Spam Slam!

This is RICH! It's a bit of reading but it's SO worth it to see how "Derek Trotter" slowly but surely reeled in a sender of the Nigerian money scam e-mail.

And check back with 419eater.com for future spam slams!

Via Sydney Morning Herald

Car Owners, Thank Your Ancestors

Pigeons were formerly as numerous as ants in North America.

One More Time!

The latest news in the so-called "Mommy Wars" comes in the form of a book which insists that women have a social obligation to continue working. Linda Hirshman, author of the book "Get to Work: A Manifesto for Women of the World", reviewed here on Slate stipulates that we have a duty, nay, a social obligation to work after our children are born in order to further the cause of all women in the workplace.

Although this idea may fly in an Asian country, where societal good supercedes indvidual preference, it smacks of Communism in good ol' individualistic America. In my recent post An Educated Woman, I take issue with those who state that a woman who chooses to stay at home has wasted her college education. I again take issue with Ms. Hirshman's idea.

I read the blogs of several working mothers such as Kazumi (who recently launched her own business), Wendy, and Mama Nabi. I also read the blogs of other stay-at-home mothers such as GroovyVic, Brandy, and Black Belt Mama. I'd be interested to hear what any of them had to say on this issue.

Reach out and touch someone

Creek at Edwards Park, Toronto, Canada.


I'll post some of the better pictures of Canada occasionally.

**

I don't seem to mesh well with the moms in my neighborhood. I'm sure some of it has to do with my own self-consciousness, since I am somewhat (ok, quite a bit) older than most of them. It will be something I need to get over, since my kids' friends will more than likely be kids from this subdivision. I suppose getting along with your kids' friends' parents is sort of like getting along with co-workers or your in-laws. You just have to do it, even though you have little in common with them. I do know some moms who just happen to have kids around my age. One is a woman I've been attending martial arts with for almost 9 years. Another is Nanny A.'s niece. But there's an added angle with those two - something I have in common with them aside from strictly that our kids are similar in age. I feel comfortable with these two women and their families.

A couple of months ago, I saw a mom I know from another activity we used to attend last year. She was at the park with her son, who is 6 months older than Branch and Blossom. I chatted with her but after we left the park, I silently kicked myself for not inviting her and her son over to play. As other parents chatted at the park, she stood alone with her son. I really don't like to think she was standing alone because she is black, but perhaps it was. I've always had my nanny to chat with so I haven't had to knock around the playground myself with my kids. Because then I probably wouldn't be chatting with anyone either!

Today it rained most of the day, so Nanny A. and I took Branch and Blossom to the local mall. We spent five dollars on carousel rides for the kids. Then we went to the small indoor playground, which is free and in the public area. I saw the above referenced mom, who I shall call M., again. As before, she was sitting by herself as her son explored the play area. M. and I greeted each other and it was then and there I gave her my phone number and invited her to bring her son swimming at our community pool with Branch and Blossom. She also gave me her number so I will invite her to some of the activities Branch and Blossom attend. It felt good to make that connection and maybe make new friends as well. Now if I could only do that at home!

Big Tongue & Narrow Throat

Get your minds out of the gutter. That was simply the observation of the sleep specialist I visited today. I am scheduled for a sleep study next month right after 4th of July. I usually don't feel rested after sleep, I do snore, and wake up early in the morning (even when the kids aren't making noise!) so I decided to do something about it, finally.




In other news, South Korea is, sadly, out of the World Cup. They lost 2-0 against Switzerland. Pictured is my soccer honey Ahn Jung-Hwan looking a bit disgusted after Switzerland's second goal which was somewhat controversial.

Can You Still Order Home Fries...

..when you're on vacation?



One of the perks of being in Canada was watching comedy shows in our hotel. The above remark was made on the show Royal Canadian Air Farce.

**
When I read local newspapers in Canada, the theme seemed to be Pick On Air Canada. Let the record at Herding Cats state that (aside from the idiot who failed to book our children on the flight home - what, we were going to leave them in Canada?), the staff of Air Canada were more than helpful and professional. As we struggled with our travel-weary kids to disembark from the return flight, a flight attendant carried one of our laptops AND a member of the cockpit crew carried our rollaboard suitcase. Either that's their idea of customer service, or they were desperate to get us off the plane since the new crew were all lined up in the jetway waiting to board. I have a feeling it was the latter.

