XM's random thoughts

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

Life is good when things work out for the best. I still not over the fact that I actually get my own office. Gosh, now I can actually close the door and take a nap during lunch. What even better is that my office have a window, which look out to the street with lot of trees. The only thing that kind of a bump is that the property tax arrived this morning for our other house. However, on the upside, I been saving up all year for it, so is not so bad. Good thing I budget out at the beginning of the year of all the major expected expenses (property tax, return tax, car insurances, vacations). So I am not being caught off guard. Good thing that I tutor on the side, that totally help with funding all those expenses, so my regular job salary is left un-touch so I can invest (love the magic of compounding). Okies, my brother just finished cooking me a toasted turkey and ham sandwich...ummm....yummmm...melted cheese.

[Without_U]

So how's ur day? has your special chair arrived yet?

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

Originally Posted by Without_U

So how's ur day? has your special chair arrived yet?

My day has been good, since people at this branch is supper nice to me. They do all my re-certifications for this month for me. They keep apologizing for having to give me a case load of 500. I told them that I just came off a 800 case load, thus, 500 is nothing. Still, they think I should take time to get settle down to the new place. I am so lucky to have so many nice people working with me.
Also, my ergonomic chair arrived and I even call the office assistance from my old branch to thanks her. Although, she is not the one that moved my stuff over here. Never the less, she arranged them to have it moved, so I thanks her and the guy that moved my stuff over. When I spoke with her over the phone, she kept asking me "Girly cat, when are you going to come home?" I asked her "What do you mean J?" She said "I mean, when are you going to come back to this branch? This is your home." I said "Funny, yesterday during a video conference training, my currently supervisor warned me that I better not move to another branch." I told her "Yes, C (my previous supervisor) said I owed her $20 for leaving the office."
I do missed my co-workers from the other branch and I still keep in touch with them via e-mails. At the same time I love my new very own office too much and the commute to this new office is much shorter. Anyway, next week I will be going to lunch with a couple of my former co-workers from the other agency that I work for before go to work for gov. Bún bò Huế here I come....next week that is.

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

This morning I was watching the food network channel. One lesson I learned from this morning is that never watch food network channel in the morning. I am watching it again after coming back from the bank and the library. The chocolate fudge they show how to make sure look yummy. I think I will go to the store and buy the ingrediences to make chocolate fudge tonight after tutoring. Gosh, I should stop watching the food network and go on to their website. I have to admit, I love the 5 ingrediences or less meals section. That section of the website is just perfect for someone lazy or not into cooking like me. Hmm....what should I cook for main course tonight? Thai food sound good right now. Food, food , and more food....love it.

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

I think I am going to get frost bite soon, if the HVAC people not going to fix the vent soon. Today I have to bring a supper thick blanket with me to work. I think I will go and buy a heating blanket soon, otherwise I will be turning to an ice statue. This week has been an odd week due to the holiday off in the middle of the week. I came to work on Tuesday and then have day off on Wednesday and now back to work again. I wish every week is like this...hihihihi...well in two weeks we will be hitting the holiday seasons, that should guaranteed many "odd" working weeks. Yesterday, I finally be able to have a girl day out with some of gal pals. Amazing how much they look different when you have not seen them for awhile.
I have been super busy lately with tutoring. I think it is those time of the year (mid term) where parents have been calling me like crazy. The reason I know it is getting crazy is because my weekends actually all booked solid (5 hours straight each day). Good thing I still have not giving in to temptation of tutoring on Friday night as well. I think I need at least one day of the week without tutoring, otherwise I will go insane. Counting the time to be off work.

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

I am officially broke (financial wise). I just wrote a check for property tax for one of our house last week. On wednesday I wrote an even bigger check (30K) to my aunt so she can buy a house in Stockton. This made a big hole in my checking account....darn it...I actually lose sleep this past two nights. I know I know I sound very shallow....but that is a lot of monies to swoosh out of the door in one check writing sitting. Too bad I am already working too many hours already, it would be nice if there are 48 hours in a day instead of 24. This way I can work more and refill that giant hole in my checking account. Gosh, this is too depression...I need some comfort food. If comfort food is not helping....I need to find a rich man...kakakka.

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

You know there is something wrong when you have to tell your student (some are first graders) to turn off their cell phones during tutoring session. I don't understand how can some parents allow their six and seven years old to own a cell phone of their own. Some of them even have a better cell phones than I am. For heaven sake some of them (one of my third grader) have a Iphone. Come one, what is a nine years old need an Iphone for ? I think they should give it to their tutor (me ) . I still try to learn how to use my blackberry.
One of my fourth grader said that he owns a laptop, well his parents brought it for him. Some of my student asked me when is my birthday. I asked them back "Why? Are you going to buy me a present? IF so you guys and gals need to write this down "Teacher needs an Iphone." I do think that some of my student are being spoiled rotten. Oh well, if the parents can afford it for them. But I hate to remind them to turn off their cell phones during tutoring.

