I am enjoying the show Fresh Off the Boat. The Tiger Mom reminds me of mine so much! The trials and travails the oldest son Eddie (also the narrator) goes through are so parallel to mine! In one scene, Eddie brings homemade noodles for lunch. His new classmates wail in disgust as they smell the foreign aroma from Eddie's meal. It reminds me when I brought some Polvoron to school. I had planned to enjoy the two pieces during recess. Feeling generous, I gave my second piece to Lisa so she could try the delicious treat. She took one bite and spit it out. She exclaimed how terrible it is. Luckily she gave her leftovers back to me and I got to enjoy the rest, but I was very embarrassed.
And mad! Polvoron is delicious! You don't spit that mana from heaven out of your mouth! Blasphemy!
Showing posts with label Just Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Just Me. Show all posts
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Friday, January 12, 2018
When You're Not Sick
It seems the kids do listen to what I say. You wouldn't think that was the case when I have to tell them every night that they need to put their dirty clothes in the hamper.
Today I was sickly. Although I no longer had a fever, I was able to move about. But my excursions were riddled with coughing and snot-snorts. In need of milk and school snacks, I brought the kids with me to the grocery store. I went one route to get vegetables, milk, and other food; the kids went another to pick out their treats and snacks.
When we met up somewhere in the soup aisle, they placed their delicious goodies in my cart. My mouth watered at the sight of the M&Ms and frosted cookies they had chosen, but I resisted the urge to have some because ... well, they weren't payed for yet. When we got to the car, however, and I was putting the groceries in the trunk, my eyes again zeroed in on the sweets. Max asked if he could have the cookies on the way home and I happily obliged. I immediately asked if I could have one and I got this answer:
"NO! You're sick."
Darn it, these kids listen to me at the wrong time! Later that night I asked for some M&Ms and Max this time said yes. But this yes was followed up with "... when you're not sick anymore."
Clever little kiddos.
Today I was sickly. Although I no longer had a fever, I was able to move about. But my excursions were riddled with coughing and snot-snorts. In need of milk and school snacks, I brought the kids with me to the grocery store. I went one route to get vegetables, milk, and other food; the kids went another to pick out their treats and snacks.
When we met up somewhere in the soup aisle, they placed their delicious goodies in my cart. My mouth watered at the sight of the M&Ms and frosted cookies they had chosen, but I resisted the urge to have some because ... well, they weren't payed for yet. When we got to the car, however, and I was putting the groceries in the trunk, my eyes again zeroed in on the sweets. Max asked if he could have the cookies on the way home and I happily obliged. I immediately asked if I could have one and I got this answer:
"NO! You're sick."
Darn it, these kids listen to me at the wrong time! Later that night I asked for some M&Ms and Max this time said yes. But this yes was followed up with "... when you're not sick anymore."
Clever little kiddos.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
The Circle of Perspective
We left Alameda, CA, in May of 2012. The kids and I have returned almost 5 years later in April 2017. My feelings towards the San Francisco Bay Area are completely different than they were when we left.
2012: I was so sick of this little island of Alameda. I was tired of liberalism. I had been exposed to it and believed in it for nearly two decades. I had lived in California all my life. Political Correctedness was all I knew. California folk were all I knew and I was bored. I wanted to explore the other parts of the country.
Although I lived in metropolitan cities most of my life, I felt like a naive country bumpkin. I didn't know diversity in that everyone in Northern California had the same ideals. I remember in 2008, walking through a street festival, two old white ladies sat at a humble table with a banner that promoted the Republican Party. I thought to myself, "The balls on these two!" For them to quietly, but overtly show their conservative support amazed me. I felt like the pussy, never venturing out of a comfort zone.
Michael got orders to go to a new duty station in Tampa, Florida, and I was so excited to leave the West Coast. I was finally going to see conservatives on their turf and see what it was like to be a true minority. Yes, I'm a Pacific Islander and considered a minority in America. A Filipino in California, however, is in the majority. I couldn't wait to see rednecks and observe how they act. I was braving uncharted-to-me territories. I was really traveling.
2014: I was sick of Florida. What I had not accounted for in seeing Conservative lands is the lack of excitement for new things. The selection of organic produce and products is scarce. Their museums did not have controversial exhibits nor were they interactive enough for children.
