It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that there has been a sudden death in our family.
Jerry has been a part of our family for 3 years now. We adopted him when his original family gave him up. There were just too many siblings for them to take care of. He was the most energetic one so they gave up on him.
Once in our family though, Jerry's energy was viewed only as him having an unlimited curiosity and a thirst for exploring his surroundings. We saw him as a boundless happy youngster and he never failed to put a smile on our faces when we saw his bright eyes sparkle with joy. He was always neat and clean, and for the most part, quiet as a mouse.
Jerry loved taking naps during the daytime but unfortunately, that only translated to awake time during the evening hours. Allison sometimes said that Jerry kept making noises and running around at night. He didn't sleep near our room so I didn't notice the ruckus. Although he loved daytime napping, Jerry was never nasty when you woke him up to play. He would often sit with Allison on her desk when she did homework.
Jerry lived a full life of 3 years with us. As you can probably guess now, Jerry is not a person but a gerbil. We still consider him as part of our family.
There is only one thing left to do now. WHO WILL DISPOSE OF JERRY???
Allison? ......She claims that she is too heartbroken to even look at his cage. Hmmmm. Really, now.
Harrison?........ He claims that it's really not technically HIS pet and most of the time, Allison doesn't even let him play with Jerry, so why does he have to do the deed? I see his point.
Mother? Are you serious? Why do I have to be stuck being the one to search out a small cardboard box, fill it with fluffy tissue, position the deceased rodent so it looks like he's in eternal rest, and place a tissue on him like a blankie? Do I have to go out by myself to the yard to dig a deep enough hole to place said rodent in so racoons or neighborhood cats don't dig him up and have a meal? Can't imagine Jerry parts spread all over my front lawn. And besides, I've already packed away one of Harrison's previous hamsters. The other one was never found in the house. Makes me wonder sometimes...
I was tapping away on my blog when Allison came up to me.
She said brightly, "I got someone to do it for me."
"Who?" I asked. There was only 2 people she could've finagled to do it for her. Harrison, by bribery, or.....
"Baba." We both said at the same time.
Hmmmm. As I recall, I did hear her dialing the phone a few moments ago.
Somehow, dead rodent duty is always delegated to the dads. You want to be the man of the house? You want to be king of the castle? You want to be head of the household? Well, there are just some things you need to do then. And being pet mortician and grave digger is one of them. Good luck, and remember to sanitize your hands before you come back in for dinner. And when you sit down for dinner, your family will look at you with adoring misty eyes and acknowledge that once again, Daddy pulls through for the family.
RIP, Jerry. <sniff, sniff> There will never be another.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Do You Love Your Dog?
Here is the latest article I wrote for Japanese newspaper. I write a monthly column for 2 Japanese newspapers. My hygienist translates them for me to Japanese. This is dedicated for all my friends who have dogs and love their dogs!
February was National Pet Dental Health Month. We all love our dogs and their wet, sloppy kisses, but honestly, sometimes their breath is enough to knock over an elephant!
About 80% of all dogs have some type of gum disease by age 3 and smaller dogs tend to be more prone to this than bigger dogs. Taking your dog to the vet to have their teeth cleaned may involve putting them to sleep and in addition to being pricey, can have serious consequences for certain dogs. If your dog is not healthy, or if your dog is very small, or if your dog has had bad reactions to the drugs, it may be inappropriate or even dangerous for your dog to be put to sleep for a simple teeth cleaning. It's easier and less expensive to keep dental problems even before they even start. Here are 6 tips for keeping your dog's breath from knocking you over every time they greet you in the morning with doggie lick and a "Hhh-hhh-hhh-how are you!"
Tooth Brushing: You can find doggie toothbrushes and doggie toothpaste in most pet supplies stores. The doggie toothpaste doesn't contain fluoride and is usually meat flavored as it is a flavor appealing to most dogs. The younger you start with your dog, the better they will cooperate.
Crunchy Foods: Most dogs will prefer moist dog food or human foods over boring dry crunchy dog food but the dry kibble will not stick to your dog's teeth as much. The crunching and scrapping will tend to clean the plaque of your dog's teeth as well.
Healthy Treats: Like with people, eating healthy treats such as fresh apples or raw carrots will clean your dog's teeth. Commercial dental treats for dogs will also work to help prevent future dental problems. "Greenies" are a big brand marketed towards preventing doggie bad breath.
Dental Rinses: While it may be hard to teach your dog to gargle with mouthwash, there are dental rinses to squirt in their mouths, add to their water or wipe onto their teeth.
Avoid Very Hard Chew Toys: Some dogs really love to gnaw hard bones or toys as this is a natural behavior for dogs but dogs can break their teeth chewing on very hard things.
Good Dental Toys: There are many good dental dog toys available on the market. Dog toys that have ropes will actually clean or floss their teeth. Puzzle toys may also have bumps or nubs on them that help clean your dog's teeth as they are gnawing on them to get the treat inside.
