The True Shine Gang

So. I've been in denial but it's time to come to grips with the fact that my camera is gone a broke. It's been broken for two weeks now, but it was this weekend that I really felt my loss.

Brandt Sykes planned a True Shine Weekend for all his workers and their family out by a lake house in Spring City. There were so many Kodak moments to captures as we swam in the lake, did assortments of water sports, had ping pong tournaments, played card games and just having plain fun hanging around the big porch roasting smores. But alas, I don't have pictures to show people. However, my camera still takes videos, so I am able to show you a glimpse of our weekend and the beauty that surrounded us.



So pretty, huh? It's what we needed. So relaxing and rejuvenating. Good social time and good food. Thanks B Sykes!

Yukari is now 25 years and a day old! Yeah!

My baby sister turned a quarter of a century, as of September 11th. Yes, yes - 9/11. It's a date that the world will always remember. And it's a date I will never forget 'cuz 25 years ago I got a sister. My go-to person. When no body gets me, no one wants to fight with me, no one wants to shop with me, no one wants to laugh with me, no one wants to cry over chick-flicks with me: Kari has been there. 100%
She stood by my side, when I got married. She was there when Vincent proposed...the second time. She was one of 4 people to come see me walk for my M.S. Degree. She went jogging with me in the middle of the night so I can de-stress from writing my S.I.P. She has been there for all my significant events of my life...So, to my dear dear annoying sister...

I love you and happy happy birthday!!!

Quake

(image by BBC.com)
Some of you may have heard - Indonesia has experienced another earth quake measured at 7.9M off the coast of Sumatra. In 2004, they experienced an earth quake of 8.9 M (possibly up to 9.3), which lead to a Tsunami that killed over 220,000 people. This was one of the most devastating natural disasters in the world.

The reason why I bring this incident up in my blog is because my mother is currently in Jakarta for a business trip. I have gotten word that she is fine and I have read on the news that Indonesia has lifted their Tsunami watch. Thank God! But please continue to pray for her safety and also for those in Sumatra.

By looking at the image above, it may seem as if Jakarta (where my mother is) is far enough away from where the earthquake hit. However, if you look at the image below (from wiki), the quake was farther away in 2004, but by looking at the countries most affected by the Tsunami then (yellow), its great news that my mother is okay. Thank God, Thank God.