Santa's Christmas Theme Park

On boxing day, a group of us drove 46miles (about an hrs drive) to a very deserted racetrack, where a Christmas Theme Park was set up. All of us got in free as it was Military Appreciation Day!! Normal tickets were at $23 per person. There were X'mas trees in different coloured coordinated lights, little houses depicting Santa's "life" in North Pole, lots of rides (which I couldn't get on ), stalls that has games where you win soft toys (I won a mini Miss Piggy) and not forgetting tons of food stalls that sell overpriced junk food.

We had a nice time. Hey, it's free so what more can I ask for?!

Cute fellow isn't he? This huge snowman was at the front entrance welcoming us in...and there's a real person inside. Doesn't walk much but just kind of wiggle around in the same spot!

Felicia and I, with a back view of the Ferris Wheel. That is one of the 2 rides that I could take...

A group photo at the biggest X'mas tree in the park. The base (which you can't see much of) is actually depicting the White House.
The handsome men of the Singapore Air Force...Look at the beautiful sunset behind. What a spectacular view! What a waste that such a beautiful view was blocked by steel metals (dual meaning)

See all the tired faces after a long day of walking and taking pictures? Actually it wasn't that long, went at 3pm and left at about 7pm... 4 hrs of walking...Oh well...we had a sumptous dinner at a nearby chinese restaurant, China King. They serve pretty good Dim Sum and this is my first time trying their Ala Carte. Good and Cheap, and most importantly, we all went home happy and well fed!

That's about it for the time being... These pictures are courtesy from the rest of the group. I have more pictures of us in my camera (somehow it is buried underneath our piles of junk while moving). Please be patient and check back later for more photos. Adios!

Dim Sum with friends on X'mas Day

Me and wives (from l to r: Patricia, Jess, Suihui, Ailin)
Paul and husbands (from l to r: Bernard, Vincent, Don, David)

Can guess who is related to who? And who's pregnant or not? hehehehehe
A little introduction of our friends here in Arizona. The couples are:

1. Patricia & Don: They were transfered from New Mexico when the base closed down last year. Knew them when we were in SG as Don works with Paul. They will be going home in Sep 06.

2. Jess & Vincent: Came together with us in Dec 04. Jess is pregnant but dunno know the gender yet. Baby will be due in Jul 06. Stays in Palm Valley Apt, similar with Pat & Don.

3. Suhui & David. They came way before us and will be going home in Sep 06. Knew Suhui back in SG as she works with Paul, so does David. Suhui is pregnant with baby boy and due in Feb 06.
4. Ailin & Bernard. Came later and will only be going back in Sep 07. Knew Bernard during our 1st trip here to AZ back in '98. Bernard & Vincent work together. Stays in Remington Ranch Apt, similar with Suhui & David.

That's my only highlight on X'mas day...oh... not forgetting we went to watch Chicken Little. As usual... I'm rotting in front of my computer updating my blog. It shows how uneventful my life is over here But... tomorrow will be a better day!

Xmas eve dinner... yummy or what?

Paul enjoying his X'mas eve dinner (Maggi curry instant noodles) in front of the computer.

My "Pai Ku Mien" (in mandarin) "Pai Kuat Meen" (in cantonese). Instant noodles with vege, luncheon meat and egg... yum yum...

Why in such a poor predicament, you may ask. Sigh... cos firstly, we weren't invited to any parties or gatherings. Secondly, the ang mohs are not as moneyface as us Asians. We went out for dinner at about 8pm... thinking that there would be some restaurants open... or at least fast food places would be open. Sadly, we were wrong. All were closed!! Even McD or A&W.... Drove around our area for about half hour, and we finally gave up. Drove back home and cooked instant noodles. I was too hungry... Valerie was too hungry... as for Paul, when was he ever hungry?

Anyways... it was a quiet Christmas eve...was like any other day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Here's wishing everyone a blessed Christmas. May it bring you joy, peace and love all the way to the next Christmas!

Updating Live!

I'm updating live from my new NOTEBOOK! And surprisingly without any router necessary!! hahahahaaha.... cos I'm tapping from others (my neighbour) ;oP

I just got this HP Notebook today from Paul as a Christmas & Birthday pressie.

I like to combine all pressies inorder to have bigger pressies!! Have already forgone many pressies the last few years, and I'm still waiting for my diamond bracelet (Baby, hint hint ;o>)

Anyways... finally I won't need to fight over the computer with Paul. I can now chat with you guys while he's playing his game. No more "Sorry I have to stop chatting now cuz 'laogong' wants to play his game". We no longer will be interrupted from our gossiping and once in awhile, serious talk. And I can download whatever rubbish I want. The first thing would be from Smiley.com

Yeah!! Baby's the best! Muak Muak!!

The Sun Dancers...not all of them, but the only one that i could find with them in uniform. Although, yesterday they were in Santarina costumes. 

