Independence Day

Happy Independence day. D-Day. Best day of my life. Whatever you will. Ironically, I spent most of the day at the gym.*

*If you don't understand this, ask me sometime, it's a great story!

It was Great

I'm a pretty vocal backseat driver. Let's just be honest about that. Probably because I think people are stupid and I don't trust them. Not the person I'm driving with, but everyone else. Perhaps this comes from seeing the results of one too many car accidents. In related news, I ALWAYS wear my seat belt. Considering these two facts, it's amazing that I was able to be driven around Beijing in the CRAZIEST of traffic with just one audible gasp and without my seat belt. Okay, I gasped twice. Totally deserving though. If you haven't been to Asia, you just can't imagine the mass hysteria.

Cars making left hand turns in front and behind you at the same time as you go straight, numerous pedestrians in the middle of the intersections (this is what made me most anxious--I always worry about pedestrians). Oh, and bikes. Needless to say, it made me all a little anxious. But everyone survived. At least as far as I knew. Sometimes I just had to close my eyes.

Other than that, it was a "great" trip.
I feel like I need to use the adjective
great as much as possible. Especially
while talking about the Great Wall.




This great sign is on the way up to the Great wall. Please note #5: Senior citizens and children must be accompanied by guardian. It's a good think I was accompanying my mom.











The next few pictures are pretty self explanatory.

This is coming down the toboggan from the Great Wall. It's like the Alpine slide in Park city. It was pretty great. And notice the great photography while careening down the mountain!

We found a 4 star toilet. It didn't speak well for the 3 star toilets and below. It was still pretty gross














This is at the Forbidden city. It's where the Emperor used to live with the empress and his concubines. And nobody else was allowed in the city. Very sacred. Now the little red building behind us houses a Starbucks.












The continued benefit of travelling with my mom. This is what I found at my seat when I boarded the plane.
And I got another sleeper seat. It's getting harder and harder to go back to coach. I coke you too.

Ah, Cupid

Courtesy of Brennan

Happy Birthday!!!

It's all part of the freakin' adventure








Sunshine makes me happy








Scars are souvenirs you never loose







I submit that it cannot!









We Think We're Funny







Life's more amusing than we thought












It's not coincidence that drama and trauma rhyme








P.S. This is the Life








Box Out!





Second Star to the Right












Happy birthday to my key losing, adventure seeking, scrappy (but not so scrappy she gets arrested), Star Wars loving, master packing, short girl best friend! (And the only girl who will fully understand and appreciate this post!)

At least REI doesn't have to ID me

My family has lived only a few blocks away from Raley's grocery store for the past 25 years. And some of the cashiers have worked there at least as long as I can remember. Consequently, when my mom or dad goes grocery shopping not only is there no need to ID either of them, but they always say "hi Mr/s. Pace." I love that! I now live very close to a grocery store and as such only shop there. I'm trying to get the cashier's to know me so I only go to a few specific cashiers to build familiarity. It's been 9 months and I haven't gotten anywhere. I think this is due to the fact that especially lately, I've only been going grocery shopping twice a month. No need to panic. It's not because I'm starving myself, and it's not because I'm eating out. I think the real reason is that the Holman's are gracious enough to invite me to eat frequently. I appreciate it. So does my mom.

Take Your Daughter To Work Day

I got to go with my mom to work last week. We went to Japan for a day. The Japan part was great, but the best part was experiencing all the places and things my mom does when she goes over there. We were in Narita, which I've heard of the place for years since she travels there pretty frequently, but until last week never actually knew where it was.

I do my fair share of traveling, but going with my mom has some great perks. Faster security lines for crew, extra toppings on your ice cream sundae, and having a bus waiting for you when you arrive. Plus, all the other flight attendants and pilots know who you are and you get extra special treatment. Although it was weird, traveling with my mom I felt like a little kid again.
I wouldn't normally put a sleeping picture on here, but these beds are just too amazing. I'm not sure I'm going to want to go back to coach.

This is Yoko. For years growing up my mom would bring home rice paper and we would cover eggs in rice paper and I could sell them for some spending money. I finally got to go to the rice paper store and meet Yoko, the woman who taught my mom how to make eggs and other fun projects.

Whether the weather

~ It feels like home here. Until tonight it has just been overcast and rainy. And foggy in the morning. Just like winter in California. In fact, it's been so foggy in the mornings, I could have been home and wouldn't even have known it because I can't see anything. I like to pretend that's where I am.

~ It's a good thing the rain finally came too, the inversion was so bad I was thinking I would need to go back to LA for some fresh air.