Goodbers

Out of my Funk... Finally!

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:57:00 +0000

I'd been meaning to write for the longest time, but after returning from Asia, I fell into a major funk. Reasons? Oh, there are endless possibilities:

1. After frolicking around the exciting metropolises in Asia, returning to the suburbs was anticlimatical to say the least.
2. For me, the holidays spell anxiety and disappointment: they remind me just how little I fit in with society's ideals regarding family. Speaking of which, how many people have contacted me on Facebook only to inquire about my brother. Jesus, do I need to post a note on my profile stating that I have no idea what my brother is doing-- we've been estranged since late 2003?
3. The last minute cancellation of all my holiday plans (including what was going to be a therapeutic visit to see my bud Pamela in southern California followed by a week-long cram session in Mexico) was a major downer.
4. I've grown increasingly frustrated (or fatigued?) with "chasing perfection," as John explains it.

To exacerbate my crappy mood, John and I started fighting again. Have you ever seen The Story of Us? It follows a couple through the entire rollercoaster ride from the fun and exciting courtship to the new life together/best buddy phase to the resentful, annoyed, distant period, and back full circle to starting again. Well, the last few weeks, we were in that pissy, belligerent, irritable middle period. For days, I wondered how we possibly transitioned from best friends to annoyed roommates. Maybe that term is too harsh, but seriously, it felt like one extreme to the other.

Christmas eve sucked. We tried to get along but I went to bed after I made dinner. I was exhausted, and I yearned for simpler, happier times.

I finally emerged from this darkness the day after Christmas. Chuck and his wife had invited us over for Christmas dinner, and though I wasn't in the mood to feign happy holiday spirits, I considered it a welcome distraction and also a perfect opportunity to see how the new kitten Stanley was settling in. As usual, Chuck cooked a delicious meal.

When I asked whether he had slaved in the kitchen since morning, he said, no, only since the afternoon. He hadn't been feeling very well due to the chemo treatments (his fingers have now gone numb), so he slept in late. Really it just takes a little perspective to kick my ass back in gear. The day before that, I had told Fonda John and I might skip going over for Christmas dinner (since we weren't getting along). She asked what we were fighting about, and when I tried to explain, it all sounded so foolish and petty and insignificant. Not that I want to dismiss our disconnect completely, but relatively speaking, consider what they experienced this past year, between Chuck's diagnosis and Oscar's abrupt death, I know I have a lot to be thankful for.

Long story short, we are back to trying again. And since the day after Christmas, we've been doing much better. In retrospect, the answer seems so simple but I suppose as my father always says, "it's easy if you know how." I don't know that the current answer will always be the correct future answer, but for now, I'm relieved to be back in my groove. Sleeping all night and all day just wasn't me. But I suppose every now and then, the soul needs to play itself the violin. I hope to be back to a regular writing schedule. Thanks for hanging. Oh and happy new year. Get those resolutions down on paper!

Back to the Burbs

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:03:00 +0000

John and I arrived in SFO on Sunday morning. Despite having plenty of leg room on this reasonably-lengthed flight (10 hours direct), we were cranky as hell-- during and afterwards. I tried not to complain, because looking around, everyone (except for first class) was subjected to the same uncomfortable conditions; yet, the travel was just so utterly unbearable. I know, what the hell happened to my toughness? What the hell happened to my tolerance? Oh that's right: never had tolerance to begin with. Anyhow, by the time we got our baggage and cleared through customs, we were absolute disheveled messes. My friend Tina picked us up, and I'm sure she was thinking, "Wtf??!"

All I know is, I really need to figure out the secret to traveling better, because ultimately, this is going to be a huge limiting factor to us being world travelers. Hmm, I should just ask my friend Jenny, who used to be a flight attendant for Cathay Pacific. Can you believe two years ago she almost convinced me to apply for a flight attendant job with Cathay at their SFO base? I know. Hilarious. Everyone I know says I would totally suck as a flight attendant. I happen to think otherwise, but that's just because I'm cocky like that. Regardless, thank goodness flying is not my profession. I much prefer sitting in front of the computer. Ha.

So the Asia trip finished up nicely. John and I hit a wall towards the end: originally, we had had all these lofty plans to cruise around our old stomping grounds, to get our hair/nails done at our local salon, to check out our old apartment, old supermarket... yes, we were all about tapping into the nostalgia. But I'm happy-- and a bit relieved-- to report that there are no plans to move back to Shanghai. Like Cary Tennis wrote before, It was a great situation that ended. And now I feel the closure. Sure, I could have lasted longer, but that period is over now.

On our short three days in Shanghai, we met up with a couple of old friends. We hung out with Kathia, whom we last saw in like 2005 maybe?), and we met her adorable doggie Mush. He was so cute, but seeing him really made me miss our pups. Funny thing, Mush was wearing this red Castor & Pollux herbal collar-- it made him smell so damn good. Guess who has that same collar now? Yup, Remy and Martin both. I was skeptical about the herbal collar before, but they smell delightful! I almost want to smell like that! (Leave it to Kathia to research all the quality dog products). SH was a great end to our Asia trip: Kathia took us to all the cool finds. The first night we indulged at a chocolate lounge/bar called Whisk. The next day, we got foot massages (I sure miss my massages!) and then stayed up late talking at a quaint little cafe. She recently nailed a kickass job (as well as a nice new apartment), so things are really starting to gel now... Congrats Kathia!

In other news, we also met up with my friend Helen. Helen is my Lipstick Jungle idol: she's got the whole successful corporate woman thing going. She's Shanghainese, so there's always interesting insights from her. For example, how would you rate the following items on the sexually progressive-conservative spectrum?
- tampon use
- premarital sex

I was complaining to Helen that I was having a difficult time finding tampons in Taiwan and HK. Apparently, in Shanghai, tampon refers to both the pad AND the "stick." So Helen starts telling me this story about how one of her Chinese coworkers needed a "tampon" at work... A British colleague handed her a Tampax. The response? The Chinese lady was so HORRIFIED that she gave the thing back! Never, ever would they use something like THAT! Exactly. My perspective? Wtf? Freaking out for no damn reason.

