I went to Huntington Library with my parents (bro is busy with wedding stuff).  We almost toured the entire place --- visiting most gallaries and most gardens.

In the evening I went to CBC for fellowship.  Today is a day of graduations (unfortunately I can't attend the ceremonies as I have family to take care...).  The graduations have not affected the attendance of the YF.  After the YF, I went to had dinner with Chung and Ava.  Talked until 1am and drive home.

This morning bro and I went to rent a car.  Approaching the Enterprise, we saw a white Nissin Altima.  We liked it very much.  It's a full size.  The Enterprise guy was very nice and advised us to rent walk-in for just 1 day and go home to rent online, which makes me entitled to something called "weekly rate" --- which is substantially lower than walk-in rental rate.

In the afternoon we went to Griffith Observatory --- quite foggy today.

In the late afternoon I requested to go to Hollywood --- somewhere I have never been to during my stay in the US (2002-2007), or at least I don't recall having been there.  I would deeply regret if I tell people I haven't been to Hollywood during my study in Los Angeles PLUS my the trip in my visit to LA in 2009!  So the current visit to the US gives me some chances to make up the "lost trips" to places where a foreign student in LA would normally go.

Today my previous worker visited me mom and dad during lunch. My bro later came home.

I asked her to bring me to a nearby AT&T store to open a cell phone. The store really has a good customer service, that's why it took me 45 minutes to wait in line for 2 customers ahead of me. I appreciate the staff's help, and it's fine for me to wait for that long, because in general the stores in general in America are willing and patient to help people.

In the afternoon mom dad bro and I went to Macy's to return bro's stuff. Then we went to the Americana in Glendale, a new mall that is more like the Grove near LAX --- an "outdoor" mall with a music fountain and much breezing. "Outdoor" is the keyword for mom as she will be agitated with stuffy, closed, indoor environment where she believed it would be easy to catch AH1N1.

I started writing these backdated Xanga before I lose my memories.

After a long haul flight, we arrived. It's my first time taking a long haul flight with my mom and dad. When they came to the US for their first time in 2006 (for me and my bro's graduations), they are on a half-empty flight, so each of them actually sleep horizontally across 3-4 econ seats. This time, my mom felt back pain when sleeping vertically, so she said to dad and I, "you guys go find other empty seats; I need to sleep on my back flat."

But this flight is all full.

Touched down in around 2pm. My bro picked us up. We went home and then headed out for dinner at Mei Mei Oak ("tasty house"). After that, I was so concerned with opening a cell phone prepaid SIM card (I have my 3G phone with me; just need the SIM card). The restaurant waiter told us that the amenities store next to them has a cell phone dealer, so bro and I went there. (Mom and Dad went shopping Kwong Wah groccery in the same plaza.) Approaching the dealer, which is a T-mobile dealer, I was disappointed because I know T-mobile no longer has the "$3/day unlimited calls" plan. But guess what? The dealer said there is!

... after several minutes checking with her colleagues, this dealer said, "sorry, T-mobile no longer has that plan...".

Bro and I left the store and get back to parents. I really need the cell phone to call up Meow and coordinate with LA friends. It's not just about making calls but is also a matter of receiving calls that I need a SIM card so badly.

But it's around 8-ish and it's time to go home...will check cell phone SIM card tmr...