FuN FuN FuN!

Today I went w/ a friend to Hamilton to a longtime TCBC friend's home for the post Christmas/Pre New Year's gathering. It was one of those come between noon and 5pm type gatherings...so pop on by when you can and leave when you want to. I had the opportunity to talk to a lot of friends from TCBC, HCAC, MCAC, also played with the Children and held a little baby (3mths old) "Jonathan" in my arms, he was so sweet, didn't cry. Lots of food, desserts and drinks. Everything was homemade, I was like you're kidding right? Thanks to Tom/Bete preparing days in advance...everything was so delicious. Cookies, spring rolls(viet style) , dumplings, ind. chow mein baskets w/ clam...oh YuM!!

Later that afternoon, I wasn't sure what I was doing that evening. I mean nothing was set in stone really...My friends all called me to see what I was doing bc I wasn't sure what the plan was for tonight. Everyone is like your phone just doesn't stop ringing...Just various calls, but last I heard was that TO at 6pm...hmmmmmmm....5:15 still in Hamilton. The weather didn't look that great where I was and I did enjoy my visit, so I stayed a bit longer. Left Hamilton around 6:15ish I think, we're one of the last ones to leave.

On the way back, you can see all the bright city lights, and it did look nice at night. The light festival in Hamilton wasn't bad either, drove by it on the way out of Hamilton. Since, I ate probably 4000 calories, I mean sweeeeeeeeets galore... I was thinking, I'm gonna feel this later in my tummy. Anywayz, since my friends left for TO and this was almost 7pm, well my evening was now free. What to do on a Saturday night? Just go home? I could have...but I ate so much and the night was young. So light festival and ice skating it was. Since I've never ice skated at the waterfront in Burlington at the new outdoor mini arena. I almost fell b/c a kid fell in front of me, and I couldn't stop, so I grabbed some man's arm to catch my balance b/c you were too far ahead of me. He's like, uuuuummmm...who are you? I'm like sorry, I was trying to catch my balance. Anywayz, the tea was really good, nice and hot after ice skating along w/ frozen entree and grapes. Zie Zie, Cheung-Fun.

Dumplings Nite

Last night, I taught my friends how to make dumplings, but I found that they already knew how to. The dumplings were cooked in various style, including pan fried and half-n-half. I enjoyed hanging w/ my friends last night, bc I don't always get to see them....but around the holiday season I try to see as many people as I can. I had to leave early bc I had to pick up family, but it was a fun evening. Hope to see them all again soon...

Last night's Dinner

Wow, I don't think I've eaten so much in quite sometime...Before dinner on Christmas Eve, I went to the Glad Tidings Penetcostal Church here in Burlington w/ the Lewis's/Chans for evening service before the Christmas dinner. The program was done very well, I enjoyed it immensely...so did the other three families...I don't think they all go on a regular basis so it was good to see AuntieM inviting all of us out before dinner.

As soon as service was over, my little bro went to talk to the chinese Pastor, apparently they hold a Mandarin service at 3pm there, they're from MCCC (Missisauga Chinese Christian Church) so since his cantonese is very minimal, zip in mandarin, I had to translate a bit. As usual, I had to drag him away b/c we were late heading back to the house. As soon as I got in, Uncle K took my coat, and handed me a wine glass...Really don't know what was in my glass, but it tasted good. It wasn't red or white wine, something else.

At first, I was like I don't know the other family, I knew two of the three, but after introductions, it felt like old times. The usual talk, what are you doing now? Where do you work? So I was ok, with the medical field/business topics, phew... one of the uncles is a dentist and used to be my dentist when I was a kid..but I never hung around his kids, well I mean never kept in touch. It was our brothers that kept in touch over the years. Dinner was great, had salmon filets, turkey, chinese shitake mushrroms stuffed w/ meat, ordered chinese takeout...Ben made homemade cookies n' cream cheesecake, uncle K made applepie...and some other store bought desserts. The "next generation" as we were referred to as, sat in the kitchen/dinette while the adults or as one of 'em said "old farts" as a joke of course, sat in the formal dining room.

After dinner, we all played wii, xbox360 or a few of us watched "Da Vinci Code" and a couple of us just sat around chatting or breakdancing. In between all this, I was helping Klarize with the photos for the families...I went around taking pictures, most turned out nice, the odd one was kinda in appropriate...but you'd die from laughter. Then they had us all line up for family photo of the "next generation", then one w/ the adults as well. Come midnight, some people left, but two of the families were still there, so we ended up chatting in the living room for two hours. I was sure it was only 12:30am, not 2am at the time even though everyone lived with in a 5-10 minute drive.

