34% off at JCPenny

Right now you can save 34% shopping online at JCPenny. Here's how:

1. Purchase a giftcard from Cardpool. Currently, JCPenny giftcards are at a whopping 28% off! You can choose to have the physical card mailed free to you (for use both instore and online), but that will take a few days. Or you can buy an electronic giftcard (online orders only) and the code will be emailed to you within 24 hours. For me, it took 5 hours.
2. Create an account on Ebates. Right now they are offering 6% cashback if you use their JCPenny link to start shopping. The 6% may last a day or two, but it's possible it may drop back to 3% tomorrow, so don't wait too long.
3. Go to jcpenney.com and start shopping! Use code "JCPSHIP" to get free shipping for orders over $50 (before tax). If your order is less than $50, most items are available for free store pickup. Combine the two steps and you will save 34% without leaving the comfort of your desk!

Note: To doubly make sure you are getting your Ebates, what I like to do is just load up the shopping cart with my final order. Then before checkout, open another browser window. Go to Ebates and link back to JCPenny. Your items should still be in your cart. Check out with your giftcard, and within a day, Ebates will send you a confirmation of your 6% cashback amount. Easy! The funds will be available to you in three months in case you return any items.

A few notable items for sale:

Nike Slide Sandal

Almost as comfy as Crocs, but no way as ugly.

Normally $20, now on sale for $15. $10 after discount.

Adult Rashguard Swimshirt

Why do only kids have swimshirts? I want one to keep me warm and eliminate the forgetful habit of applying sunblock. Plus, it'll hide my farmer's tan and hairy armpits.

Normally $15, now on sale for $12. $8 after discount.

Captain America T-shirt

Yeah! What's not to love? Other TV/Movie designs also available.

Normally $10, now on sale for $7. $4.62 after discount.

I am sure you will find lots of other items suitable for your taste and budget. 34% instantly turns sale items into clearance items. I'm sure you'll have no problem getting to $50. Happy shopping!

SlurpFree Today, May 23

Woohoo! Don't have to wait until July 11.

"Participating 7-Eleven stores, while supplies last

Summer's here and so is FREE Slurpee. Swing by 7-Eleven on May 23rd between 11a-7p and grab yourself 7.11 ounces of cool, refreshing glory juice. Our treat! And don't miss our new Slurpee Lite™ Fanta Sugar-free Mango - 50% fewer calories. Same big Slurpee taste."

https://www.facebook.com/events/412724578757341

The world is coming to an end: Kidvantage ends June 1

I can't believe it, but Sears Kidvantage's Wear-out guarantee is ending June 1. Oh the horror!!!

From their website (http://www.mysears.com/kidvantage/details.html):
"This guarantee will be eliminated for purchases made on June 1, 2012 and thereafter."

That means now is the time to load up on shoes and other clothing. I'm guessing that when you make your first exchange after June 1, you won't be able to make a second exchange unless you retain the original receipt, which the cashier may take from you. The gravy train is over. I am so bummed.

We've saved a ton of money over the last five years. I estimated that we've exchanged well over 20 pairs of shoes and 10 pairs of pants. That's like $800! It will be painful to start buying shoes every three months for each kid (like my rich friends do––how do they do it??). Maybe now we'll just have to keep the kids indoors at all times, or start duct taping the holes, or make them wear flip-flops year round... Actually now that summer is around the corner, we'll send them to the pool more often just to preserve their shoes. Desperate times calls for desperate measures.

Guess we'll just have to find other ways to save money. Speaking of which...

Here's a tip to save money shopping online at Sears (or Home Depot, etc):

• Go buy a gift card at Gift Card Rescue where they sell Sears giftcards at 8.5%* off. Cardpool also sells giftcards but currently Sears is only 7% off.
• Create an account at Ebates (or Fatwallet). Once logged in, from Ebates or Fatwallet, search Sears and click to go to Sears website. You then will get an additional 3 or 4%* cashback for your entire purchase. 

