Back, Back to Cali Cali

I'm back from vacation. I arrived Tuesday into the hellish LAX, the hellish LA traffic and went to my job (not as hellish) red shirt and all. I was up for almost 24 hours straight before downing my Johnny Drum and calling it a night. Welcome back indeed.

Vacation was great. We went to the unknown world of Albuquerque. Dined on their nondescript green and red chile, saw our friends get married and danced the night away. Hopped a flight to Chicago stayed with a dear friend's family, then crashed at Longman & Eagle (a Chicago fine establishment), and watched the Blackhawks blow a game (WE DID IT STANLEY CUP-- days later). Followed that up with a train ride in business class, cuz that's how we do, enjoyed the scenery of rural Illinois and arrived in Mattoon, IL unscathed for the most part.

We got some boating in. The weather decided to play fortune's fool. It was nice one second, "Day After Tomorrow" the next. The wife's bf's wedding went off without much of a hitch and a tad bit cooler than expected -- the humidity would have slayed us. Central Illinois was introduced to the "crip walk" by yours truly. Then the lady and I were finally able to celebrate being married one year. We boated and cooked out with the fam, stayed on the boat and were able to reminisce on our first year as husband and wife. Perfect.

Coming back it seems like so much in the sphere I left behind has shifted suddenly. The VRA ruling has me still raging, yet the DOMA and Prop8 ruling has me relieved. It's odd that in two days, worlds have changed for millions of people. It reminds me of how lucky the wife and I are to enjoy certain pleasures in life. It also reminded me that heck, we're lucky to be married with people like Scalia, Alito, Roberts and Thomas still wielding their ignorance in court. The vacation was deserved and the fight continues.

So to show you wassup, here are a few pictures of our trip. Enjoy, we sure did!

(my get up for the NM wedding)

(Hello Chicago)

(Lodging at Longman & Eagle) 

(Father-in-law's John Deere Sprayer)

(On a boat)

(The storm that almost got us)

(Anniversary cake courtesy of BitterSweet in Chicago)

(The Farm)

(Hayyyy)

Thanks for stopping by.

I am Frank Chow and I approved this message