Happy New Year again~!!! May you be blessed with good fortune, good health and happiness... =)

Here's what I've been up to since the start of 2008.......of course work...and more work but I did take a 2 week vacay with my mom.....we headed to Europe! (London, Paris, Rome, Florence and then back to London.) First time for the both of us! It was a good trip, surprisingly we didn't kill each other although there were a few times where I just wanted to leave her in the hotel room to get a few moments away from her...heh heh...hey, it's hard just traveling with one person and especially that person being a parent.....lots of "oh mom...stop it......" 

Did I also mention that she can't a picture to save her life? How difficult is it? Sheesh...but then again, she's one of those that you have to teach how to use a cell phone over and over...forget about her listening to voicemails. Aiya........anyhoo, here's some pics from our trip!

1st Day - a tour of Windsor Castle...solo. My mom was feeling jet lagged so I went on my own. It's sad to be on your own.......see, how i had to take my own picture? And then eat by myself? sniffle sniffle.....I'm really glad i brought my blackberry, keeping me in touch with back home. Trusty companion.

Stone Hedge: you're not allowed to walk through them anymore. Guess there was too much damage from everyone touching the stones. I didn't even bother to go up there - thank goodness for zoom capibilities on cameras! LoLz...it had started to rain as we arrived and just getting this picture got me pretty wet.  Nearby were some sheep, they looked so sad behind the fence, but I had to take a picture...hahaha.... A view of the town as the tour bus entered Bath, very pretty. All the homes there are built with the same materials to maintain the same structures and styles. 

In the town, not much to see in this immediate area but still quite charming.

Roman Baths - don't touch the water! Oooh..naked guy! LoLz...... The baths are quite big, I was trying to imagine how it was back in the days when they were used...the place to be for the wealthy, like a club.....all those people standing around socializing.........naked?!?!? Oh behave!

I stayed with my good friend Christie in London (she's there for work). Here's the one good shot that my mom took of us as we headed out of her flat...err...apartment. We went out for some yummy Indian food....curry takeaway anyone? Me & my mom, after she napped away the jet lag and gave Christie's flat a light cleaning. (she couldn't locate the vacuum) W/Janie (she's there for work too!), Christie, me & mom. Food was good....gimme more naan!

We were suppose to go on a sightseeing tour of London but missed it by minutes. Since it was a crap day (like most days in London...hahaha...cheers!), we ended up going to The British Museum. (Free! Except for some of the exhibits) Really grand looking. The main level is pretty amazing, just chilling there and people watching was fine by me but Mom likes museums so we did end up walking through majority of the free exhibits. There was an asian exhibit but it was like 20 pounds (roughly $40)...uh...hell no!

Then the sun came out! And suddenly it was a fantastic day! In Trafalagar Square....we actually went to the protrait museum nearby before headed to look at the lion statues. It was crazy boring, so we left to just walk around and take in the scenery before heading home. Yawn...nappy time...all that walking tired us out!

Wagamama! Nuh uh, you're a Waga....what! Chicken katsu curry over rice for dinner...delish~!  A pub crawling we went! With Catie (Christie's roomie) and Christie. Later, Janie came out to play. I think we moved to an Aussie bar....check out the kissy faces behind Janie and I....get a room people! Good looking people, cute accents, somewhat decent music but.........terrible dance moves.

Day 3 - Tour of London! First we got to the meeting point, the tour left early! Bugger. So we had to catch the tube (weekend service sucks there too!) but because of limited service, we also had to cab it the rest of the way to meet the tour group at the first stop, Tower of London. I think it's very prettier at night. The sign up in the bathroom! I thought it was pretty funny. Mom is being funny and pulling on the bear's ear...owww! (I had her take a pic of me but it came out all weird since she can't take pictures...delete!) Look what they sell in the gift shop!

Onward to Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guards! Mom wasn't impressed by many of the royal families' residences but she did like Buckingham Palace. Who wouldn't, eh? View of the London Eye (from St. James Park) which was closed for repairs while we were there.  What's that kingdom? Never Never land? LoLz...... These birds belong to the Queen - aren't they pretty? Outside of the palace with all the other tourists waiting for the change to happen. We caught a boat ride up the Thames and ended up outside of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. We did pass St. Paul's Cathedral on our tour but we didn't get to linger. I think the tour ended up going back. After lunch at a pub,we ended up ditching the last part of the tour to catch "Wicked" --- absolutely amazing. I enjoyed it so much as did mommy - thanks again Christie for the tickets! I'll spare you my rendition of the songs...

