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Friday, January 7, 2022

16) RIP Sidney Poitier

Thanks to my mom who introduced us kids to the timeless, classic films and music of the 50s, 60s and 70s.... I have fond memories of watching To Sir With Love and being in awe of this man who commanded the scene with his presence.

Sidney Poitier in To Sir with Love

Watching the way he played the role of a teacher able to change his students from rowdy teenagers, to capable young adults... it made me think of my mom, a teacher who could take any class that other teachers didn't want... and turn them into students who were attentive, passed their exams, and still come looking for her, 20, 30, 4o years after she had taught them. 

The type of teacher, who can get even the most unenthusiastic student interested in studying... 

 Sidney Poitier from To Sir with Love

A neighbor, who was worried that her daughter was not concentrating in her studies, asked if my mom could help her a little by some tutoring... 

My mom said yes and now the young girl, excitedly comes every few days a week to study with my mom... Making her mom and my mom so happy to see her so keen to learn...  

It takes passion, and love and respect for the students you have pledged to teach, to be a successful teacher that will always be remembered... 

The sincerity from my mom... The passionate way she teaches and the love for her students... Her avid love for knowledge that bounces off her and gets her students interested in their studies too... 

I know that the reason I got through my schooling days and did well, was because of her guidance when young... 

Sidney Poitier from To Sir with Love

Which Sidney Poitier showed in To Sir with Love... I remember there was a scene in the movie, when he taught his students how to make a salad to get them to eat healthy...

And it resonated with me because I remember when I was young... seeing my mom take loaves of bread, eggs and all kinds of food to school... 

Saturday, June 12, 2021

15) The Tale of My Babysitting Adventures

This is the tale of my babysitting adventures... Which was like a horror movie but without the spooky calls from inside the house, creepy-looking kids, or toys trying to kill us... The horror part of it comes from my little pony lectures, my can-drive-people-crazy ramblings on Tyler Hoechlin, and me being a dreadful babysitter... I'm actually a horrible person in general; I don't know why people keep trusting me with their kid...

Harassed Babysitter

You would think with Tyler Hoechlin being my celebrity crush and current obsession, that my YouTube history will be filled with Tyler stuff; interviews, clips from his movies, random "Tyler is hot" videos from his fans, etc...

It isn't... Yeah... I'm a weird obsessive fan... 

The kind who says she's crazy about her celebrity crush... and can't stop thinking about him... but spends her time reading a book instead... I do love to read; it was what got me through my childhood... 

I don't even have his face as my phone or computer wallpaper...

Tyler Hoechlin looking shocked and saying whatttt
Yes Tyler... I'm shocked too... 
I'm so proud of my restraint...
I should hug my willpower for its fortitude.

 
You believe me, don't you, Tyler?
Tyler Hoechlin shaking his head and saying no 
Smart guy...
 
  
So maybe I use the private mode to Google him...

Calvin from Calvin & Hobbes grinning mischievously

Hey... I don't want Google to know about my obsession with him... 

Some things I prefer to keep private... from Google... 

like my stash of chocolate truffles and candy bars, and its secret hiding place... 

my inability to say no to dessert... 

and my crazy, unexplained, I-wish-it-could-go-away crush on Tyler Hoechlin...

Daydreaming, thinking of you, sigh

Also his face as my laptop wallpaper would mean I won't get any work done... 

I stared at the above Tyler gif for like close to 10 minutes... just watching him say "whatttt...." (yes... what is wrong with me indeed)

So yeah... My wallpaper is just random scenery stuff... Cause I could seriously spend my entire day staring at his face... 

Tyler Hoechlin making a "oh well, what can you do" gesture

Anyway, it's not like I haven't
memorized his face... so I don't really need to stare at him every day... 

And yes I admit this freely without an ounce of shame... hey I listen to all the motivational stuff that says like who you like, don't care what others say, be yourself... so if the "myself" is a little bit loopy, that's what I'm going to continue to be...    

Tyler Hoechlin nodding and saying yes, that's right 
Tyler Hoechlin's gif seems to be resigned to my loopy obsession of him... maybe even supportive... a girl can hope... 

 

Anyway got my customary giddy raving about Tyler Hoechlin every time I write a blog post out of the way... 

Now I can go back to my babysitting tale.

So I opened my YouTube account the other day, in front of my colleagues, and there in all its glory was my watch history... 

Castiel from Supernatural watching an inappropriate x-rated video
 
Hey! Excuse me! 

Not this kind of watch history!

I'm no Castiel. The clueless, "I-don't-get-the-reference" angel, who watches totally inappropriate stuff occasionally... without realizing he's watching inappropriate stuff... but then continues to watch it...

Just to clarify... I don't watch stuff like that... Everything I watch has people with clothes on...  

