Calamar

Just got home from a fun night.

Went to the gym this morning.  It was empty.  Got my 4 miles in.  Not as fast as Saturday.  I was over 10 mins/mile.

Baked 4 batches of cookies and cooked 2 batches of peanut brittle, all in three hours this afternoon.  The first batch of brittle didn't turn out.  I wanted to make more but only had peanuts with lime and chile which is really popular here.  Turned out they taste good in peanut brittle.  I'm calling it Honduran Style Peanut Brittle.

Got a little dressed up and went to the sushi restaurant to take them some cookies.  I brought a package for my new friend, Josira, and a plate for the rest of the staff to share.  I know the owners now.  They are really, really sweet.  They have the best calamari I have ever had in my life.  I have tried a lot of calamari, but I have never had calamari that melts in your mouth.  Calamari always has a little bit of chew, just a little, right?  Not at Usami in Tegucigalpa.  It is cooked with a tiny bit of salt and a light tempura batter, served with two slices of lime - no sauce - and it melts in your mouth.  Wow, is it delicious.

When I told the owner how much I love the fried calamari she insisted I try the raw, sushi style calamari.  She said it is different from the calamari they fry.  It was sweet and a little more firm.  Very tasty.

When I arrived at the restaurant tonight the staff asked if I wanted to go on a trip with them.  I asked where they were going.  Turns out they spending Saturday afternoon at a park which they know is not far from my house, so they invited me to come.  I asked if they were bringing family.  They said no, just the staff from Usami and I are going.  I feel honored to be invited!  It should be fun.  It feels good to be branching out my friendships to outside of the church.  I think it is healthy.

I learned it is dangerous to sit at the sushi bar.  They kept slipping me free food all night.  By the time I left I was stuffed and was not charged for half of what I ate.  PLUS it was 2 for 1 night on the things I did order.  I left a good tip.

Then I went outside to get into the car.  The guard is always really kind and thoughtful toward me.  Tonight he saw me looking for a parking space when I arrived and found me a spot when everything was full.  Then as I left, I slipped him a tip.  He helped me back out of my space, as always, and then as I pulled away he waved and called, "Good night, travel safely, Happy New Year!"  All of the well wishes a person could ask for, accompanied by a very energetic wave from the arm that wasn't holding the machine gun.  It was a nice way to end the night.

Jetty seems wheezy.  Going to nebeulize her before bed tonight and hope she won't need another dose at 5 a.m.  I am not sure why she is having a bad day today.  The weather is warm and clear and I haven't sprayed any chemicals or burned any cookies.  Maybe it is still left over from last night's attack.

Tomorrow is NYE!  Marcela said we may not celebrate with her family after all.  There is another family from the church I might call.  If they are celebrating they wouldn't mind if I joined in.  I am going to have a backup plan in case Marcela's family doesn't celebrate tomorrow.

Off to nebeulize the kitty!