Salmon Pasta and Life Updates

Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO250
“Salmon Pasta’ Cedar Park, 2020

Once again, Koa wanted to cook dinner for us, and the suggestion was to dig into our large supply of frozen salmon. So, a creamy pasta with salmon and asparagus was made by Koa and Mariko. It’s a dish that we’ve had several times and always enjoy. We also had yummy homemade bread and white wine (adults only!) while breathing in the fresh air out in the backyard. Not a bad way to spend another stay-at-home evening. 😀

In other news, Bay has finished up his first year of architecture school and can now relax a bit until classes start up again in August. The plan at the moment is for the university to re-open with restrictions on class gatherings… we’ll see how it all pans out, but regardless, Bay will be moving back down to Houston to room with three other architecture students in a couple of months. I hope the environment is safer by then…

Koa is almost done with his sophomore year, with just one more test to take. Of course, band is a still a big part of his life and the band program is continuing on as best as possible with remote activities. In addition, he’s a part of Inception Orchestra, where he is learning about music composition and getting mentored by musicians who work in the movie and television scoring industry. It’s pretty cool! He’s all set up with Bay’s old electric piano (to use as a midi-controller), and music composition software. Staying busy!

Wide-Angle

Photo info: OLYMPUS E-PL9, 9mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec, ISO200
“Wide-Angle Sky” Cedar Park, 2020

Today’s photo was taken with my wife’s Olympus E-PL9 camera, using an 18mm (equivalent) lens. It’s nice for getting a wide view of the skies! The Olympus has a few interesting features that I want to try out, including a star-trails mode (not the real name). I just need a clear sky to try it out, and with summer approaching, it’ll be a good time to get some star trails and Milky Way shots. I hope!

Staying Inside

Photo info: OLYMPUS E-PL9, 9mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO320
“Indoor Cat” Cedar Park, 2020

I wonder what our cats (and dog) think about us being at home so much more than before…

The pets do love to watch the birds and squirrels in the backyard, but only the dog goes outside. I think the cats are perfectly content to stay indoors, where they can practice their pro sleeping habits undisturbed.😸

Dinner Outside

Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO500
“Outside Dinner” Cedar Park, 2020

Today we had dinner outside in our backyard. The weather is not too hot yet, and the mosquitoes haven’t arrived in full-force so it was a good time to enjoy a bit of nature during the quarantine. The Indian food was delicious, and the clean air and natural light made it really special. 😊

Thunderbirds Flyover

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 26.5mm, f/9, 1/1000 sec, ISO200
“Thunderbirds” Cedar Park, 2020

This afternoon the USAF Thunderbirds flew over Central Texas to honor the healthcare workers who are on the front lines of our current COVID-19 pandemic. I was fortunate that the flight path literally circled our neighborhood (we are close to some large medical facilities) so I could watch and take photos from the street in front of our house.

I was amazed at how fast the F-16 jets were – they seemed to be a couple of seconds in front of the roar of their engines! The flyover lasted perhaps 30 seconds or so max, and then they flew off to the east to salute the healthcare workers in Round Rock and Georgetown. A very nice gesture, for sure. ❤️🇺🇸

“Thunderbirds” Cedar Park, 2020
“Thunderbirds” Cedar Park, 2020

Variety on the Plate

Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/4.5, 1/40 sec, ISO3200
“Variety” Cedar Park, 2020

Mariko made a stir-fry today, with bell peppers, carrot, snap peas, and skirt steak. It was great! But what made the meal really special was the variety of side dishes. There was marinated zucchini, pickled cauliflower, avocado and tomato, and kimchee (not pictured). It was a very flavorful and filling meal. It’s funny, but with so much variety on the plate, it seems you don’t need to eat much to feel completely satisfied.