I'm on the last leg of my 2006 Guam vacation. Sitting here at the Narita Intl' Airport in Japan working on my blog.

Midnight in Guam finishing some shopping with Michelle at Kmart for a scale, macadamia nuts, gift for Casey, asparagus sticks, and Meiji cheese curls (which they didn't have) and at ABC stores in Tumon for Guam cotton pants and Meiji chips (good thing they close at 1am. Realized I forgot to get slippers at Kmart (oh well). Went home and finished packing. After helping me some, Michelle decides to take a nap. I wish I can take a nap but I might oversleep so I decide to stay up (good thing I had gotten a couple of hours of zzz's before the elders arrived). Mom calls at 2am just like I asked. Watched some tv (Intervention on A&E) and every once in a while I'd watch Jordan and Jermaine. Mom calls again at 3am. Finally start changing, fixing my hair, and packing the last of my sundries around 3:15. By 4:15 Michelle gets up (took several times to wake her up) and we met Auntie Nita/Sherry/Jack at the airport. Wish that Jordan and Jermaine were there but they were up early the day before to see Liz & Brian off plus they had school that morning. Checked in by 4:35. Got breakfast (Auntie Nita praying that the next time we see each other I will be married so I make the sign of the cross) and was through the security checkpoint by 5:30. Looked for benedryl or itch medicine for the flea bites but didn't find any. I guess I'll have to bear it for about 3-4 hours and hope I'll find some in Japan for the long flight to SFO or have to bear it another 9+ hours (15+ counting the layover). Boarded the plane (weird didn't board by row numbers so I waited a while before getting in line). Found my seat (worried that the overhead was full because it was closed but there wasn't anything up there when I opened it...whew!). I was a bit sad as I waited for the plane to taxi and takeoff. Michelle will be leaving soon for Texas, Jordan & Jermaine will be going to the Philippines before going to Texas, and mom will be going on her European tour. I also thought about Joey how I managed not to see him or call him. As the plane took off I took pictures of Guam from the air. How it looked so pretty from up there even though we hit a patch of dark rain clouds. I thought I'd be able to catch some zzz's but listened to the radio and played some games (at first I thought that I'd watch the onboard movie High Crimes but I got addicted to the game cave man). Breakfast served on board was fried rice or eggs so I chose the eggs which were scrambled and served with rice, sausage, and fruit.

The flight to Japan took about 3 hrs. 10 minutes but it didn't seem to take long. I guess I was having fun playing. As we got to the airport I realized it was one of those mobile gates where we'd have to walk unto the tarmac and into a bus. I wasn't in a hurry so I waited for most of the people (mostly Japanese tourists) to get off the plane so I can reach my rollerbag in the overhead bin. As we waited in the bus I realized that we were at Terminal 2 (Northwest was at Terminal 1)...I forgot that Continental was at Terminal 2 and I'd have to take a bus to Terminal 1. Terminal 2 hasn't changed much since the last time I was there (a little over ten years ago). Reminds me that Terminal 1 is 10x better than the first time I was ever at Terminal 1 (in 1984 when I went with mom to Seattle...at the time that terminal was chaotic). Yeah Terminal 1 is so much better now, cleaner, spacious, more organized). Had to go through a security checkpoint to catch the bus to Terminal 1. Had to wait almost 30 minutes for the next bus along with serveral other guys who were on the same GUM/NRT flight but they were catching AA/UA flights to Dallas, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

Got to Terminal 1 around 10:15am. A little over six hours to pass time. Figured I could check email at the Internet kiosk then buy some Japanese candy, big Pocky (which is over $12 so decided not to), itch medicine. Got Japanese candy (the same ones that I got on the way to Guam except for the chocolate covered almosts--2 strawberry/chocolate and miniature fruit-filled truffles. Couldn't figure out which was the itch medicine so I checked email...had over 200 but a good number of them were junk email. Took about 30 minutes to go through. Then I bought a pre-paid calling card (why didn't I do that the last time I was there...it was only 1000 yen and should last 11 minutes on US calls) and called Guam (reminder US country code is 1--had forgotten but I kinda thought that's what it was but sound a little bit egotistical that US is 1. Michelle answered so I Then I walked to other shops to find the itch medicine. Ended up going to satellite 1 which was opposite Satelline 2 where I was at. I could use the walk and pass the time. I found the itch medicine. They actually had the same one at the shop on Satellite 2 but it was described in English. Good thing I walked to Satellite 1 because I found the Japanese mini-assorted chocolates that I love. I only bought two and the itch medicine. Around 12pm, I changed my jeans to my Adidas capri pants and put on some of the itch medicine. Walked around and realized that the floor below us (on the second floor) is a public lounge that had a cafe, a mini-shop, monitors of various gates on the 3rd floor, internet kiosks/pc workstations, a massage area, and bathrooms. Cool. Better remember it for the next time I'm there.

