Another Rite of Passage Completed
Posted on April 18, 2025 by Ching under Life.
I’ve been a total slacker. Our new recliner was actually delivered over a month ago and we’ve been enjoying it ever since.
We had to rearrange our furniture to make room for it. The new recliner basically replaced the loveseat that was in front of the fireplace in our kitchen area. This space has evolved over the years. When we first moved in over 12 years ago, we just had a chair and a small ottoman in this space.
Not long after, we added a rug we found at Pier 1 Imports.
Because this space has the only fireplace in our house, it quickly became our favorite spot. In our first few years of living in this house, with all the areas you could possibly lounge in, we would fight over this one chair. When I say fight, it’s not really argue. Mostly we would try to beat each other to the chair. Often we would just resign into squeezing both of our asses in the chair. So much space in the entire house and both of us would be squeezed in this one chair. I think our only saving grace was that we were both still quite skinny back then.
Here’s the original configuration — we had the loveseat part in the living room and the chair in the kitchen area in front of the fireplace as shown in the above photo.
As of the end of 2020, we still had the single chair in that spot. However, I think the pandemic was the catalyst. We were spending a lot of time at home and we both wanted to sit in the same chair and, while we were making it work, it really wasn’t that comfortable.
We pulled the trigger at the beginning of the next year, and swapped the position of the loveseat and the chair. We could finally sit together in front of the fireplace!
Saki appreciated the change as well.
Our furniture has been in this configuration for the four years or so until Brian’s cancer treatments late last year. After spending a couple of months lounging in a comfy recliner during his chemo treatments, Brian decided he wanted one.
We shopped around a bit and then finally pulled the trigger last month but had to wait a couple of weeks for delivery. The night before we moved the loveseat to the living room with the rest of the furniture.
I was hesitant at first because I was worried that the living room would get too crowded but there’s actually enough space for everything, surprisingly.
I had always associated recliners with old people but I suppose we fall under this demographic now. Anyway, we’ve been enjoying this loveseat ever since and I can’t believe we waited so long to get one. It’s so comfy!
Even Saki loves it.
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Wichita Premier Pickleball League
Posted on April 16, 2025 by Ching under Pickleball.
Earlier this year Michael Farlow organized the Wichita Premier Pickleball League (WPPL). It’s a best in class league hosted by Chicken N Pickle. Even though I completed a player interest form to enter the draft, I really didn’t think I would be drafted because the league only had room for four teams. And, we have sooo many great players in Wichita. Despite having submitted the form, I originally didn’t sign up for the combine. But then, the Thursday before the combine, I ran into Michael while Keith Lietzke and I were drilling at CNP. He said he was short ladies for the combine on Saturday so I ended up getting talked into playing.
Despite not being drafted, I’m still really glad that I played. I had a blast! All the players were amazing and it was easily the best games I’d played in a long time. It was $15 well spent. LOL.
Here are the Teams:
Fast forward to this past weekend – WPPL Week 1. Zach Nguyen had to attend a funeral in Chicago and asked me to be his assistant, basically represent him and cheer for his team. Our first match was against the 316 Slammers and our second match was against the Wichita Warriors.
I made a short highlight video for Zach since he couldn’t be there. It was a great showing for the ICT Shock!
Our team beat 316 Slammers in a very tightly contested dreambreaker game, and then beat the Wichita Warriors 3-0. ICT Shock is currently at the top of the standings after the first week of play. Here’s the scoring breakdown for reference:
The next matches regular season matches are on May 10 and June 14 with championships on July 12. It is shaping up to be a great season!
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All You Can Eat Crab Legs for Pi Day
Posted on March 17, 2025 by Ching under Food and Drink.
Celebrated Pi Day this year by eating “all you can eat” crab legs at Rock & Brews in Braman, OK. From left: Hai Nguyen, Chris Reyes, Aelisa Carter, Susie Ternes, and Grant Ternes. Chris, Hai, and I carpooled with Susie and Grant; while Hai and Chris’ friend Aelisa met us at the casino.
The $65 “all you can eat” price includes a small salad to start, corn on the cob, potatoes, unlimited crab legs, and ice cream for dessert. I think Hai normally skips the salad (to save more room for crab legs) but he got peer-pressured into getting it on this trip.
The drinks are extra so I limited myself to only one margarita.
All of us started off with plates like these — corn, potato, two clusters of crab legs, and a tub of butter.
The server regularly comes around to get additional drink orders and empty the shell/discard bucket. Then there’s another guy who comes around and brings you more crab legs as you finish your clusters. I thought I could eat crab legs but I didn’t realize I was going with a bunch of pros. They made me feel like a 2.5 — for real. Aelisa busted out her gloves and Chris and Hai were ready for more crab legs before I could even finish my first cluster.
Susie, Grant, and I were no match for these three.
