I'm Having An Affair

I'm cheating on my dry cleaner! Gotcha! Well, that's what it feels like. I like to frequent local businesses, and there are two on my way home.

The best tailor/dry cleaner in North Cambridge is the one and only Jack's Tailoring and Dry Cleaning, 1937 Mass Ave, Porter Square, Cambridge, MA 02140, (617) 868-8339. Jack Papazian is not only courteous, but is a miracle worker when it comes to rehabilitating outfits that seem beyond repair.

I discovered Jack's when I stopped thinking in bulk. I used to go to a Harvard Square dry cleaner, which shall remain nameless, because that business would dry clean clothes, but only charge by the pound. An excellent choice for the impoverished yet fashionable student, but not so great when a certain special dress gets ripped, and it remains in the seamstress' dusty pile of clothes for over a month.

I decided to spend a little more, but it was worth it. All dry cleaning will cost you a lot unless you use Dryel so if you have to go somewhere, go to someone who possibly cares more about your clothes than you do. Seriously, Jack usually does not even need the receipt. As soon as he sees me coming through the door, he has gathered all my clothes and started chatting about how the local businesses are doing.

Still, I am always tempted to stray. When I moved to my condo, there was one closer to my home with nice people who open early every morning and wave hello. Unfortunately, they also found it extremely taxing to sow a button on the opposite side of the button hole on my pants suit and decided to use it as an example for one of their assistants as what not to do. They asked me to return three more times in the span of two and a half weeks because they "forgot" to show the mistake to her, and they thought she would not believe them if they did not do so. The last time, I was rather insistent when I politely explained that I would take my suit back now regardless of whether or not the button was attached. In a matter of seconds, the button was on, and my suit was ready.

Such encounters do not stop me from straying unfortunately. When I just want to dry clean a lot of clothes and there is a special promotional deal, I go to Zoots. I usually get a coupon book, which reduces costs significantly. In addition, it is apparently environmentally friendly. So at least when I have to cheat on Jack's, I can console myself that it is for mankind.

Law & Order: Trial By Jury

I am addicted to any television show with "Law and Order" in the title. I know that I am not the only one because even The Simpsons made a passing dig at the franchise by showing a commerical for "Law and Order: Parking Ticket Unit" in one episode.

Like most people, I considered the original series the best of the fleet. When Special Victims Unit (SVU) started, it was weak on the Law, strong on the Order. Even though the story lines were compelling, I felt a little disturbed that someone thought up all those realistic and creepy crimes.

I never really felt like Criminal Intent (CI) was truly part of the franchise. It basically seemed like a Vincent D'Onofrio vanity project so he could show off his acting chops, but in the end, I began to watch each spin-off faithfully.

So when Trial By Jury (TBJ) started, I knew that I would lose yet another hour of my life each week to watching it. Even if it wasn't a Law and Order spin-off, I would have watched it to see the legendary Jerry Orbach's final performance.

TBJ is my favorite of the bunch, and I'll admit that it is because of the two female ADAs. One scene in the episode titled "Truth or Consequences" sealed the deal. ADA Kelly Gaffney is prepping a witness. This witness committed a crime and struck a deal to get less jail time, but he is also an entitled teen punk who finally loses patience and screams, "I got a headache BITCH." Gaffney is slightly startled, but without missing a beat, the more experienced ADA Tracey Kibre, played by the impeccable Bebe Neuwirth, stands up, gets in this tall guy's face and shouts, "Shut up and sit your ass down!"

YES! That is so my life. OK, I do not deal with criminal cases, but this show finally deals with the reality of being a litigating female government attorney. It is no accident that every TBJ plot twist involves people saying, "Those women don't know the law" or "The defendant is running circles around those chicks." Even their colleagues urge them to back down or settle a case.

McCoy never faced such indignities and is constantly assumed to be the authoritative voice of the truth. I remember that during college, his face literally represented the ideal lawyer in signs posted throughout campus encouraging students to become attorneys. I don't think any criminal, fictional or otherwise, would dare to get in Sam Waterston's face, but it is true that the chicks don't get any respect.

Let's get something straight. I get this kind of treatment from men and women, attorneys and pro se litigants. One time, one guy, who clearly knew that I was an attorney, tried to hand me his empty Coca-Cola can to throw out. "The garbage is over there, sir."