Combine both and you'll get 12.5% off. Select store pick up to avoid shipping cost. That 12% can be quite a big savings if you are buying large items like a tv or an appliance. Hey, it's free money if you want to make the effort.

*Note: The percentage rates fluctuate so everyday may be different. At Ebates and Fatwallet it's usually between 1 and 4% but occasionally it is double so you can get up to 8% back.

Lake Tahoe Snow Trip

Last month we went to Lake Tahoe for our annual snow retreat. The cabin was much nicer than the one at Twain Harte, complete with pool table, xbox and wifi. The best thing about it was the big hill directly behind it so we didn't have to travel anywhere. Cost was only $10 more per family versus Twain Harte, but the drive was definitely longer (200 miles vs. 120 miles).

The last time I went to Lake Tahoe was to go mountain biking in the early 90s. The last time I went to Lake Tahoe to play in the snow was with YTF in the early 80s. I guess after hearing countless horror stories of being stuck on the road 9 hours, or rolling your minivan down an embankment, or the recent death at China Peak... made me want to completely avoid any adult "fun" snow activities. I am alive today not because I moved out of Oakland, but because I resisted skiing and snowboarding.

I'm amazed at those of you who frequently risk your lives on the road and on the slopes just to catch some fresh powder. You blatantly post your reckless pics on Facebook not thinking about your worrisome family at home. You even trick yourself to believe that installing chains is just a minor inconvenience. I pray for your safety and I pray for your family as you spit into the face of death.

Below are some photos that chronicle the weekend activities:

First day, not much snow. But the big storm was just around the corner.

Growing up in Oakland, I've experienced hail, heard gunshots, and seen dead bodies, but I've never witnessed falling snow. It was neat at first, but it quickly became not so neat. Instead of getting the kids back to the house, I made them pose in the storm as I tried to capture the moment.

The next morning I dared the kids to go out barefoot (Note to self: never dare them anything.) I told them they could go out only if they didn't tell their parents it was my idea.

Here's a sugar-free, fat-free, natural and healthy treat – icicles. I used a broom to knock them off the roof. They loved it!

Trying to gather all the kids to come pose for picture is like trying to gather a scattering bag of marbles that broke on the floor.

We ain't going nowhere! Seriously, my battery was dead.

The safer alternative: sledding in the fresh powder after the storm. No helmet required.

He can now tell his friends how he sledded head-first into a tree and survived.

Sure, you can play in the middle of the street. Just don't tell mom.

After a long exhausting day in the snow, pure sugar is the best way to replenish the body!

Sledding got kinda boring the next day. Let's go body-sliding instead. Just don't tell mom how you messed up your clothes.

Join me and I will complete your training. It is your destiny. Join me and we can rule the galaxy as father and son. 
Needless to say, those two underestimated the young Padawan.

Our Shrek-like creation. It would have been nice to somehow make him green, but our only color option was yellow.

Four families, three nights, and two showers, make for one memorable trip!

Free Onion Rings this weekend at Burger King

http://www.bk.com

It's alive! It's my creation!

If you're in the south bay or Fremont, you may have spotted some new buses invading the streets and highway. They have a bold, menacing design, that makes all other buses look downright impotent. Our secret code name for it was UBT, which stood for "Urban Bloodbath Transport." So look out, my latest creation is crashing a neighborhood near you!

My initial designs were mostly black with just a slight splattering of blood color. I think it reflected the mood outside my cell. Here it's mainly dark with threatening shadows from the flickering torches along the galley way. And the blackness is complemented with sounds of agony as fellow prisoners are beaten on an hourly basis. I wanted my design to depict that same pain and hopelessness as you spiral down the black hole of despair.

