WW - lean on me

what about Math?

Yesterday while in the car, M and I were discussing about gasoline prices, cars, the impact of petroleum in today’s world - yeah, we’re a couple who can talk about world peace and war for hours. Lol! 

He was computing how many liters we consume per day given the distance to work and back and the amount of petrol we use to refill the car tank. He computed fast without pen and paper before I could even make out the numbers in my mind, he came up with a quick answer. Thank God I married someone good in Math!

I struggled with Mathematics since day one of school. I remembered my father not letting me sleep until I memorize the multiplication table when I was 8 because he knew that if I could not get past that, I will not go anywhere in life. That was a hard way of learning at a young age but I am thankful that he did it. My father would diligently sit with me every night and tirelessly guide me through my waterloo.

I struggled with elementary math, fractions, factoring then came algebra, trigonometry and calculus. I cringe every time I get my report card because I expect that my lowest grade would be that one Math related subject and I am always right.

Right now, our daughter is 4 years old. The only Mathematics she knows right now is counting 1-100 and adding single digits using her little fingers. She breezes through it almost effortlessly. Did she get her dad’s genes? I certainly hope so but in case she didn’t, I hope I have all the patience in the world to sit with her and guide her, just like my father did when I was young.

probable Saturday routine

The babe and her dad picked me up from work today. I hate how I have to work on Saturdays while both of them are still at home. Hubby and daughter has Friday-Saturday weekend while I have half-day of Thursday-Friday off. This unsynchronized schedule is making me crazy. I am at work but think about them all the time, call home so many times just to check and connect with them. Thinking about it, I might be having some bonding (or the lack of  it) issues with the other two family members.

*sigh*

The babe was waving her hand happily as the car approached where I was standing. I could tell she was so happy to see me! I was so happy to see her too. We went to the health club near our place and she and her dad enjoyed a swim while I worked out in the gym. Everyone went home happy. Exercise releases happy hormones indeed. We should do this every Saturday from now on.

Aloha Friday #22

Do you prefer prescription glasses or contact lenses? (that is, if your vision is not perfect 20/20)

I only need glasses while at work, in the movie house and driving because though my vision is not perfect, I see better with glasses than with none. To answer my own question, I prefer glasses since I’m too chicken to wear contacts.

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Aloha Friday is a weekly posting all in the spirit of fun and relaxation. No heavy, brain-stormed posts, just ask a simple question for readers to answer in the comments. Visit the Aloha Friday HQ @ An Island Life.

Bloggy Giveaways 2nd Quarter

Here are some awesome prizes at stake at the Bloggy Giveaways currently running (would be updated everyday until 25th April):

GIFT CERTIFICATES:

• $25 Amazon GC (plus books) at Brianna’s Mommy
• $25 Amazon GC at Daily Mish Mash
• $25 Amazon GC (plus two books) at Jaci Burton’s Muse
• $25 Amazon GC at My Sweet Life
• $25 Amazon GC (plus books) at Play More, Laugh More, Live More
• $25 Amazon GC at Move Fearlessly Designs
• $20 Amazon GC at Writing and Living
• $40 Amazon GC at The Queen B

GADGETS:

• 4GB SanDisk Gator Cruzer flash drive at Gen Between and at Career and Kids
• 1 GB iPod Shuffle at Oh Hey, what’s up?

BOOKS:

• Five Languages of Children by Gary Chapman & Ross Campbell, MD at The Narrow Path
• Three books: The Judge: An Untrue Tale, The Tale of Desperaux and The Giver at Lessons Learned
• Walking with Angels Volume 1: Aural’s Gift at The World Around Us
• The Usborne Internet Linked Library of Science Animal World/Usborne Picture Book in the Castle at This Thing We Call Life

CASH:

• $25 cash via Paypal at Mommy’s World

BLINGS:

• Lia Sophia necklace and earring set at Queen of the Marginally Bright
• Mother Pearl Bracelet at Crooked Eyebrow

GAME:

• Big Fish game of your choice at I know EVERYTHING

BABY STUFF:

• Baby Sling at Good Soil

I am not participating in this quarter’s bloggy giveaways but I’ll be busy joining the contests! You should too!

