Serves 4
2 T oil (could probably get away with less)
2 T garlic (chopped finely or paste)
3 Thai chilies, split
1 c chopped onions (white or bottoms of green onions)
2 tsp chicken bullion powder (although cubes would probably work)
1/3 c lemon grass puree (made from blending 1/2 stalk lemongrass with 1/2 c water and straining out solids)
1 c cubed boneless chicken
1/2 c chopped cilantro
6 mushrooms, quartered
2 tsp lemon juice
1.5 T brown sugar
2 tsp fish sauce (Prawn brand was recommended)
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 c green onion tops
Heat oil and add garlic and chilies. Saute for a minute or so. Add onion and saute 3-5 minutes on high. Add buillion, lemon grass puree, and chicken cubes stir, and bring to boil. Add cilantro, mushrooms, lemon juice, fish sauce, brown sugar, pepper, and onion greens. Cook 3-5 more minutes. Add salt if necessary (probably won't be).
Serve with steamed rice. Yummmm!
4.14.2007
4.12.2007
Lombard St. Big Wheel Races
Yet another reason why San Fran is the craziest city out there. File this along with Bay to Breakers, Urban Iditarod, Critical Mass, Urban Golfing, and whatever other crazy events there are out here that I don't yet know about. I'm sure there are tons.Link to YouTube video
Another video, with "Helmet-Cam" (more interesting, if not more nauseating)
We didn't see this in person, just heard about it from someone. Those of you who have been on Lombard St. might find it amusing. There are lots of good pictures up on Flickr, too.
4.10.2007
Spring snow
Kate and Banjo and I got up to the mountains this past weekend for one last bit of winter before all the snow melts, which it's pretty well on its way to doing up there. We were lucky to get to stay for free with some friends at a condo in Incline Village, on the North Shore, Nevada side. Others went snowboarding in the slush, but we opted for another snowshoe hike. The first place we attempted was low - maybe 6,000"- and was totally dry, so we opted to head up the Mt. Rose highway that connects Tahoe and Reno and crests at around 8,000" in an attempt to find some snow so we could justify at least a small portion of the winter sports equipment that we had toted up with us. Although the Mt. Rose ski area looked pretty bare, the backcountry on the west side of the highway, at least the north-facing slopes and ridges, had a good amount of nice snow left, making for a nice 5-mile-ish tromp with our pup.
I think we ventured off-trail pretty quickly, but we ended up going to Mt. Tamarack and back, in the middle of a popular backcountry skiing area when conditions are better. Banjo, as always, was excited to be off-leash and romping around with all sorts of new smells to sniff. We had great views of the Lake to the south, and of Mt. Rose to the north (maybe that will be the destiniation of another day...).
On the way back we got some good glissading in on a decently steep slope- steep enough to give Banjo pause before he cautiously walk/slid his way down after us. As you can see, my second - and more ambitous - attempt had a little unintended excitement midway through, but ended nicely.
Our trip finished with a nice hearty Easter breakfast at the Wildflower diner in Incline, and then we got to listen to the A's take down the Halos on our drive back. Hope everyone else out there had a nice Easter weekend.
I think we ventured off-trail pretty quickly, but we ended up going to Mt. Tamarack and back, in the middle of a popular backcountry skiing area when conditions are better. Banjo, as always, was excited to be off-leash and romping around with all sorts of new smells to sniff. We had great views of the Lake to the south, and of Mt. Rose to the north (maybe that will be the destiniation of another day...).
On the way back we got some good glissading in on a decently steep slope- steep enough to give Banjo pause before he cautiously walk/slid his way down after us. As you can see, my second - and more ambitous - attempt had a little unintended excitement midway through, but ended nicely.
Our trip finished with a nice hearty Easter breakfast at the Wildflower diner in Incline, and then we got to listen to the A's take down the Halos on our drive back. Hope everyone else out there had a nice Easter weekend.
4.05.2007
Poop Head
Tom, Banjo and I went hiking in Sunol - Ohlone Regional Wilderness last weekend. It is a nice big park in the east bay with some amazing panoramic views of the hills and central valley. They allow dogs to be off-leash, which was the main draw for us.
