Even though it would be a little harder to watch with subtitles, but "The Admiral" looks like a great movie for those who love a great epic romance. (Only if I can somehow find time to finish watching the whole movie!:)
Admiral (2008) trailer 3:
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Miracle DOES Happen
Di Di bumped his front tooth back in February. At that time, I took his dentist's advice to not have a surgery to extract the tooth right away. It looked so bad that I really did not believe the dentist when she told me that given time there is even a chance that the gum might push the tooth out a little bit. I was thinking.. "yea, right. no way Jose." You wouldn't have believed her either if you had seen this picture back in Feb.
However, it did happen. The gum DID push out the tooth, not just a little bit, but the whole tooth is almost back to where it was!! Although it is now crooked, I am still grateful to see his little tooth again! Kids just have this amazing self healing power.
Miracle DOES happen.
However, it did happen. The gum DID push out the tooth, not just a little bit, but the whole tooth is almost back to where it was!! Although it is now crooked, I am still grateful to see his little tooth again! Kids just have this amazing self healing power.
Miracle DOES happen.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Very Belated August Update
It's an understatement to say that we had an extremely busy August. Not sure how we were going to survive August and September, but luckily we did!
Didi had lots of fun as usual, but also faced a huge challenge at school:
1. DiDi completed all of his swimming class for the year. He made such a huge improvement from being scared of swimming to couldn't get enough of it! Can't wait for him to take more classes next summer.
2. Didi finally got to visit Sacramento's Railroad Museum and he was in heaven. We had to drag him out of the museum!
3. We held a neighborhood baby shower for our new neighbor. DD had lots of fun with Baby S and he ate so much as usual!
4. He started new school. Probably due to the newness, he had a great first week in the intermediate class (age appropriate), but it took a drastic turn for the worst afterwards. He had never been scared of going to day care before, but he got more and more scared of going to his new pre-K. I thought he would get better, but he started regressing in his potty and was having four to five accidents a day. He screamed and cried on the way to school and I practically had to drag him out of his car seat most days (tough life!)
5. Didi went on his first house hunting trip with Mommy and Daddy. We scheduled the showings around his nap time, but it was still hard. We were all tired out from house hunting, so I decided to give daddy the executive decision so that hopefully Didi and I don't have to go the the Bay Area again until we move!:)~
Family updates:
1. S found a job in the Bay Area and started working down there in late August. This means I have resumed another period of single-working-mother life. However, this is not as bad, because S comes home on the weekends. Didi is not too happy, because he wants to spend every day with daddy!
2. We decided to move down to the Bay Area. With all the weekend activities, we still had to squeeze in time to de-clutter our house and do some MAJOR cleaning!!
Didi had lots of fun as usual, but also faced a huge challenge at school:
1. DiDi completed all of his swimming class for the year. He made such a huge improvement from being scared of swimming to couldn't get enough of it! Can't wait for him to take more classes next summer.
2. Didi finally got to visit Sacramento's Railroad Museum and he was in heaven. We had to drag him out of the museum!
3. We held a neighborhood baby shower for our new neighbor. DD had lots of fun with Baby S and he ate so much as usual!
4. He started new school. Probably due to the newness, he had a great first week in the intermediate class (age appropriate), but it took a drastic turn for the worst afterwards. He had never been scared of going to day care before, but he got more and more scared of going to his new pre-K. I thought he would get better, but he started regressing in his potty and was having four to five accidents a day. He screamed and cried on the way to school and I practically had to drag him out of his car seat most days (tough life!)
5. Didi went on his first house hunting trip with Mommy and Daddy. We scheduled the showings around his nap time, but it was still hard. We were all tired out from house hunting, so I decided to give daddy the executive decision so that hopefully Didi and I don't have to go the the Bay Area again until we move!:)~
Family updates:
1. S found a job in the Bay Area and started working down there in late August. This means I have resumed another period of single-working-mother life. However, this is not as bad, because S comes home on the weekends. Didi is not too happy, because he wants to spend every day with daddy!
2. We decided to move down to the Bay Area. With all the weekend activities, we still had to squeeze in time to de-clutter our house and do some MAJOR cleaning!!
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Marshmallow Test: Cute or Cruel?
(This is so cruel...but perhaps I should use this method to teach DD to delay gratification?^_^)
The Marshmallow Test: Cute or Cruel?
