Today I made my first successful restaurant-impression dish: Chaco Canyon‘s Basic Bowl (with peanut sauce and quinoa). I crave this thing all the time, and though I don’t mind giving my money and love to Chaco Canyon itself (more on that below), I do feel a wee bit silly going there to order something so simple. So, I used my beautiful, sunny, free Sunday to find a recipe and find ingredients and experiment in the kitchen. It was a good idea.

The Basic Bowl is just a big bowl of quinoa with black beans on top, covered in peanut sauce. Mmmmm. I used this recipe (from allrecipes.com, a good place), and combined about half of the sauce in a sauce pan with one can of black beans, letting it simmer for a while. I made some quinoa, then dished up some of the black bean mix and added some chopped cabbage I happened to have in the fridge. So peanut-y, so gingery, so spicy! And so much protein (and yes, oil, but that doesn’t matter). I’m proud, if the blog so far hasn’t pointed that out. I’m also quite smelly. That garlic mincing just does not give my body a break. Even rubbing my hands on stainless steal and washing with soap 5 million times doesn’t stop the smell. So, I’m sorry if I see you in person in the next 3 days. I’m very sorry…

Now, I can’t take credit for this because, as I said, it was Chaco Canyon’s idea. So let me spend some time listing the many reasons I love that restaurant so much (and will continue to go there even if I can make my own basic bowl).

1. It is delicious (and 90-97% organic all year).
2. It is friendly (one time we accidentally stayed until almost a half hour after closing and they were still super, sincerely nice – that’s tough).
3. It is clean (SO CLEAN).
4. It is spacious (with both little tables and big ones, it has a perfect atmosphere for using your laptop on your own or meeting a group of friends).
5. It offers special drinks (like fresh green juices and super good teas and big, creamy smoothies).
6. It’s cheap and filling (except for dessert, but I can make that for myself).
7. It’s vegetarian (and has raw options and vegan options).
8. It’s healthy (it’s so hard to find a place that’s fresh and delicious and filling and isn’t mostly empty carbs or sugar or fried things, not that I don’t like empty carbs and fried things…).

So, if you’re in Seattle, I recommend it.

Other news…

I’ve told the Literacy AmeriCorps director that I will indeed be staying for a second year. Woo!

I might go to Iceland. Wooooooo!

I no longer live with foster kittens, or any kittens at all.

I can’t stop thinking about Zeitoun and how amazing to read/horrible to read it was. Please, go read it.

I also can’t stop thinking about some of the stories I’ve read in The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2006 (David Racoff, Julia Sweeney, Haruki Murakami, Kurt Vonnegut, David Foster Wallace – I’m talking to you). [I typed "Kurty" back there. I also often type "thanky" and I think sometimes it goes unnoticed. That's worrisome.]

It’s spring and today it’s really spring with blossoms and warm temperatures and so much sun and fresh smells and happiness. I love Seattle.

What are the last three things you purchased?

1. Chocolate frozen custard in a waffle bowl with oreos on top (from Peaks). The waffle bowl was disappointing, but the custard was not. I didn’t know things as creamy as that custard existed.
2. Groceries from Safeway. This doesn’t sound exciting, but I made myself a meal out of these groceries (asparagus and tomatoes roasted with garlic and olive oil; fried egg; toasted English muffin), and as the other two purchases make clear, this is a not usual.
3. Three vodka-crans and half of a portabella mushroom burger. Oh, it was heaven.

What are the last three albums you bought?

I’m having a hard time with this one. I think the last album I actually bought was the Michael McDonald record used to bring Angie joy (it’s still staring at me from across the room. That silver hair is so realistic…). Other than that, the past few years have been filled with many a borrowed/stolen cd from the library, and few purchases.

"Michael McDonald with Godfrey body"

What are the last three places you visited?

1. The Hoh river/rainforest (beautiful + hungry bear cafe).
2. Orcas Island (beautiful + baby sheeps).
3. Hood Canal (beautiful + tons of fog).

Mushrooms on the Hoh

What are your three favorite movies?

This question hurts me. I just don’t have favorite films right now. In years past I could easily name three Wes Anderson films and be done, or name Anne of Green Gables and be done, or name Lost in Translation and Eternal Sunshine and Amelie and be done. But I don’t know, those are all still very near and dear to my heart, but I feel like I’ve watched so few movies lately that it’s not fair to name favorites when I’ve hardly seen any of the new contenders. But…I think Lost in Translation and Eternal Sunshine are probably still on there…and I’ll just leave the last spot open for my future favorite.

What three things can you not live without?

1. Coffee (it’s both a physical and emotional addiction these days).
2. Solitary walks/alone time/time to organize my room (they keep me from going crazy).
3. Food with friends (I love to eat with people I love).

What are your three favorite possessions?

1. My newest journal.
2. My tiny bunny.
3. Godfrey.

The best

What would be your three wishes?

