A Drizzly Aloha Friday in San Diego

Aloha Friday, hoaloha! Keeping in line of the Hawaiian theme, I thought I'd talk about a favorite Hawaiian dish, Kalua pork. Kalua pork is actually not a favorite of mine because, well, I just don't think I've had really good Kalua pork. And since my friend, 99, asked for Kalua pork for tomorrow's Halo 3 gathering, I thought I'd do a little write-up on it.

I have seen all sorts of various home recipes for it but I'm not a big fan of liquid smoke, nor do I want to dig a pit in my back yard (neighbors might get a wee bit annoyed, hehe). But OnMyPlate.org has a couple of recipes for making Kalua pork that sounds really interesting. Click here for the recipes. I might try the crockpot version if I can get my hands on some good apple cider from Julian.

As far as side dishes, I like sweet potatoes that are baked. But for a really good side dish, try candied yams. I also prefer to bake the yams if I have time rather than boiling them. Boiled yams tend to make the dish a little runny and I like to have a nice brown sugar crust.

Another side dish you can add to get that extra Hawaiian flare is chicken long rice. Here are a couple recipes:

Loco Kine Recipes
Ma'ona's Recipe

That's all I got for today. Gotta go do my little Aloha Friday dance now. Kipa hou mai (come visit again)! Have a great weekend; now go and eat well.

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Halo 3 Tops Biggest Entertainment Launch

Yup, we knew this was going to happen. Microsoft announce at E3 this year that was the goal. And with Halo 3 launch, Microsoft should be in the black with a $170 million in opening-day sales just in U.S. I'm assuming those numbers also include the 1.7+ million preorders (one of them being mine!).

E! News called Halo followers cultish...okay, I can accept that. But Halo trilogy, IMHO is more than that. I've talked about Halo 3 with a couple of people from work who have never played it. One of them told me she heard a whole segment about Halo on NPR. Even Mr. Harumph talked to me about it, but leave it to him to add a little dig how some of his friends "wasted many hours" playing that game. Those who don't play Halo or video games have a hard time understanding our love for the game. But how is this different than those who are really into sports? A recent study has shown that people (mostly males) spend at least 8 hours each week on their fantasy football leagues. And they spend all weekend watching games and managing their teams. What about all those folks around the world who are football fanatics (soccer to those in the U.S)? What about all the craze over a new movie? It's all related, just different venues.

Anyway, I'm really excited about this Saturday, my 3rd Halo party. Good food, good company, shooting friends and talking trash, ah, doesn't get better than that. It's also suppose to be a nice weekend in San Diego, too. Now if I can just motivate myself to run today...

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Halo 3 - First Day Play Review

The UPS delivery guy surprised us with our copy of Halo 3 yesterday, a day before anticipated. I love these kind of surprises. It did make working through the day a bit harder. Since I was preoccupied, not that I had much going on at work yesterday, I decided to leave a little early. So here's my first impressions of Halo 3. It isn't meant to be a comprehensive review, just things I noticed on my first go around.

The Mister and I played the first 3 levels of co-op (in 1080i mode) yesterday. No, it wasn't an all nighter--everything in moderation, folks. I was Master Chief, he was the Arbiter. The first thing we noticed was the graphics. The details were better than Halo 2, and the lighting was right on. Although we were a little busy trying to get used to the new mapping of the buttons, I did notice some of the additional background sounds as we were tramping through the forest. There certainly is a more epic feel to it.

I think the hardest part was the new mapping of the buttons from the old white/black buttons. When using the default setting, switching out new weapons was now the right bumper button, not the Y button. Reloading the primary weapon is also the right bumper now, secondary weapon to the left bumper. This remapping really screwed me up because Halo 3 has a new concept of equipments, which is mapped to the X button. You can only carry 1 equipment at a time and the X button activates it. So during a heated battle, out of years of muscle memory training, I go to hit the X button to reload, but instead, I set off a bubble shield (which isn't a bad thing until I need it later) or worst yet, a trigger mine (hmm, is that what those are called?).

As far as game play (and this is a non-pro, occasional game player's perspective), it felt really good. There's a sense of familiarity to previous Halo games but there was also something different beyond the new story line. The feel of things was just a bit different, in a good way. I felt Master Chief's movements were more fluid and he can squeeze into more tighter spaces it seems, the Marines were a little smarter (but don't let them drive!), and the Grunts matured, just a little (their dialogues still funny). The Brutes are fun to kill and one of the coolest new weapons added (it's rivaling for top spot of the Sword in my book) is the Gravity Hammer! Love it! The new Chopper was also fun to drive around in. It was a little hard to steer at first but once you get the feel for it, it really is fun.

I haven't explored all the new options for co-op play but I did turn on points. I'll have to check into the skulls. And really, I've only scratched the surface. You can read more about the new features on IGN or Gamespot. I won't bore you with it.

I've been debating whether to try out the multiplayer or not before this weekend's Halo party. We will most likely be playing Halo 2 and I don't want to have to re-reprogram my brain back to the old controller mapping. Gotta stay sharp, you know. I'll post how that goes in a weekend report. Now go and eat well because killing Convenants can work up an appetite.

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You're Getting Sleepy, Sleepy...

According to Reuters, not getting enough sleep can kill you (click here to read the article). Would you believe over 40% of the population in the U.S. get less than 5 hours of sleep?? That's just crazy. I'm one of those people who really need 8 hours of sleep each night to feel "refreshed" but I can easily sleep 9 hours. I used to have a VP that would only sleep 3-4 hrs a night. She said she only needed that much (little) sleep. Nice person, but nuts. She also drank a lot of coffee, all day long. That just can't be good for you.

Sleep must be big news right now because it even made it to the front page of today's Union Tribune. That article talks about naps. So would it be surprising that I enjoy naps, too? Heck, I'm yawning now as I'm typing. The problem I have with naps during the workday is that there's really no place for me to take the nap (unless I nap at my desk with my head on the table but think about that neck cramp when I wake up, and those sleep marks on my face, hehe). The only real alternative I have is to nap in my car. And maybe it's just me but I feel kind of silly laying out in my car, sleeping, in the parking lot, while other people are coming and going.

