Latest adventures from the Japanese grocery

posted by sometrouble @ 5:57 PM | Test Category Two | Thursday, March 30, 2006

Our most recent "odd item" purchase from Noble Fish was this:


In tiny print on the nutrition information label on the back of the package were the words "dried filefish". I was curious about what a filefish looked like (before being turned into a Japanese party snack)...so I looked in google images. I have no idea which species these things were...all identifiable fish bits were removed (thankfully). Good thing, because it greatly reduced the grossness factor. Let me go back to the nutritional value...basically there is none. These really are a junk food. It is like fish jerky...dried up with spices and a lot of salt. I honestly don't see the appeal to these things. They were bland with a weird aftertaste. Can you picture some little kid riding in a shopping cart in Japan and asking their mother for these as they wait at the check-out. (I'm picturing this purely from my western experience...I don't know if the grocery store format is the same over there.)

Surprisingly though, the chocolate we have purchased from Noble hasn't been bad. Just a little funny. Once we bought some "Men's Pocky" (sorry no photo). It was thin pretzel rods dipped almost to the end in semi-sweet chocolate. Kwesi speculated that it was "men's" because of the dark chocolate...and that a woman couldn't handle that. :o) I ate it anyway.

We also bought these:

chocolate mushrooms

We told everyone they really were chocolate covered mushrooms, and it grossed everyone out. But they really were yummy.

Maybe if we get sushi tomorrow, and I am feeling brave, I will try the dried horse mackerel. :o)

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wake up call

posted by sometrouble @ 12:42 PM | Test Category Two | Tuesday, March 28, 2006

I wonder if one of these would work for me. Most likely they would just get lost...or after the first alarm, I would turn it off, and sleep the rest of the morning away. :oP

1 Comments:

At March 28, 2006 2:46 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

haha, think I would just get fed up with the thing when I wake up particularily groggy one morning. I am sure hurling it at the wall might shut it up faster! ;) And then that's 52 bucks down the drain.

 

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Happy Birthday to me

posted by sometrouble @ 10:37 AM | Test Category Two | Saturday, March 25, 2006

So glad the weekend is here. Spending the day doing work around the house, and wedding planning with my mom. Oh well...we are going to celebrate with a family dinner tonight. My gown came in the mail yesterday...that's a great birthday gift! I can't figure out how they got it in the box...it's 20x26...but only 4 inches tall! I bet its going to be very wrinkly. Also...I have an ipod on the way. I bought my cousin's 15G 3rd generation ipod, because she won a brand new shiny 60G video ipod.

Tomorrow, I have to go to Marshall Fields...because somehow they erased all the items on our registry. They said if I bring in a hard copy, they will re-enter everything. Thing is, I only have the copy they gave me when we registered last August. Things have been deleted and added since then...and I have no idea if anything has been purchased. If anyone has a hard copy they printed since then...please let me know. I could really use a copy of it. It is all because Macy's is taking over. Hmph.

Oh, and the invitations came in as well, so now we will be spending all free time addressing those. Oh boy. I have to make maps to insert too. Too much to do all the time, and not enough time for it all. I just want everything to be done, and the day to get here. I am really excited about seeing family who are coming in from out of town for it. :o) I have started having bad dreams that it's the wedding day, and I'm so not ready. (typical emily thing to do right?) Those have gotta stop...cause I felt tired all week, because I couldn't get restful sleep. My dreams are stressing me out...and mom's having the same thing. I should have eloped.

3 Comments:

At March 26, 2006 4:31 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Emily!

I'll pray that you start having some good sleep. I know how it feels to have crappy restless sleep.

Love ya.

 
At March 26, 2006 10:24 AM, Blogger sometrouble said...

thank you allie! I love you too!

 
At March 30, 2006 3:26 PM, Blogger Kat said...

WEEEE! Happy birthday!