The Latin cuisine was uneventful. I had heard about Cuban sandwiches and loved the Cuban restaurant Versailles in Los Angeles. Their specialty was a roasted garlic chicken. I thought that being closer to Cuban culture would wow me and give me the thrill of experiencing exotic cultures. It felt anything but exotic. A Cuban sandwich feels like any other toasted deli meat-filled sandwich. One exciting discovery, however, was their version of empanadas. With a thinner and fried crust, it surpasses the baked, doughful ones from the Filipino American bakeries.
I also was sick of being bitten by mosquitos and no-see-ums.
The allure of observing Republicans in the wild lost its lustre in the first half-year. You pretty much get the idea when they open their mouths and spew thoughts. They're not dumb; just different but not complexly so. And the same could be said of liberals - they're not complexly different than the conservatives.
Michael now got orders to Washington, D.C. and the promise of quality museums sat on the horizon. There was bound to be more diversity and maybe a different kind of conservative to observe. There might even be pockets of liberals that I could identify with.
2017: I finally came to terms with the fact that I'm a Hippie at Heart. There's no denying it. I love organic products, recycling, podcasts, and unplugged children. I also do not appreciate frigid temperatures. Virginia, Maryland, and DC, have the terrible combination of cold winters and humid summers with mosquitoes. April and September are the only two months in which the weather is perfect. The other ten months are as miserable as being sick with a fever during a 3-hour architectural history final in an air-conditioned auditorium.
The museums were alright. The only one that we frequented regularly was the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. The American Indian Museum was cool also, but its highlight was their cafeteria. There were living history museums / farms, but the kids were not interested in visiting every one because they were so similar to one another. Places and parks were also faaaar away from one another. When I think of DC, I think of lots of driving. Poor Michael thinks of lots of driving in traffic.
Michael's recent orders sent us back to Alameda. And I am basking in the temperate weather and the plethora of things to do and learn here. It has only been 3-1/2 weeks since we arrived and we may be bathing in the honeymoon phase. We see how long our enthusiasm lasts. I have a feeling it might last a while.
s
2012: I was so sick of this little island of Alameda. I was tired of liberalism. I had been exposed to it and believed in it for nearly two decades. I had lived in California all my life. Political Correctedness was all I knew. California folk were all I knew and I was bored. I wanted to explore the other parts of the country.
Although I lived in metropolitan cities most of my life, I felt like a naive country bumpkin. I didn't know diversity in that everyone in Northern California had the same ideals. I remember in 2008, walking through a street festival, two old white ladies sat at a humble table with a banner that promoted the Republican Party. I thought to myself, "The balls on these two!" For them to quietly, but overtly show their conservative support amazed me. I felt like the pussy, never venturing out of a comfort zone.
Michael got orders to go to a new duty station in Tampa, Florida, and I was so excited to leave the West Coast. I was finally going to see conservatives on their turf and see what it was like to be a true minority. Yes, I'm a Pacific Islander and considered a minority in America. A Filipino in California, however, is in the majority. I couldn't wait to see rednecks and observe how they act. I was braving uncharted-to-me territories. I was really traveling.
2014: I was sick of Florida. What I had not accounted for in seeing Conservative lands is the lack of excitement for new things. The selection of organic produce and products is scarce. Their museums did not have controversial exhibits nor were they interactive enough for children.
The Latin cuisine was uneventful. I had heard about Cuban sandwiches and loved the Cuban restaurant Versailles in Los Angeles. Their specialty was a roasted garlic chicken. I thought that being closer to Cuban culture would wow me and give me the thrill of experiencing exotic cultures. It felt anything but exotic. A Cuban sandwich feels like any other toasted deli meat-filled sandwich. One exciting discovery, however, was their version of empanadas. With a thinner and fried crust, it surpasses the baked, doughful ones from the Filipino American bakeries.
I also was sick of being bitten by mosquitos and no-see-ums.
The allure of observing Republicans in the wild lost its lustre in the first half-year. You pretty much get the idea when they open their mouths and spew thoughts. They're not dumb; just different but not complexly so. And the same could be said of liberals - they're not complexly different than the conservatives.
Michael now got orders to Washington, D.C. and the promise of quality museums sat on the horizon. There was bound to be more diversity and maybe a different kind of conservative to observe. There might even be pockets of liberals that I could identify with.
