Winter Getaway 2010

Like every other year, I take a trip, a getaway if you will.. This time, it was nearer to home..Houston, TX! Our 10 hours drive started at 6am. It was pleasant drive there at first, since I only drove 2 1/2 hours of it..haha..however, our drive was longer than 12 hours! haha..guess what happens? Like every time, something interesting has to happen..this time, another flat tire! hehe..I was sound asleep when he pulled the car by the busy highway and woke me up, and the first thing he said "I think we got another flat tire *grins*".. For some mysterious reason, every trip I take, something like that is bound to happen. The day before we left, he had gotten a flat tire and changed it out. 2 weeks before that, we changed another flat tire during our Thanksgiving day trip. Anyways, we pulled over by the highway, tried to get change the flat tire out with our new gadgets! hehe..he must be thankful that I made him bought the new gadgets, since the last time we did it with the pathetic small gadgets that came with the car, we couldn't even get the car above ground level..anyways, a man pulled up by the highway and started reversing towards us. He was friendly enough to offer us help and directions to the nearest body shop.

Ok, after changing out the tire in the midst of heavy traffic, we started heading towards the body shop the man had told us to. First body shop -NO such tires in stock. Second body shop: NO tires in that size either..Well, they gave us another body shop to go to, and this time, it was starting to get dark and traffic was picking up..we stopped by a gas station to refill gas and reconfirm our directions. Guess what? The guy gave us a body shop which was 2 hours away.. ^_^"" How were we gonna get there with the small spare tire? So, the guy at the gas station gave us a couple of nearby body shops addresses. At the gas station, we meet some Chinese guys who kept staring at our car and us..then, after 20min, 3 of them came and ask if we were from UA and apparently, they know who he is and have seen us on campus... ^_^""" (i guess that's what being president is like huh? many know who u are, but u may not..haha)

Ok, Houston..we spent the first 2 days getting his passport renew and the car fixed. So, I was either sitting around in Starbucks with my book or walking around the area by myself while he's busy somewhere else..We also got to go to Galleria Houston, the 4th largest mall in the US..it was lovely..we went there almost every other day.. =p

Anyway, this trip, we got to eat a lot of good chinese food..we stumble upon this first place in downtown Galleria and they were pretty good..i was a happy camper..we came here for the first 2 nights in a row.. the dim sum and food service were excellent! We also went to Cheesecake Factory for my favorite meal and cheesecake..on Christmas Eve, we went ahead and got me my tiramisu cheeesecake for Christmas breakfast..hehe..ok, so, we had lots of good chinese food to eat! Even "ta pao" home duck rice for my next day's lunch on our way home from Houston...

Oh, we also went to visit NASA center. The place was really cool, you can actually see what they do and get a tram tour around the facility..you can't imagine how big and yet cramp a rocket really is..the way they eat, cook, shower and even go to the restroom is interesting..hehe..there were several games to play with, several performances and of course, LEGO showcase at the same time! =D

Overall, my trip was shopping, sightseeing, eat, eat and more eating..it was a blast! =D

*Pics time!*

yummy char siew and dim sum!
he was excited for pickled appetizers..
Part of a rocket @ NASA

LEGO!!!!

Beautiful sunset at Galveston Island

this last pics was just for fun..he was irritated by me snapping pics.. =p

Thanksgiving Week

This year's Thanksgiving is different than every other year..no house hopping, no big-time entertaining, just simple and fun. Johnny brought a turkey from his company and I cooked it. And some dishes. =) I'm splendidly surprise of my cooking skills..really...it's my first time cooking a turkey, well, cleaning a poultry that is not already fillet, cleaned, packed and ready to cook..it had everything intact..it was an interesting experience that I hope not to do again..haha..i mean the cleaning part. Anyways, turkey turned out great. Stuffing was ok, gravy was perfect..after an entire day of toil and labor, we had our delicious Thanksgiving dinner..

