Jo and Dave's Blog

RVing in the New Year

2012-01-30T18:03:00.000-08:00

(note: these blog posts are pretty short on text as I have one arm in a sling post-surgery)

This holiday season was particularly memorable as it was Annie's first time in an RV!

We thought we'd escape the insanity of Las Vegas for New Years, so we went to Valley of Fire state park, which is about 2 hours out of Las Vegas; chosen because it was close enough that we could escape if it turned into a disaster!

This place is crazy!

We had all wondered how Annie and the older members of the Meek family would do, sharing such a small space together, but the answer was....it was a blast!!!

So much of a blast that this little one got tuckered out!

This blog post will just illustrate some of the snugly moments:

Wonderful meals with amazing scenery

Toasting the New Year with lucky cabbage!

and just being so happy to have the time together

of course, bluegrass in the backwoods

and just smiles all around!

Christmas in Las Vegas

2012-01-29T09:48:00.000-08:00

While in Las Vegas we got the chance to celebrate Christmas a second time. While everyone had came up with very thoughtful presents for each other, the best present was family time together...with the newest member of the family.

Even Moksha wanted in on the snuggles!

Jon and Gita came up with a great gift for Bubby: "girl-themed" scrap booking supplies

Jon's students had come up with a sweatshirt design inspired by his amazing mustache; Dave and Jim were lucky enough to get their own from Santa!

Dave and Grandma Gail worked non-stop on a civil-war themed quilt for Jim and Rita. It is a log-cabin design, used along the underground railroad to denote a place of respite. Quite fitting for a set of loving and always helpful grandparents!

Annie goes to Las Vegas!

2012-01-28T14:29:00.000-08:00

After a wonderful Christmas with the extended Weaver clan we left on a snowy day, Annie's first snowy day!!!, for Las Vegas.

First snow!

For those who don't know, Jon, my brother, and Gita, his wonderful wife are living in Las Vegas as Gita completes medical school. It was very exciting to arrive at the airport, because it was the first time Annie got to meet her Uncle "Stache"

Meeting Uncle Stash

I want to play!!!

Uncle Stache, you're crazy!

But you're also very sweet

and meeting Aunt Gita

So much cuteness

And it might have just been a few weeks, but Bubby needed to get her kisses in too!

Kisses in the afternoon

Kisses in the afternoon 2

Bubby, Mommy, say I'll have your hair, so give me some now!

Even Aunt dog Moksha wants in on the kisses

The meeting of the hands

Getting Together

2012-01-22T11:28:00.000-08:00

The holidays at our families houses are always a time for reconnecting with friends. This year it was particularly fun because we got a chance to introduce our friends to Annie and vice versa. Not surprisingly, it was also a chance for our friends to introduce us to their beautiful and amazing new children. We had a little get-together at Jo's parents with Leslie, Joe and family and Jennifer, Warren and crew. With three babies of all about the same age it was quite a lot of fun!

Holidays: 2) Christmas in Indiana

2012-01-14T19:06:00.000-08:00

Following our whirlwind trip visit to Delaware and D.C., we packed up the car and headed our for the 12 hour drive to Bloomington to enjoy Christmas with the extended Weaver family. The drive itself wasn't too bad, minus an hour long screaming episode from Annie (who could blame her? we really wanted to be out of the car by that point also).

Greeting us over the next week were such wonderful family times that driving in the pouring rain with a screaming infant seemed like a distant nightmare. In particular, with Annie, it was a Christmas of "first", including:

Snuggling with Annie in front of the tree

From Christmas in IN

Putting the star on

From Christmas in IN

Quinn meeting Annie for the first time

From Christmas in IN

which quickly evolved into Annie's first ballroom dance

First Christmas dinner:

From Christmas in IN

Cute outfits galore!

From Christmas in IN

Everyone should have their name embroidered on their bum

From Christmas in IN

Why her wrist tastes so good I'll never know.

And fun times with presents; some of the more photographable moments below:

From Christmas in IN

Frolicking in a handmade sweater from Great Aunt Jean

From Christmas in IN

Exploring, with a little befuddlement, her first musical instrument, a baby banjo, courtesy of the Shafer family

From Christmas in IN

And her father stealing it, a harbinger of things to come...

From Christmas in IN

Dave Weaver gets ear candles...and is also quite befuddled

From Christmas in IN

Grandma Gail showing Annie her "baby's first Christmas" ornament

From Christmas in IN

Petunia assesses whether Annie is friend or foe

From Christmas in IN

Fun bath time

From Christmas in IN

Flying muffin time!

And Annie's first trip to the lake to visit Paul and Suzy's house

From Christmas in IN

	It was a memorable Christmas for sure!

Holidays: 1) Longwood

2012-01-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

In the Meek family, the holiday season is not complete without a trip to Longwood Gardens. Longwood is an incredible botanical garden that is near to our families house, and we have been members for more than twenty years. Any season at Longwood is special, but the December holidays in particular are magical.

Of course the place is gorgeous and is covered in lights, but what I always find most interesting is the incredibly artistic landscaping arrangements that the gardeners design.

A giant wreath made up of various ferns and other colorful plants

The room with trees decorated by local schoolchildren

My perennial favorite: carnivorous plants! (They are red and green so I guess they count as festive)

Longwood never ceases to amaze or surprise; there's always something new and innovative around the corner. If you're ever in the Philadelphia/D.C/Baltimore area make the trip over, you'll be glad you did!

Re-Entry and Reconnecting: 4) DC

2012-01-06T14:47:00.000-08:00

Our interest in reconnecting and introducing Annie to family in friends was greatly facilitated by "Bubby" Rita, who organized two gatherings in the D.C. area the weekend after we came home.

The first get together was at Aunt Jean and Unce George's house. We have a lot of extended family in the D.C. area, and it was really special for us that essentially all 20 of them in a hundred mile radius made the voyage down to meet us and welcome Annie into the family.

It was particularly special for me to see some of my younger cousins holding Annie, cousins who I easily remember holding when they were that age.

The next stop on the family tour was to visit a mainstay in our family: the Christmas tree stand which my Uncle Burt and family run. I've worked there many a Christmas season, and it was really nice to introduce Annie to that familiar space (unfortunately I don't have the pictures with me, but will post them later). After that, it was on to a really nice brunch that Bubby Meek had organized at a local hotel for other extended family and friends.

To say Annie was the star of the party would be a serious understatement!

Truly a memorable weekend of fun times with family and friends; we, and Annie, are so lucky to have you in our lives!

Re-Entry and Reconnecting: 3) Brunch

2011-12-28T16:35:00.000-08:00

The thing we were most excited about in terms of returning home from India was introducing Annie to all of our family and friends. This was greatly facilitated by Rita, who organized brunch at the house on the Strand, and two gatherings in the D.C. area the weekend after we came home.

First, the gathering on the Strand.

We had over to the house our long time family friends, David and his mother Judy, David's wife Joanne, and lovely daughter V. We were also lucky enough to be able to get Kevin, Jordan, and their son Q. to come down from PA. It was a lovely lovely gathering. Wonderful food and wonderful friends.

Who has the best smile...it's a tie

Ok, on second thought, Annie wins

Babies are not toys

Relishing being home among good friends

How far we've come in 25 years

Re-entry and re-connecting: 2) All Smiles

2011-12-22T18:59:00.000-08:00

Our first few days at home were spent largely in and around the house, watching Annie:

Exploring her first books

Beginning our extensive exercise regime

And just a lot of general snuggly times

Close lookings

In addition to getting over the time zone change, we began to equilibrate to the colder weather with some nice walks along the water.

And a number of really nice meals with our newest family member. As the next series of photos show, it was a beautifully smiley time for all.
.

All Smiles: 1

All Smiles: 2

All Smiles: 3

All Smiles: 4

All Smiles: 5

All Smiles: 6

Re-entry and reconnecting: 1) Landing

2011-12-19T16:23:00.000-08:00

Over the last several months before we returned from India, I had imagined again and again what it would be like to leave our apartment in New Delhi for the last time, what it would be like to take a taxi to the airport, what it would be like to sit on the airplane as it took off and so forth. Well, at the end of a fifteen hour flight, they were the images we had all been waiting for:

Jim and Rita Meek earned a gold star for driving 3 hours to meet us at the Newark airport at 4:30 a.m. For their magnanimous efforts, they got their first chance to hold their new grand daughter.

