Only in Taiwan

A Hello Kitty-themed maternity ward has opened in Yuanlin, Taiwan, and frankly, I find it very creepy.

Although, in retrospect, the newly renovated GBMC maternity ward (where Lyla was born) had its fair share of creepiness. The redesigned suites that were the talk of the town a few years ago fall very short of what I would call the comforts of home. They think by slapping 80s wallpaper up, and weird pictures of little girls walking in meadows makes it seem normal and homey. The chairs are all pleather, and the thing they expect the Dad's to sleep in is a disgrace. Not somewhere you really want to spend any length of time. And I spent almost two weeks! But, I digress.

The Hello Kitty Ward was designed to make Mommies and babies feel like they are having a fun experience at the hospital. I can already tell you trying to give birth on a twin bed like the one shown here ain't gonna be fun sisters. Maybe it's fun to sit at the lavendar bed side bureau and do your hair and make-up.
The hospital Chief was quoted as saying, "I wish that everyone who comes here, mothers who suffer while giving birth and children who suffer from an illness, can get medical care while seeing these kitties and bring a smile to their faces, helping forget about discomfort and recover faster."

I think the kitties would definitely make me forget about my pain! I know when I see my labor nurse roll in with a HK apron and scrubs, that I am not only in capable hands, but am about to have some hard core fun.

Lyla's Backyard Singing

Last week, Trent and I were talking about that catchy Lady Ga Ga song called Poker Face. Now, if anyone knows either of us, you know this is not really our genre of music, but what are you gonna do? You hear it once in the pizza place, and it's in your head for the rest of the month. So, I proceeded to dload it, and make a pop CD for the car. Well, Lyla's lullabies, were playing, and after they were done, the pop CD came on. One thing led to another, and the next thing I know we're both raising the roof, and dancing. She heard the song once. Well, last week during dinner she rolls out with, "Ma ma ma ma ma ma ma my poker face." I couldn't believe it. It was like four days later, and she just ripped out that lyric. I had some early recordings of it, that got trashed, but I got a few snippets in these vids.


Other favorites in this series include Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Happy Birthday. These aren't the best versions either. Usually, she sings them super clearly, and from start to finish, but that damn Dora cup was distracting her.

Also, as a frame of reference, Lyla has taken to stripping down around 7:00-ish. She wants no clothes of any kind in the evening hours before bed. This is why she is only in her diaper. We don't usually let her run around WT-style all day.

Pho is Here!

I was driving around the very annoying and very dangerous Towson circle over the weekend, and I almost caused an accident myself when noticed a sign for Pho in one of the windows. Amen! There is a new Pho restaurant opening right in my very own town. I never thought I'd utter those words.

For those of you who don't know what Pho is (pronounced fuh--and you want to get this right, because the pho police are always look to apprenhend offenders of mispronouciation); it is a delightful Vietnamese soup that's broth is made primarily from beef bones. It usually has star anise and cilantro in it as well. It sounds like an odd combo, and honestly, a bit gross, but I assure you it is not. I won't get into tripe or tendon.
Very thin slices of rare beef tenderloin are added to the broth, along with rice noodles... and voila, you got yourself a bowl of pho. There is also a bowl of all kinds of goodies like bean sprouts, lime, basil, then some sauces to add to it. I love to put lots of plum sauce in it. Oh it's so good.

If you're sad it will make you happy. If you're lonely, it will be your companion. If Heaven were to shower anything on earth, it would likely be pho in beautiful beefy raindrops.

My office in CA used to be located in Cerritos, which must have a third of CA's Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, and Chinese restaurants. Korean BBQ (another one of my absolute faves) is served like fast food down there. On La Cienega near Hollywood, it's served all LA-style by slick-haired guys and svelte girls wearing all black, and answering everything as if it's a question. In Cerritos, it's served in two minutes for $4.50 by a guy who gets offended if your beef is anything but bloody when it hits your soup.

Now that my office is in Long Beach, I have to make a special trip back just to get the pho, and the amazing sweet rice they make. Oh, don't even get me started on the sweet rice people. I always order a side of the rice, even though it makes me so full and sick and bloated. It's that good. I also enjoy going with Justin, one of the partners from my company, who always forgets I've had pho a million times. He always instructs everyone how to order, and then puts all the fixins in when you get the soup. He's so excited to tell you what it's all about.
See, this is what pho does--it brings people together!

So, when the new Pho place opens in Towson in July, we'll all have to go out for a good time.

Excuse our Appearance

Like the blog's background?

I used a component of a third party background for the blog, and her jacko site has the error, and now so does mine. I will remedy this soon, but I will need to spend some time doin' some figurin' to get it done. Work is busy, so stand-by.

In the mean time, enjoy this very subtle, non-distracting background.

Need some Chills

I am not a big fan of watching music videos, but after our friend John Marsh told us he wept at the Kingdom of Rust video, I had to see for myself. I didn't weep, since work makes me dead inside, but I did get a chill at the end. This video was better acted than most movies out today, and the leading man ain't too bad to look at either.

Doves is definitely one of Trent and my favorite groups, and we're actually going to see them this Saturday night. So, if you're still living in your American Idol cave in America, and don't know who they are, check them out, you won't be disappointed.

I have taken the liberty to include the video here for all of you popcorn poppers.


Best Doves songs to get you started and make you cool again:
Almost Forgot Myself
There Goes the Fear
N.Y.
Caught By the River

The opening band, Wild Light is also very good. Their single California on My Mind is awesome. I could also include the video for that one, which is pretty cool, but instead, I will embed the acoustic version, which shows what a band can sound like with just their voices and a few guitars. Brace yourselves Britney lovers...