Sat
After skating lesson, rushed home and taped World championship.
Then went out with John and went to see Opal and Waterstone pier display suites.
The Opal one is much nicer, in terms of interior design.
Then we just stayed in and watched TV....
Sun
Woke up early, had breakfast, slept again, woke up again and snacked.
Finshed "Angels and Demons".
Ran 25mins. Went to church, then dim sum with family at Aberdeen Center. Very nice dim sum, worth the 45min wait and the 20min parking time.
Saw a really nice dinning table at smart living...
Visit the Aberdeen residence display suite again, their dinning table is even nicer.
Then went to John's place and watched TV, a replay of yesterday's women long program.
Went home for supper, and watched "Desparate Housewives" before sleeping.....the new employee's still breastfeeding her 5-yr old son....
Monday, March 27, 2006
Sat lesson
Went to adult class, only 2 ppl went including me.
Learned so much, never had I learned so much in one class!!
Several new warm up exercises:-
- 4 cross rolls, skate on right forward outside edge to make a complete circle,
another 4 cross rolls, skate on left forward outside edge to make a complete circle,
continue this pattern down the rink
- 4 backward cross rolls, skate on right backward outside edge to make a circle,
4 backward cross rolls, skate on left backward outside edge to make a circle.
- left backward inside edge, right backward inside edge, after 4 edges (alternating left and right) like this, stay on left inside edge to make a circle. repeat the 4 alternating edges, stay on right inside edge to make a circle.
- left forward inside edge (with right skate extended in front), right forward inside edge (with left skate extended in front), 4 alternating edges like this, then skate on left forward inside edge to make a circle with right skate extended from behind and bring the right skate forward after half a circle. Repeat the same thing but end with the other skate (right forward inside edge to make a circle).
- right outside 3-turn, left outside 3-turn, alternate left and right down the rink
- right outside 3-turn, side hop, left outside 3-turn, side hop, alternate left and right down the rink
Competitive warm up:-
start at the corner of the rink
- 2 forward crossovers, skate on left outside edge, do change of edge (to left inside edge) with right skate lifted in front, mohawk, step out to the right while skating backwards, 2 backward crossovers, change direction (backward to forward) and step on to the left forward outside edge, 2 forward crossovers, stride forward on left skate while extend right skate behind, stride forward on right skate while extend left skate behind... and repeat the whole pattern
Jumping circus:-
- forward crossovers, change of edge, mohawk, 3 waltz jump in a big "straight" line, forward crossovers, 2 single loops in a roll, forward crossovers, mohawk, step out to the right, 4 backward crossovers till the blue line, step forward, single flip, forward crossover, mohawk (left to right this time), 4 backward crossovers till the blue line, mohawk (right to left), extend left leg behind while skating on right backward edge, backward crossovers, single lutz.
They're thinking of moving the lesson from sat to thurs nite.... in hope for more ppl to come.... cuz they can't run it with just 1 or 2 ppl in it.
Learned so much, never had I learned so much in one class!!
Several new warm up exercises:-
- 4 cross rolls, skate on right forward outside edge to make a complete circle,
another 4 cross rolls, skate on left forward outside edge to make a complete circle,
continue this pattern down the rink
- 4 backward cross rolls, skate on right backward outside edge to make a circle,
4 backward cross rolls, skate on left backward outside edge to make a circle.
- left backward inside edge, right backward inside edge, after 4 edges (alternating left and right) like this, stay on left inside edge to make a circle. repeat the 4 alternating edges, stay on right inside edge to make a circle.
- left forward inside edge (with right skate extended in front), right forward inside edge (with left skate extended in front), 4 alternating edges like this, then skate on left forward inside edge to make a circle with right skate extended from behind and bring the right skate forward after half a circle. Repeat the same thing but end with the other skate (right forward inside edge to make a circle).
- right outside 3-turn, left outside 3-turn, alternate left and right down the rink
- right outside 3-turn, side hop, left outside 3-turn, side hop, alternate left and right down the rink
Competitive warm up:-
start at the corner of the rink
- 2 forward crossovers, skate on left outside edge, do change of edge (to left inside edge) with right skate lifted in front, mohawk, step out to the right while skating backwards, 2 backward crossovers, change direction (backward to forward) and step on to the left forward outside edge, 2 forward crossovers, stride forward on left skate while extend right skate behind, stride forward on right skate while extend left skate behind... and repeat the whole pattern
Jumping circus:-
- forward crossovers, change of edge, mohawk, 3 waltz jump in a big "straight" line, forward crossovers, 2 single loops in a roll, forward crossovers, mohawk, step out to the right, 4 backward crossovers till the blue line, step forward, single flip, forward crossover, mohawk (left to right this time), 4 backward crossovers till the blue line, mohawk (right to left), extend left leg behind while skating on right backward edge, backward crossovers, single lutz.
They're thinking of moving the lesson from sat to thurs nite.... in hope for more ppl to come.... cuz they can't run it with just 1 or 2 ppl in it.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Great weekend!!!
Wonderful weather during weekend! It's about time that we get some sunlight.
Fri
Saw "50 first dates" and "Batman Begins", all free, borrowed from library.
Both were very good, especially "Batman Begins".
On sat, woke up early did water change on big tank, ran 30mins, then went furniture window shopping. Went to IKEA, Mobler, and Sears Home with sis. I like the lamp in IKEA, coffee table and sofa in Mobler, and sofa in Sears Home (only that it's too expensive... 3000!!!, brand name I think, Nazuuci? Nazuuka?). Later went to see John and out for window shopping again. This time went to see the shops along Alderbridge, Samuels (the most expensive), designer furniture (only like the mirror in there... actually now I'm thinking the frame should be a lil more thicker), United furniture (didn't like it, except maybe one microfibre sofa but I still want leather more), and 2 chinese owned store (nothing i like there). We had some snacks at John's place, banana, cereal, and then headed my place for supper. We ate too much I think.
