Achievement – This is Another Story

4000th Post! – Celebrating with Coffee

Published on July 21, 2022July 21, 2022 by Yinglan26 Comments

4000 posts, wow!

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#AtoZChallenge 2021 Reflection

Published on May 3, 2021May 2, 2021 by Yinglan2 Comments

It’s hard to believe April is done, isn’t it? Another month wrapped in 2021. Soon, May will be over and then June, July…and before anyone can say another word, it would be time once again to put out those pumpkins and sitting by the door anticipating trick or treaters.

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#AtoZChallenge 2019 Reflection and Break

Published on May 8, 2019May 7, 2019 by Yinglan8 Comments

Another April gone, another A to Z Challenge done.

Overall, I am happy with my theme chosen for this year’s challenge – Wordless Photo. One photo every day for each letter of the alphabet. I chose this theme to fit my busy schedule and I thought I was wise to do so. Ever since my co-worker quit on April first, I have been taking on double-duty at work while my co-worker, who previously performed the other half of my duties, shifted to do my former co-worker’s duties.

And it’s not just work. When I’m at home, every time I attempt to relax, someone was and is calling me to help them. It’s been so incredibly overwhelming at times that I just wanted scream and yell, “Why can’t you people understand I have anxiety issues?!”

With that said, I no longer could find the time to keep up with blogging and I don’t mean the part about creating blog posts. It’s the reading part I was having trouble keeping up. The creating posts part was easy, I already had all except for a few of the letters figure out by the time the challenge started and the photos I wanted to use. Then, all I had to do was plug in the pictures.

You can check out every A to Z Challenge posts ever posted on this blog by clicking on this link.

With the hectic schedule at work and the chaotic life at home, I decided to pause blogging for a while, to take a break. The break will not be indefinite and it does not mean I am stepping away from blogging. I will still check in once in a while to read a few posts, and write a post or two but no more daily posting.

After 6 years of writing posts and participating in challenges. I think it’s time to slow down and perhaps get back to what I originally set out to do when I started this blog – write stories to satisfy my wild imagination but now, with a few photos added.

I hope you will stick around because I have a lot more stories to tell.

#WeekendCoffeeShare: So Much to Tell…

Published on September 29, 2018September 28, 2018 by Yinglan31 Comments

Good Saturday morning! Thank you for joining me for another edition of #weekendcoffeeshare. Come on in and enjoy a cup of coffee with me. I have so much to tell you! Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: So Much to Tell…” →

#AtoZChallenge 2018 Reflection

Published on May 7, 2018May 6, 2018 by Yinglan7 Comments

Well, what do you know? I made it! I survived the #AtoZChallenge for the third time. Continue reading “#AtoZChallenge 2018 Reflection” →

#WeekendCoffeeShare: Life in a cubicle

Published on May 27, 2017May 26, 2017 by Yinglan29 Comments

If we were having coffee, I would tell you good morning and thanks for joining me for another lovely weekend chat. Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: Life in a cubicle” →

Macro Moments: Week 22

Published on December 15, 2016December 15, 2016 by Yinglan23 Comments

I took this picture today as I was getting my graduation gown ready for my graduation tomorrow. Continue reading “Macro Moments: Week 22” →

A Quick Reflection on 2014

Published on December 31, 2014October 14, 2015 by Yinglan2 Comments

It’s hard to believe that at this time last year, I was sitting in front of my computer, bored out of my mind and resorted to watch House Hunters on Hulu. My mom had already left for California with my then-boss and his family, leaving me alone at home for the new year.

This blog had already been born then but I was a super duper slow writer. It would had taken me hours to write this entry I am writing now last year because my thoughts are warped and jumbled and I had little confidence that anyone was going to read it since you’re probably getting ready to usher in the new year. Plus the fact that I knew nothing about blogging or tagging posts. So basically, no one was browsing my site and anything I published just felt like I was blabbering to myself.

I managed to squeeze in two posts in January and one in February and March. The first post was really an ad to hopefully get people to come join Toastmasters but I doubt it was doing anything since everyone in the blogging world are so scattered, spread around the world. The second post was really a rant written right after my fight with my grandparents. Yeah, it’s not really a good idea to fight with grandparents. Now my first cousin gets the fortune. Oh well, it’s not like I was going to get anything before.

