A Dinner

It seems I am to meet my Coastie's parents. I am told this is a favorable event toward matrimony.

I have decided the meeting will be over dinner. I will have Mother and Father Bing to be as my parents. They know of my character as well as anyone aside my mother and father.

I have selected my menu.

• Salad of greens, apples, currants, and blue cheese
• Pork tenderloin with wild mushroom stuffing
• Mashed potatoes with walnut oil and walnuts
• foccacia bread
• pears poached in a riesling with biscotti

For wine there will be

• the 2005 Trimbach Pinot Blanc with the salad
• the 2005 Hahn Syrah with the main course
• the 2006 Chateau Ste. Michelle Johannisberg Riesling with the desert

The labels are mentioned for my friend who enjoys wine and searches for vintages to fool his overconfident friend. I recommend the Trimbach Pinot Blanc for sipping.

Is it too much? I wish to give a good impression without causing them to think I try to be more than I am.

I wonder what gives me greater stress. My father's visits or the parents of my Coastie.

Injuries

I seem to have injured my shoulder.

My doctor has referred me to a therapist. She says it is only my shoulder is not straight. Now I must do excercises to correct it. I am also required to visit her twice each week where they pull on my arm and move it about. Also I must use a machine,  much like a bicycle, with my hands. I must pedal for one mile in each direction.

Afterward, I am required to lay on a piece of foam only three or four inches wide so that my shoulder lowers. It is very uncomfortable.

I am told it is due to my leaning over my desk and I should sit straight. I had believed that is what I did. I will try to notice my position in the future.

There remains no ring.  8^\

A Post From Mother

Mother has sent me a letter to tell me Father is considering another visit.

*sigh*

The thought nearly causes panic. I love them to be sure. It is only that it causes me much stress.

I feel as if Father is inspecting me and his standards are strict. 

Mother is, well, a mother and I am her unmarried daughter. To her my Coastie is not my husband and surely it is my fault that is so.

Mother will tell me more when she knows it.

Think good things for me.

New Life

It has been my experience that life will always balance. 

I have lost my cat. It seems I will gain a niece or nephew. Though she/he will only be so through my involvement with her family I have been told that is what I will be. I find myself pleased with this idea. I will have someone to sing my mother's songs to at least occaisionally. This child will know me only for what they see through innocent eyes. Also, it will be practice for when there is my own child.

My work goes... The engineers are behaving with the network. Though it must be noted New Engineer has made his sugestions. I have dutifully listened, weighed the merits, and promptly deemed them impractible and unneccessary. Still, I must praise him for his efforts.

It seems being a woman remains difficult at times and especially difficult being a short chinese woman. It is difficult when addressed as if your knowledge is only adequate to do the most basic of tasks. But it is even more so when they speak to you as you are a child having difficulty with english. There have been times I thought I was moments away from them pinching my cheeks! It is true there still are times I have small difficulties in english (but I learn quickly). I do have an adequate command of the language to communicate. And I thought this was only part of comic movies and shows but do these people actually believe saying it louder will help me understand them better?

Big Boss found it necessary to speak with me in his office of the inappropriateness of snickering at a customer. It was beyond my control. Big Boss and a customer entered my office as I was on the telephone with a chinese customer. When I was finished, Big Boss made introductions of us. This man spoke to me loudly as if I could not understand him.

I recalled a movie that the character shouted into the other's ear, "Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth?" I could not stop myself. I attempted to but was unable to prevent the snicker. The customer seemed offended so Big Boss found the need to later tell me I should excercise more control. He was correct, of course, but it remains humorous to me.

My voyage to the blackberry vines was as I remembered past voyages. I was scratched and poked. At times I thought they would not release me to leave and I would have to live on the berries I could reach. Mother Bing only laughed. That only encouraged me to CAREFULLY throw berries at her. Of course, she responded in the same manner. I still wear the stains of combat. Unused ammunition was placed in bags and frozen. I am unsure if it is only to preserve them for a later battle or if there is to be more desserts. Both are enjoyable prospects.

There remains my Coastie. When I am sad he comes to comfort me. When I am happy he comes to share it with me. I am happy with him. I believe he is happy with me. He has given beautiful jewelry to me that is not a ring. I choose to believe it is to prepare me for the best piece of jewelry. ;)

You see? There are good things and bad things. Life will balance itself.