Mashiko... Again..

I feel like I am just advertising for Mashiko here... lol.

I now almost go here at least once a month. The food is pretty interesting though I have to say. 14 dishes this time :)

geoduck in a sweet sauce	tofu with salmon roe and ginger
abalone (body, intestine, et. al)	baby shrimp and tomato salad
spearfish in some sauce	monkfish liver
albacore poke	salmon tartar with quail egg
Sushi	Pressed Grilled Mackerel on Rice
Sweet Shrimp with Roe	Geoduck and Mushrooms
Mackerel Cheek	Creme Brulee

Sunday Tourist Fun: Dinner and Random Drive

Had a nice chat today as I was stuck in traffic. Normally I'd be totally annoyed, but today, it was a nice chat. That and it probably it was a nice day as well, and it's been awhile since I just enjoyed the outdoors.

As always, the drive towards the north is always beautiful. The even better part was that we even got a great view at Ray's boathouse. Arrived there during the sunset - so it wasn't too blinding, but still get all the sunset-ness.

As I was looking at it, I am patting myself thinking of how great an idea it was to ask for a window table...lol. This is probably the first time I landed such a nice table at Ray's Boathouse. Definitely gonna do that again.

The food was not as good as I remembered it though. Though the wine was definitely good :). But really, at the end of the day, it's the company that matters. A pretty relaxing and fun day - even went on a random trip driving around Seattle after dinner... but failed to locate the spot that I wanted to find (turns out we were actually really close to it).

Sunday Tourist Fun: Tulip Festival - 3 years later

Can't believe it's been 3 years since I've been here.

The traffic was alot worse... took an hour and a half to get there. Though it was pretty cool to see my passenger poking at the side window like a little kid loving the scenery... lol. That was pretty cute.

As I was walking around - I still remember the me that was having fun texting away while seeing fields of tulips. The first time ever that I've seen that much tulips gathered in one place... The first time in a few years I started wondering again.

On another lighter note. I think the pictures I have taken have gotten better than 3 years ago (surprising given how little time I have put into this). Though I do think there is still ALOT of work that needs to be done. Maybe that will be something I pick up seriously for in June.

(More Pictures to Come...)

Running out of Steam

I am at the home stretch.. but I am getting so tired.

First time I walked out on a lecture in this master program... .. .

Focus focus........ You can do it!

Reflection: 2 more months...

If things go well, in another 2 more months. Another chapter of my life passes.

~7 years ago, I didn't know what I want, took for granted what life had to offer.
~6 years ago, I started this blog. 4 months in a new place, my mind was cleared once again.
~5 years ago, Another trip, another burst of determination. Then I left, choosing (or was it me who chose?) to move to establish a career
~4 years ago, I learned how to become independent. Yet I wander aimlessly... .. .
~3 years ago, I found a reason to move forward, only to regret and realize how unprepared I was and failing miserably
~2 years ago, I resolved to persevere. To try to stand the test of time... failed.

下一站, 幸福?

Feeling like a software engineer

With 2 IDEs opened, tons of papers opened on my desktop... I feel like a software engineer... or a student in serious need of help!

Omakase Bust :(

First omakase I wasn't happy with...

Though the waitress and manager did try to make it up, which was good. I mean, afterall, it's the gesture that counts (as with experimenting, I was prepared to sometimes find gems, and sometimes busts).

The one thing that made things easier to go down was the waitress was all smiles and nice and cute - felt soooo bad having to go bargain like I was in Egypt while I am in this restaurant.

Getting old - data phone saves the day!

So last Sunday in the 3 games in 2 days outing. The indoor game I was tripped and fell pretty weirdly. I knew I was gonna feel it the next day, but then I did end up scoring 2 goals in that game :).

So throughout this week, I couldn't really laugh because laughing would hurt. Actually, full breaths would hurt too. But this morning, it was really painful.

