30 days of meals

沙茶鸡翼，菠菜，酸辣汤，pecan pie

I messed up with the salt for pecan pie, it was 1/4 tsp, but I added 1tsp. It tastes a bit weird but still eatable.

红烧肉蛋，Broccoli

我不知道怎么才能把红烧肉颜色做得漂亮点，Brocolli炒得清脆点。

30 days of photos

Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center (iPhone Pano)

"Mommy, we are home..."

Dawn

Morning

Foggy

Rainy

出神

琅琊阁前几集点评

这个剧比其他国产剧好的地方是：剧情紧凑，摄像优美，配乐也好。
第一集

开头梅岭赤焰军战场，场面惨烈。林帅的大旗下，赤焰军死伤无数。人群出现了一张血肉模糊的脸（要看到后面才会知道这就是林殊）他被一个面目不清的将士砍中，林殊倒下前看着砍他的人脸上现出一副无法置信的表情（这集后面梅长苏住进宁国斧见到谢玉时，这个砍人的镜头重现，表明这个砍他的人就是谢玉）。然后是林殊的爸爸林shi在悬崖上抓着林殊的手，跟他说为了赤焰军要活下去，接着林殊呼喊着父亲掉下悬崖。。。镜头一转，梅长苏从噩梦中醒来（原来是一场梦）长发掩盖的脸露出一双布满血丝的眼睛，盯着远处的群山，手里下意识地摩挲着银色的赤焰军手环，可以看到上面一个“林”字。。。

这个开头很赞，只用画面来交待故事的起因前情，埋下各种伏线。

然后是仙境一样的景观，随着鸽子的眼睛，飞越群山，流水，瀑布，一片亭台楼阁出现在这个世外桃源，这就是赫赫有名的琅琊阁。据说这些美景不是实景拍摄，而是后期用特效加上去的。鸽子给琅琊阁少阁主蔺晨带来了北燕传来的消息：北燕六皇子当上了太子。少阁主的脸上露出了一丝不易察觉的微笑，喃喃道：他果然办到了。（这里的他，指的就是梅长苏，这也是要往后看才会知道的）。

接下来皇帝，越贵妃，皇后，太子萧景宣先后出现，简短的对话就点出了誉王和太子，越贵妃和皇后之间的矛盾。

北燕归来的使者告诉誉王萧景桓北燕六皇子是在得到琅琊阁的指点才当上太子的。接下去誉王遭到了太子派来的刺客袭击，更促使誉王迫不及待地去拜访琅琊阁，寻找能够辅佐他对付太子的高人“麒麟才子”。琅琊阁给先后来拜访的誉王和太子都提供了一份相同的答案：琅琊榜首，江左梅郎，麒麟之才，得之可得天下。（瞧这生意做的，两边坑钱呐）。镜头切换地出现了两派（太子和誉王）之间的谋士，誉王谋士秦般若，太子谋士谢玉。（奇怪如果请来梅长苏做谋士，这两个人岂不要失业了吗？）。而两个皇子的这些动静，老谋深算的皇帝是知道的。

然后是梅长苏（胡哥）玉树临风，一叶扁舟上吹着笛子在水汽弥漫的江中飘然而现。（？）不要太帅吧。

卓家父子暗中跟踪誉王队伍的对话也点名了他们跟誉王的对立关系。这集出场的还有言侯儿子言豫津和长公主之子萧景睿，这两个人是好哥们。这两个人不参加政治斗争，梅长苏选择跟他们一起进京。
这集还讲到皇帝派夏冬去调查庆国公一案和皇帝要给霓凰选婿。因为霓凰镇守云南，战功赫赫，让皇帝有点害怕，想把她嫁了以防她的势力持续增长。

第二集
不是很明白为什么梅长苏要偷偷进京。飞流和蒙自（大梁第一高手，琅琊榜上第二高手）过招，只是输他一点，为什么飞流没上琅琊高手榜呢？电视剧里对飞流的背景没有交代，小小年纪功夫就这么高，肯定是有特殊的背景的。飞流那么高的功夫，也引起了侯爷谢玉对梅长苏产生了一丝疑惑。梅长苏故意放风让太子和誉王两边都来了。高公公一开始就一直在帮靖王了，这个高公公真是厉害啊。侯爷就是个两面派，表面上保持中立，实际是太子的谋士，暗中又派儿子谢弼为誉王效力。这点被梅长苏马上就看出来了。（谢弼的扮相有点土，相比起其他公子，缺少点贵族气质。）太子也演得有点笨了些。

