I was making fried rice for my bento last night when I realized George's grand kids are back, trying to assert their squatter's rights to my apartment.
There was Phoebe, as bold as can be sauntering across the stove hood. I couldn't use my usual method of attack - the paralyzing spray as I was worried about immobilizing myself by spraying my lunch. I looked for something to scoop up Phoebe so as to escort her to a watery grave, but when I looked back Phoebe was gone. Assuming she had escaped through a crack to regale her siblings and cousins with her daring deed of revenge against me. Little did I know she had sacrificed herself for an even greater case of revenge.
I'm sure you can see where this is going even if I didn't see anything till went to take my second bite of fried rice and saw Phoebe - antennas waving defiantly even in death.
Needless to say I went to the conbini for a new lunch and stopped on my way home for reinforcements. Last year I put out lots of cockroach traps last year and they seemed to work. I'm not going to take Phoebe's suicide attack lightly - this is war!
(I went to put a trap under the sink and discovered I had inadvertently squashed Phoebe's big brother, Gentle Jim, a sweet-natured but rather slow guy. He had gotten sandwiched in between the bottom of the cupboard door and the cupboard... FLUSH! Two down... however million left to go...
Friday, 28 May 2010
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Things I love Thursday
Here's a few things I'm loving this week
- a 30% raise! Yup... I got a raise at work, and a pretty significant one at that. It came somewhat out of the blue and is rather hush-hush but I'm VERY grateful. Tthe extra money is obviously welcome (and should make possible actually paying U back reasonably soon for my share of the flights we booked for our summer vacation!) but perhaps even more gratifying is knowing the museum values me and my skills
- having a weekend! Part of the changes at work has meant I now work Mon-Fri instead of Tues-Sat. Having a whole weekend to share with U is important and I'm hopefull that I'll be able to get more done now - as in seeing friends, going to museums (usually closed on Mondays) and maybe even going camping!!
- actually going to see a movie for the first time in YEARS and and AND having caramel popcorn! (I fell in love with movie theatre caramel corn in India but haven't had it since. mmm!)
- summer travel plans! U and I have booked our flights to Indonesia! A good friend and her husband are there for the year and while neither U nor I can take much time off we're both excited for a week in the tropics - jungles and temples and relaxing with friends by the pool - YAY!
but, the number one thing I'm loving this week is
- having had the chance to meet U's grandma. I know it meant a lot to her as well as both U and I.
- a 30% raise! Yup... I got a raise at work, and a pretty significant one at that. It came somewhat out of the blue and is rather hush-hush but I'm VERY grateful. Tthe extra money is obviously welcome (and should make possible actually paying U back reasonably soon for my share of the flights we booked for our summer vacation!) but perhaps even more gratifying is knowing the museum values me and my skills
- having a weekend! Part of the changes at work has meant I now work Mon-Fri instead of Tues-Sat. Having a whole weekend to share with U is important and I'm hopefull that I'll be able to get more done now - as in seeing friends, going to museums (usually closed on Mondays) and maybe even going camping!!
- actually going to see a movie for the first time in YEARS and and AND having caramel popcorn! (I fell in love with movie theatre caramel corn in India but haven't had it since. mmm!)
- summer travel plans! U and I have booked our flights to Indonesia! A good friend and her husband are there for the year and while neither U nor I can take much time off we're both excited for a week in the tropics - jungles and temples and relaxing with friends by the pool - YAY!
but, the number one thing I'm loving this week is
- having had the chance to meet U's grandma. I know it meant a lot to her as well as both U and I.
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Parfait Parfaite
My father often had groups of students over to our house – his research assistants, the Model UN team, his honours class… It happened regularly, but I remember one dinner in particular. I would have been about eight years old and it had been a gorgeous sunny Vancouver summer day so we had eaten outside on the deck. A precocious only child I was in my element – loving the attention of all the amazingly cool undergrad students around me. So when my father offered us our desert choices – chocolate ice cream or fresh strawberries and vanilla ice cream – I was feeling bold enough to talk back a little. Cheekily I asked “what about strawberries and CHOCOLATE ice cream?”
My father made a face as if I had suggested putting anchovies on chocolate ice cream and said in a strangled voice “strawberries and CHOCOLATE ice cream?!” I nodded enthusiastically as my father continued to make faces. He finally relented – offering strawberries and chocolate ice cream as a choice in a voice dripping with disgust. Much to my delight over half the students sheepishly raised their hands for my desert choice, and my father was forced to admit that I was not the only one who wanted to mix strawberries and chocolate ice cream.
