My lovely......

I must be CRAZY! Blogging about ENG CAI (KANG KONG lah)!!!

Months ago when I first arrived in Utah, Anna told me she was able to find Kang Kong in one of the Chinese Mart at SLC. But I looked up, down, left, right....... waited and pined. No Eng Cai.... sob sob.. my favourite veggie...

Then ENG CAI! My ENG CAI! Finally I saw it at Super China today! Luckily I went to the veggie department and scan around as usual, wishing it might just appear, and it did! The season is in. Yeah! Now I don't have to eat Gailan n broccoli week after week. Though it wasn't that economical. A bunch (well, quite a huge bunch) cost ard US$6. Who cares! It's my lovely ENG CAI!

Sleeping

En slept on her own last night, the 2nd time. I was trying to copy pictures into our digital photo frame, so that we can bring it for her Spotlight session next Tues (for her birthday) during pre-school. So I convinced her to sleep alone as she knew I was doing something for her. Y not sleep with Daddy?

About 2 weeks ago (16 Mar), I was trying to copy some VCDs for her, as we had to return them the next day. So she agreed to sleep without me. Daddy went with her, then she started protesting saying she didn't want to sleep with Daddy. Thus, she was left to sleep alone with her Tang Poems book beside her. Well, Daddy did sneak a peek at her and it took her quite a while before she finally slept. But she did, alone. That was quite an achievement. 1st time sleeping on her alone.

Now, I'm sure she can do it. Most of the time, she just wants to have Mummy around.

最简单与最难

幸福，是世上最简单与最难得到的东西。

新加坡人不快乐。为什么？为何生在第三世界国家的子民可以得到幸 福，可以开开心心过日子，丰衣足食的新加坡人，过着安逸的日子，人手一机（即使几岁大的孩子，都有手机，管他会不会用，需不需要），去到哪儿都有车代步 （巴士、地铁、德士也是“车”啊！），我们却能高举双手，对全世界的人说：“我们不快乐！”

政府征税多多、物价高涨、生活压力大、钱不够用、房子不够大、汽车不够“拽”、老公买的砖石太小、孩子考的“A”太少、老婆身材不够棒、名牌包包比人少、旅行地点不够远、还有呢？反正就是没一点顺心，没一样顺眼。

一声“谢谢”、一句“她煮的饭菜越来越有酒楼的水准”、孩子窝心的拥抱、生病时有人带你去看病、至亲至爱都还健在、天天有饭菜在桌上、能够呼吸到一口新鲜的空气，这些不是幸福吗？不值得我们快乐吗？

偶 尔，难免被他人的情绪影响，或周遭的人、事、物感染，觉得很难快乐起来。但这也不足为过，毕竟，人生本就该有喜、怒、哀、乐、酸、田、苦、辣，才够“色香 味俱全”嘛！重要的是，在不如意时，该如何应对。是让不满情绪不断累积，怨天尤人，理直气壮地认定全世界都欠你的，还是当冷静下来时，自我反省，到底自己 能做些什么，能改变些什么？生命掌控在我们手里，幸福与否在于我们如何调整自己的心态。

这不是一篇对社会的控诉，更不是自命清高的解说，而是对自我的提醒--把双眼朝人间看，双脚朝地上踩，踏踏实实的感受最简单的幸福，别到咽下最后一口气的那一刻，才慨叹一生为了追求一些虚无缥缈的事物，错过了感受原本已属于自己的快乐。

Museum of Ancient Life

15 Mar

Is this a place about ancient civilisation? Ape men?

Did anyone guess dinosaurs? U're RIGHT! En's pre-school's theme for the month was about dino so we decided to bring her for the 'actual' thing (the bones r better than nothing right), though I think they had moved on to sea creatures already ;p.

The Museum of Ancient Life is located at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, where there's also a show barn (farm), garden (which will be scheduled for re-opening this weekend), theatre and shopping place (went to the theatre following Mon with Anna and kids to watch "Dr Suess's Horton hears a Who". A pity we couldn't stay while Anna n her kids went to the farm, cos En had a long day, as she had ballet in the morning, so she needed her afternoon nap).

Entrance for children under 3 is free, so we paid for 2 adult combo tickets, which included a 3D show. Well, En was a little taken-back cos the dino looked really near. So we taught her to tickle them when they came too near. Ha ha!

