Something old, Something new

I do not like sushi. I know that, because sushi means fish. Sushi means cold rice. Sushi means yuck, and raw things, and slime.

I know all of these things... and yet I have never tried sushi. I have always been steadfast in my hatred for it, and I have always refused to try it. I've been invited a couple of times (I guess it's quite the social event, like "going for coffee" and "doing lunch"), but I just tell everyone that sushi isn't my thing.

Well, a couple of my good friends decided they were going out for sushi yesterday. One friend in particular made some very compelling arguments... she promised that I could have an enjoyable meal without eating any fish, or anything raw. According to her, a lot of the food at sushi restaurants is vegetarian (vegetables I can do - they're a very trustworthy food group!). And you know what... she was right!

I had miso soup, and spring rolls, and some lightly battered vegetables. There were also vegetarian noodles, and I braved some pork dumplings. I did try a sushi roll (the cold rice things) with cucumber and avocado, and I thought it was godawful. I became quite proficient at chopsticks (ok maybe not, but for a first timer it was pretty good).

After lunch, we decided to go for a walk. It helps with digestion, you know... Ok, it was a nice day and we weren't ready to head home. We ended up at Storybook Gardens - talk about a blast from the past! Storybook Gardens is a local park with rides and animal displays inspired by various Mother Goose stories. You know - the 3 pigs (they were potbelly), and that sort of thing. It was quite a bit different than when we were children. The wallaby, the beaver, the raccoons, the pigs and the monkeys were gone. There are now a lynx, porcupine, a sea otter, seals, and lots of geese and farm animals. They have a gorgeous Suffolk Punch mare. There is a new water park area. Many of the rides have been changed... there are actually very few remaining. The pony rides are gone completely, they were my favourite part by far. Probably has something to do with liability - why do stupid people always ruin things for the rest of us? Either way, it was an interesting experience.

My friend who was driving dropped a couple of people off, and then we stopped at a Bubble Tea place on our way to my house. Bubble Tea is also something I have avoided in the past, "just because". I thought it was way too weird. She reassured me (this is the same friend who got me to try sushi - I think she's good for me) that I didn't have to have the tapioca bubble things if I didn't want to. I settled for a deliciously smooth peach slushy thing... not very adventurous, but I didn't want to push my daily new experience quota.

It was quite the day... a flood of new experiences (I don't try new things much) juxtaposed with the place of many of my old childhood memories. It was kind of odd... but I liked it. I think they balanced each other.