Bed, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!! I’ve been going along mostly okay for a month and a half without a bed, but last night it just really got to me. The sofa at the lake house, the floor bed bedroll, they just aren’t the same. I want a REAL bed. And today, I get one! Unless the delivery is delayed! In which case, I cry!
This morning I got up at 7, walked the dog, then cleared out the area in the alley around the trash cans. The trash people tenants gave up on fitting all their trash in the cans and just sort of strewed it around them. Plus, what with the house being in closing limbo and stuff, that area had gotten a little overgrown with weeds and things. I clipped back all the growing stuff, and I held my breath and picked up all the trash on the ground and threw it in cans. And I got two incredibly stingy bits from small insects, which I think might be the first chigger bites of my life? That’s exciting!
Then I got in the car and drove off to get my sink which FINALLY arrived at Home Depot and also coffee. Yes, all of this was before coffee.
Got home, set up my printer and unpacked the big vinyl floor mats I bought which look GREAT. And also the big Chinese screen, which is a perfect curtain substitute for the front windows. Then showered and changed clothes, and now I am doing a watchalong and not having to be outside in the heat. Even though I SHOULD be mowing the lawn and doing other productive things like that.
Anyway, you all can talk about other things. Like, Kajol! Her Birthday was this week! Do you love her or hate her?
India’s Hockey teams placed at the Olympics! Is Gold or Chak De India a better field hockey movie?
dontcallitbollywood 
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The only thing I have to say about Indian hockey is that I want it all to be like this (including non-existant shorts):
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The six year old thought he was wearing underwear. Not that he has anything against that. He likes to go around in his underwear too.
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lol he’s not wrong. Most boxers would be more coverage if anything.
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I went to my 25th high school reunion today! It was a low key family friendly picnic on the field outside the school. My kids and my little brothers decided to come because one of my classmates is in a locally famous band who had one song that blew up in YouTube and anyone who has a video with millions of views is very famous in their world and they all wanted to meet him. He did end up coming and was very patient and kind of bemused at the boys wanting to talk to him and take selfies. Also saw a number of other people I hadn’t seen in 25 years and a couple of people that I had kept in touch with. Conclusion: personalities are very stable, and everyone’s handwriting on their name tags was the same as it was in high school. But everyone is more chilled out as adults.
Still haven’t watched Mimi. Did start another K-drama, a romcom called Something in the Rain, and a new book, Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh, that I picked up at the local bookstore I’ve always loved. Our 6 weeks in my hometown with my parents are almost up. Monday we fly home. All packing and goodbyes from here on out.
I haven’t seen Gold but voting for Chak De India anyway. Was totally thinking about that movie when we watched highlights from one of the Indian women’s team games.
I like Kajol but not a big enough fan that I want to always watch her movies. Like I still haven’t gotten around to Tribhanga.
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That sounds really nice! And probably nicer to do it as a picnic with families. All reunions should be like that.
No hurry on Tribhanga, it’s not that great. I haven’t seen all of Kajol’s recent movies either, I love her, but she is NOT good at picking scripts.
I am a little jealous of your 6 weeks. Every summer we did about 10 days with each set of grandparents. It was really nice, relaxing, just being together without an agenda. But 6 weeks would have been a whole different level, all the stress and strangeness of a new place going away and just existing,
On Sat, Aug 7, 2021 at 7:23 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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And the Indian javelin thrower got gold. Chak De!
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Hope you sleep like a log in your new bed 🙂
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Sounds like a productive day.
I think I can beat you in terms of crazy busy right now, though. The normal part of it seems like enough when I write it out: My colleague is on vacation for three weeks and I have to cover for her at work, while our three-year-old’s daycare was also still closed this week, my wife taking care of him. I would have preferred to drive into work again for this one week, but then of course I had to get a cold which saw me stuck at home, hiding out in the bedroom to work with that stuffy head you get, while the kid kept telling me his newest discoveries from the other side of the door.