While I was asking the judge to jail one Defendant, the Defendant replied, "This young lady won't even talk to me." I just thought, "I'm not here to ask you how you would feel if I asked for jail. And this young lady is going to throw your butt in jail." And he did end up in jail.

Every week, someone utters under their breath, "What a bitch!" At first, I found it shocking, but when I hear it now, I just think, "Yeahhhhhhh!" When a woman does her job, she is a bitch. When a guy does his job, he retains his name. I'm just THE BITCH, and now, I look at that epithet as a badge of honor.

When people aren't calling you bitch, they are trying to be "helpful" by telling you that you can't do something or that you don't know what you're doing. It is true that the law changes, and I am not omniscient, but the last time I checked, I've been an attorney for more than a few years. These people aren't my supervisor or working on my cases so thanks, but, um, no thanks. If I did not know what I was doing, I would ask the appropriate person for guidance, not the person across the table from me who may or may not be an attorney or have something to gain by changing my mind.

Also, perhaps it would be a good idea not to condescend to or curse out the person who may monitor your case for its entire duration. Honey vs. vinegar. Look into it. If you are rude, it may not affect your case in the near future, but if you don't obey the court order, as an officer of the court, I have to enforce the law, but I have hundreds of cases to monitor. Whose case am I going to notice first? Whose name or face will I remember? Being distinctive is not always such a good idea.

And don't try physical intimidation. Following me around the courthouse and yelling at me is not going to work. You are not the first person doing it, and you won't be the last.

In addition, please bear in mind that I am not the only one in my office who has had such experiences. I have witnessed my fellow female colleagues experience this type of treatment, regardless of how senior they are. For example, my former supervisor routinely gets screamed and cursed at. Other attorneys schedule her cases without her consent on her complaints!

So in the end, I'm rooting for TBJ! Show the world what a couple of bitches can really do.

Check Before You Pay

April 15th is not only a day of weeping for those who have to pay Uncle Sam, but a day of rejoicing for those receiving a refund. Every person and business wants to separate you from this annual cash source so do not be surprised if you get a notice from a collections agency requesting that you pay a certain sum of money for a debt that you do not recall incurring. Before paying it, please read the following.

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are entitled to get a free credit report from each of the following agencies:
Equifax 800-685-1111
TransUnion 800-916-8800
Experian 800-583-4080

Each agency uses a different format to present the information in your account and may show different financial information so it is a good idea to order one from each agency annually on a date that you will always remember, such as April 15th, your birthday or Christmas.

According to a friend from Bible Study, if you would prefer to streamline your credit report requests, then visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request a unified form from all agencies.

If the collection agency's debt is not listed in the credit report, it may be a scam. Please look at the following Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation webpage. Once you locate the applicable section, report the scam to the appropriate authorities.

If it is not a scam, contact both the collection agency and the holder as shown on your credit report if the contact information listed in the correspondence and in the credit report differs to insure that you are settling with the correct entity and therefore improving your credit history.

In addition, if anything on your credit history does not seem correct, contact the corresponding credit reporting agency and report the problem as instructed in that agency's credit report.

Update re: City Video

On April 11th, I wrote a little elegy in honor of our dearly and suddenly departed City Video. Congratulations to the former manager of City Video, Eddie Shaw, who is apparently opening up a new store, Movies on the Menu, in Arlington. He will offer the joy of movies in a cafe setting. I haven't checked it out, but good for you, Eddie! We're rooting for you.

Supervolcano!

For some reason, a lot of television shows are discussing the danger that lurks beneath one of our nation's most valuable treasures. From ER to Alias, every drama litters its dialogue with tales of potential woe for half of the United States of America.

Magma is bubbling underneath the ground and is threatening to emerge in a terrifying explosion which will only leave a gaping caldera, i.e. a cauldron-shaped depression, where once Yellowstone National Park once stood and would lead to dire global consequences--another ice age! For once, television is not exagerrating. Of course, this event may not transpire for another thousand years or so, but it is still a threat.

Fortunately, our friends at the USGS (United States Geological Survey) have provided a wonderful webpage dedicated to the Yellowstone Volcano; however, if you would prefer to keep such research limited to television viewing, the Discovery Channel recently aired the docudrama, Supervolcano. Unfortunately, I do not have cable so I will have to settle with the detailed webpage with a scientific veneer until the DVD is released. Mmmmm, veneer.

