Sunday, December 21, 2008

Winter hits Misawa

Winter finally hits Misawa

Only snowing a couple of hours, and already there is well over 2 inches.

Zaar-dog out in the snow

DJ, the abominable snow-dog!

Hmmmm, last I checked, it wasn't the 25th, yet... Someone opened Christmas presents early! I think I found the culprit... returning to the scene of the crime.

looking guilty

He REALLY opened his present

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

SOSHA XMAS Party 2008

Our last Christmas in Misawa. Here are some photos from last night's SOSHA Christmas Party.


You're supposed to tell us before you jump into our arms

Awww, the love birds

Anthony not too happy having his pic taken

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Getting ready to do the bunny hop in respect to the XO's b-day

XO in bunny ears and a boa for his birthday

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A couple of my Sailors

Our table

Me and my new LPO

More of my Sailors

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Me and Wiensz,.. damn and I'm in heels, too

CO talking to the XO

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my soontobe former LPO

DJ 2TRU in action

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Me and Ant in front of the XMAS tree

A better pic

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Our spread

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Saturday, November 29, 2008

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Monday, October 13, 2008

How's THIS for irony?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,436702,00.html

American Paul Krugman Wins the Nobel Prize for Economics

Monday, October 13, 2008

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — American Paul Krugman won the Nobel economics prize on Monday for his analysis of trade patterns and location of economic activity.

Krugman, born in 1953, and a professor at Princeton University in New Jersey and a columnist for The New York Times, formulated a new theory to answer questions about free trade, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

"What are the effects of free trade and globalization? What are the driving forces behind worldwide urbanization? Paul Krugman has formulated a new theory to answer these questions," the academy said in its citation.

"He has thereby integrated the previously disparate research fields of international trade and economic geography," it said.

Krugman was the lone winner of the $1.4 million award, the latest in a string of American researchers to be honored.

The award, known as the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, is the last of the six Nobel prizes announced this year and is not one of the original Nobels. It was created in 1968 by the Swedish central bank in Nobel's memory.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Acupuncture

So I tried acupuncture today. Not bad. Stung a little. They put needles in my abdomen and ankles then hooked electrodes up to them. That part was a little weird. I felt a slight burning sensation, more on my left than my right. At some point, either my foot twitched, or I moved my big toe, something, cause all of the sudden I almost shrieked. Either the needle, or the electricity hit a nerve. It felt like I was stabbed in my bone. It only lasted a bit then faded. The guy then had me get on a massage table and put these booties that fill with air and squeeze your legs and the roller went up and down. The girl I went with had acupuncture done for weight loss and asked not to have the massage cause it hurt her back. He then had her lay down and he put needles in her back. She said her back felt a lot better and that she would prolly have it done again. All in all my treatment only cost me 2,000 yen, or $20! I have to go back in 5 days.

Also, I am on leave tomorrow! Navy B-day Ball is tomorrow night. Navy turns 233 on Monday.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

A Little Article I Found on Foxnews.com

Monday , October 06, 2008
By John R. Lott, Jr.

Article Link

When you interview for a job, here is a hint: make sure you know what the job is. Joe Biden failed that test last Thursday. He couldn’t even get right what a vice president does, but the media didn’t notice.

The media is all over itself about how smart and experienced Biden is. Political analyst Charlie Cook is quoted in the Washington Post on Saturday as saying “Biden is clearly so much more knowledgeable, by a factor of about a million.” Saturday Night Live does a skit about Biden being smart, if slimy. Meanwhile, Governor Sarah Palin is treated as being nothing more than a simpleton.

Yet, take Biden’s statement from the debate on the role of the vice president:

Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history. The idea he doesn't realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that's the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.

And the primary role of the vice president of the United States of America is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there's a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit.

The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he's part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive, and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous.

One should be careful when throwing around terms such as “most dangerous” and “bizarre.” But Biden is confusing which part of the Constitution covers the Executive Branch (it is Article II, not Article I). More importantly, the notion that the vice president can preside over the Senate only when there is a tie vote is simply wrong. Nor is it true that the only legislative involvement the vice president has is to break tie votes. The vice president is the president of the Senate, where he interprets the rules and can only be overridden by a vote of 60 senators.

Early vice presidents spent a lot of time in the Senate. Thomas Jefferson even spent his time writing “A Manual of Parliamentary Practice: for the Use of the Senate of the United States.” Modern vice presidents may show up only when they think tie votes will occur, but that is their choice.

This isn’t rocket science. The Constitution on this point is very straightforward: “The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.”

Instead, it was Palin who got it right. Besides correctly stating that the vice president holds positions in both the executive and legislative branches, she also noted that:

Of course, we know what a vice president does. And that's not only to preside over the Senate and [I] will take that position very seriously also. I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chooses to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are.

But just as the vice president’s job includes more than simply being ready to assume the presidency if the president dies, the Constitution merely states what the vice president’s minimum responsibilities are.

Compare the uproar over Palin’s answer to Charlie Gibson about the “Bush Doctrine,” a doctrine that Gibson clearly didn’t understand and for which there apparently exist at least four different versions. Where is the outrage over Biden not understanding what vice presidents do? For Biden, his inability to correctly say what vice presidents do was surely his “gotcha” moment.

Yet, this mistake during the debate was hardly unique. Biden got a lot of things wrong in the debate that are going unnoticed by the fact-check media. Take just a few:

-- Will McCain's health care proposals raise taxes? Biden says that McCain’s proposal will cost people money. The Tax Foundation finds that could easily be "roughly deficit-neutral over ten years."

-- Under an Obama Administration the middle class will "pay no more than they did under Ronald Reagan"? No, the tax rates will be similar to the higher rates under Clinton.

-- Did "we spend more money in three weeks on combat in Iraq than we spent on the entirety of the last seven years that we have been in Afghanistan building that country"? No, one year’s worth of spending in Iraq equaled five in Afghanistan.

