Summer in Review

Well, we are back in Bangkok and its time for a little summer in review. Summer is a great time of year. It is a time to refresh and, for us, reconnect with friends and family. I find that the number of friends I see when I return dwindles each year. The theory on this is basically that people think the following:

• Summer One "Wow, Isaac, tell me about all your travels!"
• Summer Two "I thought you were coming back after two years. Seriously, what going on? Thailand?"
• Summer Three "Isaac who?"

OK, maybe its not that bad, but I think people lose interest and move on with their lives. When Becky and I come back from summer, I feel like Mel Gibson. Not the racist crazy Mel but the Mel from Forever Young. The only real differnce is that everyone I know is not dead.

On to the fun stuff.

Summer started off in Chicago. Becky is crazy, in a good way, when it comes to getting stuff done so we had to get ALL of our shopping done in the first two days of being back. This is in severe contrast to my style which would have had me running around like crazy the last few days trying to get everything I need. Actually, I still had to do this for the stuff Becky didn't make me buy early. When will I learn?

We checked out the Stanley Cup Parade for the Blackhawks!

After a week in Chicago, I left for the United States Open of golf while Becky stay in Chicago to go to Jesse and Luis' wedding in Ann Arbor.

Justin and I with the U.S. Open Trophy.

 We met in San Francisco to have treats. I only ate Ricearoni, it was delicious.

 We left San Francisco and made a stop in wine country. Everyone was really impressed with our knowledge of wine.

As you can see, we really knew what we were doing.

Biking and photography don't mix. The sacrifices I make for this blog.

After a couple of nights in Napa, we continued our way up the coast towards Oregon. We drove through the Avenue of the Giants to see the Redwoods and then up to Crater Lake in Oregon.  

Someone getting creative with orange peel.  Found while hiking near Mendocino.  

Crater Lake, Oregon

Awesome!

Steve, a counselor from our school, convinced us that a stay in Bend, Oregon was in order. He was absolutely correct and he was a great tour guide.  First we had some business that we had to take care of our first night in Bend...the business of love. It was our one year anniversary. The year one gift is paper and Becky suprised me with a lovely Charmin two-ply. A very practical gift, I loved it. Here we are at dinner at the supposed best steakhouse in Bend on the Deschutes River.

Bend has a ton of brewery's and Steve took us on a tour with his son Adam after a day of tubing on the Deshutes River.

Despite my appearance, this was stop number one and beer number one.

I have a much better picture of Adam and Steve, but I thought this captured the moment.

 The next day we explored Smith Rocks State Park before heading to a minor league baseball game that night.

Monkey Face Rock...can you see it?

The other side of Monkey Face and some crazy dudes.

From Bend, we headed to our final road trip destination - Portland. But not without driving the senic route.

Stopping to pick some strawberries.

Kite surfing is apparently a huge deal on the Columbia River. 

Thanks to Dave and Gloria Mendy (Scott's Parents - Scott husband of Katie sister of Becky), we had a place to stay our first night in Portland as we dicided to come a day early.

The reason for going to Portland was a big fat Korean wedding, kinda. Friends from Korea wedding, not a real Korean wedding. Sarah and Jonathan Webster, or Sqweebs, kindly invited us to be a part of thier day/weekend and it was a blast. It was especially great to catch up with old friends.

Soju shots for everyone.  A Korean tradition.

Ryan playing an 80's relic at the rehearsal dinner.

How accidents happen. Becky and Kristi try to kill Batman.

The real reason Bruce Wayne wears a mask.

A homeless guy in Portland.  A common sight...except it ME.  Tricked you.  Seriously, it was cold so Becky and I borrowed the robes from our hotel on the 4th of July.  

 We headed out Monday, thanks again to Dave and Gloria who took us around Portland then out to lunch before dropping us off at the airport. They were really great! Finally, they moment I was really looking forward to had arrived. Thats right, I was back in the Great State of Texas!