Little Marcus, En's first friend in Utah was there too and we met 2 new friends - Faith n baby Enqi. A pity they came later, so we had little time together.

Pics in order from left to right : Entrance, Lobby, Fish fossil prep, Tiny En, Dino on log, Don't feed me to the shark, Fossil of ancient sea creature, Not so tall daddy, Dino torso, Walkway, En refusing to step into sand pit (she wanted to play at another location with sand n water too. However, the moment she put on the apron (with sand particles on it), she said she didn't want to play anymore)

En walking on 4s during Gym (b4 we went to the museum)

K working on the fossil prep

Reputation

Is it important? Obviously, some doesn't think so. Guess many of u experience spam emails, some claiming to be sent from reputable organisations that u'd won prizes etc. I had my fair share. Recently, I received one claiming to be sent from one of my email service provider, so I forwarded it to them to alert them that there's a possibility that someone out there is using their name for fraudulent purposes.

The reply I got was that it wasn't sent from their ISP so they couldn't do anything about it. Then they listed some tools which I may use to track down this conman.

This was what I told them:

"Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I have no intention to track the sender, after all I'm just concern that this is an email sent with the intention to con people using XXXXX's identity. It'll be great if your organisation takes action against such fraudulent activities, since it's the reputation of XXXXX which is at stack.

If XXXXX can't do anything to protect it's name, guess there's nothing I can do too.

Best Regards,

Loi Yi"

Aftermath: I just received a reply, from another staff, with EXACTLY the same message sent to me previously. Guess they r not too concern whatever was delivered to them. Just sent back a standard template. Goes to show one thing, they must have received plenty of similar alert. Yet......

If they have to......

Couple of days back, I sent an email to the USPS enquiring about delivery notices being dropped at mailboxes without attempting to deliver items to recipients, as all my parcels, whether big or small had to be self-collected and some other families faced the same issue.

Early morning, I received a phone call from them. Guess what? "We do not send the parcels up to the apartments. If we have to do that, it'll take them the whole day to do their delivery." How does this reply sound?

Oh, yah, perhaps we have lifts back home, so it's less time consuming and tiring for our postmen. Or what about those 4-storey flats with no lifts? Hmmm, perhaps Singpost can also excuse their postmen from delivering there.

Ok, ok, I know we should just 入乡随俗 but it's just the way the message was being put across.

I'd met many kind souls here, those who will come up to you to point u to the nearest clinic, those who'll bring their dogs to let ur kid pat them, older kids who'll take care of the young ones n many more. Guess I shouldn't let the small nos that, perhaps had woken up on the wrong side of the bed irks me.

Spring with a BANG

Yes, it's officially spring today and what better way to welcome it than SNOW!

Ha ha, that's just how the weather is over here. We had 3 days of warm weather, so warm I could go out for my walk in t-shirt and felt some perspiration coming. Then, BHAM! Temperature falls some 20 deg Fahrenheit. Still consider good weather though. The snow is light, so I guess it'll melt real soon.....

Daylight ROBBERY

I received my final bill (certainly hope so) from the hospital. The figure was STUNNING - >US$3500 (after discount)!!! For a 5 hr stay in hospital. This is for what? A laxative, blood test, urine test, chemical test (????), stay in ER and a CT-scan ($3K!). At the end of the day, they did not dare to make a diagnosis (citing inflammation of intestines, with no diagnosis), and prescribed me with a narcotic-based pain killer n NOTHING else. Then sent me for colonoscopy at another facility in SLC that set me back by another >$300 (after 50% discount for upfront payment). After they woke me from my drugged state, they quickly whisked me home in wheel chair without even explaining what could be the cause n preventive measures. Just concerned there wasn't anything cancerous. As I was referred to the ER by a GP, paid another >$100 (at 20% discount for upfront payment again).

The total cost - a whopping US$4k, and the possibility that I may have to fork out this kind of $$$ again as I do not know the root cause.

If that wasn't daylight robbery, tell me what was it???!!!!!!

