Susan G. Komen Race for Cure

It was a breezy morning. NW, PA and I went to the Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for Cure in Lubbock. This is my first time attending. It was quite a big event. I wasn't paying much attention when the MC annouced the statistics, but I think I heard something like 7000 participants in this event this year. I was five minutes late when I arrived at the rendezvous. PA was there already. NW arrived 20 minutes late, because she had to find a good spot to park her car and that, took her 20 minutes.

Before the race, we checked out the vendor area. A lot of local restaurants, eateries and supermarkets set up their stalls and providing food and drink for free. We had some donut, coffee and McDonald's apple slices (yes, you got it right, its McDonald's apple slices). Ford as usual (according to NW) was giving out the "Warrior in Pink" scarf and of course, we picked up our scarf. We then walked over to the Covenant Mobile Mamogram bus because NW was interested in checking it out. We found out that without health insurance, it will cost $81 for a mamogram and there will be another consultation fee for a doctor to read and interpret the mamogram. The RN did not tell us exactly how much is the consultation fee.

We decided two against one that we will go for a one mile stroll (note: not walk) instead of a 5K run. PA insisted that we should go for 5K, since she went to bed at 3 a.m. and woke up at 7 a.m., we should get our time worth. We joined the crowd and stroll through the one mile. As part of our ritual, some one has to ask "Are we there yet?". This time, NW had the honor to do the job. We finally got to the end of the one mile, we did it in approximately 20 minutes. What a record.

After we got back, we had our real breakfast: grilled sausage, lots of yogurt (Yoplait, where if you mail the pink cover in, Yoplait will contribute 10c each to Komen foundation), more McDonald's apple slices, Keva juice, more sausages, ice-cream. On our way out, NW and I picked up a number of water bottles. It was a fruitful morning, though we didn't really exercise, we didn't sweat and we ate a lot for a breakfast, but it was still very enjoyable, especially when you are having funs with your good friends .

We didn't take any pictures this morning, since none of us actually thought of bringing our camera. However, I do have some pictures from the Race for Cure to share. This is also the reason why this post is a few days late. Here you go:

Fluffy for the Cure. She is wearing the Warrior in Pink scarf in these pictures. Fluffy supports the breast cancer movement as well. I am so proud of her!!

FYI: Susan G. Komen for the Cure is "the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures."

七年

二零零八年九月二十三日...

Some clips from youtube

I found this on the Internet when I was looking for "Front Fell Off" skid and found this. Enjoy!

Front Fell Off


Prank Call

I don't like Mondays

(Not entirely) Random Stuffs

Little devil visited us this past long weekend. We visited several places in West Texas. Yes, we do have something for sightseeing. We went to Amarillo, planning on visiting the Cadillac Ranch, VW Bug Ranch and the Tractor Ranch. However, the weather wasn't cooperating with us, after the Cadillac Ranch, we had to call it off. But of course, we stopped by the Big Texan Steak Ranch again.

Stanley Marsh's or Ant Farm's Cadillac Ranch on the Historic Route 66.
And a ghostly encounter......

Made in....

Given 1: Made in Heaven
Given 2: Made in India
Both 1 & 2 on the same clothe, thus Heaven = India.

Colorado Trip

We went to Denver Colorado for a friend's wedding reception. It was a very short trip. Beside attending the reception, we were able to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. On our way there, we stopped by Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo for breakfast. The Steak Ranch is located along the Route 66 (c.f. the Pixar's Cars).

Motel that looks like the good old western movie.
I thought that one huge fiber glass cow is good enough, like the one we have in Bryan's Steakhouse in Lubbock. But well, everything has to be bigger (and more) in Texas, and thus I counted two for this steak house.

Next stop, Rocky Mountain National Park. We drove through Boulder to get to Estes Park, then Rocky Mountain National Park. Though it rained kittens and puppies, the rain never stopped on our way there.

It snowed a few days before we arrived in Denver. The temperature was a little cold for mid-August. Certain part of the national park had to be closed due to snow. However, the part that is opened to public is still quite breathtaking (according to JC). JC snapped quite a number of pictures until my battery ran out. These are mostly his pictures.

Though Rocky Mountain National park is picturesque and it instilled a kind of calmness and stillness in me, I was not overwhelm by it. After living in Montana for a few years, visiting a number of state parks and national parks, especially visiting Glacier National Park, though Rocky Mountain National Park is impressive, it didn't impress me. 曾經滄海難為水, 除卻巫山不是雲.

On our way back, we stopped by Big Texan Steak Ranch again. The weather hadn't been cooperative with us all our trip, but it was still a very pleasant trip.

