Gosh, it looks like a plasma bag...

Hee hee. Okay, I admit it. As much as I enjoy a nice wine, I bought a boxed red wine. You know, the cheap watery red wine that comes in a box with a spigot. The wine is stored in a plastic bag in the box. I am finally down to the bottom of the box and decide to take the bag out of the box simply to make it easier to pour. So, I rip the box apart and pull out the bag. Gosh, darn, it reminds me of a plasma bag. Hahahahaha. Not like I really actually know what one really looks like but we all have seen them on those medical dramas. I am cracking up. Plasma bag. Okay, morbid but I find it hilarious.

Watermelon Craving

All this nice weather has brought on a watermelon craving. It must be a craving for something nice, cold, sweet and juicy. I always loved watermelon since I was a kid. I only went through one this summer (loose term I am using living in the city) but the local supermarket has a whole bin of them this week. I decide to drag one home and it is hefty for its size. Awkward dragging it back home. It is like a heavy basketball. Whew. Made it home without too much difficulty other than having to shift it every six steps or so. Curiousity takes me to the scale. Scale waddles from the crooked size of the watermelon. Hah! Seems I dragged home a 15 pound watermelon.

I have plans. Plans for this watermelon. Why I did not think of dusting a little bit of li hing powder on the last watermelon escapes me. But I will do it this time. Li hing powder is made from dried salty plums and something of a Hawaiian thing. It is a sweet/salty slightly sour combo. It is dusted on mangoes to gummy bears. Even used in specialty cocktails. I had a Li Hing Martini once in Waikiki. One must have a taste for it.

Speaking of another sweet/salty combo for watermelon. Try adding watermelon cubes to a savory salad and add feta cheese. Ohhhhh, yummy...

Hot, Hot, Hot!

Well, apparently, that earthquake weather from yesterday was just cloudy hot weather. It was a record breaking 96 degrees. In the city. Wow. Amazing. But this will not last. Usually only three days of nice weather then the fog rolls back in.

It is still a pretty decent day in the city today and the weather should make it a nice day for The Outlands music festival. It is in its second of three days of music. What a beautiful day for music.

Earthquake Weather

Geeeez. If it were just a couple of degrees cooler (it is a muggy day today -- if one can imagine that in the city), it would be earthquake weather. It is a point in weather when the weather is fairly warm, muggy, no wind and overcast. A certain degree coupled with a certain cloud formation. Earthquake weather.

Trash Thursdays

Meals on Thursdays usually depends on what is in the fridge that needs to go out -- half cans of whatever, leftovers, bags of whatever protein I have been lugging to the gym, fruit/vegetables on the verge, etc. I guess you can call it the Kitchen Sink Dinner. Definitely different each and every time. Methinks I will be wandering into the kitchen soon and see what the weekly special holds for me tonight.

Chillin' at Chevy's

Had lunch with one of my gal pals at Chevy's today. So happy to see her. She has always been so supportive. She always cracks me up and makes me smile. My eyes were bigger than my stomach. We both ordered a four-piece combo and I ended up taking home two tacos. Yummy!!

Another good day. Cherish your girlfriends and give them an extra hug when you see them.

Mars Abounds

Whaddup with electronics today? Cable and dsl just went wonky. Mars must be lurking around somewhere wreaking havoc.

Girls' Nite In

Invited to Girls' Night at my buddy's house last night. He occasionally hosts a Girls' Nite with a few of us where we all get together, laugh, eat and be crazy.

His partner is working on the new series Trauma as the make-up artist. He had bags of costumes for an upcoming segment. He dressed us up in the different outfits and we all were in fits of laughter.

My buddy is the ultimate host. From appetizers to dinner he does it all. Another nice, intimate time with good friends.

Chowed Mein

Accckkkk. Pigged out. Again. Which means my nemesis, Portion Control, has won another round. My sister and I decided to go to the Dim Sum Nazi today. After munching on an order of dim sum -- three chicken siu mai and three har gow (shrimp dumplings) per person, we walked around the other Chinese take out deli joints. Sis and I decided to split a two pound box of chow mein. Yes, yes, yes. Been having a hankering for chow mein for about two weeks now. Go figure. It has been hours since lunch and I am still stuffed. Chowed mein...

