Numb

Today, I went to the dentist to get a filling done on my molars. I dread going to the dentist. Who doesn't, right? The last time I got a filling job was probably ten years ago and so I was dreadfully anticipating this large needle sticking into my gums to make me numb. But I was pleasantly surprised.
They used some high-tech gadjet that goes beep, beep, beeeeeeep with just a little pressure (and slight pain) on the gums. Then, no feeling. Zilch.
All I hear is a rototiller, a chainsaw and I had a picture of a Black and Decker drill making its way into my numb gums. Not so fun.
Still, it wasn't so bad. Kudos to technology in the 20th century!
But I sure am going to brush and floss my teeth everyday now.

Crave Ye Not!

So the Lent season has started. What should I give up this year? Hmm..
Maybe I should just give up jalapeno, wasabi and ketchup :)
Or I can just try and be nicer to the cat. Trust me, that is a difficult task and takes plenty of heartfelt sacrifice.

I always feel hungrier during Lent and sometimes, I get these insane cravings for foods that I don't usually like or that I just don't normally care for. Yesterday, I wanted an avocado so badly. Today, it's scallions. Seriously, scallions of all things!!

Now I am baking some banana muffins. I have never made banana muffins. I have no idea how it'll turn out. I think I already made a mistake because I thought baking soda and baking powder are the same thing. So, who would like to try one of my bitter muffins?

Kong Hee Fatt Choy!

Not wanting to be left out from the Chinese New Year celebrations, we put in some effort to celebrate in our own little way.

Mom-in-law decorated her kitchen with a tray of mandarin oranges (and other fruits to add color), a pomelo, a miniature lion dance head, a book, some cherry blossoms and Ang Pows.

We gave the nephews their Ang Pows

Dumplings, lemongrass rice + spicy meatball spinach soup. (The cherry blossoms are not edible)
Notice that we are using chopsticks. The chopsticks only make an appearance on rare special occasions.

We hung lanterns in the living room

And we'll go to Tin Tin Buffet for dinner tonight.

Welcome the Pig!

Today is the eve of Chinese New Year. This is the year of the pig/boar/babi. Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Those born in pig years tend to have excellent manners, make and keep friends, work very hard, and appreciate luxury.
If you are born in the year of the pig, tell me if that's true.

I can imagine my family back home sitting around the dining table having their family reunion dinner right now. Grandma will cook her specialty pork chops, long-life noodles, maybe some curry , fish , Fatt Choy and some other goodies. After dinner, the cousins start playing firecrackers outside while the older ones play poker indoors.

On Chinese New Year's day itself, my mom will make me wear something red and we are not allowed to wash our hair or sweep the floor because it would mean we are washing or sweeping away our good fortune for the New Year. I've always wondered why shouldn't it be sweeping away our bad luck from the previous year instead. Anyways, lets not argue with ancient wisdom. I don't like sweeping floors anyway.
The non-married children (does not matter how old you are) will receive Ang Pows (red packets filled with money) from Grandma and the married couples. Now you probably know why I married at such an old age. I used to be richer at every Chinese New Year because I had lots of generous aunts and uncles :) Parents do still give Ang Pows to their children irregardless if they are married or not.
At this point, the women usually play Mah Jong and we kids will hang around and eat cookies all day. The variety of cookies and CNY snacks sitting around the house will make you salivate all day. So we eat, and eat and eat.
Sometimes, the neighbors will invite a Lion Dance troup and we would stand on the streets to watch. It is a symbolic ritual to usher in the Lunar New Year as well as to evict bad spirits from the premises.
Then dinner... another big meal of the day. Eat again.

On the second day of Chinese New Year, we would visit with my mom's side of the family to say our wishes (and collect more Ang Pows and eat more cookies). Each family will usually exchange gifts in the form of oranges, cookies and sweets. And we will have another big dinner and eat Yu Sang (People get together to toss the colorful salad and make wishes for continued wealth and prosperity)

Chinese New Year lasts for fifteen days. Most people take a long vacation and some offices will close for the whole week.

I will close my eyes and imagine I am back home now. Oink!

Happy V-Day!!

I know this is probably one of the most overrated days of the year. Every store is trying to sell you some cheesy pink and red heart-shaped stuff. Every restaurant will come up with some fancy menu and make you pay double the price.
Still, it is Valentine's Day, and it is a day to remind us of all who are special in our lives, of being loved and to love.

Husband brought home a box of 8 sake nigiri for lunch. Now, that's love. Nothing pleases his wife more than raw salmon! No need no fancy dinner.

This morning, I left a little handmade giftbag of 4 Atkins snack bars and a handmade card on the driver's seat of Jason's truck, hoping to surprise him and that he will not sit on it.

Tonight I will cook dinner.

And while everyone is out dining, we will go grocery shopping, and watch Beauty and the Geek.

These are the cookies husband brought home from work .His boss makes really good cookies!

This beautiful day ended with me stepping on cat puke. Nice.
And, this is what I wish I could do to the cat

Death, Fires(not) and infertility.

Fio and I decided to go watch a movie. We initially planned to watch a chick flick but changed our minds and watched Children of Men instead. We bought tickets and went over to Target to waste some time. Suddenly, we heard a lady exclaiming.."Anna Nicole Smith is dead!!" We were like "huh?" Jason later sent me an sms confirming her death.

As we were going towards the cinema, we saw a blinking police car and a crowd outside the cinema. Then as we were approaching, two firetrucks drove up and firemen rushed inside the cinema. We were like "Now what.." Turns out it was a false alarm and everyone went back inside again.

The movie? hmmm... very different from my expectations. It was a very different kind of sci-fi movie (atleast that's what I think so anyway). The whole movie was rather depressing, gloomy and grey... and very documentary-like. Blood on the camera lens and all. It wasn't a bad movie. Just dark and grim but engaging.

We then met Jason for dinner at Firebirds.

I think I need to watch a chick flick now.

Malaysia comes to us!

Fiona arrived late last night. Today, I took her to do some shopping and had lunch at Fontanellas. Then we picked Jason up from work and headed on to the in-law's place for dinner where Fio got to meet everybody. The nephews were all over her and didn't want her to leave. Very cute.

It's so great to be able to catch up and have a friend to hang out with! I don't want her to leave too!

Bowled over bananas

Had a little Superbowl party over at my in-law's with the family yesterday. We fried some wantons and chicken wings and brought it over. We also made some extras and a quiche for our neighbors, RC & Betty.
Superbowl parties is a time when we gather infront of the TV and just eat all afternoon and evening, and cheer your favorite football team on. We started off with chips, celery, carrots and guacomole dips and the wantons. Then we brought out the fried chicken wings. And then it was chilli and some spicy meatball spinach soup. And then the best part... dessert!! The chocolate fondue! Never guessed that banana dipped in melted chocolate beats marshmallows anytime!!
I, ofcourse, spent most part of the evening eating and watching the commercials on TV. The Budweiser ads are just too funny.

Let it Snow!! Let it Snow!! Let it Snow!!

This is what I've been waiting for! A giant snowball fight!!

Ok, so the snowman is as tall me.