offered to buy me itunes songs from India, but I feel awkward to take her money. I know it's crazy..but I still feel awkward."
I asked, "Why, Sri? How much are the songs?"
"She says they are 12 paise each Is that expensive?"
I laughed and said, "That's 2 cents!"
Sri says, "In that case, I will BLEED her of her money!"




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Sri loves to tell this story:
We were waiting for coffee at Starbucks when a big guy walked in and
ordered a creamy drink. When it was ready, the customer beamed at the employee and said "Thank you, Chad. You've made me fat and happy."

Today, we were walking in the mall with Emily. I showed Sri a pair of new Prada sunglasses and said "Sri, this is what I want if you are shopping for a gift for me." She said "Ok" and then to Emily "It's easy to get her gifts because she wants many things!"



July 2014
Sri and I sat in this closed San Francisco tour bus for hours with our family visiting from abroad. I looked out the window and pointed to an open bus. "Do you think they are having more fun?"

Sri says, "At least, they are breathing fresh air. Here we compete for air. Hey, we're sharing the air you know. Do not sniff so hard!"

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Then, she tells me this story "There was a man who won the Guinness record for sitting. After he won, he forgot how to stand. Maybe we will too!" 

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Sri visited my office during the July 4th weekend, when it was being set up.
Then, last week I had to take her to work with me. She went for the snack cupboard, opened it, and said "UPGRADED!". It was full of junk food for her.
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June 2014

We met this awfully skinny guy who was friendly and nice. I told Sri, "he's nice..but he's not very comfortable with me. Maybe he's scared that I will crush him to death!"

Sri says "Or, maybe he's scared that I will!"
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May 2014
Today, I was telling Sri about Nagi's advise to me when I got married. He said "You need to get real about marriage. It is about mundane existence".

Sri asks "So, marriage is not about hugging, kissing, and going to France?".
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Bala narrates bedtime stories about Indian saints to Sri. The latest one is about Thiagaraja. This morning, I was appreciating Bala's efforts when Sri said "Mom, he restarts the story every day!"
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Tonight, Bala asked her if she hears him out or dozes off. Sri said "yes, his brother was angry." Bala was surprised "Oh! you listened!" he said.
Sri said "Yeah, I've heard this for 7 days!"
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Bala asked Sri to eat one more dosa when she was full.
I objected saying "let her go if she's not hungry".
Bala argued, "She eats junk food. She can have one more."
Sri said, "Yeah, that's the excuse he uses to fatten me up."
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Today, Sri said "There's a girl in our class who came up to us and told us,"Brandon said he loves me". We went up to Brandon "Do you love Katherine?". He sighed, "I said I loathe you - not I love you!".

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The boys in Sri's class wrote poems for their moms for mother's day.
Mr Dibble read the poems out for fun.

Bryce:
M is for mountain.
O is oval.
T is for tall.
H is for high heart. (The boys said H is for heavy!)
E is for ecstatic.
R is for ravenous  (The boys said R is for round!!)

Takuto:
Flowers smell sweet
Candy smells sweet
The day before mother's day smells sweet
But, on mother's day..you smell the sweetest.

Aaron:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
You are my mother
This mother's day is for you.

Timmy:
Mom or Teresa, whichever you prefer
Happy mother's day
Hooray...hirrur
Mother's day is your day
So, let us all party!

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April 2014

Last night, I lost a pair of pretty earrings that both Sri and I wear.
After a frantic search, we gave up.
Sri got up the next morning and said "Mama, good news! Last night, in my
dreams I had a vision. I saw myself remove the earrings and put it in the
car seat pocket." She searched the car and sure enough..she found it!

Bala and I giggled. Kekule had a vision of the Benzene ring, Ramanujam's mom had a vision of his travel to London, Archimedes envisioned the buoyant force, and Mendeleev the periodic table. Sri has visions about earrings!!
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The Caitlin Spanish class saga continues...

Today, Miss BR asked us to create a funny story with the assumption that one person speaks Spanish and the other doesn't. 

C and I decided to a create Hair Salon story. First, we had to decide on a name for the salon. She said "we should call it Professional hair salon" and laughed annoyingly.

I said "Why don't we call it HAIR EVERYWHERE!?"

C said "What do you mean?"

I said "It's hair all over the floor after you cut."

C said "Ok, I'll be Lady Elizabeth".

I said "I'll be Debi, a rude and unpleasant person"

Debi says "I want my hair colored so that it is not the color it is now."

C (Lady E) says "What color?"

"I want it the color it isn't right now (in Spanish)"

C said "Stop! This isn't working. Here's what I think your character should
sound like - 
A wonderful lady walked through the door. 
She said with her voice in a soar.
"Hello, my name is Debbi"
"Hello, my name is Gabby"
They both said in unison.
Their mother's name was Alison!"

Thankfully, the class was over by then!

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I recanted this tale about my acupuncturist to Sri last evening. She replied "Mama, you already told me this story. Are you repeating it because you think I did not listen, or are you being boring?"

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A business associate called me at home when I was away. Apparently, Sri answered the phone and gave him my cell phone number. He called me and said "Your daughter gave me your number. And she said remember to dial a 1 before the area code 510. It was so cute."

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March 2014

After we interviewed an immigrant parent or relative for the Spanish project, Miss BR paired us up to narrate our immigrant questionnaire to a friend. I was paired with
Caitlin.

