Several weeks back, we visited my brother in law after not seeing him for almost 18 months. We were happy that the kids warmed up to him right away and very soon they were playing games together and he happily read to them whenever they asked. These days our families are so much smaller and I wish so much they have a close relationship with their aunts and uncles and that the latter would spare some time for the children, to bond with them, to mentor them, and to be part of their lives.

We asked how he was, work? Good. Health-wise, not bad. Was he insured, just in case? (I'd just spent $5000 on an outpatient surgery back home and was quite shocked that our insurer only paid back $260.) His answer was quite surprising.

Now, back home, medical insurance is optional and largely co-insured, which means we have to pay a certain amount first (like $2500) before the insurance company pays (hence my dismal payout). But my brother in law said that in Australia, they are very well covered. Even pregnant women are well taken care of from the moment they are pregnant. They don't have to pay a cent from pregnancy to delivery.

I was totally blown away. Here, pregnancy is not covered at all. We pay for every doctor's visit and for our hospital stay and delivery, all from our own pocket. (Some companies have medical insurance plans for their employees but none I know cover pregnancy too.) That is definitely something a country could do to help boost its birth rate: cover childbirth from pregnancy to delivery.

Anyway, he was telling me, there are dozens types of medical insurance everywhere but I was surprised to hear that these days they even have the option of short term medical insurance which is really good for people in between jobs and not covered by company insurance, as was what happened to us on various occasions. We should really check it out.

Finally, we also exchanged tips on losing weight (as do people our age!) after comparing our softer bellies (I had 2 kids!) and had a great time laughing about the funnier ones over some wonderful wine and cheese. It was a lovely visit. :)

In the United States and worldwide, cancer is one of the leading killers of human life. Plus for so many, it can be a long and painful way to die. Sadly, funds for cancer research are limited as what makes money tragically are things people want, not need (like the latest TV, branded handbags, designer clothes, you get the drill). That is why luxury brand companies are recession proof.

Anyway, when there is an opportunity for us to help, it is worth at the very least a consideration. You may not think you have the means to help, but there are many ways to help: volunteer, raise funds, send money, even donate your car!

In the US now, you can donate your car to help fight cancer. It is an official charity with the IRS.

You can fill in a form online to state you wish to make a car donation or make a call to do the same. All car donations are welcome, regardless of running condition, as are other vehicles. The organization will do the rest and come pick up your car. All vehicle donations are eligible for a thank you gift of either an Apple iPod or a $30 Visa gift card.

So if you don't need your car or other vehicle, here is one way to help: donate car cancer.

I switched to an inkjet printer after many years of using a laser printer. Laser printers print much much better and are cheaper in the long term but the cost of the cartridges and toners are substantially more. Still, I loved my little laser printer which produced many wonderful copies of my poetry over the years I have had it. Plus the "corporate care" the manufacturers offer, like deliver toner cartridges to you and offer you a $99 rebate to buy their new model. That was nice. :)

Since I stopped printing in bulk I bought a Canon inkjet which can scan and also do photocopies. That was what I missed with the laser printer and over the years, technology and scale had made all-in-ones standard fare.

I print probably once a month and usually Borders coupons or some nice pictures of dinosaurs for my son so the substantially cheaper ink cartridges (no need for toners anymore, yay!) led me to inkcartridges.org where they accept Paypal and send it to your doorstep.

These days with the kids in tow, it is easier for me to have something delivered than to dress 3 people, carry 1, hold the hand of the other, and walk to the corner store to buy something. And off to Borders I go tomorrow, with my printed coupons in hand. :D

I love travelling during this era of the Internet. With 2 kids (one infant in tow) I'm looking after 24/7, I DO NOT have time to go walk around travel agencies comparing fares or picking up to call 10 agencies (with 2 screaming kids in the background) when planning a trip. I don't have time to sleep either, but that's another story.

So thankfully, we're in the Internet age. After the kids are sleeping... like now, I turn on my computer and let my fingers do the walking to search for the best fare and purchase flights. Although just a couple of years ago some airlines made it necessary for parents to purchase their infant's ticket in person at the airline's ticketing office (another drag for me), I've noticed at least this year, we can book tickets for the whole family (infant included) online.

