Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Lords of the Treadmill
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Mysteries of the Orient, Part 2
Second stop was at a used bookstore, where I picked up the little gem pictured at left. I love to cook, and I've been to Hong Kong and Singapore (even the parts Anthony Bourdain would seek out. Especially the parts Anthony Bourdain would seek out), but I've never come across the following. Reading it was like discovering a whole new world - an exotic, fascinating, and somewhat disgusting world:Ingredients: Ligustrum Japonium, wine dreg, Fat of snow toad, conpoy, fish maw, lily bulb, astragalus hengl, medlar, campanumaea pilosula, fox nut, spatholobus glue, Lung-lee leaves.
Instructions (not all from the same recipe):
Put fox nut into stomach of duck.
Attach bronchial of pig's lung to water tap and run water into pig lung.
Pick out those with hairs.
Tear outer membrane off ox's testicle.
Wash cow stomach.
Recommendations:
Good for strengthening the loins and fortify the kidneys.
Good as Yin tonic and as agent for moistening the liver.
Not suitable for headache caused by deficiency of Yam essence and excessive fire in heart or lungs.
Good for expelling of dampness.
Good for alleviating white flow of women.
Good for quenching liver fire (intense heat)
Mysteries of the Orient: Part 1
I'm off this week, just taking some time to do all the stuff around here that I never have time to do. First on my list today was a hot stone massage. But my relaxation and calm dissolved into giggles while listening to the "New Age" mix while I was on the table. Enya? Check. Whalesongs? Yup. Even an excerpt from Mark Knopfler's lovely Local Hero soundtrack. But there was one little interlude with a bamboo flute... I swear I heard Martin Sheen's voice, "Saigon... shit; I'm still only in Saigon..." Made me wonder about a massage set to Ride of the Valkyries.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Sunglass Hut? Really, Sunglass Hut?!
Yesterday was my birthday. And I'm so relieved that the cards I got from family and friends outnumbered the ones I got from tradespeople trying to keep my good will. I picture myself old and alone, treasuring the thoughtfulness of businesses who just want me to keep spending money. And then I shudder. Sunglass Hut (I don't recall ever shopping there) was even nice enough to include a $20 gift card. At least if I'm old & alone, I'll have a rockin' pair of shades.
