Saturday, February 1, 2014

Going on to "Yellow"...

.... Belt!

Tianchi has been going to a Karate class for three months now and moved up to the next step (belt).. the Yellow Belt.

For someone that has pretty much never exercised in his young life, now has shown a lot of improvement... what flexability concerns. We talking even doing one (1) push-up was almost impossible for him. Now he does 15 with little effort. But, we do have to push him to "Practice" on a regular schedule each day.

Being a Yellow Belt, he now will encounter "One on One" sparring with protective gear worn each time.
Funny, when Tianchi first found out about this... He says to his Mom; "You are teaching me how to Fight"! When it should have been; "I am learning to protect yourself"! I'm sure that he will soon see, that Karate is not just about Fighting and actually so much more.




Friday, January 24, 2014

Seven years past...

.... "In Loving Memory"!!!

To my late Wife "Nancy", as to this day seven years ago... my first Chapter of my Life ended with her passing due to Cancer.
Of course I think of her often. The Memories of all those years spend together will never fade from my Mind.

I was blessed then... and I am today ones again!

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Something I wanted to do for a long time...

This truely was something I wanted to do/see for years and years.

Hence Saturday was a day off for my LaoPo, I checked on the Computer... how to get to this place I wanted to see for such a long time. Ever since I saw that place on the "Luell Howser Show".

Now before actually going there, I read up a little on how to get there and noticed many "Reviews" on the place. I must tell you, reading a handful... I had second thoughts about going. For my safety, of course Qing and
Tianchi as well.

Anybody have an Idea, what place I'm talking about?

Well, I will tell you... I was planning to visit none other than the "Watts Tower"!

This was to be early afternoon and later head to Monterey Park (very much Chinese Community) to have a feast of Dumplings for dinner. So, as we were on our way... I informed Qing regarding what Watts was all about, in the Eyes of the review posters over a period of many years.

Finding the place wasn't too hard. After parking the Car, we proceeded to the "Towers" mentioned... only to notice that they were surrounded be a Fence. Thinking this must be now "Off Limits", a Man across the street called for our attention... to tell us that we must first buy Tickets (at a little house near by) to go and get a "Tour". Which by the way, was the only way to see it up close. On my way to the little house, I thought to myself... now this Man was quite friendly and I started to feel... this place is NOT that bad after all.

Still, I would not be walking around at night- time. The Reviews did mention... your right in the middle of the "Hood"!
Anyway, it was a very nice experience to finally get to see the Towers. Along with a Video of the Man building these "One of a kind" structures, that took this Man for 33 years (1921-1954) to complete to the present state their in.

I,Qing and Tianchi really were fasinated by what was created by this one Man from Italy.

As Huell would put it "That's Amazing"!!!







Sunday, January 5, 2014

Ones more.. the Holiday season has come and gone.

Yes... as we all look forward to 2014 and wishing it will be a great year for us, as well as for all my Readers likewise.

Qing and I (including Tianchi) decided to visit my Uncle for Christmas Eve ones again this year. We did have a very nice time (as we always do) surrounded by mostly Family members. In no time at all, it was time to head home and get some good sleep.. as tomorrow (Christmas Day) it was to be spend at Big Bear Resort for some "Snow" activities. Coming from Shanghai, my Sweetheart and Tianchi having never really the chance to see "Real Snow" and lots of it.

So the next day, it was all about putting on some warm clothes and be ready for some fun. Now, when we arrived (to our surprise) there wasn't really any need to be dressed as warm the way we were... haha. Mid 60's and no wind at all, only Sunshine. We couldn't have ask'd for nicer weather and have Snow anyway.

Loved the whole day, especially seeing Qing and Tianchi having such a great time. One exception I must mention, Qing was afraid looking at the "Snow-runs" for sitting on inner-tubes and speeding down scary hills, so she decided to pass on that. That left Her in charge taking Photo's instead. Funny thing to add, she also paid for our Ticket's (which she was very insistent about). One does not argue with a Chinese Woman, when she made up her mind on stuff like that.

Anyway, here are some Photo's of both day's.







Sunday, December 1, 2013

Turkey day at our Home.

This year Qing and I were to have Thanksgiving at home for a change. We also invited some of our Chinese friends to join us. At our yearly Chinese reunion Brunch, which we are members of... we met a couple that lives not far from us. The Lady is also married to an American with a little 2 year old child. She had her Brother in-law (married to her Sister) that is visiting California for the time being. He has bought property here and plans to build a home in the near future. Besides them, one Male friend of the couple that was nearing a divorce from a Chinese Lady. he himself has made over 100 trips to China doing Business. I suspected it to be quite interesting taking to all and certainly there was no shortcoming here.

Anyways, doing the Turkey was in my hands. I was all ready to "Deep-fry" this Bird, as I have done only once before and it happened to be the most moist.. if I remember right. I prepared the Bird early in the morning, so I could lower it into the Peanut oil about one hour before the Guest's arrive. I should mention too, ones my Neighbor found out what I was up to... he ask me if he could bring over "his" Turkey and fry it after I was done with ours. Of course I said "yes", as the oil was hot already.
I had the Bird in the "Pot" just 15 minutes when our Friends pulled up into our driveway. Funny, even before going inside.. they stopped and had to have a look at the Turkey frying nicely just inside the Garage with the door open. Qing was inside and busy with all the other dishes to accompany my finished Bird later. It took 1 1/2 hours for my 14 pounder and later 45 minutes for my Neighbors smaller Bird. Two Birds in little over two hours... not bad!

