What better way to bring on a new day than creamy strawberry yogurt and granola, freshly baked baguette with sweet butter and strawberry jam, as well as one's parents knocking down the apartment door and exclaiming "thank goodness you are alive!"
So I haven't talked to my mother in two-and-a-half days. So they drove two-and-a-half hours from Charlotte to Chapel Hill just to check if I'm alive and not dead in the ditch. You see, the problem is that I'm not married. Apparently, once I'm married, my husband would help check if I'm still breathing everyday. Only then would I be able to take the liberty of only calling every two or three days. Otherwise parents might presume me dead/raped/lost and other horrible things. Apparently, at the baby age of twenty-two, I'm completely incapable of taking care of myself. I apologize to the poor people whom she called repeatedly asking my whereabouts. Mom told me she was on the verge of reporting missing person to the police.
I'm not quite sure how to feel right now: guilt for worrying my mother who just had surgery last week? incredulous at having such crazy parents? hoping I can somehow escape the influence of genetics and not turn out so much like mom? thankful for having parents who love me and who will forever think of me as their little girl? perhaps I'm a little nuts myself, sitting here tediously making teeny rice shaped pellets and molding tree branches and chicken bones out of clay?
I'll ponder on this over some pineapple sorbet and a cup of tea. .
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Friday, May 27, 2005
A series of Blehs. But there's also good Food.
The series of unfortunate events continue. 1) We are stuck in the leaky house for one more month, until the end of June. 2) My academic advisor is otherwise a very nice lady. But she makes mistakes. A recently discovered mistake means I have to take 2-3 more hours of classes before I can graduate. I think I will take Child Psychology. 3) I still don't have a job. Short-term internship doesn't count.
On the other hand, I had success with making and serving a lazy man's sushi today, as well as an apple crumble. Dinner at Lantern with the big G last night was also wonderful. We enjoyed sake and tea cured salmon bento box with pickled radishes and wasabi mayonnaise, mushroom and cabbage dumplings, also fried catfish in Thai red curry sauce with cucumber salad and jasmine rice. We saved room for a dessert of hot chocolate cake with Thai coffee ice cream.
I take back my comment about Lantern serving not so good entrees - the catfish plat was delish. Dear G is an intense person, and likes to focus on the appreciation of one thing at a time. He also speaks softly. Therefore, there was not so much multi-task eating and talking. Eating and talking had to take turns. Still, lovely dinner.
I heard Saludos Compay play for the first time at Weaver Street yesterday, and they were very good. Also had a glimpse of the fabulously eclectic collection of people that make up the Carrboro/Chapel Hill neighborhood. Families and dreadlocked heads and birkenstocked feet. Sushi boxes, vegetarian dishes and organic local produces. Slender hula hoop girl in gypsy dress and a woman in black leotards, juggling wooden pins.
Tonight in our basement apartment, six girls attempted breast casting with eight packs of cheese cloth and a box of plaster. Laura made a remark on feeling like the object of an art project, while the rest of us were busy dribbling water and smothering plaster powder over her chest. Now that's an idea to hold on to for my next...art project.
And I'm making clay replicas of wooden twigs while listening a song by a French rapper with an Italian sounding name.
Hmm.
On the other hand, I had success with making and serving a lazy man's sushi today, as well as an apple crumble. Dinner at Lantern with the big G last night was also wonderful. We enjoyed sake and tea cured salmon bento box with pickled radishes and wasabi mayonnaise, mushroom and cabbage dumplings, also fried catfish in Thai red curry sauce with cucumber salad and jasmine rice. We saved room for a dessert of hot chocolate cake with Thai coffee ice cream.
I take back my comment about Lantern serving not so good entrees - the catfish plat was delish. Dear G is an intense person, and likes to focus on the appreciation of one thing at a time. He also speaks softly. Therefore, there was not so much multi-task eating and talking. Eating and talking had to take turns. Still, lovely dinner.
I heard Saludos Compay play for the first time at Weaver Street yesterday, and they were very good. Also had a glimpse of the fabulously eclectic collection of people that make up the Carrboro/Chapel Hill neighborhood. Families and dreadlocked heads and birkenstocked feet. Sushi boxes, vegetarian dishes and organic local produces. Slender hula hoop girl in gypsy dress and a woman in black leotards, juggling wooden pins.
Tonight in our basement apartment, six girls attempted breast casting with eight packs of cheese cloth and a box of plaster. Laura made a remark on feeling like the object of an art project, while the rest of us were busy dribbling water and smothering plaster powder over her chest. Now that's an idea to hold on to for my next...art project.
And I'm making clay replicas of wooden twigs while listening a song by a French rapper with an Italian sounding name.
Hmm.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Amazing...
how profoundly uplifting a simple phrase can move you when said by the right person at the right time. All he said was "Ai-Ling, you are better than that." Tis it. That made my day, yesterday.
The doctors finally found out what's wrong with my mother. She's having surgery next Thursday, and all should be well afterwards, I hope.
I don't want to be a bitter, sad girl anymore. Beautiful moments are striking in part because of their fleeting nature. I want to throw myself into this brief life and make the most out of it. I want to be the maker of beautiful, joy-bringing things. (And I will.)
I'm looking out the window of my bedroom; the green leaves of the trees outside are sprinkled with flecks of golden sunshine.
Toast with sweet butter and strawberry jam, dipped in rich hot cocoa. That made my morning.
Love.
The doctors finally found out what's wrong with my mother. She's having surgery next Thursday, and all should be well afterwards, I hope.
I don't want to be a bitter, sad girl anymore. Beautiful moments are striking in part because of their fleeting nature. I want to throw myself into this brief life and make the most out of it. I want to be the maker of beautiful, joy-bringing things. (And I will.)
I'm looking out the window of my bedroom; the green leaves of the trees outside are sprinkled with flecks of golden sunshine.
Toast with sweet butter and strawberry jam, dipped in rich hot cocoa. That made my morning.
Love.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
The Gotan Project
Current favorite: Queremos Paz from their La Revancha del Tango album. Check it out, it rules, in a sexy jazzy loungy latin fusion sort of way.
The joy of discovering wonderful new music. Lovely happiness.
The joy of discovering wonderful new music. Lovely happiness.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Grenadine, Orange Juice, Vodka and Chambord
Makes a Broken Heart according to iDrink's website. Alternatively, TheDrinkShop.com offers recipe for a Broken Heart Martini with sugar, cocoa powder, orange slice, Absolut Kurant and Godiva liqueur.
Chocolate was also once given by French doctors to their women patients as a prescription to cure broken hearts.
That was what I came up with when I ran a random Google search on "recipes for the broken hearted" (When I really should be writing one of my many overdue papers) .
Not that my heart is terribly broken. It just struck me how much we identify with one another in matters of sadness and heartbreak. Coping mechanisms for hard times differ widely from person to person, it'd be interesting to run a study on this, or just hear people's crazy stories. I once ate a one pound loaf of challah bread and half a jar of peanut butter in a few hours while agonizing over oncoming exams.
I think I'm going to start a running list of recipes and cures for ill-humored days. Soul-soothing for those heartbreaking, lonely, dejected, high-stress, dog-kicking, (do not take this literally; I heart animals), stomach-aching days where every traffic light you encounter flashes red.
To start, I found a recipe on the BBC-Food website for Chocolate Souffle Tarts with White Chocolate ice cream, served with vanilla sauce and chocolate cubes in dark chocolate cups. Total chocolate overload with major sugar-high points.
Then there's always Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Fudge Cake. Paired with an optional case of Coronas and a lime.
