A Few Weeks "Back Home"

Home Away from Home

 

June 27, 2014

Well my training is done and I'm on my way to see family for a week weeks, more training!  It just keeps getting more fun.  I enjoyed my time in DC and I'm actually getting well versed in driving around the Arlington area since it's been my home away from home for years now.  Ask my brother for the best way home and I forgot 355 existed!  Today's commute home was torture as I left school in Arlington at 2:50 PM to arrive at Frederick around 4:30 PM.  Normal commute is 52 minutes with no traffic.  The I-66 was jammed and there was a blockage on I-270 going toward Frederick.  Enough about that..I'm just glad to see mom and spend some time with her.  She slept well and looked comfortable, I think she enjoyed my presence. 

One thing I will not miss about DC is the traffic and the rush-rush attitude I run into. 

 Looking forward to getting together with my cousins I haven't seen for the longest time.  With the illness of mom, I think getting together and the closeness with family was a huge plus.  Since grandma passed in 1997, it seemed everyone went their own ways.  She was the diplomat's wife; she always arranged get together for the family.  She kept us together and when she went, no one took that on.  I miss her but I really wasn't there during her last days.  My cousins who lived in the same household were more close so they had much more tougher time during her last days.

Well, with all this chaos, comes some sweet quiet time and a DEE-LISH dessert from the Cheesecake Factory (Chocolate Raspberry Truffle).  It's a tradition that my friends and I do, after our dinner..we take home a piece of heaven :-)



A layer of chocolate frosting, a layer of chocolate mousse, a layer of cheese cake and last layer of chocolate crust... topped with fattening whipped cream.  You have to experience ALL the layers to fully enjoy it.  Thank goodness I don't eat there so often. 

I think I've gotten in my American fixes this week..Breakfast at iHOP, Olive Garden Alfredo scallops pasta and my favorite Frozen yogurt Cookies and Cream at Yogi Castle.  Sunday started rough, as I got lost but we made it in time for church at St. Mary's Chapel and was present when they asked for prayers for Kanya Choonit during "Prayers for the Faithful.". I can only hope her suffering truly will end and she can recover.  Let it be done according to Jesus's will.

Made it to P'Tan's house and had my favorite Thai dish, Kao Man Gai...which is a Thai classic dish.  Along with Lad Na and Pad Thai, that ranks quite high for me so glad she can cook this in my request :)  Grandma used to make it all the time.  Here's my beautiful and smart older cousin Narada... and the one who wished to be present, my sweet younger cousin Pim there by spirit :)

Bo, P Tan and Pimmie

Well that's it for this week!  Can't wait to be back in town to visit other friends next time :)