Started like any previous day of the week. My right side was hurting quite a bit, but I get up and solider on the rest of the day - since I know it will take a couple weeks to fully heal likely. So I brush my teeth, gel my hair.. then BAM... I was in alot of pain. So I retreat to my bed to lie down (I mean, who in pain doesn't do that right?)... .. .

So the pain subsides a bit, then I try to get out of bed... .. . But realize I can't!!! Rolling around hurted, I couldn't push w/ my left because my right side would hurt. On a pain scale of 1 to 10, I was at a 9 - haven't felt this much pain since the bone graph done back in Gr. 11... .. .

Stranded, I couldn't really move. Luckily my phone had been lying around on my bed (it has now become a habit for me to check my mail in my bed when I wake up, do a quick run through of mails and reply to them, and if nothing too urgent comes up, take an extra 15 minute nap... + check some stocks while I am at it... lol).

So with the all mighty data connection, I look up the web site for the nurse hotline, and then make the call. Scary to think that if I didn't have data, what I might have needed to do... .. . In hindsight, I probably could have called someone, or 911... but the catch would be the phone would have never been reachable on my bed if I had not used it earlier on the first time I woke up.

Talking with the nurse, we have an interesting conversation as I try to figure out how to get out of bed. After a good 10 minutes, I am able to catch on to the edge of the bed and pull myself out of it. The nurse convinced me I should drop by Urgent Care, but I shouldn't drive (which was in hindsight also a great idea).

So I go through my list, luckily I was able to find someone to drive me. Many thanks for that! Landing in urgent care, I dare not sit down fully as I was scared I couldn't get back up. Once they had me lying in a bed, they shot something up my a55 (I now have forgotten what it was called). But it was some strong painkiller it turns out. Got a chest xray (which came out clean), and after 1.5 hours, they let me out.

With my pain now down to a 6/10, I walk down to the pharmacy to pick up the medication. At first it was good, but after a minute, I started feeling hot and weird, and began sweating profusely. And by sweating profusely, I mean sweating quite a bit. I was dripping in sweat and soaked. While my friend went to grab me some paper towels, I was up to go to the counter and figure I ask if this is a side effect of what they shot me.

Me: Hi, so I was wondering if you can let me know what was shot into me, and if this is normal or a side effect (I wipe my face with my hands, and basically ended up cupping a pool of water in my hands)
Counter person: Errr... (looking disgusted in the oh my god this is freaky way), let me grab the pharmacist.
(Pharmacist looks at me)
P: Do you usually sweat this much.
Me: Nope, never.
P: Do you remember what they gave you?
Me: Nope.
(P starts making a call, talks to the folks there, and then escorts me back through the back alleyways to the bed I was just at..)

Arriving there, I am greeted by the doctor and saying I am weeeaaak sauce... lol. So they put me back on the bed and monitor me for another hour, letting me sleep. The pain was still dying down, so that was good.

Later the nice nurse lady got me a piece of cake and some apple juice. And then this time the nurse actually walked me out supporting one of my hands to make sure I was fine... lol.

Oh, also the Doc decided that I should take the day off work tomolo... (later I find out that apparently I was prescribed some pretty decent painkillers - but not as strong as the ones they shot up me).

Net: I am getting old. As my boss would put it, old and brittle.

Many thanks though to the friend who went out of his way to ditch his WFH status and drive me and pick me up. I owe you one!

Last Course

Gogogogogo! 13 more weeks...

Soccer Weekend

The weather was just beautiful this weekend. On Saturday, I ended up driving around to find a place to play soccer. The aftermath - 3 games in 2 days! Sooo sorrre.

Started with a pickup on Saturday, which then turned into a full field game. This whole getting fit is definitely helping, as I am able to march down the field not hurting and make plays.

Then on Sunday played a full field game (things start going downhill from here as I was still sore from Saturday). Then to complete it off, played indoor at night.

Amazing... amazingly tired. Though it would be great if I can get back into good enough shape to do this. I think also in order to pull this off, I should probably start sleeping earlier and more during the week... .. .

The road to getting fit continues... .. .

