h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've just enjoyed a nice, long holiday weekend.

I scooted out of the office at around 2:30 on Thursday. We ordered in some lovely Thai food.

Friday, we didn't go anywhere to see fireworks- we can see a lovely display at a huge park down the street from several of our windows.

Yesterday K's folks had a barbecue, with his mom's side of the family (K's grandparents, aunt and uncle and respective spouses, and a couple of the cousins). I've learned my lesson after previous visits for dinner (such as the Xmas Eve where I had a slice of bread and some olives), and brought along a couple of veggie burgers to go on the grill, since they were having chicken. I'm glad I did- other than watermelon and some corn on the cob, the side dishes were potato salad and cole slaw (mayo) and cucumber salad (sour cream), which I can't have on account of the dairy.

K's always so sad when that happens- not that he thinks I'm missing out on anything, just that he thinks I won't get enough to eat. I had to ask him if he was kidding this time- two veggie burgers, an ear of corn, and *three* slices of watermelon? Not enough?

Back to work today. It's going to be a busy week. Next week, too. I have to finish up a couple of PowerPoint presentations and send them out to have handouts printed, as well as preparing my monthly reports.

Then, from the 21st through the 25th, I'm home using up some vacation time.

Sounds like you relaxed a little then
I love fireworks,we alwqys go to the displays in florida,and they seem so much better than the ones we have here!!!Although i suppose the disneyland ones will cost a fortune!!!

I saw the Disneyland once when I was in my early twenties- I was visiting my parents at their old home in Orlando, and my sister worked at Disneyland at the time. They were all right, but not all that much more spectacular than the ones down at Navy Pier.

I don't usually go to the fireworks there on the Fourth, as it's really crowded and that's unpleasant when the weather's warm. I used to go see the fireworks at the Pier every New Year's Eve, though.

Relaxing is nice. We managed some laundry and grocery shopping but didn't get around to vacuuming. Again.

Sounds like you had a great time!


lil xx

that's though Pc,your new vac will last a lot longer if you don't use it so much
We were in Orlando for Halloween last year,and the fireworks were amazing,much nicer than the usual ones!!!The castle looked too!!

Hmm - barbecues without meat. Tough one.

I've been off drink for a couple of months now, and I haven't missed it all that much at all, however every so often I pass by some bottles of "Pilsner Urquell" in the local supermarket and I get the longing pang! Czech beer is a strong argument against abstinence..

I'm not a huge fan of beer at all, but Pilsner Urquell was one of the few I remember being drinkable.

I'm used to bringing my own meatless patties along to barbecues. Only one person has ever plopped them right on the grease from the meat.

Halloween fireworks would be awesome- especially here; the weather's gorgeous that time of year!

Q: Does mayo count as 'Dairy'? I know it *looks* like cream...but....eggs, vinegar, oil...

Oh....and by any sane standard, Pilsner Urquell is more than merely 'drinkable' - although I'm a Budvar (Czechvar in the US) man myself.

(But abstaining after last week's hedonism at company expense. Ironstone Zinfandel Reserve. *Highly* recommended. And the perfectly kept cheeses were to die for.

Eggs are animal products. So they're out. But when I count them as dairy it's because over here eggs are stocked in the dairy section.

Aside from not particularly caring for alcohol in general (my crutch is caffeine- a cuppa day of ), beer just doesn't taste good. I'll buy it for company but never drink it. Usually guests bring their own, so we've got a collection of odd bottles out on the back porch collecting dust.

Of course this time of year, guests had better bring their own, since it's 90° out and they'd be waiting an hour or more for a beer to chill in the freezer.

Sun? High temperatures? Clear skies?

I remember that..

Aww. If it's any consolation, the sky is not clear and there's no sunshine today. It's overcast, intermittently stormy, and humid as hell.

Having some leftover Thai food for lunch today. This place we've recently switched to (our old regular burned down) really is the best ever. They use no MSG or fish sauce, offer tons of veggie or mock meats (they do also offer seafood), and lots of fresh juices.

http://www.dharmagarden.net/

We haven't dined at the restaurant itself, usually because when we go out to eat we're with friends who moan about BYOB (honestly, it's nigh-on impossible to get a new liquor license in a residential area and who the hell cares if the restaurant serves booze as long as the food- which is what you're there for- is good?). I'd love to actually eat there sometime, though, because the owner is supposed to be a lovely woman.

I've just finished up a tofu curry fried rice. Like most places, you can specify how spicy you like your dish. I usually go for "spicy", but when trying a new place I ask for "medium". If what I've just had is "medium", I dare not get "spicy". This made me break out in a sweat.

I'm making kimchi-shiitake broth for dinner. Yesterday I was in town to see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824330/ so bought some deep-fried tofu to put in it.

Mmmm.

I was making something 'shroomy tonight, too. Picked up some king oyster mushrooms on the way home from work Thursday. I'm going to toss in some baby bok choy.

I can literally feel heat coming out of the top of my head. That was some really good fried rice.

Well, at least now I know that I don't like king oyster mushrooms. I've never been a fan of mushrooms and only recently started eating them with any frequency, so huge stemmy ones were a bit of a gamble. K liked them enough to eat all the ones I picked out, at least.

I find oyster mushrooms a bit meh. I'll eat 'em...but they're not a patch on (say) shiitakes - or even regular mushrooms.

The kimchi soup was lovely. Tonight I'm making Laksa (with a spice mix I bought on sunday), topped with mock duck.

( Call that a duck! etc. etc.)

I like shiitakes, crimini and the normal little white button mushrooms. I'll stick to those.

What's weird is that I do like crimini mushrooms but I really dislike portobellos. Again, though- it's the texture more than the taste.

Never tried the mock duck yet. Next time we're in Chinatown (we drove through Sunday night on the way home from K's folks' place, but it was too late to stop) maybe I'll pick up a can. Since it's basically seitan, I don't imagine I'd hate it.

Glad you had a pleasant Fourth! We went down to the river, which was bittersweet - reminded me of the folks. Fireworks were nice, anyway.