Aloha 'oe

The last pennylane production posting for the year 2005. It's nearly midnight on December 22nd, seconds away from the very beginning of the 23rd--the day of our now 3rd take off to Hilo, Hawai'i.

i am overjoyed at the thought of Christmas morning with the two little ones filling the house with giggles and joy. That said, there is a bittersweet feeling that i no doubt will be trying to conceal.

Without going into too much explanation and detail, my grandparents house will be going up for sale in late 2006. This house where i spent every summer of my life from one years old until 22 years--will be soon reduced to a visceral memory. Goodbye to the creaky wooden floor, the tattered shoji doors, the ocean view, the intricate zodiac front door handle, the slippery orangey garage floor...

At the end of the day, or should i say, when we take our last breath of air on this planet, it matters very little what material objects we possess. Least of all what kind of house you occupied, invested, or grew up in. So it goes.

When you're a child, you feel the house you're most connected to will always be there. It never occurs to you that the wealth of your memories might not always have tangible footing in a particular room or hallway. As an adult, the memories seem to blend together powerfully into a quick film in my mind. It feels mildly devastating to think the house will soon reside solely in memory.

Here's a thought that soothes me: Perhaps one can feel OK to let go of a house when it is certain that its former inhabitants have taken flight. In that sense, i've recently seen my grandparents together laughing and happy in my dreams. I'm quite certain that they're continuing their world travels together. i think they're pretty much over the house. i hope to be as well...someday.

Positive bouyancy for this holiday season--that's my mantra.

A few songs that are tiptoeing quietly through the air here:

Misguided Angel---Cowboy Junkies
Love it when a song of theirs comes out of nowhere on the ipod shuffle. Comforting sadness.

Where's the Ocean---Toni Childs
First heard this song in 1993. It haunts me to this day. What do you see when you hear this song? i imagine a very foggy beach in the late morning or late afternoon. The time just before the sun comes up or goes down. And when i say it haunts me, it means i totally love it.

Perfect Skin---Lloyd Cole
"...she's inappropriate but she's much more fun..."

Pennylane Productions is signing off for the year but before i go:

Resolutions for 2006:

1. Eat more carbs
2. Italjet scooter (wait, that's not a resolution, but it is one less car...)
3. More acupuncture
4. More drums
5. Definitely more surfing
6. Less sneezing (see #3)

World 66

I've come across a great website allows you to create a map of all the countries you've been to in the world, in the U.S., and in Europe. This is a map that represents those countries i've visited. You can create a map of all the states you've visited, all the Canadian provinces you've visited, and all the countries in Europe you've been to. All of the countries i've been to in this image represents 14% of the world, according to World 66.

I have yet to travel to South America and Africa and would like to wholeheartedly. Top of my list: Salvador de Bahia, Brasil and Ghana, Africa. Also: Taiwan, New Zealand, Turkey, Finland, Shanghai, Ecuador, Cambodia, Belize, Honduras, the Truk Islands and the Seychelles (Anse Source d'Argent....)

To everyone i know living in different corners of the United States, Europe, and Asia --all the best for the holidays! Hope to see you in 2006 : )

Rotation

Go local:

1. Hunan Village, near the Grand Avenue Theater
Totally American Chinese--most die hard H. Villagers are non-Asians who order veggie noodles, sweet and sour chicken, and moo shu pork. What makes this one of my favorites is the fact that they make the absolute best hot and sour soup in the Bay Area. The level of spiciness tends to vary from really spicy to mild. The dishes other than the aforementioned soup are unremarkable, but you'll enjoy the ambiance here. My favorite part about Hunan Village is the owners. They've run the restaurant for 15+ years and know their regular customers by name. They've observed children grow from toddlers to high school students. Their hospitality, warmth, and friendliness is unmatched. An excellent choice for mid-week days when you're hungry but uninspired and too lazy to cook. They'll always greet you with a smile and you'll be glad you stopped in.

2. Jong Ga House, 372 Grand Avenue
The owners were part of the restaurant "Koryo Sushi" on Telegraph. Apparently once that restaurant got on its feet, the owners quietly slipped out the back door to open this one. It's located in a residential area, so you're not able to grill your kalbi. Excellent, efficient friendly service even when it gets really busy. In my past life at Mills College, i sometimes accompanied my Korean students here. They trekked here weekly and often brought their French, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Brasilian friends. My favorites: mandoo guk soup, chop chae, dolsot bi bim bap, dobu jigae, and barbeque chicken. Cappy loves the cold noodles they serve just after you order, the fried flatfish and the barbeque shrimp. Jong Ga staples: i happily use the basic Korean i know, i always think i'm seeing someone who looks just like me before i realise it's my own mirrored reflection (duh...it gets me every time), and i feel empty and lost if i don't eat here more than a few times a month.

