Nikita, this year made some really nice cards for each family member with hand drawn pictures and poems!!!

This was the picture she drew for my card!

Trying out Christakis’ book Appollo’s Arrow. It has fascinating details of Covid virus. I am only a few chapters in but it gives a great understanding of the virus, the various botches we have made in controlling it and some of the big unknowns around this virus.

Trusted partner for nearly 14 years. Reached the 180,000 miles mark (that would be very close to 300,000 km). This is my second car; the first one lasted 12 years. Here is how old this car is…

1. The manufacturer stopped making this car model 10 years back!!
2. The car has a tape cassette player!
3. It does not have blue tooth to play music.
3. It does not have a USB port either. And the cigarette lighter does not work!
4. It has no rear view camera
5. The GPS maps are so hopelessly outdated, it will take you twice the time to reach any place in Atlanta. Which is fine by me, since the lid to uncover the maps does not open either 🙂

Here is another thing. This car is supposed to be filled with premium (91 minimum) gasoline. Every single gallon of the 10,000 gallons I have fed it has been regular (87). Never had any challenge with the engine.

I think I am going to run this one to the ground too like the first one (1995 Honda Civic).

Work went a little late and by the time I wrapped up dinner it was nearly 9 PM. The sharp cold in Atlanta has somewhat abated. It was a good day to sit around a fire. Which is what Sharmila and I did.

After some time, we heard a familiar meow. I say familiar because yesterday, we had a cat show up at our door. Natasha had tended to it while I tried to find out from the neighbors if any were short of cat count by one. (None were). The cat would not come indoors. So, Natasha left food, water and a cozy bed in the garage and settled it there. The garage door had to be kept open. Everytime she tried closing it, the cat would dart out.

In a few hours, the cat was gone! This morning, got a call from somebody about a mile away that it is their cat (I had posted a picture in the local bulletin) and that it is not exactly lost. It is an outside cat, does not like to come indoors and will generally hang around for some time and then leave.

Well, that cat was back!! Now, I am not big into cats – in fact, I get an allergy attack (in the eyes mainly) if a cat comes too close to me. But Natasha loves them. Well, a quick call later, all five us settled down by the fire. The cat would not leave Natasha! Interestingly, it came to make friends with the dog. The dog just simply ignored it!! (And they say it is a spaniel and terrier mix! My left foot, it is!).

After about a couple of hours, Natasha went inside. The cat, on a cue, left our property. I waited for the embers to simmer down and then came inside myself.

Nice family evening!

Too cold to light a fire outside in the yard. So, lit one in the porch…
Jayjay did not care much for the fire. He was more curious about the snacks we were having.

… checkout JayJay!