NonStick World: Pam Kong's Weblog

All Chinese-Americans know what Chinglish is. I never really thought about it growing up, but we used it a lot in my family. It was, sometimes, the only way to communicate with our parents, and they with us.

But my kid is speaking now, a lot. In fact, she won't shut up. It's after hearing her Chinglish that I realized there are two kinds. English Chinglish and Chinese Chinglish. English Chinglish is where you speak English and throw in Chinese terms (what we siblings use with each other and my daughter with me). Chinese Chinglish is where you speak Chinese and throw in English terms (what we used with our parents).

So, I thought I would share my daughter's Chinglish because a) people may identify and 2) it's just damn funny.

Today's word?

cha-er
-noun
person who applies in a thin layer or coating
"I'll be the cha-er for the cupcakes. You be the sprinkler."

I was really excited as more retailers went online to hawk their wares. It allows folks like me, over-scheduled while trying to maintain a family life, to purchase what I need at anytime of day or night, all without having to leave my desk.

One thing I lamented was the loss of the shopping experience (looks cute on hanger, try it on, not so cute on me). But now, retailers offer free shipping and returns so you can try things on and, usually, keep more than you intended.

The other thing I lamented was the loss of person-to-person contact. It was bad enough with the big box stores, gone were the friendly chats with the proprietor of the neighborhood store; it is worse with online retailers.

Well, Zappos.com has found a way to be an online retailer AND a neighborhood store by using online social networking.

Tony Hsieh, CEO, and Alfred Lin, CFO/COO both blog and tweet. They update us with who they are meeting, what they are doing and conduct contests, among other things. Zappos also has a Facebook profile.

It's brilliant that they leverage online networks to build relationships with their customers and constituents. I can honestly say that I am more inclinded to shop at Zappos.com because I know that @zappos loves Red Bull with Slim Jims but not pretzels. I am buying from friends, not just some faceless, soul-less corporation.

I was thinking about how I am doing my part to save the environment by working from home.

I drive less, on average, 60 miles a week. That includes picking up my kid from day care and all weekly errands.

I use less electricity. I prefer ceiling fans to air conditioning and another layer to cranking up the heat.

I create less garbage as I don't use disposable plates or utensils for lunch.

I use less water, as I only shower when my family, and, sometimes, neighbors complain.

Even though I don't drive a Prius (is it possible to cram a 3 year old and all her crap into one, anyway?). I am doing my part.

MUI: What's wrong Mommy?

ME: Mommy's old.

MUI: I'm old, too.

ME: No. You are young. Mommy is old.

MUI: Maybe you need more cream.

I just got a Blackberry Curve from AT&T to tie me over until the 3G iPhone comes out. $25 for the phone if I sign up for at least a $40 plan.

I don't know how I survived so long without carrying the internet in my pocket. But it's awesome. Kid in Little Gym? Check my email, follow up on tweeters, expand my mind with NPR news...

As I was sitting there, catching up on the Sun blogs, I realized that as I was connecting to the world, I was disconnecting from the people around me. I typically strike up a conversation with the Little Gym parents, usually about our kids or apologizing for my kid running over their kid. But today, I was glued to my Blackberry.

So, I don't know if having the internet in my pocket is such a great thing. I love the fact that I can connect when and where I want. I guess I have to temper the wanting (i.e. not at the dinner table). As they say, Blackberries don't alienate people, people alienate people.

During our last visit to the Bay Area, my daughter did something surprising and quite admirable.

We were at ABC Cafe in Oakland Chinatown and sitting at one of those tables with swivel chairs on one side and a bench on the other. She was driving me insane by swiveling around in her chair so hard that every time it reached the end of travel, it shook the whole table. Her little cousin, who was sitting in the swivel chair next to her, started swiveling, too. I was about to smack someone.

ME: Mui, stop spinning your chair.
MUI: (continues swiveling)
ME: Mui, stop spinning your chair.
MUI: (continues swiveling)
ME: Mui, that's one. If you don't stop, we will wait in the car while Yi Yi and Avery finish lunch.
MUI: (continues swiveling) I'm not spinning. The chair is spinning me.
ME: That's two.
MUI: (Gets up and walks over to my side of table.) Mommy, can you move over? I want to sit here.
ME: Why?
MUI: Because I don't want to spin and when I sit in the chair it spins.

How many times I wish I knew my will power was not sufficient, that I should just remove myself from temptation.

My friend and colleague, Marc Dierens, recently started his own Sun blog. He is avid in virtual social networking and just gave our staff a briefing on Second Life and Facebook and how Sun utilizes them to build and strengthen networks internal and external to Sun.

Kaba Modern was robbed and subsequently, we, the audience, are robbed. Kaba Modern and Jabbawockees should have been the two finalists. Already voted for Jabbawockees 23 times to help ensure there is no "close margin."

We are not religious people, and my husband feels guilty about that as he was raised Catholic. This Easter, we celebrated by heading to IHOP for breakfast. The new Horton themed breakfast had Easter colors in it, so we were covered.

