Cooking Thai!

My mom and I took a Thai cooking class over the weekend. It was held by her co-worker who was raising funds for the upcoming Heart Walk. We not only learned how to cook, but we received menus and were treated to some excellent libations provided by a seasoned bartender from The Sandbar. Guess where I'm going for Happy Hour!?!

Anywho... we made chicken satay, fresh papaya salad, tofu salad rolls, pad thai (that's what I'm about to wok up), chicken coconut curry, and mango sticky rice for dessert. Oy! We were bursting at the seams.

I learned that in Thai cooking it's about these three elements: sweet, salty, and spicy. Yes, those three things combined equal heaven in your mouth. I must have been Thai in a past life because it's my favorite food in the WORLD.

If I could have gone to a cooking school in France and learned to concoct food that would melt the mouths of the Western world I would have...

...instead, Sarah and I took a Thai cooking lesson right here in San Diego to help a good cause, shared a meal with somed friends, and made my ma proud

                                                           ...and that is enough. (S~M)

Ensenada

In typical Annie fashion... I went away for a meditation weekend. This time, I went with some friends, and it wasn't silent. It might as well have been because everyone was speaking Spanish. Oddly enough, I took French because the teacher gave out candy. It's so easy to bribe a six-year-old.

So here's what I learned at the OSHO Meditation Center in Ensenada:

Drinking is strictly prohibited - unless you're a resident artist

Jumping up and down saying Ho Ho Ho can lead to extreme pleasure - just not to me

Mr. OSHO was a very simple man: he ate the same thing every day, hung out in the bathroom for 3 hours every day, and drove his Rolls Royce down a road dedicated to him every day - ZEN

The best compliment in the world - 'You dance like a Mexican'

Guys in ski masks carrying guns aren't bank robbers - they're military

When scared of guys in ski masks... don't hide underneath the bed - try the closet instead

12.45 Pessos gets you $1 - $1 gets you 12.28 Pessos

Don't sweat the exchange - buy a street taco instead

Beans are magical - unless you have a roommate you don't want to offend

After a sober weekend - hit up the wineries on the way back 

Border crossing - pack some good CDs and say no to churros (oy so tempting!)

La Cetto Winery ~ Valle de la Guadeloupe

Did I have a good time? You bet I did! $70 US provided a weekend in a lovely place with great company, some stories I'll never forget and I even tried out my very broken Spanish. I learned that Mexico is beautiful, poor, rich, dirty, clean, colorful, friendly, smelly, frees your spirit, family is always first, and life is good when the sun is out.

Vegin Out

Hi Ya'll,

I'm on a blogging binge! Something inside me just wants to express... so here I am writing again. Yesterday, Sarah and I went pick up box of vegetables delivered from our local grower - The Be Wise Ranch. I have to give them so much love and props for being a source of health and happiness. Check 'em out San Diego! It's all about 'Community Supported Agriculture'.

www.bewiseranch.com/

So here's the deal: you get on the list, they drop off somewhere in your neighborhood every 2 weeks on Monday. You can opt for a large or small box. (Just a tip - small is plenty for a 4 person family) My parents and I share and we always have carrots to spare.

You get fresh fruits and vegetables - whatever is in season. Don't be that uptight picky person who wants what they want when they want it... just go with the flow. You may find yourself using epicurious.com to figure out what leek and cabbage recipes are out there. You'll be surprised!

To further promote my health and well being, I like to walk. It's downhill on the way, uphill returning. Ok, so you can imagine I've got my bags of veggies with me and I'm hauling them back up the widow-maker (as my friend, Brett, likes to call especially steep hills). No need to imagine! I provide evidence of my efforts. Voi la! Don't I look cute as a button? Some nice neighbor man took my picture. Thank you kind Sir!

Ok, so this house that I'm standing in front of planted fake flowers in their front yard. What's up with that? Who knows. We'll just let that one slide, and keep marching upward.

When you finally get home, you are handsomely rewarded with a rich assortment. A bounty! This time I had 3 packs of blackberries (OMG so good!), nectarines, yellow squash, cabbage, carrots, avocados, beets, oranges, cilantro, and that's just what I can remember off the top of my head. So enough... you know what to do - go get you some! Sarah says :o)

(Picture not taken from most recent box. Fall photo - ahh look at those persimmons. Oy!) 

Happy 4th of July!!!

