FLIP + CHING

Cars for Charities

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Ching under Things to Do.

My little sister and I had the opportunity to do volunteer work together the other day at the Starbird-Devlin Rod & Customs Charities Car Show. It’s an annual car show held at the Century II Convention Center. I’m not sure if it benefits the same charities every year but this year all the proceeds from the event are going to the Arc of Sedgwick County, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Starkey.

I find volunteer work not only rewarding but I really enjoy it. I always have fun, but most specially if the volunteer work entails working at an event. Besides the satisfaction you feel for helping, there are perks such as being able to participate in the event’s activities. Having experienced some really amazing volunteer opportunities has made me prefer doing volunteer work to going to the movies or hanging out at the mall. Well, I’ve never really enjoyed hanging out at the mall. I usually limit my trips to twice a year to get my ring cleaned and inspected at the store where it was purchased.

But I digress, Brian didn’t share my passion for volunteer work at first but I’m slowly turning him around. It used to be that you couldn’t get him to volunteer to do anything. Now he’s more open to it. I had to start with the really fun stuff like Zoobilee. After he realized how much fun you can have volunteering for things, he’s starting to warm up to the idea. I’m hoping that my little sister will begin to see the value of volunteer work and that you can have fun while feeding your soul. She has many years ahead of her and can really make a difference in this world.

We were assigned to the Kids’ Zone on Friday night so our volunteer work was really less work and more play. Our shift didn’t start until six o’clock but I picked Kira up an hour early so that we would arrive at the even early and have a few minutes to look around. I wish Brian could have been there with us. I know nothing about cars and couldn’t tell a Corvette from a Camaro (okay, I’m exaggerating) but Brian would have been able to name them all off as we walked past. They all look cool to me.

People did some really creative things with their display. Kira asked to pose with several.

It should be no surprise that she wanted a picture with the pink car because pink is her favorite color. I couldn’t tell you what kind of car that is, though.

She wanted a picture with this big truck also.

The Corvettes are always well represented at these events.

We also ran into the Holder family. Andrew had his station wagon in the show. We had to get a picture with his car. LOL.

Speaking of Andrew, he started an auto detailing business a couple of years back. He detailed several cars for the show and I’m sure his own. I hadn’t seen his work in person until now. It’s amazing. If you guys need your cars thoroughly cleaned, Andrew Holder is your man. You can get more info on his Facebook page: Holder’s Auto Detailing.

This isn’t even half of the cars in the show but I wanted to show you guys the variety of entries. Today is the last day to of the car show so if you haven’t been, I highly recommend checking it out.

They have plenty of activities for the kids also so you won’t even need to leave them at home. There are characters working around to take photos with and entertain the kids.

We caught up with a few of them.

Other activities for the kids included a coloring station (that was our assignment), face painting, bracelet making, model car making, bounce house, car racing, shooting baskets for prizes, and various other games. They also have some scheduled entertainment throughout the day like magic shows and such. We didn’t get to see one while we were there on Friday but they had a stage area set up for it. I was thinking that must have been for Saturday or Sunday. There’s also a bicycle exhibit and a car model exhibit next to the Kids’ Zone. It’s really cool.

I forgot to mention the photo station where they had cutouts of several cars and kids can take photos with them like they’re inside. We only took a photo with one but there were several of these that you could choose from.

Even if you’re not into cars, it would be fun to go to the Kids’ Zone and hang out. It’s something different than the usual weekend activity with the kiddos. There’s so many cool things to do at the Kids’ Zone that the coloring station was pretty slow. That’s actually why we got to play.

We had so much fun that we stayed 30 minutes past the end of our volunteer shift. Kira really wanted to build a model car so toward the end of the evening I told her she could go to the model car make and take station while I manned the coloring station. It had slowed down enough so I was able to pack up the coloring station and join her at the model car making station.

There were three different cars you could choose to build and, wouldn’t you know it, this little girl picked the most challenging one. Five minutes before the closing time (Kids’ Zone closed at eight o’clock on Friday night) and she was no where near done. The man said we could take it and finish it at home but he didn’t mind staying to help because he’s there until ten. I felt guilty because I’m sure he had other tasks. It sure was nice of him to offer, though.

Kira wanted two more cars so she wanted me to start building some too. I told her we wouldn’t finish in time. I think she just wanted me to start some so we could take a couple of extra cars home. They weren’t giving away model car kits. They’re there to make on site and then you could take the finished car with you. Of course, if you didn’t finish then you could choose to finish it at home. In Kira’s case, we were able to assemble the car but we didn’t get to put the stickers on. She gets to do that later.

