Fun stuff... FO' FREE!

If you are expecting financial advice, you might rather visit Bill Gates blog. BUT! If you would like to find out 5 of our favorite dates that cost (almost) nothing... then read on, my friends, read on.

5. Take a Walk
Okay, I understand this sounds boring. Fine, you can exchange this with biking. Or fruitbootin' (Ryan would like it to be noted that he resents that fact I refer to Rollerblading as fruitbootin'). Or running, if you're that ambitious.
We are simple. We love, love, love to walk around together. Just walk and talk. if you haven't noticed, this world is absolutely beautiful. Before Ryan stopped me from my mile-a-minute life-speed, I never took the time to notice the little things- the way the sun hits the buildings at dusk, how people watching can be the most interesting way to spend a day, that slowing down to enjoy a meal at the table is much more satisfying than eating a bowl of oatmeal while walking to class. So take a walk.

4. Picnic
Okay, so its not totally free, but we assume you eat sometime, right? Packing up the picnic cooler is half the fun! Spend a little time in the kitchen making sandwiches, potato or macaroni salad or a nice, green salad. Bring a blanket, a frisbee, basketball or soccer ball and head to a park, or even your own yard! People make the mistake of thinking you have to leave the house to have fun. Which leads me to my next favorite thing to do...

3. Stargaze
Points if you can get out of a metropolis, but seriously, stargazing is so amazing. All it takes is a couple big blankets and a watchful eye. You have a lawn, so use it! Or go to a close park.. you can walk there ;) Keep track of who can see the most shooting stars! (Ryan ALWAYS win this game).


2. Rent a movie (from the Library!)
Most people don't know their their stuffy old local library actually might offer a large selections of DVDs to checkout. Pretty cool. If they don't you can get a Red Box DVD for 99 cents at a local grocery store. Movies are fun because its totally relaxing and you can discuss what you liked/didn't like afterwards :)

1. Free concert in the park!
Most cities offer a "free concert in the park" during the summer. By now, you guys probably know how obsessed we are with music... and especially concerts. Look it up on your local city website and see what you can find! Or take a drive to get to one. Even if you haven't heard of them before, check them out! There are so many great unknown bands out there. And you never know, they could end up being the next big thing! (Ryan recommends San Jose's Music in the Park)

We sincerely hope you are enjoying summer and will stop by to leave us your favorite free date ideas! We love hearing from you :)

My love don't cost a thing,
My & Ry

There's something in every atheist, itching to believe, and something in every believer, itching to doubt.

Consistency is key.
... rendering the door to our successful blogging career still locked. For some reason, whether it be distance or writer's block, we can not keep consistent with our posts. For this, we are very very sorry.

So we decided to write about one of the three things you are never supposed to bring up in polite conversation!
RELIGION!!
M: So, Ry, I'll just come right and and ask it. What do you believe in?
R:I don't exactly know what I believe... Uh, is hockey a religion?
M:Yes! Totally. Religion is what ever you believe in. Hockey is definitely your religion. Heaven being...
R:The Stanley Cup. Its called Lord Stanley's cup, anyways. Proof, hockey is god. Actually, that makes Wayne Gretzky god.
M:When is church?
R:Church happens about every other night during fall and winter. A lot of Randy and Drew (the announcers) because they are the preachers.
M:What are Drew and Randy preaching?
R:They just preach a lot about the rules of hockey, like when you don't understand something they explain. You can go to them for guidance.


M: What has your religion taught you? What's the morality of hockey?
R: Wow. Heartbreak. You get disappointed a lot of the time, but there is that one chance, that ultimate experience. I think Hockey is the same as the morality of life: the golden rule. If you punch a guy in the face, expect him to punch you back. Hockey to me is about not retaliating though. Leave him with the penalty.
M :So right. Be the bigger man.
R: Exactly.
M: What is hell to you, bub?
R: If the Sharks don't win the Stanley Cup during my life, do you know how disappointed I will be? I imagine that is what hell would be like. I couldn't imagine anything worse. An icy, cold afterlife.
M: See? Some people envision burning in flames for all of eternity. Being shut out of a Stanley Cup win is your hell. Except its cold. And the devil drives a Zamboni. Everyone who has a religion practices differently, whether you are a Christian or an Agnostic Theist (Woot Woot!).
R: What I believe in sweetie? Country Music? The good old south?
M: Are you saying that because I sing with a country accent?
R: Kind of.
M: I change what I believe in everyday. My imagination is too big to be an atheist. Why choose to believe in the infinite nothingness when I can believe in, literally, a million other things. Most days, I long to be Jewish. I would like to have a huge family Shabbat dinner every Friday. I am a closet Jewish nerd.

