Spice

  Imagine... rain drops tapping lightly on your window. You glance out the window from your seat, wrapped in a blanket. It's overcast. The yard is covered in vibrant leaves; red, brown, amber. The birds are awake, but even still, it's quiet. The morning has just begun.
There's a hot mug of coffee on your right. You dressed it with nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar, a pat of butter and a bit of cream. There's cider simmering on the stove.
You stretch, then get up and go light an autumn scented candle. What's on tv?
fuck that. Tv sucks ass.
You ask Alexa or Google to play Galaxy News Radio, instead. It's the best shit you ever heard.
You're so comfortable. Your space smells amazing, your jammies and blankie feel yummy against you, the calm of Autumn pervades the air you breath in. Summer's bullshit is at last gone.
And then you snuggle up and read Animorphs. Or play whatever garbage game you're addicted to at the moment. Either or, respectable.


ARE YOU COMFY?
I HOPE SO.

If you aren't, I'm sorry. That's gotta be my perfect morning. If I ever woke up early enough to just enjoy a morning. Oh, and it doesn't have to be Galaxy News Radio. I know that's not everyone's thing. So, another option is just Edith Piaf.

Summer is behind us and the best season is heeeere. Look at this pillow that I wanted to buy but didn't because the lines were 8 miles long. It was disgusting. Ugh. I'm gonna regret not buying it when I had the chance.

I'm starting to like, want to buy more *specifically Halloween* stuff now. Whereas before, I only really bought stuff for year-round use, but ... yeah. There's a lot of cute stuff to just decorate with for the hell of it, and I wanna do that this year.

Damnit. I should've just waited in line. Ugh. I gotta go back for it. Probably tomorrow.

One of my favorite spots has been the 99 cent store! Truth be told, in the ... 13? 14? years I've lived in California, it wasn't until like... 2 or 3 years ago that I walked into a 99. Idk why I never bothered to go there before. Probably the outside. I judged. The outside of them usually looks pitiful. But not gonna lie, they have cute Halloween stuff this year.

I got these two. I had to. Look at them.

They also had these, which I really liked but currently I just don't have where to put them. They were really nice though.

Aaaaand look at this kitttyyyy!
It's a little ... idk. Ceramic container thingie? For knick knacks?

Bruh. Anything ceramic at Michael's or Joan's is like, well... in the double digits. And it's kinda insane. Especially with the material that's used for a lot of their stuff. Usually like plastic, with terribad molds and like stringy glue everywhere. Pls. I'll go there for the little spooky town stuff tho. Those are a must.

At a different 99, Mr. Chicken bought me these two ceramic pieces. SO cute. There were more little like, pumpkin-y woods-y mushroom-y housey pieces but I had to stop myself. I was so happy with my little bat boy and pumpkin house.

I've set out my cute little graveyard stuff and I want moooooore. Some of the pieces, I made. The little jiangshi in the back left by the anatomical model, the little ghost in front of the left gate, and the little pocong in the middle of the gate doors. The rest are all purchased. But I might make more.

The pocong is especially perfect for this! I love it so, so much!

These two came out. Got them last year, I think at Joan's? Or Michael's, idk. There was a lot of oldies, retro themed stuff and I wish that would come back. It's so gooooood

I can't say I don't like beer anymore, even though... it's complicated. I can say though, I don't like lagers. Which are the more popular commercial beers. They taste like gross, acidic, tart, bread water. However! I can enjoy and do indulge in sweeter, thicker, darker stouts and IPAs. And autumn brings out the best ones because the flavor infusions are insane. This one is SO good. Soooo smoooooth and yummy. Trader Joe's. I wanna go to a brewery soon and look for autumn drafts. They're a treasure. They really, really are.

If you have an essential oil diffuser, you'll understand how utterly at peace I am

With these here bad boys

I love candles. The look of them. The smell of them. The ambiance they bring to a dark space. But ghat dangit Bobby, these are probably the best dang purchase of the season that I've made so far.

That's a lie.

Sort of.


As we're getting ready for bed, we'll set up the diffuser, put on lo-fi and just... it's bliss. Sigh.


This month has brought a lot of yummy comforts. My life has been taken over by my studies and work. Free time is precious. Every yummy comfort is even more treasured. One of those was when we went out again for more shabu shabu.

And right after, for some boba tea next door.

This sign made me smile under my mask

And this side table(?) made me wonder

what horrors has it endured to prompt such a dismaying, pitiful sign? :(

I like how our drinks looked in the cup holders. Half and Half cups are so fat lol

Surprising no one


Henlo. It me.

