Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Clarification
To see the actual San Diego Las Vegas Grand Canyon vacation posts, please see April 16 to May 13. Or just go look at the April and May achives.
To see the actual San Diego Las Vegas Grand Canyon vacation posts, please see April 16 to May 13. Or just go look at the April and May achives.
Saturday, July 24, 2004
Transition Complete!
In a much delayed attempt to keep Chickvegas chickvegas, please see not chickvegas for a continuation of my selected repository of nothingness...
JCL 3:30am
In a much delayed attempt to keep Chickvegas chickvegas, please see not chickvegas for a continuation of my selected repository of nothingness...
JCL 3:30am
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Rowing
Had the regatta this past Sat. Had a lot of fun, we have improved A LOT since the first time we got in the boat. Won the first heat (1500m), came in second in the finals (1000m)
Boat on Water:
[me in purple squash jacket]
Boat off Dock:
[me in very very back = bow seat]
Rowers and Boat on Water:
[me on the right, bow of boat]
The Team:
[5 EY + 1 Toyota]
JCL 12:15am
Had the regatta this past Sat. Had a lot of fun, we have improved A LOT since the first time we got in the boat. Won the first heat (1500m), came in second in the finals (1000m)
Boat on Water:
[me in purple squash jacket]
Boat off Dock:
[me in very very back = bow seat]
Rowers and Boat on Water:
[me on the right, bow of boat]
The Team:
[5 EY + 1 Toyota]
JCL 12:15am
I actually won!
I never win anything. Today that changed. I won the grand prize at the work Golf Day. Insane. I think I'm still in shock. Now I need to think carefully, and pray hard, about what I'm going to do with the prize.
Unreal!
JCL 12:25am
I never win anything. Today that changed. I won the grand prize at the work Golf Day. Insane. I think I'm still in shock. Now I need to think carefully, and pray hard, about what I'm going to do with the prize.
Unreal!
JCL 12:25am
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
I love to fly =)
No pictures, unfortunately (maybe I should invest in a digicam? though opportunity costs says spend it on glider license!), but I did finally get to fly in a Cesna =D
Small world. I went to Jon's Missions Fellowship meeting when he was sharing about his (then) upcoming trip to Turkey. There I met Martyn, who is a pilot!! He flys periodically to maintain his skills, and loves to bring passengers (cost sharing). So last Friday, I was up in the sky over Markham, with him as well as two other friends.
Was nice =) I love to fly =) Can't wait til I have time to go gliding again!!
JCL 3:20pm
No pictures, unfortunately (maybe I should invest in a digicam? though opportunity costs says spend it on glider license!), but I did finally get to fly in a Cesna =D
Small world. I went to Jon's Missions Fellowship meeting when he was sharing about his (then) upcoming trip to Turkey. There I met Martyn, who is a pilot!! He flys periodically to maintain his skills, and loves to bring passengers (cost sharing). So last Friday, I was up in the sky over Markham, with him as well as two other friends.
Was nice =) I love to fly =) Can't wait til I have time to go gliding again!!
JCL 3:20pm
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
It's a bird? It's a plane?
It's JANEY flying a GLIDER!!!! =)
My sister took me flying for my bday =) SOOOOO SWEET!!!! At York Soaring Association, near Arthur, which is close to Fergus/Guelph/KW
In the glider, and learning how to put the seat belt on
Quick primer on how to fly: pedals & stick. Done
Ready for take off!!
Gliders are planes without motors, so a power plane tows us up, before we release the tow rope
I'm flying!!!!
Landing
Grounds crew =)
Getting my report card from my instructor
Sweet =) Will be going back, want to get my license =D Next time, I will need to bring a digicam onto the glider with me... the view is SO SWEET!!!! =)
JCL 10am
It's JANEY flying a GLIDER!!!! =)
My sister took me flying for my bday =) SOOOOO SWEET!!!! At York Soaring Association, near Arthur, which is close to Fergus/Guelph/KW
In the glider, and learning how to put the seat belt on
Quick primer on how to fly: pedals & stick. Done
Ready for take off!!
