Detroit Art Institute & Sommerset Mall

For ACT's last hoorah, we went to the Detroit Art Institute. The contemporary art collection was pretty impressive and I particularly enjoyed learning more about Andy Warhol's philosophy on 'what is art'. AFJW could possibly have cared less until we discovered the 'eye spy' games in certain galleries after which, her interest perked. Her ambivalence about the whole escapade was marked by her incessant "ok, let's get outta here" remarks.

AFJW looks interested!

Taking the Asian fan to a whole new level!

Butts!!

Taking a 'viewing' break.

ZMW super excited about his mosaic (a nice little activity at the end of our visit).

Squeezed in a family shot!

After dropping ACT off at the airport, we hiked up to the Troy area where we enjoyed an early dinner at Royal Kubo. We thought of my Dad as we chomped on classic Filipino food and enjoyed an ice cold beer - on a decidedly ice cold DAY. The dinner outing was particularly marked by our 'special' waitress whose behavior begged to question her sobreity. I'll leave it at that.

Rockin' a cold one!

AFJW & ZMW

Muchas smooches!

My little comedian.

She's SO sweet. YUM!

For their first time, I then took AFJW and ZMW to Sommerset mall. The concentration of wealth in the state of Michigan couldn't have been more apparent with the size, contents (in terms of stores) and demographic (read: really rich people). It was tons of fun though making 'paseo,' like the true Filipinos that we are. The only difference is that we seek shelter in the mall for HEAT rather than AIR CONDITIONING!

The sky walk walking-belt at Sommerset.

Ode to the Phifa

A few months ago, my beloved childhood dog, Phifa, was diagnosed with cancer. While she's already 12-years-old, since then, she has pretty much just been a 'slower' version of herself. It has been a bittersweet process of watching her grow old, especially now that my own family has a 6-month-old golden bounding around and breaking stuff every which way he goes.

Last night, at my Mom's request, we visited the Phifa as her health seems to have taken another turn. I was so happy to see her perk up and come to the door when we arrived and while I laid with her I couldn't help but think of how many of my happy childhood memories involve this loving little canine.

When she was a puppy, I used to pick her up from my brother's place (she is really my brother's dog) and take care of her. The first time I met her, she was holed up in the corner of her crate, so scared because of the thunder storm ensuing outside. I would take her to my Dad's house, hidden in a laundry basket underneath some clothes until that fateful day when my dad asked what that furry tail was doing underneath my clothes :) Sorry, Papa!

An obsessed frisbee-er, I used to take her to my old middle school's soccer field to play with her. For a teenager with endlesses sources of change surrounding her, this dog was a constant source of love, affection and wonderfully positive energy. One by one, as my brother and I left the house, I couldn't help but wonder if she ever felt abandoned. Regardless, she was a visitor wherever I lived within the continental U.S. and seeing her was always, always the best reminder of what I loved about 'home'. I was happy to discover after years away from home that she managed to wrap my father around her finger tips and found a 'treat' ally - not as exciting as our hikes and walks but she was absolutely loved and taken care of nonetheless.

Now, she's met and loves my AFJW and has even met our new dog, Sasa - a new generation of her family. It's a brutal, if not honest reminder of how quickly her years have passed. I've seen her running through trails, swimming in multiple lakes and bodies of water (both clean and questionably clean) and walking through the streets of Chicago on family vacations! I even remember the time I wrapped her up in a sheet and snuck her into our hotel room - carrying her 60+ wiggly pounds!!

Photo from the other day :)

AFJW takes Phifa for a walk :) (phone pic)

About 1.5 yrs ago! AFJW with the Phifa (phone pic)

Gratuitous shot - just for a laugh (AFJW & Sasa) 8/2008

It's hard to ignore the emotional heartache of watching the conflict and pain that my parents are going through; watching her grow older, wondering how much longer she has with us and hoping that they make her last moments with us the best that they can possibly be. It hit me hard last night how much easier I have it - I have so many memories of her healthier perhaps, happier days and I don't have to necessarily see her deteriorate. Nevertheless, I am selfishly, not ready to let her go and am helping my Mom make sure that we keep her as comfortable as possible.

***********************
Post Script Friday, February 13, 2009

Phifa passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at around 1pm. I heard the night before from my Mom that they had decided to let her rest. She told us she was ready to go and in fact, I think she waited for my Dad to come home from his trip to Taiwan before she left us. My goodbye to her was so bittersweet...she lived a full life and she was undeniably one of the most loved dog son the planet. Indeed, the grief is very real.