Let's face it. There's just a stigma about napping during work hours here in the U.S. What would people think if they walked by my office and I'm leaned back in my chair sleeping? Or worse yet, mouth open and snoring? Well, not that I snore. But you know what I mean. And not that I would care what people thought (cuz that's just not my style). But my point is, I think the stigma of "sleeping on the job" would prevent some people from taking a very beneficial (and probably much needed) nap. One of the article says sleeping enough even reduces irritability. Boy, what a little 20 minute nap would do for me right now.

Have a great week everyone.

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Halo 3 on it's way!!

Well I'll be darned! I woke up this morning, checking my email and guess what? (what, what? Tell us!) I got a shipping notice that my pre-ordered copy of Halo 3 is going out today!! Wahoo!! It's being shipped UPS 2nd day air so I should have it by Tuesday, the official ship date!

I had anticipated it being shipped Monday or Tuesday although I knew most stores who made pre-order purchases were going to get it this weekend. Heck, even the 7-Eleven® near us was advertising that it would have copies available at midnight 9/25/07.

Wow, so it's going out today. Guess what I'll be doing Tuesday evening when I get home from work?

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It's Hockey (Pre)Season!!!

Whoop! Whoop! It's hockey season!!!! Finally. Not sure I can take it, hockey season and release of Halo 3...

So from now until June 2008, there's going to be some hockey talk on this blog. A co-worker mentioned to me yesterday that he watched hockey once and it reminded him of watching soccer or baseball. I'm assuming he meant it was boring and/or slow. I would have agreed before the 2003 strike. I used to watch it every now and then with the Mister (a Buffalo Sabres fan) but after the Stanley Cup lose in 1999, I kind of lost some interest, partially because the games were a little slow for me.

But since the strike, rules have changed and the hockey that I know today is much faster, higher scoring, and much more exciting to watch. As a matter of fact, it's the only sport I watch consistently now (no, Iron Chef America doesn't count). NHL Center Ice, baby! (even better in HD!) Occasionally, I still watch a football game since the Mister (still) has NFL Sunday Ticket. But for me, it's all about hockey (punch 'em in the face!).

Okay, that's a story I have to tell, quickly. The Mister took me to my first NHL hockey game back in 2005 (LA Kings vs. San Jose Sharks). It was awesome! We've been to the SD Gulls games before when they were still in San Diego but the Mister said it was nothing compared to an NHL game. He was right. I started to get into hockey after the end of the strike (watching the Kings on tv) so he thought it was time. Now I'm a hockey fanatic. Oh yeah, the story.

So at the game, there were these guys sitting a couple of rows in front of us and one guy would yell "hit 'em in the face!" really loudly every now and then. It was quite funny and needless to say, the phrase became an inside joke at home.

So anyway, good news today about one of the Sabres players. Teppo Numminen is recovering from a successful heart surgery (his third). That's very good news. It would be great if he will still be able to play another year, well, he is considered as one of the "old" guys.

I'm eager to see what kind of lines Ruff comes up with. I certainly expect a different kind of play this season without Briere and Drury. But that could be a good thing. God, I hope it's a good thing. Also want to see how much Vanek and some of the other guys step up. Maybe by January we'll finally stop reading and hearing people talk about the missing co-captains (including myself). They're the past, let's move into the future, okay? Okay!

I also have tickets for 2 games for when the Sabres are in So. Cal. They are making a trip to CA in December to play Anaheim Ducks (2007 Stanley Cup champions) and the Kings. We're going to both!! It's going to be a road trip so I guess I also better get a list of some places to eat while we're up there.

My brand new Sabres jersey is hanging in the closet, the Mister's is hanging right next to mine. Waiting for the first game to break them in, which will be 2 weeks from today (Friday, Oct 5, 2007). Neighbors, better put in those ear plugs and close those windows cuz Momma is going to get loud! Bring it on, baby!! Whoop, whoop!!

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Buckeye Candy Recipe

I had a couple of requests for my Buckeye Candy recipe. The recipe I use is a mix between a standard Buckeye recipe that calls for paraffin wax, which I substitute with Crisco shortening and Jiffy's recipe. The wax or shortening is what makes the chocolate shiny. Make sure you have plenty of time to make this because the rolling and the dipping does take a little while. These are extremely rich and I can't eat more than 3 at a time. Great with milk.

Ingredients:
1 (18 oz) jar creamy peanut butter (I like to use Jiffy Creamy)
1/2 C butter, softened (you can substitute with margarine)
1 lb confectioners' sugar (~3.5 cups) (see Note below)
1 Tbsp vanilla
12 oz milk chocolate chips (you can substitute with semi-sweet)
1-2 Tbsp Crisco shortening (you can substitute with 3-4 oz of paraffin wax)

Makes 80 buckeyes

• Cream peanut butter and butter.


• Add sugar and vanilla and mix well.


• Form into 1 inch balls and refrigerate.


• Melt chocolate chips with Crisco shortening in a double boiler.


• Dip balls into chocolate with a toothpick about 3/4 of the way covered.


• Place chocolate side down on waxed paper. You can put a small dollop of chocolate over the hole. I often have lots of left over chocolate and like to use a fork to drizzle thin streams of chocolate over the buckeyes to give it a gourmet look. Kind of look like chocolate truffles.


• Let set at room temperature or refrigerate. I usually refrigerate to help speed up the cooling and hardening of the chocolate due to space. After they are set, I stack them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. I've kept some as long as 3 weeks.

Sorry, this isn't the best picture of the best rolled buckeyes. I finally got around to adding a picture and unfortunately, this one was the best of the bunch. Hey, never claimed to be a good photographer, hehe.

Note: Depending on how oily the peanut butter is, you might need to add up to an additional 1 C of confectioner's sugar. I like to add about 1/4 C at a time, blending well. You want to get a consistency that's just starting to NOT stick to everything. Put a small dollop in your palm and roll it. If it doesn't stick, you're good to go. Something similar to the inside of a REESE'S® Peanut Butter Cup center (at room temperature).

Let me know how this works out for you. Now go roll and eat well.

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Waikiki Trip Update

I'm back! Traveling back was a very long day. Thank goodness I had the portable DVD player with me. I watched 3 movies, none of which I care to review (they were eh, so-so). So back to work I went. Uh-huh, you say. Right! Someone in another department is leaving the company and somehow, somewhere, the powers that be has decided that half the responsibilities of this person will be transferred to me and my group. Hmm...but on to a happier topic, my long weekend in Waikiki.

