Long time, no posts!
I've had quite a busy year since my last post. Heart surgery with multi-valve replacement, trip to NYC, New Hampshire, Boston, and family trip to Sequoia Nat'l Park. Getting very proficient at the reloading bench has been fun... Also expecting child number two late next month... all the while teaching as a full-time sub and part-time Daddy Daycare. It keeps me busy!
Will flesh out this post more in the coming days. With so much stuff to write about I'll try to avoid the politics and stay on happy subjects (eek, nasty election year).
Shalom!
In April of last year (2015), I had a complex heart surgery. Technically it was a redo-redo-Ross Procedure to fix my torn valve leaflet. Sadly, this was goodbye to my Melody Valve. When you have a valve leaflet tear, it is totally painless and unrecognizable except for an onset of fatigue and tell-tale "cooing" sound where you should hear a tick-tick.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Monday, March 16, 2015
CT with Contrast (warm iodine)
Steps in a fun 3D imaging of the heart and it's coronary arteries:
1. Paperwork, filled out neatly
2. Drink plenty of water
3. Check vitals (heart rate + BP)
4. Insert IV
5. Take Metoprolol to lower heart rate
6. Lie down on table
7. Breath as prompted
8. Feel the spicy taste of Nitroglycerin under tongue
9. Feel the warm rush of iodine coursing through body.
10. Wait for pictures to develop and doctors interpretation. >"<
1. Paperwork, filled out neatly
2. Drink plenty of water
3. Check vitals (heart rate + BP)
4. Insert IV
5. Take Metoprolol to lower heart rate
6. Lie down on table
7. Breath as prompted
8. Feel the spicy taste of Nitroglycerin under tongue
9. Feel the warm rush of iodine coursing through body.
10. Wait for pictures to develop and doctors interpretation. >"<
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Black Friday and Iron Bowl Victory
Rammer Jammer Yellowhammer! The University of Alabama, my Alma Mater, beat Auburn 55-44. That's the highest scoring Iron Bowl in living memory. Part of enjoying fatherhood and holistic healthy living means we don't have cable. So this instant classic which was broadcast on ESPN in prime time was completely unavailable to me as I am on Daddy Duty tonight. Oh well. I'll watch it later with a family member who TiVo'd it.
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As I've mentioned in this blog before, I am employed in retail sporting goods. Yesterday, the day after Thanksgiving, was what we've colloquially termed in America, Black Friday. Retailers mark down a few items to draw in huge crowds, in return for their advertised 'loss leaders' they hope to reap huge profits by having shoppers purchase more high margin items while buying only one or two items in their ad. Being the busiest day of the year for department stores and retail chains all across the US, we expect it to be painful as sales associates. However this may be my last Black Friday as a worker bee, so I sallied forth with equal parts jaded professionalism and detached optimism.
I had never given the day much thought when I was growing up. We always went hunting and left the shopping to women folk. It wasn't until I began work at a large retail sporting goods store that the day seemed to loom large. In my Hunting Department we sell guns, optics, knives, and safes as well as a full line of ammunition and hunting accoutrements. On the busiest day of the year we seem to sell more safes and knives than any other time in the year, and an above average amount of firearms.
Our gun counter is quite popular, so much so that we get customers to 'take a number' and wait for service much like the DMV. Our store opened at 5am with many "Door buster specials" like .22LR ammo, $10 dog beds, and ammo cans, not to mention a ton of deals on clothing. I arrived at 6:30am for my regular shift. At that point we were over a hundred numbers behind on the gun counter and the store looked like a peaceful riot. Since there is nothing one man can do except for his very best, I quickly strode to the counter and started calling numbers. Before I knew it, 9am had rolled around and it was time for a break. I checked the area we had ammo cans for sale ($10 each) and was amazed we had sold through seven pallets already. With 144 cans to the pallet, that's 1,008 cans! Before the end of my shift we sold through another 5 pallets and ran out of dog beds.
Trying to make sense of how busy our store gets or how crazy the lines are is a bit tricky. It would be like asking a guy to describe what happens during a shipwreck. All he can tell you from the great noise and confusion is what happened in his vicinity, and then offer you a sip from his flask while bobbing along in his raft. I don't drink much at all besides a glass of red wine for cardio health. But Friday afternoon I did treat myself to a nice cool Heineken.
I pray future Thanksgiving weekends will be spent far from work. I would prefer to devote this time to reflection on God's blessings and share it with family. I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend, and are able to spend more time out in the woods than in the concrete jungles or shopping malls. Good night & Shalom!
---
As I've mentioned in this blog before, I am employed in retail sporting goods. Yesterday, the day after Thanksgiving, was what we've colloquially termed in America, Black Friday. Retailers mark down a few items to draw in huge crowds, in return for their advertised 'loss leaders' they hope to reap huge profits by having shoppers purchase more high margin items while buying only one or two items in their ad. Being the busiest day of the year for department stores and retail chains all across the US, we expect it to be painful as sales associates. However this may be my last Black Friday as a worker bee, so I sallied forth with equal parts jaded professionalism and detached optimism.
I had never given the day much thought when I was growing up. We always went hunting and left the shopping to women folk. It wasn't until I began work at a large retail sporting goods store that the day seemed to loom large. In my Hunting Department we sell guns, optics, knives, and safes as well as a full line of ammunition and hunting accoutrements. On the busiest day of the year we seem to sell more safes and knives than any other time in the year, and an above average amount of firearms.
Our gun counter is quite popular, so much so that we get customers to 'take a number' and wait for service much like the DMV. Our store opened at 5am with many "Door buster specials" like .22LR ammo, $10 dog beds, and ammo cans, not to mention a ton of deals on clothing. I arrived at 6:30am for my regular shift. At that point we were over a hundred numbers behind on the gun counter and the store looked like a peaceful riot. Since there is nothing one man can do except for his very best, I quickly strode to the counter and started calling numbers. Before I knew it, 9am had rolled around and it was time for a break. I checked the area we had ammo cans for sale ($10 each) and was amazed we had sold through seven pallets already. With 144 cans to the pallet, that's 1,008 cans! Before the end of my shift we sold through another 5 pallets and ran out of dog beds.
Trying to make sense of how busy our store gets or how crazy the lines are is a bit tricky. It would be like asking a guy to describe what happens during a shipwreck. All he can tell you from the great noise and confusion is what happened in his vicinity, and then offer you a sip from his flask while bobbing along in his raft. I don't drink much at all besides a glass of red wine for cardio health. But Friday afternoon I did treat myself to a nice cool Heineken.
I pray future Thanksgiving weekends will be spent far from work. I would prefer to devote this time to reflection on God's blessings and share it with family. I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend, and are able to spend more time out in the woods than in the concrete jungles or shopping malls. Good night & Shalom!
Ferguson Mayhem, Rioting Detritivores, Disparity of Force
I will attempt to keep this post brief and concise as possible. Following months of overt race baiting by Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and other detritivores, the pre-planned riots in Missouri left 12 commercial buildings burned, several dead, and hundreds arrested. All this mayhem because a white policeman shot a black man who had robbed a convenience store of one box of cigarillos. Don't forget this suspect was engaging the officer physically and had been violently grabbing for the officer's gun prior to being shot to death. According to Grand Jury eye witness testimony, the suspect DID NOT have his hands up nor shout "Don't shoot!", however the court of public opinion has been tainted with this oft repeated lie.
