Chicago Baby!

While MJW was in London, AFJW and I took a trip with Mr. and Mrs. J (Lolo and Lola) to Chicago. It was a good opportunity for me to do a little parent-in-law bonding!

We left early, on a Saturday morning from East Lansing. The car ride down was great! Our first course of action and what ended up being the theme of the trip was putting food in our bellys! hahahaha! We stopped in China Town at a lovely Chinese restaraunt serving Dim Sum. I found out that, food is a great way to bond with MJW's father. Let me put like this: HE LOVES FOOD.

At the table we enjoyed all sorts of great Dim Sum dishes... I even crushed some "Adidas," which are chicken talons! YUM! hahahha. AFJW filled up on some yummy dumplings and Chineese brocolli. Oh! and some egg drop soup.

Once we filled up on Dim Sum we headed over to the Chineese Market Square for some Pashal.

Parking, quick and easy. YES!

Our hotel was NICE! The Millennium Nickerbocker Hotel! The valet parking there was ridiculously over priced, so I dropped off the fam and headed to Tessa and JJ's layer of tech. Parking there was 1/5 the cost. I picked up Tessa (JJ had to study) and we headed by to the Knickerbocker via The Red Line.

Once there, we decided that, yep it was time to eat again! We sat and chatted, Lolo and Lola were able to get to know Tessa for the first time. It was great, because they all hit it off and conversation was fun for all!

Tessa recommended that we go to Giordanos for pizza. Didn't take too much to convince Lolo! He was like: "World famous pizza? Let's go then!"

Yum!!!!

The pizza was great and filling. Lolo admitted that he thought two "medium" pizzas would have not been enough. After his first bite into the deep dish spinach and cheese pizza, he revised that thought.

Once our bellies were full, we headed to the Water Tower Mall. Enjoyed a little pashal and then headed back to the hotel room for some chit-chat.

Elevator System

TRW and AFJW heading down the escaltor

TRW and Lolo... All Smiles

Tita Aman, AFJW and Lola (Lolo catching back up)

Quick glance at the London clock... She MUST be sleeping ;)

The next day we all piled in a cab and headed to the Linkin Park Conservatory!


It was a very rainy morning and afternoon, and I believe it would be fair to say that the conservatory had a few leaks in the celining. But the plants LOVE the fresh rain water, so I can't complain, it's their home.

The girls and I were excited to see all of the plant life from around the globe. Lolo wasn't as excited though. Plants are pretty close to inanimate objects, and offer little joy to him. At one point (near the end of our visit) we lost track of him and Anna was worried that Lolo was "lost in the jugle" LOL.

AFJWs hot pose!

I copy her hot pose! LOL

Potty break. JK!!

Daddy-Daughter Shot

Our trip home was quick and safe. This would mark one of my favorite times spent in Chicago. It would have been even better if our BEAUTIFUL Mom was there. But no worries, there will be many more trips to the Windy City that we will all enjoy together.

Just missed some bad weather.

The...

KITCHEN FLOOR!!!

I spent two nights working on this MEGA project! And boyyyyyy was MJW surprised!

The kitchen floor now matches the dining room floor, which is a dark wood laminate. A great IKEA find ;)

The kitchen was the last real "out of date" portion of the house that we really needed to upgrade. The hideous kitchen floor (yellow, spotted and stained linoleum floor) was an eye soar to say the least.

My plan was to recruit my co-worker Chris to help with this task. I knew I would only have a couple nights during the two weeks MJW was gone to start and finish this project. Chris, actually read my mind some how and offered his help a couple days before I was going to ask him! You see, I went over to his house last summer to help him paint the entire house, so he "owed" me one ;)

He instant messaged me:

"Zaner, I heard you had started painting rooms in your house without me!"

Me: "Yes I have, but I DO need your assistance with a kitchen floor install. *gasp"

He was nice enough to offer a couple hours of his time, and he recruited one other person, Russel, to help out. Chris also had a miter and scroll saw that I desperately needed to do a prorfessional installation.

