I went to Oregon today to meet with a team we've been working with. This was my first business trip ever, first time flying on a private jet and also first time flying alone without my parents. It was definitely a new experience for me!
It was a little exhausting as I had to get up pretty early to catch the 7:45 a.m. shuttle to the Intel Air Shuttle terminal for the 8:30 a.m. flight to Hillsboro. I was actually supposed to arrive even earlier, but the 7:30 a.m. flight was fully booked. At any rate, check-in was very fast as we only had to show our ID and Intel badge. Not having to go through TSA was pretty nice. :-)
The plane was very small and not unlike the one we took to Sacramento during our second trip to Yellowstone. I was a little nervous about flying alone withouytmy parents, but that wasn't a problem as the other passengers were all co-workers. There was Wi-Fi access, although it was very slow most of the time. I tried to get some work done but decided to get some rest instead after not being able to receive any emails. No wonder people say Gogo Inflight Internet sucks.
I took the shuttle to the meeting location after we landed. The campus was located in a quiet area away from the city center. Our office was a nice place and had a startup vibe. I really enjoyed meeting the other team and wish we had more opportunities to work together. Even though I had to leave early to catch the shuttle, I don't think I missed much as the final meeting was almost over.
The flight back to San Jose was pretty smooth. The shuttle took me back to the Santa Clara office, where my parents picked me up. On the whole, this was an interesting experience. It's too bad there was no time for sightseeing as this was a business trip and I had a tight schedule. This reminds me - our last visit to the Pacific Northwest was over 11 years ago. Looks like we're overdue for another trip there. :-)
Showing posts with label day trips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label day trips. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Saturday, July 29, 2017
Berkeley Kite Festival report
Today was fun as we went to the Berkeley Kite Festival and had dinner in Berkeley with several family friends. The day was kind of exhausting but also lots of fun!
Our first stop was Milpitas Square, where Jim and Yeng-Feng picked us up. Our party then headed to the Berkeley Marina for the festival. There was some traffic along the way due to an accident, but we were the first to get there. Seeing that event venue was quite a long ways from the parking lot, we decided to take the bus there. Given the small number of buses, we had to wait almost an hour for our ride. The only reason we didn't walk there is that Yeng-Fong couldn't walk very far at a time.
Dad and the Chiangs bought similar kites on Amazon after seeing they had good reviews. However, both of our kites kept flying erratically before falling to the ground like a North Korea missile. Even though our kites didn't work very well, I enjoyed going around to see what other people had.
Because it was getting really hot outside, the five of us decided to head out. The Changs got caught up in traffic and didn't arrive until just before we arrive about to leave. We stayed with them for a bit before agreeing to meet at the restaurant. It was defintiely great to see their girls and Ruth's boyfriend Steven again. We and Jim walked back to the parking lot while the others took the shuttle. It was definitely a good workout!
Our group went to a restaurant in Berkeley called Great China. There were lots of people - mainly because the restaurant is famous for its Peking duck - but we were the first in line to get in. All of the good was really good. However, it was soon time to head out as there was a long drive ahead of us. After the Chiangs dropped us off at Milpitas Square, my family made a quick stop at Ranch 99 Market for groceries before heading home.
The only downside is that we didn't stay long after dinner. I had barely talked to Connie, Ruth and Steven when my parents and the Chiangs wanted to leave. It would have been selfish to keep them waiting just so I could stay for a few more finutes. On the other hand, the event was so fun that some of us are hoping to fly kites together again later this summer. I definitely hope we can work something out!
Currently listening to: "Holo" by Ampyx
Our first stop was Milpitas Square, where Jim and Yeng-Feng picked us up. Our party then headed to the Berkeley Marina for the festival. There was some traffic along the way due to an accident, but we were the first to get there. Seeing that event venue was quite a long ways from the parking lot, we decided to take the bus there. Given the small number of buses, we had to wait almost an hour for our ride. The only reason we didn't walk there is that Yeng-Fong couldn't walk very far at a time.
Dad and the Chiangs bought similar kites on Amazon after seeing they had good reviews. However, both of our kites kept flying erratically before falling to the ground like a North Korea missile. Even though our kites didn't work very well, I enjoyed going around to see what other people had.
Because it was getting really hot outside, the five of us decided to head out. The Changs got caught up in traffic and didn't arrive until just before we arrive about to leave. We stayed with them for a bit before agreeing to meet at the restaurant. It was defintiely great to see their girls and Ruth's boyfriend Steven again. We and Jim walked back to the parking lot while the others took the shuttle. It was definitely a good workout!
Our group went to a restaurant in Berkeley called Great China. There were lots of people - mainly because the restaurant is famous for its Peking duck - but we were the first in line to get in. All of the good was really good. However, it was soon time to head out as there was a long drive ahead of us. After the Chiangs dropped us off at Milpitas Square, my family made a quick stop at Ranch 99 Market for groceries before heading home.
The only downside is that we didn't stay long after dinner. I had barely talked to Connie, Ruth and Steven when my parents and the Chiangs wanted to leave. It would have been selfish to keep them waiting just so I could stay for a few more finutes. On the other hand, the event was so fun that some of us are hoping to fly kites together again later this summer. I definitely hope we can work something out!
Currently listening to: "Holo" by Ampyx
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
an eventful 4th of July
I had a pretty good 4th of July weekend, considering that we went to Pescadero and watched several movies!
Saturday
So my father took us to Pescadero on Saturday. Though we went there around 16 years ago, we didn't really explore the town. Because it was noon when we arrived, the three of us had lunch at a local tavern. The food was expensive but really good.
We then browsed the local stores before heading to Arcangeli Grocery Co. to buy some of their famous garlic artichoke bread. All of us were pretty full at the time, but the bread was too good to resist. This wasn't a bad choice because we saw many other people buy the bread as well.
This was followed by a short stop at Pigeon Point Lighthouse. We also walked around the trail but didn't stay long as it was a little cold outside. On the whole, the day trip was the best part of the long weekend.
Sunday
Having done so much the day before, my family didn't do much else except go on a hike in Los Altos Hills. However, I did watch Abraham Vampire: Vampire Hunter on DVD and two episodes of Jackie Chan Adventures online. Abraham Vampire: Vampire Hunter was a weird movie but otherwise entertaining. Jackie Chan Adventures was one of the shows I really like when I was in high school, but I only saw the first season before we lost cable access. I'm so glad it's so easy to find TV shows online these days!
Monday
Seeing the weather was nice, we went hiking in Los Altos Hills again. We then watched Manchester by the Sea for Henry's film club and Doctor Strange for fun. The special effects in Doctor Strange were really awesome. I've never seen a movie so visually impressive.