On Sun, woke up early and went to church then my bi-weekly boring facial (it didn't seem as long this time probably because i had lots on my mind). Later, went to see display suite with John, Flo and Lotus. I went there just for the interior design. Almost all display suites had hardwood floor, then rug under sofa and TV in front of it, and mirror next to dinning table to make room looks bigger, and plant in between the sofa. I like the windows along side the whole living and dinning room layout, mine would only have windows at end of the room.... i would need less curtain i guess....and save more heat. Before that, I had lunch at John's place, extremely spicy sausage with Kraft dinner. Very good and unhealthy.
Afterwards, we played pool, I did terribly and lost. My brain functions in a way that new things learned display old things learned.
Accidentally found "Angels and Demon" in John's apartment building, just started reading it this morning. It's enaging right from the beginning.... I hope I would still allot some time into reading something more useful, like Java and C#.
No new episode of "Desperate Housewives" or "Grey's Anatomy". I slept at 9, like an old lady.
Fri
Saw "50 first dates" and "Batman Begins", all free, borrowed from library.
Both were very good, especially "Batman Begins".
On sat, woke up early did water change on big tank, ran 30mins, then went furniture window shopping. Went to IKEA, Mobler, and Sears Home with sis. I like the lamp in IKEA, coffee table and sofa in Mobler, and sofa in Sears Home (only that it's too expensive... 3000!!!, brand name I think, Nazuuci? Nazuuka?). Later went to see John and out for window shopping again. This time went to see the shops along Alderbridge, Samuels (the most expensive), designer furniture (only like the mirror in there... actually now I'm thinking the frame should be a lil more thicker), United furniture (didn't like it, except maybe one microfibre sofa but I still want leather more), and 2 chinese owned store (nothing i like there). We had some snacks at John's place, banana, cereal, and then headed my place for supper. We ate too much I think.
On Sun, woke up early and went to church then my bi-weekly boring facial (it didn't seem as long this time probably because i had lots on my mind). Later, went to see display suite with John, Flo and Lotus. I went there just for the interior design. Almost all display suites had hardwood floor, then rug under sofa and TV in front of it, and mirror next to dinning table to make room looks bigger, and plant in between the sofa. I like the windows along side the whole living and dinning room layout, mine would only have windows at end of the room.... i would need less curtain i guess....and save more heat. Before that, I had lunch at John's place, extremely spicy sausage with Kraft dinner. Very good and unhealthy.
Afterwards, we played pool, I did terribly and lost. My brain functions in a way that new things learned display old things learned.
Accidentally found "Angels and Demon" in John's apartment building, just started reading it this morning. It's enaging right from the beginning.... I hope I would still allot some time into reading something more useful, like Java and C#.
No new episode of "Desperate Housewives" or "Grey's Anatomy". I slept at 9, like an old lady.
Monday, March 13, 2006
3/4 of a weekend
Sat
Went to work in the morning, very productive. Found a big bug and fixed it... phew..
Afterwards went skating in bill copeland, super crowded, only managed to practice spin mostly.
Got so hungry after skating while driving to home, had so much gas in my stomach that made me felt like I was gonna throw up. Felt a lot better after I had 1.5 cups of oatmeal.
Then, sis asked me out to have late lunch with her.
We went to Hamayan.
We shared a bowl of preserved egg with shredded pork meat congee, and radish cake fried with XO sauce. I also ordered a pina colada, it was fantastic.
Can't wait to go there again.
After lunch, we went window shopping in Aberdeen center.
Afterwards, went to John's place and saw "Motorcycle diaries". It was boring and in spanish.
Sun
Went to church.
Did 40mins run and 5 mins walk, motivated by overeating on sat and sun morning.
Then very stupidly went out with parents and had dim sum.
Went to Ikea with sis and looked around, it was neat but not as many showroom as I remembered.
Things I like there: elongated cone shaped paper lamp (white), dark brown leather sofa, maybe glass coffee table, sheep skin (to put either under the coffee table or on the sofa), cute vase shaped table lamp, dark brown curtain with white semi-transparent thin curtain underneath.
Things I still need to find: long horizontal mirror (to put on the wall to make the room looks larger), pot of big fern, a dinning table that fits the room.
After Ikea, went to John's place and watched TV, "Simpsons" and "Desperate Housewives".
Went to work in the morning, very productive. Found a big bug and fixed it... phew..
Afterwards went skating in bill copeland, super crowded, only managed to practice spin mostly.
Got so hungry after skating while driving to home, had so much gas in my stomach that made me felt like I was gonna throw up. Felt a lot better after I had 1.5 cups of oatmeal.
Then, sis asked me out to have late lunch with her.
We went to Hamayan.
We shared a bowl of preserved egg with shredded pork meat congee, and radish cake fried with XO sauce. I also ordered a pina colada, it was fantastic.
Can't wait to go there again.
After lunch, we went window shopping in Aberdeen center.
Afterwards, went to John's place and saw "Motorcycle diaries". It was boring and in spanish.
Sun
Went to church.
Did 40mins run and 5 mins walk, motivated by overeating on sat and sun morning.
Then very stupidly went out with parents and had dim sum.
Went to Ikea with sis and looked around, it was neat but not as many showroom as I remembered.
Things I like there: elongated cone shaped paper lamp (white), dark brown leather sofa, maybe glass coffee table, sheep skin (to put either under the coffee table or on the sofa), cute vase shaped table lamp, dark brown curtain with white semi-transparent thin curtain underneath.
Things I still need to find: long horizontal mirror (to put on the wall to make the room looks larger), pot of big fern, a dinning table that fits the room.
After Ikea, went to John's place and watched TV, "Simpsons" and "Desperate Housewives".
