events 191226 kevin moves in 200104 boston tour 200105 200117 200223 pee on bathroom floor 200106 200108 parents attend taiwanese political rally 200111 deer island 200115 oak tree pruning 200115 $200 solar referral bonus 200116 impeachment articles 200118 200119 evening snowstorm 200119 death of carl & jerica 200122 boston quarantines china flight for coronavirus 200123 parents returning from taiwan 200128 200201 200204 getting a census job 200129 verizon unlimited upgrade 200131 hasty pudding elizabeth bank 200201 boston first coronavirus case 200202 chinatown lion dance 200204 samantha power china human rights lecture 200205 impeachment vote 200206 200219 (conference call) PREDICT 2 study 200209 koreans win big at oscars 200211 poop in bathroom trash 200211 NH primary 200220 planetary conjunction 200222 my birth weight 200225 somerville pothole repairs 200226 maternal grandmother passes away 200229 bernie sanders boston common rally 200303 super tuesday primary 200308 green laser bust 200310 MA coronavirus state of emergency 200311 PREDICT 2 study kit arrives 200313 xfinity comcast ugrades 200315 fecal and saliva collections 200316 empty market basket 200319 200321 blood tests 200320 belmont terrorism scare 200326 US no.1 in coronavirus cases 200329 sensors removal 200330 videochat with julie 200401 quest diagnostics blood draw 200403 belmont maple removal 200404 cable repair (3rd appointment) 200410 first time wearing a facemask 200414 stump removal 200415 first time biking with facemask 200423 long market basket line 200428 MGH waltham blood draw 200428 US 1 million coronavirus cases 200429 pandemic chinese supermarket 200501 200522 pandemic haymarket & quincy market 200506 F-15 flyover 200507 $1200 economic impact payment check 200513 chinatown field trip with kevin 200513 single day production record (55.54kWh) 200517 motorcycle riding season begins 200518 sidewalk repaved 200519 late night tree vandalism 200521 motorcycle inspection 200521 allston 88 200525 memorial day barbecue 200603 switching homeowner insurance (geico/traveler) 200604 post-looting dtx 200604 shatter coffee table glass 200612 kevin moves out 200621 summer haircut 200623 AC installation 200628 mammatus clouds 200629 mother's new mattress 200701 200702 200705 pantry moth traps 200704 4th july barbecue 200709 neighbors' solar installation 200713 200716 200718 200720 comet NEOWISE 200716 annual physical 200721 census orientation 200729 census work begins 200830 200912 kite flying 200831 99 ranch (quincy) 200901 state primary 200915 resurfacing road 200916 repaving road 200917 leaking pipe 200920 200923 200924 new hot water heater 200922 last standing enumerator 200930 alewife co. (plumbing) 201001 trump gets coronavirus 201005 russo's 201014 returning census equipment 201018 crushed fingers 201022 flu shot 201028 turning on heat 201028 indian neighbors finally move out 201030 late october snowstorm 201103 election night 201105 mother's support small business ad 201107 president-elect joe biden 201111 raking backyard 201119 allston 88 201129 mini 2 range test (flying around 700 huron) 201203 mini 2 flight from sister's backyard 201204 mini 2 flight from own backyard & community garden 201206 mini 2 flight over snowy belmont 201213 mini 2 flight from underwood playground 201213 unofficial motorcycle storage 201217 4th largest december snowstorm 201217 mini 2 flight over snowstorm belmont 201219 crashing DJI mini 2 201220 broken drone working again 201221 jupiter saturn conjunction from drone 201225 christmas snow melt 201227 flying to garbage house and farm 201228 flying to burbank school 201230 mother's birthday korean takeout dinner

