Wander Life

Because I Car...ol (and other cheesy randomness)

Well, I almost didn't want to do a new post because I just loved that vineyard picture so much...but I guess since I've never been particularly sentimental, no need to start now.  On to the next.  : )

Actually, there's really not too much new to report besides that I went caroling on Monday night and had a doctor's visit this morning...which is news worthy because I haven't been to a doctor in America in about 6.5 years.  (Unfortunately, now I've been told to "stay off" my ankle as much as possible, i.e. no running...which is exactly what I knew would happen and was why I didn't want to go in the first place, but anyway...since I am, indeed, in America, I guess I can't just pretend that I didn't understand what the doctor said, ay?  Sigh.  Hopefully, it'll get better soon, though.  They said they'd do X-rays, if I still need them, after Christmas if I stop running on it and let the swelling go down - pretty picky if you ask me, but...I'll give it a try.  : )) 

Anyways, now that you've heard the long parenthetical story on that, let's move on...to pictures!  These are just some that have been passed on to me from others.  Enjoy the randomness.  (I know I sure do!)

So, the one that you've already seen in the top right is of our caroling gang - the cool thing about where I work is that I have a lot of co-workers who, like me, have previously taught in Asia.  Of course, my co-workers who haven't taught in Asia are still very cool, so...I guess I have no real point there.  But, yeah, everyone in this picture taught in China at one point, and now I work with them in California.  And for some reason, I think that's neat.  : )

And speaking of Asia, I got more sign pictures passed on to me (this time, a friend found them on the website Engrish.com), and I thought I'd share a few of my favorites (which are, obviously, just kind of scattered around this page).

And that's about it.  Oh, and here's one more of me from this weekend at the winery.  I feel like there's a pun begging to be made regarding this picture - like I need to write a Christmas letter just so I can send this along with the words "Hope your Christmas is barrels of fun!" printed on it.  ...I know, it's a gift.  : )

So, anyway, happy mid-week.  I fly home on Friday!  If only I had a Spoony bag to take with me on the plane....  Oh, that Spoony - what a character....     

Wine Country

  Today was a beautiful day.  And what better way to celebrate it than by going wine tasting at the famed vineyards around Santa Barbara?

Friend Daphne, along with some of her school chums (whom I'm really starting to like), had the brilliant idea of taking the hour-and-a-half drive out there and making a day of it.  And because I begged, they let me drive, which I must say was half the fun - from Pasadena, you just basically get on one road heading west and then follow it north as it turns into the splendid coastal highway of 101.  ...Some day I  just may have to take it all the way to San Francisco.

Throughout the day, we took in the gorgeous sights of the landscape, ate cheese and tasted wine (the chardonnays were my favorite).  Once we had our fill, we made our way to what can really only be described as an off-the-beaten-path-motorcycle-gang tavern (see bottom right picture in collage #1).  D learned of it from a friend...who heard it from a friend who's roommate's mom used to hang out there back in her college days.  Or something like that....

As one of our crew, Sarah, described the whole scene, it felt like we "accidental stumbled into somebody else's party," but, luckily, they didn't really seem to mind.  It was a pretty cool place...with mighty good tri-tip sandwiches (as you may be able to tell from these lovely pictures that D took of me woofing it down...the messy means it's working?  You can also see that T was very, very excited about the whole thing).  : )

So, that was the day.  It was a keeper.  As for tomorrow...back to work.  Then caroling.  So, that should be a good time.  The big news, however, is that it's my old teammate K's birthday!  Huzzah!  Happy Birthday, K!  And as all good things come in pairs, it's also a former ECHO roommate's birthday.  That would be former New Yorker C (who, now that I don't live there anymore, currently resides in Portland; like ships in the night, my friend).  Anyway, big birthday wishes to both these excellent pals - I had a great time wine tasting on your behalves.  : )  Next Friday is my niece Jules' great big 1st B-day, too...and I'm flying home just in time.  I tell ya, sometimes there's just too much excitement. 

Hope all of enjoy seeing some new sights and finding some new flavors, as well - wherever you are.  Happy pre-Christmas week!         

