More Musings From Vegas

Caleb just loved Las Vegas. We're on the shuttle that is taking us down to "the Strip." They were amazed by all the lights, the loud sounds and so many people.








Andrew had a week off from school. He was given homework everyday.







Caleb could have sat here for hours. There were so many of these toy cars around Vegas!

The Concept of Sharing

A discussion I had with Andrew on Saturday:

At home....
Me: "Andrew, have you finished your lunch yet? We're going to Costco"
Andrew: "I'm not really that hungry dad, I had a big breakfast."
Me: "Are you sure?"
Andrew: "Yeah dad, let's go."
Me: "Ok, let's go."


One hour later....
Andrew: "Dad, I'm hungry, can we get some chicken fingers and french fries?"
Me: "I thought you told me you weren't hungry?"
Andrew: "I'm hungry now."
Me: "我不饿。俺一饿。弥补您的想法！"
Andrew: "Please..."
Me: "Ok, but eat the chicken fingers first before you eat the fries, and share the fries with your brother."
Andrew: "Ok dad...thanks!"


10 minutes later...
Andrew: "Dad, I finished the chicken, can I eat the fries now?"
Me: "Ok, remember to save some for your brother."


10 minutes later...
Andrew: "Dad you can have the container back, I'm done. The rest of the fries are for Caleb. Isn't it nice of me to share with him?"













Me: "我应该留在床上，让我的妻子带他们购物."
Andrew: "Can you get me a Sprite?"

Las Vegas

Andrew had a week off from school and we decided to visit good ole Las Vegas! The Venetian was fabulous, it is one of the nicest hotels on the strip.












Strolled down to NY NY. Only in Vegas could you get away with this.











It's so big!











These girls saw Andrew and loved his shirt. They wanted a picture with him....lucky guy! He was telling them which M&M's were his favorite!











...and we thought MJ was dead!

Sad Reality

Well, it's been awhile since we posted here on our blog. It's not that we have nothing to report over the last month, we've just been too busy to blog. To get things back on track, I thought I would share the experience I had today with RBC (aka "Big Bank"). I had made arrangements to get a money order from a client's account (which I am a signator). Their branch is in the Yukon and I phoned the account manager there to get him to fax the signature cards to a local branch here so we can verify the signatures on the cheque...easy right!

(I've changed the names, but here is how the process of getting a bank draft unfolded...)

1. Emailed our account manager last week for instruction on how to proceed given that the account is in Whitehorse. Our account manager Dave Hopkins forwarded my email to his assistant Judy Vermet who emailed the instructions (addressed to me) back to Dave.

2. Called Dave up today asking for a response to above....ahhh, light goes on....they forgot to include me in their email response. Not to worry, an RBC representative will contact me.

3. Rosa from RBC calls me and tells me to go to the Burnaby Branch. I'm to meet Anna Chin at 2:00 to get the bank draft. I'm thinking great, this is so easy.

4. Arrive at 2:00pm......Receptionist tells me "sorry sir you don't have an appointment and we never got an email from Rosa and you want a what!!!!"

5. Explained the situation to another RBC rep who tells me it's impossible to do.

6. Showed them my correspondences and they disappear for 20 minutes.

7. OK, now sitting in the branch's lobby and every 5-7 minutes I am offered coffee.....no thanks!

8. Finally Sia is assigned to help me and she assures me that they just need to contact the Whitehorse branch to get them to fax the signature cards down. Sia offeres me a coffee...no thanks!

9. Waiting and waiting....and offered more coffee...no thanks!

10. Finally ask to see Sia again, she's disappeared. Receptionist offers me a coffee while she looks for her.

11. New receptionist takes over the front desk, asks if I want a coffee....No!

12. Getting really upset now and drafting a complaint letter in my head.

13. I compose an email to Dave Hopkins but decine not to send it as I'll probably regret it later.

14. Offered coffee by the receptionist as she walks by....NO, NO, NO!!! Other people walk by smiling asking if I had been helped; I just glare at them.

15. Sia finally resurfaces and assures me she is doing the best that she can. She asks me if I want a coffee while I am waiting...NO!

16. Two hours later, bank draft is finally done as they get the signature cards from Whitehorse.

17. I complain to Sia and she asks if there is anything she can do for me...offers me a three Starbucks gift Cards and a Gas Voucher...I can't believe I accepted them, it's like finally accepting the coffee they offered me while I was waiting.

18. Going to donate the gift cards to Hitler at CPC!

Public Apology to HB

I was on the phone with a client and the boys came storming in like a SWAT team. Needless to say an apology was in order!

Dinner is Served

We had a wonderful dinner tonight. We normally do a nice meal on Sunday but as we chowed down on leftovers that day, the "meal of the week" fell on Monday. My husband did a marvelous Thai glazed chicken. He saw the recipe on Youtube and modified it a little as our family does like it spicy. One of the roasters was mild flavoured Thai for Caleb. Those are scalloped potatoes in the background. There was a hint of horseradish in it, a real nice taste.

My hubby did a nice peanut glaze with the pan drippings. I'm not sure how he made it but it was heavenly. Even though I am not a fan of bread, I found myself dipping bread into the sauce (no double dipping here).

We did a final harvest from our tomatoe plants over the weekend and my husband prepared this nice artichoke, tomato and shrimp salad. Trust me, it is as good as it looks. There is nothing like fresh tomatoes that really makes a salad extra special. I let my husband fall asleep on the couch watching the sports highlights....after a meal like this, he deserves a nap!

Saturday's Adventure

My husband knew I had to get some work done, so he took the boys out for the day. First stop was the new Canada Line. They rode to the airport and watched the planes take-off. The ride was fun and they were so excited to ride the new route which included a tunnel and crossing a bridge.












After a ride to the airport, it was time for lunch. They stopped off at Aberdeen Center for some noodles and a Papa Beard dessert. The kids watched the water fountain and were amazed that it shot water so, so high. They thought this was spectacular, we can't wait to have them see the water show at the Bellagio!










After a nice lunch, another cruise to the airport and a ride home, the kids were hungry again. The weather has been great and with October just around the corner, we fired up the BBQ again thinking the summer is quickly coming to an end. The kids just love sitting outside, they were chatting away to each other during the whole time talking about no specific topics. They were talking to each other but not really paying attention to what each other was saying.










My husband's favorite meal was on the menu tonight. After taking the kids out for the day, he deserved a nice home-made burger. With the house nice and quiet, I was able to catch up on some of my work. Listening to the three of them talk about their adventure made me somewhat sad as it sounded like it was a fun day and I wish I was there. The kids fell asleep shortly after dinner; they were so tired.