One of the souvenirs we took back from Cindy’s Google party were these photo booth pictures. They set up the Academy of Sciences with those small black photo booths, equipped with random head props. We went nuts, as we should.
A totally automated photo booth for me? Someday.
I thought this photo would be appropriate to upload in light of the big day coming up in a week. It also gives me a reason to share some of my old photos from my stint in Japan.
On December 14, 2003 (nearly seven years ago), we just got back from Kobe—a three-hour trip from my old hometown of Okayama—to check out the gorgeous light show, the Luminarie. Back at home, we hit up a karaoke spot after dinner to unwind. It was just a bit past midnight when all my friends pulled out a makeshift cake: a chocolate log ice cream cake with pieces of Pocky as the ‘candles.’ The Pocky wouldn’t stay lit, so T-Bone held a lighter flame next to it so I could make my 20th birthday wish.
Late night karaoke? Pocky? When in Rome…do as the Japanese do!
Unfortunately, the A’s didn’t win it this year, so you got the next best thing with the Giants taking it all the way this season. Against all odds & after a World Series 56-year drought, they finally won it all last Monday. Well played!
Being in a South San Francisco company, it’s Giants fever in the office. The company wanted a Giants group photo, so being the only hardcore A’s fan in the office (it’s hard work, lemme tell ya!), I was more than happy to be behind the camera. Come to think of it, I don’t think I have any orange in my wardrobe, except perhaps my Texas Longhorns boxers.
I was in the photo in spirit. My contribution were the pros: the baseball, two gloves, the mini bat, & the Timmy Lincecum bobblehead in the center bottom of the photo.
Remember our friend T-Bone? Cindy & I met him when we studied abroad in Japan. Now we’re all the best of friends. T-Bone moved to Berkeley to get his Masters, where he met Molly, a fine young lass originally from New York. On September 19th, they’re going to tie the knot.
They’ve been busy with wedding planning, but they made it a point to hang out with the gang one last official time as single people. We reserved the day before Labor Day to be filled with food: a German lunch, followed home-cooked dinner at Alex’s.
We’re all good friends, so we know each other’s deepest desires. One of T-Bone’s wishes was fulfilled when he opened our gift before dinner:
Coincidentally, the flak jacket we bought was called the MOLLE.
If there’s any reason to give up our early Sunday morning, it’s gotta be for a good cause, & it doesn’t get better than the annual AIDS Walk up in San Francisco. At this year’s AIDS walk, 25,000 volunteer walkers raised $3 million. We were proud to a part of that number.
Cindy joined the Google walk team & tagged along with her fellow Googler Amy, her friend Jason & her little pomeranian Marco. As a member of her team, she raised funds toward AIDS research. Thanks to all her friends & family who sponsored her as a walker!
We walked away (pun intended?) feeling good at the end of the day because:
The best part about visiting the City is sampling the diverse dining. On the way to our car, we unwounded with lunch on 9th avenue at Bistro 9.
