Mom found a new hobby:

My sis and I couldn’t stop giggling from delight. We were stunned that our mom’s nimble fingers created these darling little gems, but she’s always had an artistic streak. She’s obviously got a way with clay. Looks like rose petals are no problem, and the peas-in-a-pod piece continues to astound us. She kept remarking, “These are just practice ones. Not the real ones!” Can you imagine these as earrings? The possibilities are endless. One thing though, we need to get her more colors.

Saw the old man recently too. Can’t stop smiling at these two videos. Watch and learn — this is how you make a gatdamn Peking duck wrap! The technique is all in the precision of the laying down of ingredients. Notice how he does it.

Favorite lines: “How come you guys don’t tell me any information?,” “No, too fattening for you” and “Can I make one for you? You need it”

When my mom told me today was the five year anniversary of my grandfather’s death, I was more sad, shocked, and disappointed with myself that I had more or less forgotten, than stunned by the fact that it’s already been five years. I forget that while he was still alive, our lives were very much different.

That’s what she is

Not too far into 2010 and there’s already been a slew of birthdays…

Regina, whom I’ve known for almost 20 years

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Highlights! And I’m not talking about the Scholastic magazine either…

* I enjoyed the splendor of breathtaking Big Sur with the San Hos earlier in the month for our annual local getaway. We had a spacious (though slightly creepy) cabin, in which we overdosed on junk food, magazines, and soulful conversation. Photos.

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if you get past my really nasaly voice and terrible chinglish, you might just enjoy this uber-adorable quick clip. and yes, my dad is singing “song sung blue” as he walks away

ps – i got those yanuk jeans from loehmans a million years ago (when i was “skinnier” but still love them even though they’re too tight). there was a huge hole in the crotch area but i continued to wear them. good thing i have a crafty nai nai

we’ve all been there.

this is my dear friend brigid (a san ho) with her gorgeous, adorable lil’ girl elliott skye. she was born on christmas eve! elliott is brimming with personality and is a real thing of marvel, already armed with a million different facial expressions. i look forward to my auntie training with my first “niece.” she is so amazing.

got the SFIAAFF program in the mail a coupla days ago, and i already got into my obsessive ritual of printing out a blank calendar, grabbing a pencil, and gettin cozy with the program to plot out a robust movie-watching schedule. srsly, there’s no way to plan for this unless you have a chart or calendar system to visualize how the days play out.

so i sent my mom and sister a tentative plan of what films we should watch when the fest has its share of screenings in san jose.

this is mom’s reply:

i called my dad twice last night, no answer. this morning, he calls at like, 630am. i’m too sleepy to pick up. i get to work, sit through meeting, do things, then check my phone. NINE MISSED CALLS FROM DAD. of course i panic, fearing something happened to my grandma. i call him immediately. the conversation goes something like this:

me: dad why did you call me 10 times today? is everything okay?!

D: i was worried about you! you called me twice last night and this morning i kept calling

me: what do you mean, why were you worried? it wasn’t a big deal i just called last night cuz i had a question to ask.

D: well, i thought something happen to you. i thought you died! you didn’t answer phone.

me: /breakout laughter/ why would you think i died?

D: allergies are very bad right now, your allergies are bad. and you have asthma, and sometimes…asthma…can make you go to heaven.

hahahahaha

and bonus, here’s a quaint txt msg from my mom (who is on the road):

we are in the middle no where thanks for you girls nice gift GPS we are feeling more secure and safe

followed by another text:

we safe arrive to desert spring now *:-D

an email from my mom, but first, some backstory. she wrote me something, and it smelled like typical guilt-inducing sarcastic fare, so i reacted snarkily. she responded that she was being sincerely nice and that i was overreacting. i explained that i my harsh reaction was due to experience. and then she wrote this hilarious gem:

Dear Jennifer: Don’t be so up tight. Mom’s happy to see you finally can relax.

For your information, lately mom’s conversation always like mini skit, short and get to the point.

Your information and experience is old and out dated.

Love always and forever,
Mom
(1/21/2009)