Snailkiller

Whoo-hoo- I have only one more week of work!  My last day is this Friday, July 29th.  I am celebrating this weekend- maybe in SF?   Let me know if you’d like to join me:)

There was a Judicial Administration Fellow (JAF) reunion at Solunas (SF) this past Friday.  JAFs are the coolest people- Hong came with me and we just mingled and spoke with current and past fellows.  Then he and I walked down Larkin and had dinner at this Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant- very hole in the wall place.  The crispy noodles was good but my beef and bamboo was too bland.  They gave us free fried banana dessert- yummy:) 

Afterwards, we went to Bambuddah Lounge. Actually, it’s located across the street from the place we had dinner.  I’ve been wanting to check out the place and we never made it and this time, we just happened to see it and went in for drinks.  It is one of my new favorite hangouts- the restaurant part is very chic and sort of pricy and the drinks are way overpriced- well my nasty mojito was $10! But the venue has lots of room- two bars- one in front and one in back.  But the best part was going outside.  This lounge is part of the Phoenix Hotel so you see young people dancing , drinking, chilling on pool-side lounge chairs then you also see tourist families with kids strolling through the back to their hotel room.  It was so weird- we felt out of this world.  They had a live band and a bunch of hippie-fairy’ish white girls were dancing- interesting stuff to watch.  Anyways- I want to go back maybe on a Sat night.  The Friday night crowd was cool though- mainly local and tourists combined.  And guess who we saw??  Lisa and Kevin!  Again- a very odd night.  I haven’t seen Lisa for months (probably since she crashed at my apt) and here we are running into them at this random lounge.

Well- after Bambuddah, Hong and I walked back to BART (only 2 blocks from the lounge) and came back to Oakland to rent movies- We watched Spanglish which is good for the first 3/4 then downhill the last half hour or so.  We also rented The Secretary- very risque film but underneath it all, a simple love story.  Hong fell asleep and I ended up watching the latter film alone- it was actually sort of funny and sorrowful at the same time.

Saturday- we ran errands and Jas came over to pick up three tables and some clothes.  Our apt is definitely dwindling.  I had a dental appmt Sat and Hong got contacts.  It was also crazy hot on Sat.  Yet Jas was wearing jeans and a long sleeved shirt!

Geez- Sunday was one of my worst days yet- I had mood swings all day which was torture to Hong.  But good thing and totally tangent from my moodswings- Hong finally found sunglasses that fit his fat head.  Yeah, we went to a bunch of sunglass stores that morn and Hong was sad- he kept saying, "I am so jealous of all the small headed people."  Well- he found a perfect pair for $8 at Ross.  I got some cute wedges too- even though we’re moving and I really shouldn’t be buying more stuff- especially shoes but come on- $13 for Chinese Laundry weddges??!!  That is a great deal right??

Well- I started packing for Thailand last night.  I am bringing only one backpack and buying what I need there.  For Madison, I have decided to bring only four suitcases- that’s like me starting a new life with four suitcases!  I have decided to bring only four because the $50 I pay for the
extra suitcases is not worth it- the clothes/stuff I have packed in
there probably isn’t even worth $50:)  I found my fourth suitcase plus 3 carry-on bags on Craigslist and was able to negotiate all four pieces down from $20 to $15.  We’re going by the guy’s house tonight to pick up the stuff. 

Oh- I spoke with my cousin Kalyn and she started this business where she is a loan specialist so if you are buying a home or know someone buying a home-            e-mail/call me and I can have her find you a loan- she has access to hundreds of loan options. 

Okie-dokes- gotta jam.  Today is supposed to be hot!  Stay cool.

Whoa- what a crazy, fun, scary weekend. 

Crazy cause it took us 4 hours or maybe five to find our campsite at Arroyo Seco.  Seriously, we passed the exit then drove back around then drove 20 miles on this winding road through mountains.  We finally found our site.  Poor Jagjeet and Edwin, they had to find the site in the dark- not fun when you could fall off the edge of the mountain with any wrong turn.  The funny thing is it took us only 2 hours to get back home:)

Fun cause we played stupid-ass drinking games the first night.  "You said ‘like’- hahaha- drink!"  Yeah, very stupid but oh so fun:)  I also ate "like" 10 pickles while camping- not little pickles but those huge, carnival-sized pickles.  So yummy. 

