Vancouver Birthday 2011

It's been ages since I celebrated my birthday in Vancouver, BC. For almost 5 years since I moved here in Seattle, I've been celebrating my birthday in Vancouver because their NAGVA tournament always falls on the same weekend as my birthday weekend. For the past 2 years, I wasn't able to celebrate it there coz my passport expired and finally got it renewed February this year when I was down in San Francisco (I know it's stupid coz the Philippine Consulate is located there and whever they come to Seattle it's jam packed)   So VGVA didn't do their normal 2 days tournament this year but hosted a one day tournament benefiting Movember. I sent an invite to most of my closest friends about the tournament and about celebrating my birthday again up there. A lot responsed and I was immediately excited. It was so good to see everybody together again, our Pacific Northwest family. It's been forever since I've been around these people who are really close to my heart and I couldn't ask for a good come back to Vancouver. I wasn't able to take as much pictures from my iPhone but a friend of mine took a lot from his camera but that will be in another entry.
My loving friend Lee and I went home early Friday and ended doing our usual girl talk. We barely see each other now coz we are both busy but when we do see each other, we make sure that we give each other time to really catch up. This time was different though, we were not in a corner of the gym talking like the usual. We were at his place and did it slumber party style over toooooons of food.

Here are 2 samples... Lee makes one of the best Adobo (Filipino Teriyaki... maybe) I've ever had. He initially told me that he as domestic anymore so he won't be making his famous adobo but surprise! surprise! Thats the first thing I smelled as soon as I get in his apartment.   He then asked me if I wanted some ice cream since we have more to catch up on. Mind you, we had Chips and Salsa before the Adobo too. This vanilla chocolate with cornflakes was so good! That I've been wanting to get me some since I got back to Seattle. haha!   Lee had peanuts after this but I could't handle it anymore that I felt like i was about to explode from eating all this good. haha!   The next day we played our one day tournament and our team was called "Allergic to Ugly". Lee makes up the most interesting team names ever. Our first team name was Combo #1 pertaining to ordering in a Asian Restaurant. Haha! We ended up at 4th place which suck coz we thought we already got 3rd (again!) but we ended up playing the other team who was in the losers bracket.   Anyways, that night, our friend Cliff hosted a pre-funk party before we go out and celebrate my birthday. It's been forever since I've been to his place that I forgot how AMAZING the view from his 30th floor apartment is. I only have 2 pictures again but there will be more from my other entry.   The view from the balcony was breath taking over looking downtown Vancouver,BC.   A park across the street from his place.   At the pre-funk party, this 2 were like lovebirds that you can't separate. They looked so cute that it makes me smile.   After the crazy night, I refused to go home without eating some Fritz Poutines. Eversince I started going to Vancouver, it is a must that I go there and have a bowl of it. haha! IT"S SO GOOD!   I shared a large bowl of Poutine with my son Maxie and after we finished ours, he murdered our friend KK's bowl and passed out. LOL!    On Sunday, all I think of was family day. Apparently, the volleyball gang signed me up on league but I really wanted to see my cousins. It's been 2 years since I've seen them and it will just complete my birthday weekend.   We were supposed to go to Dimsum but it was packed that I told them that I will just meet them after the volleyball gang did dimsum. We all agreed to meet up for sushi which is closeby anyways.   My, Ate Grace and Gino. We were so irritated with the manager. Since I've already had lunch all I wanted was a Green Tea Ice Cream but he said that if 1 is doing all you can eat then the whole table to should be doing the same thing. He agreed to let me and Maxie order desert but said that we are not allowed to touch everybody's food. HOW RUDE! I don't recommend Kingsway Sushi at all! Rude employees everywhere!!!   Here's is the rest of the gang outside the sushi place. My, Ate Jemma, Ate Grace, Glenda, Me and Gino. The lil girl is Ate Jems 1st daughter Ali who barely remembers me since I've only see her ones! Oh! And thanks Ate Jem for watching our match the previous day!   Here is Ate Jems 2nd baby Sophia. She is super cute!

I had so much fun in Vancouver that I want to go back again soon. It is like home away from home just like Portland and the Bar Area for me. Next stop, San Francisco and Sacramento!