One down, few more to go. :)
Friday, May 30, 2008
I Love Weddings!
Finally started post processing shots from the two weddings I had the pleasure of attending in Hawaii... Here's a little taste!
One down, few more to go. :)
One down, few more to go. :)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Blue Pool
On one of the small detours on the road to Hana (the road to Hana is all about detours!), we stopped here:
After about 5 minutes of walking on a dirt trail and then some more minutes of walking along a rocky beach, you get this paradise:
Ok, so we may have trespassed (according to the guidebook the land is owned by many and only a few of them don't want you walking there, while the rest of them even offered parking near by), but the reward sure was worth it!
After about 5 minutes of walking on a dirt trail and then some more minutes of walking along a rocky beach, you get this paradise:
Ok, so we may have trespassed (according to the guidebook the land is owned by many and only a few of them don't want you walking there, while the rest of them even offered parking near by), but the reward sure was worth it!
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Is by far one of our favorite food places in Hawaii. They have two locations in Maui and one in Oahu in Waikiki. We have had the pleasure of tasting many things in both the Waikiki and the Kihei locations on this past trip.
They have these awesome happy hour deals where if you go before or after a certain time on a certain day of the week your sushi and apps are 50% off... Well, we didn't make it this time (apparently to make the early bird that opens at 5 you have to be there at 4 in line), but I am just as happy eating their food at full price (although would be twice as full if I only had to pay 50%, cuz I'd order twice as much!)
Anyway, just ordered on Amazon their cookbook. Can't wait to receive it so I can try the butterfish recipe!
They have these awesome happy hour deals where if you go before or after a certain time on a certain day of the week your sushi and apps are 50% off... Well, we didn't make it this time (apparently to make the early bird that opens at 5 you have to be there at 4 in line), but I am just as happy eating their food at full price (although would be twice as full if I only had to pay 50%, cuz I'd order twice as much!)
Anyway, just ordered on Amazon their cookbook. Can't wait to receive it so I can try the butterfish recipe!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Nintendo Wii Fit
OMG the best game ever! We got it on Friday in Honolulu in the Ala Moana Center Game Stop because we knew it would be out of stock if we waited until we returned to San Francisco, and we were right. They are going for $$$ on eBay and chronically out of stock everywhere else. (click on the image above to see if Amazon has restocked though!)
We busted ours open on Monday evening as soon as we got close to a Wii console. And I've been logging, maybe 30 or so fit bank minutes every evening. The Fit tells me that I am losing weight every day (which I don't believe) but it is still nice to feel a little sore after playing an otherwise very addicting video game.
I hate going to the gym. I hate running. I love to dance and rock climb and stuff, but those activities take forethought and planning (driving to the climbing gym or a dance studio)... The Wii Fit is easy and fun.
No wonder it is out of stock everywhere!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Back to the Real World
So after a week in paradise, I have to return to real life. But the good news is that I will be able to start blogging regularly again, and boy are there a lot of things I want to talk about, including stuff that happened on the trip.
Our AC guy is not quite done with our AC/heating units. It turns out that the units don't really fit very well underneath our house, which poses a problem when it comes to servicing. So they decided to put the units in the garage instead (we have a really tall garage) but that meant all the ducting and vents they did over the last week are useless as they were coming out from the floor and now they have to all come from the ceiling. It's not a huge inconvenience (mostly because I really like my contractors, they are great to work with) but coming back from 80+ degree weather it sure gets cold at night with no heat! We bundled up last night and will have to do it again tonight!
During our trip we also let our contractor refinish our hardwood floor that was hidden underneath disgusting old blue carpet. Now we have nice hardwood floors for almost the whole house (minus the office cuz we had too much stuff). The biggest problem that arose from that was the doors now are too small. Without the extra few inches the carpets added, the door ends about 2 inches above the hardwood, leaving a pretty comic gap I never preconceived. Guess that means we should get new doors!
I don't plan to talk about work in my blogs, because I think that's inappropriate. But I will say although it was hard coming back I was really productive and got through almost ALL of my emails and even got a few projects out the door.
That's my quick update. We took TONS of pictures in Hawaii so will be blogging about that soon!
Our AC guy is not quite done with our AC/heating units. It turns out that the units don't really fit very well underneath our house, which poses a problem when it comes to servicing. So they decided to put the units in the garage instead (we have a really tall garage) but that meant all the ducting and vents they did over the last week are useless as they were coming out from the floor and now they have to all come from the ceiling. It's not a huge inconvenience (mostly because I really like my contractors, they are great to work with) but coming back from 80+ degree weather it sure gets cold at night with no heat! We bundled up last night and will have to do it again tonight!
