Haven't gone swimming for quite a while. Just able to swim 20 minutes today (25m pool).
Now my legs are so sore...
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
不記得了
今天舊同事回來公司探望我們。兩年沒見，他都沒有兩樣。當另外一位同事問他我有沒有轉變時，我以為他一定會說我胖了。說實在的，我比他離開的時候胖了差不多十磅，都沒有可能看不出吧。
怎知他竟說不記得了。我知他不是不好意思說我胖了，而是，沒有留心吧。
想不到共事八年，雖然說不上是很熟落，但好像是連外表都沒印象？
我真的寧願他說我胖了很多。
怎知他竟說不記得了。我知他不是不好意思說我胖了，而是，沒有留心吧。
想不到共事八年，雖然說不上是很熟落，但好像是連外表都沒印象？
我真的寧願他說我胖了很多。
Monday, August 23, 2010
August recap
July 30-Aug 2 (long weekend)
Friday: Friend's birthday dinner
Saturday: attend friend's wedding ceremony in the afternoon, then went to try out Starry Light Restaurant for the first time, then went to watch firework.
Sunday: Whistler (will post picture later)
Monday: Went to work and then after getting off work, go to Canlis Restaurant in Seattle for dinner! Besides food, I LOVE the ladies' washroom there!
Aug 6-9
Oregon Trip
Aug 14 Saturday
Went to Seattle to visit friend's new born baby boy. He's now 6 months old and just so cute and well behaved! :) No crying, and actually LAUGH a lot! Had a great Thai dinner.
Aug 15 Sunday
Had dim sum lunch with friend then accompany her for her wedding photo shoot dress trial. Basically help her out in picking wedding gown for her photo session.
Week of Aug 15-21 - dim sum week
Dim sum on Aug 15 - 金如意 (as mentioned above), then Aug 16 - 新庸記, as well as Aug 20 - 順鋒!
Aug 18
My friend's birthday dinner @ Guu gastown. It's Lady's Night since all girls this time, 5 of us. Haven't been to gas town for long time. After dinner we took some night shot in gastown. And when we started to go home...guess what, my friend's car goes out of battery...so I have to call my private BCAA (aka my hubby) to come for help...by the time we went home already mid-night.
Gastown @ night
Gastown is a famous tourist spot and even though it's close to 11pm at night, there are still a few people taking night shots with this steam clock.
Aug 21 Saturday
Company Picnic @ Stanley Park.
Haven't been to company picnic a few years already. There is door prize this time. And the grand prize is a netbook! WOW! it's very surprising. Never see door prize for company picnic. But no I didn't get that. The other prize is nice too, a set of Magic Bullet. There is also magic show (more for the kid) but I do enjoy it. Too bad there is construction going on so the view to the beach is blocked. Otherwise it's perfect!
Aug 22 Sunday
Had afternoon tea in Hotel Vancouver (to use my groupon). They have an interesting way to charge HST. The $2.16 HST came from the $18 room charge but we actually did not pay any room charge. But the 15% tip amount is of the full price and already added to the bill. Although I would think it doesn't make too much sense to charge 15% tip for serving two people, it's ok since the tax is lower amount than I expected. Then I spend the night mostly on making card. I had a hard time trying to make masculine card.
Friday: Friend's birthday dinner
Saturday: attend friend's wedding ceremony in the afternoon, then went to try out Starry Light Restaurant for the first time, then went to watch firework.
Sunday: Whistler (will post picture later)
Monday: Went to work and then after getting off work, go to Canlis Restaurant in Seattle for dinner! Besides food, I LOVE the ladies' washroom there!
Aug 6-9
Oregon Trip
Aug 14 Saturday
Went to Seattle to visit friend's new born baby boy. He's now 6 months old and just so cute and well behaved! :) No crying, and actually LAUGH a lot! Had a great Thai dinner.
Aug 15 Sunday
Had dim sum lunch with friend then accompany her for her wedding photo shoot dress trial. Basically help her out in picking wedding gown for her photo session.
Week of Aug 15-21 - dim sum week
Dim sum on Aug 15 - 金如意 (as mentioned above), then Aug 16 - 新庸記, as well as Aug 20 - 順鋒!
Aug 18
My friend's birthday dinner @ Guu gastown. It's Lady's Night since all girls this time, 5 of us. Haven't been to gas town for long time. After dinner we took some night shot in gastown. And when we started to go home...guess what, my friend's car goes out of battery...so I have to call my private BCAA (aka my hubby) to come for help...by the time we went home already mid-night.
Gastown @ night
Gastown is a famous tourist spot and even though it's close to 11pm at night, there are still a few people taking night shots with this steam clock.
