Whiskers on Wednesday

Meet my cat family.....
Dusty - 8 year old, gray and white snow shoe. The social butterfly and lap cat, wakes me every morning by sitting on my pillow and purring

Hobbs - 8 year old, part manx tabby with a stubbie tail. He looks like a little bear. He is my darling, he waits for me to come home and meets me at the stairs.

Bailey: 7 year old, a little less social but sometimes, on his terms, he will come sit on the leg and hug the knee. He loves to burrow into the blankets and make a cave to nap in.
Milo: 3 year old, rascal of the bunch. Nothing but trouble this cat! His latest brat behavior, he lays in front of the food dish, with his paw he pulls one kibble at at time to his mouth and eats it.

Whiskers on Wednesdays

This is my first post for Whiskers on Wednesday and I thought I would share a special little place I visited on the weekend. I went to the San Francisco Presidio, which was a military base but is now a part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. The presidio had base housing, a cemetary and under the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge a little pet cemetary. I've never been to a pet cemetary before so I have nothing to compare against, but this had to be the sweetest place I have ever been to.















See inscription here.

Cayden the Cat

I have great news! The kitten I rescued in Shanghai, Cayden, was adopted. If you don't know the story (where have you been???), check it out here. I had been watching their website and knew that he had been adopted but got an email the yesterday from the rescue following up with the story....

Hi V........,

Hope your trip back to the US was OK. Did you get a chance to see Cayden's adoption gallery on the SCAA website? He's been moved from the cats for adoption to "happily ever after"! He found a good home a few weeks ago and I;ve been meaning to touch base with you ever since.

Cayden came to my place for a couple days after he got his first vaccination and then his new mom came over the meet him and fell in love with him right away. Can't blame her - he is a real character and so cuddly. He is the kitten sleeping on the pillow next to my boyfirend in the photo I have as my facebook profile :)

Cayden is now called Milo and he shares the house with an older kitten named Dizzy. Dizzy is deaf and was a little too energetic to be on her own - waking Anna up around 5 am every day for attention. It took a few days, but Dizzy and Milo are now friends and Anna can sleep to a decent hour as the cats have each other.

Thanks for your donation to SCAA. A bit of tragedy on your visit to Shanghai but in the end, a lot of good came out of it.

Cheers,

L

Is it really June

Following up on my previous post on rediscovering the area, I got very little feedback on places to visit but I've been making a list based on pictures, articles and books.

The weather has been beautiful, instead of the normal summer fog and I took advantage of it and visited some places near by. Just off Hwy 35 at Daly City is a little parking lot and walkway to a vista point/overlook. It's basically a little parking lot and a little walk area but pretty none the less. There are wild flowers and fields beyond the little vista but it's fenced off, however people seem to just go past the fence as there are trails and foot prints beyond.

I have been meaning to take CPR/AED (Automatic External Defribilator) training for some time now and finally did it last week. The CPR protocol has changed and mouth to mouth is no longer required for a witnessed collapse.

Due to the many issues faced in Louisina after Katrina, all public servants are being required to sign documentation stating that they will report to work should an incident occur and a great deal of additional training is being required, to make sure people understand their roles as Disaster Service Workers. I had to take on orientation in incident command structure, basically it's a course on the importance of everyone being on the same protocol in responding to incidents. California is well prepared and has both a structure and emergency plan, sadly only 6 states in all have a plan and Lousiana still does not have a plan.

I went out to Pacifica Pier on Sunday. I never realized there was a little beach there. I spent some time on the sand (the sand is very dark and course), walking, writing and getting wet (brrr!). I don't think I've ever gotten my fet wet at the beaches here, strange....

A new adventure - re/discover San Francisco

As I was working through the meme and the question about the places I would rather be right now, it occurred to me that a lot of the places that came to mind were not here in San Francisco. And I thought, surely there are places here that I would like to be that are close to home.

While on my vacation, I came across a number of places that I enjoyed just taking in. The Getty (in LA) is that way for me as well. A place that I can spend hours doing nothing, or taking pictures or having coffee and be at peace.

