St. John 2011 Trip Report: Day 1

Friday, April 15: Getting there is NOT 1/2 the fun, Overnight in STT, Hotel Mafolie

For the first time EVER, we had a civilized flight that didn't depart DC until 11:25 am. I think our latest flight prior to this was a 7am! Usually we are up at 4am. It was nice to sleep in. Though, sleep was elusive for me. Can anyone really sleep the night before they leave for vacation?

First things first, we must pack all of our important goodies. Max got his own rolling bag for Christmas and was SO excited to finally use it.



Note important items: Blankie, Transformers, Beach buddy (the weird green stuffed thing), and cars.

My nephew dropped us all off at airport around 9. We checked our bag at the curb and headed for security. I was impressed by how well the kids handled the security screening process. Fortunately, no one was fondled and they each took care of their own business - shoes off and on, etc. We all managed to make it through without losing any possessions or our minds. By the time we arrived at our gate, we had plenty of time to kill.



Ella brought along her menagerie as well.



We are the happiest girls



The girls' pedis



As much as I tried to do carry-on only, I could not swing it. This is our carry-on ... plus 1 large duffel that we checked.



Grabbed breakfast at the airport and relaxed until it was time to board our flight from DCA to Miami. LOVED our flight connections this time. Also, because I typically fly Delta because it can be free (frequent flyer miles), we usually connect through Atlanta. 2 hours to Atlanta and then another almost 4 to STT. UGH! I much preferred the DC-MIA-STT plan. 2 hours to Miami then a little over 2 hours from the to STT.

We boarded on time and were set to take-off so I whipped out the first goodies for the kids. Whenever I am flying with the kids I pack a bag of surprises and snacks for them. Since Max is TOTALLY obsessed with transformers, his was a new transformer. Ella got a strawberry shortcake toy extravaganza thing with lots of tiny parts. :-)

They really are the world's best kid travelers.



Before we knew it we were in Miami. Unfortunately, the CHEAP flight I had booked left us with a 3 hour layover. So what to do with all that time to kill? We decided to hit the Corona Bar and Grill for some lunch and relaxation. Fish tacos for me and I can't remember what Mr. Flip-Flop had. Soon enough, it was time to board our flight on to St. Thomas. Flight was uneventful and quick.

Within minutes of take-off this guy was out.



We arrived at 8:30 pm, gathered our stuff and headed to pick up our 1 checked bag. I just couldn't swing NO checked bags, though I am still going to keep trying!

Some people BYOB....eachChairs? I had never seen this. With the cost of checking bags these days I can't imagine this would be cost effective or worth the hassle but to each their own.



Bag gathered we headed to the Taxi's and climbed in with 6 of our newest friends and headed to the Hotel Mafolie. When I originally booked the Cottage on STJ, we had a mix up about the dates and the Cottage owner graciously arranged hotel accommodations for us on St. Thomas for the first night. In the end, this was MUCH better than trying to continue on to STJ in the dark, find the cottage way out at the end of the island and have to figure out how to get back into town to pick up the car the next morning. So, though a bit of a snafu, it worked in our favor. I think.

We arrived at Hotel Mafolie in the dark, so we couldn't take in much of the surroundings, but what we could see of the outside was lovely. It is built into a hillside and there are a LOT of stairs involved. (If you have limited mobility I would not recommend this hotel). The street level, where our room ended up being, is one flight up from the reception area. The restaurant is another flight down and the pool is yet another flight down from there. We had a newbie checking us in so it was quite an adventure trying to get situated, i.e. find the room as he wasn't sure where it was. As far as I could tell there were rooms on every level.

Luckily I had left the hubby and the baggage on the street while I figured it all out. If we had taken our stuff down to reception, we would have had to turn around and take it back up a flight of stairs to our room.

I do not want to sound overly negative as I know there are people who really like this hotel, I would not say that I am a convert. I didn't hate it but in my opinion, it is not worth the money. We were not paying, so I suppose I shouldn't complain. And I only saw our room, so maybe others are WAY nicer, but I was not impressed. It was damp and musty (I am convinced it started the Belly Flop's asthma flare up .. more on that later), and not as clean as I would have liked. Teeny, tiny bathroom. The TV did not work. If we were paying we would have been disappointed considering it was $250/night. If the price was low enough (maybe in the $150 range), I would be totally fine with it. I am not high maintenance, I think there are just better deals to be had if you have to overnight on St. Thomas. That said, the views from the pool, restaurant, etc are beautiful. Again, this is just my opinion!

The restaurant was closed by the time we arrived and settled in and there really is nowhere close by to grab a bite to eat, so we ate snacks for dinner. Luckily I had packed a bunch!

No matter how you do it, getting there is a long and tiresome adventure. We were all exhausted! It was an early night for us. The real excitement was still to come the next day! STJ!

Tomorrow...Breakfast at Mafolie, Pool Time, and Heading to St. John and the Lameshur Cottage

49 hours and 15 minutes to go

Last time we headed to St. John as a family, we took this little guy.
I can't believe how much he's grown and can't wait to see what he thinks this time as a big 4 year old!
Ella is completely excited and ready to go.
She is her mama's daughter!

She's grown up quite a bit too!

Babies, Babies, Babies

It seems like babies are popping out everywhere. In less than a year, 3 people I know have either had a baby or are preggo! ALL BOYS! It is a baby boom. Over the weekend, I (along with the help of a few lovely, hardworking girlfriends) hosted a shower at my house for my good friend, KK.

KK is a surprise mama. One of those ... "eh if it happens it happens" girls. (I was so never that girl.) Sooooo...it happened and they will welcome a bundle of boy in June. I CAN'T WAIT. I completely love spoiling other people's kiddos and all of these babies make my little ones look, well, not so darn little anymore. Ella is practically a grown woman, and Max, well, I think he came out of the womb all man!

Back to my point, the shower went really, really well. As it should of considering I had been squirreling away goodies and ideas for months and up the night before preparing until 2 am!

Welcome!



Goodies for guests


Amazing Cake ... it looked beautiful and tasted even better than it looked


Cotton Candy


The Mama-to-Be!


Decorate a Onesie


Yummy Yums

St. John Soon Come

I am so ready to take these people to St. John I can hardly STAND it. Beach soon come. The last time we all were on STJ it was June of 2009! Almost two years ago. Mama snuck a trip in there last March but they were almost 2 years younger then.
I can't wait to take them hiking. We might try Ram Head if we are feeling particularly brave. We are staying in a tiny 2 bedroom cottage near Lameshur. To those unfamiliar with St. John, this basically means at the far end of the universe! Well, the universe that is St. John anyway. Quiet, blissful, peaceful. My little slice of heaven.

I can't wait to take them swimming. Floating in the turquoise blue sea. Cruising the windy, single lane roads. Doing as little as possible and just enjoying one another. Just two more weeks.

