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A place to elude reality, to rant, and to think out loud. Mostly a place to keep family and friends around the world well informed of my recent updates. It's just a blog about my life's journey.

Latest Articles in this Channel:

  • 01/04/07--19:17: Minneapolis Central Library (chan 2795965)

    • This is the newest library in town which was just opened last summer (2006). It's about 5 blocks away from my work in downtown Minneapolis and sometimes I walk over there to check out some books during my lunch hours. These shots are taken late Fall 2006 when the skies were gloomy and all leaves were gone. Not very good shots but they're here just to give you an overview of one of the most modern library in the State!

  • 02/03/07--09:07: Crystalized Vapor... (chan 2795965)

    • I woke up this morning and felt the chill in the bedroom. I opened the blinds of the window and saw a big patch of crystalized vapor on the window panes. Looking closer, I was amazed by the shapes, patterns and jagged, frozen vapor that was crystalized. They look interesting so thus my first attempt at recording them down in still frames. Photos taken with Canon 20D using the 100mm macro lens on tripod, and remote release shutter. I wished I could go closer but the windows are double layered, plus another layer of insulation and they are sealed for the winter, so I had to shoot through those layers. I hope your monitor is calibrated else these pics might look overexposed. According to the current weather temperature, it's now at (-23)'C and it feels like (-36)'C with the wind chill factor. Looks like it'd be a great day to snuggle up at home!! Brrrr...

  • 03/20/07--11:12: Doesn't this sound like a nice poem? (chan 2795965)

    • Lavable a la

    Machine Eau Tiede

    Javels sans

    Chlorine Si

    Necessaire

    En Lever

    Rapidement

    Culbutage A

    Basse

    Temperature

    Repassage A

    Basse

    Temperature

    ERMMM....NO, I didn't write that.  It was found on an annoying big tag that I just cut off from my tee.  It was nothing but washing instruction.  LOL Here's the translation:

    Machine Wash Warm

    With Like Colors

    Only non-chlorine

    Bleach if needed

    Remove promptly

    Tumble Dry Low

    Warm Iron

    If needed

    I love languages!


  • 04/02/07--05:50: The Wishing Cake (chan 2795965)

    • I haven’t had the energy or mood to update this blog. Sorry bout that.  So many things have been going on but rest assured that I’m still around; just not very enthusiastic about things at times.

     

    April 25th, 2007 (Sunday): Our CSOM (Carlson school of Management, UMN) friends threw us our first baby shower! We had one of the best times together!  I was very moved to see all the tiny little details put in with the food preparation due to my gestational diabetes, the pretty décor at the location and the fun games organized.  Our gracious host, M looked into everything and she even baked a cheese cake using Splenda sugar so I could have a slice of it!! YUMS! Thanks M!! It was a great treat for me! We and our unborn baby are just so blessed to be surrounded by these friends.  The gifts were so adorable and wonderful and above all, I am so grateful – from the bottom of heart – for their amazing friendships and their special presences in our lives! Our baby will h...

    Challenges...

    There have been lots of ups and downs lately during this last trimester of my pregnancy.  I have been on bed rest per doctor's order since a month ago due to low amniotic fluid level (the fluid that the baby lives in).  Doctor said that it could be because of my gestational diabetes that causes my placenta to infuse less water into the sac for our poor baby.  There's nothing much that I could do to prevent it.  I had tried drinking lots of water (a gallon per day) hoping that it would help but unfortunately it didn't.  The only way to prevent things from getting more complicated is to restrict movement as to prevent fluid from escaping my body (breath vapor, sweat, etc).  Staying in bed for the entire day has been challenging for me for I am not the 'stay-at-home' and definitely not the 'stay-in-bed' kind of person.  There were only so many movies and books that I could watch and read.  Boredom almost killed me, until lethargic set...

    Another rush is on its way

    I notice the tightening

    The contraction begins again

    I hear my own breathing

    Long outward breath

    Tik…silence…tik

    And as fast as it came,

    It’s now gone.

     

    Then without a warning,

    Another rush comes.

    I hear my husband's breathing

    Caressing my soul

    Hand in hand,

    We embrace the next rush.

