Goodbye May, Hello June.

Woke up at 7am today at the same time as Paul.... I'll usually wake up when we does so that I can prepare breakfast and pack his lunch. Most of the time, I'll try and get back to sleep when he leaves. But today, I didn't. I was on the computer, trying to write my blog and check my mails. Was also trying to plan for my holiday in July!! Didn't get anything done.

Went to Yoga and Step Aerobics at 10am...and 11am consecutively. Went to BK (in base) for lunch with Felicia (a wife that's staying nearest to me and we usually go out together for exercise & makan). We then went to BX & Commissary (base shopping & supermarket).

Here I am, home, writing my blog again. Will be preparing for dinner soon at 5pm. Having Lotus & peanut with chicken leg soup, steam fish & stir fry vege. Paul started work at 8am today, so should be home by 6pm - he's in the morning shift this week.

Will write more tomorrow. Have a nice day....

Memorial Weekend

What a long weekend... and it's never long enough isn't?!

I know I promise to give you an exclusive "in the life" of Daphnie for a week... and I've already missed 4 days... Please forgive me :OP My only excuse is, Paul was hogging the computer all weekend!! ahahahahahahahaa......

Let's see... as of Fri, babysat at the Whitings. Brought Conner & Baylie to the park. Met other children there (mostly between 6-10 yr olds... a few 14 yr old boys showing off stunts with their bicycle). I think I was the oldest lor... sob sob....aunty liao... Brought them to Panda Express (Chinese fast food) for dinner and then went for a walk at Petsmart (Hypermart for pets).

For the rest of the time, I've been shopping, shopping and shopping.... I know Liz, we're suppose to go shopping together. Can't help it.... 50% and additional 20%!! But, don't worry... I didn't spend all my money away... I've saved some for you ;o)

Went to a nearby shopping mall on Sat afternoon hoping to get some good deals... but sales were lousy so didn't get anything. When to an electronic store (Fry's Electronics, biggest in AZ) to look for a bigger hard disk. Our computer only has 40GB and it's running out of space... especially when I can download HK movies (average of 4-6GB per show!!) Ended up buying a DVD writer instead. A 19" LCD monitor caught our eyes.... in fact it was a 26" monitor + TV LCD that caught mine... but that's not attainable... at least for the moment. So we set out eyes on the 19" instead. ehheehehehee.......Went to watch Sahara (Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz) after that.... wasn't a fantastic show... for $3.50 per person, can't complain lah....ehehehehehehe

Went shopping again on Sun, this time we went to the Factory outlet up north(Anthem Outlets). Usually only 20mins drive but the jam was so bad! Took us atleast 1hr. Bought some frocks... and a pair of Nine West pink shoes....ehehehehehee.... (Liz, we'll definitely go to this one.... and spend the whole day there! Furthermore I am a VIP member, so there's additional discounts. Yeah!!!) We then met up with PaMa (Our "ai yah" grandparents) for dinner at Bucca De Beppo (Authentic Italian food).

For those who don't know who PaMa is... they are friends that we met during our 1st trip to AZ. Retired teachers (educators) who are in their 70s, but definitely don't act or look like it!! They have more energy than we do! :O) We used to go and bother them every week to have dinner & play cards.... Ma's desserts are wonderfully yummy. And we still see them every week! We got to know them through Ming, and Ming knew them through Anne. Ming is Sarah's (the little girl i babysitted last week) mummy. Will introduce them another time.

So, Mon. Went for seafood buffet in Chandler (another city in AZ 45mins away). Yuckky... although only $7 per person, but not worth the drive. Good try though. We then went to Lee Lee, an Asian supermarket nearby (there's only 3 Asian supermarkets in AZ, the rest are grocery stores). We went to Fry's electronics again... a friend mentioned that there's 120GB hard disk on sale. Only $25!! Paul bought 2. Our friend was nice enough to drop by after that to help fix it in to our computer...so belanja (buy in Malay) them dinner lor...

So, that's our long weekend... gone in a blink of an eye.

Phew.... finally Thu is here... one more day till weekend. And coming Monday is Memorial Day...public holiday! Yeah!!! Yeah!!!

Slept till 10plus today... was awaken by Jared, our property manager. He came to spray the weed killers for our front & backyard. But there was none, guess the heat killed them all.. hahahahahahaha.... Begin to prepare for lunch after that. Cooked chicken rice, with watercress soup. Very hot lately and might be heaty. Didn't feel very well when i woke up.... sore throat and kinda feel "ache" all over the body.

