So in Reno right now there is an annual family feast going on. It is the stuff of legend. Friends and family alike gather at the home of my Mom and Dad to revel in each other's company, eat, drink, eat, and be merry. Oh, and eat.
The cast of characters has not changed much over the years, a testament to the staying power of the legendary feast that awaits them. Food enough for twice as many people who show. Enough beer for all and then some. And enough laughter and good cheer to last a lifetime.
My father once said that memories are some of the most important things you can make. It's true. Good or bad, God willing they stay with you for as long as you live. There are things I've done that I'll certainly never forget doing, and thankfully the best of those have been with my family and friends. Even the worst of those have seen good things come out of them, whether lessons learned or experience gained. Make your memories. Then hold on to them like you would a life preserver, for in reality that is what they are.
In a side note, I was surprised today to hear from someone I didn't think I'd be hearing from for a long, long time. Fences mended, things heading back towards normal. And I am VERY thankful for that.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone. For those of you surrounded by family, take a good look around and savor the moment. Enjoy =)
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thanksgiving
is my brother's favorite holiday. He says it's because at the end of the night, he's "thank-FULL". Insert rolling eyes here.
With Thanksgiving a couple of days away, it's been pretty busy at work, getting stuff ready for Black Friday and whatnot. From Black Friday on through Christmas Eve is the period where most retailers make the majority of their money for the year. Hopefully, the store I'm working in currently will do the same, because right now we are running in the red the last few months in a row...including this month. Time for the big turnaround!
It's somewhat unfortunate that most people tend to focus on the holiday of Thanksgiving to realize just how much they have to be thankful for. As much as we juggle priorities...work, family, etc...it's hard to take the moment here and there and be thankful for what you have. It's so easy to think of what you don't, that oftentimes you forget. I know I do. Like for instance, I'm almost always late. Not intentionally, I just misjudge the amount of time it will take me to get to places. I know for a fact that I've never, ever said to someone I have kept waiting, "thanks for sticking around". I've apologized, sure. But I have never said thank you for not ditching me. Sound dumb? Maybe. We'll see if it sounds dumb when I am saying it to you because I was late. Just something small to let whoever know I appreciate them. And I'll probably have to say it tomorrow. I'll let you know how that went.
I have so many things I should be thankful for it's ridiculous. And believe me, I am. For each and every one. I just hope that all of you friends and family out there know how thankful I am for each and every one of you. All of you have done something to make me better and I can't say thanks enough.
So thanks for reading. =) Have a great Thanksgiving.
With Thanksgiving a couple of days away, it's been pretty busy at work, getting stuff ready for Black Friday and whatnot. From Black Friday on through Christmas Eve is the period where most retailers make the majority of their money for the year. Hopefully, the store I'm working in currently will do the same, because right now we are running in the red the last few months in a row...including this month. Time for the big turnaround!
It's somewhat unfortunate that most people tend to focus on the holiday of Thanksgiving to realize just how much they have to be thankful for. As much as we juggle priorities...work, family, etc...it's hard to take the moment here and there and be thankful for what you have. It's so easy to think of what you don't, that oftentimes you forget. I know I do. Like for instance, I'm almost always late. Not intentionally, I just misjudge the amount of time it will take me to get to places. I know for a fact that I've never, ever said to someone I have kept waiting, "thanks for sticking around". I've apologized, sure. But I have never said thank you for not ditching me. Sound dumb? Maybe. We'll see if it sounds dumb when I am saying it to you because I was late. Just something small to let whoever know I appreciate them. And I'll probably have to say it tomorrow. I'll let you know how that went.
I have so many things I should be thankful for it's ridiculous. And believe me, I am. For each and every one. I just hope that all of you friends and family out there know how thankful I am for each and every one of you. All of you have done something to make me better and I can't say thanks enough.
So thanks for reading. =) Have a great Thanksgiving.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Driving
So. I remember when I was learning how to drive how my Dad would always say "there's no excuse for hitting a parked car". I can understand the logic. It's a stationary target. You are in control (presumably) of the car you are driving and can certainly avoid hitting it, whereas it has no way of avoiding YOU. When I hit the only parked car I've ever hit, I remember two things. 1) How did I hit a parked ORANGE car??!! and 2) Don't tell Dad. hahahaha
So when I heard the other day about the Cosco Busan, the freighter that hit the Bay Bridge, I was somewhat confused. If hitting a parked car is driving sin #1, what is hitting a BRIDGE worth? The Bay Bridge is 71 years old. Older by 6 months than its far more famous sister, the Golden Gate. How do you hit a BRIDGE? Excuses have been flying, like you'd expect. Fog, bad radar, bad pilot, bad captain, no speakee English. But the bottom line is pretty simple. You hit , I'll say it again, a BRIDGE!
