Memorial Day 2005

What a perfectly beautiful day.

KB and I spent the day running about town, starting with shopping for bedroom furniture for me. I found some I liked, but after thinking about it all day and night, I’ve decided I don’t love it and will continue my search for the perfect furniture. As William Morris said, Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.

Next, we made a quick stop at Off Broadway Shoes so KB could take a second look at a pair of shoes she’d been eyeing up. Then off we went to play tennis. After an hour and a half of play, we had sweated through our clothes, got a bit of sunburn – at least I did – and made marked improvement. I doubt Wimbeldon is in our future, but it was good fun.

We returned home, fed and walked the pups, I performed my monthly task of doing KB’s highlights (which turned out great, as always), got showered, and went to Beef O’Brady’s for dinner.

A great way to spend a Monday, wouldn’t you say?

A Beautiful Long Weekend

I spent the evening at home on Friday, lazing on the couch, watching A History of Violence. Yuck. Its premise was decent enough, but with weak direction and ridiculous dialogue, it failed miserably.

Saturday, I spent the day doing chores around the apartment before heading to Brent’s for the evening. We went to dinner at Thoroughbreds Grill and Brewing where we had a delicious meal of grilled mahi-mahi for me, pecan-encrusted swordfish for Brent, then back to his house for luscious homemade chocolate cake and ice cream. He then shared with me two beautiful movies: Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro. I’m starting to gain a real appreciation for anime. C'mon, who wouldn't want to ride the catbus?

The weather was perfect today, so I packed a lunch, a blanket and a book, and headed over to Ballenger Creek Park with Ernie. We enjoyed a hike around the beautiful but short hiking trail, then lounged in the grass, me eating lunch and reading, Ernie watching the birds. When the breeze died and the sun became too much for my fair skin, we packed up and came home. Now, I’m making my grocery list and deciding what to do with the rest of my evening.

Tomorrow promises to be another beautiful day, so KB and I are planning to get outside for a game of tennis. Should be interesting, since neither of us has played in years.

Rudy the Rutabaga

Before my dad went in for surgery last week, we tried to make light of our concerns by contemplating what kind of mental vegetable he could turn into if things didn't go well. I asked, "What about a rutabaga? Would you be okay with that?" He said, "Yeah, a rutabaga’s fine. I just don't want to be a brussel sprout." So, it only made sense for me to buy a rutabaga, draw a face on it, and bring it to the hospital to keep him company during non-visiting hours.

My dad is now recovering at home and "Rudy," who has sprouted green hair, has found a home on the mantel.

"I was just trying to...oh, never mind."

I got an e-mail from my mom with a bunch of interesting tidbits of information. Things like:

In the 1400's a law was set forth that a man was not allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence, we have "the rule of thumb."

And:

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades = King David; Hearts = Charlemagne; Clubs = Alexander the Great; Diamonds = Julius Caesar.

Interesting stuff, but the most intriguing was:

It is impossible to lick your elbow.

Of course, I had to try it. And I'm sad to report that I failed to lick my elbow. However, I did succeed at making myself look like a complete idiot, especially when a co-worker walked into my cube at that very moment.

The Government Playing Field

I’m angry and frustrated. With what, you ask? Here’s a hint: It’s one of my two big frustrations with our society. No, not bad parenting; the other one. That’s right, our government. Here’s what has me fuming this time.

I'm a government contractor, which means I work for a company that is under contract to do work for the government. Yesterday, my co-workers and I had a meeting with our company’s VP of Business Development, who came to talk to us about the fact that the company’s contract with the government is about to end and the company will not be re-bidding for it. It isn’t out of lack of interest in continuing the work, but because the company has become ineligible for the contract. See, the government has decided, in all its bureaucratic wisdom, that the contract must be awarded to a service-disabled veteran-owned small business.

The VP spent an hour and a half with us, explaining the process in great detail and trying to alleviate any concerns we might have. During the meeting, he made several statements that many people likely believe, but that I found completely infuriating.

“This is just how the government works.”