I find a cup of rich, fragrant hot chocolate soothing in down times. Aromatic earl grey with a tablespoon of pink grapefruit marmalade and honey is calming as well. Drink while listening to Air's "Alone in Kyoto" and Savath + Savalas' "Folksong for Cello."
Perhaps I shouldn't look solely at the multi-purpose cure of chocolate, and ignore the energizing orange. Chocolate and orange are a great couple. For a second there the thought of zingy orange zest and the lively scent of citrus perked me up a bit and I sniffed the air, hoping to smell the scent of grapefruit or navel oranges.
Orange is such a bright, happy, yummy color. So is yellow. I have a wonderfully color-cozy room: Bright yellow-orange walls tacked with spots of warm hued paint chips; orange and red paper lanterns floating above a brick red papasan chair and a bed covered in similarly colored comforter; a row of colorful scarves (colorful means belonging mainly to the red-magenta family) dangling above a bright red magnetic board on my dark brown bookshelf. The colors of the room are especially lovely when the morning sunlight streams though the window and the room glows a warm yellow-gold.
Ah, the power of beautiful, happy colors. And happy-inducing chocolate.
Read On, there's more...
Chocolate was also once given by French doctors to their women patients as a prescription to cure broken hearts.
That was what I came up with when I ran a random Google search on "recipes for the broken hearted" (When I really should be writing one of my many overdue papers) .
Not that my heart is terribly broken. It just struck me how much we identify with one another in matters of sadness and heartbreak. Coping mechanisms for hard times differ widely from person to person, it'd be interesting to run a study on this, or just hear people's crazy stories. I once ate a one pound loaf of challah bread and half a jar of peanut butter in a few hours while agonizing over oncoming exams.
I think I'm going to start a running list of recipes and cures for ill-humored days. Soul-soothing for those heartbreaking, lonely, dejected, high-stress, dog-kicking, (do not take this literally; I heart animals), stomach-aching days where every traffic light you encounter flashes red.
To start, I found a recipe on the BBC-Food website for Chocolate Souffle Tarts with White Chocolate ice cream, served with vanilla sauce and chocolate cubes in dark chocolate cups. Total chocolate overload with major sugar-high points.
Then there's always Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Fudge Cake. Paired with an optional case of Coronas and a lime.
I find a cup of rich, fragrant hot chocolate soothing in down times. Aromatic earl grey with a tablespoon of pink grapefruit marmalade and honey is calming as well. Drink while listening to Air's "Alone in Kyoto" and Savath + Savalas' "Folksong for Cello."
Perhaps I shouldn't look solely at the multi-purpose cure of chocolate, and ignore the energizing orange. Chocolate and orange are a great couple. For a second there the thought of zingy orange zest and the lively scent of citrus perked me up a bit and I sniffed the air, hoping to smell the scent of grapefruit or navel oranges.
Orange is such a bright, happy, yummy color. So is yellow. I have a wonderfully color-cozy room: Bright yellow-orange walls tacked with spots of warm hued paint chips; orange and red paper lanterns floating above a brick red papasan chair and a bed covered in similarly colored comforter; a row of colorful scarves (colorful means belonging mainly to the red-magenta family) dangling above a bright red magnetic board on my dark brown bookshelf. The colors of the room are especially lovely when the morning sunlight streams though the window and the room glows a warm yellow-gold.
Ah, the power of beautiful, happy colors. And happy-inducing chocolate.
Read On, there's more...
Thursday, April 28, 2005
best F*ing scallop dish ever
best F*ing scallop dish ever
Originally uploaded by Li^2.
*sigh*
Photographic evidence of that yummy meal at Le Repaire de Cartouche a while back. Succulent scallops, grilled to perfection.
ummmm... scallops.
:-)
If you are in Paris
check out the Hotel du Petit Moulin on the northern edge of the Marais. It's a recently opened hotel designed by couturier Christian Lacroix, in a building that used to house the oldest continuously operating bakery in Paris. So outrageously colorful and eclectic, or so I gathered from the many full-page photos from the recent issue of I.D. magazine. The issue also showed the new Pierre Herme patisserie on 185 rue de Vaugirard, designed with crisp lines and candy colors by Christian Biecher.
I heart I.D...
I heart I.D...
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Pim
That's the brand of those yummy little European cookies one would find at the grocery store from time to time. Also the name of the woman whose blog I adore. Check out her site here: Chez Pim
Had a plesant lunch today at the Carolina Club. My very kind boss, the art librarian, took the four graduating members of the library staff for a farewell meal. I'm apparently not the only one lost for direction for where to go after graduation, which is kind of good to know.
Three out of the five of us ordered the same dish of tea encrusted salmon with asparagus and cauliflower mash.
The salmon was tasty, though I don't know if the crushed tea leaves coating it did anything to improve the fish's flavor. We couldn't resist the temptation of the dessert cart, and shared a mixed berry cobbler, chocolate silk pie (which had a texture more like mousse than silk) and a slice of the signature key lime pie with a pistachio crust. None of the pies or cobbler was especially spectacular, but the whipped cream on the keylime pie was quite good.
I heart Three Cups coffee/tea shop. They have very friendly service. There's a sandwich place adjoining Three Cups that is scheduled to open next week. That's even more reason for me to frequent the place.
Speaking of friendly service, I treated myself to a leisurely solo lunch at Talullas on Tuesday and left my very nice waiter a thank you note for his service.
Then later on that day I chopped some of my hair off, again. So now I have short bangs, and not a lot of hair. I think I look a little boyish, although I have gotten many compliments on the haircut. I think I was a pretty good walking billboard today for Moshi Moshi, the salon I visited for the cut; I've gotten many inquiries about the place. I miss my hair. And messy pigtails and braids.
Must write paper. I must be addicted to peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches. *munch*
Read More...
Had a plesant lunch today at the Carolina Club. My very kind boss, the art librarian, took the four graduating members of the library staff for a farewell meal. I'm apparently not the only one lost for direction for where to go after graduation, which is kind of good to know.
Three out of the five of us ordered the same dish of tea encrusted salmon with asparagus and cauliflower mash.
The salmon was tasty, though I don't know if the crushed tea leaves coating it did anything to improve the fish's flavor. We couldn't resist the temptation of the dessert cart, and shared a mixed berry cobbler, chocolate silk pie (which had a texture more like mousse than silk) and a slice of the signature key lime pie with a pistachio crust. None of the pies or cobbler was especially spectacular, but the whipped cream on the keylime pie was quite good.
I heart Three Cups coffee/tea shop. They have very friendly service. There's a sandwich place adjoining Three Cups that is scheduled to open next week. That's even more reason for me to frequent the place.
Speaking of friendly service, I treated myself to a leisurely solo lunch at Talullas on Tuesday and left my very nice waiter a thank you note for his service.
Then later on that day I chopped some of my hair off, again. So now I have short bangs, and not a lot of hair. I think I look a little boyish, although I have gotten many compliments on the haircut. I think I was a pretty good walking billboard today for Moshi Moshi, the salon I visited for the cut; I've gotten many inquiries about the place. I miss my hair. And messy pigtails and braids.
Must write paper. I must be addicted to peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches. *munch*
Read More...
Saturday, April 23, 2005
The season of pollen and sneezes
It is lovely, waking up to bright sunshine, blooming flowers and a thick coat of yellow particles called pollen encasing one's car. Especially lovely if the person happens to have hay fever and would turn into a sneezing coughing crying runny-nosed mess if she breathes in too much pollen. Yay spring.
