by The Happy WAHM
Oh, my goodness! After that, I’m speechless.
Today is the worst, so far. Coz it rained yesterday and the field is muddy. But those shoes are what I deal with everyday.
It’s been 54 days since my kids started soccer training, and boy, am I so proud of them! Six days a week, Monday to Saturday, they’d wake up at the crack of dawn and prepare to go to training. Milk, cookies, shower, get into their jerseys, get the shin guards and line up for Mommy to put on their socks and shoes.
Well, at least for the two younger ones. My 13-year old can actually put on her shin guards and knee socks, which can sometimes be a challenge. 🙂
I’ve never been athletic. I tried to be, back in high school. But dance was, and will always be, my passion, so it took precedence. Although come to think of it, dance is a sport, right? So I can claim to be athletic. Except that I danced cultural, not the power dances that are considered as sports.
I did gymnastics for a short time. Then softball as a shortstop, a bit of volleyball, did sprints on the track and field, and badminton. But I’d really rather be practicing my sway balance and waltz than do strenuous sports training. So yeah, I’m no athlete.
That’s why it’s been quite a challenge to keep up with the kids’ schedule this summer. Daily training for soccer, from 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM. Since the field is still a good 30-minute drive, we have to leave the house at 5:30 AM, which means we actually wake up at 4:00 AM so we can have time for a light breakfast and shower. While they train, I study my lessons on my tab. Yeah, I’m a Courseran, too! 🙂 Glutton for punishment, right?
Then we make a dash for home, take a quick meal and a bath, and off again to the Drum and Lyre Band training ’til 11:00 AM. We take a quick lunch and give the kids another shower and prepare again for their piano lessons at 1:00 PM. Sometimes, I’d just grab my laptop and my pocket wi-fi so I can put in some work while I wait up for the kids ’til 4:00 PM, instead of leaving and coming back to pick them up.
It’s a good thing that the piano lessons and the band training are only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Otherwise, I’d be dead by now. 🙂 And have I mentioned that I handwash their jerseys and socks everyday?
They’ve been to two tournaments, and looking forward to at least one more before summer ends. By then I’d be an expert sports mom. The first tournament we went to, we were so unprepared! I thought it was a single game kind of thing. What do you know! Tournaments, even for kiddies, are whole day affairs. So the next one we went to, we were more armed with the necessities. Like a cooler full of water and ice, several shirts to change to after each game, towels, an umbrella and a visor cap. Next time, I’d remember to wear rubber shoes and bring long sleeved polo to protect my arms. The heat and dust in these events are not for the fainthearted.
So while I am really supportive of whatever my kids choose to do, there are days that I feel like I’m way over my head. Like today, when I have to deal with muddy shoes. And socks! Thank God for my eldest who helped with the clean up, and the fact that it’s Tuesday, so no band practice to run to.
The kids? It’s another story. They voluntarily sleep early, they look forward to each training day and seeing their new-found friends. They seem to not get tired at all. They’re having the time of their lives! And that in itself is a reward.
by The Happy WAHM
Sometime in May 2011, I came across a status update from my niece. And I commented: “I miss Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang!” Well, her status sounded like it came from a TV soap opera.
Anyways, what followed was a search on the net for the famous quotes that I so loved each time I’d watch Grey’s Anatomy re-runs. I was thinking: “Hmmm… I’d pluck a quote from Meredith and make it my status on Facebook.”
Three pages on to a site that features all those much loved quotes from the first season to the latest, and I still have not found one quote that I could apply to my present situation.
And then it finally dawned on me…
When you’re happy and in love and contented with your life, you have no place for whatever Meredith, or Cristina, or Izzie, George or Derek, have to say. Not even Miranda Bailey.
See, I used to cry buckets at each ending of a Grey’s Anatomy episode. From the season when they were interns, to the time that they were surgeons, their struggles have so affected me. I would sit in front of the TV and for an entire hour, I would be left alone. It would be Mommy’s hour, so the kids leave me alone. It was a weekly routine, like an unspoken contract between me and the rest of the family. Once in every week, I have the TV to myself. Nobody wants to watch it with me. 🙂
But when Denny died, I was almost, but not quite, banned from watching any of the succeeding episodes. See, they found me shaking with sobs a full fifteen minutes after the credits have rolled, and the CSI team were very much into a crime investigation.