Black Friday was fun too. We went to Tulsa, OK to shop..hehe..and well, there were couple of good deals..bought couple of stuff and Christmas presents. All were fine and well, happy as can be, we headed back. But then, of course, something has to happen..as always! =p Flat tire! We pulled over, tried to remove the nuts but they were screwed in too tight..both of us were not able to get them loose..so, we decided to pull over on a flatter road..Thank God for the kind and helpful people out in the nowhere..an old man saw us pull over near his place and immediately came out to help. He jacked the car, and helped us change the tire..and he even told us where to get new tire which was just 2 min away. All is well, we got the tire changed for low price and we were set to go..eventful huh?

anyways, GRE on Monday..pray for me and wish me luck! =)

Exciting Christmas!

Hi y'all..

Christmas was an exciting and unforgettable one this year. Indeed, it was a very white christmas..but there was also a blizzard that decided to drop by to visit town..we were planning to travel to Sioux Falls that Christmas day, but we did not know exactly where it would hit and how bad it was gonna be..so we decided that we would still head out. As soon as we hit I-90 not too long, it was closed by authorities..so we had to go to local roads..and according to GPS, the next route was Hwy 44..so, we followed the GPS but let me say this, it was one of the worst decision ever made...it took us into a mountain area where we had no phone connection (Stupid AT&T! Use Verizon! 5x the 3G coverage...) and hence, we were practically helpless..Whiteouts began to occur every couple of inches on the road. It was scary and dangerous. But there were no one else to go..Then, the wind decided it would be a great idea to blow our way and it drifted our car off the road. The guys (well, one very unwilling one) had to get down the car in the horrible weather to push the car while I try to get it back on the road..it was an exhausting and panicky hour or so..a lot of drama (especially when you have 18 yr olds in the car *sighs*)..after getting the car back on the road, we were met by patroling guards. Our luck took a better turn! The guards drove us to a place where they had everyone stranded meet and wait till they get everyone else on the road before guiding all of us to a small town called Kyle, SD. They took us to a motel called Lakota Praire. The owners were really nice people. They got us a room ready for the night and helped us through everything else. They opened their restaurant to serve hungry stranded people and they helped us call everyone to see if it's safe to travel, which route to take and where to refill gas. They even gave us a discount for the 2nd night we stayed there! I guess we looked really depress and tired..but, I'm glad they were such nice people..After 2 days at the motel, the blizzard moved east and the roads were plowed. It was safe to travel again and hence, here we are in Sioux Falls!

Thank God for His protection and blessing! I mean, the guards do not usually patrol the highway in such horrible conditions. But, because they received a call from the horseback riders patroling the mountains who were stranded on the mountains, they found all of us! With no network, we could not even call 911! How ridiculous is that?!? But anyway, Thank God for keeping us safe and protected. Thank God that He sent all these nice people in our troubled ways to help us and keep us protected and safe. I'm just really grateful for all He had done and given us.. =)

Merry Christmas and a very Blessed New Year!

SKIING ♥ Winter Break Part 2

Terry Peak, Black Hills, SD ----SKIING!!! ♥

This was definitely the best part of the trip so far..hehe..I was so excited that I did not feel the cold wind..hehe. Anyways, we rented boots, poles and skis..after that, it was time to try to get everything together and move around the snow..haha..Sheryl and Peter decided that it was too cold and too dangerous to try it out, so it was just Johnny and I..luckily for me, Johnny knows how to ski, so I get to save the beginner's lesson fee..hehe..Skiing is not as easy as it seems on tv! I was fooled by the media. The boots were so heavy that it hurt my ankles. It weighted more than my feet, it was so heavy that I started to lose the senses in my feet. I could not feel a thing! It was just horrible that I started to panic a little because I couldn't control my feet! After getting them into the skis, another problem occurs--I have used up all my energy in carrying my boots around on my feet that I had no more energy to push down the locks on my skis. I used my entire body weight to lock one ski and it wasn't enough..maybe I needed kids skis? haha..just a thought. After a couple of times, trying hard to get my feet to work, I managed to move around in my skis..ok, maybe it's not much coz' I didn't do the slopes, but hey! I skied around for a bit..but once I started to really get the hang of it (turning, stopping, putting the skis on by myself with no help from others), we had to leave..there was a snow storm scheduled to come into town! haha..so, I said goodbye to the skis (I think that made Sheryl and Peter happy though, leaving) but I really really wanted to try the slopes..at least a little..sigh..oh well, maybe another winter? Oh, I forgot to mention, there were so many professional skiers and snowboarders..very "yao yeng"..haha..just thought I mention it a bit..hehe..

