The Flame Broiler
Posted on September 30, 2022 by Ching under Food and Drink, Travel.
We ate at the Flame Broiler around the corner from our Airbnb. It’s fast Korean BBQ and it was pretty good.
Our Airbnb was pet-friendly so Saki went with us on this trip. I was glad too because I had been feeling pretty about about leaving her behind the last few times, specially on longer trips like when we were in Naples for the US Open, Newport Beach for USAP Newport Beach Championships, and most recently Tulum/Mexico for Erica and Phillip’s wedding.
I think our go-forward plan is to travel to places within driving distance and stay at pet-friendly Airbnbs with dog runs so that we can always take Saki with us.
The trip to Tulsa earlier this month was perfect. More please. Until next time, GNG.
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Tulsa Pickleball Classic
Posted on September 30, 2022 by Ching under Pickleball, Travel.
The weekend of the Tulsa Pickleball Classic was a weekend of first for me. Not only was it the very first Tulsa Pickleball Classic tournament but it was also my first time in Tulsa and my first time playing with my chosen partners for the weekend.
I opted to play 50/50 instead of playing singles on Friday. Both events were on the same day so you had to choose one or the other. I had seen Robert Mansfield at some of the tournaments I’ve played in and he usually only plays singles so I was very surprised when he accepted my invitation to play together in the 50/50 event. He wasn’t playing in any other events at the tournament so, frankly, I felt pretty special. He carved out time just to play in the 50/50 with me.
I really wish we could have won it but Karen Fox and Cory Sager were on fire that day. They had my number and kept getting everything back. Anyway, I had a great time playing with Robert who was patient and fun, and I couldn’t have asked for a better 50/50 partner for the tournament.
Here’s a picture of our group from 50/50 day. From left: Molly Sager (Cory’s wife), Cory Sager, Karen Fox, and Cindy and Ed Egan. Cindy and Ed were also in the same division as Karen, Cory, Robert, and me. Cindy is under 50 and Ed is over 50 so it worked out for them. We really wanted to see an “all Wichita Pickleball” podium but it was not to be. Cindy and Ed ended up taking 4th behind Caroline Luelf and Stuart Ryan, a couple of Tulsa locals.
On Saturday I teamed up with my new friend Tanner Rice. I love his name because it made for a fun team name and t-shirt design.
I met Tanner on Facebook much like I meet a lot of people, via a random message but our team-up was completely accidental.
That message was during the weekend of the 2021 ICT Fall-out tournament. I saw him at the tournament, we waved at each other, and that was that. Fast forward to May of this year when CRBN-gate happened.
I meant to send a message to Tanner Blaske regarding the CRBN paddle replacement options and sent the message to Tanner Rice instead. That started a Facebook messenger exchange that resulted in the most random team up ever.
I’m always down to play with new people because I don’t have any set pickleball partners (for either mixed or women’s doubles) and I remembered seeing Tanner play 4.5 mixed at the Oak Tree tournament in February. I thought he was pretty good so I was like, “Why the hell not?”
Holy bait and switch, though! When I agreed to partner with him, we talked about playing at the 4.0 level because that was the highest level I had played to date. However, I did change my perspective a little bit because the ICT Classic tournament was around that time and Matt Nola had talked me into playing 5.0 level with him. We went 0-2 at that tournament but I didn’t feel completely out of place and I didn’t hate it so, having broken the ice and surviving 5.0 without totally humiliating myself, I figured 4.5 can’t be that any worse.
We had a little bit of bad luck and had to face our friends Ramon Lozano and Katie Merrill in the first round and then we lost a close one against Josh McAllister and Kaylyn Baker so we also went 0-2 in Tulsa but, once again, I didn’t hate it. Tanner was super patient and encouraging and, although I wanted us to have done better, I thought we meshed pretty well and didn’t fight over balls and didn’t really have significant miscommunication. Tanner put it really well when he summarized that, for our first time playing together (we had never played together before that – not even any practice games), we had a really good foundation to build upon. I have to agree with his assessment. I felt super comfortable playing with him and had a ton of fun, results not withstanding.
The next day I teamed up with Huyen Nguyen (my “pretend” daughter) in 4.0 women’s doubles. I had played this level before but I’m definitely not as strong at women’s doubles as I am at mixed. In fact, I’m still eligible to play in 3.0 level for women’s. While this wasn’t my first time playing with Huyen because we had played together in rec games before and we played in the Mother’s Day pickleball tournament at Chicken N Pickle earlier this year, I do consider this a first because it was our first real tournament team up. We didn’t get the results we hoped for but as it’s always a good time when you get to play with talented, top-notch players. I am very grateful to Huyen for her agreeing to team up with me.
In 3.5 women’s doubles, our friends swept the entire division. Cindy and Jenny (Corley) took first place, Kendra (Wicks) and Molly took second, and Janelle (Lindeman) and Amanda (Ades) took third. So we did get the “all Wichita Pickleball” podium that I was hoping to see in women’s doubles 3.5 level. I’m so proud of all these ladies!
Speaking of Cindy and Jenny, they are teaming back up this weekend for the Shangri-la Pickleball Open. I’m playing with Molly this time.
Anyway, that is all for now. More next time. Until then, GNG.
