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Do Dinosaurs Need Peace and Quiet to Think?

21 Nov

Sometimes I think of myself as a dinosaur because the things I see today are so different from my growing up days. And I find myself reminiscing about the good old days a lot when seeing my teenager second child does the things she does these days. Makes me acutely aware that indeed, times have changed.

These last two weeks I find myself needing extra peace and quiet surrounding me when I do my work in the office. A strange change in me. Have I evolved?

Although there is music in the studio as I feel it’s necessary to mask the sometimes enormous silence, I find it especially annoying when the DJs chatter more than play music, thus breaking my concentration. And this is precisely why I prefer Michael Buble in my car over the radio.

Currently, I am working on yet another design project and this time, the need to formulate my thoughts in quietness is important because I need to ensure every aspect of the identity’s application is cohesive and covered. So there shouldn’t be distractions. Unlike projects that require music blasting to spur my creativity, now it’s quietness that is necessary. Looks like the thought process outlining the application of a design is different from the design itself. I must have evolved.

It made me wonder, out of the blue, do real dinosaurs needed the same when they were thinking what to eat? Where to go? Would music derail their thoughts and decisions? It’s a silly thought.

  

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Times Have Changed, Part 3

18 Nov

It’s situations like these that remind me of my dinosaur status and how times have changed. Sigh… these days school-going teenagers are purposely skipping school especially after exams. Not so much to go out but to stay home instead. Yes, M2. When her big exam was over, according to her, there is no reason to go to school anymore! What?! I don’t even remember M1 doing this when she was still here.

When I was a school-going teenager, skipping school was not even an option. No ifs, ands or buts about it as there was no negotiation with Mom and Dad whether I could give school a miss. And I don’t recall being sick qualified an absence. Also during the dinosaur era, there were no distractions like these days – the internet and smart phones, to want to skip school.

Going to school was fun especially after the exams because I could be with all my friends to pass the time. We could talk or play all we want, do fun things or nothing, and not worry about studying or homework. We could even be silly and brave in front of even the most fierce teacher because we knew we would be forgiven when the school holidays kicked in. Aaahh… Those were the days. Innocent and carefree dinosaur days.

These days? Going to school after the exams are no fun for M2 because according to her, none of her friends would go and she would be bored to death. She pointed out that there’s nothing to do, the friendliest teachers are always busy and there’s no one to talk to. Geez… making it sound as if she has been banished to no man’s land and is the only lonely surviving soul! 

So being at home is better because in this comfort zone, she and her friends are able to do Skype sessions with each other, hang out virtually to listen to music, watch a movie together or just talk the whole day! Unbelievable. Why can’t they just interact in person at school? I cannot understand them.

With six weeks of holidays ahead, today being the last day of school and us busy with work, it looks like this pattern of activity will continue… unless we go away again for a family road trip or escapade… Hmm.

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Another One Leaves the Nest

12 Sep

You know your dinosaur status is reaffirmed when another child leaves the nest. First it was the twins who went to the US for their degrees. They are both back now and working. Then it was my M1 who went off last year and will be completing her Sophomore year by the end of Fall term. My M2 may be 15 years old now but I think she’s growing up too fast. Before we know it, she will also be off to university.

Then there is the bone creaking here and there status. I pulled a back muscle after gym on Monday last week and could not walk straight for a bit. Sigh. Dinosaur status reaffirmed.

Tonight, my other niece, my only sibling’s third kiddo is no kiddo anymore as she prepares to leave for Ireland to read law. We will all be at the airport to give her a happy send off.

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Belated Treat

4 Jul

My M2 turned 15 last Thursday and I was not here to celebrate with her as I was in Ho Chi Minh City. I reached home slightly after midnight on that night and managed to wish her because she waited for my return. 

Where did time go? My goodness, 15 years old. Didn’t I plan a Lego-themed birthday party for her not too long ago? Wait a minute… that was when she turned ten! My goodness, 15 years old now.

Over the weekend, we made it up to her and gave her a belated treat, starting off with a movie, ‘Finding Dory’ and a fancy Japanese dinner, followed by another movie the next day, ‘Independence Day Resurgence’. We had a good time.

My dear M2, you may be 15 and all grown up but you are still my baby. Kisses.

 

My baby

  

My kindy-going baby

  

All grown up!

 

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To the Movies

14 Jun

We finally watched ‘X-Men Apocalypse’ over the weekend. M2 wanted to watch ‘Conjuring 2’ after learning that M1 will be watching that horror movie with her friends. I vetoed her choice. What’s with my girls and horror movies anyway? I was never one for it.

My first (and only) horror flick that I ever watched at the theatre was ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’. Yes dinosaur years ago. It was my first term at college at NAU and my new friends made me go watch it with them. I think half the time my eyes were squeezed shut and the sound effects were enough to send shivers down my spine despite my fingers stuffed in both ears. 