True, this is how the government works, but it doesn't have to work this way. Our government is not some immutable entity operating under random rules. We elected the people who serve in our government and those people are making the rules. Remember? It’s a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” At least, that's how it's supposed to be. But that's a whole other can of worms for another time, another post.

“The government is just trying to level the playing field.”

Wrong. A level playing field would exist if all companies were given an equal opportunity to compete for the contract. The company that was most qualified and offered the best value would then be awarded the contract. That is a level playing field, resulting in a fair outcome.

“This is the nature of competition.”

Wrong! (It was at this point in the meeting that I let out a loud, “Ha!” Oops.) The nature of competition is to endeavor to be the best and, in turn, reap some kind of reward for achieving that goal. Our government’s practice of distributing rewards (contracts) without them being earned (being the most qualified and best value for the government’s dollar, i.e., your taxes!) does not encourage anything other than mediocrity.

Don’t get me wrong. I'm not saying that all service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses do mediocre work or that they shouldn’t be awarded government contracts. They absolutely should get contracts if—and only if—they are the best businesses for the jobs. All things being equal, I’m all for giving contracts to these businesses over others, but only if all things are equal. That’s not the case here.

During the meeting and in some subsequent conversations I had with my co-workers, the only concerns voiced were about how the change could affect our salaries and benefits. Obviously, these are issues of concern for anyone faced with a possible change in employment. But no one seemed to even think about why this was happening.

I’m not suggesting that everyone turn in a two-week notice in protest against our government’s contracting practices. But, at the least, I hope my co-workers spend some time thinking about why they have a new employer, talking to other people who may not be familiar with our government’s contracting practices, and then remember it all when elections roll around.

Another Good Weekend

Brent and I went out on Friday for sushi, sake (for Brent) and plum wine (for me) at Matsutake. With full bellies, we came back to my place and watched Master and Commander. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen that movie and yet I still find it completely enthralling.

On Saturday, KB and Chloe came up for the day. Chloe kept Ernie company, while KB and I drove to Gettysburg for lunch at Friendly’s and a bit of shopping. Over lunch, we reminisced about all the funny and unbelievable Friendly’s experiences we’ve had. My favorite, by far, was one of KB’s. While at Friendly’s once with her ex, the server delivered the drinks and asked with a terrible lisp and every sentence ending with a question mark, “Um, thir? I wath wondering? Do you need a thpoon to thtir your ithed tea?” He answered yes, so off she went to fetch a spoon. When she returned without one, she explained, “Um, thir? We’re out of thpoons? But you can uthe your knife? To thtir your ithed tea?” Soon after that, KB overheard someone at the next table order the portabella sandwich without mushrooms. Priceless!

After lunch, we browsed the outlets, where I found a great pair of red sandals on sale. (Why do I love red shoes so much?) While KB was umbrella shopping at the Totes store, I saw a very unusual elderly couple shopping for sunglasses. The man was in a three-piece, pinstriped suit that was several inches too short. The woman had wild grey hair and was wearing lace-up ankle boots, two different socks (one green, one pink), a long black velvet skirt, and a burgundy velvet cape with a gold tassel. I entertained myself, imagining them as unlikely superheroes, trying to complete their costumes with stylish Totes sunglasses.

We returned home to walk and feed the pups, then headed out again, this time to Ft. Detrick to watch the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and Silent Drill Platoon, which were performing as part of the Armed Forces Day Celebration. Quite a show! We decided to end the evening with stops at Home Depot, Target, and Uno’s.

Today, I gave Ernie a bath – always an adventure – and spent the day relaxing at home. Now, I’m looking up recipes, writing a grocery list, and wishing the weekend could last another day.

