tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30668656008663954092024-02-21T11:58:39.311-05:00Jersey DiaryThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.comBlogger317125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-87660887455279095982012-03-02T20:54:00.000-05:002012-04-02T21:23:37.291-04:00Manila - Week 2 of FoodMy second week in the Philippines went by in a blur of working and eating. The girls I was working with took me out to lunch every day, and I got to experience some very tasty food. First they took me to a place called "Army Navy", which reminded me a little bit of Chipotle, but they had a wider range of food. While Chipotle only does burritos, bowls and quesadillas, Army Navy does burgers, hot dogs and cheese steaks too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWed1OxJlB-U88xm-dHIv5atpIgLdbH5I7aODRFJKk4twtLD9_5YqkxyNj_AoMgSHaMn4AAZ5keesEg2_uCW-NFhUSBbsYrpGyBZG2WYl2ZwZi8Ik4PRSLz-hCIIhSFf0auypj7iryOP6h/s1600/SAM_7468.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWed1OxJlB-U88xm-dHIv5atpIgLdbH5I7aODRFJKk4twtLD9_5YqkxyNj_AoMgSHaMn4AAZ5keesEg2_uCW-NFhUSBbsYrpGyBZG2WYl2ZwZi8Ik4PRSLz-hCIIhSFf0auypj7iryOP6h/s320/SAM_7468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726974634343877714" border="0" /></a><br />Lhen, Kathleen and I waited at a table for our food to be ready.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircJZODC5sBRdmMcWkxWdq5fiZ66IdT-E-dT0_WFSSqYPfyo7A_4LWdk3xyCdLzh_7YdOOwkUc8NOZpV8JllocWJNixnBzNrGAMkxQlqvfXFNlm01Jil9Znc6CYCG-QXoJ6OXcX7_Y0hpu/s1600/SAM_7471.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircJZODC5sBRdmMcWkxWdq5fiZ66IdT-E-dT0_WFSSqYPfyo7A_4LWdk3xyCdLzh_7YdOOwkUc8NOZpV8JllocWJNixnBzNrGAMkxQlqvfXFNlm01Jil9Znc6CYCG-QXoJ6OXcX7_Y0hpu/s320/SAM_7471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726973158248575746" border="0" /></a>I was going to order a burrito so I could do a Chipotle comparison, but they were having a Tuesday Taco special, so I ordered their chicken tacos, "freedom fries" and "LiberTea" (their own house blend tea). I did go back for dinner later that week too to try the burrito though. The food was AMAZING! Whatever seasoning they use in their meat is delicious, their fries are crispy and also delicious. Even their house blended tea was great. I know it's almost blasphemous to say, but I would pick Army Navy over Chipotle. If I ever go back to the Philippines I'll have to try their burger.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mqc-JhHA30b-MRlw3KgfBhp6V5KRTVAcFAbf5lRm2VmGBKZcnwJPwG-LNQ27Sj3YlwR8tGnkqYpkDnwlo3dWmvB-9c3qd5S4KW5sgsy7CVIBJtYAjZgWBmpbVjMEp3Sy5uSSaqW42gib/s1600/SAM_7472.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mqc-JhHA30b-MRlw3KgfBhp6V5KRTVAcFAbf5lRm2VmGBKZcnwJPwG-LNQ27Sj3YlwR8tGnkqYpkDnwlo3dWmvB-9c3qd5S4KW5sgsy7CVIBJtYAjZgWBmpbVjMEp3Sy5uSSaqW42gib/s320/SAM_7472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726973144033416562" border="0" /></a><br />The next day for lunch they took me to a place called Dave's Tea House, which was a Chinese restaurant. I was a little wary after my experience at Big Buddha, but this place was really good. We ordered a beef stew type dish that Phil's family usually orders when we eat out in Chinatown, NY, wonton noodle soup, and dumplings. I have to say this restaurant could have held its own in NY Chinatown. I don't even think it was run by a Chinese person either, which was extra impressive. Lhen and I are getting ready to enjoy some good Chinese food.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N-5s7nEPDcJoXv3Bj3AKPSx154WK00r33QbzVo-RzdKC3zvUFVqMyDU0T31Mf98rlPIery-jR1t3Bx-banBuSjCuZKphc_somOazgGeHRXs5hKdtA4Sw3eb_qnAepJi3zab3QvJ8Us3D/s1600/SAM_7474.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N-5s7nEPDcJoXv3Bj3AKPSx154WK00r33QbzVo-RzdKC3zvUFVqMyDU0T31Mf98rlPIery-jR1t3Bx-banBuSjCuZKphc_somOazgGeHRXs5hKdtA4Sw3eb_qnAepJi3zab3QvJ8Us3D/s320/SAM_7474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726973136881026242" border="0" /></a>Another day they took me to a Filipino restaurant (I don't remember the name). We ordered a dish called Sisig, which is beef, eggs and some other things served on a sizzling hot plate, and we also ordered a soup dish.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSoinSmR1nC6VbkbjghBl3DDz26WaMS-GHsERramlYUokJ8U9oZtqzGYI8h82439mBfZUd2wvg3odW1bL6GCbQa22GK8vKp7UtNSq9tSjp4J9nIVYcOq8uDahu3INDVx7raCre_3meb42/s1600/SAM_7476.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSoinSmR1nC6VbkbjghBl3DDz26WaMS-GHsERramlYUokJ8U9oZtqzGYI8h82439mBfZUd2wvg3odW1bL6GCbQa22GK8vKp7UtNSq9tSjp4J9nIVYcOq8uDahu3INDVx7raCre_3meb42/s320/SAM_7476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726973128782116114" border="0" /></a><br />On my last day there we ventured outside of the mall-filled bubble around the office, and I discovered once you leave that part of town there are actually a lot of office buildings surrounding the area. It figures it would take me until my last day to venture outside the labyrinth of malls. We headed to a popular lunch destination called the Ayala Triangle. It's basically a triangular park area that has a row of restaurants along one side. It gets pretty crowded actually, and every restaurant has at least a 30 minute wait. Good thing the Filipino's are so laid back about time. We went to another Chinese restaurant for lunch this time - it wasn't as good as David's Tea House, but still pretty tasty (still better than Big Buddha!). I was too busy eating I forgot to take pictures of the food, so all you get is a picture of me and Kathleen on the edge of Ayala Triangle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FTi76v_Wj6zABuVohqsowyFFHkG8nZoli4ka5T1snWdE5C3TAUvrrd1LbnyFRVL8M58_qhN0fs2Ev1qhm2yOXIVAmAo1y5v1VnnbyWOIGWRlk_aTiiU7eLLtXkWISBJGe2D7Co1sFtYW/s1600/SAM_7478.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FTi76v_Wj6zABuVohqsowyFFHkG8nZoli4ka5T1snWdE5C3TAUvrrd1LbnyFRVL8M58_qhN0fs2Ev1qhm2yOXIVAmAo1y5v1VnnbyWOIGWRlk_aTiiU7eLLtXkWISBJGe2D7Co1sFtYW/s320/SAM_7478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726973118344148274" border="0" /></a>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-56946787667921521442012-02-26T09:48:00.005-05:002012-04-02T20:54:04.437-04:00Manila - Day 7 (Concert at Greenbelt)Om Sunday I went back to Greenbelt in the evening to try one of their many restaurants. I had passed by one called "Big Buddha" that looked like it might be good.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jLFywH3iFl0IrqKIpJDYbLRp5g30md80uPLBuqbx5XllmtLJZA_DynfiNcBRuT0pGQq_VwmO3SPnu5vo8WDzUDK74CYrKlmuzx1dSYvUCWq4trUEtnLjS23Q2Kv8JfmpB2xyZTNCuhIn/s1600/SAM_7453.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jLFywH3iFl0IrqKIpJDYbLRp5g30md80uPLBuqbx5XllmtLJZA_DynfiNcBRuT0pGQq_VwmO3SPnu5vo8WDzUDK74CYrKlmuzx1dSYvUCWq4trUEtnLjS23Q2Kv8JfmpB2xyZTNCuhIn/s320/SAM_7453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726967493449484754" border="0" /></a><br />The place was a little empty, but I was a little early for dinner. A few more of the tables started to fill up as I was eating, but I should have taken it as a sign....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJy899pc2x3Pc_L5lp15mQ86V3LueXU-4qVH4xfDg-sYfkpaioxcBoMJw0sbFs1yrdoj1liRKZwYC_48xO2uUY1-cV0acONDFWMRKBzV9hlYHYwYfP3dOZBmUz3T2uZxWqZiciryLoplO/s1600/SAM_7451.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJy899pc2x3Pc_L5lp15mQ86V3LueXU-4qVH4xfDg-sYfkpaioxcBoMJw0sbFs1yrdoj1liRKZwYC_48xO2uUY1-cV0acONDFWMRKBzV9hlYHYwYfP3dOZBmUz3T2uZxWqZiciryLoplO/s320/SAM_7451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726967482964519394" border="0" /></a><br />The food was Chinese style. I ordered one of their noodle soups, but it was a little disappointing...I actually enjoyed the sticky chips they had for appetizers more than the actual meal O__o<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vs1P8zCRUX4YzbRLbE0xl_NH_-zo1-nTP_LMWjNrAm_lZbuIjngn9BgTw3XNo-2jaCvg7LXOfygdvnyEa-bb2XVZHKJ6M4qfn4VwuPbLPHjGK1XfU31MDXelhtdGI1Guz2AoDD7Q1rv7/s1600/SAM_7452.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vs1P8zCRUX4YzbRLbE0xl_NH_-zo1-nTP_LMWjNrAm_lZbuIjngn9BgTw3XNo-2jaCvg7LXOfygdvnyEa-bb2XVZHKJ6M4qfn4VwuPbLPHjGK1XfU31MDXelhtdGI1Guz2AoDD7Q1rv7/s320/SAM_7452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726967472674853474" border="0" /></a><br />There was a concert in the middle of Greenbelt Park. The performers seemed to be a Filipino band, and I was trying to figure out who was performing, but the sign in the back just said Chuck Hughes in big letters - not exactly something that sounds like a band name or a Filipino name for that matter.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYz126i4AS528JbJREy9lfGKY6SobCmMTKUZpX8VQ2BWhxiiJcI5xtP_enz71zWLyLbawrCeS8no_Qs-fhrLdC67Np0VKqTgJbmrK6UaPUjLFvRam8E0RVM6nUfB4thuRMkvZe1AcEh8r/s1600/SAM_7448.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYz126i4AS528JbJREy9lfGKY6SobCmMTKUZpX8VQ2BWhxiiJcI5xtP_enz71zWLyLbawrCeS8no_Qs-fhrLdC67Np0VKqTgJbmrK6UaPUjLFvRam8E0RVM6nUfB4thuRMkvZe1AcEh8r/s320/SAM_7448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726967460778929266" border="0" /></a><br />It turns out Chuck Hughes is one of the Iron Chefs. The band was accompanying him while he cooked, which I thought was weird, but I found out that Chuck Hughes used to be a rocker or something like that so I guess that's why the band in the background. That brings the number of Iron Chefs I've met to two - the first was Masaharu Morimoto back in college. I have to say Masaharu Morimoto was more exciting in my opinion.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaiR5Sv2Xaq9Lr_1RF3dNiA8nZ8Yw-oPSq6GmsiHVeZ55qB7WEUXsq0SLj9QjY39VHGj3J1M-a7C2iXWGi8MDUVCydoCgJL2lTwZlluMumR-9z1jil8hhQTJSh6RTzlU3ZtcECth2Gasw/s1600/SAM_7465.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaiR5Sv2Xaq9Lr_1RF3dNiA8nZ8Yw-oPSq6GmsiHVeZ55qB7WEUXsq0SLj9QjY39VHGj3J1M-a7C2iXWGi8MDUVCydoCgJL2lTwZlluMumR-9z1jil8hhQTJSh6RTzlU3ZtcECth2Gasw/s320/SAM_7465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726967454153546418" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-50179671265212428302012-02-25T23:01:00.004-05:002012-03-30T22:37:25.307-04:00Manila - Day 6 (Greenbelt and Shangri-La)Over the weekend I was on my own - my coworker, Daichi, had left after work on Friday. I mainly stayed in the nearby area. I debated venturing out to Manila, but hadn't really planned much in advance so I decided to just relax and do some walking and window shopping instead. My brother-in-law, Tam, had suggested I check out a hotel called Shangri La that was in my area. He said it was supposed to be really amazing. It was very pretty, but I'm not really sure what all the hype was about...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLpL_3cbhZnW5w4O2mFnJ7NNsBA_xnawOm75AdOmLpmYG2qb9OHP1HIa4yE9jJpwp6NOm4cbBaNl6lbJMjiOx30PH9bFZ3BoalXv7DIYNtEagHce-bIIvFWomK-gbxf1Prmx_ACmiZn4s/s1600/SAM_7426.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLpL_3cbhZnW5w4O2mFnJ7NNsBA_xnawOm75AdOmLpmYG2qb9OHP1HIa4yE9jJpwp6NOm4cbBaNl6lbJMjiOx30PH9bFZ3BoalXv7DIYNtEagHce-bIIvFWomK-gbxf1Prmx_ACmiZn4s/s320/SAM_7426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725148491229277634" border="0" /></a>The front entrance was definitely grand though. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutcj62htW7OqzpZESW1DNXqS9VqfAro70S8_uqFPU1vM5WFYZptJTu2eKnJtsVj6VWTF0jHalR2ZdCy1mF07D-rzlmJY4oOId6JpWiZCLYReRkS00poEDK9nPZNcOB-s5HspLe9Q678oU/s1600/SAM_7425.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutcj62htW7OqzpZESW1DNXqS9VqfAro70S8_uqFPU1vM5WFYZptJTu2eKnJtsVj6VWTF0jHalR2ZdCy1mF07D-rzlmJY4oOId6JpWiZCLYReRkS00poEDK9nPZNcOB-s5HspLe9Q678oU/s320/SAM_7425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725148481744113698" border="0" /></a><br />Out of the many malls in the area, the one I hadn't had a chance to venture out to was called Greenbelt. There are actually 5 different malls interconnected - Greenbelts 1 through 5. A lot of the mall is actually open to the outside which was nice. This is a view of one of the main entrances to Greenbelt Mall and the Greenbelt Park (the little park inside the center of all 5 malls). This was taken on outdoor walkway that connects Greenbelt to another mall across the road. Like I said before, lots of malls...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIbH68CVaOkOngdOW3Ca7FPtVsxH7EYuKQgkvo8aKDaVWs3g58Nd83EMzgUsJkwRutpsJS4TNDL2LefUgGUkpKMkKGSDY7dkpOEkOXFnzdR7Xyk4GZnlWrtRQ7nCp2SzU-1yYwcDMq5Tr/s1600/SAM_7430.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIbH68CVaOkOngdOW3Ca7FPtVsxH7EYuKQgkvo8aKDaVWs3g58Nd83EMzgUsJkwRutpsJS4TNDL2LefUgGUkpKMkKGSDY7dkpOEkOXFnzdR7Xyk4GZnlWrtRQ7nCp2SzU-1yYwcDMq5Tr/s320/SAM_7430.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725148476928225378" border="0" /></a><br />The walkway was very long to cross over the major road below.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSMC53YHnItnLUX18mL4U-KwFaNHmnTzsCMAIbRXUIIihX0AEkOdq4oJ73IphnxWfx6SKk5SOAEvf5n2nuiqphaERk7HCVu3SK0yq2cLC1hBU31oZsIBB6a1Al85Ep9bQ4Xyl5GTjS6Z5/s1600/SAM_7432.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSMC53YHnItnLUX18mL4U-KwFaNHmnTzsCMAIbRXUIIihX0AEkOdq4oJ73IphnxWfx6SKk5SOAEvf5n2nuiqphaERk7HCVu3SK0yq2cLC1hBU31oZsIBB6a1Al85Ep9bQ4Xyl5GTjS6Z5/s320/SAM_7432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725148466168148050" border="0" /></a>Greenbelt Park was very nice. Lots of trees and little walkways.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSMC53YHnItnLUX18mL4U-KwFaNHmnTzsCMAIbRXUIIihX0AEkOdq4oJ73IphnxWfx6SKk5SOAEvf5n2nuiqphaERk7HCVu3SK0yq2cLC1hBU31oZsIBB6a1Al85Ep9bQ4Xyl5GTjS6Z5/s1600/SAM_7432.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3REvrryTojPpQP5fKYbPxWYi-5xy0d4UMhB_4kkPafcJriShzd6TEeLGhaSFn0GvTde3FVJh69PXvOj9DKL0oRkh_bedaoY0GwfzLVNxx7t0h96KHPZ7nna5WosOmEh0PXcz3l4UasgIv/s1600/SAM_7434.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3REvrryTojPpQP5fKYbPxWYi-5xy0d4UMhB_4kkPafcJriShzd6TEeLGhaSFn0GvTde3FVJh69PXvOj9DKL0oRkh_bedaoY0GwfzLVNxx7t0h96KHPZ7nna5WosOmEh0PXcz3l4UasgIv/s320/SAM_7434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725148454902467442" border="0" /></a><br />There's even an open church where they hold services in the middle of Greenbelt Park. Several people from the office that we were working at actually went there during the day last week for mass.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrmWHK5eZ8mi_4Anvm9mKKBVmy_jjHPkMs2znM9PbvbJEW3MJoT0OAFm9G4dzRusuAj2-7cA0jxkEtDebZPlgWEbdg2CYZ3M39nHj0lvKep5yAm7NYfmW_xgR8R0zJr5FSPNU915jmGQv/s1600/SAM_7440.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrmWHK5eZ8mi_4Anvm9mKKBVmy_jjHPkMs2znM9PbvbJEW3MJoT0OAFm9G4dzRusuAj2-7cA0jxkEtDebZPlgWEbdg2CYZ3M39nHj0lvKep5yAm7NYfmW_xgR8R0zJr5FSPNU915jmGQv/s320/SAM_7440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725146939452329570" border="0" /></a>On the ground level, there were a lot of restaurants, eateries and coffee places. Perfect for ordering a coffee or a frozen yogurt, sitting and just enjoying the nice weather ^__^<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmNY86HLoVHMrtij99FfNdhSgtWOdzyT5VjM9kr54cl3XUEE17Jjyo5IYL_puPyYh4xTMeJa2WPr6QzDgnm5GhOZchL1MCM0phQDdFk_j5k_ATQEFGjqEOfdvCSU0P4Vy14wWm5iCwRVB/s1600/SAM_7439.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmNY86HLoVHMrtij99FfNdhSgtWOdzyT5VjM9kr54cl3XUEE17Jjyo5IYL_puPyYh4xTMeJa2WPr6QzDgnm5GhOZchL1MCM0phQDdFk_j5k_ATQEFGjqEOfdvCSU0P4Vy14wWm5iCwRVB/s320/SAM_7439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725146924850221778" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hyphenhyphenbUrkKO5eTi-Fyjc2ca8Aq1Ak3jVTTmXEygGcZCe-DQkpXJRwmW4KuRrz-zziOD6awAzlXsHMwOwtxe1i27jJdMzkvRKEz9EcmpSm3k8CgHAW2PSqUqQ7PCFzw3Eb1BDxfer7fJQ7XM/s1600/SAM_7442.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hyphenhyphenbUrkKO5eTi-Fyjc2ca8Aq1Ak3jVTTmXEygGcZCe-DQkpXJRwmW4KuRrz-zziOD6awAzlXsHMwOwtxe1i27jJdMzkvRKEz9EcmpSm3k8CgHAW2PSqUqQ7PCFzw3Eb1BDxfer7fJQ7XM/s320/SAM_7442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725146915817082546" border="0" /></a><br />I finally ended up trying food from Jollibee, the local fast food chain. Their chicken sandwich was decent, but their flavored fries were very good - crispy, cheesy and delicious. I was a little bummed though. They had a hash brown sandwich - a burger with hash browns instead of buns - but they were all out. That would have been interesting to try.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4HL_uBLOaVDK7dpXCfkaMh9QAoJ5NbgA2M8x6GzWxVCWUtN67EFBku8_Lg0_PNZHZpnwQePdPW1DnMBeo6Te9WSjwA6-nVez_XV0-BL0132XSrXSiHtMDJpy5C-feQGwEXCOXqqgmWjv/s1600/SAM_7445.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4HL_uBLOaVDK7dpXCfkaMh9QAoJ5NbgA2M8x6GzWxVCWUtN67EFBku8_Lg0_PNZHZpnwQePdPW1DnMBeo6Te9WSjwA6-nVez_XV0-BL0132XSrXSiHtMDJpy5C-feQGwEXCOXqqgmWjv/s320/SAM_7445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725146905530468834" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-15832056838615283182012-02-22T22:59:00.002-05:002012-03-28T22:39:44.223-04:00Manila - Day 3 (Giligan's)On our third day Daichi and I went to a restaurant called Giligan's. The restaurant had traditional Filipino food, but it was completely pirate themed. All the wait staff was wearing bandanas on their heads. We ordered a beef dish, something that was similar to the Kare Kare (I think it was the vegetarian version), and coconut rice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxIIP9NkrLhYBYmwClX6AdouyH4dcShRr4lZku3AdsfglHacDUoTb_5w3fycEo5ELSgHrWcLtEuoU8NeyQR8RO0-ryu16fOAAJEX2mk-h1oSE5pxjdWO9Ph0jAUalCBQzHn63JlIgSETE/s1600/SAM_7418.