A wonderful Weekend of Shopping!

Ohhh... how I love to go shopping with my LaoPo! NO.. I'm not kidding one bit.

By shopping, I mean Food shopping and not the Mall type. Saturday it was to start with a trip to Costco. As this place has been called the $300 Store myself and others, this time was to be different. Sweetheart, today we only get what we "Really" need and we stick by that. Of course one never knows what the outcome is going to be, after walking through their doors.

I took charge and just proceeded to walk at an accelerated pace this time, trying to avoid too much of a look at anything we didn't come for.
No need to tell you, Qing and Son were way behind in their effort to keep up with my pace.

Anyhow, checking in all items in our Cart.. had me guessing about half of the usual $300+ on other visits. I see the total, and my guess was pretty close .. $ 142, which brought on a "Wow" you are very close from my LaoPo.

This had to be the cheapest we ever got out of this place. I assume, they call this "Controlled Shopping"  hahaha.. which is hard to do at Costco. People that shop those Stores know very well.. I'm sure.

On to Sunday;
as a good Customer of mine, suggested a new (or newer I should say) Asian market not to far from the one we always go to. After an hour, Qing had noticed that this market has a couple things she did not like about it.
1st.; the Store was newer alright, but one had to pay for that luxury.
2nd.; this Store was mostly Philippino Food and not much Chinese.
Before getting it checkered out, it was a second look through our Cart. Qing decided, a handful items were either too expensive or really had no necessary need for it.. after all.

Now, it was off to the 99 Ranch Market.. our one and only nearby Chinese/Korean/Japanese with some western stuff thrown in for good measure. Seeing some of the items bought at the "New" market, Qing was sorry to see.. they over-charged us.. even if it was only a few Cents difference. One more reason, I love my LaoPo.. watching every Penny and that while she really doesn't need too. But this is the Chinese in her and I like it or better yet.. I love it.

Finally, why the Title " Wonderful Weekend".. when all (most of it) it was spend shopping?

That's easy, because I love to do anything with my LaoPo and be able to have a good time.. that's why!

Finally the Music has come....

Yeah.. Qing and I had been waiting for the new "Concert in the Park" season to kick-off this year. It started last Saturday, on the venue was a Johnny Cash look-alike/sing-alike act like him. As I am a big Johnny Cash fan and play quite a bit at home.. so Qing has become accustomed to his style and voice.
Others up-coming are The Beach Boys- The Eagles- Bon Jovi and ** ..... darn, getting old is a pain. Need to check again, as it slipped my Mind at the moment.


Anyhow, it was wonderful (boring for Tianchi) for Qing and I, as he started of course... "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" and proceeded from 1954 to the present.. up to his passing.. with song/live experience's and his Career's up's and down's. Including a special Tribute he himself had written to honor Johnny.

** "The Rolling Stones".. now how could I forget those?

Somewhat off the regular Post's..I'd say!

This is something that I myself was thinking about from now and then, what if...?

Qing and I have talked about this a couple times, but never really too deep into it.

Not something my LaoPo likes to talk about, it just happen to come up.. I guess ones too many times to ignore again. What it is, is what if  something happens to me and I did not survive whatever？Okay, let's go back a little more than five years. The time my first wife passed away. On the Cemetary Plot (which is a double) we had a marker made up, that also included my name on it. Of course that time, I had thought that I would never marry again. Now, having found Qing.. does that mean ..all must change?

So this is what our subject was that night.. where would I get buried? As one can see, this created a problem.. if you let it be one. Having my great LaoPo, it really isn't no problem at all. Hence most Chinese get cremated, she would be brought back to "her" families grave site.. after her wishes.

Now, how does that look to other's? Me having married twice and be together (as the marker reads.. "together forever"）with wife number one. I like to end it here, but our talk went a little further than that. Thinking it over, we had come to an point.. could this be.. why my first wife's kids are not going to visit the grave site? Because of my name being there too and I'm married again? I like not to think so, but I really never had any feedback concerning that nature.

Of course it bugs me a lot, every time on special days.. I go there and never have seen that anybody but me.. was ever nice enough to leave/bring flowers or any sign of having been there to honor their Mother. Like I've said, I go there because I have not forgotten or ever will. I have spend 30 years with this Woman, so why would/could I?

As this is now settled between my LaoPo and myself, I see no place for us (especially me) to worry about something that is and never was in/under my control anyway. I use to worry or let it bother me, what other People think.. I'm passed that and really don't care anymore. I have my own life to live, if it's with or without passed relationships.. as no-one can blame me one bid.. that I have not tried. Period!

Well, that didn't take long!

Of course what I mean by this.. is Tianchi (Tachi .. the English name we gave him) has learned to ride the Bicycle in just over two days. After a couple of spills (minor ones), he now rides it as if he's done it for years. Funny, looking back to my childhood.. it had taken me much longer to learn. That reason was due to, not having a Bike that was my "Size" back then. Had to learn on my Uncles "Big" bike, we had very little money at that time.. leave alone buying a Bike.

Anyway, Tachi and I ride it now a few times a week for about one(1) to three(3) miles close by our house.. while Qing is at work.

Having had Wednesday off, because of the 4th of July.. us and a Friend head over to Fillmore for the annual Celebration in this little Town near Santa Paula/Ventura. In store was, first of all.. seeing my ex-Son in-law (actually... I still consider him to be just that) plus the Car Show/Chili Cook-off and a Train ride with an old Steamer back a 100+ yrs. in time. Saying "Hi" to Lonny (Son in-law) which by the way.. is the manager of the Band "House Arrest". Having noticed that they have changed their Lead Singer again once more. I really think, they have a wonderful replacement this time. A very powerful/great voice, that makes this Band in my honest opinion... "Super".

Listening for some time, it was on to see the Antique Car's from as far back as the 20's I think. That was something special for Tachi, as he has never seen Classic's they had lined up on many streets around Town. We skipped the "Chili", as Qing thought.. they most likely be "Too" hot for both of them. Me, on the other hand.. I could handle most Peppers in any dish one puts in front of me.

On the list, this time.. was the Train ride towards Santa Paula (which I never had taken part of).. that was to last for an hour. We all are glad it wasn't longer really, not because it was no fun.. but because it was pretty "Hot" outside with not much Shade to speak off.

Overall, as usual.. a very nice day. One exception though, was the fact.. Tachi being kind of spoiled.. wasn't too happy when we told him that he had to work on his Puzzle at home. He'd rather "not" go on the Train, he said without thinking there will be consequences following such behavior. Dragging him along to the Train so to speak, til he finally gave in.. when no other way out was visible. Of course too, knowing that he pretty much (for the moment) only gets disciplined from Qing.. as I can not talk or scold him in a way I'd like too.. due to the fact there is a Language barrier. My Mandarin/Shanghaiese is not really up to par, but who can blame me for that? Believe me, I try.. but this got to be the hardest Language of any. If you don't believe it... try it!

Again, some Photo's here...