Cockroach Tea

So I went into this store in Chinatown in Washington, D.C. and was looking around. 

I saw this chest of draws with all sorts of herbs and insects listed. 

One draw included a label for “Cockroach”.

I asked innocently:

Do you have cockroaches in there?

The lady behind the counter responds in broken English:

Oh yes, there are roaches in there. 

Again, not understanding the relationship to the herbs for sale, I inquire:

What are the roaches used for?

The lady looks at me a little more intently and says:

It is for tea–cockroach tea!

My eyes literally bugged out and I go for a third round:

Do people drink that for health reasons?

She responds:

Yes, and it is good for managing pain. 

Hesitatingly, I asked her to take out the bag and open it so I could see for myself. 

I don’t know about you, but growing up in NYC, we definitely didn’t value cockroaches as part of our diet–in fact, we did everything we could to try and rid ourselves of these disgusting insects–but usually to no avail. 

The roaches survived everything we could throw at them!

If they are so resilient, maybe they can provide some health benefits to people (who knows–you’ve got to respect ancient alternative medicines), but I will only say this, you won’t get me anywhere near this roach tea–and not for all the tea in China!  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beautiful, Peaceful Picture For Veterans Day

Today, it’s Veterans Day. 

So I just wanted to share this beautiful, peaceful picture.

Let there be no war anymore!  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Feeling A Little Relative Deprivation

So this was a little funny-sad. 

We were taking a walk.

And we passed these two houses side by side. 

One, this tall stately-looking all brick manicured corner house.

The other, this cozy and sort of beat up little white siding house. 

The juxtaposition of these two as neighbors couldn’t have been funnier. 

Sort of like strong and determined Rocky and the nebbish that couldn’t. 

Listen, there isn’t anything objectively wrong with the little older white house.

Taken by itself, it may actually be a nice place to live–as I said, it’s sort of charming (even while the other is commanding)! 

But when you put it against the big new brick fellow, it’s just a story of relative deprivation ready to be intensely felt. 

Both have a roof over their heads…and both in the same nice neighborhood. 

Yet neighbor and neighbor–but for no reason, one ends up feeling probably a little shitty–that’s putting it in comparison, of course.  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

@DC Design House For National Children’s Hospital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This wealthy couple built this amazing mansion in Potomac, Maryland.

But sadly before they could enjoy it, the wife developed a terminal illness. 

The husband allowed the house to showcased in a design talent competition with the various rooms decorated by all different interior designers.

…And the house to be shown for charity for National Children’s Health System. 

Here are some photos from this wonderful fundraising event. 

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Tiny House Capsule

We enjoy watching Tiny House Hunters on HGTV, but this is even better!

The Ecocapsule is an awesome 88-feet of pod living. 

Haul it on a simple 4-wheel trailer and plunk it down. 

It has a solar roof and wind turbine that powers up its battery for up to 4 days.

Plus a rainwater filtration system feeds your faucets, toilet, and shower. 

There is a bed for 2 as well as a cooktop, work desk, and modest storage space. 

It’s minimalist living at it sleekest and best. 

Only $86K from Slovakia and you’re off the grid and living free.

Can’t you just see these while eggshells dotting the landscape?

When everything in the world goes to hell, these little pods could be providing sustainable living to survivors. 

All we need is some cool defense gadgets and this could work! 😉

Awesome Northeast Fall Season

Just wanted to share this awesome photo that my beautiful daughter, Michelle, took this last week. 

I love how it vividly captures the Fall colors, the falling leaves, and the changing seasons. 

The bridge seems to magically span the lush green before with the orange and tan hues of the after all under a clear light blue sky. 

The scene definitely looks like a cozy and happy time and place I want to be in. 😉

(Source Photo: Michelle Blumenthal)

2 Heads And A House

My daughter took this photo on a trip to Spain. 

In America, in front of the McMansions, it is not atypical to see interesting statues (perhaps of lions or fantasy guard creatures), ancient fountains, and even modern art.

I thought this European house was unique with some busts of a man and woman on each side of the gate to the front door. 

Wonder whether these are actually supposed to look the owners or are just randomly funny.

Also, the color match the orange house and yellow entranceway sort of perfectly.

Either way, it makes you take a 2nd and 3rd look.

Why is the man bust smiling and the woman bust looking so miserable here (or is that just representative of what most “traditional” marriages are about)?

Wouldn’t it be sort of funny if every home had busts or large photos or other representation prominently and widely displayed of the family inside. 

No more mystery of who lives there and more warmth and personalization. 

When you sell/buy property, you just have to take all of yourselves with you. 😉

(Note: no idol worship please.)

(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)

Learning To Compromise

My wife and I decided after living in the same condo for the last 15 years that maybe it was time for a change. 

There is a great area that we hang out in with workout, grocery, pharmacy, and–most importantly to my wife–Starbucks–all right there.

So my wife made an appointment for us to look at this rental right above all the action….

The apartment was nice, modern, and best of all in this vibrant neighborhood–but on the smallish side (we would definitely be cramped) and with a substantial monthly. 

My wife, the perennial city dweller, loved it, and I didn’t.

Next, my turn up, we went with a real estate broker to see a charm of a house–this was the one we’d “been waiting for,” all these years. 

Solid, roomy, castle-like…but it would have some ongoing house maintenance things and was a little distance from public transportation (i.e. we’d mostly have to drive). 

This time, my wife hated it, and I loved it.

Back and forth–argue and debate–getting no where (this is a very egalitarian relationship–my wife tells me what to do!) 🙂

Thinking about this, I say “Okay, let’s compromise”–let’s look for a more upscale and roomy condo that we can make our own but in the neighborhood she really likes (and yeah, I like it too). 

1-2-3, with a little searching, we find something online we like, and back to the real estate broker to make an appointment. 

This story is not over in terms of where (or if) we are going to move to, but along the way we continue to learn as a couple to get along, love each other, and of course, compromise. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)