This and That

Not much time to write lately, so here's a brief update:

• Thankfully, my dad’s surgery on Monday went very well. He was released today and now faces several weeks of recovery at home.
• My softball team had its second night of games on Tuesday. (I missed the first when I was in Thailand.) We played well, but were slaughtered—I don’t even know the final scores. From what I hear, the team we played has never lost a game in several years of being in the league. I went three for four at the plate and made a double play. Our next game is tonight, as long as the rain stays away.
• I’m scheduled to make two more return trips to Bangkok, one at the end of June, the other at the end of July. There’s also talk of going to Nepal and Kenya within the next six months. I'm feeling rather mixed emotions about all this traveling.
• Melissa, a dear friend I found in high school when we spent a season marching next to each other in band (go, mellophones!), will get married on June 24th. The wedding promises to be unlike any other and will include a casual ceremony on her parents’ lawn, a barbeque, lawn games and an evening bonfire.
• KB and I have plans to venture up to Gettysburg on Saturday. A day of historic sightseeing? No, not this time. We’ll visit the outlets and have lunch at Friendly’s. Let’s hope it goes better than the last time we tried this.
• Taylor and Katharine are the final two singers left on American Idol. Blech. Remind me why I watch that show?

Otherwise, things have been rather routine.

The Weekend...So Far

Friday, I went to Brent’s house for a delicious home-cooked meal of chicken stir-fry with rice, egg rolls and homemade ice cream. That guy can cook! Then we watched Spirited Away and enjoyed talking late into the night. My drive home was slowed after I nearly hit a deer. I had to slam on the breaks and swerve into the other lane to avoid it. Thank God no cars were coming in the other direction.

I slept in on Saturday and, man, did I need it. I could hardly believe it when I rolled over to read the clock: 12:28! I guess that’s what happens when you don’t go to bed until after 3:00 AM and you're still working to re-set your body's clock after being on the other side of the world. Then, I drove down to Germantown to have an early dinner with KB at El Tejano. We made a quick trip to the mall to have her new watch sized, a stop at Target for a few odds and ends, and finally, dessert at Cold Stone Creamery. I returned home, planning to make a loaf of blueberry bread, but realized I was out of cooking oil. Going out again seemed like too much effort, so I watched an episode of Law and Order, took a long, hot bath and collapsed on the couch to read for a while.

My dad’s having surgery on Monday. So, I’ll head to PA later today for Mother’s Day with my family, then I’ll spend Monday at the hospital with Dad, and return home (with Ernie) on Monday evening.

Another busy weekend.

Thailand Pictures

Below are some pictures from my recent trip to Thailand...

Sunset at Vertigo, the restaurant on the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel :

The Grand Palace:

Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha):

Wat Phratha Doi Suthep:

Chiang Mai:

Mmmm...green noodles:

The view from the back of an elephant:

Posted over a seat on the SkyTrain:

A painting by an elephant. Yes, an elephant painted this right before my eyes:

Thai Foot Massage

When I was in high school, I spent a summer busing tables at Zinn’s Diner. I'd be on my feet for eight to twelve hours at a time, scraping plates and wiping tables. Pretty glamorous stuff, I know. After particularly grueling days, my dear mother would rub my aching feet and listen to me complain about the snotty customers and thankless waitresses. I’ve been a big fan of foot rubs ever since then, so when David told me I could get a sixty-minute foot massage for $8 in Bangkok, I said, “Sign me up!” Little did I know that Thai women do things somewhat differently than Mom.

A Thai foot massage starts with you taking off your shoes and socks, and reclining in a big, comfy leather chair. Then a Thai woman of about five feet in height and weighing maybe 90 pounds enters. She bows (the wai), sits on a stool at your feet, rolls up your pant legs just above the knee, and gently washes your feet with warm water and a soft brush. Next, she pats you dry, places your legs on a leather ottoman, pours massage oil onto her hands, and proceeds to massage your feet, shins and calves. Sounds great, right? Well, it is – until the knuckles get involved.

First, they are on your toes, pressing each one into the open palm of her other hand. Then they are on your arches, grinding, grinding, grinding away. Eventually they find their way to your shins where, if you didn’t open your eyes to check, you’d swear that yours flesh was being rubbed clean off the bone.

Thankfully, the knuckles are temporarily retired and the soft flesh of her palms returns. But the palms aren’t massaging this time. They are smacking. Smacking hard. The tops of your feet, then the soles, then the calves. Then she’s rubbing again, then smacking, then knuckling, etc. I can’t be sure, but at one point I think her hands somehow morph into a pair of these.

