Part One of my India journey

I am happy to report that I have overcome jet lag and have jumped back into suburban momhood with both feet.  I thought I would take a break from planning 2 classroom Valentine's day parties to share some pictures from my trip.  It was a once in a lifetime trip and I'm so glad that I went.  There was a little worry as I left because Jim threw his back out and was all jacked up on painkillers and muscle relaxers, but his parents came to take care of him and the girls for the time I was gone.  They will be getting one heck of a Christmas present from me this year.

My flight path took me from NYC to Dubai, United Arab Emerates.  This is home to the world's tallest building--the Burj Khalifa.  It is almost a half mile tall!  UAE grants instant 30 day visas to Americans so we were able to leave the airport and take a taxi ride around in the dark.  The best way to describe Dubai is like Las Vegas but all built in the last 15 years.  It's pretty fancy and rich.  No free buffets.

Back at the airport, we were able to cash in a meal voucher because we had such a long layer.  I lifted my ban on the golden arches. But only in Dubai.  I had a McRoyal and it tasted exactly like Mc Donalds in the states.  This was also about 2 am local time.  I have no idea what time that was EST, but it was after a 16 hour flight and a 7 hour lay over and my standards for healthy eating were pretty low.

Finally, we arrived in Kolkata on Sunday morning (I left on Friday afternoon from Indy).  We checked into our guest house and took in the action on the street. We walked a little and ate a little and then crashed a lot. We were tired!  I was woke up by the sound of people talking over loudspeakers.  I was worried that this would be a nightly occurance of people using loudspeakers to broadcast news or politcal agenda. It turned out to only be a neighborhood celebration that was broadcast for everyone to "enjoy".  We later experienced this again on Republic day and Martyr's Day (like Veteran's day).  Our street was on the main drag of a nice neighborhood.  it was a good thing that the neighborhood was somewhat quiet and residental because just being in India was culture shock in itself.  There are people everywhere and the traffic is kind of crazy with people, cars, bikes, cows, taxi's and buses all on the street honking horns.

Being light skin and fair hair makes you a celebrity in India because there just aren't a lot of blondes running around.  The school girls were the cutest because they would follow us around and stare at us until we finally said hello.  Then they would all giggle and want to shake our hands and take our pictures.  We learned early that this would be part of our trip so we would take a picture of who ever wanted to take a picture of us.  Most of the time, we would walk through the market and people would take pictures on their cel phones.  it wasn't a big deal to me until I wasn't feeling well and then I started to charge 100 Rupees for pictures. No one wanted to pay.  Then I would hide under my shaw until they went away.

Dan and Christina were some of our traveling companions.  They went to grad school with John and Kingkini (the bride and groom). They were lots of fun to hang out with and were quite tolerant of the Seibert Women's humor. 

Before the wedding, we had our hands painted with Henna.  it didn't hurt. It was clay mixed with natural dyes.  The longer you left it on, the more it stained your skin.  After the clay dried, you "set" the design with kerosine.  At this point, my skin was burning and I had to get it off.  After three weeks (tomorrow), I still have a faint drawing on the palms of my hands. 

The Beautiful bride, Kingkini, before the ceremony.  She looks lovely and don't worry, that nose ring wasn't a piercing, but just a clip on.  She assured us that it was heavy and started to hurt after a while.  She is wearing a very traditional Bengali style sari for her wedding.

The wedding ceremony took place outside under a gazebo with a fire in the middle.  Like all religous ceremonies, there was alot of symbolism and prayer and advice for the couple.  It was a lovely ceremony that was performed in Hindi, Sanskrit and English so we all could enjoy.

Those Bengalis really know how to arrange and use flowers.  The evening of the wedding, John and Kingkini were out doing some errands.  When they arrived back to Kingkini's parents' appartment, this was the arrangement over the doorway to announce their wedding (and wedding night).

Even though it was techincally the third time they got married, the wedding night bed was set up.  They were so embarassed.  Personally, I would love to have a canopy of flowers over me while I slept and not worried what mom and dad sleeping in the next room were thinking.  I can tell you what they were thinking--Grandbaby.....

Our street had a very nice fruit and vegetable market.  We went down in the morning a had a dose of fresh coconut from this guy.  He had a giant machete that he hacked it open with and then handed it to you complete with straw.  When you were done drinking the coconut water, he would hack the whole thing open so you could eat the meat out.  It was the best coconut I have ever had.

