Our Stories Must Be Told

Hi Friends,

Friendship night has been much neglected. There's the Facebook and the Twitter that lets you follow all the latest. What more do I have to say on here?

Well, there's a lot to say, because our stories must be told.

Summer's here, and then we'll be starting senior year in HK. Which means it's time to start thinking about escape plans. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I don't have anywhere to go, and I don't have the means to get there. But I should start thinking about those things.

I have plenty of ideas. It's what's been keeping me up at night for over 20 years. Now it's time to execute those plans. And finish paying off my debt.

Your readership is always appreciated. xxx

brunch and beach!

Hike to the Peak!

hike to the peak!

I've lived here two years and I've never hiked to the Peak. Kinda lame I know since that is essentially my backyard. Literally, from my door, to Central to meet the hiking group (easier to try new places with the official group. That means I don't have to think.) Then the journey up, and an even more interesting journey down.

Has it hit you yet that I live here? I am reminded constantly how lucky I am.

Wong Nai Chung Gap Hike

hangover historical hike with harmonica. WWII pillbox!

On Saturday, Cang and I went on a very easy hike. Easy but rewarding. The trek to the actual hike was more challenging than the trail. Our hike was quiet and we only came across a couple of other people in an open clearing. The rest of the way, we came across WWII remnants, an old Chinese wall, random tables... like we had stumbled upon an ancient abandoned civilization.

Since the trail is very easy, and lined with cool things along the way, I'd like to use the space for some kind of war reenactment. It didn't feel right to wander through there without weapons and pith helmets... you know, just like the colonial days!

As we wandered, Cang read narration for the historical trail, and when we took a break I played us a little song on the harmonica.

Friendship Night has a Little Sis

May I present the food blog.

I could probably go crazy... a blog for music, a blog for books. A blog for fashion. Celebrity gossip. Knits. But I will keep it all here. Once I get Eat Drink Jet in good shape, it'll be a return to Friendship Night.

Holy Cow I'm Sleepy

Early bedtimes and lots of exercise for the last few weeks. Why am I still so sleepy?

Under Construction

I have been doing a little bit of renovating and am on a track to get my SH together. Blogging and twittering will begin again momentarily.

Recent goings on:

Hard at work.
Taking a time out on the drinking.
Cantonese class.
Playing piano.
One month til my first 10k!
Lots o reading.
Still addicted to the beach.
Boys are stupid, throw rocks at them.
How in the world did my Wildcats get to #18 in the BCS?

More tales to tell...

Faux-Hawaiian Weekend Staycation

I've been in a bit of a mood lately. I've hit a slump in the job. I'm still not used to working every day... forever... and so at times I do get very antsy. I like the feeling of a beginning, middle, and end, so for a job to just keep going every day... well, there's not enough interesting things going on and I'm needing to make up stuff to keep it interesting. It's fine. I know it will pass. The constant gloomy weather doesn't help either. I'm also distracted by plenty of good stuff. It's a funny time.

I know it's only been 2 months since I've gotten myself out of town, but that's roughly one month too long. When you live in 400 sq ft, when you work with only 3 other people, and since I've been a good person and have kept the socializing to a minimum... well, you kinda itch to get off the scene if you catch my drift. Did I also mention the weather is giving me the blues?

Saturday I joined Amy in her neck of the woods-ish. I hauled it out to Tung Chung, on Launtau island by the airport, to meet her for coffee. She told me to come prepared for whatever could be in store for us later, so I brought my harmonica. From door to door it took me about an hour, but only a 30 minute train ride. I don't mind heading out there every once in a while to get out of Central. And I always enjoy gabbing it up with Amy. I don't see her enough. She usually enjoys a coffee on Saturdays while Aaron plays soccer.

When the boys were done with soccer, we headed back to A Team's house. They live just across from the beach and the boys still had enough time to catch some waves. Because of that typhoon in China or Taiwan or wherever that was, the waves were pretty decent! This is a rare occurrence and everything lined up nicely.



It was wonderful wonderful wonderful. We refreshed ourselves back at the house and spent the rest of the evening gabbing and singing to a guitar and throwing back some cold beverages. It was nice to enjoy each others' company and we didn't even get to playing Rock Band! We played a little poker, had some philosophical discussions, and passed the F out. Amy made a wonderful fritatta breakfast the next day and we went to the beach for one final round before kicking the weekend to the curb.

