Fresno Field Trip

I have a promising case up in Fresno with the Social Security Administration and I went up for a week to work on reviewing documents.

It was a longer than usual drive as there were a few accidents along the way and I finally arrived at the end of the work day.

The work was long and hard, but revealed some good stuff.  Also good were the food choices.  The first night, I used Yelp and found Bowlzeye and had the Nameless Potato even though the teriyaki bowl was on sale.

Very good flavors but quite a lot to eat.  That seemed to be the trend for the week as I mostly sat and ate too much.

Kikku was a hit for lunch on two days.  The first day I had the spicy crispy chicken and the next time I had a chicken udon with potstickers.

I also tried Lily's Cafe for a giant burrito.  I had it for two meals as I had a microwave in my room.

For the last meal, the guys took me to Westwood's BBQ and I had a California burger.

They also had a very cool sink in the restaurant.

Productive week but more work to be done.

Another Knit A Long

It seems I'm a sucker for knit-a-longs.  I got involved in another one with a winter theme.

Beaded shawl in Lorna's Laces yarn.  First section was the edge and I missed the step where I was to knit 2 rows of twisted knits so I started the chart and the beading right after the cast on.

The next section is short rows which took a little while, but I'm liking the icy color.

Chilly Chicago

I'm not sure why I always seem to get called back to Chicago in January.  This time was for a file review that lasted about 90 minutes.  Since I had some other things to accomplished while I was there, I ended working 2 days with 2 days for travel.

I checked into The Tremont hotel which has been upgraded some but still has single pane windows.  It is part of the Starwood group and I got a room with 2 outside walls at the end of the hall.  With the heater set at 78 degrees, the room temperature never made it above 62 degrees with cold air constantly moving in.  I had to wrap myself in more clothes to sleep.

This was the view the next morning.

It warmed up a bit with the sun out by the afternoon but it was cold.  After checking the status of the heater, they kindly switched my room to one outside wall and it was much warmer.

I went to the Uniqlo store on Michigan Avenue and bought some warmies - t-shirts and leggings.

I stopped by and had soup for dinner at Food Life where it was refillable bowls of their entire selection.  Chicken noodle and clam chowder warmed the insides.

Complimentary breakfast at Mike Dikta's restaurant with hot tea every morning.

Snow and more snow and cold and more cold.

Saw this patrols - poor horses.

Made it out before the big blizzard hit.  It was touch and go as the snow kept piling up.  Deicing happened before take off, but glad to be back home where it is warm.

Mystery Knit Along - Clue 3

Clue 3 was released without any errors and I used the time on my flight to Chicago to knit.  I was able to finish between the waiting for the flight and the actual flight.  I was lucky to get a window seat where the middle seat was blocked and I had someone with super long legs sit on the aisle seat.  Pretty comfortable until we landed in Chicago where it was a "balmy" 12 degrees.

I like the pattern as it looks like scales.

Bailey and Sushi Diner

Bailey was nice and cozy hanging out on the holiday.

He didn't look too excited about going over to hang with his friends as I'm headed out.  I took his bed over as well, but he probably won't be able to sleep on it.

Yaling and I went to Sushi Diner for an early dinner and there was a lot of food and quite economical.  She had the bento box and I had the sushi combo.

Leftovers for the plane ride to chilly Chicago.

Japanese Breakfast and Travel Show

Jon and Karen invited me along for breakfast at Hinotez (right next door to the Vet hospital) and then onward to the Travel Show at the convention center.

Great breakfast deal where you get a tray with soup, rice, and salad and two choices from the A menu for $6.50 or and A and B menu or the B menu with add ons for a buck or two.

I chose the salmon and gyoza from the A menu and it was a great economical breakfast.

We then went on to the travel show and saw a bunch of booths for local, state and international travel.  I entered a bunch of drawings for free trips, signed up to hear a timeshare talk at the Wyndham which sponsored the show, and got a bunch of shopping bags and brochures.  I really want to go to Thailand and Tahiti.