Monday, March 06, 2006
Busy weekend
Thurs Adult lesson
- learned a new warm up element: forward outside edge, forward outside 3-turn, backward outside 3-turn, back to forward outside edge
- went thru my program a few times before trying jumps by themself, bad idea.
Fri lesson
- went thru program once with music, and another without music
- coach going to a north van competition next week won't see her till next series of lesson
- after class, went to see an apartment on Ferisdale. I don't like the layout, it has too many corners.
Sat competition
- woke up at 5:45am, had matcha milk then went to use the bronze section buy-on session at 7:00am, $8 for 45mins (usually an hr, got cut off because of the competition)
- after morning practice, went back home and had a piece of toast then oatmeal
- went out to Shopper's drugmart and bought new bandages
- went back home, rested in bed a lil, then had a cup of fried rice with fish
- went to pick up John and headed out to the ice rink
- sat around and looked at other ppl program, mostly very nice. I wish that I can do a double something or a single axel some day. Most ppl had lots of makeup on and nice hair dressing.
- My program is after all the senior competitive skaters and just before the special aid ppl. I had to warm up by myself cuz the other ppl in my class bailed at the last min. I skated clean and everyone cheered me on. It was such a nice experience!! At the end, I even get 2 stuffed toys, a bugs bunny and a turtle, one from my friend, another from my friend's daughter.
- "A" wanted me to teach his daughter so that it can be cheaper for him, but I don't think I'm qualified. He should get a private coach for his daughter or enroll her into the junior academy for good quality group lesson.
- Our team won silver. We had cakes afterwards, regular cake with icing and chocolate cake. To my surprise, I'm starting to like chocolate cake more and more now.
Sun apartment hunting
- went to 8 o'clock church, had facial
- went to Man Wah for dim sum with family
- checked out 3 apartments, Aberdeen (will take forever to get out since the entrance to the residence is the same as the mall entrance), Seasons (very nice but planes overhead), and Aqua (very nice but too expensive).... maybe i'll never get to buy a nice apartment.
- had dinner in New West. Nice roast beef, extremely tasty carrots and small potatoes, salad, delicious chickpeas and beans, cute homemade mixed berry sorbet in chocolate cup with strawberries on the side, and then afterwards peanut butter cookies (light on peanut butter) and brownies.
- watched Oscar. I'm glad that the guy in Capote won. Coincidentally the novel that I's reading was talking about terrorist hiding bombs inside the oscar statuetts.
- learned a new warm up element: forward outside edge, forward outside 3-turn, backward outside 3-turn, back to forward outside edge
- went thru my program a few times before trying jumps by themself, bad idea.
Fri lesson
- went thru program once with music, and another without music
- coach going to a north van competition next week won't see her till next series of lesson
- after class, went to see an apartment on Ferisdale. I don't like the layout, it has too many corners.
Sat competition
- woke up at 5:45am, had matcha milk then went to use the bronze section buy-on session at 7:00am, $8 for 45mins (usually an hr, got cut off because of the competition)
- after morning practice, went back home and had a piece of toast then oatmeal
- went out to Shopper's drugmart and bought new bandages
- went back home, rested in bed a lil, then had a cup of fried rice with fish
- went to pick up John and headed out to the ice rink
- sat around and looked at other ppl program, mostly very nice. I wish that I can do a double something or a single axel some day. Most ppl had lots of makeup on and nice hair dressing.
- My program is after all the senior competitive skaters and just before the special aid ppl. I had to warm up by myself cuz the other ppl in my class bailed at the last min. I skated clean and everyone cheered me on. It was such a nice experience!! At the end, I even get 2 stuffed toys, a bugs bunny and a turtle, one from my friend, another from my friend's daughter.
- "A" wanted me to teach his daughter so that it can be cheaper for him, but I don't think I'm qualified. He should get a private coach for his daughter or enroll her into the junior academy for good quality group lesson.
- Our team won silver. We had cakes afterwards, regular cake with icing and chocolate cake. To my surprise, I'm starting to like chocolate cake more and more now.
Sun apartment hunting
- went to 8 o'clock church, had facial
- went to Man Wah for dim sum with family
- checked out 3 apartments, Aberdeen (will take forever to get out since the entrance to the residence is the same as the mall entrance), Seasons (very nice but planes overhead), and Aqua (very nice but too expensive).... maybe i'll never get to buy a nice apartment.
- had dinner in New West. Nice roast beef, extremely tasty carrots and small potatoes, salad, delicious chickpeas and beans, cute homemade mixed berry sorbet in chocolate cup with strawberries on the side, and then afterwards peanut butter cookies (light on peanut butter) and brownies.
- watched Oscar. I'm glad that the guy in Capote won. Coincidentally the novel that I's reading was talking about terrorist hiding bombs inside the oscar statuetts.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Very cold weekend
Did not do much this weekend, stayed in most of the time.
Rented "Sahara" and "Wedding Crasher". "Sahara" sux, they should stick with the treasure hunting theme instead of trying to go "Constant Gardener", and it's so not believable.... a 150-yr old canon could still work without oiling?!
Cooked mango beef on Sat nite, John loved it. Forgot to "cook" rice to go with it tho.
Borrowed 2 books from library, one of the authors wrote "Bridget Jones's Diary".
Had not slept well since getting sick, woke up every hr or so to cough... Nyquil didn't really help.
Rented "Sahara" and "Wedding Crasher". "Sahara" sux, they should stick with the treasure hunting theme instead of trying to go "Constant Gardener", and it's so not believable.... a 150-yr old canon could still work without oiling?!
Cooked mango beef on Sat nite, John loved it. Forgot to "cook" rice to go with it tho.
Borrowed 2 books from library, one of the authors wrote "Bridget Jones's Diary".