She went first.

She said "So, my grandmother decided to come to America to experience different things. When she arrived at the airport, she saw there were many different kind of people. They weren't only Vietnamese, but there were Americans!"

I asked my grandma how she felt and she said 

"I was very excited at first. But, when I went to call a cab, they didn't speak VIETNAMESE! They spoke English. So, I tried my best to communicate in English. I said "Take to house." in a very stern voice so they would listen. He understood me and took me to the address I showed him.

When I got home, I felt lonely. I didn't know what to do. In a land full of Americans, I had to find a way to communicate in American. So, I decided to take English classes. After 2 years of learning, I visited my granddaughters.

I told them "I speak English now. You speak English me. I speak English you."

Caitlin said  "I was very impressed. Then, she had to tell me about me."

She said "Caitlin look like sister Sydney. Sydney look like sister Caitlin."

Then she asked "What Caitlin favorite color?"

I said "My favorite color grandma is pink"

Grandma said "Caitlin favorite color WINK."

"No grandma. Pink!"

"Oh, my favorite color pink."

"What is your favorite food, grandma" asked Caitlyn.

"My favorite food Salt."

Sri burst out laughing. So, Caitlin said "What is funny about my grandma liking
salt?"

She saw Sri's interview of her mom. Sri's mom's favorite food is dosa.

So, Caitlin asked "What is DOE SA?"

"If your mom likes DOE SA, why can't my grandma like salt?"

Sri said "Ok, keep going."

Caitlin said "My grandma asked - what Caitlin favorite animal?"

"My favorite animal grandma is a giraffe."

"MY FAVORITE ANIMAL GIRAFFE!" said grandma.


"We are so alike. Yes, we are." said Caitlin.

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While Caitlin droned on about her grandma, I was listening to Bryce and
Trisha! It was the funniest pair - both of them speak in whispers.

Bryce said "So, my mom is Asian."

Trisha "What? I can't hear you."

Bryce "I can't hear you. Can you repeat that?"

Trisha "I said, I can't hear YOU!"

Bryce "I said, my mom is Asian".

Trisha - "Ok, I couldn't hear that."

Bryce - "WHAT?"

Trisha "I said I couldn't hear that."

B - "Ok, let's continue."

Trisha - "So, my mom was born in New Delhi."

Bryce "New Deli? Isn't that a sandwich place?"

Trisha "no, it's the capital of India."

Bryce "What? India?"


Trisha "Yes, India."


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I found this sticky note on my laptop today. There's one in 2013 March too!

I'M BACK!

Its me again, and boy was the trip to Italy fun! It was so much fun I decided to follow you again to Costa Rica. You will find me in the airport in Texas. I will be sitting in a chair next to the pretty aircraft ladies. I shall be the terribly short man with red hair and green clothing. Hope to see you there! (P.S I'm not a leprechaun!)


Feb 2014
Sri's class had to write a story. She peeked her neighbor Hasen's story.

Once there was a town 25 miles away from Hasen ocean.
The Hasen ocean is full of colorful and tasty fish.
The people in the town of Hasenberg loved their President Hasen.
Some explorers are exploring the Hasen ocean for the rare blue
Hasen fish.

Sri giggled "mom, do you know what this story was called."
Hasen story? I guessed.
No, it is called Jungle Storm!!!!

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Sri had me in splits talking about her school spelling bee today.

"There was an annoying boy called Sohan at the spelling bee. Participants can ask the conductor to repeat the word, frame it in a sentence, and its definition."
"So, why was he annoying?"
The word was leaf. And he said, "may I have the definition, please?"
Ms Z said "a leaf is something that grows on most trees, except pines and some flowery plants."
He said, "may I have a sentence?"
Z said "My daughter Mary found a maple leaf in our backyard. Oh, did you know that this is actually a true sentence? Yesterday, Mary did find a maple leaf and she was very excited."
Sohan asked, "Can you repeat the word?"
Ms Z was irked and she asked "Do you want me to spell the word for you?"
Sohan replied, "Is that an option?"
He continued in this manner until he was out on the word "sky"!
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Jan 2014
Today, Sri scored 100% in her recitation. She learned the poem in the last-minute and we were thrilled.
I said, "Wow! You take after your mommy"
She replied "In what? Doing things in the last minute?"

Sri did this monologue of her Face time chat with Victoria her friend who moved to a different school.
"So, how is the new school?"
"I don't have any friends."
"What about Sara?"
"Sara's changed. She's become a popular and cool girl here."
"I have some news for you. I found a new crush."
"Victoria, you had a crush on Rijul, Arnav, and Takuto."
"Yeah, now I have a crush on Dylan. He is so strong and handsome. He plays soccer. Sara hangs out with him at soccer, so I got a bit jealous and decided to make my move"
"Oh, what did you do?"
"I told him - when we grow up, we should get married. He said...uh? oooookkkay! and walked away."
"Walked away? He doesn't sound interested."
"He said OK!"
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I was raving about Colin Kaepernick to Sri "he gets a tattoo every time he wins. And now his body is
covered with tatoos. I would have asked him to marry me if I wasn't married."
Sri replies "You can get a tattoo every time he says no."


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Bala, Sri, and I had a cake baking competition. Sri and Anju baked a terrific chocolate cake.

Bala asked Sri "I will not copy it, but what website did you get your recipe from?"

Sri answered "www.notgullible.com".
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