tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30037416022057914792024-03-19T12:23:26.700+08:00CLAIRE IN SHANGHAIBig city, little adventures.Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-23579427990586670302010-11-21T20:44:00.000+08:002010-11-21T20:44:35.067+08:00People In My Neighbourhood: wanna buy a cricket?If you were an old man in China, you might wander up to Wuyi Lu (three blocks away) to check out the cricket vendor's latest offerings. For anywhere from 1 RMB (17 cents), you can own a tiny pet that you keep in a tiny box designed specifically for crickets. You can feed your cricket leaves, bring it out for a cricket walk around the neighbourhood in the morning (still in its box, sadly, not on a tiny leash), and, on Saturdays, you can bring it to a local market for the weekly cricket fights, in which one cricket emerges victorious, having ripped the limbs from all other crickets.<br />
<br />
Finding this cricket stand explained why one of my neighbours' blue toque always seems to be cheeping. He keeps his cricket and its cage tucked into the brim.<br />
<br />
I dream of purchasing my own cricket and training it to play Debussy, a la Chester in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cricket_in_Times_Square"><i>The Cricket in Times Square</i></a>. But what should I NAME it? Prize for the best cricket moniker.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTCFQp2GPkoXqEZT0uXrsXxFxA_4ZrEC3QtCmWQ7D8GOyaqqwV5tNQl_vesQi4xohm70Ve_SpNUIbbox2lYEb2lR68h6sL2fkhe1KK1gwzKNN5ROBnK-DC39FM6MynQsLaK-4GkCXxmlA/s1600/P1010862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTCFQp2GPkoXqEZT0uXrsXxFxA_4ZrEC3QtCmWQ7D8GOyaqqwV5tNQl_vesQi4xohm70Ve_SpNUIbbox2lYEb2lR68h6sL2fkhe1KK1gwzKNN5ROBnK-DC39FM6MynQsLaK-4GkCXxmlA/s320/P1010862.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsqE2ZLQYwLYksheEsfhzaGgq_6EuOnijOTjlJCyS2CE3Cq8yPulWoMUz6Tq8ofHUXJ9bpnAYheY7GQPbriNGWj1Ukd-MnpvrkPpoG24XN1tBBt9RsqkpyXxEXTHrTHp1aCmLHd4ekc0w/s1600/P1010864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsqE2ZLQYwLYksheEsfhzaGgq_6EuOnijOTjlJCyS2CE3Cq8yPulWoMUz6Tq8ofHUXJ9bpnAYheY7GQPbriNGWj1Ukd-MnpvrkPpoG24XN1tBBt9RsqkpyXxEXTHrTHp1aCmLHd4ekc0w/s320/P1010864.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-13432249302002382372010-11-04T20:07:00.001+08:002010-11-04T20:07:00.597+08:00The only way to eat French toastPeople, I've invented something wonderful. You know when you crave French toast 'cause it's comforting and also reasonably protein-rich, but you also crave reading time, 'cause it's comforting and you've recently overdone it with America's Next Top Model?<br />
<br />
Well.<br />
<br />
Gone are the days when your reading is interrupted by toast-cutting, and syrup gets all over your fork when you flip the page. Behold: the French Toast Stick. Simply stack yo' toast and hack it into strips. Pour maple syrup into a wee dipping bowl, and SHAZAM! You're ready to read and dip, read and dip. You can even work the couch into the equation. At the end, you're full of comfort food for your tummy AND your brain. Now, that's just efficient.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJSYNLASvFeL5RZJKswB0f6gm78w-6qVZT8uOUbM_6PW72ckiC1qEsBUK9RQqHF9dJ1FzgH3-IbZb-xwwKypIOHMpF0eg7LTE-tTi7Mc2zvc05O648Ka9hPZmxuHf0w-7d80DBLxxTegv/s320/P1010860.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My powdered sugar went moldy, but just use your imagination.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJSYNLASvFeL5RZJKswB0f6gm78w-6qVZT8uOUbM_6PW72ckiC1qEsBUK9RQqHF9dJ1FzgH3-IbZb-xwwKypIOHMpF0eg7LTE-tTi7Mc2zvc05O648Ka9hPZmxuHf0w-7d80DBLxxTegv/s1600/P1010860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-2879715125237932352010-11-01T20:06:00.000+08:002010-11-01T20:06:40.677+08:00Melissa visited!Before last week, the last time I'd seen Melissa was when I was about twelve. We went to Sunday School together at the wonderful Garneau United Church in Edmonton, the most welcoming and diverse church community I've ever known, and where Grandma played the organ. <br />
So. When Grandma and Melissa's mom discovered we're both living in China, we all made short work of planning for Melissa to come up from Macau - I'll go down there when it's time for a visa run in a few months. It was a reunion with funness of epic proportions, and between reminisces of hymnals and Christmas pageants, we tore up the town. Art supply shopping, gallery browsing, Bund strolling, Expo adventuring, dignitary meeting, fancy dinner eating, wine sipping, trendy bar going* - two days? No problem. <br />
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Highlights included:<br />
<ul><li>Me getting attacked by a Japanese toilet in a very fancy art gallery (I admit I shouldn't have pressed all those buttons) </li>
</ul><ul><li>Skipping the four-hour line to the French Expo Pavilion by flashing our Canadian passports and walking haughtily through the VIP entrance </li>
</ul><ul><li>Narrowly missing being lit on fire along with the bar at Bar Rouge - those bartenders are showy buggers</li>
</ul><br />
Thanks for the good times, Melissa! Can't wait to hit the slots in Macau. Just kidding, Grandma.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">*Cute stuff in the mail to whoever can tell me where the heck I should put dashes in that sentence.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh haiii, Pearl Tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let the Expo shenanigans begin! That's the China pavilion behind us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiCfXKN7hfSB77L-TjiYmKZppS0rC3yeLBZelRnJh6wa7EpHNJ2y8MeTUatw_UA14jB_i8C2hKyhOwa0eCn_o7thblN8JkKwol_2vsV1fLJOZvvEwUw81WGhYcHV_JYr5na-Vqm5vOfGV/s320/MEMO0024_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Sip* You were saying, Minister?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Q0hy1iPMbd5hlPZDVkXBKaUu7SkDYAV3crrlvGkgq7629iSieh5feFXYR3gwjYdr0m0xWGIrgocQfBUW3S3xkwhQ6tD269xgU3vzXCrFFKO5xjcdVKsVZzLkZqlJOeJGQeFCA24EOc_a/s1600/P1020140.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Q0hy1iPMbd5hlPZDVkXBKaUu7SkDYAV3crrlvGkgq7629iSieh5feFXYR3gwjYdr0m0xWGIrgocQfBUW3S3xkwhQ6tD269xgU3vzXCrFFKO5xjcdVKsVZzLkZqlJOeJGQeFCA24EOc_a/s320/P1020140.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Expo is culture-sensitive.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQZW8hpZAY7WDJ8awDht0iMaSjqj5v46tN4qkhUy3tMp4RF2P-gKy2IEKILJDw9EK0Awmp2nNEYR_x0VvG8GFEJnkDoF93arL9RygAfP8H_Is3unEwFRd04rN8vAmHp2xXAim-htideS2/s320/P1040660.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a Hershey's store. And they have Reese's. EEE!!! *Wiping chocolate peanut butter off face*</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEpedzFxm-qKZFIp6qR5NHgAa7IMon0N0TD7fA3c6evQgaVJkE6w9uo7p7IhGKGqpm7lTT7ab6bIPL4zsD7ve9CEQMcgHTt56bk6ab2owUyn8J2cZhFyw4RzPlybanTIhsSlmsQp5OQKj/s320/P1020231.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vino at Glamour Bar - a definite <strike>t</strike>highlight</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEpedzFxm-qKZFIp6qR5NHgAa7IMon0N0TD7fA3c6evQgaVJkE6w9uo7p7IhGKGqpm7lTT7ab6bIPL4zsD7ve9CEQMcgHTt56bk6ab2owUyn8J2cZhFyw4RzPlybanTIhsSlmsQp5OQKj/s1600/P1020231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-22740408481139245412010-10-23T21:50:00.000+08:002010-10-23T21:50:24.615+08:00Rainy Saturday bliss: a simple equation<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmgy_OeZSmQmem1DA6KI8naMP4_AqHwMCAwuWa4B_DHoIcm0PbKiqUHhTnRmVRkE7A8NwxWIdIwddcQ6s6GTNZNKT_GV5Hz01Rfw7N2JVmuKPzG3aNtYSP9cotfcsumXEV47v-jMDyADd/s320/1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmgy_OeZSmQmem1DA6KI8naMP4_AqHwMCAwuWa4B_DHoIcm0PbKiqUHhTnRmVRkE7A8NwxWIdIwddcQ6s6GTNZNKT_GV5Hz01Rfw7N2JVmuKPzG3aNtYSP9cotfcsumXEV47v-jMDyADd/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">+ </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yMTHclGd0OptBqOqErWdp86-naos8iamd8r6oc-3Td2x4bH25GRyn5pq4jl2ro9eCG_oSzxlYcrds-SYjj_uMVsJ6pcNqcehEfSA5_KUndFefbLQaenKkXxIWshUckLKrjqjNLHvdCTd/s320/3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toaster oven-scale roast chicken and veg</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">+ </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6sPjBd9QsV33-0AvQ4FITfuoRd21_SYEvaSlel7iJ16RFJYY3M_8XMHRQbhGWeksox9JZXT6-n3gbquc8BPZpcY27JCo5BXsblenM2IPNKexDzU__HrrmzXMcFAeArQ0sJ0dtrrkadWA/s320/3b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gravy, obviously</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6sPjBd9QsV33-0AvQ4FITfuoRd21_SYEvaSlel7iJ16RFJYY3M_8XMHRQbhGWeksox9JZXT6-n3gbquc8BPZpcY27JCo5BXsblenM2IPNKexDzU__HrrmzXMcFAeArQ0sJ0dtrrkadWA/s1600/3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">+ </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2XILmByfQ9o4yKqs2Y6Ro8GP8ucOVZTcBOkuis2hGfdcsNFWQxWUNe2CQdlH1q-3auuGVHUwWYi8QY-pTpJJysSizwKQ4CbBJEcREX9pp3EoWWbNhIQ5vFjVzUWk51g-otGaswmHOWx7/s320/4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny bread pudding</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2XILmByfQ9o4yKqs2Y6Ro8GP8ucOVZTcBOkuis2hGfdcsNFWQxWUNe2CQdlH1q-3auuGVHUwWYi8QY-pTpJJysSizwKQ4CbBJEcREX9pp3EoWWbNhIQ5vFjVzUWk51g-otGaswmHOWx7/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">+ </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqoG57e2ATOf6B6LGJ5KhPV9mvqsNvIKk340M47Na0i-sC2heEvgEv0XXwdkFoVR1o0xjvQIRv6O-ejP2xRMYuZg-UhsEzG2R86_hZora_K86FQY5KCpITlj0S8biYAS2JUByg26iOnSB/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqoG57e2ATOf6B6LGJ5KhPV9mvqsNvIKk340M47Na0i-sC2heEvgEv0XXwdkFoVR1o0xjvQIRv6O-ejP2xRMYuZg-UhsEzG2R86_hZora_K86FQY5KCpITlj0S8biYAS2JUByg26iOnSB/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">= </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1IAvIy8Z_ASd8bVacxiv6bJRc31i1OxrgVKfOeyVMHkUja2Zeoqw6I2Vsfd9g7chZAsAi7U4Lr1hp8-Kzb0gdNJa3bHMiWR-KE2diLqHIZh6f99fYvBKQpYw2DlYMbNBKptkK-WN0YlP/s1600/Photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1IAvIy8Z_ASd8bVacxiv6bJRc31i1OxrgVKfOeyVMHkUja2Zeoqw6I2Vsfd9g7chZAsAi7U4Lr1hp8-Kzb0gdNJa3bHMiWR-KE2diLqHIZh6f99fYvBKQpYw2DlYMbNBKptkK-WN0YlP/s320/Photo+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-70643702177633364152010-10-22T22:56:00.000+08:002010-10-22T22:56:20.689+08:00ShanglowsYou know when it's tough to live in Shanghai? When you wake up needing the kind of day where you quietly go about your tasks, listening to your iPod and, should you feel ambitious enough to cook, reflecting about what you might make for dinner later.<br />
