Actual Ramblings

So, right now I'm kind of procrastinating because I'm going to a wedding tomorrow, and I still don't know what I'm going to wear or if I should wear casual clothes until I find a convenient fast food place closer to there to change in to my nice clothes or just find a nice outfit that's actually comfortable to wear on a four and a half hour trip or what.  So, you know, instead of actually standing in front of my closet wondering what to wear, I'm blogging.

So, let's see...I've been reading The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes lately.  It's due on Monday, but I'm going to have to renew it because I've got, like, 570 pages to go, and with the wedding tomorrow and church on Sunday, I doubt I'm going to get that many pages in during that time span.  Unless, I somehow perfect the art of reading and driving at the same time or read Sherlock Holmes during the wedding...and I don't think the bride and groom would like that.  Especially since I actually care about these people.  I mean, the guy is like a little brother to me.  You know, as if I didn't already have two younger brothers, I went to college and picked up more brothers.  I should blog about that sometime.  Because, honestly, having guy friends is really important.  The thing is, I can't give you any tips on how to make it happen, because it just happens.  I don't have any magical formula I follow.  It just kind of happens, and next thing you know, we're eating Oreos and singing songs and everyone's happy.

Yes, my dear readership, that does say Triple Double Oreo.  It is the king of Oreos.  The ultimate of ultimates.  Three cookies and two layers of frosting all merging together into the greatest party your taste buds have known.  Unless, of course, you've had Four Cheese Cheez-Its.

Literally, I went to a church with a guy who the first time he had Four Cheese Cheez-Its was like, "It's like a party in your mouth!"  So, yeah, you know, if you were really wondering what snack foods you should go out and buy next, I recommend Triple Double Oreos and Four Cheese Cheez-Its.

This post is definitely a lesson in not blogging instead of having supper because you don't feel like walking across the apartment and throwing some fish sticks in the oven or whatever it is I'll be doing.  I'm not exactly in a fish fingers and custard mood.

Obligatory Doctor Who reference

I'm more in a I-just-want-to-read-Sherlock-Holmes-why-do-I-have-to-eat-he-never-seems-to-need-to-eat sort of mood.

Honestly, though, I actually cried today from reading Sherlock Holmes.  No, not when he and Moriarty went over the Reichenbach Falls.  The part where he comes back.  I spent half of "The Adventure of the Empty House" in tears, which means I will probably be in tears when Season Three of Sherlock finally airs.

I mean, I haven't even been waiting as long as some people, and I still want to know how Moffat is bringing Sherlock back.  I mean, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did a fantastic job of bringing Sherlock Holmes back, but the way it happened in the TV show, it's just not going to be feasible to do that.  I read through theories upon theories, but none of them seem just right.  I can't wait until we find out what actually happened.

You know, considering the wedding is on the UP, maybe I should just, you know, wear this:

Just Kidding!

Yeah, the story behind that picture is that I needed to wear something to protect my dress while roomie did my hair, and since it was the end of the school year and everything needed to be in boxes, I just grabbed the first button up shirt I could find...which happened to be plaid and flannel and stuff.  I would never actually go out in public like that.  Well, yes, go out in public in the flannel, but not over a nice dress.  I'm not that much of a hick!

"But you're a nerd!"
Well, yes, but hick and nerd aren't too COMPLETEY incompatible ways of life.  I mean, have you ever watched The Red Green Show?

It's Canadian.

Ugh...okay, stomach I shall feed you since you're whining so much.  And, yes, Sherlock Holmes, I will read you.  And, clothes...we'll throw something together in the morning.  Before I leave bright an early at eight thirty in the morning!

I Don't Eat Pre-Processed Cake Snacks

I honestly don't eat pre-processed cake snacks.  They just taste like...flavored foam to me.  I only mourned for the sake of my friends when Hostess shut down, leaving a Twinkie-less world.

Oh no!  What will my guy friends eat as while protecting us during the zombie apocalypse!

I didn't even know what a Twinkie looked like until I was fifteen or so.  Seriously.  My mom just didn't have them in the house.  Ding Dongs, Hostess Cupcakes, Twinkies--I had no idea what any of them were.  And when I did have them, I was kind of unimpressed.  This was the stuff Americans raved about?  It's like a sponge with cream in the middle!

However, I do break my rule about pre-processed cake snacks for one thing.  Or maybe more than that.  But especially one.  Another thing Mom never bought, but people would sometimes buy for us or would buy and bring to mission board conferences or church or missionary camp.  The ChocoPie!

Yum!

Yeah, my mom never bought these, but they're the only pre-processed cake snack I like.  They're choclatey on the outside, marshmallowy in the inside.  They're Japanese, and they're so good!

Anyway, short post today, but I just wanted to torment you with pictures of food.
And I bought some the other day and am trying not to eat them too quickly.

