Food. We love it.

Some favorite food: (will add some links later) 

A recipe from the Rochester Co-Op. Will let you know how it tastes later!

 

Soups, Salads, Starters, Sides

salad with avocado

guacamole a la Joshie

watercress salad with beets, apples/pears, light vinaigrette and fish

salad with yogurt-based dressing

cornbread with whipped honey butter and

bread with butter and sea salt

rosemary, garlic potatoes

carrot, ginger, potato soup

butternut squash

French onion soup with thyme a la Mama Cheng

spaetzle

Daddy's sauteed mushrooms (olive oil, balsamic, garlic salt, butter?)

Lin Jia egg yolk tempura squash 

Pescara's avocado and poke appetizer
kale chips (homemade are best! olive oil, aminos, yeast + whatevs else!)

Mains

veggie cassoulet (recipe from epicurious, ask BT)

salmon

butternut squash au gratin 

gnocchi

butternut squash, brown butter, sage

grass-fed beef

raclette

fondue

tuna melts (ooh with pesto and avo)

Pok Pok angel wings, Marnee Thai angel wings

Lin Jia glass noodles

Arizmendi's pizza

TrueBurger's portabello burger

peking duck

chicken a la king and chicken Jerusalem a la mama cheng

 

Desserts

yogurt with banana, ground flax, kale sprigs, honey

carrot cake

creme brulee

TJ's gingerbread

angel food cake

mango and sticky rice

 

Beverages

kombucha with grape jucie and chia

smoothies galore! (with kale, flax, chia, banana, you name it!)

malted milk

 

Snacks

pistachios

nutritional yeast, parmesan popcorn

fresh fruit, especially U-Pick berries from Oregon :)

TJs seaweed

 

Breakfast

crepes

pumpkin pancakes

egg in a frame

eggs benedict

oatmeal with almond butter, yogurt, chia, flax, apples, banana

oatmeal with cinnamon apple and prune compote a la Spirit Rock

 

Anything from Cafe Gratitude!

Anything crispy-soft!

Anything from Spirit Rock and Kripalu!

 

Okay, I admit I'm a wee bit hungee...hence the 230am post about food hehe. :) 

 

Switzerland

I am now 7 hours ahead instead of 2 hours behind Joshie as I am in Switzerland. The crazy thing is that on more than one occasion, I have gone to bed at the same time or later than Joshie. Houston we have a problem!

Mama Cheng mentioned that she gets wifi for free...love those little iPhones...like having a mini-computer at all times. ;) As Facetime requires wifi...I thought I'd try it and lo and behold, it worked!! Ça marche!!  Joshie and I have been able to talk and see each other every day, and it's been such a joy seeing his smiling face on Mummy's phone!

I think I depend on technology a bit too much at times, but golly gee willikers I sure am thankful for it and that it allows me to connect with J even from so far away.

Switzerland has been lovely, and I can't wait to come back here with Joshie...I think he would really enjoy being here. And he could practice his German! 

It's been so delightful meeting so many of Ma and Pa's Omega friends. In most cases we have visited with couples, and I always think of Joshie and me and wonder what we'll be like 40 years from now.  :) We've also had a chance to meet several of the children and even grandchildren of these family friends, and I keep thinking how life is so beautiful!! I am so touched hearing so many stories about the Omega years, years since, transitions, families, joys, sorrows...this human to human connection has been invigorating.  This is what life is about! Connection, relationship, and love.  I feel very lucky to be here with Mama.

In our time here, Ma and these family friends have shared and reflected quite a bit....it's felt rather nostalgic and I've found this to be very moving. Life is so precious, and life is too short not to spend it with loved ones, too short not to live each day fully. Joshie very kindly made recordings for me for each day I'm here, and for each day he's also recorded lesson from Letting Everytzing Become Your Teacher. It has really set the tone for me each day.  Yesterday's had to do with acknowledging in every moment that "This is my life." This is really helpful because I think that many of us at times are so forward looking that we forget the present moment. We are often so future thinking that we're never really 'here.'  But knowing that each and every moment is an opportunity to be awake, to be present is huge.  I often think of the Young Adult retreat I attended at Spirit Rock. During of the dharma talks, one of the teachers shared with us that she tells herself "Welcome back" everytime she comes back to the present moment.  It's a shift in awareness. A shift in consciousness. And it makes all the difference in the world! " There is onlz one time when it is essential to awaken.  That time is now."  B-dawg said that. :) 

Anywho, I sit here at 00:54AM in Morges, CH, giving thanks for this beautiful day and my dear friends and loved ones. S'il vous plait forgive me for typos, especially ones involving the misuse of Y and Z as these two letters are switched on the keyboard here. Totallz confusing! Zou know what I mean? :)

Salsa!

Thank you, Darling, for the most wonderful weekend in Rochester!  The song we listened to (several times) at our salsa lesson:

XOXO :)

Happy Valentine's

Thank you my Valentine for the most incredible lifetime together. I am so grateful for all that we share including a most loving and deep connection with one another. You are everything I could possible envision in a life partner, and I give thanks for the universe delivering you to me.

Love forever,
Josh

A blog post of firsts

First movie screening: "I Am" in Santa Cruz
First movie at home: Moulin Rouge!
First happy hour: Three Degrees Waterfront Bar and Grille in Portland
First Thanksgiving: Oakland with the Chengs
First New Years: Lake Tahoe with the Chengs

WE ARE ENGAGED!!!!

The last two months have been very busy for joshie and stephie. Stephie just finished her fifth interview and josh is preparing for his second presentation of the last week. Josh has found a little time to write this post after slipping on ice Florida boy style and sustaining an immobilizing leg bruise:


Josh has been taking the first salsa lessons of his life the last five weeks and would like to share some types from the class. Of course he would not have gotten inspired to do such lessons and join the salsa community if it was not for stephie so thank you so much my love! Here are the basic cincepts he has learned:


Lead and follow
Takes longer for guy to learn how to follow-patience!
Man is frame And lady is picture
Tension in hands allows partners to anticipate each other
Guy reaches for hand only
Guy and girl face each other almost always
Hands thought tight against each other and no curling

Learn salsa in 123s
Invite cross body with hand at hip ht
Open break tells lady that something is coming
No thumbs in salsa
Ladies hand when dropped should go back down to mans hand
Hand down for spin
Hair comb with flair
Number of fingers for number of turns