The biggest thing that happened was in February when I finally got a work at home job with a semi-decent paycheck. It interrupted everything from school to meals, and even blogging. The most annoying thing is, no matter how busy I got, March just wasn’t coming quick enough.

I could finally breathe a little by the time April arrived. I actually published seven posts! That was a record for me then but as I looked back on them today, I felt like all seven posts seemed exaggerated like I was trying too hard.

May first came my graduation. It was easily the best night of my life. I mean how many times does a person get to walk in their graduation? Unless you keep going to school. Anyway, I really really really enjoyed it, strutting proudly in my cap and gown down that long flight of stairs to shake each and every one of instructor’s hands and receiving a blank diploma holder.

A week after graduation, I did something unexpected. I went back to school for my masters. That wasn’t unexpected, it was the degree that was unexpected. I went back to school to get a Masters of Accounting. When I went to meet the firm in September, every one I encounter thought it’s a little odd for an engineering bachelor graduate to get an accounting degree. I’m starting to wonder if that’s the reason I didn’t get hired for that internship.

Over the summer, I enrolled myself in two online economic classes at the community college and during that, I worked as well as prepping for the GMAT. Beside graduation, May and June are easily the worst months of 2014.

July was okay. I began participating in daily prompt and met a lot of blogging friends there and I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s response to the prompt. I am always curious to see what others write for the same topic.

At the end of August, I went back to school. It felt like I was starting over. My old major and cumulative GPA no longer mattered. It’s like I’ve been given a second chance. It was then I made a promise to myself to maintain a good GPA this time, don’t let it fall below a 3.0.

I did well this semester, I took so many mouthful of deep breaths when I saw the two A’s and two B’s and the 3.5 GPA posted in my account. I hope to keep it up next semester. Actually, not hope, I have to keep it up in order to get hired as quick as possible. Employers don’t like low GPAs.

So that’s my year. My goal for 2015?

Maintain an excellent GPA.
Maintain my health. I’m still waiting for my welcome package from the health insurance company that contains my insurance card. Then I can make an appointment with a doctor to renew my prescription and see what can be done with my inability to lose weight and my acne-filled face.

Something I learned about blogging this year?

I don’t need to be funny and informative in order to get people to read what I published. I just need to be myself and write what I know.

One last thing…

I want to thank you all for visiting my site and reading as well as commenting all that I’ve published. Without you, I might had quit months ago. You’re the inspiration and motivation that kept this blog alive.

Thanks to all the nominations as well:

Artfullyadelie, for nominating this blog in June for the Liebster Award
Vik Tory Arch for One Lovely Blog in September
Sueju Takeshi for Sisterhood of the World Bloggers in September
Sugar for Very Inspiring Blogger Award yesterday 😀

Thanks for all the nominations. It’s hard to think that this blog began this year with a little over 50 followers and ended with just over 500. Let’s shoot for 1000!

Wrapping up 2014: Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Published on December 30, 2014May 31, 2015 by Yinglan7 Comments

very-inspiring-blogger-award

I would like to thank Prakash Hegade for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. It’s my first time to be nominated for this award and this would make it my second award nomination for this blog just this year alone. That is amazing!

I would like to thank everybody for visiting this site as well as reading the stories and tales I have written and giving me feedback.

The rules for accepting this award nomination are:

Thank the person who nominated you by linking his/her blog and display the award logo.
Nominate at least 15 other blogs (more or less). Link their blogs and inform them about the nomination.
Mention three things that inspired you the most this week (you can talk about last week’s inspiration too).

Nominations:

I didn’t think I can name this many wonderful blogs but these are as many as I can think of at this moment. Congratulations. Go check them out!

Three things that had been inspirational this week and the last:

The weather. The first ever “real” snow storm hit on Christmas but the real storm was really Sunday. It delivered about 3 or 4 inches of fresh powder snow and made the whole neighborhood look like a winter wonderland. It’s inspirational because I can finally sit down at home to read and write.
My second inspiration is definitely to be able to sit down and finally finish reading two novels. My inspiration was running low and reading just help charge me back up.
Of course reading other people’s blogs. I am always curious about what other people writes on their blogs and that often gives me an idea or two to help me write.

