Author: Doris

The only drawback about my job is that it takes me so far, far away from my kids. If something urgent happened, I’m an hour and a half away. I guess it would be an hour if I could convince a very nice coworker to lend me his car. Jeremy’s a little better, he’s an hour away from the kids.

Today at 9 am, Edda’s school called me an told me that they thought she had impetigo – a la Amy Winehouse – so one of us needed to bolt back home and get Edda to take her to the doctor. It’s basically a glorified pimple that’s on her chin and it’s contagious and the school doesn’t want us back tomorrow. I’m a little skeptical that it’s anything more than a glorified pimple, now I’m worried that she’s going to be home everytime she gets a pimple which may be every other week or so since she’s constantly mouthing and slobbery. So since today Jeremy basically spent 2 hours and ten dollars going to work and promptly turning around again, I’m staying home tomorrow morning to put ointment on her pimple which will promptly be wiped off and ingested by the mouthing.

It’s been kind of a long week, I’m too beat to load the photos up so you can see the pimple, it’ll have to be tomorrow.

No, it’s not on Leno. It’s here.

Our durable medical equipment guy delivered Edda’s new stroller today. OK, it’s not really a stroller – it’s the EZ Rider by Convaid, the “Compact Folding Support Wheelchair”. I got home before Jeremy and got the low-down from B. about how to fold it up. B. was relieved because she is actually the one who needs it the most as she puts Edda in a jogging stroller to pick up Vince from the bus stop and Edda was like a caterpillar in a cocoon – no wiggle room. It weighs a ton, I’m not sure how this will aid us in traveling light, but we will give it a go in a few weeks when I’m flying to CA by myself with the two kids.

Jeremy came home and saw the stroller in the kitchen and said, “Damn, that’s ugly.”

Edda has been running a fever since Friday night. It’s been a classic Edda illness, her only real symptom is a high fever- no runny nose, no coughing/sneezing. Her temp has been hovering around 39.5 to 40 C (we converted to metric while in Singapore, 40 C is 104 F). So she spikes a fever, we give her Motrin and then, an hour later, she’s happy as a pig in mud. Six hours later, the fever spikes again and she feels bad. It’s fine, the fever responds well to Motrin (which is the best thing anyone has ever invented – note to self, find patent on Motrin) but, she’s not sleeping as well and since I’ve been staying up until midnight for my own selfish reasons, we are a bit bushed.

Well after living in Choon’s place for a little while, you come to understand it a little better. Here are my top 3 peeves of the house so far…

1) There’s this shelf in the garage that I always bang my head into as I’m trying to get around the car. It’s a sharp corner too, and just the perfect height to whack you good, but not notice in in your field of vision.
2) The wireless internet connection sucks. It doesn’t work near the TV. I’m thinking a new router might solve the problem.
3) I just figured it out, but I was taking lukewarm showers for a couple days. The knob stops at a lukewarm temp, but then if you twist it a bit harder, it’ll go by that stop into a nice warm temp. Ah. I thought I was gong to take cold showers for a month. Yuck.

Cat update (for Pei-Sun) – Winston is definitely the more curious and friendly cat. Perhaps Toro was put off by no food the first night. Winston is curled up on the bed next to me. He was licking my hair. Oh also, Winston has started to attack my clothes. So um.. I can’t have that. All my clothes are in the drawer now.

Vince’s school hosted a variety show on Friday night. Vince sat in the front row on the ground; I sat in the back row studying for the patent bar exam. It’s hilarious what little kids can think to do for a variety show. The supremacy of Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana was clear – 4 acts based on her (their?) music! There were violin minuets, Scarborough Fair on the harp, juggling and magic tricks. My favorite acts came from the boys – there was the Star Wars re-enactment with trombone accompaniment and the jumping rope while on a pogo stick. I always look forward to the bake sale, but the percentage of homemade items was quite low. I was disappointed.

I suppose equal air time is in order, so here’s Toro, in his bed. I think she’s not so happy with me, tho I managed to somewhat force a kiss out of that cat. So she got to eat today. We’ll see if it happen tomorrow. Winston is very funny. He keeps dragging out Pei-Sun’s clothes into the living room and … ah … sorta goes at it. It’s very strange. I don’t even know where he’s getting the clothes from! But there’s like a sweater, a skirt, a blanket, and one other item I’m forgetting at the moment. I’m just folding them up and creating a laundry pile on the dining room table.

Tonight was relaxing. Just came home, watched Strictly Ballroom, and tried to make a lemon drop with some _really_ sour lemons from Choon’s tree. Oye.

I worked late tonight, I’m trying to make up some hours because Jeremy’s going to be traveling soon and I’m going to have to go to work late a few days in a row – I don’t think I can ask the sitter to come at 5:30 am so I can get to work on time. So tonight I got on the Metro at 6:45 and at that hour, there is less of the “I’m so exhausted, I can’t wait to get home” mood and more of the “Oh, let’s go out to dinner and a beer” mood.

Look, this cute couple – I think they were on their first date. I’m not sure though, because I think they were speaking Portuguese. But they were laughing like crazy and close together, but not too close.

Here’s a doggie who I guess is suppose to be some sort of helpful dog. I wish Ruby could ride the Metro.