**

Let's see: I went to a country where stuff is real expensive, toting toddlers and visiting with in-laws, and nearly missed the return flight home. Yup, sounds like a great vacation. The Citizen and I did get to play a few short games of tennis and I did get to see my soccer honey Ahn Jung-Hwan play in the World Cup.

Ahn Jung-Hwan, left.









We visited Niagara Falls, stomping grounds of fellow blogger Zambo.



Here is the cast of Herding Cats at Niagara Falls. And I look none too pleased for the entire experience.


We walked in a park across the street from the falls. The Branch enjoyed investigating his namesake, the pine tree.


The Blossom was a bit less enthused about nature.




In the town of Niagara Falls, we ate outstanding fish and chips at Fine Kettle 'O' Fish. Pictured below are the Canadian Citizen (The Citizen's brother) and his wife at FKOF.


I won't lie - I was OVERJOYED to get home, least of all to a real cup of coffee out of a ceramic mug. The best cup of coffee I had on vacation was at the Korean laundromat, when the proprietor offered me a cup from his personal coffeemaker (The Citizen's and my big romantic getaway was watching Australia v. Japan in the World Cup at the Korean laundromat). Hotel coffee sucks. It's weak as water and I hate styrofoam cups. The Branch fell out of the high chair at the breakfast bar. The carpet was filthy - the shoes I wear to take out the trash at home are cleaner on the bottom than my sandals after walking down the hotel hall. And this was a Holiday Inn Express, not some fleabag motel.

I could rant on and on. My mother-in-law said the Blossom's shoes don't fit, when actually MIL was trying to put them on the Blossom without SOCKS, which were provided. The kids were frequently tired, out of their usual surroundings, and cranky. The Blossom did not like Chinese food and the Branch ate too much (my in-laws idea of calming a crying child is to stick food or a bottle in their mouth). Oh, and the Citizen lost our keys so we had to call the catsitter and coach him on how to Fed-Ex the car key to us so we could drive home. This actually happened previously, when the Citizen left our keys in the rental car in our honeymoon in Hawaii. That's it, the Citizen shall no longer be the keeper of the keys when away from home.

It'll be awhile before I attempt such a trip in the future!

Ahn scores!

My soccer honey Ahn Jung-Hwan (right) scored the winning goal in South Korea's World Cup game against Togo. A bright spot in an otherwise unvacationlike vacation. The Citizen's and my big romantic getaway was watching the Australia-Japan game at the Korean laundromat while I washed a week's worth of vacation clothes yesterday morning...

Korean Beauty Tricks

Check out these alternatives to plastic surgery. From Chosun Ilbo.



This device heats up like a spacesuit. It sends back the far infrared rays exuded by the face to the body, so that the wearer sweats. When all the waste comes out of the face, wash your face with cold water and you will feel like your face has gotten 1 mm smaller. But if you look in the mirror with the mask on, you may be startled: you look just like Jason from the “Friday the 13th" movies. Oliveyoung W12,800.

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to go for a jog?

I hate this thing.

At 5:00 AM the smoke alarm in the master bedroom decided to let us know that it was low on batteries by beeping loudly 3 times. I awoke with near heart failure. I really hate these smoke alarms and they are wired into the house. They are almost impossible to remove and there are no instructions on changing the battery. Guess the contractor discarded the instructions after installation. A few years ago, one of them did this and I ripped it out of the extra bedroom (the pre-Blossom bedroom) and discarded it into the garage, where it continued to beep plaintively for several MONTHS! It's like the darn thing wouldn't DIE!

We don't smoke and don't fry food. Our house and appliances are almost new and we don't use plug-in scent creators (I learned from a former fireman they are a real fire hazard). We should have had a choice on having these stupid things installed.

Gratuitous Pet Picture

This is Big K getting ready to settle in for a nap on the futon. The futon is in the "sofa position" but Big K. is determined to sit on the uppermost edge, despite the sagging mattress.

Big K.'s name is Spanish is "Otro Hijo" which mean Other Son. Nanny G. christened him such and the name stuck.

We're getting ready to leave for Canada on Tuesday. On Monday we drive to Orlando to catch the flight on Tuesday. It will be the first time the Branch and Blossom have slept away from home (not counting when they were in NICU before they came home). Should be interesting, holding the 39 pound Branch for the duration of the flight to Toronto. In true geek fashion, the Citizen and I will each take our laptops. Additionally, my brother-in-law has 3 computers so we'll be connected either way.

Big K. will be tended by our long-time friend and official cat-sitter. But I will miss him anyway (Big K. Not the cat-sitter.).