lose

We lost.......

Only four competitors and the team from Jack's Bar both lost.  Only half of us were going to proceed to the next round.... and we got 3rd and 4th out of four.  Believe that~ urgh!  I'm making a paper mache mask for class tomorrow.  I want to kill a dozen rabbits and rats with a flame thrower.

On Darts: Adjustments on form and mind, GEEZ!

Thursday tournament has been canceled. Instead went to Sung Gyuen Gwan Dae Yeok, DCT Bar to shoot in peace.  I shot and lost a few games against Dexter.  His stats are higher, whatever.  My condition is wavering.  The elbow rocks left and the wrist is tight, damn it!  I'm getting frustrated more often during the game.  It's wild.  I'm not riding competitive waves in my head.  It's an edge that isn't there.

Well, the edge better come, because Sunday is the POT.  Before a major tournament, many players intentionally drop in their ranking.  The total ranking must range from a 12-18 in Division 3.  So, a competitor with a B11 ranking must pair with a B7 shooter.  This prevents against high level players from sandbagging.  

My mental condition will come with a few whiskeys.  Come Sunday at 3:00, I become a cowboy, ha!

On Darts

I'm shooting like shit.

A Week of Dart Tournaments

Thursday Tournament:

Four teams will be competing in Anyang City.  The contenders are Team Liverpool, Triple Seven, O-14 (Oh-Fourteen), and the last team yet to be decided.  Our team comes from a hole-in-the-wall bar called Team Liverpool.  The owner, Robin, is a soccer fanatic.  The four of us are strong players individually.  We win one-on-one games and seldom win in our doubles play.  I dropped three rankings to compete for the major tournament on Sunday.  The statistics card stays in my pocket.  I'm off the dart radar for 7 days~ let's go!

Sunday Tournament~  Phoenix Official Tournament:

Jack's Bar has a new contender named J.T.  He's ice on the throw, consistent as match sticks.  He whooped my ass last night, so much that I got confused.  My stroke didn't come until 2 hours into playing, believe that!?  My new partner is 은혜- Jack's daughter.  She's good at the bulls eye.  We'll do fine.  She likes to play and practices on her own time.  What do you expect?  She's the bosses daughter who pretty much grew up in a darts bar.

On Condition:

Darts are slipping on the release.  It kills me when I miss the target intended~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.  Just need to shoot a few hundred more a day.  I'm still a drunk shooter though, which I need to work on.  If we make it to the second round in the P.O.T. Mariko will have a chance to attend a match.  And that will be exciting to share with her something I'm good at.

Grandfather in a dream~

On the brink of unconsciousness, I felt  the origin of death visiting.  This has been a common nightmare~ a presence in the room that wouldn't allow sleep.  It's limbo.  Your body resembles drift wood, as it floats helplessly in a chasm of icy desolation.  The Lords Prayer is on the tip of your tongue, trying to force it's guidance into reality.  Sacred words are muffled by this wretched presence.  While slipping back into this world of oxygen, you expect a pair of batting eyes waiting in the washroom.  Flush the toilet.  Return to a much needed rest, but can you?

Fluff the pillow, stretch your spine~ 3-2-1.

This is not my room.  Late night party goers are returning home.  Steps and giggles in the hall.  But wait, that voice is coming from a painter's radio.  Someone on-air is speaking English.  It's coming from next door.  I float from the bed.  I know that I must go next door and for some reason my instinct tells me that I can simply pass through the window and take right angles from the balcony to the tree tops to that radio voice.  It was dawn when it happened.  Grandfather was there smiling.  So happy to see him.  I breezed past his bald head, which I've always wanted to touch.

In bed, he was holding my hand.  I knew it was his~ those prominent palms.  Everything turned yellow and orange-- warmth at last.  

A Long Week~

After watching 2 months of Star Trek TNG reruns on youtube, I've come to realize that one shouldn't think of time as being linear.  Far too often, a work week can dictate your perception of time as a 7 day feedback loop- beginning with morning salutations and ending with a phrase that goes something like, "So, I'll see you tomorrow".  This Groundhog Day theme is broken down into 1 second events.

What I'm trying to say is that this week has really dulled my senses.  Should we rip out a fingernail and then file our skin down to the dermis layer? Finish a drunkards ritual with a shot of tequila- skip the salt.  Inflicting or receiving pain from a needle bath.

A few months ago I wrote about the plant at my desk growing upwards.  Like this plant, we should look up and be optimistic about our lives.  It's funny, because my plant has been growing in every which direction.  I try to encourage upwards growth by tying supports at the base of each curvature.  I'm not going to try and control the plant anymore.  If it wants to bend or curve left, then so be it.  The plant doesn't follow a linear path and that's okay.

What a week~  Tomorrow, I'm going to cook a Filippino delicacy called, Bicol Express.  The fragrance will make you cry because 90 percent of the dish has sliced chilly peppers.  It's a perfect dish for cold nights.

