Barley Tea

It is called "Mugicha" in Japan, "Boricha" in Korea, it is simply roasted barley tea and it's one of the most wonderful things to have on cold dreary days like today.

It is caffeine-free. My google search also tells me that it is a very nutritious cooling drink that helps bring down fever; useful for those suffering from bronchitis and asthma; may help improve blood sugar level; help in reducing bad cholesterol levels; help facilitate proper digestion; may help in cleansing the body of toxins and is believed to be good in relieving early symptoms of colds.

A scoop of roasted barley in a 2-liter pitcher of hot water. Let it steep for about an hour (I like to make it before I go to bed and let it steep overnight), reheat (although it is also wonderful cold in the summers), add a bit of honey or sugar to sweeten it and ... ahhh -- all is right in the world.

Say what?

I got a baked potato bag for Christmas with the following instructions:

Wash and dry potatoes [about the potato].

Wrap potatoes in a paper towel [about the potato].

DO NOT PIERCE SKIN! [about the potato]

Place potatoes in bag and the microwave [about the potato], as usual, according to manufacturer's directions until done. [According to manufacturer of what? The potato? "God, please direct me as to this potato."]

They laughed at me when I asked aloud, but I think something was lost in the instructions ...

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Christmas Fun 2010

Gingerbread houses at the Grand America Hotel:

(This one made me smile -- cookie kids making snow angels ... too cute!)


Lights at Temple Square:





Merry Christmas!
Mele Kalikimaka!
Selamat Hari Natal!

Childhood Cartoon Characters

Making the rounds on facebook this past week was a request to change profile pictures to a cartoon character from your childhood, with the goal of increasing awareness in the fight against child abuse. I changed mine to the earliest cartoon character I can recall, Bobo, the blue bunny with green hair from a children's magazine I grew up reading in Indonesia.

Imagine my surprise yesterday when I saw a facebook friend's posting saying that she had heard that the people who had started this campaign are actually a group of pedophiles (which claim isn't supported in any way -- even by the article she posted on her page). Another friend, Dave, posted a comment in response to this that hit the nail right on the head, "If your kids are accepting friend requests from strangers just because they have cartoon profile pics, then you've got some teaching to do." AMEN! Some people are just total buzz killers.

In the mean time, I am really enjoying the stroll down memory lane and seeing the different cartoon characters from the 70's and 80's.