An Insane 2011

I love to travel. LOVE IT. A lot. That said, I think I might be overdoing it in 2011, even for me. Like they say ... you only live once! When you see an open gate, walk on through.


It started with almost a week in New Orleans for work. A great, great trip where I got to hang out with my favorite Nola-ite and also two of my favorite Tennesseens! (Is that a word?) SO MUCH FUN!

I just returned Wednesday from San Diego. A short trip, also for work. While there, I explored Gaslamp, the Seaport Village, Old Town San Diego and Coronado! Packed in it. Totally planning to take the family back there next Summer when I have to go back for work.

Next up, St. John for 10 days in April. Over Easter. Ella's spring break. What a lucky gal. We are staying at an adorable cottage near one of my favorite beaches. Just the four of us. I am eager to completely become one with my Virgin Islands Mango Ale and my beach chair! Pictures soon come. This will be the first trip back for the kids in while (I got to do a girls trip last March) and they are pretty excited.

In May, Hung is venturing to New Zealand for 11 days. I am a little jealous but he more than deserves a boy trip! In late May, over the Memorial Day holiday, we'll make our annual (2 years running) camping trip with the Gills to far middle of nowhere Virginia.

In June, another turn for me! Spain, Portugal and possibly Morocco (depending on the political situation) with two of my favorite girlies! Tickets are purchased, hotels/apartments are booked, car reserved. So far, in all my travels, I've only ventured internationally to London & Cambridge. This should be QUITE the adventure. I am very excited but it seems very surreal. It doesn't seem like its real life.

In late June we have a weekend trip to Atlantic City planned for Dave Matthews CARAVAN! A music festival with some of my all time favorites ... other than Dave - Amos Lee, Grace Potter, Ray Lamontagne, Michael Franti, David Gray! It is going to be AMAZING!

July will bring a quick trip to Christiansburg. A shared birthday girls' weekend with my favorite southern bestie. There isn't much to do in Christiansburg, but there are wineries and it is mid way from Knoxville, TN and Northern Virginia!

Late July/Early August, I pack up and head away for work again to Miami Beach. Not an ideal summer location, but yummy mojitos and a king size bed to myself for an entire week! Though I have to work my tail off, it is a fun time and will be here before I know it!

September - semiannual beach trip to our condo in Virginia Beach!

October, I'll be heading out with my favorite new mom for another girls weekend to Rehoboth Beach. Our annual tradition takes us there typically in May, but between a June due date for my bud and all of my travels, October seemed more civilized!

Nothing, so far, planned for November or December ... though I am eager to hit NYC between Thanksgiving and New Years eventually. Maybe this will be the year!

2012 promises to bring Boston, Montreal, St. John (again over Carnival this time!) and San Diego --- mostly work related, but all looked very much forward to!

Things to Do: St. John (refreshed and updated)

Well well well ... St. John is just a short 36 days away! FINALLY. So, I decided it was time to update and refresh this old list! I know ... obsessed.

Here is my recently compiled list of things to do. It may take me 10 trips to get it all done but this is a start. I don't even want to do some of the things on this list but I did want to keep track of all the possibilities!

Bold things I have done.
Bold italics things are things on the list for this trip.

TREATS

Cocoberry Shake from that place in Wharfside
Mojito from Joe's Rum Hut
Ice cream from I Scream
Colombo's
Any Smoothie from the smoothie truck
Garlic Chicken & Tarts @ Vie's
A hot dog at Beach Dawgs
Root Beer @ the Tap Room
Candy's Barbeque
Uncle Joe's BBQ & ALL the sides to go back to the house
Baked in the Sun sandwiches
Steak Sandwich and Crab Wontons at the Beach Bar
Potato Salad at Starfish Market
Create a Beach smorgasboard at Deli Grotto
West Indian treats - Sogo's (across from Lime Inn)
Appetizers and drinks at Zozo's bar @ sunset
fresh greens from Josephine
freah tuna or mahi-mahi, either by the dock or at the Fish Trap Market
Orange cake at Mosquito Bites (sadly Mosquito Bites came and went before I had a chance!)

RESTAURANTS

Tourist Trap - lobster roll & drink right/keep left
Rhumblines
Donkey Diner especially breakfast & Pizza!
ZoZo's
Inn at Taramind Court esp breakfast
Sweet Plantains (worth multiple trips)!
Miss Lucy's
Miss Lucy's for Brunch
La Tapa
Maho Bay - esp breakfast
Island Blues - esp that drink w/ nutmeg
Aqua Bistro
Cafe Roma
JJs Texas Coast - esp breakfast
Pastory Gardens
Skinny Legs - blue cheese burger!
Shipwreck Landing Restaurant
Asolare Sunset dinner
Happy Fish - sushi

BARS

Woody's
Beach Bar
Go to the Tap Room for a VI Pale Ale (Free WIFI)
Sputnik
Quiet Mon
Front Yard
Gecko Bar
Compass Rose (Free WIFI)

BEACHES/SNORKELING

Salt Pond
Vie's Beach
Hawsknest
Maho - kiddie friendly
Gibney
Francis Bay
Caneel Bay
North side of Haulover, Pelican Rock and Paradise Point
Drunk Bay
Honeymoon beach
Night snorkeling
Lime Tree Beach
Snorkel at Turtle Beach at Caneel Bay
Snorkel Chocolate Hole
Denis Bay
Jumbie
Trunk Bay
Cinnamon Bay

HIKES

Hiking Reef Bay *maybe (stand on Reef Bay and look back up the hillside, you are getting the same view that has existed since the island was formed)
Waterlemon - hike and snorkel
Brown Bay hike and beach
Ram Head Trail
Solomon & Honeymoon Beach hike
hike to Drunk Bay & Blue Cobblestone Beach from Salt Pond

EVENTS/SPECIALS

Sunday Jazz @ Beach Bar
Pastory @ sunset
$3 painkillers at Beach Bar on Sunday afternoon
Arrange a Forum Happy Hour w Pia & Ruth
Morgan's Mango Mango Margaritas and Tuesday Lobster Night
Full Moon Party @ Miss Lucy's

ON ST JOHN

Rent a dinghy
Cook more at the Villa
Watch the sunset from the Villa
Drink in the pool
Sunset Sail
Learn to dive...
kayak to Hurricane Hole from Crabby's
learn to sail this 35' Du Four sloop called Gypsy Spirit around the island
Visit the Animal Shelter
Kristen Maize showing at the Michael Banzhaf Gallery
Nightdive
Book a massage with Nomadic Spa
Play mini golf at Pastory Gardens

OFF ST JOHN EXCURSIONS

Rent power boat for BVIs - Ocean Runner
Jost Van Dyke in power boat from OR w/captain
Virgin Gorda
Day Sail to the BVIs
Ferry to Tortola
Ferry to Jost

SHOPPING

St. John Spice - Say Hi to Ruth!
Mongoose Junction
Pink Papaya
Jolly Dog & Skinnys
Freebird

Happy 4th Birthday My Little Man!!!