Thank you! And yes, we will travel more! Now, if only the smaller airlines will make 4 seats in a row so we can sit together as a family. Infant is getting too big and squirmy for Momma's lap!

My brother was very lucky. He went to the United States to study business and he had an amazing time there for four years. One of the great things in America is the price of cars. Here we pay at least US$30,000 for the lowest end car and that includes a certificate of entitlement that allows you to drive it for 10 years. After that you have to bid again and pay another lump sum of anything from US$10,000-50,000 (I kid you not) to drive it for another 10 years. Then it no longer has any scrap value.

Insurance here is also a killer. My husband paid around $2,000 a year when he first started driving here but thankfully that amount has gone down. I even remember you had to go shop around for the best quotes yourself, unlike in California, where my brother studied, where you could find cheap california car insurance quotes online.

Of course we have the option of taking public transport, but with 2 kids in tow, it is simply easier to drive. And yes, we drive one of the lowest end cars. :)

My weekly housekeeper finally quit this week to take care of her mother who has cancer. She has worked for us for 8 years and I am so sad that she has to go. We've trusted her with our house key and home for so long, she has been like family, so this sudden need to leave has left us a little in the lurch.

I have taken the task of housekeeping myself then, with hubby offering to help with the cats and the ironing. We have bought a newfangled mop/broom set (a German brand) and a Dyson handheld for spot vacuuming when the kids do an oopsy on the floor.

Today I mopped the kitchen (put too much detergent so now there is a pool in the kitchen), fuzzy wuzzied the rest of the house, sorted out the children's toys and we got together a bag of it to give away.

Still, there is much to learn and I have been spending time online reading about managing the home. There's a great home and family resource on Article Alley with very varied and useful topics ranging from Buying a Steel Garage which I found fascinating although not relevant to my situation to comparisons of Wood Decking vs PVC Decking (for me I am pro-wood of course).

I like the range of topics, which surprises me always with very interesting and useful ideas, but wish there was some form of categorization of the topics. The tag cloud doesn't quite suffice. However, I will still browse through and read. The articles are informative and short enough to sustain interest and long enough to offer useful advice. I like it. :D

Jade is such a girly girl. If given the option of a pink dress vs any other colour, she always chooses the pink. And funnily enough, she never asks to carry my backpack, but always asks for her (much girlier vs tomboy momma) godma's pretty handbag! :D

Today Jade held my hand and we walked to the kitchen. It was the sweetest thing!

She just turned one and has been taking many steps already. I think we better go get her some shoes. :D

I swore I'd never do it but here I am, every opportunity, looking for little boy clothes and little girl clothes. I don't even shop so much for myself and can hardly remember the last time I bought any clothing for myself. But I turn into a pile of mush when it comes to little girl clothes and go very nauseatingly, "Ooh that is so sweet! It would look so nice on Jade." And I buy it.

Of course I turn on my Mom radar for Jack too, looking out for light blue and/or dinosaur clothing, which was what happened today. Somehow beside Jade's pretty dresses, Jack looks rather underdressed. Actually he looks great in casual but when your sister is dressed in Laura Ashley seconds, you'd look shabby in Levis jeans. I found a lovely Polo tee for him and he looks smart like a prep boy.

I try very hard not to be non-consumerist but when it comes to my children's clothes, I am a wuss. I console myself that I do it very sparingly, only buy inexpensive seconds, and only ever buy what I and Jack really really like. I hope that is enough.

There was this really touching story I read some time ago about this little girl who had cancer and she left notes all around the house for her parents and sister to read after she died. The family has since published it into a book and I was struck by how it touched so many people around the world.

In our digital age, it would be so lovely to have a memory online, for not just our closest and dearest to remember us by but also those who we might have lost touch with but had a connection with at some point in our life.

At My Heart Will, we can have our own Personal Page with our own Digital Photo Album to share.

I really like the idea of a special memorial page. Something for the world to remember us by. And hopefully it will be all good things. :)