A weekend visiting grown ups...

Last weekend Eugene and I made our last drive up to the bay before crossing the ocean to England. This time we decided to spend some time with our South Bay friends since we usually hit East Bay and SF.

Maybe I'm getting older or maybe it was the gorgeous (but very hot) weather or the fact that our friends live in such nice grown up places... but I like South Bay quite a bit.

We got to hang out with Go and Yana, who greeted us with a glass of wine and some cheese... very adult. Followed with non-Costco sized bath products ... very yuppie adult. And a bomb-ass entertainment system (including surround sound)... very hi tech adult. We also got to see them in action playing soccer with their league... Yana is really good! Go is not too bad either... blocked a ball with his butt and his gut... quite impressively =).

From our base in Santa Clara we easily made the trip to Fremont to see new Mommy Sharon and Daddy Alby and their adorable baby boy Dylan. Born on May 28,2009 at 7lbs 13 oz with Alby's big head (hats off to Sharon) Dylan is a cute baby who I suspect will grow up to be a linebacker. Comparine baby pictures, Dylan looks exactly like Sharon ... except when he cries, then he looks like Alby. Sharon and Alby are real grown ups now, their own house (which is very nicely decorated) and now their own baby. Dylan entertained us for hours, he is a bit like the hulk where when he's working his way up to crying his wole body changes colors (well turns red) and for some reason he is obsessed with whats happening above him, he was always looking up. Eugene I think may have been equally entertained by Alby's SLR, the whole afternoon it sounded like we were in a photo shoot with the constant clicking sound. Although at one point I suspect the boys were just seeing how fast they could shoot and not really focusing on what they were shooting. Oh and they have all these new nifty toys/products for babies now, a baby monitor that has a video feed, a diaper that changes colors when its soiled and a pillow that prevents the baby from rolling off.

From Fremont to Palo Alto we ate at a Yogurtland knock off with James. Even James is a grown up, giving us real estate advice and it was great to hear how much he likes the career path he's taken.

Ended the day with a visit to Santana Row... San Jose's very own pocket of LA... with newlyweds to be Amy and Chris. They're getting married in October and already have a house and a new puppy. Very grown up =) We ate at Pizza Attica... the heirloom potato and truffle oil pizza is divine... as is the mussels appetizers. Dessert at Cocoloa. (BTW I'm sure half these restaurants are spelled incorrectly) And a trip to Blowfish for some really good Mojitos and conversation with some of Amy's HS friends (one of which I learned went to Haas the same year as Amy and me. Small world).

And then right before we left my Uncle treated us to a scrumptious Chinese meal in Cupertino. They made sure we got as much good Chinese food as possible before London.

All in all a very good time ... I love the bay.. be it SF, East or South... you will be missed.

This weekend felt like a very grown up trip, visiting people who have established lives, especially since I feel like Eugene and I are about to be kids again... packing up on a grand adventure for two years. It will be fun to be a grown up... in two years that is.


Side Synopsis (since I'm too busy/lazy to be perfectly updated):
6/24 Kyochan super spicy fried chicken (but free soft serve) with John and Kenny
6/25 Blu Jam Cafe lunch with Dr in training Jessica
6/29 Dodger Game with Canyon IT and family in the Luxury Box (thanks Charles for the carrot cake and beer!)
6/29 Hang out with Eleanor, Danielle and Edwin (also very grown up furniture... we aspire one day to own such nice grown up furniture)
6/30 El Torino lunch with Eleanor and Edwin... YUM! (Note: Always ask for spicy sauce on the side and the Horchata is key)

Good Old Chitown

Just came back from a week back home and got to see a lot of old faces and old haunts.

Saw the Harry Potter Exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry not to mention the pretty cool new U501 exhibit.

A couple of trips to the Morton Arboretum, no rest when you come from a exercise happy family. Walk/Ran 5 miles one day, biked 10 miles the next.


Finally dragged my butt down to downtown Chicago to visit friends. Wildfire, ice cream and Updates with Richard, Lauren and Benson.

Lots of fun giving Richard girl advice and avoiding a crazy man who was following us around. Got my first view of Boystown and whatever the neighboring area we were hanging out in.

Had breakfast with Lauren in Chinatown at a new HK Cafe. Porridge, Fried Noodles and Milk Tea for $5... pretty good deal if you ask me.

Met up with Rich and Nancy at a diner before taking the train back to good ol Lisle.

Add to that a Red Mango stop with newly married couple Mike and Alice and good long talks and nights of mahjong with the family... All in all a good trip home before London

Lessons Learned... Goals Set

It all started in December when I was checking my gmail and finally the long awaited email popped up.  Sender: London Business School.   Subject: London Business School Decision.  Nervous and excited I braced myself for news that would either make or break my Christmas spirit (perhaps a bit dramatic, but LBS was my number one choice and the first school I heard from).  ::Click:: 

Dear Cindy,

 

The Admissions Committee are absolutely delighted to

offer you a place on London Business School's MBA Programme,

starting in August 2009 (MBA2011). 

=D It was going to be a good Christmas...

 

6 months later and waiting for Eugene and my UK visa's to go through (they are under additional consideration...) I'm mentally preparing for our big move and the start of our new adventure.  Part of that is reflecting on the last few months (and the 2 months to come) of storing up on family and friend time and doing all the LA things I was always too lazy to do.  

Highlights include:

• First Trip to Korean Spa and Griffith Observatory with Lauren (childhood/wushu friend)
  
• Really spending quality time with my cousin (in laws) - Kogi Truck, Daikokuya, Jumping Pictures, Lily's (THANKS JJ and GeGe)
  
• Camping Trip to Wrightwood (next time not at end of April when there's still snow on the ground...brrrr)
  
• Birthday at Venice Beach with Sul-lung-tang and fruit soju 
  
• Sujit and Anita's Wedding in Austin - Golf Pubcrawl on 6th St and meeting more of Eugene's college friends
  
• Original Venice Beach monkey boys trip and Santa Monica BBQ Festival
  
• Sumo Wrestler meal and getting to play with Madeline and Natalie and the whole Victor, Wenyi, Eric, Bryant, Roz, Kim, Kelly, Jason crowd
  
•  Memorial Weekend down at the Li's - the unbeatable Lobster and Clams meal, Wild Animal Zoo with Maddy, and the Lakers Game in true Li fashion
  
• Finally dragging my butt down to Chicago to hang out with childhood/wushu friends and HS friends
  
• Harry Potter Exhibit and U501 Exhibit at Museum of Science and Industry with Family
• Most importantly, learning from an amazing cousin to live every day to the fullest and to never take your relationships and loved ones for granted 
  

So what were my lessons learned and what goals have I set? In other words, get to the point. 

Lessons Learned: Don't be Lazy, Do everything you want to do and some you don't.  Time and life is fleeting and precious so make the most of it. 

Goals Set: Maximize time spent with friends and family over the next two months.  Beef up my Chinese and business acumen so I'm not embarrassed at school.  Get back in shape so I can join the women's Rugby team. When in London, make the absolute most of my time there... including friendships, activities, experiences, professional development and most importantly... TRAVEL!!! Oh and to chronicle it all here in this blog