Dim sum and then sum

A couple of weekends ago we got to feel like we were definitely living in a big city. We made our first trip to Chinatown which was lots of fun. Andrew loves this little restaurant there where lunch is all dim sum. And let me tell you, this place was genuine! Little Chinese families talking in broken english and ordering chicken feet from the trays as they rolled by. I think Jeff and I were both a little intimidated. Andrew graciously sat us, mostly because of the looks of thinly veiled terror on our faces, away from the aisle where girls were rolling trays of odd looking foods, some steamed balls of who-knows-what, some meats and veggies wrapped in wonton wrappers and then steamed, sesame balls (yum!), and some interesting pineapple bread that was sweet and not all at once. Andrew would order some of this and some of that off the trays and help us identify them. We mixed some mustard and soy sauce for dipping and away we went!

In a vain attempt to not show that we were totally out of place and fish out of water, Jeff and I were both using chop sticks. Now, we are fork users when we eat Chinese food, and reserve our chop stick use to sushi which is sticky and pretty much stays firmly on the ends. Dim sum, in contrast, is gooey and sometimes slimy (though it tastes better than that description might suggest) and doesn't want to stay put. I guess my talent for chop sticks is slightly more developed than Jeff's, because he was our lunchtime entertainment. He would chase the pieces of food around the plate, desperately trying to pick them up. Once, having tried a steamed dumpling of some kind, he thought I would really enjoy it as well. He picked it up and tried to place it on my plate. The dumpling slid from between the chop sticks, plopped onto my plate, and promptly slid right off onto the floor. Jeff was stunned into silence with his sticks still poised in the air. We all laughed and kept on eating unidentified steamed foods and enjoying ourselves all the way. It was really fun and I had the absolutely best wonton soup ever made. I really could have just eaten that and been happy.

After lunch we went across the street to some of the stores and looked around. Since Jeff hadn't started work yet we couldn't buy anything (which is a sad statement on our poverty, I think. Can't afford Chinatown?!?) but it was fun seeing what was there anyway. It made me feel very cosmopolitan to know I'm living in a town with a real live Chinatown, and also made me feel like a small-town girl a little bit. But that's ok.

We've not had a chance to really see a lot of other stuff yet, as Jeff has only just started work and I'm still looking, but we're trying to get out and enjoy our new town. I've discovered the local farmer's markets, and plan to check those out soon. We're hoping to see some plays and maybe some concerts as well--there seem to be free or low cost events all over the place which is nice.

Jeff is starting work on a play which Andrew is directing. It opens at the end of this month and runs through October. It probably won't pay much if anything, but I think he'll enjoy just designing again. I'm thinking I will start going to work with Andrew, just to be an unofficial intern at Superior. It would teach me a little bit about the industry and allow me to let potential employers know that I have put in some time with an industry company. I am hoping that will give me a leg up on getting a job. At least it would get me out of the house and hopefully be a learning experience. It couldn't be less helpful than sitting around the house all day hoping the temp agency will call or that my resume will get a hit online. We're fine for a while without me getting a job because Jeff is making good money. However, to be able to pay off some debts and enjoy living in California, we'll need to get a second income sometime in the next couple of months. Hopefully sooner.

Anyway, if we do anything else interesting, I'll try to take pictures to show here. I'm terrible at that, as you all know!