About christao408

An expat American who moved to Bangkok in 2005 with his partner (now husband). Life is a grand adventure and each experience is worth having if for no other reason than to remind us that we are alive.

Grandparents’ 90th Birthday Reception

Posted on 23 July 2010 by christao408

The big event during the weekend family reunion was the Saturday evening reception. This was for family only and we had about fifty people gathered in the church’s fellowship hall to celebrate my grandparents’ 90th birthdays and 67th wedding anniversary.

Jennifer and the girls made these mints as party favors and packaged them with cute little ribbons and paper flowers.

Helping hands on the assembly process. There was a lot of bickering about who was getting to help out more, since it was essentially a one-person job.

The catered dinner was very nice. While I don’t have pictures of it, I do have pictures of the cakes that were on the tables for dessert. Very pretty, no?

The highlight of the evening was a 20-minute video I had created in collaboration with my mother, sister, and cousin Alex. Over the past three years I’ve been scanning old photos from my grandmother’s well-organized albums. I’ve also been conducting audio interviews with them and also my mother, trying to capture stories, memories, and anecdotes to craft into a family history.

The 20-minute video was just the first stage of a larger project, but I have to say I’m pretty pleased with how it came out. Since 20 minutes is too much to upload and you probably don’t want to see lots of pictures of four children, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren you don’t know, I’ve created an edited version of the video, just 9 minutes long, which focuses on how my grandparents met and were married. It is quite an interesting story, and I hope you enjoy it!

When Tawn watched it before I left for the US, he had tears in his eyes because he wanted to be there to see their reaction. As expected, my grandparents and all the relatives were very pleased with it. So much so, in fact, that Sunday morning cousin Bill and I were burning copies for everyone to take home with them!

My grandmother had some words to say afterwards, thanking everyone for being there and for being a part of their lives. How wonderful is it to be able to live to such a ripe old age and to still have your faculties about you? We should all be so fortunate.

I think I’ve written enough about the anniversary and birthday celebration over the last week, so I’ll let this be the final entry on the subject. Let me just conclude by wishing my grandparents many more years of good health and great happiness together.

The Unofficial Post-Reunion After-Party

Posted on 21 July 2010 by christao408

Greetings from EVA Airways’ lounge in Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport, where I am enjoying a three-hour layover on my way from Los Angeles to Bangkok. The outbound flight was kind of a challenge. First, it departed at 1:50 am, which is just a really late departure time, all the more so when considering that I am operating on Central Daylight Time, making it feel like a 3:50 am departure.

To top it off, as much as I like EVA I think that their economy class seat cushions are uncomfortable to sit on for long periods of time. After a few hours, my butt bones hurt. The person sitting next to me made the same observation, so I’m not alone. The final thing that made the flight kind of tough was a combination of sleeplessness – I only dozed for a short while before I would wake and shift myself into a new position – and an inaccurate air map. For some reason the data on the map froze just before the halfway point of the flight. So each time I would wake up and try to determine how much longer we had left in the flight, it seemed that we had not made any progress. In my dazed state, this was very… disorienting.

All in all, though, it was a fine flight. Leg room is good, the food is decent, and service was friendly and attentive. For the price, it is still a good value.

I’m skipping an entry on the main reunion event, as there is some video material I want to post. In the meantime, I’ll share with you the unofficial post-reunion after-party, which we held Sunday evening after the public reception at the church. Most of the more immediate part of my family (my mother’s siblings and their children and grandchildren) made it over to Jennifer and Kevin’s house. We stopped at the market to pick up some meat and salad makings and just had a casual meal.

Still quite a few people hanging out in the living room of my sister’s house.

Cousin Alex braided my niece Emily’s hair while her son Tommy looked on excitedly.

Cousin Brad from New York and his father Carl.

Uncle Dick and his son Michael enjoyed the warm summer evening as my cousin Bill (Alex’s husband) manned the grill.

Cousin Silvia (Brad’s wife) took care of the grilling, which went fine until…

We started getting some flare-ups after the chicken was finished. I was worried that Kevin’s grill might spontaneously combust. Thankfully, grillmaster Bill was able to get the flames under control.

Two KC Strips and two Rib Eye steaks on the very hot grill. I was looking for some grass-fed beef at the local store but couldn’t find any. These seemed to be the best alternative, “vegetarian” fed (isn’t grain vegetarian?) with no “sub-therapeutic antibiotics” (what?) and no growth hormones. That all struck me as kind of meaningless phrases along the lines of “all natural”. But the beef did taste good.

Finished Italian sausages and chicken.

Charred steaks. Ostensibly, two were done rare and the other two were supposed to be medium rare. Despite five extra minutes of cooking, the second two still looked rare when cut into. Thankfully, I like them that way.