"We all know that patience is a virtue; we also know that it's a virtue young children don't always have in large amounts. Or at all. Especially when there's candy involved. So when these kids are left alone in a room with a gigantic marshmallow and a promise that if they do not eat it, they can have another, what happens? Watch the video and see."
The Marshmallow Test: Cute or Cruel?
"We all know that patience is a virtue; we also know that it's a virtue young children don't always have in large amounts. Or at all. Especially when there's candy involved. So when these kids are left alone in a room with a gigantic marshmallow and a promise that if they do not eat it, they can have another, what happens? Watch the video and see."
Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Book Worm?
I am totally behind on keeping up the journal!! We have been so busy since August enjoying the August/September weather, trying to get our house ready, and shopping/bidding for a new home.
Definitely need to give more update later, but I want to post this video before I forget again!
I caught DD "reading" his new Thomas book when I was preparing his bottle.
Ok, I admit that I am biased, but DD is simply too cute!!
Definitely need to give more update later, but I want to post this video before I forget again!
I caught DD "reading" his new Thomas book when I was preparing his bottle.
Ok, I admit that I am biased, but DD is simply too cute!!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Music to Mommy's Ears
DD has been talking in short sentences for a few months now and we have often been surprised by what he says. Sometimes S and I have to try very hard not to burst into laughter by what comes out of DD's mouth...
This evening, DD walked into the door and announced "Mommy, DD is HAPPY!" He said it with such a big smile and conviction. S and I were both surprised, not sure if he really understood what "happy" is, but I replied gently "Mommy is so happy that DD is happy." He then went on to say that "DD is happy!" a couple of more times.
This simple declaration by DD almost brought tears to my eyes, because DD told me in his own words what I will always want the most for him! It sounds like music to Mommy's ears.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
July Update
Oh my, is it August!!
I didn't blog much about DD, but July was huge month for his developments:
1. He is starting to "talk" as in having conversations with mommy and daddy. I used to wonder if he needed speech therapy, but now I can see the progress.
2. Sometimes when I talk to DD in Chinese, he would answer back or respond in the Chinese words that he knows! I hope that I am not just imaging things and hope that he is learning Chinese.
3. DD is potty trained (with occasional accidents). During June/early July, I was convinced that he could not be trained.:) He would have 4 or 5 accidents every day. He knew where to pee-pee and pooh-pooh and he would show me the toilets, but he just would NOT use the toilets when he needed to go. I think the turning point came after daddy came home. It was like the light bulb went off overnight. He started telling us when he needed to go and would actually hold his BM until he got to the toilet. I would rate potty training and washing soiled underwear for 40 days as the most difficult parenting task so far. It really tested my patience and tolerance for bad smell day in and day out....(yike.:) However, it was so rewarding to see DD finally potty trained! I am so proud of my baby, because I know it must have been so confusing and hard for him as well.
4. DD's last day at his old daycare was filled with sadness (for mommy.) We love his nannies and teachers there. They took such good care of him for the past two years and we really thank them from the bottom of my heart.
5. DD started attending a new preschool, M*er*ry*hi*ll, on August 3. He likes the teachers and new classmates so far and has been enjoying the new environment and great facilities. He is so great at adapting to new environment. The only thing is that he has a few "accidents" again since started at new school. However, his teacher said that it's totally normal. I had originally enrolled DD in another school, with Chinese/English bilingual program. Was all ready to start him there on August 3. However, S pulled a plug on that school after visiting in July. S was not impressed with the Chinese program.... mmmm very strange, because for someone who doesn't speak any Chinese, S sure has pretty high standard! :) Anyway it is all fine, because I like M*er*ry*hi*ll a lot too and DD is in a Spanish/English program.
(Hanging out at the bookstore)
(Goofing around with Daddy)
(DD is such a goof ball now!)
I didn't blog much about DD, but July was huge month for his developments:
1. He is starting to "talk" as in having conversations with mommy and daddy. I used to wonder if he needed speech therapy, but now I can see the progress.
2. Sometimes when I talk to DD in Chinese, he would answer back or respond in the Chinese words that he knows! I hope that I am not just imaging things and hope that he is learning Chinese.