-- France and the U.S. "kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon"? No, and it wouldn't have made much more sense if he had said "Syria" instead.

-- Is it really “simply not true” that Obama said that he would meet with the leader of countries such as Iran without preconditions? No, Obama said “I would.”

-- Did Obama warn against letting Hamas participate in Palestinian legislative elections in 2005? No.

-- Do “Iraqis have an $80 billion surplus”? No. If oil prices had remained high, it might have reached $50 billion by the end of this year.

-- Finally, an amusing point as evidence that Biden is just one of the people he pointed to, inviting anyone to have a beer with him at "Katie's Restaurant" in Wilmington, Del. Unfortunately, people will have a hard time taking him up on his offer, since the restaurant hasn't had that name for probably 15 years.

Unfortunately, voters who are trying to get an accurate count on whether the candidates are telling the truth can’t rely on the media. FactCheck.org mentions only one of these points, the size of the Iraqi surplus. The Washington Post mentioned Biden’s misstatement on Hamas and Katie’s restaurant. AOL’s coverage of the errors in the vice presidential debate was by far the worst, though that might not be too surprising given that Tommy Christopher, who wrote their news analysis, also blogs on the Obama Web site. None of these checkers mentioned Biden's statements about the role of the vice president.

Compare this to the attacks on Sarah Palin:

-- FactCheck.org criticizes Palin for claiming that McCain’s health care tax credits will be "budget neutral" – they argue that the tax credit will be larger than the new taxes that the program will impose. Fine, but if the people at FactCheck.org believe that is true and that the Tax Foundation is wrong, Biden’s claim about increased taxes is even more inaccurate. But FactCheck.org doesn't even mention Biden’s statement from the debate.

-- From AOL's news analysis piece. “Palin: Said that it is untrue that the U.S. is killing civilians in Afghanistan. According to an analysis by the AP, however, the U.S. is killing more civilians than insurgents are.”

What Palin actually said was: “Now, Barack Obama had said that all we're doing in Afghanistan is air-raiding villages and killing civilians.” Whether one believes the AP estimate or not, the question is whether she was accurately characterizing Obama’s statement of the job that our forces were doing. And Obama said, “We’ve got to get the job done there and that requires us to have enough troops so that we’re not just air-raiding villages and killing civilians” (emphasis added).

-- FactCheck.org’s first critique claims that Palin was wrong to claim that troop levels in Iraq are down to their pre-surge levels. They are correct that after the recently announced drawdown, 6,000 more troops will be in Iraq than immediately before the surge. But why not mention that 84 percent of the 38,000 troops in the surge are home or are in the process of coming home?

The media seems to have been covering for Biden for some time. While news stories still talk about Dan Quayle’s spelling mistake 18 years later, there has been almost no news coverage of Biden’s numerous wacky statements. What if Quayle had said something similar to Biden’s recent statement that, "When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed. He said, 'Look, here's what happened.'" A neat trick given that Herbert Hoover was president in 1929 and television was not yet invented.

It might not fit the simple template for a 36-year veteran of the Senate to not understand what vice presidents do (after all, eight vice presidents have served with him), but Biden knew less about this than the political outsider, Sarah Palin. Given that they are running to be vice president, why didn’t that story dominate the news coverage after the debate?

Rules for Non-Military

*Rules for Non-Military

Dear Civilians, 'We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation has many civilians up in arms and excited to join the military. For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand. Here are a few of the areas where we would like your assistance:

1. The next time you see any adults talking (or wearing a hat) during the playing of the National Anthem - kick their ass.

2. When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the American Flag in protest - kick their ass.

3. Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest amount of respect to all veterans. If you see anyone doing otherwise, quietly pull them aside and explain how these veterans fought for the very freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the many sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation great. Then hold them down while a disabled veteran kicks their ass.

4. (GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were. Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling others that you used to be 'Special Forces,' and collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old. Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked.

5. Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask them, 'Do you fly a jet?' Not everyone
in the Air Force is a pilot. Such ignorance deserves an ass-kicking (children are exempt).

6. If you witness someone calling the US Coast Guard 'non-military', inform them of their mistake - and kick their ass.

7. Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing yo ur hand over your heart. Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her - of course, failure to do either of those could earn you a severe ass-kicking.

8. Don't try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran. We are Americans, and we all bleed the same, regardless of our party affiliation. Our Chain of Command is to include our Commander-In-Chief (C in C). The President (for those who didn't know) is our C in C regardless of political party. We have no inside track on what happens inside those big important buildings where all those representatives meet. All we know is that when those civilian representatives screw up the situation, they call upon the military to go straighten it out. If you keep asking us the same stupid questions repeatedly, you will get your ass kicked!

9. 'Your mama wears combat boots' never made sense to me - stop saying it! If she did, she would most likel y be a vet and therefore could kick your ass!

10. Bin Laden and the Taliban are not
Communists, so stop saying 'Let's go kill those Commies!' And stop asking us where he is! Crystal balls are not standard issue in the military. That reminds me- if you see anyone calling those damn psychic phone numbers, let me know, so I can go kick their ass!

11. 'Flyboy' (Air Force), 'Jarhead' (Marines), 'Grunt' (Army), 'Squid' (Navy), 'Puddle Jumpers' (Coast Guard), etc., are terms of endearment we use describing each other. Unless you are a service member or vet, you have not earned the right to use them. Using them could get your ass kicked.

12. Last, but not least, whether or not you become a member of the military, support our troops and their families. Every Thanksgiving and religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends, please remember that there are literally thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen far from home wishing they could be with their families. Thank God for our military and the sacrifices they make every day. Without them, our country would get it's ass kicked.' 'It's the Veteran, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press.' 'It's the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.' 'It's the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.' 'It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester toburn the flag.'

