I like February; having four weeks means there is an organized manner to the month. Exactly four weeks with no extra days hanging off the ends. It is short but sweet, and is a good time to start planning for the months ahead. I did get some planning done, started my continuing education for my licenses and even worked on my taxes! So it was a productive month, all in all. Here is the look back for the month. I will also be adding notes on new foods, books and documentaries set or about the countries where I am traveling, and completion of any items on the looking forward post I did last week. This month, I will also go over a few of my FIGS, hosted by Elisabeth!
Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix!
Where was I? Taiwan
What new food did I try? Peanut Ice Cream Roll (rice paper, peanut crumbles, ice cream and cilantro), aka the Ice Cream Burrito. Delicious.
What country related books or documentaries did I watch?
Read: Daughters of Shandong <-- China/Taiwan
Watched: Island in Between <-- Taiwan
Both courtesy of Diane. Thanks!
Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list?
✅Rode a bike in Taiwan
✅ Sent > 5 post cards
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FIGS: Lunar New Year decorations and celebrations, finishing a good book (see below), getting a clean bill of health, random morning catch ups with several loved ones, a few runs along the river, mostly great weather, a couple of fun and challenging hikes, dragon fruit smoothies, boba tea, getting my taxes 90% completed, getting my continuing education 90% completed, 7-Eleven takeout meals.
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| 7-Eleven Chicken Breast Bento Tofu, egg, chicken, cabbage and rice |
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| Just heat and eat! Cost ~ $3.00 |
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1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
January: Devouring the Sweet Potato
February: Back in the Groove
This is a play on words as I (1) pulled a muscle in my back and had to read a lot and recover for a while. However, it could not have come at a better time, as I was (2) in the same place for one month, hence the "in the groove," as I was also able to get back into a routine of sorts for the month, even if it was not as active as I had hoped.
2. What did you learn last month?
I learned that firecrackers are lit during Lunar New Year to scare away evil spirits and the mythical monster "Nian," while welcoming good fortune, joy, and prosperity for the coming year. This ancient tradition signifies a loud, celebratory start to the spring festival. The noise and bright flashes are believed to attract good fortune and prosperity for the new year.
How did I learn this, you are wondering? Well, this goes on not just for one day, but for about two weeks, or maybe more, and it happens all day long, but especially around 11 pm or 12 am! When I left at the end of the month it was still happening and the actual New Year day was on the 17th. They are VERY loud. Also, paper slips representing things like money, cars and homes are burned to honor ancestors and deities by providing them with money, goods, and, by extension, wealth for the afterlife. This is a crucial expression of filial piety (care for elders), ensuring spirits are well-provided for in the new year.
Needless to say, the month of February was very loud and smoky!
3. What was the weather like where you are?
It was mostly nice! There were a few rainy days, but all in all the weather was probably highs around 21 C / 70 F and lows around 9 C / 48 F. There were a couple of hotter and cooler days but it was very temperate for the most part.
4. What event last month was your favorite?Being in a place that celebrates Lunar New Year was a lot of fun. I mean, I have been lucky to live and work in San Francisco, where we have reportedly the oldest Chinatown in North America as well as one of the largest outside of Asia. This means that I have a rudimentary knowledge of the customs or events during this time. However, it was tenfold in Taipei! Also, in San Francisco I learned how to say Happy New Year, but I only learned it in Cantonese, so I have had to learn it again in Mandarin! The decorations and the lights and the lanterns are very striking and very impressive to say the least.
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?
Book: The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami
Movie/Show: I usually don't have Netflix, but my Airbnb had it, so I binged Outlander. It was fun to see some of the places where I was only a few months ago. When I was in Scotland, I had not seen any of the episodes, but we did pass by some of the filming locations, and I actually stayed with a friend in Linlithgow. The palace there (where Mary Queen of Scots was born, and where my friend got married!) was Wentworth Prison in Outlander.
I also got an Apple TV subscription with one of my credit cards and I need suggestions! Do you have any?
Podcast: The Thoughtful Travel podcast. If you are looking for inspiration for destinations, or like to hear stories of why people travel, their mishaps along the way, traveling with kids and more, you may want to check this out!
6. Tell us one funny recent story.
I had a hamburger in Taiwan on one of my last days there. Why is this funny? Well, if you know me, you know that I like to eat the local food. However, I was meeting up with some new-to-me friends, and when I asked them if they wanted to go to the night market, my friend said that her husband was "not an adventurous eater" and that he liked going to Western food places. So not only did I have a hamburger, but I paid more for one beer and one hamburger than I probably have paid for my last 8-10 meals out at local places (and for the beer, I essentially paid San Francisco prices for it). However, the moral of the story is, that if you want to make new friends, you have to (literally) pay the price. PS they were both very nice people and I would hang out with them again.
