"Why is the sun going down, mama?"
"Why is the sun have no eyes, no nose and no a ears?" (yup he said, "a ears")
"Why is papa hungry?"
"Why is the moon not lighting us?"
"I can see the moon, it's a big circle! When the moon is happy, it smile like this!" and he gave a so cute smile, one I really wished to have taken photo of. He calls a quarter moon a "happy moon".
A car was coming as we cross the street at JBR, the Gremlin stretches his palms towards the driver and said "stop!". The driver stopped, smiled and we passed.
"Papa you put your hands like this (stretches his arms sidewards)!" Then looks at me "how about you mama? And we are like airplanes" as we join him arms up sidewards walking the roadside. He takes cue from the Al Ain Aerobatics show we just saw.
Oh wow! My voice was heard across the UAE via DJ Moe's Channel 4 FM radio show @ 8:30 pm. And you know what -- I got to talk to Moe while a song was being played and the conversation was aired about some five minutes later =). Now that answers my long time question, on how fast DJs retrieve requested songs played on air right after a caller asks for it.
Here it was: we were stuck in Sheikh Zayed traffic as the gremlin got so noisy. HIs dad, expecting a Wake Me Up When September Ends play on the radio, asks him to tone down and sing instead. Minutes passed and no said song, and all the more the Gremlin got noisier crying and insisting for the radio to play it. His dad instructed me to call the disk jockey. I held both our mobile phones ringing on both my ears. It was taking longer and everytime a song starts, I'd put down both phones while they ring, when suddenly I saw my call got answered. Startled, I lifted, and lo! DJ Moe was on the other end. I sort of stammered, apologized that I lifted the phone some seconds later. I was not conscious of my words too, since I thought I'm not live on air anyway. I managed to say it is dedicated to my son Kalel as Moe asked me. Some minutes later, we reached Al Ghurair mall's parking when my conversation was aired. As I listened, I thought I could have talked better, but I was more glad my voice did not sound mickey-mousey- squeaky =) .
Here it was: we were stuck in Sheikh Zayed traffic as the gremlin got so noisy. HIs dad, expecting a Wake Me Up When September Ends play on the radio, asks him to tone down and sing instead. Minutes passed and no said song, and all the more the Gremlin got noisier crying and insisting for the radio to play it. His dad instructed me to call the disk jockey. I held both our mobile phones ringing on both my ears. It was taking longer and everytime a song starts, I'd put down both phones while they ring, when suddenly I saw my call got answered. Startled, I lifted, and lo! DJ Moe was on the other end. I sort of stammered, apologized that I lifted the phone some seconds later. I was not conscious of my words too, since I thought I'm not live on air anyway. I managed to say it is dedicated to my son Kalel as Moe asked me. Some minutes later, we reached Al Ghurair mall's parking when my conversation was aired. As I listened, I thought I could have talked better, but I was more glad my voice did not sound mickey-mousey- squeaky =) .
I'm becoming an addict! To blog-hopping that is =) And so far this made my feel:
- I have a looooooong, long way to go in my vocabulary, structure and spontaneity in expressing my thoughts.
- There's still lots to do in Dubai/ UAE other than our mall/ park/ resto/ beach routines. Came here since five years back and we have yet to see Sharjah, Creek Park cable car, view deck of Burj Khalifa, enter the cinema (oh, yes! havent tried here yet), MOE's snow park.
- I wondered how much I would be cutting from my five-six hours daily sleep to give way to blog-hopping. Hayy, anyways, I am learning so maybe that would compensate, except if it's neglecting my health and family =)
How gremly is the Gremlin at three years six months? Here's part two of December 2009 tweets, overdue post =)
- He wants to own the karaoke, pretending to know the song, holding the microphone screaming the words he hears you sing =) Dec 31st, 2009
- "Just not too loud, papa, slowly" to his dad who's on the microphone. I corrected "softly". Dec 31st, 2009
- "What're we goin' to do~~?" is one of the complaining Gremlin's lines. Dec 31st, 2009
- When scolded, the gremlin sometimes says "Mama I am sad", otherwise he'd smile sweetly and says, "Mama I am happy!" Dec 31st, 2009
- Overturned his plastic boxes on the floor, got his big paintbrush, drummed his plastics as he danced. A rocker, ei? Dec 29th, 2009
- Gremlin and his Dad were on the road when they heard loudspeakered praying. He clasped his palms, said "They are not praying properly like this" Dec 29th, 2009
- At another tower under construction in Sharjah near kuya Greg's place: "What's happening there? The lines are going up and up!" Dec 26th, 2009
- Pointing at the tip of the building at Sharjah: "That is high. I want to climb up there!" Dec 26th, 2009
- His toys' plastic box is his boat, his chairs are his "washing cars". SAvings, no need to buy toys while being amazed at his creativity =) Dec 26th, 2009
- The dad picked the Gremlin's carbonara bowl: "Kalel can I also eat?". Gremlin: "No, leave it there! You dont have plate!" Nag-imot! Dec 26th, 2009
- Gremlin: "Sorry papa =(" The dad: "Kalel, you always say sorry because you are naughty!, will you keep saying sorry?" Gremlin: "Yes papa!" Dec 23rd, 2009
- Gremlin: "Mama come sleep with me". The mama: "Sorry Kalel I am busy". Gremlin: "eeeiii, come here sleep with me mama, you are NOT busy!" Dec 23rd, 2009
- On his usual "pipini" on my legs he said:"Mama you say up and down, you are not talking!". Action and words should go together =) ... Dec 22nd, 2009
- Attendance check! Kalel's fond of individually calling everyone's name around, and expecting a "Yes?" answer otherwise he repeats. Dec 22nd, 2009
- My Kalel is now passing watery (85% water) stools. If this gets worst tomorrow, we go to see Dr Asfour. Hoping not, he is active as he is Dec 21st, 2009
- My gremlin had fever 8pm yesterday, brought him to nearby Dr. Fabian as Dr. Mohammadi is now Mankool based and not insurance accredited Dec 21st, 2009
My previous posts had been exuding air of my restlessness. The air is getting better so I owe to blog it too. I missed to express these two days back:
... is a day of praise. I'd continue to look positively on things when I know I had been good. Some people are making it hard for me but I'm thankful I smiled amidst the struggles. They are now smiling back.