Say what you want, but clothes were invented for a reason so I prefer to see people with clothes ON not off...  

I don't even want to see myself without clothes... If I could I would bathe with clothes on...   

Man irritated - screaming internally 
Too much information, Oliver Queen? Ok sorry... Moving on... 
 

Thursday, May 13, 2021

14) The tale of irritating the IT guy in my office

When the IT guy in my office starts his "explanation" on what's wrong with my PC using words I don't understand, when all I want him to do is tell me my baby is gonna be ok... I also prattle on a little about MacGyver, the 80s series I used to enjoy as a kid... Not really sure why my computer problem made me suddenly reminisce about the 80s and think of MacGyver... I realize I'm a very strange woman. 

Looking at a laptop

A Note to the IT guy in my Office

Look, I don't mean to be the type of person you wish you could erase with a click of your mouse... but could you please tell me what's wrong with my PC and what I need to do... in a language I can understand... 

and not all that ancient alien stuff you're spewing... Cause I'm listening to you talk and all I hear is "Ancient Astronaut Theorists suggest..." 

Think of me as a 4-year-old learning my ABCs... Cause I didn't get a word you were saying just now... or what I'm supposed to do to solve my PC problem.

Are you speaking Kryptonese? Cause it certainly sounded like that to me. 

I know these are just common, everyday words to you. 

They're NOT for me.

Minion saying Hi

Yes. This is exactly what you look like to me right now with that fast way you were saying your words, using a jargon, only you can understand. 

Hey, you can minion talk me all you want, with your "po-ka" and "la-boda" but the only thing going through my mind is... I want a banana... which would be lovely in some milk shake... that has a dash of rum... Cause that oatmeal I had for lunch didn't really satisfy my gastronomic urges.   

Michael Scott, The Office, Staring Confused and Shocked

You can stare at me, all you want, Michael Scott, but I'm willing to bet a lot of IT people in your "office" have also filled you with the urgent need for a spiked milkshake.

Yes, Mr. IT Guy? No... my mind isn't wandering... Still paying attention... but still not getting what you're saying...

Whoaaa... So that's how the insides of a computer looks like... And that's why you brought all your gadgets... I was wondering why you needed all those mechanic tools... 

Was kinda worried you were going to use them on me... to you know... tighten those bolts in my head...  

Man giggling

No... I'm not giggling at you... Just randomly giggling at my own stupid joke... I do that all the time... laugh at my own jokes... They are not funny... but they seem to amuse me...

What's that you said? No!!! I don't really have bolts in my head... It was a joke...

I know... I know... The joke wasn't very good... I didn't say I was Wanda Sykes... 

What, Mr. IT Guy? Wanda Sykes??? Oh... She??? She's a comedian... 

Wanda Sykes telling a joke

I was trying to be a comedian too... 

Why do you have the confused look on your face, Mr. IT Guy? 

The look that says, “Please don't quit your day job”.... which, to be honest, is a look I get often at my every attempt to be funny... 

So you don't watch comedies? You probably watch IT movies, eh?

Like what??? Maybe Swordfish??? I watched it during my university days... 

Haven't seen it? It's an IT film... It was about hacking and stuff... Hugh Jackman was in it... Yeahhh the Wolverine guy...    

He can do such diverse roles, don't you agree? Comedy... Drama... brooding... Did you know he once played a Duke... I love the Victorian era... Especially the big hoop skirts.... One of my favorite authors is Georgette Heyer and her Regency books... 

Man. Hugh Jackman is such a cool actor, isn't he? 

Hugh Jackman saying, "I believe so"

Wait... Hang on... I didn't catch what you were saying, Mr. IT Guy? 

No... Nothing is wrong with me... Why do you keep asking me that...

No... I'm not talking about Victoria's Secret... Why do all men only think of models? Like couldn't men just stick to thinking of sports...

Yeah I do like to talk a lot... 

You don't really consider hacking as IT? 

Well... Ok... I hear you...

I hear you

What did you say, Mr. IT Guy? 

That you were probably not even born yet when I was doing my degree? 

Wait... How old do you think I am...  

Wolverine showing his claws

No... I'm not showing you the finger... 

That's my Wolverine impersonation...

Monday, April 19, 2021

13) The tale of my mom and the things she says (Part 1)

This is the tale of my mom and the things she says... She's wonderful and I love her, and would do anything for her... be there for her... take care of her... donate my kidneys to her (my kidneys would be grateful, cause it keeps complaining that it wants to move and find a better home since the current one is cramping its style)... fight off ghouls and monsters, which is just another word for pesky people who think they have a right to judge us, know what's good for us, and tell us how to live our lives... Man... Never realized I needed to get that pesky people thing off my chest... 