Modeling

When you go to an auto show, you can always expect to see some hot female models posing next to the car. I never got the idea of hot female models, its not like if you buy the car, you get the model for free. Well, back to topic, for example, something like these (click on the pictures for the source):
Today, we found out that we have a model among ourselves as well. A natural one indeed, professional, no qualm about posing nude and willing to pose pro bono for good products. She had been trying to tell us that she's a model for a while, but we didn't catch on. Maybe she didn't pose at the right moment or right location. Or maybe we just did not notice. However, this morning, we noticed her talent, and here's the proof of it.

Yes, she was posing for JC's Strat. Somehow, the color of the strat just seem to match her fur and that's how we found out about her true calling. Before the strat, she had been posing beside JC's black guitars, that's probably why it did not get our attention. Well, right time, right location and right harmony is the key to success.

I tried to remove the strap from the guitar and she was upset because I ruined her mood to pose. She went on strike. So that's all for her modeling session today.

Once I was done with Lupe, I noticed that Godofredo got interested in modeling as well. Since Lupe was around the guitars and refused to move, Goyo decided that he can pose for the chair and Lupe's bed, doesn't matter, cause this is pro bono work.

生日快樂!

My Insecure Cat

Usually when we are going out of town, we will pack all our suitcases and leave them on the hallway the night before. After the first trip to MX which lasted 3+ weeks, Lupe associated the suitcases or any bulky things left on the hallway as a sign that the hands that feed her will be gone for a while.

L and G are moving back to MX this Friday. They had some furnitures that they are not going to take back to MX and decided to give it to us. Last evening, L and G brought those furnitures over to our apartment. Since we won't be in this apartment for long, we decided to leave them on the hallway.

With all the furnitures and miscellaneous objects on the hallway, Lupe thought that we are going to leave her for a while again and she began to get a little upset. Throughout the night, she was meowing, very loudly. JC got her onto the bed with him to shut her up. She left once JC was asleep, and continue to meow. Her meowing is always funny, its never the same and she always meow at the most 'incorrect' (or inappropriate) time. Last night, her meowing lasted throughout the night.

This morning, when I tried to pet her, she practically ignored me. Talking about cats with attitude....its more like insecure cat. I shouldn't have fed her this morning, just to tell her that the alpha female in the household is definitely not her.

Cats' Updates on Playground

Fluffee is showing her support and gratitute to us for building the playground for her. As you can see from the ropes condition and arrangement, they really use the scratch post a lot. I wasn't able to get a picture of Goyo on the structure. I took these pictures a while back and Goyo wasn't feeling very well at that time.

Road Sign

I was driving through Quaker yesterday during rush hour. I had to stop at the traffic light and I saw this road sign.

Not sure what to make of this sign.

Aliens Invasion

半夜回家，差點被嚇死........................
哪個人在家門口這樣晒鱿鱼的, 嚇的俺還以為外星人入侵地球了

I went home late at night and I almost got a heart attack .....
Who on earth would hang the octopus like that on the street? I thought that aliens invaded Earth!!!


I got this in an email from JJ. I don't know the source of this picture.

Sleeping Cats

As usual, Goyo sleeps in a very graceful posture and Lupe sleeps in anyway she likes.

Pulling Teeth

We took Godofredo to the vet this morning because he hasn't been normal* for a while. The verdict was the vet has to pull his last tooth because the tooth was preventing him from eating and grooming himself. We trust the vet and we consented.

We picked Godofredo up at 5.30 p.m. He was in his carrier, still wobbling from the sedative. The vet told us that he had hydrated Goyo, we don't have to worry about leaving him in his carriage for the rest of the evening. We took him home and set him on the couch, his usual place. Lupe came by the cage door to sniff around and tried to put a paw into the cage. I am not sure if she was trying to say Hi or she was actually trying to pick a fight, but I am glad that we left Goyo in the cage alone.

At around 8.30 p.m., Goyo was knocking on the cage door. We let him out, he was till wobbling, but he could walk. Lupe was excited and she tried to pick a fight but Goyo ignored her. Goyo has so much pride in him that even though he was weak, he still insist on sitting upright, with grace and elegance.

Later in the evening, Goyo climbed up the structure that we build a few months ago. He was sitting on the top level, recuperating from the sedation. Lupe climbed up half way and try to pick a fight. Goyo swat her gently in a defensive way, telling her to stop it. Apparently Lupe did not get the message. Finally, after 2 minutes, Goyo was really annoyed, he hissed at Lupe. This is the first time that we saw Goyo hissing since we adopted him in September last year. No matter how annoying Lupe was to him, he never hiss, but I guess today he was really tired and his patience was wearing off faster than usual. Lupe was genuinely shocked as well, with the tail tucked under her hind legs and ears all flapped down, Lupe retreated from structure and left Goyo alone.

Note: Our standard for 'normal' behavior means picking fight at least once every day and chasing around the apartment and making noise every night.

