Life with the Two Crazy Dogs

….so I’m back at work today. 

It was nice to have the week off, no rush, took my sweet time to work around the house, went out for more walks than usual and had a Saw marathon.  I have seen the first Saw but not the rest 2-4.  I borrowed the DVDs from SD.  Man, that show is good.  Very bloody, gory, a hell a lot of screaming, and I watched all 4 of them.  Can’t wait for the 5th one out.

Oh, time off so I baked some cookies, cookie recipe from my sis’ blog, Cranberry walnut cookies.  I didn’t get any pecans since we have a ton of walnuts in the pantry for our oatmeal.  The cookies turned out ok but some were very crunchy which I was not too fond of.  DB as usual, ate them like they were his last batch of cookies.  I made some oatmeal and raisins but they were the ones I really did not like - too sweet even I had cut the sugar down.  Will have to make a new batch of cranberry ones this weekend.  Sorry, no pics, not worth taking pictures coz they are not the best looking ones.  Tasted good tho.  They are almost gone. 

There is this big mouse in the house, eating them since they got out from the oven on Sunday, ate so much till he has a blister inside his mouth.  He said it’s cold sore.  I said it’s “yeet hei” or “heaty”.  He said what poppy cock I was talking about, no such thing as “heaty”.  So we Googled it and here was the site we read that best defined “yeet hei”.  Gwailo do not believe in “heatiness”, but I still do.  Then where did his cold sore came from?  Stress?  I still think it’s “heaty” from the cookies and not drinking enough water.

Yep, I went to the Minnesota State Fair on Friday, August 30th with Simmie.  She drove to the bus terminal on Hwy 13 and I met her there in the evening.  I bought the fair ticket from the convenience store at work at a discounted price fo $8 for each ticket.  The price per ticket at the ticket booth at the fair grounds is $11.  We took the Metro Transit which costs us $5 inclusive of the return trip.  It’s considered cheap as parking fees at the fair areas comes to $20 and $25 depending on where you park.  This is first time I took the bus to the fair.  Save all the hassle of the jam and parking.  There are buses every 15 minutes to the State Fair.  It’s very convenient and I wish buses are that convenient on other regular days.

 The bus drops us off at the designated lot for buses from all over the metro - Bloomington, Burnsville-Savage, and can’t remember where else.  Get off the bus, gave our tickets at one of the entrances (didn’t see which entrance street it was), over the overhead bridge and right to the Miracle of Birth Center.

What a quinkie dink with that guy pushing a stroller when I was taking that picture!!!  We walked right into a crowd of observers observing the birth of a calf.  See the TVs up there, the veteranian is helping the cow with the birth of her calf/calves.  It was quite bloody, the vet had his gloved up arm all the way inside the cow, pulling on the chain.  (DB said if the vet had to put a chain on the calf that means the calf is position upside down - leg first and the vet has to work quick to get the calf out.)  The birth was happening right smack in the birth center, inside the building.  There were cameras surrounding the birth area.  I wanted to stay to watch the entire birth, but I was too hungry.  It was already past my dinner time.  Stomach was screaming for some deep fried food.  I could still eat even watching the gross looking stuff, no probs for me.

My first chow was the foot long hot dog followed by a small corn dog.  No fair is complete without mawing down a corn dog.  Then for some pork chops on a stick.  Most of every food in the Fair are on a stick.  The pork chop was a little too charred but it still tasted good.  I must be just plain greedy!  Next on the menu I thought of getting was walleye on a stick but I didn’t get it.  For some reason I’m too paranoid that there are some bones on the fillet and I might happen to swallow those bones.

 

Another food that is a must at the Fair are Cheese Curds.  They are deep fried cheese curds, very good but a sure fire heart attack, artery clogger food.  I didn’t get it coz I know I won’t be able to eat the entire serving. 

Simmie mentioned about the Nitro ice-cream and we found it.  The scream was so smooth, best ever ice-cream I ever had.  I googled nitro ice-cream and found a recipe for it but where do you find liquid nitrogen?  Hah, like I’m gonna try it. 

Our next dairy food and our last meal for the night was Dipping Dots, tiny bits of super freezing cold ice-cream, much older than the Nitro scream.  While still eating these little dots, we look took a jaunt to Sweet Martha’s Cookies.

Sweet Martha’s is famous at the State Fair.  I had to buy a bucket since both DB and I are cookie monsters.  There were “yan san, yan hoi” (people mountain, people sea) standing at lines that were forming all over the cookie booth.  Finally got to a bucket and Simmie got pictures of me with the sweet smelling cookies.  Honest to God, after consuming all the sweet diary icre-cream, the cookie was the last thing I wanted to eat, but I still ate a piece but it didn’t taste the best.  We both needed water and we were full, stomach loaded with lactose and I was kinda worried too since I am lactose intolerant now, I was not looking forward for a major diarheaa.  Luckily, no stomach aches. 

