mah furkids

10-03-2010 by rialeilani

C and I adore our dogs…

We adore

  • making fun of them
  • putting things on them that make them look funnier
  • irritating them
  • poking each other and saying ‘look’ when they do something cute
  • talking about them when we are at work

…you know that kind of smushy stuff.  When we were in California we were cooing over all the cute dogs and how Nani would enjoy the beach and Scooby would enjoy the other dogs and Liko would enjoy the sand.  In short, we miss them immensely when we go on vacation (though truthfully in the days leading up to vacation we tell them we can’t wait to have a break from them haha).

So here is some visual love of my canine kids.  I should warn you that Scooby is our model.  Nani isn’t all that photogenic and Liko is usually burrowed under the blankets.

Want more? Check out the Mah Furkids gallery

i hope it’s not genetic

28-01-2010 by rialeilani

So I heard something this week that shouldn’t hurt my feelings.  It was something that I partially brought on myself but other aspects were out of my hands.  I know that I’ve complained about my Grams on here a few times about how I wish I just had a loving Grandma to be a part of my life.  I’ve come to terms with the way things are but it doesn’t hurt any less when I get a confirmation of how I fucked up things are.

It may be cowardly of me not to want to get together to hash things out.  To be adult about it and not blame her for things.  She is not a mature person, I don’t think she ever was.  And just because I say I don’t want to get together to yell out my frustrations doesn’t mean that there isn’t a tiny part of me that would like to.

In short, my mom’s good friend J, who had been a part of their family for years going on trips up north with them etc, wrote my Grams an email trying to get back in touch with her.  Because unlike me, J wanted to get things out in the open and reunite with her friend after years of being apart.  It should be said that J was pushed out my Grams’ life when she married a control freak who didn’t care for J, over 15 years ago.  Now that the husband is out of the picture there shouldn’t be a problem.  When I was talking to my Grams she said she wanted nothing more than to reconnect with her old friend.

BULL SHIT.

J waited for weeks for a response to the email she sent.  She finally accepted defeat and sent one more email saying Goodbye.  Which got a response from my Grams stating that  ” she thought it would be easier for J and I  if she stayed out of picture”.

WHAT THE FUCK?  Clearly, it’s easier for her to not have to face either one of us.  Why?!

So yeah, that hurts a little.  That while I may not have done a lot to reconcile that my Mother’s Mother, she has decided what is easiest for me without even including me in the conversation.

Anybitches, did you know that the crockpot is the best invention ever?  You put a bunch of stuff in it and when you get home the house smells like you have a 1950’s housewife cooking for you.

faux filipina

12-01-2010 by rialeilani

♥ Thanks so much for your comments you sent me on Twitter and email.  ♥

via kendralynn

After working out, ranting and being completely emo I went into the kitchen set on what I was making for dinner.  I hardly ever use my rice maker.  I know GASP!  I’m Filipino and I pull out the rice maker maybe every couple of months.

I remember joking when I was little that my Dad would get crabby if he didn’t have rice on a daily basis.  We’d go up north and he wouldn’t have any for a couple days and his mood was different.  When I got older he took me camping and on a propane stove he would make rice.  We’d have Adobo  and rice for dinner.

I never really identified with the Asian race.  I was raised American.  I think it was in fear that I  would have an accent and be treated differently.  My mom was only a quarter Filipino and to my knowledge didn’t identify with being Asian.  (I’m 5/8ths btw)  When my mom was on dialysis her nurses were Filipino and they insisted I be a part of the Filipino Debutant Ball when I was 16.  It was my first true immersion in a culture I knew little about.

It was cliquey and I’ve never felt so out of place in my life.  My dad wasn’t a doctor or a lawyer.  He worked on Sundays, the Sundays we had practice and all the dad’s came to watch.  It was questioned why he wasn’t there.

As I got older I began my own research into a race that intrigues me.  I don’t know how to explain it.  I feel a part of it sometime and others it’s just foreign to me.

And now that I’m completely off track, the reason for this post is that I was very Asian inspired in my cuisine last night.  I made rice and then got my wok out to make lumpia (spring rolls).  I’m going to be honest here, I’m a rookie when it comes to making lumpia.  I always ruin 2-3 rolls before I get the oil temperature right.  I also made fried rice, the way my dad showed me.  Though it didn’t taste like his at all.

C my haole, said it tasted just fine.  But what does he know :)   I also made some frozen potstickers from Trader Joe’s.  I realize that my dinner last night might be totally Americanized Asian but eh, that is what I am!

Chrismouse Meme

24-12-2009 by rialeilani

In honor of Christmas…

The first is the Chrismouse Meme.  I was tagged by the sweet  Moody Mabel.

The Twelve days of Christmas have been celebrated since medieval times ~ traditionally beginning the day after Christmas Day (now known as Boxing Day) and ending with Twelfth Night.  And since the festive season is upon us ~ I thought it might be fun to do a Christmas meme!

