September 26th, 2015

I read about a cleaning "hack" on some website the other day that really works and highly recommend.  When you have a pot that is totally coated in grime or is burnt to the point that you think it'll never be able to be cleaned, fill it up with water and then but a dryer sheet in it.  In about an hour (but better if left overnight) all of the burnt stuff will fall right off.  True. 

Not sure when the word 'hack' became synonymous with being a helpful tip (a hack was a taxi cab in my day), but do love to watch how words evolve and engage.   Always find it weird when you hear about something that has been around forever but never heard about it or just wasn't paying attention, and then it gets mentioned three times within hours.  In advertising, saying something three times is called effective frequency,  but I'm talking about three random occurrences that make it stand out.  .  There is a bar/restaurant next to the kids school called Lili's that is a popular meeting spot apparently, and hear about it 3 times within a two hour span. 

Another one I saw the other day was the term "God fearing".  Obviously had heard that term before, but was used to described so called good people as having that trait.  Made me think that the good people I know have nothing to fear from God and suspect that anyone being described as such must.

Another word I heard for the first time last May, but see it used on an almost daily basis now is the word 'trope'.  Defined as, "any literary or rhetorical device, as metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony, that consists in the use of words in other than their literal sense".  I think I have a decent vocabulary, but this word seems so common that I am disappointed in myself having missed it all this time. 

On Sunday, decided to head to the coast and check out the distillery of highly respected local whisky distiller Kavalan.  Haven't had a lot of it, but like it when I do.  Was interested in their tour personally and in hopes of arranging an outing for the local expat community through the Community Center in the Spring, but was very much underwhelmed by their presentation.  The "tasting" was of only one variety and was a smaller taste than you can get at the Costco, all the while a lady was yelling at us via microphone at the typical Chinese volume...like being yelled at.  We were unable to see many of the processes and those that they did show were demos only or were far away and behind glass.  The information displays felt like they were in a bad museum and a bit like going to school.  I will say that the Praise of Whisky was quite sexual.

The distillery was in Yilan, about an hour west of Taipei and on the coast, and the reason for going now is that a friend of a friend of Betty's high school aged daughter just started a year long student exchange with the Rotary Club and is living there.  We thought it wise to go out to check on her as we hope that people would do that for our kids some day.  This girl has a lot of guts as she speaks no Chinese but goes to a Chinese school all day,  And I mean all day, they start at 7:30am and don't get done until 8pm at night.  Ouch.  Her host family is super protective and their house, while very close to school, is in the middle of rice paddies, so she can't walk anywhere.  They are a mile or so from the beach and she wanted to ride her bike there...the family allowed it, but the father followed her in his car.  She is totally positive and making the best of it, and will move families two times, so there is hope for her, but we felt bad about leaving her there.  I thought the Rotary Club was religious based but learned it was created by business leaders to promote humanitariian services.  They make the kids sign contracts that they will not participate in any of the 5 D's...Drinking, Drugs, Dating, Driving and Decoration.  I think I'm Turning Japanese.

Was watching the Emmy breakdown on Entertainment Tonight with Betty tonight and there was a bunch of talk about Viola Davis being the first "person of color" to win an some award.  Wasn't the term "colored" determined to be taboo a couple decades ago?  I remember Archie Bunker taking shit for using it.  Am just glad we are past the ridiculous African American term, which I would have found insulting if I was a person of color.  Next up to bite the dust is Native Americans.  Everyone knows the word America was coined by a mapmaker named Amerigo Vespucci who named it after himself, so calling the indigenous people living here using the name of an Italian cartographer seems off. 

Quick follow up to last time...took some heat for saying I'd like to see Kasich or Rubio make it through to the next round, but that hardly means I am supporting them.  Find much of what they have to say detestable, but rather that they seem more measured (less crazy) than the rest at this point. 

Today's travelogue finds us in NYC.  Was there for 6 nights in the beginning of July...a few days with the kids alone and then Betty met us for a couple more.  I always ask the family if there is anything they must see, and for Carolyn in NYC, as she is a big fan of the show Cake Boss,she had to go to the original Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken.

Convenient to downtown via the Path train, the line wasn't too long, the pastries were excellent and we got a decent slice across the street for lunch.  Plus she got her snap with this guy.

