Seattle Trip

"Vacations" are fun and relaxing (depending on your definition).  "Trips" are getaways that is not a vacation, quite possibly, an obligation hence, the title. We could have gone to Vancouver... but the kids' passports expired and we didn't want to expedite and live under the stress of missing those dates.  In spite of all the family drama behind setting this up... the stars aligned where we were able to meet in Seattle to have a mini-reunion of sorts with Aunts/Uncles that are in their late 70's and early 80's. 

And with all trips/vacations... I did my part planning.  "Failing to plan is...."  (kid's in unision)  "... Planning to fail." 

Did my 5-Day Seattle trip research.  Found different types of cuisine. Researched things to do for all age range... from an 8 year old to an 80 year old.  Took into account different weather patterns, different physical capabilities - hikes for beginners, intermediates and advance, different interests, and finally.....  the touristy spots.

 I unveiled the itinerary to the kids days before the trip and got their approval.  They loved it.  All throughout the trip... "What's next on the itinerary??"  Heh... 

Day 1 - Arrival

We took the first flight out of San Jose - 6:45AM, with an early arrival of 8:30AM, so we get an entire day in Seattle before the Aunts arrived.  But that meant waking up at 4AM - it also meant saving $400.  But boy did we pay... the kids were so tired and sleepy.  No one wanted to walk and just wanna hit the hotel.  I was ready for this. I planned for landing, brunching, brief walk and just chill.  Very, very much needed.  

Highlights - Tried out an Amazon Go, where you walk in with your Prime Account, shop, walk out without paying, and you get charged.  And right when we stepped out of a restaurant in the middle of Pike's Place... we run into SW's best friend from church.  Of all the places...of all the moments... of all the locations...

Lowlight - Everyone was in a bad mood except for me. HA!!  "How do you have so much energy daddy??!"

Day 2 - Aunts Arrive

Headed to the local Starbucks Reserve in the morning.  The kids were fully rested so they had a pretty good time.  Then headed to "The Spheres" that ended up being a disappointment because you need to reserve 15 days in advance to get into Amazon HQs.  Killed enough time to pick up the aunts... and everything just went from 1x to 0.75x.  We're gonna go slooooooooooooooooooow for the duration of the trip.  

Highlights - Space Needle and Glass Museum.  The food at A+ Cafe and running into Keno / Siu!! 

Lowlight - Not getting a seat at Din Tai Fung despite me calling ahead and them saying the wait is only 15 minutes. 

Day 3 - July 4th

The Aunts met up with some friends in Seattle and this was suppose to be the first of several outdoor days - including a 27 mile backride around Lake Washington.  Did it happen??? NOPE!!! Ended up going to a yucky beach infested with algae.  Ugh....  we then headed to MPOP - overrated - and ended the night at a brewery.  Ok... it wasn't a bad day.

Highlights - Kids spending almost 2 hours in the video game museum.  Running into David and Sandy!!

Lowlights - Not doing my 27 mile bike ride or outdoor hike.

Day 4 - Aunts Depart

Woke up in the morning and decided to take the Aunts to the Starbucks Reserved by myself.  C'mon... kids, wake up at 7AM!? To drink coffee?!?  Please.  We then headed back to the hotel for them to pack, got them checked out, and off we went to.... Bruce Lee's grave.  To my surprise..  they were NOT comfortable with visiting a cemetery at all.  I thought they'll be excited - like me.  Oh well... big FAIL.  Went back lunch at Chinatown... then headed to the Seattle Aquarium.  Boy do we have it good in Monterey... this Aquarium is so tiny.  Took the kids on a spin of the Giant Wheel and we headed back to the hotel to chill before dinner time.  When we got to the train station... and everyone was in line to board the train, Amtrack says there's a mechanical issue and they re-routed everyone onto a bus.  Mad scramble!! Glad that Joyce and I were there - otherwise who knows what would've happened to them. 

Highlights - Visiting the Dragon

Lowlights - Dough Zone - bleah!!  And sending pics of the gravesite to my family.  Oops! Big no no, apparently. 

Day 5 - Clear the Board

The aunts were gone... now we can go do our own thing. Originally wanted to do a Kayak around the bay... but there were too many hurdles and piss poor planning (on my part, mind you) to make it happen. Plus, I don't think anyone other than me, SW, and NN really wanted to do it.  So we planned it so we can hit up some of the eateries at Pike's Place that we missed on the first day - including the "#1 rated food item, not in Seattle, but on Yelp." And also that "Piroshky" place.  Ok... they were good, not great, but good.  Then drove 30 minutes to hit up a Rock and Jump place, but smaller.  Headed back home to chill... only... I made a stop at the Mariner's Team Store at what was formerly known as SafeCo Field, now T-Mobile Park, where I got to shop for a good 45 minutes.  Ended the night at Din Tai Fung... where we should've ended up on Day 2.

