Well since the Hop Mat Huynh Truong last week, I’ve attended 3 parties in 3 days.

On Christmas Day I went to Ali and Jen’s Chrismakkah. There was plenty of Turkey and Latkes! The food was indeed t3h yum. Ali’s mum is a really good cook and she made this fantastic trifle that made me fatter just by looking at it! Hmmm… creamy.
They gave me a belated birthday present as well. A sewing machine clock, stockings and Hello Kitty stickers. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Jen liked her Chrismakkah present of the T-shirt Hell shirt. Though Shamis was like ‘uh that’s not actually correct cause you are a full blooded Jew!’ But it was appropriate wear for Chrismakkah methinks.
We had a pretty small crowd, it was Ali, Jen, Zhe, Shamis, Danny, Jenny and me. And though I totally adore Jen and Ali, I’m not really good friends with the others and it was a bit weird considering that they hung out out together all the time and though I knew them all I felt a bit like an interloper. But all in all, a nice quiet way to spend Christmas.

I went home to have dinner with my family. We again had our steamboat (not that I’m terribly fond of it, it gets boring after a while) and even Tim decided to get a piece of the steamboat action. We finished dinner and had a bit of Sean William Scott action from a Sean William Scott trilogy that Ant bought for us for Christmas. And after that, EUROVISION! My siblings and I have been watching Eurovision together and paying out the contestants. (Heh, I have both 2005 and 2006 on DVD).

On Boxing Day it was the annual HT Christmas party! We decided to run pot luck this year with everyone bringing something. Not as successful as one would of hoped. Huy needs to learn a few more management skills, he tends to leave things a bit late and hope for the best. It was his first time really managing a social event. But luckily Chi Ngoc assessed the food situation and bought a bucket of KFC as her contribution. I made my Chicken Caesar Salad (though I was told I put too much dressing in it) and Tim’s contribution of fried chicken. The hilarious thing is that Tim sponged off me and decided to claim the fried chicken as his. But he ended up feeling guilty and he volunteered to help me out in the kitchen. He washed the lettuce leaves (he was bitching and moaning the whole time) and even battered the chicken and put it in the saucepan I was using for deep frying.

The thing about the Christmas party this year was it felt different to the others. We had heaps of ex-HT turn up which was great because we rarely see them anymore, but they had to bring their kids which made the party have a totally different atmosphere. It was still warm and cosy, but so kid-orientated. There was no wacky party games, no cocktails passed around and no one being insanely silly. I remember when we had a birthday party a while back and Anh Hung was so funny and making dirty jokes and stuff. He had his kids with him but yeah, he was all very proper.

It makes me aware I’m getting older, and that my friends are all older and the glory days of our youth are waning. I still had a lovely time, but it would of been nice to be young with a live and let live attitude for the evening. I went home relatively early before the people totally hit the bottles and the younger set set out to get truly drunk.

The next day I went to work and got a message that it was Peter Ha’s birthday party! So I rocked up with my bro and Chris and we totally cracked up at Peter’s drunken antics. He was so completely smashed that he was just saying funny, slightly rude things and his father was trying to calm him down. They had so much food, there was just boxes and boxes of chicken kebabs and big bowls of lamb and beef steak. Tim and the other guys went into the beer and Tim threw up after 3 beers. He is such a lightweight.

It was funny how many people that I recognised there. Most of them were younger, my brothers generation, but I had seen so many of them around floating around Bankstown, church and Sunday School. I have taught Peter’s younger brothers in my TNTT career too! In fact, when I knocked on his door, Trung, his brother answered and his first response was ‘What are you doing here?’ Olol. And then when I saw him in the living room again I asked him what game he was playing and he was like ‘Are you going to yell at me?’ and I’m like ‘Uh no, I’m here to attend a party.’ And he looked relieved. Heh, I do tend to scold Trung a lot in class. Maybe you always look upon your teachers as teachers and not people with their own lives to lead.

All in all a very successful round of Christmas partying. And I was glad I was single because that meant I had no obligations to be with someone else (except for Timmy, but I’ve always been obligated to watch out for him), and I could do whatever I wanted. My sister being home for Christmas this year has been fantastic, and I’m so glad I have so much time to spend with her instead of worrying over some boy who would probably dump me at the end of it.

Hope you guys all had a fantastic Christmas!

With love, mia

Well this week has certainly been eventful.

