Summer vacation!! Well - somewhat summer vacation. I am teaching summer school, but it is only 4 hours a day for 19 days. So it is not too bad.. 16 more to go :) I still can't believe that this will be the first summer where my vacation in NOT San Francisco. I live here now - how crazy is that. For the last 8 years - I have been to SF on vacation. So - this year - where am I going you must wonder? I will be in Chicago this coming weekend and then China and Hong Kong for 3 weeks. I hear that it is going to be HOT :( I don't know if I will be prepared for the weather. Most people come to SF in the summer to get away from the heat - I am going to the heat! There are some other places that I really want to go to like San Diego and LA - Disneyland, but some how the summer is slipping away... I will have to find a weekend in the fall. Since I am only teaching half day - I get the other half to play :) I am planning on checking out the city. Going to the museums, exploring more of the city, meeting friends for coffee or dinner, going to the gym, reading, and just having some quiet time :) Somewhere in there I want to reorganize all my teaching stuff and work on some scrapbooks :) This is the one part of being a teacher that I love - SUMMER!!! My calendar is not from January - December, but from August - June :)
Let me know if you are out here in SF or if you want to play :)
It has been a really long time since I last wrote on here.. A lot has happened along with many travels :) Today I welcome in a new Wong addition. My cousin had a baby boy Owen David Wong at 8:30 this morning. It is neat that Owen was born today because he now shared the same birthday as another cousin's little one Samuel who turned 2 today :) And today I found out that another friend will be expecting :) That makes baby #25 for me... The year is not over. Exciting times. I love new born babies and getting to hold them is my arm is great :) Also - last week celebrated Christopher's 7th birthday :) )He is my cousins little one out here. Wish that I could be at all of the celebrations. But I know that I can't. My time right now is in Cali :)
Last week and this week - there were many, many birthdays, anniversaries, welcoming new ones, and saying good bye to some.
Life changes daily.. I have totally learn to appreciate the moment and trying to remember to be in the moments.
Just a few things going on for me right now - I will be finishing my first year teaching in California. I turned in my Beginning teacher portfolio yesterday, have 8.5 days of school left, having to get report cards and papers ready to go home, preparing for Day Camp at my church, preparing to teach summer school, going to East Asia mid July, and possible be looking for a new job.
This summer - I am looking forward to getting to hang out in the city. Holla if you are out this way and want to play. I will have some free time :)
Will have to post my fun travel pics when school is out!!!
Mardi Gras 2009 - it could go down in history for me :) My friend from Dallas came to meet me in NOLA for a long weekend. My brother had some of his friends from Houston come down also. It was like joining 2 families together. There were 15 of us at my parent's rental property. It was like college day trips when we were all squeezed into one room. It was totally fun planning a toruist trip during Mardi Gras. Even though I have grown up in this city - I was not one that knew my city. Each time I go back - I feel like I learn a little more. Each time I have friends visit - I learn a lot more ;) So much happened with my week at home. I got to meet up with several high school friends and chill before the crew started to arrive. Dinner with the Diaz's. Thier little girls have SO much personality :) Decorated a wagon float with my niece for her school parade. Went to the Hornets game. I LOVE CP3 :) Now the crew is starting to arrive. And the fun adventure begins. I learned that I have a black and white mode. I really like it :) KLou and I chillin at the coffeeshop. Don't push her in... Fun times at the Audubon Park. Morning Call for coffee and beignets. Round 3 I believe. and many more to go throughout the trip :) Never get enough beignets Swamp tour for 15. We even had our own tour guide. Saw a couple of baby alligators, a nutria, and lots of birds. Lunch at South Seas The chef and I have known each other since kindergarten and these are our 2 brothers who also grew up together. The Dallas crew plus one Houston in front of the St. Louis Catherdral The girls by the Mississippi River. Then it was dinner for 25 at Bourbon House. It was rough making sure that everyone stuck together on Bourbon Street. Thankfully we all made. We hung out at Pat O'Brien's for a couple of hours and had some good laughs. JLui was trying his pick up lines with the ladies. I love getting to hang out with tier 3 and now an addition of tier 4. Great memories. 40 lbs. 40 lbs. of crawfish, corn, potatoes, crabs, and shrimp and oyster poboys. yummy Found a little one on the parade route. Didn't know that at the beginning of the parade is where all the families that I knew would hang out. It was neat to run into people that I already knew :) This is another childhood friend's neice. Last big dinner at Dennie's. Good bye Dallas crew - until we meet again :) I love you all and can't wait for more adventures. Until then...
