Lost Battle

Not a good day today for Son. It has been a day fraught with tense moments especially at late afternoon. In the morning he was still his chirpy self when we set out for his tournament and was on top of the world when he won 3 consecutive games. No easy feat, considering the amount of analytical skills and deep concentration required to secure this early victory.

However, the blow came after lunch. Having lost a game, followed by a draw, Son was mentally challenged to wrap up the final round aiming to end it on a high note. However, in his haste, he made a big blunder which gave his opponent an extra edge. A costly mistake which deprived him a favourable position in the top 10.

Son's usual wisecracking persona took a change. He was thoroughly dejected and low in spirit. Nothing I can do save for encouraging him to train harder and soldier on in this board battle game.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Monosyllabic Teen

Son seems to have lost a vast portion of his vocabulary as most time he's capable of only uttering monosyllabic words - 'uummm, oh, hmmph, err, hah, k.....' No difference if words that emerged from my mouth flowed in the hundreds and thousands, still it will only elicit a singular response from Son. 

I know teen experts say it's perfectly normal for teens going through puberty to act such, as their hormones are creating havoc inside them. We parents, the virtuous beings, are advised to practise patience..... Definitely easier said than done! Whenever I want to engage Son in a conversation, only to discover it going one way after several attempts, I very much want to throw all the seemingly professional advice back in their faces! (Yeah! that feels good...........).

However, I am learning to keep my conversation concise, though dying to let on so much more. I let Son lead in conversation, attempting to flow with his topics and endeavor to lend my ears more.

Soon enough, there's no stopping him when he's on subjects close to his heart though nowhere near mine....!      

 

Advertisement Clash

           

This advertisement never fails to rile up an argument between Son and Daughter. Daughter is of the opinion the girl stooped so low to get the boy's attention. She finds it repulsive. 'It's kinda of cool', Son quipped. 'I want to try it out, see if girls really go gaga or not'. Daughter retorted, 'Yah, and then follow you like little lamb!'. Son's impish look turned pale and his eyes widened in shock. 'Yucks!' was all that escaped his mouth.                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Badminton Mania

Son is incensed because the much anticipated showdown between Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei (LCW) in the Proton Malaysia Open Badminton Super Series 2011 did not materialise. This is because of Lin Dan's eleventh hour pull out due to an injury.

Son has been a LCW supporter for a long time and has once snuck into his training session just to catch a glimpse of him. Alas, unfortunately, LCW had completed his court training and was already at the gym.

Son was at the Thomas Cup 2010 to watch the duel between Lin Dan and LCW. However, Son was totally crushed as Lin Dan showed much prowess in his game and LCW was reduced to a mere novice, struggling with every shot.

In this Proton Open, he wasn't very interested to watch LCW play against Taufik Hidayat. Not that his support for LCW waned but he envisaged it an unchallenging game. 'Sure Chong Wei will win, no fight man!' he announced confidently and he was not disappointed as LCW wrapped up the game in less than 40 minutes. Such is Son's sureness of LCW.                                                    
                                                

Bitter Bieber Barter

Son has been begging and pleading relentlessly to attend Justin Bieber's concert. "Mom, tell me what you want me to do, anything!" Boy, he's very determined! Do I want to indulge Son, pay for him to watch with his friends this hair-flipping, flicking young singer on stage?

I gave in................ 

Yup, its the original ticket, Son's one week lunch $ translated into this. Even after holding the ticket in my hand, I questioned my decision. Then again, I consoled myself, JB isn't coming every year and Son isn't forever a teen with crazy obsession.

Of course Son isn't going to the concert for free, it comes with a price and he has to learn to earn his keep. However, since no one has answered the plea to sponsor him nor has anyone needed a handyman service, I have resorted to an archaic swapping arrangement :

1 month laundry service = 1 JB's concert ticket

Although with much reluctance, he had agreed to handle the family laundry for a month! Daughter is ecstatic as she and Son have always shared the chore of  folding and putting away laundered clothes. Easy peasy if you ask me, Son got off easy as the washing machine handles the bulk of  the work, no coolie job.

                  
A legitimate barter trading, a win win situation for all, after all, the ticket is in my hand! Snickers.......                                                                                                                                                                                 
            

Sticking Out

Though Son has a proper walking cane at his disposal, he adamantly refuses to use it citing he is not of age yet...... He handles the makeshift stick with much aplomb and is able to move about effortlessly with its help. 

However, this pseudo walking stick proves to be a great annoyance, particularly to Daughter. Son enjoys exasperating her by tapping her with it and unashamedly uses it to intimidate her into doing his bidding. Daughter, of course, never concede defeat without a good fight thus, she too brandishes her self-made weapons, ie. broom, umbrella. Groan, and they say only little children fight. I can barely hear myself think over the noise! They can give the cast of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon a run for their money!

                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                               

The crude makeshift walking stick                                                                                                             

I inserted a table rubber cap to one end to provide good grip on the floor.

To Son, this stick exudes an air of superiority and machoism. This stick he calls THE KUNG-FU STICK! Look out Jackie Chan.......

Raw Talent

Son and  friends like to scour YouTube for unknown yet talented performers. I must say some of their  discoveries do have a lot of really raw talent and drive to succeed. All they need is the right person to discover them, market them to the world and the rest will be earth-shattering history! See where this opportunity landed Charice and Justin Bieber .