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxIIP9NkrLhYBYmwClX6AdouyH4dcShRr4lZku3AdsfglHacDUoTb_5w3fycEo5ELSgHrWcLtEuoU8NeyQR8RO0-ryu16fOAAJEX2mk-h1oSE5pxjdWO9Ph0jAUalCBQzHn63JlIgSETE/s320/SAM_7418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724766914563687010" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJrkguB73En9uqRo07bseyInxyT-C-qSVAM9MDmj5TuZWRKKqmKQTiLTf75jQ07brfP5VDj2zZVcYJ9TENt7ImnmW6h62ATur1Ht423Boxr8go4NHl4WQQDtd5vZlOdZQRoFZNuB_qGtm/s1600/SAM_7419.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJrkguB73En9uqRo07bseyInxyT-C-qSVAM9MDmj5TuZWRKKqmKQTiLTf75jQ07brfP5VDj2zZVcYJ9TENt7ImnmW6h62ATur1Ht423Boxr8go4NHl4WQQDtd5vZlOdZQRoFZNuB_qGtm/s320/SAM_7419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724766907721061698" border="0" /></a><br />They had a beer special, so Daichi ordered some of the local beer called San Miguel. Looks like he really likes the beer!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQop6DejGotWDmzbvIRZpeTAIWFJecjPvWf7p1y5EjpKPIE_mmHJYjLhGp43ZlMB6VrgnyJlUCKij_41DV_F24ljNN3qT8PB7XyC6kju18nIPo50znkeK67WO3roo0c1bBai42O3UEMK0f/s1600/SAM_7417.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQop6DejGotWDmzbvIRZpeTAIWFJecjPvWf7p1y5EjpKPIE_mmHJYjLhGp43ZlMB6VrgnyJlUCKij_41DV_F24ljNN3qT8PB7XyC6kju18nIPo50znkeK67WO3roo0c1bBai42O3UEMK0f/s320/SAM_7417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724766921576359554" border="0" /></a><br />The food was really good, but when I was eating the vegetarian Kare Kare I bit into something that looked like a jagged piece of clear plastic. We called over the manager who went in back to investigate and he came back telling us it was "naturium" (not sure if I'm spelling that right). According to Daichi that's the same word they use in Japanese for NaCl, which is salt...That definitely was not salt. But then someone at the office explained it's a hard part that is sometime found in a fish's gills. Who knew?<br /><br /><div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-42366904111793216252012-02-20T22:58:00.010-05:002012-03-28T21:45:23.345-04:00Manila - Day 1<div>A project came up for work, and my boss sent me to the Philippines for 2 weeks. I was staying in Makati, which is like the financial district, just outside of Manila. I was pretty excited because I'd never been to the Philippines before, but 2 weeks away from Calvin was also pretty rough (for the both of us).<br /></div><br /><div>When I arrived the first thing I noticed is that eveyone is extremely polite. I don't think I've been called m'am that many times in my entire life. By the time I reached the hotel it was 1 in the morning on Monday, but I still managed to get a few pictures of the room.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggw5MJzJn6srXAQSsgwLFc99ASNav_3-CfGS7F13R9P93bb6UHKNS5ZwpLL4cVBq8Efh53WbhApC-zfeuMHHblrTLtUcaW6kg8EIpnmZ-9CBDUu3iwGQPHpyhI81X48BzpIRk9BXxOXiVg/s1600/SAM_7400.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724760658673830066" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggw5MJzJn6srXAQSsgwLFc99ASNav_3-CfGS7F13R9P93bb6UHKNS5ZwpLL4cVBq8Efh53WbhApC-zfeuMHHblrTLtUcaW6kg8EIpnmZ-9CBDUu3iwGQPHpyhI81X48BzpIRk9BXxOXiVg/s320/SAM_7400.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ycw4XyfcTuknWVxamjG28mQpB2Dj3tXUlNgdpk7P7Bb_nLm-9D4VSJi3xgHU9AFmuRZxRn-cMTPhGN6_P6Gh7yCKH8irrXDtsRv40C7XP76ngRBe9K-6KhWv93pmqufJek0E56xzWXeV/s1600/SAM_7401.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724762502732148498" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ycw4XyfcTuknWVxamjG28mQpB2Dj3tXUlNgdpk7P7Bb_nLm-9D4VSJi3xgHU9AFmuRZxRn-cMTPhGN6_P6Gh7yCKH8irrXDtsRv40C7XP76ngRBe9K-6KhWv93pmqufJek0E56xzWXeV/s320/SAM_7401.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbxdvgHmHfucf1SU7j5IW2xOaGxOXh1VAouiyGunooLrKD7fxhvEp5FQhNIr-s8RSihBMuE-LJTnyn4_PUS-mCmCyOP6PFfUDyJ1ZxOD55J0xlph51l2pLmmbLAQ6UUthuoP5zU8DAhgD/s1600/SAM_7403.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724760648840456930" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbxdvgHmHfucf1SU7j5IW2xOaGxOXh1VAouiyGunooLrKD7fxhvEp5FQhNIr-s8RSihBMuE-LJTnyn4_PUS-mCmCyOP6PFfUDyJ1ZxOD55J0xlph51l2pLmmbLAQ6UUthuoP5zU8DAhgD/s320/SAM_7403.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>I only got a few hours of sleep, but the next day I was off to the office with one of my coworkers to start on our project. The area of the city that we were in was surrounded by malls, that were all connected on the inside. So you could walk from one end of the city to the other almost without ever stepping outside.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNucszN2oRrOqUS247BHpWpFhi6o5oVru4aTPpwS5jZMeGu9kHCWzYCFEDAI-f0Zt5MS9q0lM3P2Z-vyjOR0Mc1mmj9QMmrI8MB0DBaJYsPRx7Q2jj68SH_XfEtcTioXEEpMdHBhf0-FO/s1600/SAM_7427.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNucszN2oRrOqUS247BHpWpFhi6o5oVru4aTPpwS5jZMeGu9kHCWzYCFEDAI-f0Zt5MS9q0lM3P2Z-vyjOR0Mc1mmj9QMmrI8MB0DBaJYsPRx7Q2jj68SH_XfEtcTioXEEpMdHBhf0-FO/s320/SAM_7427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725115166976092418" border="0" /></a><br />This is the office where I spent my 2 weeks. It turns out it was the only office building in that area. We had to go to the other side of the ring of malls to get to any other office buildings. The location definitely made it easy to find places to eat for lunch though.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3cj-_H7m84t1Gn_-yTwGCCvQnn8aJH3Uynqtute_pR_0MdAaqU8_5wwpUYQrJu48arXIOZp9SHwCRNx1dGhDEBrbYMus2cQtdn4WZ6pOvMpTi0DflG8hcPzOG_6mZxnXWNgnPJy5qx5k/s1600/SAM_7428.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3cj-_H7m84t1Gn_-yTwGCCvQnn8aJH3Uynqtute_pR_0MdAaqU8_5wwpUYQrJu48arXIOZp9SHwCRNx1dGhDEBrbYMus2cQtdn4WZ6pOvMpTi0DflG8hcPzOG_6mZxnXWNgnPJy5qx5k/s320/SAM_7428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725115159218830930" border="0" /></a><br />The first place we went to eat for lunch was a place called Max's. Their specialty is chicken, but somehow we ended up not ordering a single chicken dish...The food was really good though. This dish was a stir-fry veggie type of dish.<br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdxO_53t99yA8c69S7prGZfaI6uTlbKUGWPGbCTdlPJgc8tPGUS-aZJd7kJOsBR-g0eTscRS4j6gK545NVnv1NgGQ4xJFBkQ_S5FBpmwBjcqAi45Q22isvQdYQkGbasVjt-MJXEN-wJJb/s1600/SAM_7405.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724760641149682690" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdxO_53t99yA8c69S7prGZfaI6uTlbKUGWPGbCTdlPJgc8tPGUS-aZJd7kJOsBR-g0eTscRS4j6gK545NVnv1NgGQ4xJFBkQ_S5FBpmwBjcqAi45Q22isvQdYQkGbasVjt-MJXEN-wJJb/s320/SAM_7405.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This dish was like the Chinese pork belly, but Filipino style. Pork belly pretty much just means pork fat...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4KdU3cg-it3oHI8vcWawkVOaazau6vHG0SqCkH7pjtvVWldRzqog-kKS6NrJV8YZQ8tak1mKMPyr6_gF8M1dSP4a5lVo6lgIpbwQyLciSXeYHbIYkxziVsXl0iXgeuqQqWPTLGxlUgUC/s1600/SAM_7406.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724760629088038770" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4KdU3cg-it3oHI8vcWawkVOaazau6vHG0SqCkH7pjtvVWldRzqog-kKS6NrJV8YZQ8tak1mKMPyr6_gF8M1dSP4a5lVo6lgIpbwQyLciSXeYHbIYkxziVsXl0iXgeuqQqWPTLGxlUgUC/s320/SAM_7406.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The other dish we ordered was called Kare Kare, which is oxtail with various vegetables in some kind of peanut-based sauce and shrimp paste. It was actually really good. I think Phil would have liked the oxtail.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrndw1_XPSSdHQjkuuB2ktVFZR_kGnxwf97HLV5i28JjnblyLXEdz0omBnllEmRoFRfVYNuaBlMTKWRNg8iFi5B3tY-gLzT7UuuzltOZPw-OaHS80d0GMjxssDbF5Zm-WY1kwOpzKsmggO/s1600/SAM_7407.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724760619473559858" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrndw1_XPSSdHQjkuuB2ktVFZR_kGnxwf97HLV5i28JjnblyLXEdz0omBnllEmRoFRfVYNuaBlMTKWRNg8iFi5B3tY-gLzT7UuuzltOZPw-OaHS80d0GMjxssDbF5Zm-WY1kwOpzKsmggO/s320/SAM_7407.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />After work I headed out with my coworker to explore one of the many malls near the hotel. While we were in the mall we passed a Jollibee, which is a local fast food chain, similar to a McDonald's. Their mascot is the Jolly Bee. They are actually a customer of my company, so I had to take a picture with the Jolly Bee.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRV9vk9bW6y-UP51osmE1fsjO2NSsk-pVOuf8Bn4sGGBtuvI1SEJmpvqLVvOKRHcYBenxJ5V7zZrAJnd-EZW0vu_aWj7w5p3NGtjKGw9yw1KEmmUQFvOo14ntURZSvU8mOSj0HIGXHjE_/s1600/SAM_7409.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724764590961641218" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRV9vk9bW6y-UP51osmE1fsjO2NSsk-pVOuf8Bn4sGGBtuvI1SEJmpvqLVvOKRHcYBenxJ5V7zZrAJnd-EZW0vu_aWj7w5p3NGtjKGw9yw1KEmmUQFvOo14ntURZSvU8mOSj0HIGXHjE_/s320/SAM_7409.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />For dinner we ended up eating at an Italian restaurant. I think it was called Italiani, or something like that.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tw17HE3XikgM6oRmSacXTo0OslC22kKS653Gryz7-xwKiaG1iHqRsWiZtujbUCsqIQLA7WaaobH9UzbXdfncboBrZauMJOUd3luWlyeXmDpMV7M5bqWx4nHaeyDdDusofB_SjwGeF2Mu/s1600/SAM_7411.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724764583863928226" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tw17HE3XikgM6oRmSacXTo0OslC22kKS653Gryz7-xwKiaG1iHqRsWiZtujbUCsqIQLA7WaaobH9UzbXdfncboBrZauMJOUd3luWlyeXmDpMV7M5bqWx4nHaeyDdDusofB_SjwGeF2Mu/s320/SAM_7411.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We ordered a chicken mango salad. It was a lot bigger than I was expecting...I could have eaten it as my entire meal!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-P3_LRo5RsnYcNDhCe4ZYh7ctcyqQGbEO2ngCCXvlvqK-0KPE1Nq8nuM9337c_LeB2wNIuBbpxhM2bQLIGI5u-VSpvJy-ggWXmkLLh5-_z8PBmGlKFd6JnUWVmnIP2wqyiiEQr8Y0rzN/s1600/SAM_7412.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724764575896853186" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-P3_LRo5RsnYcNDhCe4ZYh7ctcyqQGbEO2ngCCXvlvqK-0KPE1Nq8nuM9337c_LeB2wNIuBbpxhM2bQLIGI5u-VSpvJy-ggWXmkLLh5-_z8PBmGlKFd6JnUWVmnIP2wqyiiEQr8Y0rzN/s320/SAM_7412.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I ordered their thin crust pizza special, which basically had 3 different pizza types/toppings. The pizza was extremely thin. It was less like pizza and more like some kind of thin crisp cracker, especially since there was no tomato sauce, but I liked it. It was just way too much food.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf8MwwA-KkeNympUWqSfZIANTGU5k2_QxFvqV25C0S-3Gx8bubqahXzpXPzk0QwH73YqN4lh7O2Gmntowgf-nYy4_sjspNmvQRfzVM7z1u9-pieZelou_nZqOaa9aOVBS4Q0iCJRz49qK/s1600/SAM_7413.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724764563359211202" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf8MwwA-KkeNympUWqSfZIANTGU5k2_QxFvqV25C0S-3Gx8bubqahXzpXPzk0QwH73YqN4lh7O2Gmntowgf-nYy4_sjspNmvQRfzVM7z1u9-pieZelou_nZqOaa9aOVBS4Q0iCJRz49qK/s320/SAM_7413.JPG" border="0" /></a>On top of the fact that my coworker, Daichi, ordered his own pasta too. We definitely ordered too much food...That huge smile on Daichi's face is the "I can't believe we ordered this much food/There's no way we're finishing this" laugh of hysteria. ^__^<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzeOWtgHtqlFYmGVqSnFBxR2Ct5vhu1utErGUSCSNxGmauzHCZCzWkJtnzRV586XzyhBT2y3hGBII1j9vVKnV7ARUzOi8czFIT0yKY3ZulNXQG7vTmSF2uj_XFSt2_HajcAq1aTLq8Zbw/s1600/SAM_7414.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724764557828190402" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzeOWtgHtqlFYmGVqSnFBxR2Ct5vhu1utErGUSCSNxGmauzHCZCzWkJtnzRV586XzyhBT2y3hGBII1j9vVKnV7ARUzOi8czFIT0yKY3ZulNXQG7vTmSF2uj_XFSt2_HajcAq1aTLq8Zbw/s320/SAM_7414.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-78948042787182700102012-01-25T21:51:00.003-05:002012-03-28T21:31:06.034-04:00Gymboree<div>There are a lot of places where you can take your baby in for some playtime so they can interact with other kids - kind of like daycare, except with parents, and it's usually only for an hour or two. One of those places is called Gymboree, which is in fact associated with the babies clothing store. They let you have a free trial class, so Mandy and I signed Calvin and Maddy up for a free class together at the Gymboree by my house. Phil's mom was around so we brought her along. Calvin looks so sharp in his collared shirt.<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffcf6b41a73b00000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffcf6b41a73b00000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />The first thing Calvin and Maddy got to do when we arrived in the class was play with some bubbles. They'd never seen bubbles before so they were completely fascinated. I should remember to get some bubbles next time I need to distract Calvin.<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffcf7d8326c200000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffcf7d8326c200000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />The class had some semi-structured playtime, but Calvin had a tendency to run off on his own and do his own thing. Of course he immediately found a ball lying around and started playing with it. He kept trying to throw it up one of the slides they had.<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffce54a9462800000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffce54a9462800000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />It was hula hoop time, but Calvin was just standing around doing his own thing.<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffce4bdb87fd00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffce4bdb87fd00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />Clearly plastic traffic cones are more fun...<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffce8f9806ec00000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffce8f9806ec00000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />What's in here?<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffce21e106c200000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffce21e106c200000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />They had this little mini obstacle course for babies, but the only way we could get Calvin to go on it was to roll the ball in front of him so he would follow it. He got very upset when another kid grabbed the ball and threw it away.<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffcf89f926c200000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffcf89f926c200000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />Peek-a-boo Maddy!<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffcf8ac2666000000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd32b3127cceffcfcd63267a00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />Overall I think Calvin had a good time, but the classes are a little expensive in my opinion. I'd rather just arrange a play date at a park or something. Though in general not a bad experience. Definitely a good way to meet other parents and kids.<br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-68548789597183306742011-12-25T22:53:00.004-05:002012-03-28T08:39:36.611-04:00Christmas 2011 (Calvin Cleans Out!)Since the new house has lots of room, and Phil's parents sold their house in the city, both Christmases were at our house this year. My family had slept over so we could be up early to open presents. The fireplace we have is gas and doesn't really have anywhere to hang stockings, so we had to get a little creative. Phil found some stretchy cord things in the garage with hooks so we hung our stockings from the stairs. Mandy and Calvin are having some laughs in the middle of a tickle-fest.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeafc67bd88100000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeafc67bd88100000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Every year we always say we're not going to buy too many presents, but somehow we end up with tons of presents under the tree. It probably doesn't help now that we have the 2 babies - Calvin and Maddy. You just can't help buying presents for them. Although it should be noted that all the presents on the right side of the tree were for Christmas later that night with Phil's family. Calvin looks very overwhelmed by all the presents - either that or plotting which one he can open first. He was actually pretty good, and only managed to rip open 1 present the whole month leading up to Christmas and it was for him anyway.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeafde75d88300000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeafde75d88300000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeafd7f219a800000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeafd7f219a800000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Phil is helping the little ones go through their stockings. Maddy looks very interested in whatever Phil is holding.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaec6fc797a00000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaec6fc797a00000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Calvin got a book called "Calvin Can't Fly". As soon as he opened it him and Maddy got to work reading through it together.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaf2b9b988f00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaf2b9b988f00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />One of the bigger presents was this pop-up princess tent that my mom got for Maddy. An empty tent - so simple and yet sure to provide entertainment for hours.