We make time for what we want to do in life

I can understand when someone is busy and have plans. However, I know a few people who pick and choose when to say this to certain people just avoid hanging out with them.

Any other word besides YES really means No. I am dead serious about this. It could be "maybe," "we'll see," "I'll let you know." My problem is that maybe you do have to check with your personal secretary, but it's up to you to get back to that person to update your status on the situation.

I find it funny that people could find the time to go online to check their e-mails, update their status on Facebook and even comment others, when they claim they are so "busy" that they didn't have time to update you.

Everyone needs a break from life but do do make time for what we want to do in life.

Why?

I hate this question....

Okay, don't get me wrong.

It only applies when I ask someone something, they answer then ask, "why?" right away.

For example, I would ask, "what are you doing Saturday?"

Then the response is, "Nothing, why?"

Okay, no big deal?

It really isn't but I *am* going to tell you why...you don't need to ask.

Guess it mainly bothers me because I'm *not* the type who ask why right away. I will let it be up to the person to tell me. If no reason is given, I just let it be.

I'm Hmong

I have no shame in admitting I'm Hmong.

Some Hmong people even claim to be Lao or Thai just to avoid educating others what Hmong is. 95% of the time, the average person do *not* know what the heck a Hmong person is.

I like being different. I don't mind educating others.

What is bugging me about Hmong people, in general, is their ignorance.

When I asked the Hmong community to help reach out to the Hmong refugees who were in jail in Thailand just because they were Hmong, many of them did not want to help out.

Or they claim they would help out if I tell them what to do. I did tell them, they just didn't want to help out.

Many Hmong Americans expect the US government to help out Hmong people in Laos and/or Thailand who are struggling.

To me, it starts at home. You can *not* rely on others to help out.

I completely understand if you are unable to help out. You cannot help out everyone. What is bothering me is the ones who complain but do nothing about it.

You are your worse critic

It's funny how anyone else besides YOU would tell YOU that you look good in a certain pic.

But you disagree thinking that you look awful.

You do the same thing. Tell that person that they look great in that pic, but that person disagrees.

You are your worse critic.

I notice things about pictures of myself that no one else does.

Sometimes I keep it to myself so they won't notice it, lol.

Of course, you have others who think they are so fine no matter what, lol

Good angles = good pics

I believe this is true.

Also, good photoshopping, makeup, clothes, you name it.

That's why those girls on ANTM look really good. Without all the disguise, they look like the girl-next-door.

However, I wish someone could work on me. I need the disguise.

Un-motivated

Yes, I made the eggrolls for my co-workers. Never will I do that again! I prepped around 9:30 am and continued to cook it until 2 pm. Gosh, what a long day.

I just don't feel like doing anything anymore. I don't know why I'm feeling this way.

Hmong New Years is the same every year. Yes, it is. But what is good about it is seeing everyone again :)

I don't like the photos of myself lately. I don't know how to put on makeup, I'm gaining weight on my face but the clothes feel fine, urgh. Old age, I think.

Annoyed, sad...

Read this

http://nickihawj.blogspot.com/2009/11/hmong-people-need-to-come-together.html

Posted on blogger, Facebook, Twitter, word of mouth, etc.

I'm a bit disappointed.

I hope I will be proven wrong soon.

Hmong people talk so much crap about how un-Hmong I am because my hubby is *not* Hmong but I think most people who are trying to help out the Hmong people are non-Hmong.

Instead Hmong people are on PebHmong, MySpace, and Facebook updating with stupid stuff. Psssh, whatever.

Diversity week at work

This week is Diversity week at work.

I dressed up in my Hmong outfit, had to represent!

But no pics. I was sooooo freaking busy serving that I couldn't.

On top of that, too many greedy folks, I didn't even get to eat and try out the dishes.

All the food was already gone.

I swear, greedy folks.

Not many people dressed up, besides me, only 4 females who wore their Indian sarees and a guy who wore his Scottish outfit.

There were a lot of people who brought dessert.

I made Thai Tea.

Short rant post.

Strange!!!

I can not view anymore blogs at work....

But I can log in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can still blog but can not even view my own blogs, comments, or other people's blogs.....................

Kids with cell phones

Both of my kids have their own cell phones. I don't give *bleep* what anyone says.

We don't have a home phone. We haven't for the past 5 years. It's a lot cheaper that way. It's only $10 for each additional line. Plus I hate the home phone because telemarketers call all the time.