Later in the day, Helen starts telling me about her younger sis, who moved to Australia two years ago with her boyfriend. I started asking all these roundabout questions like, "Did they live together immediately when they moved overseas? So, they lived together before they were married??" Helen's response, "Of course. Hello, this is modern China. Sex before marriage is very common." Uh ok. Is it just me, or do you see a serious disconnect here? Isn't it fair of me to assume that premarital sex is out of the question, especially given their whole tampon stance? Apparently, I'm missing something. Cultural insights.

Committing Faux Pas Already

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:09:00 +0000

I'm such a retard. So there's been that ongoing tension between China and Taiwan, right? Well, on arriving at our hotel, I proceeded to pay the airport cabbie with 200 Taiwan dollars. Yeah, so the sun had gone down and well, the Taiwan bill is pink as well. Still, I should have known better. I mean, hello, Mao Zedong was totally missing in action... Duh. Sometimes I am just so damn gauche. Fortunately, the cabbie didn't take offense. He just looked puzzled and kept flipping the bill. Leave it to whitey to point out my error. What would I do without my Bubbey?

HK, Macau pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:11:00 +0000

More Observations

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:44:00 +0000

1. John and I are little piggies. We were nibbling on my favorite See's Candies chocolate nougat bar, and little crumbs got on the white sheets. Yeah, now it looks like we shit in our bed. Poor housekeeper... we'll have to leave extra tip and maybe a note explaining so s/he isn't totally disgusted.
2. In the land of caged golden birds, I was extremely suspicious when I saw an older Caucasian gentleman with a gold band on his RIGHT ring finger. Come on, a plain gold right-hand ring? Sketch. I'm almost completely sure he's playin' like he ain't married... lyin' fuck.
3. John and I were in Macau today but all day we had to keep reminding ourselves where we were. In Macau, the official languages are Chinese and Portuguese, so we were expecting a very European influence. But stepping off the turbojet watercraft, we immediately felt like we were back in China. Just something about the dirtier environment, the ubiquitous construction, and the tenacious hecklers at the ferry terminal. And all I heard was Cantonese.
4. Later, inside the gigantic Venetian Hotel, I again had to double think where the hell we were. Because we were kind of in Italy (thanks to the Disney-esque Venice interior) but then this hotel felt so similar to the Venetian in Vegas so I felt like we were in Nevada, and yet we were technically in Macau. See how my mind has lost its agility? I'm like watching Memento all over again!
5. Macau is freaking dead! How this place has supposedly surpassed Vegas as the world's premier gambling spot is a mystery to me. Streets, restaurants, casinos all very low traffic. Perhaps there are a few very high rollers playing here? I don't know. As for little potatoes like John and me, we played some roulette and WON! About USD $50. Not too shabby.
6. Ate another horrible meal. That's two strikes for LP!
7. Bubbey loves the big city. Oddly, it's one of the few things I've found that really energizes him. Now he's the one with all the pep. We'll have to duke it out for the "Power Pill" title. I argue that after 7 days of emotional stress in Taiwan plus my hour-long swim at the hotel pool yesterday, yes, I'm damn worn out! Ok, so I'm grasping for straws; I'm not proud.
8. I ran out of toothpaste. Unfortunately, the nearby 7-Eleven only carries bubblegum-flavored Pokemon Colgate in travel size. It's useless. What's the point of brushing if there's no minty fresh feeling?
9. Need to do some brain exercises to prep for more currency conversions tomorrow. My little coupon organizer of a wallet, for which I am often ridiculed, sure is coming in handy: so far on our trip, it's helped me file USD, Japanese yen, Taiwanese dollars, Hong Kong dollars, and Macau patacas. Told you I would use all those dividers some day!

So Far in Hong Kong

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:56:00 +0000

Let's see... the highlights:

1. That night we first arrived? I'd forgotten about the Hongkongers driving on the opposite side of the road-- I nearly got splatted crossing the street. (I'm feeling a bit less adaptable in my old age).
2. Before our trip, John gave so much talk about possessing all kinds of global currencies organized in cute little ziploks for his world travels. What happened to the HK dollars? Left at home.
3. We thought we'd still be game for Chinese food. Wrong. First meal in HK? A little dive Thai shop. Tasty but very spicy. Had to order a Thai iced tea to cool the burn.
4. Can't beat feeling like a frump-a-dump amidst the fancy schmancy cosmopolitans. Will need to refocus on the makeover after I get home. So I can look fancy in the suburbs (while working for a granola organization). Yeah, that makes sense.
5. John and I are all about the public transportation. We rode the narrow double decker bus to Stanley yesterday. Beautiful spot with beaches and small shops along the water. Winding roads up got me dizzy, so over lunch, I took a Dramamine. In turn, that knocked me out (Rophynol style) so I was conked out the whole ride down (like could NOT keep the eyes open) and proceeded to sleep another two hours at the hotel. Meanwhile, John searched out another stationery store (store number 3 or 4 on this trip) and returned with his loot.
6. Consumed THE worst Indian food last night for dinner. Burned by LP. Should have known better when the place was totally empty. So disgusting. Thought I would hurl on the metro over to Tsim Sha Tsui.
7. Entered a couple high-end malls only to be reminded that I hate shopping (most of the time). Walked along the Avenue of the Stars, which reminded me a lot of the Bund in Shanghai. Took a million and one night shots (all to be lost later). Looked lightly for Andy Lau's star but didn't see it. Would rather see him in person but no luck. Sigh.
8. Rode the ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui back to Wan Chai. Only USD $0.32!!
9. Last minute planning: booked hotel for Shanghai (which is tomorrow!!).
10. Got up early this morning to blog (and also squeeze in some work). Bubbey knocked out still, so it's nice not to have him hurrying me out the door.

Welcome to Hong Kong

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:39:00 +0000

Ahh, to be back in the big city again... where there's a smorgasbord of everything, from options with transportation to restaurants to banking to shopping to IT. I know, John and I are total telecom junkies and snobs, but come on, what developed country still has crackly phone lines? I know, I'm still complaining about it!

Before we left Taiwan, I called a bunch of my cousins and aunts to thank them for hanging with us, but again, I couldn't even hold a half-decent conversation because of the damn static. So frustrating!

So it's been a little odd being back in Asia. Like when we went through the airport, there were still IR temperature monitors set up to keep an eye out for SARS. SARS! Is that so 2004 or what?! I mean what ever happened with SARS? There was all this global ruckus and then suddenly, the story went away... maybe the virus just ran its course. I don't know.

