Full-giving

Holiday time around the office is kind of nice. People are a little more patient, the floor is buzzing with activity, and awesome food fundraisers galore.

This particular holiday, a corn surplus somehow found it's way into the office and everyone managed to grab a bag or two (or ten) of fresh corn for their upcoming Thanksgiving feasts. Quite a few bags also contained some extra protein. Yum.

Desks were crawling with the little buggers. They even jump!

Being that Assagio's is within walking distance from the office (a fact definitely not taken advantage of enough), there was an impromptu Lunch bunch-giving.

As yum as garlic mash potatoes and sourdough stuffing sounds to my stomach, an eggplant parmigiana sandwich is the kind of Thanksgiving meal I can get behind! Garlic breathe is awesome, jus' sayin'.

Thanksgiving day, the family drove into the space continuum ...


and landed on some clouds.

Better known as the H-3, Kaneohe bound.

Spent the day catching up and toying around the kitchen. Thanksgiving has always been a touchy holiday. It was nice to just relax with everyone. Something to be thankful for ... cliche cliche.

Road pics will never get old.


Drove by Walmart on the way home to see just how crazy the line was. And saw what my mind immediately declared to be a phallic traffic light pole. Why is it so thick? No, really ... why?


A Black Friday should be spent comforting the stomach with a bacon & cheese & spinach omelet w/ fried rice ....


and banana pancakes. SO HEART ATTACK GOOD.


The holidays are but a breathe away. Reindeer sweaters anyone?

Lurk
+ Aloun Farms
+ Assagio's
+ Koa Pancake House

S-a-t-u-r-d-a-y night

My night consisted of water zombies & a pumpkin pie bites test run. Comfort is winning now a days.

Btw, BBC HD is teh awesome. HD Ten ... oh my.

Lurk
+ Pumpkin Pie Bites
+ The Waters of Mars

Vegas!

A co-worker needed my December vacation days so I bargained for her Veterans Day week. Vacation schedules are a touchy subject in the office. It's taken way too seriously.

Coincidentally my parents were scheduled to be in Vegas that particular week and suggested I join them. Since things have been a little hectic recently, I was grateful for the opportunity to spend time with them.

They like traveling to Vegas. A lot.

I, on the other hand, had not been to the ninth island in a couple of years. My list of destinations to visit before kicking the bucket is long, and Vegas is, well, Vegas. Still, I was looking forward to the trip (& the cold weather).

It was interesting seeing my parents outside of their everyday skin. I think the biggest surprise was witnessing my somewhat conservative dad dance in his chair to "Macho Man" as he played a penny slot. It pretty much made my trip. Pics or it didn't happen!

Penny slots are hard to figure out. My general idea of them is that as long as the machine flashes lights and makes noise, it's a good thing.

Truth be told, the bonus games are what makes them rad.

Didn't meet Mr. Ellis. Maybe next trip.

While we were out & about, spotted a cool old man who was laced, and good to go at the (bus) terminal.

As we bus'ed it to the Strip (awesome way to meet people, btw), I learned that, "Science is God's test to our belief in him." Educational bus rides, Vegas haz.

One night, I somehow found myself sharing a table with a few WWII veterans who were in town for the parade. Over a pint of pumpkin spiced ale, they shared a few memories from the trenches.

I can not fathom the survival mindset they were forced into. Perspective, it silently slapped my face.

Party monster, obvs.

Requisite.

Experienced some pretty rough turbulence coming home. Wasn't so much worried about crashing, as much as trying to avoid regurgitating my dinner. Slept off the motion sickness, and woke up just in time for landing. The trip as a whole was fun. Tested my patience a little, but it was definitely worth it.

The holidays approach ... EXCITED.

Work commute: Fall

Early morning

Early evening

Early Winter

Peppermint Mocha, dribble down my throat NAO!

Lurk
+ Starbucks Peppermint Mocha