Simply Me

Summer has come and almost gone, kids going back to school soon. Before summer ends, I want to have another family outing. So, I planned a “Pick Your Own” at Whittemore Farm on Sunday.

On Sunday, after Lord’s Table meeting, we did some grocery shopping and head home. At home, I got too comfortable andlazy to go out, cos it's like 7 hundred degree outside, but Tony reminded me not to break our promise. I drag my feet and pack all necessities, camera, hat, umbrella, water, etc. I’m not a fan of heat, I like to think I’m a piece of ice, under the sun, I’ll melt.

Everytime people asks him how old? He will put up 4 fingers and look at them, make sure it's 4, then show them. He already telling people he is 4, right after he turned 3. We tried to remind him, he is actually 3, he refused.

This year he grows up a lot physically, especially his height. He is constantly hungry, he will never shy to ask for more foods, even in school. And he is very chatty, he likes to talk, whether or not it makes sense.

Boys are tend to be more active and naughty. This little guy, on his quiet side, he likes to help out - whether I'm doing laundry or baking - he wants to be part of it. I really adore him, at very young age, he has very good manner. For example, at the age of 2, he will thank you for changing his diaper in the night, he will apologize for his misbehaviour. "Thank you, mommy." "I'm sorry, mommy, I mess up the floor."

At the age of 3, he will tell you to pay for his toy that he picked up from the store. Toys R Us is his favourite store. We have to remind him before we entered the store, we are here to check out toy, NO BUYING, and make sure he get it, otherwise, he takes that as green light to buy 'something'. "Can I touch the toys? Can I play the toys?" after he knows he's not allow to buy. Especially now he know his birthday is coming up, he starts to show you what he wants. Buzz Lightyear is one of his favourite right now. He even wants to be Buzz Lightyear for Halloween. Because I prefer cowboy sheriff Woody, I told him Buzz Lightyear is for bigger boy. Then, he says, "I want to be Buzz Lightyear when I grow a little bigger." Oh boy!

Last week, he was on the phone with Uncle Mark, "Uncle Mark, I want Lightning McQueen Car Wash toys for my birthday." Pretty thick face. I don't remember I ever ask somebody for toys when I was young.

3 more weeks till his birthday. He kept saying he wants to send invitation to Ms. Rachel, and some of his buddies in school, however, we are only invite close family friends.

During lunch time, I was blogging about the sad news I heard from radio yesterday morning. Half way through I changed my mind and delete the blog.
Today is Sherene birthday. The family went back to Pillipine, no wonder I didn't see them on Lord's Day. I saw her comments on Facebook, she was in that area when the tragic happen. It wasn't hit me until I dig more news, video clips from the web. After learning more about the tragedy, I was furious and depress. Furious, the phillipine authorities handle the whole situation in such unprofessional way ended up in blood shed. Depress, these people paid for a pleasant trip but ended up pay their life needlessly. It was indeed very sad and heart breaking. How could the local government let this happen? There were 5 Canadian on the bus. They were family, 3 were killed, one in the ICU. Left the mom alone, helpless, devastated, losing 3 loved one... Thi s is just horrible. They are ordinary people like you and me.
My prayer goes out to them....
Oh Lord Jesus! Please comfort that mother who lost her love one. Please keep all your children safe under your mighty hands.

P/S: if anyone of you confused with my last name? Well, Kong is my married name and now my legal last name. I still use Liew, in my office, my email, my business card... why? that has been my last name all my life.

It was a warm and breezy day, perfect for sitting on the patio. After we arrived home, I let Ryan plays outside while I preparing dinner in the kitchen. Nothing much to prepare since we are eating left over from Monday, only rice.

The sky is blue with no clouds. I was sitting on the patio watching him enjoying himself under the sun. I too enjoying myself blogging on my iPad, then some burn smell coming from the kitchen interrupting my train of thought. "Oops, the rice", I jumped up from the patio chair, run inside, but it's too late, I burnt the rice. Making another pot of rice for dinner.

He is pretending gasing up his truck. Kid at this age likes to pretend play.

