A Day of Walking

I WAS wandering around Canal Park today and suddenly had a craving for hotdog sandwiches. Saw a sign on a glass door and went in. Lo and behold, there was a mini amusement park! Figures. Lots of Duluth attractions are indoors or underground in heated buildings. I saw this George poster up a wall near the restrooms. Here are more pictures of the day.

I also checked out the vet check session of the John Beargrease Dog Race. I was at the waterfront by Grandma's Sports Garden by 8:30 a.m. It was only minus 5 degrees Celsius, but it was a blustery day. My fingers we cold so I couldn't take as many pictures as I wanted to. But here are my picks from that morning:

The Longganisang Lucban Project

I saw the following post on a Filipino-American egroups on food.

Re: Pls. send me recipe of longganisang lucban!!!!

From: DAKOTA
Date: 8/24/2003
Time: 11:26:45 PM
Remote Name: 165.228.127.44

Comments:

TANGA...BUMILI KA NA LANG SA SHOP!!!

I am generally disdainful of people who use 3-4 exclamation points instead of just one. But this is a post about longganisang lucban, the most scrumptious, tasty, mouth-watering little sausage I have ever had. My late father wanted me to risk deportation just so I could smuggle these morsels through customs. (I didn't and he did not speak to be for a week). I now wonder why he never attempted to make some himself. Afterall, Las Vegas had its fair share of Asian supermarkets. If there was a heaven, he would be up there eating longganisang lucban for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I have taken it upon myself to go where no member of my family has gone before. I am going to make some longganisang lucban. And here in Duluth where there is one little oriental grocery and where Chinese restaurants served bland versions of Chinese-American dishes. No dimsum cart has ever been pushed around here. On the Minnesota NPR, there is a much requested song called "Icky, Yucky, Sushi". Yup, here, in this wasteland of whiteness, I will attempt to make longganisang lucban. It is a feat more daunting than my thesis proposal. But I am going to do it.

I've got the sausage casings, the spices, the ground pork and the pile of garlic heads. I'm thinking of trying a recipe I found in Pinoydelikasi.com.

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.

Tracks Other Than Mine

TRUDGING through snow on a long-coat-day I am reminded of other creatures that need to venture out to forage for sustenance. Here, for example is the hoofprint of what I presume is a deer. The photo is not to scale. I thought of digging my keys out of my backpack. But exposing my fingers to frigid wind just to take a picture was enough masochism for the day. I've seen deer in Duluth's parks. Bagely Nature Area is an example. But this photo was taken in my neighborhood. I think it was on East 10th Street.

Next we have the pawprints of the common companion dog. Said dog probably was not out foraging, but on a walk with his or her human guardian. Some Duluthians are very nice about picking up their pets' poopie-pies. They walk their dog, one hand holding the leash and the other a pooper-scooper. Not our neighbor though. Their little chihuahua leaves littles bits of treasures on the shovelled walk in the back yard. Hmmm, little doggie is smaller than Meowsie. Maybe I should introduce them to each other one of these days...

And for posterity's sake, here are my tracks. Notice the lovely traction? I don't walk on snow or ice now without wearing these boots. Even if the leather now kind of stinks and it doesn't exactly match my nice blouses.Ah, to wear flipflops again--outdoors! When? Where? I daydream of Dumaguete, Boracay and Bohol during my 4-hour Friday afternoon classes. I think of white cotton T-shirts and shorts and mojos. And making tusok-tusok some fishballs near the UP Chapel. The boring, smushy-looking food at the UMD cafeteria sometimes makes me want to cry. To cry for Rodics and Lola Adangs, and Mommy Thai along Katipunan. But I am here and this is now. And I have yet to subject myself to the pride of the Scandinavian-Americans: the dreaded, lye-saturated lutefisk.

Working Breaks

WELL, I certainly did not spend much time blogging over the holiday break. *shakes head* There is something about being an international student that makes you want to get out there, smell the chilly air and work while most students go home to their families to just veg out. Smell that snow, Natasha! Smell that snow and prepare to get a nosebleed. Put on those thermal undies and earn yourself some measly student wages. Yes, misery loves company. I guess that's why I am spending more time with fellow foreigners than with my grad school cohorts. It's nice to feel normal and not alone. Even if the Indian students do seem kind of shy and stick together too much. I'm looking forward to the Feast of Nations next month. I could use a little Bollywood gaiety and 1001 kinds of rice dishes.

I swear, I won't work during spring break. I won't work during spring break. I won't...

P.S.
That cheery face in the photo is Mr. Plippy-Ploppy Snow-Butt, my first snowman.