the san fran experience

i returned to hawaii last week saturday. in hindsight, i'm glad i had the opportunity to have some time to relax and explore a whole new city - especially since i didn't have to dish out a single dollar to do it!

i stayed in the hilton san francisco financial district hotel which was right in the middle of chinatown, and just a few blocks away from little italy. i had a breathtaking view from my hotel room (above) that overlooked the bay area including alcatraz, coit tower, and a lot of the city lights. but what i really loved was coming back to a totally clean hotel room with fresh towels! i'm wierd like that, i guess. after the trainings every day i would call brandon and we would just talk for hours. that was the only way we could justify being apart from each other.

i made sure to visit the golden gate bridge, take a stroll through fisherman's wharf, see the beautiful victorian homes, go to ghiradelli square, check out the haight ashbury district, shop at union square, and also see the "crookedest street in the world" - lombard street! it's a gorgeous city with steep hills everywhere, and no freeways. i was told that there are more than 3,000 restaurants in san francisco - which means you could go to a different place to eat lunch and dinner every day for three years and never go to the same place...such variety! i also heard the mexican restaurant "chipotle" had some grindz so i enjoyed myself some lunch there just a few blocks away from my training. it was delicioso. we so need one of those (among many other restaurants & stores) in hawaii.

i was also able to see a few famous places such as: jerry garcia's old home, the school where they shot "the princess diaries", the home where they filmed "mrs. doubtfire", and the row of colorful victorian homes shown on "full house". the only unfortunate thing was that i couldn't experience all of these wonderful things with my family. i was wishing they were with me the entire time...well, except for those long hours sitting in a training room being reminded how a student's financial aid package works. i doubt they would have wanted to endure those sessions with me.

the week-long experience in san francisco only made me want to explore more amazing destinations - next time will definitely be with my family. road trip, anyone?

here's to you, grandpa

the trooper of all troopers. my grandfather ("papa chang" to most) was born on may 10, 1911. this translates the fact that he is 97 years old now. unfortunately, the current circumstances of grandpa's health are appearing dim as time is finally taking it's toll on this great man's body. it is a bittersweet time for our family as we know that he will be in a better place after he leaves us, yet difficult knowing that we won't be able to be physically near him.

i took off of work today to spend a little more time with him. for as long as i've known him, his memory was always in excellent shape - telling me about his high school classmates from 1932, his post office career, and even about how his monthly income was a whopping $80! inflation's a killer, aye grampa?

the past few nights many family members, ward members, neighbors, and old friends have been coming by to visit and demonstrate their love for our dear grandfather. i am surely grateful for the opportunities that i have had in the past to care for him and my grandma. the older generation can be tough to understand and deal with at times...but the wisdom and appreciation that they return to you makes the rest so worthwhile.

we love you, gramps.

eight

"tagged" by tisa...

8 favorite tv shows:

1. friends
2. seinfeld
3. gilmore girls
4. jon & kate plus 8
5. king of queens
6. the hills
7. most food network shows
8. and that's about it...

8 things i did yesterday:

1. caught a few taxis
2. ate breakfast at cafe algiers
3. went to the u.s. department of education's federal aid training
4. had lunch at chipotle
5. talked to brandon for hours
6. said "hi" to ahonui
7. read some of "new moon"
8. order pizza from my hotel room

8 things i'm looking forward to:

1. going home to my family!!!
2. a family vacation this summer
3. finishing the twilight series
4. 2011 trip to our new zealand whanau reunion
5. a day at the beach with my family
6. lose weight!
7. a date night with brandon
8. another baby?

8 favorite restaurants:

1. macaroni grill
2. cafe rio
3. blazin' steaks
4. ruby tuesdays
5. cheesecake factory
6. ihop (for the pancakes)
7. hukilau cafe
8. chart house

8 things on my wish list:

1. an iphone 3g (ahonui broke my last one...naughty!)
2. a videocamera to capture our family's "precious moments"
3. a new car!
4. more play time with ahonui
5. a constantly immaculate home
6. visit my friends & family in utah
7. be a stay-at-home mother
8. have our own home - in hawaii!

i tag anyone who feels the urge to follow...

it must have slipped my mind...

being off "the rock" made me realize a few things...

• the definition of "cold" is vastly underestimated when you're in a tropical climate.
• "alone" rings even more true in an empty hotel room.
• the phrase "i miss you" doesn't even begin to describe the feelings a woman has for her husband & child when you're thousands of miles apart.
• "narcolepsy" takes effect on my body between 9:30am - 11:55am and 1:20pm - 4:30pm.
• there's more places to eat lunch than mcdonalds, subway, taco bell, pizza hut, and L&Ls.
• slippers just don't cut it in 40-50 degree weather.
• "boogers" turn into rocks in your nostrils while in the mainland.
• taxi drivers can either be quite friendly or quite koo-koo.
• more time on your hands just means that you are spending more time away from your family.

i can't wait to come home!