My own dog is a 4 lb Pomeranian who thinks she is a 90 lb Chow Chow. When I got her, the owner told me that Poms are prone to gum disease. "Not to worry," I thought, "I'm a dentist, I can take care of that!" The next day, I went to the pet store and bought a doggie toothbrush and tube of doggie toothpaste. I set her on the closed toilet seat and put some toothpaste on the toothbrush. She eyed me suspiciously as I approached her. She sniffed the toothpaste with interest. I opened her mouth but even before I could get the toothbrush in, she exploded in an angry ball of fur and teeth. Thank goodness I've learned to become quick at avoiding teeth closing down on my fingers but I almost lost an arm! After I caught my breath and gave her an angry stare, I approached her again. One must never give up, they say. I showed her the toothbrush and she lifted her lips to show me her teeth. Now that I have a good look at her teeth from a distance, I could clearly see that her teeth are fine the way they are. We came to a joint decision that she'll keep her teeth the way they are and I'll keep my digits. I'll stick with the top 5 list as mentioned above, (...,minus the teeth brushing tip!)
Five years later, she loves raw carrots, apples, and "Greenie" dental treats. When I ask her, "Do you want a Greenie?" she'll do all her tricks in rapid succession in anticipation of gettting the treat. I still have my fingers and the doggie toothbrush has long been retired and is now being used to clean around the faucets in my bathroom.
February was National Pet Dental Health Month. We all love our dogs and their wet, sloppy kisses, but honestly, sometimes their breath is enough to knock over an elephant!
About 80% of all dogs have some type of gum disease by age 3 and smaller dogs tend to be more prone to this than bigger dogs. Taking your dog to the vet to have their teeth cleaned may involve putting them to sleep and in addition to being pricey, can have serious consequences for certain dogs. If your dog is not healthy, or if your dog is very small, or if your dog has had bad reactions to the drugs, it may be inappropriate or even dangerous for your dog to be put to sleep for a simple teeth cleaning. It's easier and less expensive to keep dental problems even before they even start. Here are 6 tips for keeping your dog's breath from knocking you over every time they greet you in the morning with doggie lick and a "Hhh-hhh-hhh-how are you!"
Tooth Brushing: You can find doggie toothbrushes and doggie toothpaste in most pet supplies stores. The doggie toothpaste doesn't contain fluoride and is usually meat flavored as it is a flavor appealing to most dogs. The younger you start with your dog, the better they will cooperate.
Crunchy Foods: Most dogs will prefer moist dog food or human foods over boring dry crunchy dog food but the dry kibble will not stick to your dog's teeth as much. The crunching and scrapping will tend to clean the plaque of your dog's teeth as well.
Healthy Treats: Like with people, eating healthy treats such as fresh apples or raw carrots will clean your dog's teeth. Commercial dental treats for dogs will also work to help prevent future dental problems. "Greenies" are a big brand marketed towards preventing doggie bad breath.
Dental Rinses: While it may be hard to teach your dog to gargle with mouthwash, there are dental rinses to squirt in their mouths, add to their water or wipe onto their teeth.
Avoid Very Hard Chew Toys: Some dogs really love to gnaw hard bones or toys as this is a natural behavior for dogs but dogs can break their teeth chewing on very hard things.
Good Dental Toys: There are many good dental dog toys available on the market. Dog toys that have ropes will actually clean or floss their teeth. Puzzle toys may also have bumps or nubs on them that help clean your dog's teeth as they are gnawing on them to get the treat inside.
My own dog is a 4 lb Pomeranian who thinks she is a 90 lb Chow Chow. When I got her, the owner told me that Poms are prone to gum disease. "Not to worry," I thought, "I'm a dentist, I can take care of that!" The next day, I went to the pet store and bought a doggie toothbrush and tube of doggie toothpaste. I set her on the closed toilet seat and put some toothpaste on the toothbrush. She eyed me suspiciously as I approached her. She sniffed the toothpaste with interest. I opened her mouth but even before I could get the toothbrush in, she exploded in an angry ball of fur and teeth. Thank goodness I've learned to become quick at avoiding teeth closing down on my fingers but I almost lost an arm! After I caught my breath and gave her an angry stare, I approached her again. One must never give up, they say. I showed her the toothbrush and she lifted her lips to show me her teeth. Now that I have a good look at her teeth from a distance, I could clearly see that her teeth are fine the way they are. We came to a joint decision that she'll keep her teeth the way they are and I'll keep my digits. I'll stick with the top 5 list as mentioned above, (...,minus the teeth brushing tip!)
Five years later, she loves raw carrots, apples, and "Greenie" dental treats. When I ask her, "Do you want a Greenie?" she'll do all her tricks in rapid succession in anticipation of gettting the treat. I still have my fingers and the doggie toothbrush has long been retired and is now being used to clean around the faucets in my bathroom.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Put On Some Kalon to Impress My G Friend
I was checking on the status of my Cozi Calendar when I came across this entry for Valentine's Day.....
"Put on some kalon to impress my g friend"
This was entered as an "All Day" event to be done on Feb 14th by my 11 year old son.
I almost had a cross between a heart attack and a laughing fit!
Mind you, he's barely 11....
Wasn't it just last year that he was up late writing Valentine's Day cards for his whole class so that no one would be left out? since when does his Valentine's Day attention get singled out to one specific female person??
Just yesterday, he gave me a paper plate project that was made in school for Valentine's Day.