<br />
It's all fine if you can spend the day at home watching Seasons 1-5 of Project Runway. (Oh, it's happened.) But when you have stuff to do, there's just no way to do it without getting sucked in by the city's frantic pace. I'm talking about an end-of-the-conveyer-belt-into-the-slaughterhouse kind of atmosphere. There's noise. There are people. There are people's elbows. <br />
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Here are the two things that put me over the edge, and by "over," I mean, "in need of," and by "the edge," I mean "an ice cream cone to bring me down":<br />
<br />
1. <b>Yup, I speak Chinese.</b> I went shopping for Christmas wrapping paper down on Fuzhou Lu. <i> </i><br />
<br />
ME: [<i>in Mandarin</i>] Hi, how much is this coloured crepe paper? <br />
VENDOR: Three kuai [<i>RMB</i>]. <br />
ME: Oh... hmm - [<i>about to explain that I usually buy it for one kuai - which is true - but will offer him one-fifty</i>] <br />
VENDOR: [to other salesperson]: Stupid foreigners. You can charge them anything.<br />
ME: I can understand everything you're saying.<br />
VENDOR: [<i>ignoring me and holding up three fingers. In English:</i>] TREE! TREEEE! <br />
ME: [<i>still in Mandarin</i>] Forget it.<br />
<br />
2. <b>Um... thank you? </b>I took my usual Line 2 back home, crushed against a pole by the rush-hour crowd. These women were so intimately close to my body that when they spoke, I could feel the condensation from their breath on my neck. <br />
<br />
WOMAN 1: This foreigner's scarf is a strange colour. [<i>It's mustardy yellow</i>]<br />
WOMAN 2: Yes. It makes her skin look worse.<br />
WOMAN 1: But she <i>is </i>nice and pale. <br />
<br />
<br />
Let it be known that Baskin Robbins' Cookies 'n' Cream ice cream is as effective a sedative as any. And now, back to Project Runway.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpkWl6cIE2UU3ySb88Qx4H5ZOGzYC23LJc9_cpMw73KfCL2ZZi8KPuOPKAjnPtmWPNEefaeeMho3dp81ts12Pw56MHz0a8LUcFLSE2_hbgXF_qz79jFpRqj3D5tbxAz7tZnwu_Gb7jyyk/s1600/P1010987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpkWl6cIE2UU3ySb88Qx4H5ZOGzYC23LJc9_cpMw73KfCL2ZZi8KPuOPKAjnPtmWPNEefaeeMho3dp81ts12Pw56MHz0a8LUcFLSE2_hbgXF_qz79jFpRqj3D5tbxAz7tZnwu_Gb7jyyk/s320/P1010987.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-48517369701686370492010-10-19T21:04:00.000+08:002010-10-19T21:04:10.565+08:00People In My Neighbourhood: the seafood familyOne of my favourite neighbourhood shops is the very small seafood store close to where I tutor on Tuesday nights. The family who owns it always smiles and says "Nihao!" as I approach, and then "The foreigner again" when I'm walking away. But in a friendly way.<br />
<br />
Of course, business demands that they do horrible, murderous things to fish, meaning that you really have to watch your step as you pass. But October is hairy crab season in Shanghai, so today all hands were on deck for less gory work - plucking wee crabs from a cooler and swaddling their little legs to their bodies with long blades of grass. As per usual, this was all happening on the sidewalk in front of the store.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mitten_crab">Hairy crabs</a> are found in the lakes and rivers around Shanghai, and are a major delicacy. According to my Shanghainese cousins, crab season is a big deal because it's an opportunity for wealthy businesspeople to gain face by treating each other to crab feasts at exorbitantly pricey restaurants. I've tried them. They're super-yummy, though the crab smell lingers on you for at least a day, even if you exfoliate three times. I've always wondered if this eau de crab also has caché in the business community.<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSihDoiNh1CuDQpIjUMd4tcoJv4ISazx2eExZMU-oZpDJJQOCL-ix_2t8wxO5wsb07uWd5yqE_wyLMrF2wxXSNYTo5KOKQAcidYcMDxb1UGgEd-E4h60QUn_LRFXVLeiBWqQ1UQzoHAXzK/s1600/P1010886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSihDoiNh1CuDQpIjUMd4tcoJv4ISazx2eExZMU-oZpDJJQOCL-ix_2t8wxO5wsb07uWd5yqE_wyLMrF2wxXSNYTo5KOKQAcidYcMDxb1UGgEd-E4h60QUn_LRFXVLeiBWqQ1UQzoHAXzK/s320/P1010886.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IPk9B5CRHTeS2I2gn0hGHlqMrzgNS-ecvWpsuVCQzZ8CPL9QtY6nu-luWd-0eT7OfLxj-7HhpBZWSkhD66l6qdWc1H17mmg0BnnRverEGzSNnOmVYv_WSNZJ2SErJQk0wuRC3DgQA39m/s320/P1010887.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nooooo! *flailflailflail*</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IPk9B5CRHTeS2I2gn0hGHlqMrzgNS-ecvWpsuVCQzZ8CPL9QtY6nu-luWd-0eT7OfLxj-7HhpBZWSkhD66l6qdWc1H17mmg0BnnRverEGzSNnOmVYv_WSNZJ2SErJQk0wuRC3DgQA39m/s1600/P1010887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGGPUuV8veN60uvLc6fs6HndzdoICZj3tGFYizrurspplKceZGR1c5SNtwqC4xmBlI3s7ZLRYG2YyrkovRRgCRysNTY0SFvYRA4MJpPLnE8CByvJD9qRWIIKJT49QW5f6euIlKuoB32ua/s320/P1010892.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh. Okay. (Apparently, they keep the grass long so it's easy to pluck them out of the steamer.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGGPUuV8veN60uvLc6fs6HndzdoICZj3tGFYizrurspplKceZGR1c5SNtwqC4xmBlI3s7ZLRYG2YyrkovRRgCRysNTY0SFvYRA4MJpPLnE8CByvJD9qRWIIKJT49QW5f6euIlKuoB32ua/s1600/P1010892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcMe2fcRgYycF-Je6Amhz9Nybw3m9aMhZGsEmTOt8ILgqmguHPNFMZG_zQGSExkao6ZMwVtaywHqf8sUvDnxkg7pU7a_ktaxfgOmx1YPXoS8U5hB0u_s0Y-3bxSxki3u9khMVlMZhWu_E/s320/P1010893.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dad explained that they wear gloves so the pinches hurt less. Ouch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcMe2fcRgYycF-Je6Amhz9Nybw3m9aMhZGsEmTOt8ILgqmguHPNFMZG_zQGSExkao6ZMwVtaywHqf8sUvDnxkg7pU7a_ktaxfgOmx1YPXoS8U5hB0u_s0Y-3bxSxki3u9khMVlMZhWu_E/s1600/P1010893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI5Ka9RtcemWEjNZmRRCdwOwsW-lh0LDStwTjokRQ-hb_2_431cOM0OiInC-Sj3m1XyFRTQgmHQ6keMIh0p2kdZD_CWRXDvdEjXdN8ym5IkZwtSEKEjo2ABfdSx4keMAgl92B19qwbymR/s320/P1010894.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their little boy kept jumping in front of the camera, and then darting around to see the photo on the LCD screen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI5Ka9RtcemWEjNZmRRCdwOwsW-lh0LDStwTjokRQ-hb_2_431cOM0OiInC-Sj3m1XyFRTQgmHQ6keMIh0p2kdZD_CWRXDvdEjXdN8ym5IkZwtSEKEjo2ABfdSx4keMAgl92B19qwbymR/s1600/P1010894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-81596038009933003932010-10-14T12:13:00.000+08:002010-10-14T12:13:46.695+08:00Canada FLASHBACK!: (Part 2 of 4: Edmonton)<style type="text/css">
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</style> <br />
Edmonton is my hometown. Now that I live all far away, every visit becomes an insane mash-up of past, present, and future as I:<br />
<ul><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">dash around to all my old favourite places </div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">to see the loved ones that I'm keeping in touch with </div></li>
<li>AND buy all the stuff I'll need during the coming year but can't buy in Shanghai for less than the price of my first-born child <br />
</li>
</ul><br />
At best, the situation looks like:<br />
<br />
// <br />
ME: Oh hi, [<i>dear friend/family member</i>]! ...A macaron? At Duchess bakery? Yes, let's meet there, and maybe after we've had a leisurely coffee, we can browse the racks at Value Village for vintage treasures.<br />
<br />
ME & DF/FM: [<i>Companionably</i>] Yay!<br />
//<br />
<br />
And at worst, something like:<br />
<br />
//<br />
<br />
ME: Hi, [<i>dear friend/family member</i>]? Just stopped at a red light - I'm on my way - just have to stop at London Drugs / Superstore / Zellers / Mountain Equipment Co-op for non-sketchy vitamins / wholesale cases of Cheerios / 100-percent cotton socks / BPA-free water bottles. Augh! I have to apply for my China visa! Totally forgot! Augh! [<i>Cars honking</i> <i>as I attempt U-turn</i>] ... I might be late for dinner...<br />
<br />
DF/FM: *sigh*<br />
//<br />
<br />
