tofu-rama, unexpected dragon

Went out to dinner with friends earlier this week and we went to Cilantro. The company was great and the food was good too – if a little pricey. Two things of note:

1. The dish I had was called Tofu-Rama and I ordered a spicy level of 2 out of 5. Which is completely arbitrary. I’m reminded of the Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy:

“R is a velocity measure, defined as a reasonable speed of travel that is consistent with health, mental well-being and not being more than say five minutes late. It is therefore clearly an almost infinitely variable figure according to circumstances, since the first two factors vary not only with speed taken as an absolute, but also with awareness of the third factor. Unless handled with tranquility this equation can result in considerable stress, ulcers and even death.”

So, whatever “2” was in the spicy scale, it was clearly at the upper threshold for me. I suspect 3 would have been painful, 4 a sudden death, and 5 would involve bursting into flame and melting straight down through the ground to the planet’s core.

Jim suggested that I might have been a wuss about it.

2. The server was a young man of Asian ancestry with shockingly orange hair. He introduced himself as “Bruce” and it took everything I had in me not to ask his last name. If he had said “Lee”, I suspect I would not have been able to contain myself.

Also, the sushi was amazing.

———————

Yesterday, after work, I went to get my haircut. I had just started folding some paper when it was my turn. So, paper in hand, I sat down and got covered up by the cape. Or whatever it’s called – seems a lot like a cape.

Anyway, I kept right on folding since most of the things I can do don’t need me to actually look at the paper.

I kept my hand movements to a minimum because, well, nevermind.

I finished up the origami and held onto it while she finished up my haircut. When she pulled off the cape, I held up the finished model and said, “Well, let’s see how it turned out,”

I handed her the small red dragon to her surprise and delight. Then she asked, “Did you make this?”

“Yes,” I told her, “Just now,”

“Really?”

“Sure, I’ve folded enough of these that I don’t need to look at the paper anymore,”

I don’t think I convinced her until I pulled out the stack of paper from my pocket and showed her the small red squares – and even with that she was a little incredulous.

Next time, I’ll need to show her the paper square before my hands disappear under the cape.

If you’re going to do magic, better to set up the trick beforehand.