Patrick's Diary - 11/2/2015

I had been planning to resume my Presidential Campaign. Now, it is 11:38 PM on 11/6, let me start it in my diary for Monday.

As I shared that I would utilize the model of Demand and Supply to keep laying out my economic plan.

The key concept for this model is, in competitive market, Demand and Supply achieve an equilibrium where all buyers and sellers are fully satisfied at the same price for the same quantities.

Demand Curve is shifted driven by the following factors:

• Changes in the prices of related goods or services
• Changes in income
• Changes in tastes
• Changes in expectations
• Changes in the number of consumers

Supply Curve is shifted driven by the following factors:

• Changes in input prices
• Changes in the prices of related goods or services
• Changes in technology
• Changes in expectations
• Changes in the number of producers

GDP growth depends on growing demands and supplies in fully competitive markets. So my plan is to focus on increasing Americans' income and advancing technologies. 

Domestically, complete free market is optimal, which means capitalism should be the only system in the place in wealth generations without any government interventions. Meanwhile, complete government control is ideal, which means socialism should be the only one in wealth distributions. The logic is to utilize Capitalism to stimulate economic growth across the board while apply Socialism to ensure equalities. 

However, internationally, it's not so easy to get every country on the same page, we have to protect ourselves accordingly.  

Patrick's Diary - 11/1/2015

It's a very intensive Sunday.

Getting up at 8:00 am, I stopped at McDonalds to have my breakfast. While chatting on WeChat, I heard someone sitting close to me talking in Chinese Mandarin but couldn't hear the words very clearly. A pretty woman at her 30s faced to me eating hers but it was several tables away, so I wasn't able to talk to her. I wouldn't have talked to her anyway, neither would she, I bet.

After lunch, I came back to my bedroom to wait for Seahawks' game to kick off. It became a game of low scores at the end. However, Seahawks made several impressive plays during the game.

Wilson threw to Baldwin whom made a first down, the former was able to throw the ball more effectively in this game than before.

Cassel's throw was blocked a little bit by a Seahawk and ruled fumble initially but reversed due to forward pass having been made. Seahawks would have led the game with bigger margin if the call had stood.

Seahawks' throwing games were improved in this game, Graham made another first down.

Lockette ran a 50 yards kickoff return but the exciting play was called off because Sherman made a holding foul. 

Baldwin made several first down in this game. 

Hauschka's field goal was blocked by a rookie cowboy but he made the winning one at the end of the game. The scary part of this game actually was that Ricardo Lockette was hit harshly while he was trying to make a kickoff return and sent to the hospital. As we heard in this week, he had to go through a surgery due to head injury. Football is a very dangerous game. 

After watching the Seahawks' game to the last second, I drove out on my way to Centurylink Field. Sounders would host another Dallas' team at home in semi-final at Western Conference. This was the second time I came back in this week. On Wednesday, I was a sort of exhausted after work, so decided to park in the attached garage at Clink, but parked in a remote lot because I was fine to walk today. This lot was just next to New Star Restaurant we had a delicious lunch 3 weeks ago. When we went to that restaurant, we didn't need to pay parking because they have a dozen of reserved spots. Today, it's charged $18.32. Compared to 40 bucks, it was still much cheaper.

I had bought the seat at Club 210 twice and the lady who guarded that section had already recognized my face. When she let me in, she asked if I would go to the restaurant exclusively for the club, I definitely would go to grab a cup of beer. It's a bit earlier for dinner then though. Centurylink Field owns fantastic dining facilities, especially at Club and Suite Levels. Overall, it is one of the best stadiums in the world as far as I have seen.

Waiting for the match to start, I witnessed fans coming into the stadium and tried to count the numbers, probably more than 40,000. Seattle fans are always able to make amazing atmosphere. 

Sounders hadn't played very well in the first half and they let FC Dallas score the first. In the rest of the first half, they had been struggling to make the opportunities of shooting. Wind was a factor and they needed to make more ground passes because crosses in the air weren't accurate in that condition. 

During the halftime break, I started feeling hungry, so went to the concession stand to buy another cup of bud and a paper holder of garlic fries. Coming back to my seat, the second half had started for a minute. 

Sounders hadn't been able to tie the match but performed much better. Ivanschitz was a very skillful player and dribbled through Dallas' defender to score with his left foot. It's a very accurate shot at a perfect angle. This goal reminded me his performances in Europe I watched in several clips on Youtube when he was signed by Sounders. 