Speaking of germs, I had the great honor of having my passport totally contaminated by the customs officer. You see, right as he finished stamping the passport of the person in front of me, I saw him dig his index finger deep into his left nostril. Yes. And then it was my turn, and I had no way out. And this was a brand new passport too! Completely manhandled and adulterated by his booger-digging finger. Gross. Welcome to Asia, right? Haha. Oh well, guess I shouldn't be a sissy about such things... it could have been worse. Like the sick toddler in the next line over could have hurled on my shoe or something. I swear that kid was going to cough up a frickin' lung.

Some Taiwan Pictures (More to Come)

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:33:00 +0000

Collecting Data Points

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:20:00 +0000

I really should have done some homework before this trip to Taiwan. You see, my family (and I believe they represent a typical Taiwanese family) is all about collecting data points. Life in the States is so very different from life in Taiwan, so to make things more relatable, it really is all about comparing numbers, like median household income, average home prices in the big city, typical rate of savings per household, monthly expenditures, etc. But of course to further complicate my already shaky oral communications, there's the constant mathematical conversions of currency and measurements (temperature, area, distance)! Thank goodness for John's iPhone... not only were we able to look up the necessary stats, but I was able to churn out conversions in a somewhat acceptable response time. Boy, when was the last time I had to do real mental math, like serious calculations involving double-digit multiplication and division and shit? Like never. Relying on my brain power alone would have been a total nightmare!

So John and I are wrapping up our 9-day stint in Taiwan. In a lot of ways, I had forgotten about the standard-of-living divide. I mean, my relatives here live comfortably in concrete houses with all the basics plus most luxuries of modern living, but Wulong is still rather rural. In fact, it's not even considered a town over here-- they call it a village. And even though we have an ADSL connection at my aunt's house, the phone and television connections are really shoddy. I had an awful time trying to find places to exchange my traveler's checks. When I called various bank branches in the area, the phone line was so crackly, I couldn't even hold a normal conversation. And when I went in person to like four different nationwide banks-- none would exchange my traveler's checks. I know, it was my own damn fault to assume any bank would perform foreign currency transactions... it's not as if Wulong is anything close to an international city like Shanghai. I don't know what I was thinking.

Anyway, this has been an ok trip. Next time though, I think 7 days will be adequate. There's just a bit too much car travel visiting various relatives. And I think John and I will try to spend more time in the big city, and rent our own car or a moped. It's just too much having to rely on others to drive us around (the mass transit is especially poor in the rural areas). Plus, people here drive crazy! When we visited my father's friend in Taizhong last week, the guy drove like a freakin' maniac. Seriously, I almost thought he was drunk or something: he couldn't stay in the lane to save his life, and every day, we were trapped in the van for like 4 hours. I took Dramamine religiously and still, I got motion sick! The remaining days of our trip, my dad drove us around and he's such a straight arrow, his driving here sucks too. Like he's all anal about parking in that particular parking space, with equal spacing on all four sides of the car. And then he follows all the traffic lights and laws, so whereas most people just blow through shit, my father insists on stopping but he doesn't realize the light is red until really late, so then we come to a screeching halt. Omg, total hurky jerky! Ugh. Well, like I said, next time, we're driving ourselves.

My relatives are well. Their lives seem busy, especially with the additional rugrats running around but I think things are generally going well for them. John and I are pretty worn out by the Taiwanese hospitality... John says we're like veal calves-- lots of binging but very little exercise. I'm impressed how attuned my relatives are to our likes and dislikes... for example, my aunt always remembers all my favorite snacks and dishes so whenever I come back, all my goodies are there, ready for me to enjoy. Major attention to detail, especially considering that I only visit once every two years or so. I'm going to start prepping my own mock itinerary for when they visit us in the States. I've got to be prepared.

Weary Traveler

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:45:00 +0000

Conceptually, I love to travel. Practically, however, there is just something about traveling that wears me out. It's really rather unfortunate, because in my usual home setting, I have lots of energy. I hardly ever sit still. But on my travels, I tire very easily and sleep several hours extra.

Sure, the journey to this part of Asia is a long one: almost 24 hours of travel just to get to Taipei: 3 hours at SFO, 12 hours en route to Tokyo, 3-hour layover, 3.5-hour flight to Taipei, 1 hr through customs, 45 minutes to the hotel... Still, I am only 32 years old. I should be able to handle the occasional 24 hours of travel.

Then again, we've been on a tight schedule. After a night in Taipei, we caught the high-speed train to Wulong (where my grandfather lives) the next morning. Gramps looks pretty much the same as he did in 2006: he's in terrific health for an 85-year old. He does morning and evening exercises every day, he gardens, he does laundry for my aunt's family next door, he goes up and down the stairs without too much difficulty, and he even scoots around town in his moped. His mind is still lucid.

Unlike my grandfather, Taiwan has changed noticeably in the last two years. The environment seems drearier and grayer. The air has always been bad, but I don't remember it being this bad... Maybe California has spoiled me. Also, the island just seems quieter in general-- the streets are less crowded; even the drivers have muted their once incessant honking. My cousins seem rather sedate too... they sit through meals in a daze: I ask lots of questions only to receive short, undramatic responses. Maybe the global economic downturn has put a damper on everything. Maybe it's just age that kind of kills the zest for life. I'm not exactly sure.

John and I head off to Hong Kong next Monday. Surely, our remaining days in Taiwan will be filled with plenty of travels and way too much food. Damn, vacationing sure is tiring. I hope HK will be our little detox pitstop. I definitely need to take a break from the constant eating and shuttling around.

Keepin' Up with the Joneses

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:37:00 +0000

Phew! I am beat. And I just realized that I hadn't even posted a word about the miracle of all miracles that happened last Tuesday night. Yes, I admit, I was a naysayer. I mean, come on, last time had burned me (us) badly, so out of self-preservation, I had to keep up my defenses. But holy. shit. Barack Obama won. Unbelievable and so fucking awesome!

