Monday, February 7, 2011

Weekend Report: Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras

I had a weekend of themed parties! 

On Friday night LLC hosted a dumpling extravaganza in celebration of the Chinese New Year (Happy Year of the Rabbit!). Per usual, she presided over her wok like a pro – there were garlic shrimp and egg dumplings, yuxiang eggplant dumplings, celery/walnut/mushroom dumplings, pork and leek dumplings, cabbage mushroom dumplings, celery soya dumplings - more kinds of dumplings than I could count! 

The dumplings signify wealth and luck, and we also ate noodles (to ensure a long life), and brownies and cookies (to ensure a year of sweetness). (Just kidding, I made that last one up. But it sounds good, right?).

We ate the dumplings dipped in a mix of soy sauce, black vinegar, and Sichuan hot chili oil – it’s a kicking mixture that’s popular in Shanxi (northern China). LLC’s apartment was decorated with wall hangings she’s acquired on her travels, and though she couldn’t quite bring herself to hang the Maoist flag on her wall, it made an appearance draped over a chair.

Saturday was an exceptionally dreary drizzly day, but luckily it cleared up in time for LOTR-Emily’s Mardi Gras themed housewarming party (yes, we realize it’s a little early for Mardi Gras, but who can say no to a king cake and beads?). Here’s one for the list of Reasons Why DC is a Small Town: one of my friends ran into her junior high boyfriend from Florida at the party! Small freaking world.
 
I hate to admit this on the interwebs, but Super Bowl Sunday is pretty much a non-event in my life. Growing up I always skied through it (because in CA the Super Bowl happens in the afternoon), and in college I was usually busy or tired or not in the mood for football (I know, I know, womp womp Debbie Downer.) I would have watched the game last night, but I traded a yoga-studio shift with a girl who was going out of town. So while you all were indulging in chili and guac and chips and dip, I was stretching out in a hot and sweaty savasana.

Did you eat some spinach artichoke dip for me? Or what about some seven-layer shenanigans? 

And I happen to be a Rabbit:

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise.

I'll take it! Not bad, right?