Here, Grandpa Jim is beginning his new tradition of addressing Annie with the phrase "Annie, this is your grandfather speaking. Hello Annie!" (you have to here it for yourself to get the flavor)

After seeing my parents, the next thing I was most excited about was seeing Boris, our dog who has been staying with Jim and Rita.

There had been questions among some about how Boris would react to Annie.

Well, his Papa new that Boris would be a star and shower Annie with love, and that he did! He joined us on the couch and bathed Annie (literally!) with kisses.

After he made sure her hands were nice and clean he just nuzzled his head down onto her lap.

It was clearly a happy return for all!

In Review: A Year in India

2011-11-30T22:25:00.000-08:00

It's so hard to believe that a year in India has come and gone as I write this. It seems like just yesterday that we were carrying our luggage up the steps to Tannie and Murad's bed and breakfast in the cold, foggy night. Looking back on this experience is quite surreal: I remember walking onto the airplane in Newark, walking past the bulkhead area with the bassinet, and thinking that in a year that would be us, leaving with 2 but coming home with 3. Although most of these moments have been captured in one form or another in previous posts, I thought a whirlwind year-in-review post would be fitting for the end to this particular adventure. Please pardon me if either your favorite picture, or the crazy adventure we had together, isn't on here. Just know each of you made this an unforgettable year in India.

DECEMBER: Arrival

Good news that would define our trip

Underwhelmed with our furnished apartment

Beautiful scenery from a trip to New Year's Orcha with Tannie and Murad

JANUARY: Getting Settled

Working with the plant walllah

Dave hard at work

Who could forget Mumfli, the adopted street dog?

Dave travels to the Northeast

Root bridges

FEBRUARY: Ellora and Ajanta

Ajanta and Ellora with Sarah

APRIL: The Weavers visit

The Taj

Benares

Waiting on/for/in a train

Jaipur

MAY: The Meeks Arrive

Back to Nanda Devi: Reconnecting with People and Places

After five years, screening the Nanda Devi documentary I helped produce in Lata village

Soaking in the scenery in Kurseong

Toy train to Darjeeling

Relaxing in Kalimpong

Darjeeling and a special anniversary

Playing in Kashmir

JUNE: To Ladakh

Learning about Ladakhi agriculture

Bluegrass in the backwoods

and the three M's, not Meek men, well, them too, but:

1. Mountains

2. Mustaches

3. Monasteries

JULY:

Benares with Jon: As the Monsoon Arrives

Benares with Jon: Sitar Lessons

Benares: Ear cleaning

AUGUST:

On Day 1

Starting the life-long process of learning to be parents

Wonderful times with wonderful friends

SEPTEMBER

Grandma Gail arrives!!!

Getting legit

OCTOBER:

Birthday Bash at the Spa

Jantar Mantar

Surprise birthday party!!!

A Diwali to Remember

NOVEMBER:

Kerala Adventures

Good friends

Great times

Life-long relationships

DECEMBER: Liftoff!!!

Weighing in one last time

One Last Hurrah

2011-11-30T22:23:00.000-08:00

Last night was a quite fitting end to our adventure in India. We decided to visit some of the folks that Jo works with and so stopped by their house for a photo session with Annie. They were so cute, grabbing her as soon as we walked in the door and starting their own photo shoot!

After a few hundred (in all seriousness) photos of them and Annie we were able to squeeze in a group shot.

and then I noticed this really beautifully back-lit wall adornment, and well...you guessed it.

But the larger excitement of the evening was that we got an unexpected call early that day from our friend Adam G. at Fulbright who was extremely gracious, and perhaps a little crazy, inviting Jo, Annie, and I to a small function Fulbright was having, and requesting that I bring my banjo! So we invited our friends Adam and Em for one last hurrah, and all trouped over to CP.

This was my first "invited" public performance. I stress invited as I have (un)willingly exposed countless thousands across the world to the banjo, harmonica, fiddle, and mandolin over the years. And to you all, I'm sorry. But this was an invited performance, complete with full sound system. I had a lot of fun performing and played for.... maybe a half hour? Maybe less. I tried to expose people to a little bit of banjo history and humor in the performing style of Banjoists such as Tony Trishka (I also realized I really really need to purchase the Pickin' on the Banjo: The Original Banjo Jokebook for future performances) For those of you who couldn't be there check out this video.

My favorite part of the video is Jo's face when the camera pans by her; if you couldn't read it, that was the "that's not my husband" expression. Annie was making a "that's not my daddy" expression as well, but her face was buried in her snuggly purple suit.

From this event I took the following lessons: 1) always have an array of banjo jokes to legitimize your out of tune playing (note: most banjo jokes revolve around a banjo's finnicky tuning; i.e. what's the difference between a banjo and a chain saw? Answer: A chain saw has a dynamic range.....ohhhhhhhhhhhhh no!) and 2) wear a funny combination of clothes, like a dressy Indian outfit with crocs to distract folks from the music.

It was a last night to remember.

Changing of the Seasons

2011-11-29T22:51:00.000-08:00

Another vapid post, but this one with a good costume and auditory adornments. Here's me wearing a traditional Kasmiri hat and vest, in Delhi, India, playing a clawhammer banjo version of Frosty morning on a frosty morning. Note that not only the late great Michael Jackson wears one glove.

Frosty Morning (Clawhammer banjo) from David Meek on Vimeo.

The Purple Monster

2011-11-29T06:33:00.000-08:00

This will quite likely be the most vapid blog post to date, but it also might be the cutest. An upshot of having an apartment without central heat in the Delhi winter....you get to dress your child up in outfits like this!

Now, don't you agree that was blog worthy?

An Indian Thanksgiving: Part 2

2011-11-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

On Saturday we celebrated Thanksgiving for a a second time with good friends and a great dinner, which was strikingly similar to the one from Thursday night, as we had made all the dishes in advance (save the paneer turkey of course!). If you thought the Thursday night Thanksgiving looked wild, well, you were right, but the Saturday night one was just as lively, if without all the dancing! We had, depending on how you count, 19 people in all (depending on at what age an infant or child comes to count that is). It was a pretty fast-paced night, and so unfortunately, no group picture, but I did grab a few shots.

It was quite an eclectic group of people, but they all found many things in common, whether it was research, or just knowing us!

or a love for cute babies!

Sibghat with Samantha

Not surprisingly, as Adam was there, we managed to play some old time music.

Roopa's daughter was quite fond of meeting Samantha!

and finally, at the end of the night, everyone was exhausted!

An Indian Thanksgiving: Part 1

2011-11-25T07:31:00.000-08:00

The centerpiece sizzles away: Paneer turkey in toaster

Although I was originally sad about not being home for Thanksgiving, I quickly realized that this was the perfect opportunity to have all our friends over to celebrate together, sharing a bit of an American culinary and cultural tradition. As you'll see it was definitely a Thanksgiving to remember! (the blog is subtiled part 1, as we're going to repeat the festivities on Saturday for the 12 friends who couldn't make it!)

The morning was an amazing swirl of action. We all went out to the neighborhood vegetable market and bought ton of provisions. Upon returning home we all sat around the living room with a task: peeling carrots (for carrot coconut soup), shelling pomegranates (for pomegranate apple crisp), or holding Annie (for obvious reasons), we all had a job to do.

Many hands make short work

Annie and Beth survey the scene

Katy shelling pomegranates to make a delicious substitution for cranberries

Emilia the carrot master

With a small kitchen that was not furnished by us, the day required significant adaptation.

Peering quizically at the casserole dish....how much can it hold?

As the ladies and I cooked, Jo and Sneha worked diligently on transcribing their last interview...after one year and 300 some odd interviews it was all over! Now that's something to be thankful for!

Done!

In addition to all the running around and cooking, there was time for some fun. Below is a video I made in honor of Thanksgiving, it's called "Chinquapin Pie", likely in reference to a pie made from nuts of a tree that indigenous people in the Western US consumed.

I doubt it was that song, but there was definitely a festive spirit in the air, as typified by the dancing ladies.

Who knew our closet-like kitchen doubled as a dance floor?

Or that Katy knew the ancient soda bottle dance?

Annie was pretty amused with all of the Thanksgiving preparations, she particularly enjoying learning about making stuffing!

The centerpiece of Thanksgiving is almost always the Turkey. Being in India, I wasn't sure about the availability of Turkey, or the feasibility of cooking one in our toaster, plus I was a bit lazy, and double plus, I was seized with a vision: paneer turkey!