But this time, I had FOUR WEEKS in Edmonton. Embarrassing riches of time rained down upon my head!* So it was relaxed, and I didn't do one single U-turn. Hazzah!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoewmhH5-oNa1oH-ksa5jLkJRTzAqoxWa1Mfwp_7qeRSaNflw4VA52zZGkI-d318DaQUZjm0Qepp6_4N8Izyc44N0-j5NLrRHwHXvOT9Kfg_77UWhr1_3-4kBWbmuLklmjAucgN3oQW6x/s320/P1000621.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Aunt Alison (2nd and 5th of six sisters) catch up at the Farmer's Market.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoewmhH5-oNa1oH-ksa5jLkJRTzAqoxWa1Mfwp_7qeRSaNflw4VA52zZGkI-d318DaQUZjm0Qepp6_4N8Izyc44N0-j5NLrRHwHXvOT9Kfg_77UWhr1_3-4kBWbmuLklmjAucgN3oQW6x/s1600/P1000621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3p50C_k4kqM9hrBmtICwhHFLPku6iWtU_M1Dz6h63aXMt-BLDkERFVrkNL_J0cfeqQ0gLDsfxh8nX_o4CdHJhuoNjvCr4MW3Y5795x2hoe6H1_dRM2xXco2AwX2nW9VWw_ZzFdWEnBDc/s320/P1000968.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma and I hit Jasper for some hiking. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowvOqxsHcKQGDJgkcd8ko1S6jMs33lL867TXLp8uyL5Hsk8ivlDD4uHGNMJ2t7sPCswMo8W_uXeM7gTj0_t1CxbXDxlqQlWdJv06LwazRbZjJRZX_zOwmDSOURfQXw2yF7DFbsKSnzDTb/s320/P1010018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... then we got wasted. <span style="font-size: x-small;">KID-ding! (Those glasses of beer are smaller than they look.)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowvOqxsHcKQGDJgkcd8ko1S6jMs33lL867TXLp8uyL5Hsk8ivlDD4uHGNMJ2t7sPCswMo8W_uXeM7gTj0_t1CxbXDxlqQlWdJv06LwazRbZjJRZX_zOwmDSOURfQXw2yF7DFbsKSnzDTb/s1600/P1010018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba9wO4uL9Xh1SjRLzhxPmVRFClSx-jNc-zx_ozF0Kz9JrFrAzu8PhGpa2MuUXuhornkRrgrYza0zKp7XMPDyGNSxCtTgIE4Gj9yk3eJengJf8iYDZBQbKG-szj1e0mneUq54WFaMOExl_/s320/P1010114.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carla, Nick, and I do a quality-check on the coffee at Transcend. Yup. It's perfect.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba9wO4uL9Xh1SjRLzhxPmVRFClSx-jNc-zx_ozF0Kz9JrFrAzu8PhGpa2MuUXuhornkRrgrYza0zKp7XMPDyGNSxCtTgIE4Gj9yk3eJengJf8iYDZBQbKG-szj1e0mneUq54WFaMOExl_/s1600/P1010114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMOGJqU_gmlVWBBGvl_uj02fWK2scz6QC09nTEhsmcnve28JEd3EAlEEGymmn4mLr4dBCzcN0pv_ine5WCgAddvnfRtL_zp_wFob9jwiruqL6NaxJItL9tCQbHXfTkjp89ThCnmuj9Iyp/s320/P1010130.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Tarty Party: industrial design classmates Jeff and Sergio and I baked shells; guests brought fillings. It was super-fun and we want to do another one next summer, but the working title ("Summer 2011: Let's Get Re-Tarted") is a little insensitive. Suggestions welcomed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMOGJqU_gmlVWBBGvl_uj02fWK2scz6QC09nTEhsmcnve28JEd3EAlEEGymmn4mLr4dBCzcN0pv_ine5WCgAddvnfRtL_zp_wFob9jwiruqL6NaxJItL9tCQbHXfTkjp89ThCnmuj9Iyp/s1600/P1010130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Quote shout-out to Uncle David, who always has the best one-liners.</span>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-91742360613257685302010-10-10T20:00:00.003+08:002010-10-10T20:57:01.367+08:00The many (smiley) faces of national prideNow that the week-long holiday celebrating the PRC's 61st anniversary is over, I guess they'll take down all the national flags lining the major thoroughfares. And maybe that other patriotic symbol, the blinking multi-colour LED smiley daisy. Wait, what the - <br />
<br />
(Also spotted near home - a purse store with JUST ONE CATCH!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWFq1k4o5TgGAaxmWyRonXptgXPfIwmTA8oTv0elp8T1FzoqCoucvaRGeput9rrHSTbpiGYAkq4j4CMM-qHmjDr341lsQAOVD7Znz-PoDc_gvRqprP2wmkQTbaeu5Cn2DhdsKiBijWBzA/s1600/P1010765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWFq1k4o5TgGAaxmWyRonXptgXPfIwmTA8oTv0elp8T1FzoqCoucvaRGeput9rrHSTbpiGYAkq4j4CMM-qHmjDr341lsQAOVD7Znz-PoDc_gvRqprP2wmkQTbaeu5Cn2DhdsKiBijWBzA/s320/P1010765.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhrdT-l8cvDwDfiDKIfqFwEmfAUdGgjbuoI6TC5FEHsjly9OXVyqXAv9BqFtYm7XjSUIjnO2hI0p8G9FYn9Z0rvDQjUXHItTVdSEWgiT6nvHxlgeRtUlJ0Dd6qIsHCdKtfSl1KjUof4QY/s1600/P1010771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhrdT-l8cvDwDfiDKIfqFwEmfAUdGgjbuoI6TC5FEHsjly9OXVyqXAv9BqFtYm7XjSUIjnO2hI0p8G9FYn9Z0rvDQjUXHItTVdSEWgiT6nvHxlgeRtUlJ0Dd6qIsHCdKtfSl1KjUof4QY/s320/P1010771.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-78284942383124952752010-10-09T22:24:00.000+08:002010-10-09T22:24:01.664+08:00Julia visited!Remember <a href="http://claireinshanghai.blogspot.com/2008/11/dont-worry-grandma-sometimes-i-eat.html">Julia</a>? She was one of my closest friends the year we studied together at Donghua University. Then she moved back to Poland.<br />
<br />
:(<br />
<br />
But she came back! And we went exploring around Xiaonanmen ("Little south door"), where Shanghai's southernmost city gate used to be. Now, it's a neighbourhood clinging to its past as highrises and a brand-new metro station pop up around it. We found an amazing laneway fabric market, took some photos, and ate lamb-on-a-stick, one Shanghai's most delectable street foods.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cdLFPCu2CV5WPuQyYNd3Ln8hbVfO36nErCKoBvK08DO8S80csmY6ophnUzxVDs0PqCX0x-8Nqcy6ikauPx31-Ov5Z5TTlwBEgomiXFoszO4bITrAANqGU6uNha7Q_W5aBknLXbjZ-WIp/s320/P1010786.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="239" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the old parts of Shanghai, the photos take themselves. Bicycles, of course, are everywhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cdLFPCu2CV5WPuQyYNd3Ln8hbVfO36nErCKoBvK08DO8S80csmY6ophnUzxVDs0PqCX0x-8Nqcy6ikauPx31-Ov5Z5TTlwBEgomiXFoszO4bITrAANqGU6uNha7Q_W5aBknLXbjZ-WIp/s1600/P1010786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6FWJBz5RHlcce2xOooW3xlFMz3esHdqe-cF7rkdD9Ck785QNMXOAGby0XzYizJB32wSCk7RLqC6LhANKmd5_SyKxDhn_Y3c6EBzmIHdnkE3SqGCZMjXvFGxqnJhSSO4hXM9elax0HcIB/s320/P1010794.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="239" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fabric market street. Produce and poultry were further down. (Loving my camera's B&W auto setting.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6FWJBz5RHlcce2xOooW3xlFMz3esHdqe-cF7rkdD9Ck785QNMXOAGby0XzYizJB32wSCk7RLqC6LhANKmd5_SyKxDhn_Y3c6EBzmIHdnkE3SqGCZMjXvFGxqnJhSSO4hXM9elax0HcIB/s1600/P1010794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErKo3_qhJBvg6EN2AswyRwGpcBR9MFgpw8oFraw3iQkWJSdV5EwziKiite7cUPoJ-ZiyDVwUM6_bUqs0hvYGq-moZdkrADvbgHgTyY9AKzBOrcGZNvOoMb2wUQjF8eiOZq2wxGTd85HY2/s320/P1010788.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="239" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The colours everywhere were beautiful - it had just rained. I'm not sure if this is a storage shack or a very small home. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErKo3_qhJBvg6EN2AswyRwGpcBR9MFgpw8oFraw3iQkWJSdV5EwziKiite7cUPoJ-ZiyDVwUM6_bUqs0hvYGq-moZdkrADvbgHgTyY9AKzBOrcGZNvOoMb2wUQjF8eiOZq2wxGTd85HY2/s1600/P1010788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoVE73ap0C4mhkpRtla3ozhpOF7bkEr5XOpW1MOnrPyvF77-ojZzucA4znEdoYdHL14QNfrGG8kiP_1DWLx7WcQPOvc57_Qrf_MrC2Xodl8ylxuOjYoU9qWknnqRGN52088E39znQ1FUt/s320/P1010800.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="239" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duck A: "DON'T. LOOK. BEHIND YOU." Duck B: *stifled quack*</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoVE73ap0C4mhkpRtla3ozhpOF7bkEr5XOpW1MOnrPyvF77-ojZzucA4znEdoYdHL14QNfrGG8kiP_1DWLx7WcQPOvc57_Qrf_MrC2Xodl8ylxuOjYoU9qWknnqRGN52088E39znQ1FUt/s1600/P1010800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4RnMQfBPqTGBlkOcAAaz84LxopcNNRtz7eSZCREmiZnyJQuk4p50zDIae1aIjLZlGhVezL9Qd4VS2i47QvEhlXD7imUzFsDFOT6zq77dPVjLBYPS1BrTgRIWmZfzO8AyFXmEzc0b5Iss/s320/P1010801.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ginger in Shanghai is incredible - so fresh it's actually juicy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4RnMQfBPqTGBlkOcAAaz84LxopcNNRtz7eSZCREmiZnyJQuk4p50zDIae1aIjLZlGhVezL9Qd4VS2i47QvEhlXD7imUzFsDFOT6zq77dPVjLBYPS1BrTgRIWmZfzO8AyFXmEzc0b5Iss/s1600/P1010801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3y2nXUJGtuKcng7QWmcayyKXdpfd-3XHdPwmR_mt6eBE2yTIXmME1LN0xInCblwnOZpz1kImm669buZbvzkU8h1OPojmKV2G8HTVJbfF9lcscF70HNXvn_4tKudNPzIw3htzsMMBPBjz/s320/P1010827.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are! Me rocking the old "I hate being photographed but maybe if I look sideways I'll just look ironic!!!" Works eeeeevery time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3y2nXUJGtuKcng7QWmcayyKXdpfd-3XHdPwmR_mt6eBE2yTIXmME1LN0xInCblwnOZpz1kImm669buZbvzkU8h1OPojmKV2G8HTVJbfF9lcscF70HNXvn_4tKudNPzIw3htzsMMBPBjz/s1600/P1010827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-55822221979495971012010-10-08T13:20:00.000+08:002010-10-08T13:20:09.408+08:00Lessons in yeastJust another normal day on Claire's kitchen counter. Got my rice cooker over there, my O.J., my ginger tea, my favourite cat coaster, and - oh, that? THAT'S what happens when you put bread dough in the fridge overnight with naive plans to roll it out into cinnamon buns the next day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzC0pLtF4sRXW4r51YAXFjZu5JuYQvcmxaN9RJ7OeCbPgPhRHPV6v6AIU_BfxPdmusr3ptwwpQw0_ThdDMEYtCUuA_D8d6liLjp2zEU-wGHDTX6IQHKxiIJvTU5iVO2q66q-56x2mUk9Z/s1600/P1010774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzC0pLtF4sRXW4r51YAXFjZu5JuYQvcmxaN9RJ7OeCbPgPhRHPV6v6AIU_BfxPdmusr3ptwwpQw0_ThdDMEYtCUuA_D8d6liLjp2zEU-wGHDTX6IQHKxiIJvTU5iVO2q66q-56x2mUk9Z/s320/P1010774.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Apparently even the highest-quality Tupperware - and I make no compromises when it comes to container quality - is no match for dough determined to make its second rise. Well. I've learned.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I was GOING to save the debut of my newest domestic skill - bread-making! - for when I'd made my first perfectly-formed loaf. But you know what? The Internet is full of intimidatingly flawless DIY baking/crafting projects, and I'm pretty sure the road to those gorgeous cupcakes and yak-yarn iPod snugglies was paved with... well, things that looked like my first loaf of bread: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEpRipdby7JgoiiEF2PmMfbjfDmUotPeldePQbjDZy2lTTvYZEig6NZo9WYw-jhJmXC_380Nc5GRU-C9_Yp3yUpfkxDOZZ5v1BIaM4EOAZHgv11fBpOM2KK7hc7IJG5M4hyphenhyphenW0F8rVRf43/s1600/P1010776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEpRipdby7JgoiiEF2PmMfbjfDmUotPeldePQbjDZy2lTTvYZEig6NZo9WYw-jhJmXC_380Nc5GRU-C9_Yp3yUpfkxDOZZ5v1BIaM4EOAZHgv11fBpOM2KK7hc7IJG5M4hyphenhyphenW0F8rVRf43/s320/P1010776.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
