Happy 36th Bday ITRI

It's a fun day @ work, no meetings, full of kids, food, shopping, and my poodle. A girl asked to walk her but it was the other way around.
Me & my poodle at my work desk

A perfect spot at work.People watching is fun while they are at work!

Going home to Taipei on High Speed Rail~

Catching up on New York

So much has been on my mind lately, that I haven't been able to settle, calm down, organize and do some writing. I'm trying to catch up with memories in NYC, before my memories fade away.

My fav pic: Farmer's Omelette is as big as my face!Day 3: In order to live up to the top 10 nyc must-do's, I had to prioritize while juggling with meeting up with old friends, co-workers... Instead of brunch @ Sarabeth's on the upper west side, it become breakfast @ Sarabeth's: on 59th & 5th ave. Ran an errand to citibank, walk across central park and it's almost time for lunch in Chelsea with Iris & Maria. During lunch @ Revetis, it was just like the old days, probed by Iris on personal life before moving to discuss cases... whether this kid should be removed from the home from child abuse.....which services/therapy should be recommended...etc.etc......it seems like a long time since I dealt with any severe family issues. Anyway, both of them recommended a trip to Coney Island after lunch, but I stood strong with Central Park & afternoon tea @ Alice's Teacup!

The one and only pic Iris allows me to take.
Memorable view of the Belvedere Castle across the great lawn

Day 4: 1st rainy day in NY during the visit! Passed through the guards and to Yumiko's classroom, when the 2nd graders are finishing up some craft: paper birds. Lunch @ Jean George's Nougatine, Columbus Circle: Time Warner Building, the MOMA, & no luck with the lottery for wicked, so.. it was lining up again & watched Ave Q for the 2nd time!

Bye NY : Last minute shopping & lunch @ K-town. Most importantly is heading all the way to Veniero's for some cheesecake. Bought four frozen 8 inches to-go, mini's for yumiko, Albert and my plane ride to SF.

Old New York, NY: Weekdays (I)

Finally! it's time to go shopping on a weekday in Manhatten! Got up early, grabbed an everything bagel by a Deli on Fulton St & it's 2 hours of shopping at Century 21.

Day 1: Downtown manhatten: Lunch on Stone St: 50 Broadway: 34th St Fashion district: Dinner @ Kunjip K-town

Didn't even take a step into Macy's... after walking all day..

Day 2: Morning at Katz's Deli, old time NY favorite, recommended by Anthony Bourdin. A visit to the Rockefellar center where my fav store: Anthropologie is located! Lunch @ SOHO garden with Maggie Mcgrath (whom I've known since freshmen Psych 101.) The last time I met Maggie was 2 yrs ago, and she's been doing a lot more designing and some production. Only walked on broadway: SOHO and had to rest our feet. Stopped for a plain frozen yoghurt with granola @ forty carrots. hmmm yum! Time is precious every minute! Went uptown for broadway tickets but weren't that lucky, even after standing in line for over an hour! My unfamilarity with restaurants in Times Sq led us to Pongsri, which I've been to, couple years ago. Pad thai tastes so much better in NY. The 3F high M&M world store ended up as our last shopping stop!

Old New York, NY: Weekend

Prior to the whole business trip, I was already imagining being back in NY. Right after KAI certification, met up with University of Michigan, Martha Cookie: Charisse for a lovely catch up @ Cheesecake factory: King of Prussia, just a 15 min drive from my hotel in Malvern, PA. Charisse and I met when we lived at the Martha Cook Building in 1999. Gee, it's been 10 years!

Charisse hasn't changed much, from a doctorate student in piano performance to being a University professor, she's still young, high spirited & fun!

Across the bridge to Brooklyn!

Hopped on PA chinatown bus and arrived at NY within 2 hrs on that friday evening. Poor Yumiko was down with a flu, left my luggage, grabbed a burger & headed off to Hisae's for one night. Since Yumiko & Hisae are both living in Brooklyn, I was given the opportunity to explore parts of the neighborhood. I travelled with a map! Not just a manhatten map but with Brooklyn subway lines. Felt natural to be back, figured my way around quickly, and packed up my schedule.

Sat: Breakfast @ Hisae's, Gift shopping for the twins, Tulinh's baby twins party @ Chinatown Brasserie, A visit to Albert's apt, Awaiting Cliff's arrival at Newark at night.

One of the twins: & always awake ~baby Sophie

Sun: Coffee & Morning walk around Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights Promenade, through the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhatten, Cityhall and a subway ride back to Brooklyn for Brunch @ Le-Petit Cafe: Brooklyn, Afternoon walk around Cobble Hill, Shopping on 5th & Union Sq, Dinner @ Saigon Grill

KAI certification course

5 days of intensive course, tougher than any of my graduate courses at columbia, given the hard core theory + british accent + highly systematic way the course was taught. There were only 8 of us, most are experienced consultants, some professors -to-be...etc As the only female, only taiwanese, most inexperienced in the coporate world, it was great learning between all of us.

Dr Kirton & his theories on Adaption- Innovation- everything related back to the way humans "think".

yay! finally certified!

Back to States: Day 1 & 2

Yes, Back to a familiar airport, LAX. Newly renovated, slightly newer, no particular feelings about it. It felt so weird, going through the visitor line, having my photo taken, fingerprinted. Anyway, this was the longest flight ever, making 2 stops, Osaka Kansai Airport & LAX before arrival at PHL philadelphia.

Good Morning Sewell, New Jersey

Wild bunnies were seen hopping on the great lawn!A glimpse of Philadelphia townhall on the way to lunchZip a bag up! Only sold at Quincy market in Boston!Finally, a stop by King of Prussia, dinner at Legal Seafood & checked into the hotel room, surprise! it's old country style.

Top 10 things to do in New York City

1) An Afternoon picnic + boating at Central Park
2) Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
3) Stroll down 5th Ave with the Best Frozen Yoghurt from Bloomingdales
4) Pri-fixe lunches at top reviewed NYC restaurants
5) After dinner drink plus jazz at a basement restaurant
6) More than 2 bites of NY cheescake at Venieros
7) Brunch brunch & brunch at Sarabeths
8) Venture into Alice`s wonderland for scones & a cup of tea
9) A night saved for a Broadway
10) Shopping without limits