Crazy Chinese Woman

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.

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.

Adele from the UK is currently Canadians’ favorite singer it seems – even the girl working at the candy store bought a Cosmo because she was on the cover.  But she is lovely – albeit a bit big – and have a lovely voice – listen to the youtube video – if you don’t know who she is or haven’t heard of her before.  But what I liked most about her – is how lovely her eye lashes are !  long and luscious and to die for – I’m sitting here wondering if she uses eyelash growth products or does she naturally have long eyelashes like that.  Some people do – like my daughter – she does have nice eyelashes but not as long and as beautiful as the ones Adele has.   Most Asians don’t have long eye lashes and we use false eye lashes to extend our lashes to make them look nicer and enticing to both the opposite sex and the same sex.  But false lashes are so tedious and needs a lot of practicing – of course – if you are Wendy Cheng – you won’t have trouble with those false eyelashes for she literally does magic with it.  But I would love to try a eyelash growth product – that is safe – and it’s never too late to look prettier – even when you are 30 or 40.   Anyhow – check out Adele and her long eyelashes – ooops!! i meant her singing.  Oh love how she dress up too

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.

I think I might have found the perfect gift for my spouse – a leather and cashmere glove for Christmas!  I have been looking for something like that for him because he needs his gloves to be thin enough to be able to drive in the cold winter but yet – can keep his hands warm when he is out walking.  Big gloves are great for the warmth but it leaves your fingers hard to move and do things.  Love the colors and the way it is made and we all know that cashmere can keep one’s hand really warm – I love it ! and only for $39 – now that’s a steal !   I figured you all have a hard time finding  gifts for husband during special occasion – so I thought I would share this with all of you ladies out there.  Check it out yourself – because I found some really good stuff here.

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’s cousin invited us to Kitchener in October to see America’s Legend Tony Bennett – and knowing that I grew up watching Tony Bennett sing – that was so nice of him.   Tony Bennett who has earned his first number-one album at the age of 85. “Duets 2” has sold 179,000 copies its first week out, according to his label.  Tony is the oldest living act to hit number one on the Billboard album chart.  The previous record holder was Bob Dylan, who was 67 when “Together Through Life” debuted at number one in 2009.

Tony Bennett’s show in Kitchener is at Center in the Square at 7.30pm on 26 October and tickets were said to go for at least $120 – so I’ve decided to get some Dutch Masters as a gift for the cousin to reciprocate – and also because I know he like cigars a lot.  And since I can get them so cheap and good – why not right?  no one refuses a gift of cigar – because they think I must have spent a lot of money for them.  Little do they know that I have my little secret place to get them at a good price.

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.

Gone are the days where watching a movie or a tv show is confined to the living room or tv room – these days – watching tv shows or a movie is in front of the computer.  Even my 7 yrs old watches Sabrina the Teenage witch on her very own computer -  she has had it since she was 4 yrs old.   Her friends think that she is darn lucky to have her own computer – but truth be told it’s because we don’t want to share our computer with her.   The spouse and I each have our own – so you can imagine the wires hanging around the entire study room and vacuuming has become harder – since the spouse loved his speakers and of course there are the wires for the routers and modem, printer, microphone – and all sorts of gadget that needs charging with a usb port.   So i finally decided to get some cable covers to help organize the mess – now I can vacuum and when I invite friends over to watch a movie with me – I don’t have to be ashamed of those ugly wires.

Some of my friends from home don’t see eye to eye with me – when i allow the kid to watch her movies on the computer – while i finish up my work on my own computer  – but I can’t really help it – else the kid would be so bored watching me type away or doing my little research work.  What about you?  do you let your kids watch a tv show on the computer?  or is watching a show confined to the tv room?  I think most ppl do that – the only ppl who can afford the luxury of not doing that are those who have lots of help with the kids at home.  So leave a comment and let me know.

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.

I always tell my spouse that he is very blessed and lucky because he is doing a job that he likes and he enjoys it very much – well except for idiots for customers – now that he doesn’t like at all.  Not many people can say the same here – and it’s hard to get into System Support & Documentation Jobs here in this town – therefore, I have friends who moved out of town to go find a job that they like and make some decent money.  I can’t really blame them for leaving their hometown can I – although some may feel like they are abandoning their family.   But you have got to do what you’ve got to do to make a living and to find something that you can support yourself and your family.   I have friends who migrated to another country because of work – and is now very happy about it – and I really wished that everyone can find a job they liked – but in this town – some people like like to whine about it – while others who really wants to work – they get up and look for that job.  What about you?

Many of you may not know this – but some of us – needs to travel on a train for an hour to work and another hour back home.  Reading on the Kindle is what some of you may do – but I catch up on my chinese shows and drama on Youtube – therefore,  my acer laptop computers are the best investment I’ve made  – for it’s small and easy to carry and I plugged in my earphones on the train – not disturbing anyone – and catch up on my favorite chinese tvb drama and the train ride doesn’t seems so long.

I can’t type when I’m on the train – so the only thing I do – is watch my dramas and tv shows – I think by doing that makes my train ride a bit more bearable.  Some people who rides on the train with me – tells me – I get lost in my show – therefore, when I am done work – and going home – I rather not take the same train – as my co-workers – I rather go alone – and be left alone – instead of making some polite chat.   I see many people doing the same thing as myself these days on the train – and am very happy that even on the train – I’m able to get wi-fi on them. So if you take long rides like I do – invest in an acer laptop – you won’t regret it – it fits perfectly into my Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag.

