Beethoven In Trance - Episode 10

Moving is not fun.

Finally, we moved into the new house last Saturday. The weather was good, sunshine all the way, only too hot though. I got sick after couple hours moving stuff around and decided to sit in the shade and take a break. Thanks to my old friend from Columbus and her husband, also my young fellow friend from India, I was able to enjoy the break while they were jumping up and down moving mountains of our stuff.

Exhausted afterwards of course, took 10 hours of sleep and woke up (well got waken up by the lawn mower) on Sunday morning in the new house. Decided to join this 'sunday morning club' and started with weekwacker to trim the yard. It worked out all right (at least I thought it was). Then pulled the lawn mower couple times only didn't get an response from it. Couple more pulls, only found out the pulling cord got ripped on the outside, and inside strings exposed. The outside layer was jammed in the machine, and I couldn't even pull it any more. Pause, look, then think. Took out my power tool, undrill some screws, then took the jammed part of the layer out. Tied the cord so that it won't jam the machine again. Couple more pulls, the machine went back to work. Need to replace the filter and add some gas though...

Next, roof climbing.

Got on the garage roof, duck taped the seam where rain is coming in. The ladder we bought came in very handy. Cut some tree branches while I was on the ladder, then moved the ladder to the front of the house, clean the gutter again. And patched a piece of roof chingle at the drop of one roof end. Cut more branches with a jag saw.

Got back on ground finally, and decided to clean the garage.

Man, that garage is dirty. I doubted anyone clean it in the last 3 years.

Well, took out my gaugle, and mask. Started to clean the inside of the garage with the broom and fixed the garage censor while I was cleaning. Then, use water spray gun wash the floor, and brush the water into the drain. Still, the floor is not clean, but I doubt if I will clean it again any time soon.

Finish working in the garage, then go back to the apartment to clear out some left over stuff, and clean it before turning in the keys. Replaced the kitchen light bulb, bathroom light bulb, windows screen, patio door screen. Cleaned the bathroom. Vaccum the floor. Moved some more boxes of stuff into our car then drove back room to unload...

Back to the new house again.

And started to tape the bathroom tub wall, as it's damaged by water, and we needed to take a shower. So, used up the left over duck tape (used previously for the garage roof), plus some masking tape and plastic wrap, I taped the wall, and had a shower.
1:00 in the morning, we finally went to bed.

7:30am, alarm sounded. Realized right away my body took the toll of yesterday's work as I Felt like my whole body is breaking apart. Drag myself up, go to work.

Noon, went back to apartment to pick up the last couple stuff left in the apartment and dropped off the key. Said good bye to the apartment, and hope that they will return my deposite.

And did I mention it's hot outside today?

Basement is still wet. The agent dropped by on Saturday (when we were moving in), and looked at the wet basement. He wears me out. He said he would pursue this, and said he would check the city record for this house to see if the previous owner did something to the basement before to prove that the previous owner was lying when saying 'no water problem in the basement'. Also he suggested talking to legal professional for advice. He is a sales person I understand that, when the sales went throgh, his job was done. I don't see any more reason he needed to follow up this sales only we haven't filled out a customer satisfaction form sent to us by his company. Don't really know what to say on the form, and as a matter of fact, didn't have the time to even look at it. I have better things to do. I will recommend him with reservation.

The other friend of ours who also bought a house recently came to help Saturday too (remember the guy called out of blue and said they bought a house). Well, I still don't know how they came up with the money, and as a matter of fact, I don't know how they came up with that MUCH money when they told us that their house is $70K more than ours. Well, I don't know what to say.

So, we moved in on Saturday. We cleaned the garage, fixed the garage door sensor, patched the bathroom wall, duck taped the garage roof, mowed the lawn, fixed the lawn mower after breaking it, clean the gutter, cut the tree branches, clean the apartment room, moved more boxes on Sunday. Monday noon I am sitting in my cube now with my whole body aching writing the blog.

Will have a meeting this afternoon. Can't wait to go back home to sleep. But wait, need to clean the range first, and the cupboard, the kitchen floor... I don't need to do laudry though, my girl's duty.

Looking at the whole basement of our stuff, I said, it's gonna take some time.

Beethoven In Trance - Episode 9

Ouch.

Was trying to lay down the storage rack and it fell down on my lips. Bloody lips, internal bleeding, and a chip on the left front teeth.

Not sure how much is it gonna cost to fix the teeth, but surely it's not covered in my insurance. Ouch again.

Not to mention I have a list of things to take care of in house (how many times I have said this?)

Will I sound funny? SSSSSSound funny?

Got a enamel on cast iron 7qt. pot last weekend. Keylime color. Cool stuff. Made in China. Not perfect, but for the price, it's the best option so far. Got another plate - Jamie Oliver Monster Retro. It is a monter in terms of size. Perfect entertainment piece.

Moving to the new house this weekend. Packing and cleaning. Takes at least another month to settle in the new place.

Then the paint.

The furniture? What furniture?

We will be staring at the empty living room and some time, which is not really a bad ideal, considering we just spent $3000 refinishing the floor...

TV, stereo comes later, maybe Thanksgiving... guess need to join the army of people waiting outside of Bestbuy 4 am for the plasma... or not.

Area rug for the floor. That's a good one. Spent $3000 to refinish the floor then going to spend more $ to cover it. hrrr?

When you hurt yourself like that, you really feel pretty awful. The first kitchen incident of mine occurred when I was still in Steiner House (yeah, whereelse). I turned on the gas grill and tried to light it up with the liter. Well, you guessed it, it didn't light up at first so I looked inside of it then suddenly the grill decided to put on some flame, then boom. My eye brows is gone, some hair too.

Second incident still happened in Steiner. Chop off a tip of my finger when cutting leeks. Forgot what I was thinking at that time, but I am pretty sure my mind was preoccupied with something...

Well, they all suck. My teeth... can't help myself licking it over and over again...

Beethoven In Trance - Episode 8

Life and death.

Monday has always been a special day for most of the working people. You come to the office, browse your email while sipping your coffee. Try to remember where you left last week and start to schedule what you need to do this week.

Then you see this email. One lady in my current department just delievered a baby over the last weekend. Great news. Life is wonderful especially when you look at the baby's picture. Nice close the email and move on to the next one - subjected 'Taking Time Off' from the manager of my previous manager. Hum... he is taking time off again, where is he going this time?

Open the email and realized this email is forwarded. It's from my previous manager. His father just pasted away. Sad news.

Pause. Think. Then sent an email to the two girs left in that department telling them to call me if they have any question. Not sure if I sounded appropriate. Hope they realized that I was offering my help (which they might think is not much). But, did what I have to do.

One life's end is another one's beginning...

Two ladies just pasted by the isle, and one said 'well, I am not much a coupon person'. Well, that depends on how do you want to spend your money lady!

Anyway, this is quite a Monday morning.

Some friend called and told me that they wanted to smash a cake on someone's face on his birthday this weekend after we move in the new house. Errrrr, not sure if it's the right time (or place) to do that when I just refinish the floor, and stack bunch of boxes all around. How about doing that on the patio? Hum.. that sounds ok, but eventually they need to go to bathroom to clean up right? Then they will have to pass the new floor... not sure I want them to do that either... Plus, where I can get strength to put a cake on someone's face after I move in? Kids!

Need to trim the trees, mow the lawn, call the roof guy for repairing, call the door guy to replace doors. call the cable company to cancel service. Call the apartment to update address. Call, call, call.

Beethoven In Trance - Episode 7

Another hot, stuff summer night.

Listening to A State of Trance new episode, so far so good.

When did I start to listen to Trance? Well, I started it when I was still in China. Got a CD that is a compilation of latest trance tracks. I remember Angel from Paul Van Dyk is on the CD. Till I Come is on there too. At that time, I had no idea what trance is or who Paul Van Dyk or ATB is. I also couldn't tell the difference between techno and trance. But later, I started to download mp3 from mp3.com and realized the difference between the two music.

Trance is like a musical andrenaline. You give yourself a shot to jack yourself up, and you might get addictive, just like coffee. Is it because the rythme resembles the pace life is moving? Is it another way to express the repetitiveness of the life? Or is it to echo the pounding moment of the life to remind you that you are actually existing?

I would like to see Trance as a music expression of modern life. A state of tranquility in the hetic world that many people are seeking. Not like Classical, Trance puts the tranquility in a context of repetitive pounding beats. If you really put yourself into the music, you might feel the world around you is moving while you are standing still. Guess that's why Paul Van Dyk has a track called 'travel without moving'.

I am dissappointed to see how DJ Tiesto's work deteriorates, but glad to see ATB put out 'DJ in the Mix 3'. I think it's the best one so far in the market.

Ok, change topic

Boss brought his family to the office today. I had no clue what to say. Awkward moment... why it suddenly gets difficult to get along with people? I am getting old? Maybe I am too preoccupied with something? What is this 'something' then? Is blogging an indication of running away from normal, direct human communication? hum... scary. Why suddenly starting a conversation becomes a challenge? But what is the topic that spurs the conversation? Listening to the group members and I don't seem to be able to catch their jokes... I am getting old.

Need to get back in touch with the business world too. Might help start the conversation. But is office chi-chat supposed to be non-work related?

Group meeting tomorrow. Show time.

Beethoven In Trance - Episode 6

gunstock.

