Life with the Two Crazy Dogs

I have been tagged by Simply888here aka my sister’s 2nd blog on Ten questions.  The rules are five answers to each question and then tagged five others which won’t happen.  The instructions are: Remove the first blog and add your own blog last.

Anything Goes; A Great Pleasure; Wishing On A Falling Star; Bokjae; simply888here; Two Crazy Dogs

Alright, lets get the ball rolling…

Q1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

• Moved to Minnesota
• Land surveyor (Leong Tei Khun) - in other words, jobless for 3 months
• Worked as a production operator - thought i hated it, but I loved it
• Improved my arguing skills
• Learned to drive on the right side of the road

Q2. What were you doing 1 Year ago?

• House hunting
• Packing and selling junk
• Moved to our own house
• Started smoking again
• Went on a vacation to Montana sponsored by Marlboro

Q3. What are 5 snacks you enjoy?

• Sun Chips
• Doritos
• Gardettos
• Malaysian style potato chips
• Organic Tortilla chips w/o salt dipped in salsa

Q4. What are 5 songs you know the lyrics to?

• Drops of Jupiter - Train
• Bad Day - Daniel Powter
• (That be it)

Q5. 5 things you would do if you are a Millionaire?

• Pay off current mortgage
• Give half to sister since I promised her
• Give 1/3 to parents and charity
• Move to somewhere warm because DB wants to
• Whatever that’s left invest in stock options

Q6. 5 Bad habits?

• Bite my hanging nails
• Untidiness both at home and at work
• Do not come to a complete stop when it says STOP
• Surf the web 24/7
• Blog hopping

Q7. 5 things you like to do?

• Fishing up north
• Walking the trails for hours
• Bungee jump
• Rock climbing
• Travel the world

Q8. 5 Favourite Toys?

• Good old Gateway PC
• Camera
• PDA - games
• UNO
• Scene It

Q9. 5 things you would never wear?

• Socks/clothes to bed
• Pants/skirts that sits at waist
• Tight clothes
• Leather pants
• Clothes made of wool

Q10. 5 things you hate to do?

• Damn housework
• Go to work - it’s getting unchallenging day by day
• Baking
• Cooking
• Balance check book

THE END.   

I am working in a company where technology is the primary focus of the business.  The company has many market groups and within the market groups the business units need to have good collaboration software for their business needs to meet their goals.  This is where Epazz, Inc. comes in.  Epazz is an enterprise-wide software company that provides tailored web application for your business.  From integration to backend systems, Epazz will set it up.  The integration will be seamless and the results are a powerful collaboration and workflow improvement, and most importantly, it will enhance communication among managers and employees.  Epazz is currently giving out a 30-day free trial of their software.  Epazz will work with you from the beginning to the end.

Now that I have tickets for my 1st segment of the trip, DB is itching to get his, too.  He spoke to his boss and he has the green light from the Mr. Dictator.  Mr. Dictator was nice enough to give him 2 weeks. 

DB wants to leave with me on November 16 because the following week is Thanksgiving week and travelling on Thanksgiving week is a no-no.  His stay in Ipoh will be shorten by a week at least.  He wants to save up some of vacation for the rest of the year (his company’s fiscal year start July-July).  He was able to look for lfights from MSP/SIN but his return flight SIN/MSP is the only one that is killing him.  He wants to leave SIN on December 2 but no non-stop direct flights.  The same with December 1.  There are non-stop flights on December 3 but he is not sure if he wants to leave on a Monday and return to work on a Tuesday.  So “char poh” (troublesome). 

He is already driving me nuts - picky with his choice of flights.  All the flights with 2 - 3 stops he is complaining they are all stopping over in Detroit-let, and arriving in MSP in the evening…..the complains went on the whole night till I said, “you deal with  it and I’m going to bed.”  It was 10:30 p.m. and it way passed my bed time.  When he came to bed at 10:45, he still has not bought his tickets yet.  I don’t why it is so tough for him to decide what day he wants to leave Ipoh and if he is willing to sacrifice a day or not to sacrifice at all. 

We were making conversation over dinner, he said we will be at each others neck before we reach Ipoh.  Amen, brother, you got that right.  He is already asking what to do during the time between we arrive in SIN and the flight to KUL.  I told him we are not checking in into that transit hotel.  Instead we will be going for a shower, make phone calls, eat, take pictures, and blog!  He thought I will be checking in to the hotel so we can chill and relax for a few hours.  I am not paying $100+ just to shower and sit on my butt!

 I think I better stock up on Zoloft for this trip!

I see end of summer sales every where I go .  Summer is coming to an end this weekend, after Labor Day.  From clothing, shoes, gardening supplies, hardware store, to nurseries, all are cutting their summer goods prices down.   Even online stores are having big sales on their summer products.  Online Discount Mart is having a end of summer sales to get rid of their summer goods.  When I was out grocery shopping last weekend, I saw some Wind Chimes that are made of bamboo, on sale.  Online Discount Mart is much cheaper.  You save 10% off on checkout.  Plus, since fall is just around the corner, check out their fall decorations for indoors and outdoors.  Order them now and catch the 10% discount for all items.

*This is a sponsored post*

Tonight I made this one-pot-cook all rice, Yau Mei Fan.  I think translated to English is Savoury Rice.  I saw my sister and Pearly cooked it for her family, I thought I will make it, too.  I added Chinese sausages, Thai chilies, garlic, chicken breast, and dried shrimp.  Obviously, when I was cooking it, DB said it smelled really good.  When he ate it, it was fine, he will pick up all the sausages and spooned them to me till he chewed on something which he asked, “What did  you put in here differently from last time?”  I said, What did you taste? “Something fishy.”  Looks like I cannot get away with dried shrimp even though I drowned them with sesame oil and garlic.  Darn it!

The countdown has sorta begun.  I bought my tickets for Minneapolis to Singapore segment last night.  Northwest Airlines has a Cash and Miles promotion for roundtrip fares within North America, to Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific.  I paid $781 plus 20,000 miles for this segment.

I had wanted to leave Msp on November 17 and return on December 8 but no such luck with this promotion.  Changed my dates and am leaving a day earlier (November 16) and arriving Singapore on November 18.  From Singapore, I will have to look for a ticket to Kuala Lumpur.  So far, I found flights leaving Singapore at 6:45 a.m. arriving KUL at 7:45 a.m.  That would leave me plenty of time to hunt down transportation to Ipoh.  I have not bought my KUL/SIN/KUL tickets yet.  I’m still trying to hunt down the cheapest fares but I think the cheapest I can find online is around $298+ through Expedia.com, or $278+ through Malaysia Airlines online.  The funny thing about MAS online is the fares are in Singapore dollars.  Before I converted to SGD, it’s $420+.  I might go with MAS online.

From KL, I will most probably take the shuttle bus to Ipoh.  Sounds like a super long day already!!

On my return flights, I will have to leave Ipoh in the afternoon on December 8 to KL.  Flight leaves KL to Singapore (December at 10:45 p.m. arriving at 11:40 p.m.  The flight from Singapore to Minneapolis by Northwest leaves at 6:00 a.m. on December 9.  I wish there are other flights besides this one 6:00 a.m. flight.  Checked United Airlines, the same thing. 

So, you might asked what about DB??  DB is still working on the days he wants to be gone from work.  He is so complicated.  I told him to come on the 2nd week of my stay and if he can, stay for the rest of the 2 weeks, if not a week plus.  He still couldn’t decide!  Oh well, you snooze, you loose!

The Ciy came about an hour ago and Mr. Oak tree is now in pieces and chewed up.  The workers left about 6 or 7 logs, root and the stump on the yard and business was over.  Not sure was it because it was so close to lunch that they had to leave the logs and the rest there and come back later to complete the job.  It might just be it, too  - we need to remove the root and logs ourselves.  There are storms rolling in to our county right now.   Looks like we are going to have another rock and roll evening.

Before I came to the United States, I hated American football.  I considered it a very physical sport.  Now that I have been here for over 10 years, I somehow got to like the sport very much.  I used to watch it every weekend and stayed up late to watch Monday night football when the Minnesota Vikings were playing. 

I have been to Minneapolis Metrodome for a Vikings game and it was a wonderful experience.  But now since the Vikings are going down the drain, I have no desire to watch them.  Instead I am for Washington Redskins or one of the teams in Florida, Miami Dolphins.  I told DB one of these days we should go for at least one Super Bowl game, where it does not matter.  This coming Super Bowl is in Glendale, Arizona, and it can be a vacatin for us.

Tickets of America will sell you any ticket for any event you desire.  The NFL season is soon to start.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we can get Miami Dolphins Tickets and just have a blast to watch our team in action?  Tickets of America has been providing fans tickets to a variety of sporting events, concerts, and theater shows.  No matter how popular the game or show is, Tickets of America will get the ticket for you.  They have been serving their customers for 15 years, they know what is important - customers comes first.  Their company motto, “We’re Never Sold Out” will stand true especially when the Dolphins and NY Giants will be playing in the Wembley Stadium, London in October.  Who would want to miss that. 

Football fans purchase tickets way in advance even before the season starts.  Fans, hook up with Tickets of America at www.ticketsofamerica.com or call 888-383-1515 to get your NFL fever rolling.  Remember, Tickets of America, “We’re Never Sold Out.” 

*This is a sponsored post*

Since I have taken the day off, I’m listening to my dozens of CDs but the best is Rachmaninoff.  I can listen to this, this, this and this 24/7.  Horowitz plays it so well.  I think he is one of the best pianist ever and Rachmaninoff is the greatest composer of his time.   Concerto No 2 is still the best.  Listening to all of this composer’s work is mesmerizing.  I set it to replay the whole day and don’t get bored of it with will drive DB out of the house very soon!

This is another of my favorite.  DB said sounds like someone just died.  The piece from Schindler’s List is the one that move me the most. 

Just got done checking my work emails and my boss sent the department an advance notice she will be going on vacation in a couple of weeks to her favorite hotel, Excalibur Las Vegas!  Ain’t she lucky.  Her hubby is actually going for a conference with the company and spouses are invited.  They will be staying at the Excalibur which I heard from her is just a  excellent hotel.  I have not been to Las Vegas, but from listening to her vacation stories in Vegas are enough to make me feel I am already there.  The Excalibur has that King Arthurish feeling.  Who don’t want to be there?  It’s call the kingdom of fun and entertainment.  Viva Las Vegas!

Needless to say with the storm that wrecked our clean yard this early morning, DB and I took the day off.  What a great day to be off!!!  We might try to get some body shop supplies to move Mr. Oak out of the way so vehicles can go by.  We do not have a chain saw, if we do, DB and I would be out there now cutting our shade provider up and save them for fire wood.  DB said if the City is not here by this late afternoon, we need to really get something to move it and clean the yard up.  It is an inconvenient for the neighbors.

DB and I slept right through the storm that rolled in at 3 a.m.  Apparently there were super loud thunder and great lightning show out there.  I didn’t hear a thing and didn’t even know the electricity went out.

I didn’t go for my morning walk coz it was so darn humid.  DB took the trash cans out as it’s trash day today.  Drove his truck out and came back in to the garage.  I thought he forgot something.  He rolled the passenger window down and told me the tree on the front yard fell.  I walked out to the yard and saw nothing as it was still pitch dark.  He backed up his truck and faced the direction of the fallen tree.

There it is….

Now we are just waiting for the city to move the damn tree.  I was thinking we can tie a chain around it and hook it to the Blazer, but I guess not.  Thank God it didn’t fall on our house.  I was more worried of the one that’s facing the living room.  That tree has fallen more big branches than I can count. 

This weekend went by quick and I was busy, too.  I met up with Simmie at Ikea on Friday afternoon.  We were already chatting via Gmail Chat on Friday morning and she mentioned she is going to Ikea, I was “I want to go, too!!”  I have not seen her since late June before she left for KL.  It was nice to see her again.  We had our early dinner and then shopped.  I know we had a blast.  As usual we were chatting from the moment we met till we left the parking grounds.  When I got home, had some left overs with DB and told him what sofa I want to buy from Ikea.  He said, “Go for it.”  Sounds so easy! 

Then I was on the phone with Moonlight_Tears for almost 2 hours!!  Couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the time when we hung up.  It was a great pleasure to chat with you, Nicole!

Simmie and I met again on Saturday.  We were supposed to meet up with Nicole for some Dim Sum, but she couldn’t make it.  I’m sure the three of us will get a chance to meet.  So, Simmie and I went to Minneapolis Farmers’ Market.  I bought a bunch of veggies and fruits.  I gave my self a $30 budget, shucks, I withdrew $50 and bought almost $40 worth of goods.  

For lunch we went to Jasmine Deli and had Vietnamese noodles.  I’m a noodle freak, so any noodles will work fabulously for me.  The green tea bubble drink was good and so was the grilled pork sandwich.  I bought two of the sandwiches home for dinner, DB loved it.  He said he could eat another one of it.  Now I know what to get him.
After lunch, we went to United Noodles for some mooncakes and I bought more groceries.  Got back to her place and sorted our groceries, split the cakes, picked up my stuff I tumpang her to get for me at St Michael’s, KL.  Once I got home, I went grocery shopping at Cubs and hung out at Satay-2-Go for a bit chatting with the lady boss, Corrine.  By the night was over, I was beat.

Mooncake from United Noodles

Some of the loot from the farmers’ market: corn, cherry tomatoes, and Thai chilies.  Not in picture are cherries, onions and shallots, green beans.

Morning came and was woken up by the furry alarm clock Ranger.  Cooper trained Ranger well.  It used to be Cooper’s duty, and I presumed Ranger picked it up from Coops.  So Coops now is the big boss, just lays there and Ranger does the duties.  Actually Ranger is getting very daring.  He never was that noisy, nosy and boisterous.  Anyways, we love it that he is enjoying his new family.

OK, back to the updates, boys and I went for our walk, and when I came home, I was on the phone with Simmie.  After I was done on the phone, I got lazy!!  Wanted to bathe the boys, but I putzed around looking through the flyers, chatting with DB and had lunch.  Vacuumed and cleaned the bathrooms, and then I went to Corrine’s for the rest of the afternoon.  By the time I got back at 6:45 p.m., had dinner and made some dinner for the week, I was past 8 o’clock.  Time just zoomed by when we are having fun.  Folded some grocery bags and I called it a night.  I was wiped! 

Today is a start of another same-old, same-old work week.

Miami Dade County, I would like to visit Miami at least once in my life time.  After watching CSI: Miami every week, thanks to DB, I absolutely would like to see what it looks like especially when we have a friend there, but….. 

Our friend, Kurt, is moving to Thailand permanently by end of next month. He is trying to sell his home in Jackson County in Florida.  He and his family moved to their current home 2 years ago and now he found a new job in Thailand.   He told us he obtain Homekeys Miami flat fee mls services to sell his home, with having to travel back and forth to Thailand it will save him a lot of his time.  Homekeys will have their home listed in the regional MLS for 12 months with pictures included.  In addition, his home will be listed with key description in Realtor.com, AOL, MSN and other main sites with one picture.   He do not have to worry about brokers and buyers inquiries.  Sweet deal and not much concerns for him and his family when he’s away.

I made this dish after reading my sister’s cooking/food blog.   I think folks who read my blog now knows who my sister is :)  Yeah, she is super nice, put up all these simple dishes on her blog to make me cook!  It worked, so her hard work paid off.

Below is my version of the Kerabu Timun, and this is hers.  Hers look so much better.  The cucumber I got from my coworker who brought them in from her garden.  They are China hybrid cucumbers, and those cucumber looked really weird.  I called it cucumber from the Alien Nation.

Anyways, I put too much chilie padi on mine and after a few bites, looked for something sweet, waited till the fire subsided and went for it again.  I used the chilie belachan my sister sent me.  That chilie was good.  DB took a few forkfulls and sweat was breaking out.  Haih….. but the thing is he said it taste good.  “What did you put in there?  I thought you were going to make it with some stinky stuff?”  Hahahaha, I told him I did use the stinky stuff and even put in dried shrimp.  He was still wondering why he didn’t smell it when I made it…. COZ I DIDN’T FRY THE STINKY STUFF IN THE PAN, BABE!!