Let's start with the Aloha Parade. The Mister and I only caught the tail end of the parade. Here are a couple of the schools. There were quite a few high school bands there too, Milani, Kaiser, just to name a couple.

We followed the last band down Kalakaua Blvd. and popped into the International Market just to tool around for a bit, see what's new. As we started to head out, I saw an eatery that I hadn't noticed before. The name of the place struck me funny because of a review Kirk did on Pucca Chocolate. Hmm, a Puka Dog. Notice the veggie dog?? Having experienced a veggie burger before, I think a veggie dog would live up to place's name. But what we found really interesting was the different "garlic lemon secret" sauces you can get on a dog. Also check out the various relishes. I've got to have relish on my dogs so they all sound really interesting. Also notice the "traditional" condiments. I never realized that there was Hawaiian mustard and that lilikoi (passion fruit) and guava were typical island condiments. Okay, maybe next time I'll have to try one just to see what it's like and so I can try some of those relishes.

On Sunday, we went over to the Aloha Swap Meet in the parking lot of the Aloha Stadium. There were a couple of vendors selling plumeria cuttings and would you believe I bought none? Yes, I swear I did not. The Mister was in shock when I kept walking. He thought it was because there wasn't anything there that I wanted. Actually, it was the thought of dragging out my heating mat and rooting tubes and having to monitor the cuttings until next Spring that stopped me. Don't feel like doing that this year. Anyway, here's a picture of the inside of Aloha Stadium. I've never been inside.

So now let's get to Hy's Steak House. The Mister and I were determined to have room for Banana Foster so we decided not to order any appetizers, soup or salads. We did munch on a couple of the garlic bread (yummy). Sorry, the picture of the garlic bread was all fuzzy. But here's a picture of my Scampi Sicilian over tri-colored linguine. The presentation was pretty good and the sauce was very nice. However, the shrimp was too salty and I had to eat it with the pasta. The pasta was fresh and it was quite good. Too bad the scampi was so salty. No salt would have been nice since the sauce was very flavorful. A disappointment. I was only able to eat about half of this before I started to get stuffed anyway. Had to stop, banana foster!

The Mister had the Steak special: fillet mignon and scampi. The Mister said it was really good. Notice the 3 large mushrooms at the bottom of the picture. That was the sauteed mushroom and onion side that we ordered. Very nice but could have used a pinch more salt. I like to add salt to my sauteed mushrooms because I feel it enhances the woodsy taste of good fresh mushroom. But overall, it was a nice side.




So for the finale...drum roll, please....

Banana Foster! There is a special way to prepare the rum sauce for this dessert and if it's not done properly, it's not worth having. Our waiter (I forgot his name) and I agreed on that point. We both have had it where everything was prepared in the kitchen and then just assembled at the table. Blah. Just doesn't taste the same.

This picture was after he caramelized the sugar, orange juice, and 3 kinds of rum. Weeeee! You can really feel the heat.

And this is the final product. Yummy! The bananas have to be on the firm side, maybe even slightly green or else it won't hold up to the cooking. The best is when the bananas are just soft on the outside and still have a firm bite to it. Mushy bananas are not good. The sauce on this was perfect. A nice way to end the evening.

So that's about it for this trip. Oh yeah. Since my plans for the weekend was kind of shot due to a variety of things, and after that huge meal at Hy's, we decided to do a light dinner my last night there and decided to go back to Chiba-Ken's for dinner (sorry, no pictures again). We did order the chu torro this time and it was heaven! Just melted in your mouth! I also ordered the aji nigiri and it was served with a little bit of grated radish on top. I haven't had it this way before and was taken back a bit at first because of the radish. But it was really good. The aji almost had a slight sweet flavor to it. I don't know if the radish had anything to do with it. Quite enjoyable. The Mister enjoyed both. We got the cucumber/seaweed/octopus salad again but it wasn't as good as the first time. It was a tad too vinegary, couldn't quite make out the sweetness that made it so wonderful the first time. But it didn't keep us from eating the whole thing, the octopus was tender and delicious as the first time.

So that was the trip in a nut shell. Can't wait for the October trip. That one includes a stay in Kauai! Have a wonderful rest of the week. Now go and eat well.

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A Rainy Day in Waikiki

It's been sprinkling all morning long. It's crazy busy this morning in Waikiki because of the Aloha Parade. And later this afternoon, the Air Force Thunderbirds will be performing at Fort DeRussy. This all kind of shot our plans for today because traffic will be pure hell getting in and out of Waikiki. So the Mister and I have decided to just stay put. Watch a bit of the parade and walk Kalakaua a bit. I will post pics later.

Yesterday, we popped over to Mark's Drive Inn for some plate lunch. Unfortunately, the camera was packed and I forgot to bring it. (lame excuse) The Mister had his usual Mixed Plate Lunch: beef patty, tery chicken, chicken katsu, 2 scoops of rice, kim chee. I tried something a little different this time. Instead of having the large BBQ rib plate , I opted for a mini BBQ ribs and a mini chicken katsu. The reason why I did this because the Mister said the chicken katsu has been extra good this past week (he's been here since Sunday for work). So I had to get the katsu. Normally I would just take a couple of the Mister's but we were both really hungry so I just ordered my own. Price really wasn't an issue since the 2 minis were only $9 total. Yum, yum, yum. I couldn't finish it all. You know when you're just starving that when you finally eat, you get really full, fast?

Since we ate lunch kind of late, we didn't go out for dinner until 7:30 pm. We walked down a side street, Ena Road, off Ala Moana Blvd. to look for this little Japanese restaurant. We were in Waikiki last year in October when that earthquake hit and all of Oahu was dark until late into the night. No hot meals, no light, people lined up outside of ABCs and other sundry type stores trying to get some food and some blackout necessities. We stumbled across the restaurant, who was serving up meatball bentos. We were lucky enough to get the last bento box. Between that and a cold turkey sandwich from another deli shop, we ate by candlelight that evening.

So we decided to go back and actually eat in it this time. Not to our surprise, it was gone. In its place, is a new Pho restaurant. You see, for the past 7-8 years, restaurants on Ena Road has suffered a lot of turnover. For many years, there were just a few small mom-pop restaurants, one of them was Spaghetti Hale. But in that time, many of the older buildings have been bought out, torn down, and made into huge condos, malls, what-nots. There was a section of Ena Road where someone was trying to buy out a couple of plots, at least that was the rumor we heard. The family that owned them (I think 2 buildings), didn't want to sell. But we don't really know exactly what happened but those small buildings are still there and since then, a few restaurants have come and gone.

