Tubing

This is the strange man (who I live with) & I at Colorado River 2 weekends ago.

Yes! We planted our ass on the purple tubes and floated down the river for 4 hours :)

Just some vanity shots

Dropped by the Target Corporation sponsored free day at the local Springs Preserve.

Bleh. Wasn't very interesting at all, especially compared to the Lied Children Science Museum we visited last weekend. Glad we didn't have to pay the $10.95/person entrance fee.

To make matters worse, I wanted to try out the Wolfgang Puck Cafe at the location and the service was really slooooooow. I know, it's a busy day, they should put more staff on duty then. I blame the management, not the mistreated and I-don't-wanna-be-here-look-on-my-face kitchen to floor staff who had to deal with the overwhelming number of customers. Time we spent waiting in line to order plus waiting for the food to be served: 1 hr 45 mins. Time we spent actually eating: 20 mins.

They actually have a good view of the Strip on one of the trails, but that's not hard due to the low level architecture throughout the city.

No disrespect to the Native Americans but doesn't Little A look like her? Blame it on the haircut.
That's all folks. Yes, that place is kinda boring. I didn't bother to take any shots of the exhibit.

Date Night

Supposed to go watch the UFC fight but ended up as a Date Night since we got some time to be just alone. And when I say alone it means only the two of us.

So he surprised me with a trip back to this nice neighborhood with its own man made lake. He brought me there like 2+ years ago on a date—It was later in the night, and we just had dinner and I wanted to go home already but he refused to *release* me. So he drove me to this lakeside to hang out for a while and it was freezing! I remember being very nervous, because I thought he was going to "make his move" but he didn't. Phew~

It was only a few dates later then we became officially a couple. So when we stood at the same spot just now, I told him he owes me a kiss, as I didn't receive one 2 years ago. It's all good now.

Awkward smile due to my Invisaligners

I look FUGLY in this picture (pls do not click to enlarge it) but I think is awesomely funny so I have to share it. The ducks came out of nowhere on the right and started running so I pretended it was chasing me :)

But then we figured they weren't interested in us. (this is how we see it) Turns out that the 2 white ducks are females and the 2 dark brown/green ones are males and the latter is aggressively chasing one of the white ducks. Because I joined it in party, the victim went to hide under the front of our car! But the 2 males refused to give up (horny bastards) and keep pecking at the poor girl on her neck. So much that I could see it turning red and the feathers are coming out. See below.

The other white duck can't really help much so it stood helplessly on the side. I kept screaming at the males, trying to shoo them away. The BF actually LIGHTLY pushed one of the males away and it didn't bulge!!! DAMN!

The BF was videotaping the whole thing but in the end we realize that he didn't actually record it \"(-_-)/

After 2 minutes, he went to move the car backwards and the girl got out and the males kept chasing her to the grass and one of them almost successfully got on top of her and started his humping. Luckily in the end she somehow got away and I guess the males got tired and gave up.

DAMN. the males are violent. I guess ducks are one fo the species who really dun respect the females of their kind. Makes me don't like them as much. Especially when the females were so pretty in their white feathers..... hahahha

Anyways, the next stop was my favorite cupcake place in Vegas— The Cupcakery. I'm so surprised he remembered. I had to wait till we got to another place because since I have braces now, I need to take them out and wash it before I can eat, and then put them back on.

I'm happy I'm doing this but I hope I can endure the pain and inconvenience for now and then I'll be looking great in my new smile :)

Goodnight!

The last day

Yesterday was the church mass. The last time I was at that church was Christmas Day, where we came to attend the mass and mainly, listen to L's singing. She's the leader of the choir.

But yesterday, she sang the hardest song of her life. It is a Filipino song about a mother, having to send her child off from this world. It brought everyone to tears. It was most beautiful—her angelic voice, her selfless love.

This morning was the burial. We stood under the gleaming sun as the white little casket shined brightly. L & J, especially L, broke down uncontrollably as they lowered her little angel six feet under. We took turns to toss in blooming white roses as we said goodbye.

Around her resting spot lies dozens of other little angels. We hope that they are happily playing up there, free from the pain and sorrows of this world, in the embrace of their loving gods.

Mt Charleston with Sparky!

Mt Charleston again! I dun even remember if I blogged abt this the first/previous time we went there. But this time we brought Sparky with us! I don't even know if Sparky has been in the snow. We are bad owners as we didn't have snow boots for him. Just his X'mas sweater.

Ashley and Sparky in the back seat.

Sparky didn't like the cold that much.

Sparky made yellow snow.

And then we spent the rest of the hour sleighing down on this plastic sleigh/plate we bought. it was tiring and fun!!! Kinda warm so the snow is hard and melted. But there is still plenty! oh! btw, we kept Sparky in the car coz' he was shivering.....bad owners us.
And here's a nice pic for ya! Heeeheehee

Amazing new collection at Heath Ceramics

Images courtesy of Heath Ceramics.

Hand measurements


unfired
Sample products—I wish I can get my hands on these!
Dip experiments
.
.
.
.
And Ta-dah! Final beautiful products!
bulb vase
bud vase set (I'm collecting these. 2 is a collection right?)
Tea set
bowls and bowls
Appetizer set
Tumblers

ARGH. I wish I discovered them earlier when I still live in SF. I only found out about Heath like the last year I was there and besides the awesome Mosaic classes I took, I haven't spent enough money time there.

The nearest outlet they have is the LA store which I went to last summer. But the original Sausalito factory is the best. Everything there is still handmade the original way and I love how they source locally for anything.

