Wallart selection

In one of our client's buildings, you can see there are tons of wall arts in various places. Though - I must say, the wall arts here are actually depressing rather than the original intent to beautify the walls. There are some abstracts and some actual photos but nothing really adds value to the place. These look like inexpensive wallarts that one would purchase for $3 - why would anyone purchase these arts? No idea.... but they certainly are 'substracting' values!

When we decide to puchase a certain piece of art for our home, we don't just buy the art for the sake of it, we buy the art because it beautifies our home and it bring harmony to the walls along with any other decors we may have. One would be surprised how much or how little a piece of wallart would add/not add to the space.

Wallart selection

In one of our client's building, you can see there are tons of wall arts in various places. Though - I must say, the wall arts here are actually depressing rather than the original intent to beautify the walls. There are some abstracts and some actual photos but nothing really adds value to the place. These look like inexpensive wallarts that one would purchase for $3 - why would anyone purchase these arts? No idea.... but they certainly are 'substracting' values!

When we decide to puchase a certain piece of art for our home, we don't just buy the art for the sake of it, we buy the art because it beautifies our home and it bring harmony to the walls along with any other decors we may have. One would be surprised how much or how little a piece of wallart would add/not add to the space.

It has been awhile...

since I have updated my blog. But here is the big news! I am expecting!!! 2 more months until the big day! We are thrilled and cannot wait!

Another piece of news is that one of my dear friend is expecting her 2nd! Exciting news all around the country, isn't it?

Well - since I had been absent from the bloggers world, lots have happened other than my little bun in the oven. I am now working at one of the best cities in the world - San Francisco! Staying here during the work week provides me the opportunities to enjoy the city life! Right? Well - maybe more so if I was not carrying a basketball in my stomach - I could have been enjoying the shopping and restaurants and the night life much more!! Make no mistake, readers, this is not a complaint because I already love my little baby oh so much! Walking with a laptop could be tough though. The other day walking from the hotel to work was not fun... there was so slippery slope on the pedestrian sidewalk and I fell in the middle of the intersection! Luckily, my hands and knees broke my fall and no cars were crossing just yet but I don't think I could ever forgive myself if my clumsiness harmed my baby. Well - baby is still moving so I am going to assume all is well!

Another thing of staying in a gorgeous city as such is that - I do miss my husband dearly! And my two dogs!! Life is great no matter where you are if you are surrounded by those who love you and you love! Knowing that I am a city person, now staying in hotels alone in one of the best cities in the world does not make me feel more fulfilled. I would much rather be in the suburbs with my husband and two dogs. I think age and maturity definitely plays into the life style preference and I can't wait to be home!

Happy Hanukkah

I have to admit - Hanukkah in Northern California can get lonely... I do miss the East Coast for this particular reason (amongst other things). I miss having Jewish culture around me, yummies such as chopped liver and stuffed cabbage. I find myself looking on foodtv.com for simple (and visually appealing) recipes for Jewish yummies so we can at least have semi-decent Jewish food. Let's face it, Jewish Delis in New England, NYC, or South FL have so much to offer.

Well, this year, we made potato laktes at home and it somewhat satisfied my cravings. And perhaps over the holidays I will attempt to make more Jewish style food. Maybe I will succeed, maybe I won't - the process will be fun and there is always hope.

This year - my mother-in-law sent us a Sony Handycam for our Hanukkah! She is too generous!! Of course, there is a reason for it - ;-P My parents, who did not even know much about Hanukkah as of yesterday, went out and bought us a new microwave in the spirit of Hannukah knowing how much we need a new one! We just feel so lucky to have wonderful family members who love us.

Shanghai - land of endless high rises

We just came back from our vacation in Asia. HK and Taiwan was FABULOUS!!!

We also stopped at Shanghai and I've got some comments on the city. Before we went to Shanghai, we have heard nothing but good things about the city and I expected a certain level of quality especially knowing that a lot of firms are pouring tons of investments into China (Shanghai specifically). After being there - I must say that I am quite disappointed.... thank goodness we had a friend that took us around and showed us good places to eat, otherwise I would have starved myself for 4 days there. I could barely breath there due to extreme air pollution and the fact that everyone there smoked cigarettes outside and inside every restaurants we went to. We stayed at a 4-star European hotel (6 years old) at the Bund but the quality of the room and cleaniness was much lower than expected (aside from the other stuff, we had a big area of fuzzy mold in the bathroom that had not been cleaned!!). People there on the streets are used to cough up flems and spit out on the streets but what's worse is that they blow their noses without napkins right on the streets in public (ALL THE TIME). How do you contain SARS in such culture? We also saw the parents teaching their young kids to urinate right on the street AND INSIDE THE OBSERVATION DECK OF 'PEARL OF THE ORIENT'!! Needless to say - we were quite disgusted. I am in shock because I am Asian and I have visited many Asian countries before and I don't recall ever being this grossed out.