Spent eight of the last twenty-four hours sleeping, two of those hours eating and six hours driving. Went home to Charlotte late last night for a mediocre dinner, slept then drove back to Chapel Hill this morning.
Make no mistakes, there was nothing mediocre about the food served last night. It just lacked the interesting conversations, laughs and giggles, leisurely pace of eating and of course, desserts. So it was just an ingestion of well-prepared food, lacking the qualities of a truly good meal.
Menu:
My step-brother has somewhat "bling-ed" my car and rice-ified it a bit more than I'd like. He put a pair of super bright xenon headlights on it, making my little Honda one of those much hated cars that shoot out blinding beams at unfortunate cars in front of them. I drove with my bright new lights last night, and felt like every other car around wanted to race me. On the upside, it is an advantage to have a mechanic in the family. Free car-fixin. Wee.
Mom is still sick, and I think overdosing a little on pain killers to help with this mysterious pain. The doctors still don't quite know what's wrong with her; it's been two months. This is depressing matter that I try not to think about.
It's been a pretty intense couple months, of deaths and illness, academic stress and life worries. I think I'm just beginning to come through the fog of a more than mild depressive period. Hopefully my mood will brighten with the increasingly beautiful (though a bit too warm) weather.
I finally heard from unnamed person of far far away, whom I heart. Really hasn't been that long since I last heard from him, little less than a month ago. Feel guilty for sending him many babbling emails and tried, unsuccessfully, to cut said person out my life. Not anyone's fault, just coincidentally bad timing of stressful events.
If person is reading this, I sincerely apologize for ramblings and negative feelings.
Due to little contact, I'll just leave that part of my life alone too, for now, and try not to think about it much.
Not the ostrich approach of burying head in the sand. Just whatever it takes to cope with the hurdles one come across in life.
Hungry, once again. Looking forward to having tasty and comforting Indian food tonight.
[LCD Soundsystems - Tribulations]
Spent eight of the last twenty-four hours sleeping, two of those hours eating and six hours driving. Went home to Charlotte late last night for a mediocre dinner, slept then drove back to Chapel Hill this morning.
Make no mistakes, there was nothing mediocre about the food served last night. It just lacked the interesting conversations, laughs and giggles, leisurely pace of eating and of course, desserts. So it was just an ingestion of well-prepared food, lacking the qualities of a truly good meal.
Menu:
- Sea cucumbers with scallions and ginger in a dark soy/garlic sauce
- braised fatty pork and pickled bamboo shoots
- stir-fried broccoli with garlic
- stir-fried cabbage with garlic
- shredded pork with julienned bamboo shoots, pickled mustard greens,marinated firm tofu and green onions
- fu-gian style fish balls in clear broth
My step-brother has somewhat "bling-ed" my car and rice-ified it a bit more than I'd like. He put a pair of super bright xenon headlights on it, making my little Honda one of those much hated cars that shoot out blinding beams at unfortunate cars in front of them. I drove with my bright new lights last night, and felt like every other car around wanted to race me. On the upside, it is an advantage to have a mechanic in the family. Free car-fixin. Wee.
Mom is still sick, and I think overdosing a little on pain killers to help with this mysterious pain. The doctors still don't quite know what's wrong with her; it's been two months. This is depressing matter that I try not to think about.
It's been a pretty intense couple months, of deaths and illness, academic stress and life worries. I think I'm just beginning to come through the fog of a more than mild depressive period. Hopefully my mood will brighten with the increasingly beautiful (though a bit too warm) weather.
I finally heard from unnamed person of far far away, whom I heart. Really hasn't been that long since I last heard from him, little less than a month ago. Feel guilty for sending him many babbling emails and tried, unsuccessfully, to cut said person out my life. Not anyone's fault, just coincidentally bad timing of stressful events.
If person is reading this, I sincerely apologize for ramblings and negative feelings.
Due to little contact, I'll just leave that part of my life alone too, for now, and try not to think about it much.
Not the ostrich approach of burying head in the sand. Just whatever it takes to cope with the hurdles one come across in life.
Hungry, once again. Looking forward to having tasty and comforting Indian food tonight.
[LCD Soundsystems - Tribulations]
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Nigella Lawson's recipe for Chocolate Fudge cake includes this serving suggestion: "Serves 10. Or 1 with a broken heart."
How true. Girl with broken heart agrees.
Made chocolate mousse last night. It is surprisingly easy, and very delicious. Also found a recipe for chocolate and honey mousse which I'm eager to try.
Yummm... mousse.
How true. Girl with broken heart agrees.
Made chocolate mousse last night. It is surprisingly easy, and very delicious. Also found a recipe for chocolate and honey mousse which I'm eager to try.
Yummm... mousse.
Monday, April 11, 2005
On the satisfaction of setting things on fire
Burned a few things today - letters, postcards, photos, incense cones and cigarettes. Not books though, that would be sacriligious. It feels nice to have one's own cleansing bonfire. Almost wish I had more things to burn, as if the flames could wash away all my negative karma.
Makes me think of the improvised mudbrick ovens we used to make on the spot, on the bank across the stream from my grandparents'. We would stuff it full of sweet potatoes, freshly shucked corn and grill large salt and pepper prawns on the open flame near the top of the oven. Yum.
Off to burn more things. I'm not an arsonist, swear.
Makes me think of the improvised mudbrick ovens we used to make on the spot, on the bank across the stream from my grandparents'. We would stuff it full of sweet potatoes, freshly shucked corn and grill large salt and pepper prawns on the open flame near the top of the oven. Yum.
Off to burn more things. I'm not an arsonist, swear.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Hump day Wednesday.
Last night was great fun. I went to Aditi’s birthday celebration at
We went out to Fuse after fooding, about ten of us. Somehow the number grew by at least 50% an hour after we got to the bar. It really made me miss UNITAS, and the sort of gossip/drama/bonding which happens on the hall. Everyone seemed so nice, especially after a few drinks. Aditi in particular was very, um, friendly toward everyone. *wink wink.*
That’s what I’ve been missing, socializing. Living off-campus and seclusion-prone, I spend too much time in my bright yellow and warmly decorated “hole.”
I now have a picture of a naked man having what seems to be anal sex over my bed. It’s rather suggestive, and mostly concealed. You only get to see the guy’s bent back, and the hand of another man pressing him to the bed. Courtesy of Nan Goldin’s book, The Devil’s Playground. The other naked person picture in the room is a fat lady from a book titled Lucian Freud: Naked Portraits. I’d like a wall taped full of tastefully done naked people- from fleshy nudes to frail figures, the whole range.
A cup of Lady Grey tea with a spoonful of Langnese country cream honey and grapefruit marmalade. “Moroccan spice” smoking in the incense burner. Hopefully the combination of all of the above will facilitate writing the still overdue 5-pager.
Interesting, and frightening at the same time. This is from the menu of a feast hosted by Trimalchio, way way back in the day: “Porcus Troianu: The famous ‘Trojan Pig’: an entire steer gutted and stuffed with a lamb, which is stuffed with a pig, which is stuffed with a chicken. Sauce au jus.”
Banana pudding then homework.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Random thoughts.
I don't know if I would call these aspirations, but wouldn't it be terribly nice to have some sort of a "sugar daddy." I think that would put me in the position of something like a gold-digger. What's love worth anyway? It causes heartaches. Treating relationships like business deals, minimalizing the role of emotion is much more tangible, less hurtful and puts money in the bank.
An ex-girlfriend of my handicapped (paralyzed from the waist down) step-brother is now one of the hottest actresses in Taiwan. She also has a throng of wealthy corporate CEOs fighting to make her their mistress. She has her pick of diamonds and luxury apartments offered to her on a plate. In exchange, she'll give them company (hot sex) and the prestige of having a glamorous and much coveted woman on their arms.