Dear Max,

Believe it or not, you are now 4 years old! Despite my protests you continue to grow bigger every single day. You are such a cool little guy. More like a little man, I should say. You love cars, trucks, police vehicles, firetrucks, helicopters, planes, and basically anything that has wheels or flies. You like cars so much that this year you asked Santa to bring you "cars, big cars, LOTS of big cars!" You also have discovered TRANSFORMERS and you LOVE LOVE LOVE them. We got you an Optimus Prime costume for your birthday and we have to fight you to get it off. You walk around, "I am not Max, I am OPTIMUS PRIME!" You are your daddy's boy.

You also like to go fast in the car. Today, on the way to daycare from your 4 year check-up, I accelerated a bit faster than I normally do and you said (and I promise I am not making this up) "That's more like it!" Lord help me in 12 years!

You are now almost 4 feet tall. If you were 5 years old you would be in the 95th percentile for height. You are only 4 though, making you a whole lot taller than a lot of kindergarteners we know.

You are a very sweet boy. One of your favorite things in the world is to take lunch to your pals at daycare. Today we did this and everyone was so excited and you were so proud to share. You are also a very hard-headed little boy. But that's ok, Daddy and I both know exactly where that comes from. You are still in love with your favorite blankie. You have had it ever since your first day home, so I suppose that's ok. You still say Ella's name like this: "Elllllluhhhhhh". It so cute. You love Saigon City for dinner - though you say it "I-gon". You love your doggie, Butter, and your Gramma Mezo and Gramma Nguyen. I think they are both smitten with you as well.

Possibly my favorite thing in the world is our routine during daycare drop-off. You insist on 2 hugs and 1 kiss. BUT it must be as you say "Huggie. Then Kissie. Then Huggie!" Shaking your index finger at me to emphasize. No other order will do. It gets every day off to a good start for us both.

You are my buddy, my little man. I feel so incredibly lucky to be your mama. So lucky that you are here with us. I can't wait to witness what the future holds for you.

Love,
Mama

Travel, Travel & More Travel

I feel like all I have to talk about (other than the kids) is travel, travel and more travel. 2011 is looking like a VERY busy year.

Each January I attend a work-related conference. This year --- New ORLEANS! My favorite. I love NOLA and not just because it's where Ella came from :) TMI. Sorry.

Anyway, so in January I headed to New Orleans, tacking on a long weekend after with my hubby (Thanks, Gramma). These random, long, kid-free weekends that keep us both sane. We enjoyed the food and sights and company of some St. John friends and generally refreshed and recharged. The kids missed us but not so much since they had the best babysitters available - Gram and Jess! What would we do without those two!

February, I am staying put. Then it gets rolling.

March - San Diego for a work related site visit for our 2012 annual conference. A short, cross county trip, but I love San Diego and it will be warm there so I will not complain.

April - The whole family is heading to St. John for a much needed 10 night Spring Break Beach trip. The kiddos haven't been to St. John since June of '09, so they are very excited. Our plan is that we have no plan. We arrive on a Friday night and will spend 1 night on St. Thomas before catching the morning ferry to St. John for 9 glorious nights in a tiny little cottage at the end of the island.

May - A nice long memorial day camping trip at Camp Gill. I actually love camping. Surprised no one more than myself!

June - An unbelievably opportunity to tag along with two of my very bestest girlfriends to Europe came up and I am still a little in disbelief that it is going to happen. I booked a ticket so it must be real! We will leave DC for Spain (Barcelona) and then trek from Barcelona to Lisbon, Portugal for a few days and then to Tarifa, Spain for one night so we can take a one-day excurison to Morocco (yep, that one, the one in Africa) and then returning Spain to round out the trip in Seville. I can't WAIT!

July/August - My annual work conference will take me to Miami. It will be a bit steamy but 2-for-1 mojitos should work well to cool us off ;-)

September - Our every other year trip to Virginia Beach for the annual Neptune Festival.

Then a quiet fall! I should really plan more for the fall and winter as I hate those seasons, but I never do!

Christmas Picture: Check!

Halloween: 2002-2010

Ella the Duck: 6 Months

Ella the Ladybug: 18 months (and Butter)

Ella the Ballerina: 2 years old

Ella the Cow: 3 years old

Ella the Spider: 4 years old (3 month before Max was born)

Ella as Cleopatra & Max the Monkey: 5 years and 9 months

Ella the Cat & Max the Mouse: 6 years and 21 months

Ella the Maiden & Max the Lion (later Spinx when he refused to keep his top on): 7 and 2

Ella the Sailor Girl & Max aka SUPERMAN: 8 and 3

Busy Busy Busy Summer

I know just about every time I blog I end up apologizing for not blogging more. Since this is really mostly for my kids and for me (since I can't remember yesterday and someday they may be interested in knowing what life was like when they were little) I apologize to myself!

Anyway (yes, I know I use that word a lot here too), we have been busy. In no particular order...

1 - We took a family vacation (tacked onto a work trip for me) to Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. It was amazing. Every one of us loved it. Absolutely stunning scenery. Oddly, it reminded me of a cooler climate St. John. I think it was the hilliness and the vast expanses of gorgeous water. More Victoria then Vancouver. The two cities are such a contrast. Vancouver is all sparkly and modern and vibrant. Victoria is old, stately, classic. We did 4 nights in Victoria, after taking the ferry over from the mainland. Parliament, Tea at the Empress Hotel (Just the girls), Hartley Castle (where they filmed XMen). Back in Vancouver we hit the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Stanley Park.

2 - We bought a boat. We've been talking about/looking for a boat on and off for about 3 years. Finally found one and bit the bullet and did it. It is a 22 foot islandia deck boat. Plenty of room for family and friends. Just perfect for day trips and tooling around getting a little sun and fun in. I CAN'T WAIT until next summer.


3 - I like Camping. Yes, I LIKE CAMPING. I might even love it. I kind of miss it. This would have been a perfect weekend to go. 70s during the day, 50s at night. We learned from our first trip and the 2nd excurison was better - mostly due to the bigger tent! The kids absolutely love it. It is the closest I've gotten to that St. John quiet and nature feeling other than, well, on St. John. You hear the running of the creek, the chirping of the crickets, the sounds of nighttime, crackling fire. It centers and stills me. And you get Smores! It is a beautiful thing.

coming up ... The Rally to Restore Sanity on the mall, the 53rd Annual OYSTER FESTIVAL, Ryan & Allison's wedding, THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS oh my.....

I will try harder to maintain this here blog.