Tuesday
One thing I wanted to do was to check out the 4th of July event in Shoup Park in Los Altos, but we changed our minds as the weather was kind of warm. Dad wanted to go a German restaurant for lunch, but we stayed home after it turned out the place was closed on the 4th.
We then watched Inferno in the afternoon. Despite the critical reviews, I really enjoyed the movie. On the whole, my long weekend was pretty awesome.
Currently listening to: "Reflections" by Kasger
Saturday
So my father took us to Pescadero on Saturday. Though we went there around 16 years ago, we didn't really explore the town. Because it was noon when we arrived, the three of us had lunch at a local tavern. The food was expensive but really good.
We then browsed the local stores before heading to Arcangeli Grocery Co. to buy some of their famous garlic artichoke bread. All of us were pretty full at the time, but the bread was too good to resist. This wasn't a bad choice because we saw many other people buy the bread as well.
This was followed by a short stop at Pigeon Point Lighthouse. We also walked around the trail but didn't stay long as it was a little cold outside. On the whole, the day trip was the best part of the long weekend.
Sunday
Having done so much the day before, my family didn't do much else except go on a hike in Los Altos Hills. However, I did watch Abraham Vampire: Vampire Hunter on DVD and two episodes of Jackie Chan Adventures online. Abraham Vampire: Vampire Hunter was a weird movie but otherwise entertaining. Jackie Chan Adventures was one of the shows I really like when I was in high school, but I only saw the first season before we lost cable access. I'm so glad it's so easy to find TV shows online these days!
Monday
Seeing the weather was nice, we went hiking in Los Altos Hills again. We then watched Manchester by the Sea for Henry's film club and Doctor Strange for fun. The special effects in Doctor Strange were really awesome. I've never seen a movie so visually impressive.
Tuesday
One thing I wanted to do was to check out the 4th of July event in Shoup Park in Los Altos, but we changed our minds as the weather was kind of warm. Dad wanted to go a German restaurant for lunch, but we stayed home after it turned out the place was closed on the 4th.
We then watched Inferno in the afternoon. Despite the critical reviews, I really enjoyed the movie. On the whole, my long weekend was pretty awesome.
Currently listening to: "Reflections" by Kasger
Sunday, August 7, 2016
post-vacation weekend report
"Auntie, your job is to just scream." -- Mark to Mom during the surrey ride
The best part about coming home from a vacationon Friday evening early Saturday morning is that it gives us lots of time to unwind... or go more places. Case in point, my family took Aunt Jill's students to several more attractions over the weekend!
Saturday
Yesterday was pretty fun as we went to Salinas and Monterey with Henry's film club before exploring the latter on our own. Danny didn't feel like coming, so it was just six of us. The reason for the field trip was to learn more about author John Steinbeck and see some spots where the film Cannery Row was shot.
The plan was to explore the National Steinbeck Center first, but my mother decided to skip this part as we were really tired from all that traveling and didn't want to get up too early. Our party instead met after the tour before rendezvousing at John Steinbeck House, the boyhood home of the author that has been converted into a restaurant. The food there was really good. This was no doubt a very special experience.
Our group then met up in Monterey for a tour of the spots where Cannery Row was filmed. The boys weren't too interested in the tour, so Dad rented a surrey and took them out for a ride. I opted to stay with Mom for the tour as we had been on the surrey ride before. The tour was really fun, although we didn't walk too much as the area was quite small.
Dad and the boys picked us up in the surrey just as the tour ended. We rode about two miles through town before having dinner at a restaurant on the Fisherman's Wharf. This was something I had wanted to do for a long time. The dinner certainly didn't disappoint. On the whole, this day trip totally rocked. It was essentially an extension of our Southwest trip.
Sunday
All of us were really tired and so didn't do much in the morning. That said, my parents took the boys to a few more stops in the after noon. First up was the Googleplex in Mountain View. Dad and the boys just couldn't resist taking a joyride on the Google-colored bicycles, including the seven-seat Conference Bike. They were apparently reserved for Google employees because another family got kicked off them when they went to ride one. *whistles innocently*
The other major stop was Shoreline Lake as the boys were interested in going boating. Dad rented a Canoe and took Danny and the twins along. The rest of us stayed on the shore as the canoe could only hold four people and that Mom and I had always figured that canoeing was scary. Dad later told us that it was indeed scary when some water got into the boat. I'm glad I'm not the only one.
Overall the weekend was pretty awesome.
Currently playing: Redneck Rampage: Suckin' Grits on Route 66
The best part about coming home from a vacation
Saturday
Yesterday was pretty fun as we went to Salinas and Monterey with Henry's film club before exploring the latter on our own. Danny didn't feel like coming, so it was just six of us. The reason for the field trip was to learn more about author John Steinbeck and see some spots where the film Cannery Row was shot.
The plan was to explore the National Steinbeck Center first, but my mother decided to skip this part as we were really tired from all that traveling and didn't want to get up too early. Our party instead met after the tour before rendezvousing at John Steinbeck House, the boyhood home of the author that has been converted into a restaurant. The food there was really good. This was no doubt a very special experience.
Our group then met up in Monterey for a tour of the spots where Cannery Row was filmed. The boys weren't too interested in the tour, so Dad rented a surrey and took them out for a ride. I opted to stay with Mom for the tour as we had been on the surrey ride before. The tour was really fun, although we didn't walk too much as the area was quite small.
Dad and the boys picked us up in the surrey just as the tour ended. We rode about two miles through town before having dinner at a restaurant on the Fisherman's Wharf. This was something I had wanted to do for a long time. The dinner certainly didn't disappoint. On the whole, this day trip totally rocked. It was essentially an extension of our Southwest trip.
Sunday
All of us were really tired and so didn't do much in the morning. That said, my parents took the boys to a few more stops in the after noon. First up was the Googleplex in Mountain View. Dad and the boys just couldn't resist taking a joyride on the Google-colored bicycles, including the seven-seat Conference Bike. They were apparently reserved for Google employees because another family got kicked off them when they went to ride one. *whistles innocently*
The other major stop was Shoreline Lake as the boys were interested in going boating. Dad rented a Canoe and took Danny and the twins along. The rest of us stayed on the shore as the canoe could only hold four people and that Mom and I had always figured that canoeing was scary. Dad later told us that it was indeed scary when some water got into the boat. I'm glad I'm not the only one.
Overall the weekend was pretty awesome.
Currently playing: Redneck Rampage: Suckin' Grits on Route 66
Saturday, July 18, 2015
a train trip to Sacramento
"Goodbye, Mr. Doge!" -- one of the girls to me
Summer has been great as we went to Sacramento with the China-America Shanghai Friendship Association. Our family friend Ching-Lin had invited us on a day trip organized by the club. It was lots of fun as there were around 30 other families!
