April’s Recap
Oh man, this month was jam-packed with lots of things and most of them were unexpected:
1. Japan Trip (Unexpected)
2. Last Month of Training for Tinkerbell Half Marathon
3. 8 New Product Releases for Work (Unexpected)
4. Bridal Stuff Shopping and Planning (Unexpected)
Yep, it’s a whirlwind and it all started on the first weekend of the month so I’m not quite sure how I’ll get this all down. For sure Japan trip will be on separate entries (day by day). So this will be a cliff notes for April like all the other months. Here we go!
April 2
Ok, the weekend before I was out most of the time that I practically wanted to have a relaxing weekend. The prior weekend was the 11-mile practice run, met up with friends, & Easter lunch in Riverside. This weekend was almost identical but the punch was a little harder.
Saturday morning I didn’t know how I was going to survive the 12.5-mile run after doing 11 miles the weekend before. There is suppose to be a 3-mile run (rest period) weekend in between long runs but now that we’re going to Japan and didn’t want to risk injury with a long run before my flight, I had to switch up the runs. So yeah, I was pretty nervous about this (just like all the other runs) but I survived. For this practice I got out of my comfort zone by running small laps instead of long courses, which really helped me to rely more on Apple Watch rather than my surrounding. Also I was also able to avoid the underpass bridges that usually cramps up my knees. And finally, I added more music to my workout list. Yep, I do believe these were some good changes for my training.
Afterwards I took my sister out to lunch for her birthday since I won’t be able to make it to her birthday gathering the following day. It worked out great because she wanted to have Korean hot pot but her husband doesn’t like it. I picked her up after a long good soak in the hot bath and headed off to the restaurant. Oh man, I haven’t had Korean hot pot in a long time so this was a big treat. My sister ordered the beef tofu hot pot while I gorged on a combination of beef tofu hot pot and BBQ ribs. Great way to reward myself!
Once we had our fill, we headed off to TJ Max to look for some purse as her birthday present but unfortunately couldn’t find one she likes. We went ahead to the grocery store so she could get organic soymilk and then In-and-Out for my brother-in-law’s lunch. The poor guy was starving by the time I dropped off my sister.
That night Hiroshi and I did our grocery shopping and other house work since we both won’t be home the following day. He’ll be out on his man-date working on his car while I’ll be out shopping for bridesmaid dresses with friends.
April 3
Sunday was much better. I sort of slept in late around 6AM (actually that’s still early for normal people) instead of my usual 4AM. Being up and happy, I decided to grab breakfast at McDonalds. Yep, I totally ruined my good run the following day with junk food but I was too hungry to care. After downing the McGriddle and shortly regretted it, my body had a hard time flushing it out. Seriously, I always learn through hard experience.
The morning was mostly spent on texting friends deciding where and what time to meet up to look for bridesmaid dresses. We’ve settled for David’s Bridal by Ontario Mills. If that didn’t work then there are other bridal store nearby so it works. Plus it’s closer to them and no point in having them drive out here in OC for me. To be on the safe side I left an hour and a half early just in case I run into traffic. It was a long drive but no traffic hence I was half an hour earlier than I anticipated. The second I walked in I knew I wouldn’t last a second; there were groups of women everywhere trying on either wedding or prom dresses and it was sheer madness. Thankfully there was a bicycle store next door where I found shelter.
Zina and her sister Angela showed up shortly and we walked around looking for bridesmaid dresses. Aside from swimming through the crowd, we were on our own picking out dresses since we didn’t have an appointment. Rochelle and Karina came and we all tried on dresses on top of our clothes while waiting for our appointment. We’ve already tried on the dresses we wanted by the time the sales associate was available for us. Zina wanted to go to a different place to see other options.
