Busy bee life

I am so sick. It is a bad cold that I ever have. With my clinical in school, I deal with kids up to age 18. Feburary, according to my preceptor, is the busiest month of the year. And my bad cold can defintely proof that. It has been over a month since school started and I am really tired of crazy schedule of school and work. I can't even believe myself that I overslept for work. I was upset. So I need a break.

Skiing in upstate New York sounds fun. I have been thinking about going with my cousin in Long Island since X'mas. Finally, it is spring break time and I request off from work. I is almost about 5 years I did snowboaring and skiing in West Virginia. I just hope that my cold will be gone by the time I go skiing. I guess, the busier I am the more fun I want to have.

As for work, just finished basic rhythm training and got my certificate. I felt I was in hell going to class right after work in the hospital. Fortunately, it was only a 6 week course and was begun before school started. But is you ask me what exactly the differences between 1, 2, and 3 degree AV block, I really can not tell. Patients are fun and bad. The fun part is when they get confused, they basically say something just slip out from their lip. The other day, I was changing this lady's dressing. She had a total hip replacement and was in extremly in pain. When I change it she screaming, kicking, and crying muder, but I thought it was a bit funny seeing that. Then she said to me " Is is this some kind of chinese torture?" That was really fun.

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Tax Season already!!

It is really hard to believe that it is tax season already. Unlike previous years, I think this year I will be taxed 10 folds since I am not a student any more. Crunching the numbers just in my head, I have no idea how much tax I need to "donate" to IRS. Thinking of it makeS me chill.

Recently, I have been thinking about a lot of investing plans. There are so many options in the markets: stocks, real estates, mutual funds, internet saving accounts, and 401k that I am interested in. Investment is such a unpreditable subject in life. I think it is very important but cannot breakthrough taking the risk mind set. Changing 401k plan has been on my to do list for almost a month now without put it in action. I have earned money before with mutual fund, so I will probably go back to mutual fund. Franklintempton's small company mutual fund was my pick and I think it is still doing good. However, fidelity has several top mutual funds and internet stock trading that caught my attention. A friend of mine mentioned about the potential of Nigeria's crud oil stock. It is better to do more research before I act. Scary tax season and investment plan! What a fast money dream!

Why Blue Moon?

Blue moon first inplanted in my mind was about two years ago when I was watching a BBC TV series named"Pennies from Heaven". The song " Blue Moon" was played in it and I like the song. Today I was listening to the radio on my way to work and the host was saying that there is a very interesting phenomenone that people found. Usually we only have one full moon of a month. But when there are two full moons in a month. They call it Blue Moon. This makes me think of my reason to chose the name. Maybe I will find more intersting things about blue moon in the future.

I moved again.

I hate moving. It was as I have figured before I moved in with M. Friends are not good to be roommates. She was the landlord and I think it is better for me to buy a house as soon as possible. Dealing with people that I have to compromise without my own choices is much!! But before I will be able to buy my first house, I need to save money for the down payment. Zero down is just too much interests to pay and I don't like to waste my money in that way. So I found a cheapper and seem nice place to stay for a short period until I buy a house. Hopefully this is a good way to save money.

Six girls under one roof could be fun and war. I think I will find out soon. The owner is one of the six, she teaches piano at home. One girl is a lawyer, one girl is from paraguy and she is a nanny. One is a yoga inststructor. And I am the nurse. The owner has three cats. So there is really not a lot of space in the room. After moving, my whole body hurts. I wish I know good message friends.

Ever sicne I came to Virginia and got a job, I have been looking and dreaming about a house by James River. Sometimes, I drove by the river neighborhoods just to see if there are houses for sale. I think it is never to early to look for hourses. My dream house doesn't need to be big but it must be a house with garage. I think I will make this one my new year resolution then. It is really no fun moving places from places.

Is pink my X'mas color?

Merry X'mas and Happy Year 2007!!

It seems that I always hang out with Karen (cousin) and Ron during X'mas eve. The past two X'mas eves since I moved from Texas, I spent my time with friends and family for X'mas. I was in New York with my aunt and cousins two years before. My next year must be in Taiwan. Then it comes new year. My most unforgetable New Year was probably year 2005 at a bar in New York. Counting down the time and celebrating with champine, it was 100 times exciting when so many people celebrated with you yelling out "Happy New Year" as the TV screen showing neon, x'mas tree, and thousand silver sprinkle confetti (do you know they used 3tons of confetti this year in NY) piecese falling like snowing.