Now, before you get any crazy ideas about making a sculptural turkey, just hold on for a hot second. No, Grandma Gail heard of my idea and came to the rescue, sending a turkey-shaped cookie cutter to India! So paneer turkey time it was! Luckily, Katy saw my vision, and helped me to actualize it.

Paneer turkey being spiced with turmeric, chili powder, cumin and mustard seeds for eyes!

Paneer turkey on platter

Once all the food had been prepped it was time to get all gussied-up and presentable like. Sneha had recently gifted me (Indian English phrase) a beautiful full length kurta.

Annie was quite fond of Dad in his new outfit

Even Annie got a new outfit; Emilia brought her this cute little (emphasis on the little!) dress from Gujarat. Now we know that our three month old stresses the seams of a six month Indian dress!

After a while though, Annie needed to slip into something a little more comfy, and so she and Shubra got a little snuggle time.

Then it was time to continue the photo shoot at an official level, shooting some shots for the Smith Quarterly magazine.

And maybe a few humorous shots as well, including a little photoshop alteration to highlight Jo's beatific nature.

and one of the whole assembled group!

from left on couch: Adam, Dave, Jo (with Annie) Dan, and sitting on ground, Shubhra, Beth, Sneha, Katy, Emilia

And then....dinner time! On the menu: paneer turkey, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green beans and mushrooms, corn on the cob broccoli, biscuits, chicken, pomegranate apple crisp, carrot coconut soup...I think that was IT!

Adam serving it up (note: the blue bottles are water, not Bombay Sapphire)

Just when we thought the night was winding down, we realized it was just winding up: Bollywood dance party style! Here's Katy, Beth, and Emilia doing a pretty spirited rendition of Pretty Woman. Note: no alcohol was consumed prior to this performance. I think I can guarantee it's a show stopper!

I think the above text and videos can buttress my assertion that this was the most fun Thanksgiving ever! What's even more amazing than the huge success that this holiday turned out to be, is that we made DOUBLE of everything, and so have a freezer/fridge full of dishes just ready for tomorrow!

Getting Legit

2011-11-18T07:06:00.000-08:00

Having a baby while in the field might conjure up all sorts of mental images, or it might not. If you're considering it though, this is one image that might give you pause.

The epitome of red tape: files to ceiling

Bureaucracy was one of our biggest hurdles (so far) in having a baby in the field. While any child born to United States citizen is by U.S. law granted citizenship at birth irrespective of the location of their birth, one still needs to get a passport, and very likely an exit visa, in order to leave the country. All of this meant, that we had to become very adept at negotiating the mountains of red tape surrounding the Indian government.

Now, while the particulars will almost surely be different in whatever country your field site is, and rapidly change even here in India, the following are the steps we had to go through, and might provide some signposts.

We had hoped Annie would be able to have dual US-Indian citizenship, but unfortunately, no. India does not allow dual citizenship. In fact, it currently has extremely strict citizenship requirements. For example, a baby born to one Indian parent and one non-Indian parent IN India would not be Indian, nor would a baby born to both Indian parents in another country. India does offer various non-dual citizenship options, such as a PIO (Person of Indian Origin), OCI (Overseas Citizen of India), and NRI (Non-resident Indian). I had hoped she would be able to get one of these designations, as she would get a lifetime Indian visa, and, really, just a whole lot of street-cred. But, once again, no. The requirements for all these classifications were so complicated; i.e. what constitutes "origin", that I finally gave up, knowing that the rest of the process was going to be very frustrating on its own.

The first step was the birth certificate. Whereas in the United States this is issued the day the baby is born, or at least before you leave the hospital, this isn't the case in India. The reason: many Indian families follow tradition and don't name the baby for up to six days following birth. We were told getting the birth certificate would take a month. Of course, this contradicts the regulation that you register the child within two weeks...but so it goes.

The above photo was taken at the Delhi Development Authority office, which issues the birth certificates

The rupee stops here

We were concerned a bribe would be either implicitly or explicitly required, but whether the sign above had anything to do with it or not, no bribes were required and I was able to get the birth certificate without a problem.

With birth certificate in hand it was time to get the all-important U.S. passport. For that we needed the all-important passport photo. For a baby, the government requires the baby be looking forward with eyes open. Not an easy task with a newborn. Although we got a passport photo of Annie taking with me holding her, the local photo place was able to photoshop me out of the picture. Of course, this ended up looking a little funny, giving her a flattened head, but so it goes.

Getting Annie's passport photo photoshopped

Look Mom, no hands!

With pictures taken we then had to amass a mountain of documents, including Jo's ultrasounds and other exam reports, which were to prove that we hadn't stolen, adopted or used a surrogate to have the baby.

The giant pile of documents

The day before our appointment at the U.S. embassy they called me to tell me that they had other requirements that were not listed on the website. "Great.....and now what do you need?" "A family photo", they said. Ok......well, if we were going to get a family photo than it was going to be a funny/ironic one.

Our ironic family photo...NO SMILES as per traditional Indian style!

As one might expect, the U.S. side of this whole process was pretty straight forward. We went to the passport office at the appointed time, gave them the appointed documents, paid the fee, and then picked it up a week or two later. That was the easy part. Unfortunately, once we got the passport we then needed to get Annie an "exit visa". Now, she was born in the country, but she still needed a visa to leave the country. Don't ask me why.

For this we had to go to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, which is where we had to come to once we first came to India to register. The place is unbelievable as it is where everyone needs to come and register who are going to live in the country.

May I help you?

The airplane-hanger waiting area is divided into two halves. One for Afghan refugees and the other for non-Afghan refugees. Can you guess who is sitting where in the above photo?

I won't go to far into details here, but let's just say it was traumatic. So traumatic that I can't retell it here as it involved me having to come back to this office six times, waiting for several hours each time, in order to finally get the requisite exit visa stamp in her passport! Homeward bound we are!

Kerala: Backwaters, Beaches, and Beyond (part 3)

2011-11-16T00:17:00.000-08:00

When not lounging in the tree house, sleeping in our aquarium-like room, or trying out Keralan cuisine, our days on Vypeen island were largely spent on the beach. Yet another first for Annie, going to the beach, and her parents having an infant on the beach! Annie was quite fond of the beach; well, in reality, she didn't hate it and scream incessantly like I did as a child, and that's all that matters.

Annie enjoying watching the umbrella flap around

Most of the time we just lounged around, taking turns watching Annie while we each went into the ocean, which was like nice bath water. We did, however, find the time to take a few leisurely beach walks.

Walking with Mom on the beach

Being at the beach in India was much different from New Jersey, or at least where I'm used to going in New Jersey! For example, I'd never seen women wearing only A) Saris, B) Salwars, or C) Burqas on the beach and in the ocean before. That's right, not one non-Western woman in what I would call bathing attire. Which, let's just say, made the western woman in the bikinis completely blend in with the surrounding populace.

Local beach attire

Another thing that was different, or at least I would imagine so as we haven't taken Annie to the Jersey shore yet, is how fascinated local beachgoers were with her.

This group of guys came up the beach and just stood staring at her. Now, I'm accustomed to have people stare at me holding Annie, but I attribute that to people not being used to seeing a guy holding a baby. But this was just that they were fascinated with seeing her.Well, no surprise really, as she's the cutest thing under the sun.

Late afternoon and the early sunset (around 5:30) were my favorite times at the beach because the light was just so beautiful, not to mention the spectacular sunsets. They were so spectacular, or perhaps it was just Annie, that a troupe of clucking women descended and picked Annie up, kissing her and squeezing her cheeks; until she started screaming at which point Dad had to intervene and lay down the law.

As part of our little package trip there were a few extras throne in, including an ayurvedic massage (my first) which was simply amazing (with the exception of the ayurvedic shot of dark liquid they had me take at the end, which was absolutely disgusting). Another extra was a little boat trip on the backwaters. Annie was fairly mesmerized by the play of shadows on the roof of the boat.

Here's a brief tour of the view from the boat, complete with Jo "hushing" Annie, which we picked up from our (oddly enough Keralan) nurses in Delhi when Annie was born.

Of course, what vacation would be complete without music? While packing I had mentioned to Jo that I was going to bring my fiddle. "Oh, realllllllllllllly...?" she said, leaving the room, and letting that lest syllable just linger....an interrogative declarative imperative if there ever was one.

Welllllllllll....let's just say the fiddle DID come, and I did find some time at sunrise to play on the beach. I think the Keralan fishermen who were leaving their morning "motions" on the beach (where the surf hit, which I guess is good?) appreciated the musical interlude.

