Second Annual NSC Pickleball Event – Another Successful Event.

by Tina Woo, Membership

Our 2nd Annual Nisei Ski Club Pickleball Social was held on Saturday, November 4 at the Sunnyvale Tennis Center.  Rain was originally forecast but we had a sunny, gorgeous, “blue bird” day.  16 players signed up for the event, which included 12 NSC members and 4 non-members.  Our group included experienced players and some completely new to the pickleball sport. The stadium courts were reserved from 9-11 am which kept our group together without interruption from other players and clubs. There was no “waiting time” and all players were on the courts for the full two-hours of instruction and play. Cindy and Steve, the Lifetime Activities “Pros” provided instruction, drills, strategies and critique of play. We had two groups of experienced players and two groups of beginners and advanced beginners.

There was one minor crash but no injuries in the advanced beginner group.  Everyone enjoyed the event and had a good time playing. Steve stated he enjoyed teaching our group and played with the beginner group. It looks like the instructors enjoyed themselves as well because they were contracted for one hour of instruction but spent two hours with us.

Participant comments included:

“It was a real pleasure to meet you all and reacquaint myself with the Nisei group. I had so much fun learning how to play pickleball for the 1st time. Instructor Cindy was very hands on with great tips and cheered us on when we had good technique which was very encouraging. Would definitely play again.”

“Cindy provided really good drills and suggestions.  She is enthusiastic, knowledgeable and shares her great positive energy.” Very knowledgeable and unafraid to step right in with drills and suggestions for improvement.”

“There were enough players at the same level to drill and play with.  It was nice getting a different perspective on strategy.  The drills were different than the ones I know and I learned some new tricks.  If only I could incorporate them into my game.”

“We really enjoyed today’s pickleball lesson and play.  Steve’s instructions were very straightforward and easy to follow.  Furthermore, he went over the game basics, player positioning and scoring.”

After the pickleball event, a group of seven continued with the lunch afterwards at Bonchon in Sunnyvale for Korean fried chicken, Bulgogi fries and tacos! 

An enjoyable fun event for all.  Hope you can join us at the next one.

Bowling for Dollars Anyone?

by Jeff Honda, Board member

Do you remember that 70’s TV game show Bowling for Dollars? The game show took place at a real bowling alley where local people could play the sport of bowling to win cash and sometimes prizes based on how well they bowled.

Well Nisei Ski Club members had their own bowling competition.

Strikes were cheered and gutter balls loathed as the Nisei Ski Club hurled bowling balls down the lane at Homestead Bowl, Cupertino on November 10th.

Nine club members (Alex Kami, Carol Takeda, Wendy Low, Curtis Otaguro, Roland Lee, David Tom, Bev Lee, Jeff Honda and Armand Gutierrez) and one guest (Karen Moreland) participated in the event.

Roland had the high score for the day, but Karen proved to be the most consistent with the highest pinfall over two games.

After the 10th frame, the group went to lunch at Dish n Dash to closed out an enjoyable and relaxing event.

Everyone had a great time. We hope to see you at the next bowling event.

Curtis’s concentration pays off.

This Show was filmed at Madison Bowling Lanes in New York.

Nisei Ski Club Recipe Corner – Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins – Credits Gimme Some Oven

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

These healthy carrot cake muffins are easy to make with oatmeal, lots of fresh carrots, and a handful of other simple and healthy ingredients. Feel free to top them with a lightened-up cream cheese drizzle too!

I made them without the cream cheese drizzle.

Bon Appetite – Julia Child and Karen Soo share the same birthday.