2014 in review

Published on December 30, 2014October 14, 2015 by Yinglan4 Comments

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 6,700 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

A Wrap-up of 2014: Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

Published on December 27, 2014October 14, 2015 by YinglanLeave a comment

A few months ago, SUEJU TAKESHI nominated me for the Sisterhood of the World Blogger Award but as usual, my procrastination prevails. But since I am on my winter break, I thought what better time to publish this than before the new year. I like to give a big round of thanks again to SUEJU TAKESHI for nominating this blog for this awesome award. Continue reading “A Wrap-up of 2014: Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award” →

Tests of Friendship

Published on September 23, 2014 by Yinglan2 Comments

I am so excited this morning! I have made it through one year of blogging. Yeah, I didn’t post consistently until the summer but I did post once in a while whenever I’m inspired. It’s been a fun journey to watch this little blog of mine grow and thanks to all of you who took the time to read and like my posts. Let’s go for another year!

Anyway, enough of my babbling, today’s prompt reads: If you had to come up with one question, the answer to which would determine whether or not you could be friends with a person you’ve just met, what would it be? What would the right answer be?

Honestly, I don’t ask myself questions like that. If someone comes up to me and wants to be my friend, I will be so grateful. I would literally be friends with anyone. Then if that either one of us are not fit to be friends. Then we just slowly drift apart. For some reason, it always worked for me. Rarely will the friendship become something of a frenemy except that time.

I was in middle school. I know, I keep referencing back to middle school. I was in P.E. class and there was this new girl. She had gray-blue eyes and tan skin. Her name was Angel except she was no angel. She approached me and immediately seemed to want to be my friend. I was so happy because how often is there someone who comes up to me and wants to be my friend?

We had so much fun during class but unfortunately, that was the only class we had in common. The next day in PE, I’m not sure what happened but Angel had befriended with some of the other students and began teasing and making fun of me. I was like what the heck?! What happened overnight? I’ve never talked to her again as she was like everyone else who like to make people (i.e me) feel bad.

Although I don’t ask myself any sort of question, I do tests. If this person and I are still friends after a day, I will go for a week. Then I would go by a weekly basis. Also, if this person makes fun of me in front of others, if I’m there and it’s just light teasing and I’m laughing along, then yes, I would probably still be friends with this person.

However, if they are anything like my so-call friends in middle school who say bad things about me behind my back, I will ask why and then judge their answer to see whether or not I will still be friends with this person. There’s more, it goes on and on. Ultimately, it’s like there’s an algorithm in my head.

Two nominations in a month! – One Lovely Blog Award

Published on September 18, 2014August 12, 2015 by Yinglan5 Comments

one-lovely-blog1

Wow, I’m flattered and honored. Earlier this month, my other blog, Hidden Stars, was nominated for the One Lovely Blog Award by SHRUTIGOPINATH and then yesterday, this blog, My Simple Life, was nominated for the One Lovely Blog Award by Vik Tory Arch. Thank you all so much. You’re the reason which I continue to blog.

Here are the rules:

You must thank the person who nominated you and include a link to their blog.You must list the rules and display the award.
You must add 7 facts about yourself.
You must nominate 15 (or more) other bloggers and comment on one of their posts to let them know they have been nominated.

Here are 7 more facts about me that I have not listed yet:

I used to play the piano. I learned it during my Sophomore year in high school and I got pretty good at it, at least according to my step-dad. He even spent $600 on a digital piano so I have something to practice on.
During that time, I spent part of the time also learning guitar but unfortunately my fingers couldn’t reach the strings. So my step-dad gave up, at least until I could master the “G” note.
I skipped half of the Fall semester and the spring semester of 4th grade as well as the Fall semester of 5th grade. So technically, I skipped an entire grade.
After nearly a month into the semester, I think my understanding of accounting is so many times clearer than engineering. Is that strange? Maybe I should’ve swapped major a few years ago.
During the past two or three years, the music on my ipod has changed dramatically, from pop and R&B to rock, indie, and alternative. Pop just sound so annoying these days.
My favorite colors are light purple, black, and white. These choices have never changed.
I have always been told my skin feels icy. Frankly, I have no idea but my mom and aunt like to wrap their arms around me during the warmest time. It’s nice but I’d be sweating to death. 🙂

As for my nominations, I am nominating everyone because I think everyone is awesome in their own way.

