I was very excited and happy at the end of last week - I had planned a week off from work, for Christmas. The plan was not to do anything special, just stay at home with the kids and the in-laws (while wife was working that week) and celebrate Christmas. The happiness was due to something else - it was my first week off after the end of July, so after more than 4 months and a half.
I have done several things during these 4 months and a half, but none of them could count as actual days off. My parents were here for two weeks, my wife's aunt for another two, in both cases covering school holidays. One weekend we went to a wedding (without the kids), I went for another in London to see a friend, I drove (2100 km) a car to Romania during another weekend, I stayed at home with a sick child one or two days... But not actual days off work in which I could relax and do nothing.
And I have been quite active at work during these months too, as I had taken over a new team: new people to know, new things to learn, new boss and colleagues to adapt to... and a lot of things being expected from me. No problems there, just one more reason to really be excited about a week off. And, by the way, this is also the reason why I don't post often...
Anyway, I was really happy about this week. And then Monday 23rd came, first day at home with the two kids and the in-laws. The mother-in-law is (very) ill. The father-in-law divides his time between taking care of her, cooking (and Romanians do not joke about Christmas cooking) and trying to play with his grandsons. The problem is that they don't really want to play with him and there's also a language barrier. So they were constantly 'daddy this, daddy that'. To top it off, it has rained heavily most of the time, which has limited my possible activities.
In the evenings, when my wife was back from work and when she was not working (e.g., Christmas day), it felt like a normal evening or weekend. In the rest of the time, it felt like a very stressful week. So screw holidays, I'm so happy tomorrow morning I'm going back to work!
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Growing a Mo
A moustache, that it. Well, it's a lot harder than it may seem, and not physically. My facial hair has an average grow rate and if I dedice to grow a moustache, in a few days it's there. But can I decide to do so? It's a quite tough decision, let me assure you.
First things first, why a moustache? Well, it's November. Or, better said, it's Movember. And if you don't know what it is, shame on you. Just search for the term and you'll understand. A 'raise awareness about prostate cancer' movement that basically involves men letting their moustaches grow during the month of November. As my grandfather died of that, I thought to myself... why not?
And yet, a decision like this is not made easily. There were a lot of second thoughts popping in my brain, from 'what will people at work think' to 'movember is not really known around here, I will grow sick of explaining it'. As I don't really bother about what others think, I put those thoughts aside and let it grow...
... after 4 days, I shaved it off. I looked in the mirror and thought I was looking just stupid. No problem with peer pressure, noone had made any comments and one guy at work even started to let his moustache grow too! No problem with the wife either, she didn't think me hideous. I simply didn't like my face with a moustache on it.
A few days later, there it is again. And this time it will stay! It is supposed to look stupid (on me, at least). It is supposed to attract attention and to raise questions. And I really want to prove (to myself) that I can go with it until the end. Cause it really is a tough job to (convince yourself to) grow a moustache!
Don't worry, at the end of the month, I will post a picture of it...
First things first, why a moustache? Well, it's November. Or, better said, it's Movember. And if you don't know what it is, shame on you. Just search for the term and you'll understand. A 'raise awareness about prostate cancer' movement that basically involves men letting their moustaches grow during the month of November. As my grandfather died of that, I thought to myself... why not?
And yet, a decision like this is not made easily. There were a lot of second thoughts popping in my brain, from 'what will people at work think' to 'movember is not really known around here, I will grow sick of explaining it'. As I don't really bother about what others think, I put those thoughts aside and let it grow...
... after 4 days, I shaved it off. I looked in the mirror and thought I was looking just stupid. No problem with peer pressure, noone had made any comments and one guy at work even started to let his moustache grow too! No problem with the wife either, she didn't think me hideous. I simply didn't like my face with a moustache on it.
A few days later, there it is again. And this time it will stay! It is supposed to look stupid (on me, at least). It is supposed to attract attention and to raise questions. And I really want to prove (to myself) that I can go with it until the end. Cause it really is a tough job to (convince yourself to) grow a moustache!