Happy 4th of July to ya'll! Well everyone is in town and I mean EVERYONE. My family comes together for this special time of year to celebrate at my house with a glorioso delicioco taco fest. No... we are not a hamburgers and hot dogs family. We love the tacos, the homemade guacamole and salsa, and plenty of chicken enchiladas.... enough to make this gringo family's mouth water.

So here's the breakdown: We have my sister and her husband flying in from New York (Represent)
My mom's oldest brother and his wife and two kids from North Carolina (What What?)
And my mom's youngest sister and her husband from Oregon (Ya heard?)

We're sad this year that some of my cousins aren't able to make it, but they are here in spirit for sure - we'll eat an extra taco in their honor!

As for the firework extravaganza... we'll be headed - in true family tradition - to the Coronado golf course. The display is shot out of Glorietta Bay. One year, the barge caught on fire. All of the fireworks lit at once and the finale was so fantastic, but over all too soon ;)

Last night the family went to the Padres game. Thank goodness we won because I need some home-team pride to last me through the weekend.

Special BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUTS to: Darcy, Lindsey, and my Uncle Tom.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY and be safe :o)

I'm off to get a margarita!

Little Treasures

This weekend, I had dim sum with friends at Emerald off of Convoy. Delicious! Oh my goodness did we pork out! It's been a decade since the last time I've been to a dim sum restaurant. My first and only experience before was with my mom in San Francisco when I was checking out colleges. We had a little travel book on the city that gave recommendations on places to go and some good eats around town. We decided on a restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. The inside was as big as a football field and we were the ONLY white people in the entire place. My mom and I were directed to a table in the very center - everyone else seemed to be cozily placed along the perimeter.

When the first cart came around, the waiter asked us for the check.

What? We hadn't even ordered yet. How could they expect us to pay already? Was it buffet style my - my mom and I just looked at each other in panic.

CHECK!!!! NO CHECK!!!  He yelled to the hostess.

OMG. More attention, on the obvious minority. We thought we were going to be kicked out. Finally they came and placed a little piece of paper on our table and resumed the service.

You want this!

It was a command... not a question - to which we said yes obediently again and again until our table was covered with every possible steaming bun and vegetable known to man... except for some odd looking black snake or mushroom thing. We were so terrified of this dish that NO came our of our mouths rather naturally.

At Emerald, I was in good hands so I willingly (and happily) left the ordering to my veteran dim sum friends. Shrimp shumai, sweet pork buns, shark fin shumai, taro cake, tofu pudding, pineapple buns, shrimp dumplings, and large noodles with hoisan sauce were just a few of the delicacies that decorated our table. We left happy and our stomachs full to the brim with 'little treasures' (the literal translation of dim sum).

The Hugging Saint

Yesterday, my friend and I went to LA to see Amma (aka 'The Hugging Saint'). Amma blesses the people that she visits by giving them a hug (or darshan). Link for more info: http://www.amma.org/

I heard about her last year from a woman in my sumi-e painting class and decided to visit. Her son worked closely with Amma and lives in India at her ashram for most of the year. Before joining or even knowing the saint, he had a vision of her. He knew that if he ever found out whom this woman was, he would change his life and way of living to follow her.

Last year, I didn't see Amma. I tried. I took the train up, met an acquaintance of mine (whom I was interested in) for some dinner, and then went to the Sheratan hotel where she was touring. We discovered after getting there that the public days had come to a close. The retreat started and would last for the remainder of the week, a luxury I didn't have. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed. The night turned into a lovely date and we continued to each other for the next 6 months.

This year, I was determined. My friend and I took the train (same as last year) and grabbed a the fly-away bus to the airport. We were so excited that we couldn't wait for the shuttle to the hotel. We hopped in a cab who quickly booted us out in search of a more lucrative client. He was also trying to save us a few bucks since he knew the shuttle was free and it would be arriving any minute.

Of course, he was right, and I had to remind myself that in any spiritual endeavor... the timing will always be right... even if you perceive yourself to be running late or early. Since it had been a year, I knew I could wait a minute or two longer. The shuttle turned the corner and went right past us! My friend and I booked it down the next three blocks. I wore sweats and they were falling off!!!! My buddy wore flats and they were slipping off. We were quite the pair... waving our hands and yelling for her to stop all the while trying to keep my pants on.

Once at the hotel, we were greeted warmly with friendly faces and hundreds of people wearing all white. Wooops... black and brown - perhaps not the best choice. I didn't think Amma would discriminate since she's a conduit of unconditional love afterall. We grabbed a number - deli style (what they called it) and when the number comes up, you get in line to receive the hug. We were in group G1.

