Last Friday at school, Caitlin's art lesson required the children to draw a picture of what they dream of becoming when they grow up. I was a little surprised when she told me she drew an astronaut. Although she had mentioned "astronaut" before in her ambitions list, I had not expected her to have drawn it since it was not one of her favourites compared with "veterinarian", "racing driver" or "chef". I let the thought pass.
Today, in the course of a conversation, she mentioned that her teacher told her "racing driver is not work". After some probing, it was clear that my dear daughter had mentioned "racing driver" as her ambition to her teacher and subsequently drew "astronaut" after she was told the former was not "work"....
I am of the opinion that the teacher has erred. As one responsible to develop young minds, she should have not killed the idea. While becoming a racing driver could be out of the question to most people, it is a fact and proven that it is a career one could consider or strive for, unlike becoming a drug dealer, prostitute or criminal!
So some damage control had to be done with telling Caitlin that her teacher was wrong. Among other things, I reminded her that Michael Schumacher works (or rather "worked" since he has retired) as a racing driver and even earns a lot of money. And to that, she said, "Yes! And his brother too!"
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Caitlin vs. Mr. Virus
Today is the fifth day Caitlin has been down with a viral infection which started with a gassy tummy and watery stool. Then came the fever followed by ulcers in her throat. The poor girl always complains of pain especially during meals as it is painful to swallow. And after meals, it would be followed by complains of tummy ache and a visit to the toilet (or potty if she is glued to the TV! Yes, she has her priorities right!)
We were told to watch out for rashes on her hands and feet as the Coxsackie virus is said to be going around these two weeks. So far after five days, the doctor has ruled that out and her fever is gone today. As for the sore throat, we will just have to be patient.
I hope we will all sleep better tonight as the past few nights have been spent monitoring her temperature and renewing wet towels on her forehead. Caitlin is one who detests taking medication so it's challenging come medicine time.
Viral infections are frustrating, especially when there are so many types of viruses and only some have been identified. Even then, there has not been any cure for some of the common ones yet. We can only manage the symptoms. At least bacterial infections can mostly be identified and the specific antibiotic prescribed to kill the bothersome microbes.
I hope Caitlin will win the fight with Mr. Virus in the next few days. She has however been pretty much her usual mischievous, active self most times when her fever medication is in charge and when her tummy is not acting up.
We were told to watch out for rashes on her hands and feet as the Coxsackie virus is said to be going around these two weeks. So far after five days, the doctor has ruled that out and her fever is gone today. As for the sore throat, we will just have to be patient.
I hope we will all sleep better tonight as the past few nights have been spent monitoring her temperature and renewing wet towels on her forehead. Caitlin is one who detests taking medication so it's challenging come medicine time.
Viral infections are frustrating, especially when there are so many types of viruses and only some have been identified. Even then, there has not been any cure for some of the common ones yet. We can only manage the symptoms. At least bacterial infections can mostly be identified and the specific antibiotic prescribed to kill the bothersome microbes.
I hope Caitlin will win the fight with Mr. Virus in the next few days. She has however been pretty much her usual mischievous, active self most times when her fever medication is in charge and when her tummy is not acting up.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Formula 1 weekend
Today officially marks the start of the Malaysian F1 race at the Sepang circuit. And the dear husband is going to damage his eardrums further on race day Sunday together with his dad, both being racing fans.
His love for cars and racing began at age seven. And after more than three decades, he has turned into a walking dictionary of anything related to F1, Rally and passenger cars, drivers, teams, trivia, manufacturers, car parts, websites and whatever else related to cars.
After experiencing and even enjoying it with him in 1998, I don't think I'm crazy enough about it to subject myself to the heat and loud engines a second time. Well, there's always the air-conditioned boxes and grandstand seats to escape the scorching sun or rain but where's the thrill if you're not out there located at a strategic turn to really be close to see and hear the cars when they zoom past? (And back in 1998, the cool and good-looking Mika Hakinnen was racing...as you know, we girls generally tend to enjoy sports sometimes more for the players than the game/sport itself!)
So, dear hubby can enjoy it by himself again this year. I'm sure he would love to bring Caitlin along but she is definitely too young to be exposed to the long hours and loud engine noise (despite the availability of ear plugs). He has, however, already instilled the interest in cars and racing in her. She enjoys riding in cars and has developed a 'relationship' with our family car. She's always asking us to drive faster and screams with thrill when we take a sharp bend, she's looking forward to riding on a roller coaster (because of the nature of the ride)and has a sizeable toy car collection. She has named her red remote control car Schumacher and has also stated "racing driver" consistently as one of her ambitions besides veterinarian, doctor and chef.
Come Sunday, it will be just Caitlin and me at home together and I doubt we will watch the race on TV. She is still unaware that Schumacher is not racing this year and I simply do not want to get badgered with questions like "I see the red car but not Schumacher's red helmet. Where's Schumacher? What's happening? (especially when there's a crash)" .... Maybe we could play "doctor" or "cooking" and at most, line her toy cars up to see who can rival Lightning McQueen....
His love for cars and racing began at age seven. And after more than three decades, he has turned into a walking dictionary of anything related to F1, Rally and passenger cars, drivers, teams, trivia, manufacturers, car parts, websites and whatever else related to cars.
