Just back from Chinatown in the City. To soak up the CNY atmosphere and feel at least the mood so thoroughly absent in the burbs. Crowded as expected with the innermost roads blocked for pedestrian traffic only. Stage shows with dancing girls that would be so heckled back in Asia for the notable lack of slenderness and a curious mix of Cantonese and Americanese.
We went for the chi fen but ended up with curios for the home, 5 Chinese movie DVDs that we have no means of playing (as yet) and dried goods for the kitchen. The trip messed up my well laid plans to get the laundry and docs in order for the all important tax filings. But heck, I have contingency - time is still on my side for this. And the Man would really have to let me get that PS3 or Blu-ray now - note to self: must display the DVDs conspiciously in front of the telly.
We were so bundled up for the expected rain and cold that we actually felt hot in the car. But there was no rain in the city. The blessings from heaven stopped before Bay Bridge. In reverse, coming home, we emerged from the sunshine on the west end of Caldecott Tunnel into sudden darkness on the west end. It was, we concluded, the FOG.
All in all, an enjoyable day of jostling with one's kind.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Whereforth
The sunny spell has ended. You can actually hear the rain beating down on the house. Rare. But the Man is restless. This would be the time he is out there with his racket and friends, beating the hell out of green round things (self censorhip applies) and generally having a good time working the aging muscles.
This has been a strange winter - lots of early rains followed by a couple of weeks of deep chill followed by a couple of weeks of spring weather and back to rains.
Three days of salmon sashimi has sated the three of us. Time to tackle the saba and albacore. People in the States don't eat enough fish but that generalization stops at our front door. Well, at least for this week.
Lately, it has been hard coming to terms with settling down. That trip back had woken a longing for the familiar and the kinship that defined much of my life. Growing up surrounded by the smells, sound, congestion, gabble in many tongues and ties that bind heart and soul. It is lonely here with the nearest kin a couple hours drive away and not a whole lot of contact. Friends are wonderful but a poor substitute for bonds bound by blood. So silently, in the deep areas of the soul, a tiny grain of thought made its way through layers of doubt and contemplation. Two years. An empty nest. Loosened strings and ankle chains. Feelings of guilt smothered and brushed away - it is almost time for me to have time for me. The Man is playing leaving on a jet plane on his guitar. How apt!
For the sake of the next generation, I have toiled and pulled my family into a place with space to roam and room to grow beyond the material. It is enough.
This has been a strange winter - lots of early rains followed by a couple of weeks of deep chill followed by a couple of weeks of spring weather and back to rains.
Three days of salmon sashimi has sated the three of us. Time to tackle the saba and albacore. People in the States don't eat enough fish but that generalization stops at our front door. Well, at least for this week.
Lately, it has been hard coming to terms with settling down. That trip back had woken a longing for the familiar and the kinship that defined much of my life. Growing up surrounded by the smells, sound, congestion, gabble in many tongues and ties that bind heart and soul. It is lonely here with the nearest kin a couple hours drive away and not a whole lot of contact. Friends are wonderful but a poor substitute for bonds bound by blood. So silently, in the deep areas of the soul, a tiny grain of thought made its way through layers of doubt and contemplation. Two years. An empty nest. Loosened strings and ankle chains. Feelings of guilt smothered and brushed away - it is almost time for me to have time for me. The Man is playing leaving on a jet plane on his guitar. How apt!
For the sake of the next generation, I have toiled and pulled my family into a place with space to roam and room to grow beyond the material. It is enough.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Smooth Shave
Today marks a new chapter in the life of a certain half man. Yesterday, after shearing off the unkempt locks, he asked for and got his first shaver - a Gilette Fusion 5. Coming back from grocery shopping, we find a young man shorn of the fuzz on the upper lips and the wisps that had started sprouting on the chin.
On the whole, a smooth experience with mayhaps a tiny mark where the shave got too close. Smiling shyly and obviously happy with the overall experience, he has graduated to the next level of his young life. I am a proud mom.
On the whole, a smooth experience with mayhaps a tiny mark where the shave got too close. Smiling shyly and obviously happy with the overall experience, he has graduated to the next level of his young life. I am a proud mom.
Winter Weather?
Winter seems to have taken an early retreat, yielding to a glorious onset of sunshine and warmth. Not too many days ago, that huge bank of fog claimed all of central valley up and down the length of CA bringing chills through the days and nights. We were out to a law workshop and haircuts and folks were out in t-shirts and tank tops. And it's gonna stay the same for at least the next two weeks. Woohoo!
We had colleagues from Singapore over for dinner and it went better than I had expected.
And we have finally taken the steps of settling our legal affairs. It has bothered me so long and my suspicions that using documents from the stores and cyberspace are not the way to go are confirmed. Glad I waited.
We had colleagues from Singapore over for dinner and it went better than I had expected.
And we have finally taken the steps of settling our legal affairs. It has bothered me so long and my suspicions that using documents from the stores and cyberspace are not the way to go are confirmed. Glad I waited.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Misery
Can someone tell me if I love or hate this new job? I am so torn. If I have no financial commitments, I would walk away and happily. Love the challenges, not sure about the reporting structure and the feeling of abandonment.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Birthday "Bash" Berkeley
Happy Birthday, daddy! Naan and curries in Berkeley is not gourmet dinner as we would have druthered if we had planned better but it was fun anyway.
And brought home from the shop across the road a bag of 3 day old donuts for a grand sum of $1.50. Tomorrow's treat, probably all to myself, the half man having declared himself a non-donut person.
And driving home, my old, slow to boot up but still trusty GPS tells that our home is 485 feet above sea level. Interesting... just about 100 feet lower than Bukit Timah, highest point on a little tropical island we also call home.
And brought home from the shop across the road a bag of 3 day old donuts for a grand sum of $1.50. Tomorrow's treat, probably all to myself, the half man having declared himself a non-donut person.
And driving home, my old, slow to boot up but still trusty GPS tells that our home is 485 feet above sea level. Interesting... just about 100 feet lower than Bukit Timah, highest point on a little tropical island we also call home.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Cold Chills
The Bay Area is having a big chill. And watching Hannibal Rising on Spike is making the chill run up and down the spine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)