Gotta love London, you can drink in public! I definitely took part! We decided to check out this club, Fabric, reminded me of Exit....only not as fun. Only one room had good music but it also had a lot of people. A lot of sweaty people who had....scent.......I know Europeans think Americans are wasteful but trust me, daily showers aren't wasteful! And bidets are not substitutes for showers. Because we weren't feeling the music plus having to hide from Hungarian guys, we decided to leave and find us grub. Janie & I with our thumbs down becuz we had to pay admission...gaSp*  Happier times, awaiting our midnight snack at the shop across the way! Poor Janie's pooped!

Last day in London. Roam around in Covent Garden Market when we spot a pub, "Punch & Judy"...so I had to point and have this picture taken. It was cold but we indulged in some warm waffles and ice cream..yummy! Everyone's gotta have a picture with the red phone booths! (Mom thought I was being retarded.......... ) This particular booth smelled.....eeeewww! Mom & me in Piccadilly Circus...it's very Times Square like. I think at night, it would be pretty awesome as well. We finished up in C-town. The price of a roast pork bun! $1.80! What! I still got it tho...

Mom teaching Christie how to make wontons - look how nicely she wrapped them! Good job! She's so proud! Do you still have some left? Mom also taught her to make some tofu soup and some stir fry mai fun. Look at me! I'm so confused - me planning our next day because we were off to Paris on the Eurostar!

Hello City of Lights! We did a boat ride on the River Seine to see some of the sights since it was late and there wasn't much to do at the time...well, at least not with my mom. The lights coming off the river......So pretty! Eiffel Tower is amazing! Walking under it and looking up....very impressive. I'm sure everyone thinks....how in the world was this thing built?  It gets repainted every seven years! As we left, the lights started to flicker...how gorgeous is that! Beautiful!

Smart cars are everywhere! I would drive one...I saw one later on, in pink! Me, relaxing in our hotel room, it ain't easy running from here to there, watching out for gypsies and pickpocketers...and my mom...hahaha!  (We stayed nearby the Bibliotheque nationale de France in the Latin Qtr) I think this is a concept car....? I just thought it was cute so I took a picture. These small cars make me think you need a remote control to drive them!

Versailles

It's pretty amazing. The gardens weren't open due to the strong winds but a peek through the windows was enough to see how grand the palace grounds are....I would definitely love to see it when the garden is in bloom. Unfortunately that's also when everyone else wants to visit. The grandeur of the palace is pretty remarkable except for the construction cranes outside of the place. Mom even pointed out a patched up section of the ceiling...guess royals experience leaks too. When you're inside, looking out....it's hard not to try to imagine how it was back then.

Notre Dame

This is where we encountered our first gypsy....get away! No money from me I say!

It's gorgeous, all the stained glass. A wooden model - pretty amazing how detailed it was.  You can buy medallions from these machines, guess the church needs make money too.

Walking along the River Seine from the Notre Dame towards the Arc de Triomphe....mom taking a rest. Here I am, enjoying my first crepe (w/Nutella!)...after some drunk dude try to steal it from me - get your own b*tch, get your own! Ahh...the LV store....oh my! Btw, I wasn't the only person taking a picture of the store! They were very nice to me there...who said they were snotty? They were falling over me-was it me? Or just poor sales that made them have to nice?  We walked up one side of Champs Elysees to the Arc & then back down the other side.

At the Louvre......I was a bit museum-ed out by the time I got here. But still, impressed by it all. Look - I got my own Mona Lisa...so there! I still can't understand why this painting is so famous....? I was thinking to go to the Musee d'Orsay but could not stand to go to another one!

this is art? stinky feet and a troll like statue that reminds me of a W.O.W. character?

See honey, I was thinking of you on my trip!

Moulin Rouge! Not so glam.....kind of a dingy in the immediate area.  We were in Monmarte looking for the Sacre-Coeur.  It's a very cute area - small shops, small restaurants....my mom really liked it. We passed flower shops, cheese shops, meat shops, bread shops....we even found a few cute chinese eateries. The streets leading up to the basilica were very charming.