During our trip we also let our contractor refinish our hardwood floor that was hidden underneath disgusting old blue carpet. Now we have nice hardwood floors for almost the whole house (minus the office cuz we had too much stuff). The biggest problem that arose from that was the doors now are too small. Without the extra few inches the carpets added, the door ends about 2 inches above the hardwood, leaving a pretty comic gap I never preconceived. Guess that means we should get new doors!
I don't plan to talk about work in my blogs, because I think that's inappropriate. But I will say although it was hard coming back I was really productive and got through almost ALL of my emails and even got a few projects out the door.
That's my quick update. We took TONS of pictures in Hawaii so will be blogging about that soon!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Update...
So, still no sight of the stuff I bought from this guy in Georgia. No emails from him either. It's been two weeks since I paid him and maybe his baby came early and he didn't have time to ship out the package, but really, I am guessing that I should just consider my $60 gone.
I hate being burned by CL listings... I am usually really careful too, and this I guess was a slip in my judgment. But I am still hoping that he was trustworthy... But, maybe I am just too naive (that's evian backwards, but I don't particularly like evian water).
On the Hawaii front, tomorrow my vacation officially starts, but I just feel so overwhelmed with stuff to do before the trip (installing AC, refinishing hardwood floor, cutting a bigger hole in the hallway passthru, packing, cleaning, errands, shopping, wah! there are just so many things to do!)
The house is still a giant mess ~ why can't all the people who say they are going to buy/pickup the stuff they want come when they say they will?
Hopefully I will successfully sell my AC before I leave, and maybe even somehow get rid of the massage chair too!
I hate being burned by CL listings... I am usually really careful too, and this I guess was a slip in my judgment. But I am still hoping that he was trustworthy... But, maybe I am just too naive (that's evian backwards, but I don't particularly like evian water).
On the Hawaii front, tomorrow my vacation officially starts, but I just feel so overwhelmed with stuff to do before the trip (installing AC, refinishing hardwood floor, cutting a bigger hole in the hallway passthru, packing, cleaning, errands, shopping, wah! there are just so many things to do!)
The house is still a giant mess ~ why can't all the people who say they are going to buy/pickup the stuff they want come when they say they will?
Hopefully I will successfully sell my AC before I leave, and maybe even somehow get rid of the massage chair too!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Hawaii!!
OMG, I can't wait.
A long awaited vacation along with two weddings in Oahu and Maui.
For those of you who have never read Andrew Doughty's guide books... He is AMAZING. Check it out and you'll want to go back to the islands to re-explore all those places you didn't know existed. We were so lucky to be told about these even before we ever set foot on a HI island many years ago.
Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook (Maui Revealed)
Oahu Revealed: The Ultimate Guide to Honolulu, Waikiki & Beyond (Oahu Revisited)
The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed (Ultimate Kauai Guidebook)
These are the guide books even locals should have. Own them, if you don't already, and be prepared for a Hawaii experience of a lifetime!
A long awaited vacation along with two weddings in Oahu and Maui.
For those of you who have never read Andrew Doughty's guide books... He is AMAZING. Check it out and you'll want to go back to the islands to re-explore all those places you didn't know existed. We were so lucky to be told about these even before we ever set foot on a HI island many years ago.
Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook (Maui Revealed)
Oahu Revealed: The Ultimate Guide to Honolulu, Waikiki & Beyond (Oahu Revisited)
The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed (Ultimate Kauai Guidebook)
These are the guide books even locals should have. Own them, if you don't already, and be prepared for a Hawaii experience of a lifetime!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Hobbies
Lately I feel like photography (and blogging here) has taken over all my personal time. However, weird as it may sound, I am also feeling much more in control of all my free time (maybe it's cuz I don't have all that much of it). I am able to juggle photographing my favorite things and still enjoy cooking in my amazing kitchen and tending to my very gorgeous flower garden and up-and-coming veggie garden (first time heirloom tomato planter here!).
Anyway, I need to remember to take photos of the food I make so I can show off some of my culinary skills but for now you'll just have to enjoy my blooming backyard.
Enjoy!
Anyway, I need to remember to take photos of the food I make so I can show off some of my culinary skills but for now you'll just have to enjoy my blooming backyard.
Enjoy!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Weekend
I can't believe that in a blink of an eye, the weekend is over again. Well, this was a GREAT weekend. I started it right by going to the famous Bay Meadows Race Track in San Mateo on Friday night. Rumor has it that this was their last weekend and that the developers have finally won the fight between more horse races and more condos... For someone who has never seen live horse races before, this was a real treat!