More than 20 years later I’m still wondering why my father found my request so odd. Chocolate-covered strawberries are a DELICIOUS invention, so what is so wrong with chocolate ice cream with strawberries? I STILL don’t understand my father’s disgust. But perhaps I do like odd or different combinations. I must admit I’m not normally a fan of Japanese parfaits as there is invariably something in it that I’d rather wasn’t. For example, I’d much rather my chocolate parfait without bananas (a year in India and visits to Sri Lanka and the Philippines have made me unable to eat the tasteless gloop that gets sold as “bananas” in Japan) and my green tea parfait without sweetened red bean jam (I love red bean sweets, but for some reason I don’t like it in my parfait, I guess I find it too sweet or something?)
So when La Fuji Mama announced that the Washoku Warriors challenge this month (head on over to la Fuji Mama's to check out the round up), issued by Elizabeth Andoh herself, was to assemble our very own Japanese-style parfait I was excited. The only problem was the suggested recipes were for the red bean jam or an even sweeter brown sugar syrup. Not wanting either on my parfait I thought about trying to make a less sweet white bean version of the jam (I tend to prefer shiroan, or white bean paste, sweets to the more sweet red version). In the end, however, I settled on using the brown sugar syrup recipe as a very rough base for a nutty kinako (soy bean powder) syrup. It turned out thicker than wanted, so at the last minute I thinned it out with some milk and it turned out perfectly – nutty and flavourful with a hint of sweetness.
And that was pretty much the extent of my actual cooking. Sure, I mixed up some Birds English custard with matcha powder in it, but it wasn’t until after I had bought my green tea ice cream that I realized Andoh has a recipe for it. Sigh. Next time… although I’m not sure my blender could handle it!
So while I wimped out on the whole cooking thing a little, I had great fun assembling my parfait.
I started with my green tea custard, added some green tea yokan (sweet bean jelly – of course this was way too sweet and should have been left out), then green tea ice cream and brown rice flakes. Then more custard, warabi mochi (bracken starch dumplings in sweet kinako sugar), and more ice cream. I topped this with more brown rice flakes and my kinako syrup.
(note to self - don't try taking many many photos of a glass of ice cream on a warm day, there is a reason why tv commercials use substitutes!)
It was delicious. I’m definitely going to make the kinako syrup again. Same goes for the green tea custard as I loved the way the bitterness of the green tea mixed with the sweet custard. I loved the warabi mochi with ice cream (they have a slightly different texture and are much more flavourful than the plain white shiratama that are often found in Japanese-style parfaits). I also have plans to try making frozen yogurt and trying some fruity parfaits with the weather heating up.
But, I’m not sure I need all the toppings, because Hagen Daas in Japan has just come out with a special seasonal flavour: cookies n’ green tea – their sinful green tea ice cream with chunks of dark chocolate cookie goodness. Mmmm!
My father made a face as if I had suggested putting anchovies on chocolate ice cream and said in a strangled voice “strawberries and CHOCOLATE ice cream?!” I nodded enthusiastically as my father continued to make faces. He finally relented – offering strawberries and chocolate ice cream as a choice in a voice dripping with disgust. Much to my delight over half the students sheepishly raised their hands for my desert choice, and my father was forced to admit that I was not the only one who wanted to mix strawberries and chocolate ice cream.
More than 20 years later I’m still wondering why my father found my request so odd. Chocolate-covered strawberries are a DELICIOUS invention, so what is so wrong with chocolate ice cream with strawberries? I STILL don’t understand my father’s disgust. But perhaps I do like odd or different combinations. I must admit I’m not normally a fan of Japanese parfaits as there is invariably something in it that I’d rather wasn’t. For example, I’d much rather my chocolate parfait without bananas (a year in India and visits to Sri Lanka and the Philippines have made me unable to eat the tasteless gloop that gets sold as “bananas” in Japan) and my green tea parfait without sweetened red bean jam (I love red bean sweets, but for some reason I don’t like it in my parfait, I guess I find it too sweet or something?)
So when La Fuji Mama announced that the Washoku Warriors challenge this month (head on over to la Fuji Mama's to check out the round up), issued by Elizabeth Andoh herself, was to assemble our very own Japanese-style parfait I was excited. The only problem was the suggested recipes were for the red bean jam or an even sweeter brown sugar syrup. Not wanting either on my parfait I thought about trying to make a less sweet white bean version of the jam (I tend to prefer shiroan, or white bean paste, sweets to the more sweet red version). In the end, however, I settled on using the brown sugar syrup recipe as a very rough base for a nutty kinako (soy bean powder) syrup. It turned out thicker than wanted, so at the last minute I thinned it out with some milk and it turned out perfectly – nutty and flavourful with a hint of sweetness.