food 200101 lobster roll 200104 hei la moon dim sum 200107 ultimate greek salad 200113 generic lasagna 200113 ripe hachiya persimmon 200114 cosmic crisp 200121 200325 200707 spinach ham quiche 200125 chinese new year dinner 200126 meatball subs 200128 spicy mexican chicken soup 200129 potato wedges 200130 cake flour jumbo blueberry muffins 200205 tony chocolonely 200206 arizona green tea liquid water enhancer 200206 schwarma dinner 200208 birthday dinner 200212 birthday korean bonchon wings 200213 200324 201118 anchovy pita bread pizza 200220 aldi cranberry almond chicken salad on everything bagel 200223 korean barbecue ribs 200229 chick-fil-a 200301 mexican tacos 200303 rice bean chicken (slow cook) 200309 corned beef (slow cook) 200311 ramekin chicken pot pie 200324 sauerkraut 200325 sriracha egg ham avocado bagel sandwich 200325 kevin's dehydrated vegetable bulk order 200328 nian-gao (年糕) 200402 risotto 200411 scallion pancake 200414 200516 韭菜盒子 200416 easter ham 200427 sausage carbonara 200509 shaanxi-style guokui bread & hot and sour soup 200517 200627 avocado toast 200522 rotisserie chicken rice noodles 200526 edamame 200529 chinese dumplings 200621 201011 kubideh 200622 200623 zongzi 200629 grilled spiderworts & purslane salad 200630 cheese buldubu (불 두부) 200716 201120 201231 tteokbokki (떡볶이) 200717 201103 201104 kale chips 200720 char sui pork (chashao 叉燒) 200726 knob creek bourbon 200803 18-ingredient pasta salad 200805 lychees 200815 mission figs 200818 chicken burger 200819 200823 200913 酸梅湯 200823 chaucer's mead 200828 golden kiwis 200829 200913 wild turkey 101 200902 fish stew 200913 kinmen kaoliang 200918 double salt licorice 200929 slow-cooked chili 201003 201004 yinger soup 201008 mak kimchi (막김치) 201010 barbecued drumsticks 201010 bourbon steak tips 201013 papusa 201014 kitchen burgers 201021 spicy grilled salmon roll & inca kola 201025 cold pork skin 201030 outdoor smokeless grill bacon 201102 tyku sake 201106 nigiri sushi 201107 indomie mi goreng 201109 grilled steaks 201109 rice wine in paocai jar 201112 dragon fruits 201113 tongbaechugimchi (통배추김치) 201114 barbecue ribs 201116 spicy duck feet 201120 indomie mi goreng spicy 201120 201121 instant pot jiu niang attempt 1 (failure) 201121 homemade rice wine 201122 mi nina jalapeño agave tortilla chips 201122 smoked salmon 201123 spicy chicken feet 201123 thanksgiving flan 201126 pandemic thanksgiving takeout 201203 201204 instant pot jiu niang attempt 2 201204 bruce's rice & beans 201208 201209 instant pot jiu niang attempt 3 (v2) 201209 jiu niang soup with homemade glutinous rice balls 201209 instant pot risotto 201211 pink glutinous rice balls 201212 201213 instant pot jiu niang attempt 4 (v3) fermenting in jars 201214 201217 instant pot jiu niang attempt 5 (v4) outside ferment 201214 instant pot jiu niang rice wine 201215 201219 christmas smoked spiral ham 201216 indian butter chicken 201219 instant pho 201219 201222 instant pot jiu niang attempt 6 (v5) outside ferment with new rice 201221 boiled spicy chicken feet 201223 201224 201225 guacamole egg ham sandwich 201223 201225 instant pot jiu niang attempt 7 (v6) with angel leaven 201224 meat buns 201226 hot pot 201231 sweet chili wings

diy 200101 lineageOS 200108 filmora9 200110 chrome paywall bypass plug-in 200115 caulking window gap 200203 portable battery powered TYT TH-9800 (EC5 connector) 200206 200207 book safe 200311 squirrel buster counter weights 200327 cable modem replacement 200328 squirrel buster replacement tube 200510 transfer pump fix 200514 200517 wooden plank stand 200515 cleaning out rice cooker 200519 magic sponge aquarium cleaning 200603 200625 200721 200801 outdoor hang drying laundry 200604 motorcycle handlebar clock battery replacement 200605 cafe nest thermostat summertime rewiring 200607 200612 plexiglass stands (PPE) 200611 200622 new rain barrels 200615 blood pressure cuff fix 200616 200617 ammonia burner cleaning 200707 201120 new chalkboard menus 200709 cafe coronavirus protection 200718 imac SSD upgrade 200923 caulking window 200924 200925 cleaning vacuum filters 200929 sewing button 201007 back flushing hot water pipes 201011 vitamix high low switch replacement 201014 nest thermostat installation (upstairs apartment) 201015 cafe furnace thermocouple replacement 201016 macbook pro battery replacement 201020 cafe toilet flush valve replacement 201024 201025 vitamix blade assembly repair 201202 S9+ touch sensitivity toggle 201213 garage spring repair 201217 nexus 7 tablet battery replacement 201222 christmas card fix