As one layman interpreting the facts, Officer Darren Wilson was merely protecting his life when he fired into an attacking 292 pound Michael Brown. The Grand Jury was correct to not indict. But what about the "18 year old kid" not having a weapon? In self defense trials there is an issue of disparity of force. Disparity of force could be a man vs. woman, multiple attackers against one, or having complete freedom of movement and leverage against one who does not (on the ground or confined in vehicle). Officer Wilson most certainly lacked the range of motion to defend himself as he was in the driver's seat of the police car. Similar situation to George Zimmerman being flat on his back as Trayvon Martin controlled the fight, pummeling his head repeatedly and knocking him against a concrete sidewalk.
While these two cases aren't exactly identical, there are some key parallels I'd like to illustrate. If the totality of circumstances leaves you, a weaker individual, with an 'unarmed' strong man lunging towards you with clenched fists, not responding to your shouted instruction of "STOP, I will shoot!" then most jurisdictions will find you acted in self defense. A reasonable person wouldn't violently rush up on an armed policeman or private citizen. If the larger 'unarmed' party closed in to grappling distance, nine times of ten the 'unarmed' strong man kills you with your gun. Keep that in mind next time someone breathlessly whines, "Oh, but he was unarmed!". As an aside, 21 feet is the furthest a knife wielding attacker needs to be to rush in with a fatal strike. That is why my pistol range sessions start at seven yards.
The saddest part of this story is the church attended by Michael Brown's parents was amongst the burned out edifices. Also a minority owned bakery that had given free meals to protesters got torched during the anarchic spree. Why burn down the neighborhood when things don't go your way? I'll never understand the need for looting, rock throwing, burning police cars and other riotous behavior. This is America; why does our society and law enforcement tolerate such foolishness? Pants up. Don't loot!
As one layman interpreting the facts, Officer Darren Wilson was merely protecting his life when he fired into an attacking 292 pound Michael Brown. The Grand Jury was correct to not indict. But what about the "18 year old kid" not having a weapon? In self defense trials there is an issue of disparity of force. Disparity of force could be a man vs. woman, multiple attackers against one, or having complete freedom of movement and leverage against one who does not (on the ground or confined in vehicle). Officer Wilson most certainly lacked the range of motion to defend himself as he was in the driver's seat of the police car. Similar situation to George Zimmerman being flat on his back as Trayvon Martin controlled the fight, pummeling his head repeatedly and knocking him against a concrete sidewalk.
While these two cases aren't exactly identical, there are some key parallels I'd like to illustrate. If the totality of circumstances leaves you, a weaker individual, with an 'unarmed' strong man lunging towards you with clenched fists, not responding to your shouted instruction of "STOP, I will shoot!" then most jurisdictions will find you acted in self defense. A reasonable person wouldn't violently rush up on an armed policeman or private citizen. If the larger 'unarmed' party closed in to grappling distance, nine times of ten the 'unarmed' strong man kills you with your gun. Keep that in mind next time someone breathlessly whines, "Oh, but he was unarmed!". As an aside, 21 feet is the furthest a knife wielding attacker needs to be to rush in with a fatal strike. That is why my pistol range sessions start at seven yards.
The saddest part of this story is the church attended by Michael Brown's parents was amongst the burned out edifices. Also a minority owned bakery that had given free meals to protesters got torched during the anarchic spree. Why burn down the neighborhood when things don't go your way? I'll never understand the need for looting, rock throwing, burning police cars and other riotous behavior. This is America; why does our society and law enforcement tolerate such foolishness? Pants up. Don't loot!
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Roll Tide! Bama 59, Aggies 0
Some games are blow outs. Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium we did more than beat a ranked SEC opponet; we stomped their face with a hob nailed boot. It was a glorious win, much needed shot in the arm for Bama faithful, and an indicator that we are still in the hunt for a playoff berth. When the updated rankings placed us at #4, behind Mississippi State, Florida State, and Ole Miss I was very happy. I think my Alma Mater works better as the underdog. We have a history of winning championships against highly favored #1 teams. Let's just hope those other three teams lose a game and we keep winning! Below paragraph from Al.com
59 Point margin of victory for Alabama over No. 21 Texas A&M on Saturday - the largest for the Crimson Tide in a game against a ranked team. The 59-0 victory eclipsed the 55-point margin established in Alabama's 61-6 victory over No. 14 Syracuse in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1953. Saturday's game had Alabama's largest margin of victory in any contest since the Tide beat Tulane 62-0 on Oct. 12, 1991.
135 Games between shutout losses for Texas A&M. The Aggies' 59-0 loss to Alabama on Saturday was their first blanking since a 77-0 loss to Oklahoma on Nov. 8, 2003. That game is the worst loss in Texas A&M history. Saturday's loss is the second-worst.
Ok, nice factoids. The wonderful part of this story is that I was an eight year old kid at the game against Tulane back in '91. I distinctly remember the win and chanting "It's great to be from ALABAMA!" as my dad and I walked out of the stadium. We went on to defeat #1 Miami in the Sugar Bowl that season, winning the first Nat'l Championship in my lifetime under coach Gene Stallings. Hard to believe that was twenty-three years ago... time flies. Rammer Jammer!
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
The Art of Gratefulness
Ever sit around thinking how messed up the world is? It doesn't take more than a passing glance of TV news, online, or print (I get most news online) to see there is a bunch of crazy sad stuff going on: ISIS lopping heads off in Iraq, West Africa (mainly Liberia) suffering the worst ebola outbreak since 1976, Russia claiming land that belongs to Ukraine, and epochal drought gripping Southern California. That laundry list of problems is enough to make the happiest person get a lump in their throat and feel blue about future prospects.
Aha, but there have always been and always will be problems! Don't panic. If you take a quick look in the Old Testament, there's a sad story told by the wealthiest man in history. Two sections earlier the author's father writes poems that range from super joyful to gut wrenchingly sad. I'm of course talking about Solomon's work Ecclesiastes and Psalms by David. Without going into great detail, "there is nothing new under the sun."
Fast forward a couple thousand years back to now, present time. If I were to count my blessings, it would take more than a couple blog posts to list them. I have a wonderful family: healthy, smart, beautiful, good dental coverage, two cats... things folks in developing nations dream about. My wife and child are the greatest gift God could bestow on me and I thank Him every day for it. We have a comfortable little house and cars that are paid for. Our refrigerator has lots of food in it; there's some popsicles in the freezer, and I have a healthy supply of venison jerky... again, the aspirations of many!
You must be thinking "Well everyone in America has that stuff; those are basics." True. I'm sitting in a pleasantly cool, well air-conditioned home (it was 108 F yesterday, 95 F today). As a reader of this post, I take for granted that you have a computer with internet access. Usually that also means climate controlled living quarters and plenty of food in your kitchen. But what of those folks in my opening paragraph? Do you realize how awesome your life is to NOT be stuck in a war zone or face deadly disease? Again it is about our perspective and attitude.
