Month of July , 2009

* Today's Costco shopping: 25th time this year, 3rd time this month 

I spent over 1 hour at Costco today.  I am an indecisive person.  When I have unexpected products in front of me, I need to spend plenty of time making decision. 

Food-wise, I bought same old stuff, except for the cheese and seasoning salt. I've been doing very good with money and diet.  So, I'm going to celebrate by cutting cheese.

I spent $196.48 today ($38.78 gas, $79.82 clothes, $77.88 food). 

How can I resist Costco?

5 Lounge shirts were under $5 each.  I had to fight my urge not to buy 10 of them.  I wear Kirkland's white undershirts when I go to sleep.  I thought it was time I graduate from them.  If I like these shirts, I should buy 5 more.  These are extremely cheap. They are very light and soft.  They feel very pleasing to my skin.  A lot of time, I find my undershirts too thick and warm.  But I hate to take them off and walk around topless.  These shirts fill the gap perfectly.

Adidas' sport shirt was $14.99.  I guess I could have spent same amount of money and bought 2 shirts of lesser quality.  But look at that shirt.  It's adorable. I love this shirt.  I've been doing very good with my workout schedule.  I lost 4 pounds since I started to run 3 months ago.

A pair of vacation shorts was $19.99.  I could have saved a few bucks by buying cheaper shorts from Target.  But these are Calvin Klein with a lot better quality.  It's definitely worth of paying a few extra bucks.

The yellow shirt goes with the vacation shorts - it's for the vacation. :)

Costco has good stuff.
Without Costco, I would buy cheaper quality clothes from elsewhere.  I don't mind buying cheaper quality clothes, but...

All in all, I spent almost same amount of money I would have spent at discount stores.  But I walked away with much better products.

This is a perfect example of "elevating my life-style with same amount of money"

I love Costco.

I guess this is a sign of being single as well.
This isn't someting totally new to me.  Since I was a boy, when I focus on something, I tend to make this kind of mistakes.

Driving back home (Costco Pants & Costco Floor-Mat shown)

How embarrassing it was.

I drove all the way to Los Angeles County to meet my old friend (I didn't see her for 10+ years). We had a lunch and went to a coffee shop. 

We talked about the olden days.  She was busy telling me about her husband and married life.  At least one of us is married. Hehe... 

After 4 hours, when I said "Good bye, keep in touch", that's when I noticed that I my shoes were not matching.

I guess nobody noticed.

Maybe people thought I was setting a trend.... you know, Hollywood...

When I was young, I used to buy two pairs of boots and mix colors.  Yes, I was awesome.

I went out for a routine Saturday night grocery shopping.

I stuck to my rule.

"Know what you're going to buy.  Buy what's on your list."

Tonight, I went to Vons, Albertsons, and Ralphs.

I spent $9.23 total. 

I should not judge book by its cover.
But, I hate this move "The Ugly Truth".
No, I didn't watch the movie.  And I will never watch it.

But, just a sight of the movie preview (on TV) makes me very irritated.

I can see how high school girls would enjoy this movie... but..

The movie looks cheap, tacky, childish.... it's embarrassing.
I hate this movie so much that I had to write about it.
I don't know why, but this movie gets me personally.

I don't appreciate how "men" will be generalized by a team of B movie makers.  (Apparently, the movie was written by three women.)

Stupid, stupid...

Lately I find myself tipping fast food employees.

Fast food employees work harder than people working at fancy restaurants.  But the society says "No, don't tip the fast food employees."  I am beginning to empathize for fast food employees.

Last 2 times, when I was at Carl's Jr., I saw 2 different people cleaning tables.  So, I left my trash and a tip on the table and walked away.

Of course, some of the fast food employees are jackasses.  But I often see hard working people trying to make minimum wages.  

When I'm at fancy restaurants, I leave tips because that's the rule.  Last time when I was at a fancy restaurant, I had a miserable time.  But I still had to give the waiter $20.00 tip.  I am still sick to my stomach about that tip.

I tip fast food employees because I feel for them.  I want them to know that there are strangers in the world wishing good luck for them.

This must be a sign of getting old.

When I was young, I used to daydream about becoming a hired killer.

###

Have you seen "Reservoir Dogs"? They have a nice bit about tipping.
Here's the video clip.
WARNING: VERY strong language. VERY strong...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBFUDbOldMs

RIP Chris Penn

* Today's Costco shopping: 24th time this year, 2nd time this month

I got 2 more long sleeves shirts.  They look very good.  But, after taking them home, I realized that they are see through. (You know I hate to show my nipples).  So, I'll have to take them back.

They had 2 pack of stainless steel water bottle for $19.99.  I've been looking for one of these for some time. 

Plastic bottles are bad for the environment. Also, plastic bottles contain chemical named BPA.

But, personally, I bought these stainless steel bottles because they look cute.  I've been running twice a week for last 2 months now.  I always carry a plastic water bottle when I run.  Now I'm going to look even cooler.

a lot of apples

H20zone - Stainless Steel Water Bottle from Costco

I ordered 2 of these sport caps (below) from ebay ($11.31)
I hope they fit the bottles.

I find myself speaking my mind.  Even to my customers.

This is something I would never do 10-20 years ago.

For example

I took pictures of the batteries last weekend.  And I was arranging time to drop by to return their products and collect payment.

Everything went well.  Customer liked the pictures. 

At the very end, their accounting person emailed.  Email was also copied to 2 other people in their company.

It said they would need my tax ID or SSN.

So, without hesitation, I replied with this email (also CC'd 2 other people)

#####

Hi.
This can get ugly.

When you buy a candy from a candy store – do you ask for their Tax ID or SS number?
When you buy a Sham Wow – do you ask for tax ID from the Sham Wow guy?

So, why do you ask for my tax ID?

I refuse to submit to that. 

Thank you

#####

At that time I didn't care if I didn't get paid.  I was very annoyed.

Then I realized that I was wrong.
That's not how I should behave.

I must keep reminding myself not to act my age (like a grumpy old man).

* Today's Costco shopping: 23rd time this year, 1st time this month

Nothing special... boring.

Oh, I bought 2 long sleeves shirts.
Now I have three of these identical shirts.  I love these, so cheap ($16.95 each).  The quality on these shirts is amazing. 

Since I never wear undershirt, I always worry about my nipples showing through the shirt.  These shirts are thick enough, but I still have to be careful.  Showing nipples through shirt is a disgusting look on men.  Well, same goes with 85% of female population. Yikes... (you know, grandmothers, and ugly ladies...)

*51 & 52th packages of the year

I bought a pair of brown shoes from Overstock.com ($30.00).  These shoes are very comfortable.  I mean, it equals my $150.00 pair of ecco shoes.

I like Overstock.com - I highly recommend it.

Now I have brown belt & brown shoes for lighter pants.  I have black belt and black shoes for black pants. I've always wanted to wear clothes like that.

I don't even know why I bought this (below).  I never drink.  But it looks so cool.  It was $6.00 include shipping. 

This entire year, as of July 11, I drank half a can of beer.  That's all.  3 weeks ago my boss brought beer to work.  I pretended I was drinking... and I dumped it down the sink.