Life with the Three Crazy Dogs

Justin arrived on Thursday morning.  DB picked him up from MSP airport.  Justin told me he could not recognized his uncle.  “He lost a lot of weight.”  Actually, DB gained some.  He looked better now compared to 2 years ago, the last Justin saw him.

I took Friday off thinking that SD, Justin, and I will go to the Mall of America (MOA), but SD was called in to work the nurses’ station.  She didn’t mind it since they are paying her double time $32/hour.  I would go for it, too.  DB was stucked in the house with the window guy giving us an estimation for replacing 5 windows (our bedroom, living room, kitchen, DB’s office and bathroom).  Right after the window guy left, the carpet cleaner guy came, and DB tended to this sloppy dude.  Justin and I went to a M’sian restaurant for our lunch.  Told DB I will get his favorite (siew pau and chow kuay teow) home for his lunch.

Justin does not like Chinese food.  DB asked him to try out Satay because it is not exactly Chinese.  It is pretty much mixed – Chinese and Malaysian.  He was very willing to try them out.  He ordered a Chicken Teriyaki burger, lemon grass fried chicken wings.  I order some siew paus for him and to take home, plus “wat tan hor” (fried kuay teow noodles in egg soup – that’s the best I can describe it.  I bet  my sister can describe that better than me!)  I also order a plate of chow kuay teow for him to try.  He tried it but didn’t really like it.   Not sure if he really enjoyed the food, although he said he liked them.  But at least he ate. 

I got a chance to chat with this young man.  A very smart kid and respectful.  He speaks fluent Spanish and he is teaching me some – basic ones which I know I will forget when he leaves!  We chatted about his grandma and all the folks who lives in grandma’s house (I will talk about that in another post).  Now I know why he wanted to get out.  He said that house has too much bad influences for him and his sister.  He said he wants to live in MN for a while before he join the Coast Guards or Navy.  DB said he has no problem with Justin living with us for a while.  Fine by me, too.  Told DB Justin needs to speak slower.  He speaks like a speeding train plus the Texan drawl, not easy to understand.

He went to SD’s place for the weekend.  At least over at her place he can go wild with the Playstation and all the video games she and her BF have.  Our house do not have these stuff.  We gave them all to SD.  They took Justin to Hooters tonight for dinner since he has not been there before.  Hooters is famous for their wings.  Great wings, I tell ya!

Tomorrow we will be grilling if weather permits.  Brisket, ribs and pork chops with twice baked potatoes and corn on the cob.

Since I moved to Minnesota 10+ years ago, I do feel kinda out of reach with family.  My parents are still in Ipoh.  My sister and her family are in Singapore, and there is my brother who is working somewhere in Sabah, Lahad Datu, if I remember correctly. 

When I am facing any difficulties in my new home, with work, life, and husband, I do not feel that I should be calling my parents and sister to bother them with my worries, problems.  I think it’s because when I left Ipoh, I left breaking many hearts.  How can I call them to pour my heart out to them?  Maybe it’s pride.  Maybe because I know I did wrong.  I still tear up each time I think of what I did.  I did it because of a man I felled in love with.  Although I know I’m forgiven, but something is still not right.  I feel I’m suppose to be there whenever there is some sort of urgent matters arise.  I’m like an outsider at times, lost touch with what is happening with my family, relatives, and friends.

I’m located across the big pond and in the middle of the land of opportunities.   Yes, I am lucky to hold a job with a big corporation that operates globally.  I told myself I would do my best to get home to visit my family every other year.  I even thought of looking for a job in KL or Singapore where my company’s businesses are, but I know it is not going to work, as I want to.  DB is still working on his project; it will not be as straightforward as we want it to be.

Each time my sister sends me emails on some “hot” news on family members, I want to be there to help or lend a ear.  The one thing I can do is load up my calling card, call, and hear them out.  I know I cannot do anything, but at least I know I can listen and let them know I care. 

I am touched that my sister is the only one who is bearing most of the burden of our family problems.  I never am closer to her and my parents before than I am now.  When it comes to my brother, I knew my close relationship with my brother would be strained after I have moved away, it is getting worse as the years go by.  Since I left, I have only seen him twice, and each time we see each other, we share all our feelings and secrets.  I have always looked up to him.  When we sit and chat, I continuously remind him to take care of himself, change his attitude so that he is not looked upon as the “king” where every one that’s in contact with him has to “kow tow” to him.  He seems to listen to me, but he’s too proud to change his dog-gone ways of thinking.   How can I “brain-wash” his mind to listen?  It’s not easy to call him as I said, and he hardly calls me. 

I am so looking forward to see my family again.  The longer I’m away, the more often I want to see them.  My love for my family has change tremendously since I left.  It changed my perspective how important my family is to me now.