Yaki-imo

I had a food meltdown today.  I sometimes get into these fits where I am finicky about food.  The problem is that usually when this happens, I'll be at home and I'll just decide not to eat because I don't know what it is exactly that I want to eat.  Tonight at least, I knew what I wanted: tofu.

My husband and I sat down in a Japanese mom and pop restaurant for dinner this evening (a girl can only eat so much Thanksgiving food without guilt...).  We had parked and walked around in the town for a little.  I could sense that my husband was a little annoyed (he had wanted a sub but I needed tofu in order to feel good about myself again).  We finally found a place with possibilities.  It wasn't fancy.  They had a menu on the wall with pictures (which was helpful) and signs translating the items into English.  This was the kind of place that was free of wait staff and you entered your food choice in a vending machine that produced a ticket with your meal choice.  You then handed the ticket to the cook and went to sit at your table to wait for your food's arrival.

The food came (after about 10 minutes, I think) and the tofu was really good.  (I need to learn how to prepare tofu like that.  I swear I only eat tofu in Japan because it doesn't taste the same in America).  My husband's yakisoba was a bit on the greasy side.  Almost at the end of the meal I heard a sound that I had not heard in about 7 months (Woah! where'd the time go?).  "Yakiimo... yakiimo."  My Japanese is nowhere near good enough to make out the rest of what goes in the jingle.  At first I didn't believe I had really heard what I thought I had heard (my husband likes to poke fun of my "auditory hallucinations" as he calls them).  When I heard it again I ran out the restaurant's door and into the streets of the alley in order to catch the Yakiimo Man (as I call him).

I think I shocked the other patrons of the restaurant (who were all Japanese, except for my husband).  I was completely dorking out because I was so happy.  Just imagine the reaction kids have when the ice cream truck comes by.  It's like that for me with yakiimo.  The van pulled up to a stop and I could smell the yakiimo roasting in the ovens in the back of the truck.  (BTW, yakiimo is roasted sweet potato).  As I was making my purchase and trying to contain my excitement, I felt the eyes from the restaurant on me.

I tucked my treasure into my purse and went to go back to my dinner.  As I reentered the restaurant the cook came up to the door and commented about how delicious yakiimo was.  I heartily concurred in my broken Japanese.  I sat down to finish eating and I told my husband not to judge me.  He sai he was already done judging.  I didn't care.  I had my yakiimo and he'd want some soon.

I finished my dinner and we left.  As we were walking back to the car, I dug in for a yakiimo.  I broke off a piece and it was heavenly.  I ate the whole thing, skin and all!  We continued walking to the car and my husband cleared his throat.

"What?" I asked.
"Aren't you going to share that?"
"I didn't offer you any? I thought I had."

I was lost in my yakiimo-induced euphoria and I swore I had offered him some... maybe it was in my head and my mouth was full before I completed my intent... It happens.

Right now I am full to bursting and I am too stuffed to stay awake to check this for grammar.  Long day ahead tomorrow but I'm looking forward to it.

Hello Old Friend

It's been a while...

Like most things, blogging requires dedication and I fear I'm not quite disciplined enough.  I think blogging will become a lot easier for me when the technology can transcribe thoughts to words on a screen.  I don't have anything pressing on my mind right now.  I'm listening to an old time Superman story podcast.  I'm feeling pretty mellow.  Two days to Thanksgiving.  I ordered the buffet from the MCCS club.

...

I got distracted.  I started reading a book on how to be snarky...  Just by reading the book, I think one loses the ability to snark.  It's one of those things that can't be taught but I want to learn it.  I'm a fan of snark.  While I am usually able to pick up on snark, I lack the ability to deliver it.  I think if I could perfect my snark, I could so pursue my dream of being like Dr. House.  He's my snark bar.  I have no hopes of ever getting there.

...

Distracted again.  I'll try again tomorrow.

Life According to House, MD

My House marathon continued last night and again, I got to thinking.  My husband and I love each other very deeply and our values are pretty much aligned -- if you ignore timelines (I might get into that at some point...).  This episode featured open marriages.  So here are my thoughts on the matter:

1. Sex is sex and doesn't have to mean anything more.


That's it.  That's all there is to it.  People tend to add too much importance and meaning to sex when in reality its function is either for procreation or enjoyment.  Sex does not mean love.  Sex does not mean you'll have forever together.  Sex with someone other than your partner doesn't mean that they don't love you.  Sex is just sex.

I find it very frustrating that I live in a society that fails to grasp this.  As long as my husband's emotions remain mine, he can have sex with any woman he pleases (if he were into guys, the same would be true).  Heck, I'd even set him up with some hot chick if I knew any who wouldn't be freaked out that he was married.  At the end of the day, marriages last not because of sex but because of communication and the emotional bonds that run deep.