When it comes to refinishing floor, the most difficutl part is picking the color, espeically when one of your family members has strong opinion about it.

It seems we were able to come to an agreement on the color 'Gunstock' due to it's warm reddish tone. Therefore, gunstock it is. Hopefully, after three coats of polyurthene, the color won't change.

Well, at least one project is moving forward.

My seat is next to an main isle. I can hear people talking loud and clear. Quite a distraction from time to time, but I guess I will get use to it. When I have more responsiblities, I won't even care to listen to it.

Two more weeks to move to the new house. That's exciting. Need to start packing this weekend, hopefull the floor will be done by the end of the week.

Other exciting news including potential 'meet the parents' this September. We will see how the visa application goes. We will see...

A friend just called last night. They bought a house too. Wow, that's why American's think Chinese are unbelievable creatures. Chinese buy houses just like that. No warning, no indication, one day you pick up the phone, and the chinese on the other line tells you that they bought a house. Suprise. How did they come up with that much money, I wonder. Listen who is talking, I guess some American friends of mine are also wondering how I came up with that much money to buy our house...

Good question though, where is the money from? No movie date, restaurant, fancy clothe, V6 car, or buying only stuff on sale? Maybe. Savings should not be able to get you very far in short time to afford a house though. Well, anyway, everyone has its own way to make through life, just wish them best luck.

Haven't been running for quite a while. Not like last year, when I just started the job, and moved into an apartment. Life was simple at that time for a while (excluding the challenges at work). Well, let me correct myself, life is never simple, there is always something... it just depends on how you look at it.

Almost August, summer is slowly going away. We didn't go anywhere this summer, come to think of it. Well, we are busy. New house, new job, everything needs to be done.

Still don't know what to do about the bathroom wall where the water damage is. Cement board is too large to fit in my car, might just hire a guy to do it professonally. The referral information never came through from our neighbor. Guess, I have to knock on the door to ask for it.
And also the garage roof. Please don't rain for a while, I need to get someone to fix it. Then it comes to the decision of replacing the whole six beams or only one beam. I need to ask someone... well, all the friends who I can seek advice from might have already been sick of hearing my voice over the phone... not sure if I want to push the envolope much more, but do I have a choice?

Beethoven In Trance - Episode 5

Caulk, recaulk and everything else.

Noon. Sitting in my new cube at the new department. Everybody else is in a baby-shower celebration. Boss dropped by like 2 minutes before the event and told me and I had my lunch already. Walked in the room where all the food and people sitting there. Hum... wonder how many people will actually enjoy that moment of being staring at. After the 'suprise', I congratulated the 'mother-to-be' and left the room with a bottle of water. Wait, was it a great opportunity to network with the group? Good point, too late though. But, did I show everyone that I had the drive to spend extra hour to get things done? Well, did I say 'I had lunch already' as the excuse for leaving? err, stop talking to myself!

Don't know what was I thinking... anyway. The floor guy came in today to sand the floor. Can't wait to see what will it look like after the sanding. Need to pick the color of stain later tonight and let them know tomorrow. At least we are getting things moving forward, that's good.
A friend just sent an email in response to my home repair emergencies. Many good pionts, I have to talk to him tonight. Wish he is still in town so that I can ask his help more, but I guess I just have to learn quickly how to deal with house issues myself.

Didn't get the change to sleep last night, my brain was widely awake, and don't know why. Not a good thing for someone who is starting a new job the next day. The coffee this morning helped, we will see how the rest of the afternoon goes.

Scheduled a meeting with new boss this afternoon and had very little preparation of the subject. Thought I stuff something in my brain this morning, but another guy called for some help with my previous duties (he didn't know I was transferred. But why he knew my new phone no.?) Anyway, helped him out but didn't help myself out much.

Sleep is important, I conclude, I make bad choices when not enough sleep...

zzZZZzzzz

Caulked and recaulked, still doesn't look too well (the backsplash). Well, it's our first project and we didn't do it right. Lesson learned, hopefully it won't fall down anytime soon.

New team seems nice, people here are young, most of them are younger than me I believe. I bet they are wondering why this old chinese guy doing here...

Got my laptop for work today, brand new, Cool stuff. Fast and furious.

All right, better clear my mind before I walk in the meeting with boss in 15 minutes.

Beethoven In Trance - Episode 4

Don't burn the bridge.
When the boss tell you not to burn the bridge in the performance evaluation, you really don't know how to respond... at least I don't...

well, guess I just have to leave the bridge along then. Duh...

...

hallarious...

Ok, forget about the bridge...

It seems regrouting worked this time, only too much grout... well, did my best and I am not gonna make any more change. Color of the tile looks pretty good in the kitchen.