One more:
13. If you ever see anyone either standing for or singing the national anthem in a foreign language - KICK THEIR ASS.

Voted!

I voted AGAINST every incumbent senator or congressmen going up for reelection. Those idiots couldn't find their head if it wasn't connected to their necks! Too busy trying to make Bush or the other side look bad than doing their damn jobs. I mean, when you start campaigning for the next higher job BEFORE you even get elected to the job you are running for, how can you expect to do your job?

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Ah, Friday!

So at the readiness run today, the wonderful 35th Fighter Squadron Base Honor Guard put the flag up upside down. Not once, but twice! This is the second ceremony they've done that at. Chief Master Sergeant Boggs told our Master Chief, that they need to replace the AF honor guard with a Navy honor guard so it'll get done right! LOL!

Friday, October 3, 2008

The Weekend has Begun

Dudes and Dudettes. For Japan, the week is over. The weekend has begun, and I am settling down to watch some movies and play XBOX. This will be my only weekend this month to just chill. The rest of the month I either have to work, or have volunteer things (or both), or, like next weekend, have the Navy's B-day Ball to attend (which I was SUPPOSED to take leave for, but had to cancel due to a fracken class I have to teach). No Stargate Atlantis this week, but we have the two-hour Sanctuary premier to look forward to.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Pretty Good Day

Had a pretty good day. Finished an award, did some GMT's, worked out. The 30 day shred is no joke! Ant did it with me, we are both pooped! We had steak and fries for dinner. 7 weeks until I am FREE! Oh and did we know that the Russian troops in Georgia are actually peacekeepers?

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

New Hair Dresser

After two years, and many failed attempts, I finally found a great hairdresser in Japan! I've heard about her for the last year, but finally got around to making an appointment. She did a great job with my hair. Almost as well as the Seattle Hair God.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Thank YOU!

Funny how life and living in a small community is. You talk to one person, who talks to another, and pretty soon info has gotten out. My camera was found! A friend talked to her friend who wound up having the camera. I get it back tomorrow, and I will send out pics.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

To Whoever Stole My Camera

You can keep it. I don't care about my camera. I do, however, care about the pictures on the camera. I can buy another camera, I cannot replace those pictures. So, whoever decided it would be fun to take advantage of a drunk Navy Chief, in uniform, no less, keep the damn thing. Just get me back my memory card, you piece of shit!
Nevermind you totally proved the very reputation of the ugly American Serviceman, you ripped off a fellow American Serviceperson. I hope you are proud of yourself!

Monday, July 28, 2008

And, Surprisingly, Lightening Did NOT Strike!

Well, guys... Hanging out here in Seattle with my friends the Z's. I attended church with them (yes, the Catholic kind), and I am still left standing to tell about it! I cannot believe it. Not only that, but we had the funniest priest, one referred to in tighter circles as Father Chappel, for obvious reasons once you hear him talk. The old biddies gave stink eye to all with young children who were less then quiet. Of course, it was only fitting that Z and I picked the ONLY pew without a kneeler, and the asian lady next to us kneeled anyway, so... we were guilted into it. On the way up, we cried Jesus Christ, not because we were particularly moved, but because we wanted to move and couldn't.
We then went on a Ferry Boat over to Whitbey Island to see another old neighbor from Hawaii. That was actually a pretty cool ride. Will post pictures later.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Heading to Tokyo

I am taking a 4-day weekend this week, and Ant and I are heading to Tokyo's Roppongi district to see what we can see. We head down on Saturday morning, bright and early, on the Xinkansen (bullet train for you non-nihongo speaking peeps). I've never been on it in the day time and heard it is a trip. We hope to go to the zoo that day after checking into our hotel. We are also planning to visit the Tokyo Tower on Sunday. One night we plan on visiting the Tokyo Absolute Ice Bar, which is this bar where everything is made of ice, from the tables to the walls, to the art. We'll be back Monday afternoon. I plan to take lots of pictures so I'll post them on here.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Holy CRAP!

OK, so two weeks ago, Ant and I were woken up by a 5.7 at 0430 located in the ocean on the other side of Japan from us. Today, I am standing in an office at work, and I had just leaned on the fridge in that office when some one shouted, WOAH! I look up and the walls are swaying back and forth, rather noticeably. It went on for at least 30 seconds! Things were rattling on the walls and on the shelves. I look up on the USGS site, 5.8, about 65 miles east of us; 40 miles deep.

Check out the link...

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Anniversary and the Trip Back

Well, Saturday was my husband's and my 8th wedding anniversary. As with many of our anniversaries, we spent it apart. I was enjoying my last night in Hawaii, the place we got married, with friends out to dinner. I guess that isn't a bad way to spend an anniversary if you can't be with your significant other.
Sunday I started my trip back to Misawa. Everything went smoothly, for the most part, until we took off, that is. I made it to the gate in a half hour (not bad for checking the bags, getting my boarding pass, getting through security, etc.) and finished reading my book (good thing I brought two along with me). We boarded slightly late, but no worries, AND I think I was the only non-Japanese person on board. The entire last quarter of the plane was empty. I had the ENTIRE row to myself, and I don't mean the couple of seats around me, I mean the ENTIRE row.
However, as soon as we took off, I knew it was going to be a bumpy flight. We had the WORST turbulence. I about got air sick it was so bad. One of the flight attendants almost hit her head on the ceiling before the captain finally turned on the fasten seatbelt sign. AND people kept getting up, even with the fasten seatbelt sign on. They tried to "hurry" to the bathroom. Of course, the captain tended to wait until the turbulence was just about over to put on the seatbelt sign. Details.
When I made it to Japan, I about kissed the ground. Immigration was a turn, too. For once there were fewer foreigners coming in to Japan than Japanese. There were even some Buddist nuns from Tibet in the line with us!
I Black Catted my bags to Misawa and caught the train to Tokyo Central. Ran the 6 flights of stairs and escalators to the XinKanSen (bullet train) in 9 minutes (took of 30 seconds after I sat down). Then caught the 13 minute ride to Misawa from Hachinohe. I was even home 90 minutes early!
It feels good to be home. A little weird. Of course it is going to fell even more weird when I start back up work tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

