liang's space

紧张的工作之余上个星期日终于和老公疯狂购物了一天。好久没有进商店了，好像对fashion已经不像以前那么知己知彼了。不过还好在进入夏季之前就买好了几条漂亮的裙子，昨天算是用上了派场，路上还吸引了不少lady的眼球，居然有人上前跨裙子漂亮还问在哪购到的。品味之余又立刻给自己添了一双漂亮的鞋子。夏天的感觉就是爽。。。6个小时的疯狂购物及累，不过收获不小，主要是对家居装饰上花了不少心思。我和老公的眼光，品味相似，所以购到了很多古典装饰品，很有古欧式的味道。最后居然看重了一个古董酒窖桌。。于是两人二话没说拍板订货。售货小姐还建议我们去有名的“stupid price".. 有趣的广告，一定是个有吸引力的家具店，希望能陶到更多的宝贝饰品，恨不得立刻驱车赶到，不过累了一天老公建议周二晚上去。看来接下来的一周要继续陶宝。

Due to the busy life with work and new friends everywhere I have long time not written here since last month. But I have to record something I felt so bad experience during one day. After went through the whole day I was so released and regreted so that is what I am doing to write down this shitty day. Something about my work area I had to drive two Chinese students to the Tacoma Community College from Bellevue last week. I was so confident that I can be there within 50 mins which against the traffic in the morning. When I passed through the Kent I was so happy that there is still another 20 mins left which I was so close to the destinition. Suddenly I saw the mobile car lower the speed just 500 feet in front of me. I could only do the same thing so from 80 to 70 miles! Yes Yes Yes too fast to slow down... I was so happy that Police called the car in front of me to stop side of the commute lane and thought I was so lucky. Then kept driving till I saw the same police waving to me. OOH Sucks! That was me he wanted to stop not the other car. Alright, I stopped within 500 feet. He requested the driving lisence, car insurance. God.. definitely I will be late for the morning meeting and coming is the "Ticket"!! I said "pls pls dont give me the ticket I will be really careful next time" and answer is "Yes pls be careful next time and I have to give you the ticket. U know what lady? you drive in 76 miles!! I will deducted fine but the ticket need to issued." Seems like he was being generas to me.. Shit!! Shocking and disappointment coming to my mind at the same time. I wish I could even be late but not to have this ticket. Anyway.... it will definitely affect my driving records.

 

Meeting wasnt so much late but I know Americans being very punctuate for each appointment so I was still ok. But feeling still thinking about the ticket on the highway.. lost the whole day salary really sucks!! 3 hours meeting finally completed I was ready to get in the car and start another journey for the work. But thought I should make some phone calls before I drive. Two students sitting on the back seat and waiting for me to be finished the phone call. I know I was a little crazy for almost 45 mins phone call outside the car. But I finally ready to start the engine adn the car stopped the engine running. no matter what I do and what I figured out. There is nothing I can run the engine. OOOh God. what is wrong  with the car. Now the next appointment will be late again.. the problem is where I could find out some repair shop to fix this and how much it will be charged!! Suddenly a lady went by and asked me anything wrong with you? "yes yes, I can not start the engine with my car. do you know where I can call to fix it?" OOOh there you go the number is from this college which is security department they can definitely come and fix up. Thank God I found out one big helper!! Then after the phone call.. I was so happy that someone drove within 5 mins to by my location and found out car battery ran out bz of the two students opened the door for 45 mins during my phone call time. No wonder!!! and the person did not even charge me saying "Be careful about the door open to suck out the battery bz the battery being old " Lucky we can catch up on the road to another appointment now.

 

Three hours later appointment done in another location. I kept driving to pass through one University in Tacoma area. And suddenly found out Gas sign was on and being the final point. If I could not find a Gas station within one mile we will be totally stuck on the road. So thinking of being safe, I was pull over to the side of the street and started asking people if Any Gas station close by. Be lucky according to one person there is one within a mile I can catch it. So driving to that direction finally the Station pops up on my eyes. Drove into the Station. Was ready to pay for the full of the tink Gas and found out no cash with me. Never mind I can use the Debit card.... i have credit card but not for that station.. so thinking that is fine by using the debit card.. but key in 3 times of password and the system could not find my account. Sucks!! I have no idea what is wrong.. dont tell me Bank cancel my password.. Anyway.. sales person finally gave it up and asked me if I still want to fill up the Gas.. Of course no doubt I have to otherwise I will through the car on the road haha... Alright  no choice I had to bowrrowed 20 bucks from the students and fill up a little more Gas first..