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Los Cabos in Jenks
Posted on September 28, 2022 by Ching under Food and Drink, Travel.
We found the cutest Mexican restaurant at Riverwalk Crossing in Jenks, Oklahoma. It is called Los Cabos and they have fun live music on the weekends.
The place is so cool. I kind of wish we would do something similar along our own river corridor. Anyway, here are some pics of our delicious food.
I love going out to eat with a bunch of friends because, not only is the company wonderful, but also I can get ten times as many food pictures instead of just the one or two dishes that Brian and I are having.
Brian was late leaving Wichita so he didn’t get to join us for dinner. I ordered his food to go and we took it back to the Airbnb. Besides, we didn’t want to be away from Saki too long.
Anyway, I really liked Los Cabos and look forward to returning when I play the Tulsa Pickleball Classic tournament next year. And, yes, I will definitely be playing in it again. Such a fun, well-organized tournament. More on that next post. Until next time, GNG.
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Cajun Ed’s in Tulsa
Posted on September 28, 2022 by Ching under Food and Drink, Travel.
It was my first time in Tulsa and also my first time at Cajun Ed’s. The restaurant was recommended by the concierge at the hotel we stayed at. Well, Cindy and Ed Egan stayed at that hotel for the weekend. I only booked a room for one night because Brian and I had an Airbnb already for Friday and Saturday night. The plan was for me to ride down with Cindy and Ed and then Brian would grab Saki from our house and head down after he got off work on Friday night.
However, we found out later that the 50/50 mixed doubles had an 8 AM start so then Cindy and Ed decided to drive down on Thursday. Cindy I was riding with them, I went ahead and booked a night at the same hotel. Although, it ended up raining all night long and we didn’t start at 8 in the morning anyway.
I had a nice time hanging out with Cindy and Ed, and the three of us went to dinner at Cajun Ed’s. The girl at the hotel front desk said it was really good and we thought Ed being part of the name made it sound fun.
Here are some pictures of our dinner.
I also ordered a cup of the gumbo because Cindy and Ed both had it and it looked good. It was kind of expensive at $8 for the bowl. I figured it would be discounted since I was adding it on to my meal. There was no half/cheap button on their register. Everything was full-priced.
This was honestly one of those situations where the food looked better than it tasted. My bacon-wrapped pork chop and rice were good but this gumbo was a tad too salty for me. At least it wasn’t too spicy, I guess.
I had the strawberry beignet for dessert because our server said it was her favorite.
Cindy and Ed shared the pecan pie ala mode (that means with ice cream).
Anyway, dinner wasn’t bad overall. I love experiencing places that we don’t have in Wichita so that was the best part. I am grateful to Cindy and Ed for letting me ride down to Tulsa with them and letting me tag along. It was super helpful, specially since Brian couldn’t take the day off.
More on the Tulsa trip next post. Until next time, GNG.
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Brian’s Cyst Removal Pics
Posted on September 26, 2022 by Ching under Health.
Whenever we can, Brian and I try to go to each other’s doctor’s appointments. Either we schedule our appointments at the same time (like our annual physicals) so we can be together or, if only one of us is getting treatment, the other is there to ask questions (that the other might forget or be too embarrassed to ask), take notes, and just be there for moral support.
He used to go to my gyno appointments with me to but that’s one thing that he’s skipped for several years. I’ve started getting mammograms and he doesn’t go to those because, honestly, they are short appointments and not that exciting. So, I guess, he doesn’t go to routine appointments he doesn’t need to be there for but definitely goes to the more serious ones.
As far as annual checkups, dental and eye doctor appointments that we both need to get done, we try to schedule those either together or back to back so we can go at the same time. I think some offices appreciate it because we can be in the same room and pretty much talk to the doctor at the same time so it goes much quicker than if we were to go separately. Unless, of course, Brian is having one of those days and decides to ask ten thousand questions.
That said, sometimes part of the appeal of going with the other person is mainly just to harass them. This is a picture from my surgery consultation last week. Brian went with me because he had questions and wanted to know all the details and also he’s going to be in charge of driving me home while I’m groggy from the anesthesia.
As he is there for me, I also try to be there for him. So when he went to get his cyst removed on Friday afternoon, exactly a month ago today, I went with him. The bump had been bothering him for some time. He noticed it before we left for Mexico and had our doctor look at it then. Dr. Hane told him if it didn’t go away on its own then he could surgically remove it. Anyway, the cyst got bigger and harder so Brian decided surgery was the way to go and scheduled it for August 26.
These pics are so gross but I know you’re all dying to see them… LOL. So, here you go. Enjoy! This is the doc feeling around the cyst.
The doctor drew dots where he would cut Brian’s flesh.
This is a picture of the fatty tumor that was removed. I guess the cyst had ruptured and Brian’s body encased it in fat to protect him. They literally cut out a lump of fat.
This is the hole that it left.
This is a picture of it all stitched up.
Here’s a video of the doctor showing us the fatty tumor. It’s so gross but you know you want to see it. LOL.
Thanks to both Dr. Hane and Brian for allowing me to take pictures and videos. It definitely makes going to these appointments much more enjoyable. I’ll post an updated pic of the scar soon so you’ll see what the spot looks like after one month.
Until next time, GNG.
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