近所の公園

It's finally sunny and warm (68F) this afternoon so I took my daughter out to the park for 2 hours. She is now 3 months old and her eyes are still very sensitive to the sun. Babies have the reflex action of closing their eyes when facing the sun and sometimes even covering their eyes with both hands! Pretty smart!

The pond is drained dry during the winter season so most of the geese are on the lawn soaking up some sun. I wonder if they are being fed by the park authorities or left alone to find their own food as the sign says: "No feeding".

猫の日

I read somewhere that Feb. 22 is 猫の日 in Japan. It also happens to be my sister's birthday (and my other co-worker's birthday and 2 co-workers' baby shower).

Anyway, this year the keyword for me is "Enjoy". I have decided that New Year's Resolutions are just the same old every year so instead, I think just picking one keyword to remind myself what is important for me this year would be much easier to achieve. So "to enjoy everyday, to find excuses to enjoy life, to enjoy work and chores and everything I choose to do or have to do" is my overall goal this year.

This idea did not come to me until I found myself more than slightly depressed earlier when I got the flu and could not really take care of my baby daughter. I was also worried about returning to work in April and what daycare options I have and the kind of arrangement I should make. I would have nightmares of being lost even in a place with many familiar faces. When I woke up I'd feel tired and completely lost interest in eating or doing anything. Then I have an urgent need to talk to people, so I talked to my sister, my sister-in-law, my husband, a friend, my old high school friend via Facebook (I think in that exact order) and felt much better. I was able to "walk out" from the depression. It dawned on me that life is not all about solving problems but about counting every happiness (and creating happiness!) What is most important right now is that I should be enjoying my timeoff with my baby as she will be growing up so fast that I will regret not remembering how and what we do to bond.

So, going back to Feb. 22... It was my sister's birthday and a rainy working Friday for the men, but instead of not doing anything, I suggested that we all go up to the city and celebrate with her after dinner. We got there past 9pm and did not come home until almost 2:30am and everyone was SO TIRED!! But now at least we all got something we could remember and with pictures to show. And it was my baby's first trip to San Francisco, her first time to stay out so late, her first time being on 28th floor, her first time participating in a birthday party and hearing the birthday song...etc. It was great!! Imagine if I was still depressed and didn't want to do anything ...

I have been thinking of maybe moving back to Hong Kong permanently but tonight, I recall these sayings that reminded me that maybe I should feel lucky at where I am.

1. My friend from Hong Kong telling me my house and my suburban life is like staying at some fancy spa resort in Thailand. She also loves the weather, the supermarkets, the convenient of driving and all the free parking here. She actually came for the ONJ concert, which we did not even know was happening. :-P - Check, check, check, check.

2. Someone from Hong Kong again said her dream is to have a master bedroom big enough to allow getting on and off the bed from both sides. - Check.

3. Someone from Hong Kong but studying and living in Germany said she wishes the winter is less harsh, the people are less serious and cooking something Chinese at home could be easier. - Check, check, check.

4. Someone in Hong Kong wishes he had a small cozy one story house with French doors in the living room that open to a small back yard with sitting area under the awnings. - Check.

So with so many checks, life here is really not bad at all and I should just enjoy it! Whenever I need a change, just take a short trip or a vacation. Break away from the routines and go create some happy, memorable events, like Feb 22.

ぶらんこ

This is such a great photo!! And I just love swings in general!! I have not sat on a swing for the longest time. In Hong Kong, at least according to what I remembered, the seat of the swing is made out of wood and it can fit almost any adult size. So if I were in Hong Kong, I could sit on a swing with my daughter and just rock back and forth gently. But here in US, the swings are for kids only. There is sometimes a metal ring around the seat so as to make sure it fits only a kid with safety in mind. I guess everywhere is the same now with swings only made for kids and made out of plastic or rubber... This is so no fun. I sometimes really missed the world I grew up in...

東京 7泊8日

Just living vicariously through Flickr, that's all.

回顧 2007

Lately, I have not been able to remember anything important or trivial. I could not remember names or dates or what was said or discussed or even things I need to get from stores. Some say it comes with being a mom, not sure if it's true or not. And because time is really flying by so fast these days, espeically with the "mommy routine", I thought I better summarize what had happened in 2007 so I don't forget.

1) First trip to Asia with my husband. (He's really the best travel buddy ever!)


2) My first time to Shanghai with my parents (and man, did I made them walk miles and miles everyday! Sorry :-P but that's just my style of traveling...)



3) Reconnected with my first boss after 10 years! (We moved, email changed... Really so happy to be in touch with her again!!)

4) Treated Dad to Japan and taught him how to take the subway. (No more expensive taxi for him from now on. The 3 of us had the most wonderful and memorable time there!)


5) My non-blood related but dear to my heart uncle passed away on Feb. 6. (My dream was to invite him to stay with us and take him to places ... 今更 ～)

6) Our friend and neighbor downstairs from us in Hong Kong, Mr. Lung, passed away at age 84 on April 2. (A sad and shocking news to my parents and sister as there was no sign of him being sick. I never get to know him well because I have not been living in Hong Kong for the last 20 years. But he sure was a gentleman and a good friend to us.)


7) I participated in a live Telepresence conference with our Japanese customers in Japanese! (大変だけど、楽しいよ!)

8) Used 3 months to prepare and compile a presentation by working with so many so called stakeholders and experts on the topic (as strongly suggested by my boss) and the result was fruitLESS! (時間の無駄だなぁ)

9) Passed CWNA - just like that! (わけないよ！)

10) Spent some quality time with mom while pregnant. (あたしンち)



11) Attended a lovely wedding in LA which was in a way very inspiring.

12) The whole pregnancy, nesting and childbirth experience. (一番忘れられない体験。)


13) The sub-prime shakeout drove the global stock markets to go crazy!



14) Two of our top dogs left us in the same year. (おやまあ！)


15) Reconnected with a bunch of old friends via Facebook during Christmas! (But really trying to stay away from it most of the time...)

16) Watching more YouTube than TV!! (A lifestyle change.)


17) A new family member and a new role. (A surprisingly different kind of love from the love for your dearest pets!)


18) My dad's brother, uncle Frank, and the other older brother's wife passed away on the same day (Nov. 30)! One in D.C. and the other in Taipei. (涙)

19) The longest break from work I've ever had (and knowing how I (mis)utilized it is just invaluable...)

20) Got a bunch of new stuff ... 自動車, ベッド, HDテレビ, ステレオステム, 赤ちゃんのもの, iPod shuffle (I like it so much better than the iPod Video), and miscellaneous home stuff. Got rid of a lot of things that are collecting dust like the old TVs, VCRs, printers, cameras, laptops, external HD storage, telephones, desks, cabinet, etc. (Next to clean out are the closets of clothings and books.)