Everybody makes differences

-I took a road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference-

I saw this on a friend's blog. It touched me when I read it. Having been through the very difficult but fun studying process in the States for all these years, I think I have made my life a significant difference. Laying in my bed, sometimes I wonder what would be my life if I did not persist to come to the States. Now I am working as a health provider. I believe that I shall made differences to somebody else life. When I go to work with the thought, I work happier and job becomes more enjoyable.

At my job, we have a lot of old people and usually they come from nursing home. They are sent to the hospitals when they are sicker at nursing home. A lot of Alzeheimers, dimentias, broken legs, organ failurers, and so many other problems, they are helpless. I found that the most thing I heard from them when asking them question is " I don't know" even a simple question like "Do you want to go to bath room."

Now I think I am such a lucky person that I have many resourses and helps so many years studying and living in the States. Everybody makes differences.

One Day in Arboretum

charlie's angel

When M sent this picture to me through email, I smiled myself and time was going back to 2004's spring at SFA's arboretum. Around the time of blooming azalea every year, I think I will always remember two other angels. M has a job in Austin, Texas. F is studying in Carbondale, Illinoi. I, myself work in Richmond, Virginia. Life seems to play a very naughty game master on earth. Friends get together in a certain place then are seperated in other places. Emails, pictures, and phones are the media to connect each other from time to time until the relatiohships either longer or wash out.
We meet new friends but old friends are more adroable to me. So when new friends become old friends. It is like drinking a glass of red wine. The longer the red wines are stored the better it tastes. Cheers to my friends! And Charlie I think, he is probably the master to make friendship happen.

Laptop 

New Laptop, Yeah!!

Since my second-hand old laptop kept giving me all kinds of problems, I finally made up my mind to get a new one. The question was a Mac or PC, was a entry-level or fancy one, was a cheap or cheapper one, and was black or silver...Oh, God! Can somebody just send me one from the sky and I will take it. Browsing on line and I mean just with DELL, there was just more than enough information that I needed to know. It had been about 3-4 weeks that I though about buying a new one in Feburary. Fortunatelly, my job is giving me certain level of economic security that I will be able to say goodbye to me old laptop.

I happened to find out that there is a Dell direct store (kios) in Richmond opening in March 20. Thursday after work two weeks ago, I could't wait to arrive the Kios as fast as I could and find a pretty, multifuntional, and cheap laptop then brought it home the same day. The result was a bit disappointed. When I went to a Apple store in North Carolina in December, I thought Mac was so cool. The store exhibted all kind of their products such as laptops, ipods, desktops, accessories, and softwares, etc. The store was packed (maybe it was close to X'mas). But still. So, when I went to the Chesterfield Mall Town Centre and tried to find the Dell kios, I wondered if Michael Dell was going downhill or something. But I was so desperated for a computer, I walked to talk witht the sale representative any way and bought a XPS M140 in twenty minutes. When I said I bought, it means that I ordered a laptop at the kios on line. So, I didn't get the laptop right away..... One good thing is that I got a small discount from going there.

Yeah, I am finally using my new top and having my normal life back. Without a computer, I felt
my life was so bored and started to have withdrawl syndrom from not using keyboard.... I was typing on my desk.

My Roommates

My Roommates

Aren't my roommates cute? Kirby and Quinn are well-behaved roommates. Usually they won't come to my room which is the topest room in the house. Starting with Kirby, I was trying to let him out from the cage the other day when I heard him whinning. So I went downstairs to see him. He growed at me when I tried to open the door to let him out and go potty. I was kind of scare that he seemed to bite me and didn't want to come out from the cage. That was so wired. He was kind of upset or nervous. Obviously, I didn't want to lose a finger or get a bleeding hand. So I let him stay there as he wanted. The next day, when he saw me he was all jumping and running on me. Isn't that multipersonalities? He has soft curly gray hair and sometimes I think myself if he can see with all those long hair covering his eyes. But he seem to run and walk without problem so I guess it is either he has very good sense of smell or is good at direction.