Dinner – chicken, sausages, and steak (did I mention it was rare?), with beans and salad. Yummy.

Mochi Cake

Posted on 20 July 2010 by christao408

It is late Monday evening and I leave early tomorrow for Los Angeles and then continue on my way to Bangkok via Taipei. A long travel day. There are still some more pictures and stories to share from the reunion but those will have to wait. In the meantime, I’ll share this Mochi Cake recipe (originally from Gourmet Magazine) that Joanne Choi at Week of Menus wrote about recently.

For anyone who doesn’t know, mochi is the glutinous rice that is pounded into a sticky semi-solid and used as an ingredient in several dishes, including various Japanese desserts like daifuku.

Mochi Cake
Gourmet Magazine | May 2005
Makes one 9X13 pan, or 24 squares

1 lb box of mochiko flour (3 cups equivalent)
2 1/2 cups of sugar
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 14 oz cans of coconut milk – not lowfat (I used two cans of 13.5 oz)
5 large eggs
1/2 stick of butter (1/4 cup) melted and slightly cooled
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9X13 baking pan. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mochiko flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

In a separate bowl or large measuring cup (4 cup capacity), beat eggs, then add coconut milk, melted butter and vanilla extract.

Carefully pour the wet ingredients over the mochiko flour mixture and whisk until mixture is smooth and uniform in texture.

Pour batter into greased 9X13 pan. Carefully smooth out the top. Bake for 90 minutes (yes, 90 minutes!), until top is golden brown and the cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan.

Allow cake to cool for about 30 minutes on a rack, and then carefully flip it out and cut into 24 squares, or the size of your choice. Can store mochi cake for three days, covered.

The texture is really fun – very moist and chewy. I think it would be excellent topped with some fresh fruit like peaches, strawberries, or mangoes. It also is quite nice just as a snack cake. Try it out.

Are you my first cousin once removed or my second cousin?

Posted on 18 July 2010 by christao408

The family reunion’s first full day went very well. We had about fifty people in town and started with a reception in the afternoon at the church, a chance for everyone to visit. It is kind of funny that when I’m at these events with extended family, I’m sometimes confused with my brother-in-law, who also has a goatee. If I’m standing near my sister and nieces, people will come up and say, “Hi, Kevin!”

Usually, I just play along. The next day, one of my great-uncles came back up and complimented me on being such a gentleman and not correcting him. I guess someone else corrected him.

After the reception, we gathered in the church sanctuary for photos. This is always a fun process. Several family members also had their cameras so I was able to quickly capture images without having to take any on my own. How convenient is that?

My grandparents with all of my cousins, minus two who weren’t there. I’m the oldest of the bunch.

One side of the cousins – Bradley, Kelly, Kari, and Silvia. Brad and Silvia live in New York City and we visited them there in March.

The great-grandchildren, Tommy, Emily, and Ava.

The entire extended family. I won’t give you the names and relationships of everyone because you probably don’t want quite that much information. But, to tell you the truth, I wasn’t always clear on those details. This led to a conversation with some of my cousins, trying to understand the difference between first, second, and third cousins, and relatives “once removed”, “twice removed”, etc.

So we googled it. And it turns out Wikipedia has a very useful article and a great graphic.

So you if you were confused, now you know the difference between them. More later…

CHiPS the Musical – Is this Necessary?

Posted on 18 July 2010 by christao408

My cousin Bill brought this to my attention. The Falcon Theatre in Burbank, California is staging (through July 25 – hurry to see it!) CHiPS the Musical, based on the NBC television show CHiPs, which aired in the late 70s and early 80s.

The show, of course, was incredibly corny, even in its time. That there is any fodder for a musical in the original material is beyond my ability to believe.

Lidia’s Again

Posted on 16 July 2010 by christao408

For the second time in a week, I ate this afternoon at Lidia’s Kansas City, the Italian restaurant at which Tawn and I held our wedding reception. Safe to assume I like the place. The first visit was with colleagues. This second visit was a lunch with family members, about 16 of us.

Ava, previously the youngest great-grandchild in the family (pictured on the left with my mother) has been supplanted by Tommy, my cousin Alex’s son. He’s pictured on the right with his mother and our grandmother. It will be interesting to see how Emily and Ava react to no longer being the center of attention. So far, so well…

White bean and summer greens soup. Flavorful broth and quite the kick from some chili flakes.

Fried polenta squares with a dusting of Parmesan cheese. Tasty but not oily.

A roasted beet and peach salad my mother had. What an interesting combination.

A side of barley risotto.

