Winner for most trips to SanSu in a week...

Goes to me! I went to SanSu on Friday night, Tuesday night, and had take out Thursday night. These pictures are from our Tuesday night adventure!

Runs with Spatula and I shared some flying fish roe:



Eric and I shared the Avocado Boat:



And the Black Dragon Roll:



On the left is our Rock 'n Roll. On the right is Alex's calamari.





I love sushi.

Visit #2 to Mia & Grace

We really meant to go back to Mia & Grace earlier than this, but unforseen circumstances car breakdown) cramped our plans.

However, my main goal today was to make it there. And we did! It was much busier today than it was the last time we were in (which was only about two weeks after they opened). It made us happy to see the seats filled!

Eric started out with a cup of cool cucumber soup, garnished with a cucumber and fish eggs. Yum.

After checking out the menu, I decided on the grass fed burger. Yum - perfectly seasoned and with onions in the burger. It came with a side of zucchini and onions, and also the burger was topped with creole aioli. The buns/bread are all made in house.

Eric got the Pistachio Lake Trout. This was very good - it was encrusted in pistachios, and on a pile of mashed potatoes.

And, finally - dessert!!!! We went for the carrot cake today. It is by far the best carrot cake we've had. Great cream cheese frosting, and the pecans on the side were a great addition!

McCain interview in Time Magazine

A friend of mine just send me a link to this article, and I had to post it. I can't believe how standoff-ish McCain seems in this interview.

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1836909,00.html

Ooooh, Banned Books!

Just wanted to post this, since Banned Books Week is coming soon...

http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/

Finally compelled...

All week, I haven't really been into watching the Democratic Convention at all. I've just been tired, and more interested in things that have been closer to home. It was a very odd feeling to get questions all week about what I thought about speeches and respond "I haven't watched it yet." I'm sure it was also weird for the people who were asking - I usually am up on all of that stuff!

Last night, I made a point of getting home after yoga (picked up sushi), and settling into my chair. Of course, since I don't have cable, I couldn't watch all the coverage before the big speech, so I watched a little football. Then I realized that PBS had coverage - d'oh!

I know it sounds cliche, because lots of other people are saying it, but watching the video before the speech really solidified my belief that this is the right time for Barack Obama to lead our country. His speech reinforced that - it pointed out that John McCain doesn't quite know what real people in our country are going through, it challenged McCain to debate Obama, and it gave us hope.

After this weekend, I will be quite ready to get out and do what I can!

Hey you!!!

Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength. - Eric Hoffer


Yeah, I'm talking to you. You're the person that said you were going to send me a copy of a file about two weeks ago. Or the one I've emailed a few times, wondering why you're not responding. I called about 4 times, trying to reach you, but you haven't called me back. Why does it take me 7 emails to just find out one piece of information for someone else? Oh, I didn't realize that you could break up with someone without telling them.

I know you're busy - we're all busy. But at least have the decency to get back with someone, even if it's to tell them that you don't have an answer yet or aren't sure, things aren't working out and you want to break up, or that you just plain don't want to ever talk to me again. It's cool - it's better than NOTHING.

(Disclaimer: This is about no one in particular.)

Soup to Nutz Bistro

After high recommendations from Runs with Spatula, Eric and I tried Soup to Nutz Bistro on Sunday morning for breakfast.

I had the Eggs with Deviled Crab with wheat toast:

Eric had the Eggs Carbonara with wheat toast:

I loved mine. The deviled crab had a little spice in it, and it was great with the hollandaise sauce and eggs. Eric said his was a little rich, but very good.

Overall, highly recommended for a nice Sunday brunch!

New Classics Challenge Update

I'm actually making progress on this challenge. List is below:

1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (finished)
2. Naked by David Sedaris (finished)
3. Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch
4. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (reading now)
5. Holes by Louis Sachar
6. Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInery
7. The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown (that's right, I'm one of the 3 people who hasn't read this book!)

Animal Challenge Update...

1. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (finished)
2. Tell Me Where it Hurts by Nick Trout (finished)
3. Eldest by Christopher Paolini
4. Brisingr by Christopher Paolini (when it comes out in September!)
5. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (finished)
6. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
7. The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
8. Winne the Pooh by A.A. Milne

Not too shabby...

What the heck is that?

So, I was driving down Okemos Road last night on my way home, and there was a Dodge truck in front of me. When it stopped at the stop light, it had something moving on the trailer hitch. As I got closer, I saw it was this:





The tail moves back and forth when the car brakes. I can't really believe someone had this. I would have to categorize it in the same group as the fish that sings when you walk by it.

I have found it online for $24.98.

LeRoi Moore

I was saddened by this news yesterday. Dave Matthews Band is one of my all-time favorites, and I've seen them in concert many times. R.I.P.

Getting back on track...

The last week or so has been kind of rough for me. Between car issues, the reminder that my boss is term limited, finances, and the schedule I've had - I feel like I haven't been able to get enough sleep or have enough time to myself. The good thing is that I've had the dog during this time, so it hasn't been as bad as it could have been.