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeafcfcc199a00000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeafcfcc199a00000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Even Calvin wanted to play inside.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeae7832f8db00000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeae7832f8db00000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />One of Maddy's other presents was an activity cube, which is just a giant wooden block that has different things to do on each side. It was Calvin approved - he helped us do baby testing on it before we wrapped it to make sure Maddy would like it. Calvin's showing her all the different activities. Ok, so not really, but at least he's not fighting her for it. That's progress!<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaeffc439c600000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaeffc439c600000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a>As we were wrapping up, Than, Michael and Van came by to say hi. Are those matching sweaters?<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeae14c4f81b00000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeae14c4f81b00000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Group picture time! (Me, Calvin, Phil, Tam, Maddy, Mandy, Mom, Than, Michael and Van)<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaec07f79fa00000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaec07f79fa00000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Later that evening Phil's family started to filter in. Different house this year, but still LOTS of food!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HiyFT-NppM9k5G1HGcAeJW-4KYZzSI2k9E4EAIj8eOkVUtPDwrPb67JkGdCJUxPIBhv3tinXUH4Gl90dPdHBzxOnxIsKRvTwKZZ81rO2ON26yvoSXIJr1tXbYG_H_ZJdlOL-VMQciQUY/s1600/SAM_7202.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724746011545746210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HiyFT-NppM9k5G1HGcAeJW-4KYZzSI2k9E4EAIj8eOkVUtPDwrPb67JkGdCJUxPIBhv3tinXUH4Gl90dPdHBzxOnxIsKRvTwKZZ81rO2ON26yvoSXIJr1tXbYG_H_ZJdlOL-VMQciQUY/s320/SAM_7202.JPG" /></a><br />Everyone barely fit around the dining room table. I guess we're going to need a second table for next year...<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaee8fd796c00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaee8fd796c00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Even Calvin joined in with the eating, although it was getting past his bedtime. I wonder what he's thinking about...<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaed6adf81300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaed6adf81300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />You could definitely tell he was getting tired though. And apparently the adults were talking too loud...I'm not sure who taught him to do this...<br /><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hrJZ6mvmSzo" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />As usual, with Calvin being the only kid on Phil's side of the family he cleaned out this year in presents. There were 2 big presents. The first was a chalkboard/drawing board from his great-Aunt. We'll keep this packed up until he's a bit older - no chalk or crayons for this guy yet.<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeae1785b8c300000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeae1785b8c300000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />The other big present was a battery powered Mater from Phil's cousin, Kevin. Calvin can set inside and just push a button and Mater will drive around. It provided a lot of entertainment for the rest of the night.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeae72abf84700000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeae72abf84700000040O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br /><br />Calvin was a little unsure at first, but I think he enjoyed it. He even got a little Dare Devil on us and attempted to drive while standing on the seat like some kind of stunt man. Phil was laughing so hard the camera is shaking.</p><br /><p><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aHkbTPgdQWM" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />We had a couple of desserts after Calvin went to bed. One of them was a chocolate peppermint cheesecake that Phil's sister, Winnie, made. It was actually pretty good.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKgxdkaCuj2HLFbZ65eZgRiw0IfnRzG3ZkoNXHMOz4O8Mh0tKx2iWazv2f1oRE9LoY3yBbrjx2NEsDQoFqSPQDFb2zR61QViPFJLMJ6bFUnN1zAfZvZbBIULkxZsPvdHojmToJooznmXd/s1600/SAM_7235.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724748089755558258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKgxdkaCuj2HLFbZ65eZgRiw0IfnRzG3ZkoNXHMOz4O8Mh0tKx2iWazv2f1oRE9LoY3yBbrjx2NEsDQoFqSPQDFb2zR61QViPFJLMJ6bFUnN1zAfZvZbBIULkxZsPvdHojmToJooznmXd/s320/SAM_7235.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-16220438158245096252011-11-26T22:50:00.003-05:002012-03-22T22:09:15.571-04:00World Trade Center & Long IslandThe day after Thanksgiving we headed out into the city with Phil's cousins to walk around. We walked through the financial district and took a walk through the ground zero area to see the progress being made on the new World Trade Centers.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe984008a7d300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe984008a7d300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe99b3b7c7c100000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe99b3b7c7c100000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a>All of the cousins and Calvin (Me, Lucia, Phil, Alex, Lea, Wally and Kevin).<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe99c64c06a800000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe99c64c06a800000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a>We had to go up some stairs to bypass all the construction. Kevin put in some effort to carry Calvin up the stairs. And then we realized there was an elevator...I don't blame him for the pained look, Calvin's heavy these days...<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe981af5a70300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe981af5a70300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />We passed through one of the financial buildings and Lea and Calvin admired the indoor palm trees.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe985551662800000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe985551662800000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />Where is everyone?<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe989375e75f00000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe989375e75f00000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />Calvin's first encounter with New York City pigeons.<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4D-wJRheZNA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />After such a busy day, Calvin passed out pretty easily in the car.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe98763fa7ff00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe98763fa7ff00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />In the evening we headed out to Long Island to visit one of my old college roommates, Le. She took us to one of the Tanger Outlets near her house to walk around and have dinner. They had an ice rink setup, which seemed pretty nice.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2qLSmJHv9alQ2k9bnPZDK-M3mTXDTUqbFeQSgctceetJ0a-WAabC3ame4CEDJ7lri-T4__McON5Z9yWXP-sNqSFZRp32qv0aJrT1GAWo2b2JwAlq1iVV1y3UXXNAcL4TqYuyhQLDZzNO/s1600/SAM_7010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2qLSmJHv9alQ2k9bnPZDK-M3mTXDTUqbFeQSgctceetJ0a-WAabC3ame4CEDJ7lri-T4__McON5Z9yWXP-sNqSFZRp32qv0aJrT1GAWo2b2JwAlq1iVV1y3UXXNAcL4TqYuyhQLDZzNO/s320/SAM_7010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721799097997685490" border="0" /></a><br />After dinner we headed back to my friend's house where Calvin got to play with Le's daughter, Mai who's 3 already!<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe9827e666a600000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe9827e666a600000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a>Mai is so sweet. She always stops to make sure Calvin is ok.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DZCwwJTBDQc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-3380688199276675572011-11-24T22:09:00.008-05:002012-03-22T22:03:37.943-04:00Thanksgiving 2011Thanksgiving as always started out with a light brunch with my family. Phil's mom and his sister ended up joining us this year. Our first holiday in the new house.<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe99301b068400000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe99301b068400000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />Not too much food, but we have to keep it light to make room for Thanksgiving dinner.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimt2x7cGLzcUr6UKFdkcYHHsCE08-8FGp4QPWUguzUM3O8XTi5G0bNK38d6g0VCpf2r-9t49tAi3edc1pixaZEroQ6aCANvfaDGNBBjL1FqzpA4DLDgb7qbhV0EigzGt1gIW3tt2j9GgmL/s1600/SAM_6915.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimt2x7cGLzcUr6UKFdkcYHHsCE08-8FGp4QPWUguzUM3O8XTi5G0bNK38d6g0VCpf2r-9t49tAi3edc1pixaZEroQ6aCANvfaDGNBBjL1FqzpA4DLDgb7qbhV0EigzGt1gIW3tt2j9GgmL/s320/SAM_6915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721795639388195570" border="0" /></a>After brunch Calvin tried working off some of the Thanksgiving food early by pushing cousin Maddy around in the toy stroller. Maddy got her "Queen" wave down.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe99b902c77100000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe99b902c77100000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />For dinner it was on to Phil's Aunt Chan's house. Calvin got to meet up with some of the cousins. Here he is with his biggest fans, Lucia and Lea.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe98ae23a78f00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe98ae23a78f00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />They always love to measure Calvin against the turkey - it's no contest this year though. Calvin -2, Turkey - 0.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe982d9b66de00000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe982d9b66de00000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />This year the turkey was covered in bacon.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-ph4wegg6thyphenhyphentdDfd5pkWqcvDTaDASoj9Ox0yPsnHWXrTo6aa0dM3OrHD7VEpl17FxIDAi4G6SyTYjfbphgWOjaXKKrq61Q0PbIS3SZ9dEgg7h42wFl7OKM0_wKpO_2iPfbT3xUk3qg-/s1600/SAM_6933.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-ph4wegg6thyphenhyphentdDfd5pkWqcvDTaDASoj9Ox0yPsnHWXrTo6aa0dM3OrHD7VEpl17FxIDAi4G6SyTYjfbphgWOjaXKKrq61Q0PbIS3SZ9dEgg7h42wFl7OKM0_wKpO_2iPfbT3xUk3qg-/s320/SAM_6933.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721795647458416450" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyozZApb-NfEzwpjRTJlwQwFUNP9FDynsEVomkO7OOE82b9ro3LQGroeajGBBgOjn6u_fBKYElMfERkgoxSQu7YVtFvUMWIcjBqUPUNNeV8O1Sjn6b0YvRt7Jwkb9lKRQ1uK6z5OMPLttX/s1600/SAM_6936.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyozZApb-NfEzwpjRTJlwQwFUNP9FDynsEVomkO7OOE82b9ro3LQGroeajGBBgOjn6u_fBKYElMfERkgoxSQu7YVtFvUMWIcjBqUPUNNeV8O1Sjn6b0YvRt7Jwkb9lKRQ1uK6z5OMPLttX/s320/SAM_6936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721795655307096130" border="0" /></a><br />Lots of food...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzzF8l70lzbR-78P77jHN6yoByzS4z92zo1rRbu7-t4Y7C8OvssEjnchOw0Ivd_AsYjHqGyoR1bfYasJl97M7BbY-WWSh6OvurbrEfdEduvCI3dND6iBK5qnHAH9USEq7fkS9dlyxdTAd/s1600/SAM_6939.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzzF8l70lzbR-78P77jHN6yoByzS4z92zo1rRbu7-t4Y7C8OvssEjnchOw0Ivd_AsYjHqGyoR1bfYasJl97M7BbY-WWSh6OvurbrEfdEduvCI3dND6iBK5qnHAH9USEq7fkS9dlyxdTAd/s320/SAM_6939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721795664955079874" border="0" /></a><br />And more food...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZXLD3DSBDY8z9vaj3LQ4u4uhZPdNhosDSmTNtbeF7Xduhtp1UXG7K6fNdxY_4cCWT2zwsNHIpnvOdvAu7pblXQcD2KGjslqyV0jFy5hT4-5GcNbuFnI8sDoT-1aEw5Fqp8oUBuFDtMAA/s1600/SAM_6940.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZXLD3DSBDY8z9vaj3LQ4u4uhZPdNhosDSmTNtbeF7Xduhtp1UXG7K6fNdxY_4cCWT2zwsNHIpnvOdvAu7pblXQcD2KGjslqyV0jFy5hT4-5GcNbuFnI8sDoT-1aEw5Fqp8oUBuFDtMAA/s320/SAM_6940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721795046043035410" border="0" /></a>Baked bree! Yum.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXh0I7lL7e-PC34FN_np9Bc8PrWSKTz53Hbzwx5xE2DZZ5-FWv0lHuCzZ7OscSMDNvyMuIS5w3kVmIDY0g7GUSqKjH0Zi1rhqvmTCz0e-_F_X8bFzFdLFrLzb5M7TRZRHbOZL3OmuPjwRr/s1600/SAM_6955.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXh0I7lL7e-PC34FN_np9Bc8PrWSKTz53Hbzwx5xE2DZZ5-FWv0lHuCzZ7OscSMDNvyMuIS5w3kVmIDY0g7GUSqKjH0Zi1rhqvmTCz0e-_F_X8bFzFdLFrLzb5M7TRZRHbOZL3OmuPjwRr/s320/SAM_6955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721795019884899746" border="0" /></a><br />Lobster salad cups<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Ax9ausuypGMt_smosGogATGdpnK4ZP2kz1nW85X0oiMJFJ6gTHi9SP4ORRxyArO8TnQRgUb6A7hrkFK1zFIcAaPENeM1vQKv1HqPnpqWGBE6kzQQaRvOQYuCJ-JbiRwnmooPg06YvJr/s1600/SAM_6954.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Ax9ausuypGMt_smosGogATGdpnK4ZP2kz1nW85X0oiMJFJ6gTHi9SP4ORRxyArO8TnQRgUb6A7hrkFK1zFIcAaPENeM1vQKv1HqPnpqWGBE6kzQQaRvOQYuCJ-JbiRwnmooPg06YvJr/s320/SAM_6954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721795030306588674" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTkCjmbVE5PfsBT-YfDr6p7ZwJWClvT_QV7VhyphenhyphenPWoNt5GrFnhjgdfD3di1AZj9rp5wSB8rSK0YgKA3UG6jSka6A2sNk7kIcYsV8ulEDNImDhpk6bX9awTJa5ewcrzFCroNRJoATq0MoQs/s1600/SAM_6941.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTkCjmbVE5PfsBT-YfDr6p7ZwJWClvT_QV7VhyphenhyphenPWoNt5GrFnhjgdfD3di1AZj9rp5wSB8rSK0YgKA3UG6jSka6A2sNk7kIcYsV8ulEDNImDhpk6bX9awTJa5ewcrzFCroNRJoATq0MoQs/s320/SAM_6941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721795037279649202" border="0" /></a><br />Calvin took center stage with his dancing.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe994a3187a300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe994a3187a300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wGtE63Jye1I" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1zmzgnWxzN8" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />All of the dancing and eating is starting to catch up with Calvin.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe998ce2871300000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe998ce2871300000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a>Dessert time! Don't even ask how many desserts there were...too many to count.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUNRG4in_EDOLfAKkf0aYsv4xAPsS3uNX6xMlYQIwTUeLE55or9OxBei12xR_E9TbzPTDNGuHg4a4LB-2tt9rC9OSKkhusg9Uj0v0446bsEAvPT_JadPbpGSQNjmoyrx_oah7UmMOAoAP/s1600/SAM_6974.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUNRG4in_EDOLfAKkf0aYsv4xAPsS3uNX6xMlYQIwTUeLE55or9OxBei12xR_E9TbzPTDNGuHg4a4LB-2tt9rC9OSKkhusg9Uj0v0446bsEAvPT_JadPbpGSQNjmoyrx_oah7UmMOAoAP/s320/SAM_6974.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721794985880401106" border="0" /></a><br />Lucia even made a flaming green tea birthday cake!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zseo-ROnRd4" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Calvin is too full from all of the eating. Time to wheel him home....<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe983c38a7dd00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img id="" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc27b3127ccefe983c38a7dd00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-9644863097018962122011-11-10T22:02:00.004-05:002012-03-22T21:51:34.185-04:00Westlake & Jayden!!!<div>Ok, I'm back. And now we're up to November...I'm sure I'll actually make it to 2012 at some point...<br /><br />Back in November I had to head back to Ohio for work. It's tough being away from Calvin for so long, but it gave me a chance to visit our good friends Steve and Rebecca, and their new baby son, Jayden! I think Phil is still jealous that he still hasn't gotten a chance to meet Jayden yet. He is so adorable, and just holding him makes me think of when Calvin used to be that small. I don't think Jayden liked me very much though - he seemed a little cranky when I was holding him.<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaead10b80b00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaead10b80b00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />Now he is back in mommy's arms. I think I see the hint of a smile. ^__^<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaf7770197a00000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeaf7770197a00000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a><br />This is one of my favorite pictures of Jayden and Rebecca. They're not looking at the camera, but<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeae12f5f82900000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc08b3127ccefeae12f5f82900000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" border="0" /></a> </div><br />I also got to go out a few times with some coworkers. One of the places I got to try was a new restaurant in Crocker Park called "B Spot". I went with a bunch of the team leaders from my department as part of a team building event. I think the B stands for burgers and brats. They also have some tasty (and strange) milkshake flavors available - alcohol optional ^__^<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzecNqRjqoEV7hl1d4D2_CaEV-Sb-hdNQUnulTH5gJjLFj73Qc1WacyzicfLVDYT9rWxvzEEvdQHzfo3u0VNYZbtXdsH6TamEjcDWLE_jeyQNvxXGl8Mb6oRHQ88xOJsu2cD0qUASLCQ5/s1600/SAM_6882.