Ingredients

HEALTHY CARROT MUFFIN INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 3/4 cups old-fashioned oats*
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup unsweetened plain almond milk (or your preferred kind of milk)
  • 1 cup (5 ounces) shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil (or any mild-flavored oil)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup optional add-ins (chopped pecans or walnuts, raisins, shredded coconut, or chocolate chips*)
  • coarse turbinado sugar (optional)

CREAM CHEESE DRIZZLE INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/3 cup low-fat cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons almond milk (or your preferred kind of milk)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prep oven and muffin pan. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with baking liners, or lightly grease with cooking spray.  Set aside.
  2. Purée oats. Purée the oats in a blender or food processor until they reach a flour-like consistency. Add in the baking soda, cinnamon, sea salt, ginger, nutmeg, and pulse a few more times until the mixture is evenly combined. Set aside.
  3. Mix the ingredients. In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, shredded carrots, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla extract until evenly combined.  Fold the oatmeal mixture in with the wet ingredient mixture, along with any optional add-ins, and stir until the mixture is just combined.  (Try to avoid over-mixing.)
  4. Prep the baking cups. Portion the batter evenly into prepared baking cups.  Then sprinkle a generous pinch of turbinado sugar on top of each cup of muffin batter, if you would like.
  5. Bake. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffins comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and place the pan on a wire cooling rack until the muffins cool to room temperature.
  6. Make the cream cheese drizzle. While the muffins bake, whisk together the cream cheese drizzle ingredients in a small mixing bowl until smooth. If the drizzle seems too thin, add in a few extra tablespoons of powdered sugar. If it is too thick, add in a tiny extra splash of milk.
  7. Serve. Once the muffins have cooled to room temperature, use a fork or a piping bag to top each muffin with your desired amount of cream cheese drizzle. Serve immediately, or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate the muffins for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

NOTES

Oat flour: Alternately, you can sub in in 220 grams (7.75 ounces) oat flour.  And as always, be sure to use certified gluten-free ingredients if making this recipe gluten-free.

Optional add-ins: Feel free to add 2/3 of extra add-ins total to this recipe, such as chopped nuts (I’d recommend chopped pecans or walnuts), raisins (or dried cranberries or cherries), shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened), chocolate chips (semisweet or white) — or a combination of any of these.

Prep time: The prep time listed above does not include the amount of time needed to let these muffins cool, which can vary between about 30-60 minutes. That said, if you’re in a hurry, you can always eat the muffins right away without the cream cheese drizzle, or spread the cream cheese frosting on with a knife as a spread.

Christmas in New York – The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is Simply Magical..

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was illuminated by more than 50,000 multicolored lights on Wednesday, kicking off a Midtown Manhattan holiday tradition that dates back to the 1930s.

This year, the window displays at Saks Fifth Ave explored Christian Dior’s first visit to the United States and New York, in 1947, a trip that ignited his fascination with the city.

The collaboration was the first time that Saks had partnered with a luxury fashion house for its holiday display.

In the displays, with the theme of “Dior’s Carousel of Dreams at Saks,” miniature figurines of Mr. Dior, who died in 1957, were placed in various scenes of the windows along Fifth Avenue.

On behalf of the NSC board, I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year in 2024.

Enjoy the pics..

TURN UP THE VOLUME – Darn tourist talking behind me…

Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Light Show & Dior Windows 2023 – Dior Carousel of Dreams

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2024

Wishing you health, peace and happiness to you and your family.,, And the rest of the World.

See you in 2024 , Nisei Ski Club Officers and Board Members.

Movies To Get You Motivated for the 2024 Ski Season.

by Karen Soo, Trip Director

Here are some ski / snow related movies that were recommended by our Nisei Ski Club Members.

Both Dan and Judy will be on the Jackson Hole trip in 2024

Dan Lew recommends – K2: The Impossible Descent

On July 22, 2018, a Polish ski mountaineer clicked into his bindings at an altitude of 8,611m to make history. Follow Andrzej Bargiel’s expedition from Poland to Pakistan, as he descends K2 on skis.

https://www.redbull.com/int-en/films/k2-the-impossible-descent

Judy Bracken recommends –Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche

This gripping documentary revisits the 1982 massive, deadly avalanche at Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe and the frantic search-and-rescue operation that followed. This is streaming on NETFLIX

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt13033424/?ref_=ttvi_tt

NSC President’s Message, November, 2023

by Armand Gutierrez, President

November is coming in crisp and cool and Tahoe resorts are beginning to get some snowfall. Remember two years ago when Palisades Tahoe actually opened before Halloween with a rare early snowfall? Well, this year it’s back to the usual November opening dates. And this month the main attraction is also Thanksgiving. Yup, this is when we all gather around the feasting table and forget about diets, counting calories, and enjoy a bountiful meal with family. And on the subject of feasting, we certainly did that at the NSC 65th Anniversary Dinner on Saturday, 28 October. China Stix kept bringing out entrées and more entrées throughout the evening.

