This is 2wrights's Typepad Profile.
Join Typepad and start following 2wrights's activity
2wrights
Recent Activity
Way to go! I know the hard work and determination needed to stick to a healthier way to eat and live. It's really worth it though. The results speak for themselves. Love the floral dress - va va va voom!
The new me
For the past year and a half, I have been trying to lose weight. Seriously this time. With a strict diet, acupuncture, and some natural medicines, that and ZUMBA! I have been able to drop 37 lbs! It has been very tough being the biggest girl in the country, always bumping into things and people ...
Did you see Ocean's Twelve? While you're driving along listening to music to make your way through the maze, are you imagining you're that guy in the movie who put on his headphones and listened to The a la Menthe and danced/flipped/contorted his way through the security laser field in the museum? That was so cool (yes, I know he is a thief. And yes, I know he is a very, very bad man doing a very bad thing but it was still very, very cool). I picture you doing the same thing. Wow, Amanda, I didn't know you were so cool. Download the song, listen to it while dodging traffic and I guarantee you will breeze through it and feel ultra cool to boot.
P.S. I MUST know what you are actually listening to while surviving the afternoon stroll.
Strolling right along.
I was riding along the other day when this guy comes barreling down on me from the opposite direction. I glared at him from behind my shades and opened my mouth to tell what for. Then he smiled, and I realized he meant no harm and was just strolling along too. The more I thought about the encount...
Lovely. Where can I sign up? Same roots, same trunk, different branch, same bad fruit.
The Power of Fear!
We visited an "ancient city", actually a newly built rendition. Some new friends from Norway were touring the city so we took them with us. Our international connections grow by the month! Inside the city is a very old, very real, temple, still in use. We wandered through the courtyards and ha...
I totally understand (well as far as one could without being were you are). You are human and it seems only logical that life there could be a love hate thing. So much more stress for you there than here that it can take it's toll on you both physically and mentally. No quick fixes or easy answers. Life is challenging--period! I'd love to email you about some things that may help you but don't want to post here. If you want, please have Kay forward you my email address (or vice versa).
Tidbits of Thought
Recently, I have the feeling of being in constant flux. I think we are both experiencing severe homesickness. It's already been two years with no visit home for Frank and over a year for me. Fighting depression has become a regular part of life, a part I am not fond of. Sometimes, I want to go...
I have such trouble sleeping sometimes that I really envy that guy sacked out amongst all the hustle and bustle around him. He must have drank one of the potions from that Chinese medicine market you went to. Do you think he might be dreaming of all the ways he could cook that cute little doggy in pic #1. Yes, I'm capable of some dark humor. My mind just goes that way sometimes. An apology to all you dog lovers.
Just Pics
Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.
Zhong Yao 中药 (Chinese Medicine)
I took a ride to a nearby Chinese medicine market yesterday. It reminded me a lot of a Cracker Barrel or an old fashioned country store. I was looking for help with my depression or at least a better immune system. What I found made me hesitant to try anything. No biscuits and gravy or countr...
So is the other language on the South Drug Park (funny) sign Thai or Laotian or something else? What language do the local people speak? The countryside looks so lush and beautiful. And the sky so blue and clear (no pollution) even with the dirty windows.
Inspections!
Xishuangbanna is located in to the far South of China, bordering Laos and Myanmar. Travelers to Thailand can take a bus or a boat to Laos and go thru to the other side. Because its a border city, drugs are a big problem and busses must go through checkpoints and inspections. We were ins...
Okay, so 1st you entice me with those wonderful figs, then you dash my dreams with NO AVOCADOS!! Am I going to have to start a special avocado fund before we come just so we can afford them? Humph! What to do? There is SO many things you can do with avocados. Besides the usual, we also make a chocolate pudding or mousse with them! It's dairy free, healthy (yes, HEALTHY), creamy and delicious. You'd never know there was avocado in it. That's what gives it that typical creamy texture of pudding. Avocados don't have a very strong flavor on their own so you don't taste them in this recipe.
There are many variations but the basic idea is: in food processor put a ripe avocado, cocoa powder or carob powder and honey (or other sweetener like soft dates that have been soaked) and a little vanilla extract or vanilla bean if you have access. You may need to add a little water (or coconut water or nut milk). Process till creamy. Some people add a ripe banana. Or for a little Mexican twist... a little cayenne powder. Yum! Sometimes a pinch of salt in a sweet dish can bring out the sweetness. You can also use this as a chocolate sauce if you thin a little with water or make thicker and use as a frosting. Who knew what a real friend an avocado could be?