That's all we got today. Ryan loves to pick them and he loves cherry tomatoes. He little tummy can takes 10 or more cherry tomatoes.

We didn't get very much crop this year. Unlike other year, when our crop was overwhelming that we need to gave away to friends and neighbours. We need to pick it almost every other day, otherwise, the hares would eat them. I think we didn't get enough rains this summer, plus we were away for sometime last month. Those plants were left unattended.

Look at last year crop - someday we picked 2 basket full of tomatoes. This little guy enjoy picking them.

This one was gigantic, we called it "pumato", it looks like pumpkin. These two photos were taken in 2008.

我对自制糕点非常有兴趣。可惜Tony不懂得欣赏，原因是他不爱吃甜点。我也不怎么吃，所以很多时候吃不完，被扔掉。朋友到访时，他们可要真有口福，我又可以大展身首，吃不完，统统给打包回家，一举两得。
这是我第二次做奶酥面包，第四次自制面包。虽然这次比上次好，我觉得还不算成功，还要不断地尝试，直到可以和面包店的比较。
我会继续努力的！加油！！

"It's so fluffy, I gonna die!"
Tonight, for the first time, Ryan going to movie theater. We watched the "Despicable Me" and it's in 3D.

最近lower back pain一直搅扰我。自从宝宝出世后，我的lower back 一直没好过。记得他出世后的头几个星期，痛到连睡觉都不行。睡觉时必须用毛巾垫在腰下才行。
朋友介绍我去看chiropractor, 刚开始很勤劳去做治疗，渐渐地懒了起来。试过半年没去覆诊。
今天请了一天假，早上决定去找Dr. Lee, 没有预约。我不喜欢预约，我喜欢一通电话，马上过来。Dr. Lee 蛮好人，蛮亲切的。他知道我「忙」（懒）。如果不是疼得吃不消，我真的懒得去。临走前，我答应他我会勤劳覆诊。他笑。
两个星期前，同事介绍我去看一位出名的pysiotherapist，的确很有料子。最可恶的是他的assistant, 我最受不了就是那些Hongky 那种不知所谓的attitude.

Aunty Ana 做完这个月不再帮我们煮饭收拾了。从她说不做的那天开始，我就一直愁烦。
回到家饭菜汤都已经煮好了的日子快结束了。想到要自己动手就累，本来做全职的煮妇已经不容易，更何况我还要从老远的mississauga到markham接Ryan。回到家要先搞他盥洗，不是每次都能顺利。再开始动力煮晚餐。。。打开冰箱，看着僵硬的肉类鱼类，还没清洗的菜疏，囤满lunch boxes、bottles的sink, 乱七八糟的客厅，加上哇哇吵肚子饿的Ryan。。。我已经先垮了！
回到整齐的家，人都舒服，一天的劳累都会消失一半。有没有晚餐还是次要，就重要要舒适的感觉。

宝宝第一天上珠心算。我坐在外面等，听见他一直和老师有沟通。年纪最小是他，声音最大声也是他，一点都不怕陌生。
糟糕，我想我开始朝向kiasu parent的方向前进。才三岁末满四岁，又学游泳，又学钢琴，又学golf, skating...天呀，我的额头快印着KIASU了！
其实他自己对他所学的感兴趣，我没有强逼他，乃是倍养他的兴趣。

以前的我以为男人都是绅士。女人天生八卦、小器、爱讲事非。天呀，原来男人比女人八卦十倍、小器五十倍、爱讲事非一百倍！！
读书时期，身边的女生，给我的感觉很烦。男生直率，不婆妈，和他们在一起很舒服。也是因为这原因我选读土木工程系，男生肯定多过女生，烦人的东西也会少些。
记得有一个理发的叔叔说我性格似男生可惜女儿身。虽然我没有天使般的脸孔，魔鬼般的身材，我都从来不觉得可惜是女儿。
直到在这间公司上班，我对男人有更深的认识。男人真的非常可恶，非常贱。我在的Engineering Department，男人占90%，我的Section是整个部门里最多女生的--我和另外两个女同事。我的office的男人，有一部分是assholes，有一部分是wacko，非常少部分，是正常的 （有吗？）。
好，让我解释一些：大家都认为女生爱打小报告， 我公司的男人在你背后插你一刀让你死得不明不白。女人的小报告，根本不会造成什么伤害。阴险的却是男人，致命的报告。他们不但爱八封，还挺长舌的。脸皮厚，爱占人便宜，cheap得要命。太贱了！还有一些是ass licker, 这班是＂贱精＂！和这种恶心的人一同过35小时／week，日子一点都不好过。
男女平等的讲论全是狗屁！根本没这回事。圣经说男人是女人的头。女人不可以出头。女人是软弱的器皿。这说明男女是永远不会平等的。
坤士哥儿们，你们跑哪去了？
救命呀！

