Crazy Chinese Woman

Most of us in the West has an outdoor pool for the summer – I think it’s because we have so much land here in the West and not so much because the family is well to do – so if you visit a friend in the West don’t be surprised to see a pool in their backyard.   This winter it had been especially windy for us – but not so much snow this year, so it’s great that we have  pool covers because the leaves that gets into the pool when it is not covered – can leave a lot of mess.   For those who don’t use pool covers, I don’t know how they managed after winter – because sometimes the leaves and garbage leaves a stain inside the pool and the scrubbing takes hours.  I heard from a pool boy that mold/algae can set in too – so yes, I’m glad that we had bought the pool covers – and they are not expensive either – so when I see a pool not covered during the winter – I just don’t understand it.  So those of you out there who have a pool, please cover them up during the winter – it would save you a lot of headache when the summer comes.

Wish and Switch Episode 15 is out for watch on you tube !!!  With the problem starting from last week with Megavideo and Megaupload, I’m guessing you are all finding it hard to watch them online.  Lucky for me – I found some online ones that I can watch still – thank God – else my life will be quite bored.  Well, I didn’t actually find the link – it was a friend who is an ardent show fan – who found it and shared it with me.  So I rewarded him with some  cigars for all his hard work for I know how much he likes this kind of cigars.  While the westerners don’t think you need to reward someone for doing things for you – it is in our brought up and cultural difference that tell us otherwise.    Follow the birdie – leave me a comment for the synopsis and the password for all the discussion and yakking. Don’t forget to enjoy your show – and come yak with me.

These days – I’m crazy over vintage stuff – I think I must be watching too many Pawn Star shows lately – and hoping to strike rich perhaps from a vintage thing that Imight accidentally acquire.  Well, a girl can always hope right?  but those who remember typing on an Olivetti typewriter while going thru’ a secretarial course – now these typewriter must bring back some good memories right?   They don’t even have secretarial courses here – and I don’t believe they have it in Asia either – but I could be wrong.  But I remember going to Tanglin Shopping Center and finishing my secretarial school – so that I can do shorthand and do minutes – hahah! those were the days.  Anyhow, if you are like myself – you can get one of these vintage typewriters for about $500 – and if they were any cheaper – I would be tempted to get one – but with $500 – I could get a cheap laptop for my kid – so no thank you in the meantime – but for those interested – check out FAB for purchasing them.

So it’s the new year – 2012 and like many of you we have some big plans for 2012 but you should hear some of the business plans my friends have for this year.  Some needs to chat with their business lawyer raleigh nc for their new adventure while others are looking to move away for work and opening a new restaurant.  Like many who’ve never been in business I can imagine their excitement and as much as I’m excited for them I keep reminding them about talking to their lawyers about any kind of restriction in the area for running and building up their new business.   Opening and running a new business can be made easier with some good advice and the right people pointing you to the right directions.  So if you are venturing into a new business – make sure to look for the right business lawyers in the area.

Winter suxs!  and if you needed to do anything outdoors with your hands during winter – you need your gloves but what if you needed to open the door with your key or answer a phone or text message someone because you can’t find them in the car park?  Yes! you have to take off your gloves else you will be standing outdoors in the cold and even with your winter jacket and ear muffs – it can be a bitch!

These gloves are called Swypegear gloves and uses conductive fibers that lets you do all the above with all your ten fingers covered. Woohoo!  I say if you have cold weather where you lived like I do – inveset in one !  this is a life saver! especially for savvy and techy folks like you all out there.   $18 at FAB or check out http://www.swypegear.com/ and get a 20% off regular price by typing 20OFF.  I liked the green color ones and getting a black one for the spouse.

So I asked my 8 yrs old this morning if she would like me to take out her winnie the pooh decal out since she is no longer a baby.  And she said sure and I asked her if she wanted something else put up on her wall, so she said – sure – how about Hannah Montana – she asked me in reply?  I said – why Hannah Montana? and she said ok How about Jonah’s brothers?  hahahha!!!

But I was thinking of more of something else than Hannah Montana and Jonah’s brother – so she said how about inking my walls?  now that’s a big phrase for an 8 yrs old I thought – and googled inking my walls and came up with these expensive decals from FAB by Surface collective.

I do like some of the things they have but not all – and after checking out their website – I found some that were really expensive.   So I wanna buy from Etsy but am afraid of the quality – because some just don’t stick as well.  But I’m hopeful – for those who wants to check out Surface Collective – you can.

The one thing I like most about the West – whether in the States or here in Canada – land are plentiful – so when you rent or buy a home – it’s not as expensive as it is back home.  Back home – one can never buy a home like the above for less than a few million dollars.  Yes! you heard me right – millions!  but here in the West – land is plenty – therefore, one can get a good home for a very good price.    Many who migrate to the West – look for homes for lease and then decides to buy a home after many years after becoming a landed immigrant.   And renting a good home like the above doesn’t cost you $10K like back home – homes like that are also at reasonable rates.  Plus, if you are in a rural area – houses are big and land are plenty for gardening and even raising horses and those are even more affordable.   The home I’m in is only over $100K and I do have a lawn and backyard – had I bought it in Singapore – it would have gone no less than $2 million at least.  Yes ! I do miss home and all – but it’s definitely a perfect place to raise my daughter.

