Bad food is good!

I was headed to the UK for work and Mama Lai expressed some anxiety about my travel schedule.  But perhaps realizing that her anxiety was causing me anxiety, she said:

"I think it is too tiring for you to go on this trip, but on the bright side, everyone says that the food is terrible in London so you will lose weight!"

And in one stroke of Mama Lai logic, she was very happy that I was going on this trip.  

Call Me Maybe?

Papa Lai really hates the music his ducklings listen to.  Growing up, the music that filled our home was Anne Murray, country music and talk radio.  But one pop artist managed to crack Papa Lai's no-pop zone when he send this to text to Duckie:

"This is my new number...so Call Me Maybe?"

May the Force be With Your Butt

Mama Lai took me to see Star Wars when I was young so when I had a chance to make a purchase at the store at ILM (Industrial Light & Magic), I thought it would be fun to get her some Darth Vader slippers. 

When I handed them to her, she looked at Darth Vader's face and said:

"Why are you giving me someone's butt to wear on my feet?"

 After reviving myself from my fit of laughter, I explained to Mama Lai that these were Darth Vader slippers.  Mama Lai said:

"I never realized it, but Darth Vader looks like someone's butt."

Definition of a Good Writer

I arranged a dinner for Papa Lai and his favorite writer, Kamran Pasha ("Shadow of the Swords"; "Mother of the Believers") during our visit to Southern California.  Papa Lai and Kamran engaged in a lively religious/historical discussion and Mama Lai listened to their discourse wide-eyed.  Mama Lai has been hearing Papa Lai gush about Kamran's writing for months.

When we get back to the car, Mama Lai turns to me and says

"Wow, he is really an impressive person. You know...he's a really great writer.  His book has so many words and no pictures."

Papa Lai Invents

Papa Lai invented this.  Can you guess what it is? 

Chopped Liver

I was telling Mama Lai about a friend who is in town who whilst getting his PhD is also closing million dollar deals.  Mama Lai cackled:

"Well, now I know you're chopped liver."

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."