4 April 2009 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA                                        

 

Time Well Spent?

Never had I logged these many, long hours in the workplace before but believe it or not, it wasn’t bad at all.

Here’s how I spent my time week by week. There are 168 hrs in one week right? Well, 81 hours of the week were spent at the workplace (full-time, part-time and volunteer jobs combined including lunch breaks); 11 hours was spent on the road driving from home to work and vice versa; I was asleep 56 hours of the week (I got to have at least 7-8 hrs of sleep every night otherwise I’ll be grouchy all day long). I exercise regularly at least 5-6 hours a week (I am now becoming a workout zealot especially that it dawned on me that the last 10 lbs would no longer come off as easy as it was two years ago. So now is the time to really get dead serious in taking care of myself by eating healthy foods and make exercise the top priority first thing first in the morning even if it means I have to get up before 5:00 every morning to workout) and the remaining 15 hours were spent with DH and other extra curricular activities such as church, relax and do a little cleaning now and then.

Quite frankly, I feel more exhausted doing the routinely household chores or slouching on the couch at home surfing the internet and etc than working three jobs. Guess I am not just cut out to be a domestic diva... not that there’s something wrong with being a stay-at-home mom. In fact, I truly believe that to be a stay-at-home mom/dad is the hardest profession one can ever have in this world. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard that is for a responsible mom/dad to juggle the many demanding duties and responsibilities at home especially those with more than one kid to raise, a spouse to tend to and household chores to do 24/7. I mean forget about the debate on who is right and who is a better parent between the working moms and stay-at-home moms. To me, both have pros and but then again I’d say “To Each Their Own”. You make the call. Hey, whatever works for you and your family and makes you happy, that’s all that matters right? My BFF who has two active toddlers claimed that being a working mom is a little more manageable role to do as opposed to being a stay-at-home mom because work allows her to get a break that gives her some sort of solitude and at the same time the fact that she is contributing to the household budget, it gives her the confidence and the sense of independence to empower her world. Anyway, to all the responsible moms out there, hats off to you!!! You are the greatest and much admired women in this world whether you work outside the home or not.

On a much lighter note, having a sedentary full-time job in the government allows me to work under pressure in a more dynamic and fast paced retail technology business.  You see isolation or boredom makes me go nuts. I can’t simply stay still for an extended period of time doing nothing. This adage, “never let the brain get idle. An idle mind is the devil's workshop” holds true to my core.   Being idle or goofing around just to kill time is not the kind of life that excites me hence I always try to find something to do to keep me occupied. Also being a neat freak and impatient are one of my very big negative demeanors as these sometimes annoy the heck out of DH whenever I am home with him on the weekend because for the most part, he can’t simply just sit back and relax. Why? It’s because I basically couldn’t leave the poor man alone...  simply put, I have the tendency to boss him around the house with so many “honey-do-list” that needs to be done ASAP. I also get stressed-out even just by looking at him as he comes in and out of the house dragging his soiled shoes whenever he is doing yard work or barbequing in our backyard. And I dare him for just about any bad food he shoves in his mouth.  I know bad food tastes so good but health wise, this stuff is downright dreadful as it slowly poison our well-being. Yes, I eat them too occasionally. Hey, I can gobble down a piece or two of cake, pie, chocolate bar or scuff down a pint of ice-cream without a doubt but you see I strive to eat a balanced-healthy diet most of the times that’s why I thought a day of binge (I call it a treat to my cravings) wouldn't really kill me right? That’s my point, If only DH tries to eat healthy for most times and exercise regularly, I won’t necessarily get so worked up when he does gorge on junk foods once a while.   See what this poor man has to put up with his neat freak, workaholic and bossy wife? No wonder he’s happier when his wife is out of the house on the weekend. Being home alone is a real treat and great therapy for him because he gets to put his feet up whenever he wants and is free to do and eat whatever his heart’s delight. Although in fairness to DH, whenever I am not home on the weekend; he voluntarily does the laundry and other chores like vacuuming, washing dishes, cooking, cleaning up and grocery shopping. Well, his cleaning performance is not as pristine or spotless as I would like it to be but at least after he’s done with his part, I only have to spend few minutes for finishing touches to meet my cleaning standard.

See? This is what I normally do all day long, Monday to Friday, 8-5 at the office. I work behind the desk 40 hrs a week.      I just sat in a comfy office chair either working on the paperwork or in the computer doing reports. Accounting jobs can be monotonous and mind-numbing at times thus this part-time job essentially provides me with such great change of atmosphere because I am on my feet actively associating with our customers in all walks of life and I am thoroughly enjoying this dealings plus I also like the idea of being able to get the first hand information on the new gizmos and gadgets in the technology market today and get my hands-on to them before the consumers get to see them on the shelves. This is also the place where I usually get to hear so many “bola-bola” from DOM’s that somehow makes me feel young and feeling beautiful ;-)

Here’s a classic scene one afternoon. I caught this DOM gazing at me for few minutes. After I was done helping the other customer, I faced him.

Moi  :    Hi there, how’s it going? 

 

DOM:    Great... thanks and what about you?

 

Moi  :     I am fabulous!

 

DOM:     You sure are! <he winks> So where have you been?  

 

Moi  :     <I was puzzled because this man doesn't look familiar to me so I asked> What do you mean where have I been?

 

DOM:     I mean where have you been all my life? <AHA! Another DOM hitting on me>

 

Moi  :   <As I mused over his flirty remarks, I paused and thought about how to respond to him properly that would put a stop to his wrong impression of Asian Women> Oh that.... hmm, well, I have been so busy running around the world with my darling husband!

 

DOM:     Lucky b******.

 

Moi  :  Oh, no he’s not lucky with me at all. It’s actually quite the opposite. You know that without a choice, he puts up a lot of crap from me that no one man can for at least 13 yrs now? Married for 10 yrs with no way out otherwise he’ll be dead. See?  He's stuck with me!
Well, anyway, what brings you in the store today? Is there anything in particular you are looking for that I can help you find with?

 

DOM:    Just browsing... thanks anyway and it’s nice talking to you.

 

Moi  :    Not a problem. If there's anything I can help, just let me know… see you later.

See?  I told you I am having a little fun with my part-time job. Regardless of how old these men are, their even the not-so-true compliments are the sweetest therapy for my vanity. I even told DH the other night that I don’t need Botox, or any type of make-up or beauty products to make me feel young and beautiful ;-) Seriously, I prefer my natural beauty over artificial or superficial looks. However, proper grooming/hygiene is a must!!  I disgust women who are slob especially those with dirty fingernails. I mean you don't need to spend money in the salon to make your nails neat and clean.   I maybe vain but not to the extreme of getting fake looks.  The truth of the matter is I would readily spend the money for travel and toys than spend a dime to any other surgical procedures like Botox, Liposuction, boobs implant and etc 

Needless to say, as long as DH and I won’t lose our full-time jobs, this part-time job of mine would definitely give us a lifetime of experience to travel to countries we only dream of going for our wedding anniversaries as long as I get to control both our spending habit. But here’s the problem. From the time I started with the part-time job, DH has been tasked to do grocery shopping right? Well, tell you what. Last week, I got a dose of shock when I audited our monthly grocery expenses and it summed up to a whopping $680.00! And he didn’t even realize he spent that much money on groceries... well, yeah, if you go to the grocery store almost every other night and spend $38 there and $45 there, it would eventually add up to that amount. At any rate, now he is paying more attention to every dime he spent at the grocery store.

Until next time... have to get ready for my volunteer job and don't forget to file your income tax before April 15!!!!!