Ahh, family

While in the states, Bec and the kids again got to spend a lot of time with family and friends, running from one activity or trip to the next.

All the cousins on Rebecca's side of the family, in the pool at her brother's house in Hilton Head.

Poppy and the gang.

ReRiRo, Bronson and Reagan.  Note that in all of the pictures I looked at, Bronson (far right) never actually smiles...

At a baseball game on July4, not sure why Riley felt the need to bring his Ipod or show it in a picture...

Again at the game, this was the closest thing to a smile I've seen on Bronson.  Riley is sporting the 3D glasses they handed out for fireworks and I'm guessing that by now mom has taken his Ipod.

Chic Fil A - a great friend indeed and sorely missed.

Hopefully the sales guy at Dick's didn't know that we had no intention of buying all this football gear as China has no football teams.

Daddy Mac, chillin'.

I just like this one.  They were playing all sorts of games (once we made them turn off electronics).  I'm not sure what this one was, but they were doing scavenger hunts all summer long, hiding clues like these all over the house.

I'm going to have to talk to Rebecca about appropriate store behavior.  I'm pretty sure this is in the garden section at Lowe's.

Pool time!  Reid is on the left, Riley on the right.

With our WB friends.  We have extended offers of marriage contracts to the two oldest girls in the picture.  Sorry in advance to all of the potential brides for Reid and Riley, they're already off the market once I get the paperwork back.

Finally, I got there!  Unfortunately out of the 5 pictures we took, this was the best one of the kids.  Of course, that's when I chose to pull out my best "Blue Steel".

Dog Pile!!!

Just kidding before, here's a decent shot of us all.  I was told upon my return to China that I had gotten too much sun and had turned too dark.

I love the look on Morgan's face (the only girl) in the picture.  She is such a trooper around these knuckleheads...

From an "Outtie" to an "Innie"

From birth Riley has had a herniated belly button.  Basically, his stomach muscles haven't pulled all the guts in.  Anyway, it wasn't a big deal and the doctors told us normally things take care of themselves.  At seven years old, though Riley was overdue for the development that should have addressed the issue, so the doctors recommended some minor surgery.

Before pic, definitely an "outtie".

Clearly not daunted by the surgery.

This was probably the hardest part, no food for 24 hours.  Thankfully, there's gatorade pops.

After the surgery, he got a few balloons from family and friends.  His spirits were up, although for the first few days there was definitely some pain.

I'd have to ask Rebecca, but I'm pretty sure that glazed look on his face is due to the pain killers.

A few weeks later.  Yep, he's fine.

Rowan also needed some work done, here's grandad cracking his toes.  Finally I understand why they call Rebecca's dad "Poppy"...

Summer Man Time

Yikes!  I just realized what I titled this blog.  Don't Google that phrase...

Anyway, like last year with the families out of town during summer break, a lot of guys are left to their own devices.  Unlike last year, with the great friends we've made here my time was not filled with solitude, work, and more solitude.  This year was truly a great experience.  I already have blogged about several outings (Mongolia, Thailand); below are are few other things that happened while the family was away.

There was a stretch of at least 3 straight weeks of super clear days, so we tried to make the most of it!  Also, not having the kids around gave me a chance to knock out some items on the Facebook Food List Challenge.

I and a few men from church hit Mudu - an old town West of Suzhou.  I'd never been here before and thought it would be a good photo session...  Speaking of which, someday I'll rotate this pic a few degrees (I took it).  :(

One of the buildings in the gardens.

Shot of R'veen taking a shot of something else.

I particularly liked this bridge.  This is  very traditional set up.  The gardens charged entry, so there was no one there!

This bridge, however, is straight out of Indiana Jones.

After topping a hill, we were able to see farther than ever due to the clear day.

Men's dinner at my house. Note the lack of anything green (exception being the bag of sour cream potato chips).  The spread featured paella, sausages, fried chicken wings, and crawdads (not pictured).  The only healthy items were the peaches, so we grilled them and smothered them with chocolate, honey and whipped cream (stage right in the pic).

I have always wanted to hit a Sichuan hot pot.  I thought any place that brings out folding chairs for the wait list has got to be good.