两个皇子竞先讨好梅长苏，很好笑。太皇太后一下子就认出了梅长苏就是林殊，可是大家都以为她是老糊涂了。霓凰心里却留了疑窦。

第三集
庭生（后面知道是祁王的遗腹子），这个演员选的也不好，没有灵气，祁王是何等人物，怎么儿子这么一般。这集不明白的地方是蒙挚这之前一直都有跟梅长苏联络。为什么梅长苏选择他，而不是霓凰？蒙挚毕竟只在赤焰军待了一年而已。霓凰对梅长苏感兴趣是因为几年前他帮她化解了南境危机。为什么豫津和景睿也参加了霓凰的选婿比试?
霓凰选婿比试上出现了一个百里奇，武功甚好，但是粗人一个。
小王爷对姐姐真好，弹幕里有人说这小王爷是现代人穿越过去的吗？真好笑
这集还提到了景睿的身世
卓班主排行第四
第四集
梅长苏利用百里奇救庭生
静妃偶然间听到有人要让郡主喝情丝绕的事情，想办法见到长公主求她传话给郡主。（因为长公主以前也被人下情丝绕). 长公主转而求救于梅长苏。

历年感恩节晚餐

2020 

This year Aunt joined our dinner, together with Brandon's gf Toma, we have 7 Adults and 2 kids.

Dennis found a smoke Turkey from Aldi, $2+/lb, and it's already cooked. Just need to heat up. It takes pretty good and big time saver.

Dennis made:

1. Turkey with stuffing.

2. Lobster small Hawaiian sandwich appetizer

3. Crab cakes

4. MacCheese

I made:

1. Enoki dish

2. Bachoy

3. Sweet potato casserole

4. Mash potato

Toma and Brandon brought:

1. Beet smoke salmon

2. Kimcheese type Carrots

3. Baked corn cobs

4. A piece of Coby beef

Emma made:

Pecan cheese pie (It's pretty good actually)

Dennis also bought Donuts for Aiden's birthday.

Dennis's mom brought:

Sweet rice you(2) fan(4)

It's pretty good dinner. Was going to do it on Friday but Brandon and Tomo were booked on Friday so we moved to Sat.  I dont work on Thursday and Friday so it gives us plenty of time to do some cleaning and prepare the dishes. So I dont feel very exhausted for preparing this time. 

This year is special and challenging with pandemics. Dennis' Dad got really sick and almost died, that's a challenges for Dennis' mom. My sprint MM project ended so I was out of job for a month before I got on the Sprint MIT team which is much harder job than I can imagine. So that's a challenge for me. Brandon got a job and his relationship still doing good, so it's a good year for him. Both kids got to the new school and do remote studying for most of time. It was challenging for them and me also.  

It's a election year, with pandemic still out of control, it's challenging for the country. 

2019 Hot pot thanksgiving.

2017

今年准备感恩节， 5 个大人，两个小孩。不错。

准备食物如下：

Appetizer:
做了这个，我们买了那种salty的rip whole wheat cracker, 我觉得有点太咸。因为smoke salmon 也是咸的。感觉一般。
https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/easy-springtime-ritz-cracker-canapes-recipe/

crab pie, 现在costco都不卖can crab meat了。买了两罐fresh crab meat, 今年crab meat 涨到$21一罐。明年一罐就好了。因为做了8个，还剩很多。因为是婆婆喜欢吃的，成了保留项目。

Main course:
1. Turkey: 感恩节前一周多在Aldi买的，$1.29/lb, 买了个12lb的。 到了周末就降至0.99/lb。烤起来很漂亮，但是还是有点干。本来不想买Turkey了，但是Emma要。这次Dennis烤得不错。
2. 炒Bachoy

3. 婆婆的油饭

4. Green bean cassrole: 这次用了另外的recipe, 加了French Onion在上面，但是我烤的时间有点太长了。上面的Fried onion 和cheese都有点硬了。下次不做这个了。
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/18379/best-green-bean-casserole/
5. Dennis买了条龙虾和一些king crab放小面包上当成小sandwich

5. 酸辣汤：不错，销了一大半。

Side dish:
Macaroni cheese: 孩子们最喜欢的。

Candied yam casserole : 还是一样好吃
http://www.kincommunity.com/episodes/candied-yam-casserole/

Dessert:
pumpkin pie：这次Emma坚持做，味道其实比costco的好，又不会太大。
我做了十个大的红薯sesame ball, 都给婆婆拿回去了，因为吃不下了。
还在costco买了盒mozi-icecream.