Fast forward to today…
No more dates with Derek, or Alex, or Sloan. Not interested anymore. Addison went to LA, George got divorced, Meredith’s an orphan, and she had miscarried, Cristina’s still as stubborn as a mule.
Are they ever going to be happy?
I’m way too busy to sit and wait for their happy ending.
And besides, Denny died, Alice died, and George, I wonder if he died in that season finale. I didn’t want to find out. It would be way too depressing. I loved George. So I didn’t wait with bated breath for the next season.
I’ve outgrown the drama in Seattle Grace Hospital. Or I simply no longer have the energy to empathize. It’s way too draining to be in the same room with them.
Although there may be moments that I will always remember. Like this exchange between Derek and Meredith:
Derek: Hey. You almost died today.
Meredith: Yeah, I almost died today. I can’t, I can’t remember our last kiss. All I could think about was “I’m going to die today” and I can’t remember our last kiss. Which, is pathetic but the last time we were together and happy, I want to be able remember that, and I can’t Derek. I can’t remember.
Derek: I’m glad you didn’t die today. It was a Thursday morning, you were wearing that ratty little ‘Dartmouth’ T-shirt you look so good in, the one with the hole at the back of the neck. You’d just washed you hair and you smelled like some kind of…flower. I was running late for surgery, you said you were going to see me later, and you lean to me, put your hand on my chest and you kissed me. Soft. It was quick. Kinda like a habit. You know, like we’d do it everyday for the rest of our lives. And you went back reading the newspaper and I went to work. That was the last time we kissed.
Isn’t that sweet?
And this one, from Preston to Cristina:
I am Preston Burke, a widely renowned cardiothorasic surgeon. I am a professional. And more than that I am a good and kind person. I am a person that cleans up behind myself. I am a person that cooks well. And you, you are an unbelievable slob. A slovenly, angry intern. I am Preston Burke. And you, you are the most competitive, most guarded, most stubborn, most challenging person I have ever met. And I love you. What the hell is the matter with you that you wont just let me?
Don’t you just wish you have some guy who would love you no matter what?
But of course, we already know that Preston left Cristina at the altar. That coward! So that’s another strike against them for me. I mean, it was a cruel way to end a relationship.
And so, no more Grey’s Anatomy. I’m busy. I’m happy. I’m in love. I am loved. I am blessed. I won’t let somebody’s story dampen my days.
But hey, I’m not saying I won’t borrow some quotes from them from time to time.
Like this one. For the friend I lost and found again, just the other day, here in Facebook.
We’re friends, real friends. And that means, no matter how long it takes, when you finally do decide to look back, I’ll still be here.
She has not accepted my friend request yet, but I’m hoping that she will. We’re friends. I’ll wait.
by The Happy WAHM
Last January 15, I posted a status on Facebook asking for anyone who’d be passing by Pampanga to please buy me a Masa Podrida by La Moderna Bakery.
Well, to be honest, it was not just for anyone. It was meant for my husband, who was at that time in Bulacan, on his way to Pangasinan. Though he does not actually do Facebook at all, I know that one of his colleagues who was with him at the time regularly checks in. So, I was kinda hoping that the post will reach him.
I was introduced to Masa Podrida by a good friend from Pampanga just a few days back. Ate Aleth and I became friends online in one of the advocacy groups I joined back in 2007. And that day, we were about to meet another cyber friend, from the same advocacy group, for the first time, so she brought some goodies with her from Pampanga, and among those was the Masa Podrida.
It was love on first taste! It became my favorite morning staple, with freshly brewed Batangas coffee. I finished the whole jar in less than a week.
So… on to the Facebook post. The very first to comment was from Ate Aleth, who promised to bring me another jar when we meet again, which, given the history we have, will be in another year. [Sigh!]
