use real butter

It was a very long day getting to Virginia. I got up at 2 am to pack and get my junk in order *yawn*. All of these nights of truncated sleep are catching up to me. I rarely sleep soundly on planes, but managed to not only sleep, but dream during both flights. Atlanta is a stupid stupid airport, but I will give them one thing – they have seats at the gates that do not have arm rests which means you can lie across three or four to take a nap.

We got into Virginia at 5:15 this evening and my parents were their typical high energy selves. Their new house is quite lovely with beautiful views. I think their ramped up entertaining schedule has helped them with their decor, although I see a lot of competing themes in the style: ornate chinese, contemporary chinese, ornate western, contemporary western. Virginia is totally green and all of the cherry blossoms have long fallen to the ground. My father is heartbroken over an apparent double-attack on his fish pond in the front courtyard. It looks like the MO of a blue heron who has nipped a nice meal or two of the fishes. Dad has now set up a boobie trap worthy of an action movie to prevent the heron from landing in the water (a crazy network of fishing line strung across the top of the pond) and a motion-triggered floodlight.

Dad made his famous bouillabaisse for dinner tonight while everyone snacked on sweets I brought from my class. Boy, that really hit the spot. I love the way my dad makes that soup. Perfect night for it too – cool and rainy.

**Jump for more butter**

Tonight is Chinese New Year’s eve! It is the most important holiday to me because of the traditional foods, the symbolism, the superstitions, and the ties to family. I’ve been thinking of Kris a lot lately. Normally, you set out plates for your ancestors at your celebration table, but I realized that traditionally, children go home to their parents’ house for the new year. Kris wouldn’t come to my table, but to Mom and Dad’s – so I will let them set a place for her at dinner. Instead, I will celebrate with traditional foods and remember Kris in my own ways.

I spent all afternoon and some of the evening preparing for dinner tonight.

**Jump for more butter**

I check the weather conditions first thing every day as I sit up in bed. I look out the big windows from our bedroom and squint enough to determine if it’s snow, clouds, sun, dark. This morning I got excited because the hillsides were white!