Ab's goals

1) Family: preparing to have a family, which includes learning Chinese and getting a house. 

2) Fitness: maintain and improve physical health and fitness

3) Career: doing a good job at work and getting better with personal investments

4) Serving at church: kids, English buddy, hosting events that strengthen the church community. 

Ones cut out:

1) Volunteering (helping with taxes)

2) Watching sports

3) Cooking

4) Getting on TV shows (Joepardy, who wants to be a millionaire)

5) Traveling

Funny moments with AB

While watching flag football:
AB: How is work going?
Friend: Work is going well.
AB: Oh that's cool, that's nice.  Is this your first game? Been out here before?
Friend: Oh yeah, work isn't as busy, so I've been able to come here more recently.
AB: Oh, that's nice!
Friend: ...But my girlfriend got injured during flag football recently.
AB (absent-mindedly): Oh, that's cool, that's nice.
Friend: *pause...*

In Rome 2017:
Me: How am I supposed to throw the coin into the Trevi Fountain? Right hand over left shoulder?
AB: Don't do it, you're gonna hit someone
Me: It'll be okay, I can do it.
AB: Don't do it, we are too far and it's too crowded.
Me: Here I go! .... [coin hits some random guy's leg]...

2018:
AB (regarding coughing): Are big phlegm balls good?

Me: not particularly.

Ab: today I had a big one and I wanted to send you a picture of it. But I didn't think it was show up on the camera.

Ab: what's the difference between cold and fever and flu?

Ab: *With big eyes* Yes! Do you see this big phlegm ball?! Feels so good to get it out! Now I can breathe!

2019:
AB: AAAAARRRRRRG! (After not doing so well in "overcooked" xbox game)

AB: Why did Josh say "lol"...Hahahaha... lol....lol.... [laughs uncontrollably]

2020:
AB: The way to get your kid ahead is to have them learn something rare, like viola or tuba, and to be in a state with few people, like Louisiana or Idaho.
Me: Does that mean we have to move?...Or you can find a sport/activity that's rare in the state you're in! What would that be for Texas?
AB: Recycling

Ab: it's our first recession together, how romantic.

AB: Are you suuuure? (Quoting SNL jeopardy)

YW during shelter in place: I guess I should appreciate that I still see people everyday. Are you bored that you only get to see me everyday?
AB: I only need one person, you're my favorite (😍). Sometimes I don't see a person until 5p when you come back.

YW: I'm so unlucky, that I got a fortune cookie with no fortune in it!

YW: is your favorite movie legally blond?

AB: maybe it is?

YW: no shame no shame!

Ab: maybe we can go camping on the streets of Austin.

YW: well you already look the part! 

QH: you can save money and earn money

While playing scattergories:

Letter is J

Yw: put down "Jems" for things you save up money for

Put down "ike" for items found in a souvenir shop.

Put down Nintendo xbox for furniture starting with "N"

Ab: what can we do with all our lemons?

YW: lemon pie, lemon curd, lemon chicken...

Ab: lemon grass! 

YW: uh...that's a plant.

YW was out in the garden, AB came out and pretended to be sherlock to find YW: noticed door unlocked to backyard, phone in kitchen, gate had not been opened. 

Ab: predicted correctly sherlock plot: it was a star that wasn't discovered yet.

Playing overcooked: 

AB: press B!

2021

YW: Why are we always staying at a La Quinta? 

Telestrations:

2022:

Ab's idea of a video game about YW: 

Certain things give or decrease YW's happiness level: 

*Decrease happiness points: Throwing out food

*Special ability: able to eat rotten foods.

*Meeting different people will provide different special abilities: 

    -Meet AB: travel reduced 50 percent cost

    -Can make two types of food: normal food or experimental food. Normal food always succeeds. Experimental food may or may not succeed but if it does succeed, will give happiness points. Meeting Mom ensures that all experimental foods succeed

    -you can do home improvement, but success rate is 50%. If you watch a 1 hour YouTube video, success rate increases to 75%. Meeting Dad ensures success of 100%.

