Scratchpad

Fishing, Fielding

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17 Dec. 2007

This is way, way down the road (yeah, I missed this year's deadline), but I am currently fielding a team for the 2009 Mongol Rally. I've sent a note to those I thought would be interested, whom I don't expect to kill after more than 3 days in a cramped car, and/or who won't wimp out at the sight of a gun.

At any rate, if you are one of the 3 people who reads this regularly and you feel I incorrectly left you off the invite, drop me a line. If you would just like to help out in some random way, drop me a line for that, too.

Vicariously excited

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14 Sep. 2007

Larry's been in Ethiopia for two years now (wow, time flies) and it's time to bid on new places to live. Merely reading the bid list makes me vicariously excited and wildly jealous, and it fills me with temptation to run out and join the foreign service.

Then I remember, oh yeah, I'm moving 3000 miles to New York City in 2 days to be webmaster at a publishing company. And what could beat that?

And then I become conflicted - "ach, moving sucks!" and "eeeEEEeeeee [like little school girl dancing and squealing or somesuch] I'm going to New York!" followed quickly by "stop kidding yourself, if you really hated moving, why would you do it all the time?!"

(For those keeping track it's been Houston 16 years, Colorado 1 year, Houston 1 year, New York 2 years, Houston 1 year, officially homeless 1 year, New York 3 years, Virginia 1 year, Washington DC 2 years, Portland 2 years, New York .....?)

I mean, for real? Who am I kidding? Why not throw Chile and Thailand in there after another 2 years?

Restaurants (for Diane)

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13 Jul. 2007

Per Diane's request, a list of my favorite restaurants in towns around the country.

Portland

  • Chaba Thai
    Noveau Thai. Sandy Blvd, SE.
  • Baan Thai
    Thai. By PSU. Wicked spicy & authentic.
  • Bún bò Huế
    Vietnamese. 82nd and Bybee. Best I've had outside of Vietnam. Obvious house specialty (Bún bò Huế) not to be missed.
  • Mi Tierra Carniceria
    Tacos, tortas, Mexican hand food. Weekends only? Hillsboro. 937 SE Oak. In parking lot behind Los Hermanos Ochoa.
  • Los Hermanos Ochoa
    Mexican. Hillsboro. 937 SE Oak.
  • India Direct (Chaat House)
    Indian, vegetarian. Chaat House is inside an Indian market named India Direct. In a shopping center (hard to find) 16205 SW Bethany
  • Toro Bravo
    Spanish, tapas. A little pricey, but excellent. Good drinks. MLK and Russell.
  • Eleni's Philoxenia
    Greek. Downtown, Chinatown/Pearl divide. Like eating in Greece.
  • Sorabol
    Korean and Japanese. Haven't had the Japanese. Korean great. 79th and Powell. Apparently a chain? Who knew.

Houston

  • Ragin Cajun
    Cajun. Multiple locations, should visit one on Richmond Avenue near loop.
  • Otto's Barbeque
    Barbeque. The pickles are worth eating alone. The bbq is pretty good too. Memorial Drive. Pretend like it is not Bush's favorite restaurant.
  • Goode Company Barbeque
    Barbeque. Love the peppery red sauce. Kirby Dr.
  • Taqueria Arandas
    Mexican. Local chain, all over city.
  • House of Pies
    Diner. Open 24hour. Best breakfast deal in town. Go at 2 am when all the drag queens from nearby Montrose are finishing up their shows and go to "House of Guys" to trade bitchy comments and shovel blueberry pie.

New York

  • Chat n Chew
    Southern. Fried chicken dipped in honey says it all. Union Square and 16th?

Washington DC

  • Jaleo
    Spanish. Tapas. Incredible. Really. Frigging. Incredible. Chinatown-ish.
  • Falafel Shop
    Falafel. Great topping selection. Cheap cheap cheap. Adam's Morgan.
  • Tacos Pepito's Bakery
    Mexican. Tortas are best. Adam's Morgan.
  • Madam's Organ
    Bar. American. Amazing food (fried okra especially) for dirt cheap happy hour specials. Adam's Morgan.
  • Oceanaire Seafood
    Seafood. Crab cakes not to be missed, but everything else is pretty good too (ie - hash browns). Chinatownish, theater district.
  • Waffle Shop
    Breakfast. Across from Ford's Theatre. Insane breakfast deals. Has scrapple and waffles. Hasn't been cleaned since 1951.