The Charmer

My little charmer is fully emerging. The other morning, at the breakfast counter, Max says to me, "Mama, you know who is adorable?" I was thinking maybe someone at day care, his gramma, his sister, his stuffed animal. Nope. "You are!" Aww, my heart melted. This boy will get away with murder!

I still can't believe how different these two kids are. Ella - calm, collected, reasonable, sweet. Max - determined, hard headed, reactionary!

He keeps asking me if he's still 3. If he's still a toddler. Yes, buddy, you are, but not for much longer!

September

I am reminded every September that I lead a particularly charmed life. I am not traditionally religious. I am not particularly moved by the concepts of fate and destiny. Karma, there is a sentiment I can get behind. Generally, I am fairly low-key, unflappable, and one who believes you generally get what you give.

Life is. It just is.

Sometimes there is no explanation for the unbelievably amazing gifts you receive just as there is none for the torturous difficult situations you will be given no choice but to endure.

If there is one thing that I do believe to the core of my being, it is that you just keep going. Quitting is never an option. Crying is fine, but you must keep moving forward.

It is always in September when I am most vividly reminded of these sentiments. I have been quiet for a while now. Sometimes I fear documenting the joy will tempt fate. Maybe I do believe in fate after all. Other times, I am just too busy living to slow down and capture the moments.

I remember September 18th. I remember it was 8:35 in the morning. I remember a black and white image that, to me an untrained eye, looked so perfect. I remember a head, a brain, a spine, hands, feet, and toes. I remember the silence falling, and the ultrasound technician stepping out of the room. I remember the moment it dawned on me that something was very, very wrong. I remember the look on my husband's face as it dawned on him. I remember the doctor who came into the room to deliver the news, apparently above the ultrasound tech's paygrade. I remember hearing the word "Catastrophic." I remember going numb. I remember "less than 5% chance of survival." I remember two procedures, one with no sedation. Dozens of ultrasounds. Weeks and months of waiting. I remember feeling like I was holding my breath. I don't remember being angry, I just remember being terrified.

So this is what we say to SEPTEMBER....


We all have moments in life that define us. This will forever be one of mine. For many people that day is September 11th. And yes, September 11th will forever be imprinted in my brain. The sounds, the smells, the sights. September 18th is mine. I am unable to comprehend the pain and struggle of those who do not have the happy ending that we were so lucky to have.

Sometimes, I think I am still waiting to exhale, still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Thank you universe for giving me my little guy, Max, when it could have gone oh so differently. There is not a single day of my life that I am not grateful for my two healthy and thriving children. I wonder if the day, or the month even, will ever be more muted for me, less of an intense emotional time. Bittersweet, remembering the life altering fear and also knowing of the life altering sweetness that is my little boy.



I mean really, can anyone imagine a world without this face?

Dear Sweet Ella Jo

Dear Sweet Ella Jo Nguyen (no you are not in trouble),

Every time anyone says Ella's whole entire name she jokingly asks if she's in trouble. EVERY SINGLE TIME. I don't think she's ever really been in big trouble. Well, that was that phase with the toothpaste and soap painting in the bathroom! I am still not sure what that was all about anyway. OH, and there was the time mama went to dinner with her Auntie KK and came home to find the bathroom tiles painted with mascara. Honestly, that really was not her fault either. After all Daddy should have caught that one, right?

Today my baby girl turned 8. 8! E-I-G-H-T! That is 1/2 way to driving. When she triples this age she'll be done with college and either making her way in the world or maybe in graduate school. Unimaginable on one hand and somewhat foreseeable on the other.

Someone told me today that 8 is the last year without attitude. Ella tries to pull a little bit of attitude sometimes but I look at her as if to say "are you for real?" and she smiles or giggles and can't keep it up. 'Tude! Oh my.

When I first found out I was pregnant (well right after the OMG THIS THING HAS TO COME OUT SOMEHOW THOUGHT ... I bet that flashes through every first time mom's mind), I secretly hoped for a girl (Sorry, Max!!). The truth of the matter is my husband is one of 5 boys. His mom kept going until she couldn't try anymore. She really wanted a girl. Of my kids' 12 cousins on the Nguyen side there are 3 girls and 9 boys! My side is much more equitable. My cousins are pretty evenly split. Still, I pretty much resigned myself to a boy (at least first) - none of the brothers on my hubby's side ever had a girl first. Until Ella.

My Ella, we had a roller coaster of a pregnancy with you. Nothing like the crazy less than 5% survival chances we got with Max, but eventful nonetheless!

I am not one who remembers a lot of specific details but I remember every detail of that afternoon, evening and morning. Vividly. I remember where we parked at the Pentagon City Best Buy. I remember driving myself to the hospital. After all, I wasn't in labor yet! I remember unpacking my things in my hospital and starting the medicines that were supposed to bring you into the world. I remember my mama and my best friend Jen going in search of lifesavers in the wee hours of the morning because they wouldn't let me eat or drink and I was desperately craving something fruity. I remember your daddy sleeping through MOST of my labor. Someone forgot to tell him its called "Labor & delivery!" I remember drifting in and out of sleep through the night waiting for you. I remember waking to see my doctor sitting at my bedside checking your vitals and mine. I remember her making the split second decision to deliver you because she didn't like something she was seeing.

She made the decision at 5 till 6am. You were born at 6:06am. She was not an over reactive kind of doc. I remember holding my breath from the moment she said with urgency but not panic we are going to get you to out and watching as she, herself, unplugged monitors and cables from the wall and began to push me, herself, down the hall to the O.R. I remember her asking me as she placed the scalpel on my tummy if I could feel it. Yes, uh huh, yep, no. I remember seconds later hearing your first cry. I remember breathing again and tears flowing down my cheeks. I remember your head full of black hair and your tiniest fingers and toes, your perfect nose, your sharp little ankles (they had been slicing me from the inside I swear).

Most of all, I remember feeling completely in love and like I was the luckiest woman in the world. I remember feeling whole. You, my sweet Ella, were meant to be here, in our lives. I thank you so much for all of the joy and innocence and love and silliness you bring to our lives. I simply cannot imagine life without you and I could not be prouder of anything in my life than I am of being your mother.

Love,
Mama

A New Blog

I have (caving to popular demand) created a 2nd blog. I barely update this one, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Ella on ... well just about everything. Some of her Ellaisms are priceless and should be preserved, if for no other reason than to torment her when she's a teenager!

Enjoy!

4 Trips and a Wedding

It has been a while. I am aware of how big a blogging slacker I have been. Apologies all around.

Since March 12th I have been to Miami (2 days), St. John (10 days), Virginia Beach, and Vegas (5 days). I am now back. I am still recovering. Someday I may have it all pulled back together. Just in time for the next round of trips - Rehoboth Beach in May and Vancouver & Victoria in August.

