Socal Again

So we left Sacramento.


Said our good-bye's.


And made our 9th trip to Socal this year.
(Farah in rear view mirror)


Much will be missed up north.


But we'll be back up for a visit really soon.


In the meantime, it's great to be back in Socal again, the very place that we started off one year ago. Right now and up until we move into our brand-new, never-lived-in-before apartment on the 15th, we're staying in Rowland Heights with family. And for those of you who don't already know, our new place is located in Santa Ana in a very cool area called the Artist's Village.


It's refreshing to see familiar faces again.


And to be so close to the beach!


Thanks to these two we were able to make a very unexpected day trip to Catalina Island.


So our first weekend in Socal wasn't so bad after all.


We rented a golf cart and drove all around.


All the time wishing that we had a pimped-out golf cart like this one.
(We also spotted a golf cart with spinners. I kid you not!)


It was nice.


Just as Catalina always is.


Exactly what the doctor ordered--a little rest and relaxation.


Thank you so much, Dad and Leslie.


And here's to the start of a new adventure!

Instrumental Rock Star

So you wanna be a rock star? Tyson does. Actually, Tyson is. He is an extremely talented musician, extraordinary human being and one of the most intelligent, sincere and caring individuals I know. He is an all around great guy and I consider myself lucky to have him as a friend. (And ladies, he's single!!) So anyway, Tyson is coming out with an album, The Difference Engine, that should be available in late summer and here are some of the photos from the album shoot, some of which are obviously just for fun.


























For the record, Tyson hates this picture. He says that he has a "big, goofy grin" but Farah and I completely disagree. It may not be an album cover photo but it's definitely a good one of him smiling. What do you think?

Two Weeks Notice

Eight and a half months ago we packed up all of our belongings and came to Sacramento. Fresh back from Japan, we set out to try something new and see if a change of environment could possibly be what we were looking for. It may be that the difference between Japan and Rowland Heights was not enough to make us feel like we were back home, or perhaps it was just us wanting to continue in our travels and reconnect with family members in Northern California.

Full of hope and anticipation we made our way up north. Soon after, we discovered how much we liked living in a city where everything was within walking distance--work, restaurants, bars, and loads of coffee shops. We met some really great people and enjoyed our times with family. Weekend trips here and there and exploring Midtown and the surrounding areas always kept us busy. But somewhere along the way, whether it be the cold and rainy winter season or the hellish heat of the summer, we lost our way in Sacramento. We love the area and love our friends and family, but it wasn't until our most recent trip to Southern California that things just clicked for us: we don't belong in Sacramento.

A fork in the road has presented itself once again and we have decided to take a new path. At the end of the month we'll be on our way back to Southern California to start something new again. We put a lot of careful thought and consideration into this; leaving Sacramento was not an easy choice but we feel like it is the right decision for us right now. We're sorry to say good-bye to the convenience of being close to family members and the good friends we have made but it wouldn't be right for us to stay here for the wrong reasons. We need to go where we are driven. Home is where the heart is and right now our hearts are elsewhere. Sacramento is a great city and there is so much that we love about it. We will miss our family and our friends dearly. We are sorry to go so soon but at the same time we very much look forward to something new.

Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be busy packing and making arrangements for the trip down south. But we’ll be sure to make the most of our time left in Sactown, spending as much time as we can with friends and family and maybe even have some last-minute adventures. There will be plenty of time to reflect and enjoy our last two weeks in Northern California. For now, I will leave it at this.

Smalltown America

Happy belated 4th of July! We spent the day in Foresthill, which is 48 miles north of Sacramento as the crow flies which feels even further north if you are one of us city folk! The parents have lived there for several years now and they seem to really enjoy the peace and quiet that Foresthill has to offer. With a population of only 6,000, Foresthill truly is a secluded and beautiful place to live (retire). Everytime we go there we are amazed to see deer running around in their front yard and the beauty of it all. Up until recently there was no sign of corporate America in Foresthill but much to our surprise Subway is moving in. In some ways this may be the beginning of the end for local businesses and they may also be in danger of losing the old America feel of the town which is really quite unfortunate. Let's hope for the best though...

This year was no different in that the annual 4th of July parade took place in the town center just off of Foresthill Road. What seemed like the entire town of Foresthill, all 6,002 of us gathered to watch the patriotic parade which included the boyscouts, Daughters of America, local vendors, Harley Davidson biker dudes, cowboys, war veterans, and lots and lots of people who came from out of the woodworks for a day in the city. Getting a taste of life in smalltown America was a great way to celebrate the 4th and as always it was good to spend time with family.
Here are some pics of the parade:

Quick Favor

If it's not too much to ask, please don't use my car for target practice!