The week before he spent with his grandparents for the first time, and it went super well, but I never found the time to just be proud of him, because that week my wife was sick.
He was doing decently well with his potty training at the beginning of his summer holidays, but now he keeps telling us: “I want to pee on the carpet.” And then does.
And then there are the big things:
My wife is starting a new job the week after next. It’s really good for her, she’s been unhappy in her old position, and this is finally a chance to change that and still stay in the field she loves. Still, that means she’s not quite sure yet what her new times will be and stuff like that.
My little sister started chemotherapy last friday, having been diagnosed with breast cancer about a month ago.
And during all those goings on, since last Thursday we have made time for meetings with the people from foster care services twice. Because that was the final day of evaluation where they told us that yes, they would recommend us as a foster family. And by the way, they already knew of a little girl that might fit quite well. So we met her three days ago, and my wife fell in love immediately and I also think I’ll grow to love her, but with everything going on I didn’t have that immediate emotional connection that I had kind of been expecting. Plus, when we told my wife’s family, they gave her grief because this girl’s birth mom came to Germany from Angola, and: “What are you doing to your little prince?”
It’s also sent us into a frenzy of researching all kinds of stuff, from anything at all about that country to aspects about culture, identity and living in Germany as a black person.
So we have to make one of the hugest decisions of our lives while I really don’t feel like I have the mental energy. Typing this out has helped, though. It has helped me acknowledge that there *is* a lot going on, and I’m not weak for needing to let go of my emotions before I can move on. So now that I’ve finally had a good cry, I’ve also realized that I *do* want that girl to be our daughter. Somewhere among all that stress, I’ve already made that decision. And that is enormously freeing, because I now have more time for all that research. I don’t need to know it *now* as a basis for my decision.
Our son meets her on Monday evening and we’ll proceed from there.
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You do have me beat, for sure!
Forget everything else, you are in the process of becoming a mother again, that is the BIGGEST deal.
I know a lot of interracial adoptions, including within my family. And I can tell you that going in with eyes open is the biggest thing. Know that it is going to be A Thing in many different ways, be prepared for that, be prepared to explain things to your daughter, be prepared to explain things to the world, and be prepared for the challenges to shift as she gets older. Of course, you also have the situation of explaining already to your children why your family doesn’t look like all the families in books and so on, so you are used to these conversations.
But on the other hand, becoming a parent is always a leap into the unknown. Your son already has a distinctive personality and opinion and things about him you never could have predicted, I am sure. Interracial adoption is just another parenting challenge to face.
On Sun, Aug 8, 2021 at 4:07 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Thank you. And yes, those are exactly my conclusions. We can only raise her as our daughter, which means in the context of German culture. But we’ll be interested in all those topics now, so whichever aspect she turns out to ask after, we can explore it together.
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I’m so sorry to hear about your sister. I hope with all my heart she will be fine.
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Thank you. I think the hardest part is that we can’t do much more than hope ourselves. She lives in the Netherlands, more than six hours away from us. That’s not a distance where we can just hop over and help her out.
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Good luck with everything going on, it sounds really hard.
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Thank you. It has been quite an exercise for my recent course of trying to pay more attention to and protect my own needs. But I feel like I have done reasonably well in that respect throughout it all, and that without my progress in that respect, I would have already exploded or broken down from the current situation. I’m proud of that, so that also helps me.
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That is wonderful, it’s a lot of pressure.
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You are going through so much! I can’t imagine how overwhelming it must all be. Good for your for trying to prioritize your well being throughout this process. It’s so hard to do but it sounds like you are trying to do it because you see the bigger picture.
I truly hope everything works out with your sister and she comes out okay on the other side, and your wife’s new job brings her happiness. Being unhappy with your job can take such a toll on you and all other aspects on your life given that you spend such a significant portion of your waking hours doing it.