... I'd continue to believe the good in everyone. I'd keep learning to manage restlessness, to minimise letting anyone get a share of it.
... I learned that my expectations of some people could fail, even from one I deal with five days a week. They could either be the reverse of their goodness or mean-ness. I have to consider this before I start a move.
... Worrying at uncertainties is a great waste of time. Things could turn out well. At points where situations are going astray, worrying clouds the exercise of wisdom towards the best action.
... I take big risks aiming at better things, and I know as has always been, that it will not be a wrong decision if I accept and work properly with the challenges that comes with it.
As my situation is coming from so-so to so-good, I look forward to the transition in the coming weeks to come smoothly. Wish me well =) . And I wish you well too =) .
... and I am still waiting for the right time to plead. Grant me wisdom o Lord so I take the right steps to let everything be fine in this big move...
Meantime, here's the 2010 Handbook (copied from FB) to strenghten wisdom with:
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours..
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Today, I am determined not to let tension get the better of me (as in my whining in the title). I am browsing facebook in between, and I stumbled on this from Raquel. I thought it's worth sharing:
Para kaming buntis na buwan buwan nanganganak. Limang araw kada buwan kung mag-leybor, na pag nakapagluwal na ay simula nanaman ang paglilihi hanggat manganak ulit sa susunod na buwan. Ganito daw buhay opis namin sa maneyjment akawnts, sabi ng katrabaho ko. Monthend kung tawagin na kailangan isara ang mga libro.
Sabi pa pala nya sa akin, kung ako man daw ay magtrabaho sa iba, ay huwag ko daw ulitin ang mga pagkakamali ko. Palibhasa ay dakila akong mahiyain at mapagpakumbabang Igorot ~ dapat daw laging taas noo pag nakikipag-usap, confident ba lagi. Gayahin daw ang mga puting lahi na kahit na hindi nila alam ay on top pa rin sila sa sitwasyon. Eto ang kulang sa ating mga Pinoy, palibhasa ay parang napipilipit dila natin na sabayan pag-ingles nila, lalo pa kung iba-ibang lahi na tila ba di natin masabayan ang jargon nila. Eto natutunan ko - sila sila mandin ay iba't iba ang salita nila sa iisang bagay kayat di dapat tayo mag-alanganin na parang hindi angkop ang ating mga salita.
Syanga pala, malaking bagay ang pagprojek ng bilib sa sarili, this could translate sa malaking sahod o kaya'y malaking posisyon. Maraming nakakakuha ng posisyon na dahil lamang sa magaling magsalita, kahit na hindi maalam.
Hanggang sa susunod na kuro-kuro =)
In his innocence, the gremlin is never lost of things to blabber about. He talks of trivial things that at times we never bother about. I wonder what he later be discussing about as he learns more =) .
He can now tell his sentences fast, and attempts to show-off he knows better even when we sometimes need to ask him to repeat what he said so we understand.
He always insist he talk to me whenever I call home from the office, and he starts telling me what he is currently doing, until I beg off I need to put the phone down.
He is noisy too, he could be loud. And as a visitor had said, "Parang machine gun!"
Yesterday, in a span of five minutes as we enter the building parking, he had these to say:
(1) Gremlin: Mama you sing twinkle, twinkle
Me: (started to sing) Twinkle, twinkle little star
Gremlin: No Mama! Not like that! (sung) Twinkle, twinkle little moon...
how I wonder what you are!
(2) As I was picking our litter in the car, Gremlin told me: "It's messy. Fix it all by yourself"
(3) Gremlin, pointing to the dusty parked car: "That other car is dirty, eww!"
And he continued talking until we reached home.
Hubby was pulling out the grocery parking when Kalel was frantically shouting:
"Stop, stop! Please stop driving! My seatbelt, please put my seatbelt!"
Earlier, I offered the Christmas' little candy packs (cola candy, gummies) to the Gremlin. To the cola candy he declined "No I dont like, it's hard". I insisted he try the cherry chewables. I ended up transferring the candy from his mouth to mine.
Moral of the story: Kids know best!
I got a "you-think-I-believe-you" smile from Kalel's dad when I said "I should start limiting my facebook and browsing time. Say 7-8pm and 10-11pm"
Of course, that would be a struggle. I had always wanted disconnection but cant really stand for it. Yeah, facebook and showbiz (haha, umamin mahilig) are staples.
For 2010, I challenge myself to trade facebook and showbiz news for the following better use of this laptop! I'll ask hubby a treat for Kalel to Haagen Daz if I get to accomplish at least half midway in the year =)
1) Hock audio and printable reviewer (I've traded my May09 return airfare for this and havent yet covered 20% !)
2) American accent training audio (hehe, bought this in 2007 to boost my speaking confidence after working with Iranians who cant speak English. Managed to listen two of the four audios since)
3) The Secret audio books (Just got it from Kuya Greg, he vouched this to be effective)
4) Franklin Covey audio books (another again from kuya Greg)
5) Corel Draw/ Photoshop training
6) Regular research on old-age (early fifties, hehe) illnesses write-ups to email Kalel's grannies
7) Enhance this blog's layout
I stop the list here, otherwise I'm just betting on frustration, hehe.