For those you loved and those who needs some encouragement – or those who are lost – a great buy if you asked me.  The wall poster without the framing is about $25 from holstee – if you are in USA – shipping is free.  I bought one myself and waiting for its arrival.  This will go into the study room – to remind me to live for myself and not for others.

The spouse wants to turn the basement into a home theatre after Christmas when the store isn’t so busy – and although I don’t know much about it – I won’t stop him from doing what he wants – for he sure earned it.  He had been working hard this year – and been saving some money for some Energy speakers and a bigger plasma tv.   As for me and the children – we are not too fussy about the sound systems – as long as we can hear sounds – it’s fine with us – but the spouse – now he has other ideas of course.  He cannot use the speakers from the tv itself – it has to be external speakers – and as long as I have known him – he has always had external speakers for his home.  I let him do what he wants – because he does it himself and never asked for help.

Retro-inspired fireplaces like that are so interesting isn’t it.  Runs on clean burning ethanol,  puts out a toasty 5,800 BTUs and is safe for indoor or outdoor use.  Could be the answer for people like us with no fireplace at home and has cold winter nights and days.  A bit pricey but you don’t have to do any major renovation to keep warm – plus if you have power company like ours here – it would be definitely a great investment on days when you don’t have any heat at all.

These lighted gift boxes are so expensive everywhere – I’ve decided to make them myself – a DIY project for this Christmas.  May not be using the same material but I think I can do it.  A little bit of time needed but I think it is worth it – especially if I can re-sell it.

Materials and Tools:

12 narrow, squared sticks of desired length

transparent fabric or wrapping paper
string of lights
floral wire
wood glue sticks
nail gun
ribbon to make a bow

1. Glue the sticks together to create a box-shape  frame. Secure it with a nail gun where needed.

Steps:

2. Use a razor to scrape off excess glue that beads up between sticks.

3. Once box is complete, arrange string of lights inside the box and secure them with floral wire. Crisscross the lights across the middle of the box and attach them at the corners.

4. Wrap the box on all sides with fabric or wrapping paper. Chose something transparent so that the lights can shine through Trim the excess material with scissors.

5. Wrap the box in a festive bow.

Above from HGTV.com

Everytime I go ga-ga over some Asian things that I can get here in Canada – the spouse wants me to think about getting in touch with a supplier in Asia and then buy some at wholesale prices and resell them here in Canada.  I have to explain to him time and again that I would need to get a drum full to make it worthwhile – or the supplier wouldn’t even bother to mail me a small quantity.  In which, he always ask me to get steel drums at drumsofsteel.com and do it.  But I’m such a scary cat – and don’t want to invest – so much money to do it  – what if people don’t like it – or the novelty would not last?

While in Canada and USA – they have the dollar store – in Asia – we have the 100 Yen Stores – which is so popular at one time.  I often wonder how I would do – by opening a 100 Yen store here in Canada – carry only Japanese products? I know for franchise like the 100 Yen or 99 Yen store is not cheap – but if I had the backup from a bank – it would definitely be worth a try.  Drum loads of Japanese goods – from bento to japanese snacks – or Japanese accessories would definitely be fun to unpack.  But once again – I’m chicken – I don’t want our hard earned money disappeared in 6 months – but like the spouse said – nothing venture nothing gained.

Many people asked about my life here in the West – and how it is compared to Asia – when it comes to finding a job.  I say – it’s as good as in Asia – especially for those who specializes in something.   Doctors are needed everywhere in the West – especially in the province that I’m in.  And if you are looking for  Geneticist Jobs I don’t think you would have trouble with that either.   But having said that, if you have little education – then of course, you will be vying for the same jobs like all other people in this area – from being a customer service rep to a job in the hospitality – a lot of people are looking for those too.

One thing great about working in the West is – at 35 or 45 – you will still be able to get a job – if you have the skills – because age isn’t a big thing like it is back home.  Back home after 30 yrs old – you would find it hard to start all over again – but here in the West – you find many people going back to school to become a nurse – or a social worker and even a teacher’s assistants.  I love that there are so many opportunities here for my kid.

While we had our Thanksgiving dinner in Canada last week, our friends and family in USA will be having it in November – and I choose to send thank you gifts during Thanksgiving rather than Christmas because I think it is more meaningful.  Thankful that they are our family and friends – and it’s so easy now – because I can get cookies delivered to your doorstep just with a few clicks of the mouse.  Many years ago, I had to plan to send things way ahead of time and postage will cost me a bomb.   But now that I can send cookies, fruit baskets, cakes and chocolate online for a very reasonable price – and no hassle – I do that every year – no excuse.  Why?  because i want to show my friends and family in the States that I am thinking of them and that I love them and am grateful for having them in my life.  In fact, i’m sending out one to my boss in the States and in Spain.

