Feb4

They’re baaaaaack!

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They’re baaaaaack!

I paused mid-hairbrush and smiled.

They’re back, baby!

Jiu-Jitsu bruises! See it near my elbow? (BTW, I have to set a featured image, which then appears in the top left corner of the post, so you may see this picture twice.)
And that one.

Later, I discovered two on my forearm.

Ugh, blurry. Sorry.

Reminds me of the time I held up my arm to a coworker to display my phat bruise. “Jiu-Jitsu?” he said. I nodded. “Yeah. Get it!” he said.

But my “training marks,” as one of you put it, (I can’t remember who it was. John??) aren’t all that’s back.

Behold!

The return of the post Jiu-Jitsu hair!

It takes so little to please me.

Class is going fairly well now that I’ve gotten over my dissolution that I would be as good at this now as I was when I left over a year ago. In hindsight–duh. But I seem to do more things right than I do them wrong. (By a narrow margin, ahem.) Still, that old joy has returned. And let me tell ya, learning this stuff the second time around is far easier than the first.

Last class, I went beyond the standard curriculum by pulling out some old-school knowledge and got my hooks in on my partner without being told. Instructor noticed and said, “NICE, Betsy,” and gave me a thumbs up.

Another time, my clinch was so on point, he said, “Perfect, Betsy. Done like a four-striper. Maybe even five stripes.” (Five isn’t a thing.) Then he was sitting next to my partner and me when I Americana-ed her. “Dang, I looked away for two seconds, and you already got it done,” he said.

Maybe the above mentioned margin isn’t quite so narrow after all.

I suppose I should tell you how that one guy is doing. In case you’re actually wondering, Sensei continues to learn fast. (Such an annoying man.) He gets a little frustrated when he forgets some small detail after learning the moves once. I only got most of the details most of the time after learning it for the third time, probably. I’m still able to help Sensei, but it won’t be long before the tables are turned.

I’d been waiting to run into two other old friends I hadn’t yet come across. Finally, they were in the class before mine one night and our timing overlapped. One was Super Nice Guy I’ve never talked about and never partnered with, but the nickname says it all. The other was Teddy/Andre the Giant, the tall guy who was often the only other student in those daytime classes. He’s the one who caused my first foot injury (awwwhhh my very first one!) by rolling over and bending it sort of in half backwards. Those were my first purple foot days. (Memories!) He gave me a handshake that turned into a “bro hug,” with the double tap on the back.

I can be such a dude at times.

But a dude would not have ordered this. [Rapid subject change!]

It’s an ube latte.

It was the weirdest item on the menu at the vegan coffee shop Beloved Neighbor chose to celebrate her birthday. So, you know, had to get it. If I haven’t heard of it and need someone to explain to me what it is, then I must order it.

Ube is a Southeast Asian yam. It’s also purple. How did it taste?! Like potato coffee. Weird, but surprisingly not bad. Until the end when it grew cold, starchy, and gritty. I couldn’t finish it, sadly. But I got through most of it.

Normally Neighbor, my friend H, and I go out for my birthday, but getting together once a year was too infrequent. So we decided, let’s do twice a year! (Baby steps, people.) Neighbor’s birthday was the furthest away.

That time Neighbor went with me to Jiu-Jitsu.

When she and I rode the fire truck for the Christmas parade, she spotted a Panaderia (Mexican bakery) and reminisced on the time long ago she had orange flavored Mexican bread that was so delicious. “I wonder if that place has it,” she said.

“We’ll go there for your birthday!”

And so we did to pick up a few things, making plans to meet H at the nearby coffee place afterward–and before we learned the bakery also sold coffee.

Y’all, I was IN LOVE with this place. It was 100% old world charm. The appearance of the older gentleman behind the counter practically screamed, “This is our business. It has be in our family for generations.” I was all, “Keep it down, bruh. We get it.”

Kidding, but there was an ancient relic of an older floor mixer against a wall, a giant bread basket behind the counter, vats of sauces on a stove, and several display cases with glass doors labeled in black marker: 50c or $1.

So truly, did I love the place for it’s rustic, hard-working “this is how my family survives” feel, oooorrrrrr it’s cheap pricing?

Toss up, really. But we’ll definitely be going back for my birthday and staying for the coffee. A small? 90c. Up to extra large: $1.75.

No ube latte, snake painting on the wall, snake rug, or barista with nose piercing, nose loop between nostrils, or upper lip piercing, (who knew that was a thing? Fascinating.) but honest artisans are more my speed. (My tuber coffee was $6.50 btw, which was fine, once.)

This should’ve been my first clue that this was a one and done kind of place. No regrets, though. I love new experiences.

Here’s what Neighbor and I had picked up beforehand.

All this was $3.50.

Neighbor started by cutting into the bottom left one. For the most part, the items weren’t labeled. She asked the patriarch behind the counter about an orange flavored bread. This was the one he indicated.

Neighbor raised it to her lips, took a bite, aaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnndddddddddd…..

Smile. “This is it,” she said.

Success!

I don’t know what the other pastries were. The yellow tasted like a classic rich butter cookie. The pinky one had been sliced in two then stuck together again by a raspberry filling. They were all good, but crumbly.

“That’s probably because they’re made with animal fat,” H observed. Then we laughed at how we ought not say that too loudly or we’d be kicked out of the vegan coffee shop.

I’m not actually making fun of the coffee shop. I liked it there, too.

Now I’ll take this opportunity to segue into releasing three more photos from their long hibernation in the dump pile. My oldest daughter works in a grocery store bakery. Here are some of her creations.

Someone must be having a planetary party.
The “cake printer” was broken, so Daughter had to free-hand it.
Cupcakes decorated into the shape of a mermaid tail. Gotta love this concept.

