Pho Weather

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 – Pho Weather

Today’s frigid temperatures gave me a perfect excuse to go out for a steaming bowl of pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup.  It’s usually made with a beef broth, but there’s a restaurant in Annandale that makes a pretty good vegetarian version.  I had a wonderful time tearing up fresh basil leaves, biting into crunchy bean sprouts, slurping up rice noodles from the tasty broth, and fishing out delectable meatless morsels (made of soy? wheat gluten?) with my chopsticks.  It’s a rare indulgence, due to the high carb content. 

Vegetarian pho at Pho Hot in Annandale

 I certainly didn’t let the cold weather limit my activities today.  I worked out with my trainer at the gym, went to a doctor’s appointment, made a quick stop at Beth El to pick up my next Torah reading assignment, ran into Sears at the mall to shop for my mother’s new wardrobe (because she has gained so much weight in assisted living), and finally rewarded myself with hot pho.  Elliott hasn’t ventured out of doors since the temperatures plummeted yesterday.  But he’s planning to get out tomorrow, when the temperature will rise to the 20s, a veritable heat spell after today’s arctic blast.  In the meantime, he’s keeping busy at home with research on kitchen remodeling.  By the way, the island vs. peninsula question has been revisited.  This time, we’re favoring the island, after getting some very helpful suggestions from neighbors.