Image by Silvo Bilinski from Pixabay One of my friends just told me that this year is not only a year of rabbit, but also a year of black rabbit, which symbolizes creativity, talent and authenticity. I really didn't know about it--it is said that every sixty years, the black rabbit will descend on earth … Continue reading The Talented Rabbit
Category: Diary
Shall We Dance?
Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay Whether you believe it or not, dancing is quite popular in Asian communities here, as popular as playing mahjong or watching K drama, especially among the middle aged and older individuals. I've been observing this for quite a while and it is quite surprising, considering the fact that dancing is … Continue reading Shall We Dance?
Psychic And Digital Psychic
Image by Enrique Meseguer from Pixabay I don't believe in psychics because my narcissistic family on my mother's side believes in psychic power very much. They often speak of their belief in certain psychic readings, or this or that child being predestined for greatness or villainy, or certain inexplicable sign bearing omens for future events. … Continue reading Psychic And Digital Psychic
The New Year Resolution
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay I'm not going to have any new year resolutions, knowing that I am not resolute enough to carry out any of them, such as regular exercise, positive mentality, time management etc. However I am going to propose some new year directions, towards which I can try to make an … Continue reading The New Year Resolution
Christmas Eve
Image by Else Siegel from Pixabay We are really lucky that we haven't got much snow at all. The wind was fierce earlier today, but now it finally calms down; the temperature plunges to 13F (-13C) after dark, but it's not as bad as yesterday. I finished two loads of laundry; boiled a pot of … Continue reading Christmas Eve
I Just Microwave It
Image by Chris Hilbert from Pixabay It's only Wednesday but the grocery stores are filled with busy shoppers. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow would be rainy and then freezing, which makes today the best day for weekend shopping. Usually in HMart, we only see Asians. I rarely see non-Asians there. Wait, I can't say … Continue reading I Just Microwave It
An Interesting Stretch Of Reality
Image by Capucine from Pixabay I read Pooja's review of "The Housemaid" by Freida Mcfadden and bought the book to read for myself. It's an easy and fun read, which is about a maid Millie who is hired by the Winchester family as a nanny. Soon, Millie finds that things are weird in this Long … Continue reading An Interesting Stretch Of Reality
Be Thankful 2022
Image by S. Hermann / F. Richter from Pixabay Pick Up Signals I feel that I have been much better at picking up signals now. Probably because I'm getting older and wiser--I wish. I know that I tend to self congratulate on some partial understanding and superficial knowledge. Knowing that I have such a tendency, … Continue reading Be Thankful 2022
Why Don’t You?
Image by alba1970 from Pixabay Today at the store, I suddenly remembered an old joke about a medical doctor freshly graduating from a medical school. He examines his first patient and doesn't know what exactly is wrong with this patient, whose illness doesn't conform to any of the case studies the doctor has learned in … Continue reading Why Don’t You?