Gliders are planes without motors, so a power plane tows us up, before we release the tow rope
I'm flying!!!!
Landing
Grounds crew =)
Getting my report card from my instructor
Sweet =) Will be going back, want to get my license =D Next time, I will need to bring a digicam onto the glider with me... the view is SO SWEET!!!! =)
JCL 10am
Sunday, May 30, 2004
MY PICS!!!!
If anyone still looks at this site (which I highly doubt, since I don't actually update anymore -- no longer on vacation...), and is interested in seeing one of my sucessful pics from NYC, go to Matt's site (my guitar & photography teacher), and look at his May 29, 2004 post =D
JCL 12:40am
If anyone still looks at this site (which I highly doubt, since I don't actually update anymore -- no longer on vacation...), and is interested in seeing one of my sucessful pics from NYC, go to Matt's site (my guitar & photography teacher), and look at his May 29, 2004 post =D
JCL 12:40am
Monday, May 24, 2004
Closure
I've been harassed by the little one to finish this blog. In order to keep my sanity, I will attempt to give her the closure she desires.
Weekend with Ina was a lot of fun, and extremely tiring. Saturday was NYC all day. We went everywhere, essentially did the super-packed-one-day-entire-city tour.
Trained into Grand Central. Metroed to Central Park, FAO Schwartz (closed for renovations, pic with the big bear anyway), Rockefellar, window shopping and everything in between. Metroed to the East Village, ate lunch there at Pangea (pretty nice, off the main tourist path restaurant). Metroed to Chinatown (bbt at Ten Ren's, Ina got her dose of chinese people), walked to City Hall via a playground with lots of chinese kids and a "baseball diamond" made of the same material as a tennis court, even the outfield! Swung in and out of Strawberry cause they didn't have air con so it was really stuffy.
Metroed to Ground Zero. Spent a lot of time looking at the huge gaping hole, and the few remaining structures that were still standing but heavily damaged. Kinda hit home that it really happened, it was real people, and that most of the locals in NYC, at least Manhattan, knew at least one person who was in the building/died in the building. I remember I was in class (4B) when we heard about it, and we all thought it was a hoax, some crazy American news thing that didn't make any sense. Then we saw the footage. It was weird, a kinda empty "woah" feeling.
It wasn't the gaping hole that moved me. It was looking at the buildings that were next to the World Trade Centre. Seeing the extent to which they were damaged, knowing that the only reason the buildings were still around were because they were the *least* damaged, and structurally could still stand, even though no one could use the building. Seeing the fire station that is literally *right* across the street from the WTC, seeing the damage to their entrance, seeing the memorials to the fire fighters from their station who died. And having Ina point out to me where the Deloitte NYC office was located -- just on the other side of the street. Scary when it's framed in a way that makes this "American" newscast feel a lot closer to home.
Walked around to the other side of WTC, inside the Deloitte building, tooks pics from that angle too, wandered out to the waterfront, strolled along the "boardwalk", sat down and gazed into the water, at Staten Island, at New Jersey across the Hudson River, walked back to Ground Zero, I read all the signs that were posted, and the little makeshift "monument" of notes and pics from people all over the country. Went to Century 21. It's a HUGE discount store. I was "finished" within 10 minutes. Ina, of course, has much more stamina than I do =D
Metroed and bussed to B&H (past Madison Square Gardens), just to remember that the store is owned by Jewish people, and Sat is the Sabbath, so OF COURSE the store would be closed. Duh. Walked up 9th Ave, which was closed for a street fair, so we got hungrier with every step we walked. Got to the BBQ restaurant we were going to eat at (can't remember the name, it's near Times Square), but the line up was unbelievably long, so we walked to another restaurant (can't remember the name either, some french restaurant I think?). Ate and rested our feet. Much needed break, we had been walking non-stop pretty much all day. Walked back to Times Square, rode the ferris wheel in Toys R Us (yeah!!!), went back outside to take the required tourist pics of Times Square. Stood there and couldn't figure out what I was supposed to take a pic of, since there really isn't a sign that says "You are at Times Square". So took pics of the HUGE cup of instant noodles, and the really really REALLY tacky neon red Ernst & Young sign. I had no idea the EY NYC office was right in Times Square.
