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A Much Needed Break from Monotony
Friday, March 30, 2007
I guess it’s better than a long break from not sleeping (which is what Suz has been experiencing recently).
Suz is celebrating being done with finals and is running wild during her spring break. Last weekend, we took a trip up to the Bay area to visit. For her, it was her first time to visit that other part of Cali. For me, it was a good opportunity to visit Slim. So we packed up our car and drove north, somewhat oblique to the setting sun.
We did a lot of touristing and then did some local-type things too. Actually, it’s about 2 in the morning, and i really want to describe it to you, but i want to be coherent, so i’m just going to post pics for now, and give you stories in the following post. So please enjoy pics from my newly cleaned and repaired D-SLR!
Hanging out at the picturesque structures next to the exploratorium. What IS that thing called anyway? Can’t remember. Oh well, they’re very photogenic.
Slim looking Majestic - (i definitely have a thing for the “up the nose” shots).
I feel like Samson pushing down the support columns to finish of the Philistines...if only my arms weren’t so short!
No trip to SF is complete without a trip to Ghirardelli for CHOCOLATE! Yuuuuum!
We OF COURSE had to stop by the bridge. Golden? HA! More like RUSTY!
We went back to the grounds fo the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park for more cool pics.
Red brings out the Kung-Fu in me.
Sakura were still in bloom up there! Why am i so fascinated by this little flower? I could take pictures of them forever.
We checked out the Farmer’s Market at the Ferry Building - here is a very enthusisiastic farmer pushing his artichokes on us.
The rotisserie was good. This woman was really enthusiastic about the lamb. Foodies abound at such places.
We hung at Merv’s place on sat. night and played Mafia...with only SIX people. Those were the most intense games ever!
Ange (or if you prefer Stephen) and Shawna insisted that this be the pic of them that i post. Well guys, this one’s for YOU!
Taking you suggestions
Friday, March 16, 2007
Remember that post where i asked you guys to suggest what to write about?
It took forever and a day, but I’m finally using the idea that Laura had about taking pics and using them as a writing prompt. Why did it take so long? Because winter and getting out of work at a normal hour mean that by the time i got home, it was already dark. So now, thanks to the early arrival of Daylight Saving Time, I can now snap away on my camera and write happy little tidbits about ...well, anything i guess.
Today i took pictures at the library across the street from my apartment. It’s beautiful outside today! A balmy 75 degrees with blue skies and not a cloud in the sky! It’s nice to have some time for sun exposure because working in an office all week, and mostly in the endless night of the hospital basement, can really kill your spirit.
You know what else is a happy-go-lucky mood killer? Neurosurgeons. They just not happy people. And often, they have a sense of entitlement that rivals Pharaoh, Xerxes, Alexander,...you know, guys who thought they were dieties. So i taught a class where we asked him if it was alright if we called him by his first name for the purpose of class only. As a reply, he berated my co-worker and questioned her intelligence for asking such a “dumb” question. Woo, *that* was a fun class to teach! Can’t wait to see this guy next week!
With that in mind, i really was looking for some serenity - some peace above the storm of the blathering idiocy that seems to always find a way into my week. This photograph is of the fountain in front of the library, I found it very soothing.
The other picture is of the trees blooming in the front pathway. They’re very pretty, but i think i’m allergic to them. Oh well. It’s worth it. It reminds me that things can always start up again and be new. It’s time to make some changes in my life, stop being so lazy, depressed, or just plain bored. It’s spring time!
On the way back home, this terrier was out to kill me. Too bad I didn’t take him too seriously. I’m sure if he read this post, he’d be crying on the inside. Oh well. Here’s a pic of his owner holding him back as he ferociously tries to attack me. He’s basically hanging from his neck. How cute!
I hope your week was better than mine, and that you’re getting the spring time itch to do something new for yourself!
First Time in Tahoe
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
This past weekend, I went up to Tahoe for the first time! Here are the pics.
It’s late, and i don’t have that much time to write, so i thought i’d at least post the pics from the trip. That’s better than nothing, right?
So here they are:
"No children, Frosty won’t be coming back again this year."
A Flashy Entrance
Monday, February 19, 2007
The weekend summary begins with this morning’s eye-popping appearance at work.
I know you’ve read about my other falls in the past, but i’ve got another one! W00t! Another to add to the archive. There were far fewer witnesses, so my pride still remains remotely intact, but what the heck, i thought i’d share it with the world anyway!
