Saturday, July 23, 2011

Goodbye, Jade Wonder

Yup, it was finally sold, my Jade Wonder! I complained a lot about it for past few weeks because it gave me so much troubles for repairment that cost me few hundreds while having hard time to sell it off. Now, it was gone and I felt released but at the same time, I think I should be thankful for having it to bring me around for the last 15 months. One good thing about him was he was a gas saver. Goodbye, Jade wonder, though I didn't really treat you well (I hardly bathed him =P), you're my first asset in United States.
*This blog has been written long time ago but not posted until now. Paiseh =P

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Stand on your feet

Recently, life has been hectic with my preparation back to Singapore. First, I managed to get rid of the furniture and stuffs at home by garage sales. Secondly, I finally moved into a hotel for more comfortable living condition.

Next step is selling my car. Thing doesn't always come in your way. A series of unhappy things started to happen around me. First, I have been so stressed up selling off the car when time is getting closer to my departure date. People have been asking the car by emails but never showed up in the appointment. This reminds me of the stressful period when I was looking for car so urgently on my first few months in United States. Having a car is not fun! It has been a burden for me right now.

At the same time, I have problem with my credit card that I just found out yesterday that I have 11 fraudulent transactions in my credit card account. My account has been hacked! What a Friday!

Praying hard all these would be over soon. However, I believe, things will get better. I just gotta be calm and be positive. Ultimately, I believe I'll solve the problems one by one. That's life, the roller coaster!

Friday, July 1, 2011

The fighter

Recently, I've been watching a few good movies which include "The pursuit of happyness" and "Cinderella Man" that I really like the most. Both are about how a man fights for life and for the only man's dignity. It was very encouraging, enlightening and inspiring.

Many times, realizing it or not, I whined about small, little, unimporant, no-big-deal-things happened around. I get upset easily with unnecessary things. I believe it all comes to be small matters when you really have no time to think about, but fight for bread and butter, getting to survive for the day. Yes, I should be grateful of what I have and this should always be my reminder whenever I am complaining or whining about life again.

"When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out--The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--It's when things seem worst that you must not quit."~ Unknown

Saturday, June 25, 2011

感恩


坐在这超小房间里的窗口旁,眺远望出一片无际的大海洋`远处的雪山脉,不禁让我感慨自己是幸运的`幸福的,身在于此景色,人生还有什么好遗憾的呢?

手上拿着刘墉的《把握我们有限的今生》,正好衬托出我现在的心情。我要学荷兰人一样,生在小小的土地上,却要用很宽旷的心去看这个世界。

曾经我的前任老板问我:“你有什么梦想?” 我说,“我想去环游世界!”。老板张大眼睛对我笑了一下,似乎怀疑那是一件不可能的事情发生在我身上。现在身在美国的我想对他说:我虽然未完成那心愿,但我已经很满足现在的成就,至少我已在美国这个大国多个地方留下脚印!

感恩!

写于2011/06/05,阿拉斯加。

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Lazy woman

Two more months to go, I am yet ready to go home though partly of me is excited for the day to come. I still have so many places that have not been crossed out of my list yet. Chicago, New Mexico, Texas, New Orleans, Portland, Mount Rainer etc etc...... In the mean time, I have so many things to settle before going home, eg, packing, garage sales, selling car, billing, insurance, bla bla bla.... with so little time! Oh no, actually I would say I am just being lazy =p

I don't have the motivation to start packing even though my friends have already started to do so. I don't feel enthusiastic in preparing for anything! Arrhhh..... all I want to do at home after work is just watching a movie!

Please....I need some motivation! I am a lazy bum!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

First Time Sledding

Finally, my friend and I made it to Tahoe for sledding after a few times postpone due to unexpected circumstances and rain. It was 2 hour drive from my friend's place, Vacaville to Mountain Adventure, the place where we sled.


The sledding boards borrowed from Jasmin's friend. We were all geared up and ready for sledding!

The weather was surprisingly good - sunny and cooling, though it was reported partly cloudy and possible shower on weather forecast. First attempt to sled down the hill, I was quite scared but looking around me, the kids (even the toddlers!) seemed to enjoy very much in the sport. Shame to say "I'm scared"! The moment the sled brought me down the hill, I was thrilled by the momentum and of course, I screamed (even though it's not as scary as roller coaster). One word, fun! But...the hardest and most tiring part was carrying the sled up the hill because every step on the snow was triple time of exertion lifting up your leg! Good workout though!

No pain no gain but it all pays off for the thrilled moment of sledding down the hill.

After a while of sledding alone, my friend and I decided to sled together on one board. Whoo...it was even more fun and exciting! We screamed like two crazy women entertaining themselves very much!



