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Countdown to the Fight
August 28, 2008 - Shane & Jin Mosley
Twenty-nine days and counting until the fight … UGHHHHH! This past week has been extremely stressful. The kids went back to school this week and while it is a better, easier year for me, it is still hectic as hell.
Finally my children (we have 5) are narrowed down to two schools, therefore making my life half way easier. Last year, they were all in four different schools — one in pre-school, two in elementary, one in middle school and one in high school. Now, three are in elementary & two in high school. You have no idea what a relief this is for me, though, the commute every morning & afternoon makes me loathe California. I am constantly cursing the school district’s intelligence in my head.
In New York, bus transportation is automatic with stops on almost every corner. Here in California, bus transportation is like poison. The nearest bus stop is like 1/2 a mile. If I have to drive to the bus stop, then I might as well drive to the school.
What do working parents do? But it seems as if no one in Cali actually works. Mothers and often fathers are hanging out at the school talking, gossiping and catching up without a worry in the world. Meanwhile, I am dragging 3 kids, 3 back packs and supplies and rushing off to my next appointment. Enough about that…
Shane’s training is going well. He is in the swing of things and everything is going according to plan. He came down (from Big Bear where he trains) on Saturday and we went to two birthday parties and he played Barbies with our daughter Me-Me. She, of course, makes him be the boy since the only man she thinks is handsome or worth marrying is her daddy.
I’ll have to post pics. Nothing is sweeter then this tough, macho man being a complete sucker for this tiny, lil princess of a girl. He’s dressed all in black, tough-man Affliction apparel in the middle of this purple fairy princess room.
Then, he sparred with the two younger boys and helped with their karate skills. Lil Shane (our oldest) suffered his first loss this past Sunday and it was a sad day for him. Shane Sr. talked him through it and sympathized like only he could.
Shane is starting to get antsy up there in camp and calling the house more frequently to stalk us. He doesn’t understand the constant activity and non-stop drama that is our everyday life. He is in the woods with silence and relaxation. His whole life is a mapped out schedule that rarely runs off course. One morning in this household would send him over the edge. He gets upset when I have no time to talk but I make it up on the weekends.
Shane’s birthday is rapidly approaching and I am wondering what to do. It’s hard to make concrete plans when he is in training because his mood is so fickle. We have numerous fun projects going on that we are very excited about. Hopefully, soon I can share them in my blog because I am dying to talk about it.
I just received my block of tickets for the fight and the phone has not stopped ringing. In approximately 16 more days, the madness will start. Everyone from maintenance men, kids’ friends, mailmen, ect… are hitting me up for free tickets. That is the most stressful part.
On top of all this, my cousin is here from Korea doing a foreign exchange program for the year. So now, I have a 6th child that I am running back & forth to school. Also, she has sooo kindly made four friends, also from Korea, and silently designated me their care taker as well. Normally, I would be fuming but this is a humbling experience for me. I am somewhat partial to Asians and more patient because they are proud, honest and all-around great people. Is that racist?? I’ll call it supportive of my race, hee hee.
Anyway, watching these students has changed me a little. They are sooo dedicated and determined. They are content with simple pleasures and are eternally grateful for simple gestures like rides to the bank. They are obsessed with American culture and wearing Abercrombie, Red-Sox hats and Chucks. I am amazed by them & the bravery of them coming here alone to learn. In my next life, I will raise my children abroad.
Today, my cousin (who is a little tainted by me from previous U.S. visits) jumps in the car, bubbly and excited as usual. Meanwhile, I am grumpy and exhausted from getting a 4, 6 & 7-year-old fed, dressed & in the car on time. It irritates me that she is always so chipper so early. She is obviously happier than usual …
She announces, in her heavy Korean accent & broken English, “Today, is free pizza day!”
I can’t help but crack up. I said “Oh, really?”
She said, “Yes.”
I asked, “Do you like Pizza?”
She said, “No.”
I asked, “Why do you care then?”
She said, “It’s free for everybody!”
How can I ever have a single complaint when this beautiful girl who is living with complete strangers (and a cat, mind you), who hasn’t eaten breakfast in four days because she is not accustomed to American food, who has two small bags of belongings for one whole year, is ecstatic about free pizza given at her university.
When did free pizza stop exciting me? I am humbled by free pizza. When it all becomes too much I will remember — FREE PIZZA!
