Food Glorious Siamese Food

Have I ever mentioned that I am 1/8 th Thai?

That lineage came from my Paternal Great Grandmother. I never knew her though, because she passed away before we were born. I think even my aunts and my dad remember very little of her, other than she was quite dark-skinned and of slight built.

And why do i mention this NOW?

Well, cos today Cindy and I had lunch at this quaint little Siamese Restaurant run by a couple that Cindy knows from Church, called Noke's Thai Restaurant and in my one year here in the US of A, the food here DEFINITELY qualifies as tasting closest to food from home... *letti has a nostalgic food moment*

The Official Noke's Thai Restaurant Pamphlet

This is what I had.....



And this is what Cindy had...

My Home Away From Home

This must be what I'm looking like nowadays.......

since I've started my blogging...ever searching for stuff to make it better and yes, teach myself some HTML'ing!

It's hard to believe that a week ago, I could hardly do anything but blog straight out of the given template and now it's soooo much fun and yes, dare I say, EDUCATIONAL to fiddle around with the web page?

We've almost finished our Christmas shopping and the only person left ( and possibly the most difficult person to shop for ) is Walter, David's dad. Walter ( and his family, of course ) have accepted me with wide open arms into their family and makes sure i give him a huge hug and a peck on the cheek each time i see him. Today, he said just about the sweetest thing to me ever..

Walter : How is your family doing?
Letti: Oh, they're doing good
Walter: I'm sure they miss you a heck of a lot now that you're away from home
Letti: Yeah... :)
Walter: Well, if you left us, i would miss you sooo much

*AAWWWWWWWW*

MIRACLE ON CYPRESS STREET

THE PARAMOUNT in Abilene..

is where I am having giddy fantasies of having my wedding.....

Cindy, Johnny, Walter and I ( and David who joined us a little later ) watched Miracle on 34th Street today and the show was excellent but what really got to me was how beautiful the Paramount theater is. It feels almost magical when you step into this building. Walter and his wife, Frances, had their first date at this theatre circa 1941, where they watched Gone with The Wind, and I guess at that time, it must have looked a little something like this.....



The Paramount opened on May 18, 1930 featuring the film "Safety in Numbers", starring Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Carole Lumbard.

It was built in an atmospheric Spanish Style with a 1300-seat auditorium and a deep blue, star lit sky on the ceiling. During WWII, the Paramount was heavilyoften frequented by soldiers from the nearby Camp Barkley , large training camp, who enjoyed live stage shows and feature films. The Paramount remained open until the mid 1970's, when Abilene's downtown business district began to decline.



In 1979, it reopened briefly as the Paramount Opry, a country music venue but was not successful in that format. In 1984, the Paramount was slated for demolition, but a month prior to the date wrecking was to begin, a group of concerned citizens with a love for the old palace formed the Paramount Committee under the umbrella of the then newly established Abilene Preservation Committee, and secured the deed. An anonymous buyer purchased the theater and provided generous funds with which to restore the Paramount to its former glory.





From 1985 to 1987, the Paramount underwent painstaking restoration, as well as being given state-of-the-art projection, sound and lighting equipment. Its renovation and restoration under the direction of Killis Almond of San Antonio, took over 6 years and it received the prestigious Texas Award for Historic Preservation from the Texas Historical Commission and subsequently had its Grand REopening on May 21st, 1987.



It is now home to the popular CLASSIC FILM SERIES as well as Concerts, Stage Shows, and Orchestra Performances.

Better Late than Never

WHY ARE FRIDAYS DIFFERENT?

THAT'S why!

I was a doctor back in Malaysia, but for the one year that i've been here, i haven't been working cos i'm not licensed to work yet. There are like 4 steps to the US Medical Licensing Exam which every foreign person or International Medical Graduate has to sit for, which takes anything from a year to several years to pass. ( And there isn't a shortage of people who totally give up after repeated tries either). So in between trying to study ( er.. ), housewifey chores and pursuing interests ( namely photography, art & crafts, reading, cooking etc.), I do not really have rigid regime i have to follow, unlike when i was a medical student or worse still, when i was doing my internship at Ipoh Hospital and then a medical officer at Gerik Hospital ( and man oh man, do i remember THOSE days all too clearly ).

So nowadays, if i have a late night, i just get up a little later the next day. Which brings us back to the topic, what's so different about Fridays?

Well, Friday mornings are when Cindy comes and gets me for Bible Classes. I've been a Christian for about 4 years, but hadn't really taken the time to learn more about the Word and that has always made me feel guilty even though I have complete faith in God.

So if getting yanked out of slumber with the alarm clock beeping its brain off once a week is the price to pay now that i am a sloth, i would say it was a superb bargain :)

Our First Christmas Tree Together

*OH HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY*

Our Christmas Tree is finally up and it's soooooo beautiful. Well, i'll let the pictures speak for themselves....



David had Bubbly Lights ( that act like mini Lava Lamps ) on his trees as a kid and they happily bubble away...



I just love the sparklies on the tree



When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are..
Anything your heart desires will come to you...