If I read about the latest greatest ________ and feel less happy for not having this (phone, car, vacation, toy), all it takes to get happy again is sitting in the floor with my daughter. She redefines my wants. Would it be cool to have an iPhone 6 or Caribbean cruise? Sure, of course. But I'd rather play another round of peekaboo and watch her eyes widen when a cat cautiously approaches. Am I interested in a Jeep Wrangler or Porsche 911 Turbo... hmm, is the Pope still Catholic? I'm more proud that I can efficiently buckle her into the rear-facing car seat. I dare you to race me changing diapers in the dark (with the aid of a night light). Twenty bucks says I'll win.
So what besides my family am I grateful for? Oh, being gainfully employed and having cars that work. Living in an age where I can have corrective heart surgery and buy 81mg aspirin in bulk is pretty cool. One of the most recently gratifying activities was cleaning up our living room. I took two full trash bags worth of stuff to be donated and another two bags to our dumpster. That means we literally have an overabundance of material possessions.
When I lived in China, another teacher and I discussed the American habit of collecting "stuff" to the point that it becomes unhealthy. This was before TV's show about hoarding; we mainly were considering how Chinese folks limited their possessions to the bare necessities and travelled light. Do you have anything in your closet that hasn't been worn in 8 months? Do you have clothes with tags still on-- not yet been worn or washed? Do you pay monthly fees to store your stuff at an offsite location (not due to being in military or school)? I think we could all do with more joy and less stuff.
This post sums it up well with a famous George Carlin sketch at the end. Find joy in little everyday blessings; that's the art of gratefulness. Shalom! :) >"<
Aha, but there have always been and always will be problems! Don't panic. If you take a quick look in the Old Testament, there's a sad story told by the wealthiest man in history. Two sections earlier the author's father writes poems that range from super joyful to gut wrenchingly sad. I'm of course talking about Solomon's work Ecclesiastes and Psalms by David. Without going into great detail, "there is nothing new under the sun."
Fast forward a couple thousand years back to now, present time. If I were to count my blessings, it would take more than a couple blog posts to list them. I have a wonderful family: healthy, smart, beautiful, good dental coverage, two cats... things folks in developing nations dream about. My wife and child are the greatest gift God could bestow on me and I thank Him every day for it. We have a comfortable little house and cars that are paid for. Our refrigerator has lots of food in it; there's some popsicles in the freezer, and I have a healthy supply of venison jerky... again, the aspirations of many!
You must be thinking "Well everyone in America has that stuff; those are basics." True. I'm sitting in a pleasantly cool, well air-conditioned home (it was 108 F yesterday, 95 F today). As a reader of this post, I take for granted that you have a computer with internet access. Usually that also means climate controlled living quarters and plenty of food in your kitchen. But what of those folks in my opening paragraph? Do you realize how awesome your life is to NOT be stuck in a war zone or face deadly disease? Again it is about our perspective and attitude.
If I read about the latest greatest ________ and feel less happy for not having this (phone, car, vacation, toy), all it takes to get happy again is sitting in the floor with my daughter. She redefines my wants. Would it be cool to have an iPhone 6 or Caribbean cruise? Sure, of course. But I'd rather play another round of peekaboo and watch her eyes widen when a cat cautiously approaches. Am I interested in a Jeep Wrangler or Porsche 911 Turbo... hmm, is the Pope still Catholic? I'm more proud that I can efficiently buckle her into the rear-facing car seat. I dare you to race me changing diapers in the dark (with the aid of a night light). Twenty bucks says I'll win.
So what besides my family am I grateful for? Oh, being gainfully employed and having cars that work. Living in an age where I can have corrective heart surgery and buy 81mg aspirin in bulk is pretty cool. One of the most recently gratifying activities was cleaning up our living room. I took two full trash bags worth of stuff to be donated and another two bags to our dumpster. That means we literally have an overabundance of material possessions.
When I lived in China, another teacher and I discussed the American habit of collecting "stuff" to the point that it becomes unhealthy. This was before TV's show about hoarding; we mainly were considering how Chinese folks limited their possessions to the bare necessities and travelled light. Do you have anything in your closet that hasn't been worn in 8 months? Do you have clothes with tags still on-- not yet been worn or washed? Do you pay monthly fees to store your stuff at an offsite location (not due to being in military or school)? I think we could all do with more joy and less stuff.
This post sums it up well with a famous George Carlin sketch at the end. Find joy in little everyday blessings; that's the art of gratefulness. Shalom! :) >"<
Friday, June 6, 2014
70th Anniv. D-Day June 6, 1944
Seventy years ago today, the largest amphibious assault in history took place in Normandy as we invaded Hitler's Fortress Europe. It is certain that 99% of the veterans who took part will have passed away in the next few years (as only a token handful still remain). Young folks who don't know what I'm talking about should watch "Saving Private Ryan" or "The Longest Day" to view the invasion's magnitude. Guys my age and my parents age will remember talking with veterans about their WWII experiences. Both of my grandfathers fought, though thankfully arriving in France several weeks after the invasion.
More than 160,000 Allied troops from USA, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified coastline, to kick the Nazis back off the edge of the English Channel. General Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, "we will accept nothing less than full victory." More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, giving us a toehold on the Continent. Over 9,000 Allies dead or wounded was the high cost of victory.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
7 Years in Real Life
So I am reminiscing about the beginning of my life after college. As a young man growing up in the Greatest City on earth, Tuscaloosa, one aspires to attend The University of Alabama. By the time he's half finished with school, that Tuscaloosa young man has dreams of graduation and life as a big shot UA Alumnus. Perspective is a constantly changing thing, as ephemeral as a sunset, yet as important as breakfast.
My ideas for life after college went something like: work a few years in China; learn fluent Mandarin; set up shop as international businessman in Shanghai; make wheelbarrow loads of money; retire from Chinese business at age 40 to a ranch in Montana; sit quietly on my porch with a rifle and pistol waiting for coyotes to disturb my chickens; hunt elk in winters; fish for trout in summer... live out life quietly by myself. Thankfully that was a very poor plan that didn't come to fruition! Being alone with buckets of cash is probably misery; I much prefer having a loving wife and beautiful child with a modest income in retail sporting goods.
As the tee-shirts say: "Life is Good." At twenty-four my brain was still developing (boys don't fully mature mentally until 27) so I went through commencement exercises and preparations to work in China with the above mentioned goals in my head. That is a pity, because I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had focused more on the Lord and less on the world. Nonetheless, by September 1, 2007 I was settled in as an Oral English teacher at China University of Geoscience in Wuhan. That would be my home and career for three years after graduation. I loved it. I miss it. I had some inspiring studies with students and made some of the best memories of my life... most importantly it is where I became friends with my wife!