Sacre-Coeur.....way up high. We had to walk up some steep streets to get there. We didn't go into the basilica, just wanted to view it from the outside. And the view of the city below is pretty wow........ people told me to beware of the "string people" in Italy but they were here too! At the foot of the stairs (last pic) were some guys trying to tie string bracelets for money. We had to cross the street...a group of girls were a bit unlucky as one of them got caught into a confrontation with them........ This was our last stop in Paris and then it was off to Rome!

I'm missing the ham & cheese baguettes - so simple, yet so yummy!

I don't know where this was....I think it was some hotel....?  I was amused by the parking jobs of Smart Cars...they're so tiny, they can go anywhere!

Spanish Steps - it's really nice here. I can see why when weather permits, a lot of people just chill out here. The designer stores are all here too so it makes for some serious window shopping time as well.  Mom wanted chestnuts but of course with the USD being so weak, she was reluctant to buy them. But I made her and they were pretty yummy. My first taste of gelato - I think I got coffee and yogurt together...it was delicious! Trevi Fountain - it's amazing.....you're walking,walking, walking and suddenly you come into this clearing where the fountain is. All you hear is the rush of the water and the noise of the crowd. It's an awesome sight.

Outside the Pantheon, inside was more impressive. We sat there for a while, to reflect in our thoughts....okay, no, we were just really tired! LoLz..well, it was peaceful and serene so it was nice to sit and "reflect".  Nutella - everyone's nutty for Nutella! I got one to see if they were better than in Paris. Cramped, old, sorta dingy...yep, that's Rome.

Piazza Campo de Flori - we got there later in the day when the market is over.  They change over to cafes and restaurants late in the afternoon. Mom, pondering over the wares. She likes flowers a lot so she was pleased to see so many pretty ones. Piazza Venezia - passing by on our walk back to the hotel.

The ruins of the Roman Forum and Palatine. Colosseum.

It's kind of weird to have all these old structures side by side of modern day ones.....

Day 2 in Rome - Vatican City

See the line to get into St. Peter's?  It was a gorgeous day so I didn't mind waiting - I was busy people watching! I'm not religious but I wanted to go to the Vatican just because I know that it's gorgeous. I wasn't disappointed. I was in awe of the beauty of it all.......I'm sad that we didn't get to see the Vatican museums (yep, more museums) or the Sistine Chapel. It was a Saturday so they both closed earlier and we just weren't able to do it all. Next time!

Looking back at the basilica from Piazza St. Pietro.  Is that mom with a big pineapple?!?!? Castel Sant'Angelo - we didn't bother to go in. We just walked the bridges outside and along the river. See how pretty? Me, self portrait. I got a kick out of this payphone. I did phone home later on.

More gelato! I forget the flavor but it sure was yummy in my tummy! The goodies at a bakery on our way back to the hotel, so nicely made! That pineapple is tiny! Rome has a lot of Chinese people living there, we stayed in an area outside of Termini that reminded me of Flushing. Our hotel was pretty...picture a small townhouse from Madison, plopped down on Kissena Blvd/Main Street-that's like how it our hotel area was like. We were able to get instant noodles (so necessary!) & some chrysanthemum tea!

In Florence! The lobby of our hotel, quite quaint. The streets leading to the markets - it's amazing how many markets they have with so vendors selling the same friggin' crap! So not charming, nothing rustic....hmmmph. Pink smart car! yay! Snicker snicker....our silverware came in these packets at a cafe - cute! Gelato!

My horsey, that's an excellent to feed! I'm not gonna lie...I can't remember where this is anymore....Piazza del Duomo, I'm pretty sure. From there we walked to the Plazza della Repubblica (some shopping here, designer shops - I saw fake Gucci being sold outside the Gucci store!) to Piazza della Signoria, ending up at the Galleria degli Uffizi.  Onward to Ponte Vecchio to see the jewelry shops! Just looking, no buying for us!

random pics from the bridge and nearby Palazzo Pitti. Next time we're going to have to see the Boboli Gardens - there's admission. It was so gray out, it didn't seem worth it.