3. Drunken Fish, 3314 Piedmont Avenue
Don't let all the bottles of sake fool you. This is a Korean joint. Those too tired to get back over the bridge on a Friday night can experience Korean freestyle sushi at it's best. Tantalizing? You have to see it to believe it: TNT roll, Shrek roll, Mexican Roll, Titanic roll. Avoid all the "Japanese" entrees, miso soup, and most appetizers. Go right for the obnoxious and inappropriate rolls that double as food art. I mean this endearingly. Where else can you check out the REI bridge and tunnel lesbian fashion (so sexy) as you ponder the architecture of the Titanic roll you just bravely ordered. Please say you hear the sarcasm and yes, i'm so going straight to hell. Forget about quick service--just don't order your mini-monstrosities all at once. Once you accept the uncommon mixtures...avocado with spicy tuna deep fried with salmon and teriyaki sauce--you can then really enjoy it. Just don't bring/go with your Japanese friends straight off the jet. Or do...you'll be amused with their subtle derisive glances at the Shrek roll dropped off at the table next to you. You can remind them that they do put CORN on pizza and stuff potato salad in sandwich buns.

4. Los Cantaros Taqueria, down the street from Jong Ga House on Grand Avenue
This is the new tacqueria that opened up just down the street from Jong Ga House. Apparently, this space has been about four or five restaurants in the last fifteen years. We think they've finally created a keeper. Not bad: Veracruz salad, chicken mole, chips/salsa, homemade tamale specials, enchiladas, and sopes. Take out is a good option on busy nights. It's not Pancho Villa in the Mission, or La Corneta in Glen Park, but the food is fresh and the people are friendly.

5. Full House Cafe, 3719 MacArthur Boulevard
In my humble opinion, Full House is the best breakfast cafe in Oakland. They do ordinary things really well. Best breakfast items: cornmeal pancakes, pecan waffles, huevos rancheros, chicken/beet scramble, and their above average diner coffee. Also, their fabulous grits is an alternative to house potatoes and fruit. And they make bacon extra crispy if you request it. The best part about Full House is the diverse group of people. Gay/straight families, young hipsters, chatty old school war vets, artists, hung over Mills students, etc. Note: hit up an ATM first. It's a cash only joint.

There are others i've probably forgotten. i'm only listing reasonable quick go to places when we're hungry but can't be asked to put something together at home. In a future blog, i'll list all of my favorite restaurants in the Bay Area and beyond. Or maybe i'll list a few now:

1. Bouchon -Yountville
2. Chenery Park-Glen Park
3. B44- Belden Lane
4. Gombei- San Jose Japantown
5. Koryo Sushi-Berkeley
6. Saul's Deli -Berkeley
7. Pomelo -Snowy Valley The Cuban Fried Rice plate absolutely.
8. Jeanty at Jack's The "Soft Boiled Egg and Escarole Salad with a Warm Bacon Vinaigrette" is to DIE for. Again and again.

Zap

i'm waiting for cappy to finish something on her computer so we can get going here. The time thing still doesn't work on my blog but i can reveal that it's early Friday evening and we're off very soon. i will stop writing when it's time to go.

Totally self-indulgent quirky lazy jibberish:

-i like seeing Christmas movies when it's nowhere near Christmas, and not so much when we're in the midst of the holidays

-i love eating dried mango. The big bags from Cebu at Costco are my new favorite thing

-Arizmendi pizza with yams, purple onions, goat cheese, and pecans is divine. Unforgettable.

-i admit that i would like to see Coldplay in concert. i found out that Chris Martin and i share the same birthday. A singing Pisces elf. And i don't care if they're overproduced, overly serious, insufferable, annoying, and loved by kids in high school. Ugh. i love their music. Chris Martin has a slight lisp, have you noticed that?

-Great Christmas memory: Waking up when i was 7 or 8 and seeing a new Barbie Townhouse fully set up in my room. It would have been nice to unwrap it, but it was a spectacular thing to wake up to.

-If i could zap myself anywhere in the world today, i'd go here: Mukaitaki (minus the sakurasashi and koi...) Zap, zap, zap!! Not working.

P.S. Special shout out to my Kiwi friend Graham in Fukushima-shi. Stay warm and enjoy some Tohoku ramen for me!

Sounds

What is that sound? That similar guitar line, that new wave pop sound, it's so familiar. Who does it remind me of? A little research shows that everything comes back to the Beatles.

So let's start with my new favorite band, the Killers....

The Killers were influenced by Duran Duran, who were influenced by Blondie, who was influenced by David Bowie who was influenced by the Beatles...

Same as above for the below:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs---Blondie---David Bowie---the Beatles
Franz Ferdinand---Joy Division---David Bowie---the Beatles
Arcade Fire---David Bowie---the Beatles

If i were in a band today, i'd say my influences are:

Duran Duran, This Mortal Coil, The Beloved, Crowded House, and New Order. What kind of sound would that be? Moody dance music that is best enjoyed behind the wheel or while twirling at home with a glass of wine. Of course withe the glass of wine set down before pre-twirling... Like i'd be in a band again--but why not, life is too short to not do what you love. Right now i love the drums. Right now i love many things.

Recent favorite songs:

All These Things That I've Done--The Killers
Maps --Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Reptilia --The Strokes

i absolutely love The Killers these days. i've not liked a new group this much since i discovered the Postal Service. And i've not liked a singer like the groovy Korean girl Karen O. (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) since i first heard Hope Sandoval a long while ago.

Note:
Somehow the time function is not/hasn't been working properly on my blog. i have no idea what time will appear below...