Friday, November 28, 2008

Christmas!

On "Black Friday" I astonishingly tricked Michael and Ben to go shopping with me!  We went to Bath and Body Works, their favorite store in the world.  Then we went to Walmart... to buy some Christmas presents for family... Turns out we didn't.  Instead, spontaneous Michael decided to buy a Christmas tree, decorations, lights, and stockings!  Yup.... definitely NOT what I had in mind! :)















Our final product!  It's awesome!!! Our first Christmas tree ever!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Apple

Of course when Michael found out we were staying in Cupertino, he wanted to find "1 Infinite Loop".  For those that are apple fans.... you know what I'm talking about.  Right before we left to go home, we stopped at the apple headquarters and HAD to take some pictures to prove we were there.  





Apparently the sign wasn't enough, Michael wanted to go into the building.... it was a Sunday, so naturally it was closed.  So instead he took pictures of the visitor center from outside the visitor center......



"One Infinite Loop"

Downtown San Francisco Trip

Since we drove all the way to San Jose, and drove all the way to San Francisco to drop my parents off at the airport, we decided to make the trip even better and see downtown San Fran while we were at it!  It was awesome!  We went on the curviest, steepest road we could find, Lombard St, and then went to the light house where we saw the Bay Bridge from across the bay!  




This was after we went into the self cleaning automagic robotic bathrooms!  They were crazy!!!!


The Self Cleaning Automagic Robotic Bathroom!

Family Dinner

After the funeral, my parents treated us to dinner at a Chinese buffet.  Lots of seafood for Michael!


Don't try to hide dad, you're definitely pigging out!

Ben, did you eat too much?!?!  You look sleepy.....

Looks like a guilty face to me Mom!

Becky did you eat something nasty?

Dig Michael Dig!!!


It was great to be able to see my parents!  I wish it were under better circumstances, but grateful nonetheless! :)


Saturday, November 15, 2008

Grandma's Funeral

It was a beautiful day and an even more beautiful funeral.  Perfect for a wonderful woman that touched so many people's lives.  We so a lot of family members we haven't seen in years, and ward members that were in our Chinese branch 8 years ago.  It was great to see everyone and see that my grandmother had so many people that cared and loved her.  

Before the Funeral

Loading Grandma in

The Pallbearers











Her Children

Her posterity

We miss you grandma!  You will always be in our hearts and prayers! Love you!



Friday, November 7, 2008

A Life Well Lived

Since I have been working late, I've been sleeping late.  The last thing I wanted was to hear my phone go off.  But it did.  On Friday afternoon, Becky (my sister) called and said that our grandmother passed away early this morning.  I was extremely surprised!  She had been doing sooo well, this was last thing I expected.  Ben and I were just talking the night before about the days she would spend over while Mom and Dad were away, and the crazy things she would pull. 
We had lots of pot lucks when we lived in San Jose with the Chinese branch.  Well, at one of the pot lucks, my grandma decided she wanted a goose for dinner the next evening, so she started chasing after the geese.  It was quite the sight!!!  And incredibly, she was able to catch one of them!!!  I was astonished and quite amazed! :)  She was a crazy and very energetic woman.  I looooved her lemon pies and apparently every ward she has every been a part of, love her cooking too!  She was always either busy in the kitchen making Chinese desserts or knitting a new sweater, cardigan, or scarf for someone.  
A year or two ago she got pneumonia and was hospitalized for a while, but that didn't stop her from what she loved.  She insisted she was okay and continued to serve those around her, may it be through her knitting, her jewelry making, or cooking; she was always eager to be a part of someone else's life, and to help make someone's day a little brighter.  I love my grandmother and will never forget her loving compassion or her selfless service.  It was definitely a life very well lived, and a legacy that will live on forever.  Miss you grandma!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

For my fellow dispatchers!

You know you are a dispatcher when . . . .

1] You've ever had the urge to answer the phone by saying "Your local 411"
2] You applaud the dispatcher who was on the news last year for his comment to the unruly child's mother "Do you want us to come over and shoot him?"
3] You have the bladder capacity of five people.
4] You believe that 50% of people are a waste of good air.
5] Your idea of a good time is taking a good domestic call, an armed robbery or calling a pursuit.
6] You get excited and call every other dispatcher you know when you hear the state police screw up on the radio.
7] You conduct a criminal record check on the parents of your children's friends, whom ever you're currently dating or anyone who is nice to you.
8] You believe in the aerial spraying of Prozac and birth control pills.
9] You disbelieve 90% of what you hear on the other end of the phone.
10] You have your weekends off planned for a year.
11] You pray for your relief to come in five minutes early because you have to go potty soooo bad.
12] You believe the government should require a permit to reproduce.
13] You refer to your favorite restaurant by the "nearest cross streets" to which it's located.
14] You have ever wanted to hold a seminar entitled: "Suicide...don't call me, just do it."
15] Your job description includes baby sitting the city (or county).
16] You ever had to put the phone on hold before you begin laughing uncontrollably.
17] You have ever been unable to dispatch officers on a call because the caller's name or the call itself is so ridiculous that you can't keep from laughing.
18] You think caffeine should be available in IV form.
19] You believe an officer is a hero only when he brings you in a 44oz. cappuccino.
20] People call you all hours of the night to ask you directions to strange places...and you know where they're located.
21] You claim to be a "communications officer" because it just sounds so much more important than a "dispatcher."
22] You get on the air to tell an officer to call your cell phone so that you're not being recorded when you warn him/her about the Tom Adam Robert David (TARD) they're about to encounter.
23] You do not see daylight from November until May.
24] You've ever referred to Tuesday as "my weekend", or "this is my Friday".
25] You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says, "Boy, it sure is quiet tonight."
26] You find humor in other people's stupidity.
27] You have microwaved the same meal more than three times in order to eat warm food because everyone in the city seems to know when you're trying to eat.
28] The better you are at your job, the more you get complained on.
29] You want the social security number and finger prints of anyone interested in your younger sibling.
30] You have a bumper sticker that says "I love Cops" or "Dispatchers tell cops where to go."
31] Boredom at work causes you to keep a mentally handicapped person on the phone for hours just to listen to their stories.
32] You have ever given back a plate over the radio that returns to"Seymour Wehner" or "Sharon Peters" because the officers think it's funny to hear you say dirty words on the air.