Hiking through Monte Bello Open Reserve

Just us and a couple of deers. Clouds drifting by. No other human in sight. A narrow trail meanders past a lone tree at the beautiful Monte Bello Open Reserve.

What a Fine Wine

Sideways is a movie about a bachelor-party trip undertaken by a soon-to-be groom and his buddy. The trip brought us face to face to the myriad of human emotions: happiness, depression, courtship, cheating, lovestruck, disappointment and risk taking. Throughout the movie, we sampled some of the finer Pinot Noir varietals that Northern California has to offer.

The film rekindled my love for Pinot Noir. And tonight I remember this mighty fine Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley: Kenwood 2001 Reserve. I remember that night when we partake of its strong and intense flavor. I miss that flavor...

Both Sides Now

Yeah, so I havent blogged for a while. Lots of home improvement tasks going on. Kevin has been a great help. More photos of the house coming soon. In the meantime, I've probably been boring all of you with too much details of the home I just bought. It's a big step, so of course I need to journal it for future reference.

I am also tuning out politics for a while. The disappointment of this election has taken its toll. Though, I know that it won't be for long.

Watched Love Actually on DVD this past weekend. It's a movie about human interactions. It's a story about love, disappointments, hurt, contentment and fufillments. And of course it featured Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now. What Powerful Lyrics.

Rows and flows of angel hair

And ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere

I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun

They rain and they snow on everyone

So many things I would have done

But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow

It's cloud illusions I recall

I really don't know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels

The dizzy dancing way that you feel

As every fairy tale comes real

I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show

And you leave 'em laughing when you go

And if you care, don't let them know

Don't give yourself away
I've looked at love from both sides now

From give and take, and still somehow

It's love's illusions I recall

I really don't know love

Really don't know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud

To say "I love you" right out loud

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds

I've looked at life that way
Oh but now old friends they're acting strange

And they shake their heads

And they tell me that I've changed

Well something's lost but something's gained

In living every day
I've looked at life from both sides now

From win and lose and still somehow

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life

I really don't know life at all

Many Thanks to Kevin and Joe

After I announce that I am moving to a new home, these 2 individuals bravely volunteered to help. They sustained me through the move. I deeply appreciate your help. Thank you very much.

Bye bye to my noisy neighbor upstairs.

Happy Birthday David

David,
Sorry I am not in Miami to spend your Birthday with you. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead. Thanks for being my rock all these years.

Finally the key to the first home I own

Quite a process. But guess what, it's still easier than getting a Green Card.

Sorry for your Loss

David,
Sorry that your kitty cat passed away. The care and love you provided will return to you many times over.

Condoleezza Rice to replace Colin Powell as secretary of state

Incompetence is rewarded

Both Loans Funded

My mortgage and equity line of credit have been funded just now. Tomorrow, the property is scheduled to be recorded under my name. It's almost mine!

Before Packing to Move

Before Packing..

Packing in Progress

Packing to move in progress

Thanks for the laugh

Jessica wrote this in her blog: "Let me say I love Fox News. They are so unbiased. They're not for Republican or Democrat. "

Poor Girl. Another case of successful brainwash by the "Fair & Balanced" network.

She is from the South.

Nov 10: One Step Closer

Yesterday, I was at the Title company signing my life away. I am one step closer to being a first time home owner. Of course I refused to read anything I was signing. That will scare me shitless and I would not have been able to follow through. Any volunteers to help me move?

22 Reasons Why you shouldn't post your picture on the internet

Now something light for a laugh:

http://www.columbia.edu/~rhee/

The Material Girl on Terror and Iraq

“I just don’t want American troops to be in Iraq, period. My feelings are ‘can we just all get out? . . . Global terror is everywhere. Global terror is down the street, around the block,’ she said. ‘Global terror is in California. There’s global terror everywhere and it’s absurd to think you can get it by going to one country and dropping tons of bombs on innocent people.” - Madonna

The Funny Girl reacts to GWB's second term

In response to the results of the Presidential election last week, I would like to share with you a quote from Thomas Jefferson. Although written in 1798, I feel his words speak perfectly to the strong sentiments of frustration and disappointment 48% of the country feel.
"A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt......If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake." - Barbra Streisand

John Ashcroft is Leaving the Administration

Good Riddance Goodbye.

4 More Years - My Reflection

Frankly, I did not expect Kerry to lose. On the contrary, I thought he would win by such a huge margin that GWB would soon disappear into oblivion. He would then re-appear to offer apologies for his divisive policies, his scare tactics, his right-wing idealogy, the environmental damage, the alarming increase of terrorism, the senseless war, the loss of jobs, Halliburton....

Frankly, I had faith in Americans. I thought they would reject an incompetent president and a crooked vice president. Instead they lived in fear of the next terrorist act, believing that they need a Republican president to protect them. They refused to hold this administration accountable for failed records and blatent lack of integrity. And how's this for a laugh: the polls say that voters who viewed moral values as the #1 issue overwhelmingly voted for GWB. Americans, you disappointed me. Well, at least 59 million of you.

Frankly, it defies common sense.

Serve him right!

This Taiwanese man is bitten by the Lion when he tried to convert it to Christianity. Duh!

Surprise! Halliburton is under investigation...Again!

FBI widens its investigation and an army staffer calls it the worst case of contracting abuse. This sums up 4 years of the Bush administration-A Blatent lack of integrity.

Future Home?

Future Home? These nice folks were moving out of this lovely house. I have it inspected today.

6 Days to a New Beginning-My Plea to You

This election is SO important for many many reasons. Another Bush term would mean:

-Jeopardy to our Environment
-Jeopardy to World Peace
-Jeopardy to Women's Right to Choose
-More Gun Violence
-Writing Discrimination into the Constitution
-The blurring of the line separating the Church and State
-Loss of Privacy
and probably most important of all, he will elect
-Ultra Right Wing Supreme Court Justices (who have no term limits) that will help make the items outlined above come true.

Please Please Please vote for Kerry and encourage your friends, colleagues, family, acquaintances to do the same.

6 More Days to electing John Kerry, President of the USA!!!

I'm Still Alive...

Family Portrait -
Hey Everybody. Sorry I have been missing in action. Well first things first, welcome to my new Weblog, now hosted by Blogger. Those bastards at Mblog withdrew service abruptly and refused to return my content unless I pay for it!

Well just a brief, quick update:

-Spent three weeks in Asia
-Got involved in a car accident after I returned. Car still in the shop :(
-Looking to purchase a house while interest rates are still low

Thought I will share a picture I brought back from Singapore.
Oh, it was so many years ago...