The next comment was from [drum roll] Lanie Aquino, who simply said, “Owner is my friend, how many do you want?”
I was jumping up and down, literally!
The next question was, “Where do you live?”
And here they are…
Arrived by LBC this afternoon. I was expecting a jar, and I got four! If you can see me now as I write this post, I’m smiling from ear to ear, while munching on these goodies!
I have sent a thank you message to Ate Lanie Aquino, but I guess she’s not online yet. Oh, yes! That Aquino! It thrilled my daughters to the bone when I tell them she’s related to the President. Really, Mommy? But how do you know her? Oh, well. Mommy’s secret. 🙂
So if anyone of you reading my post swings by Guagua, Pampanga, don’t go home without the Masa Podrida.
by The Happy WAHM
Who would believe I’d spend Php2,174.50 just for parking?
Well, I just did!
We were in Lipa City earlier. My aunt has been texting us in the past two days that we should come for lunch as today is the city’s fiesta. So we went. But alas, it had to be a short visit, as I have forgotten to take Jude’s eye drops at home, and he really needs those for his ongoing eye treatment. Nothing serious, but we need to be vigilant in following the doctor’s prescription as those are Jude’s eyes we’re talking about.
So, much as we’d also like to extend the visit to our friends’ house, we immediately headed home after lunch. But I requested that we swing by BDO for a few minutes to get some cash. Our best bet was the one at Robinson’s so we could avoid the killer traffic at the city proper. The plan was that I’d be dropped off at the mall entrance and they’d park just near the entrance and wait for me there. It being a Sunday, and the city’s fiesta at that, the parking was full, so Jojo drove around ’til he found a spot in front of National Bookstore. Naturally, the kids wanted to go inside. I was thinking, oh, they may be running low on origami papers and maybe they want to buy some. So while I was at the ATM, they were left inside the store.
Joining them after a few minutes, I found Xia in front of the Classics shelf. Uh-oh… Shakespeare again! Then Jude came out of nowhere and then he was pulling me to another shelf, showing me a book of the Philippines and telling me how good it is. I looked at the price and almost fainted. It’s Php1,185.00. Oh, no! How do I discourage him from getting this one? Maybe a less expensive version is lying around somewhere? So I frantically looked for one and found something for Php635.00. But he wouldn’t have it. He wants that particular one. Think! Oh, maybe if I tell him that we have to use the money he’s been saving to go to Enchanted Kingdom, he’ll forget about this.
So I did.
“Ok lang po. Mas gusto ko ang book.
While we were haggling over the book, Bea tugged at me and said, “Mommy, doon lang ako sa kabila.” And I said, okay. So off she went, while I continued to show Jude some books that are far less expensive.
He was getting impatient and was looking like he was about to cry.
“Mommy, ang kailangan mo lang, isang one thousand, isang one hundred, isang fifty, isang twenty, isang ten at isang five.”
Clearly, I was losing the battle. So I took out the plastic card case that I’m using to keep his money and let him pull out the bills needed. He stopped at twenty, as that’s the lowest denomination he has.
“Paano ‘yan? Wala ka nang ten.”
“Tatlong five na lang, Mommy.”
Okay! We’re buying this one.
Here comes Bea, with the book of Japan. Price? Php1,039.00. Aaaargh!
“Are you sure you want this? Are you sure you’ll read this? It’s expensive!”
She just stared at me, with those about-to-cry eyes, then picked up another book. “Ito na lang po.”
It was Basic Japanese. And I remembered that we bought the Japanese Pronunciation book when we went to the book fair last year. She finished that in one sitting! And she practices the words with Jude. So she must really be into this. And Xia has been writing haiku.
Okay, let me see if I can do something about this.
I went to the cashier and inquired. Could it be that this book may be up for a discounted price?
Oh, please, please, please! Let it be on sale! I’ve learned from being at National Bookstore so often, that there are items that are already identified with a permanent markdown, only they have not taken to changing the tags. So when there is a book that we really want, we sort of ask first. Or ask when the next sale event will be, for most of the books we buy are actually the not-so-popular ones.
