The Reality of Today's Economy

I believe there are no other time than this that we find more TV shows talking about how to make the most of our money in this times than before. And then there are the shows that teach people how to get or make inexpensive gifts, Xmas decorations and the Xmas meal. All very wonderful. But what really hits me today is to learn that even TV serials are now considered to be cut or put on hold by the economy. And artists are rallying for people to tune in if they really support their show or write in to the editor of the studio to avoid being canned. This is indeed reality!

Why Am I not like my MUMMY?

My mum always amazes me. She is one of the friendliest person you can meet. She understands little about privacy, so it can be tough living with her. But it also serves her very well, which I sometimes wonder what happened to me? Why can't I be like her?

I mean everyone in the neighbourhood are practically her friends, and it is not only that she knows them, she knows who their families are, what issues they have and all that stuff. My mum rocks (in the words of young people these days). Once, I was grocery shopping with her and while waiting for the traffic light to cross the road on our way home, she went over to an old lady and took her grocery bags from her, helped carried the bags till we crossed the road and we had to part ways, chatting about stuff and all. So naturally, I think must be a friend. Turned out, it is not the case. It blew my mind. I mean she just took the bags from the lady, then started a conversation with the lady. Who does that, without the lady thinking she was being robbed and all. But my mummy always get away with things like that.

Another time, she spent a night over at my place while WEP was away. I had the company D&D the night before, so was sleeping in and she said she will go take a walk downstairs. She came up an hour later, packed with information. How much our sweeper earn? Befriended some older neighbours, including who they are and all that and found out about a new coffeeshop and grocery shop opening. All within 1 hour and it was her first stay at my place. Impressive, isn't it? Maybe because I am so different from her.

My mum rocks, at least to me.

My Real Xmas Tree, finally...

I have always wanted to have a real Christmas tree for Christmas when I can. More specifically, the Noble Fir.
First criteria: I have to own my own apartment
Which we met a few years ago (the criteria), but Xmas trees are far too expensive. But I was not for fake trees and won't settle with it, but still wanted something fun and unique. So we did this (as some of you would have remembered).


Now, we are in SD, and most Californians love their real trees for Xmas which was more than fine by me. I I am going to have a tree, a real tree but we got a budget, USD50.

We found 5" Noble Fir for approximately USD35. Hooray. But then we realise we still need a tree stand and a dish to hold the water and Sprite (the food for the tree). The normal tree stand was sold out and the only one available was USD30. We are only going to be here for one Xmas so seems a bit much to spend...Sigh...No tree. I always decorate for Xmas!!!

So we still need something unique and NO FAKE TREE. So what are we left with?

THIS!!! Shrunk from the initial 5" to 1". Cute? (This is before deco)


This is after Deco.


Total cost: USD13. It is a Rosemary plant, so as we celebrate Xmas, we will get herbs for our food. How wonderful. I hope it will still look like a Xmas tree by 25Dec. Hee Hee.

Coronado Bay Bridge

Did you remember about the Coronado Bay Bridge? Well, yesterday there was this huge jam, so huge, it went all the way from the bridge to near our place, which is at least half a mile from the beginning of the Bridge. First time ever in all our time near. Sadly, we later understand that the jam was due to the bridge being closed due to a lady trying to commit suicide. Took a couple of hours before the bridge was reopened. Thankfully, the lady did not make it.

Not Very Fun????

NOT VERY FUN, Knott's Berry Farm, sounds similar but totally not the same. So what do you think when you first hear the name "Knott's Berry Farm". Yes, it is in California. A berry farm? Wrong, very very wrong. It is American's first theme park. I was first drawn to it when flipping a local magazine and I saw all these Peanuts Characters patches. I was thrilled. I love Peanuts, but my fav character is not Snoopy. It is Woodstock! So all night long, I couldn't let WEP have enuff of it. I want to go Knott's, I want to go Knotts. Well, there is a child in everyone.

Then what greater news to hear in November, there is military discount. We enter for free. Hooray!!!! But that is by thanksgiving. Okay, first weekend of Nov is out, we have planned to go away. Second weekend, we fell ill from the trip before. So we went on Saturday.

Here is us doing the tourist's thing:


I am no fan of roller coaster and nothing in the world will change my mind about it. The last time I was on a roller coaster was when I was 13years old in Genting, Malaysia. Not much of a ride in most people's opinion I am sure. I didn't enjoy it at all.
So as much as I wanted to go to Knott's, I have no idea what I would be doing there. Maybe visit the Charles M Schulz theatre or something.

