We leave for the United States on Thursday afternoon and with each trip we take, we try to get better at preparing in advance. We’re both less stressed when we’re not packing the night before and running around trying to tie up loose ends on the way to the airport.
I’m pleased to report that we’re actually doing a good job this time around. We managed to complete many of our to-do items this weekend while still having some time for relaxing and socializing. We must be making some progress as our years advance!
Here’s some bits and pieces from the weekend:
Friday night I prepared dinner for Tawn since he came home late (after 8:00) and tired. In addition to finishing up the chicken and spinach lasagna from a few days earlier, I prepared a dish of roasted beets, onions and sweet potatoes, below.
Drizzled with a little balsamic vinegar, they were fantastic. The next morning, Tawn took the leftover veggies, chopped them up and scrambled them with some eggs and a sprinkling of mozzarella cheese. Tasty way to start our Saturday.
Saturday was all about the errands, working down the list one item at a time. These errands included a stop at Trish’s dressmakers to pay them and see how they’re doing on the first three orders, which are for my sister, mother and grandmother. (They are the guinea pigs.) We picked up a roll-aboard suitcase that was in for repairs after the in-line skate wheel cracked. We picked up dry cleaning and shopped for some small gifts for friends.
Needing sustinence to keep us going, we ate lunch at a Japanese restaurant on Ekkamai. It is one of those “grill it at your table” places but since we didn’t want to smell like food for the rest of the afternoon, we asked them to grill the food for us. Below: garlic rice, grilled veggies and grilled pork.
They provided bibs to protect you from the splatters from the grill. While we didn’t grill ourselves, I thought the bib was still a good idea. I should have one of these with me all the time.
In the late afternoon, Tawn met with some clients. We’re doing a side project for friends of a friend. Their body care company is launching a new line of shampoos, bath gels, lotions, etc. and they were unhappy with the copywriters they hired. The mutual friend recommended me and Tawn so now we’re coming up with names, tag lines, and label descriptions for thirty-six products. Jacks of all trades – that’s what we are.
While Tawn was doing the presentation, I wandered around and killed some time. Here’s a billboard at the corner of Asoke and Sukhumvit Roads advertising California Wow gym, which used to be affiliated with the 24 Hour Fitness chain in the US and still uses the high-pressure sales tactics which 24 Hour eventually stopped using after too many complaints to consumer protection groups.
This billboard normally has nearly naked and very buff women on it, but I guess they’ve decided to start targetting the men. Which makes sense when you consider that 80% of the men in their gyms are gay. The billboard offers one year for free, presumably when you sign up for a long-term contract.
The funny thing is, this billboard faces the very large True Fitness gym across the street. Dozens and dozens of treadmills and other cardio devices face out the window and look directly at this billboard.
From the “odd transportation” department, here’s a picture of a street vendor cart being pulled by a motorbike. They managed to get into a small fender-bender with a car but there wasn’t any noticable damage.
If you are an insurance adjuster, I’m sure you’re having a stress attack right now.
After Tawn was finished, we met up for facial appointments at a small Japanese brand back on Soi Sukhumvit 25. This is only the second time in my life I’ve had a facial and, frankly, I’m not sure what the big deal is. My face felt as stretched and tight as it does when I wash it with a bar of hand soap, which I know is the wrong thing to do.
But I had a seaweed mask, steam treatment, and the little machine that sucks your pores clean. Well, at least that is my understanding of what happened. Afterwards, I didn’t really feel like I looked ten years younger but maybe that wasn’t the goal.
christao408 
If I could look 10 yrs younger with just one treatment I’d be there in an instant but there would be a wait list years long! Glad you are getting things ready without the stress. Hope your trip back is enjoyable.
I’ve never roasted beets before. I should give that a try.
Oh, I love garlic rice!! I always order that when I am in Manila. Wow, it’s nice to have a facial once in a while. The pampering makes one feels good!
You are right about those high pressure sale tactics while I was witnessing my friend went through at the California Fitness in BKK. Anyways, there are quite a number of fitness places competing for customers in the city. As far as facial goes, you should enjoy that since it’s so reasonably priced! Have a nice trip, I’m in the midst of packing too!
those veggie looks good. are those round purple thing sweet potatoes?
@icebladz – The things around the sides of the dish with purple peels and yellow interiors are sweet potatoes. The purple slices in the center of the dish are roasted beets.
@ElusiveWords – Oh, gosh, yeah. Roasting them (low and slow) really brings out the sweetness in them. Wonderful way to cook them. The only thing: if you’re serving them with other veggies you really need to cook the beets on their own and add them to the veggies just before serving. Otherwise the entire dish will turn out purple. (Unless you buy golden beets in which case the entire dish will turn out gold.)
Reading your blog and ammi’s (Zsa_MD) blog always makes me want to cook! Maybe when I move out of this “student” apartment and have a proper kitchen- I shall!
Hah, I really should have a bib with me at all times as well. I’m forever spilling on myself 😦
It’s such a coincidence that I also snapped that Cal WOW billboard on the weekend as well. I took bec it’s one of the largest gay object in town I’ever seen. haha
Once again, your blog has made me hungry. That first meal looks delicious. (Like your new profile pic, bt)w. And while I’m not an insurance adjuster, that pic still made me tense a bit.
I would love for you to be my life coach. Seriously. 🙂
@jojobaDESIGNS – Ha ha! Why’s that?
@murisopsis – So you’re saying my expectations for a single treatment may be a bit unrealistic? =)
@icapillas – Yes, one of the nice things about being in a country that has such a relatively low cost of living is that you can afford to pamper yourself a lot. I’m still not sold on facials but Tawn insists that they are beneficial and since he has such beautiful skin, maybe I should listen to him.
@Dezinerdreams – I have no doubt that you would be an excellent cook and that your dishes would look fantastic. And, hopefully, taste even better.
@TheCheshireGrins – It is all about being practical, I think.
@blue_beau – I was going to say “great minds think alike”, but I suspect the thing that caught our attention wasn’t our minds! =)
@Shahrazad1973 – My nefarious objective has been achieved: to once again make my readers hungry! (evil laughter and rubbing of hands)
Can’t remember if you peel the beets first, then roast.
@christao408 – because you know how to live life to its fullest! 🙂
@jandsschultz – I peel first because they are a pain to peel when hot. No difference in the outcome as far as I can tell.
@jojobaDESIGNS – That’s a very nice thing to say. Of course, remember that the blog just shows my life in the way I choose to present it, not necessarily the way it is when judged by any objective reality.
Awww. Chris is getting his facial.
@christao408 – Ha, ha, well, then, you’re an excellent orchestrator. 🙂 Cheers to you and Tawn, and the very best for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you both and to your families! –Barbara
@jojobaDESIGNS – Thanks so much. Best wishes and season’s greetings to you and yours as well!
@jeronimoparis – Yes. What a strange experience.