We got to stay with Adam Glenn and his wife Kimber and they really made us feel at home. Some other highlights were a trip to Austin/San Marcos where we got to see Katie and Jarred Brazeal, Ben Raley and Mike and Erin Johnson. We also got to hang out with my parents and with my brother Joel who going to school in College Station.

 Another highlight was getting to check out my brother Matt's new golf course. He is the head pro at The Cliffs Resort on Possom Kingdom Lake. Matt, my Dad, and I golfed while Becky, Rebecca (Matt's wife) and my mom rode. I think I permanantly scarred her into never going golfing with me again. She said she doesn't like to see me that angry, and thats after years of improvement. I don't even think I threw a club! Anyway, I blame the course, it was the hardest I have ever played, and one of the most beautiful.

Matt and I, not at The Cliffs. We decided to play this cheap course the next day.

 Thanks to Justin Strickland, we went to a couple of FIRST PLACE Texas Rangers baseball games. Justin currently has season tickets to the Rangers, Yankees and Nationals. He has a sickness.

The last hoorah was a day at the zoo with my Mom, Becky and my Nephew Skye. Unfortunaly, Adam (Skye's Daddy) is on the DL with some herniated discs, so he couldn't join us.

Going to the zoo with a two year old is great birth control.

My Mom, Nana and Skye.

We had to eat the wedding cake a bit late, but we did it. Still tasty. 

Sadly, out time in Texas was at an end and it was back to Chicago. Kings of Leon was the first order of business. It was an awesome concert that turned into a big mudslide when the heavens open up the flood gates.

"Oooooooohhhhhhhh, their stage is on fire"

 Our last weekend in America saw Justin Strickland make a special Chicago visit just to see his favorite couple. We started things off right at a Chicago White Sox game. A special guest appearance was made by Texas Aggie Class of '04 Michelle Rivera. It was great to catch up after about six years.

Melissa, Becky, Michelle, Justin, Isaac

 Another big item on the summer agenda was Becky, Katie and Dr. Kyle running in the Chicago Rock and Roll Half Marathon. Becky and Katie Rocked it in right at 2:00 hours. Dr. Kyle was right behind them. 

Becky in blue.

Cheering on the girls.

Scott, Katie's husband couldn't come due to a nasty broken leg. Justin tried to fill in.

He couldn't handle the pressue though.

Trying in vain to get the anti chaffing gel to work AFTER the race.

That's a good Dad: Notre Dame Alum wearing the Michigan hat.

 Later that day Justin, Becky and I went to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. My favorite quote of the day was from first time OmniMax viewer Justin when he said will all sincrerety, "Why don't we watch all movies this way?" That, Justin, is a fabulous question. 

I love Becky's face in this picture.

Mind battle at the Museum.  Who could relax the most.  Shocking the world, Justin won.

You might be thinking right now, "Wow, Becky is a trouper. Running a half-marathon and then going to the museum all day!" Well, you would be right, she is a trouper. In fact, she is so awesome, that after the museum, we when to meet with a big group for some deep dish at Girordano's. The guest of honor were (Korea friends) Kristi and Jason and his kids Connor and Sinead. 

Kristi, Sinead, Jason, Conner, Isaac, Becky, Justin, Emily, Melissa

 We met Kristi and Jason the next day for a Cubs game. They lost 18-1. Way to go Cubbies. 

That about does it. A whole summer of recap. If this is your first blog reading, I assure you, they are usually much funnier than this. There is only so much you can do when you have to summarize. The good news is that we are getting back into a groove which means more regular blogging. Until then.

 Love, iBeck

Gig 'em Dr. Kyle

 

The Kyle's have really made me feel welcome in their family ever since they realized that I wasn't going anywhere. To try and show some return love, Becky and I found this sweet sticker for Jack's car. It went on, but not without some wisecracks about how the sticker is "backwards" because it sticks on the outside of the car.

