Biltmore Christmas Candlelight Evening

My last day of work was 12/23.  Right after work, I drove down to Virginia Beach just in time for Christmas dinner with Jason and the family.  Since Rachel and Alana were working on Christmas they had the dinner early.  I also hung out in VB for Christmas Eve.  On Christmas morning I drove to SC to spend rest of the day with Nathan and his family.  It was a very nice weekend and I was really glad to have been able to see them all before driving out West.

On the 27th I began my drive out West but not before stopping at the Biltmore Estates in Asheville with Maria and Alyssa.  It was crazy busy and difficult getting all the way to the parking.  Instead of doing two separate visits, one for day and one for evening, we ended up staying all the way through our evening visit.  The evening tickets were little extra, though I am not sure it was that much nicer at night.  The day time visit was significantly more crowded though, and it took longer than usual to get though the house. Below is a video of the photos I took during the evening tour: 

We also walked around the gardens and pond a bit between our house visit.  There wasn't a whole lot to see the in gardens though except the conservatory.  Overall, it was a really nice visit, but I think the outside grounds would be nicer to explore in warmer months.  

Moving to West Coast

Back mid-September, I had an in-person interview for a new job in Vancouver, WA (near Portland) and got the position.  It's a job I had wanted since I first saw it back in April.  It's the only job I had seen in a long time, if ever, that ticked all the boxes of things I wanted in a job. It is a Computer Scientist position for a scientific organization, working on tasks right up my alley, in government, in a location I wanted to be in, with high promotion potential, and with relocation included.  I could not have found a job more suitable for my skills, interests, and wants.  I put more effort into this job than any others that I applied for.  I ensured my application was impeccable, researched the organization I'm applying to, prepped for interviews, and followed-up with the vacancy contact.  When I got the offer it was a little surreal, but I do think I have all the right experiences and skills for the job.  If that wasn't enough, the offer came right after I decided to leave the BJJ school that was my life for the last two and a half years.  It was as if it was all meant to be.  

While I knew good things were coming it was also a little sad because I was leaving family and friends behind on the East coast.  Also, the initial frustrations with current job that led me to look at other jobs no longer bothered me.  I enjoyed my job for the most part, and had really good coworkers. I had a lot of prepping to do for the upcoming move, but I tried to focus on the there and now and enjoy what time I have left in Virginia.

Trump and Japan

Note to self:  Don't take vacation the week of Presidential elections.

I was due for a trip to Japan this fall and I had been planning to go in November.  The way it worked out with Veterans day being a Friday, the week of November 6 seemed like a good week to go.  However, November 8th was the Presidential election.  Undeterred, I booked my trip anyway and sent in my ballot by mail ahead of time.  I thought it would actually be a good time to be away too because I knew our country was divided and it was going to be ugly no matter who won. What I didn't expect was how disappointed and sad I would be that Trump won. I knew it was a real possibility but I must have been in denial.  I could not believe he won. It actually ruined couple days of my vacation.

My week in Japan started off well.  I caught up with 3 friends right off the bat and had a good time.  Also watched a full (4 hr) Kabuki performance with mom.  I like Kabuki, but yeah, 4 hours was a bit much....  On the third day, Mom and I started on a 2 day 1 night tour.  Since my mom can't do a whole lot of walking, it was a bus tour.  It stopped at Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage site.  I had been wanting to visit there a while now and gotta admit it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. Probably would've been nicer in winter with lots of snow.

Shirakawago

This was Wednesday in Japan.  It was still Tuesday back in the U.S.  I periodically checked my phone even in the boonies for election updates.  Things already didn't look good for Clinton.  Then again, Democrats tend to pick up their electorates later since they tend to come from more urban areas where it takes longer to tally up results.  Still... I was nervous.  Around 5pm Wednesday Japan Time I saw that it was done.  Doom and gloom immediately washed over me.

Even more than concerns about policy (which he didn't give out any details of), what saddened me the most was that half of our country felt it was ok that someone as sexist and racist as Trump to be the President of the United States.  I understood people wanted change and oust establishment.  Still, it surprised me that they were wanting it even at such expense.  I could only conclude that a large chunk of those who voted for him are racist or sexist in some way.  That was sad.

After a brief stop at Shirakawago we stopped in a hotel where the usual routine is spending time in a hot spring and then feasting.  I struggled to enjoy the trip and felt really bad for my mom who had to endure a depressed me.  I cried myself to sleep that night.  Hillary could not have been a more qualified candidate for the Presidency.  No one is perfect, and the attacks on her were unjustified and excessive.  It was a blow to all the hard working women.  I don't think most people realize what it takes for women to succeed in a male dominated environment.  Her loss felt very personal.

The second day of the tour wasn't going any better.  The fall foliage in the areas we were at were more or less peak.  It was kinda annoying though that I could only enjoy the views from the bus. It was only after we finally got off the bus and had an opportunity to walk around to see waterfalls did I start to feel somewhat better.  Not great, but less upset.  By end of the day I even clung to hopes that maybe he will surprise us all and do a good job of being a President.  (That hope was soon dashed by his cabinet picks - all against things I valued.)

Friday was a family day.  I met up with two of my cousins for lunch and karaoke, then with more family in evening.  I had a good time, though I could've done with getting out of dinner early.  Jet lag was still kicking butt.

Saturday was the real fun day though.  During the day I met up with two friends I've known since high school (they came to Virginia as a summer exchange program).  They're such odd balls but I love them.  In the evening, I went to Disney Sea with couple of friends.  That was also a lot of fun, although the crowds were crazy, as one might expect.  You really need a lot of time and a good strategy to make the most of it.  Still, it was a pretty to go at night with everything lit up, and the holiday decorations.  Also was fun catching up with my friends.

Tokyo Disney Sea

Sunday morning was my flight back. Six full days is way too short for a Japan trip.  Oh well. Until next time.

White House Christmas

Probably the best perk of my job is getting to visit the White House every Christmas to see the Christmas decorations.  This is my fourth year going and it never gets old.  

This is my last year going for a very long time since I am leaving my job.  Above is a short video compilation of photos from this year's visit.

This is also President Obama's last Christmas.  I will miss him very much.