Chopsticks!

Maybe it's because I'm over-caffeinated and also a little sleep-deprived, but chopsticks is a very fun word to repeat over and over. Also, another fun thing to do is to put Miley Cyrus's "Party In The USA" on repeat over your computer speakers and see how long it takes for coworkers to complain. I only got up to 4 plays today, but I think tomorrow they might be a little more tolerant because it's Friday, and it's also payday.

The Day Before December 1

I have no excuses. It's been way too long since I posted here, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now the December holidays are upon us.

I would love to have these pretty ornaments to decorate the tree this year, but seeing as how I can't even manage to post on a regular basis, I'm not going to pretend that I will have the time to craft these hand-folded ornaments. But I wanted to share this tree with you that I came across at friend's house in Vietnam. Her son made these a few years back, and as he is currently serving in the military, they serve as a daily reminder of him.

I think the sentiment is just as sweet (if not more so) as the ornaments themselves. Here's to remembering both our loved ones as we start the holiday season and celebrating the little, beautiful things that life has to offer.

Pretty Pagoda

This is the Tran Quac Pagoda located in Hanoi.

Motor Scooter Rooster!

I spotted this rooster while walking down the street in Ho Chi Minh City. I wouldn't have been surprised in the least if someone came out, hopped on the scooter and proceeded to cruise along with the rooster seated in front. I've seen stranger things.

Geckos!

So I was dining at an outdoor restaurant in Vietnam, and I spotted these guys just hanging out in the fluorescent light on a wall not far from where we were eating. They look sort of alien-like in this light; I like it. I like it a lot.

More Riding On a Motorbike in Vietnam

Fasten your seatbelts! Oh wait, motorbikes/scooters/whatever you call them don't have them. Yeah, so just hold on then. Even little kids can do it...little kids without helmets.

About That Traffic

Wow. It's almost July, and I have totally fallen behind on even getting pictures up from Vietnam.

But in lieu of those pictures (which I swear actually do exist), here is short clip of what it was like to ride on the back of a motorbike in Ho Chi Minh City. During rush hour traffic. In the most populated city in Vietnam.

It's a bit wild. (Notice the guy who makes an appearance on the far right hand side of the screen at about the 00:06 mark; I'll make a comment about him later).

I managed to take almost every mode of transportation possible during my trip (bus, train, plane, automobile, boat and motorbike). This was the most entertaining by far, though it does start to get uncomfortable over long distances. If you're ever in Ho Chi Minh City, you really must try it.

Let It Be Known

I promise never to complain about traffic in Los Angeles again.

I also promise that I'm going to be back soon with lots of pictures from my trip to Vietnam.

Where I Am

Greetings and salutations from Vietnam! I have been busy traveling about this amazing country, and I will definitely be posting pictures and share my adventures once I return.

This morning I went snorkeling off the coast of Nha Trang, where beautiful sea life abounds. The picture above is the view from the boat off of one of the moorings.

Hope you are enjoying your travels, wherever they may take you. I'll be back soon.

How To Get Through Pesky Pocket Doors

Today's "How To" tutorial is brought to you by Charley.

I discovered last night that I can open pocket doors! Yay, me! If you ever feel the need to go exploring but can't get through, just follow my 7 easy steps.

Step 1: Use paw to rattle pocket doors to open them just a bit. Step back, in case the noise has gotten the attention of the hoomans.

Step 2: Use nose to push open door farther.

Step 3: Repeat Step 2 on the other door.

Step 4: Check to make sure the coast is clear.

Step 5: Lick nose.

Step 6: Look cute, just in case the hoomans are watching.

Step 7: Freedom! Be sure to keep head low so as to not alert the hoomans.

Radish Math 101

This is why I heart radishes. (Note: The math in this post may or may not be entirely fictional.) I actually have a recipe for this, which I will post soon. Stay tuned!

I Heart Radishes

I'll tell you why tomorrow, okay?

A Ham I Am

This colt likes to have his picture taken.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

My Favorite View in the Whole World

My favorite view is, hands down, between my horse's ears.

Vision & Venture

"Vision is not enough; it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the step; we must step up the stairs."

-Vaclav Havel

In Four Days

The 2010 Run for the Roses will commence! Here's to mint juleps and fast ponies like the one picture here in this (intentionally) over-exposed shot.

Are you ready?

Simple Spring Dinner

Last week I had a couple of friends over for dinner, and we collaborated on making dishes from Martha Stewart's Simple Spring Menu.

Everything turned out beautifully, from the Roasted Salmon with Herbed Yogurt to the Tender Lettuce Salad to the Lemony Smashed Potatoes.

We also went ahead and made a broiled asparagus version of the Sauteed Asparagus with Dijon Vinaigrette since I had some asparagus on hand and the Dijon Vinaigrette coordinated well with the other dishes.

This was a very easy dinner to put together (especially if you have lovely friends who don't mind giving you a hand in the kitchen) as the ingredients are pretty minimal, but still delicious.

Enjoy!

Tuesday Tulip

The tulips that I planted way too late this winter have come up, albeit in dwarf versions of themselves, perhaps due to the late planting. I'm not quite sure. But either way, I'm just happy nothing dug up the bulbs.

Happy Tuesday! Treat yourself today.

Calling Charley

Charley is pretty attentive towards things going on out on the street.

But then when I call him, he quickly turns.

And begins his Basset Hound run.

Or amble, as the case may be. Bassets are not really known for high-speed pursuits.

But he gets going eventually. I imagine the lack of aerodynamic ears slows him down a bit.

Of course, carrying your ears in your mouth could help with that matter.

Let's Get Dirty

No, not dirty in that way, but in all that other way, as in with actual dirt from the garden. This is the compost pile that I started last year for the garden. I got the compost bin from a friend who wasn't using it, and I immediately put it to use, adding vegetable scraps and yard clippings. There are actually a number of things that you can't put in the compost; generally speaking, you can't add fats or protein. Click here for more information on what items you can compost and their relative decomposition time. I can tell you from personal experience that egg shells take a long time to decompose, as do some paper products.

As per the usual, Charley and Lola were on hand to help out. And by help out, I mean they were just waiting for belly rubs.

I wish I had a video of the wriggling mass that has become the compost pile. There are so many worms it's hard to fathom. This was not started as a worm composting bin, meaning I didn't add worms myself, but somehow they found their way there.

It's hard to believe that a year ago this was just a jumble of leaves and grass clippings and stems from vegetables and dying flowers. But look! It's now teaming with life.

It's kind of magical, really. I can't wait to turn these guys loose in the garden, which is just starting to sprout some seeds. The sunflowers and radishes have been the first to come up so far.

But in case you don't find that picture of all the squirming worms anything close to magical, I will end this post with Charley. Because he has magical powers and can make anything better. Just look deep into his eyes if you don't believe me.