Rules:

  1. Copy the delightful Chrismouse picture to your post.
  2. Copy these rules and the explanation of the meme (above).
  3. Link the person who tagged you.
  4. List 12 things: either about a Christmas present or memories about Christmas past (or a mixture of both)
  5. Tag as many or as few people as you like!
  1. Every Christmas Day since I’ve been born has been at my Aunt M’s house.  I’m taking it back this year and not going.  I actually don’t feel sad about it either.
  2. She used to have this huge camel that me and my 2 cousins would have our pictures taken on every year, until it didn’t exist anymore.
  3. On Christmas Eve we have to sing the 12 days of Christmas before the kids get to open their presents.
  4. My dad used to hide jewelry presents in the tree for my mom to find on Christmas morning.
  5. My dogs and past dogs know how to open presents.  My first dog, Poqui, used to know which stocking was his and he would sit in front of it and “guard” it.
  6. Every year my mom and I would make Christmas cookies.  Every year she’d get pissed at the spritz press, wipe the dough off the bottom and throw it in the sink.  She’d chill the dough some more and eventually the cookies would get made.  She went through all the trouble because they were my Aunt D’s favorites.  J says she tries to make them but they never taste the same as my mom’s.
  7. Until my mom died I got a present from Santa, I wish I still did.
  8. I love getting cute socks for Christmas.
  9. There was always lip smackers in my stocking.  My dad kept up the tradition until a couple years ago.
  10. I used to get to open one present on Christmas eve, they were always pjs.
  11. I love the way the lights twinkle on the houses.
  12. JC told me that he still remembers coming over Christmas morning when we dated in high school.  My mom bought him more presents then his family bought him.

drawing a line about holidays

08-12-2009 by rialeilani

I’m feeling a little bit guilty.  I have a Great-Aunt that was very close to my mom and I’ve tried to keep that perfect daughter/niece view alive but I’m floundering.  This past year I’ve realized that though I love spending time with my family I want to start my own traditions.

So for thanksgiving I politely declined showing up to her house at 2pm.  C and I have talked and we are spending Christmas Eve apart so we can see both our families.  I got an email this weekend from Great-Aunt asking if we would be coming to Christmas Day dinner.  I politely declined again because though I have always seen her both days, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, this year I want to spend Christmas Day in my pj’s with my dogs and C.

Is this wrong?

Why do I feel guilty for hurting her feelings?  I’ve asked her multiple times to help me set up a time for lunch.  She never responded.  I know that I could be more aggressive. Does it have to come down to  I’m a bad great niece because I want to spend Christmas at home?

You guys, I even emailed her and told her I don’t particularly enjoy the holidays.  She never responded.  Maybe it’s because she didn’t know what to say.  Maybe she is hurt that I’m not coming over.  I do not know.

Does this make me a bad person?  My greatest fear is that my mom would be disappointed, but on the other hand I’ve always been independent and made my own decisions.  She may not like what I’m doing but I think she’d understand.  Right?

only because she has to face me soon

24-11-2009 by rialeilani

Hmmm well shit comes in three’s right?  Well I guess it’s not really shit, it’s more family drama.  Not really even drama, more like shit I don’t want to deal with.

First there was the post about my dad and his troubles, which I kind of separate out because he’s my dad and I love him no matter what.  He’s always there for me and I don’t ever doubt that.  I’m lucky in that respect.

Then there was the fact that the holidays are coming up and though I love them, I hate them at the same time. (A huge thank you to everyone that commented on my post about wanting to love the holidays.)

And lastly, I got a card in the mail last night asking for forgiveness from my Grams.  My last contact with her was when she called me and then hung up on me because she can’t take the truth.  (and if you’d like a back story about how she constantly hurts me or how she contacts me to make herself feel better)

Before you get all, you need to forgive her bullshit, I don’t need that so you can click the little red X in the corner.  The bottom line is that she always hurts me in the end by shoving me aside.  It has happened  so many times in my life that I’m not affected by her anymore and I’d be stupid to be.

Forgiveness?  There is nothing to forgive.  She will never be the person I needed her to be.  She wasn’t there for me when my mom died.  She pushed me aside in a time of need on more than a handful of occasions.  Some women are not maternal or maybe she’s just not maternal to me.  I’ve always held her accountable, something I don’t think everyone does.

I guess my bottom line is that she is a sad person.  Someone who lost herself along the way.  I’ve heard she hasn’t always been like this.  That she adored me when my Papa was alive.  I do remember those times but they ended when he died when I was 6.

I honestly believe that the only reason she sent the card is because she has to face me this holiday season.  Something she hasn’t had to do in years because she was never here for the holidays.  This year is the first year we’ll be at the same place for Christmas.  So in a month she has to see me.  I don’t know if she thinks I’ll cause a scene (I wouldn’t) or if it’s just for her piece of mind that she reached out to me first.

