daily slice-of-life photo blog of a Gen-X dad
The power went out for about an hour right at lunchtime today. Since I could not work, I decided to embrace the moment and made some ramyun on our gas stove. I ended up eating it in front of my dark, lifeless monitors, which felt kinda cozy.
The ramyun was absolutely delicious. I had to make a quick dash to the fridge to grab some cheese, opening the door just long enough to not lose too much cold air. Ramyun without cheese just would not feel right!
I spent a luxurious hour wandering around Kinokuniya today, just happily browsing every corner. To my surprise, they had printed copies of two of my all-time favorite manga, Kino’s Journey and Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. I was very tempted to bring them home, but I decided to behave and stick with the Kindle versions for now. Still, just seeing them on the shelf made me smile. Those stories are so special.
I also stumbled across a vinyl of Ghibli Jazz. I have been listening to Ghibli Jazz on Spotify for years, and it never gets old. Smooth, cozy, and perfect for any mood. This album was such a satisfying little discovery, and it made the whole browsing trip even better.
Today was a perfect 75-degree day here in Austin, so Kiki and I took a relaxing ride around the neighborhood. Tomorrow the temperatures drop into the 40s, so I am glad I made the most of today’s beautiful weather.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO800
I finally pulled the trigger on an ʻOli ukulele that I had been eyeing for a few months, and today it arrived. It is a beautiful cedar top acacia ukulele, and it is absolutely perfect. I bought it from The Ukulele Site in Hawaiʻi and asked them to do a full setup. I also asked if they could send a photo of my ukulele being worked on, and they said, “Can do.” A couple of days later, I received a really cool setup video instead. How awesome is that.
Fast forward to today and the ukulele showed up at my door. Just like I hoped, it is perfect. The action is nice and low, exactly as I requested, and the low G string sounds great. It came strung with Koʻolau Aho fluorocarbon strings. I usually prefer nylon, but these are highly regarded, so I decided to leave them on for now. They actually sound really good. I will probably swap them out eventually, but for the moment I am enjoying them.
This is my first ukulele with a gloss finish, although the neck is satin, and it is absolutely gorgeous. I love the wood grain of the cedar and the soft blonde color. I spent about $800 on this ukulele, which is the most I have ever spent on one, but it is completely worth it. My other ukuleles honestly pale in comparison when it comes to sound, comfort, and overall fit and finish. The ʻOli is definitely a keeper.
Bonus photo of Yuzu enjoying the shipping box:
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/20 sec, ISO640
Today was a really fun Thanksgiving. It was a little more complicated than usual because Mariko taught an in person baking class in the middle of the day, but my turkey prep was simple and we have multiple ovens. In the end, everything worked out just fine.
Just like last year, I bought a pre brined turkey from HEB. It was 12.5 pounds. Our exchange student helped me stuff the bird with aromatics and season the outside with salt and pepper. I do not think handling a large raw turkey is something most Japanese people grow up doing, so it was a pretty unique experience for him.
The turkey roasted for about three hours until the thigh reached 155 degrees, then I let it rest for a full thirty minutes before carving. It turned out very juicy and tasty. I usually rush this part, but this year the timing was relaxed. That extra resting time made a huge difference, and I will definitely build it into future Thanksgivings.
For sides, we stuck with our usual favorites: cranberry sauce, oyster dressing, mashed potatoes, and roasted veggies. We finished with pumpkin pie for dessert. Everything was delicious. Another successful Thanksgiving meal in the books.
