Mindless Meandering

Yesterday was not the omega man experience I had hoped for. There were more people and beeping cars on the street that I wanted on my run around West Lake. Of course, this link will show you the relative quiet of the streets compared to a normal day's traffic:

http://vnexpress.net/GL/Xa-hoi/2010/02/3BA18D10/

As you can see by the pictures, the weather sucked. After the run, I stayed in for the rest of the day. I really wanted to get out and take some photos with my digital SLR but I wasn't willing to take a risk of ruining the camera in the mist. Plus, it would be hard to get a really nice picture in this crap weather. It just doesn't feel festive.

I am battling my inner self to take a ride out to work and work out at the office. I think Iwill win the fight, but I am not sure how long it will take to muster the energy. I slept in for the past three days, something I hardly ever do, but I feel like I really needed it. If nothing else, this weather is great for sleeping in!

I spent most of last night loading up patches and new programs on Megan's computer. I really like Windows 7 and look forward to getting my copy. Since Megan had already torqued up her upgrade, I was able to use her computer as the guinea pig and even reloaded Windows 7 a second time to make sure I got the order straight on it. She still has a little work to do on it, but I took the bear's share of the work on myself.

After finishing this post, I can't help but to think this is mindless meandering. The funny thing is, throughout the day things will happen that I will think would be great things to post about, but inevitably I will forget about them, unable to recall any aspect of it. I do remember a couple of weeks ago I thought I would start doing a picture blog... where I would go out and take pictures at some point during the week and choose one to write about at the end of the week, both satisfying my wish to take more pictures and explain a little more about life here in Vietnam. Unfortunately, the weather has intervened. I am even afraid to take out my little point and shoot camera for fear of ruining it right now.

Oh well...

Sitting at home...

So, here I am sitting at home on the last day of the lunar new year. Quite honestly, the lunar new year has no meaning to me anymore than Halloween. I am not a farmer and I don't much care when the planting season starts. Nevertheless, there is something quite lonely about being in the house with no one else here while the outside weather is nothing short of dismal. Of course, three days ago we enjoyed some of the best spring weather I have seen in a long time in Hanoi, but then everything changed yesterday... temps dropped into the mid-50s and now this non-rain mist is all over the place. Yeah, I know mid-50s is not really cold, but it ain't shorts weather either!

Yesterday, I loaded up Windows 7 on Megan's computer. I took extra joy in it since she pooped the upgrade and, as she was exiting the house yesterday, asked me if I could un-poop it. This is after she refused my initial offer to help her upgrade her system. She even punctuated the refusal with the "I am a pretty good IT gurl" and mentioned that I had to refresh my computer because I couldn't un-poop it after it started acting up. I was really hoping she would read the instructions and do it the way it was supposed to work, but it looks like she just put in the disc and started it... omitting some very important steps. Anyway, it gave me an opportunity to check out the new operating system... and it made me happy that I have already ordered an upgrade for my system. In short, I like Windows 7.

I ordered a large pizza that should get me through the next couple of days. Most restaurants will be closed and even those that will be open will have very limited working hours. I am stocked up and ready to ride it out. Tomorrow will be fun because there won't be anyone on the streets at all. I always like the first day of the lunar new year in Vietnam. I feel like omega man!

Tet - Vietnamese Lunar New Year

Just a couple more days and the Vietnamese will be in a New Lunar Year - The Year of the Tiger. This only means to me that I have been enduring tons of traffic on the streets as the Vietnamese populace prepares for this festive occasion that they liken to Christmas, New Years and Easer all rolled into one. What a pain in the ass!

Diep and Megan leave tonight for Saigon. They will be there for a week as I stay in Hanoi trying to catch up on some unfinished work.

I talked to Dad on Skype today. I sure hope I am as healthy as he is when I reach 73. I believe my genes are more maternal than paternal, however, leaving me with a much abbreviated lifespan.

This year has had a decent start for me. Lots of time to get ready for what is to come ahead. I will be on the move quite a bit in the latter part of February and into March. I had a couple of New Year resolutions that I have been trying to stick to. I am doing generally well, but the whole "being nice to people" and have a "generally cheery attitude" just isn't going well. Being nice to people just leaves me open to getting stepped on or rolled over, and the cheery attitude is fine, but just isn't my style. I may try to stick with it for a little longer, but I ain't sure people are noticing anyway... so what's the point.

I know this is a short post, but who knows, maybe it is a sign of more posts to come.

Cheers...

Apartment

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?

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.

Vandalism

Yesterday, Diep called me at work to tell me that someone had cut the thread in the seat lining of our motorbike. We both know that someone in the compound did this because, firstly, the bike is only a few months old and it is impossible that the seat ripped from wear and tear; and secondly, because we just rode the bike the day before and there was no rip.

We live in a gated community with guards that are supposed to watch the grounds and our vehicles 24/7. It is unfortunate that this is the second incident of vandalism and that in both incidents my primary suspicions lie squarely on the security guards. I have seen them sitting on our bikes and moving the mirrors around and I know they get bored in the middle of the night. I haven't figured out what it is about Diep or myself that makes them want to vandalize our things, but it is getting old.

The first incident, someone took the oil cap off and placed tiny rocks into the crankcase. I know it happened in the compound because the bike was brand new and we didn't have a tag for it yet. We were waiting for the tag when I rode the bike inside the compound and noticed the noise. Fortunately, the bike was under warranty and the mechanics fixed it free of charge. I also notified the management of our apartment complex to let him know he had a problem with at least one of his security guards.

So here I am just a couple of months later with a rip in my bike seat. When I reported it, the customer care representative listened with concern and has since agreed to pay for repair, but the security manager who was present tried to say the rip could have come from anywhere. I shut him down quickly. I know for a fact that the tear happened inside our compound and I am fed up with these lame excuses and everyone's inability to take responsibility.

Yes, in retrospect I was a monster. I felt like an ugly American... and, in fact, I have often let things go in the past for fear of appearing like an ugly American. But, after thinking about it, I see arguments here all the time. Arguments by the Vietnamese with Vietnamese for transgressions far less important than my bike seat.

Diep was happy I stood up for us. I was happy that she was happy, but I would much rather people just stay off my bike when I park it in the parking area. Life would be so much simpler.

Diep Couldn't sleep...

Diep couldn't sleep last night. This is not unusual, she often can't sleep and it usually has something to do with me. When I am away for work in some faraway place she lies in bed wondering what I am doing, who I am with and what nonsense I am up to. This is clearly a dilusional mind. In fact, I rarely go out when I am out of town and even when I do, I make sure I am a good boy... whatever that means.

Regardless of Diep's previous insomnia episodes, last night was not my fault. Or at least I don't think it was. I was in bed and trying to get some sleep, but she was bumping around downstairs. When curiosity finally got the best of me, I got out of bed and stumbled down the stairs. She was opening and closing cabinets, pushing around kitchen appliances, and generally making a good racket.

Turns out, she was on a roach hunt. Roaches are ubiquitous in Vietnam, as in most other parts of the world. Even Mobile had a goodly number of wood roaches scurrying around the house at any given time when we lived there. These were cockroaches, though, and Diep hates them... hates all roaches. She blames it on the apartment complex for not properly spraying for pests, but I see it as somewhat unavoidable, especially given that we live so close to the big West Lake.

So, Raid in hand, Diep had at it until the better part of 11pm and, at some point unbeknownst to me, slipped into bed. She had promised to play tennis with me this morning but claimed a headache. This was no surprise given the amount of Raid she was spraying in an enclosed area.

She conducted cleanup operations this morning. Clearing the battlefield of half-dead and fully dead roaches. The battle is over, but the war still rages on.