Astoria and Back x 2

January 3, 2025

My kid is in Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and they just had their Winter Raptor camp in Astoria, OR. I took him there last week and just picked him up today!

First Trip: Taking the kid there...

The trip to Astoria is basically about 3.5 hours of driving. So we figured, hey, we'll make this into a short trip. We decided to get to Astoria the day before the camp started. We were able to find a family room at Astoria Crest Motel. (Don't let "motel" fool you. The hospitality was top level, the staff were super friendly and helpful, and the rooms were excellent! They even had an outside jacuzzi where I can see the ocean.)

For dinner, we tried Athena Mediterranean Kitchen. We got a little bit of everything, but I highly recommend their chicken and their hummus, especially if you like the not-so-smooth kind. I think it's run by a couple(?) and they were super friendly as well. We got it to-go this time but the restaurant looked really cozy and it was on a pier, so we are definitely going back for an in-store experience next time.

In the morning, we dropped by Broder Strand. We just saw the Yelp review and tried it but dang, really good breakfast stuff. We didn't know this but they serve Nordic food. I got their egg benedict with trout and my wife got their savory crepe and man... just delicious. We promised we're return again since there were a few others things we wanted to try.

Then we hit the cafe! Coffee Girl. I got their oat mile latte (I'm allergic to milk) and my wife got their cold brew. Loved it! Really strong coffee bean tasting/aroma but not bitter or sour. By this time, I was full so we didn't get any food but there were a couple of things we wanted to try so definitely a place to come back again.

Picking Up the Kid: Another 3.5 hours of driving later...

We were supposed to be at the camp at 11AM this morning but we got in the afternoon before because... well, so many food/coffee things we needed to try out. We hit Broder Strand again and I got the lamb burger and my wife got their lost egg dish. I love lamb so the burger was good but dang.. that lost egg thingy was good. I looked it up and I guess it's a traditional Nordic breakfast? I'm guessing it's named that was because with all the vegetables and sauce, the eggs are "hidden" underneath. But if you're ever in Asteria, I would highly recommend Broder Strand and go for their lost egg and their egg benedict with trout (if you like fish). I think they only do breakfast and lunch.

Then we hit Sleeper Coffee. We found them on Yelp and the store looked really cool so we went but I think they just recently moved? They were on a pier and the view was really great! I got oat milk latte and it was good but it was a bit on the sour side... So I definitely recommend it if you like the blue mountain type of coffee that's a bit bitter/sour.

After we picked up my kid from the camp (and by the way, he was awarded the wing honor cadet!!!), we went to Pho. When we picked him up, we asked what he wanted and he basically said, friend rice!!!!! And we probably should have checked the menu first. They didn't have fried rice lol But their pho was good and... we ordered a "Caramelized Crispy Quail". I don't ever remember eating a quail but we had to try it. It was BBQ'ed and surprisingly, really tasty. Small bones and all but the meat tender and tasty. I was expecting more of a chicken taste but it was way more juicy then a chicken and way more tasty.

We're Back after another 3.5 hour Drive

I had to pick up a Starbucks oat milk latte on the way back to make sure I don't fall a sleep driving but we made it home. The kid looked really tired but I think he enjoyed it. I'll probably write about my thoughts on CAP but for now, I'm glad he's in CAP.

Linkero: A Fun Way to Get Back into Blogging?

December 31, 2024

I just started using this app called Linkero and I figured, why not write about it as one of my first posts and give it my first impression? If you're a someone looking for a simple way to blog without all the fuss, you might like this app.

So, I've been wanting to start blogging again, and I've looked around but a lot of those blog sites were too much for me. I’m just a dude with limited time... Some sites were like trying to complete a giant puzzle with millions of pieces lol That's when I stumbled upon Linkero. It's not mainly for blogs, but after I asked the founder, he told me people use it for blogs too. So I gave it a shot.

Linkero is pretty good. It's not loaded with heavy-duty stuff. Here’s what I like about it:

• Easy Customization: It has just enough options to change things up a little, so it looks good without being overwhelming.

• Friendly Founder/Support: I got a quick reply from the founder, which is super rare and shows they care.

• Fun Ideas on the Way (hopefully): They plan on adding a changelog page, feature request page, and a community site! I'm pretty hyped about that so I can try to get the features I want in lol

What About the Downside?

Okay, so I think Linkero is still new. It's not as advanced as some big platforms. But for someone like me, that's actually a plus. Simple is better when you've got too many things going on with your life. It's still in the growing stages, but I think it’ll improve with time.

Other Apps I tried

Now, if you want more robust tools, I recommend trying Grigora or Ycode. These are the apps that I tried before landing on Linkero. They're awesome if you're into building really good intricate sites, but they did feel a bit too much for casual blogger like me.

My Thoughts...

Linkero is great if you want somewhere to blog without feeling like you're coding for NASA lol Plus, having the founder chat with you is neat. And for a shameless plug... If you're interested in Linkero, here's my link to try it out: https://linke.ro?via=spamlite. Everyone who signs up might help me get a little pocket money, so fingers crossed! lol

If you’re someone who's looking for a simple website, blog site, etc and you want something straightforward, give Linkero a try. It's not perfect (yet), but I think the founder has a growth mindset and I can see this tool getting better. Maybe you'll find it just right for your needs? :)

My First Blog in a While...

December 31, 2024

I haven't blogged in a long time... Like I was still in Japan when I used to blog and that was over ten years ago. And at that time, the audience was mainly my closest friends and family and that'll probably be the same this time around too. Let's see how long this one will last.

This blog will mainly be about my random thoughts and maybe a little bit about photography that I've recently started about four years ago when my kid started to dance for her high school dance team.

Hopefully, this platform will last!