Empty as a mirror, empty as the harbor and the barber's chair

[sovay]

My poems "Censorship" and "The Marriage He Saw Beneath the Shade" are now available in the latest issue of The Cascadia Subduction Zone. The first of these is a ghost poem for Cato and Adresteia, the second was written for ashlyme, Arthur Machen, and that statue of Pan. All content becomes free six months after publication, but in the meantime both print and electronic issues can be ordered inexpensively here. The PDF landed in my inbox last night.

Restaurant discovery of the week: Beantown Taqueria in Cambridge, just past the MIT Museum on Mass. Ave. rushthatspeaks and I went there for dinner last night after poking around on the Globe's (heavily paywalled, no points) Cheap Eats section and liking the sound of "Mexican Soul Food." Half the menu is Mexican, half Tex-Mex; they make about half a dozen dishes per side and based on the three we ordered, they're just incredibly solid. I had the enchiladas al pastor, Rush had carnitas flautas, we split a chile relleno. Should probably order their flan next time, as Toscanini's being out of sour cherry sorbet initiated a miniature DessertQuest 2013 which ended in our trying the falooda from the Dosa Factory and learning that neither of us actually likes cold noodles in our otherwise milkshake-like dessert. (It's a noodle-based drink! It says so right there on Wikipedia! It didn't on the menu! We drank the bits that were milky, flavored with rose or cardamom syrup, and topped with what must have been basil seeds. The Bangladeshi version with pandan and coconut sounds amazing, so long as I can get it without black tea.)

Before we left, Rush showed me their photos of the interior of Neuschwanstein, Byzantine-chapel throne room full of Arthurian iconography and all. Most times when you get a look into somebody's id through architecture, it's a lot easier to interpret than that.

Otherwise I am kind of badly overpeopled, underslept, and heading into the major convention of my year with a summer hell-cold, which is what spending this entire afternoon at home is for. So long as my voice holds, I think I'll be all right.

[edit] Dude! It's Tesla's birthday! Do something mad science-y today for him.

Comments

[kenjari.livejournal.com]

which ended in our trying the falooda from the Dosa Factory and learning that neither of us actually likes cold noodles in our otherwise milkshake-like dessert
Have you had the Persian version of falooda at Lala Rokh (they spell it faludeh)? Shaved ice is the more dominant component, with some noodles mixed in. The rose syrup is poured over and the whole thing is topped with a few sour cherries. I miss it a lot.

Dude! It's Tesla's birthday! Do something mad science-y today for him.
Today is so not the day to encourage me in this. :)

[sovay]

Have you had the Persian version of falooda at Lala Rokh (they spell it faludeh)?

No, because I've never been to Lala Rokh, but I really like sour cherries! I shall have to mount an expedition.

Today is so not the day to encourage me in this.

Every day is a good day for mad science!

[kenjari.livejournal.com]

I heartily recommend Lala Rokh - everything I've ever had there has been really good. It used to be my favorite place to go for my birthday.

[sovay]

It used to be my favorite place to go for my birthday.

I haven't had a reliable place for Persian food since 2010. Awesome.

[teenybuffalo.livejournal.com]

Seconding this recommendation. This used to be my go-to restaurant before the theatre, when I could afford the theatre. Their vegetarian options are really good.

[sovay]

Their vegetarian options are really good.

Useful to know for taking people! Thanks.

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

Most times when you get a look into somebody's id through architecture, it's a lot easier to interpret than that.

Most people's ids' have a smaller budget to work with.

[sovay]

Most people's ids' have a smaller budget to work with.

. . . That's a fair point.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

I'm glad for the poems and restaurant discovery.

I hope the afternoon at home helps you. I wish you a voice that holds and an excellent convention.

[edit] Dude! It's Tesla's birthday! Do something mad science-y today for him.

Coolness. Thanks for telling us!

I'll have to go see if there's an appropriate Google Doodle. I wish I could think of anything mad science-y to do, but the social sciences, although well equipped for madness and over-populated with the mad, don't lend themselves to outright mad science. I've never had any skill at other sorts of science, alas. I'm trying to think if I have magnets and ball bearings at home sufficient to rig up one of those toy magnetic accelerator cannon, but I doubt it. Oh well.

[sovay]

I'm glad for the poems and restaurant discovery.

Thank you.

I'll have to go see if there's an appropriate Google Doodle.

There wasn't! Probably because it wasn't his centenary, but still: every year is an appropriate year for Nikola Tesla.

[ashlyme.livejournal.com]

Aw man, I'd forgotten about Tesla; I didn't even get a timely static attack.

Well done on the poems and best of luck for the con.

[sovay]

Aw man, I'd forgotten about Tesla; I didn't even get a timely static attack.

Is okay. You wrote the best poem I've still ever read about him.

Well done on the poems and best of luck for the con.

Thank you!

[ashlyme.livejournal.com]

Thank *you*!

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

Second go at this comment, as LJ seems to have cheerfully eaten the first one.

Do you have one of these? They are available at places like Bed, Bath and Beyond for similar monies, and do wonders for my con-going experience, particularly if I'm going in already ill.

Also, photos of the interior of Neuschwanstein, Byzantine-chapel throne room full of Arthurian iconography and all. has caused my inner Arthurian scholar to add this to the travel checklist. My thanks to Rush!

[sovay]

Do you have one of these?

No! Interesting. I don't think I have the time to look for one today, but I will very definitely keep it in mind for future.

Right now I am just worrying about being coherent enough to run a panel tonight, and have voice enough to read anything tomorrow. I don't want to run this convention the same way I did Arisia, sleeping in between almost all my programming.

has caused my inner Arthurian scholar to add this to the travel checklist. My thanks to Rush!

Ask them for more details! It was amazing.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

The other hotel room trick is to run the shower as hot as it will go with the bathroom door open, both before bed and upon waking up, which gives you a burst of humidity to cushion your night breathing and one to combat waking up in hotel air.

Alas, I will not be at the con. A roommate did not materialize, and I am instead going to be here. Have a fabulous time! I hope your voice does not decide to do a Peter Pan's shadow and go walkabout.