Why do I ..... ?

Yes .. why do I love Chinese Food so much ?

Growing up , but not til I reached my twenties .. did I start to grave Chinese Food . Of course this was not "Real" Chinese Food .. only Americanized kind of the "Real" deal . Anyway , this was a start for a LaoWei like myself . In a way this has taking over .. as my favourite Food pretty quick .. I'd say . This love for it , is now even much deeper . Being lucky enough , to have made four Trips to China so far ( with many to follow I'm sure ) , I had the chance to taste "Real" home cooking from Qing's Parent's and some of the great Restaurant's of Shanghai/Beijing/Guangzhou/Hong Kong and some smaller Cities throughout China . Now of course I can tell the difference between the each Province of China and the Food that is being served up here in America .

Mentioned on earlier Post's , Qing has brought her Shanghai Cooking skills with her to America . In other words , I'm now being spoiled with the most wonderful Dishes that I so much love . Some of you might think , oh yeah .. Dog/Cat/Rat and Mice and everything that fly's in the Air and swims in the Water's . These are items they actually consume , but far from what my Lady or Shanghai People eat or cook up .

Yesterday , Qing and I had the pleasure of having my Uncle&Aunt over for just such a Dinner . This is the third time , my LaoPo has made her cooking skills known to my Family and Friends alike . One can bet , that while they leaving .. they had some of the best Chinese Food they ever had inside the States .

Out of this comes a funny way I look at it and my LaoPo looks at it .
For my LaoPo , it is only normal for me to cook up so many Dishes each and every time ( her own words ) . For me , it is .. just the knowing .. what a wonderful Lady I'm married to and her being able to serve me my favourite Food on a moment's notice . I guess it is true then .. a Man's love is won through his Stomach ?

All this talking about Food now , made me hungry .. so I will close for now and warm up some of those wonderful/delicious " Left-overs " from yesterday and thinking/thanking my sweet Wife .. as she is working at Panda Express .. serving Americanized ( but not too bad ) Chinese Food . hahaha

Four years back tracking .

I usually don't like to get into my personal Life too much here and especially being connected now with Facebook . But maybe this is something I just have to say to myself in writing , instead of only thinking about it .

Over the last four years , I been through some Life- changing experiences .. that's for sure . With myself , with my close Family and Friends alike .

One thing this has taught me though , is I now know who " Really " is Family and who is not . Or .. I should say .. I'm not considered part of their/my former Family . The first year , began with me going to Visit my Family in Germany .. that I had not been back in 29 years . The first couple of months were very much , where I felt I lost the will to go on . I went through many emotions , trying to blame somebody for loosing my Wife of almost 30 years . Then , I blamed myself .. maybe I could have done something different ? Then of course being by yourself all of a sudden and realizing Life has taken the someone that I loved the most away from me .

Before depression got the best of me , some of my Family member's pushed me to go and see my Mom along with all other Aunt's/Uncles and Cousin's I still had in Germany . It took awhile to see this was for my best interest , to get away for awhile and get my Mind off what had happened back home . Not that I wanted to run away from it all , oh no .. it very much followed me there too . I was there two weeks , with some bad days and some not so bad . Sleeping was not really a problem for me , because I had Nancy's Nightgown right next to me to hold close . Going places of old and seeing how big my Family had grown over all those years ., this kept me busy and real tired at the end of each day . My first Cousin's all had their own Children already , while they were .. well close to my Age now . One could really see time has flown by , but then again .. I'm not spring chicken anymore either .
Overall , this Trip was what I needed to calm down and start to think .. what I will do next ?

After returning , seeing an empty House each and everyday .. wasn't something I was looking forward to . On top of this , I now had to Cook my own Meals .. something I did not need to do .. as I was spoiled with Dinner always waiting for me to get home from Work .

So the next year or so , I actually started to enjoy cooking my own Meal . I am not the Person to go out to Eat at an Restaurant by myself , with the exception .. Breakfast on some weekends . Having now to attend taking care of the " Whole " house inside and outside and trying to keep in contact with Family on a regular bases .. was not an easy task . It was getting to me , as there really weren't enough hours in a day to handle all of this .

This is when I had my first thoughts , finding again a Companion ( Lady/Wife ) . When this is something I had earlier told myself .. I'd never marry again . So strange things started to happen ( my earlier Blog will explain some of that ) , much to an Ill delight of some of my close Family . I do not need to mention any names , as they know exactly who they are . Anyway , I try'd to keep in contact with as many as I could . From some I received answers , while other's stayed silent . For this I received some great advise from my Neighbors and I quote " It is YOUR Life and if any don't like you for that .. Scr** them " Well , I don't really never liked Cursing/bad Language , but I think He had made his point quite well . He was right . I started to treat anybody the way they treated me . I contacted all in one way or the other , if I received NO or a NEGATIVE response .. I didn't feel bad for myself .. I felt bad for them and left it at that .

I'm not going to run after People , because they believe .. I did not behaved/acted to their liking . My Life kept on moving and I did what I was shown from within and above . So I really only have to thank one ... and that is the Lord my God ... where I am right now in my latter part of my Life . I have no regrets , I'm not guilty of anything major ( except some small Sins ) . Oh yeah .. I'm not perfect and never claimed to be .

I see my new LaoPo ( Qing ) as an Reward .. having done something right in my earlier Life to deserve a second GREAT Wife in my Lifetime .

For any thinking , I forgot or stopped loving my late Wife ( Nancy ) , well I know where I stand on this .. I also know who stands behind me with the same Love I gave and still do . Those I thank with all my Heart for making me still welcomed as part of their Family .

I also must thank my LaoPo , as she is standing .. not behind me .. but NEXT to me through it all .

Chinese New Year is approaching !

As our New Year is over three weeks deep already , we await another one on the other side of the Globe again . The Chinese New Year of the " RABBIT " . This should in a way get the World somewhat shook up , as 1.5 Billion People plus will be Celebrating and most will actually Hop up and down in Celebration .. which is of course followed by some Fireworks of all kinds .

So ? What do Qing and I do during this time ? One thing we don't do is Travel , like the likes of China on this most important Holiday there .

Now , today was 99 Ranch Market visiting Day . We are preparing for having my Uncle and Aunt over for a Chinese Dinner . Actually , this was going to be only Food-Shopping .. but don't things change in a hurry ?

Arriving at the Market , what do we see first .. but Chinese New Year Decorations and Candy's of all sort's . Before we pick up our first Food item , this was our Stop on a Dime and check it all out . Watching my LaoPo's eyes again light up ( I say again , because when she sees Me they also do ) , seeing all this stuff in front of her . Yes , Sweetheart .. we need this .. yes that too !
Not that I mind this , after all .. I want my LaoPo to feel like it's Important to me also .. the Chinese Tradition's . Two hours later , back home it goes .. as She has to go to Work in the late afternoon . Having the Food put away and Qing is off to Work .. I started to tackle the Deco's .. which we both unwrapped real fast before she left .

This , as it always does .. had to include a Run to the Home Improvement Store for some Hooks that were needed to Hang them from the Ceiling .

Done .. and I took a few Photo's which I will share with my Reader's here and now . But do not think .. I went over-board on Decorations .. I did not . I am sure my LaoPo will love where I placed them . With the strong Winds , that we have sometimes .. I decided to put them inside the House and not outside .. where they can be ruined in a few wild moments .

Old Friend comes to Visit .

Today is a Visitor arriving from China , that I and of course my LaoPo is interested in . It's not a Family member , but a very important Person anyway .

Anybody guessed yet , who it could/might be ?

Well none other than .. Hu Jintao the Chinese President .. that's who .

Ever since I found my sweet Wife in Shanghai . Actually , I think I like him better than my LaoPo does .. as she is NOT a Party member and don't want to be .

Anyway , here is a Report I found about this very Important Visit by the Chinese President .


BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday flew to the United States for a state visit buffeted before he even lands by senior U.S. senators demanding tough action against China for "manipulating" its currency.
Hu said earlier this week he would not accept U.S. arguments the yuan was undervalued.
The latest sparring over the currency underlines tensions over trade that will likely dominate Wednesday's summit in Washington between Hu and U.S. President Barack Obama. Their talks are expected to focus on a host of other thorny issues, from rebalancing the global economy to dealing with North Korea.
Analysts are calling the visit the most important by a Chinese leader in 30 years given China's growing military and diplomatic influence and its emergence as the world's second largest economy after the United States.
Investors and markets will watch for signs Hu and Obama can ease tensions after a rocky 2010, although many analysts have cautioned not to expect too much beyond friendly words and business deals worth potentially tens of billions of dollars.
"The peace and stability of the globe will depend on whether the two giants can come up with a cooperative paradigm for the prosperity of the world, or whether they will slip into a Cold War-like confrontation like the one between the U.S. and the USSR," the Joong Ang daily, a South Korean newspaper, said in an editorial.
At the top of the agenda in Washington will be trade and the yuan currency, which has risen nearly 3.5 percent against the dollar since Beijing ended its peg to the dollar in June, much less than demanded by critics in the United States.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Beijing hoped U.S. lawmakers would not sour the tone ahead of Hu's arrival, repeating that China was committed to reforming its exchange rate system.
"A great many factors have proven that the renminbi's (yuan's) exchange rate policy is not the main cause of the China-U.S. trade imbalance," Hong said.
"We hope relevant U.S. lawmakers ... avoid harming the overall interests of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation."
A group of U.S. senators said on Monday the United States had to pass legislation to punish China if it fails to allow its currency to rise in value rather than manage its rate, giving it an unfair advantage in global trade.
"(The message to Hu is) we are fed up with your government's intransigence on currency manipulation. If you refuse to play by the same rules, we will force you to do so," Democratic Senator Charles Schumer said during a conference call with two other senators on a proposed bill to prod China on the yuan.
Hu, in a written interview with The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal this week, said China had taken steps toward a more flexible exchange rate policy.
China also says the United States should do more to rebalance the trade relationship. Chinese statistics showed a surplus in China's favor of $181 billion in 2010.
Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian said the United States should lift curbs on exports, especially of high-tech goods, and make it easier for Chinese firms to invest there.
U.S. concerns over China's huge trade surplus, a stubbornly high U.S. unemployment rate and Obama's goal to double exports -- which could be fostered by a stronger yuan -- indicate anger over the yuan is likely to linger long after Hu's visit.
Any significant progress in Congress on passing a currency bill, however, may prove difficult given the White House preference to negotiate and Republican leaders who have voted against it in the past.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives would have to approve the bill, and Obama sign it, for it to become law.
A ROCKY PERIOD AHEAD?
Given the tensions in 2010 over the yuan, trade, Taiwan, North Korea and human rights, some analysts predict ties between a newly assertive China and the United States will always be marked by wariness and outright suspicion.
The popular Chinese tabloid the Global Times, run by Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily, said both countries needed to "lay speculation to rest" about their relationship.
"The ambiguity of this influential relationship has seemingly unnerved the world," it said in an editorial.
"President Hu's visit will be placed under a global microscope. It is good timing for Washington to declare that China and the U.S. are not enemies today, and will not be in the future. This clarification will remove many uncertainties that may jeopardize global stability."
Underscoring Beijing's growing global influence, the Financial Times said China had lent more money to developing nations than the World Bank in the past two years.
China had lent at least $110 billion to governments and firms in developing countries in 2009 and 2010, surpassing the $100.3 billion by the World Bank, the newspaper said on Tuesday. The statistics were compiled from public announcements by banks, borrowers or China's government, it said.

So , maybe .. just maybe .. good ole Hu will have time to stop by and pay us a Visit here in beautiful Palmdale ? We would have the Dumplings ready if that was the case . Haha ...... or maybe NOT ? The way my LaoPo feels about the Communist Party and that is not good .

A coming Weekend that wasn't .