For the next few hours started typing out this blog. Then I went to buy more candy exchanged most of the remaining yen into USD, made sure the laptop battery was charged and boarded the plane around 4:40pm. On the flight to SFO, I watched Casanova. A pretty good movie. Could have watched Glory Road, Match Point, King Kong, or A New World but wanted to go to sleep. About four hours into the flight I was so tired but couldn't sleep. For two hours, I kept trying to find the right position. Then I woke up an hour before landing--only got an hour's sleep. Good thing I didn't miss breakfast. We landed around 9:15. Got my bags. Waited for the East Bay Connection shuttle for over 30 minutes. Traffic on the Bay Bridge so we had to take the San Mateo Bridge. Go home around 11am. Took a shower and took a nap. Checked emails around 3pm. Worked some.

Finally done with the blog about my vacation in Guam. It was a very short vacation but there was so much to do. Wish it was longer. I have a lot of vacation days (even lost several days) but I can't afford to be away from work for too long. I was lucky to get away for more than a week. Thought it was a good time to go since client would be away at E3 most of the time. Boy was I wrong. We got several last minute projects. Didn't want to dump it all on my new boss so I ended up having to work while on vacation.


5/3/06 - 5/4/06
Wednesday night, Thursday PDT
Had a lot of work to do but didn't finish...thought I could just finish it when I get home because I still had a lot of packing to do. But as I was packing the downstairs bathtub and toilet started backing up. Had to clean it all up. Didn't get done until around 10:30. Then went to get gifts from Bev/Auntie Irma. Went to Liz's to figure out if she needed me to take anything for her. Got home shortly after midnight to finish packing. Took a nap around 3am and woke up around 6:45 to do a load of laundry, water plants and showered. Went to the laundromat to dry the laundry. Finished getting ready and packed the rest of the sundries. Called a cab. Left around 8:50. Got on train at 9:20. Got to SFO shortly before 11am. Checked in. Got money at the ATM. Went through security gates, got lunch (Caesar Salad), called Lucy, Jay and Warren to follow up on work. Couldn't reach Nathan. Boarded around 12:45. Got in the plane and saw the personal screens. Watched Memoir of a Geisha. Built a playlist for Jukebox--Michael Buble, Lifehouse, Hoobastank. Watched Tristan & Isolde. Got to Japan. Forgot to bring my power converter.

5/5/06
4:30pm (1: 30am PDT) Landed in Narita.
Checked in at Holiday Inn TOBU around 5pm Japan time (2 am PDT). Showered. Went to the gift shop but no US to Japanese converter. Exchanged USD to yen. Got some snacks. People talking to me in Japanese. Do they think I'm Japanese? Too tired (around 5am PDT) and fell asleep. Wish I had wasn't so tired so I could go to Tokyo. Woke up around 1am Japan time (10 am PDT) and went downstairs to work. Went back to sleep around 2am and woke up again around 4am Japan time (1pm PDT) because the sun was just about to rise. Couldn't sleep so I stayed up watching tv. Then around 5am took a shower, got dressed and ate breakfast. Finished packing, checked out and went online again. Left the hotel around 7:30am. Got to the airport around 8am. Checked in. Took pictures of the airport. Recharged battery on laptop. Boarded the plane around 9am

5/6/06
1:45pm Guam time (5/5/06 PDT)
Arrived in Guam 30 minutes early. Went through immigration and customs in less than 30 minutes. Before getting bags called home. No answer. Called Auntie Nita. She says they're at PIC and will pick me up. Got bags early. Customs didn't need to check bags.

Waited 30 minutes to get picked up. Liz & Brian show up in Michelle's Expedition. Where are the boys? Where's mom? Where's Michelle? Boys are at home. Mom's at work. Michelle's at work. Get home. Boys. Patrick's mom & dad. Party. Jordan can come because he's on "house arrest". Baby shower for Jared's sister. Sherry, Corazon, Aliana, Auntie Nita, Jack, Liz, Brian, Jermaine and me. Pick up Michelle. Pick up Jordan. Turns out Michelle knows the mommy-to-be. Made "card" for mommy-to-be.

Went shopping at Pay-Less Agana. While Corazon & John were barbecuing, fell asleep. Ate a bit and went to sleep early.