My daughter has had her own cell phone since she was 6-years-old. And my son had it when he was 7-years old. Now, he is 13-years old and she is going to be 10-years-old in a few months.

My son hardly ever uses his cell phone. He is suppose to text or call me when he is at his desination after school. Ditto for my daughter.

However, my daughter uses it to also text one of her BFFs. Girls can text and talk forever on the phone!

In the past few months, my son just recently started to use his cell more often. Mainly for texting. And you know why? He likes a girl!

Yes, he does!

Oh gosh, I'm getting old!

Now, he wants a Blackberry phone. He wants a phone with a full keyboard so it would be easier for him to text.

Oh my goodness.

He is even willing to pay for it. He has saved his birthday and Christmas money.

I'm okay with it.

So we went looking for phones.

He didn't realize how much it cost! So now he is waiting for the contract to end next month. But by then, I will buy it for him. It will be his birthday present.

But he is getting impatient. So who knows.

Even though both of my kids have more things than other kids do, I don't think they are spoiled. They do appreciate what they have and realize that other kids don't have what they have.

You still watch Bollywood movies?

Huh-uh, yeah.

On top of that, I watch Tollywood (Telugu) and Kollywood (Tamil) movies too. And guess what, Telugu and Tamil are both languages in India!

And add the other Indian languages -- Bengali, Kanadda, Punjabi, etc.

People still ask me this question till this day! They also ask, "how are you able to watch it?" "Do you understand it?"

There's something called Subtitles. I'm not fluent, if that's what you're asking. I love watching different types of movies.

Other cinema I watch are Korean, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, Filipino, and Japanese, which you could find on my Asian Cinema blog.

Most interesting comments are from Desi people!

They wonder why I, non-Desi, chick would even care to watch their films because even some of them don't even watch them.

Well, that I can not answer. All I know is that I enjoy them. I love the over-the-top masala, the how-many-more songs, bright colors, you name it! Oh! And I love the makeup on the heroines. Oh yeah, the good-looking guys.

Trying to have someone explain what is their passion is hard to do in one post.

But yeah, I still watch Bollywood movies.

Just copying and pasting from my Hmong blog

Wanted to share this with my readers here since I posted on my Hmong blog. I met an American lady online who lives in Bangkok, Thailand and travels to Nongkai to show the imprisoned Hmong people support there. She has given me permission to use her photos to share on my blogs. In the meantime, watch these videos.

I cried while watching these videos....

158 Hmong refugees in Nong Khai, Thailand are at risk of forced repatriation to Laos. They state on April 6, 2006, the Lao Army killed 26 of their relatives. After hiding for years in the jungle they fled Laos seeking asylum in Thailand.

The Government of Laos claims these people are "economic migrants" not refugees. The UNHCR determined the survivors are refugees and legitimate asylum seekers.

These UNHCR refugees have been held in a small jail cell since Nov 17, 2006. The refugees spend 22 hours a day in a dark windowless cell. 91 children are in jail, 11 were born in prison. The Government of Laos has abused some returnees as reported by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. President Obama made a campaign promise to help Hmong refugees in Thailand and Laos.



MSF has treated nearly 8,000 Laotian Hmong refugees in northern Thailand over the last four years. Now MSFs work in the Huai Nam Khao camp is threatened.



We, Hmong people, need to come together

Title: "Rau Peb Cov Hmoob"
Band: Noj Tuag Production
Rapper: Hmoob Tswb Entertainment
Composer: Both featured singers & rappers.

Names in order of song:
-Mong Cha
-Tony Vue
-Nyia Cha
-Paul Chue

WTH weekend!

Since last Wednesday, I've got a stuffy and running nose. It started to fade by Saturday.

Busy on Saturday, took the kids out to the water park. It's a new one near my son's school, I like it a lot.

Later in the day, getting ready to go to a friend's birthday party at a Cuban restaurant. I always wanted to try Cuban and didn't have the opportunity in Miami.

No chicken. They ran out. So I didn't order anything. I did eat a Cuban cake. It was alright.

For some reason, I got a headache when I drove back home. I was knocked out when I got home.

I believe the cake had some alcohol in it. I don't drink so I really wouldn't know.

Woke up Sunday morning with a huge headache and lower back pains. Didn't do anything but watch Hong Kong movies all day Sunday.

Now, Monday morning, my back still hurts! I tried to go outside and walk but wasn't successful. Urgh....