Memories of 2019

• Attending weddings: Tina and G, Ellen and A, Rebecca and J, Justine and M, Joon and Y
• EYH volunteering
• Terrain Race
• Gary Thomas talk, Dinner for 6
• Going to Havasupai in Grand Canyon backpacking
• Houston Symphony: Mamma Mia, Rick Steves' tour of Europe
• Miller Theater: As you like it, Taiwanese circus, Life could be a dream
• Broken ring finger (still played flag football)
• Moving to new house
• MIT 10 yr reunion
• Going to Spain: Barcelona, Granada, Madrid. 
• HCC Dance lesson - AB sprawls out on the ground during modern dance
• Change all the locks on the doors, changing chandelier, all furniture from Next Door
• Restaurant month: Blue Onyx, Peli Peli
• AB bday: China Gourmet
• Going to super fancy Resort at Pelican Hill for Alan's conference near Newport Beach, CA
• Hiking Half dome, Yosemite
• Brother start college
• Playing Overcooked
• AB being super excited when Astro's won 6-4 against NY Yankees, advancing them to World Series. 
• English Retreat - The Flourishing Church
• Playing Pandemic Legacy. spoiler alert: .....................zombies.....
• Pumpkin carving, and getting 14 pumpkins for free
• CFL - winning open tournament (counting as 4th win in a row).
• HCC learn salsa and contemporary dance - Alan sprawls on ground.
• Trying out exotic fruits at J's bday
• Free elliptical
• Going to New Zealand: Glowworm Cave at Waitomo, luge at Queenstown, Milford Sound cruise, Hike Keppler Track, hike Key Summit, Hike Roy's Peak, Hike Hooker Valley Trail at Mount Cook, seeing Takehe bird and kiwi bird. 
• And Sydney: Sydney Opera House, Harbor Bridge, Featherdale animal sanctuary, Bondi to Congee beach cliff walk
• Brother starting at UW as freshman
• Seattle: Un Bien sandwiches so good! Seattle Chowder. Friends, family. Cherry creek hike with AL. (actually 2020)

Yosemite: Half Dome

What an adventure! Almost lost 2 of our hiking group! 17 mile round trip! 

We stayed pretty close to the park, about 30min from the trail head parking lot. That was a good idea! Cuz we had a shower on the way back, wasn't too far away, and didn't break the bank. October was also a good time! Not too hot and not too cold. We were glad it didn't rain!

We prepped sandwiches the day before, and then aimed to arrive at trail head around 5am. With our headlamps lit, we took off. Initially we stayed together, but soon we started separating. 4 of us stayed together, and MJ and LH were going to see how much they can do and turn around when they deemed necessary. 

As we were going up the steps to the first waterfall, we there started to be more light. 

We finally rounded a corner, and got our first glimpse of Half Dome! 

When we got to the lower dome, we thought we were close, but still a little ways. We could see the little ant-sized people climbing up the ladder of Half Dome. 

Going up the ladder took some time. We had to wait and stop here and there to allow people to come down. But eventually we made it to the top. The metal chains and wooden 2x4 planks really helped! 

What a view on the top!! 

We were there for about 1 hour, and then we saw MJ appear! How unexpected! But he made it! Apparently he tagged along with another group who happened to have an extra space for going up Half Dome. Seems like even if you can't win the lottery to go up Half Dome, you can wait at the bottom of it and eventually some group will come along with an extra space. 

Anyhow, we stayed long enough that we needed to go to the bathroom, so we started heading down. In search of a bathroom, RL and I forged ahead. MJ looked like he was going to be going with his newfound friend group, so the others went ahead as well. 

Time to bottom: about 6:30p. 

We waited till 9p, and still no sign of MJ! We were asking everyone who came down if they had seen him (showing this tiny picture of him to everyone). Eventually we found out he was going down with this other lady, but they were going super slowly. And with a little bit of reception, he managed to send us the message that he probably won't be down till 9:30p. So we went to eat dinner. 

After dinner, we came back at 9:30p, but still no sign of MJ. We kept on waiting, then 10p, then 11p...we even considered asking for search and rescue. But the ranger said this happens frequently. Finally the lady's husband came by with his friend and they said they were going back up the mountain to look for them. But there were two routes!  So they will each take one route. Ultimately, we saw a glimmer of light, and it was MJ! Oh man...what an adventure! Apparently his knee had started hurting shortly after start of descent, and the lady he was going with was older, so she was going super slow too. Now he knows...need to get back before sunsets! 

Cathedral Lake

Another beautiful hike! Waters were so calm, and the jutting mountains in the background were grand like a cathedral. 

Havasupai Falls Grand Canyon

Can't believe I didn't hear of this place until my friend XWT asked if I wanted to go to Havasupai. It really is a paradise hidden in the Grand Canyon! It's actually west of where most people go to see the Grand Canyon.

