Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Beeep.. Beeep.. Beeep..

It was a tiring Saturday. Towards late evening suddenly DH (Dear Husband) planned that we should go for Tulip Garden the next day. Guess, the garden was open only for 10 days or so and that Sunday was the last chance for us to visit. So making a petty fight for not planning it before , I ended up rolling Roti's, to be carried the next day, made arrangements and then ironing the clothes,charging cameras and stuff. It was 12:15 in the night, (ideally the next day) when we went to bed.

Suddenly I woke up in the middle of my sleep, which is quite unusual. Could not see DH next to me. Saw him standing puzzled in the living room. Checked the watch, it was 3:10 AM. Thats when I heard a 'Beeeeeeep', a shrill high pitched sound. I could not realize what it is. It came within another 20 seconds once again 'Beeeeeep' Oh my God ! its the Carbon Monoxide Alarm. Until a very long time since I came to US,I did not even see, that such an instrument was there in my living room ;) Why is that beeping now? With so many questions in my mind, I got out of bed and joined my puzzled husband in the living room. The sound was huge as if whole block is going to wake up. Anyone in US would know the eerie silence in the night. No fan, nothing and here is a shrill higgggh pitched beeeeep to break that silence. DH was sitting next to the beeper and analyzing it and cursing it for every few minutes for the sound. It still had a green light on it. It said, "You cannot see or smell carbon monoxide but yet it can kill you". etc to kindle my fear.

Where the H at this time is a carbon monoxide leakage? We opened the windows and quickly inspected the kitchen, bathroom and everything. We could not find anything unusual. We reduced the heater thinking it might even be a cause. Nothing worked, the beeper was going on every few seconds every time creating a eerie fear in me. He tried to unplug it, still the beeping continued. In my thoughts " Oh what a system, it works even after unplugging, runs on battery huh, what if I smash it on floor on break it to stop the beep. But its carpet everywhere. What if I cover it inside my comforter, may the sound will reduce". I went ahead and unplugged every equipment right from MW, Wireless router, Lamps thereby making negotiations with God to save us from the situation and in turn I can do him this and that.....

By the way, Why on earth should I unplug the electrical things when the whole funda is about a carbon monoxide leakage? What was I doing?. May be this is how I (and many others) will react at a state of tension or sudden fear. With heater down and windows wide open it started becoming so cold inside.

After a while DH resolved it should be an instrument defect/malfunction and plugged it back and shut the doors and went back to bed instructing me to do the same. Oh No..How can I sleep anymore ...its beeping..may be this is my last day on earth...I did not even chat with my parents today. What if I shut the house and go sleep in the car. The instrument said so..I mean, not to sleep in car but to go out to fresh air in case of leakage. And it also instructed to call 911. I went to my DH and suggested we should call 911. He was giving me 'R u crazy' look and said its not even a warning or something and that the beep will be continuous and there will be a red light glowing in case of such leakage and this is clearly a fault. Saying so he went back to sleep. Or was trying to.

I opened the living room windows which DH just then closed, resolving, getting cold is far better than dying. Sat on the bed and again started thinking .....if I can ever sleep. I got a strict NO NO. I tiptoed from the bed and went to the living room, started starring at the beeper and recording the frequency of the beep it was not even continuous. sometimes every 30 seconds, sometimes 50.. Google was a Saviour many a times and I decided to google about it if its a common fault so that I can attempt to sleep with little bit of peace. Oh god..I have unplugged all the wireless routers. Anyway, plugged it back, switched on the system. Now DH came to help and while he was browsing at 3-30 early morning for possible reasons of the carbon monoxide beeper malfunctioning I was back in living room starring at the beeper as if my stare could stop it from shrilling.

Simultaneously at the back of my mind I was planning to remove the mesh from the window so that we can jump out of it easily in case of disaster. Suddenly something flashed in my mind and I moved away from the living room and could hear the beep much closer. Ah..I got it. Its not the carbon monoxide beeper at all, its the Smoke Alarm. After confirming it with the proximity of the sound I told DH about my latest discovery. And he was already googling about it. Google said it should be due to Low battery that a smoke detector will give such a beep every few seconds indicating a need for change in batteries. I got my half senses back but still frightened. Once again made sure that there is no smoke in the home. DH tried to pull out the smoke detector but it seemed wired with the wall, we could not do it but after he messed with it, it slowly stopped giving the beeps. May be its a coincidence and it has lost its battery fully. We went back to bed. And I could not sleep till 4-15 in the morning. After that when I woke up, we were still alive. House was as it is. Day light always brings confidence and dark night always gives fear. Now in dawn I was more comfortable, called up the maintenance, they fixed up a new battery.Also read about many such stories of people getting confused between both these beepers. Thank God! we weren't the only one to be fooled. And all went well, we were off in few hours to Tulip Garden. Both of us were quite tired with sleepless night but the beauty of the flowers was a great refreshment. More so was the fact there was no parking fees ;)

