Eulogy for China House.

     Back when I lived in Vincennes, I usually lived downtown. Often, on days off, I would chillax with a few shots and either TV or a game. Then, when hunger pangs set in, I would walk to Third Street, between Main and Vigo, to chow down at a little place called China House.
     China House was run by the Zheng family; usually one woman running it and one or two people in the back room. But they made it work, usually. Yes, it had a ghetto feel to it, but that was part of its charm. And, if you're drunk or on lunch break from the hospital or some establishment downtown, it always hit the spot. It also hit the spot when you introduced a friend to pot; I'm not saying much further on that.
     This little establishment downtown had a small variety of things that would suit whatever mood you're in. Whenever I went there, I would often start with what I called the "land, sea, air" combo. This combo would include beef stir-fry, imitation crab casserole, and something of chicken. Hot-and-sour soup would often follow. And the menu would often vary.
     Recently, I had time to kill and an appetite, so I went there. But what I found was that they had closed down. Checking Facebook, I found that it happened at least two months ago. They will be missed, and I will always look back on it with a nostalgic feel.
     You're probably not reading this, but I still want to say thank you, Zheng family, for the memories and the food.

Experiencing Bloomington.

     My frequent trips to see my girlfriend, Denise, have opened my horizons to a broader base of experiences. When she is at work, I try to explore the area a bit. I hope to find new, regular haunts for when I move up there (provided things go well).
     For my birthday, she got me a vial of vapor juice. It is called caramel macchiato. They were not kidding when they labeled that flavor! It tastes like its namesake, but with no milk, so it's a strong caffeinated taste.

     I visited other vapor shops; one of them told me that my tanks that I use, Nautilus X, will be phased out. That was why they were so hard to find up there.
     I have been expanding my cookbook collection, thanks to a chain called Half-Price Books. I really want to get a few recipes written down before I do a major grocery trip.
     Speaking of groceries, the stores there have such a huge variety! In addition to having a few sushi bars around town, their Kroger has one, too! Yes, it's sometimes expensive, but it's worth it if you can swing it.

     Months ago, we went to a festival called Tastes of Bloomington. It was so good! They had samples from around the city. I liked the Indian place, and the grilled mac-n-cheese sandwich called the Mac Daddy, which is locally famous.