Real quick tho...

I wanted to show Mt. Fuji a little love since they didn't even make the "Best of..." list in the current local free weekly.  They are an established restaurant, not at all shiny and new.  I come here with my favorite people and it's such a pleasure and a comfort.  Their sushi is tops and they also excel in other kinds of Japanese foods. 

Agedofu (hold the bonito flakes):

Seaweed salad:

Ahi tuna tataki, my favorite.  I once got this at Sushi Cafe and I wanted to commit seppuku:

Last, but not least...properly prepared fried ice cream:

*****

A little more catching up before I resume my vacation.

My favorite lunch spot:

New family member, Rosie Turnip:

Someone had to go to the emergency room to get an abscess treated.  He kept this on much longer than we'd expected:

Our bond strengthened while he was on the mend:

Rented a room @ a cack motel for pool privleges.  Looks like we're behind a Lowe's hardware store.  It was fun, though! 

Busted out Ms. Bento.  Lunch is cute these days.  Still going strong with the VB6, too:

Went to visit Victor for the first time since his funeral.  I will return to clean it up, burn some incense and dollar bills, and place dumpstered flowers.  I really miss him and am finally acknowledging that a good bit of me died with him.  He was one of my bestest.  I am sorry I didn't visit sooner, I really clung to the anger part of grief.  I'll see you again soon, VWW.

 

 

 

 *****

I just want to say that in the grand scheme of things, I don't know anything.  We attended the vigil for Trayvon Martin at the State Capitol because, as on Occupier proclaimed on a sign held aloft his head "shit is fucked up and bullshit," and we wanted to show support and solidarity with our fellow Arkansans. There are a lot of people who are hurting and angry.  Will there ever be relief?

VACATION NLR

I'm on vacation from all this.  Maybe I'll post a song that I'm really into, or a recipe, or a neat photo, but the creek has run dry otherwise.  There are some lovely things on the horizon.

Hope things are good on your end!  Summer forever.  

Before I take off, feast your eyes on these magical photos of Bjork, performing at Pitchfork Fest this past weekend.  Make a wish:

Photos by Tonte Thileson

matters

 

What's good.

 1.  A couple times a week, my gal Blair has me over to swim.  I love it.  We chat, listen to hip hop/slow jams, and sunbathe.  I am completely relaxed and at ease.  I usually go home sun-kissed and feeling refreshed.  I am so grateful for these afternoons. Summer forever.  Oh, and a little product placement (sorry sorry sorry):  Korres makes an after-sun cooling gel that is just so necessary.  After coming in from the sun, my skin feels fussy for hours.  I'm uncomfortable and sometimes can't sleep.  This yogurt based gel soothes and quiets distressed skin.  We store it in the fridge while we romp in the sun.  It answers all my post-sun skin problems.

2.  Last Monday night was a great one!  A sum of us -- me, ATM, Ike & Steven -- assembled at Victory St. to watch Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.  The results were so much better than any of us expected with the Chicago Blackhawks winning the cup!  For a moment, none of us could even believe it.  Then we got to celebrating.  In my case, a little too hard. The next day, I had to have a massive fried lunch to ease the pains.

New Fun Ree on 7th St. makes the best crispy bean curd:

3.  I got a merit raise, which is such a surprise given this economic climate.  I was so accustomed to having a specific number, each and every time I got paid.  The same number, despite the prices of everything going up and I. made. it. work.  This one-time pay raise is not really that much, but it's a great jumping off point.  I'm going to put some away in savings, pay extra towards my student loan (which I'm SO CLOSE to paying off), and then...???  Go marvel at the Redwoods? Collect tumbleweeds in Marfa, TX?  Start saving for that dream trip to Scotland?   Whatever it is, it needs to be grand.

Marfa, TX:

Photo from marfa.org

4.  Sesame Street was best when I was a kid (fact), but this is pretty dope:

This song is stuck in my head about 45% of the time:

5.  Summer reading/listening:

6.  ATM and I finally tried out Mr. Chen's on University.  Um.  I've been waiting for a Chinese restaurant like this for a long time.  If only we could get proper dim sum, but I digress.  The dumplings, steamed buns, and eggplant with pork are incredibly good.  If someone would teach me to prepare eggplant like that, that'd be great.  Wasn't too thrilled with my fried tofu with dipping sauce, though.  Will try their roast duck or shredded chicken; maybe it'll be similar to that shredded chicken salad I had in Viet Nam?  Cannae wait to go back.

7.  My love dragon will be turning Sweet 16 this Saturday!  I love this little life form with all of my heart.




8.  We are getting ever closer to the frookies at the space!  One of them has an abscess, so we've made attempts to catch her and give her treatment before it becomes a serious issue.  As of right now, we've had no luck, but I feel like today is the day. 
 

Big thanks to Steven for assembling this professional kitty med kit:

Photo by Steven

9.  We've had perfect weather lately.  Spending the evening hours outdoors is mandatory: