Qing's Birthday weekend .

This Birthday for my LaoPo , was the first one here with me in Palmdale . As mentioned before , chinese do not really put too much emphasis towards their Birthday . Actually , they do celebrate somewhat .. but it is usually more meaningful dates .. like the 20th/30th/40th ect. and sometimes after each five too . In other words , they don't want to be reminded .. year after year .. their getting older . Makes a lot of sence to me .

Coming back to Sunday ( Qing's B-day ) . I of course got up and started making Breakfast for us . Having accomplished that . There was a few hours to kill or to relax , before we were to meet up with the Neighbors that I invited to come along . The five of us headed towards Pasadena and to one of Qing's choices of Chinese Restaurant ( Yang Chow ) , which has three in the LA area . We arrived and had reservations for an early Dinner , about 4:30 pm . Pulling into the parking lot , it was still empty of Car's . So first thought was , is this a good place we chose ? Going in , sure enough .. we're the only ones in this not to big eatery . It was very clean and that is always a good sign , when going out for Chinese Food . Any Food in that matter . By the time we were pretty much stuffed with some great Food , the place had started to fill up . Qing get's talking to anybody that just looks a little chinese . It turns out the owner is from Shanghai too . Boy , this world sure is small . Seem's , every Asian place we visit .. their is somebody from that great City . So Qing's voice box started to run overtime . Come to think of it , I got to practise some of my Shanghainese and Madarin on this Man . When I invited the Owner to Dinner in Shanghainese , he almost fell over with surprise . You know ? White and Chinese don't mix well . hahaha

We were talking for about 45 minutes .. if I kept track right , but with only this much time .. we could tell ones more .. how Business minded Chinese People are . This Man actually wanted to open a Restaurant in my home Country ( Germany ) . Had his Visa/Work Permit and all , but could not get a lease on a Place to open . So back to the US he went . Now has three here and quite successful to . He convinced me , to open a place in Shanghai .. having nothing but Bradwurst/Sauerkraut and of course German Beer . He says , that is all I need .. keep it simple and base my Business Address ( HQ ) in Hong Kong to save on Taxes . Mmmmh ?

Leaving , I showed him my Shanghai Volkswagen Emblem .. I bought in SH and stuck onto my Toyota Highlander . That caused quite a loud laugh from him and all of us . He first thought , I bought the Car there and had it shipped here . haha

Anyways , after that it was off to the KTV Studio near downtown Los Angeles . this happed to be some kind of event . Five of us did not shy back and let it all out . They didn't even through us out . We had a blast for three hours , which seemed far less . Qing had a wonderful time , one could just see it looking at her . By almost eleven o'clock , one doesn't really like to be downtown .. without Bullit-proof Car . One Park really stood out as very dirty and not safe ( in Echo Park ) . Lucky we only drove through there without stopping .. scary ? You bet ! But we made it home and hit the Pellows and Dreamland in minutes .

Coming to think , one year ago .. Qing and I were in Hong Kong celebrating the same day ( our first together then ) . Memories are beautiful , making new ones .. is even better .

Let's add to some more experiences .

Something to chew on .

My Sweetheart took and passed her driving test on August the 3rd. and was told .. she should receive the License in about four to six week's . So waiting like good People , that time has now passed and some . No License in sight ? This made me take today off and go into the DMV , not to happy of course . I was thinking this would/shouldn't take too long and it not being necessary to stand in the famous long line of fun/waiting . But , as the Gov. has proven too often .. this does not happen in any of their Offices . As I told the Man , look .. I'm not going to stand in this long line .. first of all .. it's your mistake us not having the License yet and second I should not even be here and take a day off from my Work . You have to see the Manager " Sir " . Oh .. here she comes all three hundred pounds of her . What is the problem ?
After explaining our demise , she " kindly " in a very rude way .. told us in a loud voice too . You have to pick a number and wait your turn or there is the Door . Not that I thought I would not have to stand in line , but had hoped I might not have to . This rude approach to a Customer was enough for me and I grabbed Qing and I told her let's go .. I'm not waiting here and give this
" Bit** " the satisfaction of seeing us wait for some two hours , while she's smiling inside .Out the Door and off to the next DMV not too far away from this one . To the front counter and one could see right away , these People are so much more friendly about the whole thing . What we were told , is to fill out a new form .. like we had lost our License and apply for a new one . Did that and back to the Person we go and now we were handed a number and told to wait for it to come up . After an hour and a half , we were informed after checking with records .. as to why it was late .This is why I write this for my Reader's/Follower's , who bring their Wife's/Fiance over and planning to teach them how to drive a Car . The reason it was late , was not due to the Mail . It is because she is an Immigrant and they do a back-ground check on her status and if all is "Kosher" her being here . This is funny , to think .. she can have a Credit Card ( which she has already ) , but can not have her License .. which she payed for and passed like any other applicant .

" Yes " I do love our Government ! hahaha ..maybe ?

New experience for Qing .