Reflection: Lounging Bum Day Sunday

After the bamboo sake bottles, headed over for a St. Patty's day goodness with flip cup event. Net: Remembered everything up to maybe 2am, then things get murky... lol.

For every one night out = 1 week of rest. I think I am starting to get to this. I officially declare it takes me 1 day after 1 regular night out to recuperate... .. .

Waking up momentarily at 6:20am, I find that I had passed out on my couch after showering and changing last night... so then I casually walked back to my bed and took the rest of the well deserved sleep there.

Waking up for real this morning (ok, afternoon), I remembered I had pulled the seat down blasting music at 3am in the morning in the car after I parked - reflecting and thinking about the past, and the present. As much as I had convinced myself otherwise, nothing really had changed all that much in how I feel or think.

Today as I was reading Paulo Coelho's latest Aleph. Chilling on my couch, wrapped in a blankee... super relaxing. It's been a long time since I've been able to do this. With school and running around senselessly without direction for the last half year, just repeating the daily motions, it was nice to get this little break. This is probably the first time in years that I have just paused and breathed - it has been some time.

Anyhow, as always, thoughtful book. The book talks of loving a person... and intermingling of past, present, and future. One of these days I will really buy the entire set of books and keep them around.

It's funny in some ways, I've always said I would return the book to the original owner, yet I just never have. Nor have I begun what I said I would start doing after reading this first book. Maybe I will do this when June comes around... .. .

Omakase Goodness - I Love Sushi (Bellevue)

Mmmm.. two days in a row of sushi - heavenly.

Today after a nice workout, scooted over for some food. Bamboo Sake and omakase yumminess. Pretty interesting dishes. the beef wrap (5th one below) was pretty good. The wrap was really crispy - delicious!

Blog Update Blitz

Spent a couple hours updating my blogs. Now my Japanese restaurants blog is almost up to date.. well, soon at least.

Demo Done, Finals Submitted

Demo is done, finals submitted. First Sunday where I am actually free!

Hakunnnna Matata!

Momiji - First Time Experience

Tonight we were going for sushi, then to someone's bday gala.

As with all Fridays, was thinking what to eat... and of course, it invariably goes back to Japanese food. hahaha. So this time, we (or I) would try this new place called Momiji in Cap Hill.

So making a reservation, it was a weird one where the person actually said that we could book it for 7:15, but then we had to leave by 8:30 since the table would be then used by another group. So thinking there'd be at least 1 hr and 15 min, and we are suppose to go the bday thing at 9:00, it would fit perfectly. So I agreed.

Getting to the place 5 minutes early, ended up having to wait 15 minutes before being seated. Then after seating down, the hostess actually walked up to remind us that we had to leave at 8:30. So then I asked if we'd get an extra 10 minutes because they were late seating us, and she went 'no'. And goes on to this whole spheel about how we had an agreement, and basically said that if we ordered, the kitchen would be able to bring out the food in time. All in a very rude way. So calm Mson goes... ok. Sure. I will like to see them serve an omakase in 1 hour ... wuhahaha... and goes on to order the usual.

Lil genius arrives right after this interlude, and lil genius's gf informs him of what is about to transpire. Then looking through the menu, lil genius liked the omakase menu, and decides to order one too... lol. This makes lil genius's gf gets anxious for the 8:30 time where she is expecting confrontation. As the perfect gentlemen, I tell her that if the hostess comes up to bug us, she should just go to the restroom so I can put on the reasonable customer Mson mode :P.

As expected though, the server actually isn't rushing at all (I don't think she knows of this), and casually takes our order at 7:45ish). And at 8:30, nothing happened (and we were still on the 2nd course). It wasn't until after 9:30ish, another few bottles of sake later, that we then headed out. No confrontation, no nothing, hostess was just dumb...

Anyhow, the food was pretty interesting, though I have to say that Mashiko is still hands down the best omakase (price vs. uniqueness vs. taste) out of all the omakases that I have tried thus far.