They came over on a Friday night, and stayed for 3 hours! We accomplished the initial demolistion and first couple rows of new wood laminate installation. It was discovered that underneath the old linoleum floor was another sub-floor with an even uglier linoleum. Weird... I wonder if someday someone will cover up my floor, thinking that this wood laminate is the nastiest thing they have ever seen! Time will tell, but I can say for sure that both layers of linoleum were sickening. hahahhaha.

The adjoining area between the kitchen and living room

Using the scroll saw to cut a non-linear cut

Anna washing up some Spinish! Proteins and Vitamins





Sasa on the old kitchen floor, getting g-o-o-f-y

I was able to continue and finish the floor installation the following Wednesday, after our trip to Chicago (blog post coming on that). I stayed up that epic night until 2AM laying down the last pieces of the floor. When I laid down and hammered into place the final piece, I looked over the entire room with the GREATEST sense of relief ever! I knew MJW would be SO HAPPY and suprised. The best part of all.... AFJW kept the surprise a total secret, even under the constant pressure to reveal it by Mom! Kudos to AFJW! <3<3<3

Super Secret Surprise

According to MJW, I can't keep a surprise and/or a secret. Well, that's probably a fair assessment, but NOW, I have a super surprise that I've been building up with great success!!

I've been putting a little bit of time into a couple different projects at home over the last couple weeks. Anna is completely in on the surprise, and I am SO proud of her ability to keep the surprise a secret! YES! Even when she is under direct fire from Mom via video chat.

MJW: "Tell me what the surprise is! I'll tell you what YOUR surprise is, just tell Mama ok?"

AFJW: "No Mama, I can't! It's a surprise! I can't show you!"

ZMW (Yelling from the other room): "Hey! I heard that! Mom, it's a surprise! Don't tell her Anna... good job!"

MJW has thrown a couple guesses my way, but I will not confirm or deny. I think she may know, but is playing nice. hehehehehe

Tomorrow is Saturday, and our beloved Mom is coming home! I can't even explain how excited Anna and I are!!!!!!!!

I am resiting the urge to post pictures of the surprise!! But it MUST wait... patience ZMW... patience... Instead I will post a CUTE picture of Anna writing a letter to Mom!

Anna writes a letter to Mom!

Flying Solo

To be honest - it's been a long time since I've 'flown solo', for this long, in a very, very long while. It's strange getting up in the mornings, making myself a cup of coffee and leisurely taking a run around - Hyde Park, no less before heading into the office on a leisurely 45 minute walk while taking great care to avoid the subways. No other responsibilites before the day starts.

Yep.

Just me.

Weird.

Needless to say, I miss my family to bits and can't help but think of how much they would have here in the city while I spend the bulk of my day in a very banal office. In their honor - I have been making sure that I put in the requisite tourist time while I'm here. After work, I thought of squeezing in a few spots to visit so I can check them off my list of things to-do and actually found myself turning it into an actually task...

Instead, I decided to just enjoy the stroll home and see if I can't find a nice little restaurant to sit down in and catch up on the book I brought over. I checked out a specialty book shop and enjoyed the crisp evening air of a much more relaxed atmosphere of similarly 'strolling' folks looking to wind down after what was likely a fast paced day.


I came upon the theater district (right around Piccadilly Circus), spotted Jersey Boys and decided to watch the show. I am a hopeless fan of broadway musicals and was thrilled at the opportunity - Of course, I was also disappointed that AFJW wasn't around to enjoy it but it just gives me an excuse to see the show again. It was fantastic and it took me back into the world of 'wonderment' that I so enjoy about the theater...plus, it's the music of my Dad's time, which I love.

Shot of the theatre as a walked away after the show

The Ritz. I had no idea it was right behind my hotel! Hmpf - the company should have put me up there! hahah

Cambridge

On Sunday, ACT kindly offered up a tour of his Cambridge alma matar. So, early on Sunday morning I got myself out of bed at walked to St. Pancras / Kings Cross station.

