madameblogalot

We experienced lots of tradition during Chinese New Year. CNY is a fifteen day event which encompasses lots of family time and tradition. Families must shop early as nearly all stores and restaurants, including the coffee shops, close for about three days. Of course, Reunion Dinner is planned with leftovers in mind to get you through those three days. There are numerous tidbits to enjoy and snack on throughout the holiday as well.

Reunion Dinner takes place on New Year’s Eve. The whole family is reunited from all the places they have spread out to over the year. It is a joyous and festive occasion. We shared Reunion Dinner in the home of some friends. Another family came as well and brought along their Scottish guests, fresh from the airplane! We had the traditional fish and some shrimp and rice. Our other American friends also brought along a turkey!

Oranges are a sign of good luck as the word for orange sounds like the word for luck. When homes are visited, it is expected to bring along oranges to bless your host with.

The kids are keen to visit older family members as they receive blessings in the form of spoken words and ang pow (hong bao) packets with an even amount of money inside!

This is probably this kids favorite part, though ours didn’t mind partaking of all the tidbits and sweet drinks offered to them!

We had a great time learning about and participating in the local Chinese New Year traditions! My two nephews bought bicycles (for their future trips there) with their hong bao money and my daughter bought a bilingual bible complete with hanupinyin pronunciation and a pair of shoes.

Singapore is truly “a city built into the jungle.” As you drive around the island, the roads are lined with palm trees and other jungle foliage. As you walk down the sidewalk, you can see signs reminding you not to feed the monkeys. And yet the hustle and bustle of the city are going on all the while. One of the sights that I feel epitomizes the sentiment of “a city in the jungle” is the scene of SingTel’s satellites rising out of the jungle.

February was a busy month, but not for reading or movie watching. I did manage to get one movie in on the plane while traveling. I had thought about seeing the move Amelia and since it was available on the plane I thought “why not?” I guess my excitement of seeing it and the expectations I had of the film led it to be somewhat of a disappointment for me, though I don’t know really what I was expecting. The movie was fine and I liked the actress’ portrayal of Amelia. I guess though the movie was more of a MISS with me than a hit.

Are you a poet and you want the world to know it? The Poetry Coach has a great looking website that will allow the aspiring poet to gain the added insight to getting his/her work(s) published. The Poetry Coach has lots of experience in writing, reading, and teaching. This looks like the perfect place to get that extra punch! And just maybe you too will find yourself a published poet!

Narnia exhibit: I was able to visit the traveling Chronicles of Narnia Exhibit with my daughter and nephews. I enjoyed entering the attic, hearing the rain and thunder outside the window. But when the wardrobe doors opened and I saw the snow falling between the fur coats, I teared up! Most of the exhibit was about the Narnia movies, but it was still pretty good and had some interactive features good for the kids. I don’t think I would have paid the normal $25 entrance fee, but getting in with a group rate of $5 was really worth it. Overall, I would say this exhibit was a HIT.

The Crystal Cave: This book by Mary Stewart is the first in an Authurian saga. It is written from Merlin’s perspective and begins with young Merlin telling his story. It is a good escape novel. This book was a HIT for me.

Christmas Story: Although I was leery about seeing this stage version, since we did not like the film version enough to even finish watching it, my daughter’s friend was in it so we attended. It was fun seeing kids we knew and the story overall was silly enough that it kept me laughing. And I like how the “cursing” was treated. No cursing was actually said in this version. Rather funny stand-ins like you hear on old cartoons. Overall, this version of the story was a HIT with me.

Scarlet Pimpernel: I rented the film starring Jane Seymour. I really like her. As I was watching, I began thinking I had seen this one before. Overall, I enjoy the story of this 18th century “Batman”. Sir Percy grates on my nerves at times, but that is the general idea. Even though I fell asleep at the end, I still say this one is a HIT with me.

Grounghog Day: Although this movie has been around a while, this was my first time to see it. I would say this movie is rather stupid and I did not really enjoy it per se, but I did like the discussions it brought about with our kids. So even though the movie was neither a HIT or MISS for me, I would say the experience was a hit!

Among the Hidden: Even though I am in the middle of reading The Hollow Hills (the second part of the Arthur saga) my daughter wanted me to read this book she got for Christmas. It is a young adult story about families allowed to have only two children. It is the story of a third child and how he survives and hopes to find other third children. It too is part of a series. The reading level is easy to read though the premise can prove to be thought provoking. My daughter describes it as sad. Even so, I would say it is a HIT. (I particularly like that there is no bad language in this young adult book!)

