Lessons You Want To Teach Your Kids

In no particular order:

1) Work hard to achieve goals.
2) Choose friends wisely.
3) School is important. But do not necessary have to get straight As.
4) No point to try to lie or play games with us. All the tricks you are trying to pull, we have been there and done them. Trust me on this, you can not win.
5) Do not run up hugh credit card debts.
6) Help the less fortunate when you are able.
7) Do not drink and drive, or get into a car with a drunk. You can always call us.
8) Believe in yourself. You can do anything.
9) Read a lot.
10)Always wear sun-screen.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday John. You are about four years away turning 40. :)

We are back

We just came back from a weekend away from our favorite spot San Diego. We spent the first day at Wild Animal Park, we have membership to the two zoos at SD, so it's a pretty good to deal, especailly we go there pretty often annually. But guess what? We brought the camera, but forgot the memory card, doofus. So no photos from the trip.

On Saturday, I dropped John and JE to legoland while I went to the Carlsbad outlet with A. Boy, did I shop? I like that outlet. It is not entirely too big, but still have most of the stores I like. Because John used AAA card to buy the legoland tickets, he got a two-day pass for a one-day price, I might go back with JE this Saturday.

Overall, we had a really good time and spent a lot of time by/in the pool. Very relaxed.

No sheep is harmed

How fast are you?

Which Swear (Curse) Word Are You?

Your word is SHIT. You are laid back and relaxed, and most people like you. You don't especially want to stand out from the crowd, you are pretty happy with your lot.


Which Swear (Curse) Word Are You?
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You are rude

Today I went to the mall and had intention of ONLY returning a pair of pants I bought for JE a while ago, but I ended up buying extra stuff.

Anyway, I stopped by at the foot court so I could feed Amber. While I was getting her food out, this woman came by and did the usual "oh how cute" blah blah thing. Whatever, I so didn't care for it. (You know a lot of parents love it when strangers walk by admiring their kids? I can care less. Actually, I want them to go away and stop bothering me.) Then, THEN, she asked the ultimate question: "Is she your child?" Without missing a beat, I said, "No, I saw her wandering around, so I just picked her up on the street." She obvously didn't get my scrasim, she went on saying, "So you are the babysitter then?" By then, I had enough of her. Actually I had enough of her the moment she asked me that question. So I shot back saying, "Of course I'm her mom. You are just rude to ask that question." She still had the nerve to stay a couple more minutes before wandering off. I don't think she got it though.

After I had Amber, I noticed I have less and less patiences with stupid and rude people. Before if that situation came up, I would have bit my tounge, now I speak my mind. In fact it was the first time in the five years having two kid that I was asked that question. Stupid b-i-t-c-h.

Gacked from Xinh

1. WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME?
Elizabeth Jing

2. WHAT COLOR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING?
Khaki. (I'm wearing shorts right now actually)

3. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
"Foster's Home" on catoon network.

4. WHAT'S THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Lamb with noodle.

5. DO YOU WISH ON STARS?
Nope.

6. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Purple.

7. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW?
Very nice. In the low 80's.

8. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My cousin Emily.

9. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT YOU THIS?
Of course.

10. HOW OLD ARE YOU TODAY?
34.

11. FAVORITE DRINK?
Mocha lite frappacino.

12. FAVORITE SPORT?
To watch: Basketball.
To play: Volleyball.

13. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES?
Brown.

14. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Nope. I have good eyes.

15. SIBLINGS?
None. Only child.

16. FAVORITE MONTH?
April, because it's our anniversary and the weather isn't too hot yet.

17. FAVORITE FOOD?
Sushi.

18. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
House of the Dead (2003).

19. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
Christmas Day.

20. WHAT DO YOU DO TO VENT ANGER?
Yell, what I really want to do is to punch/kill someone.

21. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Los Angeles winter, aka it ain't real winter, means it isn't cold.

22. HUGS OR KISSES?
Both.

23. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA.
Chocolate of course. Duh.

24. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO E-MAIL BACK?


25. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?


26. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?


27. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT?
Went out for my mom's birthday dinner. It was really really yummy.

28. LIVING ARRANGEMENT?
With my husband, 2 kids, a dog, 2 fish, and a hermit crab.

29. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
In June, when I went to visit my FIL at the cemetary.

30. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED?
Dust, toys, books.

31. WHO IS THE FRIEND YOU'VE HAD THE LONGEST?
Jeanny.

32. FAVORITE SMELL?
Coffee.

33. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?
Height, water.

34. POPCORN - PLAIN, BUTTERED, OR SALTED.
Caramel.

35. FAVORITE CAR?
Jag.

36. FAVORITE FLOWER?
White rose.

37. NUMBER OF KEYS ON YOUR KEY RING?
One, car key.

38. CAN YOU JUGGLE?
I used to.

39. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK?
Friday. Especailly the Friday that John is off.

40. WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR LAST BIRTHDAY?
Had a birthday party, but not for me, rather for my son. His birthday is a day before mine. The day of my birthday fell on a Saturday, so we had his birthday party. I'm not big on my own birthday.

41. HOW MANY STATES HAVE YOU LIVED IN?
Two. Illionis and California.

42. HOW MANY CITIES HAVE YOU LIVED IN?
Seven. Shanghai, China; Naperville, IL; Burnaby, BC, Cananda; Alhambra, CA; Arcadia, CA; Traralgon, Australia; Eagle Rock, CA; El Monte, CA

43. HOW MANY COUNTRIES HAVE YOU LIVED IN?
Four. China, US, Canada, Australia

44. WHAT WAS THE FIRST CAR YOU HAD?
Oldsmobile stationwagon.

45. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Shanghai, China.

I feel so stupid

Everyday I get on our bank's website to check what's what. This afternoon I did that and noticed there were two charges from 7-eleven, within a week of each other. There is a 7-eleven about 2 blocks from our home that we go often. So I asked John if he had purchased anything there, he answered no. I immediately freaked out, thinking someone has stole my card's information and made purchases. I called our bank right away and told them the two fraud charges, they made a note of it and cancled my card. They would get back to me in 3-5 days regarding the charges.

Around 6:30, we were ready to leave for my mom's birthday dinner, I double-checked to see which 7-eleven the charges were made. Guess what? They were not made at the one near our home, rather the one that has a gas station that we usually go to gas up. Guess who made those charges? Me! I felt like such an idiot. I had to call our bank to cancle the fraud investigation, explaining to the customer service rep what an idiot I was.

Geez

I can't stop laughing while reading busymom's 8/17 entry. She mentioned that when she went for the "back to school" coffee with other parents, most of the moms there were wearing capris and driving van. Holy smoke! That sounds like me. I love wearing capris and we are ready to buy a van. Am I going down that road of being a sterotyped parent?

Godforbid that my kids play soccers.

Ten Things You Love About Your City

(Almost forgot)

In no particular orders:

1) The beaches. I don't have to drive two hours to enjoy it.
2) Weather. Warm almost all year long and no snow.
3) Shopping. There is no shortage here, especailly outlets.
4) Cultures. Such varities.
5) Musumes. For both adults and kids.
6) Food. It comes with such wide varities of cultures. I can get any kind of food here if I choose to.
7) Celebrities. They are everywhere.
8) My parents. They live about 15 minutes away. That means free babysitting. :)
9) Amusement parks. There are no shortage of places to entertain out-of-town guests.
10) USC. I have to say this last one, otherwise Xinh might kill me. She already said that it's the only university that my kids are allowed to go to. :)

Where is my internet?

Got up this morning and found out that I had no internet connection. It wasn't the cable company, rather our network. Had to wait until John got home in the afternoon to fix it. All day, couldn't check email, read blogs, shop on-line(hah). Oh the pain!

