England

Goodness! This blog is so neglected. Here are a few pictures of our London trip.

Partying with the Elementary School Parents

Last night we attended a going away party for one of my daughter's classmate. His family is moving to Boston.

1.) I've never been to a party where food was catered by waiters....at someone's house before. That was a first. And quickly reminded me how very middle class I am.

2.) I also realized how removed I am from the stay-at-home crowd nowadays. I still volunteer at school from time to time, but after listening to some of the conversation around me, I guess I am not as involved as I was in the past. This saddens me. I don't believe that I'm missing anything vital that is going on in school, yet I still can't help but feel guilty. But I shouldn't be. Both my kids are doing well in school, and to my knowledge have great friends and aren't miscreants in class (did I spell that right? miscreants?).

Most of the news was really what was going on at lunch/recess time, conversations with teachers, the next fundraiser, etc...

I had originally planned to quit my job for the summer, and it's still a possibility. But with the economy the way it is...and the fact that I just got promoted, it's hard to resign now. I even tried to use my kids as an excuse to stop working, but my supervisor keeps telling me she'll be flexible. How do you say no to that?

I'm not sure where I'm going with this post. It's just a very confusing time for me. Deciding whether to be a working mom vs. stay at home mom isn't an easy choice for me. Most people will say why can't you do both roles? And most women can. I guess I'm still adjusting to going back into the work force.

The positive things about working? Great vacations, savings for college, the husband can breathe a little easier financially.

I'm rambling...I'll figure it out. Please excuse my whining.

Oh, and quite possibly the most annoying moment at the party? I had "one" glass of wine, and being Asian, I turn completely red faced. Now, most of you know that it takes me at least four glasses before I become incoherent. Every party that we go to (that involves the elementary school set), there is this particular Asian mom that runs up to me, and say "Oh, look at you. Are you shit-faced?"

So, bitch called me out last night. And I guess I had enough, and asked her why she felt compelled to call me out at each and every party? She got a little embarassed and walked away. I guess it was her way of making a joke (as my husband quite politically pointed out), but I guess I was annoyed enough to call her out.

We're going to another party next week, let's see if she'll do it again.

Anyways, two more weeks til England!

We're going to London!

We're going to London! I'm so excited. I haven't been back since we got engaged in 1998! We're taking the kids there for springbreak. Our son will celebrate his 6th birthday in London. I'm sure he'll be disappointed that he won't have a birthday party this year, but I am so excited. We're going for 11 days, and I'd really like to visit the Cotswold while we're there.

Snow Days are the best!

I'm sitting on the couch watching the kids play Wii Fit. Frankly, I'm too lazy to get my digital camera to take pictures today.

I've never really appreciated snow days before, but now that I am working...I LOVE THEM! Papa Hu took the day off yesterday to watch the kids, and today is my day.

I plan to do nothing all day except catch up with "24" on my laptop. The kids are planning to play in the snow with our neighbors kids, and I will be watching...okay, who am I kidding, I will be watching "24" while looking outside from time to time until the kids are frostbitten.

Happy Snow Day!

When a 5 year old strikes out....

Apparently, my 5 year old is upset with me. I found this message in the play room. Apparently, I'm not allowed to enter. At least I know he can spell!

Inauguration 2009

I'm just too tired to write much, but we went into D.C. We had not planned on going, but thought that since we lived so close, we'll regret it later. Years from now, even if the kids don't remember a thing about today, they can at least say they were there.

I can't believe that the kids were such troopers. No one whined! Here are some pics...

The Cuban Immigrants

There was a serious element to our Cancun trip. While we were waiting for our flight home, a group of about 35 people were escorted to the gate. I thought it was peculiar that they would round up these people, and escort them on the plane, but didn't think much of it for most of the flight. We flew into Miami first before proceeding to D.C.

As we went through customs, I noticed that the same group of 35 people were again rounded up. Some of the women and men were crying profusely. At this point, I'm kind of taken back, because you don't normally see a large group of people, and quite a few of them crying.

Finally, someone told me that they were Cuban immigrants. They had to fly to Mexico first, then to the states. The immigrants were on a three year waiting list, and had to be sponsored by a relative, and had to have a job secured for them before coming over to the states.

This was very humbling for me to see. I've spent a week loafing around Mexico, and this was probably such a life changing event for all 35 people.

Another passenger told me that she ended up talking to one of the immigrants who told her that his grandfather had upset Castro, and was then put on a blacklist. So, his grandfather could not find work, his father couldn't find work, and finally he couldn't find work. They were just living on the kindness of other relatives. It's just such an amazing story.

I didn't see the Cubans after we left customs, but I'm thinking of them, and their new life.

Back from Cancun and not liking the weather...

Well, we're back! The trip was great. We spent alot of time at the beach, pool, eating, and shopping.

Our hotel has a great Kids' Club, and the kids spent a couple of hours a day there....which allowed Momma and Daddy Hu to spend some time alone.

We went to Isla Mujeres, and took the kids to swim with the dolphins. Of course, they did not allow me to take pictures while we were swimming with the dolphins, and I ended up buying pictures that actually cost more than the cost of admission.

There was hardly anyone in Cancun. We went after the holidays, and before the start of springbreak. I've been to Cancun before when it was so busy, you'd literally step over bodies to get around. This time, we had our pick of lounges, and spots.

We also went on a "submarine." Okay, it's not really a submarine, but a glass bottom boat. In order to get to the glass bottom boat, you have to take a speed boat from the lagoon which takes you to a spot in the middle of the ocean where the glass bottom boat awaits you. It takes about 20 minutes or so to get to the gbb.

They were passing out free beer on the way to the gbb, so I figured...hey...it's free, and I'm feeling festive...so I down two bottles of beer in 20 minutes. Then we get to the gbb.

All I'm saying is the captain of that fucking gbb should never have gotten his boat license! We kept verving to miss the coral, or if he found some interesting marine life he'd chase after it. Before we started moving, the narrator was kind enough to make an announcement informing us that there were plastic bags underneath our seats...just in case.

10 minutes into the ride, I'm getting greener and greener. Meanwhile, my husband screamed at me to look at the sea turtle that's right out my window. I just looked at him, and told him "Just don't talk to me."

I sat two rows away from the hatch, and the college kid that sat right behind me wasn't feeling all that great as well. He probably was about 6"3 and built like a linebacker. I asked him to knock on the hatch door so that I can get out. Seeing how sick I was, he starts banging on the door probably praying to God that I wasn't going to get sick on him. As the hatch opened, three guys looked down and said "Lady, you 'kay?" No, I'm not okay!!!!!

I'm crawling out of the bottom, and college kid/linebacker comes up with me. Now, he's asking me if I'm okay. Will people stop talking to me? I look at him as I frantically try to open my plastic bag, and proceeded to vomit....twice. Well, that set college kid/linebacker as well, because he throws up as well. And then he has the nerve to tell me that I'm contagious! What? Okay, he's obviously not going to a good college....

So, there's little short me, and the linebacker just standing there on top of gbb trying to ask the Mexican sailors for napkins. They totally didn't understand...

The gbb finally glides us to the speed boat. I swear, I almost started crying tears of joy. I looked over to college kid/linebacker and he has the same look. We both jumped on the speedboat. Where I proceeded to drink water, and college kid/linebacker asked for a beer.....

Other than that particular excursion, the trip went well. The weather was great the whole time, and we'd like to make it our annual trip. It was a huge shock coming from 88 degree weather to about 8 degree weather (we got home around midnight on wednesday night). But it's good to be home.

So...here are some pictures. Enjoy!