Snow in Taichung

It is currently snowing in Taichung right now. In fact, it is a blizzard.

Really!

Actually, I should say it is snowing in our apartment.

And to be more precise, I should say that Mocha has become St, Nick and is blowing all kinds of fluffy hair all over everything in our house.


It is really amazing.

Malamutes (what we found out Mocha is) and Huskies 'blow' their undercoat twice a year since - you know - it is cold in the artic regions and they need warmer fur to insulate them. But come on, Mocha! You are in Taiwan now (whether you like it or not) and you don't need to get that undercoat anymore.

Please, we are begging you!

I swear, I vacuum and sweep the floor at least once -even twice a day - and this is AFTER I have brushed him about 10 times fo get enough hair to fill a down pillow. In fact, we are planning to start selling genuine Mocha hair stuffed pillows this summer......

...it sounds like a joke, but by god, it is not.. I am assuming Wendy knows what I am talking about - but if not, trust me, I have never seen a white christmas here, but we are seeing a white spring for sure!

But, ok, yes, you are so cute (he is putting his head on my lap as I write - he must know I am making fun of him), and your hair is SO soft......I can forgive you.....

...but can you please stop shedding on EVERYTHING?

You don't know how many times recently someone has looked at me and said: "you have a dog?" with an innocent look, but they are really looking at the 5 million hairs all over my pants and shirts......sigh....."yes, I have a Husky" "Oh, they are so cute!" I just smile and nod, smile and nod.....

Since they are and Mocha is expecially cute.


Yes, we are biased. Biased and snow covered....

In a Winter Wonderland,

Jeff & Jo

Costco in Taichung

After many years of waiting, our town of Taichung finally got its very own Costco. This is exciting for all the foreigners here since (even though I have never been to a Costco in the States) many of us have been to the wharehouse mecca in Taipei just for their pizza and muffins.

So a little bit more of home has iinched its way here. And hot damn, now do I ever realize why many Americans are so big. Now we shall see if Taiwanese widen their girth as well.

Jo and I decided at first NOT to get a membership since we are only 2 people (plus Mocha) and getting so much stuff is impractical. The amount of the membership would only cover the savings made if we went more than the 3-5 times a year we would ever go in the first place. However, after one of Jo's friends invited us to go and check it out on his membership, we planned to only buy some steaks for a small gathering we were having.

Well, some small steaks turned into about $150 bucks worth of all sorts of things that we didn;t know we needed until we got there: Oh, Bagels! Damn, let's load up! That kind of attitude is what the managers what I guess and they succeeded. Even Jo was agog at all the things there since most were from the States and she had never seen some of the brands.

And the best part was that we are able to use this friend's company business card, which cuts the membership down by 2/3rds, so now it is worth it and we will be buying steaks and bagels and Mocha's food there from now on.

OH! and Wendy! They have Aussie shampoo and conditioner, so you are off the hook for gifts and things (we stocked up for about 10 years worth)! Oh, wait, this may be bad news since now you have to think of something else to get me! haha....although I did not see Twizzlers.....

Anyway, I am not sure if this is going to change the eating habits of people here, but at least I can enjoy good (and cheap) bagels again!

With a few extra pounds,

Jeff & Jo