Some highlights include:
Banjo going crazy in the first big meadow we found - running around in circles so happily and chasing his tail.
Banjo chasing some ground squirrels which appeared to be taunting the little guy. He wasn't even close to being fast enough to catch them - they kept popping up out of holes and chattering at him, only to disappear when he got close.
Banjo seeing his first cow - he slammed on the breaks, turned tail and sprinted back to us as fast as he could.
Some lowlights include:
Banjo rolling enthusiastically in a fresh cow pie. Little poop head. We couldn't stop laughing when we saw him with his bright green mohawk looking sooo proud of himself. Needless to say, he got a nice long bath when we got home...
I'm "Acceptable"!!
Many of you know that I have had mysteriously high cholesterol. Mysterious because generally 20-something women who are in pretty good shape and eat (relatively) healthily have cholesterol in the low-100s, while mine seemed to hover between 250 - 300. There was clearly some genetic component as a number of people in my family are in the same situation, so we've been monitoring it since I was in high school.
Anyway, I had a yearly cholesterol test last week, and for the first time ever I am below 200! 198 to be exact, but at least this is in the "normal" range. Also, my HDL (good cholesterol) has about doubled and my LDL (bad cholesterol) has dropped since the last time it was tested.
I'm not 100% what the cause of all this is, but I'm willing to let Banjo and the 2 walks / runs a day we've been giving him have some of the credit. Anyway, I got a letter from the doctor telling me that these levels were "acceptable" and she didn't recommend any medication at this time! So that's great news all around, and hopefully it continues to drop. Time to bust out the flax seeds, oatmeal, and avocado...
Anyway, I had a yearly cholesterol test last week, and for the first time ever I am below 200! 198 to be exact, but at least this is in the "normal" range. Also, my HDL (good cholesterol) has about doubled and my LDL (bad cholesterol) has dropped since the last time it was tested.
I'm not 100% what the cause of all this is, but I'm willing to let Banjo and the 2 walks / runs a day we've been giving him have some of the credit. Anyway, I got a letter from the doctor telling me that these levels were "acceptable" and she didn't recommend any medication at this time! So that's great news all around, and hopefully it continues to drop. Time to bust out the flax seeds, oatmeal, and avocado...
3.26.2007
Only Elite...
Well, the Heels lost. That was a bummer. It seemed to me that they totally outplayed GTown in the first half, at least, and most of the second. Somehow they started shooting from the perimiter towards the end there which 1) isn't their strength to begin with, 2) didn't attack the Hoya players already with 3 or 4 fouls, and 3) didn't allow for any offensive rebounds, as they just shot up bad shots before anyone was in position underneath. Still, not closing it out with 3 points, the ball, and a minute left is bad. Then the OT was even worse. That was ugly. Oh well. I'm not really excited about any of the teams in the Final Four this year. I think I'll root for UCLA, just because I like the names of the guys on that team best: Afflalo. Luc Richard Mbah a Mmoute. Those are fun to say. And aside from the 2 guys from Cameroon, one from Serbia, and one Canadian, EVERYONE on the team is from California. Seems neat.
Also, since it seems worth mentioning because it overshadows any basketball game stories, the UNC mascot who was hit by a car before the USC game - Jason Ray - died today. Gosh, how sad. He had been the mascot for the past 3 seasons, and was a senior.
Also, since it seems worth mentioning because it overshadows any basketball game stories, the UNC mascot who was hit by a car before the USC game - Jason Ray - died today. Gosh, how sad. He had been the mascot for the past 3 seasons, and was a senior.
3.23.2007
Cricket World Cup
The Cricket World Cup is going on now - which I only found out about after seeing this headline in the NYTimes. Apparently the coach of the Pakistani team (the favorites to win) was murdered in his hotel room following their elimination by Ireland. Sounds like the beginning to some mystery novel. We actually saw part of Pakistan's next game (vs. Zimbabwe, they won) in the new Indian restaurant that we got some takeout from on Wednesday night, but this was before I knew that it was the World Cup. I guess the sport is, or has been, pretty widely recognized to be corrupt and plagued by scandals involving game-rigging, betting, and otherwise ill-advised behavior. For example, also this year an English player went on a drinking binge and "had to be rescued from the ocean after he fell off a pedalo boat."
