一分錢一分貨

My undershirts and slowly wearing thin and ripping... my lovely Giordano which I bought in 2008.  My sturdy Costco CK which I bought... who knows when.

I went back to Costco and saw the price.  Quickly checked on Amazon and saw it was cheaper.  Then on my drive home I stopped by one of those discount stores and found a pack of 6 for $10.  BINGO!!!

A month later... they're starting to tear.  It was 100% polyester so all the dust, lint, hair from the wash is sticking to it.  Gonna wear it one more time and toss them. 

What a waste of money. 

Case of the Missing Money

TKA had their annual Christmas Faire and SW and his friends got together to sell Curry Fishballs and Lemonade.  He got home after practice and I asked him how was business.  He said, "Good, after paying back the parents, we each get $20."  Nice!!  Until.... I got a barrage of non-accusatory, factual texts from the parent group.

Bottom line, up front.  There's a lot of money missing.

When the closed down shop... one of the boys counted the cash and it was around $325.  A parent was there to be a second set of eyes.  They took money out of the pile and paid back the other parents that invested.  So it was now down to $210.  

One of the boys had to go to PE, so he gave the money box to SW who brought it to history class.  And then subsequently left it in his locker for another class.  During lunch, they recounted the money and about $100 went missing!! 

The point of the chat was.... how should we solve this mystery? And how can we make this a learning opportunity for the boys?

I saw the texts... and tried not to get defensive, since the other parents weren't exactly pointing fingers.  But you can't help but feel the cyber fingers pointed at SW.  During dinner... I casually asked about the event, the other booths, the quality of food, the money, the handoffs, and any chance of "extra-curricular" activities.  SW was very nonchalant... he wasn't hiding anything.  As a matter of fact... I had to "chok" him to have him tell me money went missing.  But the boys attributed it to miscounting. 

I hop back on the parent chat and started sharing some ideas like... recreating timeline.  Asking the History teacher for help, maybe looking at video footage of SW's locker.  It wasn't till Joyce came down after talking to SW that she made some logical deduction.

By the number of fishballs we made... and for the price it was sold that.. there's no way you can have $325 in money box.  Even if we take out the initial investment for change (singles, fives, and tens), it would've been $275.  Plus the boys gave out samples.  So as conservative as you can get... you might have sold $160 worth.  None of the parents (including me) questioned the initial counting of the money. Because it was done by a student... with a parent. 

The math simply doesn't add up.  We go back and forth... back and forth... and in the end... no one wanted to go beyond the fact that there are too many gaps in the story.  But I think everyone got to the mutual understanding.... no one stole it from the box... it wasn't taken by one of the boys.  Henceforth... it must be a counting error.  

And if you follow the story... that's exactly what the boys already deduced during lunch when they first discovered it.  Here we are... a bunch of adult parents worrying our kids don't know how to handle money.  Maybe we should learn to trust our kids more. 

Ratings plummeting!!

I say I don't care what others think of me... but when it comes to anonymous posts... turns out I do care!!

For my personal account, I have a perfect 5.0 rating on Uber.  But for my work account... I started the past two trips with a woeful 4.64 - which I consider low already.  And to my dismay... after arriving in Denver, I see that it dropped to 4.33!!!  Unacceptable.

And I know who those drivers are too.

The one guy who arrived at San Jose... but charged me a late arrival fee because HE chose to tail the end of a long line of other drivers when I stood in the crowd of bystanders waiting for our ride.

The one guy who took forever to pick me up at SFO (albeit the night before Thanksgiving).  The wait time started at 9 minutes... which ballooned to 13... and then 16.  But in actuality, 16 minutes became 25 minutes!! I even texted him... "Are you still coming? Or should I get another Uber?" He didn't respond.  Text me if you're stuck in traffic... I'll understand.

The one guy who supposedly is hard of hearing... at least according to the sign in the driver side headrest.  But regardless of him hearing or not, my order was from my house to Terminal A - United.  Of course, he took me to Terminal B... and we ended up going all the way around the airport.

All three times... I didn't lower their rating.  I chose to take the high road and just let it be.  But the Golden Rule doesn't seem to apply when it comes to anonymity.  

And because of the 4.33 rating... I was afraid to say anything to the last driver who picked me up in a sauna.  I was too afraid to say anything and mess up the chi in the car.  I took my jacket off.  Was sweating.  And the windows started to fog up... to which... she finally opened a bit of a crack of HER window!! Turn the heat down, please!!!  

Geez louise... puh-leez!!! 

Return of the Unclean Spirit

“Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there," ~Matt 12:45

It started a couple of weeks ago... with a chewed through sportsbag and the subsequent treasure, the Liquid IV Powder.  Then I started seeing droppings.  Then I noticed a box for my airpods was chewed into.   More and more droppings and then one night... I come home and see that unwelcoming bouncing sock pounce on the kitchen floor and underneath my dishwasher.  Sh*t!!! It's made it's way into the living areas now!!!  Right away, I examined the bag of rice and it's obviously been chewed into.  That's it... had to make a run to Home Depot. 