I SO wish my lens was faster though!
On Saturday Henry and I decided to stop by the Central Park in San Mateo and do some impromptu photo shoot... I had just received my Sigma 18-200 in the mail on Friday and after a somewhat disappointing race track lens trial (it's a bit too slow for the fast actions in the dark) I really want to make sure I would be happy with it. Well, after this shoot, I can say I am pretty happy with it as an all purpose walk around lens. Of course, it doesn't beat having individual F/2.8 lenses, but for $449 and no need to carry a giant bag all around town it's pretty nice.
I would have preferred better looking bokeh on that last shot there, but again, it's pretty decent both from a long and a short range...
Now if I can just find myself a nice polarizing filter before the Hawaii trip...
I SO wish my lens was faster though!
On Saturday Henry and I decided to stop by the Central Park in San Mateo and do some impromptu photo shoot... I had just received my Sigma 18-200 in the mail on Friday and after a somewhat disappointing race track lens trial (it's a bit too slow for the fast actions in the dark) I really want to make sure I would be happy with it. Well, after this shoot, I can say I am pretty happy with it as an all purpose walk around lens. Of course, it doesn't beat having individual F/2.8 lenses, but for $449 and no need to carry a giant bag all around town it's pretty nice.
I would have preferred better looking bokeh on that last shot there, but again, it's pretty decent both from a long and a short range...
Now if I can just find myself a nice polarizing filter before the Hawaii trip...
Friday, May 9, 2008
Getting Old...
I can't remember the last time I went to bed on a "school night" after midnight. Does that mean I am getting old?
I know tomorrow I am going to have a really hard time getting up. And maybe will need a couple of cups of coffee... But I just had so much to do this evening I had to stay up and get it all done.
Now that the errands I wanted to get done are done, I can go to bed. And I feel very accomplished!
BTW, this weekend is the last weekend for Bay Meadows Race Track to ever do a live horse race again now that it (and the land owners around it) has given in to developers... Sad, and considering I have NEVER been to a live horse race at the Bay Meadows and it is only 10 minutes away from my house, I am going tomorrow/tonight. Will try to take some photos but fast horses + slow lenses = not so good chances?
I know tomorrow I am going to have a really hard time getting up. And maybe will need a couple of cups of coffee... But I just had so much to do this evening I had to stay up and get it all done.
Now that the errands I wanted to get done are done, I can go to bed. And I feel very accomplished!
BTW, this weekend is the last weekend for Bay Meadows Race Track to ever do a live horse race again now that it (and the land owners around it) has given in to developers... Sad, and considering I have NEVER been to a live horse race at the Bay Meadows and it is only 10 minutes away from my house, I am going tomorrow/tonight. Will try to take some photos but fast horses + slow lenses = not so good chances?
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Caltrain
We had sushi on Sunday night with JC and HT and it turned into a photo shoot. This was my first attempt at taking long exposure photos on tripods... I probably should have shot in shutter priority but everything happened so fast (we heard the train, rushed to set up the tripod and get the camera on just in time to shoot a few shots before it left)...
I think it turned out decently!
I think it turned out decently!
Look Ma! I'm Dancing!
We had an impromptu doggie play date on Saturday after the garage sale. Of course Henry and I both whipped out our cameras. I think he's got better photos but I think mine are pretty good too!
Mimi as usual was her regal self, not really into playing with the young ones... Huxley and Snuggles were running around in circles and it was just adorable.
Mimi as usual was her regal self, not really into playing with the young ones... Huxley and Snuggles were running around in circles and it was just adorable.
Yay!
I just placed my order of the Sigma 18-200mm from Amazon... Now I can't wait to get my hands on it and play with it!
Can't wait also for next Friday when we head to HAWAII for two weddings and lots of photo taking. So excited.
Watching Becoming Jane on Blueray right now... and blogging at the same time... Not really all that into it, not sure why... Saw Miss Potter the other day and loved it...
Ok, this blog is lame. I am just typing random stuff... Sorry guys.
Oh, and still no sight of the package from across the country from the guy I never met, although if he was trying to defraud me he could have just never responded after I sent him the $$, so my coworker and I think he's just flaky... I sure hope the items gets here soon though because I would love to be able to use them for my Hawaii trip (yes, more camera equipment). :D
I hope I will get so much more opportunity to practice the art of photography because it is so much fun and so addicting! And I hope I get really good!
Can't wait also for next Friday when we head to HAWAII for two weddings and lots of photo taking. So excited.
Watching Becoming Jane on Blueray right now... and blogging at the same time... Not really all that into it, not sure why... Saw Miss Potter the other day and loved it...