On it, he taped his computer class project that said, "Happy Valentine's Day Mommy! I love you! I love you because now you cook as well as Grandma but you don't get the recipes from the TV like her, you learned it from Cooking Mama on the Wii. Love your one and only son, xoxoxoxoxoxo times 1000000000000!"
Doesn't it kinda boil down to what matters to an 11 year old boy? where and when is their next meal coming from and their excitement for life is always to the nth degree.
But back to this g-friend business...... G friend??!! What G friend?!?!?!
I discreetly ask him, "So.... what are you doing for Valentine's Day tomorrow?"
"I don't know, I don't have a girlfriend anymore," he said sadly.
I was relieved and curious at the same time. "What happened?" I asked.
"She likes someone else now." Poor thing, heartbreak can be tough! *me, sighing with relief!*
I put my arms around his small shoulders. "Don't worry, girls can be like that sometimes."
"OK, Mommy. But that's just not very nice of her though." (Live and learn, son, live and learn!)
I was tapping away on my computer later when he came up to me, hugged me and said brightly, "Happy Valentine's Day, Mommy! You're the best, I love you!" He handed me a stretchy bracelet with bright pink beads that spell out "M-O-M" and with hearts.
Future girlfriends, let me tell you, this stretchy bracelet will always be more precious than any piece of jewelry from Tiffany's or any dozen long-stemmed roses!
Until the time he has a "real" girlfriend, I will cherish his homemade cards from school. Future girlfriends will get fancy Hallmark cards with mushy sentimental poems that are already printed on the inside but I will get his unabashed unfettered love affirmations surrounded by painted macaroni and paper lace doilies.
On the other hand.... I will be sniffing him tomorrow when I give him a hug as he leaves for school......
"Put on some kalon to impress my g friend"
This was entered as an "All Day" event to be done on Feb 14th by my 11 year old son.
I almost had a cross between a heart attack and a laughing fit!
Mind you, he's barely 11....
Wasn't it just last year that he was up late writing Valentine's Day cards for his whole class so that no one would be left out? since when does his Valentine's Day attention get singled out to one specific female person??
Just yesterday, he gave me a paper plate project that was made in school for Valentine's Day.
On it, he taped his computer class project that said, "Happy Valentine's Day Mommy! I love you! I love you because now you cook as well as Grandma but you don't get the recipes from the TV like her, you learned it from Cooking Mama on the Wii. Love your one and only son, xoxoxoxoxoxo times 1000000000000!"
Doesn't it kinda boil down to what matters to an 11 year old boy? where and when is their next meal coming from and their excitement for life is always to the nth degree.
But back to this g-friend business...... G friend??!! What G friend?!?!?!
I discreetly ask him, "So.... what are you doing for Valentine's Day tomorrow?"
"I don't know, I don't have a girlfriend anymore," he said sadly.
I was relieved and curious at the same time. "What happened?" I asked.
"She likes someone else now." Poor thing, heartbreak can be tough! *me, sighing with relief!*
I put my arms around his small shoulders. "Don't worry, girls can be like that sometimes."
"OK, Mommy. But that's just not very nice of her though." (Live and learn, son, live and learn!)
I was tapping away on my computer later when he came up to me, hugged me and said brightly, "Happy Valentine's Day, Mommy! You're the best, I love you!" He handed me a stretchy bracelet with bright pink beads that spell out "M-O-M" and with hearts.
Future girlfriends, let me tell you, this stretchy bracelet will always be more precious than any piece of jewelry from Tiffany's or any dozen long-stemmed roses!
Until the time he has a "real" girlfriend, I will cherish his homemade cards from school. Future girlfriends will get fancy Hallmark cards with mushy sentimental poems that are already printed on the inside but I will get his unabashed unfettered love affirmations surrounded by painted macaroni and paper lace doilies.
On the other hand.... I will be sniffing him tomorrow when I give him a hug as he leaves for school......
Thursday, January 26, 2012
F is for.....
OK, so I'm a good couple of weeks into my F-Diet and the power walking.....
What can I say ......
F is for...... Failing?
Between Christmas, New Year's, and Chinese New Year's, not only have I fallen off the F-Diet wagon, but honey, that wagon has long gone past me on the road.
F is for.... Fallen off the wagon?
The weather has not been helpful either.
F is for.....Freezing temperatures?
I had an visit with my cardiologist the other week. (Yes, I've gotten more used to calling him "my cardiologist". Although it's a relationship I want to end soon so we can't be that amiable!) He says I'm doing OK but wants me to get more into it. Yes, Sir, Dr Cardiologist, Sir! I know it's for my own good. I'll take it more seriously.
One thing I've noticed is that I've become really good at justifying foods to include in my F-Diet. You see, I've told a lot of people about my F-Diet hoping they'll hold me accountable.
During Christmas dinner....
"Hey, that's not part of your F-Diet!" someone says as I reach for a thin slice of pie.
"F is for ......Flaky crusts!!", I politely remind him.
"No it's not!"
During New Year's dinner....
"Hey, that's not part of your F-Diet!" someone else says as I make a motion towards the dessert plate.
"F is for........Fresh whipped cream?", I venture.
