Annie and Sean's Wedding

The weekend of 13 Oct 2007, I went down to LA to visit some friends as well as attend Annie and Sean's wedding extravaganza. Their wedding was wonderful, the reception was great, and all in all it was a good time. I was able to see a lot of friends from Mudd that I hadn't seen in a while, and I was able to stay with Daniel and Jeannie in Pasedena. These are just a few pics from the weekend.

Lemme tell you about my trip there. I was trying to be good and take portland's public transportation system to the airport. I got on the trolley...but was caught in a standstill of traffic, and it took 45 minutes to go about 10 blocks. So I got off and ran (with luggage in hand) through downtown Portland to transfer to the train. I got on the train, and rushed through the terminal in order to check in. There I find out that my flight was delayed by 2.5 hours. Grrr..

I ended up falling asleep both at the airport and on the plane. I got to LAX at 11pm, about 2 hours after I was supposed to actually be there. Roy, Lili, Daniel, and Jeannie all were kind enough to meet me at the airport. But my bags had not come off the plane. In fact, our entire flight was waiting for the bags to come. After waiting for about 45 minutes, we decided we were all starving, and decided to go to in n out without my bags. So we went and had some in n out goodness (hamburger,no onions, fries light). and then went back for my bags. Sigh...it was a long trip...



This is Jenn and me at the reception. We know each other through at least 4 different people, but we never really were able to talk to each other. But we were able to chit chat during the wedding, so now we're definitely only 1 degree apart from each other =)

Tammy, Annie, me, Lili, and Cat at the reception. All Mudd girls. Yay!

Carman, Lili, and me at the reception.

Me and Matt. We were proctors together our senior year at Mudd. I think he was much cooler than I was =)

Steve and Cecilia. I think they were both a little tired from the wedding day.

Kurt and Renee. Fellow Oregon folks making the trip down to Cali for the wedding and for in n out =)

Eric and Carman at the reception.


Annie, the bride, and me at the reception.

Vipul and me at the wedding.


Annie and Sean during the ceremony. It was definitely sweet and a tear jerker!

Mikey and me at the wedding


Wes and I at the wedding

Dessert in Manhattan

Wilson took me to Black Hound which serves up wonderful desserts. I got a berries in chocolate cup with a vanilla yogurty custard thing. It was sooooo good, I had to take a picture of it! We ate it in New York's Union Square amid skateboarders, crazies, locals, and tourists. There was so much action going on in the street at 11pm at night. It was awesome!

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Amy and Wilson live near Jacques Torres Chocolatier, known for the outstanding chocolates. We stopped in intending to get the highly advertised frozen hot chocolate. They had their normal hot chocolate, but it was a nice summer day, so frozen sounded much better. This was not a frappacino or a milk shake. This was the richest, thickest chocolate milk, frozen to perfection. I got mine spiced (which is like Mexican hot chocolate). It was not too thick to drink through a straw, but heavy enough where I realized that this was hot chocolate on steroids. It was rich and creamy and chocolately and heavenly. I could not finish. As much as I wanted to, my body would tell me that if I took one more sip, I would die from OD-ing on chocolate goodness. So throughout the weekend, I kept the frozen goodness in Amy and Wilson's fridge, and sipped on it every so often. I think I got through 3/4 of it over the next 2 days, and I don't think I ever finished it. It was unforgettable, that was for sure =)

Wilson and Amy along the Brooklyn waterfront

Me in Brooklyn with the Manhattan skyline in the background

Running in Central Park

On Monday, 03 September 2007, Amy, Wilson, and I went running in Central Park. We road the subway to Columbus Circle, and then started out little jog. There were tons of people out and about. They closed the inner road to cars, so there were joggers, horse drawn carriages, strollers, walkers, roller bladers, and tourists. There were people in the grassy areas, reading, sunbathing, and picniking. It was a gorgeous day, and the running, although a little bit hotter than I'm used to, was fantastic.