5/7/06 Sunday
Woke up early (around 4am Guam time--11am PDT). Went back to sleep and woke up again 5am Guam time (12pm PDT). Woke up again at 7am (3pm PDT). Got breakfast at Burger King with Michelle and the boys. Michelle and boys went to Mormon church 9-10 while I got ready. Liz & Brian arrived at Liz's house. Shortly after Michelle & the boys returned from Church. Then we went around the island and stopped and/or took pictures at Mangilao UOG, Yona, Talofofo Bay (beach and looked at the Ifil carvings), Inarajan Pool (didn't stop at fiesta but hung out at the pool), Merizo, (stopped at a fruit stand to eat mangoes and young coconut), Umatac, and Magellan's landing/Ft Soledad.Flowers for daddy and grandpa. Agana McDonald's for McChicken sandwiches for mom & coworkers. Picked up mom. and met her coworkers. Went to visit daddy and grandpa via Barrigada/Mangilao/Yona. On the way back go to Agana to Latte Stone Park and Plaza de Espana. Got mom's car then got dinner at Chuang Fu in Tumon. Walked to Westin for Starbucks frappucinos which suck. Walk back.

5/8/06 Monday
Went to Happy Mart to buy snacks for boys and empanadas and donuts. Dropped off boys at school. Shopping for housecleaning at Ace Hardware & Cost-U-Less. Cleaned for several hours. Went to the dump. Hung out with Sherry and LA (met Ethan Skye). Went to KFC. LA and Corazon arguing at home. Went to cafe in Tumon for free wireless to do work but couldn't access work email or server. So I waited for Michelle to pick me up. On way home saw a place where I could get Internet access. So I went back and worked from 1am - 4am.

5/9/06 Tuesday
Went to Two Lover's Point. Liz dropped me off at the Internet place so I can work (checked emails and did filepulls). Then Michelle picks me up on the way to PIC. Hung out by the pool watching the boys and Brian. Got dinner at GPO. Worked again from 2am-4am.

5/10/06 Wednesday
Michelle went to work. Liz, Brian and me met mom, Auntie Nita, Corazon, Sherry at
Capricossa for lunch. Then we went to Sunny Electronics because Corazon had to get somethiing from John. Then to JP Superstore for some shopping. Picked up Michelle then the boys and went to Chamorroville. Lots of cute white military guys. Didn't go to Denial because Liz said I should dress up when I didn't feel like it so I went to bed angry. Didn't' work.

5/11/06 Thursday
Did laundry w/ Liz, Brian, & Michelle. Filipino food for lunch. Then to the Mall and Bank of Guam. Went to Ritidian Point Beach which was so beautiful. Then we went to Yigo for Ifil. Then we visited Uncle Ricardo/Auntie Fe and Auntie Mely.

5/12/06 Friday
Went shopping again. Then went to PIC. Ate dinner in the room then hung out at the pool with Liz, Brian, Michelle, Jordan, Jermaine, Sherry, Jared, Jack, Corazon, John, and Aliana. Cute little Korean girl saying Hafa Adai. Shopping at K-Mart.

5/13/06 Saturday
Michelle went to work. So I take her car and went shopping. Then got we went to dinner at Outback Steakhouse to celebrate Mother's Day since Liz & Brian had to leave the next day. Liz, Brian, Mom, Michelle, Jordan, Jermaine, Uncle Ricardo, Auntie Fe, Ate Lorna, and myself. Lots of cute white guys at the restaurant.

5/14/06 Sunday
Woke up early because Liz & Brian have 6am flight. Got breakfast at McDonalds. Went to Church @ St. Anthony's in Tamuning. Picked up PIC straw hat that Liz & Brian forgot. Picked up Michelle and boys. Went home but there was no water. Elders visited for a few minutes and mentioned that they had to let kids go home early because of no water. Told them to come back at 6pm. Visited daddy and grandpa at the cemetary. Was so sad and cried. Then we went home and took a nap. Woke up to clean a little. Elders arrived shortly after 6pm but Michelle's on phone with Pat crying. Gave them snacks and juice. Elder Porter asks where in SF do I live. I tell them Concord but work in SF. Elder Porter asks if I like the Giants I say yes. He says he's a Giants fan too. He also likes the Jazz. Talk about sports. Red Sox, Yankees, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Jazz doesn't have that many black guys on team LOL, Idaho/Ventura, LA Lakers, Miami Heat. Ask about college sports. Tell them I like my college hockey team. Rochester. Palmyra. What I studied in college. What I do now. Elder Porter asks what I do for fun. Don't get a chance to answer because Jordan starts talking. Later he asks, "You don't have any children, right?" I tell them Nope No kids. Then he asks me where in the family am I. I tell him I'm the oldest. Then he says, "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" I tell him I'm 35. They look surprised so I tell them. Yeah, I'm much older than Michelle but everyone thinks I'm younger than her. Listen to Elder Baldwin teach Jordan some guitar chords. Play some songs. Elder Ashcroft mostly quiet. He looks like Finally Michelle's done with her phone call. They start their lessons with Jordan and Jermaine--ten commandments, other commandments, fasting. etc. It was an interesting visit. I learned quite a bit about the LDS faith. It's very similar to Catholicism. They leave around 8pm. Then I do laundry. Michelle gets dinner. Then we go shopping at Kmart and several ABC stores in Tumon.