Hawks, Possums & Raccoons, Oh My!!

One morning, I was on my way to law school. As I turned left off of Mass Ave and walked along Everett Street, I looked up at the parking garage. I felt eyes staring at me, but I did not expect to see something that seemed supernatural.

It looked like a R.A.U.S. from the Princess Bride. It was part pig, part porcupine with a huge rat tail & odd eyes. It just sat on the ledge of the second story of the parking lot, staring out at me. I was a little frightened because it did not look like a real animal, and there were no other witnesses. For the first and only time in my life, I thought it was unfortunate that I did not take drugs because I had nothing else to explain why I was hallucinating.

When I described this encounter to others, they looked at me like I was crazy. Finally, a few days later, after some research, one friend put me out of my misery and said that it was a possum. A possum!! I had never even heard of such a creature.

I know that I mention this fact a lot, but I am from NYC. If we have possums there, I did not see them. I'm sure it's possible, but like all creatures from NYC, we keep to ourselves and try not to attract our neighbors' attention.

Still, it is a surreal experience to discover that you are always in close proximity to fantastic creatures that you have only seen on television or glanced at in an encyclopedia. Years later, my law school friends and I joked about possums. We discussed it with cab drivers on the way to the movies. Possums adorned the greeting cards exchanged on birthdays. We celebrated how cool it was to encounter nature in the concrete jungle.

It does not end there. My condo has two bedrooms, and I chose the room with the best view as my bedroom/office. It may be smaller, but it was worth it. I enjoy watching the squirrels execute acrobatic maneuvers to get food off the farthest branches or doves coo in the morning.

One sunny weekend afternoon, I glanced outside my window and noticed a huge furry animal in the tree and recognized it soon thereafter. A raccoon! In the day! There were a group of people pointing at it from the sidewalk, but I had a front row view. I called all my friends, and everyone had a theory. Rabies? No. After an extensive search on the web, I discovered that it was not uncommon.

The raccoon was not my only encounter with wildlife. During the week, if I had the day off, I would notice a large bird, probably in the raptor family, land on the antenna in the building across from me. I don't have binoculars so I used my video camera to zoom in and get a better look. I only saw a fuzzy brown splotch.

One Sunday, two weeks ago, I glanced up and a huge hawk was surveying the land from the branch of a tree adjacent to my window. You may think that my awe is misplaced, but a hawk is not a pigeon. Hawks don't exactly appear in neighborhood parks to be fed bird crumbs.

I love that I live right off of Mass Ave and can still hear crickets, but Cambridge isn't special. I was fortunate enough to see a majestic Peregrine falcon perched on the 22nd floor of a big Boston law firm. At a North Shore commuter rail station, as I was going through the daily routine of walking to the train, I noticed a large, furry, adorable brown blob of a creature peeking out from a hole underneath a building.

I didn't care if I missed the train. I was not going to have another reenactment of the possum encounter and blindly grasp for a word that embodied the experience. I asked every passerby what it was. Each one was delighted at the sight, even though few could answer my question. Finally, one commuter replied, "It's a groundhog."

It is remarkable that these creatures exist, and that we live with them. I feel honored to witness them going about their daily commute, just as fascinated and curious, apprehensive and tentative, as we are. As the weather becomes warmer, please take this time to notice your smaller neighbors from afar. If you keep your eyes open and walk slower to the next appointment, you may realize that you don't need to venture into the wilderness to see wild animals.

Tax Day!!

I love filing my tax returns. No, I am not Katherine Hepburn in Adam's Rib or one of those classic black & white films. I really do.

When I was a child, I was always puzzled why people went to H&R Block. Once a year, my mom, like so many busy people, waited until there was a mad rush, dashed down to the local H&R Block, waited all afternoon for her return, then found out how much she would have to pay. (I don't know what it is about living in NY, but I have never met any New Yorker who actually received a refund. I am sure those people exist. I just believe that I do not know any of them.)

My mom went to H&R Block, not because she could not decipher the tax code, but because she was convinced that H&R Block was part of the shadow arm of the IRS, and she treated H&R Block like Tony Curtis in Hollywood Babylon. Tell all and let the audience sort through it. She had nothing to hide because she believed that cheating on your taxes was tantamount to a civic deadly sin.

