Cranky Domestic Goddess

It’s mom’s birthday today. We went to Kouvola, southeast of Finland. Quite a pleasant drive though the speed limit drove me nuts - there were 100 kph stretches, 60kph stretches and 80kph stretches. There were lots of cameras too. So, the traffic was rather slow.

Anyway, we went to Nordic China Center. Boy! I love it! Quite many cheap and nice clothings. Mom bought some scarves and some bags. I bought nothing cuz mom said she is giving me some scarves. Hehe … We had lunch at Wan Li Xiang inside NCC. It was kung po chicken set lunch. Very good service I must say. Food is quite ok. I would say exotic … hehe

Then we went to McD’s for a coffee break where we had “heong peng” - some crispy cookies with caramel filling - especially “imported” from Malaysia! Then some japanese cookies which my hubby brought back from Japan. Haha … I know it’s unethical to eat “outside” food in McD but at least we ordered coffee, milk shakes, soft drinks and french fries.

Tonight I made shark fin soup, prawns in sweet and sour garlic sauce, tofu thai style, roast chicken and a vegetable dish. Then we ate the birthday cake! Hubby bought mom a cake, hand bouquet and birthday card. She is happy, I can see

I’ll post up the pix soon - gotta ask the birthday girl’s permission as all of us had pjs on *wahahhahahahaha*

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He’s watching cartoon almost the whole day every day. Now he is watching “Thomas and friends” in Norwegian language. He used to like toddlers’ programs on Disney Playhouse channel. Ever since he gained control of the remote control, he seems to enjoy Cartoon Network more. But I don’t like those kiddy programs on CN because they are quite violent - meant for older kids. I can hear him say “Oooooo - haaaaa” and laugh at scenes where the cartoon characters are beating each other violently … *sigh*

Is this a sign he’s transitioning to another phase of growing up?

… MAX!

How true! And they dare to say we bitch! We have better things to do … like shopping, gossiping, hiding universal remote controls, having a heart-2-heart chat at 2am dragging them out of the bed, serving a bowl of dog biscuits over dinner …

Many weeks ago, I went to L’s shop for my monthly round of shopping. I had plenty of time that day despite the huge throng of shoppers which consist of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thais, Finns and non-recognized nationalities. As I was approaching the frozen section of the shop, something on the shelf towards my right caught my attention. “NIAN GAO”! It’s not just any other nian gao aka kuih bakul. It’s NIAN GAO with a layer of pandan flavor! Instantly, I knew I had to get one. What’s more, it’s got the chinese character “FOOK” on it. How auspicious, I thought! So, I checked one into my cart.

After a while, I proceeded to check out. Guess what?! L had the same kuih bakul waiting for me at her counter. Apparently, it was a gift for me. I told her I am already buying one. So no need for it. But she came over to pick up the one I had and added it to the existing one. There - I got two FREE kuih bakul. Now they are sitting nicely on my kitchen table waiting for my mom to deep fry them with yam and sweet potatoes. Yummmmmm …

Thank you L

Last night, we had a girls’ night out again. We dined at an Italian restaurant suggested by YP. I must say, it wasn’t a bad choice after all. Today, my hubby took me for a Mother’s Day treat as we cannot have it tomorrow because he has to fly to US early tomorrow morning! We went to Dong Bei Hu which I love but do not fancy for an occasion like this. Anyway, I’m so tired now I’ll blog about my dinners later. I only came home at half past two this morning and had to wake up at 10am to go out to the yard to work.

I received this from Sherwood. Just can’t resist for not sharing! That was such a kick-ass idea.

A woman, renewing her driver’s license at the County Clerk ’s office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. ‘What I mean is, ‘ explained the recorder,
‘do you have a job or are you just a …?’

‘Of course I have a job,’ snapped the woman. ‘I’m a Mom.’

‘We don’t list ‘Mom’ as an occupation, ‘housewife’ covers it,’ said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, ‘Official Interrogator’ or ‘Town Registrar.’

‘What is your occupation?’ she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. ‘I’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.’

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in m midair and looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

‘Might I ask,’ said the clerk with new interest, ‘just what you do in your field?’ Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply:

‘I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn’t).

In the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out).

I’m working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters).

Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.’

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants — ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than ‘just another Mom.’

Motherhood!

What a glorious career! Especially when there’s a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers ‘Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations‘ and great grandmothers ‘Executive Senior Research Associates‘?

I think so!!!

