The way to a man's heart...

I'm sure, after my previous Girl-Scout-Cookie-and-Tuna-Fish Experiment, I've lost a lot of readers. Of course, what constitutes as "a lot" is probably about 4 people. So I may actually be the only one who ever reads this entry unless I can hook in some passersby with this post.

Here's hoping in any case.

In this period of my life, I'm stressed. Not that I have a horribly stressful life by any means. I would consider it a rather blessed one. Supportive family and a wonderful loving girlfriend. Great friends. Travel opportunities every so often. Good jobs.

Things are great.

But I tend to be ambitious about things. There are jobs I've picked up. Tasks I've agreed to. Planned events. Regular chores. Then there's a children's book I'm trying to get published, other stories I'm working on, and then trying to set time for painting occasionally, etc. Just a lot I want to do and not enough time to do it.

Perhaps I need to focus or plan things better. Perhaps I need an assistant.

In any case, there are back muscles that tighten, odd dreams at night, tight jaw muscles and muscle twitching in my eyeballs. Whether self-created or not...it's there.

So, when my girlfriend (who is a super-talented, multi-tasking, speaker, publisher, artist, etc.) offered to take me out to my favorite restaurant, Pacific East, located in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, I was delighted. Like a kid in a candy store.

Really.

And, on this past Saturday night, many others seemed to feel that way too. When we arrived at Pacific East, the place was just packed with patrons squishing into the waiting space. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait all that long in the end. Our stomachs were just getting more prepared on what was to come.

Pacific East has some great rolls (fried oyster, sweet potato, varied fish and vegetable rolls) as well as some Malaysian dishes I feel ashamed for not having tried. But their sushi/sashimi combo dishes made for 1-4 people are just incredible. I've done the boat for 4 people with friends in the past and they were wonderful experiences.

This time, I thought of doing The Bridge for 2. Fortunately for me (super lucky dude here), she was in on the idea.

So I present to you the beauty of The Bridge (if only I had a Canon instead of a slider phone)....

There was a spicy tuna roll, a california roll, various sushi pieces (salmon, tuna, eel, white tuna, yellow tail, ikura) and then sashimi.

It was wonderful! Melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Closeup of some sushi. She doesn't care for eel...which I love.



Closeup of Ikura (salmon roe) - another love item of mine

And then some Mochi for dessert (green tea, red bean and mango) - something she definitely likes more than I do...

...check out the spoon. She couldn't wait for the picture.

But that's one reason I love her.