Leaving Texas traveling to Alabama with some small stops along the way to visit friends and 'debrief' from our time at the Mercy Ships IOC (International Operations Center) in East Texas.
We will be spending the holidays with my family as we enjoy a few days of rest, reflection, and some last minute fund raising before traveling to the Africa Mercy in a little over 2 weeks!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Charitable Giving Choices? Consider Us!
Consider financially supporting us this year as we go to West Africa to work as volunteers with Mercy Ships, you can donate online (securely) tax deductible by clicking this link: Tyrone & Stephanie OR make your check payable to Mercy Ships but be sure to use the 'FOR' or 'MEMO' part of your check to insert our code: #MSQ1606 and mail to: mySHIPMATES - PO BOX 2020 - Garden Valley, TX 75771
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Bittersweet
Bittersweet refers to a combination of the standard tastes of sweetness and bitterness, and is often used as a metaphor for experiences which have elements of both happiness and sadness.
As we prepare to leave Texas that is the emotion I have today while boxing things and throwing away trash...Stephanie is at work, her last day in the Mother Francis ER.
We will miss many people here as we have made many friends. But speaking for myself I think I will miss the Hoag family and Sunday School class the most. (Grace CommunityNewlyweds or was it young married couples? Anyway, I qualify for both! )
Of course Stephanie will miss friends she has made at work and around Tyler and Mercy Ships, but with Mercy Ships you tend to bump into them again somewhere on this small planet.
It hasn't been without its struggles preparing for our next adventure but mostly small and insignificant. The most recent being a 'hiccup' in Mercy Ships HR with their need for additional information, which I am sure will straighten itself out...but keep praying for us as we travel to Alabama for the Holidays, then to meet the ship. Also for our financial support as well.
Sad to go, Happy to be continuing on with these great oppurtunities...yeah, Bittersweet.
As we prepare to leave Texas that is the emotion I have today while boxing things and throwing away trash...Stephanie is at work, her last day in the Mother Francis ER.
We will miss many people here as we have made many friends. But speaking for myself I think I will miss the Hoag family and Sunday School class the most. (Grace CommunityNewlyweds or was it young married couples? Anyway, I qualify for both! )
Of course Stephanie will miss friends she has made at work and around Tyler and Mercy Ships, but with Mercy Ships you tend to bump into them again somewhere on this small planet.
It hasn't been without its struggles preparing for our next adventure but mostly small and insignificant. The most recent being a 'hiccup' in Mercy Ships HR with their need for additional information, which I am sure will straighten itself out...but keep praying for us as we travel to Alabama for the Holidays, then to meet the ship. Also for our financial support as well.
Sad to go, Happy to be continuing on with these great oppurtunities...yeah, Bittersweet.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Range Rover Eulogy
Clifford was a great companion. He was feet above the rest. A site to behold from California to Alabama.
He would take long journeys in silence just to spend time with you. He could help you with bumpy trials in your life. Clifford brought my wife to me over mountains and dessert. He was her protector, confidant, pal, and companion.
He was greatly envied by Surfers, Hunters, wanna-be rappers (...ridin' on 33's) for his commanding presence and sheer elegance among the newer and more popular crowd...
But as 'they' say, 'nothing lasts forever' and Clifford has moved on from our lives, we shall greatly miss him and maybe even feel guilty for 'selling him out'...but he has a better home now, someone who will take care of him...someone who will make him feel useful during this long time we will be away with no promise of returning.
Clifford, we will miss you dear friend!
He would take long journeys in silence just to spend time with you. He could help you with bumpy trials in your life. Clifford brought my wife to me over mountains and dessert. He was her protector, confidant, pal, and companion.
He was greatly envied by Surfers, Hunters, wanna-be rappers (...ridin' on 33's) for his commanding presence and sheer elegance among the newer and more popular crowd...
But as 'they' say, 'nothing lasts forever' and Clifford has moved on from our lives, we shall greatly miss him and maybe even feel guilty for 'selling him out'...but he has a better home now, someone who will take care of him...someone who will make him feel useful during this long time we will be away with no promise of returning.