Just thoughts. I'm a dreamer and a romantic in the guise of materialistic cynic.
So the Tar Heels won the NCAA championship. (Go Heels!) And then Alli W's car broke down on our way to Franklin street. Stuck in the middle of the road. At half past midnight, we walked half an hour to Franklin. Saw the craziness, had a drink, then came home. I have a 5 pager I haven't started. I'm broke and in debt and spent most of my money on food. And all the more on food because I have been binge eating as a result of mild depression/stress. Ah, but it's food. And good food. Brioche pate chocolate peanut butter cream honey and cheese. And garlic and asparagus. And more. Not bad not bad.
More depressing thoughts, here's a list of people I know who has died within the last year: grandfather, mom's god-father, mom's best friend's mother-in-law, aunt's father-in-law, mom's friend Margaret's 22yr old daughter. And the only bright streak that's blessed this apartment as of late, Miss Alli G got highest honors on her senior thesis. Woo-hoo!!!
What lovely, somewhat disastrous evening. (make that a somewhat disastrous life). In the words of Mara the librarian, I'm a mess. *sigh*
An ex-girlfriend of my handicapped (paralyzed from the waist down) step-brother is now one of the hottest actresses in Taiwan. She also has a throng of wealthy corporate CEOs fighting to make her their mistress. She has her pick of diamonds and luxury apartments offered to her on a plate. In exchange, she'll give them company (hot sex) and the prestige of having a glamorous and much coveted woman on their arms.
Just thoughts. I'm a dreamer and a romantic in the guise of materialistic cynic.
So the Tar Heels won the NCAA championship. (Go Heels!) And then Alli W's car broke down on our way to Franklin street. Stuck in the middle of the road. At half past midnight, we walked half an hour to Franklin. Saw the craziness, had a drink, then came home. I have a 5 pager I haven't started. I'm broke and in debt and spent most of my money on food. And all the more on food because I have been binge eating as a result of mild depression/stress. Ah, but it's food. And good food. Brioche pate chocolate peanut butter cream honey and cheese. And garlic and asparagus. And more. Not bad not bad.
More depressing thoughts, here's a list of people I know who has died within the last year: grandfather, mom's god-father, mom's best friend's mother-in-law, aunt's father-in-law, mom's friend Margaret's 22yr old daughter. And the only bright streak that's blessed this apartment as of late, Miss Alli G got highest honors on her senior thesis. Woo-hoo!!!
What lovely, somewhat disastrous evening. (make that a somewhat disastrous life). In the words of Mara the librarian, I'm a mess. *sigh*
Monday, March 28, 2005
Gnocchi parisienne with rosemary, basil oregano and garlic
Yummy recipe, but only moderately successful, since I wasted about 1/3 of the batter... not to mention constraints of not having neither a proper saucepan nor a pot. What came through in the bath was pretty good, if not a bit cold from sitting on the side of the stove for so long. Would make it again for sure, and I think I'll have a much better handle on making nicely formed gnocchis next time. Might get a pastry bag to make things easier. Hopefully the food will receive a higher mark than "squishy thing, tastes good."
I think I gained back what little weight I lost in France. Binge eating tendences seem to resurface whenever I come back to the states, or maybe a little stressed from having things to do after coming back from vacations.
A bit tired. Got less than three hours of sleep last night. Ideally, sleep would be an optional luxury; would leave much time for getting things done if I sleep a little less.
Thanks to everyone who asked about my mother. She's still about the same, and in pain. My step father really is quite good to her, and me as well. Really shouldn't take him for granted.
I think I gained back what little weight I lost in France. Binge eating tendences seem to resurface whenever I come back to the states, or maybe a little stressed from having things to do after coming back from vacations.
A bit tired. Got less than three hours of sleep last night. Ideally, sleep would be an optional luxury; would leave much time for getting things done if I sleep a little less.
Thanks to everyone who asked about my mother. She's still about the same, and in pain. My step father really is quite good to her, and me as well. Really shouldn't take him for granted.
Friday, March 25, 2005
I lied. (personal baggage, read at own risk)
And I ran out of chocolate.
Never got around to Renaissance reading, and room is only half way clean. Perhaps I become too distracted in my efforts to multi-task: clean a little here, sew a little there, interspersed with text and quite a bit of crying.
Live life, let love and appreciate all the special people and things in one's life lest they disappear the next moment. It is a waste to dwell on one's personal sadness when the energy can be used to make someone else happy. All phrases which belong in the "easier said than done" category. Mom says them to me all the time now, while sighing over lost love ones.
She still needs an MRI, but disputes between worker's comp/insurance is preventing her from doing so. Our family doctor says she might need surgery. It's painful to listen to her describe her pain to me on the phone. I think she's worried about me as well, being able to take care of myself right out of college in case she will be unable to support me if she lost her job. She hasn't been able to work for a month. Our family has a history of arthritis and cancer, I hope she doesn't have the latter as well. She's trapped in bed, sitting up and moving about is so painful it makes her cry. Otherwise she's sedated with pain medication. She feels useless, and I'm useless to help her. Stupid medical bureaucracy.
I feel lost and infinitely inept. Also afraid to go home, afraid of becoming a sobbing useless mess when I get there and to look again at the reality of her illness. I feel somewhat trapped as well, immobilized by the tugging of many things- my desire to do well in school and my artwork, what I can do for mother, need to find a job and direction after college and so on.
In writing down the thoughts floating through my head, I think I've lost my point, and am getting rather hungry.
Why am I posting such intimate issues in a public space? Trying to avoid throwing my excess emotional baggage in any one person's way?
I'm buying another bottle of wine.
Never got around to Renaissance reading, and room is only half way clean. Perhaps I become too distracted in my efforts to multi-task: clean a little here, sew a little there, interspersed with text and quite a bit of crying.
Live life, let love and appreciate all the special people and things in one's life lest they disappear the next moment. It is a waste to dwell on one's personal sadness when the energy can be used to make someone else happy. All phrases which belong in the "easier said than done" category. Mom says them to me all the time now, while sighing over lost love ones.
She still needs an MRI, but disputes between worker's comp/insurance is preventing her from doing so. Our family doctor says she might need surgery. It's painful to listen to her describe her pain to me on the phone. I think she's worried about me as well, being able to take care of myself right out of college in case she will be unable to support me if she lost her job. She hasn't been able to work for a month. Our family has a history of arthritis and cancer, I hope she doesn't have the latter as well. She's trapped in bed, sitting up and moving about is so painful it makes her cry. Otherwise she's sedated with pain medication. She feels useless, and I'm useless to help her. Stupid medical bureaucracy.
I feel lost and infinitely inept. Also afraid to go home, afraid of becoming a sobbing useless mess when I get there and to look again at the reality of her illness. I feel somewhat trapped as well, immobilized by the tugging of many things- my desire to do well in school and my artwork, what I can do for mother, need to find a job and direction after college and so on.
In writing down the thoughts floating through my head, I think I've lost my point, and am getting rather hungry.
Why am I posting such intimate issues in a public space? Trying to avoid throwing my excess emotional baggage in any one person's way?
I'm buying another bottle of wine.
Easter Weekend
Feeling rather vulnerable. Still reading In the Devil's Garden and working toward reading about Renaissance architecture.