     

    I shut my eyes gently

    to go to my secret place

    where I’d feel happy and safe.

    tik...silence....tik...

     

    There’s an open door to the patio

    with sheer curtain

    I breathe another long breath

    I hear the ocean

    and the squawking seagulls..

    tik...silence...tik

     

    whiiiiiiisssshhhh....whoooosshhhh...

    The waves rushing violently to shores..

    There was an urge to push

    Whiiiiisssshhhhh…whooooossshhhhh..

    I push hard and long...

    Then I hear the bamboo wind chime...

    *klong* *klong* *klong*

    blown by the gentle wind

    it hums a song in my ears

    sweet angelic voices

    tik..silence...tik..

     

    I notice another tightening...

    It was very s...


    We’re happy to present our gift from above; Isaac, born May 8th 2007 (Tuesday) at 5:54 pm weighing 6 lb 13 oz and 19.5 inches long.  He popped into this world with a loud, feisty cry! Stayed alert and wide awake for more than 2 hours before dozing off to slumber for about a couple of days; after all his journey into this world will always be his most stressful journey in his life time. 

     

    Due to some stress (in heart rate) I was admitted into the hospital on May 7th (Monday) and was induced the next morning.  Although induction wasn’t in my plan, God answered my prayers for an attempt at natural birth.  My labor started at 9am the next morning (Tuesday), and it progressed very slowly through the day.  Suddenly things just happened when I could finally relax a little by soaking in the hot tub at around 5pm.  I pushed for only 24 minutes before holding my baby in my arms.  I am very grateful that labor was only 9 hours which was considered q...

    One of my favorite commericals which doesnt fail to make me laugh!

    Another funny

    LOL This is very

    It has been awhile since my last entry here. But now..I'm BACK!

    Back to the grind...

    Yes, I'm also back to work after 4.5 months away. Things are looking up with my new role in a very interesting department of the corporation. New projects, new people to work with, new tasks, new job description, new experience and new challenges. In addition, I'm in desperate need for NEW work attire because I still cant fit into my pretty summer skirts that I miss so much! Argh! I have 10 more pounds to shed! Ok so I just figured that I gotta hit the gym soon.

    I find it a little scary to be back into the world. No idea why (yet). I guess the whole new motherhood thing has changed my perspective in more ways than I had anticipated. I almost hyperventilated on my first day at work.

    I miss my baby terribly.

    {more entries to follow...}


    A week ago we noticed that our 7-year-old Cocker Spaniel, Buttons was walking funny. Being his usual clumsy self, we laughed it off a little until we noticed that he was not himself. It is no longer a laughing matter. He falls when he runs, and cannot walk straight. He bumps into furniture pieces at home. He started drooling because one his jaws cannot shut completely. His head is tilted to the right, and his right eye seems malfunctioning. Sometimes he even shakes uncontrollably. He has lost his appetite and his overall health is going downhill.

    For a week, I refused to think of the inevitable. Ok, Buttons is getting old because he just turned 7 last month, and ok, that's old for a doggie. We'll help him age gracefully, I thought. The vet said too that these symptoms could all be signs of aging for a dog. The symptoms could come and go. I was just waiting for them to go. I guess I was in denial.

    Buttons' blood test result came back yesterday. He has got cancer of the lymph node whic...


    Now I know what's so scary about Halloween! Mommy made me wear WEIRD THING!! *MAD*
    Now, I like this one better. At least it's more comfie! Happy Halloween, Everyone!  

    Mommy why do I have to wear this fluffy costume? *POUT*

    {My little guy at 5.5 months old! You gotta love Halloween costumes on them cuties!}

     


    If you have the time, you can relive my journey to Target. It was just an online game for a chance to get a $25 gift card at Target :) And of course, posting this here shows my support to the company! (Pssst...they pay my monthly bills...erm..I work there at the headquarter)



    So, does that make me a 7 month old Mommy? LOL

     

    Before the birth of my little guy…

    I anticipated lots of changes like sleep deprivation, dirty diapers, crying baby, limited traveling, and change in priorities in term of finances. 

