try new things

I built yard signs today using a hammer-staple gun (usually they don’t let me have sharp tools :).
Very satisfying, and the smell of freshly cut wood…

On a train from Ayutthaya to Chaing Mai, I was befriended by two tourist police. One bought me breakfast which I think was chicken and definitely sticky rice wrapped in a banana leaf. One officer left and came back with a treat. I was like “Oh you shouldn’t have” and meant it because his partner started faces and sounds that were obviously not complimentary about the treat… steamed bamboo grubs! Ew.

I asked what his partner had said about them and was told that he thought they should be fried, not steamed!

I did not wish to be rude so managed to eat about 8 of the darned things and trying to not be ill and disgrace myself or offend this kind man in any way. He seemed pleased that I ate some and asked my opinion, to which I said that I agreed with his partner, I think they should be fried not steamed too!

Well, even that wasn’t enough for him to be dissuaded from giving me a going away gift of a WHOLE BAG OF BAMBOO GRUBS just for me!

Went to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra and we had a freak snowstorm that day. Snow everywhere it the mood for a holiday concert that TOTALLY was an assault on the senses. Fantastic show. Amazing, just phenomenal! Highly recommend TSO if they are coming your way this holiday season!

On the first day of its temporary run, a friend and I went on the passenger only fast (30+ knots) ferry to Port Townsend, an amazing trip. A wonderful day trip that I would never take with the car ferry system and highly recommend to anyone from Seattle or Port Townsend or who is visiting either place in Dec or Jan 07-08. I hope it becomes a permanent feature. Had lunch in a old pub called Sirens, sat in front of the fireplace, had AppleJacks for drinks, a great sandwich, walked around and looked at the old architecture, shopped, coffee and pastries… a lovely day. Highly recommend!

Going 60 on the interstate.

All of a sudden, from an inner lane, no power whatsoever. All the warning lights on. Looking over my shoulder I can see cars speeding by on the right, merging out of that lane into mine and I was quickly losing speed.

Played “Frogger” to cut over (and did it without pissing anyone off) and rolled to a stop right next to the cement wall. Car still stuck a bit out of the shoulder and over the line but didn’t impede anyone.

Called Tripe AAA. Tow truck on priority. Cancelled evening plans with my daughter. Sat with seatbelt on, watching the cars, SUVs and trucks come zipping by just inches from the door. Car was buffeted around.

Tow truck came after about a half hour or so and towed me out of there. Have never experienced anything like that before.

But the thing that was particularly good was that for the first time, when something bad like that happened, I didn’t get upset and teary!

I got PRK lasek and can SEE! Woohoo! I was rather scared of doing it but went. I could see the clock on the wall immediately after the surgery and today got the contact bandages off and have 20/20 in left eye with right eye not far behind.
I asked what my vision was before and was told that the #s go 20/20 to 20/400 and that there was no # high enough for how bad my eyes were. I couldn’t even see the huge E on the chart is how bad I was.
I can wake up in the morning and see, see, see!
Goodbye contacts, goodbye old ugly glasses.

for lasik eye surgery. I went despite great trepidation and have made the appointment for the surgery.

Strange thing is I now look like an owl, I have black black dilated eyes 6 hours later and no apparent end in sight. Was supposed to go to a Mariners game this evening however the light is too intense and giving me a headache even with dark glasses.

This evening I made up a recipe. Cooked garlic scapes in a little bit of butter. Boiled a spaghetti squash, cut it open (it really looks like spaghettini) and put the squash into a mixture of almond cooking oil, a dash of salt and pepper and red chili flakes (little). Mixed the small pieces of the garlic scapes with the spaghetti squash and baked for a bit. Nice vegetable dish! Made baked pork that melted in the mouth, it was superb if I do say so myself.

or throwing it out the window!It is totally amazing how difficult it is to find out answers for tech support. I spent ages with the ipod, why the heck can they put the serial number in the world’s smallest font???
But I got several things done, (including a system restore which I didn’t know I could do) and everything I needed to do is done and or fixed. Yay.

Woohoo! I did not try a traditional vermouth gin olive one but had two wonderful drinks, a jill-tini and a menage a trois. My girlfriend and I had coconut shrimp, hummus as well, a great time! AND I wore a beautiful turquoise lace dress which is a fun dress to wear.