1. Self-sufficiency for everyone.
2. The elimination of weapons (I just listened to the gun episode of This American Life, so it’s been on my mind).
3. To be able to fly (yeah, I still want that, and I don’t choose time travel even though logically it’s the much smarter/more exciting choice).

What three things haven’t you done yet?

1. Learned enough about the world. I, unlike Kendra, cannot name most of the countries, nor can I tell you much about them, or the people who live in them, or the history of them. And I want that, all of it.
2. Lived alone. I want to try it, and it could be happening soon.
3. Learned another language. Someday I’ll do it…

Hey Kendra, what's ny i Norge!?

What are your three favorite dishes?

1. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, with a side of granola, and cake…
2. I’m going to second that West African Stew that Kendra chose. That is the tastiest thing, and so fun to make.
3. Oh no, this last spot could be so many things. A really good curry? A really gooey veggie burrito? Anything with lots of olive oil and garlic? You choose, reader. I love so many foods so much.

Which three celebrities would you most like to hang out with?

Mostly I wouldn’t want to hang out with most celebrities because they either don’t interest me or they’re too amazing, and I don’t know how to act in either situation. If I could overcome my own awkward conversation abilities, I think I might choose any of the members of Sigur Ros (they don’t intimidate me, they are very talented, they come from and love a beautiful place, and I think it would be a pleasant time, preferably taking place in Iceland), Louis Theroux (mainly so I could follow him around as he filmed his latest documentary), and I’m going to steal Michelle Obama (because, as Kendra said, I want to be friends with this lady real bad).

Michelle (and another celebrity I wouldn't mind meeting)

Name three unusual things you are good at.

Ugh, let’s see here. I wouldn’t say these are unusual, but I believe I’m good at:

1. walking
2. organizing my space (and yours)
3. loving my job

Which three things are you coveting?

1. My pair of El Naturalist boots pre-heal catastrophe
2. a yet-to-be discovered cheap and awesome rug for my room
3. a bunny (a short-haired one)

The bunny I covet might wear this hat

Name three bloggers you are tagging.

Meh.

We’re fostering two kittens at the house! They are very playful and they are very excited to wrestle one another! I’m more like a foster aunt than a foster parent (the other roommates are handling the feeding, cleaning and medicine-giving responsibilities), and I like this! My bathroom is their new home, so maybe I’m more like a foster sister… In any case, they are very cute and I’m very happy to welcome them as the 7th and 8th members of our home.

In other news – I don’t have much other news. My hair is cut, and that feels very good. Ten Pachi has won my heart with its $25 cutting cost, clean floors, and simple space. No more bazillion dollar haircuts for me. I do miss the head massages that come with those things though… I’m also still reading Four Corners and getting fed up with Kira Salak’s life choices. I am excited to talk about these things in the book club (which will happen). I’m also excited to finish the book and reread my dear J.D.Salinger collection. Reading that he died peacefully of natural causes at the age of 91 was practically good news – every other death (and there have been so many) I’ve heard of in…forever has been tragic in some way. I was beginning to think no one died of simply getting older anymore. So phew, I suppose. Phew, and thank you J.D.

$4.99!

Moldy Taterpot!

I’m failing at tending my Taterpot well, but I am making good progress on finishing Four Corners, and I did buy a sweater for less than $5 today (after tax!). I also started the day with Swedish pancakes and nicely bearded company, and will be finishing it with karaoke and both nicely bearded and nicely non-bearded company. It is a good day (when you block all of the devastating world news out of your mind and focus on trivial things such as clothing and socializing). Hooray!

24 Things To Do Before Turning 24! (rough draft)

1. Finish reading Four Corners
2. Make the book club happen
3. Bake at least once a month
4. Be a good tender of my TaterPot*
5. Visit all four corners of Washington
6. Read Infinite Jest
7. Make a second sock puppet
8. Make more costumes
9. Eat a whole lot of vegetables

It is a humble beginning, but I’ll be adding more. By the way, I’m having a(n early) Weezer sing-a-long for the second night in a row right now, and it feels so good.

*TaterPot

KEVIN [I accidentally gave Cheryl credit. I'm sorry!] recently shared this link with me. So simple, so satisfying.

I was going to post a link to this after seeing the first few pictures (those walls are so perfectly green! and the fridge! it is fake wood!), and then I saw the rest and realized it was also a house filled with bunnies! My new dream.

