As you all know we had a little mishap last year with Chloe’s school and we had to pull her out. Looking back, I wished the teachers there would have given her a chance as she was only 4.5 yrs old. Given that her teacher was new and all .. but still i felt that she had wasted half a year.. else she would have graduated from Grade Primary instead of Pre-school. On the other hand.. we should have put her in pre-school when she turned 3.5 ? Oh well, this fall would be better .. because she will no longer go to a french class but a normal english class. As parents… we only want what is best for the kid eh. And as you can see .. the daddy was beaming all because she loves to eat pea -he calls her the pea monster. One thing for sure is we will never miss out on any event concerning the brat.

So we finally bought our patio set from my favorite store in town. It was on sale.. and it was a no tax day. For those who are not aware of this, in Canada - taxes are like 13% - pretty high in my opinion.. for a place where one can get a new landed property for as low as $125K as compared to home of $1.3 million. Back home where the standard of living is higher.. the GST we paid were mostly included in the price that we see .. and only at 3%.

Why did we wait so long to get the patio set..?? because we are pretty el cheapo.. and only feel that we will only buy things at the right price.. and not necessary the right time. So PB put it together.. one evening when it was really hot in the house. Glad the man is very handy .. and can do stuff like this on his own. Oh.. and special thanks to Uncle Jerry for helping us bring the patio set home from Superstore.

I’ve been productive this week, besides preparing for Chloe’s end of her school week next week and a PJ party at her school, concert next week and father’s day celebration, i also had my blood test done and gone to see the results. But I also had to look after Chloe on my own this week because the babysitter was sick for a few days. I had lots of assignments from my favorite advertiser and i finished up my website i was comissioned to do for the Chinese restaurant. Why is Chloe in the torque..?? we were spring cleaning her old clothings.. and had put them in the box to giveaway.. but Chloe wanted it back.. so she wore them to show me that the torque still fit ..! Yes..!! right when we are going into summer .. hahahahha!!! So yes.. it was a productive week.. and the store was busy too..!!

PS : I’ve also updated this blog with a new theme for a summery look.

The beauty of life is basically up to you - some asked how i make it in a small town with no food .. and no high rise shopping centers and one or two crazy ppl around. But you know what..?? I have a great spouse and a wonderful daughter.. and great extended families here and many good friends/relatives.. a great babysitter albeit she is sick and gets into accidents when i need her the most but she is pretty much a trustworthy and good gal and many good customers. This is how i look at it - the beauty of life is you, you and your family is all that matters. Does it matter how others look at you ..?? I don’t really care pretty much. My conscience is clear, we make an honest living, not on welfare of any kind. But i cannot stand idiosyncrasies and ppl who are pretty much “stupid” and insist on making a mountain outta a molehill - those i just stay away and cut them outta my life very quickly and swiftly. So yes, my bottom line is..?? you are happy if you want to be .. and life is too short to waste on silly stuff. I plan to look at the good side of ppl and bright side of things.. what about you ..?

We all know that parenting is not just about telling you kid from right and wrong.. and feeding her with some milk everytime she cries right..?? Nope..!! when you have a 5.5 yrs old.. and an active one at that.. you have to get active.

We keep a ball in our car all the time.. so that she can have fun with it.. and even just throwing the ball and catching it is fun for her. We get hours of fun with just that - in fact in doors.. in the winter.. with her grammie. In the summer, you can go for treasure hunt for feathers, snails and flowers.. and in my brat’s case.. she goes hunt for blueberries.. and strawberries. We also let her ride her bike and scooter around the neighborhood stores or to Frost park. And we let her dance and sing alot even when i am doing my dishes. She loves the dancing.. and the putting on the piano. Andd of course .. swimming just started with her babysitter .. every saturday.. and we try not to disappoint her.

PB is very witty .. ! that was one of the reason why I fell in love with him and came all the way from Asia. An example of his wittiness below :

See lah..!! can die or not..!!

We don’t get to do a lot of things with Chloe.. but as the weather gets warmer.. and if it is the weekend.. PB and I try to do stuff with her.. like the library or going for walks.. or visiting friends.. and of course.. the playground. Yes, we don’t just push everything to Keegan to do.. we do stuff with Chloe too.. because she would rather do stuff with us.