Had not slept well since getting sick, woke up every hr or so to cough... Nyquil didn't really help.
Lessons
Thurs adult lesson
- first time on skates after getting sick, insoles of my skates were all curled up and ice felt more slippery than I remembered
- during warm up did forward salom with one leg, still couldn't do it
- Kevin asked Amy from the previous class to stay behind to help us prepare for our "competition". Amy told me to do a camel spin followed by a sit-spin, to my surprise I somehow did it but couldn't repeat afterwards.
Fri private lesson
- still working on flip jump, coach said my right shoulder was too far back after the 3-turn. i'm now second guessing everything...
- coach also said when the left foot takes off, it should "flip" (heel in toe out slightly pointing left) and ready to be in a backspin position. I did feel the "flip" when I's doing everything my way and overusing my shoulders. I guess it's because when I's more confident and my weight's directly over my skating foot.
- started to learn how to do change foot sit spin
- first time on skates after getting sick, insoles of my skates were all curled up and ice felt more slippery than I remembered
- during warm up did forward salom with one leg, still couldn't do it
- Kevin asked Amy from the previous class to stay behind to help us prepare for our "competition". Amy told me to do a camel spin followed by a sit-spin, to my surprise I somehow did it but couldn't repeat afterwards.
Fri private lesson
- still working on flip jump, coach said my right shoulder was too far back after the 3-turn. i'm now second guessing everything...
- coach also said when the left foot takes off, it should "flip" (heel in toe out slightly pointing left) and ready to be in a backspin position. I did feel the "flip" when I's doing everything my way and overusing my shoulders. I guess it's because when I's more confident and my weight's directly over my skating foot.
- started to learn how to do change foot sit spin
Friday, February 24, 2006
Sick again
Been very sick lately. It's the 3rd time i've been sick since Nov last year....
Started having sore throat on Sun nite.
Slight fever for about 2 hrs on Tue nite.
Took a day off on Thurs and stayed home all day and watched the olympic figure skating.
Our within club adult competition is on Mar 4.... i don't even know what to wear.
Started having sore throat on Sun nite.
Slight fever for about 2 hrs on Tue nite.
Took a day off on Thurs and stayed home all day and watched the olympic figure skating.
Our within club adult competition is on Mar 4.... i don't even know what to wear.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Pig
Great weather througout the whole weekend except a bit on the chilly side.
I am such a pig.... ate so much lately.... almost non-stop as soon as I got home.
Part of it is because of stress from work.... rumours that we're folding in a couple of months.
Lesson
Great lesson on friday, figured out how to check the 3-turn better prior to my single flip jump:-
- shoulders stay level at all times!!!!
- arms extended with right shoulder in front and left shoulder back to create the rotation
- before the rotation bring in right leg close and in front of the free leg <--- I wonder why Kevin never told me this.
After lesson went home and made supper for dad and John.
We had orange stir-fry beef with veggie. It turned out pretty good, not too salty as most ppl on the recipe website complained about because I doubled the sauce with orange juice to give it a citric taste and used less soy sauce (partly because I couldn't find more at home) than what was written on the recipe.
Sat
Ran 40mins. Went to see John. Had 1/3 of John's big mac and some french fries.
Rented "Something Blue" by Emily Griffin and "Under the Tuscan Sun".
The novel was a sequel to "Something Borrowed", not that it's great but I'm curious to what's going to happen to Darcy, a pretty girl that always get things her way but now pregnant with her fiance's friend's baby, and her wedding is called off by her fiance because he fell in love with her best friend, Rachel.
"Under the Tuscan Sun" was relaxing and fun. It makes me want to travel more.
Sun
Had boring long facial, subcumbbed into buying facial products, vitamin C treatment.
I did struggle for 20mins.
Went out to get take out with Dad, the usual shanghai food again, Chicken noodles and pork dumplings.
Afterwards, snacked and napped a few hours, snacked and read a few hours, then ran 35mins.
Later went to see John and watched "Simpsons", and "Desparate Housewives" together.
I am such a pig.... ate so much lately.... almost non-stop as soon as I got home.
Part of it is because of stress from work.... rumours that we're folding in a couple of months.
Lesson
Great lesson on friday, figured out how to check the 3-turn better prior to my single flip jump:-
- shoulders stay level at all times!!!!
- arms extended with right shoulder in front and left shoulder back to create the rotation
- before the rotation bring in right leg close and in front of the free leg <--- I wonder why Kevin never told me this.
After lesson went home and made supper for dad and John.
We had orange stir-fry beef with veggie. It turned out pretty good, not too salty as most ppl on the recipe website complained about because I doubled the sauce with orange juice to give it a citric taste and used less soy sauce (partly because I couldn't find more at home) than what was written on the recipe.
Sat
Ran 40mins. Went to see John. Had 1/3 of John's big mac and some french fries.
Rented "Something Blue" by Emily Griffin and "Under the Tuscan Sun".
The novel was a sequel to "Something Borrowed", not that it's great but I'm curious to what's going to happen to Darcy, a pretty girl that always get things her way but now pregnant with her fiance's friend's baby, and her wedding is called off by her fiance because he fell in love with her best friend, Rachel.
"Under the Tuscan Sun" was relaxing and fun. It makes me want to travel more.
Sun
Had boring long facial, subcumbbed into buying facial products, vitamin C treatment.
I did struggle for 20mins.
Went out to get take out with Dad, the usual shanghai food again, Chicken noodles and pork dumplings.
Afterwards, snacked and napped a few hours, snacked and read a few hours, then ran 35mins.
Later went to see John and watched "Simpsons", and "Desparate Housewives" together.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Valentine's Day
After work, went to John's place for dinner.
We had grilled BBQ steak and steamed frozen veggie.
The steak was much better than last time.
Afterwards I smell like BBQ sauce from head to toe.