Wilson and Amy after our run in Central Park
Amy and I after our run

After running, we went uptown to the Harlem area to 107 W. 109st. This is where my dad's family lived for 9 months during WW2. They were released out of their Topaz, Utah internment camp earlier than other families, but they were still considered a threat to the west coast. So the government moved them to New York. The building was definitely still there, and it looked like any other apartment building in the city. It was strange to think that this was a place of refuge for my family during a very tense time in history.

107 W. 109 St. The apartment building is still very much there


Me standing at the entrance to the building

We then went to the NYU area to eat lunch and cupcakes at Crumbs. It was all very good, and I got to see Amy's business school building and the NYU campus. All in all, it was a great day in New York. =)
Amy and Wilson debating how to cut the cupcake

The chocolate blackout cupcake from Crumbs

US Open 2007

Part of the reason for this trip to New York was to go to the US Open in Flushing Meadows. The Billy Jeane King Tennis complex is located next to Shea Stadium in the Queens area of NYC. I got a day and night pass good for Sunday, 02 September 2007. With this particular pass, I can get access to the entire complex, along with reserved seats in the main stadium, Arthur Ashe.

After oversleeping, I got to the complex via subway at 1pm. Already, the place was bustling. There were matches going on all over the place, and I wasn't quite sure where to begin. I figured out that I could get a little ear phone radio thing if I was an American Express card holder (sponsor), which I am, thanks to the swoosh. So I got one, and it was already tuned into the Open broadcast, which was for the US Open attendees, and the TV broadcast. Over the course of the day, I could tune in and figure out how the matches that are being broadcast on tv are going, and the open commentary told me which matches were being played on which courts. There are a total of 15 playing courts, along with Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong, and the Grandstand as "show" courts. Its a lot of tennis. But it was a lot of fun.

All day long, I could go from match to match, and stay for a game or two. If I got bored, or heard a better match going on, I could just leave and go to the next court. I made sure to see some types of matches that aren't normally on tv, like the mens and women's doubles, along with some mixed doubles. I went into the various gift shops, where you could buy everything from tennis rackets to a gigantic tennis ball. I was tempted to get the big tennis ball, but it was a pricey $40.

In terms of the big names, I got to see Henin, Venus, Nadal, Moya, Jelena Jankovic, and Ferrer. The matches at Arther Ashe stadium were quick and unexciting. So I just went there to use the facilities and to buy my souvenir cups (one was a beer cup, and the other was a rather nice acryllic cup with a yummy melon martini) =) The nose bleed seats (where I was at), had a fantastic view of the Manhattan skyline, but not such a great view of the matches =)

The Manhattan skyline from the nosebleed seats (where I was sitting) at Arthur Ashe stadium

I ended up spending a lot more time at the Grandstand and Louis Armstrong stadiums. They had better matches that went into 3 or 5 sets, and the fans were definitely more into it. Some of the international players definitely had their fans from their home country in the stands. It was a lot of fun. =)

Carlos Moya vs. some german dude in the grandstand court. This was the most fun court to be at because the fans were very rowdy and cheerful =)

I also decided that I liked the mens matches better than the womens. The women seemed to insist that they could not play with fans distracting them...like taking their seats, or coughing, or breathing...it didn't make me like them very much. The men however seemed to encourage the bustle of the fans, and wanted everyone to cheer and yell. It was much more fun =)
If you are ever in New York during the two week long Open event, I highly recommend going. The first week is definitely cheaper, with more matches per buck. The second week is pricier, but perhaps more quality tennis. Anyway, go if you can!

Me at the US Open at the USTA tennis complex

Me in Arthur Ashe stadium. I think that's Nadal playing in center court

Lost in New York...already...