So off to the library we went this weekend.. but we weren’t there for long since we had to go swimming later. Chloe loves to draw and color .. as soon as we got into the library .. she sat and colored. The next time.. i’ll bring my lappie with me.

Chloe telling me.. i have to be quiet… muahahahhaa!! who’s the mother eh..??

This is Chloe’s nite time ritual - whereby she wants to read as many books as possible..before sleeping. She will bargain.. and bargain .. but by the time.. she is ready for bed.. it’s already late.. so we can only read a few to her. She loves that her daddy reads to her.. and she never lean on me this way.. because she knows.. my tummy cannot be pressed on. There are so many things.. that she would make PB do for her.. like carry her into the tub.. or carrying her from the bed to the computer room for her breakfast.. but she never make me do any of it. Yes.. PB said she knows better.. but you see .. she is only but 5.5 yrs old.. and she already knows right from wrong.

Many of my girlfriends & family often asked why i chose a man from a “ulu” town.. to settle down with, since i had many choices for I worked with a lot of ppl and meets tons too. Muahahah!! and every now and then.. with the ladies/moms here .. i get the same question. Well, moment of truth .. g/fs is .. yes.. i get to meet a lot of ppl, but most are either too full of themselves (i’m so full of myself, so how can i tolerate another like me right..?) or some are already married.. and only looking for a fling .. which i was not into ( after get AIDs how..??) .. and those “suitable ones” .. well .. lets just say .. they want someone submissive..?? and others.. they have their own expectations.. of the woman they want to settle down with.

As you all know.. i met PB online. He was funny and witty .. and had a dry sense of humor, obviously SMART .. but having said all these.. had i known what it was gonna be like here.. in small town, i would definitely had encouraged him to live in Asia. But now that we’ve Chloe, it makes it a lot harder to move.. because of all the benefit the Canadian government gives to these kids - the future generation. Surely there are lots of things that I don’t like here but I never have to work for someone else for the last 9 yrs. On top of everything else, PB shares half of everything i do for Chloe and the house.. i’m a 50/50 gal and in our household, there is no one thing that either of us wouldn’t do. And of course, most importantly, the heavy duty stuff is done and taken care of by PB. All in all, it’s great except for missing food and home, now if they had just 1 hawker center in Yarmouth, I’ll be good for life here. So for those thinking of migrating.. make sure you migrate where there are authentic food around eh. Love is important .. but food is equally as important.

I’m sick, Chloe is just getting over her cold. PB bathed her .. because i’m too sick to bathe her. After her bath, I asked her why she washed her hair. She said.. daddy washed it. Then the conversation took a turn into a different story.

Brat : Daddy’s bleeding.
Me : Really? Why?
Brat : I think he has a pimples and he was bleeeeeding.
Me : Ohhhh..!! lets call the cops.
Brat : No mom..!! no one broke into our house! we have to call the ambulance .. not the cops..!!
Me : <0-0>

For those who knows me, you will know that I’m into the giving back to society thing. So any fund raising by Chloe’s school or the town, I would not hesitate to get involved. But each time, when we raise fund for anyone or anything, we send Chloe out on a mission, so she is kinda an expert where the raising fund department is concerned.

Tonite, after bathing chloe, she wanted to know what was written on her undergarments and I told her it said “Saturday”. Chloe asked when is Saturday .. and if today was Saturday .. i said no. I said tomorrow is friday and then Saturday is the next day.

So she wanted to know if Saturday was the day that we didn’t have to go to the store..?? i said no.. only Sundays we don’t have to open the store. In which she replied.. isn’t it nice .. if we didn’t have to go to the store on Saturday.. then we can rest the whole day at home. In which i replied.. no .. then we would have no money to buy things.

In which .. Chloe replied.. “that’s alright.. we can do a walk-a-thon” … !!! oh my..!! i burst out laughing..!!! and PB came home from work.

I told PB what Chloe said.. in which .. PB told Chloe that ppl donch just give money to ppl who don’t wanna work, that is call going on welfare.. and we ain’t doing the welfare thing!! muahahahahha!!! And if Chloe’s new teacher from her new school is gonna to remotely suggest that my chloe is not up to par.. i’m gonna be smacking someone’s head so quick.. they won’t even see it coming.

