Friday funtime at work

Thanks Andrew.

Random List Part Deux

Things I don't like to hear/see while standing in line at the grocery store:

1. "Can you ring these up separately?" even better..."Can I get three separate receipts?"
2. Someone who takes out his/her checkbook after all the items are rung up
3. "Can I get six cartoons of __ cigarettes?...they're locked up."
4. "Manager's key on six...override please."
5. Shopping cart filled to the brim, when I all I have is a banana. (Thanks for not letting me go in front of you.)

A Random List

Things I don't like driving behind:

1. Bad (slow, indecisive, habitual brakers, non-blinkers) drivers
2. Minivans
3. 4x4 trucks with 8 tires
4. Truck beds loaded with stuff, junk and an office chair with wheels sitting precariously on top of all the stuff
5. People who decide to "wash" their windshields every 5 minutes

Happy Valentine's Day

Be good to your heart and to other's as well.

"Bacon is good for me..."

For someone who's never had bacon ever -- I find this so enjoyable. Especially the riff "definitely no cheese in a can" and "bacon is good for me." Props to Joy (guest mom) for getting rid of junk food, and I think Curtis the kid would love to have a sit-down with me to discuss the goodness of bacon. ;)

Josephine at 3 days old

I made her laugh today!


Are you looking at me?

Burp me please.

Auntie Mei

Qu'une belle fille.

Hello World

My beautiful niece Josephine. Came into the world today at 12:46pm. 6lbs, 10oz of loveliness. Call me Auntie Mei!

Brought to you by the letters "M" and "C"

All these years I thought it was "five golden rings"... only after hearing Christmas songs for 72 hours, did I learn it's "five gold rings..." The things I learn as I get older every year. ;) Merry Christmas everyone.

Shopping and Eating

That entails a lot of what I've been doing these past two "holiday" weeks. I've been able to come up for air every once in a while. ;) There was even time for a picture! (The pastry was a tiramisu...followed by a triple-chocolate ganache and mousse menace j/k.) Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday with minimal stress.

Greetings

I'm still here. Just a bit busy at the moment. In the meantime, a little something for the season.

Gaga, ooh la la...

Rouge

A little bit of red at the Redwood Room. (I only took a tiny sip. I was enjoying a muddled mint limeade.)

Go Yankees!

Beat the Phillies.

Restaurant Fleurs de Mai

This restaurant in Paris's Chinatown had the same Chinese character as my name.

La vie en rose

First day back in Paris after Africa. No sleep, turbulent plane rides, airport delays. But I'm still smiling.

Moto 1, 2, 3...

The best transportation in Africa -- great views, exhilarating. We rode on motorcycles in Rwanda to get around from village to village (and from Kigali to Nymata). We had our own moto posse, if you will. The lead driver was called Innocent. And we just referred to our bike guys as Moto 1, 2, 3, etc.
I think I ate 2 mosquitoes and a fly on this ride. :)

Vegas!

Merci Charly. x

Sympa!

Palais Garnier/Opera de Paris.

I'm going out of order with my pics. Will organize and post album of Paris and Africa either on Facebook or Flickr. On a whim, I'm posting this one of me at the gorgeous Palais Garnier in Paris...it's a girl's (...okay, my) dream come true to be around such beautiful architecture and musical history.

Flash blacked out background.

No flash. You can see the ornate architecture. And I'm blurry! :)

Visiting the Maasai

Taken at a "boma" in Lemong'o. I'm standing in front of a Maasai "enkaji" (house), which is made of mud, twigs and cow manure.

With some of the children from the boma. They were great.

Maasai boys herding goat and cattle.

Scene from the Maasai market in Lemong'o. The picture doesn't do the village justice. The colors at the market were vibrant and beautiful amongst this dry and arid landscape.

This man was sitting at the market sewing on this old-school machine. Pretty cool.

Grace (and Smiles) Under Fire

Taken right after a very improv live shot on first day of Gloria Fire (Thursday) with a cell phone. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see the soot on my hands and arms and my tired, tired eyes. Of course, I say all of this in vain...nothing like the firefighters who are my heroes.

More Fire Breaks...

Fire. A little bit of France. Vegas. Fire and more fire.

That pretty much sums up these past two weeks.

Currently covering back-to-back fast-moving blazes. My lips are chapped and I have a permanent smokey, fiery scent to me. The hazards of being a reporter on the fire lines: My lip balm melted and exploded in my pocket today after being in 100-degree plus weather and flames. But all of this pales in comparision to what the amazing firefighters do.

Promise to post Africa/France stories and pics soon.

Fire Break

Jambo. My blogging has taken a break because I've been covering the Lockheed fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Have been working 12 hour plus shifts this past week..and though I love the breaking news aspect, I am tired. Not as exhausted as the thousands of firefighters battling this blaze, but pretty exhausted. Was beginning to get over jet lag, but fire schedule set me back a few hours.

Promise to write more and post pics. Have been looking through my journal of Paris and Africa and reliving some amazing moments in my head.

Laugh May!

I am having way too much fun in this photo. Don't know why I'm laughing so hard. Jean-Claude snapped this. Who knew that this day would end up being one of the longest, tiresome, but most memorable days in Rwanda.

My Little Friends

I bonded right away with this little bundle of joy and cuteness at the MCW center in Majengo, Tanzania. Karibu!
With some super kids in Kayensi, Rwanda. Taken by friend and MCW volunteer Jean-Claude Harabagabo on his lovely Nikon D90. Rwanda Rwiza!

Paris-Africa

So much to write about my travels. Sipping on a hot cup of Rwandan chai -- and thinking about my lovely time here in Africa. I'm sad, though, it is an emotional trip. I tweeted throughout my trip, but it looks like Twitter wiped out all my tweets. Very upsetting. I've kept a journal, and will write about all my experiences. Pictures and posts to come. In the meantime, here are some photos from Africa. Jonathan and me at the MCW center in Majengo, Tanzania. The children here are amazing.

Me and Tete ("Tay-Tay"), our surrogate mom at our house in Nyamata. She is a wonderful cook!

Jonathan, Cesar, Me and Jean-Claude in front of our house in Nyamata, Rwanda.