On spending money

I still remember when $20 in my pocket covered for three-week expenses, and that was when I was in college. Back then, life was simple and comfortable. I had no "real" income, so I had no need for big expenses - A peace of mind.

When I started working after college, I would buy anything. Clothing, accessories, food and stuff, whatever fits my fancy at the spur of the moment. I was, for lack of a better phrase, a little spending machine. I seemed to be always one pair of new shoes away from happiness. Over a few years, home is cluttered with piles of things, unused makeups, dresses that still have tags on.

Now, I am more picky on things I use and food that I eat. I tend to spend my money on things I really like and enjoy, even though they may be expensive, instead of spending money on some random things just for kicks.

Growing up is a strange thing, because once a while when you look back you could see a clear path from then to now, and there is a reason why you become who you are.

Dishes we made well

Hummus - Jack
Thai green curry paste and homemade green curry - Jack and Ying
Thanksgiving meal - Jack

• Roast turkey, gravy
  
• Wild rice casserole
• Garlic mashed potato
• Noodle casserole
• Upside-down cake
• Sour cream cheese cake
  
• Homemade ice cream
  
• Homemade salsa
  

Stir-fried anything - Ying
Indian curry with lentils - Ying
Aloo Gobi - Ying
Japanese curry with store-bought Japanese curry paste - Jack and Ying
Kung Pao chicken - Ying
Sichuan big bowl beef - Ying
Sichuan cold noodle - Jack

Ying's list: The Best Stuff and Best Treat On Earth

Walkers Pure Butter Shortbread from Scotland.

• Very buttery but not too sweet. Only 3 grams of sugar.
  
• Delicious!

Facial given by Shana at Bamboo Hair and Body.

• I had a warm stone exfoliating facial with Shana last night. After the 1 hour session, I felt that an invisible layer of fatigue was taken off my face. All my facial muscles were so relaxed and my face was so soft.
• My face feels so soft 4-5 days after the facial. I have good reason to believe I will feel good even 1 week later.
• That, I realize, is a worthy facial.
  

Zumba class taught by Sunita.

• Zumba is an amazing aerobic exercise that is super fun and easy to learn. It provides an opportunity for a rigid Chinese girl - moi - to explore and experience the passion of Latin dance.
• Sunita was my Zumba instructor at the athletic club. She was a good dancer and awesome teacher. I love her class. I took her class for 1 year and I felt that my core was stronger, more flexible and toned.
• Unfortunately, she left the club. But now I'm also a certified Zumba instructor! That's how much I like it.

Dim Sum at Hong Kong Flower Lounge in Millbrae - it's up there.

• Yesterday Jack and I waited for 45 minutes to get a table at the corner of the restaurant, in front of the closet. But no complaints, we were still served well and got all the delicious dim sum we wanted.
• Our dim sum favorites?
  

Lightly steamed clam (my mom introduced us to this dish and we love it);
steamed bean curd wrap;
shrimp dumpling;
pork dumpling;
turnip cake;
stuffed mushroom with black bean sauce
... a lot more depending on our mood and appetite ...

• Good food will speak to you and tell you when to go back to have more. It's like magic.

Massage given by Kristen

• Kristen is also a yoga instructor and she is a great masseuse.
• Since she works at the athletic club, there is no fancy spa atmosphere, but she is a nice person.
  
• She played some natural sounds in the room, and during the whole session, I just let my body and mind go. My mind was drifting off. Now and then I thought I was on vacation in Hawaii.
  
• Kristen found a big knot on my left shoulder, and to my amazement, she rub it down good. She is probably the second masseuse who can do that.
• Go to seat in the hot tub and steam room right afterward, and it is truly the best treat on earth.
  

Viyiasa Yoga with Jean

• Jean is a singer and voice artist.
• She is also a very experienced Yogi.
• I love her singing before the practice start. Though I don't know what she is singing about. I think it's in Hindi.
• Jean integrates philosophy into the Yoga practices. She teach us to focus on ourselves, and plant happiness and joy to our body and soul.
• After a sequence, she let us stand on Mountain Pose with eyes closed, and feel the change in the body. It really works, because I can feel my body being less and less rigid as the class progresses.
• The Thursday night Yoga class is the best gift I give to myself in a week.

Bread and cheeses in France

It made me laugh

Despite some room for improvement, my athletic club is one of my favorite hang outs away from home. There are a few things I like about the club, some good classes and the massage. On top of all that, I love their steam room. After sitting in the steam room, my skin feels so smooth and refreshed.

