Joys of Having Children

I've been swearing to Mama Lai that my biological clock is ticking and joked to Mama Lai that maybe I should reboot my career and become a surrogate.  Garnering her experience from churning out three of her own, Mama Lai laughed:

"You silly girl.  Pregnancy is the most miserable part of having children!  The best part is...."

And then Mama Lai's smile disappeared and she thought, and she thought, and she thought.   A minute later she said:

"Actually I don't know what joy there is." 

Papa Lai and Mama Lai Competition

Mama Lai is traveling in Asia without Papa Lai.  Papa Lai has been sending me cute e-mails on how to take care of his wife, but even in the midst of the TLC there's always some room for some healthy, old people competition:

"[Mama Lai] is not good at falling, unlike me, so help her over stairs and curbs, especially when there's ice and snow."

Postcard Picking

Mama Lai and Duckie took a weekend getaway at a seaside town.  Duckie wanted to buy a postcard for her friend who lived on the other side of the country so they popped into a bookstore.  Mama Lai browsed through the pretty postcards of the ocean and beaches.  Bypassing the postcards of cute otters frolicking and adorable sea lions, Mama Lai honed in on one that looks like this:

"Oh!  This one!  This one is Nice!"

Trojan Gifts

I received a gift at work that included fashionable accessories.  Mama Lai scolded me:

"They probably think you're not fashionable enough for your job.  You work in entertainment.  Americans are not very direct.  They are telling you that you need to dress better!"

First Things First

Mama Lai hasn't seen me for over nine months.  Mama Lai greeted me return home with:

"Well?  Did you meet a man?"

Dirty, Dirty

I shared this YouTube video with Mama Lai because I thought it was cute.

This is Mama Lai's take away:

"Hahahaha...A dirty little boy...and many years later he will become a DIRTY OLD MAN!!!!!!"

Special 30th

Before Duckie's 30th birthday, Mama Lai generously offered Duckie to send her a special gift:

"Think carefully what you want.  30th is an important birthday.  And your next important birthday, your 40th...who knows whether me and [Papa Lai] will be around.  Get something while you can."

What's My Flavor?

I told Mama Lai I met a cute boy and Mama Lai attacked with:

"Well?  What are you going to do about it?  What's your plan?"

It was clear to both Mama Lai and me that I didn't really have a plan.  I thought I was merely sharing an observation.

"You have to be more aggressive!  This stuff takes work!!  You are too passive.  You are too middle of the road.  Sometimes, you have to be a flavor!!"

City Without Yuppies

Duckie went on a recent trip to Europe for vacation and is keeping the worry monster in Mama Lai and Papa Lai at bay by sending us daily accounts of her observations in her travels.  Mama Lai's reaction to Duckie's account of Warsaw:

"If you don't go there in person I would picture Warsaw is like New York without yuppies."

Will Work for Husband

Mama Lai has always been unsatisfied with the money I make since I graduated from school.  When I turned 30, she was also worried about my prospects for marriage.  Mama Lai complained:

"If you boss won't give you a raise, then he should at least introduce you to a nice man.  You should tell him that if he finds you a husband, then your mother will forgive him for paying you so little."

Lying Daughter

I overheard Mama Lai telling one of my friends:

"I think my daughter lies to me about the food she is eating.  I think she eats chocolate and everything she takes photos of on Facebook."

Make-up

Mama Lai was browsing through my photos from a recent trip I took while on the phone with me.  I tried to describe to her where I was, what I was doing, but Mama Lai was concentrated on:

"You don't wear make-up anymore?  Did you not bring hairbrush on trip?"

Reverse Hearing

I returned from vacation and my work colleagues commented I lost weight.  Surprised since I had a great time eating out, I relayed these comments to Mama Lai who said:

"HAHAHA.  Really?  Are you sure they are not saying opposite?"

Emoticon Fail

Duckie and Mama Lai were exchanging text messages:

Duckie:       hi.  maybe i should get u and daddy a hotel in the easy bay

Mama Lai:   no, we prefer  our own bed.  but, love you for your consideration!  i cant make the smiling face

No Sense Killings

Mama Lai loves to watch television.  For the mid-season line-up, she's especially excited about "Alcatraz" and "Smash".  While we were video chatting she interrupted me to leave to watch TV:

"I saw the pilot of Alcatraz, yeah.  And now in five minutes, I see the number 2.  So basically every episode some people have to die.  You know me.  I like those shows where there are no-sense  killings.  Yeah."