 

And there was no mood to go anywhere afterwards.. just want to jump into the shower and relaxed from the whole shitty day.. Got home by such late hours but finally I am done for that Day.. Can you have the same shitty day as I did? hehe...

今天是传统的三，八国际妇女节，也是我的结婚1周年纪念日。第一年这么快就过去了，按照美国的习俗，家人把去年婚礼上蛋糕的最顶尖部分保存了一年的时间，然后留到结婚一周年后的今天再一起庆祝，享用。来到这才知道这是美国人庆祝第一个周年的习俗。今天总算看到了这个小三层的婚礼蛋糕，还居然保存的完好无缺，这要感谢婆婆的功劳了，只有她老人家才能想到和蛋糕匹配的鲜花和贺卡。全家人又聚在一起庆祝了一番，鲜花，香宾，蛋糕，欢笑让我想起了一年前的今天，那时大家都为了婚礼奔波而劳累。今天只有欢笑，温馨和最美好的祝福！只是爸妈和哥哥都不在身边，但这边的家人也给了我最温暖的氛围与温馨的的祝福。 大家都问我有什么感受，我想Marriage sometimes is chanllenging, but love is getting stronger and even more precious in our life. 这就是我的感受和经历，但感觉时间确实不留步，路漫长，希望明年的生活更加幸福，快乐！

不记得自己到底有几张SPA卡，只知道自从来这后，美国人有习惯在不同的节日送上SPA的Gift Card. 有朋友送的，家人送的，还有曾经用会员身份买的。但从来都没尝试过。直到前一天收拾东西才发现抽屉里存有几张从未用过的Gift Card.但都是SPA, 日期不限，都已经是去年的事情了，所以赶紧抓上一张试试打电话预约，还真幸运24小时之内有位子。这下我要尝试尝试美国的SPA按摩方式。第二天驱车按时赶到Spo Club，健身的人到处都是，但做SPA的就我一个。服务员带我转了一圈，还没熟悉里面的路线，已经来不及跳进Gacuzzi里享受了。接着的Sauna更使我想起在北京和朋友消磨时光的情景。不知不觉时间过的还真快，可走进按摩区域还是我一个人。但当我走进SPA区域等候时，服务确实不一样。灯光，杂志，柠檬水，小吃，应有尽有。主要还是环境的温馨和舒适。刚坐下来还没5分钟，按模师就叫我的名字了，自从上次回北京就没再按摩过，这下可要好好享受一下了。。按摩师居然用笔记本电脑纪录我的联络方式和个人资料，房间内的干净程度，环境的优雅，仪器的到位让我了解到了和这匹配的价位。按摩师手法感觉上和中国的按摩差不多，就是仪器配合的不一样，还是略有不同的，2个小时就这么快过去了，倍感舒适，自己也在不知不觉中进入了梦乡。醒来后才发现按摩师已把热烫好的睡衣放在了枕边，哇，服务到位！可能是几个月没有按摩的缘故，要是手法重一些之后的感觉会更好。下次一定要及时提出来，不白费2个小时的享受和昂贵消费。走出SPA按摩屋，才发现美国人都来的这么晚，还有好多位在等候中吃喝，聊天，看杂志呢！可能都是下了班才来，只有我这个无所事事的人赶了个一大早。

Never thought I would have a new hobby with practicing the gun shooting by using the hand gun. Last weekend it was pretty rainning day I went out to the shooting range with family for exploring more of gun shooting experience. The only thing attacted me was that I really interested in seeing different brand and size of the hand gun in real which all from my other family members. I guessed the trip to Arizona Tombstone was given alot of memories of gun fight and shots so it might be good to really practice how to use the real gun and how good you can aim the target. Never thought the different size of the bullets will cause so much different power from shooting. I was totally amazed by using the 45 Caliber hammer which the fire sparcled in front of your face once it was shot to the target. It was a little scared to use it the first time before you ready to trigger. I was also excited to try more with 22 Caliber, 38 Caliber as well as 44 Caliber. Each hand gun was different power and size of the bullets. This made me bring up the gun shot movie to my mind most of time during the shooting practice . No wonder people had different reaction by using the different pistols.

