What’s Going On?

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving where all retail stores go all out with discounts and free giveaways to get people to purchase products for their family, friends, and themselves. Retail stores see their highest profits on this day and for this one month that lead up to Christmas businesses see 25% or more of their year’s profit in less than 30 days.

This year, there wasn’t much that I was interested in purchasing so I just drove around anyway to see what there was if anything that I wanted. This year I’m pretty content with things and so businesses didn’t cash in with me.

After driving all over the upper peninsula, I ended up heading to Union Square in San Francisco to grab a bite with some friends and to look at the Macy’s Christmas Tree. This was Macy’s 20th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and begun about 6pm. The tree that Macy’s used was a Shasta White Fir 85 feet in height from Carlton Tree Farm in Mt. Shasta. The tree is a stunning sight to see on the western half of Union Square next to the Holiday Ice Rink on the eastern half of the Square. With both the tree and the skating rink in the heart of Union Square, one gets engulfed into Winter Wonderland emotions. The only thing that San Francisco lacks is snow on the streets, but I think I can safely say that I wouldn’t like the idea of having to shovel up snow every winter. If you haven’t been down to Union Square get down there quick before the holidays are over. If you plan on going ice skating get their early as lines can be long.

Pictures of the Holidays at Union Square can be seen by clicking on the picture link above. If this post was informative and helpful, please feel free to leave me a comment or donation below. Thank you.

This year’s Thanksgiving was probably one of the best celebrations that I’ve had in a very long time. This year I was able to partake of this very blessed holiday with family, friends, food, and fun. On Thanksgiving Day I had two dinners and that’s more than one can ask for. I first started the evening with a bunch of friends a little after noon to help prepare for what I thought was going to be a late lunch. Turns out that it was more like an early dinner.

Friends started arriving in 20 minute increments and as time went on more and more food were arriving as it was a potluck. This year I decided to just bring a side-dish of mashed potatoes with cheese. I’ve never made mashed potatoes like these prior to this year, but boy they will be a part of dinners to come in the future. I basically boiled potatoes in a pot like normal until they were fork tender. I poured out the water and mashed the potatoes. Here’s the kicker, I then added milk and butter to make the potatoes moist to my liking and cheese to the pot. They were the most smooth and silky potatoes I’ve ever made. Were there things I could have done to make it better? Absolutely, I think if I had more cheese I would have engulfed that pot to make a batch of some creamy cheesy goodness and I would have sprinkled on some french fried onion strings on the top for texture and flavor. Mmm Mmm that’s some good eats.

As the early dinnertime was approaching, the about 15lb. turkey was finishing up in the oven and all the other dishes were being organized on the counter. In the living room, the guys were watching a Texas vs Texas A&M game, while the girls were just chit chatting and playing with the couple children.

When dinner was served, I had plated up some great yummy goodness that I can only imagine now how tasty it was. I wish I had come around for seconds, but I had to save room for the dinner at my grandma’s. After the dinner was done, a bunch of people played a game around the room that contains three parts. It is a mixture of Taboo, Charades, and Password/Pyramid. It seemed like a pretty intense game, but I had to leave early and head on over to be with the family.

I arrived at my grandma’s place to an already finished dinner. I grabbed a plate and looked over many many dishes to chose from. As I was plating up some food, the family and extended family were watching my grandma’s birthday on DVD. Everyone seemed to be having a good time laughing and enjoying themselves. I, also, was enjoying myself, but after eating another plate of dinner I felt the pain of having too much to eat and the food coma was starting to kick in. The night ended with some CSI on TV. What a great show to end off a great night with family, friends, food, and fun.

Pictures of Thanksgiving can be seen by clicking on the picture link above.If this post and pictures were informative and helpful, please leave me a comment or donation below. Thank you.

On the November 22nd, the Miss California USA 2010 took place at the Agua Caliente Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, CA about 30 mins from Palms Springs, CA. Contestants for the pageant stayed at the Riviera Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, CA where they conducted orientation, interviews, and rehearsals. There were 133 contestants from all over California who participated in one of the largest gatherings in the Miss California USA Pageant history.

Hosting the Pageant was Chris Jacobs who is an entertainment correspondent and weekend anchor for The Insider. Celebrity Judges for the event included: AJ Buckley (CSI, Bones), Claudia Jordan (Celebrity Apprentice), Dr. Frank Ryan (Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon to the Stars), Kelly Monaco (DWTS, General Hospital), Hill Harper (CSI, The Handler),  Randall Slavin (Celebrity Photographer), Shandi Finnessey (DWTS, Celebrity Apprentice), Tony Bowls (Fashion Designer), Lu Parker (Emmy Award Winning Journalist), Francine Champagne (Owner Vision Models), Tiffany Fallon (Miss Georgia USA 2001), and David Fendrick (COO of Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians).

Contestants for the pageant competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown, and interview. The Final results for the Miss California 2010 Pageant are as follows:

Miss California USA 2010: Miss Sherwood, Nicole Johnson

1st Runner Up: Miss Beverly Hills, Nana Meriwether

2nd Runner Up: Miss Citris Valley, Nia Sanchez

3rd Runner Up: Miss Greater San Diego, Jessica Morgan

4th Runner Up: Miss Tarzana, Brandi Lea Milloy

My dear friend, placed Top 10: Miss San Francisco, Louise Wu

Miss Photogenic Award: Miss WeHo, Colleen Hunter

Miss Congeniality Award: Miss Stevenson Ranch, Marceia Hawkins

Congratulations to all the women who competed in the pageant you all were great. To my good friend Louise you did an exceptional job on stage. You were very poised and presented yourself like no other. Keep on shining.