The day began with a drive to Fremont station. This was a new experience as we had never been on Amtrak before. Though we were scheduled to take the 8:20 train, the event organizer had asked us to arrive 40 minutes earlier. I was pretty sleepy as we had to get up no later than 6:30 a.m. On the bright side, there was plenty of time to get acquainted with others.
Lots of people got on the train at various stops. There were so many of us that we took up nearly an entire car. Ching-Lin acted as a tour guide during the two-ride ride. His knowledge of the history of California was impressive.
The train arrived in Sacramento just before noon. We split into two groups and rode the bus to the California State Capitol Museum. The surrounding Capitol Park was the perfect place for a picnic lunch. This was followed by a guided tour of the Capitol. The tour was informative and enjoyable. I had no idea the Capitol was such a fascinating place.
Just two blocks away was Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park - the site of the former governor's home. At first we thought it was closed as the front doors were locked. However, someone found a second entrance just as we were about to leave. The guides were awesome and more than happy to accommodate our schedule. The mansion was beautiful and well-preserved. It's a shame photography wasn't allowed inside.
The final stop was Old Sacramento. Our families took a stroll to the Tower Bridge and browsed local shops. This was pretty fun even though it was extremely hot outside. On the other hand, there was a small café with ice cream. I enjoyed a double scoop before we headed back to the Amtrak station.
The ride back to Fremont was uneventful, although it was hard to bid farewell to our new friends. The day concluded with dinner at a Mediterranean restaurant in Sunnyvale. The tapas were delicious, but the fish wasn't too fresh and the water tasted terrible. I can't say this was a stellar dining experience.
The trip had its funny moments. There was a picture of a Shiba Inu in a window at the California State Capitol. One of the girls decided to call me "Mr. Doge" after I made a reference to the meme. I'm sure we got some strange looks. The other thing is that several moms asked me whether I was still in college. That definitely made me feel young again. ^_^
The only downside is that there were few people my age. The other young people in our group were mostly high school students. I guess twenty-somethings don't want anything to do with their parents. The day trip was nonetheless a major highlight of the summer. I hope similar events are being planned for the future. In the meantime, you can go here for the pictures.
Currently listening to: "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone
Monday, May 25, 2015
Memorial Day weekend report: Napa County day trip and more
I went to Napa County with my parents during the Memorial Day long weekend. It was definitely pretty fun.
Saturday
The day began with a drive to St. Helena. The plan was to go there with the Tangs, but they sadly couldn't join us due to Eileen not feeling well. We stopped at their house in El Cerrito anyway as my mother really wanted to see them.
One reason for the trip was to visit the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. The adjacent vineyard was the perfect spot for a picnic lunch. The museum was small but had many exhibits dedicated to the author. I admittedly had no idea Stevenson wrote so many books. The admission was free, although we made a donation.
Downtown St. Helena awaited us later in the afternoon. The restaurants and snack shops immediately caught my attention. It's too bad everything was so expensive. There was some free time, during which we went to three nearby wineries. This was pretty fun even though we had visited them on our trip to Napa and Carson City several years ago.
The next stop was WinCo Foods in Fairfield for groceries. WinCo has always been one of my favorite places to shop. The last stop on the way home was a Thai restaurant in Fremont for dinner. The food was spicy as hell but otherwise delicious.
Our original itinerary included Bodega Bay as well, but the overhead was too high. However, that's not a problem as we're still planning to go there in the near future. In the meantime, feel free to check out my pictures from the day trip.
Sunday and Monday
Having done so much, the three of us decided to relax at home for the rest of the weekend. I spent most of Sunday studying PHP programming but did find time to play RuneScape during breaks.
Monday was mostly uneventful. Our plan was to watch the Danish film The Hunt for Henry's film club, but the DVD turned out to be damaged. I listened to online lectures instead but later completed a few quests and the medium Arduogne tasks in RuneScape during my free time. So yeah, the long weekend was nice.
Currently playing: RuneScape
Saturday
The day began with a drive to St. Helena. The plan was to go there with the Tangs, but they sadly couldn't join us due to Eileen not feeling well. We stopped at their house in El Cerrito anyway as my mother really wanted to see them.
One reason for the trip was to visit the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. The adjacent vineyard was the perfect spot for a picnic lunch. The museum was small but had many exhibits dedicated to the author. I admittedly had no idea Stevenson wrote so many books. The admission was free, although we made a donation.
Downtown St. Helena awaited us later in the afternoon. The restaurants and snack shops immediately caught my attention. It's too bad everything was so expensive. There was some free time, during which we went to three nearby wineries. This was pretty fun even though we had visited them on our trip to Napa and Carson City several years ago.
The next stop was WinCo Foods in Fairfield for groceries. WinCo has always been one of my favorite places to shop. The last stop on the way home was a Thai restaurant in Fremont for dinner. The food was spicy as hell but otherwise delicious.
Our original itinerary included Bodega Bay as well, but the overhead was too high. However, that's not a problem as we're still planning to go there in the near future. In the meantime, feel free to check out my pictures from the day trip.
Sunday and Monday
Having done so much, the three of us decided to relax at home for the rest of the weekend. I spent most of Sunday studying PHP programming but did find time to play RuneScape during breaks.
Monday was mostly uneventful. Our plan was to watch the Danish film The Hunt for Henry's film club, but the DVD turned out to be damaged. I listened to online lectures instead but later completed a few quests and the medium Arduogne tasks in RuneScape during my free time. So yeah, the long weekend was nice.
Currently playing: RuneScape
Thursday, January 1, 2015
I left my heart in San Francisco, part deux
The year is off to a good start as we went on a day trip to San Francisco with our family friend Sophie's hiking club!
The morning began with Jeff and Sheila giving us a ride to San Francisco. The group met at a corner near the New Chinatown. We arrived a few minutes late due to unexpected traffic, but luckily everyone else waited for us. The first stop was the mosaic stairs at 16th Avenue. The stairway was impressive and must have taken a long time to build. The view from the top was awesome.
The bad news is that one of the ladies was bitten by a dog near the stairs. The guy walking the dog wasn't too helpful and left without providing identification. Dad helped make a police report while the woman went to look for a doctor. Figuring this would take a while, the rest of us headed to the nearby Grand View Park in the meantime.
The hike to Grand View Park was strenuous but rewarded us with one of the best views in the Bay Area. The next stop was another mosaic stairway called the Hidden Garden Stairs. This one was completed in December 2013 and also beautiful. It was noon when we were done taking pictures, after which we went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. The eatery was kind of small - we easily took up almost half the tables - but the food was delicious!