So back to my story. We joked as we started to walk down Ena that the restaurant was gone. It turned out to be no joke. We peaked into the Pho place, only had about 4 customers. We decided to walk the rest of the road (not very long) to see what else had changed. The little Chinese restaurant was still there but closed for dinner as usual (odd). The tattoo parlor was still there (also closed). At the end of the street, there's a new Irish pub, the old Pho place was still there, next to the laundry mat. That pho place used to be where we'd go for a pho fix but the service is horrendous and after 2 last chances, we finally wrote it off. So...it may be a good thing the new pho place is there. We'll have to try that next time we stay in Waikiki, that is, if it's still there. I really wasn't in the mood to have pho last night. Too hot, too humid.

As we were walking back up towards Ala Moana, we decided to peak into Chiba-ken, another Japanese restaurant that we noticed during the last visit. Since we had already decided on Japanese food, we thought we give it a try. It didn't seem too busy but it's a decent size place, about a dozen tables inside, some more outside, and a good length sushi bar. I was still pretty full from lunch and since my eating time was a bit off, I just wanted something a little light. Uh huh. We took a seat and looked over the menu. Koji Okada, owner and sushi chef, was one of 5 behind the sushi counter. The waitresses and waiters were very friendly and quick.

Chu toro was on the special list and we almost ordered it but decided on a mix sushi platter and the vinegar cucumber/seaweed/octopus salad to start. The salad was very good. The vinegar was mild and refreshing, slightly sweet. The cucumbers were the small kind and crunchy. Seaweed was perfect, not fishy. Octopus was very tender, perfect touch to the salad. Our mixed sushi plate was served up. It contained tuna roll (no cucumber, the way I like it), 1 nigiri each of taco (octopus), hamachi, salmon, sweet shrimp, tuna, fish roe, and one more I can't remember. The Mister and I split up based on what we like. Roe, of course, was mine and it was really good. I also had the hamachi, tuna, and the shrimp. All were very good, fresh and melted in your mouth. The Mister said the salmon was excellent. After we polished off the plate, we still had room for more (yeah, I just wanted a little something, something light, right). So we decided to order one more plate and an order of unagi nigiri. Lovely. The Mister thought this was the best sushi we have had in a very long time, maybe even best, he said. I would agree in a very long time. Best? Possibly. Everything just melted in your mouth. If it wasn't so hot, I would have tried the aji but next time. Oh yeah, there will be a next time, that is if Chiba-Ken survives the curse of Ena Road.

With such an enjoyable meal, I decided to look up some info on Chiba-Ken. Here's what I found. Star Bulletin Eatery had it as one of its picks in 2006 (click here for the write up). For Sushi Monster's review, click here (with pics, of course). Scroll down to April 5, 2007 to read it.

I know, I know. Not much a review without pictures but I was a bit out of sorts yesterday, being a travel day and all. It's not like I could have posted pictures anyway because the Casio is one of those cameras that need the special based (not just a plug and cable) to download the pictures. Stupid but that's how it goes.

I now have the camera in my purse. We decided to go to Hy's Steak House tonight since we're not in the mood to drive anywhere. I've even convinced the Mister to let me take food pictures, considering it's a high end restaurants. We wanted to go to Hy's because they have awesome food and a great selection of flambe desserts. Our favorite, Banana Foster!! Hy's still believes in the traditional table side preparation of flambe desserts. Fun to watch. Posting for Hy's will have to wait until I'm back home so I can upload the pictures.

Chiba-Ken
468 Ena Rd
Waikiki area
(808)941-2800

Have a wonderful weekend. Now go and eat well.

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Aloha oe! I'm off to Hawaii

I'll be on my way to the airport tomorrow morning about this time. I should be on Waikiki Beach by 5 pm PDT, hopefully soaking in some rays, eating some shaved ice, or perhaps sipping on a Lava Flow. So in the spirit of my trip, here are some pictures from previous trips back.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Waikiki. I took it from the top of Diamond Head National Monument. Right in the center is the Royal Hawaiian, the Pink Palace of the Pacific! I think this was the trip where we actually stayed at the RH. The Mister has stayed there a few times in the past and it's still his favorite hotel.





I took this picture on the Arizona Memorial on that trip too. Did you know the flags that have been previously flown on the Memorial is available in the gift shop?





And of course, there's the food. Thinking about this now, it's kind of funny how the only food picture I've ever taken was of my first loco moco breakfast at Sam Choy’s Breakfast, Lunch, Crab & Big Aloha Brewery. I love this place. People are friendly, food is ono (delicious!), and portions are ginormous! That spoon is a big spoon, not one of those tiny teaspoons. I was only able to eat about a quarter of it. Maybe we'll swing by if we have time.

I might give a quick update if I have time but I'm planning on shopping a lot, laying around a lot, and definitely eating a lot. Just a few places I want to hit are Mark's Drive Inn for some awesome plate lunch (finger smackin' good!), Little Village Noodle House for some dried fried beef and steam basa fish (oh yeah!), Giovanni's Shrimp Truck (drool!). Reid of 'Ono Kine Grindz has a great review on it here. I heard Romy's was pretty good too but have never tried it. If we see it, I might have to go shrimp overload. Or maybe we'll just settle for some haupia cream cake from Ted's Bakery. The Mister loves coconut so that would be something good to try.

While we're up in north shore, I'm hoping we'll have time to watch some surfing. Oh yeah, I also want to swing by Bubbies in Hawaii Kai on our way back for some mochi ice cream.

Mmm, I'm hungry already! Oh silly me. And of course I can't forget Leonard's malasadas. Got to have some of that. Easy enough since we'll be staying in Waikiki. Whew, I think I'm going to have to not eat for a whole week after this trip. Sha, who am I kidding?

Have a terrific weekend. I certainly will. I'll be eating well, hope you will too! See you mid next week!

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Remember 9/11

It was six years ago today that I stood in front of the bedroom tv, paused in my morning rituals, gawking at the screen, asking the Mister what was happening. We surfed other stations trying to determine what was going on, then realizing that something crashed into the first tower. In no more than a few minutes later, we watched live footage as the second tower was hit. I still get the same sickening feeling in my stomach today as I did that morning.

