The rest of the story
Mar. 26th, 2007 12:54![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
torquillThings have gone well for the rest of the trip.
Saturday we slept in a bit, then made breakfast before heading out to Lebanon. We made connections with Seth, whom I haven't seen in something like six years. After a minor debate over the mileage we were putting on the rental car (we had a limit of 500 miles free, and I think we went a little over in the end) we headed up to Lafayette, to a little restaurant up there that he knew of.
It turns out it's run by an elderly Japanese gentleman of international cooking fame. The food was a bit pricey, though the portions were quite adequate, and it was all very good. What impressed me was less the unique sauces and quality of the fish -- because there are limits to what you can get sent into the middle of Indiana -- and more things like the rice and the salad dressings. The rice was perfection, sticky and firm and a testament to his skill. Anyone who can make sushi rice that is delicately flavored but not bland, just al dente, sticky enough to hold the roll together even when using very little, and yet not gummy in any way.... that's a master.
The bill came to $160, and (knowing his limited resources) I did hand Seth $60 afterward, despite him looking at me quizzically for doing so. I retorted that I was on vacation, and I'm supposed to spend money on something.
He took us to Von's afterward, which was odd. It's a bookstore like a very small Powell's. With a connecting ramp to one of the best-stocked bead/gemstone shops I've ever seen. Leading into a tiny alley of a room to one side crammed with stuffed animals for sale, across from the stairs to the cellar full of graphic novels and rare books. And next to that, there was a ramp into a music store. It was all Von's, though there were individual cashiers. It was... interesting.
Emily got promptly absorbed in the beads; I bought a book first (Suzanne Ashworth has finally put out a new edition of Seed to Seed), then went and bought a few beads of my own. I wasn't feeling inspired or rich, so I stuck to getting paired beads to put into ear rings. We finally pried loose just before 9, to drive the 40 minutes to Lebanon; Emily got distracted by a quibble over the phone as we got there, so I took over for the 90 minute drive back to Richmond.
Yesterday was lazy -- Emily took me out early to see some falls and take pictures, and then went to work. I whiled away the time on my computer until she got home, and we made sushi and scones for dinner, then made some daifuku so I could teach Sandra how. Then it was off to bed again.
Today I was up at 0330 PST, and we got to the airport in good time. I had a couple of good seatmates, more witty attendants, and finally got into Vegas an hour after we left (more like four). Now I'm waiting to see exactly how badly delayed my connecting flight is going to be.
On my way...
Saturday we slept in a bit, then made breakfast before heading out to Lebanon. We made connections with Seth, whom I haven't seen in something like six years. After a minor debate over the mileage we were putting on the rental car (we had a limit of 500 miles free, and I think we went a little over in the end) we headed up to Lafayette, to a little restaurant up there that he knew of.
It turns out it's run by an elderly Japanese gentleman of international cooking fame. The food was a bit pricey, though the portions were quite adequate, and it was all very good. What impressed me was less the unique sauces and quality of the fish -- because there are limits to what you can get sent into the middle of Indiana -- and more things like the rice and the salad dressings. The rice was perfection, sticky and firm and a testament to his skill. Anyone who can make sushi rice that is delicately flavored but not bland, just al dente, sticky enough to hold the roll together even when using very little, and yet not gummy in any way.... that's a master.
The bill came to $160, and (knowing his limited resources) I did hand Seth $60 afterward, despite him looking at me quizzically for doing so. I retorted that I was on vacation, and I'm supposed to spend money on something.
He took us to Von's afterward, which was odd. It's a bookstore like a very small Powell's. With a connecting ramp to one of the best-stocked bead/gemstone shops I've ever seen. Leading into a tiny alley of a room to one side crammed with stuffed animals for sale, across from the stairs to the cellar full of graphic novels and rare books. And next to that, there was a ramp into a music store. It was all Von's, though there were individual cashiers. It was... interesting.
Emily got promptly absorbed in the beads; I bought a book first (Suzanne Ashworth has finally put out a new edition of Seed to Seed), then went and bought a few beads of my own. I wasn't feeling inspired or rich, so I stuck to getting paired beads to put into ear rings. We finally pried loose just before 9, to drive the 40 minutes to Lebanon; Emily got distracted by a quibble over the phone as we got there, so I took over for the 90 minute drive back to Richmond.
Yesterday was lazy -- Emily took me out early to see some falls and take pictures, and then went to work. I whiled away the time on my computer until she got home, and we made sushi and scones for dinner, then made some daifuku so I could teach Sandra how. Then it was off to bed again.
Today I was up at 0330 PST, and we got to the airport in good time. I had a couple of good seatmates, more witty attendants, and finally got into Vegas an hour after we left (more like four). Now I'm waiting to see exactly how badly delayed my connecting flight is going to be.
On my way...