Unlike Kirby, Quinn is a food lover. Whenever I cook in the kitchen, he will sniff around the kitchen islet and get on tables or counters on his front feet. And this is not his fault. Quinn was adopted from the shelter and found that he has Addison Symdrom and Epilepsy. He is on medication every 6 hours. The durg makes him want to eat all the time. The cutting board in the kitchen has a cute dog figure just like him and it says "The chef is not responsible for the dog hair in the food" on the background. I think it is funny.

Speaking of how I was able to take a picture of two dogs sitting still close to eachother just imaging that I was holding a cookie in one hand and trying to take the picture with the other. And calling their name constantly when either one of them was trying to move out from my camara window. It was kind of playing crown thing.

Snowing Richmond

snowing Richmond



snowing Richmond

The two snows of 2006 were such exciting for most people in spite of the cold. Wait just a minute, is the news just announcing it is now 21 degree? Oh, well my room is the warmest any way since I live in the attic. It is about two weeks at Charter Colony. Things have been going pretty smooth with me and I enjoy my life a lot.
Monday is the day that I suppose to have my orientation of CJW Medical Center (www.cjwmedical.com). Yes, I got a RN job finally. After I got my license, I have been running between different hospitals which most of the responses regarding my applications are very positive and I have choices. Driving to work of the restaurant, I looked at the snow flakes falling and melting on my wind shield thinking about the meaning of life. Snow flakes were dancing with the wind as my speed went up. Shouldn't life be beautiful and simple as snow flakes. White, weightless, pure, and angel-like.... I think seeing snow flake is a sign as a piece of good news.

Figure Skating and Valentine

China&Russia2006

What a wonderful present for Valentine's day to me! Fugure skating has been one of my favorite watching sports. I must say that it is the most beautiful sport that I consider it is an art form than a sport. Combining music, opera, dance, and technic, pair figure skating needs more hard work comparing to single figure skating. It was really a touchful moment to see both Russian and Chinese skaters standing on the podium. These two neighbor countries not only are the good competitors but are friends enjoying over a skating party to me.

I got the winter olympic tv schedule on my desk with all figure skating highlighted. Returning home from the book store, I rushed into my room and turned the tv on NBC ready for the program. I never knew that China has so many well-trained skaters for Olympic. I could not continue watching Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang's performance after they failed the salchow quadruple which no one has ever done it bofore. She was literally thrown on ice and injured her knee. Everybody could see her pain from the tears holding of her eyes on TV. Amazingly, they continued and beautifully performed their spirit.

Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin were kind of stunned off the rink when they saw the brutal fall of Zhangs. Two years ago, they had a worse accident on ice. Tatiana lost her conscious over the performance and Maxim lost his confidence on ice. I think this is a great moment for them winning the gold medal this time. For them it really means a lot. Shouldn't a relationship of two lovers be just like the relationship of a pair skater. There are trusts, encouragements, strenghs, and tests over a time period.

They don't want me. It's Chinese New Year!

I was a bit disturbed when I got the email about not getting the internship at the hospital after two major interviews. This is the position that I have been waiting for and not going to other hospitals. Because this possible internship program, I truned down couple offers. Well, I guess things just don't always go what you expect to. This NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) internship program takes about 2-3 months to complete then you will work as a staff after the program. I have done everything to show them about my interest. However, after several interviews with the nurse recruiter, manager and the educator, they probably think it would be too much trouble to sponsor me for the immigrant visa (according to the email that I got from the human resourse people).
Well, I just have to put myself together and go to other hospitals. I am glad that I have a temporary job working at the Shanghai chinese restaurant otherwise I don't know how I will be able to survive after moving out from my aunt's. Happy Chinese New Year!!

Bachelorette

When my friend saw this picture, she said to me you were the one who the most didn't seem to catch the bouquet. My cousin, Karen's wedding has been officially and unofficially approved three years and three months ago, respectively. Marriage to me is like adult playing house. I can't remember how many wonderful and ugly marriages I have seen or heard about through friends, relatives, coworkers, and strangers. About two or three weeks ago, there was a book introducing by a reporter on CNN news. "Are Man Ncecssary?". I think it would be an interesting book to read. But I wonder if there is a book name " Are Woman Necessary?".

The day when we got together!