Honestly, I didn't even understand this as being an issue until it was explained to me that the winters are apparently cold in Chicago. Well not to me they aren't. The only Chicago I know is summer Chicago! Becky assures me that I should keep it this way.

Love,

iBeck

Student Made Video

Check out this video one of my students made.  Please disregard the poor spelling.  I thought this would be a cool way to see our school.  I make a cameo at about the 1:07 mark.  Please enjoy responsibly.

Giving Back

Volunteering ones time, skills and resources is an important part of life.  JFK knew this when he started the Peace Corp.  Jimmy Carter knew as well when he began Habitat for Humanity.  This summer is was my turn.  That is why I decided to give back by volunteering my time to the United States Golf Association to help out with the 2010 US Open.  What better way to help others than by manning a hospitality tent for obscenely rich corporations.

Before I could lend my helping hand to the elitist everyman game of golf, I made a quick stopover in San Francisco to take in some BASEBALL!  After a night game the day before, Justin Strickland joined me to catch a day game.  It's important to support the home team when visiting a new ballpark...unless its the Yankees.

Sporting some Tim Lincecum wigs. Timmy pitching in the background.

After the game, Justin and I picked up our rental car VAN and picked up the rest of the Man Trip 2010 crew.  We thought it would be a great idea to make a quick stop at the Golden Gate for a beginning of trip picture.  Turns out there is no quick trip to the Golden Gate Bridge during rush hour.  A short hour and a half later and we were back on the road.

**Just for reference, Man Trip is a yearly trip of which past exploits include the Indy 500, Kentucky Derby, and the College World Series.**

Jeremy (1st Man Trip), Patrick (3rd MT), Justin (3rd MT), Isaac (4th MT)

Tim (not here yet - 3rd MT) 

Finally it was time to help out those less fortunate than us.  Actually, between the five of us, there were some pretty cool gigs.  Tim and Jeremy were hole marshals on the 2nd hole, which played as the second toughest all week.  Patrick was a player driver, driving players and their caddies from the practice greens to the tee box in a Lexus...which meant that Patrick was slumming it compared to his normal wheels.  Justin and I worked different hospitality tents, which basically amounted to guarding an entrance and putting wrist bands on people...but at least I got to watch golf from my entrance, it was on the 3rd hole.

A few thoughts I had from the Open. 

• The collective golf IQ of a crowed gets exponentially lower the closer Tiger Woods gets, absolutely bottoming out when you get withing 200 yards of him.
• Pebble Beach is beautiful.
• The worlds most obnoxious man always sits within five feet of me everywhere I go in any sport.  (That may say more about my tolerance than anything).
• I would four-putt the majority of the holes at a US Open.  I am not sure I would break par if all I had to do was putt!

One more quick story from this disjointed blog entry.  The first day of the Championship, Tim and I followed around the group of Tim Clark (S. Africa), Mike Wier (Canada), and K.J. Choi (S. Korea).  Two interesting this happened. 

First, I managed to offend at least three Canadians.  Mike Wier left a putt woefully short on the 5th hole and as the crowd collectively groaned, I turned to the group next to me and in one breath said, "Hrumph, Canadians...you guys are Canadians huh?"  They nodded, unamused.  So in my best effort at diplomacy I said, "He should have taken a shot at maple syrup first, that would have helped him get it there!"  And do you know what happened!!!!  Nothing. NOTHING?  Hrumphh, Canadians.

My second unfortunate encounter with Canadians happened when, after Mike Wier actually made a putt, a group proudly turned to Tim and I and asked, "Eh, you guys there from Canada there eh doncha know?"  I immediatly and triumphantly shouted, "No Way!"  Once again, I realized that this was pretty rude and tried to smooth things over with this cool line a few seconds later, "Soooo, uhhhhh, yall are from Canada huh.  Oh, thats cool."  Slowly walk away.  