5/15/06 Monday....

So last night was the night. Superman Returns on IMAX at Dublin. WoW! OMG! Even though I didn't get home until around 1:40am (watched the 10:40p show that ended around 1:10a and had to drive from Dublin to Concord), I wanted to get online to post a blog about the experience but unfortunately DSL or wireless router was down. Yep! It was so great I was willing to stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning to blog. I had a lot of time to think about it on the drive home but wanted to make sure I started my blog before I forgot.

Kudos to Bryan Singer and the writing team!! Storyline was great (although I think I could have lived without the BIG surprise there was just so much to take in this one movie).

Watching it on IMAX (with parts of it in IMAX 3D) was awesome. The part in the beginning with Martha Kent at home...it almost felt like I was there. It seemed so realistic eventhough that part wasn't in 3D. I think it was the combination of audio and video technology and the hugeness of it all that made it so realistic. Just a couple of gripes about 3D. First, it looked a little blurry and would make me dizzy after awhile. I noticed though that if I closed my left I that it was so much better. But I couldn't keep one eye closed for more than a minute or two. I don't know if it was because we were at the end of one of the rows (maybe people sitting smack dab in the middle didn't experience the same thing) or if it's because I wear glasses and my prescription doesn't jive with 3D. Secondly, having to put on and take off the glasses was a bit of an annoyance. Green flashing glasses at the bottom of the screen prompted us to put on the glasses. Red flashing glasses to take 'em off. But even with those gripes, I think I'll watch it again in IMAX just to see if sitting in the middle makes a difference. If it does, I would definitely watch it again once they're able to convert the whole movie into 3D!!!

I love the part where Superman takes Lois flying. There's a part where the score just makes me feel so emotional (happy, sad, etc.). Lisa and I have been listening to the score all week and hearing it play during that scene in the IMAX theater was just awesome.

Brandon Routh did a pretty good job. He was a great Superman but there weren't that many scenes with Clark Kent to see if Brandon did Clark any justice. But, in my mind Christopher Reeve IS Superman (and will always be) Superman. He did such an incredible job balancing and interpretting Superman and Clark Kent characters. But I may be biased since I watched him as Superman growing up.  But I digress...

Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane? There were a few times where I thought she did okay. But most of the time I kept thinking that they should have picked another actress. For one thing, she's too young. She doesn't seem old enough to have a child. Second, in the back of my mind I know she's a blond. Even with her hair dyed (which by the way should have been darker) she just didn't seem to fit. Third, she doesn't seem the reporter type...it's either the way she looks or the way she portrayed Lois. Even when she was smoking it seemed a bit awkward seeing her with a cigarette. Liz thought that Natalie Portman would have been better. I think Rachel McAdams would have done Lois perfectly. I'll keep pondering about who else might have done a better job.

Also in the beginning, it seemed that Kate and Brandon as Superman had way too much makeup on. Liz agreed and said that Superman looked "plastic". Lisa thinks that maybe it's because I watched it on IMAX so everything was magnified. I also noticed that in closeups Kate's eyes didn't seem to be the same color. Her left eye was blue and her right eye seemed like they were hazel. The more I think about it I think it was all because I watched it in IMAX.

I have a lot more to say but I don't want to be a spoiler. I'll probably remember more things so if I do I'll add as edits.

Overall, if you're a big movie fan Superman Returns is a can't miss. And yes watching it in IMAX is worth the extra few $$. Out of 5 stars, I'd give it four.