Don't worry, at the end of the month, I will post a picture of it...
Saturday, November 2, 2013
One and two halves.. men
Considering the big percentage that the posts about my children represent, I decided to create a special blog for them. For the posts, not the children. Or both, whatever.
I am quite happy with the name I found for it, One and Two Half Men. The reference should be obvious for most of you, if not, let me know. I have a doubt whether to use the plural halves, but it sounds better without.
Anyway, here is the link: http://oneandtwohalves.blogspot.fr
Of course, I will continue to post here whenever I have time (I am not missing ideas, just the real time to write about them).
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Cowboys and indians
Daddy, tell me a story with cowboys and indians.
What should happen in the story?
An indian girl is being rescued by cowboys.
Ok.. Once upon a time there was a little indian girl who...
No, let's say that she is older.
An older indian girl who wanted to leave on an adventure. Her parents, however, were afraid that too many dangers were expecting her if she left the family wigwam, so she decided to sneak out one night.
No, let's say that she can do whatever she wants.
Ok. Her parents encouraged her to leave the family wigwam and go on an adventure. Is it ok like this?
Yes.
She took her father's horse and
No, she had her own horse.
She took her own horse and travelled and travelled, beyond the known pastures. One day she reached a farm, where she met some cowboys. At first, the cowboys were afraid of the indian, but when they saw she's a girl, they
No, the cowboys should enter the story later
D, do you want to tell the story?
No, you tell it!
So the indian girl travelled far until she met a tribe of bad indians, who captured her.
How did they capture her?
I don't know, she was in the forest and they ambushed her.
No, let's say they made a trap for her.
Ok, the bad indians had digged a hole in the ground and had covered it with branches and leaves, so that when the indian girl walked
No, it was a trap with a rope that lifted her up in a tree.
D, do you know the story? Have you heard it at school?
No, I dreamt about it.
And don't you want to tell it?
No, you should tell it to me
Ok, so the bad indians made a trap out of a rope attached to a branch. When the indian girl walked past it, the rope caught her leg and soon she was dangling from the tree. The bad indians got her and took her to their village.
With the tree
WITH the tree?
Yes, the bound her to the tree and carried her with the tree.
Ok... and then they laughed at her and told her she'll never be free ever again. Then the cowboys came, correct?
Yes, the cowboys came to rescue her.
The cowboys came, shot all the bad indians, dettached the indian girl and
No, they saved her with the tree
Bloody tree!
What should happen in the story?
An indian girl is being rescued by cowboys.
Ok.. Once upon a time there was a little indian girl who...
No, let's say that she is older.
An older indian girl who wanted to leave on an adventure. Her parents, however, were afraid that too many dangers were expecting her if she left the family wigwam, so she decided to sneak out one night.
No, let's say that she can do whatever she wants.
Ok. Her parents encouraged her to leave the family wigwam and go on an adventure. Is it ok like this?
Yes.
She took her father's horse and
No, she had her own horse.
She took her own horse and travelled and travelled, beyond the known pastures. One day she reached a farm, where she met some cowboys. At first, the cowboys were afraid of the indian, but when they saw she's a girl, they
No, the cowboys should enter the story later
D, do you want to tell the story?
No, you tell it!
So the indian girl travelled far until she met a tribe of bad indians, who captured her.
How did they capture her?
I don't know, she was in the forest and they ambushed her.
No, let's say they made a trap for her.
Ok, the bad indians had digged a hole in the ground and had covered it with branches and leaves, so that when the indian girl walked
No, it was a trap with a rope that lifted her up in a tree.
D, do you know the story? Have you heard it at school?
No, I dreamt about it.
And don't you want to tell it?
No, you should tell it to me
Ok, so the bad indians made a trap out of a rope attached to a branch. When the indian girl walked past it, the rope caught her leg and soon she was dangling from the tree. The bad indians got her and took her to their village.