gardening 200106 200115 fungus gnat treatment (soil drench) 200112 insecticidal soap 200115 christmas cactus blooming 200115 yellow sticky traps 200117 200120 200121 luxauto 1000W 200203 mealybugs 200213 ungirdling backyard trees 200222 crocuses 200331 planting indoor seeds 200406 200531 peonies 200407 200512 redbuds 200411 krauter vesuvius cherry plum 200412 cherry blossoms 200412 lupines 200414 activating rain barrels 200420 maple pruning 200425 200525 200531 columbines 200426 safer concentrated insecticidal soap 200502 replanting lotuses 200503 200505 200505 200507 200508 200509 sprouting lotus seeds 200503 200504 kwanzan cherry 200507 spring flowers 200508 lotus wash basins 200517 planting lotuses 200518 planting seedlings 200523 200524 lupine aphids infestation 200524 orchids 200529 200601 lotus cages 200606 foxgloves 200607 spiderworts 200608 chickenwire squash protectors 200613 rootbound reed 200615 maxforce ant bait 200625 sprouting avocado seeds 200704 200705 garlic harvest 200711 planting tamarind seeds 200713 hydrangeas 200717 Epipactis helleborine 200720 jasmines 200801 Btk injection 200809 200815 200823 201010 (harvest) buttercup squashes 200811 gift jade plant 200816 shishito peppers 200823 delicata squashes 200828 horse chestnut 200830 reseeding sidewalk lawn 200905 hops 200905 mammoth chrysanthemums 200906 reseeding backyard lawn 200916 lawn aerator 200928 neem oil extract spray 201006 monkshood 201017 preparing grow room 201018 planting garlics 201018 toothache plant 201026 grow room begins 201027 dragon cayenne peppers 201108 preparing raised beds 201109 lotus winter storage 201110 christmas thanksgiving cactus blooming 201115 fall lawn fertilizing 201122 removing rotten pussy willow 201122 rain barrel storage 201206 umbrella tree aphid infestation 201224 snowy neem oil extract spray

tech/gadgets 200101 200106 led E12 candelabra bulbs 200109 ostilox (for dog arthritis) 200116 200117 200127 flir infrared camera 200203 200205 moto G7 200205 200210 200211 google pixel 3 200214 200215 200217 200219 (black rubber case) 200226 (fabric google case) google pixel 3XL 200216 hands free car phone 200217 portable solar battery charging station 200304 mi band 4 screen protector 200305 TYT 9800 simplex testing (DBJ-2 antenna) 200314 car battery analyzer 200317 freestyle libre blood sugar sensor 200322 200327 nanoVNA 200507 200512 seaflo series 33 on-demand pump 200601 articulating gooseneck tablet holder 200602 200617 (nylon hose adapters) 200704 200705 seaflo series 42 on-demand pump 200618 foodsaver vacuum seal machine 200701 omron series 10 blood pressure cuff with bluetooth 200708 mid-2007 24" imac (found) 200713 dash deluxe 6qt air fryer 200717 mi box S 200815 zero gravity chairs 200816 sichuan paocai jars 200823 polder expandable drying rack (found) 200831 oscillating fan (found) 200831 free-standing ironing board (found) 200901 cupboard organizer 200901 P2R 800 lumens bike light 200905 shark apex vacuum 200905 solar-powered floating fountains 200919 joyoung soy milk maker 200921 200922 carboys 200925 new motorcycle battery 200926 cast-iron griddle 200926 broken plasma globe 200930 201005 201017 vitamix blender 201003 ankbit E3 wireless earbuds 201004 new burner shields 201010 iron out 201014 star-san sanitizer 201019 bio-flow drain strips 201020 mac SE (found) 201026 201027 201028 foreman smokeless grill 201031 vivosun grow room glasses 201103 5TB western digital external hard drive ($90) 201108 eufy 2K indoor cameras 201114 taotronic bluetooth transmitter 201115 tide pods 201117 transition glasses 201119 instant pot test 201119 1500LM portable COB light ($10) 201128 DJI mini 2 201201 mother's samsung S9+ 201202 t-fal cookware set 201205 bluetooth FM car transmitter 201206 201207 joyoung electric baking pan 201207 light meter app 201214 more cabinet organizers

books/movies/tv 200110 servant 200112 the outsider 200114 in distant lands by lars brownworth 200119 life below zero 200127 reprisal 200130 doctor sleep (2019) 200219 beforeigners 200222 hunters 200301 first love (japanese 2019) 200306 chongqing hotpot (2016) 200316 swallow (2019) 200317 westworld (season 3) 200413 the plot against america 200509 ozark 200523 kim's convenience 200619 taste the nation (with padma lakshmi) 200723 days of our lives 200816 lovecraft country 200923 raised by wolves 201004 black monday 201007 the good lord bird 201016 bullets of justice (2019) 201117 queen's gambit 201215 the great 201228 piranesi by susanna clarke 201230 wonder woman 1984 (2020)