Our next stop was Group USA in Ontario Mills. It was also packed but this time it’s mostly teenagers looking for prom dresses. Shoot, there was even a “prom-posal” where the guy was wearing a suit with a sign that says “Will you go with me to prom?” The girl even started crying… Seriously? We found a couple of dresses and tried to avoid the crazy fitting-room line by trying it on top of our clothes. Zina eventually found a cute style and wanted to see how it would really look on us without our clothes underneath. No choice but to go through the never-ending line but at least we kept each other company. To avoid getting separated, Angela and I shared a room while Rochelle and Karina used the other. When I first tried on the size 4 outside, it was too tight so I took a 6 but it didn’t quite fit like a glove. I exchanged with Angela for a size 4 and without a doubt it fits perfectly. Now I just hope I maintain my current shape. Meaning I have to continue my running regiment. Sigh…
Looking for a dress was a grueling battle but at least we now have our dresses. Karina, Angela, and I had to order ours from another store while Rochelle found her perfect size. Once we get our dresses then we’ll start looking for shoes and accessories. That will be fun. I just hope I get a nice pair of comfy shoes and since I’m the tallest, I’m going for flats. Nowadays I definitely prefer comfort than looks. Grandma zone.
Once we got our dresses we headed off to BJ’s (haven’t been to in years) for a nice dinner. Most of them got salad and burgers while I settled for the most unhealthiest of all: Deep Dish Ziti. It had sausages, macaroni, tomatoes, and five different types of cheese. Mmmm, cheese… I didn’t feel so bad about this one because I don’t eat this type of food everyday. Unfortunately we were all too full to make room for dessert and I was really looking forward to the pizookie. Another fun outing with the girls!
April 9-17
Vacation in Japan! This will definitely be in different entries.
April 17
The flight back from Japan wasn’t as bad I expected even though we were delayed by an hour due to strong winds. Thankfully the turbulence wasn’t so bad and although it was freezing in the plane, I managed to get a good long sleep. Getting back wasn’t fun. First it was hot and windy compared to the cool breeze in Japan. Second I had to drive to Ontario Mills to pick up my bridesmaid dress and like back then, no traffic but long line to the register. Once I got back I had to unpack my clothes, do groceries and laundry. Then went back to work the following day on Monday. I totally skipped gym since I was dead tired and both of my ankles were swollen. They didn’t hurt but they were well worn out.
April 21
The news of Chyna’s passing shocked me although a lot of celebrities were passing away this year. But I couldn’t believe it when I found out Prince also passed away. Even those who listens to a few of his music knows he’s a legend. Never a huge fan but he definitely earned his title as an artist.
Rest in Peace, Prince
April 22
Another one bites the dust; it was the last day of another coworker in the marketing department. She is one strong woman I respect because she has dealt with a lot on her plate. She handled all situations professionally and yet very down to earth. Her position as Sales Channel Marketing Manager was very stressful and I have no idea how she pulled through it all. If anything, she’s one of the strongest women I’ve ever met aside from my other coworker and gym trainer. She’s one you can’t easily forget.
April 23
The 14-mile run: the longest practice-run in my training and I was still recovering from jet lag and did not run for a week and a half. I still don’t know how I managed to run 11 miles and 12.5 miles on two consecutive weekends when I was suppose to have a 3-mile run in between long runs. But at least my knees are in better shape since I took a week off of gym and running. There really was a huge difference. At least that’s a comfort but a comfort that’s 10% versus my 90% nerve level.
So how did it go? My knees were sore afterwards but it went very well. No cramps so my breathing was fine and I still managed to run the whole thing without stopping or walking. Now I’m a whole lot more confident with the half marathon. In fact, I’m considering about extending my long runs but still not sure about it yet. So for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon, I’m just going to enjoy it instead of worrying about it. Booyah!
Bring It On!
After conquering the 14-mile run, I met up with my sisters for lunch at Curry House. I was about to order Menchi Katsu Curry with sunny-side up egg on top but quickly changed to Shrimp & Crab Omelet. The omelet was seasonal so I might as well get it while they still have it. We got our nails done afterwards and chatted some more at Starbucks. I did not expected to be out for so long but time goes by fast when you’re in good company. Unfortunately I had some projects to work on and didn’t get to finish it all on Sunday. But I still got them done on time.
April 25
Another visionary artist has moved on and this time it’s a family member. I’ve only met him once in his big house but all I remember was how nice he was and the incredible talent he had for drums. I’m not quite sure how I’m related to him but I’m guessing he married into the family. My mom sent my siblings and I a text saying Uncle Remo has passed away from complications of pneumonia. She attended the funeral.