 

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crabs anyone?

posted by sometrouble @ 12:29 AM | Test Category Two | Wednesday, March 22, 2006

You find some weird things in a Japanese grocery store. My sushi-loving co-worker and I have decided to try some strange new thing each time we go there. Our first adventure was with these:



Your guess is as good as mine as to what is involved in this snack (beside little tiny whole crabs). I was the first one to try one...cause I wanted to save some sushi to chase it in case they were terrible. Which turned out to be a smart plan, since they weren't great...Kwesi ate his last, and claims to have tasted it for at least two hours.
Opening the package unleashed a very strong smell like a bucket of crab shells from last night's (or last week's) all-you-can-eat crab dinner. The taste wasn't repulsive...but not good either. The best I can describe it...is it tastes like the Hippo House at the Detroit Zoo smells. Ick. Here are some detailed photos of the "snacks" for your enjoyment...too bad you can't try one.

Click to zoom


P.S. We are not buying the gorgeous house. Chad is a mold nazi. We fought over the weekend about it, but we did come to a compromise. But I am still very sad. :o(

4 Comments:

At March 22, 2006 4:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

awww, sorry to hear about not getting the house! I know you guys will find something that is perfect for both of you! Keep yur hopes up!

 
At March 22, 2006 2:42 PM, Blogger Liz said...

sorry about the house.

Those are some nasty looking crabs...

 
At March 25, 2006 11:00 AM, Blogger Matsby said...

You could not pay me to eat tiny crabs that have what looks like blisters on them. And as for the house, I say you just start out renting for a while since it might not last very long with chad. Good luck with your crabs though!

 
At March 30, 2006 3:27 PM, Blogger Kat said...

Mmm, I love those crabs. And they eat nasty dried fishes and squid, too. I'd take the crabs over those. At least they're crunchy.

 

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I want sushi

posted by sometrouble @ 12:34 PM | Test Category Two | Monday, March 20, 2006

SUSHI!!! I am craving sushi for lunch today so badly! Too bad Noble Fish is closed on Mondays. I'm definately having it tomorrow...with maybe a side trip to the aquarium store to get something new for my saltwater tank.

1 Comments:

At March 20, 2006 3:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh yeah, I heard from kristen that you have a salt water tank. What kinds of fish do you have in there?

 

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Pigs in spaaaaaaaaace!

posted by sometrouble @ 5:27 PM | Test Category Two | Saturday, March 18, 2006



Found this in a few places online...from the best I can tell they are screen shots from a Russian mockumentary film called Pervye na lune or First on the Moon

1 Comments:

At March 19, 2006 6:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

haha...i love that you put that in here...so random!

 

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The Verdict

posted by sometrouble @ 4:44 PM | Test Category Two | Thursday, March 16, 2006

Inspection went O.K. There are a few minor things here and there to adjust. Or minor fixes requiring a little $, but not too bad. Except for one thing. Mold. In the attic, but only a small area, and it is not too badly infected. Basically, it is the same story as the last house we liked...but the inspector says it is a little better than the last time. He doesn't seem to be concerned by it...and says 50-something percent of the houses he inspects in a year have the same thing. Much more than 50% when you only look at Colonials built around the time we are looking at. It is most likely not Stachybotrys (toxic black mold) to test would cost a few hundred $$, which is like half the cost of just cleaning it. The thing that freaks Chad out, is that we will have to disclose that the house HAD mold when we sell it. Which I don't think will scare that many people away...at least not the educated ones, who know the statistics of mold presence in house this age in this area.

To prevent the mold from returning once removed, sophet vents would need to be added, and kept clear of insulation...and whenever we re-roof, we would replace the powered fan with a ridge vent, and let the natural convection of air keep the insides of the roof dry, rather than pull air unnaturally from the path of least resistance (which are the gable vents on either end of the house, robbing the eaves of airflow.) Sorry to get all technical here.

I don't know yet what we will decide. I'm all for going forward, and seeing what the homeowners are willing to pay for. Chad isn't so easily persuaded...so we will see. One thing is for sure, if we walk away from this house...we will not be buying one until after we are married. And that probably means renting an apartment, which he is also against. We just don't have enough time to keep searching right now, with everything else that has to be done...and we are running out of time to get the closing done before May 20th anyway. Waiting will probably bump up our interest rate quite a bit. I feel that it would be a mistake to walk away from this. We shall see what happens.

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Mahna Mahna

posted by sometrouble @ 11:57 PM | Test Category Two | Wednesday, March 15, 2006

I love it! Clicky! i guarantee it will make your day better! (and worse at the same time, because it will get stuck in your head) There are also lyrics believe it or not.