     

    Now @ 7 months after becoming a Mommy…

    • Sleep deprivation - I’m not talking about a few hours of sleep deprivation due to a weekend’s partying. It’s cumulative and it seems like it’s never going to end anytime soon!  I stop making record on how much sleep debt I need to repay. I do not just pretend to empathize and nod my head when someone told me about premature wrinkles.  I fully understand its dangerous power to disfigure my face.  The future seems bleaker now that I have permanent eye bags too. F those tea bags! They don’t work!
    • I learnt something NEW about myself every single day e.g. I can make very funny noises, talk like a Chipmunk, laugh like Goofy, and dance funny. Hey, I am multi talented!
    • I can multi...

    To all our families & friends...

    I hope this post finds you well.  It's quite unbelievable that Christmas is here again, and we'll soon be saying good bye to year 2007. Personally, this has been an awesome year for all of us particularly with the new addition of Isaac, making us a Family.  With this being Isaac's first Christmas, many of you have been so generous and blessed us with so much. For all your blessing, we can never be thankful and grateful enough :)  Parenting has been challenging, but very amazing and wonderful. Isaac has been keeping us very busy especially now that he can crawl, and pull himself up to stand, and recently just started cruising with the support of all the furniture around the house. It's amazing to witness such big milestone but at the same time, it only means I'll no longer be able to hold him close in my arms! Boy, he's growing too fast!

    We'd like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Blessed and Merry Christmas! And ...

    ...has just moved into my family room at home!  This being Isaac's first Christmas, we've received tons of toys which are actually bigger than he is! It's so funny! He really enjoyed his toys and they have been keeping him very busy for the most part.  Thank you all for your blessing and generosity!

    And so with a blink of an eye, Christmas came and went and soon we'll be celebrating another new year...2007 has been an AWESOME year.


    BATTERIES!!!

    I am not kidding about how broke I'm going to be just from buying batteries for all the toys we received as Christmas gifts for my baby. Everything makes noise (some very annoying!), and everything needs batteries! What happens to those good old toys that we used to play when we were kids? Those wooden ones that didn't need batteries? Hmph! So I'm thinking - besides college fund, I need to set up a battery fund too!

    And here's another complain...I have no clue why all the toys are literally bolted down to the packaging.  It took my hubby and I at least 15 minutes from unwrapping a gift, to taking it out from its packaging, and to installing batteries in a toy before my baby could play with it.  Usually by the time we got there, poor baby already lost interest! LOL.  What were those Chinese manufacturers thinking about when they packaged those toys? That they would come alive and escape from the box?

    So here's a tip the next time you're going to give a ...

    I just bought 5 CDs today

    Impulsive shopping.

    I needed the therapy.

    It's retail therapy at 40% off.

    Within 100 steps.

    At a near by Borders store.

     

    Every girl needs some Yo-Yo Ma

    Or Ladysmith Black Mambazo

    Too bad there wasn't the

    Buena Vista Social Club

    So I got the

    Le Best of Cirque du Soleil instead

    And Baby Loves Jazz

     

    5 CDs & 4 bookmarks.

    = $51.48


    When Jazz is Green

    it feels like a Dream

    about polka dot fish

    swimming upstream..

     

    (from my baby's 'baby loves jazz' cd)


    Hmmmmm...it has been AGES and I almost forgot my own password to this blog. *blush* I've been NO WHERE but around - busy with work, and family and everything else but this.  So what's new with me?

    My lil' man turned 1 recently - and we had to have 3 different birthday cakes celebrating with 3 different groups of family & friends. I still find it hard to believe that my baby is not quite a baby no more - he's becoming more like a toddler - yeah, annoying at times, pesky, noisy, cheeky and impatient lil' thing.  Now that's just the bad stuff, and the sloppy kisses and big hugs he gives us outweigh everything! I love him to pieces!

    I reclaimed my body :) I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight! WOOOOHOOO!!! Now that's just the weight, I still cannot fit in some of my jeans thanks to the new curvy hips! Let's just hope they'll grow back to my pre-pregnancy shape? WHAT? NEVER? You LIAR! Ok let's go shopping for new clothes.

