The past few weeks, the apartment below us has been undergoing major repairs. The noise is incessant from 0800 to 1700 except for lunch time. This is the third such rennovation project we have endured - the previous two times were on either side of our apartment. I am accused of not caring about this enough because I am at work when the repairs are going on. I really can't argue with the logic, but I do know this: I would much rather hear construction eight hours a day than I would bitching!
Anyway, I am working on a compensation plan from the apartment management... apparently I am not going about it quick enough. I already requested the apartment management install a dishwasher. Diep really wants one and has this insane belief that washing dishes will get easier with one. Apparently she has never had one, because you have to rinse the dishes before you put them in the washer. Personally, I really don't understand why they have caught on as well as they have. Not to mention the impossibility of getting the dishwashing detergent here in VN.
As it turns out, the management came back and essesntially said that they can do many things, but they cannot get us a dishwasher. So now I am in the negotiation process to get some other amenities to make life more bearable inspite of the construction noise. Diep and I got in this huge argument over it this morning. She has gotten into the habit of calling me stupid when I can't get something she wants. I can't say that the name calling is hurtful, because I don't think she really thinks I am stupid, but it certainly is annoying. I can just run through it in my head:
Diep: "You are stupid"
me: "Am not"
Diep: "Are too!"
me: "Am not."
Anyway, you get the picture. Especially since I take special care not to call her stupid. I have taken special care not to call her any names any more since it seems to just work the opposite effect that I want. Nevertheless, I do still need to work on the whole "raising my voice" thing. It is hard for me to keep my voice down because I get this distinct and certain feeling that she isn't listening if I say these things she doesn't want to hear in my normal voice. I say I am certain she doesn't hear me because when I say "I got it" or "I understand" or "There isn't anything I can do about that" she will repeat whatever complaint it was that she had. Over and over and over and over...
I do also get the feeling that we get in fights when she wants to go to Saigon. She just got back, but she mentioned the other day that she wants to go again. When I mentioned the Saigon trip this morning, it seemed a little convenient that the argument started not 30 minutes after that. The argument ended with her saying she was going to live in Saigon. Of course I know that "going to live in Saigon" means "going to live in Saigon until I get pissed off at my family and realize my husband is the only one that can stand me for more than two weeks at a time" at which points she is back in Hanoi.
These threats are worse in the school year, because I don't want her taking Megan with her. Megan does not need to miss school. Especially because of some stupid argument we had. Ooops, did I say STUPID?
Friday, September 4, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Death and Running
A couple of days ago the elementary PE teacher at Megan's school died, either during or just after an afternoon run in the vicinity of the school. He was probably in his late 50's and from what I hear he smoked. Megan didn't even know who he was because she is in middle school now and had never had him as a teacher, so we didn't have to sit down and talk about it. Not that we would anyway, I think Megan is very well aware of the whole circle of life thing that goes on every day. Apparently, though, other kids aren't as well adjusted. I got a flurry of emails from the school stating there would be counseling and teacher's available to help the children process what happened to the teacher.
His death did get me to thinking, though. I run all the time and I would sure hate to die while running. I think it would be even worse if someone could blame it on some bad habit I have, like smoking or drinking. Fortunately, I don't have those things going against me. At least the smoking, and I don't drink enough for it to adversely affect my health. But I did take notice at the way Diep handled it; especially after she found out that the man smoked. It was a sort of, "Oh, well of course he would fall over dead in the middle of the road. He was a smoker!" I don't see it that way. I figure it could have happened to anyone whose heart just wasn't ready for that kind of stress.
I take precautions. I generally don't run in the afternoon. Too hot! Even in the morning during the summer I do a run / walk system where I will run for five or six minutes and walk for one or two. I feel like a sissy, but I find I can actually complete a course nearly as quickly as I can do it running straight through. I attribute it to running faster when I am running and the brisk walk during the minute break. I also have started the habit of running with water on every run now. I used to only take the water on runs over an hour, but now I think it is better to keep it with me all the time.
I do know this: If I do have a cardio / pulmonary issue on a run, I will not be able to depend on a Vietnamese to help me. As a matter of fact, talking to someone at the scene of the PE teacher incident, I found out there were only westerners trying to help him with chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth. There were security guards just standing around gawking... not even calling an ambulance. Knowing that is enough to teach me not to overdo it. If I feel too weak or if something feels quirky inside. I stop and take a break. It is just too scary thinking that my life would be in the hands of someone that didn't know anything about basic first aid.
I guess it is really a toss up. Is it better to exercise every day so you can deal with the stress of physical exertion, or is it better to not physically exert yourself. I mean, eating right and getting enough sleep would probably be enough to keep most people healthy for a good long life. For me, I like to exercise. I like the way I feel when I am running, biking, swimming, etc. Or at least the way I feel after I finish. If I keel over one day because of it, I hope people don't figure I had it coming for whatever reason. And, if I have a condition that means I am going one way or another, I would rather go running than sitting on my ass watching TV.
His death did get me to thinking, though. I run all the time and I would sure hate to die while running. I think it would be even worse if someone could blame it on some bad habit I have, like smoking or drinking. Fortunately, I don't have those things going against me. At least the smoking, and I don't drink enough for it to adversely affect my health. But I did take notice at the way Diep handled it; especially after she found out that the man smoked. It was a sort of, "Oh, well of course he would fall over dead in the middle of the road. He was a smoker!" I don't see it that way. I figure it could have happened to anyone whose heart just wasn't ready for that kind of stress.
I take precautions. I generally don't run in the afternoon. Too hot! Even in the morning during the summer I do a run / walk system where I will run for five or six minutes and walk for one or two. I feel like a sissy, but I find I can actually complete a course nearly as quickly as I can do it running straight through. I attribute it to running faster when I am running and the brisk walk during the minute break. I also have started the habit of running with water on every run now. I used to only take the water on runs over an hour, but now I think it is better to keep it with me all the time.
I do know this: If I do have a cardio / pulmonary issue on a run, I will not be able to depend on a Vietnamese to help me. As a matter of fact, talking to someone at the scene of the PE teacher incident, I found out there were only westerners trying to help him with chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth. There were security guards just standing around gawking... not even calling an ambulance. Knowing that is enough to teach me not to overdo it. If I feel too weak or if something feels quirky inside. I stop and take a break. It is just too scary thinking that my life would be in the hands of someone that didn't know anything about basic first aid.
I guess it is really a toss up. Is it better to exercise every day so you can deal with the stress of physical exertion, or is it better to not physically exert yourself. I mean, eating right and getting enough sleep would probably be enough to keep most people healthy for a good long life. For me, I like to exercise. I like the way I feel when I am running, biking, swimming, etc. Or at least the way I feel after I finish. If I keel over one day because of it, I hope people don't figure I had it coming for whatever reason. And, if I have a condition that means I am going one way or another, I would rather go running than sitting on my ass watching TV.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)