Unfortunately, after 4 too-short but wonderful days, we had to leave. Well, you can take the man out of Kerala, but you can't take Kerala out of the man. Below is Dave playing Cape Breton fiddle tune called Put Me in the Big Chest, as arranged and with accompanying piano by Kimberley Fraser (see www.kimberleyfraser.com/sessions ). Dave is wearing a lungi in the Keralan tradition, and Annie is once again, mesmerized, whether by the mellifluous playing or the lungi is not clear.

Kerala: Backwaters, Beaches, and Beyond (part 2)

2011-11-14T09:08:00.000-08:00

One of the coolest parts about being in Kerala was being steps from both the backwaters and the beach. For those not in the know, the backwaters are channel-like lagoons that snake through parts of inland Kerala, and the beach, well it's the beach. The backwaters are for most tourists one of the main reasons for coming to Kerala: images of houseboats floating lazily through small villages abound in any travel brochure. As we only had a little time in Kerala we didn't go for the full Keralan backwaters experience, but there's always next time! The place we stayed did allow for a taste of the backwaters though. We first got sight of some of these "cultural attractions" on the ride over the bridge to the island. These are Chinese fishing nets. They're incredibly sculptural and beautiful, at least to the eye of a former sculpture major!

Fish is a big part of Keralan culture, and so is fishing by default. Our first morning, I awoke around sunrise with Annie and went out to see what was happening. What I saw was really pretty amazing; from far up the river I watched a group of seven or eight canoes travelling in a group. They started out in a fairly wide circle, and then as if it was choreographed, the circle would of canoes would tighten and then all the fishermen in the various boats would throw their nets into the center of the circle. When they did this, the other person in the boat would use a long bamboo pole to stop the boat from moving, and the net thrower would haul in the catch. I don't know a whole lot more unfortunately about what they were catching, but it was pretty magical to watch.

Here's a little video, a little boring, but I think it shows the amazing choreography of this daily ritual.

I got Jo and Annie up and we all enjoyed watching the group of fishers progress down the river.

Well, Jo did at least, Annie enjoyed the snuggles

Later on, we continued to enjoy the river side in this little bamboo tree house near our room.

From there we were able to watch another interesting fishing practice; these women (yes, not guys) swum alongside their canoes, and then dove down and used what looked like a wire sieve being used to haul something out, which was then strained and then dropped into a bucket that floated next to the canoe. They stayed at this for hours, moving along the river. What they were catching I have no idea, but it sure made for interesting watching as we enjoyed the tree house.

Knitting in the tree house

Treehouses are fun!

From the sunrise each morning to our time in the tree house we really enjoyed watching a little bit of river life.

Kerala: Backwaters, Beaches, and Beyond

2011-11-12T02:49:00.000-08:00

Last week we embarked on our first family vacation with Annie! It was absolutely fabulous (not too similar to the British comedy show of the same name). We went to the state of Kerala in southern India for a break from the urban expanse of Delhi and to celebrate the winding down of Jo's dissertation research.

We were all a little apprehensive about how Annie (and by default her parents) would do, but once again Annie proved that she is a born traveler if there ever was one.

Annie did pretty well all things considered in the airplane, although she wasn't too fond of her ears popping. We learned from the stewardess that feeding a baby serves the same purpose as chewing gum/swallowing during takeoff/landing. A good tip!

Flying into Kerala was like entering another world. Seriously. I have never in my life seen a place sooo green. Now maybe this is the relative effect of being sequestered in Delhi for the last year, or maybe it's just Kerala. All I know is that Annie was absolutely smitten with the different landscape as we winded our way to Vypeen Island.

View Where are we now? in a larger map

Unlike many other Meek vacations--where we are busy little bees checking out all the local sites--on this vacation we stayed put at our all-inclusive resort--Cherai Beach Resorts (don't ask me why they pluralized the singular resort).

The resort was really amazing in terms of grounds and facilities on so many levels.

Jo and sleepy babe walking the beautiful grounds

Yes, there was a lot of walking around with the little snuggle bear

It is a pretty large complex with 66 individual and unique cottages of varying degrees of luxury. All are encircled with little "backwater" lagoons.

Jo in front of our 1st fishermen house, story on why we switched to follow!

and in our second fishermen house....

which was beautifully lit up at night

Ours had some very unique features, including a bathroom with steps down into the lagoon from where you could watch the fishes swimming around.

Our room even had a palm tree growing in it!

We were there on a package trip, the first we had ever done together. Having the buffet was a little dangerous, but it did give us a chance to sample all sorts of Keralan cuisine.

This coconut "log" was one of the few things that did get the thumbs down

One other thing besides the food that we really loved about the restaurant was that they had a bamboo wicker cradle, which Annie and her parents all loved!

While the grounds and facilities were really wonderful, it was the natural surroundings that we came for and that we enjoyed the most. While I'll devote subsequent blog posts to each of these, some include:

Annie's first beach

Hanging out in her first tree house with papa

and watching local fishermen at sunrise

Fun times with Friends and Families

2011-11-06T22:47:00.000-08:00

In the last few days we've entered into a new phase of our lives in terms of social relationships (yes, this is the cultural anthropologist talking): fun get-togethers with friends, and friends who have children. We met two new friends A. and B. and their darling 5 month old daughter S. this last week at a Fulbright function. A. is an ethnomusicologist, focusing on sitar, and just starting his Fulbright fellowship here in India. We had a lovely dinner with them and our mutual friends A. and E. last night. (We've decided not to mention people by name anymore on the blog, without their signed prior consent of several forms absolving us of indemnity, so it's guess the initial time for everyone). Forms aside, it was a night of pass-the-baby.

This morning we went to a nearby neighbors house for brunch. R. works with E., and interestingly enough, R. did a stint at Emory in public health. Anyways, their daughter is just precious and was fascinated with Annie. She and Jo had fun playing an alphabet computer game, and then we all had a great time playing in the neighborhood park.

Clearly, this little two year old just stole my heart, she is so cute, so sweet, and so affectionate, running over and giving us hugs and kisses.

It's just funny to me, as we now our not only not capable of holding a conversation without succumbing into baby gibberish, but unable to hold a conversation for too long that doesn't return to the subject of babies. Oh well, perhaps more interesting than stuffy academic conversations!

Fun times with Friends and Families Indeed!

Another video from picnic at Lodhi gardens

2011-11-01T06:57:00.001-07:00

You all are probably pretty familiar with Angeline the Baker by now, so here's a reprise

Annie's first Halloween: Potential Costumes

2011-10-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Annie first major American holiday. We're sure hoping it doesn't turn out like last week's Diwali debacle! We've been thinking long and hard, and think we've come up with some good potential costumes, drawing on Annie's well-fed physique, her proto-amphiphian nature, and favorite sleeping position (the cactus). What do you think? My favorite is the sumo wrestler, I think...

Old time picnic

2011-10-30T21:37:00.000-07:00

Together with Adam and Em, we had a lovely picnic breakfast at Lodhi garden this Sunday. Now that Fall has arrived, and the weather in Delhi has really cooled down, it is just a pleasure to hang around outside.

We each brought a variety of foods, met up near the park, and just hung out for a few hours of eating, talking, walking, and music playing!

What an unbelievable coincidence, but it turns out Adam not plays old time music as well, but also plays fiddle, banjo and mandolin. What are the odds?

Diwali: Lights and Darks

2011-10-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

As today is the end of the multi-day Diwali celebrations, I wanted to reflect on the good and bad experiences we had this year during this festive time. For those who don't know Diwali is an Indian holiday that appears to be a mix of Christmas and Fourth of July. The history of Diwali and its many significances are too much for me to cover here, for that check out the wiki page, linked here

Over the last few days of Diwali, which really only lasts for a single day but there are actually two days leading up to it, and one or two after it, we've had a lot of fun, basking in the light of our lives.

We also had a really great time hanging out with our friend Shubhra

In addition to making a phenomenal dinner for us, she had been busy all day decorating her house with beautiful lights, and being the amazing artist she is, painted traditional Diwali floor designs throughout the house.

As we celebrated, Annie just slept peacefully like the perfect baby she is.

That was all what I consider the "good", the "light" parts of Diwali. And then there was the "bad", which from my perspective was the "dark" side.

I've always said about Diwali, half-jokingly, "it's all fun and games until someone blows off their hand," which is a reference to the sad reality that after Diwali the newspapers always have stories of the people who were maimed or died playing with fireworks.

Fireworks

Well, I can now add "it's all fun and games until your apartment building catches on fire".