Because we weren't really doing anything, the weekend seemed a little bit longer, but never long enough. The hospitality dished out by our lovely hosts the A Team was so great it really felt like we were on vacation.

Once again, by this post you would never have guessed I live in Hongkers.

I Live Where?

I just took a look at the previous post and picture. You would never guess I live in Hong Kong. But that's just one of the many reasons why I like it so much.

When it Rains, Baby Showers

Mums to be in order of due date! Emily, Janie, Nadia and Andrea.

It's August and the weather is nothing but hot and humid with showers!

A hot and humid dense metropolis is not the most comfortable place to be in. Especially when you don't have a car (a/c) and have to haul it around town. I hate showing up to places dripping, makeup sweated off, and hair matted to my face. It doesn't help that it's been raining a lot lately and ruining all chances of beach weekends. We've had a couple of typhoons and an amber rainstorm recently, but nothing timed well enough for us to get a day off of work :(

I'm getting a bit restless. I'm overdue for a trip out of town!

Things are pretty normal. Work, piano, gym, veg in front of the tv, shower rinse repeat. I haven't been sick in nearly 2 months and it feels great. And now I've gotten myself back into a good routine!




The above picture is an easy night catching up with my mates at Cochrane's: Amy, Ali, Jeff, and Liz. I see Amy every now and again but not nearly as much as I would like. And everyone else I don't think I've seen outside of book club, so we are long overdue for a happy hour. It's a bit difficult with conflicting schedules and everyone living all over the place. You understand.



Then came Emily's baby shower. It was intimate and sweet. Since I actually don't know Emily that well, I took a peek on to her Facebook to see what she likes. She's very girly, is having a girl, loves pink, loves things that sparkle, and loves food. Cooking, baking, eating, everything. I found this great kitchen shop called Pantry Magic near my apartment and bought her loads of red and pink kitchen goodies. And also found a little cooking kit for the baby! It had a mini rolling pin and everything! So, a gift for mum and a gift for bubs.

It was a great day. No games. Good company. The host's mum was so sweet and completely in love with me. Such a lovely lady. We pigged out on cupcakes and savory muffins, and I had loads of champagne.

This baby shower and hanging with this crew put me in check. Most of my friends here are my age-ish, bankers, lawyers, ridiculously successful, and know how to live the high life. One of my dear friends recently ended a relationship of 6 weeks... which was a decent amount of time for him! A few are in relationships, none are married, none with kids, and we like it that way. But this is not how the rest of the world works.

My other circle of friends, Cathay Pacific pilots, wives, GFs, families are much more grounded (ha), but even then it's a different lifestyle than... I don't even know. I don't know what's normal. I come from TV. But man o man is this crew a fertile bunch!! At Em's shower, 1 gal had a baby and 3 more gals were expecting! More champagne for me!

For the record, out of this circle of friends I'm the only non-Cathay wife, and the only American. Represent! Everyone's Aussie, with a couple Canadian's sprinkled in.

And while we're talking about Aussies...

Breakfast is breakie. Drink is bevvie. Champagne is champers. Stroller is pram. Crib is cot. Herbs is said with the 'h.' Mom is mum of course. and everyone has a nickname.

The following Sunday I went to another baby shower!



This was my first trip to Discovery Bay. Kinda Stepford and as suburban as it gets in Hongkers. People call it Dogs and Babies because that's where you go to have them.

Mum-to-be Janie does not know the sex. I saw the nursery last week and it's filled with a lot of red. She loves red. So I knitted little "Wilbury" a red beanie! And got a cushy black and white and red book too. There was one more expecting mum at Janie's shower! I'm not drinking the water, but I'll have another champagne thanks!

Babies babies and more babies! On Monday, I was told by my college bud that he is also expecting!!! OMG!! I know tons of people having kids but this is the first of my inner crew. OK technically Tess was the first baby but that's a different ballpark. THEN yesterday Meredith tells me that Melissa is expecting AND due on Saturday!! Holy shitballs.

Please pass the champagne. The weather is treacherous!