Cold warmth...

... and I can't deal!! Okay, so we get the snowfall of the century (or at least you would think it was, by the way the news was going on) on Saturday-Sunday. Lots of snow... lots of fun. I even built a little snowman on my balcony (from a "Snowman in a Box Kit (just add snow) courtesy of TC). I can deal with the cold if there is snow on the ground. It just seems to make the cold worth while.

What I can't deal with is the fact that yesterday, a mere 4 days after this snow, it was over 60 degrees outside. Why can't I deal? Why can't I just enjoy the lovely weather? Well I could if my sinuses didn't rebel every time there is drastic weather change! I would enjoy it if the weather didn't turn my winter wonderland into a slushy, muddy mess. Having snow then 60 degree weather in the span of 4 days is just not natural.

Okay, I'll stop complaining now. In the meantime, here's a picture of a snowman:

Year of the Dog

Chinese New Year Day was this past Sunday. It's the first time in a long while where I was able to be with my family for new year's eve dinner - in Chinatown, no less, so I had a really good weekend. Top that with a 2 hour yum cha on Sunday morning with friends, and I couldn't ask for anything more.

Chinese New Year is probably my favourite holiday - a combination of New Year, 4th of July and Christmas (well, at least for us unmarried folks). It's loud, people are happy, and we eat. We walk around Chinatown taking in the colors and sound. Get Hong Kong Cakes from a cart on the street - a treat that I have far too infrequently. And I remember all the places from my childhood, places that are still there and places gone for who knows how long. It was good to be there during New Year's Eve and Day. I'm not sure when it will happen the next time.

The celebration begins on the new moon and continues until the next full moon - so a 15 day holiday. Gung Hay Fat Choi!

Lion Dance (a little blurry, but what can you expect from a camera phone)