I decided to start writing about restaurants. Since my recent lifestyle change, I figured that if I can’t eat everything I used to, I’d at least write about it. I love food, what can I say? I love going out to eat food, socialize with food, drinking with food, cooking food… you get it, right? So, this first entry will be dedicated to my first love: Korean.

Jong Ga House: 372 Grand Avenue, Oakland, Ca. This place is my new favorite place. The side dishes, (banchan), are excellent. If the banchan is good, there’s a better chance that the entree’s are good. Dol Sot Bibim Bap is always a hit, but I love the Bo Saam. Warning, you’ve really got to love pork and oysters to love Bo Saam. Otherwise, the Sauteed Calamari is also a yummy item.

Sahn Maru: 4315 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, Ca. I come here because it’s also good, the ingredients are fresh, and flavors are pretty spot on. They make their own sauces (red paper paste), and noodles. So try their noodle soups (Kal Gooksoo), and the seafood pancake appetizer. Their Bo saam is good here too, but most all their dishes are pretty good.

Pyung Chang Tofu House: 4701 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, Ca. The BEST soft tofu house. I have been to many others, but this is by far, the best place. I was a little worried because they changed owners a couple years ago, but hope was not lost. It’s still F’in good.

Sam Won: 2600 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, Ca. The ambience here sucks… there are no windows. But, if you really want some good ass Korean BBQ, come here. They are the Brothers (in San Francisco) of Oakland. I never really liked their banchan though. But their cold buckwheat noodle soup (naengmyun), and BBQ is hella good.

++Rule of thumb++
Korean restaurants are notorious for bad customer service. Fortunately, most of these restaurants are not that bad. If you want something and it’s taking forever, just call and wave at the waiters…. it’s no big deal. If you go to a place like Sam Won where you literally BBQ your meat at your table, be prepared to reek of BBQ when you leave. It’ll be embedded in your clothes and hair. Otherwise, enjoy…. you won’t ever leave hungry.

Yesterday, I went and saw the Magic Flute at the SF Opera house. So, we put on some nice clothes and headed on over to the city for a 3h 15m show. I really like the Magic Flute, and the costumes and set were pretty amazing. Although, I did have one complaint… the second half of the opera (although the music was exciting), the stage and direction just fell a little flat. A little anticlimatic when the prince had to go through the dark, dangerous, and scary trials. They just walked across the stage behind a screen, and then that was it. But overall, it was a great performance, and we all had a great time.

We had great food too! Afterwards, we went over to Sahn Maru, (Korean food), in Oakland. It’s on Telegraph in the Temescal area. SOOOOO good. A great ending to a weird week. Hopefully, the circus show freaks that came out last week will go back to their respective caves. I may start believing in the full moon now…. arrrrwoooooooooooo!!!!

The grump-a-saurus’ came out these past few weeks. Grump-a-saurus-rex came out this week. There have been numerous sightings, and witnesses say, “this is not good.” The grump at our home hasn’t been to bad. There were moments, but he never fully developed. Fortunately, I don’t think I have been affected… YET. Knock on wood, and hope it won’t happen. I can’t help but to write about this today because of the frequency of weirdness that has been going on. My sister in law mentioned that her kids go a little crazy during the full moon. This is coming from people who do not believe an ounce in the hocus-pocus, hoodoo-voodoo stuff. So, could it be? hmmm….

My composition is going well so far. I had a pretty good week, and the lesson went very well. The only fall back was that I didn’t really sleep this week. Usually when I get super into it, I can’t stop my mind from thinking about it… sigh. The good news is, I always get good ideas during this time.

Playing wise, I bought the Trio in e-minor by Shostakovich, and have been playing it all week. It kind of sucks not being able to play it with the other two instruments. Reading through ensemble music is my idea of heaven. Now, only if I could get some robots that can play the other parts.

Actually, I haven’t had Aunt Jemima in over a decade. I got this in my email this morning, and thought, “what the heck?!” Then I became strangely intrigued by the whole concept. This may be a thing worth trying out… and heck, it’s organic!
*Batter Blaster*

On Saturday, B and I went on a very long hike at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Nigel went with us, and he did alright for a 2.5 hour event. We turned back around when he stopped in the middle of the trail, looked at us with tired eyes, and then just laid down on the ground. Poor pup. At that time, I realized that my legs and feet were aching, so we turned back. Still aching the next day, and still a little ache here and there today.

