Year of the Tiger

One of the joys of living in a multi-cultural house is getting more cool holidays.  With half the house here of Ethnic Chinese descent,  Lunar New Year is a BIG deal around here.  A great excuse for a get-together,  lots of food,  drink,  and friends to celebrate the year of the Tiger.

Chinese New Year fever can even make usually uber-conseravtive Asians go off their rocker.  Even the super-nanny leaders of Singapore (a country that FAR more resembles a theme park than an actual state...) have lost their minds this year.

Back here in the good old U.S. our local Asian Market will now surly survive the economic downturn after the "stimulus package" we cranked out to them in order to get ready for this years little event.  Banners hung,  garage fridge restocked,  here we come little Tiger.  After a marathon,  2 day cooking binge,  The better half of the household had "about" enough food for the masses.

Friends,  neighbors,  and even some of the High Peaks boys descended on the homestead with desserts,  wine,  and beer in hand (Lots of Tsingtao...  maybe not the best brew out there but VERY appropriate....  my teammates are SO sentimental...).   A group pig out then ensued,  with much destruction to both the food and most of the teams winter weight control plans.

Even the skinny boy here is probably now up another few pounds.   Soon spring will arrive,  and I can start doing some kind of actual exercise-like activity to justify my food hoovering behavior.  Till then,  may ALL of you have a healthy,  prosperous and safe year of the Tiger.