I hope this time, we won't lost contact, and have to wait another 20 years for a reunion...let's all try to keep in touch. By the end of the night, we all were hugging each other, like we've been family all this time. I went in only knowing half the people (close familyfriends), and half were strangers, but I came out as feeling a part of them as well...

The holidays have begun...

It's been awhile since I've blogged...It's been a busy weekend so far. Went to see "The Nativity Story" on Friday and had Pho99...Yum! Oh, and spent an hour at Sherway Gardens looking for a watch with certain specs. The mall wasn't as busy as I thought between 2-4pm, perhaps due to the rain? It was an evening to just hang and get to know one another. When I got home, there were so many cars, I had no idea that there was a party at my house that evening. To my surprise as I walked in, they're like you're late, I'm like, I had no idea that these people were over.

On Saturday, I went sightseeing, Kensington Market, the Distillary District, Waterfront...Quite windy I must say, but well planned. The "Dufflet Pastry" was verynice...In the evening, TCBC put on a Christmas perfromance/Choir...the music was so heavenly, very angelic. I enjoyed the pefromance a lot. After the performance, five of us went to look at the light show at Nathan Philp square. One of the light shows/presentations was very scary yet good lighting effects but scary. Almost likea haunted house. After the performance, all of us went our separate ways, and a few of us decided to get coffee at Seocnd Cup. Then I looked at the long line up, and drive back to Btown, I decided against it. Trying to weigh it all out, long drive, caffeine, line up, Church in the morning...then sleep...priceless.

I woke up this morning, quite tired...but awake and alert. Now I'll have to get ready/get dressed for dinner w/ family friends tonight. We all have a game plan, you bail me out and I'l bail you out and you bail so and so out, it works quite nicely...It's a circle affect. Everyone helps everyone out.

Friendships~From a Chinese Calender

I found this today in a Chinese calender...In chinese it's "Pun-Yao"~Friends. The inscription read:

"Friendship is like playinga harmonious duet.

True freinds move forward and retreat together.

Exercising physically with friends is good for health.

Sharing our hearts with friends is good for the soul."

I just thought I'd share it with all of you.

Our Christmas Best

This past weekend, Emmanuel Fellowship presented "The Window" skit to the tune of "Oh Holy Night." It was done really well and I really tried so hard not to laugh when Eddy/Shirley pinched my cheeks really hard. I wasn't expecting that and then my head scarf almost fell off my head. A lot of people loved it and thought the message itself was really powerful. The dinner was really good too. Thanks to Auntie Cecilia n Uncle Ricky for preparing the dinner along with their team. Thanks CB for coming out, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks to lil bro J for talking to K about God. After the event, a group of us about 7-8 of us went to Timmy's for coffee.

At Timmy's I also ran into an old classmate of mine that have lost contact over the years. So we exchanged/updated our phone numbers and will try to keep in contact as Mag's is getting married next year. We should have a class reunion=) A lot has changed in the last few years, of course, I look better now than 2 years ago. Anywayz, getting back to my table, we had our usual coffees chitchats...then one by one everyone started to leave. Actually, after an hour we (OM,CB, C.Ng, AM) all left as it was getting late and all of us had Church the next morning.

Tim Horton's is gonna be the new hang out now I think. I've been there a lot lately, that and Starbuck's.

Btw, pics from Saturday will be posted soon=)

Writing Christmas Cards...

I started this a week ago, I went to SQ1 w/ Maggie and we shopped for Christmas cards. I've been writing cards for the past week, one here and there as I see people or meet them. I spent my lunch hour at work writing them out too...I started writing tonight around 10:30 but since I knew I was expecting a phone call, I'd have to stop. Hopefully by tomorrow afternoon I'll be done. I still don't know what to get you people, b/c I really haven't done any shopping and I'm afraid to hit the malls right now. So for now, it'll be just Christmas cards. Maybe I'll make cookies:P

Back2School

The days of freedom will end in a month......sighhh....I will be going to night school to finish my CGA. In order for me to complete it, I'll be taking courses for the next five to seven years. Starting January 9th, 2007, I will be taking Quantitative Methods, aka Advanced Stats (Boring and hard). I will have less time for everything else. So far, I'm planning my schedule already including holidays, trying to work in "Winterlude" in Ottawa w/ friends in the New Year, Fellowship, Prayer nights, social nights...etc...

I'll still try to make it out to the social activities in Burlington/Sauga/TO. Just be patient w/ me over the next little while as I get back into the swing of things.

