Diana in Town

Whenever Diana comes to town we always manage to find fun things to do.

A little Korean BBQ..

Urban Light at the LACMA

Redondo Beach Annual Kite Festival.  We found parking in a hopeless place!

Check out that wannabe manbun slash ponytail

...and Burmese Food

Life is always better when Diana visits.

2014 Ignia Christmas Party

Cards in Foothill Park behind my parent's house

Hello very neglected blog.  I hate how writing has fallen so far down my priority list, but it comes with the sad reality of just being busier in life.  I picked up a second gig helping a friend out with his app which takes up a lot of my free time.  Work, try new places to eat, gig... there is little room for writing anymore.

But I happy that I have a few minutes to spare while I wait for 24 gigs of photos and videos to transfer onto my external and traffic to die down.  What should this entry be about?  The 12th Annual Ignia party of course!!

The Portland girls asked to get some authentic Vietnamese food so we gave my mom a break this year and headed to Pho Ha per Sandy's suggestions.  I usually get gifts for everyone from that year's travel, but I didn't have time.  Instead I decided to buy everyone dinner.  Everyone gave me a big thank you except Sandy.  She responded, "can I have a box sir?"  Which made me burst out into laughter.  I gave her a giant hug.

I pulled out lots of alcohol, but the majority of us just enjoyed some Bailey's hot chocolate.

I control the Secret Santa and rigged it so that you did not get the person you had up to 4 years ago!  We agreed that next year will authentically be random.  My secret santa was Alysia, she made it easy with a wish list of obscure things like measuring cups that include 3/4 and 2/3 cups.  Are you kidding me?  A sleep mask that I actually own and Rooibos tea.  I went to 3 stores to get her that!

Our traditional group photo.  We sat in the same spot as last year.  I wish we kept the order all the years, but it's okay.  My dad suggestion us make monster faces... lol.  Close enough

There's a gap in the group photo because Caitlin was missing.  She was celebrating in Idaho that year.  Nothing that FaceTime on the iPhone 6+ can't fix!  check out that group photo.  I'm printing this one for our families.

We're a silly group of people who enjoy playing board games.  This year we played the following:

Concept - Diana's new pretentious board game
Things - Where you write and guess who wrote what
21 - A drinking game where you assign a rule to each number

Next year we might mix it up by bringing plus ones.  Or maybe we should spare our significant others the awkwardness that is our forever in high school energy.

Oh and Diana and Myself finally won a game of SPADE!  YES!

Father's Day Weekend

My company flew me up to the bay area for training.  I went a few days earlier to see my family and catch up with a couple of San Jose friends.  Instead of focusing on being efficient and doing/seeing as many things as possible, I concentrated on being present.  Which I can tell is all my parents really want when I visit them.

I was rewarded with homecooked Vietnamese food that my mom had prepared for me.  She also made her bun bo hue which I love with extra chili and fish sauce.  My savory taste buds were pleasantly shocked.

I've mentioned before that my parents let me decide on the restaurant when I visit.  On Father's day I made reservations 2 weeks in advance for a popular Burmese place.  Though my parents enjoyed the effort, it was too similar to Vietnamese food that it just felt off to them.  Everything was just too salty or too bland.  My dad even told the waitress, "this would be much better with fish sauce."  The waitress politely smiled and told her that she will let the chef know.  I sat there a bit awkward with my brother.  My dad felt like he was doing them a great service by making that suggestion.  I guess it can go in either way.

I gave my dad a Father's Day card which I rarely do and he got teary-eyed.  My parents always send me a birthday card and I finally provided one back to show that I loved them.  The gesture was greatly appreciated.  I guess I should send cards every year knowing that my parents are sentimental in that way.

Caitlin was also in town for the weekend from Idaho so we caught up for Father's Day.  Her dad actually cooked breakfast for us which a bit ironic.  Caitlin responded, "no no.. it's an honor for him to cook for us on Father's day."  So we enjoyed his famous pancakes and slices of bacon.

I'm pretty lucky to have multiple families to visit.

The better picture was taken inside, but I accidentally deleted it.  Caitlin's dad's beard is pretty epic.  I donated money to a charity he was fund raising for to see him shaven and it was weird. 

I got to visit JV and Andy for a random evening.  I was pretty drunk so I was giving them my thoughts on open relationships and threesomes.  It was like word vomit.

Danster gave me the idea for Burmese for Father's Day.  When I hung out with him and Tim he took me to another Burmese place to get these noodles.  It said that this dish is very comforting.  He loves it.  The rest of the day was spent ordering cheap boba.

Danster also showed me his favorite view in San Jose and took me around San Pedro Square which was pretty happening.   Lots of food and music for those who want to hang out until 11PM, but not drink.  

And Madeline.  Who I've known since middle school.  She moved back from So Cal months back and we shared this intense dessert.  

It was nice to be home for a bit and not really do crazy things.  

April Trip to the Bay

View from Mony's Loft

I rarely go back to the bay, but this time Joe was in SF and it was an opportunity to see him.  So I got a bus... sort of... and found myself in San Francisco.

Mony works in hospitality so when I crawled into bed with him he kicked me out because I was wrinkling his sheets.  What a punk.

Anhimals was a part of the guest list too so we got ready for the Castro.  Here we are fidgeting with our hair.

We visited an apartment inhabited by creatives.  This guy bought some fiber optics from ebay and took it upon himself to get creative with the installation.

This is my absolute favorite picture of the boys.  They are my family.

Anhimals on the other hand is my lover.  

And JV is my little brother.

Well actually... this is my little brother.  :]  But JV is my other little brother.

...and my parents who don't seem to age.

Oh!  And my high school friends.

Until next time bay areeeeeaaaa...

2013 Ignia Christmas Party

Remember everyone... when you cheers you have to look the other person directly in the eyes!

The party was hosted at my house and started off with a lovely game of Spades.

My mom made everyone baked chicken and Diana put together some Brussel Sprouts.  Yum!  

So much dessert!

Our Secret Santa is fun!  This year was the year of cooking supplies and books!  Smyr got his usual books from his book list.  He got creative with my gift and got me food books!  NOMZ!

We always have a White Elephant game.  This year I added 7 extra pieces to pair with the white elephant gifts that everyone brought as a bonus.  Check out my stockings!  They match my sweater.

I also gave out trinkets from Indonesia!  Small little whistles that turned out to be a hit.  A really obnoxious hit.

We played games into the night which included the Great IgBooty!  Which was our version of The Great Dalmuti.  

Merry Christmas friends.  I love that you're in my life.

The day after we appreciated the San Jose Art Museum to check out the Hidden Heroes: The Genius of Everyday Things exhibit.  The interactive site is pretty cool.

I adore those photos.