Happy 'Nineteenth Month', Fabi!

This is how Fabi looks at 19 months-old, resembling his Daddy more and more each day: Cute, right? Well..don't let that picture fool you. The boy has a temper...and as MasalaDad would say: 'He didn't get it from me.' I'm afraid he's right. I have given this baby much more than just his love for dancing and his blood type. Don't believe me? Have a look:

Don't worry....this only happens when he doesn't get what he wants! :)

This month, besides growing a little taller, he has enjoyed his new gel styled hair...
...crossing his arms whenever he's asked to do so...
and he's started to (try to) repeat words!

Fabi's uncle Alonso (Alo) is the next person in our family to celebrate his birthday (next week). So Fabi has actually been practicing singing "Happy Birthday Alo" and he says that after singing he will have some 'queque' (cake).

The most surprising thing he has done this past month was to ask me for a fried egg for breakfast! He took my hand and led me to the refrigerator. When I opened it, he pointed at the top, where the eggs are kept and he said: 'huevo'. I think it was the 2nd time in my whole life that I have fried an egg! Oh!...the things that I will do for this kid!

I wonder what other surprises he has in store for this next month!

Diwali ki shubhKaamnayen!!

Happy Diwali!

A special Diwali greeting to MasalaDad and family...Ami, Papa, Sopan, Priya...from Fabi and me.

Good wishes to all of you who will spend these festivities away from your home.

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"Today is also the day when the national flower show opens in the southwestern German town of Lahr. Called "Chrysanthema," the show sees the historical center of the town decked out with artistically designed flower beds, flower pots and figures made out of blooms. The town is experiencing an explosion of fragrance and color. "

Leather Anniversary

Third Wedding Anniversary!

I smell smoke! ... It's the fire of our passion still burning!

You guys want to know what I got as a gift for this anniversary? I got a scanned copy of Ishan's visa to Germany! Fabi and I will soon follow...we're going back to Erlangen...where MasalaMom and MasalaDad met for the first time! If that's not romantic...I don't know what is!

CELEBRATION TIME, C'MON!...LET'S HAVE A PARTY!

My Mom Olga celebrates today her 60th Birthday! SIX - CERO! Six decades well lived, full of blessings, packed with love and a lot of experience...and the best part? I was here at home with her to celebrate it!

Feliz Cumpleaños, Mami! Te quiero mucho! Para tí estas rosas...

This month of October is jam-packed of celebrations! Join in the festivities:

Oct. 5th Birthdays: Saher, Vishal and my uncle Gerardo.
Oct. 6th Birthday: Priya.
Oct. 9th Birthday: Fabi's paternal Grandmother- Aji Reshma.
Oct. 10th: Fabi's maternal grandparents' 36th Wedding Anniversary.
Oct. 12th: Culture Day in Costa Rica.
Oct. 15th Birthday: my cousin Diego.
Oct. 16th Birthdays: Fabi's maternal Grandmother - Oma Olga, and my new friend Noopor.
Oct. 18th: MasalaMom and MasalaDad's 3rd Wedding Anniversary. (!!!)
Oct. 21st to 25th: Diwali celebrations in India.
Oct. 23rd Birthdays: my cousin José Alfredo, and Irfan.

Happy Birthday to my friend Fernando Retana who also celebrates his B-Day this month!

"Zum Geburtstag recht viel Glück,
immer vorwärts, nie zurück,
wenig Arbeit recht viel Geld,
große Reisen in die Welt,
jeden Tag gesund sich fühlen,
sechs Richtige im Lotto spielen,
ab und zu ein Gläschen Wein,
dann wirst du immer glücklich sein."

It's definitely...C E L E B R A T I O N T I M E!

After a shopping spree...

Sitting in his new plastic chair wearing his new moss-green corduroy pants and matching new sneaker shoes.

Postcards from Costa Rica

When you go to Paris you have your picture taken in front of the 'Eiffel Tower'; when you go to Mumbai, you have your picture taken in front of 'Gateway of India'...so where do you have your picture taken when you are in San José, Costa Rica?

"El Teatro Nacional" (National Theater) is a nice spot! There are other places, such as the Central Post Office Building (1917), which has great historic and architectural value. (Link in Spanish).

Notice the contrast in architectures between the post office building (green) and the National Bank central building (white) in the picture below. This bank building is among the tallest ones in the city. The skyline in San José is not too high, to prevent earthquake disasters.

The 'Melico Salazar Theater' is also one of the few 'old' buildings in San José (1928):

Right across this popular theater, there's a new city landmark. Just last Sept. 30th the sculpture by contemporary artist Jiménez Deredia was unveiled. It's dedicated to Pope John Paul II and it's next to the Cathedral in the heart of the city:

The last picture of this city tour shows Fabi and his grandparents in front of the Central Park in San José:

Frankfurt Book Fair going on

If I could teletransport myself right now...I would choose to visit the Frankfurt Book Fair. This year's guest is India!

Videos Galore

I have completely abandoned my video log. Not sure why I stopped updating that. Lately, I've been playing around with YouTube . I've uploaded 4 videos of Fabi so far...but if you have time to visit, don't forget to check out my 'Sesame Street' playlist! :)

Check out Videos of Fabi here!

**HINT**:

When you start playing a YouTube video, PAUSE IT...so that it downloads completely (i.e. the bar at the bottom of the video turns red). Then you can play the video without interruptions.

It happened sixteen years ago

German Reunification

This is one historic event that I remember happening during my lifetime.

From the Deutsche Welle:

"A symbol of the German division before the Wall fell and since then a metaphor for German unity -- Berlin's Brandenburg Gate is one of the most politically-charged pieces of architecture in the country.

A gate has existed on the site since 1658, which was then part of the city wall and would become part of the Berlin wall more than 300 years later. At the end of the 18th century, Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm II commissioned architect Carl Gotthard Langhans, a master of early Classical design, to draw up a structure worthy of finishing off the row of architectural feats lining Unter den Linden. Johannes Gottfriend Schadow's sculpture of the winged god of peace Eirene was added above the gate in 1793, two years after its completion.

Eirene watched as the gate became a place for parades and demonstrations. Napoleon's troops marched through the gate, Prussians troops celebrated their victories there, Hitler sent the SA through the gate when he came to power in 1933. In 1945, the Brandenburg Gate become the border between the British and Soviet sectors. "Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate!" demanded US President Reagan as he stood before it in 1987. Since the euro was introduced in 2002, the Brandenburg Gate, now a symbol of German unity, can be found on the backside of the German 10-, 20- and 50-cent coins."