I'm so very disappointed & frustrated!?  Not happy at all.... *argh*

ah Meow's reputation has just been swept on the floor.  Thrown away and dwelted on the ground.

I feel cheated.  So pissed & upset for today. 

Hopefully tomorrow will be better day.

Wow, back to reality.

Weekend was quite busy, but was fun overall.  Friday into Saturday, I got to spend time relaxing with my fellows, and went to Mohonk Reserve.... located around New Paltz/Poughkeepsie area in upstate NY.  It was a historical town (lots of streets look like Maine/Boston).  Thank God for the beautiful weather (despite the little stormy weather that we rec'd an hour before dinner time on Friday night).  We didn't actually do a "hike" since we got lost along the way .... though we did hike the "kiddie" trail (lasted 45 minutes, maybe an hour since we made stops to take photos and have lunch at the tower).  The Mohonk Mountain house hotel is a real 'grungy' looking hotel overlooking Lake Mohonk and the Hudson River.... there were quite a lot of visitors/guests inside the hotel.  We hung out around the bend and inside the garden areas.... before the storm rolled in.  From the exterior, it looked like a dark haunted house.  From afar, it looked like some ancient Chinese teahouse - as one had put it.  Though the natural landscape threw all of us away as we were shooting photographs & enjoying the light summer breeze along Lake Mohonk.

Afterward, we went to check in to our hotel (Holiday Inn Express) first before heading to dinner.  Went to dinner at a restaurant called River Station in Poughkeepsie.  As I said, I did quick research on this restaurant under limited time (with no guarantees whether the food was good or not).  My fellows seemed to enjoyed their dinner meals.... it's a American style steak & seafood restaurant.  Service and business was pretty good compared to the other restaurants next door.  Quite lively as our party sat outdoors on the deck overlooking the Hudson River.  We were trying to decipher the building across the street from the restaurant -- but one of our members guessed it right (you have to see for yourself).  After dinner, we went to Super Walmart to shop ourselves for bargains before we headed back to the hotel for the night.  Rested and slept .... even though I didn't sleep on the king size bed, the rollout sofa bed was OK (a little lumpy in the middle, but better than the bed from Tuscarora).  It was OK since I shared a room with my driver, and she should have the comfortable bed next to my chairlady.    Am I good or what???  Hee hee....

Next day (Saturday), July 4th - we thought we would head out to FDR's home residence/garden; however, the roads were closed due to the impending July 4th parade in the town.  We all left Poughkeepsie, and headed for Woodbury Commons for some shopping.  Quite amusing as we try to go through crowds of people shopping for deals.  From our weekend getaway, we learned that we are a group of fellows who (a) love shopping for bargains, (b) love to travel different places and (c) need a good laugh or punchline to get our minds flowing (and that's all besides for our love for God & trying to serve harmoniously).  It was quite insightful that we came up with this list since we hope to co-serve within the fellowship. 

We later all met up & ate lunch at Applebees instead of the Food Court since it was crowded.  Enjoyed a get-together before we headed back to more shopping and back to the city.  After shopping/walking around the malls, we left Woodbury at 6pm.  Funny, since one of my co-workers left Woodbury with (5) pairs of shoes -- different I tell you (and it must have been a record).  We went to Timberland, and four of us (including yours truly) were wearing the same sandals.  It was unbelievably a deal since sandals were $15 (and we met the limit to get an additional 10% off our sale).  Are we not bargain shoppers???  No one can doubt us. 

We all returned home separately without any signs of traffic or hysteria with road closures (since we avoided all points along the West Side Highway and Holland Tunnel --- where the Macy's 4th of July fireworks were displayed).  Returned at around 7:30pm to Queens, and had to take care of home matters (i.e., wrapping wedding gift/gathering stuff/putting away stuff/changed the window trimmings in my living room windows). 

Sunday 7/5: went to second Chinese service then hung out with some of my sister posse (and brothers) for lunch, hung out with some other fellows afterwards before heading to the wedding reception at my church for a friend.  The wedding was delayed (of course), but we stayed and took photos together.  Saw some people whom I've less contacted (possibly some whom I didn't really want to deal with -- but that was OK).... wedding was pleasant overall due to the nice sunny weather.  Returned back to my mom's apt for the night since it was getting late...... and still trying to gain some peace deciphering this whole weekend experience.