animals 191207 200108 200202 squirrel buster 200103 200108 dead mouse 200111 eiders, goldeneyes, greater scaups, herring gulls, brants 200208 white-throated sparrows 2 variations 200301 house finches 200408 cooper's hawk 200411 grackle 200426 woodchuck! 200504 raccoon dig up lotuses 200523 darling jumping spider 200613 bee-mimic robberfly 200620 mosquito eggs 200725 jumping worms 200801 horse fly 201009 somerville turkey 201107 giant grub 201221 opossum tracks

clothes 200102 adidas caprock goretex hiking shoes (returning) 200129 canvas converse lucky star sneakers 200424 clarks cotrell walk bicycle toe shoes 201127 merrell moab 2 waterproof hiking shoes

bikes 200316 tire patch 200529 jumbo bike seat 200807 brake pads replacement 200810 rear baskets bolt replacement 201023 derailleurs adjustment

the last day of any year has an almost sacred quality to it. it's a time to reflect over everything that's taken place over the past year: triumphs, mistakes, and make the necessary changes for the new year. i was hoping to do more reflection today but unfortunately my attention was diverted over a promise to myself that i'd finish updating the backlog of missing entries for 2020. that didn't quite happen, but i did finish the month of july by the stroke of midnight, and all i have left is june, where there are only a few missing entries. hopefully by this weekend i can finish june as well, and then i can come back to this page, and do a year in review for 2020 (like i used to do) or not. not making anymore promises!

in the early afternoon i called city slicker cafe and put in an order for 8 pieces of wings, figured the last day of 2020 i'd treat myself to one of my favorites. i ordered from them last year, their korean wings. they were okay, i was more impressed with their jumbo wing sizes. i was going to order the normal buffalo wings but saw they also had sweet chili wings which i couldn't resist. my order would be ready by 15 minutes, i left the house after 10 minutes and walked down to the cafe. i paid with exact change cash ($12.80). i waited a few more minutes before my order was finally ready. i admired their hand-drawn menu board, looked like chalk markers.

these wings were better than their korean ones. i think they use thai sweet chili sauce, which is a good sauce, goes well with a lot of different foods. the wings were jumbo sized and crispy fried. 8 pieces was just enough for a meal. it didn't come with blue cheese, which i remember the korean wings did. not that i needed them, and i have blue cheese dressing at home, but i think blue cheese will add even more flavor.

for dinner i made korean tteokbokki. i was following this recipe from back in july. i made a mistake that time because i made too much spicy broth for the portion size. this time i kept the amount of rice cakes and tofu about the same, but halved the other ingredients so i could just make one serving.

first i made the seaweed broth. even though i thought i only used a small amount of dried seaweed, it ended up still being more than i needed. the cooked seaweed is totally edible but i always throw it out because it doesn't seem to go well with tteokbokki. the dried seaweed i have is also very dirty, full of sand, so i cooked it in a small pot then drained the broth into a medium pot, making sure i don't pour in the remaining sand.

i've found that 1/3 a 2 lbs. of frozen rice cake is enough rice cake for one person, but your mileage may vary. i soaked the bag in hot water to unfreeze the cakes, and then split the remaining portions into additional thirds so they'd be easier to cook with and wouldn't stick back together for next time.

i made a mistake of adding the scallion too soon, and they ended up getting thoroughly cooked and losing their green colors. scallions should only be added in the end. when the broth looked like it was starting to reduce and get thick, i added the tofu.

the final tteokbokki was very good. savory (all that seaweed umami), spicy, starchy, proteins, the ultimate winter food. it warmed me right up, and my nose kept running from the spicy broth that i must've gone through 10 tissues. when i was finished i just had a bit of broth left over. that's okay, i wanted to create enough spicy broth so there wouldn't be any left over. maybe if i added more solid ingredients (cabbage, egg) they could soak up the remaining broth. also sometimes korean put ramen into the broth as well, and that would definitely use up all the ingredients.

i worked on the blog throughout the rest of the night, watching the live new year's eve coverage on television. time square was empty, but for the purpose of the show, they did find a handful of spectators, secured them in socially distant pens, it was so sad that it was funny. doja cat for some reason managed to be on the ABC show as well as the NBC show.