Relief

Things are looking up.  My treadmill is working again and the weather has finally turn for the better.  Unbelievable that overnight, after a day of rain, we have temperatures in the seventies and the wind is actually cool to the skin.  Air flowing in through open windows.  Heavenly.  And the Man has been busy remodelling my media room.  He has been busy.  Wonder what the master plan is.  Will just have to wait to be surprised. 

Reflection

After months of searing heat, the arrival of Fall has brought relief.  Temperatures are actually in the fifties and it is nice to have the windows open and feel the breeze gently caressing one.  But Fall also brings a sense of wow, it is almost the end of the year and what have I achieved this year?

Actually quite a bit.  We sold a house after a bit of struggle with the realtors, bought another thousands of miles away, endured two months of cramped quarters waiting for end of school year, said goodbye to a set of dear friends and spent anothe couple of months making the new house ours.  And in between, managed to put in a trip to the Grand Canyons o share he solar eclipse withlarge groups of enthusiasts, and gawked at the ostentatiousness and shameless consumerism of Sin City and the still awesomeness of Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.  As well as a month of feverish driving around Houston, Austin and New Orleans to walk in the relentless heat on college campuses and the craziness of NOLA with a determined first born we haven't seen in some years.  All in all, a very busy year so far.

As well on the job front. But that is not for this space.

Hope the year ends well.  With a new set of friends and plans for family reunion.  It is lonely without F & F.

Puns

Wah, the Man was very witty this a.m.  To get his son to take his newly collected text books off the kitchen counter, he said to only leave them there if the Half Man wants him to cook the books so he could consume the knowledge.

Home

Home tomorrow!  Bye bye Houston till we meet again on June 16.  Then it will be bye bye San Ramon and San Francisco.  It has been a great 6 years and maybe we will return.  Till then, onto a new life and new dreams.

Galveston

Two days in Galveston and I have seen the sea only from my room window, conference center windows and while walking the two blocks back and forth. Sea looks really choppy and grey. All the time. Yet people were taking to the water. Still a few brave souls, of all things, flying a large kite while standing waist deep amongst the frothy waves.

Great workshop, learning a lot but I am so ready to curl up and rest. One more day of soaking and networking and soon, I will be up in the sky heading home. Meanwhile, thunderstorms have rained on us here and two tornadoes are wreaking havoc to the north at Dallas-Fort Worth.

Soon. I. Shall. Be. Home.

Deprived

This lack of sleep is slowly killing me, cell by cell.  Why is Houston so sleep unfriendly for me?  Despite it all, I live through each working day with little fatigue.  Befuddling.   I need to go home and hug a certain lanky lithe body.

Thunderstorm

Almost got blown away battling strong winds with my flimsy Residence Inn umbrella walking the 7 blocks to the office.  It has been 6 years since I have had thunderstorms like this.  Just like Singapore :).

Silly Siri

Sunday, somewhere in Sugar Land, Texas, scanning the landscape.  Calls Siri.

"Siri, where can I find Har Tu Oh?"  Chinese herb to make tea.

"I do not understand.  It is not hot where you are."

Brings up weather app showing 79 degrees local.

Birthdays

Every year, as the March solstice nears and Spring knocks on Winter's door, we remember and celebrate two birthdays.

Happy Birthday, Pheng and Ryan! May there be many many many more to come. Enjoy your special days although we are not together and may blessings rain down on both of you.

It is too long to be alone in Houston. I wanna go home!