Mom's 40th B-day!

Uh-oh. Mom turned forty and I wasn't even here. I hope everyone called her for me, because I was far away in D.C. Well, I guess it doesn't matter, since I still wrote her 2 cards: one for a GPS, and one for her birthday.

A Wonderful GPS:
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Now you will never be late
for any very important date.

You will always be on time.
Being late won't be your crime.

Do not worry. Don't even blink.
You will never have to think.

When it's dark, and the sun goes down,
you'll drive to a party out of town.

When you drive, you'll never get lost
and have to pay the embarrasing cost.

With your portable GPS,
you'll arrive with much finesse.

Forty or four?
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I already gave you a card for your GPS,
but I'll give you another one since you're the bes'

I know that you are forty, but please do not be blue.
Your spirit is much younger. I tell you, this is true.

In fact, I think we should take out zero.
That will surely make you a hero.

Never in your wildest dream,
would you think of something so extreme.

Now without a zero, you're just four.
Worries about wrinkles? Never more!

All your stresses gone forever.
This fantasy is really clever.

"Poof," go your worries. "Poof," goes your work.
Gone is your experience. Now that is not a perk.

No more will you be a genius. No more will you be smart.
I think, before this gets much worse, we should take this to heart.

I really think I'd rather have you be a little old.
After all, you are worth all your feelings in pure gold.

Once upon a time, being young was really swell,
but I like you right now, and I hope you do as well.

Even though you're forty, you should go out and play.
This is the end of my special song. I wish you a happy birthday.

Cruise to Mexico

Over the weekend, we went on a cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. The name of our ship was the Carnival Paradise. After a 1 hour flight to Los Angeles, we attempted to grab a shuttle to take us to the dock. We had to run all the way down the parking lot because of the "No Parking" signs. Finally, we took 2 shuttles to the dock. Unfortunately, Our driver didn't know exactly where to go... and neither did we! In the end we arived with the other six families. We got on board the vessel, but we still had about 5 hours to explore before the ship left. The ship had ten decks(3-12), and eight of them had cabins. We were on deck 5. I'll start from the bottom. Deck 3 was the disembarkation deck and decks 4-6 were all cabins. The rest was all restaurants and entertainment(along with som cabins on the sides). Deck 8 had a tiny arcade and a huge theater which was also on deck 9. This deck had bars, restaurants, a casino, etc. Deck 10 had the Paris restaurant, where we ate lunch and breakfast, and a swimming pool with a water slide. Deck 11 had pingpong tables, and deck 12 had a jogging track. First we had lunch, and then we played cards until the cruise left. We were interrupted by a evacuation drill. Then there was a party when the cruise left. Finally, we played a little more and slept. The next day, we were at Ensenada! We got off the ship and took a couple of buses to see the blowhole. Before reaching the actual waterspout, we walked through a Mexican flea market. The blowhole was amazing. It was like a geyser; pressure built up, and then water shot, at most, a hundred feet in the air. Once it flew high enough that it hit me on the way down. Among other things, mom bought two colorful dresses for $25.00(total). When we got back on the ship, the security was as tight as an airport! First we went through a metal check in Ensenada, and then again upon boarding the ship. Sunday was a sea day. We went swimming, but Saachi recoiled upon entering the water. We hadn't realized that it would be salt water. Content to stay in the jacuzzi, Saachi commenced with giving everyone a bubble head. At night, we played tag all over the ship, and then played cards and talked until it was time to sleep. On Monday, we left the ship, and travelled home. Now then... about the food. Breakfast at Paris consisted of fruit, pancakes, hashbrowns, and cereal. Lunch was different everyday, one day even being Indian cuisine. That tasted delicious! Luckily, there was a salad bar everyday, so I had a salad for every single lunch and dinner. Destiny Restaurant, where we ate dinner, was... not very vegitarian-friendly. Fortunately, there was always one thing that was meat free. Also, in the Paris Restaurant, there were three ice cream dispensers. You know, the ones with vanilla, mix, and chocolate? Due to the availability of ice cream on this vessel, I think I had about 10 ice cream cones during the cruise. However, thanks to the elevator tag, I gained no weight whatsoever. I think it's safe to say that this was a wonderful trip.