Highlights - SW getting his fix for Clam Chowder.  He asked for it since day 1 when we arrived.  Kids getting an hour and 15 minutes of free time to run, jump, and play.  The laser maze where Joyce/NN beat me and SW - although, they knew exactly what to do after seeing us do it twice.

Lowlight - This really tears at my heart, cuz I single-handedly ruin the trip here. 

Day 6 - Homeward Bound

Last day of the trip... got some brunch, headed to the cruise, hit up a Mall and Children's Museum and time to head out.  Planned to take the last flight out of Seattle.. cuz as late as we were to land... we get to sleep in our own bed that night.  Ahhhh.... Home Sweet Home.

Highlights - Motorized scooter in the streets of Seattle.  Street parking and Park and Go app.  I spent exactly half of what Grace spent for parking... cuz I was cheap enough and willing to walk a little.  

Lowlights - well.... in summary.  Me.  Woe be me.

Come and see.

ES Men's Prayer Group sponsored a BBQ lunch for Saturday ESL.  They invited all the pastors (none showed up) as well as all the regular teachers.  His email subject was "Come and see." I'm going to sub for a couple of weeks in July, so I might as well go observe.  But the cool thing was... I subtly brought the family with me.  I didn't ask them... I told them... to come with me Saturday morning.  Not knowing what to expect... I wouldn't look them in the eye.  I was just hoping, praying, wishing, that they won't give me the stink eye, and actually give ESL a chance.  Give it a chance... and they'll experience for themselves the joy of paying back to society.

For the first 15 minutes... they didn't know where to go.  I didn't know where to go.  So they just sat in the back of class.

Then the teachers split the class and it was just us 4 in one class.  SW and NN were so bored... they walked out.  Then we broke up into groups and the Teacher Assistants had to help each of the groups with pronunciation.  I naturally took my 7 people under my wing.  And out of the corner of my eye... I see that Joyce and then NN... owned their own group.  They were doing it.  Investing in it.

Then it was break time.  Everyone went to get pastries... coffee... drinks.  And I saw NN, SW, and some of the students' kids playing volleyball!!!!  Barriers broken.

Back from break... we had more group exercises.  Led by NN and Joyce.  SW... hung around. 

I didn't know what to expect when I brought the fam.  But as we were driving home..  they couldn't stop talking about the positive experience in serving those in need.  So glad that they were able to "come and see."  Now... it's time to "Go and tell."  

再次抱B

 琴日教會離左一個新family. 佢哋有兩個可愛的孖生女兒，同埋一個歲𡃁大的公子。開始時,我淨係敢陪兩位公主玩，但係弟弟好想親近家姐。我就不知不覺地伸出雙手抱起小弟弟,再次抱B的感覺非常之愉快，已經太多年冇抱過BB。

契女已經大啦，一直都好驚COVID會害到佢，所以都冇話要抱。幸好天父賜我一位小寶貝，等我可以再感覺到做爸爸的幸福。 

If I happen to forget... here's why...

I love serving along side brothers and sisters with the same vision of worshipping and glorifying Jesus.  But man... there's a reason why I stepped away from leadership.  Sometimes... I just can't stand the characters.  Thursday night was a clear reminder already when we had a Zoom call.  I was jumping out of my skin with the bickering and talking over each other and nit-pickiness.  Smart move... until I volunteered (or was voluntold) to do something.  And over Whatsapp... I just couldn't control myself.  Got sucked into the Vortex again.  

This isn't good.  It's not re-energizing. It's draining.  I have other means of serving. No thanks. 

Grumpy Old Man

As I'm aging, I'm starting to realize I'm becoming or I've become a grumpy old man.

Mother's Day... I really ripped into that restaurant. Saturday... I got so pissed at the waitress at Cheesecake Factory for their late entree delivery and attitude. Then on Father's Day... I was totally pissed off at SW for taking forever to get ready. Then I got pissed off at Dad for erroneously telling me Stinking Rose is closed. Then I got pissed off at the world for traffic.

What is happening to me?! Am I hitting men-opause early?

無厘頭

九十年代，是一個盲目的時代。時勢造英雄, 讓周星馳成為了巨星。 爸爸說，香港人在這時代需要這種無厘頭喜劇來嘲笑現實。 我起初不是他的粉絲，因為他取代了我的偶像周潤發成為香港最受歡迎的明星。 慢慢地，我開始欣賞他的喜劇天份和演技。 最終，我開始接受甚至崇拜周星馳。

最近，我與我的孩子孩分享這個文化偶像。 喜劇是經不起時間的考驗——這也不例外。 Joyce和我都覺得劇本冗長乏味。 笑話已經不好笑了。 我們看 了5 部電影......其中 3 部電影我們無法超過前 30 分鐘... 我不得不承認... 我們的時間也過去了。

Christian Ethics and Morals

Had another opportunity to speak on the topics of Ethics, Morals, and Social Issues.  