In addition to the whole hitting the bridge thing (a BRIDGE!!) the collision has caused one of the worst ecological events in the Bay's history. What is certain to be a lingering question is, "how does this get fixed...and WHO gets to fix it?" Will the shipping company be held liable? Will the captain...the pilot...? Who will be responsible for the countless fish, birds, and all the other animals in the Bay who are affected? Who knows. Those answers will probably not be known for years. Who pays all the fishermen who are out of work now that they have nothing edible to fish? The crabbers who have no crabs to catch?
Good grief. Or, as someone I know would say in what is an attempt to bring this utterly underused phrase back to its rightful place of prominence, "HOLY MOLY".
So when I heard the other day about the Cosco Busan, the freighter that hit the Bay Bridge, I was somewhat confused. If hitting a parked car is driving sin #1, what is hitting a BRIDGE worth? The Bay Bridge is 71 years old. Older by 6 months than its far more famous sister, the Golden Gate. How do you hit a BRIDGE? Excuses have been flying, like you'd expect. Fog, bad radar, bad pilot, bad captain, no speakee English. But the bottom line is pretty simple. You hit , I'll say it again, a BRIDGE!
In addition to the whole hitting the bridge thing (a BRIDGE!!) the collision has caused one of the worst ecological events in the Bay's history. What is certain to be a lingering question is, "how does this get fixed...and WHO gets to fix it?" Will the shipping company be held liable? Will the captain...the pilot...? Who will be responsible for the countless fish, birds, and all the other animals in the Bay who are affected? Who knows. Those answers will probably not be known for years. Who pays all the fishermen who are out of work now that they have nothing edible to fish? The crabbers who have no crabs to catch?
Good grief. Or, as someone I know would say in what is an attempt to bring this utterly underused phrase back to its rightful place of prominence, "HOLY MOLY".
Thursday, November 15, 2007
ahhh yes, I can't sleep
So I can't sleep. Or I should say, I'm not tired. At least, not REALLY. Wednesday was kind of an odd day.
I got to work early, but not as early as I wanted to be because I forgot to change my alarm to the correct time...something I VERY rarely forget to do. Normally this isn't an issue because my phone is my backup alarm, but I forgot to change THAT too. Oops.
I found out I had to go to Vallejo right at what would have been the end of my shift. That did not make me happy. Especially since I didn't know how long I'd have to be there, and since I knew I had softball at 7:30 which would take me a little over an hour to get to. And get there I did, right before the first pitch, perfectly content to sub in late in the game. Wrong. First inning, our right-centerfielder steps squarely in a crater just before the first-base bag, turns his ankle, and BLAM, I'm playing. We lost. No bueno. Maybe Arch going down was a sign, foreshadowing what was to come. Who knows. All I know is that we lost.
Now for the not so odd part. I really had fun tonight. Despite losing the softball game, it was good to see everyone there. Got to spend some quality time. AND we played Scrabble. In the car, and in Mr. Pizza Man. I would go into more detail, but for two things. 1) I lost, and 2) I'm not the only person who wanted to write about that and she's much more eloquent (among many other things) than am I.
Fun fun fun =) Good night now.
I got to work early, but not as early as I wanted to be because I forgot to change my alarm to the correct time...something I VERY rarely forget to do. Normally this isn't an issue because my phone is my backup alarm, but I forgot to change THAT too. Oops.
I found out I had to go to Vallejo right at what would have been the end of my shift. That did not make me happy. Especially since I didn't know how long I'd have to be there, and since I knew I had softball at 7:30 which would take me a little over an hour to get to. And get there I did, right before the first pitch, perfectly content to sub in late in the game. Wrong. First inning, our right-centerfielder steps squarely in a crater just before the first-base bag, turns his ankle, and BLAM, I'm playing. We lost. No bueno. Maybe Arch going down was a sign, foreshadowing what was to come. Who knows. All I know is that we lost.
Now for the not so odd part. I really had fun tonight. Despite losing the softball game, it was good to see everyone there. Got to spend some quality time. AND we played Scrabble. In the car, and in Mr. Pizza Man. I would go into more detail, but for two things. 1) I lost, and 2) I'm not the only person who wanted to write about that and she's much more eloquent (among many other things) than am I.
Fun fun fun =) Good night now.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Walking
I like to walk. Long, leisurely walks along the water. The water is key. Hearing the waves brush against a pier relaxes me. Watching them pound against the rocks reminds me just how powerful Nature is.
As I walked along the Berkeley Pier tonight, the sheer length (about a half-mile) allowed for some thought. Among several other things, I realized just how much I am going to miss being able to take these walks after I move. I mean, I still can. But I'm going to have to drive 40 miles to do it, and I know I'm not going to do that. The San Ramon area is going to have to suffice. Maybe I can find something out there to captivate me and make me want to walk like I so enjoy doing here. My friend suggested Mt. Diablo, where there are many hikes to be made. We shall see.