I fell down into a funk when the car issues started. There hasn't exactly been anything fantastic going on for me, so I think that also added to the funk. I have had some good moments the last couple of weeks, but they haven't been frequent enough to help pull me out of the mood I've been in.

The good news is that I'm trying to make some changes health-wise. I've been pretty consistent at getting on the exercise bike, and now starting to do some strengthening activities. Now I have to start thinking about my food intake. Unfortunately, I love fried food, but I must cut down.

Slowly coming out of my hole...

Who needs air conditioning?

This past Saturday, I was at Kohl's on the west side of Lansing, when I went back to my car and tried to move it. What made this difficult was the fact that I couldn't turn the wheel...no power steering!!! Well, that and the fact that I'm a weakling, but that's neither here nor there.

So, luckily, my friend Mike was around, and he's good with cars. We learned that the serpentine belt broke (boo), and that was a problem. So, trying to figure out what to do, we ended up deciding to take the car to Sears to get it replaced. After attempting to drive it there, and it overheating, we decided to use AAA to get it towed. After finally getting it to Sears, they replaced the belt, told me my AC compressor was bad, and sent me on my merry way.

Since then, I've driven back and forth to Muskegon, and back and forth to work. As I turned on my car last night to go to dinner, it started smoking and the power steering went out again. Sigh. Really? How did this happen, you say?

After getting it towed to the auto repair shop (yup, forget Sears), and then getting dropped off at work, I have learned that the AC compressor is the reason the belt keeps breaking. Somehow, I wish the guy at Sears would have mentioned that part. I feel as though it was a vital piece of information he failed to tell me. So, my poor Ford Taurus will be going without air conditioning the rest of the summer, but that's ok, because it costs way too much to get the AC fixed.

All shall be well tomorrow morning, when I'm scheduled to get my car back. Well, almost all will be well, except my bank account...

Yoga, anyone?

Most everyone that knows me probably knows that I've been on a yoga kick lately. I started a class at work in April of this year, and pretty much got hooked. Since then, I've started trying to learn what I can about it - history, practice, etc.

Wendy Kopitsch is my instructor, and she has a great workplace program. She also teaches at the Center for Yoga in East Lanisng. There are also many types of classes you can take there.

I am actually looking forward to a class I've decided to take this fall, Yoga and Depression: Mind-Body Connection. I'm hoping to learn some ways to cope with the everyday stresses and not so everyday stresses!

So, if you all didn't think I could become more of a crazy liberal...I've still got a long way to go!

Time Flies...

Even though it's the first full week of August, I've already realized how quickly this month is going to go, and how soon it will be September. Then again, there are so many things going on before the end of the year, I'm getting prepared to operate on full throttle.

I'm only hoping that I can find time to rest properly, exercise properly, and read!!!

Animal Challenge Addition...

I forgot that I had wanted to read it, but I'm adding Winnie-the-Pooh to my animal challenge list.

List for Animal Challenge

I think I've come up with a minimum list for the Animal Challenge.

1. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (finished)
2. Tell Me Where it Hurts by Nick Trout
3. Eldest by Christopher Paolini
4. Brisingr by Christopher Paolini (when it comes out in September!)
5. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (finished)
6. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
7. The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst

I read #1 in early July and just finished #5 a couple of days ago. I am quite sure that I will be adding to this list or modifying. But, it's a start!

'Cause I just can't stop reading...

I'm entering another challenge. Those of you who know me, know I LOVE dogs. So, this is a perfect challenge. My list will be coming soon...

What an Animal!

The rules are simple:
1. Read at least 6 books that have any of these requirements:
a. an animal in the title of the book
b. an animal on the cover of the book
c. an animal that plays a major role in the book
d. a main character that is or turns into an animal (define that however you'd like ;>)).

2. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragons, mermaids, centaurs, fairies, vampires...you get the idea...

3. Challenge runs from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. You can still sign up after July 1st as long as you can get 6 books read by June 30th ;>).

4. Books can be fiction or nonfiction.

5. You may make a list of books at the beginning of the challenge or just list them as you find them.

6. Books may be swapped out at anytime (assuming you made a list to begin with).

7. Crossover books with other challenges is permitted and encouraged.

8. You don't have to blog or write a review, but you can if you want to.

9. Sign up with Mr. Linky below. Please sign up with the specific post announcing the challenge if you are a blogger. If you do not blog, sign up with your name and leave the URL field blank. Thanks!

10. Have fun!!

July Book Blowout Wrap-Up

Just a few comments on the July Book Blowout - which was fun!



I read a total of 6 1/2 books during the month.

The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory (only counts for 1/2, since I started in March)

Debbie Harry Sings in French by Meagan Brothers

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

American Nerd by Benjamin Nugent

There were actually two books that I loved - The Art of Racing in the Rain and The Handmaid's Tale (which I also read for the New Classics Challenge). This was a good month for me to do this challenge, because I was just really in the mood to read. Though, I'm sure August won't be much different!