Abusive relationship

My new favorite Asian food is Korean food. To be more specific, I love spicy soft tofu soup, with beef. It's really the only thing I order when I go to our Korean restaurant, so I don't know if I can say I love ALL Korean food... or just my spicy soft tofu soup.

Let me describe it to you. It's delicious! It comes in a stone bowl that is approximately 7 inches in diameter, and the edges of the bowl are one inch thick. This is because I think they keep the stone bowl in a 500 degree oven for at least two years. When they bring you the soup, a nice red colored soup with soft tofu floating in it, it boils on the table for at least 20 minutes. I may be exaggerating on the amount of time it's in the oven, but NOT the time it boils.

With the boiling soup, I have learned to respect the soup. You must respect both the heat of the soup, and the spice of the soup. I have learned small bites, and you must blow on each bite at least 20 seconds before putting the soup in your mouth. If not, it will burn you. If you try to eat it too fast, the spice will burn you.

Lucas and I ate it today, and we decided this delicious soup was kind of like an abusive relationship. I took a bite, and the bottom of the spoon burnt my lip so bad I have a small blister on my lip. Lucas asked if I was OK, I said, "it was my fault, I didn't blow on it long enough". Two bites later I burnt the back of my throat. Again, Lucas asked if I was OK, "It was my fault, I took too big of a bite, it's not the soup's fault". Later, I ended up chugging water and eating some rice because my mouth was on fire... again are you OK? "It's my fault, I took two bites too close together, don't blame the soup. I love the soup".

I don't know why I love a food that harms me EVERY TIME I eat it. But I do. I love this soup. Even when we were at Target a half hour later, and I felt my stomach lining burning away. I didn't blame the soup, it was my fault for not premedicating with TUMS.

I can't wait for the next time I have Korean food. Maybe next time I'll have learned my lesson, and it won't hurt me.

small claim to fame

Lucas and I just got back from a two day neuroscience conference in Eugene. Not the most exciting of conferences, but hey, the hospitals paid for the trip. AND it was a nice two day getaway. (granted eight hours of each day was stuck inside, but the evenings were nice)

Our first night at the Hilton, we noticed many police officers there. Now, this was a Monday night. I know it's a college town and all... but really, there were a lot of cops. Lucas then remembered that Bill Clinton was in Oregon (he actually spoke at the Tillamook Cheese Factory earlier that day). Then Lucas remembered again, that he was going to speak IN EUGENE Monday afternoon. Well, seeing that it was now Monday night... Lucas asked the cops why there were so many Eugene Police Officers (EPO) there... the cop replied "uh, a dignitary is staying here". Lucas said, "Bill Clinton?" the EPO grinned and said "maybe".

Then breakfast Tuesday morning, there was DEFINITELY secret service eating next to us. NO, we didn't actually see Bill... but I can now say we slept in a hotel together.