Joy of children

There are many blessings in a person life, it's just that we as human beings stop counting them. Each morning when we can wake up, it's already a blessing and if going to work after waking up, that's double blessing.

The day I married my best friend (my wife) brings tears to my eyes, joyful tears that is. I am thinking this is going to change my life. Little do I know, the naive thoughts of that moment was blown away by the birth of my little girl . She really change my life, can't get enough of the diaper changing. Ah...the unforgettable times. As I look back at some of the pictures (guess that what parents do), I said to myself, wow how fast did she grew and the joy she has given to me, real joy, the type that gives meaning to "Daddy's little girl". My daughter always seem to cheer me up after a long day at the office, it's like she has a radar for Daddy stress.

I actually have 3 children, my daughter is the oldest, almost 5 follow by 2 boys, 4 and 2. Not to neglect the other 2 rascals. They are also a bundle of joy as well. They are so unique in turns of personalities, behavior and actions. My oldest son is the sensitive one for whatever the odd reason, I think he takes after me and maybe a bit of mommy. The youngest is all muscle, probably a future pro wrestler. I am really thankful for them, as often I dread changing their diapers, but compare to the joy they have brought me over the past years. I really can't complained. One of the many advice from any older parents "Enjoy them now, they will be college before you know it". I really believe it and it's a great advice.

Labor Day 2 Cents

It's been a lag on my part to keep my blog rolling. My hands had been tied up a bit from my work place, it's kinda hard if you have to carry another person's load on top of your own already heavy load. Your days are going too fast and frustration are up the roof. This is my labor day for the past two years with my current company.

I am not sure how many people look into the reasoning for Labor Day. Most people are like me (probably) think it's another long weekend and WOOoooo....another day off. I got a bit curious on when did Labor Day started and why. Interesting enough, President Cleveland sign this day officially in 1894 as Holiday. Thank God someone kept their promise. It's really hard to imagine politician keeps their promised these days. All of them are looking out for number one. (Themselves) Labor day got pushed when in 1892, the union workers took an unpaid day to support this holiday. Got to love them, just wish they stop striking so much and get the highway built faster. Labor day lands are generally lands on the 1st Monday in September, sort of an unofficial closing of the summer and kids get back to school are a long holiday weekend. Kinda neat way settle the mind for the young ones. That about it on my 2 cents.

Remember When...

I want to declare that I am not that old. My memory goes back as far as 1982. Only 26 years ago. I am sure if you are reading my blog, there is a good chance you are dated further back than 1982, "smiled". You know who you are. For whatever odd reason, the thought of the past came across my mind today. Not sure if that has anything to do with my kids which I still don't believed my oldest kid is almost 5 years old. When people tell you time sure goes by fast, believe them. If not at the moment, wait till you have kids. I was a skeptic, now I am a believer. Where did time go?

I remember there is such a place as Penny store. It's a store where a penny means something. Here is a little list I can remember from 1982, thus my topic "Remember when..."

1. We can use the term "the value of a dollar". You may hope that the dollar store spare the tax.
2. When jobs are plenty. Jobless is an impossibilities. Today, you are lucky if you have one.
3. Gas is at 99 cents. Think how far you can go.
4. Cars are a luxury. Now most people have at least 2 cars.
5. When kids respect their parents. Today you kids are coequal with you even though you pay the billed.
6. Atari game was awesome. Now, Wii.
7. 2400 Baud rate modem is considered high-tech. Today a 56kps modem a shame. FIOS anyone?
8. Computer games are a lot simpler. Does Pac Man or Centipede still exist? Ah..classic games.
9. Life decision are easier to make. What will I eat today vs. what will my kids want to eat today?
10. College degree guarantees a job. Well...it's no longer what you know, but who you know.

The world has change a lot and fast over my 26 years. Can you imagined what you kids life will be like in the next 20 years? More importantly, will there be another 20 years to go?

What IF??

There are many mysteries which human always wonder about and extremely curious if they exist or not. The fact that many experts have talk about it, witness has seen it, some PhD wrote about it; it must be true like the Bermuda triangle. I am sure it exist, it is just not exact since no ever come back from the Bermuda triangle or has them?? Hmmm….

I like throw in a couples of what if to ponder about, take it as a grain of salt or it may be facts. Hmm..what if..

1. Green tea is good for you. The Chinese claims that drinking a cup a day helps to slow down aging and increase blood circulation, thus enhance longevity. The Japanese also drinks Green tea, claiming the amount of antioxident contain in Green tea can counteract mercury in the Sushi they eat. Well, I have not met a Chinese guy/gal that live to be 125 years old (high standards). But what if?

2. We are alone in this universe. Lots of alien theories and many, many movies and witness. They must be right, right? We have many experts who are friends with alien, met them for drinks; of course they can recognized false eyewitness, liars a mile away. What is so difficult to believed we may be the only race existed in this universe? What if we are alone?

3. The government is lying to us. As any common sense citizen, we had a nosed that can smell fishy government when we see or heard one. These days, we hear lot more of it. Most of us are getting numb to some of the lies, others find it more amusing each day. What if it’s true that the government is” screwing” us all while feeding lies to us at the same time.