Yes, it's unfortunately true. With family friends visiting we had a lovely evening of walking around the neighborhood and gagging on the acrid smoke from the fireworks. So that you have an idea, think of a microwave popping pop corn....CONSTANTLY. And the air being like pea-soup fog from the smoke. So that was all well and dandy.

Around midnight, I've fallen asleep and Jo wakes me up. "WE HAVE TO LEAVE, THE BUIDLING'S ON FIRE!!!" Before I can put my shirt on, she has grabbed Annie and fled the building. I get dressed, go to the door which she had left open and see that our roof is consumed in flames. Noting that our stairwell is still clear, I take a minute and grab our laptops, external hard drives and passports. I'm practical if nothing else. Within a half hour the fire department arrived, and began working on putting out the blaze. Unfortunately, it took them about two hours to get it completely extinguished. So we got to spend some quality time with our neighbors in their PJs.

While no one was hurt and our flat was undamaged, it was very sad, because what had burnt was an illegal structure that our neighbors had built on the roof to house their maid. Unfortunately, this kind of arrangement is very common in Delhi. While we don't know exactly what happened, we have surmised, from the sight of the crying 10-year old neighbor's child who was being questioned by police, that he had been playing on the roof with firecrackers and one had caught this shed on fire.

The next morning, this is what remained, as seen from our porch.

the remains of the shed

The debris

Ash and water tanks

As my mom wrote in an email this morning, we sure gave Terry and Ginny who were staying with us a "warm welcome," and isn't that what Diwali is about?

A Big Lesson: Delhi's Toilet Museum

2011-10-21T03:07:00.000-07:00

Today was a monumental moment in Annie and my father-daughter relationship. It was the ultimate teaching moment of sorts: a trip to the international museum of toilets.

It's true. It exists. And it's amazing. I'd have to say, although it's far out in west Delhi, no trip to India should be complete without a visit to it. Even our taxi driver had been, which I thought was mind-blowing.

As most readers will probably not make it to the toilet museum I thought I'd share some select bits from their website, which says:

Museums as repositories for the preservation and exhibition of the objects of historical, scientific and cultural interest are found all over the world. But rare are the museums that display the evolution of toilets and their various designs (reallllly....you don't say).

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, the Founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, a pioneering non-profit voluntary organisation (NGO) in the field of Sanitation in India, envisioned the need for the setting up of a museum of toilets in the sprawling campus of his central office at Mahavir Enclave, Palam Dabri Road in New Delhi, India and has consultative status with Economic and Social Council of the U.N.The idea engaged his mind for long, eventually leading him to make hectic worldwide search for minutest details of the evolution of toilets, as also of various toilet designs used in different countries at different points of time.

The Museum has been established with the following objectives :-

To educate students about the historical trends in the development of toilets;
To provide information to researchers about the design, materials, and technologies adopted in the past and those in use in the contemporary world;
To help policy makers to understand the efforts made by predecessors in this field throughout the world;
To help the manufacturers of toilet equipment and accessories in improving their products by functioning as a technology storehouse; and
To help sanitation experts learn from the past and solve problems in the sanitation sector.

Join sanitation crusade.

The museum was inspired by Ghandi...

what would Gandhiji say?

The main exhibition room of the toilet museum

The museum was filled with a quite impressive timeline of the evolution of the toilet from it's origination in India (like everything else, didn't you know Indians invented it first) to modern day.

The museum was also filled with toilet humor.

And humorous toilets

What was one of the most funny things at the museum was the guide who showed up and started his spiel. He began at a normal even pace, but then Annie started waking up. As she started stirring the guide started picking up the pace of his monologue, and then she was awake and he really increased the tempo. And then she started fussing and let's just say he was talking like someone who really needed to go the bathroom NOW (my bathroom humor for this post). I just wish I could have charted the change in frequency of his voice over time....but that's just the scientist in me.

Sulabh is actually much more than just the museum pictured here. As an NGO it works to create economically and environmentally friendly sanitation options for rural villages (why they had nothing on Ladakh I'm somewhat mystified). In addition they had a bio-methane plant on site! Unfortunately, Annie had had enough of this lesson by that point and told me in no uncertain terms (a messy diaper filled with irony) that this field trip was over.

The Three G's

2011-10-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Grandma Gail!

A snuggly last moment before Grandma headed to the airport for her long trip home.

It's hard to believe the month with Grandma passed so fast; on the way to the airport I really felt like it was only yesterday that I had gone to pick her up from her flight. We sure did fit a lot in during the last month! It was a huge help to have an extra set of hands always willing to hold Annie, whether she was screaming or sleeping.

The one positive part about Grandma going home...

Let our packing commence! Gail was kind enough to lug an extra bag of ours back to the states including 49.9 lbs of Jo's questionnaires, and all sorts of detritus.

Well, this isn't really related to Gail leaving, except tangentially, but it is the passing of the seasons, and I am THRILLED to announce that Fall is beginning to arrive in Delhi, and with it...

Fun times on the balcony with little babu

Surprise!!!!

2011-10-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

Many readers of this blog might know that yesterday (October 15th) was Jo's 30th birthday!!! What most will not know, however, is that Grandma Gail and I threw her a surprise party!!! What many do not know about me is that I am horrible at keeping surprises. I'm talking awful, the pits, the worst. For example, I remember a previous birthday of Jo's where I had bought her a dress I knew she wanted about a week before her birthday, I drove home and was so excited I couldn't keep it hidden in my backpack, I showed it to her as soon as I walked in the door, hopping around with glee. All of which is to say that somehow, due to Gail's presence and co-conspiratorial assistance, I was able to plan this bash for Jo and it was actually a surprise!

To make her think I hadn't forgotten, Gail and I made a special breakfast of a fruit platter and chocolate chip pancakes.

With the ruse carried out and the curiosity deflected, it was time for the real event!

Some of you might know that I have a history of hidden video-camera usage; I recorded me proposing to Jo by placing a camera inside a potted plant. Granted I mostly got below our knees but it was the thought that counts, right? Well, I think the following video came out much better, using the computer's webcam and a screen capture program.

The spread

Banjo and balloons, a pair that was always meant to go together

Annie in her fancy dress for the first time, which will probably last another week!

Sibghat and Annie

Emily--who is also doing diabetes research in Delhi--got a chance to meet some of our other Delhi's friends

Adam, who is Emily's husband, just arrived in Delhi a few days ago and was eager to learn about the upcoming Indian holiday of Diwali

Gail and Adam get to know each other over some Subway

Me relieved that the time of trying to keep the surprise a secret was over.

Our friendly neighbors had fun reconnecting

Jo had made it clear she wanted fruit for her birthday, so I ordered a fruit bouquet! Getting it was quite an ordeal, but when it arrived, Jo was amazed and I think all would agree it was love at first sight.

Out and About in Delhi

2011-10-14T05:58:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven't met Annie, I'll tell you this, if you can say one thing about this baby it's that she like to get out. Sure after 5 hours or so she'll devolve into hysterics, but so would the most veteran of Delhi travelers. What we find time and again is that Annie is just captivated by all the colors and sounds of Delhi. Which is great because Delhi has so many sites, and we love to get out every once in a while as well! Although it might be hard to believe it, Grandma Gail's trip here is winding down. Over the last week we've taken a few excursions.

One was to Humayun's tomb.

Humayun's tomb

Amazing stone lattice work

Another was somewhat less exciting, but was to the dentist's office, which still provided some visual stimulation.

Annie checking out the small shrine at the dentist office

Another recent trip was to Jantar Mantar, which is an amazing astronomical observatory. According to wiki, the fount of all knowledge:

The Jantra Mantar (literally the 'instrument and formula' and often called the Jantar Mantar), is located in the modern city of New Delhi, Delhi. It consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur, from 1724 onwards, and is one of five built by him, as he was given by Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah the task of revising the calendar and astronomical tables.
The primary purpose of the observatory was to compile astronomical tables, and to predict the times and movements of the sun, moon and planets. Some of these purposes nowadays would be classified as astrology.

We had been to the amazing one in Jaipur four years ago, but for some reason never to the one in Delhi.

Complete with a new camera, I really enjoyed myself here taking tons of pictures of my wonderful family in an amazing locale.

I was able to climb the steps and get an incredible bird's eye view of the whole complex.

On the way down I saw the hatch marks that were part of the astronomical measurement system.

The whole place resembles a living M.C. Escher drawing with stair cases that lead nowhere (well, actually to observation points), and incredible geometric shapes.

