new guest to oatmeal mornings

A couple of the most common questions that I get here in HK from family and friends at home are: “How is diabetes going?” and “What are you eating.” I don’t really know why this has been surprising to me, but for some reason, it is always kind of funny when someone asks me this questions.  The truth is that I feel funny because I usually only know how to answer these questions with the short version of “fine” or the long version with a thirty minute explanation.

All of this to say that one thing I can tell you is that oatmeal is definitely the most consumed breakfast in our little flat.  Mornings usually go something like this…Malorie and I wake up around the same time.  I will start boiling water to make my old fashioned oats the way that my mom always made them, and then get the coffee going.  Malorie will then come in and get out a bowl to heat up her instant oats in the microwave.  If we have any milk in the fridge, she will add milk, otherwise, she is stuck with adding water.  Sometimes Malorie will switch up her oatmeal, but usually it includes brown sugar and fruit (bananas, strawberries, etc) if she has it on hand.  Now, growing up I used to go with the reliable brown sugar and butter combo in my oatmeal, but diabetes seems to have kicked that habit.  This might sound like a weird little concoction to you, but my oatmeal includes: frozen blueberries, flaxseed meal, a little butter, two splenda packets, cinnamon, and a spot of vanilla extract.  I can just picture some of your faces going, “splenda…gross,” or “flaxseed meal? What even is that?”  However, I really enjoy my little morning meal.

I am happy to let you know that a new guest has joined our oatmeal mornings.  Her name is Beth.  She flew here all the way from TN/TX (she is in the middle of moving) to join us here for three weeks.  I really cannot even begin to tell you how thankful I am that she is here.  We have already had so much fun together, and I am so glad that we get to tote her around this city for another twenty days.  I love getting to watch her take in and react to this place.  She definitely has not gotten used to the whole lack of personal space thing.  Yesterday she was standing in line to try on a pair of jeans and she looked at me with her little “I’m mad” face and said, “I’ve got a pusher behind me.”

All this to say that Beth has been joining us in eating oatmeal most mornings.  She usually just does a little oatmeal and peanut butter combo…never seen that one before.

So there’s a little glimpse into our everyday life here in HK. Hope you enjoyed.