All in all Spring has been a blur. Max's allergies are kicking all of our butts. I am ready for the pool to open. Some things never change.

Miami, St. John, Vegas

Busy, busy travel time coming up. Between March 9th and April 12th I will go to all of these places.

First up is a quick in and out trip to Miami Beach for pre-con planning for a work conference in 2011. We like to do our homework and plan in advance. Yes, we are overachievers. It will be nice to feel 80 degrees and sun on my skin for the first time in what seems like forever. SUCH A SUMMER GIRL!

I get back for two nights and then I am off for a little more than a week in St. John. Through unbelievably fortunate friend connections I am going to help house and doggie sit and with the full encouragement of my hubby! Yes, he is a saint and no, he is not joining me. Mr. Mom will be handling the kids while I am gone. I have called in many reinforcements and he assures me (usually) that he will be fine. I have a little twinge of guilt but mostly excitement. He is, hands down, the best husband possible. Thank you, honey!

St. John is my happy, happy place. I love it under any circumstances, but for virtually free and without wee ones. O.M.G...I might just lose my mind! I think I am struggling to accept that it is real life. Is this real life? Is this really happening? It seems a little like a dream! I haven't been to St. John without kids to sunscreen and strap into car seats and to put down for naps and share my lunches and dinners with since 2003! 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009 with her and later her brother along for the ride!

When I get back there will be a week or two hiatus and then we are off (again without kids but this time with my lovely husband) for a 4 night getaway in Vegas. The longest we have ever been away from the kids since that St. John trip without Ella back in 2003! We've done a night or two here and there, but 4 days! Thanks, Gramma!!!

So I think March will be a blur and the next time I look up it will be mid-April. I am ok with that!

My Happy Place

1 week and 1 day

Perfect Wedding Shoes

So one of my favorite girls is getting married next month! Yay, its March, so yes next month is officially April! We are lucky enough to be joining them to celebrate in Vegas. I finalized my dress selection a few months ago, but the shoes...oh the shoes. I couldn't decide. I waffled. Back and forth. Something flashy. Statement shoes. No, something simple and classy. NO something fabulous and fun!

Last weekend I caught the tail end of the Nordstrom Rack shoe sale and happened upon the shoes that were meant to be. I like shoes. I am not, by any stretch, obsessed with shoes. Still, I was kind of hoping to find the perfect shoes. And did I ever.

Black satin heels. Stuart Weitzman. Regularly $298 for way less than a third of that on sale. The shoes literally cost more than my dress, but the dress was an extraordinary deal and the shoes make the outfit.

Now on to accessories....

3 Year Check-up

Max had his official 3 year checkup yesterday! I suppose he's offically 3 now. The massive snows forced us to cancel and reschedule his appointment and considering the popularity of his pediatrician its a miracle we got in before Summer! (I guess at some point we could pull the friend card!)

My little man is now weighing in at 45 pounds and measuring up at 41.5 inches. Tall and solid. He is still not on the chart, not the approrpriate one for his age anyway. Just like Ella is very proportional and all of a sudden has started growing these lonnnnnnng legs. My chunkster is no more.

As for attitude, it is as if someone pulled him aside at his birthday party and said little dude, you're 3 now, man up. Not that he was bad before but he realized hey I am a big boy now. The whining is pretty much gone. Clingy, gone. He is so beyond adorable!

Love you Max. Keep up the good work buddy!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Ella and Hung picked out (searching high and low) this pink hydrangea for me this year. Hydrangea's are one of my favorite flowers in the world. NOW to keep it alive until I can put it in the ground. Thanks honeys!

Otherwise we've had a quiet, lovely Valentine's day. Our real Valentine's dinner was Friday night when our sitter did a sleepover for the kids she watches rountinely (our two plus 4 others - all about the same age). We went to Karma, our favorite Indian restaurant and then had planned on a movie but since we were running late and I had to work Saturday at 8 am we called it a night!

We typically have kept Valentine's day low key. Our long-time (pre-kid) tradition was to hit our favorite Chinese dive!

Re-Org aka Snow Fever!

My spring cleaning fever must have struck early or something but I have this overwhelming desire to organize my life. And by my life, I mean my house! I am pretty sure having my baby turn 3 is part of it, in that, I have more than 5 seconds a day to focus on something other than food, diapers, chatting and playing. FINALLY. Really! Whew.

Or.

It could be the 12 feet of snow outside with more on the way. Ok, maybe that is a slight exaggeration. We only have 2 feet with drifts of 3-4 in places. Too deep to even let the kids really play in it. We'd lose Max! He's tall but damn that is a lot of snow. Too much snow! TOO MUCH!!

Oh and we're getting some more tomorrow afternoon. UP TO ANOTHER 12-18 MORE INCHES. Of snow. I hate snow. Even if I liked snow, I imagine I'd be over it by now. I don't like snow. Did I mention that I even hate it a bit? It makes my whole body tense up. ICK.

Anyway, back on point. We recently had our fix it all friend, Paul install an additional washer and dryer in our basement, primarily for our tenant in the short term but for me in the long term. We inherited the washer and dryer from my mama when she moved and my dream is to eventually move the laundry facilities to the unfinished portion of our basement. No, I don't like trudging up and down an extra flight of stairs to do the laundry but the current situation IS. NOT. WORKING. Our mudroom serves as our laundry room. It is the main entry we use to get in and out of the house. It also houses the shoes, coats, gloves, summer stuff and other random crap that we have accumulated and need more than occasionally but not all the time. Oh and its the size of a shoe box. Can you say tight squeeze? It is the only room in my house that I not only don't like, I actually kind of loathe. It just doesn't work.

Add to this my love of laundry (truly not sarcastic) and you have a frustrated Amy! I would love to take the laundry crap out of there and install cabinets for each family member, shoe racks and generally just open up the space a bit. Washer/Dryer removal would help a lot! Plus, eventually I could give the laundry room the space and organization it deserves. I wasn't kidding about the love of laundry. Its so clean, so yummy smelling, so fresh.
So that is a major reorganization project that we have sort of kind of started. We'll leave it at this stage until the upstairs washer and dryer die or until I just can't take the mudroom anymore. We'll see which comes first.

In the meantime, we have also decided, after getting the nice flat screen tv downstairs, that it would be awfully nice to have one upstairs too. In preparation we have rearranged our bedroom a bit. The TV armoire moved down the hall to the guest room and a long, low dresser moved over to house our current old clunky tv. This move opened up an ENTIRE WALL OF BEDROOM, about 107 inches to be precise, for project #3: book cases.

I have a lot of books. Said books are currently piled and strewn and stacked all throughout the house. There's a little bookcase in the bedroom now chock full. My nightstand is packed with books, stacks adorn the desktop and lateral file in the office and there are cabinets in the living room crammed with novels, travel books, kids books, and so on. They are everywhere.