I remain surprised why PAL would allow me to speak.  Maybe he thinks I bring a different perspective into the discussion.  Maybe he thinks by forcing me to do the research, I will eventually "come around." (HA!!!)  

But either way... it was a juicy topic that can't be fit into 50-60 minutes to class time.  But the umbrella topic of the class was... "Missions and Evangelism."  These are questions and topics that we will encounter when we reach the unreached.  How will we react? How should we respond?  Like Jesus, out of grace and love? Oh... but I'm not Christ.  No where near.  Should I respond with facts... the law... the biblical truth.  What if they don't accept your truth being THE truth. 

The class went 15 minutes over.  And I didn't even start to uncover what I really wanted to cover.  May the Lord bless our church... our leaders... our pastors... and each of the layperson... that we have the wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit when it comes to Christian Ethics and Morals.

Keep it simple already...

Had a last minute business trip to Philly... my old stomping grounds!!  

After a 12 hour trip.. finally land in PHL around 8PM and there's still a 40 minute trip to my actual destination. Was contemplating what to do for dinner... I don't wanna be the guy that shows up at a restaurant 10 minutes before closing... when the kitchen is already cleaned.  So I decide to go to Chipotle... get in / get out.  

Only, the roads are weird and I end up in the wrong lot.  I didn't want to drive back out... so I got lazy and decide to head to Cheesecake Factory to-go.  What I thought would be a late Monday night quickie... turned out to be a 35 minute wait.  And when I got back to the hotel... they got the order wrong!!  

Sigh... shoulda just kept it simple

Then tonight... the first day of a cross country trip where I don't sleep well and wake up early... I skipped lunch and was famished by dinner time.  What to do for dinner???  There's a local sushi place.  A BBQ place.  A taco place. After going through the dozens of options... I end up going to a high end steakhouse hoping to be wowed by the cocktail, sides, and maybe a flame-broiled, oven baked piece of meat.  My heart sank when I saw it come out.  And it sank even further when I tasted it.  My palette is too use to my own steak... where it's hard to wow myself anymore.

Sigh... shoulda kept it simple. 

The essentials

Such an empty feeling when you're at the airport... ahead of a cross country trip... and find out you've left your iPhone charger at home.  Ugh... $13 at the airport counter.  Horrible.  

家家有本難念的經

There's nothing more real... more raw... more devastating... than family drama.

Being stuck in the middle of it... makes it easy.  Or "I'm just an in-law..." worse.  But the worst of the worse... is when NN sees it unfold... and she has to clam up and excuse herself as it slowly unfolds. 

There's much more than is on the surface.  But that's already enough.  Being on the sideline.. I can see where each and every miscommunication starts and persists.  And yet.. there's nothing I can say.  All I can do is support my wife in each and every situation. 

Aye... if only I can put so much energy and love for my own family. 

Then it got real....

Signed up to buy 40 corn for ESL lunch today.  Have to admit.. I signed up after seeing that Safeway is selling them for $1 for 8 ears (limit 8 per customer).  All week long, I had it planned out where we'll pick up the kids from KAC and then go to our local Safeway, split up our orders, and roll out with 40 ears.

Come Friday..  I had some time to kill after lunch, so I rolled into a nearby Safeway.  I ended up paying twice.  Entered my "Safeway Club Member" card twice.  And walked out with 16 years.

I arrived at church and put corn into the fridge.  People looked at me with astonishment.. not cuz I found a deal.  Everyone knew about the deal apparently.  But because I actually found corn!!

"It's sold out everywhere!" they say... cuz it's such a good deal.  One sister said, she'll go to her local Safeway to see if there are any left and she'll claim 8 for me.  

I drove to MY local Safeway.... beaming with confidence.... when I walked up to an empty stall with some residuals of husks.  Oh no.... It's sold out!!! I have 24 more ears left.  And it's sold out!!! 

Then it got real....  

 I sped out the parking lot of one Safeway... and before, when the kids were complaining and tired and complaining and tired.... and COMPLAINING.... they were wide awake.  While speeding 90 mph down El Camino Real... they kept pestering me.  "Why didn't you get all 40 at the first Safeway?!?"  My answer was, "Cuz I wanted you to have THIS adventure, duh!!!" 

Parked.  Made a mad dash to the produce section and I see a lady there. She was carefully and meticulously choosing what's left of about a dozen ears.  I snatched two bags... and grabbed the first 8 I saw.  And the lady said, "I love how your dad shops."  I turned to her and said, "Lady... they're $0.13 each.  Who cares?"  