2022 Surprises
Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay 2022 is almost gone and 2023 will be here soon. And I will be one year older, but not any wiser. And life is largely the same old same old forever. When I was young and impressionable, I often indulged myself in the thinking that some exciting surprises would … Continue reading 2022 Surprises
King Lee (Flash Fiction)
Image by James from Pixabay Flash Fiction #147 I have known King Lee for more than ten years. I've always wanted to write about him, but have never come around to do it. It is not that I don't want to write about it, but rather that I've always felt that I'm not ready. The … Continue reading King Lee (Flash Fiction)
Of Mice And Men
Image by Prawny from Pixabay For two or three weeks, an ad and an accompanying article have appeared on the local Asian newspaper about a position called Director Of Rodent Mitigation in New York City. It is not just a regular pest control position that offers a low salary, which is insufficient to pay for … Continue reading Of Mice And Men
For The Right Or Wrong Reason
Image by Marjon Besteman from Pixabay The FIFA World Cup is coming to its most exciting final stretch, but not before Brazil was knocked off the quarterfinals. And people love the Brazil team and hate to see their unceremonious exit. So I heard. And even in America where soccer is not really popular, many of … Continue reading For The Right Or Wrong Reason
The History Of Narcissism (Continued)
Image by S. Hermann / F. Richter from Pixabay This is the second half of the story. The first half is here. My father grew up in a Mongolian family of a half Mongolian village not far away from the Steppe. They would have preferred Mongolian style ranching if they had choices, but as time … Continue reading The History Of Narcissism (Continued)
It Is Interesting (Flash Fiction)
Image by Alexa from Pixabay Flash Fiction #143 Two colleagues come into the little lunch room in their office at noon one day. Non-Native Speaker: "Look, I brought you one pound of sticky rice cake here." Native Speaker: "Oh, thanks, but why? What's the occasion?" Non-Native Speaker: "Last time when I showed you what I … Continue reading It Is Interesting (Flash Fiction)
Holiday Food Reinterpreted
Image by Joseph Levesque from Pixabay Many Asian immigrants interpret English words different, especially during holidays, when we have to pick and choose which mainstream customs we want to adopt, which customs we want to adopt but can't, which customs we want to admire from a distance, which customs we think we understand but we … Continue reading Holiday Food Reinterpreted
More Vegan Food For The Holiday
Image by congerdesign from Pixabay Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I was thinking of getting more vegan food this year. I went to Trader Joe's today to see if they have their "Turkey-less Stuffed Roast" for sale. It's supposed to be delicious--so I heard. However just like last year, I couldn't find it. … Continue reading More Vegan Food For The Holiday
The One Thousandth
Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay This is my 1000th post and I thought I would do something more interesting than my other posts, only to realize that the pressure of producing something better is a little too much to bear. At first I prepared two stories, one is "My Crazy Son-In-Law" and the other … Continue reading The One Thousandth
The Gossiping Dream
Image by Gerhard from Pixabay I had a very strange dream this morning right before waking up and running to the bathroom. Actually it was so strange that one hour after that, I was still thinking of it while drinking soy milk for breakfast. I dreamed that I was with two friends and we were … Continue reading The Gossiping Dream
Cultural Differences In Cooking
Image by Monika from Pixabay I am not talking about the differences in ingredients, spices, flavors, textures of food from different cultures, but rather I am talking about a different kind of cultural differences--human behavior. Many Asians, especially Asian women, are shocked to discover that American women can choose between cooking or not cooking--some women … Continue reading Cultural Differences In Cooking
Stories I Want To Tell But…
Image by alba1970 from Pixabay I really want to write about my growing up stories at the southern border of Mongolian Steppe, and I have attempted several times, but only to "tear them up" afterwards. Of course I didn't really tear up anything since there was no paper involved. Rather I just tucked them away … Continue reading Stories I Want To Tell But…
My Beautiful Cousin (Flash Fiction)
Image by Alexa from Pixabay Flash Fiction #140 "Oh, my beautiful cousin Alia again. Every time my mother posts a family photo with Alia in it, she has to mention that Alia was in competition for Miss Malaysia in 2007. She just has to. And if I don't give a star or click 'like', she … Continue reading My Beautiful Cousin (Flash Fiction)
Different Opinions
Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay This is a story I heard when I was a student of a university not too far away from Philadelphia. I lived in an international house with a rule -- no more than two people from each country. And in this house, most students are doing humanity science, … Continue reading Different Opinions