Santa Barbara

On Sunday, August 14, Stefan, his mother and grandmother, and I drove to Santa Barbara. On the way, we stopped at In and Out to have lunch. The remaining trip was uneventful. When we arrived at Santa Barbara, there was a sale going on. Stefan's mother and grandmother went to look at the stuff, while Stefan gave me a tour of the hotel and surrounding buildings on our scooters. Afterwards, we joined his family in browsing. There must have been at least a hundred stalls! One man was selling yo-yo's, another vendor showing wind chimes, and many other fascinating things. There were glass octopi in all the colors of the rainbow, solar-powered butterflies that flapped their wings, balls within spinning spirals that weren't actually moving up or down, and tons of jewelery. Next, we went into the hotel. While Stefan's mom chose a room, Stefan read and I looked up at the ceiling window. It was gigantic, and there were pigeons all over it. From below, they looked like bowling pins, and watching them entertained me until his mom came back. After she came, we all received chocolate chip cookies, and we strolled over to our room. It was amazing! She had managed to find a room where, if you walked out onto the back "porch", ten steps brought you to the pool! Anyway, it was a two room cabin, and the bathroom probably could count as a room too. There was a shower, a jacuzzi, two sinks, and enough room to put in a bed. Stefan and I played in the pool, and we ate dinner in a seafood restaurant with fishes in a colorful tank. The next day, we rented a surrey, which is like a car and bike combined. We biked over to the pier, and then later Stefan and I swam once again after lunch. On Tuesday, we played shuffleboard outside, and Stefan beat me 50 to 14...horrible. Afterwards, we swam some more and watched movies. Then we went for a formal dinner, and Stefan was forced to put on a fancy shirt and blue pants. Finally, on Wednsday, we headed back home and had some ice cream and smoothies on the way. The weather changes were dramatic. We started with clear skies and hot temperatures, which dropped down to the high 60s. Then It became cloudy and windy, and finally it cleared and heated up once again. All in all, it was very kind of Stefan to invite me to such an exciting trip.

Backpacking in the Sierras day 2

We got up at about 7:30, and commenced the process of making, eating, and cleaning breakfast. At 10:00 we took a day hike up to College Lake, but after the first stretch, we lost the defined trail. It didn't matter. Adam and I led the way scrambling up the mountainside. When we reached College Lake, Adam(as usual) started looking for helgramites while the adults talked and took pictures. Later, we went to the other part of the lake, where there were many tiny, thin brook trout. There was also snow/ice, which the two dads decided to slip and slide their way up on. We ate lunch, and then it started to rain really hard. A few minutes later, we heard thunder and hid under some short trees. We waited for the storm to calm down for ten minutes, but it only got worse. Deciding that we had better return to our camp, we started to inch our way down the mountain. After a while, we reached the opposite sid of the lake from our camp. Unfortunately, the terrain was bare rock that led into wet meadows: not exactly the best thing to go through. After a moment's hesitation, we scrambled down the bare rock and ran through the wet meadow which, amazingly, had about five streams through it. Finally, we arrived at the covered side of the lake, and slowly made our way toward the campsite. At the moment we arrived, the rain stopped. It was amazing how quickly the sky went from stormy to baby blue. Then, Adam and his dad went fishing while Dad and I took a hike up the rocks near our camp. When we got to the top, we saw a helicopter that soared far away over the mountains. Dad took some pictures and then we started to walk down to where Adam was fishing. When we got there, it started raining once more! Admittedly, it was just a tiny pitter-patter, but it was shocking that we were being treated to two rain clouds in one day. All four of us started strolling back to camp, when Dad realized that the socks that he had put out to dry were getting soaked. We rushed back and hurried under some pine trees. It was amazing how little water the tree let through its branches. Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing for our tents. In trying to follow guidelines and camp far from the lake, we had neglected the fact that our tents were in the drainage. All the water falling ahead of the tents was flowing under them, possibly wetting the sleeping bags. Then it started raining even harder, and the water penetrated the trees thick needles. I realized that I was moronically wearing shorts! With my legs freezing and the water flowing over the tarp, I dreaded to wonder whether or not our sleeping bags had gotten wet. Fortunately, that thought was diverted when the rain started making tiny, cm long baby pinecones fall from the tree. It sort of looked like popcorn. When I thought it couldn't get any worse, it suddenly did: it started hailing. Once it started, I actually wasn't that surprised. We were, after all, at 9200 ft. in the High Sierras. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the rain stopped. We looked into our tent and-Eureka!-the sleeping bags were fairly dry. One of the pads had a few spots of water on it, but otherwise the tent was just fine. We dried everything out and moved the tent to a closer(60 ft. from the water) but drier spot on the hill. Finally, we ate dinner, which was maggi, kous-kous, and tomato soup, and went to sleep.