Mom's still sick, and resting in bed, while going through physical therapy three times a week. Going home this weekend to see how she's doing, and to make her food. Dealing with my mother is particularly difficult, as she seems to choke me with an invisible web of emotional obligations everytime I speak to her. Not to blame her though, in light of recent events: her father passed away this past summer, and just the beginning of this week, her god-father also left this world. I have never met my grandfather on my biological father's side, so mom's god-father was like a second grandfather to me. When mom and I were in Taipei, we would have big family dinners with their family all the time. In my last memory of him -I think he was around 70- he was still strong, wielding his dark wooden cane to discipline obnoxious grandkids. He had a good hand, and wrote beautiful calligraphy. He took a cup of jasmine tea and a piece of sweet Chinese sha chi ma cake for breakfast, and a stroll around the nearby park every morning. I went along on some of those morning walks, usually as the silent grandchild intimidated by the man who once ordered me off the dinner table for holding my chopsticks incorrectly.
Upsetting. Want to talk to somebody about personal frustrations, without burdening them with my problems. Someone not overly optimistic, not overly sympathetic; someone who is an ernest listener but realistic enough to tell me that such is the course of life. (Sincerest thanks to the wonderful person I talked to the other day, for your open ears and genuine support, and for everyone who cares.)
This state of mild sadness is nothing a hot bath, clean room and good chocolate can't fix.
Mom's still sick, and resting in bed, while going through physical therapy three times a week. Going home this weekend to see how she's doing, and to make her food. Dealing with my mother is particularly difficult, as she seems to choke me with an invisible web of emotional obligations everytime I speak to her. Not to blame her though, in light of recent events: her father passed away this past summer, and just the beginning of this week, her god-father also left this world. I have never met my grandfather on my biological father's side, so mom's god-father was like a second grandfather to me. When mom and I were in Taipei, we would have big family dinners with their family all the time. In my last memory of him -I think he was around 70- he was still strong, wielding his dark wooden cane to discipline obnoxious grandkids. He had a good hand, and wrote beautiful calligraphy. He took a cup of jasmine tea and a piece of sweet Chinese sha chi ma cake for breakfast, and a stroll around the nearby park every morning. I went along on some of those morning walks, usually as the silent grandchild intimidated by the man who once ordered me off the dinner table for holding my chopsticks incorrectly.
Upsetting. Want to talk to somebody about personal frustrations, without burdening them with my problems. Someone not overly optimistic, not overly sympathetic; someone who is an ernest listener but realistic enough to tell me that such is the course of life. (Sincerest thanks to the wonderful person I talked to the other day, for your open ears and genuine support, and for everyone who cares.)
This state of mild sadness is nothing a hot bath, clean room and good chocolate can't fix.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
In the Devil's Garden
Found a recipe for Banana ketchup in Stewart Lee Allen's In the Devil's Garden:
1 dried ancho chile
6 very ripe bananas, peeled and cut into chunks
1 1/3 cups cider vinegar, divided
1/2 cup raisins, preferably golden
1/3 cup coarsely chopped onions
2 garlic cloves
2/3 cup tomato paste
2 cups water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili pepper
2 teaspoons ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated nugmeg
Big pinch ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Big pinch of black pepper
6 tablespoons dark rum
1)Soak ancho chile in warm water for 15 minutes. Remove the stem and seeds.
2)Puree the bananas with 1/2 cup vinegar and put into a heavy saucepan. Puree raisins, onions, garlic, ancho chile, tomato paste, and remaining vinegar in the same processor and add to saucepan.
3)Add 2 cups water to the saucepan. Stir and bring mixture to simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low and simmer uncovered for an hour. If mixture becomes too thick, add water to dilute.
4)Add the corn syrup and sugar and all the spices, including salt and pepper, and simmer for another 30-40 minutes, or until it leaves a thick coating on the back of a spoon. Stir in the rum.
5)Remove from heat and allow to cool. Puree again and strain through a fine sieve to remove solids. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Sounds interesting.
Stumbled across an almost lewd episode of food porn from "chez pim" yesterday, detailing her 10+ course meal at French Laundry, complete with a picture for almost every course.
Now reading about food+sex+chocolate in Allen's book, and contemplating culinary orgies.
Back to work.
1 dried ancho chile
6 very ripe bananas, peeled and cut into chunks
1 1/3 cups cider vinegar, divided
1/2 cup raisins, preferably golden
1/3 cup coarsely chopped onions
2 garlic cloves
2/3 cup tomato paste
2 cups water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili pepper
2 teaspoons ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated nugmeg
Big pinch ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Big pinch of black pepper
6 tablespoons dark rum
1)Soak ancho chile in warm water for 15 minutes. Remove the stem and seeds.
2)Puree the bananas with 1/2 cup vinegar and put into a heavy saucepan. Puree raisins, onions, garlic, ancho chile, tomato paste, and remaining vinegar in the same processor and add to saucepan.
3)Add 2 cups water to the saucepan. Stir and bring mixture to simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low and simmer uncovered for an hour. If mixture becomes too thick, add water to dilute.
4)Add the corn syrup and sugar and all the spices, including salt and pepper, and simmer for another 30-40 minutes, or until it leaves a thick coating on the back of a spoon. Stir in the rum.
5)Remove from heat and allow to cool. Puree again and strain through a fine sieve to remove solids. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Sounds interesting.
Stumbled across an almost lewd episode of food porn from "chez pim" yesterday, detailing her 10+ course meal at French Laundry, complete with a picture for almost every course.
Now reading about food+sex+chocolate in Allen's book, and contemplating culinary orgies.
Back to work.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Day trip to Lyon
The following are some pictures of our day trip to Lyon while in France for spring break. It is all about the food. Thanks to Lili for the professional enthusiasm with which she documented the sights.
More fruits
More fruits
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Chocolate glazed custard filled donut
From Krispy Kreme, from the box of leftover donuts in the Art Library. Note to self not to eat standing up: I demolished that donut in mere seconds, and all that sugar is making me feel a little funny.
Papasan chairs are deceptively comfortable looking things, and they are pretty comfortable, if one positions herself correctly. I sit down, sink back, relax. But instead of stretching out, the circular shape of the chair induces curling into a fetal position for me.
I slept in a Papasan chair last night, since Yulianna couldn't wake me to make me move to the bed.
Sleepy. *yawn*
Papasan chairs are deceptively comfortable looking things, and they are pretty comfortable, if one positions herself correctly. I sit down, sink back, relax. But instead of stretching out, the circular shape of the chair induces curling into a fetal position for me.
I slept in a Papasan chair last night, since Yulianna couldn't wake me to make me move to the bed.
Sleepy. *yawn*
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Peru Negro
Saw Peru Negro tonight. Very good performance, full of energy, which reminds me of Bhangra stuff. It's an Afro-Peruvian singing/dancing troupe with influences from all over the place. Check them out here: http://www.perunegro.org.
Boxed carrot cake mix + canned crushed pineapples + california golden raisin from a box + cream cheese icing with sprinkle. Pretty good cake for box mix, and thanks to Allison for making it.
I want to learn how to salsa. Slightly regret not signing up for Belly Dancing with Kira and Lili.
Choppy sentences reflect slight mental incoherence due to physical illness/tiredness.
I should dangle a piece of carrot cake with icing in front of my nose as motivation for doing homework. Or a slice of tiramisu. Or some brioche and maybe a chocolate croissant. If I could only spend as much time thinking of work as I do of food, I would be a stellar student.
Boxed carrot cake mix + canned crushed pineapples + california golden raisin from a box + cream cheese icing with sprinkle. Pretty good cake for box mix, and thanks to Allison for making it.
I want to learn how to salsa. Slightly regret not signing up for Belly Dancing with Kira and Lili.