3. DD is potty trained (with occasional accidents). During June/early July, I was convinced that he could not be trained.:) He would have 4 or 5 accidents every day. He knew where to pee-pee and pooh-pooh and he would show me the toilets, but he just would NOT use the toilets when he needed to go. I think the turning point came after daddy came home. It was like the light bulb went off overnight. He started telling us when he needed to go and would actually hold his BM until he got to the toilet. I would rate potty training and washing soiled underwear for 40 days as the most difficult parenting task so far. It really tested my patience and tolerance for bad smell day in and day out....(yike.:) However, it was so rewarding to see DD finally potty trained! I am so proud of my baby, because I know it must have been so confusing and hard for him as well.
4. DD's last day at his old daycare was filled with sadness (for mommy.) We love his nannies and teachers there. They took such good care of him for the past two years and we really thank them from the bottom of my heart.
5. DD started attending a new preschool, M*er*ry*hi*ll, on August 3. He likes the teachers and new classmates so far and has been enjoying the new environment and great facilities. He is so great at adapting to new environment. The only thing is that he has a few "accidents" again since started at new school. However, his teacher said that it's totally normal. I had originally enrolled DD in another school, with Chinese/English bilingual program. Was all ready to start him there on August 3. However, S pulled a plug on that school after visiting in July. S was not impressed with the Chinese program.... mmmm very strange, because for someone who doesn't speak any Chinese, S sure has pretty high standard! :) Anyway it is all fine, because I like M*er*ry*hi*ll a lot too and DD is in a Spanish/English program.
(Hanging out at the bookstore)
(Goofing around with Daddy)
(DD is such a goof ball now!)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
MSNBC news article about Taiwan
The Western news media doesn't report much about Taiwan, so I was amused by this report. 真有點哭笑不得 @_@ However, it is true that the so-called "love hotels" do offer awesome deals.
By William Foreman
Associated Press writer
updated 12:28 p.m. PT, Thurs., July 30, 2009
TAIPEI, Taiwan - We were guys staying at the same hotel with our mistresses.
He looked like a Taiwanese gangster, with permed hair, black suit and pointy knockoff Italian loafers. It was 5:30 a.m. and he was renting a room for a few hours with a woman in a leather mini skirt, fishnet stockings and the longest false eyelashes I've ever seen. They had no luggage.
My mistress was my $4,000 carbon-fiber bicycle, and I was carrying my beloved out of the hotel lobby for a morning workout when I passed the couple as they were checking in. It must have been a surreal sight for them, a tall Western guy in a red polka-dotted jersey, tight Spandex shorts, lugging a fancy magenta-colored road bike and clip-clopping out the door in stiff-soled, cleated cycling shoes.
I was doing what I love to do: taking my bike on a business trip and staying at an inexpensive, no-frills hotel close to some spectacular cycling terrain.
This time, I was bunking at the Feeling Hotel — one of the numerous "love hotels" in Taiwan's capital. They are cheap places often used for lunchtime flings and one-night stands in crowded Taipei, where privacy can be hard to find. The establishments are designed for discretion, often located in alleys or backstreets. Rooms can be rented by the hour, and no questions are asked. A complimentary condom can usually be found in the bedside table.
Best of all, you can roll a bike through the lobby and wedge it in the elevator without anyone hassling you. The staff is used to weirdness.
Although they may sound seedy, establishments like the Feeling Hotel are clean and well-run by professional and friendly staff. They're usually small and only offer bare-bones amenities, but that often means the rooms are inexpensive, about $50 (1,650 Taiwan New Dollars) a night at the Feeling Hotel. This makes them popular with families and business travelers during these hard economic times.
A bridge is seen on a long descent down the mountain in Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan.
The biggest plus for me was that the Feeling Hotel is at the base of the spectacular mountains of Yangmingshan National Park, just outside of Taipei. The hotel in the suburb of Tienmu — long popular with expats — is also surrounded by great restaurants, stores, decent bike shops but few standard hotels.
Whenever I travel for my job, I try to bring my bike along. I'm a serious cyclist who tries to stay in race shape, so I can't afford to be off the bike during trips that can last as long as a month. I also hate working out in hotel gyms, pedaling in a pool of sweat on a squeaky stationary bike facing a wall.
I would much rather explore a city by bike, and traveling with one is easy with the latest bike boxes and bags that are relatively light and protect your rig.
