Back to Wordpress!

Ummm.... Wordpress isn't blocked anymore. So I'm back to my old home. If you don't remember it, email me.

Some of my favourite things

The Body Shop Olive Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner. I can't tell you how happy I was when a friend brought these over from Hong Kong for me. It makes my hair so silky and soft and glossy and gorgeous.

My manicured nails. Sooooo pretttyyyyy.


Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. If it wasn't for this stuff, my hands would feel and look like sandpaper.

My tulip ring. It cost about two dollars at the market, but I love it.


Hendrick's Gin. Nothing makes me feel quite like a lady of leisure than having a gin and tonic at 4 p.m.

I decided a couple days ago that since I don't have a real job anymore, that I would now have to think of losing weight as a 'job'. Sometimes it's boring and difficult, but ultimately, it's rewarding.

I've also found someone to go swimming with on Mondays and Fridays at the pool at the Club that we have access to here. She used to be a synchronized swimmer, so she knows a bunch of techniques for really losing weight in your mid-section (tummy, bum and thighs) which is what I want. Then on Wednesdays I'm going to have a go at the elliptical machine for 4o minutes.

I love food too much to give any of it up, so I'll have to go the exercise route. That, and no carbs at night. That's a pretty simple change to make and I think it makes a difference.

Still thinking of going home, but no decision yet.

Maybe

I've been thinking of a lot of things lately. Well, okay, just one thing. Moving back home.

This has all come about because I've been offered a position at my old Department that's a couple levels above where I am now, and it's very, very tempting to take it. I'm not getting any further with jobs here and even if I DO get a job, I'll still have to go back to Canada in a couple years and start from scratch. And then to do it over again a couple years after that. The prospect of always having to fight with other spouses for the few positions there are at post for the rest of my life is really unappealing and frankly; a lot of them are better qualified than me anyways (they have masters or years and years of experience being at post). The only chance I have of ever having an interesting job when we're posted is to move up in my own Department, then transfer laterally to D's department in an interesting position. The thing is, I'll never move up very much when all I have is a couple years back in Canada. So, this is why I've been thinking of moving back this Spring/Summer.

I think I would feel differently if I had a baby; I'm pretty sure I would be grateful for the extra time to spend at home with a child. But the fact is that a baby isn't in the cards for us any time soon and so I feel sort of like I'm stagnating being here. I'm not investing in the early years of my child, I'm not progressing in my career, I'm not pursuing any interesting hobbies like photography or writing because quite frankly, I just don't feel like it. I've never been a person who was 'into' hobbies before I left and I can't just change who I am.

This lifestyle might be really awesome for someone who's very extroverted, likes to wander off alone and explore, who likes to strike up conversations with strangers, who likes to go out all the time. I'm none of those things and so this life, being a trailing spouse, is really difficult for me. I want nothing more these days than the routine of work, the feeling of working towards a goal, and quiet weekends strolling the markets back home.

But then there are days where I have fun here, where I spend the day getting my hair and nails done and I think it's not so bad. There's only so much pampering I can do though, before reality sets in again and I feel blue.

I don't know if going home is the perfect solution, but right now, it's at least something to consider.

So gross, but so good.

Since being in China, a lot of friends back home ask me if they serve weird things in restaurants. Things like eyeballs (mostly from fish) and dog meat (mostly served in northern China). The answer is yes, yes they do. Aside from the animal parts that would make most Western people squirm, Chinese people also love things with a gelatinous texture; sea cucumbers, jellyfish, chicken feet, and tendon. I'm not really fond of the gelatinous texture myself, although D loves it and will happily devour a plate of jellyfish while I vomit under the table.

However, there is one thing that I've come to love. Something that I never would have touched back in Canada. Chicken knees. Basically, chicken knees deep fried with hot chili peppers is my most favourite thing these days. Since it's cartilage you can't actually eat it; you just sort of chew all the fat off and then spit out the hard cartilage. Gross, right? I totally would have thought so a year ago. But now? Now I have dreams of eating chicken knees.

The smell coming from my kitchen is heavenly.

This morning I made banana bread and I thought I would share the recipe, since it's awesome.

4 ripe bananas
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup melted butter
1 tbsp Amaretto

Mash bananas with the sugar and then beat with an electric mixer until liquid. Add eggs, vanilla, butter and Amaretto. Add dry ingredients (pre-mixed in another bowl) and mix. The batter will be pretty liquid, which is normal. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350F for 1 hour (or until a toothpick poked in it comes out clean).

I also add flax seeds, dried cranberries and chocolate chips to the dry ingredients. You could add raisins, or walnuts... or whatever you want really.

Everyone loves this when I make it and I figure it's the Amaretto, which is a secret ingredient that an Italian friend of mine taught me. The rest of the recipe is from me looking at a dozen other recipes and picking and choosing what I think was best. Enjoy!

Buds of May

I looked out the window this morning and the smog was so thick I couldn't see the building across the road. I think that set the tone for the day because I'm just bummed this morning.

D and I are planning a trip to Thailand for the end of April, which means getting back into a bathing suit which of course means I have to lose 20 pounds and start going to a tanning salon to get rid of this pasty whiteness because even though there are sunny days in Beijing, you never actually tan because the layer of pollution above the city blocks UV rays.

Have you ever been to Thailand? It's full of skinny bronzed people and I'll be damned if I'll be the one who sticks out like a sore thumb.

(There's also the practical reason for building up a good base before going to Thailand: to avoid burning to a crisp.)

The lists are still helping, as is the occasional work I'm getting through D's office (supervising contractors). This morning I obsessively looked at apartment listings for back home, though. It's just one of those days where I don't want to shower or get dressed and just stay in bed all day wondering, "What on earth am I doing here?"

That said, Spring is on its way...