The final part of of this story happened due to my intimate knowledge of the Korean language.  Following K.J. Choi, I felt that I needed to give him some encouragement.  My first attempt was a simple "Anyong Haseyo" (Hello) as he walk past me off the 2nd tee box.  This was met with a head nod, and I was pleased. A few holes later, I was racking my brain to remember ANY Korean words that might imply a job well done.  The best I could come up with were shouted after a nice drive on the 10 hole.  "Mashitsayo," I shouted.  In English, that was a delicious drive K.J. 

A Korean man next to Tim and I seemed to like this and chuckled to himself.  A few holes later, Choi hit in to a sand trap and Tim and I both said "Ahhh Shiiiiii", basically Crap!  (I was teaching Tim).  The same Korean man was standing next to me again and laughed so, never one to turn down an audience, gave the encore of  "Shibal", which is basically the f-bomb in Korean (sorry Mom).  He thought this was great and asked where I learned such fine Korean.  Turns out, this was K.J. Choi's personal manager.  We ended up chatting for the rest of the round.  So thank you Korean kids for teaching me swear words.  Swearing is the international language of love.

OK, that is all.  Becky and I are sitting in the Seattle airport (Free wifi shoutout!) finally on our way to the Great State of Texas after three weeks of west coast road trip fun.  Hoping to put those pictures and stories up in the next week or so.  

If you are reading this (yeah right) and are in Texas and want to hang out, give us a call on the summer cell. 214-422-5125

Love, iBeck

Nepal Part Dos - The Namaste Chapter

It has been a month since we traversed to Nepal and I thought it would be time for a little reflection.  When we talk with people that have been to Nepal, the common phrase is usually "life changing".  Naturally, it is hard to dampen expectations with words like that.  Fortunately, I am a bit cynical at times and usually take stuff like that with a grain of salt. (Interestingly, my being cynical is really not fortunate for anyone, especially Becky).

So.  Life Changing.  Big Stuff.  Nepal.  Using Periods And. Capital Letters. For Every Word. For. Dramatic Effect.

OK, I will say it.  Nepal generally lives up to the hype.  It is in your face, dirty, poverty stricken, polluted, breathtaking, heartwarming, humbling, heartbreaking, amazing, frustrating and myriad other adjectives. (I've been seeing the word myriad a lot lately so I thought I would throw it in there. I hope you like).

I took some time to edit our pictures from the trip and I think that they can show some of what we were able to experience in this crazy country.  One or two of the pictures are repeats from Becky's blog, but I cleaned em up so they are worth another look.  I will also be adding some (pithy) commentary along the way.



Section I - Breathtaking
It is hard to capture what you see live, but considering I was carrying like $1,500 of camera equipment, these better be pretty close!  These are from Poon Hill. Yes, I thought the name was funny.  But I also laughed in a school wide professional development session when someone described our school as well endowed.  Back to the pictures.

Can I suggest here that you click on these pictures to enlarge them.  It will make your experience much more enjoyable.

Yes, the last two are the same, but so pretty and just different enough.

This is Dhaulagiri. 8,167 meters - 26,795ft. Wow. 7th highest mountain in the world.  Something like 40% of the people who try to summit this mountain die. 

Section II - Animals

Yak - enough said.

Yak video - I will let the video commentary speak for itself.

Ass. 

Or a mule. Somebody enlighten me please.

Greatest inspirational poster ever? 

Answer - Yes.

Once again, click to enlarge and enjoy this in all its glory. Found in a rest point on the last day of our trek.

These goats were awesome!  They tasted fantastic!

I was kidding about the goats.  They needed salt.

Seriously, all up and down the trail were these teams of asses? mules? hauling stuff up and down.  These are the roads and thus, these are the vehicles. Reliable brakes on this model. (Looking at you Toyota).