The plan is to put three large floor to ceiling bookcases with glass doors along the open wall. Thank goodness for Ikea. It looks like we can do a somewhat custom look for a reasonable amount of cash. Not dirt cheap but not a fraction of what having a contractor come in and install true custom work would cost.

So stay tuned. Lots of re-org (the good kind) coming up! In the meantime, excuse me while I run out to the store to RE-STOCK for SnOMG: Part II! Coming soon!

Snow-Stocked

BRING IT.

SnOMG

SnOMG!
Snowpocolypse.
Snowmaggedon.
Snowranasaurus Rex.
SnoWTF!

So the OPPOSITE of my happy place!

No matter what you call it I am SOOOOOOOOO over it. Done. Finished. Please make it stop!

Northern Virginia typically gets a few smallish snow storms a year. Last Winter I don't think we missed even a day of school. More typically, we miss a few but nothing crazy. This year we have already used all 3 of the built in school days + one. So now the girl will have to go to school on February 15th, Presidents Day. Oh and they have already cancelled school for tomorrow, so now April 15th is a school day instead of a teacher work day.

I am so very bummed because this means my mom won't be coming up tomorrow and we won't be going to Charlottesville to see Amos Lee. The only good news is it looks like they will be hammered there too and will postpone the show. Still, hating it!

Pre-Christmas we got a pretty good dumping of snow. 17+ inches. That is a ton of snow for an area that freaks out with 3-6 inches. A few days ago we got 4-6 more inches. School closed of course. Now, they are predicting a near 100% chance of snow, accumulating between 18-26 inches, starting tomorrow early afternoon and continuing into Saturday night. If this materializes, Northern Virginia will be paralyzed for a week! As it is the Federal Goverment instituted its unscheduled leave policy, schools are closed and most local goverments have closed or are allowing unscheduled leave.

My theory is that what makes this area dangerous is that there is such a mix of transplants from not only all over the US but from all over the world. Unlike Florida where NO ONE knows how to drive in the snow or Wisconsin where EVERYONE DOES, we have the wonderful mix of completely clueless and the overly confident. I know this exists to some extent everywhere, but I think it is at its peak here, making for exciting and challenging driving. I have never been really all that concerned about my ability to drive in the snow. It's everyone else that completely freak me out. Those 4WDs (I have one but I realize 4wd doesn't equal invincible) who go flying by like they can break on ice with no problem. Those super "cautious" folks who don't understand the concept of necessary momentum. I get visions of people sliding and crashing into me from every direction.

I hate snow. Did I mention that yet? I do. Really really really do.

I hit the store tonight at 10pm, thinking I might miss the crazies who hit it on the way home from work. No dice. It was an even more interesting mix of crazy. They were, of course, out of milk. So we are lactose intolerant for the weekend. Lactaid it is! I got the last two loaves of bread. Hey, Ella needs her PBJs. Wine was 30% off. A girl can't pass up a good deal! Frozen pizzas. Beef jerky for daddy-o. You know, the essentials! We will survive. And I only have 5 weeks from tomorrow before I am back in my happpppppy place. The best place on earth. St. John!

Maybe if I have tons of time on my house during our snowbound weekend I'll start packing!

The Military Brass has it Right, or Left

"No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me, it comes down to integrity – theirs as individuals and ours as an institution."

-Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen

Hopefully someday soon we'll see an official end to the longstanding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy within the military. It seems like a no-brainer now that both the SecDef and the Chair of the Joint Chiefs are in agreement that it should end. I don't think anyone could say it any better or any more clearly with Admiral Mullen.

Rachel Maddow interviewed an air force pilot last night who was outed by a disgruntled former partner and is now facing separation from the military under DADT. He was the epitome of who I want defending this country. Spotless record, top notch pilot, well spoken, distinguished. Who he chooses to date is irrelevant!
It is still unbelievable to me that in this country we still so easily accept discrimination against a segment of our citizens based on nothing but who they choose to love. It is just repugnant and frankly, embarrassing.

Listen to him speak and then tell me do you give a rat's behind that he happens to be gay?!?!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Smarty Pants

About two weeks ago, I received an email from Ella's teacher requesting a meeting. Of course, my first thought was WE/SHE are in trouble! Then, two days later we received her standardized test scores in the mail. A-Ha. I began to suspect maybe that's why her teacher wanted to talk with us. (Verbal reasoning 99%, composite score 93%).

We've always known Ella was smarter than the average bear, but honestly, also were very aware that she is her own person, marching to her own little drum at times. We don't mind and probably, truth be told, encourage this. My nature is to freak out, but I have learned with Ella that everything comes in due time. When she is ready. Not a second earlier. The ONLY thing she did early was talk and was a full-on chatter box well before 2. I know she has an unusually large vocabulary for a 2nd grader (or for most adults to be honest), but I also know she was one of the slowest readers in her class last year. Writing was like pulling teeth. So with Ella, often we are not quite sure how others will perceive her. Add to that we are SO NOT the in your face my child is a genius and needs special instruction folks.

Back on topic.

Per her teacher's request, Hung and I had a meeting with her a couple of weeks ago. I adore her teacher. Turns out Ella is doing very well in school. The girl whose teacher gave up in the middle of the 1st grade, calling her little einstein and saying that she KNEW she was super smart but she was just not getting through. She's a tough case because she's such a nice girl and so obviously not stupid that the teacher just couldn't figure her out. Ella was Ella. She sized up the teacher quite quickly and did that which she was comfortable doing but didn't push the boundaries at all. THANKYOUVERYMUCHBUTNO.

At the end of 1st grade she was actually "reading" (reading is in quotes because what she was doing wasn't really reading) below grade level and pretty much not writing much at all. The bare minimum to get by. Of course my instinct was to freak out!!! But I know my girl. I took a very deep breath and had a glass of wine and reminded myself this is how she operates. Instead of freaking out, we took the summer off. No pressure, no tears because "its just so hard, mama", no mandatory reading list. Two weeks into 2nd grade whe was on grade level, two weeks ago she was above grade level. As for writing. At the beginning of 2nd grade it was like pulling teeth to get her to write two words on a page, now she is writing 3 page long stories. She gets it on her own timeline. Pushing her does NO good and when she gets it, she's got it 100%.

I know we are unbelievably lucky to have the teacher she has this year. I would venture to say that she takes figuring out what makes Ella tick as a personal challenge and, as a result, Ella is making serious progress. So much so, that her teacher is recommending her for Fairfax County's level 4 gt program. (I being the complete slacker mom that I am, didn't know what that meant! I learned a lot about the Fairfax GT program, now called Advanced Academic Program, or AAP). Did you get all that? No neither did I. I had to look it up online and follow the flow chart. Her teacher must have thought I was completely clueless.