It was raining for a lot of today, so it was already extra slippery to begin with. Once again, i was wearing high-heeled shoes, and then there was the tile floor that’s just plain slippery by nature. Even in flats, i slip out. Go figure. I can fall in anything. So i was stepping carefully on the linoleum, small baby steps that would guarantee that I would not wind up on my butt.
I made it all the way to the hallway outside my “office” (in quotes because i’m actually a wandering nomad within the hospital, waiting to pounce on any open desk in sight). Just then, my managers round the corner. I waved my hand accompanied by a cheery “good morning!” At that instant, i must have taken a wrong step because the next thing i knew, i was on the floor with my legs all twisted up, my ankle turned in and my knee planted into the ground. Ouch!
My managers rushed over saying, “Oh my goodness! Are you ok? Do you need to go the hospital?” That was funny because we were already IN the hospital. The sad part is that this is such a normal occurance that i hand’t even thought of it as anything more than another embarassing event. After laughing it off and making sure that my ankle wasn’t really jacked up, one of my managers said, “Wow! You’re a clutz!” and chuckled a little. I’m surprised she hadn’t noticed it until now! lol
Luckily, that wasn’t any relfection on how the weekend went! I’ll go backwards in time since I started with this morning, when i had “a case of the Mondays.”
Yesterday, i got to hang out with my cousin Johnny and his daughter Marissa. We went to see the Skin+Bones exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art - a show about how architecture and fashion design influence each other. Afterwards we roamed around the Disney Music Hall and then went shopping on Melrose. Fun!
Johnny and Marissa in front of the Walt Disney Music Hall
Saturday night, I was at Kimi’s housewarming party. It had a great turnout! Lots of peeps showed up and had fun and had food!
Suz, me, Pierre, Kimi and Rita in the new kitchen
And before that, my dad took us on a tour of his garden. He is the master of his domain! He shared his lemon grass with Suz, who obviously became a bit too attached to it.
"Mmmmmmmm....soooooo goooooood...."
"I caught a lemon THIS BIG!"
Seriously, the fruits from my dad’s garden are SO delicious! I’m trying to make you all jealous! Too bad i didn’t inherit his green thumb. Instead, i have the black thumb of doom.
And that’s the weekend update! Hope you all enjoyed yours!
At long last! Pics from my trip to Japan!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
It’s only taken me almost a month, but here they are!
This is pretty much gonna be a picture only entry. I hope you enjoy!
I caught a great sunset on my layover in Narita Airport
Yokkaichi is the sister city of Long Beach, CA - a city noted for it’s refineries and industry. Since i was there during new year’s, there were decorations strung up even on the yard gates.
Shrine in the middle of the town - unknown name, unknown location - it’s simply cool looking.
I love the way public transit is a way of life here - i wish Cali had a few more trains that went a few more places.
Okonomiyaki is one of my favorite foods! It’s a savory pancake-like food that’s chock full o’ goodness!
Suffice it to say, Jean, my mom and I all stuffed ourselves silly with Okonomiyaki - and for Jean, it was her first time eating it! Her sign language speaks for itself - “I love you okonomiyaki!” Mine says, “Victory, sucka! I finished all of you!"
My mom and I took a bullet train in to Tokyo, and on the way, we got a really clear view of Mt. Fuji!
When we got to Tokyo, we hung out and had lunch with my mom’s classmates from high school and college. And i didn’t even get to ask them about stories from my mom’s hidden past! D’oh!
The lunch they treated us to was a traditional Japanese style that came in a stacked box with mini compartments with just a *little* bit of each thing. It was so preeeeeetty.
Eating and eating and MORE EATING! That’s all i did this vacation. And i am so happy because of it! ^__^
I haven’t seen my cousin, Tsutomu, in years! The last time I saw him, he was just recently married. And now he’s got such a beautiful family! His kids are sooooo cute! This is the first time i got to meet them.
The oldest child is Akari-chan, the big sis of the family who loves to play a card game called, “Babanuki."
Mo-kun is the middle child who is very gentle and seems to have an attachment to the plastic elephant seen in this picture.
Nagomu-chan is assertive and certainly knows what he wants! And that’s sweets and snacks! And a tissue for his nose - it was running away with him!
For three days, i stayed with Daryl and Yuko, who not only pulled out a futon for me but also fed me! WOW!
This is the ONE time i was allowed to help Yuko with the dishes. She’s such a good, kind host that she never let me touch the dishes except when i threatened to get violent.