"No it's not!"
During Chinese New Year dinner.....
"Hey, that's not part of your F-Diet!" This time, it was 2 people who said it at the same time as I looked in anticipation when the ice cream was brought out. OK, already, Bobbsey twins!
"F is for......Frozen Freezy treaties?", I say weakly.
"No it's not!" they retort in stereo...
By this time, I know exactly how a 2 year old feels when everyone tells them "No-no!" all the time.
But thank you, everyone for holding me accountable and not backing down on my committment!
Because I realize that....
Finally......F is for .........FRIENDS!
I look FORWARD to the day when I can say,
"FINALLY FREE OF THE F-DIET!"
Hoping it'll become more of a lifestyle change for me in the FUTURE.
What can I say ......
F is for...... Failing?
Between Christmas, New Year's, and Chinese New Year's, not only have I fallen off the F-Diet wagon, but honey, that wagon has long gone past me on the road.
F is for.... Fallen off the wagon?
The weather has not been helpful either.
F is for.....Freezing temperatures?
I had an visit with my cardiologist the other week. (Yes, I've gotten more used to calling him "my cardiologist". Although it's a relationship I want to end soon so we can't be that amiable!) He says I'm doing OK but wants me to get more into it. Yes, Sir, Dr Cardiologist, Sir! I know it's for my own good. I'll take it more seriously.
One thing I've noticed is that I've become really good at justifying foods to include in my F-Diet. You see, I've told a lot of people about my F-Diet hoping they'll hold me accountable.
During Christmas dinner....
"Hey, that's not part of your F-Diet!" someone says as I reach for a thin slice of pie.
"F is for ......Flaky crusts!!", I politely remind him.
"No it's not!"
During New Year's dinner....
"Hey, that's not part of your F-Diet!" someone else says as I make a motion towards the dessert plate.
"F is for........Fresh whipped cream?", I venture.
"No it's not!"
During Chinese New Year dinner.....
"Hey, that's not part of your F-Diet!" This time, it was 2 people who said it at the same time as I looked in anticipation when the ice cream was brought out. OK, already, Bobbsey twins!
"F is for......Frozen Freezy treaties?", I say weakly.
"No it's not!" they retort in stereo...
By this time, I know exactly how a 2 year old feels when everyone tells them "No-no!" all the time.
But thank you, everyone for holding me accountable and not backing down on my committment!
Because I realize that....
Finally......F is for .........FRIENDS!
I look FORWARD to the day when I can say,
"FINALLY FREE OF THE F-DIET!"
Hoping it'll become more of a lifestyle change for me in the FUTURE.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
My Love-Hate Relationship
I have a love-hate relationship with cooking.
While I love to read cooking blogs (Table for 2 or more...)www.wendyinkk.blogspot.com and recently taken to watching cooking videos of Fabio Viviani when he shows up on my yahoo.com front page; (Ciao Chow!...Fabio, love the accent! and love how you make it seem so easy!); I absolutely cannot, repeat...CANNOT cook for beans. It's amazing when I watch someone create a whole meal out of scratch. I don't mean heating up leftovers in the microwave, I mean seriously cooking. Fabio can make a dish of chicken piccata marsala out of a bland pile of chicken breasts and mushrooms. Unreal.
I think that in every family, there should be one person that is a fab cook. In our family, it's my younger sister. I don't know where she gets the skills from. It's almost like she's got "the touch"! I don't even remember when she got interested in all this kitchen stuff. The earliest I remember is back when she was in college, she took a class that was called something like, "The Science of Cooking". I didn't even know there was a science to it. I always thought it was more like an art! Who knew??
It was only a few years ago that I realized that in order to measure a cup of flour and a cup of water, it was not even the same cup!! A cup is a cup, is it not? Hmmm. Again, who knew??
For Christmas, she had requested a KitchenAid countertop mixer. At first I was relieved to hear that it wasn't the latest Coach bag that she wanted. Until I went to look for this mixer in question and found out it was over $400. WHAT?! Well, she IS my little sister and she IS one of my food sources.... Gotta keep the goodies coming my way.... Merry Christmas and some Happy New Cookies!!
My cooking skills are akin to survival skills. If I wasn't married with 2 kids, I could be sustained by microwave popcorn and cereal everyday. Food is just not a big thing with me. While I totally appreciate a homecooked meal, I cannot bring myself to spend so much time with the prep work....did I mention I'm also not good at it? I will totally clean up the kitchen and wash the dishes if you'll do all the cooking.
One thing I only recently learned to cook is rice. You may say, rice? Really? Aren't you Chinese? Don't you eat rice on a regular basis? Yes, but being Chinese doesn't mean I like to eat rice. One of my aunts absolutely has to eat rice everyday. Otherwise, she would complain that she didn't have any "Fan Chi"......Rice energy. Hmmm. Maybe that's what I'm missing out on.
My MIL, (mother in law) cooks rice with a pressure cooker. She swears by it and is such a pro at it. She adds the raw rice, some water, closes it, turns on the flame and within a few minutes, the pressure pot starts tiking and hissing. She times it instinctively and turns off the flame at a set time. Lets it cool down and boom, bam, pow.... instant perfect fluffy rice! Amazing.