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

I am not good at staying away from temptations. As always, I gave it in to one of the many temptations that come my way. One of the temptation that I been hooked for the past few weeks is the darn facebook games. My friends on facebook kept sending me so many gifts and that kind of make me getting myself hooked to a few games on facebook.
I am currently playing about eight or nine games in facebook now. Gosh, I think I should stop playing facebook games! But they are so much fun. hihihihi gosh I need to grow up!

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

There is no feeling like a feeling when you helping someone else. At my new branch, I have this co-worker that just got hired, thus, she is still in the learning process. Actually she got hired into this branch a few months before my transfer to this branch. I have been helping her process some of the applications. I feel so bad when I see that it takes her about literally half a day to finish one application. Since I been doing this for more than two years, I get use to process benefit applications. Also, since I can type 95+ words per minute. I have ten applications done in half an hour. She was so grateful that she brought a lot of tofu for me to eat (since she noticed that I been eating a lot of tofu).
I have another worker, whom has been working in this field longer than I am. However, since she is too nice to say anything back to the clients. She has been bully by this one particular client. Today, while visiting her in her room and it just happened that the client called. My co-worker asked if I want to talk to the client for her. I did just that. Later that day my co-worker just came by and gave me a big hug and said "You are wonderful. That client been picking on me for weeks and I don't know how to deal with her. You handle her so well. I like the way you speak so firmly. " I told my co-worker that if anymore clients want to pick on her, just forward the calls to me. Gosh I am so mean.

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

I just realized that I never an arm length away from a book. There are two books on my desk at work that I am currently reading concurrently. One book is by one of my favorite author, Stephen King. I am reading Lisey's Story by him right now. Another book I am currently reading is called "Runaway Jury" By John Grisham (another one of my favorite author). At home, I am reading a book called "Murder" this book included all the murders cases that been aired on the television show tru tv.

One of my friend when she saw what I am currently reading she said "I am going to stay away from you for awhile." I read an array of books. However, mystery and non-fiction have always been my favorite. I also noticed that my bed is right next to my three book cases. Hmmm if there is an earthquake I will be squash by my book cases and die surrounding by books.....hmmm an ironic kind of death huh ?:rolledeyes: Hmm...hopefully I am not jinxing myself. *crossed fingers*

On the floor next to my bed is the only messy part of my room, because there are at least a few books lying around that are just waiting to be read. Oregon weather is a great weather for readers like myself. I can not find anything better to do on a weekend than to wrap myself in a blanket and read a good book, while outside is pouring cats and dogs.

I love books like a shopaholic loves to shop. When I see a new book I get the same euphoric feeling as a shopaholic steps into the mall and see all those clothes. I do admit, I spend more money on books than I am spending on my own clothes.

[erik]

Originally Posted by XiMuiCaNaMeChua

Too bad I am already working too many hours already, it would be nice if there are 48 hours in a day instead of 24. This way I can work more and refill that giant hole in my checking account. Gosh, this is too depression...I need some comfort food. If comfort food is not helping....I need to find a rich man...kakakka.

There was a time that i wish 48hrs in a day too...So helpful with family. That's 1 thing I like about woman, man on the other hand only a handful do so.

What are you going to do with that rich man, once you find him ??? Beat him until monies coming out or begging him ...Just curious...

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

Originally Posted by erik

There was a time that i wish 48hrs in a day too...So helpful with family. That's 1 thing I like about woman, man on the other hand only a handful do so.

What are you going to do with that rich man, once you find him ??? Beat him until monies coming out or begging him ...Just curious...

violence never solve anything...it only create more problems...I don't beg either. If I find him....I will ask for a job as his personal accounting.