Italian food 


I think it was the picture that we took at Nacogdoches before Carey was heading to Mongolia for his film project. It was Jenny, Shu-Yung, Shu-Chun,I Kuai, Carey, Ching and me. We did have a good time. Actually, I am just practicing my online photos posting today. It would be good to have photos on my blog, I think. To make stories more interesting and fun, photos are necessary.

Writer's Notebook

It has been a while that I think about having my writer's notebook. The idea came from the time when I was a student assistant in Elementary Education Department. I was assigined to Dr. Lacina as her assistant for all her classes online (WEBCT). I really enjoy working with her. I learned how to write, what makes a good writer and I read all her students' writing. It was really a wonderful expirence. English is not my mother tounge but I am a good learner and willing to learn it very much. So the wirter's notebook idea was form ever since then.

Web log is a good way to apply my writing desire. It is not that seriours and I can manage to write whatever I want to write about. Sometimes, I feel I have so many things happen everyday that I want to write and share. Every little thought and thinking would be very interesting to be recored. Life is full of laughter, sadness, and unforgetable moments that I don't want to miss it all. Places that I go, pleople that I meet, things that I do could be all important parts or pages of my life.

I do have a lot to learn about writing.

King Kong, Geisha, Gay Cowboy, Pocahontas, and more...

Rachel and I was talking about the movies at work today. We were planning going for King Kong after work to see the midnight movie. But they didn't show King Kong at midnight when Rachel checked on the newspaper. There are pretty good movies recently. I guess it is because the holidays (X'mas and New Year). Why King Kong? Rachel and I was talking about the first King Kong movie. She said that she cried when King Kong held the beauty in his palm carefully and when King Kong fell from the Empire State Building. In fact, I don't really have clear images in my brain but little bit black and white King Kong holding a girl pictures and the moment when he fell from the building.

The other day, I was reading Y's blog and she has left some critiques about Pride and Prejudice, and Brokeback Mountain. Also, Trinh was talking about going to see Memoir of a Geisha. At the dinner after Richmond Bridal Show, Trinh said that she saw the movie and she liked it. So we were talking abou the movies for a while. When I mentioned about the Brokeback Mountain, Ron had a comment that he doesn't want to see a gay cowboy movie. But I think it would be a good movie to see.

The New World will be in theaters by the end of this month. I have been expecting for the movie for almost more than a year. The reasons are: 1)Carey is the assistant producer; 2) I have seen the movie " The thin red line". I like the movie and director; 3) I like Pocahontas story ever since I've seen the Disney movie.

Any way, I went to see King Kong on 1/12 and I cried through 1/2 movie. I cried when King Kong fought so hard and brave with the dinosaurs. I cried when they caught King Kong so cruely then I cried when King Kong fell down from the Building. God, I never know that I am such a cry baby....

Last weekend (1/15), I went to see Memoir of a Geisha. I've read the book and like it a lot. The movie was kind of disappoing. I think maybe I was expecting too much before I saw it plus my stomach was killing me when I was watching the movie. So I didn't really enjoy the movie.

In a nut shell, movies help me to release my emotions and learn English.

New York or Somewhere else

I didn't know finding a job with a registered nurse license would be so easy in the states to me. Since I got my license about a week ago, I went to the local hospital in Richmond near my aunt's house which is where I am staying. They would hire me on the spot if I said yes. Well, I am still kind of doing weight and balance thing. There are something I need to think about before I make my final decision.

The employment agency in New York that I talked to offering the best pay and it is a very attractive city which I don't know if I really like it. Moreover, I think that it might be a job that I don't really like because they contract with nursing homes. It is not that I don't like old pelple. When I was in Taiwan, I would cry whenever I go to a nursing home. It is just sad to me working at that environment. Texas has all my friends that I love to stay closer and I think it would not be a problem finding a job there with a license. But I just don't feel like going back at this moment. As for Virginia, I think that I need to move out from my aunt's first then I will think about it. I have been staying with them for 6 month.

New York, New York, Lone Star carefree spirit, or just take a job closer and easier in Virginia... It is my project now.