Tragic coach murder and drunken Brit aside, you've got to love a sport where a guy like that looks like this is a professional athlete. And, they don't use gloves. I'm officially rooting for Bermuda.
Tragic coach murder and drunken Brit aside, you've got to love a sport where a guy like that looks like this is a professional athlete. And, they don't use gloves. I'm officially rooting for Bermuda.
Bad Dog
Man, just when we thought our dog was perfect, he tore up a corner of carpet in the extra bedroom that we keep him in while we're gone. Also, he's apparently chewed off the last few inches of the FM antenna on our stereo in that room. That's a little ominous, considering the cornicopia of compter and other miscellaneous cables around there. Well, we can probably fix most of the carpet. Today Banjo's stuck in his crate, which he doesn't really like all that well. We'll see how this shakes out...
Also, Saturday is the annual Lockheed Great America Day, where they rent out the entire amusement park for Lockheed people and guests. It's pretty fun, but also amazing when you consider that all of the people there are somehow connected to LM.
Then on Sunday, it's our fantasy baseball draft! Yes, we're that dorky, that BOTH of us play fantasy baseball. Too bad we can't do it in person with all of our college friends, but it's still a good way to keep in touch. Maybe after the draft I'll post some team reviews, per Sky's tradition.
Happy Spring! (unless you're in the northeast, as I just checked the Dartmouth webcam and there appears to be a good blanket of snow up there still) (Check that - yesterday it looked all white, but today it looks like it's mostly melting. Muck season!)
Also, Saturday is the annual Lockheed Great America Day, where they rent out the entire amusement park for Lockheed people and guests. It's pretty fun, but also amazing when you consider that all of the people there are somehow connected to LM.
Then on Sunday, it's our fantasy baseball draft! Yes, we're that dorky, that BOTH of us play fantasy baseball. Too bad we can't do it in person with all of our college friends, but it's still a good way to keep in touch. Maybe after the draft I'll post some team reviews, per Sky's tradition.
Happy Spring! (unless you're in the northeast, as I just checked the Dartmouth webcam and there appears to be a good blanket of snow up there still) (Check that - yesterday it looked all white, but today it looks like it's mostly melting. Muck season!)
3.13.2007
Busy Weekend
Tom and I took last Friday off - it feels like it has been a while since we were both able to get away with that despite the fact it is built into our work schedules. It is a little tougher for me usually because I am one of only a few people in my office on the 9-80 schedule which means that people often expect me to be there. And Tom is getting into a really crazy time at his job - he may have to start working on Saturdays some in the coming weeks as well.
At any rate, we certainly made the most of our long weekend. We loaded up Tom's Subaru with a grill, tent, pillows, and a dog, and headed down the coast for big sur. Since it was kind of an impromptu trip, we didn't spend a lot of time thinking about our packing list and ended up without some important-ish items such as headlamps, sandals, or shorts. On the way, we stopped at Nepenthe for a drink. Nepenthe is a pretty funky little restaurant with a fabulous view, that apparantly originated as a "mecca for poets, artists, travelers and vagabonds". We sat outside and watched the sunset next to a nice outdoor firepit.
Next stop was Kirk Creek Campground, which we've stayed at once befor
e a couple of years ago. We talked with the groundskeeper last time we were there, and he proudly bragged that it had one of the "top ten rated individual campsites in the country". I can't imagine who goes around rating INDIVIDUAL campsites, but regardless, it certainly is spectacular. It is on a bluff right above the ocean, so every campsite has a fabulous view and the sound of crashing waves all night long. They allow dogs, too, and in fact it seemed like there was one at almost every site around us. Banjo did great - he particularly enjoyed having a healthy portion of our steak dinner and getting to sleep with us in the tent.
In the morning we trooped down to the beach below the bluff for some rock hopping and general enjoying-of-the-ocean. Banjo overcame his intial fear of crashing waves when he discovered that seaweed tastes DELICIOUS and he spent the rest of the walk sprinting from one stinky pile to the next.
