Meet the Parents: Quick Update

As usual I am falling behind in updates. Blogging is surprisingly difficult for me. Must be why I could never keep a journal either. So I'll just give a quick update and fill in the blanks later.

Thanksgiving with my relatives, how did that go? Well, let's just say it was good that they put away those carving knives. It's just a flesh wound!

We had the three family vacation in Kona, renting out a section of Kona Village. Food is only passable but the atmosphere is very laid back. Took a helicopter ride, ATVs to some waterfalls, and a special tour with up-close volcanic action -- lots of temptation to push family members out, off, or in. Was it a high pressure environment? Let's leave it at this: if wishes became reality, there would have been a lot of corpses scattered around Kona. Bring out your dead!

We took a hut at the far end of the resort so we could escape on foot to the Four Seasons when things got hectic. Run away!

After that we went back to Asia and decompressed. We went to the new Hong Kong Disneyland, which was small and fun. We had a beautiful Chinese VIP guide (the VIP guide is only way to see Disney resort properties). She was charming, tall and pretty. Jenny jokingly told me that she would claw my eyes out if I stared at her too much. At least I think she was joking.

Since there is nothing to do in Disneyland at night we went over to Tsimshatsui to our usual place, Aqua. The owners of Aqua now have a bunch of properties and a very interesting new service they are setting up where they will pick you up in a yacht, serve dinner, drop you off at one or more of their clubs, and then back to the boat to party until the sun rises (or you pass out.)

We went to Tokyo and had the most amazing Kobe beef steak (a special) at the New York Grill at the Park Hyatt. The new Mandarin Oriental had just opened in Tokyo, and it has some fantastic suites. Because it was a new opening, the bar was packed. Clearly aimed at the Park Hyatt.

Jenny and I just got to NYC yesterday just in time for a (partial) transit strike. We ate at Whole Foods and saw Spamalot on Broadway (explaining the italicized quotes above); I believe it was Tim Curry's penultimate performance. We went to see some jazz and then a lounge. Today we slept in, went to the Modern for lunch where we met my mother, did a quick tour of MOMA and a little shopping, and then went to an Indian feast at Sapphire (they do special menus fairly well.) At this very moment (around 5 AM) my mother is sleeping in the guest room, Jenny is asleep exhausted from the schedule and dealing with my mother, and I'm blogging. Later today we are going to the Whitney Museum and then to a friend's estate.

It's pretty exhausting being around two very strong, proud women who can speak their shared native language far better than I can. Lots of subtle and not-so-subtle interplay goes on. But they are keeping their claws retracted while I am around. This is clearly a bit constipating to these two women who are used to being, um, less restrained. So on Monday my mother and Jenny are going to go out for some food shopping/cooking bonding ritual to which I am not invited. Fiancee + future mother in law + unresolved issues + cutlery... I'm sure it's going to be exciting. And you wonder why I'm awake?

More later.