I think of going to different countries for X'mas. That should be fun. The other day I was writing X'mas cards sending out to Japan, England, Norway, Texas, and Taiwan. By the time I ran out of my cards, I still have many friends that I want to write to. My x'mas cards always becomes New Year greeting card for friends. Now I am still writing some friends through email for happy new year. Finding a balance point in work, school and life is just "too fun".

X'mas cake contest!

Merry X'mas!! It is almost year 2007 and I am not in New York. Coming home with my heavy body, I am bitten at work today! One discharge, one admission, one dementia, one congestive heart failure post operation 2 months, and seems all of them were confused. Haven't worked day shift for so long, I think I stood all the way from 7am to 4pm skipping lunch.

Well, I have to admit that I did not get enouth sleep a night before "partying" with firends and family. It was fun. After working at restaurant for 4 hours, went back home for the X'mas party with M's family and my cousin. The cake contest was very competitive!

Cake 1 was March the Penguin; cake 2 was the guinea pig; cake 3 was boy and girl snow angels. And the winner was " March of the penguin". X'mas was nice to have friends and family together. Last year, I was new to this event. This year there were three new people. One is from Spain, one is from France, and Alex was born this two month ago so he is new too. After dinner it was board game time. I always enjoy playing board game ever since I came to the State and play it the very first year when I came and played with my ex's family. It has a magic power to draw people together even you don't know each other and it is fun. Happy time is always short. Working at 7 in the morning, I pulled myself out of the chair and went sleep and saw it was already 2 o'clock. I was pretty sure that I was alert and thinking a lot of things of this past year.

Holiday season workload

It is almost X'mas day. Work has been pretty nice. Today we only have 3 patients for each nurse. It seems everybody wants to go home and spend time with family. If work can be like this everyday, how wonderful is that. Compare to 6 or 7 patients, I think 3 to 4 is best nurse to patient ratio. I like working in the new floor. It has been about a month after the renovation of my floor. Things seem getting better. We have more computers and the new feelings though people still complain.

Recently, I have been working a lot. It is during school break and I wanted to spend more time working. I am enjoying the holiday light workload. After the holiday, I bet we will have more surgical patients. Not only work in the hospital, there seems so many that I have to do such as moving, eating, cooking, shopping, getting to know new people and more things to do except going back to school... I don't know if I will be ready any time soon.

At work, we have almost elderly patients. Sometimes, I really hope I won't get old because it is really sad to see how insecured and confused they are then think back of myself when I get old. Today, this lady keep asking me what time is it whenever she wakes up. Sometimes, they keep asking yor name and I will always surronder to demantia patient. I feel bad when they keep saying thing out of the box. (I am going to the mall in a minute. Would you like to go with me ORZ)......She could not remember she is in the hospital and she uses pottie chair every hours. I need to find a job that will keep my spirit up. Maybe I just need a vacation to Hawaii....

All pass!!

The bottomline is "EVERBODY PASSED THE CLASS". Whew! when I got this message in my school email account from the instructor, I felt such a relief for all these few months' school work. This one class especially worried me. I felt so weak and powerless those two weeks during the final exam period. Five classes and job don't get quite along in deed. But I think my problem is that my worry about immigration status worsen my balance a big time.

I remember that when I was doing the physical assesment final exam for lab section. Mrs. Hart wanted me to come back the follow week to do it again, my heart was just falling down the the 18th level hell. I thought I was failed. So I had another paper test to take and the lab exam to worry. G was a girl that I felt who could be my friend from this program. She was very nice and sweet, blond hair and blue eye. We started talking when we both were going to run marathon. She is always nice to me and talk to me. Some girls (most of the girls) in the class are very sorolity type looking to me. I am not into that very much!! You know who could be your friend by instinct thats what I believe. I did not know who I could ask for to be my partner for the 2nd time lab test so I asked G and she said yes right away. That was a very strong bonding right there since we are just classmates. So I studied, practiced plus worked at the hospital. So many time I felt I was almost collapsed and broke down. I told myself thoudsand time be strong and don't let them get you! On my lab test day, I just did what's in my mind from head, face, eye, ear, nose, neck, thoracic, cardio, neuro, muscloskeleton, and vascular system. When I finised in 40 minutes, I was like a man waiting for his sentence in the court. Mrs. Hart shown me my grade of 99% and then she hugged me. I tried to hold my tears and broken voice to not let anybody found that I was weak. But that was really the most wonderful moment of this semester. I made a friend, G, and I feel love from that hug from Mrs. Hart.