Edit: For anyone who is anti-quicktime (or if the site is blocked for you...cause it is for me)...here is a google video link of it: mahna mahna!

1 Comments:

At March 16, 2006 4:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

HEEEEEHEEE!!
That's so funny!
I love it!
It def. did make my day :)

Miss you

 

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Goodbye Shoebox

posted by sometrouble @ 2:06 PM | Test Category Two | Tuesday, March 14, 2006

We won't have to live in a shoebox after all. We have looked at so many houses beginning last fall. We have fallen in love with some, argued over some, and missed out on some. We have made offers, had them rejected, countered back and forth, and had them accepted. We have had a house inspected only to find mold which concerned us a bit too much to follow through with the deal. Saturday, we went out yet again with a list of houses to see. One stood out. It had been completely re-vamped in the last three years. Brand new three-car garage with double thick insulated doors, brand new kitchen with Pergo flooring, tiled backsplash, and shiny new stainless and black appliances. New neutral carpeting, half bath re-done, neutral paint...(no hideous wallpaper!) Nice quality ceiling fans in all three bedrooms. Light stained oak woodwork. New brick-paver patio. Large pine trees in back. Part of the backyard backs up to a park. The furnace, air conditioner, and roof are all under five years old. The windows are not as new, but they are Pella windows and doors, which are a really good brand. We went back to see the house a second time, and made an offer on Sunday...and they accepted it! We are having our inspection Thursday morning...I can't see that there will be any major issues...but we will know for sure after that. Here's the photo from the listing:





I am so excited...trying to remain calm, because things are not finalized...but it's just too thrilling!

2 Comments:

At March 14, 2006 3:44 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

wow, that is a BIG first house!
How exciting!

How many bedrooms does it have? Cuz I wanna come visit!

Hope everything goes well with the inspection :)

 
At March 14, 2006 3:55 PM, Blogger sometrouble said...

Thanks allie! 3 bedrooms...I hope so too...i will post an update after thursday.

 

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Weird Gifts

posted by sometrouble @ 1:35 PM | Test Category Two | Thursday, March 09, 2006

You've gotta love the random things you get from people who refuse to shop from your registry. I don't want to sound all greedy, and sometimes it is fun to surprise someone with something they weren't expecting...but only if you know they will love it. Cause what am I supposed to do with this:



It was recieved with a note saying it was a "wedding candle". I don't know if that means I'm supposed to use it during the ceremony, or what. If that is the case, I can come up with an excuse like we already have one for that purpose. But if it is just meant for display...uh, I will have to remember to put it out the first time the giver comes over. :oP

3 Comments:

At March 12, 2006 9:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh wow...so that's the candle you were telling me about.

...maybe it's meant to be used during the honeymoon ;)

 
At March 14, 2006 12:20 AM, Blogger Kat said...

Wait till you burn it down and their heads melt off! You should put it on the shelf and leave it like that so when the person comes over they can see you used it. ^_^

(though on second thought I imagine the figures aren't made of wax, eh?)

 
At March 14, 2006 11:51 AM, Blogger sometrouble said...

unfortunately the figures are not wax. Also, I'm doubtful as to whether the outside will burn so well, it seems to be coated with something. I'm thinking it may be intended to just burn down the center.

 

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Won't stop me

posted by sometrouble @ 11:25 PM | Test Category Two | Tuesday, March 07, 2006

A coworker emailed me this article today. I read it, and yea...I don't love the thought of all the mercury etc. possible in sushi. BUT, there are plenty of other harmful things we put in our bodies everyday. No, I wouldn't eat "raw-fish" sushi if I was pregnant (that will be the hardest 9 months ever) -- I can't say that I would give it up altogether, same goes for all seafood. I love the rolls with sweet gourd in them, and the cucumber ones are good, too.

On the other hand, I found another article referencing the same Los Angeles sushi joint tuna test. The second article presents the study's findings in a much different way, leading me to wonder who if either journalist was reporting correctly. In this article Dr. Michael Hirt argues:
"Sushi restaurants are not the sole source of mercury in your life. You can get mercury from all kinds of food sources, the air we breathe, and in tuna -- can tuna, as well as tuna you get in sushi -- and from the deli when you are having a tuna fish sandwich."

