Cropping Out the Sadness

Portlandia's "Third Date To Italy" skit that aired last season totally slayed me. Here's the gist of it: Fred and his new girlfriend take a spur-of-the-moment "weekend" trip to Italy. The awkwardness of a bland third date was only worsened by their extreme jet lag, meaning the couple spent the entire trip sleeping it off in their hotel room. Fred returns from the disappointing trip and, regarding the online photos of him and his date looking happy, he observes, "Everyone on the internet, they're not having as great a time as you think they are".

This led to me reminiscing about some of my own travel moments that I've chosen to "crop out":

-Noticing that I was getting a bad bladder infection as soon as I stepped onto a flight heading to Seattle from Tokyo (~9 hours long). I squirmed in pain the entire time, and had to use the bathroom roughly every 15 minutes. (Fun calculation: that equals 36 pees!) Thank goodness I had an aisle seat.

-Choosing to add extra jalapeños to an order of nachos while eating dinner in Edinburgh, and then chasing it with a few extra beers = horrible stomach cramps during the next morning's train ride to York. I missed out on a few hours of sightseeing due to being curled up in a ball on a train station bench.

-Breaking down in tears in a Kyoto train station because I couldn't find the correct exit for the "bamboo forest".

-While in Tijuana with Henry and Danny, being tricked by a sketchy bar's "3-for-1 beer special" advertisement....which did NOT mean we all got to enjoy one beer for cheap....rather, we were each presented with 3 beers. Yep, 9 for the price for 3. And then they stole our change when we tried to pay. Oh well...at least we got drunk. Which you NEED to be in order to enjoy Tijuana.

-Having a snotty French hotel manager put us in the smelliest smoking room EVER at a London Hilton. And the windows wouldn't even open, so we couldn't air it out. Henry threw a fit in the lobby to no avail, and we were forced to sleep in the stank.

-Seafood-phobic Henry being forced to eat raw ocean creatures galore at a super-fancy, private sushi dinner in Fukuoka. Not wanting to offend the chef, he downed the urchin while visibly shaking. Lesson learned: Henry does NOT dream of sushi.

-Trying to pay for food at Whistler, and they refused to take our US dollars. BURN.

-Watching my extremely-drunk-on-sake brother almost smash into some shoji screens while stumbling around at a Japanese friend's family member's home. Although, there is video of this, and it is hilarious.

-Coming down with the flu while in Pennsylvania visiting my Grandma for what I knew would be the very last time. Spent 3/4s of the trip bed-ridden. On a positive note, she didn't catch it. On a not-so-positive note, that was indeed my final visit with her. Cue sad violin....

-Various camping mishaps. So much can go wrong whilst "enjoying" the great outdoors...campfire burns, mosquito swarms, burnt veggie dogs, air mattress leaks, sketchy midnight trips to the shitter...WHY do I continue to subject myself to this?!

Anyways, while quizzing Henry about our not-so-great travel moments, we were both surprised that it was pretty hard to come up with more. (Oddly, they always seem to involve me getting sick...or nachos). I guess we've been pretty lucky on our adventures. However, since we don't plan on staying put anytime soon, you can guarantee that there will be more cringe-worthy moments for me to "crop out" in the future.

A Daily Dose of Gratitude

Today is just an ordinary day. Had a grueling Finance exam this afternoon, which frazzled me enough to add a shot of Bailey's to my afternoon coffee when I returned home. But the sun was shining, so the dogs and I decided to head outside on our sorta-daily walk up to Circle Drive. Handling three crazy dogs on leashes is no small feat, but it was all worth it when I was rewarded with a killer sunset once I crested the hill. I never get tired of them, and I am thankful to live in such a beautiful place where the sun dipping into the harbor sets off an amazing kaleidoscope of colors.

Heading back down the hill, enjoying the painted clouds overhead, I round the corner of my block and see my little bungalow, aglow with light and warmth, welcoming me home. My neighborhood is humble and working-class, and although my house is small, its beautiful craftsman architecture and details turn it into a work of art. Someone built this home, nearly a century ago, to be more than just a roof over their head. The attention to detail is incredible. And now it's MY little house. Which swells my heart with pride every time I turn that corner. Today, I am grateful for this home; my health, which allows me to walk up that hill; my dogs, who nudge me outside to enjoy the fresh air; and countless other things. Gratitude...it's my attitude.

