Evan According To Facebook 2.0 Posted at 04:37 PM Here is an update of Evan at 3 1/2 years old via my posts from Facebook. I actually like doing it this way since is detailed especially the talking part which are oftentimes unpredictable and funny.
Tom suspects I am brainwashing his son.
Tom is clearly a putty in Evan's hands.
Guess who's the boss of us?
Yup, still loves his veggies. We can turn into vegetarian and Evan wouldn't miss anything. Can't say the same for the father.
Just when I started feeling sorry for my starving son he did later add they had crackers too. Nov. 6 While walking to the gym I saw something fell out from Evan's right pant leg... his Spiderman briefs. A cousin asked if he was embarrassed. I told her far from it, Evan even helped me relate to story to the gym's babysitter staff. He did have another brief on.
He got that "makes me nervous" line from me, I say it to him when he is in a precarious position or too far in the sidewalk. But his use in this context was hilarious.
We are still scratching our head where he got this extrovertness from since his father and I are both on the quiet side (although you won't guess that of me in this blog haha). We hope Evan will remain that way through his adulthood, it is an asset especially in whatever career he choses.
Okay, this is not exactly about Evan but it is an interesting bit on my life and the people I meet by being involved in my son's school activities.
This was the morning after my date night with Tom.
Funny.
According to Evan, his classmates loved the muffins. Evan actually ate 2 of these in one day, which is very unusual.
I don't mind the kissing, not just in the lips. Especially when they're sick! I bet it was Evan who made the first move since he loves to kiss me many times a day. "I want kiss and hug," he would oftentimes say in sometimes inconvenient situations, like in the middle of lunch and with food in his mouth.
No thanks to the $30 kit that I bought. We haven't even gotten around to it yet. Also, upon closer look it won't be really helpful since it's about mastering the alphabet which is too basic for Evan. Wish I could return it but my son already wrinkled the box.
Maybe he knows something we don't.
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Dempster St. Posted at 11:38 PM There is this busy street between our house and downtown. During my early days here in the U.S. I have witnessed a couple of car accidents in its intersection. There is something about this street that makes people drive carelessly. In fact, I wasn't alone in my observation, within 2 years instead of "cross traffic does not stop" signs on the North-South streets it became a "Stop" on all 4 corners.
That was 4 years ago. I don't know what it is in this street that makes the West-East drivers still feel they have the right of way. Are most of them not from the area and just ticked off that having 2 successive traffic lights before and after this intersection makes them want to bear down on a crossing pedestrian or even another vehicle? I swear, just a nanosecond pause from me behind the wheel is already a long enough cue for the West-East drivers to cut me off. Just this afternoon, I crossed southwards and was in the middle of the road when this SUV barrelled down past me. This twentysomething woman driver had her big sunglasses trained in front of her pretending to be unaware of this person in the middle of the street. I felt like slapping my hands on the door (yes, that was how close I was) and jolting her awake. HELLO!!! Driver's Ed, anyone? Still, nothing is worse than trying to cross that street with your small child. One time, we were at the curb but had to pull back when, from my left peripheral vision, I saw a car trying to beat us to the crosswalk. I was so mad, I yelled out, "ASSHOLE!" to the passing car loud enough for my voice to bounce across building walls. I mean, seriously. Don't underestimate moms with small kids. Moms will kill to protect their child. One time I swore I was going to make a big sign with the word "IDIOT!" emblazoned across it that I can take along and flash to offending drivers when Evan and I am at that road. After a few incidences with drivers on their celphones stopping just 2 feet from me when they should be at least 5 yards away, behind the line of another block has made me swear of looking into of what I can do as a citizen to make using celphone while driving illegal in my city. And you know what, one day I just might do that. Thanks to Dempster Street.
