Mrs. Ergul – thanks for the good vibes :) I think it may have helped make this round a tad less sucky! Good luck using up the potatoes!

Mark – mmmm, pickles and mustard! I like that kind of potato salad too. Actually, I like most kinds of potato salads, but I am definitely a vinegar/mustard/pickle type :) Yeah, Jeremy has to defend himself on that bologna bowl thing, because that is narsty… At least he doesn’t do that now! Shopping for my mom is hard because she is the ultimate bargain hunter. So even though she likes things like big sapphires, she will get the absolute best deal on it and I don’t even know where to start looking!

Mollie – oh, that sounds really good. ANYTHING with bacon is good! :) Isn’t that flank steak a great recipe? I should cook it more often, but there are just so many recipes to try! Thanks for the kind words!

Bridget – I like yogurty/lime sauces on fish tacos. Oh god, fish tacos… it’s been a while. *sigh* Gift-giving is hard when the culture promotes so much materialism and equates it with… of all things – love. I think it’s a crock. Good luck on ya.

Joyce – hello my dear! I am sure there is no shortage of good country ham where you are. When will you post more mouth-watering pics of your daily eats? You really need to start a blog :) Sending you hugs and thanks for that beautiful card!

Shoshanna – thank you :)

Peabody – I actually think moms like yours make life easier. Besides, she sounds so cool anyway :) I quite like potato salads with sweet pickle relish… I like all potato salads, but like you – I have a guy who is a little more “selective” about what he’s eating. One day we’ll go out for a meal together and we can ditch the boys and just enjoy whatever we like ;)

Laura – yup. I just wish people would get their heads out of their asses and realize what really matters. A last minute box of chocolates is not going to matter nearly as much as an impromptu and heartfelt “I love you”. Ha ha, we all have our gross foods that we love. Yours is hilarious :)

Graeme – we should start a sandwich whore club, because you would be the president! You are such a riot. xxoo

Erika – thanks!

Gretchen – thank you :)

Tartelette – oh, I have no doubt that you give the most creative and heartfelt gifts, Helen. The people who have you in their lives are very lucky, indeed. I especially love the relationship you share with your mother – it’s very sweet, very touching. I hope that potato salad went over well. Thanks for the hugs :) xxoo

Christine – ha ha, Jeremy is probably thinking that I’m divulging a little too much personal information about him on my blog ;) I think you and I feel the same about corporate America shoving consumerism down our throats as a pathetic substitution for genuine caring. Girl, I could go on and on ;) One day we’ll have to sit down and have a bitch session! Yup, it’s the blue columbine (which Diane knows by scientific name because she’s a plant geek!).

WoRC – oh, you are such a crier!! :)

Eileen – that is such a sweet idea! I’m really happy to hear that she liked it. I just provided the recipe – you did the whole act of making and sending her a really wonderful gift, from the heart. Good on ya. Thank you for your words of encouragement. I really appreciate it and a lot of you make the ride a little less harrowing for me :)

Vicky – thanks so much!

Maya – aw, you’re very sweet. Thank you.

Kevin – dude, you need to score some of these to go with all of that Asian food porn you post on your blog!

forkful – thanks :)

WoRC – back again? You silly girl ;) I think Asian moms really do like that we send them things, but there is the constant struggle against spending money that they have to overcome. As long as you don’t FORGET your mom, then you probably can’t go wrong (no wait, I know some guys who go very very wrong on Mother’s Day). xxoo

SallyBR – ooh, great! I am happy to see that the scallion pancakes are easy to reproduce. They are so simple and good! Hurray for you! Thanks for the hug :)

Brittany – yeah, I’ll never understand that bologna/mayo thing. Gross. A lot of the recipes I love are super easy with great results. Glad to share :) And yeah – men love the flank steak recipe (it’s a beef thing, I guess?) :)

Seth – thank you! I hope your Dad is recovering and without much discomfort. Best of luck to him. Wow – you know how to shop for your mom. AWESOME present :)

Carmen – terrific! I love that recipe – it’s so chock full of goodies. I know what you mean about being Americanized… but if you stick with Chinese cooking, it really impresses the elderly Chinese :) ha ha. No problem sharing – we’re all in it together! I actually purchased these chopsticks at a local gourmet store in Boulder called Peppercorn. Depending on where you live, you might try to hunt down a Japanese grocery store/mall. They usually have them in the little dish shops that sell norens, tea sets, gifts, etc.

Bri – hello dear. I sincerely hope the new treatment works for you. I will definitely drop you a line soon. You have been on my mind a lot. Thanks so much for dropping by :) My HMO is too cheap for Neulasta, so I get to use Neupogen, which works – except it creates all sorts of unbearable pain in my bones and muscles… Oh well. I only have 2 more injections left! Thinking of ya xxoo.

Anita – Asian moms! What can we do with them?! :) It’s a fine art, being the Good Asian Daughter. hee hee. I am definitely feeling better, thank you :) xxoo