100th Post: First One Lovely Blog Award Nomination

Published on September 9, 2014November 24, 2015 by Yinglan10 Comments

I have saved my 100th for the best. When I started this blog less than a year ago, I had no idea I would reach the 100th post so soon. I thought since this blog is reserved for fiction only, I wouldn’t be able post a lot on it. But here I am, less than one year later and voila, 100th post.

I would like to thank SHRUTIGOPINATH for nominating me for One Lovely Blog Award. It is my first nomination and this blog’s first nomination not only for the One Lovely Blog Award but this is the first award for this specific blog.

So here are the rules: (According to the post on Shrutigopinath’s site)

Thank the person who has nominated you. Provide a link to his/her blog.
List the rules and display the award image.
Include 7 facts about yourself.
Nominate 15 other bloggers and let them know that they have been nominated. This is a way to introduce others to bloggers that you love.
Display the award logo and follow the blogger who nominated you.

7 facts about me:

I like to brew my stories, let it develop in my mind before I write it all down.
I don’t like inconclusive endings. So I would often wonder what would happen next in my mind but I never write them down for reasons that are beyond my comprehension.
I believe I lack a sense of humor but then I feel like I am trying too hard to be funny. So pardon my humorless tales. 🙂
I am slightly caffeine intolerant. I get headache when I drink coffee and even coke. That leaves hot cocoa and sprite.
I have a desire to move to a country (rural) setting or somewhere there are different color of trees according to the season and no planes flying over my head. However, I still want to stay a stone throw away from civilization (towns, cities but not big cities like Chicago).
I super duper want to travel to another country or continent. I want to explore other civilizations.
I try either too hard or not hard enough. I don’t know what’s in between but I am either one extreme or the other. Like with trying to make friends, either I don’t try at all and let them come to me or I’d try super hard to make them like me.

Nominations:

Thin Spiral Notebook
alifeindetails
Optimistic Kid
I’m a Writer, Yes I Am
New Teacher Life
WAKE UP YOUR LUCK
TAKESHI’S FLIGHT
Brainstorm.
Sugar-Coating Since ’91
Sapient Chronicles
H.M. Brooks Writes
teleportingweena
In a small compass…
My Hong Kong husband
I AM YOUR TWILIGHTSTAR (I think your blog is awesome too.) 🙂

Liebster Award: First Nomination!

Published on June 5, 2014 by Yinglan2 Comments

First of all, I just want to say thank you Artfullyadelie for nominating me for the Liebster Award. Aww, I have to blush a little. It is currently the second achievement I’ve gotten since I started blogging. At this point, I should probably put up an achievement page. Last year, I was nominated for the Sunshine Award. I am extremely honored. It’s not everyday you get nominated. Of course, I was going to write the post yesterday but excuses, excuses, excuses!

I had a large weight loss shake yesterday, then a large bowl of grapes, and finally, a large bowl of Ramen noodles for lunch. Of course, Ramen noodles are no good without the soup base which by the way is full of MSG. Not soon after I finished, I was exhausted. I stumbled through work, thank god I work at home 🙂 and I wasn’t completely awake again until a few hours ago, after I had dinner, a shower, and begin fiddling with some of my old short stories (I’ve posted them too! Click here to check it out!).

Now, it’s 11:30, planes had stopped rumbling outside (long story), my computer’s off and I can’t sleep. Great!!! Oh well, at least I have my tablet handy, might as well take the time to get this started and finish it in the morning. So, according to Adelie, I’m supposed to:

Write 11 facts about myself
Answer 11 questions
Ask 11 questions
Nominate 11 other fellow bloggers.

