Lost for Words!

Some forgotten pictures from our Seattle trip. I know, I know the giant hand holding a doughnut. I don't know either besides letting you all know that this is actually on someones front porch. Romulo and I were looking for a place to park and started cracking up at the sight of it. Trust me I would never have a piece of art like this on my front porch even if I was the designer. Romulo is certain that its Homer's hand from the Simpson's. I don't know, what do you think?
This drink in the picture has to be one of the best drinks I've ever had. I think they call it the Salsa Drink. It has lemonade, sprite, tons of cilantro and mint, lime, and the secret ingredient a slice of Jalapeno. Yes, yes jalapeno. And let me tell you its to die for. I wish I could capture the taste for you so you all could enjoy it as much as me. Piroshky, Piroshky bakery has some of the most wonderful warm smelling treats that I've ever experienced. The smell of apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, and bread pretty much sums it up for me.

Thanksgiving 2008

My little sister, Emma, came to visit us for Thanksgiving. It was so wonderful to have her here with us celebrating the holiday weekend. It brightened my spirits up having a family member here. Plus we were able to show her around SF since she has never been here. And she was happy to be here because she was able to eat at Chipotle twice. Here she is texting someone while viewing the Golden Gate Bridge.Thanksgiving day after the delicious feast we took a well deserved nap and then a drive to Mt Diablo. It was breath taking to drive up the mountain while the sun was setting and taking in the views of the valley from on top.On Friday, I had to work a few hours in the morning while the Market was open but then was able to meet up with Romulo and Emma in downtown SF. They saw Union Square all decorated and festive. Plus, all the crazy BLACK FRIDAY shoppers. We stayed clear from that. But we were able to see the Financial District (nobody was there which was nice), Pier 39, Coit Tower, Lombard Street, Ghiradelli Square, and China Town. We ate some DimSum in China Town and had some ice cream at Ghiradelli Square. We wanted to stick around for the Christmas Tree lighting at Union Square but after walking around the city for 7 hours we called it quits and it was a good thing because when we were leaving town there was a huge line of cars trying to get into the city.Saturday, we adventured some more in SF. This time around when we visited the Golden Gate Bridge we viewed it from Fort Point. That night we came back closer to us and ate outside at Cheesecake Factory. The weather all weekend was gorgeous; mid to high 60s. At one point it was 73 degrees. I'm still amazed by the weather in the Winter.

Random Shots

Do you believe in Santa? Macy's wants us to believe! And I believe in Macy's.
I don't know why I'm posting this picture but it spoke volumes to me.
So, you are probably wondering what the heck this is. Right? Well, its OILS and VINEGARS from the store: Oil&Vinegar. I thought it was super cute.

Just for Easton

This post is for my LEGO LOVING NEPHEW EASTON! At the mall they had a LEGO store and I thought of you. Here are some pictures of their CHRISTMAS scenes.

Stories out of Pictures

Saturday we woke up early and headed towards Seattle. We enjoyed the day with great smells, tasting of the local food, sights, and each other.
Looking down the PIKE PLACE MARKET. This was the meat section.
Here is the seafood section.

This door marks the spot for the restaurant; PINK DOOR! If you didn't know what you were looking for you would walk pass this door and say "Wow, that is a peach-pink door". Seriously, we heard this place had some great Italian food so we went on the hunt for it. First off, its down Post Alley, a little alley full of stores, and what not but then when you come to the pink door it doesn't have a sign. The door is the sign! :) By the way, REALLY great food.

Jars full of spices. I just thought it looks really pretty.
These are pieces of organic soap. I did buy from this vendor; 85% organic lip balm. Love it!
Cute little patio with multi-colored chairs. Wish it was warmer so we could have sat out there. (Outside of the PINK DOOR.)
There were a few vendors that sold these pepper arrangements. Plus, there are quiet a few vendors that sell dried flower arrangements. So pretty.

TRUCE

My amazing husband had a surprise for me on Friday morning. He thought after flying in late and seeing a midnight movie that I could use a relaxing massage at the spa in our Hotel; TRUCE! Boy was he right on it. I melted on that table and felt very refreshed in deed. It started off my weekend just right. My husband sure does like to spoil me.
Later on that day, he took me to the building to show me where he had been working all week. Supposedly the top level of the building is where Bill Gate's has his personal office/personal finance department. And the cool thing about it is to get to that level you have to pass the security with your fingerprint. Sorry, your security badge won't work for that level. Only Bill!This building was by a marina with boats tied up, little cute shops, and restaurants. We ended up eating there and had some great seafood and views.

