DOWNHILL IS FAR EASIER

At least yesterday wasn't an entire waste; after puddling around most of the day I went and did my laundry, then fixed myself an easy lunch (菜飯 'choi faan'; veggie rice) which turned out surprisingly delicious. A little gilded chopped sausage and parched mustard greens, also chopped, then rice and thin stock with a touch of chilipaste. Soupy, easy eating, slightly more cooked rice than vegetable. Very Shanghai, but also universal country village quick comfort food all the way into Vietnam.

Doing laundry was a hassle. Normally I take the bus up three blocks to the laundromat, but there is currently a detour because they're doing something needful on the street in that area, involving earthmoving equipement, a full crew wearing hardhats, and a big industrial digger. Which meant walking. Walking uphill is uncomfortable at the best of times -- legs no longer young -- but with a full load it's worse.

Walking downhill afterwords I kept muttering gloatingly to myself, "clean clothes, clean clothes, clean clothes!" "Yay! Clean clothes!"

Clean clothes are very good. Everyone should have clean clothes.
Away with all stinkies, we shall garb ourselves cleanly.
The journey back was easier than going up.

Actually, the best part was later, when I happily offered some new candy I had found in Chinatown to my apartment mate. Lemon and monkfruit (檸檬羅漢果糖 'ning mung lo hon gwo tong'), with a touch of sea salt. Now, I enjoy them. I had totally forgotten that while ethnically Chinese and having grown up in a household which was largely Chinese-speaking (Toishanese), her tastes were formed here. And include stuff that I won't touch with a ten foot pole, like goofy American breakfast cereals and crap like oatmeal. Ketchup on fries.

A moment after taking one, her reaction was priceless. Nastiest thing ever, should know not to trust the old toad when he offers candy, wow that's horribly horribly nasty, ain't nevah gonna try that again! Nasty nasty nasty! Bleaugh! And forsooth!
Tastes like tootpaste!

She didn't like it. Very operatically.

Yes, I'm sorry that I did that. And as I said, I like them.
But the dramatically vocalized distaste was lovely.



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