ZIPPY'S AFTER TWO MARK TRAVIS WORKSHOPS

Kris is revved up and barely in control
...................
 

As always, Kris and I debrief on our ride home.

So much to talk about:

Mark, stories, feedback, insights, meltdowns...

This time it's very late when we finally 

manage to leave Hau`ula.

We're starving but decide to drive straight to Honolulu

and eat at Zippy's on Vineyard.

 Waiting for our order, we start to fade

 Fading...

 Fading...

 Faded

Until our food arrives.

 My comfort food: fried rice and egg  

Hash browns for Kris.

And finally home.
Thank you, Mark, Alice Anne, Henry, and our new/old writing friends!

EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK

Last night I hurried to get to the dojo before they closed but got stopped in my tracks by a scene that seemed straight out of a movie.  Two musicians and their dogs had set up shop right by the entrance to Eaton Square.  Wish I had had the wits to have taken pictures of their "caravan" of stuff: two strollers modified to hold their belongings.  One stroller had a large homemade wooden box fastened on top of it, filled with I don't know what all.  Like the musicians, the box had obviously weathered a few seasons.  

She said that she was a germophobe and that they played mostly Bach but also did numbers by Herb Alpert.  When she did not recognize the piece the man played, he told her it was Vivaldi, and then sang her some phrases to help her remember.  The dog got up, circled his pad, and laid down again.  I felt like I had stepped into a time warp where forgetting was as important as remembering.

BROTHER JOHN'S UNFORGETTABLE GIFT

John, a Marianist brother and good friend of Phil's, offered to cook us a gourmet meal.  Who are we to refuse?  The evening before New Year's Eve, John came armed with all the fixings for a six-course dinner:

Maple and Mustard Glazed Salmon

Asparagus with Carmelized Onions

Divine Carrot and Sweet Potato Slices

Risotto with Precious Porcini Mushrooms from the Motherland

Garnish of the Most Luscious and Peppery Watercress

Warm After-Dinner Salad

Dessert of Mango Sorbet in a Papaya Bowl  

And wine, of course 

And his Kindle for background classical music! 

 John stirring the risotto and filling our home 

with the most delicious aromas.

  

Phil pretends to be helping.

Dinner, fit for a queen, is served!

Warm salad with porcini mushrooms and walnuts.

Slice of sweet potato on the side.

 The dessert looks a bit lost on my red salad plate from Macy's.

I should have drawn a design on it with chocolate syrup 

or cream or something, if I stocked any of that.

We didn't get done with dinner and conversation until close to midnight.  And if that weren't enough, John offered to come back and prepare us his specialty: Chicken Marsala!  Any time, John, any time.  I can get accustomed to this.

The next day I fixed a semi-gourmet meal from the leftover risotto by adding fresh carrots, onions, garlic, dried cranberries and sunflower seeds.  I also steamed half a cauliflower head and dressed it with a special Japanese Sesame Dressing with Yuzu (A gift from our realtor John Baessler - Thank you, John!) and a sprinkling of gomashio.  And more of that unbelievably delicious watercress.  I swear, I never liked bitter vegetables, but I can't seem to get enough of this bunch of watercress.

Everyone should have a friend like Brother John.

Thank you, John Campbell!!!!