So, we had lunch at about 2pm and at 2.30, Paul went to work. He's in the PM shift this week therefore usually wakes up only at about 1.30 or so...enough time to bathe, eat & go work. Sometimes will even squeeze into half hr to play his game. Sigh..... (shake head)

10.50pm --> Heard some noise outside my house while typing away... sounded like someone dropping boxes or pushing the trash can (plastic). Went to peep at the side window but didn't see anything. Then, was worried that maybe someone was in my backyard cos the "pom pom" sound was coming from that direction. Went to the kitchen, slided open the backdoor and .... Wow!!! There were fireworks on the left of my house!! Wow...the view was spectacular, especially with the US skies being so dark... It seems to be from the baseball stadium nearby...hmmm... i wonder for what special occasion. Don't remember that Memorial Day was such a big deal except for shopping.

Apart from Thanksgiving Sales in late Nov.... Memorial Day Sales is the 2nd best shopping period.... sale sale sale.... everywhere.... heheheehheheee.... (shopping freaks, u know who u are. And u now know when is the best time to come if u ever plan to come) Sadly I will not be enjoying Memorial Day as much as other ppl this time. As I'm going to Washington in Jun for a week, have to save some money to go shopping with Liz; another 1-2 week holiday in Jul; may be going to Las Vegas in Aug for work, sure spend money; then there's Paul's birthday holiday. Money not enough ah!!!!

Ok... where was I before all this fireworks and shopping? Hmmm.... yes, Paul & his game. So, he went to work... and I took a half hr nap... wasn't feeling too well. Wnt to step aerobics at 5pm, continued with dinner at a bakery name "Wildflower". Oh i love the place... this is my dream... to open a bakery that's small & cozy.... serving up my favourite bread, cakes & desserts. Had a vege soup & fruit salad (didn't touch it at all cos no appetite, but thank goodness for the American culture. Everything also can "tapau"!) & Cranberry scone (yummy).

Here I am now.... writing about my day. Am going to sleep.... can feel the heat rising....

Sore arms...

Baby Sarah didn't come today...Her mom was too tired to work on the backyard today.

But still, there's Conner. Picked him up from the bus stop and went back to his house for awhile. We then went back to my home at about 1pm to prepare lunch for Paul. I actually had a hard time persuading Conner to come along, guess he's shy and don't feel comfortable coming to my house. Now I appreciate babies, cos can just drag them whereever we want to go.... no questions asked.

My arms are so sore... mainly my biceps...wondering if it was a consequence from the aqua aerobics or carrying Sarah...hhhmmmm.......

Went to the Asian grocers after babysitting. Then went to eat Korean food...

That's one day in the life of Daphnie. I think I shall continue for the next few days.... so that you'll be able to "experience" my life here... from the time i wake up to the time I sleep...heheheehehe.....

What a day!

It's been a busy day for me... and i'm going to keep this short as my eyes are getting heavier every second.

My day started at 9am, to help a friend babysit her 2yr old daughter while she & hubby fix their new backyard. Carried the little girl, Sarah, while trying to get her to sleep. Oh how my arm ache... and it's only the left arm. Ouch! Hope my baby will be lighter...hahahahaahaaa... or bring a swinger everywhere i go! After all the ache, Sarah didn't want to sleep. Sigh... guess she was too scared... but she was such a good girl... didn't wail for her mom. Just sadly lie there looking scared.

by 12noon, I had to rush back to cook for Paul (he's in the nite shift this week). Brought Sarah along home. The day went by quite well... Cooked lunch while Paul played his game and Sarah played with my piggies. Was worried that she might dirty my babies... but what the heck... only toy to keep her entertained. Fed her lunch & Paul too....heheehheehheehehe..... Then washed all my dishes while Sarah poured toothpicks out from the case and tried to get it back in.... so that kept her busy for awhile. Then by 4pm, her mom called and said she's done. Time to bring her home.

Overall, am pretty satisfied with my first day alone with Sarah. No big boo boos... or wailing from her... she's really a good kid. And smart too.... ask her for my keys... she went to the table and got it for me! A 2yr old! I wonder if i was that smart.... hopefully my baby will be as smart too. ANd finally... she slept in the car... all the way home. Sigh.... what a sweet face.

Then went to aqua aerobics in the evening with a wife. Great workout but boring! But not as fun as the one i went in Spore. Janice, I actually missed our CC instructress. Her name is at the tip of my tongue...just can't remember. Will spend my waking moments in bed later trying to remember. Aiks!!!!

Anyways, tomorrow will be another hectic day. Cos Sarah is coming at 8am!!! And i have to pick up Conner at 11am. And then rush home to cook again at 12noon. But no exercise.... so not too bad.

Praying hard that tomorrow will be an even greater day!

Paul's got a new haircut too...hehehe...my first try at cutting hair. Sadly, he went to the barbers the following day :O) 

I've cut my hair! Couldn't take the heat anymore, it's driving me crazy. It's only May and temp is already reaching 41C, and Summer hasn't even started yet! 