Muppets - Stars & Stripes Forever

Playground

Lupe had been scratching the couch for a long time. Finally, JC realized how much damages she inflicted on the couch when he finally saw the wooden structure of the couch. We had been thinking of getting a scratch post for the cats for a while, but we realized that its not worth the price for a good scratch post. Being two engineers, we decided to build our own scratch post/playground. We went to home depot during the weekend to pick up some 2"x4", some ropes and hardware supplies. We were trying to buy carpet in very small quantity. The Floor Assistant in Home Depot gave us the bits and pieces left over from other purchases for free. After a few hours work, voila!
We completed the first stage, thinking that it would be enough. Over the evening, we found out that the cats were trying to climb to the top of the structure, which was not our intention in the design. However, the wooden surface was too slippery. Goyo was smart enough to know that even though he could get to the top level, he will have a hard time getting down, so he didn't go all the way up. Though Lupe is smart, she behaves like a little airhead sometimes. She climbed and leaped all the way to the top, and then only she realized that she could not get down. She made a leap and the landing was rough.

We decided that we need to build a intermediate level and cover the wooden surface with some carpet to improve the grips for the cats. We also decided to widen the top level to accommodate two cats. Thus, the next day, we have this.... Goyo napping on the top level and Lupe playing in the lower level. Both cats on the top level.

After we completed the structure, we placed the structure right next to our TV. These had become our double entertainment. As usual, Lupe never think before she acts. She was having fun on the structure and lost her footing several times. Once, she lost her footing on the lower level and was hanging on with both front paws. Her eyes were like two hard boil eggs, literally. We were cracking up so hard. She tried to get back up there but she failed and fell to the ground. And the next thing we know, she was up on the strucuture again, performing the same acrobatic acts.

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

Kermit the Frog

I gave a speech this morning in my Toastmaster Pro Club. I was working on the Advance Communication Manual, Special Occasion Speech, Project #2, Speaking in Praise. I had been trying to do this project for a while, but I always quit at the last minute and worked on other project instead. Finally, I have no other option because that is my last project for that manual. I had the idea of praising Frederick W. Taylor, the father of IE, but after a long deliberation, I decided against it. I ended up giving the following speech:

_________________________________________

Introduction for the speaker:
Welcome to the Unveiling Event of Kermit the Frog Statue in the Academy of Puppetry. I presume that all of us here are very familiar with Kermit the Frog and had our lives touched by Kermit one time or another. On this very special occasion, I have the honor to introduce our keynote speaker today, FroggyLittle. She is a long time puppetry patron and a renowned historian in the art of puppetry. She completed a biography of Kermit the Frog recently, to commemorate his 50th Birthday. Please help me welcome FroggyLittle.

The speech:
“Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” I am not sure if Kermit was born great or has greatness thrust upon him, but I know that he achieved greatness. Kermit is not afraid of being great, he wants to be great, he believes in his ability and tries to achieve as much as he could, as an amphibian.

As most of us here know, Kermit has a very humble origin. He was born in the swamp, along with 3,625 brothers and sisters when he was a tadpole. Most of the siblings did not make it through their tadpole-hood. Kermit was the first of his siblings to leave the swamp and began to interact with humans. After discovering his stage talent, Kermit went out to pursue his career in show business. Despite his humble origin, Kermit proved that anyone can be successful and anyone can make a difference.

Kermit’s main source of inspiration that encourages him to achieve greatness is Miss Piggy. The interactions between Kermit and Miss Piggy on screen often convinced us that Miss Piggy is relentlessly pursuing Kermit, the truth is, Kermit returns the same affection to Miss Piggy, but in a very different way. In a way that only amphibians would understand, which I don’t. Through several conversations with Kermit while writing his biography, Kermit admitted that he has a platonic relationship with Miss Piggy but he chose to keep the relationship a secret to protect Miss Piggy and prevent her from being a target of paparazzi. Even though Miss Piggy is often portrayed as very bossy on screen, she is bossy off screen as well and THAT is the source of inspiration for Kermit.

As a very talented entertainer, Kermit could have won an Academy Award, if it weren’t for the discrimination in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. However, there is another aspect of Kermit that is often been overlooked by many people: Kermit’s ability to be a leader and to manage a production company. Kermit is extra-ordinary in “getting a bunch of crazies to actually get the job done.” His ability to manage Gonzo the Great, crazy Animal, Fozzie bear, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, keeping the rather talentless Scooter out of any stage show and at the same time, making sure that Scooter’s rich uncle continues to let them use the theater. His leadership skill and management ability is beyond what we could imagine today.

Kermit’s positive attitude in life is evident in his song “Bein’ Green”. “It’s not easy being green, when green blends in with so many ordinary things.” However, Kermit accepts and embrace his greenness. “It’s beautiful! And it’s what I want to be….” Today, when we see a lot of people instead of embracing their identity, they try so hard to erase their identity, trying to be something that they are not. We have so much to learn from Kermit, for accepting and embracing our own identity.