After that we were off to Dili haat, an open air market for tourists.

Dili haat has a great food court with a shop from each state, we chose Rajasthani thalis

It was everything Jo could do to stop me from getting the fake Tiger carpet pictured here...actually not, but I think the advertisement is stellar

Someone's not paying attention to the pretty pictures

or even at the jewelry!

Taking time to smell the ....

and we're....out

Sweet Times

2011-10-12T03:44:00.000-07:00

Sweet moments on the couch

and more sweet moments on the couch

and in the crib

and holding my head up on Grandma's lap

Birthday Bash

2011-10-06T06:15:00.000-07:00

Someone had a birthday today (hint: it was me), and to celebrate,I and the three ladies went for a day of indulgence at a nearby fancy hotel: the Jaypee Vasant Continental.

Name that movie star

It was pretty divine.

We started out with a day at the pool, which everyone really enjoyed.

Dad with his best birthday present

We then headed upstairs to the spa where Jo and I each had a great hour long massage.

Throw in some birthday cake, ice cream, and fiddle time and it was a great birthday...now if I could only just be on the West coast of the U.S. right now I'd have the entire day left to celebrate again!

Passing through

2011-10-03T04:02:00.000-07:00

One nice thing about living in Delhi is the chance to catch up with friends as they pass through town on their domestic/international travel. Ramuji and Goswamiji came through this weekend, and we were lucky enough to get to see Ramuji, who was staying at the Fulbright House. Adam Grotsky, USIIE Fulbright India Director, and his gracious wife Olga (whom Annie is obsessed with) were great entertainers during our brief visit.

Jo, Annie and Ramuji catching up

Olga, Adam and Ramuji make googly eyes

Annie was an active member of the conversation

Annie's got a new habit: holding onto necklaces; Gail pictured here detaching Annie

So cute it hurts.....

2011-09-30T00:03:00.000-07:00

If anyone knows a cardiologist I think I need one, as this one's giving me a broken heart.

Annie in a bonnet!

Smiley feet!

Monkey butt!

Annie learning Hindi with her first books

Day of Indulgence

2011-09-27T05:24:00.000-07:00

Notes from the traveling desk of Grandma Gail Weaver

Now that Annie has nearly reached the ripe old age of five weeks, it is time to take a day to just relax and indulgence ourselves.

To start the day off, Mommie and Grandma followed along with a video of a Jazzercise routine. It was a specialty Post Pregnancy workout, and Gail pointed that she also was in the post pregnancy category - just plus 30 years! We mostly succeeded in copying the moves we were watching on the TV except the rather annoying habit of the leaders constantly smiling throughout the 50 minute workout.

Next, Mommie cleaned the wax out of her ears by candling them.

What will they think of next?

This involves lighting the far end of a specially-made hollow beeswax candle, and then inserting the unlighted end in your ear. This creates a vacuum and gently draws out excess earwax into the hollow tube of the candle. Grandma misunderstood the process and kept telling her it might not be wise to insert a lighted candle into her ear!

Then it was out into the world for the next event on the day of pampering schedule. Dad, Mom, and Grandma hired a driver and went to an upscale shopping mall.

We have a headless baby! Who left the baby's head at home....

The first stop was for a "fish spa" treatment. This consists of sitting on the edge of a pool and lowering your feet into the water where hundreds of strange minnow-like fish nibble on your feet and toes for 15 minutes.

Grandma wasn't so sure at first

Jo couldn't decide if it was painful, or uproariously funny

I think she settled on the latter

Those fish sure like Gail's feet

Too much fun, Jo and Gail

Dave tries to convince Annie this is fun

She was finally convinced

Dave's feet are no match for the fish

After this sometimes slightly painful, most ticklish experience. the attendants vigorously rub your feet with a rough file to remove the calluses, followed by applying cream and thoroughly massaging your feet, including cracking the joints of your toes. After all three of us had the treatment, we had feet almost as smooth as Annie's.

Blissed out

We finished out the day by eating a nice dinner at an Asian restaurant at the mall. Annie enjoyed the modern decor of the restaurant, posing for photographs while looking through the front window of the restaurant that was painted to look like television sets.

Due the remarkable three-person tag team led by David with Annie in the chest carrier, Jo acting as purveyor of food for the baby, and Grandma providing back-up holding duties, all four of us had a very fun and rejuvenating day.

Annie asleep on bench

Annie in mirror

Happy Daughter's Day!

2011-09-24T23:55:00.000-07:00

Apparently it's Daughter's Day according to the newspaper! Well, that's cause for celebration in my book, so here's some photos celebrating the cutest (and Jo would say most intelligent, capable, and articulate so as not to overemphasize the importance of beauty) daughter in the world.

Annie with Grandma's quilt

Fussy baby! (Likes the bath, hates the cold)

Annie wearing her IU fan outfit

Life is good ( Grandma's shirt says it all!)

Sleepy time for Annie and jet-lagged Grandma

Sleepy time with Mommy and Annie (Annie can be seen wearing the cutest outfit that Suzy and Paul sent!!!)

Awake time in her new orange diaper! (She's ready for the construction buisness, or hunting, whichever comes first)

Sleepy time with Annie and her new friend Piglet the rattle

Awake still-life with pretty color coordinated new yellow diaper & outfit

Grandma arrives!

2011-09-23T05:19:00.000-07:00

Well, Grandma Gail wins the prize for the first relative to hold Annie! (Don't worry there will be special runner-up prizes for those that come to pick us up in Newark at 4 am in just two months!)

There's not a whole lot to report after the first day, except of course for hours of cuddling.

And just staring at our little June Bug

And I mean hours

Not that it ever gets old...

And I mean ever.

Then there was Christmas in September

With so many cute clothes and sweet baby gifts we'll have to rent a container ship home...

Grandma isn't so sure about the children's book that Quinn thoughtfully sent "Go the f*ck to sleep"

And all this in 24 hours!

(Note: all pictures in this post were taken with the great new camera that Gail brought, courtesy of M&P)

Fall is almost here...

2011-09-19T23:57:00.000-07:00

Well, it might 90 out but at least the humidity is starting to dissipate. And that means....it's time to enjoy our nice patio and let Annie soak in the discordant sounds of the banjo and fiddle!

Oh will our neighbors be ready for me to head back to hit the road!

We've got a tub

2011-09-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

Of love that is....

Blackmail...parents can be so cruel with their affection

It's official, we went in for Annie's one month checkup today and upon the much anticipated weighing in found out that she's gained a kilo in 18 days!!! So she's broken the infamous "10 pound" mark, which is apparently special to pediatricians) and is now a whopping 4.6 kilos.

While I was a little concerned that Annie might need to lay off all those doughnuts (just kidding about the donuts, she's on a strict diet of pop tarts) the doctor said she was doing great and as she was born a little early and on the smaller side was just catching up.

The one funny thing that happened at the doctor's appointment was when they measured the circumference of her head. The nurse had written down the measurement in the wrong column, and the doctor did a double take, and was like "there's no way her head is that big" and called in the nurse for a re-do. It turns out that even though this photo makes her head look unflatteringly misshapen (thanks Dad for orchestrating that on purpose)her head is not only the normal size, but just perfect like the rest of her!

Happy Birthday Annie!

2011-09-18T03:52:00.000-07:00

Well, one month that is, but that's still pretty exciting. Hard to believe it, but our little girl is getting so big. As I speak, she's already "gone native" (literally) and is in the field with Jo doing an interview, well Jo is at least...hopefully.

Our first month at home together has been filled with many many wonderful moments, as well as a few trying ones--like yesterday, when all she wanted to do was be held, or would cry, easy, she's a sweety, so just hold her!

We've stayed mostly in the quiet confines of our apartment. But we have ventured out a few times with Annie for walks in the local park. Ventured out I think is definitely the right wording as she isn't completely thrilled with the carrying device (pictured below) and we have to get her into it, and out the door while she's still asleep!

Quick RUN(!) while she's still asleep

But when we do, it's so friggin cute it hurts

The Bjorn, whose makers should get together with Ikea (for cute naming purposes that is)

Taking a walk with Annie

In addition to all the fun around the house Jo (and I) have been getting back to work. With Annie it requires some pretty crafty multitasking....

Jo goes back to work (A+ for multitasking)

Of course there are just oodles of sweet times...

Sweet times

and some plain funny ones as well!

Happy Birthday Annie, here's to embarrassing but very loving parents!

