Phuong's brother wanted to help, so he gave us a catfish for Joanna's new, improved and bigger fish tank. Her little fish tank was just too ... well, little, so we upgraded to a bigger tank with a pump. Anyway, we already had about 15 tiny tropical fish (we do live in the tropics and they're very cheap to buy here), so Joanna and the relocated little fish welcomed the big catfish into the bigger tank -- the catfish was about six inches long and really stood out among its one-inch neighbors. Phuong's brother assured us the catfish wouldn't eat the little guys, and gullible, novice fish keepers that we are, we believed him. For two days, all seemed well. The catfish acted hyper, but it stayed on the bottom of the tank, swimming fiercely back and forth but not bothering the little fish. But that restless "pacing" was an omen. When Phuong went downstairs Saturday morning to check on the tank, there were only two fish inside: a bloated, well-fed catfish and a super tiny baby fish. Obviously, the catfish ate its neighbors, and it was most likely waiting for the baby fish to get bigger so it could eat it, too. Phuong and I had a good laugh over the catfish's tropical feast, although I'm sure the victims didn't find the situation funny. Joanna didn't care and focused her attention on the catfish. The catfish was sent to a pond on a property owned by Phuong's brother, and Phuong went to a fish shop and bought about 20 little fish for the tank. Water world is wonderful and peaceful again, except for Joanna constantly trying to climb inside the bigger tank. She actually laughs when I almost put her inside the tank in my pathetic effort to teach her a lesson. Joanna can smell a bluff.
* * *
I've had some physical issues lately related to past surgeries, accidents and lifestyle, and Phuong has mercilessly taken full advantage to reclaim to the No. 1 tennis ranking in our house, routing me in five of our last six matches. Age has clearly diminished the White Monkey's tennis skills and recuperative powers -- tai chi be damned -- but my excuse-making skills remain as strong as ever. Perhaps the brutal heat is a factor. It has taken the joy out of our daily walk. Sometimes, Joanna seems drained by the heat and humidity. She becomes a ball of energy when there is air conditioning, however, which means she perks up in the bedroom at night when it's time to go to sleep. I have to leave the room, or she'll never go to sleep.
* * *
The mayhem in our house has extended to the electronic world as well. The
lazy White Monkey rolled over rather than sitting up to get out bed last week, and
my elbow crunched the screen of my HP laptop, creating a weird LSD-like
effect on the now useless screen. All my school stuff and videos for
Joanna were on the HP, so I copied everything to a hard drive and
transferred the files to my MacBook Pro, which is finally getting some use.
Since I'm back on the Mac, I've been downloading more music lately and
buying books, which also means I'm spending more money. What a dope I
am. Now I'll have to teach more private students, which can be
problematic for reasons stated in one of my previous blogs.
* * *
Sometimes, the poverty here jolts you. I know I'm repeating myself on this topic, and that there are poor people everywhere, but difficult circumstances are so visible here. Just around corner from our house, a family lives on cots under a tree, and their little kids bathe in public with water from hoses that belong to a car rental business. That family lives next to two homeless guys who sleep under another tree. People rarely beg here. They're too proud for that, and even the poor will help the really poor. It's an unwritten code of sorts. The issues I occasionally face are nothing compared to what these folks deal with every day. Yet, they still smile and yell Hi! when Joanna and I go by on our walk. Makes me appreciate what I have even more, and once again, makes me realize how selfish my complaints are.
* * *
Finished another book: The Great Gatsby ... it wasn't that great, but it was a quick read. Now I'm reading A Tale of Two Cities ... it isn't a quick read.
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