A Page Has Turned

***Note to Blogspot readers: It's been 2 years now in Chicago, so this will be my last post here. For future updates, check www.xanga.com/ifgj467. Thanks!!***

As I wait for Bryan to finally get here in a few hours with the big truck that contains most of our life, I'm having a really hard time grasping that this is it! We don't live in Texas anymore. Bryan was born and raised there, and as much of a nomad I've been all my life, Texas is the place where I've lived the longest, where I've grown the most, and where I've planted roots. It's not gonna be easy to say goodbye to all that.
Goodbye Chick-fil-A!
Goodbye good BBQ!
Goodbye Tex Mex!
Goodbye Cotton Patch's chicken & dumplings!
Goodbye Jeng Chi bakery!
Goodbye Cafe Max!
Goodbye Mr. Shabu Shabu!
Goodbye cheap gas!
Goodbye reasonable real estate prices!
Goodbye gigantic shopping centers!
Goodbye months of continuous, unbearable heat! (This one's not so bad.)
Goodbye house with a large yard!
Goodbye DCBC/FCBC!
Goodbye Oasis! Ah. Oasis. The bestest smallgroup I've ever been a part of, and the smallgroup by which I'll (unfairly) measure all my future smallgroups against...

On the flipside, I'm excited to take on a new Chicago adventure, now with my hubbers. (And my sister and my youngest sister-in-law.) It's already been a good two years on my own, look at all the things I've done here that I would have never done in Texas:

• Parallel park in spaces that are only a smidgen bigger than my vehicle
• Watch baseball games on TV...even if it's by myself
• Bike for 25 miles in the middle of the night
• Play volleyball...well sorta
• Take advantage of the nice weather by walking home from work...ok, I only walked 1/2 way
• Hang out with peeps born in the 80's
  

Things can only go up from here now right?

People, come visit us!!!!!!

But a Vapor in the Wind

I watched Brian William's Katrina anniversary special on NBC tonight. Didn't mean to watch it. Didn't WANT to watch it. Because I (selfishly) knew I would become too emotionally attached and unable to move beyond it. But I had somehow accidentally turned to that channel, and then I couldn't turn away.

I cried. By myself. In front of the television. I cried at the condition those who had been evacuated to the Super Dome, cried at the foul conditions there, cried at their lack of help...despite their desperate cry for help, cried at the depravity of the human heart, cried at the sight of dead corpses laying in the street while people walked by normally, cried at the thought of babies having to re-use soiled diapers, cried at the few policemen who dedicated their lives to their jobs even while their homes are being destroyed by the storm, cried at the fact that Brian Williams and his team had to have an armed escort to move out to a safer suburb to continue their report (at least they had transportation and had a place to go), cried at the disparity between poverty and the wealthy in this country...I cried because I could not wait till when there will be no more pain, suffering, despair, and broken-hearts. I cried because I am overcome with guilt.

Do you know what I was doing last year while these people lost everything and did not have the means to have even a bite to eat? I was stressed about my bridesmaids' dresses. The dresses were ordered from a shop in the suburb of New Orleans. For weeks I would go on to the Website and email the owners like a crazy stalker to find out the whereabouts of 5 stupid dresses. In my foolish, all-about-me-and-my-wedding sickness, I even had the guts to call myself a "Victim of Katrina." (Ugh! I really hate myself right now!!) Never mind these people may not have HOMES anymore. Never mind their babies may be dying from heat and malnutrition. My bridesmaids' dresses!!! Oh where are my bridesmaids' dresses????? They were probably the last of their priorities...if at all.

Well, we all know how my story ended. The dresses made it to me in plenty of time for the wedding. The store did not suffer much damage, and they moved all the inventory to a safe storage facility prior to the storm. These nice people had found the time and energy, in the midst of one of the greatest calamities, to think of self-absorbed bridezillas such as me. I am so ashamed. I owe them so much more than just a "thank you so much for sending my dresses, they looked great!"

I can't help but wonder, did all of the workers there survive? I pray that God's healing hands will be upon them and the rest of the victims in New Orleans as they struggle to find the faith to face each day...

My Current Nemesis Is...

The undying breed of ants that continues to live and buzz around my alley!!! Can we say DISGUSTING?!?!?! I cannot wait until the hubbers moves in (T minus 5 Days) to take care of the pest problems around here.

**10:24pm edit**

I'm stupid. I meant flies, not ants. Haha!!!

Ahhh...

It feels so nice outside! I can't wait for Autumn in Chicago again.

Bry, it's 81 degrees here and 106 in Dallas. Feel better yet?

The First of Them Has Arrived

The Wong/Chang family will be invading Chi-town slowly this fall. The first of them has arrived. Michelle (Bryan's youngest sister) settled in to ICO this past weekend and will be here permanently from now on...well, at least while school's going on. Bryan's next.

I'm not the Lone Ranger (Longhorn) in Chicago anymore.

Tagged Again - Life's Simple Pleasures

Instructions:

Name 10 of life's simple pleasures that you like the most, then pick 10 people to do the same. Try to be original and creative; try not to use things that someone else has already used.

My list:

1. Sunday evenings prior to Monday holiday/vacation day
2. Good food + good company
3. Watching TV in a fancy hotel room (Room Service is bonus)
4. Outside, on a crisp winter day
5. Michigan Avenue decorated with Christmas lights
   
6. Cooking in a well-stocked, spotless kitchen
7. Balmy day at the ballpark, with a hotdog and a beer
8. Finding that perfect gift and seeing his/her reaction
9. The smell of freshly baked goods (without nuts!)
10. Big screen TV, pizza, beverages, fellow alumni/fans, & Longhorns winning THE BIG GAME!!!!

10 people is a LOT to tag, but I guess the response rate is low anyway. So I tag: moshie, smwang, mayyong, logroot3, chefboymanlee, tankjuice, chinkywoo83, janrice, fhill82, & pwoo1979

Mixed Emotions

Headed to Dallas tonight. I'm super excited and sad at the same time. With Bryan moving up to Chicago by the end of this month means this trip might be my last one down to Dallas in awhile...

This feels like an end of an era. I mean, I have lived in TX for the last 12 yrs of my life, longer than even Taiwan!!

I'm really going to miss my friends. Nothing's gonna be the same anymore, is it?

So, all you Dallas peeps, I want to see you!! I'm I town until the 9th, call/email/IM/text me.