Clifford, we will miss you dear friend!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Feasting on Asphalt - quickbite
Korea House - Huntsville Alabama
I have been going to this little house's Korean lunch buffet for years...When my friend Will (half Korean) moved to Huntsville it became more of a weekly tradition when I was living there.
Awesome Korean food, if you have someone like Will with you he knows how to ask for 'specialty' things other people would never know to ask for! And you can order off the menu, I think...Because I have never really ordered off the menu but I have seen others eating shabu shabu (hot pot) style and also Be Bim Bop and other well known favorites.
The Restaurant is indeed a repainted old house and it is not fancy or modern, the buffet is a tight little 'L' format not far from the front door...but the food is excellent and prices are low. This restaurant used to be on my route when I first started working for Budweiser, the kitchen was always clean and always run by Korean women, no men.
Another good tip-off that this was at least good at minimum was every time I have been there the customers were 50-70% Korean.
If you are looking for a new, modern, fancy high cost restaurant to impress your friends or your self, THIS IS NOT IT. If you are looking for great Korean food and a weekly to bi-weekly lunch tradition...this is the place to meet and eat!
* TIP - they say that Tuesday is 'spicy and juicy ribs' on the buffet...can't verify that one because I last ate there on a Friday right after Thanksgiving (last month). But I have ate the ribs(riblets), and they are delicious, so they have been on the lunch buffet before.
Click for MAP, or further REVIEWS.
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| From FOA - Quick Bite |
I have been going to this little house's Korean lunch buffet for years...When my friend Will (half Korean) moved to Huntsville it became more of a weekly tradition when I was living there.
Awesome Korean food, if you have someone like Will with you he knows how to ask for 'specialty' things other people would never know to ask for! And you can order off the menu, I think...Because I have never really ordered off the menu but I have seen others eating shabu shabu (hot pot) style and also Be Bim Bop and other well known favorites.
The Restaurant is indeed a repainted old house and it is not fancy or modern, the buffet is a tight little 'L' format not far from the front door...but the food is excellent and prices are low. This restaurant used to be on my route when I first started working for Budweiser, the kitchen was always clean and always run by Korean women, no men.
Another good tip-off that this was at least good at minimum was every time I have been there the customers were 50-70% Korean.
If you are looking for a new, modern, fancy high cost restaurant to impress your friends or your self, THIS IS NOT IT. If you are looking for great Korean food and a weekly to bi-weekly lunch tradition...this is the place to meet and eat!
* TIP - they say that Tuesday is 'spicy and juicy ribs' on the buffet...can't verify that one because I last ate there on a Friday right after Thanksgiving (last month). But I have ate the ribs(riblets), and they are delicious, so they have been on the lunch buffet before.
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| From FOA - Quick Bite |
Click for MAP, or further REVIEWS.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Free Album - Christian Rap...it CAN be good!
(Tyrone posting) Believe it or not, I grew up with rap...but now that I don't care for the nasty, bling, selfish role of most of the music today I tend to look towards the Christian music scene for better music, but sometimes it falls so short in the Rap category, or the sound feels like it's still stuck in the past, BUT THIS ONE? I liked almost every song AND it's free!
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Sunday, December 2, 2007
Feasting on Asphalt - Thanksgiving Edition (wrap-up)
Although our road trip did not end till further down the line, I want to wrap it up in Little Rock Arkansas. I don't want to bore you by drawing this out to long...
Continuing on down Interstate 30 looking to meet up with 40 (in Little Rock) we took the President Bill Clinton exit to downtown where there are shops, markets, and restaurants galore...and for some reason everything is 'flying'. Like the flying hot dog, the flying buffalo wing, things of that nature...whats with the flying?
Well anyway...we ate at the (yes you guessed it) Flying Fish Restaurant!
