Easily Amused » holidays

Why I Go with My Mother to Work on Vacation

David Xia — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:03:26 +0000

I've gone with my mother to her job these past days of winter break. If I didn't, I'd sleep till 10AM and watch TV and not exercise. Instead, my mom wakes me up at 7AM, I go to the local gym, and get a lot of work done without the distraction of the Internet. I feel very accomplished by 5PM. My mother is a molecular biology researcher at a global pharmaceuticals company. While she works at the lab bench with other oncologists on cancer drugs, I read books, blog, and sample every flavor of prepackaged espresso and tea in the lounge. On my third consecutive day at the office (more accurately described as a huge research and development complex with unique Swedish architecture), an employee finally asked me about what the hell I was doing there. Human resources employee Andrew approached me as I reached for the "Sumatran blend" flavor.

Why I Am Freezing to Death

David Xia — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:22:34 +0000

I may soon have to heat water on the stove for a hot shower. Over the weekend, my father lowered the temperature of all the house's thermostats . He was afraid the heating oil tank in our basement did not contain enough oil to adequately heat our house through the new year's first weekend.

I Saw Mommy Dancing in a Thong With Santa Claus

David Xia — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:12:37 +0000

My friend told me he was recently involved in an "epic incident." Since we go to different colleges, I asked him what happened. He sent me the following excerpt from his resident advisor's logbook. I assume he received it in the mail with the rest of the notice that said his school was suspending him for a semester.

Is CNN Always Like This?

David Xia — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:37:03 +0000

You know it's Christmas when the anchor dances in her seat to Christmas jingles, the weatherman shares his personal travel plans, and the correspondents call each other by the wrong names.

Go Ahead, Feed the Fish

David Xia — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:41:35 +0000

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, today is Duanwujie (端午節), or the Dragon Boat Festival. Celebrating this holiday includes eating zongzi (粽子), glutinous rice wrapped and cooked in bamboo leaves, racing dragon boats, and drinking realgar wine. I've never drank this wine before. Realgar is an arsenic sulfide mineral, the wine has the mineral mixed into it, and I'm pretty sure it would taste nasty.