Getting older means harder to lose weight

So I was having a discussion with Lily about people who we knew from high school. We both went to the same high school and re-connected with a lot of people via FaceBook. Some people were stick-skinny back in the days and now, we don't recognize them anymore.

It is the weight gain.

We talked about how a few people we know blame being "busy" contributed to their weight gain. So now, they are having a hard time losing weight and having health issues.

For me, I know I need to lose weight. However, I haven't gotten to a point where it's affecting me so much that I can't work out. Some people just don't wanna work out. Know what I mean?

Each and everyone of us are all busy. For whatever reasons that we will have. School, family, kids, etc.

What about the ones who don't have kids? What is their excuse? It's just that they don't make the effort to take care of themselves.

Some people wait until they are diagnosed with a condition before they attempt to be healthy.

One of my ex-coworkers had cancer in her throat. She stopped smoking after that. I wonder why?

I know it's easier said than done. I'm not saying it will be easy. However, if you want a change, do it. Just don't say you want to change. Action speaks louder than words.

This other ex-coworkers of mine is very overweight, now he's so overweight that he wants Gastric Bypass Surgery. This isn't an easy situation. I mean, some people think that having that surgery will help them lose weight. Yes, it does. But you have to change your eating habits. If you go right back to where you were, you will gain all that weight back again.

We make time for what we want to do in life. Simple as that. I am tired of feeling sorry for others. Especially those who do nothing to better themselves but make excuses for why they are in their situations.

Dogs are like children!!!

It angers me that people who claim they love animals, particularly a dog, and buy one for the family. Or for their kids.

But they don't take care of the dog.

Dogs are just like children. You have to bathe them, take them to the vet to get their shots, walk them, play with them, potty train them, etc.

They need love and attention too!!! They're not a toy when you're finish playing with them that you put away.

I hate it when people leave their dogs outdoors just straying the neighborhood. If you are going to have an outdoor dog, make sure to give him a doghouse!!!

So the next time you want to purchase a dog, just cause. Think again.

Here's a pic of my dog Puchy. She's a 9-years-old Min Pin. We've had for 8 years and love her like our own child.

Kids love her. They always argue on who will keep Puchy in their room that night. Puchy sleeps on the bed with them.

Post office

Okay, fine. Inflation everywhere.

Even the price of stamps. Whatever.

That's why I pay my bills online.

But my rant for today is that I had a package that was to be delievered at work. It has to be signed by someone. Therefore, I wanted it to be delievered here.

Instead, the USPS postal servicer worker went to the mail room. No one was there. The guy was away from his desk, probably delivering packages in the building.

So the USPS guy left a pink slip.

The mail room guy gave me the pink slip.

I was disappointed.

WTH? Why couldn't the USPS guy go to the receptionist to have someone sign for the package?

My problem is I am not able to pick up the package cause the USPS guy is still out there delivering packages.

Plus today is Friday. I can not pick up the package tomorrow.

Now, he's going to attempt to deliver on Monday.

I called the office to complain. I know they can only tell me so much.

All I ask for us that stupid USPS guy to call me to let me know when he will be coming back to re-deliver.

I will definitely be there personally to sign for the package.

Stupid.

Why am I having problems?

I've had packages delivered to work before. Usually they drop it at the front desk at the receptionist.

Right now, sticking only to FedEx and UPS.

I can *not* freaking stand people who.....

rather text, e-mail, MySpace, Facebook, you name it than pick up the freaking phone to start a conversation.

That's how words get freaking lost in translation.

[rolls eyes]

Memories and doing something about it.

As I re-connect with many of my high school peers within the past few weeks, I thought about how high school was for me and how different I was back then. Being one of the few Asian people who graduated from Towers High School in 1994 -- damn I make it sound like I'm so freaking old now, don't I? -- I thought about what kind of person my classmates perceived me as. The quiet, shy, nerdy Chinese girl, I believe. Hey, not many people cared what my ethnicity was back then. If I was yellow and had slanted eyes, than I was considered Chinese. Forget educating others about my ethnicity being Hmong. Plus it had to do with how my parents raised me. They raised me to not make a big deal out of little things - to let these just be so there would be no trouble. So about me being Hmong was on that list. But when I was around my Hmong and Lao friends, I was this outgoing person with a sense of humor, always making people laugh because I'm silly. They even considered me to be more daring so they would always let me do the more "bold" things. However, when I get back to high school, it's totally different. After high school, I got married to my hubby and started my own family and didn't have my parents around me to guide me. I started to have my own identity, my own voice of what kind of person I really was. Now, I'm not those crazy girls who went on "Girls Gone Wild" or anything. Just saying I'm the type who would tell you what's up. It has gotten to where I am right only, hahaha. But I've gotten better at that. Sometimes it's better just to agree to disagree.

