So much to write, no time to write it. And I have a nasty cold.

I’m starting Atkins again after a weeklong break instigated by my trip to Utah. I tried to cap off the break last night by trying to find some good laksa noodles — one of the best things I’ve ever eaten, with chicken, shrimp, tofu, bean sprouts, coconut milk, lime, green onions, red peppers and three kinds of noodles. The only place I’ve ever had this (a Pan-Asian restaurant over on the corner of 20th & P St. NW) is permanently closed. I’ve had decidedly subpar versions (both loaded with green beans and missing lots of the ingredients and subtle flavors that make the other version great) at Union Station’s Pan-Asian restaurant and at the Mandarin Inn in Alexandria (where they called it curry noodle soup, although it’s very close to the same green bean laksa concoction from Union Station).

I found a review on the web of Straits of Malaya, which had a description of laksa that appeared to be what I was looking for. But when I got there last night, it was closed too. So I settled for some passable curry lamb at a Chinese restaurant across from Visions, then saw Fog of War. After I got home I ate a forgotten squished blackberry Fruit Pie left in my unpacked suitcase (I picked up a couple when I saw them in Utah, because although blackberry is the best flavor, I almost never see it), and now it’s low-carb sailing once again. If my estimates are correct, I’ve lost about 40 pounds so far . . .