As you might have suspected, his speech brought me to tears. Watching Obama, I honestly felt like I was in the presence of greatness (Come on, who can argue that Obama possesses that "it" factor, on top of being brilliant and polished and inspirational though I do wish he would change his definition of "marriage"...). And right as I sat there, overwhelmed by the genius of this man, the newscaster revealed that Obama's speechwriter (oh yeah, I guess he doesn't write all his own shit... duh!) is twenty-fucking-six years old!! So you know me, the weirdest things kick my ass into gear. Or rather, plenty of things trigger my inadequacy buttons, and yes, I have lots of them. When these hot buttons get pressed, I just suddenly feel so much urgency, like a panic, about my life. Like, what am I doing? What am I accomplishing? How can one person do so much in one day, in one decade, and I have nothing to show for? These are the questions that run through my mind. And so, I resolve to do more and to do better. You see, last August, my panic button went off with Michael Phelps and his million and one gold medals. The reporters said he spent like 30+ hours/week in the pool. His coaches were so deliberate in cultivating his athleticism-- right down to planning when weight-training would play into his workout program! You see, all these considerations went into his development as a successful swimmer. There was planning. There was patience. Even though his fame came practically overnight through this one huge international event, Phelps and his coaches had prepared for this for years. And all of it just reminded me that people succeed due to a combination of factors, some of which incudes luck and chance and circumstance, but certainly, most do not succeed without discipline and diligence.

And so what did I do after Phelps made me feel inadequate? I started walking 2-3 miles daily with Bub and the pups. Seriously, if some dude can swim 30+ hours/week, I can certainly wake up an hour earlier to squeeze in 40 minutes of walking, you know what I mean? So now it's November, and while we don't necessarily walk every single day, we do walk regularly. And Bubbey has even shed some pounds to prove it.

Anyway, now that Barack Obama's speechwriter has given me a complex, I've decided to get back to my learning to do list. Spanish has been on my list for ages, and for the last month, I'd been dilly-dallying over whether I wanted to take a week-long immersion course in Mexico over the holidays. After Election night, I booked the damn thing. Seriously, enough with the back and forth... life is passing me by, goddamnit. So, that feeling I mentioned earlier, that one of urgency, I finally moved on it. That's the thing: there's a lot I want to do in my life. And maybe I will never be the best or the most talented whatever, but I need to try harder. If anything, I need to keep the ball rolling...

I'm tired (John and the pups and I went on a challenging hike this afternoon), but the night is young. Hell, it's only 8:30. Surely, I can squeeze in a lesson or two of Chinese. After all, even fricking ancient John McCain was on the go for a YEAR campaigning...

Asia, Here We Come!

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:12:00 +0000

Our Asia trip is fast approaching... my parents ship out on Tuesday (after they cast their ballots), and we'll meet them in Taiwan in a couple weeks. On our weekly call this morning, my parents stressed me out with all their questions about our travel logistics. No, I don't know where I'm staying the first night we arrive in Taipei (we'll need to catch the next day's train to Kaohsiung). No, I don't need auntie to pick us up via car. What sense does that make? They're going to drive 5 hours to get me by car when I can just stay overnight and catch the high-speed rail the very next day for a 90-minute trip?? Are they insane? Inefficient hospitality.

Anyway, the interrogations kicked my butt into high gear, and now I've got the Taiwan part of our trip all figured out. Well the arrival part at least. I found a cute little budget hotel (Thanks TripAdvisor!) in Taoyuan (the city where we fly in-- just outside Taipei) with the train station right down the street. And the train runs like 3 times an hour, so maybe we'll even explore the area a bit before heading to the South. I'm totally psyched about riding the train. Seriously, 5 hours down to 90 minutes? Gotta love engineering and innovation.

Theater Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:39:00 +0000

The forecast is calling for rain all weekend. What better reason than to book tickets for two plays! John probably could care less (he's not that involved with activity planning for the household), but I'm psyched to see two productions at smaller theaters in the peninsula. This evening we're heading into Mountain View to grab a bite before Nickel and Dimed at the Pear Avenue Theater (I've never been). Thankfully, it's also getting us out of dinner plans with Oscar's parents. Yep. Seems like the wife freaked out about the husband's grief and mourning, so she decided the solution was to adopt another kitten-- from a later litter. The new kitten (also a savannah cat) arrived yesterday, and already Fonda wants us to go over and see him. Jesus. I have all these reservations and unanswered questions. I mean, was Oscar's pyothorax indeed caused by a bite wound to the chest (as the vet suggested is often the case, particularly in multi-cat households)? If so, why on earth would you get another kitten? Just seems really irresponsible, and frankly, I'm annoyed. I mean, I suppose people deal with grief and heartache in all different ways but... Sigh. This just seems incredibly rash. Anyway, I just need a break from Fonda. She's so damn high maintenance. In spite of this all, the new kitty sure looks cute.

But back to the theater weekend... tomorrow afternoon, John's taking a breather from football to see The Little Foxes with me at our very own Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City. Got rave reviews, so I'm stoked.

As for today, John's working so I'm left to my own devices. You know what that means: loads of laundry, vacuuming, errands. Yup. That's just how I roll. Getting ready to head out shopping for a bit. Old Navy is having a big sale, and I'm generic (and cheap) like that. :)

Puppyfest

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 06:28:00 +0000

My friend at work just got a new puppy. Well I guess Zainey isn't all that new anymore... Jen got her a few weeks ago and the pup is already 14 weeks. An adorable little border collie-lab mix. Ultra cute. I was super psyched about introducing her to Remy and Martin, so on Thursday, I had Puppyfest at our house. Three doggies, four people, pizza, beer, and Pictionary. It was a good time.

As expected, Remy was a cranky little beotch, but Zainey loved it. And then poor Martin, he got chased by both of the girls. All in all, they had a blast running around crazy. With my two geriatric dogs, I can totally leave stuff on the sofa and tables, so I didn't think twice about setting my cheese platter appetizer on the ottoman. Forget about it! Zaine was in to that cheese in no time! I had forgotten how fast little puppies dart around. Remy and Martin got so worn out, this morning they didn't even get up to go for their morning walk. Senior citizens, I tell you.

