Giddy Up!

We checked out the Fortuna Rodeo (which goes this whole week/weekend) on Wednesday.  Fun times! I'm not sure K has ever been to a rodeo. I vaguely remember one in Montana one summer... but it was at least 15 years ago!


Kelvin took the opportunity to (embarrassingly) wear a cowboy hat which has been in his car for an unknown length of time (and for an unknown reason). While I thought it seemed as though he was mocking some of the other rodeo attendants, he said he wore it to blend in (as much as an Asian guy can blend in at a rodeo). I'd forgotten my hat and cowboy boots at home. However, I got ridiculed for carrying around a blanket ("a brown poncho" in the picture above) because I didn't wear enough layers-- it's cold here and it's July!!

 

close-up of this classic pose!

 

 

We watched some of the "Junior Rodeo" events, which included goat wrestling (a child would ride the length of the ring on a horse, jump off, then wrestle a tethered goat down and tie it up, for time).

And then there was "hide racing," where a parent or responsible adult rode a horse which had an animal hide trailing/attached, and a child had to grab the rope/tether and hang on as the horse galloped the length of the rest of the ring, dragging him/her along the manure-filled dirt. How fun does that sound?!

We were thrilled that this youngster had the good sense to wear a helmet!

 

(Gotta start 'em young!)

 

We checked out the "fair" area....

... which would not be complete without spinning dinosaurs and a massive bag of cotton candy.

Giddy up!

a narrower circle

My old McLean neighbor, Sam, posted a link on facebook to this NY Times article on "making friends as an adult." It was very timely, touched on many true points, and really hit home.

While Kelvin and I are really enjoying Humboldt County, the article brings up something that I have definitely been feeling here--that, while we have good relationships at work and through a church group we have joined, we (or I) still feel a bit "distant" from people at times.  I know I tend to be introverted by nature, I know that close friendships aren't instantaneous, and I know that a rigorous call schedule makes it hard to plan or attend regular social outings, but I don't really feel that, here, yet, we are surrounded by "close" friends like I've had other places we've lived. It hasn't been as easy to "bond."  While I still keep in touch with some HS friends and a handful from residency, I consider my closest friends ones from college and medical school, who I interacted closely with 5-10 years ago, and some who I (sadly) haven't even seen in that long.

K and I are in a place where we're too "old"/boring to stay out late at night with single folks. But we're also in that pre-kids state where we don't have that much in common with other people our age who are now parents-- who don't really have the freedom of schedule/travel or whose lives revolve around children's activities. Our careers can make it seem that we don't "get" or have much in common with other 30-ish-year-olds, due to perceptions of status or income.  Perhaps being married now makes me less invested in opening up and building new relationships. Maybe the thought of possibly moving again (although we don't know if, when, or how soon) makes me wonder, "what's the point?"

I don't want it to seem that I am moping around here. I like our life here. I like my job, most of the time. I love being married, and hanging out with my best friend (and furry baby) is really enough of a social life for me. But I definitely find relationship-building to be more challenging now.  Some things take more work. It's tough to get old :)

Grizzly Creek and the 36

 

On Saturday, we took an excursion down about an hour southeast (down scenic hwy 36) to Grizzly Creek Redwoods SP.  While a small park, it had some good nature trails (and its claim to fame is being part of the set for George Lucas' Return of the Jedi). Before the highway 101 was constructed in 1918, this tiny highway 36 was the major route between SF and Eureka!

We also checked out Van Duzen County park with its "beaches," although I can't imagine it ever gets warm enough to swim here! I am still wearing turtlenecks and sweaters and can't believe it's mid-July!

     We thought the position of this "felled tree" was very interesting...

We were hungry on our way back and so also gave Peppy a rawhide bone to chew.... think she enjoyed it? :)

....  which is in contrast to her picky ways at other times (how many dogs do you know who would rather snooze than eat kibble out of a velcro ball?!)

Here's to more "summer" trails (and now only 60 more things to do in Humboldt County).