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

Last night was a great night, because it was pouring rain in the middle of the night. I sleep extremely well when it is pouring rain outside. The sound of the rain is very soothing. Today I am well rested and ready to tutor all my student. I am taking a break in between individual sessions. Weekends I reserved for individual tutoring sessions. I just finished two sessions with two pairs of sisters and the next one should be a pair of brother....gosh last time they were here they talk non-stop for two hours straight. I have to make up a story that I have a monster out in the deck and if they not hush down I am force to feed them to the monster. One of the kid (V) he thought I was serious...gosh I am such a bad teacher ...hihihi
Today in between tutoring session, I received a call from a man wanting to inquire about tutoring for his grand kids. On the phone the first thing he asked me "What language do you speak." He spokes with a heavy accent. I answered him with my no accent English " I speak English, Chinese, and Vietnamese. What language do you prefer sir?" Then he starts to speak Vietnamese. For a moment I thought he is inquiring about tutoring for foreign language, but he was inquired about math tutoring for his grand kids. He brag about that his grand kids are in third grade but they already know how to multiply and divide. I told him that all my first graders and second graders already know how to do that as well. Some of my second graders are even starting to work with fractions, mixed numbers and compose short essays.
I love it when people are better off speaking Vietnamese than English, but instead they chose to speak English with me. Even when I start to speak Vietnamese to them, thinking it will make the conversation more easier on them. Still, they chose to speak English with me. I am so bó tay with them. One man I even told him "Dạ con biết nói tiếng Việt ạ . Nếu bác cảm thấy nói tiếng Việt tiện hơn thì con sẽ nói chuyện với bác bằng tiếng Việt . " Yet, he chose to speak English with me. I have to spend half of the time trying to figure out what he is trying to tell me in English. Last time I check, I don't have an accent when I speak Vietnamese. Hôm nào đứng trước kiếng nói chuyện coi mình có nói đơ đớ hông mà sao bà con thích nói tiếng Anh với mình .

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

I think I am just pure evil or mean, which ever word you want to use to describe me. I have been reduce benefits, send people in for over payment, or closed their benefits for this past week. There are a few things I hate in life and one of them is liar and cheater (both in marriage as well as cheating the system). I am willing to go above and beyond to help you if you are seriously need help, but don't ever let me caught you lying to me, because I will enforce the policies and laws to the tee. This week I received a few transfer in cases from the other branch. I have a habit of checking every file that come through my desk. Other workers might not do it, but I like my case files to be clean and error free. As I go through some of the case files I noticed a lot of discrepencies among them. Is is this why former supervisor said I am impersonal when it comes to work? She said that is a good thing, but I need to soften up a little bit sometime. Anyway, I have been sending a lot of closing, reduction, or pending notices this week....maybe is just one of those week. Well tomorrow I get a day off....yipppỵ

[XiMuiCaNaMeChua]

This morning I almost hurt my friend physically. I was still sleeping and she phoned and asked "Good morning sunshine....so what are you thankful for this year?" Nghe xong muốn đục phù mõ con nhỏ bạn vô duyên đi phá giấc mộng đẹp của mình ghê á . :

I replied "I was thankful for able to sleep until noon and planning to sleep until 3 in the afternoon until SOMEONE called and woke me up. "
She laughed and said "Thôi dậy đi , trưa trời trưa dật rồi còn ngủ gì nữa . Ngủ nhiều mập á . "
I replied in my sleepy voice "Thôi kệ Trời ban cho mình tướng phúc hậu rồi ...thêm phúc nữa thì càng tốt chớ sợ gì . "
She laughed some more . She asked "True true, but I am calling to ask you to come for dinner. Do you want to be more "blessed" ?"
Nghe xong tự nhiên hết cảm thấy buồn ngủ . Công nhận con bạn tốt của mình biết dụ khỉ mình ghê ta ơi . Không uổng đã coi nó là bạn tốt , có đồ tốt là réo mình liền . She lại hỏi "Sao ? Đi hông ? "

I replied " Trời còn phải hỏi nữa trong khi bà đã biết câu trả lời của tôi . Có ăn là tôi không từ chối , nhất là những đồ có mùi nhang . kikikikik "

She asked again "So what are you thankful for, better include me in it. "

I replied "What are you talking about ? I live my life every day being thankful. I don't need one holiday to feel thankful for . That is why I am able to sleep until noon whenever I want to. "

We spend some more time discuss about a few coming holiday parties. Gosh, she must of read my mind, because I am always in the mood when it comes to discussion about food and parties that involve food.

She asked what my office going to do this holiday. I told her that we plan to have a potluck party then each staff donate a few bucks to go toward the rescue mission (an agency that feed the homeless). Our goal this year is to feed 1000 people during the holiday.

She asked if I want to join her at the food bank this holiday season. I said "Hú me when you go there okies ? Oh by the way you want to go to the shelters and pass out presents for the kids this holiday ? I think Th is doing that this year and she asked me to help out. I thought you might be interesting in as well. "

Since holiday season most of my student will be on winter break, this mean no tutoring I can have a few days off after work to go to all of these volunteer events. Gosh, I hope I did not promised to too many people to a point I have to spread myself thin this year. I am so looking forward to this holiday season.