Category: China

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feels more like the year of the cheetah

is this year going by quickly?

Various ‘Old’ people once told me that time passed a lot faster as they aged.  And finally, one day they woke up surprised to seeing an old person looking back at them in the mirror. I never thought of this as particularly comforting. My ‘belief’ was that age was a state of mind, and I still think it is… for the most part. And although I do admit that  one year does seem to fold into the next rather seamlessly , I  think there is a sensible reason for this. Most people enjoy the predictability of life when it comes on our terms and we find comfort in the routine. When life is routine and predictable , time passes quickly and hopefully more happily for each of us.

So many of my routines have always centered around food, oddly enough. So much so, that my daughter Karen after reflecting on my life exclaimed with astonishment that I was a ‘foodie.’  It’s fun when one can still astonish any member of the family. I have adopted a new comforting routine of a Sunday midday meal consisting of a  Spanish Tortilla that always seems to bring a smile. When one smiles, time does often feel like it passes faster and leaves us a bit happier.

Nothing brings family together better than a good occasion with great food (l to r) Laura Freberg, Leroy Sievers and Loraine Sievers (1980)
Nothing brings family together like a great occasion and good food! Left Photo (l to r) Laura Freberg, Leroy Sievers and Loraine Sievers (1980) Right photo: Kristin

So, find the routines — and food — you like and enjoy the journey and smile a bit more. This just may make you happier.

Roger

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Madame Wu and the art of chinese cooking

Madame Wu's Cookbook -- buy it if you can find it!
Madame Wu's Cookbook -- buy it if you can find it!

Whenever Laura and I could save enough, we would make the journey to Madame Wu’s for a very special dinner. Considering dinner for us struggling students meant coming up with a weeks pay for dinner for two, we valued the times we were able to come and dine.

I have wanted a copy of Madame Wu’s cookbook for quite some time, but I have had a bit of a wait. Her cookbook I love was printed in 1973 ( the year after Laura and I were married) and her recipes are simple, yet wonderful. Her specialty at the time was Wu’s Beef, one of my many favorites. She speaks — as some of us sometimes do — that the culinary world is as important to a culture as art and science… and I agree.

“The first condition on learning how to eat is how to talk about it. Only in a society wherein people of culture and refinement inquire after a cook’s health, instead of talking about the weather, can the art of cuisine be developed. No food is really enjoyed unless it is keenly anticipated, discussed, eaten and then commented on….. as the poets of yore praised good Chinese food, so will you!”

I hope Laura doesn’t find the recipe for “Cashew Shrimp” or I’ll never get her out of the kitchen. In the meantime, I plan to prepare and enjoy every recipe in her lovely and simple book.

Roger

PS. Madame Wu has returned to Los Angeles near their farmer’s market under the name MADAME WU’S ASIAN BISTRO & SUSHI. It won’t take a week’s salary anymore as it is most affordable… and I hope to try it the next time we’re in town.

(323) 965-8150

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So, who’s stirring up the world’s violence?

Cal poly and Saudi Arabia

It’s hard to pick up today’s newspaper and not find some trouble spot and various trouble makers stirring things up around the world.

We hear problems are happening in some far off place Called Georgia and in Western China… and we wonder what is going on?

Of course, there are the typically disturbing news from the middle east and the saber rattling of Iran and Syria trying to shake the world with their sparks and magic.

But, I have to ask: what connects all of these folks together?

Russia just sent more troops into an area that has been ‘having problems with violence’ called North Ossetia (Georgia) and China has been dealing with basic assassinations in the Western provence with the Uighur … ah… these are areas with a high muslim population.

The strange thing is all the protests from the West… read on. 

If you run along the CIA web sites that cover these areas you get a better picture. The so-called ‘break away province’ of Georgia that linked back with Russia is Christian… the other part of Georgia… is not… it is Islamic.

Oh yes, I am sure that there are some really good muslims in the world… but everywhere you look there seems to be issues involving people who just happen to be muslims. However, we are not supposed to speak of it…. especially, ‘he-who-shall-not-be-named.’

Now why is Cal Poly doing deals with Saudi Arabia?

Roger Freberg

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2008 Olympic Games & Beijing!

Karen (Kailin) and Kristin found a lot of fun things to do in Beijing!

Earlier this summer, Kristin and Karen went to Beijing…. part business but all fun!

Kristin loved playing the tourist! Here she is with one of her Mulan friends!
I found that both their mother and I enjoyed listening to the experience and the occasional phone call while they were in China.

Here are a few links to their fun times:

Day 1
forbidden city
( Gu Gong )

Day 2
Great Wall
Ming tombs

Day 3 & 4
my Presentation!
Vietnamese Dining
Temple of Heaven

Day 5
 Beijing Capital Museum

Day 6
 Peking Duck!

The Olympics starts on Friday! Good Luck to everyone!

Roger Freberg