So the kids are coming over for a sleepover to watch the new release of the Green Lantern this Friday – yes ! it comes out this coming Friday and it’s a good thing they have the Big Agnes Sleeping Bags with them for the sleepover – else we will need to get some.   You see we weren’t expecting company – but the kid invited her cousins over for the Green Lantern movie.  We had said no sleepovers for friends yet – but we didn’t specify no cousins too – her reasoning – so we quickly called the moms up – to see if they had sleeping bags that they could bring along for the sleepover.  The kid is excited and already planning what to feed the cousins and the sitting arrangement for the sleepover and a movie.

The spouse normally have his iPhone in his back pocket and when he gets into his car and drive – it’s so inconvenient to get to it when he is driving or even when we are shopping.  Getting this Sunbrella iPhone case for him for Christmas  – may be the best thing I’ve gotten for him in a long time – because as you can see – it can be fitted onto the jeans or a bag – with the carabiner that is provided.  Plus the Sunbrella is known durable material and the colors stays brighter and fresher for longer.  The fabric is thick but soft  – the blue and grey colors are a great fit for guys.  So I’m getting it – at $24.30 USD – I found this on Strapya World and they do worldwide shipping.

So this morning – I see everyone posting on their facebook about Facebook charging and you have to do this – blah, blah, blah !  and repost it – and I can only shake my head that people believed it and all go upset and crazy for nothing.

FACEBOOK JUST RELEASED THEIR PRICE GRID FOR MEMBERSHIP. $9.99 PER MONTH FOR GOLD MEMBER SERVICES, $6.99 PER MONTH FOR SILVER MEMBER SERVICES, $3.99 PER MONTH FOR BROZEN SERVICES, FREE IF YOU COPY AND PASTE THIS MESSAGE BEFORE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. WHEN YOU SIGN ON TOMORROW MORNING YOU WILL BE PROMPTED FOR PAYMENT INFO…IT IS OFFICIAL IT WAS EVEN ON THE NEWS. FACEBOOK WILL START CHARGING DUE TO THE NEW PROFILE CHANGES. IF YOU COPY THIS ON YOUR WALL YOUR ICON WILL TURN BLUE AND FACEBOOK WILL BE FREE FOR YOU. PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON IF NOT YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DELETED IF YOU DON’T PAY.

T’is’ just too funny !!  Facebook earns more than you know it – with so many subscribers – and they don’t need to charge you and I for using facebook – we are doing them a favor by using it.  You see all the paid ads – on the side of your facebook – at the right hand corner – well folks – those make more money for facebook than you can imagine – so yes!  stop being STUPID!

The outlaws always reminds me that I’m no spring chicken no more – and truth be told I do not appreciate it when they say that.  But i can’t really blame them since I’m a lot older than the spouse – I’m guessing they are worried that he needs to take care of me when I am older but little did they know that I’m looking into senior life insurance for myself – so that if anything should happen to me – I know that I won’t be a burden to my spouse and that our kid will be taken care of – and he will have the opportunity to quit what he is doing and look after our kid since she is still very young.   I have to do that – because there is just no way – he can look after the store and the kid at the same time – and give her proper care – so yes!  a good life insurance is necessary should anything happen to me while my kid is still young.

I was in the city a few days ago – and realized that there will be no big movie stores around here no more – folks like the Blockbusters and Movie Gallery are gone and had filed for bankruptcy.  I wonder if they had been having the same problems like us as independent movie store owners who get ripped off by unscrupulous individual who rents our new movies and refused to return them?  I have a list of collection agencies but because we are a small independent rental store – I doubt it is worth using a collection agency – even though our net loss for the last 12 years had been like $35K.  Therefore, I bet big stores like the Blockbusters and Movie Gallery must have need for these collection agencies to get their money back right?  so why the bankruptcy?  maybe they didn’t find a good one then – but of course there is more to it than meet the eyes – but no matter what – it does make it a lot more difficult for ppl to rent now – unless there are more folks like us the independent movie store owners – now it is to find a collection agency that would take on small businesses like ours.

While the east celebrates a newborn in a different way -  grandmothers celebrating your newborn are pretty similar here in the West.  I remembered my mom buying for my nephew and nieces gold anklets with a bell on them -  and here in the  West – they also buy love lockets for their grandchildren as well.  Well, most grandmothers or grandparents give jewelry – but not my kid’s grandparents – I think they are the practical type and don’t believed in giving jewelry?  but my mother did send a piece of jewelry for my kid – so that was nice.So what did your parent’s in law give to your kids when they were born?  pray tell – for it’s interesting to know.  My girlfriend from Australia just had a baby girl and her mother-in-law gave her newborn a bracelet with a bell on it – it was the prettiest and cutest bracelet  – I loved it so much.  When I become a grandmother – I too would like to give jewelry to my grandkids and start them young.