Rest in Peace, Uncle!
Come what May
1. Japan Trip (Unexpected)
2. Last Month of Training for Tinkerbell Half Marathon
3. 8 New Product Releases for Work (Unexpected)
4. Bridal Stuff Shopping and Planning (Unexpected)
Yep, it’s a whirlwind and it all started on the first weekend of the month so I’m not quite sure how I’ll get this all down. For sure Japan trip will be on separate entries (day by day). So this will be a cliff notes for April like all the other months. Here we go!
April 2
Ok, the weekend before I was out most of the time that I practically wanted to have a relaxing weekend. The prior weekend was the 11-mile practice run, met up with friends, & Easter lunch in Riverside. This weekend was almost identical but the punch was a little harder.
Saturday morning I didn’t know how I was going to survive the 12.5-mile run after doing 11 miles the weekend before. There is suppose to be a 3-mile run (rest period) weekend in between long runs but now that we’re going to Japan and didn’t want to risk injury with a long run before my flight, I had to switch up the runs. So yeah, I was pretty nervous about this (just like all the other runs) but I survived. For this practice I got out of my comfort zone by running small laps instead of long courses, which really helped me to rely more on Apple Watch rather than my surrounding. Also I was also able to avoid the underpass bridges that usually cramps up my knees. And finally, I added more music to my workout list. Yep, I do believe these were some good changes for my training.
Afterwards I took my sister out to lunch for her birthday since I won’t be able to make it to her birthday gathering the following day. It worked out great because she wanted to have Korean hot pot but her husband doesn’t like it. I picked her up after a long good soak in the hot bath and headed off to the restaurant. Oh man, I haven’t had Korean hot pot in a long time so this was a big treat. My sister ordered the beef tofu hot pot while I gorged on a combination of beef tofu hot pot and BBQ ribs. Great way to reward myself!
Once we had our fill, we headed off to TJ Max to look for some purse as her birthday present but unfortunately couldn’t find one she likes. We went ahead to the grocery store so she could get organic soymilk and then In-and-Out for my brother-in-law’s lunch. The poor guy was starving by the time I dropped off my sister.
That night Hiroshi and I did our grocery shopping and other house work since we both won’t be home the following day. He’ll be out on his man-date working on his car while I’ll be out shopping for bridesmaid dresses with friends.
April 3
Sunday was much better. I sort of slept in late around 6AM (actually that’s still early for normal people) instead of my usual 4AM. Being up and happy, I decided to grab breakfast at McDonalds. Yep, I totally ruined my good run the following day with junk food but I was too hungry to care. After downing the McGriddle and shortly regretted it, my body had a hard time flushing it out. Seriously, I always learn through hard experience.
The morning was mostly spent on texting friends deciding where and what time to meet up to look for bridesmaid dresses. We’ve settled for David’s Bridal by Ontario Mills. If that didn’t work then there are other bridal store nearby so it works. Plus it’s closer to them and no point in having them drive out here in OC for me. To be on the safe side I left an hour and a half early just in case I run into traffic. It was a long drive but no traffic hence I was half an hour earlier than I anticipated. The second I walked in I knew I wouldn’t last a second; there were groups of women everywhere trying on either wedding or prom dresses and it was sheer madness. Thankfully there was a bicycle store next door where I found shelter.
Zina and her sister Angela showed up shortly and we walked around looking for bridesmaid dresses. Aside from swimming through the crowd, we were on our own picking out dresses since we didn’t have an appointment. Rochelle and Karina came and we all tried on dresses on top of our clothes while waiting for our appointment. We’ve already tried on the dresses we wanted by the time the sales associate was available for us. Zina wanted to go to a different place to see other options.
