ji's universe

Sitting here at the computer, it's 9:13 pm, just put Ji to bed and Seung Yi is already asleep. Wafting out of the bedroom comes Ji's voice, repeating lines from a movie. "I'm so high. Nothing can hurt me!" -- oh good, the anti-marijuana commercial from Harold & Kumar, where the kid shoots himself after getting high. Grrrreat. Ji's going to be the only kid in kindergarden who knows what a blunt is at this rate.

Ji had a great day today. As you all know, he's a super kid, but he does drive us nuts at times. I guess with every kid and with all parents there is something about the kid that makes you crazy. Some kids maybe they climb the walls all the time, maybe others smear their food everywhere. I dunno. But with Ji, Phet and I have decided it boils down to this: he just isn't in this world, in the here and now, all the time. He is a space cadet. And his space cadet-ness means that very often he isn't aware of the fact that he has to "do things" and "listen" and "respond to people". He's, like, got this internal monologue going that never ever stops. I'm not kidding. It ticker tapes along even when he's asleep. If he ever wakes up during a dream he is yap, yap, yapping non-stop. And the things that actually exist around him seem to be like so much unnecessary fluff, kind of unimportant flotsam and jetsam that occasionally rises to the surface of his awareness. Point in case: Ji has a habit of running without looking where he's going. He's either blithering away to himself or else he's turning backwards to make sure we're watching him. I kid you not, he has run into poles and pillars at least five times while doing this. (Yes, you may wonder why I haven't prevented him more effectively from running into poles...I wonder too...am I a bad parent...or am I just taking advantage of enjoying a naturally-occuring comedic moment and a decent prat fall? Dunno...)

Today, though, he was pretty good. He is insanely slow to get ready for school. I've basically given up on feeding him breakfast because it adds about 50 minutes to our morning routine, but I do allow him a crust of bread on the way to school. Phet's much kinder, he'll cook up eggs and bacon and toast...and then get an aneuyrism waiting for Ji to finish it up. But Ji was relatively quick today.

Ji is also maddeningly slow to get dressed, get his bag together, and get out the door. And god forbid he has to use the bathroom. If he goes in there, it's at least a half hour before we see him, and when we do get access to the toilet once again, there are a dozen books scattered around the room for us to trip over. Anyways, he finally got himself sorted out and John drove us over to school. I have to say that this whole "driver" thing is superfantastic. Y'all have got to come here so you can enjoy having a chauffeur too. It's great! I can give my full attention to Ji or Seung Yi or the newspaper or the passers-by or my navel lint, and John gets me everywhere safely. And he knows where all the good shops are. He also sometimes picks Ji up from school, which he did today, and then brings him over to get me.

This evening we went over to Khan Market to pick up some dry cleaning (very expensive!) and have some dinner, and then we walked home and chilled out here. Seung Yi has been in a marvellous mood since she got over her cold, and we played her favourite games (drop the toys and pick up the toys, and Kiss The Baby Without Getting Spit On Your Own Face) with her, and then packed her off to bed.

And now it is time for me to head to bed too. Thank god, Phet's back in two days. Right now he's "working" in Bali. No, really, I know dear, you are busy and you probably haven't turned off your two computers once. But I do hope you were able to track down the coconut-basted pork roast, cause heaven knows ya ain't going to get any of that here in the land of veg. Meant to send out a big thank you for the email I've received lately. Haven't had much time to reply with Phet out of town, but big hellos and thanks to Anne (tell Paul well done re the valentine's flowers for me), Shirley (aka Gramma!), Sam and Astra (you're very welcome for the baby stuff, just wait till you see what I buy once I know if it's a boy or girl!), Aunt Katy (a pleasure to hear from you, thanks so much), and Ash (will call ya once I get the new comp). Love to you all and hope you are enjoying the end of February. A few new photos for youse all...

Here's SY in her party dress, all ready to go to Ji's buddy's party on the weekend:

And here we are goofing around in the bathroom this evening:

[Ji Hong-26-February-2007]