Easter Monday .. but we had to open the store.. just because we feel obligated to some of the customers.. who wants to spend their Easter money. Chloe went to the movies with her best friend .. Dominic .. and the babysitter. They had wanted to go on Sunday.. but the timing wasn’t right.. so we decided on Monday instead. But according to the sitter - keegan.. Chloe was bored after half the movie .. and wanted to chat. I hope to bring her more to the movies during the summer, that way she is all ready for school this fall when they bring her for excursions.

On Sundays, when i need to do housework, PB would try and distract chloe by getting her to play rockband with him. And yes, she is very into it.. and makes all the right moves.. and keeps saying.. “it’s awesome, dad..!!!” This brat of mine .. is definitely a drama -queen.

As you all know, we bring Chloe with us to work since the day she was born. Well, not exactly.. when she was old enough.. maybe 8 months or so. But you get the idea right..?? and we have to think of things to keep her busy.. before the babysitter comes in the afternoon after school. So on this day, she wants to be Batman and I tell you . .the girl has got demands…hhaha!! she wants a cape as well.. and the mask that she did with PB .. wasn’t enough. So the cape it was.. with a garbage bag .. to make do.. but she loved it.

Here she is happy .. that Papa played with her.. and helped her make her mask as well as her cape. And Papa played with her. .because Mama was busy looking for movies for her fans.

But wait..!! Batgal needs whiskers too.. so since Papa was busy with a customer.. and we have no crayon for the face.. she made her own whiskers.. and stuck them onto her face with some stickers.. muahahhaha!! very innovative .. and awfully creative. She was very proud of her batgal suit.. she wants to wear this for Halloween.. hahaha!!

Yes.. ! i still want a dream basement for the spouse. Granted that would means . .more basement time alone for him.. but that would also mean .. more living room for me.. where i can pretty it up . .muahhahaha!! that’s my big plan. Afterall, my house is finally taking shape. We’ve again talked about it this afternoon.. and although i know we can afford a basic basement.. i want also a fire place. So that would mean an outdoor chimney as well. .which can cost us a few more thousands .. if we are not careful. So like any sensible adult.. we are gonna hold .. and wait till we pay some more on what we owe on the house first.. therefore those ball lock pins have to wait for abit still.

I wrote about some awesome “xiao” neighbours i have right..?? just a few weeks ago.. who rode on his lawn mower .. at midnite..?? Yes.. !! that ultra “xiao” one.. who cannot seems to get enough of mowing their lawn .. during the summer. .and now winter. So this year’s summer project.. we hope to get some fence installation done. In fact, we had wanted to do it .. a few years ago.. but decided not to.. because we didn’t wanna appear to be hostile. But seeing that they are getting more and more “xiao” every year.. i think we have to protect ourselves.. and our property.. plus our privacy. Wish us luck!!

It had been quite a month.. starting just before the Chinese New Year. Chloe is finally back to almost normal.. and i say .. almost because she is still hacking. After enduring this back bolt of illness, we resorted to using the baby monitor once again .. so we can hear her.. when she does get bad dreams.. or if she felt like throwing up. Yes.. call me paranoid.. or whatever.. that’s alright.. i do what is right by me and my daughter.

From waking up with high fever to screaming and inconsolable.. and of course, we had to run the store irregardless.. i think it had been really hard on the “ang moh” .. but he took it all in.. and never whine a single time. Exhausted as you can see we are by now.. we hope Chloe will not be this sick anymore. Oh, did i tell you she also lost one of her caps (teeth) .. while she was ill..?? and refused to eat after that..?

We do get help from Keegan .. but when Chloe is ill.. i want to be able to take care of her myself.. and i don’t want Kate to get sick either. So we try not to have Kate over so often. Someone had written to ask me why i haven’t been writing a lot lately and not even the adverts. They want to know if it was because of the changes in the different companies that we are working for. i stopped for a moment .. and thought about it - and wrote a short note back that Chloe was ill .. and i have to cook 2 meals a day .. even though she isn’t eating a lot and I have to help out at our store.. even though .. some thinks i am there for the convenience and fresh air. On top of all .. i do clean the store and the house on my own yer know.

