First, Anh and I traveled to the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, and we had a spectacular time. New Orleans is known for its French Creole history, unique cuisines, lively music, and Mardi Gras. In addition, Interview with the Vampire, and American Horror Story: Coven were filmed in New Orleans, and I figured now would be a good time as any to pay tribute to one of my favorite movies and television shows.
Who wouldn't want to spend eternity with Brad Pitt?
After my New Orleans trip, I went skiing at Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe. My very first encounter with snow was during a family ski trip to Heavenly over a decade ago. What I remember most about that trip was how much fun I had. I was fearless, and I didn't worry about falling and injuring myself. The only thing that was on my mind that day was forming a pizza shape with my skies to stop, and forming two french fries to go faster.
Tahoe 1997.
We couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a picture with a pre-built snowman!
Being brave, and living in the moment are qualities that I want to continue developing. This may be challenging with the latest news of my health. My routine 4 month CT scan of the thorax showed an "internal development of a 7-mm pulmonary nodule in the left lover lobe that was very suspicious for a recurrent pulmonary metastasis." According to my oncologist, she was 95% certain this meant cancer recurrence in the lungs. To make matters worse, my Godfather had lost his own battle with cancer within the same week. These events left me aware of my own mortality, and I became obsessed and afraid for my own life.
A left video assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection was done to remove the nodule, and the pathologist confirmed recurrence of stage IV monophasic synovial sarcoma. On the bright side, the MRI of my abdomen, pelvis, and femur all came back negative. As of now, there's no plans for chemo or systemic treatment. I'll be kept under surveillance, and have a repeat CT scan in 2 months (instead of 4). I'll take it!
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Andrew bought me a tasty gingerbread cookie. Isn't he so cute?
Worrying about the unknown is a waste of time and energy, and a drain on my loved ones (even if they didn't have the heart to tell me). The past are fading memories, and the future are thoughts that haven't happened. Life is short, no matter how long a life we get. What's important is in this moment; it's all that there is and all that will ever be.
Be happy. Live life.
Thanksgiving 2003.
In Loving Memory of Mr. Truong Kim Cang
June 10, 1930 - November 12, 2013
New Orleans, Louisiana
The Mississippi River delta is some of the youngest land in North America.
The sediments that underlie the New Orleans region are less than 4,000 years old.
Emeril Lagasse Foundation's Boudin, Bourbon & Beer
50 chefs from around the country, including many New Orleans
greats, celebrated their take on boudin, Louisiana's artisanal sausage.
The event was so popular that the line wrapped around the block.
Our red carpet entrance!
There were open bars of local craft beers from Abita Beer, cocktails and
single barrel bourbons from Buffalo Trace, premium spirits, and fine wine.
Say cheese!
Cafe Du Monde
Waiting in line for tasty café au lait and yummy French-style beignets.
No beignet left behind!
The original Café Du Monde Coffee Stand was
established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market.
Jackson Square
Jackson Square was designed after the 17th-century Place des Vosges in Paris, France.
The St. Louis Cathedral-Basilica is the oldest Catholic Cathedral
in the United States. The original church was completed in 1718.
Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson's victory over British troops in the Battle of
New Orleans on January 8, 1815, was the greatest American land victory of the
War of 1812. Within days the British withdrew, ending the Louisiana campaign.
The Cabildo
The Cabildo was built between 1795 and 1799. It served as the home
of the Spanish government in New Orleans during its colonial period.
Old Ursuline Convent
The Old Ursuline convent was completed in 1753,
and is the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley.
Peekaboo, I see you!
In 1965, Archbishop Philip M. Hannah arrived at New Orleans in the aftermath of
Hurricane Betsy. His ministry was rooted in his experience as a military chaplain
of the Army's 505th Parachute Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Ding-a-ling-a-ring-a-ling!
The Beauregard-Keyes House
The Beauregard-Keyes House was built in 1826. It's named for two of its former residents, Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard and author Frances Parkinson Keyes.