We watched men short program and House while snacking on cheerios.
For present, I got a cute cup, yummy chocolates (we finished most of them during dinner) and heart shaped balloon.
We had grilled BBQ steak and steamed frozen veggie.
The steak was much better than last time.
Afterwards I smell like BBQ sauce from head to toe.
We watched men short program and House while snacking on cheerios.
For present, I got a cute cup, yummy chocolates (we finished most of them during dinner) and heart shaped balloon.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Another short busy weekend
Fri Lesson
Coach brought her video cam and filmed me. Learned that I'm doing all my jumps wrong. For both my single flip and lutz jump, I used my upper body too much. I think it stems from the fact that I'm not on a straight enuf edge. Basically... my basic skating sux ><. To compensate the curve edge that I had for the take off, I swing my upper body. Also, I should jump when my feet are closer, and that I'm crouching too much forward. I tried to fix it but I couldn't see what I'm doing and that's extremely frustrating. I need my coach in every one of my practice.... but that's impossible.
For the waltz, it's getting easier and easier to swing before take off and I had no idea how to fix it.
I'm also afraid that the more I practice, the more I'll be conditioning myself to do the wrong thing. On the other hand, if I don't keep practicing I'll forget the things that I can do right. So far, single loop is still my best jump, I just need to remember to straighten my jumping leg when I'm in the air.
After lesson, went out for supper with fiends and then my friend's apartment and tramatized her boss's cat. It's so much fun holding it altough my jacket became a fur coat at the end.
Sat
Did water change on big tank and thoroughly cleaned the hood and the filter's tube.
Went gift shopping and then pet habitat just to look at their display tank.
Met up with John in Richmond Center, went to Ironwood's Canadian tire. Didn't find the aquatic soil or the hotbed for seedlings (i think it'd be too small for my tank anyway). Went to the library, got "Something borrowed" by Emily Griffin, quite an interesting read.... altho in the end it's dragging a bit.
Headout to downtown around 5 and browsed in Chapters, didn't find the "Nature Aquarium World" by Takashi Amano. I think I'll just get it in Big Al's on some Wed (to get double points) or better yet just research more planted tank online. If I remember correctly it's about $60 at Big Al's.
We went out to Griffin's for our valentine's dinner. We got there half an hour early (7:30pm), but they still seat us anyway. I ordered the appetizer bar, John ordered the Mango curry. His is better than mine again. Before supper, I got hungry and ate too much cereal so I didn't quite have as much space in my stomach as I'd like.
I somehow still managed to get 2 small plates and a chowder for my order:-
- mussels
- cold pasta
- 1 shrimp,
- 1 crab leg,
- green salad w/ rasberry sauce,
- greek salad,
- 4 pieces of raw salmon
I like that I get to try lil pieces of everything, but the downside of it is that it's all cold.
For dessert buffet that came with our order:
- cheesecake cupcake w/ blueberries and rasberry on top
- cream caramel (at that time, both of us couldn't recall its name)
- strawberry mousse cake
- a piece of pineapple and half a strawberry
- several spoonfuls of vanilla pudding (the best!!!!)
- half a piece of almond pastry
- half a slice of yellow custard apricot sponge cake,
- cream custard filled puff
The dessert is a lot better than we had last year.
We were both very stuffed in the end.... I actually felt pain in my stomach... but mostly it's from the vanilla mini-wheat I had before.
Sun
Woke up late, went to church late.
Ran running on dyke with John, then to Iowa beach and McDonald beach. Almost lost my cell, later found it in Iowa beach. McDonald beach is pretty nice, and I don't think it is only for ppl with dogs.
Went home, had supper, then skating with Ruby and her bf. Didn't have a good skate, donno if I'm doing things wrong again.
Watched last half of "Charmed", then "Desparate housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy". A rather surprising ending for Grey's. I thought the bomb would never go off....
Coach brought her video cam and filmed me. Learned that I'm doing all my jumps wrong. For both my single flip and lutz jump, I used my upper body too much. I think it stems from the fact that I'm not on a straight enuf edge. Basically... my basic skating sux ><. To compensate the curve edge that I had for the take off, I swing my upper body. Also, I should jump when my feet are closer, and that I'm crouching too much forward. I tried to fix it but I couldn't see what I'm doing and that's extremely frustrating. I need my coach in every one of my practice.... but that's impossible.
For the waltz, it's getting easier and easier to swing before take off and I had no idea how to fix it.
I'm also afraid that the more I practice, the more I'll be conditioning myself to do the wrong thing. On the other hand, if I don't keep practicing I'll forget the things that I can do right. So far, single loop is still my best jump, I just need to remember to straighten my jumping leg when I'm in the air.
After lesson, went out for supper with fiends and then my friend's apartment and tramatized her boss's cat. It's so much fun holding it altough my jacket became a fur coat at the end.
Sat
Did water change on big tank and thoroughly cleaned the hood and the filter's tube.
Went gift shopping and then pet habitat just to look at their display tank.
Met up with John in Richmond Center, went to Ironwood's Canadian tire. Didn't find the aquatic soil or the hotbed for seedlings (i think it'd be too small for my tank anyway). Went to the library, got "Something borrowed" by Emily Griffin, quite an interesting read.... altho in the end it's dragging a bit.
Headout to downtown around 5 and browsed in Chapters, didn't find the "Nature Aquarium World" by Takashi Amano. I think I'll just get it in Big Al's on some Wed (to get double points) or better yet just research more planted tank online. If I remember correctly it's about $60 at Big Al's.
We went out to Griffin's for our valentine's dinner. We got there half an hour early (7:30pm), but they still seat us anyway. I ordered the appetizer bar, John ordered the Mango curry. His is better than mine again. Before supper, I got hungry and ate too much cereal so I didn't quite have as much space in my stomach as I'd like.