There are a lot to see at the Fair.  We walked along the streets and saw the Republican, McCain’s booth.  So, where is the Democrat, Obama’s booth.  We could not find the Democrat’s booth which has to be somewhere.  Yeah, the lady VP elect McCain picked!!!  What a disaster waiting to happen!  And I just heard on the evening news that Pallin’s 17-year old daughter is pregnant.  I can see how the Donkeys gonna bombard the Elephants. 

Anyways, on our way out we stopped by the diary barn where the goats were residing.  At the State Fair, farmers load their farm animals (goats, swines, cows, horses, roosters, turkeys) to compete for medals - which is the best looking animal, gua?  But we were at the goats barn, the goats were darn cute though.  One even tried to bite the plastic bag with the cookies in it, the picture below.  I even saw one of the farmers milking the goat, the goat that has just given birth.  There were definitely a lot of pregnant goats in that barn, probably waiting to be delivered in the Miracle of Birth Center.

 

From the diary barn, we were going to head out to the gates but then I wanted to see the horses.  We found some petting horses.  I didn’t take any pictures on my camera but Simmie took some of me with her phone and camera.  The horse are such lovely creatures.  Love them.

And that was the last place we visited.  Walked to the bus site and catch our bus back to the terminal.  Bus came, got into our seats and waited for more fair goers to board the bus.  Actually more drunkards boarded the bus and it was darn noisy.  To me, as long as they are bugging me, I’m fine with it.  I lived with a drunkard for 6 years i know how loud it can be and I can tolerate it.  Simmie on the other hand was uncomfortable with those doorknobs.  I have to say it was a bus ride from hell but we were all safe and I am not complaining.  It got me to point B to point A where our cars were. 

Overall, I thought I would spend a lot more money than I thought.  I only spent about $30+ at the fair.  I guess I’m kinda reminding myself that the food prices have all gone up, so I was a little kedukut.  I would go again next year just for the food and farm animals….I should just move to the farm……

Happy Memorial day to all whatever that’s left of the day.  It was a three-day weekend for me and it sure didn’t seem like three days.  The days went by so fast.  Yesterday, Sunday, several tornados hit the Midwest.  There was one fatal touched down in Hugo, MN, which is about 55 miles north of where I am.  A child died in that tornado.  Saw the pictures in the news, it is horrifying to see the pictures let alone if you are there to experience it. 

When the storm hit Hugo we (DB, SD BF and I) were getting ready for our dinner of ribs and corn on the cob.  We had the TV in the dining room on to NASCAR Coca Cola 600 (Channel 9) and the TV in the executive office to another local channel where we can watch the weather alert.  Yesterday was the first 80 degree temperature for the year.   We had a thunderstorm the night before, the morning was cool and muggy and when the sun came out, it was just utterly disgusting.  I hate humidity.  No wonder we had bad weather for that day - warm front colliding with the cold front.  Over at our end, all we had was wind and clouds which soon disappeared to clear skies and cool right down around 6 p.m.  

The crabapple tree flowering.  They were really pretty but after yesterdays strong winds, they are all gone. 

Yeah, SD’s baby is still not ready yet.  I sure feel bad for her being so uncomfortable and miserable.  Today is the actual due date.  Tomorrow is the appointment with her doc.  Hopefully he will induce her this week.  My BIL became a grandpa on yesterday.  Her daughter gave birth to a baby boy name Hunter.  I think he was 7 pounds some thing.  Can’t remember the details.  All of us are now waiting SD to pop! 

Today, I was all rested, took the boys out for their walk and baked some granola bars.  Thanks, Gertrude for the recipe.  DB said it’s better than the ones by Nature Valley or Kashi.  Mhmm, I can see this is gonna be an every or every other week thing with different kinds of fruits, nuts and grains.  Then I made a chiffon cake.  What a disaster that was, but still had to keep it in the container.  Can’t waste food, right?  The cake tast good but it hardly rise!!! 

It’s a holiday so there are sales in every store and departmental store you go to.  I have one thing in mind to get since Friday.  It is the new flip flops call FitFlop.  In actual fact, Barb from Little Chumsy’s blog wrote a review on this new wonder flip flops where it supposely stimulate your muscles when you are wearing it.  My boss bought a pair which she loves it.  She said it gives her a better posture when wearing the fitflops.  It also suppose to tone your calfs and thighs muscles and your glutes, too, I think.  In addition, those who have problems with their joints, heels will benefit from this sandals. 

So, I went to Macy’s yesterday afternoon, which is around my neighborhood to get a pair, but na -da.  I have to go to Southdale in Edina.  I went this afternoon, found them but too bad ithey are a little big for my extremely skinny feet.  The length and arch works good but where the strap is way too loose.  In other words, it did not fit snugly.  Very disappointed.  When I tried it on, walked around them I noticed I have better posture, my right heel was not hurting and my knees were pain free. 