Project RAIN

Last week Romulo was in Seattle again for a business trip, still working on Project RAIN, and I decided since I've never been to Seattle and have always wanted to go I should go. So, that's what I did. I flew in on Thursday night, Romulo took me out to eat and then it was off to the PREMIERE OF TWILIGHT. That's right people I saw Twilight in Seattle. How cool is that? I mean of course it would have been better if I could have gone to Forks, WA for a day but I figured seeing the movie in Seattle, WA (only 4 hrs away from Forks) was good enough.Now, with the movie. Oh words can't describe how I feel. I mean does the movie do the book justice; NO! But is it cool to see a book come to life; YES! Was it annoying to hear all the teenagers screaming and yelling; YES! Am I 16 yrs old; NO! Did I feel bad dragging my husband to the movie at 11:59 pm knowing that he had to work the next day; NO! HEHEHE! Did he enjoy the quality time with me; YES! (At least I think so...ask him!)

Do NoT CaLl @ 3aM - pLeAsE

Friday night I fell asleep at 10:30 pm, which is late for me considering I am in bed by 8:30 and so asleep by 9 during the week, and at 3:30 am my cell phone rang. Still asleep I answered the phone and it took me a while to register what was happening.

Me: "Hello?"

Voice at 3:30 am: "Who is this?"

Me: (Thinking: What, are you kidding me, you called me you tell me who you are?...but this is what came out of my mouth...) "It's 4 am in the morning..." (Considering I didn't know the real time it was a pretty good guess.)

Voice at 3:30 am: "Lydia? It's me Luccas!"

HEHEHE my brother-in-law who lives in Brazil. But I don't say anything I just hand the phone to Romulo and let him talk. It took Romulo a while to get it too. I instantly felt horrible how I responded to him but HEY DON'T BLAME ME I WAS HALF ASLEEP...really!

Fast forward 12 hours: Romulo thinks it would be funny to call Luccas at 3:30 am Brazil time. So yeah that's what he did.

Romulo: "Hey buddy, you want to talk NOW?"
Luccas: "What, it's 3:30 am."

LOL! Oh Luccas was a good sport even though he does have to wake up early for a 6:00 am stake meeting for church. OOPS! Now we are EVEN!!!

AI

Today was the first for me when it comes to REALLY supporting the AMERICAN IDOL contestants. I was a fan of lil'David and had to support the Murray High Schooler. So I bought David Archuleta's self titled CD. Who out there bought his CD and loves it too? I love his voice and I'm sorry I'm not one to blab about a person but I love it. So what if he is Mormon and from Murray Utah I like him not matter what.
Also, I am a fan of Carrie Underwood but I haven't bought a full CD only songs I like on ITunes. I must say today was a huge step. Go DAVID!

Cut My Hair, please?

Pure Beauty at the Embarcadero Center was honored today to have Nick Arrojo as a guest. He is the hair stylist on the famous TLC show "WHAT NOT TO WEAR". Romulo and I were meeting up for lunch and when we walked by the store we saw a crowd of people gathering around the door and inside the store. When I looked in there Nick was cutting away on someone and showing the crowd tips on hair. Oh to be in line to get a hair cut from him?! I felt like I was brushing shoulders with Stacy and Clint themselves. Hehe, maybe not. But still it excited me. Plus it gave me something interesting to blog about. (Always looking for things to blog about...)

"I like how we're just wearing it around..."

My adorable, Europe explorer co-worker Allison and I went on a shopping spree lunch today. We had to check out the Shoe Pavilion store on Powell street because in 7 days they will close for good. So sad, so sad. But we didn't find anything and as Allison put it,"They all look like hooker shoes." Yeah, no deals of the century there. We left and walked across the street to Old Navy. Old Navy was having a UP TO 50% off deal on outerwear. We saw these vintage cute colorful must have coats. We both tried them on and both tried to comment on each other in them but finally I told her I was finding a mirror. So with the coat still on we walked across the store to a mirror. LOL. They were cute but we both felt "like a baby doll" in them. I am seriously thinking about getting it...I know she is going back after work and getting it.
After many laughs in Old Navy we found ourselves in front of Specialtys wanting a cookie. I didn't' see any chocolate chip cookies left so I asked, "How long will it be for the chocolate chips?" Guy at the window, "4 hours!" Allison and I must have had some pretty funny faces or bug eyes because he started cracking up and telling us to CHILL and that he was just only JOKING...OMG! Allison, "Doesn't he know he should never joke to a girl about her chocolate?" How true is that statement?