Still on thinking.. if you must know and yes.. i’ve been working with different advertisers.. and yes.. even though there are changes.. i never looked back.. but moved forward.. and worked on other stuff instead. And no.. i’m not like some “guru/pro - blogger” who keeps showing everyone how much they earn .. and so forth.. and so forth.. i prefer .. to experiment it on my own.. and if it works.. i’ll then share it amongst those that needs help. But having said all the above, no amount of money matters as much as my daughter. If she is ill, no amount in the world.. is worth the effort or will make me leave her side. It is important to know your priorities.. and i’ve moved on to greener pastures .. have you ..??

After a month of caring for a sick kid.. and sending her to the hospital for countless of times.. we finally had a weekend.. whereby .. we can clean the whole house. Chloe was still sick .. but some cleaning had to be done.. but we ended up doing more.. because i was on the go.

The “ang moh” help with washing the toilet.. and the rest i did .. and then he cooked for the kid.. and kept her busy.. so that i can continue doing my cleaning. Afterwhich, we finally hung up stuff.. that we had bought years ago.. to decorate the house. Finally, after living in the house for 4 yrs.. we finally got to decorate the house.

This was actually meant for the living room.. but the brat claimed it… for her own.. so this is in her room right now.

I’ll have to say.. that after almost 9 yrs together physically and another 6 online had made PB pretty smart .. where our relationship is concerned. Firstly, the man is able to set his priority straight and put me and Chloe first before the business. How do I know..??

The day before, after cooping in the house for a few days with Chloe being sick and all, she acted up. Firstly, because we didn’t have a sitter for almost a week too, she was sick and secondly Chloe wasn’t have the greatest week either. She was sick with a fever, hacking cough and then she lost her caps a few days ago. And when she didn’t wanna come out from the toilet because she thinks she needed to poop after 40 mins, PB came right home. Yesterday, he went to work late, because Chloe didn’t get up and we wanted to let her sleep as much as she can and then she acted up again. The man had to close the store and come right home again to help with the brat.

Yes, had the man not done that.. i think he would be hearing no end of it.. plus i might had pack and left because it was Chinese New Year, i missed home and the food, friends and family. So yes, the man knew .. i was on thin ice and pretty much gonna snap anytime soon. Smart man ..?? yes very..!

Chloe is finally well enough to go to school .. but it had been snowing overnite.. and the day before .. so we had quite a bit of snow.. where her school is. But being a kid and all .. she wanted to walk down that little slope.. instead of going to the pavement.. and who am i to deprive her of it right.. ?? afterall, she is the kid.. who insisted that ipods was the next thing we had to get for her. Anyways, of course i didn’t wanna slip and fall on my butt .. like i did a few years ago, during Boxing day in Hectanooga, so i held onto PB’s hand .. and he helped me. He then asked me.. ” what kinda mountain goat are you..??” in which i promptly replied.. ” a city one!” muahahahahha!!!

As you all know we own a video/gaming/computer store, it is therefore inevitable.. that the brat would be seen playing video games at the store.. or watching a movie.. if she just came back from school. On school days, we are usually not too anxious to push her to do extra homework.. but believe in letting her choose the thing she wants to do. Plus, it is a good way to bond with her daddy .. when they are home during the weekend, since PB is into games too. As you can see, most times.. i feel that the lighting is not good enough when she is playing or reading and I don’t like it when she sits too near the tv for fear of having to use eyeglasses in the future. What about you ..?? are you worried about that too..?? I started wearing eyeglasses at a young age of 9 .. but the kids here.. some even younger than chloe.. but already wearing glasses like the chicken shit neighbour’s kid.

For someone who comes from a place that is summer everyday, jumping to 6 months of winter in Nova Scotia can be kinda hard to adjust to. With everything else we already need to do, including making sure that our winter wheels and tires. Given the road conditions here, we need to make sure that our tires are good every year. We try not to be cheap on the tires nor the wheels but you and I know that with the winter and power plus oil bills, you have to get the best price for both the tires and wheels whenever possible.

C0ming highly recommended was Wheelfire, they have many wheel and tire packages at discount prices, even custom wheels. Now that would be something to look at for those car lovers like someone I know from town, or actually half the town to be exact. Bringing you the latest in tire and wheel trends at prices you can afford. You are probably wondering about getting the right fit for your car, just like I was when shopping online for them, and I’m pleased to let you know that they have a fitment program that ensures that your car is properly fitted. Ordering is easy, shipping is also quick and they have tech support to answer any of your questions.