Backpacking in the Sierras day I

During the school year, dad, daadu, and I took a backpacking class. Last weekend, Dad and I went backpacking with two of the leaders and their 8-year-old kid, Adam. Stefan and his dad were also going to come, but his dad's back problem prevented their joining us. We left Friday morning at about 5:00, and planned to meet with the other family at 10:00. I slept for two hours, and then we arrived at Huntington lake, which was about halfway to our destination. We took a break and some pictures, and started driving again. After about twenty minutes, dad started to suspect that we were going the wrong way. The lake was still outside our window, and we were on the wrong road. We asked someone the way, and found out that we had driven halfway around the lake! Unfortunately, the junction was actually a minute away from where we took our break. Having wasted 45 minutes driving around the lake, we were back on track, with me as navigator. When we finally arrived at Sample Meadows, where the trailhead was supposed to be, the road was closed. We asked two men in a truck where the trailhead was, and they said that it was about a mile back on the road. We consulted our map after they had gone, and found that there was indeed a trailhead there. Unfortunately, it was called Rattlesnake trailhead, while we were searching for Sample Meadows trailhead. Dad knew that the leader's car was a blue subaru, so we drove back and forth between the two trailheads looking for it three times before we stopped once again and looked at our map. As we were trying to figure out where to go, the leaders drove up. We found out that this was where the trailhead was supposed to be, but it was closed. In fact, the Rattlesnake trailhead was about thirty minutes closer than the other, so we drove there. While the parents were finishing packing, Adam and I looked under logs and rocks for bugs. Eventually, we even found an alligator lizard! Adam caught it, but it bit him; he let go immediately. Finally, the parents called us and we finally started our hike at 11:00. The first major stop we made was at Upper Twin, a lake with a river that goes underground. Adam and his dad, who had been here many times, showed me the spot where the river emerged from the lake and went down into the rocks. They explained to me that when the water level was high, the hole filled up and the water swirled around and around. They called this place the great toilet, for that is what it looked like in the spring. A water line about twenty feet up assured me that their story was true. We continued our hike, and eventually arrived at George lake, our destination. We set up camp behind a previously made campfire, 100 feet from the lake, as per regulations. We walked around the lake, and Adam's dad did some fishing for their supper. Dad and I ate pasta with tomato pesto sauce. Finally we got into our tents, because the mosquitos were horrid, and after reading a bit, I fell asleep.
-this ends part 1

Wearing Irony

Today in the morning we went for a hike, and it was just great. Unfortunately, Saachi was feeling a little droopy. She explained that she was allergic to the smell of trees...and we left it at that. on our way back down, dad noticed that she was wearing a sweatshirt, and suggested that her exhaustion was caused by heat. I looked at her, and recognized the article immediately. Let me describe it to you. When I was eight years old, I came into possesion of a sweatshirt. It was dull, gray, and wasn't at all remarkable. But the thing that set it apart from my other clothes was what was on it. There was a picture of a football and the words, "Refuse to lose! Football rules!" And guess what, I didn't like football. In fact, I thought that it was scary. That was the sweatshirt that Saachi wore today. The irony is overwhelming. It advertised football, yet neither Saachi nor I play it. Out of all my sweatshirts and sweaters, it has lasted longest and looks just like it did when we bought it, and, honestly, I still feel the same way about it. Its dull, gray, and so incredibly ironic.

An exciting weekend part II

On Sunday, my friends came over. Stefan and Brandon came around 11:00, but Nathaniel was still missing. Mom and I started to get worried, but finally he arrived as well. We played some video games and ate Chinese food for lunch. Stefan and Nathaniel had a verbal war, and eventually Nathaniel made Stefan spit his milk back into his glass. The things they said were hilarious. After lunch, we went to the Movies. We had planned on watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but mom was still a little apprehensive. Honestly, it was really wierd, but since we already knew the story, it wasn't that scary. Mom, on the other hand, was appalled at the sight of us laughing when, say, the greedy girl was a "bad nut" and got thrown in the trash. I could see her point, but I tried to convince her that it was perfectly OK. After the movie, Every one was picked up and it was, once again, a lazy, boring Sunday. YAY!