Sleepless in Seattle

Like I mentioned in my last posting, Romulo was in Seattle for the day on business. But starting next week he will be traveling back to Seattle for 3 days (Monday thru Wednesday) for the next 4 weeks. Nice, huh?
I think so. No seriously, I know it will be hard and all but this project is a great opportunity for him inside PWC. "Project Rain", as it's called, will give him great exposure to the client but also to show PWC what he is made of.
It was funny when he told me about it, it was as if he was saying it with a bullet proof vest on because I'm sure he thought I would exploded and go off on him but I simply smiled and responded very positive to him. Inside and out I felt really HAPPY for him. I knew assignments, projects, etc would be coming his way with work and I knew he would have to travel some but overall I am the one who suffers the lest right. I am the one who will be sleeping in my bed, eating my food in my kitchen, and going to work in my office. Where he will be in a new place, new people, eating out all the time, and sleeping in a hotel. Not that GLAMOROUS. It can get old. Plus I am in control of my reactions and feelings. At least I am trying to control those reactions and feelings. HaHa.
And maybe just maybe I will be able to get a trip out of it. I mean it won't be free and all but at least I can make it a great excuse to visit Seattle with him. I always have wanted to see Seattle. Why, I don't know just one of those places I guess. So, maybe there is something exciting to look forward too...blogging about a Seattle weekend visit.

Oh the Glamorous Life...

What exactly does someone look like if and when they steal something? Really, what/how? This afternoon I had to take a cab home from the Bart station because Romulo is on a business trip (Seattle) for today only and he took the car to the airport. And I swear that the ride home felt much much longer than it usually does because I was in a cab. And of course I didn't have money with me so I had to pay the fare with a credit card and it seriously was the hardest thing for the driver to accomplish. I'm sorry but how many times does it take for a person to verify that the numbers on the credit card are correct and that I am the owner of the card.
For me it would be like this: Can I please have your drivers license and credit card? (Verify name with credit card, the license picture with ME in your cab car, and look for the signature to match the one on the back of the credit card.)
Well, I won't bore you with the little tiny details that annoyed me but during the 3rd time around of verifying me with the credit card and the credit card to his system he said "Well I just need to make sure because we wouldn't want this card to be a stole one. And you don't look like a person who would steal something but you never know." You know I respected him for verifying it because I wouldn't want my card to be stolen but PLEASE I've been in your car, in front of my apartment for 10 minutes now...can we please!
No worries, I was quiet, polite, smiled, and told him what he was doing was fine. But now that I am sitting in front of my computer blogging about nothing I am still pondering that comment. "You don't look like a person who would steal..."

Election Day

I casted my vote this afternoon. Did you make sure your voice was heard? Now the waiting game!

Second half of the Pigeon Story...

Hi, this is Romulo, and yeah, that was funny... I did mess up the whole leaves instead of feathers, but those things just happen. I am not the only one, though... this is the full conversation:

The previously posted portion of the conversation:
Romulo: "Wow, the LEAVES are really messed up."Lydia: "What LEAVES?" (Looking around for leaves on the sidewalk.)Romulo: "The LEAVES on the pigeon."Lydia: "OH, the FEATHERS?"Romulo: "OH yeah the FEATHERS on the pigeon are really messed up."

The hidden portion of the conversation:
(after, of course, a lot of laughter from both of us)
Lydia:"Didn't you know the word 'feather'?"
Romulo:"No, I knew it... sometimes it just happens..."
Lydia:"I don't understand how it happens when you know the right word..."
Romulo:" Well, how come that instead of saying 'Jesucristo' in your first attempted prayer in Spanish, you said 'Jorge Cristo'??"
Lydia: "But I was not speaking my first language!!!"
Romulo: "Neither am I!"
(more and more laughter from both of us)

Yeah....that is the part she didn't mention. Many years ago she was set to go to the Dominican Republic on a mission, and the story goes that she went to dinner with Troy and Sarah. They asked her to try to say a prayer in Spanish....well, you now know the rest.

It makes me laugh when I think of the surprised face that Jesus might have made as he heard her cute prayer... I am sure He has been called many things, but I could bet it was the first time He was called Jorge. :)

Yeah, the "leaves" story is just one more in my long list of hilarious stories about learning the language, and Lydia and I often have a lot of fun with all of them. But it is even more funny when you know you are not the only one....hahaha....sorry, love...