My blue shooting star

I was driving home after work. The sky was dark blue saturated with cold air. As soon as I walked out the restaurant door, I ran to my lovely car and couldn't wait to get home in next second. It was two days before my NCLEX exam. I have been studying for the exam about 6 month including the qualifying exam. I was pretty nervous and just wanted to get over with it. Working and studying in the same time is not fun at all. Speaking of working, I mean working in a chinese restaurant. I remember like five years ago, I have sweared that I would never work at a restaurant in the future and guess where I am now. Any way, I am tired but I work hard.

Turning up my radio to the classical music station, I was on my way home. When I stopped at the traffic light, the blue shooting star flew through in front of me in a way of telling me "come on girl, make you wish and it will come true." I think I made a wish without a doubt in just two second. I was excited to see the shooting star (It was blue. Isn't that special?) inspite of my heavy body and sleepy eyes.

Then I drove a happy trip to home. It is hard to forget if you have seen a blue star in you life. I think I will never forget it. I took the exam for 6 hours and felt sorry for myself because I left 2 questions unanswered(total 265). I was sad when I left the test center. I though the blue star was a good sign. The proctor wished me good luck when I walked up to my locker leaving for work at 4pm. That was very nice of him but I felt it was pethtic.

Then it was X'mas. The it was two days before New Year's Eve. I went to get the mail after I got home from work. There was my registered nurse license (somehow it looked like a piece of trash paper to me; it is about a 5x7 big paper). Yeah, I passed the exam. I kissed the blue shooing star good night.

Merry X'mas, dear friends

I got off from working at Shanghai chinese restaurant and my aunt told me that my cousin called to see if I want to go over Mary's for X'mas party. It was on chrismas eve around 11pm. I was tired from work and needed some love that night at that moment so I went. It was one of the most unforgetable X'mas in my life so far.

To tell the truth, I was not prepared at all for the party and was told just to show up. I drove there and found there was about 20 people inside the house when the door was opened. Most of the people were Mary and Trinh's family members and relatives (father, mom, brothers, cousins and friends etc.). Some were cooking the X'mas ham, soup, and stuffs and serving drinks in the kitchen area. Some were talking and drinking either in the living room or the dinning room. The X'mas tree was standing beautifully by the window and the fire place was heating up everybody's heart nicely. I was kind of didn't know what to do though I know some of them. I was glad that my cousin, Karen and her husband, Ron were there. Since it was my first time to Kieu's X'mas gathering (It is hold annually), I was considering new member. Mary and Trinh were nice. They were talking to me, showing me things around and it made me felt more confortable as time went by. Actually, I was thouched and very happy that I came.
It was the time to eat and wish everybody Merry X'mas. Then it was the time to open the presents. They were piled like a little mountain. Mary and Mariko were delivering the gift to everybody. And I got presents too. I was surprised to get presents. I like X'mas not because I get gifts. Looking at the X'mas tree, I thought of where I was for X'mas last year and years before. I think I like X'mas because of it gives me time to think of friends and my family that are not around me. I send cards, calls, or emails every year to Taiwan, Japan, and England trying to wave friends and family hello and present to them I am still alive. It is also interesting to know how friends and family are doing. It is neat and it is almost Year 2006!! Merry X'mas and Happy New Year everybody.

Bubble Secret

I have a secret that it is about you and me. The secret is wrapped with bubbles. Sad and beautiful thing is I cannot talk to you of the secret because I've lost my voice over this ambigious relationship and it is better to just leave it for myself. The devil has told me all the consequesnes if I tell. It has been hurts and aches all over my piecesed-heart. My tear drops are saved and drained at quiet nights just for me.

Picking up my heart pieces, I leave you and move on. Bubbles disappear in the air. When kids blow bubbles in the games, memory comes back to me and the bubble secret is formed. I am the little mermaid who does not die.

My little mermaid though came from the several of my relationships with people. Sometimes, I think I lose voice with people. Sometimes, I unwrap the bubble to let people decode my bubble language.

Russell

You are the laziest and cutest thing I have ever met. On sunny days, I would see you laying there with your eyes closed like an old man thinking back his life. On rainy days, you walk like nobody else's business under either heavy or light rain. I heard of your story about almost losing a ear couple years ago. It was a vigorous fight and you won.