Son is very impressed with Sam Tsui, a Chinese American who rose to fame on YouTube in a very short time. He is currently an undergraduate at Yale University. His most talked about video is his rendition of  the Michael Jackson medley which garnered more than twenty million views!

                              

Tall Order

A regular in our badminton group sprained her recently healed ankle. She had just returned to the game after a 3-month hiatus. Very unfortunate for her; I ache for her as this sprain will again immobilize her for a few months.

Never in my wildest dream could I have imagined that such incapacitation will befall Son and coincidentally, due to badminton game too, though played with a different group. From the x-ray result, the doctor confirmed it a not-to-worrisome sprain. Thank God! He now wears an ankle guard and hobbles around on the good right foot with the aid of a makeshift walking stick.

Not wanting him to move unnecessarily, I restrict his mobility and instructed him to call for help for anything he wants, anytime. I live to regret it! For once in his 15 years on earth, my instruction was followed to a T! 'Mom, please get me a drink with ice'  'Mom, pass me my books please', 'Mom this, Mom that....... ' It was easier looking after him as a baby when summons were few! I fervently wish for him to get well instantly. Though my beloved, I have no wish to be relegated to a life of servitude to this now 6-footer! Horrors! this is only day one!

                                                                                  

                     THE foot                      

                                                             
I personally believe that one of the contributing factors to injuries is due to lack of warming up before a game. For basic warm up techniques, check out badminton warm ups.                                                                         
                                                                               
                                                                 

Sleek Movement

'I want to train for parkour', Son said determinedly. ??? registered on my face. Parkour? He proceeded to show me this video.                                                                                            

       

I was flabbergasted - they exuded such fluidity and accuracy in their movement. I have no doubt the amount of training they put in for those polished moves. Good discipline, resonates with my principle.

'I'm going for that', then he mischievously added, 'might break a bone or two'. Well, if Son intended to frighten me to the core or think I will try to dissuade him, bah, he's in for a shock. 'Great, go for it, train your arm muscles first, hit the gym daily'. His jaw dropped. Backfired.....    
                                
Read here for more information on parkour.

J Bieber 2 KL

'Yeah', Son hollered, jumped up and pumped his fist in the air, while clutching the newspaper in another hand. 'He's coming to KL, yeah!', he again exclaimed, his voice barely able to contain his excitement. What, who, where, when - all these thoughts were swirling in my head. 'Justin Bieber, Mom, he'll be in KL in April, I want to go Mom, pleazzzzzeeeee.........

If I thought Son's obsession (read here) with this Bieber boy has died down as a result of his new hairdo, I am in for a huge surprise! (more about Son's new hairdo in another post.). Son is still very much a loyal Belieber.  Oh, oh, KL will be inundated with Bieber mania and soon 'Baby, baby' will fill the airwaves 24/7.  This article came to mind and I seriously doubt his debut concert here will be void of  similar scenario.

Son has made up his mind to catch his idol in person come what may. Hah! What a joke! Son has forgotten someone has to cough up the dough for this wishful tete-a-tete encounter; the cheapest ticket equates one week lunch expense!

Any kind soul willing to sponsor a die hard Bieber fan or looking for odd job worker - a young, strong, will do-anything-for JB boy?
 

                                                                                                

Warrior Thoughts

I caught Son standing in front of the mirror with his shirt pulled up, staring intently at his midriff. He changed position several times, akin to posing for the camera and continued with his scrutiny from different angles. His eyes never left his midriff reflection and was totally fixated, very much oblivious to my presence. His posing and checking went on for a while until Daughter's hysterical laughter broke his concentration. She had walked in unannounced and the sight of Son left her in stitches. Red faced, Son hurriedly pulled down his shirt, glared at sister then sprinted to his room.

Just after lunch, I caught Son in deep concentration again. This time his head was buried in the newspaper and was totally engrossed in an article. He then moved to the computer table and with a few cursory clicks, his attention was on the screen. My curiosity was piqued so I picked up the opened newspaper-
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2011/1/8/lifeliving/7742448&sec=lifeliving. Wow! I too am totally sold! Perhaps there's a special discount for mother and son program?   

Cartoon Son

I always enjoy Zits cartoon and it is the one thing I always look forward to it in my morning paper. Somehow I see Son in Jeremy, although not 100% but close very close! Both their movement, attitude, mannerism, gait are so similar that it's almost mirror image. Horrors!

Haven't seen Zits before? Don't miss out http://www.arcamax.com/zits. Enjoy, you might just catch several glimpses of my son........

Bye Twenty Ten

The passing of year 2010 was indeed faster than a speeding bullet; in a twinkle of an eye it's gone. Yet I yearn to be back in 2010, if possible at the onset. There are many unfulfilled tasks, incomplete projects, dissatisfied plans and I can go on and on. In a nutshell, my 2010 resolution has just stepped forward to year 2011 as recycled resolution.

However, I will not dwell in self pity and regrets but will face 2011 with great tenacity. One of my 2011 resolution is to understand my Son better, to let my ear work more and my mouth rest. Tall order, tall order.........

I know one of Son's 2011 resolutions - to get the latest Touchscreen computer for games. I'll withhold my opinion, period.