Eliz and I actually first met at an orientation for Chinese teachers in Montgomery, Alabama. Not love at first sight for her, although I thought she was the prettiest girl there. Anyway it really didn't matter at the time because I was intimidated by her California vibe, what with the Apple Macbook and no southern accent. She didn't think much of me excepting the comment I made about her having beautiful eyes (that's a fact). So my first year in Wuhan I was basically a bachelor discovering the Far East all by his lonesome. I went to Beijing by myself.
The first trip out of Wuhan I took was an overnight train, by myself to Beijing in October '07 to 'see the sights' and have fun. You must understand that I did NOT speak or understand very much Mandarin after being in the country for less than 8 weeks; but I took a phrase book, Lonely Planet guide, and pocketful of courage with me on the trip. One of my students helped me get the ticket beforehand and a friend suggested that upon arrival in Beijing I immediately find an English speaking person to help book my return ticket. This excellent advise was heeded. I remember stopping in at a popular expat cafe in Wuhan the afternoon of my departure, backpack cinched on tight... ticket in hand... telling some folks that I was headed to Beijing for a week. Eliz was present. Both she and her friend were shocked that I was one- traveling alone, two- had no contacts there, and three- had no reservations.
That was fun, pulling into the station with no map, no plans, no hotel reservation... just my wits and a backpack. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I ended up finding maps for sale out near the taxi stand (after of course 1st purchasing a return ticket to Wuhan), then hopping on a bus that hopefully would carry me close to the center of town. The bus I rode to the end of the line, and as I sat perplexed for a while on where I was, a pair of students came and asked me in broken English where I was headed. I said "to the nearest hotel!" They were nice enough to actually walk me a few blocks out of their way to a mid-priced hotel nearby... after 24 hours, I had my bearings and was bivouacked a block and a half from Tiananmen at a very thrifty hostel (less than a block from Grand Hyatt Beijing). I saw the Forbidden City, climbed the Great Wall, did as much fun as one can on a teacher's budget and made it safely back to Wuhan.
I would make many more trips in the three years in China, but just the one trip to Beijing. I don't have much desire to see it again unless I was with my kids. I visited many more authentic places such as Longhui Orphanage, Guilin, Yangshuo, Hong Kong, Xian, Kunming, Nanning, Rongshui, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao, and others you may not know. Wherever I went, I usually had a fun time haggling and practicing my Chinese. The most exciting journey was from China to Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Nha Trang, Danang, Hoi An, Saigon) then through Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat) up to Laos (Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang) and finally back north into Kunming, China. Eliz, her brother, and I had an unprecedented amount of fun and adventure traveling through Indochina. I don't recommend it to the elderly, expectant mothers, or weak kneed yellow belly.
---
中国地质大学 (武汉）
My ideas for life after college went something like: work a few years in China; learn fluent Mandarin; set up shop as international businessman in Shanghai; make wheelbarrow loads of money; retire from Chinese business at age 40 to a ranch in Montana; sit quietly on my porch with a rifle and pistol waiting for coyotes to disturb my chickens; hunt elk in winters; fish for trout in summer... live out life quietly by myself. Thankfully that was a very poor plan that didn't come to fruition! Being alone with buckets of cash is probably misery; I much prefer having a loving wife and beautiful child with a modest income in retail sporting goods.
As the tee-shirts say: "Life is Good." At twenty-four my brain was still developing (boys don't fully mature mentally until 27) so I went through commencement exercises and preparations to work in China with the above mentioned goals in my head. That is a pity, because I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had focused more on the Lord and less on the world. Nonetheless, by September 1, 2007 I was settled in as an Oral English teacher at China University of Geoscience in Wuhan. That would be my home and career for three years after graduation. I loved it. I miss it. I had some inspiring studies with students and made some of the best memories of my life... most importantly it is where I became friends with my wife!
Eliz and I actually first met at an orientation for Chinese teachers in Montgomery, Alabama. Not love at first sight for her, although I thought she was the prettiest girl there. Anyway it really didn't matter at the time because I was intimidated by her California vibe, what with the Apple Macbook and no southern accent. She didn't think much of me excepting the comment I made about her having beautiful eyes (that's a fact). So my first year in Wuhan I was basically a bachelor discovering the Far East all by his lonesome. I went to Beijing by myself.
The first trip out of Wuhan I took was an overnight train, by myself to Beijing in October '07 to 'see the sights' and have fun. You must understand that I did NOT speak or understand very much Mandarin after being in the country for less than 8 weeks; but I took a phrase book, Lonely Planet guide, and pocketful of courage with me on the trip. One of my students helped me get the ticket beforehand and a friend suggested that upon arrival in Beijing I immediately find an English speaking person to help book my return ticket. This excellent advise was heeded. I remember stopping in at a popular expat cafe in Wuhan the afternoon of my departure, backpack cinched on tight... ticket in hand... telling some folks that I was headed to Beijing for a week. Eliz was present. Both she and her friend were shocked that I was one- traveling alone, two- had no contacts there, and three- had no reservations.
That was fun, pulling into the station with no map, no plans, no hotel reservation... just my wits and a backpack. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I ended up finding maps for sale out near the taxi stand (after of course 1st purchasing a return ticket to Wuhan), then hopping on a bus that hopefully would carry me close to the center of town. The bus I rode to the end of the line, and as I sat perplexed for a while on where I was, a pair of students came and asked me in broken English where I was headed. I said "to the nearest hotel!" They were nice enough to actually walk me a few blocks out of their way to a mid-priced hotel nearby... after 24 hours, I had my bearings and was bivouacked a block and a half from Tiananmen at a very thrifty hostel (less than a block from Grand Hyatt Beijing). I saw the Forbidden City, climbed the Great Wall, did as much fun as one can on a teacher's budget and made it safely back to Wuhan.
I would make many more trips in the three years in China, but just the one trip to Beijing. I don't have much desire to see it again unless I was with my kids. I visited many more authentic places such as Longhui Orphanage, Guilin, Yangshuo, Hong Kong, Xian, Kunming, Nanning, Rongshui, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao, and others you may not know. Wherever I went, I usually had a fun time haggling and practicing my Chinese. The most exciting journey was from China to Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Nha Trang, Danang, Hoi An, Saigon) then through Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat) up to Laos (Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang) and finally back north into Kunming, China. Eliz, her brother, and I had an unprecedented amount of fun and adventure traveling through Indochina. I don't recommend it to the elderly, expectant mothers, or weak kneed yellow belly.
---
中国地质大学 (武汉）
By no means should you get the impression we were only in China to travel. Ninety per cent of my time was spent in and around my university, China University of Geoscience (Dida), in Wuhan. There was plenty to do aside from my teaching schedule, but allow me to give you a brief rundown on my typical week. I taught 4-6 classes per semester of Oral English at 中国地质大学 (Dida) where I lived on campus. A great benefit was being able to ride my bike to work, then ascend six floors without an elevator four days a week. It was a challenge for the first several weeks, but kept me in excellent shape! The teaching schedule of morning classes four days a week, allowed me to pursue other activities in the afternoons and weekends. These included reading, studying with students, playing guitar, exploring town on my bike, cooking, and keeping up with events back home via e-mail and Skype. On Sundays I attended the Wuhan Int'l Fellowship located downtown via 30 minute bus ride.
