Pleasantries

June's weather is, as usual, amazingly pleasant and cool with low humidity. July and August will feel like Houston weather, but for now, it is perfect. Today's high was 77°F. I'm on vacation now. I'll clean closets and the downstairs storage, maybe take a day trip or visit a park. I'm not checking work email though. That's my plan. I have lots of other trips coming up later this year, so for now I just want to take it easy and enjoy my daily life.

Nemesis with needles

She's in her 30s, weighs ninety pounds tops, and wear braces. If you meet her in a dark alley, run for your life.

The first time my acupuncturist got hold of me, I wondered if I should call 911 to report battery and assault. It felt as though I'd been beaten with an iron bar. It wasn't the needles, it was her evil massage preceding the needly inserts that broke me.

She wasn't into her survey of my back very long when she said in her broken English, "ooh, very bad." I asked what was bad, but she didn't understand the question. I still don't know what is very bad. Something is for sure very bad though.

When I came back for my second visit, she asked about the bruise on my back and asked what caused it.  She really had to ask? "Um, YOU caused it," I told her. 

I wish she spoke English. I have no idea what she is doing, why, and whether or not I should expect to see results in the near future.

I could speak Chinese to her I suppose. But my current vocabulary is limited to important things in life. Things like "Where is the bathroom?," "I'd like that steak cooked medium well," and "Don't worry, my dog won't bite you." (And that last one is just wishful thinking.) I have no idea how to explain to a doctor in Chinese that my qi is failing to flow through the third meridian of my back. (Anyway, I don't know what it means in English either, I made it up just now with the help of Wikipedia.)

Each time I go back to her office, she asks if I still have pain. Does she mean my original pain? Or does she mean the pain she inflicted during my last visit? 

(Sigh.) She doesn't understand the question.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

P.S. My expectations for her to speak English are based solely on the fact that she works for a medical clinic whose clientele base is composed almost exclusively of English-speaking expats. All the doctors at the clinic speak English except for this one. I would not expect an acupuncturist whose clientele was Chinese, at a Chinese clinic, to speak English. Just wanted to clear that up so you wouldn't think my language expectations were arrogant, ethno-centric and all that. :-)

Reeds, fish, boats and rice

Today is the Duan Wu (dwahn woo) Festival in China. But since that's hard for foreigners to say, in English it is called the Dragon Boat Festival.

Dragon boats will be racing today, but I'm not bored enough to go see them. I saw them a few years ago.  Boats in the shape of canoes, with a carved dragon head on one end of each, filled with people I don't know, race each other. (Yawn.)

The legend of the holiday involves a depressing plot involving civil unrest, suicide, and fish eating a dead body, followed by people throwing rice into the lake so the hungry fish would leave the dead body alone -- leaving me feeling a little cold as far as holidays go in China. It's best just to enjoy a day off and not think about the origins.

My neighbors in Bamboo Forest like to hang reeds from the lake on their front doors (see photo above). They didn't do this in Bedrock. These long reeds are for sale on the sidewalks outside the veggie markets. I'm not sure of the significance of the reeds, but I assume it has something to do with the lake in the legend.

I love me some Chinese culture, but for most Chinese holidays, it's really best not to remember the reason for the season.

P.S. The red banners on my neighbor's door are leftover from Chinese New Year decorating. It's kind of like people in America leaving up their Christmas lights all year.

P.S.S. Sorry if I made you yawn when I mentioned the word yawn. But truthfully, it's always a good thing to get more oxygen into your brain. So, you know, you're welcome.

Lakeview

A random scene of the city, taken while I was cruising around on my e-bike.

Disbelief of the disbelief

I keep up with American news the same way most Americans living in America do: the Internet and TV. And the reaction of some Americans to two things in the news this year has completely taken me by surprise.

#1 - Lance Armstrong's doping scandal

I was beyond surprised to find out that there were actually people on this planet who thought he was telling the truth the whole time. From the beginning, I never ever believed him. 

#2 - The story about the U.S. government snooping around in our emails and text messages

I have always assumed that this was going on, but apparently a bunch of Americans are totally caught off guard by the news. It never crossed my mind that it wouldn't be going on. Of course it is going on. Wait, it's not SUPPOSED to be going on? I'm so confused. Of course, we'll take into consideration that I live in a place where they sometimes openly admit to doing this. I mean, I used to talk to my wall sockets so the people listening in would have something interesting to listen to. I am totally not kidding. 

In other news, I'm having acupuncture this month. I can't tell any difference yet, except I might hurt more than usual. I'll let you know how it goes.

A rainy day in my neighborhood

Another rainy season has begun. They call this one Plum Rain Season. The rains are gentle. I went out when the rain let up and took a few snapshots. Just thought I'd give you a few pics of what I see when I step out into the great outdoors. (Mimi and I cross that bridge in the third photo on almost every single walk we go on, three times a day...what a beautiful view we are blessed with!)

Where you would least expect it

This lovely stained glass that says "Risen Lord" in two languages was spotted at a church in China ... in the stall inside a woman's restroom. Each stall had a pretty window similar to this in it. Odd placement, yet a lovely and inspiring reminder.

Wedding pigs

People getting married here have wedding processionals with cars decorated with flowers. This is the first one I've seen with pigs.

But, you know, whatever.

Summer is here, kinda

A man sells beach towels on the side of the road. He is having fun. How else can we explain those tired arms holding up that towel for passersby to see?

These Chinese people ... they certainly have a sense of humor.

Don't drop the kid

In China, it seems that even the statues are limited by the one-child policy. :-)