The Family Name Comes Out

Head strong and just winning runs deep in the fam.  It really came out today for the open class.  7 ESL instructors came to observe my class today.  The students did well and the lesson went according to plan.  Everything was prepared and was easy.  We talked about clothes.  I opened with a little skit, acting out a one man play about hanging clothes.

After the lesson everyone shared ideas.   I opened with a slew of words.  It was a home court advantage, sports wise.  At the same time, I wanted someone to really come with harsh opinions.  Everyone kept saying, ''good job'', blah blah.  So whenever someone started their critique with that phrase, I made sure to expound on what they said with as many bullets as possible.  No examples are needed.  The main thing is, whenever our family speaks to each other, sometimes I feel as if they the one with the most words wins.  After everyone left, I made sure to keep my ego in-check.  I cleaned up and made everything nice and clean.

Just came back from a game of darts~ success, success.  Tomorrow night, a mini-tournament in 안양.  Let's defend the title...

DIGABLE PLANETS~ DEDICATION

October come over

Mariko and I have decided to take the jump.  Come Spring time, I either extend my contract or move to another school.  For her, she's in the process of transferring ownership of her academy in Japan.  From there, she'll enroll in a language program at Seoul National University, pack her stuff and then fly on a one-way ticket to Inchon, Korea come mid-Spring. 


The dinner last month was nothing less than excellent.  It was described as having the soul of honest home cooking with a unique sophistication.  The pork meatballs were a hit.  Everyone thought it was turkey, that's how delicately I seasoned them.  The recipe has a Chinese origin.  I tweaked it by adding Filipino aromatics~ lemon grass and ginger.  These items are believed to cut the 'pork smell'.  Everything was delicious.  I was especially satisfied with the preparation for the dinner.  It took a week to make the sauces and soup bases.  Try to imagine 10 hours of work to produce a mere 1 Quart of brown sauce.  That sauce was liquid gold, baby-- a concentration of flavor and 'goodness'.


Mari smiles while she's sitting with the crowd.  With her corn roles and crater dimples, she was the mystery visitor.  Actually, she was visiting me, as will I visit her come late January.  Last January, 2010 I had the opportunity to visit Baron Brice in Paris along with Cryogenic Stacy and their soon to come child.  This winter I will go to Morioka, Japan for 3 weeks.  Winter seems to be the month for travel-- I'm lucky.

Mari is hot.  I'm so attracted to her.

As for darts~ tonight my dart mate from Anyang will visit Jack's Bar (my home dart bar).  Last week I took the tournament in Anyang.  I was the favored player and ended with the highest statistics.  One more level up and I'll enter Division 1, the A- ranked players.  I can rack points and finish when needed, but some of these Division 1 players defend and attack so quickly- Insane!  All in good fun.  Tonight will be killing, and the boards busy..1-2-3

Next week is my open class.  ESL instructors and Korean teachers from 6 Middle Schools will observe my class.  The lesson is ready and is loaded with pictures and activities.  I just have to do the best I can to get the kids to speak.  Contingencies for quiet situations need to be examined, but not until this weekend.  I'm chilling.

Today and a turn of a leaf~

5 days before a dinner show.

4 courses and the specifics are written and measured for 7 heads.

The nights are cooler.  The air of autumn is soon.  Everyone knows it.

Crowds of light skins enter the store, earlier today missing the aroma of herbs and spices of home.  I grab the coriander and caraway seeds, the lemon grass, the cumin, the tamarind, the calamansi powder, the ginger-- dropping 4 bills for marscapone.  Saturday is my show.  It's the only thing I've known how to do~

The last time people came together was in Paris.  Fish tacos...
Nothing can compare to the open air markets of France.  At least from my choice of ingredients~ amazing.

The menu choices are known.  Starting with mackerel to pork to tomato with caraway to poultry with mushroom duxelle, oh baby!  The three range gas burners are well tuned, oh the delight of fire power!  

I've found a crossword partner here.  We made some great connections today!

Planning

New apartment with a 3 top gas range~

On Saturday, September 18 I'll be hosting my first dinner party in Gyeonggi-do.  Mari will fly in on that day and 3 hours later it will be show time.  Preparations have to be made a day beforehand.  It's a party of six, maybe 7~ carefully chosen.  They aren't the closest of friends, but I thought about balance, and chemistry of personalities.  It may be well beyond my power to control such factors, but this is my show and I'm buying plates for heaven's sake.  

Last night, thoughts of menu items fluttered around.  For the past week, I've thought of  themes- fish, chicken, hula, lychii and coconuts, tavern, the list went on.  Considering the budget, I've narrowed the list to

#1)  Meatballs - 4 courses
#2)  Poultry - 4 courses

Why do this?
Partly because I want to throw a birthday party, which has been delayed 3 1/2 weeks.  That I find great pleasure to cook for others... and also, a bit of vanity to show myself  I haven't lost the skill.  And lastly, excitement that an angel will be visiting me.  With a smile, I do write that last reason.

