Snow Storm

Last Wednesday we had a hectic snow storm.  We actually heard thunders before the big chunk of heavy snow, mixed with rain and sleet fell upon us.  It took a lot of people by surprise.  The freeway in Baltimore, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia turned into a total parking lot. People started at 4 PM trying to get home did not arrive home until 12:30 after midnight.  Abandoned cars were littered along Route 83 and the York Road near my office.  I WAS LUCKY!  I got home before the heavy snow came down, and I did not lose any power, probably because my house is by the Main Street.

Yesterday many people did not make it to the office.  Again I was lucky to get in and get back home without any problem.  The office was quiet, and the cafeteria only served soup, salad and sandwiches.  Poor Lawrence, the chef , was all by himself in the kitchen.  Bobby, James, and Brenda all did not  make it in at all. Come to think of it, I probably talked a lot more to these folks who work at the cafeteria than many other McCormick people  who work at the head office.  Sometimes people can be so isolated.

It was a beautiful scene looking outside from my office window:

Canadian Rocky Trip in July

The trip is finally all settled.  Tickets are bought and hotels, rental cars are all booked. Who will be joining at where and when are all established. Finally!  Ping, Bi-Fang, and I will arrive Vancouver on 6/29.  Hae-Pyne and Silvia will arrive on 6/30.  We will all board the Rocky Mountaineer first thing on 7/1. It's going to be a once in a lifetime ride:

We will arrive Banff on 7/2, with one night stay in Kamloops.  Then Lily will join us that evening at Banff, and Jean and Andy will join us the following day.  We will then drive through Lake Louise, Jasper, then loop back to Banff, and finally all fly out from Calgary.  Peggy, who is another Chin Classmate that happens to live in Calgary may meet up with us at Banff. I have not seen her ever since we graduated from High School.  WOW, that is 42 years!  What a trip to look forward to between now and then.

2011 is a very special year

Nine days into 2011 and much has happened.  This is the year I will be fully retired at the end of April.  The anticipation of entering into a new chapter of life is dazzling.  I want to savor this early part of 2011 as I still get a regular paycheck from my full time employment, yet I can dream all the fun to have in retirement.  I do not have to think too much about what will happen after 2011 yet.

From mid Feb to March, I will make the last trip to Asia for work, chairing the APZ QA conference for the last time and say good-byes to my regional colleagues.  May is the river cruise trip to Russia.  Early July is a trip to Canadian Rocky for a once in a life time Rocky Mountaineer train ride from Vancouver to Banff and visiting National Parks.  Mid July is the family reunion at Ed's place for celebration of Dean'd Birthday.  Then September is a trip to Turkey.   Poor Bowtie will not see much of me in 2011.

While busy doing all the planning, I am keenly aware in this day and age, that my world as I know it could change within seconds.  An example is the Arizona killing which caused 6 people dead and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords still in critical condition, and a few other wounded also fighting for their lives.  May God have mercy on us.  When a society turns to believe in "no law and order, and no God - Wu Fa Wu Tien", a society simply will spiral down very quickly to complete ruin. And under a turned over bird nest, there will be no egg to survive.  Chinese history has taught us the lessons well.  And I feel very, very sorry for the current state of the Nation.

There are reasons for people come to our lives.  We are to learn things from the encounter.  Sometimes the lessons for us to learn is especially after someone who has come into our life but then left.  Regardless of how painful the lesson is, we become a better being/soul once we learned the lesson.  Huilang has sent me the story, which led me to find the following blog

bhavas.blogspot.com/2008/02/people-come-into-your-life-for-reason.html

Can't be cuter

I always believe that when there is love in people's heart, they feel the happiest and look at their best.  Just look at the five of these young folks:

Christmas is a family affair

Say thanks to your family, because it's such a blessing to have them.

Dim Sum at Asian Delight

Rosy was very kind to invite Ed, Tom, Janice and me for Dim Sum at Asian Delight in Silver Spring yesterday.  She has not seen Tom, Janice, and Ed for quite a while.  It really turned out to be a Dim Sum feast for all of us, because Rosy ordered 27 items!  Retirement, vacation, traveling, hiking, grand kids, and family reunion were topics around the table.  We all can't help to feel how times have flied over the years.

Rosy and I have known each other for, good grief, 38 years! I met her at her 18th Birthday celebration.  Lydia from Midway invited the Bible Study group to Rosy birthday party, when we dropped her off at Midway after the Study. On one snowy day of that same year, Rosy and Helena knocked at the door of my apartment in Lexington, seeking help to find a place to stay when they moved from Midway to Lexington.  That started the long relationship between Rosy and me.

Florence gave me two pairs of socks with very cute cats.  To have a sister in the Lord is a blessing in my life.

Christmas eve with Joshua

It's Joshua's first Christmas eve, spent with his parents, his YeYe, his Yau Yau James, and me, the Grand Yau Yau.  He has been in a good mood all day.  He loves to be held, and walked around to look at people and things.  Elizabeth and Dan took him to the Mass later in the afternoon, and reported that Joshua has been really good and quiet.  Dan said that after the Mess, many people commented on how good and beautiful is Joshua.  The smile on Dan was delightful. The smile simply says "we know!"  Elizabeth is nursing Joshua, and would talk sweetly and humorously to him when he enjoys the "meal".  Both Elizabeth and Dan are becoming more and more "confident" with their parental roles.  I am so happy for them!

Ed played with Joshua quite a bit.  Joshua definitely liks music.  Ed was teaching him "conducting" the music.  They both enjoyed it tremendously!

James asked me if he would then be Joshua's Yau Yau.  Ed and I told him yes he definitely is Yau Yau James.  The youngest uncle to Joshua in Huang's family.  I always liked my Yau Yau title - the youngest aunt in my family.  I hope James likes his new title and would allow Joshua to call him so.