And that was pretty much the extent of my actual cooking. Sure, I mixed up some Birds English custard with matcha powder in it, but it wasn’t until after I had bought my green tea ice cream that I realized Andoh has a recipe for it. Sigh. Next time… although I’m not sure my blender could handle it!
So while I wimped out on the whole cooking thing a little, I had great fun assembling my parfait.
I started with my green tea custard, added some green tea yokan (sweet bean jelly – of course this was way too sweet and should have been left out), then green tea ice cream and brown rice flakes. Then more custard, warabi mochi (bracken starch dumplings in sweet kinako sugar), and more ice cream. I topped this with more brown rice flakes and my kinako syrup.
(note to self - don't try taking many many photos of a glass of ice cream on a warm day, there is a reason why tv commercials use substitutes!)
It was delicious. I’m definitely going to make the kinako syrup again. Same goes for the green tea custard as I loved the way the bitterness of the green tea mixed with the sweet custard. I loved the warabi mochi with ice cream (they have a slightly different texture and are much more flavourful than the plain white shiratama that are often found in Japanese-style parfaits). I also have plans to try making frozen yogurt and trying some fruity parfaits with the weather heating up.
But, I’m not sure I need all the toppings, because Hagen Daas in Japan has just come out with a special seasonal flavour: cookies n’ green tea – their sinful green tea ice cream with chunks of dark chocolate cookie goodness. Mmmm!
Monday, 24 May 2010
Grandma
While I guessed that it was unlikely that U's grandma would be recovering enough to go to the nearby restaurant for dinner with all of us (or attend the wedding she was planning for me and her grandson) I had been looking forward to going to see her again. Unfortunately, however, that won't be happening.
Grandma had a visit this morning from one of U's cousins and the girl's little baby. The visit was a great success, with great-grandchild and great-grandma laughing and enjoying themselves thoroughally. Shortly after the visit grandma passed away peacefully.
U and I are both very glad we went to see her, and take heart in how happy she was to meet me and how relieved and pleased she was that U is happy and "taken care of."
The funeral and all are happening on Thursday and Friday, and U told me not to take the time off work, so I won't be attending my first Japanese funeral. I will be lighting some incense for her, however, and having an unagi dinner in her honour very soon.
Grandma had a visit this morning from one of U's cousins and the girl's little baby. The visit was a great success, with great-grandchild and great-grandma laughing and enjoying themselves thoroughally. Shortly after the visit grandma passed away peacefully.
U and I are both very glad we went to see her, and take heart in how happy she was to meet me and how relieved and pleased she was that U is happy and "taken care of."
The funeral and all are happening on Thursday and Friday, and U told me not to take the time off work, so I won't be attending my first Japanese funeral. I will be lighting some incense for her, however, and having an unagi dinner in her honour very soon.
Daily Squish
My commute to work is fairly short but includes two transfers and three lines - one of which is one of the busiest lines in Tokyo. Going to school I always missed the morning peak rush and rarely found the evening peak to be quite so concentrated. But now I'm on the train at the end of the peak morning rush and that means that if anything goes wrong the chain of dominoes collapses. Trains get delayed meaning more people waiting at a station, meaning more time needed to push your way on and off, meaning more delays, meaning... a vicious (and sweaty and elbow in the ribs-filled) circle.
The Saturday before last there had been a jumper further out the line AND mechanical trouble a stop or two down the line. By the time I got to the station things were beginning to clear up but the trains were packed and more people were pushing on at each stop. On the other side of the car was a very young and over-made up bleached haired mother with a young kid in her arms. While fellow passengers seemed to be trying to give them space the train was packed and every time a new group got on there was a push and the little girl would cry out. By the time her mother finally got off the poor girl was crying and yelling that she hated trains because they hurt. I wouldn't be surprised if the child was traumatized by the experience and will take some time before she happily rides a train again - heck I know that's how I feel!
Another day last week various delays meant the train was packed and I had one guy's elbow in the back of my head and armpit on my shoulder, a lady's shoulder wedged into the side of my ribs, another guy standing on my foot, and a little old lady shoved into my chest. When we got to the the major transfer station everybody wanted to get off at the same time - whether there were people in front of them or not. This lead to a Three Stooges type moment with everyone pushing to get out but getting stuck in the bottleneck. And then something gave and like the cork on a bottle of champagne, people popped out of the doors. One lady, facing backwards, didn't move fast enough for the impatient horde behind her and was sent flying.
Earlier this week I got to the station and - on autopilot I walked to the escalator. Something wasn't right, however as there were people coming down the up escalator! A quick glance to the other side to confirmed the regular down escalator was still moving down. My confusion turned to dread as I looked up to the platform and saw the stairs nearly fully blocked with lines of people. I lined up myself but had to let the first packed train go by before I could board. I wasn't even sure I'd make it on to the next train but the person behind me was insistent on getting on so I was pushed on and in. When we all transferred one lady in stiletto heels was doing the strangest bird-pecking sort of neck stretching jumping stunted almost run to get down the stairs to her train. I'm not sure it made her any faster, but it did mean she didn't have to fight any others off - we were all standing around staring at her!