Our next stop was Group USA in Ontario Mills. It was also packed but this time it’s mostly teenagers looking for prom dresses. Shoot, there was even a “prom-posal” where the guy was wearing a suit with a sign that says “Will you go with me to prom?” The girl even started crying… Seriously? We found a couple of dresses and tried to avoid the crazy fitting-room line by trying it on top of our clothes. Zina eventually found a cute style and wanted to see how it would really look on us without our clothes underneath. No choice but to go through the never-ending line but at least we kept each other company. To avoid getting separated, Angela and I shared a room while Rochelle and Karina used the other. When I first tried on the size 4 outside, it was too tight so I took a 6 but it didn’t quite fit like a glove. I exchanged with Angela for a size 4 and without a doubt it fits perfectly. Now I just hope I maintain my current shape. Meaning I have to continue my running regiment. Sigh…
Looking for a dress was a grueling battle but at least we now have our dresses. Karina, Angela, and I had to order ours from another store while Rochelle found her perfect size. Once we get our dresses then we’ll start looking for shoes and accessories. That will be fun. I just hope I get a nice pair of comfy shoes and since I’m the tallest, I’m going for flats. Nowadays I definitely prefer comfort than looks. Grandma zone.
Once we got our dresses we headed off to BJ’s (haven’t been to in years) for a nice dinner. Most of them got salad and burgers while I settled for the most unhealthiest of all: Deep Dish Ziti. It had sausages, macaroni, tomatoes, and five different types of cheese. Mmmm, cheese… I didn’t feel so bad about this one because I don’t eat this type of food everyday. Unfortunately we were all too full to make room for dessert and I was really looking forward to the pizookie. Another fun outing with the girls!
April 9-17
Vacation in Japan! This will definitely be in different entries.
April 17
The flight back from Japan wasn’t as bad I expected even though we were delayed by an hour due to strong winds. Thankfully the turbulence wasn’t so bad and although it was freezing in the plane, I managed to get a good long sleep. Getting back wasn’t fun. First it was hot and windy compared to the cool breeze in Japan. Second I had to drive to Ontario Mills to pick up my bridesmaid dress and like back then, no traffic but long line to the register. Once I got back I had to unpack my clothes, do groceries and laundry. Then went back to work the following day on Monday. I totally skipped gym since I was dead tired and both of my ankles were swollen. They didn’t hurt but they were well worn out.
April 21
The news of Chyna’s passing shocked me although a lot of celebrities were passing away this year. But I couldn’t believe it when I found out Prince also passed away. Even those who listens to a few of his music knows he’s a legend. Never a huge fan but he definitely earned his title as an artist.
Rest in Peace, Prince
April 22
Another one bites the dust; it was the last day of another coworker in the marketing department. She is one strong woman I respect because she has dealt with a lot on her plate. She handled all situations professionally and yet very down to earth. Her position as Sales Channel Marketing Manager was very stressful and I have no idea how she pulled through it all. If anything, she’s one of the strongest women I’ve ever met aside from my other coworker and gym trainer. She’s one you can’t easily forget.
April 23
The 14-mile run: the longest practice-run in my training and I was still recovering from jet lag and did not run for a week and a half. I still don’t know how I managed to run 11 miles and 12.5 miles on two consecutive weekends when I was suppose to have a 3-mile run in between long runs. But at least my knees are in better shape since I took a week off of gym and running. There really was a huge difference. At least that’s a comfort but a comfort that’s 10% versus my 90% nerve level.
So how did it go? My knees were sore afterwards but it went very well. No cramps so my breathing was fine and I still managed to run the whole thing without stopping or walking. Now I’m a whole lot more confident with the half marathon. In fact, I’m considering about extending my long runs but still not sure about it yet. So for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon, I’m just going to enjoy it instead of worrying about it. Booyah!
Bring It On!
After conquering the 14-mile run, I met up with my sisters for lunch at Curry House. I was about to order Menchi Katsu Curry with sunny-side up egg on top but quickly changed to Shrimp & Crab Omelet. The omelet was seasonal so I might as well get it while they still have it. We got our nails done afterwards and chatted some more at Starbucks. I did not expected to be out for so long but time goes by fast when you’re in good company. Unfortunately I had some projects to work on and didn’t get to finish it all on Sunday. But I still got them done on time.
April 25
Another visionary artist has moved on and this time it’s a family member. I’ve only met him once in his big house but all I remember was how nice he was and the incredible talent he had for drums. I’m not quite sure how I’m related to him but I’m guessing he married into the family. My mom sent my siblings and I a text saying Uncle Remo has passed away from complications of pneumonia. She attended the funeral.
Rest in Peace, Uncle!
Come what May