21 May @5pm

Finally, the actual hunt! The moment we got out of the apartment, we could see many families already gathered at the playground. Yes, there were quite a number of Singaporean families there, some I'd met for the 1st time. Then, the Easter Bunny arrived! En was in the group of 1-5 yr olds. As the siren from the fire engine rang, all the kids (n adults too) rushed into the field, picking the goodies n placing them into their baskets. Though the event was short, it was a special experience.



Oh, our loot was little (but that's what mummy prefers ;))....

Easter

YEAH! It's Easter morning now!

Though it's not holiday here, we still have activities going on later in the evening - Monarch Meadow's 1ST Easter Egg Hunt! It's also our 1st Egg Hunt. Believe there'll be many Singaporean Mummies bringing their little ones, everyone with baskets going for the treasure hunt, Shirley with her 3 kids, Zhang Hong n her boy, Faith n Enqi with Mummy....

Look out for my updates!

Daylight Saving

什么东西来的？简单来讲，就是我们被“吃”了一小时咯。

As of Sun 9 Mar, 2am, our time got FAST FORWARDED.

First tell-tale sign - 平时小鬼起床的时间大概是8点30分。今天“迟”了一小时。别看这只是小小的一小时，还是要调整，要adjustment的leh! 无缘无故lost an hour，还真是lugi......

As of now, we r 14 hrs behind Singapore time. Look out, we r catching up!

大日子

究竟是什么大日子？？？

阿爸的60大寿啊！

哪里可以没有表示？？

怪天气

享受了一星期的阳光，惊喜于和恩恩发现了附近的公园，手牵手去散步，身上的外套越穿越少。是的，春季即将到来。正当缅怀于冬的离去，皑皑白雪覆盖大地的景致不再复还--下雪了！

顷刻间，一切的蓝、黄、红、绿都变成了白。天空好似破了个大洞，雪花就从这洞里不断地洒下，白、灰、黑吞噬了所有颜色，蓝天不见了，山脉也躲起来了。

春的脚步退了一步，冬再一次施展了它的力量。这一场季节之战，冬扳回了一局。但是鹿最终会死在谁之手，是不言而喻的。。。

强悍弱女子 曾晴

一对坚强、独特的父母，与他们的小天使短短的生命旅程，人生的另一番注解，生命的延续。

http://www.wretch.cc/blog/myotubular

小小的遗憾是无法更早接触这片温馨的土地，震撼于它所散发的力量与光芒，坚定了昨夜的决定，让生命少一件遗憾。

在这每四年才来临的特别之日，我偶然与你邂逅，惊喜、伤感、震撼、平静、钦佩。

新发型

上回在这儿剪的头发，虽不至于惨不忍睹（因为我有先见之明，没要发型师做太大的更动），结果只不过草草5分钟，便了事。当K看到时，第一反应是--剪了好像没有剪，结果头发一样乱。这是花得最不值得的＄12！
这回学聪明了，先向恩Gym Class的一位Mummy打听，去了Falling Waters Day Spa。发型师Jennifer很专业。她侦讯了我对发型的要求，再根据判断用心地帮我剪头发。这会剪了1小时。花费呢，自然是一分钱，一分货--$35（我给了＄40，因为在这里理发，一般都会给小费）。

不错吧！今天刚剪的。

贝贝的新衣

一个多月前，曾答应宝贝帮她的贝贝做件衣服，昨天终于实现我的诺言了。这就是贝贝的新衣。


结果，她要我帮她的WoWo也做一件！

Earthquake

Was doing my "business" in the toilet early morning around 7 plus, getting ready to chit-chat with my family on Skype, when I suddenly felt my POTTY trembling. Yes! Lasted for like maybe 10-20 secs. Well, must be very strong wind, since it's common to feel the windows tremble due to the wind, as the housing here are not structured exactly like back home. The walls, flooring etc are thinner. So nothing strange.

Till K called in the afternoon n told me there was an earthquake. Oh, so that was why my blissful "business" session was interrupted. Apparently, according to the news, it was a 6.0 strength quake, centered in Northern Nevada, just beside Utah (Nevada is where Las Vegas is). Some worse-hit regions experienced buildings tumbling or damaged walls etc. Luckily it wasn't serious here.

Well, this was my 2nd earthquake. First one I experienced was back in 2005, while we were in Japan when K was also on training. Thought I was feeling a little giddy (happened when I was in the toilet too). Was only informed of the quake when K called again. Sigh.... think I have to UP my 危机意识.