Also, one of the wonders of life: best friends. Lucky am I to have not one, but two. Two people who combined, probably know more about me than my own family. Then again...in a way, they really are family. Amazing.
And...I find myself in the VERY unfamiliar position of being able to smile as I drift into thought. As I walked I began to smile again, as the song "Collide" whispered through my headphones. I always liked the song, but always thought it didn't apply to me. Till now. And THAT really makes me smile.
As I walked along the Berkeley Pier tonight, the sheer length (about a half-mile) allowed for some thought. Among several other things, I realized just how much I am going to miss being able to take these walks after I move. I mean, I still can. But I'm going to have to drive 40 miles to do it, and I know I'm not going to do that. The San Ramon area is going to have to suffice. Maybe I can find something out there to captivate me and make me want to walk like I so enjoy doing here. My friend suggested Mt. Diablo, where there are many hikes to be made. We shall see.
Also, one of the wonders of life: best friends. Lucky am I to have not one, but two. Two people who combined, probably know more about me than my own family. Then again...in a way, they really are family. Amazing.
And...I find myself in the VERY unfamiliar position of being able to smile as I drift into thought. As I walked I began to smile again, as the song "Collide" whispered through my headphones. I always liked the song, but always thought it didn't apply to me. Till now. And THAT really makes me smile.
Monday, November 5, 2007
ahhhh...the weekend
So last weekend actually started for me a little more than a month ago when plans started to become a little more concrete. I say that it started then because I've basically been looking forward to it since that time. For those of you who don't know, two of my favorite things in the world to do are 1) to de-stress somewhere relaxing and 2) hang out with friends/family. Lucky me I got to do both this weekend, in Tahoe no less...a place I hold near and dear.
The house? AWESOME. Pool table. Air hockey. Darts. Fireplaces. Hot tub. Did I mention pool table...in the living room?! Many, many props to our intrepid travel agent for finding this place, not to mention for being the force that gathered us together for what turned out to be an absolute blast. And for simply being terrific in general =)
Pictures are to follow, as all of us brought cameras...Asian people trip, what can I say...but suffice it to say that they will not do the weekend's fun justice. The sheer quantity of pics taken serves only to help remember the good times had, hopefully by all.
The funny part about it is that we probably got less sleep individually over the entire weekend than we did last night when we got home. For me, I got about an hour's sleep Thursday-Friday, about 3 Friday-Saturday and about 4 Saturday-Sunday. Last night, I was sleeping by 1am and didn't wake up till about 9 after a very brief wake-up call delivery earlier.
The weekend consisted of four primary elements outside of the aforementioned hanging out and relaxing: 1) Pool, 2) Scrabble, 3) Catch Phrase, and 4) EATING. We did a lot of each and I discovered a few things as well...I like playing pool again...I LOVE Scrabble (geek!)...playing Catch Phrase with large groups is a riot (guys v. girls is especially funny)...and well, eating is self-explanatory. There was also shopping yesterday, and karaoke. Lots of karaoke. All I know is that I sound so much better in my car. And I need to find a way to get a pool table.
A nice, drama-free weekend. Just the way I like. Spending a lot of time with some of my favorite people...new and old friends alike. I feel especially fortunate to have been able to have been able to go, as I had an even better time than I had anticipated. Everyone should have a chance to be as lucky as I was this weekend.
The house? AWESOME. Pool table. Air hockey. Darts. Fireplaces. Hot tub. Did I mention pool table...in the living room?! Many, many props to our intrepid travel agent for finding this place, not to mention for being the force that gathered us together for what turned out to be an absolute blast. And for simply being terrific in general =)
Pictures are to follow, as all of us brought cameras...Asian people trip, what can I say...but suffice it to say that they will not do the weekend's fun justice. The sheer quantity of pics taken serves only to help remember the good times had, hopefully by all.
The funny part about it is that we probably got less sleep individually over the entire weekend than we did last night when we got home. For me, I got about an hour's sleep Thursday-Friday, about 3 Friday-Saturday and about 4 Saturday-Sunday. Last night, I was sleeping by 1am and didn't wake up till about 9 after a very brief wake-up call delivery earlier.
The weekend consisted of four primary elements outside of the aforementioned hanging out and relaxing: 1) Pool, 2) Scrabble, 3) Catch Phrase, and 4) EATING. We did a lot of each and I discovered a few things as well...I like playing pool again...I LOVE Scrabble (geek!)...playing Catch Phrase with large groups is a riot (guys v. girls is especially funny)...and well, eating is self-explanatory. There was also shopping yesterday, and karaoke. Lots of karaoke. All I know is that I sound so much better in my car. And I need to find a way to get a pool table.
A nice, drama-free weekend. Just the way I like. Spending a lot of time with some of my favorite people...new and old friends alike. I feel especially fortunate to have been able to have been able to go, as I had an even better time than I had anticipated. Everyone should have a chance to be as lucky as I was this weekend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)