But you know what? It might be crooked with a gaping air hole in the middle, and the crust might be marred by two burn lines from my toaster oven's top elements, but that bread is freaking DELICIOUS. And it was practically free. Ugly wins!<br />
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Recipe <a href="http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/amish-white-bread/Detail.aspx">here</a> - but reduce sugar, boost salt, IMHO.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Update on sad-sack sickness:</i> thanks in no small part to all the Get-Well lovin' I received electronically, my gross cold is now only a cough! Hooray! I sound like a baby seal with SARS, but I can retire the hankies. Thank you for all your kind emails.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-28755710206691783812010-10-07T16:44:00.001+08:002010-10-07T16:44:52.147+08:00Siiiiiick. Blegh.Healthy readers,<br />
<br />
Today is my third day in bed after being struck full-force by the angry fist of The Worst Cold In The World. Delicate sniffles? Soft Victorian coughs? Nope. Half-closed, red, puffy eyes? Maximum-velocity sneezing that makes my head snap back? Exhaustion of my ENTIRE supply and back-up supply of hankies? That's more like it.<br />
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But you know what's great about being sick? Having full license to watch total, unadulterated, crap on DVD. Yayyy! I have so far viewed, or at least had playing in the background while I passed out open-mouthed: <i>Eclipse</i>, <i>The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2</i>, <i>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</i>, and <i>Bride Wars</i>. I also threw in some <i>Curb Your Enthusiasm</i> (which has ironic humour) but only because I ran out of <i>Gossip Girl</i>.<br />
<br />
Now. A few boiled dumplings, some ginger tea, and back to bed I go. Please beam immune system virtual boosters!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(No photos today - there's nothing you want to see here, I promise.)</span>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-71724178487778972312010-10-02T22:54:00.001+08:002010-10-02T23:02:01.694+08:00Canada FLASHBACK!: (Part 1 of 4: Newfoundland)Mmkay, so because I had such a transcendently terrific trip home this summer, I just had to post some photos. I know, I know, I wasn't <i>In Shanghai</i>, as such, but, well, my heart was, most of the time, and, um - just give me a break this time. The show begins!<br />
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I went to Newfoundland to visit university friend <a href="http://claireinshanghai.blogspot.com/2009/02/newshangfoundhailand.html">Laura</a>, who, with lovely partner Travis, recently produced darling, darling baby Sylvia Jean. Laura's town is so small they don't have house numbers, which, let me tell you, was a refreshing contrast to Shanghai. It was ten days of baby cuddles, home improvement projects, baking, and the occasional glass of wine. Perfect. PER-fect. I've loved Newfoundland since I spent Christmas there in 2007, and Newfoundland in the summer is all about the crisp breezes over a grey ocean, and boats hauling in capelin (wee silvery fish). I can be all about that, too. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHu02Aa7uR2c1ZM0o-fPtt2xBh-ROE-UUviq6swuXRUROFN3tPQvkjcPJTnMYKoRMWvM0LUbGn2Dfs_HSTN-TeFQLqW1SGbfJgQAJLtU_RtRXTzPlvk4uch6Z0yEEY4srv3t__6RfstES/s320/1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Travis' dad Barry shows me how to pitch a live lobster into a giant pot of boiling seawater. Thanks for the sacrifice, Lobster, you and your brothers were delicious.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHu02Aa7uR2c1ZM0o-fPtt2xBh-ROE-UUviq6swuXRUROFN3tPQvkjcPJTnMYKoRMWvM0LUbGn2Dfs_HSTN-TeFQLqW1SGbfJgQAJLtU_RtRXTzPlvk4uch6Z0yEEY4srv3t__6RfstES/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuTz_M8mkMbDChojsMT-3buKO9oJdsLfJQ_FG7WxGUu2SzxlwfXh9mYyYe2w0zWoOivgxypJVvp5K2_pwxaqP5v4fVuQj2PgPoJZOMkhA18Lj-VUYDOZjkEC5nLevXbPcPJgPR2j206Dz/s320/2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura, Sylvia and I went puffin-viewing. Sylvia: "Fresh Newfoundland air, mnyum, mnyum."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuTz_M8mkMbDChojsMT-3buKO9oJdsLfJQ_FG7WxGUu2SzxlwfXh9mYyYe2w0zWoOivgxypJVvp5K2_pwxaqP5v4fVuQj2PgPoJZOMkhA18Lj-VUYDOZjkEC5nLevXbPcPJgPR2j206Dz/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did we make heart-shaped moose burgers? Of COURSE we did.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6l-JWBr4NkjoITt6Kk7Fg9ZwhzgR-Omak0zyiDmD5bqDr7Pec6yCEMFdblq_GtJn2xeeVjNwHjGrAKyPKdWvonHAf0Kg6Gr6otjfQYZIrI1lUrke2Zy0aZizshgOp7FKkEpxCWekqfi3/s320/4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shirley's Haven is a seniors' residence, in case you had other ideas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6l-JWBr4NkjoITt6Kk7Fg9ZwhzgR-Omak0zyiDmD5bqDr7Pec6yCEMFdblq_GtJn2xeeVjNwHjGrAKyPKdWvonHAf0Kg6Gr6otjfQYZIrI1lUrke2Zy0aZizshgOp7FKkEpxCWekqfi3/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqp5WYZ65mL1R8goP5-GXIhZXJ1ME9AFRct9GoESepUpJC4T6w3i1gKNImHFesCe_-ilt6rlQsfX8rPXzKtLBV5q6y4MKCGxmhsc5nEmx4-DKFxwuGH9qV88ziLoICoXbiRxKdMneFbY3/s320/5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sad face at the airport! I'm Edmonton-bound. Until next time, mon amie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqp5WYZ65mL1R8goP5-GXIhZXJ1ME9AFRct9GoESepUpJC4T6w3i1gKNImHFesCe_-ilt6rlQsfX8rPXzKtLBV5q6y4MKCGxmhsc5nEmx4-DKFxwuGH9qV88ziLoICoXbiRxKdMneFbY3/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-11377234208111013772010-10-01T20:37:00.001+08:002010-10-01T21:02:59.574+08:00Chris visited!What better way to settle back in to Shanghai life than by showing a friend around town? Chris and I struggled through beginner Mandarin together at the U of A, and he's been working in Beijing (sidenote: I. Love. Beijing. The wide open skies, the cute cafés. I strive to move there for awhile sometime, no matter what it would do to my blog title). Now he lives in Wuhan, a mere six-hour train ride from Shanghai. Well, not that mere. Thanks, Chris.<br />
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So, we slammed down the fifteen-twos with a few games of crib; bought glasses and Feiyue shoes; stopped by the Hongqiao driving range; spent an uncharacteristic-for-me-but-actually-super-fun evening at a nearby hipster bar; and, you know, made sock puppets. Iiiiiit was awesome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuF5d4kitpznE_-ZHoEtjlKmKRHqAaAHkL2qch15a8Eb3wQ8tUZWL63ZC1utetEnCFaZKVyTubjLSthhnQ208uXKw6Y-oGCyX-3ShMhShOENcwleDyU78EIymkNlKwcGuFaBD4G_4OVzm/s320/P1010662.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dinner at Wagas with Eric, Allison, and Chris' student Panda. Yes, Panda. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cNuWl1-OJM8BhiR9KIWsxAB7matbO8yGluLMSRwnmr5OF9o_GtmYdC1fJxc4nNjlc-r-GbcFUlGFgCk7kb-AcXC5dCrnLAn3buGvQkxWIAxKO7C47kenv708JDLOs0_Tl4mHh7Vmfx0S/s320/P1010666.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><ol><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">We're both trash-talking cribbage players, but only one of us got skunked. It wasn't me.</span></li>
</ol></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cNuWl1-OJM8BhiR9KIWsxAB7matbO8yGluLMSRwnmr5OF9o_GtmYdC1fJxc4nNjlc-r-GbcFUlGFgCk7kb-AcXC5dCrnLAn3buGvQkxWIAxKO7C47kenv708JDLOs0_Tl4mHh7Vmfx0S/s1600/P1010666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chris (left) watches his ball sail into the far fence.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chris' new glasses match Colonel Sanders'.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mom taught me how to make these, and now I'm kind of obsessed. Chris' excitement almost eclipsed my own. He made the one on the right, and is going is going to pressure his high school students to craft them too.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSATeuCjXH7B2kjnscOADFOihzcgM5kdC6o9a4Hlu-N02jOdiKq40G5Xcj6h0LersQb1kZNCEcfuQ8KH3VMhD2mVhs2Dt2W8oJbgFpB9mIto34_mgbUH8KLqz8xYZrinJ4nC-AIsDB0Rv/s1600/P1010726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-90646903380559419952010-09-30T16:33:00.007+08:002010-09-30T20:58:23.423+08:00Hello (again), worldYep, it's been a year since I last posted, thanks to blocks on Blogger, Twitter, Facebook, and other things that help people network and organize big events. Like craft parties and potlucks. Or, I guess, protests and rallies. Anyway, I found posting remotely really wasn't my thing. It's like painting without your glasses - you have a general idea of what you're doing, but no satisfaction in seeing the finished product.<br /><br />BUT! I've just purchased a program that lets me get online through other, less internetically-inhibited cities. As such, I'll be posting regularly, and in a fancy new layout to boot. And to catch everyone up, here's a summary of the past year:<br /><br /><ul><li>PROFESSIONALLY: (Very) full-time job doing marketing and events for a non-profit. Learned tons, worked really hard, and finished my year-long contract in June 2010. On the side, I helped my friend Bonnie develop local baking service Sweet Bon-O-Mine. These days, I'm working for self taking assorted contracts and moonlighting as a private English tutor, like every other half-pat (locally-employed expat) here.