Lakeside frivolities

We moved to the Charlotte area not knowing where exactly our new home would be. Turns out it was by a popular lake formed by the damming of the Catawba river which flows north to south in the Carolinas.

Local electricity generation utility built a series of dams along the waterway for hydro and couple nuclear plants as well to supply the state grid. The lake our house butts into is Lake Wylie.

While tract home build has picked up in the Carolinas the developer often carves out parcels that they can get their hands on leaving behind privately owned lots that the individual owner may not want to sell.

Our house is part of a subdivision but backs into actual lake front yardage that has always been part of legacy family owned properties who chose to build a cabin or getaway and did not sell to a corporation wanting to build in the hundreds.

As such we can see the water through the year but it does not afford actual water access. That privilege is to our neighbors who still maintain their living quarters on the shores. One of those neighbors had after a decade of living on the lake decided to up stakes and move. Family and health were factors wanting to be closer to their kids in the city. So another lakefront neighbor, whom we consider friends decided to host a pot luck dinner to gather some of us in the hood and celebrate the friendship we had built in the course of past few years.

It was a wonderful affair, the temperamental weather of the Carolinas notwithstanding. Many families that own lakefront property are either septuagenarians themselves, being second or third generation in line to have inherited or are retired executives from their jobs who found the right mix of social life and solace to spend out their golden years.

Our friends leaving the area and the host family have known each other longer than we did them since we are relative newcomers. But it feels like we have known them for years. The evening began with the boiling of crustacean (shrimp) along with some sausage and the bounty of the earth (corn, potatoes and okra) with a spice bag for flavor.

Cooking begins

The Backyard Boil prep

Our backyard neighbor has the process down and the tools and wherewithal to go with it. It is a simple process but requires the right tools like a high octane burner to crank the heat on the tubers and corns and sausages.

About half hour of roiling boils later the basket gets pulled (water drains off) and its poured onto a sheet to enjoy.

the spread

Families along the lake came. They each brought a treat to enjoy from bacon wrapped dates to mozzarella sticks to a delectable chili (the American version which is a mash of meat, beans and spices). Desserts were banana pudding and cobbler. Also wonderful.

We hung out on the back deck watching the sunset, the rain coming in sheets and yet had the most amazing time yammering about our stories from days past and what we all looked forward to.

It was relaxing and enjoyable all around.

I got a chance to send my drone out and take pictures of the gang that gathered as well as the lake and its surrounds (it never ceases to amaze me how lucky we are to be living here) which look pretty at all times of day.

On the go(zay masta) in Japan again

Cool cat the Japanese are Tokyo at dusk My second visit to this land of the rising sun after almost a decade. Back then clearly I was wet behind the ears product manager and likely didn’t pay attention to all (efficient) things Japanese. But today I did and of course continue to be impressed. It is as much the obvious stuff like on time travel that is both clean and comfortable and all that which makes it possible. The impressive landmark and landscapes that these humans have put together despite their cramped (or because of it) surroundings and precarious geological conditions could amaze a novice architect among us. But it’s also the little things that someone had to think about which have a phenomenal impact on day to day lives that make the Japanese stand apart. Below are few random examples- 1. Providing a very fine machined wooden toothpick in every packet of wooden chopsticks. The said chapsticks are simply set on the To Go counter of any food vendor/ convenience store wher...

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Brown Motion

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