CRAZY WIND STORM !!!

On Thursday, Dec14 as predicted by Steve Pool (local weatherman) the winds came and conquered. And I mean CONQUERED. The was the highest recorded wind storm in many years. The highest recorded winds Sea-Tac airport was 69 MPH. EEK. Talk about turbulence. Anyway, back to me.
I went to bed at about 10:30pm Wednesday. The winds were high, but not too bad. I went to bed thinking Steve was wrong. (again) I woke up at ??? the power was out. After going down stairs to get me watch and flashlight, it was only 730am. Good thing I have Fri/Sat/Sun off. So, not being able to do anything, I went back to sleep. Woke up to knocking at my door, it was the neighbor telling me not to use the water, flush toilets etc. What!? Well, because of the power outage, the sewer pump isn't working. You don't have to tell me twice about the sewer. (My downstairs was flooded due to the sewer pump malfunction, few years back) Anyway, went back upstairs to my bedroom, and opened the curtain. This is what I saw... (keep in mind, I'm on the second level)

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After the shock, I ran down stairs to check my deck.

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I wanted a Christmas tree (I mean "pine tree" with ornaments and lights. ha ha) but not this way. Luckily, I received no damage, just the tip of the uprooted fir tree, leaning on my deck. My neighbor is the one that got his deck damaged. Here's more pictures of what the WIND left behind.
The tree and my neighbors deck.

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Here's my deck

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Well, I thought that the power would be out for a few hours, but boy was I WRONG. So, with nothing to do, but work on my sudoku book, I decided to get dressed and get some Starbucks. How would I do that, my car is in the garage and the power is out. I had to find the key to the manual door, after 20 frustrating minutes of searching, I finally found it, and opened the door. Drove to the nearest Starbucks. Okay, did I mention that power outage. What was I thinking, of course the Starbucks was closed, as well as the whole strip mall with Safeway etc... So headed down to Southcenter. What else was I gonna do but shop. And shop I did. The stores at and around Southcenter were open. Headed downtown to do more damage. Well, headed home at around 11pm and there were lights on here and there. As I crossed the last (working) traffic light before my house, I thought, "yeah, good sign. Electricity must be on." WRONG. No lights, nada, nil. Did I mention it was about 30 degrees ??? Brrrr. Nothing to do, but pile on the blankets and try to sleep. Today, awoke to no power. The fallen tree still there. Brrr. No, it wasn't a bad dream. How was I going to survive today. What do I do. Do I smell. As I was folding my clothes I washed on Thursday morning, I hear a click. I turned to look at my alarm clock, and saw 12:00, 12:00 blinking. Thank you Jesus! Halleluyah! 36 hours without power. I wonder if the pumpkin ice cream is still good... ha ha...

Home for the Holidays

Went home for a "Family reunion" of sorts. Gave my family their gifts from my adventures and went for a Family Reunion Christmas Party.
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The Leong Family, Me, Wendy, Mom and Dad

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Brandon and Leighton enjoying their "daan tat"
Brandon likes only the inside.

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Uncle Herb and Aunty Gail

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Kimberly, Leighton, me, Brandon and Chelsie

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The Mow/Leong Clan

50th Anniversary of the Founding of the Zhongshan Association of Returned Overseas Chinese

Mom, (being a "consultant" representing Honolulu) was invited to participate in the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Guangdong/Zhongshan Association of Returned Overseas Chinese within the Zhongshan City government. Zhongshan city in southern China is the place where most Chinese people emigrated from to various places in the world. There were consultants from all different countries representing places like Hong Kong, various US cities, Peru, Canada, Australia, Netherlands and even Fiji. Everything was taken care of for us by the city government, hotel, meals, tours etc... Hey, couldn't pass up this opportunity!

The Welcome

View from the bus

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Hwan Ying, hwan ying! Welcome, welcome the children chanted as they waved flowers. The band playing and lions dancing too.

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Mom welcomed by Ms. Ku Wa, Chairwoman Guangdong/Zhongshan Assn. Of Returned Overseas Chinese

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Mom and Dad with the welcoming children

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Receiving a commemorative plaque.

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The Night Banquet


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This is a very high class banquet sponsored by the Zhongshan City government. The food was delicacies from the Guangdong province and Zhongshan city.
For those of you who are Vegans, please don't view the next photo. It will probably offend you.