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzecNqRjqoEV7hl1d4D2_CaEV-Sb-hdNQUnulTH5gJjLFj73Qc1WacyzicfLVDYT9rWxvzEEvdQHzfo3u0VNYZbtXdsH6TamEjcDWLE_jeyQNvxXGl8Mb6oRHQ88xOJsu2cD0qUASLCQ5/s320/SAM_6882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721789773385772626" border="0" /></a><br />The burgers seemed tiny by normal standards, but they were just the right size for me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0UdDjm_ZgnXDb60wxRIw4Xq_e75ffTTJ5cV9qcTp9btaF0geBbS3YLdrggwDDKXhiPuH5zc-sLu_0skDwHWStq5MnSrkXSOWDsFMVRdDRShfUlG49wcUqir1p_91zx1LkGn7Sl_yY_LZ/s1600/SAM_6878.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0UdDjm_ZgnXDb60wxRIw4Xq_e75ffTTJ5cV9qcTp9btaF0geBbS3YLdrggwDDKXhiPuH5zc-sLu_0skDwHWStq5MnSrkXSOWDsFMVRdDRShfUlG49wcUqir1p_91zx1LkGn7Sl_yY_LZ/s320/SAM_6878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721789780233466018" border="0" /></a>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-70285926022661624272011-10-30T22:03:00.003-04:002012-02-25T22:09:18.945-05:00Halloween ParadeFor Halloween we dressed Calvin up as a monkey. When we first bought the costume we had Calvin try it on to make sure it fit before we cut the tags off. He was super excited when we first put it on him. He kept trying to eat the banana attached to his wrist or grab his tail.<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2bd8ff8c1d00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2bd8ff8c1d00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />The weekend of Halloween we met up with Maddy and Van for a Halloween parade they were having downtown. It wasn't really a formal parade - just a place for kids to go and get candy and show off their costumes. Different stores and banks had little tables setup in a few of the parking lots off of Main Street to give out candy to the kids. We didn't let Calvin take any of the candy though.<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2a19286d4e00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2a19286d4e00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Van was dressed as a fireman (just like his daddy), and Maddy was dressed up as Uma Thurman from Kill Bill - complete with samurai sword!<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2ba3c0cc8700000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2ba3c0cc8700000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Calvin and Van got the best seats. They could probably see the whole parade from there.<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2ab36eec6d00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2ab36eec6d00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />They even had a guy there making balloon animals - actually more like balloon swords or heads on a stick...<br /><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2a56d12d0800000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2a56d12d0800000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Calvin was very happy with his balloon. He loved it so much he kept trying to steal everyone else's too.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2a92ceac4500000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2a92ceac4500000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />That was the first annual Halloween parade. Hopefully they have it again next year. Maybe next year we'll even let Calvin actually eat the candy, but I guess he'll have to fight Phil for it...Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-54663170985013120582011-10-22T21:09:00.003-04:002012-02-25T21:12:27.135-05:00Mom's Birthday at Fujiyama MamaFor my mom's birthday we went out to the Japanese restaurant Fujiyama Mama in Westfield since she loves Japanese food. Grandma posing with her grandkids, all dressed up for grandma's birthday.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2be9f3cc9100000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2be9f3cc9100000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />We had hibachi, but we also ordered some special sushi dishes for my mom. I forget which one this was, but it had some tuna I think, topped with fish eggs. It was a little spicy, but surprisingly good (especially considering I don't eat sushi, but something that pretty you can't help but try it!).<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2aa8742dd200000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2aa8742dd200000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />My sister also ordered another sushi. I think this one was called dragon eye? It was sushi wrapped in avocado slices. This one was also pretty good.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2a86d92d6800000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2a86d92d6800000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />And of course we ordered the standard california rolls. <br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2adfa6ec9300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2adfa6ec9300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Our chef was actually Fukanese. I don't think I've ever been to a hibachi where the chef was actually Japanese...<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2bc83b8cd100000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2bc83b8cd100000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2b5b42cc7900000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2b5b42cc7900000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Maddy and Calvin got to see their first onion volcano. Calvin got pretty scared.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2be5ddccb900000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2be5ddccb900000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />After lunch we went to Target with my mom. I know, nothing really exciting about going to Target, but it was the first time we let Calvin sit in one of those shopping carts. He looks like such a big boy sitting in the cart. He loved it so much he didn't want to get out when it was time to go. <br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2beb90ccf300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce10b3127ccefe2beb90ccf300000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-19359644321425594222011-10-09T22:27:00.004-04:002012-02-25T21:59:57.191-05:00Maddy's 1st Birthday PartyJersey Diary has been on a bit of a hiatus. I blame it on Calvin...<br /><br />I'm going to be trying to do some back-posting of some older posts I've been meaning to publish, and then we'll get back to what our little monster has been up to more recently.<br /><br /><br />Back in October we had gone to a farm to do apple picking for Maddy's 1st birthday. It was very hot and sunny that day and there were a lot of people there. Luckily my sister had booked a private party tent for us so we didn't have to fight with lines. Phil was extra excited about that because that meant no fighting people in line for the bathroom.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3c050dbc6f00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3c050dbc6f00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a>Our tent was the bunny tent.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3c2c007dde00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3c2c007dde00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />The farm provided little pumpkins as party favors. It was so hot outside that one of the pumpkins spontaneously combusted from the heat.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3d0ec6dc7500000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3d0ec6dc7500000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />My sister with the birthday girl.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3c3e26fcc100000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3c3e26fcc100000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Maddy is finally ok with Phil holding her, but she has to be holding his ear. She does that to everyone - like her version of a security blanket.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3d8db79cdd00000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3d8db79cdd00000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />The 2 cousins hanging out at the party. Calvin was sleeping in the car, so he had just woken up when this picture was taken. As you can tell he was all kinds of confused. He just kept looking at Maddy, and then he would look at us like "what's going on?"<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe30616961ae00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe30616961ae00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />"Help?"<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe307605a06100000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe307605a06100000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />My mom was super happy to spend time with her 2 grandkids. She tried to dance a little bit with Calvin to get him to relax a little bit. Dancing always seems to help.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe31f53f41fe00000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe31f53f41fe00000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Once Calvin got a little more comfortable around everyone he started exploring. He got to see his first pumpkin. I think he's trying to figure out if this is something he can eat, and how. He's always thinking about food -just like his dad.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe31c50741de00000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe31c50741de00000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Calvin's good friend, Van, showed up a little later. He looks so handsome with his new haircut. He finally started getting some teeth. He had his 2 front teeth - 1 was a lot bigger than the other and he looked so adorable. We kept trying to ge him to smile for the camera and show his new teeth.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3d657f9c6100000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3d657f9c6100000030O30QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Of course, being boys, they went straight to playing with the sticks and woodchips on the ground. We're lucky they didn't accidentally start poking each other in the eyes with them. They settled for beating the poles holding up the tent.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe31fc6f013200000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe31fc6f013200000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />After hanging out at the tent for a little bit it was time to take the hayride to go apple picking. While we were waiting I took Calvin to pet the donkeys. Surprisingly, he wasn't scared at all.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe317ab801a600000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe317ab801a600000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Since we were part of a party we got our own private hayride. The hayride was a first for Calvin and me.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe303d93617a00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe303d93617a00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe301780617c00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe301780617c00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />The apple picking was not what I remembered from when I was younger. There were no ladders to get to the top. The trees were pretty short, but it was still tough to reach the nice apples at the top unless you had someone tall, like Van's dad, Michael. Everyone was limited to 3 apples a person. I guess they didn't want everyone picking all the apples. I tried to let Calvin walk around so he could pick some applies from the lower branches, but he just wanted to play with the squished and bruised applies on the ground.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe304b88615a00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe304b88615a00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Thanh had to shelter Van from the sun on the hayride back, it was so hot.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3d49c61dfe00000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3d49c61dfe00000030O10QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />When we got back from the apple picking we had pie instead of birthday cake. They had all different kinds of pies - apple, peach, blueberry, cherry. All the pies were homemad by the farm, with fresh fruits from the farm. Maddy got to blow out her birthday candle on a blueberry pie.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3da9e41dac00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce01b3127ccefe3da9e41dac00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Even Calvin was clapping for the birthday girl (even if it was 2 minutes after everybody had already stopped clapping...).<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe31cc50802500000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe31cc50802500000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a><br />Before we left Calvin and Van went to pick their pumpkins to take home. You can tell Calvin is eyeing that open pumpkin, just waiting to make a mess.<br /><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe3025aae07f00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe3025aae07f00000030O00QZNmjdm4bswe3nwA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" /></a> </p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-53287754595295832542011-10-08T22:19:00.006-04:002011-10-25T07:54:11.839-04:00Wedding Shower at City TavernA friend of ours, Ghimel, is getting married in December. Her mom and sister-in-law threw her a wedding shower in the city at a place called City Tavern. The downstairs is just a bar and actually looks a little dinky, but the upstairs is the restaurant area and looks much nicer. I was a little worried I was in the wrong place when I first arrived, but I could see the pink and white streamers from the full length windows on the 2nd floor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWITdXzmwRjHTGgs9nWFVtnfb2BOzbvEf9Y2QO_krX5GskPW1COiadRic3JVZHAy4ear8sKVQJt1RnDcRvCaWDpPWX0LCYlXKymApciP09hZx8u6XaaG-IE1AlvS9MWyq_MJsAZqTFSlln/s1600/SAM_6667.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665766304170124930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWITdXzmwRjHTGgs9nWFVtnfb2BOzbvEf9Y2QO_krX5GskPW1COiadRic3JVZHAy4ear8sKVQJt1RnDcRvCaWDpPWX0LCYlXKymApciP09hZx8u6XaaG-IE1AlvS9MWyq_MJsAZqTFSlln/s320/SAM_6667.JPG" /></a><br />They had decorated the tables with roses and butterfly and heart shape confetti.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdQgohg3yrgt8niIxNcbb0QTA5e7y7u2ccQH5JX1FSYL_l86itMkAkqF5DudWqDb9eHf_JyuA2GQfbFUibTcoergnkvRAvGeUR8kifWf8SwFFSjgVqm3j4WbWUHweBN4peqffn7y9OL_H/s1600/SAM_6669.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665766002605200882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdQgohg3yrgt8niIxNcbb0QTA5e7y7u2ccQH5JX1FSYL_l86itMkAkqF5DudWqDb9eHf_JyuA2GQfbFUibTcoergnkvRAvGeUR8kifWf8SwFFSjgVqm3j4WbWUHweBN4peqffn7y9OL_H/s320/SAM_6669.JPG" /></a><br />There were little butterfly bookmarks on each placemate as favors. At least I'm pretty sure it's a bookmark...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP3YxkHAfDcjezow1kUjtT1PBmtSpqyAgjRa9oYu202Whb5nwg7LZefmKbYTfcaU64f0pVEEZw7KZm6f8MfP2qImo97V0UYTQkSa4yyMNBlUN9fuB4lGIkpqcAmSGYSR6zTIje83jAKgq/s1600/SAM_6668.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665765998473817874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP3YxkHAfDcjezow1kUjtT1PBmtSpqyAgjRa9oYu202Whb5nwg7LZefmKbYTfcaU64f0pVEEZw7KZm6f8MfP2qImo97V0UYTQkSa4yyMNBlUN9fuB4lGIkpqcAmSGYSR6zTIje83jAKgq/s320/SAM_6668.JPG" /></a><br />Here is the happy couple, Ernest and Ghimel. They knew each other in college, and actually dated once before.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qXgqLibcdZveVpSyvYcqseP20MPxk2XyurD54hgwuuqDDS2X-WnKTzgD3E0Ls9HEcfTZDt62v7LpumAeIZ2vd2aU0Utf7mBdyTpX3Ffrn-0XRT3QD_dMW7l79pMmp9h3bHOTpLlRajfU/s1600/SAM_6670.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665765978708120370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qXgqLibcdZveVpSyvYcqseP20MPxk2XyurD54hgwuuqDDS2X-WnKTzgD3E0Ls9HEcfTZDt62v7LpumAeIZ2vd2aU0Utf7mBdyTpX3Ffrn-0XRT3QD_dMW7l79pMmp9h3bHOTpLlRajfU/s320/SAM_6670.JPG" /></a><br />Ernest is in the army, and they decorated one of his army hats for Ghimel to wear at the shower.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPa9WJcUSbaf5dYrQcozf-Y0fcy8vxzPncvNyGhsOKgNcjIS-VKjD8bHPUl_AlC7veDb93jT8XU4rutlyg6IJK90-CvEEATFfVAqBVCEjN8MUsxSQoHU1PXZFlWiP6FBiW3KqxDMN2b02j/s1600/SAM_6672.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665765964063118994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPa9WJcUSbaf5dYrQcozf-Y0fcy8vxzPncvNyGhsOKgNcjIS-VKjD8bHPUl_AlC7veDb93jT8XU4rutlyg6IJK90-CvEEATFfVAqBVCEjN8MUsxSQoHU1PXZFlWiP6FBiW3KqxDMN2b02j/s320/SAM_6672.JPG" /></a><br />Her sister-in-law, Rhina, and her mom, Nora, gave a lovely toast to the couple.