Mystery Knit-a-Long Clue 2

The second clue of the mystery knit-a-long came out on sunday and there was a  problem with the clue as discovered by those in the southern hemisphere.  Since the designer is in my time zone, I waited until sunday afternoon for the corrected clue to be release.

I worked on it a few times over the week and didn't have any problems with anything.  The finished clue is like a square with a pretty design.  It is not suppose to be a circular shawl so it will be interesting to see if we move out of the configuration on the next clue.

Bath and Tea

I went to a Korean spa to experience a body scrub and massage.  Definitely not an experience for the faint of heart.  Men and women have separate areas and you definitely need to feel comfortable in your birthday suit.

I started out with a locker key and you undress and have your little plastic caddy with a bath towel, face towel, and cotton robe.  I brought my own slippers.  The routine starts with a shower in an open area with provided bath gel, shampoo and conditioner.  I then headed to the heated spa where I soaked until it got too hot.  They have separate rooms for a dry sauna, steam sauna, and a Himalayan salt hot room.

There is also an open area with beauty needs as well as a heated tiled floor area with recliners tuned into Korean TV.

I was called to my appointment where Young scrubbed me within an inch of my life everywhere.  Oodles of dead skin cells covered the plastic coated table.  Another shower and then back to have an oil massage starting with the back then the front with grated cucumber face mask and a head massage with shampoo and conditioner.

Last step was to have warm milk squirted everywhere for a final finish after having heated towels placed around me.  Back to shower again and some time in the sauna before heading home.  Skin is super soft and smooth and muscles are a bit sore.  Super toasty from the inside.  Aqua Spa is opened every day from 8 am to 10:30 pm.

Home to bed and the next morning since it was super chilly, I had a couple cups of tea in the set that Andrea gifted me.  So pretty and efficient.

New Travel Teapot

Josephine was super nice and gifted me a travel teapot set that is awesome.  It comes in a padded case.

There are two sections, one for the cups and the other for the pot.

It even has a small tray.

I love it and I can't wait to use it.

Last Season of Downton Abbey - Mystery Knit-a-long Clue 1

I'm sad to hear that Downton Abbey will be over.  It is as good as watching Chinese soap operas.

I succumbed to a mystery knit-a-long from Jimmy Beans Wool and will be knitting along with clues as the season plays.

I decided to use stash yarn since I already had a color I really liked and enough to make they mystery knit.

The first clue came out on January 3 and I started the knitting.  A new clue will come out every Sunday.  I hope I can keep up.

I was able to finish clue 1 before the next clue.  The cast on was tricky, but I only had to do it twice.  I had difficulty after row 18 and had to tink back a quite a few times.  I finally had to add a lifeline before I could get past there.  Here is the finished clue.

Prime Rib Dinner Party

So I hosted a prime rib dinner party for 15 (my largest ever) and had to borrow chairs, plates, utensils, and even the roasting pan.

During prep, Bailey went from one person to the next looking for handouts.

Borrowed roasting pan was filled with carrots, onions, and celery.

Meat was prepped.

Eileen came by to inspect while she delivered chairs.

After roasting, ribs rested.

Eileen in a dilemma on which piece(s) she wanted.

Sides included green beans, brussel sprout salad, coleslaw, and bread.

Full dinner plate.

The dessert of red bean tapioca soup and a cake from 85 degrees bakery.

We also sent out some grapefruit as dinner favors.

Happy New Year!

2016 started with me in bed as usual.  It was a great New Year's Eve day as I got a half a day off.  My parents are still visiting and we hung out all day.

I was up early and spent the morning sewing on my quilt kit that I purchased at the Quilt show with Jeri.  Lunch with meatballs and crescent rolls and the afternoon was spent watching my Chinese soap opera.

Grace came by to drop off some dishes and roasting pan and I got my gift.  The cutest building kit and I whipped up right away.

Love it!  I want more!

I did not follow tradition this year and did not start a new knitting project.  I decided that I'm going to concentrate on finishing all my half done projects this year and will only start socks until I get a handle on all the projects in progress.