My First... Squeeky Wheel Experience

I think this is my first time of receiving a bouquet of flowers, and it is because a co-worker had gave all the ladies in the office peonies but left the guys out. So I jokingly said "where are my flowers?" And the next day, beautiful flowers from her garden. Of course I got some "you are one of the girls now" jokes, but I can take it, it is worth it.

But I have to say I do feel really bad, because this is a "squeeky wheel experience". I have always hated the saying "the squeeky wheel gets the grease" with passion. This saying is encouraging people to complain and whine about their life, and expecting someone else to fix it for them. I've always been taught to be modest, hardworking, and maintain a positive attitude of life, so I always mutter less than nice words under my breath when I hear people complaining without attempting to create a solution.

None the less, the flowers are beautiful. I guess you ask, and you shall receive!

One Week After

One week after the Vancouver riot, things seem to be back to normal. The story is still news-worthy since businesses would start to press charges. But downtown Vancouver, even with the fences and plywood, feel just like the way it always has been.

Reading the messages and the scribbles on the wall doesn't really lessen what I feel about the riot, till I saw these paper cranes that symbolize wishes and hope.

It seems like Bank of Montreal have their glasses installed today - 3 vans from a glass company leaving just as I walked pass by. Things are getting back to normal.

But the black marks are still left on our city, and they will not be easy to erase.

near skytrain entrance at Seymour and Georgia

the parkade near Richards and Georgia

For some reason the flags in front of the library is at half-mast... seems kinda appropriate but I am sure it is for some other reason.

Vancouverites are Vancouverites, one riot does not change anything, we are who we are. It is up to those who have been here and seen who we are to make their own judgement.

The Sad Truth after the NHL Playoff

These photos are taken in the car lot of a famous local dealership. They show the same car, but before and after the NHL Playoff.

Sad, but true.

Cheesecake - Day 2

I am starting to appreciate how good strawberry and chocolate are.

Cheesecake from Fortuna Bakery

Plain cheesecake from Fortuna, drizzled with melted chocolate... baked cheesecake is still my favorite.

Mother's Day Barbecue

So this Mother's Day we decided to go simple and just do a barbecue. Mostly it is because my mom always think eating out is a waste of money (she would rather spend the money on purses, and clothes, and groceries, not so much on shoes). But anything involving my mom would not be simple at all. After a painful grocery shopping trip (Oh, btw, I am not complaining. I am writing all of this with a smile... and love~), where she want to buy anything that can be put on a grill and I have to remind her "no, we have plenty of food already", when we actually already fired up the grill she would still be digging around the fridge looking for stuff. But this is just how my mom is - if more can be better, then we must have more!

So we did my usual potato wedges and red onion, mom insisted on adding carrots, asparagus, and peppers. We marinated the chicken thighs the way she likes, which is too much sauce that would make the grill sticky. Good for my mom to dig out tofu puffs, fish balls, and shrimps to make the kabobs. The tofu puffs gets crunchy on the fire so added an interesting texture to the meal. We also did a porkchop but didn't do the steak that my bro really wanted - again, too much food.

Anyway, good meal, good times. My mom is happy even after we kept telling her to sit down and let us make the meal. We took her shopping in the morning so she had her purchases, and other purchases in the past couple weeks, lined up against the wall and say "Look at all the Mother's Day gift I received. Take a picture! Give me the camera!" It was really quite impressive, two purses and bags and bags of clothes... did not cost an arm and a leg but we really gets out of control when my dad is not in town.

Tentatsu Japanese Restaurant

For foodies living in Vancouver is really a bless - good variety of restaurants and good quality - the ones that lasted anyway. So most of the time you just need to walk into a restaurant that seems to have been there forever, and you can expect something good. Tentatsu at Hastings and Nanaimo is a good example. They execute the common items well, crispy tempura and fresh fishes, and they also invent some specials - look good on photos and I am sure they taste good too, but I didn't order them.