New Words: Main Characters
Image by lisa runnels from Pixabay New Word #123 protagonist vs. antagonist vs. deuteragonist protagonist: the leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text. antagonist: a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something. Often a protagonist in a movie or a book … Continue reading New Words: Main Characters
A Real Life Romance (Part 1)
Image by yamabon from Pixabay Serial Fiction Part 1 I want to talk about my step sister and her husband. Since her name means ocean, I will call her Oshina and her husband Oland for the sake of the story. I liked her and her husband a lot, and still like them, but due to … Continue reading A Real Life Romance (Part 1)
It Could Be A Ghost Story
Image by Joe from Pixabay I won't claim that I have been haunted, but several strange things did happen today. I mean they are not really so strange that they can make up a haunting tale, but rather they are a little strange that can prompt one to ask the question, "is this a sign … Continue reading It Could Be A Ghost Story
News Of A Runaway
Image by Anemone123 from Pixabay It is said every year, there are about 9% of teenagers running away, among whom 20% come back within 24 hours and 20% will disappear forever. And in the Asian immigrant community I'm living in, I've heard several incidents of it. People probably tend to think that boys are more … Continue reading News Of A Runaway
Hidden In Plain Sight
Image by Jörg Peter from Pixabay As a self proclaimed amateur sleuth specializing in narcissism, I have observed and secretly "diagnosed" many of my friends, acquaintances, and relatives. Today, as I was preparing to do the weekly laundry as a dutiful and custom-abiding person, I suddenly thought about those narcissism hidden in plain sight in … Continue reading Hidden In Plain Sight
Suggestions May Not Work Out
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Why can't I just keep my big mouth shut? Why can't I? I mean I should have just left things as they were in their imperfect and unsatisfactory state. It is a little less appealing, but at least everybody was accepting the imperfection, which was something to be satisfied … Continue reading Suggestions May Not Work Out
Show Off
Image by Monika from Pixabay I said it; I agreed to it; I thought I could do it. However it turned out that I couldn't really do it due to the fact that one of the crucial person involved didn't agree to this change of plan and it ends up that I can't really do … Continue reading Show Off
The Lingering Cultural Shock
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay I wouldn't say it is a cultural shock, although the phrase appears on the title. It is only there to attract attentions, but in reality it is not really about cultural shock but rather cultural titillation to be exact. I am trying to say that there are somethings that … Continue reading The Lingering Cultural Shock
Little Mysteries
Image by Pam Patterson from Pixabay A Zigzagging Car When the car in front of you starts to zigzag on the road, you start to wonder why it is doing that. Is it a pothole in the middle of the road that can swallow the front tire? Is it a stray cat? Well, becoming a … Continue reading Little Mysteries
I Met Such A Girl
Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay I met such a girl and I want to write about her. Well, I really want to say that I don't know how to write about her and I want to practice writing about her. She and her brother were born in a very conservative immigrant family, which means … Continue reading I Met Such A Girl
Caught In The Middle
Photo by Nikolay Shulga from Pexels.com I am not going to talk about all my mishaps in life being caught in the middle, for example my humiliating experience as a mediator. Wait a second, actually the mediation was a success, and the two battling parties eventually made peace and even managed to be socially friendly. … Continue reading Caught In The Middle
The Embarrassing Incidents
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels.com Missing The Cue Have you ever had such an experience that one day you suddenly realize that you missed a verbal cue two years, three years or even ten years ago? I mean it could be a deliberate hint, a veiled interest, a tentative sharing, a statement disguised as … Continue reading The Embarrassing Incidents
Quote Of The Day: Lively Debate
Quote Of The Day # 58 "...Recite a text and then the young monks have the job of memorizing them. Simply absorb the teaching while memorizing in the classic Indian sense associated with the oral tradition of teaching throughout the Indian world. And then they have to go out to debate it. That's where the … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: Lively Debate
Cultural Differences And Small Businesses
Image by Coffee Bean from Pixabay Actually it is not really about cultural differences, but rather it is about small business owners, who have some difficulties navigating laws and regulations. The problem is when one opens a small business, one doesn't have a handbook of laws and regulations in hand. One only comes across laws … Continue reading Cultural Differences And Small Businesses
