My annual trip to San Diego was amazing, as always. The weather was perfect, and Alma and I kicked off the weekend with paddle boarding in Mission Bay. Later that day, we went downtown for a zumba class, which was quite a workout! Too bad I didn’t get any pics of those activities. Next stop was dinner and salsa dancing at Miami Grille with Jerry. And that was only Friday!

Best salsa partner ever!

Sisters (and former roommates of mine) Aileen and Alma

Miami Grille was yummy and fun!

On Saturday, we met up with everyone for a picnic at UCSD. Al and I made quinoa salad with grilled veggies, Southwestern pasta salad, and grilled corn salad. We also brought cheese, meats, crackers and fruit. It was quite the spread! After lunch, we took a tour of campus, visiting all our old haunts and reminiscing about the good ol’ days.

Jeannine and Alex

Jeannine and Shawn

Kanoa, Aileen’s son

Camden and Devin, Shawn and Tuan’s kids

The Ho and Erickson families are neighbors in Irvine!

Ethan, Avery and Kanoa

Picnic time!

New buddies?

Kanoa was smitten with Avery!

My cousin Lisa

Roomies!

Ethan and daddy Ken

Ken picked Dale up for their very first date when we lived here in the upper apartments!

K-5 - home sweet home in the upper apartments. It was our first of three years as roommates!

Jerry lived across the walkway in L-4

Kanoa auditions to be the newest member of the Erickson family

Sun God

The Reserves now accepts new forms of payment, such as refried beans. My, how things have changed since I was a student!

The Grove Caffe, where I drank many a mocha, is no more. Sad!

Student Library, where we sometimes studied, sometimes napped. Jerry said he might have visited this place once in his entire college career. If you knew Jerry, you’d believe him.

Class of 1994

Price Center

Geisel Library

Even the library rules have changed - you can bring food, just not the messy and smelly kind.

Where it all began: Dale and Ken met in a class here in the Engineering building.

“Then wilt thou not be loth to leave this paradise, but shalt possess a paradise within thee, happier far.”
Quote from Paradise Lost, John Milton

Dr. Seuss and The Cat in the Hat

S-1, my freshman year dorm

S-4, Al and Dale’s freshman year home

Future UCSD students!

Playing in the volleyball court in front of the dorms. Avery is such a smiley baby!

The boys joined in the fun.

Thanks to everyone for coming, hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! See you all next summer!

April was a big month for me. After 4-1/2 years working with UGO Entertainment, I accepted an offer to return to advertising. I was fortunate enough to be able to take a couple weeks off to relax between jobs, so I headed to CA to spend time with my family and a few friends. Most of my time was spent with Corin, but I did manage to sneak away to Sonoma for a couple days of the good life. Warm sunshine, gorgeous landscape, amazing wine and delicious food… a girl could really get used to that! It was a great way to unwind, disconnect from my old work life and prepare for my new job. Here are some pics of my time with Corin, my side trip to wine country, and some lovely shots of SF.

Jailbird!

Trying to escape

Chomp!

Post nap playtime in a crabby sweatshirt.

Corin likes to check himself out in the mirror while he’s dancing.

Nikki and I went to Sonoma for a lady vacation. We started at Gloria Ferrer with some bubbles and shared a tasting. The spiced almonds are a delicious treat too. Sitting on the deck overlooking the vineyards was a great way to spend the morning.

Caught sight of this sign when we pulled off the road to check our directions.

Sunset from our balcony at the Inn at Sonoma.

Next morning, after a leisurely stroll around the Sonoma plaza, we headed for Hog Island in the little town of Marshall.

We brought some of our own picnic goodies, but the main attraction were the oysters.  It really doesn’t get any fresher than this!

A squeeze of lemon, maybe a splash of hot sauce, and you’re good to go! Sweet oysters and briny goodness!

We made a short stop at Stinson Beach before heading back to the city, and of course we hit traffic on our way to the Golden Gate Bridge, but it gave us a chance to appreciate this view.

My trip to Kirkwood was canceled, but it gave me an extra day with Corin. While I was preparing lunch, he tried to get some of the pots out of the cupboard, so I gave him this lid to play with. Lids and wooden floors are far too noisy though, so we took it back 5 minutes later.

“Can I have some of your lunch?”

Crawling and laughing

And dancing

Pulling books off the shelf is fun, particularly if Yun-Yun is there to clean it up.