Gettin' Crafty: Address Number Pumpkins

I'm not big on carving pumpkins. Sure, covering the floor in newspaper and immersing your hands in cold pumpkin guts, sharpening your knife-wielding skills, and then getting to toast the seeds as a "reward" does have its merits. However, I inevitably wait too long to compost my cute creation after the holiday, and end up having to shovel the gooey, moldy mess off of my porch. Plus, I scored a few Sugar Pie pumpkins from my CSA share, and I can barely wait to make them into a delicious pie. So, I decided these babies could do double duty as dessert and decoration, and I opted to paint them. When November hits, I will just peel away the painted skin and, viola....pie time!

Since I had three small-ish pumpkins, I decided to paint them as my address numbers. I gathered my supplies: paint( I used a pot of Martha Stewart textured metallic paint in Lamp Black, from Home Depot), small artists' brushes, and a slim sharpie. Simply Googling "free number stencils" provided me with a plethora of options, and I decided on a vintage typeface style.

Next, I resized the numbers on my monitor, and then printed them out. I carefully cut out the inside of each number, and taped them to the pumpkins. I used my slim Sharpie to outline the number, being careful to follow the curves and ribs of the pumpkin. Once each number was transferred to the pumpkin, I filled it in with paint carefully, using a small brush. This particular paint is quite thick and a little tricky to use, basically it's a mix of glitter and paint.

 

 

After a half-hour or so of drying time, I displayed them out on my porch, using an old wooden crate as a display stand. I think they came out really well, and it adds a nice classy look to my fall porch decor.

 

The World's Ugliest Shed Gets a $12 Makeover!

This little shed sitting on the corner of our property has been an eyesore since we bought this place. We didn't bother doing anything to it for the first few years, since we were hoping to do a major rehab job, complete with new siding, a new door, and adding a new roof with a higher pitch. However, since we have about 1000 projects that are more time-sensitive than this one (as a homeowner, does the work EVER end?!) I decided to give it a "mini-makeover" in the meantime. A good cleaning was the first order of business...I forgot to snap a pic of it before I cleaned...rest assured, it looked a LOT worse, and was covered in a thick brownish-green layer of mold/mildew/algae/whatever that nasty stuff is that covers pretty much every outdoor surface eventually here in the Northwest. Afterwards, I simply used a bunch of paint that we already had laying around from painting our house last summer. I also opted to add a $12 hinge and handle kit from Home Depot to add some flair.

Before Makeover

After Makeover

A good cleaning and plenty of elbow grease, using 60 Seconds Cleaner we already had: $0
Primer and paint left over from another job: $0
Hinge and handle kit: $12

TOTAL COST: $12

So, for $12, the little shed is no longer the eyesore of the yard, and is now a charming little focal point. We still plan on doing the major siding, door, and roof upgrades later, and maybe adding an old window or two to up the twee factor. But for now, she's sittin' pretty, and I think it's the best $12 I've ever spent on this place.

Wanderlust: Japan (Beppu, Yufuin, and Saga)

I have a fairly severe case of wanderlust, which seems to have flared up this week. For the last three years, Henry and I have traveled to Japan in the fall. Since I have felt a strong connection to this beautiful, awe-inspiring country ever since I first stepped foot on Japanese soil, I have a sort of ping in my heart reminding me that I should be stuck on an 11-hour flight on my way to eating the world's best sushi, taking fun rides on the shinkansen, and of course enjoying the company of the friendly, kind, warm-hearted people that live there.

All this week, I've been looking back in my travel diary, to see what I was doing on each day, one year ago, on our last trip to Japan. One year ago today, on October 1, 2011, we had a particularly amazing day, which will go down as one of my very favorite travel memories of all time. This was the day that our friend Ryuji took us to visit the towns of Beppu and Yufuin, and capped off the day with a special meal at his family's house.

