irene tang

Michelle’s Veggie Garden

30 Jul 2009 No Comments

by irenein Happenings

News: Michelle Obama’s toxic veggie nightmare.

Well, it is indeed jammer for the first family that their ground contains high level of lead.

Which makes me pray that I am not ingesting toxins when eating my own radishes, lettuces, tomatoes and sweet peas.

Courage & Accomplishments

28 Jul 2009 No Comments

by irenein Quotes

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. ~ Muhammad Ali

Online Shopping

26 Jul 2009 No Comments

by irenein Creative Business

Today is a Sunday. Here in Belgium and most of Europe, that means no shopping sprees. The stores are closed. And since Western Europeans take their summer holidays pretty seriously, the flow of products and services has slowed. This will continue to be so in July and August. The thing I do not get is that summer sales are suppose to be going on at these very same months. Retail strategies here are so different than in the US.

Sunday or no Sunday, there’s no stopping me though. I just spent £66 on Amazon UK in less than 10 minutes. So glad to be living in the age of the internet and online shopping! So glad that the £66 is from a gift certificate.

Flu Update

24 Jul 2009 1 Comment

by irenein Health

I have a little bit of a sore throat and a minor cough. I hope it is caused by lack of sleep and too much junk food (Mmmm…junk food) during Gentse Feesten. I hope it is not the swine flu.

Right now, there is no cause for a panic regarding this fast spreading pandemic. Just keep an eye on the news, and act accordingly.

I’m doing the following:

1. Taking a staycation. I do not want to be quarantined at any airports or hospitals (they are doing this in Asia). Nor do I want to get the flu from a fellow passenger.
2. Eat fresh and organic produce. Easier said than done…
3. Take vitamins to boost the immune system. This one is tricky because H1N1 is known to wreck havoc on healthier individuals. And it is morphing!

Zappos … Amazon

22 Jul 2009 No Comments

by irenein Creative Business, Happenings

I left Zappos December of 2007. As much I like my job and the people I worked with, I decided that living in Europe is not something one says no to.  I guess you can say that I quit my job to live my dreams.

Today, Amazon confirmed that they will buy up all of Zappos stocks. Though I do not have the details yet, I know it will be a good thing in the long run. I will not be one of those people who get rich from this because I do not own a single penny of Zappos. Ah well… it’s a long and kinda depressing story so I’ll spare you. And since it impossible to ever get Zappos out of my system (I gave up a while ago), this is going to affect me one way or another. In a good way, I hope.

Leaving A Trail

18 Jul 2009 No Comments

by irenein Quotes

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Language Progress…

16 Jul 2009 No Comments

by irenein Belgium

Other than the textbooks that I’ve acquired in my 2 Dutch classes, I also own a few reference books that I purchased from Amazon. Today, I decided that it is time to resume my learning of the language. So, out comes the iPod and my Teach Yourself Dutch book.

I’m really surprised that I’ve known so much more Dutch compared to 6 months ago. I breezed through pronunciation and chapter 1 comfortably. All the while feeling quite thankful that my 38 year old brain is not giving up just yet.

2 more years… that’s the time frame I am giving myself to complete all 9 levels. 2 down and 7 to go!

A Good Day

14 Jul 2009 No Comments

by irenein Belgium, Happenings

Today was a very productive day:

1. I applied for a new international passport at the Malaysian Embassy in Brussels. The process went smoothly and quickly compared to the crap I had to deal with back in Malaysia same time last year.
2. D and I visited Brussels while we were in the area. We did the silly things that tourists do and snapped a few pictures. It was not my first time in Brussels but still the place is really something. I do still like Gent the most …
3. On our way back to Gent, we stopped by the Ikea store to check out things. It was our second visit.  So far, we are the only 2 people I know who can spend hours and walk out empty handed from this place. But then, I was hurried passed the food section by D. Ha!

Gardeners

12 Jul 2009 No Comments

by irenein Quotes

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy: They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~ Marcel Proust

Amaai

11 Jul 2009 No Comments

by irenein Belgium

“Amaai, mijn haar!’ I remarked to the woman who took my passport photo. A little spontaneous outburst in Dutch without even thinking. I gave D a why-didn’t-you-say-something look while I pushed back my hair for another try. I was pleased and surprised at myself. Somehow I am morphing and adapting to Belgium (Dutch speaking Flanders at least…).

The evidence will be in my new passport.