I wanna start wearing suspenders more. They're so dang cute.
One day, I'll grow out of wearing clown make-up.
Probably not this lifetime, though.
We'll see.

I also like to mention; I take inspiration from Edith Piaf for my eyebrows. Sort of. I mean, I'd been doing clown (not deliberately, but ugh) eyebrows much longer than having known of her music, but she empowers me to love em even more?
Clown eyebrows? Yes.
Also Edith Piaf eyebrows? Yes.

*bows*
:D

On campus, this squirrel heard the crinkling of the plastic my sweet bread was in.

She won. I didn't stand a chance.

Very recently, I made a trek to see Lauren again. She had something in store for me.

It was the coolest belated birthday date! She asked me what kind of foods and desserts I liked. And she brought those things come for us to enjoy. The bonus of it all was how she decorated. It was SO amazing.

The little corridor had skeletons, and all the posters and stuff on her walls gave it a cooler vibe.

This little spinning music box thingie inside a pumpkin... so cute!

Nigiri, cheese and fruit, apple pie and ice cream, and WATER! I actually really like water lol. Me no drink juices or sodas much. Too sweet. Fuck me up with water, man. I love it.


Movie: the sequel to Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies.

I admit, the title is 100% cringe, but I genuinely enjoy it. I'd never seen the full length movie. I only ever watched the song performances. So, I know what happens. But it was cool to see it all come together and play out.

Best scene/song is Beneath a Moonless Sky.
Fun fact: around the beginning of quarantine, myself and a buddy would do zoom calls on Sundays to practice singing Phantom songs and sing together. Beneath a Moonless Sky was one of those songs. It was a lot of fun, but started to become harder to schedule around because I refuse to sing when other people are present.

So, TLDR: this song is pretty spicy. The lyrics are like, dang.
Phantom shows up out of nowhere, like, 10 years later. She's infuriated, and then he's like hey we're cool right? Remember when we snuck off together at night and did the nasty......   ?

My favorite performance of it is of Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo.

Makes me squeamish and scream internally, but it's so good.

I'm still like, "omfg"ing about Mr. Chicken taken us to see a Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera in San Diego for my birthday one year. Where we stayed in a hotel known for being haunted.

Ugh, I'm so predictable lol.

Bleugh. October was gonna start awesome! But, unfortunately plans got canceled cuz of the rona. Understandably. We were gonna go see the opera Madame Butterfly. I read the play M. Butterfly and watched the film. Made me wanna watch the opera, totally different. I'm bummed. It got postponed until next year, which is fine. We can go then, but damn. Woulda been perfect to start October with.

But look at this cute treat one of our embalmers gave me uwu

BECAUSE GHOSTIES

I don't like reese's peanut butter cups... but these were good. Had to eat one very, very slowly, but it was yummy. And cyoo. Hee.


Some highlights from work.

GRAVESIDE CHICKEN

Every time there are doves at a graveside service, I start squealing like a wet cat as I pass their little housing box thingie, because I wanna touch them. But I don't wanna stress them out. So that urge comes out in squeaks and frog grunts. This last time, the handler offered to take one out for me as we finished setting up. He said I could hold it. I was like, hyperventilating or something idk, but this made me extremely happy. In the end, I chose not to hold the precious baby, just to avoid mishandling or stressing it out, but did absolutely give pets and baby talked it. It was one of dozens. They get released and fly back to their home base for snacks and more pets. SO CYOO

Another happy thing is when me and one of my directors do away services together, we take feetie photos ^_^. I found out recently he's half Peruvian, and... related to Eva Ayllon! His mom has family photos with her and other cousins. Shit is wild.
On our way to do stuff, I played her songs in the car and we were vibin.

Eva Ayllon is a beloved singer in Peru, especially by Afro-Peruvian peeps. But like, everyone loves her. She's like, a goddess. I've also played her music for our friends during our drunkard get-togethers lol. I wish I could elaborate on our Afro culture more, but I can't. Or shouldn't, rather. It's too different. And don't we all know; America doesn't do nuance, lol.

Anywho. Yeah! Fun feetie photos!

Still playing Darkest Dungeon. Game is too good. Got Crimson Court DLC the other day on sale. Ugh.
I had to step away from System Shock 2 for a few days. I don't want it to end. Ever. I WANT A REMASTER.

Not a remake.

*growl* There's a difference..

See?
Animorphs.
Comfy!