Helping mommy do laundry.

When he wakes from a nap, this is usually the scene that greets you. Corin, standing up in the crib in his sleeper, which looks like a dress.

Licking the floor

What’s wrong with that?

Who knew an Easter basket could be so much fun?

Peek-a-boo!

There was some post-nap crankiness. Good thing Yun-Yun has all kinds of patience and experience!

Checking under the furniture for the missing ball, just like Yun-Yun did.

Yun-Yun keeps Corin out of the cabinets, which have not been baby-proofed.

This is his favorite activity, having Yun-Yun (or any other volunteers who are not too tall) hold his hands and walk him around the house.

As an alternative, there’s always crawling, a skill Corin perfected while I was in town.

And finally, when he’s bored with all of his usual modes of transportation, riding in the little toy wagon is loads of fun!

One last day in SF before heading back to NY. Perfection.

Just ten days after returning to NY, I hopped on another plane bound for CA. I couldn’t wait to see my friends and family for the holidays!

First order of friendly business: pre-dinner with my little buddy Rai!

Also present were Rai’s parents, Ashley and Maciej, and Alisha and Nick.

Rai and his ladies

A couple of days later, I went to Berkeley to have lunch with my family. I brought presents from Morocco, like this fez hat for Corin!

Dancing babies are always so much fun!

Chomp!

After a couple days of working in our SF office, I hopped a train bound for SJ, and this little angel. Corin is my favorite baby ever!

His newest trick was sucking in his lower lip, so he looks like this. I’m thinking Cabbage Patch Kid, but cuter!

Jumping is a favorite activity

While mommy ran errands, Corin and I decided to step out and enjoy the sunshine.

Corin also got his first tooth while I was visiting, but he was too modest to show it.

Christmas Eve dinner prep

Deirdre was on cocktail duty - apricot bellinis!

Roasted brussels sprouts

Festive and pretty!

Veggies and fish en papillote

Dinner is served!

Danny really wanted to be one of Santa’s presents for Corin.

Corin’s first Christmas! Mmm, books are delicious.

Cool new wardrobe for his first days at daycare

Cordy Roy, Corin’s new bff

Food Face plate

Toys that play music, flash lights and make lots of noise - Corin’s favorites!

Corin says “Merry Christmas everyone!”

Sibling rivalry? Not us! Sure, we battled a bit as youngsters, but nowadays, my bro and I are the best of buds. We chat, text and talk just about every day. We even make a great team in the kitchen! Last weekend we invited our parents over to Ed and Deirdre’s for a late lunch. I chopped and prepped, he manned the grill, and I made a ginger-soy glaze for the salmon, and a quinoa-veggie salad. Everything turned out perfectly and we gobbled it up! Can’t wait to go back and do it again. Good job partner!

Introducing Corin to our parents’ dog, Joey, who licked the baby’s feet.

Joey helping get the grill ready

Fire it up! Boys like to grill stuff.

Eggplant from the store, and zucchini from Ed & D’s garden!

Fresh from a (short) nap and ready for lunch.

Glazing the salmon

Dad and his grandson

Tummy time!

Quinoa salad with fresh corn, onion, garlic, arugula, and tomatoes picked from Ed and D’s garden!

Grilled veggies - white summer squash and yellow squash from the garden, red papper, asparagus, red onion, eggplant and portabella.

Grilled salmon with sweet ginger-soy glaze

While we feasted, Joey napped. See Corin? This is how it’s done!

Danny, meet Joey!

Their local grocery store also sells kitties.

Later that evening, despite having missed a nap, Corin was all smiles (though not for long).

By bedtime, he could barely keep his head up.

Look at that face!

Most of my trips to SF include lots of good times and good eats with friends and family. Here’s what I was up to last week.

Dinner at La Mar on Tuesday

Natasha, Stephanie, me and Vinny

Happy Hour at Americano on Thursday

Amanda, and Lara (a.k.a. L-Train)

Paul, me, Nikki and Lara

Nick, me, Nikki, Geraldine and Alisha

Me, Nikki and Alisha - jazz hands!

Aaarrrgh! Just kidding, I love Lara.

Blue Bottle Coffee from The Ferry Building on Friday

Me and Jerry, a friend from way back in the day - high school!

Lunch at Golden Era on Friday

With Auntie Claudine (Mom’s cousin) and Mom

Birthday Party on Saturday

Me and Nikki