We went on this short 3-mile hike down to the Arroyo Seco gorge ("gorge"- a deep, narrow pass between steep heights.)  We just swam and relaxed.  The water was cold at first but once we were in, it felt so good we did not want to get back out.  This place was beautiful.  So hidden you would never know it was there.   It reminded me of those mystical river streams in the movies.

Anyways- the gorge was definitely a favorite. 

Scary cause the third day we had to use port-o-potties.  So icky they gave me hot flashes everytime I went into one.  yeah, the sewer was all plugged up by Saturday afternoon so Sat night and Sunday, we had to resort to holes in the ground.  **Hint: For those who are going camping- BRING BABY WIPES!  The best camping investment ever (Thanks to Jas and Grant)!  You can wipe yourself all over for that baby-fresh smell if you don’t have access to showers.  Of course, also good for keeping you fresh "down there."  Yeah, we used them for everything. 

It was definitely a good weekend.  Didn’t get too many mosquito bites. 

I had been wanting to go camping and didn’t think I would have time but I’m glad we made time.  Camping is always an adventure.  So anyone who’s into camping, e-mail me.  Next time, I want to try backpack camping- no running water or anything- just what we have on our backs. 

Oh- I’m packing up everything and we have lots to give away.  Anyone need a microwave?  Also, I have plenty of women’s clothing to give away (mostly sizes 8-12).  We also have a small 2-seater couch and 2 5×7 rugs.  Come get them or they go to Salvation Army. 

Bye!

‘Kay- so a bunch of us are going camping this weekend.  I’ve been wanting to go camping for a while so it’ll be so fun to just hang out and sleep all day under the sun.

Most of us are going from the bay area but a few are going from down south.  I paired people up to be cooking partners so we can each be responsible for a meal.  The special ingredient is onions.  Yeah- I know that is not a very exciting food item but I had to think of something that would not spoil or did not require refrigeration, etc. 

Anyways- last weekend Hong and I did a mini-road trip with Jasmine to Visalia to visit Janet and Moises. Then just the two of us drove from Visalia to bakersfield to visit Phil, Melony and their baby girl- Reagan.  Reagan is the cutest, most perfect baby ever.  Not only is she calm and not a cryer, she has the most flawless baby skin- no bumbies, rashies, or anything.  She is such a good baby! 

We spent Sunday and Monday in Sacramento, mostly hanging out with my cousins and talking family drama.  Oh, it’s so good to talk to someone about family drama and know that they feel the same way I feel.  It’s such a relief to know my family is not so abnormal after all.  Hong and I were gonna go see fireworks at Jack London in Oakland but we were both so exhausted after our crazy weekend so we just stayed home and watched from our apt. 

Wow- I have exactly 14 days left of work!  Yah!  Then we leave for Vegas for the weekend and then Thailand for 10 days.  I can’t wait.  We’ve been slowly packing and pretty much just have our clothes left to pack.  All our furniture has been spoken for- it’s just a matter of having the stuff picked up.  I am so sad because I will have to give away all my cards and craft stuff to my sisters.  Although- I couldn’t help but to save just my favoritest papers, ribbons and embellishments so I can continue to make cards while in Madison.

I’m also taking swimming classes with Hong.  I now can swim- meaning my feet is off the bottom of the pool.  But I can only swim as long as one breath which is about- FIVE WHOLE SECONDS:)  Yippy- NOT!  I wish I could swim longer- like come up for breath and stuff but that is quite hard to do because I get so tired.  I can float on my back so I was thinking I’ll learn to glide then float, glide then float.  That way- I won’t drown.  Gliding is basically kicking myself off with my arms straight out and my feet flapping.  I have good feet movement but my wimpy arms can’t do nothing!  Well, I’m proud of myself for getting that far. 

Whew- only two hours left of work. Gotta jam.