Also, I am so excited to hear about your daughter! It sounds like you and your wife are doing all the right things to priotize her well being so she can thrive. I look forward to hearing the progress as everyone gets assimilated.
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Thank you. All that unqualified encouragement is really great for my ego right now. And the interim foster mother also told us today that she has a good feeling concerning us, that we’re a good fit. That feels great, too.
Our big boy took solace in the same thing he always does in a new place: find all the toy cars and put them in a row. He didn’t really interact with the baby, but he started really watching her towards the end, and he waved when we left. All the experienced people and professionals are happy enough with that, so I think we are, too. Now he’s trying to remember her name while playing baby. He also said “yes” when we asked him whether he thought the baby was nice. I don’t think we’re going to get a much more ringing endorsement from a three year old.
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Awwww! Yes, this is going to work out WONDERFULLY. Except for the usual “wait, now I’m NOT the most important thing in my parents life any more?” question. Also, your family will be so excited about a new baby, it will give them something happy to think about when they need it.
On Mon, Aug 9, 2021 at 1:57 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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That is so great! Sounds like your son handled a new and confusing situation like a champ! I can’t wait to hear how he makes her laugh once she comes to live with you. Every 3 year old I know thinks is the best thing in the world to make their baby sibling laugh. Given their proximity in age, they are always the best at it as well. I’m so excited for your family! Also, how are you feeling now?
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Feeling much calmer now. A baby chewing on your fingers will do that for you. There’s still a lot of work ahead of us right now, but she’s worth it.
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Awwwww! All warm and snuggly and heavy.
On Mon, Aug 9, 2021 at 11:07 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Arjun and Janhvi Kapoor on Harper’s Bazaar cover.
https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/celebrity/article/photos-sibling-duo-arjun-kapoor-and-janhvi-kapoor-stun-as-cover-stars-for-a-magazine-photoshoot/794800
I can’t take my eyes of him 🙂
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He’s looking really good with the hair.
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Arjun looks great!
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Ahhhh!!!! The next Farhan/Reema/Zoya film
just announced and I cannot contain my excitement:
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Kat and Alia are co-starring??????? WHAT THE HECK????
Also, WHERE IS MADE IN HEAVEN 2???? (this is my new “DON 3”!!!!)
On Tue, Aug 10, 2021 at 8:55 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I know!!! I’m shocked and confused and yet so so excited!!! I haven’t been this excited about a movie in a long time!!! Maybe in filming the movie, Alia will realize Ranbir is an idiot and break up with him!
Also, it looks like maybe it’s a girl’s road trip based on the picture of a car? And given that Zoya’s name is listed first as the writer, I am hoping it’s a Zoya/ Reema script that they want Farhan to direct? I need this film to come out now!!! I am so excited that I really don’t care who the male actors are. The only thing that would ruin the movie for me is if Ranbir is in it because he ruins everything!
And yeah, Made in Heaven 2 would be great too but I’m way too excited about this film to even think about that right now.
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Yes, it’s a girl’s road trip :
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I love that trailer! Even though I realize there is no new footage in it.
On Tue, Aug 10, 2021 at 3:02 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Thank you! I saw the post from Farhan about it!!!
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You beat me to it but I’m so excited too! This came out of nowhere – those three starring, Farhan directing, Zoya-Reema-Farhan writing – sounds too good to be true! Please don’t mess it up!
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I KNOW!!! I cannot contain my excitement!!! Literally the only think that would rain on my parade is if they cast Ranbir. Nothing else could dampen by excitement.
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I don’t care for the male lead/s, would prefer if there aren’t any, instead just have a bunch of famous leading men make cameos throughout their trip. But seriously, when was the last time three almost equally big all male or female stars headlined a mainstream movie like this? Only ZNMD or DCH before that come to mind, but they all had one bigger star and the other not so big ones. I think we have to go way back to the 90s to think of something, and that too not with actresses.