The Labor Day Weekend
Image by Jeremy Kyejo from Pixabay The Labor Day weekend is coming up and New Jersey is having a ten day tax-free holiday for items like computers and school supplies. I have been thinking of replacing my laptop, but due to the lackluster economy and the lukewarm business, I have been postponing it indefinitely. I … Continue reading The Labor Day Weekend
Learning Something New
Image by Susanne Jutzeler, Schweiz, from Pixabay I really couldn't believe this, but I googled it and it was right before my eyes: If one wants to replace an electric water heater in New Jersey, one has to apply for a plumbing permit and an electric permit at the township. And the only reason I … Continue reading Learning Something New
Praying For Rain
Image by Gosia K. from Pixabay Finally the rain came today after more than two months of absence, after TV weathermen or weatherwomen talking, predicting, praying, and begging for some relief from the high temperature and the dry spell that have scorched all the vegetation around here. It's typical for a summer in this region … Continue reading Praying For Rain
I Think I Know But I Don’t
floating river market Image by rajukale119 from Pixabay Years ago, I was a saleswoman for company X for a short period of time. Since it is a big company in New York and the surrounding area, I don't want to name the name--I guess it will not really look good for the company. Our targets … Continue reading I Think I Know But I Don’t
I Can’t Believe I Believed It
Image by Annie Le from Pixabay My friend told me last month that a lesbian couple moved into her street close to her home. And she is a little surprised to find that they are very normal, just like everybody else. She is almost a little disappointed that they are so normal. And this reminds … Continue reading I Can’t Believe I Believed It
I Won’t Say I Told You So (Flash Fiction)
Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay Flash Fiction #131 I can't say "I told you so" because that sounds a little cruel, especially at a moment like this. However I really want to say it since I told Ro several years ago not to go for this obscure phone company. There are plenty of big … Continue reading I Won’t Say I Told You So (Flash Fiction)
Hitting A Plateau
Image by Pexels from Pixabay I feel that my writing has come to a plateau for a while. I thought more reading can lift it up from the unsatisfactory stagnation, but that has not happened yet. I always read books with a style that I want to emulate, but for some reason, my reading is … Continue reading Hitting A Plateau
Early Saturday Morning
Image by CANDICE CANDICE from Pixabay The Weather I expected the heat to go down in August, but one week into it, the high temperature shows no sign of letting up. 95F (35C) for three weeks now, which has been punctuated by only one or two days of 89F (32C). Google says the average day … Continue reading Early Saturday Morning
The Swede’s Perfect Life
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay The Swede was a star athlete in his high school's football, basketball, and baseball team. He could go on to be a member of the sports teams like Yankees or Giants in New York, but as a dutiful son he gave up his own dream to serve as an apprentice … Continue reading The Swede’s Perfect Life
Weekend Thoughts
Image by John Hain from Pixabay Today, I drove past "Wonder Seafood", one of the best Asian restaurants in town and found that the parking lot was empty. Just one or two months ago, the business was picking up, but now it seemed in steep decline again, either because Rutgers University students are gone for … Continue reading Weekend Thoughts
Can I Take The Heat?
Image by Pexels from Pixabay Remember I have been talking about a friend who refuses to listen or discuss about narcissism? Remember I said that I talked about my own narcissistic parents, and she tried to defend them as normal parental weaknesses or misunderstandings? Remember this friend? Let's just say her name is Aya--a fictitious … Continue reading Can I Take The Heat?
Rethinking Of An Old Story
Image by dmytro_R from Pixabay This was long time ago when I was in college and I lived in a house for international students. She was my housemate and she told me this story. By the way, she's from an European country, but it really doesn't matter where she's from. The story can happen anywhere … Continue reading Rethinking Of An Old Story
The Secret Of Vegan Stir Fry
Image by kakuko from Pixabay Here are some of the common misunderstandings of stir fry dishes: Stir fry is always oily. This is not true. You can add as little oil as possible. It doesn't have to be oily. Although vegetables love oil and absorb oil, we can cook very tasty vegetable dishes without adding … Continue reading The Secret Of Vegan Stir Fry
Future Is A Tool
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay I talked with my friend L today. We unleashed our complaints about inflation and the hot weather etc. for an hour. Then the conversation inevitably veered towards family issues. "You know my mother-in-law had said that she would raise our kid for us. Seriously. Raise our kid for us. … Continue reading Future Is A Tool
Is It Over Or Not?