</li></ul><ul><li>PERSONALLY: Expanded the cast of Claire's Life with new friends, all of whom will surely make their way onto the blog at some point. I've also solidified relationships with People In My Neighbourhood (PIMN), which goes a long way towards making me feel at home here, like when my DVD guy thrusts out the latest romantic comedy when I ride by him on my bike. (Oh, and people, I don't discuss my dating life online. It makes people uncomfortable. Especially me.)</li></ul><ul><li>OTHERLY: Still in my darling apartment, which now features both a couch AND bookshelves. Shazam! // I spent almost three months in Canada this summer. // I'm rocking new glasses like <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n9/n47766.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/lois-lowry/anastasia-krupnik.htm&h=475&w=309&sz=28&tbnid=Njq0oozQKi0lZM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=84&prev=/images%3Fq%3Danastasia%2Bkrupnik&zoom=1&q=anastasia+krupnik&usg=__kisR5_W8iWCg67MwDEf2xYCFTn8=&sa=X&ei=n1akTNfCFYX7lwf91Ji0DA&ved=0CDsQ9QEwBg">Anastasia Krupnik</a>'s, though I still wear my usuals when I'm feeling unobtrusive. // My Chinese is way better than it was. Now I can discuss way more than <a href="http://claireinshanghai.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-survived-exams-and-moms-here.html">my ideal husband</a>. // I bought a new <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/1001/10012604panazs5.asp">camera</a> and am in love with it. // I still suck at cooking, but I sure can make a mean pot of rice.</li></ul><br />So, I'm back. Thank you for staying around, and always tell me what you'd like to hear more about - I am nothing without you, dear readers!<br /><br />- Claire<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgw-9TVyD5yj5mEbJ9hDzzP-l9dGZBNLJ2pSgeoMRCWQXXcamA5eFYPkTt5bMLsvwLshqb7GxmMd9O5jo1vDBtkkq8pUwwdgP5URKJhy6bhjPwfPsD_2QqvEIlo4vt92Y-kHS9uV_p8zk/s1600/P1010712+little.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgw-9TVyD5yj5mEbJ9hDzzP-l9dGZBNLJ2pSgeoMRCWQXXcamA5eFYPkTt5bMLsvwLshqb7GxmMd9O5jo1vDBtkkq8pUwwdgP5URKJhy6bhjPwfPsD_2QqvEIlo4vt92Y-kHS9uV_p8zk/s200/P1010712+little.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522638206535760018" border="0" /></a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-48979120093823495042009-08-21T01:34:00.000+08:002009-08-21T01:35:17.462+08:00Testing... testing...Is this working? Can I really post remotely?<br> Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-63792862353804240332009-05-14T21:38:00.002+08:002010-09-30T21:03:12.147+08:00Drumroll, please<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Congrats, Carla! You totally found the voice of Mr. Too-Cool-for-Poodle, and as such are the winner of the caption contest. I shall be mailing you something weird and cute. Keep your eye on the mailbox! <br /><br />Crazy busy these days with volunteering (this time for a local theatre company producing a night of one-acts); baking with my new friend Bonnie, who's started her own small business; and studying. I'm really starting to look forward to coming home this summer... anyone up for thrift shopping marathons or long, leisurely afternoons perusing the shelves of London Drugs, let me know. <br /><br /><br /></span></span>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-9493326121581649932009-05-08T23:20:00.004+08:002009-05-08T23:34:56.368+08:00Sweet, sweet cupcake success!<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Finally. After a string of failures culminating in the Chocolate Cupcake Disaster of March 29, I've pulled cupcakes out of my oven that aren't dense, vinegar-flavoured messes. I've chucked my Six-Minute Chocolate Cake recipe out the window in favour of Katie's accurately-titled Never-Fail Chocolate Cake:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">1.5 c white sugar<br />0.5 c cocoa<br />2 c flour<br />1.5 tsp baking soda<br />1 tsp salt<br />.75 c oil<br />1.5 c milk<br />2 eggs<br />1 tbsp vanilla<br /><br />Mix all in bowl. 350, 35 minutes in greased 9 x 13" pan, or about 10 minutes for cupcakes. Easy!</span><br /><br />I also concocted some super-yummy chocolate icing. The process was something like this: put cocoa and a bit of butter in a saucepan, mix over low heat, adding as much milk as necessary to make stirrable. Take off heat and mix in enough icing sugar to make stiff. It's not scientific, but it's certainly delicious: more chocolatey than sugary.<br /><br />The cupcakes' success may have also been aided by the wee wrappers they are snuggled in. Check them OUT! I can't even handle the baking supplies here; I just found out that I can order 10,000 customized wrappers for, like, $100. That's a lifetime of "CTB"-swaddled baked goods, people!<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZZK6Y6bBs9CJ8kt1zuaDeBdCFLQZEO8Yc4u9tb_yT91FHF5m8O3Ey6ovp3EFOzcChMdkS7z3ntihe4vOK4tX_riZobB1-Q39-srTHhkZm8j_iEGNzBFr82mlMEHa_W_oO_ZFTEw90cz9/s1600-h/IMGP4262.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZZK6Y6bBs9CJ8kt1zuaDeBdCFLQZEO8Yc4u9tb_yT91FHF5m8O3Ey6ovp3EFOzcChMdkS7z3ntihe4vOK4tX_riZobB1-Q39-srTHhkZm8j_iEGNzBFr82mlMEHa_W_oO_ZFTEw90cz9/s200/IMGP4262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333475982451924450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MwIGXTj5-PzPh-ju1XOl5DRVqxdJZhCsW8296JkcBulMmmzz4IVaQJcL3t1WhuXpijDsljQoT_Fk6pGnEthjQvacuNTpCWuYshtP5ljhZhP1wBl8VvDhlMzp0hcfaBu4sKbBz72J2e_l/s1600-h/IMGP4257.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MwIGXTj5-PzPh-ju1XOl5DRVqxdJZhCsW8296JkcBulMmmzz4IVaQJcL3t1WhuXpijDsljQoT_Fk6pGnEthjQvacuNTpCWuYshtP5ljhZhP1wBl8VvDhlMzp0hcfaBu4sKbBz72J2e_l/s200/IMGP4257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333475972982918530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-46976123313826966172009-05-05T23:15:00.006+08:002010-09-30T21:04:54.003+08:00Road trip! 2: MIDI music festival<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Wu Yi, or May 1, is a big deal here - a long weekend that gives everyone a chance to realize that it's pretty much summer, yay! I ended up having the entire three-day stretch off work (rare - I usually tutor straight through weekends), so I joined Poppy and Julia on an expertly organized two-night trip to the MIDI music festival. MIDI is a three-day event that's historically been held in Beijing but was moved this year to the conveniently close city of Zhenjiang, only three hours away. Well, six, if you're caught in traffic on the way there like we were. Not to worry, though; entertainment was provided by way of music and light refreshments like beer and candy, served by our gracious - if hairy-legged - in-bus hostess Anita. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />We were all a little concerned about what kinds of accommodation we'd be facing for the trip fee of Y50/night (Y33 for J, P, and I, who were all bunking together), but when we arrived in Zhenjiang, we pulled up to none other than the Super 8 Motel. Man, Super 8 always impresses. Our giant-windowed room was decorated in a winsome turqoise palette, and the cleaning ladies were super-generous with the toilet paper and extra blankets. Not bad for $6, no?</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />And the festival? Awesome. It was so low-pressure: with only two stages - one for the main acts and one for dance music from an impressive line-up of DJs - I never had that panicky Folk Fest feeling when you're sure the best show is not the one in front of you, but the one on Stage Seven, a ten-minute jog away. The music wasn't always to our taste, but bands like Cold Fairyland (Chinese folky trancy alternativy awesomeness, </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://www.myspace.com/coldfairyland</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">) and socalled, Hollerado, and Jets Overhead (all Canadian) made up for the weird prevalence of death metal.<br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Day 1: Getting there</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />1. On the road through the Chinese countryside: farmers tending fields amidst random acts of highrises. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />2. The lovely Anita makes her first round. The apron was reserved specifically for snacktime.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3. Dao le (we're here!): The Super 8 welcomes us.<br />4. The rustic but effective hand-wash station on the festival grounds. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />5. The "rock out" finger-horn thing is totally popular here. Wicked!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />6. Buying corn-on-the-cob from one of the many food vendors. Because most Chinese people don't drink much, there was only one tent for beer - and about thirty for food. The result was a snacking bonanza tempered by meditative line-up breaks for drinks. It was very balancing.<br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisA3tmkmSa24Bb6tMEx7n0OWnIJeaNux-q2yzICNL-EiQdQf67QFU1cYCNotBGbWSIEAKEFVtQhLEfqUMxBQUObq7yKiy9bFyCFNjzl7DZNsOtkS-hIJF9Ue9cE6sFWK1YjgRfAOjOeX43/s1600-h/IMGP4020.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisA3tmkmSa24Bb6tMEx7n0OWnIJeaNux-q2yzICNL-EiQdQf67QFU1cYCNotBGbWSIEAKEFVtQhLEfqUMxBQUObq7yKiy9bFyCFNjzl7DZNsOtkS-hIJF9Ue9cE6sFWK1YjgRfAOjOeX43/s200/IMGP4020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332360793418944738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kG2A99eTqVKd_Q6cUfh4DCx6BHuA2_GrQSPM34GE154zkdIR3YnuG0-hNKsDQKpWASjnxkz6IRvL24lmzWasvzIPmlpdtSnuEynpioMs_Iekiexd6jlGJnF0flAu4t5LroRfz_5w4SwA/s1600-h/IMGP4022.