School has been out for about a week and I am not ready to go back yet. In order to go back for another "hell" period, I need more time for a break to prepare myself. However, it seems time doesn't wait for people. There are so many thing are going on and things that I need to put on my shoulder in my life.

For The Love of Pete

Accidently, I found this pet store on my way to work. Friday, I got off from my class early and was window shopping at the boutique street next to work. This was one of the stores that I went in. They have a lot of pet stuffs from dog treats, food, blankets, beds, to toys. It was interesting and surprising. The interesting thing is they sell various pet "gears". The surprising thing is the cost. Then I observed the people who came in the store and wonder if they were all relatives of Paris Hilton. Then I thought of her Chiuaua. The clerk and the owner were very nice. I did have fun looking around the store. There was this lady with her infancy son sitting in the baby trolley and her golden retriver sitting outside the store. She bought a pet toy ball that will light up in different colors when touched. It was funny when she said that it was actually for her son then she put it in her son's hands. I think maybe it works better with children than pets!

Their website are well-design and user-friendly. (www.theloveofpete.com) Since I don't have any pet, I guess I save a lot of money.

Nursing philosophy: From Novice to Exper to Mentor

From novice to expert to mentor: how Patricia Benner’s theory would be important in my future practice as an advanced practice nurse.

When I first learned and heard about Patricia Benner’s theory from one of the classmates in this course, I felt deeply that this is the theory that I would like to research more and apply in my future practice as an advanced practice nurse or a in-hospital nurse. In one of the articles that I found there is a quote saying “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” From just reading this quote, it has inspired me enough wanting to learn how to use Patricia Benner’s theory guidelines and become a good mentor in my future practice. My foreign status bothered me ever since I came to the States either being a student or a nurse. I came here a long way to become a RN. It was not a light journey at all. From taking Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing School (CGFNS) qualify test, English language proficiency test to the never ending waiting process, I am glad that it has turned out to a happy ending. Now I can finally tell family and friends that I am doing well. I realized that it is very important to have a mentor to guide you through the dark road. As a foreign nurse, I do have quite a lot of things to learn such as culture differences, languages (slangs), believes and systematic differences etc. Nursing is a caring “business”. Our customers are most of the time sick people; our products are performances and nursing skills . We deal with flesh human beings not machines. Being a competent nurse is very important either in the professional aspect or improving people’s health. Therefore, this is why I choose Patricia Benner’s model of from novice to expert to mentor to be my topic because it would help me and other prospect nurses to become competent in a more efficiency way.

This is the first paragraph of my paper for a class that I am taking now and I got 100%. Well, because this is only a one-credit class so the instructor gives high grade to everybody. What surprised me was when I got an email from my teacher, I was touched. The email is full of encouragements and understandings even it was a short email. I was inspired. I never dislike nursing but also never really devoted myself enough in nursing. After all this years' on and off working and studying to become a "good" nurse has helped me grown a lot, especially during the most important two stages in my life. The first one, I would call it "broken family" period when I was 12 to 18 years old. After dad decided to close his company, mom went to the US working in the restaurant with aunt and uncle. Dad went too the later year. Three of us were left living in an apartment one floor above my grandparents. The other period, I would call it "life direction" period which is happening here in the state under a situation to become an "American". Now I think back and found that nursing really has "saved my life" in time from both traumatized-life stages. Who says life is like riding a rollercoaster going up and down?! It is so true. But I think I have reached the age too dangerous to ride one. I might have a heart attack!!

Who wants to live forever

My free movie ticket had been sitting in my car for at least 6 months since April. The hospital give out movie tickets for employees' birthday. I threw away my homeworks, papers and trivia behind and decided to go to see the movie "The Fountain". My favorite atress, actor, and the fairy tale. I was one of the only three audiences in the theater for the first show of the day. On my way to the movie I went by Rite Aid for after thanksgiving shopping and bought something that was totally out of my shopping list. Well since the shop was very close to the theater, I thought. After shopping, I got lost and could not find the theater. I never been to that theater before..... By the time I got in the room, it was so dark and I stumbled in whatever seat I could touch and sit down.