When she went to Cali to visit my BIL's family (brother in law), my son, at that time was about 6 years old, started crying. I thought he was upset that Nai Nai was going away. I went to comfort him and told him that Nai Nai would return soon enough. If he misses her so much, he could always call her on the phone.
"No," he said, tearfully, "It's because you don't know how to cook rice and I won't have any until she returns!" That would always go down in my record books as an embarrassing moment for mother. I didn't know what to say. Speechless......For crying out loud, I couldn't even provide for my own children!
It was then that I decided to ask her how to cook rice.
She was rather shocked. "If you don't know how to use the pressure cooker, you can always use the stovetop."
"Ummm. I don't know how to do that either."
"How about the electric rice cooker?"
"Errrr, not that either."
"Well, how DO you cook rice when I'm not here?"
"I don't. I don't like rice so I don't cook any."
"Hmmmm..." She was pensive.
I could just picture her thinking I was depriving her fav son of a necessary food staple. Did he marry the right girl?? Was I a fit mother to raise her grandchildren??Am I a failure as a DIL??
She gave me verbal directions on how to use her pressure cooker, the one she took with her when she immigrated from Taiwan more than 3 decades ago. (who knows if America has pressure cookers?) She told me to be careful with the rubber gasket. "Don't break the seal. I don't know where to get another nowadays." Ok, Mom, will do.
Easy enough. A few days after she left, I gave it a tentative try. Unfortunately, I totally forgot the directions. I only remembered how to measure the rice and water. How many minutes do I have to listen to the tik-tik-tik and the hissing? I had visions of the whole thing shooting up my kitchen ceiling like Old Faithful!
I didn't want to embarrass myself and call her but how to cook the rice for my poor deprived child? I was determined to be a providing mother. Reluctantly, I called her sister to ask. Thank goodness she knew how to cook rice that way too. Phew! Saved! .....Although a few days later, MIL called me and asked how the rice cooking was going. Her sister had a few laughs about my rice-cooking phone call to her.Gee, so much for being discrete!
So now that I got the rice cooking down pat, I was happily experimenting with all sorts of rice combos. My fav is fried rice surprise. Leftover rice, leftover anything chopped up and stir-fried in. The first time I made it, my kids were totally impressed. I was puffed up with pride. Yes, mother cooks! Who knew?? I was over the top with eyes misty from happiness when my daughter said, "So where did you learn this? from Cooking Mama Nintendo DS?" Hmmmm...Note to self.... that'll be $100 deducted from your portion in my will Sweet Child....
More on my cooking experiments.... I mean, experiences later!
While I love to read cooking blogs (Table for 2 or more...)www.wendyinkk.blogspot.com and recently taken to watching cooking videos of Fabio Viviani when he shows up on my yahoo.com front page; (Ciao Chow!...Fabio, love the accent! and love how you make it seem so easy!); I absolutely cannot, repeat...CANNOT cook for beans. It's amazing when I watch someone create a whole meal out of scratch. I don't mean heating up leftovers in the microwave, I mean seriously cooking. Fabio can make a dish of chicken piccata marsala out of a bland pile of chicken breasts and mushrooms. Unreal.
I think that in every family, there should be one person that is a fab cook. In our family, it's my younger sister. I don't know where she gets the skills from. It's almost like she's got "the touch"! I don't even remember when she got interested in all this kitchen stuff. The earliest I remember is back when she was in college, she took a class that was called something like, "The Science of Cooking". I didn't even know there was a science to it. I always thought it was more like an art! Who knew??
It was only a few years ago that I realized that in order to measure a cup of flour and a cup of water, it was not even the same cup!! A cup is a cup, is it not? Hmmm. Again, who knew??
For Christmas, she had requested a KitchenAid countertop mixer. At first I was relieved to hear that it wasn't the latest Coach bag that she wanted. Until I went to look for this mixer in question and found out it was over $400. WHAT?! Well, she IS my little sister and she IS one of my food sources.... Gotta keep the goodies coming my way.... Merry Christmas and some Happy New Cookies!!
My cooking skills are akin to survival skills. If I wasn't married with 2 kids, I could be sustained by microwave popcorn and cereal everyday. Food is just not a big thing with me. While I totally appreciate a homecooked meal, I cannot bring myself to spend so much time with the prep work....did I mention I'm also not good at it? I will totally clean up the kitchen and wash the dishes if you'll do all the cooking.
One thing I only recently learned to cook is rice. You may say, rice? Really? Aren't you Chinese? Don't you eat rice on a regular basis? Yes, but being Chinese doesn't mean I like to eat rice. One of my aunts absolutely has to eat rice everyday. Otherwise, she would complain that she didn't have any "Fan Chi"......Rice energy. Hmmm. Maybe that's what I'm missing out on.
My MIL, (mother in law) cooks rice with a pressure cooker. She swears by it and is such a pro at it. She adds the raw rice, some water, closes it, turns on the flame and within a few minutes, the pressure pot starts tiking and hissing. She times it instinctively and turns off the flame at a set time. Lets it cool down and boom, bam, pow.... instant perfect fluffy rice! Amazing.