All Things Christmasy

Things of this past week:

Went to Old Town Pasadena for a co-worker's birthday (curry & frozen yoghurt are always in order for such an occasion).  It's nicely decorated for Christmas down there, what with the tree and, naturally, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" being projected on the side of the Crate & Barrel building.  Classic.

On Thursday, we had our staff Christmas party.  My department joined forces with a few others and performed "The Twelve Days After Christmas" (as my idea of an interpretative dance was shot down), so that was, um, fun?  : )  Actually, yeah, it was fine.  The best thing, though, was that all of our States-based personnel were together, which is really quite rare.  When we move to Colorado, I guess that'll be the norm, but for now...it's kind of a once-a-year Christmas deal.  Of course, we all still sat next to the people we usually work with, but, you know, interesting to put some new faces to names. 

And after the party, a group of us decided that what was really  needed to cap it all off was a Disneyland run.  Sure, I had just gone on Saturday, but, you know, might as well put the annual pass to work sooner than later....  Plus, we also went to California Adventure (which is the adjacent park and which you can also use the pass to get in to), and that was my first time there.  And besides, no two trips to Disney are ever really the same, right?  ...Well, actually, that's probably not true - I think it's pretty much the same every time  (I mean, those kids have been singing that same small world song for over 50 years), but, like with most things, it's always fun to go with different people or at different times of the year or for different occasions and what not.  And, hey, I got to see "snow" in Southern California again, so that alone is pretty much worth it.   : )

So, yeah, that was pretty much the week: festive.  And in true holiday spirit, I saw "I Am Legend" last night.  'Cause nothing says Christmas like the end-of-the-world.  : )  I also saw "Enchanted," but...some things are best left unsaid.  There's a cheap movie theatre nearby, so...you take what you can get.

Tonight, I'm going to a co-worker's son's jazz performance ('cause it's at the high school across the street from me), and tomorrow...maybe something.  For now, though, I should probably just get out of my PJs (I have an excuse, though: I was on the phone for a good bit this morning to a friend of mine in Guatemala - thanks for calling, J!) and do some laundry.  Christmas laundry, that is (...it just sounds more fun if I say that way).  Have a good weekend!      

Don't fight the Happy

So, as it turns out, resistance is futile: I am now a card-carrying annual member of the happiest place on earth.  I don't know how I thought I could fight it, seeing as how I only live 30 minutes away, but, yes, the moment finally came on Saturday when I gave in and made my way to...Disneyland.

It was the first time that I had been since moving down here.  And the last time before that was 10 years ago - during my freshman year of college, my soccer team made a little side trip while playing some schools down here.  I had been to Disneyworld twice since, but...that's Florida.  And it's a "world" - way different than a "land."  : )

Of course, the park was a lot different from how I remembered it - some things have changed...and some just seem like they have.  But it was fun just to spend the day there, exploring and people-watching.  The rides, of course, were fine (especially since the lines were small, as it was a bit cloudy and, therefore, not crowded), but the best thing was probably the fact that it was all decked out for   Christmas.  The castle and Small World village were all lit up, and after the fireworks, they turned on these suds machines that made all the kids scream, "Snow!"  Although this makes me pity Southern Californian children a little (is this really what they grow up perceiving snow to be like?), it was pretty cool looking, and, heck, if that's the closest they can come down here, well then...it's better than nothing, I say.

So, yeah, that was Disneyland.  Hopefully, I can go again if some of my family makes it down in the spring.  I especially think it'd be fun to go with my nieces - it really must be quite an amazing place for kids....

And here are some pictures.  Here's me and my co-worker friend, Shannon, whom I went with.  She just wanted to go, so...we went.  And here's the Small World all lit up.  Then we've got the view from Main Street and the quintessential reindeer.

Then there's Splash mountain and a random Yoda backpack (like I said, I enjoyed the people watching).  : )

So, yeah, that's pretty much it.  Today was my department Christmas party and another co-worker's birthday (which was a cause to go into Old Pasadena and eat frozen yoghurt and see the town Christmas tree), so maybe I'll put up some pictures from that later.  But now it's time for bed...'cause, yes, I do actually work from time to time, too.  Not every day can be a Disney day...or even a frozen yoghurt day.  Except maybe in our hearts?  : )

 

 

I Ran; I Ate; I Puffy Painted!

