Proud to be a TD Canada Trust customer

After spotting this article in the Globe & Mail - TD tops online survey ranking and having called TD yesterday, I felt writing a compliment for my favorite bank, and here are the reasons why

• Waived NSF fee of $42.50 when PC Financial accidentally withdrew the same transfer "twice"
• EasyWeb incorporates and displays ALL TD products I have in a easy to read format (bank accounts, VISA, mortgage, brokerage)
• TD Waterhouse remains one of the best few brokerages I have used, and low commission of $9.99
• Their Get-iPod-for-switch-to-TD promotions were very effective, I have gotten 3 iPod Shuffle and 3 iPod Nano's out of them. Free stuff is never bad
• TD has longest hours among 5 Canadian banks, very convenient for me to drop by after work
• Monday-Friday 8 am - 8 pm
• Saturday 8 am - 4 pm
• TD provides mandarin phone lines for both EasyLine and Waterhouse
• EasyLine 1-800-387-2828
• Waterhouse 1-800-838-3223
• Having more assets at TD = more barganing power
• Lower mortgage rates
• Fees reduction/reversal
• Annual fees waived for all TD Gold VISA's, free Borderless USD account and VISA
• Most importantly of any business = Customer Service, and TD is second to none, enough said (well, maybe on par with American Express)

Obama speech, and countless standing ovation and applauses

First time I heard President Obama speaking, couple notes

- His speech is quite easy to understand, direct to the points, somewhat blend with ordinary words, but addressed to the nation indeed

- Standing up every time Obama finished a sentence :( must've been like 50+ times, especially the madame speaker. And 100+ rounds of applauses

- Capital Hill seemed like Hollywood last night, when even senators and company lined up to get good positions to shake Obama's hand during entry, and autographs upon his departure.
Wow, have they not seen a president before? ;-)

http://247wallst.com/2009/02/25/obama-address-a-road-map-without-gps/

The Tipping Point

This is somewhat related to Malcom Gladwell's book The Tipping Point (I have this book and Blink as well), where he discussed how little things can make a big difference

I have the "luxury" of reviewing my life, my careers, my goals to prepare for my application, and the most important questions are clearly - why? why now? who am I?

A wise lady shared with me - the I that I was, is different than the I I am now, and the I that I will be. I was reviewing pieces of my life in the last 8 years and how I have changed, for the better - from not knowing exactly what I wanted but what everyone seemed to want, to seeing it all via various jobs and social encounters, and then beginning to see my Tipping Point, and then wanting more.

With age comes wisdom, I hope these little things I will be doing in the next 2 months, will make a big difference in my life beyond the next 3 years.

Jerry

一個人的情人節 也要精采

昨天 Friday the 13th

13號星期五, Feb 13 2009 幸運地沒有壞事發生

今天 Feb 14, 2009 Valentine's Day

突然之間我無法勾起這一天的回憶 笑笑
習慣了孤單吧 這一天就淡淡地變成平常的一天 兔子是我的情人 :-)

不用買玫瑰 不用寫卡片 不用計劃 甚至可以一天不用開口 照顧自己

傳統且相信童話故事的我 還是祝天下有情人幸福
幸福不必終成眷屬  但能說聲「有你真好」便夠
盼今天的你們 能夠在這灰色的經濟與環境下 有一天精采 有一天難忘的回憶！

Busy Interesting Week

It has been a week since my return from Taiwan

Work has been quite busy to confirm that no vacation is long enough, I suppose it's good to be busy in the downturn economy. Getting into the mood to take the final one of the 3 Microsoft exams to obtain my certification. Then it's onto the next big thing, whatever that is :-)

Personally it is a mix of everything

• Cleaned the house little bit, and the garage as well with recent warm weather. I am finally throwing away my UW course notes after 2 moves
• I am cat-sitting a friend's cat and she is quite handful, my rabbit is much easier in comparison
• Made new friends from Taiwan, quite interesting indeed and a lot of surprises
• Will upload photos soon
• Planning for next trips already, considering Washington DC for National Cherry Blossom in April, and maybe Tremblant QC in July, then some more Taiwan in August.
• I am proud to say I have NOT purchased anything since I came back, but sold items and paid my credit card bills. I do not know how I spent ~$30,000 last year
• I nosebleed every time I blow my nose :-(

I am back

Like any vacation, this one is too short, and I miss Taiwan dearly, mostly the people, then weather, and the food. It is a drastic change after flying for 20 hours, from +20C to -20C weather and from vacation to lots of work. And despite being the cheapest flight I have ever paid at $860 CAD after tax, it is still $860 I don't have anymore.

I am glad I made this trip, spending time in Taiwan over Chinese New Year is amazing as you get lots of food all the time, and you meet relatives you haven't seen in a long time without much travelling. I am beyond the ages of expecting red bags as children, however I am grateful for receving them, the thoughts mean more than the money inside.

Jan 23-24, 2009
Travel day

Jan 25, 2009 除夕
回芳苑 紅包

Jan 26, 2009 初一
拜拜 姑姑姑丈 表弟表妹回來

Jan 27, 2009 初二
拜拜

Jan 28, 2009 初三
回母親娘家

Jan 29, 2009 初四
回芳苑

Jan 30, 2009 初五
北上

Jan 31, 2009
花蓮慈濟精舍

Feb 1, 2009
休息 逛街 吃飯
MagV

Feb 2, 2009
Travel day

Feb 3, 2009
Back to Work, lots of it

From Taiwan Chinese New Year