Archive for December, 2008

Joyous holiday season

0
3 years ago
by Chris Valdez in , ,

Just kidding, Merry Christmas.

Last week, company joined my roommate and I.  My mom visited for four nights, his g/f came to town (and is here for another week), and we had some friends over during the weekend.  We ate tons of food and played plenty of games.

The roommate and his g/f cooked up some delicious Korean food Tuesday night.  Some bulkoki and some other dishes were prepared.  Plenty was served up, so there were leftovers for a few days.

My mother and I went out to a Polish restaurant here in Houston.  From the outside, it looks a little shady; however, the inside is quite nice, and very warm.  While I’ve never been to Europe, nor do I have any desire to venture there, the interior felt very homey and very European.  Most people there, staff and patrons alike, spoke the native tongue, and most people seemed to know each other.  My mother is of Polish descent–though not first generation–so it seemed familiar to some places she’s visited and grown up in.  And as a bonus to this, Polish Christmas carols were playing on the radio.

(more…)

I not be dead

0
3 years ago
by Chris Valdez in

Of course it would happen.  I say I plan to update, then life gets in the way and my planned updates get forgotten.  See, as soon as I returned from Japan, I became swamped at work.  But now it’s slow again for a few weeks, so I have time to not think about work.

The holidays are here. Oh, and yes, the sky is going to be blue tomorrow.  I may be stating the obvious, but these things make me happy.  This year, however, the holiday season has snuck up quicker than in years past.  For myself, anyway.  Last year I waited with bated breath for winter to arrive.  This year, I haven’t really given it any thought.

Perhaps I was just too busy this autumn to realize the days were coming to an end for 2008.   My dad’s wedding, a trip to Japan, and a few other things here and there.  But I’m sure there were just as many things going on last year in my life, though perhaps not of the same magnitude.  Or maybe it’s because it’s been so fucking hot here.  On Dec. 20, the high here in my area of Houston got to about 75 degrees.  And you know what?  Tomorrow it’s going to be 46 or so.  The weather in the past two weeks have been pretty screwy.  I mean, we had snow already.

Yes, I said it was hot, and then I mentioned snow.  Let me clarify.  Other than the cold front then and the one coming tomorrow, it’s been about or so here the past month or so, and it sucks.  Hence my distaste for Houston, let alone Texas.  The weather is completely random.

Anyway, this week shall be enjoyable, damn it.  Here at Casa Dufus, I shall play host to a gathering of old Pine Loggers from my college days.  Then my mother shall visit for a few days, which will be the real treat.  And that’s not sarcasm.

Back from Japan

0
3 years ago
by Chris Valdez in

Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan

First, a few things:

  1. I must give thanks to my friend, Stephanie and Tomo, for allowing me to stay at their place.
  2. I really need to keep a journal each time I go on a trip for more than three days’ time
  3. Americans are rude, impolite people compared to the Japanese
  4. Photos and two small vid clips are available
  5. The US really needs to adopt public transportation. I mean, it makes drinking so much less worrisome. Drink, take the train home. No worries about driving drunk
  6. I walked about 40 – 50 miles in my time there

I can’t recall everything I did, nor the order in which I did them, so this will be a random hodge-podge of happenings.

(more…)

Go to Top