(no subject)

[lizzybennet]

There has been non-stop (seemingly) hammering somewhere above us in the building for about the past week. This morning, I incorporated the hammering into my dream. I spent a very frustrating few minutes trying to stop the noise before I woke up and realized what it was. That infernal hammering.

Earlier today, another racket joined in. This is the noise of someone hammering on metal. It is outside somewhere, clang, clang, clang! Before I let myself get to frustrated with all this incessant hammering, I reminded myself that someone is having to perform that hammering all day, every day. Imagine the headache, and arm ache, he must have at the end of the day!

It's been raining since last night so the boys and I haven't left the house today. There is no place (that we know of) equivalent to a mall where we could just go hang out for a couple hours if we wanted to get out. Thus, we've been inside. All day. Within the past half hour we've had an orange juice spill and 10 broken eggs on the kitchen floor. Somedays, it all seems to happen at once, doesn't it?

I've got the boys doing an art project right now and that's keeping them busy for the time being.

I hate Chris getting home so late from work. Since he's been in school our whole marriage, we've always been able to spend a lot of time together. His schedule rarely kept him out past 5 pm. Nowadays he doesn't get home until after 6:30. He misses out on dinner with the family. I don't like it.

The Chinese language tutor came today. Her name is Ching Ching, or Stella. She seems like she will be awesome. She had several workbooks that she gave to the boys. When I offered to reimburse her for them, she said they were a gift from her father because he is so excited that she's teaching 2 American boys. Cool. Today was basically her get-to-know-them day and she just played with them most of the time. She did teach them the Chinese words for spider, wolf, snake and dragon. Now that's the kind of knowledge they will remember!

Comments

[duaned.livejournal.com]

I can to the conclusion last year that all construction completed in China is done by banging two acouticaly sound object together very hard.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you! One of my neighbors had jack hammering in her building for the past two weeks. I suppose I can't complain about hammering compared to that!

Will you remind me where you are? I know you told me, but now that I'm actually here I'm bound to remember this time :)

[kungfuaddict.livejournal.com]

how cool - a chinese tutor who comes to your house! are you getting the benefit of the lessons as well?

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm going to sit in on the lessons. Partly to keep the kids in check, but mostly to learn. I really need to get some basics down besides "thank you" and "hello".

[kungfuaddict.livejournal.com]

I can only imagine how hard it must be - I live in Tampa and there is a huge Spanish speaking population. I wish I could remember more of Mrs. Saliba's Spanish classes from EHS. o_O But, I am going back to school in January so hopefully it will come back quickly... Chinese is kind of fun too - I know a tiny bit from taking chinese martial arts and one semester in school.

[(Anonymous)]

I didn't realize you live in Tampa. For one of my classes this semester I'm reading a book "The Immigrant World of Ybor City: Italians and Their Latin Neighbors in Tampa, 1885-1985."

Yes, it is as wordy and boring as it sounds BUT it has really taught me a lot. I had no idea that Tampa was the Ellis Island of the South. Very interesting! Have you ever been to Ybor City?

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

That was me. Sorry! Ha, posting anonymous comments in my own journal! What a dork I am.

[kungfuaddict.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah - it's very yuppie now - I actually am dating a Cuban-American decendant of the cigar rollers. It's a fascinating heritage, and I think, somewhat prestigious really. The culture runs deep here, but the typical American pop stuff is trying to overrun a lot of it all in the typical guise of progress. And the younger generations are prey to the same things we all were growing up in the world of the TV.

[risingpheenix.livejournal.com]

A Chinese tutor who also knows the little known language of Young Boy. Very cool!

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

She's a student at Nanjing University (which is only a few blocks from our house.) Her major is second language acquisition, so this is good practice for her. She seems really good.

Hammering

[(Anonymous)]

" If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning. I 'd hammer in the evening all over this land" . Perhaps your Chinese neighbors take this song literally. Are there Chinese gongs going off also? I kind of like gongs. You should buy one as a dinner bell to call the family to meals. Bill

Re: Hammering

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

I've got a better idea. I'll buy you a gong. I'm sure the kids would love that when we come to visit :)

Re: Hammering

[(Anonymous)]

I'll start looking for one immediately on Ebay for Petey's birthday.