Turns out the Level 4 AAP program means she would go to another school, a school where she would be in a full day, all gt kids program. What I gathered is the following:

Level 1 - everyone gets, and from what I could gather it probably exists because parents in this area are crazy and obsessed with their kids being GT. This lets everyone say their kid is GT. Welcome to Fairfax County, the capital of over achievement and helicopter parents! The teacher comes into the classroom and basically gives activities to assess/ID who should be at a higher level.

Level 2 - kids get pulled weekly into a special class period in their own school. Basically enrichment in one subject area for those kids who learn quickly. This is what I had back in the day!

Level 3 - a 1/2 day in-school instruction with special GT teachers and kids, and

Level 4 - which can best be described as a magnet all day, all GT program, in a different school.

Her teacher thinks she is Level 4 material and wanted to talk to us about the program and make sure we were on board. I knew from her CoGAT scores she was in the pool for consideration. We got a nice little letter from her principal giving us basic info, but we really still had no clue what that really meant. Did I mention I am such a slacker? I know people in Fairfax Co. who are talking about GT in kindergarten. I am the mom who thinks "they'll figure out that she's smart and let us know, right?" People have been saying to me forever that she needs to be in a gt program and I have pretty consistently said, "I am not pushing it." I know she is smart. I don't need the county or anyone to tell me that. I also am FULLY aware that she has her limitations. As long as she is enjoying school and is being challenged I am ok. I guess I would err on the side of MAYBE MY CHILD ISN'T THE GENIUS I THINK SHE IS instead of being that annoying in your face 24/7 mom.

So as you can see, I did not really know what all this entailed. I think her teacher found that super refreshing. Well, it means that her teacher has to put together a Ella's "package" (class work, a narrative about Ella, complete a GT rating scale, etc) and turn it in. We, as parents, also had to fill out a questionnaire and submit materials from home (art, projects, pictures, whatever) as part of the "package".

The whole thing kind of scares me, because though she's smart I don't think she's uber geeky, but whatever. I am also a parent who puts a very high value on social intelligence. I would SO rather her be kind and interesting to talk to and fun and engaging than a prodigy who can't make eye contact. Not that there is anything wrong with prodigies.

We are, of course, EXTREMELY proud of her but also I reiterated to her teacher we are all about what is best for Ella. It is so gratifying to have our philosophy and approach validated! The thing is she might not get into the program at all. Apparently 60-70% of those in the eligible pool do get into the full program. I think her chances are good but it is by no means a done deal. If she does get in, I think she will either sink or swim. She will either be completely overwhelmed and crash and burn or be completely in love with the program and will flourish. Either way the good news is if she doesn't get in (or gets in and struggles), she is guaranteed at least level 3 services at her own school.

And still Hung and I look at each other often and say, "Wow, imagine if we really worked with her! Like used flashcards and stuff!" lol. Our philosophy is simple. Figure out what interests her and expose her to it. Answer all of her questions. This one is becoming increasingly difficult though as mama often has to go look up the answers!

Happppppy 3rd Birthday Little Man

I can't believe that a year ago tonight I was just realizing, after a blessedly good first day with Max (who we really didn't know what we'd be dealing with once he got out, i.e. if he would be able to breathe on his own), he was being prepared for transport fom Alexandria Hospital to the NICU at Georgetown Hospital to prep for potential surgery.

Luckily, he only stayed a few days and was the healthiest kid in there. I felt such a mix of intense relief for us and extreme sadness for some of the babies we saw in there. We have had our ups and downs but our little 5% chance guy appears healthy and so very normal. Whew....I think I am finally starting to take deep breaths again.

And so, here we are, 3 years later. It has all passed so quickly and my little, sweet, soft, perfect baby boy has grown into a little boy. Max, I miss sitting with your little warm body against my chest, gently rubbing your little fuzzy head as you drifted off to sleep. You really liked that. Your favorite blankie is still around and that's just fine. We like that you love it. You are just the greatest little guy!

You have become a REAL boy who loves cars and goes to the potty on his own and gives me "THE BIGGEST KISSES" he can muster and high fives! You have grown up sooooo much. Just the other night you counted to 9, prompted by the car candies that went on your car cupcakes. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9! We looked at each other, um, did you hear that? Yep. He just counted to 9.

So today was party time and, of course, the dusting of snow predicted turned out to be more like 6 inches and is still falling! Poor winter babies! Still our friends, with very little exception, came in force some with their little people in tow and celebrated the boy that I just feel so very lucky to call my very own. We ate and laughed and had cake and opened presents and just generally relaxed and had a lovely time.

Happy Birthday, Max. I am so glad you are in my life. You are truly my favorite guy/dude in the whole entire world and even though I could not even imagine how in the world I would handle a B-O-Y, there is nothing that makes me any prouder than being your mama. I know it is my job to help you grow up to be a wonderful man and I feel we are off to such a great start - like today when you thanked a guest for your present with no prompting from me at all! SO sweet! I guess you may be a little more like your big sis than we give you credit for!



All my love forever,

Mama

Hiatus

Sorry guys. I have been chastized for my long lapse in posts, but I have many in the pipeline I promise and of course I'll be filling you all in on the little guy's big bash! Promise!

Coming soon:

1 Update on Ella's school progress
2 Max's 3rd Birthday!
3 Vegas plans

To the right we have CAR CUPCAKES for Max's school/daycare party. He was SO excited to help make them and to take them to his friends today!

VRROOOOM VRRRROOOOOOMMMM!!!! Today is my last day as the mama of a 2 year old! On to year 3!! Woot!

San Francisco Open Your Golden Gate!

I recently had the pleasure of a quick (4 night) work trip to San Francisco. Along with my partner in crime/coworker, I headed for the city and hit the ground running. Unlike the trip this report is unlikely to be super short because I am just wordy.

Warning: Heavy on Food and Beverages and light on culture! This trip was all about the food and drink of San Francisco. How much could we cram into 4 nights?!?!?!?!

Day 1: Getting there, The Parc 55 & John's Grill

My flight out of DCA was through Minneapolis. Just the breezeway from the airplane to the airport in Minnesota in Winter demonstrated by striking lack of cojones! I don't know those people survive! The flights were uneventful, if you don't count the part where I was patted down by the TSA. Happens to me EVERY time.

We arrived in the mid-afternoon, dropped our bags at our swank hotel, the Parc 55, and headed to work to get ourselves situated for the next day. The Parc 55 is conveniently located in Union Square. Very nice, very clean lines, nice linens, swank lobby and bar, great staff. I would highly recommend it.

Post-work commitments we decided to hit our hotel bar, Cityhouse, to have a drink and discuss dinner plans. It was here that the "Honey & Almonds" and I became friends. Wild turkey american honey, disaronno amaretto, fresh lemon juice and a splash of soda. Unbelievably yummy!