I decided to go visit Amy and Wilson in New York for the 3 day labor day weekend. The tickets were really cheap...$250 for a round trip, non stop flight from PDX to JFK. There was no reason not to go. I left Portland on a red eye and go to JFK around 8:30. I told Amy I had arrived, so I got onto the Air Train to get on the A train to NYC. I got on the subway, and knew I had to get off at the High St. exit in Brooklyn, and then call Amy from there.
Well, I was a little tired, and I managed to fall asleep on the subway (yeah, brilliant...), and I ended up waking up at 14th St. I figured that there were no numbered streets in Brooklyn...only in Manhattan, so I realized that I had passed the stop. So I got off, went to the other side, and waited for the next train to come. The MTA lady was kind enough to tell me that I was supposed to get on the A train when I asked her if this was the right platform to stand on for the High Street exit. She however did not tell me that the A train did not stop here, and that I would have to board the E and then transfer at the next stop onto the A. Well, after 2 E's go by, I finally figure it out (I was on 3 hours of airplane sleep...my brain wasn't all there....) I got on, and eventually made it to the High St. exit. I gave Amy a call, and she directed me to her apartment complex. The doorman asked me where I wanted to go, and I said apartment 4F. He asked me my name and I said Amy. He said, "No, what is YOUR name." I said "Yes, that IS my name. I am also an Amy...". Oh. Well, he lets me go up, and I finally get into Amy and Wilson's lovely apartment. I told them about the events that lead to my 45 minute delay. 20 minutes in the city, and already, lost. Fantastic!!! =)

Camping at Crater Lake

On the weekend of 28/29 July 2007, I went to Crater Lake with Ian and Janel and their friend Kevin from Seattle. We left at 7am on Saturday, and drove down to Eugene where we caravaned the rest of the way with Vipul, Patima, and Jun. We got to Crater Lake around noon, and from there, it was all fun and sun =)
This was MUCH better than my first camping experience last year, where Vipul took Marie and I to the coast, and it rained for most of the time we were out there. This time around, Ian and Janel had everything all organized, and the weather was great, and everything went pretty smoothly. It was a lot of fun, and the experience made me want to continue with camping. However, the back was a little sore, but hiking actually made it feel a lot better =) Here are some pics from the weekend.

Did I mention that this lake is blue?! It was amazing to see

Crater Lake is as blue as can be. It is beautiful!

Me at a look out over the lake

On Saturday we hiked in an area 20 miles away from Crater Lake where there were hot springs. There were several hot springs here, but not all of them were fit to take a dip in.

This was the main natural hippie hot tub. Ian and Kevin took a dip...Janel and I were amused.

Ian and Kevin hiking down the path to the boat landing for the Crater Lake Boat Tour that we all took on Sunday morning. The weather was perfect, and the 760 ft. vertical over 1.2 miles was an awesome butt work out on the way back up! =)

Ranger Mike was the tour guide.

This is the "Old Man on the Lake". It is a log that has been floating in the lake since the late 1800s. It was first documented then, and it's been floating since. It is supposedly 40 feet long, and about 4 feet stick up over the water. It was the coolest part of the lake =)

A PB&J break after the boat tour. That's Ian, Kevin, and Janel.

In San Francisco for Brian and Jamie's wedding

I spent the weekend of 07 to 08 July 2007 to visit family and friends, and to attend my friend Brian and Jamie's wedding. I have known Brian since we were in kindergarten! The two of us, along with Barry, spent a lot of time together in elementary school. We went to seperate middle schools but got back together again for high school at Lowell. We went our seperate ways after high school, but our parents are still very good friends, and we hear about each other all the time. Brian finally tied the knot with his long time girlfriend, Jamie, and now they are living happily ever after =)

This is the view of San Francisco from up on top of Twin Peaks. It is a bit foggy, but if it weren't, then it wouldn't be San Francisco =) My friend Casey and I got here via his brand new, sweet Jetta GLI. =)

Brian (groom), Jamie (bride), me, and Barry at the reception

Me and Barry. We've known each other since we were 5!

Seattle 2007

Roy and I kissing the pig displayed outside Qwest Field

On 29 June 2007, I met Roy and Daniel at the Goose Hollow Max Station at 16:30. They had arrived earlier that day, and we decided to meet in Portland, then drive up to Seattle that night. We went to happy hour at Jakes Seafood Grill, which was fantastic, and then made our way up to Seattle.