All together we all had a wonderful time and when the Pumpkin Pie came for Dessert, it was already after 10pm. How time goes by, when having great Food and great Guest's?

Here are a couple photo's before starting out with Qing's special salad and beyond.




Thursday, November 21, 2013

I think I've lost my Mei-Mei Lily?

Last week, I was ones again thinking of my little Sister Lily from Kunming (China). I have written to her a few weeks back, but I did not receive an answer back as of yet.
Does this worry me? Of course it does and not just a little!
Having found her in 2008 (before Qing actually), keeping/thinking of her as my own Sister (because  having only brother's and in reverse no brother's on her side) making me her "Ge-Ge" (older brother in chinese).
Anyway, writing a new letter last week... I found out the E-mail address she had given to me is not in use anymore. This is/was all I had for contact now and then.
This worries me, thinking of the worst.. which I really shouldn't. I can't help it though, why and what happened? Knowing her "Dad" was also not in good shape physically (confined to a Bed), it would have left Lily "Parent-less" only a younger Sister to comfort her... if this was the case. Maybe, not having Internet at the time due to an PC not working or for Financial reasons... just don't know?
This made me look back on my Blog to a very special Post of an Letter she had send me. Even to this date, everytime I read it... it not only warms my heart... but it also bring me to the edge of tears. For two simple reasons; one being, how little it took for me to do this and second, how strong it touched Lily and her family.
Reading it, one can see... why I would miss my Sis so much. I certainly hope all is okay with her? Til' I receive a Letter from her (she does have my E-mail) I just rely on my patience and wait.
One other thing, knowing Chinese Woman somewhat well now... I hope she's not thinking that she's interferring in my marriage with Qing. Besides, Qing is not in any way... seeing this as a reason to be jealous!
Miss my Mei-Mei!!!

So here is that special Letter....


Guy's , this is what flower's can do !


From: Lily Tang (Profile ID: P688090 ) To: arnold dusch Date: Apr 2, 2009 GMT Mail ID: P688ECJCFHG

Ni hao, wo qing ai de ge ge,I don't know how to give my appreciation to you my dear ge ge, you touch me so deeply, thank you ge ge, because of you, I light up hope again in this dark period, zheng de hen xie xie ni ge ge¡­.Dear ge ge, I just come back from my mother's grave, I have say thank you for you and I can feel she would smile when she heard that, thank you ge ge, maybe you don't know your concern means what a great power to our family, all of us are so warm and touched, so I must say thank you to you my dear ge ge, thank you¡­.Ge ge, I didn't receive your lily until today, I went out and I didn't bring phone with me yesterday, the agency call me many times but I didn't know, when I came back home I found there are so many calls so I called back, but there was nobody receive it, so I didn't know they wanted to send flowers to me, this morning, I went out again, but I take phone with me, so they told me there is flower from you and they will send to me at noon, when I get home, my father has receive for me and he is going to put the flowers into the vase, I told him this flowers are sent to mother by you, my father was so touched and say thank you many many times, he said it is our honor to have such a good ge ge as you, he said you are really a good person, he ask me must say thank you to you for him¡­.dear ge ge, you must be the angel that the god sent to comfort me through this hard time, there is no friend can remember to send greeting or flower to my mother except you, you are the only one who put my mother in your mind, thank you ge ge, you said thanks my mother for you, to let you have such a nice mei mei in your life, I also want to thanks your mother to let me have such a nice ge ge as you, and thank you for my mother because you support her hopeless daughter in her dark period, thank you ge ge, if you were beside me, I really want to give you a warm hug to express my million of thanks :)dear ge ge, about the man you are going to introduce to me, I am so thankful, I believe any man who introduce by ge ge must be a good man because I trust ge ge, I believe if he isn't a good man, ge ge would not introduce to me, right? so ge ge, yes I would like to know him, please tell him I would like to write with him, does he in Chnlove too? how old is he? How far he lives away from you?my mood is much better today, thank you ge ge, this is the result of your care:)your niece and her friends are beautiful, they are so young, envy, hehe, say hello to Qing :)thank you again ge getake careNi de mei mei,Lily

Friday, November 15, 2013

"Trouble is lurking near and far"!



Having seen all kinds of trouble

couples reading each-other less

before they join in a celebration

leaving much to ones imagination.



Building a marriage on such little time

only to find later in a short while

things are not rosy or primed

drifting apart fast and with no chime.



Here Qing and I often wonder

being together not that much longer

why then is our love blessed and free

just the way we want it to be.



Living absolutely with no trouble

daily life passes oh so loving

working together as a mature couple

moment for moment- day by day

enjoying marriage what else can I say.



So where's the lurking trouble

not that both of us really care

can't let it be part in our lives

seeing no reason really to dare

where others go in quite despair.    


As I see some of my Friends go through some rough times with their Marriage (for one reason or another), I felt that I must write a Poem regarding this subject.