We all got ice cream at the end and then walked off our dinner by exploring the casino area (and donating some cash to the gambling gods).
I think they are normally not this slow on a Friday night but that was the night of the big wind storm. I suspect a lot of people opted to stay home. It worked out in our favor because I was told they sometimes will run out of crab legs when they are super busy. There was plenty to go around that night.
Anyway, Aelisa had the right idea with the gloves. I ended up cutting my thumb and didn’t find it until the next morning. I knew I had cut myself because, when I was wiping my hand with a wet nap, I kept getting bloody spots all over it but, every time I would stop, I couldn’t find where the cut was. I would look at my hands and nothing was bleeding but as soon as I wiped my hands with a wet nap, the towelette would get bloody again. I knew I had cut myself. I just didn’t know where. So, when Hai washed his hands with lemon juice at the end, I opted not to use lemon juice because I was afraid it would hurt like hell. So I just went to the restroom and washed my hands with soap and water after. I still could not find the cut and I didn’t see it until the next morning.
The unlimited crab legs was so good. I don’t even mind getting injured. At least I know for next time to bring a pair of gloves. LOL. Let me know if anyone wants to go and we can all carpool. I would totally do this again!
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KC Food From Last Weekend
Posted on March 14, 2025 by Ching under Food and Drink.
We got to enjoy a delicious dinner at Red Door Woodfired Grill (Liberty) last weekend. I think Susie picked the spot and it was a home run. We knew it was going to be good when we could hardly find a parking spot. At first, when we couldn’t find parking, the girls were thinking we might have to go elsewhere. I’m glad we persisted because it was totally worth it.
Monica and I both ordered the surf and turf tacos, except she ordered a side of Brussels sprouts to go with hers.
Susie had a margarita.
And I had this delicious “sweater weather” drink.
The next day, we hit a church parking lot to try Taqueria Ibarra food truck on our way back to Wichita after the pickleball tournament.
I just had a basic rice bowl but I thought it was really good. I chose pork al pastor for my meat and it had excellent flavor.
Susie had a combo platter that came with a quesabirria that she could not stop raving about. She said she would totally drive back up for it. Her quesabirria reminded me of lunch at Itzcali Tapas & Tequila a few weeks ago with my friend Chris. We had birria two different ways. He has his on a flatbread pizza, while I had mine as a soup.
Here are pics from that lunch.
I think I might have to take Susie there because I know she will really like it. Tonight we are going for some all-you-can-eat crab legs at the Rock & Brews Casino in Braman, OK. Stay tuned for a post about that. Until next time!
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The End of My Tournament Sabbatical
Posted on March 11, 2025 by Ching under Pickleball.
My tournament sabbatical officially ended this past weekend when I participated in InPickle Nation‘s Under Armour Championship Series 4v4 Team Tournament at Genesis Health Clubs Clayview in Kansas City. I did play in a 3v3 team tournament at the Goddard Sandbox last month but I’m not counting that one because I didn’t actually sign up for it. I just got a text from Kimberly and PK the night before the tournament saying they needed one more team and I just happened to be available that day because the IPN mini tournament was canceled. I wasn’t planning on playing but since they needed one more team, PK put Kimberly, Danae, and I together to make the 4th team for the event.
We called our team “Last Minute” because we literally were last minute additions to the event and weren’t even supposed to play. Actually, Danae and Kimberly hadn’t even met until that day. Despite this, the three of us have an absolute blast.
Fast forward to this past weekend to a tournament that I did actually sign up for with Susie, Monica, and Alice. Susie came up with our team name — Putting the SMAC Down. SMAC for Susie, Monica, Alice and Ching. Clever, right?
Check out our fun uniforms. The design was made by Copilot so, yes, it was AI-generated and it needed some help. Apparently AI can’t figure out what a pickleball looks like so that ball in the center was weird. Thankfully, the talented Julie (Egy) was able to clean it up for us before Drew pressed the design on our tanks.
Our adventure started on Friday night at Jason Walker’s private court at Wee Tri Farm. However, we were late leaving Wichita so by the time we got there it was late in the evening and it was freezing in the pickle barn. We only lasted 3 games. LOL.
The next day, we competed in the team event and finished 4th. Not the results we hoped for but also not bad for a first time team. I honestly hadn’t played in a tournament with Monica — ever — and it had been over two years since I had played in anything with Alice and well over a year since I played in a tourney with Susie, or just a tourney period due to my self-imposed tournament sabbatical.
I had more losses that day than I care to admit but I still had a great time playing the gals. What made the weekend even more fun is the all women tournament fell on International Women’s Day. How fitting, right?
Anyway, the seal has officially been broken. I might play in a few more events this year. Not going crazy like in years past but maybe one tournament a month would be just the right frequency. What do you recommend I play in next?
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