In our marriage the same policy about sex applies to me: I can fuck any girl I want to.  I'm not much into guys who aren't my husband.  He's set a standard so why mess with a good thing.  That doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the attention from and appearance of guys.  In fact, I confess that when it comes to guys, I like them muscled and young.  I think there may be a bit of a cougar lying dormant in me.  Still, I don't feel the sexual pull towards them but the fun potential is there.  Women on the other hand make me predatory (when I'm in the appropriate setting anyway).  The sucky part of that is the sad truth that I have zero game.  I haven't had many opportunities to practice my moves so they're pretty non-existent.  That doesn't stop me from giving a hot chick a lust-filled look though.  I have to cut myself some slack though.  I am essentially surrounded by the military so opportunities will be few and far between (plus I like to be friends with our bed buddies).

So yes, sex is sex and it's a lot of fun when you do it right and take it for what it is.  Just think how many relationships could be saved from 'cheating' if people just accepted that sex outside of the relationship does not necessarily mean that the relationship is doomed.  Sex is sex people.  Jump on the bandwagon.

A Whiter Shade of Pale

Last night I had a House MD mini marathon.  Mini only because my eyes closed even though my mind didn't want them to.  At the end of this episode they played Procol Harum's Whiter Shade of Pale and I just went to this other emotional place.  I wasn't ready to move on from that place after the show ended so I took my bleary eyes over to iTunes to find the song.  It took longer than I wanted it to but thank goodness for modern technology and its (almost) instant gratification.  I downloaded the song (along with a few others that were stuck in my head from Pirate Radio) and felt satisfied.

I played the Procul Harum song as I drifted off to sleep, trying to figure out why this song pulled at my heart and soul in a way that few melodies can.  While I haven't figured out the exact why, I've concluded that this song was played in a very touching scene in a movie that shaped me.  I cannot recall this movie but my conclusion feels right.  Even writing about it now I feel myself going to that emotional place where deep love is the norm, people are good, the world is as it should be, and we are all content.

I played the song again when I woke up and I think it did wonders for my mood, especially given that I was running late for work.  I think this is a mighty powerful ballad.

I had a farewell dinner for a friend today.  We've only known each other for a little over 3 months but our friendship seemed as if we knew each other for much longer.  I wish him all the best as he goes off to nursing school.  He'll be taking his sister with him, leaving me once again friendless in Okinawa.  I'm working on that though.  His sister and her husband will be back on the island around the same time as my husband and I will be returning from our holiday trip.  I'm looking forward to the many double dates and couple-time explorations of the island.

On the drive home I called my husband to check in (I like having someone know about when to expect me, especially when the weather is bad).  He was sleepy so he decided to nap until I got home.  I thought about how I wanted to wake him when I got home.

I opened up iTunes on my iPhone as I walked through the door (we are SO a Mac household) and chose the Procol Harum song from the library on my MacBook (which is remotely connected to speakers using the Airport Express - Go Mac and thank you Steve!).  My plan didn't work out as smoothly as I thought it would have.  My husband was a bit difficult to awaken.  I had imagined us having a slow dance as he came to...  Feeling the power of our love and the rightness of our friendship and companionship.  Oh well...  I still love him even if sleep wins out over romance.

The song is still speaking to me so I'm going to let it take me to bed.  All is well at work and the cat is still crazy.  Next time I'll write a little about my husbands two buddies who feel like family (I love them like brothers and constantly feel like a little sister seeking their affection but holding back at the same time...).  I might get into some of my predatory thoughts as well.  I've been having more of those lately.  Too many hot women!

Happy Tuesday

Today was definitely a good day.  My husband got promoted today and I am just so proud of him.  The new title is taking some getting used to (in my head anyway).  Congrats babe.

I just finished watching four episodes of House.  I love that show.  I wish I had his natural snark.  I would be so much more interesting.  There isn't much on my mind tonight.  I am feeling a bit empty, but that might just be because I'm home alone... again.  Usually that isn't a problem but right now I'm feeling rather homesick and lonesome for my friends.  I think I need to make more friends...

The Weekend Review

Well, it's Monday morning and I would much rather be in bed.  I got this bright idea in my head and it suggested waking up early to exercise.  I am so not feeling it.  In fact, I haven't been feeling it for a week.  I have only completed 2 successful and consecutive weeks of the insanity program.  Sigh.  Fortunately genetics and a healthy diet are on my side so it's not currently a big deal.