China is a Crafty Country

We've heard a lot about the Olympic torch, and its troubled journey through France and other places. We heard that because those pesky dissidents have no regard for people's safety (knocking over a woman in a wheel chair in France), the Chinese government had no choice but to cancel the Paris leg of the torch relay. What they "failed" to mention is that the Chinese government has a team of Chinese special forces guys running with the torch to guarantee its security, and it was THEY who knocked the woman over in her wheel chair, not a bunch of wild dissidents. So, if you haven't figured it out before, don't believe what is said about the Olympics, or the various aspects of the dissident movement in relation to the Olympics. China's Olympics are troubled, and they are trying desperately to save face at this point, in any way they can.

Chinese Style Divorce, Revisions

OK, so there were a few parts of Chinese Style Divorce that I didn't quite understand or missed all together. So this blog is to shore up those bits. For one thing, Xiao Feng's dad had her with another woman, who Xiao Feng knew as "Auntie." This was the woman who died early on in the show, and the reason why the mom had Xiao Feng go with the dad to the funeral. I guess the mother adopted her when they met and married. Gao Song took a promotion and moved to Tibet. That be about it...

Friday, April 4, 2008

Chinese Style Divorce Chapter 23

OK peeps. Here it is. The long awaited Chapter 23. Thanks for hanging in there with me.
Xiao Feng’s mom wakes up in the hospital with dad by her side. Dan Dan is at the grandparent’s house being spoon fed soup by his mom. Uncle is hanging around, too. Tells her that their parents are coming home, she says she’ll leave. He tells her no, don’t.
Dong Bei and Gao Song are having a drink together with dinner. He tells Gao Song that he wants to divorce his new wife because he is still in love with Qun Zi. Then he breaks a bottle over Gao Song’s head. Gao Song just looks at him in surprise as blood starts to poor down his face.
Mom is lamenting on her children and grandchildren’s lives. Then takes off her jade bracelet for her husband to give her daughter.
Xiao Feng goes back the apartment and surveys the damage she caused. She looks at the broken glass of the windows. Gao Song is in the hospital with a bandage on his head, lamenting to Qun Zi about Xiao Feng. Xiao Feng shows up to the hospital, and sees Qun Zi in the room with her husband. She stops outside the door to listen. He goes on about how sometimes no matter how much you love someone, you cannot make it know to them. He starts to cry… So does Xiao Feng outside the door. He goes on about how angry she is, and he doesn’t know why. Qun Zi tells him she loves him, but he says she is a child, and knows nothing about such things. He goes on about how much he still loves Xiao Feng. Now everyone is crying. He asks Qun Zi to leave. Xiao Feng leaves, too.
Mom is getting tired, tells dad so. He tells her to go ahead and rest, knowing full well that she is prolly about to die. She tells him to not be sad, to go to sleep, too. Next, Xiao Li visits Gao Song in the hospital. Asks if he is going to divorce Xiao Feng. He thinks awhile. Then says it is too troubling. Shakes her hand as she leaves.
Qun Zi finds Dong Bei hanging around the hospital. She actually decides to talk to him. They look at each other a while. Dong Bei hopeful… oops, nope. Qun Zi smacks him nice and hard right across the face. He’s like, ok, yeah, I deserved that. Off she walks. Good Girl!!!!
Later when the nurse comes to give mom her medicine, dad can’t wake her. She’s died. Gao Song, newly released from the hospital, walks in on that sad scene. He leaves, letting them be. Next scene, the funeral attended by Dad, Xiao Feng, Brother, and Dan Dan. They try and get dad to leave the plot, but he has to be pulled away. He is overcome with grief. Xiao Feng supports him as they walk back to the car. He hands her her mom’s jade bracelet. Tells her her mom loved her, wanted her to live well. Tells Xiao Feng that she has another sister. Her mother knew about it. It was with her mother’s sister. He’d spent the rest of her mother’s life trying to make it up to her. Xiao Feng walks away in utter shock. Gao Song spends the night in bed awake, alone. Xiao Feng spends the night alone on the dock, thinking. The dad spends the night looking at his wife’s picture. Xiao Feng calls Gao Song on his cell. She tells him they need to talk. He asks if they can do it over the phone, she says no, face-to-face. He says he doesn’t have time. He’s sorry. Gao Song heads to the Christmas party. He gets up and gives the speech he should have given last year. He thanks his bosses for giving him the opportunity. He apologizes for the trouble he’s caused. They drink to his boss. Xiao Feng shows up in the back. Everyone turns to look, wondering what will happen. He says he needs to thank his wife, for without her, he wouldn’t be there. He tells her he misses her and walks off the stage. Xiao Feng stays in the back of the room then asks if she can speak. They give her the stage. She tells them about her other sister. And how her parents forgave each other. She tells her husband she loves him. They’d been married for over 10 years, and they’d both forgotten that they loved one another. She says that if he decides not to stay with her, she’ll grant him a divorce.
They then return to the refurbished home. They just stand in silence for a while. Gao song looking at Xiao Feng, Xiao Feng looking out the window. She finally speaks his name, he walks over to her. Touches her face, kisses her. Then the camera pans to the divorce document.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Chinese Style Divorce Chapter 22

