Off-topic (but maybe not really, as an example of increased sound awareness): some mysterious bird has been chirping its little heart out all around our house ever since I got home from the Midwest. Constantly! Incessantly! However it has managed to stay out of sight, frustrating my curious need to make a positive ID on it. Well, satisfaction has brought this kitty back; now I can think, "that robin is hella loud!" instead of "what bird could that be???" I'm so relieved.... Anyway, while I'm on the subject, here are some really cool low-maintenance birds for you city dwellers.

I am ever so lucky to count the Fairy Godmother of Community Radio among my friends. She told me about Transom.org which is exactly the kind of info source I need for my sound adventures. Not a moment too soon because I'm gonna try & bust out the first Chinese restaurant installation in the fall. I don't want to jinx it by giving away details... but you heard it here first! (How can I be spreading rumors about myself? Clearly I've reached a new level of ridiculous!)

Furthermore:

Here is another painful recipe from the back of yet another supermarket bag of "Chow Mein Noodles" -- which, by the way, I still totally fail to comprehend. Anyway, here is the recipe:

Chow Mein Hot Dish

1 lb. ground beef
3 sm. chopped onions
1 bunch celery chopped
1 4oz can mushrooms
1 can chicken rice soup
1 can mushroom soup
2 cups chow mein noodles
Optional: 4 oz cashew nuts

Brown meat and onions. Cook celery. Mix ingredients with soups. Add milk if more moisture is necessary. Add mushrooms. Add noodles and nuts just before placing in casserole. Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 hour. Serves 4-6.

4 to 6 of who, exactly??
Milk??

That was from the supermarket store brand. Here's one from the name brand package I picked up at the same time, here called Brand X (but not the same Brand X as last time when I posted the Oriental Tuna Salad recipe):

NOODLE CLUSTERS*

1 12 oz. pkg. Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup Peanuts
3 1/2 cups Brand X Chow Mein Noodles
OPTIONAL: 1/2 cup raisins

Melt chips in double boiler, remove from heat. Stir in peanuts and noodles. Use a heaping teaspoon of prepared mixture and drop on waxed paper to form a cluster.
Makes 2 to 3 dozen.
VARIATION:
Same as above except use caramel or butterscotch pieces in place of chocolate chips.

*ORIGINAL BRAND X RECIPE

They really are proud of that one, aren't they?

I am so bewildered by this American Chop Suey recipe. I was looking for the La Choy website, which seems only to exist in extremely abbreviated form on the ConAgra site, where you can also find Chun King. Interesting thing I learned here: both La Choy & Chun King began life as canned bean sprout outfits. No comment.

I'm just so happy that other folks are producing finished work for me to enjoy as I continue swimming around in my enormous & complicated pot of Chinese restaurant soup. Two of my favorite cultural genius-type people, Sherman Alexie & Gillian Welch have new stuff out... mmm, finger lickin' good!

Meanwhile, back in my soup, I'm researching Minidisc recorders & microphones suitable for noisy restaurant interviews (that's the restaurants that are noisy, not the interviews, usually). Another day, another steep learning curve... thank heavens for all the helpful Well sound geeks.

I didn't realize before that Inspector Collector has a website. Good thing he told me. Now you can see what else he collects besides Chinese takeout menus!

I spent all day yesterday installing my work for the Berkeley Art Center show. Again this is non-Chinese-restaurant stuff, but still worthwhile, I think. ;) Come by the opening this weekend, Sunday the 8th from 2-4pm.