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Oct 25 We Are HeroesPosted by coffeemates | 10/25/09
You know the moment when words from a poem or a song match your mood, or they are the catalyst for some personal observations?
Well, it happened to me again in my car on my way to pick up my daughter from pre-school. It was a beautiful afternoon with a balmy temperature of 80 degrees in the car and I was enjoying the fall scenery on route. I love this weather. Sorry friends in Albany and the N.E. Dearly though I love you, I saw the snow on TV as the Titans played the Patriots at Foxboro. I remember how early cold weather can be an indicator of many months of winter weather ahead... CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: Wind Beneath my Wings, Bette Midler, Beaches, hero, success Oct 07 Wanting what you’ve gotPosted by coffeemates | 10/07/09
Do you know the song “Soak up the Sun” by Sheryl Crow? I heard it again on the radio and two lines set off bells in my head – one of those “light bulb” moments.
The words are: “It's not having what you want. It's wanting what you've got.” Let me give you an example of something that often happens to me here and then explain why the words of Crow’s song resonated with me. When people ask me who I am and where I’m from, a typical scenario goes like this: “You’re Chinese? But you’re not from China... CATEGORY: Commentary & Debate
TAGS: Birthday, accepting your circumstances, changing your mindset to love your situation, moving and loneliness Oct 02 October 2nd - My Special DayPosted by coffeemates | 10/02/09
October 2nd is my birthday. Let’s just say I’m 21, again. I share my birthday with a number of luminaries, among them Sting (one of my favorite performers) and Mahatma Gandhi (an inspiration).
Did you know that October 2nd is designated as the International Day of Non-Violence in honor of Gandhi’s life? As someone who really wants world peace as corny as that sounds I’m proud my birthday is International Day of Non-Violence. I’m telling you it’s my birthday, not because I want to hog the limelight and bask in good wishes – well, maybe a little – but because I want to share with you how I feel from my heart and how far I’ve come emotionally this year. Truthfully, it’s been a tough year for me with moving to a new city... CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: Birthday, attitudes to birthdays, October 2nd, International Day of Non-Violence Sep 29 When does a handshake become a hug?Posted by coffeemates | 09/29/09
My latest blog (09/17/09) on inviting friends over for dinner struck a nerve with many people.
And, in the interest of keeping alive the custom of dining at home with friends, we invited new friends, Alyssa, Mark and their children around for dinner on Saturday night. It was one of those delightful evenings – the best kind – where large amounts of food, conversation and laughter flowed unreservedly. One of our many conversations touched upon the question of what it means to entertain friends... CATEGORY: Commentary & Debate
TAGS: Handshake versus Hugs, dinner party, entertaining friends, good news versus bad news Sep 17 How hard is it to get together for burgers – really!Posted by coffeemates | 09/17/09
It’s been a while since I’ve updated my blog. Thanks to friends and readers of Spotlight for asking how we’re settling in down south.
I can report my husband is doing well in his job and our children love their new schools, house and neighborhood. A curious thing happened as I finally unpacked the last box in the new house we bought late spring. An intense homesickness set in not for the UK as you may have thought – many of you know how much I miss my family across the pond. I’ve been nostalgic about summer in the Capital District... CATEGORY: Commentary & Debate
TAGS: making friends, dinner parties, dinner with friends, the lost art of dinner parties May 17 Posh WoodstockPosted by coffeemates | 05/17/09
I’m sitting with my coffee in a rare moment of silence reflecting back on all that has happened over a fast and furious week.
I always give thanks for the precious moments with my children, but two events out of the ordinary are the main focus of my reflections today. And they bring great big smiles to my face. On Friday we closed on our new house. I feel I can exhale now; a huge release as I’ve held my tension and emotions in check while we went through the house buying process. I want to give a big shout out to Christy, our awesome realtor. Finally, closing day was upon us and to show you how the best laid plans can go awry, despite my checklist, I forgot to bring the cashier’s check for the closing costs... CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: house buying, Iroquois Steeplechase Nashville 2009 Apr 20 Spring TwitterPosted by coffeemates | 04/20/09
I’ve joined Twitter and have been playing around with it. I’m enjoying “tweeting” as it’s quick, easy and fun. You find out what people are doing in 140 characters at a time.
I’ve started to follow friends’ tweets in the UK and around the U.S. as well as celebrities I admire. The name Twitter comes from the name given to the chirping sounds of birds or light chattering. I thought the word was appropriate for my spring update. New technology is great as here I am in middle Tennessee communicating with you in the Capital District, New York and beyond... CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: Twitter, social networking, Shellie Braeuner, Susan Boyle, house buying, community 
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Coffee MatesSUSAN S. CHEUNG (known to many as Shifay--Chinese middle name.) Welcome to my world. I'm a resident from across the pond who lives in the Capital District. For 13 years, I was all about my career and being successful. Becoming a mother twice in my mid- to late-30s made me take stock. Now my life is a hectic whirl of being a stay-at-home mom of two young children. I face the challenges of being a woman, an older mother, a non-American and a short person! Fortunately, I'm rescued from making too many faux pas by my coffee group (my mates)-- a great bunch of women in different situations of life. We meet in the guise of drinking coffee, but really it's about keeping our sanity intact. My blog is my take on the daily issues that affect us. My aim is to shine a light on the everyday things we take for granted. Come and be part of my coffee group and join in the conversations. POSTSCRIPT: As of JULY 2008, after eight years in Guilderland, we've relocated to Nashville, Tenn., to experience Grand Ole Opry, southern hospitality and my husband’s exciting new job. Read my "Coffee Mates" posts in 2009 on acclimating to southern culture.SubscribeEmail Archives |
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