For those of you that dream about skiing in November, and before Thanksgiving, here are some important resort opening dates:

  • Northstar – 17 November
  • Heavenly – 17 November
  • Alpine/Palisades – 22 November
  • Jackson Hole – 24 November
  • Kirkwood – 1 December

The Latest from NSCF/OnTheSnow

The National Ski Council Federation (NSCF) issues a monthly newsletter on ski-related items within the ski industry, and OnTheSnow also offered a few items. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Lift prices are going skyward. Expect to see $300 (no, that’s not a typo) window prices, and here are some expected prices for the Tahoe area:
    • $259 – Heavenly
    • $269 – Northstar
    • $279 – Palisades
    • Do you feel the burn in your back pocket?
  • Resorts are transitioning to cashless systems.
    • Vail went cashless in late 2022
    • Use of reverse ATMs.
    • Kids use smart phones to pay for everything, now it’s time for us adults to get on that bandwagon.
  • Resort Upgrades (this is the good news)
    • Remember that 15-person cylinder that went to the top of Lone Peak at Big Sky? Well, rejoice, it’s been replaced by a 75-person capacity tram
    • Sun Valley has two new lifts.
    • Not an upgrade, but Palisades will be introducing a new parking reservation system. The majority of the parking inventory will be dedicated to free reservations, paid parking reservations are available for those of you that have the money, and want to arrive late in order to secure a parking spot.

Upcoming Events Get your calendars out and mark these dates down for planned events for the remainder of the year.

November 4  – NSC Pickleball Event – Tina Woo reports that she has people signed up for this latest craze happening across the states, and there’s room for more. See the flyer for details.

November 11 – NSC Bowling Event – Following Tina’s Pickleball Ball there’s Jeff Honda’s Bowling Event the week after. This should be a fun experience because it’s unknown who is good and who is not good at rolling a 13-16lb. ball down a wooden floor just to hit a bunch of wooden pins. Come and join us for an exciting morning and then lunch afterwards and hear the bragging on who had the best scores. See the flyer and an Evite for details.

2024 NSC Jackson Hole – 27 January to 3 February

The Jackson Hole trip is fully booked with 46 signups and a few extras going along on their own arrangements. Since there were only 21 signups for air we will be taking Alaska Airlines, and all remaining Alaska and United Air seats have been released. If you have an Ikon Pass then you will need to make reservations for the week we are there, and you can login in to your account at ikonpass.com and make reservations. And yes, that is a current picture at the summit of the Teton Lift.  The upper mountain has already received 36” of snow.

QotMIf you’re not criticized, you’re not doing enough.

The Nisei Ski Club Invites You to Join Us For Bowling and Lunch.

by Jeff Honda, Board Member

Nisei Ski Club 65th Anniversary Dinner October 28th 2023

by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

It was so much fun to see old and new Nisei Ski Club members!

Seven past Presidents were present who served as presidents during the years listed below.

        Jeanne Katsuro       1986 ~1987

        Curtis Otaguro       1988 ~ 1989

        David Tom             1993 ~ 1994

        Doug Higashi         1999 ~ 2000

        Judy Hom               2003 ~ 2004

        Armand Gutierrez   2005 ~ 2006

        Curtis Otaguro        2007 ~ 2008     

        Joel Hayashida        2008 ~ 2010     2 years

        Armand Gutierrez   2011 ~ 2023    12 years

Our current and past President Armand Gutierrez is the GLUE that has kept our club together all these years!  We need to give him a standing ovation!