Tomorrow, work's gonna do a group birthday thing. I'm gonna stop in before my class in the afternoon. It's gonna be nice.
Ahhh, what a good change of season ^_^
I also started editing the last video I filmed. Editing is awful. But it's a cute video so.... one day. I'll finish it. Maybe even upload again. WHO KNOWS

Perhaps I'll wake up early tomorrow morning. Just to experience the comfy.

I hope you, dear reader, are having a comfy evening, or morning, or poop, or whatever. I HOPE THIS BLOG POST FOUND YOU SO WELL. I'm gonna go find some snacks and wind down with some candy crush lol. Get yourself some pumpkin shit, you deserve it.

Cumpleaños

  Once the sun sets, it's like I get this motivation buff. But sometimes, if I don't know that I'll finish something, I hesitate to even start. Neurosis is a bitch. Especially now that during the week, I have to focus on my classes. I didn't even really think I was gonna get this post started tonight, but here we are.

I feel better now though. Nice warm tummy tickles from Guldendraak. Diffuser's got some yummy oils, oldies tunes from nemo's dreamscapes, we're comfy here and ready to write some trash :D



OH. by the way, I've been having this stupid ass story in my head for like, years, and since I'm not a writer, every now and then, I think I'm gonna just start writing it as it comes out.... on here. Incrementally. Like chapter by chapter. Idk when. Or if it's gonna be towards the end or the beginning of a post. But it's got to come out. It's fucking me up.
(at the same time, I also kinda don't want to, because it's different. and am afraid of having the narrative stolen as so much media ends up as anyway? IDK. WHATEVER)


Soooooooooo my parents stayed with us recently. It's the worst time to visit, obv with levels of careless and selfish assholes at an all-time high, but also... because a lot of places we would've liked to have taken them are still crazy crowded. Regardless, their stay here was so nice. I missed them so much.

They brought some things back from Peru. (Family stuff)

One of those things is a chef's shirt with a Peruvian logo and the flags on it for Chicken. He can wear it when he makes me yummy Taiwanese pancakes.

They also brought a ton of candy!!! All of which were always stocked up at the house throughout my childhood. So damn good.

She even brought back bon bons with pisco sour liquor in em ^_^. Could never have em before but NOW I CAN CUZ AM ADULT :D

One thing I will say though, my mom went crazy with cooking. It was a trip to the grocery store almost every day for a shit ton of ingredients. She had like, an itinerary of everything she wanted to cook while she was here. She looooves to cook. One of the first things she prepared was ceviche.


rant incoming:

CEVICHE HAS LIME IN IT.
LIME.
NO LEMON. AT ALL. EVER. NO. FUCK.

Sigh.
I went to this peruvian joint once with someone, and ordered a side of ceviche

mf they made it with LEMON

I was so upset

Don't fucking disrespect ceviche like that. 

Same thing with pho. One time

I went to this pho place with Chicken, they were out of limes, so they gave us lemons without saying anything. No "hay we're out of limes but would you like to try it with lemon instead?" I woulda been like.... i'll try it, sure. but no.
I was so upset lol

Don't fuck with lime. There are rules. If the recipe says lime. DON'T CHANGE IT? If there is no lime:
1. Don't make it

2. Warn people

That's it.


ANYWAY. I told my mom about the lemon ceviche and she was like tf is wrong with them and I was like i know right
WE ORIGINATED THE FUCKING DISH. PERUVIANS DID. CEVICHE? THAT'S OUR SHIT. AND THE RULE IS; DON'T FUCKING MAKE IT WITH LEMON.

I don't even wanna get started on the tomatoes and other random shit salad shit that google tells people to use omg

lol
I gotta stfu.
:)

Well. All that matters is that Chicken had it, and now has a standard to go by.

My mom also made papa rellena. One of my favs. It's, in simplest terms, potato balls with more seasoning and a creole garnish of red onions. The yellow sauce is huacaina sauce. She prepared papa a la huancaina, and there was sauce left over.
Huancaina sauce is, in simplest terms, a savory, generally spicy cheese sauce served with potatoes. It's kind of an appetizer type dish in restaurants. It's amazing with pretty much anything.

Dad and Chicken chatting in the garden over his Miata. So cute.


This is one of my favorite Peruvian dishes of all time. Carapulcra.

Simplest terms: insanely savory braised meat with potatoes and a type of curry? But it's not curry at all. The sauce comes from the starch in the potatoes that thickens the water everything is cooked in with seasonings. The other one is olluquito con carne. Same-ish thing.

Everything is served with rice. I haven't seen anywhere that serves either of those dishes. Lomo saltado is pretty popular though! My dad says it's cuz people here like fries.



Back to campus I go. I hate how COVID set me back like 2 years basically.