Another busy day at work. Went over all projects and it doesn't seem like it's going to let up anytime soon. Oh well. At least I love my job. Just wish I had more of a personal life. Was able to leave work in time to make it to the gym so I can catch Salsa class. I didn't make it early enough so all the lockers were taken. Damn! I love the class. I'm getting addicted to working out. Never imagined I would. For years I refused to join a gym. Thought it was a waste of money. But I've noticed that since I got a car I hadn't gotten much exercise. I used to walk all the time. When I lived in Walnut Creek it was so convenient to walk downtown. If I missed the last bus after working late I could just walk home. Even when I moved to Concord I would walk to the bus stop. But I digress. I'm so glad Liz works at 24 headquarters and I was able to get a discounted membership. I love swimmng and I get to keep track of how many calories I burn. I love the Salsa class. But as soon as the summer ends and the fall television season starts I don't know what I'd on Tuesday nights. Salsa class is from 6:30 - 7 which means that I'd be getting home between 8 and 8:30 which is Gilmore Girls time. I guess I'll have to video tape it. Anyways tomorrow is Superman night. Not only will I miss The Hills on MTV, I won't be able to go to the gym. I'll just have workout a little longer on Friday. But I'm so excited. Superman on IMAX!! Can't wait.

I woke up at 5:15 (earlier than usual). By 6am I was almost done getting ready and figured that I wouldn't have any problem getting out by 6:25. But just when I was ready to leave I couldn't find my keys. It took me almost 5 minutes to find my keys and ended up leaving the house around 6:30. I hit almost every single red light on Treat. Not looking good. I wanted to get to the Pleasant Hill BART station by 6:35 so that I can be the first in line at my usual spot because it was another Spare the Air Day. I parked my car around 6:37 (5 minutes to catch the train to Montgomery). As I was getting my backpack, my gym bag, and my purse; coins started spilling out of my purse. I just said quietly, "God you must not like me today." I ran up to the platform and a train was already there but it was going to Daly City not Montgomery. The trains were running about 15 minutes and I ended up waiting for the next train which was going to Montgomery.  I guess God was looking out for me. Giving me signs that I should just take my time.

I got to SF and stopped by Starbucks for my morning coffee. Yea! Eric was working. I was so worried that he had quit because I didn't see him on Tuesday - Friday. He must have been on vacation or was sick. I was so relieved to see him. That was the highlight of my day.

Work was busy. Trying to work out problems with reporting. Figuring out scheduling. Juggling two projects that were due that day. Updating status reports. Reviewing surveys. Helping out the new employee. Trying to finish work when Scott started IM'ing me. Ended up leaving work 6:55.

Got to PH BART. Went to the Mall to get shampoo and ended up only spending a little over $1 for a bottle that costs over $20 (used up my free $20 after filling up my punch card). Went to the gym--21 minutes on the treadmill (36 vertd, 1.41miles, 130 calories), 23 minutes on StairMaster (1.3miles, 120 calories, can't remember how many stories), 225 crunches. Didn't have enough time to go swimming. Had to get home by 10pm to watch Fresh Meat on MTV (can't miss it because Wes and Johanna were going against each other in the Exile) and make sure that I'm videotaping How to Get a Guy.

Able to wake up early - Good
Running late - Bad
Trains running late - Good (usually it's bad but because I was running late it was actually good)
Seeing Eric - Good
A lot of work, another long day - Bad
Chatting with Scott - Good
Train running late - Bad
Getting shampoo for $1.03 - Good
Going to the gym - Good
Not being able to swim - Bad
Watched Fresh Meat and How to Get a Guy - Good


Can't wait til Wednesday. I got tickets to watch Superman Returns on IMAX at Dublin with Liz & Brian. I really wanted to get tickets for Tuesday night but didn't want to take a chance that Liz & Brian would be late. Just realized I'm not going to be able to workout on Wednesday or watch The Hills. Oh well...

Scott IMed me today to ask if I'm going to watch Superman. I told him that I'm going to watch it on Wednesday. I ask him if he's going to watch it. He says "Eventually". I tell him that I'd watch it again if he wants someone to go with. I send him several cool links about Superman Returns.

Then he tells me that he got a book with old re-prints of Xmen in b/w. It's volume 1 from 1975 - 1977. He says that it has the issues about Phoenix and that there's even a part where Nightcrawlers tells Colossus that he's going to watch Star Wars. How cool. Asks if I'm interested in borrowing it. I said sure. Gosh I remember how senior year Scott and I used to go to the comic book store every Friday after school. Then we'd go to TCBY to get white chocolate frozen yogurt. I used to be the best girlfriend.

But I digress. I am such a Superhero movie geek. I have to watch the movies the first couple of days the movie is out (wish I could watch the first showing but I'd be too tired at work).
Last year - Star Wars: RotS and Batman Begins
This year - X-Men 3. Now Superman Returns (in IMAX no less). Yea!!
I am such a geek.