Back to school nights

Hello folks! I have got the Monday blues again! I had so much fun over the weekend. Did so many things for the first time. Gave me a sense of achievement. More check mark on my "things to do before I die" list. Celebrated a friend's B'day at a comedy show, downtown. The headliner that day was Gary Valentine form the show "The King of Queens". OMG! he was hilarious. It was non stop one hour of belly laugh. I found out that he shares a B'day (Nov. 22nd) with me. I also watched an Air show for the first time, at the local airport, this weekend. I had seen it in movies earlier. The stunts performed by those pilots were amazing. The one that was unbelievable for me was when a lady hung upside down form a plane when it was high up in the air. The Sunday, ended with a beautiful gift bought by me for me. It was a dream for so many years. I finally decided to spend my hard earned money on it. Although, at first,, I felt guilty indulging, now I think it's well worth it! It's a secret that I will share when the time is appropriate. Till then, keep reading. The Song of the day is Banarasiya from the movie Raanjhanaa. I first heard it in the Gym, in the new Bollywood Jam class. It was so melodious, it stuck with me for some days. The instruments used in this song, automatically take your senses to a rural area in India. And it is no surprise that Shreya Ghosal has lent her golden voice to this song. She is the next Lata Mangeskar in my opinion. Lataji celebrated her 84th B'day yesterday (28th September). I am remembering a soul stirring song "Lag Jaa Gale" from the 1964 classic 'Woh Kaun Thi', this ones probably one of the most romantic songs of Hindi cinema. Sadhana looks gorgeous and Lata's angelic voice only adds to her charm.

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I had a constructive week. Attended back to school days for both kids. Every year I attend these events more out of guilt. I feel by attending these events, I stay involved with what the kids do in school. I blame my "busy" schedule for not being an active volunteer at the school.  The teachers spend most of their allotted time - they're given just 10 minutes per subject, previewing a year of learning. It takes skill to cram so much information into such short time frame. The teachers talk so rapidly and it's hard to retain all that information for parents. By the end of the night, I don't remember the teachers names or which subject each one teaches. The high schools here are so big, I feel blessed to have studied in India. Life is so much simpler over there.The students stay put in one classroom and the teachers do their rotation. It's not until college, that students also get to move around. What I like to watch are the parents who come for these back to school nights. Some of them, are so serious, they come prepared to ask questions and they hold up the teacher form finishing their thoughts. Then, there are some who treat the night as a "time for themselves". They hold hands all through the evening. It's kind of like a date night for them. Then, there those parents who rush from work and somehow make it to the school. They are so confused, that they have to excuse themselves either for coming late, or entering a classroom, that they are not meant to be in. What I find the most amusing are those women, who come dressed to kill! Now, I understand, that they are well maintained and it takes a lot of effort to look like they do, but lets save the "I am hot" look for some other day ladies. And then there are folks, who attend the events just to make sure that they are not missing out on information, where the kids can show extra effort and gain extra points to get an A+ . While there is nothing wrong with that, I feel it's more of the parents interest than that of the students. God help those kids at home, when the parents pressure their children to do better and better at the cost of their kids getting frustrated. Which category do you belong? Do let me know. Shub ratri folks.