I somehow still managed to get 2 small plates and a chowder for my order:-
- mussels
- cold pasta
- 1 shrimp,
- 1 crab leg,
- green salad w/ rasberry sauce,
- greek salad,
- 4 pieces of raw salmon
I like that I get to try lil pieces of everything, but the downside of it is that it's all cold.
For dessert buffet that came with our order:
- cheesecake cupcake w/ blueberries and rasberry on top
- cream caramel (at that time, both of us couldn't recall its name)
- strawberry mousse cake
- a piece of pineapple and half a strawberry
- several spoonfuls of vanilla pudding (the best!!!!)
- half a piece of almond pastry
- half a slice of yellow custard apricot sponge cake,
- cream custard filled puff
The dessert is a lot better than we had last year.
We were both very stuffed in the end.... I actually felt pain in my stomach... but mostly it's from the vanilla mini-wheat I had before.
Sun
Woke up late, went to church late.
Ran running on dyke with John, then to Iowa beach and McDonald beach. Almost lost my cell, later found it in Iowa beach. McDonald beach is pretty nice, and I don't think it is only for ppl with dogs.
Went home, had supper, then skating with Ruby and her bf. Didn't have a good skate, donno if I'm doing things wrong again.
Watched last half of "Charmed", then "Desparate housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy". A rather surprising ending for Grey's. I thought the bomb would never go off....
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Windy weekend
Sat
Did water change on small tank.
Ran 30 mins only, thighs aching.
Went to see John. Later we went to Canadian tire, since I've read on the web that they have cheaper aquatic soil there. They closed the garden section since it's too windy.
It was so windy, we decided to just head home.
Had meet the parents dinner at Fisherman Terrace.
Good food, but not quite enuf for some ppl. Thought we had another dish coming in the end... some of us saved some space for nothing.
The waiter also said one of the dishes had sea cucumber but we didn't see any.
Afterwards went to John's place and watched Canucks.
Sun
Went to church early, then had facial.
Watched "Stealth", sis rented it.
It was very exciting and very good graphics.
Went chocolate shopping with sis on Broadway.
Went to Chapters there, sis bought me a decaf cinnamon dolce latte.
Looked at some fish books, they don't have many.
Went back to Richmond. Dropped by Big-al's, they have the Amano aquascaping book, but it's too expensive (and also covered with dust). They also have heating cable for plant substrate, too expensive also... 178.99!!
Sis likes the discus, but it's 189.99. However, the junvenile version is 39.99.
I think maybe I can have 3 small ones in my new tank.
Speaking of my new tank, still donno where to put it. I wanted to put it upstairs since it's much quieter but I'm not too sure if the floor can handle a big tank.
We then visited Chapters again, bought a tropical aquarium setup guide.
Then just stayed home for supper and watched Grey's Anatomy, the most exiciting episode ever.
Did water change on small tank.
Ran 30 mins only, thighs aching.
Went to see John. Later we went to Canadian tire, since I've read on the web that they have cheaper aquatic soil there. They closed the garden section since it's too windy.
It was so windy, we decided to just head home.
Had meet the parents dinner at Fisherman Terrace.
Good food, but not quite enuf for some ppl. Thought we had another dish coming in the end... some of us saved some space for nothing.
The waiter also said one of the dishes had sea cucumber but we didn't see any.
Afterwards went to John's place and watched Canucks.
Sun
Went to church early, then had facial.
Watched "Stealth", sis rented it.
It was very exciting and very good graphics.
Went chocolate shopping with sis on Broadway.
Went to Chapters there, sis bought me a decaf cinnamon dolce latte.
Looked at some fish books, they don't have many.
Went back to Richmond. Dropped by Big-al's, they have the Amano aquascaping book, but it's too expensive (and also covered with dust). They also have heating cable for plant substrate, too expensive also... 178.99!!
Sis likes the discus, but it's 189.99. However, the junvenile version is 39.99.
I think maybe I can have 3 small ones in my new tank.
Speaking of my new tank, still donno where to put it. I wanted to put it upstairs since it's much quieter but I'm not too sure if the floor can handle a big tank.
We then visited Chapters again, bought a tropical aquarium setup guide.
Then just stayed home for supper and watched Grey's Anatomy, the most exiciting episode ever.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Camel spin
After one session of mainly "camel spin" practice, it has improved a lil bit.
Things I learned by myself:
Things I learned by myself:
- A twist needs to be created between body and skating leg, but body needs to be kept level, no head dipping.
- The twist also has to be sorta on top of the skating leg. That is, skating leg needs to be under the pivot point between the upper body and the free leg that's extended behind the body. If it's too far away from the skating leg, u go headdown.
- When unwinding, transfer weight behind toepick. And, of course, knee bent going into it. Weight is transferred behind toepick when straightening out the skating leg.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Figure 8 puffer
Facts about puffer found on the web:-
- Although you may hear these fish do fine in FW, they will grow larger, have brighter coloration, suffer less disease and live longer in higher salinities.
- Puffers must be introduced into a fully cycled tank. Please do not cycle your tank with puffers in it, or any other fish for that matter.
Salinity
- Aragonite or crushed coral substrates are used to help maintain a stable alkaline pH of around 8.
- GSPs at low-end BW when juvenile <2", (in a specific gravity, or SG of 1.005-08), at 2-4", medium BW (SG 1.010-15) and adult >4" SW (SG 1.018-22)
- Must use marine salt. Need a hydrometer to measure the salinity. It takes a cup of salt/5 gal of water to raise the SG .005.
Acclimation
- If the puffer you purchase is in FW at the store, then you should start out your tank in FW and raise the SG .002/week, until you reach the desired SG. This is so you don’t destroy the good nitrifying bacteria as you add salt. SW bacteria are different than FW, so you need time for the SW bacteria to develop as the FW bacteria dies off slowly.