I think that she is right incidentally. I was partly influenced by her rah-rah attitude towards the IRS, but now that I work for a state agency which will remain nameless, I could not agree more. Why should I pay so the tax cheater may have nice roads and free health care? If you disagree with how the government spends our money, then vote differently. (Oh, wait, you already have.) We are paying far less than the average European.

I also think that being an attorney helps. When I took Tax Law with Professor Warren, literally one of the best professors at HLS, I knew that I was hooked. I may not practice tax law, but he certainly made it tempting. His class was always full even though his class was at an insanely early time for the average law student, 8 AM. (Now, that I have to wake up at 6:24 AM, I realize how pampered we were.)

In addition, I am blessed to usually get a tax refund. Positive reinforcement helps. I had to pay one year, and if I did not save money regularly, I imagine that it could make my financial situation rather precarious so I can sympathize with people who feel robbed of their life savings.

Nevertheless, I love filing my tax returns. On February 1, I immediately assess my situation. Did my employer mail my W-2? Did any of my financial institutions forget to send me a 1099? Did all my student loan "providers" post my 1098 online? Where are my receipts for charitable contributions?

Once I know that I have everything, I usually spend a leisurely Friday evening surrounded by piles of paper while typing in numbers on my little calculator. The IRS and MADOR websites are usually open in adjacent windows on my computer screen. Loud music is blaring from my stereo and/or I am watching something on television.

I do not even consider usuing one of those new fangled tax software programs that the kids are raving about. Instead, I have two sets of all the forms that I need. I do not want anything separating me from the magic. Once I'm done, I photocopy everything so I have a copy of everything. Then I wait breathlessly at my mailbox for the tax refund, which usually arrives two weeks later because I have filed fairly early.

Yes, I am a tax geek, and I don't care who knows. Good luck everyone & Happy April 15th!

Dirty War (2004)

My generation may be called many things, but we should be called The Day After generation. At work, another attorney confessed that he watched T2 just for Sarah Connor's nuclear nightmare.

Even though a nuclear holocaust was a horrifying reality during our lifetime, it was at least entertaining. We were forbidden to watch it because we were too young, and it was too graphic, but of course, we still did. The ending was not hopeful, and everyone was doomed. When the movie ended with Steve Guttenberg's skin peeling, and his hair was gone, you knew that this wasn't Police Academy. This movie was serious and sobering. Woo hoo!

It was only a matter of time before I was reading On The Beach and watching The Omega Man. Yeah, baby. It may be a morbid fascination, but it is a real one. To face death and the destruction of all humanity should idealy be greeted with popcorn. Making death something that can fit on the idiot tube or the silver screen may be one of the most effective ways to cope with realistic terror. If you don't give us realistic terror in entertainment, we will make it up: zombies, monsters and alien invasions.

When I watched the Matrix with my law school friends, the movie's premise was accurate. Business was booming, and the economy was terrific. Our futures were bright, and the possibilities were infinite. We needed to face our mortality in the movies because the only danger we faced was old age.

Then September 11th happened, and these movies hit just a little too close to home. When my wisdom tooth was pulled out last year on the weekend of July 4th (so I could take less time off at work), I was in pain and watching Independence Day for the fiftieth time, but the first time since 9/11. Maybe it was the pain medication, but I found myself weepy thinking about all those poor people before I thought, "What the hell is wrong with me. It's a movie!"

This reaction did not stop me from watching HBO's Dirty War, which was recently broadcast on PBS with a public forum aired after the movie so the local "experts" could discuss the serious issues raised in the film. The old me really couldn't wait to get to the part of the film where the unthinkable happens, and the special effects are unleashed. The new me realized that the old me was too young to understand that this could really happen, and real lives would be at stake.

Sigh. It is just a movie, a good one, but a movie nevertheless. I found myself more riveted by the rangling within the incompetent [British] government trying to balance spin control versus effectively preparing homeland security forces. Of course, spin control wins. If a bureaucrat has to choose between respecting the chain of command or actually making an effective decision, the chain of command is always going to win. Follow the correct channels and don't make waves.

The special effects were not notable, but the human drama saved the movie. It was a little terrifying to imagine yourself boxed into an area contaminated by radiation, and the only way to get out is to wait in a non-existent chaotic line to be stripped naked and scrubbed in front of the world with none of your belongings.