***

Here are some pictures:

the lifts, which I didn't buy tickets for..

getting ready for another try

here I come

yay~~ One more time!

Winter break part 1 ♥

Hi Everyone!

I'm here at Rapid City, South Dakota right now..will be heading to Sioux Falls tomorrow..hehe...it has been snowing ever since I crossed to border of South Dakota...everything is covered in pure white snow. Everything looks so clean, so pure, so innocent...the journey here has been an awesome one.. † I'm in awe of the wonderful things God had created, the scenery, the landscape, the weather, the rocks, the mountains, the sky....etc...I could go on and on...oh, and thank God for the safe trip here and His blessings and protections.. †

***

Ok, here are my updates:

1. Chimney Rock, NE

see how excited I am? haha

hmm..what do people actually pack for their journey to the West..across the Great Plains?

Chimney Rock

2. Bluff National Monument

It was a tough hike (or so I may say). The mountain was covered with thick snow and was kinda slippery. With the help of my friends, I managed to not slip and fall..

scenery 1

scenery 2

scenery 3: Sheryl and I

3. Lake McConaughy, NE

cold..

i found paw prints!

4. Carhenge, NE

the spawning salmon

5. Mt Rushmore, SD

the 1st 4 presidents of the United States

The artist and us

I'm so happy!

Group Picture...(Richard, you should have been here too!)

one more before we leave...

♥ Hello, Winter Break ♥

Oh, the smile on my face after this stressful period.

No more Finals! yay ♫♫♫

Bye bye books (for the week) and hello holiday mood...

♥ Plan for the break:

1. Roadtrip ☺
2. Study for next semester
3. Study for GMAT
4. Plan next semester's study and work
5. Apply internships
6. Relax! ♥ Have fun ♥

See, I have a plan..whether I'll stick to it all winter, we'll see about that, but one thing is for sure: I'll get most things done...especially number 1,3,5 and 6..haha...

Keep you guys updated later..when I get internet connection at my apartment..lol

story of my life

FINALS IS HERE AGAIN!!!

It's that dreadful time of the year again, burying myself in books and notes, crossing my finger and hoping I will be able to remember every single detail I have read throughout the semester..I wish my brain capacity is as big as I wish it is..but anyways, although finals are around the corner (literally), I am not as stressed out as I was for the past 2 years. Maybe I've become so accustom to having exams and tests each week, now finals feels just like another week of classes. Sad huh?

Good thing is, I have something to look forward to after finals. Like the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining...my silver lining is my winter road trip. Yes, road trip during winter..hehe..some of you may think I'm crazy, but I've decided to go North! haha..all the way to Nebraska and South Dakota...Mount Rushmore, shopping malls and Oooo...the mountains!!!! ^_^ My family doesn't like my idea of wanting to try skiing and snowmobiling..yes, I know it's dangerous, but I won't be able to do these once I get a lot more older right? I can't try skiing or bungy jumping when I'm 50 or 60...or maybe I'm just too adventurous? haha..anyways, at least, I have to try tubing and snowshoeing, regardless of what Sheryl says. We'll see...as for now, I'll be studying as always..pray that I'll make fantastic (good) grades ok? A's....hehe

Brrrr......

It's freezing cold outside..-16'C with the wind blowing in my face..i am freezing, no matter how many layers i put on..haha..hopefully it gets warmer soon...hot cocoa sounds good now..lol..so much for wanting to see snow and winter so much.. =p

Dallas updated

Sorry this took so long, guys..so, I went to Dallas for a week with my friend here, a road trip actually..was gonna visit some friends i had there but we got too lost to meet up with any of them..haha..so, we spent most of our time out driving and walking..lol..

am gonna let the pictures speak for themselves.. =p

He drives first

Lunch

then me! I look really tiny in this pic.. ^_^"

Dallas!

Lemur

Gorilla!!

what better way to sun tan in the winter eh?

i love turtles..haha

and who knew Hogs had blonde hair? (just kidd)

our rental car for the week..


Downtown:

Art District:Durians.. =(

Going back to Fayetteville:

The week was great! filled with fun, laughter and lots of arguments..hehe..but it was all good. Anyway, school just resumed and I need to get back to the momentum..study and work again..sigh...