The House is located at 1113 Chartres Street. Come and check out my crib everyone!
Garden District
We had a lovely Jazz Brunch at Commander's Palace.
The upstairs Garden Room was filled with colorful balloons.
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
The cemetery was laid out in 1833 by the original residents of the Garden District. Within
its first 20 years, the cemetery was fill with many who succumbed to yellow fever.
Above ground, house-like tombs served the same family for generations.
St. Charles Avenue Line
The St. Charles Avenue Line is the oldest continuously operating streetcar in the world.
Sister, Sister!
The National WWII Museum
The Museum covers the epic and global scale of the war that changed the world, and highlights the strength and courage of the men and women who sacrificed for our freedom.
The Sherman tank was the most commonly used American tank in WWII. More than 50,000
were produced between 1942 and 1945. The Museum's M4A3E9 Sherman Tank, nickname
"Draftee," is from the unit commanded by S/Sgt. Julian Czekanski of Cleaveland, Ohio.
The US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center features
six WWII-era aircrafts including B-17 My Gal Sal.
The interactive maps recreated D-Day Invasion of Normandy, and
D-Day Invasions of the Pacific. What a great way to learn!
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
New Orleans was a crucible for the birth and early growth of Jazz. By 1900 it was the South's largest city, a world port, and an ethnically diverse cultural center with over 300,000 inhabitants.
Anh calling the fun police!
Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong was awe-struck by the sounds of the horns and drums
from the streets and honky tonks of New Orleans. We're definitely jammming up a storm!
The New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park is the only site in the
National Park Service devoted to a music form.
The Maid of Orleans
The Joan of Arc Statue was a gift from the people of France, and is a replica of the one in Place des Pyramids in Paris. As Goldmember from Austin Powers would say, "I love goooollldddd!"
Bourbon Street
The New Orleans streets are named after French royal houses and Catholic saints.
Bourbon Street paid homage to France's ruling family, the House of Bourbon.
I'm sure the family would be proud!
Enjoying the world-famous Hurricane Drink from Pat O'Brien's.
The drink originated in the early 1940's and its name was chosen
because the drink is served in a hurricane lamp shaped glass.
The police horse was craving a piece of my jacket. Delicious!
Anh parading down the end of the 13 blocks of Bourbon
Street (from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue).
Steamboat Natchez Riverboat
The Natchez is one of two true steam powered sternwheelers plying
the Mississippi. Its paddlewheel is constructed from 26 tons of white oak.
I'm on a boat!
The Chief Engineer is responsible for the engine
room and maintenance. We're Engineers besties.
Spectacular view of the New Orleans Skyline.
The Natchez is one of two true steam powered sternwheelers plying
the Mississippi. Its paddlewheel is constructed from 26 tons of white oak.
I'm on a boat!
The Chief Engineer is responsible for the engine
room and maintenance. We're Engineers besties.
Spectacular view of the New Orleans Skyline.
Mardi Gras World
Doesn't he resemble the scary Burger King Mascot?
We saw first hand the amount of hard work and extensive planning
that goes on for construction of these breathtaking parade floats.
All I'm missing is my Nimbus 2000.
Anh clearly makes a better Queen than I do.
We'll miss you NOLA!
Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Lake Tahoe
Heavenly encompasses 4,800 acres, and boasts the highest elevation of
the Lake Tahoe area resorts with a peak elevation of 10,067 ft (3,068m).
It was a beautiful and warm day for skiing.
The resort has 97 trails ranging from wide-open
cruisers to plunging 1,600-foot chutes, and 29 lifts.
What stylish snowboarders!
Ending the perfect day of skiing with a nice cold beer.
I love sibling day!
The convergence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah was extremely rare. It's estimated that the next time this will happen will be 79,000 years from now. To commemorate Thanksgivukkah, I decided to make latkes from scratch for the first time. This creative and healthier twist on the traditional latke recipe was a delicious, colorful, and festive treat that everyone enjoyed.
It was definitely the cherry on top getting Andrew's seal of approval!
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