Browse Month: July 2006

“Slow and steady”, said the turtle.

I’m back on the road and running again. With my back feeling better, I’m ready to start training again but this time I’m going to go slow and work on strengthening my core strength as well. I just have to say that waddling around for 3 weeks with excrutiating back pain is not cool. Anyway, I’ve been taking it easy and starting from square one. I started with a 1-mile loop the other day and gradually added distance each day. I’m on my third day in a row and I’m up to 2 miles and finished it under 20 minutes…I’ve still got it! I just wished that the weather was cooler. I HATE running in the heat but I HATE treadmills even more. At least I’ll get a nice summer tan. 🙂

and the doors opened…

I had a fun fun afternoon. I was on my way to the Nordstrom at the Spectrum to find myself driving past the long-awaited Target that is scheduled to open on the 23rd. Well, I was pleasantly surpised to see people coming out of the doors with shopping carts and bags of stuff. Wha?! Is my beloved Target new, clean, and ready for me to visit?! I parked my car and walked up to see if it was true and I was welcomed by the automatic door, beckoning me to enter. YES!!
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I ended up browsing and shopping for over an hour and a half with my cart filled with two new pairs of shoes, a new purse, a shirt for Jesse, and a bunch of other stuff that I may have been able to do without. But it’s Target! It’s my most favorite-est store in the whole wide world with brand new aisles fully stocked and organized by color and style. How could I resist?! Apparently, I was there on their second day of opening and it was soooo empty. They were open yesterday for only 4 hours so I’d just have to say that I’m one of their first customers and kicked it off with a “cha-ching” for them. Oh, I could go on and on about my afternoon. Did I mention that there’s a mini-grocery store and fully-loaded Starbucks in my new Target? The best part of it all is that it’s only one freeway exit away from my house (3.3 miles to be exact) with very little surface street driving and ample parking. Life is good.

Holly and Roy tied the knot

Holly and Roy threw a big party last night to cap off their marriage. My day started at 10 am when I got to the Hyatt where the girls got ready. We had our hair and make-up done by noon and helped Holly get ready. She looked so beautiful and Roy was glowing.

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At the Bowers Museum, we took some group photos and unfotunately it was the hottest day of the year with 95 degree temps and some crazy humidity on top of that. We all tried to stay cool and hydrated but the satin dresses we wore didn’t allow for much air circulation.

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The ceremony was very touching and the couple looked so happy. The guests tried their best to endure the heat as Holly and Roy said, “I do.” The dinner reception was in the same courtyard area with twinkle lights all around and plenty of booze flowin’. There was a slideshow, some cake, and of course dancing. By the end of the night, my feet were sore, my skin was sticky, and I was buzzin’.

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Here are some highlights:

  • Holly’s mom and dad cried and made Holly cry.
  • Roy was sweatin’ buckets from the heat.
  • I didn’t fall down.
  • There was ball play and double dutch.
  • Victor made friends with the bartender and tried to serve drinks.
  • Susie had a tree in her teeth.
  • Jes was the LD.
  • The alma mater was sung.
  • We got kicked out of the Presidential Suite for being too loud.

Good times….congratulations, you two!! Here are the photos.

So many Islanders

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On Friday, we grubbed on Korean BBQ with Yong, Helen, Eric, and Annie. There was so much meat that we all rolled out of there stuffed and happy. We later met up with the Tranandos who were celebrating Thilan’s birthday at Mai Tai Bar. Victor, Susie, and Dayantha pretty much came by as soon as they got off their planes and Huy arrived on Thursday night. The best part of weddings is having your friends back in town. The bar/restaurant was surprisingly crowded and bumpin’. I’ve only gone on a Tuesday evening before going to the aquarium and I’m used to having the whole place to myself. Well, on this evening it was packed with lots of large islanders…Samoans, Hawaiians, Filipinos, you name it. It was as if the restaurant really wanted to stick with the theme and imported a bunch of “locals” to give it an authentic feel.  Here are photos from that evening.

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Holly and Roy’s wedding rehearsal and dinner was last night. Bowers Museum is pretty nice. It’s one of those places you pass by on the freeway and say, “I should visit that some day” and never do. Anyway, the rehearsal went smoothly and it was a nice preview of tomorrow evening. Holly and Roy looked so happy and excited for their big day. I had to practice walking on brick and grass in my heels and I’m a little nervous about doing it for real. Wouldn’t it be great to see me fall on my face in front of everyone?! I can just hear the courtesy golf clap coming from Jes in the audience.

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Well, the rehearsal dinner was a yummy 10-course Chinese dinner complete with orange wedges at the end. They all exchanged gifts including a really fancy box that Holly received from Roy’s mom containing family jewels and a piece of paper with Roy’s birthday on it. You just gotta love tradition.

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Tonight, friends from all over the place will be arriving. We’re going out for Korean BBQ after picking up Yong and Helen from the airport and then meeting people for drinks at Mai Tai Bar in Long Beach. Let the party begin!

stayin’ afloat

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. You can say that I’m in survival mode at this point. Summer school is in full swing with plenty of work to do. Holly’s wedding is this Saturday and I’m running around getting my bridesmaid dress fixed, shopping for shoes, and getting the house ready for guests. Yong, Helen, and Yoon are campin’ out in our little birdhouse and it needs to at least have room to walk in. I’m also busy with Camp stuff. I was supposed to attend an evening orientation meeting in Torrance tomorrow night but it’s the same time as Holly’s rehearsal and dinner. I can’t miss THAT!

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Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that I’m still alive but barely hangin’ on. I woke up this morning with a splitting headache and this nauseating feeling that I usually get when I pull an all-nighter. I got about 7 hours of sleep but it really didn’t feel like it. With a quick snooze on the couch this morning until 8 and a couple Motrins, I was back in action. When is summer-fun going to begin?!