Last night, Sarah Brightman sang "who wants to live forever" on a TV commercial. The music is still in my mind and today I saw the movie about a man who wants to save his beloved wife dying from cancer. He is a doctor who eager to find the cure for his love. The doctor also struggles himself not letting go the truth of death. Time went to 16 century in Spain. The queen's conquistador finding the tree of life. Then time goes to 26 century the man keeping and nursery the tree. Three parallel stories ends in the same chapter of a book. The man finally let go and was set free himself.

The plot is well-organized since I think that it is not easy to run three stories smooth in a movie. The movie is a bit sad but with the happy ending. (thefountainmovie.warnerbros.com)
Well, finished the movie and work...I guess I still have to face my final exams....Ahhhhhh.....

Alex loves Pooh

As soon as I put Alex in his crib, his big smile made me smile. He was looking at Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore hanging and dancing with the music. Alex is now two months old and he is getting bigger and bigger every day. Yes, EVERYDAY!! I remember when he was born, he was only like 7 pounds and now he is 12 pounds. As I am a child health major in the nursing program, Alex is growing very well. When I turned my head and look at his 6 feet 2 tall dad, I realized oh, Alex has much more potential to grow. Alex is R and K's (my cousin) first baby and he is really a happy boy.

He likes to sleep while there are music, TV, and people's talking in the background. On thanksgiving night, I was holding him downstairs in the crowad and he fell asleep so I took him upstairs to put him in the crib. As I walked up more steps his eyes got wider and wider as the background getting quieter and quieter by the time he was in the crib his eyes were like two 100 watt light bulbs looking at the Pooh and he smiled. I took him back downstairs then he fell asleep quickly as the background talking came back to him. So I guess we found the best lullaby for Alex.

My frist marathon in New York

It finally came the day and I made it to the finish line. At the last 2nd mile, I was walking and almost draging my falling apart body holding the power gel on my right hand toward the line. As soon as I saw the orange and blue finish line gate at the last mile, I took a deep breath and got myself together running again. I was smiling running the last mile. I felt great after all these months' training.

I ran my first marathon on Sunday and the race was a very nice and fun experience. On friday, I worked after school and was thinking about how I am going to take my exam on line before the race. That was really a pain in my neck. I felt like to hit my head against the wall asking god "WHY!!!". On the top of that my bus was leaving at 1am. After work, I flew home, finished packing and took a cat nap. Bus arrived at Chinatown around 7am Saturday. Ok, before the Expo center open for registration, I am going to study more for the exam, I told myself. There I was sitting in a tea shop eating dim sum and studying as hard as I could.

The Expo center was packed of people from all over the world. All the vendors tried their last effort to sell and promote their products for the last day of the registration. I got my bib and signed up for the bus to the start line at Staten Island tomorrow morning. Leaving with a full bag samples (T-shirt, pens, jam, and pain reliever), I went directly to the NY public library. I have to admit that I wanted to choke the person who literally used his cell phone next to me while I was taking the test with my lap top.... When I arrived at my aunt's, I just took a shower and went to bed.

Woke up at 4am, I took the train from Long Island to Penn Station. The sky was still dark blue while walking from Penn to the bus stop at NY library. As I walked closer to the library, people aggragated like going to see a concert or something. I was more excited than nervous.

It was really a wonderful race that I ever had. I was running with the 5 hour pace team in the beginning and the team leader was really fun. She would ask cheering people to say "5 hours rock", "5 hours rock". There were people all the way from the start line to the finish line to cheer you up. They called your name telling you don't give up, you are almost there, good job. To make the race more vivid, there were also live bands. Yep, bands with drums, microphones, guitars, bass, and amplifier. You don't need iPod really. Water and Gaterade were served every and every other mile. Poeple handed tissues, sponges, and things to show their supports. We clapped with the live band music, we waved when passing the camera, and we laughted when someone nearby said something to crack you up. I was tired but I was happy running this marathon.

Running through New York's five boroughs-Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Manhattan, I saw New York in five hours. That's pretty worthy, isn't it? People wore customes either to get people's attention or awarness of some issues. I saw two "rhinos" running. That's people from save the rhino organization. I saw a british nanny running team wearing bra running. There was no one minute boring while I ran.

I ran an official time of 5hours and one minute. It is pretty amazing that I was able to finish it and did not pass out. Thank you New York marathon for giving me such a pleasant marathon experience. I am coming back next year.