Today I left for work at 10:15am and got back home at 9:45pm. It was long, and it involved more than one missed bus and stomach aches and absent volunteers and work that I couldn’t get done. Luckily, it also involved a very lovely visitor, a very funny class, and a very good mood. October can be called another good month : )

Fun fact 1: Last week I went into my laundry room to discover this monster. After I gasped, shuddered and stood frozen for a few minutes, I turned to see its  WHITE TWIN SISTER IN THE WINDOW NEXT DOOR! F:LSJFDL:JKDSJKFLSDKL! I’ve been freaking out about it for a few days now, and I’ve told everyone I have a chance to talk to about them (I’m really sorry), and I really want to know what the hell these things are. Do you know? Do you know what they are and where they came from? Because they’re little mysteries to me. Tonight we decided to help them move to a new, safer home in the backyard. They seem sturdy enough to hold up in outdoor weather conditions…

Fun fact 2: At work today I tried to make a photocopy of a one hundred dollar bill and a twenty dollar bill. The copy machine responded with a message saying that copying of these originals may be prohibited. Then it printed out a pure black piece of paper. Why is the copy machine so smart!? Now I’m afraid the it’s told the government what I did : ( I just want to teach my students how to use money…

Fun fact 3: Two things have happened recently. One, I’ve been constantly humbled by my Beginning ESL students. They are very good at learning English, most of them speak multiple languages already, and they’re always up for attempting new words and sounds. I’ve failed at learning many languages, mainly because I’m so afraid to practice speaking them. Two, I’ve acquired some beginning Norwegian textbooks from a soon-to-be real live Norwegian teacher and I’ve somehow tricked him into teaching me how to make frontal vowel sounds. What do these things mean? I’m going to try to take away my single-language guilt and learn some Norwegian! It will probably lead to more humbling, but it will be fun, and I need take advantage of the fact that most of my favorite people also speak Norwegian. So, I have a one item long new things list: start learning Norwegian. I’m sorry if you hear me in the process! I’m really sorry.

Some things I really like right now. One, the way Dahlias die (get one and watch it slowly give up from the outside petals in – it is very strange and beautiful). Two, my little Icelandic illustration corner/little corners in general/postcards anywhere from any time. Three, my new sigg sticker, which I’m going to put all of my energy into preserving. Four, my free bookcase with it’s pretty, pretty, pretty old pictures.

I’m still experiencing that good month of September. I feel like I’m back in school again, but instead of being a horrible panic-filled daily torture, it’s some sort of educational wonderland with only friendly people and exciting changes. So good. I’m signing up for training sessions and daydreaming about lesson plans and not being completely consumed by worries about the work I’m doing. And I’m drinking unlimited cups of tea, because we have a hot water dispenser so I can do that (that one goes out to you, Kendar). Now if fall would just get here things could really be perfect…

(stolen flower and cape flattery)

Oh dear blog, I’ve been away so long! These things happen. But now I’m back, with things to share, few of which will interest anyone, all of which I will write about anyway.

List of things:

1. Moved. Out of Ballard. Into Ravenna. Apparently everyone lives here, and it’s also some sort of garden-loving, secret forest wonderland. Living in a house with a porch and a view of treetops is the best thing. It makes me get up early just to drink coffee and eat a leisurely breakfast.

2. New job! Teaching, handing out business cards, coordinating, wearing jeans every day, choosing my hours, baking cookies for class. It’s kind of a dream come true, if you want to know the truth. I’m much less organized than I thought though, and have no idea how to function as a real person working in a real office with real organizational options. Sticky notes and putting everything in one pile on my desk just isn’t going to cut it, and I spent a good 15 minutes reading tips on how to organize my physical and virtual inboxes today. It felt funny.

3. Seeing the prettiest parts of Washington (and the world) with a dashing companion. Who knew water could be so amazingly teal? Cape Flattery, Lake Crescent and Deception Pass knew. And who knew you could see more than 10 bunnies, multiple deer, and a scurrying mouse all in one day??? I did not. But it’s true! It’s all true! Somehow I spent the first 23 years of my life not visiting these places, and somehow I’m now lucky enough to have someone very enthusiastically visiting them with me. So good! If you don’t live in Washington, you probably should. There are very green trees here. Also, those deer. Those goddamn beautiful deer.

4. I live in a light blue attic room with a crafting corner and a miniature door and a kind of ridiculous amount of coziness. The room came with a decoupaged bookcase (also light blue). It has a variety of vintage nature illustrations on it. I can never go back to normal-sized living again. They said it was part of the “quirky, charming second floor” and they weren’t kidding. Quirky and charming only mean ugly and rundown to people lacking imagination.

5. I have to share this. Thank you blarp, you made my day. I just need to find out how to make those things, then my life will be complete.

6. I didn’t finish my AmeriCorps list. I’m still reading East of Eden. I never visited a small town for a day while alone. But I don’t care! I’ve shed some layers of my introverted shell and I think my blushing has returned to a normal level. I’m pretty happy about pretty much everything. A year ago at this time I was sick, having nervous breakdowns all the time, and completely unconvinced things would turn around as time went on. I always forget how things change. Hooray that they do.

That’s raw carrot cake, if you couldn’t tell. It was exciting to try…but why why why do miniature food processors makes such a horribly loud, unbearable noise? It’s unhealthy to listen to, so unhealthy that using it on a regular basis would probably just erase all of the health benefits of eating a raw diet… I may give raw cake another try before the summer is over though, because this picture looks kind of incredible.

Aside from the raw cake challenge: I will not be homeless! Instead, I will be living in a miniature blue room with sloped ceilings and blue walls and a garden outside and a house full of good people. New home, new job, new things to be excited about. Thank you, August.