With the tree
WITH the tree?
Yes, the bound her to the tree and carried her with the tree.
Ok... and then they laughed at her and told her she'll never be free ever again. Then the cowboys came, correct?
Yes, the cowboys came to rescue her.
The cowboys came, shot all the bad indians, dettached the indian girl and
No, they saved her with the tree
Bloody tree!
Thursday, September 19, 2013
The joy of driving and exploring
When is the last time you took your car and, instead of taking the usual route, you took a much longer one just for the pleasure of driving or sightseeing?
Yesterday I had to take a day off to sit with my 4.5 years old son - schools are closed on Wednesdays and his usual babysitter was not available. Part of our schedule for the day was to go to a Zoo, somewhere half an hour driving from our home.
As soon as we left, he started talking about us going on an exploration mission, which resonated loudly with some hidden feelings I had lately. They can mostly be described as me longing for trekking in the mountains, or driving through some pitoresque landscapes, or simply holding a map in my hand and figuring out what part of a city I would like to visit first.
I should also add that we have recently bought a new car. Nothing amazing, a Ford Focus, but more powerful, very silent and all in all a lot better driving experience than my previous car. So, with all these factors combined, it's probably no wonder that at some point on the road I took a sharp turn left and entered a small road that has always been there, that I have never taken, and about which I always wondered where it leads...
It's a small road in the forest, getting to the bottom of some valleys and to the top of some hills, while always lounging a lake. Very narrow and with lots of turns. In short, a wonderful driving experience, joined by beautiful scenery and my son's clear enjoyment of it. A perfect moment. We joined the main road half an hour later and we haven't regret it for a second.
After the zoo and the mandatory McDonald's, it was time to head back. And I was facing the hard choice of taking the motorway (half an hour) or driving to the seaside and lounge it until close to home (one hour or more depending on the traffic). I guess the choice I made is obvious, and I can assure you that the trip back was beautiful! Well, my son slept through the whole of it, but I enjoyed it a lot.
As I don't have access right now to the photos I made years ago (and I didn't bothered yesterday), here is a picture I found on the web with that road.
While driving back I realized that the last time I had been on that road was... 7 years ago! Because it's close to home, and it's touristic and.... it's simply longer. But how beautiful it is! And how seldom are we taking time to just... drive and enjoy the scenery.
Yes, sometimes the exploration starts quite close to home.
Yesterday I had to take a day off to sit with my 4.5 years old son - schools are closed on Wednesdays and his usual babysitter was not available. Part of our schedule for the day was to go to a Zoo, somewhere half an hour driving from our home.
As soon as we left, he started talking about us going on an exploration mission, which resonated loudly with some hidden feelings I had lately. They can mostly be described as me longing for trekking in the mountains, or driving through some pitoresque landscapes, or simply holding a map in my hand and figuring out what part of a city I would like to visit first.
I should also add that we have recently bought a new car. Nothing amazing, a Ford Focus, but more powerful, very silent and all in all a lot better driving experience than my previous car. So, with all these factors combined, it's probably no wonder that at some point on the road I took a sharp turn left and entered a small road that has always been there, that I have never taken, and about which I always wondered where it leads...
It's a small road in the forest, getting to the bottom of some valleys and to the top of some hills, while always lounging a lake. Very narrow and with lots of turns. In short, a wonderful driving experience, joined by beautiful scenery and my son's clear enjoyment of it. A perfect moment. We joined the main road half an hour later and we haven't regret it for a second.
After the zoo and the mandatory McDonald's, it was time to head back. And I was facing the hard choice of taking the motorway (half an hour) or driving to the seaside and lounge it until close to home (one hour or more depending on the traffic). I guess the choice I made is obvious, and I can assure you that the trip back was beautiful! Well, my son slept through the whole of it, but I enjoyed it a lot.
