Friday, October 16, 2009

Our Anniversary & Santa Barbara

Cory & I actually got married twice! Officially at City Hall in San Francisco and then at a ceremony with our family and friends present. We celebrate both (hey, why not) but we consider when we got married at City Hall as our official wedding date. On that Friday evening after saying our vows in the Rotunda (which is stunning and the most coveted spot at City Hall) we celebrated with our parents at Boulevard. So now, Cory & I go to Boulevard to celebrate our anniversary. It is always a nice evening. Here we are from our 1st 2nd anniversary.



For our 2nd 2nd anniversary we spent a week in sunny Santa Barbara. We spent the first few days camping near the beach at El Capitan. It was very nice. A bit colder that expected but we managed. Because we've been camping several times this summer, I've gotten pretty good at getting our gear and stuff ready for our trip. I've learned the best way to pack our cooler and food bins. Organize our gear so when we arrive we have what we need first on top so nothing has to be unpacked and therefore get dusty before our tent is up. You learn fast when what you do wrong ends up meaning you don't eat when your hungry or your pillow gets a bit dusty. However, despite my organizational skill, it is inevitable that something gets left behind. One time I forgot our can opener. That stunk because we had to get into our beans. Luckily there was a nice family that helped us out. Now we have one that is in our utensil container that is always in our camping bin. I know that I've forgotten other things but not as bad as when we went to SB.






It is my job to get our gear and food ready for the trip. It is Cory's job to pack the car. We arrived at our site. Inspected it to find the best place to put the tent. (We once put our tent up and realized when we went to bed that it was directly facing a flood light way across the camping grounds!!) We set up our tent as usual. Then Cory went to get the bedding gear. Mattress pads, pillows, & sleeping bags. I'm inside the tent setting up our pads and he calls for me and says, "honey, you know what we forgot..." and instantly I look at him and say, "Sleeping bags!" How could we have forgotten them. I was so angry. I should of remember them. Then I said to him, "How could you of not noticed that you didn't pack them in the car?" Just like I forgot them, he didn't even noticed. Cory went to UCSB and so he lived in a town called Isla Vista about 10 minuets away. He knew of a sporting good store. Thank heavens!! So we ditched our site and headed to town. We picked up two sleeping bags and headed to this pizza joint for pizza and some Monday Night Football! I love camping! Oh, and we ended up returning the sleeping bags when we were done with them!







On Wednesday we deep sea fishing. Didn't seem like we went that far out but whatever, I'm not a fisherman how far do I really know it is?? Anyhow, we had a fun time. Except for the part where I was supposed to put a live fish on the end of my hook. They had sardines in these shallow tanks on the boat and you're supposed to pick a fish up and then hang onto it as it flips and flops in your hand, desperately trying to free itself. As if it knows the fate that looms. Then, you're supposed to put your hook gently but firmly as you don't want to kill it, into a spot about it's nose. Really! Seriously? I don't think so. I couldn't even catch one in my hand let alone stick a hook thorough it's nose. They also had bits of cut up squid that I happily put on the end up my hook. We ended up catching some good fish. Actually Cory did. All I was able to catch was a tiny rock fish that wasn't big enough to keep but apparently made good eats and lots of mackerel which makes crappy eats but apparently makes good bait. So the mackerel I caught the deck hand just cut up for more bait. Oh well. The fish you caught you could keep. For $1 Casey would clean your fish for you. But because most people were staying in hotels they didn't want their fish. But because we were camping and had a cooler we took a bunch of fish back with us. We even cooked up our fish for dinner that night. It was super yummy. I've never eaten fish that fresh before.




We camped until Thursday. In the morning I made coffee and scrambled up the rest of our eggs and put all the leftover veggies that I had brought with us for taco Tuesday and made fun eggs!! Cooked up the rest of our bacon and heated up leftover potato. We had a feast! Then we broke down camp and headed to Santa Barbara to check into our hotel. We stayed until Saturday.










On Friday we went down to the beach to read and have lunch. We ended up falling asleep and when I awoke this is what I saw. I couldn't quite figure out what was going on. I look over to Cory who had also dozed off and was looking lovingly at me. I whispered holy crap and told him to look up. We both started to giggle. It was so strange that I just couldn't stop look at it. Then he flipped over. But he didn't want to squish it so he propped himself up with his knees. At this point Cory & I were just dying with laughter. It was so absurd and so funny. I figured we better leave before he heard us laughing! (The pictures are small but if you want to get a better look, click on them.)















Santa Barbara, you just gotta see it for yourself!