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Swine Flu - Precautionary measures

Worldwide pandemic alert level phase 5 issued??? Huffffffff :-(

Hoping the vaccine for swine flu should be available soon. Till then lets be careful and take all precautionary measures. (Taken from CDC)

  • Stay informed. http://wwwn.cdc.gov/. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available.
  • Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
  • Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
    • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
    • Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
  • Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
  • Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Oh..The unsolved mysteries

Yesterday I was walking to a temple where I saw a big lorry purposefully coming as though to hit me. I was wondering why. I am not a gorgeous heroine and have no hero, with 1 or 1+ villians trying to win me and arrange such an accident for me. By that time, it already came so close to me that I made turns and slides like our Action heroine Vijayshanthi (Used to be my fav.) to escape that. Finally I did. But the stunts seemed illogical to me that even in such deep sleep I realized its just a dream and woke up with a thud. This happened yesterday.

And day before, my sister gets ferocious and walks out of home and goes into a river. It doesnt seem like she is attempting suicide or something, more so seemed like pulling me for a task that I hate to do. Yes I hate to walk in waters. To be more clear, am afraid to. Still, she is my ever loving darling sister, that I go deep into that river and pull her and ask her to come back. She never seemed to resist too. It was as though she was having a peaceful walk and me like a big saviour went ahead and pulled her out assuming she is attempting something. Again that was a dream.

And the other night my whole street was deserted and there comes a big lion. And I am instructing all to hide in places I show.
I only wish I am really brave as that in reality too..

To top it all, weekends I used to have the utmost comedy.

I will be so very lazy to wake up and all the more lazy to do brushing. There are two mountanious tasks to do after I woke up, which in by itself is quite a big task. Brushing and Bathing. I cant explain in words how much lazy I will be to do them on weekends. But once I am up, I cant sit long wihtout brushing too. Huuufff that makes things so complicated. In essence, I hate to wake up early and brush and bath and cant wait to sit for my steaming cup of coffee. Brushing ! I just hate the time it takes. Somehow I use to wish why cant there be a machine to brush you. Edhu Edhuko kandupudikaranga, idhukku kandupudicha enna. (Many inventions are made, why cant one be done for this?).
Dont be amazed if one day there comes a machine for that, such stupidest thing would have been done by none other than me

I always have a dream that I am done quickly with my brushing and sitting in my table with steaming hot coffee. I try to take a sip of that hot coffee wondering unusually I had done my brushing bathing so quick today.. Just to find out am still in bed and all that is a dream.

Is this called, the slip between the cup and the lip?

And worst part is, I had even had the similar dreams for 2-3 times. For second time, I used to feel, 'comeon no dream can occur twice, you are really up and done wiht it and now here it is, enjoi your coffee'. But Noooooooooooo its again a dream and am still in the bed. :(

I am tired of these dreams. From today I am going to try switching places and check if there are any change in my dreams. Good luck to me !

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

A Retrospect on the tiny Pleasures

Remembering W.H Davies words 'What is this life if full of care, We have no time to stand and stare"

Unknowingly I started retrospecting on the tiny pleasures that we crossed in life..Being busy with the fast track life, sometimes we miss the little little pleasures of life.

I was just trying to remember those kutty kutty pleasures.Rewinding back my life a little, these were the little little things that comes to top of my mind.

- Early morning strong filter coffee with a news paper. {Coffee should have the foam, its very important..

- Happy to catch a half empty PTC bus to school. {There are days, I missed several buses and came back home saying, Ma, could not get the bus, so today leaveeeeeeee :)

- The long wait for Games period. {Though I am not a great sport..


- Watering the plants in the garden, Somehow I feel whenever I water them, there will be a mild breeze { I used to assume nature is thanking me for the water ;)


- Sitting by the window and watching the heavy rain {while the frog making up the background music.


- Eagerly watching news for schools to be declared holiday due to rain. {Thats the only season I was eager about news..


- Distributing choclates to whole class during birthday.


- Un uniform declared after festival days. { An escape from boring uniform and mainly the Two Plaits :)


- Going out of station for Annual holidays and extensive playing with cousins.


- Every year school results, the few minutes thrill of opening the inland cover and seeing 'PROMOTED' :) even though we know we will pass.


- When mom makes hot hot Bajji during Rainy days.


- Travelling 30 mins in company bus listening to Radio Mirchi. {I ll never feel like getting down, wish it continues another 30 mins..


- After checking the office mails, finding out there is less work to do for the day :)


- T time chat with friends.


- Yearning for sunday's potato fry and onion sambar.


- Hot crispy potato chips with a favourite novel during weekends.


- Getting onto a leather coat and having a pleasant walk when its snowing lightly.


And sure there are many more, but right now, these are the one that strikes on top of my mind and gives me a big wide smile on my face while I remember them fondly

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Pizzza


My first pizza. Looks great, tastes great.