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8dlCcpLpOl1DeLwhHW2622UtQOwJJIkzxf8WC4cq5NeP-LyE-zE0mLTpzWsVtZmBQC2trG2kt_ScYhspdJYtgJotiiaJBTruDKP34n-tHPqIVbQ7rgqLCy81KV_oq9NN8hGqqB4lOHdd/s1600/SAM_6673.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665765962641391202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8dlCcpLpOl1DeLwhHW2622UtQOwJJIkzxf8WC4cq5NeP-LyE-zE0mLTpzWsVtZmBQC2trG2kt_ScYhspdJYtgJotiiaJBTruDKP34n-tHPqIVbQ7rgqLCy81KV_oq9NN8hGqqB4lOHdd/s320/SAM_6673.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>I was worried that it would be awkward because I wouldn't know anyone there (Ghimel is one of Phil's coworkers, so we don't have many mutual friends), but one of their other old coworkers, Tejal, was there too. She works for Bazooka now and brought everyone ring pops ^__^<br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665765264900381218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYyFEVGSFq-spZhEt4S81SA6iGInKslzboHOSpjuzA4ihpItcsPP8sn8KHoK_IxRMVuLaYeAaOSJKADZAM391cCNERQJElecHuqUGas9RyOwlQzlua63jVsYMkU3YdYx2-Nkhng2OF3bn/s320/SAM_6678.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>For lunch I had their house salad. From the description it sounded like it would be good, but it was really bitter. The artichoke hearts were the only good thing about it.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERYOoBuY2SARXhpdZogeZfhpiTqynB-IIhAcOyzVvFglC94UaLGkhi8khUgEEjLlZREYgt8iv4ebdSkrssk-ZFAqxw_03Ki6n4RfTLpuHlzDa__RPmHhEsJjb6_S1nZ2hgZx1adgEDWNG/s1600/SAM_6674.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665765303228989074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERYOoBuY2SARXhpdZogeZfhpiTqynB-IIhAcOyzVvFglC94UaLGkhi8khUgEEjLlZREYgt8iv4ebdSkrssk-ZFAqxw_03Ki6n4RfTLpuHlzDa__RPmHhEsJjb6_S1nZ2hgZx1adgEDWNG/s320/SAM_6674.JPG" /></a><br />For the main dish I ordered a dish called Cavatelli. It was some kind of not-quite shell shaped pasta with a tomato based sauce. It was actually decent.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ItwtR_yy6UMUkpbvR2Cz6xxqkKa0EhVS2tUKFJIHIW2uV9bLx0_dXwwfChqfSV59t88E0sb_ER3nfOJyRM96NQqD1WEsLQUIOYZqQnF_zu7OC-BTmVEGPXj7K-FSZROVgOAWxLbxAMJe/s1600/SAM_6675.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665765294296775602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ItwtR_yy6UMUkpbvR2Cz6xxqkKa0EhVS2tUKFJIHIW2uV9bLx0_dXwwfChqfSV59t88E0sb_ER3nfOJyRM96NQqD1WEsLQUIOYZqQnF_zu7OC-BTmVEGPXj7K-FSZROVgOAWxLbxAMJe/s320/SAM_6675.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>The dessert was the best part. It was a coffee chip and vanilla mouse with strawberries and blueberries.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJivboOzJ0uZFeaIVELcXeQPX-AilrHNuCCzP9OzpWdWKjUJ_GshU3RHaUuGxTbeIv7SUf1MXGHI2hu56d6eiGaXZP5lDQSJCro0nP1Tf2VHrKJL6IMgOU4th0QRoE2zdBRHRv263bSv66/s1600/SAM_6676.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665765279382731074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJivboOzJ0uZFeaIVELcXeQPX-AilrHNuCCzP9OzpWdWKjUJ_GshU3RHaUuGxTbeIv7SUf1MXGHI2hu56d6eiGaXZP5lDQSJCro0nP1Tf2VHrKJL6IMgOU4th0QRoE2zdBRHRv263bSv66/s320/SAM_6676.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>After lunch it was time to open presents. Ghimel got enough appliances and other things to furnish her entire kitchen. Which I guess is the point. Plus some nice stuff for the honeymoon ^__~<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78AJVRFLJofjxRVgxdZz3r69rfhWIVcfa8JKjicL21ZsFcD8JTjZLDHRBo6epcGb8lsIWtw5N7zY8R_M2I7hxIHxVhQWo_78eqmfiIfwoeaXI1NPkwE4MXqNDtr_SwIeCs04VkqlCeERo/s1600/SAM_6679.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665765261641293474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78AJVRFLJofjxRVgxdZz3r69rfhWIVcfa8JKjicL21ZsFcD8JTjZLDHRBo6epcGb8lsIWtw5N7zY8R_M2I7hxIHxVhQWo_78eqmfiIfwoeaXI1NPkwE4MXqNDtr_SwIeCs04VkqlCeERo/s320/SAM_6679.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>As much as I love Calvin it was definitely nice to do something non-baby related.</div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-87092047827454022482011-10-01T22:14:00.004-04:002011-10-21T22:28:47.567-04:00X.O.The weekend after I got back from Asia, Phil's cousins, Lea and Lydia, and Lea's husband, Wally, were in town for a wedding. We went out to NYC to meet up with them for lunch. Summer is slowly coming to an end and it's starting to get a little chillier outside, so we had to bust out Calvin's windbreaker. He looks so puffy, but cute.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCyy5d-qoor1rCBgib9Q9kYYVeXPXZEdpcVEyUqrAf7km1XTJlGBMixa2Olr5MXwwNcjmi1Qu8c6qBETJR9kEJsK89sUmPkw46NLGbijyiEYDgwwkIzYN8AHLLb6iV-Mr2csOMdnHLlH5/s1600/SAM_6608.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662570951398805602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCyy5d-qoor1rCBgib9Q9kYYVeXPXZEdpcVEyUqrAf7km1XTJlGBMixa2Olr5MXwwNcjmi1Qu8c6qBETJR9kEJsK89sUmPkw46NLGbijyiEYDgwwkIzYN8AHLLb6iV-Mr2csOMdnHLlH5/s320/SAM_6608.JPG" /></a><br />For lunch we headed to a restaurant called X.O. There are actually 2 locations I think. The one we went to was the newer location that opened not too long ago. It looks like it must be new because everything is so nicely designed and clean inside.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3HNbVM5RtID-_blhFgtb0sHe3XZRvYXK6xM-rLPPi3yFsdvc2Yz-W7Juh1agnxtJ7M-NW8lSpaymvtJTjk0ro3Mgeu_KcA6vDM5-VgoWwWIozkzdSUsIdLcZhMg8tnoIqime-juwz_Tb/s1600/SAM_6623.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662570944182207666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3HNbVM5RtID-_blhFgtb0sHe3XZRvYXK6xM-rLPPi3yFsdvc2Yz-W7Juh1agnxtJ7M-NW8lSpaymvtJTjk0ro3Mgeu_KcA6vDM5-VgoWwWIozkzdSUsIdLcZhMg8tnoIqime-juwz_Tb/s320/SAM_6623.JPG" /></a><br />Lea, Wally and Kevin endulging me with my crazy picture taking ^__^</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb1m49FJ_mkcfCOC0R7KoeSGZ4vGmQlowBwuoSw73YI1GjVLhbZdXE9PW3f5IPNQIx6B9C1q4WEFDZwaM0h8SFahjXY3epoLdRh7gMbFcCn02mNcO87t36lpx1SrbLbi4JFi9MwVLhJxl/s1600/SAM_6609.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662570937236365170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb1m49FJ_mkcfCOC0R7KoeSGZ4vGmQlowBwuoSw73YI1GjVLhbZdXE9PW3f5IPNQIx6B9C1q4WEFDZwaM0h8SFahjXY3epoLdRh7gMbFcCn02mNcO87t36lpx1SrbLbi4JFi9MwVLhJxl/s320/SAM_6609.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>There was a decent number of us, but the parents seemed to order a lot of food - it just kept coming. As soon as I thought they'd brought the last dish another one would show up a few minutes later. I thought the food was really good. We even let Calvin eat some.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpgAqBsvN6fty0mW_-u8k2BdOEiPD8lAmyBq0qp-JdVQEJ4Vr3EmBNWEtBP5utL4TARyqYe0qryYjdZn0_SfbrE_bu2Y3zkv8IaIjp6Ikg-z92x3L314ogphV_c0zOBZ4dBJT1Bod3de-/s1600/SAM_6616.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662570467300991490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpgAqBsvN6fty0mW_-u8k2BdOEiPD8lAmyBq0qp-JdVQEJ4Vr3EmBNWEtBP5utL4TARyqYe0qryYjdZn0_SfbrE_bu2Y3zkv8IaIjp6Ikg-z92x3L314ogphV_c0zOBZ4dBJT1Bod3de-/s320/SAM_6616.JPG" /></a><br />Calvin was very excited for some reason. He was showing off his "flying" skills.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweSzAHdvveZ5Ym8n0jyk2HYYH5TjJiSByrLj72oRW_Lo_FnXn6vSiCTaSlGBY6NqF5QcU_I0ZaGhnta6xjKmy8RpUSxX2zYFf5gPXgm-vdK4PO2TP2wymWZkmXbtyq0B73k2zL5gvmTeL/s1600/SAM_6612.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662570463328243346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweSzAHdvveZ5Ym8n0jyk2HYYH5TjJiSByrLj72oRW_Lo_FnXn6vSiCTaSlGBY6NqF5QcU_I0ZaGhnta6xjKmy8RpUSxX2zYFf5gPXgm-vdK4PO2TP2wymWZkmXbtyq0B73k2zL5gvmTeL/s320/SAM_6612.JPG" /></a><br />After he finished eating we let Calvin run around a little bit. He was surprisingly social. He even got up the nerve to hold hands with a random girl at the next table over (who incidentally ended up being not that random since Phil's mom apparently knew her mom somehow...). Oh, Calvin. Going for the older women already...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9DvKNbQDCiSR523scbykrHCrhu_3KdzwokPruc89SbQlEzcfZZDMBOL7fJq_ob8H4yjzsy7kPnDcmtBr6RM18W06a88oYB0BUCeWW0dDCz2xQz2ZqJ6wpI3GLG3zTSbtsnIJuPp6Jm8C/s1600/SAM_6620.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662570452176494818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9DvKNbQDCiSR523scbykrHCrhu_3KdzwokPruc89SbQlEzcfZZDMBOL7fJq_ob8H4yjzsy7kPnDcmtBr6RM18W06a88oYB0BUCeWW0dDCz2xQz2ZqJ6wpI3GLG3zTSbtsnIJuPp6Jm8C/s320/SAM_6620.JPG" /></a>After lunch a few of us walked back to Lucia's apartment. Calvin was very out of it - clearly having inherited Phil's post-lunch napping tendencies.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKZvhJQ47ed09FSwxaATjXf1iq7Vnj9wXNNitYDjOJ4Sa8nqymHf-lA1kjbQLPuPpyeN2z1N2oSkVZw3IA0naNeMECEtlZSZj75bycjZqiU9fr_uJS4O6j0cqIR6IZExhdN0PwKspCEMb/s1600/SAM_6626.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662570447712826674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKZvhJQ47ed09FSwxaATjXf1iq7Vnj9wXNNitYDjOJ4Sa8nqymHf-lA1kjbQLPuPpyeN2z1N2oSkVZw3IA0naNeMECEtlZSZj75bycjZqiU9fr_uJS4O6j0cqIR6IZExhdN0PwKspCEMb/s320/SAM_6626.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-57314501869491141312011-09-24T22:13:00.000-04:002011-10-21T22:20:03.824-04:00Taiwan - Day 8 (shabu shabu)On our last day we convinced my Grandma to come out to lunch with us. She hasn't been out of her apartment since she fell a couple months back, but we busted out the wheel chair and walked her over to a shabu shabu place nearby - her favorite! Shabu Shabu is very popular in Taiwan - there are 4 places practically right next to each other. But my Grandma likes this one best because they have free ice cream ^__^<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyY2-52O93feh9VxRxcdSefFQfNHGUF-Fm8hfREMow9nzz0R_XtEiPneYvZxV1gEhhuKu2DoEb_CmyTbIr7rU9xPsvINEE_yJGmCkKcV0dXG-5VHNQg8q2vdasy-IBhq_FazQctrv5pYj5/s1600/SAM_6558.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662421401597875634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyY2-52O93feh9VxRxcdSefFQfNHGUF-Fm8hfREMow9nzz0R_XtEiPneYvZxV1gEhhuKu2DoEb_CmyTbIr7rU9xPsvINEE_yJGmCkKcV0dXG-5VHNQg8q2vdasy-IBhq_FazQctrv5pYj5/s320/SAM_6558.JPG" /></a><br />This is Maddy's first time going to shabu shabu.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9Yt2JElakesf8dSajeDPc8LhNTH0TaY4GBIiyCdJEgF9eXfqPYuhvvjXmfTQtiLv-S2_UGlY5LN23ZFpN5du8TajafqX9s8lsBH0eH-qSXegd344LD1eHRsXXCT1jQjg9ps2e5MTKKGr/s1600/SAM_6556.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662421392440043074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9Yt2JElakesf8dSajeDPc8LhNTH0TaY4GBIiyCdJEgF9eXfqPYuhvvjXmfTQtiLv-S2_UGlY5LN23ZFpN5du8TajafqX9s8lsBH0eH-qSXegd344LD1eHRsXXCT1jQjg9ps2e5MTKKGr/s320/SAM_6556.JPG" /></a><br />They start you out with a basic plate that's full of veggies, a slice of pumpkin, mushrooms, fake crab meat, potato, corn on the cob, tofu, fish ball, and some other stuff. I was pretty much full on that alone. But they also make you pick a meat or seafood as a main dish.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw6tfABcZi6Ogi7C6DtJn2Dtw_1MxxX5QmMeoT-HYOZKs5gfAoqHBqf4c6ZpRJynxHcWe2eMLDiOjvt299tNl4Khk2dy2V8E6dy0KX9sc7N-06lDFcsWuRNpJ7ELxUr1Qji_VQZXQpk-a/s1600/SAM_6551.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662421385840474690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw6tfABcZi6Ogi7C6DtJn2Dtw_1MxxX5QmMeoT-HYOZKs5gfAoqHBqf4c6ZpRJynxHcWe2eMLDiOjvt299tNl4Khk2dy2V8E6dy0KX9sc7N-06lDFcsWuRNpJ7ELxUr1Qji_VQZXQpk-a/s320/SAM_6551.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWatxq7oKbEnyH6RtNXocqhnKgKuQEYjxVX-5jGPpWdYSDH7h5OswUtu57g6tiY0AP9hBcPTH-WfyxKRCnT4wCmXMxyoN6tuIRaitlY98wLoYDCoq06VkHWdMl_UNUQMatDwBC5xvwoP5/s1600/SAM_6554.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662421379219762482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWatxq7oKbEnyH6RtNXocqhnKgKuQEYjxVX-5jGPpWdYSDH7h5OswUtu57g6tiY0AP9hBcPTH-WfyxKRCnT4wCmXMxyoN6tuIRaitlY98wLoYDCoq06VkHWdMl_UNUQMatDwBC5xvwoP5/s320/SAM_6554.JPG" /></a><br />Maddy got to ride in my Grandma's lap on the way home. She loved it.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8c2ys81Ps3cGRQZtM0n82F0v97fG7srP9Qy7ZPj0LnCX37RgglsGJtn1x1o1uzdb3_6GP68EcYPxYIzcAh5nbrK9kXK-7I2-gM_BBQ3vOxaSuBnjGEollq2tQdH6_dHohQgAW3dwKmdp/s1600/SAM_6569.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662420409551598354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8c2ys81Ps3cGRQZtM0n82F0v97fG7srP9Qy7ZPj0LnCX37RgglsGJtn1x1o1uzdb3_6GP68EcYPxYIzcAh5nbrK9kXK-7I2-gM_BBQ3vOxaSuBnjGEollq2tQdH6_dHohQgAW3dwKmdp/s320/SAM_6569.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4r5DUcf1jGD_HcBPN_D9X_NcElFqJwMnU9agZmDDXEXmbvAEZuDN-M2BUpIAQemCHmqD1xqHzwV4RojiLHr0bT8jO6xjfzQekoVicVdugpk45hKE_mchKZfGSn1PCbXCQ9E1OVKGFjmjC/s1600/SAM_6572.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662420400218800994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4r5DUcf1jGD_HcBPN_D9X_NcElFqJwMnU9agZmDDXEXmbvAEZuDN-M2BUpIAQemCHmqD1xqHzwV4RojiLHr0bT8jO6xjfzQekoVicVdugpk45hKE_mchKZfGSn1PCbXCQ9E1OVKGFjmjC/s320/SAM_6572.JPG" /></a> <br /><div>Andy and his fiancée (who works with him as an assistant) were supposed to join us for lunch, but they got busy at the clinic, so we stopped by on the way home to say goodbye before our flight.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662421427984100370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNMpP1xhDUobNRQKEbFhTv7MzE5v734f-2_VoDgqYrgnZxes0bIVnbzpkULLArVHZCm3PY9tgbk-ZBIcoDQPUR9PVeG0OYk0IQPuei_n_Rbi3R1Cvaz-CB5KX9duBVF6rg-yqsS6o0Nnk/s320/SAM_6565.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>It was time to leave. It was hard to say goodbye to my Grandma as always, but my mom was staying back for another week, so that helped. My uncle has some connections at the airport and was able to get us into the EVA airways VIP lounge. This was my first time in a VIP lounge, and I have to say it was pretty nice. They had an entire buffet line of hot food - dim sum dishes, rice dishes, fresh fruit - you name it they probably had it. Plus free drinks - soda, coffee, wine and hard liquor (hey whatever floats your boat). Too bad we just had such a huge lunch. The only thing I could manage to eat was some guava.</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662420391668427474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIRlxz6OtJdHE-WvmxmJ2CCZxX9FgaM5Yz_hNvkjUQ_dTffgQ7kcwjZ7YLcporBzRsoa41BQZ08n2RXZ_Zi4PN5jnq-lU2hiY2tpIw6zt9iyIjPiyPxQdUrOl-1L5E73QGPuhXTRowJsu/s320/SAM_6580.JPG" /><br />It was pretty spacious inside with all the comfy sitting and Maddy had plenty of room to run around and explore. Before it was time to leave we stopped by their changing station to give Maddy a quick change. Even the changing station was nice.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Dmmw8WkrHle84u6tIKmdV_vrR6RkiCn3XYJUzztc3fT8DFtCnRkSi1EKqQKURTsu59OVvbx8Zjzy6uG0cpEPy_ddx4SIUXJIYzl-QwbGODWDkOLn4Q7k6Hd8y9FIHqLG73fkWXD0Flpz/s1600/SAM_6582.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662420382719869538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Dmmw8WkrHle84u6tIKmdV_vrR6RkiCn3XYJUzztc3fT8DFtCnRkSi1EKqQKURTsu59OVvbx8Zjzy6uG0cpEPy_ddx4SIUXJIYzl-QwbGODWDkOLn4Q7k6Hd8y9FIHqLG73fkWXD0Flpz/s320/SAM_6582.JPG" /></a><br />As we were heading from the VIP lounge to our gate we passed the Hello Kitty gate and had to take a picture with Maddy.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb06iG7LdyaTtISwUu-AihjyE7C7xFu5xu_7FWVuT13lpQhr6lshzTTI3KgIgx2mrd6HgfTCZlr6qFUAXhgTIIQau4iFJgswJp-CSELSnVrFV4aQf6oxee9z4reEnN3Dcm1bz3_XkziNR7/s1600/SAM_6585.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662420377349796642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb06iG7LdyaTtISwUu-AihjyE7C7xFu5xu_7FWVuT13lpQhr6lshzTTI3KgIgx2mrd6HgfTCZlr6qFUAXhgTIIQau4iFJgswJp-CSELSnVrFV4aQf6oxee9z4reEnN3Dcm1bz3_XkziNR7/s320/SAM_6585.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-37080146360326424042011-09-22T22:12:00.003-04:002011-10-21T21:58:02.253-04:00Taiwan - Day 6 (Andy's Pet Hospital)On Friday we spent most of the day hanging out. We went by to our cousin Andy's vet clinic, Pin An. He just bought the place last year I think, and completely renovated it. It's definitely one of the nicer store fronts on the block.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJG6QGXKOeOiSsuHMdnSTxFrC8o4q5UWMWCzPT-kDYOIXaXMji3UQsLpw49I-Ze_jYT6iDQlJFcaxPx9hluaEyknBEeDHFgixMzEw85sJxMQHBVxT7fFPezJmW1hjhoEfOamX11xFx0C3/s1600/SAM_6525.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662419628405588242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJG6QGXKOeOiSsuHMdnSTxFrC8o4q5UWMWCzPT-kDYOIXaXMji3UQsLpw49I-Ze_jYT6iDQlJFcaxPx9hluaEyknBEeDHFgixMzEw85sJxMQHBVxT7fFPezJmW1hjhoEfOamX11xFx0C3/s320/SAM_6525.JPG" /></a><br />At the front there are various pet products for sale.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp3j_k4GR-7C16iyp7Gmhb0uUWfLf-v4FNLz2cXR4P-k2pICFccrlGNr6z79-zgGGomKs23CH_6ffl2tAxc_pMIInqIhNmseNocj2L-y_m19TOvDnVHx5FKikQG7ucAgCLYp6LeLS80ST/s1600/SAM_6528.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662419624559169170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp3j_k4GR-7C16iyp7Gmhb0uUWfLf-v4FNLz2cXR4P-k2pICFccrlGNr6z79-zgGGomKs23CH_6ffl2tAxc_pMIInqIhNmseNocj2L-y_m19TOvDnVHx5FKikQG7ucAgCLYp6LeLS80ST/s320/SAM_6528.JPG" /></a><br />In the back there's a small examination table and a lot of equipment. There's an upstairs too where they can house pets overnight.