But then I read about them having a wooden roller coaster built in year 1929. The writeup talks about how it makes a greater ride than modern roller coaster, as the sound of creaking wood totally enhanced the experience.

So on our way there, I was sure that if I was only to take one ride, that would be it. The Ghostrider would be it. I mean a wooden roller coaster built in 1929, how scaring can it get? I think I can handle it and I am sure all those critics I have read must be the nostalgic factor that makes it a great ride and the fact that it is still function well part. And I love all things old.

So with logic all processed and risk factor accessed by observing the actual structure while queuing in line, I innocently agreed to taking the front seats. Mine mine mine, what a mistake that turns out to be. You see most of the most thrilling parts of the ride are well hidden from the outside and while one (actually all three of us) thought that the scariest would be the going down from very steep angle, we were so so wrong. That happens to be the easy part. It was the turns that really threw us off guide and off our seats as well. And because of my size, there is alot more being thrown around. So as WEP and friend talked about the G force of the ride, to me, it was more G x S (G for G force and S for shift force, being shifting around the seat because my size can't cover the entire seat).

Okay, I am definitely not going for the Sliver Bullet which is the one where one's feet will be hanging and you will be flipped upside down and there are alot of cork screw turns. I mean all rides with feet hanging are always known to be one of the most thrilling rides right? No no no. Then we notice oh, all rides have a rating on it, 1 to 5, 5 being Aggressive Thrill attractions. So we decided okay, let's check out what rating was GhostRider, then we decide if I am going on Silver Bullet (which is a 5). If GhostRider was a 4, then I will give Silver Bullet a try. Turns out GhostRider was a 5, so there is no chicken out for me now. Turns out, GhostRider was the more thrilling of the two and if it hasn't been my innocence and if I have known about the rating before going, I guess I wouldn't have taken any ride. And the day won't have been so so fun.

Us with Silver Bullet in the backdrop (this is us after the ride)

Thrill factor may not be a great, but a lot more scenic, there is one part when we were diving down to the little pond, come so close to it, it felt so good, then in a split second, it was gone.


It really was a blast. The place was really huge with several rides. It is really fun and there is fun for everyone. Check it out if you have a chance.

Here are pics of Ghostrider:

My shot:

Professional shot:



And for more information, checkout the website http://www.knotts.com/

Scissors - what does it got to do with anything?

Where on earth did I pick up this broken pair of scissors? And what would this already broken, and of no use scissors got to do with anything? An eventful afternoon.

WEP rushed home from work on Wednesday, rushing me to get ready to go out. There is this marine cloud that had moved and hoovered to Point Loma what is really beautiful and since it is whale watching season, guess we didn't want to miss it. So loaded with water, camera, clothings to keep us warm, we headed to a 10mile drive to Point Loma. It is actually 3miles away, but roads aren't built that way sometimes.

Up the freeway we went, travelling at the instructed speed, suddenly, a bing sound, which is a common sound when we change lane with lane dividers on the road. But then, there was this other sound afterwards, coming from the right rear side of the car, that just didn't go away. Something is not right....(I am sure most of you must have guessed it). We got out of the freeway, drove downtown to find somewhere we can stop (traffic rules are dead serious, obey it, or you might not just get fine which is alot more than home, but also appear in court).

Yup, the broken scissors jabbed right deep into our right side rear tire, we got it out, which translate to a flat tire of course, got out our spare, only to realise we got cheated, coz it didn't fit the make of the car. It has four holes for the nuts, but our car tires have five. Great!!!! Thankfully, we have AAA. One call to AAA, 5mins later, the tow trunk is here. Off we go to a tire shop to get this tire fixed.

(Okay, this is the first time in our entire life that we have a flat tire situation, so WEP was really thrilled thinking we could finally get a hand on changing a flat tire. Lesson learnt, when you buy a car next time, check not just if the spare tire has got air and all that stuff, but also the rim. Our workshop's mechanic was telling us even he wouldn't have thought the need to check that.)

Well, it is also the first time we got our car towed, so it was rather exciting, watching the tow guy doing his stuff. I am sure he must have thought that we are nuts. He is really really nice, giving us tips and all about changing tire and getting upset with us about the spare tire situation.

Okay, getting a broken tire fixed should not be difficult right. We told the guy what happened, we trust that he would do what is best to be done and off we go. That is what we thought happened, they patched in cut, we paid, I wonder if it will work but trusted the guys to know what they are doing and off we went...to Point Loma. Then on our way there, I heard a funny sound on the freeway again, alerted WEP, exited the freeway, back to downtown with a FLAT TIRE.

