Thursday, August 4, 2011

My NC-40 Birthday BBQ


If you're like me, with several kids, there's never a shortage of birthday parties. It seems like we've been averaging two parties a week every week since school let out. Most of these parties involve our core group of church families, so I know everyone and generally have a great time. But sometimes it's my kids' school friends, which I totally dread... Sorry, but I find it hard to go out and meet new parents. Them soccer moms are so clique-ish with their Mandarin gossip, Burberry purses, and luxury SUV's... and need I mention their freakish overachieving children? Gag! I quickly find myself among the only two dads there, so I get stuck trying to make conversation with that other poor soul. The party can't end soon enough.

So for my birthday, I begged the wife to let me invite my friends, regardless if my family liked them or not :) I wanted to invite everyone, but in the interest of saving my marriage, the wife suggested I only invite people that I don't normally see. Furthermore, in order to make me feel young (or at least younger), all adults had to be to be my age or older. Criteria: if you can't remember exactly where you were when you found out Bruce Lee died, you're too young.

The group that was finally assembled I affectionately refer to them as the "Loud & Proud Crowd." They have the largest appetites for life and have matching lungs to prove it. They talk about everything under the sun and no topic is forbidden, including personal hygiene and unflattering emissions. My mom even commented to me in another room that she's never heard so many women laugh so loud. I had to tell her one of those women was Dave.

Actually I was getting back at my new next-door Indian neighbors. Last week they had a party where they were singing Bollywood karaoke (I had no idea there was such a thing). That day I witnessed some of the most bizarre sounds... some questionably non-human. One could argue they were teaching goats how to bleat in unison. So with the all my windows facing their side open, we roared back to show them exactly how us Chinamen party! The only thing missing was the clacking of mahjong tiles.

Needless to say, the party was a total blast. Your closest friends will never leave early claiming, "it's past my kid's bedtime…" But since it was a work night and Patty was coming, we had to have an end time of 10 p.m., otherwise Patty would have started pulling that aerobed out of her purse.

I would encourage you 40-something people to throw yourself a birthday party every once in a while. You don't need to think about goodie-bags, bouncy houses or piƱatas, just have a simple dinner party with fun people. I would venture to guess that for most people, the last time they had a party just for themselves was their baby shower or bachelor party. So forget about your kids' friends for once and just invite your own. And of course, be sure to invite me :)

Thanks to Matt for taking the great pics.

If you're a single woman looking to attract men (not these men though), throw a BBQ.

Up until now, they've only read about my famous loft. Now they finally get to experience it!

All my friends are low-maintenance, self-entertaining people.

I had to build a second loft for Justine. No stinky boys are allowed on this one.

My mom makes the plumpest gin dui's, unlike those golfball-sized, thick-skinned Chinatown variety.

Is he kung fu fighting or trying to pass gas? Either way, the girls were keeping their distance.
There's no such thing as having too big of a grill.

My multi-talented loving wife who cleaned, prepped, cooked and cleaned nonstop for two days! AND, she even packs my lunch for work! I think she knew from the very start that it wouldn't be easy being married to me!

With a party of this magnitude, security detail was left to the Angels.

Can't be any louder. Can't be any prouder!

Mama Cez
For another perspective of my party, please visit Mama Cez. Yes, my one-time guest blogger started her own blog. And she is a blogging machine!! I did offer her some suggestions for the title of her blog (The Cez Dispenser, Cez-Side Story, Take a Dip in the Cez-pool, etc.), but like any highly creative person, she came up with her own.  So if you like to read about the lives of people that are more intriguing than mine, while catching more of Matt's exquisite photography, you should follow her blog.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Jaden turns 3


As I contemplate retiring from blogging, over the weekend I was encouraged to try and keep it going. They tell me how they miss reading about my life adventures, my party life and my work misery. Yes, work is miserable because we are short staffed which kind of kills my time for blogging. Also, I told them in order to keep this blog going, I would need their help. This means they need to keep my life eventful by inviting me over to all their parties and functions. They then said, "Ahh, just kill it, no one really reads it anyway..."