Kingkini's dad, Kirity, came with us to the market to show us some of the local fruits that we weren't familar with.  I can't remember exactly what he is holding here, but you prepare it by slicing it thinly and stir fry it with spices.  I'm sure it was delicous.

Bikes were not super fancy in Kolkata, but always in need of repair.  Uncle kevin, maybe you could open a satelite shop over in India.

The wedding reception was the following evening and had lots of flowers, family and food.  Everyone was dressed to the nines and it was fun to look at all the beautiful sarees. I haven't seen a sari that isn't lovely.  In fact, I will be posting my new Indian wardrobe in upcoming posts.  This is my Aunt Mary (mom's sister), Kingkini, John, and Kingkini's parents, Madusre and Kirity. 

India is a little rougher than life in suburia. But there is one thing that Indian parents tell their kids not to ever drink because it is super unsantiary and will make you sick.  Cane juice. In fact, when someone gets sick in India, they joke that it was the cane juice.  So what is the first thing that a couple of naive Americans drink when they are on their own for the first time? Cane Juice. I can report that it is delicous like a sugary lemonade and I didn't get sick. Maybe it was because of the probiotic, the malaria anitbotic, the vitamin d, or just that this guy was running a clean operation (not).  I think I just got lucky.  I did get in trouble from my Bengali family and was scared straight enough not to try it again.

I'm back!

While I was away, the girl scout cookies arrived.  Jim wrestled the wagon out of the attic to deliver to our friends and neighbors before the super bowl.

Our scout making deliveries.

Meanwhile, over in Kolkata, I walked out my hotel door to see 4 cows across the street.  Yes, there will be a mega update on India soon.  I promise.  I am wading through all the pictures right now. 

After 36+ hours of travel (honestly, I haven't figured out exactly how long I was in transit--it was a very long time), I was met by family and had a warm welcome home.  They didn't even care that I was super stinky.  They just wanted to see what I brought them.

As promised, two Indian dresses for my girls.  They loved them, but the dresses are also "stinky" so I'm in the process of washing them.

Balloons, signs, cards, pictures, flowers and clean sheets on the bed welcomed me home.  I have slept more than I have been awake, but I think I'm starting to recover from the jet lag and the vacation.

I brought Jim this fancy watch home. Look closely.

And while I was awake on Sunday (for about 10 hours), I was showered with more loving gestures.  I didn't even have to clean out the dishwasher.

Instead, I had to deal with this explosion that was limited to the laundry room.  Nothing came out of there until it was washed and sorted.  The luggage is airing out and the laundry is almost done.  Now I have a lot of Indian clothes to hand wash.

And I had to try on the blouse that goes with my peacock sari.  Since I hade the blouse on, I just put it all on.  I did a pretty good job of wrapping myself up--but no where near as good as an Indian woman.  Now I'm jumping back into suburbia with both feet.  I have to say, I miss being drove around and not having to worry about time or cooking but all good things must come to an end.  

What Happens When Mom is Gone on Vacation

Well, you may be wondering why there haven't been any Blog updates in a while. Since Jenni is off traveling in India for her cousin John's wedding festivities. Here's a quick update of what is happening locally and abroad likely minimal creative/snarky comments and more likely some lame jokes in the process (that's what dad's do).

Below is a picture of Becky, Kingkini (the beautiful bride) and Jenni all in their spiffy saris.  I'm going to defer to Jenni when she returns for a full blown India post(s).

We have been able to connect with Mom on a couple skype sessions with the web cam which has worked out well.  Best connection to date was while Jenni was in Dehli in the hotel next to the Clark's shoe store and the VanHeusen store where after shopping they were going to go out to Dick Clarks American Band Stand Restaurant (just kidding - it was actually the Hard Rock Cafe or something owned by Bruce Wills.).

So there's been a general lack of pictures as Jenni has the good camera and I apparently can't find the charger for the back up camera (as a little nephew would state - - momma where is it, i can find it, where is it. . . .)

So what does a resourceful dad and grandpa do - after talking about left over 35mm film camera bits and pieces (that cost a lot) and how to get some use out of them - start biding camera bodies on eBay.  well I bid and almost won 2 cameras (oops).   By the way, thanks semunky789 for the last second bid on the other nikon. Luckily, I am a proud owner of only one piece of hardware.