One thing for sure, no Point Loma. We called back the tow guy and he came, asked why didn't we get the tire changed, we told him we told the mechanic to fix it and expected them to tell us what is the best thing to do. Turns out, it doesn't work that way. Alot of mechanics these days just do as the customers tell them as they do not want to get accused of hard selling which happens all the time. Well, how would we know that? They are the experts and we are not. So, guess now we have to spend more money on the flat tire. Sigh.... Living on one person's income in a country whose currency is stronger...we really want to avoid unnecessary expenses. What's more the tow guy was already off duty but was kind enough to come and get us, even though he was getting chased on the phone by his second job boss of how late he would be and he trying to get to the tire shop guys on the phone to tell them off about our situation, all while driving us there. Can you imagine the tension in that little cabin, all three of us squeezed in the only seats on the the truck? Very tensed....And if that wasn't enough, a jam on the freeway!!! (And not very fun anyway, coz it wasn't our first tow experience anymore)

We managed to swing out of it, took another route and reached the tire shop 15mins later, all the time phone ringing for the tow guy and you know if you get caught talking on the mobile phone on the road, there will be so much trouble. Tense tense tense. We got there, felt really bad as we could have called AAA again and they get us another guy, but our tow guy said, no no, he wanted to fix this for us. So we thought, we should give him another tip for all the trouble he went through. Guess what, he rejected it saying we have already given him before. How nice, for the stress he has to go through himself, many people who have just taken it. After scolding the guy at the shop, making sure they will give us a discount from the patch work, though he did tell us it is not their fault, it is really a difficult job for them, to advise or not to advise, he left.

We have to explain all over again to the mechanic how we expected things to be and didn't know better. I mean they were still doing our tire and unhappy mechanics doing our car, not a good idea. We got the total money paid earlier as credit (patch job was USD20), the used tire we got which was in pretty good shape, USD40, so we had to pay USD20 more. Okay, deal!


Job done, went to pay and met the boss. Hmmm...let's explain ourselves again, don't want to make enemies in a new country. He nodded, said he understand us being from another place, not knowing better and that his staff should give advice, and asked, are you from the navy? We were like "Huh".... Explained WEP's job and all....okay now more at stake, country, military, let's not get this screwed...fingers crossed and me with a distressed face (a flat tire and 2hours later already)....

Then, praise to God, coz we have been praying too, that it would not be a bombshell price and all, the boss said, it is on the house. We didn't have to pay the extra USD20. Why, because he was from the Navy too, of course the US Navy, from the subs.

So okay, a few bad things happened to us, but a few good things happened to us too, we met two nice persons, learnt a few things and got a huge discount off our tire.

How did the tire shop boss know we are from the Navy, it is all because of this:

So glad we got it - in case you can't read clearly, it says FLY NAVY (Top), NAVAL AVIATION (Bottom)

Our Car - It is a '99 VW JET

Finally, after days and days of going through Craig's List and Edmunds, we got our car. It is a '99 VW Jet. Never heard of Jet, before, don't worry. We haven't too. Hee hee, I am sure some of you already know what car it really is.
I think pics are better than words, so here it is





Yup, the TA fell out.

Why Getting My Driving License is a must?

Well, everyone knows that not having a car in United States, especially in California is almost like not having a pair of legs. One gets really restricted to where one can go. Before I discover that there is a ferry between Coronado and San Diego Downtown, the only way I knew one could get there is via the Coronado Bay Bridge. And only motor vehicles can travel on it. Arrr.....actually that is not true. Either that, or people who want to commit suicide. I am serious. According to a friend, who wiki everything, it is the 3rd deadliest suicide bridge in USA. Don't believe me, check it out with the website below. You can also find the more professional shoot of the bridge there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronado_Bay_Bridge

So you would think well no wonder I like to get my license....Errr, if you tink so you think wrong. I am more lame than that. Hahaha. I am more enthusiastic about getting my driving license because I don't want to miss out.... See when we get around these days, we only have two identities, 1) our pass to the Naval Base & 2) our passport. Hahaha, so for 5days, when I was waiting for my appointment to make my pass, I am really without identity. I can't even buy things in the base myself because only military personnel and family members who have their passes can shop there.

Okay, but that is not the point. WEP and I didn't experience it ourselves but heard from his guys that they tried to go clubbing a few times and often got rejected at the door because the bouncers believe them to be too young and not the age that they claim. And it is a ruling here than even if you clearly looked like you make the age requirement (eg a 50yr old man), they will still need to see your identity.

