This was me when I was 11. I couldn’t find pictures of when I was 12. So I thought, this is just as close. Continue reading “Writing 101: Size Matters (In Sentences)”
Tag: blogging
#AtoZChallenge – S/T For San Francisco/Turtles
I’m combining S and T so I don’t have to write another post. Continue reading “#AtoZChallenge – S/T For San Francisco/Turtles”
Currently Reading…
The Millionaire Next Door. It’s not a fun book to read, although some parts are part, when the authors write scenarios. Some of the scenarios, I have to admit are pretty funny yet realistic.
I’m not reading this book for fun. It’s for that book report for my cost accounting class and until I finish with that book report, I cannot read anything else which I’m dying to. There are so many books in my digital library. They are crying “read me, read me!” It just makes me want to scream.
The book is essentially the results from the research of which the authors has conducted to prove millionaire don’t live a luxurious life. They don’t have expensive clothes, expensive cars, or even expensive houses. They live in middle class neighborhoods and drive batter old cars. Hell, they are not even millionaires, not unless they liquidated all their assets. Apparently, the millionaires in the book don’t actually make a-million-dollar a year. Apparently, their net worth exceeds a-million-dollars and that’s what makes them millionaires.
Okay, I guess even dumbbells know that unless you’re a star or a professional sports celebrity, you’ll make less than a million. I also learned some new terms like under accumulator of wealth (UAW) or prodigious accumulator of wealth (PAW). Probably most of us all UAW because we like to spend money unlike the frugal PAWs which makes them millionaires.
Anyway, I think the bottom takeaway point of this redundant and boring book is by investing instead of spending, it’s possible we can go from UAW to PAW and probably become millionaires. Frankly, I can write on and on about the spending habits but I’m out of words for this darn strict prompt.
Thanks for reading. 🙂
#AtoZChallenge – R For Reminder/Ranch
There are so many words for R. Therefore I’m going to throw out two from the top of my head. Just now, while I waited for my lunch to finish cooking in the microwave, my eyes landed on the calendar. I’ve been very fuzzy lately and often forget the date. I know what day it is, just can’t remember the date. So when my eyes landed on the calendar, I thought it was weird. An eye exam? Today? Oh no!
The eye exam isn’t for me, it’s mom’s. Gosh I cross my fingers to hope she remembered. If she misses the appointment, it will be all my fault and I will be in such big trouble. I’m already in big trouble last night for not calling her immediately the insurance company never put my old car back onto the insurance policy last October.
You see, that’s a downside of not having a cell phone. I don’t know where she works nowadays and have no clue if she checks the texts and I hate texting, did I mention that? Anyway, if she checks it, great, but if she doesn’t, it’ll still be my fault for not taking the aggressive approach to inquire the insurance agent. In another word, scream at the agent.
Therefore, if I screw up again today, I don’t know what will happen to me. I’m scare which brings me to the second word, ranch. If I can get away now, I will probably go to a ranch. After all, a lot of fugitives (joking, maybe) have known to hide out in ranches. Hey, I’m a fugitive, a fugitive of an emotionally abusive mother. Isn’t that reason enough?
I want to go to a ranch because of the vast space. Acres and acres of grass and land. No burning hot asphalt and certainly no pavement. I would love that. Wait doesn’t everybody?
#AtoZChallenge – Q For Quotes
I told you the theme is random, didn’t I? Today, I decided to be lazy, actually, only here. I have to work on my book report for my class. Therefore, I shall present you with some inspirational quotes. 🙂 Continue reading “#AtoZChallenge – Q For Quotes”
Rainbow
This photograph was taken right outside my home on May 15, 2013 at approximately 8 pm.
I know, it’s a bit weird that it’s still quite bright outside but that’s what time on the photo said.
A storm had just ended that day and a rainbow appeared. Where I live, a rainbow isn’t a rare event. I’ve seen a rainbow maybe five or six times in the eight years since I’ve moved here. I think I saw a little bit of the rainbow after a summer storm last year but it was too small for me to capture it on camera.
I didn’t exactly want to go outside with the humidity and all but my mom insisted I go and snap a picture of the rainbow. It was one of the few times the rainbow was right outside my home. Some of the rainbows I’ve seen was when we were driving home and I didn’t have a camera with me. I have to say I’m glad I did manage to capture this one. Otherwise, I would have nothing to write for today’s prompt.