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stretching with rubber time Posted at 12:39 AM we arrived in the tropics just after midnight. i had been waiting in great anticipation for that moment, a lot of things were going through my head. i was physically exhausted, having just gone through--yet again an official first--getting utterly but unintentionally wasted, thanks to ignorance on the potency of soju the previous night in seoul. it turned out i fell sound asleep throughout the entire 4 hours on air, i never noticed the stewardess collect my bento box. but i had finally arrived safe and sound in manila. i was excited, but more curious as to whether or not my memory would deceive me into allowing nostalgia to cloud the verbal warnings of needing to be always on guard as soon as my foot steps outside the plane. indeed i had expected the scenario. ten minutes into the gates and already i was missing some of the various questionnaires needing to be completed and submitted to airport officials. rain was pouring hard outside, and even in the dark of the wee hours, it was obvious that paranoia and despair was in the atmosphere. the city had just gone through a frightful ordeal less than a month earlier, and with forecasts warning of another or two typhoons approaching the islands, coupled with the fear of a multitude of diseases which include the h1n1 spreading out in asia, there seemed to be no other emotion to pick and show to visitors than a heavy one. "opo, malala po ang baha," the young woman in white uniform softly uttered, her face covered in sanitary mask. my mother and i proceeded to immigration where a few were already in queue. it was eerily quiet, with just a few people walking about. "ah, you're from...i have a sister there. you should give me your number so i can contact you when i get the chance to visit...here's my card..." says an officer to my mother. after countless encounters with intimidating officers in the past--heck, all of them were intimidating--i had finally met one who was more interested in finding connections than making sure no insane person enters the country. it was quite comical really. as we proceeded to the customs, the atmosphere had become more grim. an older lady, supposedly in charge with ensuring all the paperwork in the declaration forms are inspected and that no illegal items go through the gates did not even look at our passports. and the oddity did not end there. as we lug our items, she complained "i'm not even paid to do this. the airline is on strike and most of us had been laid off. i'm just doing this out of charity..." i fell dead silent for a moment. i could see my mother looking very uncomfortable, i knew it was just a matter of time before she would complain ceaselessly herself. i figured, great, just great. i was beginning to feel annoyed that i have allowed a couple of hours stop to connect to another flight bound south through that airport. there was nothing to do that morning. the stores were closed, even the domestic area does not allow passengers to come in the building until after a couple of hours when the flights begin their day. i have never felt so depressed--not even when i lost, no, somebody took my luggage at heathrow years ago--in an airport before in my life. i called my sister to whine while my mother left for the washroom. of course, while this was happening the lights went off. four hours later, we proceeded to the check in counters. with no local money on hand, my mother and i were wondering if we were ever going to get through our early morning connecting flight to the countryside especially after finding out that a departure fee is in effect. thankfully, the counter was able to arrange for a foreign payment, and so we managed to go through the departure gates without a lot of hassle. while waiting for our flight, i overheard some loud comprehensible voices from behind our seats. perhaps i was just going through a bad day, but i suddenly felt a sense of repulsion from the pit of my stomach from hearing a righteous comment from a fellow visitor about the locals. i understood he meant well--but the way he loudly expressed what he probably believes is knowledge was just plain annoying. judging from the accent, i am almost certain where he is from. and judging from the behaviour, i could add a check to a pile of reasons as to why some countries can no longer admit to their nationalities freely (and wonder why) when they step outside their borders. hours later and we were boarding the aircraft. i let out a sigh of relief soon after the plane lifted to head south. i was wrong to assume that inconvenience issues ended where we just left. upon stepping out of the countryside's airport, we were greeted by a number of aggressive porters who i'm sure noticed that we were partly helpless. this was when and where i understood that times have changed, and that i am now a much better judge compared to my mother when it comes to travel decisions. the poor woman just panicked, and as a consequence, we ended boarding a seriously dilapidated bus; our luggage pushed to a compartment that does not lock properly. i knew serious tension was brewing, as my mother now realizes that i had lost my cool. she had started blaming me for not stopping her make the decisions. i wanted to explode right there and then. i figured, i had just gone from a very comfortable accomodation the other day, and i wanted to enjoy the little time i have away from work. although we did not formally put it in writing, knowledge of this place was supposed to be her responsibility. i was beginning to feel angry, but my attention too, was slowly being caught by the sight of too much life around me. while my mother was in constant check of the possibility of our luggages falling onto the road, bugging the fare collector to ensure our belongings are safe countless times, my eyes were fixated at the movements, inexplicable busy and slow at the same time. the sun was glimmering and humidity was starting to replace the cool morning breeze. i felt suffocated, and yet melancholic at the images of rugged men, women, and children hastily going to and fro on the streets. contraptions of different kind litter the streets, creating heavy traffic. i began to think that this is a place where ingenuity flourishes. where women who smell good and with hair still damp from a morning shower seemed indifferent to the suffocating dust and machinery fumes from a mix of vehicles, factories, and household kitchens. the bus moved rather slowly. with only a two-lane national highway even made more crowded by the merchandise and eateries lining the edges of the pavement, there was no other choice but to stretch time. suddenly i began to realise the staring eyes. as we moved farther from the city, they had become more attentive. perhaps it was the way we were dressed, our carry on luggage. ah yes, the-way-we-look! all of a sudden, the man sitting behind us tapped my mother's shoulder. "ma'am maipit ka anang bintana" he softly uttered, pointing to the damaged lock on the window. my mother paused. we looked back at the man, and upon comprehension, the three of us burst into laughter. indeed it was such an ordeal getting to our destination. it turned out we could have taken an airconditioned bus, or a passenger van. there could have been many ways. that day i thought, yes, we should have been smarter to seek out more options. we should have gained more information before the travel. but as my mother and i kept on recounting the story to every single person who cared to hear, i began to realize that the more that i share the experience, the more that it makes me and the listener laugh. without it, the journey would have certainly been less colourful. perhaps this is why, despite the inconvenience, despite the chaos, people keep coming back.