What it means , is that we had hoped next weekend to get to visit my Brother In-law in Arizona ( Lake Havasu ) . We had planned a long weekend , which included picking up my Father In-law ( Nancy's Dad ) and go on to Havasu . As I did this two years ago , before Qing came to the US and had a wonderful time at the Race's . Oh yes .. the reason was to go see my Brother In-law ( Nancy's only Brother ) Stock Car Racing on both Day's .

But as it turns out , his Car was not ready yet for Racing . Last year , after installing a new Motor in his Car .. it was seen as Illegal by the Officials . For this kind of Class anyway . So back to the Shop it went for adjustment's to correct that problem . Now it is still being worked on , so this Trip had to be postponed for a future date . That actually is somewhat better for us , as it will be warmer weather there .. as compared to January's .

Qing has never been to the Stock Car Races herself , except a Formula 1 Race in Shanghai . It should be fun for both of us , hence there will also be many other Races .. which include the Powder Puff's ( Women )Race with their modified "Street Cars" .

The last time I was there , I remember Lot's of Accident's happened .. something that does make it more interesting .. but without them getting Hurt . Considering they only go about 70 mph and not 200 mph on the straight-away on an Oval Course .

So looking forward to Race day or better Race weekend .

2011 .. hope it brings " Good " things for all .

As Christmas is now over two weeks in the past , it was time for our Tree and other Decorations to come down and be put away in the Garage .. til next time .

But , as it is always a split time of excitement and worries .. what to buy as Gift's and for how many ? With some Families it seem to grow in number , but in this not so good time in our Economy .. one has to watch and make good choices .. not to over spend and be sorry later .

This is the very reason , Qing and I just gifted each-other with an wonderful Ping Pong ( Table Tennis ) Table . This has brought on a challenge between the two of us .. right away .

To talk about this Table a little , for anyone thinking of buying one in the Future . We did check many .. many Tables available over the Internet . From the low ( $ 150 ) to the expensive ones from Addidas at a price ( from the $ 1,500's ) too steep for myself .

We came upon a Costco Table , that caught my Eye instantly .. because of a couple features I like very much . One being , 1" Table Top and the other being .. it came with Air-shocks to help raise the Table-halves with practically with one finger . Mind you this Table weights some 250 lbs. complete with Roll-away Frame .

It also included Net , Paddle's and three Ball's .. so no waiting to Play ones it was set up . That took about three Hours , with Qing and myself having not really any problem lifting the 100 lbs table half's to the from .

Yes , I sound like an Advertiser here .. but this is a Super Table .. anyone interested in one .

Anyway , now how did it go .. between Qing and I playing wise ?

We play 3 games ( to 21 ) to win a set and 3 Set's to win a match and 3 match's to call oneself a Champ .

So far , Qing has won 2 match's and I won 1 match ( 2-1 ) . Qing was ahead 2-0 , but my Fatherland is represented here .. so I better get going and play my best . This is of course harder then one thinks , as I'm improving .. so is my Sweetheart or should I call her " opponent " instead ?

It is true , these Chinese are ALL great Ping Pong Player's and I can vouch for that .. seeing it with my own Eyes .

Party .. Party and to cool off , some Snow !

So how did Qing and I call in the New Year ? With a Glass of Wine of course .. or was it two - three - four .. how can I remember ? All I know , it was 4:00am in the Morning again , like the last Party at this particular Friend's house . Being on the Dance Floor ( Living Room ) most of the Night , who would be counting anyway ? But , don't get me wrong .. I ate plenty and was very much up to drive Home .. which was 10 minutes down back Roads . Where there isn't even a Coyote to be seen , much less a Sheriff .

The thing I regret , is that I was too tired the next Day ( same actually .. right ? burrp ) to watch the Rose Parade at all . I haven't missed one of those for some 30-40 year's , every New Year's Day ( TV ) .

Anyway , here are a few Photo's of that Party .

So after all that " Hot " stuff , there was the need to cool off some . How better than have Nature taking care of that for both of us . Not that it got Colder , but by sending down from the Sky .. some of that white Stuff . haha .. jeeh , I sound like Gallagher the Comedian with all that " Stuff " !