So today was Halloween. I actually dressed up. I was a punk, meaning, I wore all black, had the fishnets and boots, the spikey belt, the dog collars, a nose ring, and some other silver jewelry. Being the cheap bastard that I am, I limited my costume purchases to just the spikey belt. Everything else was borrowed (like from Remy and Martin) and then thrown together. So I didn't look totally badass. I didn't look like some tough chick who was going to kick your ass. Too bad but that's what I get for minimal investment. So sure, I didn't go as hard core as I could have, but damn, some clueless dude at work asked me if I was a gypsy. WTF??? A gypsy? Honestly peeps, check out the pics. Does anything about my costume suggest gypsy? Huh? The bummer is, I didn't win the costume contest. Someone else dressed up as Marie Antoinette with the poofy corseted dress, the white powder face, the white wig, and a bloody neck. Yeah, I have to say, she took the cake. But I wasn't about to throw in the towel completely. I also entered the pumpkin carving contest. And you know what? John is damn right: the proper tools make all the difference. I carved that fucker in record time. Like 30 minutes. Who knew pumpkin carving could be so easy. I was pretty stoked about my design. If you must know, I was inspired by the tablecloth pattern at our office potluck. I carved a bat. And frankly, I thought she turned out pretty kick ass. But I still lost out. The random retard of a judge opted for the pumpkin that had the innards stuffed in its mouth (as if it were puking pumpkin guts and seeds). Yes, I admit the idea certainly was clever but still... My design required more skill. But I'm not bitter or anything. No. In fact, I'm mighty proud.

I brought the pumpkin home for Bubbey tonight. As proof that my plan to become more artsy/crafty and domestic is working. It's in me. I know it is. Mind over body. Happy Halloween folks.

Weekend Escape

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 05:14:00 +0000

John and I headed to Lake Tahoe this past weekend. It was our first time there, and well, the place made a good impression but boy, it sure was dead. something about it being the "shoulder" season?? I don't know: the weather was great (60s to 70s) but oddly enough, most everything was shut down. And I was prepping myself for some serious shit too, like the ziplines and gondola rides and kayaking. Nope. All of it closed. Damn resort towns.

We stayed at the Marriott Timber Lodge. Marriott never disappoints. Of course the evening temps dipped down to the 30s but leave it to Marriott to maintain the monster heated pool PLUS four hot tubs. Having had my community pool shut down after October 15, I was thrilled to have water access again. John and I didn't do too much: we walked along the beach in South Lake Tahoe and then did a couple of short hikes around Emerald Bay and Lower Echo Lakes. I sure wish the pups got to come along: they would have loved the cool temps and outdoor adventures.

On Monday, we hit the town of Placerville on the way home. Had a tasty quiche for lunch at Sweetie Pies. We had gone there hoping to get a pie for take-home. Little did we know, their homemade pies have to be ordered days in advance. Total bummer. To get our sweet fix, we hit the Candy Strike shop downtown. Saw candies I hadn't seen in years. Seriously folks. All kinds of licorice plus Now and Laters. Holy shit, right? Now and Laters bring me WAY back to Clover Hill in Frederick, Maryland. Like concession stands and the Little League ball game. Crazy. There were also taffies, atomic fireballs, banana split chewys... a lot of shit I thought was long banned or deemed dangerous for consumption. Nope, still available apparently in specialty shops. The shopkeeper rang us up, and we were totally done and then he offered us some samples of his homemade fudge. That was our Achilles heel. Ended up ordering a box of fudge and suddenly, our receipt was double. Oh well, that dark Rocky Road fudge was delish!

Life's a Gamble

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 05:29:00 +0000

As much as I am a control freak, I'm learning some tough lessons in life this year. John and I were pet sitting our friend's two cats, including the one prized savannah kitten. Oscar was a real jewel; I mean aside from his striking ocelot-like coat, he had a wonderful personality for a cat. In fact, he behaved more like a dog. At nine months, he relished the company of people. He cuddled, he walked well on a leash, and they took him everywhere.

Recently, they had noticed he was acting calmer, less rambunctious. They thought maybe he had crossed that threshold from kiddie to adolescence. But then he grew increasingly lethargic and he ran a fever. They took him to the vet on Monday; she thought he had just an infection. She put him on Zithromax. We cat sat starting on Tuesday. He ate, seemed to play a bit, then on Thursday, he was noticeably weak and his breathing was labored. We took him to the emergency vet that night. On Friday morning, I went to transfer him out of the emergency vet and into a specialist's care. I spoke in person with the vet at 7:40. Oscar was doing better. I went next door to fill out paperwork at the specialist's office and at 8:15, he was gone.

Honestly, I hadn't spent that much time with Oscar, but upon hearing the news, I just lost it. Pyothorax they say. Shock, confusion, self-doubt, pity... Our friend is the one with stage IV cancer. He is devastated. Oscar was his best pet ever, his best friend, the one thing he loved most in this world. And he's gone now.

It's weird. I think of how lucky Oscar was to be in a loving home, to be taken care of in his short nine months. So many people in the world never experience that luxury. Certainly so many animals never experience that luxury. And yet, when I think of his lifeless body lying there on the examination table, I ache for his pain and suffering. I wish he could have told us there was something seriously wrong. I suppose all this time, despite being a veteran pet owner, I've been naive. I mean, what could possibly be wrong with indoor pets? They have shelter, protection, food, love... sure, my dog might limp around (as in Remy's case) some days, or she might appear a little sluggish. Big deal-- humans have our sick days too. But I guess what I'm learning is that animals are not like humans. They hide their weaknesses until they can hide them no longer. Poor Oscar. He tried to hang on, but we failed him. As guardians of our animals, we try to be vigilant but sometimes we tell ourselves we're overreacting and then shit just happens. They say pyothorax can be caused by a simple bite or puncture to the body. Sometimes by the time the lethargy is apparent, the external wound has already healed but inside the infection grows. The vet removed 100+ mL of pus from his pleural space. They found no wound on the exterior. Our friends never noticed any blood. I don't know. It's tough just not knowing how the hell he got pyothorax.

I read that dogs too can get pyothorax, usually from breathing in some plant debris through the nose that then gets into the chest cavity and causes an infection. Wtf? Freak accidents. Sometimes life really is just a goddamn a roll of the dice.

The Secret's Out

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:38:00 +0000

Since John was totally useless in learning the trade secrets from our last professional home cleaning (the ants are at bay now), I decided to stay home today for the visit from our cleaning crew. I thought for sure there was some new wonder gadget or super solvent that would clean like magic. Nadda. Zippo. Zilch. Plain old Comet, Soft Scrub, Pledge, Mrs. Meyers, a floor sponge mop, and a shitload of rags. 100% manual labor. There is no goddamn secret. What a frickin' buzzkill. But damn my house is clean. The cleaning army is awesome, and I'm cutting our cable to feed my newest addiction: a clean house.

