Thai team bonding

One of our teammates is in town from the other side of the country, so we planned a department "strategy" offsite for today. Essentially, we went to the Sunset this morning, shopped for Asiany foods at the grocery store and went to a Thai lady's home to learn to cook some dishes.

We started out by making summer rolls, which was probably the most difficult dish we attempted. The rolls themselves aren't terribly hard to make, but getting the rice paper sheets the right consistency so that they roll up without breaking was pretty tough! In the end, it didn't matter that much because it all tasted good.

Next up was pad thai, which was pretty easy, probably because all the ingredients were measured out for us on our little golden dishes. Each of us had an individual cooking station so we could compare notes and make sure we were all doing things properly. I also learned that if a restaurant's pad thai is too red, it probably means they're using ketchup. Who knew?

Finally, we made some eggplant and shrimp in green curry, which was probably the easiest and best dish. Somehow, I think I'll have a hard time recreating it at home without our instructor's special homemade curry paste.

I don't know what "strategy" we accomplished, but it was fun spending time with each other and I am so incredibly stuffed that I feel like I might die.

I felt like eating ham and drinking water

Wow. Just, wow. I caught up on last week's premiere of Jersey Shore on MTV yesterday and I am embarrassed, appalled and engrossed!

It's like a low-brow version of The Real World (let's just stop to think about that for a second, shall we?) where everyone is over-tanned, over-muscled and under-brained. There's no "social experiment" here, no attempt to hide the hedonism and alcoholism. It's just pure voyeurism into a world that breeds, well, The Real Housewives of New Jersey!

Of course, I shall watch every episode.

Things just stay the same

After my work event, I met up with some old friends at the DC swim team happy hour, hosted at the 18th and U Duplex Diner. When I walked in, it was like walking into a time warp.

More than seven years ago, when I left DC, this place was super busy, thanks to a new owner, a strong bar menu, comfort food and an attractive bartender or two. It was crazy packed, just like I remembered it and I fought my way to the bar to order myself a drink as I waited.

Much to my surprise, the bartender was one of the same bartenders who worked there when I left DC, and I think he was wearing a shirt that he owned back then as well. The swimmers and the runners (it was a co-hosted happy hour) didn't seem to mingle and the conversations I heard were all about the same topics that I avoided back in the day. Generally speaking, they were all talking about each other, team gossip and complaining about leadership.

It was strange at first, but then I embraced the situation and I found it strangely comforting to be back in a familiar space, running into some people I knew and slipping back into my friends' conversations at dinner nearby.

Hands off the back button

In my cab ride to Policy Wonkette's house this evening, I was blessed with a cab driver who not only didn't know the way, but also played the same, terrible song five times in a row! I wish I had shazamed it so I could let the Internets know what song it was, but trust me when I say it was horrible and it had a lot of "sha la la la la" in it.

Baby barfy

After freshening up this afternoon, I made my way to Policy Wonkette's house and had a lovely early dinner with her and her new baby. According to plan, I'll be seeing three more babies over the course of my DC weekend, which means I will have to get used to the squirming and the wiggling.

This baby, while cute and generally very tame, is apparently afflicted with acid reflux and was doing his best Niagra Falls impression for about an hour after I arrived. Just when we thought everything was cool, I took a turn holding him and received quite the spit-up present in my lap! Hopefully, the rest of the babies I visit during this trip (and the rest of my life) won't be as generous with their fluids.

Aside from the waterworks, I had a great time catching up with Policy Wonkette and her husband, whose house made me very jealous of real estate outside of San Francisco. And driving to their home, I saw just how much 14th Street has changed since I lived here seven years ago. Neighborhoods are all gentrified!

Mr. Panda!!!! goes to Washington

I just arrived in Washington, DC, where I'm scheduled to meet with supposed experts on "green buildings." It's been three or four years since I've been here, and I'm really excited to be back, since I lived here during some very formative years in my young adulthood.

Driving through the Mall from the airport, I was reminded of how beautiful this city is, with its monuments and lack of skyscrapers. And there were so many people out and about, probably because it's December and it's in the mid-60s!

I've packed my stay with work-related meetings and chances to catch up with my friends, so it's going to be a busy few days!

O holy nigh...zzzzzzzzzzz...

Since it's December, I suppose 'tis the season. I also kind of like Christmas carols since they get me all excited for Christmas and make me think of fun times as a kid. But come on! I really don't think Christmas music is the right music to play at a gym. I'm not so inspired to work out to "pa rum pa pum pum..."