Shoe Fetish

Who would think that my five year old would start early with having shoe fetish? I mean, I love shoes and I have around 20 pairs of them (including the slippers and pambahay), and yet I think I need a new rubber shoes and am thinking of buying clogs -- do you think she inherited this from me? Seriously, I dont think having a shoe fetish is an inherited trait. I am sure that it is a woman's prerogative, hahaha! A true woman is strong emotionally yet weak when it comes to fashion, that's my point of view when I am going shopping, at least.

Anyway, MC had to choose between two pairs of sandals, one is pink and the other is dark pink (oh well, little girls and pink). It goes well with the pink dress she had on (pink again!). What happened after a few minutes of deliberation? She chose the red pair of birkenstocks which she usually use as house shoes! We needed to catch the train, so no more discussion. But a few seconds of leaving the house, she recognized the futility of having the house shoes on. Walking is a problem, and running? Barefoot is better. I hurried her back to the house, and she ended up with her light pink rubber shoes with glitters (strike three for pink). Sigh, and she's only five years old. This is the girl of four who told me, 'mama, dont sell these pair of boots to ebay, I want to wear them when I grow up.'

Girls -- when you buy a new dress, wouldn't you immediately be on the look out for a nice pair of shoes to match? Or when you found the right pair of shoes, would you need the coordinating dress? Admittedly, both reasonings are an inducement to shopping, but I also have my limit. I always push my shopping button only when the sale season is on. The red tags are my visions gleee. Because I am a bargain hunter, through and through.

A Carnival of Life

Photo: 1- Kiddie carousel 2- one of the Harley's

Yesterday, as every first Sunday of the month, was the kids' day. The kids can choose where they wanted to go. As early as Friday, both kids insisted on going swimming. I have prepared the beach bag, stuffing it with bathing suits, towels, etc. All set for Sunday. Then, I caught a cold, sniff! And I was coughing so bad last Saturday evening that papa declared; swimming is out.

On the breakfast table, the discussion - where to go? IC wanted to go swimming still, MC wanted to go to Darmstadt because of the festival - actually she just wanted to go and have her face painted! I told my husband we can go separate ways this time, in which he shook his head vigorously.

Meanwhile, MC had already encouraged her sister to come with us to the festival; because of the lure of face painting, of course. And so we went, commuting with train and buses to Darmstadt. The kids got their face painted, they took enough carousel rides to give me a headache, ate enough sweets until they got sticky themselves, plus, binged on french fries and sausages to make their stomache ache.

As for me, I saw a carnival of life:

- I noticed that more parents get to an almost fighting mood during carousel rides because of the scramble to reach the choiced seats for their kids (my husband is a member of this)
- Men would always be men. A mom, very busy tucking her kid into one of the carousel seats was wearing a low waisted jeans with her very tiny string tanga peeping out -- and I said to myself, aha! Let me check who's taking notes -- of course, most papas eyes are seeking that direction. (Uh, I forgot about my husband, tsk!)
- The same mom, still unaware? ( I dont really know), lowered herself on her knees to sit beside her kid, during the whole carousel ride. That simply showed off more skin and the whole (or the nothingness) of her tanga. The papas have a fiesta, really! I wanted to laugh out loud, but I just grinned and tried to stare down some papas. I didnt succeed of course, they are in full concentration. I wonder if other mamas noticed it though?
- I am not judging, though I want to emphasize, be aware of what you are wearing during carnivals, moms!
- There would always be people who would try to sneak out and snatch your place on the long line. I saw a mom pushing her small kid through a small fence so that she'll be next for the face painting -- that resulted into protests from the legitimate next people on the line. The illegitimate next was bumped into the end of the line. Let's be a good example here, hay!
- You should expect to be sharing a table on restaurants. Simply ask. After all, everybody in a fiesta atmosphere are in a good mood. I saw something, a man huffed and puffed, seemingly distressed not to find a seat -- then a little boy approached and told him that he can share their table. I told you, right?
- IC wont eat because she's afraid that her face painting would be 'damaged'; the same is true with most kids.
- IC and MC needed a mirror to check their appearance after having their face painted, I realized, I dont have one but I would be needing one in my bag soon, for the girls!
- Both kids paused in front of a department store mirror to examine their face, and did this in all the mirrors they passed.
- My husband saw aquiantances enjoying the festival, and shock of all shocks, without their kids. Uhm, when can we do that?
- Most of the towers around the city are open for viewing, but only a limited number of people are allowed to go in. Plus, the red cross vans are camped within their immediate areas -- afraid of a jumper? Macabre thought, sorry.
- We found an carousel for adults and a kiddie carousel, standing side by side, harmoniously. The kids can go and get themselves dizzy with the rides and the adults can make themselves dizzier with cocktails and beers. But really, the bar carousel is moving, though ever so slowly. I wonder what resulted with a few drinks -- people loosing their footing and their sense of directions, haha.
- I really craved for a crepe, but the first stall that was selling it, turned me off from eating it this time. The lady who was selling it, had finished smoking but didnt even washed her hands before manhandling the merchandise, yikes!
- We saw a meeting of the Hell's Angels from Darmstadt with their shining Harley Davidson motorbikes, although there were also the well maintained BMWs, Kawasaki's, and those Italian and French brands. The thing is, it was really fascinating to watch and to hear, vrrrom-vrrrom!
- MC learned how to eat cotton candy, not by licking it like a lollipop. How? Taking a small piece, and roll it into a ball, then into the mouth. Another thing, dont lick up your fingers every time you bring a ball into your mouth -- do it when the cotton candy is gone. Or else, you'll just get more sticky.
- Weather forecast is just a forecast. We've decided to wear summer clothes, instead of being packed up with jackets and shawls -- despite being aware of the forecast: rain and cold. Good thing , coz though it drizzled, the sun was shining and with all the moving around, we ended up sweating, too.