For me, memories from that day are still as vivid as if it just happened yesterday. But I can't help to feel that 9/11 has become a distant memory for some. Today's blog is in honor of those who died in 9/11, the heroes, those who lost loved ones, and those who are still affected by that horrific day. 9/11 should never be forgotten.

The following information is from a variety of sources (eg, Wikipedia, CNN):

Nineteen people affiliated with al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial passenger jet liners that morning or Sept. 11, 2001. Each hijacking team had a trained pilot, all 4 pilots were trained in the US.

American Airlines Flight 11 was the first flight hijacked and the first one to crash into the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. Flight 11 contained the most passengers. Everyone onboard was killed: 11 crew, 76 passengers, and 5 hijackers. 1366 people were at or above the floors of impact in the North Tower. It is believed that hundreds of people died upon impact. The crash destroyed all stairwells and elevator shafts in the tower.

United Airlines Flight 175 was the second flight hijacked, and crashed into the South Tower at 9:03 am. Everyone onboard was killed: 9 crew members, 51 passengers, 5 hijackers. At 9:59 am, the South Tower collapsed. Only 18 people were able to escape from the stairwell from the the floors above the crash.

American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked around 8:50 and crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 am, 30 minutes after the second crash into the World Trade Center. Everyone onboard was killed: 6 crew members, 53 passengers, 5 hijackers. This crash also killed 125 people in the buildings. The upper floors of the damaged area of the Pentagon collapsed about 18 minutes after impact.

United Airlines Flight 93 did not reach its intended target and crashed in an empty field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania 10:06 am. It is believed based on phone calls to loved ones and flight data record, the passengers and the crew tried to overpower the hijackers. The Commission concluded that the hijackers crashed the plane to keep the crew and passengers from gaining control. Everyone onboard died: 7 crew members, 33 passengers, 4 hijackers. We can only speculate how many lives the passengers and crew members saved from their brave attempt.

There have been some speculations as to the exact number of lives lost. Here are the numbers I found.

• According to http://www.september11news.com/, the total deaths from the WTC Attack was revised to 2,792 in December 2002.


• MSN Encart states about 3000 people.


• CNN calculated 2,973 people died.


• LA Times reported nearly 3000 people died.

One thing for sure, we lost innocent people that day, even one of them was too many.

Remember September 11, 2001.

The White House: Remembering 9/11- http://www.whitehouse.gov/september11/

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Quick Barefoot Running Update (9/10/2007)

This update is actually for last Friday's run. I finally broke my 18-minute mark. My actual time was 17.48 minutes. Calves were a bit tight the next day but massaging and flexing throughout the weekend took care of it. The balls of my feet, especially that darn left foot, was a little tender afterwards but it was gone the next morning.

I ran a little faster than my normal speed somewhere in the middle and noticed that I started to pound a little more than usual. I tried to focus on being light on my feet and that helped a bit. But true to my younger years, I'm more of a sprinter than a distance runner. I didn't last too long at the faster speed. But the progress was still good because I was able to maintain a .5 mpg increase than my last run.

It's now been a little over a month since I've started running barefoot. In this time, my feet have built up some callouses. I noticed that the more consistent I am in my speed during a run, the less sore I am overall. My feet start to pound when I get tired and really need to concentrate on form. When I started, I was doing a 30-minute mile. First goal was a 20-minute mile, then 18-minute mile. So in 5 weeks, I went from 30-min down to 17.48-min. At least I'm progressing. The next goal -- a 17-minute mile.

One last thing. A product that I really like to treat joint and muscle stiffness is Salonpas. I grew up with it, something my family have always used to treat symptoms of joint and muscle aches, like stiff necks. Back then, only the patch was available. There's all sorts of different Salonpas products now, although I have only seen the patches in non-Asian stores. Costco carries the patches.

The Mister really likes the gel. The gel is really good for muscle tightness or if you need to treat a larger area. It creates a cold/hot feeling. The patch is good for isolated areas. I've used the patch on my neck, shoulders, ankles and hands. It can even help reduce bruising. I find that it works best on bruises if you apply it immediately after the getting the injury. DON'T use a heating pad when you're using Salonpas. DON'T put it over an open wound (duh, that would burn!). Also, for those who are allergic to certain types of adhesive, use the gel instead. If you haven't tried these, I highly recommend them. I think it's much better than BenGay.

That's it for this Monday morning. Have a wonderful week. Now go and eat (and run) well.

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Frankie's Italian Deli

The Mister and I decided to have lunch at Frankie's on Friday. We've been coming to Frankie's for over 7 years now and it holds a bit of nostaligia for us. Well, and the fact that we feel Frankie's makes the best thin crust pizza in San Diego.

Frankie's is a very small place located in the same strip mall as Bolsa's in Mira Mesa (corner of Mira Mesa Blvd. and Black Mountain Road).

It has a very interesting history. Apparently it started out as an Italian foods grocery store and then started serving food, using the owner's old Sicilian family recipes. It has been a fixture in Mira Mesa longer than I have lived in San Diego. There still is a little (and I do mean little) part of the store that carries some Italian food items but most people go there for the food and deli items.

Gerry was the owner when we first went to Frankie's and a few years ago, he sold it when he decided to retire. The new owner wanted to keep the same recipes and make Frankie's into a nice little bistro type restaurant. Well, being new to the restaurant business, the new owner didn't realize how much work it required and only a short year later, sold it to one of Gerry's daughters. So Gerry came out of retirement and is back behind the counter. For one, I am very glad Gerry is back, for selfish reasons of course.

Although Frankie's offers a good variety of items (subs with real Italian meats, pasta, salad, and appetizers), we almost always get pizza here. When we used to live closer, we would come for dinner every once in a while and they often have daily specials on the chalk board. Sorry the picture of the menu is a bit out of focus but it's hard to tell on the Casio Exilim if a picture is out of focus, even when zoomed in.

Today, there were no daily specials except for the lunch special. (Sorry, another crappy photo)

Here's what's on the lunch special going down the list:

1. Sausage or Meatball sub with salad ($6.99)

2. Lasagna with salad ($6.99)

3. Spaghetti or Rigatoni with salad ($6.49)

4. 2 Slice of Pizza, 1 topping, with salad ($5.99)

5. Soup and Salad ($5.99)

6. Pastrami sub ($6.99)

We ordered our usual pizza, a medium combo, at the counter. The nice young man, who's worked there for awhile now, took our order. He was also making the pizza that day. I grabbed an IBC root beer from the fridge and we took a seat at one of the tables.

