Life

[elusivek]

It's been a while, yes. Sorry.

Life's been ok, I guess. Nothing too exciting. Nothing too depressing. Just nothing to talk about.

And I don't want to force any topics, so I dunno.

I had been playing awhile on that new handheld gaming device i wrote about the other time. It's history repeating itself again. I play on something like day-in-day-out for a couple of days, then one day just can't see another minute of it again LOL. Give it some time, I'll want to play again.

It's gonna be pretty festive in the next few days, as it's the Chinese New Year. I don't care if people say say "It's more politically correct to say the Lunar New Year." If political correctness is the target, then it's the Farmer's Calendar New Year (it is called the 農曆 in Chinese).

I've got work all sorted out, so I'm more sitting around waiting to get off work (haha).

I took tomorrow (Friday) off so I have a long weekend and I could go one more day to the pottery studio to spend some quality time alone.

I've been avoiding home. Going to work, going to the library, going for classes, going for dinners. It's making my social life look more busy, but it's been tiring me out too.

I've had thoughts of moving out, getting my own place, but as I've always said, I earn enough to live well, but I don't earn enough to afford my own place. Basically, I'm waiting for the next round of Government Housing applications then I'm going to apply for that. But at the same time, why should I spend more money? And guess what with the me doing my own laundry, they are now starting to like "not finish their laundry." Like, they do their laundry, then don't finish it up, put it in the dryer or hang the clothes to dry. But then I have to use the washing machine, but they hadn't put their load away. Either I will have to just wait it out until they do it, or, I might as well do it so that I can do my laundry. So far happened twice, and OK, I'll be the bigger person and do it for them. But trust me, it will soon turn into "expectations that I do it" and then "why are you not doing it," and then it's gonna be another big fight again.

As mentioned, it's way beyond sibling rivalry. I don't mind my Sis so much. But the preferential treatment for my Sis really gets to me.

Oh now Mom has been really polite and careful. Sometimes they don't want to cook dinner and ask me to order out, before the big fight, it was like a "because they asked, I have to do it and pay for everyone." Now they are all "we'll pay you back." And I keep telling them, it's not the money. It's the expectation that I am the one who always does it automatically.

Even for the Chinese New Year family lunch. I've already booked a place. I told them the price. I know they'd find it a little too expensive. But, the usual parameters required are:
- a place we don't normally go to (because if we go to a familiar place, the staff will all be asking for Lai See/Hongbao)
- a buffet place, preferably

So, I've booked a place, told them that I've booked it, and that if they think it's too expensive or too far away, they can go right ahead and look up what they want instead.

Why should I be the one to spend time researching and then get banned for all suggestions that actually do fit their required parameters? If it were me I don't really want to have this lunch anyway.

Work-wise, I have a business trip coming up in March. Some stuff happened, so I have to make this trip. It's going to make me lose my 100% attendance in Mandarin class, but it's OK. Whatever.

Then it's my South Korea trip for the run in Geongju in April. Then in May I'm reviving my previous year's travel plan to see the Wisteria in bloom in Japan. Well, that's gonna push Mom into "you're always traveling, I need to give a chance to your Sis to travel." You know what, whatever. I should learn not to care anymore.

Comments

[dna2]

Sending you rays of support and strength! :)
Family dynamics can be tiresome even at best of times...
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Sorry for personal question, but is your Sis older than you or younger? Didn't find it in your blog so far.

[jo]

Re: the laundry situation. Rather than finish their load by sticking it in the dryer or whatever, could you not just take their stuff out of the washer and put it aside (e.g. in a laundry basket or on top of the washer), do your wash, then after you put your stuff in the dryer/hang it up, put their stuff back in the washer? As someone who lives in an apartment building with a shared laundry room, this is what people do when other tenants neglect to come down and deal with their laundry in a timely manner.

[gilda_elise]

Moving out as a young woman was one of the best things I ever did. Yes, it took three of us to make the rent, but we were free to do as we pleased, whenever we pleased (within reason.) And it does make you face total responsibility for yourself. So, if you can, I think you should. :-)