We really enjoyed ourselves repeating the same thing up and down the hill until the weather started to change....dark cloud slowly came by to say hello. Of course, I wouldn't just call it a day without making a snowman myself! Before it started to pour, we quickly dug out the snow and made our very first snowman!!


Our snowman with Jackie Chan's nose!

Indeed, it was such a wonderful day with new experience on the snow. Thank you Jasmin for keeping me in company and all the fun moments!

Friday, March 11, 2011

我们永远怀念的四姨


今早收到姐姐一封电邮,告知四姨最终敌不过病魔过世了。心理真的很难过,也很惭愧。自离乡背井,生活在国外,我已很多年没有探望亲戚们,只是近来在Facebook看到阿姨们的照片,突然感触良多。光阴飞逝,阿姨舅舅们都老了。我也不记得我最后一次见到四姨是什么时候了。想起四姨,我不禁难掩悲切哭了。四姨是个典型的贤妻良母,心地很善良,说话一向来都很斯文温柔,厨艺也顶呱呱。她与妈妈的感情也很深厚,看到她老人家的照片,不禁也让我想起妈妈。她们长得很相似,都有一双慈祥的眼神,一个和蔼可亲的笑容。

四姨虽已不在人世,但她将永铭我们心中。我想四姨应该也走得很安详,很欣慰,因为她的孩子们都成家立业,孙子们也健康成长。

四姨,愿您一路好走,在天之灵安息了。。。。

Friday, February 11, 2011

V-day



This day has become a normal day for me since last two years. Checking on Facebook, tonnes of valentine present photos posted by friends made me jealous and miserable.... haha! My friend asked,"How do you feel in the period of no boyfriend?" Of course, I won't deny that having a close partner might spice up your life a little with romance but being single, I enjoy spending time with girl friend too. Well, not I specifically mention "girl friend", but to be honest, I don't have close boy friend yet in my life. I am closer to girl friend than to a guy friend. Sometimes, I kind of doubt if male and female can be very good friend? Most of the time, I realised this situation would turn out to be a couple in the end. May be there is a very successful example of good friends between male and female but so far, I haven't met one yet!


Oh ya...I haven't met one yet. I am waiting for the right one and for the only one. Haha...I wish there is in future. Even if not, what can I do? Can I say that's fate? Of course, I don't hope this would happen on me and I wish I will meet him soon.


Happy Valentine's Day!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Same taste, good taste

I just kept saying OMG OMG....when I saw this few minutes ago on Yahoo news!

Michelle Obama wows in a $35 H&M dress.
The first lady wore a breezy, feminine, polka-dot piece, not from some fancy big-name designer, but off-the-rack and available for $34.95 from Swedish company H&M.

The navy frock is part of the retail chain's current collection, which is in stores across the country now. Mrs. Obama's office said her stylist customized the look by adding three-quarter-length sleeves and pairing the dress with a bold orange belt (in lieu of its original red cloth sash) and bright yellow heels.

Here is the original H&M dress, which is currently in stores. The first lady's version was customized with longer sleeves.

(www.yahoo.com)

OMG!!!! Guess what? I just bought this dress last weekend before I got to see this from Yahoo! Michelle Obama has the same taste with me. Both of us spot on the same dress from H&M! Haha!

Now I start to worry. This dress is gonna be popular soon and I might bump into anyone with the same dress anytime, anywhere!

In rememberance


How time flies. 10 years passed in twinkling of an eye since you left. I feel guilty for not being able to visit you in the temple over the past 3 years on your birthday while I'm oversea. Now you are being placed at home, brother's new house. I believe nothing will worry you anymore to see us leading a good life and doing well in our career.

I remember, our birthday song, that I am singing in my heart for you.

May you rest in peace, my beloved Mom. I love you.

“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” ~Anne Lamott

Saturday, February 5, 2011

兔年快乐


屋外的梅花树其实早在两个星期前就已开花了,终于我能在这洋毛的国家感觉到春节的气息。以往每年农历新年,我家都会摆设一盆假梅花,增添春节的气氛。今年的新年,虽然无法与家人,亲戚朋友们一同庆祝,但是看到长得满满都是花的梅花树,我感叹至少我能看到真的梅花,也能感受到春天的到来。这个时刻,有一首新年歌来形容我现在的心情是最适合不过了。。。

春风它吻上了我的脸,告诉我现在是春天;
谁说是春眠不觉晓,只有那偷懒人儿才高眠。
春风它吻上了我的脸,告诉我现在是春天;
虽然是春光无限好,只怕那春光老去在眼前。
趁着这春色在人间,起一个清早跟春想见;
让春风吹到了我身边,轻轻地吻上了我的脸。



今天农历新年已踏入第三天,但我还是想在此祝贺大家新年快乐,万事如意,心想事成!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Peanut Butter biscuits

Looking at my friend's pineapple tart photo on FB, it inspired me to make something too for CNY. So I've got this easiest recipe that I found on SeaDragon's blog -- peanut butter biscuits. It seems like a piece of cake.

