Go Slimy ― 2010/07/01
I have been waiting for summer vegetables, particularly these two, okra and mulukhiya.
Both were introduced species in this country. Okra was introduced in the 19th century from the States (I don’t know what it was called then) so in the old days, okra was called “American Slime” , but now the original name ‘okra’ is commonly used.
The mulukhiya is, on the other hand, quite new to us. Not until the 1980s did we know what it was. Actually in my childhood mulukhiya didn’t exist on our table.
By the way, have you noticed these two veggies have something in common with each other? Yes, both of them are slimy when cut or sliced.
Although my mother was keen to make her children eat okra, I didn’t like, or rather, hated okra or other slimy food when I was younger. They looked all wired to me: why can vegetables get slimy without being rotten? But as I got older, I found myself preferring the slimness of them to crispness of more ‘childish’ vegetables, such as cucumber and lettuce. In fact, it took me nearly 40 years to develop this 'mature' taste.
Apart from these two, there are more slimy summer vegetables. We say that mucilage of them is good for you. I don’t know why, though. One thing I guess is that when you lost your appetite because of muggy summer weather, something covered in slime will easily slip down your throat giving you some nutrition to survive the unbearable hot and humid weather.
Today's Catch - 2010/07/01 ― 2010/07/01
Today's Freebie - 2010/07/04 ― 2010/07/04
Today a rice cracker specialist store gave me a one-litre bottle of natural mineral water.
The shop assistant told me that they give a bottle of the water(worth about JPY210) to all customers who buy anything at the store on weekends.
By the way, let me show off a bit of knowledge about local business. The company running this store used to sell their products in local supermarkets. But since the 1980s or so, the company started opening stand-alone specialist stores nationwide.
They still sell their classic products like this (↓),
but develop new products every year (or maybe every month) so anytime I go to the store, I will find something new and attractive, and end up with loads of rice crackers that give me enormous number of calories. Very sinful, but simply irresistible...
Today's Cat ― 2010/07/05
You can't see many cats these days, because of the high discomfort index and rain, rain, rain...
Beachside Chat ― 2010/07/06
When I was walking in my usual beachside walking course in the evening, an elderly gentleman in his sixties spoke to me (this time not a police questioning).
This was not my first time to be picked up by elderly men. I am not bragging, but I seem to be quite popular with elderly gentlemen.
We had a bit of chat. And I have learnt a lot about this beach from his lecture.
Before I forgot, I am going to note what I have learnt.
● In the beginning of June, there was a suicide in this very beach. The deceased was a 41-year old woman who was likely to live around here.
● She drown herself at 9am.and her body was found half past 9, so someone living in the higher floors of the flats surrounding the beach must have witnessed the scene. But no one reported the event to the police.
● Not only this case, there have been at least one body found every year around this beach, but most of the cases haven’t been on TV or papers.
(The most terrifying story I heard tonight!)
● As long as he can remember, there was a suicide inside a beachside public toilet, and a high-school boy drowned the beach next to this.
● To help someone recover breath, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is not the best way; in exchange for saving someone’s life, you and the recipient may have to risk getting infectious diseases. Get AED (Automated External Defibrillator) available in the guardhouse, it’s a safer way for both the rescuing and rescued.
● Homeless people used to live here, but as the city council encouraged them to find somewhere to live and get welfare benefits (around JPY100, 000 plus housing allowance, according to him), they settled in and there have been fewer those people on this beach.
Today's Freebie ― 2010/07/07
A small disinfect soap which is supposed to kill fungus that causes athlete's foot.
As a lady, I wish I didn’t have to talk about this....No sooner had I settled in this town, than my feet got infected with the fungus.
I completely forgot that putting on shoes barefoot was a suicidal act in this town of humidity.
Since then, I keep trying new medicines and disinfect soaps against the infection. There seem to be strong demands in athlete’s foot market as new products with brand-new-looking concepts appear every year. Does this means there are many my fellow athlete’s footers in
Anyway, this year a local chemist recommended this spray.
JPY 2,240/15ml
Then she handed me the soap to wash my feet, showing lots of sympathy.
I think, compared to other things (except for the public transportations) you buy here, athlete’s foot remedies are extremely expensive. Don’t you think so? Do the drug companies take advantage of the athlete's foot sufferers' psychology: if possible, cure it at home without seeing a doctor?
Today's Cat ― 2010/07/08
Today's Catch ― 2010/07/08
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