Browse Category: outta here

Magical Pre-Birthday

On Saturday, I went to Disneyland with Brother, Joy, and Mommy.  Since we were about a week away, we stopped at City Hall on Main Street when we arrived and got birthday pins with our names written on them.  So, for the rest of the day, we were greeted with “Happy Birthday” from cast members and other people in line.

Joy also bought us all Mickey ears complete with our names stitched on the back.  (Thanks, Joy!)  We even had one for Mommy, which looked great on her.

I hadn’t been to Disneyland for almost 2 years so I finally go to ride the Nemo ride and Joy got to ride the canoes for the first time.

We also said “hello” to Pooh and Eeyore but missed out on Splash Mountain, which supposedly broke by the time it was our turn to get on with our Fast Passes.

We did, however, get through all the other rides in record time.

The only hiccup in the night was the threat of cancellation of the fireworks show (again).  But fortunately for us, they went through with the show and it was pretty cool.  They’ve gotten really fancy with their pyrotechniques and lights displays.  Here’s the Star Wars part of the show.

I’d have to say it was a pretty satisfying day with good weather, good company, and short lines. Yay!  Here are photos from the day.

Freeways, Friends, and Family

I must be in Southern California because I drove over 100 miles today. I went to Irvine to visit the neighbors but no one was available. I also went to the birdhouse and our new tenants were in the middle of moving in. So, I introduced myself and even got to go inside the house to walk them through some stuff.

It was nice to be able to check on the house myself.  I sure do miss it.  It was good to see that my Japanese maple is still going strong and everything else was also thriving.  The new tenants are a married couple and two dogs.  They just moved from Florida and they seem like a good “family” that will take care of our house and fishies too.

The next stop was my old preschool. I got to catch up with some old co-workers and hang out with everyone in the clinic. It was fun to see how things have changed and yet so much has stayed the same after one full year. For lunch we went to Lee’s Sandwiches and it was nice to hang out with old friends again.

In the evening, I drove from Irvine to Cerritos, then to Santa Monica to pick up Brother, and then to Beverly Hills for an early birthday dinner at Lawry’s. It’s still as good as I remember and it was a tasty tasty meal.

Noods and Yo

On Thursday afternoon, my mom and I met up with Marie and the boys for lunch at Fukada.  Oh how I miss their udon!  Cole and Brandon were in a pretty good mood.  However, Cole quickly became antsy as Brandon continued to eat and eat.

He’s such a happy eater.

Afterward, we went to The Spectrum for some frozen yogurt.  Ah…another old hangout spot for me and Marie.

Ahead of Schedule

As I’m typing this entry, I’m sitting in Dr. Chamkasem’s chair in his office waiting to get my teeth cleaned.

I just went to the DMV with my mom and got the red carpet treatment.  I went in with my 9:00 am appointment, got to cut in line a couple times, took my vision test and written test, took my photo, and was outta there in 30 mins.  I got my stuff done while she got to chat with her friends.  I also got an A+ on my written test.  Sweeeeet.

So, I’m just waiting for my turn and then it’ll be off to lunch with Marie!

I’m going home!!

I’m packing for a 4-day weekend in Cerritos!!!  Woo hoo!  I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a while and it’s going to be awesome.  I have appointments, lunch dates, a dinner reservation, and a day at Disneyland already lined up.  I’m looking forward to seeing family, friends, old co-workers, and the Japanese maple I planted in Irvine 5 years ago.  It’s going to be a hoot!

Belize Recap

One week ago we were on our way home from Belize.  After hours of sifting through 818 photos, I’ve managed to narrow it down to 285.  Phew!  Instead of one full photo album, I divided it up into three for your viewing pleasure.

Airports & Caye Caulker, Belize (August 23-26)

San Ignacio, Belize & Tikal, Guatemala (August 26-28)

Caye Ambergris/San Pedro, Belize & Airport (August 28-30)

Overall, it was a relaxing yet adventurous trip.  I loved seeing all the creatures under the water, on land, and in the trees.  The Optio W30 did well underwater and in the rain and my Nikkor 18-200mm lens was the perfect travel lens despite its weight and heft.  I couldn’t believe how close I could get to the monkeys and birds up in the trees.  It practically doubled as binoculars in the jungle!  The Mayan ruins were amazing and our guide was a really cool guy.  We’ve met some interesting people along the way and made two friends who live nearby.  I came home with some color on my face and the bug bites weren’t all that bad.  I also LOVED my mosquito-repellent shirt and Keen sandals.  They were definitely worth the money.  It was also helpful to wear convertible pants and the little washcloth I brought along with me everywhere was often a lifesaver.

Dramamine is my friend on sailboats and having your own snorkel gear really ensures a hassle-free snorkeling trip – no seasickness and no water in the goggles!!  The food was yummy but can get old if you’re not into beans and seafood.  I LOVED the shrimp and salsa everywhere I dined.  Their lobster is also very tasty.  Panades, salbutes, and Johnny Cakes are AWESOME and have been added to my repertoire of foods.

Tips for Belize:

  • Bring plenty of US dollars to change when you get there.  You’ll get the best exchange rate at the airport in Belize City.  Make sure you have lots of small bills (in Belizean dollars) for tip and small purchases.
  • Pack light and be prepared for some crazy humidity.
  • Bring along some Ziploc bags to protect your belongings from the downpours and humidity.
  • Bring bug spray and beware of biting flies.
  • Use lots of sunscreen when you’re out in the sun ‘cuz the rays are strong.
  • The water is generally clean but when in doubt, order Belikin beer. 🙂
  • For sailing on Caye Caulker, go with Raggamuffin Tours.
  • For a Tikal guide, find Elias at Casa Blanca Guest House in San Ignacio.

OK. Enjoy the photos!! Peace out.