pressed but not crushed

Reduce, Reuse, Recyle, Argh.

madcitycat — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:11:51 +0000

the Target price tag pirate

to blog or not to blog?

madcitycat — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:59:45 +0000

that isn’t even the question. The question is timing… when I think of a good blog post, I’m not near a computer. When I’m near a computer, I’m not thinnking of good blog posts. Someday, maybe, I’ll get back in the habit.

For those who are interested…I have actually been taking photos mostly everyday during this Advent season. Haven’t posted them, but have “written” several deep reflections in my mind. So, one of these days I may even upload the photos, and write some poem or other such piece, as a combined Advent reflection.

But until then, here are pictures of what you’re likely interested in.. Kajsa. And, for some of you, Abby and Jim.

lights on the tree

dressed for Lucia!

waiting

feeding the miniature horses

at the preschool program

Happy Birthday, Abby!

madcitycat — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:46:23 +0000

It’s her birthday. Abby’s 13 years old today. Hard to believe. Tonight after supper, Jim and Kajsa gave her a couple pieces of bologna, some bacon, and a special chicken-jerky treat we bought for her.

The photos are all from today–not necessarily birthday-related, just all from her birthday.

Licking out a cereal cup. Don't worry--dishes go in the dishwashing machine, after they go through the dog dishwasher!

Kajsa and I were playing "Blues Clues" game today, and Abby thought she should play too.

Though it appears that Abby is eating Kajsa's hand, she's not. Rather, she's eating the piece of bologna Kajsa's holding out for her.

Sam She Was… with green eggs and ham

madcitycat — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:09:03 +0000

as in, from “Green Eggs and Ham”. I found these pictures, and got inspired. I make no claims to be anywhere near as good a costume-maker as that talented lady.. but Kajsa was darn cute as “Sam I Am” for Halloween.

Do you want Green Eggs and Ham? or maybe a pumpkin bucket?

a cold evening brought the pink boots and white scarf out.

October Snow

madcitycat — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 04:03:45 +0000

Happy Halloween Weekend!

dream come true

madcitycat — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:57:24 +0000

I love animals. If you know me well, you already know that. When Annie and Jeff and family had been here for a year or so, Annie sent me photos of the kids holding a tiger at the tiger zoo. Naturally I wanted to hold one.
That was about 15 years ago or so..
And this past Saturday, my dream came true!
We went to the Sri Racha Tiger Zoo, and paid 150 Baht ($5, more or less) to hold a tiger and get a photo.
Then we paid it again, because I wanted to hold the tiger longer. The adorable four-month-old tiger had huge paws, drank out of a bottle the whole minute and a half that it was on our lap, and there were tons of Thai staff available to help, if needed.
I wanted to keep holding the baby tiger… I know, realistically that’s not an option. But just let me dream!
After the baby tiger experience, I was one of two volunteers at the elephant show. very fun. Let the pictures speak for themselves..

dream come true

at this point, the tiger-keepers are saying, "get the tiger away from this girl!"

Kajsa and Uncle Jeff feeding an elephant

flooding in Thailand

madcitycat — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:39:41 +0000

We are in Bangkok now… arrived here last Wednesday night. We miss Taipei, and hanging out with Peter, Leanne, Maddie and Erin. And I’ll post more photos of Taiwan later. Another day, likely…. but for now, Thailand. It’s hard to believe how quickly this time is passing on this vacation. Eeeesh.

Please pray for the country and people of Thailand.

sandbags and a little water by the Chao Phraya River (at a Sky Train stop)

The floods that you hopefully have heard about on US television/newspapers, are extremely devastating for Thailand and neighboring Cambodia.

sandbags

We, in this part of Bangkok, are safe at this point.

rain, rain, go away

For which I give thanks. And I also ask that you join me in praying for those that have already lost homes, loved ones, possessions, and security.. through these floods.

Saturday outing in Taipei

madcitycat — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:19:42 +0000

wandering around "Ba de Lu" (antique market)

tea (we think) and teapots... love the teapots

more browsing the market

street signs

Pennsylvania, take note: WaWa, Taipei style

Erin, Leanne, Peter and Maddie in a Taipei park

Erin, Leanne, Kajsa, Peter and Maddie in a Taipei park

girls and their scooters.... ok, girls and scooters belonging to somebody!

the right T… for Taipei, Taiwan

madcitycat — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:08:34 +0000

We made it. We’re here.

making the steamed buns/dumplings at Din Tai Fung

We’re hanging with Peter, Leanne, Maddie and Erin. Jet lag has been an issue, no doubt. Last night we all slept through the night..

or at least kept on sleeping past 3:15 am. Thankfully. But despite jet lag, we’ve been taking in Taipei, thrilled to be here, laughing and playing with family, meeting new people and enjoying vacation. Maddie and Erin made great signs to welcome us here, and all four of the Stanley-Rainbows have been incredibly hospitable in sharing their space with stinky exhausted travelers!

We ended up

Din Tai Fung

arriving here around 1 pm Thursday afternoon, (subtract 12 hours to convert into Harleysville/Philly time). After cleaning up a bit, and hanging out with PLME (Peter, Leanne, Maddie and Erin), we headed to dinner, at Din Tai Fung, one of Taiwan’s best restaurants, in my limited experience. Din Tai Fung is a steamed bun restaurant, and even holds a title from 1993,

when the New York Times rated it one of the best 10 restaurants in the world. It’s crazy good.

steaming of buns

First, watching the staff working the dumpling dough/skins, pounding..kneading… chopping… filling.. folding… then actually eating the awesome results of paper thin dumpling skins filled with various items including meat and veggies. Yum. Din Tai Fung = yum yum yum.

Friday morning PLME went to school. Peter and Leanne each teach, Maddie and Erin are students, obviously. Jim, Kajsa and I walked to a neighborhood park. The park reminded us of China, because as in China,

people in the early morning were ballroom dancing, doing Tai Chi, stretching and moving on the exercise equipment placed around the park. Apparently the space where ballroom dancing happens in the mornings turns into a rollerblading rink in the afternoons. Pretty fun. Then there are the playgrounds. Kajsa loved jumping, sliding, walking, and running. What a great place.

Park, Tai Chi

good for the feet...

neighborhood park

“T” is for “Tokyo”, part 2..

madcitycat — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 22:43:49 +0000

But before I move on to Taipei, even though we’ve been here for a few days now, I have to share how much fun it was in Tokyo, and in the Twin Cities Airport, to make new friends. It was frustrating to be delayed, to miss our connecting Tokyo-to-Taipei flight, to miss some time with family.

the hotel reception line in Tokyo... all from our flight

No doubt. Given that reality, however, we had a good time making new friends, learning a bit more about Taiwan from our new Taiwanese friends (Adam, Maxwell and friends), our new MN friends (GI Joe and family and friends), and our MN/Thailand friends Terry who also knows my sister Annie. Small world, great joys in making the most of a tiring situation.

where do we jump on beds? "only in hotels"