House Warming Party

Though we've had a few friends over for dinner or drinks here and there, this is the first big party we've thrown since we moved to our new home. We had over 25 friends join us this Saturday for a house warming get-together.

We prepared the popular pot stickers, Chinese cold noodle, potato salad, and grilled out burgers, dogs and steaks. I'm glad that my vodka lemonade and chocolate-covered strawberries were big hits, too!

It was just so great to see friends relaxing in our yard, hanging out on our deck, watching football on our couch and simply having a great time. We also got so much compliments on our house.


I'm grateful to have such a group of good friends, and getting together with them is always so much fun.

"The Train Whistle Melody Woved Through the Trees"

It was unlike any other concert I've been to. The free-spirited dancing fans, the smoke and smell of cigarettes and others filled in the air, the flying glow sticks, and the 15-minute songs. Yes, I'm talking about the Phish show. The "phish heads" amaze me. They are true fans....hard-core.

It was a Tuesday evening, and it took us 2 hours to drive to Toyota Park, where the Chicago Fire plays. I have to say, it was the perfect place for a Phish concert other than Soldier Field in the Chicago land. The music and cheering started while we were grabbing some pulled pork and tall boys. Walking into the show was an one-of-a-kind experience itself. "Phish heads" were swinging, tapping, swirling and frolicking all over the place and really enjoying themselves. To me, it was one of the few concerts that worth experiencing at least once in a lifetime.

Disappointing News...

The potential buyers of our condo are pulling back on their deal. The inspection went well with no major issues; however, the buyers wanted to move the kitchen sink to a different location in the kitchen. They got an estimate from their contractor and felt it was too expensive.

In addition to that, while they were in the area to check out the neighborhood this weekend, they ran across a few folks that may have had too much to drink and were turned off by it. This type of crowd rarely appears on our street, but it can happen to any neighborhoods in an urban environment. That's the difference between living in the suburbs vs. in the city.

Anyway, as of this morning, they have pulled out their contract, and the deal is off. I'm really hoping this is a bless in disguise, and we will get another offer soon. Paying double mortgage is definitely not desirable. We are keeping our fingers-crossed, so wish us luck!

Too Much Substance

Me: Who sings this song?
Jeff: Jacob Dylan, Bob Dylan's son.
Me: Oh yeah, I've heard of him. His band is The Wallflowers, right?
Jeff: Yup
Me: Do you like wallflowers?
Jeff: What exactly is a wallflower anyway?
Me: Well, I think in Chinese "a wallflower" implies that a person who is very attractive, but doesn't have much substance.
Jeff: Oh, yeah? Interesting...
Me: Do you think I'm a wallflower?
Jeff: If that's what wallflowers mean in your definition, then you're definitely not.
Me: Really? Thanks, bud!
Jeff: Well, you have too much substance.
Me: Too much? Why?
Jeff: .......
Me: Is it because I tend to argue with you?
Jeff: .......(nodding)

Getting Comfy and Settled In

Scraps has gotten pretty comfy with the new home. He is now used to napping in his own bed by our couch most of the time (while we are around, of course). One Saturday morning, I woke up seeing him sleeping on Jeff's pillow like a little person!

Our outdoor space might still be his favorite. He loves not only to run around in our back yard, but also to hang out on our front porch.

This picture was taken this afternoon. He looked quite like a neighborhood watch dog!

If you like thriller novels

Child 44 will definitely be one of my recommendations. The story is primarily set in Stalin's Soviet Union in the 1950s that illustrated the psychological world of a child serial killer formed 20 years earlier. Since in the Stalinist Russia, the only criminals are those who are enemies of the State, this theme made the entire process of how the MGB officer went through to solve the murder captivated my attention. In my opinion, however, the ending's very last twist didn't seem necessary, and was unfortunately a bit of a disappointment.

Ultimately, the story is all about consequences. The strong plot is filled with suspense, jaw-dropping twist and chilling horror. I have to say I really enjoyed Tom Rob Smith's writing, and especially his thorough research skills. Many details in the book showed that he had done his homework as a story-teller.