Can you tell how much I dread my morning commute??
The Saturday before last there had been a jumper further out the line AND mechanical trouble a stop or two down the line. By the time I got to the station things were beginning to clear up but the trains were packed and more people were pushing on at each stop. On the other side of the car was a very young and over-made up bleached haired mother with a young kid in her arms. While fellow passengers seemed to be trying to give them space the train was packed and every time a new group got on there was a push and the little girl would cry out. By the time her mother finally got off the poor girl was crying and yelling that she hated trains because they hurt. I wouldn't be surprised if the child was traumatized by the experience and will take some time before she happily rides a train again - heck I know that's how I feel!
Another day last week various delays meant the train was packed and I had one guy's elbow in the back of my head and armpit on my shoulder, a lady's shoulder wedged into the side of my ribs, another guy standing on my foot, and a little old lady shoved into my chest. When we got to the the major transfer station everybody wanted to get off at the same time - whether there were people in front of them or not. This lead to a Three Stooges type moment with everyone pushing to get out but getting stuck in the bottleneck. And then something gave and like the cork on a bottle of champagne, people popped out of the doors. One lady, facing backwards, didn't move fast enough for the impatient horde behind her and was sent flying.
Earlier this week I got to the station and - on autopilot I walked to the escalator. Something wasn't right, however as there were people coming down the up escalator! A quick glance to the other side to confirmed the regular down escalator was still moving down. My confusion turned to dread as I looked up to the platform and saw the stairs nearly fully blocked with lines of people. I lined up myself but had to let the first packed train go by before I could board. I wasn't even sure I'd make it on to the next train but the person behind me was insistent on getting on so I was pushed on and in. When we all transferred one lady in stiletto heels was doing the strangest bird-pecking sort of neck stretching jumping stunted almost run to get down the stairs to her train. I'm not sure it made her any faster, but it did mean she didn't have to fight any others off - we were all standing around staring at her!
Can you tell how much I dread my morning commute??
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Things I love Thursday
- spring cleaning - I've been going through bookshelves/cupboards and chucking and reorganizing things. I love feeling more organized (although I'm not so happy with the pile of haven't-decided-what-to-do-with-it-but-don't-want-it-on-the-shelves that is currently taking up half of my floor space...)
- home-made yogurt for breakfast - my second batch of yogurt was even better than the first - more solid and less gloopy. In general it is less sour or strong tasting than store-bought yogurt. I've been loving having it for breakfast with fruit and a little caramel sauce... yum!
- translating for a tour at the museum - while I find translating guided tours at the museum very frustrating as it takes twice as long and leaves me wishing they'd just let me do the tour myself (I spent two summers as an undergrad working as a tour guide in the Canadian Rockies and I enjoy giving tours, trying to figure out what information to share with the particular group, how to keep them interested, etc...) I love having the opportunity to share the museum with visitors. It had been a couple of years since my last tour-translation, and I was very happy to be reminded of the improvement in my Japanese as I got through it with only one minor problem when I didn't know how to translate a Japanese version of a Chinese name.
- feeling valued at the museum - my days are currently divided between two departments. A different department asked me to do a couple of different projects recently and then the other day requested a full day on a regular basis. While this won't change my hours or salary and most of the work will be straight English translation and proofreading, I am excited about learning more about how this department works. I also just generally love feeling useful!
- home-made yogurt for breakfast - my second batch of yogurt was even better than the first - more solid and less gloopy. In general it is less sour or strong tasting than store-bought yogurt. I've been loving having it for breakfast with fruit and a little caramel sauce... yum!
- translating for a tour at the museum - while I find translating guided tours at the museum very frustrating as it takes twice as long and leaves me wishing they'd just let me do the tour myself (I spent two summers as an undergrad working as a tour guide in the Canadian Rockies and I enjoy giving tours, trying to figure out what information to share with the particular group, how to keep them interested, etc...) I love having the opportunity to share the museum with visitors. It had been a couple of years since my last tour-translation, and I was very happy to be reminded of the improvement in my Japanese as I got through it with only one minor problem when I didn't know how to translate a Japanese version of a Chinese name.
- feeling valued at the museum - my days are currently divided between two departments. A different department asked me to do a couple of different projects recently and then the other day requested a full day on a regular basis. While this won't change my hours or salary and most of the work will be straight English translation and proofreading, I am excited about learning more about how this department works. I also just generally love feeling useful!
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