When she went to Cali to visit my BIL's family (brother in law), my son, at that time was about 6 years old, started crying. I thought he was upset that Nai Nai was going away. I went to comfort him and told him that Nai Nai would return soon enough. If he misses her so much, he could always call her on the phone.
"No," he said, tearfully, "It's because you don't know how to cook rice and I won't have any until she returns!" That would always go down in my record books as an embarrassing moment for mother. I didn't know what to say. Speechless......For crying out loud, I couldn't even provide for my own children!
It was then that I decided to ask her how to cook rice.
She was rather shocked. "If you don't know how to use the pressure cooker, you can always use the stovetop."
"Ummm. I don't know how to do that either."
"How about the electric rice cooker?"
"Errrr, not that either."
"Well, how DO you cook rice when I'm not here?"
"I don't. I don't like rice so I don't cook any."
"Hmmmm..." She was pensive.
I could just picture her thinking I was depriving her fav son of a necessary food staple. Did he marry the right girl?? Was I a fit mother to raise her grandchildren??Am I a failure as a DIL??
She gave me verbal directions on how to use her pressure cooker, the one she took with her when she immigrated from Taiwan more than 3 decades ago. (who knows if America has pressure cookers?) She told me to be careful with the rubber gasket. "Don't break the seal. I don't know where to get another nowadays." Ok, Mom, will do.
Easy enough. A few days after she left, I gave it a tentative try. Unfortunately, I totally forgot the directions. I only remembered how to measure the rice and water. How many minutes do I have to listen to the tik-tik-tik and the hissing? I had visions of the whole thing shooting up my kitchen ceiling like Old Faithful!
I didn't want to embarrass myself and call her but how to cook the rice for my poor deprived child? I was determined to be a providing mother. Reluctantly, I called her sister to ask. Thank goodness she knew how to cook rice that way too. Phew! Saved! .....Although a few days later, MIL called me and asked how the rice cooking was going. Her sister had a few laughs about my rice-cooking phone call to her.Gee, so much for being discrete!
So now that I got the rice cooking down pat, I was happily experimenting with all sorts of rice combos. My fav is fried rice surprise. Leftover rice, leftover anything chopped up and stir-fried in. The first time I made it, my kids were totally impressed. I was puffed up with pride. Yes, mother cooks! Who knew?? I was over the top with eyes misty from happiness when my daughter said, "So where did you learn this? from Cooking Mama Nintendo DS?" Hmmmm...Note to self.... that'll be $100 deducted from your portion in my will Sweet Child....
More on my cooking experiments.... I mean, experiences later!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Listening is an Act of Love
By now, anyone who knows me well enough know I love to read books. Not just reading them with my eyes, I mean the whole "using-all-your-senses" type of reading experience.
I love the way the paper feels in my hand as I'm holding and reading the book. I'm partial to the thicker pages and pages with a certain texture to them. It gives them an older feel. Almost like the book has been around longer because it's been enjoyed again and again....almost like the book has been passed on from friend to friend. It just feels good like a worn pair of jeans.
I love the way a book smells! (Is that crazy??) I love getting a nose-full every time I go into a library. Now mind you, magazines and newspapers have their own appeal which I like but books.....they're in a league of their own!
I also like to read a book before going to see it on the big screen. Some people told me that it'll just open me up to disappointment from the movie but I disagree. I would want to see if the interpretation is the way I imagined it.
When my daughter was little, she would love to listen to me reading her the Little House books. There was just a way of describing that formed wonderful pictures in our heads. When we got to a really good part, I would pause and tell her that a good writer such as Laura Ingalls Wilder could make us close our eyes and imagine for a moment that we were on that prairie surrounded by the waving tall grasses and looking at the endless blue skies along with her. When her sister, Mary, was blind, Laura would be her set of eyes and describe things around them. How wonderful to have such a loving and descriptive sister like that?
So what does reading have to do with "Listening Is an Act of Love"?
I recently came across a book and that's what the title is. The tagline is "A Celebration of American Life from the Storycorps Project". www.storycorps.net I had never heard of the Storycorps Project so I was interested. It gave me such insight to ordinary people. Everyone has a remarkable story to tell. This project collects the stories of ordinary Americans and gives it a vehicle for sharing, laying down burdens, remembering and often a way of connecting with others. There are little booths that you go into and have a recording device. You make a reservation and then you can bring anyone you want and ask them an interviewing open question. They can be as easy as "Who was the most important person in your life?" to deeper ones like, "How would you like to be remembered?".
At the end of the interview, the tables are turned and the interviewer has a chance to tell what they've learned from the interviewee and what they mean to them.
This was such an eye-opening book for me because living in NYC, there are thousands of people I see everyday on the street, passing by going on the subway; even just in my neighborhood that I don't "know their story" and how important they are.
I devoured the book in 2 sittings. All of the stories are distilled from these interviews. I don't even know how the editors picked from the thousands they received. It would be such a hard job. After I put the book down, I realized....
The only person that knows all their stories to the minute details is God. He sees what they've been through; He knows their every thought; He knows their pain; He feels their sadness; He has always been there. He will always be there.
No one is "ordinary" to God. Everyone is special in His eyes.
"Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny,can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows." (Matt 10 29-31).
It made me wonder how many of these people knew God and had a personal relationship with Him? The words of love that they had for their parents, siblings, and spouses.... do they feel the same way about their Heavenly Father?
The pain that they feel when their loved ones are gone.... do they know that He who loved us first also misses us when we miss our quiet time with Him?
Thank you, Lord, for listening lovingly to every word I've said to You since I've learned to pray. Please help me to remember You not only when I'm in need but also when in times of thanksgiving. Please help me to lift up others in Your Son's name. Please help me also to remember that everyone is precious in Your eyes and no one is ordinary.
I love the way the paper feels in my hand as I'm holding and reading the book. I'm partial to the thicker pages and pages with a certain texture to them. It gives them an older feel. Almost like the book has been around longer because it's been enjoyed again and again....almost like the book has been passed on from friend to friend. It just feels good like a worn pair of jeans.
I love the way a book smells! (Is that crazy??) I love getting a nose-full every time I go into a library. Now mind you, magazines and newspapers have their own appeal which I like but books.....they're in a league of their own!
I also like to read a book before going to see it on the big screen. Some people told me that it'll just open me up to disappointment from the movie but I disagree. I would want to see if the interpretation is the way I imagined it.
When my daughter was little, she would love to listen to me reading her the Little House books. There was just a way of describing that formed wonderful pictures in our heads. When we got to a really good part, I would pause and tell her that a good writer such as Laura Ingalls Wilder could make us close our eyes and imagine for a moment that we were on that prairie surrounded by the waving tall grasses and looking at the endless blue skies along with her. When her sister, Mary, was blind, Laura would be her set of eyes and describe things around them. How wonderful to have such a loving and descriptive sister like that?
So what does reading have to do with "Listening Is an Act of Love"?
I recently came across a book and that's what the title is. The tagline is "A Celebration of American Life from the Storycorps Project". www.storycorps.net I had never heard of the Storycorps Project so I was interested. It gave me such insight to ordinary people. Everyone has a remarkable story to tell. This project collects the stories of ordinary Americans and gives it a vehicle for sharing, laying down burdens, remembering and often a way of connecting with others. There are little booths that you go into and have a recording device. You make a reservation and then you can bring anyone you want and ask them an interviewing open question. They can be as easy as "Who was the most important person in your life?" to deeper ones like, "How would you like to be remembered?".
At the end of the interview, the tables are turned and the interviewer has a chance to tell what they've learned from the interviewee and what they mean to them.
This was such an eye-opening book for me because living in NYC, there are thousands of people I see everyday on the street, passing by going on the subway; even just in my neighborhood that I don't "know their story" and how important they are.
I devoured the book in 2 sittings. All of the stories are distilled from these interviews. I don't even know how the editors picked from the thousands they received. It would be such a hard job. After I put the book down, I realized....
The only person that knows all their stories to the minute details is God. He sees what they've been through; He knows their every thought; He knows their pain; He feels their sadness; He has always been there. He will always be there.
No one is "ordinary" to God. Everyone is special in His eyes.
"Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny,can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows." (Matt 10 29-31).
It made me wonder how many of these people knew God and had a personal relationship with Him? The words of love that they had for their parents, siblings, and spouses.... do they feel the same way about their Heavenly Father?
The pain that they feel when their loved ones are gone.... do they know that He who loved us first also misses us when we miss our quiet time with Him?
Thank you, Lord, for listening lovingly to every word I've said to You since I've learned to pray. Please help me to remember You not only when I'm in need but also when in times of thanksgiving. Please help me to lift up others in Your Son's name. Please help me also to remember that everyone is precious in Your eyes and no one is ordinary.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
I Got the F-Bomb...but not what you think!
After years of making sure my kids are up to date with their immunizations and the such, I've decided to go have my own health checked out. Years of being "inactive" and snacking inappropriately (aka kiddie snacks, aka yummy snacks.... alright, aka junk food snacks ), I made an appointment with my PCP (Primary Care Provider... I don't know why they're called that. Maybe it's a result of insurance and all their jargon? Makes doctors seem so unperson-able even though they stick in the "Care" in PCP)
Anyway, my doctor thought my blood pressure was higher than it should be...see, I'm even avoiding saying the obvious of "I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE!" But it is what it is. She sent me to a cardiologist for a treadmill test. Great. I only envision "old" people who have appointments with their cardiologist.
Sorry, seniors who are reading this...."Older" people are the ones who talk about "my (fill-in-the-blank) specialists". My gosh, I AM getting old.... Wait, I'm not getting old, I'm getting OLDER. I'm only at an unhealthy stage in my life. That sounds so much better!
I get to the cardiology office, I get a ultrasound of my carotid arteries and my heart and get hooked up to an EKG to be on while I'm on the treadmill. I'm already having visions of me running up this treadmill at a 45 degree incline at cheetah speed (or in my case, warthog speed?).
After it was over, I must say, it wasn't bad at all. I was on that thing for not even 10 minutes. They increased the incline a bit twice. I didn't even have to have a death grip on the treadmill rails for fear of shooting off the back of the machine! (How embarrassing would that be?)