Brain in Overdrive

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:56:00 +0000

Oh man, it's 1 a.m. and I can't sleep. I had a Board presentation this evening (around 8 p.m.) and I'm still totally wired. Of course, like all my other presentations, I obsessed to the point of reciting the talk in my sleep... that's how I roll: complete OCD. I can't help it. The good news is that I rocked it, or so they say. I made multiple attempts to add humor, and for the most part, I pulled them off successfully.

So let's see: what else is happening. Well, a couple Sundays ago, some friends came over for dumplings and football. Yes, you read it right: definitely a random combination but you know what? Who cares. My friend's fiance is a walking ESPN channel, so he was happy to watch football on HDtv. Meanwhile, my friend and her other friend helped me wrap dumplings, and we had the operation cranking out dumplings at warp speed. Probably folded like 120 dumplings in under one hour. Gotta love the manual laborers. And our little morsels came out beautifully. Super tasty.

In other news, the home projects are continuing. I cleaned up our back patio a bit-- disassembled the cheapie plastic chair and tables, made some room for the potted plants and the lazy dogs to sunbathe. I made some additional changes to our dining room. I finally decided to remove our cotton Ikea rugs (which we purchased almost three years ago in Shanghai) and put down something a little less ghetto. I found a cool bamboo rug on Craigslist for $30, and then I accented that with a couple jute rugs from WorldMarket. Yes, my friend Tina has created a monster. And our cheapie Target silverware started flaking, so I splurged on some 18/10 stainless steel silverware from Overstock. Bargain shopping full speed ahead, I tell you. Oh and I just installed a retractable clothes drying line indoors. Yup, can't take the Shanghai out of me. Like the showerhead, I don't know why I hadn't thought of this sooner, but shit, I found a 20' line off Amazon. Mounted that sucker in the upstairs hallway, and that shit is like magic. And with the wetter, damper winter weather around the corner, this thing is gonna work wonders. Retractable. You gotta get yourself one.

As you can see, I've got the shopping bug again. It really does come and go, and right now, I'm in the mood. Last Saturday, John worked most of the day so I hit the local TJ Maxx (it's my namesake after all) and Ross in search of baby gear for the first-ever baby shower I'm attending this coming Saturday. Man, being a part of the public affairs department at work has made me all crazy about themed gifts. So I spent like 2 hours going through the baby department in search of the right gift. Finally settled on a doggie theme, and now I have the big headache of wrapping the gift still carrying that theme. Sigh. It's exhausting. Of course the good news is, after I was done with the baby shopping, I got to do a bit of browsing for myself. Picked up some cute clothes and a few placemats (I know, can you believe I would ever drop a dime on that kind of shit?). I think our dining room is actually done now!? Well at least it's as good as it's going to get. Who wants to come over for dinner to see?

So Sunday, John and I hit downtown SF. Caught an awesome, awesome show at the comedy club (hurray for Goldstar Events-- again!). Seriously, John laughed so fucking hard, he was in tears. Twice. Lavelle Crawford is the man. And the opening act was smooth as butter. A beebop dude named J. Lamont. I swear, in my second life I want to be a performer. I'm just totally enthralled with talent and dedication and polish. These peeps are really amazing. I'm such a wannabe. Sigh.

Rachel Ray Saves the Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:24:00 +0000

Bow down to Rachel Ray folks. Seriously. Anyone who can make me look and feel like I know what the hell I'm doing in the kitchen deserves crazy props. Today I got home a bit earlier than normal, so I was determined to have a home-cooked meal ready for Bubbey when he came home. Yes, me and my self-imposed challenges. I'm like in a game show all by myself. Anyway, another winner, I tell you. Leeky Linguine with Shrimp. That's right: I'm not making your standard grilled chicken dinner; I'm kicking it up a notch with some seafood! All class. :) And can you fucking believe? Another tasty meal! Rachel Ray is the woman! She is like 7 for 7.

Thankfully, my plan is working. Just as I had hoped, these small victories are quickly building my confidence. Could it be that I am beginning to derive some small pleasure from cooking? True, I didn't really think this was ever possible. But it's happening! I find myself combing through recipes, preparing extensive grocery lists, psyching myself up to get home and start cooking. 30 minutes, go! And a half hour later, the result is like magic. Hmph! Eating out is so... pedestrian.

Attack of the Ants

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:31:00 +0000

Our house is under attack. By ants. People say it's that time of the year again... I'm not sure whether they're actually just trying to mask their disgust with our squalor or if they are trying to console us or what. Either way, the ants are relentless. Twice in August, I came home from work to find swarms covering my stove top. Seriously folks, I know John and I are a bit on the cluttery side, but I swear I wipe down the stove top. And I don't leave shit out. Duh. Then the ants started appearing in armies in the bathroom. I couldn't take it anymore. Already, I was vacuuming at least once a day (I'm that obsessed with my Dyson). Perhaps I needed to do another wipe down with chemicals? We sprayed Raid all around the outside of the house. Nothing worked. I put down baking soda, borax, pepper. Finally, I sprayed inside the house (hate exposing us and the dogs to that junk); we got some relief but invariably, the ants returned. Finally, I decided this was something for the pros. So I called in a 4-person cleaning crew. Maybe there's just something we were missing, like between the fridge or around the baseboards. Let me tell you. I was a bit stressed when the cleaning lady first arrived to survey the house and give me a quote. In fact, I cleaned up a bit before she came. Within two minutes, she had me disgusted with myself. She ran her fingers on shelves, window sills, the blinds. Yeah this was going to be a $300 deep cleaning job. Holy cow! But whatever, let's see what a deep cleaning is all about right?