Two days later... the traps were still empty!! My Honey Nut Cheerios was not enough to bait it.  But I still see dropping in the kitchen and living room.  It was time to call pest control.

The came out within a day this time, verses a week, like last time.  And based on the droppings alone, the control guy says we have both RATS and MICE.  Rats... tend to stay in the garage and they don't come into the living areas.  Mice... someone must've carried it in.  

OMG..... carried it in?!?!?!? 

He walked around again and sealed off any potential holes and crevices.  Then he set out more traps and bait.  He saw what I bought and laughed, saying those don't work. 

Since he's been here... there are no signs of droppings.  Thankfully.  Let's see how effective this bout will be. 

Denver Trip

Back to back weeks of being on the road... this time, to good ol' headquarters.

Fresno.  NOLA.  Thanksgiving (SF/Belmont).  And now this.  I kinda felt a tingly feeling in my throat on Saturday... hoping it was perhaps dehydration from drinking with Anderson.  I pounded some Airborn, mango smoothie, and citrus tea.  Throughout the trip... I pounded OJ and Ricola.  Finally... on the trip home.. my body gave up.  

It was a miserable flight home.  A miserable car ride home.  And when I got home... the kids banished me to my room.  Too real.  They didn't want to get sick!

The trip was excellent.  Excellent food.  Excellent company.  Perfect winter weather. Got to hang out with some old and new friends.  Got a lot done in terms of face to face relationships.  Even had time to venture out to a Chinese restaurant for a $38/pound - 2 pound crab!!  Don't think I'll do that again.  Had some bison, elk, and quail.  And even attended a Nuggets/Warriors game.   All in all... a well scheduled and efficient trip.

But I miss the kids. Miss the family. I miss sleeping in my own bed. 

First night home... I popped a couple of Nyquils and dozed off until 8AM the next day.  First time sleeping through the night the entire week.  Sleep - underrated. 

Over whiskey and scotch...

Had the rare opportunity to hang out with Anderson.  I don't know the last time we did it... but it's too long to remember.  We got together... shared things we were thankful for... commiserated a little on life... and gave Anderson the chance to pour his heart out over the passing of his father.

昌伯伯 was well into his late seventies if not early eighties.  In recent years, he had a stroke and hasn't been his normal self.  The final year of his life... he was bed ridden and completely depended on loved ones to care for him.  His quality of life... was not that high quality.  Thankfully.. he was surrounded by his son... his daughter-in-law... 3 beautiful grandchildren, including little Nathaniel.  And of course, the love of his life for 50 years. 

"I miss him.  I didn't get a chance to say good bye."  Forget regrets... but sometimes, life passes by so fast that all you get to do is regret.  

I didn't know the man well... but he seemed to have lived life to the fullest.  He provided for his family.  Was a loving son. An honorable father.  And to wrap up this post... the love of HER life for 50 years.

Rest in peace 昌伯伯.  Till we meet again... 

False advertisement?

Do people really believe what they print or post? Or is it just me. 

Legend of the 5 Kernels - 2024

Year's past... I would actually spend time to think, research, and craft on 5 things.  Gonna keep it simple and more natural this year... minimal thinking.

In 2024... I'm thankful for...

1) Vine Youth and SW answering the Altar Call during Mission Conference

2) Finding a new home

3) Finding wonderful tenants

4) Surviving three car accidents

5) Nancy, Sandy, Tony, and Sylvia 

A moment of selfishness

Flying home to SFO from MSY and it was a packed flight.  A petite Asian teenager finally walked up and politely asked to step in.  As I stood up... she asked if I can swap with her mom (coming up behind her) who was sitting one seat behind me.  Who am I to separate a mom and her child? 

I did a courtesy turn of the head and saw who I was going to be sitting next to.  SCREEEEEEEEECH!!!! Hit the brakes!!! Hold up!!! Waaaaaaait a minute. 

I paused long enough for the mom to come up now and ask the same question... if I can swap with her.  I turned again to look at my potential neighbor.  Turned back to face the mom.  Turned back to check out the dude.  Turned back to face the mom.  

Then I hesitantly, in a loud whisper told the mom.  "That guy is very wide.  This is a 5 hour flight.  I can't sit next to him."  

I already have limited leg room.  That guy was big, wide, and muscular.  I've sat next to big people in the past and to no fault of their own, they intrude into your personal space.  And there's literally NOTHING you can do about it.  Either you rub up against them.. or you try and bend your body away.  But for 5 hours.....??? I can't.  I can't!!!!!

I felt so bad... in that moment of selfishness.  But I'm not wrong... am I??? 

Cotton Candy

 My my…. What a meal. And for dessert…? Das riiiight… cotton candy on a mannequin’s head. 

Power Drain

At SFO… readying for a trip to NOLA and I’m charging up my devices for the 4 hour trip. Remember the days when 5-600 people would fight for two wall outlets? And one of them were so loose you can’t kee your plug in?

Nowadays… there are so many charging outlets… you gotta wonder how much power is being used at any given airport.