Beam Reach

random thoughts

PIG and PTP.  While I had discussed this with quite a few accountants, no one had pointed out to me that one could only deduct loss from a PTP against the income from the SAME PTP. 

Also, the exception to the nonrecognition of gain realized on sale of personal residence is inclusive of change in place of employment.

Both are nice finds during the study of my tax book.  I really need a new accountant.

Toshi likes to sleep on top of me when I study on the couch.  He has his tummy and paws up and sleeps like a human on my body.  Sometimes he snores.  Have you ever seen a cat snore?  When the reading light is in his eyes, he would use his front paws to cover his eyes and face and continue to sleep!  I wish someone other than me was home so I could have a picture of this!

Little Cuddly

Toshi must have missed me very much.  When I got back from my trip, he would not let me sleep.  He sat by my bedroom door and cried for 2 hours.  Finally I gave up and moved myself to the living room couch.  Within 30 seconds, Toshi jumped up and spooned inside me.  He was so happy and we both fall asleep right away.  When I woke up the next morning, I found my hand on his tummy and his both front paws wrapped around my wrist.  We stayed like that for a whole 10 hours.  Then we both got up to eat and both went back to the couch for afternoon naps.  Oh, I was so happy too.  As Toshi grows older, he becomes more and more clingy and I totally dig that.

Sat, Shopping in Hong Kong

We started off the day in CBD.  We had lunch in a beautiful restaurant overlooking Hong Kong harbor called "The Box".  Then we went with a local for a whole day shopping excursion.  In retrospective, that was a bad idea.  We went to outdoor markets in the afternoon, and it was way too hot to be out walking.  I didn't really get anything significant, and paid regular price for non-pirate version DVDs (by mistake).  I got Toshi a laser pointer and I miss him very much.

I also met up with a friend who had moved to Hong Kong 2 years ago from the States and asked her about life in Hong Kong.  On one hand, I would love to live in Hong Kong for a while, because I want to learn Cantonese; on the other hand, life in Dallas starts to grow on me and it is too soon to move on.  Also, I found myself still have strong interest in the German language; so by the same token, I want to stay in a German speaking country for a while at some point of my nomad's life.

Oh, I don't know what to do...

I just dropped Toshi off at the cat sitter's place.  He really did not want to let me go.  First, he got in my suitcase so I could not pack.  Then, he lies down in front of the door of the cat sitter's apartment so I could not leave.  Finally, he cried out.  Once, twice, three times, and it went on for a long while.  I had never ever seen him like that.  He was really begging me to stay.  And truthfully, although I had my ticket set and suitcase packed, I was thinking about canceling the trip for Toshi.  How can I leave him for 10 long days??  I will miss him so much and even international travel cannot cheer me up...

Happy with the new laptop

Tuesday night I took Toshi to the sitter's home.  I felt his weight when carrying him.  He is 11 lbs now.  Yesterday morning I got up at 4 am to pack for my California trip.  I put my new laptop, wallet, phone, GPS, camera, keys, some travel documents, some miscellaneous stuff (lip balm, headsets, pens, tic tac, etc. etc.) plus a book so I have something to reading on the plane, all into my regular purse.  Amazingly, all of them fit in to the purse, which is not very big.  More amazingly, it was not heavy.  At least not as heavy as Toshi.  I give all the credit to my new laptop.  It is so small and light.  It is perfect for the road.  I am so very happy.

God, Toshi and I

I always feel the relationship between God and I is similar to the relationship between myself and Toshi. For example, if I withhold food from Toshi, I am doing it for his benefit, because I don't want him to be overweight and develop illness. Toshi, on the other hand, would not understand. He would cry and whine about getting more food. Although I understand what Toshi wants, it is hard for me to communicate the rationale behind withholding food from him to Toshi. Toshi understands that I love him very much, and he loves me unconditionally too. Similarly, when I pray to God, I might not get all I ask for from Him. Clearly, He knows what I want. But He also knows what is best for me. I might not understand His rationale, but as long as I know He loves me and I love Him, then I should live with faith.

Walking Toshi

Toshi and Chicken with Brown Rice

Toshi loves food.  But he is getting fatter.  I bought the healthy cat food "SPA Select" for him.  Well, he came over eagerly, tasted "Chicken with Brown Rice" and silently walked away.  I don't blame him.

Cat in piano

For some reason, Toshi has developed great interests in the piano.  If I play, he would get on the chair, and put his two front paws on the keys.  Oh yes, he is strong enough to make sound, so it's very much like a duet.  Sometime if I leave the key cover open, he'd play all on his own.  A couple of days ago, I found that he went into the piano to sleep.  It's a baby grand, so there is plenty of space inside.  I chased him out, 'cause I don't want his hair to be left all over the place inside the piano.  That cannot be good for the piano.  Yesterday, he found another way - now he sleeps inside the piano, but beneath the sound board.  Here is the proof:

 

Off to NYC

I'm leaving tomorrow for a two-week long business trip in NYC.  Since I won't be posting for a while, I guess I would just quickly recap what's going on in my life.

Work: Busy, sometime very exciting, sometime not so much.  Happy days and anxious days are about 50%/50%.

Moving: Finally Done.  This is the hardest move I've ever done.  I learned that I have way too many things, and I don't need 2/3 of them.  I love my new place, though.  It's coming together very nicely.  The bonus is, after 8 years of driving to restaurants, I now finally can walk to restaurants and movie theaters.  It's just wonderful.

Books: Just finished "Time traveler's wife."  I'd give it a 4 (out of 5).

Cat: Toshi is having a marvelous time in NYC visiting grandparents.  I don't think he misses me at all.  I miss him very much and I can't wait to take him back and move him into my new place.

Tennis: The league is done for the year.  No more tennis.  No more formal league that is.  I still will try to play. 

Overall: Maybe a 7.  I hope life can slow down a bit.  Holiday season is coming, and I think I'd feel much better then.

Will be back in 2 weeks.