Weight gain...Argh.....

Got on the weighing machine today.... oh no... gained 2 pounds!! Must be all my donuts from Randy's!! But i've been walkingleh..... disney is a big place u know??!!! aiyoh...

Went to Yoga this morning, and my body was so stiff! I only missed 2 weeks of exercise! Oh my goodness... only 2 weeks and my body is all stiff. Will have to start exercising all over again!!

Since I'm busy on Mons & Weds now... will have to start planning a new exercise routine. It used to be Tue-Yoga, Wed-Pilates, Thu-Spinning, Fri-Kickboxing. Am thinking maybe swim after yoga on tue, will help stretch better for swimming. Then continue with Spinning on Thu, hoping that it will help to tone those thunderous thighs & butts of mine! Fri's Kickboxing still stays... and I love the instructress. She's so hyper and it really gets you going...on and on and on. If the swimming doesn't work out... then i might have to go jogging. Can actually do that when Conner goes for his cycling around the park.

I tried out the step class today and it was my kickboxing instructress, Mandy. My oh my.... it got me all dizzy... all the turns and the turns... furthermore i forgot to bring my water bottle. So was kinda dehydrated! Luckily didn't faint...

Well... will keep u updated if i've lost any weight in 2 weeks time.

Period not here yet

This may be false alarm, but my periods is not here yet. About a little more than a week late. Have been wanting to go and buy a test kit... but lazy lah.

I've had too many false alarms to be excited about it though... but am thinking about it. Dun want to get my hopes too high...

Praying very hard...

My babies' new friend. 

Rows of rose bushes, in many different colours . So beautiful.  

Rose Garden... hundreds of variety... thousands of rose bushes. 

Many, many acres of grape growing for the next wine that you taste. 

Ah... it feels good to be high...like we're on cloud nine... 

Enjoying wine at Ponte Winery. Manz.... only after the 4th glass... I was light headed liao! Had a total of 6 glasses! 

My favourite donut place. And it's open 24 hrs! Yummy donuts... 

La Luna - A chic Cafe/Restaurant in LA downtown. Very hip and cool place for yuppies. 

Pretty background isn't it? Hehehe.. the clouds are fake! It's an effect! 

Celia, Calin and I happily walking in to a place full of adventures! 

In front of the main entrance of Disney Resort theme park. Facing the California Adventure gate. 

Paul playing the Xylophone. The musicians were actually playing along the streets below. When Paul tipped them, they brought the whole band up. Played right in front of us! So we had to tip them more. Smart move! 

Took a picture with the famous Zonky. A new cross breed of donkey and zebra. Nah... Just paint the donkeys with brown stripes lor. And even kena bitten by the stupid zonkey on my thigh. 

Paul being the salesman of the day! Bought a Peach vodka from this shop. 

Tijuana, Mexico. Having lunch with Baby, Calin, Patrick & Celia. Not very fantastic, cos not a fan of Mexican food. 

Good to be back home

Phew. What a week! Have not stayed in Los Angeles for such a long period, and have never really seen the city with such leisure. Dun need to rush from one attraction to another, except while in Disneyland.

In the past, there's only a few places that we would visit while in LA. The infamous Disneyland, Universal Studios, Hollywood, and Chinatown. But this visit is different. We tried to visit places that the locals will go and hang out at. Trying to feel like a local Angelean.

The following pictures will be placed in sequence to the brief itinerary below. Hope that it will give you a better idea on what we are experiencing and that you feel the fun too!

Day 1 Sat: Met Celia at Travelodge Hotel, LAX. Went to Little Tokyo for dinner.
Day 2 Sun: Tijuana, Mexico. Had dinner at Red Robins.
Day 3 Mon: California Adventure, Disney. Had dinner at Denny's.
Day 4 Tue: Watched Soccer in hotel. Walk around town. Had dinner at La Luna(supposedly the place to see and be seen). Visited famous Hotdog stand, Pink's.
Day 5 Wed: Visited Sony Pictures Studio. Visited Rose Garden, Exposition Park. Had dinner in Sam Wo, Chinatown. Checked in at Days Inn Hotel, Anaheim.
Day 6 Thu: Went to Temecula Wine Country. Shopping at Factory Outlet & Walmart. Had dinner at Chinese Fast Food.
Day 7 Fri: Went Fashion District (Wholesale shopping). Shopping at Anaheim. Ordered eat in Chinese dinner.
Day 8 Sat: Disneyland, Disney.
Day 9 Sun: Check out. Sent Celia to Airport. Went Chinatown to buy Roast Duck. Went home.