hello out there

MonsterMustDie got his CT Arteriogram today. Just a routine check up after his ordeal last year. The good part: Now he has health insurance to help with the costs. Hooray!! I'm glad he's now able to take care of the things we worried about so much earlier. Tomorrow, he talks to the good doctor about the results of his tests today.

Now, he's stretched out on the couch, watching his new "Ironman" DVD and dealing with a two-day-old headache. Stress, maybe? Or allergies? I just hope he feels better by morning.

The world seems to have dropped away today. I've been exceptionally out of touch with everthing and everyone in the outside world yesterday and today. Work is still slow but my job is still intact. I am glad to be gainfully employed. Friends of mine have been laid off recently. I'm also glad my own health is still pretty darned good.

Looking forward to Halloween and building giant skeleton puppets for the Halloween parade.

Tonight's dinner could have been leftover chicken and 'taters but ended up being homemade guacamole and chips.

Tomorrow's Buford Highway restaurant crawl may have been killed by the gas shortage. It's no problem for me, as it's my neighborhood, but I haven't heard from anyone who might be planning to join in. It's hard to plan anything that involves unnecessary travel and use of petrol these days. If you want to meet for dinner tomorrow evening, let me know.

L'shanah tovah to all celebrating the holidays this week. I hope the next year is a better one.

Sushi House Hayakawa

Last wednesday's Buford Highway restaurant was Sushi House Hayakawa.

Kisa's special eel roll was beautiful and deliciously fresh.















John's sushi plate had the shape of a ship of sorts, with a fish tail curving upward like a sail and red shrimp heads on either end.
I admit this is not the best angle to see it.







After the sushi was gone, the chef fried his fish and shrimp. It was the dish that kept giving.

trying to buy gas today

Me: Oh, now we'll be blocked in by the car in front of us.

Sandy: Not if the guy in front of us has any driving skills.

Monster: He ought to have driving skills - he's got a red cap.

Chaz: But it's not on backwards.

Happy Birthday to my pal Chaz Lounge. I hope you're having a good day.

more of the same

This is from Scottopic's blog.

I am an exceptional thief, Mrs. McClane.

Sep. 24th, 2008 | 06:10 pm

One thing is certain. If taxpayers do not share in the potential profits from a bailout, someone else will. On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve announced that it was relaxing rules that require investors who take large stakes in banks to submit to longstanding regulations on transparency and managerial control. Private equity firms have pushed for the changes because they would like to become big investors in beaten-down banks but do not want to be regulated.

Relaxing the rules invites more of the same type of opacity and risk-taking into banking that caused many of today’s financial problems. Politically, the Fed’s timing could not have been worse. Taxpayers are being asked to buy up banks’ junky assets, with little expectation of return. At the same time, private equity firms are being invited to make what are likely to be highly profitable investments in the same banks.

so far, this week

Friday night, while Monster continued to get his stuff together for the neighborhood yard sale (a task I'm not any help at), I went to the Vinophiles meeting at Lee's house . Always a good group of people. There was wine chat and a trivia contest on this month's theme wine - California Cabernet Savignon.

Saturday early morning and afternoon was the big yard sale, which ended up being very successful. Because of where the house sits, we never could have attempted to have a yard sale on our own but, as part of a large neighborhood-wide yard sale with ads and maps provided by the neighbors association, we had a lot of people come buy.
As soon as we had tables, price tags, etc. set up, I drove into town for a few very necessary errands and, after noticing my tank was near empty, discovered nearly EVERY station in town was completely out of fuel. I finally found a station with half its pumps still working - one that is out of the way in an industrial & office area that's not directly on any main street. Filled up and went directly back home to the yard sale.

Saturday night we left promptly after the yard sale and briefly freshening up to head to EAV for the Nick and Aud weenie roast and East Atlanta Strut festival.

Sunday morning, my plans to sleep in late were ruined by a cacophony outside that I've yet to identify. Maybe two large trucks colliding. Maybe something collapsing. Dunno.

Sunday afternoon, went to brunch with the Gothfather and friends.

Monday night, would have gotten to bed much earlier if it wasn't for the season premier of Heroes.

Today, work is at a stand still. Traffic was dreadful everywhere this morning. Pressman didn't come in. Boss left at noon and said he'd most likely telecommute tomorrow. I am in charge of a raging silence. I wish I could have planned ahead for the possibility of a slow day. Would have been great to scan old photos or go through some DVD tutorials or maybe brought some correspondence to work on. Clients aren't even calling on the phone today - which might be just as well. As bored as I am, I might be tempted to be too chatty.

awoken by groaning giants

Something very unfortunate, involving large objects and groaning steel, happened on Pleasantdale a few minutes ago, about 6:15 a.m.. So noisy it woke me up. The only thing I can see is blue flashy police lights coming in and the flash of what might be a large fire truck. Someone is yelling something over a speaker. Maybe a police officer.

Not so important to me, I know, because I never use Pleasantdale Road for anything myself and it's Sunday morning, so I don't have to be anywhere early.

Unfortunately I was up late-ish the last two nights and up early yesterday for the yardsale and errands, and now I wide awake. The sleep deficit will be awful on Monday.

Buford Highway restaurant crawl resumes

On wednesday, we went to Kimchi house. Nancy and John split the Sam GyubSal with hot pepper and garlic.

Porky Goodness.

Monster's bulgogi hot pot, which was an incredible collage of textures.

My kimchi jun - seafood pancake. Very mild tasting with an eggy texture.

Afterwards, we walked to White Windmill bakery for desert.
Wonderful fresh pastries, chocolates, tea and coffee.

The Change You Deserve

good Dooce

friday night

Missed Phobia... again.

but...

We spent much of the evening sitting on the floor of a friends empty living room. They bought a house just a couple of blocks from us in the neighborhood. They are still figuring out where their furniture will go, how to light things in rooms without overhead lighting, what they can presently afford to replace and what they will have to wait on. But it was one of those special spots of time, talking and planning and asking questions. They have two very young daughters who were sleeping in the room downstairs so we were also trying to be calm and quiet - not taking things apart to see what's underneath. The best part is the house is huge compared to their condo and the yard is in very good shape. Some ivy needs to be removed from the back but it's otherwise very clean and even. Lots of nice mysterious plantings in the flower garden to discover later too. Some I can identify for them now. Some that only time will tell. I always tell people to wait a year in a new place before making any serious changes outside. You don't know what you have until you've seen it in all four seasons.

DragonCon was fun.