Golden Gate Park awaited us in the afternoon. I wish we could have stayed longer as the park was a lovely place. The bison paddock brought back memories of our trips to Yellowstone. The final stop of the day was the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden. It was a nice spot for a rest even though there were no tulips at this time of the year. Because it was getting late, our group shared some snacks at a nearby picnic area before going separate ways.
This hike was shorter than the the one in August but still a great workout. MapMyRun says we each walked a total of over eight miles. The only downside is that there were no other young people in our group. I guess most millennials don't want anything to do with their parents.
Our gratitude goes to Jeff for taking us to San Francisco and back home. Mom wanted to treat him and Sheila to dinner for their troubles, but Sheila figured we were tired and declined. Her consideration is truly appreciated. Even though the couple didn't stay for dinner, the day couldn't have been better. I've posted pictures from our hike.
Once again, happy New Year, everyone!
Currently listening to: "Last Friday Night" by Katy Perry
The morning began with Jeff and Sheila giving us a ride to San Francisco. The group met at a corner near the New Chinatown. We arrived a few minutes late due to unexpected traffic, but luckily everyone else waited for us. The first stop was the mosaic stairs at 16th Avenue. The stairway was impressive and must have taken a long time to build. The view from the top was awesome.
The bad news is that one of the ladies was bitten by a dog near the stairs. The guy walking the dog wasn't too helpful and left without providing identification. Dad helped make a police report while the woman went to look for a doctor. Figuring this would take a while, the rest of us headed to the nearby Grand View Park in the meantime.
The hike to Grand View Park was strenuous but rewarded us with one of the best views in the Bay Area. The next stop was another mosaic stairway called the Hidden Garden Stairs. This one was completed in December 2013 and also beautiful. It was noon when we were done taking pictures, after which we went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. The eatery was kind of small - we easily took up almost half the tables - but the food was delicious!
Golden Gate Park awaited us in the afternoon. I wish we could have stayed longer as the park was a lovely place. The bison paddock brought back memories of our trips to Yellowstone. The final stop of the day was the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden. It was a nice spot for a rest even though there were no tulips at this time of the year. Because it was getting late, our group shared some snacks at a nearby picnic area before going separate ways.
This hike was shorter than the the one in August but still a great workout. MapMyRun says we each walked a total of over eight miles. The only downside is that there were no other young people in our group. I guess most millennials don't want anything to do with their parents.
Our gratitude goes to Jeff for taking us to San Francisco and back home. Mom wanted to treat him and Sheila to dinner for their troubles, but Sheila figured we were tired and declined. Her consideration is truly appreciated. Even though the couple didn't stay for dinner, the day couldn't have been better. I've posted pictures from our hike.
Once again, happy New Year, everyone!
Currently listening to: "Last Friday Night" by Katy Perry
Sunday, August 17, 2014
I left my heart in San Francisco
"Dealing with other drivers in San Francisco is like going to war." -- Mom
We went to San Francisco today with Henry's film club. The purpose of the field trip was to see some of the locations where the 1958 film Vertigo was shot. Though it was exhausting as we were out for almost 14 hours, all of us had an amazing time.
Dad insisted on starting out early to avoid potential congestion. The drive was smooth; not only was there less traffic than anticipated, my family ended up being the first to arrive. After parking our car, the three of us headed to Portsmouth Square to wait for the others. It just happens that the San Francisco Chinatown Ping Pong Festival was being held at the plaza. Even mayor Ed Lee was there!
Once everyone showed up, the tour began with a walk on the Barbary Coast Trail. Our family friend Pi-Yun acted as our guide and took us to several points of interest in the area, such as Saints Peter and Paul Church and the Cable Car Museum. The cable car power house at the museum was a cool sight for sure.
All of us then had a short rest at Fairmont San Francisco. The hotel was impressive - both inside and outside - although I'm not too keen on finding out the rates. The last stop of the morning was the beautiful Grace Cathedral. One interesting feature of the church was the labyrinth outside the entrance. Going to the center was a workout in itself.
The group split up for lunch; about half of us went to a Chinese restaurant called Imperial Palace. Everyone was super hungry as it was well past noon. Let's just say it was like feeding a pack of starving wolves when the food arrived. While the prices were somewhat high, the food wasn't too bad.
Only nine of us stayed for the second half of the tour as the others left after lunch. There was more driving than walking as the remaining stops were farther apart. The afternoon began with a visit to Mission San Francisco de Asís. Founded just before the U.S. declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, the mission is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco. Some of us also went to the nearby Palace of Fine Arts, although we didn't actually go inside due to time constraints.
Up next was Fort Point National Historic Site. The fort had just closed when we arrived, but the parking lot was the perfect place to enjoy the cool ocean breeze. The next destination was the Legion of Honor. Though it was also closed, the museum made for some great pictures. The tour concluded at the makeshift memorial outside the home where the late Robin Williams once lived. It was touching to see that so many people cared about him.
The plan was to head to another Chinese restaurant for dinner. However, my father had such a hard time finding a parking spot that we almost decided not to stay. Mom was about to call Henry to tell him we were leaving when Dad found a spot at the last minute. Our group then had dinner together before going separate ways. The food wasn't that good, but at least Mom didn't have to cook after a long day.
Having walked so much, the three of us were totally exhausted when we got home. MapMyRun says we walked a total of around 12 miles - which is a new record for us. I'd say that burned quite a few calories. :-)
On the whole, this had to be one of our best day trips ever. I had no idea San Francisco could be so much fun. I'm hoping similar events are planned for the future. In the meantime, be sure to check out the pictures from the field trip.
In other news...
Only six more days until my 10-year high school reunion. I'm so excited!
Update: The pictures are online.
Currently listening to: "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by Tony Bennett
Monday, June 9, 2014
a very special 30th anniversary...
The weekend marked the 30th anniversary of two wonderful people in my life: Mom and Dad!
Because this was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, I figured we had to do something special. One thing that's been on my mind is where to take my parents. But my mother had a different idea: she didn't want me to spend too much on a meal and opted for a hot pot dinner at home. I obliged as this was her day after all.
Mom found some high-quality seafood at an Asian supermarket and made an amazing hot pot dinner on Saturday. She used nothing but the best ingredients, all of which were delicious. However, due to the time required to prepare the meal, my family didn't do much in the evening other than go for a stroll around the neighborhood.
Yesterday was also fun as we went hiking near Woodside. It was almost noon when we were done, after which we headed to Half Moon Bay to grab a bite. I treated my parents to lunch at Sushi Main Street as Dad wanted some Japanese food. Yum!
The three of us visited five antique stores on the way home as Mom wanted to shop for fine china. The evening was uneventful as we were all tired, although I watched an episode each of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Batman: The Animated Series on the new Amazon Fire TV before going to bed.
This was overall an awesome weekend. Here's to congratulating my parents on 30 happy years of marriage and hopefully many more to come!
