Typhoon Soulik - Update 3

Nothing yet.  

Soulik is on a confident path for Northern Taiwan.  He will come ashore sometime tomorrow evening as a Cat. III Super Typhoon.  Taichung will get hit with the closest thing to a direct hit without actually experiencing the eye.  Soulik is HUGE at 950km across with a 40 km eye (currently loosely formed and in a rebuilding phase).  As expected the storm has weakened over the last 12 hours but is expected to grow in strength again before landfall in Taiwan.  As it strengthens, it is slowing down considerably - hence the change from Friday morning landfall to Friday evening.   I'll save all the scientific mumbo jumbo for right now.  

On the brighter side I've been preparing.  And having fun doing it! 

Allow me to introduce you to Bess' Culinary Typhoon Preparation Kit.  From now on referred to as BCTPK which might be one of the worst acronyms ever to be penned (or in this case keyed.)

For ease I've included only the absolute necessities.  Please feel free to improvise and add whatever other culinary investments you'd like to make. 

#1: BAKED GOODS.  If you haven't already, check out this post about my favorite new bakery in Taichung.  I have a few oldies and a few newbies.  The French bread and garlic bread are now staples so of course I needed both for this weekend.  The weird crescent shaped thing just above the number 1 is Ruth's favorite - slightly smooshed.  It is a rolled bread with ham and turkey and bacon and cheese.  She is a big, big fan.  The chocolate ball there in the bottom right corner is new.  I haven't broken into it yet but I am thinking it is a chocolate bun with a filling covered in cocoa powder and slivered almonds.  I'll get back to you on that one. 
Usage:  Social emergency situations.  These often arise when too many people are stuck in the same small space while typhoon winds rage outside.  Deployment: 1) Identify the crabby, cooped up culprit 2) Kindly suggest they eat a sweet, delicious treat.  3) If step 2 fails, force feed the culprit some tasty treats until their mood improves. 

#2: SNACKS/JUNK FOOD.  You might recognize the Synders pretzel bites.  They are a nice reminder of home and have a delicious cheesy flavor to them.  The HaiTai crackeres are like the most buttery, salty delicious Club Crackers ever.  They make a ginormous mess but are totally worth it.  Pringles and peanuts are pretty much self-explanatory. 
Usage: For use in continual mushy food situations.  Identifiable when suspect's mouth tends to go slack from not having to chew and simply just mushing overcooked ramen between one's teeth for the last three days.  Deployment: 1) Produce crunchy, salt snacks.  2) No one has ever needed a step 2 before.  If you get this far you are doing something wrong. 

#3: WATER.  Um, duh?  Not pictured here:  Lemon Black Tea.  I forgot to add it to the photo but it is just as much of a staple as water is.  My students have figured this out.  Earlier this week I forgot my tea one day and they were very quick to suggest I try to order some for delivery.  It worked out well in the end.

#4:  DRANK.  Um, duh?  Naw, just kidding.  The presence of kid juice and adult juice is crucial to typhoon survival.  How else can you be expected to get through such a long time in the house with the same people?!  This particular kid juice is cranberry juice, though it is far too sweet for my taste.  The bottle is an Italian Moscato.  I've been saving it for something and a typhoon seemed like a good something. 
Usage: Extreme annoyance.  Deployment: 1) Identify the early stages of annoyance among inhabitants.  The indicating signs are: eye rolling, sighing, social and physical distancing, and verbal attacks.  2) If the annoyed inhabitant is not yourself, produce kid juice.  Force feed if necessary.  3)  If the annoyed inhabitant is yourself, pop Moscato.  Drink 1-2 glasses every 2 hours.  Repeat as necessary. 

#5: CANDY.  Here we have a few of my favorites.  Chocolate covered almonds.  Snickers bars.  Maple Pies.  I'm not sure why they are called pies but they are little puff pastries with a maple syrup flavor and caramelized sugar on top.  Delicious. 
Usage: See component #1.  Deployment:  See component #1

There you go.  Now you know how to be prepared for a Super Typhoon Bess style! 

I'll post in the morning as things start to change.