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kG2A99eTqVKd_Q6cUfh4DCx6BHuA2_GrQSPM34GE154zkdIR3YnuG0-hNKsDQKpWASjnxkz6IRvL24lmzWasvzIPmlpdtSnuEynpioMs_Iekiexd6jlGJnF0flAu4t5LroRfz_5w4SwA/s200/IMGP4022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332360795975942514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbK4nWqQcrTCjbQpKZ9TwNpY2bec_tdVCm8oyRn152flX3L0C-6kLoA2-GClHLEfAPhqYStN258X3hw_a0QDpDhMSHsH42-44erEU2GR3FPhxtYbu5Ha9TVDLkda29I8xILuhfQOC9NpUM/s1600-h/IMGP4027.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbK4nWqQcrTCjbQpKZ9TwNpY2bec_tdVCm8oyRn152flX3L0C-6kLoA2-GClHLEfAPhqYStN258X3hw_a0QDpDhMSHsH42-44erEU2GR3FPhxtYbu5Ha9TVDLkda29I8xILuhfQOC9NpUM/s200/IMGP4027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332360799672206482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPB5ftV2EMmeMB1V7HlIPi7UoVufYpMjWeVmzvePMCokzlH13Z5SSyzlciiN2YcpmKCNIRp7XMdCaof7ZBsmPunihU8tuJDswNefVmWhse10NhJi15yDLFy_8aCp9Kw9Ab8tWksq87YOS/s1600-h/IMGP4038.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPB5ftV2EMmeMB1V7HlIPi7UoVufYpMjWeVmzvePMCokzlH13Z5SSyzlciiN2YcpmKCNIRp7XMdCaof7ZBsmPunihU8tuJDswNefVmWhse10NhJi15yDLFy_8aCp9Kw9Ab8tWksq87YOS/s200/IMGP4038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332360799304638370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHD_9UkSF9m8qAF6K9_NvsI1HH1eRwg9oHxOVl8Qe8ifZ-xiIW5z8lVJkLnzgwqTGlyAOwjeu2ZaIct9RgT31Y3oIQe3uTQB7aRgf8FkycfvtExWY-kQEEG5RhIJ7lzhSGKvAaaUjVX8LL/s1600-h/IMGP4052.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHD_9UkSF9m8qAF6K9_NvsI1HH1eRwg9oHxOVl8Qe8ifZ-xiIW5z8lVJkLnzgwqTGlyAOwjeu2ZaIct9RgT31Y3oIQe3uTQB7aRgf8FkycfvtExWY-kQEEG5RhIJ7lzhSGKvAaaUjVX8LL/s200/IMGP4052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332361582838919074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhIg3YDi3-O2pBEfkvHHLIRkxN2ShmXIfDIqJaoGFrQ7ZJFyDnGpzjM7C-BLphqS-rGMjobRT9oc0VI2Jd_Mn3_E5uBLGy0EtK422JVOIhFHu9OPSqx-KW18iteKeaQwHgS22oqIZowxP/s1600-h/IMGP4043.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhIg3YDi3-O2pBEfkvHHLIRkxN2ShmXIfDIqJaoGFrQ7ZJFyDnGpzjM7C-BLphqS-rGMjobRT9oc0VI2Jd_Mn3_E5uBLGy0EtK422JVOIhFHu9OPSqx-KW18iteKeaQwHgS22oqIZowxP/s200/IMGP4043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332360805412135394" border="0" /></a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-14595388024559256862009-05-05T23:08:00.004+08:002010-09-30T21:04:54.004+08:00MIDI, Day Two: Nausea prevails over cuteness, fun muddiness<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Photos:</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />1. Trying to get going over a breakfast of... fried noodles. I'm pretty sure they're what caused me to bail at 6 p.m. for Pepto and Vinyl Café at the hotel.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />2. It rained overnight. You first, Poppy.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />3. Drama! A hole in the wall yields a stream of sneaker-inners. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />4. I always end up kissing some wall. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />5. Adorable couple alert! Apparently we missed the BYOT<span style="font-size:78%;">iny <span style="font-size:85%;">S</span>tool, <span style="font-size:85%;">B</span>ackpack, and <span style="font-size:85%;">S</span>trawberries</span> notice.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />6. Most photographed individuals were not the band members. They were the foreigners. I shoot back and everyone feels famous.</span> </span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTrY9_WUUJyLT1a5J-u9-Ge3UOp6000hLDrJl8Qmfl2g9YmIWm_rOtT4rVg6p6-Iz2FakCVzWatoZ1wwXRFdUlPHFMY1GqtgxXupYOl4NhkYqYB-IOXm1_iQhQXzvHK_fJjUBV93BD0Dy/s1600-h/IMGP4074.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTrY9_WUUJyLT1a5J-u9-Ge3UOp6000hLDrJl8Qmfl2g9YmIWm_rOtT4rVg6p6-Iz2FakCVzWatoZ1wwXRFdUlPHFMY1GqtgxXupYOl4NhkYqYB-IOXm1_iQhQXzvHK_fJjUBV93BD0Dy/s200/IMGP4074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332357577198669026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHitXQJyOFBhIFOjgAXON0L5LIngnWZTyy0CZHyiViELgKaPTZlJCmO-Nh5juiBv5JPWZZ8lx2qvBoPlNyt904V7PKHiwoX3N-S5mm8c_LyvkNpDTNUjTP7qTMd2wMdM1Zlkpmg_dC1w-p/s1600-h/IMGP4120.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHitXQJyOFBhIFOjgAXON0L5LIngnWZTyy0CZHyiViELgKaPTZlJCmO-Nh5juiBv5JPWZZ8lx2qvBoPlNyt904V7PKHiwoX3N-S5mm8c_LyvkNpDTNUjTP7qTMd2wMdM1Zlkpmg_dC1w-p/s200/IMGP4120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332357591408131074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i2r3RYos6h9Ge68UHLhU1ypW3QrFln7zAusizZciksBnL8lKWeZmsmTbinaiVDsIstq2hOcRlD-hkeKf_UQehgqimSA4ald6V9tmkH2CBMkftQ6nn8ankXd_mp7qLDOGmHuCT5UnKGYs/s1600-h/IMGP4079.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i2r3RYos6h9Ge68UHLhU1ypW3QrFln7zAusizZciksBnL8lKWeZmsmTbinaiVDsIstq2hOcRlD-hkeKf_UQehgqimSA4ald6V9tmkH2CBMkftQ6nn8ankXd_mp7qLDOGmHuCT5UnKGYs/s200/IMGP4079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332357574497546018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4tgLsW8NKB2PeS4DYQ6vGEybs4lt0rMDzJnVjNo4kZdBvcIJkKqIoEmys1UbGhy_9FC4KS-QPS-K63andyqUT2kHCQTjpnfuIkM-JE083mPdiCrKwjmV8Bj3n6AWxL6O1yBk7elYlv1Q/s1600-h/IMGP4108.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4tgLsW8NKB2PeS4DYQ6vGEybs4lt0rMDzJnVjNo4kZdBvcIJkKqIoEmys1UbGhy_9FC4KS-QPS-K63andyqUT2kHCQTjpnfuIkM-JE083mPdiCrKwjmV8Bj3n6AWxL6O1yBk7elYlv1Q/s200/IMGP4108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332357589226973666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqxuKJLjf_EdbcbTW5JDfSnE1si5fMIDOSP9-Lk-oeXyAToWYzGdR_Zv1oAsmkWH-sKsS69pAlTJdR5NJmcuoURDUBAkUTjABwzq42DHdx5wQsBwdl3G2jP6BoVJlr8VqpI7G9tun5vXb/s1600-h/IMGP4096.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqxuKJLjf_EdbcbTW5JDfSnE1si5fMIDOSP9-Lk-oeXyAToWYzGdR_Zv1oAsmkWH-sKsS69pAlTJdR5NJmcuoURDUBAkUTjABwzq42DHdx5wQsBwdl3G2jP6BoVJlr8VqpI7G9tun5vXb/s200/IMGP4096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332357577835670642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KBol6ZXCch7hq4z62hfuiXEWX_R-doBKC_keiQmxhnoOcT7gp7SuROkVFQHM0Pi6ZQ4kqYzYHbJ_sjb5VK-61W979AQ69ww9HyvQrc5-SgwwumFY55WxOOPYPp2GREliuBUG9jwHTQoD/s1600-h/IMGP4130.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KBol6ZXCch7hq4z62hfuiXEWX_R-doBKC_keiQmxhnoOcT7gp7SuROkVFQHM0Pi6ZQ4kqYzYHbJ_sjb5VK-61W979AQ69ww9HyvQrc5-SgwwumFY55WxOOPYPp2GREliuBUG9jwHTQoD/s200/IMGP4130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332357788964057602" border="0" /></a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-68766669173372048452009-05-05T21:41:00.007+08:002010-09-30T21:04:54.004+08:00MIDI, Day Three: funny vehicles, meat on a stick, and groupies<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photos: </span><br /><br />1. The bus - specially coated in a giant sticker for this very trip - drops us off and we almost get smoked by THIS awesome contraption.<br />2. The Y120 (~$22) weekend pass was crazy cheap for us, but a lot of money to people here. Fortunately, the wall planners were short-sighted (ha! ha!) and people get the exact same view from the other side.<br />3. Our expertly-labelled tablecloth tarp protects our bums from the still-damp ground.<br />4. A Canadian contingent shows its pride as Jets Overhead plays.<br />5. Meat on a stick: our main source of protein throughout the weekend. Poppy bought so many they started giving her freebies.<br />6. MIDI spirit from the skaters of the crowd.<br />7. Socalled, from Montreal. http://www.myspace.com/socalled Superly awesome and definitely the crowd favourite. How to describe: klesmer hip-hop? We hung out with a couple of the guys from the band afterwards, which was fun, not least because they let us use the palatial (read: clean) VIP bathrooms. It's really hard to overstate that luxury. Did you know Port-A-Johns come in a "squat" version?<br /><br />So, it's back to school and daily life again, at least for the next two months. We're in the last quarter of our studies now, and time's swiftness is starting to feel very real for me and the friends I've made here. Lots of good times left to be had, though; don't worry, I'll keep you posted!<br /><br />P.S. Don't forget to <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">join the contest</span></span> below! I'll leave it up 'til this weekend, but don't miss the chance to incite jealousy in all the other readers when you wow them with your amazing caption.<br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pUqNE-6SrMdfqUgD1K-xu8h36Q-kUllQsUKn8gSyy40CCy1cvuqw_WeS-ZXbBY36wgLlnQwV64dlrqgQX5SeQfDo56sNkZ2UngrfFqZdkQ2OEE48UvVBbYBVTuKbLMp78fvYO1tVQOe1/s1600-h/IMGP4151.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pUqNE-6SrMdfqUgD1K-xu8h36Q-kUllQsUKn8gSyy40CCy1cvuqw_WeS-ZXbBY36wgLlnQwV64dlrqgQX5SeQfDo56sNkZ2UngrfFqZdkQ2OEE48UvVBbYBVTuKbLMp78fvYO1tVQOe1/s200/IMGP4151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332347164861518834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbsT9ezu5mb_WPuPkpqZ1E47vP7nouTELNiTx1cX-yHdUOYQK-fA5WesmroJDzho1N6bLqXYAIFjXff5UnzAwaFEb1zsppc7RofN5a-mBezCzUg4FiuNZ-jSmZWXa3blkHngPZTGUMqNI/s1600-h/IMGP4156.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbsT9ezu5mb_WPuPkpqZ1E47vP7nouTELNiTx1cX-yHdUOYQK-fA5WesmroJDzho1N6bLqXYAIFjXff5UnzAwaFEb1zsppc7RofN5a-mBezCzUg4FiuNZ-jSmZWXa3blkHngPZTGUMqNI/s200/IMGP4156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332347170808730578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vEWwg2flckmVFd7LqN6Bp0DMCyfOHVRZQ7ZIRWkyCgYgLG6V6kYeHuvRgPbAvIiDhYT8P5cssv6ig2WdDTZagRgP-1pb9VoEthI8Kx6DsjGXrlnp9C4glgFRKdgr991eMIqND1AGLaRj/s1600-h/IMGP4160.