love and sushi

Love makes people do strange things.

On occasion, I have eaten sushi.  I must have mentioned this to Anderson, because last week he took me on a surprise date to the local sushi bar.

Those of you who know Anderson may understand the gravity of this event.  You may have heard him discourse upon the eating habits of sea creatures like shrimp and squid.  (He once made colorful and heated remarks on "bottom feeders" at a nice restaurant, and then noticed a couple from his mom's church at the next table.)  I've learned that if I order seafood, we should sit at a removed table and I shouldn't plan to share entrees.

Of course I was incredulous when we pulled up at a sushi bar.  Truly, the depths of marital sacrifice.

We were seated with menus.  At this point, I realized I had no idea how to order sushi.  My past experiences were with experts who ordered for me.  But I couldn't let Anderson know that.  I deliberated nonchalantly over the 6, 8, or 10-piece option and picked the smallest.

When I came back from the restroom, Anderson and the waiter had figured out we'd entirely ignored the real  20-item menu.  At this point I confessed that I'd never ordered sushi before and had no idea what I was doing.  The waiter recommended the "Sunburst."  It was an attractive name and it had cilantro, avocado, and citrus sauce.

The waiter brought our roll. It looked like Christmas.  I popped a slice in my mouth.  It tasted amazing.

At this point I realized that Andy was not okay with the fact that the meat on this particular roll was -- what was it? oh yes, octopus.  Also, he was not okay with the pink tentacles.  Furthermore, he had never intended to sample it in the first place. This took some overcoming, but after about ten minutes, he put it in his mouth.  And chewed.

....

For a couple minutes I seriously contemplated what to do if one's spouse throws up in a restaurant.  (1) Oh honey, I'm so sorry!  Here's a napkin, let me help you...  (2) HAHA!  I can't believe you just did that!  Oh don't worry waiter, this happens all the time...  (3) [Stare silently at the TV, pretending the person next to you, literally, does not exist.]

I didn't have to choose.  Let's just say that I was genuinely impressed that he tried it for my sake.  Next time, he may stick to the fish 'n' chips.

beyond Roosevelt Dam

(all that water!)

All in a day's grading:

What are the consequences of plagiarism?

"You could be ejected from school."

Write an original sentence that uses a direct object.

"My run-in with the 'cool' kids really affected my self of steam."

Write an original sentence that uses an appositive (identify the appositive in capital letters).

"The Long-Nosed Maker, WHO DESIGNED THE WOBBLING ATOM AND THE STELLAR SUPERGIANT, has vastly long patience when a mere human dares to contend with His intricate and colossal plan."

home

In some ways, it seems like we just arrived in Arizona.  In other ways, we've been here for years.

acclimation

I was in Colorado for the weekend, and apparently the only thing that inspired me enough to get my camera out was this truck in our hotel parking lot.  Like I'd never seen a cow head before.

Behind it was a trailer with enough brown and pink remnants to identity that these were, indeed, buffalo.

I'd planned take lots of pictures and fill up on autumn colors, but was too early in the season.  Just greens.  Not that I was complaining about that.  The grass looked especially, unnaturally green.  Or had I acclimated to desert colors that quickly?

I went running in the morning and froze my limbs off in the 60-degree weather.  Why didn't I bring pants and sweatshirt?

We are at the end of swimming season here in Arizona.  Ironically, the end of September signals the end of swimming in Minnesota too.  This must mean that swimming is in fact not dependent on temperature but on month.  We are running steady highs of 100 here, and indeed, it is too cold to comfortably enjoy the pool.