We went to California again for my cousin's Eagle Scout ceremony and also for another cousin's wedding. It was a nice trip, caught up with family/friends, finally went to the movies (last one I saw at the theater was The King's Speech!), and ate good food. Also went back to Cypress, CA where I lived for 10 years, to a local carnival fair with my uncle who was hired to take photos (although the one above is mine!) It was a little strange to be back in the area where I spent much of my adolescence. Some things have changed, but a lot has also stayed the same. It made me think about all that has changed for me and the path my life has taken since leaving California. Then I realized that I am where I'm supposed to be, which is a nice thought to have... it's accepting and actually liking my present state! So although it's always great to catch up with relatives and friends, I acknowledged during this trip how much I really like living in Brooklyn and on the East Coast in general. I'm glad to be back home with my cats, my farmer's market, and back at the garden again. Perhaps I've grown more roots here in NY than I previously thought I had!

My Weekend in California

I didn't realize I missed Cali so much until I got here! It's so beautiful. Just being here makes me happy... Maybe one day I'll find my way back for good.

Salt & Pepper Dungeness Crab from R & G Lounge

At The Slanted Door, we had Crispy Imperial Rolls

Cellophane Noodles

And Blood Orange Sorbet

Dessert at Chez Panisse Cafe, a slice of Pink Lady Apple and Sour Cherry Tart and Lime Sherbet with Candied Mint

12-course prix fixe dinner at Jai Yun

A fire while we were walking on Pine Street

Ferry Building/Farmer's Market

Dungeness Crab Omelette with Avocados and Brie

And side of Brioche French Toast from Mama's

We arrived at 8am for breakfast and this was the line after we finished eating.

Of course there's nothing like home-cooked food: Neil's Aunt Amy's banana bread-- the best I've ever had!

Back from San Francisco

And we had such great food! Above, Meyer Lemon Meringue Tart from The Slanted Door. More to come soon!

In the last few weeks, I have (in not any particular order): moved; bought my wedding dress (though it seems I'm the only one that really likes it); bagged & tagged my first body; been chased by Neil in his sleep; waited nearly 2 hours for sushi in Portland; bowled under the name of The Dude; had free breakfast at an IKEA in Washington, DC; ate garlic fries at Yankee Stadium, my first Yankee game; been lovingly bridal showered by family & friends in California; celebrated Neil's 30th birthday with Domino's pizza and Carvel ice cream cake; toured the huge Nike campus in Oregon where they provide their employees with Olympic-sized pools, gyms, soccer fields, basketball courts, and lots of leisure time for reflection; spent $381 at the Nike employee store; wished I was an employee of Nike... so I don't have to go back to work tonight after a nice vacation! It was only a week, but it was long enough for me to realize that I may be living on the wrong coast. Yup, I said it. I don't know how I'm going to stay awake and alert tonight, after over a week of living like a normal person and not as a zombie. Wish me luck!!!

Brooklyn Botanical & Thoughts on My Impending Deportation

Went to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden last week with my friend Dan.

Getting ready to leave my home in Brooklyn for an indefinite period. I will be heading back to Canada to await a new work visa. I keep joking that I'm being deported, but since I'm leaving within the given grace period and not illegally overstaying, should I rather say that it's more like... um, an exile? Apparently, I need to be screened by this agency called the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools... even though I graduated from NYU! Anyways, although I was upset at first, since I was still on orientation (a 3-month-long training as a new nurse before working without supervision), it gave me an unexpected vacation. The only downside, besides the obvious lack of income, is that this will set me back a few months in getting my very valuable first year experience. Not that I would want to work anywhere else, since I work at great hospital :) but in case I would ever have to work in Canada or something awful like that ;)



Well, because of the recent turn of events, I was able to visit my relatives in California and make it to my cousin's graduation from UCI. Above, a drawing of hers that arrived in my mailbox yesterday (I forgot to take it with me), which was inspired by Filipino artist BenCab's work.