She was a gift to us and her memory will be a constant reminder of how pivotal she was to our family unit and how she always helped us stick together. What a funny little pup...we love you so much, Phifa!!!

Bust a Move

Staring in the mirror, making faces (big smiles, smirks, winks...) I remember doing this when I was a kid (actually, I must admit. I still do it!) AFJW just started her second dance class! This class is formatted with 30 mins of ballet (AFJW's favorite) and 30 minutes of tap. The tap dancing is growing on AFJW. At home she loves to break out the tap shoes for a performance! I shined up the floors (Mop and Glow) so that she could tap up a storm (:

More dancing to come! Maybe a video or two of the big kids dancing the foxtrot?! OH yeah!

On the Move

A very good friend and colleague has been in town for the past couple of days from London. ACT is our first guest in our new home and per usual, we've been enjoying his company.

Last time he was in the country, he was in Chicago and got the chance to hear Obama's acceptance speech live - and it was practically accidental! Keeping with tradition it seems, he was back in the country to see Obama's inauguration, albeit on TV. We attended a local community event that evening and ACT was quite popular with older single ladies (!!). Meanwhile, ZMW and I got hyped and excited upon hearing the local schedule for salsa nights - don't worry we celebrated Obama's victory as well!

ACT's new buddies (I'm sure he hates me now for posting this).

A little too excited about Obama's Inauguration

A little bit more normal :)

Indeed, we are in full dancing swing - in both spirit and practice! We continue to enjoy our weekly dance classes and look forward to making room in our living room to practice. AFJW is equally excited about our new activity is a LOVELY audience (when she's not pretending to be a bossy dance teacher :) )! She has joined us during our dance classes and we LOVE having a cheerleader.

As you can tell, given the ever-present Michigan cold, we try to enjoy our INDOOR activities. In addition to our dance classes and our new "Kid-Ballet" spectator sport (see below video), ZMJW fashioned a great workout space for us in our basement. We've each gotten into a wonderful groove using the new space for the past week or so. It feels amazing to finally get back in that routine after quite a few weeks of moving, renovations and of course, the holidays.

Kiddie Ballet (not much dancing in this one - need ZMW's video!)


Violin Lessons

(Also, with Anna's nanny coming to our house, it's given me loads of time to get enough sleep and squeeze in a good morning workout. After four years, it feels GREAT to be able to say that! I'm hoping that in the upcoming weeks of some travel, that routine won't be derailed. *Crossing fingers* On that note, I have to also thank Annie (ZMW's Mom) for hanging out with AFJW on off days for our nanny - I'm so happy that get to have some QT and AFJW LOVES it!

AFJW and Annie :)

Every now and again, however, we get outside - if you can believe it, given these tundra-like temperatures. This weekend, we took ACT and AFJW cross country skiing for the first time. Once again, AFJW exhibited her fearlessness with new activities and I, apparently, forgot how to dress warmly. I froze my *beep* off, so to speak :) Looking forward to getting back out there again!

One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE videos ;)

Bridal Magazine Bonanza

Warmed up next to our second cup of coffee. ZMW and I just noticed, with relief, that the blizzard outside has ceased. Where are we? Downtown A2 at our favorite bookstore, surrounded by PILES of bride magazines.

So far, the morning has been the perfect embodiment of engagement bliss. Snuggled next to one another I am so happy and grateful for my obliging fiance who humors me as I try very hard to take his wedding day suggestions. Seriously, I'm really not that bad...at least, I don't think (:

First, I should express the relief and excitement that we've been catapulted into since locking down our reception and now recently, our ceremony locations! It seems that my endless perusal of bridal magazines is an attempt to either inspire or confirm my wedding theme and surprisingly, it has been really fun. While I mostly imagine the music, dancing and general partying it seems that in the backdrop, I also see details...

I'm loving the idea of a white theme with gold accents - perhaps a general theme of romantic glamour that pays some homage to my Filipino roots. Specifically, I see orchids, calla lilies and other white local flowers, white candles and golden candle holders, napkins, etc. I shy away from 'stuffy' but I love old world elegance with touches of local romance and drama. It will be fun to explore ways to incorporate ZMW's goofy, fun loving energy and alternative taste for music to our wedding style.

The wedding item of note, however, is the wedding dress. Seriously, what's up with all these strapless ball gowns? If I see another exposed clavicle and wannabe princess bride in a magazine, I seriously think I'm going to...fill in the blank. Next on my to-do list is to make appointments with the two bridal boutiques in the state that carry some of the designers that I like.

Next up - considering vows and ceremony touches...stay tuned!

Comedy of the Races!