After a long journey of the winning eBay purchase from TX to Indianapolis, Cicero, Nobelsville, Indianapolis and finally back to Carmel (with a 2" dent in the corner of the box - of which I was not able to take a picture of - ok actually I did with my phone, but that wouldn't be interesting to show and would take too much work to post).

So the girls got a pretty sweet deal out of the new/used piece of photographic gadgetry- bubble wrap to jump on!!!

The next day we headed on down to the Garfield Park Conservatory to get our tropical climate on.  This is a waaay better deal than the Super Bowl Experience as there was a much lower entry fee and a lot less blue stuff around mostly green (Go Pack! -  Super Bowl bound. . .never mind)

Here's the little chica picking up powderpuff tree puff things and putting them on for show.  Not the best picture (focus and such) but a better look from her (more sauce) than some cheesy posed smile (see sister below)

Squeeze Cheese.  Note Uncle Kevin - we still have a 'tube' of some smoked spreadable process cheese food that we're saving for when we come to fish fry and maybe we can batter and fry it or just squeeze it into the yuengling beer.

Obligatory flower picture with new camera.  The old zoom lens which the online sources says makes a better doorstop than a piece of optical hardware did pretty swell I thought.  But if anyone happens to have a nikkor 35mm f/2 AF-D or f/1.8G AF-S DX or other paraphernalia sitting in a closet - feel free to send them my way (if you know what I'm talking about - the camera has a motor to drive older AF-D lenses).

What we also found at the Conservatory is that down the way there is the Garfield Park Arts Center (GPAC - not a secret superPAC for Newt).  AND THEY HAVE CRAFTS EVERY MONTH! 

Each focused on an different artist each month.  This month was Marc Chagall who did stained glass. 

You can see the in process work with laminated tissue paper and cellophane and the outcomes on the window.  Just kidding - those were some of the folks who work there.  Most are apparently former Herron students who split time between here and starbucks. 

Sunday was Girl Scout Cookie pick-up day.  You can see our budding young sales person below.  I was concerned about being able to put all of her sales into the back of the grocery getter, but lucky for us packaging appears smaller this year as well as a helpful family (with a helpful little brother -  I'm envisioning a cousin with initials OS or HT in my mind) in the next neighborhood over brought one of our cases over to their house.

Lucky for us there were still enough cookies to build a small fort.   She even diligently sorted and labeled everyone's order - ready for delivery!

Also someone appears to have a new costume idea for next Halloween.  Maybe some inspiration from the ShuffleBot/BoxHead from the Party Rock Anthem Video.  Every day schlees shufflin. 

Beyond that, we are all being well cared for by Grandma Taller who going well beyond keeping folks out of the hospital and from the house burning down to taking care of all of us for cleveland style breakfast, lunch dinner, laundry and cleaning (including keeping the kids on their chores).  Grandpa Taller was here for the first part of the week and will be back early this week for some reinforcement and/or a hot meal (and of course will be bringing produce and other food cleveland products across state lines).

Not too much on my end beyond the work thang, watching some ball, playing some mean games of uno-attack and blockus and apparently I'm in the process of setting up a small microbiology lab in the basement for creating yeast starters (trying to save a stuck fermentation on a nut brown ale - which ironically has as much nuts in it as grape nuts).  I don't think that three somethings fermenting all at once will alert the feds or get me on american moonshiners yet, but I'll keep trying.  This weekend I was able to start a wheat beer this weekend (after making an immersion chiller to speed up the wort cooling since I don't have a 10,000 gallon pool to cool the beer like uncle Mike) .

Nothing going on around here.

We haven't had much to post since Christmas because there hasn't been a whole lot going on.  The weather has been unseasonably warm up until this week.  Now we are in winter.  The kids spent almost 2 hours outside today playing in the snow.

Evie's super rosy cheeks

Annalise's fairy box from Miss Erica and Elle.  She managed to get all 600+ pieces on in just two days!

I am heading out on Jan 20 for my trip to India.  Jim will be holding the fort down along with help from his parents.  Look for a massive update in 2 or 3 weeks!

Elle comes for a visit

Our good friends, Elle and her mom , Miss Erica came to town as the Seibert Family was clearing out.  Aunt Becky and Uncle Bran were still hanging around and Elle and Jo Jo played a lot togther.  WE had a good time watching them because they have no spacial awarenesss.  Jo Jo tried to put on a boot that belinged to Annalise's American Girl Doll and Elle tried to sit in a Babie Chair.  We had lots of laughs at their expense.  Ell did figure out the sit and spin while she was here and it amused her a bunch.  I guess we know what she is getting for her birthday.

