Back in the USA
So what’s it been like to be back in the U.S.? I got that question a lot the last couple of weeks. It’s taken me a while to think about the response, but I thought I would share some of my impressions and thoughts:
- First, how could they be playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving? I hadn’t gotten a mile from the Grand Rapids airport in my rental car when I turned on the radio and there was Christmas music!! On November 11?? What is that?? Why so $%@(#*! early?
- And Santa ….. already? I thought he came in the parade after Thanksgiving? Oh, wait a minute the parade is before Thanksgiving! But there was Santa with kids on his knees in the Woodland Mall in Michigan on November 12! How many times will a kid change his mind about what he wants for Christmas, when he goes to see Santa in early November?
- The sunrises are beautiful in the States! Too much smog for a good sunrise in China. Of course, no one would know it, because no one gets up that early there.
- Stores are really refreshing! Not necessarily so much better. But they are not so crowded with people. Things are so neat and pretty. And I can read the labels!
- Land! You can see land! Almost everywhere! Not just tall high-rise buildings housing millions of people. Beautiful trees, and hills, and mountains.
- Sports! I can see sports on TV! Not just 1-0 games of soccer! Honest to goodness football and basketball, and college, and Sports Center!!!
- Understanding conversation…. Not having to wait for an interpretation and not knowing what is being said all around me.
- Blonds! Enough said.
- Soft beds! You wouldn’t believe how hard mattresses are here!
- BBQ, and hamburgers, and fried okra, and so many desserts and treats! Oh the food has been a GREAT. And no bones, nor chop sticks either!
- But most of all…. Friends and relatives! So good to see everyone! Nothing like the joy of being around friends and relatives to share good times!
It’s been great! But I can’t wait to get back to the daily adventures in China! And then I can look forward to coming back to appreciate all these great things again next April. Thanks to all for making it a special visit. Thanks to Teri for the comb! I needed that!
Special thanks to my friends Tony and Sandy Sanders, Kay and Carol Teeter, and Darlene and Allen Oakley for putting me up in their homes for some nights! It was greatly appreciated.
Hickory Log BBQ, Forest City, NC
No article to go along with this, but I just had to post these photos from Hickory Log BBQ. That is my tray of sliced pork BBQ with red slaw and sweet tea. And in rear right, the best hush puppies on the planet!
It was good!!
Family gathers for group photo before meal.
Thanksgiving in North Carolina
Thirty-three for dinner! Not your typical little family dinner. No we have a pretty special Thanksgiving dinner. And this year was more than special for me.
On Thursday, we gathered for dinner at the Sunset Inn at Lake Junaluska. What a great time for me to see everyone. Of course, it’s that for all of us every year, but this was extra special since it was my first time to see most everyone since going to China six months ago.
And it was most everyone! We’ve done this for years now. All the families of my mother’s sisters gather for Thanksgiving together. We used to do it at the old family home where my aunt Peggy now lives. But as the family has grown, it just got to be too many people. Cousin Cindy contracted the Sunset Inn overlooking Lake Junaluska, and now Melody welcomes us every year there for a feast that leaves no one hungry.
Only my sister, Anna, and her kids didn’t make it this year. Oh yea, cousin Annie couldn’t make it either. But the rest of the clan was there. There were seven young boys in the group. Brian kept them occupied with a game of football in the cool autumn air out back of the inn. Aunt Peggy led the annual ritual of recognizing the seven November birthdays. BTW, thanks for always celebrating my birthday every year like this.
It was a truly "Norman Rockwell” event. As always, a great family get together with all the trimmings of turkey and dressing. Happy Thanksgiving!
[Posting of all pictures from "Thanksgiving in NC" can be found through the link on the right.]
Men gather in living room after dinner.
Cousin Brian coaches boys in game of football.
Dessert is served!
Wolf statue at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Wolfpack Wins
Last Saturday, Thad and I had a great day in Raleigh! What a day! Time around NC State with my son and a winning football game too! What could be better? Okay the game should have been a blowout, but State did prevail. All victories are good victories.
My good friends, Allen Oakley and Robbie Zieglar were kind enough to give us seats. And in the Dail section of the new Vaughan Towers too! Quite a treat! Okay, we expected a box, but we were instead outside in the cold, blustery wind of this November day. But we had a great view and some nice amenities.
All ya had to do on arrival was fill your plate with all kinds of food from a nice buffet in the lounge area behind the cantilevered seating section. Then you could return at any time during the game for popcorn or drinks. And you could even warm up while watching the game on the monitors too. Nice improvement to Carter-Finley Stadium.
