Cycling the Marina and what smells like rotten eggs & tastes like custard?

27 Feb 2008
Another beautiful day. Us 2 geeks, Dad and I, went to Harbour Freight store in Pleasant Hill where we found nick-knacks of all types (i.e. tools, wires, plugs, electrical gadgets, etc.) We both walked out with an armload of stuff and Dad was still in the salivating mode. Afterwards, we went to Fry's and salivated (again) over the computer and techie stuff when I realized I was becoming just as bad a "gadget-geek" as my father-in-law was. We had left 9:30 that morning and barely made it back home to pick up Mum and Kai and meet Greg at the marina by 2:30. (Gadgets are really distracting, you know!)


We were an odd gang of cyclists on the marina along Richmond to Albany, as we did not ride a standard bike. Greg and Kai rode the recumbent trike, Dad and I the tandem, and Mum the folding upright bike.
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Dad scared the bejesus out of me as he navigated the tandem! He tried to maneuver around tight corners, go between metal poles on the path, weave around pedestrians, and then worked me like a horse and had me cycling harder than my fair share! Later on he tried out the trike (he wondered why it was more difficult to ride- he may have realized that Arleen's gerbil legs were no longer there to assist him). And I was left with a semi-sore throat from screaming and laughing so much riding that scary tandem with him.
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We went to the Pacific East Mall to find dinner and Dad's curiosity and wanting of Durian fruit. Durian fruit is prohibited on the Singapore trains. Why? It is as big as a coconut with spikes that can make you bleed, and if you can get past its smell of rotten eggs- it tastes as smooth and sweet like custard. The question is- is it really worth it? Well to a lot of Asians it is!

I've overheard Mum warn Dad not to eat that around her as she would get queasy- and Dad responded by telling her he would eat it in the bathroom with the fan on. (Acknowledge that there is a hint of sarcasm between the two in this conversation...I quietly left the room.)

They got the Twinkle Star non-stop laughter!

Kai is like a dog- he's taken to sleeping with my slipper! But ooooh he is stil such a cutie!

Not quite used to sleeping in his toddler bed, Kai, in the middle of the night will crawl and sleep between mommy and daddy. So many times, Greg and I have gotten kicked in the face and groin, head-butted, eyes gouged, and then coughed on to add insult to injury.


Here's a video of Gramma and Kai of their singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. They do not make a good duet- as they keep rolling in laughter.

The "Misfortune" Fortune Cookie Factory in Oakland

Monday, 26Feb08

Kai, Gramma and Grampa pose like the Chinese do in their family photographs- erect like sticks in the mud.


"Misfortunes"the poor fortune cookies that did not pass quality control.
I should start a touring company due to the eccentric places I can find for fun and entertainment. We are in the Chinatown section of Oakland and I was able to get a self-guided tour for $1 a head.

I had to either keep a watchful eye on Kai or hold him as the machines were hot and looked dangerous. The workers here did not care where you stood, there were no boundary lines indicating where not to walk. OSHA would love it here!

I really thought that technology today would automate the insertion of the fortune into a folded cookie, but as you can see by this video- not so. Man-power is still king!

Kai has his new smile here- but plenty happy as the workers kept giving him fortune cookies to eat, thus his hands were always full.

Packing fortune cookies...

Later on we drove through the tunnel to Alameda to walk along the beach in this beautiful weather. It had been raining the past few days, and the sun came out to play for once and so did we.

Kai saw his first "dead" bird and did not know what to make of it. The only expression on his face was a concerned one. Well, I guess when the legs are up in the air like that- you'd be concerned too?

Video: Stroll along Alameda Beach.

Blackhawk Auto Museum and the "Rat Fink"

24 Feb Sunday

Greg and his father, Ray.

A rainy day calls for indoor activities so we went to the Blackhawk Auto Museum in Danville. Gramma opted out and stayed home with Kai.

The view from the steps of the museum overlooks the plaza of restaurants and retail stores.

A Healey.

'61 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

'54 Rolls-Royce with "caning" artwork on the side panels (as seen below). The artisan would apply a steady and even bead of paint alongside the car panel much like a cake decorator with a tube of icing applied with a narrow hollow tip.