The Christmas Circus comes to town.

Last year I had enough of the driving all over Ohio to see everyone.  So this year, everyone will come to us!  After we hosted Grandma and Grandpa Taller, we did a quick change of sheets, some laundry and a trip to the grocery store.  Just as soon as that was complete, the crew started rolling in.

 When you have 17 people living in your house (and the kids outnumber the adults), you have to set some ground rules.  We lined the kids up for dinner (cafeteria style) and told them the rules.  Pee only in the bathroom, stay out of the craft closet and HAVE FUN!  We then sent them through the dinner line.  I have to say, meal times went pretty smoothly.

 As I said, the kids outnumber the adults, but are still much crumbier and spill prone.  So even though there are more of them, they are stuck around the small, kitchen table on the tile floor.  If you are looking for June in any of these pictures, you won't find her because she didn't eat anything that didn't look like a dessert.

Oh, and this kid wasn't allowed at the table yet.

After breakfast, we had Christmas morning complete with everyone in Pajammas!!

This sweet little Georgie (JoJo) was entertaining all weekend. She spent most of the time running around.  We lost her a lot.  IF she was unhappy she would whine "Boppy" until she got what she wanted.  If she was happy, she would walk around chanting "Happy"

Natalie read us the Christmas story again because Grandpa missed it while trying to catch his plane to Brazil a couple of weeks ago.

The poor, neglected, 4th child of Kevin and Elizabeth, Cecelia.  CeCe laid under the tree for several hours over the course of 2 1/2 days.  she didn't seem to mind and kind of liked it when you would go over and say hi.  She would smile at you and then go back to looking at the lights.  She probably is still seeing dots burned on her retinas.

Shlaw has requested that we quit calling her Shlee or Shlaw.  "My name is Annalise!"  Mom can still get away with it though.

Just seconds before the Christmas Chaos begins.

Mid Chaos, I sure hope we don't loose the baby.

There she is. She found her hand and that's all she seemed to  need.

And Santa came to visit.  All dressed up too.

It's Christmas! Jesus was born today!!

There is one day a year that the kiddos can wake us up early.  Christmas Morning.  This year, it started at 6:07 am.  We all rolled out of bed to see a tree loaded with gifts and stockings full of goodies.

 Check out the joy on Annalise's face.  And Santa forgot to shut the fireplace door behind him!

 The girls dig into their stockings to see what Santa has left them.

Santa even remembered Grandma and Grandpa were here and left them stuff in their stockings too!

 In my stocking, my little elf, Evie made me a holiday decoration that she crocheted all herself.  She sewed the words "Merry Christmas" onto this green door hanger.

 I got a rock this Christmas.  Actually, these are geodes from Mom and Dad for the girls.  Cleverly wrapped in their new lunchpails. 

The kids shopped for Jim this year.  They decided he needed some holiday socks. 

And probably the best present ever, a Space Shuttle tie.  We can't figure out why he hasn't worn it yet???

The chaos that is Christmas morning. Checking out their gifts and making a mess!

We got the girls some more Legos this Christmas.  Along with an Ideas book that will help them make new creations.  I do have to say that we have a lot of Legos floating around now, but never to capacity.  You can never have enough bricks.

They also received the lighthouse to remember our trip to Florida this year.

Evie helps to clean up some of the mess.

But wait!  There is one last present.  The girls carry over Jim's present to him.  What's in those cylinders, you ask?  Nothing....yet.  Jim's gift was a kegging system for his homebrew.  Soon we will have to invest in a keggerator.

Christmas was a beautiful, sunny day here.  Evie went outside and started working on a present.  It was gems and crystals in a block of plaster that you had to chisel out.  It took her the better part of the afternoon and she found 16 gems and crystals to add to her collection!

Back inside, Annalise and her new AG doll, Audrey were going through Audrey's wardrobe.  As you can see, Annalise and Audrey were wearing matching dresses for the day. And they have matching Pj's for nightime too!

Of course, we had to break one of those geodes.  Jim and the girls (plus Paige) went out on the driveway to get the rock busting done.

And this is what the inside looked like.  It's pretty crystally.  Merry Christmas Everyone!