Finally have the Spa Cover all finished

Today, I put on the final touches on my Spa Cover project. It feels good to be over and done with it! To think, I had this plan in my head for nearly 13 years now. Qing and I sat in the Spa the other day and turned on the lights..opened up the two sliding doors to give us a view of the night sky. All we both can said, it's turned out wonderful and I'm very proud of myself with the workmanship. In other words... we LOVE IT!

Now it's time to pay attention to the inside. As we want to build a room out of the single gargage and do the Kitchen counter's in granite. Not to forget the Living room in Tiles afterwards.

Work is never done.. as they say!

A little update...

Just a short Post, to say everything is going great and couldn't be any better for us.
Qing finished her Medical College and Graduated last month with high honors. She is now taking Phlebotomy classes to get certified in that field and then, take the National Test in both areas. This will open doors for her in many places, like.. a Hospital-Doctor Office's-Clinic's-Dialysis Center's-Insurance Companies-Mobil Unit's. I am sure she'll land a great Job for all the hard work/study she's done this whole year through.

As for me, besides Riding my Motorcycle on weekends... I've also continued with my Book. Something I had neglected throughout the year, but did get on it ones again and finished Chapter 4. Which covered my Trip to Germany in March '07 after my late wife's passing and back again. Chapter 5 will cover going back to work and taking care of all the finances and trying to Re-finance the House at a lower rate. Anyway, it might have been almost eight years ago, but I still have all pretty much in my Head. I do like to finish it (the Book) before I'm 65. If it ever makes it onto the Book-shelf's would of course be nice, but if not... that's okay too! It will be just something I like to leave behind (if only for a handful of People to read it) as a memento of my fortunate Life's account, having been able to enjoy not just one... but two wonderful Wife's/Spouse's in one Lifetime.

Qing's Birthday and my new Ride!

Last Friday happened to be my LaoPo's Birthday. As one can see from the Photo... she's a young 46.
It was now the 6th Birthday I have had the pleasure to spend with my Tai-Tai. Five here in the US and one in Hong Kong.
We were going to go out to Eat for her day and funny she'd be mentioning, that one of her Classmates at the College had told her about the Thai place in Palmdale. I was fast to agree to it and how appropriate..."Thai Food" for my "Tai-Tai"!   
Must say, it was quite tasty! I usually don't eat Thai too often.

Second, somehow it also felt like it was my Birthday as well. Because I became the owner of a new Motorbike. It is my second, but this one is much bigger and a 1500 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic... as my first was "only" a 650 Honda. It didn't take long for me to fall in Love with it and whats more important, Qing loves it too. So that makes us a Biker Couple... haha!
Question... do we now need "Tattoo's"?

Sunday outing to Long Beach!

The last weekend of July this year (as it does every year), that the "Dragon Boat" festival in Long Beach was to be staged.
Of course this Festival is a big thing in China. Having a Chinese LaoPo, there is no need to further explain why we're driving from Palmdale to Long Beach at least every other year for this Event.
These Races bring teams from all over the State and even from neighboring States as well. Each of the Boats in the Competition is Men'd by no less than 20 People. One with the Drum (for rythem), one on the Rudder and 18 that Row with the beat of the mentioned Drum.
As far as I could see, there were at least 20 Teams with members of all ages.

Second, there is of course lot and lot's of other Entertainment. Plus specialty Items associated with this Festival and Food/Drink for the hungry/thirsty ones. Besides, Qing loves this place near the Marina with all those beautiful water-front Homes.
Anyway, we spend most of the day enjoying all that was offered.

With dinner-time getting closer and time to start our trek homewards. I decided to stop at the Alpine Village, which happens to be not too far of course going home.

Hence the Chinese and Germans are getting along so well in many ventures, this makes the most sense to finish the remainder of the day. Nothing like a good "Jäger Schnitzel" and a cold German beer. Tianchi got treated with a Bratwurst and Potato dumplings.. he actually liked it too!

After dinner, it was over to the German Market and Souvenir shops (which surprised a few shop owners.. like whats a Chinese person doing here) to see if we find anything interesting to take home?

Here are some Pic's....

Boy, one can see that "I" ate too much...lol!

New Post long time coming....

Wow.... can't believe it's been over two months, that I've posted anything in my Blog.

Anyways, with Qing going to Medical College and all... it left both of us much less time (especially me) to visit here or Facebook for that matter. So let me see; I've been busy helping around the house, so Qing has more study-time. Something that takes her passed midnight and up again by 5:00am on almost a daily bases.

I myself after all the dinner dishes are cleaned and put away, I concentrate on my ongoing project of building a Spa-cover (see photo's below). The reason for that is: first- it protects the Spa-cover from the Sun and second- it doesn't heat up the water passed the Temp. that I have chosen. This is now the second month me working on it and it's now about 75% completed. The open parts shown need to be closed-painted and last the Concrete slap needs to be stained to match our Patio floor.

I also will post later about our trip to the 2014 Dragon Boat Festival in Long Beach and since the Chinese and Germans work together so well, to a German Restaurant for dinner.

almost done!

A few more Appetizing photo's...