So Snow it seems was just the right thing to Cool us off from that " Burn the Dance Floor " night . This doesn't happen too often here in Palmdale . The eleven year's I'm here , I think it Snowed three times at my House . So I knew this was just for us !! Here are some Photo's of that Event .












Hope you Enjoyed these Photo's of " HOT and COLD " ?


May all your New Year start out this way ! If it has not .. there is always time to make up for it !

A new Year and some new Custom issue's .

First , a Happy New Year to all my Reader's and their Family's and Friend's .

This one subject Qing and I discussed about a week ago , is about the word " Beautiful " . I actually wanted to write this before the new year , but as you can see on my December blog count ( 12 ) .. did not want to make it 13 . Secondly , on the year count .. which showed ( 88 ) .. this is a very lucky number and I did not want to change that .

So here it is January 1st. and all is safe now and a new beginning of hopefully many interesting Post's .

As the first , like I have said .. this was brought up one night before going to sleep . I happen to call my LaoPo " Beautiful " . Now that all of a sudden became an hour of discussion , when " NOT " to say this word anymore to my LaoPo .

For now ( yes for now ) , as my Sweetheart still See's herself as a very pretty Woman .. it is or I should say .. still OK to call her this . As she explains , this will not be correct anymore later in her Life . Like getting grey Hair ( if at all ) or get wrinkles in her Face . To further explain it , she says .. if I would call this in her later years .. I wouldn't really mean it now and just saying it for the reason of saying it ? Reminds me of NOT to say " I Love You " too often either , but that is another subject .

So I start to think about this , hopefully without Blushing too much . I myself of course look at it , that there are different kinds of Beautiful/Beauties to talk about .
1st: It's what " I " think is beautiful ( spouse in my case ) .
2nd: Beautiful Women that we meet on an everyday bases .
3rd: Beautiful Women for Business reason's ( Model's ) .
4th: Then there are the Young and Sexy Women that we think are Beautiful ( 18-25 ) .

So back to my Spouse now . How do I look at my LaoPo's beauty ? Having her younger by 15 years , of course she shows me Beauty on the outside . But this to me is only a " Bonus " really , as I see/feel that her Beauty on the inside is what really counts . This said , do I really have to stop saying to my Sweetheart that she's Beautiful .. ever ? This is like , in reverse .. when does she stop calling me " Handsome " ?

This , my way of thinking I had to get across in that intense hour of talking about this . That I can see beyond the Beauty on the outside , as I know quite well .. this is NOT forever . But the " Other " beauty will always be there with her and as long she shines with this inner Beauty , I am none other .. then a very happy Man .. able to say " IT " without feeling bad or feel it's inappropriate at any time in the Future .

To number two , this Beauty can only be seen on the " Outside " , as we don't know this by-passing Woman ( either in the Street's or Workplace .. ect. ) . So of course we can NOT see or know any of her inner Beauty , until one gets to know her more/better .

To number three , this is a whole different Ballgame . As those kind of Beauties are looked upon for Business reasons and their Age-Height-Weight-Good Looks and down to their Hair Colour . In the Eye of Business -men , this Beauty is short-lived as Age is one of the biggest part in this department . To add , this has nothing to do with Love anyway .. as the first one is .

Number four , these are the Beautiful Women we run into around the Clock so to speak . What makes them different , is .. these are the ones we " Dream " being with and that gets our Fantasy doing overtime . So again , only Beauty on the outside .. which most Men take way to serious and put too much weight on it .

Having this subject now cleared up with my LaoPo and I now free to call her this anytime I wish to , puts one more " Plus Point " in the loving Relationship count-sheet .

One more thing though , don't ever think .. just saying it is " Enough " ! You must also back it up with " Action " of Love of course .

To wrap it up , when my Qing is old and Grey and lost most of her Teeth .. she will still be " Beautiful in my " Heart " and " Eyes " .
Now this is a great start for the New Year for us !

ssh .. hey Beautiful .. I Love You !!!