Saturday, November 29, 2008

Tualatin/Tigard

Under the stained glass rotunda, two plates of rare seared ahi were presented to the lunch guests.
(With Ogo, fancy that)

There was much rejoicing.

As i've mentioned before, like a Ryans and Palominos, except not in Honolulu...and dare i say better. i did. It's on mother Internet, so it must be true.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Post Giving of Thanks De-briefing.

On thursday, 27 November, 2008 a group of expat 808 residents ensconced themselves in a motel near an abandoned road in Scappoose, Oregon. There was no dark, nefarious meaning to all of this, no hidden subtext of conspiracy and fear. This was, internet peoples, an actual Thanksgiving celebration. Eat, drink, be merry and play Wii. Talk story and hang out. Discuss various food traditions for Thanksgiving in the U.S. based on ethnic background. Did any of you just have pasta? Was there any squid luau to be found on your table? Kim Chee? Adobo? Pansit? Pizza? TurDucken? Linguica ? Jai ? Sashimi ? Poke? Get the idea? Should I continue? Any other type of interrogative ?

The spread was the traditional Norman Rockwellian image of Thanksgiving, the participants were not.

Turkey, stuffing, dressing, crannberry sauce, and all that you would expect filled the stomachs and sinuses of the guests. i am happy to report that i got up late.

For all of this, this expedition into oregon ( whoa. i should use that..) a night with my family and friends and new friends- in a motel on an abandoned road- i am truly thankful.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

The Giving of Thanks

Kûmaka ka `ikena iâ Hi`ilawe
Ka papa lohi mai a`o Maukele

Pakele mai au i ka nui manu
Hau wala`au nei puni Waipi`o

`A`ole nô wau e loa`a mai
A he uhiwai au no ke kuahiwi

He hiwahiwa au na ka makua
A he lei `â`î na ke kupuna

No Puna ke `ala i hali `ia mai
Noho i ka wailele a`o Hi`ilawe



Today is my first ever Thanksgiving away from Hawaii. Currently the temperature is an Ewa Beach like soul melter of 28°F. Hoo brah, stay hot. We will be venturing deep in to the hinterlands of Scappoose to hang out and celebrate turkey subjugation day with other Hawaii expats. To give you, the internet audience, a feeling for what life is like out here in Yamhill, i will include a photorealistic depiction of the previous morning. Behold:



(pen on legal pad, A portrait of the artist. 2008 Yamhill)


Let us talk about the use of negative space in this stunning, hyper-realistic portrait of the hard scrabble life in Yamhill. Ok, maybe not. That is not a bong in the picture, its a thermometer. Note the fine lack of brush strokes and the choice of legal paddery. While one could be forgiven if you were to think that i am composed of one dimensional lines and have an obvious lack of genitalia...i think it looks pretty close to what life is like out here in Yamhill. Don't you?

Aloha and Happy Thanksgiving.





Monday, November 24, 2008

The Fancy City

On Saturday, we went here.

Mmmmmm, Pancreas.


Thank you to former ISP co-workers Ms. C and Mr. E for hanging out and making it a great evening.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Seared Ahi In Bridgeport

Far from Yamhill, beyond Newberg, beyond Sherwood, even farther than Tualatin there is a mall. Within the vast street saddling area of this outdoor ode to capitalism, you will find a restaurant. Not just any restaurant in Oregon, but a link in a chain of restaurants. This link, you will discover, serves Seared Ahi. Yes, i was skeptical, yes i had my doubts, yes i was ready to spit very rare fish onto the floor of this fine food establishment. Surprise. It was awesome. It had ogo, ginger, wasabi and soy. It had the flavors i haven't tasted in almost a year. The Blackened Salmon Burger was winners. The Mrs. gave a glowing review of the French Onion Soup and Chicken Pasta dish.

To keep myself amused, i've been trying to find analogs of places familiar to me in the state of 808.
M&S is like Ryans and Brew Moon with a hint of Palominos.

Will we go back? Of course ! Coathooks man, Coathooks.

The Report

For the second day in  a  row, the Giant Yellow Ball Of Light and Heat made an appearance over the skies of Yamhill. While this has not had any impact on my new hobby, mud collection, it has certainly allowed one to remember the color of the sky. It is blue right?

To help with the conservation of grass, the horses have been put away in their stalls at night. This  means cleaning stalls. If you've never done it before, you should give stall cleaning a try...it's really the same fun as cleaning a cat litter box- if we assume the cat weighs a ton and the litter box is the size of your bedroom. Once you are comfortable with the sense of scale, please pick up your favorite pair of rubber boots and lend a hand. Caution: You might get a little dirty.


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Percipitation? Please !

It rains in Oregon. It rains in Yamhill, as well. Did i mention the rain? Rain it does, and does it rain. Wet and wooly fun awaits! Thrill and marvel at the two inches of wet mud as it threatens to de-bootify your feet! Gasp in awe as you suddenly lose traction and are taking lateral steps to avoid doing the Curly Shuffle! Feel the invigorating 40°F Rain! Laugh at the lack of sun and potential for cabin fever, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and a possible Vitamin D defficiency!

Having said all that, Yamhill is still fit for the oft used phrase "God's Country".

Wanna help with the leaves? Aloha!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

How To Play Chords On Guitar

Considering it's an election year, some amongst you may think this song appropriate..

Ladies and Gentlemen, the author of "Chord Chemistry", the incredible Ted Greene:


Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Wither Thou Weather?

It's supposed to rain for the rest of the week. If i'm not mistaken, i think there has been one day of sunshine in the last two and a half weeks. While the rain is totally good for the Aina, mucking out stalls and carrying around wet horse poop in 40 degree rain might put a slight dent in my normal sunny disposition.  

A good idea for work at home types would be  a laptop with heated keys, a built in 5000 lumen sun lamp for the prevention of Seasonal Affective Disorder ( you could place the Sun Lamp in the LCD so as to fully bathe the user in soothing radiation ), and perhaps a device near the  trackpad/mouse that mists the user in psychotropic drugs that prevent cabin fever.

Just a thought, the farm awaits...


Tuesday, November 4, 2008

What Makes Oregon, Oregon

Besides the weather and the fact the Drivers Study Guide reminds you to remove all firearms from your vehicle before your road test....did you know Oregon is a Vote by Mail state? You cannot, by law, pump your own gas? State stores from which to purchase hard liquor?

Whats that you say? Who did I vote for?


Get out and vote, interwebbers..

Just Add Water

Have you seen some of the instructions for making Saimin (top ramen/cup-o-doodles, etc)?
Some are written thus:

  • Add soup packet and boiling water.
  • Let stand for three minutes
  • Stir
  • Enjoy
Yes some do say, "stir and enjoy...". What are the alternatives? Dislike? Express Disgust? Grudgingly Accept ? Please, for the love all things, enjoy your Noodles.

With that in mind- i make it a point not to discuss politics and certain other subjects here. However, if you are a legally registered to vote in the United States of America, you know what to do today.

Vote.



That is all.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.."

Declaration of Independence