2016

今年准备感恩节， 5 个大人，两个小孩。感觉比去年好。

准备食物如下：

Appetizer:
crab pie, 现在costco都不卖can crab meat了。买了两罐fresh crab meat, 一罐$17.

Main course:
1. Turkey: 感恩节前一周在costco买的，小的都被买走了，只剩下大的，最小的都有17，8磅。但是太早买冰箱又没地方放。烤起来很漂亮，但是还是有点干。
2. Garlic sauce egg plant：还不错。没吃光但是基本上消灭。用了四个茄子。

3. 婆婆的油饭

4. Green bean cassrole: 我觉得味道不错。不过只消耗了1／3. 觉得要用新鲜的green bean做也许比较好。 
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/13717/grandmas-green-bean-casserole/

5. 排骨汤：只有我和Aiden喝。菜太多了。

Side dish:
Stuffing: 剩一大堆。只有Dennis喜欢。
Mashed potato: Aiden, Brando, I like it. Emma doesn't like it.
Macaroni cheese: Emma & Aiden like it.

Candy yam: Dennis's Dad, Brando, Emma like it.

pumpkin cheese cake：Not bad.
http://bbs.wenxuecity.com/food-thanksgiving/1491686.html

A busy day

今天两个小孩的计划表有点忙。
3:50 到4:30 Aiden 在MSA游。
送他到小区游泳池游，从4:45 到5:30。
5:00回家接Emma到MSA游，5:20-6:20
5:30接Aiden, 他说肚子饿，所以跑回家给他弄了一包爆米花和一瓶gatarade, 送他去球队，结果找不到人，等了10钟，没法再等了，只能回去接Emma回家。

回家一查，原来训练场地改了。这前一天计划得好好的，就差这一点没看清，就破坏了一场球赛的训练。

很多事情可以凑在一起：
1. 刚好我跟Dennis两个人都没注意到邮件里注明的场地信息。
2. Dennis的手机里没存教练的电话。后来在信箱里翻到了，打了没打通。（估计那时教练已经开始训练了，不可能接电话。）
3. Dennis 的手机里没有另一个教练的电话。
4. 新的训练场地离原场地很远，（我让Aiden在周围看了一下，没看到教练）。
5. 我那时情急之下，没想到去找邮件出来确认一下场地。主要是心理上还依赖Dennis, 他都没怀疑场地有改。
6. 教练转发训练信息时没有强调场地改了。

这些因素加起来就导致我们无谓地浪费了一场训练。
所以一步都不能忽略。

Reading note of "Amazing tips to make you smarter"

• Use dryer fabric sheets as dust rags. They pick up dust much better than cloth does.

• If your little Picasso has used the wall for his crayon artwork, just dip a damp rag in baking soda to clean it off. You’ll have to work at it, but it works.

• Use dryer fabric sheets as dust rags. They pick up dust much better than cloth does.

• Next time you get a splinter, place Scotch tape over it and gently pull. The adhesive should take the splinter right out.

• To make your carpets smell fresh, sprinkle some baking soda over them, let it sit for about an hour, and then vacuum.

• Before you clean your toilet, pour a can of Coke into it and let it sit for a couple of hours. The acid in the Coke will get rid of most of the stains!

• When you need to fill some nail holes in your wall, gently rub a bar of white soap against the hole until it’s filled in. The soap works as a quick Spackle.

• Stick cupcake papers in your car’s cup holders to keep them clean.

• Clean your blender by filling it about halfway with warm water. Add a drop of dish soap and then run it. Rinse and dry—all clean!

• Put an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator to absorb unwanted odors. Change it out every three months.

• To keep your drains clog-free, squirt some liquid dish detergent down your drain, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then run hot water for several seconds. Do this once a week.

• Try a mixture of Mountain Dew and water in a vase to keep roses fresh.

• After painting a room, place a couple of bowls of vinegar in the room to help absorb the smell.

pg24img1.jpg

• When you boil corn on the cob, add just a pinch of sugar to the water. This will help bring out the corn’s natural sweetness.

• Place an apple in a bag of potatoes to keep them from sprouting buds.

• Use a clean ketchup or mustard squeeze bottle for your pancake batter. After a little practice you’ll have perfect pancakes every time!

• For fun fried eggs, crack the eggs into a cookie cutter.

• To keep brown sugar from clumping, toss in some marshmallows.

• To keep cake from sticking to your knife, place the knife under warm water before you slice.

• If you need just a small amount of lemon juice for a recipe, don’t cut the lemon in half—it’ll dry out too soon. Instead, poke a small hole in the lemon and squeeze out just what you need.