Aug 21 Saturday
Company Picnic @ Stanley Park.
Haven't been to company picnic a few years already. There is door prize this time. And the grand prize is a netbook! WOW! it's very surprising. Never see door prize for company picnic. But no I didn't get that. The other prize is nice too, a set of Magic Bullet. There is also magic show (more for the kid) but I do enjoy it. Too bad there is construction going on so the view to the beach is blocked. Otherwise it's perfect!
Aug 22 Sunday
Had afternoon tea in Hotel Vancouver (to use my groupon). They have an interesting way to charge HST. The $2.16 HST came from the $18 room charge but we actually did not pay any room charge. But the 15% tip amount is of the full price and already added to the bill. Although I would think it doesn't make too much sense to charge 15% tip for serving two people, it's ok since the tax is lower amount than I expected. Then I spend the night mostly on making card. I had a hard time trying to make masculine card.
August Oregon Trip
Can't believe I haven't blogged for almost a month!
Just an overdue post about the Oregon Trip in August.
As you can see from the album cover, the weather is just bad. I was so looking forward to this trip by the seaside and turn out to be the worst weather in a month.
We spent 2 days in Oregon Coast and both days are rainy and COLD. Then it turns sunny the day we left the coast...oh well.
Day 1: arrive at Portland around 7pm. My hubby tried to buy a cell phone from AT&T and I have called almost 10 AT&T stores to make sure that the model he want is in stock. So, we arrived at one AT&T store, and turned out that they do NOT want to sell to people who do not have an account...But at least, we later got one from a nearby mall. So we had dinner in the foodcourt there. And guess what, we had Chinese food! The plate is huge and actually tastes not bad. Then we drove to Astoria by the time we got there it's almost 11pm.
Day 2: Plan to visit Maritime Museum. Just that my hubby found DOG PAW muddy mark on his car, so there must be some dogs climb over his car. As a car lover that almost took away all his mood for anything. So I was trying to ask around places for car wash and luckily, there is one around. So we went for touchless car wash first, then just drop by a scrapbook store, before we head back to the Maritime Museum. We had a good time in the museum.
After visiting the museum, we also board the light boat. It's interesting to see the facilities inside the light boat. Then we went to Ship Wreck site in Fort Stevens State Park. That is a long drive (from the entrance of the park to the ship wreck site). After that, we are going to Tillamook cheese factory and on to Cape Meares light house as planned. But it's rather late by the time we got to Cape Meares so we don't really have a chance to hike, also it's too cold and rainy to hike.
We stayed in Lincoln City that day. Also by the water. But it's too cold to open the window to listen to the sound of the wave...it's a total waste to spend the $ to stay by the sea side...
Day 3: Finally sun came out and took a few shots in the nearby beach. Then we went on to outlet and then downtown. We want to buy red wine for my friend. We shopped a bit in downtown and then time to dinner! We had dinner @ Pastini-Bridgeport Village and love the set menu there. 3 course menu for $15! Soup/salad + Pasta + Dessert! Great deal!
Day 4: Hubby's track day and he dropped me off @ Washington Square. Since I was carrying two bottle of wine + his camera gear, I had a hard time go shopping. After walking for 2 hours I give up, just stay in the food court and go on the internet (wi-fi in food court) for 3 hours until hubby came back...
This ended the 4 day trip. Not a perfect trip as planned (bad weather and didn't shop much) but life isn't perfect all the times anyway. It's still enjoyable and relax to be out of town, no complain. :)
Just an overdue post about the Oregon Trip in August.
 |
| Oregon Trip 2010 |
As you can see from the album cover, the weather is just bad. I was so looking forward to this trip by the seaside and turn out to be the worst weather in a month.
We spent 2 days in Oregon Coast and both days are rainy and COLD. Then it turns sunny the day we left the coast...oh well.
Day 1: arrive at Portland around 7pm. My hubby tried to buy a cell phone from AT&T and I have called almost 10 AT&T stores to make sure that the model he want is in stock. So, we arrived at one AT&T store, and turned out that they do NOT want to sell to people who do not have an account...But at least, we later got one from a nearby mall. So we had dinner in the foodcourt there. And guess what, we had Chinese food! The plate is huge and actually tastes not bad. Then we drove to Astoria by the time we got there it's almost 11pm.
Day 2: Plan to visit Maritime Museum. Just that my hubby found DOG PAW muddy mark on his car, so there must be some dogs climb over his car. As a car lover that almost took away all his mood for anything. So I was trying to ask around places for car wash and luckily, there is one around. So we went for touchless car wash first, then just drop by a scrapbook store, before we head back to the Maritime Museum. We had a good time in the museum.
