My Life at August 2009
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August 31, 2009(Monday)
Today is a special day! (1) This is the first day that Cailyn goes to school (i.e. day care). Carmen went with Cailyn to the day care center (while I stayed at home for job search); when Carmen was with Cailyn, she was fine. However when Carmen went out of the room, Cailyn cries! Same thing as what happened to me during my first day of school. But I am sure that eventually Cailyn will get used to this environment. (2) After preparing myself a year before the PhD program and also the last four years of studying, I submitted my first job application today! I will submit more application in the next few weeks but today definitely is a historic day in terms of my school work. (3) Today is the first day of the semester and also is the first day that I teach the K410 class. I have taught the same thing last semester so I have all the material ready. I made the first class really short (1.25 hours class, I only used the first 15 mins and let them go early).
August 30, 2009(Sunday)
I was working on my personal statement today. It is for finding job; it is divided into the research interest (Takes up most of the spaces) and teaching interest (about 25% space). I will ask other people to proofread this and hopefully I can do a good job.
This afternoon only I went to the Chinese church to serve, while this morning Carmen went to Sunday worship at an American church. It is because usually one of us needs to take care Cailyn full time at the daycare. Therefore, rather than sacrificing the worship time, we went to different worship. Then the Macedonia group went to our house for meeting.
August 29, 2009(Saturday)
This afternoon we had a 3.3 hours deacon board meeting. The first few ones are always long. But as the year goes by, the time will be shorter. At night we went to have potluck dinner with other Macedonia group members.
August 28, 2009(Friday)
I played badminton for 2 hours this afternoon. Usually when I go to workout (E.g. running and weightlifting), this is a training and I don't really enjoy it. Today I finally can have some "fun" exercise! For fellowship, I started off with a "story time" (giving an overview about the Bible, 15 mins each time, for 18 times). I have done this in 1998, 2000 and 2005 in various churches. I also led Bible Study.
August 27, 2009(Thursday)
This morning we went to visit a day care center (St. Marks United Methodist Church day care). We are thinking of sending Cailyn there, once or twice a week (each time for 2.5 hours) soon. The facility is pretty clean and the teacher seems nice. So hopefully she can adjust well. This will be a first step for Cailyn to be independent and more mature.
August 26, 2009(Wednesday)
This morning we went to the pediatrician for Cailyn's 18 month checkup. Now she is 33 inches (75-90%), 22lb4oz (10-25%), head 47.5cm (75%), developmental age 23month (note that this include both male and female; since female develop faster, it is not surprising that Cailyn has 23 months). For the rest of today, I had a meeting with professors. I am still very busy; makes me extra impatient and I need to learn how to control my mood so that it won't interfere my family life.
August 25, 2009(Tuesday)
I went to school around noon today because there is orientation for new PhD student and there is free lunch. I also went to school to chat with other students. Then for the rest of the day I was working on papers. I am still in a busy stage. I just got back from vacation and already feel the need for another vacation! The next several months will be very busy!
August 24, 2009(Monday)
I went to gym today again; I can still run good, but my muscle is still not there. Hopefully it will be here later this week! I also started to do some packing so that there is more space when baby #2 comes. We will be leaving Bloomington in a year too. So we need to pack eventually.
August 23, 2009(Sunday)
Besides going to church for worship, we stayed home for the rest of the day; I took the chance to do some work.
August 22, 2009(Saturday)
Today is the first time I went to the gym to do exercise after I arrive to Bloomington two days ago. I have been running in Vancouver so my stamina is still there. However I haven't been doing weight lifting for almost 1.25 months and my condition today is weak! What I can do easily before, I have trouble now! At night, we went to Target to walk around. For the other part of the day, I was doing homework as usual.
August 21, 2009(Friday)
First thing in the morning (10am, which is 7am Vancouver time) I had 2.25 hours meeting with professors about my work. There are lots to do in the coming month, before I send out the resume. On the other hand, it feels good that things are moving! In the afternoon we went to buy grocery because the fridge is almost empty. Then at night we went to fellowship. Lots of people are asking when we are returning in the last week or so. It is great to know that people are expecting us to return!
August 20, 2009(Thursday)
Carmen and I woke up 5am and left home with parents of both sides at around 7am. Then we took 3.5 hours flight to Dallas and 2 hours flight to Indy. Cailyn slept for only 15 mins on the plane when I was holding her. However, she behaves pretty good most of the time and willing to stay inside the seat. We arrived home at 9pm local time. Cailyn is happy to see home, however she needs some time to adjust to this baby crib. We unpack for the rest of the night.
August 19, 2009(Wednesday)
Today is our last full day in Vancouver. In the late afternoon, we went to Central Park to feed duck with parents of both sides. Then we had lunch together. We all had a great time. Then at night we went to parents-in-law house for dinner. For the other part of the day, we did some packing. I also had a run from home, through Moscrop + Wayburne to Norfolk Street, and return through Canada Way. I did it in record speed of 46.1 mins for these 9km, which includes lots of slopes.