Ryuji has a sweet black Mercedes, which meant we rode in comfort and style the whole time. We stopped off at a rest stop on the way to Beppu, which is always interesting to me. It's much like an American rest stop, with bathrooms, vending machines, and maybe a few signs depicting nearby sights to visit. The coolest thing about these rest stops, though, is that most tourists probably never see them, since most visitors do not rent a car to get around Japan, instead relying on the excellent network of trains. It's sort of a "hidden Japan" that, thanks to our Japanese friend, we were able to experience.

Ryuji's sleek black Mercedes

A rest stop in Japan.

Once in Beppu, we visited Umi Jigoku, also known as the "sea hell". It's a boiling, brilliantly blue pond of water fed by a hot spring. You can even enjoy an egg that has been hard-boiled in the "hell", which we did (and it was delicious!). There is also a shrine on the site, and a seperate warm spring that you can soak your feet in.

Eggs boiling in the sea hell

Enjoying an egg from "hell"

Henry enjoys a nice foot soak in the hot spring

 Next, we drove around Beppu a bit, making a stop for Henry to check out (and drool over) a vintage Skyline. For lunch, Ryuji suggests a conveyer sushi place, and we happily agree. At this place, if you special-order an item, it's delivered to you on a toy race car! They even had some weird things I've never seen before, such as hamburger nigiri with fries and ketchup!

Henry drooled over this race-prepped vintage Skyline

After lunch, Ryuji took us to an onsen, or hot spring bath. Henry and I were treated to a private onsen in a little rustic thatched-roof hut. There are all sorts of minerals in the water (including sulfur) which makes the water smell kinda weird, but it's supposed to be very good for your skin. It was intensely relaxing, and a very fun experience. A must-do if you ever find yourself in Beppu!

 All blissed out and relaxed from the healing waters, we leave Beppu and head to the resort town of Yufuin. It's filled with traditional ryokan and onsen, and is a big tourist destination for the Japanese. There is a cute, strollable main street lined with neat little shops. At one, we buy funny Japanese t-shirts, and also can't resist stopping at the "neko" store, which is filled entirely with cat-related merch. The music playing in the shop is various tunes done entirely in meows. You've gotta be a major cat fan to enjoy this experience! I purchase a food dish and heart-adorned collar for Abby.

The "neko shop"

Ryuji also takes us to a vintage automobile museum. There are plenty of old American cars, but also some neat old Japanese cars (Subarus and such) that I've never seen before. We play around on the Harleys serving as photo props. Since Yufuin is a mostly frequented by Japanese tourists, they definitely play up all of this exotic Americana!

Vintage Subarus!

It's getting late, so we drive back to Ryuji's hometown of Saga like a bat out of hell...Ryuji is quite the fast driver in his fancy new car! We are treated to dinner at his in-laws' house, which is located out in the country on a rice farm. We'd actually been there once before, on our first trip to Japan, which was quite the experience. Let's just say that we painfully realized how strong sake is, and never to finish your glass because your host will continue to refill it until you pass out cold on the tatami mat. But, I digress. Like last time, we sit on the floor in a tatami room, and a delicious spread is soon set before us by our gracious hosts. Dinner consists of "shabu shabu", which is a pot of boiling water set on the table that you dip very thin pieces of fish or pork into. We also eat plenty of other things like edamame (love!), fish cake, and fresh fruit. And, of course, some sake.We take it easy this time, though...lesson learned! Ryuji's father-in-law doesn't swig sake with us this time, and retires early to bed. Apparently, he has been ill and was recently hospitalized. Ryuji's sister-in-law enjoys practicing her English with us, and we share funny stories about American stereotypes. (Like, we set them straight that all Americans don't wear Levi's and drink Budweiser). We have a great night and feel so honored to be welcomed into their home, for an authentically Japanese experience.

Our friends Ryuji, Kaori, and their son Ryusei

The family and us

 Earlier this year, we received sad news that Ryuji's father-in-law had passed away. We were devastated. On our first visit, he had welcomed us into his home, the only Americans EVER to visit, and then welcomed us back again. He didn't speak English, and of course we don't speak much Japanese,  but it's amazing how much you can get across without speaking a common language. We will treasure his hospitality always, and it will go down as one of the best moments of my life. RIP...we'll see you on the other side, and we'll make sure to bring a bottle of sake.

The Harbor Happy Hour Project: 8th St. Ale House NEW and IMPROVED Happy Hour!