Thad and I also saw my cousin, Gregg with his wife Jane, and daughter Ashley. Ashley looked great as one of the State dance team members. She has really gotten the NC State fever.
State won 24-3. Should have been even greater margin. But it was a victory. Thanks Allen and Robbie!!
Ashley cheering with dance team at pep rally prior to game.
US Army Paratrooper enters stadium with Stars and Stripes!
Wolfpack enters Carter-Finley Stadium!
Thad and Gene with Ashley and her dance teammate Caroline at halftime.
Wolfpack defense stymies Middle Tennessee State late in first half.
The great ribs at Sam's!
Ribs & Peanuts
Great ribs! Peanuts on the shell! Two great meals! And a lot of good friends. Saturday was a good day at Logan’s Roadhouse and Sam’s Joint.
The Judge was at both locations with some of his daughters. Many of my good Baker friends were at Logan’s. My ex-Jaycee buddies, Tom and Doug were there too. At Sam’s, Tim Allen, our good friend and manager of the chain welcomed us to the Caledonia location. With many of our former Westinghouse associates there, it was like old times at Sam’s.
And oh, what ribs!! Tim certainly came through with some of the best. They were meaty and big. And the sauce still had that great flavor! Soooo good!
Great to see everyone! Thanks for coming out.
Bruce and Debi, join Arny, Tony, and Gene in discussing ole Westinghouse times at Sam's.
Tim and Bill discuss Notre Dame fortunes.
The gang gathers at Sam's Joint in Caledonia
Sam's Joint, the original in Caledonia.
The gang gathers at Logan's Roadhouse.
Bruce, Teri, and Joanne remembering Baker 2000 efforts.
Kim and Carol talking about old times at Baker.
Former Jaycee talk with Doug and Tom.
Another Phone Number
Two mobile phone numbers just isn’t good enough for Gene Bryson. Nope, I figured I needed another. I just couldn’t get my Hong Kong service to work too well here in the US, so why not? So now, my US mobile number =
616 780 1966.
I will have access on this phone for the next two weeks. My Hong Kong phone just didn’t work so well from here. I could send text messages, but outgoing calls were blocked with a message that “incoming calls were blocked by me”?? Don’t ask me. I tried switching all kinds of things and talked with my Hong Kong service provider, but couldn’t get past it.
So instead I got a card that works in my Hong Kong phone. It is a Cingular prepaid card, making any Cingular to Cingular calls free.
So again my number for now is =
616 780 1966. Use it to call me while I am here in the U.S.
A great sunrise as I arose my first morning in Michigan!
Back in the USA
I’m home!! Yes, I’m in the USA! It sure feels nice. Nothing quite like coming through the efficiency and respectful Customs and Immigration Area at O’Hare. It really makes you realize you are an American! And that is a good feeling!
Into Grand Rapids in the evening last night, and used the night to get some rest! I’m tired. Those 14 hour international flights just aren’t easy. And this one was no exception. I was beside a father with his new 13 month old adopted daughter. The mother had a seat across in center seat…….. So yea, I traded for most of the flight and crammed myself into a tight space to try to sleep.
It was better than staying by the baby. Let’s just say the little girl didn’t like the flight. The dad had to change clothes three times and even resorted to borrowing clothes from friends. It was a combination of the little girl not being so well, and the Chinese diapers not being too good. It was a good decision on my part to trade seats for the mother.
There were a total of 14 adopted girls on the return flight. The flights from Hong Kong to the US are regular adoption flights now.
And I couldn’t get an upgrade. They were even offering $400 for takers to delay their return a day. Not worth it. I’m glad I’m home!
On landing, I had another one of those unusual experiences of knowing someone in the airport. The Avis counter agent, Mark, has worked there for years, and has always done me well with a good car. I got a nice Trailblazer on this visit. Good to be behind a small SUV. I haven’t been behind the wheel in six months. Don’t tell Mark.
They already have Christmas music on the radio! Sure is different being home! But soooo nice!
Roy, the Bartender
One last stop in Hong Kong! Soon it will be on the way to the US, but I had to come on into Hong Kong last night to have time to make my flight on Thursday. So…. Time for a hamburger! I know, it doesn’t sound like much. But would you believe its probably been three weeks since I’ve had a burger. Now how many weeks do you go without one in America? Unless you’re dieting, I bet it’s not many.
So off I went last night to find a better burger. I even passed a small McDonalds that advertised its
Delivery Service! China loves delivery. You can get anything delivered. Even burgers from McDonalds!