Boy looking for his mom

1) My Mom; My Unofficial and Unasked For Publicist 

My mom, and most people probably feel the same way about their own moms, is the nicest person in the world... 

The type of person, who says to me, as we get ready to have our meal, “Have you written a thank you message to the person who delivered this food to us? 

And I go, “No Ma. I don't write thank you to Food Panda for delivering my order to me”.

Which apparently is the wrong answer because I get the frowning Derek Hale, I'm-so-disappointed-in-you-daughter-of-mine look in return... 

Tyler Hoechlin as Derek Hale, frowning

So to cover, and which is also the truth, I tell her that I said “Thank You” to the delivery person and tipped them... which usually meets with her approval...

Actually my mom didn't really have the above Derek Hale look. Her frowning, angry face isn't really very menacing.... It's like cute bunnies... 

Cute bunny angry

I just wanted to look at Tyler's face... Cause I love his brooding Derek Hale look... That is meant to be scary... but you just find it sexy...  

What can I say, I have a thing for brooding men... Comes from reading a lot of Georgette Heyer growing up, and enjoying all her sneering Lords, Dukes and Earls... with their witty one-liners... and sarcastic retorts... Come to think of it, every time I see Derek Hale, I think this guy belongs in a Georgette Heyer book...

Tyler Hoechlin as Derek Hale glaring with the "Are you kidding me right now" look
Sorry... Moving on...

 

Anyway... My mom, the poetry writing, bible studies teacher... other than being really sweet... is also seriously badass... 

She's like The Rock before he became Dwayne Johnson and started doing comedies and wearing a tutu.

Hey... "Tutu" all you want, Dwayne Johnson... Not judging your fashion style... I still think you rock... Get it... "rock"... It's a pun... on your name. 

Dwayne Johnson shaking his head

Whattt... Can't a girl pun for fun? Not cool? 
Sorry... Please don't Hobbs on me like I'm Shaw.... 
Just trying to be punny... 

Dwayne Johnson, irritated
 Man... When you try to be funny with your punny jokes...

 

P.S. Dear Readers of my Blog (which could amount to 0, but hopefully there's at least 1) : Sometimes I write some crazy things in my attempt to write a humorous blog... Please ignore me... I'm a little bit loopy... 


Anyway... Dwayne Johnson... You're still one of my favorite brawny guy that I don't have a crush on. And my favorite Fast & Furious franchise person. Ok. Maybe not the most favorite. I also like Paul Walker. And Jason Statham. I watched Hobbs & Shaw 5 times because I like you both. 

If it had Tyler Hoechlin in it too, I probably would have hugged my TV. 

I mean, I hug my TV now too when a new episode of Superman & Lois airs and I see Clark Kent on the screen. 

Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent smiling

Yes, you Tyler Hoechlin, of the many million wondrous smiles...

 

But seeing Dwayne Johnson, Statham and Hoechlin (in his Derek Hale mode) in one movie... Where they fight people, insult each other, and not smile... Man... I would not only hug my TV, I would... Ok... not really sure where I was going with that... 

Anyway... I would be excited... The kind of excited that would keep me up for days... The kind of excitement you get when you discover curly fries on the menu. 

I would be like drunk... but without booze.... which, if I think about it, is how I am on most days...  

Excited Kid

Come to think of it, this is exactly my face and reaction when I see Tyler Hoechlin on TV.... or when I see photos and gifs of him on social media... or just generally when I think of him... 

So doing that face... suddenly... without reason... or context... can I really blame people for thinking I'm drunk...

hmmmmm... I wonder what it would be like if I was fully drunk..... It's not like I don't drink... But I drink two shots of whisky and I get tired and go to bed.  

Yeah... I'm doing it again, aren't I? 

Rambling on like a fool...

Dwayne Johnson saying Ya think!

Where was I? Ohhhh my mom...

She sacrificed so much to give us a good life, and it doesn't matter how old we are, or that my younger siblings are married, she still continues to look out for us and worry about us.

She is also a slayer of many jobs... handling any job and any role.

Mother juggling many roles

She was and still is a good teacher. She's our handyman. Our plumber. She once painted an entire room all by herself, while I was at work. Moving around the big heavy cupboards, desks, cabinets, and bed, while doing the painting... And you may think. That ain't too bad... Yeah... This painting thing happened last year, when she was 68. 

She taught us that it's never too late and that we're never too old to want to achieve things. That as long as we have the willpower, we will have the strength to do anything. 

Supergran

My mom probably got her Xena, Warrior Princess-like ways from her mom, my grandmother... another badass, who has done the real-life "Home Alone" thing by fighting off robbers, trying to break into her house, with hot water and aerosol spray, has wrestled with snakes... even cobras...  

