Fresh Salsa is NO Joke. Brothels?

I am actually posting about what most people around here think about when I say the world "salsa."

Yup, the food.

Looks like it's not just dancing - both types tire me out.  Fresh salsa takes much longer to make than I imagined!  I was up past midnight squeezing limes and chopping.  I finally rolled into bed, exhausted (working out followed by lime squeezing = ururhghghgh).  I will never take fresh salsa for granted ever again!  Ever.

Hmm, I wonder if there's fresh salsa at the farmers' market.

My exhausted night was quite worth it though.  My lunch was delicious!  It was blackened salmon and quinoa on a bed of spinach

topped with the very happy-coloured and precious mango salsa:

Now I am going to bed early for a change.  With Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  Or at least his 700 page biography anyway (yay, I'm 40% done!).  Okay one more thought.  Brothels were apparently the happening spots back in the day.  Gabriel Garcia Marquez and his buddies hung out at brothels.  Heck, he even lived in one.  Even the characters in his books hang out in brothels.  All the quick-witted men in Game of Thrones hang out in brothels.  I guess it's called the oldest profession for a reason.  I'm starting to think that in a time and place where women can't really do much or own much, brothels become more exciting compared with being trapped at home.

That is, until your looks or an unfortunate accident prevent you from working at the brothel anymore :(

I'll take 2012, a paycheck and indoor plumbing any time.

(Although if I imagine myself living in those times, I'm not sure if I would have been happy with not being able to earn a living or own anything or do anything.  Unless I had a really cool progressive husband, I might have very well ended up in a happening brothel).

The history of the brothel - it would make for fascinating research.

Mind Farts
-I AM AN ANTIPASTO FIEND!!  and fresh mango salsa fiend.  i think i have developed a love of chopped veggies and sweet tangyness wallowing in their own juices inside a container
-went to the dogpark for the first time since Kobe passed away.  it was bittersweet ... we missed him a lot, but it was nice to remember how much fun he used to have there.  and dog watching is always a pleasure :)
-super video game nerds.  my sister and i cleared the Longest Journey (super old super awesome storyline) and then cleared the sequel Dreamfall (not the newest, but still a super awesome storyline) over the long weekend.  we were devastated at the ending.  aughghghghgh!  how do we get this affected over storylines?  it's gotta be genetic
-patio weather is here!  sun, salad, lemon slice in my water and any of the following side orders is perfect:
    a) good convo
    b) my Kobo
    c) fellow people-watcher(s)
-a couple of recent convos have definitely cemented my opinion on racist parents.  i could never be with someone long term if his parents were racist.  it would repulse and disgust me too much.  the guy could be wonderful, but i could never handle the unfairness of my parents being sweet open-minded folks to him but me having to be mistreated by backward ignoramuses

SuperMoon!

There's nothing like coming home from a good salsa night, feeling the sweat evaporate off my skin and clothes, the thirst of my parched dehydrated throat, the slight ache in my feet ... and ...

SUPERMOON STARING AT ME!

Eep.  Almost 3AM.  Morning practice is going to be tough tomorrow but it's all good because my quadriceps are finally back.  I survived pilates this morning :)

Quadriceps are STILL Angry :(

I'm not sure if I've ever had my quads this sore for this long.  No workouts tonight either.  Or salsa :(  The pain is not as bad, but I still walk very veeerrrreeeeeh slowly.  Stairs are still brutal!  Le sigh.

At least this morning I discovered an inexpensive way of making my mornings more refreshing:

Yup :)

Tonight it's just me and the Hobbit.

Angry Bodyparts!!

Angry feet!!  The above picture is of some fabulous fabulous red shoes I just bought.  And wore in Vegas for a wedding.  Without breaking them in first.  Yikes.  Bellagio slippery tiles + sore feet from going out in heels both nights beforehand = painful geisha walk.  Vegas was fun despite my feet though.  Very well-planned wedding.  Thursday night was the stagette/stag (the men and women totally split up that night), Friday was recovery day and Saturday was the lovely wedding.  Small, intimate and classy.  Plus I had one of my greatest weaknesses pretty much at least once each day:

Auntie Anne's almond-crusted pretzel with sweet mustard sauce!!  I still drool at the thought of it.  If I lived anywhere near this amazing American creation, I would be a much larger person.  No joke.