Coconut Shrimp & Grilled Sausage inside Urinals

 A "Meatball" dish of all things for Tianchi..haha!

 "Beefstew" for Qing (the Mom) and some Boba Tea!

This area is for "Overflow".. with Showerheads for a quick clean-up!

Mother's Day split into two totally different parts...

.... let's say, this special day started out as normal. Only to have the second/later of the day, somewhat on the strange/unusual side of ordinary.

As normal, I took Qing (plus Son) out for a nice Brunch to start the day that was to come. Afterwards, we headed to Pasadena to spend the early to mid-afternnon at the Huntington Garden-Library. Being a yearly Member, we take advantage to go and see how along the "Chinese Garden" has come... that's been under and still is in the Construction stages.

As we arrived at the Garden, we quickly noticed that the regular Entrance had been removed to make room for some new Buildings. Now the temporary Entrance was put further to the west side of the Garden, which took us some time to locate. I also, have never seen so many People the multiple times we've been there. It didn't keep us from having a great relaxing/enjoyable time though. I was kind of surprised, the little progress (in almost one year) the Chinese Garden had made. They added a Concrete Boat, plus a Waterfall... but in turn closed up a section that was open on earlier dates.

Anyway, we spend somewhat around three hours, taking in all the wonderful scent of the many flowers and all this place has to offer.

Now we come to the second part of the day. The strange/unusual, let's just say... that part is going to go towards the "Toilet's".

Yes, you read right... Toilet's!

Haha... and that for the Mother's Day Dinner of all the things.

I don't know if any of you have guessed it by now, it was a trip to City of Industry and none other than the "Magic Restroom Cafe". I will up-load some Photo's that will do the talking much better, than I can explain writing. So grab your Toilet-paper and get ready.

 This is the waiting area, please have a seat til' we call you!

 well let's order... Tianchi looks like his about to get sick?

Fried Rice in a Toilet bowl... yummy!

                 

Two reasons this is a special week!

Actually, in a way... it is a very special week and month.

Being May 6th today, is a date I hold very dear to me always. Not only would this day have been my late Wife "Nancy's" and my 36th Anniversary, but it has a much larger/deeper meaning than just that.

For that (the ones that don't know this) I need to go back to the year 2007, when Nancy passed away. It was just shy of our 29th Anniversary, it was sad... because we had big plans for our 30th back then. For that reason alone, I made up my mind to do something very special in honer of our 30th. I decided to plan a Trip to a place that I have never been to. Where to go was not that easy for me. I was thinking Europe-Australia, but funny... I wasn't really thinking of Asia yet at all.

All I knew, I wanted to be in the "Air" (up in the Clouds) on May 6th 2008 to be (don't laugh) as close to Nancy as possible.

Anyway, as I remember.. it was July by now and I still had no idea where it would take me? That is when "Faith" took hold of me and for some reason made me decide to turn on the TV and put it on the  PBS channel. There of all places, I was shown where I was to go next year. On TV was a Concert from the 12 Girls Band and it was from Pudong (under the Pearl Tower) Shanghai, that of course is in China. I not only fell in love with their Music/Instruments, but also the beauty of the Girls and the City by Night. I thought right there, this was the most beautiful City I've ever seen in my Life. Which later proved to be true.

Here in front of the TV, I was shown where the special place will be to celebrate the 30th in Nancy's honor. Two weeks later I had bought Airline Ticket's for that very day.

So, here I was in need of learning some Chinese/Mandarin to get around. That's when the "New" PC (had to get one now) came into play. Little did I know, my Adventure was to take me further then just to Shanghai. It was leading me also step by step to meet/find my now LaoPo Qing. That is a somewhat long story my Book will tell when completed.

This brings me to May 9th, which is going to be Qing's and my 6th Anniversary on Friday. The day, we got married at the Registry in Shanghai, with the actual Ceremony being later in August on none other then )08-08-2008 on my second Trip.

Two dates I will always Honor! Why? Because I'm a Romantic Guy!!!

Good news....

.... yes indeed!

It happens that Qing and I are expecting an addition soon.

Actually this is now the sixth generation of a wonderful thing happening in our backyard. It started (or I have first noticed it) in Spring of 2008. A pair of Doves made their home in one of our Tree's and ever since then.. it is a yearly thing as one generation to the next uses this very same Nest. This Spring is no different, except it is not in the Tree (because I had to cut it down for the Solar Panels) as before. It is now located within our Arch covered with Red Grapes. It is amazing how they pick and choose a location for their new Nest. This location is somewhat lower, this of course makes it much easier for me to Spy upon it. So, I took this opportunity to get a little close and take this Photo. No need to mention that I was watched by a nervous Mom/Dad nearby. I do/can actually get pretty close to them before it gets them too scared and fly off.

Makes me also think, are Doves not associated with Peace, something I can say.. Qing and I really enjoy a very loving and peaceful marriage together. To think, that they took up residence the same year Qing and I got married? Coincidence or maybe not?

... a few more Phot's!

... as one can see, we have actually our own "Poppy Reserve" in our backyard. They just multiply all by themselves and start taking over the yard (where I want them that is).. too beautiful.