Anyway, I had to explain to her that they couldn’t give all the cars away because they needed some for kids to do the next day and the day after. She is so thoughtful, though. She is always thinking of her brothers and her cousins. Any time we go somewhere we can take stuff, she always wants to take extra so she can share it. I knew she wanted the two extra cars for her brothers.

This clever little girl who charmed the man at the car model make and take station into practically building her car for her almost talked him into giving us a couple of car kits to take home. Seriously. Had I gone along with her scheme we probably would have had three cars instead of one. I’m not much of a rule breaker, though. And, the man said he wasn’t supposed to give out the kits so I didn’t want him to do anything he wasn’t supposed to do. Plus, it wouldn’t be fair to the other kids.

I wish that I would have gotten his name so I could send him a thank you note. He was the nicest, most patient person ever. And, he practically built Kira’s car while still let her participate in the easier parts of the build so she had a sense of accomplishment.

We had so much fun that Kira didn’t want to leave. If she had her way, we would still be there today. If you have no plans today, I highly recommend checking out the Starbird-Devlin car show.

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Feeling Lucky

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Ching under Life.

I would have made it to work by 9 AM this morning after my annual exam. I ended up just a few minutes late because of sudden car trouble. Minor trouble, but it freaked me out nonetheless. And, today was the worst day for it because it was freezing outside. I forgot my earmuffs and didn’t have a hat or scarf on. I felt like my ears were going to fall off.

When I left the doctor’s office, I headed North on Webb Road to catch K96. I could tell there was something wrong with my car immediately. The steering wheel felt shaky and there was this exclamation point alert that I hadn’t seen before displayed on the dash. I called Brian to ask him, but he wasn’t sure either. I ended up finding a first parking lot I could find, which was on the corner of 29th and Webb. I took a picture of my dash and sent it to Brian. He said it was just the tire pressure. Brian said that taking the car on the highway might warm up the tires and help normalize the pressure but the steering wheel felt really shaky and I wasn’t comfortable driving on the highway. I remembered that the car dealership is just one block over so I had the brilliant idea to drive there and ask them to help me. It was the best idea ever.

The car dealership figured out which tires needed more air and they took care of it for me. It took a few minutes so I took advantage of a chocolate croissant while I waited inside. I was on my way back to work in no time.

I’m so glad that I thought to take the car to the dealership. First of all, I didn’t have a tire pressure gauge on me so I would have had to borrow one from someone. Secondly, I would have had to find a gas station and then would have had to air up the tires myself in the freezing cold. It would have taken me at least twice as long.

Munching on a chocolate croissant while my tires were checked and filled was a far more pleasant option. Thank you to the wonderful people at the Wichita Luxury Collection for saving my behind today.

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Things are Getting Serious

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Ching under Family, Hobbies.

I just ordered a new ball. I haven’t bought a bowling ball in 20 years. Things must be getting serious. The next thing you know I’ll be sporting a wrist brace and everything.

Speaking of, we debuted our new team uniforms at bowling on Sunday. You can’t see them very well in this photo but this is what the outfits look like.

Brian and I already had the sweatpants. We got them at the last Zumba Convention. Brian actually found the sweatpants when he was shopping at the store while I was in one of my training workshops. When I got back to the hotel room and saw them, I sent him back to the store to get me a pair also. They are so comfortable that we’ve been wearing them to bowling every Sunday. Rather than buying a whole new set of uniforms for everyone, I ended up just ordering the same sweatpants for mom and dad. So then I just had to buy us all some black shirts to wear with them. Voila! Bowling uniforms.

Mom and dad really love the new bowling outfits. I shouldn’t have been so surprised, though. How can you go wrong with comfy sweats? I joked today that if we start doing really well, I will spring for “real” bowling uniforms. Like legit bowling polos (complete with our embroidered team name and logo) and maybe khaki pants for the guys and khaki skirts for mom and me. But then, after getting used to wearing sweats to bowing it’s going to be hard to go back to wearing regular clothes. Our current bowling uniforms are super comfy.

Anyway, I saw some videos of the jet black Hammer Taboo bowling ball and it really made me want to buy one. However, dad said that drilling will run me around $60 and it might not even be the right ball for me. He suggested that I talk to someone from the local pro-shop about a suitable ball and if I buy the ball from them then the price of the ball usually includes the cost of drilling.

I still really like the jet black Taboo but after talking to both dad and Kevin Andes at Wichita Bowling Supply I realized that the Taboo may be too much ball for me. I ended up just ordering a Blur Pearl because it’s going to give me more predictable results and will suit my style of bowling better. I’m really optimistic that the new ball will improve my game. Anything is better than my ancient Columbia 300 Quantum, which is at least 20 years old. Surely.

