Browse Month: August 2005

Let’s go!

With excitement over going to Thailand brewing, my dad and brother have decided to go with us. They booked flights on the same planes and everything! This is going to be awesome. We’ll have someone to help translate (my dad) and someone to drink with (my brother). It’s too bad that my mom can’t get the time off but now we have someone to look after Koa! 🙂

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Preparation for Jes’ 3rd-ieth birthday party is underway. I went to Party City and Target with Marie and Cole yesterday for our weekly shopping excursion and bought lots of cool stuff. I was so surprised how everything starts to add up. But it’s his 30th so we’re going all out. Left on the list…1) order food, 2) buy some prizes, and 3) recruit people help me reserve the spot on Sunday morning. It’s just too bad that a bunch of friends will be out of town this weekend. They’re going to be missing out on a “batty” party! Hee Hee.

Where’s the snow?

We were in Tahoe this weekend for our annual camping trip with the SF melters. Jes and I flew to SacTown on Friday morning and got picked up by the Bangs. We then drove to Ryan’s mom’s ranch in Auburn for a little pool party. That’s where we met up with Ryan, Michelle, Sohail, and Amina who were already there. I met Sunny, a very friendly horse and Ayla, a 12-year-old doggie who still has occasional bursts of energy when she feels like it. The pool was refreshing and Ryan and Sohail chopped enough firewood to last us the weekend and then some.
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On our way to Tahoe, we almost ran out of gas in Vyl’s car but luckily stopped in time to fill-up. When we got to the Tahoe area, it seemed a bit depressing. I couldn’t help asking, “Where’s all the snow?” I also couldn’t help feeling just a bit gypped (yes, that’s how you spell it) because I wasn’t going to be skiing this weekend. So I told myself, “OK. Change gears. You’re camping this weekend. Forget that you’re in Tahoe.”
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Our campsite was at Emerald Bay and the weather couldn’t have been more pleasant for car camping. Our site was HUGE and all 5 tents went up with lots more room to spare. We got set-up by dusk and started the fire. Victor and Susie left the Bay Area after work so they didn’t arrive until about midnight…glad they finally made it.
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The weekend consisted of the usual fare: pork products, Coooors Light, and guac. We also had carne asada one night and even Tandoori chicken and naan another night. The girls went for a short hike on Saturday while the boys drank beer, farted, and played Poker. Later, we all went down to the beach and swam/rinsed off in the lake.
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Highlights and Stats: No one got burned by the fire…however, Bang nearly twisted his ankle while dodging a firey log. Much gas was expelled and shared. Many grapes and rocks were thrown. One tent suffered an unfortunate puncture…booooo. Marshmallows were roasted and chocolate was melted in various ways. Scary stories were told and one Sohail got left in the dark by himself. Overall, it was another great camping trip but I’m glad to be home and showered.

Are we that old already?

Last night we went to The Harp Inn in Newport Beach to watch one of Jes’ co-workers play in his band called “Velicious”. They’re a group of old guys having a good time on stage playing and singing covers all night while we sit around and drink beer. Huy also met up with us and it sounded like he had an awesome month in Peru (he just got back).
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As we watched the band play, we noticed how old the crowd was…I’d say late 30’s, some early 40’s. Although I recognized 75% of the songs they played, I was about done and ready to go home by the first act. It was somewhat entertaining to see a handful of women who looked like former-sorority girls trying to dance and “party on” to covers of Guns and Roses and Iron Maiden. This was not exactly my idea of a good time but they were obviously enjoying themselves. Huy, don’t worry, we’re not that old yet. I’ll let you know when we are.

Phew, shopping is hard work.

I spent the day with Marie and Cole today. Marie picked me up and we went out for lunch and then shopped at IKEA for almost 2 hours. With just some fussiness, one feeding, and a nap, the afternoon went rather smoothly. It’s just funny how everything takes 1.5 times as long when you travel with an infant. There’s just so much to take care of and pay attention to. I don’t know how moms do it. Marie always says that it’s hard work just to get the to grocery store.

I had hidden beef.

Jes and I had a very unique dining experience last night with Kevin, Karrie, and Kevin’s nephew Eric. We went to an ultra-exclusive whole-in-the-wall Japanese “restaurant” where you have to be invited and on a special list in order to be seated and served. The chef is a decendent of a family of Imperial Chefs from Japan and the place has no name, no signage, keeps the front door locked, and probably doesn’t take credit card payments. Luckily, Karrie was invited by the “inner circle” and we got to come along for the ride. When you enter, it’s a modest-looking place with only 3 table settings. The chef needs to know exactly how many people are coming so that he can buy and prepare the meals to the number. It felt like going to someone’s house for dinner. There was no menu and the wife brought out each dish and told us which sauce(s) to use or no sauce at all.
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Together, we had a platter of miniature appetizers (one per person), some fresh veggies with miso dip, and EIGHT courses of beef! The beef was the best I had ever tasted. First of all, I don’t think this cow that we had eaten was raised in the U.S. We joked about how this cow probably never saw the USDA, never saw the inside of a freezer, and most likely came straight from Japan for a pretty penny. The first two beef dishes were raw: (1) raw marinated slices or beef and (2) raw throat (yes – cow’s throat – pictured above). The wife then brought a mini-hibachi to the table. The next 5 courses were as follows: (3) tongue – disturbingly tasty, (4) filet mignon – the most tender I’ve ever had, (5) spare ribs without the bones, (6) outside of a rib eye, (7) inside of a rib eye, and (8) skirt steak. By the end of the meal, we were ready to roll over and die. The evening ended with 5 different types of ice cream/sorbet. MMM…best meal ever. Sorry for the blurry images…it was rather dark inside.