Hello 4 Months Later!

Yes, yes...it has been awhile.

That is what happens when real-life takes over.  One minute, I am planning multi-cultural family outings; the next, work, laundry, toddlers, and a new pregnancy sap all my time and energy.

Things seem to be returning to normal with fall on the horizon.

Hello again.

What's Doin this Weekend...

There is a lot happening this weekend in the DFW area!

Saturday, May 5
Festival of Chariots...

 

AND...
Plano Asia Fest!

Cinco de Mayo Festival in Oak Cliff

Sunday, May 6
Kite Flying Festival in Plano

Then there's laundry, yardwork, naps for the baby, grovery shopping, homework, etc. <sigh>

How to Speak East Texan

I have had the pleasure of spending a great deal of time in Waco this week for work.  One of my coworkers is from East Texas and is chock full of colorful sayings.  I couldn't help but jot them down to share with you (I plan to practice in my spare time so I can fit in better).

What to say when:

• Something is really slow - "That ____ is about as fast as a three-legged dog."
• Someone/thing is kinda shady - "____ is as crooked as a dog's hind leg."
• You are really busy - "As a busy as a one-legged man in a butt kicking contest."
• Something looks messy - "Looks like a bull's butt sewed up with a grapevine."
• You are wishing too hard for things - "If a frog had wings he wouldn't bust his butt everytime he jumped."
• You are frightened, you may be... - "Scareder than a long tailed car in a room full of rockers."
• You aren't feeling well - "I feel like a dying calf in a hailstorm".
•  NOTE - The best part of this saying is the explanation: "think about it, you feel like crap and things keep hitting you in the side."
• You look stupid - "I look like a jackass eating briars."
• You feel perplexed - "...like a bull looking at a bastard calf."
• You are nervous - "Shaking like a cat trying to pass a peach seed."
• Something's really good - "So good it could make a squirrel fight a bulldog."
• Something is unpleasant - "It could gag a maggot."
• Things have gone awry - "When the ox gets stuck in the ditch."

  I bet Mr. S hasn't learned these cool phrases at his fancy-schmancy linguistics school!

Secession?

I heard this story on the radio on my way home from work today.  Though, I have yet to see any bumperstickers advocating secession.  Oddly enough, as the political climate has reached new levels of obnoxious-ness in recent years during my grumpier moments I have thought that perhaps "they" should go to one corner of the country and "the rest" should to go to the other and see who survives the best.  This story, however, made me rethink that not-so-serious thought.  I like Texas right where it is.

Lone Star State of Mind: Could Texas Go It Alone?

End of March Updates

Just a few random updates to share...

1. We're still eating Korean food.  I love it!  We've tried some new recipes and are adding more variety to our diet.  I want to learn more about the role different foods play in the Korean diet.  For example, the traditional French meal is arranged in such a way to add in digestion.  I am curious what is the Korean equivalent of this arrangement.  While watching a Korean soap opera, I learned that diners in a posh Italian restaurant could not properly enjoy the rich food without pickles.  What other handy "rules" are there?

2.  You may remember I have a New Year's resolution not to buy any new clothes this year.  So far, at the end of March, I have been successful!  Spring weather has made this more challenging, I am itching for light fabrics, bright colors, and delicate sandals.  All things not readily found in my current wardrobe.  But, I am working on some clever tricks.  I have begun tearing out pictures of outfits and "looks" I like from magazines and placing them in a 3-ring binder in my closet.  It is like Pinterest without the handy computer; my left-brained way to help me to be more creative with what I currently own.  Great fun.

3.  I am reading "The Good Earth". 

4.  We have decided to attempt a vegetable garden this year.  I am eager to try and even more excited to teach my daughter about where food comes from.  I have to admit, however, I am feeling less and less optimistic about our progress (or, rather, significant lack thereof).  I have identified garden location and started to prepare the space.  But, I've haven't planted anything and I've heard that once it hits 100 degrees, nothing will produce.  I'll consider this successful if I at least grow some basil and a few tomatoes for just one caprese salad. 

5.  Tomorrow we start a sugar fast.  No ice cream, cake, homemade cookies, donuts, etc., time to take better care of our bodies.

Dallas...the TV Show

We watched a few episodes of the old television show "Dallas".
It was awful!  The acting was bad, the writing was bad...I've come to the conclusion that if Victoria Principal wasn't so beautiful, I don't think the series would have made it.

Then again...there is a part of me which is a little hooked...

Lone Star Cambodians

Let's add this to the list of the things I never thought I would be doing in Texas: Spending time with local Cambodian community.  As peculiar as it may sound, this was our family activity for much of late last year. 

It was a surprising, interesting, and amazing experience. 
The venture began when my husband was given an assignment in his anthropology class to immerse himself in a "cross cultural situation".  Our first stop was Sunday service at a Cambodian Baptist church in Fort Worth.  Admittedly, the initial decision to select this particular place was made for sheer convenience.  However, after our first visit we knew that, all convenience aside, we made the best choice.  I have NEVER, repeat NEVER, felt so welcome anywhere.  The people I met were the most friendly, kind, and genuinely sincere people I have ever encountered. Their stories were incredible. Most had fled Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge; the pastor had been shot 36 times, the assistant pastor was severely beaten and left for dead after being forced to witness the murders of both his parents (at the age of 9).  It was humbling to be surrounded by people who have truly overcome horrendous circumstances.  It added a new level of perspective to any petty, minor inconveniences which may cripple me, no matter how briefly.  And their gracious generosity showed me a new example of how to treat others. 

