A tribute to my Tickles - Entry for May 22

May 22, 1992 - a beautiful little sable sheltie was born in the east end of Toronto to Patricia Freeman's two showdogs. Two months later, a young woman drives up the long winding driveway to the farmhouse to meet Pat Freeman, who introduces her to the four sheltie pups. He caught her eye right away -- wearing his little white bootie and being ever so playful. He may not have been the best looking, but it was something about him that told her, he's the one.

Two weeks later, the little sable sheltie entered our lives. I can't remember his dad's name from the top of my head, but I decided to name him "Tickle My Fancy" and that is exactly how I submitted it back to the Canadian Kennel Club pedigree list.

Tickle My Fancy became Tickles in my family. Through his frolicking, his tenderness, his intelligence and warmth, he enriched our lives for 15.5 years. On May 22, 2008, he would have been 16 years old. Although I did not spend too much time with him due to me moving to Asia, Tickles would remember me every time I go home. His barks of delight, his fan-like tail whipping about, and his tender kisses are still so vivid to me.

Tickles baby, I miss you and will always remember how you lit up our lives. I love you always....

Reflecting on the circle of life and 'worrying'

I just finished my good friend's blog and she talked about the circle of life and worrying about our parents used to worry about us -- but now it's the other way around. I know exactly how she feels because our parents are about the same age.
My parents used to worry about us doing well in school because they never had the opportunity to be schooled. Worried about us having enough food in our stomach because they had to work all day long to put food on the table for themselves and their siblings. Worried whether we'd grow up and turn into gangsters (highly unlikely!), about our health, what type of friends we'd have, boyfriends/girlfriends....
I often worry about how my parents are back home because I cannot be there with them most of the time. My brother lives in the same city but only goes home a few times a month. Thank goodness our parents' health is okay and they are pretty independent.
When or how do I find time to spend more time with them? 2 weeks at home does not help because it makes me miss them more when we depart. Moving them to HK could be a possibility but I'd have to be financially secure enough to support them and I certainly am not there yet.
They have taught me so much in my life and I know they want me to be happy...and i thank them from the bottom of my heart for giving me the education, the food, the guidance, the discipline and most importantly the unconditional love...to make me what I am today. Mommy and daddy...I love you always.

Total Ignorance of a Dumb Blonde

Fourteen days ago in Sichuan province, China, a 7.9 richter scale earthquake rocked this scenic part of China. Government troops, foreign workers, volunteers made all attempts to find & save victims...it's been 14 days...it is unlikely anymore victims would be found.

Three days of mourning occurred last week across the nation. Regardless of race, everyone stood still for 3 minutes to mourn for these innocent victims of a painful, target-less natural disaster.

One day ago, dressed in designer duds at a posh Cannes festival event, a passe actress who still thinks she is an "it" girl (NOT), makes a bloody ignorant comment that the earthquake is karma for China. Reason is because she did not like the way the chinese were treating the tibetans. If she read a bit more, listened a bit more, and not be an ignorant ditz, she should know that natural disasters could occur anywhere, anytime. As I said, these things do not have targets. If she thought it was 'karma', then I guess she believed that thousands of innocent Americans died in 9/11 due to karma. She should be ashamed of herself and if I were her, I'd go into hiding because for someone who is supposed to represent human rights (by being good friends with the Dalai Lama), she is not very "human". She should bow down to the innocent victims and their families. Total disgrace.

It's been so long...

The last time I wrote in here was sitting in an airport lounge in KL...numerous meetings and other airport lounges later, here I am again.

To make what would have been a very long "catchup" post, I'm just going to be lazy and bullet point some key highlights in my life since the last entry:

• went to small claims court with that ex-landlord of mine. We didn't proceed to the next step of actually seeing the judge because the thought of having to see her & her dreadful husband once more nearly made me throw up. We met an adjudicator and settled on deducting another 10% from what she owed me. I forbid myself to talk in detail about this day because my blood rises..
• my mom came back to visit for about 3 months -- great to have her help out but not so good for my husband since he has to sleep on a cot in the den. Also having NOT lived with my parents for a long time, she could some times drive us up the wall with her nagging. There were a few times that we argued--over how she fed my son salty food, coffee, sweet drinks and how she was extremely particular with my husband's habits
• Gavin turned one on Feb 3--we threw him a small party at my friend Anna's art studio. I don't think it will be memorable for him, but he was such a superboy that day...napped for only 20mins and did not miss much from the party! The kids had lots of fun because there was an artwork session, then drama, then cake! (Barney)
• Work has been hectic as usual and i was a little close to resigning... only because the travel was getting too much and I missed Gavin every time I had to walk out the door with my Samsonite
• Godmom also came to stay with us for 2 months, right after my mom left. So again my husband had to resort to the foldup cot! Poor guy. He will be glad when we have no visitors for awhile!

Gavin started walking 3rd week of April - he looks so cute because he still loses his balance sometimes! Teeth remain at 4, but he picked up this super wicked smile where he squints his eyes & just shows his teeth. Daddy mimicks him and he does it right away!!

Spring has certainly set in Hong Kong -- flubug is rampant due to the change in weather & nurseries are taking every precaution to prevent germs from spreading. When Gavin goes to playgroup on Saturdays, his temperature gets taken & hands get sterilized. We joined a new playgroup last week and I think I washed my hands with him about 5 times in a span of 1.5 hours. I'm not complaining!! It certainly trains him to keep himself clean.

I love spending time reading my friend Linda's blog -- it just makes me laugh/smile because I can picture her saying it! She's such a supermom and sometimes I wish I could be 20% of what she is because I am just so undomesticated! She can tend 3 kids, cook, clean and manage to see friends/relatives! She makes a mean banana cake, in addition to brownies & other yummy stuff...sometimes I wish I could move back to a more tranquil life in Toronto. Sigh...some day....