#AtoZChallenge – P For Park City
At times, I really wish my mom would go on more of those training where she’s not allow to call home. Like when she went to basic training, the only thing I got during that period was a long hand-written letter, the first I’ve gotten since coming to the U.S which was nice. Continue reading “#AtoZChallenge – P For Park City”
No such thing…
Today Prompt: This just in: let’s pretend that science has proven that karma is a thing. Your words and actions will influence what happens to you in the future. How (if at all) will you change your ways? Continue reading “No such thing…”
#AtoZChallenge – O For Out with it
Okay, I’ll just come out and say it. It’s Friday! You know what that means? The weekend!
I’ve been super behind with almost everything this week (blogging, writing 101, work etc). I haven’t gone to work half of the week and I feel like everything is rushing by while I am just standing still. For school, I feel like I’m just dragging myself through it, like my teacher said, “You’re at the last few miles of the marathon, your feet are bleeding and you’re breathless. You just want it over.”
That is exactly what I want, for everything to be over. Yesterday, almost as soon as I stepped through the door, the plumber pounded on the door. I had to take them to the rental home where the tenant complained there was a leakage in the pipes. It turned out our know-it-all ex-tenant, the one who built the basement bathroom without consulting us first, plumbed the place completely wrong. So that was $350 to re-connect the pipes.
Mom was completely pissed when she heard how much I paid. “What were you thinking?”
“You hired the guy.” I retorted. It is super frustrated when that happens.
I was in my room after that, quickly drafted the A to Z challenge post (20 minutes) before writing the post for the prompt. Unfortunately I got a little distracted and didn’t finish it until this morning. I would’ve finished it last night but I was dead tired after coming home from the GMAT workshop at my alma mater. I even fell asleep in the car. Thank god I wasn’t driving.
I’m alone at the moment but I’m afraid this peace won’t last long. Mom’d be home soon. I thought I just throw this post out there before I brace for another weekend of annoyance and anger.
To learn a third language…
Though right now, I can speak two languages, Chinese and English, I cannot speak them fluently. In fact, oftentimes, I still get mixed up between the two. This past month, my mom had enrolled herself into a leadership class and I had to proofread her assignments for her. I don’t know why I have to do that though since she insults my grammar afterward. She calls my English awkward and repetitive and my grammar awful. “I don’t know how you can write so awful.” Her words, not mine.
Do I really write that bad? Even my instructor had returned my paper, docking me five points for bad grammar. On the other hand, I’m not getting much complaints on here. So I’m not sure which is true. .
Anyway, if I can wake up tomorrow and be fluent in any language, I would choose English. I would speak no more Chinese, it would be a thing of the past. My grammar would not be awkward and I would not have any trouble expressing myself.
Of course, WP won’t let me do that. According to the prompt, I have to choose a language I don’t already speak. Well, in that case, I would choose Spanish because most jobs out there nowadays require a second language, Spanish. My mom said they’re in need of Chinese speaker but honestly, I don’t see many jobs with a requirement for Chinese speaker, unless you’re a translator, of course.
Anyway, I would speak a mouth of fluent Spanish. I would be able to curl my tongue to make the “r” sound, no problem. I’m not sure about the first thing I would do, maybe write it on my resume so I can earn more money with bilingual jobs? No idea.
Writing 101: A Character-Building Experience
I do not know her. We have never met before. Continue reading “Writing 101: A Character-Building Experience”
#AtoZChallenge – N For Natural Wonders
The state of Utah has a lot of natural wonders. It was once the breeding grounds for dinosaurs (no kidding). Archaeologists are still finding dinosaurs fossils out in the desert. Three years ago, when my family came to visit, I had the pleasure to go and see the brand new exhibits at the recently re-opened Natural History Museum.
One of the many completed fossils on display
Just look at the length of the dinosaur’s neck!
Beside dinosaurs, Utah also has five National Parks, all with characteristics of its own. My favorites would have to be Canyonland and Arches National Park. I’ve been Zion National Park but I didn’t get to see much due to the my family’s whining. So I didn’t get to see much. Oh well, next time.
Arches National Park is made of a lot of arches and every one is different from the next. What’s so cool about them is they are all made from hundreds and maybe thousands of years of wind erosion. Just the thought that these arches were made by nature made them even more amazing to look at.
Delicate Arch
Canyonland National Park, on the other hand, used to be an ocean before the Pacific receded to California coastline. Just think, this is what the bottom of the ocean look like.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this mini-tour of the natural wonders I’ve seen in the past few years and thanks for reading. 🙂
#AtoZChallenge – M For Monterey
Monterey Bay, California is one of those places that has to be visited at least once. It is situated just south of the San Francisco Bay and next to Pebble Beach (17 Mile Drive). I am not a good tour guide and there are really not much to tell except you just have to see it and marvel at the landscapes yourself.
The last time I went to the city of Monterey which is the city next to the bay was May, 2010. We drove hours through the twisty freeway to arrive to this beautiful city. Our first stop was the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Unfortunately my external hard drive went bonkers that summer and lost all my pictures except these which I had cleverly uploaded to Facebook.