After visiting the museum, we also board the light boat. It's interesting to see the facilities inside the light boat. Then we went to Ship Wreck site in Fort Stevens State Park. That is a long drive (from the entrance of the park to the ship wreck site). After that, we are going to Tillamook cheese factory and on to Cape Meares light house as planned. But it's rather late by the time we got to Cape Meares so we don't really have a chance to hike, also it's too cold and rainy to hike.
We stayed in Lincoln City that day. Also by the water. But it's too cold to open the window to listen to the sound of the wave...it's a total waste to spend the $ to stay by the sea side...
Day 3: Finally sun came out and took a few shots in the nearby beach. Then we went on to outlet and then downtown. We want to buy red wine for my friend. We shopped a bit in downtown and then time to dinner! We had dinner @ Pastini-Bridgeport Village and love the set menu there. 3 course menu for $15! Soup/salad + Pasta + Dessert! Great deal!
Day 4: Hubby's track day and he dropped me off @ Washington Square. Since I was carrying two bottle of wine + his camera gear, I had a hard time go shopping. After walking for 2 hours I give up, just stay in the food court and go on the internet (wi-fi in food court) for 3 hours until hubby came back...
This ended the 4 day trip. Not a perfect trip as planned (bad weather and didn't shop much) but life isn't perfect all the times anyway. It's still enjoyable and relax to be out of town, no complain. :)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tofino Trip
一直都很想到Tofino一遊。可是一看價錢，總是令人卻步。
想不到在這個weekend終於有機會了。H 跟 BMW Club的友人一起plan了到Vancouver Island的road trip，亦會經過Tofino。這次終於可以感受BC省這個一望無際的沙灘。
因為我們住在Port Alberni的關係，酒店還不是很貴。＄140 一晚，相比在Tofino，一般都要＄300或以上。
第一天主要是road trip，經過Port Renfrew， Lake Cowichan, Duncan， 晚上住在Port Alberni。第二天就到達Tofino，逛了小鎮，正在尋找午餐的地方之際，H的朋友竟然碰上了熟人，真厲害！由他的介紹下，便到了其中一間比較upscale的餐廳。午餐之後，其實也沒有太多時間，但沒有理由來到Tofino卻沒有到過海灘！於是便想根據沿途的road sign來尋找海灘。終於到了Long Beach，正在躊躇應否步出沙灘之際（因我們沒帶涼鞋)，但不步出沙灘又不能拍到照片。我都不管了，換上拖鞋，大不了趕不上5：30的船便上7：30那班吧。因下一次都不知何年何日才再到此一遊。反正都付了＄4.9 的泊車費，便大踏步去了。果然是海天一色，水清沙幼；沙都是暖的，跟冰涼的海水成了強烈的對比。很多人在這裏滑浪，亦再一次遇到了H友人的朋友，也chit chat了一會。不過最後，我們都是趕不了5：30的ferry，差點 7：30的也來不及。不過，最後我們都趕上了7：30的ferry，都是最後 20 輛車了。所以推斷就算我沒有去沙灘拍照而花多了半個小時，都肯定趕不上 5：30那班ferry。回程時的渡輪比較新，有點像坐cruise ship的感覺，我們更在頂層欣賞日落呢。
回到家大約已是十時多了。
Port Renfrew:
Our lunch stop:
Lake Cowichan
Tofino
Lunch stop:
Interesting glass:
And finally...
James Bond shot?
Taking this olympic theme decorated ferry back to Vancouver...
Almost there:
想不到在這個weekend終於有機會了。H 跟 BMW Club的友人一起plan了到Vancouver Island的road trip，亦會經過Tofino。這次終於可以感受BC省這個一望無際的沙灘。
因為我們住在Port Alberni的關係，酒店還不是很貴。＄140 一晚，相比在Tofino，一般都要＄300或以上。
第一天主要是road trip，經過Port Renfrew， Lake Cowichan, Duncan， 晚上住在Port Alberni。第二天就到達Tofino，逛了小鎮，正在尋找午餐的地方之際，H的朋友竟然碰上了熟人，真厲害！由他的介紹下，便到了其中一間比較upscale的餐廳。午餐之後，其實也沒有太多時間，但沒有理由來到Tofino卻沒有到過海灘！於是便想根據沿途的road sign來尋找海灘。終於到了Long Beach，正在躊躇應否步出沙灘之際（因我們沒帶涼鞋)，但不步出沙灘又不能拍到照片。我都不管了，換上拖鞋，大不了趕不上5：30的船便上7：30那班吧。因下一次都不知何年何日才再到此一遊。反正都付了＄4.9 的泊車費，便大踏步去了。果然是海天一色，水清沙幼；沙都是暖的，跟冰涼的海水成了強烈的對比。很多人在這裏滑浪，亦再一次遇到了H友人的朋友，也chit chat了一會。不過最後，我們都是趕不了5：30的ferry，差點 7：30的也來不及。不過，最後我們都趕上了7：30的ferry，都是最後 20 輛車了。所以推斷就算我沒有去沙灘拍照而花多了半個小時，都肯定趕不上 5：30那班ferry。回程時的渡輪比較新，有點像坐cruise ship的感覺，我們更在頂層欣賞日落呢。
回到家大約已是十時多了。
Port Renfrew:
Our lunch stop:
Lake Cowichan
Tofino
Lunch stop:
Interesting glass:
And finally...
