Right this very second, I'm trying mighty hard to fight off sleep.
I've been in travel mode again. Arrived around lunchtime from an incredibly long and exhausting hike. Don't ask me about it now. Too tired. Will blog about it later.
Still carrying my heavy backpack and muddy hiking shoes, dropped by my workplace to freshen up after lunch. My staff are happy to see me. They have questions and problems to bring up. I'm happy to see them too. But I just need a blank mind today.
Had to spend entire afternoon in problem-solving sessions. Half of my mind is somewhere else, mentally composing urgent messages and errand lists. Quick checks on email, cell, pocket calendar.
That's ok, I'm used to that mode of work. But not when I'm this dead tired.
I beg off from attending the last meeting of the day. Staff say they understand, tell me to go home and rest.
Drag myself to pass by night market. Pleasant surprise: there's fresh river clam from my favorite vendor. I buy a bucket. And young sponge gourd. Perfect. I'm expecting the kids to arrive tonight. I know exactly the dish I can quickly cook for this occasion. They love it.
Meet a neighbor in the market. He offers me a ride home. I'm thankful. I don't have to elbow my way through the crowded public transport system. Starts to rain.
Arrive home. Still fighting off exhaustion. Cook rice for four. Chop garlic, onion, ginger. (Text messages coming in. My staff won't let me off easily.) Peel and chop the gourds. Oops, forgot apron. Must wear it. Play Beethoven's Pastorale on mp3.
Heat corn oil in wok. Sautee garlic, onion, ginger. Hmmm. Just the aroma of it chases away the tempting nymphs of sleep. Hey you. Yes you miserable clams. Have you said your last words yet? Nope? Too bad. In ya go. I watch them pop open one by one with a distant curiosity. Hmm, I wonder if they cry as they die. Do their tears of terror add to the distinct aroma?
Add stock broth. Dogs bark outside. My neighbor drops by, returns my umbrella. I rush back in. Ahh, what magic doth my Kikkoman sauce conjure. The aroma is heavenly now. Beethoven's Sixth provides perfect aural accompaniment to culinary heaven. Call the kids. No answer.
Gourd is next. Soft whitish green. Lovely counterpoint to clam's pearly white on coral pink. Now the final touch: two braids of fine-quality misua on the steaming clam broth. Unfamiliar with the term? Ok, egg noodles. A type of Chinese vermicelli. For fighting off exhaustion and sleep, and for feeding two wolfishly hungry kids, nothing beats this dish.
Check email. Nothing incoming. See? Told ya. Yup.
Check rice. Steaming hot and fluffy-soft. Not mushy or gritty. Perfect. I can do it with my eyes closed. Good for four? I can wolf it all down with my favorite dish.
Text message beep. I check. Nice. Turns out I shouldn't have expected anything. Promises are meant not to be kept. I'm going to eat all this delicious rice and gourd-clam-misua soup. All by myself. Until my ears and eyes and nose burst and bleed with misua and sponge gourd and river clam. With a Kweichow accent. Sweet.
I feel like striking my head with the ladle, still dripping with broth. One, two, three. Ouch. But it's ok. No problem. It's good to be alone. Sometimes. I'm used to it. One last cell phone check. One last email check. Nothing. Good. I'm gonna blank myself now, to instant, endless sleep.
Let the mud dry on my shoes. Tomorrow will just be more mud. Sun or rain. Whatever. Beethoven can scream himself deaf for all I care.
Blog you later. If and when.
/sbin/shutdown now
moonriver posted on Sep 04, 2007
| views: 859
Comments
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Actorguy said on Sep 04, 2007....
Beleive it or not, I've never tried clam. Mainly because I am violently allergic to crab.... we're talking projectile vomiting all night long.... not pretty! I've had mussels and oysters, though, and they were fine so clams are probably OKay. I'm just too chicken to try.It sounds like a terrific meal, and you made lots so I'm in. Might pass on the clams though. -
secretlife said on Sep 04, 2007....
moon: i'm sad your visit with the girls didn't happen. i hope it was just postponed and not put off altogether.
sleep tight, sweet dreams- i hope in your dreams the skies are clear and blue and there's a soft breeze, not a speck of mud and no sign of rain!
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gingersoul said on Sep 04, 2007....
I beg to disagree with you...promises are made to be taken...
Maybe if you check your messages again when you wake up you will find one.
Buonanotte, rice steamer {hug}
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kruuyai said on Sep 05, 2007....
