Anticipation

Every year, after the Academy Awards, I like to take a few days 'off' from the world of movies. Then I start to get excited about movies that are coming out this year, especially the summer movies. The ones I'm most looking forward to are "Terminator: Salvation" and the new "Harry Potter" movie. Kind of looking forward to the new "Star Trek" movie. "Star Trek" movies have been very good in the past, but also rather horrible. The more I see of the upcoming version, the more I'm NOT looking forward to it. At first, I thought it would be great to take the whole "Star Trek" universe, shake it up a bit and see what happens. And J.J. Abrams has done a perfect job with TV's "Lost." I also thought his "Mission: Impossible 3" was very good. He's got a great way of telling a story that is usually better than most. But, the previews for the new "Star Trek" movie make it seem like "90210" in space and that sickens me. I hope I'm wrong and that it's just Paramount that is screwing it up. I'll still see it, but I doubt that I will wait in line for hours like I did with "Star Wars."

Yes, I waited a very long time for the last three "Star Wars" movies. And I loved every minute of waiting in 1999, 2002, and 2005. Plus, back in 1997 when the first three were re-released and way back in 1985 when Seattle was one of 10 cities to show the first three back-to-back. Back then, it was $10 for all three and I still have the ticket stub from the UA150, my most favorite movie theatre of all time. I waited in line for eight hours to buy tickets and another two afterwards before the doors opened. Aaaahhh...good times!

What brought all this up is that tonight, Karen was watching the beginning of the first "Lord of the Rings" movie on TNT. It was only the beginning of it, but watching it on TV was just too difficult because it was made to watch on a 68-foot long screen with THX, Dolby Digital sound and warm popcorn. Not on a small, square TV screen with commercials and logos covering it. I will always prefer going to a movie theatre but I know that won't always be possible, with the plans that Karen and I have for our future but even with a big screen TV and a home theatre sound system, it still won't be the same. When I go to Singapore in April, I'm hoping there will time for us to see a movie there since there wasn't time the last time I was there. Karen rarely saw movies in Singapore, she said, because she was either busy or couldn't find someone to go with. Well, I will always be available!

Scott and David are going to be joining us in Singapore for our wedding. I'm excited about going back there, and can't wait to see more of Singapore and Malaysia with Karen. Also, it will be interesting to see what David and Scott think of Singapore, the heat and the humidity. And the public transit system that is so easy to use and gets you most anywhere you want to be.

So, my calendar is getting rather full for the next six months. Singapore, Wedding, Bali, movies and SUMMER. I can't wait for Karen to see how beautiful Seattle can be during the summer. Warm to very warm days, picking berries, fresh fruit every day and relaxing time in the sun. I will have accumulated more vacation time by the end of summer, so we may plan a vacation for September or October. Karen really wants to go to Disneyworld and I haven't been there since the early 1980's so I would love to go back, too. That would definitely take all my vacation!

Comfort Food

I haven't been feeling well the last couple of days. First a scratchy throat, then a sore throat and then and itchy throat with the cough. Fish congee is what I long for, when I am sick like this. Congee is (in Chinese cooking) broth or porridge made from rice. So yesterday, I got lots of fresh ginger, cod, scallions and made myself a wonderful bowl of comfort.

Homemade fish congee

It was the first time I was making fish congee in a long while. Even a few Chinese I know don't like congee, so I wasn't quite sure how Chad would take to it. And what did Chad have for dinner? I suggested that he make himself some dinner, just in case. You can see what he had in the picture below. Those sausages are really spicy and one of my favourites.

Chad's dinner

The congee I made was delicious, though I think the texture has to be improved. I need to figure out how to get that wonderful smoothness of the rice porridge like at a few of the best restaurants. I did let Chad know though that he'd have to at least take a taste the next time I make some.

A Step Closer to that Green Card

Yippee!!! We just got my Advance Parole document in the mail today. I need this 'permission to travel' document to be able to leave U.S. for the church wedding in Singapore in April. Actually leaving the U.S. would not have been a problem without the Advanced Parole. However, I would have been refused admission at the U.S. Port of Entry after my travels to Singapore, Malaysia and Bali. The K1 Fiance Visa that got me into the U.S. on September 10 last year is a one-time entry Visa and so while my application for Adjustment of Status (Green Card) is pending, the Advance Parole is necessary for any travel outside the U.S.

My Biometrics appointment at 9 am this Friday where my fingerprints will be recorded to bring me a step closer to getting my Employment Authorization Document and Adjustment of Status (Green Card).

Getting all the paperwork done to get me here and keep me here has been like navigating through a complicated maze. We are now on Step 21 and a half of a 22-step process. View the entire K1 Visa Process Flowchart here. A fair number of these steps involved paperwork on top of paperwork. The experience has probably made me a great consultant for anyone who needs to go through the whole "K1 Visa Journey".

We got all the paperwork done for the K1 Fiance Visa in February 2008, more paperwork, medical check-up, vaccinations and then the interview at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore in August, got the Visa which got me into the U.S. of A in September, got my social security number in October, got married in early November last year within the 90-day period, got the name changed on the social security card, got the paperwork done for the application for the adjustment of status (green card), employment authorization document and advanced parole by early December. We received the Notice of Action (NOA) for all three applications from the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) on December 16th 2008.

Now that I have my Advance Parole, I expect to get the Employment Authorization Document by the end of March. That means, in a just a few weeks, I'll be able to work, even if it's just part-time before going back to get my Masters degree.

Both Chad and I are looking forward to be as excited as we are now when I get that green card 3 months from now.