Last Sunday was our end of year, Christmas, Patron Saint feast day extravaganza. We had our own band which sounded fantastic (but sadly the dodgy old mixer we borrowed blew at the very end), there were heaps of food for everyone, the kids danced beautifully and the mass was lovely. It was all hands on deck though my job wasn’t very large and I was just in charge of the kids on the day, who were (to their credit) extremely well behaved. It was a bit chaotic cause there was just so much mess generated.

We had prizes for all the kids that came top of their classes. Tu Quyen, the top of religion for Kindergarten was so cute, hugging her angel bear prize. She’s just cute period!

Then on Thursday, I had an interview for the full time position of my current job, and I think I may not get it. I’m not entirely as disappointed as I think I should be, but the feeling of job insecurity is setting in. I went in very afraid, but I was extremely honest. Maybe not quite what interviewers want to hear, but I think as I know my boss and have had a good relationship with him, and that he does know about my hopes and dreams, that is was only fair that he did know the truth – and he would know if I was lying or talking myself up.

I guess it’s time to go job hunting. Some Nannying jobs look interesting, though they are very long hours and I still have to attend uni. But I’m job secure at least till the end of January and I still have my adorable Sam Sam.

I had Christmas present opening with Sam on Thursday. That kid knows how to attack presents! I gave him a Bob the Builder DVD, Thomas the Tank Engine book and puzzle. I gave his parents a Lonely Planet guide to China as they are planning to go there next year on holiday and they gave me a gorgeous Silver and pearly necklace. Sam also got a Biscuit tin (which he insisted on having one right there and then) and some chocolate coins. They also opened the presents they got from Sam’s uncle which was shoes about 3 sizes too big and a Ramones T-shirt for Sam and a Tea Set for the parents. It was nice to be part of that family present opening. And Sam is mega cute. He put the chocolate coins in the biscuit tin for safe-keeping.

And then an extremely hectic Friday planning the annual Huynh Truong picnic on Saturday. An event I took no photos at! I had so much planned, relays and Christmas games and heaps of food. I shopped for like hours and then stayed up late and woke up early for it. I didn’t finish all the food I wanted to make, but it’s ok, there were plenty. No one seemed to be interested in playing my relay games which made me sad. But I do now have some good ideas that would work terrifically with my kids at camp next year!
I had tried a few new recipes from Allrecipes and some were successful and some weren’t. My Caesar Salad was awesome but not my Glazed lamb (sugary stuff doesn’t work at bbqs), the beef was too much on the salty side (because I marinated it in fish sauce). It was interesting though. My bbq got yet another workout (I only seem to ever use it at TNTT events!) and then we went canoeing!

I can’t row very well, but it was fun throwing water at people and subsequently getting drenched in the return process. I had heaps of fun and the view was gorgeous in the Royal National Park. I haven’t seen a view so pretty and lush and green since I was in Vietnam. We were singing in the boat and it was hilarious that the only songs that everyone seemed to know were church hymns! Le Anh, Viet Anh, Cuong, Au and Anh Khiem were in my canoe and it was just so lovely rowing down the river.

We had pass the parcel that I had made (and Yen had finished wrapping for me). It was hilarious. Luck of the draw and so to speak. Everyone enjoyed it though they claimed it was a rought cause Tim won the gift voucher inside! There were indeed many layers of nothing. hehehe. Cuong said I had probably spent more money on wrapping paper then on presents, but wrapping paper was free!

It’s not to say the day didn’t have its dramas. Truc led the way to the Park, missed the turnoff and took us all the way to Stanwell Park instead (which is halfway up to Wollongong!) and then we had to find a turnoff on the freeway and turnaround. Then Chi Hang led, but through the back of the National Park… and since the place we were going was like at the beginning of the top entrance, it was a scary 25km through the National Park. My fuel tank started red lighting and I was pretty worried. Didn’t help that I couldn’t see Chi Hang and Paul’s car after the last corner and I couldn’t call them. *shudders* Truc is not leading us anywhere ever again. A 20 minute trip took us over an hour.

I then slept through the evening after getting home at 7pm and missed Chrismakkah at the Casa. =( I wrote an email apologising to Pen but I still feel bad especially it’s the last party they had with them living together.

Christmas Eve saw me doing more shopping. I had requests for my Caesar salad at the Bankstown HT Boxing Day party and I needed more Secret Santa presents cause Tim had taken my one for the Boxing Day party for the National Park. I bought a Texas Hold’em Poker set, but Tim now claims it for himself and is getting something else…. *sigh* stupid bros. I have bought more cheap Tupperware. Salad bowls, lunch containers etc. Just so I’m not caught out when I prepare food which I do a lot of! I keep running out of containers despite the ones I borrow from TNTT.