I'm crying real tears for the clams! :( -
Me-Myself&I said on Sep 05, 2007....
wow man....poor ol' clams......and you just stood there ......huh? ***smile***Sorry for your let-down! don't know what to say but.....no, its not good for folksto make plans and break them at the last minute. and yes, it can be good tobe alone......Sometimes.funny thing -Moon....i talked about MUD too.lol.... take care my friend!see ya -
destinydiva said on Sep 05, 2007....
aaw mr river, you didnt sound to convincing about it being good to be alone, (((((((hugs)))))) that would really frustrate me, especially if I had gone to the trouble of preparing such lovley sounding food :-)
maybe you could save the left overs for your pack? :-) xx
Sorry you were let down, sorry you feel a tinge of sadness today
But, chin up, tomorrows a new day :-)
Smile and the world smiles with you.... :-)
Destiny xx
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Me-Myself&I said on Sep 07, 2007....
Hey, Moonriver....are you still on the "stairs" outside, almost upside down,
past-out !! Now what postion is that called? I hope you are having a good
sleep. Just thinking of you so......see ya
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ellamae14 said on Sep 07, 2007....
i've never cooked sponge gourd with clam. ( i'm thinking of the tagalog term that we used for it, damn, I forgot my native tounge.grr.) But I like sauteed miswa with siomai. I think it's called wonton soup. You known moon, I'm beginning to think that you are also in the philippines. if not, which part of the southeast asia then?
We eat tahong more than clam. Is it the one in oyster like shell ( like the shell oil company logo?). Yup, adding ginger is a must. But don't you add "dahon ng sili", chili pepper leaves to it too? -
ellamae14 said on Sep 07, 2007....
omg. moon, can you just delete the triplicate comments? thanks. my computer hanged up. -
StillSeeking said on Sep 08, 2007....
Poor clams. But they taste so good.... -
moonriver said on Sep 10, 2007....
hey guys, sorry for the time lag in my replies to your nice comments. i was a bit delayed by the workings of mother nature. as the saying goes, "when it rains, it pours."
actor -- i was allergic to all water arthropods too (crab, shrimp et al.) when i was a kid. the moment i started eating any, my skin quickly developed rashes and i'd start scratching. but i couldn't help but eat anyway, and i outgrew the allergy. i think you can try clams but make sure they're fresh.
secret -- it was put off altogether. and their october visit isn't looking good either. but i did have a nice evening with migz just this weekend -- much better interaction than the last time. and yes, the skies have turned clear and blue... in my dreams... :-)
ginger -- your "angel's words" came true after all, my sweet friend. thank you. i should really stop this viral strain of cynicism that occasionally sneaks inside me and grows calluses around my soul.
kruu, stillseeking -- i think the clams don't cry tears, if only because they lack eyes, no? but wait til i have time to describe my next clam recipe. it isn't for the faint-hearted.
memyself -- oh you mean when i sleep like this? i know you often worry about me, my friend. but i'm fine. it's the situation around me that isn't. i'm right side up. it's the situation around me that's upside down... :-)
destiny -- you pamper me too much too, my friend. really, i'm ok. solitude and quietude have their benefits, as you can see here. make sure you read up to the last comments. i think you'll find something of interest there.
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moonriver said on Sep 10, 2007....
ellamae -- ah what makes you think i'm in your beautiful country, my girl? because of the cooking? but misua and siomai are chinese dishes known all over asia. methinks your clam and chili pepper leaves are for another type of dish, which we call.... let me check that one out...lol.
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Me-Myself&I said on Sep 10, 2007....
yep, that's the one! **smile** Glad to see you are ok and i hope everythinggood will follow you!! see ya -
fromtheheart said on Sep 10, 2007....
thanks for d welcome msg....i read your blogs they are ineresting.... i will subscribe. -
moonriver said on Sep 10, 2007....
fromtheheart -- thank you from the heart, fromtheheart. (duh... :-)
memyself -- i'm smiling too. and hey, ya watch your own steps, my friend, or you'll end up sleeping upside down yousself, like the guy in that pic... :-)
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ellamae14 said on Sep 10, 2007....
moon, spounge gourd is "upo" in tagalog. our clam with chili pepper leaves is sauteed in garlic onion and ginger, much like "lugaw" or porridge. "tahong" have a blue green elongated shell.
oh, ok, if you're not in the philippines, then what part of the southeast? :) i was thinking you could be one of my favorite writers for all I know. -
moonriver said on Sep 11, 2007....
ellamae -- duh... can you wait a while, my friend? i'm rummaging through my dictionaries to find some filipino dictionaries and recipe books before i comment, so that i can sound like a well-known filipino writer...lol. gotta go now. i'll get back to you. promise. :-)
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