My entree – a rare beef panini (which wasn’t really a panini in the traditional sense) with fried onions and roasted bell peppers. Potato salad on the side. Pretty tasty.

Homemade pasta trio. I didn’t try these but everyone who had them really liked them.

Family members started arriving from out of town yesterday and will trickle in throughout the day today. The big family reunion events are Saturday and Sunday. I’ll try and get some pictures.

Happiness Flow Chart

Posted on 13 July 2010 by christao408

Last week, Chris up in Toronto posted a happiness decision-making flow chart that I thought beautifully encapsulated life’s main lesson. I thought I would share it with you here.

I’ve been in meetings this week. My boss, her boss, and one of my colleagues flew into KC to meet with me. I’m flattered that they consider my rare visits to the US important enough to fly to meet me. I’ll be in meetings through Thursday and then will have the weekend off for the family reunion.

In the meantime, the nieces wish I would stay home with them. As she left for daycare this morning, Ava looked up at me and asked, “How many minutes do you have to work for today?” Precious.

Lemonade Stand

Posted on 12 July 2010 by christao408

Made it into Kansas City Saturday afternoon, greeted at the airport car rental return by two excited nieces. By late afternoon the girls decided they needed to set up a lemonade stand. Tray tables were set up by the curb, a pitcher of lemonade and a stack of cups placed on them. Two handwritten signs advertised the goods and a portable stereo provided the tunes.

Just opened for business with two enthusiastic entrepreneurs.

Eventually, boredom sets in. Few cars passing by and those that do, smile and wave but don’t stop to buy lemonade. A neighbor walks by with her dogs, stops to chat for a while and donates fifty cents to the cause.

Eventually, dad is pressed into service. Another two neighbors come over and buy two cups of lemonade, paying a dollar and leaving their change as a tip.

Eventually, Jasper is left to work the stand, looking forlornly for customers. The day’s take: $1.50

Omaha

Posted on 11 July 2010 by christao408

Before heading to Kansas City and the craziness that two young nieces can create, I drove north to Omaha for two days of acclimating to the American Midwest with Andy and Sugi. (Better pics of the events on Andy’s blog.) Since we first met a year ago when we were in the Omaha area for our wedding, Tawn and I have enjoyed having the opportunity to see Andy and Sugi several times, including in Taiwan last November.

Thursday evening shortly after I arrived, we headed out to Shucks Oyster Bar and Fish House to join Sugi’s sister, brother-in-law, and niece for Thursday Fish Taco Night.

A dozen oysters on the half-shell. Delicious.

Fried fish tacos (also fried shrimp tacos) had a nice batter with just a hint of spice. Different from the Baja-style fish tacos that I’m used to from San Diego, these were very tasty, too.

Thanks to a Tylenol PM, my second night in the US was a good one, sleeping straight through for about seven hours. Sometimes I find that the best way to fight jet lag is to beat it into submission with some medication. Sugi and Andy had both taken Friday off from work and we had a full day planned. But first, some breakfast.

Baily’s restaurant specializes in Eggs Benedict, including this type with a slab of tomato and thick slices of smoked bacon. The eggs were perfectly cooked with a firm white and a golden liquid yolk.

Our first stop was the Strategic Air and Space Museum a few miles west of town. The museum focuses primarily on the history of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), the operational establishment in charge of America’s land-based strategic bomber aircraft and nuclear missiles until 1992, after which a military reorganization led to the closure of SAC.

As an aviation enthusiast, I found the museum very interesting. Even people who aren’t so interested in aviation – Sugi, for example – enjoyed the visit as we went on a docent-led tour with Bob, a former Korean War pilot who had a wealth of information and a cute sense of humor.

Andy and Sugi in front of the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane which is dramatically displayed in the museum’s entry lobby. The museum has two hangars with about two-dozen aircraft displayed, many of which have been expertly restored.

C-47 Skytrain, the military version of the classic Douglas DC-3 passenger aircraft. Over 10,000 were built for World War II and General (later President) Eisenhower identified the C-47 as one of four pieces of equipment critical in winning the war. The other three were the jeep, the bazooka, and the atom bomb.

B-1A Lancer – This bomber was actually one of four prototypes built to test all of the systems before full production of the bombers – redesignated the B-1B – began.

F-101B Voodoo – an all-weather fighter/interceptor designed to protect America from incursions over the North Pole from Russia. Was also operated by the Canadian Air Force.

B-17G Flying Fortress – A heavy bomber that was critical to America’s success in World War II. More than 12,700 were made and more than 4,700 were lost in combat missions.