Step Up for Health

(click picture for full view)

Our lift or, since I'm here in Seattle Washington U.S.A., should I say elevator, has not been working for a couple of days now. As we wait for just the correct spare part to be ordered in, our dear old lift or elevator, will not be up and running till Tuesday, at the earliest. Yes, having to use the stairs these couple of days has been somewhat of a hellish experience for me. I find myself huffing and puffing more than I should as I climb. Just halfway up to our condo unit, I have to stop to catch my breath. It's four flights of stairs!

I remember the glory days when I used to take the stairs willingly. King Edward Hall hall was my home for four years when I was studying at the univerity in Singapore. There were these infamous 127 steps leading from the hall of residence to the National University Hospital. I remember those stairs as being really steep at parts and had an unfinished look to it.

My third year in the university was the year I decided to get fitter. I would run up and down these 127 steps repeatedly before taking a run or two around the campus. This was almost a daily routine and for non-sporty me, this was a really big deal. The memory of those days are so clear to me. Why then do the motivation and willpower I used to have elude me so these days?

It's just four flights, Karen! I will be taking the stairs more from now on.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Any Reason to Celebrate is a Good One

Valentine's Day. This was our first together. Last year, we were in different time zones. Sixteen hours apart to be exact. This year, as though to make up for last year, we started celebrating early.

Wednesday, February 11th.

Review in The Seattle Times, February 16th. 2009

This first night was on me. I got the tickets. We had dinner at the nearby 'Cheesecake Factory' before heading to the Paramount theatre. I had watched the show when I was on a solo trip to London in 2005. The show was awesome! It was worth watching again. I could tell that Chad enjoyed the whole experience immensely.

Thursday, February 12th.
Chad's gift to us was a trip to the quaint town of Port Townsend.

We stayed at the Palace Hotel. Our first choice for a room was the Miss Rose room. Alas, it was not to be. Although Chad had called to make reservations weeks before, the Miss Rose room was already taken. Looking at the pictures below, it is easy to see why it's so popular. Just look at that brass ceiling and chandelier in that bathroom. We just have to make sure we come back and get this room because that bathroom is just a dream!

The Miss Rose Bathroom at the Palace Hotel

The Miss Rose Room at the Palace Hotel

As we headed out that evening, we saw that the local theatre was playing 'Rachel Getting Married'. We looked at our watches. 4.20 pm. "When does the show start?" 4.30 pm. We looked at each other and the ticketing lady smiled. This theatre consists of only two screens with seating for maybe 75 on the small screen (the Rosebud) and 150 on the original Rose. Our show was playing in the Rosebud.

I loved the experience of watching a movie in this theater. One, I had never been in such a tiny theater. Two, it seemed everybody who came to watch the movie knew each other. And the best thing and what caught me by surprise was when a lady , a Rose employee, came in before the show to explain a few fun tidbits about the making of the movie. Chad would probably say that the best part was the popcorn, which I would agree, was very good.

After the movie, we had a wonderful dinner at the Silverwater cafe. We both had fish and shared a chocolate hazelnut mousse. My review would read "Great service, wonderful ambience and yummilicious food".

Friday, February 13th.
After a splendid breakfast at the Salal Cafe the next morning, we visited the shops. Our favourites are always the book shop, the puzzle shop and the kitchen shops. Before we left, I even managed to get some great sushi to go for later.

Historic Downtown of Poulsbo

On the way back to take the ferry to Seattle, we stopped by Poulsbo, which is Washington's piece of Norway. We did a bit of exploring. We went into a chocolate shop, got one of this and one of that. As we walked along. I was trying to pull Chad away from the display window of a bakery called Sluys. An elderly couple came out of the bakery just then, with a big bounty of pastries in hand. The sweet old lady looked at Chad staring into the display window and then looked at me to say with a smile, "He's not going to be able to come out of here empty handed". She was right. The apple cinnamon bread alone is worth a trip back to Poulsbo!

Pastries displayed at Sluy's

We were then back on our way to visit the other shops. We stopped by a really wonderful book store. Chad seemed to want to stop by every bakery and cafe! As we looped back, we had to make a second visit to the chocolate shop. We had already eaten our favourites and wanted more! Oh well, I guess Valentine's is the best excuse anyone can have for such indulgences. My favourite is the ginger dark chocolate and Chad's is the mint dark chocolate. I only wish we had more time in Poulsbo. It's such a charming town and one I would definitely want to visit again.

After we had arrived home, Chad presented me with a bouquet of little daisies and roses.*smile*

Saturday, February 14th.
Chad prepared a big Valentine's day breakfast. Blueberry pancakes! Saturdays are Chad's Mondays, so he had to head to work, so I tucked a Valentine's Day card with the lunch I had put together for him.

Chad came home after midnight and gave me his funny valentine's day card which made me laugh.

It was a good day.

A week filled with wonderful experiences and great memories.

Shared Tears of Laughter

This morning, Chad was reading Roger Ebert's latest journal entry, "Blackie come home". When he came to a comment from a reader, Chad broke out into a laughter. He was laughing even as he read out loud to me. He laughed so hard, tears were streaming down his cheeks. It was infectious and started me laughing too. Soon, I had tears in my eyes. Thank-you, mirror neurons! It then became too much for Chad. He had stop. He'll continue reading as soon as he has had a chance to catch his breath.

Here's the excerpt of what Chad was reading that tickled us so.

The Dog's Diary
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Cat's Diary
Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at theirfeet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that
my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe.

For now...

Chad was laughing so hard that he did not even make it past the first paragraph of the Cat' Diary. Thanks for sharing the laughter, Chad!