September to December 2013

Since September, we actually did a lot of activities that I was just too lazy to make a blog. I hope I would do a better job at blogging in 2014.

We took parents to Antelope Island in early Sept. 2013

Sunroom is complete and we enjoy the convenience of having it

Hi Blog!

It's been crazy - -

• Big project at work
• Interviews/skill assessments
• SOA Exam P
• Mr. Dachshund has Degenerative Disc Disease
• My weird headache/fever

I like my family and friends...they are happy, cheerful, silly, honest, and fun!

Special thanks to my awesome hubby! You are the best! 

想要什麼？！

工作遇上瓶頸了？！也不算是，只能說我看不見未來在哪裡。我最近很努力在想，我已經延遲幾年開始的職場生涯，該何去何從。

離開台灣超過十年了，其實有的辛酸，只有自己才知道。鮮少抱怨的我鮮少抱怨的我遇到事情的當下，哭過了然後更加努力。

Little Moments that I Live for

The lotion dropped on my desk...it looks cute, so I drew a face by it :)

Life is not hard...but definitely not easy. I know that many of my friends feel the same...the amount of the work/tear that we've put in so that we can stay in United States. 

Whatever happens/happened, I can always get rid of my sadness very soon. Beautiful cloud, a sunflower by the street, funny shadow...etc, all these little things make me smile. 

好險有你

不論再怎麼保持樂觀開朗，有些時候還是忍不住的像個洩了氣的皮球。有的目標我也不想到處宣揚，如果你知道我在做什麼就好，不知道的問了我也不會講。這十年來我很努力的唸書與工作，我好累好累，卻找不到停歇的點。有的人喜歡在你背後插你一刀，沒關係，因為我的勤奮與天性是你怎樣也偷不走的。

感謝老公和親友的支持，這一路上走來，好險有你。

Lost Package from Gymboree.com

*Last updated 8/16/2013: Some nice customer lady that I contacted after this blog is posted, was helping me to resolve the issue. I've received an email from her said that I will receive the credit in 2 weeks. Let's hope that's the case. I will update the blog again once that actually happens.


I will never place an order with Gymboree.com. For me, the Gymboree.com is trying to push sole responsibility of package lost to the customer.

I have decided to write this blog because Gymboree.com doesn't seem wanting to work with me on this. I just google online, and I think there are people out there who had similar bad experience like me. Beware!

I placed an order Gymboree.com in early July, and the purchase was over $100. Gymboree.com used a cheap shipping method "Fedex Smallpost" that didn't actually deliver by Fedex...the process would be Gymboree > Fedex > USPS. The package doesn't required signature either.

Originally the tracking system showed it was going to be delivered on 7/9, and all the sudden it said 7/11. On 7/11 when online system shows it's delivered, there was NO package by our front door. We called Gymboree.com and they said I have to call USPS and then the credit card company if I really don't have the package.

We talked to few neighbors, called Fedex (of course they said they have no idea because they gave the package to USPS), and called USPS. We also waited for a few days before we contacted the credit card company because we were hoping the packages might be miss-delivered to somewhere else. Finally we called our credit card company, and the credit card company helped us to contact Gymboree.com.

Gymboree.com gave our credit card company the delivery confirmation and called it good. Although Gymboree.com has the tracking record shows that the package is delivered, there is no proof of the package that was actually delivered to the "CORRECT" address. Especially with an order that's over $100, I feel that Gymboree.com has the responsibility to insure the package in some way that they can file the lost package claim through Fedex or USPS, or they should at least request the delivery signature to make sure the package arrive where it should be.


DO NOT BUY! BEWARE GYMBOREE.COM! BAD COMPANY! NOT BUY BABY CLOTHES FROM GYMBOREE!

Sprinkler System Headache

After we moved in to our house in 2011, we hired some one to do our fence. They broke every possible sprinkler pipes around east side of our house. One USA Unit and I got to learn how to fix those by ourselves since it's too expensive to hire someone to do so. We got everything fixed in spring 2012. In spring 2013, we turned the system back on, and we noticed some area of grass was turning yellow...ugh..yes...2 out of the 8 systems were not working properly.

Fortunately, my dad stays with us so that he helped us to dig out the pipe when we were at work. We then trouble shot the problems together and got everything fixed again.

Dogs were really helpful while we were working, as usual!

Another Heaven 另一個天堂

The song, Another Heaven, from Leehom Wang & Jane Zhang is super cute.

"You bring me to another heaven, and it's more beautiful than I could imagine.
There's another dream and endless happiness in the heaven that we've created by hugs."



"是你帶我找到　另一個天堂　遠比想像中的更美我們懷抱裡的　這一個天堂　另一個夢想　有無限的快樂"
這首歌，也太可愛了吧！！

New Trent Chargepak NT600C Review

I am going out of town without One USA Unit at the end of August, so I need to keep my cellphone alive so that I can make phone call, and access internet and GPS. I searched online for a while and decided to get New Trent Chargepak NT600C.

It's $39.95 on Amazon (free shipping with prime). I like the fact that it has wall plug built in, and it comes with the micro cable that allows me to charge my HTC smartphone.