Today's Happy Hour factoid: Were you aware that happy hour has been illegal in the Republic of Ireland since 2003 under the Intoxicating Liquor Act? Ah, the Irish....they certainly love their drink!

Speaking of Ireland, today's Happy Hour locale has a bit of the ol' country vibe, most likely due to the fact that it's run by the same folks that operate Galway Bay, an excellent Irish pub out in Ocean Shores. It's got that cozy, welcoming, community-living-room-slash-pub vibe that I adore. We go there a LOT. And, when I heard that they re-worked their Happy Hour menu, I came down right away to check it out.

The most notable changes are the addition of pizza to the food selection, and wine is added at a very reasonable $3 per glass. They also offer ALL micros at $3 a pint, instead of just their house brew on the old menu. I decided to try the pizza, which is offered with a red or white sauce, and your choice of various toppings. Our waitress informed me that the happy hour pizza is a half-portion of the regular menu size (which runs ~$15 or so, making this a pretty awesome deal).

 I also had a glass of the house red wine....and, frankly, I'm not a wine snob in the least, so I can't even tell you what type it was, or the brand or anything. I just like wine that tastes good. My thin-crust pizza was delicious and just the right amount of food for a light dinner. Add a $2 salad from the menu and you've got yourself a pretty filling dinner. Our friend Nathan had the Chicken Strips & Fries, and claims that this place has the best on the harbor. Pretty awesome for 5 bones.

 (Nathan claims these chicken strips are the best, and possibly the cheapest, around!)

Overall, I give the 8th St. Ale House Happy Hour a very esteemed score of 10 out of 10 for several reasons: the wide selection of options, the prices (my pizza and glass of wine was just $8 plus tax and tip), the "just-right" atmosphere, and the fact that I can ride my bike there within a couple of minutes. Do yourself a big ol' favor and check them out at 207 8th Street in Hoquiam. I'll probably see you there!

Dinner from my Helsing Junction Farms CSA Box: Week 12

This week, I anticipated the arrival of my CSA box with a bit more enthusiasm than usual, because guess what?! The corn is finally here! And this isn't just any corn....the corn that HJF grows is candy sweet and mouth-wateringly yummy. It's the kind of thing that tastes better than any processed food out there...and that I really think could convert a veggie-loather into a veggie-lover!

Usually I grill my corn, or roast it and eat it straight from the cob. But I had stumbled upon a recipe that I was eager to try, which would also make good use of the pint of cherry tomatoes that also came in this week's box. It's a pasta recipe combined with a lovely saute of fresh corn, cherry, tomatoes, basil, and parmesan. Thanks to this season's warm weather, I even have a nice, healthy basil plant growing on my deck to contribute to this recipe. The end result was fantastic! I've never paired pasta with corn, but all of the flavors came together beautifully. I'll definitely be making this at least once more before all of these candy-sweet seasonal veggies are gone for the year!

Tagliatelle with Corn and Cherry Tomatoes

(adapted from foodnetwork.com)

Ingredients:

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed
• Pinch crushed red pepper
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
• Kosher salt
• 2 ears corn, kernels cut off the cob
• 1/2 pound fresh tagliatelle
• 1/2 cup grated parmigiana
• 6 basil leaves, chiffonade

Directions:

1.Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil.

2. Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and add the garlic and the crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to a medium-high heat. When the garlic has turned a lovely golden brown color, remove it and discard. Add the grape tomatoes and half the stock and season with salt. Simmer the pan until the tomatoes have wilted and let off their juices. Add the corn and the remaining stock and simmer until the corn is cooked through.

3. While the corn is cooking add the pasta to the pot of salty boiling water. Cook the pasta until the water comes back to a rolling boil plus 1 minute. Remove the pasta from the water and add it to the saute pan with the tomatoes and corn. Add about a half a cup of the pasta cooking water and cook until the water has evaporated and the sauce clings to the pasta. Remove the pan from the heat. Toss in the parmigiana, basil and a big drizzle of high quality extra-virgin olive oil. Stir or toss the pasta vigorously. Divide the pasta between 2 serving dishes, sprinkle with a little more grated parmigiana, and serve immediately.