But I wanted something better. I had enjoyed the Americana Union Bar & Grill on my last visit. It’s a pub-style place I had found in the IFC Mall. So off I went to try again.
Now what occurred next has me still contemplating. Here I am in a country around on the other side of the world, and only visiting Hong Kong because I have to go through here frequently to get my visa stamped. ………
But I knew the bartender! It was Roy! Can you believe it? Yea, you’re probably saying I’m spending too much time in bars if I know the bartenders. But this is only my second time in the place, and the first time I had seen him here.
I actually knew Roy from his former employer, the Outback in Causeway Bay. I do like the steaks there. Now it does seem a little scary when you know the bartenders in a city as big as Hong Kong. But its nothing better than to sit down in a restaurant so far away from home and know someone! I’ll be back to see him.
But it’s time to go catch a plane to America!! Yahoo!!
Homeward Bound
The days are getting close.
I can smell the BBQ and ribs!!
I leave for my return home in a couple of days. It’s been almost 6 months that I’ve been here. That’s a long time to be away. I will be glad to get back for a couple of weeks.
Much of my visit will be devoted to business. I’ve got stops in Chicago, Atlanta, and High Point. But there will be plenty of time devoted to family and friends. Current plans include:
| 12 November | Lunch 12 PM | Logans’s Roadhouse Alpine Avenue Grand Rapids |
| 12 November | Dinner 6 PM | Sam’s Joint Caledonia |
| 13 November | Lunch 1 PM | Olga’s Woodland Mall Kentwood, MI |
| 14 November | Decca Contract Showroom | Merchandise Mart Chicago |
| 14 November | Imperial Woodworking | Pallantine, IL |
| 14 November | To Atlanta | Hampton Inn Buckhead |
| 15 November | Decca Hospitality Offices | Atlanta |
| | To Waynesville, NC | |
| 16 November | To Charlotte | |
| | To Chapel Hill | |
| 17 & 18 November | Bolier Showroom | LaQuinta Hotel Winston-Salem |
| 19 November | NCSU Football | Raleigh |
| 20 – 22 November | Vacation | Winston-Salem Area |
| 23 –27 November | Thanksgiving | Waynesville, NC |
I do not have cell phone plans worked out yet. My Hong Kong mobile number should work. If I make other arrangements, I will post here on my website.
Hope to see all of you over the next two weeks!
Thai dancers at restaurant in Pattaya.
What a Place!
Thailand was certainly different! What a place! The beauty of a tropical island! The mystique of an ancient civilization! People very polite and beautiful! And a
wild side unlike I’d ever been around before!
I ended up working long hours much of my time in Thailand. We had a couple of major projects with deadlines for quick shipping, so the plant operated late into the day on Saturday and Sunday. I did get out a couple of late nights to see the area, but did not get the time in Bangkok that I would have preferred. I hear wonderful things about this unique and marvelous city. Did you know there are 8 million people in Bangkok? I had no idea it was that big!
I had my location down a little wrong too. We were in
Chon Buri, not Chumberry. It is one of the bigger cities of Thailand. But you realize immediately that this is more of a third world country than most of China. Bangkok looked to be much more modern, but Chon Buri was more casual and poorer. There was still a MacDonald’s near the hotel. But most locals seemed to dine at the many local street vendors selling you-name-it, or
guess would be more appropriate for what I was doing. I think it was a lot of sausage like stuff, and squid type fish food.
My hosts took me into Pattaya for one night. That is a rather famous beach for Asia. It was nightfall by the time we got to the beachfront, so I can’t say much about the beauty of it. What I saw so much of was miles and miles of beachfront streets that looked to be a sailor’s dream. This wasn’t the place to bring the family. Bar after bar lined the avenues. The famous “walking street” was, let’s just say, very unique.
We did find time to get a Thai massage in Pattaya. Thailand is famous for massage. There was a parlor every five store fronts. I had a cute little masseuse that could bore through your body with her weight. I’m sure glad she was little! But a great massage!
Leaving Bangkok, we had about an extra hour in the airport. International flights all require the extra time now, but I think it is just a ploy by the duty free shops. And boy did they have duty free shops. It was like a mini-mall. Great buys on all kinds of local treats. Massage oil was great. But mostly its all of those elephant and Buddha type things that you get home with, and think to yourself “Why did I buy this thing?” Mine are now in the closet.
One of many temples in Bangkok. I was only able to catch pictures from the van. I hope to get a tour or closeup view on next visit.
It was Halloween in Pattaya too. Be sure to take note of the bottom three signs too.