Choppy sentences reflect slight mental incoherence due to physical illness/tiredness.
I should dangle a piece of carrot cake with icing in front of my nose as motivation for doing homework. Or a slice of tiramisu. Or some brioche and maybe a chocolate croissant. If I could only spend as much time thinking of work as I do of food, I would be a stellar student.
Munchies
Who knew Wal-Mart "battered" fries would taste so good at 2:30am in the morning? I have been sleeping and eating at irregular hours lately; I went to bed at eight and woke up at 2am. Onward to my ceramics project.
Had the 50 min presentation for Professor Pardo's class on "ut pitura poesie" and Titian's paintings + an article on Venetian Beauty. Somehow it turned into a 90 minute thing with Professor Pardo interjecting her comments here and there. She's really a very interesting lady to listen to. Having just watched The Triplets of Belleville, she reminds me a lot of the adorable little grandma with the spectacles and the one tall shoe.
Hm, just found a recipe for Apple-Savory German Puffed Pancake from an Independent lying on the carpet. Must be a sign to either make the recipe, or eat something.
I don't think I've ever seen winter savory for sale anywhere. Will look again.
Apple-Savory German Puffed Pancake
4-6 Servings
4 tablesoons unsalted butter
2 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
2 1/2 teaspoons minced winter savory leaves
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon coase salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar or (packed)light brown sugar
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Meanwhile, in a 10-inch skillet with an oveproof handle (preferably cast iron), melt butter over medium-high heat. Add apples, winter savory leaves and granulated sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, until apples are slightly caramelized and tender but not mushy, about 3 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, Spread apples evenly over pan; remove from heat and set aside.
In a blender or food processor, thoroughly mix eggs, milk, flour, salt and vanilla. Pour over apples; sprinkle with turbinado or brown sugar.
Bake pancake for 25 to 30 minutes, until puffed and golden. Serve immediately.
Had the 50 min presentation for Professor Pardo's class on "ut pitura poesie" and Titian's paintings + an article on Venetian Beauty. Somehow it turned into a 90 minute thing with Professor Pardo interjecting her comments here and there. She's really a very interesting lady to listen to. Having just watched The Triplets of Belleville, she reminds me a lot of the adorable little grandma with the spectacles and the one tall shoe.
Hm, just found a recipe for Apple-Savory German Puffed Pancake from an Independent lying on the carpet. Must be a sign to either make the recipe, or eat something.
I don't think I've ever seen winter savory for sale anywhere. Will look again.
Apple-Savory German Puffed Pancake
4-6 Servings
4 tablesoons unsalted butter
2 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
2 1/2 teaspoons minced winter savory leaves
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon coase salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar or (packed)light brown sugar
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Meanwhile, in a 10-inch skillet with an oveproof handle (preferably cast iron), melt butter over medium-high heat. Add apples, winter savory leaves and granulated sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, until apples are slightly caramelized and tender but not mushy, about 3 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, Spread apples evenly over pan; remove from heat and set aside.
In a blender or food processor, thoroughly mix eggs, milk, flour, salt and vanilla. Pour over apples; sprinkle with turbinado or brown sugar.
Bake pancake for 25 to 30 minutes, until puffed and golden. Serve immediately.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Vanilla ice cream drizzled with plum wine
That was what I had for dessert, along with a piece of that hazelnut+rum+raisin milk chocolate. Before that was stir fried broccoli florets with salt and pepper, and a piece of tilapia fillet with cajun seasoning sauteed in butter.
My French visa came back today, it took no more than a day, and that includes mailing time. I drove twelve hours to Atlanta and back for that. Multiple entry, good for twelve days and valid from March 3rd to June 4th of 2005. I get to go to France, wee. Must refresh French to get by, at least to order food.
Must clean room. It is padded with articles of clothing, towels and blankets.
Must sketch for ceramics. I'm really happy Betsy likes my work. I think I'd be pretty good if I could just build faster and stronger. Most of my ceramic butterflies died before they made it to the kiln. I squashed a few.
Found recipe for those yummy Chinese sweet buns. Must make soon.
Pineapple Buns
NOTE: you can use your own sweet breads recipe which makes 12 buns. After 2 rises and punch downs, shape them into round buns of 2 oz each.
Ingredients:
Sweet bread
***********
---Sponge:---
70 g bread flour
40 g water
1/2 tsp active dry yeast
make a sponge by mixing the ingredients and let stand, covered for 4-15
hours.
PINEAPPLE TOPPING use ¾ - 1 oz per 1 - 1 1/2 oz bun
******************************************************************
(can be kept for long time in refrigerator/freezer)
3 oz sugar
2 oz butter
1 pc egg yolk
1/2 tsp soda
2 tbsp milk
5 oz flour
2 tsp baking powder
Directions:
Sweet Bread
***************
---Dough:---
Fermented Sponge
7 oz flour (reserve 1 oz for kneading)
1/2 tsp active dry yeast
2 tbsp sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten (reserve 1 tbsp for egg wash)
2 tbsp milk (or 1/2 tbsp milk powder + 2 tbsp water)
2 tbsp water
1 oz butter, softened
1. In a large bowl, dissolve sugar, yeast in milk and water. Mix in
sponge, egg and flour.
2. Turn onto a large work surface, smear dough on softened butter,
knead in more flour (about 1 oz) if neccessary if too sticky. knead for
a few times until butter is evenly incorporated. Cover with a clean wet
towel, let stand on work surface for 20 mins.
3. Knead for further 5-10 mins until dough is smooth and elastic (but
not sticky).
4. let 1st rise in a covered bowl over warm water, about 1 1/2 hour.
Punch down.
5. let 2nd rise covered over warm water again, until doubled or
tripled, about 1-2 hours. Punch down, rest for 5 mins.
6. Shape 2 oz each, put seams down on lightly greased pan. Let rise
covered in a warm place until doubled. Put on prepared "pineapple
cover" [as follows] and then egg wash.
Recipe for "pineapple" topping:
********************************
1. beat butter and sugar until creamy and fluffly.
2. add in egg yolk, soda, milk, mix well.
3. sift flour and baking powder, add to butter, and mix with slow speed
or by hand until smooth and not sticky. Beware not to form gluten.
4. Chill, wrapped in pastic film, in refrigerator for use [about 1
hour].
5. take out and knead as little as possible, if too dry, put in some
oil, if too runny, put in some flour.
6. take 1 oz of topping and roll out but don't roll too big, or too
thin, [about 3mm] slightly smaller than the bun top.
7. brush the bun with egg/water and put the topping on rised bun right
before baking, score with knife LIGHTLY to make checked pineapple
surface effect, brush on egg wash and bake at 180*C [375*F] for 10-15
mins on middle rack.
My French visa came back today, it took no more than a day, and that includes mailing time. I drove twelve hours to Atlanta and back for that. Multiple entry, good for twelve days and valid from March 3rd to June 4th of 2005. I get to go to France, wee. Must refresh French to get by, at least to order food.
Must clean room. It is padded with articles of clothing, towels and blankets.
Must sketch for ceramics. I'm really happy Betsy likes my work. I think I'd be pretty good if I could just build faster and stronger. Most of my ceramic butterflies died before they made it to the kiln. I squashed a few.
Found recipe for those yummy Chinese sweet buns. Must make soon.
Pineapple Buns
NOTE: you can use your own sweet breads recipe which makes 12 buns. After 2 rises and punch downs, shape them into round buns of 2 oz each.
Ingredients:
Sweet bread
***********
---Sponge:---
70 g bread flour
40 g water
1/2 tsp active dry yeast
make a sponge by mixing the ingredients and let stand, covered for 4-15
hours.