Cantonese Suckling Pig

N559AS

I was very fortunate to be able to ride on the delivery flight for our New Generation Boeing 737-800, tail number N559AS. As you can see, it's ETOPS certified. HNL here we come!

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I thought that it wasn't gonna be anything special, but boy was I wrong. After a very steep climb out of Boeing Field, we cruised up to the Washington peninsula, then headed south to Mt. Rainier. It was cloudy most of the one hour ride, but once we lowered to 15,500 ft, we cleared the clouds and circled Mt. Rainier. This was the closest any commercial jetliner can get. It was so close you could see all the crevices and valleys in the glaciers. We flew even closer than the Horizon flights get. Below are the pictures of the unforgettable ride.











Lisa enjoying the view

The Colosseum

The Colosseo, built in AD 80, was an arena for gladiator contests and public spectacles. The Flavian Amphitheater, its actual real name was built to hold and estimated 80,000 cheering fans.

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The Exterior. The Romans pioneered the use of arches. They stacked stone blocks without mortar into the shape of the arch, which as temporarily supported by wooden scaffolding. Lastly, a keystone was wedged into the top of the arch, it not only kept the arch from falling, but was able to support many times its weight. The second level arches were adorned with Greek statues. Today, only one third of the original Colosseum stands. Earthquakes destroyed some, but most was carted off as easy precut stone for other Middle Age and Renaissance buildings.

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The Interior. We entered at what I think of as the "50 yard line". We could see the underground passages beneath the "playing" surface. Wild animals were housed in these catacombs. Like the arenas of today, the seats were built on a slant upwards. Originally, the brick seats were covered in plaster, or even marble. During inclining weather, a enormous canvas awning would be hoisted by sailors to provide protection-- the first domed stadium in history. The Colosseum was inaugurated in a 100 day festival, which was attended by citizens from across the Empire. It is said that in access of 5,000 animals were killed in the games. The stench of the kill was masked by perfume. Ave, Cesare! (Hail Caesar)

The Roman Forum

Foro Romano, the Roman Forum was the political, religious and commercial center of the city. The most important temples and justice halls were located here.

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The Arch of Titus.

The arch commemorated the Roman victory over the province of Judaea (Isreal) in 70 AD.

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The Basilica of Constantine. Still standing is only a third of the massive hall of justice.

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The Forum's Main Square. This is where Rome began, rubble now, imagine it in all it's splendor. High marble columns, shining bronze roofs, rows of statues, and chariots racing down the (still standing) Via Sacra. Wow, Julius Caesar actually walked here!

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The Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina. Built in AD 160, by Emperor Antoninus for his beloved wife Faustina, after his death the temple became a monument to both.

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Temple of Castor and Pollux. Dedicated to the Dioscuri twins, who were brothers of Helen of Troy. Castor and Pollux came to Rome's aid in the battle against the Etruscans in 499 BC, and revered as patrons of the Republic.

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Temple of Vesta. Ancient Rome's most sacred spot. Within the round walls, burned a sacred fire, kept buring by the Vestal Virgins. The fire symbolized the eternity of the State.

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The Arch of Septimius Severus was built in AD 203, and honors the Emporer for his victories in Mesopotamia.

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Temple of Saturn. Erected to honor the god of harvest and prosperity

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Musei Vaticani, continued

The following are pictures of paintings on the ceilings of the buildings leading to the Sistine Chapel.

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Keep going...Almost there....

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Raphaels, The Disputa. Christ and the saints in heaven are overseeing a discussion of the Eucharist by the mortals below.

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The School of Athens, another masterpiece from Raphael. This fresco symbolizes the spirit of the Renaissance. Displaying the rebirth of classical art, learning, discovery and the optimistic spirit that man is a rational creature. In the center, Plato and Aristotle. Plato points up to the spiritual world, while Aristotle points down to the earth. Raphael painted himself in the fresco, he is at the far right, in the black beret.

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The Stanza of the Borgo Fire. This fresco shows Pope Leo IV imparting his blessing, as the city burns outside the wall. Fleeing the fire with his father, Anchises on his back and son following is the hero Aeneas.

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The final sign before entering the Sistine Chapel. Please notice the warnings. NO PHOTO and SSSHHHH. (the tall guard kept saying as we viewed the most beautiful fresco in the world)

Well, that's it. No photography allowed, and "silence is golden" in the Chapel.