Hallelujah

more from Maira Kalman

I just can't get enough.

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2009/02/02/090202taco_talk_remnick

Chinese New Year

Today is Chinese New Year's Day, kicking off the year of the Ox. While out running errands today, I poked my head into Chinatown. The big celebration in London won't be until this weekend, and I've learned to avoid it because the crowds are just too big. But this afternoon it wasn't very crowded so when I heard the drumming coming my way, I actually got to see the lions (dragons? I can never tell) dancing through Chinatown. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera, but I was delighted because they were letting other people take over and dance. So someone with lion legs would step out and walk alongside, or go help the drummers, while the lions would keep dancing, but with the front legs those of a businessman.

Ego-boosters

Chinese class started again on Tuesday evening. Among the sample sentences in the "Speech Patterns" section of the new chapter, we have some real ego-boosters:

我连一半也没做对。 I didn't do even half of it correctly.

这事连小孩都知道。 Even small children know this.

At least, I think I've translated these correctly...

That side was made for you and me

wtf?

http://www.colorofchange.org/oscar/

Get on the horse!

This is one of my favourite new Chinese vocabulary words:

马上 = mǎ shàng = at once; right away; immediately

马 = mǎ = horse; horse chess piece; Surname
上 = shàng = on; up; on top; upon; first (of two parts); previous or last (week, etc.); upper; higher; above; previous; to climb; to go into; above; to go up

So 马上 could be literally translated as, "Get on the horse!"

Masked

I had a great time again in Ithaca for New Year's. Here are Kates, Elizabeth and I with masks painted on for a New Year's Eve masquerade party by Kate's tattoo artist housemate Phoebe:



I got some good family time in as well.



I'm back in London now for a late start on the new year. This is (hopefully) my last leg in London. My postdoc applications are mostly done. So now I'm just working on finishing my thesis and preparing for my viva while waiting for word on where I'll end up next autumn.