Big boy's room

I We have redone JE's room recently, mainly got him new furnitures. I had the ambition to re-paint his wall, but too much effort for me. Here are a couple of photos for your viewing pleasure.

Oh my aching tooth

I had my bottom left wisdom tooth pulled this morning. It was supposed to be done last year. But I got pregnant.

I think I recuperate very well after illness and/or surgery. Last year when I had my two right side pulled, I got home and had a pain killer, took a long nap. I was fine after that. This time it was a similar thing. But I took two extra pain killers than last time. I now feel totally fine after sleeping all afternoon, only to get up to eat.

I love my dentist. I have been through my share of dentists. None made me feel completely comfortable like he does. When I first went to see him, unlike others making me feel like shit, asking me why I haven't been to a dentist for years? He mainly explained to me the procedures I need to do to have great teeth, and did them, almost painless.

I think I will do invisalign next year to straighten my bottom teeth. And have my teeth professionally whiten later. I never had good teeth before, now I'm obcessed to have straight and white teeth.

Friday Five

1. What foods did you eat growing up that you later found out were regional items? (specific brands or recipes that you thought everyone could buy or make)
I grew up in Shanghai, so basically each family eats very similar food. But since my grandmother was Cantonese, we had more Cantonese dishes at home than the average Shanghaieses.

2. Ham or turkey at Christmas and Easter? Or was there some other main course not typical for your area or religion?
Like I said I grew up in Shanghai, but we still celebrated Christmas back then. Even though it was banned. We didn't have a specific thing to eat. Turkey was out of question. Didn't eat my first turkey until we got to the US. We don't really celebrate Easter, eating wise. As for Christmas, just all the families gather together at my aunts and pot-lucked. But recent years we have stopped doing that even, just each individual family eats on their own, either at home or a restaurant. Then gather at my aunt's afterwards for gift exchange. So the answer is neither ham or turkey. At least not at Christmas time.

3. What was your favorite meal served at your elementary school?
I can't remember. I think it was mainly traditional Chinese food.

4. What family recipes have been handed down to you, and have you tweaked any of them a little bit to make them more yours?
Shanghai style wontons. No tweaking on my part. They are delicious and perfect the way my Mom makes them. I don't really make them. I perfer hers of course.

5. Are there foods/recipes you wouldn't eat as a child that you now regularly enjoy?
A lot of vegetables. Like all kids I didn't like them, but I do now.

My kids are so darn cute

I am not just saying that because I am their Mom.

Amber is developing quite a personality. When we hold her in front of us, she does this thing that waving her arms around. Of course we get hit when she does that and it hurt! Tonight when she did that, John told her NO. She turned around and hissed at him. I laughed so hard. I shouldn't, but I couldn't help it. It was so funny.

My boy on the other hand has become a super good boy. Everything I have told him to do, he has done it without complains. That's pretty hard, for anyone, not mentiong a five-year old. We have finished setting up his room and he has started to sleep there ever since Chris left on Sunday. I should really take a picture of the new room, but it's pretty messy. School supplies and new clothes are everywhere. I think I will start liking this shopping for school thingy. I was a bit sad in the beginning. But now I can't wait for him to start.

We went to his school's open house. About 90% of kids are asians, the 10% left are mostly mixed races like him. It's so werid.

OMG, how sad is this?

Dana Reeve, the widow of Christopher Reeve who nursed the paralyzed "Superman" for nine years, stunned Americans on Tuesday by announcing she had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Has this woman been through enough?

The many Lizs on the net

Google "Liz":
1) Shop the best from Liz Claiborne online.
2) Official site includes news, discography, audio samples, videos, tour dates, pictures and biography.
3) Liz sipping melange at Cafe Central in Vienna.
4) Irish fiddle player. Include a biography, discography, audio samples, reviews, and events schedule.
5) Author. Twenty-six year old soon to be world traveller.
6) Newsday.com Columnists.
7) 30-something. Happily married. Pisces. Romantic cynic. Addicted to TV and comics.
8) Late-night host on WDET-FM 101.9 Detroit. Charts, music writings and interviews, information about upcoming radio features, and details on on-site events.
9) Liz Collectible Jewelry is THE starting place for exploring Collectible Costume Jewelry, Antique, Vintage, Modern for Online Purchase.

