There’s always up and there’s always down. I want to balance by pathetic last few weeks with a bit of a pick-me-up.

One of my comfort snacks that I love is “chien tni kueh”. It’s a layer of this sticky glutinous steamed cake sandwiched between a slice of yam and a slice sweet potato (and outside of America, specifically, southern America, sweet patatoes and yams are two separate things. One is typically orange in color, the other white with a touch of light purple)… are you still with me? Well, the best part is here, the cake, yam, and sweet potato slices are then battered and deep fried. Click on the image above to see more of the process.

Mom bought me two pieces. I forgot how GOOD they were. Crunchy, slightly salty, sweet, gooey, starchy, heavenly, put on 2 pounds, and definitely worth it!

Qcast Connecticut did a show on Nutella, QCC 52: The NutellaCast, and I wrote this to Michael and Mr B:

If this is too late for the show, you can still be jealous of us here in the midwest. I guess that’s why we’re fat here. I went to Costco tonight, and when I saw the Nutella, I couldn’t help myself but take some pictures for you two.

I know as a podcaster, I should be sending you an mp3 of my story, but hey, I’m too busy being depressed. 😀 I’m much better now.
So, I’m just going to write.

I got my Nutella training when I was five. The kindergarten I attended, as did my primary and secondary schools (that’s how we call grade school and high school), we get conduct grades too. Meaning, how you behave in school, in class, will affect your conduct grade. Being the good boy that I was, and still am, I usually get A’s for my conduct in school. For both my kindergarten years, five and six years old, I was the top Good Boy. So, I get to walk up the stage, being presented a package of goodies by my principal. And I could care less about all that. My main motivation was the little individual pack Nutella. It’s probably about the size of the individual pack butter we get in restaurants. Of course, it also came equipped with a little plastic spreader. Of course, it was never a spreader for me, it’s just a spoon for me to dig out the Nutella from the dish and eat it all up. Everyone did that. Not until I’m in my twenties that I discovered they were actually spreads.

I’m watching my weight lately. But when I was in my bingeing period, I used to eat it with a spoon. It grosses me out even to think about it now. Eek, sweet!!!!!
That’s my Nutella love story.

I was missing Bruce, the cats, and our home badly around the second week of my stay in Penang, Malaysia. I also had a lot activities to keep me busy during that time.

At the end of my trip, I was ready to come home. I thought that it was going to be hard emotionally for me at the airport. But a few things happened that took my attention away from focusing on the parting. Met a friend. Trying to use up my pre-paid phone card. My cousin brought me some books. It was emotional, but not as badly as I remembered the last time I left the Penang International Airport. With free wifi at KLIA, I was still able to call my Mama. Heard my Papa. I even called from Taipei.

This morning, I woke up to an empty house. Bruce left for work. Suddenly I got this rush of missing my parents. To the point of shedding tears. I still am, right now at work, writing this. I guess you are always a baby in your parents’ eyes no matter how old you become.

I don’t know why this came so late. I think it’s emotional jet lag. I am already looking forward to seeing them again, be it here or there.

Not easy.

My parents took me to their favorite duck rice place on the second day of my Penang visit. Yummy.

“Curi” means steal. I found a spot where I can get online AND will be able to get power for my computer to kill 3 hours.

Is this what fame tastes like?

I went out shopping with my sister at the Gurney Plaza in Penang. We went into a clothing store that my nephews like. It’s called the Extreme. The prominent character of this brand is ALI, or Action Ladfigure Inc. Don’t ask me more. I didn’t get it. I’m too old.

While I was trying out my selections of clothings, a girl knicknamed “Manek” (of course given by my lovely bloated self) approached my sister and asked if I were John Ong. That of course confused my sister as to how she may have known me. She was too young to be my classmate. Then Manek told my sister that she listens to Penang Hokkien Podcast. In fact, her boyfriend who is now in the UK introduced the podcast to her. Small world. Well, Penang is a tiny island.

A little shy that she was, Manek asked another coworker of hers to ask me if it’s okay to take a picture with me. Of course the whore of me tasting the first drop of semi-fame, said yes.

One thing led to another. I’m signing my name, and of course, advertising my podcast on their wall. Yes, the wall in the store. I hope no one gets fired. The signing of the wall wasn’t even Manek’s idea, it was the lady, who appeared to be the branch owner or manager. So, I think everything should be okay.

Is this a taste of fame? Well, at least for a few minutes. I’m not that naive. But it sure tasted good.

I’m glad you’re able to walk with me down the Memory Lane, Penang style.
This morning, my dad showed me my childhood nail clipper. I remember my mom used to use this exactly clipper to clip my nails. I’d sit next to my mom at the back of the house, sticking my hands outside the house on the steps while my mom clipped my finger and toe nails.

I know it’s kinda silly, but it has brought back a lot of memories.

The weird thing is, it’s made in the USA. 🙂

More pictures and recordings are coming. Please visit the site more frequently than usual.