Composing wise, I jumped over my hurdle from last week. I let out a huge-ass sigh of relief since my brain and my ears were about to kill me. I only have a few more weeks to turn in my rough draft of the thesis. No stressin’ right now, only will.

I have had two lessons so far this quarter. In both lessons, we have only looked at the first six measures of the third movement to my trio. Today, it has grown from the original six to eighteen. I am trying to study a “Stravinski-an” (is that a word?) technique, but seriously folks, no one can make it sound as good as he does. Needless to say, it’s been difficult. In general, regardless of that, I seem to have problems in expanding my sketches anyway. Do I have composer ADD? Do they have ritalin for composers who are two cents shy of writing pop songs and jingles? Oh, I can see it now….

N.S.Cho: famous (haha) composer who wrote classical pop tunes. Each piece lasting an average of 3:54 minutes, perfect for the modern day Classical music ADD audience.

saturated fat, cholesterol, and carbohydrates are in sea cucumbers and jellyfish? I’ve had a craving for sea cucumbers and jellyfish for so long, that we went out last night to a Chinese restaurant at Ranch 99, to get my fix. However, with my new diet, I was curious to know what the nutritional facts were on these things. Well, let me tell you “hhwhat,” it’s a little difficult to find…. anyone, anyone? Well, it was damn worth it for me. yumsers.

Went to Kaiser this morning to see my Doc about my results. She explained to me that I am borderline, but eventually, I will get it. ARG, genes can be so frustrating. I also asked to see a nutritionist because I am a little bit lost in what else I can do to help my diet. At this point, instead of what I’m eating now, (brown rice, quinoa, kefir, salads, grilled veggies, and fish), I think I need to just eat grass. Hint of sarcasm? Well, I gotta humor myself because this blows.

I also figured out that if I get pregnant, I will get diabetes. Whether or not I will have it right after the pregnanacy is questionable. But eventually, I will get it anyway. So, what do I do? Damn, well if this ain’t a good motivator to go to the gym more often, then I don’t know what is.

Doc also prescribed something for me. Unfortunately, I can’t drink any alcohol while taking the medicine. “What?” I exclaimed to the pharmacist, “Not even one drink?”

“No. It will damage your liver. Alcohol damages your liver already, but with the combination of alcohol and this drug, it will really damage your liver.”

“Not even one drink at a dinner party?”

After a while, I felt like I sounded like an alcoholic. I assured her that I only drink maybe a couple drinks per month, but that wasn’t even good enough. So, goodbye alcohol. I bid you farewell. I will remember you always, and look fondly upon our memories together.

September was a weird month. I went to the doctor because I threw up blood, and damn, that hurt. Figured out it was acid reflux, so I got some pills for that. The doc also wanted me to get a blood test done, so I asked her if I could also get my glucose test done since Diabetes runs in our family. It was a good thing I dragged B along with me because I passed out… twice. The second time, the lab lady came out and gave me two packets of Splenda. I looked at them and said, “Ew, no. I’m okay.” B said, “No, you’re not. Eat it.”

The test came back, and it wasn’t good. So, I had to take another test. B came with me again, and this time, we were armed with Gatorade and grape juice. I am borderline. I go back to the doctor tomorrow.

Although I knew that this day was most likely to come, I thought I could handle it pretty well. Surprisingly, it has been more difficult than expected. The more research I’ve done, the more freaked out I’ve become. On my father’s side, both my grandparents died in their 60’s from it, my aunt died two years ago, and the rest of my uncle’s have it, including my skinny-ass dad. It is relentless. Changing my lifestyle has been difficult and frustrating.

Since so many people in the USA have diabetes, it seems like it’s becoming as normal as having arthritis. Because of that, I don’t think people take it as seriously as they should. I also think that because this disease is slow in showing it’s effects, people think that what you can’t see won’t hurt you. Unfortunately, many wait until it is too late. I can’t afford too late, but it’s been hard to accept.

We’ll see what happens tomorrow. I am a bit tired from being poked, pricked, and being told what to do. I do not accept this “family gift” happily, but at least I’ll accept it knowingly. However, I will admit that before each meal, I say to myself, “This fucking blows.”