Xiao Feng is back at her apartment, grinding up her pain pills. Dumps the concoction into two wine glasses. Qun Zi shows up, driven by Gao Song. She carries a huge bouquet of flowers to give Xiao Feng. Qun Zi talks Gao Song into letting her go alone. But he insists on coming up if only for a moment. Xiao Feng can’t remember whose glass she put the drugs into, and tries to switch glasses with Qun Zi. Gao Song is asked to join them in their meal of appeasement.
Dong Bei goes over to Qun Zi’s house. She isn’t there. He calls her apartment. She isn’t there idiot! He then tries her cell. She answers asking where she is. He wants her to leave and come see him. She tells him to go to hell. She continues her meal with the estranged couple. Having not been able to switch the glasses, Xiao Feng offers a toast. She goes back into the kitchen and washes down the pills into the sink.
Dong Bei comes rushing in while dinner is going on. Qun Zi takes her leave to deal with Dong Bei leaving Gao Song and Xiao Feng alone. They sit in silence. Xiao Feng finally says she should go. Gao Song tells her go, then! She storms out. Her brother is waiting for her outside. He wants to know how it all went.
Dong Bei is angry at Qun Zi’s anger. Isn’t she the one who wanted the divorce? Qun Zi says she is in love with some one. Who he asks? She walks off.
Xiao Feng tries to get Dan Dan to drink his milk. He complains of a stomachache. She is getting upset with him not drinking his milk again. He spills it, she knocks him down. He head is bleeding, bad. She calls Gao Song, who is eating noodles alone, to come help. Brother is holding him on the front seat, trying to staunch the bleeding. They get to the hospital, Xiao Feng waits nervously in the waiting room. Gao Song and her get into it. He wants to know what happened. He has some stitches in the end, but is fine. Xiao Feng agrees to go back to the apartment, as that is where Dan Dan wants to be. They all sleep in bed together.
Next day, Gao Song is called into his bosses office. The boss tells him they are thinking about letting him go. That night, Xiao Feng asks to have a chat with Gao Song. He tells her to go ahead. She talks about how they’ve been together 10 years, that Dan Dan isn’t that old. Their relationship is having a negative impact on Dan Dan. She is really trying here, but he laughs her off. She storms back into their bedroom. Gao Song sleeps that night at work. Xiao Feng spends the time online chatting with her “friend.”
Dong Bei goes back to see Qun Zi at her apartment. She doesn’t let him in. He calls her apartment. She doesn’t answer. He calls her cell phone. She doesn’t answer. He calls Gao Song, who’s at the hospital. Decides to meet him there. Gao Song and Xiao Feng are still chatting. Xiao Feng decides she wants to “meet” him. Will Gao Song finally have his proof to earn a divorce? He agrees to meet with her. Of course, as they are setting up the place and time, Gao Song is called away for a surgery. Xiao Feng continues her discussion with Dong Bei.
The next day, Dong Bei meets with Qun Zi. He asks who she is in love with. She tells him none of his business and storms off. Xiao Feng anxiously awaits her online lover. Gao Song watches her from afar. He then approaches her and asks who she is waiting for. They go home, he shows her all her emails and chats he’s printed out over the weeks and months. She starts destroying the place. Goes wild. Breaks windows, pots, tables, lamps, the computer… EVERYTHING is fair game. Gao Song just stands and watches. Dan Dan cowers in his room. After the house is severely destroyed, and there is a lull in the noise, Dan Dan comes out of his room with a little knife and begins to cut himself. He is rushed to the hospital where they are met by the rest of the family. They all crowd around him when he comes out with his wounds stitched up. Xiao Feng’s mom takes it particularly hard and slaps her daughter, HARD. Says she is ashamed of her as a daughter, then collapses with a heart attack from all the excitement.
Next day, Gao Song walks into his office followed by his students. Finds Xiao Feng in his office. They all give their condolences. He asks them to leave, she tells them not to. That she wants them all to hear what she has to say. She tells him that he doesn’t have any feelings for her or their son. He doesn’t care for anyone. He has no one. He is no one. He leaves, head down. Xiao Feng calls after him. He turns, shakes his head, and walks out. She then breaks the window to his office and prepares to jump. They all just stare at her. Gao Song gets down on his knees in shock and horror. Xiao Feng turns and looks at him, he bows to her, eyes wide and pleading… He lowers his head and cries.

Chinese Style Divorce Chapter 21

When Xiao Feng’s brother goes to talk to Gao Song, Gao Song is already packed and ready to leave. He tells the bro that he still loves Xiao Feng, but too many things have gotten in the way. They have nothing in common anymore. He knows she hates him… divorce is the only way they both can be happy. Brother goes to take his leave, but runs into Xiao Feng on the way out. She rushes in to see what damage her brother has caused to Gao Song now. She sees the bags, asks where he is going. He says, she already knows. They fight, she storms out, taking her brother with her.
Later, as she sits in shock at her parents’ house, her brother tries to talk her down. She refuses a divorce. She insists he was seeing another woman, that she saw it with her own eyes. THAT is why he wants a divorce, she says. She goes to see a lawyer. See what she can do.
Xiao Feng goes back to the doctor. He says she is better, but he is still concerned.
She goes with her brother to buy a video cameral, maybe to catch him in the act so she can have evidence against him???
Qun Zi runs into Gao Song out in town. She has her neighbor with her. They talk.
That night, Xiao Feng sneaks out to spy on Gao Song. If it isn’t a woman, she doesn’t know why her marriage is failing. She returns home, takes off her shoes, puts them away, and sneaks around the house. Gao Song is asleep, she video’s it and leaves. She continues to video tape Gao Song. Even outside his work, talking to Qun Zi. Of course, He gives her a ride somewhere, opens the door for her… She just continues to video tape them, going out with friends, etc. She follows them EVERYWHERE. ALL the time. American PI’s have nothing on Xiao Feng.
She takes the tape to her lawyer, who asks how often they were together. Xiao Feng responds day after day… basically says that, according to the law, it isn’t enough to prove he is having an affair.
Qun Zi is out with her neighbor drinking and crying. He takes her home.
Xiao Feng sneaks back into their apartment. Gao Song isn’t home, yet. It is almost 2am! WTF!!! Qun Zi stumbles into her apartment with her neighbor helping her. Xiao Feng pulls up to the apartment building… Qun Zi passes out on the bed, her neighbor tries to rape her. Xiao Feng thinks it is Gao Song and bangs on the door. Qun Zi escapes and opens the door to let her in. Xiao Feng storms in only to see an empty apartment as asshat escapes down the pole. She slaps Qun Zi and storms back home, wakes the now home Gao Song and cusses him out. She goes back to her parents to tell her bro, he isn’t buying it. He asks if she is sure it was him.
Next day at work, Qun Zi walks in with a puffy face from the face slap Xiao Feng gave her. Yells at Gao Song about it. He is shocked, SHOCKED I tell you!
Xiao Feng is now testing a voice recorder, playing with Dan Dan. She leaves it hidden in the house as she tries to get Gao Song to confess. He tells her about the night of the storm, when she followed him originally. He tells her what really happened, about Qun Zi finding out about Dong Bei’s marriage, and her getting upset. He went to calm her down, you see. She isn’t buying it. He yells at her for hitting people. She tells him to go to hell. He storms out. She takes her recorder and leaves with her brother.
She storms into his boss’s office the next day. Boss calls security and asks to have Gao Song brought to his office.
Xiao Feng calls and apologizes to Qun Zi. She now buys what happened that night. Asks Qun Zi to come meet her. Qun Zi tells her she’ll be there. Xiao Feng takes a camera, and her pills?

