So the Neilsons have returned to Penang, much like the Swallows to Capistrano...well not really but I was waxing...oh hell you get the drift!! Anyway, it has been two weeks now and I have to tell you, for me this is my first period of real frustration here. i think it comes more from the fact that I can often deal with those things that are outside of my control, but broken DIY problems frustrate me because i know that if i were home a quick trip to Home Depot or Lowe's, and the problem is solved, like changing out a defective switch. The broken washing machine, AC unit and refrigerator, all which occurred upon our return...That was way too much out of my control!! I have to say though, a quick email or text message to the owner and someone is on it. admittedly its like waiting for the cable guy in the US...oh "they will be there in the morning", morning turns out to be 1:30 in the afternoon, and the whole day is shot. Frustration aside, we now have a new AC unit in the mater bedroom, (we have decided that it is nicer sleeping without it though, so we run it a bit during the day to cool it off). the water heater in the guest room has a new switch (i could have done that!!), the washing machine has been replaced, and the refrigerator is fixed, three days without a fridge sucks, we are glad though that we just got back from 3 weeks away and it was not stock full. Good times!!
So we have started to plan for our trips, now that I can walk again (and run, just saying). This is where being married to an accountant comes in really handy, and where I can recommend accountants as spouses (sometimes its...well...difficult...lets just say). Don't get me wrong Roxanne is a wonderful wife and the best really but when everything you do has to be meticulously planned it can be a bit much...anyway back to my point...why accountants as spouses rock reason #23...Because everything is meticulously planned....ok, ok I know i just said that was frustrating, but when you are vacation planning it is awesome, i mean there is an entire spreadsheet set up in Excel that accounts for our flights, hotel rooms, transportation, meal expenses, etc, etc. for every place we want to visit!! I mean it is awesome! Unless I want that really cool angry bird hat from the Beijing tourist trap...then i have to dip into "daddy's hidden stash"...oh come on you all know you have a hidden stash, especially if you are married to an accountant...that's all I'm saying. So we have planned a trip to Phuket Thailand, where i will live out a dream and get to pet and elephant, may be even ride one (depending on eco and care factors). That will be in February. Before that though we will be celebrating Chinese New year with the I-Run folks. That should be alot of fun! Hopefully we will also be going with friends to some of the events held locally, i am sure we will, and will be blogging extensively on these experiences, so stay tuned!! So rox back to work and Brenna back to school, which means the homework battle has begun again, ugg this is not a fun part of being a parent...every day its a struggle since we got back. i think we finally have a handle on it but it does not make it easier. Adding to the homework difficulty is the fact that Brenna has begun her FOBISSEA training, for the international competition to be held in Beijing. This is an international schools of south east Asia sports competition held every year, and the children compete in 4 sports, football, track/field, T-Ball, and swimming, so Brenna is running and kicking and throwing and swimming after school now and she comes home wiped out, so that makes the homework battle worse! i think that she can handle it though and this is such a good experience for her, hopefully she makes the team and we will be spending June in Beijing! That's about it for our first few weeks back, we seem to have gotten back to our routines, and today was a good day in Penang!!
Happy Chinese New Year!!
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