My supervisor is not pleased today and wants a meeting in the new year. I think it's b/c she didn't know I took on certain extra responsibilities that were passed onto someone else. Basically, I've taken on more than I can accomplish in any given day. She's glad and thankful for the work I've done but knows that I'm burnt out. Yes, 12hour days, makes me grumpy. Too tired to do anything else. I feel blah!

Great Weekend I think?

Now that I've finally recovered from the weekend, I can blog it. It went by way too fast, that's for sure.

On Friday, we had a pizza party at work, yay free food...but not so good b4 a gala. I was still full going into dinner. The gala was fun, great company, excellent food. Stopped by Nikki's party that was about 10 minutes away, it was great. Although I missed the games, Cranium, we were able to stop by even as people were leaving. I know buddy, you wanted to come but due to other obligations, you couldn't make it, perhaps next year=)

On Saturday, I went to a meeting around noon, then proceeded to North York to visit and bake my buffalo wings. Nice place, by the way. An hour later, headed to Scarborough for a friend's Christmas potluck. It was great to see old friends, acquaintances and meet new ones of course. I'm surprised, that the foundation didn't buckle, LOL, over 40 people attended, lots of pics of course. Too bad, the night had to end. I left the party pretty early around 10:30pm b/c I was tired and needed to find a Timmy's. I needed coffee soooooooooo badly. By the time, we left Timmy's it was almost midnight. Thanks C, for navigating...getting back to the 401. Yikes, time does fly doesn't it C, JP? It only took me 45minutes to drive home, not bad. Thanks for the invite JP...I'm sure there are many more to come.
Yes, it's impressive that I drove this time on my own from Burlington, (JP, it shocked a lot of the guests that I drove)LOL. I mean carpooling is effective as we are the farthest; however, I gotta drive once in awhile=)

On Sunday, I went to Church and I brought my Mom and Dad as well. Although, Dad doesn't come to Church yet, please pray for him. Spent some time w/ Mom and they wanted to go T &T so we went there later in the afternoon. I skipped the evening get together w/ friends, b/c I was sooooo tired. Perhaps, next weekend.

Pics, can be viewed under "My Photo Album, Xmas2006" There's a variety but I'm sure you can figure out which is which.
That's all for now.

Yay Monday's over!

Another day closer to the weekend...Come on Friday...It's a half day work day=) I need that extra break!! Had chocolate mint ice cream cake, oh so yummy! No, I didn't buy Baskin Robbins31, but someone did buy it for a couple collegues baby shower. Went to the gym tonight at 6:30 after work, I found I was able to jog and talk on my cell at the same time. Difficult yes, but not impossible. I had two phone calls during my jog, one for a few minutes, the other a little over 20 minutes.

This week is gonna go by FAST!! This is gonna be a great weekend=)

Winter Wonderland

Where did you "Snow" come from? I was having a nice cup of tea at a friend's house, well a few of us gathered together...Let's just say, what goes on in these "tea settings" stays there...hahaha...(Hint: Bum slapping). Anywayz, really the weather is strange. D and A said there were light traces of snow outside, I go outside and dissapointed...no snow. On my way out, J, E, G, E, D were wishing me a "safe drive" home...

Well, I didn't hit anything, YAY! On the drive home, I noticed that as I cross the bridge from Bronte to Appleby (Burlington) there was snow everwhere. I was looking straight ahead, and I'm like what?? The grounds were covered in nice white puffs, snow everwhere and still falling. Salt trucks are out, I was driving really really slow by now...It is nice to look at but not to drive in. At least not for me=( Let's hope this weekend doesn't snow too much...I know you really want snow, I enjoy the snow just not the driving aspect.

The snow kinda reminds me of the movie "white Christmas" except it's not Christmas yet, but the snow is just beautiful, each snowflake unique in its own special way...kinda romantic too. hahaha.

Enough, gibberish now, time to sleep=)

LCBO

Of course, I don't know how to buy alcohol...If I knew, I wouldn't have to ask you(employee). I got a bottle of Remy Martin Cognac as a gift which I will never drink so why just leave it in the cold cellar to age. So I decided to bring it back to the LCBO and exchange it for something else. When I looked at the internet it's value was about $54.95 I think USD. When they scanned it, to my shock and disbelief it was $83.85. So the lady told me to spend $83.95 in the store. It took me an hour to decide on what to get. So I decided to get a couple bottles of RED, one White, bottle of Bellini's, Bailey's and ice wine.

Usually I don't exchange gifts but since I'm not going to drink it, why leave it around? I wanted to call you people and ask what I should get b/c I don't know my alcohol. Next time, I need to do another exchange, you people have to come with me...hahaha...

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