We also spent time at the Buddhist temple, which is actually very close to our home.  Again, we experienced the same welcoming, generous spirit.  We made fast friends who told us about themselves as we observed traditional dance and Khmer language classes.  It saddens me that our schedules have changed and we are no longer able to spend the time with these new friends as we once did.  But, the experience was unforgettable and I hope we'll be back to both places soon.

Thank you Texas.

Commuting

It took me an hour and a half to get to work today.

As I crept along the freeway, I discovered a classical radio station which plays a "Road Rage Remedy" show every morning.  It made the morning quite pleasant, actually.

Korean Breakfast

We've been eating Korean food for a week*.  We are still novices about what exactly to eat, so I will not even attempt to pretend that we are even slightly authentic. 

So far, the transition has been pretty easy.  This counts for every meal except breakfast (and items included in the disclaimer below).  Transitioning from a hot bowl of oatmeal with buttery toast on homemade bread to rice, fried eggs, and kimchi was more difficult that I had anticipated.  My traditional breakfast felt so comforting and warm.  After a few days, however, I began to enjoy the meal more.  It is also been eye-opening to realize just how much sugar we consume throughout the day - from brown sugar on our oatmeal and juice for breakfast, to jam on our sandwhiches at lunch, to the ice cream we can't resist after dinner.  I won't say that I've completely given up sugar, but I am more aware of how much I eat.  We'll see if I can shake it.  

This week's menu includes Stir-Fry with Fish Cakes and Daeji Bulgogi!   More news to come!

*Disclaimer: We had some leftover roasted vegetable pasta to eat this week  (Peaches don't like to waste food and we not are quite at a point to know how to make something Korean out of zucchini and tomatoes). Also, we have a house guest and baby Peach birthday party which required regular American food.  I do feel we should be honest about how diligent we are with our plans.  :-)

What Shall We Eat?

I do seem to think an awful lot about food...

When I first imagined myself living in Texas, I pictured myself surrounded by big hair, cowboy boots, and oil rigs.  I was hoping all those fanciful stereotypes of the 80s would materialize as soon as I crossed the border, I was clueless, of course.  I have learned that all the things which I imagined to be Texan have little in common with the reality I have encountered.  For instance, I had no idea how proud Texans are to be Texan.  The state flag and Lone Star are painted and displayed everywhere and when asked to "tell a little about themselves", many people I meet begin by describing just how long their families have been in Texas.

While this exposure has made me want to learn more about Texan history and culture, it also has slightly distracted me from the many other benefits of living a massive metropolitan airport.  Not only am surrounded by a rich and proud Texan heritage, but there are so many other large cultural groups represented here.  Naively, I really had no idea how much of a multi-cultural experience living here would be.  Since moving, we have had the pleasure of attending Greek and Armenian festivals, grown wide-eyed at the bounty of ethnic restaurants in the area, perused the film selections at the Bollywood movie theater, listened to the local Indian radio station. and dined at the Vietnamese fusion food truck.

Which leads us to our Korean diet. 

I want to take advantage of all this diversity in everyway I can.  Why be in such close proximity to all this great stuff and just ignore it?  While chatting with a Korean-American coworker, I learned about this amazing place called the Super HMart, a massive Korean grocery store.  So, in true Peaches form, we loaded up the Prius and set out for a new adventure.  This time, we've decided a complete food immersion will be the best approach to taking the best advantage of this excellent gem.  For the next several weeks we'll eat food exclusively purchased from the HMart.  That means kimchi at every meal, lots of rice, and who knows what else.  None of the Peaches know much about the Korean diet, so this will truly be an experience. 

맛있게 드세요!

The Peach Has No New Clothes

This is my favorite time of year. 

I love the hopefulness, the aspirations, and good intentions...  For a few brief weeks, everyone seems to be motivated on making themselves better.  The excitement and energy of all this self-improvement is so contagious, I love being surrounded by so much commitment and positivity.  So, each year, infected with the self-improvement bug, I lay out a ridiculous number of resolutions.  Some big, some small, all neatly organized into sub-groups and categories.  Yep, I am a nut.

Most of my resolutions have nothing to do with making the most of life in Texas, which is the entire purpose of this blog.  But of those which do, I am most excited to report that this year that I will not buy any new clothes.  The purpose of this is rooted in resourcefulness; first, I do want to save some cash, second, I already have an extensive wardrobe, of which I only utilize a small percentage of what I own and among the things I don't wear, I have lots of ambitious and creative plans to redesign and alter the garments to make them new again.  Also, should I need to purchase something, I am hoping to discover a vast array of vintage, thrift, and consignment shops full of chic, inexpensive, and unique clothing.   

So wish me luck...and, if things don't go as I plan, Chinese New Year is just around the corner, so I can reevaluate my efforts in a couple of weeks.  And if that still doesn't work, then Thai and Cambodian New Year comes in April, and Rosh Hashanah in the fall...