Microblog

At the Guthrie tonight, a violent storm was followed by a lesson for our times. In The Tempest desire for revenge became compassion for adversaries.

It was another warm, sunny day for microgreens in our apartment garden. Outside, it was a different story.

The things I wish I’d known when I was young; e.g., there’s so much good stuff in Asian supermarkets. On my walk, popped into my favorite Asian supermarket for chicken parts westerners generally eschew, Chinese broccoli, and (an impulse purchase) frozen pork steamed buns.

The things I wish I’d known when I was young; e.g. bike-riding is wonderful. Got my first bike when I was 27 and living in the USA. Today, went down to the basement to get the wheels ready for a quick getaway. Did a joyful loop through the garage to check things out.

The things I wish I’d known when I was young; e.g., Spam musubi is good. Fry Spam slices, coat with shoyu/mirin/brown sugar glaze.Stack in a musubi mold (or Spam can lined with plastic wrap): —Spam slice—Sushi rice mixed with a few drops of vinegar —Optional furikakeWrap with nori.

The things I wish I’d known when I was young; e.g. sauté mushrooms in a mono-layer, don’t be afraid of heat, and deglaze the pan with wine. And so much still to learn: I’ve yet to master the pan flip; Dwight can do it, but I’m afraid of sending the meal across the kitchen.

Met at a restaurant for Sunday lunch with family. Our nephews, 13 and 14, devour this stuff and are expert with chopsticks. We’d planned to travel with them to Japan in June, but have had to postpone until next year because the country will still be closed to foreign tourists.

Our houseplants went walkabout while I napped. This cluster now diffuses the setting sun. With the switch to daylight saving time and seasonal changes, the sun was shining straight at Dwight during dinner. Most of our plants are on wheeled racks or this wheeled industrial pallet.

Digital became physical: a rug arrived today from India. A few months ago we chose a template online, specified the size, yarn colors to key off paint colors, materials (wool, some cotton), and construction (knotted). We previewed the design in simulated room settings.

While Dwight volunteered at the U, I took in David Hockney at the Walker, ready to like everything. Reminded, yet again, likes and dislikes are fluid and ultimately irrelevant. His pool scenes are easy to like; other works take effort and openness. IPA in the restaurant helped.

Walked to a hole-in-the-wall in Uptown for tonkotsu ramen. I’ve booked and cancelled three trips to Japan in the last two years, but I have a fourth trip booked and will adjust the dates as soon as the country opens up. I cartoonized the photo because it makes me think of manga.

That’s amazing… The hospital medical records system was down, so I accessed the Mayo Clinic’s system from my phone and brought up 100’s of PET/CT images. A Radiation Oncologist paged through and zoomed the images and determined radiation treatment is not recommended for now.

Today, one of my favorite weeknight meals: roasted white sweet potatoes with steamed then stir-fried kale. Bacon, garlic, and toasted walnuts fill the room with wonderful aromas. A squeeze of lemon, shoyu, and black pepper finish the kale.

It was time to get reacquainted with my LEGO and build a mechanism designed by Akiyuki, a brilliant young Japanese engineer. Realized I didn’t have 3 hard-to-substitute parts, so put in an order with BrickLink: soon I’ll be checking the mailbox like an excited kid.

Downloaded my 1099 forms into a folder. Now that we file jointly, Dwight spent much of the afternoon entering data into a tax preparation Web site. I got off lightly.

Today’s morning shower: “OK Google, play Pink.” Sometimes I summon Lady Gaga or Cher.