I may be brave to battle a rat but not so when it comes to horror movies. Ugh… after that experience, put it this way, it took me a while before I could eat a pizza without any horrible thoughts.

Now my girls are different. They relish watching horror flicks. I simply don’t understand where they get this. Why subject yourselves unnecessarily to anticipation and then fear? And then after that, be fearful of the night, of the shadow and of every single little sound in the quiet of the surrounding with thoughts running wild. Silly.

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Times Have Changed

9 Jun

I look at M2 now having her school holidays and can’t help but reminisce what I did during my school holidays when I was 15 dinosaur years ago. 

Frankly, I don’t recall doing what she is doing now – sleeping in every morning (Mom would have my hide!), having late brunches, staying indoors as much as possible and surrounded by all the Apple devices: the iPhone to talk to friends on WhatsApp, the iPad for some playtime in between the studying at the dining table in the afternoon, the iPod and MacBook Air for goodness knows what else.

I do remember watching a fair bit of TV, playing with my dog in the garden, climbing my favorite tree, whacking a few tennis balls against the wall of the car porch, talking to imaginary friends and occasionally talking to a real friend on the house telephone. Half the time I was outdoors and never once I sat at the dining table to study!

Yep, times have changed. Gone are the days when one simply enjoys the outdoors, breathe in the fresh air and not worry about keeping up. It was always a happy-go-lucky situation. Nowadays, it’s a constant worry to keep up, staying connected and being indoors!

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Hats Off, Part 2

6 May

Two weeks ago when I played golf with the octogenarian, it made me think of my maternal grandpa. I don’t have many octogenarian friends and people of this age usually reminds me of the grandpas and grandmas of the world who should be sitting at home comfortably instead of out on a golf course.

Now my grandpa was one cool dude (grandma was the worrier) but he was also a scary one, at least for me when I was younger.

I remember I used to follow Mom to visit the old folks whenever opportunity came around. And it was always, always customary to go greet him before anything else. This scared me the most because he would be sitting at his usual recliner with the fan on at full blast, playing his cards, and I had to go interrupt his concentration to basically say, hi grandpa, I am here.

And he would look up from his cards, squint his eyes and peer at me. It was terrifying as I had to stand there, fidgeting until he acknowledged my presence. Then when he realized it was me, he would tell me to come closer and without fail, pinch my nose and cheeks to no end! Ouch. Painful and I was not allowed to yelp. This was my greet grandpa routine. Some things you remember for life and this was one of them. Every single visit, this treatment.

After the ritual, I was off the hook and then only to grandma I would go or out to see the chickens, the dogs or just hang out around the house.

Mom always said that I have good cheeks and a pert nose today because of grandpa’s loving touches. Hats off to grandpa, a brandy and whiskey-swishing dude, who lived life to the fullest until the ripe old age of 97. When he passed on, it was a celebration of life instead of death. God bless his soul. 

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Gone to the Dark Side

3 May

We were minding our business, having our sandwiches and coffee for lunch when I looked over to the next table. Omg! The little boy in the high chair had a Darth Vader Minion wind-up figurine. It was soooo cute – the toy, not the boy. Spidey Minion was also present but Darth Minion caught my eye.

I whispered to hubby to look over but be discreet and don’t stare. I told him, I had to have it too, the Darth Minion figurine! So in between mouthful of sandwiches, I declared we had to make an impromptu stop at Toys’r’Us before going to the pet shop.

Thank goodness it wasn’t necessary because when we stepped out of the sandwich shop, the weekend flea market vendor several steps away had Darth Minion on display. I quickly grabbed it before the kid in front of me could. It was evil.

Bwahahaha… once in a while, there is satisfaction by going over to the dark side.

How can this adorable face be evil?

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At a Crossroad

26 Apr

Lately I have been contemplating getting another tattoo. I don’t know why but it’s been on my mind. Perhaps the impending birthday being the trigger? Age catching up? Facing the fact that I am not forever 38…

I am pondering what suitable graphics to go on me, seeing that it will be a permanent thing. Hmm…

My current tattoo on my right shoulder blade is fine and happy but I feel it needs a companion. So the new tattoo shouldn’t just be a motif or pattern but another animal.

Hmm again. At a crossroad in my life now…

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Feeling Lost

25 Apr

M2 went off for camp on Friday and both of us felt lost. We weren’t quite sure what to do! It has been routine so far with her weekly night tuition classes but last Friday, she had to give it a miss and go off for a school-organized 3 day, 2 night camp.

And what’s with camp for schools nowadays? When I was in school, there were no such things as camp, let alone overnight excursions. I don’t remember. Then again times have changed…

So there we were, the two of us, indecisive on what to do, what to eat and where to go for the weekend. We ended up wandering aimlessly in six different malls over two days, not because we wanted to, it was more to kill time and anyway, it was too hazy to be outdoors for golf.

Imagine this was only a three day absence and we were like this. I dread the day when M2 goes off to college. 

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