The Queen's City

How's it going, Charlotte? Today I am in North Carolina visiting friends and family. We got here at 8:30PM yesterday and were heading to my sister's house cause that was our place to stay while down here. But my sister wasn't home so we just went out to eat at Tin Tin! Another 25 minutes to drive on top of the 5 hours already driven. Ehh. Tin Tin is so good, but dang.. $64 for just me, my brother, and Dad. Crazy expensive buffet! So we just ate there, and I sent out a mass text to my friends here. Found out, Vinh was staying the night at my sister's too. We chilled and hung out when we got there. I also gave Mitchell, my nephew, his birthday/Christmas present. It was his birthday that night. Happy 6th Birthday Mitchell!

So I woke up this morning around 9:45AM. Vinh left to see his girl and so I got ready to pick up Sandy. I was so excited to see everyone, it's been so long! The ride to Sandy's was long too. If I was driving in Virginia Beach, I probably would have driven two cities over. Charlotte's kind of big. I got to her house, and I rung the doorbell. Then got attacked with hugs haha. I've missed this girl! She's the only one from Charlotte who I've talked to pretty much every day. She's a special one haha.
We drove back to my sister's to meet up with Vinh and Angel, and also to pick up my brother (Jimmy), my niece (Kristina), and my little nephew (Mitchell). More hugs from Angel! I've missed that girl a lot. It was so good to see her again. After the small reunion, we all headed in separate cars to Concord Mills, the local mall. Vinh still needed to buy a gift for Mitchell, and Angel had to get art supplies for a project. Sandy also still needed to get me my Christmas gift. The mall was super busy. I thought the state of the economy was supposed to slow the holiday shopping. It took me awhile to find a spot to park in. Too many people! I love the holidays, but I really don't like shifting through the crowds.

First stop, Starbucks. Thanks for the vanilla bean frappucino, Sandy! Haha. After waiting for what felt like 15 minutes to get our drinks, we fought the crowds... separately. Vinh, Angel, Jimmy, Mitchell, and Kristina went to go look for a gift. I went with Sandy so that she could use that Forever 21 gift card I got her. She got nothing. So me being her faux-boyfriend who holds her coffee while she picks up clothes off the hangers was for nothing. Ehh... haha. We went to Gamestop to find my gift. I wanted Mario Kart Wii. Sold out. So we combed the crowds looking for the others. Took about 5 seconds of that to realize, we need to call first. Like I said, holiday shoppers were running amuck. We found out they were at Circuit City! Nice, another chance to find Mario Kart Wii. Nope, gone. Geeze, and one of the employees said they just got it in the other day. It's a big holiday item I guess. We left and walked all the way through the gigantic mall. It feels like walking forever down a narrow hallway, since it's built in a circle so you can just walk all the way around.

We left the mall and headed to Angel's house. Sandy and I in one car, everyone else in Vinh's. On our way there, Sandy was craving some sushi. Actually, it was pretty much like that since I picked her up. Haha. So I told her we would just kick it at Angel's for 10 minutes and I would take her. It was kind of awkward to know that I would be seeing my ex, Kelly, who I haven't seen in about 8 months. I was hoping we could keep it chill. We got there after Vinh and everyone else did. First people I saw were Kevin (Angel's kid brother), Jimmy, Vinh, and Bao outside playing b-ball. Quick hey, and I headed inside to get Sandy. Kelly and I talked a little, it was actually pretty chill like I wanted. Angel asked for someone to do her math homework for her. Shame shame, haha. So Sandy sort of volunteered somehow. She did it in record time. She's brilliant, or she just screwed Angel over cause she really really wanted to hurry and get some sushi. Haha, nah. Sandy's just smart like that. We left almost as soon as we got there.

So Sandy wanted to take me to this Japanese place called, Koishi. She said it was probably empty with no customers, but they had bomb sushi. I trust her tastebuds, haha. I asked if they had volcano rolls, cause that's probably officially my favorite kind now (Thanks Stacy!).She said it was a Pizza Hut turned into a sushi restaurant. It seriously looked like it too, haha. We got inside and I got a volcano roll and tempura roll. Sandy got a volcano roll and a refreshing roll. It was pretty much delicious. I was totally expecting something else for volcano roll though. It seems like they prepare it differently here. Really differently, but it was still very good. First, there's no frying. Second, pretty much all the ingredients inside are different. Third, they cut and arrange the pieces differently. Fourth, they pile this mixture of spicy sauce with calamari and crab meat on top of the pieces of sushi. It was so good, but still not as good as the volcano rolls back home! Reppin VB, yo. Haha. While we were eating, Sandy noticed one of the Asian waiters was cute. What the...? Haha. She's got a boyfriend, but apparently they don't care if they check out other people. I can't do that, haha. I'll notice if a girl's beautiful or cute, but I don't go checking out there butt or whatever Sandy was eyeing. Haha. That girl gets me weak.

and we were interrupted by the waiter,
but not the one she was crushing on haha

After sushi, we left and I drove her to her boyfriend, Anthony. I went back to Angel's and just hung out playing games. Just good times. Played some Mario Party, and played with paint haha. Just did random activities. I got a stache and a goatee painted on. Vinh got a new pair of eyes, which reminds me of that monster from Pan's Labyrinth. My nephew got me weak at random times. It was a good night. We had to cut it short, cause my sister wanted the kids home. So we just left around 7:30PM. Got home, ate Bojangles, and cammed with Stacy. Still camming with her, haha. Finally finishing up this blog post. Tomorrow is Angel's birthday party! So many more people I haven't seen yet, and they'll all be conveniently located in one location. I'm pretty excited, haha. After the party though, we're driving back to Virginia Beach. Definitely going to miss these guys. I still have my memories captured on pictures and video though. Especially of this one of my nephew with his victory dance. Haha, weak!

and I can't forget Jimmy's
love for waist-thinning chairs haha

Til next time Charlotte, peace!!