A great family day with a little bit philosphizing on my side, bear with me :-)

No food, we travel

Photo: the fruit stand and the meat shop
Our stocks at home are depleting, we needed supplies. We started our Saturday with this threatening thought -- arrrgh, no more food! No food, we travel. Thus, we drove 35 kms away to a farm where we bought a sack of potatoes and a bag of carrots for only 10 euro. A real bargain. Passing by a meat shop, we replenished our breakfast and 'baon' assortment by bagging a variety of sausages, cold cuts and salami -- and had breakfast on the go (meatloaf sandwich).

We drove on, looking for more farm stalls and on the next village bought a cauliflower and two packs of onions on the next stand. Oh, but we needed more! These things are not only for our own consumption -- but because I have listed our family provide the kindergarten the raw food diet for the whole of next week - I must also buy a separate ration for them. (Families volunteer for this, and since my kids are eating more raw veggies in kindergarten than at home, I indulge them.)

My husband wanted to skip the big 'not so mom and pop' farm store; but we have no more choice. The kids are already getting bored sitting in the car, despite having breakfast on the go. Here we found more veggies and fruits and spices and even plants and flowers are being sold in a separate building. Of course, now that there are more choices available, we irritatingly forgot our mental list of things to buy.

I chose a cucumber for kindergarten, as I have already decided the carrots would be theirs, too. That would be enough for the first two days, then I would have to bring something for the kids again. Giving the kids freshly bought veggies and fruits would make them enjoy them better, am I right?

My husband took time with his selection: an iceberg salad, a lettuce, a bunch of radish, and for the kids, a box of raspberry. The raspberries were completely devoured during the 25 mins ride to our next stop -- the Asia Shop.

I have a written list but I am not going to be strictly relying on it, I did rely on my sense of sight! Hmm, when I go inside an asia shop, I always feel like a child let loose in a toy store - I want this, I want that! I always try to restrain myself from grabbing everything, so I grab with my eyes, hahaha. A frustrating practice, but hey, I learned my lesson the hard way. I used to buy more than we can actually use. Thus, I have to throw half of them in the garbage, either they get spoiled in the storeroom or they get spoiled in the ref or freezer, not good! There could be more spoiled things in the undisturbed nooks and crannies of our cupboard, but who's looking? (My husband, actually, he's my kitchen police.)

Oh, after a difficult deliberation, my grocery bag included: bottles of oyster sauce, soy sauce, light soy sauce and rice wine; packets of ready mix chicken tikka masala, butter chicken (Indian food), Mamasita's barbecue marinade, and dried chilli; plus the sack of jasmin rice from Thailand. I wanted to buy the frozen Japanese-style dimsum, but I changed my mind when I found out that I would have to create the sauce for it. I dont know how to make the sauce, and I dont want to add another 'things to throw' when I dont get to mix the sauce.

The kids each got freshly made sesame balls with mongo beans. Though I wanted to, I didnt bother to buy one for me, despite my husband's urging (He saw the yearning on my face, gulp!) Good decision, because after a bite or two, they gave the sesame balls to me. I ate the sesame balls with a grin, accompanied by my husband's laughter.

Our last stop? My in law's house. During our visit to them this Friday, they gave us a slab of bacon and some dry sausages; which I forgot to bring home. We are just getting what's rightly ours, hah! We got two extra sausages for coming back for our things, too. As a bonus for bringing the grandkids to them for a surprise visit, I guess. Thus, ended our grocery trip, after more than five hours on the road.