An Appetizing Review

For our asian community at work, I am the editor of a quarterly newsletter that is used to keep the community aware of items going on at work and in the city. One of the new things we are wanting to incorporate are asian restaurant reviews. Asians are tough critics of asian restaurants and word of mouth is the best source of PR. As I read responses to my request - it gave me a list of places I wanted to try. The following review gave me a chuckle...

Here is my review for Casual Wok & Grille.
-Good and authentic Szechuan food
- We loved the intestine in hot plate (it was a pot on fire with intestine and tofu in a yummy red sauce)
- We had to order something not spicy for our 2-year old son, we loved (and our son loved) the salt and pepper tenderloin they recommended
- Our visitor who is an Asian from Los Angeles told me the intestine in hot plate is comparable to the best asian food they have in LA
- Our visitor is quite intrigued with the spicy rabbit and said he will want to try it next time

...Some things are probably better not translated. Who wants to join me in checking out Casual Wok??

Spring is here!

We are excited that it is actually getting nice outside we are able to enjoy the weather and perhaps for the first time since we moved into the house, get our yard looking nice. Today, we went out to buy some Mulch, tree spikes, and topsoil to begin the process. Owen thought it would be fun to help and so we gave him his own shovel and let him have a go at aerating the flower bed...

Wii Play

I think Tom was having game console withdrawl (his 360 is getting fixed right now) after not playing anything for the last 3 weeks. We went to Target yesterday as part of our weekly shopping trip with the intention of buying new toothbrushes, diapers, and loofa spongy thingy and walked out with a new game console, extra controller, and a second game for the Wii. (Target is a dangerous place to shop!) To be fair, I wasn't against the purchase at all and we warmed up the console by creating our own characters (Mii) and testing out all the games.

My guess is that this will ride up to Sodus with us in May along with golf clubs and Owen toys so ... Everyone get warmed up because we'll probably be having a Riker Wii Game Night.

Little Taste of the Past

Our hiring process at work is a bit unique, in addition to applying (uploading resume, etc.) you also are requested to take an assessment in which determines if you are a fit with the company. This was created after I joined the company and so I have not taken it. When I joined, they gave us a reasoning test which reminded me a bit of a shortened HS standardized test. I guess they have decided to go back to this standarized reasoning test and away from the general assessment. They also needed guinea pigs to test drive it. I received this email stating how I've been among the selected few to help qualify the new test. (i think they were trying to make me feel special). The email also make a very clear note that stated the results of the testing would not be part of my personal record.

On Friday, I had taken the test...I had forgotten what it was like to take ACT/SAT or even college exams. They must've realized we would've all forgotten as well...When I walked into the auditorium, there were people seated 3 seats apart. Each place had 2 -#2 pencils, the booklet, scantron sheet, scrap calculation paper, and a basic calculator. We had 65 min. to answer 40 Q's. At the end of the time (which I did finish the entire test) - my brain hurt! It's been a while since I had to balance equations or solve logic puzzles. Luckily, I was able to convince Tom to join me for a quick Friday afternoon beer before picking up Owen - that made it all better.

I'm not sure if I want to know how well I did or not...

Traitor Dog

This weekend was the first nice day we had this year and like the rest of our neighbors, we spent the time outside soaking up the sun and warm air. We were looking over the lawn and garden and even began planting things. We can't quite keep up with our neighbor, 'The Jones' - Anna has mowed the grass twice this year already! But I digress...I'm painting our new mailbox, Tom's planting some flocks, Owen's digging dirt, and Where Is Rocky?!?? He is chilling on the lawn taking in the scenary, but not our lawn ....in Anna's!

we got graffitied

it was only a matter of time before we would be hit, but didn't think we'd be hit this hard! the suspect marked 4 walls and 3 doors. we believe he is no taller than 3 feet and very quick on his feet....
The Evidence

The Witness
Tom said that he was only left alone for 5 min max and when he came out to the foyer area, he noticed some black marks on the wall as he continued investigating and looking for the suspect he came upon a few additional findings, but not all. We were finding places through the evening and even the next morning!

All I can say is Thank You Mr. Clean Magic Eraser!

Good Friday - Not a good travel day

We just could not catch a break...

11am PST (1pm CST) - we check out and request the shuttle to the airport. bellman says, we can't use the shuttle without a car seat - but yet, we did it twice before without problems.
11:15am PST - Bellman Tony says he's got it all worked out and will call a taxi with a car seat to take us to the airport (which is a short ~3miles away) and hotel will pay.
11:30am PST - no taxi yet - carport people try to help and there is confusion on needing a car seat when using the shuttle.
11:45am PST - mom is getting worried that we'll miss our 1pm flight to Chicago. Very nice carport Kevin helps gets things cleared up. Bellman Tony gives him and us some 'tude.
12pm PST - taxi finally comes. we hope in (no car seat) get to the airport 5 min. later and WE end up paying for the taxi...Bellman Tony screwed us! If I could ring his neck, I would...better yet, I would like to write a review on his performance. (i've really gone corporate now!)
12:15pm PST - we check in only to find our flight is delayed and will not leave til 3:15pm due to the bad weather. Plus nothing really to eat. Great!?! We'll munch on snacks til Chicago where we can grab a quick bite.
3:15pm PST (5:15pm CST) - we get on the plane and sit there for a little while til 4pm before leaving. Flight time = 3hours and we land about 9pm CST. Owen falls asleep at 3PM and takes a 2 hour nap - YEA!
9pm CST - we land and then sit on the runway for another 45 min until our gate is available to us
10pm CST - we book across O'Hare to our connecting flight. All we want is to get home. Just imagine me running in flip flops with my computer bag and purse over my shoulder pushing Owen in the stroller...
10:30 pm CST - we have made our connection, gotten on the plane and then told we are currently without a pilot who should be here 'any minute'
11pm CST - 'Pilot should be here in the next 5-10 minutes'
11:30pm CST - 'This flight has been cancelled, the pilot is flying another plane to Columbus' If you could only hear all the words floating in my head - none are very nice. We get a room complementary of American Airlines. We think we have a better chance with driving home on Sat. so we didn't rebook. We were told to pick up our bags at baggage claim.
12:30 am CST - no bags, we found out their policy is that if the flight is cancelled, they do not unload the bags - this would've been helpful an hour ago! Instead the bags will take the first flight out to Cincy the next morning. We run around in the snow outside (in flip flops) trying to figure out where to catch the stupid shuttle
12:45 am CST - we catch another shuttle to the hotel. Owen has been awake since 7pm CST and looking like someone just stole his best friend.
1am CST - we are in our rooms with no clothes but the ones we have on - which is t-shirt, jeans, and flip flops - how fitting for 25F Chicago snowy weather. When we first get in the room, Owen is wide awake and eating everything in sight. Owen falls asleep shortly after filling his belly and we start doing a search for cars only to find pretty much everything is booked online. Owen's been up for close to 16hr with a 2 hr nap.
2:30am CST - we call it a night and decide to get up early to do some calling around. we've been up for way too long.
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6:45am CST - we can not find a car but American is able to get us on the 9am flight to Cincinnati. We quickly tare down and get ourselves back to the airport.
9:05am CST - we are on the plane - hungry and tired. Owen throws a tantrum. Tom is sitting in a separate row and Owen & I look like a piece of art with yogurt, granola, and chocolate all over us, including my hair!
Noon EST - we arrive in Cincinnati, only to find that our bags didn't...argh! but we do have car keys and a home to go to!!

Home Sweet Home - I have never been so happy to be back in Cincinnati!