absolutwillie

Tag: family

  • up to speed

    good morning everyone ;0)

    *contented sigh*

    it’s sunday morning here in Kaohsiung and i’ve managed to bundle the last laundry into the machine. for a brief moment – i have nothing to do! so here i am, with a big glass of japanese style green tea (sugar free, of course) in hand, getting comfy in the spare bedroom/workstation.

    i’ve got iTunes playing a Genius* playlist based on Tori Amos’ “a sorta fairytale” – though not too loud, mind you. Peter’s still snoozing in the bedroom ;0)

    so much has happened in the last two weeks:

    • the teacher to replace Cyril started work at TFC. suffice to say there’s some teething…
    • i realized that someone at school tried to sabotage me – unsuccessfully.
    • Peter and i moved in together, in a new apartment in Kaohsiung, on Valentines day (!!!yayayayay!!!)
    • my Mom found out that her previous optometrist had defrauded her for years – with a glass disc for a right lens!
    • i realized again how my Dad knows exactly what goes on in my heart, without me having to tell him. this apple-and-tree team might wear different sashes, but we’re of the same stock.
    • my Sister phoned me out of the blue, just to chat. it was amazing! i miss her so much.
    • Peter made me dessert dumplings :0P
    • SA ended up NOT signing the UN declaration on same-sex rights *grrrrr*
    • we went to see Milk – and i was both inspired and reminded of my past. did i do the wrong thing when i left the movement?

    hmm… time to hang up the washing.

    *i’m getting addicted to this new feature!

  • Apartheid in America

    segregation is the name of the game – and no one plays it as well as Californians, by the look of it. apparently the “Prop 8ers” now want to forcibly divorce same sex families.

    http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=63961

    it seems all Americans are created equal, some just more equal than others. (does their constitution end in “sich heil”? especially when read by the Governator…)

  • the magic parcel adventure

    after school on friday, i hopped on the bus (not pictured) to Kaohsiung…

    where i took the subway to zouying station,

    where i took the High Speed Rail (up to 300km/h) to taichung,

    where i got on the slow train to Dajia,

    where i picked up the deliciousness from SA! Mom sent me some droë wors, coffee cookies, rusks, scarves, Black Cat peanut snacks, Cadbury’s, my SpringLeap T-shirts – and even a copy of DeKat!! color me crawling on the floor with laughter when i noticed the fruit-cake and the designer tissues *lol* awesome!!!

  • the feeling of family

    in tonight’s “ABC Class” – the really young kids – we talked about family.
    okay, so ‘talked’ might be too strong a word – more parrotting , but you get the idea.

    one of the exercises was to draw a picture of your family. one dear little heart made use of the opportunity to make my heart pump custard by drawing the following picture:notice the “extras” outside the picture frame? that would be me and my Taiwanese co-teacher, Christene.

    see how everybody is smiling? i’m positively glowing man *lol*

  • healthy relationships are all the rage

    judging by my blog stats – this post from 4 september 2007 seems to be very popular lately. worth a re-post, methinks ;0)

    • Love should be honest.
    • Avoid that which is bad in favor of that which is good.
    • Let your affections be kind, sincere and honorable.
    • Honor each other.
    • Be the example.
    • Never cool in your commitment.
    • Nurture and develop your enthusiasm!
    • Serve the Lord.
    • Rejoice in hope.
    • Be steadfast in the face of oppression.
    • Pray.
    • Help those around you.
    • Always be courteous.
    • Bless those who persecute – for they are hurt.
    • Never curse another.
    • Share in the joy of those who rejoice.
    • Share in the sadness of those who weep.
    • Always find agreement amongst yourselves. (“find” is a verb.)
    • Never, ever be conceited – in fact, avoid the conceited.
    • Choose in stead those who are humble – and be humble.
    • Be mindful (not proud) of your opinions. Learn more.
    • Forget about getting even – hurting those who hurt you, hurts more.
    • Rather fill your hearts with goodwill towards all mankind. All year long.
    • As far as possible, live in peace with everybody. Make it possible.
    • Revenge is not in your jurisdiction – leave that to God.
    • Rather care and provide nourishment to those you believe to be your enemy.
    • Even more so to those who believe you are their enemy. (The lesson goes both ways.)
    • Do not let evil overcome you.
    • Defeat evil with good.