This continues for an hour. And believe it or not, it actually feels good. I can’t explain it, but it’s true. Basically, it’s an hour of over-stimulation in an area that normally doesn’t get any stimulation, so you are constantly on the verge of involuntarily kicking the masseuse in the face and screaming, “Stop it!” But you don’t. You suffer through and somehow end up feeling great afterwards.

$8 and an hour well spent.

Getting Around in Bangkok

Traffic in Bangkok is a nightmare. Literally. I’ve seen things happen on the streets that will haunt my dreams for years to come. For example, on our way back to the hotel yesterday, I saw a couple on a motorcycle, weaving in and out of traffic, carrying a baby between them. How? Well, the woman was on the back of the motorcycle, holding the baby by the waist as the baby stood on the woman’s thighs, between her and the driver. Both the woman and the driver wore helmets; the baby wore a bonnet. No, I am not kidding and I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

The main choices for transportation around Bangkok are the SkyTrain (Bangkok's version of the metro) or a taxi. (The tuk-tuk is an option if you don’t mind being in a loud deathtrap on wheels.) Each choice has its pros and cons: The SkyTrain is a quick, inexpensive way of getting from point A to point B. But since the SkyTrain is relatively new and offers only two tracks, just getting to point A requires a bit of a hike. And anything that involves walking around Bangkok also involves sweating A LOT. Taxis, on the other hand, are a bit more expensive (still very affordable compared to taking a taxi in a major U.S. city), but are effortless and air conditioned. So what’s the drawback? Once in the taxi, you have two choices: watch the road and fear for your life, or look away and suffer horrendous motion sickness.

Bangkok Journal

Saturday, 29 April 2006

12:39 PM, Washington, DC – Upon arrival at Dulles, I immediately saw David (my supervisor), who waved me over to the first class check-in line. I realized COL Gere had made his way to the end of the long, snaking line for coach check-in, so I motioned to him, thinking he hadn’t seen David or where we were supposed to check-in. But David informed me that COL Gere was right where he was supposed to be - he was traveling in coach. Ah, the Army life.

The first leg of the flight will take us to Seoul and will last about fifteen hours. Yes, fifteen hours. Sigh. With about an hour until we are scheduled to depart, David and I are relaxing in the business lounge, drinking coffee and eating muffins, cheese and fresh fruit.


Sunday, 30 April 2006

6:08 PM, Seoul – The flight went by rather quickly and consisted of sleeping, eating, sleeping, reading, sleeping, watching movies and let’s see…what else? Oh, yes, sleeping. I guess Dramamine and wine lend themselves well to that equation.

David and I are again relaxing in the business lounge, this time in Seoul, enjoying watercress sandwiches, sushi and a tasty cold coffee beverage. How can I return to the doldrums of life in coach after this?


Monday, 1 May 2006

3:02 AM, Bangkok – We’ve arrived! The five-hour flight from Seoul seemed incredibly long. Perhaps it was because the seats weren’t nearly as comfortable as the earlier flight and I was starting to feel the effects of traveling. But now we’re here in Bangkok at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel. I’ve showered, unpacked the necessities, and now I’m ready to climb into my king-size, wonderfully-welcoming bed.

8:14 PM – It’s been a long, loooooong day. We started with breakfast a mere four hours after arriving at the hotel. Then it was off to the institute for several meetings, followed by a delicious lunch of pork fried rice and dumplings, and then more meetings. Upon returning to the hotel, David and I trekked to a nearby mall, where we got 60-minute foot massages for $8. What a deal!

I’ve been fighting off the jetlag since 1:00 this afternoon, so I decided to pass on dinner and return to my room for some much-needed alone time and sleep.


Tuesday, 2 May 2006

2:50 PM – David and I have returned to the hotel after a short, but busy and productive day at the institute. Lunch was Thai coconut chicken soup, which is really a misnomer. “White liquid fire” would be much more accurate.

I’ll spend the rest the afternoon relaxing and reading, perhaps by the pool. I don’t yet know what tonight has in store.