 

We were on the Upper West Side one afternoon, and remembered I wanted to check out the Meatball Shop.  It is a restaurant whose sole entrée is dedicated to the greatest food on the planet.  I heard about this place during the Ebola scare last year.  A doctor that had come back from Africa was later found to be infected and the media freaked...they traced all his steps around town and showed them on a map of the city.  One of the places he visited was The Meatball Shop.  I remember saying out loud to myself, 'they have a store dedicated to meatballs?".  Food was OK but the opportunity to make ball related gags was 5 star.

Eating in NYC is such a treat.  Pasta in Little Italy, Argentine food in Hell's Kitchen, Turkish food in the Upper West Side and of course, hangin' out on 2nd Avenue, eating chicken vindaloo.  And grabbing a slice....aaaarrrrrggghhhh.  After being in NYC for more than 48 hours, you start to believe that the world revolves around the city and after 72, you know it does.  Seeing the UN, appreciating the amazing art deco masterpieces at the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, Grand Central Station is an architectural wonder, and stumbling across interesting public gatherings (like movie night in Bryant Park with the original Poseidon Adventure), there is something engaging around every corner.  For instance, group yoga in the park...

A highlight to me was walking the High Line for the first time.  A mile plus long park created on an old elevated train line.  One end starts at Chelsea Market, where more fabulous food treats are to be found.  We grabbed some Australian meat pies and sausage rolls and had a picnic lunch...great views and people watching.

Of course, we were able to scratch two MLB stadiums off our list.  Had some great seats at Yankee Stadium, courtesy of my buddy Jon Jayson, for a day game against Oakland.  While Monument Park is pretty cool, and the stadium is new and has all the amenities, I found it cold.  Lacked the history and intimacy of old Yankee Stadium in every respect.

Went to see the Mets at Citi Field a couple of games.  The park was fine in all respects inside, but is just in such a crap hole part of the city that you come in on the train and leave immediately following.  I looked out the back of the stadium during the obligatory 'walk around', and across the street were row after row of ghetto businesses...check cashing stores and boarded up auto repair shops.  If I was a New Yorker, no question I would be a Mets fan as they were far funnier in a self depreciating and goofy way.  Being a Yankee fan seems to mean you are more aloof and a complete dick.

Another highlight was visiting the new Trade Center.  We were lucky in that the observation deck opened up recently and made reservations to visit one morning.  Building is already an iconic part of the skyline and we were all impressed by the functionality and tastefulness of the observation deck, which had predictably awesome views that surpassed all expectations.

But what really made an impression were the dual memorials to the fallen Twin Towers.  Simple fountains in the footprints of those buildings...the sound of the water falling was about the only sound you heard.  It really is a must see as everyone will take away different feelings but they will all be profound.

It just so happened that on the day we were visiting the WTC, it was also the ticker tape parade for the World Cup winning women's soccer team.  Fun to be able to see what one of those is like. 

And we all went to Flushing one afternoon so the kids could see where Betty lived growing up.  I think we were all impressed.

 

A couple of other random things about New York.

- I saw a bunch of cars that had rugs or rubber mats hanging out of their trunks attached by heavy ropes.  We figured that this was so they could back into things without destroying their bumper.  All looked homemade but such a great idea.  They could just flip them out whenever needed and it not only protects their rig, but those of others.  Would not be surprised if this doesn't become a standard option on all cars in the future.

- The man bun thing has gotten out of control...became disgusted by it first in New York (although it reached epic annoyance in Seattle).  Saw an internet thing yesterday warning men that this would cause some extreme and unusual pattern baldness.  On one hand, think it looks stupid and is no doubt done pretentiously by over 95% of men doing it, but on the other, am totally jealous that I will never be able to have one.  Having long straight hair that flies around in the wind has always been a dream.

- Women in New York (talking Manhattan here) have such great style.  Even when they are dressed casual, they don't have the best figure, or God didn't give them perfect facial features,  they almost always look classy.  I know why Donald uses that word so much.  The one thing that they also almost always have though is facial acne.  I have to think that it has to do with all the dirt that they have to walk through.

I definitely Heart NY