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Chinese Style Divorce Chapter 20

Chapter 20 sees Gao Song filling out divorce paperwork. He leaves it on Xiao Feng’s computer desk. She rips it up, too. Xiao Feng tells her “lover” that she doesn’t’ know what to do. Her parents health isn’t so good and Dan Dan is still so young.
Gao Song goes out clubbing with Qun Zi. Though, he doesn’t do much besides sit at the bar and drink while Qun Zi throws some epileptic fit that, I guess passes for dancing on the China Club scene. He then leaves, Qun Zi follows saying she’ll leave with him. He tries to tell her no, he’ll get a ride home, but she goes to leave anyway. She and her friends drag him to her house. More drinks all around. He actually turns it down once again. Xiao Feng calls Qun Zi, she lies for Gao Song. They then leave. Xiao Feng sees Gao Song get out of the cab with Qun Zi in it. She isn’t happy.
The next day, Qun Zi asks Gao Song if Xiao Feng suspected anything because she wasn’t answering or returning her calls. He says no. He goes out again the next night to the club scene. If you think Qun Zi was having an epileptic fit, Gao Song was doing an even better impression, off in a corner, all by himself. Working out some issues. Qun Zi sees him and cries (have no clue why, other than maybe his dancing was causing her actual, physical pain).
Again, Xiao Feng waits for him, this time seeing him pace outside the house. He hangs with Dong Bei the next day. Plays pool. Dong Bei tells him how he now understands it all. He asks how Qun Zi is. Gao Song tells him she’s fine. Hanging with friends. Qun Zi is supposed to have plans with Dong Bei later that night. But he never shows. She goes to his house and finds the locks are changed, her key no longer works. She comes face to face with the new little lady.
Qun Zi calls Gao Song in tears. Telling him she needs his help. He lies to Xiao Feng telling her work called, he needs to go in. It is storming something fierce outside. She doesn’t believe him. Gets dressed and follows him out (and where is Dan Dan, you ask? Your guess is as good as mine).
Dong Bei and the new little lady are hanging out at home. Dong Bei is agitated. He seems to be having second thoughts on his second marriage. He is worried about Qun Zi. Meanwhile, Xiao Feng is in a cab following Gao Song. He meets up with Qun Zi who asks if he knew about Dong Bei and why didn’t he tell her… (I guess she didn’t really know, oops). She is ready to commit harry-carry! He apologizes, says it is for her own good… she says whatever… she goes crazy, of course, this is when Xiao Feng drives up in her taxi, to see him wrestling with her, trying to keep her safe, trying to get her into his car. Now she thinks he is sleeping with Qun Zi. Dong Bei comes running over to Qun Zi’s to check on her. Of course, she is out, having a melt down. He sits on her stoop, worrying. Here comes Qun Zi, escorted by Gao Song. She thanks him, apologizes and goes upstairs to her apartment. Qun Zi meets up with a worried Dong Bei who is also very jealous. She tells him to drop dead and runs into her apartment.
Gao Song leaves. Its pouring, and there, of course, waiting for him outside, is Xiao Feng. PISSED AS ALL HELL. He tries to explain, but she is livid. Wild. She slaps him, HARD. Crumbles down the stairs of the building, having fallen and hurting her back. But she refuses help from him. Now he’s just had the night from hell.
Later, Dan Dan is sleeping with Xiao Feng, her back still hurting. She asks him to look at her back. Her back is bruised as hell. Dan Dan is worried. She makes it to the doctor the next day. He tells her she’s bruised and needs to take it easy (gee thanks, ASS!). Gao Song makes it home and finds her X-rays. HE takes a look at them.
Xiao Feng’s older brother comes once again for a visit. He asks about the parents. They decide to take a taxi, as Xiao Feng Cannot drive. Dan Dan tells her that his mom and dad fought, and she got hurt. She goes to her parents to help with dinner. Asks where her brother is. Mom tells her he went to her house. Xiao Feng is in a panic, and in pain, as she races back home to stop her brother from beating the crap out of her husband. Too late, bro is waiting for Gao Song. IT IS ON!!! He tries to explain it to bro, but he isn’t hearing it. Bro warned him about hitting women! Hitting his sister is even worse. Starts counting down. Xiao Feng is slowly making it up the stairs. Makes it in just in time to stop the beat down. ALMOST. He pushes Xiao Feng aside and punches the crap out of Gao Song. She tells him it wasn’t his fault, her injury. Tells him to leave. They ride back in relative silence, which broke long enough for her to tell her bro not to tell the rents.
They go back to the parents house to celebrate mom’s b-day. She is sorry Gao Song couldn’t make it. Xiao Feng makes his regards, saying he had something at work. Ma calls Gao Song, he says he’s sick. She tells him to take care of his health. Dad gets mom a read coat.
Next day, Dan Dan is riding with uncle. They are talking (AGAIN! No seat belts, none, zip, nada). Dan Dan says he’s scared. Xiao Feng’s bro tells him not to be. It will all be alright. Bro goes to see Gao Song. Bro asks if they could talk. Dan Dan tells Xiao Feng that uncle is at home, talking to dad. She rushes out, again… (did I mention that you can see their breaths INSIDE during this last scene?)