We welcome 3 brand new Members   Philip Toy, Arlene Tom and Mark Tsukuda

We welcome back 6 returning Members – Dean Santo, Lydia Santo, Debra Fong., Dorise Yee~Ouye, Tony Moy and Celeste Rogers

Nisei Ski Club is growing and coming back STRONG!

A big thank you to Bill Lee for all the fantastic photography of all the attendees!

A big thank you to Randy Hirai for our new NSC 65th Anniversary graphic logo!

Nisei Ski Club continues to make changes to make our club a Strong SOCIAL CLUB as well as a Ski Club!

Check out Bill Lee ‘s Pictures:

Nisei Ski Club 65th Anniversary Dinner

Nisei Ski Club Recipe Corner – Butter Mochi – Credits – New York Times

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Tender and chewy, this big-batch dessert — as comforting as cake and as fun as bar cookies — is always a hit at parties. Mochiko, sweet rice flour, not only gives it its distinctive marshmallow-like softness, but it also lends a natural sweetness. This version of butter mochi uses only coconut milk for its richness and subtle nutty taste, but you can substitute equivalent amounts of whole milk, evaporated milk or a combination of those liquids. Butter mochi develops a crackly top that stays crunchy the day it’s baked, making it a delicious dessert to eat without adornment. But, if you’d like more crunch, you can sprinkle dried shredded coconut evenly over the top before baking, or, for a tangy, colorful top, you can coat it with the passion fruit glaze below.

Bon Appetite – Julia Child and Karen Soo share the same birthday.

Ingredients

Yield1 (9-by-13-inch) cake

FOR THE MOCHI

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for greasing the pan
  • 3 cups mochiko (sweet rice flour), like Blue Star brand
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 (13.5-ounce) cans unsweetened coconut milk (scant 3½ cups)
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

FOR THE PASSION FRUIT GLAZE (OPTIONAL)

  • 1½ packed cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons passion fruit pulp or purée (see Tip)
  • Pink or red food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the mochi: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 9-by-13-inch cake pan, then line the bottom and sides with parchment paper.
  • Whisk the mochiko, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Prepare the batter in a stand mixer or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer or whisk: Whisk the eggs and sugar until pale yellow and thick. Continue whisking while pouring in the coconut milk, then the butter and vanilla. Continue whisking while gradually adding the mochiko mixture. Whisk until the batter is completely smooth. Pour into the prepared pan, then tap it against the counter to get rid of any air bubbles.
  • Bake until golden brown and crackly, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1½ hours. When you press the center, it should bounce back but not indent at all. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Use the parchment paper to slide the cooled mochi out of the pan.
  • The mochi is delicious plain, but you can add a glaze if you’d like: Mix the confectioners’ sugar with 2 tablespoons passion fruit pulp until smooth. It should be thick but drippy. If needed, add another 1 to 2 tablespoons pulp. If you’d like to create an ombré or sunset effect, scrape some into another bowl or multiple bowls and tint with food coloring. Spread the glaze evenly over the mochi, in stripes if you’d like, and let stand until set.
  • Cut the mochi into squares or bars. Serve immediately, or keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

TIP

You can buy pure passion fruit purée from specialty markets and some grocery stores in the frozen fruit section. If you can’t find the fruit or purée, you can substitute passion fruit juice or nectar, but it will be much sweeter. To prepare passion fruit pulp from fresh fruit, halve 2 fruits and scrape the pulp into a small microwave-safe bowl or saucepan. Warm by microwaving for 15 seconds or heating on low until loose and runny. Press through a sieve to extract the pulp from the seeds

If you want to go the easy route – Just use this easy mix here.                                                            

Donate, Donate, Donate

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

One of the best ways you can help Maui and its affected residents is by simply donating what you can to trusted donation funds. While so many have already donated, the amount of funds that will be necessary to help rebuild what was lost, and assist those who are hurting, is truly staggering. We recommend giving to established funds and organizations, such as the Maui Strong Fund, the Maui Humane Society and Red Cross Hawaiʻi, which are all directly involved in the recovery of Maui.

