Kids can be unintentionally cruel

Last week Jr. went to perform an Alto Sax Solo at an old age home as part of a voluntary program. After they were back from it she said "Daddy, half the people there were not realizing what was going on but they shook their head from side to side as though in a trance."

San : They are very old people and have dementia or Alzheimers! That happens to all people who eventually live long enough.. so you should be sensitive to that. You will also get to be like that someday.

LO : But you will get there first before us!

Today mom decided to try Yoga. It was a much awaited event in the house as we were not sure if she would actually go. After she left, we had a conversation about mom's previous one time Yoga attempt with grandma.

Jr.: She went but did not sweat. That means she probably did it wrong?

Me : No. It means she didn't push herself enough or her pores have not opened out yet because she is not used to exercise. If she went a few days in a row she will also sweat like crazy

LO : Or maybe she was too fat that time to do the poses right!

Me : No. She (was not/is not/will not be/will never be)fat.

The little one is suffering a cold and is at her brutal best!

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Happy hump day!

Was in Austin this week on business. The place had calmed down a bit after SXSW (South by South West Festival) and some rough weather when I landed there.

Had a hectic week and in the middle of it, visited the downtown Bikram Yoga studio one evening. It was a session that helped put a smile on my face and regain some sanity, not to mention restore my sore back after the bumpy plane ride.

The nice instructor walked in and greeted the class by saying

"Happy hump day everybody!"

Was not sure if I heard it right when another lady said "What again?" and the instructor looks at me and says

"Sundar is visiting us from San Jose. So it is understandable he has that surprised look on his face. The rest of you regulars should know that today is Happy Hump day!"

Then she looks at me and says "Happy Hump day is also known here as Three Camel Day. So just remember, we do the Camel pose three times instead of two today in every class!"

Thought she was kidding!

When it came time to be done with the Camel pose, she made everyone go for a third set. The local folks just laughed it off and went on with it and somehow that made me go along with a smile on my face.

There are T-shirts at the Austin airport that say "Keep Austin Weird"..

Now I know why!

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Slave Flash

It is windy and chilly outside and has been the whole day. So the family stayed indoors..

Played with the slave flash after reading my Master and Slave manuals twice! and got a few shots .. Still a long way to go before perfecting positioning, power, strobe etc. etc.

This statue from our Ummachchi shelf is around 2 inches tall but had lot of detail..


Jr. was a much better subject. This flash definitely opens up some interesting possibilities to get off axis lighting and the ability to create nice shadows


Plus, much fun can be had by hiding the slave flash on a shelf or behind them and see how they are surprised by lights going from different angles.

The experiments continue..

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