So this summer, I am on an adventure to discover and rediscover San Francisco and the Bay Area. The type of location does not matter, it could be historic, cultural, religious, scenic... just has to be a place where you can lose yourself for hours.

If you know of a place like this, please do comment and share.

Exercise, allergies and meme

Hmmm, this blog needs some attention.... updating, etc... will do soon.

The exercise program at 24 Hour Fitness continues. I had been on a regular schedule with the 24 SET (strength endurance training) 4 days a week and yoga on Sunday. Sadly, the gym is changing the offerings... and the instructor makes a big difference. Need to add more cardio to the routine, so I've been checking out other classes - Turbo Kick Boxing and Beginner Step. The problem with these classes is that it takes time to get used to the moves and I have very poor coordination. I tried the Step class today after my regular SET class - bad idea. I was tired from the first class already and only made it through 20 minutes of the Step class. There are people that go from class to class, for 3 hours!! I've noticed a difference with me from the program - yay!

The fun of being a woman, NOT! The other day, I noticed a lump in my armpit - never good. The lump hurt, and as I've heard people say, cancer does not hurt, I knew I had to see the doctor but was not too worried. Saw the doctor, infected hair follicle, need antibiotics, reminded her that I was allergic to sulpha, so she writes a prescription for amoxcillin (penicillin). Started taking them on Thursday and today, Saturday, I have a rash on my legs! Same reaction as sulpha. So off the antibiotics until the rash is gone and will call doctor on Monday if the lump is still there. I wonder how many I am allergic to....

Smariek did this meme and it looked interesting, so here goes:

Four jobs I've had:

1. Receptionist (at the local state university extension program)
2. Sample maker (greeting cards) for a rubber stamp company
3. Intern
4. Traffic Engineer

Four movies I've watched more than once (this could be a really long list):
1. Sleepless in Seattle
2. You Have Mail
3. Groundhogs Day
4. 50 First Dates

Four places where I have lived:
1. Poona, India
2. Hong Kong
3. Panchgani, India
4. San Francisco, CA

Four TV shows I watch:
1. House
2. CSI
3. 24 (when will it be on again????)
4. Heroes (Hasn't been on since the writer's strike)

Four places I've visited:
1. Paris
2. Maui
3. Shanghai
4. Brussels

Four favorite foods (just 4?):
1. Mocha/Mocha Frap (does coffee count as food?)
2. Ice cream
3. Noodles
4. Pav Bhaji (an indian dish)

Four sites I (try to) visit (almost) daily (or weekly):
1. Flickr
2. Yahoo
3. Smariek Knits
4. Gmail

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. At Starbucks (with a good friend and preferably with a good view)
2. At a new adventure
3. The Getty
4. Chi Lin Monastery

Four things I'm looking forward to this year:
1. Tania's wedding
2. A potential trip this fall to Phoenix
3. Buying a new (smaller size) dress
4. Taking a course in something new (collage, sewing, photoshop.....)

I am grape

You Are Grape

You are bold and a true individual. You are very different and very okay with that. People know you as a straight shooter. You're very honest, even when the truth hurts. You are also very grounded and practical. No one is going to sneak anything by you. People enjoy your fresh approach to life. And it's this honesty that makes you a very innovative person.

What Color Purple Are You?

Book quiz

Ha ha - I've read this one twice!

You're Jurassic Park!

by Michael Crichton

You combine all the elements of a mad scientist, a brash philosopher, a humble researcher, and a money-hungry attracter of tourists. With all these features,you could build something monumental or get chased around by your own demons. Probably both, in fact. A movie based on your life would make millions, and spawn at least two sequels that wouldn't be very good. Be very careful around islands.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Travel plans, the olympic relay and more

Time sure does fly..... Can't believe it's already April. Not doing so well in the resolution to keep this updated. Although I am doing well with some of the other resolutions.