Three ingredients: Creamy peanut butter, sugar and egg.

Three steps:

  1. Mix the ingredients.
  2. Roll it into small balls and flatten it with fork.
  3. Bake at 180 deg cel.

That's it! Easy!

However......

Look at my biscuits....they were all burnt in just a few minutes!!!!



Arrrgghhh....this is so disappointing... but it taste not too bad though. Anyway, it's a nice weekend spending at home cooking and baking.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

I'm coming home



I wish I can tell the world.....I'm coming home!

Awww....I am so so homesick today...especially when my colleagues and I were talking about CNY. I suddenly have the strong feeling of missing home again!

This is my THIRD time (continuously) not celebrating CNY with family.

I miss baking cookies with sister for CNY.
I miss the CNY atmosphere back at home.
I miss the reunion dinner with family.
I miss counting down for CNY with family in front of TV.
I miss going one-house-after-one-house visiting.
I miss receiving angpau.
I miss eating all-you-can-eat cookies.
I miss biting sunflower seed with my sister while watching variety of CNY programmes on TV.
I miss catching up with long-time-no-see relatives.
I miss wearing red on the first day of CNY.
I miss the firecracker sound all over the place during CNY.
I miss friends gathering.
I miss all these so much!!!! And I haven't done these for THREE years!!!!!

I hate being alone at this big festival season while thinking about my family, relatives and friends having fun over the other side of planet!

I wanna go home so so sooooooooooo much!!!!!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

First trial Kaya

I have been wanting to make kaya since last few weeks. I've got the recipe and ingredients ready but all that I need is a weighing scale. Last weekend, I finally found one from Daiso.


The mini kitchen scale at USD1.50 only!

Today after work, I suddenly had the urge to make kaya with everything ready, eventually! Step by step, I happily followed the recipe accordingly with exact amount and measurement until....when it came to making coconut milk (what I had was the coconut powder), I realised it was still far way too little for the amount of ingredients that I had already prepared. Opppsss....


Well, I have no choice but to continue the following steps. I put the egg mixture and coconut milk in double boiled pots. Then I stirred it till it became golden brown. BUT....things didn't turn out well. My kaya was rough and it seemed to lump together. I thought it might be just the way it is for the beginning stage. So I kept stirring and stirring for 2 hours. However, it still looked the same even though with the color seemed to turn to be a bit brownish. In the end, I gave up and that was it my kaya....
Unsuccessful and ugly kaya =(

I think it was not totally because of insufficient coconut milk but it might also be insufficient water that cause the kaya to be too dry and rough. Well, this was just the first trial and I would give myself a second chance to make a nice kaya next time! You'll see....

Monday, January 3, 2011

New Year 2011

First question comes to my mind at this moment: What did I do for 2010??? All I remember is where I have been to in USA!!!

Basically I spent my whole 2010 (except Jan) in USA for training. I can't imagine that time has passed so fast as if I've just stepped on the land of States yesterday!

I'm blessed that my training has been going smoothly so far. I met nice people around me. I have good trainers and supervisors that really take care of me and guide me along. Of course life is not a bed of roses. Throughout the journey, ups and downs, I'm thankful that I have a group of good friends here that are always there for me, side by side, shoulder by shoulder.

I would say it was a fruitful and meaningful 2010 that I enjoyed every moments very much in USA. Besides training, I basically spent most of my times travelling. So far, I have been to 11 states in USA, which includes Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusettes, Maine, District of Columbia and California. Every step leaves its print and every trip has its own memorable moments that engrain in my mind.

There goes 2010 and here comes year 2011. My resolutions of the year would be:
1. TRAVEL as MUCH as possible. Not only in USA, I wish I can make it to South America eg. Peru, Brazil and Argentina as well!!!
2. PERSISTENT in exercising!!!
3. READ as much as I can. First of all, finish the Twilight series - "The Breaking Dawn" which has been put aside for long.
4. IMPROVE my English!
5. IMPROVE my photographing skill!
6. Fashion and image REFORMATION.
7. COMPLETE my Quarters collection before I go back to SG.
8. .......
9. ........
10. Getting myself a boyfriend!!! Haha..... *Kidding*

A new year a new start. May this year of 2011 be a year of health and happiness, a year of wealth and wisdom, a year of peace and prosperity, a year of glee and glow and lastly a year of love and laughter! Happy New Year!