Sending Off Roy

Sending off Roy.

At Airport.

At Zoo.

Metrolina Zoo Wolf

Another Macaw Picture.

Well, this is the lion we can get closest to

Tiger

Lions

They all posed

Trip to Zoo

We took a trip to Metrolina Zoo today. I have been in Charlotte since 1993, but did not know about this Zoo until 2004 ! I suspect lot of Charlotteans do not know about this place.

They have few dozen large cats, Camel, Zebra, monkeys, reptiles etc. It is not a big zoo like the Ashboro one but it is good enough to spend nice couple of hours, especially on a nice day like today. The weather today feelt like April than Jan. It was 70 degrees! Heard that warm weather is here to stay for a week or more.

We fed the animals, and saw them getting fed by the zookeepers.

Last time when we visited, Srinidhi was in our hands and the large cats were indifferent to us just like Zoo animals normally are. But this time, Srinidhi was walking by himself by our side and the big cats were not indifferent! Cage after cage, they were displaying their stalking moves with their eyes firmly on Srinidhi. On larger cages, the lioness even ran up to the fence. It was interesting to see how silent and fast she ran. Guess they thought Srinidhi was small enough for them to threaten and attack.

Monkeys were putting on a show to get peanuts from us. One monkey repeatedly was performing somersault to impress us. It of course got lot of peanuts and biscuits from me.

Metolina Zoo Camel

Metrolina Mcaws

Feeding the Macaws

At Zoo. Srinidhi loves his glasses.

Metrolina Zoo Ostrich

Srinidhi is seeing Appa after a week

Nidhi is back

Srinidhi and Veena just came back. He was so happy and gave me a big smile. When we got home, he played basketball, rode his bicycle etc. Seems he didn't miss a beat.

Omnipast

When I had to name my first blog, I looked around, saw some trees in SunTV and named the blog Kaadu (Tamil for forest). It stayed that way for a day and created six blog entires. The next day I was thinking about what to blog:

In life, you don't say everything to everybody; whatever you tell someone, fades from the memory overtime. However, anything you blog anytime in the past is available to anyone at anytime in future.

I find it difficult to hide my real feelings when I blog. So I am thinking blogging will purify my thought to the extend I don't have to hide anything.

Someone can read an obsolete blog entry and form an opinion about you when you yourself may have forgotten about what you blogged then. So I coined the term 'omnipast' and posted this blog entry, only later to find two hits on google. Well, thats not bad, only two google hits, thats almost certainly I am the third person to use this word.

Srinidhi, John Peters Uncle and Vel Raja
Christmas Party Dec 26, 2004

Thanks Sridhar Uncle

Sridhar Uncle, Vidya Aunty and Koushik sent me a wonderful Indian dress as Christmas gift. I got it just in time on the 23rd. I wore it for the Christmas party on the 26th, see the picture. BTW, the wrap was also very good. Thanks Uncle.

- Srinidhi

I feel your pain

I am not ”I feel your pain" liberal ( for that matter, I am not any liberal, I am libertarian). But words sometimes mean as much as deeds. From what I understand President took four days before calling leaders of the Tsunami affected nations to pass on his condolence. I am not happy with US monetary and other commitments either.

This was a great opportunity to demonstrate the goodness of America and leadership. President Bush missed it. We had a spirited discussion about it at New Years party at Peters residence, Susan was right.

Being an ardent supporter, I am disappointed.

Not today.

Hmmm., I thought Veena and Srinidhi are coming back today. Nope. I have to wait until tomorrow.

I had been eating lunch at Udupi restaurant almost everyday since Veena left. I was talking to the owner today. Reminded me of Madras Pavilion. If you ever travel to Houston, have lunch at Madras Pavilion. By far the best Indian Restaurant. They are near galleria area (I think) at 3910 Kirby Dr, Houston, Texas 77098. 713.521.2617.

The next best that comes to mind is Jaipore at Route 22, Brewster, NY. 845-277-3549.

Son's calling.

Veena and Srinidhi are gone to West Virginia. It is so depressing to be alone, however, not as depressing as earlier trips. Mainly because, work kept me too busy. I ended up working 12 hour days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

What is unbelievable is how much Srinidhi talks to me on the phone. He is so expressive on the phone, says everything that he was doing with words and actions. I hear about his actions from Veena. When I say I love him, he gives me kiss on the phone! I can't believe a 20 month old can be so expressive. I am going to record his call tomorrow.

Me and Srinidhi 2004 11 28

Veena And Srinidhi 2004 11 28

About me

Well. I guess I need to give a brief introduction of myself first. I am Shanmuganathan (Shan), born 1970, grew up in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, India. The most important thing that I can say about my childhood is boundless love and sacrifice of my parents. I have three younger brothers and one younger sister.

I did my Engineering in Regional Engineering College (now National Institute of Technology), Trichy between 1987-91. I was a rebellious youth during my college days and had wonderful friends and fond memories.

I am living in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA since 1993. I work for IBM since 1996. Traveled plenty enough in US except upper midwest and northwest.

My wife is Veena. We have a wonderful son Srinidhi Rajagopal, born April 2003. It is so much fun watching him grow up. I am so lucky to be able to be close to him almost all the time ( I work from home since 2001).

I am starting this mainly to blog about Srinidhi. There is so much to tell about him. Also, I am also going to reminisce about my childhood, college days, Nucleus days (I worked in India for two years in Nucleus software, now Polaris) and about my life in US, as I find time.

Let me plug my website (down currently, will be up soon) www.srinidhi.net .

Is that brief enough !