As the Title suggests , Qing now twice has experienced something new .. hence living with me in California .

What I'm talking about is , our way of saying goodbye to a loved one that passed away . As I been told from my LaoPo , in China it's pretty much all Cremation as the last step for a deceased Person . Most of us know by now , this is a much cheaper way also and it's really getting more and more popular in the States too .

Anyway , what I want to say .. is how Qing is feeling about " OUR " ways and especially the Catholic way . Back a few months ago , my late wife's Uncle passed away and she attended her first ever western Funeral Service . Questioning her of what she think about it , she says .. first the Mass was kind of long ( 55 minutes ) . That is understandable of course , being her first and unfamiliar with the whole Catholic thing . Second , all of the People driving down City streets to the Cemetery for a further Service and Interment . That also took about an Hour . By now I could see , the .. when is that over ? But like a good Soldier , she made it through and had her first taste of a western way of an Funeral .

Now , just last weekend .. it was part two . My late wife's Mother passed away and that meant , of to another Funeral with Mass and a little Service this time . No gathering at the Interment site this time . But at the Mass , I like to point out one thing though . At the / or near the end of the Service , it was time for the Catholic People to take the Communion wafer and the sip of wine . Now it was a good thing , those that are/were of different Religion would go up front with the rest .. but crossed their arms on their Chest . This was to tell the Priest of not being Catholic , so he proceeded to only give each one those People a Blessing . I found that quite a nice thing to do , instead of letting them just sit there and feel like you're being pointed out of that fact ( not being Catholic ) for everyone to see . I also did not take part of the Communion , as I'm Catholic .. but I have not been to Confession in many years . Otherwise , my LaoPo's only other ( not liking ) was most likely .. that I was a Pallbearer and not always sitting with her . What followed after all that was a little Luncheon at my In-laws house and that was about four more hours of much talking with People , that I knew .. but my Sweetheart did not . I did make sure she was not just standing or sitting by herself of course . After an eight hour ordeal , it's was time to hit the Road and start getting back home .. as I could see by now .. Qing was tired and had pretty much all that she could handle in a single day . She really is a Trooper in my Eyes and I truly hope that it will be a while before the next such Service is needed .

Bring on a Wedding , they are much more welcomed .. anytime .

A Special Post !

Of course this Post has to be written in Green . One might ask why , what does colour have to do with what is being written ?

Well dah ... it's for an " Irishman " and from no other place .. but Ireland .

In two months time , I will have known my Lao Po " Qing " for three years . This is just about the same time I have met on the " Official Forum " of Chnlove ( where of course I found my Sweetheart ) , this Gentleman . Okay wait ... no he really is . Because one Gentleman can tell another with no problem . Thats why I'm sure of this .
So I feel that we kind of taken the same Journey , only different paths to find the special Lady in our Life .. that makes all this .. what has proven to be pretty rough ride from start to finish .

So why am I writing this ? There is really not much to say , but it makes me happy inside and feel good for a fellow Member of our own Forum http://www.chinaromance.net/ .

Irish buddy , may your Marriage be as wonderful as you and Sunny envisioned the day you said " YES " to each-other .
Congratulation's and Qing's and My best wishes to you and Sunny .

You have found it , now keep it !!!

Everybody knows or should know .

The Anniversary of not a happy occasion , but a very sad one .. in the Human History of Mankind . Of course I'm talking about 9/11 2001 .

Where was I , when this unspeakable event unfolded ? I was in my Car , coming home from a part time Job I had at that time along with my regular day Job . When first hearing of something had hit the World Trade Center in NYCity , one was not sure at first was it was ? Was it an Accident of some kind , they ( the News People on the Radio I was listening to ) weren't positive and sure of anything at first . Then , the story cleared up some and someone mentioned a Plane had hit the North Tower and there was a big Fire . Well , most American know how it went from there . I was still in the Car and almost home when the second Plane hit the South Tower and now we all knew .. we were under attack by Terroist's . Where it will end .. was anybody's guess then ?
Anyway , I have seen those two Tower's of the WTC being build at the time I lived in Upstate NY .. about 20 miles outside of the City . I've seen them grow from the ground up to the completion in 1973 . I was not a Citizon at the time , but those Tower's were in my Heart and I was proud of them .. as many did NOT like them and thought of them as Ugly .
So God bless all that lost their Lives and their Families . For the ones in the forth hyjacked plane , my hat off .. they are true Hero's for what they have accomplished and had to pay with their lives also .. to safe other's .

As this wasn't sad enough , last night ( 10:30 pm ) I lost my Mother In-law ( from my first Marriage ) at 87 years old . To think , just last week Qing and I visit my Father In-law and his only Daughter on Labor Day . I wanted to go see her , but the two convinced me .. it would not be of any good .. she would have not recognized us anymore in the state she was in . So we did not go to the Care Facility where she was staying after Hip surgery a couple of weeks earlier .
Now this date will remind me of course of two not to happy/joyous time every year .

