Be Kind Rewind

A lil breakie from work...

Director : Michel Gondry
Cast : Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow
Running time : 102min
Release Date : 22 Feb 2008

A small VHS only video store faces foreclosure in a poor community. While watching the store for the owner Mr.Fletcher (Glover of Dreamgirls, Lethal Weapon), Mike's (Def of The Italian Job, Monster's Ball) friend, Jerry (Black of King Kong, School of Rock, Kung Fu Panda) accidentally erases all of the tapes due to his brain being magnetized as a result of a foiled power plant sabotage.

In order to keep their blunder from becoming apparent, the duo begin remaking the films themselves using homemade special effects and outdated filming techniques, thus becoming local celebrities in their town.

No weekend

After a ~4day seihan, it sucks when to have to work over a 3 day weekend...sigh...boo

Ice cream break

3 longggg day of meetings, so what fun to have ice-cream cake on a working afternoon. It was Asad's birthday (well, tomorrow but he'll be out) and we had a nice chocolate ice-cream cake, since that was his preference. This was his tea time (4th meal of the day??)..heheh..he eats like 6 meals a day!

Nuff said

Will you just look at that grin :P

Cut with precision

Hey Asad! Great news! Everyone at work has agreed that your birthday is an occasion worth celebrating..

I changed the ending..ahhaha

Everyone gets a piece

What else..eat and talk la

Another group pic :)

Missing Hiker

My dad told me about Hwa Yi-Jien, who happens to be the son of one of his church members. Yi-Jien studied in Kentucky, US to become a pastor. He went trekking alone at the Glacier National Park in Montana but has been missing for almost 2 weeks now. Though I've not been to this national park, I have heard from colleagues that it does have some rather challenging terrains. While extensive search was conducted, but considering the length of search so far and no results, search efforts is being scaled back also due to the weather conditions.

Article here - http://home.nps.gov/glac/parknews/news08-43.htm

It's definitely a tough time for his family, not knowing his whereabouts and if he's ok - I pray for his safe return.

America's Finest City Half Marathon

Waking up at 4.45am on a Sunday? No way! Well, I was volunteering at the America's Finest City Half Marathon today together with Maria. We had to be at the Aid Station 6.15am. Maria came to fetch me at about 5.30am and we got there just in time. Aid Station 1 was over in Point Loma, near the Cabrillo National Monument. It was in front of the Cabrillo Elementary School on Talbot and Evergreen Park. There were about 20 of us there, apart from the paramedics and police who were on standby. We were to hand out water to the some 8,000 runners 4 miles into the race. After a short briefing by one of the 31 year marathon volunteer veteran, we set up our stations of 3 tables each at each side of the road. After filling up the tubs with water and ice, we had to scoop up the water and had the cups line up on the table. Pretty easy job. Day wasn't that hot either (overcasted I would say).

6.30am!

Easy and fastest way - dump in the cups and scoop em up

Maria lining them up

Jim and other volunteers at one station next to us

That's how you do it - hold them out and smile :P

This guy came early and got a good spot to watch the runners that will stream down the hill

This 13.1mile race began at 7am from the Cabrillo National Monument and ends at Balboa Park. Around 7.20, the first runner passes through our street and soon, a stream of runners came running and then the hugeeeee crowd. It was like rush hour and trying to hand out water with only 2 hands and not getting in their way..man, it was exciting, yet scary to keep the steady supply coming when they come running towards you to get water. Apart from that, we had to shout 'Water here, Gatorade down the road/next table' (throat is sore now) all the time. Just so happen, I was watching the marathon race from the Olympics last night on TV, trying to see how they do it...ahhaha..by chance it was on TV. Thousands of runners came running down the hill for at least the next 1/2 hour. It was a good feeling when they say 'Thank you' as they grab the cup as they run past.

The leader of pack

Some Kenyans there

Definitely a lot of good looking guys and girls ;)

There the crowd starts coming...7,980 more to come

While many drink them, mostly also drench themselves with it. (Note: High possibility of getting drenched when you pass out water, as some runners may miss or get the cup so quickly that water ends up spilling on you). Some prefer energy drinks at the next station. The roadsides look a mess after all runners go past, with loads of used cups. We had to make the street like it was before the race, so clean up after that. We were done at about 8.15am. Headed for IHOP for some brunch right after that before heading home.

Used cups on the street

Like as if I'm punished and had to do community work picking up rubbish :P

Too bad we didn't (no way we could have from the thousands of runners that go by) spot Lizie and also Randy who were running in the race (busy handing out water!). Hope they had a good finishing time. I'd volunteer again next year. 2 free Tshirts for our time and efforts. But man, such an early start on a Sunday! Time for a nap!

Another Food Filled Friday ;)

Today is Wakai-san's last day in office. We had our occasional team lunch at Pearl. Lots of dimsum. Shrimp, shrimp, Shrimp! Many fun stories too.

Intricate paper cutting art piece

:)

After lunch, headed to Albertson's to collect the cake I ordered last Sunday for tea, which is when we have the office wide farewell. It turned out great! The photo printed on rice paper was really good and the blue, red and white icing definitely popped!

Everyone gathered around the quad cube ~3.45pm to say bye bye. Final words from Chris and Nagao-san, followed by Wakai-san. Then we gave the gifts - In-N-Out Tshirts (he likes their burgers!), a photobook of memories in San Diego and restaurant gift card, followed by cake. He leaves the US on 21 Aug for a week vacation in Hawaii (pure envy!) before heading back to Tokyo to begin his new assignment early Sept. It's good that we'll still see him as he returns to HV back at Jigyoubu.

USA themed cake - Wakai-san and Marle the chihuahua

Wakai-san a.k.a Shin

A few words from Chris

Ehh..

Haha..

All smiles

When I first came to the US...

A favourite - In-N-Out (double, double!)

Part time job with In-N-Out? hehhe

Yeap, I made a photobook for him too

Employee-of-the-Month? ;P

Enjoy a good dinner at Roy's in Hawaii

That shirt is way too big

Professional cake cutter and server..hehe

We saved the potrait

Photobook from Shutterfly and Gift card for Roys restaurant

Look at the size of that meat! 28oz? 32oz?

DVD portable - the 'babysitter'

We also had an intern over the summer, and it was also her last day. Shaila, from St.Louis spent the last 3 months helping out with our G***** project with research etc. It was fun having her around and we got to try the Fried Ravioli last week for lunch. We'll prolly have a 'Luther Lunch' day once in a while..hehe..all the best with school. Keep in touch through Facebook!

Wait for that T70

With Wakai-san

Team photo

At night, we had a small dinner amongst a few of us - me, Wakai-san, Nagao-san, Takabayashi-san and Crystal. Headed to Elephant Bar at about 7.30pm. This place is a usual hang out and it's a few minutes drive from the office. Ordered a couple of appetizers which were good. Ate, chit chat and hung around till about 9.30 before heading home.

I'm ready..Bring on the meat!

Crystal and Wakai-san

All smiles

Quick seared ahi tuna with ponzu

Shrimp and Chicken Jambalaya

Over broiled Potato Skins

E-bar famous Artichoke Dip

Tempura Salmon Roll

Wakai-san, it's been a great pleasure working with you the last 3 years. Thank you for all your guidance, good mood and feel good times. Enjoyed the late night talks of all sorts. All the best to you and Nozomi-san. See you again in Tokyo (Tokyo Tower *hint hint).