Back to Nanda Devi

2011-09-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

As we've been getting settled in with Annie, there hasn't been a lot of time to blog about recent events. Unbelievably, I received multiple emails today that the blog is getting "old and moldy" to quote one disgruntled reader. Well, no more. As I gear up for some more posts and pics about Annie, which to be honest is probably the only reason any of you check this blog, I'll post some pics from a trip that I never got around to blogging about in May---back to Nanda Devi.

Nanda Devi

Many know that I did my Master's thesis research in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve up in the Garwhal Himalaya. I'll post a little more about that research, and the primary motivation for returning in a subsequent post. But for now, a few pics from a trek I did while up there with two of my friends Laura and Hillary.

Laura and Hillary outside Tolma village

The trek was one I've done several times before; although I'd jump at the opportunity to do it any day of the week.

Beautiful vistas along the hike

Beautiful close up views as well

Cold mornings

Cold mornings

Morning views I missed oh so much

Part of one of the most amazing views I have ever seen

Made only better---as always--- by the banjo

The alpine glow at dusk is like fire on the mountains

Night time views are just as magical

Yes, I'm wearing the exact same outfit as five years ago. Yes, I've changed my clothes since then.

Random moments and photos

2011-09-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

Well, for those of you who are starting to have conniptions at not having had an "Annie update" in the last few days, sit yourself down for a moment. Here are some random moments and photos from our last few days of life with Annie....

Our friends have just been amazing, forming a pit crew that caters to our every need: Fresh baked cookie (check); espresso (check); amazing home-cooked meal (check)....baby (CHECK!)

Emilia and Annie multitasking (well, at least Emilia)

We're going to have to pull Annie away from Sarah...

Getting up early and letting Jo sleep in: Annie, laptop, espresso=the trifecta

We knew this one would take to camping early, after she's had her coffee, it's down for a nap in the tent made with Grandma Gail's baby quilt

Shubra came by for a really nice visit

Annie's not so sure about bath time...

But the upshot about bath time is there are soooo many cute clothes to dress her in!

Annie's first Indian top, which doubles as a dress, as it's for a 1 year old (THANKS BETH for thinking ahead!)

We've also been occupying all of our oodles of free time by interpreting Annie's faces...

Perturbed

I need my beauty rest...yes, all 22 hours of it, even if it comes in punctuated bits

Dinosaur face (she also makes dinosaur sounds; don't ask us how we know...we just do

Baby Frog

Baby frog who turns into a cute duckling

oh, and Jo is totally prepared now for a monsoon flood as she has her new life jacket (in red). Actually it's a feeding pillow, but I think it will work when the end of days arrives...

Ear Cleaning in Benares!

2011-09-02T18:55:00.000-07:00

As the last post on the extended Meek family trip to India, it seems only appropriate to end with the following post: ear cleaning.

The tools of the trade

Now before you recoil in terror, or disgust, remember that ear cleaning is an important ritual in various cultures, and for good reason, we found out, given what this skilled ear-artisan found in ours!

Getting up close and personal with the musician's ear

I had been wanting to get my ears cleaned ever since we came to Benares with Jo's folks back in March. However, the renowned ear cleaner that was recommended to us was away in his village, and as a result no ear cleaning.

This time, however, it was less than an hour of wandering Benares back gulleys with an ear somewhat open (they were, after all quite filled with gunk), that we came across the ear-cleaning wallah.

Now how do you know, you might be asking yourself, how to spot an ear-cleaning wallah among the throngs plying Benares' back alleys? Easy! He has a piece of gauze behind his ear, and carries what looks like a shoe-shine box.

Jon filled with consternation at what was in his ears

Let's just say it was an "ear-opening" experience! Oh, that was bad! But seriously, it was amazing, albeit somewhat disgusting, to see what was lurking in those ears, and if you ever get the chance, remember what Nike says:
JUST DO IT!

Back in Benares

2011-09-01T22:21:00.000-07:00

After our amazing adventures in Ladakh, Jon and I went on one more trip during his June/July Indian Odyssey: Benares.

Benares, or Varanasi, was high on our lists for a variety of reasons. First, it is an amazing place, being a center of religious pilgrimage. Also, it is a musical center, and we have some friends who are professional musicians that live there.

So, on the train to Benares we went!

Upon reaching Benares I was astonished: the monsoon had arrived two days before, and this city, or more importantly the ghats (the steps that form a promenade along the river and are an important part of the Benares tourist experience)were completely flooded. I knew that the monsoons would "eventually" raise the level of the river and flood the steps, but I had no idea it would happen so quickly!

Jon with water buffalo

Jon high stepping

Jon staying high above the water

Although we gave a darn good college try at walking along the ghats, it was just impossible, but we did get a chance to enjoy the river in other ways. One was attending the ganga artri (spelling?) ceremony where each night the river is "put to bed"

Putting the ganges to bed with the Ganga Arti ceremony

While at the ceremony, I decided to buy a candle, say a prayer for our baby-who-was-as-yet-unnamed, and send the prayer and candle down the river.

Me lighting a candle for Annie and setting it alight in the river

Candle floating on river that I lit for Annie

So, with the river flooded and our options somewhat limited, we just enjoyed spending our few days in Benares doing the thing that we had really come to do: Music lessons.

For those who didn't know, Jon used to play a sitar back in the day, until it broke when shipping it to college or somewhere. With the prospect of learning from a sitar master-Goswamiji-Jon jumped at the opportunity for some one on one lessons.

In the spirit of India, we also came across some amazing wedding music being played in the street.

In addition, we took a quick day trip out to Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon. IT WAS HOT.

Sarnath

Stupa

Jon playing flute

Week 2 with Annie

2011-09-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Parent's always say they can't believe how fast time flies and their baby has grown up. Well, we might not be quite there yet, but it sure is hard to believe that today is Annie's two week birthday!!! Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, you know the rest.

This week we've been lucky enough to have two other good friends join Sarah at Hostel da Bebe (also known as Chateaux Cry-alot, or Casa Cranky-pants). Emilia and Beth are two friends, who along with Sarah, we got to know while living in Jaipur four years ago. They all did the AIIS Hindi language program together, and so this is somewhat of a reunion!

Yesterday morning Beth arrived, and last night Emilia arrived.

Dave handing off Annie for the first time to "Aunty" Emilia

With six people (well 5 and a baby) in our 2 bedroom apartment we've quite a full apartment--full of fun that is!

Beth holding Annie

Emilia and Annie snuggling up

The ladies are quite smitten with our darling Annie (who can blame them?) and have been introducing her to all sorts of Indian culture:

Sarah putting on Annie's first bindi

Annie with bindi, and proof that she's becoming a "little tub" in the joking words of her Bubby!

Sarah appreciating her handiwork (Annie seems a little nonplussed)

Beth shows Annie her henna artwork (next step: Annie gets a henna tattoo)

And what would a ladies' reunion be without some mega-mall retail therapy?

Off to the mall for the first time!

Oh the places we shall go!

Thoughts on Ladakhi ecology and landscape creation

2011-08-28T01:42:00.000-07:00

Our time in the Ladakhi villages over these two weeks was really special as an environmental anthropologist. While the hiking and music playing were both amazing, I particularly enjoyed the chance to do a little "participant observation" as we call it in anthropology, of the local agriculture.

From Ladakh!!!!
What I was astounded by throughout my time in Ladakh was--to cut through alot of academic jargon--how the local people had shaped their landscape through their agricultural practices. The landscape of Ladakh, as you've seen in the preceding posts and photos is incredibly arid, and quite simply harsh

However, every once and a while, you'll come across these small spots of green, which inevitably were where villages and monasteries were located.

How did this landscape come to be transformed--from the arid desert that seemed almost omnipresent, to these habitable, if not thriving, oases of green?
Agriculture was the most obvious factor.

Agroforestry, such as the planting of these apricot and almond trees, provides essential nutrition for the Ladakhi people. Up to 90% of their caloric intake in winter comes from these fruits.

Fields of millet

Earthen greenhouse used to extend the very short growing season

However, my focus over the first few days on the amazing presence of green in this landscape of brown had distracted me from what I think was really the most amazing and defining feature of this landscape, and the Ladakhi's transformation of it: water.

Ladakhi women irrigating fields with spades used to shape earthen channels

In this arid landscape, water is the defining resource, and its management occupies an incredible amount of time and energy. It is the management of water that has led to the shaping of this landscape, for only where water can go can live spring up

In the homestays, I took advantage of the opportunity to learn a bit about how the people (mostly women) irrigated their fields. What I learned really amazed me: the women used a long spade to shape these channels that the water would run through. Once the water had irrigate a particular patch of the field, the women would close it up at a junction and open it up in another spot in the channel so the water would flow to a new area. Although this sounds confusing, hopefully this video will make things a bit clearer.

