Taking Lead Now: January 2010

1.07.2010

So What's In Your Fortune Cookie?

courtesy of Victor Velasco, 3 slips from just 1 cookie!

courtesy of Ella Y., a la still life composition

I've just munched on two fortune cookies that were left in the kitchen table for a day now, after my roommate had dinner ordered in last night from a neighborhood Chinese foodplace. I read with keen interest what one of the slips say:
"Your future is as boundless as the lofty heaven."

And the second one reads:
"Your income will increase."

Now, the second one got me into thinking. I remember now making a note in my things-to-do-list on blogging about fortune cookies. I immediately ransacked some files I've got, and lo, I found some tiny, tattered paper slips showing how my fortune looked like when I ate cookies that came with meals from most Chinese restaurants on many occasions before. I almost threw them away some time ago, but I noted I could make a blog on these slips. They also get me into thinking LOL. Some of them randomly read:

"Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it."

"The value of a man resides in what he gives not in what he is capable of receiving."

"Planning is the prelude to successful action."

"In youth and beauty, wisdom is rare."

"You are capable, competent, creative, careful. Prove it."

"You love life. You'll be happy and harmonious."

"Do what you wish, as long as it does not harm anyone."

"You should be able to undertake and accomplish anything."

"You will make many changes before settling satisfactorily."

"You will do well to expand your business."

"You will have a long and healthy life."

"Your talents will be recognized and suitably rewarded."

"Wish you happiness."

"Your life will be happy and peaceful."

"You find beauty in ordinary things. Do not lose this ability." [from a Chinese restaurant in Washington DC]

"If you continually give you will continually have." [see above note]

"A healthy body will benefit you forever."

"The will of the people is the best"

"You will become more and more wealthy"
"Don't put off till tomorrow what can be enjoyed today."

"Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn."

"Do what is right, not what you should."

"If you keep too busy learning the tricks of the trade, you may never learn the trade."

And of course, some of these almost-torn slips have "practice characters on learning Chinese" plus lucky numbers (you may probably use them for games or betting involving numbers, or simply making a wager, if you're up to it). Do I pay any attention to them? Depends.

Meanwhile, I'll keep on eating in Chinese restaurants around here. They happen to provide the most affordable, tastiest food in town. I've even made reviews on a few of Chinese food places I've been to on Yelp --- if you're interested, some of them are here.

Btw, here's how you make fortune cookies, following this vid from YouTube:

And it's a surprise that mainland Chinese actually don't have them apparently in their very own food places, at least in Mainland China---watch this:

And more interestingly, there's even a movie on fortune cookies. Here's one from Billy Wilder's Jack Lemmon/Walter Matthau(Oscar winning at that!)-starring "Fortune Cookie" movie trailer (made way back in 1966!). Surprise! Surprise!