Dana Point...

The good news about using a broker to get my car was that it was easy and I got a better deal than if I negotiated with the dealers myself. Since I am not working I actually had more time to pit dealers head to head but none beat the broker.

Unfortunately, the broker didn't listen to all the options I wanted which meant I had to drive out to the dealership to get the blue tooth option I had requested....but it was in Dana Point!

Again, luckily since I am not working, I drove out there and just waited for the car to be done. It really wasn't a bad drive as I got there in under an hour and they had a courtesy shuttle that drove and picked me up so I decided to go to Doheny Beach.

I was there at 8:30 so the beach was empty except for a handful of surfers:



There was a man made rock barrier along the beach for the harbor so I decided to walk out there so read my newspaper:



It was nice sitting on the rocks except there was a ton of birds flying around, squawking and actually diving into the ocean to snag fish. It was nice but I was always worried the birds would fly by and take a crap on me so I headed back to the beach.

My car was done in 4 hours so it was nice leisurely day for me at the beach!!

Star Trek...

It is nice to have friends with connections and it was great to get the invite from Jenny to see Star Trek on the Paramount Studios saturday. It started with a walk on the red carpet, a reception with food and free booze and then the movie:

It was my first time meeting Tosh, whom I thought was going to come wearing vulcan ears but I guess that just talk. Jenny, Tosh and Saori:

The first summer movie I have seen this year and it did not disappoint. I had heard the movie was good but I was trying not to listen to reviews as I didn't want to be disappointed in case the movie did not live up to the hype.

You don't have to be a Star Trek fan to like the movie...but if you are I think you will like it even better. Definately a must see...must own on DVD movie!

Mother's Day...

Thanks for school and my mom Jack was all prepared for Mother's Day. Jack made a card for Aya at school:



The card also had a bee:



He also made a flower magnet:




My mom bought some flowers but Jack picked out the color for Aya...orange tulips:

We celebrated Mother's Day with some dim sum!

Earth Day Part 2...

I guess I should have posted this the day after I posted the video but I forgot I had pictures from Earth Day. I guess the only thing Jack really liked was the Trash truck...he got to sit in the truck:



Jack got to work the controls to lift up the trash can:



I guess Jack also liked the turtles. The turtles were pretty active so it kept Jack entertained:

If anyone is interested in going to Earth Day next year, I suggest skip it...totally over rated.

Old Hat, New Hat...

Okay this is kind of cheating because Jack isn't really reading...he is just memorizing more and more books:

Cinco de Miles...

Simply put...I got a new car!! I should correct myself and say, "Ayako bought me a new car!!"

The lease on the BMW is up at the end of the month so before car registration tax goes up and at the end of April we decided to buy a Honda Accord.

As usual the dilemma was what car to get and should we buy or lease. I was pretty sure I wanted to buy a car this time. I realize I have been very lucky to drive nice cars the past 5 years with the Porsche, Mercedes and BMW but I always hate to pay the outrageously high maintenance fees.

It also sucks when I turn a car in to think of all the money I could have saved if I wasn't making a lease payment.

I always wanted an Accord when I was in college and I liked the way it looks more than a Camry so my decision was pretty easy. I got it tinted the day after it was delivered. I will probably change out the headlights and lower it and get rims. I am still looking up what type of rims I want.

I figure it is time to settle in and keep a car for the long term...I suppose in 12-13 years this can be Jack's car!

Earth Day...

We went to Earth Day last Saturday...totally boring and nothing interesting unless you are a tree hugging environmentalist. The highlight of the event was Jack getting to see the neighborhood trashman and operate a natural gas trash truck.

Nose Picker...

Lately Jack has been picking his nose more often...often enough to catch it on a camera!! I think it is hilarious and had been using this picture as my PC wallpaper but Aya thinks it just encourages Jack to pick his nose more often so I had to change my wallpaper picture....still think it is funny!

Sand Dune...

Last week we went to the Sand Dunes with Jenny. When Jenny told me that she was running up a hill of sand I thought two things:

1. The hill couldn't be that big.
2. It couldn't be that hard.

Yeah, I was wrong on both counts. The sand hill is pretty freakin large. It may not seem that large in the picture but it is 100 feet high. As for difficutlt...way harder than I thought. Walking the dune isn't so bad but running the dune is tough...especially when you get 3/4 way up it just seems to get steeper and the sand seems softer so you 'sink' in further.

It was still fun and I would rather do something like that then just round around a track. Aya and Jack also came along. I originally thought that Jack and I would play in the park with Aya and Jenny went up the hill but Jack didn't want to be left behind so Jack went up the hill as well. He loved it!! He loved going down even more!!

So even though it was harder than I thought, I didn't think I would get sore. That night my legs got so sore and tired that I had a hard time sleeping because if I moved I was sore. Grr.

I think I might have to go back...but during the day. Aya and Jenny like running the cold and dark. I like running in the warmth of the sun and while the sun is out!

Piggy Bank...

Well during these economic tough times, I decided to teach Jack about saving some money. Instead of just using his piggy bank as a decoration, I am teaching Jack to put his money into his piggy bank and when he saves up enough money then we can go to the store to buy something.

Good thing Jack doesn't know how to count money yet because when he gets a $20 bill I put $18 into his savings and then only $2 for his piggy bank. If not, he would be able to go to the toy store all the time!

Birthday...

I have tried to avoid this day for 3 years now, but I think the time has finally come...weekend birthdays! ugh.

For the last 3 years we didn't have a birthday party for Jack because I didn't want to subject anyone to the pain and torture of a childs bday. I figured if I don't invite other kids then they won't invite Jack and then I don't have to go to any birthdays on the weekend.

Now that Jack goes to pre-school, he has certain 'friends' that he plays with at school so now I figured we should at least go to the party if we are invited.

We went to Child's Play for a dinosaur themed party for Jacks friend Justin 4th bday:



Jack is also friends with Amber (who leaves school the same time as Jack so I have seen Amber a few times):



Jacks first time in a ball pit and he loved it!


A "dinosaur" that was doing balloon animals:

Disneyland...

Jack was on spring break and Aunty Dawn took the day off from work since it was her birthday and she got free admission to Disneyland.

Sunday Shopping...

Century City:



Jack's first trip to Beverly Hills:


Versace:

Easter...

We celebrated Easter and Dawn's 30th birthday at my parents house:

Palm Springs Part II...

We stayed at the Westin Resort and Villa's in Rancho Mirage. It was pretty nice...it was like staying in a condo. We had a full kitchen, outdoor bbq, two patios and a patio table. Perfect for a family stay and I think we will go back with Jack once Jack can stay outdoors at the pool for 8 hours.

Our trip wasn't as eventful as day 1. It didn't deter us from drinking but we didn't booze it up as much.

Here is Aya waiting for a table at breakfast:



Walking to the car for dinner:



Dinner at LG's steakhouse:



Dinner at the Corktree restaurant:

A great anniversary for us. It doesn't seem like Aya and I have been married for 10 years already. It just kind of went by in a blink of an eye for us. We watched our wedding video for the first time in 5 years and it was bitter sweet.

You think you remember the day but then you see the video and you see all the little details you forget about. It was bitter sweet because the video shows the loved ones we have lost since the time we got married.

Still it was great to think of all the things that have happened to us the past 10 years. Happy Anniversary!!