If I get married, I'll registering there. Oh better, My birthday is approaching!

Sparky & Ashley

Ethel's Chocolate Factory Cactus Lighting Night

The only LV native thing (besides gambling and etc) is Ethel's Chocolate Factory. I may or may not have brought peeps there when they are out here. Mainly coz' I always lose my way getting there. The street that leads to it becomes a fork and I always forget which way is the right one............

Anyways, it was nice to get a kick start into the holiday season. The weather just turn cold for now. It did earlier, then it turned warm again. But now I think it's here to stay. It's not that cold anyways, compared to like Detroit.

So the bf actually said: I'm seeing all these X'mas stuff. Makes me feel festive, makes me feel happy. Which is good because he was complaining about a headache and feeling queszy and he forgot all about that when he got there.

As a bonus we got an assorted box of chocolate. I was surprised that the bf actually told us to choose for a box of 12. I got my favorite cheesecake flavor (I know huh, so un-chocolatey flavor but it's so good), liquer champagne flavored ones and some other boring nuts ones.

Ended the evening with some L&L Hawaiian BBQ dinner and lychee flavored green tea. Yums. Got Spam Musubi to-go for tomorrow breakfast!!!

could ahve been worse.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070912145919.htm

I lost to spiders

yeah. officially, coz those MOFOs have invaded my bed, the one most private things I consider.

I AM PISSED OFF.

It begun innocently, seeing 2 teeny weeny baby spiders crawling on my bed, I brushed them off, changed to clean sheets and forgot about it.

Then one night, as I was almost fully asleep, I felt something ticklish on my face. Yes you guessed it right. BUT THIS TIME IT WAS A FULL SIZE SPIDER STROLLING ACROSS MY FACE.

Guess who slept on the couch that night?

And who hadn't slept on her own bed for almost 1 week?

Perfect ending to a rather relaxing evening where we went to the Spa at the Trump Hotel on the Strip for a pampering massage session.

Isn't it ironic...........

Highest reward for anyone who can give me the best/quickest solution. Apply now >

This Is NYC.

Looks really fun huh? It was.

totally random questions

What happened to winter? it's mid-Jan and I have my balcony windows open to a 20 C degrees outside. Perfect (air-conditioned) weather.

Found a tiny mole few inches under my right breast while soaping. When I scratch it, a spot on the bottom of my right elbow tingles. I did it 3 times just to make sure. Can anyone explain this phenomena?

Unintentionally caused some anxiety amongst friends when I removed the relationship status indicator on my FB, only to be unlisted as "no longer single". Have I been single for too long? yes

What can I do with all these shoes?

Was described as "tough" by my new superior after being the only one (forced) to express how I felt about recent work/departmental changes (I had to restrain myself from how I really felt). I think he meant "hard to manage" instead and probably red-flagged me. Should I care?

Can I just meet a normal guy for once?

Only just realised, after like a hundred years, that I had cruelly and stupidly hurt someone that I shouldn't have. Will I ever get a chance to make amends?

Should I spend my birthday here or in San Francisco?

Black or Brown?

I can feel it.

I can smell it coming.

I can see it as the clouds roll in gently over the sky.

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Fabulous Fall season is here.

Last year's Fall Garden display at the Bellagio

Sigh. It’s almost bittersweet. I love love love, when almost a year ago, I stepped into this unknown city of zero humidity and experienced a nice extended wave of the lovely Fall weather. Just after a few weeks of slight discomfort, I adjusted to the dry-ness with a healthier daily dosage of water. You can basically wear anything you want (oh well, almost~), sleep without the heater or air-conditioning, feel amazingly perfect in just bare skin and air.

But with the arrival of Fall, it almost means that Winter is creeping up slowly and undetected. And just one fine day I woke up and headed out — Bam! The chill hit and tingled down the spine. There was no turning back to a long dark and miserable Winter in the desert.

So now, I suddenly, like everything precious, realize I took Summer for granted. I bitched and whined about the boiling temperature, especially how the scorching sun shine glaringly into my eyes as I drive almost blinded. I hate to worry about finding a shaded spot to park for long hours at work. I get pissed when I see increment in my electric bills for the air-conditioning. However, I know I am a tropical girl by blood. I need the heat and most importantly, I need to get a tan before it’s too late.

I am going to change the topic now.

A few work-laden days ago, it marked my survival of the 7th anniversary in this country.

7 years ago, 2 weeks after my arrival was also 9/11, the beginning of some dark years to follow. It was pretty inauspicious and I wondered if I’ve made a very bad decision. The US dollar raised, international travel became the biggest pain in my traveling ass and the worst was the fear. I remember my mom telling me not to go near or cross the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge or the Financial District because they’re important structures in the city and always experience bomb threats.

This fear instilled in the nation just caused more and more inconvenience, even until this day, 7 years later.

Well. Back to the survival part.
I can’t believe that I was here that long. It, I don’t really know now, if it’s too much or too little. Because whenever I visit home, I feel like it’s all a dream. That I had never left, except a strange indescribable feeling, like I just woke up from a dream that I am trying so hard to remember but I can’t.

I’m not making sense, am I?

So I jolly well come back to my supposed “dream”, only to continue slaving over a computer and some software that helps make the Internet pretty and move things so that you will be entertained.

Things I do for the greater good.

And can I share a secret?

Whenever I cook pasta at home, well, not every time but, sometimes, when I cook pasta at home……..

I eat it with chopsticks.

I think it sums up how I have internally combined both my Eastern and Western virtues.

Or values.

Or it just shows how messed up I am.

blaaaaaaaaah