As I get older, different things scare me: unresponsive, ineffective bureaucracies, pushy crowds, public nudity and crazy terrorists. The blast is part of all of that, but not really the problem or the cause. Maybe it is a sign of maturity to recognize that nothing is scarier than crazy people who respect a certain ideology, particularly the ideology of authority over the necessities of daily life.

Elegy for City Video

I was a college student when I arrived in Cambridge. At first, I was alarmed at the prospect of staying in Massachusetts for four years for several reasons:

1. You cannot put your hand in the air and automatically hail a cab. Hailing a cab requires tons of preparation. You need to call at least fifteen minutes before you actually need the cab. You must have a phone number for a taxi company in your town because even if the adjacent town (ahem, i.e. a certain major metropolitan city called Boston) has a cab in the area, you cannot use it. Finally, hopefully, you have a reliable cab driver who arrives on time and does not peel away in a blast of smoke and burning rubber when you fail to hurl yourself out the window to get into the cab at the first honk of the horn.

2. Most restaurants and stores close early. If you are hungry after midnight, tough.

3. At the time, delivery was not usually a viable option for a student. When it was, you would be required to give your mother's maiden name, last three addresses, social security number and your first born child in order to get delivery of ribs. Sometimes four students would pool together their resources in order to enjoy a wing and a rib (I'm Gonna Git You Sucka shout out).

As I grew to like Cambridge, these flaws became less onerous. During my sophomore year, I became a connoisseur of video rental stores. Suddenly Cambridge was tolerable. My favorite video store is still Hollywood Express, which is now so popular, it has expanded to other locations outside of the Porter Square area. On Tuesdays, I would exploit the two for one special and rent 10 videos. On Wednesdays, I would get my free children's video to catch up on all the Disney movies that I did not see.

I was still a member of City Video and Blockbuster, but I did not use them as much. Hollywood Express was closer, had knowledgable clerks and showcased a number of artsy-fartsy films. City Video was a staple store front in Porter Square. It was dark. The sections were less customer friendly. The video plastic protective covers were no longer clear, but yellowing with age.

City Video recently closed suddenly. There was an 8x10 white sheet of paper with a message written in black marker notifying the customers where to put the videos they were returning. There was not even a closing sale of the merchandise.

Last year, I went there once. Alien vs. Predator was released that Friday, and I had only seen Predator, not Predator 2, which briefly alludes to the Predator hunting Aliens! Shocking! I had to see it before venturing to the theatres. Well, the rest of Cambridge had the same idea because Hollywood Express did not have any extra copies in any format. There were plenty of videos and DVDs of Predator, but video dealers had underestimated the public demand for second-rate sequels.

I then went to Blockbuster where I located the one and only DVD of Predator 2. I sat down to study the intricacies of the drug war meets intergalactic invasion when during the last crucial showdown, the only great scene in the movie, the DVD punked out. It would not continue playing. So I called Blockbuster, and the clerk reassured me that there was an extra one available. While still in pajamas, I rushed out my door clutching the defective DVD only to hear upon arrival, "Oh, I thought that you meant Predator. We don't have any more copies of that one." Noooooooooooo!

Now it was a mission. City Video was my last resort, but fortunately, the Predator 2 video was just sitting there, unaware of the sudden demand for it. Maybe that was City Video's problem. I did not use it except as a last resort, but I was always happy to simply look into its windows as I passed it and went to the supermarket. We took City Video for granted, and now, it is gone after many years of faithful service. I am sorry that you are gone.

Happy Belated Resurrection Day

Happy Belated Resurrection Day, i.e. Easter! I meant to write something on Sunday, March 27th to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus or the miracle of bunnies laying colorful hardboiled eggs.

At any rate, I could not think of anything at the time. Now, it seems like a good time to remind people of the meaning of Easter. The Resurrection should not be ridiculed, especially at a time when the news has focused on so much death: from Karol Jozef Wojtyla, i.e. Pope John Paul II, to Terri Schiavo.

Regardless of your religious affiliation or position on right to life/die, everyone has been touched by someone's death. It hurts, and those left behind always suffer. In death, jerks suddenly become revered, and all difficulties melt away only to be replaced by grief.