Section III - Life

This was pretty early in the morning and this woman was brushing her hair that had to go down to her rear. Just across the way our guide, Rahm, pointed out that a couple of older gentlemen were drunk.  Once again, this was early morning.  Sorry, no picture. Just think of your grandparents (lets say on your mothers side, because I think we all know they are the drunks) on New Years Eve, if you grandparents were both dudes sitting Indian style (Nepal style?) in the dirt in the mountains of Nepal.  Also your grandparents are both about 5ft tall and Asian. If you are reading this and you are Asian, that last part is probably not much of a stretch.

I like this picture because you have this innocence.  Children playing, a cute boy and girl looking up at another cute boy. If you let yourself, you can even see your own childhood in this picture...And then you look closer and you see that the boy is up above because the high ground is best to attack from.  This dude is wielding a knife and a stone.

Sickle - Check.  Hammer - Ah man!

Love this shot. Becky on the trail up ahead.

Section IV - Animals + Life = Love

Maybe the most disturbing part of the trip.  Becky mentioned this in her blog and here is the visual to go along with it.  This girl was litterally cleaning this animal's (buffalo?) poop with her bare hands.  Makes you think twice about giving the heavy sigh when your wife asks you to wash the dishes.  Looking at you Dad.  Haha. Jokes.

I thought this was really awesome.  This was taken from way up above down into a valley on our last day of the trek.

Section V - Flora

This thing rocked my world.  Rahm, the guide, said, "Tomato tree!"  I freaked out.  I think I called him a liar and then I got out the camera.  After some research, it is a tomatillo tree, also called tomato tree.  Sorry Rahm.

Lucky for us, it was berry season.  Sweet and tart! Groups of kids would hang out on the road between where you start the trek and the main city in the region, Pocara selling rolled up leaves full of these berries.  We pulled over a couple of times to buy some.  Sadly, no picture of this.

Some local medicinal herb. A closer inspection is needed.

Man, where have I seen this before?

Another patch of this stuff. Just a little guy.  Maybe Rahm can tell us what it is.

"Marijuana."  Thanks Rahm.

Cannabis, as my freinds from Canaba like to call it, grows like crazy in Nepal. Don't worry Kyle family, still pot free since '83. I was one year old in '83. Haven't touched the stuff since.

I could have put a picture of a cinnamon tree here, which I thought was really cool.  Instead, I decided to just put in a couple of extra weed pictures.  I know what people want.

Hey unemployed Americans. I hear this farm is hiring. Too soon for and economy joke?

Legit terracing.

Last section - Extra

I think those vehicles I refered to earlier (the asses) need some emissions testing.  There was no shortage of poop on the trail. Yak poop, buffalo poop, cow poop, dog poop, goat poop, and of course, chicken...er...poop.

We will leave you with this. I may have massaged this photo a bit. I still think it is kinda cool.

Life Changing.  That was the phrase at the beginning of this blog, and trip for that matter. I hope that every trip and experience is life changing in some way or another.  Nepal was no different. I would like to think that Becky and I approach trips like this with a sense of graciousness and humility. We are fortunate to get experiences like these, so yeah, I suppose Nepal was life changing.

Whew!  Glad that is done.  This took me like three days to get through.  And...get excited...there shall be a Nepal Part Sam (thats three in Thai) - Kathmandu.  Get excited.

Until then.

Love,

iBeck

Dunk This

Becky is the student council advisor this year and she has had a good time doing it. Earlier this year, the student council had a dunking booth fundraiser. So when Becky was the first to get in the chair, I made sure I was first in line with my baht (money) ready. I will say that I nailed it on the first throw...unfortunatly, the button was janky and didn't budge. Took me a few more HARD throws, but I finally got her! She was happy.  I didn't eat for a week after that, you know, because she is basically the only reason that I have food. Seriously, I think I ate popcorn all week. See the important lessons I am learning through marriage!

Love Us.

Yummy Thai Fruit

You know you are full on Thai when you go to the store/market with a list (thank you Becky) that has "any fruit you want for the week" as one of the items and you come back with this. Gotta love rambutans and mangoes! Each month brings another delicious fruit that is in season.