4. God is real. Has anyone thought about life after death? Most of us probably thinking at the day we fully closed our eyes. That’s it. What if, there is life after death and God does exist. Wonder what your last words will be? Hmmm…I must be dreaming, someone please pinch me. Too late!

5. Your parents are right, sometimes. Most of the times, your parents are clueless. They don’t keep up with time, extremely outdated. How can they know whether this guy/ girl are right or wrong for me if I feel so right at the moment. What if your parent does have a nose for wrong type people? Imagine the misery they can save you. Hmm…WHAT IF?

Secret to Rubber Necking

I want to be as realistic as possible in my blogs. Taking the everyday things that we see and challenges we faced. I guess most people faces rubber necking traffic, we just get so use to the grinding haul feeling; it becomes us. In another word, we just don't care any more; almost second nature. Today I have finally had enough time to think it through on secrets to becoming a good rubber necker.

Here are few of my thoughts:

1. When the incident is on your side of the road, slow down from going from 70MPH to 10MPH otherwise, you'll missed the whole show.

2. When the incident is on the other lanes and there no chance you'll see any of it; you need to slow down again from 70MPH to 10MPH, otherwise, you can't tell what the other guy on the closer lane is stiring at.

3. When the incident is on the far, far side of the opposite lane going in opposite direction. You gotta let go of the gas. You need to bring the speed from your 70MPH down between 5-10MPH or you'll really missed the show because it's so far away.

4. Best one, When the incident is closer to your lane on the opposite lane going opposite direction. As Emeril would say, take it down a notch from 70MPH to 10MPH. Otherwise, you can't tell if the cop is giving a ticket or helping the person out.

By the way, while you are doing all these ticket items, don't worry about the other fifty or so people waiting for you to move your ass. They don't need to get home after a long day of work, what's another hour anyway. It's only a 10 hour day, they can handle another hour. They are just jealous they can't get a front row seat to watch the incident. Look! It's a tow truck with flashy lights, who is he towing???

My Cooking tools

Cooking is really about combining the right ingredients to produce a special result that appeals to your sight, taste and smell. If you are thinking that it's about the meat or vegetables, we can argue that point till tomorrow morning after Dim Sum, then lunch, then over "high-tea", and dinner; we'll still be debating the same point. Anyways, I just want to show some of the ingredients I like to use in my cooking site, simpleasiancookings.com if you have not checked out by now.


The first item is the cooking wine. There are few brands out there and as I mentioned in my earlier blogs can produce different aroma when combined with different ingredients. Here are the two cooking wine I used most often, ShaoXing and Taiwanese Cooking Michu. Generally I used the ShaoXing for beef marinate and the Taiwanese for everything else. Why? You may asked. I find the ShaoXing enhances the flavor of the beef. Odd, but true. Taiwanese cooking Michu gives meat a better taste. Odd, but true.


I use the following ingredients for extra flavoring. Be aware that adding any ingredients with slightly more or less can change the results of the dish. Odd, but also true. If you over spiced any meat during marinating process, when you cook, I guaranteed it will not be the same. That's why when you watch TV chef making the meals; seems straight forward, but when you try to do it, there is a different. Why? You didn't do it exact and you are not supposed to. As long as you come closed, you can achieved a similar result. That is good already. If you are cooking homestyle, then you definitely will product different results, from my earlier blog again. Control the flame or different flame level from stove also is a factor to the outcome.


I used the following measuring items. Straight forward. Nothing rocket science in measurement. I like Rachael Ray on the "eye-ball" concept. Sometimes it's all about "eye-balling". Don't get over anal about how much you'll put in. As I mentioned earlier, you result will be different, just get closed. Think of cooking TV or recipes as a guidelines, you'll probably be less critical that way.
Style foam cups works miracles in measurement. Keep on cooking, you can only get good at it.

An Overlooked Architect

One of the beautiful architect in Manhattan that many people seems to take for granted. I often look at this design, the level of detail that was involved put me in awe. It has a dome like feel if you stand in front of it. Sometimes, I look at some of the pictures in Italy; it has a similar architect. That is very cool. The other cool part is that they did some work around it to further beautify this architect. There was a point in time you can only view this from a distance. Again, as a New Yorker in Manhattan, I have taken this architect for granted.

If you look to the right hand side, another building that has been there for long time, at least over 20 years of history. The Confucius Plaza is a magnificent building, almost like a guiding needle. If you think about it, when you get lost in Manhattan, just look up and find the direction of the Confucius Plaza. This same theory probably applies to the Empire State Building also.

If you ever visit Manhattan, take a look at these two structures, they are pretty impressive and amazing to look at.

Manhattan Bridge - 99 Yrs old

From the opening day in December 31, 1909 to now, the awesome bridge that connects Brooklyn to New York City is 99 years old. 100 years is just around the corner. The bridge houses much of the truck traffics, but also a very convenient connection to Manhattan from end to end.

This awesome bridge also carries the NYC subway in the middle lane. In the recent year, a walking/biking path has been created on the side of the bridge. If you are afraid of heights, then it's probably not for you and if not, it's worth the walk.