I went to mass out at Paul Keating Park and there was a massive turnout despite the rain. It was pouring on us. Nice enough mass but didn’t see much of it being short. I held the flag for the priests that indicate where they were giving communion but it was awkward holding the flag and an umbrella and so many parishioners kept poking me with their umbrellas =(.

Had a cute moment when Robert, one of my kids asked me if there were any candles left, so I gave him mine. He gives me this suspicious look and goes ‘Why are you being so generous?’ and I said ‘It’s Christmas!’. His mate looks at his watch and says, ‘Not yet!’. LOL. So I said to them ‘It’s an investment. I better see you next year!’

I had a long chat with Cuong after mass. It was weird. Sometimes its bizarre the things people want to explore and ask.

The Christmas celebrations are not yet over though! I’m going to Ali and Jen’s Chrismakkah this afternoon and then dinner with my family tonight. Anthony is coming too.

Christmas where the gum trees grow, there is no frost there is no snow. But there sure is a lot of rain!

Merry Christmas to you all!

With love,

mia

Being Vietnamese, Christmas has never been a big deal at home. Despite that we are Christians, my family just goes to church together, and in recent times, get the family together for dinner (invariably steam boat). My father is going away on holidays during this Christmas and my sister is spending her last one here in a little while at Anthony’s then here.

I’ve been thinking hard. I’ve been getting ‘more’ into the Christmas spirit lately. Christmas is a big deal in Sam’s family. Complete with hand selected tree which is cut down, taken home and decorated with a load of presents underneath. In fact on Thursday before Christmas, we are doing our own present opening, the family and me. It makes me feel really special to be included in a little gift opening. I’ve bought the ‘Best Ever Christmas Mix Volume 2′ and the tunes make me nostalgic.

I remember one year at Christmas when I was about 9 or so, we (my enterprising sister and I) decide to decorate the house for Christmas on Christmas Eve. I had a book of cut out colouring in Christmas decorations and we coloured them in and decorate the house. Not overtly, just a few bits here and there. I even left biscuits and milk out for Santa.

But sadly there was no Santa for me. And Christmas was a let down.

I guess what struck me as important was the fact that Christmas was a time to be happy and to do family things, like cutting down a tree and decorating it. I have watched many Christmas movies with a kind of wistful longing in the past, wishing that my family was more like those American idyllic scenes I watch.

And I realise that the most important thing to me is family. I do really love kids. I want to be a ‘soccer mom’, cook and clean for my special people. However in my own family, I feel so out of place. My siblings and I are closer to each other now than we ever have, but we don’t have a need to be with each other, actually we prefer avoiding each other at times. Whenever I think of my relationship with my parents I think ‘broken’.

Part of it is also the loneliness. It’s really hit me how alone I feel this upcoming Chirstmas. I was dating Eric for a long time during university and last year I didn’t even spend Christmas here so it was totally surreal. I wish I had David to talk to, but he’s often busy nowadays with work and his girlfriend and doesn’t have time for me any more so it makes it more lonely.

I don’t easily socialise with people, and in many senses a loner. I don’t like being in huge groups and the thought of doing that just to not feel ‘alone’ feels me with dismay. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’m sick of going on dates by myself. I end up going to the ballet by myself, or to the movies. And I just want to be with someone and share those things. But it gets tough in summer break when mostly all you do is work and go home to your messy room and the people you love the most you never see anymore.

So you blog about it and clean your messy room. And who knows? I might actually get my room exactly the way I want it to – for Christmas.

Time for my week’s recap.

Last weekend I had Thanksducken (which is Thanks(giving with Tur)ducken. Nancy and I got together at her place and spent a very long time making it. It took ages to debone the monstrous poultry. Nancy totally ‘chicken’ed and ‘duck’ed out after she refused flat out to debone them, claiming she felt ill when I gave her a sharp knife and a duck. I had no idea that Nancy had no idea about anything in the kitchen. You know, like whether or not she had a food processor (we found it late on Saturday when she claimed on Friday she owned no such object) and how to cut an onion (peel first then chop).

I admit I cheated in the deboning of said birds. I accidently cut a hole in the ducks skin at the back when trying to cut the skin from the backbone of the duck, I cut the chicken in half completely and pulled out all the bones one by one instead of keeping it intact and in my eagerness to debone the turkey I had managed to rip the skin at the front =(. However, all problems can be solved with needle and cooking twine. =D It was a happy marriage of costuming and wellbeing.

