Shoji Project: Day 3

Well, not much of a day at all but it's coming along slowly. All I managed to get done today was the lattice work and pick up some more hinges at OSH. I estimate that I'll be able to get the other 2 panels complete with lattice work this coming weekend. Sure I have 3 panels already and some probably want me to paint, finish, and paper/fabric...

Spinach Again

Since the temperature of the solution went up over 70 degrees there has again been noticeable growth, this time, with the spinach. The burst in growth, I think, was probably caused by a combination of the warm solution, a new clay growing media, and extra time to adapt to that media. As you can see, I've thinned out most of the withering...

Shoji Project: Still Day 2

Another update. I just finished another frame. I'll do the lattice work maybe tomorrow. I'm tired. BAH....

Shoji Project: Day 2

Just got done with a second panel a little while ago. Only 3 more to go! I knew more about what I was doing this time so this panel only took me about 2 and a half hours to complete. Although I ran into some trouble with a rounded brass screw head while securing a top piece. That took me a good while to drill out. After that I screwed on...

Warm Solution = Good

It was a pretty warm day today and I noticed that the temperature of my nutrient solution went up to 74 degrees Fahrenheit. From this morning to now, when I just checked, it looks like there's bee a significant growth of all my peppers(even the one I think is dying) and basil. The new growth is noticeable to the naked eye. Now I have to figure out a way to safely use an old aquarium heater...

Shoji Project: Day 1

Ok this thing ended up being a full blown wood working project. I used the actual tools I needed and even bought some new tools. Tools Purchased:- combo saw horse/work table with built modular 2 vises- 1/4 inch chisel- 2 18 inch clamps- new tape measure Tools Borrowed:- plunge router with 1/4 inch straight bit (thanks Mike!)- pickup truck...

Spinach Update

The spinach is looking a little off. Either it is not getting enough iron or it is over watered. I'll monitor it for now.That one Serrano chili looks like it's about to croak as well, but again, I still have 5 more of those guys. It's normal to have 1-2 plants go out on you anywa...

The Shoji Screen Project

I've created a few things now out of wood and I promise I'll get those up here as soon as I can. But the latest idea I'm playing around with is building my own multi-panel shoji screen. I'm thinking 5 panels in a similar design as the picture below. As a rule and theme of this blog I'm doing all of this with minimal tools and no pre-made...

Chili Leaf Curl Virus

Hmmm... after reading a few articles online I've determined that one of my chili plants has the chili leaf curl virus. Some of the leaves look similar to the above pictured plant. I'll throw on some pictures of my plant when I get home. The scientific name escapes me right now. It's no biggie really. I'll try treating with some extra nitrogen...

Taquiera Los Portales: Chorizo Super Burrito

Taquiera Los Portales36782 Cedar BlvdNewark, CA 94560 (510) 745-7754 It's very rare that I forget about chorizo but considering what went on this day(glug glug), I can forgive myself. Me and a bud went here for a snack, not a meal, to tide us over until the company bbq. Well he ended up getting a burrito. Guess what I had to do then? Yep,...

Planned Expansion

Over the last month or so my plants have been doing really well and that has motivated me enough to try and expand and other wise polish my existing system. Basically I'm going to do a rebuild to a slightly larger scale only keeping the light source and pump from the original system. I'm thinking of using one of those opaque rubbermaid containers...

My Hydroponic Garden: Update

It took a whole day before I realized that the pictures I had on the other days post were old pictures. Here are a few of what my system looks like now. You can see my hygrothermometer here: I added walls because the light made it hard to sleep at night: Serrano chili, basil and spinach:...

My Hydroponic System

Sadly I ate something from my upcoming ratings list but I, once again, failed to snap a shot before I dug in. By the time I remembered I was half done. So as an update, I have a food related topic: hydroponics. I use hydroponics to grow FOOD and FOOD alone so don't get all weird on me. About a month ago I visited my local OSH and gathered...

Yet another new blog started

Well it seems like this is the way that all my blogs come to be, that is, having nothing to update on an existing blog so I talk about another subject that interests me but is still somewhat related to that original blog. In this case my I talked about my hydroponic garden adventure and building of my system on my food rating blog. I'll transfer over those 2 posts as soon as I get some more...

Nothing New

Yep, this is just an update because there's nothing to update. I haven't been over to the local tabacalera lately due to yet another hobby I've been tending to. My food rating blog has a pretty good number of regular readers, well into the double digits with a few new hits each day. It's sort of funny about that blog actually. As soon as I put something up about hydroponics I got about 50...

Dino's Grill: Italian Burger

Dino's Grill5855 Jarvis AveNewark, CA 94560(510) 494-1203 Dino's is one of those places that the word "diner" would describe perfectly. The inside looks like a 50's style malt shop complete with high stools and red and white decor. From what I understand it's a family run place. It's a nice atmosphere really. Today I got my usual, the...