Solve This…

Please email Karen at newsletter@niseiskiclub.org if you have the answer..

NSC President’s Message, October, 2023

by Armand Gutierrez, President

Ahhh, Once again the neighborhood is slowly making its annual transition to “the Dark Side”. Witness the incursion of creatures of the night and from beyond. Dare I walk at night not knowing what lurks behind every bush? The custom of visiting houses with ghoulish characters for purpose of being rewarded with confectionary treats escapes me, but I’ll take that risk just to be rewarded with my favorite candy, chocolate of course!

Upcoming Events

Get your calendars out and mark these dates down for planned events for the remainder of the year.

October 2865th NSC Anniversary Dinner – We had a great time at our 60th Anniversary Dinner so be sure to sign up for this Anniversary Dinner. There will be great food and the opportunity to see friends and members you probably haven’t seen in quite awhile. Take a look at the flyer and get your checkbook handy.

November 4  – NSC Pickleball Event – Tina Woo and Jeanne Katsuro are at it again with another Pickleball Event. At the rate these two are going with the ever-popular Pickleball they’ll be in the Summer Olympics. See the flyer for details.

November 11 – NSC Bowling Event – Jeff Honda, one of our new board members, has arranged for NSC to occupy a few lanes at the Homestead Bowl where we can show off our dexterity at rolling a ball to hit a bunch of lined-up ten pins. Now, I haven’t put on a pair of bowling shoes since the late 50’s and this will be a test to determine if I’m left or right handed. Come join the fun and laughs at this first-of-a-kind event. And yes, there will be lunch afterwards. See the flyer for details.

Website Transition

Morgan Hua, our behind-the-scenes Webmaster, discussed with the board that our web site hosting service is going up in price and that we should eventually move to another hosting service. Plus, our mailing capability is getting outdated and that service should also be moved to another host. So, in the next few months we’ll be looking at how to best transition from our current services to a newer service. As we progress to implementing a transition you will be notified of any changes.

2024 NSC Jackson Hole – 27 January to 3 February

The Jackson Hole trip is fully booked with 6 2-bedroom units and 4 3-bedroom units. However, there are additional 2- and 3- bedroom units available. New applications will be accepted but put on a Waitlist until a condo can be filled.  So if you’re interested in going then now is the time to let me know because by the middle of October there will be no more applications accepted.

QotMExperience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Sign Up Today – Nisei Ski Club 65th Anniversary Dinner

by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

Join us and celebrate – Nisei Ski Club’s 65th Anniversary.

Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023

Location:       China Stix Restaurant https://www.chinastix.net/

                     2110 El Camino Real

Santa Clara, CA 95050

Time – 5:00pm

Come out and get reacquainted with past presidents and your NSC members.

It’s going to be a fantastic evening!!

For more information, please send updated emails to

Jeanne Katsuro vicepresident@niseiskiclub.org

Here are some pics from our NSC 60th Anniversary DInner in 2018

Nisei Ski Club 2nd Annual Pickleball Event.

by Tina Woo, Membership

Join us for our 2nd annual Nisei Ski Club Pickleball Event. Our inaugural event (held in October 2022) was met with such enthusiasm and success we decided to organize a second club event. Grab a paddle and join us on Saturday, November 4 from 9-11 am.

Pickleball’s popularity has skyrocketed in the last two years.  What is pickleball?  Pickleball is a mash-up between tennis, ping pong and badminton and is played on a court smaller than a tennis court.  It offers a safe, socially distanced form of exercise, is low impact and is accessible for people of all ages.  Sign up and join us!!  Even if you don’t play, you’re welcome to join us for dim sum lunch afterwards.  All are welcome!