So first things first, 11 facts about me:

I do NOT know how to write a happy ending! If you’ve read my flash fictions and short stories on my other blogs (Click here), you’d know that none of them has a happy ending. I don’t know, maybe a sad ending just tricks people into thinking there might be sequel?
Two of the most annoying sounds in my ears is a baby’s cry and a child crying. It just make me want to scream and throw things. So if you don’t want me to go insane, control your child! OR keep your child away from me! 😦
I am the most awkward person at parties and gatherings. 😮 I don’t know what to do there. Everybody’s talking to each other at the same time and everywhere’s crowded and full of plastic cups. Maybe I just need to be go to more parties and get used to the atmosphere.
I can either be the loudest, most social person you’ve ever met OR I can be the quietest, most invisible person you’ve ever met. It all depends on the place, occasion, and the familiarity of people and topic.
I have a very severe case of stage fright. Even now, after I’ve joined Toastmaster for almost 3 years, my heart would pound and I would forget everything the moment I hit that podium.
I love to cook and travel but I don’t have the money or the time right now. Maybe someday.
I used to play the piano and a little guitar but without practice for 7 years, I forgot it all. 😛
I used to want to be a singer, a director, and an actress. But I don’t have the look, the voice, and the emotion. So oh well, I
A Maglite

still pretend the maglite is a microphone and sing to my stereo for fun though.
I am extremely old-schooled. I didn’t start listening to music, using a computer, and watching Tv until 2002 when I was 11. I’m still using a flip phone when everyone’s got a smartphone and tapping away. I dislike texting too!
I wanted to be a website/graphic designer but my mom’s friend wanted me to be a civil engineer. Naturally, she listened to her friend and pulled me along with it.
I went to three different high schools in 4 years after moving from California to Texas to Utah. The moves were adventurous but meeting new people is hard.

Now, 11 questions from Adelie:

What is one thing you have been meaning to do but haven’t seem to find the time? I’ve been meaning to finish the two 1000-piece Ancient Chinese painting jigsaw puzzles my mom’s family brought with them when they visited two summers ago. Wow, two summers? Has it really been that long? Anyway, my mom bought these for me when I was 6 and I do not like to leave things unfinished. I said I was going to do them two winters ago, then last Summer, then last Winter. Well, someday, I’ll get it done.
Are you motivated by fear or hope? Of course, I’m motivated by hope, if a person’s motivated by fear, how are they going to get things done? I believe that everything has a start and an end, you just need to get over that hurdle to the finish line.
If you could invent an ice cream flavor, what would it be? I’m not very creative but if I could invent an ice cream flavor, if would probably have all the things I like and probably all the things my mom hates. Yes! We are completely opposite when it comes to ice cream. It might be plain vanilla with mint, fruit (probably strawberry maybe peach), plus marshmallow swirls. NO nuts though.
What is the one word you love for people to describe you? It all depends on the situation. I had people describe me as lovable, tolerable, stubborn, and even lazy. Obviously, lazy is a horrible word to describe people. I do like it when people describe me as stubborn though because it shows I’m persistent. It shows that I’m not the kind of person that give up easily. However, I would love to be described as fun and cool because I’ve never been those things. So being described as fun and cool will definitely make my day.
Who do you most look up to and why? Well, there hasn’t been a lot of people in my life because I don’t really stay long enough to get to know them. Like my dad and step-dad, my dad passed away before I could properly register his voice in my head and my step-dad, well we talk but most of the time, it was about him teaching me stuff or we’re just having fun. So the person I look up to would probably be my mom because she’s hard working and cunning. She wants me to be like her everyday and I try very hard at it too.
If you could master one dance style, what would it be? Ha Ha 😀 If I can master one dance style, it would be ANY since I do NoT know how to dance! I’m the most awkward and clumsy dancer you’ll ever see. So don’t expect me to dance at parties.
If you were a superhero, what would your name be? Hmm, I’ll have to think about that.
What is the one thing you’ll never regret doing? Coming to the U.S.! That is the one thing I’ll never regret doing. If I am still in China, I would’ve never gotten my diagnosis and been a goner at 33! Besides, I would have never discovered the joy in blogging and be blogging in my bed at 4 AM in the morning! Can’t Sleep! Darn you, fluctuating temperatures! 🙂
What’s one word you always second-guess yourself when spelling it out? Lately, that list seemed to be growing! I used to be a whiz at spelling. Maybe I’m getting old. 😀
What’s the nicest thing anyone’s has ever said to you? Hmm, I don’t know. I love you, you’re adorable? We express our feelings very differently in Chinese.
Fill in the blank: In a perfect world, love and peace would be everywhere.

