• We all seem to have survived the Ice Storm of '09 alright. I think all of Fritz and Robin's kids were w/o power, although F & R had it. August and April were w/o. Fred was out for a day. Mary, Jo and I were out and so Jo stayed w/ her sister Marie and Mary and I stayed w/ Mom and Dad. We even stayed a couple of days longer than necessary. I think Mom wishes we'd lose electricity more often! She complained the whole time about my baking, but I managed to lose a few pounds. Hm. Maybe I ought to go stay with her more often!
• Mom's going to the doctor today (I'm going along). She still has the pain in her hip (on the inside of her leg) and that pain in the morning in her shoulder that wakes her up (and then disappears as she gets up and moves around).
• I'm planning a Tea Party in memory of Gina for Feb. 15--her birthday--at 2 PM. We'll just drink tea/coffee, eat, talk about Gina (if you come or want to send anything to be read, try to think of any stories or particular associations--e.g., tea, toast and peanut butter). We'll light the two candles that Jim brought from their church's annual memorial service and I'll order roses which we'll take and place on her grave. If you want me to put a rose there for you, let me know! Also, let me know if you're coming so I can order enough roses for everyone. Maybe we can even get a little slide show together.
• This text is from Nikki and the video is from Simone. I think they go to New York every year for this Chinese New Year parade. They eat a special meal which is called Dim Sum--correct me if I'm wrong!

this is kinda choppy and confusing if you've never participated. simone used her crappy little digital, so i was surprised anything worked.
when the lion comes into the dining area, having ravaged the lettuce outside, it's looking to be fed (red envelopes with $$). folks love to scare the crap outta their kiddos by holding them up so the dragon can take the envelope from them. since it opens its mouth to snatch the envelope and is dancing, bobbing, waggling its ears and blinking its lit eyes (if it's a glamorous lion like the one our guys use) i'm surprised the kids are not scared to bits. but the parents start this ritual when they're tiny things, so maybe they 'feel' what to expect and that it's ok.
early there is a flash of yellow fringiness, hard to see. it's lower lip is edged with Long bright yellow fur which one particular dancer (holding the head) would try to flip around as the lion opened and closed it's huge mouth.the movement near the end, when the lion is sorta darting toward your left (looking at the screen) was quite a hectic scene. there was a mob of youngsters all wanting their bribe, for good luck in the new year', to be accepted. so they were all pressing forward waving their envelopes. meanwhile the drummers across the room, kept the drumming going should there be an open space so the lion could cavort with dancing. hope this helps in understanding. it's quite the sensory overload. must have dim sum after to recover one's strength!!