One of my resolutions for the year was to get fit. It took me a little to decide on which way I was going to. I am one of those people that is not self motivated or disciplined when it comes to exercise. So the best bet was a club and I took the dive and joined 24 Hour Fitness. I picked them because there are two clubs within minutes from home and one of them is on the drive home. Since March 1 (or there abouts) I've been going to the gym and participating in the classes. I take the 24SET (strength endurance training) class 4 days a week and yoga once a week. The SET class has some cardio (using steps) and is a well rounded routine to work out all muscle groups. The classes are an hour long and the instructors vary the routine to keep it interesting. I think I need to revamp the plan a bit to include cardio, as the SET classes have very little cardio. I have noticed changes overall in how I feel (and maybe even look - could be my imagination). I am staying away from weighing myself and don't want to be discouraged or driven by the scale.

The olympics are in Beijing this year and the torch relay has began - taking the torch/flame around the world. It's all a bit confusing, as they say the torch is going around the world but actually it's the flame that is going around the world. San Francisco was picked as the only North American stop for the relay and it would come through the airport. The flame comes in 3 lanterns, each relay runner gets a torch and it's the flame that moves down the relay as the runners get to keep the torch they run with. If you've been watching the news, you know that the whole relay is being tied in with the politics of china and their human rights issues. In an attempt to keep the torch lit and the relay going, San Francisco made many last minute changes in the route and the program, which included having the closing ceremonies at the airport! I am very proud of the team at the airport that made that happen in a matter of hours. It was great for me to see it all up front and personal.

Another resolution I've been working on is traveling. My sister is staying in Shanghai for a year and I will be visiting her there and back home to Hong Kong. It's my first ever 3 week vacation and am looking forward to the break. I head out on April 24th and fly back on May 16th. I will be in Shanghai for a week and two weeks in Hong Kong. I have yet to work through the itineraries but all else is in place. Tickets bought, visa in hand!! And I plan (I can just see the eyes rolling) on having a separate blog for the trip - I know, I know, I failed miserably with that on the europe trip but I will have more time and easy computer access....

Mischief Managed - April Fools!!

It's April Fools day and I could hardly pass up the opportunity for some mischief. I started with some research yesterday for some ideas and decided on a plan.


I downloaded sound files from the internet (flushing toilet, terminator, etc). I went about and changed the sound settings on some computers at work and watched the fun. It was hysterical! The team next door were looking around and at each other wondering what the heck was going on. The ladies across the way eventually figured out it was me.

The day was fun of laughs!

Today's playlist

This, that and the other

Apparently I missed quite a day at work on Friday. The wind made for some very challenging situations with the planes to say the least. A colleague and friend was telling me that it would have been interesting to have me take some pictures and I was thinking, yea right, I would probably get blown away trying to take pictures.....

I have finished another cap and am now working on a 3rd. These are all gifts and then I will be on the cap karma mission. I also want to make a panta for myself.

I need to start planning some stamping/card projects for valentines day. We're having a session to make cards for soldiers to mail overseas and I better start getting those projects planned. It was very popular when we did it last year and so I was asked to have it again this year. Course this year there is some help in coordinating it (very thankful for that!), so all I have to do is the creative work. Now if I can find someone to help prepare the supplies.....

Will this writers strike ever end? I really do miss having some television to watch. No 24 yet. I was looking forward to the Sara Connor Chronicles and it hasn't started yet. I've been catching up on movies lately, there are some good ones out on DVD - The Republic, Live Free Die Hard, Pirates, Bourne, Shrek 3 (hilarious!!!!).

My mind appears to be rather scattered today and my writing abilites are on the suckie side. So I should quit while I am ahead....

Do we really need this much rain????

The area has been pounded by 3 storms. The first one hit Thursday evening - which wasn't so bad. But the one that came through early Friday morning was one heck of a storm - the wind was so strong! I didn't sleep much because of all the noise and at one point I was wondering if the house would get blown a part. There were power outages all around and the power here went at around 7am.

For those who don't park their cars in their garage or don't have automatic door openers, you have not had the pleasure of trying to get the garage door open without power with a system designed to work with power. Not fun! And for the veritcally challenged, it is even more so of a problem. Also, wood garage doors suck! With the rain getting blown the way it was, the garage door got a good soaking and is weathering/swelling - which makes it want to stick in the tracks. So you can just imagine the challenge of getting that open.