Now, for my 11 questions:

If you won a free airplane ticket to travel to anywhere in the world, where would it be?
What is the one word you dislike when people are using to describe you?
If you can change the name of a food, what would it be?
If a stranger hands you a hundred dollar (pound, euro, whatever your currency), what would you spend it on?
If you’re a reincarnation of a famous person, who would you want it to be?
If you can have any job in the world, what would it be?
If you were a pop icon living a double life, what would your pop icon name be?
If you can have an ice cream flavor named after you, what would be?
What is the one word you like people to describe you?
If you can time travel to any destination in time, what year would it be?
If you can wake up to any sound, what would it be?

Now, for the hard part, nominating 11 fellow bloggers. It’s going to be very difficult, real difficult. Also I cannot guarantee that any of these bloggers hasn’t been nominated.

So here it is:

Well, there you have it, my total of 11 facts, 11 answers, 11 questions, and 11 nominees! Looking forward to hearing for you! 🙂

My Journey to Blogging

Published on May 22, 2014March 8, 2015 by Yinglan4 Comments

This picture is so right, blogging is a journey. After more than a year and 50 posts later, I think I should dedicate this single post to tell about my journey to blogging.

It all started with an idea…

One day, I was in the university’s coffee shop having lunch. I noticed the guy sitting next to me was eating a bagel. Of course, at the time, I thought about food and eating more frequently than usual. Then a completely unrelated thought hit me. My mom always said that bagels are the most traditional American food she’d known.

At once, I opened my laptop and googled “bagels” and clicked on the wikipedia link. As I read the article, I was surprised that bagels came from Poland and not what my mom said at all. I immediately opened Microsoft Word and began typing. I didn’t know what I wrote at first but after a short while, it was starting to come together like a jigsaw puzzle.

After researching two more different foods (Fish and Chips and Pizza), I became convinced that this was my 7th speech for my Toastmasters Competent Communicator. The different varieties of foods influenced by different cultures. (Need reference? Look back at my very first article from last February!)

I was beyond excited and believe me, in those days, I don’t get excited about writing. So I finished my speech about two weeks ahead and all of the sudden, I wanted to write MORE!!! But what should I write about? Also, I wanted to not only write everyday to improve my writing and communication but I also need some feedback from someone other than myself, from total strangers perhaps? 😀

A few days later, while I was doing my homework, my mom came in and asked me about microblogging, you know, what it is, how to set it up, and whatnot. The term blogging collided into my brain like a meteor. This was it! This was how I was going to get my feedback. I’m going to share my writing with the world!

As I waved my mom away, promising her I would research it later, I quickly googled “blogging websites.” A bunch of links came up but the one that caught my attention was wordpress. It sounded familiar like I used it before and I was right. I had to turn in a blogging assignment more than two years ago for my American Economic History course.

I signed a blog and posted the essay I wrote about food. Within a couple days, I noticed people were liking it and some even became my followers. Not a lot, I might add but it was progress because I never had anyone like anything I did before. I’ve been told I’m flawed at many things but maybe I’ve finally managed to find something I’m good at.

The bumps along the road…

However, with my busy full-time schoolwork and two-hour exhausting commute trips between home, school, and work, I didn’t have the time to keep writing. So I went into a long blogging hiatus until last September when I suddenly thought of blogging again while sitting in my empty classroom. I began writing again.

Since then, although I’ve been spotty with posts, I managed to keep up, writing about my observations, my daily life, and most importantly, about what I know. As I posted my own articles, I was reading other people’s posts to get a sense of how can I improve in my blogging and writing.

It was a good journey for me to be able to reach 50 posts and more than 100 followers in a little more than a year. For the past three weeks, I have been persistent with my blogs and writing almost daily even though I’ve hit many bumps along the way. Like work and slight writer’s block now and then but I have fun though and I’m looking forward to reaching my next goal.

Next goal: 100 posts and 500 followers!

Tag: Achievement