The Major asked me to "tone it down" on the evilness and add more color to spruce it up. She explained that not everyone appreciates our depressive culture as much as we do. She said to make it look fast. I asked, "you mean like a flaming arrow just as it's about to pierce the body cavity with glorious after effects-fast?" She responded, "Yes, think more embers and less ash." Okay, I guess I could live with that.

We bypassed Captain Insano because she'll only slow down the approval process. Besides, she already has a full plate with that world destruction plan she's brewing. We went straight to the top and got it done fast. Godfather Merciless was especially pleased with the design, as I knew he would be. I told him I recommended removing the rear door so the further back you go, the more trapped you'll feel. With an affirming grin he said, "You're starting to think like me."

Godfather Merciless wept as he detailed how the colors resurrected childhood memories of their vacation home. As a junior deatheater, his bedroom tower overlooked several meandering lava flows intertwined throughout the barren valley. Across the midsection laid a scorched path littered with bones and smoldering remains. That path is where he scampered daily with his beloved pet Balrog. All the rivers converged and spilled into the giant Lake of Fire where his father once taught him to swim. "That is why my body has no hair," he exposed to my burning eyes.

There was a recent article about our January media event. To soften the image for public consumption, they described the color to be "candy-apple" red. I guess "hematoma" red may be a bit too violent.

In the near future when the weather improves, I'll have more photos of the UBT in action,  terrorizing transit centers and consuming passengers whole. Until then, look out!

The armada preparing for the onslaught.

The Hot Pot Legacy

Just as I was contemplating retiring this blog, one of my favorite annual rituals came up: Ray's Hot Pot Party! I've blogged about this party the last three years so it will be disappointing to my readers to not keep it going. Yeah, leave it to Ray to keep postponing my retirement by providing fresh content. This blog may not die just yet.

It's only been three months since my last blog. That's not that long considering yesterday OFaithGraceHope posted three new blogs after a three year absence! In my absence I hope you've been following MamaCez. She has superhuman abilities to be able to blog faster than I can read! And what amazing life adventures they lead! But here's a warning: reading her blog will only depress you, because you'll quickly realize your life will never be as good as theirs.

In the photo above, we were observing a moment of silence for the deaths of Kim Jong Il and the Raider's postseason.

BGG (Boiler Girl Grace) is like the most dependable soldier. She cooked for everyone and never left her post. Owen stayed by her side half the time, but eventually left. He did come back later with a pee bucket.

I still recall that memorable night five years ago when she was born.
We were all depressed because we were short one person for mahjong!

If you go to a New Year Eve's party, it's bad etiquette to fall asleep or leave before midnight.

It's after midnight and the Spice Girls are just warming up!

That, my friend, is the look of a loser!

Playing baseball in a house full of breakable items at 1:30 a.m. – I see nothing wrong with that!

Flashing, kissing, and acting weird on New Year's Eve – I see nothing wrong with that.

In case I don't blog again next year, below are a collection of our hot pot gatherings over the years. Even with Ray gone to Texas, South America and Africa during those years, I am grateful we've all remained close friends to this day. The craziness will live on forever!

 2010
It's like coming back from vacation and looking at your photos and asking,
"How did that Caucasian couple get into the picture??"
Also, I just realized I did not blog about this! How did that happen??

2009
Chris and I both showed up solo. Can you say, "Best Year Ever?!"
Oh, and one family was late and insisted to be Photoshopped in. Any guesses?

2008
This was a quieter year because Grace had some preaching excuse engagement,
so we replaced them with another preacher.
I had a horrible night of MJ, but kicked butt on Scrabble.

2007
My boys were away at my sister's – Second Best Year Ever!
I snuck Grace and Owen in. I told them it's cool, just blend in...
Ted deep fried a turkey and Twinkies.
Charlie is neatly tucked away under Mary's sweater.
And this was our first year taking a group photo.

2006
Sadly could not find any photos of the hotpot party.
This was the day after, at our house, eating the rest of the uncooked food.

2005
Again, no photos found.

2004
I dug this one up. Look, still the same furniture!