Having a family of my own, I understand where my parents are coming from. They escape from Laos to Thailand to come to the USA. In 1975, General Vang Pao was the first Hmong man to come to the USA and helped many of the Hmong people to re-locate to start a new life because many Hmong people have lost their lives helping the USA fight in the Vietnam War, also known as the "Secret War." I was born in 1976 and all my parents wanted to do was make sure I was safe and still had to adapt to the American ways.

In the past few years, my heart has gone out to teaching others more about my ethnicity. Even though I've been criticized for not being with a Hmong man, I believe my heart is more Hmong than others who claim they are Hmong. I started a Hmong blog - http://nickihawj.blogspot.com/ - for me to keep up with Hmong news as well as educate others. The disturbing YouTube videos that circulating a couple of years ago is what got me so emotional. Plus a couple of weeks ago, Duce and Pagnia's lyrics on their "The Hmong Movement" song really teared me up. How can we Hmong people help out America and still no one knows about us?

-----American.....

Sooo over the whatever-your-true-ethnicity-is American phrase. What I mean is, if you're an American, then you are. Why do you have to categorize who you are and tag American at the end? Are you not proud to be an American? I most definitely am! If people ask me for my nationality, I say American. Puh-leaze, I know what they meant. If they then ask about ethnicity, I'll say Hmong. Although most people don't know who the heck Hmong people are. I really don't care; I rather educate them than mislead them into thinking I'm a different ethncity. Yes, I do know some Hmong people who say they're either Thai or Lao just to ignore small talk. Why? You complain Americans don't know Hmong people. Educate them!

The other night I was talking to one of my friend that is half black, half Korean. She tells me that it is hard being a mix child because when she dates or have friends that are black, she's not black enough. Then when she's out with her Korean friends or is dating, she is not Korean enough. She's stuck. Even though I can not relate to her, my kids go through that struggle too at times.

Granted that my hubby is Asian and so am I but we're both different ethnicities. I'm Hmong and he's Khmer. We both speak different language. From both sides of the family, we always get the same questions. "Why aren't you teaching your kids Hmong" or "why aren't you teaching your kids Cambodian?" Shoot, they speak English because we're in America!!! I do try to teach them some Hmong but they have to want to learn it too. Hopefully in the future, they won't regret it. Now since I'm older, I wish my parents taught me Thai, Lao, and French. Yes, they can speak five languages - Hmong, English, Thai, Lao, and French.

Bitten by fleas & workout

My dog Puchy got a lot of fleas. I still love her to death though. She's an 8-year-old Min Pin. We've had her since she was a year old and is a part of the family. Never ever have we had a flea problem until several months ago. All these stupid stray dogs are running around in the neighborhood infested with fleas!! They come to our yard and then Puchy goes outside to pee and voila - Puchy gets it, brings it in the house...then we all get it. Puchy's been sleeping in the garage since then. We bathe her daily, comb her hair, flea-bomb the place twice!! I'm over it. My leg looks so nasty now with all the flea bites. I must have some yummy, juicy, sweet blood that the fleas keep coming back to me and biting me! Only me! Well, my daughter, but not as bad as me! Urgh! They have been areas as my butt, back, thighs, arms, chest, and even neck!! My ankle and feet area are the worse though. I'm so pissed off at Cook's Pest Control - they stood me up twice! I set up appointments and they never showed up. So hubby said forget it. He got some advise from people at work and he's treating the house their way. I've ordered medicine for Puchy and should get it in the mail today. Hopefully!!

On a brighter note, I've been working out again. Just slowly doing it again. I've been idle for a month or so because of hectic life at work and home. Although I say I prefer to work out in the morning, I have been doing it in the late evenings. My typical workout is jump roping. I love that! I usually jump rope for 30 mins. How I calculate it is if I do 600 jump ropes - that's equal to 10 mins worth. So I do 3 sets of 600 jump ropes to equal 1800 jump ropes and 30 mins. I may go over or a little less but it pretty much balances out.

I feel great after the workouts. I eat less, have more energy. However, I don't see a significant amount of weight loss on the scale but I feel great in my clothes. Hubby hugged me yesterday and told me that I've lost weight cause he can't pull on my extra, snuggled skin like he did a few days ago. Yah! Sucess!