Without Kermit, it is impossible to have the Muppets working half a century ago, and keep the Muppet Show running, 53 years after its inception. We owe this to Kermit, for his keen eye for talents, ability and willingness to manage those great artists with huge personalities. We owe Kermit for his willingness to take the risk of being shut down, his persistent and determination to keep the show running amid the constant criticism and booing from the two old, grumpy Statler and Waldorf.

Kermit the Frog’s place in history is indisputable. In 1981, Columbia University developed a file transfer and management protocol for computer network and the protocol is named after Kermit the Frog. Kermit is the only amphibian to have the honor of addressing the Oxford Union Society, a prestigious debating society in Oxford UK. A town in Texas is named after Kermit the Frog. A statue of Kermit was erected on the University of Maryland campus in 2003.

And today, we are here to unveil another statue of Kermit the Frog, erected on the campus of the Academy of Puppetry. Remember that anyone could be successful regardless of their origin; remember that everyone should accept and embrace their own identity; remember that who you are does not define you, it is what you did that define you and remember that persistency and determination is the key to success, as Kermit the Frog had proved to us, and will continue to do so.

_________________________________________

Of course most of the thing mentioned in this speech are not true, its more of a tall tale. I enjoy this speech very very much, the writing and delivering of it. This is one of the very few times that I really like the speech that I wrote and I decided to share it here. Enjoy!

Cat's Meow

I was in the kitchen busy with my cooking. Lupercia was busy in the kitchen as well, busy being a busy body. She walked around me hoping to sniff the food that I was preparing. Just sniffing, she never eat them anyway.

My kitchen is small and I need to turn around pretty frequently. On one of my turn, I felt something furry underneath two of my right toes and I heard a loud MEOW. Apparently, the furry thing is Lupe's paw. She sprinted away from me and hid underneath a chair in the kitchen. I walked over to her trying to comfort her. Seeing that I was walking towards her, she meowed at me, quite pissed off, as if shouting "YOU IDIOT!!". When I got closer, she meowed again, and again, and again. All four meows were pretty stern.

Finally, I bent down, picked her up and brought her to the couch. I set her down on the arm rest and petted her, as if apologizing to her. She calmed down. Then she meowed at me again, but this time was softer, as if she was whining and complaing "It's painful, you know!"

All this time, Godofredo was sitting on the couch in the living room, watching the whole episode of reality sh0w.

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Dr. LAB!!

... ...

I remember back in Standard 1, we were in the same class. Your dad always came to visit you during the recess. One afternoon, you were not feeling well and was throwing a tantrum. Your dad came to visit you, you did not want to get back into the classroom. You dad spanked you on your leg with his hand, you shut up, still very upset but you came back into the class.

You were very talkative back in primary school. Teachers reprimanded you for talking too much, too frequent. Some teachers concluded that you were the only child in your family and that's probably why you talk a lot in class because you don't have anybody in your age group to talk to at home. I am very sorry for your parents, for their loss.

One year in primary school, probably in Standard 3, I can't recall exactly which year was that, for we were in the same class for 6 years. We were back from a school break, you learnt some 'new' hand gestures, some 'dirty' hand gestures from some of your cousins during the break. You were so excited and wanted to show us, yet the conservative school environment back then compelled you from sharing with us. Finally, after a day of internal struggles and several of us constant pestering and reassuring you that we won't tell the teacher, you showed us the hand gestures.

When we were in Standard 5 & 6, we got into frequent arguments and quarelling, for I am very opinionated, you were no different and we both will not back down for anything. Things got worse when the teacher assigned me to sit in front of YC, where you sat next to him. Then something funny happened. I am a very observant person and I have a knack to 'smell' that something was 'fishy'. I found out that both you and YC were attracted to her and I can't help but to poke fun on both of you. You and YC were best friend back then, and I did not realize that it was hard and it took a lot of courage for you to back down from the (puppy) love triangle. I know, that was childish, but back then, we were all very childish.

After Standard 6, during the school break, we were enrolled in Keat Hwa Private Secondary School for a tuition class to prepare us for secondary school. For some reasons, even though we argued a lot in Standard 5 & 6, we decided to sit together, as we were in Standard 6. CH and I sat together, YC and you together and I was in front of you. I still remember that I turned around frequently to stare at you, because you won't stop kicking my chair. That was the last time that I was in the same class with you. We were never in the same class all through secondary school.

It was a shock for me when I found out about your accident. For a second, I thought that it was an April Fool prank, but I realized that it can't be. Your life had just started and this had to happen. Rest in peace, my dear friend, for there is nothing else in this world that you should be bothered with ... rest in peace.

Cats

Some updated pictures of my cats.....