san london frisco

ahh. san francisco... another day trip worth mentioning while i was back in california. my good friend sam (that i met and worked with in australia), came to visit me in san jose for a couple days before he returned to his English home-land after his around the world ticket. so i was very priviledged that san jose made the cut on the itinerary and have "THE samuel nudds" to my hood. so of course i had to bring him around san francisco! ive been there a million times but its always fun bringing a newbie to the city. it was an adventure and a half taking the 'BART' (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and finding our transportation from place to place... From clam chowder bowls at Fishermans Warf to the buzzing shoppers in Union square and to of course, the always windy and cloudy Golden Gate Bridge... it was awesome... sam, it was nice having you 'guys' visit... see you in 'San London Frisco' one day...

a chilly california coast day trip ...

i really do love california.... the city, the snow, the mountains, the ocean... all within hours drive from where my family resides... there's a gorgeous city called monterey, along the coast that i was able to visit a couple times for some special day trips with my cousins and old friends. it was absolutely gorgeous and being on the coast and on the ship all year, it made me feel so nostalgic. Walking along cannery row, feeling the amazing sea breeze, eating the yummiest clam chowder, and all the other things that make up a 'chilly-california-coast-day-trip' brought me smiles ... highlight? ... check.

no matter how familiar or foreign

So if you haven't noticed, there's obviously this trend re-occuring on joannaorpia.blogspot.org... and that is that i am seriously incapable of blogging about the current. give or take, i'm usually two months behind anything that is currently happening in my life right now. if it annoys you, i apologize. but i know like always, i'll end up vomit blogging, catch up with myself... and then find myself in the same predictable place.... i guess its true.... old habits die hard...

which brings me to news that i was able to spend my holidays in california! ... yes, that was waaayy back in december/ january... (and this is where my disclaimer comes into play) it was way back, but just wanted to acknowledge that it was awesome that i was able to spend time family and friends, catch my breath from the crazy year, reconnect with old mates and to capture moments like this with my family... i've said this a million times... but yes, home will always be home... no matter how familiar or how foreign it can be ...