Breathing Easier.

No word from schools. Yet.

Thankfully I've had a hacking cough to occupy me for the past couple of weeks. On day two the wheezing was getting worse and I felt like it was on the cusp of really settling in deep and turning nasty. The wet weather hadn't helped, so I took advantage of a subsequent minor heat wave and went for a run. In sweats. Uphill.

I make good choices.

I coughed a lot, breathed deep, and threw up a little bit. property values dropped.

I have no doubt the deep draws of dry air helped for sure, but this thing was far from beat.

My next line of defense, besides good sleep, was food. No sugar, and tons of chili and alliums. A few times I made a sauté of onions, garlic, chili, ginger, and lots of herbs. Eating this stuff can increase coughing but I was happy to get that fluid out of me and fast. Eating it out of a bowl is all good but it is dynamite in broth too.

If you can taste, that is...

I was pretty sure this most recent bout if sinus torture was the straw that broke the camel's back and I'd never be able to smell or taste again. I was a mess.

I did reach for severe sinus congestion mess a few times, but the post nasal drip cough was the worst and was harshing my mellow like crazy. Halls, you're worthless. From now and forever more I will treat any and every cough with Olba's pastilles. These things are legit. There's twice the menthol, and they've got other recognizable ingredients like wintergreen oil, juniper and chlorophyll.

They taste like something Heidi's grandpa would have given her while they were in their footstool-for-table phase, but that cough is outta here. Like all night.

Unlike Halls, which will try to choke you if you accidentally fall asleep with one in your mouth, these pastilles attach themselves to the roof of your mouth with super grip suction and literally stay put all night. If you don't chew it they'll last forever.

The whole Olbas line is phenomenal. I also picked up some of their essential oil blend that can be used for deep tissue relief and can also be used for inhalation. I was ready to hunker down with some Vicks but read the ingredients, got to turpentine and just couldn't do it. Fueled by thrift I attempted to make a poultice of crushed fresh mints and tea tree oil. I couldn't smell a thing but Minh took one whiff and bellowed,"WITCHCRAFT!" And hid his face under the covers.

I shelled out for the Olbas and couldn't have been happier. It smells much better and actually works.

Speaking of noses. We were at dinner with my folks last week because I wanted to infect the entire county and after going over my maladies in gory detail my mother describes my baby brother as, "the only one without respiratory problems."

What.

Ok so I hadn't really breathed out of the right side of my nose on the regular for the past ten years, but really, does that make me respiratorially deficient? I'm not up to owning that.

Thankfully, after finding Alkalol, I don't think I'll have to. No, I'm not drunk and no that's not a misspelling.

Alkalol is a hundred year old magical nasal rinse made with some salts and oils of cinnamon, pine and other lovely things. When you put it in your nose it feels like you're getting water boarded in Tahoe. It's amazing. I've done it a few times now and haven't felt this clear since... long time.

So I have no idea if my folk remedies shortened the duration of whatever this beastly thing was, but the Olbas definitely helped and the cooking and running and shopping kept me thoroughly occupied.

I've never met a pair if spinning wheels I didn't like.

New Bike Weekend!

Sometimes Minh gets an idea stuck in his craw and it won't let up. Something will strike his fancy and then he'll be on Craigslist obsessively until said object is found and acquired.I have often been the grateful beneficiary of this habit and this week was no exception!

Minh had the great idea to take a train trip up to Santa Barbara and get around town on bikes. We've got bikesa single speed and a mountain bike each, but how about new bikes! Ten speeds! This all made complete sense to him so I trusted his inkings and went along with it. Until we checked prices. Santa Barbara in the summertime? Yikes! So we decided to postpone the trip until Autumn but why, why not get the bikes now?

It wasn't my idea so I wasn't sure to begin. I stopped noticing bikes ever since the dirty hipsters started dominating the scene a few years back. Minh gave me a few bikes to look at but nothing struck my facncy as being better than the single-speed I've already got or my Cannondale that can ride over anything. And then a few pages in I saw The Pelican.

I'm calling it The Pelican because I saw a flock of 'em cruising at low altitude on our most recent jaunt down to the dog beach and I never realized how cool they were. They glide around like they own the joint and you're just lucky enough to be in their shadow for a second or two. I respect them and this bike gave me the same feeling. They're kinda similar: they;re not flashy creatures but the'ye cool just the same.

The Pelican is really a Canadian-made 1968 CCM Grand Prix. It's called a Mixte because it's a neato compromise between the durability of a traditional diamond frame and a skirt-friendly low slung lady frame. I'd seen a few examples but the geometry of this one knocked my socks off. It's got a sort of low-rider attitude and one test drive was all it took. Sold.

But this bike is no spring chicken. It's got a fair amount of rust on the chrome but nothing some steel wool and Brasso can't fix easily enough.  There aren't any fancy lugs but the styling is cool enough for me and I like the little ripples in the front fairing. Some new grips, new tires, new pedals, maybe a pannier and a saddle to boot, and it'll be better than new :)

Minh's got a 3-tiered scale when it comes to most things in life: either it's bad, pretty good, or good. Except when it comes to bikes. He's a cycle sommlier, noticing fine lines, geometry, lug shapes, everything I don't. So my bike had been successfully acquired but that isn't enough to keep Minh from giving Craigslist a few more once-overs before moving on to other things. He establishes habits quickly I guess :) So he comes across an understated ad that basically reads: "old Raleigh, hes been sitting in the garage for years, no rust, locking front fork with key, made in England"  The single picture shows a blue and gold trimmed bike and the seller is asking $125. Minh's got a feeling it's a late 80's model, but the locking front fork and "made in England" remark make him think it's worth investigating.