Currently watching: Star Trek: The Next Generation - "The Ensigns of Command"
Because this was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, I figured we had to do something special. One thing that's been on my mind is where to take my parents. But my mother had a different idea: she didn't want me to spend too much on a meal and opted for a hot pot dinner at home. I obliged as this was her day after all.
Mom found some high-quality seafood at an Asian supermarket and made an amazing hot pot dinner on Saturday. She used nothing but the best ingredients, all of which were delicious. However, due to the time required to prepare the meal, my family didn't do much in the evening other than go for a stroll around the neighborhood.
Yesterday was also fun as we went hiking near Woodside. It was almost noon when we were done, after which we headed to Half Moon Bay to grab a bite. I treated my parents to lunch at Sushi Main Street as Dad wanted some Japanese food. Yum!
The three of us visited five antique stores on the way home as Mom wanted to shop for fine china. The evening was uneventful as we were all tired, although I watched an episode each of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Batman: The Animated Series on the new Amazon Fire TV before going to bed.
This was overall an awesome weekend. Here's to congratulating my parents on 30 happy years of marriage and hopefully many more to come!
Currently watching: Star Trek: The Next Generation - "The Ensigns of Command"
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Chinese New Year party report
"The party van is here!" -- me, on Joseph's arrival
Saturday was uneventful as I was busy studying computer graphics. However, today was nice as we went to Carmel for a Chinese New Year celebration. You may recall that our family friend Joseph organized a class reunion at Chiuyen's house last year. That was so much fun that they decided to do it again!
The Taos also took the opportunity to invite their neighbors and colleagues. Everyone brought lots of food for the potluck lunch. The meatballs and the deviled eggs were my favorites. There were so many dishes that I didn't get to try all of them.
Joseph's daughter Claire was caught up with schoolwork and couldn't come. On the other hand, Yuan and Fang had several friends over. I was the only twenty-something and felt a little out of place, but we still found some common ground.
The kids and I played Sorry! after lunch. I hadn't touched that game in over 10 years but was able to quickly get up to speed with the rules. Let's just say things got very heated. However, the game wasn't even over when most people had to go home. The parents ruin all the fun. ^_^
Super Bowl XLVIII started shortly afterwards. That probably explains why everyone was in such a hurry to leave. Though it would have been fun to watch the game at Chiuyen's house, the Taos weren't really into sports. I reckon most families didn't want to overstay their welcome anyway as the gathering was supposed to end at 2:30 p.m. On the whole, this reunion was even better than the 2013 one. Feel free to check out the pictures.
Some of us considered taking a stroll around the neighborhood afterwards as we did last year, but this wasn't an option either due to the heavy rain. That left some free time, during which my family stopped at three antique stores on our way home. Mom found some nice china at each of the stores. This brought back memories of our recent trip to Reno.
Dad and I then watched the rest of the Super Bowl. I rooted for the Denver Broncos because the San Francisco 49ers had lost the NFC Championship Game. They say the enemy of my enemy is my friend. However, the Broncos were no match against the Seattle Seahawks either. The final score ended up being 43-8 in favor of Seattle. Blah.
Currently playing: Epic Battle Fantasy 4
Sunday, October 6, 2013
on celebrating the National Day of the Republic of China
I had another great weekend.
To start off, my family went hiking in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park on Saturday after lunch. This was refreshing as we hadn't been there in ages. Our next stop was downtown Santa Cruz for a stroll. The area we visited was fairly close to the UC Santa Cruz campus, bringing back memories.
After finding a Starbucks store, my parents and I went in to redeem a birthday reward. Dad took the opportunity to buy Mom a cup of latte. I also had some ice cream at a candy store as it was rather hot outside. The day trip was the highlight of the weekend.
The three of us attended a flag-raising ceremony for the National Day of the Republic of China in San Jose this morning. The dance and martial arts performances were enjoyable. The other thing is that we saw several familiar faces. I've posted some pictures and videos of the event on Flickr. The videos are also on YouTube.
But there was one thing we weren't happy about. Upon arrival, attendees were given tickets that could be redeemed for a bento box and a Taiwanese flag. However, the staff kept handing out the boxed lunches to people who arrived late without a ticket. The lunches ran out just when it was our turn. While a free lunch is no big deal, this wasted an hour of our time. Shit happens.
On the other hand, my birthday is in four days. The cool thing is that it's actually on the National Day of the Republic of China. They say people born that day are treated like kings in Taiwan. If only plane tickets weren't so expensive...
Currently watching: Star Trek: The Original Series - "A Private Little War"
To start off, my family went hiking in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park on Saturday after lunch. This was refreshing as we hadn't been there in ages. Our next stop was downtown Santa Cruz for a stroll. The area we visited was fairly close to the UC Santa Cruz campus, bringing back memories.
After finding a Starbucks store, my parents and I went in to redeem a birthday reward. Dad took the opportunity to buy Mom a cup of latte. I also had some ice cream at a candy store as it was rather hot outside. The day trip was the highlight of the weekend.
The three of us attended a flag-raising ceremony for the National Day of the Republic of China in San Jose this morning. The dance and martial arts performances were enjoyable. The other thing is that we saw several familiar faces. I've posted some pictures and videos of the event on Flickr. The videos are also on YouTube.
But there was one thing we weren't happy about. Upon arrival, attendees were given tickets that could be redeemed for a bento box and a Taiwanese flag. However, the staff kept handing out the boxed lunches to people who arrived late without a ticket. The lunches ran out just when it was our turn. While a free lunch is no big deal, this wasted an hour of our time. Shit happens.
On the other hand, my birthday is in four days. The cool thing is that it's actually on the National Day of the Republic of China. They say people born that day are treated like kings in Taiwan. If only plane tickets weren't so expensive...
Currently watching: Star Trek: The Original Series - "A Private Little War"
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
A super September
So there was recently a RuneScape event called Super September. Though I haven't played the game much lately due to real life, last month was pretty awesome.
You may remember that we hosted a welcome dinner for our new neighbors during the Labor Day long weekend. The Wilson family returned the favor by having us over for dinner on the 21st. Their older daughter Julia made most of the food, all of which was delicious. Later in the evening, the Wilsons lit floating candles on their pool to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. That was a nice touch. I've posted some pictures from the gathering.
The following day was Fennah's reading club at Carol's house. It was just me and Mom this time as Dad was busy with work and couldn't attend. The two of us didn't stay long but still got to enjoy good food.
I had to work overtime again on the 28th. On the bright side, the company again bought us lunch. The rest of the day was uneventful, although I watched two episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series on Amazon Instant Video in the afternoon.