My attention to the Ladakhi agriculture is part of a larger academic interest in Ladakhi ecology and conservation. In short, the Ladakhi people are generally recognized as having a sustainable environmental ethic. From irrigation to the Ladkhi toilets, which are composting squat toilets that use no water and whose by products get recycled as compost back into the fields.

While all this can be critically explored, the presence of these thousand year-old junipers below is at least a partial testament to the material practices of this culture.

As you might be able to tell from this post, I was incredibly fascinated by this landscape and its people. Returning to Ladakh--perhaps to conduct research on these landscape histories--would be a dream for me. Now I just need to work on my Ladakhi!

Sweet times

2011-08-27T00:13:00.000-07:00

We've already written here about how fortunate we are to have not only an incredible support system in the United States, but here in India as well (It's great to have friends post linked here). Our network of friends who study in India is really strong, and we are incredibly lucky that Sarah's research has fortuitously brought her back through India right around the time of Annie's birth. To give Sarah the appropriate credit, this wasn't fortuitous, but something she planned around when she stayed with us in Delhi in February/March. Sarah arrived yesterday, and I think these pictures document that she is having a blast, and is quite smitten with our little potato (or any of the 100 other pet names we refer to her with). They also document that her new camera (Canon Rebel G3I) is absolutely amazing, and I am plotting how I can acquire one...

From Annabelle Winifred Meek

Snuggly times with Sarah (Annie in her DIY miracle blanket)

An amazing innovation, the padala, which looks like a open-faced oil lamp, is a glorified spoon that is used to feed newborns expressed milk here in India. It's great because bottles at this stage are supposed to cause "nipple confusion"; well, we're not confused, the padala is awesome.

Even Annie thinks so!

Happy baby!

One of Annie's first pseudo-smiles!

This last picture is particularly funny, as Sarah jokingly tries to convince a friend over Skype that this beautiful baby is hers.....

Once again, how great is it to have great friends?

Ladakh: Backwoods and Bluegrass X 2

2011-08-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

The second week was a reprise of amazing musical opportunities. Inspired by incredible vistas and made slightly delirious by whooping cough combined with high altitude, we really relished in the opportunity to hike for a few hours in the morning, and then play music together all afternoon. Days I will certainly not forget.

From Ladakh X 2

Elzic's Farewell

Ladakh: Off on the trail X 2

2011-08-25T05:12:00.000-07:00

We decided to take a five day home-stay trek after our fabulous experience the week before. The scenery was absolutely spectacular. Most of the hiking was through an incredibly arid high-desert landscape.

From Ladakh X 2

Amongst all of the arid landscape were beautiful little patches of color, like these amazingly fragrant wild roses.

From Ladakh X 2

Similar to our last homestay trek, the incredibly stark landscape was punctuated by these green oases, which were where the villages were established.

From Ladakh X 2

Jon on the trail towards Rumbak village

We would also come across these "parachute cafes", which were actually just parachutes that served as a tent under which people would sell various dry goods, or very very simple meals, such as the Indian Ramen equivalent.

From Ladakh X 2

Parachute cafe in the middle of nowhere

Hiking through this landscape was just simply amazing. We would come across these amazing cultural artifacts, such as the common presence of "Blue horned sheep" horns on walls and houses, which were meant to ward off snow leopards and other wild beasts.

From Ladakh X 2

In addition, the many religious monuments at every turn...

From Ladakh X 2

One thing that I found really magical were the Buddhist prayer flags that we would find hung between rocks at the top of these high passes.

From Ladakh X 2

The sound of these prayer flags blowing was really amazing. On one hike, Jon and I heard the sounds of the flags flapping from kilometers away....unbelievable. The prayer flags are left in the elements, and just diaphanous, made thread-bare by the elements.

From Ladakh X 2

In addition to the amazing experiences we had at the homestays, the hiking was phenomenal.

From Ladakh X 2

One thing that was so unique about being in this area was the light. With the changes in light during the day the colors of the rock would change completely. In the photo below, the mountain that Jon is looking at was bright red before sunset, and green in the morning.

From Ladakh X 2

Unfortunately, I caught Dad's whooping cough, and so the hiking, which was between 12,00-15,000 feet, was really difficult for me. The trails that looked like this sure didn't help!

From Ladakh X 2

Super steep hiking abounds, notice Jon's position above me

Every hike felt like a marathon, and I could only walk for a short period before having to gather my breath.

Adding to the whooping cough, I had a really "special" encounter with a friendly plant that looked like mint. Reaching down to grab a leaf to smell, I yelped in pain! My ring finger proceeded to swell up, so I removed my wedding ring (having learned from Mom's experience!). The pain didn't abate (for three days!) and the only thing that seemed to help was spitting on my hand, continuously...

From Ladakh X 2

Yum....

Other amazing natural scenery was less stinging, such as these crazy mushroom rock formations...

From Ladakh X 2

and the amazing landscape vistas that made me feel like Ansel Adams....

From Ladakh X 2

Perhaps the most exciting part of the trip, however, was when Jon got really really sick on our penultimate day. Faced with a 5 hour hike, I pulled out my learning Ladakhi book and began using my "Do you know where I may hire a horse phrase) (thatobe- tobado). Turns out there were no horses to be had, so we had to walk until we came to a roaring river, for which the only way across was in a basket that you had to pull hand over hand across!

Crossing the River (basket is in bottom right)

From Ladakh X 2

Jon in basket crossing the river

A really bad quality video of the river crossing

After all this excitement, we were all ready to close the book on our incredibly interesting Ladakh experience and move onto the last leg of our trip----Benares!

Snuggles

2011-08-24T05:04:00.000-07:00

We love to snuggle with Annie. Here she is getting a good checkup at the hospital today...

Getting more alert all the time...
(Jo wrote this post, but Dave has to edit it to note that this picture is soooo cute it actually hurts....somebody call the aaaaawwwwmbulance!)

Well, not all the time.

Ladakh: It's all downhill!

2011-08-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

Jo and Dave's Blog

RVing in the New Year

Christmas in Las Vegas

Annie goes to Las Vegas!

Getting Together

Holidays: 2) Christmas in Indiana

Holidays: 1) Longwood

Re-Entry and Reconnecting: 4) DC

Re-Entry and Reconnecting: 3) Brunch

Re-entry and re-connecting: 2) All Smiles

Re-entry and reconnecting: 1) Landing

In Review: A Year in India

One Last Hurrah

Changing of the Seasons

The Purple Monster

An Indian Thanksgiving: Part 2

An Indian Thanksgiving: Part 1

Getting Legit

Kerala: Backwaters, Beaches, and Beyond (part 3)

Kerala: Backwaters, Beaches, and Beyond (part 2)

Kerala: Backwaters, Beaches, and Beyond

Fun times with Friends and Families

Another video from picnic at Lodhi gardens

Annie's first Halloween: Potential Costumes

Old time picnic

Diwali: Lights and Darks

A Big Lesson: Delhi's Toilet Museum

The Three G's

Surprise!!!!

Out and About in Delhi

Sweet Times

Birthday Bash

Passing through

So cute it hurts.....

Day of Indulgence

Happy Daughter's Day!

Grandma arrives!

Fall is almost here...

We've got a tub

Happy Birthday Annie!

Back to Nanda Devi

Random moments and photos

Ear Cleaning in Benares!

Back in Benares

Week 2 with Annie

Thoughts on Ladakhi ecology and landscape creation

Sweet times

Ladakh: Backwoods and Bluegrass X 2

Ladakh: Off on the trail X 2

Snuggles

Ladakh: It's all downhill!

Homeward!

It's great to have friends!

Ladakh: Off on the trail X 2

Welcoming Annabelle Winifred Meek

Magic revisited

Annabelle Winifred Slideshow

Welcome to the world: Annabelle Winifred Meek

Final Baby Countdown!

Ladakh: Bluegrass in the backwoods

Ladakh: Off on the trail

Ladakh!!!!

Sunday, June 12: Deer Park and Mom heads home

Saturday, June 11th:Turbans and Turbulent Times

June 9th: Off to Udaipur

June 8th: Jon's first day in Delhi

Tuesday, June 7th: Morning Markets and Jon arrives!

Monday, June 6: Gulmarg