V:
[Referring to dogs]
Seriously, why do they sleep so much?
RJ:
Probably cuz they like their dreams. Which is why i sleep till 11.
V:
I don't. Which is why i get up.
Tips for Finding Happiness in Your Daily Life
10 years ago
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Cherry On Top
Sunday has morphed into reading day.
Between two newspapers and all the complimentary literature (volume varies), it can take me all day. Especially when i find a lot of articles of interest. I tirelessly indulge, my eyes growing dry and gritty from negligence to blink. My perfect vision has gone downhill to 20/50 in one eye (vision correction prescription strength 1.25).
I don't care. With every little thing that i learn i feel enriched.
I've come a long way from avoiding the news for fear of becoming depressed by the reality of the world.
I just
could
NOT
deal
with
sadness.
Some might label me a little "developmentally delayed".
Then there are those personal anecdotes by writers wonderful at story-telling. Compelling, intriguing, genuine pieces that often touch me to the verge of lacrimation. Or humor and satire that brings on an outburst of laughter.
Today, i was pretty worn out by mid-afternoon, eyes and neck and shoulders. I kept shifting in my chair so my back wouldn't hurt. And i thought, "Please don't let me die, not just yet. I want to finish all this."
And took myself by surprise.
Sunday has evolved into my favorite day of the week.
Between two newspapers and all the complimentary literature (volume varies), it can take me all day. Especially when i find a lot of articles of interest. I tirelessly indulge, my eyes growing dry and gritty from negligence to blink. My perfect vision has gone downhill to 20/50 in one eye (vision correction prescription strength 1.25).
I don't care. With every little thing that i learn i feel enriched.
I've come a long way from avoiding the news for fear of becoming depressed by the reality of the world.
I just
could
NOT
deal
with
sadness.
Some might label me a little "developmentally delayed".
Then there are those personal anecdotes by writers wonderful at story-telling. Compelling, intriguing, genuine pieces that often touch me to the verge of lacrimation. Or humor and satire that brings on an outburst of laughter.
Today, i was pretty worn out by mid-afternoon, eyes and neck and shoulders. I kept shifting in my chair so my back wouldn't hurt. And i thought, "Please don't let me die, not just yet. I want to finish all this."
And took myself by surprise.
Sunday has evolved into my favorite day of the week.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Dominican Phrase of the Day
Cada cocinero tiene su librito.
(Every cook has his/her own little book.)
Meaning a preferred, set way of doing things is subjective.
(Every cook has his/her own little book.)
Meaning a preferred, set way of doing things is subjective.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Quote 248
With all the olive juice and olives, it was a salad in a glass.
- Bob Morris, referring to his first dirty martini
- Bob Morris, referring to his first dirty martini
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
More Alimentary Adventures 14
Sea cucumber stew with mustard greens
Deep-fried duck beaks, another first. So crunchy you can bite off the tip. And a lot more meat than i was expecting.
Perfectly marinated, full of flavor.
Lobster dumplings with duck yolks
Wild mushroom risotto croquettes
Breakfast with Me Myself and I 2
I wanted ham and egg. The cafe was out of ham.
"Who fucking runs out of ham?!" I thought.
The guy suggested substituting with turkey. Turkey wasn't calling out to me.
"Can i have chicken?" I asked, expecting the deli slices.
They put grilled breast nuggets!
A little weird with eggs, i'll admit. But yummy anyhow!
On rosemary roll.
With vegetable medley soup. The green doesn't look very appetizing, does it. This is proof that children have reason to be averse. But i am happy to report it was rich and delicious. But then again i'm a vegetable freak.
"Who fucking runs out of ham?!" I thought.
The guy suggested substituting with turkey. Turkey wasn't calling out to me.
"Can i have chicken?" I asked, expecting the deli slices.
They put grilled breast nuggets!
A little weird with eggs, i'll admit. But yummy anyhow!
On rosemary roll.