Today - right this minute actually - I am missing pilates for the first time because of sore legs.  I don't think my quadriceps have ever been this sore.  That's right, VERY ANGRY QUADRICEPS.  GRRRARRR!!!!  They are even sore to touch.  I guess bodyweight workout followed by hours of dance followed by a new bodyweight workout followed by intervals on the stepper was not a good workout combination over four consecutive days.  I kind of forgot about the rest day.  To be honest, I think it was the new bodyweight stuff that killed me; I especially blame trying to do modified pistol squats.  Should have taken it easier the day after.  Good Lord, and those weren't even real pistol squats!

After a super busy day at work and having to walk on sausages of pain instead of regular thighs, I decided to reward myself with bad food (I sense a pattern: angry body parts call for naughty food).  So many of my Filipino Facebook relatives keep posting Magnum ice cream pics!  I finally picked my first one up on the way home from work.  I got the Mini Magnum bars (less than 200 calories per bar).  It was the almond kind with milk chocolate.  And my very first bite was goooood.  I know, I know, I am a bad North American for only having it now.

And now I am (for the first time in a while) just going to relax and not move too much.  I'm reading the Hobbit (I didn't realize it was more of a kids' book - no complaints here though).  I just finished Elizabeth Gilbert's Committed (based on a recommendation from a fellow 'independent lifestyle' girlfriend) and it was a fascinating read on how society has shaped marriage.  Historically women have always gotten the short end of the stick in the marriage deal.  It's only now that things are starting to even out.  It's only too true to me. If you think about it, I am the in the first generation in both my maternal and paternal lines to do 'whatever I want' as a female.  If I'm with someone, it's because I feel like it - there is no pressure - and I will never have to get financial support from someone else just to survive.  Marriage has become something you just 'want to do' as opposed to 'have to do' or 'should do.'  Like if you enjoy someone so much that you want to lick his brain.  And then save on taxes.  My girlfriends married men for personality.  No one married for money. 

Before Committed I finally read Marquez Garcia's Love in the Time of Cholera.  And boy did women ever get the short end of the stick in those times.  Ouch :(

Mind Farts
-the Kobo passed the sunlight test!  my iPhone didn't though.  hmm.. interesting.  it was so easy to read my Kobo by the pool at my hotel (40 degree weather baby!).  my iPhone was not easy to read AT ALL.. i wonder if iPads have the same problem
-i still love lemongrass salmon
-ahahah i just got a flashback of Vegas despite my little spiel on independent women.  sugar daddy central.  independence fail!  shopping win though
-Game of Thrones with the Joffrey birthday gift scene.  WTF.  awkward and awful and NOT IN THE BOOK ANYWAY SO WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THAT?!?!
-it's official.. i like lack of beer bloat more than beer now :(  sorry beer.  it's been fun.. but i have to have less of you and maybe more of wine or gin or rum
-oh ketchup seasoned movie popcorn ... my other naughty food.  i will sit through almost any movie for the ketchup popcorn alone.  this weekend i took my sis to see the Hunger Games (her 1st time, my 2nd - yay!) and when i had to get a second bag of ketchup popcorn during the movie, the guy at the counter made fun of me like i was some type of crackhead or something.  i kind of am though
-this time Vegas had the most Canadians i've ever seen.  EVER.  and they were mostly Albertans.  i tell you, Albertan women are funding a great part of Chippendales right now.  go oil money!
-like father, like daughter.  my name now matches up with at least one name on the US Customs "watch list" - but at least airport staff are nice about it

Zzzzz.. Laundry! Zzzzz.. Cook!