He shoots "free t-shirts" with this "shooter" to fans during half times. 

My favourite, the Suns Mascot, Gorilla. Doing his "thing". Cool isn't it? To do slam dunk in a Gorilla suit. Amazing! 

Cute inflatables that can walk, jump, run and make you laugh like crazy. 

Wanna know where we were seated? look at the right basket, move your eyes up to the very top right. We're there, the very last row at the top, behind the basket. 

America West Arena, where all the home games are played. 

Phoenix Suns VS Washington Wizards

A group of us went to watch a live game of NBA basketball last evening. Wow... was it fun!!

The atmostphere was fantastic!! Although Suns lost 1 point (111 VS 112) to the Wizards... what a let down...still, we had an enjoyable time. Watching it live is really different from watching on the screen. Hope all my jeering (when Suns were losing) or cheering (when Suns were winning) didn't bother the spectators in front... ehehehehehhehee

We didn't buy tickets in advance. We bough "huang you piao" instead. Walk up to the door and you'll find touters everywhere... we finally settled on paying $20 per seat for the first row (from the back!! ahahahahahahahaha). Next time, we'll do our research and know our prices and seat allocations before going.

Overall it was a fun experience, pictures will be coming soon once we get it from the guys.

We found it!!

It was really a fated find.

Was looking at this particular house for rent. We didn't call the agent, but decided to look around the house to see if we like it or not. We tried peeping through the window, went to the backyard and tried to have a glimpse from the patio door. To no avail... nothing to look at, but the backyard did look good with a patio roof... and there's a double door from the Master bedroom that leads to backyard.

Then we realise the house next door was for sale, and there was a truck parked outside the garage. So we thought "Why don't we go kaypoh next door and see if the person would let us take a look inside". As the outside of the houses looks the same, they might have the same floor plan. So, we trodded next door...

The owner of the house was doing some yard work at the back... and it looks pretty, with trees and a small patch of grass. He let us in... and TADA!!! We have rented the house.

It's 1600sq ft for $900 a month. Looks really new as the house was newly tiled and carpeted. But sadly, this house is still smaller than my current one... smaller bedrooms and kitchen. But it has an extra room (a den, which means no door cos it's not a bedroom) and covered patio.

The only thing that i dun fancy about this house is that all floors are tiles.. except for bedrooms. Therefore, even the living room is tiled... which will be cold during the winter. Will have to wear shoes in the house. And when it's dirty, it'll be more obvious. But it's alright, I won't be cleaning that...hehehehehe... my dearest hubby will have the honour.

Anyways, will be moving next week. Furnitures will be moved on 29 Dec. Friends will be coming to help out with the rest of the stuff on 30 Dec. So there goes our 2 long weekends. Paul have a 4-day holiday during the Xmas and New Year period. But we'll be busy packing and unpacking.

To think about it... it will be fun to start a new... get to rearrange everything over again. Keeping my fingers crossed that rubbish won't pile up again!!! Heheheheheehehe.....

Looking forward to the new house....

So comfortable staying here...

Just found out that I have to move! Sigh... what a nightmare...

My landlord decided that it was more profitable to sell the house than to rent it to us. Well... our rent is cheap, dirt cheap! $750 per month for a 1700sq ft house (including back & front yard). I realise that majority of the rent were between $895 (for a 1400sq ft) - $950(for 1600sq ft).

So during my daily walks, I would take note of houses that were for rent/lease. Saw 2 1400sq ft ones... and it really small, as compared to mine. The bedroom was tiny, the kitchen was even tinier!! But some had huge backyard, which has no attraction to us at all. The bigger the yard, the more the work to upkeep it.

Our landlord does have another house that's further west (means further away from work and the conveniences of shopping and eating) that he would like to rent to us... it's new with new furnitures included. In fact, the house was meant for his own residence, but as he's financially unstable now, it would be better to rent it out. Although we would love it there, and our landlord is a very nice person... but, we're deciding against it cos it's too far out.

Will be looking around the south area (nearer to the rest of the Sporeans) but am not having high hopes as the houses there are usually more expensive (in the $1000 - $1200 range). Anyways, wish me luck!

My new hairdo...with all our new family members!! Elmo is a pressie for Paul's bday from our friends. We won the 2 puppies from Las Vegas.

Luxurious enough to sleep in the bathroom!! 

It just have such a romantic feel... 

Bedroom section of the suite... so comfortable 

Relaxing in the "living room" section of the suite... so glam... 

Flowers are pretty enough to eat!! At the private lift entrance to the hotel rooms... 

At the hotel entrance of The Venetian. Without all the tourists, it would have felt more grand. 

Along the streets of Venice? I wish... but hey, whatever makes us feel romantic. 

Having breakfast at an indoor sidewalk cafe in The Venetian.