Image by icsilviu from Pixabay Is the Pandemic Over? I wonder if the pandemic is over. Most people don't wear masks anymore around here. I am one of the few people who still wear it as much as we can, just to be on the cautious side. But I guess the effect is rather negligible. … Continue reading Is It Over Or Not?
Wonderful Fathers
Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay I was trying to post this one when it was Father's day, but for some reason I couldn't get to it. My scheduling ability is almost non-existent. The only thing I am capable of is to run around like a chicken with its head cut off, which means to … Continue reading Wonderful Fathers
Weekend Weather
Image by ThePixelman from Pixabay A Weekend Of Good Weather This weekend, the weather is so cool--70F (21 degree Celsius) for both Saturday and Sunday. During the night, the temperatures dips to 50F (10 degree Celsius). And I had to take the blanket or quilt out since it was quite chilly during the night. The … Continue reading Weekend Weather
Weekend Thoughts
The Grocery Store I went to the Asian grocery store today. I didn't go last weekend and today I had to go. And guess what, the price has gone up again. Just when I thought the price could not possibly be higher--who would buy it if it's higher--it became higher and it was sold out. … Continue reading Weekend Thoughts
Things To Write About
Image by annmariephotography from Pixabay I have no idea what to write about tonight. So I think I will make a list of the things that I can write, you know, kind of like a brainstorm process. The Cat Fight The first thing comes into my mind was an incident happened many years ago between … Continue reading Things To Write About
A Story And An Analysis
Image by Ghinzo from Pixabay Let's just say her name is M. She told me a story, a true story, in which her mother's behavior really puzzled her. She was a teenager at the time, going on a vacation with her parents. Due to the holiday bookings or other inexplicable reasons, her parents ended up … Continue reading A Story And An Analysis
Friendly Observation
Image by djedj from Pixabay I have been watching YouTube videos about narcissists and their damaging effects on people related to them. Somehow I started to feel like an amateur psychologist. So I talked with my friends L who's a very good kind of woman and have a lot of common sense. After listening to … Continue reading Friendly Observation
A Friend Like That
I have a friend who's forever in crisis. He can hardly let a week go by without getting himself in a little bit of drama. Let's talk about his driving skills first. He is a very careful driver, and I don't understand how he could get himself into so many accidents. Whenever I ask him, … Continue reading A Friend Like That
On My Way
Image by 二 盧 from Pixabay On My Way To Be A Vegan Just as I thought I am almost a vegan, I realized that I am still using packaged chicken stocks since vegetable stocks don't have the same kind of taste. Also I still can't resist Campbell's chicken noodle soup, to which I've been … Continue reading On My Way
Saturday’s Conversations
A Friend's Wife I shouldn't have said a friend's wife. I should have said a couple since I know both the husband and the wife. The wife got a job for a year in Chicago for obvious reasons--their marriage is in a bit of trouble. He didn't mind too much but she wanted a change. … Continue reading Saturday’s Conversations
Super Easy: Tofu And “Just Egg”
This is the best vegan dish I've ever cooked so far and the taste is so good that it rivals those meat dishes. It is extremely simple and there are only three ingredients: Just Egg--I used six table spoon of this plant based egg, which is equivalent to two medium sized real egg. tofu -- … Continue reading Super Easy: Tofu And “Just Egg”
The Vegan Eggs
I was thinking of getting the vegan option "Just Egg" from the Target store for months since it has had very good reviews online. However, Target is located in the Menlo Park section of the Edison Township, near those many acres of land Thomas Edison bought and established his lab more than 150 years ago. … Continue reading The Vegan Eggs
Taking Photos
I was trying to take a photo of a flowering tree, which I think is called pink flowering magnolia, the most popular kind of flower tree in New Jersey. Then it suddenly struck me that probably I was infringing on the privacy of this neighbor. I could of course shoot the picture from a deliberate … Continue reading Taking Photos
Slow To Take A Hint