Getting around using buses instead of taxis was an adventure that I heartily recommend. I'd say my Mandarin conversation skills were 10% book work and 90% bus work. There is no substitute for immersive language learning with people who don't speak a lick of English. When I got comfortable chatting with old folks on the bus, I knew I'd come a long way. Also pointing at store signs out the window and asking locals to confirm meanings helped my reading comprehension. By the time I left China in summer 2010, I had mastered 200-300 characters.
A typical Chinese person will know roughly 2,500 characters to be functionally literate (read newspaper, etc.), while one with extensive education may know 8,000 or more. Most Chinese dictionaries publish 20,000 characters! The beauty of Mandarin and simplified characters in particular, is that the more you learn the easier it gets. Many 'compound words' are made up of two or more very basic characters that combine to create a totally new word. Favorite example for this is "xiăoxīn" 小心 which translates to "caution" in English, but is formed by the characters 小"small" and 心"heart" . So anytime you hear someone shout "Be careful!" it sounds to me like "Little Heart!".
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Safari Club Int'l: Vegas 2014
Ever been to a gun show or hunting expo? Now picture it having the biggest spread of fine gun manufacturers and amazing taxidermy covering two floors in Las Vegas... that's SCI at Mandalay Bay. From the bull elephant, to the dozen grizzly bears - Holland & Holland, to Winchester, Ruger, and Hornady - all the coolest stuff you can conceive of for big game hunting under one roof. There is of course a concentration of guides peddling African safaris and Alaskan bear hunts that you just don't see at other shows. A big reason for the focus on international hunting is SCI is the foremost conservation organization in the world and all the high rollers come to the annual show. If you were to merge guest lists from the Texas Cattlemen's and the Beverly Wilshire, that would be your average show attendee.
I had the pleasure of meeting up with a former colleague Eric, who after a career as a Marine Sniper became a professional hunter in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia. He offers package hunts for the novice, or tailored hunts of specific dangerous game for more experienced hunters.
Happy New Year!
Chun jie kuai le! Happy Year of the Horse. So Christmas and New Year have come and gone. Lunar New Year was a few weeks ago, and Valentine's Day was this past week. Hope you had a pleasant and joyful time as much as my family has.
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| First encounter |
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| Curious Winchester |
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| Guard Cat |
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Legendary Leather, Cool Cars, Mountains & Airplanes... yes I've been to Palm Springs.
The aforementioned smell hit me upon entering Frontier Gunleather, but I was struck more by the sight of John Bianchi himself than the delectable leather aroma. It was totally unexpected, a shock; I was surprised that he actually still came to work. My notion that he sat at home like other retirees or went golfing was pleasantly shattered. The wife didn't really get how famous he is until I explained it in the car later. If you don't get it, imagine going to a batting cage and having Hank Aaron working there. Or walking in to Nordstrom and being assisted by Ralph Lauren. Doesn't happen much, huh? Aside from crafting the gold standard for holsters, Mr. Bianchi is good enough with a gun to have an NRA pistol tournament named after him: the Bianchi Cup. In spite of this prestige, he is quite down to earth and folksy. We walked out with an order for a custom fit gunbelt with holster, an autographed poster, personalized copy of his biography, and a 1911 double magazine pouch dyed black while we waited. The only thing I'd planned on getting was the mag pouch, but my wife insisted we get more. The poster was a total surprise. :) 
McCormick car show/ auction happened this weekend, too. Cool Model A with my father-in-law.
Mountain snow above Palm Springs, CA
Thursday, November 14, 2013
America #1... still most awesome place I've ever been!
America, Heck Yeah! Without trying to sound like I'm tooting Uncle Sam's horn, or being overly patriotic, there are some things I experience that keep me believing in American Exceptionalism. Two examples will illustrate the unbridled enthusiasm we pour into our pursuit of quality. One should keep in mind the truism: you get what you pay for.
Champagne brunch. These words fill one's mind with fashionable dining in blissful tranquility. A buffet of omelettes, carved ribeye, pancakes, Belgian waffles, and the like thrown in with the standard breakfast fare of hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, fruits, cheeses, pastries, and a Mimosa to wash it down. A little backstory may be in order. My wife is due to deliver our first child in early January. So we know for a fact that there will be a solid three to five months we won't be dining out at "cloth napkin" restaurants. So we're sandbagging now and eating out a couple times a week if her schedule and nausea permit it. Our dash to soak up these last few meals took us to the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA. After enjoying one of the best steaks in my life, I casually pointed out that they offer an appealing Champagne Brunch. The wife's response was "Excellent, let's eat here again on Sunday!" No argument from me :).
So that is how I found myself at noon on Sunday, in a Spanish style courtyard, indulging in hot chocolate, eggs with smoked salmon, and a Mimosa: that sweet combination of orange juice and champagne.
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Titanium AR-10: Sure, why not?
Carrying on the theme of penultimate quality, I had the chance this week to handle a rifle that costs more than a Range Rover, but the guy buying this would probably take it home in a Porsche. MSRP of above rifle: a cool $100,000. It doesn't contain any gold or platinum. Nor are any parts covered in unicorn horn or dragon scales, although it may have the very unique Hen's Tooth shell extractor. Why the six-figure price tag? One word: Titanium. The raw materials in this gun cost about $25,000. Add in labor and machining on the toughest metal extant, plus the unique designation of Serial #1 and one rises up into very rare air. I count nine specific titanium parts on the spec list below. Would it really cost more than a condo to build it on your own? No. At least not if you have access to CNC machining equipment with diamond tip cutters and are willing to plunk down the initial material costs. Word amongst some in the industry is that if this had become a "production model" gun, it would list between forty to fifty thousand. Still, at $45K each, Nemo Arms, the company who built this didn't figure demand would support the capital expenditure. I applaud their self-control.
Titanium Matched Receiver Set
416 Stainless Steel, .308 Win, 1/10 Twist, Black Nitride Finish, 16” HBAR Profile
Titanium Customizable Tube Handguard
Troy Tritium Micro Set Back Up Iron Sights
Titanium Picatinny Handguard Rails
Choate 6-position Buttstock
Titanium Low Profile Gas Block
Titanium Charging Handle with Tactical Latch
Hogue Grip with Battery Management System
Titanium DRK Compensator
KNS Anti-Rotational Pins
Timney 4lb Solid Trigger
Norgon Ambi Mag Catch
Ambi Safety Selector
Titanium Buffer Tube
Stainless Steel Buffer
Titanium Bolt Carrier, Nickel Boron Coated Bolt
Trijicon TA648RMR-308 ACOG 6×48
Champagne brunch. These words fill one's mind with fashionable dining in blissful tranquility. A buffet of omelettes, carved ribeye, pancakes, Belgian waffles, and the like thrown in with the standard breakfast fare of hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, fruits, cheeses, pastries, and a Mimosa to wash it down. A little backstory may be in order. My wife is due to deliver our first child in early January. So we know for a fact that there will be a solid three to five months we won't be dining out at "cloth napkin" restaurants. So we're sandbagging now and eating out a couple times a week if her schedule and nausea permit it. Our dash to soak up these last few meals took us to the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA. After enjoying one of the best steaks in my life, I casually pointed out that they offer an appealing Champagne Brunch. The wife's response was "Excellent, let's eat here again on Sunday!" No argument from me :).
