My Birthday Suit

My family is small. It's made even smaller by the fact that all of my extended family lives abroad. Holidays growing up were just the four of us; my mom, dad, sister and me. And I am six years younger then my sister. In pretty typical fashion, I idolized her. In some ways, I think I still do. My idea of a really good night when I was young was to spend it in the company of my whole family, all four of us engaged in an activity together. Most nights that was just television where I'd almost always be forced to watch programs that bored me to death ("60 Minutes" is definitely dry for pre-teens!) Enough whining and complaining, and I was awarded the promise of family game night on special occasions, like Christmas and maybe my birthday. True to the laws of supply and demand, this definitely contributed to making me really value games and family time. Unfortunately, as we grow up there are less and less opportunities for us to enjoy those simple nights of honest fun. To date, they are still some of my best memories though.

It's a typical week in New England with temperatures ranging from some balmy 50s to bitterly cold with a wind chill that freezes the hairs inside your nose. It doesn't stop the hearty New Englander from venturing outside to enjoy some seasonal fun; snowshoeing, skiing, ice skating, sledding, etc.  Sometimes though, you don't want to wrap in three, four or five layers of clothing to stay protected against the elements in order to find some fun. And for those of us still rehabilitating a sports injury, it's not possible. By the time February rolls around, I've also seen my fair share of movies and I'm pretty much all set with the downtown bar scene (having exhausted that 'fun' in my 20s.)  So, what's a girl to do on a cold winter weekend night? That is, besides have yet another quiet night at home..

I had been fortunate a few years ago to befriend a group of people who also enjoyed board games. We made it a semi-regular plan to play UNO, CLUE and other games and drink cases of beer. That group was based on couples though so as individual couples fell victim to relationship woes, the group slowly disbanded. Long story short, I've not been part of that game night for a while. So, it was a great surprise to be invited to a different 'game night' at the home of someone I am just getting to know.  My expectations were pretty low considering that I have a special place in my heart for a solidly competitive game of cribbage over beers. But I knew I should give it a chance; a night out with simple fun could be.. simply fun.

The group is a very eclectic mix of personalities. No one is 'quiet' per se.. in fact, I was the quiet one to begin. Everyone else there had clearly been a part of this gathering before, so I was also the newbie. It's never easy to work out how you fit into the dynamics of a pre-established group. I don't think it's a stretch to say that it makes most of us uncomfortable. I didn't have the energy or desire to be "on." I wasn't interested in small talk. Thankfully, games provide a forum for common discussion so we could focus on the games instead of painstaking attempts to answer 20 questions on who you are. I think that's the true genius of games - it can bring people together. It can bring together families whose interests vary greatly, or even people who aren't that familiar together for light-hearted entertainment.  I think it's easier to get to know people in the midst of a game then in response to "so, how do you know so-and-so?" at a stuffy cocktail hour. During a game, your guard is down and you can let your competitive side bridge the gap between being self-conscious and genuine. Provided you're not a real jerk, you realize that you and these virtual strangers are having a nice evening. No pressure. No mind-numbing conversation.

Regardless of how low maintenance we all claim to be or want to be, we are complicated beings. So it is a relief when we discover something simple that can bring joy. For me, the simplest pleasure is a hug. The hug that holds you safe and lets you release stresses by melting into the embrace of the other person. I miss those hugs.  I am just relieved for now that I forgot things for a few hours. That I enjoyed a different, simple pleasure; an escape into a few laughs over THE NAME GAME and PICTIONARY. You'd have laughed too if you'd seen how I drew "birthday suit." It was humble, simple fun.

I still love board games and while it wasn't quality time with people I love, I am grateful that I had a chance to escape into those games this weekend.

Oishii, Shio!

I finally had a chance to go out with friends this weekend. It's been a while so that alone is grounds for writing about it! 

Friday night we revisited a restaurant I've been to before, Tulsi.  It was a nice night visiting with co-workers (both those who no longer work with me and those I still work with). As always, the food was delicious too!  However, this time I feel it's worth focusing my remarks on a new favorite, Shio.

This new japanese restaurant is situated outside of the downtown 'scene' in an underwhelming part of the town. It's centered in a little strip mall that had come into disrepair after the closure of a major supermarket chain some years ago. The individual spaces are slowing being occupied again, but at first there were just sandwich-signs posted on the corner of the parking lot to notify passers-by of the new shops and restaurants

I totally missed getting "in" on the news of these new places in their first days. After my all-time favorite sushi restaurant, Sakurabana, closed and then my stand-by, Taipei & Tokyo, closed their doors just after the New Year, I was at a loss for where to get sushi! So when I began to hear there was a great new japanese restaurant,  I had to try it. After visiting, I'd venture to guess that the quality of this place could have had a direct impact on the closure of one or both of the other restaurants.. Shio is awesome!