I also think it makes Aunts ‘Associate Research Assistants‘.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all the great mommies in the world!

As I was looking out my kitchen window, I saw a fuck up fat bitch walking her dog pass (TRESPASS to be precise) my yard to go to the forest next to my house. Her fucking reason was to let her dog shit next to my yard/ house. Then I hollered at her asking if she is “CRAZY”!? She was so fat and clumsy that she came back out but thru my opposite neighbor’s yard then rammed thru my nieghbor’s bushes with her fucking moron dog back to my side. As she came down from the forest to my neighbor’s yard, she almost tripped. Fucking hell, I wished she fell. That would be a punishment for her to do that. I continued to shout at her asking if she is “CRAZY”. I had to shout because I was in the house and my kitchen window can only be opened to a certain degree that if one has hearing problem, he or she probably cannot hear me.

What kind of fucked up person would do that? The last thing anyone would like to have is a fucking animal that shits and pees at anything they see to mark their territory! Let alone allow it to come to their yard or house! She stopped for a moment to respond to my shouting. As she was talking back to me, I see that she was laughing by looking at my next door neighbor’s house (living in a semi-detached). I had a weird feeling that fucked up pea brain has to be their friend. So I dressed up and went out to check. Indeed, there were two strangers’ cars parked outside their house. God knows where the toot toot the neighbor’s car is.

She continued to tell me in finnish that “Oh this is a shortest way to the forest”. Then I continued to ask her in English “ARE YOU CRAZY?”. I guess I repeated myself 10x asking if she’s got anything in her head. Prolly no, since she didn’t answer me. So I told her WTF if you wanna take your fucking dog to the forest, use the main road. There’s an access road to the forest for the public. Then I continued to tell her she is crazy! Then slammed my window shut. She talked to me in finnish assuming that I don’t understand. Why should I start telling her in finnish since she doesn’t speak my “language”. What makes her think I should speak her language when she doesn’t even speak the universal language?!

If the neighbor will talk to me tomorrow, I will ask her how she would feel if she was in my shoes. But I am very certain, she’s gonna tell me she’s very open and couldn’t be bothered. WHY? Because she doesn’t live in this side. Then, FUCK HER!

FUCK FUCK FUCK! I can’t wait to move out from this neighborhood!!!

We went to Seurasaari on Labor Day. It was a warm and beautiful day. Lots of families and groups of youngsters were picnicking there. A peaceful walk around the historical island had somehow turned to a nightmare with throngs of people spoiling the peace!

That aside, our supposed plan to feed the squirrels was screwed because they were no where to be seen. I guess it’s still that time of the year that they’re still hibernating in who knows where. So we ended up feeding the bread to the seagulls and ducks. The seagulls are ferocious when it comes to food. They were like a bunch of mad flying creatures scouring around us. My boy was terrified and my hubby was revolted. He said he’s not going to “WASTE” good food to idiots. Waaaahhahahahahha he was so upset he called them idiots! Holy moly!

Anyway, we ended up having coffee at a cafe up a small hill in the island before we hit the road. And there I saw something hilariously outstanding - I couldn’t resist a picture of these:

Even my boy couldn’t resist a good laugh:

There was an hour of interruption on the adsl network access! Almost drove me mad. It clearly shows I cannot leave without internet. Pathetic? I know

Don’t know what was wrong but DNS couldn’t resolve the IP address. Called to ISP but the queue was so long, hubby just left a message for them to call back. Guess, there’s no need for that now.

Mom called three weeks ago and said Aunt Shirley is going to Washington DC for rhinoplasty. I was taken aback because I’ve always thought she’s got the best features among all the other siblings. Obviously, mom wasn’t too happy with the idea and branded her “crazy”! It’s disheartening to hear mom’s worried voice. So, I did a study about the clinic where she is going to have her lovely nose redone. Turned out the surgeon is one of the top specialist in rhinoplasty. With it’s available advanced imaging system, my aunt should be able to see how her new nose would fit her face before the permanency takes place. Besides, there won’t be any visible scars nor any life threatening issues. So, I called mom to assure her of the expertise of the surgeon. Well, it still took her a week to digest it all! *haha*

Guess it’s the aging effect that those who are getting older want to look youthful and beautiful. Perhaps I should consider a rhinoplasty since mine is kinda round. I have always fancied and envied those with beautiful tall noses. At least, I thought I look clownish and unfeminine. But hubby said he loves my nose because it’s cute! Duh!