So that is how I found myself at noon on Sunday, in a Spanish style courtyard, indulging in hot chocolate, eggs with smoked salmon, and a Mimosa: that sweet combination of orange juice and champagne.
---
Titanium AR-10: Sure, why not?
Carrying on the theme of penultimate quality, I had the chance this week to handle a rifle that costs more than a Range Rover, but the guy buying this would probably take it home in a Porsche. MSRP of above rifle: a cool $100,000. It doesn't contain any gold or platinum. Nor are any parts covered in unicorn horn or dragon scales, although it may have the very unique Hen's Tooth shell extractor. Why the six-figure price tag? One word: Titanium. The raw materials in this gun cost about $25,000. Add in labor and machining on the toughest metal extant, plus the unique designation of Serial #1 and one rises up into very rare air. I count nine specific titanium parts on the spec list below. Would it really cost more than a condo to build it on your own? No. At least not if you have access to CNC machining equipment with diamond tip cutters and are willing to plunk down the initial material costs. Word amongst some in the industry is that if this had become a "production model" gun, it would list between forty to fifty thousand. Still, at $45K each, Nemo Arms, the company who built this didn't figure demand would support the capital expenditure. I applaud their self-control.
Alabama Rollin'
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
High Class Cultural Activity
This weekend was spent with wife and in-laws partaking in some wonderfully enriching activities. My dear wife has never been to an Alabama football game, nor even Tuscaloosa on Game Day. So by cashing in all of my brownie points, I was able to coax her into joining me at Sonny McLean's Pub via Randy's Donuts to watch Coach Saban's Crimson Tide whoop up on Ole Miss. As a complete non-seqitur: we traversed the entire length of Inglewood on Manchester Avenue, passing Soul Food Kitchen, The Forum, and seven different places selling fried chicken. I must say that a drive from Lincoln Blvd to the 110 Fwy is a lot like driving through Memphis. Anyway, I digress.
After getting a pre-game donut at the much hyped Randy's Donuts, we took a short rest back in Santa Monica before heading over to Sonny McLean's Irish Pub on Wilshire. Those readers familiar with West L.A. will know that there is absolutely no soul food anywhere near this part of the city. Fortunately though, Sonny's makes fabulous guacamole and perfect shepherd's pie with ground lamb and savory sauce. If you wanted to replicate a Tuscaloosa or Birmingham sports pub, Sonny's would be a close to perfect match. There are plenty of TVs; enough to watch the opening part of my Alabama vs. Ole Miss game, and simultaneously revel in Oklahoma thrashing Notre Dame, and Georgia beating LSU. We found out about this "meet up" of Bama fans online. Apparently there is no connection to LA's chapter of UA Alumni Association, but that doesn't stop 10-20 Southerners from gathering to watch the Tide Roll.
The wife had never seen anyone besides me sing "Yeah Alabama" or shout "Rammer Jammer", so allowing her to witness these firsthand was a real treat. I really enjoyed explaining the bad calls and how the system of "downs" works (why the goal is to keep getting 1st Down) en route to the end zone. Both of us were impressed by the safety for 2 points toward the end of the game. After the win, we both had a little bit of ringing in our ears from the crowd noise inside Sonny McLean's. There is nothing quite so sweet as driving home after an Alabama SEC victory. Roll Tide Roll.
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On Sunday afternoon, we partook in a similarly exciting event: Georges Bizet's "Carmen" performed by the LA Opera in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, conducted by the legendary Placido Domingo. Carmen is one of the three most famous operas of all time; sandwiched between Puccini's "La Boheme" and Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro", it was amazing to see for the very first time (with my wife/ in LA). We saw "La Boheme" last year, which was my first live opera experience. Everyone should see a few famous operas in their life to get a sense of refinement, and see and hear Western Civilization's classiest form of entertainment. Filled with very memorable songs, "Carmen" is the story of a gypsy lady who runs off with Don Jose, corporal of Dragoons and later dumps him for Escamillo, the grand bullfighter baritone who sings "Toreador."
At half an hour into the first act, we are treated to the "Habanera" which is the trademark song of this opera. It contains this line: L'amour est l'enfant de Boheme... or in English: Love is a gypsy's child. While I don't proffer this as a rational worldview, it does contain poetic charm. My main grievance on the performance was that my opera-mates told me the ending. Spoiler alert! When taking your son-in-law or your husband out to see a show that he's never seen, don't ruin the suspense by telling him that the title character gets stabbed. If I wanted to know who dies at the end, I'd have read up on it! As my wife says, "don't get attached to any of the characters because they'll probably die." Wow! How's that for comfort? Anyway, aside from Don Jose stabbing Carmen in a fit of desperate rage, it has a cute ending. I hope you like the songs as much as I do --> really catchy tunes.
vivid costumes, gallant dancing, lustrous voices, fun people watching
After getting a pre-game donut at the much hyped Randy's Donuts, we took a short rest back in Santa Monica before heading over to Sonny McLean's Irish Pub on Wilshire. Those readers familiar with West L.A. will know that there is absolutely no soul food anywhere near this part of the city. Fortunately though, Sonny's makes fabulous guacamole and perfect shepherd's pie with ground lamb and savory sauce. If you wanted to replicate a Tuscaloosa or Birmingham sports pub, Sonny's would be a close to perfect match. There are plenty of TVs; enough to watch the opening part of my Alabama vs. Ole Miss game, and simultaneously revel in Oklahoma thrashing Notre Dame, and Georgia beating LSU. We found out about this "meet up" of Bama fans online. Apparently there is no connection to LA's chapter of UA Alumni Association, but that doesn't stop 10-20 Southerners from gathering to watch the Tide Roll.
The wife had never seen anyone besides me sing "Yeah Alabama" or shout "Rammer Jammer", so allowing her to witness these firsthand was a real treat. I really enjoyed explaining the bad calls and how the system of "downs" works (why the goal is to keep getting 1st Down) en route to the end zone. Both of us were impressed by the safety for 2 points toward the end of the game. After the win, we both had a little bit of ringing in our ears from the crowd noise inside Sonny McLean's. There is nothing quite so sweet as driving home after an Alabama SEC victory. Roll Tide Roll.