The weekend was fun.  My husband and I took a friend and her brother to see the Dave Ralston Band.  The show and the music were very good, even though the advertising was misleading.  We were promised a costume contest but they did not deliver.  That was a bit disappointing because my husband and I were dressed as Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings (his slave mistress).  We'll have to reuse that costume for a crowd that will appreciate it.

Saturday was more eventful... barely.  I'm a bit of a homebody.  I took my friend and her brother up north to make shisa (the Okinawan lion-dogs that serve as protectors from evil spirits and keepers of the good spirits).  We got there late in the day and I was afraid we wouldn't be allowed to make our shisa because the process takes 2 hours.  The little, old, Okinawan man said it was okay so we got our things together (I had been them before and I think I had left a positive impression on the old man and his friends).  The experience was a lot of fun.  The old mand and his friend were very helpful and funny - even though they spoke no English.  I could understand some of what they were saying.  The hours flew by and they didn't seem too concerned that we were still there.  After 3 hours and countless laughs at our expense, we were done.

Sunday was so-so.  We were supposed to go zip-lining but my friend backed out and I had a tummy ache.  I ended up staying home, reading, twisting my hair, watching Silence of the Lambs, and a couple episodes of House.  This morning I woke up, peed on a stick, got a negative response, felt bummed about it, and sat down to write away the time I should have spent exercising.  We're not actively trying to have kids yet but we did the naughty during a risky time and I was a bit hopeful.  The stick said no and I'm not sure how I feel about that.  Definitely disappointed but there's something else going on.  I just haven't put my finger on it.

Maybe I'll be ready for some introspection later today...

Day 1

I've decided to give blogging a shot.  I NEVER kept a diary or journal or any of those girly memory recording devices when I was younger because honestly, I didn't trust my siblings to be able to find any juicy details on me and not using it to make me uncomfortable/miserable.  So here I am now at age 27 cataloging my memories almost as soon as they happen.

I consider myself to be an interesting person and if someone wanted to use clips of my life in a movie, they would have plenty fodder.  However, my brain refuses to stay still long enough for me to ever right a memoir - not that I'm old enough to have a memoir yet.  The whole brain thing brings me to the reason for even starting on this little endeavor.  My memory is so bad that if you asked me what I did last week, I'd be hard-pressed to recall the details.  So I figure that in order to be able to tell my grandkids stories about my youth, I better start writing them down.  I guess I should also start having kids at some point too...

Right now I am eating dinner.  I'm feeling rather lazy and without my husband around, I don't see the point in putting in the effort to cook.  I LOVE cooking - I just don't like doing the dishes.  Again, no point in torturing myself.  So what's for dinner if I didn't have the motivation to cook?  Ramen!  At least I think it's ramen.  One of my former Japanese students went to Korea and brought me back a couple of edible souvenirs - I never hid how much I absolutely love food and love experiencing other cultures through food.  I don't know what all the Korean art on the bag says but in English I guess it's called 4-me...  I dunno...  It's quite spicy but delicious.  I think it has rice noodles.  The bag says glass noodles.  Again, have no idea.  That seems to be the trend with me and Asian food anyway.  Don't tell me what it is if you want me to try it.  You can tell me after I've swallowed.  I think the weirdest thing for me to date has been the pig ears but my memory could just be blocking out other foods.

So I've been in a slump.  I had decided to start exercising and after 2 weeks into the insanity program, my motivation left me.  I'm not so sure it's my lost motivation though.  Yesterday I tried to push through the program but my body just ached.  I don't believe in punishing myself or in doing anything that causes me pain without justification so I stopped.  Today I still felt icky so I decided to go for a ride.  A quarter of a mile in I notice that my bike is feeling a bit wobbly.  Sure enough when I look down not one, but both of my wheels were out of air.  Seriously?!!  Fortunately I was still close to home and the return trip was down hill.  I'm still a little annoyed by that because I really wanted to ride - I feel very confident when it's just me, my bike, and the cars zinging by me but respecting my place on the road.

By the way, I am currently living in Okinawa, Japan, and it's a gorgeous little slice of paradise.  Look forward to recollections of my many adventures.  I don't believe in doing the same old thing.  While I am here, I intend to absorb as much of the people, culture, and experiences as possible.  All I need to do now is work on my Japanese...  I have a little but I want to be semi-fluent before I leave.

I'm off to go indulge in another book.  I seem to be caught in a young adult spell.  A friend introduced me to the Fever series and I think I have a way serious crush on Jericho Barrons.  He has set the gold standard for my romance/action ideal.  Future heroes have a lot to measure up to (I hope they make that series into movies.  It would blow Twilight out of the water)!  Okay book time.  Let me know what you think of my first attempt at blogging.  My feelings aren't easily hurt and I prefer honesty.  I don't have much patience for pretense either.