And alas, it was! For 50%. Bea’s in luck! My wallet is not.
Okay now, what about Xia? I can’t be buying these two their books and deprive Xia of her Shakespeare. Earlier, I was telling her that those classics can be actually downloaded free from Amazon. She just needs to install the Kindle reader in her PC. But her dad butted in. “Marge, she can’t bring the PC around.” And we have not given her the liberty, yet, of bringing the laptop outside of the house.
Now here comes Jojo. With three Shakespeare books. Oh, no!
“They’re on sale, Marge. From Php209.00, they’re on sale at Php100.00.”
Need I say more?
And so that was to be the most expensive parking ticket one can get in a free parking space.
I have to admit, though, that while I am here ranting about how much I had to spend on books outside of the family budget, deep inside, my heart is rejoicing that my kids have learned to love books early on. I can’t remember a time that they ever asked for toys. Except maybe at the height of Jude’s interest in cars, which was immediately overtaken by his interest in flags and geography. But even then, Jude would even say no when we offer to buy him some more cars for his collection. He was very discriminating when buying cars, as he was not just after the car per se. He was looking for style, for functionalities, for a story that comes with it.
So now, as I am writing this post, Xia is already deep in the world of Othello. And Bea is patiently waiting for me to cover her books so she can start reading. It’s just like her to be obsessed about covering the books first, so they will be protected. And Jude? He’s already on a tour around Manila.
And as I’ve always said before, if a thief ever comes into our home, the only thing of value he can find are the books. These are our treasures, as these are our way of giving our kids the window to the world.
by The Happy WAHM
And this was exactly what I did this morning!
Us WAHMs always have our plates full with the daily tasks that we need to accomplish. So when the computer threatens to leave you hanging, that definitely constitutes as an emergency.
For the past three days, my PC has been acting up. The CPU has been emitting a high-pitched, continuous sound, followed by the monitor dying immediately after boot up. It would always resolve after I switch it off and turn back on again.
This morning, the act went to full play, and the monitor just wouldn’t light up at all. The sound just wouldn’t be abated.
Breathe in, breathe out…
As I sat just staring at the PC, the pages of my planner came illuminatingly clear in my mind. Transcription of that messy audio needs to be submitted today, I have to resolve the bug in the Inner Circle with Jake, the plans at Training Peaks need to be added to the shopping cart, the programmer messed up the script yesterday and I need to see if it has been resolved over the night so I know at what point to run the sales export, Racquel’s website should be live for Jenn, need to submit the images to Dropbox for Dr. Jankoff… and the list continues to the end of the page. I always manage to keep my planner filled up, which is good. But not today.
Breathe in, breathe out…
Okay, I am calm. I am not going to panic. There are worse things that can happen.
Breathe in, breathe out…
As calmly as I could manage, I called the tech.
“Dad, uh, the PC, I think something is wrong.”
He comes out, and I started counting my blessings.
Blessing #1: This happened today! When husband is home. He’s been out-of-town on a business trip since Monday, and he was not supposed to be home ’til Friday. He finished early so he arrived last night.
Blessing #2: Husband was looking calm, so I was hopeful that he could fix the problem.
Blessing #3: With the CPU busted, I now have the time to clean the windows.
And I did! Really! And while I was at it, I also had the inspiration to sort the trash at the back. You know, sorting the cans, bottles, plastics, getting them ready for the guys who buy them.
And just as I was winding up with my inspired cleaning and thinking about doing the laundry, the tech shouts “YES!”
Blessing #4: The PC was fixed.
First order of my workday, back up all client files and pictures. You never know when another episode of wailing will end with a gasp, followed by total silence.
Blessing #5: That we had the sense to buy a 1TG external drive, so no problem with the humongous amount of data that I needed to back up.
Breathe in, breathe out…
And what do you know, it’s evening now and I’m writing about the experience. I survived! I didn’t panic! I was calm, collected, and most of all, I made myself productive!
Being intentional works! It gets the windows cleaned. 🙂
photo credit: Susan Sharpless Smith via photopin cc