I tend to agree with him. This is probably not a new thing, but I have suddenly noticed a lot of articles warning of the danger in Tuna sushi. And guess what, This LA public health advocacy group at Gotmercury.org seems to be behind them all. (yet another recent article) Why attack the "sushi-genre" of tune? At least trace levels of mercury are found in "nearly all fish". Besides, I tend to eat less tuna in one sitting of sushi that I would in a typical serving at a regular seafood restaurant (where they cook it). Also, mercury doesn't disappear when you cook the fish, it's not like E. Coli or Salmonella, it's NOT a bacteria. Beyond even that, look at the junk food most of America is pumping into their bodies everyday. I won't even get into the health risks imposed there.

The Turtle Island Restoration Network's (the group behind Gotmercury.org) agenda items include this direct quote:
"4. Supermarkets and restaurants should stop selling the fish highest in mercury: swordfish, tilefish, shark, king mackerel, and tuna."
I think its none of their damn business...requiring them to post warning signs (which is one of their other goals) is one thing...but then let the educated consumer choose whether or not to purchase and partake of those species. Reading further, I finally came to their motive. Guess I should have figured judging by their organization's name:
"Reduce the demand for high mercury fish that are also pushing sea turtles toward extinction by not eating swordfish, tuna, tilefish, shark, and king mackerel or by reducing the amount that you eat those fish."

Their site also has a "Mercury Calculator" to help you estimate what percentage of the EPA limit of mercury exposure you are taking in each week. According to them, one 4 oz. sushi order of Bigeye Ahi Tuna is 170% of the limit. And, if you like mackerel sushi (which I don't care for, seems fishy)...depending on the type of mackerel used, a 4 oz. serving can be as much as 190% of the limit. Even fake crab meat (monkfish) in a large sushi portion is 50% the limit. Snapper comes in at 50% as well. Good news for Salmon fans...those smaller fish contain much less and apparently negligible amounts of mercury in that sized portion. I want to know where eel rates...cause I like mine BBQ!

Finally, Gotmercury.org has a factsheet about the risks of mercury, and the effects it can have. Go see if you want, interesting...but I would check the data against some more reputable third party sources.

3 Comments:

At March 08, 2006 12:19 PM, Blogger Martyrs of Democracy said...

I hear what you're saying, although I really hate it when people say that there are plenty of sources of contamination in our lives besides that which we state. This serves to delegitimize the arguement that has been previously presented. What a sorry state of affairs in our world when we know our world is so fully and thoroughly contaminated with mercury, but simply accept it like it is no big deal. Newsflash! Mercury causes brain damage. Our legacy on earth may be just that, a bunch of brain damaged apes running around eating sushi and watching american Idol.(sorry about getitng politial) Loved the links in your post!

 
At March 08, 2006 5:55 PM, Blogger sometrouble said...

I'm not saying we should continue dumping mercury (and other pollutants) into the water, and I am not bashing organizations that speak up against it. I just don't see how by stopping buying these fish, we save the sea turtles. Also, I was not trying to "delegitimize" their arguement about the dangers of eating sushi due to mercury content...more rationalize my continued enjoyment of the dish. If I was going to stop eating sushi, then I should stop eating tuna altogether...which I am not going to do. (and I doubt you are either) i don't mean this to seem argumentative...just replying to your thoughts. On that note...feel like sushi for lunch later this week? :o)

 
At March 09, 2006 1:27 PM, Blogger Martyrs of Democracy said...

Well you are right about that because I will keep eating sushi forever!

 

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no lack of topics

posted by sometrouble @ 2:09 PM | Test Category Two |

I thought when I first started this blog, that I would have trouble thinking up things to write about (other than "fluff")...however, I find myself thinking about everyday things in a deeper way now. I always think "oh I should write about that," but it is always at an inconvenient time. So I have many things on my mind, just not enough time to put them into words here.

1 Comments:

At March 07, 2006 9:28 PM, Blogger Liz said...