Metroed back to Grand Central. Trained back to Stamford. Fell asleep on the train. Both of us. We were so dead tired. Got off the train in time. Circled around the parking lot for a LONG time, trying to find the exit cause they closed the main exit, they don't have automated parking, and you can't get out the monthly pass exit without having a monthly pass. Finally some security guy in a pickup truck saw the line of cars going around in circles, and directed us all to the obscure exit on the other side of the building. Sigh.
Got home, zonked out pretty much after that.
Church the next morning. Went out for breakfast first, at Lakeside Diner, was really nice & homey, breakfast like Mel's Diner. Church was joint service. Experienced the world's fastest rendition of the doxology =) It was SO hard not to laugh, the pianist played the song SOOO fast! Ina later informed me that was the regular speed =) As expected, avoided the gaze of the chairman, when he asked if there were any visitors this week. I hate introducing myself at a strange church. Stayed for sunday school, and lunch at church. Yummy $3 chinese food =)
Went home, changed, walked to Starbucks and the mall near Ina's place. Yes, she lives within walking distance to a pretty nice mall. Did the Bath & Body Works run for Rosie and Linda. You would think after being in the US for 1.5 weeks, those two would have bought every single B&BW product they wanted! Nope, there was more they wanted =) You guys should ask Rosie how many times she went to a B&BW store while we were on vacation!
Walked back home, drove out to go shopping, at a store that cannot be named, as per instructions from ILC =) Drove to Ina's office, laughed at the "classy" National DT office structure. Didn't get to go in cause Ina forgot her pass. On the way out I took pics of the wild turkeys that were wandering around her building. For real, she's not kidding when she says the area has a striking resemblance to the Blair Witch Project. Didn't manage to see any of the deer that are normally all around the building. Went for a scenic drive, and ended at Sushi dinner. Got home and vegged out, including watching the finale of Charmed. I haven't watch that show in such a long time, I didn't realise the character "Prue" had changed actresses!
Went to bed early. Got up at 3:45am to get to the airport for my flight home. On the flight home, we flew over Niagara Falls, which was pretty cool =) Got off the plane, picked up my car, and drove straight to work.
Was really good to see Ina again, and to get to hang out. She's home again this Friday, so for all who are up for it, we'll be at "her" bubbles place Friday night.
Little miss ex-manager, hope you have closure now =)
JCL 12:30am EST
I've been harassed by the little one to finish this blog. In order to keep my sanity, I will attempt to give her the closure she desires.
Weekend with Ina was a lot of fun, and extremely tiring. Saturday was NYC all day. We went everywhere, essentially did the super-packed-one-day-entire-city tour.
Trained into Grand Central. Metroed to Central Park, FAO Schwartz (closed for renovations, pic with the big bear anyway), Rockefellar, window shopping and everything in between. Metroed to the East Village, ate lunch there at Pangea (pretty nice, off the main tourist path restaurant). Metroed to Chinatown (bbt at Ten Ren's, Ina got her dose of chinese people), walked to City Hall via a playground with lots of chinese kids and a "baseball diamond" made of the same material as a tennis court, even the outfield! Swung in and out of Strawberry cause they didn't have air con so it was really stuffy.
Metroed to Ground Zero. Spent a lot of time looking at the huge gaping hole, and the few remaining structures that were still standing but heavily damaged. Kinda hit home that it really happened, it was real people, and that most of the locals in NYC, at least Manhattan, knew at least one person who was in the building/died in the building. I remember I was in class (4B) when we heard about it, and we all thought it was a hoax, some crazy American news thing that didn't make any sense. Then we saw the footage. It was weird, a kinda empty "woah" feeling.