 

It was obvious to feel the arm sore after the shooting practice that day. I guessed I was too aggreesive to try the more powerful hand guy with 45 Caliber. But it is still fresh experience to me till now. I would love to get to the shooting range more if time allowed in the future. Here I Pasted more powerful hand gun photos for the eye fantacy....

   

假期归来的第二天，还是觉得浑身懒洋洋的哪也不想去。可能是气候的原因，西雅图还是冬天的气温，想起亚利桑那的沙漠干燥热带气候，真让我流连忘返。旅游的过程还使我了解了更多的美国西部文化和200年前的美国的历史。是个值得去的旅游城市和景点区。如果你需要更多的阳光暴晒和Sun Tan就要去亚利桑那！实在是令人享足了的Sunshine。 我们住的度假村在亚利桑那的Tucson城，它的周边地区大多是山，而且是非常干燥地带的山脉和平原地区的沙漠地域，美国的这个沙漠地域不象中国的沙漠靠近北部或者非洲的沙漠区域到处是黄沙或者骆驼，这里的沙漠到处长满高大的仙人掌，而且各种生长植物在干燥的平原上生长的植物都带有各种具有杀伤力的刺。可能是避免鸟或陆地上的动物的袭击。确实很有趣，有些植物以前从没有见过，是专门在沙漠气候中生长的。同时也使我长了不少见识，沙漠干燥气候地带生长的动物也很有名，其中最有名的要数蛇了，这是当地人在野生环境中见过最平常的和具有杀伤力的动物。不过这里蛇会通常在夜晚出现，如果我们不在沙漠或山脉中行走是见不到的。听起来有些恐怖，不过除了野生动物园看到很多不同种类的蛇，自然环境中我也没看到。总之幸运，哈哈！

 

Tucson的度假村也提供了不少设施供旅游者享用，Spa是我最爱好的设施之一。不过旅行中最让我记忆深刻的还是去了亚利桑那西部的城市Tomestone，使这个城市有名的是Gun Fight and Cowboy Western Culture. 了解了200年前美国西部人的生活方式和娱乐，每个人都身带枪只和中国的大上海电影有点像。很具有西部牛仔文化的味道。而且在当时的年代妓女的生活也颇为出名，大概美国的妓女职业就是从这里起家的。但当时的妓女的职业并不象我们想象的最低的职业生涯。在当时颇有明星身份的象征。当然也不可能是现代的明星身份。美国有一部颇为家喻户晓的电影专门描写Tomestone的西部生活，较为有名。看过这座真实的城市了解他的文化后，觉得18世纪的人对生命看得较为浅薄，人们居然为了一件衬衫或者打牌可以动用枪支至于死地。可怜而且life being cheap.

 

到达亚利桑那的第一天才知道上个星期是美国NBA年会的会赛，各大明星决阵包括姚明，凤凰城的展览中心的大楼也有姚明和其他NBA明星的照片和一个巨型篮球的标志，可惜没赶上看到真人和比赛，要是早来一星期就好了。。总之，我的假期这么快就结束了，风景看了西部文化也了解了。又要步入正轨的生活轨道了。回家后感觉西雅图还是依然的宁静，美丽，人们还在忙碌中生活。希望自己也会在春天到来之际步入忙碌的生活。 

 

  

这个情人节要和家人去Arizona Tuson (亚利桑那州）度过。据说靠近沙漠较近但风景极美。心情还是迫不及待的，早已盼望温暖的气候和Sunshine还有较有名气的 hot spring。这下可以好好享受几天了，我的pretty swimming suit也要派上用场了。假期去年就已经订好了，谁知道碰到这倒霉的全球性金融危机。暂时性没有工作只好先去度个大假放松一下，回来后再专注我的 job hunting career! Sounds strenge! 到时有美丽的风景照一定和大家分享。下面要去打包收拾行李。。明早一大早就启程去机场。

 

放松心情，开开心心，保持良好的positive attitude! everything will work out.. I believe.

