So, here are some updates

So finally I got my temp. work permit (good for a year) and advance parole for traveling abroad. I was so excited that when I received the advance parole a couple of days ago but realized that I might miss the interview with the USCIS officer if I go back to Taiwan in May. Ur...I think I'd better stay until I get the temp. green card. I really miss home though. (and May is probably the cheapest month to fly back to Taiwan) So I'm looking for a job now and then realize that my self-esteem is bombarded by the harsh reality and the downward economy. Well, I need to keep my chin up and keep looking...

Vietnamese Rice-Noodle Salad with Grilled Beef

I am still very awake:( It's not supposed to be like this but unfortunately I took about a three-hour after-dinner nap with Trav, my sick husband. He was coughing whole night last night so that none of us got enough sleep. Well, chancy weather is a daunting thing yet it's expected in the Utah Valley. 

So, I made this salad-like meal for dinner. I saw the original recipe on this blog (Chinese) and I modified it a bit as usual: 

tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!7.m6LNuRGBIUNIf. FWf.pMZ8/article?mid=1581&prev=1608&next=398&l=f&fid=15

It served well to my cleaning-fridge purpose and saved us from a hamburger helper dinner. Way to go!

The salad dressing:

fish sauce: sugar: hot water

2               :1         :4

garlic, red chili pepper flakes, and a tablespoon (or more) lemon juice

The noodles:

Vietnamese rice noodles

shredded lettuce, shredded carrots (marinated with sugar and rice vinegar mixture; about 1:1),

fresh cilantro, and (shredded cucumber), ground peanuts for garnish 

The meat marinate:

fish sauce: sugar:oil

1               :1         :1

oyster sauce (at least two times as much as fish sauce)

garlic, about one teaspoon five spices power, and some pepper

*marinate the meat for at least one to two hours before grilling it

*make the dressing in advance and chill it in the fridge

*I only had Korean long noodles made of potato starch so I used it and it turned out pretty well. You can certainly experiment on your own. 

Mix the meat, the noodles, and the dressing right before eating. Enjoy! 

  

Project Gutenberg

I found an online ebook database. You may find some books you'd like to read for free! The books on this database are not confined to the copyright.

www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top

Enjoy!

How "Chinese" am I?

Trav's very likely having a bad cold now so he's sleeping in the guest room. I'm sort of feeling that I'm back to my old single life again (so staying up pretty late is one of the things I did quite often). Anyway, I've been fooling around and browsing people's blogs for about a few hours; the following forwarded email is one of my findings...

p.s. I read this email from this blog (Chinese blog). If you're interested in the original wording and the blogger's commentaries, please follow this link (since I still don't know how to use the "quote" function on pixnet. Maybe some internet-savvy friends can help me?) 

Lorelai.pixnet.net/blog/post/26919545

Here is my own translation and commentary on this email:

The 60 attributes of Chinese in Foreigner's sight: (Ok, I might finish it tomorrow morning since my Mac is about to die and I am too lazy to find its power cord...Feeling too cozy in bed).

1. When greeting with friends, Chinese says "Have you eaten yet?" instead of "How are you?"

Well, isn't it just a cultural thing? It's in general easier to ask the first question and get a genuine answer; people usually fake it when they're actually not fine...

2. Likes to eat chicken feet.

Ok, I admit it. Compared to most of the Americans, I tend to eat more chicken feet and actually enjoy them.

3. When eating a fish, Chinese cleans up it by sucking on the head and the fins.

It used to be my Mom or Dad's job in Taiwan. As for now, please tell me how to get a fish with its head and fins on in Utah...

4. Likes to decorate his/her car's mirror with Chinese-style goodies. 

I don't have my own car yet and Trav doesn't do it...Well, he just simply doesn't decorate his car.

5. Likes to sing Kareoke.

Nothing wrong with it! Taiwan's Kareoke bars are some fun and I suggest all of my friends should try it if they have a chance to visit Taiwan.

6. Put tiles on their floor.

Well, I have some files on my floor too and I'm pretty sure my contractor is not Chinese. 

7. Their kitchen is always covered with a thick layer of grease.

No way! I mop my kitchen countertop and stoves after every meal. 

8. Each stove is covered with tin foil. 

Simply no.

9. Electronic remotes are covered with rubber or plastic stuff.

Urhhh...Maybe Japanese does that? Ok, I won't play the stereotype here. Who does that?

10. Never kiss their parents.

I can't remember if I've ever done it. I definitely kissed my Mom's cheek before...right?

11. Never hug their parents.

Well, I for sure have done this.

12. Start wearing glasses since the 5th grade.

Well, right on! But for me, I think the reason is that I watched too much TV. For the generation which is at least 5 years younger than me, they would get near-sighted early due to playing too much video games.

13. Hairs would be spiked up after awaking up.

What kind of conclusion is it? Haha.

14. Debate for some self-evident stuff.

No comments. I think it's nothing to do with race and nationality.  

15. Likes to use coupons.

I think everyone likes it...

16. Drive around in order to find the cheapest gas station in town.

Ok, I do it sometimes. Now I just go to costco directly.

17. Always wait till evenings to take a shower.

Well, I still do this. But by doing it I can keep my sheets clean thus there's no need to wash them too often. I can't sleep well if I don't take a shower right before bed.

18. Don't eat the food, snacks, or drinks in a hotel if they are not free.

I won't either. The food in the hotel is usually more expensive than their retail price. I don't want to pay more than what it should worth. 

19. Chinese guys have lesser body hairs than Chinese women.

False in most cases. 

20. If someone pours tea for him/her, he/she would knock on the table to show the gratitude. 

Never heard of it. Definitely not for Taiwanese.

(Poll) Your favorite Bath & Body Works Lotion?

Since I'm (supposed to be) practicing a frugal life style, I swap my bath & body works lotions with store-brand ones. However, I still feel more girly and being "loved" while putting b & bw lotions on. I still keep a 4 oz. bottle of sheer freesia lotion in my purse no matter where I go. What's your favorite b & bw lotion and why? Or you have other picks? I would like to know!! 

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So it's great that my dear friends told me what kind of lotions they love. Since I have been trying to save money, I've used lots of suave products. They were kind of cheap in Ohio but appear to be pricier here in Utah. Well, another thing I love about them is that they come with tons of scents (well, shower gel/shampoo/conditioner-wise, not lotion-wise). And they work pretty well on my body. They also have sweet pea, cool cucumber melon, coconut, and some other nice scents (and try to be competitive with Bath & Body Work products; please see notes on any Suave products for the proof, haha). Anyway, I still would be patient and wait for B & Bw's (semi-annual/annual/summer/or whatever reason) sale and hope to snap some favs home. 

First-Year Baby Costs Calculator

Urhh...I'm NOT pregnant if you wonder. I just ran across to a link on the New York Times Magazine about child-rearing. So, here is a calculator helps you estimate how much you would spend on child-rearing. 

www.babycenter.com/babyCostCalculator.htm?intcmp=Nav_Global_calandcalc_babycostfind&pn=BC%20Homepage

Chinese Sour and Spicy Soup & Green Onion Pancakes

I made these dishes for dinner about a couple of nights ago. This version of sour & spicy soup is not as strong as those of some Chinese restaurants; therefore I like it!! I am not good at making dough so that I made an easy version of green onion pancakes. For these two recipes, I referenced to this blog: http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!ErFND3KRGB5spcr2zj8sS1c.uA--/