Since I couldn’t get what I wanted, I should have left the store, right?  But no, dear me had to walk the shoe section and looked at other shoes on display showing 50%, 60% and if I use the Macy’s card, I will get another 30% off.  Good deal, huh?  Yes it was.  I found a pair of Clark’s instead.  It was 50% off and since I don’t have a Macy’s card, I paid $41+ for the pair of shoes.  I didn’t want to apply for the Macy’s card now but will later when my credit score is more stable.

Here is my Clark’s sandals I bought today. I think it’s the same as my mom’s? Not sure but I’m sure my sis can confirm that and I will be hearing a load from her. She is the queen of “Chaat” this and that.  Another reason why I didn’t take any picture of the disaster chiffon cake!

At least this pair of sandals does not hurt my right heel.

I was reading Cat’s and Gertrude’s blogs and see how much they like the products they bought from MyTasteofAsia.  I, too, ordered some items and within a week, they arrived this afternoon.

Delimas Prawn Noodle paste; Rasaku Nasi Lemak Mix; Delimas Curry Laksa Paste; ChanHong Sambal Ikan Bilis; Delimas Crispy Prawn Chili; and Cheong Kim Chuan Sambal Rojak sauce

 I told DB he will be having some kind of noodles this weekend.  Most probably prawn noodles!  I can’t wait to try out all of them.  DB looked at the ikan bilis and asked what it is.  Well, it’s anchovies, dear.  One thing he does not like is anchovies.  I must find a way to make the ikan billis not stinky so that he will eat them!

Again, Saturday I went to Cub Foods for my usual groceries.  I saw a good deal on a pack of whole chicken.  Right of I thought of making a pot of soup.  Simmie gave a few packets of ginseng; my mom gave me a bag of wolfberries (kei chi).  Part of the ingredients are at home.  I went to the Asian store after Cubs and bought my usual pork balls, sour mustard (haam choi), carrots, tofu and found red dates.

Here was my concoction of carrots, chicken breast and thighs, wolfberries, red dates, and ginseng root, all dumped into the crockpot.

The end result…….. 

 Not the best picture, but the best thing is DB had this bowl of soup with rice and……

 Chinese soup with white rice and saltines.  Half asian and half western.  You are the man, babe!

Our weekend started with cravings for curry noodles on Friday.  I went to Satay2Go for to go dinner of Singapore laksa, fried meehoon, kuey teow, and siew paus.  That fixed our cravings for Friday.

Saturday afternoon these two parcels came. 

They contained the items we bought from our Ipoh trip in November.   It took 3 months to get here.  DB kept asking me when will it arrive since January.  What’s in them?

 Cafe 21 coffee sachets, Nescafe 2 in 1, Ipoh white coffee

 Sambal chilie keropok, instant noodles of Har Mee, Tung-I noodles.  They will last us for quite some time.  I just love the Har Mee instant noodles. 

Danone chocolate chips cookies.  For some reason, he loves them so much.  My mom had a few packets at home, he kept eating them, so my mom bought some for us.

 These three packets of keropok were from my sister.  The top ones is the same as the packet from the other picture, but they are in bulk.  DB just can’t get enough of them.  The other two, I’m not sure what they are and I have not tried them yet.

All the above goodies that we bought and also were given to us while we were in Ipoh had to be shipped home because both our luggages were packed fulled to where they cannot be shut.  

Mother hubbard is now very well stocked of instant noodles, keropok (asian style chips), cookies and coffee.  I told DB if there is some thing like the show “Jericho”, we will be able to last for quite a while with what we got in the pantry.

DB has been asking me if I know how to make steamed rice cake?  In Cantonese it’s called “Fatt Koh”.  He tried them at my parents’ home, I think on one of those 15th day of the month on the Chinese calendar.

Since he was pestering me about it, I hopped online and found this website call Chowtimes, a couple who resides in Vancouver, BC, food blog.  Suanne and Ben blogs about the restaurants they went, and the food Suanne cooked.  I found the steamed rice cake recipe from their blog. 

I will have to think about it should I attempt this recipe.  It sounds quite easy, but for me, anything easy can turn out to be the hardest!  I should ponder on it more!!

That’s it, it is this muruku snacky thing that I cannot go without every day.  What’s written on the package “The snack with the crunch & the punch”.  Damn straight it is.  I brought these packets of muruku, courtesy of my sis, all the way from Ipoh; actually it should be from Singapore/Ipoh/KL/US.  They are no longer the curly muruku but bits and pieces muruku.  Yet they are still so good.  Both Db and I are trying so hard not to eat so much of these.  He said it’s easy to place the order but it’s not easy to get it. 

Oh yeah, there’s another item that we are still eating it slow.  Remember this cake?

Yeppers, we still have 2 pieces left.  DB said he can eat the entire cake all by himself, but he knows what he’s gonna get if he did.  We had two small pieces on Sunday and he told me to place the order in now.   Ahemmmm, sis, did you read that? :D  I told him he will have to pick it up across the big pond if he wants the cake so bad.