刚和妈妈放下电话才知道昨天是一年一度共庆的元宵佳节。在国内是2月9号也就是这里的今天，所以今晚一定不忘煮上几个汤圆，庆贺今年一年团团圆圆，一帆风顺。

January almost passing soon from now. I still did not find a perfect job for the suvival life. The new president of US came on board yesterday. It has been still a hard time for me to believe this was true that voted African-American to be the US president. His policy and country govern skill still so unfamiliar to the local American Citizens. However, he definitely has more supporters and media bias from this country. The financial crisis came to the earth last year 2008, the US Bank bankrupt happened respectively last whole year even till last week this year now. New President's policy was to put more funds into the market for saving the small business enterpreniurs for re-set the business with the turn over. However, the government funding has become a dream to people which is hardly become true yet.

 

Let's pray the good policy and real changes for the whole world. Wishing the global economy getting better for 2009!

2008 Christmas finally past last Friday, I had a pretty fair and beautiful Christmas of 2008 with our entire family down in the Gig Harbor, this was the first time I celebrated Christams with American style as well as the delicious food with the family. The new thing for me is to prepare all the beautiful gifts for family members and wrapped them up with our hand-writing notes on the top of the paper. It was very happy holiday season as everyone prepared the nice gifts and food for their relatives. We went to the mom's house on the Christmas eve of 24th, surprise is everyone is already there for almost two days, we said hi to everyone. Looking at myself who still very new to this family but I am so happy to be part of the family now and I saw the love from each of them to me. Beautiful Christmas tree, all different wrapped presents under the tree, food all over the kichen counter, people talking, watching movie and cooking food, openning many bottles of wine and champagne, lauthers, etc you can see the holiday atomosphere everywhere.

 

I am so happy to celebrate my first Christmas with this entire new family, but I also miss my home the way people having Christmas season there also, thank you my great friend all the way to wish me best greetings to me  from Beijing China through the phone. All of you will always be my best friend forever. The weather started warm and snow melted alot compared with few days before. People happy to get out after the almost 10 days snowing last two weeks. The new year will be more clean and fresh air to everyone. I wish the new year of Bull having more smooth steps, job works out, life works out better and friends work out more here, my family also works out to get togheter again in the States, wishing all of my sweet dreams coming true in the 2009!!!

已经两天一夜了，大雪还是下个不停，在北京的时候从没见过这么大的雪，雪片又厚又大别提多漂亮了。明天又是休息日，整个西雅图都陷于瘫痪状态了。路上没有人，公司关了门只有超市还在营业。每天晚上我都要出去转上一大圈享受这少有的白色的皑皑大雪！空气真的很新鲜加上大雪变得更加湿润和寒冷。路上驾车的人都非常小心，因为路标也都看不清了，只能以20迈的速度驾上高速实在是上班族出了个大难题，出门变成了少有的难题不过也不错这给人们足够的时间准备的节日的到来。家家户户张灯结彩准备着Christmas 的节日气氛。小孩子也都变得兴奋无比，堆雪人，滑雪锹，打雪仗到处可见。冬天真的来了，寒冷的空气让我想起了小时候在北京冬天的时候家家户户都要储存大白菜和买煤的日子。日子过的太快了，还没完全享受到西雅图的秋天的气息冬天已经到来了。这是一个白色的有魅力的冬日。原本想美国的冬天也不过如此，不过这几场大雪的确给美丽的圣诞节带来了几分资色。

 

美丽而寒冷的大雪不得不让我把它记录下来，连美国当地人也狠少看到这么大的雪。感觉自己不是在西雅图而是阿拉斯加，因为个别地方的大雪厚的已经到了小腿肚了。也好像是新疆，西藏的雪。厚而重！希望北京能有几场这样大的雪，给干燥的空气加上几分湿润和美丽。大雪，你下吧，不停的下。。。