Oh boy.

He was right.

This bike is sweet. SWEEEET!

Turns out what Minh got was a 1958 Raleigh 3-Speed Superbe. This is the equivalent of getting a Pollock painting at a garage sale. Ok well not that crazy but close. He's been on Cloud 9 and I can't wait to cruise around on some sweet early evening rides.

Once I learn how to take a picture properly, I'm sure you'll agree :)

Dr. Seuss Night

 I can't in good faith call myself an unequivocal Dr. Seuss fan. Even at the tender age of 5, I knew the guy was a little preachy, but like generations of kids (generations now!) the illustrations had an impact even if the anti-war, anti-development, anti-capitalist sentiments didn't really find purchase.

But you know what, just because a girl likes a scoop or twelve of Chunky Monkey or Cherry Garcia doesn't make her a Stinky Commie Hippie, and with that reasoning I happily attended.

 "Oh Where's the Cat in the Hat?" by Mall

 

Nucleus, the illustrator's gallery in Alhambra had a Dr. Seuss tribute show called "Look at this! Look at that!" (cute.)

There was some really sweet gouache work. Like this:

"Did You Ever Walk with Ten Cats on your Head?" by Joy Ang

And this:

Horton Hatches the Egg" by Becky Driestadt

Here's my favorite piece:

"Thank you! Thank you" by Cuddly Rigor Mortis. 

It took me a second. I'm not gonna lie.

This was Minh's:

"Change" by Glenn Kim. 

It's a little hard to make out but it shows a little kitty looking into a lighted storefront eyeing a large striped red and white hat. A dawn of anticipation :)

You can still see the pieces online at their site RIGHT HERE. Do it. And get some ice cream.

They're here! They're here!

Jamie from A Desert Fete and her best very good friend Michelle Pullman from Michelle Pullman had the brilliant idea to start shooting weddings together and boy am I ever glad they did!

It was such a treat to have them spend the day with us and having these pictures means more to me than I ever really thought it would. Best wedding photographers ever!

Sweet Mackerel I can't believe how many pictures there are! This is going to be a while, so join me!

If you want to see (TONS of) pictures from the wedding:

Visit their site Rad + In Love

Click on Client Access

Click on our heads

And type in the password: "Everlasting Light".

If you'd like a little soundtrack, click play below :)







Man . . . I'm one blessed individual.

Dude, you are the coolest.

Making Rice

So last week I mentioned cauliflower rice. Ever since I started making it we don't go a week without a batch, and just like I hoped the grater came in super handy.

Cutting out grains has had some huge high points (fat loss, more energy, better sense of taste, etc.) but the downside is I MISS THEM LIKE CRAZY. I get cravings for stuff like baguettes, anything with corn in it, and O Mother do I miss fried rice. I should say I used to because when I eat this it totally hits the spot.

Minh's mom was nice enough to make us a big batch of pork and prawns this week (so. good.) so cauliflower rice was a given.

I'm not into measurements or detailed instructions when it comes to cooking but you can look it up somewhere if you really need a step by step. I'll just hit the highlights.

So here's what I use:




!/2 head of cauliflower (so. cheap.)
1/4 onion
1 shallot
4 cloves of garlic
a little canola oil
some ground ginger
salt
pepper
sesame seeds
2 or 3 green onions
2 eggs
1/2 bag of Trader Joe's Kimchi (I know! I can't believe it either!)
red chili flakes
maybe some pineapple tidbits? yes.
and a couple snippets of bacon. This really makes it. Don't leave it out.

Chop the onion, shallot and garlic and grate the cauliflower.




Add the chopped stuff, some oil and the bacon to the biggest pan you own. Let it cook but don't burn it. you will be sad. When the onion is kinda transleucent turn up the heat and add the pineapple, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Before anything burns add the cauliflower. There's a lot of moisture to cook off, so stir it frequently. Looking good? Less moist? Add kimchee! Mmmmm...

Try a bite. Kinda wet? Keep stirring!

Getting better? Crack open 2 eggs and stir into the rice. Sesame seed time! Give it a few final tosses and then add your chopped green onion.




Here it is!

Minh likes this one a lot. We had it with grilled lamb last week.

Still. So. Good.

Happy birthday to my best buddy!

White Dress + Red Rock

He's the best...


It's even pretty on asphalt!

And just a few more in Zion...

I made an impromptu bouquet out of dried grasses and seed pods and tied it with some scraps from the skirt. It felt like the right thing to do...


Its hanging out in the house now.

The biggest self discovery I've made since getting married

I really really like having cut flowers in the house.

Every Thursday after work I buy a big bunch of a single stem.

The first time it was wax flowers (UNDERRATED!), followed by French tulips. Minh's favorite. Who's more romantic: Minh for liking them or me for getting them? Then came the ranunculus...ranunculuses... ranunculi (plural?). The petals just. Won't. Quit!




This week: a few mums. Keeping' it casual.