Procrastination can pay.  April landed and I still had winter tires on.  I started to worry about wearing down the tread due to the warmer temperatures, but then I woke up to this on Thursday:

There were a couple of guys who got stuck in the office parking lot that morning, but I had no problems thanks to my Nokians.  

I did, however, finally change them back to all seasons this weekend.  Hopefully the rest of April and May is fairly warm!  

I am currently waiting for my work lunch for this coming work week to finish cooling down.  It smells delicious, but I'm in no danger of eating any of it tonight.  I am so very stuffed from Easter dinner.  Thank goodness I had practice in the morning!!  It makes me feel less guilty for eating so much.  Must eat healthy for rest of the week.  Work lunch this week shall be steamed salmon with spinach, scallions and a special dressing.  The dressing smells so good!  I have been experimenting with vinegar these past few weeks and I still really cannot stand the smell of balsamic or apple cider vinegar.  The taste is fine, but the smell - UGRUGHGHRHGH!  My body instantly is repulsed and I don't know why - it's always been like that.  

I went a bit more "Asian" and I'm glad I did.  The Chinese vinegar smells great.  The mirin smells great.  Together with lemongrass, the dressing smells heavenly!  

This BTW, is my first intro to lemongrass in its natural state.  I love Vietnamese food and I seem to love any Vietnamese dish that has lemongrass.  I never really knew what it looked like until today.  Despite our mutual Easter bloat, the beefy one was kind enough to take me to Chinatown to pick up some ingredients.  It turns out lemongrass looks like this:

And it really does have a gorgeous citrus smell.  Mmmm :)

End result? 

I'll find out how it tastes tomorrow at work!

I'm kind of blogging to keep myself awake right now.  Food coma + tired muscles = high level of difficulty in staying awake for cooking and laundry.  I have friends partying right now, but tomorrow is a workday for me.  And that's okay.  Alcohol plus everything I already ate today would be very very very bad.

Mind Farts

-i read Room.  loved it.  Jack is SO beautiful.  how many out there are trapped and hidden against their will?  it's so cruel it makes me sick

-i also read Spartacus the Gladiator by Ben Kane (yup, still on a Spartacus kick).  adventurous read.. this is why i enjoy historical fiction so much.  it's such thrilling learning

-i'm not sure what to read next.  a guy on my team just gave away these amazing books.  delicious old school books.  but also very heavy old school books (my fault. i was greedy and grabbed so many).   it was a challenge to go up my stairs with already tired muscles.  but so worth it.  best Easter present ever

-tax success!!  

-purge success!!  

-fascinating National Geographic doc on Mary Magdalene.  i can dig it.  prostitute or not, it doesn't matter.  it's all about the message.  in my mind, she was obviously an influential woman for a reason.  and it couldn't have been a stupid reason.  she was intelligent and charismatic to have stood out despite all the strikes against her (especially considering how little rights women had at the time).  she deserves respect

Spring - I Think.

R.I.P Tito Boni and Tita Pinang.  One death is almost impossible to bear, but to have both within days of each other ... your poor kids and grandkids :(

Spring's supposed to be officially here, but there was a snowfall of several centimetres on its first day.  Earlier this month when I landed in Calgary for some training, this is what I saw:

This was past midnight after a bunch of cancelled flights.  Snowstorm!  I can't complain though, it was Canadian politeness at its best.  Numerous cancelled flights.  A bunch of people on business trips who had to wait and wait.  Did anyone throw an annoying adult tantrum?  Not at all.  We all patiently waited.  Even when we boarded the plane the first time and were told to get off because of cancellations.  Even though we all knew we had early morning meetings the next day.  I still remember being in Miami for work years ago.  There was widespread chaos and rudeness throughout the airport.  And that was on a NORMAL flying day without flight cancellations.  I hate to think what flight delays would unleash *shudder*

Mid-March brought my first wipeout of 2012.  Not on a ski hill but in my office parking lot.  Wiping out in office clothes is always an interesting wake up to start the day.  I hope the scab on my knee falls off soon.  It's going to be the time of spring dresses!