Dad took us to Half Moon Bay on Sunday morning. Because it was already noon, my family had lunch at Sushi Main Street before exploring the downtown. Our stops included two pumpkin farms; they were a little crowded, probably because Halloween is coming up. The plan was to go hiking afterwards, but we decided to head home as Mom was feeling tired. On the whole, the day trip was lots of fun. You can go here for the pictures.
Currently watching: Star Trek: The Original Series - "A Piece of the Action"
You may remember that we hosted a welcome dinner for our new neighbors during the Labor Day long weekend. The Wilson family returned the favor by having us over for dinner on the 21st. Their older daughter Julia made most of the food, all of which was delicious. Later in the evening, the Wilsons lit floating candles on their pool to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. That was a nice touch. I've posted some pictures from the gathering.
The following day was Fennah's reading club at Carol's house. It was just me and Mom this time as Dad was busy with work and couldn't attend. The two of us didn't stay long but still got to enjoy good food.
I had to work overtime again on the 28th. On the bright side, the company again bought us lunch. The rest of the day was uneventful, although I watched two episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series on Amazon Instant Video in the afternoon.
Dad took us to Half Moon Bay on Sunday morning. Because it was already noon, my family had lunch at Sushi Main Street before exploring the downtown. Our stops included two pumpkin farms; they were a little crowded, probably because Halloween is coming up. The plan was to go hiking afterwards, but we decided to head home as Mom was feeling tired. On the whole, the day trip was lots of fun. You can go here for the pictures.
Currently watching: Star Trek: The Original Series - "A Piece of the Action"
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Father's Day weekend report
Given the high temperatures, I didn't do much on Saturday other than help Dad with yard work and go shopping at Costco with my parents. On the other hand, my family went hiking near Woodside today as the weather had cooled down. This was quite refreshing as we hadn't been there in at least two years.
The plan was to eat at the nearby Alice's Restaurant afterwards. However, the place was so crowded that finding a seat was almost impossible. We decided it wasn't worth the wait and went to Half Moon Bay instead. I took the opportunity to treat my parents to lunch at a Japanese restaurant. :-)
The three of us then checked out the stores in the downtown. Dad had also planned to take us to Pillar Point Harbor for a stroll, but we headed home as Mom was getting tired. On the whole, the day trip was lots of fun.
Currently playing: Ultimate Doom
The plan was to eat at the nearby Alice's Restaurant afterwards. However, the place was so crowded that finding a seat was almost impossible. We decided it wasn't worth the wait and went to Half Moon Bay instead. I took the opportunity to treat my parents to lunch at a Japanese restaurant. :-)
The three of us then checked out the stores in the downtown. Dad had also planned to take us to Pillar Point Harbor for a stroll, but we headed home as Mom was getting tired. On the whole, the day trip was lots of fun.
Currently playing: Ultimate Doom
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Fresno day trip report
Dad took us to Fresno today to see the Forestiere Underground Gardens. He had been wanting to go there for a while, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so.
The 150-mile drive to Fresno was uneventful aside from a stop at Casa de Fruta in Hollister. Because our last time here was several years ago, my parents wanted to see how much had changed. It was mostly the same with the exception of two new stores. On the downside, they no longer offer free samples. Blah.
The three of us arrived at Forestiere Underground Gardens around noon and signed up for the tour. To be honest, I'm not sure if it was worth the price. The tour was $15 per person and much shorter than expected. While the place was fascinating, I don't think it warrants another visit.
Our other stop in Fresno was WinCo Foods for groceries and snacks. As with other locations, everything was super cheap. I certainly wish the company would open more stores.
The day trip concluded with dinner at the Black Bear Diner in Los Banos. Having enjoyed their food during our trip to Tahoe last year, my parents and I decided to eat at the chain again. This experience wasn't as great because the food was overpriced and slightly overcooked. That said, the meal was still a nice way to end the evening. I've posted pictures from our day trip here.
Currently listening to: "Yellow Submarine" by the Beatles
The 150-mile drive to Fresno was uneventful aside from a stop at Casa de Fruta in Hollister. Because our last time here was several years ago, my parents wanted to see how much had changed. It was mostly the same with the exception of two new stores. On the downside, they no longer offer free samples. Blah.
The three of us arrived at Forestiere Underground Gardens around noon and signed up for the tour. To be honest, I'm not sure if it was worth the price. The tour was $15 per person and much shorter than expected. While the place was fascinating, I don't think it warrants another visit.
Our other stop in Fresno was WinCo Foods for groceries and snacks. As with other locations, everything was super cheap. I certainly wish the company would open more stores.
The day trip concluded with dinner at the Black Bear Diner in Los Banos. Having enjoyed their food during our trip to Tahoe last year, my parents and I decided to eat at the chain again. This experience wasn't as great because the food was overpriced and slightly overcooked. That said, the meal was still a nice way to end the evening. I've posted pictures from our day trip here.
Currently listening to: "Yellow Submarine" by the Beatles
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Chinese New Year day trip and party report
"You should start charging people for admission!" -- me to Yuan, on her house
Saturday was uneventful as I was working on an assignment for my data mining class at UCSC Extension. However, today was exciting as we went to Carmel for a college reunion. The event doubled as a Lunar New Year celebration. Sweet!
I'll start with some background: my mother went to the National Kaohsiung Normal University in Taiwan. Her classmate Joseph organized a reunion that was hosted at Chiuyen's house in Carmel. Though it was a long drive, my parents and I managed to get there on time. The Tao family's home looks like a barn from the outside, and going up to the second floor was like visiting a lighthouse. That was really cool.
It wasn't just NKNU alumni as the Taos took the opportunity to invite their neighbors and colleagues. Their children Yuan and Fang had friends over as well. The food was plentiful as this was a potluck lunch. Everything was delicious, especially the sushi and deviled eggs. If only I had a bigger stomach. ^_^
The kids gathered in the living room to play Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii afterwards. I only watched as I'd probably get my ass kicked, but this brought back memories of my college days. Good times.
The party started winding down in the early afternoon. The fun wasn't over yet as we joined a few other people for a walk around the area. Our stops included the historic Carmel Mission, the downtown and even an open house. The hike was nice, although we didn't stay out too long as most of us have to work tomorrow.
Of note is that we ran into a guy who kept hitting on the ladies in our group. Some of the women were a little creeped out, but I thought it was hilarious. One thing for sure is that it made for a memorable moment.
All of us returned to the "barn" for fruit and snacks before going separate ways. On the whole, the day trip was nothing short of amazing. Feel free to check out my pictures from the party and the hike. If you ask me, this needs to happen more often. :-)
Currently watching: Prometheus (2012)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
another uneventful summer + Labor Day weekend report
Summer was again uneventful due to the economic recession. This was actually our first time in at least 15 years that we didn't go on any vacations during the summer. While I got a cool new job in July and went to my company's family picnic last month, that's pretty much all. I've posted a few pictures I took during the summer here.