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIY-RabEkJxh5YymQW8hHbmGAEis1CZ9UhcHPPP2kKx6orLwvHwDdQxZbYnwS1W4Blex3zX8BAkf891a0tGjvaEbRbuny3sfZl0y0Y4go3p6Hyp9oz8gtklF6imkIjel5M5soZe_o0Ac2/s1600/SAM_6534.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662418887721475570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIY-RabEkJxh5YymQW8hHbmGAEis1CZ9UhcHPPP2kKx6orLwvHwDdQxZbYnwS1W4Blex3zX8BAkf891a0tGjvaEbRbuny3sfZl0y0Y4go3p6Hyp9oz8gtklF6imkIjel5M5soZe_o0Ac2/s320/SAM_6534.JPG" /></a><br />Let's see how much the Maddy weighs...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDzFNelBF83HRZcsdyeY6VCC9_sQndAQ8yD3AoIi_XgssTy0leFZzdZfd6ZB0DI68SIu-R7MTwo22XzrQhViHGylDFX0EAo2_HS9wLTib5t0L028jIemOSzcdkSwF7sbhnKcwthneLzYh/s1600/SAM_6531.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662418876371763634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDzFNelBF83HRZcsdyeY6VCC9_sQndAQ8yD3AoIi_XgssTy0leFZzdZfd6ZB0DI68SIu-R7MTwo22XzrQhViHGylDFX0EAo2_HS9wLTib5t0L028jIemOSzcdkSwF7sbhnKcwthneLzYh/s320/SAM_6531.JPG" /></a><br />The clinic keeps Andy pretty busy. He even has a bed upstairs for the late nights. Not in the same room as the animals though - I already asked ^__^</div><br /><div>Hopefully in a couple of years after he's paid off his loans he can afford to hire a second vet to help him out so he can take some vacation.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RrJHw4e0LU1RSC6-DovzfhXfe1b7-dJ7qXaeJT5X1cclarrvoHoGKjCDPXHnDUDn89nzFJlWHh4YSeygXnqdXxuE55zPMhTw0Ai5UMFyU2kZWYBs0Kbczq3mZTToHiZBPz_qDikLzZqA/s1600/SAM_6536.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662418871134741698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RrJHw4e0LU1RSC6-DovzfhXfe1b7-dJ7qXaeJT5X1cclarrvoHoGKjCDPXHnDUDn89nzFJlWHh4YSeygXnqdXxuE55zPMhTw0Ai5UMFyU2kZWYBs0Kbczq3mZTToHiZBPz_qDikLzZqA/s320/SAM_6536.JPG" /></a><br />Maddy and her great-grandma. Maddy's thinking: "red envelopes are tasty"<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uZc1lWRAmibwPJfXHStAK_gdK3pZ98jmn-j99mM9mlSgBboNqWKHVkGqgK8lr2GYqTSnOCc59uXQGh42PA2do7JobA2oJES1TbRcNXJrUX_EXRERspshSWjcL1cpvZiMZzEwkUawxLpT/s1600/SAM_6546.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662418844684981538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uZc1lWRAmibwPJfXHStAK_gdK3pZ98jmn-j99mM9mlSgBboNqWKHVkGqgK8lr2GYqTSnOCc59uXQGh42PA2do7JobA2oJES1TbRcNXJrUX_EXRERspshSWjcL1cpvZiMZzEwkUawxLpT/s320/SAM_6546.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Calvin couldn't make it out this time since I was travelling for work beforehand, but my Grandma keeps a picture of him with her. She says it makes her smile everytime she sees it. Hopefully we can bring him out in April for Andy's wedding.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvuxI6gPs2WzgX9v3AgPFrs1K1VnZVZ5TQP4x9Ut6u13Mofx5E3yN2Ss3kvHT5GWEvKPYiUMdHltNswjSZvij6I-ZJ-p_tx3MUjM0w9BtUFth5g89rWNl5yrY3u6BYly5DWGejpAVgJlf/s1600/SAM_6548.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662418839574203666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvuxI6gPs2WzgX9v3AgPFrs1K1VnZVZ5TQP4x9Ut6u13Mofx5E3yN2Ss3kvHT5GWEvKPYiUMdHltNswjSZvij6I-ZJ-p_tx3MUjM0w9BtUFth5g89rWNl5yrY3u6BYly5DWGejpAVgJlf/s320/SAM_6548.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-32262534867987618182011-09-21T22:11:00.003-04:002011-10-20T22:19:08.588-04:00Taiwan - Day 5 (Hospital)On Thursday it was my cousin Andy's day off, so we were going to go out to lunch with him, his fiancée, and my cousin Vera and her kids. That was the plan, but then Maddy fell off one of the beds and hit the tile floor pretty hard. She had a huge bump on her head. Aside from the bump (and the 5 minutes of crying) she seemed ok, but we wanted to take her to the doctor just to be safe. But the regular doctor said we had to take her to the emergency room. So we took Maddy to the emergency room where she proceeded to warm the hearts of all the doctors and nurses. Luckily, after a couple hours of observation, they said she was fine.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXZ6X91Bp3wPNJgSol0kUMpZTPm0QWCLBC4SY_vBNMOkvVpDvrvX-P5k1veWu_1yjHcyMTQBKiK6wYIvjNYd5-5ZRYFBlmmL93oj3iXSfX5aT2Nz9-qfE4dymCzMjQdPAMgLlYgJyhi91/s1600/SAM_6511.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662417497421863138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXZ6X91Bp3wPNJgSol0kUMpZTPm0QWCLBC4SY_vBNMOkvVpDvrvX-P5k1veWu_1yjHcyMTQBKiK6wYIvjNYd5-5ZRYFBlmmL93oj3iXSfX5aT2Nz9-qfE4dymCzMjQdPAMgLlYgJyhi91/s320/SAM_6511.JPG" /></a> After the hospital we were still able to catch a quick lunch with Andy and his fiancée. We went to a Thai restuarant that was inside a large mall. Maddy got her own place setting. She's not old enough to use it, but it was a nice thought. She seemed to be doing better already.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-nlD0uZgRMh1Scd13UfyjbvdCnd2X_xYEljqblj4YZBKK-WRDmKOxjct0pYTsMwWBXQX2MzsYM25drKlyp5FiUDY5hbWoV8xN-oOO7fhE15DNmz3SK7yPvtL3FpWmyOf0L7IUNpc17gB/s1600/SAM_6512.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662417479932221026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-nlD0uZgRMh1Scd13UfyjbvdCnd2X_xYEljqblj4YZBKK-WRDmKOxjct0pYTsMwWBXQX2MzsYM25drKlyp5FiUDY5hbWoV8xN-oOO7fhE15DNmz3SK7yPvtL3FpWmyOf0L7IUNpc17gB/s320/SAM_6512.JPG" /></a><br />Andy's fiancée, poses with Maddy and Mandy in front of one of the clothing brand mascots in the mall.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7psJie8Ea9AyHJkZG9CjnII2GlnK4u0HKvMeWXLX1YTCghiVu_BML4KljwC-cjZPTAGWHMY5mjnYQgAOyLj913T7Jg5PRlY4GyQqSLS-tw3Ph3nspKZlmROg4CzP4_mumaw1vQMV-TB8Z/s1600/SAM_6513.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662417469754438402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7psJie8Ea9AyHJkZG9CjnII2GlnK4u0HKvMeWXLX1YTCghiVu_BML4KljwC-cjZPTAGWHMY5mjnYQgAOyLj913T7Jg5PRlY4GyQqSLS-tw3Ph3nspKZlmROg4CzP4_mumaw1vQMV-TB8Z/s320/SAM_6513.JPG" /></a><br />Not exactly how we had anticipated spending the day, but luckily Maddy seemed to be OK. </div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-71712923753703208092011-09-19T22:10:00.006-04:002011-10-20T21:53:17.347-04:00Taiwan - Day 3 (Relatives)On our 3rd day we went to visit some relatives. First it was out of the city a little ways to visit my youngest aunt. We always make sure to visit her every time we're in Taiwan. I know she must have been excited to meet Maddy.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZ23Rsj6HIHVk9oad2I0AjMmGD1H02V8aHaa1DAk9CE2OGgxtA_FnCsl9fEQpKKFtNYNZofLymiaMPjQg-6Q7Kk051ZBXLIK_aeq1dFjkGzKizSnJJynJ-6fA1Mn_pDNLnarN7r3LPxS9/s1600/SAM_6446.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662412870801045682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZ23Rsj6HIHVk9oad2I0AjMmGD1H02V8aHaa1DAk9CE2OGgxtA_FnCsl9fEQpKKFtNYNZofLymiaMPjQg-6Q7Kk051ZBXLIK_aeq1dFjkGzKizSnJJynJ-6fA1Mn_pDNLnarN7r3LPxS9/s320/SAM_6446.JPG" /></a><br />We took my aunt out to lunch at the hot spring club that my Grandpa used to belong to as a perk from the bank where he used to work. Maddy liked watching the fish in the fountain outside.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSjUaF88vnLCJmcBbAHvJueUKuhT-pcE7d-oqZasIqSHCvf6eSE78bUiRth5EghE4TCD6ohQ9dkBh5Gd5pj5CQFkw3L9693m7tsmHnWnE1bmG3vs_MU5x8FUeVna4MjXsEVMbnPgWo196/s1600/SAM_6453.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662412862215972578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSjUaF88vnLCJmcBbAHvJueUKuhT-pcE7d-oqZasIqSHCvf6eSE78bUiRth5EghE4TCD6ohQ9dkBh5Gd5pj5CQFkw3L9693m7tsmHnWnE1bmG3vs_MU5x8FUeVna4MjXsEVMbnPgWo196/s320/SAM_6453.JPG" /></a><br />The restaurant is very small and there's only one person in the kitchen. The food is decent, but nothing super amazing. This is their fish ball and melon soup.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkT73v_z9GgY3PZR3r6TOzlovpWx01m5YlMzMg8w3DpK0ZxGCK-K4OVf8wYyipIi32HkdHwgk6eXDK9bj_GYis1E8cNk0G1uy2QUCb8Y54r9jaR7gGxlJDIns_BIvW55wV4pkCzymejio/s1600/SAM_6458.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662412855531355970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkT73v_z9GgY3PZR3r6TOzlovpWx01m5YlMzMg8w3DpK0ZxGCK-K4OVf8wYyipIi32HkdHwgk6eXDK9bj_GYis1E8cNk0G1uy2QUCb8Y54r9jaR7gGxlJDIns_BIvW55wV4pkCzymejio/s320/SAM_6458.JPG" /></a><br />I ordered a beef curry. It was better than I was expecting. It was a little weird because it seemed like every dish came with a fried egg. Nothing against eggs, just not the first thing I think of when I think curry.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnZ65pz_NjiKQtA-okjFRLbc_5xn3E1quoenFPD7H-xDfvnH2IDteSnsfE80Li9axKLh4LKU5zxEoor0E6dWJezyaKYFBxK2bDcFyx87HqF1gWIa-ufr5xn1qgmPuX7oXJXzRCCXpeTZ5/s1600/SAM_6459.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662412835797414082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnZ65pz_NjiKQtA-okjFRLbc_5xn3E1quoenFPD7H-xDfvnH2IDteSnsfE80Li9axKLh4LKU5zxEoor0E6dWJezyaKYFBxK2bDcFyx87HqF1gWIa-ufr5xn1qgmPuX7oXJXzRCCXpeTZ5/s320/SAM_6459.JPG" /></a><br />After lunch my uncle ordered this puff casserole dish. It was kind of a cross between a cheesy casserole and a soup...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq21FSuuUkSFSckyK2VhPiw4aozmCmUnV5oP-Qm6VcjIGCQ96Lx1XvCi1KwC44_yboOg0yl-I3i8TBo8DpeOezbdIdDGA58kiFc-BGWMSASC3G1CAIBXXBNNu95PAmaNvE-RvlhIwHtrAM/s1600/SAM_6464.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662412830400628482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq21FSuuUkSFSckyK2VhPiw4aozmCmUnV5oP-Qm6VcjIGCQ96Lx1XvCi1KwC44_yboOg0yl-I3i8TBo8DpeOezbdIdDGA58kiFc-BGWMSASC3G1CAIBXXBNNu95PAmaNvE-RvlhIwHtrAM/s320/SAM_6464.JPG" /></a><br />After we dropped off my aunt we headed back into Taipei to meet up with my cousin, Vera at her new place. She has 2 kids of her own so Maddy was able to find lots of fun toys to play with.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideLWv-YPOf3vZnTRFqRwhvS15Vv4SSDWIm82iN3zLcgblQ_4MBL1qbsFCBo5YGh3uxqryHXMviSBHeMpeoI-pg3oFPURxu0yAJXgYKgsCJNVbC8GXZM35JIF7V0ycybRY_prD8k-Yeo58/s1600/SAM_6468.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662416353550265586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideLWv-YPOf3vZnTRFqRwhvS15Vv4SSDWIm82iN3zLcgblQ_4MBL1qbsFCBo5YGh3uxqryHXMviSBHeMpeoI-pg3oFPURxu0yAJXgYKgsCJNVbC8GXZM35JIF7V0ycybRY_prD8k-Yeo58/s320/SAM_6468.JPG" /></a><br />Her daughter, Kuan, was a little shy so she had to hide out in her brother's room with her grandma and grandpa. Every time she saw us she would burst into tears.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxg8LNVPfvTl-SCQrwHSiKOQ0UBw3-UKnG4zP_Md7-eJVcJpR1thUPmapLpHaxpj4eyFmvF8WdMVe4cOFyWloVd4FJlAMTBvCvm01fCPopaigP1c1CRKSaCaIOxsrLBM_E67p095fxSYgp/s1600/SAM_6469.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662416338277221186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxg8LNVPfvTl-SCQrwHSiKOQ0UBw3-UKnG4zP_Md7-eJVcJpR1thUPmapLpHaxpj4eyFmvF8WdMVe4cOFyWloVd4FJlAMTBvCvm01fCPopaigP1c1CRKSaCaIOxsrLBM_E67p095fxSYgp/s320/SAM_6469.JPG" /></a><br />Right before we were ready to leave Kuan finally started to warm up to us - in other words was able to be in the same room with us without crying. I think it had to do with the TV being on. Apparently they're only allowed to watch a limited amount of TV. Even Maddy joined them for some cartoons.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeguRJxEHz5Y8Nltj0S2VSwt4pSOBtTFt8HyqvlKc6BlPhfd7tZW6niASArA8ZEcJlzzZFs2FPJcwzCs2Ws_BOvgGdRnDzf6-wpMta33lXaFtszKg1InXaXIlbv_fFO366Mi6fBqRGWyA/s1600/SAM_6478.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662416330799442642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeguRJxEHz5Y8Nltj0S2VSwt4pSOBtTFt8HyqvlKc6BlPhfd7tZW6niASArA8ZEcJlzzZFs2FPJcwzCs2Ws_BOvgGdRnDzf6-wpMta33lXaFtszKg1InXaXIlbv_fFO366Mi6fBqRGWyA/s320/SAM_6478.JPG" /></a><br />For dinner we decided to stay in so we could spend more quality time with my grandma. Even at home though there's plenty of food to eat!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidavL7Zz2BtqevexVT4gdEUxoydO61SPIxzy7tZvBWGGkLrZbzcfBTbbXRoVbpzTcs373OSBzarepPtnER-vbq8PJHAALF6P4lgu8RDaHBKS9xm5gPDflXvCTFIJqkIuu5at6G3VGwN73G/s1600/SAM_6490.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662416318444656194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidavL7Zz2BtqevexVT4gdEUxoydO61SPIxzy7tZvBWGGkLrZbzcfBTbbXRoVbpzTcs373OSBzarepPtnER-vbq8PJHAALF6P4lgu8RDaHBKS9xm5gPDflXvCTFIJqkIuu5at6G3VGwN73G/s320/SAM_6490.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-76809268684890853252011-09-18T22:08:00.006-04:002011-10-12T20:54:16.974-04:00Taiwan - Day 2 (Maokong)On our 2nd day in Taiwan we went to Mao Kong to ride a skyride to a temple. We went with my Uncle Robert and his wife, Mera.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyLI5pIlNAvJKUaLcwVDrPJR15k-qmf7DiuK8-JDz_IhQA35mT1NC19yPlM8O4ewdWsv6byaSYRa6lYOUAFuZYcyrf8u2YDvYHqVmSR_g1FVr0dcVLlfVmIAC1Wd6gGZxifUdxUhOMoRP/s1600/SAM_6399.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662415186355452434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyLI5pIlNAvJKUaLcwVDrPJR15k-qmf7DiuK8-JDz_IhQA35mT1NC19yPlM8O4ewdWsv6byaSYRa6lYOUAFuZYcyrf8u2YDvYHqVmSR_g1FVr0dcVLlfVmIAC1Wd6gGZxifUdxUhOMoRP/s320/SAM_6399.JPG" /></a><br />It was a pretty ride through the mountains. There were a few cars that had glass floors so you could see the forest beneath your feet, but the line to wait for it was way too long. The view was still nice though.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydSbojevBYLteKWCNxwrflM-fMNsi6hgAuNXU9_3MeS8ha0QBd6c8sX8KqUmy0a2L5OzoLS8zEXrTb_9SQtYy84Z5pLD5Ew0GuoCvHJoWmVIYY0PSWD0BPBAwqhJqSiWBLKLh3t0qQfer/s1600/SAM_6400.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662415181892975074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydSbojevBYLteKWCNxwrflM-fMNsi6hgAuNXU9_3MeS8ha0QBd6c8sX8KqUmy0a2L5OzoLS8zEXrTb_9SQtYy84Z5pLD5Ew0GuoCvHJoWmVIYY0PSWD0BPBAwqhJqSiWBLKLh3t0qQfer/s320/SAM_6400.JPG" /></a><br />My Uncle and Aunt still in love after all these years. So sweet!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpWjnzhBmnP_5pLXYbHIcVYVnCKuV39c60wbxvySXWekvfFJgmBfQmmYWwBemOoeq_cv0tFb_wskqOtyH-mYxSUwNid4evI44xfTVIzto5eT-p9xUHl-GtTVzjow1bOzkLI5KfXxMdKY7/s1600/SAM_6401.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662415161027101970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpWjnzhBmnP_5pLXYbHIcVYVnCKuV39c60wbxvySXWekvfFJgmBfQmmYWwBemOoeq_cv0tFb_wskqOtyH-mYxSUwNid4evI44xfTVIzto5eT-p9xUHl-GtTVzjow1bOzkLI5KfXxMdKY7/s320/SAM_6401.JPG" /></a><br />Maddy on her first skyride. She seemed to enjoy herself.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-CTVRiXg5C7oOqoUwyGYv2MZv35noSMxROaBccY2lgsA1Kuef9naBGUzzpQxhTjZ8y6jpwblMPGY9gSos2fyh1DE7bmCvHhRwyXL-0wyUocl-9h7GafBforIvJYre4nXNimhk-PdXcVX/s1600/SAM_6406.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662415151567258466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-CTVRiXg5C7oOqoUwyGYv2MZv35noSMxROaBccY2lgsA1Kuef9naBGUzzpQxhTjZ8y6jpwblMPGY9gSos2fyh1DE7bmCvHhRwyXL-0wyUocl-9h7GafBforIvJYre4nXNimhk-PdXcVX/s320/SAM_6406.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>As we got closer to the other side you could see the temple on the side of the mountain.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatczUOjUntZI_fG7lR6uHJ20PhyuD9fPNbEQzOV9rAVOUmfcWV2fuoLnZEPie0PxSJP1dRQYZsrUN8GtBtXk2qEgnt8hvsbRHlIfKMTvmFhUlGWhN69el9gRPmBlB1FZqUlQxkoZgJyNa/s1600/SAM_6408.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662415148697613170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatczUOjUntZI_fG7lR6uHJ20PhyuD9fPNbEQzOV9rAVOUmfcWV2fuoLnZEPie0PxSJP1dRQYZsrUN8GtBtXk2qEgnt8hvsbRHlIfKMTvmFhUlGWhN69el9gRPmBlB1FZqUlQxkoZgJyNa/s320/SAM_6408.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_pmlacYwVFrnhZ7f8w3Jj0mi8xceETucQipXQ7dVO-ltMQCYFv96qIUJaRNB-3OmzxCQXfraJ-aFuhsQekItBODRVzUM5MBO5umeAkq2C7VrJhKo4zjeFOMtVSwnL8RpeRlmEz-TVdXz/s1600/SAM_6412.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662414657378321906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_pmlacYwVFrnhZ7f8w3Jj0mi8xceETucQipXQ7dVO-ltMQCYFv96qIUJaRNB-3OmzxCQXfraJ-aFuhsQekItBODRVzUM5MBO5umeAkq2C7VrJhKo4zjeFOMtVSwnL8RpeRlmEz-TVdXz/s320/SAM_6412.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWX-2yWRNGVYeGr9G9h4TUxiXDkCjdIPZbrQQNdYkWO4HShuENWhToimP9oMoE-4YG3CJ1gzC5ZTr7tMO_SVxU3oJg4d6ui1b7Zo1BVuaW-LUrtCAwDmoyQhfOV2I27pE82Exe3MKzOwz/s1600/SAM_6411.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662414647845696002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWX-2yWRNGVYeGr9G9h4TUxiXDkCjdIPZbrQQNdYkWO4HShuENWhToimP9oMoE-4YG3CJ1gzC5ZTr7tMO_SVxU3oJg4d6ui1b7Zo1BVuaW-LUrtCAwDmoyQhfOV2I27pE82Exe3MKzOwz/s320/SAM_6411.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662414618734487666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-BobJ-o4qa9OrHpyCw6wAEwojZLXj-P3LQqrUk5UXgs0tVS4aDBrHhyphenhyphenOQ785W0Tkv42hM4jybxqYScKvy1SbujZWjVMroEMbExiNlRBN-M3CLrX2LCE9D-g53Yw9e6dL3VikYQ_wvY1u/s320/SAM_6417.JPG" /></div><br /><div>While standing at the temple facing out you could see straight out into the mountains. The view was amazing.</div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662414634278572402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcOeU1S3W6XIs2J23bIYqXoYKW04MHnCCW6HicZCOysR9Ug8owN1KyO-anYI2Jql2whiSn0dVZz3WSt2l37Kh_Ved6pYsw5YiO7jh20N-9Yp2C5iz0L4Ftc19yXqB9VbhGe1p7tjeZNca/s320/SAM_6413.JPG" /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>There was a staircase leading down from the temple that lead to a garden opposite the temple, alongside the mountain. We found some good photo opportunities for Maddy.