The neighborhood

The perk of living out in the country. I may not live near malls or main street where all the shops and cool place to hang out are. But I get to see this everyday.

The past few weeks I’ve seen a lot of wild turkeys, rabbits, turtles crossing the street, squirrels in my backyard, deer behind the trees, geese, and etc.not to mention the variety of birds in my backyard.

Good days are spent playing ouside, whether just a picnic eating fruits and snacks while sitting on the grass, fishing, racing along the driveway, and do some gardening. Life is treating us good.

The neighborhood

Don’t be a bully.

I don’t usually show my support on any good cause simply because i don’t care enough (yeah, i’m shallow like that). but lately i’ve been worrying about bullying. Mainly because I worry that my kids might (someday) be bullied, but also because the news about bullying victims usually ends with grief. On early April, for example, Rehtaeh Parsons died because she hanged herself after she was sexually assaulted and then bullied by her classmates.

Why are kids so mean to each other? I don’t know. What I know is that during my darkest time in high school, I wouldn’t have survived without my friends. No, I wasn’t bullied, thank God. But if I was, I know I would love to have friends who’d stand by and with me through it all.

Stop bullying, guys. It’s not funny. It’s not cool. It’s stupid. It’s mean. And it’s heartbreaking. And it kills. Stop.

And if you see someone being bullied, or simply ignored.. please, tell them this: we care. you are loved. and don’t give up. you have more friends than you know.

Old.

yesterday i had to spend close to 30 minutes outside in the hot weather to clean up the truck and install the kids’ carseats. we were going out for lunch and it was already past 1pm so i was in a hurry. after I finished I went inside to clean up before we go, and noticed some lines on my furrows. being the dramatic person I am, i yelled to my husband, who was inside the bathroom with me, “Ohh NOOOO! lines on my forehead!! I’m old!!” 

Patrick heard me and came inside the bathroom asking “what happen, mamma? what happen?”

“I have lines on my forehead, Patrick. Mommy’s old…..” I said, making sad faces. 

He just looked at me. 

“Ooh.. mommy’s old. Are you old, mommy?”

“Yes I am, Patrick..” I was trying to still be dramatic to gain sympathy.

“Is Daddy old, Patrick?” asked my (amused) husband.

“You’re not old, daddy… (pointing to my husband). You’re NEW.”

Ha! Hahahahhahahhaa!

My husband was very pleased with that statement. And I? Well he made me laughed hard, so I guess I can live with that. 

life lesson: marriage101

texts exchanged between me and hubby:

 

me: had a weird dream last night that you have 2 girlfriends, both “bule” (caucasian), with kids and fatter than me. 

him: why do u think i am a chubby chaser?

me: i dunno. weird dream. 

him: if i had other gfs I would want cute ones. 

me: i think i’d be offended if you cheat on me with someone uglier than me. 

him: LOL. 

 

thing is, i probably would. seriously. won’t you? 

Convo with Patrick

1. (while eating a piece of peanut butter and chocolate sprinkles bread): 

“…and the c’ocodile jump out the water, and pat’ick swim and catch fish, and c’ocodile jump and eat pat’ick bread. eat it half and go ‘nyam nyam nyam’”. 

2. (looking at a batch of cupcakes ready to be baked)

“ooooh look so pretty, mommy.. look so pretty i wanna eat it.”

3. (watching the avengers)

“OH NOOO. IT FALL DOWN! IT FALL DOWN, MOMMY. wow. cool. kaboom.”

 

 

On Life.

My brother in law and mother in law left to go back to their homes this morning. The kids and I also went outside to bid them goodbyes, and then to have a brunch picnic outside afterwards because the weather was so nice. After that we went back inside and immediately I felt a little bit sad. The house felt so empty and quiet. It looked sad. 

When she was here my mother in law several times asked me if I missed living in a big city. Every time I would answer without hesitation that I don’t. I really don’t. Yes, I do miss the food and I miss the convenience of living so near to everything, but I do love living so far away from the crowd. It’s nice to be able to hear nothing but birds and wind, and the occasional train and airplanes. It’s nice not to have neighbors right outside your door. And very relaxing not to have to close your curtains every time it gets dark outside for fear of people seeing the inside of your house. I know my mother doesn’t get this (haha) but I guess I’m not your average big city girl. 

Today (and the time when my parents and sister went home after a visit) brought a new realization that I do miss something: having company. I miss having my friends close by that I can talk to for hours while strolling the mall. I miss having conversations with an adult other than my husband, who doesn’t really talk much. Heck, I also miss getting to shop in peace, and not have bored kids (or hubby) to wait on me while I try on clothes. Mostly, I miss my girlfriends back in Jakarta (you know who you are, gals!). I miss talking about nonsense with them because gossiping in English is so tiring. Lol. 

Oh well, no use regretting what you don’t have. Better spend my time gushing over what I do  (and will) have. Thanks to my brother in law’s help this house is becoming more homey than before. I’m really interested in seeing how this house evolve to becoming my dream house. And if anyone asks if I ever want to have my old life back, or if I want to go back living in big cities again, I’d say no. I’m happy where I am now, I won’t trade it for anything else. I’m happy. A little bit lonely at times, but happy nonetheless.