Stephanie and I had a fabulous grilled grouper po'boy sandwich with fried calamari and pickled green tomatoes. NO, the pickled green tomatoes were not good, they start out being OK for a new taste, but it leans more towards being a watery sugared green tomato, than a pickle tasting pickled green tomato. The calamari was excellent, but some of you would be surprised that it was breaded with seasoned cornmeal not flour. The dipping sauce for the calamari was good & different, but if you don't like heinz 57 sauce then I would not suggest using it, thats what the 'base' flavor tasted like to me.
Very good food, no frills, order food, wait, pick it up, seat yourself...you get the picture. But the restaurant is fun and entertaining. Lots of things to read and see hanging up on the walls.
I took a few pictures but since my posts are more about experiences and letting YOU know about them I would suggest the following website for more pictures and detail: http://www.galenfrysinger.com/little_rock_flying_fish.htm
Although you may look at my album which has more pictures of the different places we were at during this time. Oh, almost forgot...make sure you check out the Billy Bass Adoption Center at the above link, fascinating...
Continuing on down Interstate 30 looking to meet up with 40 (in Little Rock) we took the President Bill Clinton exit to downtown where there are shops, markets, and restaurants galore...and for some reason everything is 'flying'. Like the flying hot dog, the flying buffalo wing, things of that nature...whats with the flying?
Well anyway...we ate at the (yes you guessed it) Flying Fish Restaurant!
Stephanie and I had a fabulous grilled grouper po'boy sandwich with fried calamari and pickled green tomatoes. NO, the pickled green tomatoes were not good, they start out being OK for a new taste, but it leans more towards being a watery sugared green tomato, than a pickle tasting pickled green tomato. The calamari was excellent, but some of you would be surprised that it was breaded with seasoned cornmeal not flour. The dipping sauce for the calamari was good & different, but if you don't like heinz 57 sauce then I would not suggest using it, thats what the 'base' flavor tasted like to me.
Very good food, no frills, order food, wait, pick it up, seat yourself...you get the picture. But the restaurant is fun and entertaining. Lots of things to read and see hanging up on the walls.
I took a few pictures but since my posts are more about experiences and letting YOU know about them I would suggest the following website for more pictures and detail: http://www.galenfrysinger.com/little_rock_flying_fish.htm
Although you may look at my album which has more pictures of the different places we were at during this time. Oh, almost forgot...make sure you check out the Billy Bass Adoption Center at the above link, fascinating...
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| From Feasting on A... |
Friday, November 30, 2007
Emeril Lagasse gets kicked down a notch...
Food Network to Cease Production of Emeril Lagasse's 'Emeril Live'
NEW YORK — Food Network is kicking Emeril Lagasse down a notch.
The celebrity chef's "Emeril Live," which has been on the air for 10 years, will cease production Dec. 11, Food Network publicist Carrie Welch told The Associated Press.
"However, Emeril is under contract with Food Network," Welch said Tuesday. "We love him, we support him and look forward to a long partnership with him."
Welch wouldn't comment on Lagasse's contract.
Asked why the show was canceled, she told the AP: "The only reason would be that it hit a ton of television milestones and, you know, all good things come to an end."
The Food Network will continue producing Lagasse's "The Essence of Emeril," and he will take part in "specials and other development opportunities in the future," Welch said.
The network will also air reruns of "Emeril Live."
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Thursday, November 29, 2007
Feasting on Asphalt - Thanksgiving Edition pt.3
Coffee here we come! After experiences at 2 other places in the Texarkana area we still needed to find some coffee to go with our previous purchases (see prior Feasting on Asphalt - Thanksgiving Editions)...although after having had the bread pudding heat up we greedily ate that right away! Only saving the Kentucky Butter Cake to enjoy with a much-needed coffee fix.