Crazy about Minions!

Yes, I'm CRAZY about MINIONs!

They are super cute. I really like Despicable Me 2. It was funny and cute!

One USA Unit for sure loves me very much :D He tried very hard to get me a McDonald's minion poster last night!!!

 

Dachshund is Not Invited

Coworkers were trying to schedule an event that all our family members can join us...

After months discussion, we finally had a BBQ on the 27th. One USA Unit and I took Laplace, the kitty boss, with us. When we got the travel bag out, the dachshund insisted to sit in there (ok...he's black and tan, mostly black, so you can't really see him in the photo, but he's there). We eventually needed to kind of dump him out from the bag, and put the cat in. 

Too bad that neither of our dogs are super friendly...we are not comfortable letting them run freely at the party, especially at the event with many kids.

Giraffe's house is very cool!!!!!! My hope is my company dramatically increase my salary, so that I can afford the similar house in downtown. 

About Laplace, it was sad that he didn't get to meet his potential girlfriend - Goose, Giraffe's kitty. I think he will have to go again, and hopefully he will be able to meet his future girlfriend and also make friend with K & J, Giraffe's kids :D

Simple Dinner - 07/20/2013

I enjoy cooking. I'd never really cook when I was in Taiwan, because there's always food anywhere and any time. I've started to cook more a year after I moved to United States - - I moved out of dorm and lived with a Malaysian girl and a Japanese girl. A fun fact, most of foreign student I know didn't know how to cook when we were back home, and we all magically start cooking after we moved to United States.

Anyway, 7/20's dinner - Pork Curry, Fried Egg, Pan Fried Vegetables

Art of Omelette

Once in a while, I'd like to make omelette as late night snack. On July 7th, I made Spinach Kale Tofu Omelette :) The fun thing of making an omelette is throwing it in the air to flip it :D :D :D it was a successful flip :D

七月七號的宵夜是蔬菜豆腐蛋。煎蛋的過程中，我最喜歡的就是翻面啦！

晴天

「如果一個地方讓你覺得委屈，你可以走、改變它，不要待在那裡哭。

因為，人只有被自己困住。」- 鄧惠文

Art Work

My coworker, Giraffe, is a mom. Mom knows tons of fun things that I don't. She introduced me...ugh...I don't remember what it's called...it's a black paper for people to scratch off :D Anyway, it was super fun! I got to include few things I like in this drawing <3

Tokyo Banana

Back in June (I think lol), Yiching & John brought back some treats for us from Japan! Thanks for their sweet thoughts...I've been wanting to try Tokyo Banana for a loooooooong time, and I finally got to taste it. It's so yummy and it looks super cute!

Bionaire BW2300 Twin Window Fan Review

We bought a new fan - Bionaire BW2300 Twin Window Fan with Remote Control. It was a good buy. We need something that can fit on our window that can get cool air into our room during middle of the night. This project is easy to put on/take off from the window, and it comes with a remote control. As always, whatever we purchased, Boss Kat had to inspect it for a while.

We bought it from Amazon
Price: $54.99

Happy Birthday, America!!!

Happy Birthday, America!

It's nice to be with you for another year.

Let's hope for a better immigration system in the future.

Cheers!

Love,

One Taiwan Unit 

(It's nice to watch fireworks from our backyard :) I like our house)

Vegas Trip

We stopped by Vegas again! Yes, second time within 10 months. Truthfully, we think we were crazy because there's not much for us to do there besides eating and walking around. Nothing really changes there within 10 months lol 4 days 3 nights trip was way more than enough there. 

We stayed in Aria like last time since we both like to stay at newer hotel and we both had positive experience at Aria last time. This time is much cooler actually - we got to stay at 32nd floor instead of 8th floor. We had better view and we weren't in the corner of the building that it's easier for us to access the elevator.

We went to Wicked Spoon like last time, and it's still good like before. I like their food, the way they display the food. Overall, I would say it's a better deal than the buffet in Aria, Bellagio, and MGM.

Anyway, it was fun to take a short trip with One USA Unit. Next trip, we want to go to New York, Boston, Chicago, or Tokyo :)

Evening view from our room

Early morning view from our room

Us

Late night wondering around

Our favorite buffet

Missing Taiwan

I have a presentation tomorrow and I haven't done preparation on that yet. I was going through my old files and trying to locate few GIS items. However, I think I lost tons of my files...ugh...not cool. Anyway, I saw some old photos as I was going through the folders. Above photos were taken in Kaohsiung, Taiwan back in 2011. That's the first time that One USA Unit visited Taiwan.

Kat is UNHAPPY about House Project

Our original wall was BORING...before we bought this house, it was bought by an investor; she completed the remodel in a "nice & as cheap as possible" way. The interior looks good, at least in a way better shape than most of the houses around this area, but it's pretty boring.