As I don't have access right now to the photos I made years ago (and I didn't bothered yesterday), here is a picture I found on the web with that road.
While driving back I realized that the last time I had been on that road was... 7 years ago! Because it's close to home, and it's touristic and.... it's simply longer. But how beautiful it is! And how seldom are we taking time to just... drive and enjoy the scenery.
Yes, sometimes the exploration starts quite close to home.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Fun!
As a follow up to yesterday's post, here is our recent family tradition in the evenings. I'll try my best to describe it to you, but you'll have to use your imagination too...
Scene: our double bed
Characters:
All three of us in the bed... and the fun starts.
And if we were insects? What do you mean, insects? Daddy! I will be an insect that climbs here, you will be another insect. M.! We'll meet up and discuss. Daddy! M! Hello, insect, how are you? Hello! Daddy! Have you seen all the place we have here? M! I think I'll take a nap. Booo! Ah, you scared me, M! Oh, no, a bad insect is coming! Which bad insect, your brother? Booo! Aaargh! Quickly, let's hide! Dada? Dad, you take this blanket and put it over me. Daddy! M! Dad, cover me with the blanket! Yes, yes, I'll cover you. Why? Booo! Because I'm an insect and I need to hide from M. (under blanket) Shhhh! *pulls my hair* And now you hide too. *pulls my hair again* Aiie! Quickly, hide! *laughs* Now we go out. This? Eye Ah, the bad insect! This? Nose Now I'm a frog. This? AAAAAiiiiieee! I jumped on you! Mouth! This? Ribbit! Ear Aaaaiiiieeeee! I jumped on you again!
Why do you jump on me? Because I'm a frog! *pinches me* I thought you were an insect.No, I'm not an insect anymore, I'm a frog and frogs jump. *rolls on the bed laughing* Ribbit! This? M's hair
Aieee! What happened? Lamp? I hurt myself on the bed when I jumped. If you're not careful...
It's ok, the frogs don't feel pain. Don't pull the lamp! Now let's hide under the blanket again. This? Eye! Honeyyyyy! I can't do it anymore!
I think this is what it is usually called "spending quality time with your children"...
Scene: our double bed
Characters:
- D., 4 years old (or, in his words, "four years old. Well, four years and something now"). Called "Dada" by his little brother.
- M., 1.5 years old. Limited vocabulary.
- and myself
All three of us in the bed... and the fun starts.
And if we were insects? What do you mean, insects? Daddy! I will be an insect that climbs here, you will be another insect. M.! We'll meet up and discuss. Daddy! M! Hello, insect, how are you? Hello! Daddy! Have you seen all the place we have here? M! I think I'll take a nap. Booo! Ah, you scared me, M! Oh, no, a bad insect is coming! Which bad insect, your brother? Booo! Aaargh! Quickly, let's hide! Dada? Dad, you take this blanket and put it over me. Daddy! M! Dad, cover me with the blanket! Yes, yes, I'll cover you. Why? Booo! Because I'm an insect and I need to hide from M. (under blanket) Shhhh! *pulls my hair* And now you hide too. *pulls my hair again* Aiie! Quickly, hide! *laughs* Now we go out. This? Eye Ah, the bad insect! This? Nose Now I'm a frog. This? AAAAAiiiiieee! I jumped on you! Mouth! This? Ribbit! Ear Aaaaiiiieeeee! I jumped on you again!
Why do you jump on me? Because I'm a frog! *pinches me* I thought you were an insect.No, I'm not an insect anymore, I'm a frog and frogs jump. *rolls on the bed laughing* Ribbit! This? M's hair
Aieee! What happened? Lamp? I hurt myself on the bed when I jumped. If you're not careful...
It's ok, the frogs don't feel pain. Don't pull the lamp! Now let's hide under the blanket again. This? Eye! Honeyyyyy! I can't do it anymore!
I think this is what it is usually called "spending quality time with your children"...
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