Salsa Picante No.2: Chorizo Super Burrito Mojado

Salsa Picante No.241965 Fremont Blvd.Fremont, CA 94538(510) 656-8685 This has been the long time usual spot for me and the guys at work. For a while we got worried that this place had closed down and we were getting very nervous. Even one of our old coworkers that works somewhere else was speechless when we told him the place looked gutted...

Dominican Sweets: Vanilla

This is one of the cigarillos I bought the other day that I refer to in the last entry. For 2 bucks I didn't expect much, and as you can see, theres not much to this. Although it looks like its been hand rolled there was no form used. Thats why it has that lumpy look. There's nothing wrong with that in a super cheap cigarillo like this...

Well it's still an update

Ok, so today I was actually so hungry at work that I had to make a run for the roach coach, better known where I'm from as the burrito truck, that comes to my work's parking lot. This was the first time I had the food from there but I can't rate anything until I've had it at least 3 times (remember?). But I have to say it's actually not that bad. You'll see the burrito truck/roach coach...

Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Robusto

I got this today at a local shop and it didn't even see the inside of my own humidor. This particular shop seemed to have changed management and as a result, has greatly improved it's cigar inventory. It was a pleasant surprise for me as I saw a number of high quality cigars. I even picked up couple of flavored vanilla cigarillos because...

Mr Chau's: Tangerine Boneless Ribs, BBQ Boneless Ribs, and Sesame Chicken

Mr Chau's35204 Newark BlvdNewark, CA 94560(510) 793-3788 This is my usual Sunday eating spot. What? Did you think that I was just going to rate only real food? It fills me up and does the job, plus it's cheap. I also use the ATM machine inside more than I use the one at my actual bank. It's my weekly routine of Mr. Chau's, bank, and gas(no...

Bob's Giant Burgers: Western Bacon Burger

Bob's Giant Burgers40720 Fremont BlvdFremont, CA 94538(510) 656-3356 Here's a place I eat lunch at every once in a while with the guys from work. But it's also one of those places I get cravings for by my self randomly and end up grabbing a burger. Wait that doesn't make sense... unless what I have a craving for is their banana shake. Yep,...

Pho' Dong: B17. Steak, Flank, Tendon and Tripe Pho

Pho Dong Restaurant 2610 BroadwayRedwood City, CA 94063Tel: 650 298 9900Fax: 650 298 9909 I used to eat at Pho Dong just about every other day when I was working in Redwood City. It had to be the best pho I've had on the peninsula and I've been to tons of places over there. After the first few visits the clerks remembered my name and even...

My Complicated Food Rating System Explained

Ok, I have no idea how I'll be going about this so I'll just type as I figure things out... Food I eat is rated primarily by the following criteria, in no particular order: - Taste (of course) - Authenticity* - Consistency* - Cost to serving ratio* - Price I would pay to eat the dish again* - How filling? Secondary ratings that may affect my rating include: - Atmosphere - Condiments on...

Recent Developments

Bah... as you can see I've created this blog. Yep. Why? Well I don't really wanna write about all the recent developments again... Just find out why from my other blog @ http://frighte.blogspot.com. The next post should describe my very complicated food rating system. Just thinking about it right now is frying my brain... I'm gonna go to sle...

GAAaaAAHhHHhh....

Well, it looks like everything's going to hell. Now I fond out that my bro is writting a blog about our mom's recipes - Filipino food of course. Now I'm fighting like hell from starting up another blog for my food rating system. And if I do end up creating that one, I'll be very busy as I basically have to write about all the food I've eaten in my area. Plus I have to describe my system......

Woodford Reserve

Hell I'm so hyper about what could possibly end up being a completely new hobby that I thought I'd go ahead and pass on some good accompanying drink suggestions. You can buy Woodford Reserve whiskey from better supermarkets or BevMo, which happens to sell both cigars AND drinks. Can you rock any harder than that? Anyway, this drink is good...

Consolidation Complete!

Well I finally got done transferring my scattered blog entries about cigars to my blogger account. I have a new review coming up tonight or tomorrow for the Romeo y Julieta Cedro Deluxe No.2. Don't hold your breath though, it didn't get very high marks by me. I'll also put up some pics of my homemade humidor along with some from the building...

Romeo y Julieta Cedro Deluxe No.2

I got this guy from the store expecting a lot. I've read the reviews and seen the ratings all around the 7.6 range. Well, sometimes those reviews just aren't as reliable as your own. This cigar is a perfect case of that. It is also a good example of not judging a book by its cover. With such fancy packaging even a new smoker would be drawn...

Onyx Reserve Robusto

Well I promised and its here. My review of Onyx's Reserve robusto. This is one of those cigars that literally makes me drool. You might understand why after my description. For one, it smells like chocolate! That's right, chocolate and a very fresh earthiness. As you may have read before, I have a thing for box pressed cigars and that "thing"...