2017: I finally came to terms with the fact that I'm a Hippie at Heart. There's no denying it. I love organic products, recycling, podcasts, and unplugged children. I also do not appreciate frigid temperatures. Virginia, Maryland, and DC, have the terrible combination of cold winters and humid summers with mosquitoes. April and September are the only two months in which the weather is perfect. The other ten months are as miserable as being sick with a fever during a 3-hour architectural history final in an air-conditioned auditorium.
The museums were alright. The only one that we frequented regularly was the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. The American Indian Museum was cool also, but its highlight was their cafeteria. There were living history museums / farms, but the kids were not interested in visiting every one because they were so similar to one another. Places and parks were also faaaar away from one another. When I think of DC, I think of lots of driving. Poor Michael thinks of lots of driving in traffic.
Michael's recent orders sent us back to Alameda. And I am basking in the temperate weather and the plethora of things to do and learn here. It has only been 3-1/2 weeks since we arrived and we may be bathing in the honeymoon phase. We see how long our enthusiasm lasts. I have a feeling it might last a while.
s
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Valentine's Day 2017
Chocolate dipped strawberries, take 2! This year we got the chocolate at the right consistency for dipping.
The secret was reading the directions! I was so inattentive last year. This year had been an improvement.
And deliciously so!!
Monday, January 30, 2017
Tsk Tsk, Middle America
Shame on you, Wyoming, North Dakota, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Mississippi!!
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Half Hippie
The kids were asking what "hippies" are. We talked about hippie ideals and what they usually look (and smell) like. I told them that I never set out to be a hippie, but I care about the same things they do so I'm a bit of an accidental one. Simone then commented,
"I think Daddy is a partial hippie because his armpits stink."
Monday, December 12, 2016
Great caretakers
We took a walk yesterday and it was coooold!!!!!
The kids fought over being the one to push me on the wheelchair.
Simone ran me over some holes and almost into the side of the road. Max kept cutting off Michael's path.
It was get to get out of the bus. The kids might take me out for a walk again this afternoon if it stops raining.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Face Paint
Max practiced his face painting skills on me.
I forgot I had it on 3 hours later.
Walking to the car to return some bags, I saw a neighbor whom I haven't met before. I said hi enthusiastically and she responded the same but without the enthusiasm.
RV people are weirdos!
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Lesson Plan
I'm going all out this homeschooling year. Not only have I compiled the list of concepts the kids have to learn by the end of the school year, but I'm also constructing a schedule for when to teach the concepts.
My first year of homeschooling with Simone was tough in that she and I butted heads so much and I almost killed the love of learning in her. Out of fear of shoving all this information into her, my anxiety passed on to her and learning was not fun. I also didn't accept that she would not excel in Math. Because of her lack of enthusiasm for the topic, I unfairly imagined catastrophic futures for her. But she made it and passed her testing. As predicted she scored so high in reading comprehension and language arts, but barely passed the mathematics section.
I did not want to squash Simone's love of learning so I took on an unschooling approach, didn't research the standards, and just went through some curriculum at her pace. But panic again set in when it came close to testing and I realized that this child-led learning had its faults. Luckily, with some cramming miracles, Simone again passed her test with the same results as last year. This time however, she was tested in new subjects of social studies and science and she excelled in those too!
This past year was also Max's first year in homeschooling. His drive to learn math mirrored my love of it, but his aversion to learning to read was foreign to all of us. I still don't know exactly why he hates reading, but it could have been the content. Just recently he has been reading new words on his own thanks to his desire to decipher the names of his Grossery Gang (a set of small, rubber figurines that resemble stale, decomposing food). He also passed his test and predictably excelled in Math and was average in Reading.
As we approach the next year of homeschooling, I am determined to combine the successes and to avoid the failures of both years. I'm adding structure to the learning, but leaving a lot of room for review of the concepts with which either child needs help. I have always admired public school teachers who can wrangle 30 kids and teach them reading and math. But these teachers also have it easy in that they teach the same topics every year. I now have admiration for all homeschooling moms who have to construct a new lesson plan each year for their kid(s). I'm finding it quite a challenge, but one that is worth it.