Louise Wu, is currently an assistant on the Ellen Degeneres Show and during the weeks prior to the pageant, Louise was pampered left and right with help from Ellen herself. On different episodes of Ellen, Louise was given some helpful and some not so helpful tips. These are a few of the things that Ellen provided for Louise on her show:  Ellen helped give tips on make-up, Ellen provided an evening gown for Louise, Fran Drescher assisted Louise on skin care, Ellen conducted a quiz show for Louise against Miss California 2009 (Tami Farrel), Ellen provided Louise with a great send off, and following the pageant when Louise did not receive the Miss California crown, Ellen provided Louise with a tiara. YES WU CAN!

Louise Gets A Dress

Louise Gets Skincare Tips

Louise Wins The Quiz

Louise On Her Way

If this post was informative and helpful, please feel free to leave me a comment or donation below. Thank you.

Throughout 2009 there were so many things that I’ve been experienced and have been challenged with and I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate the friends that I do have. The support network is just amazing and I hope that it will only get better and better in 2010. Having been able to meet up for a potluck and to be in the midst of good people have truly been a blessing.

While enjoying great company, we had the opportunity to watch some basketball and Elf on the television. The most important part of the evening was the food. There was so much good food at the party that I could not stop myself from getting seconds. I think the food item that I had to go back for was the fried chicken. There’s something about KFC’s original receipe chicken that makes my mouth water. I think it’s because of all the delicious herbs and spices that they have, I think MSG is one of their secret spices too. haha

After eating the delicious dinner a few people played Settler’s of Catan, which is one of my most favorite games in the world. I love the game so much I even wrote a little blog on it earlier this year. The rest of my friends just watched the rest of Elf. That happens to be one of the best holiday films that can be entertaining to watch any time of the year.

Overall, the dinner was a great wrap-up of 2009 and just things to be thankful for. I cannot believe that the year has come and gone so fast and that 2010 is quickly approaching. I just hope that throughtout the next year that things could only get better.

Pictures of the potluck can be seen by clicking on the picture link above. Please feel free to leave me a comment or donation below for the pictures and/or the posting.

hoboFish and Kamikaze Theory came together back on June 5, 2009 for a night of improv and sketch comedy. These two great groups performed live at The Thick House and was presented by The Asian American Theater Company that is here in San Francisco. Selling out to a crowd of people who were eager to laugh out loud and cry from laughing were present for this one night of humor that was to die for. The title of the evening was called Comedy for the (Un)Employed. Throughout the year each group put on multiple shows to get more and more people exposed to the art of comedy by Asian Americans. Non-stop puns and inside-jokes are in store for you if you ever get a chance to see these groups perform live. Each group has their own schedule so if you would like to catch them in the act you’ll have to search them on the internet.  Currently hoboFish is the only one that has a website that is active and you can find them here. As for Kamikaze Theory there has yet to be a site, but be on the lookout for them. The next show that you will find both Kamikaze Theory and hoboFish together will be on December 18th, 2009. For more info check the hoboFish website.

Pictures of the hoboFish can be seen by clicking on the hoboFish group picture below. Pictures of Kamikaze Theory can be seen by clicking on the Kamikaze group picture below also. Please feel free to leave me a comment or donation below for the pictures and/or the posting.

I wrote a post back in May about a show I saw on Memorial Day weekend. The night featured the following performers: Rumor Has It Improv Troupe, Dave Thomason, Thursprov, Stephen Kalmakis, and hoboFish. To read more about this topic please click here.

Pictures of the hoboFish and Friends can be seen by clicking on the picture link above. Please feel free to leave me a comment or donation below for the pictures and/or the posting.

For Veterans Day, in honor of U.S. military soldiers either active, retired or who passed in battle or other lines of duty I want to thank all of you for your honorable service to this country. Without your contribution to backing our government we would have not been able to be where we are today. Continue to fight for our country and know that you are and will be remembered. Thank you so much.

I know it won’t mean probably too much to my normal readers, but to my veteran and active duty soldiers, I met four soldiers having a picnic together right next to the Battle of the Bulge monument near the Jefferson Barracks Cemetery in St. Louis and they seemed to be having a wonderful time together talking about the past and present. These four men never fought side by side with each other, but what they did share in common was being able to survive and be apart of an amazing victory for the Allied troops during the Battle of the Bulge of World War II. As I was asking a few questions, one of the veterans mentioned to me that the winter of 1944-45 was probably one of the coldest he’s ever experienced and that the frigid weather made it really hard on his body and to fight. For their valiant and courage I give them praise. They were out numbered by the Germans, but they were able to overcome the, I believe he said, 6 German to 1 Allied soldier.

I wrote about Memorial Day several months ago and I would like to share with you readers some pictures I took while with a friend in memoriam of those that have fallen for our country whether in battle or while back in our homeland.

Pictures of my Memorial Day tribute can be seen by clicking on the picture link above. Please feel free to leave me a comment or donation below for the pictures and/or the posting.