In Taipei, I can get in a tough two-hour ride in the mountains before work if I get out the door by 5:30 a.m. It's a fantastic ride that begins in the "Blade Runner"-like urban chaos of Taipei and within a few miles takes you into the lush green mountains that provide terrific views of the humming, sprawling city below.
Taiwan is undergoing a cycling renaissance. Bicycles were once the main form of transport for the masses before the leaf-shaped island evolved into a manufacturing juggernaut and the economy boomed. But the people who shifted to motor scooters and then cars are rediscovering the joys of cycling. On the weekends in Yangmingshan, the roads are filled with people pedaling mountain bikes, high-end Italian racing frames and tricked-out collapsible bikes.
This time, I was bunking at the Feeling Hotel — one of the numerous "love hotels" in Taiwan's capital. They are cheap places often used for lunchtime flings and one-night stands in crowded Taipei, where privacy can be hard to find. The establishments are designed for discretion, often located in alleys or backstreets. Rooms can be rented by the hour, and no questions are asked. A complimentary condom can usually be found in the bedside table.
Best of all, you can roll a bike through the lobby and wedge it in the elevator without anyone hassling you. The staff is used to weirdness.
Although they may sound seedy, establishments like the Feeling Hotel are clean and well-run by professional and friendly staff. They're usually small and only offer bare-bones amenities, but that often means the rooms are inexpensive, about $50 (1,650 Taiwan New Dollars) a night at the Feeling Hotel. This makes them popular with families and business travelers during these hard economic times.
A bridge is seen on a long descent down the mountain in Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan.
The biggest plus for me was that the Feeling Hotel is at the base of the spectacular mountains of Yangmingshan National Park, just outside of Taipei. The hotel in the suburb of Tienmu — long popular with expats — is also surrounded by great restaurants, stores, decent bike shops but few standard hotels.
Whenever I travel for my job, I try to bring my bike along. I'm a serious cyclist who tries to stay in race shape, so I can't afford to be off the bike during trips that can last as long as a month. I also hate working out in hotel gyms, pedaling in a pool of sweat on a squeaky stationary bike facing a wall.
I would much rather explore a city by bike, and traveling with one is easy with the latest bike boxes and bags that are relatively light and protect your rig.
In Taipei, I can get in a tough two-hour ride in the mountains before work if I get out the door by 5:30 a.m. It's a fantastic ride that begins in the "Blade Runner"-like urban chaos of Taipei and within a few miles takes you into the lush green mountains that provide terrific views of the humming, sprawling city below.
Taiwan is undergoing a cycling renaissance. Bicycles were once the main form of transport for the masses before the leaf-shaped island evolved into a manufacturing juggernaut and the economy boomed. But the people who shifted to motor scooters and then cars are rediscovering the joys of cycling. On the weekends in Yangmingshan, the roads are filled with people pedaling mountain bikes, high-end Italian racing frames and tricked-out collapsible bikes.
My favorite ride is a 57-mile out-and-back tour from the Feeling Hotel, over the mountains in Yangmingshan National Park and down to Jin Shan beach on the northeastern Pacific coast. The climbs can be steep, and in one three-mile section, I felt like the two greasy fried eggs and toast I had for breakfast were inching their way up my gullet with each pedal stroke.
But the payoff is huge as you speed down long descents into mountain valleys where farmers grow vegetables in small terraced plots on the hills. Elderly ladies set up rickety stands under umbrellas on the side of the road and sell cabbages, eggplants and greens. One itinerant butcher in a rusty red van throws a wooden chopping block on the roadside and hacks up cuts of meat for passers-by.
The park is full of hot sulfur vents that spew steamy clouds into the air that smell like rotten eggs. The tropical rainforest vegetation is loaded with bamboo groves and tall grasses, where locust-like insects make a strange metallic whirling noise that sound like a space ship is about to land.
A switchback-filled descent of about 12 miles ends at Jin Shan Beach. When I rode there on a recent Saturday, the beach was full of young Taiwanese surfers enjoying the higher waves being kicked up by a tropical storm. I stopped at a roadside food wagon, and ordered a second breakfast of coffee and waffles with a generous dollop of whipped cream. I sat down at a small plastic cafe table and watched the people riding the waves.