We have also made a chocolate mousse tart with this as the filling and a nut based crust (no flour or butter here). Crust is walnuts, shredded dried coconut & pinch of salt processed in food processor till crumbly. Add dates to processor for sweetness and to help hold mix together. Blend until just starts to stick together. Press firmly into tart pan or pie plate or spring form pan. Add mousse and top with some colorful fruit like strawberries, blueberries or raspberries. We brought this to some friends who invited us for dinner and didn't tell anyone it was healthy. It looked beautiful and decadent. After they finished it with gusto, we told them it was healthy and made them try to guess the ingredients. Of course, no one guessed the avocado and couldn't believe healthy could taste so good.
You can also make an ice cream pie of sorts by popping the pie in the freezer for a few hours, thaw for 10-15 minutes and slice.
Another variation of the pudding is key lime. Instead of cocoa powder, add lime juice. The color of the pudding will be about right because of the green avocado. You can make a key lime pie the same way as above.
My husband and I love food (almost obsess about it) but we try to eat healthy and work around some of our food restrictions. He is incredibly creative in the kitchen and a much, much better cook than I. I just step back, let him create and savor his many, many winners. Of course, I do the clean up.
Dole, eat your heart out!
I just got back from a quick trip to the Thailand of China, Xishuangbanna. (she shwang bahnnah) Anyway, it's a subtropical region at the Southern most part of China and borders Laos and Myanmar. I followed a friend down there to see some students, hers and mine. Unfortunately, we were busy c...
2wrights is now following Mandachino
Oct 16, 2011
UV arm covers!?! I also received a gift from a Chinese friend of what I thought were 'leg warmers'. I think I may have been putting them on the wrong appendage!
And that fig picture.......we're coming!! They are like nature's candy to me. I'm SOOO glad to know you can get them there. My friends fig tree was so disappointing this year. I think I got maybe 4 little figs from it. I had to buy them at the store to get my season's fix this year at 2 for $1.00. Highway robbery. How much are they there?
有意思you yisi (Interesting)
UV arm covers for the ride in the sun (a gift). What about the rest of my skin? I guess its a little late for me to worry about turning brown. Ralph found figs!! Just as big and sweet as the ones from my backyard in Batesburg. Cuteness! Smoking and Buddhism rolled into one. Nice.
Well, I guess you have figured out by now that my comment in Passing Through the Fire was suppose to be here under The Wall. It would make so much more sense here. As you get to know me, you'll discover rather quickly that I make a lot of those kind of mistakes. I'd like to delude myself into thinking that it makes me rather endearing. ;-)
The Wall!
Evidently, after a few years in China, many people hit what is affectionately (resentfully?) called "The Wall". If you can get past it, by jumping on mushrooms, accessing the secret passage or blowing it sky high, you win. Meaning, you can live here longer, and want to. I have hit the wall. I ...
Hi. TW here. Me and my hubby are friends with Ralph and Kay and are currently living in the US. We're hoping to join you guys in China next year so hopefully one day we'll get to meet you in person. We follow your blog and have really enjoyed your pictures, perspectives, experiences, humor and great writing style! I read this post with my eyes wide open and really appreciate you sharing the reality that can be faced when you are living abroad. It tugged at my heart and I just had to throw a little hug your way. Here's my hug and hopefully a vitamin B shot (no significance with the letter B - but feel free to apply one if you can think of a good one): If you have the cd-rom, look up some stuff from the graduation from that school they have twice a year. I always read them and mark them all up with highlighter. There are some especially good ones. I like the one from 8-1-2011 and 12-15-2003. I'm not exactly sure what it's like to be in your shoes (but I'm sure they are a bit scuffed up and have some wear on the soles--and lots of great stories to tell) but you unknowingly have really been a huge encouragement to us. I hope you find the points made in the articles to be encouraging. Keep those blog posts coming!
Pass Through the Fire!
I think I have mentioned that we live in an old folks home. Our first few months here, there were about four funerals! There was another one two days ago but the festivities continue. The body was paraded down the street followed by white robed friends and family. Then it was marched around ...
2wrights is now following Account Deleted
Jan 11, 2011
2wrights is now following The Typepad Team
Jan 11, 2011
Subscribe to 2wrights’s Recent Activity