Thursday, April 19, 2007

The world has gone mad?

Another week has gone by without me making a single post. This was not what I had bargained for when I decided to start blogging. I know that other than a few family members no one is really interested in what I write. Is this the reason that I am not as profilic as I want to be?

The past two days have been all about the random and absolutely senseless shooting at the Virginia Tech University. I really don't know what to say. Is life so cheap that someone who is angry with the world and perhaps himself just decides to do away with the lives of his fellow students and teachers? Being so far away we can do a bit of head-shaking and comment on it, but what about all those parents, children, relatives of all those killed? It is not just about the 33 people killed, it is about 33 families destroyed. Not only of those people killed, but also of Cho's own family. I really wonder what his parents must be going through now and I really feel for them. This is the time for the USA to wake up and see reality. There should be strict rules about gun control in the country and the time has come to really implement it. When educational institutes and centers for learning become potential mine-fields where the chances of something like this happening are high, then what is the message that is being sent out? If not in a school, people can't feel safe, then where else?

One of mine and DH's long term plans with regard to the Princess and the Pilot was about their higher studies and further education. We started saving for them from the time they were born - if I remember correctly I opened savings accounts for them when they were about a month old. We want to save enough money that we can finance their education in any field that they want to study in (be it medicine, airplane pilot etc), and in whichever institute in any country that they get admission to. But with the world like this, I am so tempted to get my babies close to me and not let them out of my sight ever. But that will not happen. I had made a promise to myself that I will never be a clinging mom and will always let them do what they want! God help me!!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Pilot and Princess Stories plus 10%

I haven't posted in a long time and this is a long overdue post.

The Princess started ballet class last week. This was something that she wanted to do for a very long time and she has been enjoying her class very much. She goes to the class with a best friend A, who is also a twin, lives in the next building and is almost the same age as her. So you can imagine what happens when all four get together! I have also asked the class to get a leotard, tutu and shoes for her and I know the day this comes, she will wear it and prance around the house as if she is a ballerina! Oh and by the way, the Pilot feels left out every Tuesday when the Princess and me leave for ballet lessons. So I asked him if he also wanted to join a class. I asked him if he wanted to learn the Piano - the answer was no, so I asked him what he wanted to do. Pat comes the answer, "Mummy, I want to join Car Class". It was all I could do to keep from bursting out with laughter. So I told him he had still another 14 years to go before he could go for "Car Class"!

There is a strange little ritual that happens almost every weekend. For some reason the Pilot hates - and when I say hate, I really really mean it - to have his nails cut. For some reason he is convinced that when me, DH or our helper will cut his nails, his fingers are also going to get lopped off in the process. So the nail cutting process actually starts on Friday with me inspecting his nails and showing him how long they have grown. He will then say no to a cut, but agree if I press him. Then on Saturday or Sunday morning, when we actually get to doing it, he will suddenly get cold feet and start crying. Bribes, TV, threats will all be used at various times by me. Finally I will get fed up and hold him tight, with the Princess chipping in and then we start with the hands. Most days by the time we finish his hands, he will be crying so much, that I just decide to do the feet on another day. He will then hold his hands away from his body, with the fingers splayed out and keep crying "My fingers, my fingers". It is such a cute scene!

OK, before I leave and get back to work, I have to share this. I now weigh 10% less than I did in January! What I mean is that I have lost 10% of my body weight! I am so happy that one goal has been reached. I do so badly want to weigh my goal weight at least before my birthday.