vwphoto...thanks for your comments. you are right, the image does have a "stalker" quality about. i guess i kind of like that (or at least i seem to be attracted to that), as i've noticed a similar quality about several other photos i've taken, too. who knows, maybe i am a stalker; i'm certainly a voyeur. as for the off-kilter horizon...maybe i was influenced by a recent moriyama daido i'd seen. as for the noodles...they were yummy!