Back Home in Texas

After Vietnam, there wasn't much of a culture assimilation shock (is that a thing?)  Because I came home to my mom and dad making me banh cuon, one of my most favorite dishes EVER!

Aren't they cute?

Aren't they delicious looking?

Drove back to Austin in this mess

Went to a going away party at the Ballard's for Chris & Amy (and little Ev!)

Isn't she adorable???

Played Mafia.  It got intense.  Hence the hands

Had breakfast at Whole Foods with Caleigh on the day she went to go find a place to live in Temple.

Master Thomas!

July 3rd - Months after his actual graduation, my family and I finally were able to celebrate it with him! And we celebrated by going to his FAVORITE PLACE in Houston: Dim Sum Kim Son. We had quite the feast, and some of the siblings ended up picking up the tab. It was really sweet and I think it meant quite a bit to Thomas that my family likes him enough to take time out of their busy schedules to come together just for him :) He's pretty likeable, that Thomas.

Yes, there was a lot of food

And yes, there were some drinks, and yes, my mom participated

No, my dad was enjoying himself a LOT more than it looks...

Sweet Bella Lina

And the crazy youngins

After the dinner was over... some of us went back to Anh Vien's for some karaoke... :)

I Think I've Broken A New Family Record

So my mom has called me a couple of times in the last couple of days. I didn't hear her first call and she left a message basically telling me everything I already know about Good Friday and then to ask if I can also be sure to e-mail my cousin Theresa and have her remind her brother Duy.

We've already been through something like this the days prior to Ash Wednesday in which I got sassy with my mom on the phone (and consequently felt terrible about it) and she seemed to at least understand my frustration, if not care enough to not do anything about it. I assumed she understood that I'd get the message, pass her message along, and that would be the end of it. No. No assumptions were made. After another missed call the second (or third?) day, she called right at midnight last night so I finally picked up. This was what ensued:

Me: Mommy. I already know. You don't have to keep calling me.

Mom: Well, why haven't you called back?

Me: Because I don't want to GRIPE at you!

Mom: CLICK!

16 seconds.

So, my dear siblings, anyone beat 16 seconds for having Mom hang up on you?

P.S. I felt horrible and did send an e-mail to Theresa with everything Mother requested.

Mom's Nuoc Mam: So I Won't Lose It

I don't know how many times I've called my mom for her super easy and simple "recipe" (I feel silly even calling it a recipe) for Nuoc Mam (fish sauce that you can pretty dip and eat anything with). I've written it on a sheet of paper that seemed to last me for awhile... until Thomas decided to be nice (blech, as usual) and clean and... the next thing you know I have no clue where that one slip of paper is.

So here it is, for me to reference forever on out:

1 Vinegar (or lime)

2 Nuoc Mam

2 Sugar

5 Water (or 4 or 6 depending how much I wish to dilute)

Then sriracha to taste (which for me means like... a ton).

When I was younger and we went to an aunt or uncle's house, I refused to eat anything with anyone else's nuoc mam. Usually she'd have to bring her own in an old water bottle and/or ketchup bottle. I know that makes me sound bratty, and now that I'm older and I've had a variety of nuoc mams, I realize that they're all good and different in their own way...

but what kind of daughter would I be if I DIDN'T show my allegiance to my mom's nuoc mam?

Poor Mom and Her Phone Call

Ugh, I just did one of the things I HATE doing--but ALWAYS do.

My mom called me twice this morning. I missed both calls because--obvsnodoy--I'm working.

8:16 AM -- Missed Call

9:05 AM -- Missed Call

When your mother calls you twice early in the morning when she knows you're at work, you assume it must be for something important. She didn't leave a voicemail, which normally she does if it's something silly (like "Oh hello daughter... don't forget to to go to church on Sunday!") so of course this leads me to believe that this must be an important phone call.

I finally call her back. She's in a pretty good mood. She lets me know she's going to pick up my contacts from my eye doctor today. I'm frustrated already because I can tell she's just buttering me up. But for what? Turns out--all she wanted to know was if there was a grocery store near our campsite for this weekend. Surely because she wants to cook us a delicious meal. SO WHY WAS I SO ANNOYED?!?!?! I don't know, but I, of course--like all my siblings before me--showed my annoyance and soon mother was off the phone. Not before happily letting me know that she loves me.

So then I hang up the phone and I feel guilty guilty guilty for being so annoyed at my mother for doing nothing but asking me a question. But doesn't she know how her kids feel about questions?!?!?!?