The power came on about 1am, making it for a long and cold day indoors. The house phone line died for some reason (I have an old fashioned corded phone just for this reason). Few people realize that their phone is supposed to work without power but with all the technology added in, the souped up ones do not, but a basic one will. Course now that also depends on what type of phone service you have. Course as mr. murphy would have it, the cell phone was low as well and eventually died. The propane lantern purchased years back for just this scenario came in very handy and was very bright - no heat though. It got so cold, i could see my breathe. The fire was going for a while but eventually all the wood logs that could be burned were used up....

Why is it that we must have all this weather with the rain, can't it just rain - a peaceful, quite rain? The kind of rain where you can use your umbrella without having to worry about it flipping over or getting caught in the wind. The kind of rain that falls vertically. It exists, I have seen it.

But enough about the rain. The horizon is clear right now and the sun is poking through the clouds.

Started the exercise program again. 30 mins on the treadmill.

Happy New Year

It has been a really long time since I've posted or paid any attention to this blog. Hope to be better this year.

I've been spending much time online flickring and doing other things. Writing was never quite my thing but will try to keep this and Cap Karma up.

So it's the first of the year and I suppose some resolutions are in order.....

1. Get fit - must maintain and exercise program, I have for the last 2 years started but have not maintained a program but hope this is the year I will stick with it.

2. Work on my organizational and procastinating problems, ie cleaning up and keeping the place tidy!

So I think those 2 are pretty tall orders and will keep it at that but also hope to learn some new things this year, read a few more books and possibly start planning my second career/back to school...... (can't even get myself to think about it!!!!!).

Right in my back yard!

Squirrel snacking off the bird feeder.

The summer is almost over

This summer........

1. Finished my first really big project at work and it went well! Even had a celebratory BBQ for everyone on the project.

2. Went to the launch of a new US airline.

3. Read 3.25 books....., the first two Bourne books, 1/4 of the 3rd book & HP7.

4. So far seen 3 movies at the theatre: Ocean's 13, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix & yesterday I saw the Bourne Ultimatum (awesome movie BTW).

5. Took a picture with the SF Mayor - cool, huh?

6. Made new friends and reconnected with a long lost one.

7. Played matchmaker, maybe......

8. Went to Los Angeles for a graduation and some me time

9. Got sick way too many times - ugh

10. Outside of being in college, Smariek has always lived about 15-20 minutes away, this summer she moves away..... : (

My masterpiece?

Click here to create your own painting.

2 sites to simpsonize yourself!

Here is verstion 2 from the movie site.

I've been Simpsonized!

BBQ, new airline and more

A lot been going on lately. We had a end of project BBQ at work for everyone that helped with the taxi project - it was huge and so much work but it was great to have everyone there and being acknowledged for their hard work. My manager, Henry, put on an apron and actually helped with the cooking - which was really cool. We wanted to customize the cake to include a taxi but we couldn't find a matchbox one anywhere, finally found a toy car for $4.99 at Talbots Toyland in San Mateo - it was a hit though!

The Virgin Corporation has a new airline, Virgin America, a new low cost domestic airline. It took some time to get it going but it started operations last week and they're headquartered in San Francisco. There was a big to do with the start-up - check out the photos here. Part of the hoopla when dealing with airlines is the water canon salute pictured below - a jet of water over the plane (we have them at the airport when new airlines start-up and also when pilots are retiring). Part of the Virgin inaugral festivities included a flight from LA and NY coming into SF at the same time with parallel landings and both planes then got the water canon salute.

Saw the Alladin plane at the airport the other day. We don't get them too often, so it was cool being able to get out there and take pictures of it.

I went to the Indian fair at Fremont this past weekend, mostly so that Nikita could check out the henna artist. We got our hands henna-ed, did a little shopping and ate. It's funny, when I had the henna on my hands from my sisters wedding (in 2000), a lot of people asked what it was and were curious about it. Today, just about everyone knew what it was and asked if I had gone to a wedding.