Singapore driving license or NRIC won't do, because they never see them before and can't tell if it is fake. Then the guys were told even if you bring your passport, you might be denied entry (apparently one tourist experienced just that) because they cannot determine genuinity as well. So how? CA driving license lor, which everyone will definitely get, since they all have been driving and will easily pass the practical except me lor. And I so long didn't drive already (as in as a student), I think I also rusty liao.

Sigh, must try, must try, but the slopes here very scary lor. Slopes here are like real slopes lor, some of them just like those in SF.

Anyway, I think although the system seem to make it very restrictive, I think it is quite good. At least I know they are really doing their job and keeping up with security.

In fact, when one uses a credit card, they will ask for identity as well and you know how in Singapore, you can have your card in a name different from your actual NRIC name. My cards are all like that lor, so alot of explaining to do at stores. So, when I want to use credit, I always make sure WEP is ard, in case I need to fall back on his credit. Which turns out to be a good thing anyway, since it means I can only spend cash and that really restrict unnec shopping.

Walmart...I luv it...I hate it

So on my second day here, we made my first trip to Walmart. WEP already did his "maiden" trip to get the essentials like bedsheet so I have a bed to sleep on when I arrive.

This is the truck which we saw while driving to Walmart, near its entrance.


And there it is, Walmart, as most of us (even if we have not been to US before would know) from our marketing textbooks...


Look at the damage, mind you, this is only first round...We have to go back for a second because we had no more space for the things we had to buy.


And if you think that was it, you were wrong again, we been back I think twice in the week that follows and each time, the bill was never two digit figure. That's why I hated it. Makes one spend.

But what I love about it are these...my 5 dollars buy!!!


You know the same dinnerware in another color will set one back by $19.95. But the blue one (most probably because it is less attractive color) is only $5. But it does come with a catch, we got to check each piece caused there were broken ones in each box, and we have make sure every piece is intact before we pay. But well, it is worth the effort.

Aiyo, I caused traffic!

I guess you can say we are living in the suburbs, not much traffic all day round. Perhaps only early in the morning where all the navy people head into the island to report to work and about 3 to 4 plus, where people are heading home. Else, there isn't much traffic. People are very polite, nothing like Singapore. Better give disclaimer at this point, such is the case in Coronado as we have come to understand.

So how on earth I can cause traffic in such a place. Well, see I am yet tuned to the rhymes of Coronado, so when I cross the road, my mind is still set at crossing road in Raffles Place. Check and check some more, then cross. If not, later get flattened by speedy car coming from nowhere.

So of course, I check and check some more here also lor. Too used to the vehicle wins, unless you think you are made stronger than steel mentality. So what happened, in doing so, I got one SUV, one public bus, behind the latter, some more cars, all stopped waiting for me to cross the road. And me, still blur blur, standing there, waiting for the bus to make its turn. So I waited for them, they waited for me, until I think the driver in the SUV realised I am not understanding, and waved for me to cross lor.

Then I looked back and realised, oh oh, I just caused a built up just outside the junction where our estate is and there never is traffic there, ever, at all. (Thought I could find a photo of the junction, don't have...when I get one, I will post it)

Hahaha.

Nice to know that when I step my foot onto the road, I will not get killed, that I take priority even over public traffic.

The Verdict is OUT

After sniffing and sneezing since I arrived and having all these on and off fever, today I think I know why. A friend who is a native California has told me that it ought to be allergy, perhaps due to the weather changes in Oct which is very common. But I wasn't too sure.

Haven't been sniffing for two days in a row which has been great. But while having a short run just now, I started having this runny nose and when I looked around, there are flowers everywhere. Ha, never knew I am allergic to flowers, must be the pollen. And guess what we got flowers at home.

Look, aren't they lovely? It is worth the sniffing... Hee Hee. I didn't buy them, WEP did. Ha Ha, passing the blame. He actually bought them to cheer me up for not feeling well...Ironic, isn't it?

Our Studio Apartment

As most of you know, I don't like small spaces and I do quite poorly in them. So maybe you be wondering what on earth I am doing in a studio apartment. Well, when you are in a country whose currency is 1.5 of yours and that you are depending on one's person income, one learn to adapt. HAHAHA.

Anyway, after being a homemaker for the past 1 and half months, I had wished that our 5 room flat will shrink by itself so it is easier for someone small like me to upkeep. So the studio apartment is a good change for me. Anyway, I am so good to fill the house with things, the smaller the place, the better for our pocket I guess.