Wednesday, 3 May 2006

8:43 PM – My body is finally on Bangkok time. Hooray! The COL insists that jetlag is a figment of the imagination, to which I reply that falling asleep at 6:00 in the evening and waking up at 3:00 in the morning is not imaginary or common practice for me.

We spent the morning in meetings in the Veterinary Medicine building. I told David to make sure we avoided areas that might contain animals. (I don’t know what goes on in those areas, but I’m fighting off mental images of screaming monkeys in wire cages.) Lunch was delicious: veggie dumplings and beef with egg noodles at MK Restaurant. After enduring two more meetings in the afternoon, David and I headed out for some shopping and a Thai foot message. We then returned to the hotel, changed out of our sweaty clothes, and met up in the lobby to sip mint iced tea and listen to a live trio of piano, string bass and oboe. Odd combo, but entertaining. COL Gere then met us for dinner, where we enjoyed sushi and discussed our tastes in music. It was an pleasant surprise to learn that both David and the COL are opera fans.


Thursday, 4 May 2006

2:59 PM – Remember how I wrote that I’ve finally adjusted to Bangkok time? Well, I spoke too soon. I managed to stay awake past 6:00 last night, but I woke up at 3:00 AM and couldn’t get back to sleep. David informed me that this is likely not to change. Great.

Today is the hottest day yet. It’s in the 90s right now, but with 75% humidity, it's way over 100.

Tonight we are dining at Vertigo, the restaurant on top of the Banyan Tree Hotel:

Vertigo is unlike any other bar-cum-restaurant in the world: some 61 floors above the streets of Bangkok, this open-air rooftop lounge grants views that simply take your breath away. Stylish, sophisticated and reaching for the clouds, there is no better place for a romantic tête-à-tête, glamorous cocktail party or fashion launch than this. Indulge in barbecued seafood, champagne and a wide selection of cocktails, wines-by-the-glass and non-alcoholic drinks. Innovative a-la-minute BBQ items include 'Red Mullet en Papillote with Thyme', 'Grilled Scallops in a Shell with Toasted Hazelnut and Coriander Butter' and 'Grilled Oysters with Parmesan Cheese'. Irresistible.

9:34 PM – Just returned from an amazing evening at Vertigo. We had dinner reservations for 7:30, but arrived an hour early to watch the sunset. It was absolutely amazing – brilliant, continually evolving reds, oranges and golds dancing over the Bangkok skyline. My eyes were completely fixed until the last hint of sunlight faded and the glimmering lights of the night city took over.

Dinner was a crisp vegetable wrap with peanut sauce, Caesar salad and roast rack of lamb. Everything was superb – the food, the service, the atmosphere – but I found myself wishing I could share the experience with someone other than co-workers.

Tomorrow morning we'll tour the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). Finally, I get to be a tourist!


Friday, 5 May 2006

8:54 PM – I spent the morning being a tourist – a sweaty tourist. Again it was in the mid 90s with 70% humidity. David and I started with a visit to the Grand Palace, the official royal residence from the 18th century until 1946, when King Rama VIII (elder brother of the current king) was mysteriously found shot dead in his room.

Next was the Emerald Buddha, which is actually carved jade, housed in the Royal Temple (Wat Phra Kaew) on the palace grounds. I don’t know what is was – the burning incense, the visitors bowing and praying before the Buddha, the sense of history – but the spirituality in the temple was palpable. I knelt for a long time, drinking it all in.

From there we walked to the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Po). Built in the 16th century, it is the oldest temple in Bangkok. It houses the reclining Buddha statue that illustrates the passing of Buddha into nirvana. David told me it was really big – and he wasn’t kidding! The statue is over 150 feet long and 50 feet high, with gold plating on its body and mother of pearl on its eyes and the soles of its feet. There are 108 prayer bowls lining the Buddha’s back. For a donation of 20 baht (about 53 cents) you are given a bowl of coins (satangs), which you drop into each of the bowls for luck. I ran out of coins and had to skip the last four bowls, so I expect I’ll be hit by a bus before heading back to the States.