One of the wall in the computer room, hubby and I wanted to make it into a whiteboard wall...we started to paint it in "December Eve" (whatever that cool name is, I call it dark blue :P)

I then decided that we should add orange and light blue on the wall as well. We went to Home Depot and picked up two little cans of the colors and painted those on the wall. I am happy that it turns out just like what it was in my head lol

Speaking of Kat, he was not too happy about our performance...Not just that One USA Unit moved the kitty furniture into a corner, and he set all the painting craps on it as well lol Although Kat has a bigger and cooler furniture in the living room, he has decided to sit on this little furniture in the computer room to make us feel like we are a$$holes bad workers.

Old Old Photos

I have a Fujifilm FinePix Z5, an old little camera that I lost its USB cable for a long long time. I stopped using it because I couldn't be able to import the photos into my computer. Anyway, I found the cord a month or two ago, and I am bringing it with me to Vegas :D I just imported some old photos into my computer, and here are few of them - - -

Love Story of the Cell-mates 

Torsion on Laplace's furniture

Shrimp Asparugus Handrolls I made back in January 2011

Ma-Po Tofu

Rose on the Dogs

We have some roses in our back yard...and I put one on the dogs :D

Aww...Mr. Dachshund looks so cute lol lol lol 

Mrs. Basset Hound looks cute too...and lazy as usual :)

Music and Me

I am not good at piano, nor the ukulele, but playing these instruments always make me feel happy and peaceful. It's just a good way to release stress :)

My parents let me take piano classes since age 4 for couple years. I wasn't patient enough, and I wasn't appreciate the learning opportunity at all, so eventually, they didn't continue making me take the class. I've started to pick some music back up after college, and I sincerely appreciate that my parents gave me the wonderful opportunity when I was little.

If I had a kid or two, I guess I will let him/her learn piano...maybe one day, he/she will have the same feeling I have toward music.

Basset Hounds Pawty!

We went to a party with many many basset hounds!!! This year, there weren't as many as bassets as last year. The sad thing was, my big puppy didn't get to go to the party.

She picked up a big tree seed from the ground during her walk 2 days ago and had allergic reactions --- luckily, it wasn't too bad and she's fine the next day. However, we don't want her to get some more rest, so we didn't bring her to the pawty. 

Food Delivery

We went out to see a house on Thursday afternoon and then had the dinner outside, so I didn't prepare lunch for One USA Unit. Since I don't want my hubby to starve, I went to buy salad from our favorite store in downtown and deliver to his work.

Hearty Chicken Cobb Salad

Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

Lunch Box for One USA Unit - 05/21/2013

Hubby's lunch box includes:
Big box:

• Black pepper onion pork
• Garlic cabbage
• Steamed carrots
• Cilantro Polish sausage

Small box:

• Polish sausage with ketchup and mustard
• Some sort of lettuce that we grew 

Preventing Lost KAT

Big white "K"at LOVES going outside, but he doesn't know how to come back home. Because of this, we need to be really careful not to let him run out from home. Once in a while, we will let the dogs watch the Kat lol Neither of the dogs want to do that...so Kat usually gets sent to Kitty Jail (aka dog crate) on the deck for a little bit. 

Hotpot Date

One USA Unit and I like to eat hotpot. Few days ago, we've decided to stop by a local Chinese restaurant and had some yummy hotpot. It was great as usual.

I am lucky that One USA Unit is open-minded - - - he is willing to try different types of food, and yes, he did try STINKY TOFU when we went to Taiwan!!!!! He is indeed a brave young man <3 I love my One USA Unit :)

A Safer Place!

Today I drove the dogs to the University for a walk! I don't want to walk around the neighborhood anymore. My dogs are not super friendly dogs...and I know some people think we don't "teach our kids"... I am just lazy to explain how/where we got our dogs, and they are doing way better than before already! I always put them on the leash when we walk around the neighborhood, and the law actually says people need to leash their dogs. However, many people don't do that, and they think it's my fault if their dogs run up to my dogs and my dogs go crazy...who doesn't want to have super friendly dogs?! I guess someone who wanted "perfect" dogs and threw the dogs into shelter, and then people like me who adopted the dogs get yelled at by random people at the street who don't leash their dogs and apparently can't really control the dogs well enough either lol Whatever, people...I love my dogs, and they are perfect to me!

Lunch Box for One USA Unit - 05/03/2013

Lazy lunch box - lettuce in the bottom of the box and

• Pan-fried tofu
• Scramble eggs
• Steam carrots
• Channa Masala (got it from Costco)
  

Almost gave up!

Today is a PERFECT day to bike to work...it was snowing in the morning...really, WTF! Anyway, I still enjoyed the ride. Coming back home is a whole other story; there's easier route for me to take, but that one has tons of traffic and without a bike lane. I tried that easier route one time and decided to find a safer way home. I decided to take another route today...I was like going up hill 10+ blocks and 2/3 of the distance was pretty steep. I almost gave up in the middle of the hill since there's actually bus going up there...I stopped and took a photo...rested for a minute or two...and decided to keep going...I kept thinking about "I can do this...I can do this...I can do this......" Finally, I reached the point where I could pedal the bike easily!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Believe it or not, I've decided - - - Tomorrow, I'm going to try it again!!