My first year of homeschooling with Simone was tough in that she and I butted heads so much and I almost killed the love of learning in her. Out of fear of shoving all this information into her, my anxiety passed on to her and learning was not fun. I also didn't accept that she would not excel in Math. Because of her lack of enthusiasm for the topic, I unfairly imagined catastrophic futures for her. But she made it and passed her testing. As predicted she scored so high in reading comprehension and language arts, but barely passed the mathematics section.
I did not want to squash Simone's love of learning so I took on an unschooling approach, didn't research the standards, and just went through some curriculum at her pace. But panic again set in when it came close to testing and I realized that this child-led learning had its faults. Luckily, with some cramming miracles, Simone again passed her test with the same results as last year. This time however, she was tested in new subjects of social studies and science and she excelled in those too!
This past year was also Max's first year in homeschooling. His drive to learn math mirrored my love of it, but his aversion to learning to read was foreign to all of us. I still don't know exactly why he hates reading, but it could have been the content. Just recently he has been reading new words on his own thanks to his desire to decipher the names of his Grossery Gang (a set of small, rubber figurines that resemble stale, decomposing food). He also passed his test and predictably excelled in Math and was average in Reading.
As we approach the next year of homeschooling, I am determined to combine the successes and to avoid the failures of both years. I'm adding structure to the learning, but leaving a lot of room for review of the concepts with which either child needs help. I have always admired public school teachers who can wrangle 30 kids and teach them reading and math. But these teachers also have it easy in that they teach the same topics every year. I now have admiration for all homeschooling moms who have to construct a new lesson plan each year for their kid(s). I'm finding it quite a challenge, but one that is worth it.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Family Photos
When I was young, I loved to make funny faces during family photos. Back then, my mischief could not be discovered until the film had been processed, picked up, and viewed.
My parents would tell me I ruined the photos, but I think I made them more interesting.
Friday, June 10, 2016
Santa?
This might have been the moment I realized Santa does not live in the North Pole, nor even be real.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Wine and Dine
Michael had never tried lobster before our 11th anniversary. I had tried it, but hated it. Maybe the East Coast lobster is the key because we tried lobster tail for our anniversary dinner and loved it!
We went to a local mom-and-pop restaurant this past Sunday and had a great meal with the kids. Michael ate an entire locate this time and made sure I had enough wine available.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Spicy
The things I splurge on now are so domestic-related. Not only did I get new spice containers, but they are magnetized yo!!
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Hands
I have not felt as old as I did this morning when Simone said to me, "Mommy, your hands are starting to feel like Grandma's."
Where's my moisturizer!!!?!
Monday, May 16, 2016
11 Years!
We had the opportunity to celebrate our wedding anniversary in Florida, again!
This time we were in Key West!!
Monday, April 25, 2016
It Has Begun
I need reading glasses now! I used to be near sighted until I had Lasix. The doctors warned that I'll experience a change in trying to read things up close at around 40. Here it is.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Gourmet Burgers
Who says you can't have gourmet burgers in a tiny shelter? We live it up sometime with our hamburger press, a few splashes of beer, organic pasture-raised ground beef, blue cheese, garlic, onion and Old Bay seasoning. Sometimes it feels like we're vacationing and really we're just hanging out on a regular Sunday.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Repurposed Tarp
Last year, I made a terrible mistake of not checking where our canopy was in relation to our hot grill. I usually don't have to worry about their distance because the canopy is propped up most of the time. But this night was a windy one so I dropped the poles and tarp and laid it flat against the bus. Sadly, I didn't tie the tarp down well enough and I didn't account for the distance when the hot lid of the grill is fully open.
After cooking perfectly medium rare steaks, I could not rejoice in my culinary skills because my depth perception was not turned on. I lowered the lid and saw that I had burned a giant hole in the tarp!
After cooking perfectly medium rare steaks, I could not rejoice in my culinary skills because my depth perception was not turned on. I lowered the lid and saw that I had burned a giant hole in the tarp!
We survived with the hole throughout winter, but Michael was itching to change the frame. Notice how the beam is sagging so low between poles. So since he was doing that, we replaced the tarp with a brand new, non-burnt one. Coincidentally, Michael's motorcycle cover was in such poor shape that he had the idea to reuse the old tarp as his new motorcycle cover!
Michael drapes and cuts ...
I pinned and sewed ...
Voila!
Wet no more.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Battle of the Wheels!
Now that warmer weather sometimes graces us, we're slowly rolling out our wheels! Max sure does love to photobomb ... every picture.
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