Could YOU Pass This Citizenship Test?




You Passed the US Citizenship Test



Congratulations - you got 8 out of 10 correct!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Chinese Style Divorce Chapter 19

Xiao Feng tries to get Dan Dan to drink some milk before bed. He says he doesn’t want to. Xiao Feng gets midievil on his ass. Gao Song stops her. They get into a huge fight. Dan Dan, not wanting to cause another fight, drinks the damn milk only to throw it right up. She again is up half the night waiting for a response from her mystery lover, AKA Dong Bei. Next day, Qun Zi tries to tell Gao Song how great being single is. How she and Dong Bei are great friends now. He helps her out, they go out on the weekends (i.e., they are dating). Gao Song tells her to shut up, that their situations aren’t the same. She tells him to go to hell. He then calls a divorce lawyer.
The lawyer basically says it won’t be so easy, due to them having a young child. He tells Gao Song it might be better to work things out. There may be no other way.
Mystery lover emails Xiao Feng, which just rocks her world. Of course, Gao Song gets a hold of it. He is concerned cause she thinks she is “seeing” another man. He prints out her emails.
In the morning, she is all nice to Xiao Li again… volunteering to take Niu Niu to school. Xiao Li is less then thrilled and asks Gao Song what is up? She is so manic! He says she is going through the change (of course, blame EVERYTHING on female troubles). Xiao Li says it isn’t possible, she isn’t even 40, yet. Gao Song says of course it is possible.
Dong Bei is out at night with sultry girl. They continue to play drinking games. Qun Zi is expecting him, though. I guess she thinks they are still married. She prepared little Jiaozi with money in them. She waits and waits… She goes to call, then realizes she doesn’t have the right.
Gao Song takes the emails to his lawyer, who tells him they aren’t conclusive to showing intent to harm either him or their son, which is the only way he will be able to obtain a divorce. He walks away dejectedly. Gao Song laments to Dong Bei at the office. Qun Zi walks in and there is an awkward exchange. He apologizes.
At this point, Gao Song becomes desperate. He starts emailing Xiao Feng and chatting with her from an internet cafĂ©. She tells him to call her on a pay phone. She proceeds to sit and wait for that phone call. Gao Song calls her from another pay phone, realizing that she monitors his cell phone. She answers after several rings, but neither says a word for quite a while. Finally she says hello… Asks who is on the other end. Gao Song hangs up.
Later they are messaging one another. She asked why he didn’t say anything when he called her. He said he was nervous. Then prints out their conversations.
Qun Zi is having dinner with Gao Song and Xiao Feng and lets it slip that Dong Bei is remarrying. Her first question, of course, is who is she? Gao Song tells her about Dong Bei and Sultry woman’s engagement party coming up, asks if she wants to go. She says yes… and they go. Gao Song offers a toast to Dong Bei and Sultry woman. He is ribbed about not drinking. Gao Song actually refuses to drink and sticks to it. Xiao Li drinks instead to offer the toast, though she is none to happy with him getting married so quickly after divorcing Qun Zi.
That night, Gao Song asks Xiao Feng to take a look at something he has written. It is about a divorce. She rips it up and goes to bed.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Chinese Style Divorce Chapter 18

Qun Zi returns home. Dong Bei and Xiao Feng continue their on-line chats. He tells her how he has really learned a lot. He thought he could get married and have things not change. He realizes now he has to be unselfish. He explains how women in their 20s are kind of childish, but women in their 30s have something unique.
Xiao Feng is called "Xiao Gunianr" by a woman while out walking (basically young lady). She is thrilled. Gao Song comes back from his business trip. He notices a marked difference in her demeanor. He says she even looks younger. He admits he still loves her.
Xiao Feng is ecstatic when she sees Qun Zi next. She seems to have fallen in love with her online friend (oops, she really doesn't know it is Dong Bei). But Qun Zi seems to have figured in out. Tells her that Dong Bei has been chatting a lot online. Xiao Feng says it isn't possible. Qun Zi beings to snoop through Dong Bei's computer, figuring out his passoword, she signs into his messenger. Sure enough, there is Xiao Feng telling him she thinks of him, and how she wishes they can meet in person.
Meanwhile, he drives by his bar, knowing his sultry vixen is in it, but chooses not to go in. He comes home to a once again devastated Qun Zi. She tells him she wants a divorce. And off they go the next day to get the divorce (quick process in China). He says he's sorry. After a chat, she grabs him and cries. They tell each other they still love each other. He asks her to remarry him. She says she can't trust him.
Dong Bei and Gao Song have dinner together. Dong Bei tells of his recent divorce.
Again, more chats between Xiao Feng and Dong Bei. Qun Zi mourns her marriage. She goes back to the apartment to collect her stuff. Dong Bei comes home in the middle of it. Sees the picture of them, once torn, now taped back together. The next day, she takes one last look around. Goes to grab her bag, but Dong Bei stops her. Asks where she will go. She says she will go and stay with a girl friend. Then find herself a place. He tells her she can always stay there.
Xiao Feng and Xiao Li meet on the street. Xiao Feng tries to act like nothing has happened. Xiao Li seems to be pretty forgiving and they make plans for later. Xiao Li asks Gao Song what is up with her. He doesn't know, but he seems pretty happy with Xiao Feng's turn of attitude. Then he thinks about it and considers that she could be having an affair. He goes to sleep in Dan Dan's bed.
The next day, Dong Bei helps Qun Zi look for a new place. Nothing seems to fit. They start to talk... maybe start to reconcile... but then the idiot turns on the radio. Qun Zi shuts down. Later at work, she signs into his account. They then have lunch together. She tells him she found a place.
Meanwhile, Xiao Feng is stalking Dong Bei over the internet. She waits furtively for him to appear on line. Writes him 50 some emails a day. She is upset again, turns manic against Xiao Li and Niu Niu. Xiao Li tells her daughter that Xiao Feng is sick in the head. She is upset and taking it out on everyone else.
Dong Bei helps Qun Zi move into her tiny, micro apartment. He says it is small, she says it is just one person.
Xiao Feng is constantly on line waiting for Dong Bei to appear. She is manic over it. Dong Bei is having dinner with Qun Zi. They decide to stay friends.