The hot pot.  We went with a segmented one - broth on one side, napalm on the other.

While eating this with an Indian friend, he stated that this was one of the hottest things he'd ever eaten.  Whoah...

Poor little squid.  I also was able to add yak to my list on hot pot night.  Unfortunately it wasn't on the aforementioned Facebook list, but it should be!

Close up of a Paella.  I've decided I love it!  This one is the first one I made - shrimp, chicken and chorizo.  It's traditionally cooked on the grill, so it combines the best of both worlds:  cooking outside over open fire and a one pot meal.

Random shots from around town

It's been awhile since I put together a blog on some of the funny / mysterious sights around Asia...

Not only is it misspelled, but it's very purpose is unknown to me.  Basically, they give you this when you check in at the gate and then you hand it to the stewardess when you get on the plane.  Isn't that what a ticket is for - verlification of purchase?

That's right sucka.  Fool you betta rec-og-nize.  You can espect value up in here.  I certainly hope the graphic (or the installation, assuming the "R" was on the door at one time) was "value priced".  Upon reflection though, please note that it doesn't say high or low value. 

Disturbing on multiple levels, mostly I'm disturbed by the misspelling of "angrier".

Ok, so you have to open this in a new window to get the full effect.  Please note:  it is a toddler sized shirt and those are Heineken beers.

Yeah, bringing back the hammer pants.  Love the poses.  Once in a while you'll see a performer similar pants while in costume.  I like how they are marketing these as every day wear.  Again, open in a new window.

Yikes!!!

Truck o' pigs.

Zoom in on the middle cross.  Is it for a pirate Christian?

Yum!

Clearest day I've ever seen in Shanghai.  Thank you typhoons and sorry about the extra smog this month, L.A.

Because, and let's face it, unsalted fish guts would just be gross.

Hua Hin, Thailand

A colleague and I had the opportunity to stay the weekend in Thailand after a business meeting.  Convenient for us, the meeting was in Hua Hin, a beach resort town about 3 ours from Bangkok.  My weekend there reinforced how much I love the beach (and Thailand)!  We are planning our Christmas Holiday there (different cities) and so this gave me a very small idea of how great it can be to spend some leisure time in the Kingdom of Siam.

This is a view from one of the pier restaurants.

Zoomed in on the fishing boat from the above shot.  I may be mistaken, but I think these are the boats that they take out at night, light lanterns and then pick off the fish and squid attracted by the lights.

Lunch, an awesome array of fresh seafood.  I should have waited on taking the picture because more kept coming!

Picture from the beach at the Dusit hotel.  A storm was rolling in late in the afternoon.

A long tail boat.  Note that the propeller is at the end of the shaft, in the water.  That's the motor on top of the shaft.

Night market time!

A typical scene of the market vendors, a lot clothing and accessories as well as souvenirs.

Frying up some street food.

The pancake / crepe served here was delicious!

Street food 101:  Step 1. select fresh seafood.

Step 2.  Enjoy a beer and MC Hammer's "You can't touch this" playing in the background while the gentlemen grill it up for you.

Step 3.  Enjoy and realize that MC Hammer is never wrong.  Well, maybe when he agreed to do the Surreal Life.  That and when he spent all of his money, but only those times.

This was kind of like a tapioca based dough ball dessert.  I loved it.

Saturday was golf.  Here is Hwan lining things up.

My (much) less than perfect form.  But I swing as hard as possible, so that makes up for a lot of form problems.

Me and Hwan.  Yes, I picked up some tattoo sleeves.  Hey, things happen in Thailand.

This was the only disappointing part.  A note to future visitors:  stay away from the Hua Hin "floating" markets.  They were brand new and nothing was actually floating.

I saw this photo later and cried a little as I realized this was what I was hoping to see earlier, but all in color.  Maybe over Christmas.

Goat transport.

Doesn't matter where I am, there's just something about beach towns that feels right to me.

This was a new one for me.  Under the pier was the feral dog burrow.

Pony ride on the beach?  By the way: yes, they were very diligent with the poo pick up.

All set up for the crowd.  Pop open an umbrella, have a seat and enjoy your 6th meal of the day and a frosty beverage.  Not bad, not bad at all.