It's a topic that we don't usually like to venture into in this country. Indeed, history (and the present) does not always paint the prettiest of pictures. But in my world, it was become a topic of healthy, cramp-in-my-side comedy in and outside of the office.

Being one of three people of color in my company, it is a funny side-topic that often comes to surface. In the most serious tone, it is obvious that the paths into certain professional niches in this country are not as 'equal opportunity' as the ideal would be. The tacit understanding among those of us that 'got in' is that we have a privilege that others in our situations do not have. To be sure, we express feelings of gratitude, not entitlement.

Nevertheless, instead of dwelling on our differences - we make fun of them! Since the summer, I have been teasing members from my team of being embodiments of the now famous blog, Stuff White People Like. ZMW bought me the book the other day for laughs as I attempt to quell the inevitability of stress from time to time.

Below are some of my favorites. Why? Because they're true.

Stuff White People like:

Religions Their Parents Don't Belong To - White people will often say they are "spiritual" nut not religious. This usually means that they will believe in any religion that doesn't involve Jesus. The most popular choices include Buddhism, Hinduism, Kabbalah, and, to a lesser extent, Scientology. A few even dip into Islam, but that's much rarer, since you have to make REAL SACRIFICIES and actually go to a mosque...

Organic Food - Because of the balance of global wealth and power, there is a general assumption that white people are pretty shrewd. And for the most part, history has proven this to be true. But white Popel have on great weakness: organic food...in spite of the fact that most organic food is made by major agribusiness, which is just uses it as an excuse to jack up prices, white people always lose their mind for organic anything. Never mind the fact that if the entire world were to switch to 100% organic food tomorrow there would be mass starvation and famine.

Diversity - White people love ethnic diversity, but only as it relates to restaurants...they talk about how great it is that they can get sushi and tacos on the same street but they will also sent their kids to private school with other rich white kids so that they can avoid the "low test scores" that come with educational diversity.

Asian Girls - (!!!!) 95% of white males have at one point experienced yellow fever. Many factors have contributed to this phenomenon, such as guilt from head taxes, internment camps, dropping the nuclear bomn, and the Vietnam War...Asian girls date white men to get back at their strict traditional fathers. There is also the option of dating black guys, but they know deep down that this would give their non-English-speaking grandmothers a heart attack....Another factor that draws white guys to Asian women is that white women are jealous of them. Take for instance, the fact that Asian women well into their 30s and 40s retain teen or college-girl looks without the help of Botox, yoga, or a trendy diet...

Yoga - Though its roots are in India, the global tree of yoga has most of its branches in rich white neighborhoods. Yoga has been so thoroughly embraced by white people because it requires a large amounts of money and time, two things white people have a lot of. Yoga is essentially stretching with guidance. Advanced yoga is just regular yoga in a very hot room.

For those of you who are too insulted to say anything, don't worry: as an Asian, I am engaged to a white guy, am really smart, can't speak English too well, eat TONS of rice, act EXOTIC all day long, fan myself when I'm hot (instead of turning on an air conditioner), take tiny 'geisha' steps when I walk and enter rooms to the sound of a GONG.

:)

Too Cold? No Way!

Winter time in Michigan can be a challenge. Most people like to simply hole up for the very cold months but not us, which seems like a reasonable thing to do. Heck, BEARS do it – but not us. While we’ve created a wonderful, cozy new home, where we can enjoy board games, legos, hot tea, movies and other fun indoor activities the outdoors still calls us!

Me & AFJW at the top of the hill

On Saturday we met up with my younger brothers for more ‘cold’ activities. On the docket: sledding! By the looks of things, we’re convinced that she’s ready for snowboarding and cross country skiing. I was expecting some hesitation from her as we boarded the toboggan for the first run but alas, she didn't even flinch!

Williamson Boys + AFJW

Of course, MJW was the photographer snapping shots at the bottom of the hill with Sasa until it was his turn to take a ride down on the toboggan! I'll save you from the story of our crash landing with the poor pup - oops!

Ode to the pup :)

Posed at the bottom of the hill.

In other 'snow' sport news, a few weeks ago, AFJW's took her few steps on ice skates. At first she was a little shaky, but after 5 minutes she had lost all fear of the ice and skated for the first time! She has uncanny balance for a 4 year old and managed not to fall too many times!


MJW: AFJW, are you ready to head in? We should warm up
AFJW: Nope, let's go around two more times, then I will take a break and we can come back out.

Clearly, the activity was a hit.

This skating walker was abandoned within 10 seconds! Her skills and confidence were beyond having a blue walker!

Stay tuned for snowboarding at Mt. (hill) Brighton!! More wintry post and photos to come! YES!