由于冷空气袭击西雅图地域，上个星期六晚上西雅图终于下了今年来的第一场雪，天气冷得让我不想出家门，整整在家呆了两天还是觉得天寒地冻。天气预报说明天又要降温了，预计晚上又有大雪，不过也不错这是我第一次在美国过圣诞而且是一个白色的圣诞节，家家户户的门外都装上了彩灯显得喜气洋洋，灯火辉煌，就像中国春节前夕的过节景象。很多office的人员都提前一到两个星期回家过节了。学校也放假了，到处都显得有些冷清。很多公司也正在裁员，圣诞期间公司是不聘人员的，但这也没有打消我的士气，看来我要把找工作这项艰巨的任务放到新年到来的首要任务去执行了。

 

这几天也正在忙着打包圣诞礼物，参加圣诞party,和朋友们聚会，圣诞会餐开心享受节日的气氛，还是先过一个快快乐乐的圣诞和新年吧！希望我的家人和朋友们都有一个平平安安，健健康康，万事如意，恭喜发财的2009年！

 

Wishing myself having a great job opportunity, all best wishes to my family and all of my good friends having a Prosperous New Year of 2009!

 

Let's keep up the good mood and working hard to step forward to the Year 2009!

今天是失业第一天，终于从那个黑暗的学校办公室走出来了。虽然心情开心许多，但失业的滋味着实不好受！在国内的时候从没有担心过会失业或者找不到自己喜欢的工作，可经过这9个月的磨难，我确实尝到了找工作的困难。简单便宜的工作机会遍地都是，但和我的简历不符，自己也没有冲进干好，其实我已经放下期望对只要自己能干的工作一律不放弃，可觉得运气还是没有时常光顾我。平衡心情的确很重要，这些天又认识了一些新朋友-中国朋友！她们中也有和我一样的问题，生活无聊，郁闷尤其更是没有工作，不知道如何打发每一天。不过这次已经和我9个月前来美国不一样了，Re-start the new life, Cheer up and seeking jobs!

 

由于美国经济下滑，到处都是公司裁员和解聘。我们学校也不例外，可是有一点我怎么也不能相信，我们部门是International Program Department总共的职员就6名，剩下的都是Volunteers来帮忙的，老板是韩国人，职员中3名美国人，1名中国人，1名韩国人。所以那个韩国人自然没有被裁掉，还有1名美国人是最后被聘的也没被裁掉，我是part time自然没有理由争什么职位，可是工作了4年的另外一名美国同事居然被这位非常“Political"得韩国部门经理裁掉了，大家都不敢相信这是事实，就联学校其他部门的人员也不服这样的裁员政策！这已经不再是他们所说的4.1%而是跨越到80%得裁员比了。不知道这还是不是所有学生期望的International Program因为75%得韩国学生占据了International program其余的25%其它国家的学生并不满足现状，而且部分学生已经转出学校，实在是让人不能接受。她们失去了最好的和最有经验的advisor而找了一个吹嘘自己对韩国市场几年经验的美国佬！不过侥幸的是我们已经离开了这个不再温暖而更加黑暗的环境，想不到在美国也会碰到"Office Politics"得问题。确实让人气愤和不可思议！

 

昨天和我的好同事们好好庆祝了一番，大家都有同样的感受走的越早越好，这样不健康的环境就是继续工作下去也不开心。不如开开心心的潇洒走人！花了6个小时的庆祝，Party，坎天！真过瘾！大家都倾诉了在校园里不能交流的同样的心情与感受！这样的International Program早晚一天会崩溃。。。 

Time really getting things approved step by step, I was so happy to get my Green Card today from the U.S. immigration based in Seattle. It was totally not difficult as what I have thought about. It was only taking me one hour to prepare the whole documentation before we go today. However, the officer did not even check the whole documents as well as the photos, he only like to see full of your attitude and your both sincere of the status in the marriage. I was surprised that hubby prepared such solid documentation and even got full of the compliments from the officer that saying you did a great job for the file preparation, most of the people could not even do these. So there is really no reason to deny and definitely no question mark for the case. Some of people missing alot of documentation which caused them the green card delay and rejection. Therefore different people different issue. I am glad that we met up a very nice and supportive officer. He is such a nice officer and really kind to us and also kind of teasing by asking questions which made the very relaxing and easy environment and atomesphere. Maybe I should have said that I was lucky to be interviewed by a great immigration officer.

 

I got it and finally got it from immigration. Let's pray for the better improvement of the life. God bless.