Valdez was subbed in second half, he was a warrior as he always is and tried every minute to find the opportunities. Martins always plays a key role in the front. Pappa hadn't shown his accuracy very much today until the last several plays before he was subbed. 

Dempsey finally took a free kick opportunity to help us win the match. It's a incredible shot and the entire stadium was boiling at that moment. Instead of only high fives, I hugged the two fans sitting in front of me with tears in my eyes. 

At one point of the last several minutes, I screamed to a Sounders' defender but probably scared the lady guard who happened to stand at my sight. She thought me to scream at her because she might block my view. She kept saying that she wanted us to have fun. No, ma'am, I didn't mean to you. 

Fans left the stadium with so much joy. I hope I can come back again in Western Conference Final. Of course, we need to get over Dallas in 2nd leg in Frisco, TX.

Patrick's Diary - 10/31/2015

Picking up my son's contact lenses at Optical Reflections, I didn't see familiar faces but a gal I might see once or twice before sitting behind the counter. It's Saturday, the others probably stayed at home for Halloween parties. Driving to UW dorm, I chatted with my dad whom wanted to take a ride with me just for fun. We actually talked about what I chatted with my classmates at CUMT through WeChat. He agreed with me that many powerful people in China are mediocre because they steal the talents from others. 

After lunch, I drove to Costco to buy three big plastic bags of candies. Going through the cash register, I was asked by a teenage boy if I bought those for Halloween. Of course. He said something pretty weird, such as where I lived, I answered and asked if his house was far away because I supposed what he implied was to go to our neighborhood to trick-or-treat if possible. He said if I couldn't distribute them all, would I eat them myself? I joked that I could keep them for next year, but he thought these chocolates couldn't be kept that long, he might be right in this regard. Then he said I could contribute to Church. I said that was a good idea. I still don't really know what he intended, did he expect me to give him a bag or did he feel I was an idiot to buy such big bags of chocolates? Whatever.

Spending two hours at gym, I ran through my weekend routines jumping from treadmill to bike. It's a very thorough workout. 

Dumping the candies into two big bowls, I put them on a chair placed on our porch. I could see trick-or-treaters came and went from time to time while sky became darker and darker. At the end of the evening, chocolates in one of the bowls were almost not touched. The kids were so generous in our neighborhood.

Watching UW Huskies taking Arizona Wildcats, I was distracted by other things from time to time. Huskies dominated the game and got a 4-4 records so far. However, Utah seems hard to beat and both away home games at Sun Devils and Beavers are difficult too. Apple Cup will be held at home, this one may be more certain but you never know because Cougars have played pretty competitive games recently. The promising aspect is Huskies rookie quarterback and running back having shown their potentials so far in this season. It's a Halloween night, many fans dressed up with fantastic customs, which made this game very special. 

Patrick's Diary - 10/30/2015

It was another "Dress Up" day, oh, for Halloween. I didn't really think about it, just randomly put jeans including jacket on. When I was asked, I mentioned that I dressed up like a cowboy. However, at the moment, I didn't think about that Seahawks was going to play Dallas Cowboys. Well, I did remember Sounders to host FC Dallas. No matter what did I dress up, I root for Seattle teams without any doubt. 

My son had called me to follow up for his contact lenses. I had called Jessica at Optical Reflections to check on Thursday when the supplies hadn't been delivered to the store. I had to call again and Gail picked up, then checked out that the contact lenses were delivered. Anyway, I wouldn't be able to pick them up for my son because it would be too late after work. Wow, I didn't know they have such an artistic clip on Youtube. 

Coming back home, I ate the dinner, then chatted with my classmates at CUMT on WeChat for a while. I explained that the income is limited for middle class American like me, I am not able to enjoy everything I want. For example, I am willing to spend 10,000 dollars for vacation but have driven my van bought at 30,000 dollars in 2000 for almost 16 years and my plan to keep it until 2018, then buy a Jeep to drive for another 20 years. This can also approve one of the economic concepts: Resources are scarce, everyone has limited options and there are always opportunity costs. 

Patrick's Diary - 10/29/2015

Again, I can't recall what I did on Thursday but came back home close to 7pm. After having the dinner, I had fallen into sleep until almost 10pm, then I decided to drive to gym to workout. There weren't many people when I arrived there pretty close to 10:45 pm. When I left, it was very close to midnight. 

Chatting with my classmates at CUMT on WeChat, I went to sleep again almost at 2 in the morning on Thursday. 