May she rest in Peace and be comforted by my late Wife .. her Daughter ... Amen .

Ps: Sorry for this sad post , but it is a sad time for me as one can imagine knowing her for over 30 year's and call her Mom too .

Job hunting for my better " Half " !

As everyone knows , these are NOT the best times to be looking for a Job . Qing being here almost one year , she is eager to go out into the workplace and away from just staying at home .

The first thing worrying her , is of course her English ability in a Workplace .. what ever that might turn out to be/become . So where to start looking ?

We have been keeping an Eye out on Business windows , if anyone is looking for Help . After weeks and weeks gone by , nothing doing there . Next step , sign-up with a Local Employment Agency . That has brought in nothing as of now either . A little discouraged , we resort to the good ole Computer and try to find something through the Internet . Signing up for a Super Market as a Clerk seemed to be our first goal . This backfired quickly .. two way's .
First : To sign up one needs a Cell phone number ( house number NOT good ) , which we did not have had at that moment .
Second : After just trying to do this , I now get about 50-60 darn E-Mails from all over .. about Job's available . If there are so many Job open , then why are they sooo many un-employed People ?

So now , we went to get signed up for a Cell phone plan and are getting rid of our House phone . No need for both , when we carry our phone's with us at all or most of the time .

Back to the Computer , now having a Cell phone number for the sign-in . But one thing is different now , being upset over all those incoming E-Mails .. I lost interest in giving anybody else our ( my actually ) E-Mail Address anymore . So it will be back to the Face to Face kind of looking for work . One other thing we had thought of , was .. Qing becoming a Nurse's Assistant and go to School for that . Along with her ESL Classes .

Only time will tell how it will turn out and what will happen in the near Future . In the meanwhile , I'm comfortable with just me working .. as it is getting us by in a not too bad situation . Especially after we are about to sign our new Mortgage Refy with just 1% on the Loan .

Labor Day !

Or should we call it .. get in your Car and let's go Day ?

As we had made plans for Sunday ( Santa Monica Shopping Mall near the Pier , close to two hundred miles round-trip ) with our Neighbors and Monday a Visit to see my Mother In-law ( first Wife ) 87 and not much time on hand coming from the Doctors .. Which is 200 + miles that day . We decided to just kick back and Saturday at least and get some rest .

After we arrived in Santa Monica , the first thing we noticed .. was it was about 30 degrees cooler there . Overcast and not much signs of it clearing up anytime soon , that proofed to be true the afternoon into the early evening . But .. we did think of bringing Sweatshirts with us . Poor Qing , she felt the cold right after we had parked the Car and headed towards the Mall . As Qing turned into a walking Ice Cube , we all started to feel colder suddenly and went back to the Car for at least Qing's Sweatshirt . Ahhh .. what is a little walking anyway ? It's good for you , un-frozen that is of course .
So off to the Mall ones more and leave the two Women alone to do their thing , what as Men find not too interesting " Most " of the time . We each gave them
$ 6 to go all out and shop til they drop . Actually it's nice to know , we can relax with some Coffee and not worry .. them coming back and needing help with the bags .
We found ourselves some comfortable Chairs , near the Luis Vuitton store on the left and Tiffany's on the right . So I started to watch what kind of People go into those up-scale stores . Thinking , who is going to buy a $2500 Purse ? It turns out , most ( nine out of ten ) were Asian People going in . That was of no surprise really , as my LaoPo knows this store very well and how popular it is in Shanghai too .
An Hour later , their back and Qing had actually spend $ 8 .. so she was in trouble . Where will I get $2 in this bad Economy ?

Monday , it was off to Breakfast to fill our Tanks and we were on our way to see my In-law's . On would have thought , traffic would be kind of slow/heavy .. but I found it to be quite the opposite to my surprise . This was the case on our return trip too . It was sooo good , that I mentioned to stop at the 99 Ranch Market and then .. go for some Dinner right next door after . I'm glad ( both are ) , as this is a long way from home otherwise and this was kind of on the way home anyway . Overall , this has been a great day visiting and we were very much appreciated for making that long trip .
It is so comforting to see , how well all my In-laws except my Sweetheart as one of their own . But then .. I knew that all along and well before she even came to the States . Who is not to like my LaoPo anyway ? She's a Darling and they can see it .

September .. and already think'in .. ?

Oh yeah .. my LaoPo's Birthday on the 26th of this month . How time fly's by ? Last year we celebrated it in Hong Kong and that was a fabulous time .. in one of the most beautiful City's I've been to .
As the Title suggests , I've started to think and ask my Birthday Girl .. where she rather go . Las Vegas for a couple day's ( she is worried about me Gambling by sudden hint's ) or back to San Diego ( Sea World ) again .
We'll see as there is plenty of time left to decide on that . As long it will be special for my Sweetheart , which in turn makes it likewise for me too .

On a side note : Her Drivers License should arrive any day now , something we both are waiting for eagerly .