“Supergran” was actually the nickname we gave our grandmother once upon a time... Which was a quirky 80s show, that my sister and I used to watch as kids...  

My grandmother loved that nickname, happy to live up to it, whenever she could.

hmmmm maybe one day I will write the tale of my grandmother's badass exploits.

Man with glum face, saying "This is my excited face"
Gee... Thanks, Mr. almost same name as mine....
Please contain your excitement... 
You might hurt yourself...


Anyway, just like Supergran, my mom, if given the chance, and even without the powers, and we weren't there to nag her to rest more, she would probably renovate our entire house... 

My mom's motto is, "rest is for the weak"...

When people tell her, "Have a good rest"... She's like, what is that word you're speaking... R.E.S.T? How do you do this thing called “REST”... Computer can't compute...   

She gets annoyed when my siblings and I nag her to rest more... not do anything heavy... climb ladders when we're not around... saying that she would be ok...

Casually forgetting that once, as she was doing some of her usual renovation work around the house, accidentally super-glued her two fingers together...  

Cat glaring angrily, being forced to sleep  
The exact glowering look on my mom's face when she's forced to rest...

 

The other day, my mom had to undergo a slight procedure... A biopsy... We come home from the hospital, and next thing I know, she's getting ready to cook... 

I told her, “No, Ma. Go and rest, I can do the cooking today” and she gave me the look that said, “Not only do I have to go through the pain of this procedure, now I have to endure your cooking too?”... 

So at the look of horror on her face at the mention of me cooking, I said “I'll order in”... 

Then she said, “The doctor didn't say, I can't cook”... 

I tell her as kindly as I could, "Ma, she said, 'Rest for a few days' which encompasses all work including cooking"... 

I tell you, my mom seriously doesn't know the meaning of REST...  

Like if a Terminator was hunting us down, my mom would so be Sarah Connor... 

Sarah Connor

My mom actually is Sarah Connor sometimes at home... Like when I go to the bathroom to take a shower... and see a lizard, bee or cockroach... 

I run out screaming... clutching my towel for dear life... and my mom goes to rescue me from that pesky bug... armed with an aerosol can and a pot of hot water... while I barricade myself in my room to protect myself... from the “bug-y” intruder... and leave my almost 70 mom to do the rescuing... 

So yeah I'm not some badass woman, who burns the guy who just sold her an army... Cause I don't have any dragons... And if I did, I would probably say the word, “dracarys” and my dragons would just glare at me... 

Dragon from Game of Thrones glaring
Heck they would roll their eyes, sigh and walk away... and go look for someone more badass... more "Hiccup"-y to be their keeper...  

I could not control the 15-year-old kids I used to teach, who sometimes did remind me of dragons, pretty sure I would not be able to control dragons...  

The only badass thing I do is play Christmas songs in July...

Kid excitedly, and with amazement, shouting "That was totally wicked"

I know right! But sometimes you have the mood to listen to Hark the Herald in July... So I know the rules say Christmas tunes in December... But I like to break the rules sometimes... It's called being a badass...

Yeah... Ok... I'm not badass... I'm also a terrible daughter... I'm like the worst daughter a person could have... 

If your daughter is giving you problems right now... and you feel like throwing something... at her... but you can't do that cause you know... social services... just remember one thing... the one thing to make you feel better... to calm you down... that things could be worse... you could have had ME for a daughter... 

Embarrassed cartoon character

My mom is also our traffic police, zealously ensuring not only she, but we too, follow the traffic rules without compromise... Like staying within the speed limit and wearing our seat-belts. 

We, her, trying to be cute and funny kids, but she probably calls us bad words in her mind, bad words like "ungrateful", always joke, that she would probably tell on us to the cops if we were ever caught. Probably even dutifully list out all our offenses. “Officer. My son didn't wear his seat-belt just now.

Yeah. She's the 'more-your-friend-than-mom' cool mom like Lorelai Gilmore, with the jokes and fun, but without the being ok about us doing messed-up things and getting into trouble. The one who tells us when we're wrong but only because she wants us to be the best that we can be.

Cool mom, Lorelai Gilmore

But the one job I wish she could give up on is being my unasked for PR agent.

Cause everyone knows about my eating patterns, my workout regimen, how I sleep, the celebrity I'm crushing on, my lack of social life... you get the picture...

Kid saying, mom the gift that keeps on giving

Like the other day. Family friends were visiting. And their kids; a 13-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy were talking to me.

I guess they felt sorry for me, seeing me being so awkward and out of my element in the company of adults, and decided to keep me company.... 

Could also be because I was standing next to the table of food, and they wanted the chicken nuggets...

Ok maybe I want them chicken nuggets too... 
And no... the sudden craving for chicken nuggets has nothing to do with Tyler Hoechlin.