The Nisei Ski Club Invites You to Join Us For Bowling and Lunch.

by Jeff Honda, Board Member

The 9th Annual Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest – We are Asian. We are American. We are AMAZING!

by Tina Woo, Membership

It’s time again for the 9th Annual Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest. Once again, Nisei Ski Club is proud to be a sponsor of the event. The Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Filmfest is a project of the Contemporary Asian Theater Scene, known as CATS. This year’s festival is taking place at the AMC Sunnyvale Dine-In Theatres Friday, October 20 through Sunday, October 22. Online film screening is also available October 20-29. https://svapfilmfest.org/

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE https://www.tickettailor.com/events/contemporaryasiantheaterscene/1021288#

Films can be viewed in-person or online (October 20-29 for online viewing). Thanks to your generosity and support the SVAPFF is able to present the best in Asian American films to the Silicon Valley community. The SVAPFF is an all volunteer-run effort. 

INSTERESTED IN HELPING OUT?
The organization is looking for volunteers to help their in-person 2023 Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest. Location: AMC Dine-In Sunnyvale

Volunteer duties may include the following:  set-up, ticketing, ushering, crowd control, check in, questionnaire distribution, video and photography, and clean up.  Please choose the day and times that you are available to volunteer.  Information provided will only be used for coordination during the FilmFest. (Minimum age to volunteer is 14 years old).

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14Nt9OAmWfq-jjZkll5wTTgfjyzxWgXCf-omw5NRC0MY/viewform?edit_requested=true

Film Schedule as follows :
Friday Oct 20th 

Opening Night – includes bento dinner and gift
6:30 pm – 10:00 pm – Feature Film Love in Taipei and Feature Short, Gifts are my Love Language with Q&A afterwards

Saturday Oct 21st
10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Feature Film: Staring Jerry as Himself and Feature Short: Year of the Rat
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – Feature Film: A Great Divide. Q&A with Director, Jean Shim
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Featuring Bay Area Shorts with Q&A
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Feature Film: Chindia with Q&A 
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Feature Film: Shortcomings with Q&A

Sunday Oct 22nd
10:45 am – 1:00 pm – Feature Film: Hito Hata: Raise the Banner and Feature Short:1970s: The Fight For Little Tokyo.  Q&A with Duane Kubo
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Featuring Bay Area Short Documentaries with Q&A
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Special presentation of Documentary Short, Every Day After with Q&A

Nisei Ski Club Recipe Corner – Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Hey Fellow Bakers,

I’m always in search for recipes made with fresh blueberries.

Fresh blueberries are low in calories and incredibly healthy, potentially regulating blood sugar levels and aiding heart and brain health. Often marketed as a superfood, blueberries are an excellent source of several vitamins, beneficial plant compounds, and antioxidants.  I use a handful for my smoothies. pancakes and especially for blueberry muffins.

I’m really looking for an excuse to have dessert for breakfast. Honestly, Jordan Marsh’s blueberry muffins are light, cakey in a good way and so easy to make. I make them often for the weeklong ski trips. Want one? Come over to our condo at Jackson Hole.

Try them out and let me know how you like them. Enjoy!

Bon Appetite – Julia Child and Karen Soo share the same birthday.

Ingredients

Yield:12 muffins

  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 cups blueberries, washed, drained and picked over
  • 3 teaspoon sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Cream the butter and 1 1/4v cups sugar until light.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla.
  • Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder, and add to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk.
  • Crus1/2 cup blueberries with a fork, and mix into the batter. Fold in the remaining whole berries. ( I skipped the crushing)
  • Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with cupcake liners, and fill with batter. Sprinkle the 3 teaspoons sugar over the tops of the muffins, and bake at 375 degrees for about 30-35 minutes.
  • Remove muffins from tin and cool at least 30 minutes. Store, uncovered, or the muffins will be too moist the second day, if they last that long.

It’s a Small World After All…

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

It’s a Small World After All…

I guess you can figure out where Curtis and I spent our vacation in September, Walt Disney World. (WDW). We had sunshine, 80% humidity and the temperature was in the 90’s. Its was HOT but its was still a happy place for us.

Walt Disney World Resort (WDW) is a world – renowned entertainment complex located in Orlando, Florida. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, drawing millions of visitors each year.

Walt Disney World Resort is a significant economic driver for the state of Florida. It generates substantial revenue and has a significant impact for the local economy in various ways.