While waiting you may entertain yourself by meditating, talking with friends and fellow pilgrims, or buying different Amma wares and Indian scarves. Lunch was served in a separate meeting room. I had lentil curry, a fried eggplant thingy, and a mango lassi to wash it all down. Note: Skip lentil curry if you're prone to gas - I learned the hard way.

Amma hugs the day away. She doesn't stop! No breaks, no getting up for the bathroom, no stretching, no eating, no nothing. She hugs and hugs and hugs and hugs.

They do put fans on her and there's always a group of people standing around her moving people in and out of her embrace. When G1 came up, my friend dug her nails into my knee and squeezed. Oy! She was excited. The line moved quickly like a strange game of musical chairs that formed two rows like an imaginary bus. One person would yell out 'single' or 'double' which meant you could go in pairs if you wanted to get a simultaneous blessing.

Along the magical imaginary bus way, we felt waves of love emanating from the people and Amma herself. It was very exciting. There was a live band behind her on a raised stage playing Indian music and chanting. There were panels of orange, pink, and yellow fabric draped in wave patters. They shimmered and glowed with silver and gold sequins.

A man next to me had come to see her since 1987 - Amma's first tour in the US. He had an offering for her of a small bouquet and a mango. He asked me if I'd like to offer the mango myself. Yes ~ what a wonderful idea!

Maybe she'll eat it, he smiled.

Once at the front, a woman spoke to me: Nati langish. Nati langish.

I shook my head several times. Does that mean kneel down? What the heck is Nati Langish? I gave her my mango. Maybe it meant something to do with the offering. Here's my Nati Langish... my mango offering!

It finally dawned on me that she was asking Native Language!

English. I said sheepishly. She shook her head and rolled her eyes at me and then... I was embraced.

my daughter my daughter my daughter my daughter

Amma repeated to me. I think we were rocking, I really don't recall.
She smelt like roses and felt like a dream. Somehow I expected something intense and overwhelming. It was soft and sweet. Altogether like a grandmother holding you after you've skinned your knee.

And just like that... I was up on my feet again and feeling punch drunk. Whew! Happily I was offered a spot on the ground meditate. I'll take a moment... or two... or maybe sit here for the rest of the day.

I still felt her arms around me. Her hands touching the sides of my back, and the kiss on my cheek. They were gently burned into my skin and I couldn't shake the notion that maybe this won't hit me for a while.

Like a seed planted in fertile soil or the light from a distant star ~ her love grows and shines within each of us.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Tonight I'm cat sitting for a friend of mine: Cali, Joey, and Tommy. His place is close by to one of my favorite Indian restaurants, Bombay. Wonder if they're going to change the name to Mumbai? A tip - Order the bannana curry. It's phenominal! Oh and don't forget to splurge on some garlic naan.

Anywho... I decided just to walk there cause it's faster and parking is horrible on 6th Ave. anyways. On the way, I halted in my tracks. Literally just stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and stared at this one car. It was black Mercedes, a little worn paint, and had a very familiar dent on the passenger side of the hood.

It was my car! My old car!

I sold her last year, and I was just thinking about it this morning as I was driving down Pershing. I mimicked the way I used to shift gears and in that instant... I missed having a stick shift. There's something about the experience that makes you feel like you're REALLY DRIVING! I took a picture with my iPhone for I donno why...evidence?? Like yes, this really did happen.

It reminded me of one night when I was at Horton Plaza many years ago. I was buying clothes for a job interview... a job that I ended up getting ~ my first one out of college. In the Longs Drug Store (no I wasn't buying my clothes there, my boyfriend needed cough medicine or something) were people from an inventory company I used to work for. They were counting stock and punching in quantities on their 10-key. It took me back and yet I was in the present... ya know the twilight zone kinda?

Back to today ~ You know how you just want to reach out and tell the next person you see what just happened? Yeah you do! I chose the lovely Barista of Kona Coffee. She was great and asked if my old car saw my near car... would it be jealous? Well... I told her it was ok because they knew each other. My near car is actually my sister's and she lovingly passed it on to me when she moved to New York. The two have met several times. Her wheels are great: it has radio, the locks actually work, it's newer, sportier, and looks awesome.

All those things aside, it was so nice seeing the old gal, even if it was only for a moment. And the dude walking his dog behind me at the time had no idea... just that I was acting a bit strange for a pedestrian.