– Jin
August 28, 2008 - Shane & Jin Mosley
Twenty-nine days and counting until the fight … UGHHHHH! This past week has been extremely stressful. The kids went back to school this week and while it is a better, easier year for me, it is still hectic as hell.
Finally my children (we have 5) are narrowed down to two schools, therefore making my life half way easier. Last year, they were all in four different schools — one in pre-school, two in elementary, one in middle school and one in high school. Now, three are in elementary & two in high school. You have no idea what a relief this is for me, though, the commute every morning & afternoon makes me loathe California. I am constantly cursing the school district’s intelligence in my head.
In New York, bus transportation is automatic with stops on almost every corner. Here in California, bus transportation is like poison. The nearest bus stop is like 1/2 a mile. If I have to drive to the bus stop, then I might as well drive to the school.
What do working parents do? But it seems as if no one in Cali actually works. Mothers and often fathers are hanging out at the school talking, gossiping and catching up without a worry in the world. Meanwhile, I am dragging 3 kids, 3 back packs and supplies and rushing off to my next appointment. Enough about that…
Shane’s training is going well. He is in the swing of things and everything is going according to plan. He came down (from Big Bear where he trains) on Saturday and we went to two birthday parties and he played Barbies with our daughter Me-Me. She, of course, makes him be the boy since the only man she thinks is handsome or worth marrying is her daddy.
I’ll have to post pics. Nothing is sweeter then this tough, macho man being a complete sucker for this tiny, lil princess of a girl. He’s dressed all in black, tough-man Affliction apparel in the middle of this purple fairy princess room.
Then, he sparred with the two younger boys and helped with their karate skills. Lil Shane (our oldest) suffered his first loss this past Sunday and it was a sad day for him. Shane Sr. talked him through it and sympathized like only he could.
Shane is starting to get antsy up there in camp and calling the house more frequently to stalk us. He doesn’t understand the constant activity and non-stop drama that is our everyday life. He is in the woods with silence and relaxation. His whole life is a mapped out schedule that rarely runs off course. One morning in this household would send him over the edge. He gets upset when I have no time to talk but I make it up on the weekends.
Shane’s birthday is rapidly approaching and I am wondering what to do. It’s hard to make concrete plans when he is in training because his mood is so fickle. We have numerous fun projects going on that we are very excited about. Hopefully, soon I can share them in my blog because I am dying to talk about it.
I just received my block of tickets for the fight and the phone has not stopped ringing. In approximately 16 more days, the madness will start. Everyone from maintenance men, kids’ friends, mailmen, ect… are hitting me up for free tickets. That is the most stressful part.
On top of all this, my cousin is here from Korea doing a foreign exchange program for the year. So now, I have a 6th child that I am running back & forth to school. Also, she has sooo kindly made four friends, also from Korea, and silently designated me their care taker as well. Normally, I would be fuming but this is a humbling experience for me. I am somewhat partial to Asians and more patient because they are proud, honest and all-around great people. Is that racist?? I’ll call it supportive of my race, hee hee.
Anyway, watching these students has changed me a little. They are sooo dedicated and determined. They are content with simple pleasures and are eternally grateful for simple gestures like rides to the bank. They are obsessed with American culture and wearing Abercrombie, Red-Sox hats and Chucks. I am amazed by them & the bravery of them coming here alone to learn. In my next life, I will raise my children abroad.
Today, my cousin (who is a little tainted by me from previous U.S. visits) jumps in the car, bubbly and excited as usual. Meanwhile, I am grumpy and exhausted from getting a 4, 6 & 7-year-old fed, dressed & in the car on time. It irritates me that she is always so chipper so early. She is obviously happier than usual …
She announces, in her heavy Korean accent & broken English, “Today, is free pizza day!”
I can’t help but crack up. I said “Oh, really?”
She said, “Yes.”
I asked, “Do you like Pizza?”
She said, “No.”
I asked, “Why do you care then?”
She said, “It’s free for everybody!”
How can I ever have a single complaint when this beautiful girl who is living with complete strangers (and a cat, mind you), who hasn’t eaten breakfast in four days because she is not accustomed to American food, who has two small bags of belongings for one whole year, is ecstatic about free pizza given at her university.
When did free pizza stop exciting me? I am humbled by free pizza. When it all becomes too much I will remember — FREE PIZZA!
– Jin
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