So this post is a bit overdue. But considering I've covered all the events of Jaden's life thus far (birth, red egg party, first and second birthdays), it wouldn't be right to stop now. In fact, if you want to further follow the Lau-sy lives of their family, be sure to check out Jeanie's blog, A-Lau Me to Explain. When it comes to planning parties, Jeanie is among the best in covering all the tiny details. As I've said before, Jimmy is one lucky dawg!






Monday, July 11, 2011

Free Slurpee Day Today


Today is July 11 and it's the annual free Slurpee day. As I've discovered over the years, not every store participates in this promo. To maximize your enjoyment potential, try to select the stores in the better neighborhoods and avoid the ones in the ghettolicious parts of town.
Have fun.

http://www.7-eleven.com/

Thursday, June 2, 2011

National Doughnut Day Friday


It's been a while since there's been any good freebies. But not to fret, tomorrow, June 3rd, is National Doughnut Day! Stop by Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts to get your free doughnut. Enjoy!

LINK

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Me and my bus

Remember last year when Blah Blah Bonkers came and bragged about wasting all those stimulus funds on a fleet of overpriced buses? Well, the fleet started to arrive late last year. Since then, I've been tasked to follow the publicity road show, as well as take beauty shots for promotional purposes. It's one of those rare occasions where you'll experience a shiny new empty bus that still has the new-car smell (rather than the usual b.o./urine smell). No graffiti, no slashed seats, no sticky floors... Just an immaculate pretty bus.

To be fair, our buses are visibly cleaner (and safer) than those of AC Transit where I spent my terrified childhood on. Not surprisingly, our only dangerous routes are the ones that connect directly to AC Transit (Great Mall and Fremont BART). And don't expect to see these shiny hybrids doing the high school pickups either, nope. No greasy, foul-mouth, tattooed, pregnant, saggy-pants, fatherless dropouts are allowed, just decent working class adults and seniors.

The above photo was a press event where they bragged about spending every last dime of the funds, further plunging your children's future into inescapable debt. On the bright side though, while your kids are working to pay off the deficit, they'll most likely be dead.

Rep. M. Honda is laughing at how Americans just can't build hybrids as well as the Japanese. But as a democrat, he finds comfort knowing that if they break down in five years, Obummer will still be in office and "we'll just have to buy another fleet!"

Rep. Zooey Luvgun, "Hurry with the photo sonny, I need to go censure my buddy Charlie, or as we call it, 'grill some chuck steak!'"

For the record, I did not design this bus wrap. My designs are usually edgy with a hint of intimidation and danger. But General Merciless prefers the beautiful natural scenery as a reminder of the world he once left behind when he became a warlord of the underworld.

I don't often get to leave my cell. So to make sure I don't escape, they send my up the lift and then leave for lunch. Fortunately we had good weather that day.

Another wrap I did not design – can you tell? The blue in the sky doesn't even match the blue on the stripes – a big design no-no! And the green logo? It's massive and doesn't match anything either! I think the General is colorblind from living all these years in a dark cave. He has the eyes of a dog. Next time, I'll show you the bus I myself designed for our next fleet. 

Here is a pure unadulterated bus. I felt like taking off my shoes before boarding. When you own the bus, you own the road. I told the driver to just stop it here in the middle of this turnabout. Who cares if cars have to drive around us, I'll just photoshop them out if need be.

Yeah, baby got back! I bet you never thought the rear of a bus could look this sexy!

As we were scoping out places to shoot, I saw this new building off the freeway. It is still fenced off but I told the driver to go A-Team and crash through the gates because I desperately wanted a shot with those palm trees!

Once inside, I saw a sign that this site was managed by a company my friend works for. 'Cool' I thought, if I get in trouble, I'll just drop his name and say he gave me permission :)

Yep, not a soul in sight. Like paradise. I asked the driver if it was possible to do donuts on a bus. He was not sure. I asked if he wanted to try. He declined. I asked if he knew how to make the tires smoke. He said he might know how but didn't want to try. Oh well. I tried. We'll just have to settle for these pics.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

31¢ Scoop Night


Be sure to get your cheap ice cream tomorrow night. Unlike previous years, I think the weather may be pretty warm. Mmm, Gold Medal Ribbon is my favorite! And the next day, my carpoolers may discover just how lactose-intolerant I am :)

http://www.baskinrobbins.com/

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Free NIV Bible download for iPhone and Android

LINK


2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. To commemorate this milestone achievement, which made the Bible available in the common language of the people, throughout 2011, YouVersion will roll out events and opportunities that will help you more easily access, engage and share the Bible. The first of these events is that Bible App™ users will be able to download the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. Made possible through a special partnership with Biblica and Zondervan, this offer will only be available for a limited time.