It wasn't the gaping hole that moved me. It was looking at the buildings that were next to the World Trade Centre. Seeing the extent to which they were damaged, knowing that the only reason the buildings were still around were because they were the *least* damaged, and structurally could still stand, even though no one could use the building. Seeing the fire station that is literally *right* across the street from the WTC, seeing the damage to their entrance, seeing the memorials to the fire fighters from their station who died. And having Ina point out to me where the Deloitte NYC office was located -- just on the other side of the street. Scary when it's framed in a way that makes this "American" newscast feel a lot closer to home.
Walked around to the other side of WTC, inside the Deloitte building, tooks pics from that angle too, wandered out to the waterfront, strolled along the "boardwalk", sat down and gazed into the water, at Staten Island, at New Jersey across the Hudson River, walked back to Ground Zero, I read all the signs that were posted, and the little makeshift "monument" of notes and pics from people all over the country. Went to Century 21. It's a HUGE discount store. I was "finished" within 10 minutes. Ina, of course, has much more stamina than I do =D
Metroed and bussed to B&H (past Madison Square Gardens), just to remember that the store is owned by Jewish people, and Sat is the Sabbath, so OF COURSE the store would be closed. Duh. Walked up 9th Ave, which was closed for a street fair, so we got hungrier with every step we walked. Got to the BBQ restaurant we were going to eat at (can't remember the name, it's near Times Square), but the line up was unbelievably long, so we walked to another restaurant (can't remember the name either, some french restaurant I think?). Ate and rested our feet. Much needed break, we had been walking non-stop pretty much all day. Walked back to Times Square, rode the ferris wheel in Toys R Us (yeah!!!), went back outside to take the required tourist pics of Times Square. Stood there and couldn't figure out what I was supposed to take a pic of, since there really isn't a sign that says "You are at Times Square". So took pics of the HUGE cup of instant noodles, and the really really REALLY tacky neon red Ernst & Young sign. I had no idea the EY NYC office was right in Times Square.
Metroed back to Grand Central. Trained back to Stamford. Fell asleep on the train. Both of us. We were so dead tired. Got off the train in time. Circled around the parking lot for a LONG time, trying to find the exit cause they closed the main exit, they don't have automated parking, and you can't get out the monthly pass exit without having a monthly pass. Finally some security guy in a pickup truck saw the line of cars going around in circles, and directed us all to the obscure exit on the other side of the building. Sigh.
Got home, zonked out pretty much after that.
Church the next morning. Went out for breakfast first, at Lakeside Diner, was really nice & homey, breakfast like Mel's Diner. Church was joint service. Experienced the world's fastest rendition of the doxology =) It was SO hard not to laugh, the pianist played the song SOOO fast! Ina later informed me that was the regular speed =) As expected, avoided the gaze of the chairman, when he asked if there were any visitors this week. I hate introducing myself at a strange church. Stayed for sunday school, and lunch at church. Yummy $3 chinese food =)
Went home, changed, walked to Starbucks and the mall near Ina's place. Yes, she lives within walking distance to a pretty nice mall. Did the Bath & Body Works run for Rosie and Linda. You would think after being in the US for 1.5 weeks, those two would have bought every single B&BW product they wanted! Nope, there was more they wanted =) You guys should ask Rosie how many times she went to a B&BW store while we were on vacation!
Walked back home, drove out to go shopping, at a store that cannot be named, as per instructions from ILC =) Drove to Ina's office, laughed at the "classy" National DT office structure. Didn't get to go in cause Ina forgot her pass. On the way out I took pics of the wild turkeys that were wandering around her building. For real, she's not kidding when she says the area has a striking resemblance to the Blair Witch Project. Didn't manage to see any of the deer that are normally all around the building. Went for a scenic drive, and ended at Sushi dinner. Got home and vegged out, including watching the finale of Charmed. I haven't watch that show in such a long time, I didn't realise the character "Prue" had changed actresses!
Went to bed early. Got up at 3:45am to get to the airport for my flight home. On the flight home, we flew over Niagara Falls, which was pretty cool =) Got off the plane, picked up my car, and drove straight to work.
Was really good to see Ina again, and to get to hang out. She's home again this Friday, so for all who are up for it, we'll be at "her" bubbles place Friday night.
Little miss ex-manager, hope you have closure now =)
JCL 12:30am EST