Well, it wasn't quite as fast as I would have liked, but...I finished.  I can now check "run half marathon" off the list.  : )

So, yeah, I didn't get too many pictures (ok, I only got one) 'cause I had to check my gear at the start, but here's one of the "staging area."  It was in the LA Zoo parking lot.  Since we had to be there between 5:00 and 6:30 (A.M.), everyone was huddled around the heaters that were provided.  Even in SoCal, early mornings in December are chilly.  I think more to keep us distracted than anything, there was also a band there (they're the tiny speck in the left of the picture).

As far as the race goes, it was fine, I guess.  I don't think I had ever run 13 miles before (I think I ran 9 once several years ago - just with my mom one time on our own...though that might have only been 7.5; but other than that, I usually don't do more than 5), so I was interested to see how it'd go. 

I was trying for a 9-minute mile pace, and at mile 6, I was right on: 54 minutes.  At nine miles, I was still feeling pretty good - just two minutes off pace.  But those last three miles?  Well, those of you who are of Scandinavian heritage will know exactly what I mean when I say...Oofdah!  (And for those non-Scandinavians out there...I think you can probably figure it out.)  ...I never had to stop and walk, but, by the end, I don't know that you would have been able to tell.  : )

Anyway, I finished in just under 2 hours in 8 minutes - 2:7:50 or something, maybe.  At 13.1 miles (or something like that)...I didn't make nine-minute averages, but I did a little better than 10s.  So...good enough.  The way I figure it, soccer games are only 90 minutes, so...what's the point in running any longer than that?  : )

And after the race, I was driving home, and I finally saw the Hollywood sign.  Don't know if you can see  it there in the distance of this picture, but...trust me, I saw it (I mean, yes, I could have a been a little delusional after the race, but...not in this case).

And speaking of pictures, I just noticed that I had some others on my camera that I had forgotten about.  Here are a couple more from Thanksgiving: 1) my mom made this really good appetizer (which, as you can see, my brother and I enjoyed [as did everyone else] - it's craisins, walnuts, Brie cheese and a brown sugar sauce on crackers);

and 2) a Christmas season tradition of my family is to make a Norwegian cookie called Krumkaka (which I can't really explain; maybe sort of like an ice cream cone?).

Then the rest of these are from the aforementioned puffy paint decorating sweatshirt party last night.  I'm not sure if it's the best pre-race ritual (as I only got 5.5 hours of sleep, and my dinner consisted of cookies and jalapeno poppers), but still...quite a lot of fun.  I had gone to Goodwill and picked up a sweatshirt with a cow (and the word "moo!") on it.  Then, as you can see, it was simply of a matter of "Christmas-tizing" it.  : )

      

Alright, I think that's more than enough for now.  I'm actually a tad sore (more from the race than the puffy painting...I think), so reading (and not moving) might have to be the rest of the day's agenda.  : )

Sign of the Times

Well, not too much new to report.  Except that my sister made me a new banner.  I like it.  Some of my all-time classic sign pictures from China. 

I love the last line of that pizza one - it's like, there's just no word to describe it, so they say "can bring you what."  That's like a note that a student wrote to a fellow teacher during my first year in China.  She was trying to say something was great (I guess), and she just said, "It's really!"

Sometimes when I'm writing (which seem to be times far and few between now days, but still...), that's pretty much how I'd like to say something - maybe there's just not an adjective that really sums up an emotion accurately enough.  Or maybe you just want to leave it up to the interpretation of the reader.  Anyway...that's my thought on words for the day.

So, yeah, I have no pictures for this entry - sorry.  I might get some tomorrow, though, since I'm running my half marathon in the morning.  The date actually kind of sneaked (snook?) up on me, so I'm not really prepared.  But should be fun, anyway.  As the lady in that one Seinfeld episode would say, "You're all winners!"  : )

And I guess that's about it for now.  I played some flag football this morning then ran errands all day: laundry, grocery shopping...the usual.  Tonight, I'm getting together with some co-workers for a "puffy-paint decorating sweatshirts" party.  Hey, it's Christmas time - I don't ask; I just go along with the festivities.  It's really!  : ) 

Anyway, hope everyone's December is starting well.  Let the merriment begin!