B-25N Mitchell – A medium bomber that was made famous by Doolittle’s Raid on Tokyo, a 1942 surprise attack by 16 B-25 bombers launched from an aircraft carrier hitting five cities in Japan. The success in this attack helped lift the sagging American morale in the wake of Pearl Harbor and damaged morale of the Japanese civilian population, who had been told that their homeland would never be reached by bombers.

After a few hours at the museum, including a disturbing special exhibit about the Nazi’s eugenics experiments and extermination programs, we drove further west to Lincoln and visited the James Arthur vineyards. Yes, wine in Nebraska!

The tasting room (and the winery behind it) is located atop a small hill with a cute garden around it, the perfect place for an afternoon tipple.

We tried tastings of a half-dozen different wines along with a sampling of local cheese produced by the University of Nebraska’s agricultural department. The best of the James Arthur wines were the semi-sweet whites, the grapes of which are well-suited to this climate. The reds were not as good.

Beautiful skies and rolling fields of corn and soybeans lent a pastoral look to the passing landscape.

After the wine tasting we drove to Sugi’s parents’ house on the north side of Omaha. Sugi’s sister was celebrating her birthday and I was fortunate enough to be invited along. They live on 20 rural acres with a sweeping view of the countryside.

Sugi’s mother prepared an elaborate dinner including baked lobster tails, grilled beef teriyaki, and clams boiled in a garlic-sake broth. She didn’t want any pictures taken, but Andy and I both managed to snap a few shots.

Sugi’s mother is passionate about horses and has two that she trains and shows. Taylor, her niece, loves the horses and they seem equally fond of her, following her from the barn to the exercise yard. They probably know that she usually comes bearing carrots!

Taylor riding bareback on Callie, a beautiful 13-year old mare. Lest you worry for her safety, Callie’s grandfather was standing in the back of the picture, cleverly hidden, holding her leg.

Cowgirl Taylor is eager to ride the open range.

Sunday morning after another relaxing night’s sleep Andy, Sugi, and I went for breakfast at WheatField’s, a local chain of German bakery restaurants. The selection of baked goods was overwhelming.

The cute indoor patio seating area, which was a bit over air-conditioned.

Wanting to enjoy some fresh seasonal fruit I had the peach crepes for breakfast. As pretty as it looks, the dish was a little disappointing. The flavor was very one-dimensional and about one-quarter of the plate would have been more than enough. The yogurt they drizzled on top wasn’t substantial enough to add anything to the overall flavor.

Andy ordered a seven-piece serving of Ron’s Honey-Drizzled Fried Chicken. It was really well-prepared and the honey does add a nice touch. You’ll be glad to know that Andy did take a few pieces home.

Sugi’s choice was probably the best – half egg salad and half chicken salad with a side of homemade chicken mushroom soup. You can tell how cold it is in the dining room by noticing that a skin was already forming on the soup’s surface.

After that filling breakfast I hit the road for the three-hour drive back to Kansas City. Thanks again to Sugi and Andy for a wonderful start to my visit.

Flight to Los Angeles

Posted on 9 July 2010 by christao408

The flight from Bangkok to Los Angeles (and then on to Kansas City) was smooth, thankfully. I flew EVA Air, a Taiwanese airline that I fly regularly. Service was good, prices competitive, and the food actually was pretty tasty, too.

Since I fly back to the US about twice a year, I qualify for “silver” status in their mileage program. One thing I like about EVA, something that sets it apart from most airlines, is that silver tier status gives you lounge access. When having to show up to the airport so many hours in advance and having long connection times, having access to a lounge is nice. The picture above is the one in Bangkok, which is by far the nicest of the EVA lounges that I’ve seen.

Good selection of food in the lounge, including this gaeng kiaw waan gai – sweet green chicken curry with rice. Really tasty!

P1040712

In Taipei I had a four-hour connection and had some time to look at a display they have celebrating Taiwanese ceramic arts.

This piece is called Skeletal Bottle, by New Zealander Peter Collis. Beautiful, no?

Beautiful serving bowls. Wish I could have bought one.

They have three pieces, one unglazed, one with the decoration partially painted, and a finished piece that has been glazed and fired.

On my flight from Taipei to Los Angeles I had booked economy class, which on EVA’s 747 includes seating in the upper deck. The seats up here have about 35 inches of pitch, versus 33 inches downstairs. Compare that to 31 inches in economy class on most US and western airlines. I asked for an exit row seat and got the “window” seat right next to the exit door. Great legroom but no window. Plus, there is a little “exit’ sign that was right above the armrest, and kind of restricted where I could put my arm. Probably should have just stuck with the aisle seat I had a few rows forward.

Not complaining, though. The seat was pretty comfortable, I was able to sleep about five hours on the eleven hour flight, and the selection of films was good.

christao408

The adventures of an expat American who moved to Bangkok for his husband.

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