Thursday, May 14, 2009

PostHeaderIcon Unstained

is my finger since I could not cast my vote yesterday. Its the first time since I turned adult that I was prepared to vote. I was in the Country and had stayed in the same address long enough to have all kinds of proofs to apply for my voter's id, which I did but unfortunately mine or Don's name did not feature in the electoral list.

I went to 3 pooling booths in the 40 degree C afternoon sun of Chennai to find out and totally confirm that our names aren't included. Though I know its the thought that counts I felt I had let down the country a bit by not being able to cast my vote. I really do feel a prick in the heart when i see the stained fingers of those around me.


A thought that crossed my mind while I was running around the polling booths was that how little we no I (let me speak only for me) do or get to do for our country. If only we all did a little more!!


I really do hope next time I get to vote.
Saturday, May 9, 2009

PostHeaderIcon The Price of Children....

Literally...i dont know how true it is and also in the Indian context but I liked the thought somebody out into it.........I received it as a forward from a very pretty woman who is the mother of 4 daughters and is a single parent...I am sure you all will like it as I did...

The Price of Children


This is just too good not to pass on to all. Something
absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the
breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the
first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's
nice.



The government recently calculated the cost of raising a
child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a
middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't
even touch college tuition.

But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It
translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week..
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't
have children if you want to be 'rich.' Actually, it is just
the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140.00?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm
cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the
boss said or how your stocks performed that day.


For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:

* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watch Saturday morning cartoons,
* go to Disney movies, and
* wish on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under
refrigerator magnets and collect! spray painted noodle
wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's
Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your
buck. You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a
baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice
cream regardless.


You get a front row seat in history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your
family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in
your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren.
You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal
justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college
can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God.
You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the
monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a
slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without
limits, so one day they will, like you, love without
counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren &
great-grandchildren !!!!!!! It's the best investment you'll
make!

Andy: Dont you feel very Rich!!