Chris Chen dot See Eh!
Family, Finances & Tech
Thomas at Our Playground
Mar 10th
Since starting my three month paternity leave, I’ve started to learn what it’s like to spend entire days with Thomas; and I’m still to learn what it’s like to do this for weeks on end, and looking forward to it! He’s a really fun age right now, and I feel like I have a new play-buddy, except he doesn’t drink and I have to change his poop a few times a day 
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Bubba is already able to climb the bars and get up to the top level and shoots himself down the slide. It’s a bit nerve racking, but he’s a champ. It feels like only yesterday he was learning to roll in our Maui condo.
With our next one on the way, I really get it when people say “they grow up so fast.” Alex is ready to go at any moment. We’re in the redzone, but my guess is things start happening March 12th. And I think it’s a girl.
I’m looking forward to some serious quality time with T-Bone. We’ve got Imagination Station every Wednesday, story time at the library, and Little Dippers at the local pool when possible. I feel so grown up.
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- My boy loves the rawks!
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- One of many shovels in his pail
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- Serious excavation project in progress
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- Dad – is that your Blackberry taking a picture of ME?!!
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- Setting up for takeoff
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- Getting ready to launch
The American Economic Collapse in Brief
Jan 23rd
The economy is not much better today than it was in 2007 when the recession began. There’s been many major events from the collapse of Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers, to the massive bailout efforts put forth by the US Government, to the seemingly stunning stock market recovery during 2009.
In the past week, we’ve seen some signs of the “recovering” economy faltering and possibly the begin of the long predicted pullback. The Globe and Mail published a great little summary of the events in the US, how the people were screwed by bankers time and time again, and what Obama plans to do to make those bankers pay.
I particularly like the part about financial industry lobbyists returning “home on their private aircraft, where they were served fried puppy for dinner by their personal chefs.”
USA, USA!
Thomas Visits Santa – Year 2
Dec 8th
Great picture!
We made it to the mall before Santa and were only behind one Mom with her kids. Thomas was ready to bust through the rope and run to Santa, kinda like a dog with his eye on a steak 20 yards away. When it was finally our turn, Thomas took off like a juiced sprinter in the 100 metre dash. As he got within a couple metres of the fat man in the red suit, he froze and looked back for us.
Alex put him on Santa’s knee, and we were wondering how he’d react. My money was on a full scale tear fest. But as usual, I was wrong. He seemed really curious about everything around him: the reindeer, the lights, the Christmas buildings with cotton snow, and this dude that was holding him while we all waited for a smile or a cry. Alex managed to tickle him (Thomas not Santa) just enough to get a couple good shots. The end result as you can see below was pretty damn good.
My boy is a champ. What can I say? Merry Christmas!
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- Great picture!
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- Thomas with Santa
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- No crying going on here
Christmas Tree…done.
Dec 1st
This is a new personal best for our household: The Christmas tree was trimmed by November 29th. Mind you, it’s a fake one; but a damn good fake if I do say so. A few pine cone air freshners doubling as ornaments and it’s just like the real thing.
Thomas was ripping around the living room in his Santa outfit as Nat King Cole rattled off some yuletide cheer in the background via MP3 (of course). Nothing in the key of St. Nick to be found on the digital TV music channels just yet — too damn early I guess.
But that’s not stopping the Chens from getting our jingle bells on, and stockings hung.
Goodbye Grandparents. Hello Cousin.
Nov 23rd
Today was a busy one.
Since I had the day off, (I’m working the coming Saturday), and Thomas’ fever was over and done with, we decided to see Grandma and Grandpa Cryer as they left town to start their new life in Kelowna, followed by a visit with Uncle Jeremy, Aunty Scarlett and baby Xavier – our inaugural visit was cut short.
We were 1/3 the way to West Van when Grandpa called to say that they were ready to head for the Okanagan to make sure they get in with daylight ahead of them. So we re-routed to Caffè Artigiano in Burnaby for a morning drink. Perfect for us since it’s only a stone’s throw to Jeremy’s place. We spent some time chatting about this and that, and before we knew it they had to get on the road. Thomas had fun hanging with Grandpa, trying to pry his Blackberry from the holster to press them buttons!
We said our “see you soons” and were off to see Xavier. When we arrived, the little guy was sleeping, but that didn’t matter to Thomas. He quickly made himself at home, opening doors and sliding open cupboards like he owned the place. We ended up hanging out for the day. Thomas had a tough time getting down to his nap, but when he finally passed out, he was out for a good while.
