牛年大吉

Spring Festival was my favorite holiday when I was a kid. My mom would make a new clothes for me and my brother. We would have an abundant dinner at the new year eve. New clothes and a big feast dinner was not easily come by then. It made that time of year so looked forward as a kid. Played with fire crack with friends and stayed over midnight to embrace the very moment of new year coming.

After many years aboard, this Spring Festival is becoming more and more like symbol. We might never know where life brings us to but we always know where we come from. It makes me feel grateful and lucky as a Chinese as well as an American.

We will go with our friends Laiyiee and Bob this afternoon to the New Year's party of Ohio University Chinese Student and faculty association. It was wonderful last year and the party was so packed with Chinese students and professors as well as all wonderful Athenians from our community.

As the title says, Good Luck Bull Year! It is so coincident that our Chinese have Bull year but not Bear year. I wish that all our families, friends and everyone have a better and happier year to come.

MakeOver

I tried to think what I have done for the past long weekend. Really not much. Oh yeah one achievement, maybe half needs be mentioned. I started to repaint our bathroom. Well after three layers, the standard was still not met. Wonder whose standard that is ?!? Another two layers were applied by the standard setter last night. The project was finally complete. I have to say it looks good.

A natural element(Chinese wrap leaves) is added to the new light shade. They feel organic. By the way, Here it is

Go Local

It appears that every once a while, we have another food recall from salad green, tomato to peanut butter happening right now. Every time it takes a quite while if not ever to figure out the source. A lot of food has to be destroyed and wasted because of how the food is processed and distributed. Despite Federal advice to put off eating foods that contain peanut butter, we are very comfortable to make peanut butter & Jelly sandwich since we have been using our local produced organic peanut butter. After the jar is empty, we take it to our favorite Village Bakery and get 50c for the recycle.

So coincidentally Sammy was making this very interesting pasta dish tonight. I suddenly realize that Go Local is becoming a part of our life without realization. We have our favorite Wild Mushroom Rossi Pasta made in Marietta, OH (used to make in Athens), chicken sausage of King Family Farm from our Athens Farmers' Market and yogurt from Village Bakery made from our local dairy Snowville Creamery's whole milk. They are organically grown or naturally raised.

We produce our own vegetable in summer and fall in our own garden or buy some from our Farmers Market. And jar some for the winter. After all, wonderful food and be satisfied to support our local farmers.

I have to show Sammy's cute presentation with Chinese Zodiac figures. Hope that Ox year brings good health and happiness for everyone.

My New Oakley

I went to my eye exams after two years. Last time I picked this Gucci frame. Did I mention that sometimes Sammy just has strong opinions on what I wear. Yeah, He hated my old one and has been bitching since. He insist that he should be present when I pick the next time. Well, I picked again myself this time. It is Oakly Dictate 2.0 Metal frame. Somehow he likes it.

When I took some pictures, I was accused of becoming a Narcissus. Well he just had to squeeze into the scene. I guess that he was just so innocent^^

We Are Invited!

When I got home from work this past Monday, Sammy was excited and eager to show me something. I was ......wondering if another his eBaying or .... Well he run upstairs and had this invitation from the Presidential Inaugural Committee in front of me. It reminds me of Sammy's step mom's can-not-wait showing us her Bush's white house Christmas card every year. I guess that poor Norma might miss her White House greetings for a long while.

I know that hundreds of thousand of Obama's donors might receive invites. We are just so glad that all insignificant contributions together have made significant difference. Look forward to a better tomorrow of this country and world at large.

We might be better to stay at home to witness this history making. Otherwise we might only can afford to sleep on the street in the cold DC winter night.

Wait, is White House For Sale?

I just read Chinese news. One news came across about our old hood in Atlanta. On my way to work every day then, I had to see this eye sore just 5 minutes from our house. It is called Atlanta White House - A replica. It surely mimics in some way of what has happened in WH of Washington. It is like what Bush has done to our country is what this house owner did to our old hood. Now he is facing foreclosure of his own house. He is a house developer by destroying old 50's or 60's houses and building many mc-mansions. They were all asked a million and up. It destroyed the charm and its natural surrounding of our 50s to 60s neighborhood without any consideration. He is a religious freak as well next to Bush. "God Hearts You" is in front of his White House all year around. We were told that "West Wing" is his in-house church. I do not mind that you switched your god from Mohammad to Jesus. Just keep for your own. I feel that everyone is forced to be preached no matter you like or not every time we drive by(it is right on the main road into all neighborhoods). Yeah its size is so out of portion in the neighborhood.

Sorry I can not feel sorry for you dude! At least he has to carry the consequence of the mess. But Bush just flees his one and someone has to clean up the mess. Something is so wrong that if you are moron, be a big one.

Click the title for New York Time Story for this. And Click here for checking out the house for sale.

My Facial Play

Sammy sometimes has strong opinions how my look should be. My hair is cut too short, or I should let my beard grow, blah, blah ... At the end of day, I do whatever I like and he is allowed to complain if he does not. Well, recently he asked to let my beard grow. I finally give a try after resisting for a while. I am posting PWP (product in working process) and let me know what you think.




Inevitability is that we can only get older. We either try to deny it by some artificial enhancement or accept it by aging gracefully. I try to accept with anxiety. I do a few things and hope to delay that process, such as masquerading, moistening or sun blocking besides my regular excises and eating healthy. I am not sure how much they help. The minimum effect is that makes you feel a bit more smooth or tender without much proof. We only have one earth to save. So does my face. I will keep trying hard as well^^

Sammy's Symmetric Setting

We got some fresh monk fish today. Sammy found a Chinese recipe on line for frying Monk fish with Chinese crystal noodle. It is simply yummie. His presentation is equally simple and pleasant.

ByeBye Our Gormie Girl

We know this day comes and still feel sadden. Two summers ago, we found that she had enlarged abdomen. Amazingly, she survived last year and half.

We sent her to the vet this noon to see if any hope. We were told that her system was totally clogged up. Her kidney function was failing. We had to make the decision to put her to sleep today. We brought her favorite - ice cream this afternoon. She did lose her used-to zeal for the cream and still licked bits from my finger. That was our favorite thing to do - let her lick ice cream from our fingers and feel her cat-saw tongue. Sammy and I held her for a long time before letting her go. She was such affectionate cat. She was still cooking while we held her the very last time. I hope that dads' arms gave her familiar comfort before she was finally relieved from pain.

We buried her in the side garden. She is back to the Nature. She will accompany me as usual when I go for gardening. But I have missed her mew dearly already.

Am I ?

During the trip to Adirondack, we drove around besides Lake Placid where we stayed. Saranac Lake is a close town. We walked around and antiqued a bit. It is a charm town with a bit of hippieness. We had a great breakfast in Blue Moon Cafe where is a local hangout. Incidentally we found a local wholefood store across the street called Nori's. It is a very cute shop similar to Athens' Farmacy. Well Sammy found a car sticks and asked me to buy them since it tells very much of me. I did realize that I must have it after we were in the car and about to leave.

Well I run into the store and got it. I am glad that I have it now and stick on my car now. Here it is