I hope you all have a delicious day. Now here’s your trivia question: What was the 1967 sequel to A Fistful of Dollars? I actually knew this one! (Thanks, Dad!)

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79 responses »

  1. It is good to see your training marks have come back again. If they make you happy then I’m all for them. Make sure H is ready with an answer to the question, “How long has it been since you stopped beating your wife?” $6.50 for a yam coffee? Almost guarantees a one and done thing. The pastries look great as opposed to purple sludge. The movie was For a few Dollars more.

    Liked by 2 people

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  6. Here’s a thing you can do with “training marks” Get a few sharpie pens (get different colors) and circle them or draw arrows on your body pointing to them. That way people can find them faster and you can track how fast they fade. just a thought …

    and my current favorite coffee shop here is the “Human Bean.” Great coffee, but the name of the shop makes me worry a bit about where they get their coffee beans …

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Sounds odd to say that I’m happy to see your warrior battle marks back,but I know that they mean that you are back doing something you love! Sounds like you’ve still got it and more, positive affirmations and confidence. Love the sound that little family bakery

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Who knew there were cheap bakeries in SoCal??? We’d be paying $3.50 or more for each item. They look yummy! I love how excited you are behind the wheel! I’ve heard of purple Ubes, but the coffee was a surprise.

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  10. “A Footful of Yen”? Am I close?

    Weirdly, I had never heard of a Ube latte before…until YESTERDAY. I was picking up a few items at a global Asian market/food hall, and saw one for sale. The color intrigued me from afar. And the very next day, you’re blogging about this very thing. Life sure is weird sometimes, huh?

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. I’ll pass on the ube latte, but your daughter’s cakes look delicious! Here’s hoping you get lots more bruises (it feels weird writing that – is that like “break a leg” in showbiz? “Get lots of bruises!” before a big match/fight/tussle?)

    Liked by 1 person

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      • Oh that’s perfect! I often lament that I do comments on my desktop and therefore have access to basically three emojis that I know the keyboard shortcuts to. I feel bad for responding to heartfelt comments with a mere smiley, winky, or :/ (However one would categorize that face), but typing “mwah!” is an excellent hack! That, or, you know, just using my phone for this, but I’ve always preferred my desktop.

        At any rate, mwah! right back atcha, Vicki! (After a ridiculously long explanation. {rolling eye emoji})

        Liked by 1 person

      • Oh my…you get me…you really GET me. Precisely, my dear Betsy! I hate in when I find myself in emoji-less circumstances and you’re right on — that simple ‘mwah’ is a fail-safe! And this time…in my reply to you…the emoji Gods kicked back into gear, so you got yourself the ‘mwah’ PLUS the corresponding smoochy face. Must be the Betsy brand of magic. xoxoxox! 💕

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      • Awwwh… Orange kitten emoji, because, to me, that’s the epitome of awwwwhh-ness! And look at you pulling out the double hearts! I feel like such a man as I say this: Just know that, even if I don’t show it, I feel the same way as you do. 😉 😉 ❤ ❤ ❤

        Liked by 1 person

  18. I’m late to the party as usual, but I think it was Beyonce who said at the Grammy’s this year, “better late than never.” Nice bruises, great work ethic, but it’s also why my exercise of choice is reading and eating pastries. I’ll add quietly that much of this post had me salivating. That might be TMI. Anyway, just between you and me, I’d love the link to the snake rug, it’s the perfect gift for someone I know…Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

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    • “my exercise of choice is reading and eating pastries.” Lol!!! 😛
      Quietly adding–had you salivating. Oh, my goodness. More laughter!
      Sadly, I don’t know where to find the snake rug. I took that pic in the coffee shop. I did not think to ask where they had found it. Sensei loves snakes and wanted me to steal it for him. (Not really.) To me–yuck!

      Liked by 1 person

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  19. The freehand version of “Hello Kitty”? Your daughter has a promising future in baked goods. As for your bruises and associated pride, has anyone in the comments said “badges of honor”? Seems to fit with the mindset of martial arts. After that, I got stuck on “… foot injury… bending it sort of in half backwards.” (Horrors!) Finally, I’m wondering if the car photo with you and Neighbor would be underwater were it taken today. Hope you’re high and dry today, Betsy!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dave! I’m impressed you remember where I live. Flash flood warnings keep popping up around me, but I’m still safe here. Thank you.
      My daughter definitely found a job that’s a good fit for her.
      “Badges of honor”! I’m adding that to the list. I’ve gotten a few good suggestions in the comments. I had no idea this would become a contest of sorts, but I’m all for it. Fun. Thank you!
      Yeah, I remember when the foot bent backward and I thought to myself, “Oooof. That’s going to be bad.” Yep. But I survived. 🙂 (To get far worse injuries. Lol! 😉 )

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  20. The first thing I see when I pop into this space is your gleeful expression. And the bruises. “Yay!” (my perhaps inappropriate reaction) “Betsy is back on the mat” (doing a happy dance for you)

    I love what you say about 2nd time around being easier than the 1st. Loving Husband and I have joined and rejoined newer Taiko classes whenever our existing classes discontinued from lack of enrolment. We actually don’t mind at all because there is always something to refine and do better. And yes, we like that it’s easier and we are struggling less than the newbies 😂

    Ube latte, huh? You gals are very adventuresome. I don’t think we would have been as well behaved in a vegan place.

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    • Oh, Ju-Lyn, you’re a peach! (Way better than an ube. 😉 ) You wouldn’t be as better behaved. Lol.
      Thank you for being joyful with me. What a good friend you are. 🙂 So fun for you and Hubby–looking like naturals each time you restart Taiko, showing those newbies what’s up. 😛 A pleasure to see you here, Beloved Blog Buddy! ❤

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