PINEAPPLE TOPPING use ¾ - 1 oz per 1 - 1 1/2 oz bun
******************************************************************
(can be kept for long time in refrigerator/freezer)
3 oz sugar
2 oz butter
1 pc egg yolk
1/2 tsp soda
2 tbsp milk
5 oz flour
2 tsp baking powder
Directions:
Sweet Bread
***************
---Dough:---
Fermented Sponge
7 oz flour (reserve 1 oz for kneading)
1/2 tsp active dry yeast
2 tbsp sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten (reserve 1 tbsp for egg wash)
2 tbsp milk (or 1/2 tbsp milk powder + 2 tbsp water)
2 tbsp water
1 oz butter, softened
1. In a large bowl, dissolve sugar, yeast in milk and water. Mix in
sponge, egg and flour.
2. Turn onto a large work surface, smear dough on softened butter,
knead in more flour (about 1 oz) if neccessary if too sticky. knead for
a few times until butter is evenly incorporated. Cover with a clean wet
towel, let stand on work surface for 20 mins.
3. Knead for further 5-10 mins until dough is smooth and elastic (but
not sticky).
4. let 1st rise in a covered bowl over warm water, about 1 1/2 hour.
Punch down.
5. let 2nd rise covered over warm water again, until doubled or
tripled, about 1-2 hours. Punch down, rest for 5 mins.
6. Shape 2 oz each, put seams down on lightly greased pan. Let rise
covered in a warm place until doubled. Put on prepared "pineapple
cover" [as follows] and then egg wash.
Recipe for "pineapple" topping:
********************************
1. beat butter and sugar until creamy and fluffly.
2. add in egg yolk, soda, milk, mix well.
3. sift flour and baking powder, add to butter, and mix with slow speed
or by hand until smooth and not sticky. Beware not to form gluten.
4. Chill, wrapped in pastic film, in refrigerator for use [about 1
hour].
5. take out and knead as little as possible, if too dry, put in some
oil, if too runny, put in some flour.
6. take 1 oz of topping and roll out but don't roll too big, or too
thin, [about 3mm] slightly smaller than the bun top.
7. brush the bun with egg/water and put the topping on rised bun right
before baking, score with knife LIGHTLY to make checked pineapple
surface effect, brush on egg wash and bake at 180*C [375*F] for 10-15
mins on middle rack.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Coffee and cigarettes
Journeyed to Atlanta and back to process my visa for France. It was a relatively smooth drive, and I got a decent amount of sleep before heading off. I met Matt for lunch, and had a fun, though short time at a Thai restaurant in Buckhead. The place booted us thirty-five minutes into our meal because it was past their lunch hours. Boohoo.
Menu: Chicken with Thai peanut sauce for Matt, and fried catfish fillets in a tangy brown sauce for Ai-Ling. Rounded off with a piece of Ritter Sport's milk chocolate with raisins, rum and hazelnut. Maybe I'm a picky eater, but I thought the brown sauce had too much "tang" and the crust of the fillets on the verge of being leathery. Maybe Matt had better luck with his chicken. Moderately good food + very good company = still a positive experience.
Atlanta , as I discovered this afternoon, has very friendly traffic. During the half hour bit of congestion I experienced driving out of the city, the guy in the pickup truck (a nice one, with a cab) in the next lane offered me some chocolate. I suppose the weather was too warm today to keep chocolate in the car from melting, so the guy decided to eat it and share some too.
This is a much delayed realization, but I have ridiculously low tolerance for vices like caffeine, cigarettes and Red Bull-esque chemical cocktails. Went to Tallulah's tonight for a bit after getting back to Chapel Hill, and felt a strange detachment between mind and body movement. Then I remember the two extra large 16 oz cans of energy drink I sipped through during my day of driving. Whew. The same thing happens to me with a cup of coffee, two cigarettes or a glass of wine.
Must do reading.
I heart Kings of Convenience and Interpol.
Must clean room. Will begin by bulldozing clothes off floor, tomorrow.
Menu: Chicken with Thai peanut sauce for Matt, and fried catfish fillets in a tangy brown sauce for Ai-Ling. Rounded off with a piece of Ritter Sport's milk chocolate with raisins, rum and hazelnut. Maybe I'm a picky eater, but I thought the brown sauce had too much "tang" and the crust of the fillets on the verge of being leathery. Maybe Matt had better luck with his chicken. Moderately good food + very good company = still a positive experience.
Atlanta , as I discovered this afternoon, has very friendly traffic. During the half hour bit of congestion I experienced driving out of the city, the guy in the pickup truck (a nice one, with a cab) in the next lane offered me some chocolate. I suppose the weather was too warm today to keep chocolate in the car from melting, so the guy decided to eat it and share some too.
This is a much delayed realization, but I have ridiculously low tolerance for vices like caffeine, cigarettes and Red Bull-esque chemical cocktails. Went to Tallulah's tonight for a bit after getting back to Chapel Hill, and felt a strange detachment between mind and body movement. Then I remember the two extra large 16 oz cans of energy drink I sipped through during my day of driving. Whew. The same thing happens to me with a cup of coffee, two cigarettes or a glass of wine.
Must do reading.
I heart Kings of Convenience and Interpol.
Must clean room. Will begin by bulldozing clothes off floor, tomorrow.
Monday, February 21, 2005
Goldfishing
After consuming 20 potatoe chips,three slices of white bread with Nutella and half of tomorrow's lunch just before midnight, I'm reminded once again of my body's inability to distinguish between hunger and appetite. I wasn't the least bit hungry. Feeling nervous about my ceramics project tomorrow though. I want to finish it, but afraid I won't be able to by 2pm tomorrow. So what do I do? Stuff myself with food. I think I feel a stomachache coming on, induced by binge eating.
Sleepy. Will wake up in a couple of hours to continue working.
Must remind self to take the time to savor food. Food is not the answer to stave off nervousness.
Alternatives: 1) smoking: my lungs will hate me
2) drinking: plum wine. yum. highly expensive. will
not repeat Nalgene bottle incident. am not, and
will not become alcoholic.
3) exercise: the most healthy alternative, though my
butt is lazy and doesn't like to move much. I will
walk more and be less American-like by leaving car
at home instead.
Wow, writer Hunter Simpson (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) shot himself last night. Age 67.
Right, sleep
Sleepy. Will wake up in a couple of hours to continue working.
Must remind self to take the time to savor food. Food is not the answer to stave off nervousness.
Alternatives: 1) smoking: my lungs will hate me
2) drinking: plum wine. yum. highly expensive. will
not repeat Nalgene bottle incident. am not, and
will not become alcoholic.
3) exercise: the most healthy alternative, though my
butt is lazy and doesn't like to move much. I will
walk more and be less American-like by leaving car
at home instead.
Wow, writer Hunter Simpson (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) shot himself last night. Age 67.
Right, sleep
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Idiot's day
Must drag my sorry procrastinating ass, despite various projects and presentations coming up, all the way to Atlanta next Tuesday in order to hand in a visa application in person. Then I would drive back to Chapel Hill, and wait and hope that I would receive approval for my visa in the processing time of two weeks, which would leave less than two days before my flight leaves for Paris March 10th. Lovely. Would I have to drive back to Atlanta again to pick up my passport? Or would I trust U.S. Postal Service's Express mail to deliver me the document by 3pm Thursday afternoon? That is if I get my visa. 6+ hours of solo driving in the crowded and congested mess of Atlanta. Great. I'm now sitting at work, at the circulation desk behind the art library, numbing my frustration with a small Nalgene bottle full of Sauvignon Blanc. *sigh* Life sucks, like that sorry piece of online fortune cookie I clicked on last night. [see previous post].