OMG, the next morning, a crew of four arrived. I headed off to work, but John says they busted butt for like 2 1/2 hours straight. Unfortunately, he didn't have the smarts to actually watch them work: I wanted to learn all the trade secrets, you know? Like what products, what tools, etc. Anyway, I arrived home later that day and the place was amazingly clean. Holy shit, I didn't even know this was what clean meant. I ran my fingers over everything in search of dust. Zippo. They cleaned the blinds, the fridge, the oven... but the bathrooms and floors were the best. My feet could even feel a difference. I know, are you grossed out? We're pigs. What can I say? So now I'm trying to figure out what I can cut (cable tv perhaps) so I can set aside monthly cleanings at $150 a shot. Sigh. It sure was nice to come home to a clean house.

Of course, just as I was all elated and shit living among the clean people, the next day, I returned home to find the goddamn ants all over the stove top again!!! WTF???! People say you have to follow their track. I have tried. This time, I decided to open the bottom oven broiler drawer. To my surprise, I could see a ton of gunk underneath. Why didn't the cleaning folks get it? It doesn't appear accessible. After about five minutes of fidgeting around this area, I realized the drawer slides all the way out. Omfg. The horror under the stove. There was frosting droplets, broken glass, dust like you wouldn't believe, grease, grime. Utterly filthy. But I was determined to get in there. Busted out the vacuum attachments, the wet rags. I was on my hands and knees sweating up a storm and getting all hot and bothered. By the time John got home, I was pissed. These fucking ants!

We've gone out and gotten new ant traps. I still see the fuckers around, but I think the situation is getting better. Uh, I really don't want to get a terminator out here. For some reason, I just feel like that professional strength stuff will give us and the dogs brain damage. I know.

In other homemaking news, I decided the dogs needed a bath. Usually, that's the only time the guest shower ever gets used. But the stupid shower head has like zero pressure and it's this odd metal thing that veers to one side (not centered) and can only go straight up or down (a few inches) without any side to side motion. Hard to describe but basically, it's a piece of shit that makes the shower practically unusable. For some reason, I felt especially motivated that day to optimize the situation. I researched those handheld showerheads online, got the exact model at Target, came home, installed, and voila. Just $20 later and I had a usable guest shower plus dog washer. Who knew problem solving could be so easy! Why had I waited for so long? Too many other projects going on, I tell you. The brain is constantly churning with things to do, how to make me and my things better. I think my insomnia is coming back...

Rustic Oregon

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:25:00 +0000

Bubbey finally combed through his shots.

To the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:06:00 +0000

Aw yeah baby, I'm officially off probation. Woo hoo! Yup, I finally made it to the 1-year mark with the treehuggers; I look forward to many more months of fun. Yes, I say months and not years or decades, because come on, I'm not that much of an optimist. Gotta keep that shit in check, otherwise I'll get burned.

Speaking of getting burned, some crazy crap went down recently with my former employer. I got an email last week from a buddy who left in August. Most of the staffers got laid off, and then the remaining employees were instructed to go on a 2-week vacation (figures the company would insist on calling it "vacation" even though it's totally unpaid) and reconvene later this month (to re-evaluate). The story is that a lead investor pulled out... I guess it's yet another example of these uncertain times. Save up for the rainy day folks, because just like that, the deluge begins. I haven't spoken much to my friends who are still there, but some have changed their Linked In status to "looking for a job." Still, others don't seem all that stressed. Guess I'll get the full scoop when a few of them come over for dinner next week.

As for me, the rest of this week is busy. Tomorrow I'm heading to Milpitas for a Photoshop class. I already use Photoshop regularly, but I'm retaking an intro class as a refresher. I'm sure I'm hacking my way through PS now, so I welcome the opportunity to become more legit. On Friday night, John, Bri, and I are going to see Sondheim's Into the Woods (Thanks Goldstar!). I've only seen this production one other time: freshman year at Duke, starring my crush of the moment. The play was what cinched the deal for him: I was just so enthralled with his talent-- the singing, the acting, the dancing. I know, I'm such a wannabe everything-- athlete, performer, activist, polyglot... Anyway, the play should be fun.

Then Saturday, I'll be up again at the crack of dawn, working another event. John and Bri plan to participate, but I don't know if they're up for a 8-12 mile hike. After all, they haven't been on my Olympian training schedule, you know? What else? Work, obviously, is going well. My department hired a new 30-something earlier this month, and she seems really cool. I'm going to invite her out for lunch next week, so I can get the full scoop. Hehe, always doing "research."

Oddly enough, I have noticed the return of my insomnia in recent weeks. Not sure why-- the huge work event last Saturday perhaps? I dunno, I'd hope work doesn't stress me out that much. I've also noticed more brain activity later into the night (thinking about work, Chinese class, home improvement, garden improvement, travel plans, etc.) but still. Something has been waking me every day at about 4:30. I end up returning to bed but then I wake up unrested at 7. I don't know. Whatever the issue, I need to figure it out, because it's screwing up my efficiency. :)

The Wedding Planner

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:57:00 +0000

Oh man, it's finally over. Though I'd only have to endure the horrors of wedding planning once in my life. I was wrong. Turns out, the public affairs department (of which I am a part) at work puts on a yearly volunteer recognition event and last Saturday was the biggest turnout ever with over 200 people. And I was in charge of the caterers. I also dabbled (reluctantly) in decorations, booz, entertainment... I know, totally NOT up my alley. But, I'm happy to report that the event went beautifully. And now we get to repeat the entire arduous process next year. Yay.

In other news, Bubbey is still sifting through our Oregon pictures. Sorry for the delay. Hopefully, they'll post soon. Meanwhile, my Olympian training schedule continues. As the weather has gotten colder, we've slacked a couple days here and there, but for the most part, I've got the system down: walking (morning or night), lunch skate, evening swim. Come to me DB...

A bunch of people from high school have been contacting me through Facebook. Damn, I just cannot get over how adult everyone looks. And what's with the kids?! Holy smokes, they're sprouting like weeds. Seriously. It's as if the human race were going extinct, and everyone made a mad dash to procreate. Whatev. I'll never understand it. Thankfully, John doesn't either. We prefer to remain in full control of our lives and our lives only. Honestly, who can bother about a whole other entity?

Btw, are you following the politics? Wtf people, Sarah Palin?? Are you fucking kidding me? She's gaining momentum AND the support of women, "they" say. Who are these women????? John and I watched Michael Moore's Sicko last week. How utterly depressing. This country is fucked up. Sure, maybe it's naive to expect that Obama will turn this screwed up joint around. But really, there are two choices: Option A and Option B. You have to choose one, and puhlease, this is not a trick question. My reasons?

