spoiled

Here is a perfect recipe to spoil your child. First, bring him to a grown up dinner of hotpot. People may be smoking, you yourself might be smoking, but that's okay, who's ever been hurt by second hand smoke? While he is there, try to ignore him as much as possible, unless he's hidden the baijiu. At that point, try to lavish enough attention on him until he shows you where he's hidden it. Then begin to ignore him again.

My favorite moment was when this kid--who I also know from the office, where he was sitting at his father's desk screaming "Ba! Ba! Ba!" (ba means dad) for at least a minute, when clearly his father was out of earshot. I told him to go and look for him instead of sitting there screaming, and he did...all it takes is a little chutzpah.--was playing with matches. He was about to light one, when his uncle took the match away. Phew, I thought, at least some one is looking out him. His uncle then took the match, rammed it in his ear as a Q-tip. Meanwhile, his nephew had lit another match, and coughed as he breathed in the sulfur fumes.

Another fun instance was when the kid realized that you could take two lighters and put them together to make one big flame. It was awesome! He smacking his mom was cool too.

Please, parents, pay attention to your kids, and not just only when they've hidden your alcohol.

爽 （shuang)

This weekend was shuang. My newest vocabulary word, my roommate described it as very, very happy. On Friday night, I spent a comfortable night not binge drinking. Delightful. Because of construction our power was off, so my roommate and I played cards. Since there are not many Chinese card games that can be played by only two, I taught him Shifty, perhaps the best card game in the world. (Sorry, Mike.)

He was a quick study, so already we've had some good matches.

The next day, I woke up late, did my laundry, cleaned my room, and mopped my floor. By the time I was done with that, my roommate showed up with the makings of lunch. After a few bites of sausage and green pepper and stir fried green beans, we started playing dice. To be honest, I don't mind playing as long as I don't drink too much. I didn't, and things were comfortable.

We both rested, as that is the Chinese way, and I read my book. I also realized what a timeless movie The Yellow Submarine is. There are many movies that beloved in my childhood, viewed recently, have not stood the test of time. Hook is always first in my mind. Who knew Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman could be so cheesy. But The Yellow Submarine is just as cool and trippy as it was the first time I saw it when I was 8 years old. Perhaps that speaks to the timelessness of the Beatles.

The next day, I just lounged around the apartment, doing little, eating lunch, and reading. I was psyched. I survived the weekend without binge drinking. Sweet. Next weekend, I'm off to Shanghai, and I am ready for it.

Life is good.