Anyway, after the aquarium, we met up with my mom’s friend who worked nearby and we went to a restaurant by the beach for lunch. It had to be the most exquisite lunch I’ve ever had. After that, we said goodbye to my mom’s friend as she headed back to work and we headed toward Pebble Beach.
17 Mile Drive or Pebble Beach is said to be California’s most beautiful coastline. On Wikipedia, it said that there are a lot of mansions and golf course along this scenic road. I guess I wasn’t paying attention since I was focused on the ocean. I mean, how can you focus on mansions and golf courses when you got this to look at?
Ocean
I hope you’ve enjoyed this mini-tour and thank you for reading. 🙂
Socializing is Not for Me
In 2006, I was given a fresh start. I had moved to a new city, new state, new home, new school. For the first time, I got to choose my classes, not the other way around. I finally got to be in classes I would have never thought I could like web design and choir. Continue reading “Socializing is Not for Me”
All that fishes for the seagulls
Seagulls
There he was, all alone standing there posing for everyone
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle Sighting
I was browsing through my pictures when I came across these photographs. They were taken early February two years ago during my aunt’s second visit to the U.S. She had spent that Chinese New Year with us and together, we went to the Farmington Bay to watch the Bald Eagles. Apparently, bald eagles fly to Utah for the winter and the spot they settle every year is Farmington Bay which is the fresh water part of the Great Salt Lake.
It was quite a rough drive that day what with unpaved roads and ice but it was well worth it because we got to see America’s treasure up close. In keeping up with this week’s photo challenge theme Afloat, I have decided to show those pictures.
I hope you enjoy these pictures. 🙂
#AtoZChallenge – L For Locke
Before you ask, no, I did not spell the word Lock wrong. I am actually talking about the village in Northern California called Locke. Continue reading “#AtoZChallenge – L For Locke”
#AtoZChallenge – K For…
I’ve been searching the dictionary last night, trying to find a good word for “K” and there are none that inspire me whatsoever. So instead, I’m going to show you pictures of things that I know of that begin with “K”. Continue reading “#AtoZChallenge – K For…”
Floating…
I try to find something that will represent this week’s photo challenge and this is the best I can do.
So I made hot cocoa yesterday. Although it’s getting warm, I still enjoy it very much as breakfast. 😉
The bird’s nest in the tree is classified as floating, right? From my angle, it’s amazing it stayed up there for so long.
Clouds floating in the sky, don’t see much ’round here. A beautiful day is usually cloudless.
My Beautiful Planet
I feel like a kid answering this prompt. You get to design your own planet: tell us all about your planet — the weather, the seasons, the inhabitants. Go.
My planet would be similar to Earth except it wouldn’t have any of the danger like earthquakes, drought, tsunami, etc. It would have California weather, perfect everyday and no sudden shift in temperature. There would be rain, definitely. I will not have drought on my planet. Rain would ensure harvest each year.
There would also be snow up at the higher elevations so there would be variety instead of sunshine all the time. 
So I have mountains, plains, cities, what am I missing? Of course, water! There got to be lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, not to mention oceans and beaches. If I design a planet, I might as well go all the way. There would be pristine beaches with water like the Caribbean except it’s calm. Like I said, the weather danger of Earth does not exist on this marvelous planet.
Last by not least, the inhabitants. Hmm, that’s an interesting question. No gangs! I grew up in a horrible neighborhood in the suburbs of Los Angeles where thieves, vandals, and other horrible people ran around freely damaging other people’s properties. Sure, there can be bullies but I will not have those people ruin this beautiful planet I’ve designed.
Writing 101: Be Brief
The prompt for Day 5 of Writing 101 have us write about an encounter when we stumble upon a letter. Please note that this is completely fiction. Continue reading “Writing 101: Be Brief”
#AtoZChallenge – J For Jackson Hole
For the many that do not know, Jackson Hole is a small town in Wyoming not far from Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park. It is quite a beautiful place to go during the summer, just take a drive through Yellowstone and take its south exit to Grand Teton and Jackson Hole. Continue reading “#AtoZChallenge – J For Jackson Hole”
Writing 101: Serially Lost
When the assignment said to write about loss, I seriously couldn’t think of a thing. I was going to go full fiction but something came to me at the last second. I hope this is not too sad. Thanks for reading. Continue reading “Writing 101: Serially Lost”
Everything I’ve Ever Wanted
Daily Prompt: Tell us about a time when everything actually turned out exactly as you’d hoped. Continue reading “Everything I’ve Ever Wanted”
This is Another Story 