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Yes! I am so excited that this will have three equally high-profile mainstream female stars! I don’t really care who the male leads are either except for Ranbir. I so care if he is in this movie because it ruins everything!
I agree that I don’t think there have been any movies since the DCH that have had multiple equally big stars headlining it and definitely not female. I don’t know if I would even put ZNMD in that catagory, since at the time it came out, Hrithik was the only big name actor. Farhan was mostly still famous as a director. He had done a couple lower budget interesting films but they weren’t mainstream. And Abhay IMO has never been a mainstream hero.
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Even in DCH Saif and Akshaye were nowhere near Aamir’s stature. This must be something special to bring Farhan back to directing. Also, I’m already dreading the promotions for this; Indian media are going to have a field day with Kat-Alia!
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Ugh! I’m dreading the promotions too! But I think it’s going to be more frustrating for the reporters because Kat and Alia are consummate professionals and can be super diplomatic. Also, unfortunately, I have a feeling Alia is going to be married to Ranbir by the time the movie is released so it’ll all be water under the bridge.
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I hope this will be a whole watershed moment like DCH was for Indian cinema, and by the looks of the cast and crew, I truly hope it will be. 😀
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YES! I hope this is a watershed moment also! I wonder when the movie will be released? It’ll likely be next year, right? I will have to plan an event around it!
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Same. I can’t wait to go back to the cinema and watch Indian films.
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I’m scared of a surprise child abuse sub plot, since they throw those in everywhere right now.
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Nope nope nope! I don’t even want to put that out in the universe! That better not be happening!
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A dream trio of ladies just for me, how thoughtful of somebody.
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ME TOO!!! Most people on this blog like Alia and Kat, including me. But I am one of the only people on the blog that really likes PC. So this is a perfect movie for me! And Farhan and PC clearly enjoy working together. This is all just so exciting!
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I love PC too! It’s Alia I like less, but she might be fun in this.
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Alia is fine I guess but I would have preferred someone a bit older. She always reads younger than her age anyway, like their little sister.
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WE don’t know though, that could be the plot. Three sisters, PC is the oldest, Alia the youngest tag along. I would love that plot.
On Wed, Aug 11, 2021 at 12:55 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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A three sisters movie would be super fun 🙂. Their energy and personas are so different, I’m curious to see how they put them together. Would be worried if it weren’t Zoya/Reema, they do amazing ensembles.
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Sisters plot could be good, though I don’t think that’s what they’ll go for.
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And in other news, Bhansali is going to make a glamorous series for Netflix. I am so in for the pretty and for his work to finally be on Netflix. I want fantasy and tragedy draped in pretty golden drapes and a thousand Diya’s!!
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I just shared this to my sister and her best friend who enjoy all the beauty and trajedy of Bansali and are very excited to watch this!
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Yesssss I hope it’s super trashy.
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The highest temperature in European history have been recorded yesterday and guess where – in Sicily. And exactly in my district. Yesterday we had 48.8C (119.85F) ! If it wasn’t enough my A/C is broken these days 😦
I never waited for autumn but this year I just can’t wait when the summer will be over.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58130893
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Oh my gosh! That’s terrible!!!! I hope the schools are closed? It’s not healthy for kids to be sitting in class in that kind of weather.
On Thu, Aug 12, 2021 at 4:32 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Summer holidays are very long here, over 3 months. The school will start in the middle of September. But even if the school was open the lessons would be canceled in this weather.
The worst thing is that maybe it wasn’t the hottest day. I read that next week will also be very very hot, and I’m not ready for this.
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Oh good!!!! Where I grew up, the schools weren’t air conditioned, and there were always a few days at the end and the beginning of the year when it was downright dangerous for us to still be in school. The Moms would go on rotation bringing in ice cubes and cold water and ice packs for all the kinds, which is kind of crazy when I think about it. Why not just cancel school? Like they would for a snowstorm?
On Thu, Aug 12, 2021 at 8:13 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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