Raw Blog.

It will necessarily be a short blog today, the side effect of a superb dinner at a place called Kurumaya, a Japanese restaurant in Elk Grove Village. A friend of a friend of Yuriko’s runs the place, and it came highly — and justifiably — recommended. We began with a sashimi appetizer and proceeded through delightful karoke (potato croquette), light and crunchy shrimp & vegetable tempura, and a centerpiece of sushi. Management thoughtfully provided yakisoba for Lilly, on the assumption that a child wouldn’t eat sashimi or sushi. Only half right: Lilly was very eager to put away her share of the sashimi. The wasabi component puts her off sushi, but I suspect that she’ll learn to like it eventually.

It was Ann’s first visit to a restaurant. She enjoyed the liquid nutrition that Yuriko carries with her everywhere she goes. That, or she slept. Even if Ann had made noise, it would have only bothered us, since we had the back room — the tatami room — to ourselves. (Business seemed fairly light at Kurumaya. I blame the weather. More on that shortly.) Tatami is a tightly woven Japanese mat, typically forming part of a floor. Can’t remember exactly what it’s composed of — a hemp-like substance. You can find it in hotels, restaurants and many homes in Japan. Ah, the smell... The smell is enough to remind me of my years in Japan, more than any food.

Lilly’s first restaurant was in the city, on the day she was exactly a month old. It was an Argyle Street Vietnamese phó shop, called “Phó Hoa” I think, which is merely their name for a meal-in-a-bowl soup. Also a fine place to eat, and the only place I know where bible tripe comes in some of the dishes.

The day began drippingly outside, with temps this morning in the 40s F. The snow was melting fast, but not so fast that Lilly and I couldn’t spend a while playing in it. Ostensibly, we were out to build a snowman, but before long things degenerated into a snowball fight. Maybe “fight” is too strong a word. More like a “vigorous toss” in the general vicinity of the other person. Some of her snowballs approached cantaloupe size, but they tended to break up in flight. Mine were lean and closer to the mark.

In the afternoon, clouds moved in, followed by a touch of rain. Then the temps fell as fast as Enron stock. Just an hour ago, I saw a bank sign that registered 9 F. At least it’s above zero. But it has the unfortunate effect of solidifying all that snowmelt. Some patches of our sidewalk are now ice sheets, just waiting to slip us up.