Early marriage is a battleground in which two families send their best warriors to determine which family’s culture will direct the couple’s lives.

If these two made a love child

....the child would look exactly like me.

Worklife

So my period has been irregular for over a year likely due to pretty bad stress.  But when I look at my optician who works two full time jobs  from 8 am till, at times, 4 am--I'm like, "What stress???"  Occasionally she works for 36 hours straight with a one hour nap in the car.  She says she has to in order to support her two children and herself.  How does she do that?  How can life be so unbelievably hard for some and so ridiculously easy for others? 
I would catch her taking a smoke every so often, but who can blame her?  She needs an outlet...

When you want to go to lunch, but...

I had a 26 year old African patient right before lunch who didnt speak English well and said she had difficulty seeing at a distance even with her thick thick glasses she got prescribed at Wills.  The lenses were poking out like a ledge from her frames.  She said school was on hold bc she couldn't even up close to read.  GAH.  LUNCH IS LITERALLY A HAIR AWAY, RIGHT AT MY FINGERTIPS.  MY PRECIOUS BREAK TIME..!!
...
I dilated her anyway to relax her eyes.

I'm sure she has amblyopia due to her high hyperopia...but gonna try making her see as best as she can so she can learn and read!!  Ugh, I always take sight for granted, even though I experienced CRVO.  Something as simple as reading is difficult for her even though she has all the potential to learn...

Perks

I love that Wills Eye is right by Chinatown.  I just shop at the Chinese grocer during lunchtime!  Before, I would have to drive at least 20 minutes to get to the nearest Vietnamese / Chinese / Korean grocer, but CHINATOWN IS AMAZING.  The cost is cheap too!

I am also excited to pick up Sankee duck for CNY and feast away at home :)

In the midst of trials, there is always much to be thankful for.  I LOVE THAT WILLS EYE IS RIGHT NEXT TO CHINATOWN <3

Next on my cooking list:
1. Spicy meatball banh mi
2. Cantonese poached chicken with scallion ginger oil
3. Snow pea leaf stir fry
4. Chinese tea eggs
5. Shrimp fried rice
6. Salt and pepper shrimp
7. Ginger Cilantro steamed bass
8. Ginger Scallion tilapia (trying to eat more fish than red meat)
9. Dry fried string beans
10 Tofu black bean sauce

RANDOM THOUGHTS

i love cooking.

i love eggs, anything with eggs, i will love.  i am like bubba and his shrimps. i.love.eggs.
i think they look so cute, too.  these days, i see daikons/radishes are being so adorable.

i love...
...blistered shishito peppers with sea salt shards
...perfectly cooked steak with lots of garlic, salt, pepper and a sprig of fragrant rosemaries
...clear broth pho, tastes so amazing
...

things to learn...
1. vietnamese pickled carrots and radishes
2. chicken casserole
3. cast iron pot recipes