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vEWwg2flckmVFd7LqN6Bp0DMCyfOHVRZQ7ZIRWkyCgYgLG6V6kYeHuvRgPbAvIiDhYT8P5cssv6ig2WdDTZagRgP-1pb9VoEthI8Kx6DsjGXrlnp9C4glgFRKdgr991eMIqND1AGLaRj/s200/IMGP4160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332347168573865890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuY3QC-qPWpIjPw6XrlKcwzc1yXFHDpHUtuOshwWpP7c-lFPogvVFwj82gD-k-s6lEKlRhwwp6ZSs2KjvIpSuSngmROvvFxDcKaVLcDtWd8c6egK7jazoUluvpTRzrhOL6ptIHbV_ai_J/s1600-h/IMGP4195.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuY3QC-qPWpIjPw6XrlKcwzc1yXFHDpHUtuOshwWpP7c-lFPogvVFwj82gD-k-s6lEKlRhwwp6ZSs2KjvIpSuSngmROvvFxDcKaVLcDtWd8c6egK7jazoUluvpTRzrhOL6ptIHbV_ai_J/s200/IMGP4195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332347177930824226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmiToJ8VmgqFBE43VjYmcuL6wNh7TD1xhPhlhiPYBEbJCLHPlXe7C_Et2BU-b19FqP-Hn-1pBfZqUYaqyxztMSPXwP14E9baQFwdhRi34yvlNaxZ2NExHouVvnUwCsUwIDVYmvQM8_cjT/s1600-h/IMGP4216.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmiToJ8VmgqFBE43VjYmcuL6wNh7TD1xhPhlhiPYBEbJCLHPlXe7C_Et2BU-b19FqP-Hn-1pBfZqUYaqyxztMSPXwP14E9baQFwdhRi34yvlNaxZ2NExHouVvnUwCsUwIDVYmvQM8_cjT/s200/IMGP4216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332347897533133298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4cT-xXukBWYq63pvFli11kA-dzu06nbSjXMtKMe_-Nix2KR3IAMsPo4lfqRA1dB0wESPRqUi6DNGUXALSQldj0sWVbcNAVXGBEIaxZt0mI4yov2F141d3_wVjq3aCJzx0gvpB4qWmGPO/s1600-h/IMGP4181.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4cT-xXukBWYq63pvFli11kA-dzu06nbSjXMtKMe_-Nix2KR3IAMsPo4lfqRA1dB0wESPRqUi6DNGUXALSQldj0sWVbcNAVXGBEIaxZt0mI4yov2F141d3_wVjq3aCJzx0gvpB4qWmGPO/s200/IMGP4181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332347173927330178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNNXYWVPCz_Z4Yypm6d63l03TOGj51VNk0_L5JWBGaXOCQwnuJo4_tFVHVpd_NEuhhfjKs3BglYP9IZWjUHIsfYFFpYteSfXJHNdIe8n4xtMmll5RTJz7ygGsWy2WbGXkgG3IO7JG8KXv/s1600-h/IMGP4249.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNNXYWVPCz_Z4Yypm6d63l03TOGj51VNk0_L5JWBGaXOCQwnuJo4_tFVHVpd_NEuhhfjKs3BglYP9IZWjUHIsfYFFpYteSfXJHNdIe8n4xtMmll5RTJz7ygGsWy2WbGXkgG3IO7JG8KXv/s200/IMGP4249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332347905074141042" border="0" /></a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-18770764314596857542009-04-30T11:51:00.003+08:002010-09-30T21:03:12.148+08:00Post marathon! (or, This is what lazy blogger's remorse looks like) (plus: CONTEST!)<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Mmkay, today's post is a post trilogy, because I've been up to so much lately that I didn't want to squeeze it into one entry. This way, you can read in installments, catching up with my latest cooking adventure, for example, and then grabbing a coffee and going to MEC and and eating Cheerios and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and other Canadian delicacies, and remembering the next day that you can still admire the flower selection at Shanghai markets and even<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">enter a contest!</span></span><br /><br />Whoo!<br /><br />I've taken a lot of pictures since coming here last fall, but I'm pretty sure this one sums up the challenges and contradictions of life in Shanghai better than any other. Best caption wins the weirdest prize I can find, but don't worry, I'll totes consider your personality and taste. All will be mailed lovingly to your home. Have fun!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Love, Claire</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-WZ4hOFgQeYnZl1dB9S-TaZRZCQooLUEDzcmVQT6FnZgwuAkSLvSC1CFf6h726huj2SYZ8lxwJ3Kzai4N6XQEIU7Vo-WTFJdKBgNV5uqsphJCTpvp48voVQpNHoYq0pO8fTO3pWSFUey/s1600-h/IMGP3895.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-WZ4hOFgQeYnZl1dB9S-TaZRZCQooLUEDzcmVQT6FnZgwuAkSLvSC1CFf6h726huj2SYZ8lxwJ3Kzai4N6XQEIU7Vo-WTFJdKBgNV5uqsphJCTpvp48voVQpNHoYq0pO8fTO3pWSFUey/s200/IMGP3895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330330463114307314" border="0" /></a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-32922699116374723472009-04-30T11:38:00.003+08:002010-09-30T21:06:39.980+08:00Project 2: Dinner chez moi<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Midterms finished on Tuesday, and Julia and Poppy came over with the idea of cooking a real. Dinner. Like, with courses. The theme? Carbs and butter. So Julia made her trademark and highly delicious onion soup with freshly toasted croutons; I made macaroni and cheese and a side of potatoes mashed with spinach, to break up the beige colour palette; and Poppy concocted her Scottish bread-and-butter pudding, which took two hours to bake but which was entirely delectable, especially when eaten with cream whilst watching "The Sound of Music." We sang along, obviously.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spot my new favourite cutting board under the (somewhat superfluous) slices of baguette.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also included: produce bounty. This is what you can buy at the fruit/veg market down the street for just over three Canadian dollars. Note delicious mango at centre stage.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Photos:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Another reason to love China: I can afford my vitamins</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. First course: soup, croutons, and wine from the Open House caterer, who was so horrified that we usually drink Y30 bottles that he gave us a much nicer one to take home</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. Macaroni and mashed potatoes baked toaster oven-style: that means double-decker skillz</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">4. Second course: Julia means business</span><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYomlfVmk2jEvGzNrWuYQ67Aa4QRJvQ_Cv-BV9aMTEClndhHKxjU6r9kXdNdfK-SDXsdMpS20da6SoTyLEM1GLY8zQWOUen8heX6OjhuIHlQi20Imn-mwpc0qYop9UlcvaQmWzoNDil2d/s1600-h/IMGP3930.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYomlfVmk2jEvGzNrWuYQ67Aa4QRJvQ_Cv-BV9aMTEClndhHKxjU6r9kXdNdfK-SDXsdMpS20da6SoTyLEM1GLY8zQWOUen8heX6OjhuIHlQi20Imn-mwpc0qYop9UlcvaQmWzoNDil2d/s200/IMGP3930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330326026466158738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e8ZgBq-iunTusYhW_v5WXO2HugG9sR5tBRX6mANuHYyJE0SLy9Z8ihgCCfBvk6MZ9fiTjtg-IahEOoXAU04P-Qd5EGwUZR944rsXp_yxZrR68aFyFPYyOuUy_GLeWntBt64QFCpH50Yq/s1600-h/IMGP4012.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e8ZgBq-iunTusYhW_v5WXO2HugG9sR5tBRX6mANuHYyJE0SLy9Z8ihgCCfBvk6MZ9fiTjtg-IahEOoXAU04P-Qd5EGwUZR944rsXp_yxZrR68aFyFPYyOuUy_GLeWntBt64QFCpH50Yq/s200/IMGP4012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330326021305180818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbzSulyy8nc9Ia6eroCOMxN9MXiEkgcotwfA0mBPvrdwR2jl01emsRQR51Zk0QNs8Bvumv20Z75JWw7LiXPUFK3dj_NkqJK-JMwlq0dAZ0n5iexcQ9J22S7ksGKNIa6LiJs3DJmh2a1Be/s1600-h/IMGP4009.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbzSulyy8nc9Ia6eroCOMxN9MXiEkgcotwfA0mBPvrdwR2jl01emsRQR51Zk0QNs8Bvumv20Z75JWw7LiXPUFK3dj_NkqJK-JMwlq0dAZ0n5iexcQ9J22S7ksGKNIa6LiJs3DJmh2a1Be/s200/IMGP4009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330326015637813154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8Sgwl0z2b81QEyVT3yiE24FZQbQNeeYY8gQvl1fBvfw-via3qazV7M3BWxXk7un1iiMwJ8LVy2m2m1-ZSaJ2sMMMxhFxJTUg9V8JcZ_889ieoox0i6vWqIy3YJ2KPtMH1DT_aHdEAOvI/s1600-h/IMGP4013.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8Sgwl0z2b81QEyVT3yiE24FZQbQNeeYY8gQvl1fBvfw-via3qazV7M3BWxXk7un1iiMwJ8LVy2m2m1-ZSaJ2sMMMxhFxJTUg9V8JcZ_889ieoox0i6vWqIy3YJ2KPtMH1DT_aHdEAOvI/s200/IMGP4013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330326020363518162" border="0" /></a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-27584842005211668732009-04-30T10:25:00.007+08:002010-09-30T21:06:39.980+08:00Project 1: Opening House (not mine)<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Every night before I go to sleep, a soft but chiding voice whispers, "You forgot to write your blog tonight, Claire." My toes twinge with guilt and then I drift into slumber, forgetting about the whole thing until the next night at around midnight. Why do I do this? I just saw "He's Just Not That Into You" and Justin Long says it's because my life lacks real drama so I have to create my own. I don't entirely agree, but at least I don't have to take up gambling or, like, catfights in bars.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />So what have I been doing the past two weeks? Kind of studying for midterms, but mostly organizing this Open House party for the Community Centre (I insist on CDN spelling) of Shanghai, an organization that helps expats form, um, community in this ginormous city. The Centre offers all sorts of classes, social events for youth and for grown-ups, tours, counselling, etc., etc. It's a really cool place and they just opened their brand new office about a twenty-minute bike ride from my apartment. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />About six weeks ago, I decided to volunteer there and was immediately recruited to help party-plan, which I had no problem with; although the whole thing was super time-consuming, I can't pretend I don't love choosing decorations, harassing people to RSVP, and trying to hang unwieldy banners on sketchy walls that shouldn't be depended on to hold ANYTHING up. Some photos below - mostly of the Hongqiao Flower Market, one of several in the city that offers beautiful, gorgeous, stunning flowers basically for free. The party was last Saturday night and was super-successful, despite my and my co-organizer's fear that only ten people would come and everyone would win three door prizes before we packed the catering into Tupperware to be eaten cold every night for the following week whilst reflecting on our failured attempt at entertaining. What a relief! Though the leftovers would have been great.</span> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Photos:<br /><br />1. Just one of the beautiful flower market stalls<br />2. This guy did our welcome table arrangement in seven minutes flat. Bam!<br />3. Julia wins a doorprize, tries to regain focus<br />4. Party favours<br />5. Typical: women organize, men cut the damn ribbon</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_RhldJNG1DSv9tbHxViAksy2xYX_5tPo5xCOfgY9DYNTEueFmW2XIurykBL41r9Aa2LYPP9aE73EaGPyp68z3qRSlqkA6aWDQHLBSp23VC91u9fUV0GqJqaEIFkAps8totGU1uqnhctR/s1600-h/IMGP3940.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_RhldJNG1DSv9tbHxViAksy2xYX_5tPo5xCOfgY9DYNTEueFmW2XIurykBL41r9Aa2LYPP9aE73EaGPyp68z3qRSlqkA6aWDQHLBSp23VC91u9fUV0GqJqaEIFkAps8totGU1uqnhctR/s200/IMGP3940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330312481339595202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIC7g-nI98IIrcClzSEw8tZjMTrmSDnGUililY_2xTKZnXULwxFWXD84RDlNOJzP5DdCDKyuRWneSO9WXvzolaj1eBWy55W2EOAeUOa3ar_5t-I2lBdH5WomiXJUw-XW9LlygLNmyliHA/s1600-h/IMGP3935.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIC7g-nI98IIrcClzSEw8tZjMTrmSDnGUililY_2xTKZnXULwxFWXD84RDlNOJzP5DdCDKyuRWneSO9WXvzolaj1eBWy55W2EOAeUOa3ar_5t-I2lBdH5WomiXJUw-XW9LlygLNmyliHA/s200/IMGP3935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330312473584568866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVie0DTLe3DgJaI9Bl3rrwA-NEL15_aFzLspH1-FKp5juj1c4LqUzkP0SlDTaFVX7JGopDOh2Sjg_W7765e5dlnpuQD00h2-OoHLQW3_E6xgXnBG07s1nefIzkENJx9FO3QAnP7zg724I/s1600-h/IMGP3953.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVie0DTLe3DgJaI9Bl3rrwA-NEL15_aFzLspH1-FKp5juj1c4LqUzkP0SlDTaFVX7JGopDOh2Sjg_W7765e5dlnpuQD00h2-OoHLQW3_E6xgXnBG07s1nefIzkENJx9FO3QAnP7zg724I/s200/IMGP3953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330313465971928002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp635QhIwxoaotJi12le-DuTdkkneUlevCrzH_Hj5e77F5fn7Bjee9lfrm-hOvTyKQtubvHAr-1EXmXJJGOUGckXwi3lCPxANzYtkKB7ZCVGU7dGUlOaelUkJzVd9uOgZoaNHYRn0elEoH/s1600-h/IMGP3948.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp635QhIwxoaotJi12le-DuTdkkneUlevCrzH_Hj5e77F5fn7Bjee9lfrm-hOvTyKQtubvHAr-1EXmXJJGOUGckXwi3lCPxANzYtkKB7ZCVGU7dGUlOaelUkJzVd9uOgZoaNHYRn0elEoH/s200/IMGP3948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330312474614893762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsfzOffIhV6R2kgN8jFknHZ9fr4YlVwFtCY6wIXLOYQePqOAU4mhYDALmg1600SvvLAPmHqQEFlVAndwZ9zPbNullxJ2mrjXFlJ7IAfYhYDlmc-jWXsG_Xj7cA6dypiayl5dmN4JVXTxr/s1600-h/-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsfzOffIhV6R2kgN8jFknHZ9fr4YlVwFtCY6wIXLOYQePqOAU4mhYDALmg1600SvvLAPmHqQEFlVAndwZ9zPbNullxJ2mrjXFlJ7IAfYhYDlmc-jWXsG_Xj7cA6dypiayl5dmN4JVXTxr/s200/-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330312479943056066" border="0" /></a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-77052671572993789342009-04-15T00:53:00.004+08:002010-09-30T21:07:10.627+08:00Tiny apple crisp and the other highlights of my weekend (um, all food)<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Here's the thing. There are some dishes that should really be available in individual portions, and apple crisp is one of them. Sometimes you just have a craving, but you don't feel like peeling five apples and baking a huge dish that you'll probably eat in its entirety in the middle of the night. It's not that I don't love the rogue thrill of standing over an empty Pyrex with a soup spoon at three a.m. as much as the next person - let's just say that there's a reason God invented miniature Le Creuset dishes, and it's so you can whip up a wee dessert to enjoy whilst reading your new book on a Friday night when it's been a long week and you don't really feel like doing anything particularly social.<br /><br />Photo trilogy below. The book, which I highly recommend for weekend reading despite its slightly flaky title and worrisomely purple cover, is "This Charming Man" by Irish author Marian Keyes.<br /><br />Then: Saturday night. Having satisfied my longing for a.c., I felt a hole in my diet - one that could only be filled by m.a.m.p.* BUT I barely ate any vegetables last week and needed greens. BUT I didn't feel like polluting my Comfort Meal with boring, boring spinach. What's a girl to do? MASH THE GREENS AND POTATOES TOGETHER! Le Creuset made a comeback. Some say adding foreign textures to m.p. is a heinous crime. Some say it's purely efficient. Discuss.<br /><br />THEN: Easter! China doesn't do Easter at all, but we are used to making do; a laid-back early-afternoon brunch included pancakes, mango, donut bits, bacon (to celebrate the end of Poppy and Julia's long and sad meatless Lent), and menacing but delicious fruit skewers. Julia dyed beautiful eggs - the trick to getting them this glossy is to rub 'em with a bit of butter - and we all enjoyed the sunshine, especially Isa, who lounged on the terrace.<br /><br />Happy spring, everyone! Hope the Easter Bunny brought lots of stickers and yummy chocolate, as he used to do for me.<br /></span></span><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >*meat and mashed potatoes<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n1nRGTUfC1ocoK4D2vs3ohqkl_E_ut9N_JGBODPUBwTrQeeZ_WEZUxpJQPDwKgpMzrpqetr3pC8LKn9FjWdmXGg7zLgxuIOnX8qdZAn00sYE30K_UM4Cv9o_GDCwU4Y-yVNIzYA4rNKu/s1600-h/IMGP3902.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n1nRGTUfC1ocoK4D2vs3ohqkl_E_ut9N_JGBODPUBwTrQeeZ_WEZUxpJQPDwKgpMzrpqetr3pC8LKn9FjWdmXGg7zLgxuIOnX8qdZAn00sYE30K_UM4Cv9o_GDCwU4Y-yVNIzYA4rNKu/s200/IMGP3902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324591608078037794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRgbHSVC0atUCePCO362yXPCeIPYyCoOO-0L-ZDrW8fybjPp7LAPokBClfsUuUEbkks-uM6dpMuYfiRCqHMCB9jhoPuQm9TD3fsv-VRpBu209_POsSq7HPTyugSRvdYUGl4SVQHQQgRsp/s1600-h/IMGP3906.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRgbHSVC0atUCePCO362yXPCeIPYyCoOO-0L-ZDrW8fybjPp7LAPokBClfsUuUEbkks-uM6dpMuYfiRCqHMCB9jhoPuQm9TD3fsv-VRpBu209_POsSq7HPTyugSRvdYUGl4SVQHQQgRsp/s200/IMGP3906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324591611438583202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DPDxaiByNDhsvh58nUP3r3ig3PLhRl55qTE0QpbWoSJSTRN8C7ECakofuqGQG1rs3-hoonwcExPmM6VfttX6adrvos_eVeBgBVV7e34nnQkCu97OvUTlXkZXAew9YT9XMcEytWBZ35C5/s1600-h/IMGP3908.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DPDxaiByNDhsvh58nUP3r3ig3PLhRl55qTE0QpbWoSJSTRN8C7ECakofuqGQG1rs3-hoonwcExPmM6VfttX6adrvos_eVeBgBVV7e34nnQkCu97OvUTlXkZXAew9YT9XMcEytWBZ35C5/s200/IMGP3908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324591617551440802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyINHP0XICA-eiz-MD9GXobzkaM31VOeLh25o2NRhNNCqDkQVn9CKGl7KO-tOkQSbQDyplfJB0PEFL3qdmjcMw2ev4IB0uP7OMckFmKhJesVDia9uo7C9JrWm8zGQNfKMSEWNOu0DQc5d/s1600-h/IMGP3920.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyINHP0XICA-eiz-MD9GXobzkaM31VOeLh25o2NRhNNCqDkQVn9CKGl7KO-tOkQSbQDyplfJB0PEFL3qdmjcMw2ev4IB0uP7OMckFmKhJesVDia9uo7C9JrWm8zGQNfKMSEWNOu0DQc5d/s200/IMGP3920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324591620786573890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdbRGVO_sa3WJopvSLug8EWbemLIPJgt1Rn5KPPR0Tojoq8GMu1-STpl6FZSdii5jLWt2kxzc1rH3OA4-bdDR1cUZGsptxbZ4zdIMOBjcpbOfiM962eqQl4ojo_NCdM9yElGiRWMpBbLR/s1600-h/IMGP3921.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdbRGVO_sa3WJopvSLug8EWbemLIPJgt1Rn5KPPR0Tojoq8GMu1-STpl6FZSdii5jLWt2kxzc1rH3OA4-bdDR1cUZGsptxbZ4zdIMOBjcpbOfiM962eqQl4ojo_NCdM9yElGiRWMpBbLR/s200/IMGP3921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324591626752108050" border="0" /></a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003741602205791479.post-32060380537517921042009-04-15T00:30:00.005+08:002010-09-30T21:06:39.982+08:00More Easter pics<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Gorgeous Polish eggs, courtesy of Julia; gorgeous Polish Isa, courtesy of sunshine and admirable personal style.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAVoFkr4chjlJLpb6xRarj1HOxDqor0spUTO4d1OlF-wrlN1QQn0gTsoTPY-EBniL8V0apFg8pn4VB8iGJiBrKE7n8wFt_G2oq1RnwxymPeO8awmeK0HSmTsmVAlIna1KcBUcet-kVZAL/s1600-h/IMGP3925.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAVoFkr4chjlJLpb6xRarj1HOxDqor0spUTO4d1OlF-wrlN1QQn0gTsoTPY-EBniL8V0apFg8pn4VB8iGJiBrKE7n8wFt_G2oq1RnwxymPeO8awmeK0HSmTsmVAlIna1KcBUcet-kVZAL/s200/IMGP3925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324590792692088978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XNO_7MsmOqhZFrMV53NfmMJU0Z2FTGNhN9PhjT1KbHS-FS6lFYmfTC-oUmEscE0bhTL-eKbUrQmwZ86HLh6ZJr3Me_F-DrhmQqAhgU-PPL3vpVdEi-uZ0zgUYX-C9FnI8bnBLeLwzge2/s1600-h/IMGP3928.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XNO_7MsmOqhZFrMV53NfmMJU0Z2FTGNhN9PhjT1KbHS-FS6lFYmfTC-oUmEscE0bhTL-eKbUrQmwZ86HLh6ZJr3Me_F-DrhmQqAhgU-PPL3vpVdEi-uZ0zgUYX-C9FnI8bnBLeLwzge2/s200/IMGP3928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324590795025133554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196180337174960947noreply@blogger.com0