Archive for the year 2014
Dad is So Crafty
Posted on May 17, 2014 by Ching under Home Ownership, Projects, Tips.
My dad recently found a hole under the concrete slab that his AC rests on behind his house. He couldn’t figure out what had been digging that hole. It could be anything. Rather than speculating, he put a camera down the hole and captured video. It wasn’t in there and there burrow had no clues as to what kind of animal had been using the hole for shelter. The animal did not come back while dad’s camera was in the burrow.
Dad removed the camera and filled the hole up. As soon as that happened the animal returned and there’s the hole again. It drove dad crazy not knowing what he was dealing with so he did what any resourceful Pinoy would do. He didn’t want to have to buy an outdoor camera so he rigged his Foscam
Pretty clever, right?
He mounted the rig to a stick staked to the ground and pointed the camera right at the hole. Sure enough he got the perpetrator on video. He posted the video on his Facebook wall but I’m not sure how to share it with you guys because of the privacy settings.
Turns out, a skunk has been making a home under that concrete slab. I suggested calling Animal Control but it seems like dad is having too much fun playing cat and mouse with the skunk. Now he wants to build some kind of one-way door so that when the skunk leaves the hole it can’t get back in. Seriously.
For those of you who someday find yourself in this predicament, there are a couple of options: (1) make a trap, or (2) call Animal Control. I’m a proponent of the latter myself because it’s less hassle. If you are like my dad though, then you think it’s fun to rig things. I’m guessing there will be people out there who will go for the first option. However, think about what you’re going to do after you capture it. How are you going to release it into the wild without getting sprayed? And where are you going to release it? I say go with the second option all the way.
If you are not yet in this predicament and want to avoid it, here are some suggestions.
- Don’t plant fruit-bearing trees. If it’s too late and you already have trees that produce nuts, berries, crabapples, or other fruits, remember rake your yard often so the goodies don’t tempt critters to come over and feast on your lawn.
- Protect your waste. Don’t leave your trash bin out except on trash day. If there’s no room in your garage and the trash bin has to be outside, make sure that it is securely fastened so the smell doesn’t attract skunks and other critters.
- Close off hiding places. Use rocks, fencing, plywood, etc. to close off any potential hiding places. If you have unkempt bushes and vegetation around your house, make sure these are trimmed so as not to appear so appealing to wild animals.
- Install yard lights. Nocturnal creatures such as skunks don’t like bright lights so this may be a suitable and attractive deterrent. Lights with motion detection will probably be most effective because it will trick the animal into thinking someone’s there.
- Use chemical warfare. Okay, not in the grand World War III scale. Skunks don’t like ammonia so soaking rags with ammonia and placing it in potential hiding places is an option. Scattering orange or lemon peels around your property, specifically under your deck or porch is a good option also.
- Install motion-activated sprinklers. If you have the resources and really want to keep critters out, this is another alternative. It’s a nice surprise for two-legged unwanted visitors also. LOL.
I hope you find these tips helpful. I’ll keep you posted on my dad’s adventures.
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Brian and Jay
Posted on May 17, 2014 by Ching under Games, Life.
Here are some pictures of Brian and Jay from last Saturday. Our friends Jay, Becca, Aaron, and Reby came over for dinner. Aaron and Reby called it an early night. These photos were taken after they left.
These two are so hilarious when they’re drinking. I captured some video but I’m not allowed to post them online. Party poopers!
We rarely get to see Jay and Becca anymore now that they’ve moved to the West side of town. Traitors! Just kidding. We were so happy to finally have the chance to hang out.
Originally it was just going to Aaron and Reby and Brian and me for dinner on Saturday night. However, Jay and Becca were available that night and they were picking up some money that Donna had left for Jay for the NeatDesk Desktop Scanner and Digital Filing System
Jay and I played checkers that night. I think it’s our first time playing checkers against each other. He had to explain it to me. Filipino checkers, or at least the way I remember playing, is slightly different. I took advantage of the fact that he was already two bottles of wine in. I had a little bit to drink but I wasn’t as far gone as he and Brian were. LOL. After a lengthy match (Becca actually fell asleep while waiting for the game to be over), I won. Oh, yeah!
He didn’t think I would blog about it. He didn’t think I would win either. He doesn’t think that it should count because he had a lot of wine. I don’t think he was as drunk as he said, though. Jay’s capacity to consume alcohol and be perfectly fine is beyond that of anyone I know. Brian had about the same amount to drink and he was being his loud, jolly, drunk self. Jay was far more composed. Although, he thinks he lost at checkers because of all the drinks. We must have a rematch when he’s sober just to see if I can really beat him. Then there will be no excuses.
This just goes to show… Don’t drink and drive. If drinking can diminish your aptitude for checkers then you really shouldn’t be driving. Just sayin’.
P.S. Becca drove home that night and they both safely made it all the way back to the West side of town.