Ok, this blog is lame. I am just typing random stuff... Sorry guys.
Oh, and still no sight of the package from across the country from the guy I never met, although if he was trying to defraud me he could have just never responded after I sent him the $$, so my coworker and I think he's just flaky... I sure hope the items gets here soon though because I would love to be able to use them for my Hawaii trip (yes, more camera equipment). :D
I hope I will get so much more opportunity to practice the art of photography because it is so much fun and so addicting! And I hope I get really good!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Yelp Elite! Part 2
Did I mention how kick a$$ this party was?
Well, it was awesome.
Here is a picture Victor took of Henry drinking some bubblies.
I can't wait for the next Elite party!
Well, it was awesome.
Here is a picture Victor took of Henry drinking some bubblies.
I can't wait for the next Elite party!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
First Garage Sale...
... under my belt!
Thanks to my neighbors Arleen and Chuck for organizing a block long garage sale, I finally got the courage to get all my stuff organized and try my hand at selling. And wow, what success it was! Never got around to taking any pictures of the two days but we sold tons of stuff that we didn't need anymore (and we had a lot of those things)... clothes, Guitar Hero controllers, DDR controllers, shoes, toys, kitchen stuff, etc., the list can go on!
I think I am totally addicted now. The neighbors had so much fun we think we will try our hands at it again in the fall. Hopefully I'll get even more organized and totally and completely clea my house by then. I have always been a giant pack rat and my house has always been FULL of sutff.. Perhaps, for the first time in my life, I will become more organized and won't be so handicapped by my stuff and inability to remove things from my life. :D
Thanks to my neighbors Arleen and Chuck for organizing a block long garage sale, I finally got the courage to get all my stuff organized and try my hand at selling. And wow, what success it was! Never got around to taking any pictures of the two days but we sold tons of stuff that we didn't need anymore (and we had a lot of those things)... clothes, Guitar Hero controllers, DDR controllers, shoes, toys, kitchen stuff, etc., the list can go on!
I think I am totally addicted now. The neighbors had so much fun we think we will try our hands at it again in the fall. Hopefully I'll get even more organized and totally and completely clea my house by then. I have always been a giant pack rat and my house has always been FULL of sutff.. Perhaps, for the first time in my life, I will become more organized and won't be so handicapped by my stuff and inability to remove things from my life. :D
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Garage Sale!
OMG, I can't believe I am still awake. I should be in bed... In less than 8 hours I'll have to be ready to set up all of our stuff for my very first garage sale. I really hope it will be a huge success as we have way too much stuff we don't need or use and the house can really use a nice clean up.
Ok, no more blogging. Nothing more to say for now anyway. Good night!
Ok, no more blogging. Nothing more to say for now anyway. Good night!
Yelp Elite!
Just got home from an always awesome Yelp Elite party. Tonight's event was at Parcel 104. Food was great, wine was great, service was great, everything was just so great. We also met some cool people and did I mention, had a lot of tasty food?
The bar guy was so nice to let us try absinthe and the pastry chef made us an extra special tapioca dessert with tangerine sorbet. Yum!
Anyway, check out my Yelp reviews!
The bar guy was so nice to let us try absinthe and the pastry chef made us an extra special tapioca dessert with tangerine sorbet. Yum!
Anyway, check out my Yelp reviews!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Faith Restored
My faith in human kind has been restored! Sort of. At least for now.
Yes, the guy who is half way across the country wrote me back. He's promising that he will prepare the package for mailing at the latest by Monday. Yes, it's a little long considering I paid him on Tuesday, but that's 100x better than nothing! I can't wait to receive what I paid for.
And the guy who I thought was going to kill me (hehe, overly imaginative mind, I know) actually sounded more normal when I talked to him again. He's going to try to come to the garage sale this weekend when everyone else is here.
Did I already blog about my garage sale? Yes, I am sure I mentioned it yesterday. It's going to be my first so I can't wait! Hopefully the turn out will be great and I'll be able to make some $$ on things I don't need anymore.
Yes, the guy who is half way across the country wrote me back. He's promising that he will prepare the package for mailing at the latest by Monday. Yes, it's a little long considering I paid him on Tuesday, but that's 100x better than nothing! I can't wait to receive what I paid for.
And the guy who I thought was going to kill me (hehe, overly imaginative mind, I know) actually sounded more normal when I talked to him again. He's going to try to come to the garage sale this weekend when everyone else is here.
Did I already blog about my garage sale? Yes, I am sure I mentioned it yesterday. It's going to be my first so I can't wait! Hopefully the turn out will be great and I'll be able to make some $$ on things I don't need anymore.
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