An exciting weekend part I

What a rush! 2 birthdays, 3 parties... all in one weekend! Saturday, the 23rd, was Saachi's Birthday. First we went to Shadowcliff park with Ishan and Sejal's family, and had, of course, a picnic. At least, the grown-ups did. We went down to the shore of the lake and jumped into the warm water. Unfortunately, we could only go about 4 or 5 meters out, since after that it was too deep. We were entertained for a whole hour trying to swim normally in water 3 feet deep. It was sort of pathetic, really. Later, we got to the fun part. On the far side of Shadowcliff Park, there's a huge water slide, almost(but not quite) as big a the Serpertines in Raging Waters. The factor that tipped the ride up a notch were the mats we slid down in. These things were about 1 by2 feet, and all of us almost slipped off. There were four slides, but we only went down two of them. After that, we went back to the other parents and we all drove to Ishan's house( it was his birthday yesterday). The parents chatted and talked while we played Ebay and Twister. After dinner and a marvelous cake made by Mona Bu, Saachi and Ishan opened their presents. Saachi recieved a voice changer(of her choice) from our family and books from Sejal and Ishan. Ishan was delighted to get a remote control airplane and a lego car. We helped build the car, play with it, and, in the end, partially destroy it(just the headlights and side doors, to make it streamlined). After that, we started a 750-piece Times Square puzzle. We had alomost finished the heading before the parents finished talking. Saachi stayed for a sleepover, and I don't know what they did. Can you believe we did all this in one saturday? I felt totally drained...but as they say, you can always take one more step.

Pool parties

I love summer. Specifically, I love moms in summer. Mom wants me to relax(until school starts) , and my friend's mom has thrown two pool parties in two weeks. Conveniently, I had a spectacular reason to go to both. The first was an end-of-the-year party, so of course I had to come. The second was for Father's Day, and my father needed an escort. Kathy hosted both parties with flair, and the other parents were amazed at her ability to put up with us.
For the first party, Stefan invited students from our school. Stefan and Brian brought about a dozen water guns, since we had about seven people. Eventually I got the weak one-dollar water gun, so I gave up on it and used the silver raft that Stefan had brought. With me holding onto the head end, I could run in the pool and transform it into a battering ram and a shield! Since the raft was about six feet long, I was too far away for the victims to get a decent shot past the raft. Unfortunately, at one point I rammed Kevin's gun, which hit him in the mouth. :( After that I didn't use it. Since my mom was feeling nice, like always, I was able to stay a little longer than normal in the pool... and help clean up. Then Kathy dropped Saachi and me back home, to suffer in boredom once again.
The second pool party was a Father's Day Luau, so, naturally, the fathers came(along with some kids...) . Ironically, none of the dads dived in the pool during the entire party, and talked for four whole hours. Anyway, back to the important people, the kids. We played for a while with the water guns, and eventually some one had the idea of starting a war with the little eight/nine-year-olds who were in the pool as well. No mistake, those guys were tough and spunky. Having the age advantage, we won by a waterslide. Then there was a "adult swim"...alias "lifeguard break." We had to get out of the pool, so we all ate a splendid lunch. There were five bags of chips, three salsas, and two bean, corn, and tomato salads. For desert, we had chocalate chip cake and brownies, and Kathy had also graciously arranged for four different types of ice cream. After devouring lunch, we played pingpong; Stefan E., Danny, and I battled long and hard, but the former was more experienced. Finally we returned to the pool, and Danny threw in Stefan's green raft. We all fought for it, and somehow, I held on persistently for a while. Then Danny helped me and started to pull me out of the struggle. When Stefan S. joined us, we had a game. Danny, Stefan, and I would be on one team, and Jamie and his sister would be on another. I would be the "President" of my team, and Danny and Stefan would try to pull me to the deep end. Likewise, the other team would attempt to drag the raft to the shallow end and/or flip me over. Our team won, and we continued the game in a variation. Now the rest of my team had to protect me from Jamie, who would try to shoot me with a water gun. Before we could satisfactorily finish, it was time to go home(yes, so greedy). Now, after experiencing such a high rate of parties per week, I'm becoming philosophical: when it comes to parties, the more, the better.

Sports, like life

Swimming is my favorite sport. It pumps your lungs and heart, strengthens the arms and legs, and, best of all, keeps you thin. :) Besides, at least the parents aren't biting their fingernails and worrying about whether you will still have all of your bodyparts at the end. Soccer and basketball are twins, and if both are played, it works almost the same muscles as swimming. Also, I have a clear goal, and I train myself and invest my time in getting better. Golf, croquet, and volleyball are played by all those filthy rich men, so just in case I win the lottery or finally come to my senses, I ought to give them a chance, I guess. Track and field are out, since I have asthma and don't enjoy simply running in circles my whole life. Frankly, I want to get somewhere.