Grandma and Grandpa Chen came by (they hadn’t seen their grand kids in 15 hours) with lunch. We left for home shortly after to beat the rush hour traffic. So ended another weekend.
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- Loving the attention
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- Checking email
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- Proud Aunty for the 6th time!
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- My new nephew
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- Hello baby Xavier
Xavier Clifford Chen. Son, Nephew, Cousin.
Nov 20th
Baby Xavier - aka the X-Man
We didn’t have a chance to visit Xavier on November 19th because 1) I worked until 8pm and 2) Thomas was rawking a fever from a bout of roseola. I was a bummed that I couldn’t be there that evening, but Alex and I were determined to visit the hospital Friday night since I finished up at 4pm. We were hoping Thomas’ fever would break and it did just that. I ripped out of work (later than I wanted to) loaded up the troops, and ripped it across town to Women’s Hospital in a monsoon like downpour. I can’t remember having driven in heavier rain – even for Vancouver!
When we arrived, Xavier was feeding and having a bit of a tough go. So we waited down the hall and tried to occupy Thomas. My parents kept him busy as he ran around from one person to the next, eating his snacks and drinking his bottle. His fever started to creep up a bit, so we gave him some Tylenol to keep him cool. Big mistake. He unloaded his stomach all over himself and me. Which was good time because Xavier was finished feeding. Alex and I took turns sticking our heads into the room to meet the little guy, make sure Scarlett was okay and pay our respects. We all wanted to see how Thomas would react to the new kid on the block, but we had to save that for the next visit. We took off with puke-boy in tow, back into the rain, home to PoMo. All the while enjoying the pungent odour of milk, food, and everything else he consumed that day.
It was a busy evening to say the least. But it was all worth it. Totally worth it. I got to meet my new nephew, see my parents become grandparents for the second time and see my little brother become a Dad before my eyes.
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- Thomas with Grandpa’s mug
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- Xavier Clifford Chen
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- The proud parents with baby Xavier
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- The X-Man
Thomas at the Vancouver Aquarium
Nov 14th
We decided to introduce Thomas to the Vancouver Aquarium last April. He was a little young to really appreciate it, but we kinda wanted to check it out for ourselves too. Neither Alex nor myself had visited the Aquarium since elementary school. And what can I say but: “Things done changed!”
Needless to say, Thomas loved the exhibits, until it was snack time… then he had a mini-meltdown. But a couple rice crackers and a a bottle of milk later, he was good to go. We’ll definitely be returning in the Spring to check things out again. This time Thomas can run around and go nuts.
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- The famous killer whale carving
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- Say cheese
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- Hello Jellyfish!
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- Lemme in
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- Snack time
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- Giant turtle
Debt Sucks
Nov 12th
Debt sucks
Working in banking, part of my job is to extend various credit products (i.e. loans, lines of credit, and credit cards) to my customers. I’m not against debt, but the problem I’m seeing with most people who come into my office for credit is that it’s for all the wrong reasons. These days, people have forgotten (or never learned) what it means to save for something whether it’s big or small, instead they just get a loan. The best part is that they come in fully expecting to get the loan; without a credit history, with a terrible credit history, with little, to no assets, or simply based on the fact that they’ve been a customer since they were a kid.
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Remembrance Day at the Tot Lot
Nov 12th
Thomas at the Tot Lot
Today was my second day off in a mid-week, weekend — if that makes sense? Of course, that means I’m working the coming Saturday 
It’s been a rainy past few days as Vancouver’s fall weather has really set in. But, we got a sunny break in the clouds around noon so Alex and I took Thomas out on his trike to the the Tot Lot for some fresh air and a chance for him to burn off some steam before his afternoon nap.
At about 17 months, the little guy is a non-stop fountain of energy! Any outdoor time makes life a little bit easier. Thomas was wet on the knees and covered in wood bits from crawling around — shocker!
We took a short walk after playing for a while, checked out the Sev for Dr. Pepper Slurpees, but they didn’t have the flavour. They’re quite possibly the best beverage out there. Next time.
Shortly after getting home, T-Bone went down for a sold hour and a half nap.
Mission accomplished.
TELUS ADSL2 Rocks My World
Sep 11th
For those of you currently on Shaw’s High Speed Internet, I’m sorry to tell you that your Internet connection sucks. Why you ask? Because Telus is testing its ADSL2 service, and I’m one of the lucky few in British Columbia to have a trial fibre optic connection going straight into my house.
This fibre line offers killer downloads of just under 25 Mbps (aka 25,000 kbps) and uploads of just under 5Mbps (aka 5,000kbps)!
What does this mean in the real world?
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