I’ve tried and I know I have.  But you can only get slapped in the face so many times.  I start to trust her, to want to open up to her because yes I would like a Grandmother and then she makes me feel like shit.  I’ve learned to keep my distance.

I will respond to her, tell her that I forgive her because that is what she wants to hear, but I will NOT let her into my life again.  Holidays will be pleasant but my loving Grandma died when I was 15.

I learned at a young age that family who cares and will always be there to pick you up are not always blood related.

i want to love the holidays

18-11-2009 by rialeilani

(disclaimer: if you are part of my family *coughmaekocough* – don’t read too much into the following emo post kthx)

I want to love the holidays.  I used to.  I try every year to get excited and for part of the time I am.

(Did you get an email from me? I’m sending out Christmas cards! If not, leave me a comment with your email address please!)

But then the dark haze kind of sets over me.  I’m constantly reminded that no matter how much family surrounds me, I don’t feel close to any of them.

There are no aunts or uncles or grandparents that I would call if I was in a situation where I couldn’t call my dad or if I had a bad day and needed to vent.

There are no family members that call to wish me happy birthday.

Part of this is my fault, because I keep secrets close to my heart.  I’m constantly afraid to burden family  and let them in on my worries and insecurities.

I guess it’s also part because I don’t want to be the subject of family gossip, though I’m not even sure if they all gossip.

Sometimes I hate being an only child, it’s lonely.

I’m terrified of the day that I will be an ‘orphan’.

So yeah as much as I love the holidays, a small part of me just wants to hibernate through them.

It’s an odd combination to feel both warmth and isolation at family get togethers.

Protected: i love my dad but…(ask for pw)

17-11-2009 by rialeilani

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:


fighting exposure

04-09-2009 by rialeilani

Awhile ago I thought I’d try therapy.  It didn’t work out for me because the bitch therapist made me want to punch her in the face.  I’m sure that the person you are supposed to be spilling your guts to shouldn’t be someone you want to murder.  So after the 3rd visit I decided not to go back.

I wasn’t giving up on the idea of therapy but when I called to see if I could see someone else they told me I had to “break up” with my original therapist.

Yeah.  That never happened. I feel mostly stable so until I feel like I might fall apart again I think I’ll just keep on doing what I’m doing.

The reason why I’m telling you this is because something she said to me still irritates the hell out of me and I’d like to get your opinion.

I told her truthfully that I NEVER heard my parents argue.  I never heard my dad raise his voice to my mom and  I never heard her do anything more than a little nagging.  I lived with my parents until my mom died when I was 21.  21 years I never heard them raise their voices to one another.

I think if I ever have children I’d want to raise them in the same environment.  That kids shouldn’t have to listen to their parents fight.

My therapist said, “that because I never heard them fight is why I have a problem with confrontation, I never learned to deal with it.” So basically I had to hear them fight to learn how to deal with it?  What about me fighting with them, I couldn’t learn to deal with it then?

Thoughts? Agree?  Disagree?

taking a quick break to say hello

31-08-2009 by rialeilani

The good news…I stayed home this weekend and helped my dad paint.  8 hours worth of painting.  No that’s not the good news, that would be that I’m not sore, which means my arms and shoulders aren’t as out of shape as I thought they might be.

The other good news is that most of the 2,000 square feet is painted.  10ft walls be damned. 1 office, 2 bathrooms, 1 hallway and 1 changing room be damned.

standing at the front door - looking left

standing at the front door - looking left

Standing at the front door - left side

Standing at the front door - looking right - see the red in the back? that's my dad

With good news there is bad news too right? Right.

Saturday night the lights in the hallway and bathroom decided to quit working.  They have always been a bit funny, you know flickering and burning out light bulbs.  All I can think is FIRE.  So we turned the breaker off to the bathroom and C has been trying to figure out the problem.  He spent at least a couple hours checking circuits and other things I don’t care to understand.  He’s not an electrician but you know what guys?  He is handy.  I don’t give him enough credit but he really is.  So there. I’m doing it now, just don’t tell him ok?  He has a tendency to let things go to his head ;-)

I’m not going to lie.  I was a little bummed out we didn’t get to go up north and look at cabins.  But you were right and I needed to stay here.  My dad is always there to help us out and I wouldn’t have felt right about leaving.

Well I’m out of time, I need to get back to work.  Boo.

Happy Monday!

welcome!

"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection."
~ Anais Nin



You can send nice thoughts to
rialeilani (at) gmail (dot) com

find me:

I am a 20sb
I read, my goodreads

©2010 rialeilani

Subscription Options:

Help Feed Homeless Pets

vacation & clothing fund

past entries: