House is again not able to be closed. More drag yet I appreciate the serendipity: it gives me additional time to discuss with other unit’s tenants. It also enables me to take a trip back to CT sooner, to visit some old friends after 3-4 years. Stay positive and appreciative no matter what! Everything will …
Category Archives: Joy
Happy Mother’s Day
Last year I spent Mother’s Day with my Costa Rica family. We had a picnic at a son’s front yard, I helped plant 3 mango trees there; then “mama” and I headed to family’s 2nd home, a place I love in the mountain area. We enjoyed yucca, chorizo, tortilla on the stone bar with “papa” …
Blessing
It would be lovely to close the purchase; a home would be a big present for myself yet confirming extension and lock-in rate offered assurance. I ran to Starbucks to claim my free b-day coffee yet it closed earlier, well, good day (much warmer than the past 2 days) to run and get fresh air. …
Learn to be Smarter
Is intelligence born with or can it be learned? Cognitive test comes in variety yet questions usually fall into 3 categories: numerical, verbal, and spatial. I took a free course online, learned to identify pattern and calculate math faster. After 3 hour study, my score has improved significantly. Practice makes it better and we all …
Beijing Olympics
Beijing is the 1st city in the world to host summer and Winter Olympics. Opening ceremony countdown started from 24 instead of 10 and I learned that it’s not only 24th Winter Olympics but also there are 24 solar terms in Chinese calendar. Quite a difference for the opening ceremony, 2008 showed in volume, performances …
Trust
I ordered several things from Amazon for a friend when she came to NYC. However, the goods arrived earlier than estimated and before her arrival. She told me she didn’t see the packages at (Airbnb) apartment. I called the Amazon customer service and explained the situation. The staff said they will resend the goods, free …
Special Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year’s (CNY) Eve, aunt asked me if I want to go to dim sum with her and her good friend. Normally, I’d be working yet there was server connection issue, I couldn’t do much at the moment so I joined them. We chatted and laughed over 蝦餃(shrimp dumpling), 鳳爪(chicken feet), 蘿蔔糕(turnip cake), 螃蟹球(fried …
Blizzard, Blessing
I watched the snow falling and wind blowing outside, what a blessing to be able to admire the beautiful white world from a safe and warm home… Aunt made ‘Buddha jump over the wall’ 佛跳牆 soup*, cabbage with gong maru 貢丸, and fried mini bao. What a blessing for the food and company to celebrate …
Feliz Cumpleaños, Mamá!
I returned Costa Rica to celebrate ‘mama*’ 70 birthday. We took a weekend getaway to Rio Celeste. We spent 1st afternoon in the ‘tree’ maze (interesting culture difference, in US, maze is usually seasonal, made of dried corn after harvest in the fall yet in CR, the maze are green trees, I guess year-round?). We …
Happy New Year and I’m Lucky!
Happy new year! Welcome 2022 with mom, dad, sister, and niece; due to pandemic, we stayed home and enjoyed the best “mom” food. After dinner, we walked to a nearby department store to see the holiday decoration then counted down virtually watching celebration parties on TV. Chinese New Year has brought more travelers home, shorter …