We found out from a local that the coffee shop we were looking for had closed down, and tried to point us to a well known national one, to which we expressed our dismay. She then pointed us to a local place that was pretty popular.
tip*~take a few minutes to research areas you are going thru, you would be surprised the local establishments that know a good web presence can 'grab' a few more customers even if they will never be a chain or franchise but don't miss asking the locals because this is not always the case, if in doubt ASK THE LOCALS~
tip**~one more things since the previous tip reminded me, ask people who work at pizza or food delivery jobs for directions and/or local popular places (once I pulled into a pizza delivery place, hopped out of the car, and asked one of guys taking a smoke break about local hot spots and motel directions, he was SPOT ON/CORRECT and simple for every turn or landmark whether he knew the road names or not~
The Doughnut Cafe & Coffee House is serving up beignets, coffee, and espresso drinks. It was inspired by New Orleans cafes. With a combination of South Louisiana doughnuts and a large variety of the finest roasted and brewed coffee available (ok so I stole a little from their description on the website)...they also take orders online then you can pick them up in the drive-thru. Ironically their French Market Coffee w/Chicory is the actual coffee that is sold by Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans (pronounced Nor'lens or Naw'lins) Louisiana. The (now) typical beignets are a square yeast doughnut highly dusted with powdered sugar (I would ask for a light dusting, or eat outside standing up with the wind blowing away from you coming from behind)... But I would suggest their Blueberry Cake Doughnut made fresh...or whatever they call it, maybe just blueberry doughnut, but it is of the cake texture/variety. Very good!
OH! Almost forgot, free wireless access as well as 2 computers for free customer use...see slide show below.
This is off of the Richmond exit in Texarkana, Insterstate 30. From their website, you can print directions and see the map.
We found out from a local that the coffee shop we were looking for had closed down, and tried to point us to a well known national one, to which we expressed our dismay. She then pointed us to a local place that was pretty popular.
tip*~take a few minutes to research areas you are going thru, you would be surprised the local establishments that know a good web presence can 'grab' a few more customers even if they will never be a chain or franchise but don't miss asking the locals because this is not always the case, if in doubt ASK THE LOCALS~
tip**~one more things since the previous tip reminded me, ask people who work at pizza or food delivery jobs for directions and/or local popular places (once I pulled into a pizza delivery place, hopped out of the car, and asked one of guys taking a smoke break about local hot spots and motel directions, he was SPOT ON/CORRECT and simple for every turn or landmark whether he knew the road names or not~
The Doughnut Cafe & Coffee House is serving up beignets, coffee, and espresso drinks. It was inspired by New Orleans cafes. With a combination of South Louisiana doughnuts and a large variety of the finest roasted and brewed coffee available (ok so I stole a little from their description on the website)...they also take orders online then you can pick them up in the drive-thru. Ironically their French Market Coffee w/Chicory is the actual coffee that is sold by Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans (pronounced Nor'lens or Naw'lins) Louisiana. The (now) typical beignets are a square yeast doughnut highly dusted with powdered sugar (I would ask for a light dusting, or eat outside standing up with the wind blowing away from you coming from behind)... But I would suggest their Blueberry Cake Doughnut made fresh...or whatever they call it, maybe just blueberry doughnut, but it is of the cake texture/variety. Very good!
OH! Almost forgot, free wireless access as well as 2 computers for free customer use...see slide show below.
This is off of the Richmond exit in Texarkana, Insterstate 30. From their website, you can print directions and see the map.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Feasting on Asphalt - Thanksgiving Edition pt.2
The cafe next door actually turned out to be Cobbler Shoppe Restaurant. And from the picture you see it boasts of Espresso and Cappuccino (and if you can't see that, click to go to the album picture which is much larger).
Directions for this place was in the previous Feasting on Asphalt - Thanksgiving Edition post, its right next to Spices Unlimited.
Ironically, or maybe just humorous we didn't get coffee or cobbler! Once inside we found several options that were more interesting (and we were not ready to eat a regular meal). On the erasable marker board they listed a bread pudding with vanilla sauce that caught both Stephanie's and my eye...so we ordered one to go. And why they were preparing that, heating it up...There was a delicious, moist, and 'good crumb' looking cake on the counter that was calling my name.
I asked one of the ladies what kind it was and she said it was a Kentucky Butter Cake. Oh yeah, give me a piece of that too!
Suspiciously I asked (or was it Stephanie, we often think alike in situations like this) wait a minute, do you make everything yourself or is this 'imported'? Oh no, we make it all ourselves!
