Attacked!

I was making my way to the nearest cafeteria for lunch when I felt something on the crown of my head. It felt almost like a tree branch, but then I noted that the nearest one was over twenty feet away. When it happened again, I realised it must be a bird, so I waved it off and dashed several yards away. This time I saw the culprit return to the bough of an ash and chatter away agitatedly. I was tempted to find something to hurl at the little fucker but I realised (1) I'd never hit him and (2) I'd look even more foolish. No one seemed to have noticed that I'd just been assaulted by a blackbird, so I hurried on to the lunchroom.

On the way back, I kept my eyes fixed on that tree. My nemesis wasn't present, so I kept walking--and got nailed again when he flew out of another tree on the other side of the road. This time, I didn't escape unscathed: A guy driving pass on a lawnmower saw, pointed, and laughed. Oh! A palpable blow to my pride!

I sure hope this doesn't happen every time from now on! Anybody got a pellet gun?

Recipe challenge!

I'd like to preface this post by pointing out that e.'s exact words while eating bò xào lăn at Pasteur were, "If you can find a recipe for this, I'll try to make it."

-2 pounds thịt bò , thái miếng vuông 3 cm 2 lbs. beef, cut into 3 cm. squares
-1/2 muỗng thì là thái nhuyễn 1/2 tbsp. finely chopped dill leaves
-1/2 muỗng ớt bột 1/2 tbsp. chili powder
-1 muỗng bột nghệ 1 tbsp. saffron powder
-2 muỗng dầu ăn 2 tbsp. cooking oil
-3 cũ hành thát lát 3 thát lát onions (scallions?)
-3 muỗng gừng giã nhuyễn 3 tbsp. finely ground ginger
-3 củ tõi đâm nhuyễn 3 bulbs garlic, crushed
-1 nhánh quế khô 1 stick cinnamon
-1/3 chén giấm tiêu 1/3 c. pepper vinegar
-1 muỗng đường 1 tbsp. sugar?
-1 muỗng muối 1 tbsp. salt
-1 muỗng tiêu và lá cà ri 1 tbsp. "pepper and curry leaves" (curry pepper?)

- Cho thì là, rau mùi, lá cà ri, ớt bột, bột nghệ vào tô nhỏ, trộn đều
Put the dill, "fragrant vegetables", curry leaves, chili pepper, and saffron in a small bowl, mix well.

- Dầu nóng, cho thịt bò vào chảo, đảo đều, thịt bò vừa chín, cho ra tô
Heat oil, add beef to pan, "pray" well. When the beef is done, add the contents of the bowl.

- Cho củ hành, gừng, tỏi, quế vào chảo, trộn đều, để lửa vừa phải
Add onions, ginger, garlic, cinnamon to the pan, mix well, cook on medium heat

- Cho thịt bò, gia vị, trộn đều
Add beef and spices; mix well

- Cho giấm, muối, tiêu, đường, đậy nắp, để nhỏ Lửa, vớt bỏ quế
Add vinegar, salt, pepper, and sugar; cover; reduce heat to low; remove cinnamon.