Wheelfire carries the wheels and tires in stock and you never have to wait for their orders to come in before they are delivered since they have their own warehouse. Being a member of the BBB (Better Business Bureau), you can check their outstanding record since opening. I asked the spouse about ordering online and he is comfortable with it, so we are all set.

9 Yrs in Canada.. and this is the first ring PB bought for me from here. Why..?? all these years.. i never found anything i liked here. I love our Chinese gold.. and the diamonds are not of the best cuts here. For someone who had bought the Lazare diamonds for earrings.. i’m sure you can understand why i don’t think other diamonds.. are just not for me. Yes..! i’m fussy with my jewelry .. and i rather not buy things .. that are sub-standard. I’m not high class, just don’t feel a need to waste money on something i don’t really like… i’m sure you can understand it. Why I bought this..?? it was an unusual pattern here.. you don’t see many of this kind here.. so i bought it. A grocery trip.. ended up.. with PB a few hundred dollars poorer . .because we bought Keegan something too.. muahahahahahah!!!

PS : Chloe took this picture… because she wanted this ring as well.

We were hit by a wind storm on Monday at 1.30am.. and lost complete power. In fact, I think the whole of Nova Scotia lost their power in this terrible storm. In all my years in Canada.. this was the worst that I’ve come across. We lost some shingles on the roof, our satellite dish and some sidings but we are safe, so that’s the most important.

We crashed at a friend’s house.. and they were wonderful ! they fed us and kept us warm and offered us a place to sleep in, if the power didn’t come back on in the nite. I told PB that years of investing in this friendship finally paid off… muahahahahah!!! We are expecting more snow tomorrow.. although things cleared up today. So if you don’t see me online, do have a blessed Christmas…!

Sorry , I haven’t been posting, there is just too much to do, before Christmas. The store is constantly busy.. and quite overwhelmed when PB isn’t around in this store (if you know what i mean). Anyhow, this year .. i told PB .. that his mission is to keep his promise to Vien from United States. So here, you see PB going thru’ boxes to find the perfect fit for his mission.

I kid you not.. when i tell you he was going thru’ packing boxes.

So he found one..!! hurry..!! part of his mission completed.. but not 100% yet.

All packed to just to show Vien - Mission Accomplished. Muahahaha!!

There you go.. all done and gone into the mail ALREADY..!! UNBELIEVABLE..!!! The rest of my gifts were bought online.

Sorry, I haven’t updated for a few days, it had been crazy busy here. With Chloe in school now, she is like a social butterfly, invited for birthday parties.. after birthday parties. On top of it, I am actively raising fund for her school playground & library and supporting her school Home & School Fundraising .. with selling tickets for the Wii. So far we have sold 60 books, 3 tickets a book, so you see how busy we have been.

On the business front, it had been crazy here, everyone looking for presents for Christmas.. we never got a breather the whole week, our store is packed. And of course, there is this thing going on with the lobster fishermen in town that we are encouraged to have lobsters instead of turkey this Christmas. Yes at $3/pound.. you can’t really blame the fishermen and the owners to be upset but having said that.. the fishermen are always whiny regardless.

Presents are arriving for Chloe from all over the world and I haven’t got a chance to sort it out yet and take pictures of. The latest is from Anna in the USA .. thank you for the bento set, I haven’t had a chance to take a picture of it since we are open even on Sundays - The boss is a slave driver - i tell everyone .. hahahahha!!! I’ve resorted to using Etsy or any online store to send presents, from the Body Shop to David’s cookies etc. So if i missed out.. please don’t hate me. On the other hand, i put PB on task to keep his promise to Vien .. from a year ago, i berated him Vien, so I will have a post up .. to show you .. he even packed it up already today.. hhahahahahahah1!! be surprised Vien..!!! We never forget, just so busy .. running a business and having a kid in school. And I cannot thank my sponsors and advertising company enough for the many jobs they give me. My sincerest thanks..!! You know who you are..

PS : I am also busy campaigning to get “The Y’arc” to move to downtown Yarmouth, to save the downtown businesses and homeowner and their interest. My submission for a move for the town council to consider their locality needs to be in by 18th, so you see I am busy.