I waited for the cardiologist to look at the results. He starts by saying that my pressure is not where he wants it to be and then he whips out the Rx pad. WHOA, NELLY!
"I don't want to be on meds", I blurt out.
He looks at me over his glasses, "Nobody wants to be on meds"
I don't want to sound like a whiny patient so I try the scientific medical reasoning with him.
"If you look over the health history page that I filled out, I have not been actively exercising, I have had bad eating habits, and you can also note that I don't have any history of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, heart attack or any of that such on either sides of my family. I want a chance to redeem myself with a plan from you."
He closed my chart, sat back in his chair and gave me a grave statistic. "9 out of 10 patients tell me this and fail ."
"But Dr H, I'm motivated, I'm goal oriented, I'm a good patient. If I have a plan from you, I will do it! I promise. You'll see! I deserve a chance."
He sighs and counts off on his fingers. "30-40 minutes of walking everyday..."
"Regular walking? 30-40 minutes a day? I can definitely do that"
"No.... I meant POWER WALKING, " He swung his arms like he was jogging. OK, so that's what he meant.
"...And with the diet, mainly fruits, vegetables, and lean protein like chicken, turkey and fish. Cut down the sugars, fats and the such. You should not be drinking anything with sugar in it. No sodas or juices. Healthy clear soups or water."
My gosh, he sounds so serious. So cardiologist-sounding!
"Well, what about the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet....?" I asked hopefully.
"No, not good for longterm." He said firmly.
"No Atkins, no South Beach....So I'll be on the F-diet, right?" I asked. He looked puzzled.
I explained, "You know, the 'Feathers, Fins, Fruits and Feggies' diet?"
He finally cracked a smile, "Yes, exactly. I'll see you in 4 weeks." Then he winks,"...No, let me see you in 6 weeks. I'll give you an extra 2 weeks for professional courtesy and a rousing argument against meds!"
On the way home, I stopped by the supermarket and loaded up on my F-diet foods.
We'll see how well this goes. But let me say again, I'm motivated, I'm goal-oriented, I'm a good patient and now I have a plan! 6 weeks, here it goes!
Anyway, my doctor thought my blood pressure was higher than it should be...see, I'm even avoiding saying the obvious of "I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE!" But it is what it is. She sent me to a cardiologist for a treadmill test. Great. I only envision "old" people who have appointments with their cardiologist.
Sorry, seniors who are reading this...."Older" people are the ones who talk about "my (fill-in-the-blank) specialists". My gosh, I AM getting old.... Wait, I'm not getting old, I'm getting OLDER. I'm only at an unhealthy stage in my life. That sounds so much better!
I get to the cardiology office, I get a ultrasound of my carotid arteries and my heart and get hooked up to an EKG to be on while I'm on the treadmill. I'm already having visions of me running up this treadmill at a 45 degree incline at cheetah speed (or in my case, warthog speed?).
After it was over, I must say, it wasn't bad at all. I was on that thing for not even 10 minutes. They increased the incline a bit twice. I didn't even have to have a death grip on the treadmill rails for fear of shooting off the back of the machine! (How embarrassing would that be?)
I waited for the cardiologist to look at the results. He starts by saying that my pressure is not where he wants it to be and then he whips out the Rx pad. WHOA, NELLY!
"I don't want to be on meds", I blurt out.
He looks at me over his glasses, "Nobody wants to be on meds"
I don't want to sound like a whiny patient so I try the scientific medical reasoning with him.
"If you look over the health history page that I filled out, I have not been actively exercising, I have had bad eating habits, and you can also note that I don't have any history of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, heart attack or any of that such on either sides of my family. I want a chance to redeem myself with a plan from you."
He closed my chart, sat back in his chair and gave me a grave statistic. "9 out of 10 patients tell me this and fail ."
"But Dr H, I'm motivated, I'm goal oriented, I'm a good patient. If I have a plan from you, I will do it! I promise. You'll see! I deserve a chance."
He sighs and counts off on his fingers. "30-40 minutes of walking everyday..."
"Regular walking? 30-40 minutes a day? I can definitely do that"
"No.... I meant POWER WALKING, " He swung his arms like he was jogging. OK, so that's what he meant.
"...And with the diet, mainly fruits, vegetables, and lean protein like chicken, turkey and fish. Cut down the sugars, fats and the such. You should not be drinking anything with sugar in it. No sodas or juices. Healthy clear soups or water."
My gosh, he sounds so serious. So cardiologist-sounding!
"Well, what about the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet....?" I asked hopefully.
"No, not good for longterm." He said firmly.
"No Atkins, no South Beach....So I'll be on the F-diet, right?" I asked. He looked puzzled.
I explained, "You know, the 'Feathers, Fins, Fruits and Feggies' diet?"
He finally cracked a smile, "Yes, exactly. I'll see you in 4 weeks." Then he winks,"...No, let me see you in 6 weeks. I'll give you an extra 2 weeks for professional courtesy and a rousing argument against meds!"
On the way home, I stopped by the supermarket and loaded up on my F-diet foods.
We'll see how well this goes. But let me say again, I'm motivated, I'm goal-oriented, I'm a good patient and now I have a plan! 6 weeks, here it goes!
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