---
On Sunday afternoon, we partook in a similarly exciting event: Georges Bizet's "Carmen" performed by the LA Opera in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, conducted by the legendary Placido Domingo. Carmen is one of the three most famous operas of all time; sandwiched between Puccini's "La Boheme" and Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro", it was amazing to see for the very first time (with my wife/ in LA). We saw "La Boheme" last year, which was my first live opera experience. Everyone should see a few famous operas in their life to get a sense of refinement, and see and hear Western Civilization's classiest form of entertainment. Filled with very memorable songs, "Carmen" is the story of a gypsy lady who runs off with Don Jose, corporal of Dragoons and later dumps him for Escamillo, the grand bullfighter baritone who sings "Toreador."At half an hour into the first act, we are treated to the "Habanera" which is the trademark song of this opera. It contains this line: L'amour est l'enfant de Boheme... or in English: Love is a gypsy's child. While I don't proffer this as a rational worldview, it does contain poetic charm. My main grievance on the performance was that my opera-mates told me the ending. Spoiler alert! When taking your son-in-law or your husband out to see a show that he's never seen, don't ruin the suspense by telling him that the title character gets stabbed. If I wanted to know who dies at the end, I'd have read up on it! As my wife says, "don't get attached to any of the characters because they'll probably die." Wow! How's that for comfort? Anyway, aside from Don Jose stabbing Carmen in a fit of desperate rage, it has a cute ending. I hope you like the songs as much as I do --> really catchy tunes.
vivid costumes, gallant dancing, lustrous voices, fun people watching
Saturday, August 31, 2013
FINAL: No. 1 Alabama 35, Virginia Tech 10
So we won. But there is much room for improvement... running game was non-existent, and offensive line was lackluster. However VA Tech fielded one of the best defenses (I hope) we see all season. This is just the first game. Thankfully we have a "bye" week to prepare for retribution against Texas A&M and their snotty prima donna quarterback, Johnny Manziel.
Hope y'all have a pleasant weekend and Happy Labor Day. Roll Tide Roll!!!
Hope y'all have a pleasant weekend and Happy Labor Day. Roll Tide Roll!!!
Run in Feet, Dream in Miles... RTR!
So this is the last day of August and also the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. The Alabama Crimson Tide, my home team (Class of '07), will be playing Virgina Tech in Atlanta's Georgia Dome at 1:30pm PST. I plan to watch the game here in Santa Monica with a friend from Nashville. For many years as a youngster, a game like today's in a neutral setting against a big East Coast team would have made me jittery about the outcome. But being #1 reigning National Champion for the 3rd season in 4 years, I have a bit more swagger. Hopefully Coach Saban has put his boys in the proper mindset. Winning today is a foregone conclusion by many fans. That's why we pay the fella the big bucks: $5 million per year to knock the stuffing out of Auburn and beat Tennessee like a drum, whilst carrying on a proud and glorious tradition.
Will he get more than 323 wins before retiring? At 159 wins he's almost halfway there, but I doubt it. Will he win more championships in Tuscaloosa than Bear Bryant? Maybe he can. It would take 4 more, which isn't asking too much for a coach in his early 60s. As "Sports' Most Powerful Coach" per Forbes magazine, I believe Saban really loves to watch his players win games and he's the only guy tough enough to impart that mental certitude to young college boys. I wish he had taken over at UA four years before 2007 when I was still a student. It would have made my memories from the Student Section of Bryant Denny Stadium much more exciting. Alas, I'm so glad Coach Saban is our guy now and pray that he stays till he's 85. A championship to Coach Saban is just "part of the Process." His process is methodical and inimitable. I hope we win :) Roll Tide Roll!
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Joys of Hand Crafted Ammo: Reloading .308
Recreational shooters like myself hoard empty brass casings with the dream of "Someday I'm going to reload. Brass is the most expensive part so I'm halfway there. It's an investment!" and somehow forget to go buy the rest of the kit. I actually started purchasing dies for higher volume firearms two years ago. A .45ACP set here, a carbide .357 set there, and before long I've got 5 sets of dies stored with a pile of empties. Then I told myself last fall, "either get serious or get rid of it" and to wit now have a can of powder, several primers, and the bullets to go on top (pointy side facing out). My knowledge base grew exponentially in the past two years as I milked every colleague and customer I knew on the subject. We actually have the excellent DVD from RCBS on loop at my workplace that I've seen several times now (in 5 minute increments).
Finally, I got the blessing of a colleague to come over after work and use his bench. Of particular interest to me was tapping his vast knowledge of the title caliber: .308 Winchester. Apparently there are two distinctly different methods depending on end use. If you plan on shooting a .308 bolt action, then standard dies will work fine, but if your intended use is a semi-automatic, which I have, then 'small base' dies plus 'neck sizing' dies are the way to go. Without going into exhaustive detail, fired brass is ejected with vigor from a semi-auto rifle, thus requiring a bit more prep work than empties collected from a bolt action shooter. The former is a very dynamic platform, whilst the latter is quite static. That extreme force stretches brass longitudinally and radially, whereby the hand loader has to take extra caution to make sure his casings are back in spec, a rather tedious task.
After getting the cases sized and trimmed down to spec, we primed them, added forty-two grains of IMR 3031 powder, and lastly seated a 150 grain Sierra Game King bullet. What is a grain? Seven thousand grains equals one pound, so a five hundred grain bullet weighs slightly more than an ounce. Our fifty cartridges consumed 2,100 grains or roughly a third of one can of powder. A hundred count box of Sierra bullets costs on average $35... so that's thirty-five cents each. CCI #200 primers also come in sleeves of 100 and cost $5 or less. Powder ranges from $20 to $30 a pound. The reloader's goal is to make it for half the price of factory ammo. These figures are considering $0 for "once fired" empty brass. If one starts with store bought virgin brass, he may not realize any savings.
Let's do a little math. I figure if $25 retail is what you'd pay for a 20 round box of Hornady, Winchester, or Federal and my unit cost is $0.53 instead of $1.25 then I am reaching the elusive "inexpensive ammo" goal. A break-even point is readily passed when reloading pistol rounds such as .45ACP, .44 Magnum, 9mm, .38 Special, and .357 Magnum. The powder these calibers consume is minuscule (5 to 14 grains) and in the case of sub-sonic loads like .45ACP, brass can be reloaded a couple dozen times due to lower chamber pressure & less fatigue. As some old timers say, "reload & shoot it 'til it cracks!" I now have 50 rounds of meticulously crafted .308 ammo and the ability to produce more. Dreams do come true!
CAUTION: THE AUTHOR'S INTENDED AUDIENCE IS COMPETENT, SOBER, SAFETY MINDED ADULTS. READ PUBLISHED DATA/ INSTRUCTIONS FROM REPUTABLE SOURCE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO RELOAD AMMUNITION. HANDLING GUN POWDER & PRIMERS CAN BE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS. MISUSE MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES! CLICK IMR OR CCI FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
The Farm: Redlands, CA
I had an amazingly delicious supper tonight at Farm Artisan on State Street in Redlands. If you aren't familiar with it, feel free to click over to their website then return to Bama Drifter for my review. OK, so my wife Eliz and I really enjoy good restaurants. We make a point to have a date once a week. And at a fancy place once a month. Without cable TV or car payments, this is our main splurge. Since my mom was in town for my valve procedure, we made sure to take her along with us.
The food is primarily why we go to the Farm, with atmosphere being a close second. Most of the ingredients are locally produced and the menu changes regularly to reflect what is in season. Tonight they had a price fixe option three course dinner for $19. Choice of soup or salad, trout or tofu with vegetables, and strawberries with cream for dessert. Luckily tonight's soup was our favorite: carrot ginger over a bed of buckwheat (other times it is over jasmine rice). Not to forget, you get fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar after placing your order. Similar style but way better quality than Macaroni Grill. The carrot ginger soup isn't overly spiced and has a pleasant hint of coconut. We get it every time that it is available and heartily recommend it. The ladies heirloom tomato salad was pleasant.