We made oyster and sausage stuffing which though we thought was insanely weird, but tasted and smelled real good. I don’t know about those Americans, but they sure know good stuffing! And Nancy chopped vegetables for it! ZOMG! We only made two types as opposed to 3 as we ran out of time. Though now I have all the ingredients of cornbread I may make it and try it out.

And it was awesome. People made it out to Chester Hill to eat our Turducken. AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!!! I admit I had my worries, but it turned out fine. It made me very happy. I may do Thanksducken again next year, though Nancy looked dubious indeed. Jeremy brought a jiant Wagon Wheel he made himself which was yummy for desert.

Slept the sleep of the exhausted due to a late night babysitting session with Sam on the Friday night before going home at 2:30am and up again at 6am to debone said chicken and make Turducken. Also, Nick and Catie weren’t home that night so I couldn’t visit. Though I did drive Alex home after Thanksducken. Sometimes you really feel that drive – but I went to Woolies and bought myself lots of icecream. They have a crap ice cream section now. They don’t have much 500mL-1L selections.
On Sunday we had the DHGL at Villawood. It went well and Bankstown came home with the trophy! AWESOME! Our kids performed well and we placed in each class desipte Hai Mi losing out to 4th after they made her class repeat the exams so she lost her 3rd place (and her trophy). Our kids went home pretty happy =D. And I went home happy too. My Thieu class won the 1st award in Phong Trao. We had Anh Trung dress up as Santa Claus and the kids went insane over the Candy Canes he had. Though so many kids were so incredibly greedy and taking like 10 each.
Afterwards we headed to Chi Vy and Anh Ly’s place for Lachlan’s 3rd birthday. He’s uber cute. Food was consumed and then we drove off to Auburn to watch 007 with the Plumpton crowd. Except of course, Bosco is obsesed with his bloody GPS and took us the long way. Did I mention the long way? AND Bosco can’t drive and couldn’t make up his mind about which lane he wanted to be in and what turn he wanted to take. I was pretty peeved driving that night.

But Casino Royale was pretty good indeed. It was deeper than the other 007s and less gadget orientated (despite obvious product placement). And a lot less misogynistic. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I hope they continue in this vein.

Had a good week at work. The new office is weird. The partitions are lower and I’m totally in Stephen’s face all the time so he can’t disappear without me knowing about it. They finally got SAS installed and I can work on my projects that have been left on the back burner whilst I’ve been waiting for it to get installed. I’ve had a lot more people talk to me in this new layout which is awesome. I sit with Eden who’s incredibly lovely and already got told off by Janna for having too many chocolates on my desk (which I must confess to eating).
Sam is mega cute but has been incredibly willful the past week. He’s gone psycho every time he gets taken up to bed and he laughs every time we tell him off for biting. But I keep at it. We did go to see Carols at the park in Woollahra and he got to jump in a Jumping Castle. We then visited the Fire Station and it was open and the Fireman was so nice and he totally let me and Sam into the truck! It was awesome and I took mega cute pictures.

I’ve also done an insane amount of shopping for TNTT end of year prizes. It took ages to get age/sex-appropriate, half-decent, cheap prizes. 3 bloody hours. But it’s all done! Now for the wrapping.
And then on Friday I saw Raymonda at the Opera House. Friday was a horrible day. Traffic was terrible and I got lost driving in all those one-way streets in the city and got there late. I wasn’t able to be let in till admission. So I missed half the ballet. But what I did see was wonderful. The set was absolutely amazing. It was heaps better than Sleeping Beauty from last year. The set for Sleeping Beauty was sumptuous but didn’t have the flexibility and fun that this one had. The costumes were brilliantly gorgeous though I found it a bit hard to distinguish the star in the last scene because she was dressed like the other the only difference being the tiara she was wearing. I did find the wedding scene a bit overlong though. I don’t like the tendency in the long ballet pieces to have all the corps and pas de deux and principals to each have a piece at the end. It doesn’t really contribute to the story and can get tedious at times. Traffic was also crap on the way home, it took me an hour to get out of the city proper (30 mins trapped in the car park).

In the process of cleaning my room again. I love holidays and having the time to chill a bit.

Stole this from qkwozz.

 

In a way I totally agree with this assessment – but I’ve also grown up a bit about what to expect from people and what to settle for. I just still hold on to my ideals. Ideals have to be bright and shiny otherwise you end up sinking in depths you would never have imagined.

Or I could be doing one of those ‘yeah she’s overgeneralising things and should shut up’ things.