So here it is. Our humble studio apartment in Coronado. It come pretty much unfurnished, but it looks quite alright. We bought, TV, DVD player, TV console, Microwave, pots, pans, dinnerware, two foldable metal chairs (you know those used in WWF), two coffeetables, one wooden one and one metal one. That it is.

(Oh yes, Hide in case you are wondering, yes there are candles (3 of them, 2 bought by WEP), this is our house, what do you expect, candles are a must. (hee hee hee) And flowers too (bought by WEP too, not me)

Now I shall let the photos do the talking...then you tell me what you think....









This is our Balcony from ground floor view (we are on the third and uppermost floor), must be one of the barest balcony with 1 lone metal chair and coffeetable. Look pretty cold. Still comtemplating on plants....


These are the views from our Balcony




For pictures of our neighbourhood and the estate which we are staying, please refer to www.coronadobayclub.com. Think I shall not attempt to compete with more professional shots and spoil the actual beauty of this estate. It really is a lovely place to live in.

to be continued (View around our estate)

A Father's Love

Over the past 2 weeks before my big day (departing to US), I come to realize just how much is in a father's love. My dad will be turning 69yrs old come 3Nov. He has worked hard to provide for us all his life, have gone through so much in his life, it is really amazing to see how he continues to choose to believe there is hope for the better in everything.

Till recently, he has never operated a computer, doesn't own a mobile phone, doesn't believe much in today's tech which we all rely on so much. But because of me, he learnt to use SKYPE. I know SKYPE is not difficult to use, but learning SKYPE for him, includes learning how to use a computer. As I was passing my parents my laptop, he had to learnt to set it up (the video cam etc) , log in etc.

It was a very very touching experience for me. As I was going through with him, he was taking notes, asking questions, and his eyesight isn't very great, but he managed. He practised and practised, not just on the computer when I was there. Because a week when I returned, I could see he had actually reviewed his notes, improved it, internalized them, coz he could then after a week of not trying out, completely did it on his own from setting up the laptop to shutting down without referring back to his notes. This is a 69 year old man learning. And if we could sometimes complain about not learning as quickly now that we are older, then what my father is able to do must be amplified many times over.

And such is my father's love for me. To do something which he otherwise would not have done, but because of his love for me, did so anyway. How much more is our Father in Heaven's love for us.

Here is my dad on his 68th birthday. Look at his hair, all his, no dye involved.

4 Oct (Second time over)

This is the early morning of 04 Oct (Los Angeles time) still on my journey of the a 9 and half hour flight from Narita to LAX.




The sights and scenery of the drive from LA to Coronado, off San Diego. So actually, I am not in San Diego but in Coronado.












And this is my beloved driver who has driven 2 and half hours on his own from Coronado to LAX to get me and now on his next 2 and half hour back. If you look closely, you may observe some signs of what one week of American food can do to you... ... (I think he might kill me for hinting it). You shall know if I do not blog again...heeheehee

The journey begins....4 Oct (1st Leg)

So here the journey begins for me. We are going on an adventure... in which we have no idea what awaits us. Actually not true. WEP knows what awaits him, his training. I am the one who is stepping into the world of unknown. For both of us, it is our first time in United States. Though having worked in US companies all my life and interacting with Americans on a regular basis, guess going to the country would still be a relative new thing.

Here are my parents with me at the airport at the ridiculous hour of 4:45am. We planned to be there at 5am but got in early. Special thanks to my uncle (TCC) for coming to drive us to the airport.



The flight to Narita was great. The service on the plane was fantastic despite all that I have heard about the airline. Which airline? The one starting with Uxxxxd. Why not fly SQ? The govt didn't pay for me leh and it is $700 difference!!! The seat is quite roomy (I know what do I know about space constraint). But I felt it was more comfortable than my flight to Sydney on SQ. Of course entertainment wasn't great, but since my intent was to sleep, having stayed up whole of friday night, it didn't bother me much.

What bother me most is I actually forgot to keep my camera with me and missed the best sunrise on the plane ever! Almost shot myself. First time ever I did not take the clouds on the plane. Every trip except this!!! Why didn't just go and get it? First, the lady besides me is Japanese and she was sleeping. Even if she wasn't sleeping, the only way I could get to the overhead compartment is by climbing the seat! I don't think that was nice. Why does she being Japanese got to do with anything? I don't know, because they are polite and hygiene is very important to them??!!?!?!?!?!?! I don't know, just don't think it is nice la.

You know what I love about the Narita airport (BTW also my first time at the airport)

THIS!!!!





I think I caused a queue because of it. I shan't indulge in details, just use your own imagination la.

There you have it, my first 9 and half hours of the 04 Oct 2008