James Bond shot?
Taking this olympic theme decorated ferry back to Vancouver...
Almost there:
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Weekend - movie + whale skeleton exhibition
Saturday: visit the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, featuring the blue whale skeleton. While we are leaving, we saw the open house sign so we just like to drop by. Not for house hunting, but I love to see nice interior design of the display suite. We just follow a group of mainland visitors to look at the display suite. 1500 sq ft for $1.4 million, $400 monthly fee. And there is a weird huge column/post in the middle of the living room. I feel like living in my own house more and more then.
Well, after the exhibition, we shopped along 4th Ave and there is meat shop, selling BBQ ribs for $5. Got attracted by the food sample. Since I haven't had lunch yet so I thought it's a good idea to try out the ribs. And don't know why and what happened, after a few minutes, my lip started to swollen, as if I was bitten by mosquito on the lip. I can feel my lip growing bigger and bigger and a bit itchy. So I just quickly ran inside the shopper drugs mart and ask the pharmacist for recommendation. Maybe some allergy pill or cream? He recommended an allergy pill to me and after taking that, the swollen part ease off quick. That was a bit scary as I have never been like that. The pharmacist does warn me that this drug is drowsy. I wasn't paying too much attention because I seem to be able to stay awake quite well even with drowsy drugs. But I guess he's so right this time, I almost fall asleep during the movie. Yeah, we watched The Knight and Day. It's a Tom Cruise film and I saw some positive critic/review but too bad it's not doing so well w/ the box office. I do sleep early as I was really sleepy...
Sunday: want to go Grouse Grind but too lazy...Want to watch A-Team but the show time on the newspaper was wrong, so we watched Inception instead. The plot/idea is pretty interesting; but a bit complicated. I got confused about the ending. But I do feel better than Matrix. There are some similarities between them.
Monday: finally I mop the floor...
Well, after the exhibition, we shopped along 4th Ave and there is meat shop, selling BBQ ribs for $5. Got attracted by the food sample. Since I haven't had lunch yet so I thought it's a good idea to try out the ribs. And don't know why and what happened, after a few minutes, my lip started to swollen, as if I was bitten by mosquito on the lip. I can feel my lip growing bigger and bigger and a bit itchy. So I just quickly ran inside the shopper drugs mart and ask the pharmacist for recommendation. Maybe some allergy pill or cream? He recommended an allergy pill to me and after taking that, the swollen part ease off quick. That was a bit scary as I have never been like that. The pharmacist does warn me that this drug is drowsy. I wasn't paying too much attention because I seem to be able to stay awake quite well even with drowsy drugs. But I guess he's so right this time, I almost fall asleep during the movie. Yeah, we watched The Knight and Day. It's a Tom Cruise film and I saw some positive critic/review but too bad it's not doing so well w/ the box office. I do sleep early as I was really sleepy...
Sunday: want to go Grouse Grind but too lazy...Want to watch A-Team but the show time on the newspaper was wrong, so we watched Inception instead. The plot/idea is pretty interesting; but a bit complicated. I got confused about the ending. But I do feel better than Matrix. There are some similarities between them.
Monday: finally I mop the floor...