For my main course I had the pan seared trout over corn cake with fresh vegetable medley. Accompanying this meal was a glass of Pedroncelli Zinfandel which we'll discuss further later on. The fish was prepared just how I like, lightly pan fried skin on. Fresh carrots, squash, and onions also tasted great. A large medallion sized corn cake made another special touch. A bit more pepper would have been helpful, but overall I would say this was one of my favorite Farm meals yet.
For dessert, we had fresh strawberries with almond cake and cream. The presentation was lovely with a dollop of cream in the center, surrounded by a ring of sliced strawberries and a biscotti-like almond cake cut into three strips. This I washed down with the fabulous 2008 Trentadue Petite Sirah Port. If you've had their exquisite Chocolate Amore, you may find this offering a bit dryer and plummier with a slightly fruiter mouthfeel. The Farm continues to make progress in desserts, but still lacks in the coffee area. We hope they will advance beyond basic coffee soon and offer cappuccino, espresso, or our old standby: the sugar-free hazelnut decaf soy latte.
The award winning wine I enjoyed is worth mentioning again. A bold red, Pedroncelli Zinfandel 2010 from California's Dry Creek Valley scored 88 points in Wine Spectator. Jammy, blackberry, with mild floral notes and hint of pepper. My tasting notes overlap those of the pros. I think I have a decent nose for quality and Zinfandel is probably my favorite grape. Usually I try to stick to the budget wines like Trader Joe's Reserve, Rosenblum, or Bogle so this was a treat. A glass a day keeps the cardiologist away!
In a word this evening was scrumptrulescent.
The food is primarily why we go to the Farm, with atmosphere being a close second. Most of the ingredients are locally produced and the menu changes regularly to reflect what is in season. Tonight they had a price fixe option three course dinner for $19. Choice of soup or salad, trout or tofu with vegetables, and strawberries with cream for dessert. Luckily tonight's soup was our favorite: carrot ginger over a bed of buckwheat (other times it is over jasmine rice). Not to forget, you get fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar after placing your order. Similar style but way better quality than Macaroni Grill. The carrot ginger soup isn't overly spiced and has a pleasant hint of coconut. We get it every time that it is available and heartily recommend it. The ladies heirloom tomato salad was pleasant.
For my main course I had the pan seared trout over corn cake with fresh vegetable medley. Accompanying this meal was a glass of Pedroncelli Zinfandel which we'll discuss further later on. The fish was prepared just how I like, lightly pan fried skin on. Fresh carrots, squash, and onions also tasted great. A large medallion sized corn cake made another special touch. A bit more pepper would have been helpful, but overall I would say this was one of my favorite Farm meals yet.
For dessert, we had fresh strawberries with almond cake and cream. The presentation was lovely with a dollop of cream in the center, surrounded by a ring of sliced strawberries and a biscotti-like almond cake cut into three strips. This I washed down with the fabulous 2008 Trentadue Petite Sirah Port. If you've had their exquisite Chocolate Amore, you may find this offering a bit dryer and plummier with a slightly fruiter mouthfeel. The Farm continues to make progress in desserts, but still lacks in the coffee area. We hope they will advance beyond basic coffee soon and offer cappuccino, espresso, or our old standby: the sugar-free hazelnut decaf soy latte.
The award winning wine I enjoyed is worth mentioning again. A bold red, Pedroncelli Zinfandel 2010 from California's Dry Creek Valley scored 88 points in Wine Spectator. Jammy, blackberry, with mild floral notes and hint of pepper. My tasting notes overlap those of the pros. I think I have a decent nose for quality and Zinfandel is probably my favorite grape. Usually I try to stick to the budget wines like Trader Joe's Reserve, Rosenblum, or Bogle so this was a treat. A glass a day keeps the cardiologist away!
In a word this evening was scrumptrulescent.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
In-N-Out... of the hospital
So that went well. My cath lab procedure on Tuesday took four hours from beginning to end and then an overnight stay for observation. I had a chest echo done Wednesday morning to observe valve function and flow as well as an x-ray to show proper placement. Dr. Brent Gordon and his team did an excellent job. If you are ever in SoCal and need a heart valve replaced, he's the best. A really interesting part aside from having a pulmonic valve threaded up my femoral artery, was getting to handle a Gore-tex covered platinum stent.
My stent is stainless steel with cow vein sewn into it, but in Europe and other parts of the free world outside of FDA control, doctors have the option of using this fancier stent. I signed a form agreeing to be part of a Johns Hopkins study should my artery tear and the Gore-tex platinum stent become necessary during the procedure. Thankfully the Melody Valve went in smoothly with no drama. Just having the option available to use a more advanced material was exciting. I can't imagine what will be available seven to ten years from now! I'm sure the good folks at Medtronic are staying busy.
My stent is stainless steel with cow vein sewn into it, but in Europe and other parts of the free world outside of FDA control, doctors have the option of using this fancier stent. I signed a form agreeing to be part of a Johns Hopkins study should my artery tear and the Gore-tex platinum stent become necessary during the procedure. Thankfully the Melody Valve went in smoothly with no drama. Just having the option available to use a more advanced material was exciting. I can't imagine what will be available seven to ten years from now! I'm sure the good folks at Medtronic are staying busy.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Melody Valve Procedure
The aforementioned minor heart problem I have requires an occasional corrective surgery. Three previous surgeries have been of the "open heart" variety. Firstly as an infant, second was a Ross Procedure at age ten, and most recently a Pulmonic Valve replacement in 2006. That seven year old donor valve is starting to wear out according to my cardiologist and he is a very clever man, so I take him at his word. Those earlier procedures were all performed at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, AL. On Tuesday, I'll have a cath-lab Melody Valve installed by the experts at LLU Hospital in Loma Linda.
After doing a small amount of research on it, I'm pretty happy about the deal. I'll be able to work Monday, have the procedure on Tuesday, rest Wednesday, and be back at work
Melody Valve video on Youtube
P-E article w/ photo of my doctors
_______________
Update Oct. 2014
So it has been fifteen months and all is well. I had a routine cardiology appointment in August that confirmed my valves are all functioning fine, and aside from my required aspirin regimen and 20mg Lisinopril I give it no thought. I stay too busy working and raising a beautiful daughter to worry about leaky heart valves. I am fit, and don't tire easily. I may need another surgery in 7-10 years, more or less... but that is far down the road and hopefully the technology will be even more amazing by then!
I see that more than 150 people have read my initial post; most likely you found it by Googling "Melody Valve". I pray that wether it be you, a friend or family member facing Heart Surgery that you be of good cheer. I've been on the table four times, the first three involved cutting open my chest. Risks involved with Melody Valve procedures are minimal, healing time quick, and scar is non-existent. Remember that laughter is the best medicine; God Bless. :) Philippians 1:6
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