Last Tuesday night I took the Pilates-mat class, then went to the steam room. There were already 6 ladies sitting in the small steam room when I got there. One lady left, so I quickly took her seat. Ms T. - one of a handful of ladies I talked to in the gym - was having a lively exchange in Chinese with others about food and local restaurants. I listened politely. Another lady came into the steamy room. She said hi to her friends in the group and started talking in mandarin.

"My brother taught me to make this drink: blend a bitter melon, a bell pepper, a cucumber, an apple, a celery stick together. When I drank it, I could feel it going down my throat, working through my intestines, " she was animating with her finger pointing from her throat down to the chest and around the stomach area, "and slowly my system started to gurgle, and I had the runs 3 times this afternoon." then she held out 3 fingers. "Oh my god, it was so tough." She said with a sad face, "and he said it was a good drink for the summer called 'The Five Element Drink.'"

Imaging the green liquid slowly making its way down this lady's system, I tried very hard to hold back my laughter. So I immediately joined the others to show my sympathy.

Ms. T., the wise one in the group smile and said: "There must be too much cool element in the drink, so your system couldn't stand it."

"Yes, and it didn't come out all at once, oh, punishing me." Said the unfortunate lady, while rubbing her belly, "tonight I have to go out and eat a real good meal."

The France impression

Since my two-week trip to France in June, I start to understand why people make such a fuss after a trip to Europe. Well, I have to admit, I am one of those people now. It has little to do with the long duration of the flight from San Francisco (or other places of the world, for that matter) to Paris, or how expensive the trip is. It is all about the French experience.

In this trip, I had an excellent guide, Anne, who retired back to the mountains in Glenoble, France. She kept us away from doing silly touristy things, and let us enjoy the country as it was to a Frenchwoman.

Sure, Paris is an impressive metropolitan city with history, arts and architectures that you can't miss every time you turn around the corner of the city streets. The romantic Seine and its many bridges; the amazing number of museums; the famous monuments; fashionable shops and delicious eateries all added personalities to this unique place. Walking on the streets of Paris, I can't help but wonder how can all these amazing features even fit in one small city at the same time?!

Outside of Paris is just as impressive if not more so. The drive from Paris to Glenoble was very enjoyable. We passed by countless castles and historic buildings, some of them were just off the highway! The fields were so green and the forests were so lush. I saw a field full of fiery red poppies off the side of the highway, it was bloody and bold, just being there to put passersby in awe.

Glide into summer

For those of us who live in the San Francisco Bay Area, mother nature stole two months of summer from us. Leaving us shivering in May and June, and the weather only started to warm up at the beginning of July. Well, it's better late than never!

I have forgotten, yet reminded today, how it feels on the Monday after 2 good kiteboarding days. It is full of laziness and content. Triumph over the battles with the swells and the winds, I'm tired and satisfied, and my mind is relaxed. Nothing can bring me such joy and fulfillment. Only if I can repeat it over and over again, I shall be so happy. My muscles are so stiff, but nobody is complaining. My physical and mental strength were tested against Mother Nature. It was a good fight and it was fun when I survived.

This Spring

There should be some kind of recordings for the special weather here in Half Moon Bay for this Spring, because this is the year when I start planting!

I am usually hopeless with plants, because I don't water and take care of them. When my co-worker plus friend Janice, who taught me to play piano, packed for her move to Seattle, she was going to throw her evergreen away. I asked to keep it, figuring maybe I can give it a second chance to live. I watered it whenever I remembered, but not consistent enough. It is still alive after 2 years, but a lot of its leaves die and the root is coming out of the open, so it is leaning to one side.

This Spring, the weather is still cold and rainy in mid-May, but then there has been occasions of warm and sunny days. The sun and the rain wake up lives all over the place. The mountains and the fields are especially lush. There are all shades of green, and the most beautiful and inviting wild flowers.

How can this kind of weather not encourage a black thumb start planting? I don't know.

Since the beginning of this Spring, I have been having the urge to plant ... anything. Like when I cut off the roots of green onions, I would soak them in water for the roots to grow. Then I put them in the pots with potting soil. We had an old potatoes that started growing roots, I put it in a pot and add soil. It started to grow after a few days! I put my plants outside, right in front of my front door, so that I can look at them often. I collect dripping water from the shower, and the water I use to rinse vegetables in a bucket, so that I can use it to water my plants. Sometimes it put a smile on my face when I thought about my plants.

I added some potting soil in Janice's evergreen and started watering it regularly. It is shooting out new leaves now. I am so happy!