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIbYFxV9I18EgBMB5QOTXuxTlfxkwCFDKFc_-9jC0IzjQw-ieNRW_OzcZfNntn_xeHaQseK-DKZs6H9TsdZKKCaaKcEoOh7UCpkQf7cV3P0mKsByT7OJDE6RFqnvj1Mhd_ad3jRVoc4uo/s1600/SAM_6429.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662414613451530354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIbYFxV9I18EgBMB5QOTXuxTlfxkwCFDKFc_-9jC0IzjQw-ieNRW_OzcZfNntn_xeHaQseK-DKZs6H9TsdZKKCaaKcEoOh7UCpkQf7cV3P0mKsByT7OJDE6RFqnvj1Mhd_ad3jRVoc4uo/s320/SAM_6429.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5SuCQpfNaW4iXJN5RXy6lTscY-NrHt0MocHiDS7nRK1nz2MdNd5optdELdevV8j89TMnvwDC7Y3lboEZxDhcdQNbBbtrbUruf35fvppFYZaLdn_JFt7_J4Frar1ojh1ha7sVrUxIVs_k/s1600/SAM_6431.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662413780648092130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5SuCQpfNaW4iXJN5RXy6lTscY-NrHt0MocHiDS7nRK1nz2MdNd5optdELdevV8j89TMnvwDC7Y3lboEZxDhcdQNbBbtrbUruf35fvppFYZaLdn_JFt7_J4Frar1ojh1ha7sVrUxIVs_k/s320/SAM_6431.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65NQyevxmgiAs6EAhDOlSaWVR9rkZCkflO9GYg9fBNIA4ndxPzBgxclt_puyTww9tn8on3iW5PwKO7LW60qGoR9CPPmHGZ6OkvCAdJtPpBEzGv0a41wVg-l-Nd-zhY-0WOltXb4sTsqKZ/s1600/SAM_6432.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662413765723823650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65NQyevxmgiAs6EAhDOlSaWVR9rkZCkflO9GYg9fBNIA4ndxPzBgxclt_puyTww9tn8on3iW5PwKO7LW60qGoR9CPPmHGZ6OkvCAdJtPpBEzGv0a41wVg-l-Nd-zhY-0WOltXb4sTsqKZ/s320/SAM_6432.JPG" /></a><br />In the distance you can see Taipei. That tall building in the distance is Taipei 101.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcZPjA5WuvYrCeSNr2GklVRCy-gZRDx49Zygz5oeeW7spnXAiZKeEhcNRLd0muVK6YeU2cGO9Nr27pKxYE9DJ_BzIiRFLC6uWoOsrXsB-sNOE9D20iVP2nMbBgLMFz-ONn7y2HPJwvPtl/s1600/SAM_6433.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662413756691591650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcZPjA5WuvYrCeSNr2GklVRCy-gZRDx49Zygz5oeeW7spnXAiZKeEhcNRLd0muVK6YeU2cGO9Nr27pKxYE9DJ_BzIiRFLC6uWoOsrXsB-sNOE9D20iVP2nMbBgLMFz-ONn7y2HPJwvPtl/s320/SAM_6433.JPG" /></a><br />Maddy was even more excited and hyper on the skyride back.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QkaUW6dtF9Jd-g7f6qE_pUu6TFiPq09RWnSM79MeD8lnERKcwDbDQUqctJb4c_dZ_HtpHXVJaghMeKATauQw-NMzNEqrKtNeq1vdnGzqEvwWJ0PVaCg4fQtZzmoAU80b5Mf8l_jDsZ5U/s1600/SAM_6439.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662413731813510418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QkaUW6dtF9Jd-g7f6qE_pUu6TFiPq09RWnSM79MeD8lnERKcwDbDQUqctJb4c_dZ_HtpHXVJaghMeKATauQw-NMzNEqrKtNeq1vdnGzqEvwWJ0PVaCg4fQtZzmoAU80b5Mf8l_jDsZ5U/s320/SAM_6439.JPG" /></a><br />We stopped by one of the many tea houses on the mountain for dinner. The food was good and it was fun until it started getting dark and the mosquitos started to come out...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUsbck7s7ecaHyRE_MYv3ROuN-9sDam8K3uwqCN6fXKgE11i9oTnuhnu4QkDmgNqwDanoh1r-YIOud6W56PSBEZyDtkk0QC8aiQ5Z6IRG_FqP4tku44XajR4Y-DYoMaXet4GWuBb9OM7R/s1600/SAM_6443.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662413724087659714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUsbck7s7ecaHyRE_MYv3ROuN-9sDam8K3uwqCN6fXKgE11i9oTnuhnu4QkDmgNqwDanoh1r-YIOud6W56PSBEZyDtkk0QC8aiQ5Z6IRG_FqP4tku44XajR4Y-DYoMaXet4GWuBb9OM7R/s320/SAM_6443.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-4193256222400558102011-09-17T22:07:00.008-04:002011-10-12T20:42:23.952-04:00Taiwan - Day 1After a week in Japan for work, I took the 3 hour flight to Taiwan to visit some relatives. I met up with my mom, my sister and my niece who were flying in from the US. My mom and my sister arrived with my niece on Saturday morning. They rested at my Grandma's house for the morning before we headed out to a city called Zhong Li to visit my mom's two older sisters. My oldest Aunt lives in a fancy apartment complex. It has a little garden out front where we took some pictures with Maddy - looking baby fresh and super cute even after the 18 hour flight.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdTxqxowwLxxQHth6z9RhXaIAkppk7jERlvajW198NxS8ucfYVjfrkVhFcjByUcdig8fPeSvdI_tWrBvG9-ajpM0KFlwm03T8iIDdeOc6Oj2XrT8lF8CwBg2HlRx0p-SwAQ9IjNmZEc0L/s1600/SAM_6324.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662411979180100354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdTxqxowwLxxQHth6z9RhXaIAkppk7jERlvajW198NxS8ucfYVjfrkVhFcjByUcdig8fPeSvdI_tWrBvG9-ajpM0KFlwm03T8iIDdeOc6Oj2XrT8lF8CwBg2HlRx0p-SwAQ9IjNmZEc0L/s320/SAM_6324.JPG" /></a><br />Maddy got to meet her great Aunt for the first time.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0EJqeiX2sz9oaasGHV18cg2OZ1xEH9EHYOefXNiR6vqHQo-LUA8S_28RYWutWk344IcndTDxwd4nivmXdsQNAtMKatCc-sOvl062OuMj0CqE3eV3rnLUaJkqGgYxSkNDguvN19Fxcwim/s1600/SAM_6327.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662411953164310978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0EJqeiX2sz9oaasGHV18cg2OZ1xEH9EHYOefXNiR6vqHQo-LUA8S_28RYWutWk344IcndTDxwd4nivmXdsQNAtMKatCc-sOvl062OuMj0CqE3eV3rnLUaJkqGgYxSkNDguvN19Fxcwim/s320/SAM_6327.JPG" /></a><br />We went inside to chat for a little bit. Maddy got to meet my Aunt's dog. We thought she might be afraid of it, but the dog was actually more afraid of her. I think it had to do with the fact that she kept trying to pull his hair.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tzviTiFaRV9_T8dzqa6h0_LZVQpAdMGVMuz_Hoxsm91EUBI6WBvM56WGfRMqdu8AkQxpCOt1wOzMT_XQnGcuPhgY2cgSZhoIAwclD9GGBKElkDCBrKUOD6FkjjditB4rzy_AAZ0U59Nb/s1600/SAM_6328.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662411942148371682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tzviTiFaRV9_T8dzqa6h0_LZVQpAdMGVMuz_Hoxsm91EUBI6WBvM56WGfRMqdu8AkQxpCOt1wOzMT_XQnGcuPhgY2cgSZhoIAwclD9GGBKElkDCBrKUOD6FkjjditB4rzy_AAZ0U59Nb/s320/SAM_6328.JPG" /></a><br />We also met up with my cousin Peter and his family. He has 2 boys, Mark and Neria. Maddy and Mark got along very well. I think Maddy was flirting with him a bit.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLjZlt9Uq5fio0Mx0ILMeTB8z8HEb-4m8L9dGfMIm5eW074SMsMBSI0RNpIWc2pgDmzE0VRmFrsSZ_RhDedO1Gjf5FeUwCPEbCXf4BWxpp7PaPDHcr1Q6k7CVpBM2vGZeSBl5P6C9bKRb/s1600/SAM_6338.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662409934172573314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLjZlt9Uq5fio0Mx0ILMeTB8z8HEb-4m8L9dGfMIm5eW074SMsMBSI0RNpIWc2pgDmzE0VRmFrsSZ_RhDedO1Gjf5FeUwCPEbCXf4BWxpp7PaPDHcr1Q6k7CVpBM2vGZeSBl5P6C9bKRb/s320/SAM_6338.JPG" /></a><br />For dinner we met up with a few more family members - my mom's other sister and her husband.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_j8TpPoe1jGqkg67AE41p0RNagngkXG5WS9pdQTyCaz4TLjSbEcKbF7a-RCaQ0bzA6oeyIbY2a3CyUhpGXpZ7PUlIRdpDVfSChri9ZBt3J_qYf5Np_OzswrLRbCZ6-YAn43PNh8TgpBt/s1600/SAM_6349.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662574693862268610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_j8TpPoe1jGqkg67AE41p0RNagngkXG5WS9pdQTyCaz4TLjSbEcKbF7a-RCaQ0bzA6oeyIbY2a3CyUhpGXpZ7PUlIRdpDVfSChri9ZBt3J_qYf5Np_OzswrLRbCZ6-YAn43PNh8TgpBt/s320/SAM_6349.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>This is my cousin peter and his dad.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv3U02K5W7VGd7B885hUCu_cNK76h2spHmgdMseJ6vA6iiXPhf5dTIdJprsbp_TQDDPl8IJ94zp2wzygSPVNbuQb2E0CSnBec_VVmEx9esEBl7A3C2EWM7XvkDLvoB69cuGlOQZUJn4dN/s1600/SAM_6347.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662409920332815490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv3U02K5W7VGd7B885hUCu_cNK76h2spHmgdMseJ6vA6iiXPhf5dTIdJprsbp_TQDDPl8IJ94zp2wzygSPVNbuQb2E0CSnBec_VVmEx9esEBl7A3C2EWM7XvkDLvoB69cuGlOQZUJn4dN/s320/SAM_6347.JPG" /></a><br />My mom and my cousin Rebecca (Peter's sister).<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQcavDwlelvOlqT2UibNdkcGhZv5yO7Rk8tUDG0yvxcT76L_w-3vmOsbnc_lehpoR8mC4YzHQUWt15CRShxbLnNdDeUL_LWkqvF-J46MiV1HTkngLyC8nGjZqi-33U-rG5dJ9eAeOXA63/s1600/SAM_6350.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662409917043162482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQcavDwlelvOlqT2UibNdkcGhZv5yO7Rk8tUDG0yvxcT76L_w-3vmOsbnc_lehpoR8mC4YzHQUWt15CRShxbLnNdDeUL_LWkqvF-J46MiV1HTkngLyC8nGjZqi-33U-rG5dJ9eAeOXA63/s320/SAM_6350.JPG" /></a><br />Apparently this was the same restaurant that my Aunts and Uncle took my Grandma for mother's day this year. I didn't realize it at the time, but I think my Aunt ordered a 10 course meal. There was a lot of food... This was a salad with corn and some kind of sweet mayonnaise sauce. I know it probably doesn't sound good, but it was.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsV8954Q99veO9wmlJPI9EnmWtmLiIkzj0VQZC0aS3Kx9QydQ-lE799gOrUmZcV32hRqPOUgxkR775dAl1ZJsOPGL727V33crB7Qn17v7TuHPSpziSRXKxCv_ZnPeD8zUqrZCJMKJfxd9d/s1600/SAM_6353.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662409899664816610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsV8954Q99veO9wmlJPI9EnmWtmLiIkzj0VQZC0aS3Kx9QydQ-lE799gOrUmZcV32hRqPOUgxkR775dAl1ZJsOPGL727V33crB7Qn17v7TuHPSpziSRXKxCv_ZnPeD8zUqrZCJMKJfxd9d/s320/SAM_6353.JPG" /></a><br />Braised beef in a sweet sauce.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloTRc9un6v-bCS-ZA8MH-FTJdCNPsZ0X9q3_YAB3LQcyahyuDKzGviL9yNpAfxOtEQnr3vxp1LM9soAmiKUYq3luIhvM9ayphPL7K-MzEHjSyj1efMI5bL7st7fFs7opQYm8nJgEupqDJ/s1600/SAM_6354.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662409893301845442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloTRc9un6v-bCS-ZA8MH-FTJdCNPsZ0X9q3_YAB3LQcyahyuDKzGviL9yNpAfxOtEQnr3vxp1LM9soAmiKUYq3luIhvM9ayphPL7K-MzEHjSyj1efMI5bL7st7fFs7opQYm8nJgEupqDJ/s320/SAM_6354.JPG" /></a><br />Spicy soft shell crab deep fried.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8Z3YK2K22LNaDcQ049DIhUctr-p_cfOAIGccqpPljdKg6tFJpWSrFbLyGQEqiVjHcQExDKhyphenhyphenrcSUCFLog1_fnacLBeyYQApdL_7jtVp7-dJkNJlA5aEABHROENcwwkXawbEm3d6iOm6A/s1600/SAM_6355.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662409299831959634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8Z3YK2K22LNaDcQ049DIhUctr-p_cfOAIGccqpPljdKg6tFJpWSrFbLyGQEqiVjHcQExDKhyphenhyphenrcSUCFLog1_fnacLBeyYQApdL_7jtVp7-dJkNJlA5aEABHROENcwwkXawbEm3d6iOm6A/s320/SAM_6355.JPG" /></a><br />Shrimp, which was also followed by a sweet and sour pork type dish, steamed fish, and a couple other dishes. Sorry, too much eating and not enough picture taking...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2whKz8UXnaIOoqoMAJJVD9BUdiijOPelHwlybz3eMYek9J5C5-Zq8k76R5hsIp5TcAMAJtljxoVEQ-6BeGREyBi9qtXNdpCXlbz1XAMkUvbN32qbEg_a8tDQHFOfUcoc401tJnRaUxhUM/s1600/SAM_6356.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662409291816353266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2whKz8UXnaIOoqoMAJJVD9BUdiijOPelHwlybz3eMYek9J5C5-Zq8k76R5hsIp5TcAMAJtljxoVEQ-6BeGREyBi9qtXNdpCXlbz1XAMkUvbN32qbEg_a8tDQHFOfUcoc401tJnRaUxhUM/s320/SAM_6356.JPG" /></a><br />And just when I thought the food was done they came out with a giant pot of a tomato based stew/soup.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_2sGSfTqoGUvMGqeVefnEPzk8ga_ko8n3b_gAEpS256xFT8fjOZzE1TfIUwiPN6wIBhzj2DFWyr6-j_9DH-a49LINldqXXV4Zp_BwnkbSSODjrEH3VLvdDk3Y3hMj81IXTOMbV85gofC/s1600/SAM_6360.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662409279584091714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_2sGSfTqoGUvMGqeVefnEPzk8ga_ko8n3b_gAEpS256xFT8fjOZzE1TfIUwiPN6wIBhzj2DFWyr6-j_9DH-a49LINldqXXV4Zp_BwnkbSSODjrEH3VLvdDk3Y3hMj81IXTOMbV85gofC/s320/SAM_6360.JPG" /></a><br />Peter's son, Neria, apparently loves food. He reminded me so much of Calvin and what he might be like in another year. It made me miss Calvin even more. </div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDbh15EmiFpkV8aChcuJuDRJHUIIofIXrcvZsneU4gRBWVWr6EQYy4-2bfPGfg4wZ3oTLshOLhTaXlL3x44HFGFf4m4t5WLxsu-j5tKEuiEbDrVwjFE8bJnQArE0P2_zHxlog-r-0GXEE/s1600/SAM_6357.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662409271183063410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDbh15EmiFpkV8aChcuJuDRJHUIIofIXrcvZsneU4gRBWVWr6EQYy4-2bfPGfg4wZ3oTLshOLhTaXlL3x44HFGFf4m4t5WLxsu-j5tKEuiEbDrVwjFE8bJnQArE0P2_zHxlog-r-0GXEE/s320/SAM_6357.JPG" /></a><br />My uncle being weird...I think I bring out the silly in him. ^__^<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV-rsnGRbzvrinh7G7GeN9c5nH6Epq2tkLwimVv4SnlJ6hLl9r-xKZKnhK-IbYnwdeIlOEp39O98hdbCAL3QrMxLGJdDdiXUFVL3PIHNlQOt5gVFVg53pQOQvaf_yG9tWYgO59saXiLzg/s1600/SAM_6361.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662409264985010354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV-rsnGRbzvrinh7G7GeN9c5nH6Epq2tkLwimVv4SnlJ6hLl9r-xKZKnhK-IbYnwdeIlOEp39O98hdbCAL3QrMxLGJdDdiXUFVL3PIHNlQOt5gVFVg53pQOQvaf_yG9tWYgO59saXiLzg/s320/SAM_6361.JPG" /></a><br />It also happened to be Peter's wife, Mimi's, birthday. We celebrated with a cake that my Aunt bought from a nearby bakery.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAHV-F31tykT5bF4ETBkrivfl3nStICk6ecqFdcVulJ3YdWGjMgi5EanIug7i4xz1Kzj_zaOA5sB_scFDNrT33r4qJhClJ_i2dg2EYG0t2t0IZ6QS4pQw_9M4W6vNcy1WyF74nIE0lKpw/s1600/SAM_6364.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662408801558948562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAHV-F31tykT5bF4ETBkrivfl3nStICk6ecqFdcVulJ3YdWGjMgi5EanIug7i4xz1Kzj_zaOA5sB_scFDNrT33r4qJhClJ_i2dg2EYG0t2t0IZ6QS4pQw_9M4W6vNcy1WyF74nIE0lKpw/s320/SAM_6364.JPG" /></a><br />The cake was so pretty. The gold flakes on the side of the cake were actually gold dusted white chocolate. Everybody's mouths were covered in gold after eating them.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMKL-vWm-Q1dM_msnrg6OaN4KQvw-b6vewjxqLjHrJVlfY_vjMKK8yecQsS1CKQjAlLFlJg_hG6SAExWhhJ_zEqz66Objnk_70BXPLzZ4y3CDzpPUE4f1m4IXy5_y0R8xqjvUCE-HxaVP/s1600/SAM_6363.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662408796351378818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMKL-vWm-Q1dM_msnrg6OaN4KQvw-b6vewjxqLjHrJVlfY_vjMKK8yecQsS1CKQjAlLFlJg_hG6SAExWhhJ_zEqz66Objnk_70BXPLzZ4y3CDzpPUE4f1m4IXy5_y0R8xqjvUCE-HxaVP/s320/SAM_6363.JPG" /></a><br />The whole family.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetj_33wp_rw0RC_E0zHYbEgb9fHqHO3JDI7CtY2yaPVUMOKJ8X4WjhkUz3MjuIEW1H4w64BLR2iLPgWcFC-e9uJPxqmV5rEl_D9ejOf8t6Sck561FSPICnH9Fb-k3MawNXxq_U8pXPs8u/s1600/SAM_6365.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662408763302002850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetj_33wp_rw0RC_E0zHYbEgb9fHqHO3JDI7CtY2yaPVUMOKJ8X4WjhkUz3MjuIEW1H4w64BLR2iLPgWcFC-e9uJPxqmV5rEl_D9ejOf8t6Sck561FSPICnH9Fb-k3MawNXxq_U8pXPs8u/s320/SAM_6365.JPG" /></a><br />Once we were done with dinner all of the kids started to get silly. Neria kept flashing us with his tummy.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW_TdEm5VPxk7zDF2xbQ9clRQR-51sply4SsGUJJFPpsCcxHUHcX9Am9zWPvD1fNrQCMPMp3f7wGS5BlgubYXhALy0IHEa-1EA3moViiBouiazoAoTn15sZghPyT5-aEeByCX2AvPDWvq/s1600/SAM_6375.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662408753470963650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW_TdEm5VPxk7zDF2xbQ9clRQR-51sply4SsGUJJFPpsCcxHUHcX9Am9zWPvD1fNrQCMPMp3f7wGS5BlgubYXhALy0IHEa-1EA3moViiBouiazoAoTn15sZghPyT5-aEeByCX2AvPDWvq/s320/SAM_6375.JPG" /></a><br />The brothers, Mark and Neria. They were so cute, and they seemed to get along so well. If only Calvin could have been there to meet them! Maybe next time...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5o07rfcWOGi1CZn0irYnrv2Yfe142zBkyPv7IBcNaxac4Y8ha6szqlu6azNzcgxtiLuFWoQc7HZWkYrihDLnh5n15_JIRoAVhJp9vvODp7rYxTmVeCZ6KuGf00L4wzNjPMLn2wpKXckS/s1600/SAM_6381.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662408745423518674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5o07rfcWOGi1CZn0irYnrv2Yfe142zBkyPv7IBcNaxac4Y8ha6szqlu6azNzcgxtiLuFWoQc7HZWkYrihDLnh5n15_JIRoAVhJp9vvODp7rYxTmVeCZ6KuGf00L4wzNjPMLn2wpKXckS/s320/SAM_6381.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-881246156656819902011-09-15T07:52:00.003-04:002011-10-11T21:13:29.318-04:00Japan - Day 6 (Ashima)On my last full night in Japan 2 of my coworkers, Kaori and Sharon, took me out to dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant called Ashima, which is also not too far from the office. This restaurant is a mushroom hot pot. Definitely the first mushroom hot pot I'd ever heard of.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUTNjru_MYi-7RkvRYWG5KAYaQaK8jcMHP7hZADQE4LRxmI_GqqtPLNv4IAKpCG32ULf8Rt6eCPWdiLXa6KODSEWMyCpI49DncHBtxf5jmtnq0qkOwmOK0YJWUe6tBpg4Ld9ftlSJAt1H/s1600/SAM_6281.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659975799814356082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUTNjru_MYi-7RkvRYWG5KAYaQaK8jcMHP7hZADQE4LRxmI_GqqtPLNv4IAKpCG32ULf8Rt6eCPWdiLXa6KODSEWMyCpI49DncHBtxf5jmtnq0qkOwmOK0YJWUe6tBpg4Ld9ftlSJAt1H/s320/SAM_6281.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I had to take another picture with my "twin". I actually think we kind of look alike in this picture...Even my own mom says she can kind of see the resemblence, so I guess it must be true.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BpDvfkHdq6Wj9XjD3ALXm5sQWablujOMQtHOevcdnXGI8CeDQgffsf9y6GWrLovmcu1b_HtgoUjQlFViD5wKE5uHkFnGLMRamVvqgvPmDJ3lgUgv8MoVvNs7CUOQDmmOh0Qr4KammIyU/s1600/SAM_6282.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659975794411243186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BpDvfkHdq6Wj9XjD3ALXm5sQWablujOMQtHOevcdnXGI8CeDQgffsf9y6GWrLovmcu1b_HtgoUjQlFViD5wKE5uHkFnGLMRamVvqgvPmDJ3lgUgv8MoVvNs7CUOQDmmOh0Qr4KammIyU/s320/SAM_6282.JPG" /></a><br />The restaurant was pretty empty. There was only one other table in there aside from us. I thought the food was really good though. We ordered a bunch of dishes to share. Even though their speciality was mushroom hot pot it was a little too warm for hot pot, so we ordered some of their other food. We had a Vietnamese-style omelet with shrimp and a spicy sweet sauce.