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San Diego Streets
Posted on May 11, 2014 by Ching under Travel.
These trees are amazing and they’re all over San Diego. Does anyone know what these trees are? They are just begging to be climbed. I wanted to so badly. I didn’t though.
Pedicabs are also all over San Diego. We actually got to ride one.
Our pedicab driver was actually really nice. This isn’t a great photo. I wish I could have gotten a better shot.
We took the pedicab to the Gaslamp Quarter but quickly realized that we didn’t really have to because the area is conveniently located almost across the street from the San Diego Convention Center. It seemed farther away when we were in Seaport Village, though. The walk back to the hotel from Gaslamp Quarter was pretty short. We just had to cross a few streets and the railroad tracks. No pedicabs needed for the trip back.
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Candelas on the Bay
Posted on May 11, 2014 by Ching under Food and Drink, Travel.
When in San Diego be sure to take the ferry across the bay to Coronado. There’s a great restaurant there called Candelas on the Bay. There’s an excellent view of San Diego across the bay whether you are dining inside or sitting outside on the patio.
Here are some pictures of food for your enjoyment.
This next one should be no surprise. Everyone knows that I always order crab cakes if they’re available on the menu. LOL.
I really liked Candelas. I’m so glad that Divina and Mike recommended it. The food was pretty good and the view of San Diego is excellent. I could sit out on their patio for hours and just watch the bay while enjoying the beautiful San Diego weather.
I’m adding Candelas on the Bay to the list of places that I’m going to take Brian to when I take him to San Diego next year. I’m thinking I might take him for either Valentine’s Day or his birthday. I haven’t decided yet. He has expressed interest in going and I can’t wait to show him around. Just added one more item to the to-do list. Oowa! Oowa!
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San Diego Seafood
Posted on May 10, 2014 by Ching under Food and Drink, Travel.
My friends Divina and Mike made reservations at the Oceanaire in Gaslamp District on Tuesday night. I remember the Oceanaire when Brian and I were in Orlando last year. The concierge recommended it but we never found the time to go over there. I’m so glad I finally got to try it. Divina says that the restaurant serves the best seafood in San Diego. Not being from around there, I wouldn’t really know. However, I will tell you that the foods I tried were beyond delicious. They were leaps and bounds better than any seafood I’d ever had in Wichita.
Here are some pictures of our dinner.
I got crab cakes because that is the yardstick that I typically use to compare restaurants. If a restaurant serves crab cakes, that is more than likely what I’ll order. I have to say, the crab cakes I had at Oceanaire that night were phenomenal.
Divina got the seafood mixed grill, which offers a little bit of everything. I highly recommend this entrée if you still want your beef with your seafood.
Mike got a red snapper. Not just any red snapper, though. It was a whole one. Fried. And it was bigger than his head. It looked amazing and I bet it tasted just as good.
The three of us shared a creme brulee for dessert. I didn’t get a picture of it though because it was annihilated as soon as it was delivered to the table. Brian would have liked it. It’s a lot like the creme brulee served at Bonefish.
I really liked Oceanaire a lot so I recommended it to my boss for our final dinner in San Diego. She wanted to have some good seafood. Supposedly, the Oceanaire is as good as it gets in San Diego. Oh, and I had read on FourSquare that if you tell them it’s your birthday when you make your reservation they print your name on the menu. My curiosity got the best of me and so I wanted to put this to the test. Ginger didn’t want it to be her birthday so it ended up being mine. LOL.
They did not disappoint! Here’s a closer look.
I asked if I could take my menu with me but they actually gave me a rolled up one that was tied with ribbon. It made me wish that we had an Oceanaire here in town. I’d totally go there every year for my birthday. I wouldn’t go anywhere else. LOL.
If your server asks if you’d ever dined at the Oceanaire before always say no because first-timers get a treat from the chef. Our treat was pan-seared salmon belly. It was delicious! I wish it was on the menu because that’s what I would have ordered.
Here are some pictures of our dinner entrées.
I think Ginger had halibut. I had rockfish topped with the sweetest, freshest, most delicious chunks of crab meat I’d ever tasted.
Mashed potatoes.
Giant asparagus. That’s not really what they’re called on the menu, but these stems were gigantic. I’d never seen asparagus this large before.
The baked Alaska was a birthday perk that I didn’t read about ahead of time. That was an awesome surprise! (Mike really messed up, Divina! In addition to getting your name printed on the menu, you could have gotten free dessert too. LOL.)
This dessert could feed four people easy. The two of us couldn’t finish it.
Another tip is to go during happy hour if you are a fan of oysters.
I feel so lucky and blessed to have had the opportunity to dine at the Oceanaire not once but twice on this San Diego trip. The Oceanaire is so good that I can’t wait to take Brian to their Orlando location when we are there for the 2014 Zumba Instructor Convention in August.
Now we both have something to look forward to!
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