Happy New Year, all! It’s almost 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and I’m getting ready to make a veggie stew, and a box of mac ‘n cheese from home. Right now I’m boiling some hot water to do the dishes before I cook. Today was relatively productive, given the fact that it is a holiday for our school. I hired a Chinese tutor, our friend Wang Wei (Stone), and we met in the a.m. at the coffee shop Bei Bei’s. Then, I dragged my lazy rear out of the house, into the cold, and onto a bus to the gym. After I got home I definitely didn’t clean my apartment, and I didn’t grade final exams. I took a nap. Well, it’s a start. I only recently noticed that I’m not on vacation anymore. I live here for the time being, and it’s high time I did the things I said I’d do – keep healthy, and learn the language, already. So, I’m trying. Trying to get out more instead of shutting myself in with Mark and watching pirated DVDs and TV series. BTW, anyone who thinks moving to China is a “diet” is way off. If you, back in the US or otherwise, stuffed your face at McDonald’s on a weekly basis, or your diet included a stead supply of fried chicken and mashed taters, yes, I’d bet you’d drop some poundage. If you were relatively healthy back home, then you’ve gotta watch it. I, too, was mistaken when I thought a move to China was the path to Asian skinny thighs. These folks have been eating starch and oily, oily dishes for thousands of years. Me? Not so much. So let’s just say I’m packing a little extra these days. How much? Wouldn’t YOU like to know. Probably not. The other girl expats and I complain at how easily boys drop weight. Darn boys!

Well, my water is boiling and Mark is home with the food, so I’m going to go Martha Stewart on your asses and make some stew. xoxoxoxo