- Cycle your tank at whatever SG the puffers are living in at the store. If you already have an established BW tank and are buying a puffer kept in FW at the store, you need to acclimate it very slowly.
- To change a fish over from FW-BW, BW-SW, or visa-versa, use a drip system. Put the fish in a bucket below the tank and cover w/ water from the tank the puffers will be living in, about 1" over its head. Tie a knot in an air hose until it drips enough water into the bucket to raise or lower the SG in the bucket .001/hour.
Filtration
- Puffers are messy eaters and high waste producers. Extra filtration is necessary for these dirty fish. Immaculate aquarium upkeep is a must.
- Puffers are scale less fish and are without gill covers. Therefore, these fish are very sensitive to most meds and this is why keeping perfect water conditions are so important for them. The best way to keep them healthy is not to let them get sick. Water changes, water changes, water changes!
Tank mate
- Because of their aggressiveness towards tank mates and the high amount of salt they prefer, there are not many fish that can live with them as companions in general.
- Younger puffers may seem more docile, but all will nip the fins of slower-moving or long-finned fish.
Diet
- One of the most difficult aspects of keeping these special fish is their diet. All puffers are predatory fish and need hard-shelled, meaty foods to keep their teeth trimmed. Like rabbits, their teeth grow constantly and can overgrow enough to cause starvation in the fish. Puffers eat crustaceans in the wild. Foods for smaller puffers are frozen/freeze-dried krill/plankton, gut-loaded ghost shrimp, glass worms, crickets, worms and small snails (the size of their eye). Snails are an essential food to a puffer’s diet, especially when small. Many serious puffer keepers breed their own snails. As your puffer gets larger, there are many more crunchy foods for them to eat. Larger GSPs will eat cut-up pieces of scallops, shrimp, crab legs, whole mussels, clams, oysters, squid, lobster and crayfish. Mine love to chase live crayfish, fiddler crabs and gut-loaded ghost shrimp. I gut-load (pre-feed) my live food with algae wafers, so my puffers get their veggies. I buy most of these foods at the fish department of my grocery store, freeze and later thaw in warm vitamin water as needed. Smaller puffers (under 2") need to eat every day, skipping one feeding/week. Feed them until their bellies are slightly rounded. Medium sized puffers (2-4") should be fed every other day. Larger puffers (4-6) should be fed every 3-4 days. You may find this schedule difficult, as puffers are very adept at begging for food! Feeding puffers every time they beg will cause fat, lazy fish and eventually you will be killing them with kindness.
Decor
- GSPs need a heavily decorated tank with plenty of swimming room, lots of hiding places and various broken lines of sight. If your puffer is constantly swimming up and down the glass, he is bored and needs more décor to swim around and investigate. Some folks occasionally move décor around for added interest to this clever little fish’s life. Always have a secure lid on your puffer tank and check often that it is closed. They are known jumpers!
Puffing
- Do not try to make your puffer puff! Puffing is a defense mechanism brought on by fear and stress. It is not good for your puffer to inflate itself. Never take your puffer out of the water! It can puff with air and may never recover. I have had some success in "burping" a puffer, by holding it vertically, head up, under water and gently shaking it by it’s tail until the air is released. A puffer with air inside cannot right itself and will die. If you ever need to catch your puffer (even when getting it from your LFS), scoop it up with a container.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Skating
Saw two really good adult skaters at lunch today.
Their forward and backward crossovers were superb.
I still donno how to fix mine.
One of them did a camel spin from backward crossover.
My camel spin is still spinning on the toepick and can go head down onto the ice any second. That's what happen if I do it from a 3-turn entry. It might not even happen if I did it from backward crossover.
After many practice with spiral before loop and salchow before loop, I'm starting to loose my single loop that's done by itself. It used to be my best jump :'(.
For "double salchow", I still donno how to close in when I'm in the air.
My ankle hurts a lot after many bad single salchow.
Their forward and backward crossovers were superb.
I still donno how to fix mine.
One of them did a camel spin from backward crossover.
My camel spin is still spinning on the toepick and can go head down onto the ice any second. That's what happen if I do it from a 3-turn entry. It might not even happen if I did it from backward crossover.
After many practice with spiral before loop and salchow before loop, I'm starting to loose my single loop that's done by itself. It used to be my best jump :'(.
For "double salchow", I still donno how to close in when I'm in the air.
My ankle hurts a lot after many bad single salchow.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Happy Chinese New year
Did not go to any nite market this year.
There is none in Richmond this year, and too lazy to go to the one in PNE.
Had a lot of fun still.
On Sat, went shopping with John, real shopping!!!
First we went to costco, busy as usual. Got flax bread sample, didn't buy anything.
Then we went to Lansdown and walked to Aberdeen center.
Got snacks in Daiso and had 1/4 of a sesame milk tea.
Went back to Lansdown, checked out future shop and best buy.
Went home and watched TV for a bit, then had supper with uncle and family at Gingeri.
On Sun, went to church then to Surrey to see John's friend. Nice smart guy with lots of connections.
Then just stayed home and watched TV and snacked all day long till supper.
Mom cooked delicious special chinese new year vegetarian dish.
Later uncle came to visit, said my big fishes are nice.
My light in small tank went out again this morning, donno if it'll come back on later.
There is none in Richmond this year, and too lazy to go to the one in PNE.
Had a lot of fun still.
On Sat, went shopping with John, real shopping!!!
First we went to costco, busy as usual. Got flax bread sample, didn't buy anything.
Then we went to Lansdown and walked to Aberdeen center.
Got snacks in Daiso and had 1/4 of a sesame milk tea.
Went back to Lansdown, checked out future shop and best buy.
Went home and watched TV for a bit, then had supper with uncle and family at Gingeri.
