Monday, December 28, 2009

X'MAS 2009

X'mas is similar to our Chinese New Year where family members return home to celebrate the holiday together. X'mas is about giving gifts as to Chinese giving "Ang pau"- Red Packet. In both cases, parents are made poorer to see kids excitement in opening the gifts/presents and Red Packets!

For this X'mas, we did not travel either to New Jersey to meet Don's 2 sons and grandkids or to Indiana to visit Mom and Don's siblings and their children. Certainly, we missed the joy and the feel for X'mas for not being together with them.

As we have no plan of traveling, we decided to have a quiet X'mas in our new place . This time, Don bought me some gifts that are more practical for daily use than those luxury jewelry or handbags that I used to receive in the past X'mas. He is always thoughtful in getting what I needed at different time. From me to him, I normally go for shirts, pants , shoes (Earth Shoes) and other items for personal use. Basically, I can't fulfill his wish list ... because, he still want a Bose Sound system, a big Flat HDTV for our bedroom, a super speed PC etc..... Oh NO, what he wanted are too costly and out of my budget. Hmmmm ...... I thought he might have to work harder and get a second job in 2010 to fulfill his Wish list!!!!

I am hoping that in a very near future, when the time is right and when we have some "Extra over Extra money" he will have a Bose Sound system as consolation....... Ok!




Some X'mas lights were up at exterior of our house



Some gifts under the X'mas Tree

A pose before opening my gifts


A sharp knife for me ? To kill someone?
Oh, there is another full range of knives in the block set!

This is good for me. keyboard with wireless mouse


Sold my toaster in garage sale; So it's good to have a toaster
with digital display

Oh! this is interesring ! I bought this Coffee maker for Don as one of my X'mas gift to him. It's a Cuisinart -12 cup Coffee maker with thermal carafe.

As I was too anxious to try it out, hence, this box was opened prior to X'mas day !


He kept laughing to himself while opening the box, !! Reason? Hahahaha because he bought the same coffee maker for me too ! ( He says- his coffee maker comes with better accessories! Ya right !) The result - he will have to return the item)


This is for him but I am the one who makes the coffee every morning !



He thought he has a wonderful gift in the box


A small gift from me !

What is inside eh ? ( I told him.... you know one !)


Oh !!! 3 Sport shirts !!


He said..." Blue shirt for his blue eyes!



There is nothing special for this X'mas, we were invited by our boss to have dinner in her house on X'mas day.


Day after X'mas, we went shopping at various stores and were hoping to get some good bargain on X'mas clearance sale. Since we were out late, there was nothing great to buy for next X'mas . Crazy shoppers started at 6 am !!! Fortunately, we are not that crazy yet !



Sunday, December 27, 2009

EXCHANGE GIFTS IN OUR OFFICE



On the X'mas eve, we have this unplanned surprises.

Chris was the one who placed all his gifts on the reception counter first when we arrived in the morning. Chris is always the first one in the office. Then, we placed our gifts together too.

When our boss Elida arrived and saw all these gifts on the counter, she went back to her car and brought in her gifts as well ! So we all have gifts for X'mas !!

This is the first time, we enjoyed the fun of exchanging and opening gifts in the office just like kids !! hahahaha... We have lots of fun, laughter and excitement to see and open each gift ! Oh, we have our Bonus too. Wasn't that a Merry X'mas just begun?

In fact, Elida suggested us to have an off day but we came back to finish some works since we would be having a company lunch at noon.

At noon, we went to Mattison for lunch for the good food and drink.



All the Gift boxes
Chris, Don & ElidaNow with me in the PictureChris' present to ElidaOur Gift to ElidaOh Don has a Gift card (The card says "For Mom" soit's very likely it's for me !)
Don has the gift from ChrisChris has the gift from us and he was excited !

These are for me from Elida.. Love them !! Gift from Chris
At the bar counter
Some drinks before lunch !


Saturday, December 5, 2009

HOME ALONE AGAIN!

Yeah..... I am alone again !! Ah Don went to California to visit his brother Tom since last Wednesday. Tom was in the hospital for a while after returning from their trip to China in October. He was not doing well when we first got the news. Ah Don loves his brother so he decided to stay a bit longer to be with Tom. I am happy to hear that Tom is getting better and has been discharged from the hospital.

Since I am alone, I tried not to do anything that requires labor. I am afraid to have any incidental fall or cut because there is no one to help me.

While going through the TV channel two days ago, I found this Sino TV at channel 281!!!It's a Chinese Channel. Now, I have the opportunity to watch some fun shows & Chinese movies. :):):)

This afternoon, suddenly, I have the urge to do some floral arrangement. So these are 2 pots of artificial flowers placed at both side of the TV in the family room.


Next, I also have the X'mas tree up in the living room !

One for the Left


One for the Right


A simple X'mas Tree


Busybody " Buddy" is playing with Santa

Sunday, November 29, 2009

OUR HOUSE

THIS IS OUR HOUSE


Finally, we managed to have the house done to a "Home Like" condition. We have 4 days at home to tidy the place. On Thanksgiving day, we sorted out those boxes that were still left in the garage. Almost all moving boxes have been opened and gone to places where they belonged. Leaving behind are about 100 over moving boxes of all sizes in the garage !!! What are we going to do with them ? Ah ..... good question! I think, I still love to keep some of them .... it's just Me !Do not like the idea to throw things away! Anyways this is an exceptional case due to limited storage for Junks.. those boxes will make the garage look rather unsightly !! So, we will advertise for people to come get them for moving!

So! here is our new place..... a place where you will see 2 parakeets, 1 cockotiel, 1 cat and 2 human beings that's Me and Ah Don.

Puteri and Putera


"Forever"


" Buddy"


Coffee Table at Family room


Sofa & Love seat at Family Room


The big rock on entrance. (pending painting to Gold :):) )

Back yard after Landscaping Work


Back of Lanai


Left side of the house


Landscaping Workers at work


Entry at Kitchen


Front Foyer


This is my collection Corner - Clocks & Plates

Dining Room


Living Room


A pose after the hard word on yard


2 car Garage


Front view of the house ( now visible after tree trimming!)


Laundry Room - Washer & Dryer


Garage with unopened boxes


Family Room - TV corner


View from Kitchen to Family Room


High top Dinning table for two of us


This is the Kitchen..... Place for my collection of Bottles