I was trying to add a little shimmer to the above photo, which I took with my phone of the book I was reading, but somehow managed to make the picture look sick with a ghostly glow. Don't you think so? I mean the glow is so unnatural that it almost feels like a Halloween … Continue reading Slow To Take A Hint
Things To Change
I'm thinking of making some changes to my post after seeing beautiful presentation of doodles, shining pink colors, and otherworldly fonts from people I follow. I have absolutely zero art skills. Whether it is photography, drawing, colors, shapes or layout, I have no idea how to make things pretty or why one is prettier than … Continue reading Things To Change
Cultural Differences And Appeal Letters
I think cultural differences become a big mess of entanglement in appeal letters. Time and time again, I've encountered this problem of trying to help somebody with his or her appeal letter, only to find myself unsatisfied during the process. For one thing, the content of an appeal letter is inevitably self contradictory, to certain … Continue reading Cultural Differences And Appeal Letters
The Alternative Life
"It often makes me think about the alternative." My friend E says. She is a very nice, cute girl full of common sense. By the say, she is also a nurse living in Queens borough of New York City. Once she told me that many of her colleagues complain that they have to try very … Continue reading The Alternative Life
More Thursday’s Thoughts
Remember the shortest route math problem from high school? I haven't thought about this concept for a very long time until now. It seems that every day the price is going up. Today, the gas is $4.35, up 40 cents from just two days ago when I filled my tank at $3.95. Now do we … Continue reading More Thursday’s Thoughts
Friday’s Feeling
I just feel that I've been busy all day today, but achieve very little. My mind and my time are all occupied by trivial, repetitive, and predictable things. And when I finally sit down to write something, I feel that I have nothing to write about. I could write the second part of the flash … Continue reading Friday’s Feeling
Poem: Long Time No See
Image by Hans Toom from Pixabay Poem Of The Day #50 Birds start chirping early in the morning. Long time no see-- two or three months no hear of thee. Last week's rain, ice, windy chill, and the weekend's snow squall become a distant memory. Now we cheer spring in February -- 60 Fahrenheit, in … Continue reading Poem: Long Time No See
Tuesday’s Thoughts 2/22/22
Image by ElinaElena from Pixabay It's said that today is a special day, being Tuesday 2/22/22, which is noted as 22/2/22 in most parts of the world. Whatever the notation is, it is a day created for pair, duo, duet, duplex, twin, double, couple. How many English words are there to describe two? I don't … Continue reading Tuesday’s Thoughts 2/22/22
Romantic Stories (Flash Fiction #105)
Image by stokpic from Pixabay "That's like fifteen years ago when I just started a new job. And I was newly engaged and was thinking of getting married in two or three months. One day I was taking my night shift. He suddenly appeared, seemingly a little out of breath and out of spirit. I … Continue reading Romantic Stories (Flash Fiction #105)
A Local Restaurant
Image by Shutterbug75 from Pixabay Several years ago, a local Asian restaurant waiter told us when we were having lunch there that Valentine's day doesn't generate good business in his restaurant. The best day of business is the Mother's day weekend, Christmas week being the second, and around Thanksgiving being the third, followed by Lunar … Continue reading A Local Restaurant
Poem Of The Day #48
Here -- known this done that; there -- still a question mark; where -- an everlasting quest. Somewhere is an idle wish; anywhere is a wild guess; nowhere is a dreaded consequence. Then -- an unreliable memory; now -- a perpetual dissatisfaction; next -- an illusion and a conjecture. The quietness only reminds me of … Continue reading Poem Of The Day #48
A Surprising Piece Of News
Image by Автошкола ТЕХНИКА from Pixabay It's a beautiful day today. When I was taking a break and driving past Mahul Auto, I thought I just drop by to get my windshield wiper replaced. Last weekend, in the misty rain, I realized that my wipers were not working--the wiper blades almost fell off. How did … Continue reading A Surprising Piece Of News
Poem Of The Day #47
Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay I helped a stranger to translate in an Asian grocery store-- the difference between packages of rice. What's the stories behind her made-up face? Her accent, a hint of a far away hometown; her winter coat, plain and practical, no frills; her bored husband, tagging along. Were they sweethearts … Continue reading Poem Of The Day #47
Haoyan Do 