It is entirely indisputable that the California Poppy is the greatest state flower among all the states in the USA.

Review: Trader Joe's Citrus Chicken Salad

http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/1539

Traditionally, Som Tam is pretty spicy, and while ours has a little kick, it's definitely more on the mild side. Trader Joe's Citrus Chicken Salad begins with a bed of shredded cabbage and julienned carrots, joined by shaved daikon radish, and of course, sliced green papaya. We've added grilled chicken to ours, for a boost of flavor and protein, and topped the mélange with fresh cilantro, green onion, and a wedge of lime you can squeeze over the salad before you dress it. Speaking of dressing… the dressing here is an authentic Thai recipe with sugar for a touch of sweet, lime and Nam Pla for sour, and chilies to give that little kick we promised.

I really can't add very much more, except to say that it was delicious. The added lime wedge for squeezing over the salad gave it a super-fresh, super-citrus kick that really pumped this one up to a 5/5.

what's new, late july 2011

Your Mr Jeff now lives in Queens, NY.

Dream, Oct 26-27, 2009

(the details I remember)

Driving my dad's pickup truck (the one he doesn't have anymore) - at night, a full moon. Off to get gas in "west Davis" (elements of I-5 in the San Joaquin Valley.) As usual, unable to read/recognize written symbols. Inexplicably impossible to operate pump/locate truck's gas tank intake. Pump 20-30 gallons of gas...but is it going into the gas tank? When done, driving away, pickup's fuel gauge still registers as empty...where did I pump the gasoline? Have I damaged the truck?

Driving: having left "west Davis" driving north, I am somewhere between Winters and Madison and also in a Bay Area canyon with a wide flat muddy river bottom. On a narrow winding road my motorcycle encounters a trailer truck carrying lumber - a long tree trunk - which, on a curve forces my cycle offroad into the river flats, where I slow the pickup truck to a stop.

I'M AWAKE

Awakened from slumber by a possibly defective epiglottis and an already-in-progress gag reflex. A rush to the bathroom sink and a couple of minutes spent coughing and retching saliva...nothing but saliva.

NOT recommended.

Mustaches for Charity, Part 1

not optimistic about being chosen for the [COLA COMPANY] mustache photo-a-day project. I expect they'll go for Bondie. You know, popularity & whatnot.

Exploring, part 311

Went down to Long Beach today. Took a walk in Bluff Park, and down to the Belmont pier. I've never been to Miami, but for some reason this area reminds me of how I expect Vice City to look. Beautiful weather, lovely houses and apartment complexes; absolutely terrific view of the enclosed Long Beach harbor, the Queen Mary, and the Islands Grissom, Chafee and White.

I could live here, I think.

On my way back home, I took surface streets through northern Orange County. Westminster Blvd.; Brookhurst. Indistinguishable from the San Gabriel Valley sprawl, or from the western San Fernando Valley. Just awful.

Thanks for the sunset, brush fire!

Microparticulates in the atmosphere create especially colorful clouds.

Another Brush Fire, August 2009

(as viewed from the 90230)

Don't you just hate it when that happens?

Knew it would be a gamble putting my beverage cup directly on the mattress.

Predictable results ensued.