Ben & Jerry Ought to be Arrested!

Their Peach Cobbler ice cream is absolutely a crime! Holy CRAP!!!! It is wonderfully delish!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Chinese Style Divorce Chapters 16 & 17

Qun Zi is sleeping on the couch. She still cannot bring herself to sleep in their bed. Dong Bei, being ever so smart, proceeds to continue to visit his favorite bar. Lately he has been hanging out with a very sultry woman. Even brings Gao Song into it. Nothing happens, just someone for them to talk to. But still. He has been chatting online with Xiao Feng, even, about their perspective others.
Niu Niu is told by Dan Dan that he isn’t allowed to play with her anymore. His mother has told him not to. Hurt she runs to her mother, who is understandably upset by this turn of events.
Xiao Feng and Qun Zi have made up. They are back to hanging out again.
Gao Song and Xiao Feng have a terse equilibrium going on. Though she keeps making cracks about other women. He has continued to not answer her calls.
Dong Bei is still trying to make things up to Qun Zi, but she seems pretty set on breaking things off at this point. She has dinner with Xiao Feng, they lament about the idiocies of men. Qun Zi tells Xiao Feng that she is just too unhappy. In her heart she knows she still loves Dong Bei, but she can’t ever see herself trusting him again.
Dong Bei, fresh off his thwarted romantic overture, goes back to his favorite bar where he runs into the passed out sultry chick. He writes his name and phone number on her arm for her to find upon waking. How utterly romantic.
Qun Zi is sleeping in Dan Dan’s room. Gao Song is sleeping at Dong Bei’s on Qun Zi’s couch (he’s drunk again).
Xiao Feng and Dong Bei chat online while Gao Song is behind Dong Bei, Xiao Feng doesn’t know. Dong Bei asks if she still loves Gao Song. She takes a while to respond, but ultimately says she hates him. Gao Song is crushed. Gao Song tells Dong Bei to ask why she doesn’t divorce him. She says because she hates him. Dong Bei asks what kind of logic is that? If she hates him so, divorce him. Gao Song realizes that he has no other choice.
Gao Song starts to knock back the drinks. He goes off on Dong Bei and storms into Dong Bei’s room.
Next day the phone rings, it is Xiao Fengs dad. Her mom is sick. She calls Gao Song and asks him to come. He says sorry, he forgot to tell her, but he is out of town on business until tomorrow. She yells that his work seems to be more important than her.
Dong Bei makes it out with his sultry woman. They play drinking games. Dong Bei keeps losing. Qun Zi is home all alone on her couch.
Gao Song goes over to Xiao Li’s. He asks her to watch Dan Dan. Understandably she tells him where to stick it.
Dong Bei returns home. He takes a shower, but Sultry Girl calls. Guess who answers? Surprisingly, she doesn’t make anything of it.
Xiao Feng is seeing to her mother. Seeing her father and mother together makes her realize that that is what she wants, too.
Sultry Girl keeps calling Dong Bei. For once he mans up and doesn’t answer. Now he takes to stalking his wife. She’s over at Gao Song’s watching little Dan Dan while his parents are otherwise occupied. He falls asleep in his car outside their apartment building.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

More Idiocy

OK, so this 70's radical had her sentence reduced and they let her out on parole last week. Then this week, they issue a warrant for her rearrest, saying, "OOPS, we miscalculated your release date BY A YEAR." I'm sorry, but that is just cruel and unusual punishment, and isn't that illegal in this country? I know she murdered someone and all that. But to let her out of prison and have her start to try and adjust to life again, only to pull her back for more. It was their bad.

The Chinese Olympic Games are F-d!

Just watching the news and seeing the protests during the Olympic torch lighting ceremony in Greece. I'm sorry, they are just Fucked! I don't see a full out boycott, but I do see lots of protests, even athletes pulling out due to this Tibet mess.
They then interviewed the Olympic Head. He's like the call for boycott is unfounded. He said the Olympic committee is in constant talks with China about human rights. Get this, he called it Silent Diplomacy! So how are you in talks with someone if it is silent? Do you TEXT your thoughts to the other party? He was so paid by the Chinese!

Monday, March 24, 2008

Polynesian Cultural Center

Last weekend I went with my new friend, Sam, to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Now, I've been there before, but never the all day thing. Just the food and show. This time, we did the all day thing. Here are some pictures.

Polynesian Cultural Center II

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My Polynesian Cultural Center Dessert

My Polynesian Cultural Center Meal

OOOOOH, FIRE!

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Sam and I in Melanesia