I have been to Shio twice and each time has been spectacular. You need to go early if you don't have reservations, and this is not just on weekends. At 5:30pm, my friend and I were unable to get a private booth with the recessed floor. The authentic paper walls make for a unique dining experience and some much appreciated privacy. Regardless, the main area of the restaurant is equally as lovely to dine in. This time we were seated in the more common area with recessed tables. I hadn't thought it through well enough when I decided to wear a skirt as the step down was a large one. I managed, sort of.

The ambiance is nice, large and open but doesn't every feel empty. Maybe because it never appears to be really empty. It's the food that draws people back time and again. It is great. It is fresh and reliable. Now, I can mostly speak for the sushi since that is why I go. The Fantasy Roll was spectacular.. crunchy yellowtail with avocado. It was amazing. The spicy tuna roll and salmon sushi didn't pale in comparison to that roll either; everything was awesome.. succulent, smooth and delicious.

My friend got the beef teriyaki and I have to say, it was just "ok. It was way over done for "medium rare".. but I am not one to order cooked Japanese food instead of sushi. Nu-uh..  I love the silky, soft sushi, cool and fresh against the slightly sweet rice and slight warmth of wasabi. Melting in my mouth. Mmmm

And I don't know what it is about Japanese and Chinese restaurants, but I crave a fruity drink.. a Mai Tai or a Scorpion Bowl. We had a scorpion bowl the last time.. awesome. Really, really good. This time though, I ordered a classic Mai Tai - sweet but strong, a perfect compliment to the warmth of the wasabi with the sushi. My companion for the night joined me the first round with his own Mai Tai but with his order of a Sapporo in the second round, I am assuming the Mai Tai was a little on the sweet side for him. Admittedly, the Mai Tai is sweeter then the Scorpion Bowl which we both enjoyed last time... two straws fighting in the bowl to get to the bottom of the punch. Not just a drink but some pure entertainment!

Shio is a great addition to the area. The location is a pro and a con- outside of the main downtown area, it's not an ideal start to an evening out at the bars, but it has plenty of parking and is lesser known by those folks who are going out to bar hop. That didn't stop us last night though.. we chose Shio for dinner before an early movie, then meeting friends at a local bar to listen to a band whose schtick was to sing songs with profane lyrics and intermittent comedy routines. It was unique and entertaining.. but I'm not sure what we expected from the local Trivia night host and his wife who've formed a band.  Last night is one of those nights goes to show that Portsmouth offers pretty much anything you could want as far as restaurants and bars. If you're looking, you can find a fun time. And in my opinion, Shio is the best sushi around. Thumbs way up!

Snow Days

There is something innately beautiful about newly fallen snow. The first few inches, at least. This winter, we have been hit by storm, after storm, after storm, after storm. Like clockwork, the moisture and cold air has swept up, across and over in such a way that we're the 'lucky' recipients of new accumulations.

As the owner of an all-wheel drive vehicle, being on the roads doesn't concern me at least as far as my own driving. It's always the OTHER person that worries me. Though there is nothing better then knowing that staying home is the safest and best course of action.

The night before a Snow Day, there is the excitement of a stolen night. Stay up late and use the extra time to your advantage or go to bed early and steal some extra sleep? Doesn't matter which, but I always tend to sleep in the next morning. The sounds outside dampened; the normal sounds are muted just enough for you to know that things are different, quieter, more peaceful. That first look when you peek around the curtain is either disappointing or humbling; were the meteorologists even close to their estimates? Recently, our local weather forecasts have been right on - and that has meant a lot of snow. Not just inches, but FEET of snow. So this morning, my first peek outside confirmed their guesses. We had a new, fresh, thick layer of snow blanketing roads, decks, trees, and cars; buried deep.  And it is that knowledge that lets you climb back into bed, and curl into that warm spot you just left with the calm knowledge that no one should go out and challenge the roads, all wheel drive or not.

Now, to shower or not? Both work, both are a treat. To shower and throw on fresh PJs or to crawl downstairs under the blanket for the day only to crawl upstairs to bed later that evening without having changed all day. Ok, that sounds gross, but I consider that an infrequent luxury!

But snow days provide that unplanned break in the week. The day that you haven't planned or expected, where you can steal time for yourself. Read the magazine or the book that you've carried around without time to indulge. Watch that movie that has either seemed a waste of time or something that you've not had time to enjoy. And cook. A mid-week treat to have time to stew a warm, comforting pot of chili or soup that can bubble away for hours on the stove, filling your home with the warmth and aromas that sing of tasty goodness.

You don't get these stolen days most other seasons. Work is not typically called off for high temperatures. Nor rain storms. And so winter. as cold and blistering as it can be, holds the honor of being a season of stolen moments. Beyond the holidays, where I cherish the glow of lights in the snow and the promise of family and friends, winter has excuses to curl up peacefully, guilt-free. I stole today, thanks to another snow storm. I stole some time for me; the quiet time I need to be alone in those moments when you actually want to be alone. And in my opinion, those moments are precious!