Whatever it may be, I'm flustered with ideas that I have yet to try.  Gelatin sheets, whipped cream, bread crumbs, flour, and of course a trembling egg are the binders for maintaining the shape of the 4 different kinds of meatballs.  Especially for the seafood meatball.  I want them fluffy, light, and originally interesting.  Items are cooked a-la-minute so dishes are fired up and plated before your eyes, each paired with a wine.  The sauces for each dish are on the tip of my tongue. 

As for the poultry, I'm thinking Chinese 5 spice.  Encrusting the duck breast and sear with force.  Make spreads each with a unique sauce~~~ a bit pricey though.  Simplify!  That is why the meatballs are lingering.  I can imagine my friend Mike right now saying, "What the f)*k are you thinking, meatballs?!  Are you kidding me?  It's alright, I guess.  I swear, you're so freakin' wierd."  But then again, the budget, this has to be considered, because the following Monday it's 3 days on the road heading south and 3 days of whatever may come.  I want Chusok to move as slow as possible...

And in essence, meatballs are a form of pressed meats.  The ultimate reason is to test my skill~  Taking the freshest 'scraps' and making something delicious out of it, hehee ~  I've done that many a times before...

Narcissism Entry Blog

Captains log,  Star date 08262010:

I, me, myself and did I already mention I?  will have a quiet birthday this year.  If you want to have a drink with me then I'm open, yes, I'm open to all invitations for living now.  Now is the time for last kisses and new beginnings.  A toast to cell divisions, to the bacteria and the shittiest of mornings when you wake up and your testicles are aching for the truth.  And the truth is that with or without you, or me, yes! Me, all else will continue to grow. 

Indigo glows in your eyes,
something inside tempts the second to stop~
rewind and play again and again that here-say
when she said it.

And maybe I wasn't the best,
but remember the door that opened
and the wind struck your hair, apartment 4B
because both of us lied.

The rain hid the tears,
the metaphor was growing in your chest,
only I saw it,
the Indigo glowing in your eyes.

Neon buildings flicker in rhythm to your step.
A block past, and this one the same
to that cobble stone which points to
the direction of morning, soon.

A beggar asks for a million,
... thank yous,
Now you own his dream,
he gave it to you, gone, what was that?

A Doppler whisper as faint as gold
worn by a bunny's watch,
hidden in a pocket,
faster now, the light will change Indigo.

 And the truth is
with or without you,
or me, yes! Me,
all else will continue to grow. 

Lovely Chicken

                                                                                                                            Serves 2 ,  Approx Cost  $12.
Ingredients:
Half chicken...... spine, half breast wing attached, thigh, leg, neck
Onion, yellow ......  1 each, lg dice
Garlic ...............   3 cloves, sliver
Ginger ............   2 tsps, minced
Tomato Paste ...... 3 Tbls.
Coconut Milk ...... 1/4 Cup.
Bay Leaf ............  1 each
Japanese Eggplant.. 1 each, large dice
Shitake, Dried ....... 10 med sized caps, 
* Mushroom rehydrated water ...  2 Cups
* Rice Water ........... 1 Cup
Herbs de Provence ... 2 Tbls
Salt and Pepper  .... To taste

 Procedure:
1.  Rinse the dried shitake well.  In a bowl place the dried shrooms in a cool water bath.  *Reserve this liquid for later.  
2.  Rinse rice, and measure a little more water for a normal cook.  *Reserve this liquid for later
3.  In a heavy bottom pan, sear the chicken.  Season with salt and pepper.  Remove the chicken when one side is browned.
3.  In the same pan, add the onions, slightly season with s/p.  Sweat the onions.
4.  Add the garlic and ginger.  You may have to add a bit more cooking oil at this point.  Cook until slightly brown over medium heat.
5.  Tap in the tomato paste and mix until you smell a toasty aroma.  It is the point between burning and just right, ha!
6.  Immediately add the mushroom water, rice water, and coconut milk.  Whisk out the lumps and scrap the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.  Return the chicken, toss in the bay leaf, and season with s/p.  Bring to a boil.  Note, the chicken breast should be 1/3rd of the way full with liquid.
7.  Lower the heat to medium.  Sprinkle the Herbes de Provence, add the Eggplant and Mushrooms.  Season as you go and cover.  Lower the heat to medium low.  Allow to cook for approx. 30 minutes.  It should have a steady boil.
8.  Oh yes, add some Warwickshire Sauce, 2 tsps please.  
9.  The liquid should have reduced to about half.  It should be nappe consistency.  The vegetables are soft.  Serve over rice and go to town!