I find the blogging is a good way to decompress at the end of the day, and usually makes me feel like my day is more worthwhile- like I actually did something worth telling people about. But there will be "fluff" and emotional drivel, one can't be deep all the time. I'm sure my word vomit gets pretty trivial at times. ^_^ Glad to see you've joined us in the Blogosphere. Welcome.

 

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My Four Things

posted by sometrouble @ 10:30 AM | Test Category Two | Friday, March 03, 2006

From Titania because she tagged "anyone else who feels like filling this out":

Four jobs I've had in my life
-Valet Parking Attendant
-Waitress
-Pharmacy Technician
-Laboratory Technician

Four movies I can watch over and over
-Gattaca
-Top Gun
-The Princess Bride
-Pirates of the Carribean

Four places I have lived
-Warren, Michigan
-Roseville, Michigan
-Idstein, Germany
-Then again back to Warren, Michigan

Four TV shows I love to watch
-CSI (all three)
-Gilmore Girls
-Friends
-Mythbusters

Four places I have been on vacation
-All over southern Germany, Austria, and France
-Seattle, Washington
-San Francisco, California
-Buffalo, New York

Four of my favourite dishes
-Sushi
-Pad Thai
-My mom's fajitas
-Raclette

Four websites I visit daily
-DeviantArt.com
-Aol.com
-TheKnot.com
-Google.com

Four places I would rather be right now
-Eating Sushi with good friends
-Dancing with Chad at our wedding (that would mean all the planning is over) :o)
-Relaxing in some warm sunny climate (with a beach...and with Chad)
-Exploring Australia

Four bloggers I am tagging
-6Flowers
-Verdechu
-And I don't know anyone else who blogs and knows I have a blog yet. Sad, huh?

1 Comments:

At March 06, 2006 8:41 AM, Blogger Martyrs of Democracy said...

Wait does this mean I have to actually list all that stuff like you did? You mean I have to actually do something? Something that will take precious time away from WoW!?!?

mrnk...blip blip blip blip blip beam!

okay that WAS random

 

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Raw Fish Deliciousness

posted by sometrouble @ 2:01 PM | Test Category Two | Wednesday, March 01, 2006

I had yummy sushi for lunch. Today's choice was two different kinds of rolls...Toro with green onion, and inside-out Yellowtail with cucumber, avocado, and spicy sauce. They were both so good! Noble Fish is this small Japanese grocery store near my work, which has a tiny sushi bar/café set up in the back. Anyone who knows sushi around here agrees that they have the best, and also the best prices. Daily, the chefs prepare small plastic boxes with sushi roll favorites. They are quick and easy to grab for lunch. I love the eel with cucumber and the "acapulco rolls" (tuna, jalapeño, avocado). They also have a nice complete nigiri sampler box which includes tuna, salmon, eel, and shrimp among other pieces, with two futomaki rolls and six california rolls on the side. One of my co-workers, who got me hooked on this place and frequently accompanies me there for lunch, really likes the chirashi bowl they have. You can get a much bigger selection by sitting down to eat there, or by ordering it to go from the chefs.

They have so many interesting products that I am very curious about...but too nervous to try since I can't read most of the labels. I really need a guide in that store. One of my friends gave me a very pretty sake set with rice bowls and chopsticks which she told me she bought at Noble Fish. It is mainly black, decorated with a purple Asian floral pattern.

My sushi addiction started after I had been working at my job for a few weeks. Two of the guys I work with would go to Noble occasionly, one day they invited me. Now they've created a monster. For a while I would wake up in the morning craving sushi. It is so fresh and tasty, and it makes you feel so good. I have calmed my desire for it ALL THE TIME...but I still love it, and we eat it about once every two weeks at least. Since the start of all this...I have become so much more aware of the surprisingly numerous places to get sushi around here. Here, in landlocked (in terms of the ocean...great lakes don't count for sushi) Michigan! Although, I have noticed that most of the sushi joints are in one particular side of the metro Detroit area...northwest. Mainly in the more high-class communities of rich Oakland County...Royal Oak, Clawson, Rochester, etc. Oh well, I'm just happy they're here at all.

1 Comments:

At March 01, 2006 3:59 PM, Blogger Martyrs of Democracy said...

Your pic seems to be a bit 80's-ish
perhaps you should update your look.In any case Noble rulez!

 

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