Well, There it is Again.

We're not 100% positive, but it seems I may have strep throat again. I have 10 new meds in my possession to treat the hives and the strep.

Oh happy day.

Not exactly the start to my action filled weekend I had hoped for. Stupid antibiotics and itchy rash...

Chinese New Year

I am sitting in my bed, waiting for 330 to roll around because I have a doctors appointment to see about the hives that have taken over my body and I just caught up on Christina's blogs (my aunt is currently spending two months on a couple wildlife reserves in South Africa), so it inspired me to write an update. (No worries, I will be sure to post what the results of the appointment are...)

Chinese New Year starts this week. I am reminded of the Bible stories about going to take part in a census in your home town becuase that's a little bit like what Chinese New Year is all about. Except you make that epic journey home to visit your family and have dinner with all your relatives. There is red and gold EVERYWHERE and everyone is really going all out for the festivities. About a month has been spent constructing the fireworks stands on the waterfront and all of the various temporary shacks to go with it. There is a huge barrier that separates the freshly cleared area for fireworks from civilization, so surely that makes it safe from the drunken idiots promising to invade, right? Yeaaaaaaaahhhhhh.

Anywho. It is the Year of the Rabbit, for those who don't know, and for those of you born in the Year of the Ox, don't read the horoscope for us this year. I made that mistake and it is forecast to be a grim year at best for us. Ah well. You win some, you lose some. But in case you are interested, the Year of the Metal Rabbit is not going to be pleasant for anyone, apparently. Just go out there and make it best you can, I suppose. There are giant bunnies decorating every roundabout Macau has to offer and sometimes they just look downright creepy. Sort of anime, sort of cartoonish, all the way unappealing. This culture constantly baffles me. The lights, on the other hand, are magical. I am a sucker for Christmas lights and these New Year lights are no different. They are strung lining the streets in Old Taipa and are just lovely.

The grocery stores here are busy busy with people getting ready to cook fantastic meals. New Year lasts for 3 days, because it is based on the lunar calendar. We get double time because we work all three days and we also recieve three days in lieu, so I don't mind working. We will still get to partake in festivities because of the late nature of the culture here. Things never really get started until 12noon at the earliest, so they last much into the night. That is a bonus when you work in theater and do not get off work until 10pm. Bamboo plants and what appear to be miniature daffodils are plentiful right now and I am thinking of purchasing one soon. I am intimidated by caring for living things after the fish incidents, but hopefully this will go better. {In case I failed to mention, I managed to kill 2 batches of 6 fish. No clue how. But they only lasted a week at most, so I claim they never stood a chance. Diseased when I got them, likely...}

On the other hand, I have been caring for two cats and a chameleon for a week now and they are still alive. I also kept two puppies alive for two weeks in November. Maybe I am a better pet sitter than owner. Hmmm... The chameleon, Tony, has a bad eye and I have been giving him eye drops and I must say, he appears to be improving. I am hopeful for his not-so-speedy recovery, as the exotics vet I managed to find promises that chameleons take infinitely longer to heal. The example I was given: "Puppies take maybe...one or two day to heal. Chameleon take maybe one month to heal." It's all a waiting game now.

My friend Kate is leaving to move home tomorrow and I will miss her terribly. She is a bright spot here and has been my sanity in this out of control environment more than once. To celebrate her going home, we have three days of events and outings planned. As she says, she plans to "go out in true Macau style...Messy". Ah Macau, what have you done to all of us?

Kate and I had a lovely conversation last night about this place though. We came to the conclusion that the people here are truely amazing. Some of the most incredible people I have ever met and people like that are not so easily found in this day and age. The drama is easy to get lost in, but if we stop and think about it, the people more than make up for all the hard. And we will forever be bonded by sharing the Macau experience. That is not something to take lightly, as we all know. I am very lucky to have had this adventure to meet these people and I want you all to know that.

Enough with the sentimentality. I have to take the sheets out of the wash in the hopes that they will dry before tonight. China, you and your silly hang things up to dry rule. What I wouldn't give for a dryer and some dryer sheets. Living here makes me grateful for the little things in my real life, like full size washers and dryers that work, and fabric softener that makes thing smell nice, and normal toilets that aren't a hole in the floor. People, do me a favor and appreciate those things for me until I get back...

More on Chinese New Year and my rash to come. Promise. : )

Love and Misses. xxx

Happy Holidays, a little late...

One month and some change later...

Well, here we are again. Crossroads. I'm reminded of a classic 80s number by The Clash that asked "Should I stay or should I go?"

Life here is fairly ho hum and mundane. The only excitement is the inveritable drama that working in theater seems to beg. I could do without all that nonsense at this point in my life. Seriously.

It would seem that things around here are cyclical. Some weeks are better, some weeks are just plain painful. All I know is I don't have to deal with all the drama, but I also don't want to be bored, which I sort of am. Let's just say I am keeping the options open.

In other news, I bought an iTouch. It is keeping me very busy. My new favorite app: the one that helps you learn Spanish. I am on the beginner level and doing quite well so far. You never know when one day those years in Spanish might come in handy... Other than that, Angry Birds consumes my breaks. Great fun to be had by all. I also picked up my knitting again. It's hard to do all three at the same time and prioritizing can be difficult, at best. Sometimes I do not know how I manage.

I was able to go home for Christmas, to surprise the family, and let me just say it may have been one of the best things I have ever done. They were surprised and we were all very happy. It was not a very relaxing vacation, as I spent most of it running around like a crazy person and spending somewhere in the neighborhood of WAY too much money. BUT. I will not complain because I missed the States something fierce and that was a lovely little break from Macau. Made it a bit easier to come back to work. And then work started it's drama again. We may have to have a come to Jesus meeting in a couple of days if things don't abate.

It's cold in Macau right now. Apparently it was 6 degrees the other day. I'm not exactly sure what that is in Farenheit, but I believe it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 40. To this girl, that is cold. Especially when we walk everywhere. Sigh. The trials and tribulations of living in an exotic tropical climate with no central heating.

I hope to post again soon.

Love and misses. xxx