这次到中国旅游，我学到很多＂功课＂。为了我的家人、朋友，我必须和大家分享一下：
买东西一定要讲价，只要给你觉得值得的价。（我建议还是省了，中国太多「翻版」东西，太多假货，连baby的奶粉都可以假。买了又不放心用，何必花你的一毛五分呢？）
如果跟团队，50%的时间是去＂购物＂。你会听到＂我们是什么什么第一家。。。什么什么政府管治价格。。。或者一开口就减60%，还可以一减再减，减到你满意为止。。。＂千万不要＂上当＂。 他们很利害的，他们会搞到你好像不买会错过机会的样子，根本没有时间冷静想到底你需不需要，值不值得。记住他们是冲着你的荷包而来。
不要以为不跟团就会避免这类＂上当＂的事不会发生。我是上网读了关于中国旅游的scam才知道原来中国的骗子无孔不入。总之不要和不认识的人打交道。记得自己做自己的事，不要轻以相信人，你就会没事。
中国旅游光观，的确不错，买东西还是要三思。我个人认为去中国旅游，就好像走入赌场。进赌场出来，如果能够不输钱，你就是大赢家！

离开Kuching 八年了，这次回乡是最开心，最舒服。开心是因为见到亲人和朋友，舒服是因为旅途蛮愉快的，宝宝蛮乖蛮听话的。
这次带着宝宝去中国，香港，新加坡，以及回国，足足玩了一个月。虽然有点辛苦，但很愉快。感谢Grace一家人，在中国对我们母子俩的照顾。还有一些团友，尤其是来自南京的司机大哥非常照顾Ryan，个个都说他很乖，不哭闹。
中国，很多古迹历史，差不多每一寸地土都有它的故事。踏入北京故宫博物院时，很难想像我所身在的地方就是当年的紫禁城。好大，非常大。它的位置就在北京的中心。当我们在里头穿越一栋栋不同的院子，有太和殿，养心殿，皇帝的卧房，御花园。。。
皇帝的后宫佳丽真的有三干这么多？皇帝贵为一国之尊，要得皇帝的宠爱，想而言之是不容易。
游完紫禁城后，原来真正的故宫是在南京，朱元璋的儿子把皇宫给搬去北京，据说儿子的「房子」怎么可以大过老子，所以南京的比北京的还大。后来南京的被人一把火给烧尽了。
我在想当年封建社会被推翻，最后一个皇帝被废掉之后，他的后代去哪了呢？
原来万里长城也不是秦始皇建的。早在秦始皇以前，长城已经有了一部份，是秦始皇下令将它完功。筑长城是为了不让蒙古族侵入。如果你仔细看长城是建在山的spine。想想当年人民如何搬运材料上去。中国没有什么多，就是人多。不论是以前也好，现在也好，做什么都是人力。皇帝下令筑长城，建水路，全都是人力，也不知多少千万的性命给赔上。
中国人有这么一句话，＂不到长城非好汉＂。后来人再加上一句，＂走到长城满身汉＂。
中国的历史太多太多了，看也看不完，讲也讲不完。
这次我走了北京、南京、上海、苏州、杭州和无锡。如果你问我喜欢哪？我会答：南京和杭州。原因是那里比较绿化。我最不喜欢北京了，江南一带真的很美，连皇帝们都爱下江南，难怪当地人有如此一句＂上有天堂，下有苏杭＂。