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbHZuVh9N_yZukb7LZft93s9B_-MTV6xkrmjAgAorNOJ4-8P-hR9iGOKVim0bRoWxaNqx-AzCmOMe5EQNQ7G3kkXJXKVPPKKcp6r-951DcXMfFLnoT7DhKmfoBV1YNT2ZiWoBvQMKDKkm/s1600/SAM_6285.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659975793137194946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbHZuVh9N_yZukb7LZft93s9B_-MTV6xkrmjAgAorNOJ4-8P-hR9iGOKVim0bRoWxaNqx-AzCmOMe5EQNQ7G3kkXJXKVPPKKcp6r-951DcXMfFLnoT7DhKmfoBV1YNT2ZiWoBvQMKDKkm/s320/SAM_6285.JPG" /></a><br />Vietnamese egg rolls.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaxiCXPcdVR56D64ot1EAEv0RWO8AsGkd_bUm8Nyl5jsbKEwUJ2FekPrVeRvWF_PAqvoBfSxBVf7iUhO13LEhrttk0HPd49MgYlWy_SugQ1Ecs_jMU5OR8Eg8sYfaXyXcgq7dUOMwKy0p/s1600/SAM_6286.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659975214948067282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaxiCXPcdVR56D64ot1EAEv0RWO8AsGkd_bUm8Nyl5jsbKEwUJ2FekPrVeRvWF_PAqvoBfSxBVf7iUhO13LEhrttk0HPd49MgYlWy_SugQ1Ecs_jMU5OR8Eg8sYfaXyXcgq7dUOMwKy0p/s320/SAM_6286.JPG" /></a><br />Mushroom pho.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhDJavFaXkWXevuwX1_Ur_nA8w2Hzm3BnpuCmBrMd-wV0SI43qBtK-u4W3tANTW0zm7c0XpS9UrIMnN4xdmm1KGsrVezwVPxxqIVlCxxHoWL_xaApFAtrL2SmZ_DCOkv3bWjyPIJHrt0T/s1600/SAM_6287.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659975210241281858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhDJavFaXkWXevuwX1_Ur_nA8w2Hzm3BnpuCmBrMd-wV0SI43qBtK-u4W3tANTW0zm7c0XpS9UrIMnN4xdmm1KGsrVezwVPxxqIVlCxxHoWL_xaApFAtrL2SmZ_DCOkv3bWjyPIJHrt0T/s320/SAM_6287.JPG" /></a><br />Soft shell crab<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXUGqa9CKPHlxC6q_QKpITBF-hLygYE963Zs7QjE2zTwMxGSXp98WA3R383qG3kHIzZzctM_TQG3DMErfa7-p8yA-_DncmZ2nWyQrBTMQHoJbvvzgNXiNLyhVQF7nvfVLYBn_RzBUKaf9/s1600/SAM_6288.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659975206073112082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXUGqa9CKPHlxC6q_QKpITBF-hLygYE963Zs7QjE2zTwMxGSXp98WA3R383qG3kHIzZzctM_TQG3DMErfa7-p8yA-_DncmZ2nWyQrBTMQHoJbvvzgNXiNLyhVQF7nvfVLYBn_RzBUKaf9/s320/SAM_6288.JPG" /></a><br />A cold chicken and green papaya salad.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAazqdGHdPNAm32ESmpAqz_p-qTGjlzZOPcbpgNFCrrYGoKcLgY852QFxryR8Gzl16wI8-3QArCQhKUVRp3jMmpglOa2RA46rIzvl-UlJZEdYQCodDfUj2TV2FelFYzNiWuDi60cINYYi/s1600/SAM_6289.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659975202717074578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAazqdGHdPNAm32ESmpAqz_p-qTGjlzZOPcbpgNFCrrYGoKcLgY852QFxryR8Gzl16wI8-3QArCQhKUVRp3jMmpglOa2RA46rIzvl-UlJZEdYQCodDfUj2TV2FelFYzNiWuDi60cINYYi/s320/SAM_6289.JPG" /></a><br />As we were paying the bill at the cash register, Sharon and Kaori were looking at some art on the wall. They had 4 wood panel paintings depicting Vietnamese women in various scenes. They were just asking each other which one they liked best if you could pick only one. The guy at the cash register, who I assume at this point was probably the owner, told us to pick which one we liked and he'd give it to us. At first I thought my Japanese must have been really bad and had to ask him to repeat himself, but he was dead serious. He then proceeded to take 3 of the drawings off the wall for us to take home. Definitely a first and not a trip or a restaurant I'm likely to forget. Here's the drawing I ended up taking home with me.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTg_DzMDj_tCAiIuO2GRS56wgXXxkSmakXCUpdMTua5PjbTo5zvP_mrJXZMPjMUPpQ8s4-32DiBP0cVxbFVtcIZdj3wSs_8_GINNwdUaFRGa2R_IJpELiOq9AVgUz0G90Y_aE9kebVNNH2/s1600/SAM_6290.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659975198019093602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTg_DzMDj_tCAiIuO2GRS56wgXXxkSmakXCUpdMTua5PjbTo5zvP_mrJXZMPjMUPpQ8s4-32DiBP0cVxbFVtcIZdj3wSs_8_GINNwdUaFRGa2R_IJpELiOq9AVgUz0G90Y_aE9kebVNNH2/s320/SAM_6290.JPG" /></a><br />I should have taken a picture with the owner that gave us the painting. Maybe we'll just have to pay him another visit the next time I'm in Japan.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-67199541157018467682011-09-14T07:49:00.003-04:002011-10-07T22:50:56.329-04:00Japan - Day 5Wednesday after class I went out with the rest of the office for dinner at a restaurant nearby called Hibiya. It's a restaurant bar, and we ordered a bunch of small dishes. Like little ham wedges and avocado salad. It was a little pricey, but the food was pretty good.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvlOKhu_T6dEdgHNNs7kMC6YdMSmHRpFogLuTnnV1-Dl99_1TGJZqRwlvV9lN_rpgHMwAyrMA40Tl6HZt9QvmnQ9bI8wlW8Tc9SzA5rFhdD4nlT3MW7qh_N5p-e3wVY6D2oQSoLjuvnDl/s1600/SAM_6273.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659974573423637090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvlOKhu_T6dEdgHNNs7kMC6YdMSmHRpFogLuTnnV1-Dl99_1TGJZqRwlvV9lN_rpgHMwAyrMA40Tl6HZt9QvmnQ9bI8wlW8Tc9SzA5rFhdD4nlT3MW7qh_N5p-e3wVY6D2oQSoLjuvnDl/s320/SAM_6273.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZnJqRSfGe8BjAA3Z2GhLrczkm8WeFEgBFwjY1OjvcYFjOJEbmwt1pOxt_rCdwiFr06ojhQxri7PL3w00d0fMXYQAw55OD7l-bhOaDYs51L1T8YmHYU1d3iV207vjU2UZ8GuOzFFrRaqi/s1600/SAM_6278.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659974566065950114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZnJqRSfGe8BjAA3Z2GhLrczkm8WeFEgBFwjY1OjvcYFjOJEbmwt1pOxt_rCdwiFr06ojhQxri7PL3w00d0fMXYQAw55OD7l-bhOaDYs51L1T8YmHYU1d3iV207vjU2UZ8GuOzFFrRaqi/s320/SAM_6278.JPG" /></a><br />We ended up getting into a huge debate over how long you would drive to see a significant other if you could only spend 30 minutes with them. I think it came up after someone mentioned my weekend trips to visit Phil during his senior year in college. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here Daichi and Junghoo are enjoying some beer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsEy4GBQ9XTDW5DoUrbrb9tw8AINJZEtWQLNe16u-qJIjpWBfbEpovBg_xByUpwkM6vKLBT824gmKyaoDX5KnlOnp_tzMGmTXnbBQUCkScWAFZdmr7cY3a5LM4_TA9kZI_0m5r73PJ3fy/s1600/SAM_6274.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659974579873529074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsEy4GBQ9XTDW5DoUrbrb9tw8AINJZEtWQLNe16u-qJIjpWBfbEpovBg_xByUpwkM6vKLBT824gmKyaoDX5KnlOnp_tzMGmTXnbBQUCkScWAFZdmr7cY3a5LM4_TA9kZI_0m5r73PJ3fy/s320/SAM_6274.JPG" /></a><br />Junghoo and Steve - the brothers from another mother...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6w3C726QW8dZ8dOLDz2Nw6Xk0FJ9QA7NGyoTP1s2dJ3QAUgJ-1Ej6XFQ_IWNVDeqeJ7qHqr2qiHVx8uFhBULL-JLCYFFBGG3hme06hOlIKnOXl-Zsdw_eLbaT5OPrf8kn1SiJaMDBZto/s1600/SAM_6277.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659974577252690786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6w3C726QW8dZ8dOLDz2Nw6Xk0FJ9QA7NGyoTP1s2dJ3QAUgJ-1Ej6XFQ_IWNVDeqeJ7qHqr2qiHVx8uFhBULL-JLCYFFBGG3hme06hOlIKnOXl-Zsdw_eLbaT5OPrf8kn1SiJaMDBZto/s320/SAM_6277.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-84665597021705763072011-09-12T07:41:00.007-04:002011-10-05T22:07:04.891-04:00Japan - Day 3 (Mid-Autumn Festival)Monday was the first day of my training class. My company's office in Tamachi is getting a bit small, so they started renting a new office space, which is where my training was held. It's probably almost 3 times as big as the old office space, but not entirely furnished just yet. At the moment only 6 workstations and a TV screen to project onto specifically for the training clsas.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w7agQM2RLBgqkv-Z3YdX4P0QnDLJriOb-lgKdPOcjbYH5A9MsBRtzfhlyiGpkbS6RqiUqmnaNinE5OTpxQbSCkXzlA2zQ630nK0YPLf-8gOFXqojpzRSY5jjJjZedZoy6Ftx0SdZ__XU/s1600/SAM_6279.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659973253444852178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w7agQM2RLBgqkv-Z3YdX4P0QnDLJriOb-lgKdPOcjbYH5A9MsBRtzfhlyiGpkbS6RqiUqmnaNinE5OTpxQbSCkXzlA2zQ630nK0YPLf-8gOFXqojpzRSY5jjJjZedZoy6Ftx0SdZ__XU/s320/SAM_6279.JPG" /></a><br />When we broke for lunch I met up with all my coworkers along with one of the training class attendees. We went to a restaurant nearby. I ordered some kind of fried chicken with rice.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTTHjxw6CDEG2urDZf95g6nYmUG_nBz5MMyT-uiemrzMGVKCS6osEIC7EbmdsXvM0i97ePEFhICjTMaMbu0YShXJ4i7FxVGi8avoA2bLj5bg-GFw1eLFGJ93k7roSZMbc_95TCllWbEBx/s1600/SAM_6261.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659972763061165570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTTHjxw6CDEG2urDZf95g6nYmUG_nBz5MMyT-uiemrzMGVKCS6osEIC7EbmdsXvM0i97ePEFhICjTMaMbu0YShXJ4i7FxVGi8avoA2bLj5bg-GFw1eLFGJ93k7roSZMbc_95TCllWbEBx/s320/SAM_6261.JPG" /></a><br />Some of my coworkers - Junghoo, Saeki and Steve.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfYzi2A5AgvqGRSzi1s0arRTGBYWq5zFRqTfjKgMIyfh0y48zWBoNXv6qQ8nttKjSamiPkpWEBmaCuFNDCqfYCxxzwTSmodRuagUi0PtsluoAUo29fp3R2PGoPVaC6bDe3FH22Ny_wDnK/s1600/SAM_6262.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659972759579974178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfYzi2A5AgvqGRSzi1s0arRTGBYWq5zFRqTfjKgMIyfh0y48zWBoNXv6qQ8nttKjSamiPkpWEBmaCuFNDCqfYCxxzwTSmodRuagUi0PtsluoAUo29fp3R2PGoPVaC6bDe3FH22Ny_wDnK/s320/SAM_6262.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This is me and Sharon, my work twin. This was also our first time meeting after working together for over a year. When she first started at the company a lot of people thought she was me. I guess we kind of look a little alike...</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3TykfrkHQqPEhmLJHJKuRebHcNsMUjrE0vVOPe4xIfSlxm8rlzAl911GRXltZqlgIDwjHNnyIX_FeAHbV2zHA3JVpjSLTJ_GytiMUZezQWMQP4uZ76zR0LTc04PF7yOb_FOdqlb7k1NY/s1600/SAM_6264.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659972754579479538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3TykfrkHQqPEhmLJHJKuRebHcNsMUjrE0vVOPe4xIfSlxm8rlzAl911GRXltZqlgIDwjHNnyIX_FeAHbV2zHA3JVpjSLTJ_GytiMUZezQWMQP4uZ76zR0LTc04PF7yOb_FOdqlb7k1NY/s320/SAM_6264.JPG" /></a><br />Me and Sharon with Chiaki, another coworker.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSgAKaBp9M_oec0_YkjDmnMi_UaPAHmdPrfghl390QCpYkxLd1Snd6TLKLxMvKPy71AEkz2Sg9Zc7_2qarJQPXetKa1Vao2l6X8gMzdrpABn7gQLomKqZdY_zHxwrubx4Q6USlAlAk3_8/s1600/SAM_6265.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659972756523300098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSgAKaBp9M_oec0_YkjDmnMi_UaPAHmdPrfghl390QCpYkxLd1Snd6TLKLxMvKPy71AEkz2Sg9Zc7_2qarJQPXetKa1Vao2l6X8gMzdrpABn7gQLomKqZdY_zHxwrubx4Q6USlAlAk3_8/s320/SAM_6265.JPG" /></a><br />I hadn't been planning on going out that night after class, but Sharon reminded me it was Mid-Autumn festival. She had plans to meet some friends in Roppongi to celebrate with some mooncakes and she invited me along. We were supposed to be meeting her friends in a small park called Midtown park in the middle of the city. When we got there the park was packed with people. It turns out there was an open yoga session in the park that evening. Somehow they managed to pack 825 people in that tiny park. Not too long after we arrived the session started and everyone was stretching, while we sat and ate mooncake...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKPuTeQHEnX2v2jIcJhNwE3RMqcqTumwKUyxsx_s85aUYB8I5mXKmTnqqz2jblZIs0Oy7PGxIR-d_pJLqFDLplhjImIFN2JfRFLgfF61s_5BW-4Xba9j5L0e07ArBqvW5hxnVzTiNd5tH/s1600/301114_10150284001468133_531788132_7760653_1497745607_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659973136241973250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKPuTeQHEnX2v2jIcJhNwE3RMqcqTumwKUyxsx_s85aUYB8I5mXKmTnqqz2jblZIs0Oy7PGxIR-d_pJLqFDLplhjImIFN2JfRFLgfF61s_5BW-4Xba9j5L0e07ArBqvW5hxnVzTiNd5tH/s320/301114_10150284001468133_531788132_7760653_1497745607_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Even though it felt weird sitting in the midst of all these people doing yoga, there was a perfect view of the moon. And we joined in on the yoga every now and then.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZs7e6NOK1v3ylYhZijT9-5TVIgQNvLyTywfupIcDX_USdFBvxSgE8XbXvxtuXCQwhB7txprG8bcDbb8x-nX1BGC5Ut8mUQHBQzYMpfSLRGE6XogEplRBsY8ty4A047Fc3gWsUMPx5BE5/s1600/SAM_6267.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659973134305742082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZs7e6NOK1v3ylYhZijT9-5TVIgQNvLyTywfupIcDX_USdFBvxSgE8XbXvxtuXCQwhB7txprG8bcDbb8x-nX1BGC5Ut8mUQHBQzYMpfSLRGE6XogEplRBsY8ty4A047Fc3gWsUMPx5BE5/s320/SAM_6267.JPG" /></a><br />Sharon's friends had also brought some beef jerky. The good stuff - the Asian-style beef jerky, not the American kind. It was so good. That combined with the mooncake made for a perfect evening.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhXa2Dx5b5nSfezWjD7f4qcA_jmllrZMFe4K0DKpqkeEBBKLuB6TWoGiSwwIT7GbWtHh-f8xG8C9R68zKSgWj8Ldiig7thYPgubTGXoLpK3hRftMjhoetzJuFbauZgrDV84TThndCMl1J/s1600/SAM_6269.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659973133423128882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhXa2Dx5b5nSfezWjD7f4qcA_jmllrZMFe4K0DKpqkeEBBKLuB6TWoGiSwwIT7GbWtHh-f8xG8C9R68zKSgWj8Ldiig7thYPgubTGXoLpK3hRftMjhoetzJuFbauZgrDV84TThndCMl1J/s320/SAM_6269.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Me, Sharon and her friends post yoga/mooncake celebration.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2sQgkHNVY66_mgLzzFVJVFvtPOiIC9VgOMQLoWdelzbvC41d846XEDjuTeDIzUpZbmlBDUGb10NXfy26-lvoIjLjFbQ5-YOMyRZCH9bE_oxUllfw3z3wmdA2CF12akDGHtys8bvirVSs/s1600/313821_10150284006138133_531788132_7760749_1921863545_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659973135077207138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2sQgkHNVY66_mgLzzFVJVFvtPOiIC9VgOMQLoWdelzbvC41d846XEDjuTeDIzUpZbmlBDUGb10NXfy26-lvoIjLjFbQ5-YOMyRZCH9bE_oxUllfw3z3wmdA2CF12akDGHtys8bvirVSs/s320/313821_10150284006138133_531788132_7760749_1921863545_n.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066865600866395409.post-82089002012538906792011-09-11T06:59:00.004-04:002011-10-05T21:03:17.992-04:00Japan - Day 2On my first full day in Japan I did some shopping in Yurakucho, which is just a couple stops from Tamachi where our office is. While I was there I came across an international market. There were tons of people setting up tables and selling various things, a lot of them handmade.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_PX67JvuShMnTQg9URKaA8FfLEmAx9_naVj7JCbA-mR6mqF9tUTpMlUL-2320TQwvkiCmJ7FCqOiH4jfCDbW8gOLxWiiu8TDEvj9t0ZjCcXMmx-RkZs0tQv9yzsmLeJCyb85MH7enPhU/s1600/SAM_6256.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658279073046174386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_PX67JvuShMnTQg9URKaA8FfLEmAx9_naVj7JCbA-mR6mqF9tUTpMlUL-2320TQwvkiCmJ7FCqOiH4jfCDbW8gOLxWiiu8TDEvj9t0ZjCcXMmx-RkZs0tQv9yzsmLeJCyb85MH7enPhU/s320/SAM_6256.JPG" /></a><br />For lunch I met up with one of my coworkers, Kaori. We ate at an Italian restaurant in Yurakucho. Even though we've been working together for almost a year this was the first time we ever met in person.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5HmCVOhVgZqrNY7tfv4WCix1gJwIE6Gh7XPbIpw76Ge2h71TfMDbN4cQhJhVDKFsrt4n7eSm39-93eefVeMLJtqkIObzn61Jcr7SAtIEmkNmeR_WjPOrUvPNkEZvwi46s1LvJ9DFehM1/s1600/SAM_6259.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658279068095829218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5HmCVOhVgZqrNY7tfv4WCix1gJwIE6Gh7XPbIpw76Ge2h71TfMDbN4cQhJhVDKFsrt4n7eSm39-93eefVeMLJtqkIObzn61Jcr7SAtIEmkNmeR_WjPOrUvPNkEZvwi46s1LvJ9DFehM1/s320/SAM_6259.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5-tsPpbwhuQDwkMWSHzt3fMellw_d02X6lhhPei8QCYof9d1e4f44zvkJ2K0xI5P53AEG_e_EljwCT5oefVCEwb6e7EGvwervxhUvELutMe2R-ch5uu8phf5Yl2k2iUxukjHjGATOCzB/s1600/SAM_6258.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658279058805473586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5-tsPpbwhuQDwkMWSHzt3fMellw_d02X6lhhPei8QCYof9d1e4f44zvkJ2K0xI5P53AEG_e_EljwCT5oefVCEwb6e7EGvwervxhUvELutMe2R-ch5uu8phf5Yl2k2iUxukjHjGATOCzB/s320/SAM_6258.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For lunch they had a set course that came with salad and an entree. I ordered the ceasar salad. It had a prosciutto-type meat and clams in it. Definitely not your typical ceasar salad, but it was pretty good - even the clams. ^__^<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVCwT5cC7poea-ZY63M_9PRnlhVVXTVVwBRHRl2aDyEN6x6Dhe1nP1qF7de-EKQ7fhZMSqAMFSGq5m-ta2fp0I2lM_hSfZ2lx9dfPVqRUFCO0K-pXbgbYT5mRx0p4uD4Y64kMneHGtL9z/s1600/SAM_6257.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658279055620991138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVCwT5cC7poea-ZY63M_9PRnlhVVXTVVwBRHRl2aDyEN6x6Dhe1nP1qF7de-EKQ7fhZMSqAMFSGq5m-ta2fp0I2lM_hSfZ2lx9dfPVqRUFCO0K-pXbgbYT5mRx0p4uD4Y64kMneHGtL9z/s320/SAM_6257.JPG" /></a><br />For an entree I got a pasta with bacon and asparagus. It was really good, but the dish was huge. I couldn't finish all of it.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWO3FuxYyGxvNcCYKr1WVeG6yW1WVfDxy73qnhupPU8WL2TC1k-aDidCPFgp8-vHSZ68cdURPledlHd6-yS1nttj1ZpSeoxjLMwOGMwqibEAJFU6pqUOe50fz8A-kJ01XSfz1djkDORv3/s1600/SAM_6260.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658279049930353202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWO3FuxYyGxvNcCYKr1WVeG6yW1WVfDxy73qnhupPU8WL2TC1k-aDidCPFgp8-vHSZ68cdURPledlHd6-yS1nttj1ZpSeoxjLMwOGMwqibEAJFU6pqUOe50fz8A-kJ01XSfz1djkDORv3/s320/SAM_6260.JPG" /></a><br />Usually when I do these trainings in Japan I don't arrive until Sunday evening, so it was nice to have the extra day to relax a little bit before class on Monday.</div><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173769812224848993noreply@blogger.com0