WW - tastes like mud

talking in the dark

Last night, the babe decided to pack her things (read: a little pillow and her pink blanket) and go to the other room again. Sleep-overs at grandma’s room seems to be a an exciting activity for her just like camping. Of course, I asked her to stay and sleep with us (we are sleeping in the same room, but not in the same bed) but she just kissed me and went. Babies do grow up, huh!

Some of you might shout, “yay, private time!”, right? Yeah, sometimes my husband and I think that too but most of the time, it is a disadvantage for us because we will end up talking endlessly until we realize that it’s way past midnight. With our busy schedules, night time talk is the best thing there is to bridge any communication gap. This is the only time we can have each other’s undivided attention and enjoy uninterrupted discussions.

So, we ended up sleeping at 1 am last night (to think we were in bed at 9:30 pm!). I couldn’t even recall our last conversation - - but I believe he asked me a question before I dozed off.

I am sleepy in the office right now and thinking, I hope the babe will be back in our room tonight.

back to school!

It’s back to school (for the third term) for the babe today. After two weeks of staying late at night because we did not have to think of waking up early the next morning, we crept into bed at 9 pm last night and set the clock before turning the lights off.

Pre-sleeping time circus fun is over.

In the morning, I woke her up saying, it’s back to school! it’s back to school! with excitement in my voice much like Nemo on his first day of school. The babe had been anticipating and waiting day after day for this morning. She had 14 days of vacation and clearly fed up by it and started asking, “Why no school today, Mom?” over and over for the last couple of days.

When we arrived in her classroom, the scene was like releasing a fish into the big ocean. The little fish, happy to be finally with her friends, swam happily and almost never looked back!

We had to come in and kiss her goodbye. Tonight, I am sure she’ll have lots of stories to tell.

the weighty issue

I had been going to the gym regularly (5-6 days a week) for almost three weeks now. I have lost weight, although not much but I feel good and know that my body is firmer than before, especially around the *jiggly* midsection area.

Came office friend #1 who came back from her one month vacation in her home country:

“Did you put on weight?”

How did that happen? I was not even slouching. How can people not see the difference from a month back to now? I am not paper thin but I’m certainly more fit now than a few weeks back!

Then I met friend #2 at a mall after months of not seeing each other (she works in a different building).

“You put on a little weight, honey.”

Unlike friend #1, she did not ask if I put on weight. She threw in a declarative sentence saying I really did. You know what’s the most disappointing part? Both of them are bigger than I am, both of them never even set foot on a gym and eats more than I do.

How can I stay composed with those kind of remarks?

It’s very easy to get discouraged with the comments I received lately. Imagine the hard work I put through working out and still being told fat unfit but I am putting it in a better perspective.

I am working out yet they still see me otherwise, what if I don’t?

This writing exercise is fueled by the writing prompt “composed” at Sunday Scribblings.

Saturday Contest Roundup #5

From The Opinionated Parent:

Contest Link: The Baby Lottery - Totally Not Chick Lit 

Prize: One copy of The Baby Lottery by Kathryn Trueblood

How to Win: leave a comment, blog about the contest and/or subscribe to the RSS feed

Deadline:April 25th

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Contest Link: Rebecca Frezza - A Special Kind of Day

Prize: One copy of A Special Kind of Day CD

How to Win: leave a comment, blog about the contest and/or subscribe to the RSS feed

Deadline:April 24th

*****

Contest Link: Happy Anniversary Putumayo!

Prize: One copy of African Dreamland CD

How to Win: leave a comment, blog about the contest and/or subscribe to the RSS feed

Deadline:April 23rd

*****

Contest Link: Hit The Road With Little Jet Set

Prize: One nap pack (pictured)

How to Win: leave a comment, blog about the contest and/or subscribe to the RSS feed

Deadline:April 22nd

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Contest Link: Growing Up Wild Cats DVD Giveaway

Prize: One copy of Animal Planet’s Growing Up Wild Cats DVD (pictured)

How to Win: leave a comment, blog about the contest

Deadline:April 24th