Thanks to our charge cards, we spent our share of “Benjamin’s” on park tickets, accommodations, dining, shopping, transportation and other tourism related expenses which benefited the local businesses and the state’s economy.

This is Curtis’s first trip to the Sunshine State. My 8th time to WDW.

I started planning our trip after the ski season. I subscribed to Ear Shots YouTube videos. Read all the blogs on Facebook and tried to understand what people do to plan for their trips.

We picked a week after Labor Day when all the kiddies were back at school and of course we went during the hurricane season. ( Less crowded) What are the odds of Hurricane Ian 2022 hitting land again? We got lucky, no hurricane in sight. We had the occasional thunder shower downpour.

We used my miles to fly down to Florida. We purchased advance park passes for 4 full days. DING $99.00 a day for the theme parks which includes. Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.  Just like a ski resort, walk up ticket prices were $150.00 a day. OUCH!

We spent 14 hours in the park. We did rent a car and drove to the parks – DING $25.00 a day for parking. We walked 26,000 to 28,000 steps a day, that’s 11 to 12 miles. Good sneakers are advised.

OUT is the traditional Fast Pass. IN is the Genie + – A reservation system for select rides. The plus side of Genie + is the lines were shorter and the wait was quick. I think Genie + was worth it. DING $15.00 – $20.00 a day per person, depending on the park.

Curtis was a champ in reserving the rides. Believe me, we did not miss a thing. We rode almost all the rides and seen all the shows and attractions.

We stayed at my friend’s time share, Club Wyndham at Bonnet Creek, which was on the Disney property but not a Disney affiliated accommodation. DING $80.00 a night / a bargain. 10–15-minute ride to the parks.

The disadvantage is we cannot go into the park 30 minutes earlier. We did go to the park early for rope drop (7:30am-8:00am)– this means we were there at the front of the line when the parked opened up. Once the rope drop we did our power walk to our first ride.

 The 4 parks offer various shows, parades, character meet and greet. At the end of the night, the fabulous fireworks show took place at 9:00pm – People were already waiting at their spots at 7:00pm.

Epcot has the new Guardian of the Galaxy roller coaster ride plus the international food festival.

Magic Kingdom has the Tron Light cycle ride- A ride on an individual motor cycle. See Video

Hollywood Studio has the Star Wars theme rides.

Animal Kingdom has the Pandora – The world of Avatar. Fly on the back of a mountain Banshee.

(Watch the Avatar Movie and you will understand what a Banshee is.)

We packed sandwiches for lunch and we carried a lot of snacks with us. We each had our own Camel bak so we were hydrated throughout the day. Plus, Florida tap water is nasty.

I had my smoke Turkey Leg on steroids. It was tender and not dried at all.

Epcot had their annual food festival around the park. Different kiosks had different types of food.
Again, Curtis researched and ate and drank his way around Epcot.

We invested in the Disney photo pass package. DING $169.00. Photographers were stationed all over the parks to take your pictures. Standing in line, we got our pictures in front of various place like Cinderella Castle and the Millennium Falcon. We didn’t do take too much pictures with the Disney characters – a long wait and we had no time for that. We did get one picture with Mickey Mouse. There were 275 photos of us from the package, in addition to our own pictures.

We had one day of rest after 2 days in the parks. We just laid by the pool and walked around Disney Springs and had dinner there.

Overall, It was a fun,, well planned trip. You definitely need to plan ahead. We were like 2 kids running around from ride to ride. Did we get dizzy on the rides? Not really, but some of the ride effects were amazing. If anyone wants to take a magical trip to Walt Disney World, send me an email and I’ll share my notes with you.

Here are some pics taken by the Disney photo pass Package.

Donate, Donate, Donate

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

One of the best ways you can help Maui and its affected residents is by simply donating what you can to trusted donation funds. While so many have already donated, the amount of funds that will be necessary to help rebuild what was lost, and assist those who are hurting, is truly staggering. We recommend giving to established funds and organizations, such as the Maui Strong Fund, the Maui Humane Society and Red Cross Hawaiʻi, which are all directly involved in the recovery of Maui.