Yes, it is getting warmer and sunnier despite the occasionally wonky weather.  I think it will be time to change out my winter tires soon :)  Thanks Nokians!

I'm reading Confessions of a Wall Street Analyst right now.  Partly because anything titled "Confessions of a.." usually intrigues me.  Partly because I admit to not knowing enough about this stuff.   I'm just a commoner who tries to have something put away in company stocks and mutual funds for retirement purposes.  Now that I have a better idea, I can't believe the sums of money involved in the financial investment world.  At the right time and place, I could have become an investment analyst right out of engineering school and swimming in millions.  I acknowledge that as a big "what if" of course.  In the process I also could have become an overweight workaholic, working too hard to take time to be physically active or even dance.  Or I could've lost everything in a stock crash.  Or sent to prison for unfairly making those millions.

Fortunately I have a job I enjoy that still allows for a conscience and life balance.  Dancing and workouts have resumed despite the lingering cough.  As a consequence, I am currently suffering from Zombie Friday due to another fun night of Thursday salsa.  So worth it!  Even if tonight is relegated to laundry and napping with Wall Street.

Mind Farts
-i've been using coconut oil.  it adds a lovely tropical vibe to my food
-my sister introduced me to Spartacus.  it's like 300, but with a plot that is more distracting than the bodies! i love that i've been to Greece and Italy before watching this.  now i want to go to the museums and the ruins again
-i did my taxes on my own! yayyy
-truffle oil truffle oil truffle oil *drool*
-i saw Hunger Games!  the movie did a pretty good representation of the book :)  the casting was great.  and many of the scenes were just as i imagined!!!  i love it when that happens
-went to a random ingredient dinner party a few weeks ago.  great idea.  everyone brings random stuff and magically a dinner happens.  fortunately we had men who knew their way around the kitchen!  check it:

men who cook win!  glazed chicken (didn't eat that) ... peppers stuffed with salmon (definitely ate that) ... salad and wine :)

Ahem, Cough Cough.

Winter is here with a bang!  I'm sick yet again with an attack of the phlegmy coughs and have missed out on dancing and pilates but that's okay because my grandma is doing much better and has just celebrated her 90th birthday!! How does someone look this great at 90?

Kickass genetics and being surrounded by an amazing huge family.  That's how :)
If only the Philippines were a train ride away!
Yay for internet and phone updates though :)

Right now my sleep-deprived friends are in the midst of the Vancouver salsa congress.  Lucky bastards!  I didn't go this time (need to boost up savings) but it's probably best that I didn't or else I would just be making myself even more sick.  Or worse, getting the whole international congress sick.  Whoops.

When my body throws a tantrum, I have no choice but to listen.  My fault (again) for not sleeping and resting enough.  One day I will learn.  Maybe my New Year's Resolution should have been to get more sleep.  Oh well, more time to read and write!  I've been checking out some Roald Dahl lately, author of The Witches.  As a kid, I read the book and saw the movie.  The story haunted me for a while.  I think it was one of the first stories I read at that age that didn't have a happy ending.  It will be interesting to read it again as an adult.

Our strange extremely late winter has brought so much snow.  Check what needed to be scraped off my car before going to practice last weekend:

My winter tires are being put to use, finally.

I have a gassy feeling that this vegetarian/pescatarian thing is going to need some tweaking.

Mind Farts
-who knew that Edmonton is the capital of one my late night greasy Chinese dish favourites?  the very creamy peaches and shrimp must be our guarded treasure.  it's not in Vancouver.. it's not in Calgary.. and it's not out east!
-Up was surprisingly good. ok, correction - i knew it was going to be good.. but i love it when things blow away my expectations :)
-luxurious toilet paper is not your friend.  i will no longer buy anything thicker than 2-ply.  yes, n-ply (n>2) feels great when you use it but plunging the toilet at 4am after getting home from the club is not my idea of fun
-i have gone from sweater dress girl to belted cardigan girl
-i am attempting to do my taxes by myself for the first time this year (yup, boosting savings = avoiding extra money for accountant this year) - wish me luck!