In one of my labs, there was this super pretty alt girl and she noticed me when I walked by her but I'm a piece of shit so I sped walk right by her avoiding eye contact (i'm extremely shy and awkward when i'm.... myself. lol.) And later on at lecture, we passed each other again during break and I impulse couraged and stopped her to tell her I liked her outfit and that she's super pretty and she was like I SAW YOU AND WAS THINKING THE SAME THING and now we're lab buddies :D

We went to get poki the other day. She works at a hospital (that we've worked with lol) I told her so, and she was like oooh to pick up supplies? I was like....

o________________o 
noooo..

it clicked. It's cool. She's cool. The commute to campus sucks ass, but sigh, can't give up. So close.


Next dish! Chicken's favorite. Tallarin Verde. With papa a la huancaina again. It's basically spaghetti with very savory basil pesto.

Lotta the dishes are named in Quechua. Native language in Peru. My grandma spoke it, but never taught it to my dad. I sad. I wish I spoke it.

TEACH YOUR KIDS TO SPEAK YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE DAMNIT

oh no is my face

So, while my parents were here, it also happened to be my birthday! And Ponies sent me yet another amazing surprise gift.

Came in this cute packaging. And to my super happy surprise... I saw A CUTE

YUREI FIGMA FIGURE

AND SCREAMED

SHE'S SO BEAUTIFUL I LOVE HER. I immediately ran to get my yurei book and looked up the old kabuki paintings based on yurei and and and

what's a yurei?
GHOST. It's a ghost.
I went balls to the wall and filmed a video talking about them while unboxing the figma, but I'm undecided on whether I wanna upload it to the youtoom or not. I kinda forget about videos after I post them, and that feels.... mean.

ANYWAY. My yurei fima is beautiful and I love her. Thank you Ponies!


We took my parents out for hot pot. They've never been.
At first, my dad was like wtf is all this raw shit

And I had to be like.... I know.... just wait.
Verdict: they loved it.
We're going tomorrow cuz I'm craving it now.

Next dishes! Caldo de gallina. Peru's take on chicken soup. It's way more intense in flavor, and in Peru, it's prepared with hen that's raised a certain way. There's nothing like it. My mom couldn't get hen, so she settled for chicken, but it still came out delicious. Chicken was in heaven.

The other dish, more familiar to SoCal, lomo saltado. the french fry stir fry thing that everyone gets. I missed this. I can get it anywhere, and I can also prepare it, but the way mom makes is.... mmpf.

She also prepared the green chili sauce the restaurants have. It's aji de huacatai. Huacatai is black mint. Take the shit, blend it, season and add chili to it to make it spicy. Queso fresco. some milk. Shit is creamy heaven. No measurements. Taste as you go til it's just right.

Happy bordday to meeeeeeeeeeee
I did homework all day lol
But a lot of family reached out to me and having my parents around was super nice.

The last and final thing that we wanted them to try (there was more but my mom just wanted to cook the entire time she was here lol), was GALBI JJIM.

We had to. We had no choice. It was now or never.
We took em to the spot where I seduced Chicken like 4 years ago the first time we hung out. SUN NONG DAN. Now he wants to marry me, I'm telling you. This place is legit.

I got em the thing. They were amazed and so excited. The banchan threw my dad off lol they had no clue what was about to happen. We just told em to hold off.

I took my chances and got the large this time. With hesitance, because if you know anything about what happened before.... you'll know I'm a little butt hurt still 2 years later. But I said fuck it. Lets go with large, I'll cut off all the meat for them.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CYNTHIA

NO BACK RIBS :D

Best birthday dinner this chick could ask for. Seriously. I'd also be happy with all you can eat sushi, all you can eat kbbq, all you can eat shabu-shabu, noodles, or street tacos. But this was good. I mean... no back ribs. Fucking perfect.

They loved it so much. They were surprised at how delicious it was. I don't blame them. It is. It is SO delicious. I got the mild this time. Unfortunately it was still a little too spicy for them. Next time we're gonna order the soy. That'll be a first for us, too.

When it was time for them to go, Chicken gave them moon cakes to take with them. They tried them and also very much liked them. Made me happy. Dropping them off at the airport was bittersweet. I wish we weren't so far from each other. Idk if I'd uproot to live in the east coast, but if the opportunity presented itself, I'd be open to it. Only thing I'd feel bad about is that Chicken would be far from his parents, instead.

In the mean time, we did these peels again, different brand this time. It's day 1 and my soles already feel dry and paper-y. I can't wait lol.

Now I go lay in bed and play more candy crush. Or read. Whichever one feels comfier.