So I’ve attended several weddings already this summer and everyone showing off their diamond ring making me go blind soon – hahah!  but yes – rumor has it in early july – that this summer is going to be the wedding of the year for Angelina Jolie as well as Brad Pitt – doesn’t seems to be happening.   But I’m sure that if it does happen – her diamond ring – is going to be the biggest ever – after all both Angelina and Brad can certainly afford unique and the biggest diamond solitaire right?  So what is with diamonds and the women – the spouse asked – I think it’s because they are rare stone and it shows eternal love for the woman?  But weddings in the summer is the best – because the bride can wear just about anything – because it’s warmer here – and if you are a slim looking bride – you’ve got so much choice.  Anyhow – do you think Brad and Angelina is going to get married this summer?  I don’t think so – since they have been together for so long – but I’m sure they don’t need a wedding to buy a diamond ring – that I’m sure is every woman’s dream – I too would love to be able to walk into a jewelry store to get a diamond ring every time I am happy.  But I’m happy most times – so I’ll have to be darn rich – or the spouse will be darn poor.

The kids loved these game lapel pin and I’m out to get some for her summer day camp kids – as a reward when they are good in camp.  I remembered the first one that my kid bought and she loved it so much and wanted to get some for her friends too and we did buy a few for her friends.  These days – she collects them wherever we travel and she have them all in her book bag – her friends are so fascinated with the game pins that I decided that this is what I want to get for her summer camp friends too – they too can start a collection like I did when I was a kid.   I remembered I used to collect all sorts when I was a kid – and I treasured each one of them and had a story to tell to my friends.  I’m sure my kid is doing the same thing too – with hers.

This summer my daughter tried her first roasted marshmallow – from an outdoor fire pit that belongs to our neighbor.  Thank you Mr & Mrs F – for being so kind to her and sharing a giant marshmallow each time you have a roasted marshmallow.  My kid loved it so much – that we decided to get an outdoor fire pit too  – so this weekend it will be a roasting of giant marshmallow and a movie night.  Try it sometime – it’s awfully fun – and a outdoor fire pit is great to have for the summer.   And yes – you can get giant marshmallows here in any grocery stores.   I’ve always wanted an outdoor fire pit – so now there is more reasons to get it.

We attended the niece’s graduation party a few weeks ago and was happy that she loved her graduation gift – lucky for us – we had some graduation presents ideas from a good friend.  Like all teenagers – they loved the electronics – the latest gadget would be good.   So we took the advice of her parents and bought her an e-book.  It was cheap too – at $199 and it was made bi-lingual – so pretty neat.  We could have bought her an iPod Nano or a digital camera – but we chose the e-book because she is going to college in the fall – and I guess it would be a lot more useful for her lectures and school work.  So if you are thinking of buying a gift for the nieces or nephews or even your own kids – or step – children – trust me – get some electronics – they will find it useful and they will loved you for it.

For those in the East and are not aware of this – it’s summer here and in the West – we like to go on road trips during the summer.  You will see special RV parks for people like us who loved to drive around with the entire family – and go for bluegrass concerts or for a apple blossom event.  Lucky for us – there are all sorts of help on the road for travelers like us  – rv emergency roadside assistance is a must – for those who loved their road trips like us.    Road trips are fun – especially if you have a good RV – you can travel leisurely and don’t have to pay expensive hotels everywhere you go – but on the other hand – if you want to spend a night in a luxurious hotel – just for relaxation – you can too.  I love our road trips and look forward to it every summer.  We hope to cover the whole of Canada and USA – before our kid goes to college.

Maggie Cheung is not named the screen Goddess for nothing – just look at the shoes she was wearing during ceremony to honor her – even though it was just an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Edinburgh.    When it comes to shoes womens wear – I’ll have to say that Maggie has one of the best dress sense.  28 years in the movie industry – Maggie is still as beautiful as ever.  I’ve always liked her even when she first started acting – her features are so unique and of course – what made her more interesting was the French men that she is with – hahha!  But if you are looking for someone who is fashionable – Maggie Cheung is the one to follow – I love how all her shoes are so lovely and fashionable.  If you haven’t seen her in boots – then it’s definitely your lost.

So someone asked me the other day – if I know where to find TVB dramas to watch on you tube – so that they can watch it on their  laptops notebooks when they are on the train to work.   You see – for some people – they take minutes to get to work – for others a hour or more on the bus or train – glad I don’t need to travel so far for work anymore – I used to when I was back home.  I can understand that it gets so bored just sitting there and doing nothing and watch people or pretend that they are sleeping – so one way to kill time is to watch our favorite shows on you tube.   Alas, I used to be able to find shows on you tube but these days its pretty hard -  but not impossible I guess. But as for myself – I haven’t found any of late that I can share – but if anyone out there knows somewhere – that one can watch tvb movies on youtube – please share eh and yes – although I don’t watch my movies on a netbook – i watch them on my laptop all the time.  Thank God for one of these inventions eh!  what would life be without them?