As we left the driveway...

...and about 30 minutes later.

Due to a late start and a long dinner stop, Dan and I decided to just drive through the night.  The boys all slept rather fitfully, and I only contributed 2 hours of driving just before dawn (I get tired really easily driving in the dark), so we were all pretty pooped by the time we pulled into a McDonald's just west of Denver.  As soon as the car stopped, Aiden started throwing up.  I hauled him out of the car and onto the grass, then took him in to change him.  He acted fine after that and loved running around in the playplace (known as "Candy Mountain" to our kids), but then threw up again in Boulder and again on the way up the mountains to Estes Park.  Thankfully, the place we stayed at had a laundry facility, so I was able to wash his clothes and the cover to his carseat, which smelled pretty rank by that point.  I was afraid it was due to altitude sickness, and that worried me (since we'd be driving through the mountains a lot the next day) but he never got sick again, so we figured it was due to his poor sleep in the car the night before.

Walking through one of my favorite towns ever.

Dan and the boys eating some amazing chocolate from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.  Mine was macadamia nuts and caramel covered in dark chocolate.  Yum!

We camped in Estes, and the boys loved it!  It actually turned out to be a great experience  :)  Here are the boys Saturday morning after a good night's sleep.

Munching on donuts while Dan and I packed up the gear.

I spent a year at a Bible school located on a mountain just behind the guy taking this picture.  I got to look at the gorgeous valley of Estes Park and the peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park every single day.  Spectacular!

We drove through RMNP in order to get to our final destination (Steamboat Springs), and stopped a couple of times to stretch our legs and take in the gorgeous-ness.

Here are my guys :)

Look at this!  The beauty of these mountains never cease to take my breath away.

The next several photos were taken by Will as we hiked up the trail at the top of Trail Ridge Road (the highest road in the US).

Another lovely view.

(photo by Will)

Climbing on the rocks with Joshy.

(photo by Will)

Cute Aiden.

(photo by Will)

A cute Daddy. 

(photo by Will)

 "Higher now, up in the sky, you make me feel like I could fly, so high, elevation... woo-oooh" 

Notice how Josh has no time to mess with getting his picture taken.  There were millions of small rocks that needed to be rearranged, people!

A rare picture of Dan and me together.

(photo by Will)

This one might have to be the Christmas card picture.  Maybe.  (It's so ridiculously difficult to get all 3 of our kids to look at the camera, much less smile, at the same time.)

Will is quite the climber.  And Aiden actually did really well for being the family klutz.  Which I am too, but I'm also a decent rock climber.  Maybe the uncoordination doesn't extend to that aspect of physical activity.

After we reached Grand Lake, on the west side of the park, I drove so that Dan could read Out of the Silent Planet by CS Lewis out loud (he read The Princess Bride out loud on our honeymoon, which was delightful - he's a great reader because he's good with voices and such).  It rained a bit and was rather cloudy and windy, and we were had just finished coming down a really steep grade out of the mountains when this happened:

I failed to see, and thus ran over, a steel rake in the middle of the road.  Not good.  Dan tried to change the tire but our jack broke.  He headed towards the nearest ranch house (which was thankfully very close), and a sweet lady gave him the numbers to a tow company and a couple of auto stores.  Thankfully, we were only a couple of miles from town, so the tow truck came, we all fit into the cab (a great adventure in the boys' books), and the tire store stayed open late for us - answers to prayer. 

Not a desirable occurance, but W & A actually thanked God for letting them ride in a tow truck, so it became a memorable part of our vacation.  Will was also very sweet to console me and remind me that they loved me while I was berating myself for running over the rake, which did my heart good.  And Dan did not allow me to beat myself up for it during the remainder of our trip, which I am apt to do.  My boys love me well! 

Once the new tire was put on, we found a pizza joint (with all you can eat pizza and salad and kids under 5 ate free!), then it was off to the lovely, cozy cabin 20 miles from town where we spent the next week.  More to come...

Ed

2008.08.27

A few bits of advice:

• Don't plan a vacation that is going to break your bank... whether that bank is a money bank or an expectation bank.
• Form your expectations around experiencing something new and enjoying little moments.
• Let the place guide you. Huh? What I mean is don't go crazy with your planning. Sure, it's great to have plans, but leave room for discovery - for the place your visiting to reveal itself to you.
• Expect bumps. Usually things don't go perfectly or according to plan all the time. Expect bumps and then embrace what they show you... perhaps it's a chance for discovery.
• Be willing to laugh. Sometimes a vacation can't be redeemed. I had one such weekend getaway a few years ago. I was miserable. My boyfriend was miserable. We both tried to grin and bear it, but it was unbearable. Finally one of us broke down and said "this sucks" and we both burst out laughing. The rest of the weekend we made jokes about our situation instead of suffering.