With vegetable medley soup. The green doesn't look very appetizing, does it. This is proof that children have reason to be averse. But i am happy to report it was rich and delicious. But then again i'm a vegetable freak.
Braised Pork Belly 2
The finished product looked enticing alright!I can embrace and thoroughly enjoy fat now. I've come a long way.
Braised Pork Belly
RJ found this Asian recipe that called for sake, soy sauce, and balsamic, a concoction that wound up smelling a lot like this Chinese marinade I'm familiar with and very fond of, 滷水. I've never been ambitious enough to make the marinade from scratch and have always gone with store-bought bottles. Slow cooking this mutha infused the house with the tantalizing aroma for hours and quite frankly, was torturous.I was the proud sous chef that day, helping with chopping and prepping.
Quote 247
Perfection is reached not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
- Antoine de Saint Exupéry
- Antoine de Saint Exupéry
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Snippet 199
RJ:
You're the best Greek chorus.
V:
That's the weirdest, most unexpected, and most appreciated compliment I've ever gotten.
You're the best Greek chorus.
V:
That's the weirdest, most unexpected, and most appreciated compliment I've ever gotten.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Snippet 198
V:
[On Glenn Gould's penmanship, upon ending a particularly significant relationship]
Wow, that's beauty, and madness.
RJ:
That's a '68 Chevy Impala.
[On Glenn Gould's penmanship, upon ending a particularly significant relationship]
Wow, that's beauty, and madness.
RJ:
That's a '68 Chevy Impala.
And You May Quote Me 63
Anthony Bourdain tweeting on a Friday night makes me feel less of a loser who doesn't have a life who stays in on a Friday night and actually
prefers it.
prefers it.
Hannah 2
Jurnee Smollett in Eve's Bayou in 1997. Intriguing movie. I was impressed by her acting.
Smollett today. Hot dang! Little girls grow up. And amazingly so.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Quote 245
Progress' constant companion is nostalgia of what things used to be.
There's no going back, whether one wants to or not.
- "Pendora's Box", This American Life
There's no going back, whether one wants to or not.
- "Pendora's Box", This American Life
The Steamers
Translates into "clams and garlic". Upon learning, RJ said, "Eew..."
I like fishy pizzas. Anchovies? Sure. I applaud joints that have bay shrimps as a topping option. Unlike some pizza enthusiasts, i believe that as far as toppings are concerned, anything goes.
I would've preferred my clams in wine sauce over linguine. But this pie did just fine. Clam up anyday!
I like fishy pizzas. Anchovies? Sure. I applaud joints that have bay shrimps as a topping option. Unlike some pizza enthusiasts, i believe that as far as toppings are concerned, anything goes.
I would've preferred my clams in wine sauce over linguine. But this pie did just fine. Clam up anyday!
Ketchupy Sautéed Hotdogs
This brings back childhood memories. For a little while when I was probably in fifth grade, my Dad would take my brother and me to this downtown cafe before picking up my Mom from work in the evening, especially when she was prone to running late. The cafe made this dish that didn't belong to any particular legitimate cuisine that i knew of. And the ingredients couldn't be simpler: stringy onion and sliced-up hotdog, pan-fried and served with a ketchup-based sauce. But it was delicious. I recall those evenings fondly.
In my 20's I recreated this dish, deciding that the sauce consisted of ketchup, Worcestershire and Tabasco. It turned out to be one of the few things I made that my XH was actually pleased with.
Last Sunday morning, probably after a decade and a half, the craving crept in. The desire turned into unrest. I had to have it.
I added scrambled eggs this time.
The magical flavors were just as i remembered them.
In my 20's I recreated this dish, deciding that the sauce consisted of ketchup, Worcestershire and Tabasco. It turned out to be one of the few things I made that my XH was actually pleased with.
Last Sunday morning, probably after a decade and a half, the craving crept in. The desire turned into unrest. I had to have it.
I added scrambled eggs this time.
The magical flavors were just as i remembered them.