On the other hand, the Labor Day long weekend totally rocked. The break began with a hike in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park on Saturday afternoon. That was something we hadn't done in a while. There was lots of free time, during which we went to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for another stroll. Our last time here was at least five years ago, but the place hadn't changed much. I think we walked a total of around nine miles!
Having hike so much the day before, my family decided to spend Sunday relaxing at home. That said, I finished watching Star Trek: The Animated Series on DVD. The animated series is almost 40 years old but still quite enjoyable.
Other than that, I spent most of Monday working on an assignment for an online programming class. The good news is that I managed to get it done - even though it took a couple of hours. On the whole, the break was an extremely productive one.
Currently watching: Star Trek: The Animated Series
On the other hand, the Labor Day long weekend totally rocked. The break began with a hike in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park on Saturday afternoon. That was something we hadn't done in a while. There was lots of free time, during which we went to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for another stroll. Our last time here was at least five years ago, but the place hadn't changed much. I think we walked a total of around nine miles!
Having hike so much the day before, my family decided to spend Sunday relaxing at home. That said, I finished watching Star Trek: The Animated Series on DVD. The animated series is almost 40 years old but still quite enjoyable.
Other than that, I spent most of Monday working on an assignment for an online programming class. The good news is that I managed to get it done - even though it took a couple of hours. On the whole, the break was an extremely productive one.
Currently watching: Star Trek: The Animated Series
Monday, October 31, 2011
not a bad Halloween...
Halloween was pretty nice.
The festivities started on Friday with "Diwaloween" at Cisco. Because Diwali and Halloween are so close together this year, the TelePresence team had a joint celebration. There was food and music, and some people even got up to dance. I've posted pictures and videos from the event online.
Cisco hosted a costume contest this afternoon as today is Halloween. From what I've heard, the company has never done anything like this before. It was definitely nice for change. I didn't dress up but enjoyed seeing other people's costumes.
Dad later had two business associates over for dinner. Mom made good food as usual - click here to see what we ate. This wasn't a Halloween party per se as the timing was purely coincidental, but everyone still had a great time. I later passed out candy to the kids, something I hadn't done in 11 years. Here are the stats for those curious:
Total trick-or-treaters: 45
First arrival: 6:45 p.m.
Last arrival: 8:57 p.m.
Candy given out: 46 pieces
So yeah, Halloween was pretty fun. It just might become one of my favorite holidays again. :-)
In other news...
Dad took us to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and Nevada City two Saturdays ago. The fall foliage in Nevada City was beautiful. The best part was having coffee and dessert at a café before hiking some local trails. It was an amazing day trip. You can go here for the pictures.
The festivities started on Friday with "Diwaloween" at Cisco. Because Diwali and Halloween are so close together this year, the TelePresence team had a joint celebration. There was food and music, and some people even got up to dance. I've posted pictures and videos from the event online.
Cisco hosted a costume contest this afternoon as today is Halloween. From what I've heard, the company has never done anything like this before. It was definitely nice for change. I didn't dress up but enjoyed seeing other people's costumes.
Dad later had two business associates over for dinner. Mom made good food as usual - click here to see what we ate. This wasn't a Halloween party per se as the timing was purely coincidental, but everyone still had a great time. I later passed out candy to the kids, something I hadn't done in 11 years. Here are the stats for those curious:
Total trick-or-treaters: 45
First arrival: 6:45 p.m.
Last arrival: 8:57 p.m.
Candy given out: 46 pieces
So yeah, Halloween was pretty fun. It just might become one of my favorite holidays again. :-)
In other news...
Dad took us to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and Nevada City two Saturdays ago. The fall foliage in Nevada City was beautiful. The best part was having coffee and dessert at a café before hiking some local trails. It was an amazing day trip. You can go here for the pictures.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Father's Day weekend report
I hope all you dads out there had a great Father's Day weekend. At least mine did, considering that I treated my parents to lunch again. :-)
Saturday
The day began with a trip to Muir Woods National Monument as we hadn't been there in a while. The trails were beautiful and made for a great hike. Our next stops were Muir Beach Overlook and Stinson Beach, followed by the Point Reyes Lighthouse in the afternoon. Although we had been to the lighthouse before, this was our first time going inside. It was a busy day as we were out for 10 hours!
Sunday
The best part of the weekend was taking my parents out to lunch. They chose Sino again because I still had about $43 left on my gift card. Mom suggested ordering everything from the dim sum menu this time as some of the entrées were overcooked when we came here last month. It wasn't a bad decision because the dim sum was delicious, especially the shrimp dumplings and pork buns.
All in all, this was an amazing weekend. I've uploaded pictures from our day trip and yesterday's lunch.
Currently listening to: "Nemo" by Nightwish
Saturday
The day began with a trip to Muir Woods National Monument as we hadn't been there in a while. The trails were beautiful and made for a great hike. Our next stops were Muir Beach Overlook and Stinson Beach, followed by the Point Reyes Lighthouse in the afternoon. Although we had been to the lighthouse before, this was our first time going inside. It was a busy day as we were out for 10 hours!
Sunday
The best part of the weekend was taking my parents out to lunch. They chose Sino again because I still had about $43 left on my gift card. Mom suggested ordering everything from the dim sum menu this time as some of the entrées were overcooked when we came here last month. It wasn't a bad decision because the dim sum was delicious, especially the shrimp dumplings and pork buns.
All in all, this was an amazing weekend. I've uploaded pictures from our day trip and yesterday's lunch.
Currently listening to: "Nemo" by Nightwish
Monday, January 3, 2011
a short but exciting Christmas break
I'm now back in the office as the holidays are over. One thing about having a regular job is that vacation days are scarce. That said, the break was nice.
For starters, the Shiehs invited us over for lunch on Christmas. Aunt Cynthia and my cousin Connie both made lots of delicious food. Everyone had such a good time that we stayed for dinner. You can go here for the pictures.
This was followed by a day trip to Monterey on the 27th. I enjoyed checking out the restaurants on Fisherman's Wharf and trying the clam chowder samples. The food on display looked appetizing - the only reason we didn't eat here is that we had leftovers at home. Monterey is definitely a place I'd like to revisit in the future. I've posted pictures from the day trip on Flickr.
Continuing on, Dad took us to Tahoe three days later. The trip was short but really fun. After getting home, the three of us went to Cynthia's house again to celebrate New Year's Eve with the Shiehs. So yeah, the break was awesome.
Currently listening to: "Auld Lang Syne"
For starters, the Shiehs invited us over for lunch on Christmas. Aunt Cynthia and my cousin Connie both made lots of delicious food. Everyone had such a good time that we stayed for dinner. You can go here for the pictures.