Happy Birthday!

Happy 50th birthday, Hawaii!!!!

Coco-MMs Update

Well, heard back from M&Ms about the coconut limited edition. Apparently, this flavor is still on the market. I did check Walgreen's and they are still not yet in stock. Competitors out there, I guess. I will keep on the prowl...

Yummy!!

Appetizer of extra large black mussels in a champagne lemon butter sauce. Sea bass perfectly cooked (sauteed) to a slight crust. Moist and tender. Not a bit dry. Served with sauteed spinach and capers. Side of polenta studded with garlic chunks lightly sauteed with a chunky tomato sauce. Garlic bread with fresh oregano. Ahhhhhh...heaven...

(You know I like to eat, right?)

Free Mars Chocolate

Through September.

https://realchocolate.com/Countdown.aspx

Brrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Just got in from running an errand. It is hecka cold outside. I am wearing my winter jacket. One gal was wearing a scarf and mittens. And it is windy. Giving me a weather brain freeze. It must be summer...

New People Grand Opening

Sis and I went to J-Town to grab some lunch. We were in a ramen mood today. While we were in the restaurant, we hear...some rocking music. Huh. Wonder what is going on in the plaza today. Well, apparently, while we were slurping down our ramen the street outside had set up for a block party. The new store was opening (New People, I think it is called) and a party was going on. I was wondering why a lotta folks were dressed up in costume. Oh. Maybe that was just their regular clothes (???). Interesting crowd. Another stumbled upon event. Cool. In the plaza were these Japanese all girl rock bands playing. I find out this is a J-pop culture summit festival. So, is this what a taste of Japanese pop culture is like. Lots of people dressed in Harajuku-type clothes. Uhhhh, okayyyyy.

I have to get into the mall. Chicks walking around with Hello Kitty fans (just Hello Kitty heads on a stick). Gotta get me one. Get into the Sanrio store. All gone. Darn! I wanted one. Darn, darn, darn.

Oh, well, will just hang out and listen to Japanese rock...

Trendy Pizza

Went out for pizzettas tonight. A pizaetta is a cracker thin crust pizza. This place is known for their trendy combinations and had wanted to check them out for a long time. Tonight was the night. Ordered two (eating out with my sister - thought for a minute both were for me, eh?). One was sorta basic - tomato, basil and (this is where it may be a bitsy trendy) white anchovies. Not sure there were other anchovies other than white but whatever. Other pizza (oh, excuse me - pizzetta) had chichi kind of bacon with a fried egg on top and arugula pesto. Different. Tasty though. Place is cool if you are open to this kind of food. Yummmmmmy...

Whaddup With This Latest Craving?

Gaaaaccckkkk. Here I go again. Get this latest craving. Ramen. Not just ramen but the number one worst thing to eat... instant ramen. To be fair, there are healthy versions of instant ramen that are not fried and the fat content is fairly low. But...I hit the instant ramen. Was it craving or was it just because it was quick? Nooooooo. I could have made something else just as quick but a whole lot healthier. I guess it was just calling me. But this gets worse. Not just once. Or twice. But three times. Today. I just polished off my third pack of the day. I guess it could have been worse in a way. It could have been three packs in one sitting. ;-D (hee, hee) I think the mushroom water/ juice/runoff (the exuded water from cooking mushrooms; my sister gave it to me after she cooked a lot of mushrooms; she knows I love mushrooms) that was behind this. I think I was fixated on what I could use with the runoff water. Ramen. Ding, ding, ding! Ramen it is. Actually, ramen it was. Three times. Oh, well, at least I will not have Barney Rubble feet tomorrow from sodium swelling (if that is a consolation). Maybe just carb bloat. Gaaaacccccckkk.

