Obama or Romney?

Senior Airmen Kristian Robles Cruz and Amber Boyd from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. are greeted at the Newport News airport by family and coworkers on Nov. 2, 2011 . The two were part of a group of Airmen that deployed in June, but returned a couple of months early after President Obama announced the withdrawal of all U.S. troops by the end of the year. They were among about 20 633rd SFS members who returned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis from deployment with the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Balad in the past week. About 10 633rd SFS members are still deployed in Iraq, but they are scheduled to return later this month, hopefully by Thanksgiving, although more are expected to deploy to Afghanistan in January. (U.S. Air Force Photo by: MSgt Jeremy Lock)

A few minutes ago I replied to a comment left on one of my posts where somebody apologized for a comment they left.  I told them, no apology necessary.

I tend to point out some of the Romney antics but bottom line are my brief thoughts below as copied from my reply.

Both of the candidates are awful options with little to hold in esteem by either party. 

If you are one of the troops on duty you can take pride in America for the job you are doing regardless of the stupid antics of you civilian leaders. 

If you are in government, the odds are you don't have much to be proud of. Most of you asshats are part of the problem rather than the steps toward an eventual solution. Shame on the lot of you for the most part. 

Obama is a weak leader, never one who would a picked as a Captain of a ship. 

Romney is a fellow so far out of touch with the majority of the population it borders on pure stupidity. 

Anybody who can find more good than bad in either case should go and put their head back in the sand.

A letter from Japan

I just received a letter from my sister who is in Japan.  I felt her food reviews are much better than my own.

As part of that long weekend we made a "pilgrimage" to Sukyiyabashi Jiro - considered one of the best in Tokyo.  A documentary "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" was made about this chef's father (now 87) who has done nothing but make sushi for over 70 (?) years.   See the movie, if you can!  After we saw the film in L.A. We decided we MUST eat at both of the restaurants (son's and father's).   It was *the best* sushi we ever ate (Tokyo fish market coming in 2nd).  

The meal began with sashimi -- I am not usually a fan of abalone (it is in season now) but this was unlike any I've had before.  It was kind of like my tofu experience in Kyoto; before Kyoto tofu I always told people I didn't care for the no-flavor, rubbery substance that was served in dishes in the U.S.  This abalone was not tough, somewhat mushroomy and artichoke bottom-like.  Really fantastic.  We were given a tiny side dish of a darkly colored matter (I thought it was seaweed) but were told it was abalone liver and it was also delicious.  My favorite however may have been the bonito.  It was seared and smoked and heavenly.  I like bonito generally.  When I saw the slices of fish he was preparing for the sashimi I was a bit nervous as they were large, and I've had a few past experiences with very large pieces of sashimi that have been difficult to eat, chew, etc., etc.  This was creamy and buttery and the smoky flavor was amazing.  It was served with a ginger dipping sauce that was fantastic with it.  

After the sashimi course the sushi was fairly traditional:  flounder, tuna from maguro, to mid-fatty toro, to "o-toro" (honorable), uni (again most amazing I've ever had), ebi (shrimp), squid, clam, salmon roe, mackerel and sardine.  The finish was their famous tamago (egg) that was more like cake than omelet -- sweet and a perfect finish to the meal.  Along with green tea of course.  So, you can tell we were given a large quantity of fish and the pieces of fish were also quite large. 

Later in our meal we started talking with some locals (we were happy to be the only non-Japanese there) and when they learned we were living in Kyoto I think they were more impressed (vs. us being a total tourist) and with Ian at the University, etc., etc.  The others were quite friendly and it was a super-fun and memorable dinner!  We do plan to visit the father's restaurant, also in Tokyo (8 seats) when we are again in Tokyo, at the end of November.

Photo courtesy of Ian Piumarta

Photo courtesy of Ian Piumarta

Photo courtesy of Ian Piumarta

Photo courtesy of Ian Piumarta

Photo courtesy of Ian Piumarta

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