I grew up watching this bridge go through "face-lift" from my apartment building in lower Manhattan. As a kid, I don't think too much of it because the paint was peeling, it's got graffiti all over the places and the homeless lived on the edge of the bridge. Let's say the bridge was not a bit impressive to look at. That was 20 years ago, today, money was put to clean up, repainted lane improvements. It is not quite the same bridge that I saw when I was a kid. It's very nice, the essence of the bridge is still there. I have nothing against the homeless, but they didn't quite go well with the bridge look.

First Flower Garden

My family (wife and kids) finally settled in NJ in the past 2 years; we lived in NJ for 6 years. My wife and I are not into gardening or landscaping, although we enjoy looking and "wowing" over other's landscape beauty. We grew up in New York City and there were not alot of landscaping in the area; sure there are parks that looks very nice. It's not the same in comparison to the elaborate landscaping we see in NJ area, some are really outrageous.

The reason I used the term "settled" is that we are actually comfortable living in NJ or perhaps getting use to the lifestyle. We knew that whenever we go back to visit our family or going to church; how uncomfortable we are with parking or the dicomforting idea of walking. In NJ, there are not a lot of walkers, but lots of drivers. This is my wife's first attempt to plant a flower garden. I remembered how she drag my butt to Lowe's and get these flowers. The flowers were smaller then, we didn't want to spend too much money on an area where we have no idea what to do. I was definitely a skeptic and making fun of my wife that the flowers will not last a month. Boy, was I wrong!!! She watered and cared for these small flowers and today, I am writing to give her all the praise. It is a beautiful garden for the first trial run. It also means that next year I'll be really poor. It is really encouraging see such results when she has the determination to make it happened. I guess never give up or ignored the doubting husband and your garden will be accomplished.

Control...the flame

I want to be as frank as possible for this opening thought. If cooking seems or is a chore to you, then you might as well just order take out. I am guessing it's better than your cooking anyway and you didn't have to waste your money buying the ingredients.

I like to a do bit of comparison on this note. The journey in life versus learning to control the flame in cooking.

Most of us are generally are good at managing parts or all of the aspects of our personal life; for example: career, direction of life or when to get married. These are within our control circumstance and time determination. From time to time, it may get out of control, but we can straighten it out eventually. There are times where we have to juggle multiple issues at the same time; it seems difficult at the beginning but at latter end, the steps will become second nature.

In my opinion, the hardest part about cooking is not putting ingredients together. It's cooking the ingredients without overcooking, undercooked or even burning the food. Just like life, you don't just cook one items at a time. If you are following my cooking site recipes (SimpleAsianCookings.Com) and uses 30 minutes per dish; preparing 3 dishes will take 1.5 hours which is not practical. Generally, you cook one dish and start preparing another. The challenge is watching the flame or managing the flame so as to not overcooked the 1st dish while preparing the second. This is a tough and it is hard to offer a good suggestion where every one's stove is different (you know who you are with "Viking" stove). I can offer a bit of guideline: 1st, understand your flame, how hot and fast the flame gets (this will help you on when to turn it down) 2nd, start on high then medium flame (for slow cooking) and lastly, start from low to high (for searing). Proper control on the flame can change the outcome of taste in food.

You have heard practice makes perfect, it's true. I stop counting the numbers of time I burned something, it's really embarrassing when you have guest. The encouragement is for any incident, there is an opportunity to learn a lesson. So watch the flame and control the flame as practice your Asian cooking. Feel free to leave your thoughts.

My Two Cents on External Hard Drives

This is another one of those question someone asked me. I don't think it's really that difficult a decision on which type or brand to purchase. Perhaps I worked them often enough to be second nature in my mind. I'll keep it simple on the options to look for, unlike the Best Buy person I met awhile back who gave all sorts of suggestions; at the end of that conversation, I still did not make a decision the type of drive to buy.

I have brought these three brands of external hard drive so I'll give you my experience and what I think is the best so far. The first is the Seagate brand, then Western Digital, and finally Maxtor. The specification I look for are RPM (drive speed), usually the faster the better. Most of these drive run at 7200 RPM, so pick drives that are 7200 RPM and higher is a good selection. Second, make sure cooling is sufficient. So the question is how do you tell; the easiest way for me is looking at the design of the external drive cover. Do the cover seems to give sufficient ventilation? Is it a metal of plastic cover? I believe a metal type of cover disperse heat better than plastic, but it gets really hot. Oh, by the way, a feature I noticed on some drives will help is automatically shut off when you shutdown your computer. Very neat feature.

So far my Seagate lasted longer than my Western Digital. I had a Western Digital failure a while back and good things it's within the year of warranty. Definitely no Maxtor, I had really bad experience with these brand. I had two in the past and they both "crashed" on me and recovering data was a pain. I would recommend going with Seagate which I brought two years ago and it's have not giving me any problem yet. The recent Western Digital are not too bad also, they have incorporate the automatic shutdown feature which I like alot. There you have it.
I hope my opinion is easy to understand, I don't want to throw all the technical jargon's which is easy but it leave you with a "so" what question. Here are two sites I check for prices on drives and other items: www.pricewatch.com and www.slickdeals.net