Incidentally, the Blur Pearl is also manufactured by Columbia 300. And, this entire time I thought I was using a 12-pound ball but my current ball actually weighs 13 pounds. I wanted to go up to 13 pounds anyway so I get my wish. LOL. Eventually I’m thinking of going up another pound but it may be a couple of years before I’m ready to throw a 14-pound ball. I need to get stronger first.

Speaking of strong, I’m off to a great start this year. I bowled a 500-series last night. It felt great. I was the only one on our team who consistently bowled above my average every game. I earned my new bowling ball, I’d say!

When I bowl a 600-series I’m totally getting that jet black Taboo! I don’t care if it’s too much bowling ball for me. It will serve as a trophy to commemorate my achievement. LOL.

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2014 End of Year Recap

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Ching under Life.

Time to catch you guys up before our annual end of year recap…

2008 is the year that Brian started working for Viega, I completed my MBA from Wichita State University, and we dealt cards on a cruise ship.

2009 is a year of firsts. We attended Zoobilee for the first time. Brian had his first trip to Germany. He also visited the Philippines for the first time. I completed Leadership Westar. Tita Sol adopted Molly.

2010 was the year that we spent a lot of time with the Dills. It started out when we rang in the New Year at Kansas City Power & Light with Jay, Becca, and Mama Dill. A month later, we were traveling with them again. This time to San Francisco. We did a lot of traveling that year.

2011 was the year that we started by getting stranded at McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas). That didn’t deter us from traveling, though. We traveled through the East Coast with the Dills that summer and had a lot of firsts. We also got to see James Taylor perform twice: once at Intrust Bank Arena and again at Tanglewood. I also had my first ER trip and my first biopsy. Exciting stuff!

2012 we attended a few weddings, most notably Cousin Tracy and Jeff’s destination wedding at Coral Cove Resort in Jamaica. I got my Zumba Basic 1 License and I took Brian to Nashville for his 38th birthday. We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary by closing on our house and then I ended the year with a thyroidectomy.

2013 There was Cards for the Cure, a visit from the Orbases, a few appearances on Splurge! Mag, his and hers handguns, first time back at the Filipino ball, Leadership Elite, Brian’s parent’s 40th wedding anniversary, Cards Against Humanity, my first Zumba Instructor Convention, first trip to Minneapolis and Davenport, completed group exercise instructor training and started teaching Zumba for the YMCA.

Here are the highlights of 2014…

2014 started shaky with grandma getting hurt. Grandma recovered really well and we all had a wonderful time celebrating her 92nd birthday a few months later.
I had my first Zumba World Party party. And we had the biggest Cards Against Humanity party ever with three CAH games going on simultaneously.
I experienced Paint the Towne for the first time with some friends from work. The following month we went back for a couples’ painting night. It was a great idea for Valentines’ Day.
Inspired by our James Bond project (we watched every single James Bond film ever released), Brian bought his first tuxedo.
We had an awesome team building experience at the Kansas Food Bank and at the Alley.
I had a chance to attend the 2014 Zumba Instructor Conference in LA. I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to attend because it’s the last one. They’re not having any more conferences in LA. It was also at the conference that I won a free registration to the 2014 Zumba Instructor Convention. I was going to skip it this year but I couldn’t pass up the free admission.
I cut my hair short and donated to Locks of Love for the first time.
I started a short-lived Stella & Dot business.
I had a lot of fun being an Adventurous Babe.
We finally had our landscaping redone. No more rose bushes!
Brian and I joined a bowling league with mom and dad over the Summer and continued it through the Fall. We ended the year ranked number one on our Fall league.
I got to visit San Diego for the first time.
We celebrated Brian’s 40th birthday in the Dominican Republic.
I completed Leadership Wichita 2014.
We attended several amazing events such as the Labor Run, Zoobilee, Lights on the Lake, and Brew Ha-Ha.
When we gave Molly up in 2009, we had no idea that we would get her back five years later. She has brought us so much joy already.
I sold out and switched teams when the new iPhone 6 was released. We also added a new family member, Alex.
We celebrated our first holidays without Brian’s parents who now live in Oklahoma. Thank heavens for online chat.
I ended the year with pneumonia, which taught me a very important lesson about taking care of my health because I’m neither young nor invincible. I guess part of getting old is getting sick once in a while and, if you’re not careful, getting really sick. I missed my flu shot this year because of my really busy schedule. I ended up getting really sick (with flu-like symptoms) the weekend before Christmas. I thought I was better and went back to my normal routine on Monday which was a very bad move. I ended up catching pneumonia as a result. It freaked me out because I’d never had pneumonia before and the bloody sputum was scary. It started on Christmas Day and by Saturday still hadn’t gone away so Brian took me to the ER and I finally got some medication.