We then went to the Utah's Hogle Zoo. There was a new giraffe born over the winter. And he was hanging out with his mom enjoying the beautiful Spring day.

After the zoo, we went home for a nap and then baked cupcakes. Notice the Easter colors.

It was a good Easter Sunday.

My husband and I dropped off our kid at Little Gym last Friday night so we could have a date night. We decided on Aristo's for dinner. My husband had been there several times for lunch and wanted to try their dinner.

The Food

Hummus - I am not always a fan of hummus, but Aristo's was really good. Right texture and the presentation was great. Unfortunately, I have no pictures to share as 1) we were 1/4 way through the hummus when I thought of it and 2) the owner and his family was sitting right next to us.

Chicken a la Aristo - I ordered this when I saw that it included spinach and feta. I'm a big fan of both. The chicken was roasted to perfection. The skin was light and crispy, while the meat was moist and flavorful. The meat was so tender that at one point I had my knife flipped the wrong way and it still sliced right through like it was butter. The chicken was stuffed with a spinach and feta concoction that was smooth, yet slightly gritty; nice combination of textures. The chicken lay on a bed of rice smothered with the same spinach/feta concoction in sauce form.

Lamb Shank (Day's Special) - My husband ordered this one. He's a big fan of lamb. The lamb lay on a bed of Orzo. The meat was so tender it barely hung to the bone, falling off with minimal prodding. The lamb and orzo were coated in a red sauce that my husband liked, but I thought was little plain. It had good texture, but that little kick was missing, it left me wanting.

Baklava - My husband ordered this and liked it so much, he would not share. So I can't tell you how it was.

Egg Custard - It was between this and the rice pudding. The egg custard was really creamy and subtly sweet, but nothing special. The flaky crust was good, but, again, nothing special. Should have gotten the rice pudding. The kid at the next table seemed to really enjoy it.

Latte - I don't know why I order espresso drinks at restaurants, especially lattes. It was okay. The foam was stiff and I forgotten to request no foam.

The Atmosphere

As soon as I walked in, I suspected whether the food or the service was going to be good. Clean lines and dark, rich colors. The kind of place that does not welcome children. But as we walked to the table, I noticed a couple of tables with kids as young as 18 months. The tables were covered with a sheet of paper, perfect for coloring on. Ok. May be this place was not going to be snooty like Trio Cafe.

The wait staff was very friendly. Although our waitress was a little nervous, probably because the owner, Aristo, was sitting at the table right next to us.

Bottom Line

Would totally go back to this place and bring our kid. The food is based on greek classics with a 5-star twist. If you are ever in town and have a chance, definitely check this place out.

My new favorite show is America's Best Dance Crew on MTV. I discovered it while channel surfing during one of my trips. The dancing is so amazing and the moves so intricate, I can't help but be awed.

I am rooting for Kaba Modern, although I think the Jabbawockeez are better; mainly because Kaba Modern reminds me of the folks I went to college with and there are girls in Kaba Modern.

We have been living on one working floodlight in the dining room and one in the kitchen. The others had all burned out. Yesterday, I finally go to Target and pick up a mess of light bulbs and one of those light bulb changer things (we have cathedral ceilings).

When my husband got home, he found me cooking dinner and changing light bulbs. I found him carrying a light bulb changer thing and a mess of replacement bulbs. Turns out he had gone out that morning to Home Depot.

We really need to talk more. Or he should get on Twitter. Next time it could be milk and cereal.

I have been trying to watch my caloric intake, thanks to @ThinGuy. The easiest thing is for me to reduce variety for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is oatmeal and a latte. Lunch is soup.

I try to figure out which cans of soup to get based on the calories per serving. Not all soups are created equal. Chicken and dumplings, 110 cal/serving. Mexican fiesta? 240cal/serving.

So I am trying to figure out how many calories are in a whole can:

Serving Size = 1 cup or 240ml

120 cal/serving

1 can is 18.8 oz or 533 grams

The can says there are about 2 servings/can. So I pull out my trusty TI-85 (relic from undergrad), dust it off and do some math.

Notice how you only have the weight/mass for the total can, but volume for serving size. How the heck am I to figure out how many calories are in the whole can? Food industry is making it hard for me to maintain a waistline.

We were in Oakland this past weekend. My kid and I had to head for the airport after Dim Sum with my family yesterday. I tell her to get into her car seat. She messes about; talking about the frogs we got. I tell her, again, to get into her car seat. She continues to ignore me. We are in a hurry. I repeat, loudly, bordering on shrill, for her to get into her car seat. She stops, looks at me and says, "Relax, Mom."

She is 3. I was ready to throttle her. But her comment caught me off guard and I could only laugh. I relaxed.

It was Chinese New Year on February 7 this year. I happened to be in town a week or so after and went to visit my family. I was not prepared.

Since I am a married daughter, I was supposed to bring oranges when I visit my parents during the New Year season. When people visit your house and bring oranges, you need to send them home with oranges. Do not use the white plastic bags. White is death. Use red or pink ones.

In fact, when I visit my parents at any time I am supposed to bring oranges as I am considered a guest.

Bottom line, if in doubt, bring oranges.