Beginning THIS SATURDAY, February 12, at 8:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time (GMT-5), and lasting for 400 hours, you’ll be able to download the NIV to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Android device. When you download the NIV, that means you’ll be able to read it even when you can’t connect to your service provider or to the Internet. This special promotion will end on March 1, at 12:00 PM noon U.S. Eastern Time (GMT-5).

Downloading offline versions:

When the NIV becomes available on Saturday, here’s how you’ll be able to get yours:

iPhone/iPad/iPod touch:

Make sure you’re connected to the Internet or to your service provider. Then, from the Bible reader:
  1. Tap the top bar, where the current translation is presently displayed.
  2. All versions display in alphabetical order by language. Any translation with a download icon (a green box with a white arrow pointing downward) means it’s available as an offline version. Tap that version’s download icon.
  3. Follow the instructions and tap the large Download button.
1. Tap current translation 2. Tap download icon3. Tap Download button

Android:

Make sure you’re connected to the Internet or to your service provider. Then, from the Bible reader:
  1. Tap the box at the top right that displays the version short code.
  2. All available Bible versions display. Any translation with a download icon (an arrow pointing down) means it’s available as an offline version. Tap that version’s download icon.
  3. After a few moments, a different icon displays next to the short code, indicating your download is complete.
1. Tap current translation2. Tap download icon3 Download is complete

Friday, February 11, 2011

1000 Free minutes for iPhone users

 

AT&T is continuing to say thank you to their iPhone users who are sticking with them. Last week was a 20% off an accessory coupon and this week is a free extra 1000 rollover minutes. Some readers have sent in screenshots of the above, let us know if you received one, too. Thanks, Vinod.
Update: We are hearing that if you did not recieve the text just send the word “yes” to the 11113020 number and you will recieve a text that says your account has been credited!  Anyone want to verify?
Update 2: Confirmed below!
Update 3: There was some concern it was a scam but we’ve now verified it with AT&T – It’s legit.


LINK

He shoots. He scores! 11/11/11

If you're a numbers person set on having a baby with a 11-11-11 birth date, today is the day to get started. (Or, you know, this weekend. These things aren't timed too specifically.)


Personally I know of a couple that have 01-01-11 as their special number. So I KNOW they'll be rethinking their weekend plans. Hopefully she'll call me tomorrow to cancel the piano lesson :)

LINK

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Back to Twain Harte

Last weekend we went back to Twain Harte for our now annual snow vacation. We stayed at the same cabin as last year but with two different families. The Maks and Trans both have recent new additions to their families so they had to sit out this time. But they definitely plan to be there next year.

We originally planned to go on President's weekend, but it was booked. And good thing, because there was hardly any snow left around the cabin. The lack of rain in January caused most of the snow to melt. Fortunately, the main snow hill still had enough to sled on, whew! I feel sorry for those people coming later this month when that hill dries up. Boy will they be disappointed!

More big kids this year, so a lot more sledding.

All smiles before attempting the big snow hill for the first time.

Last year, there were about 20 people here. This year, just us.

 You can ask my wife what she "took a big ol'..." of.

A new play area they discovered. What's with kids and water?

 We found this abandoned bunker. I dared them to see if there was a body in there.

60 degree weather and beautiful surroundings.

She's a big girl now and can sled on her own (frees up daddy to do his own thing).

When staying at a cabin with friends, it's really all about the junkfood.

On the last day, the hill was icy and super fast! And it had noticeably less snow.

Um, so what do you expect from a family of Asian female drivers?

It's like that Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland...
There's a ghoul sitting behind you the whole time and you don't even know.


No injuries and we all still mostly remain friends :) We got home by 10 p.m. Sunday.

We're already looking forward to next season where we'll hopefully get two cabins and six families. We may even go twice. Better reserve your spot soon!