Saying Goodbye is hard to do

Although we still have 12 days left here in United States, we are already feeling sad to leave. Of course, we are looking forward to see our families and friends at home, whom we have missed very very much. And we have only been here for 3 months, so how come we have grown so attached to this place?

Well, I didn't think that was ever going to happen. I mean 3 months is not a long time to become attached to one place. But the feeling is beginning to build within us and it is building strong.

And yes, we did visit the world famous San Diego zoo here. And yeah, we queued and saw the pandas. But you might want to take note that the Wild Animal Park is a must see as well. The gorillas there are so majestic, especially the silver back. And yup, Seaworld was great, we saw the holiday night show special with the Shamus, and Legoland was great. Just amazing how they can built a mini USA.

Here are some pictures:

Look at the mama Panda and baby panda sleeping on the tree. Love that butt.


So what do you think of the sliver back:



Here is Shamu:


Those of you who have visited Vegas, what do you think of this? They are lego version.


And what do you prefer: Hollywood or Legowood

But, these are not the things that gripped our hearts. Not all at, but of course, it is great that we get to visit them.

What we are going to miss a great deal are the friends we have met, come to grow close with. It has been such a great experience. WEP's trainers from the US Navy are fantastic and our church family here are the most loving. We are going to miss them most and in our deepest of hearts, we really didn't want to leave. It is hard to think that we need to say goodbye so soon and time has flew past so fast. How we wish we could pack them all home. The kids are so precious.


Aren't they cute?

Thick Fog

We experienced our first thick fog coming home from New Year's countdown on 01 Jan 2009. It was so thick, all we could see is the rear lights of the car in front of us. Never have we been so quiet in the car, all three pairs of eyes glued to our surroundings, allowing WEP to focus on keeping to our lane (with all this curls) using the cat eyes on the floor, and friend and I looking out for cars around us.

As we were concerned that we will miss the junction to change freeway to come home, we turn on our GPS for guidance, thinking that there is no way for us to see the signs in time to make our lane change since the fog is so thick. But just where we reach the portion of road where the freeway is branching out to three different freeways, the road was crystal clear, everything was clear to sight, but strangely, it is not as our landscape has changed, we were not going down a valley or uphill, we were still maintaining the same level road.

In our hearts, we were pretty sure God is at hand, because there is just no reason for that. And soon after we got to the freeway we needed to be on, we were again engulfed thickly by the fog.

I do not know what other explanation can be given to that.

2009 has definitely started well for me

Best New Year countdown ever

Hmm, you must be thinking Countdown in LA, New York or downtown San Diego. Nope, not at all. There was no squeezing with people, no loud music, no shouting numbers (you know the 10...9...8...7 sort of thing), no alcohol, no standing in a cold.

Instead we spent with our church family at Black Mountain, chatting, playing board games and enjoying food brought along by members. Apples to Apples is a great ice breaker board game. Totally hilarious and fun and there is no right answer needed. Definitely a game we will introduce when we get back home. Totally fun.

Cranium is just as fun, it is like a mix of charade, pictionary and more.

This is no better way to countdown to the new year with Battle with the Sexes. Fun, fun, fun and in the comfort of a nice warm home and so much fellowship, getting to know one another better and build relationships.

In the last few months of 2008 here in SD, we have learnt that nothing beats friendship, relationship, being around people, getting to understand how people live here, not Hollywood style, not LA style, not New York style, just simply how people live here. Each in their unique American life, but always full of love, full of warmth, and always so welcoming to us.

So fun was the time we had, that despite having brought my camera, forgotten all about photo taking.

Well I guess it will be well imprinted in our minds and WEP made quite an impression for our American friends today as well. For those of you who know him well, it is along the line of the way he laughs...I am sure some of you know exactly what I meant.

Happy New Year to you all!!!

The Reality of Today's Economy

I believe there are no other time than this that we find more TV shows talking about how to make the most of our money in this times than before. And then there are the shows that teach people how to get or make inexpensive gifts, Xmas decorations and the Xmas meal. All very wonderful. But what really hits me today is to learn that even TV serials are now considered to be cut or put on hold by the economy. And artists are rallying for people to tune in if they really support their show or write in to the editor of the studio to avoid being canned. This is indeed reality!

Why Am I not like my MUMMY?

My mum always amazes me. She is one of the friendliest person you can meet. She understands little about privacy, so it can be tough living with her. But it also serves her very well, which I sometimes wonder what happened to me? Why can't I be like her?

I mean everyone in the neighbourhood are practically her friends, and it is not only that she knows them, she knows who their families are, what issues they have and all that stuff. My mum rocks (in the words of young people these days). Once, I was grocery shopping with her and while waiting for the traffic light to cross the road on our way home, she went over to an old lady and took her grocery bags from her, helped carried the bags till we crossed the road and we had to part ways, chatting about stuff and all. So naturally, I think must be a friend. Turned out, it is not the case. It blew my mind. I mean she just took the bags from the lady, then started a conversation with the lady. Who does that, without the lady thinking she was being robbed and all. But my mummy always get away with things like that.

Another time, she spent a night over at my place while WEP was away. I had the company D&D the night before, so was sleeping in and she said she will go take a walk downstairs. She came up an hour later, packed with information. How much our sweeper earn? Befriended some older neighbours, including who they are and all that and found out about a new coffeeshop and grocery shop opening. All within 1 hour and it was her first stay at my place. Impressive, isn't it? Maybe because I am so different from her.

My mum rocks, at least to me.

My Real Xmas Tree, finally...

I have always wanted to have a real Christmas tree for Christmas when I can. More specifically, the Noble Fir.
First criteria: I have to own my own apartment
Which we met a few years ago (the criteria), but Xmas trees are far too expensive. But I was not for fake trees and won't settle with it, but still wanted something fun and unique. So we did this (as some of you would have remembered).


Now, we are in SD, and most Californians love their real trees for Xmas which was more than fine by me. I I am going to have a tree, a real tree but we got a budget, USD50.

We found 5" Noble Fir for approximately USD35. Hooray. But then we realise we still need a tree stand and a dish to hold the water and Sprite (the food for the tree). The normal tree stand was sold out and the only one available was USD30. We are only going to be here for one Xmas so seems a bit much to spend...Sigh...No tree. I always decorate for Xmas!!!

So we still need something unique and NO FAKE TREE. So what are we left with?

THIS!!! Shrunk from the initial 5" to 1". Cute? (This is before deco)


This is after Deco.


Total cost: USD13. It is a Rosemary plant, so as we celebrate Xmas, we will get herbs for our food. How wonderful. I hope it will still look like a Xmas tree by 25Dec. Hee Hee.

Coronado Bay Bridge

Did you remember about the Coronado Bay Bridge? Well, yesterday there was this huge jam, so huge, it went all the way from the bridge to near our place, which is at least half a mile from the beginning of the Bridge. First time ever in all our time near. Sadly, we later understand that the jam was due to the bridge being closed due to a lady trying to commit suicide. Took a couple of hours before the bridge was reopened. Thankfully, the lady did not make it.