August 18, 2009(Tuesday)
Today parents-in-law take care Cailyn. Therefore in the morning I can spend some time studying and running. Then in the afternoon Carmen and I start packing up. At night, families of both sides had dinner together to celebrate parents' 36th wedding anniversary. Hansel also called to congratulate them too!
August 17, 2009(Monday)
Today is "dating" day with Carmen. Parents-in-law helps to take care Cailyn in the day time while my parents take care Cailyn at night. Carmen and I went to Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge to have a 20mins short hiking; then we drove around Lions Gate Bridge and had lunch at Chinatown. After afternoon nap at home, we went to Granville Island for dinner and also bought some grocery.
August 16, 2009(Sunday)
I went to church early to meet a friend from IU that so happen to stay in Vancouver. Then at night we went to Peter Pang's house to have some fun time with their daughters and also had dinner with their families.
August 15, 2009(Saturday)
We had a great sharing time with our Hebron's counselor Shirley and her husband Daniel. It is good to have sharing with those advisors that we knew long time ago! At night we went to parents-in-law house for dinner.
August 14, 2009(Friday)
Today is a pretty normal day. However in the middle of the day, Carmen, Cailyn and I went out to have a walk at our house's neighborhood.
August 13, 2009(Thursday)
I finally finished assembling dad's new laptop. Then at night Carmen and I went out for dinner and walk around Metrotown
August 12, 2009(Wednesday)
We had lunch (drink tea) with parents from both side. Then in the afternoon we went to their home to finish fixing the ceiling of the basement. Then I played ping-pong with father-in-law for a while and then had dinner with them.
August 11, 2009(Tuesday)
I was troubleshooting the laptop for most of the day but then the laptop can't even obtain an IP address! I grew so frustrated that I decided to return the laptop. I brought that to future shop and it turned out that the anti-virus software that I installed (Symantec) is causing the problem. I thought that I have uninstalled it and tested it. However it turns out that I need some other software to fully uninstall it. Anyway it feels good to know the problem. Eventually I installed the TELUS anti-virus software instead.
I played golf with father-in-law. My performance today was even worse than the first time I played golf. Unbelieverably, I broke a #6 Iron! Furthermore, twice I hit the ball and somehow it bounced something and bounced back to my neighbor area! Playing golf may not be my cup of tea. Whenever I tried very hard to hit the ball, I miss the ball completely (and whenever I do not try hard to hit the ball, sometimes I still miss the ball!) Playing golf makes me feel stupid and bad for myself, and may be that's a good thing to play!
August 10, 2009(Monday)
I got a laptop for dad and today I spent time to configuring the laptop. However, at night, for some reason I can ping but I can't go to internet using this laptop. To make it worse, at later at night, I can't even ping the internet! Something weird must be going on! It is running Window Vista and I have heard a lot of bad thing about this; however this is the only one that is available so I have no choice.
In the afternoon I also helped father-in-law to fix the ceiling of the basement.
August 09, 2009(Sunday)
This morning we went to Fraserland English Sunday service. We haven't been to an English service for a long time! Then I went out for a jog and at night Carmen and I went out for dinner.
August 08, 2009(Saturday)
We went to our church friends Gabriel and Samantha's wedding. However we have to leave early because it is getting late and Cailyn needs to have an afternoon nap. Nevertheless it is great to see some familiar faces.
August 07, 2009(Friday)
Tonight we went to parents-in-law house for dinner. We also went to Home Depot because there is some problem with the ceiling of their basement. Hopefully I can help them to fix it before I leave Vancouver.
August 06, 2009(Thursday)
Carmen went out with Cailyn to visit Jessica Yeung and her son, while I stayed home to do some studying and napping and running. Then we went out to buy some Christian book and then we went out to have dinner with both sides' parents.
August 05, 2009(Wednesday)
This morning we went to Burnaby Library for baby's time. We have been to similar baby time in Bloomington. However, there are so many people here! And all mom and no dad!!! Then we had lunch with mom and then at night time we (parents, parents-in-law, us, Carol+Liam) all went to parents-in-law house to have dinner. Cailyn had a great time and she is very excited too (probably because all attention are upon her!)
August 04, 2009(Tuesday)
A normal day for me to stay home and study
August 03, 2009(Monday)
I stayed home to do some studying and then at night we went to parents-in-law house for dinner; they got a ping-pong table so we played for about 40 mins.
August 02, 2009(Sunday)
We went to VCAC for worship today.
August 01, 2009(Saturday)
Today is another productive day working on paper's computer program. At night we went to have gathering with Canaan's friend Arthur+Garfield, Gary+Jessica and Wilson+Debroah. Having a baby kid makes us much more difficult to have sharing.