Cyborg Chimera: This little book, written by someone becoming more and more famous in more and more places, is an interesting read. It is a book filled with science fiction poems, many which I had read before. I really enjoy reading Avatar, Under Foot, Real Life, and several others. Some, like Unhand Me, make me think immediately of Star Wars. Others, I really enjoy, but am sure that I don’t really “get” the whole meaning (Sphinx-speak, Herr Leibniz. ) There are many poems to enjoy, even if you don’t get them all. And as my daughter says, this intelligent author uses “big words” and she does so very well, many with implications and double meanings. Even if I don’t “get” it all or am unable to fully appreciate the meaning of every poem, this short, easy to read book is a HIT with me (and the inscription is a HIT with my kids!)

We spent this past Monday at a special high school day put on by Texas Christian University. It was a good day and the program was incredible. They have done this for a while and are doing it well and it shows. The kids (my son and his friend) left with a great feeling about TCU and thought it might be an option for them.

The morning started with a free breakfast and trivia game. Then we broke into our groups for campus tours. After that we went to sessions that talk about different aspects of college/TCU life. Then we were fed lunch. Afterward, we toured two dorms. Then the kids chose their prospective majors and toured that department. Last, we were given refreshements before heading out.

The guys wanted to catch the end of basketball practice before heading out. Then we stopped at the bookstore for fan gear, got gas, a hamburger and headed home.

The Monday at TCU is a great program, even if your kid doesn’t know where s/he wants to go to school. It’s a great way to springboard some thought into what area to move in the college search. It is all free, except for any travel expenses you incur. (And any fan gear you buy.) We were given lots of little freebies and even got umbrellas since we spent the day walking in the rain!

There are four more Mondays at TCU if you are interested:

2009 Dates December 7
2010 Dates January 25 ■ March 1 ■ April 26

A couple of weeks ago, we had some fruit salad left after dinner. After sitting in the fridge for a day or two, it was kind of mushy and I knew no one would eat it. I did not want to throw it out. So I put it in the freezer to add to a smoothie.

This afternoon was the perfect time to give it a try. Using some juice, half a frozen banana and the leftover fruit salad, I had a wonderful afternoon snack-fruit salad smoothie!

Today we celebrated my daughter and her friend’s birthday a little late. In March, for her friend’s birthday, my daughter gave her a ticket to Phantom of the Opera. I bought my daughter a ticket for her birthday. So today she, her friend, her friend’s sister and mother and I all got to watch the performance! We went early for lunch at Hard Rock Cafe (my daughter’s present from her friend) and then walked to the theater.

The performance was great! The music, the effects and the actors were all spectacular! I loved the way the stage was decorated like an old opera house. I loved the chandlier. The pyrotechnics were just right. And we loved seeing the phantom up on the catwalk and suspended. Our high cheap seats were just fine!

If you ever get the chance to see the show, GO! even if you can only afford the cheap seats.

Yesterday morning I ran my own half marathon! I have been wanting to do another one since I did my first one in January. My foot injury kept me from being able to do so until recently. I was wanting to find a run to do while my family was gone. That did not work out so I mapped out my own half marathon route! I started at the local YMCA and ran a 13.3 mile loop back. I had my water bottles and some shot blox and a gel pack to keep me going. The night before I hid water bottles along the route to help keep me from running out of water. That worked out great. I was not sure if they would have gotten picked up, but all four were still where I had left them. The first I used to refill the bottles I was carrying on my belt. The second and third I poured over my head! (That felt great!!) The fourth, well, it was close to a trash pile so I left it there. I had hidden all under trees or bushes and the water inside was even still cool which was an added treat. And yesterday was trash day in our area, so there were plenty of receptacles lining the street in which I could deposit my trash! I forgot to check my actual start time, but my run/walk took me right about 2.5 hours. Not too bad. I was happy with it. And I felt great when I was done! I think staying hydrated and running in the cooler morning hours helped (although it was already 79 degrees at 6am!) Today my knee is hurting a bit and my feet are tired and sore, but I really enjoyed the run and would not be averse to doing it again!

My nephews are looking forward to their first trip to Disney World this summer. The excitement is building as many folks who have taken trips to Disney are sharing all their tips with them. We have been excited telling them what parks to see, which to stay longest in, what not to miss and what can be skipped. We all have our favorites that we want to be sure they see!

Since they will be going in the middle of summer, I won’t be surprised if they visit some of the Orlando Waterparks. It will be hot in Florida in June, and I’ve heard that the Disney Parks are a great way to stay cool while having fun! Since I’ve never been to either of the Disney waterparks, I am not sure which one I would recommend to the boys. After a brief look however, I can see that Bizzard Beach looks like it would be a lot of fun for them. It is a “ski resort turned water park”! Here the boys can not only enjoy the thrilling water slides, they can also slide down a mountain on mats, even go through through the Ski Patrol Training Camp. Here they can train on inner tube slides, hanging on to a T-bar, and test their balance walking from iceberg to iceberg on an ice-flow walk. This sounds like an exciting way to cool off in Orlando. And if all of this is too much for my mom and dad, there is always the Lazy River!

Since this park has something for everyone, I think my parents and nephews would enjoy visiting this water park. And finding discount tickets online is even better!