We met up to go to Seattle for two reasons
1. to go to Safeco Field to watch a Mariners game
2. to go to the Experience Music Project (EMP) to see the Disney exhibit

But first, Friday night, we drove up to Kyle's place, and met up with his friends to go on his girlfriend's, Rachel's, father's boat onto Lake Washington. We all piled into this boat, which was very nice, and got to ride out onto the lake to get a night-time view of the Seattle skyline. The moon was very bright out, and it made everything that much prettier. I had been to Seattle a few times, but never saw the skyline from the lake, or from a boat, or at night. Doing all 3 at once was an awesome treat!

Saturday, we started our day at the EMP, located in the Seattle Center. There, we saw the Disney exhibit, but also an exhibit on Jimi Hendrix. The dude was crazy. Amazing, but very crazy. (We also started the day at 9am, when Kyle's roommate's entire family came in to help him move out of Kyle's condo...that was awesome).
Daniel taking a picture of Key Arena

Roy (left) and Daniel waiting in line to board the monorail (I don't think that's how they normally smile)

We then headed to Pike's Place Market. Roy had never been to Seattle, but Daniel and I have. We experienced the throwing of the fish, and then the famous first ever Starbucks. I have yet to find out where the 2nd ever starbucks is located.
Me in front of Pike's Place Market

We then headed to Safeco Field, where the Mariners were playing the visiting Toranto Blue Jays. Now, the whole reason for me to be excited about coming to Safeco was to experience the IchiRoll, in honor of CF Ichiro. However, eating sushi while watching a baseball game just doesn't seem right. So I ended up with the usual ball park fare, which was fine, and was completely satisfied. I'm sure the Ichiroll is delicious, but maybe if it were in a restaurant, and not a ball park. The Mariners won, 8 to 3, and we were all pretty impressed with all that Safeco had to offer. I must say though, that I miss the MLB. It sucks having to drive 3 hours just to watch a decent baseball game.
Me outside the left field entrance of Safeco Field

Something that Portland is lacking...a Major League ballpark

All in all, the trip to Seattle was a success. I had fun hanging out with Roy, Daniel, and Kyle and company, and it was just a very enjoyable and satisfying weekend!

Harvey Mudd Girls in Oregon

During Memorial Day weekend, 25-28 May, 2007, my friends Amy B, Lili, and Jenni came to Portland for our inaugural annual reunion. The four of us lived in the same hallway all through college. Amy and I were roommates freshman and sophomore year. Jenni and Lili were roommates all four years in college! =)
Amy B is currently in NYC working for ASME, and she hooks me up with the trips to Puerto Rico and China
Lili is a super engineer at Sandia in ABQ, NM, where she is saving the world from nuclear disaster!
Jenni is an awesome high school math teacher in Simi Valley, CA. She's also working her little butt off at Cal state Northridge to get her Masters in Education.
And I am, well, Amy G.

Here are some pics from our weekend in Oregon! (I would write more, but not in the mood for this posting...)


At Powells trying to figure out how many out of the stack of 15 books Jenni should keep. This was way more fun than school =)

Some of us were tired after spending time in Tillamook and along the Oregon coast.

Amy B, Jenni, and I at Multnomah Falls. It was very early in the morning.

Not the greatest pictures of all four of us, but it's interesting seeing where we are all at now.

Our feet in the sand! =)

Amy and Lili at the Cheesecake factory prior to eating a lot of food! =)

At the Tillamook Cheese Factory...not Amy B's most favorite place in the world considering she is lactose intolerant... =)


We are the most touristy people on the trail at Multnomah Falls. But we work hard!! =)

Jenni in front of Fairy Falls, my personal favorite. =)

Amy B needed a lot of help crossing the watery areas. I'm sure she's thrilled that I posted this picture. =)

Me leaning on Haystack Rock

Me, Lili, and Amy =)