What does it feel to lose someone you love?

Saturday - our lives as usual

Sunday - found out that Brownie's left legs (front and hind legs) give out on him. He could attempt to walk but would fall down. Initially we thought that his legs are still asleep. The symptoms continued throughout the day but he could always get back up after a few seconds.

Monday - Brownie could not get out of his bed. We brought breakfast to him on the garage floor and fed him water. We now realized that this could be something big. It could be a stroke and that he is paralyzed on the left side of his body. Called the vet and the vet thinks it could be serious. I don't konw what to do to 'be prepared' in this case. Be prepared to let him go? wihle he is still very aware of his surroundings and still shows a big appetite? This is not a sick dog and how can I be prepared to let him go? He is my baby....

Left work in the middle fo the day to go check on Brownie. I appreciate all the people that I work with - they are all very supportive. I got home, opened the garage door, and saw Brownie in the same spot as I left him this morning. I broke down while still in the car.

My brother and Erik both got home by lunch time to be with Brownie. Brownie is still such a young dog... but what kind of life is he going to have if he could not eat, drink, or go to the bathroom by himself? We put him on a blanket and dragged him to the yard, hoping that he would go to the bathroom but he did not. We fed him more treats and water. He appeared both scared and happy. I had never seen him trembling like this - poor thing, he just did not know why he could not get around.

2pm - went to the vet, Brownie was really scared... with all of his might, he used his right front paw to hang on to my car seat - as much as he could. I wonder if he thought we were giving up on him right then and there? He did not like going to the vet this time - his body was shaking due to fear. He could not move, could not fight back, yet his eyes, full of life. Couldn't help the tears streaming down my face while we heard that the vet thinks it is neurological and will give it a shot with cortisone (but with less than 50% of success rate). They need to observe him for a couple of days. Is this the end for him? But if this is the last two days of his life, do I want him to be here at the vet without us? I was torn.... but we decided to give it a shot - this is probably our only chance.

Rest of Mondahy was hell for me - food was tasteless and mood was gloomy. My eyes were tired of crying... they were sore and it breaks my heart to think what could Brownie be thinking of this hour without us. I only wish he could understand that we want him well (because the other option - oh,,,, it is unthinkable...) I woke up around 1:30 in the morning - couldn't get Brownie's eyes out of my mind.... I just can't do it - I just can't look into his eyes and have him put down. He is too good of a dog and everything else about him is functioning perfectly. What lays ahead? What would I find out in the morning from the vet? I hope it is good news....

Tuesday 9:30am - we heard the good news... improvement!!! Far from perfect, but much better from his condition yesterday. Went to visit him at lunch... we saw that he could stand - which was fantastic!! Can't wait for him to get even better!! He has great spirit and oh we love him soo much!

So what does it feel like to lose someone you love? luckily - I don't have to find out just yet and let's keep it that way.

Photos

I konw a lot of us love to take photos throughout our lives. Question is what to do with those photos afterwards so they don't collect dust, or just simply sitting in a pile or in a box. And with those who are much more organized than the average and put photos into albums, how often are the albums taken out and looked at? Too often, we have all the intention of taking photos for memory's sake but do we really treasure the photos as often as we should?

I just looked at our wedding photos and ah does it bring back beautiful memories! I encourage everyone to look through their photo albums once in awhile - it will bring smiles to your face!!

Can someone be too busy?

so I work about 50-55 hours a week - not that bad considering some of the horror stories I have heard about people in i-banking or consulting biz. Though - when you really think about it, it is averaging 10-11 hours a day so the normal workday looks like the following:

- 6:30 being pulled out of bed by my husband after 3 times of pressing the snooze button
- 7:00 finally finishing shower because that is where I wake up
- 7:30 finish blowing drying my hair and making myself look decent
- 7:40 making sure medicines / food are provided to my two boyz (my husband has to do that a lot of the days because somehow I am always running late)
- 8:00 have breakfast (I have to make time for food otherwise I cannot function)
- 8:15 leave for work
- 8:30 get to work (this is a good one where I am 7 miles away from work but I often have 8:00 meetings)
- 7:00-7:30 leave from work to go home
- 8:30 finish dinner because my husband has dinner ready by the time I get back (yes, yes, I am really lucky)
- 9:00 sometimes we walk the dogs because boy do they deserve that walk after being at home all day waiting for us
- 9:30 I know it is 'early' but it is kind of bed time for me
-10:00 after getting ready for bed, I lay around and watch Family Guy or Frasier on our DVR before falling asleep.

Sounds like I get enough sleep? Sounds like I have plenty of time to spend at home?? Well - not quite, it is never enough - the one place I would like to cut down? non-playing time!!