FLIP + CHING

Monster Smash 2023

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Ching under Community, Pickleball.

We had so much fun having a Halloween cookout last year celebrating the new pickleball courts at Sedgwick County Park last year that the Thorne brothers wanted to do something similar again this year. We originally planned for it to be at Edgemoor Park because of the six new courts there but Mother Nature had her own ideas. Thankfully, David Thorne worked with West YMCA leadership and got the event relocated indoors to the Pickle Center so we were able to still bring everyone together. It was a ton of fun! Here are some highlights:

After hanging out at the Monster Smash open play for a bit, Nicole Mathis, Kyle VonAnh, and I headed down the street to the Pickle Club for our mixed doubles practice session with Jenny and Austin Corley, Kendra Wicks, Ian Carr, and Ryan Kellenbarger. Ryan and Nicole and Kyle and I all wanted to practice together before Nationals so those were the team ups: Nicole and Ryan, Kendra and Ian, Jenny and Austin, and me and Kyle.

The next day Nicole and Ryan continued their practice weekend/team bonding by playing in the Chicken N Pickle Halloween pickleball tournament and taking it down. It was a nice, productive pickleball weekend overall. GNG.

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Making My Zumba Comeback

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Ching under Community, Zumba.

Guess what, friends. I’m gearing up for my Zumba comeback. As you know, I started teaching Zumba over ten years ago and, at one point pre-COVID, was teaching nine (9) classes a week. I started dialing it back after I discovered my passion for pickleball in 2019 and then really cut it back after COVID to the point where, for the majority of this year, I’ve only had one regular class – my Wednesday night Aqua Zumba at the East Harry Genesis Health Clubs location.

We eventually canceled that class as of October 1, 2023 due to low numbers (I could never get my 21st and Woodlawn regulars to come over, so I would have people between both locations but not enough at either location to warrant keeping the classes going). So as of the beginning of October, I have had zero (0) regular classes each week, which has never ever happened since I started teaching in 2012.

Anyway, the universe knows how much I like to keep busy so I was presented with an opportunity to sub a couple of Missy and Todd’s classes while they were on their two-week Panama Canal cruise a few weeks ago. I ended up subbing a class for each of them. I hadn’t taught land in nearly four years. I’ve been stuck teaching Aqua Zumba because they could never find anyone licensed to teach water but we had a plethora of regular Zumba instructors who could teach land so I ended up giving up my Monday night Zumba class to help cover Monday night Aqua Zumba and it ended up eventually becoming my regular class, which I eventually gave up to make more time for pickleball. But I digress, getting my playlist ready for subbing (pretty much starting from scratch because I hadn’t had a regular Zumba class for years) rejuvenated my passion for Zumba and so now I’m ready and actually kind of excited to get back at it.

I attended Missy’s Halloween weekend class a couple of weeks ago and cameo’d three songs. I’ve been so obsessed with pickleball the last few years that I had forgotten how fun and exhilarating it is to let go and just dance like no one is watching. I think it’s the jolt I need to find a new regular Zumba gig.

I’ve been talking to the leadership at West YMCA and it seems like they will have a spot for me there so I am now going through the process of getting rehired. I’ll share updates as things progress and, of course, I’ll be sharing my schedule and promoting my classes here and everywhere. Until next time, GNG.

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Lunch at Watermark Books & Cafe

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Ching under Food and Drink.

I’m all about enjoying a good lunch but I’m also economical and pragmatic. So when my friend Chris Townley suggested we have lunch at Wine Dive, I countered with Watermark Books & Cafe across the street because I didn’t feel like spending $50 on lunch that day.

It’s been a while since I’ve eaten at Watermark. They actually have delicious, cleverly-named sandwiches. I took a pic of the menu (see below) so you’ll see.

The sandwiches are named after classic novels. I ordered the special that way which was the Catcher in the Rye, except I subbed it with white bread.

Chris got the BLT, which I don’t think they had a clever name for come to think of it. Chris loves BLTs. He gets it at most places we eat.

Until next time, GNG.

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Dinner at Bonefish Grill

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Ching under Food and Drink.

Pictures of our dinner at Bonefish Grill a few weeks ago.

We tried almost all of the appetizers. So yummy!

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Brian’s First Time at Station 8 BBQ

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Ching under Food and Drink.

Brian has been eating mostly Hog Wild by his office and so I decided to expand his horizons by taking him to Station 8 BBQ. I think it’s possibly the best BBQ in Wichita. It is located in an old fire station. Thus, the name Station 8.

I took a bunch of pics to commemorate Brian’s first time there.

I got there first and the line wasn’t bad but it was much longer by the time Brian arrived. When Brian showed up, the line was literally out the door past the wooden Station 8 planter sign out front.

The nice thing about Station 8 is that you don’t have to wait for your food. You wait in line to order but you get your food when you pay so all of the waiting is up front. Once you’ve paid, you get to chow down and enjoy the delicious BBQ.