I haven’t been to a Christmas dance since coming to Canada. Truth be told .. i missed the Christmas partying at home..and the many invites.. i get from friends and business associates. Dressing up.. and preparing for the big night.. was the “in” thing for us.. back home. .when i was working.. and if i wasn’t home… but working overseas.. you can be sure.. that i would also get invited.. for various parties. The men all in their tuxedo and the ladies all in their ballroom gown. I have a little black dress i left back home.. and this Christmas.. i sure missed that dress. What about you ..?? what are you doing this Christmas..??

Well.. Thursday came and went.. and we are at Friday today. Chloe’s form teacher was sick since yesterday.. and it got me more worried today.. because I was afraid that the relieve teacher didn’t know what was going on. And fearing that Chloe might stumble again.. I decided to quickly ask the relieve teacher if she knew about Chloe’s special need for the bathroom help, in which she replied she did. As i was walking outta the school, i took another look at Chloe. .and she had my photo frame on her desk and staring at it. *sob*… oh it breaks my heart.

During break time at about 10.15am, we were at the school to visit.. and they didn’t get to eat inside the class like they always do.. and in the end.. Chloe didn’t get to run around at all, she only had time to finish eating. I was devastated. *sigh*. Maybe, we are wrong to push her to school so early, she is barely 5 yrs old.. and doing what a 6 or 7 years old is doing. I feel like a really bad mother right now and i’m so not kidding.. coz’ as I’m writing this.. i’m sobbing as well. This is so hard .. we want what is best for her.. but i really feel she may not be ready for the pressure.. and the long separation from us. I am seriously considering taking her out .. and putting her in pre-school for the rest of the year. Heart breaking .. to see her so longing for me.

Many of you must know that I met PB online .. over the internet. We spoke for 6 years online before we met.. and the following months just happened.. and i stayed in Canada.. ever since. Well.. i came to visit first.. went home.. he came to Singapore to visit.. and we went back to Canada together. Yes.. but I have a secret..!

Before we even met.. my computer broke down.. and i wanted to get a new notebook computer because i was traveling a lot. And guess what..?? PB was the one who sent me $1K .. to get my notebook. Some 14 yrs ago, $1K was a lot of money.. and to wire $1K to someone whom he haven’t met.. i must say.. he must have had been in love eh..?? muahahahahh!! yes .. he is a good man..! And it’s his birthday today..!!! yes..! and PB is younger than I by 8 yrs.. he is 36 today. Please join me in wishing him Happy birthday will yer.. oh.. go to gatorbyte’s website eh.. don’t leave comment here please.. coz’ he never reads my posts.

At 43 I’m definitely no spring chicken, although my kid is only going to be 5 yrs old in a month’s time. The spouse is 8 yrs younger and to say that I have great confidence about myself and my looks, well lets just say “who are you kidding woman..!!! ” Putting up a brave front in front of customers and friends is quite alright but when I am alone or in front of the mirror after a shower, I cannot really lie to myself right? I was just telling the spouse that I should go for botox (and he called me crazy) this Christmas, since there is an anti aging Dr in our area. The spouse said to make out my Christmas list and he would think about it (but he still thinks I’m crazy).

Beauty is not all about looking beautiful but also about having the confidence to do a job well, driving you to stay healthy thus improving your love life and every other aspect of your life. So if your goal is to improve your way of life and your self-esteem, then you should definitely look into a specialist in this area. I am also very interested in the thread face lift that I’ve heard so much about. It is a non-surgical procedure and is affordable, if anyone can identify with saggy face and skin it has gotta be me. Now I’ll just have to make a trip to either New York City, New Jersey or even Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island.

Well.. we had another meltdown yesterday at school.. where the Principal had to call us into the school.. because Chloe was crying so bad.. she was turning hysterical. But from the time we hung up the phone.. till we arrived at school.. they had managed to calm her down again. And according to her teacher, it was 1.5hrs.. and then she was ok.. for the rest of the day. But when we picked her up.. she was noticeably upset and had been crying.

This morning.. while having breakfast.. she again started crying that she didn’t wanna go to school. We broke down.. with threats .. about canceling her birthday party and throwing out her toys. She claimed that she can do her learning at home.. and that she remembered what to do .. for writing and all. And more crying. We arrived in school at 8.36am… after much huffing and puffing from PB and me. And she still was crying when we handed her over to her teacher. It had been almost an hour now.. and we haven’t heard from the school… so we’ll see what happens next. Read on.. because you might have kids going to school soon.