After breakfast, we headed back north to Big Sur Station, which is a starting point for a number of hikes in the Ventana Wilderness. We set off for a hike with no particular destination - just enjoyed the redwoods, earthy trail, and views of big sur and the ocean. With a bit of trepidation, we let the little bugger off his leash - he had been so good on our snowshoe hike a couple of weeks ago that we figured it would be worth a shot. Of course, as soon as we let him off, he sprinted off as fast as his little legs could take him about 200 feet down the trail..... at which point he abruptly stopped and waited for us to catch up, much to our relief. So we did the rest of the hike with him off-leash - stopping to smell whatever he wanted, but always making sure to keep us within eyesight. Whenever Tom and I would get separated by a little distance, he would sprint back and forth between us - just stopping long enough to get a quick pet before tearing off
to find whoever was missing. Maybe he has some sort of herding dog mixed in with his border terrier. Anyway, we were so proud of how well he stayed with us and how well he listened to our commands - he is going to be a great little hiking buddy for us.
We headed home Saturday night with only one stop for ice cream. Relaxed most of the day Sunday (I had my first rec soccer game) and started getting excited about our upcoming fantasy baseball season. Speaking of baseball, the A's are on TV for the first time this year, so I'm outta here...
At any rate, we certainly made the most of our long weekend. We loaded up Tom's Subaru with a grill, tent, pillows, and a dog, and headed down the coast for big sur. Since it was kind of an impromptu trip, we didn't spend a lot of time thinking about our packing list and ended up without some important-ish items such as headlamps, sandals, or shorts. On the way, we stopped at Nepenthe for a drink. Nepenthe is a pretty funky little restaurant with a fabulous view, that apparantly originated as a "mecca for poets, artists, travelers and vagabonds". We sat outside and watched the sunset next to a nice outdoor firepit.Next stop was Kirk Creek Campground, which we've stayed at once befor
e a couple of years ago. We talked with the groundskeeper last time we were there, and he proudly bragged that it had one of the "top ten rated individual campsites in the country". I can't imagine who goes around rating INDIVIDUAL campsites, but regardless, it certainly is spectacular. It is on a bluff right above the ocean, so every campsite has a fabulous view and the sound of crashing waves all night long. They allow dogs, too, and in fact it seemed like there was one at almost every site around us. Banjo did great - he particularly enjoyed having a healthy portion of our steak dinner and getting to sleep with us in the tent.In the morning we trooped down to the beach below the bluff for some rock hopping and general enjoying-of-the-ocean. Banjo overcame his intial fear of crashing waves when he discovered that seaweed tastes DELICIOUS and he spent the rest of the walk sprinting from one stinky pile to the next.
After breakfast, we headed back north to Big Sur Station, which is a starting point for a number of hikes in the Ventana Wilderness. We set off for a hike with no particular destination - just enjoyed the redwoods, earthy trail, and views of big sur and the ocean. With a bit of trepidation, we let the little bugger off his leash - he had been so good on our snowshoe hike a couple of weeks ago that we figured it would be worth a shot. Of course, as soon as we let him off, he sprinted off as fast as his little legs could take him about 200 feet down the trail..... at which point he abruptly stopped and waited for us to catch up, much to our relief. So we did the rest of the hike with him off-leash - stopping to smell whatever he wanted, but always making sure to keep us within eyesight. Whenever Tom and I would get separated by a little distance, he would sprint back and forth between us - just stopping long enough to get a quick pet before tearing off
to find whoever was missing. Maybe he has some sort of herding dog mixed in with his border terrier. Anyway, we were so proud of how well he stayed with us and how well he listened to our commands - he is going to be a great little hiking buddy for us.We headed home Saturday night with only one stop for ice cream. Relaxed most of the day Sunday (I had my first rec soccer game) and started getting excited about our upcoming fantasy baseball season. Speaking of baseball, the A's are on TV for the first time this year, so I'm outta here...
Oliver Zebarah Ebel
Hi All,
Thought I would introduce the newest edition of Ebel - my nephew Oliver Zebarah. He's about one month old now and by all accounts a wonderful baby. I can't wait to meet him!
Kate
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