I should be sleeping...
The evils of menstruation - eating a large bowl of popcorn in the middle of night. *munch munch munch*
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Fish Tacos
Had two fish Tacos from Burrito Bunker today. $5.35 with tax. (I paid much more than that of course, using my parents' money and Tarheel Takeout).
The tacos were really good. Two fried flour (flour! so much better than corn) taco shells filled with seasoned and grilled whitefish, shredded lettuce, onions, large chunks of tomatoes and a creamy "lime" sauce. The fish was pretty heavily seasoned, though not in a bad way. The vegetables tasted fresh, and the flour taco was warm and deliciously crisp. It was a satisfying [lunch + dinner = ] dunch, although in terms of fried flour tortillas, Carrburitos still has the best fried flour chips.
All in all, a happy eating day.
[Yogurt and granola, pineapple sherbet, leftover crab&shrimp spring rolls + shittake mushroom noodles, creamy milk chocolate truffles, two fish tacos, pieces of week old baguette with strawberry jam, trail mix and (sorry Allison...) last piece of the incredibly decadent double fudge ice cream + chocolate chips + chocolate cake + chocolate icing =] brownie.
Whew. I'm having one of those "womanly" days, can't you tell?
The tacos were really good. Two fried flour (flour! so much better than corn) taco shells filled with seasoned and grilled whitefish, shredded lettuce, onions, large chunks of tomatoes and a creamy "lime" sauce. The fish was pretty heavily seasoned, though not in a bad way. The vegetables tasted fresh, and the flour taco was warm and deliciously crisp. It was a satisfying [lunch + dinner = ] dunch, although in terms of fried flour tortillas, Carrburitos still has the best fried flour chips.
All in all, a happy eating day.
[Yogurt and granola, pineapple sherbet, leftover crab&shrimp spring rolls + shittake mushroom noodles, creamy milk chocolate truffles, two fish tacos, pieces of week old baguette with strawberry jam, trail mix and (sorry Allison...) last piece of the incredibly decadent double fudge ice cream + chocolate chips + chocolate cake + chocolate icing =] brownie.
Whew. I'm having one of those "womanly" days, can't you tell?
Dinner at Lantern
After work yesterday (the day after Valentine's) , I made up my mind to go for a fancy dinner. I had made some sort of vague dinner plans with Alli W, but didn't reaffirm it with her (She happened to have left her phone in her room, so dinner with her was a no-go).
I strolled out of the Art building after work, and after finding out from Emily that Blonde Redhead and Interpol are playing at Disco Rodeo the weekend after next weekend, I walked leisurely up Franklin street toward Carrboro. (Sidenote: anyone want to see Blonde Redhead and Interpol with me? Tix go for, oh, say $18?)
I contemplated restaurants like Lime & Basil, 411 West, Tallulah's, but somehow made my way into the empty bar at Lantern minutes past 5:30pm, right when the place opened. Maybe I should have gone to Crook's Corner instead, or perhaps Fuse; I would really like to try somewhere new.
It was just me and my notebook at the round table, where I ordered a fuchsia pink Singapore sling, crab and shrimp stuffed spring rolls in Bibb lettuce wrap and fresh herbs, and a chanterelle, black trumpet & shitake mushroom hotpot with homemade tofu dumplings, local squash, hand-cut soba noodles and mushroom dashi. There were enough food to feed two, which sadly means I would have to save dessert for my next trip.
The Singapore sling was tasty, a little too much alcohol and not quite as tart as ones I had in Singapore. The alcohol left me a little tipsy for the rest of the night, even through Joan Nathan's lecture on Jewish food in America several hours later.
The springs rolls were delicious. Three little rolls, filled with a fragrant blend of crab and shrimp meat, as well as fresh basil and herbs (could it have been mint?) are fried until golden and flaky. You then wrap the rolls in a large green leaf of Bibb lettuce, with a few sprigs of sliced green onions, and small leaves of fresh basil. The dipping sauce which came with the dish was too pungent and tangy for my taste.
The Shiitake mushroom hotpot was standard fare. In it, I found thin, noodle like slices of egg skin, julianne bits of orange colored squash, mushrooms, and wide, rather floury hand-cut noodles. The broth had an overwhelming shiitake flavor. The fried tofu dumpling, of ground tofu, spices and (I believe) squash, was the highlight of the dish. The rest was, *eh*.
Conclusion: Next time, skip the entree all together. Just drinks, appetizers and desserts. It was still a very satisfying meal, and I would definitely dine by myself more frequently from now on. I would like to take more solo ventures to fancy restaurants, courtesy of my father's credit card. ($38 for a one person dinner is an extravagant expense for a "poor college student.")
Upcoming food ventures (hopefully) : Sage Cafe, Oishii, Crook's Corner and Fuse.
Just ordered takeout from Burrito Bunker. Tarheel Takeout is so overpriced, yet it's one way I can exploit parents' money using my One Card. Shame on me.
I strolled out of the Art building after work, and after finding out from Emily that Blonde Redhead and Interpol are playing at Disco Rodeo the weekend after next weekend, I walked leisurely up Franklin street toward Carrboro. (Sidenote: anyone want to see Blonde Redhead and Interpol with me? Tix go for, oh, say $18?)
I contemplated restaurants like Lime & Basil, 411 West, Tallulah's, but somehow made my way into the empty bar at Lantern minutes past 5:30pm, right when the place opened. Maybe I should have gone to Crook's Corner instead, or perhaps Fuse; I would really like to try somewhere new.
It was just me and my notebook at the round table, where I ordered a fuchsia pink Singapore sling, crab and shrimp stuffed spring rolls in Bibb lettuce wrap and fresh herbs, and a chanterelle, black trumpet & shitake mushroom hotpot with homemade tofu dumplings, local squash, hand-cut soba noodles and mushroom dashi. There were enough food to feed two, which sadly means I would have to save dessert for my next trip.
The Singapore sling was tasty, a little too much alcohol and not quite as tart as ones I had in Singapore. The alcohol left me a little tipsy for the rest of the night, even through Joan Nathan's lecture on Jewish food in America several hours later.
The springs rolls were delicious. Three little rolls, filled with a fragrant blend of crab and shrimp meat, as well as fresh basil and herbs (could it have been mint?) are fried until golden and flaky. You then wrap the rolls in a large green leaf of Bibb lettuce, with a few sprigs of sliced green onions, and small leaves of fresh basil. The dipping sauce which came with the dish was too pungent and tangy for my taste.
The Shiitake mushroom hotpot was standard fare. In it, I found thin, noodle like slices of egg skin, julianne bits of orange colored squash, mushrooms, and wide, rather floury hand-cut noodles. The broth had an overwhelming shiitake flavor. The fried tofu dumpling, of ground tofu, spices and (I believe) squash, was the highlight of the dish. The rest was, *eh*.
Conclusion: Next time, skip the entree all together. Just drinks, appetizers and desserts. It was still a very satisfying meal, and I would definitely dine by myself more frequently from now on. I would like to take more solo ventures to fancy restaurants, courtesy of my father's credit card. ($38 for a one person dinner is an extravagant expense for a "poor college student.")
Upcoming food ventures (hopefully) : Sage Cafe, Oishii, Crook's Corner and Fuse.
Just ordered takeout from Burrito Bunker. Tarheel Takeout is so overpriced, yet it's one way I can exploit parents' money using my One Card. Shame on me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)