1. I'm pro-choice. Sure, given my barren womb philosophy, you'd be accurate in calling me pro-abortion in all instances (for myself, that is) but look, the bottom line is: a woman's body, a woman's choice. Beyond that, fuck off.
2. I'm a minority woman and newsflash: racism AND sexism still exist. The government should acknowledge this.
3. Global warming is real, and humankind (myself included) plays an integral role in trashing the planet and exacerbating the situation.
4. I want government to provide programs for people who need help.

Of course, who opposes fiscal responsibility? Sure, sometimes money gets squandered and programs don't work. That doesn't mean the programs don't deserve tweaking or re-working. All of you who believe the Republicans are fiscally responsible? Wake up and smell the bacon. How much money is pissing away on this unjust war? And seriously, spare me the self-righteous bullshit. If life were so goddamn precious that you couldn't possibly terminate a fetus the size of a grain of rice, how then could you possibly justify the death of innocent civilians or the torture (not to mention suspended rights) of alleged "enemy combatants"? They say it's for our protection, but I don't feel any safer. In fact, US citizens traveling abroad are even more at risk of attacks than ever before. Ugh. Taxes, schmaxes. Look, either way you're forking over the dough- be it for an unjust war or for the resulting emotional/physical ailments attributed to a deteriorating environment. Think happy thoughts though.

Revisiting Oregon

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:25:00 +0000

Boy have I been productive this week. Yup, I'm giving myself a pat on the back. Despite being the web guru at work, I got sucked into some major party planning. You see, my department is public affairs, so we handle press, media, outreach, volunteer/docent programs, web, plus all events. And next month we're having a volunteer recognition gathering with almost 200 people. Guess who booked the caterer? Yup, yours truly. And you'll be happy to know that I went with the highest bidder-- it was just so clear the dude's food was gourmet, and he had his shit together. Takes an OCDer to recognize her fellow OCDer, know what I mean? I cannot wait. The menu looks insanely tasty. And of course, I was able to finagle two price cuts. Yup, I'm learning all about the negotiations.

In other news, I launched a digital photo contest. So far so good. No major glitches, thank goodness. And people have submitted some pretty kickass pics, so I'm hopeful.

Outside of work, I'm out most of next week: meeting up with our Shanghai buddies in Oregon. John and I met Jenny and James in Oregon last August also. James is a crazy superstar multi-tasker who participates in the Hood to Coast race every year. Well good for him. Even though I'm an Olympian-in-training, I ain't that disciplined. Prefer to just float down the river in an inner tube.

We've never been to the Eugene and eastward area. My friend Pamela says she doesn't know what to expect, but she will pack sneakers (usually, she's a stilettos kind of gal) and forgo the makeup. Huh? Well I'm on a mission to get some decent pics of Bubs and me, so sorry, the make-up has got to come along. (That's what happens when you have piss-poor, puny lashes). Anyway, the trip will be fun.

I'm enjoying the new travels. Speaking of traveling, I just sent off our passports to get the Chinese visas. For $40 extra, you can have these companies take care of it all: no waiting in lines in downtown SF to process that crap in person. Jesus, have you noticed how shitty the traffic has gotten the last several days? Thanks a lot, you bastard schoolkids! I don't even want to think about two trips to the stupid consulate, not to mention waiting in the line, blah, blah. Who has the patience? Snoot, snoot. Haha. Whatev. Money well spent. My passports will be back in my hands next week. So worth it.

Yikes, I am dozing off here in front of the computer. Perhaps the heat is getting to me. K. Time for bed. Later folks!

Productive Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Goodbers) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:06:00 +0000

Here's the thing: I really thrive when my todo list is chock full. I think I've always had a fear of being lazy, so when my schedule is hectic and I'm buzzing about, somehow that energizes me. I know it sounds dorky, but getting shit done makes me happy.

This weekend was great. Well, it got off to a rocky start with the play I saw on Friday night with some coworkers. Sure, it was a community production. I wasn't expecting Broadway or anything, but honestly, it was bad. Really bad. Some solid voices in the musical, but major acoustical kinks and plenty of bad acting and uncoordinated dancing. I was happy to support our coworker who had a small part, but man, I could have gotten two new pieces of clothing for the $20, know what I'm saying? Anyway, Friday was a long day. The play started late, ran long, and then it was like a 50-minute drive home. I didn't get home til well after midnight. Too damn late for a grandma like me.

Thankfully, Saturday we got back on track. First, it was our anniversary. I drove Bubs up into the mountains on Skyline Blvd. for brekkies at the famed Alice's Restaurant. Yes, it's the subject of that famous song (which I honestly don't know anything about--- my parents were immigrants: I am culturally illiterate, remember?). My eggs benny were mediocre, but John liked his tri-tip sandwich. Next, we grabbed some dessert at a bakery down the street. We sort of went on a wild goose chase trying to find the theater spot, but after we finally arrived and settled in, the production was magnificent. Crazy mad props go to Atmos Theater's production of Freedomland. Excellent acting, hilarious dialog (about a dysfunctional family even: no happy-go-lucky shit here), and an invigorating hike in a redwood forest. Seriously folks, it doesn't get better than this. We loved it!

After we got home, we went for a quick swim in the pool-- always refreshing on a hot summer day. I went upstairs to shower and change (we were going to make dinner), but by the time I got back downstairs 30 minutes later, Bubbey had finished cooking the entire meal from start to finish! What a wonderful surprise (and relief)! The dude is crazy fast in the kitchen, and dinner was super tasty: parmesan-panko encrusted mahi mahi with sweet corn and string bean almondine as sides. And he didn't even follow a recipe. Just pulled that shit out his ass. Yup, I got a lot of learning to do in the kitchen! And man, I slept well last night. I think the secret was several glasses of Gewurztraminer. Had crazy dreams but it felt damn good to sleep in.

Today was a little less eventful: another busy day (just how I like them) but mostly errands. The highlight? Bubs busted out his inline skates for the first time in like 4 months, and we went skating at Keynote rink. Was awesome and I am one step closer to breaking in my new skates. I cannot wait until they are fully broken in, because then I will be unstoppable (and definitely ready for that 15+ mile Sunday skate in SF)! The Olympics may be over folks, but I'm just getting started! :)