the dried fish vendor's young daughter was curious enough to come out of their store, which also serves as their home. |
hearts Posted at 03:10 PM you start to feel you are beginning to leap with the years when you hear more and more beings in your circle--and not necessarily humans and your age group--are passing away. i had the strangest dream last night about a close relative passing away in spring. in my dream, she was very much alive. and although i wondered why all of a sudden the events do not make sense, i was somehow quite aware that everything was far from tangible, far from real. the family's cat died yesterday. just before lunch, i received a phone call from my sister at work. she, my mother, and father were there on the last breath, literally the last breath. after a month of showing signs of health deterioration, hearts finally gave up. since the summer we noticed she had become disinterested in toys and tiny moving objects, which she and other felines instinctively chase about. before i left for the holiday, she had lost her appetite, and while i was away my sisters and father dismissed her actions as just a period of longing in the absence of my mother and i. hearts had become worse after i got back from holiday. my sisters and i had been force feeding her ever since. the second vet's visit came a little too late when more than a week ago, i was told that tumors have already spread around her organs and that it was best to "put her down." i was told she was suffering, and i was left with the option to let her go and let her go as quickly and painless. i had firmly decided shortly however, that i could never pick the time, nor do i have the moral conscience to end her life. after a family talk over dinner, we agreed for me to continue feeding her (and eventually taking her to the loo) until she decides to go on her own. and she did, peacefully, i believe, knowing that in her last breath, she was well taken care of. most people would perhaps never understand her significance to the family. she had been with us since we started a new life. although she was already four years old when we adopted her, we would like to think she grew up and old with us. she had been with us through the good and the bad, gave us something to worry about when she got sick from fighting with the neighbourhood bullies, and cheered us on when times were tough and depressing. to hearts, whom we fondly call cooties, we will surely miss you.
hearts, 30th october 1994 to 20th november 2009 |
New Moon Posted at 07:19 AM To-Do: Intro to Asian American Studies Midterm Paper Email AsAm Discussion Questions International Sociology Summary Paper WATCH NEW MOON
Whatever. I finished eeeeverything and then Alex came down to Irvine and we went to see New Moon. OH. MYY. It.was.so.good. But now, it's 4:16 AM, my head aches, I NEED sleep, and I have to wake up in about 5 hours to get ready to go to class. I cannot wait to catch up on sleep this weekend. Tyler Brown Williams: You and I |
This is a stickied post.
Stolen Sunny Morning Posted at 11:45 PM One day last week we had a slight warm up and was sunny. There is something about sunny mornings that make me feel guilty about staying indoors. So after gym, I took Evan for a trainride and a picnic in the park.
I love being a room parent. It was fun watching Evan's antics in the classroom (like standing up during storytime, or raising his hand when a question is asked with no plans of answering it). Taken during Evan's class halloween party. With the jogging stroller being bigger and more cumbersome, I thought it would be better to just leave it at home. But before finalizing my plans I had a talk with Evan, I told him about taking a trainride and picnic but I made him promise me that he was going to walk and not ask me to carry him. I know he can do it since we have been walking to school a couple of times already, also to the gym. For some reason he has showed preference to walking since we got the the jogging stroller. Which is good but can be a pain when he suddenly decides he's too tired (more like bored) to walk and the stroller is nowhere in hand. So promised he did. It turned out to be one of the loveliest mornings this year. Three is an age when he soaks everything you say like a sponge and IS interested in everything you show him - the viaducts, the train ticket machines, the pigeons etc. Three is an age when he can now wait patiently in line at a Dunkin Donuts while you get your picnic lunch of Egg McMuffins and bottled water. Three is an age when he understands that you will just share the bottle since buying another will cost more money. Three is an age when getting on the train seat he loudly observes, "that man's hair is black!" about the passenger in front of you both and you pretend not to be embarrassed by saying, "just like your hair" when your son's hair is partly brown. Three is an age when he thinks all of the children in the playground are his "friends" (and they love me, he says) and has no compunction in introducing himself, "my name is Evan" and asking them "can I play with you?" Three is an age where he runs off at a distance outside your comfort zone and you call out, "too far!" and he comes back. Three is an age where he suggests that the best place to eat the picnic lunch is inside the big toy train and he's right that you end up inside there for the most part since it shields you from the occasional chilly wind. Three is an age when you can play "what word begins with letter" game as you go home. Three is an age when he keeps his promise of walking all the way. I just know that this will be one of the best times of my life. I am grateful to have had this.
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CAN I HANDLE IT? Posted at 10:55 PM in Personal In order of due dates:
Scupture 1 Final Critique Multiples Assignment Design 2 Final Critique 100 images Assignment Game Design and Theory - Group Game Presentation and 10-page essay How and Why of Computing - Wikipedia Assignment Print Media 2 Final Critique How and Why of Computing Final Exam |