Monday, March 16, 2009

North Lake Tahoe



Here are some videos of Cory and I skiing at Northstar. We took the videos at the end of the day when we were both pretty tired and the snow was getting a bit slushy but I had lots of fun skiing with one hand holding my poles and the other holding the camera. We started at the top of the mountain on a black run and then headed down to the bottom of the mountain. As you get toward the bottom of the mountain the runs become increasingly easier which means the runs are more crowded with beginner skiers and snowboarders. At one point, Cory told me he was done with me taking videos of him. And at that point we were amongst a lot of beginners. We were maneuvering around them. I had the camera in one hand and my poles in the other and I was just about to put the camera away when I ate it! And I almost took Cory out. I veered towards him and almost got myself righted but then at the last second couldn't and landed on my stomach. The entire time I was worried that I'd break the camera but it was fine, I managed to turn it off before I went down. The only thing damaged was my ego! Flat on my stomach on a green run!! I was hoping that I had captured my fall on the camera but I guess I had stopped it when Cory told me to. I actually did what he said. That's a first!!





This is the start of the fun! We started at the top of the mountain on a black run and worked our way down the mountain.






This video, a bit before the 1 minuet mark, you can kind of see a kid down on the left but you can really hear the kid crying. I remember seeing the kid fall and laughing. Not very nice of me. Then Cory decided to goof around and ski like a beginner. You'll see him snow plowing!! Pretty funny. We are skiing down on a green run so you'll see lots of beginners.









Cory and I ski at different levels so we usually split up in the morning and he'll ski the back of the mountain which is usually more difficult. Before we split up he told me that he wondered what would happen if I fell and then got knocked out cold because no one would see me in my white snow gear!! Boy, that made me feel confidant. On the chair lift, I ended up ridding up with a ski patrol guy and two other gentleman. I told told them what Cory said to me and they laughed!! But the patrol guy said that someone would end up seeing me! And if no one did, one guy suggested just to yell for help until someone saved me. Actually, Cory thinks I am a better skier than I think I am. I can ski black diamond runs. It may not always be pretty but I can manage to get myself down the mountain. And here is me skiing down a black. But I must say, Northstar's blacks are very easy to get down.











This trip, Cory and stayed at North Shore. We usually stay at South Lake Tahoe. I must say that I really liked North Shore much better. It is much smaller and much more beautiful. Right on the lake and surrounded by trees. We stayed at the CalNeva, which left something to be desired. It was a dump. Cheap but not very nice or clean. With only a few small casinos around we managed to find two seats at a blackjack table. Several hours and too many beers later we walked away down. But we had a fun time. Towards the end of the night it was just us and a guy who had no clue what he was doing. It is hard to play with people who have no idea how to play the game. What you do affects what happens at the table. But anyhow... we had fun.















Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Our house

Here is a tour of our place. It is a loft in SOMA (South of Market). We are just a few blocks from the SF Giant's ballpark. Asides for the occasional homeless sleeping in front our our building it is a nice neighborhood. But because we are so close to the ballpark, on game day there are tons of Giant fans all over. They clog the streets and make going anywhere a headache.

We are also very close to the Ferry Building which on Saturday has one of the best farmer's market around. It is a wonderful place to get fresh produce. We just have to be careful not to buy too much fruit in one visit!! Too many time we've had peaches rot on the counter. But I love to go to the market on Saturday and peruse all the fresh fruit and veggies!







Monday, January 12, 2009

Sweet Cassidy

I had lunch with my dad today and showed him pictures from Thanksgiving and that is when I realized that I hadn't shared the pictures. My dad fell in love with one so much that I ended up giving it too him, frame and all! And I must say, that it was the picture that was next to my bed that I would see when I awoke each morning. And I gave him one that was taped on our fridge. (The only one since magnets don't work!) Both my dad I agree that Cassidy is a keeper and that she is the sweetest baby that we know!! We all just adore her!



I just wanted to post some fun pictures of our Thanksgiving. (Very late, I know!!) My brother Marky and his wife Sandi and their daughter Cassidy came from London and my brother David and his wife Christina came from all the way from Holland to have some turkey. It was a great time! So long as there was no baby vomit!





This is the picture that I had framed and next to my bed. I took it when I was watching her while my brother played golf with our parents and Sandi got some well deserved time sans baby. And Auntie Christina got some well deserved Cassidy time. I really appreciated Sandi trusting me enough to watch her alone. It was fun to play with her without anyone distracting her. Although, she loves the camera! She is sitting on my lap and I was trying to take a picture of her but she kept trying to grab the camera!! What a rascal.






This is the picture that I had taped to our fridge. I love this picture! Cassidy was making this funny sound by blowing air in and out of her nose! It was so funny! I just love seeing my dad with his first grandchild.














Cassidy is so well natured that she really doesn't cry when held by new people. Here she is with Cory and she was having so much fun. Actually, I wasn't sure who was enjoying it more, her or Cory! (Cory doesn't like to admit that he really does like babies. Not very manly!)









It was Cassidy's half birthday a few days before Thanksgiving so we had a party for her! My mom's friends all knew that Cassidy would be in the states for the holiday and sent gifts welcoming Cassidy. My mom's friends are very thoughtful when it comes to Marky and I. They have always been. Also, the video is of Cassidy giving love to the cupcakes that I made for her

half birthday. She gave so much love that we had to throw out one of the cupcakes! Watch the end of the video. It is funny ha ha!