Maple Leaf Rag and Heart Murmur

I love this! Last Thursday in my physical assessment class, the instructor used this music to ask us "guess" what kind of heart murmur could symbolize this music. Everybody in the class was probably as confused as I was. "Are we in the wrong classroom?" "Wait, is this Music 101?" But after she played the song I loved it right away with all my hear and eager to google on the Internet to find out who Scott Joplin was and what ragtime is.

Maple Leaf Rag was the most popular fall music back then and even now. The music is very happily jumping into my heart and I learned that ragtime music is also considered "pre -Jazz". No wonder I love it!! Here are the Internet link for the music and the meaning of ragtime. Scott Joplin seems to be a great legend in the American music history. They call him "King of Ragtime."

Listening to the music makes me think of Texas too. I think this is music of the South. Or maybe it is just about time for me to go back to Texas for a visit again. As for the heart murmur, I think I will figure it out later... but no promise.

http://www.scottjoplin.org/biography.htm
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Bayou/9694/music.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rag_(music)

Chicago means stinky water

Architecture tour on boat

Chicagowa was a word that native american used couple hundred years ago indicating Chicago River. What it really meant was "Stinky Water". This is the most intersting thing that I learned from the Chicago River architecture boat tour. It was really a educational tour and I enjoyed it a lot despite noisy chinese tourists behind me. They seemed didn't really care what the tour guide was saying.

The most impressed building is the oldest building along the river. The building was original a food storage and was converted to apartment. The tour guide said that it took them almost a year to melt the icy hourse hair that was used as insolation. When it was finally meltted, it was rotten.

Chicago Bear was playing on Sunday. How lucky we were bump into thousands of audiences that were flood out from the soilder field colecium on our way to Shedd Aqurium. People were cheering the Bear's winning and we were the only people walked in the oppsite direction. What is so fantacy of FOOTBALL. I would never understand.

Navy pire was ok though. A lot of people and it was hot that day in Chicago! It was really hard to believe that Richmond was flooded and we were in Chicago enjoyed the sunshine. First night was Shushi night. The town that I stayed was called "boy town" (you know what it means!) It's near Lincon park, a pretty nice neighborhood. Most of the asian restaurants were owned by Thai. The area has quite a Thai population. I shopped at some stores. They have a lot of small shops selling different things: art, cloth, pottery, coffee and tea, pet shop and more. One of my shopping trophy is that I bought a Bally skir for $8. I was pretty happy. I shall be shopping Queen one day.

Oh, the bridal show was fun too. I learned a lot about bridal business. Some retailers has very private booths because they don't want others to copy their designs. Some mass market their products. We got a lot of little gifts and free candies. One booth even served the liquor chocolates. It was a very nice experience. I think there were total 400 booths. Well, I think Chicago is fun to visit in Fall after all. (The first time I went it was as cold as hell and no fun...)

Puppy Farm! Puppy Fun!

puppy farm

I was mad... The other day I was writing this log and my computer disconected on me. All my writing was gone. So here I am again.

Puppies are cute in all way. Don't you think. There were total three labrador moms two yellow and one chocolate. As I walked into their little pen, they all approached me saying "pick me! pick me!" If they could talk, I think that was what they said.

Last week, I got a chance to see a labrador breeder's "production". Pretty amazing, I think there were total 15 yellow and chocolate lab puppies scattering in three pens all waiting for good homes to stay. I am glad one of them definitely is now in a good home and he was named Loki.

I was playing with Loki and it was fun watching him making all his efforts to fetch the tennies ball. He is only eight weeks old. I wonder myself how he knows to fetch the ball in such a young dog age. My cousin, Susan, they have three yellow labradors. She is a volunteer of a guide dog association in Long Island. She had Casey about 8 years ago long before she volunteers for the association. Then she brought Godie home and trained her to become a guide dog about two years ago when Godie was about one year old. When Godie is on training, they would put a vest on her indicating she is on duty and no distrubes are allowed. It is very interesting and fun watching how guide dogs are trained. I think labrador is smart and very friendly.

Jane just had three Jack Russell Terrier puppies. They are very hyper as the day they were born to be Jack Russells Terrier. I usually would goup them with Chiuaua kind. I think sometimes they think they control the whole world......

