Ok... I won't be able to practically hide this any longer:

I bought a new car.

Yes, it's exciting and all, but I'm still coming to terms with it... mainly because I still feel kind of guilty about such a frivolous purchase; perhaps I feel like I need to explain, for some reason...

Anyway, I'm not trying to rationalize or anything, but these are just my sentiments:

This car is definitely a gift from God; only by his grace and mercy. As with any gift, there is a corresponding responsibility, so I am reminded of the importance of stewardship, not only regarding financial matters but of all aspects of my life, including fellowship and my missions initiative. This made me think about second year when I was one of the few people fortunately to have a car at university, and how much I cared to use it for His service. In addition, I am reminded of being a witness -- like the words of Nichole Nordemann's "Legacy".

Haha, when I picked it up last week, I thought about the phrase of picking up "my new baby". Similarly though, I wanted to lay hands on it and dedicate it as any baby dedication we do at church. Even though I didn't do the "lay hands" part, it was my prayer that the car remain in God's protection (especially with my novice manual transmission driving skills!) and that it be dedicated for His service.

So all that being said, please do not dote on my car... as tempting it is to decorate the cute car... haha... but even though I bought it because I thought it looked nice, it's a conscious decision not to emphasize it more than my usual "everything's not a big deal". After all, it is only matter:

"It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon
enough destroy."
Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

Can't wait to get back in Toronto...

Travelling is fun and all, but it can't beat spending time with family and friends... not that my coworkers aren't fun. =p

Going to sunny Irvine... haha...

after rainy Seattle!

I cleaned my room again! It feels great! I figured out the trick is to get as much stuff out of my room. =p I bought a CD rack from IKEA and was going to house my CD's, but it turned out that it didn't really fit (it was really tall) so I put it downstairs in the living room. Oh well, that's great! The less in my room the better!

I found my colour file folders that I bought last year to do our taxes!! I was really excited because I really needed them to do our taxes this year (which I ended up dragging out because I didn't have the right colours). But now, I am ready to do our taxes for 2004!

The file folders are hidden in my stack of CA (Chartered Accountant) magazines... which I have not sorted since 2000. So now, I have a full set of UFE (Uniform Final Exam -- the exam for the CA designation) syllabi since 2000, including the Guide to the new CA Accredidation process, so that you can compare the changes in the UFE over the past 4 years! Anyone? Anyone? This can be a collector's set! =p

Now that my stationery, files, and media are somewhat more organized... onto my clothes... which theoretically would entail the many hours required to iron my shirts... well, I'll do it *sometime*...

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

I'm back home! But need to go to bed to make our Financial Reporting Developments session early tomorrow morning in Mississauga...

But here is the count of my experience today in Chicago!

I am now in Chicago airport waiting to board my plane home. I was going to complain about my terrible service at dinner, but by God's grace, another story came up that completely trumps the horrible service:

Tonight, at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, they were playing Chinese opera over the public announcement system.

I, of course, thought this phenomenon was thoroughly entertaining not to mention ridiculously hilarious, and despite futile efforts, tried *very* hard not to burst out laughing out while walking around the terminal. At all other times I couldn't stop smiling hilariously. At least I (and all other Chinese people, somewhat embarrassedly =p) knew the truth behind the high, screeching, melismatic voice, complete with instrumental and cymbal clanging. While I was eating dinner, I'm sure people were wondering why I was smiling so much -- and no, The Epic of Gilgamesh is not a comedy.

Seeing a number of people imitate the high, melismatic screeching, including the security check people, made it even harder to smother my laugh.

I wondered if there was a live performance somewhere or another reason for the music, and walked around Gate B looking for the musicians, but without any luck. I guess the performance might have been at the international gate and not at the United domestic/Canada gate, or for whatever reason, the responsible person just thought that he/she would play such exotic culture, or perhaps got away with playing his or her favourite music.

Finally, I went and laughed out loud in the washroom.

Until next time, (in Toronto!) my name is Gladys Yam. Haha...