We settled on John's Grill, a historic San Fran haunt and a setting for the Maltese Falcon, for our first dinner out for two reasons. 1 - It's historic and we are all about the history and 2 - it was a block away. That was about all we could handle after being on the go for a good 15 hours!

We started with the special drink, being the tourists we were. Yummy but it has nothing on the Honey & Almonds!






Mmmmmmm sourdough. San Fran, I love you so.





We both had the steak as it was a steak house.



Post-dinner we decided to wonder around and bar hop a little. Hey, a childless mother has to make the post of her opportunities right? First we hit the 4th Street Pub and then quickly moved on to Johnny Foley's. Soon enough I was in my happy place. Both of those are not for me. I swear.





Day 2: Mel's Drive-in, The Stinking Rose and North Beach

We grabbed a great breakfast at Mel's Drive-in. Delicious yummy sourdough toast and the biggest omelet ever.



We headed to work to get things settled and then found ourselves with 2 hours to kill before the craziness began so we headed to Yerba Buena Gardens and enjoyed the beautiful garden in the center of the city.





We wandered along and discovered a cool sculpture garden. ooooooooooooo.





Before we knew it, it was time to get to work! Boo. So we spent the afternoon convening.

Post-work we hit the Cityhouse bar again (you can't beat two for one drinks) before heading out to North Beach for dinner at the Stinking Rose. I love the Stinking Rose. You have to REALLY like garlic to enjoy eating there. If you are a fan, it is SO good.

We started with the Bagna Calda (Garlic soaking in a hot tub Garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovy served with focaccia bread.) I, personally, take the cloves and smear them on the bread. OMGOOOODNESS. No vampires were getting anywhere near us for the week.



Followed up with an entree of Spicy Prawns, fettuccine, pancetta, and onions in red pepper garlic oil. Religious experience! SOOOOO very good.



For those who do not know, North Beach is sort of (ok not sort of, but totally) the Red Light district of San Fran. Of course, I had not known this on my first trip there oh 12 years ago when my hubby and I were wee babes. I booked us in a guest house (affiliated with a hostel) in North Beach. Awkward. ;-) We survived and I was determined to find it again.

And find it I did. That's me pointing to the sign in the dark (this was right before my travel mate thought she smelled a skunk. It wasn't a skunk but instead someone toking on the corner).



Wow, what I was thinking back in the day. I can still remember it was $40/night!



A little more of the North Beach scenery



After dinner we decided to head to the Tonga Room. It was so funny, in the cab on the way, the cabbie was like "why do you want to go there?" Us: "we heard it is really kitschy and fun." Him: "It's really cheesy" Us: "Perfect!!! WE LOVE CHEESE!" lol. So we'd had a few drinks. At least Jana didn't ask this one where he got his hookers like she had the previous cab driver when she realized he was dropping us on a questionable red light corner. We are very good at holding our alcohol! Luckily he had laughed.

The Tonga Room is an institution. It is in the old pool complex at the San Fran Fairmont Hotel. There is a boat in the pool with the "band" in this case a pretty darn good singer and two dudes playing various instruments. She sang stuff from every genre. The people watching is classic and we were both bitterly disappointed when a gal who could generously be described as a cross between a Russian mail order bride and a prostitute left the dance floor shortly after our arrival! We had so much fun. We scored leis and a poolside table and enjoyed a couple drinks.

Tonga Time



For some reason when we got our fill of the Tonga room we decided it was a good idea to try to walk back to our hotel. The cabbie had said it was downhill. Helpful, no? Well we thought we could handle it so off we went. About 10 blocks later we were definitely NOT LOST in Chinatown when we decided maybe a cab would be a good idea.





Day 3: WORK, Samovar Tea Lounge, Dinner at the Crab House

With a full day of work ahead (unfortunately), we grabbed a quick bagel sandwich and a VERY large coffee and headed to the Moscone. Fun Times! We were able to escape for a quick lunch at Samovar Tea Lounge and we were so not disappointed! Delish meal and a great atmosphere. Very Zen.



I had the Chinese Duck & Veggie Stir-fry, Squash Dumplings, & Pu-erh tea (blood orange tea). Really really amazing!






After lunch it was back to work and then a little rest before heading to the Wharf and Pier 39 for dinner and shopping.

Did I mention I LOVE sourdough?



Cute little sourdough turtles



For dinner we settled on the Crab House for some dungeness! Another amazingly good meal. Yes, we were totally eating our way across the city.



Dungeness, in my belly! (Unfortunately in the middle of the night following this dinner I paid for this meal, I have been in denial about a shellfish allergy for YEARS. A mild one. Usually complicated only when ingesting alcohol in conjunction with said shellfish. Well, this time I literally woke up from a dead sleep itching from HEAD TO TOE. As Vicki said, "So you are telling me you were itching from head to toe because you had crab(s).")

It was OH SO GOOD though. Dungeness legs in garlic butter.



Accompanied by Garlic Fries.



My partner in crime



Traveling with coworkers can some times be challenging and can sometimes be a lot of fun. This girl is SO easy to travel with, as we have such similar styles. We basically want to see and do as much as we can, we like cheesy and classy equally well and we hit the ground running knowing we can sleep when we're dead! And we pretty much spent the entire week quoting "The Hangover" .... SO so so much fun!

After finishing dinner we headed from Pier 39 down along the Wharf.





Of course we hit Ghirardelli Square for some chocolate



This is the point in the story where all I can remember is the FOOD!

Day 4: Another full day of work, lunch at Green Papaya and dinner at Maya

After days of dealing with folks like this, my attention to detail was waning. Yes this was a professional conference I was attending. Not for my profession but one related to what I do.



We found a great Viet restaurant near the center and enjoyed a delicious meal. I am married to a Viet guy so I know my Viet food and the Green Papaya was probably one of the top 3 Viet restaurants I have been too. LOVE the Bun (vermicelli/rice noodles) thit heo nuong (with grilled pork and spring roll) accompanied by a cafe sua da (basically strong french press coffee with sweetened condensed milk over ice).



Re-energized I was able to face the afternoon of my final full day!

Dinner was at Maya, on the recommendation of our hotel concierge.

Some of the best guacamole I have EVER had, with a glass of red sangria.



Followed by chicken mole tacos.



My flight out of San Fran was the next morning, so I called it a night!

Getting home was uneventful other than again having the pleasure of a secondary screening and going in the glass box for my pat down.

I absolutely love San Francisco. This was my third trip, my 2nd for business and I find something new about it that I love each time. If you get a chance, I highly recommend visiting!

San Francisco, let me beat my feet
Up and down Market Street
I'm gonna climb Nob Hill, just to watch it get dark
From The Top of the Mark