Recipe of the week: Spicy Thai Coconut Soup

I don't often excel in the kitchen. And I did, in fact, spend a LOT of time at labor and delivery this week (being on call 24 hours/day x 6 days straight), forcing my hubby to fend for himself for food. But when I do make a good dish (albeit it just by following a very easy Cooking Light recipe), it's time to blog about it! If you like Thai food (or if you live in Humboldt County where there isn't much Asian food), this soup was easy to make in no time at all, and very tasty!

2 tsp canola oil
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
4 tsp minced ginger
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 (3-inch stalk), lemongrass, halved (or lemongrass paste as I substituted)
2 tsp sambal oelek (ground chili paste)
3 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
4 tsp fish sauce
1 Tbsp sugar
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast (or substitute shrimp)
1/2 cup green onion strips
3 Tbsp chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
(limes for garnish)

1. Heat Dutch oven over medium heat, add oil to pan
2. Cook mushrooms and next 4 ingredients (though lemongrass), cook 3 minutes
3. Add chile paste, cook 1 min
4. Add chicken broth, coconut milk, fish sauce, and sugar, bring to a boil
5. Reduce heat to low, simmer for 10 minutes
6. Add chicken to broth and cook until heated
7. (Discard lemongrass if stalk added)
8. Top with onions, cilantro, lime juice (and cut limes, if desired)

Enjoy!

Cakes and Citizenship

(a patriotic cake I made for a potluck last night. I am by no means a "baker," but it turned out pretty well!)

I recently read Time magazine's article by Jose Antonio Vargas, "Not Legal, Not Leaving."  While the subject of undocumented/illegal residents is a touchy subject, the article does discuss the process of legal immigration which is daunting in and of itself (see this flowsheet).

My mother is a naturalized American citizen, born and raised in India.  Kelvin, his parents, and two younger siblings (Theresa was born in the U.S.) immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam in 1991 and later became citizens. Hearing their story makes me really appreciate the "ease" of my own life, i.e. the privileges of having been born into citizenship here, especially on this fourth of July.

Kelvin's two uncles, Tuong and Tu, and Tu's wife and daughter just came over from Vietnam to make their new lives in Texas. It took 10 years after their application for their sponsorship to be "approved." They were able to attend Kenn and Lisa's wedding their first month in this country and we celebrated Tuong's birthday last week (with a delicious fruit cake).

These individuals are now in the position to "start over" in a foreign country in which they don't speak much of the language, ten years after having expressed their desire to move. They have left behind their family and everything they have known.

On this fourth, we celebrate the birth of our country, but I also celebrate the attributes of the U.S. that makes this country welcome others and also the bravery and contributions of all of our residents.

The Humboldt List: #62 more to go

Every chance (i.e. weekend day) we get, we are still trying to tackle more items on our list of "101 things to do in Humboldt County."  In 10 months, we have completed about 40% of the list.

This Sunday, we headed to Fortuna ("The Friendly [and supposedly sunnier] City"), which is about 40 miles south of us.  We walked along the Eel River "Riverwalk" which was a fun place for Pep to explore.  I wish that, it now being July, it would be a bit "nicer" outside, but we are now used to the summer "highs" of 60 degrees in Humboldt County.

 

Pep normally peers through fences at any hooved beings, but didn't seem to care too much about these ponies.

wildflower

We also stopped by Chapman's Gem & Mineral Shop/gallery off the 101, which houses a huge collection of gems/stones from around the world.

 (notice Pep's peering face... she was not allowed inside!)

 amethyst

fluorescers

We walked away with a beautiful Himalayan Salt Lamp and an Agate slice for display.

We celebrated our anniversary (one day early due to call) with dining at Carter House restaurant, deemed one of the finest restaurants in Northern California. The Carter House Mansion, which is now a Bed & Breakfast, is one of Eureka's historic Victorian mansions.  K and I don't go out very often to "fancy" restaurants, but this was well worth it. The service, food (local cuisine), and "bubbly" were excellent (they have a wine menu of over 3,400 wines!).

Now, we have only 62 more things "to do" in Humboldt County to complete the list!

One year later...

It has been one year since K and I tied the knot outside Sacramento, CA. For someone who worried I'd never find the "right one," it was most certainly the best day of my life!  I am loving married life. Hope you'll put up with re-viewing some of my favorite snaps of me and my best friend from 7-2-11!

Here's to many more anniversaries, my love!