Gelato! Pizza! Pastries! oh my!

Ok..I don't remember which piazza this was but I do remember that when I stopped to take a picture of this church, my mom asks me why I'm taking more pictures. See 2nd set of Florence pictures...my mom thought we were at the same piazza.....nope, we weren't. LoLz...

After stopping by London for another dinner, we were on our way home via Virgin Atlantic. I highly recommend this airline - good service and lots of yummy treats made this girl quite happy! They give out eye masks and sleep socks! wow! Farewell Europe...until we meet again!

Thank you Christie for putting us up - I <3 u~!!! Of course, thanks Catie to being so accommodating as well.....even tho you did laugh at our fluff pet talk...LoLz!

It was back to work the next day. The laundry was done in a flash. Luggage put away. It was like the trip never happened....

........................and then......................

Esther's Going Away Shin Dig

............waiting on the special girl to arrive

Sillie Age...       Pam & Esther     When Esther got her picture calendar     Posing for pics

More pics.....

Angela's B-day

Loving her new toys.....................group shot.......................making her birthday wishes

party favors            family style food            raw oysters

Winnie's B-day

smiley b-day girl!

how cute Age & Evi look! Esther smiling pretty w/Ruth. Me, Jess & Jewels. Um...Jay & Angie, Bev & her bf

yay!

The End. For now. Well...for a while I think. Hope you were entertained. Does anyone even check Xanga anymore? Hmm...Oh well, I still like to sign in once in a while and do a lengthy post but otherwise, there's no time. So I just go on Facebook when I can. But......I'll see you back in March when Chloe arrives!

Happy Valentine's Day....early!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

....even though I didn't take tomorrow (errr...today...is it past midnight?) off, I'm still in a great mood. It's the holidays! Two of my lovelies are back in town. I'm surrounded by family and friends.....eating yummy food and desserts, spirits are high. There's laughter and trips down memory lane. It's all good. 

I just want to wish everyone a very happy, safe, and memorable holiday season! I probably won't write again until next year (hahaha...) so here's what I've been up to lately.........

Thanksgiving: I put J's baby cousin in a pink snowsuit.....so I can show him when he's a teenager...muahahaha! Look how amazed he is watching the fish swim! He's happy because he's getting lots of attention!

I finally started some wedding stuff.....I had tank tops printed up with "Maid of Honor" and "Bridesmaid" on the them, wrapped them up and sent them to my girls to ask them to be my attendants. They all accepted...yay!

The lights down 5th Avenue as we sat in traffic. The tree at Rockerfeller Center (is it just me? It seems to me that each year's tree is smaller and less impressive compared to the prior year....I've been thinking that for some years now.....) Hubby & I, Saks building in the background. Me & Jewels, one of my bridesmaids. We just came from having dinner at the Modern where she works....delicious! Thanks for all the freebies... *pat belly*

been busy wrapping gifts - all the ones for Jay's family went to his house to be placed under the tree as soon as they were wrapped. I don't have a tree so I stacked gifts for my family & friends in my room...nice & festive!

Secret Santa #2. Dinner at Puccinis. I had black linguine w/spicy marinara sauce - looks like worms but oh was it yummers! Having dessert & coffee at Win's. Thanks again for letting us hang out at your crib! Tim's so sweet - he make us stockings with our names and stuffed it with chocolates and lotion! Wine & a fierce game of Taboo.....

What I received from Santa: The Hills Seasons 1 & 2...yay! (I <3 LC!) To complete the gift: a fleece, microwave popcorn, various candies, marshmallows, Hersheys chocolate & graham crackers to make s'mores! Thanks Santa! I love it!

Baby Nikki's 1-month celebration! I'm stuffed from all the food......burp*

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

weekend was good - over too soon of course. Birthdays Birthdays Birthdays - this weekend was all about bdays! Check out the lil guy - got to watch him for a bit on Saturday while his mom went to get her hair did. That's Baby T, hubby's aunt's kid.

    look at him, chilling on my lap, pulling on my hair like it's right! I tried to get him to do the fob fingers but he wouldn't let go of my hair. So I did it for him...hahahaha!

Awwwww...look at that! Hubby made Baby T smile and laugh! What a sweet sight!