Walking on the streets of Kichijoji was such a pleasant experience! That day, everyone was out in the brisk air, enjoying a day of good weather before the impending storm the next day.
One of my “must-visit” places was a ramen shop called Nantsutte (don’t worry, i can’t pronounce it either). I saw it featured on Dotchi Cooking Show and i HAD to go. The innovating chef used to be a motorcycle gang member, so the decor is very reminiscent of that sort of rough neck attitude. This sign says, Standing Peeing Prohibited.
The water kettles at Nantsutte are classic - sadly, they only remind me of Ranma 1/2, an anime that i watched back in the day.
We all hung out at the Numatas house in Yokohama. It had been so long since I’d seen my adopted family! Here we are, in all our “normal” glory. Nao could almost be an ING advertisement!
Once again all we did was (you guessed it!) EAT! Numata-san prepared so much food for us! We could barely walk as we left!
The Numatas have such a cozy living room - warm colors and warm company.
For my last proper meal in Japan, Daryl made us KIMCHI PIZZA! W00t! Doesn’t it just *sound* disgusting? But stangely, it was AWESOME. Yum. I will never forget the kindness shown to me through that pickled napa cabbage!
Right before I left, Mutsumi met up with me at the airport. It was so sweet of her to go out of her way to see me off. She even brought really great pudding from Yokohama. Yum! Thanks Mutchan!
There are more pics from the Hawaii leg of the trip, but i think that’s enough pics for now. I hope you enjoy!
Traveler Returns Home
Thursday, January 11, 2007
I just got back from Japan and Hawaii - and it’s SO HARD to be at work!
The last time i posted, i was in Yokkaichi and was heading to Daryl and Yuko’s place in Tokyo. It was so nice to see them! Their apartment is so CUTE! And they’re a really cute couple too. 
They’re such great hosts. I got to see my cousin Tsutomu and his family too. Their three kids are SO CUTE! I wish that i could live closer and get to know them, but distance and language are pretty big barriers. 
I even got to see the Numatas in Yokohama. They’re my *other* family that adopted me while i was out there for my student missionary tour of duty. Numata-san fed us SO MUCH! Round after round of entres, fruit, dessert, etc. She is such a good cook! We all caught up and talked endlessly. But seriously, my entire trip can be summed up in, “We ate a LOT.”
In fact, one thing that i absolutely HAD to do was go to this ramen shop called Nantsutte (or something like that). I saw it on this show called “Dotchi Cooking Show” where these 3 ramen chefs competed for the title of Best Ramen Cook Ever (well that’s *my* translation). They showed every aspect of making the noodles. It looked SOOOOO GOOOOD! So we made a stop in Kawasaki to eat yummy noodles. I even took a video of me eating these noodles. Am i a nut? Oh well, i’ll own that.
After having a chill and relaxing weekend, it was off to the airport again. I was going to meet my mom at Narita airport, but then she called me with bad news. Her flight from Nagoya to Narita Airport was cancelled due to a blizzard that was passing through. I felt so bad for her. She had to find her own transportation dragging my huge piece of luggage in addition to her own! She went from bus to train to bullet train to bus to airport. But we finally made it to the airport! We even got to see Mustumi, who came to meet us there just to say hi and bye as we took off for Hawaii. Phew!
Hawaii was BEAUTIFUL! Be sure that pics will follow. It was such a nice but strange transition to go from layers and layers of clothing to jumping into a swim suit to go swimming! 80+ degree and sitting on the beach: you can’t get much better than that. FINALLY! I get to go to the beach in Hawaii! For those of you who don’t know my rant, I went to Hawaii when i was 16 but was not allowed to go anywhere by myself and my parents aren’t beach people. So i never touched the beach the entire week that i was there. Boooo. I made up for it this time by spending the entire first day on the sand and in the water.
There i realized that to everyone else, i just look like a Japanese tourist. Maybe it was the gigantic camera at my hip. Maybe it’s because i was fresh off the plane from Japan. Hmmm...For whatever reason, I was offered menus in Japanese, picked up on by random icky guys who are used to preying upon helpless foreigners, and approached by old Japanese women making small talk in Japanese. Fascinating.
After two days, we headed back home again. We were greeted at LAX by...commuter traffic. 
So now i’m back at work again, trying to get over jetlag and get back in the swing of things. It’s hard to adjust, but I’m so happy to have been out for a bit!