Got couple books from library about tiling, found some good ideas, now have some confidence to tackle the bathroom wall... still don't have a detailed plan in place though. One thing to help me thinking - let contract do the job = $425. Guess we have a winner here.

My girl is watching 'You think you can dance'. Now what's the deal about the English accent these days? It's on every show, every movie or TV series, what the heck? Let's pop in some Chinese or India accent, that will be awesome... well as a matter of fact, they have already started to do that, even in 'Superman returns', they put in a Indian boy among the Russian gang. hrr?

Well, it's a global community now. Listen to what I am saying, a Chinese guy in US is complaining about accent? Ha.

Next week the floor guy will come sand the floor. It's gonna be the first project in our first home, Don't screw up dude, or I will ... look for the warranty or 1-800 number? well, did they say they don't have a warranty? What am I thinking?

Can't stand that English accent...

By the way, saved $35 today by pulling out grippers nailed on the floor myself. Labor intensive stuff. I am really getting old...

Not much going on tomorrow, no appointment with contractor, no immediate job to finish in the house. Will go grocery shopping after work. Shopping for food and any food related items (such as plates, dishes, pots and pans) is much more relaxing.

Gonna to watch movie now 'Underworld Evolution'. Vampires and Werefolves... hum...

Beethoven In Trance - Episode 3

Regrout.

Just finished the forecast commentary and ready to send over to the boss for review. Take some time here to think about regrout that I am going to finish tonight.

Lunch was good, beef is not tender though. I always have trouble stir frying beef strips tender, like ones in restraurant. Not sure how they marinade the beef... maybe I better not knowing it...
other than the texture, the flavor is all right, a straightforward onion soy sauce stir fry dish.

If owning a house is as easy as cooking, I will be much happier. Haven't got much time cooking lately, many cook books just sit there after being taken from library.

Speak of library, it's a wonderful place. You can check out almost everything you need, DVD, CD, books, magazine. And you can reserve the book and DVD online, and pick up later. Smells like Bestbuy... only it's free.

Call the floor guy, and heard that they don't have a warranty for the service, hum... that sounds interesting, what am I going to do if anything goes wrong after the job is done? Suddenly warranty becomes very important, a concept that a typical chinese doesn't develop back in home. Now, everything here is backed with warranty (of course, it might no get you very far either), but still a piece of paper saying 'we garantee blah, blah, blah, might give you a peace of mind after you spend that much $.

Got my moving boxes here, I don't need that many though, I am just a entry level staff here and I really don't have much to move over to the new department. Why not take those boxes home for my house moving? Hey that's a great idea! Wait, will the guard stops me at the door??? Why they didn't just drop off that many boxes of money ???

Need to figure out what color to use to paint the house, and need to get it done before floor guys come over to sand the floor, and need to give the paint enough time to dry, so the dust from sanding floor will not dirty the wall again. Hum... how am I going to do that? Why I pulled out the carpet at the first place? it was fairly new, but I just don't like the color. It's a dark, brownish color best for people aged 50+. I am not that old.. yet. But, have to suck it up leaving the carpet upstairs because of $ shortage.

Sometimes I wonder when I can start to enjoy the house instead of worrying about it. Hope soon.

Will have the mid year performance evaluation this afternoon. Don't know (or don't care) what my boss says as I am moving to another department. I didn't even know there is gonna be a mid year performance evaluation... maybe I just forogt... anyway, will let you know what happens.

Beethoven In Trance - Episode 2

Grout, sanded.

I can't believe the grout is cracking already. We just put it in yesterday, and it's cracking today... what the heck? Not enough grout I guess, gotta redo it, only if I know how...

Got a bucket of grout from Homedepot and it says 'Sanded' on the bucket, but it turned out to be 'Unsanded' (we went back for a second one and after open it we immediately found out the difference...). The HD guy said it's manufacturer's fault, called the manufacture with the 1-800 number on the back of the bucket, and if can't get an answer, then call him and he will call them for me... blah, blah, blah... yeah, very helpful.

The roofing guy came the other day to look at the leaking garage roof in the pulling rain (best time ever to look at leaking). Not good. Whole roof needs to be replaced, and possible rebuild the garage. $2500 minimum. Do I look like rich people?

Another contractor called and gave me a list of price, patio door $3370, move a window $930, install a spigot and joint $220, roof mounted exhaution fan in bathroom $685, replace one section of the wall over bathtub with cement board and tile it $425, repeat the job for three walls $1150, replace front door $835, side door $585. You think I grow money at my backyard?

Flooring, refinishing the living room, and two bedroom, plus carpet the stairs, $2700.

and let me see what else... like make some money?

oh sure, a guy just called and ask me if I am interested in some franchizing business, and there is a presentation tomorrow in Holiday Inn, good ideal, I am gonna go grab some money... yeah right.