'62 Lincoln Continental

Used by the John F Kennedy administration. Shortly after President Kennedy's assassination, the vehicle was used by Lyndon B. Johnson. The flags and motorcade lights indicate that it carries a person of power and distinction.

'63 Mesarati 5000 GT Frua. '50 Ferrari 166 Berlinetta with straps on hood.

We also attended a presentation on Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, who was known for "The Rat Fink". He started the era of "pin-striping" cars and using fiberglass to make some interesting and original works of car art here on exhibit for a few more days. I could have sworn I had seen my father work with this car model kit at one time as he used to be big in model planes, etc.

Roth painted on the rat's belly.

The first car in the 50's to have a bubble top.

More Rat Finks- his famous trademark.

'64 Surfite. With 50 miles to a gallon, and with an Austin Mini Cooper platform, this one-person car was designed to carry a surfboard efficiently to and from the beach. The Surfite was featured in Life Magazine.

'26 Daimler Snake Horn, Duessenberg Hood Ornament.

'24 Hispano Suiza Dubonnet Tulipwood.

This car was commissioned for André Dubonet, an aviator and race car driver who was rich from his family's business in aperitifs and cognacs, had an aviator company build this 160-pound car body made of tulipwood that were fastened to the 1/8 inch veneer underneath it by brass rivets. This car was used for long distance racing with its 46 -gallon gas tank.

Spirit of the Wind Lalique Crystal

Ray and Greg on the main floor of the auto museum.

One of my favorites, the '53 Alfa-Romeo B.A.T. 5. Makes me think of a whale shark! This car was built as part of an exercise in aerodynamics in the 1950's.

Greg in his sweet ride on Mt. Diablo.

Then there was Greg's 911 Porsche that we flew to Colorado to bring home to CA in 2002. This car should have been in the museum! But we sold it in 2005.

Taken in our backyard, Sobrante Ridge Park.

Kai's new bike seat

Greg got a great buy off Craigslist.org for a bike seat for Kai. You had seen pictures of Kai not too long ago of him sitting on daddy's lap while cycling. Since then Greg with the help of Grampa, have made it a safer ride for Kai.


Daddy and 30-pound Kai making Greg break out a sweat. He is really good at directing daddy- as if he was a "rickshaw" guy.



Notice Kai wearing his Scooby-Doo slippers?

How would you feel if in an arranged marriage?

9 Feb 08 Saturday

I was hired by another photographer whom I had met at the Wells Fargo event late last year. It was well worth my effort to go out of my way to introduce myself as I got to do this engagement gig in Newark in a restaurant called Afghan Alley.


I was amazed by the intensity in this bride-to-be's eyes. She was obviously nervous and I conversed with her to try to get her butterflies out. The family had separated the two from seeing each other before their engagement ceremony. I eventually discovered she was in an "arranged" marriage and had not even dated her future husband.



I wanted to ask more questions, like "had you met him? If not, had you seen pictures of him?" but I thought it wise to keep my mouth shut.



I asked when their wedding date was set- she did not know...

...on the other hand, when I walked next door and asked him the same question, he replied in July...hmmm, there seems to be a communication gap already? He tells me he is not nervous when asked, but he sat there quietly with fingers entwined appearing to strangle each other.

When she enters the room, he is obviously pleased with her appearance (and perhaps the package) while she does not even dare to make eye contact with him for at least the next 30-minutes. My images prove this. Her face reminds me of a scared deer in the way of an oncoming car. I could only feel her anxiety!


Then her mother-in-law steps in and presents the engagement ring! Even as he places the ring on her finger, she still does not look up into his eyes.


Proceeding the exchange of rings comes the family portraits. That is the groom's side of the family.


While the newly engaged couple sit there looking bored out of their minds- children jump off the stage. It didn't help when I asked them to leap off a few more times for the picture.

And then he views his phone to text message someone? I would have thought that to be rude if his fiancé!

The teenagers entertain the couple with a "tantalizing" dance.

The couple cuts the cake just as if they were getting married!

I saw this photograph at the back of the restaurant. I have seen this image a dozen times from the National Geographic, of this Afghan woman with these soul-piercing green eyes. I could only hope that one day a photograph I take will become of significant value too.