Grocery Shopping

So, I just got back from the grocery store.  And, by that, I don't mean I just got back from Walmart or Pick n' Save or Woodman's.  I just got back from Pacific Produce--the only Asian food supply I know of close to me.  As I write this blog post, I'm attempting to satisfy my craving for a Japanese drink called Milky Tea with something apparently from China called Pearl Milk Tea.  It's kind of like drinking Pibb when you're a Dr. Pepper fan or when someone else cooks something your mom usually makes.  Something's just not the same.  In this case, I think someone forgot about a spoonful of sugar.  Other than that, they nailed it.

Anyway, back to the subject of grocery shopping at Pacific Produce.  My intended purpose was to go in there and buy Milky Tea, curry, and Fuji apples.

"Excuse me, Katrina.  Curry is Indian.  You're from Japan."

Yes, and burritos are Mexican.  That doesn't mean Americans didn't modify them.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I could tell today was going to be a bit more interesting than usual.  Normally, it's me and one or two other people in the store, not counting the workers.  Today, though, it looked like every Asian in Milwaukee was descending upon the place.

In other words, I felt completely at home--except no one else was speaking Japanese.

Also, there were some non-Asians there too.  Every time I run into Caucasians at Pacific Produce, I wonder why they're here, defiling my illusion that I'm back in Japan.  Then I remember I'm also white and get over it.  Usually, they end up being with an Asian spouse or child and everything makes sense.

I'm the anomaly in the deal, but I'm kind of Japanese inside.  They just don't know it.  Actually, I'm a double anomaly, as I've never had a confirmed sighting of another Japanese person there, but I figure there must be some who come by, considering they have a semi-decent stock of everything Japanese except for rice (Thank you, Woodman's for stocking the proper rice or else I might starve to death!).

Anyway, I was successful at finding the right brand of curry.  Growing up, Mom always made mild, but they didn't have mild, so I bought medium hot.  I've yet to die from curry spiciness, so this shouldn't be an issue.

Me, happy with my curry

Also, I have no idea why in the world it's called "Vermont Curry."  If you're from Vermont and you can explain the connection, please do so because when I think of Vermont, I think of a little triangle shaped state up in New England.

Fuji apples were a complete success, and cheaper than the apples I found at Walmart earlier this month.  Score!

Okay, I'm officially not drinking my tea anymore.  I just found something jelly-ish at the bottom, and I have a policy against eating gelatin substances I don't recognize.

Whew...this post is taking a while to make.

Anyway, when I was at the store, I remembered I only had one nikuman (nee-koo-mahn) left in my freezer.  "What's a nikuman?" you may ask.  Well, it's not really found in Japan once you leave my island of Hokkaido.  Here's a picture:

One of the best foods on planet earth right there (pic copied from someone else's site)

Anyway, it's also found outside of Japan.  I couldn't find the microwaveable ones at Pacific Produce, meaning I'll have to make a trek over to Woodman's sometime and hope that they have the type that is both pork, non-barbecue pork, and microwaveable.  Anyway, so when I go shopping for it, it's not under the Japanese name.  According to the bag in my freezer at the moment, well...never mind...it just has "Pork Steamed Buns" written on it. Anyway, I usually end up having to buy it under the Chinese and Korean names, whatever they are.  I just look at the pictures on the bag and read the cooking instructions.

Also, on my way to check the freezer, I dumped out my can of Pearl Milk Tea.  Turns out it was clear gelatin, which is usually safe, but I was not in the mood for clear gelatin today.

"When are you in the mood for clear gelatin?"

Usually in the middle of canned fruit cocktail, actually.  That's the only time I can think of.

No seriously:  Peaches, pineapples, pears, mysterious red-orange fruit, and white cubes of gelatin; I love this stuff!  This isn't a joke at all.

Hm...so anyway, while I was on my unsuccessful hunt for nikuman, I happened to walk past the ice cream.  First of all, since this is an Asian food store, I ran into some flavors I've never seen before, including durian.  I've heard that durian tastes like dirty socks, but I've never tried it, so I'm not going to judge someone's decision to put it in an ice cream.  Incidentally, I didn't know until today how HUGE a durian fruit can be.

What a durian looks like

Anyway, durian and mango ice cream can only hold a semi-Japanese person's interest for so long.  I noticed sweet bean paste, green tea, and sesame seed ice cream, which made me feel immediately at home again--meaning, it's stuff I don't eat, but seeing it filled me with a sense of Japanese and American cultures slowly blending to form one super culture where every need of mine is filled except for the ability to be beamed from one place to another instantaneously.

I also went candy shopping but was unable to find the candy I was looking for, so I consoled my self with Pocky and Koala No Maachi.

Best chocolate substance on planet earth

And these are just fun

So, that's how shopping went today.  I am now also insanely craving real (non-dehydrated, non-instant, preferably Asahikawa) ramen, which I don't think I can find in Milwaukee, and I'm not driving all the way down to Illinois simply for a meal.

Until next time...Sayonara!