  • 10 things: I miss about home

    this morning i’m acutely aware of the absence of hot coffee in my life…
    one longing thought gives rise to the next and – before long – we have this:

    1) the strong, black coffee my Dad woke me up with each morning before Bible study,
    2) Bible study the way me and my folks do it,
    3) big, chunky, wholesome salads,
    4) supper-club on tuesdays,
    5) hugs,
    6) the style network
    7) drinkable tap water
    8) non-alcoholic beer
    9) the African outdoors
    10) peanut clusters

  • what is love?

    ever wondered how to explain what love is? in the line of thought that brought you the previous aside, my dearest little sister (in the non-genetic sense) posted some kids’ answers on his blog:

    “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”
    Billy- age 7

    “Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.”
    Karl – age 5

    “Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.”
    Chrissy – age 6

    “Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”
    Terri – age 4

    “Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.”
    Danny – age 7

    “Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss”
    Emily – age 8

    “Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”
    Bobby – age 7

    “If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,”
    Nikka – age 6

    “Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.”
    Noelle – age 7

    “Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”
    Tommy – age 6

    “During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.”
    Cindy – age 8

    “My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.”
    Clare – age 6

    “Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.”
    Elaine-age 5

    “Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.”
    Chris – age 7

    “Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.”
    Mary Ann – age 4

    “I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.”
    Lauren – age 4

    “When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.”
    Karen – age 7

    “Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn’t think it’s gross.”
    Mark – age 6

    and probably one of the wisest answers was given by Jessica:

    “You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.”


    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvtxzPv_iek&hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=344]

  • birthday weekend

    On Thursday 22 May, my buddy Quentin turned 35.
    On Saturday 24 May, I turned 30.
    On Sunday 25 May, it was Jaco’s turn to be 31.

    This is how we did it:

    Luzanne, Quentin, Richard, Liezel and Chris – we dined in Prince Albert, en route to Matjiesfontein.
    dinner at the Lord Milner – everybody’s here!


    the owner of Matjiesfontein graced us with his presence.
    hot dogs on the lawn.


    some played poker…
    some played boules…
    everybody relaxed :0)



    caught in the courtyard
    save yourself a trip and stock up!
    me and luz – friends since 1993…
    making the big speech.
    how to feed 30 people.
    everyone tried on my hat.



    …even my dad!
    setting up the decks in the Lairds Arms.
    and the party started!




    the last group photo – stairway of the Lord Milnerthe very last group photo by the courtyard fountains.Richard – the DJ to end all DJs.tea in calitzdorp, on the way home.
    good times ;0)

  • i readed your bloggy

    …but i don’t cook so good.

  • Mom makes my day!

    After a seriously rushed day – I was blessed with the following comment (via Plaxo) on my “How I did yesterday” post:

    Today I want to give you a reminder of what I tried to teach you for almost three decades: Do not be too hard on yourself!!!

    Nobody is perfect, but more important, no mortal soul is so important that his/her choices or decisions will rock the world off its tracks (except some African leaders like Mugabe).

    Take your own advice, and let go and let God. Even if you sometimes take the wrong decision, there is mostly something good to be learnt or experienced as a result. You may not become a millionaire in a week, or be the next big inventor, or the greatest leader ever, but you are unique and special to those lucky enough to know you.

    Some of us cannot imagine a day without your caring , joking, honesty and sometimes scalding sense of humor.

    Keep it up, and keep going.

    Yesterday is gone – nothing can be undone or changed about it; Tomorrow is still a dream – the best you can do is plan for it, but TODAY is your day – your chance to do something special, to laugh out loud, to be someone’s friend, to live according to your principles and faith.

    GO FOR IT!!

    Love
    Guess who.

    (My Mom’s the greatest!!)