In about 15 minutes, our pizza arrived. Thank goodness because we were both starving. I was ready to chew off my own foot (but then how would I run later to burn off all this pizza goodness?). Here's the pizza. The menu doesn't say how big the pie is but if I were to guess, the medium is about 16". It is just perfect for us for lunch, 4 slices each, no left overs. And we are usually just getting to the point of being stuffed by the time we get to our last slices.

The pizza was very yummy, although for some reason, the pizza is always best when Gerry makes it. I don't know what it is but the Mister agrees with me. Maybe because Gerry puts more sauce on it ?? I'll have to pay more attention the next time.

The marinara sauce it what pulls the whole thing together. They use real whole milk mozarella so it's best eaten right out of the oven, when the cheese is extra stringy and gooey. The mushrooms, green peppers, and onions are all fresh, too. I like to add grated parmesian cheese on top of mine, and a little sprinkle of ground red peppers.

I've also had the pepperoni pizza and just a testimate to how good Frankie's pizza is, I loved it. I've never enjoyed other pepperoni pizza because it just didn't have enough stuff for me and seems to lack depth in flavor, even those with whole mozarella cheese. But Frankie's is just so good (and I think it really is the sauce). I haven't had just a cheese pizza there but I like to have at least pepperoni and sausage on my pies.

My MIL loves to get the meatball subs here. Although I've never had the subs, I know Gerry makes every sub by slicing the meats to order. No packaged meats here. The side salads are very plain salads, iceberg lettuce, slices of tomato. We've usually get the antipasto salad when we've been here for dinner and that's what I would recommend instead of the just the plain salad. It's still iceberg lettuce and ho-hum tomatos but the Italian meats and fresh shredded mozarella is what makes it better.

Frankie's Italian Deli
9225 Mira Mesa Blvd, #106
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 271-7376

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Fun Hawaiian Trivia

It's Aloha Friday! (whoop whoop!) Since I've started the countdown for when I fly out to Honolulu (next Friday, whoop!), how about some fun Hawaiian trivia?

Did you know that Hawaii is the most isolated population in the world? It is 2,390 miles (3,850 km) from California, 3,850 miles (6,195 km) from Japan and 4,900 miles (7,885 km) from China.

Did you know that Diamond Head State Monument was formed by short series of explosive eruptions about 100,000 years ago? It is the most famous and recognizable Hawaiian landmark. There's also a military history connected to the monument and you can see evidence of it as you hike up to the summit. If you've never hiked Diamond Head, and if you are in *fair* physical shape (that is, you can climb stairs without getting winded), then I would recommend the hike. It is certainly a site to see!

The Hawaiian archipelago spans the distance of 1,524 miles (2,451 km) making Hawaii the longest island chain in the world.

Did you know Hawaii was the 50th state (and last state) admitted to the union on August 20, 1959? Okay, this may seem obvious to some of you but I have met people, US citizens, while visiting Hawaii ask if they need their passports to get back into the States. I kid you not. I wonder if Miss Teen South Carolina knows where Hawaii is located. Oh wait, here's a quote from her when asked to identify Hawaii on a map:

Miss Teen SC: Hawaii? I personally believe, that some US Americans, like South Africa and Iraq...everywhere like that don't have maps, and that they should help our education over here in the US to help the US and our Asian countries such as Hawaii, so we can build up our future.

Outstanding! Brava, Miss Teen SC!

Hawaii became officially known as the “Aloha State” in 1959 by a legislative act.

Hawaii is the widest state in the US, when measured east to west. Hawaii also has the highest population density in the US (how about them *Big* apples, NY?).

According to the 2000 census, Hawaii has the most multi-ethnic background population in all of US, where non-whites are the majority.

Hawaii has its own time zone called Hawaiian Standard Time. Hawaii does not observe daylight savings time.

Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the US (how about them...ah...years, Minnesota?). Life expectancy in Hawaii for males is 75, for females 80 years.

Honolulu is the “largest” city in the world. Honolulu constitutes all islands not named as belonging to a county, which includes the entire island of Oahu and all the other small, uninhabited islands, known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Foster Botanical Garden is the oldest garden in Hawaii, built in 1855. It's a beautiful place to visit, especially if you're into orchids.

The island of Kauai is the wettest spot on Earth, averaging a rainfall about 397 inches (10 m) per year.

Lake Waiau on the Big Island of Hawaii is the highest lake in the US, an altitude of 13,020 feet (3,968 m).

The island, Niihau, is a privately owned island, owned by the Robinson family. You can only visit the island by invitation from the owners or one of the Native Hawaiians who live there.

And to top off the trivia, I give you -- the luau (loo-ow). The luau, to most tourists, is a showcase of Hawaiian style food, bad mai tais and flame twirling dances. Oh yeah, let's not forget the wahines in coconut shell tops. But actually, the luau is a Hawaiian tradition for celebrating accomplishments, honoring people and events. Ancient Hawaiians would have multi-day luaus to pay homage to ancestral gods with song, dance, and offerings of food.

Foods most often associated with luaus are:

• roasted pigs (puaa) wrapped in ti leaves (in traditional luaus, whole pigs are roasted in underground ovens known as imus)
• poi made from tarro roots
• various fruits (bananas, pineapples, coconuts, etc.)
• lomi lomi salmon (more of a modern day tradition)

Have a terrific weekend! It's going to be a beautiful one here in San Diego. Now go and eat well!

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Abby, the Otter Pup (and Chinese Dumplings)

I've been following the progress of Abby, the abandoned California sea otter pup found on Jalama Beach in Santa Barbara back in early August. I have a great fondness for California sea otters. Their fluffy faces just absolutely melt my heart. So, if you don't know the story or haven't clicked on Abby's video to the left of the blog, here's a quick summary.