San Jose Taiko 50 and Beyond

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

From San Jose Taiko

The 50th Anniversary concert, “50 and Beyond” will feature a medley of San Jose Taiko songs from the past and present – including classics and some new favorites – as well as give attendees a preview of the art/work that’s ahead in our limitless future.  As always, we will tell our story and the story of Japanese/Asian Americans in Silicon Valley through our music. It’s an event 50 years in the making and the culmination of our 50th Anniversary celebration!  Please join us at the California Theatre to help us celebrate this milestone.

TWO SHOWS!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 – 2 PM AND 7:30 PM

California Theatre
345 S. 1st St.
San Jose, CA 95113

For tickets https://taiko.org/50th

Between those two shows, we are having a 50th Anniversary Bash at the nearby Signia by Hilton Hotel (formerly the Fairmont). This fundraiser will include appetizers, cocktails, and more and will take place from 4:30-6:30pm. Tickets are available here

Warren Miller’s ALLTIME

by Karen Soo, Trip Director

Check out Warren Miller’s new movie ALLTIME

Find out where it is playing in your neighborhood. https://warrenmiller.com/events

NSC President’s Message, September, 2023

by Armand Gutierrez, President

Dang! I can’t believe we’re heading into September and the next thing will be the start of ski season. But then I should have known that ski season is around the corner because my inbox is full of emails from various ski resorts inviting me to come visit, and ski shops that want to convince me that I need new gear (skis, clothing, etc).

Upcoming Events

Get your calendars out and mark these dates down for planned events for the remainder of the year.

September 9Car Tour Rally

If you haven’t signed up for this yet you still have time. This tour is being hosted by Carolyn Wong and she has done this for her Porsche Club members. This will be a fun drive through Pescadero, Half Moon Bay, and lunch at Rosotti’s Alpine Inn near Portola Valley. This is the first time NSC has held a Car Tour event (to my knowledge) and if it’s well-received there could be a follow-on event for next year. Take a gander at the flyer for details. Although the flyer says the deadline is Tuesday, September 5, it has been extended to Friday, September 8.

October 2865th NSC Anniversary Dinner – We had a great time at our 60th Anniversary Dinner so be sure to sign up for this Anniversary Dinner. There will be great food and the opportunity to see friends and members you probably haven’t seen in quite awhile. Take a look at the flyer and get your checkbook handy.

November 4  – NSC Pickleball Event – Details in the October Newsletter.

November 11 – NSC Bowling Event – Details in the October Newsletter.

Helping Maui

The firestorm in Maui was pretty devastating in terms of property damage, loss of life, and will long be remembered. A number of our members have ties to Hawai’i and several members of the Hawai’i Ski Club are on the Jackson Hole trip. At our August Board meeting a vote was passed to make a financial donation to help the residents of Lāhainā. If you are interested in making a donation go to this website and scroll down to Number 2:

https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/maui-fires-what-you-can-do-to-help/12

2024 NSC Jackson Hole – 27 January to 3 February

The Jackson Hole trip is fully booked with 5 2-bedroom units and 3 3-bedroom units. However, there are additional 2- and 3- bedroom units available. New applications will be accepted but put on a Waitlist until a condo can be filled.  So if you’re interested in going then now is the time to step up to the plate and send in your application and check (full balance). And speaking of payments, a number of applicants forgot about the 2nd payment due in August and now full payments are due by September 15. If you’re a late-comer and want to be on this trip then go to the NSC website and download the Jackson Hole Flyer, fill it out, and send it in so you can be added to the Waitlist. If enough people sign up to fill a condo you’ll be notified to send in your payment..

QotMYour job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Donate, Donate, Donate

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

One of the best ways you can help Maui and its affected residents is by simply donating what you can to trusted donation funds. While so many have already donated, the amount of funds that will be necessary to help rebuild what was lost, and assist those who are hurting, is truly staggering. We recommend giving to established funds and organizations, such as the Maui Strong Fund, the Maui Humane Society and Red Cross Hawaiʻi, which are all directly involved in the recovery of Maui.