Monday, July 12, 2010
十一年前今日
可能人大了，就喜歡緬懷過去。
十一年前今日，同是星期一，我第一天上班。
這是我第一份工作。還記得，第一天上班，心情有點顫顫驚驚。畢竟這是一個陌生的英語工作環境，而我的上司是地道的美國人，說話快而夾雜着美式俚語，早在見工的時候我已經聽不懂他的問題（他問我覺得自己是introvert還是extrovert），所以我都以為那次見工準會落空，沒想到最後還是聘用了我。上班後我還是有點擔心自己的英語能力。
不過第一天上班，都沒有實際的工作分派給我，只是叫我看Documentation，了解一下公司的產品。那份 200 頁的document，我到現在還記得很清楚，因為不止在第一天，我在往後的十四天，每天八小時都是看同一份文件，因為我的電腦在兩個星期後才到; 就算電話，亦是過了一星期才安裝好。
其間一位Analyst很耐心的跟我講解product information。由於她也是移民，英語也有些不同的口音，反而使我沒那麼緊張，至少我不是唯一一個說不純正英語的人。後來慢慢發現，這個department真的有點像聯合國，同事都來自五湖四海，所以每次的Friday lunch也很開心，大家分享一些不同國家的風俗。
Pot luck更是令人期待，因為可以嘗到不同國家的食物。
說回我的supervisor，他真的教曉我很多，很可惜他工作了三年就令謀高就。可能我真的很幸運吧，我的另一位supervisor也是很nice的。
沒想到，轉眼間，我就在這裏工作了十一個年頭。有說，塞翁失馬，焉知非福。我心目中以為自己能在Web CT工作，因為某些原因影響了我那天的interview表現。當然，就算我沒有被影響，也不一定能被聘用，只是覺得自己未盡全力，在那時的確有點耿耿於懷，甚至有點討厭自己。但今天看來，Web CT已幾經易手，更有可能重整裁員，反不及在這裏工作平穩，遇到好的上司同事，人工亦每年都有些微調整，更就連我想也沒有想過拿的年度最佳員工獎，我也拿到了，亦升了職。
所以，有時候得與失，都很難判斷，only time can tell。至少我現在都會說，我在這裏工作還是得的多。
今天的人，今天的事，到頭來，都付笑談中。
正所謂：
滾滾長江東逝水，浪花淘盡英雄。 是非成敗轉頭空。
青山依舊在，幾度夕陽紅。
白髮漁樵江渚上，慣看秋月春風。 一壺濁酒喜相逢。
古今多少事，都付笑談中。
--楊慎 《臨江仙》
I feel blessed。
十一年前今日，同是星期一，我第一天上班。
這是我第一份工作。還記得，第一天上班，心情有點顫顫驚驚。畢竟這是一個陌生的英語工作環境，而我的上司是地道的美國人，說話快而夾雜着美式俚語，早在見工的時候我已經聽不懂他的問題（他問我覺得自己是introvert還是extrovert），所以我都以為那次見工準會落空，沒想到最後還是聘用了我。上班後我還是有點擔心自己的英語能力。
不過第一天上班，都沒有實際的工作分派給我，只是叫我看Documentation，了解一下公司的產品。那份 200 頁的document，我到現在還記得很清楚，因為不止在第一天，我在往後的十四天，每天八小時都是看同一份文件，因為我的電腦在兩個星期後才到; 就算電話，亦是過了一星期才安裝好。
其間一位Analyst很耐心的跟我講解product information。由於她也是移民，英語也有些不同的口音，反而使我沒那麼緊張，至少我不是唯一一個說不純正英語的人。後來慢慢發現，這個department真的有點像聯合國，同事都來自五湖四海，所以每次的Friday lunch也很開心，大家分享一些不同國家的風俗。
Pot luck更是令人期待，因為可以嘗到不同國家的食物。
說回我的supervisor，他真的教曉我很多，很可惜他工作了三年就令謀高就。可能我真的很幸運吧，我的另一位supervisor也是很nice的。
沒想到，轉眼間，我就在這裏工作了十一個年頭。有說，塞翁失馬，焉知非福。我心目中以為自己能在Web CT工作，因為某些原因影響了我那天的interview表現。當然，就算我沒有被影響，也不一定能被聘用，只是覺得自己未盡全力，在那時的確有點耿耿於懷，甚至有點討厭自己。但今天看來，Web CT已幾經易手，更有可能重整裁員，反不及在這裏工作平穩，遇到好的上司同事，人工亦每年都有些微調整，更就連我想也沒有想過拿的年度最佳員工獎，我也拿到了，亦升了職。
所以，有時候得與失，都很難判斷，only time can tell。至少我現在都會說，我在這裏工作還是得的多。
今天的人，今天的事，到頭來，都付笑談中。
正所謂：
滾滾長江東逝水，浪花淘盡英雄。 是非成敗轉頭空。
青山依舊在，幾度夕陽紅。
白髮漁樵江渚上，慣看秋月春風。 一壺濁酒喜相逢。
古今多少事，都付笑談中。
--楊慎 《臨江仙》
I feel blessed。
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