The pup was only 5 days old and the umbilical cord was still attached when she was discovered. They don't know why she was abandoned (don't even want to think about it). The Monterey Bay Aquarium is usually the place where sick or abandoned sea otters go for rehabilitation so they can be released back into the wild. But due to renovations, MBA couldn't take the pup. So Seaworld was the next logical place since it's also part of California's Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

The pup has been doing well and have gained weight since her arrival at Seaworld. Abby got her name a couple of weeks back when her caretakers were "cautiously optimistic" about her recovery. Looks like she's doing well.

Click here for the latest video of Abby. There are also videos to the left shot back in August 2007, shortly after her arrival at Seaworld. Serious "aw" factors in these videos.

Running Update:

Just a quick update. Ran pretty well after almost a week break. Calves are a little tight but today's workout should hopefully workout any tightness. I'm inching closer to the 18 minute mile goal. The Mister finally got his Pumas and have ran in them a couple of times. He said is a very different feeling. I'll post a full report on this shortly.

Food Update:

I had planned to do a write up on Chinese water dumplings (shui jiao) with pictures of the preparation the last time I made them but I ran out of time and didn't take pictures. But here is the recipe I use that's a modified version of my Grandmother's recipe. As a child, this was a whole day event at my grandparents' home to feed 14-17 people. There were usually 2-3 people making the peels and 2-3 people making the dumplings (jiaozi). It was a tradition for Chinese New Year.

I don't make my own peels anymore. Takes way too much time to make the amount needed for the large batches I make. I use premade gyoza wrappers. There are several different brands you can get at an Asian food market. I prefer the Chinese brands because they taste more similar to my Grandmother's. Maybe types of wrappers will be another write up someday. Just note that this is another one of those "to taste" type recipes. I normally use 2 lb of ground pork but taking into consideration that most people wouldn't make that much, I've tried to modify the recipe for smaller portions.

Oh yeah, one more comment about my Grandmother's recipe and how I ended up with my own recipe. My Grandmother didn't have measurements. She went with the nose. She would throw the ingredients together and let the smell of the filling determine the adjustments she needed. So when it came time for me to make it on my own, I had to remember all the things she (and Mom) did and remembering the smell. The meat is the only thing that's measured out. I eyeball everything else. It's really hard for me to describe this process. I started to help make the dumplings since I was four so knowing the perfect filling smell is second nature. The only thing I can say is that the filling smells savory. So, I would recommend smelling your filling and if it turns out perfect for you, stick with what you put in and remember that smell. That will help you fine tune the ingredients the next go around.

Ingredients:

1 package of your favorite dumplings or gyoza wrappers

Filling:
1/2 lb ground pork
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground white pepper, or to taste
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1 scallion (green onion), finely minced
1 egg
1 cup very finely chopped Napa cabbage, squeeze to remove excess water
1 Tbsp rice wine or dry sherry (optional)

2 Tbsp water (for sealing the wrappers)

Dipping Sauce:
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1/2 Tbsp vinegar
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely minced (optional)
Asian chili paste (optional)

Instructions:

Just a quick note: I prefer an equal portion of cabbage to meat but the Mister likes more meat. You can adjust the amount of cabbage to taste. This recipe should make ~40-50 dumplings, depending on how much meat you put in each wrapper.

If the wrappers are frozen, let them defrost in the refrigerator overnight. This will prevent them from getting all soggy and sticky.

Combine filling ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Place about 1 Tbsp filling in the middle of a wrapper. I use just a tad less. Don't overfill it or else you risk the dumplings bursting when boiling (not a pretty thing).

Dip your finger in the water and trace around the edge of half the wrapper. Fold in half, forming a crescent shape, and press firmly to seal. Repeat for remaining dumplings. If you have trouble sealing the wrapper, you can mix an egg with the water to get a better seal.

Bring a large pot filled about 3/4 with water to a boil. Keeping the water at high heat, slowly put in about 15 dumplings into the pot, stirring to make sure the dumplings don't stick to the bottom of the pot. If the water starts to foam over, you can add 1/2 cup of cold water or turn down the heat to med/hi. But make sure the water still has a small roll. After about 4 minutes, the dumplings will start to float up and the peels become translucent with meat sticking to wrapper. Remove the dumplings with a slotted spoon. Repeat until all the dumplings are cooked. Mix dipping sauce ingredients together. Serve hot with dipping sauce.

Some things to consider:
After removing the dumplings from the pot, I always put them on a large plate in single layer because once they start cooling, they have a tendency to stick together, especially those premade wrappers. Also, if you use ground pork, make sure the filling is cooked all the way through. I always make the dumplings with pork because that tastes the best to me. I have tried ground turkey (too dry) and ground beef (not savory enough) but I figure if I'm going to spend all that time making it, I want it to taste good.

The filling can really be anything you want. My mom used to like to switch it up a bit and add dried shrimp or chives. Sometimes she might even add rice noodles. You also have the option of steaming or pan frying the dumplings rather than boiling.

The reason why I make so much at once is because the Mister and I love leftovers. If you do have leftovers, you can store them in an air tight container for up to 5 days. There are a couple of options to reheat leftovers. Usually, I will make pot stickers and pan fry them but they also microwave up pretty nicely. Don't heat them up too long in the microwave unless you like dry and crunchy wraps. You can also put a damp paper towel over the dumplings when you nuke them to prevent drying. I don't like to reboil them because it makes the wrappers really slick and sticky and it just doesn't taste right. Again, serve hot with dipping sauce.

Let me know how these turn out. Send me an email if you have any problems or questions on how to make them. Now go and eat well.

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A Few Bad Apples DO Spoil (It for) the Whole Bunch

Today is definitely a rant day. Can't help it. Too many stupid people out there. A couple of things have me wound up so tight that I'm having a hard time blogging. Today I am an Angry CAB! And the keyboard is feeling the pain from the pounding. So just a fair warning, when I get into these moods, I go off, I mean really go off. So there will be some explicit content and mature themes in today's blog. (Earmuffs, children)

To those idiots who said the Labor Day riot that occurred in Pacific Beach was "not a big deal" or that the tactics the police used were "unnecessary," I want you to look at the guy who was kicked and punched in the face and head more than 30 times by a bunch of people. I want you a--holes to stand on the side of the police while a mob is throwing rocks, cans, bottles filled with sand, and other crap at you. I want you hooligans to stand in the middle of that mob with your little sisters and brothers, your 80 year old grandparents, and your kids and wives. Tell me, do mace and pepper shots seem "unnecessary?" I can guarantee you that would have been the most conservative approach I would have taken. A little collapsible baton to the knees and arms. Yeah, that would do the trick.