So, remember: vacation happens. Don't let a few bumps along the road get you down. And once you get back home, write everything down that you can remember... we forget so quickly and the notes will trigger some great memories and laughter down the road.

Urmeaza restul episoadelor si pozele. Stay tuned !

As you might know, 30 Rockefeller Plaza is the headquarters of NBCUniversal.  During the second weekend of bootcamp, a group of 25 IMLPs took a trip from Danbury, CT down to New York City to relax, enjoy themselves, and get a tour of the NBC headquarters.  Led by three NBCUniversal IMLPs, we were able to go behind the scenes to places most people dream of going.

The tour began with a trip to Studio 8H to view the set of Saturday Night Live.  After listening in on a page guided tour from the chairs in the audience, we made our way backstage to see where everyone from Chris Farley and Will Farrell to Tracy Morgan have changed between sketches.  We concluded by walking right in front of the set and seeing the replica of an arch from Grand Central Terminal which surrounds the musical stage.  Interestingly enough, the Saturday Night Live stage was in the process of being setup to be used for NBC's Olympic broadcasts.  It was full of sound booths and video editing computers that would be used to commentate on the events and create highlights.

The tour continued on to Studio 6A to view the set of Late Night with Conan O'Brien.  Here we were able to admire the incredibly tiny set.  On TV, it looks like a big studio, but once up close, you realize how well the use of cameras and lighting is able to deceive you.  We were able to sit in the audience and see the set we see every night from a different angle.  Our visit to Studio 6A concluded with a group picture on the stage Conan's musical guests use to perform.

In addition, we were able to see Studio 3B, home of Dateline NBC, and Studio 3C, home of NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

The tour concluded with a walk through the NBC production facilities, where videos are edited and commercials are broadcasted from.

This tour is just one example of a perk of being part of the GE IMLP program.  We are able to get to know other IMLPs from different businesses, who are always more than happy to give you a tour of their business or explain their business to you.  A special thank you to the NBCUniversal IMLPs for the wonderful "all access" tour.

Ich konnte, und ich freue mich schon jetzt auf das nächste Mal.

Good Afternoon everyone ! =D

i've just came back from the Panang Trip as you can see ,

Man .. it was a BLAST !

there was so much experience i don't wanna forget . and i really did enjoyed myself there ~

The trip was organized by my sister Mira and Ms.Aya ,

geez .. i din get to take pictures on that trip .. but then Ms.Aya have taken alot and also record Footage of the Event ! Brilliant !

So please Visit  : paperdiaries.wordpress.com

ja-ne ~

-Saruchan-

Peter here,
    I just took a trip to LA with Eric from VICM. We were doing some research for the ministry. I wanted to share some of the pictures from the trip. I will go into greater detail at a later time, but I will say that we serve a great God and He is still working in lives today. While at a camp/retreat in the mountains, Eric and I had a good time in prayer and meditation. God met with us in a real way on a mountain at the foot of a cross.

 We visited an inner-city ministry with some great people dedicated to the Lord's work. I was there for four days. The trip was wonderful but at the same time, I missed my family very much. Needless to say, I was excited to see them at the airport. I welcomed there hugs & kisses.
     We are taking another trip to Chicago, IL. This time my family will be going with me. I will write a post to tell you about that trip.
                   Later,
                   Peter

We traveled to Taipei last weekend as we had a holiday.  We were tourists, stayed at a nice hotel and used Taxis, MRT and tour buses to get us about. 

We went to the mountains and visited an aborigine village and a hokey show.  It was good. 

Saturday we toured the National Palace Museum.  It houses the 700,000 items that were once in the Forbidden City.  They can only display 15,000 items at any one time so you can return every three months and see different artifacts.  It was awesome.  One room was a comparison of Chinese and Western culture back before 3,000 BC, an amazing civilization.  I’m swimming twice a week at a local pool usually with one or two other teachers.  I drive the scooter and turn corners quite well, if I do say so myself.  I almost did a wheelie the other night, which I didn’t want to bring up in front of Bruce.  Now since Bruce usually drives with me on the back he is really getting good and can drive in downtown traffic on a Friday night.  Last Thursday we did KTV to say goodbye to two teachers.  The Taiwanese love KTV.  It is like they go into another persona.  Friday morning we drove to the bus station with our little suitcase between Bruce’s legs and I with the backpack on my back.  We parked the scooter next to the bus station and loaded for the 4-hour trip to Taipei.  You’d love the buses.  They are the same size as the Greyhounds and only hold 22 people.  One sits in these giant leather lazyboy type chairs.  Bruce and I couldn’t even sit together.  Then there are pinch pleat drapes with ruffles swagged in all the windows and each person has a TV.  You can watch a Taiwanese movie, a cartoon, a violent American movie (they don’t have to translate much) or nearly naked Asian girls dancing in the mountains or in a waterfall.  There is a stewardess that brings you water, almond cookies, a blanket and makes sure you know how to use all the equipment.  This plus most everything is either turquoise or lime green.  The country just makes you smile sometimes.  B & I scootered to day market the weekend before Taipei and I found a bedcover and shams for the Japanese room at such a deal prices ($500NT).  I new it had some writing on it but all I saw was dream.  Well, when we got it home it says, "I Used to Dream."    Now I was planning on leaving it behind but how can you?  It is so Taiwanese!  Most every T-shirt and package has some such misuse of the Queen’s English and just makes you smile.  Thanks again for the pictures.  I want to smell my grandchildren and feel their skin.  Take good care of yourself and Sandy, your birthday would be just about the perfect time to visit Taiwan.  It is now going into the hot season and I’m not sure how I will stand it.  I’m considering no bras and muumuus.  One lives inside their dwelling as it is to hot and rainy to go out during the wet.  Love JBJ 

The Eagle Lake trail in the Lake Tahoe area is a great hike to do if you are looking for a hike that:

• is short -- just two miles roundtrip
• is easy -- someone actually hiked up with their inflatable raft plus the pump; it is a little steep going up but it is mostly nicely graded and is all downhill coming back
• has great views -- of the Desolation Wilderness terrain and of Lake Tahoe itself
• includes an alpine lake -- after only a mile of walking, too
• allows dog (s) -- Waylon was off-leash and enjoyed it
• guarantees you will have lots and lots of company, of the canine and human variety -- literally, I think there was actually a tour busload of people at the lake when we were heading out

The hike normally crosses Eagle Falls, but since there was an early snow melt of limited snowpack this year, there was really no falls to speak of.

As we were staying in Alpine Meadows, we approached the trailhead from the north on Highway 89. The trailhead is approximately 19 miles from Tahoe City, is well-marked, and has limited parking. Perhaps doing the hike on some other summer weekend aside from the weekend before Labor Day may have helped with the crowds, but with its ease and accessibility, I somehow doubt this trail is ever not crowded. Still, it is a fun one to do.

1. Dress the kids in bright colors and loud-patterned clothes. Doing this ensures you can spot them easily in crowded places like parks and zoos.

2. Split them up. If you're traveling with your husband or any other adult, assign beforehand the kids that one should look after. Splitting the kids up (such as when in a plane) also keeps the noise level down.

3. Stock up on food and water. Make sure you have a lot of easy-to-carry-and-eat food packed so that no one gets too hungry in the middle of a flight or bus ride and throws tantrums. Stock up on water as well to keep everyone hydrated.

4. Bring a stroller. A stroller can work two ways. First, you can use it to carry a tired or sleepy child. Second, you can use it to carry all your heavy shopping bags and things.

Care to share your tips on traveling with kids?

Image from this site.

 Wait, is summer officially over in September?

Maybe its because I am not in school anymore, and that I live in southern California and the weather is still fairly warm- the end of summer isn’t much of a depressing event. Oh I am already thinking about cooking for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I must say though- this summer has been awesome- lots of bodyboarding, beach going, vacationing, cooking, BBQing, seadoo riding, fishing and spending time discovering myself and people. SUMMER WELL SPENT! It’s a bummer that I couldn’t squeeze another summer trip to Taiwan (I used to every summer)- but considering I was just there this past March, I think I got my island fix for the year.

As some of you know, I am jumping ships, or at least making drastic changes to enable myself to work with what I always loved- food. Hum, as an Aquarius, you would think I would be the frontier to making changes and do what I love. Honestly, all the reasons that held me back from doing what I was born to do, NOW I realized-were simply excuses.

Not gonna lie though, the transition is tough. You will see bigger smiles on my face because I certainly feel so much happier and higher than ever, not because the transition is a piece of cake. I am often asked- why did you give up the good salary position and a respected profession? The funny thing is, I still ask myself that question once in a while, when I slightly lose sight of light at the end of tunnel. But, I tell myself, Sandy, life is way too short for you to spend the rest of your life, or even a couple of years more, to not follow your passion, your intuitions, and not be free.

