It Started with a Journal

I have received Queen of Babble in the Big City from PaperBackSwap. :D I liked the first book fairly well, which is unfortunately saying a lot for Meg Cabot's recent spate of books. I still have 21 credits at PBS, and am constantly on the lookout for good books I can request.

As promised in my new year's resolutions, I am not counting QoB toward my goal of reading 5 "real" books a year. I have 3 of the 5 books selected (though I reserve the right to change my mind): Bruce Courtenay's The Power of One, Lorrie Moore's Birds of America, and Isabel Allende's Eva Luna -- in the original Spanish. Haha, just kidding on that. I wish I could read it in the original Spanish. But it will just be plain old regular English.

That does leave 2 spots open though. Any suggestions?

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I went back to I Love Sushi for lunch. I am pleased to report that the sushi was much improved from the last time I was there. However -- there were bones again!! This time in my hamachi!! Seriously, wtf. I mean, I am not squeamish about bones, but they should NOT be part of any sushi/sashimi experience. And this time the offense was less egregious -- there was a small bone at the very bottom of each piece of hamachi (2 total), easily removed. However, STILL. They should not be there. Maybe they're just trying to be too frugal with the fish in these hard times and are cutting too close to the bone or something.

Also, I've heard from a coworker that the other I Love Sushi in Bellevue, the one on the lake, is better than the one I usually go to. They're practically next door to each other. I'm going to have to try it one of these days. The Web site says that the lake one specializes in "authentic Japanese cuisine with a contemporary twist," and unlike my usual place, which only serves seafood, has beef and chicken and the like.

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I also took the opportunity to go to Whole Foods, since it's right next door, and see if they had any peppermint bark left. A guy had to go to their back storage area to find it, but at least I do have a spare tin of it now! I also managed to spend way too much money on seafood -- I bought salmon (for Friday night dinner and for my cooking project), bay scallops, and the real splurge, a 1/2 pound of Chilean sea bass. A pound of that stuff is $24.99. O.o I know, right? I wish I could have been the woman before me who walked up and asked for 2 pounds of it, but dang, that is $50 worth of fish right there. I first developed my love of Chilean sea bass at Bonefish, which prepares it wonderfully, but it's always the most expensive item on the menu.

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Speaking of expenses... I really, really need to stop making big purchases, particularly as times are so uncertain and who the hell knows what my finances are going to look like in another month. But I couldn't resist because I have been wanting this for such a long, long time. And of all my splurging, it's possibly the most practical one and will be the one I use most. So what is it? Well, it's a set of new Le Creuset pots and pans. If you get even the least bit into cooking and researching, you'll come across that name. Everyone I know who's ever used Le Creuset (and all its reviews can attest) says that it's the best thing they have ever cooked with. It's apparently simply amazing to use. But until now I've only ever coveted and looked, because it is horrendously expensive. It's never on sale and one pot can cost, oh, $300. However, I found a good deal on eBay for a new 12-piece set (counting lids) and I was able to specify the color I wanted (kiwi).

( Specifically, the set includes... )

I am SO excited about this. It's going to take 2-3 weeks for delivery, and I just cannot wait to get my grubby little hands on them.