About reserving permits: 

Day hikes are not permitted, and to camp, you have to have permits. Permits are regulated by the Havasupai Tribe, and they become available for purchase February 1 of each year for the entire year. But it's first come first serve, so you need fast internet and a fast computer. It was mass chaos - I tried with my slow computer/internet, and I would get half way into the reservation process, and it would freeze or I would get kicked out. And I made the mistake of signing out (seeing if someone else with faster internet could get in with my account), and could never get back in. Fortunately XWT got the permits for us! So important to create account before the day and sign in before the designated time when reservations become open. 

Website for purchasing permits.

About the hike down:

We stayed at the Hualapai Lodge in Peach Springs 1.5 hrs from the trailhead - probably the closest lodge. It was decent, but pretty loud because a train goes by every couple of hours at night. 

Trailhead: has garbage cans and a few port-a-potties

The hike down to the camp ground from the trialhead is 10 miles. It was actually quite easy, but we had a member who got IT band pain and we were going super leisurely, and so it took us maybe 8 hours going down. But coming up we went our separate ways, so it took us about 5 hours. People also kept on giving us bad estimates about how much longer it would take. Haha. 

First mile probably the steepest

Then mostly flat the rest of the way

Some interesting cactus flowers along the way

At one point, there's a guy on a horse who will ask for permits, so don't try going down without permits! He also stands at different places each day. 

Maybe about 2 miles from the camp ground, you'll reach the Havasupai village, where you get buy some food, drinks, etc at a mark up. 

Then halfway to the campground, there's Little Navajo Falls:

You'll round the corner and see Havasupai Falls. Then a little past that is the campground!  It's first come first serve, so it's good to get there early. Best to get a place with tables and not too far from water or the bathroom (but not too close or it smells). 

Trying to boil some water. There's actually a huge table of people's left over gas bottles so you don't need to bring your own.

The way up, we left pretty early because there was report of rain in the afternoon. However, other members were injured, so took the helicopter up, about $85? They almost didn't make it because they line was cut off at around 8am. The village kids actually take the helicopter every day (or maybe weekly) to go to school! 

Havasu Falls:

First glimpse of Havasu Falls

Friends taking a chilling swim

Look at the beautiful light blue water!

Mooney Falls:

After a 1 mile hike from Havasu Falls, on the other side of the camp ground, you'll come to Mooney Falls:

To continue on the trial, you'll have to go down some pretty steep rocks - including a cave and an area with a wooden/metal ladder:

Bottom of Mooney Falls. Got wet going down the side!

Afterwards, there were about 4 river crossings before Beaver Falls - another 3-4 miles. 

River Crossing 1

River Crossing #4?

Random beautiful field of green

Some more wooden ladders

Beaver Falls: (about 6 miles from Supai Village)

Someplace we discovered on our way back:

Madrid - Spain

Madrid Palace

People wrote letters to Spain's government to help them find lost loved ones in WWI because Spain was neutral. This section of the palace is dedicated to those who helped.

Guernico at the Reina Sofia Museum. 

The Prado (biggest museum in Madrid):

The Garden of Earthly Delights

Goya: The Third of May 1808 in Madrid: the executions on Principe Pio hill

Saturn devouring his son

El Greco: Adoration of the Shepherds. 

Las Meninas, or The Family of Felipe IV

Other notable paintings:The madness of Joanna of Castile by Lorenzo vallés. 

Fra Angelico the annunciation. 

Cookies of nuns at Monasterio del Corpus Cristi: 

You have to go to this door, ring the door bell, and nuns will ring you in. Then you go to this small window, and across a window/turning stall a nun will ask what type of cookies you want, and you pay and she'll give you the cookies. The entire time, you don't see a single person. 

Foods:

Essential foods to try: churro and chocolate, stew, jamon (ham), sangria

Barnacles - yummy and expensive!

Market

So much jamon (ham)!!

Interesting shop dedicated to bullfighting

Parque de El Retiro: nice big park to bike in if you have some extra time

Felice Anno Nuevo celebrated at old Post office (which is now governor's office). Eat 1 grape for each ring at new year. 

The govoerner's office is also where Franco threw opposing ppl out of top window. 

The plaques in front of the building: right one is for Napoleon, left one is for the 311 terrorist bombing. This plaza was the place where people were murdered/tortured. 

Plaza mejor. Lamp post seats: Inquisition scenes.