But the payoff is huge as you speed down long descents into mountain valleys where farmers grow vegetables in small terraced plots on the hills. Elderly ladies set up rickety stands under umbrellas on the side of the road and sell cabbages, eggplants and greens. One itinerant butcher in a rusty red van throws a wooden chopping block on the roadside and hacks up cuts of meat for passers-by.
The park is full of hot sulfur vents that spew steamy clouds into the air that smell like rotten eggs. The tropical rainforest vegetation is loaded with bamboo groves and tall grasses, where locust-like insects make a strange metallic whirling noise that sound like a space ship is about to land.
A switchback-filled descent of about 12 miles ends at Jin Shan Beach. When I rode there on a recent Saturday, the beach was full of young Taiwanese surfers enjoying the higher waves being kicked up by a tropical storm. I stopped at a roadside food wagon, and ordered a second breakfast of coffee and waffles with a generous dollop of whipped cream. I sat down at a small plastic cafe table and watched the people riding the waves.
When I turned around to go home, I could see dark rain clouds hanging over the mountain. Rather than wait out the storm, I decided to push through it. A hard rain began to fall about 10 minutes into the climb back over the mountain. But as I pedaled higher, I climbed out of the storm and spent the rest of the way uphill in a fantastically refreshing mist that kept me cool. It was much like a dream.
I returned to the hotel absolutely exhausted but with a wonderful buzz from being in the spectacular outdoors. I lugged my bike up the steps of the Feeling Hotel and opened the door with a big smile on my sunburned face. As I stepped into the lobby, I saw the Taiwanese man in the black suit with his date. He was also grinning, looking tired but happy.
I returned to the hotel absolutely exhausted but with a wonderful buzz from being in the spectacular outdoors. I lugged my bike up the steps of the Feeling Hotel and opened the door with a big smile on my sunburned face. As I stepped into the lobby, I saw the Taiwanese man in the black suit with his date. He was also grinning, looking tired but happy.
If you go
Yangmingshan National Park: Located in Taipei, Taiwan.
Feeling Hotel: No. 2 Lane 728, Section 6, Chung Shan North Road, Taipei, Taiwan. About $50 (1,650 Taiwan New Dollars) nightly.
Traveling with bikes: Bike travel cases range in price from $100 to $500. The cheapest option is to take the bike to a local bicycle shop and have the bike packed in a cardboard box for free or a small fee. Travel cases can usually fit in a taxi trunk or backseat, and they are checked like normal luggage. Airline policies for bike cases vary widely. Some won't charge extra if the weight of your total luggage does not exceed the maximum limit allowed. Others will automatically charge a fee — sometimes about $100 — for oversized luggage. Some ticket counter employees can be flexible, so it's always worth asking them to waive or reduce any fees.
Yangmingshan National Park: Located in Taipei, Taiwan.
Feeling Hotel: No. 2 Lane 728, Section 6, Chung Shan North Road, Taipei, Taiwan. About $50 (1,650 Taiwan New Dollars) nightly.
Traveling with bikes: Bike travel cases range in price from $100 to $500. The cheapest option is to take the bike to a local bicycle shop and have the bike packed in a cardboard box for free or a small fee. Travel cases can usually fit in a taxi trunk or backseat, and they are checked like normal luggage. Airline policies for bike cases vary widely. Some won't charge extra if the weight of your total luggage does not exceed the maximum limit allowed. Others will automatically charge a fee — sometimes about $100 — for oversized luggage. Some ticket counter employees can be flexible, so it's always worth asking them to waive or reduce any fees.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Swimming Classes
Mommy has decided to sign DD up for swimming lessons after his screaming session with auntie. My former manager had recommend classes offered by Debbie Meyer who won 3 Gold Medals in the 1968 Summer Olympics. It was quite a sticker shock ($265 for 12 15-minute sessions), but I have to say it's well worth it. I saw improvement right after the first session and even more dramatic progress after the fourth session! Daddy has been leveraging the tips that he picked up from DD's coach, so hopefully we will see DD swim like a fish soon!!
Perhaps you can also learn a trick or two on how to teach kids swimming from some of DD's lessons:
First swimming class Part III
Perhaps you can also learn a trick or two on how to teach kids swimming from some of DD's lessons:
First swimming class Part III
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