1990's Look! What's in!

student nurse

I can't believe that I uploaded this picture to my blog! By the time when my nursing intership was at the last month back to more then 10 years ago, everybody seemed to be ready to dash out this military psychiatric ward. Working in this institute was indeed a lot of fun. I remember I had quite a lot of typical textbook cases.

Usually, we were 10 students a group and each month we went to different ward: surgical, medical, nursery, operating room, public health, psychiatric, gyn, delivery room and peadiactric. It took us a year to accomplish the intenship in order to graduate. Operating room did make my life miserable a big time. There was this doctor of rectal specialist. He was famous of his temper. You need to pass equipment to him before he acts. God knows what he wants next! So everybody had to memorize the procedures and know what equipment would be needed to be serve to him at certain point. If you miss, there will be a "house of flying dagger". I was stress out that month working in operating room.

Delivery Room was pretty tense too. Each student needs to delivery a minimum 20 babies to meet the academic requirment since we were under a nursing and midwife division. Where and who would provide such a huge quantity of babies for us students. But we made it. Thanks to the high birth rate back then.

As a nursing school student, I did learn and grow a lot. It is a vivid page in my life book.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Moon River

These two days, I have been listening to this song. I recalled myself and couldn't remember if I have seen this movie or not. Audrey Hepburn was such an attracted actor in the movie. She was so elegant. There is also a letter she wrote that touches me. It is not just her appearence but also her sweet and understanding of people. Here is the letter that she wrote to a friend:
"Dear Henry,
I have just seen our picture-BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S- this time with your score.
A movvie without music is a little bit like an aeroplane without fuel. However beautifully the job is done, we are stil on the ground and is a wourld of reality. Your musci has lifted us all up and sent us soaring. Everything we cannot say with words or show with action you have expressed for us. You have done this with so much imaginetion, fun and beauty.
You are the hippest of cats- and most sensitive of composers!
Thank you, dear Hank. lots of love Audrey."

Cards

card from Norway




It is hard to believe that time has passed by me under a secret tempo that friends now are spreaded out all over the world!! Life is good when you get message from friends in mailbox. I love to receive letters from mailbox knowing that I am not forgetton by friends.

S is now in Norway with her Norwagian writer hubby. A fabric greeting card, how special, it was the first fabric card that I have ever received in my life. (www.vigocards.com) It was April when she moved to Norway. Nothing but cold I would think of about Norway. She seems very enjoying the life there. Learning language, traveling to other Island, finding a job and making new friends are definitly keeping her busy. Actually, it was the first card I got from her after she left the States. I love the card a lot. It is blue and brown on a velvet fabric. The patten is pretty victorian to me. S is such a sweet and nice friend that I met in Texas. She used to give me rides when I did not have a car to travel around the town. We used to take classes together and she would help and encourage me on my broken english. I would never forget one time she spoke up for me when I was in a embaressed situation. I felt that I was protected by her and not alone.

Another card that made me happy for couple days is from C. It is a picture that he took in Cambodia about couple years ago when he traveled and worked in Asia. He now has his own photograph business (www.kestrelfilm.com) and also works on films. I admir his talent on photo shooting and being so nice of people of my kind. And he has been always my favorite story teller. Every photo tells a story. He has a lot of interesting stories. The card from him is a sence of old trees. I assume that it was because we were in forestry college. I love the children photos from his website.

Not only that I love to receive letters, I like to send letters to friends too. Email is convenient, fast and easier but it is just different. I feel receiving letters is like seeing friends through the past. When I get a letter, I think back of time what we have done, where we met and how wonderful that time and places have not seperated us apart.

Yellow Panther!

Yellow Panther!

Russell is getting older. I worry about him. His parent told me that he probably lost couple pounds in these past few month. He is such a sweet cat. How do I know Russell? Time went back to almost 6 years ago when I first got here in the State I stayed with my aunt. One day I saw this yellow careless cat strolling around at my aunt's back yard and cooling his paws by the pond. I thought he is so funny. I should have taken the picture of that scene.

He is not shy when I call him he will come to me and let me pat him. Then I tried to hold him and he let me too. So I guess I got the trust from him. I stayed with my aunt for the summer and then went to Texas for school. It was a long period that I haven't seen Russell until I moved to Virginia after graduating last year. I saw him again often and now he is about 12 year old or maybe older since he was a stray cat when my aunt's neighbor adopped him.

I think we remember each other. The other day when I hold him, he was so light. I hope that he is healthy although he is getting old.