On Sun, went to church then to Surrey to see John's friend. Nice smart guy with lots of connections.
Then just stayed home and watched TV and snacked all day long till supper.
Mom cooked delicious special chinese new year vegetarian dish.
Later uncle came to visit, said my big fishes are nice.
My light in small tank went out again this morning, donno if it'll come back on later.
Monday, January 23, 2006
rainy
So depressing, been raining almost every day now.
Weekend came and gone, almost didn't notice it.
Saw "Crash" and "Brother's Grimm".
Did water change on both of my tanks.
Had my facial on Sun morning. Facial is SO boring..... I just kept thinking of my skating program during it.
Tried Typhoon wash at that new car wash place on Steveston, costs $12. Car looks much different afterwards.
Went with John to drop off his old computer.
Went to Aberdeen center, not much to see. Only have 2 stores, chinese white powdery peanut candy store and flower store.
Been eating too much lately, and slacking on running in the morning. I think I gained like 2 pounds in a week.
Work has been so busy lately... I constantly planned to go in during weekend, keyword on "planned".
Finished my "Undomestic Goddess" this morning, that book is the best of all books that Sophie had written!
Found some more baby snails this morning.
Weekend came and gone, almost didn't notice it.
Saw "Crash" and "Brother's Grimm".
Did water change on both of my tanks.
Had my facial on Sun morning. Facial is SO boring..... I just kept thinking of my skating program during it.
Tried Typhoon wash at that new car wash place on Steveston, costs $12. Car looks much different afterwards.
Went with John to drop off his old computer.
Went to Aberdeen center, not much to see. Only have 2 stores, chinese white powdery peanut candy store and flower store.
Been eating too much lately, and slacking on running in the morning. I think I gained like 2 pounds in a week.
Work has been so busy lately... I constantly planned to go in during weekend, keyword on "planned".
Finished my "Undomestic Goddess" this morning, that book is the best of all books that Sophie had written!
Found some more baby snails this morning.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Another short weekend
Sat
Went to the bank, did RRSP.
Taped Canadian championship, Ladies free program. I missed the short program :'(.
Mira got 2nd, she's going to the Olympics!!! I guess all her hardwork finally paid off. She redid her long program within 2 months and it's like 110% better than the original.
Watched US Nationals. Sasha won, as expected.
Sun
Went to church.
Updated cover letter and resume, could have done better but donno how to fix it.
Too much testing at work, can kinda forsee that I'll get less and less coding work.
Transferred important stuffs from old pc to new pc for John.
Went to the library, borrowed another Shopoholic book, Undomestic Goddess.
Fished first book of Narnia, starting 3rd book.
Went for a walk in Minoru park, it's freezing. Saw lots of ducks, and a drunk person trying to kick them.
Went to big Al's. One of the aggressive fishes (Melano sth..) look so cute. The 75 gallon tank in the shop is looking smaller and smaller now..... kinda regretted that I didn't get the 110 gallon... but then I think the 75 gallon one is more economical.
Having cracked lips all the time lately....
Coworker suggested that I take a look at lip treatment then has a Vitamin C added protection.
Vitamin C Lip Balm Pot
Enriched with vitamin C antioxidant protection, emollients and hydrating ingredients, Motives Vitamin C Lip Treatment resists chapping to keep lips soft and supple. Apply in the morning, throughout the day or before bedtime. Wear alone or layer with your favorite lipstick.
Turns out that he runs an online store, I can just buy it from him.
There is also another one that might benefit me
Exfoliating Lip Treatment
Motives Exfoliating Lip Treatment reduces the appearance of fine lines on and around the lips, dissolving the dead skin that causes chapped lips.
I think I'll just try the lip balm for now.
Went to the bank, did RRSP.
Taped Canadian championship, Ladies free program. I missed the short program :'(.
Mira got 2nd, she's going to the Olympics!!! I guess all her hardwork finally paid off. She redid her long program within 2 months and it's like 110% better than the original.
Watched US Nationals. Sasha won, as expected.
Sun
Went to church.
Updated cover letter and resume, could have done better but donno how to fix it.
Too much testing at work, can kinda forsee that I'll get less and less coding work.
Transferred important stuffs from old pc to new pc for John.
Went to the library, borrowed another Shopoholic book, Undomestic Goddess.
Fished first book of Narnia, starting 3rd book.
Went for a walk in Minoru park, it's freezing. Saw lots of ducks, and a drunk person trying to kick them.
Went to big Al's. One of the aggressive fishes (Melano sth..) look so cute. The 75 gallon tank in the shop is looking smaller and smaller now..... kinda regretted that I didn't get the 110 gallon... but then I think the 75 gallon one is more economical.
Having cracked lips all the time lately....
Coworker suggested that I take a look at lip treatment then has a Vitamin C added protection.
Vitamin C Lip Balm Pot
Enriched with vitamin C antioxidant protection, emollients and hydrating ingredients, Motives Vitamin C Lip Treatment resists chapping to keep lips soft and supple. Apply in the morning, throughout the day or before bedtime. Wear alone or layer with your favorite lipstick.
Turns out that he runs an online store, I can just buy it from him.
There is also another one that might benefit me
Exfoliating Lip Treatment
Motives Exfoliating Lip Treatment reduces the appearance of fine lines on and around the lips, dissolving the dead skin that causes chapped lips.
I think I'll just try the lip balm for now.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
I want a vacation
My friend has many pretty pics from travelling on his blog... makes me wanna go take a vacation.
Snail infestation
Picked out 8 other snails this morning.
I already got several out before.
I must have a whole colony living in my tank.
Maybe I need to get something that eat snails....but then some snails are very very small ... may not be detectable by a snail eater...
I already got several out before.
I must have a whole colony living in my tank.
Maybe I need to get something that eat snails....but then some snails are very very small ... may not be detectable by a snail eater...
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