We returned to the hotel for a meeting with the Project Coordinator to plan our work schedule for next week. Then we had a fantastic dinner at Spice Market, the Thai restaurant here in the hotel: spicy chicken, rice noodles and veggies, plus a refreshing lemongrass iced tea. Delicious.

We have an 8:15 AM flight to Chiang Mai tomorrow for a weekend of fun, so no blogging until I return Sunday night. Happy weekend!


Sunday, 7 May 2006

10:01 PM – What a weekend! The flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai took a little more than an hour. After hopping on the shuttle and checking into our hotel, we immediately set out via taxi to Wat Phrathat, the temple perched on top of Doi Suthep. Since COL Gere has a bad knee, we didn’t climb the 304 steps from the front gate to the temple, but took the cable car to the top. It’s a beautiful temple with an amazing view of the city.

Afterwards we headed to a nearby spa for some pampering and relaxation. Even though I was the girl in the group, it was the guys who suggested it. (Does that say more about me or them?) Considering how inexpensive the treatments are, you really can’t pass them up. I opted for an herbal massage and facial. I’d never experienced a facial before and found it to be very unsettling having all that gunk piled on my face. But I did enjoy the herbal massage quite a bit.

Feeling completely relaxed and rejuvenated, we headed back to the hotel, changed our clothes, hopped in a tuk-tuk (which seemed much safer when not in the context of Bangkok traffic), and went to dinner at the Antique House. There we enjoyed authentic northern Thai cuisine in a traditional Thai-style home built in 1870. A delicious end to a busy day.

On Sunday we had breakfast at the hotel, met our driver (the tuk-tuk driver Jimmy offered to drive us around for the day – in a car this time – anywhere we wanted to go for 600 baht – about $16) and went to an elephant training camp just west of the city. For 1500 baht (less than $40) we saw an elephant show, went for long rides on elephants, ox-carts and bamboo rafts, and had a delicious lunch. The entire excursion lasted a little over four hours and was worth three times as much. The elephant ride offered some amazing scenery and, other than the fact that I was a bit concerned about my skin baking in the hot sun, the raft ride was one of the most serene experiences of my life. The whole experience was absolutely fantastic. Plus, I was one of five people who got to ride an elephant bareback. (Just wait until I download the pictures!)

Then we did a little shopping, made a brief stop at The Monkey Center (I was disturbed by the animal treatment and environment, so we left rather abruptly), returned to the hotel to retrieve our belongings, and set off for the airport to catch our flight back to Bangkok.

A memorable aside: While relaxing before our flight and chatting about the day, COL Gere looked at my ankle, crinkled his bow and said, “Is that a leech on Amanda’s leg?” I jumped up and screamed, “WHAT?!” just as David said, “No, it’s mud from where the elephant sprayed her.” Whew. That’s seven words I never want to hear again.


Monday, 8 May 2006

3:33 PM – We’ve managed to finish all of our work two days earlier than expected, so we’re heading back to the States tonight. As much as I’ve enjoyed the trip, I’m ready to be home.

We depart Bangkok at 1:30 AM Tuesday morning and arrive in DC at 11:30 AM the same day. It will be interesting seeing how my body adjusts to gaining eleven hours.


Tuesday, 9 May 2006

3:25 PM – Our last night in Bangkok was interesting. David and I had planned to do some last-minute souvenir shopping at the night bizarre, but I began feeling nauseous and dizzy, and decided it would be best to relax at the hotel before our flight.

I was feeling a bit better when we arrived at the airport, but still out of sorts. Then, while waiting to board the plane, I broke out in hives all over my arms. Knowing that worrying would only make the situation worse, I took a Benadryl and tried to relax. We boarded the plane and, eventually, the hives went away.

About three hours from Dulles, a flight attendant made an announcement that a passenger was having a medical emergency and asked anyone with medical training to notify a flight attendant. David is an RN, so he went to see how he could help. It turns out that an elderly woman was having severe diarrhea and cramping. They made sure to keep her hydrated, but couldn’t do much beyond that.

And now, after seeing the sunrise twice in the last twenty-four hours, I’m home.