In hind site I wish I had took pictures of the cake and bread pudding, DELICIOUS! The vanilla sauce for the bread pudding looked caramel-e but with a definite vanilla taste and appeared to be riddled with vanilla specks like when you scrape a vanilla bean clean after splitting it. The bread pudding itself looked something like this:
But was not as compressed looking as this, notice towards the bottom or the rest of the picture after the top that this bread pudding looks more like a solid? Our bread pudding had more of the 'top' consistency all thru it but still held together for a clean slice...and it was bigger and taller than this one. Ok, I tried to give you a picture.
For the Kentucky Butter Cake I found this recipe from the Allrecipes.com for what I am sure almost exactly covers the taste of what I experienced.
Our cake led you to believe it was made in a big bundt pan and soaked with a brandy or rum icing on the top, bottom, and sides. I know the reason I loved it so much was because it used some of my favorite ingredients; butter, vanilla, and buttermilk. But ours also had the addition of what we believed to be fine ground roasted almonds that you could actually see spotted throughout the cake...almost looked like poppy seeds or cracked peppercorns, but of course I am sure they were not. It looked relatively similar to this one:
Now on to finding the coffee to go with it!
 |
| From Feasting on A... |
Directions for this place was in the previous Feasting on Asphalt - Thanksgiving Edition post, its right next to Spices Unlimited.
Ironically, or maybe just humorous we didn't get coffee or cobbler! Once inside we found several options that were more interesting (and we were not ready to eat a regular meal). On the erasable marker board they listed a bread pudding with vanilla sauce that caught both Stephanie's and my eye...so we ordered one to go. And why they were preparing that, heating it up...There was a delicious, moist, and 'good crumb' looking cake on the counter that was calling my name.
I asked one of the ladies what kind it was and she said it was a Kentucky Butter Cake. Oh yeah, give me a piece of that too!
Suspiciously I asked (or was it Stephanie, we often think alike in situations like this) wait a minute, do you make everything yourself or is this 'imported'? Oh no, we make it all ourselves!
 |
| From Feasting on A... |
In hind site I wish I had took pictures of the cake and bread pudding, DELICIOUS! The vanilla sauce for the bread pudding looked caramel-e but with a definite vanilla taste and appeared to be riddled with vanilla specks like when you scrape a vanilla bean clean after splitting it. The bread pudding itself looked something like this:
But was not as compressed looking as this, notice towards the bottom or the rest of the picture after the top that this bread pudding looks more like a solid? Our bread pudding had more of the 'top' consistency all thru it but still held together for a clean slice...and it was bigger and taller than this one. Ok, I tried to give you a picture.
For the Kentucky Butter Cake I found this recipe from the Allrecipes.com for what I am sure almost exactly covers the taste of what I experienced.
Our cake led you to believe it was made in a big bundt pan and soaked with a brandy or rum icing on the top, bottom, and sides. I know the reason I loved it so much was because it used some of my favorite ingredients; butter, vanilla, and buttermilk. But ours also had the addition of what we believed to be fine ground roasted almonds that you could actually see spotted throughout the cake...almost looked like poppy seeds or cracked peppercorns, but of course I am sure they were not. It looked relatively similar to this one:
Now on to finding the coffee to go with it!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Feasting on Asphalt - Thanksgiving Edition pt.1
Stephanie had viral meningitis (read our other posts to catch up on this) and went back in for an appointment (she was released on the Friday previous from the ER as a patient) to reassess her condition and they request that she not come back to work till the following Monday. If she was not feeling better she would have to come back in for further testing...
That being the case I felt that Stephanie indeed needed more rest and a relaxing environment. Our room that we live in at the IOC at Mercy Ships was quite stuffy and I felt it was time for at least a temporary change. I already had a four day weekend coming because of the Thanksgiving holiday so I loaded Stephanie up in the car and took here for a 'countryside' ride. She had plenty of pillows, medication, and a special neck pillow for our journey.