But I'm still 16 short.  16!!!!! 

The next Safeway is across town... didn't want to make that drive for a fruitless harvest (fruitless or cornless - ha!! I kill myself sometimes).  So I relented.  Let's go to Lucky's instead.  They probably have some sale going on.  And if they don't have it... we can go to our local Nob Hill Foods.  They're selling corn at $0.17 a piece, but it's good enough.

Pulled up to Lucky's. The kids were all in now!! They want this as much as I do.  From one end of the store... I can see that this was the Holy Grail? Why... cuz next to the corn station... was a cart... with three boxes!  The store manager didn't even both putting it onto the rack.  He kept it in the boxes to let his customers have at it.  The kicker is... it's $0.09 per ear.  Even cheaper than Safeway!!! 

We take our victory stride to the self checkout counter.  Four bags - 4 ears per bag.  I enter the first two bags... typed in "White Corn" and boom.... the price??? $4.00.  What?!?!?!? $4.00?!?!?!?  No no no.... it should be $0.72!!!!!   I patiently wait for the checkout lady to help another family.  She comes over and explains, "Sir... you need to enter the digital coupon." "I don't have a digital coupon."  "You can sign up now."

Ok... fine. So I proceeded to get online to create an account. But while standing there... my order was expiring.  It kept beeping asking if I wanted to continue.  I ignored it.  SW was still holding the two other bags of corn.  And I was busily, frantically, trying to create a Lucky's Account.  DONE!!!  But wait... that's Lucky's Groceries.  This is Lucky's Supermarket!! UGH!!! Wrong store... wrong website!!!

Ok... do it again.  I'm setting it up.  First name. Last name. Email. Phone. Password.  And now I'm prompted for "ONE FINAL STEP... Select a Store??!?"  Fine fine fine... select a store.  Ok... where do I click finish? I selected the store.  I guess I'm done.  Ok... where's my digital coupon?!?!  I try to log into... "INVALID USERNAME."  WHAT?!?!?! I just created it. 

Ok... fine.  I'll do it again.  I'll be more careful this time.  First name. Last name. Email. Phone. Password.  And again... "ONE FINAL STEP... Select a Store."  I pick my store.  "SET".  The app even says, "El Camino Store."  Done, right??? I don't see anything else to click.  Ok... where are my coupons?!?!? Once again... I try logging and "INVALID USERNAME."  Ugh...  WTH is going on?!?!

By now... the beeping from the checkout machine is so annoying I had to cancel the order.  The self-checkout line starts building up... and out of the corner of my eye, I'm just waiting for someone (like me!!) to say, "GET OUT IF YOU'RE NOT READY!!!"  The cashier voided our order... so now it's silence again.  And the kids were getting upset, "Just pay the $4, daddy."  It's not a lot of money.  They're right... it's not.  But it's not about money, is it.  It's about principals. 

Again... I try logging in and creating an account.  And again... it doesn't work.  What is happening?!?!? Why is the universe against me!! I know!! It must be the phone.  I quickly pull out my work phone and start creating an account... NN grabs my phone from me.  And before I was done filling out First Name, Last Name, Email... she showed me, "Account created."  BOOM.  DONE.  HA!!! 

Turns out... I had to scroll waaaaaaaaaay to the bottom after selecting a store to click " Finish Application."  She figured it out.  So..... finally!!!!!  Digital Coupon!! Found it!!! Clipped!!!  And.... uh.... do I download it?  Is it a QR Code??? I was sooooo lost.  Now what??? Do I scan it with my phone and bluetooth will take care of it. WHAT?!?!?!?!

Once again... the machine was beeping.... asking if I wanted to continue with checkout.  I clicked, "YES" and then.... between clicking "YES" and looking at the coupon again... I see I had to enter "Rewards Member Phone." Ahhhhhhhhhhhh....... there it is.  Just like Safeway.  I apty entered my phone and boom... $4.00 became.... $0.72!!!!  The kids erupted in cheer!!! VICTORY!!!! HAHAHAHA.... We did it!!!!!

The checkout lady and everyone around us were looking at us weird.  I didn't care!!!

Ok... let's finish the final purchase.  SW puts the corn on the checkout stand.  Professionally enters "WHITE CORN" and selects the picture on the touch screen.  I punch out my phone number or Rewards Member Phone.  About to see $4.00 drop down to $0.72 when............ "REWARD ALREADY CLAIMED" flashed onto the screen!!! OMG!!! Are you serious!?!??!  When they said limit one per customer... they truly truly limited it to ONE PER CUSTOMER!!!! I wanted to fall down on my knees and cry.

Obviously... this story has a happy ending.  Every thing worked out at the end.  And all that... for 40 ears of corn.