Now, back to reality.... and already some of us fellows are ready to plan our next getaway next year (2010).  It was so funny since one of our fellows was attracting us with his full photo portfolio to Banff, Canadian Rocky Mtns (near the Alberta area).  They've already put me in charge of compiling information, and doing some of the year's research.  Wow!  I couldn't believe I was drafted (but it did seem quite attractive).  I couldn't believe how clear and crisp the water was from those photographs.... and how amazing those glaciers look in the distant background.  Really amazing and attractive indeed.  I guess it is something I'm looking forward to since I don't know if I will be going away for the remainder of this year (except any one day hikes or weekend getaways or even the fellowship picnic pending). 

Guess I've unraveled quite a lot here.  I hope no one missed my entries since I didn't have internet access for the past three days or thereabouts .  Collecting & gathering my thoughts really took some time as I wanted to rant on some points (and some of my thoughts were jotted down on a piece of scrap paper).  Though I'm glad to just getaway & hope to head out for more in the upcoming weeks ahead.  It's summer!

Getting back to all the unattended stuff on my office desktop; so, I will ramble later.  Peace!

Photos following & pending....

Weekend is coming upon and quite full.  Will be heading upstate early tomorrow morning for an overnight getaway from the city.  Will spend time with my co-workers, and get some relaxation.  We're going to Mohonk.  cm had led a trip druing the Memorial day weekend (for I didn't go due to my aunt's situation & wanting to visit her after her surgical procedure).  I saw photos from some of my friends, and the hike looks quite challenging.  I don't know how much hiking we will do.... but we hope and pray for the good weather & for our safety.  I have to choose a restaurant for our dinner tomorrow night  (which I only have very little time to research).  We return back on 4th of July for fireworks.  This year the display is along the Hudson River.  I don't know how much we will see, but hope that traffic will not be a factor.  Sunday going to church then to a wedding reception (some of us opted out for the banquet since it falls on a Sunday - and I have to work on a few EOM/EOQ schedules returning back to the office next Monday). 

Happy safe & fun weekend to all.  And happy 4th of July, America!   

 

A post that was sent via HK Xanga -- dedicated to all my friends who make my path meaningful & colorful.

人際關係是世間最錯綜複雜的東西。

友誼在人際關係裡佔了一席很重要的位置，它可以為一個人帶來甜、酸、苦、辣，可以把一個人的情感帶到天堂與地獄這兩極。縱然一段友誼就像一齣話劇一樣，劇情峰迴路轉，當中會發生無數的爭執、誤會、猜忌，甚至會有很多離離合合，但它跟話劇唯一不同的地方就是這個友誼之故事並沒有劇本，所有劇情和最後的結局都是要靠當事人所決定的。除了當事人外，任何人也只是擔當這觀眾的角色，不能改變事情的發展和結果。人生如戲，友情也是如此，除非雙方都決定要狠狠把所有回憶永遠埋於心底，為這齣戲畫上一個讓人有一輩子遺憾的句號，否則它是不會消失在心底裡的。即使友誼是一件麻煩的東西，但沒有人可以沒有它，因為沒有人能是一座孤島，沒有人不需要一個知己。

說到知己，「知己」這詞對很多人來說都只是個明亮的月亮，雖然美麗，但卻永遠都摘不到。要尋找一個你真正信任的人，及一個真正信任你的人，談何容易?可是，有少數人很容易就能在茫茫人海中找到自己的知己，到底為甚麼呢?答案是，他們往往不會計較付出，願意相信身邊每一個人，好好把握每一個與人相處、尋找知己的機會。

在此，我希望世間所有人都可以學會饒恕別人，在你決定要放棄這段友誼之前，先不要想她/他的不好和傷害過你的事，先想想對方昔日為你所付出的，以及對方所帶給你的厚厚回憶。其實重新開始，並不是一件難事。一小步，只是一小步的付出就可以了。

Photos from baby shower - my mommy friends and their little ones (eating their little fingers ):

The babies are growing up little Joyce and little Isabel.  They are really cute and were not shy at all.  I carried both without any problem or crying.  Aren't they cute??