My father's friend who majored in Philosophy, and has PhD in Classical Chinese Philosophy, asked me this question tonight--he used it as a prompt for his final exam.

If x + money = Happiness, what is x?

Explain.

My sister really needs a high five.

In the face.

With a chair.

I veered away from my family today during our stroll through Wu Fen Pu (Taipei's largest wholesale street market) and popped into a little shop on my own to look at the clothes. The clothes were separated into 2 sale sections: 2 pieces for 100nt/2 pieces for 300nt.*

I picked 2 for 300nt and 1 for 50nt--not wanting to wait for my mother to come haggle with the owner (I mean, it already feels like stealing at these kind of prices), I approached him, fully prepared to pay the listed sum just as any simple tourist would.

C: Lao ban, duo xiao chian?
X: Mmm, er bai wu.
C: Eh?! Bu hui ba! Zhen de?
X: Shi ah.
C: Xie xie ni!

And! He only charged me 250nt (that's about 8usd) for everything--one of the items was a blazer-like trench coat too, and those usually go for 500-800nt. Maybe he found my Mandarin endearing :) Apparently it's quite childish, according to a native.

Bu cuo, bu cuo.


*30nt = 1usd

"So someone clogged up the toilet this morning.

I managed to suck out not one, but two GIANT pieces of poop.

They were so big, I actually had to use a plunger and someone's toothbrush (like a knife and fork) to cut them into smaller pieces to flush down!"


Needless to say, someone was severely reprimanded by their mother during breakfast when this story was told.

Last night was pretty fun.  D took me out to Marquee, a trendy lounge located right across from Taipei 101 in the Xinyi District, which is not too far from where I live. 

The bartenders there make amazing drinks--ok, well, to my knowledge, at least the man with the fedora does. 

I didn't really know what I was drinking due to the language barrier (for shame)--they just kept giving me different cocktails every time I finished one.  By the end of the hour, I had 5 mystery cocktails (made stronger by D's request -.-) and 2 mango shooters, which were quite delicious.  And, not surprisingly, I was fine.  Tipsy, but not so much that I couldn't give directions to D to get me back home. 

On the other hand, the next morning I felt quite terrible.  I thought I was experiencing a hangover or some kind of food poisoning until I collapsed and passed out on the MTR, and had to be wheeled out to the clinic because I couldn't walk.  They gave me an IV drip to help me function properly before administering oral drugs.  Apparently, I've caught some crazy ass flu (T-VIRUS?) that's been going around landing people in hospitals.  The doctor said I had actually come down with it several days ago--the symptoms just didn't start appearing until today.  Now I'm popping packages of pills like candy every 4 hours and drinking this foul medicine that's a solid white color with the consistency of Elmer's glue.  It's almost...creamy.

They're not letting me eat.  I'm on a diet of sports drinks diluted with water.  Bah.

Holly Brook - Saturdays

In the haste, in the grace, I've been up to my waist
It isn't real, what you feel, when you find love in a chase
I've been waiting for the day ,when someone takes me away, and I never get replaced
But I've got time

Stop pushing all your tragedies away
Each moment has got a lesson for the day
Take something with you if you drag your heels in yesterdays
Oh these Saturdays

One more day and I'm off to Taipei and Singapore, so I shall be phone-less and cat-less for three weeks.

I worry for my baby.


Anyways, I bought an ipad2, so I will have internet while I'm gone. Y'all can reach me on facebook or something :)

Candybar Dessert Lounge

This little gem is tucked in some obscure corner in San Francisco.  Low lighting, candles, cozy seats, urban art (Asian-themed, interestingly enough), boardgames, electro, pretty drinks, amazing desserts, friendly service--what's not to like? 

 

They sugar rim their glasses and use sorbet instead of ice to chill the cocktails.  We had a Triple Chocolate Bellini (sparkling wine, chocolate syrup, chocolate sorbet) and a Mango Tango Bellini (sparkling wine, mango syrup, mango-tangerine sorbet).

 

For dessert, we ordered a Strauss Yogurt Cake (green tea curd, pepitas, cara cara oranges, Oreo soil, buttermilk sorbet) and a Lemon Tart (frozen meringue, coconut macaroon, coconut snow).  So good!  

My Wednesday night was quite a sweet surprise, thank you ♥.

Merry Christmas-Giving!

Good food, good music, good company.

Appetizer
Spicy vegetable Chorizo soup, topped with grated cheese

Main Course

Roast turkey served with rich gravy and tart cranberry sauce, creamy mashed potatoes, toasted bread and celery stuffing, blanched green beans

Dessert

Yams baked in butter and cinnamon layered over with golden marshmallows, chocolate and vanilla mousse cups, pumpkin pie topped with hand-whipped heavy cream

Hot Beverages

Mulled wine, spiced cider, French roast coffee

This time of the year is about overindulging. Is there any better way to start the break?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas~

The snowflakes dangling from our high ceiling makes me feel like we're living in a Winter Wonderland :)

Zee Avi - No Christmas for Me

Two days to Christmas and I'm still waiting outside
Wishing upon a star that you'll be coming home tonight
But it was cold, it was getting late
Sadly, I crept back into bed
But then I felt a soft kiss on my cheek
I opened my eyes, and there my baby was…

With me.