Freedom is a big deal to me. I feed off freedom and the least appealing idea to me is to be trapped in my office from 9 to whenever reading last minute e-mails about how a homeowner refuses to pay their HOA dues because they didn’t like the way their lawn was mowed.

I escaped. J

I am in a new kingdom making my way around, discovering new things, and practicing trial and error. I have some tough advisers around and maybe even tougher critics out there- thank you. I won’t let myself down.

• Maine plecam in tura moto prelungita prin Moldova si Bucovina. Stay tuned for live micro-blogging & pictures. 02:03 AM August 21, 2008 from web
• Maine adica azi. Mai am 3 ore de dormit. Nu mi-am facut bagajul. Damn. 02:04 AM August 21, 2008 from web
• Incep sa plec. Cu 1h intarziere, din cauze de trezit :D Le'am dat avans :D 07:35 AM August 21, 2008 from mobile web
• http://twitpic.com/8gb4 - @ Buzau, acum vreo ora si ceva 11:21 AM August 21, 2008 from TwitPic
• @lekd Sunt aproape de Adjud. ii astep pe motoretistii astia :) 11:25 AM August 21, 2008 from mobile web in reply to lecadragos
• Ne'am oprit la Outlet Store inainte de Bacau. Pana acu, Victor merge mai bine pe Royal decat pe Vulcanul lui. 12:37 PM August 21, 2008 from mobile web
• Am facut 310km si inca mai am 2 liniute de benzina. Ceilalti cred ca mai au un pic si pun a 2a oara. 12:38 PM August 21, 2008 from mobile web
• plecam de la Mac din Bacau. Sa mor io, astia mananca numai Mec !! Giiiiizzzs.. 01:54 PM August 21, 2008 from mobile web
• http://twitpic.com/8gt1 - La Hanul Ancutei. Da, chiar ala! 04:49 PM August 21, 2008 from TwitPic
• http://twitpic.com/8hkc - Pensiunea Solca. Langa Suceava. Frumosss 08:25 PM August 21, 2008 from TwitPic
• http://twitpic.com/8kmd - Moto pregatite pt plimbare la manastiri 10:41 AM August 22, 2008 from TwitPic
• ieri m'am trezit la 7:10AM fara ceas. Azi la 7:20. Wow! 07:36 AM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• Ieri am fost la 4 manastiri. 2 frumoase, doua nu prea. Drumul in schimb, PERFECT PT MOTO. Peisaje si serpentine. 07:38 AM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• Astazi mai avem in plan niste manastiri si o salina. Cica sunt 3Celsius in salina. 3?? Afara sunt vreo 22 acum. 07:46 AM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• Pensiunea e super misto. Iar aseara am mancat dublu fata de cat mananc de obicei si totusi a fost 25lei. SI BUUUNNN.... 07:48 AM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• Am dormit f bine de la afinata aia de aseara, facuta de astia de aici si data din partea casei, + aerul tare de munte. + Puss. 07:57 AM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• Brrr ce aer rece e afara :D 08:18 AM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• Am fost la salina @ Cacica. 450m in jos. Pe trepte sapate. 9Celsius jos. Pe urma, 450m in sus. Pe trepte :) 12:03 PM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• Acum ne'am asezat la masa intr'un restaurant @ Gura Humorului. 12:04 PM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• Ciorba radauteana este ceva ce n'am mancat in alta parte. E un fel de a la grec, dar mai buna ! 12:58 PM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• Hai ca plecam la Voronet 12:59 PM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• http://twitpic.com/8pvd - La Manastirea Humorului 03:13 PM August 23, 2008 from TwitPic
• Am fost, am vazut, ne'am intors. Am facut un dus si iesim afara la terasa, la racoare 06:35 PM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• A aparut o toneta de hot-dogs. DA. VREAU! 06:36 PM August 23, 2008 from mobile web
• Ok. I'm awake. M'a trezit Victor, care a pornit motorul cu noaptea'n cap. Si cu tobele alea de RoyalStar... 08:21 AM August 24, 2008 from mobile web
• Motoretele echipate si gata de plecare. A dat o stropeala; inca picura. 10:12 AM August 24, 2008 from mobile web
• Suntem la Suceava. Nu e cald si a plouat. Am vazut cetatea, acum noi suntem prin oras, restul au luat'o inainte spre Faltishieni :) 12:32 PM August 24, 2008 from mobile web

2 Weeks and counting until my trip back to Oakland for the Raiders vs Broncos Season Opener!