Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year celebrations started on the 29th, so we went down to Chinatown to take in the spectacle.

Ahhh!

The best part was the lion/dragon costumed dancer guys. I -- obviously -- have no idea what they're really called. They would parade along the street, going from shop to shop, followed by drummers and the crowds of people. At each shop or restaurant, someone would have hung a chunk of lettuce out the second-story window with an envelope -- one of the red moneyholders. The liony-thing would dance around a bit, make a fuss, then rise up, put it's "mouth" over the lettuce and the dancer would pull the tasty (?) package inside. A few moments would pass and then the lion thing would spit pieces of shredded lettuce at the crowd. So funny.

Then we went for dim sum. At night. No, I didn't have jello.

Apparently, it's now the year of the dog, which -- all jokes aside -- is my year. According to the interweb:

People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. (Yeah, that's obviously true...) They have a deep sense of loyalty, are honest, and inspire other people's confidence because they know how to keep secrets. (Good, good...) But Dog People are somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn, and eccentric. (What! Lies! all lies!) They care little for wealth, yet somehow always seem to have money. (The latter is def not true...) They can be cold emotionally and sometimes distant at parties. (Hmm... hope that's not true...) They can find fault with many things and are noted for their sharp tongues. (That's definitely true...) Dog people make good leaders. (As is that.) They are compatible with those born in the Years of the Horse, Tiger, and Rabbit.

At least they try to make it good to be a dog...

Some more pictures are here.