Can't think of a title

Chris, one of John's Aussie friend came here and stayed over for the weekend, then he went back to Australia last night. He works for Microsoft Australia. They always have conferences here. Last year was in Atlanta, this year it was in Seattle. Actually this year's conference was a last minute thing for him. Good thing too. We got more Aussie goodies. He might or might not be back for another one in January. He's hoping to be a speaker, so that he can bring his wife along.

We mainly took him shopping for things for his nephew and wife. He got a pair of Vans' shoes for his nephew. How cool is that? I want to get one for JE too. Then he is going to be the coolest kid in his class. HAH.

And of course we took him to the Cheesecake Factory in old town Pasadena. I was craving for their cheesecake, but ended up not having any though. We walked around, shopped and ended up in the Container Store, one of my many favorite stores. How can you not love two stories full of containers??

I'm just bored

10 years ago: I became an US citizen.

5 years ago: I had my first child.

1 year ago: I was pregnant with my second child, celebrated our 6-year anniversary.

Yesterday: I played with my kids, got pizzas for dinner, then went grocery and school supplies shopping with JE

Today: I'm gonna hit the post office and the mall. Then meet up with some people from Australia for dinner.

Tomorrow: Clean the house. Have guest coming staying over on weekends.

5 snacks I enjoy: Sour Cream and Onion chips, nuts. (I don't eat junk food snacks that often.)


5 bands that I know the lyrics of MOST of their songs: I don't sing.

5 things I would do with 100,000,000 dollars: pay off my and my parents debt, buy an actual house, buy a SUV/van, give my friends money, and donate a lot to charity.

5 bad habits I have: Not listening when I'm playing PC games, procrasnating, have very little patience,

5 things I like doing: playing with my kids, writing in my blog, reading, watching tv, shopping, playing PC games.

5 things I would never wear: Hmm, I'm not sure. Mainly very revealing clothes.

5 TV shows I like: House, Monk, Everyday Italian, kids' cartoon (mainly because in the daytime that's what we usually watch), The real world.

5 movies I like: Grease, The Breakfast Club, Lord of the Rings trilogy,

5 famous people I'd like to meet: Dalai Lama, Jason Statham, any president(s), not sure about the last two.

5 biggest joys at the moment: My kids, my husband, not having to work outside of the home,

5 favourite toys: My computer, my digital camera, my cell phone.

Take a break from work, will ya?

I'm a dork

Yesterday I got an alarm clock for JE at Target (I can't find it on Target's website. It's also cheaper at T). It's the coolest thing. When you plug the clock in, the time comes on right away. In this case it was set to eastern time zone, but all you had to do was pressing down the time zone and up/down buttons to 5, which is pacific timezone. Guess what happens when the power comes back on after a power outage? The time goes back to what you have set. No need to re-set it. I know, I tested it. After I set the time, I unplugged and plugged the clock. Sure enough the time didn't change. As for the alarm, you can set it to just come on everyday, weekdays only or weekends only.

Can't you tell I don't get out much? I am being a total geek for having so much fun with an alarm clock.

PS: Can you believe I am buying school supplies for him already? It's freaking me out. School supplies? It seemed like only yesterday I was feeding him baby food.

What type of designer handbag are you?

Take the quiz: "What type of designer handbag are you?"

Coach
You are Coach. Chic and different is your motto. Being different and stylish is your forte, and everyone loves that! Don't forget that being yourself also means not being afraid to follow if need be.

It reminds me

As I was reading ghoti's blog, she was talking about coffee, it reminds me that when I was in Australia that they do not have coffee creamer there. Shocking isn't it? They used to not have ranch dressing, they do now. But no coffee creamer? How can you drink coffee without creamer? Yeah, I know, I'm spoiled.