It was just another day of my working weeks. Nothing was unusual and I have been used to it, will carry on for many years to come. 

Oh, I just recalled, while sleeping earlier, I did keep the TV turned on, so watched that Timbers won over SKC through penalty shootout, which meant Sounders to host Dallas on Sunday. 

This also indicates if we overcome Dallas in Semi-final, we will see one of Cascade rivalries in Western Conference Final, either Whitecaps or Timbers. Then I will have chance to watch both legs in person because it's a short drive from Seattle to either Vancouver or Portland. 

Patrick's Diary - 10/28/2015

Normally, I dress up from Monday through Thursday, it's not a requirement but actually the most economic way for me because I have several suits and jackets bought 20 to 30 years ago and they are still in very good conditions. I haven't spent serious money in this category for 20 years, why don't I wear them actually to keep saving my money? In addition, it makes me feel great. However, on Wednesday, I wore my Sounders' jacket because I was going to the match at Clink directly from work. 

Driving through heavy traffic on I-90, I arrived at the intersection where the road led cars to parking garage attached to CenturyLink Field at almost 6:30 pm. Approaching the garage, I viewed the magnificent skyline of Downtown Seattle and caught Sherman's image on the wall of the stadium. Buddy, tonight is for soccer. 

Handing over my credit card to the staff standing out of the collecting booth inside the garage, I didn't ask her the charge in the first place. When she asked me if I needed the receipt, I refused but asked her to learn 40 bucks. We both knew it expensive but I laughed and said: "It's my expectation!".

Locating my seat at Club 210, I sat down to eat pepperoni pizza for my dinner first, then took off the coat to show my Sounders' pride. Even it was mid-week night, I guessed 40 to 50 thousands fans came to the match, some of them probably came from work directly just like me. Our fans have own traditions at pre-match, it's always very energetic.

In the first 20 minutes, I had been going with the match like riding a roller-coaster. Dempsey got an incredible opportunity to have us lead but several minutes later, Galaxy tied it. Valdez made a very timely shot to help us retake the lead, then Galaxy got it back very quickly. The loss at our side seemed driven by slow moves at defense. Of course, Galaxy controlled the midfield a little bit more tightly than us, which was another reason. 

I should say we played a much better match in second half and didn't give Galaxy much chance to shoot. Friberg's left footed shot was unbelievable, he himself must agree as well. After the ball hit the back of the net, the entire stadium was boiling. I made double high five with the fans around me. 

During the match, in addition to tweet and share clips on Facebook, I also transmitted photo to my classmates at CUMT, they all know me a good soccer player and an enthusiastic fan. I would like them to learn that soccer is a great sport in Seattle too.

I came back home at almost 11:00 pm and fell into sleep soon. 

It's an amazing night and I would go back to CLINK to catch the first leg of Semi-Final on Sunday no matter who were we going to play! 

Patrick's Diary - 10/27/2015

Wow, it's already 7:00 o'clock on Sunday morning and the first day of November as well as after Daylight Saving Time ended 5 hours ago. I haven't even written my diary for last Tuesday.

I really can't recall what I did on Tuesday but do remember chatting with my neighbor, Dennis, for half an hour after I arrived at home after work. He happened to stand outside his garage and we talked about his renovation of his back yard. He had a even bigger plan of building a deck attached to his house to which they would be able to access from second floor. Then, they could sit outside to enjoy the sunset while drinking the wine. 

His daughter would have a fun trip to Ireland and her original plan was to take public transportations but was thinking it might be more convenient to rent a car. This triggered us to talk about the different driving system in islands. I learned driving first time in Bahamas where driving is on the left side of the roads. I drove in Sweden in 90s for a short period of time and I learned that they changed the rule in 1966. Of course, the majority of drivings for me prior to US was in China where driving probably has been always on right side. Dennis and I exchanged experiences, I mentioned that turning head to the left first instead of right in general was what I considered the major difference. He told me his daughter was practicing. It would be a fantastic trip for her, I bet, I would drive there myself someday to view the breathtaking cliffs by the Ocean.

Talking about politics and religions is always inappropriate in public and at work and sometimes may even be very offensive but not an issue between neighbors. We both agreed that the world needs a clear direction.

I bought a ticket online for Sounders' knockout match with Galaxy on Wednesday night and printed it out at home. I would go to the match after work and witness We would be prevailing to Semi-final at Western Conference.