February 26, 2010

  • bit by bit

    It seems like I have one or two doctor's or dentist's appointments every day this week and next -- it's almost time to finish up spending flex money from 2009, so I'm buying glasses, getting check-ups, and getting fillings fixed like it's my job.

    My clients at work seem to be more aware of the fact that I'm back from vacation, so the deals have been piling up. My brain doesn't seem to be quite as aware of the fact that it should not longer be in Yap mode.

    It will all even out eventually, right?

    Last weekend, we had a belated Chinese New Year dinner with my parents, Superman, my sister's fam, my cousin's fam, and a few others. Mom sent me home with some of my favorite Chinese dishes to freeze and eat later. An even though I'm 31, my parents still gave me a hongbao (red envelope) with a check to buy myself something for Chinese New Year. No objections here, although it does mean I'll have to make one of my semi-annual trips to the bank to make a deposit. I don't own a checkbook, and I strongly encourage friends to pay me in cash or PayPal, when possible, because I just hate checks. I'm definitely getting boring, because I've decided to buy a couple of cookbooks and a humidifier for Chinese New Year.

    It's odd getting money from my parents at this point, because I earn more than I need, and whenever I really want something, I just buy it for myself without having to calculate all the financial ramifications the way I used to. (Looking back at my college days, when it was a big splurge to spend $15 on a dinner out, and a second-hand air conditioner was too expensive of a splurge for a hot, humid summer, I'm not sure how Me Today would survive in My Circumstances Back Then). It's still nice to get a hongbao from my parents now and then, though -- it's nice to be coddled and taken care of now and then, especially when you get Tupperwares full of your favorite home cooking to take home, too.

    A few more pictures from my trip.

    These non-stinging jellyfish are in a lake in Palau. There were thousands of them, and we swam through clouds of jellyfish without getting stung.

    jelly_0291 jelly_0298

    Reefs are beautiful in profile and silhouette.

    reef_0170 reef_6625

    Up close, you can see how colorful the reefs really are:

    fan_6711

    Some people are really into the big stuff, like sharks and rays -- Palau is great for sharks, and Yap is manta central:

    shark_6594 shark_6752

    manta_0182

    Fish are fascinating, as well -- they really vary in behavior from species to species. Some are solitary, others stay in schools. Some are territorial and aggressive, some are shy and lethargic, some are curious -- it's really interesting to observe them, if you have time.

    This is a pajama cardinalfish. They don't move around too much, and mostly hang out near coral heads where mandarin fish live, so that they can wait for the mandarin fish to mate, and eat the eggs.

    pajama_6525

    Sweetlips mostly hang out in ones or twos, and they don't move much. They just wait until something interesting to eat comes along, and then they make their move:

    sweetlips_6675

    Jacks like to school and hang out in fairly shallow water:

    school_6762

Comments (2)

  • no worries!  i'm almost 30 and my parents and in-law still give me red envelopes:)  it's quite nice b/c it's the thought that counts:)  we'll always be our parents' kids:P

    and lovely pictures!  they look as though they're fake lol.  so real that it looks fake, if that makes any sense?  but it's really a compliment even if i'm not saying it correctly . . . :

    have a good weekend!

  • So tell us, what did you see this time that you've never seen before? I wish there were some underwater thing to help viewers get a sense of scale. Maybe you could bring a laminated dollar bill down there. ; )

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