After researching online for coffee shops I found an interesting place that was called Spices Unlimited that fell under the coffee category even though it was not a cafe or coffee shop. It sold coffee, all kinds of packaged as well as bulk spices...most I had seen before but there were a few surprises. They also had a section in the back called 'The Cellar" or at least thats what I think it was called, it had an extensive collection of equipement, materials, replacement parts, yeast, hops, barley, and other ingredients for the simplest to most sophisticated home-brewer of beer or wine. Very interesting...Although I personally do not care to venture into that region of recipes and what not.
Spices unlimited is located in Texarkana exit 223a off of Interstate 30. That exit deposits you on highway 71 or N. State Line Ave. After about a half mile you should see it on your left. It is in the middle of a couple of other businesses that are attached.
After talking extensively with the Lady who was running it, she also told us that they supplied the coffee, spices, and other supplies for the cafe next door. Actually while we were there the cook from next door came to get a refill of some 'meat seasoning'.
Join me next time as we visit the cafe next door.
That being the case I felt that Stephanie indeed needed more rest and a relaxing environment. Our room that we live in at the IOC at Mercy Ships was quite stuffy and I felt it was time for at least a temporary change. I already had a four day weekend coming because of the Thanksgiving holiday so I loaded Stephanie up in the car and took here for a 'countryside' ride. She had plenty of pillows, medication, and a special neck pillow for our journey.
After researching online for coffee shops I found an interesting place that was called Spices Unlimited that fell under the coffee category even though it was not a cafe or coffee shop. It sold coffee, all kinds of packaged as well as bulk spices...most I had seen before but there were a few surprises. They also had a section in the back called 'The Cellar" or at least thats what I think it was called, it had an extensive collection of equipement, materials, replacement parts, yeast, hops, barley, and other ingredients for the simplest to most sophisticated home-brewer of beer or wine. Very interesting...Although I personally do not care to venture into that region of recipes and what not.
 |
| From Feasting on A... |
Spices unlimited is located in Texarkana exit 223a off of Interstate 30. That exit deposits you on highway 71 or N. State Line Ave. After about a half mile you should see it on your left. It is in the middle of a couple of other businesses that are attached.
 |
| From Feasting on A... |
After talking extensively with the Lady who was running it, she also told us that they supplied the coffee, spices, and other supplies for the cafe next door. Actually while we were there the cook from next door came to get a refill of some 'meat seasoning'.
Join me next time as we visit the cafe next door.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
I am a lucky lady!!
I am not bragging (well maybe I am) but I am a lucky girl. I was 27 when I got married and I truely have found my match. He challenges me to be a better person every day. He prays for me regularly. One of my favorite things about him is that I still have my independace. I don't feel like I have to beg to go ut of town with my girlfriends. He has taught me how to be frugal and how to save for our future. I think while I was single the most important thing to me was to find someone that wanted to do Mercy Ships. Man, I hit the motherload on this one. His desire to serve in Africa is huge and for the right reasons. There are so many reason why he is the best in my opinion, not to mention what woman wouldn't love a chef for a husband. I love that when we travel together we don't eat at chain restaurants and that when I am sick I feel taken care of but not smothered.
He loves me and I know it. Of course we have our challenges ( which he wrote about last month) but so far we are working through them and trying to have much fun as possible in this stage of our lives.
He loves me and I know it. Of course we have our challenges ( which he wrote about last month) but so far we are working through them and trying to have much fun as possible in this stage of our lives.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
My head is not going to explode!!
Finally, after 3 long days of thinking it was possible to see my head actaully explode and roll off my neck, my headache is down to just minor pain. Tyrone has been so nice to me. He took me to the ER yesterday. I was so dreading going, because I knew they would do an LP and I was sure everyone I knew at the hospital would see me at my worst. They gave me some Versed (conscious sedation medicine) to knock me out. I was most anxious about what I was going to say while I was visiting the land of the Loopy. And I was afraid who was going to come in the room while they were doing the LP, so I gave the nurse a specific list of people who could come in the room, all others were strictly BANNED!!! As far as I know my wishes were granted. Now I am off work until Wednesday which brings me to 18 more shifts in the ER, then Hasta La Pasta, Sianara, WE ARE OUT OF HERE!!!
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