    We just sorta celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary! Dang,...

    Out of the blue I casually opened my securely-hidden-in-a-corner firesafe
    thinking that i could admire my coin collection, or my jewelry *nAHHH!!!*
    but the compartment that holds my passport attracted my attention
    And so I casually opened the pages of my passport ....and...
    OH MY LORD!!!! ^&*#^*&@&(#%*!@$&@#
    (yes, I could call on my God and drop the F-heimer in one sentence)

    My passport expired. SHEEESSSHHHHH!!!!!

    Ok guys you may stop reading at this point and check the expiration of your passport NOW!

    I have been a prisoner in the States for 7 years, and had not travel abroad based on my attorney's recommendation.  Thanks to 911, the Al Queda, Osama, and all those terrorists shite!

    That night was another night that I couldn't fall asleep (although the baby has now learned to sleep on his own without making too much fuss in the wee hour of the night). 

    Come next day, I called the consulate general of Malaysia in NYC and was given a long lecture on forgetting to rene...

    Mommy's brag blog...

    I just realized that it has been awhile since I last updated any new news about my lil' guy at home. Well, he's actually doing mighty well - whose the mommy huh? He's going on 14-month-old, ambitiously trying to run although he can barely walk right at times (usually it's his excitement that got him too carried away), and babbling all day long! Occasionally we get a surprise when he says difficult words with 2 or 3 syllabus like "Elephant", "Downstairs", "Get off" and his usual words these days are "There!", "Dog", "Done", "That" and our favorite "Thank you".  Of course he calls "Dada" and "Mama" and he is particularly good at "Mama mum mum" (Mama, food!) when he's hungry. He's also starting pretend-play with plastic spoons, and bowl pretending to stir, and eat imaginery food. He also plays with his cars pushing them around with great sound effects!

    He likes going on tricycle rides (with push bar to save my back from bending down to push), going to the park ...

    After a crazy weekend having to attend to a sensitive and overly cuddly baby, I feel relaxed when I return to the office this morning. Perhaps this is a sad truth that I have to use work as a refuge, and my office becoming my sanctuary. I just realized that it is good to be away from the family at times although I miss my baby dearly. I needed a mental escape, and I am having this very different one-of-a-kind mood; relaxed, somewhat lazy, dreamy, feel like swaying to a cool music and some margaritas! (but I sub this with Jamba Juice which tastes pretty good) This song has been playing in my head and since I do not have it in my iPod, I listen to this on YouTube. Please do enjoy the hot scenes from Mr & Mrs. Smith on my behalf since I do not have the time to stare at the screen at work :P

    Last week on a breezy evening, my little man and I took a stroll around the block after dinner. I truly enjoy my stroll with him every evening. It is a very special Mommy-and-son time for us; somewhat special and sacred.

     

    When we came upon a big tree at the end of the block, Isaac stopped and pointed to the tree and said, “Mama”. We both looked up at the tree. The breeze made the thin tree branches up high bended slightly, and the leaves shaking and rustling. In that quiet part of the neighborhood we heard nothing but music made by the tree. Isaac then tilted his head upward, shut his eyes and took a deep breath. I followed and that one big breath of fresh air had never felt so good ever in my life. I had forgotten when was the last time I paused in my busy life to take in the scene, to appreciate nature, to listen to the music Nature creates, and to breathe in some fresh air. And now my son had just reminded me that; it was indeed a special moment for the both of us.

     

    ...

    First off, Happy New Year! May 2009 be another GREAT year for all of you. This is such a long overdue post. Hm, what can I say? I've been too busy.  

    Looking back at 2008, I am really grateful that God has once again saw us through some road blocks. With the economic slump we're in, He has continued to provide us with good things.  I'm working on a new and very interesting (high visibility) project in a new department/team within the same company.  Life at home has been busy as usual but with some juggling, hubby and I managed the usual household chores, the BUSY little man at home, and enjoying every season with some traveling here and there. It was really good. 

    Looking forward, my hope renews for 2009. There's so much more to be done, and come what may, we'll keep moving forward. We do have a very WONDERFUL piece of good news; I'm pregnant with our second baby (our last...