After they left - my old roommate hung out with me until our flights back. Happy first birthday Lauren. I came home just in time for her birthday :) Last time I saw her she was weeks old. Now she is one and walking :( But super cute in her tutu!!! The guys shucking oysters. There were several bags... Last photo on the way home. At the DFW airport. :( Nice surprise to see the Lee's. Proabably only a few more times before you leave :(
It was a great Mardi week at home. Glad that my school district has President's week off!!! Being at home - really makes me miss home and reminds me of so many great memories there. It will be awhile before I am there again. :( So - I guess I will be enjoying San Francisco and all the great things there is here to do!!!
Weekends have been picking up... I am now feeling like the weekends back in Dallas. This weekend started out with my fellowship group on Friday night. These 3 beautiful girls made me a blueberry cake for my birthday :)
Then I took off from here to drive to San Mateo to meet up with some childhood friends. Baby woo - I haven't seen over 15 years, TL - who I have seen almost once a month, BM - it's been about 15 years, and GW probably just a couple of years ago. We go back to the old VBS and Chinese School days. I forgot how much fun they are. We stayed up WAY TOO late ;(
Then Saturday morning was dim sum with some friends and then to babysitting the Lin kids with RH :) They are SOOOO much fun!!! She loved this woopie cushion. Oh my - I think she must have blown it up a zillion times. Glad that they are still young and fun. Don't tell the parents - we are giving them Hawaiian Punch. So cute :) The munchkins in front of the college meal I used to make. Cornflake chicken, corn, mac and cheese, and rice a roni. I know there are not any veggies.... Oh well - very kid friendly.
Sunday morning I met up with some Dallas couples for breakfast at the Ferry Building. I even found street parking. That's what happens when you arrive before the shops are open :) Auntie Kelly, Auntie Allie, and their mom, Mrs. Chi :) Uncle Dan and Uncle Steve Then it was off to wine country for the day. It was suppose to rain all day, but it turned out to be a nice chilly day. The sun did come out a little, but overall no complaints. Nice day, good company, had some wine, and some yummy food. These were at Peju This was a beautiful winery, but don't remember which one. Dinner at Ad Hoc it is one of Thomas Keller's restaurants. I have to say that it was very good :) You'll have to check facebook for the food pics!!!
I have to say that this is probably one of my fuller weekends here in SF. It was great to see old friends and meet some new ones.
Now it is Monday night and I am totally exhausted from the weekend. This is a busy week too. Can't say that things will slow down either for the next couple of weeks.
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This is a year of first - as I celebrate my FIRST birthday while living in San Francisco. It was a great way to celebrate my third anniversary :)
Delivery at school :) Froyo with one set of niece and nephew - they even treated. I heard that they had to dig into their piggy banks to treat me. It was an honor to spend the afternoon with them at my favorite froyou place in Millabrae :) We reenacted Christmas 2007 with the gorgeous delivery ( THANKS D CREW) that came to school :) Then I had dinner with some super special girls in the Bay area :) Thanks for welcoming me into your city !!! Thanks for thinking of me for more than 5 seconds on my special day. And here is to my challenge :) Warriors vs. Mavericks - I LOVE going to basketball games. It was a good game, too bad the Mavs lost :( It was also weird watching the Mavs - not in the AA center. Will I become a Warrior fan now that I am living in the Golden State? Even though the Hornets are still my #1 :)
Tea party with the girls :) This was a first time for my aunt and one cousin and 2 nieces.
The Lin girls came out to join me :)
The boys came to pick up the girls - took the opportunity to get a family pic :)
It has been a super birthday :) Who says that birthdays are bad??? I am thankful for all of these great Blessings that the Lord has bought and allowed me to have. And day after day - I amazed at the love that He has for me. I am truly thankful!