• To keep radishes, carrots, and celery crisp, place them in a bowl of ice water 

• Store cottage cheese or sour cream upside down in the refrigerator. (Make sure the lid is on tight!) This forms a vacuum that inhibits bacteria growth.

• To rid your soup of excess fat, toss some ice cubes into the pot as it cooks. The grease will cling to the ice cubes. Retrieve the cubes and throw them out before you serve the soup.

• To ripen your fruit faster, place it in a paper bag with an apple.

• Freeze extra pancakes or waffles in a plastic bag. When you want to serve them again, just pop them in the toaster.

• Book your flight at least a month out. Insiders say that you’ll find the best fares 45 days before your departure. That can save you serious money.

2 Check out every online discounter you can find. Everybody knows about Priceline and Expedia, but have you looked on Orbitz, HotWire, or CheapOair?

3 While you’re at it, check out your airline’s website. Sometimes they’ll surprise you by giving discounts if you deal directly with them.

4 Sign up for travel alerts. When a fare goes up or down, you’ll get a text alert. Check out BestFares.com, FareCompare.com, or Airfarewatchdog.com for details.

Repairing our Jenn-Air oven - Hood fan broke

Our Jenn-air hood fan has 5 speed control, recently the first 4 speed controls were not working, it would turn on for a split second then cut off. The maximum speed fan control is the only one that is working. It rules out the motor problem though. Also the two brightness setting on the oven light was not working either, the brightness can only be set to bright, not dim.

After searched from internet, I found this service manual (it didn't come with the manual when we purchased this oven 8 years ago.)

http://applianceassistant.com/ServiceManuals/16023510_maytag_jenn-air_jxt_vent_hoods.pdf

My hood model is JXT9048CDP. After read through the service manual, I knew the problem was either touch pad or control board. I disassembled the hood to expose the wiring.

I removed the touch pad, use multi-meter to test the continuity. The switches on touch pad are special kind, they need to be pressed down and hold when performing the test. It took me a while to figure it out. At first, I thought it was just on/off switch, so I press it once, test it, it was open state, then I pressed it again, it was still open. The correct way to test them is to press the switch and hold it down until the reading is shown. The touch pad turned out to be fine. After all, they are just some simple switches.

There was no much you can do to test the control board. The service manual only tells you to test if you can get the 120V of input voltage to control board which I did. So input voltage is right, the control board must be defected. There is no model # printed on the board, so it took me a while to find out it's part no. from internet, which is #49001238. On some big company's website, it is sold for $228. I ordered it from the site below for $148. Not the cheapest one from internet but it's more reliable seller from the review.

http://www.centralapplianceparts.com/Whirlpool-Corp-Electronic-Control-49001238-p/49001238.htm?gclid=Cj0KEQjw5ti3BRD89aDFnb3SxPcBEiQAssnp0qSNURkaR-N-MYg784ZWSEDKd4O7fB2TILmm-9CixIoaAsfi8P8HAQ&Click=37826

After replaced the control board, the problem solved!

P.S. After a month, the control board stop working. Called the company, they agreed to send another part. Got the part in a week, installed, nothing works, there was a crack on the PCB board, same cracks was also found on the first shipped one which I didn't notice before. Called them again, they sent another one, this time the part looks much newer and no cracks. It worked but I hope this one will last longer time.

生病的一周

星期二DH从牙医那里回来，就说很不舒服。一量体温，发烧，没法上班，只好躺下休息。这中间各种难受，肌肉痛，头痛，各种症状像flu。到星期四，烧下降到98，99度之间，他跑去上班。他们公司的护士给他检查，说不是flu. 但他还有点发烧，还是具有传染性，就把他送回家了。这一天早上，我也觉得喉咙有点异样，一測，我也开始发烧了。Emma 回家，说不舒服，測她，她也发烧了。从星期四到星期六，Emma就缺了三次游泳训练和一天的课（星期五没去上课）。我和Emma一直到星期一早上, 烧才退了。

虽然不是大病，但生病起来真的是很不舒服啊，也很耽误事。退烧之后还咳嗽了一个星期左右才算全愈。Emma则错过了5次的游泳训练。这次的教训是我觉得以后像这样一人得病，要想办法杜绝传染到全家。生病的人头两天是最具有传染性的，这时跟病人接触最好要戴口罩，防止他咳嗽，打喷嚏溅到你（这是流感之类传播的主要途径）。嗯，就像护士那样戴个口罩。

Aiden是这场病灾中唯一躲过的一个。