This was followed by a day trip to Monterey on the 27th. I enjoyed checking out the restaurants on Fisherman's Wharf and trying the clam chowder samples. The food on display looked appetizing - the only reason we didn't eat here is that we had leftovers at home. Monterey is definitely a place I'd like to revisit in the future. I've posted pictures from the day trip on Flickr.
Continuing on, Dad took us to Tahoe three days later. The trip was short but really fun. After getting home, the three of us went to Cynthia's house again to celebrate New Year's Eve with the Shiehs. So yeah, the break was awesome.
Currently listening to: "Auld Lang Syne"
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thanksgiving holiday report
I had an awesome long weekend. The break started early for me as I don't have class on Wednesdays. It was pretty relaxing as I had finished all my assignments and didn't have to worry about anything other than the finals. I also met my landlady Connie's daughters, all of whom were really sweet. :-)
Pre-Thanksgiving
Suzanna and Kira came back from UC San Diego late Tuesday afternoon. They're identical twins but not indistinguishable. I later went on an evening walk with Connie and the girls at one of their favorite spots, the nearby West Cliff Drive. The view of the ocean was beautiful.
Anika returned from Cal Poly on Wednesday morning with her friend Case. She was one of the nicest people I've ever met - just like her sisters. Connie and her daughters invited me to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 with them at the theater. Though that sounded fun, I had to decline because my finals are just around the corner.
It wasn't too late when my parents came to pick me up. They helped me pack up some things as I'm leaving Santa Cruz at the end of the month. I wish I had more time to hang out with Connie's daughters - they would definitely make great friends.
As we were packing up, I noticed the printer we brought to Connie's house was dead. This wasn't too surprising as the LaserJet 4050 TN is around 11 years old. I'm just glad it didn't fail in the middle of an important project.
Thursday
Thanksgiving was nice as our new family friend Jennifer invited us over for dinner. I had met her while attending a job training program with her son Robert earlier this year. Because Jennifer is from Indonesia and her husband Spencer is from Taiwan, there was a mix of American, Chinese and Indonesian food. Yum!
However, Robert is shy and doesn't talk much. Therefore, I used the opportunity to play The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX and Super R-Type on my laptop using an emulator. Though my friend Lawrence's family had also invited us, Mom felt it would be rude to stand the Panns up. I wanted to visit the Jaus afterwards, but my mother thought it was too much of a hassle. Oh well.
Of course, Thanksgiving is about being thankful. I owe my gratitude to our family friend Kitty for helping me get a job at Cisco. I'm also grateful for finding the perfect place to live in Santa Cruz and meeting someone as kind as Connie.
Friday
Because our Lexus RX 330 was having problems, my parents took it to Lexus Stevens Creek for repairs. This took up the entire morning and meant we couldn't get any Black Friday deals. On the other hand, the dealership let us use one of their sedans in the meantime. It was like a free rental. :-)
Also worth mentioning is that the Lexus dealership has Wi-Fi and free snacks. Their customer service is top-notch.
Saturday
Seeing that we had the entire day free, Dad took us on a road trip up north. He brought us as far as Willits and Ukiah. The trails were nice, but there wasn't much time for hiking as we had to drive another 170 miles home. Although we did briefly consider booking a hotel, this wasn't really an option either as we weren't equipped for an overnight stay.
Our last stop on the way home was Applebee's in Santa Rosa for dinner. Everything we ordered was delicious. The day trip was easily the best part of the long weekend.
Sunday
Having done so much in the past few days, all of us wanted to relax instead. Yesterday was pretty uneventful, although I helped Dad design his new company's website and prepared for the finals. Speaking of which, I should probably get back to studying as the finals are coming up soon.
On the whole, the break couldn't have been better. Be sure to check out my pictures.
Currently playing: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
Pre-Thanksgiving
Suzanna and Kira came back from UC San Diego late Tuesday afternoon. They're identical twins but not indistinguishable. I later went on an evening walk with Connie and the girls at one of their favorite spots, the nearby West Cliff Drive. The view of the ocean was beautiful.
Anika returned from Cal Poly on Wednesday morning with her friend Case. She was one of the nicest people I've ever met - just like her sisters. Connie and her daughters invited me to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 with them at the theater. Though that sounded fun, I had to decline because my finals are just around the corner.
It wasn't too late when my parents came to pick me up. They helped me pack up some things as I'm leaving Santa Cruz at the end of the month. I wish I had more time to hang out with Connie's daughters - they would definitely make great friends.
As we were packing up, I noticed the printer we brought to Connie's house was dead. This wasn't too surprising as the LaserJet 4050 TN is around 11 years old. I'm just glad it didn't fail in the middle of an important project.
Thursday
Thanksgiving was nice as our new family friend Jennifer invited us over for dinner. I had met her while attending a job training program with her son Robert earlier this year. Because Jennifer is from Indonesia and her husband Spencer is from Taiwan, there was a mix of American, Chinese and Indonesian food. Yum!
However, Robert is shy and doesn't talk much. Therefore, I used the opportunity to play The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX and Super R-Type on my laptop using an emulator. Though my friend Lawrence's family had also invited us, Mom felt it would be rude to stand the Panns up. I wanted to visit the Jaus afterwards, but my mother thought it was too much of a hassle. Oh well.
Of course, Thanksgiving is about being thankful. I owe my gratitude to our family friend Kitty for helping me get a job at Cisco. I'm also grateful for finding the perfect place to live in Santa Cruz and meeting someone as kind as Connie.
Friday
Because our Lexus RX 330 was having problems, my parents took it to Lexus Stevens Creek for repairs. This took up the entire morning and meant we couldn't get any Black Friday deals. On the other hand, the dealership let us use one of their sedans in the meantime. It was like a free rental. :-)
Also worth mentioning is that the Lexus dealership has Wi-Fi and free snacks. Their customer service is top-notch.
Saturday
Seeing that we had the entire day free, Dad took us on a road trip up north. He brought us as far as Willits and Ukiah. The trails were nice, but there wasn't much time for hiking as we had to drive another 170 miles home. Although we did briefly consider booking a hotel, this wasn't really an option either as we weren't equipped for an overnight stay.
Our last stop on the way home was Applebee's in Santa Rosa for dinner. Everything we ordered was delicious. The day trip was easily the best part of the long weekend.
Sunday
Having done so much in the past few days, all of us wanted to relax instead. Yesterday was pretty uneventful, although I helped Dad design his new company's website and prepared for the finals. Speaking of which, I should probably get back to studying as the finals are coming up soon.
On the whole, the break couldn't have been better. Be sure to check out my pictures.
Currently playing: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
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