Despite this sorrow, I cannot help but feel joy for those who have made their peace with death. Right now, they may be gone, but I do believe that the faithful are in a better place. I like to imagine Karol's first meeting with Jesus.

"Wow! We've talked so much, but I am so excited to meet you in person! "

Then I believe that Karol gets a little nervous because after all, it is the Son of God, and He is his Boss. He has very high standards. This experience could be the worst employee evaluation ever! A number of things must pass through Karol's mind, including the nagging question, "Did I do enough?" He runs through his private list of disappointments, which may or may not differ with the public's criticisms.

Then Karol sighs with relief. The promise of the Resurrection is not a shabby one. It is preferable to be reborn better than you were and finally become the person that you were meant to be, the person that God intended you to be, instead of who you were, constantly struggling with sin and easily shaken from your belief that God is with you.

It is a relief to be reprieved by a man who could take the penalty on our behalf and show us how to live and die. It is a miracle to be forgiven by God who can perfectly and eternally atone for all the evil accomplished or considered by every human being throughout time.

I think that Karol and Terri are having a blast. Death is another birthday, and hopefully, all of us will greet it without fear.

Buffets at Indian Restaurants

Much to my dismay, I know many people who automatically turn up their noses at the mention of Indian food. They have no idea what they are missing. In Cambridge, Indian restaurants are more plentiful than Starbucks. If you are one of the cautious, then please read further.

At lunch time, if you go to an Indian restaurant that offers a buffet, you have nothing to lose. First, the buffet cost is low and runs at about $6-15. Owners actually lose money, but the investment is worth it if a patron becomes a frequent diner. Second, restaurant owners purposely showcase a variety of dishes so they can attract patrons at dinner time. If you do not have a taste for spicy or hot food, then the buffet is the best time for you to explore a variety of dishes without fear of committing to a dish that may not suit your proclivities. Finally, an Indian restaurant is the perfect place for carnivores and vegetarians to meet without compromising taste or offending either's sensibilities.

There may be restaurants that have better food or decor, but my favorite restaurants have consistently made strong and consistent efforts to provide a beautiful atmosphere to complement quality dishes.

1. Diva Indian Bistro, 246 Elm Street, Somerville-Davis Square T
Today, you would be lucky to get a seat there, but I remember when it first opened, two people could easily get a booth and not wait at any station of the buffet. The service is still impeccable. The attentive waiters will offer bread and beverages without being asked. Each week, Diva changes the dishes offered, but there is usually salad, tandoori chicken, a curry dish, chicken masala, and a vegetarian dish which usually contains paneer (i.e. cheese). Diva also has a distinctive buffet station: a crepe station! In addition, Diva has the best decor of any restaurant in Davis Square. From the cobalt blue and tan color scheme to the throw pillows in the booths, the decor is beautiful and thoughtful.

2. Passage to India, 1900 Mass Ave, Cambridge-Porter Square or 157 Washington Street, Salem (the latter location does not offer a weekend lunch buffet)
This little restaurant has been in Porter Square as long as I can remember and was recently renovated. Passage to India does something that most restaurants should aspire to: consistently offer great food and lots of it. The wait staff is there when necessary, but does not hover or become an annoyance. The buffet may not have as broad a selection, but the quality of the ingredients shines through. For example, I hate going to a restaurant where I have had a wonderful dinner, but at lunch, I can tell that the owner waited for the buffet to distribute stale meat. It would be better if the owner never offered a buffet at all and threw away the rotting food. Passage to India treats every meal as if it was opening night and welcomes every kind of customer, from the scruffy student to the family with three kids, as if he or she was a food critic.
Buffet patrons should be treated as well as their regulars.

3. Cafe of India, 52A Brattle Street, Cambridge-Harvard Square
I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. It remains high on my list because of a special buffet station that I have never seen at any other Indian restaurant: the pork roast cutting board station. This pork makes up for the occasionally sullen waiters or the opulent yet stiff chairs (the booths are preferable). Occasionally each of my favorite Indian restaurants offers goat curry as one of its buffet selections, but Cafe of India always seems to offer it on the weekends when I visit. Of course, if you think that Indian food is too adventurous, then goat curry probably sounds like jumping off of a cliff. Still, if you have gone this far in exploring a new cuisine, you should keep going.