Attempting an 'artsy' photo

Quaint Mayfair park on my morning walk

A picture for my darling ZMW...

Early morning calm of London

Because I love fruit stands :)

When we arrived in Cambridge, we hit up the punting tour and stayed warm underneath the blanket while our kind tour guide tells us the story of the only bridge in the UK where you could potentially LEGALLY kill a person. How's that for taking away good historical context? Apparently, one can legally challenge another person to a dual on this Cambridge bridge...

Celebrating 800 years...WHAT?!

After our tour - we made it a mission to grab some fish and chips. And of course...stop by the chem lab where the electron was discovered...

The electron!! Yep, I was pretty cold.

After a yummy lunch, we concluded the day by dropping by 3-4 pubs to avoid the rain and grabbing yet another delicious meal at noodle joint. What more can a girl ask for?

London - Wearing my Tourist Hat

The theme of my first week in London was by and large work - perhaps that and jet lag. I was mostly concerned with staying awake in the office and also, trying hard to not despise the tube. Funny that masses seem to be an 'issue' at this point since I've been to Asia and was born in Manila - but I'm usually on vacation over there. That said, it's Monday morning and I've committed myself to walking into this office this week (:

Fortunately, I was able to squeeze in a few runs in Hyde Park, which is just up the street from where I'm staying and this weekend, I got out and put my tourist hat on!

On Saturday morning, I walked through Mayfair to Oxford street. My plan was to get a few items for AFJ and ZMW and was actually pretty excited about a little alone time shopping. Despite the quiet, calm nature of the Mayfair neighborhood on my walk to the shops, I was surprised - SHOCKED even to see the madness on Oxford street. Everyone else decided to go shopping on Saturday morning as well. Oops.

Grosvener Square

Shocked by the no ball game sign!

Madness on Oxford Street - the street got closed because of a protest earlier.

In the afternoon, I met up with ACT at Leicester Square to grab a bite to eat and hopefully catch a local show. First, it was a hilarious choice to meet because there are thousands of people at this place at any given point - especially on the weekends. Luckily, we found each other and quickly headed the ticket booth of 39 Steps.

Saw a panda along the way to the theatre

Yep, found him hanging around in Chinatown

And then I met this frog at the Rainforest Cafe along the way as well. Lots of wild animals in London...

The show is about the archetypal man, Richard Hannay, who 'knew too much'. The story was written by John Buchan and Alfred Hitchcock made it a film in 1935. It was a 4 person cast and replete with hilarious physical comedy and British humour. The theatre was beautiful, I was thrilled to have had ice cream during intermission and horrified to have paid 3 pounds for a program.

Quick tourist shots in the theatre before the show started...

ACT hides from the camera...but not very well.

Right before the show, we grabbed a quick bite back in Chinatown and afterwards managed to catch a few of the tourist sights before I requested that we check out a yummy Scottish bar. All in all, it was nice day and I had to prep up for the following day planned in Cambridge :)

Can you see the Queen? She lives down the street...

In front of the National Museum cloaked in a randomly bought sweatshirt because I didn't dress too warmly.

Albannach Bar in Trafalgar Square

Sending Our Love

Dios! AFJW and I really REALLY miss MOM! But, it feels good being able to SKYPE with her every night (: (bar a few technical issues with gChat) connecting with our beloved biscuit of glory has been pretty easy!

We are always spamming her with photos, videos and emails. There isn't a moment that goes by that we don't think about her. On video chat the other night we sang Mom to sleep! The serenade included hits like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Rock-a-by-Baby. AFJW was rolling alto, and I was supporting as the tenor.

Sugar-free treat ;)

Sasa out running free at The River

Zonked out! Early morning hours, before I head to work.

Sporting Grandma B's earrings!

Giving Sasa some Anna loving!

Letter to Mom!

Thinking about you all of the time Mom! LOVE YOU!