Beethoven In Trance - Episode 17

the week of firsts.

Last week was a week of first. First time in US I raised my middle finger to someone. First time in US I got a parking ticket (they are not related).

We were driving home after work that day. It was a cloudy day I remember. We stopped in line of a red light and there was a car running on the opposite lane suddenly pulled in between our car and the car in front of us. The car wanted to pass through the gap between our cars and go into a shopping mall on my right. The car was pulled in too close so that it blocked my way of going forward and the gap between my car and the car in front was too narrow for the car to go through, so it got stuck there blocking my way. I took a look behind me and the car behind was far away. I had to back up my car so that the car could get out of my way. While the car was passing me, the driver (who was a lady according to my girl friend) didn't even show any gesture of appreciation. I was pissed and raised the middle finger towards them. There was a girl sitting at the guest seat who saw this and I guess she was not happy with it, especially she didn't make the move at the first place. I felt sorry for her. It's very possible she was innocent, coz she was not the driver. I remember my heart was pounding, blood is rushing through the whole body right after I did that... "not the right thing to do' I said to myself. So what should I do next time?

Went to the attorney last week in lunch hour too. Parking in downtown is not easy. Put in $1 for one hour (as the appointment was for one hour), and got a ticket after coming out of the appointment. The appointment ran unexpectedly longer. The attorney told many stories to show us subtly that we don't really have a case to go against the previous seller about the leaky basement. We will just have to deal with it. It was a good conversation (free). But we still pay $25 (parking fine) for it. Lesson learned (sometimes 25 cents can save 25 dollars). The only question is why we didn't realize it at the first place? How to remember this lesson? I'm afraid I will forget it soon...

Last weekend was not very productive. Was playing Titan Quest the whole time. It's really an addictive game...

Went to West side market on Saturday, got some ground pork that my girl friend has been craving about for a long long time. Dropped by the Chinese grocery store in downtown on the way back, got some Thai sauce. Got back home, made a Thai noodle soup with Bochoy and pork meat ball. Yum, yum... The sauce was not strong enough to my taste, so I added some more fish sauce, basil (Thai basil will be better but I only have italian basil) and Sambal. It turned out well. But I bet other people will call the soup 'stinky'. Fish sauce does have its 'unique' smell. If you are used to it, you will like it, if you don't, then you will hate it...

Our friend from India also came visit last Saturday night. We met him at Case. He works hard. A deligent person. He is doing well in his career. He just got a project in China, and he is going to Shanghai very soon. We will ask him to take something back home for us...

The faucet in the kitchen was leaking, and we didn't know why. I tightened the three screws that secured the base of faucet, and let's hope it won't leak too much too soon (coz I know it's going to leak again).

Took some time clean the yard. The tree there is losing leaves (as I am losing my hair). Not really a good sign, according to the article about the tree I found on the website. If the tree loses leaves too soon, it indicates an unhealthy tree... and it takes years and years to save a tree...
Got a loveseat cover cheap from a discount store. Covered it over the loveseat previous owner left in the house on Sunday and it looked all right. It was a comfortable loveseat... Now, we need to cover the sofa in the basement, well, after clean it first.

The basement still needs to be cleaned. A list of things can be done there, cleaning the carpet, paint the floor and wall. Unpack and organize. Add another storage rack... etc.

Bought a set of flatware in Bed Bath and Beyond on clearance. Guess it was a return set. The set was beautiful and we both liked it, so we bought it. It was still expensive, and the most expensive set we ever had. But we both liked it. So..

Run for the Cure is on October 8th. (I think) this year. We will register this week. My girl sent out an email in Chinese employee mailing list advertising for participation. No response. I don't remember seeing many Chinese participating this event in the last two years. I feel pretty pround that we did it for the last two years. Hope showing two Chinese faces in an event like that means something.

Beethoven In Trance - Episode 16

Approaching the very last quarter of 2006.

and many things are undone.

It's getting chilly. Fall is here. Trees are turning color, and less people sitting outside watering lawn in the evening or BBQ in the yard. Our patio project is frozen, with a 80% chance that it will never happen. We would like to see what the winter will do to the house then decide if it makes sense to install the patio door. Still waiting on the ventilation project and entrance door replacement project. Not sure if it's still time to do that. Weather is getting cold and the door is shrinked. We don't want to see a expanded door next Summer.

Talked to the contractor that's referred by the church (with Mark's help). He sounds all right, not sure if he is willing to do these small jobs though. Will see.

The 'will see' attitude is not getting things done. Decision are tough to make to move things forward though. Pros and cons are almost equally weighted. Or maybe I just didn't spend enough time to think about it.

So, what was I doing except thinking about fixing around the house? Titan Quest certainly takes a big chunck of my time lately. It's really a addictive game. I agree this is the best 'Diablo' type game since 'Diablo 2'.

Garage roof is still leaking, and the garage smells mildew. It's bad, but can't do anything with it. According to neighbor (the electrician contractor), April is the best time to install new roof so that the summer heat will seal the roofing materials. I can't wait to April.

Having been checking websites about termite. Got scared by those horro stories about termite eating up the house. Saw some small cotton like stuff in the basement next to the basement window last weekend when shop-vac the basement. Suspected it was the 'dirt tunnel' that is created by termite, but didn't find any evidence online so far. Considering having a pest control guy to inspect the house so that I can have a peace of mind. Note: we did have a house inspection and pest inspection before we bought the house, and the resutl was no pests found. But we missed the 'leaky basement' situation at that time - the inspector mentioned the basement is high moisture and future water proofing is possible, and we missed this statement in the report as he didn't emphasize it. The agent was with us that day and he told the inspector before the inspection that he needs to go for another appointment that day, giving or trying to give the inspector pressure completing the inspection sooner. Well, maybe he didn't intend to do that. We were also the guilty ones as we were a little over our heads seeing the purchasing going through and we didn't really put much thinking of what exactely we want to get out of the inspection. Then again, we didn't have any experience with the house, we didn't know what would be the things that require scrutiny.

Experience of learning the house so far is not really a pleasant experience...

one of the collegues's husband went to building trade class when he was young and the program has bee helpful to his family since then. Another friend in the company wants to join the program like this as he had some success with his patio project. Emotion is high when you get something done at home. I can understand that. I was at the point once (for a second or minute). But considering how much time and money I need to invest into this, plus all the tools? Hum... I don't know. I simply don't know. Or maybe I know, but just too lazy to think about it. Let's see, in order to make a decision like this, I need to find out the cost of this program, then I need to see how many additional cost associated with it (tools, transportation, etc.). Do I need to or want to buy a truck? Do I want to build a house in the future? Is self-study possible? Will I have time to the finish the program? Do I have facility at home to practice those learnings? I don't have the answers to all that, so what are the questions that are driving the decision? Cost and timeline of course, and projected savings for future house project. Well, let me find about the cost first then, well just did, but no much luck...

As for wedding plan, nothing solid yet. Not even a date, but surely will be this year.

So happy to throw away that stinky gabage out last Sunday...

The visit to Winnipeg Canada over the labor day weekend was nice. Had a horrible experience with United airline at the chicago airport though. Those guys weren't even try to help customers.

Need to plan out for the 4th. quarter of the year. Decisions need to be made, action needs to be taken...