And for all those out there that oppose the ban of alcohol on local beaches, you can thank these morons for blowing it. These jackasses have now given those who want alcohol banned the perfect reason to push it through. Hey, I don't go to the beach let alone drink on the beach so I don't give a rat's ass. However, I do believe in people who abide by the law should enjoy certain privileges. And I think every single one of those jackasses that contributed to the riot (not those who got caught in the middle of it) should be identified, named publicly, and charged. Hell, I would even attend the public flogging.

Now let me rant about the next topic, which has me steaming more so than the stupid PB riot. I have refrained from commenting on Michael Vick because my idea of a punishment for Vick would entail stripping him naked, sticking a raw electrode up his heinie so he can feel what those dogs felt before they were electrocuted to death. Then douse him with gravy, strap lunch meat to his balls, and lock him in a room with 5 pit bulls who have not been fed for a couple of days. And then, to top it all off, throw what's left of him into a pig pen (kind of like Wu from Deadwood, eh?). And while I'm at it, I would throw in Whoopi Goldberg and Jamie Fox along with him. Isn't that what they do in the South, the deep South?

Give me a f*cking break. Let's say for f*ck sake that we put aside Whoopi's excuse about his "cultural" upbringing, and Jamie Foxx's excuse that Vick didn't read his superstar handbook on "what not to do as a black star." Let's put any kind of morality and cruelty to animals aspect aside. Instead, let's focus just on the legality, shall we? The law is pretty clear cut, more so than the morals or upbringing of a person.

So Foxx believes Vick didn't know it was illegal (yeah, right). Last I checked, Vick was born and raised in the United States of America. Not some 3rd world country. Not some lawless country. He is a US citizen by birth. He graduated from high school and attended Virginal Tech. He isn't some poor schmuck that didn't finish 3rd grade. And above all, let's not forget in our country (God bless America), ignorance of the law does not excuse; ignorantia juris non excusat. Nothing else needs to be said beyond that.

The deep South, Whoopi? Not sure if everyone in Virginia wants to be categorized as such. Michael Vick is a nice guy, Whoopie? What kind of nice guy thinks it's okay to torture and kill dogs? How nice would you think he is if he had that prode up your heinie? Keep the shock value confined to your comedy schticks. Michael Vick is not funny, or a nice guy. Perhaps you feel some pressure to up one on Rosie on your first day and I can assure you it worked. You have succeeded in proving you are just as crazy and f*cked up as Rosie. Of all people, you should have been the one up in arms about what he did, considering your campaign for animal rights. But instead, you so easily forgave Vick and bought his lame excuse at the first uttering of mea culpa.

In my opinion (and I'm always right), Vick is a dumb f*ck idiot. My opinion has nothing to do with race, sex, education, or upbringing. Just a dumb f*ck human being. Why Darwin's theory hasn't taken its toll on him yet is beyond me. But I believe in karma and he'll get his in the end, one way or another.

And really, just how racist is Foxx and Whoopi? Do they really resent being African Americans that much? (Oh wait, Whoopi definitely does. Why else would she have encouraged her ex-boyfriend, Ted, to go blackface and help him write racists jokes about her?) By their words, they are saying that dog fighting is acceptable among the African American of the "deep" South. They are either stupid, ignorant or racist. Okay, they are all three. It is, unfortunately and disgustingly, prevalent in other areas of this country and cruelty to animals know no race.

And let me remind everyone that cultural upbringing is not an acceptable excuse in this country. That is why rapists who were molested as children still go to jail when convicted. That is why those who live in the US who beat and kill their women because it's their custom still go to jail for murder. Hell, I can go on...but won't (was that a sigh of relief I just heard?).

There are no acceptable excuses for any of these people, Vick or his excuse makers. Vick is a horrible human being with no sense of American morality. And the only reason why these people can say what they say is because they benefit from the freedom of this country (no, America Ferrara doesn't know what she's talking about because she's a stupid, ignorant, c---. Don't even get me started on her.). God Bless America.

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A Little Rattling in San Diego

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday weekend. Hopefully you weren't one of 500 that were part of the craziness down at Pacific Beach yesterday. Apparently quite a few drunken fools at PB had to go ruin Labor Day with a beach brawl that required 70 police officers, some dressed in riot gear, to break up. At least 16 people were arrested on charges of public drunkeness and fighting. Yeah, booze + stupidity will always equate to trouble. Oiy.

Hey, did you feel the small tremor this morning in San Diego? It happened around 7:47 am this morning. I was sitting in my office when the building shook just for a second or two. The windows didn't rattle much, just a quick jolt. Kind of like when a big wheeler goes over a big bump and rattles the ground. According to signonsandiego.com, it was centered in the Channel Islands, about 11 miles west of San Diego and seven miles southwest of La Jolla. No damages have been reported yet. Hope y'all are okay.

I'm really looking forward to some cooler days trending for later this week. We're looking at low 80's by Friday inland but forecast has the temps going back up next week. Let's hope they're wrong and this cooling trend continues. Although by next Friday, I'll be on my way to Honolulu for a long weekend. Looking forward to it. I'm in dire need of some new Aloha attire.

Sorry not too much to report on today. It was just too hot this weekend to be out and about. So the Mister and I were hunkered down inside. It was kind of a Halo weekend. A few movies were on tv. Blazing Saddles was on and we watched it uncut in HD (HD is the bomb!). They just don't (or can't) make movies like that anymore. Also watched Shawn of the Dead. Which kind of led us to watch Hot Fuzz last night. What a real disappointment. Had a few funny moments but mostly, it was long and boring. It tried really hard to mimic the humor in Shawn of the Dead but just couldn't manage to capture the same quirkiness. Paddy Considine (Dead Man's Shoes) was in the movie too as one of the Andes.

I did celebrate Labor Day, a day of rest, literally by not running at all. As a matter of fact, didn't run at all. I do plan to run today, and I sure need it after this past weekend. A quick "run" down of food from this weekend: kalbi (of course), potato salad, egg salad, ice cream cake, Chinese water dumplings (yummy!), rice porridge with rousong. That's about it. Oh yeah, I also had a Wonder Bread rousong sandwich. Yeah, I know, a non-eventful weekend. But those are sometimes the best kind. Now go and eat well.

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