After experiencing and even enjoying it with him in 1998, I don't think I'm crazy enough about it to subject myself to the heat and loud engines a second time. Well, there's always the air-conditioned boxes and grandstand seats to escape the scorching sun or rain but where's the thrill if you're not out there located at a strategic turn to really be close to see and hear the cars when they zoom past? (And back in 1998, the cool and good-looking Mika Hakinnen was racing...as you know, we girls generally tend to enjoy sports sometimes more for the players than the game/sport itself!)
So, dear hubby can enjoy it by himself again this year. I'm sure he would love to bring Caitlin along but she is definitely too young to be exposed to the long hours and loud engine noise (despite the availability of ear plugs). He has, however, already instilled the interest in cars and racing in her. She enjoys riding in cars and has developed a 'relationship' with our family car. She's always asking us to drive faster and screams with thrill when we take a sharp bend, she's looking forward to riding on a roller coaster (because of the nature of the ride)and has a sizeable toy car collection. She has named her red remote control car Schumacher and has also stated "racing driver" consistently as one of her ambitions besides veterinarian, doctor and chef.
Come Sunday, it will be just Caitlin and me at home together and I doubt we will watch the race on TV. She is still unaware that Schumacher is not racing this year and I simply do not want to get badgered with questions like "I see the red car but not Schumacher's red helmet. Where's Schumacher? What's happening? (especially when there's a crash)" .... Maybe we could play "doctor" or "cooking" and at most, line her toy cars up to see who can rival Lightning McQueen....
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Your Comments
Has anyone of you tried placing comments in my blog and was unable to? I just realised that the setting for my blog to allow comments from readers was set at "don't allow"....I've now re-set it to allow comments, my apologies!
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Chinese Wedding Dinners
The typical Chinese wedding dinner is usually an eight-course dinner which, if everyone turns up punctually as the invitation states "7.00pm sharp", would have ended probably within one and a half hours. I just returned from one and as expected, dinner was served closer to 8.30pm. It is now 11.00pm.
I do not know whether it's an age-old tradition that dinner has to start at least one hour late or does this happen only in Malaysia due to a phenomenon known as "Malaysian time"? Some try to make the wait less frustrating by serving cocktails prior to the proper sit-down dinner while others display screen projections of their bridal shots.
Having experienced many a Chinese wedding dinners, we were well prepared having "alas perut" (Malay for "pad your tummmy") with some snacks at tea time to avoid hunger pangs while waiting for dinner to be served. And if you have young children, be sure to give them an early dinner at home first if they are to attend the dinner with you. They can still eat or pick on some of the dishes they like at the dinner but at least, you can rest assured that they will not be starving by the time dinner is served.
With the dinner comes the usual champagne pouring, cake cutting and the must-have loud and prolonged three cheers of "Yum seng" to wish the newly weds long life, health and wealth, and many, many children.
(This is Caitlin's favourite part as she too would join in the chorus, raising her glass of plain water and shouting "yum seng" with much delight, clinking her glass to mine before drinking some water. Somehow Caitlin loves attending weddings and is always thrilled to see the bridal couple make their grand entrance, cut their cake and of course partake in the "yum seng".)
So guess why Eugene and I did not organise a typical Chinese wedding dinner when we tied the knot...Of course, to this day, we're reminded of how some of my relatives "didn't have enough to eat" at our afternoon tea reception if the subject of our wedding five years ago crops up.
We did cut a cake and if I remember correctly, we did have a "yum seng". The difference was it wasn't an eight-course dinner which killed dozens of sharks for their fins, nor did we start an hour late or agonised over seating arrangements. I'm glad we did it our way and am thankful for friends who helped make it happen and "happening" with a little dancing and fun and games.
I wish more young couples nowadays would throw such wedding parties be it lunch, tea or dinner!
I do not know whether it's an age-old tradition that dinner has to start at least one hour late or does this happen only in Malaysia due to a phenomenon known as "Malaysian time"? Some try to make the wait less frustrating by serving cocktails prior to the proper sit-down dinner while others display screen projections of their bridal shots.
Having experienced many a Chinese wedding dinners, we were well prepared having "alas perut" (Malay for "pad your tummmy") with some snacks at tea time to avoid hunger pangs while waiting for dinner to be served. And if you have young children, be sure to give them an early dinner at home first if they are to attend the dinner with you. They can still eat or pick on some of the dishes they like at the dinner but at least, you can rest assured that they will not be starving by the time dinner is served.
With the dinner comes the usual champagne pouring, cake cutting and the must-have loud and prolonged three cheers of "Yum seng" to wish the newly weds long life, health and wealth, and many, many children.
(This is Caitlin's favourite part as she too would join in the chorus, raising her glass of plain water and shouting "yum seng" with much delight, clinking her glass to mine before drinking some water. Somehow Caitlin loves attending weddings and is always thrilled to see the bridal couple make their grand entrance, cut their cake and of course partake in the "yum seng".)
So guess why Eugene and I did not organise a typical Chinese wedding dinner when we tied the knot...Of course, to this day, we're reminded of how some of my relatives "didn't have enough to eat" at our afternoon tea reception if the subject of our wedding five years ago crops up.
We did cut a cake and if I remember correctly, we did have a "yum seng". The difference was it wasn't an eight-course dinner which killed dozens of sharks for their fins, nor did we start an hour late or agonised over seating arrangements. I'm glad we did it our way and am thankful for friends who helped make it happen and "happening" with a little dancing and fun and games.
I wish more young couples nowadays would throw such wedding parties be it lunch, tea or dinner!
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