Caramel vs. Oreos

Tee hee. So funny. I have a smoked salt milk choco caramel sitting in front of my computer. I think I put it there to test my resolve. On the other hand are these limited edition strawberry Oreos that I have not quite yet embraced (sounds like this right vs. left -- right/left, right/left -- thing again..repeater!) Yeah, I have had this caramel staring at me. But it is milk choco. And smoked salt? Ah, heck with it. Who are we kidding here? Let's go for it. The caramel, that is...

Done...history!

The Delivery Game

Sigh. I went to the gym early yesterday since I was expecting a UPS delivery. Thought I would get in a quick workout and head home before before the delivery. Delivery guy decides to pull one on me and attempts to make the delivery at 11:00a.m. Whaaaat?! That was early as heck. Oh, well, I will just have to wait for him tomorrow and then head off to the gym in the afternoon.

Waiting today. Waiting. Laying in wait. Being held hostage. UPS pulls another fast one on me. Delivery comes at 4:30p.m. (Or does that make it a slow one?) Got me again. Darn it. UPS 2, me 0. I think they must have some type of radar. Is this victimitis thinking that this only happens to me?

Cute!

My friend's puppy Moo Shoo...

Nihonmachi Street Fair

Went to the Nihonmachi Street Fair today. Snuck up on me. Saw that it was going on in JTown on the way home yesterday afternoon. This is a nice street fair in support of some of the local non-profit organizations.

Thankfully, it was a pretty nice day. Good entertainment.

Hit the site if you are interested in more information. Hope I will see you there next year...

http://www.nihonmachistreetfair.org

Coco-nutter Update

Pulled off the shelves. Wahhhhh. At least from the Walgreen's that last had boxes and boxes of them. Unless...there is another crazy coco-nutter out there buying up gobs of packs. Maybe that lady that gave me the stink eye when I bought the last packs at the outland Walgreen's? Hmmmm. Paranoia again. Sent an e-mail to the M&M site for confirmation. Rats. Must have missed my last opportunity by just a day or so. Argggggghhhhh!!! (Think Charlie Brown.)

Happy Hour

Happy Friday everyone! Lemon Drops all around. Enjoy!

Lunch Anguish

Just stepped off the bus. Ahhhhhhhh...mmmmmmm...what do I smell? Smells like grilled burgers. Huh. The burger joint is over a (small) block away. The wind must be carrying over the tasty smell. My stomach starts to make a stir. Hungry. Just getting home from the gym, I need to eat to replenish. I was planning on making something healthy -- a salad loaded with veggies and slices of steak. But the burgers are making me think otherwise. It is something about smelling charred meat. These burgers are tasty. Made from angus beef and you put whatever you want on top. Build-a-burger. Do I? Should I? As I near the burger joint, I ponder again. Should I? Should I? Near the door. I look down to the pavement and quickly step up my pace. That burger will have to wait for another day. Home. Heading off to the fridge...

Free Tacos at Chez Jacques Today

'Nuff said.

http://coupon.jackinthebox.com/images/coupon/two-free-tacos_20090804.jpg

CocoMMs, Part 2

Oh, no. Panic. No coco-MMs at my local Walgreen's. All sold out. Head out later to the Walgreen's a bit further in the hood. Oh, no! Not here either. Guess I will check another store later.

Wake up today not feeling the panic yet. Hours go by and then, aha!, thought of the store in the outlands. Head there by bus. All I see is a gaping space where MMs were sold out. Oh, there you are, little cocos. I grab what is left and leave an empty box. (Number of packs intentionally not mentioned.) Head to the counter to pay for my loot. More at the counter. Only taking few more packs, feeling guilty. Oh, heck with it. These could be the very last ones I can find. Grab them all. (Still not mentioning number of packs.) From the corner of my left eye is a woman holding the empty box. She is asking the clerk if there are any more left. "No," he tells her, "they are all sold out." I think she eye spies my stash. I feel a stink eye burning from my left as I instinctively clutch a little bit tighter on my purchase. I leave the store looking back over my shoulder. Phew. She is not following me. I get to the bus stop and sigh with relief. Score!

National Girlfriends Day

Today is National Girlfriends Day so send out a shout to all of your girlfriends out there and special shouts out to your gurrrrllllfriends. Go girls...you rock!