R:No you don't. Okay yes you do, but don't you believe in other things? Right?
M:Yes, you're right. I classify myself with a small sect of people who believe in Agnostic Theism. In a nutshell: An agnostic theist is one who believes that knowledge of god(s) is not possible but chooses to believe there is a higher being anyways. I like to believe, relying solely on faith, that there is a god. But, per agnosticism which is rooted in knowledge, know that this god or Gods or GOD or gOdS is inherently unknowable.
R:What does that make for your morality then if you don't follow hockey's rules... or the Bible?
M: My morality is to believe in the intellectual. Use your human instinct to do good. I love helping people, and it may be my nature or it may be my religion. No "god" is breathing down my neck or threatening entire damnation if I make a mistake. I am just trying to be the absolute best person I can and hopefully I will reincarnate as a lazy, fat cat. That is my ultimate goal.

R: Um... what is an agnostic?
M: I believe that no one can prove there is a god. Ever. And if you were able to prove there was a god, than it would destroy the whole purpose of faith, wouldn't it? Thats kind of my take on agnosticism. I have faith in the notion that there are dieties that watch the world from a sofa far away some where. And I also have a little buddhism mixed in. Re: my note about the Golden Key to Happiness on Facebook.
R: You've been having good Karma this week.
M: Yeah, its been so crazy! When we were driving to that memorial I so badly wanted not to go to! And we got every red light on the way. And a train stopped us too. And then, at Chinese food, all three of our fortune cookies had the number 39 on it.
R: And I predicted that Logan Couture, Shark player who wears number 39, would have a great year. And the next day, he had a front page article on the website about how he is going to have a breakout year!
M: That was intense and crazy. That means more Chinese food for us!
R: Great...

And we will continue to discuss what region means to us. And that is good. Religion shouldn't be something you have to argue about, especially with someone you love. Luckily we understand that religion is personal, and is literally different for everyone. Sometimes people forget that. So, enjoy anything, nothing and everything you believe in. Leave feedback and comments, if you're so inclined. We would love to hear how you practice (or don't practice) your religion!

See you on the otherside,
Ry and My

Food for thought...

No, we're actually not talking about anything thought-provoking... we are talking about our hands down, FAVORITE thing in the whole wide universe.

FOOD.

Glorious, glorious food.
We love to buy it, make it, cook it, eat it, play with it, and enjoy it.

R: There are three things I love in the world. Food, Sharks hockey, and Mayan. Or food, Mayan and... food.
M: Clearly we love food. I think we started cooking together when we first started dating.
R: The first thing we cooked together was probably our world-famous sausamashajewcchini. Its Italian, you know.
M: Wow. That was impressive. But its true, our sausage, mushroom, zucchini dish is pretty delicious. Recipe time!

SAUSAMASHAJEWCCHINI.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

We like to buy our produce at Trader Joe's because its pretty fresh and not very expensive.
For a dinner for two (mind you this is Ryan's appetite, so its actually dinner for 13) you will need:
One package of zucchini (4-5 zucchinis)
One carton of white button mushrooms
One package of Chicken sausages (We've used Chicken apple, sun-dried tomato, portobello mushroom- they all taste great)
1/2 onion
Spices: 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Olive Oil

1. Slice the mushroom, zucchini and sausage into 1/2 inch slices (keeping the meat and vegetables separate because, remember, this is JEWcchini, and we're keeping it Kosher) (just kidding because to keep kosher we would need a rabbi... so... anyways), and dice the onion.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat, also start a small skillet on medium
2. Oil the large skillet and, when hot, add the zucchini.
3. Let the zucchini get a head start of about 3-4 minutes and then add the mushrooms and onions.
4. Add your seasonings to taste. Don't add too much. Seriously.
5. While this is cooking, add your sausage to the small skillet to sizzle. Ryan loves when it sizzles. We are simple people.
6. When the sausage has taken on a nice brown color, with lots of crispy-ness, add it to the veggies.
7. Saute the rest for another 5 minutes, or when the veggies are done.

YOU NOW HAVE PREPARED YOURSELF A DELICIOUS DINNER THAT YOU CAN ENJOY WITH YOUR LOVED ONE.
(OR BY YOURSELF, WHICH EVER IS CONVENIENT TO YOU AT THE TIME THIS DINNER IS PREPARED)
Ryan enjoys his as a filing to a sandwich, but i just pile it onto my plate and stuff myself with the deliciousness.

We enjoyed writing this recipe for you!
R: I would like to add that it goes well with garlic potatoes, or pasta.
M; Indeed, Indeed. I think we should share a recipe every week.
R: Or eat it in a nice panini. It would then be called SAUSAMASHAJEWCCHINPANINI.
M: Wow. We're done now.
R: Okay.

Sorry we didn't blog for so long! We promise to make it to you by posting glorious recipes all the time now!!!!!!!!!!

M: How should we sign out?
R: I AM THE SAUSAMASHAJEWCHINNI MAN.
M: Sigh.

Sincerely,
Ryan and Mayan