Sometimes, I like you to stay with me at the house without my family's knowing. It is like the little secret that only we both know in the whole world. Although you don't talk a lot, you always reply me that you love me too with a understandable sound.

Yes, that purring is such a love language in your cat world. And I know that ham and turkey will always be my weapon to win your heart-Russell, my secret pet next door.

The Jolley Family that I Miss

Do people say when you kind of feeling lonesome, you miss the most nicest people who you ever met in your life. Yes, Janice and Tom are considered my friends that I would never find again any place in the world. Recently, I think of the my life back in Texas while I was living with Janice, Tom and Toddy (Oh, and two cats- Sasami and Nabiki).

Since I was the only chinese in the house, it was really fun trying to think and talk in english 24-7. Janice and Tom both speak good english of course because they are americans. Toddy, well, is now 2 years old. He speaks some english which I think I can understand about 1 percent of his talk. So you know how much I might understant his talk way back when we were roommy together. He is such a doll. Last time I talked to him on the phone. He greeted me with a cute cute "hi" during his first thanksgiving dinner. As for Sasami and Nabiki, I think one "Meow" means pat me and two "Meow" means feed me. Purrrs mean I am in heaven.
Sometimes, I think that Janice and Tom have rescued me during the time I studied at SFA. I was just a poor foregin student living the limited budget with them. Janice was pregnant with Toddy. (I do want to thank WIC program about the free milk, juice and cheese etc.) Tom was the only "man" who brought bread home and he worked wired hours something like 10pm to 7am. But I had the most nice and sweet experiences living with them in that little house on Greenwood street.
We had fun and funny experiences. How can I forget the day when Toddy was born. It was probably 4am in the morning when I got the phone call from Tom at the hospital. "The baby is coming in anytime" he said. "Ok, I will pick up papa and mama to the hospital in few seconds," I replied. Well, I didn't have a car that time. Tom's big old van was the only availabe veihcle at that moment. Oh, lord! And where exactly is papa and mama's address. I guess I would just hit the road and God will help me get there safe. Somehow, I picked up papa and mama arriving hospital at a good timing. We were blessed to have the most cutest baby Tod in the world. It was December 4th, 2003.
Though time flys, I would never forget my lovely family in Texas.

Oops! I fell at the wedding ceremony

The passed Sunday was my cousin, Karen's wedding at their backyard. I was there helping a day before and the wedding day morning since it began at 5pm. On Saturday, my brother and I was decorating yard fence, the front door arch, and helping put up the light bulbs. I mean it doesn't look like a difficult chore to work on but it took us forever to just twist and fix the streamer. The wind was blowing the streamer in the air like an angry monster. Finally, we finished several things that we need to do and the house looked less messy comparing to the prior day. It was a sunny Sunday and we still had about 400 things to do before 5pm. Ok, I set up those 13 tables and 100 chairs in the yard then I ran in and out of the house doing this and that. Time was ticking and the bride had to stop at 2:30 pm no matter what she was working on because she had to get dress and have the make up done.

At 2pm, friends started to come and help out. I was kind of tired running in and out of the house putting up table clothe for 13 tables in the backyard again and again because of the wind...As for the food, there were about two tons of food ready to set up on the buffet table. I mean sashimi, shushi, lobster, beef roaster, rolls, sauted shrimp, pig feet (oh! yes gotta have this if you are wedding a chinese) and all kind of dishes. Not to mention about the three-level wedding cake. Any way, everybody was waiting by the wedding arch where the groom waits for the bride to come. The wedding music was having some king of problem because the DJ (groom's dad) couldn't find the song on computer. I ran out to ask the groom and yes I feel just right in front of everybody. Thank you the camera man who had gave the poor lady a hand.

The wedding went well. It was about 80 people show up at my cousin's backyard. Finally, they got married under families and friends' withness after they got married at the court two years ago.

Chef Lee Chinese Restaurant

Today is my 4th day working in the restaruant after I graduated with 2 master degree in August. What have I done so far are that I broke one glass, fell once like flying squirlle while holding a tray on the slippery floor while walking into kitchen, ordered couple wrong entrees, and made customers waited for a to-go box for about 10 minutes and so on. Good! What is going to happen next...and next..