Crochet Project - Sweater

Should have updated this long ago. Anyway, this is the sweater I crochet for En in US.

忙碌的季节

忙、忙、忙（还好不是盲、盲、盲，不然就真的是在瞎忙），最近真的很忙--滑雪啦、新年活动与聚餐等、帮小瓜找学校、报名、接送她上学放学、重新规划人生（很多朋友、家人一直劝我要经济独立，以我的情况，我早已认清这是最好的，不管当初情到浓时，对方作出了什么承诺，日子久了，什么都不算数的。要照顾自己的家人，为了孩子的福利，为了自己的将来，最实际的方式还是靠自己。有些事情，只有改变自己，才能突破现有的局限。即使那不是我梦想中的人生，我只有再织另一个梦--一个能靠自己力量实现的梦。如果你是我的知己，当我泄气时，或想放弃的时候，请你提醒我，今天所说的话。）、还有，还有，在网上追看韩剧--咖啡王子一号店（免费的喔！）、当然不能忘了天天的煮、煮、煮。

几个星期前，我们的滑雪之旅终于成行了！我和小瓜参加了Parent n Tot 1-hr session。刚开始时，她真的很开心，Pizza, French fries, Pizza, French fries （导师Chris用这些术语来帮助她学习滑行和止步），当然还有更多的fall down，让她笑得咯咯叫。可是，时间一长，她开始不乐意了，因为她的滑雪手套太大，一直松脱。大概是冻着了，她开始哭泣。To make matters worse, I took the blunt again。算了，反正过去了，我们尝试滑雪了。可惜，风雪太大，我们太engross，结果没拍照。

农历新年期间更是活动多多。从年除夕开始，餐餐不是有人“赞助”，就是在外解决。年初二，更是精彩，因为K的公司举办庆祝活动，地点在Soldier Hollow，而活动项目包括了Snow Tubing!真的很好玩，不会过于刺激，小瓜更是玩得不亦乐乎！我们玩了四趟。

照片记录了IMFS的Team Games、恩恩坐tube和拉tube、我们上下坡、2002Winter Olympic Monument、Clubhouse、恩坐Snowmobile、全家福等。当然也别错过我们滑下坡的Video!


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.



初三，我们去了Gardner Village。那是一个很有特色的地方。Village里的商店就如它的名字，像个小村庄，每间都散发出自己的味道，售卖的商品也别具一格。连鸟儿也特别喜欢此地，在冬季还对这儿恋恋不忘。恩买了新的芭蕾舞鞋和糖果，我也买了一盒五颜六色的向日葵瓜子。




回家途中，我拍下了以下照片。这不是唯一的一次，我们曾看过另一个message - Welcome home, James。


Valentine's Day我们是怎么过的呢？本来要去吃Jap Teppanyaki，结果太多人就随便选了一间餐厅，晚饭后便到Cold Stone Creamery吃雪糕。我叫了choc ice cream with Nestle Crunch Mix-in，K叫了vanilla with roasted coconut mix-in，口味很像我们的coconut ice cream。Yum Yum! Thanks Mum n Bee for sending the Kimono over!



刚过去的星期天，我们又去了Park City，因为有President's Day Sale（昨天），这次是我大出血，因为我要搜刮三个人的生日礼物。总算有收获。半小时前刚把一箱礼物寄回家，半小时后又得赶出去载恩恩。

Ok, last pic for now - En's drawing of Mummy (she drew 2)

Utah to Nevada

Dec 22 - Dec 25 2007

In the beginning,

Then "Shooting Stars 流星"

As the day gets brighter......what beautiful mountain ranges

I feel I can reach the clouds

Road To................. MacDonald's

Cows in sub-zero weather

Buildings, buildings

Witness the Grandeur of ZION NATIONAL PARK

Zion National Park boasts one of the most magnificent rock structures that I'd seen, with some that looks like a fortress, reminds me of the Great Wall of China. The trees provide good photography objects as they have nice foliage and thick, weathered barks. And the streams, they are still flowing in sub-zero temperature! Of cos, don't miss out our family photos! Enjoy the show......

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

P/s: BTW, the "shooting star" were aeroplanes hah! Took me quite sometime to realise that...