7. What are you looking forward to this month?
I am looking forward to hiking the Kumano Kodo (PDF map here) in Japan. Like the Camino in Europe, it is an ancient (1,000 year old) pilgrimage linking three grand shrines. It is considered a path for healing, purification, and spiritual reconnection with nature. You know me, I love spiritual reconnection with nature! Also, there are Onsen, which are thermal baths, where you go naked, and I think that is something that I need to try at least once in my life.
Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.
FEBRUARY:
1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
2. What did you learn last month?
3. What was the weather like where you are?
4. What event last month was your favorite?
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?
6. Tell us one funny recent story.
MARCH:
7. What are you looking forward to this month?
Bonus question! Do you have any suggestions of what to watch on Apple TV? Have you ever been to a naked thermal bath?
Ooh ooh, I just read Homeseeking, part of which takes place in Taiwan and all of which is about the Chinese diaspora and history. It was good and I learned a lot about that part of the world. I looked up a lot as I was reading, so it was quite an edifying experience.
ReplyDelete1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? From Asia to home
2. What did you learn last month? So much! I learned a lot about Thai Buddhist temples, and that the famous white and blue temples in Chaing Rai are modern and new. I also learned, see above, a lot about the recent history of China and Taiwan.
3. What was the weather like where you are? It's beautiful now! I would say around 5-10 degrees in the daytime.
4. What event last month was your favorite? Elephants!
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? Frying Plantains, which was a reread for me.
6. Tell us one funny recent story. My SIL just got a puppy and she just adores Rex. He lets her jump on him and play around him, until he gets tired of it, and then he just puts his giant paw out and kind of bumps her away. Then she will just run in circles around him without jumping on him. It's very cute.
I also enjoyed Homeseeking. I guess I should have put it on the list but I read it in January! You would probably like Daughters of Shandong too!
DeleteI love watching an older more (or less) tolerant dog deal with puppies. They are so funny and you can see the patience at first, then the tipping point!
I am very impressed that you got through the entire season of Outlander in such a short time. I just finished the most recent season last night, so we've both caught up until the new season comes out this month. I can't quite imagine what the peanut ice cream roll is like, so that would be #1 on my list to try.
ReplyDelete1. The Great Freeze
2. I got an indepth look at Rosa Parks and Hellen Keller on my travels
3. It was pleasant in Georgia and Alabama and SO COLD at home. We had a major snow storm at the end of January, and the snow stuck around until "fake spring" at the end of the month. Then we got more snow.
4. My trip to GA/AL
5. Books: Lovers and Writers, Inhale,Exhale
6. It's funny in hindsight: I lost my hearing for four days due to a freak ear wax incident.
7. March is action packed! I'm on a trip right now, we have a big family party this weekend, the boys will be home for spring break, and the EconoMe conference is later in the month (you know what that is but for the benefit of our "civilian" friends, it's a money nerd thing).
I can't wait to hear how EconoMe goes! I bet you are going to have fun and I wish I could be there with you. That's one thing about moving around a lot, I don't have as many chances to do stuff like that. Losing your hearing is definitely not funny, and am sure at one point you probably weren't sure if you were going to get it back which is actually scary.
DeleteMy husband got three months of Apple TV for free when he bought his computer. "Shrinking" is so good. So is "Pluribus." That is the extent of my Apple TV recs, but I'll let you know if I get any others.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I started Severance which is strange but interesting. I'll put the others on my list.
DeleteThe Onsen experience will be interesting! It's probably easier that you'll be doing it with complete strangers. There was a hot spring close to the resort town I worked in when I was in college. At night, clothing is optional. I went one time but did wear my bathing suit... I'm a prude, as you know.
ReplyDelete1. Starting another trip around the sun.
2. Delayed 1099s are the biggest PITA. The 1099 data was delayed for one of our funds and it has been the most annoying thing to deal with. We get incessant questions about when the 1099 data will be available. I'm so tired of answering questions about 1099s. Meanwhile we haven't even gathered our tax data since we file close to the deadline because a) A good amount of Phil's income is on a K1 which we get in March and b) we pay in pretty significantly despite claiming 0 allowances. The marriage tax is real.
3. It was either really mild or terribly cold with very little middle ground.
4. Going to the Brandi concert with Erin!
5. Read = The Beauty of Your Face (rec from you!) and "Best Laid Plans" (so fun to read a book by a friend!); Watched = The Pitt.
6. Phil had his birthday party on Saturday and one of his gifts was fart whistle and another fart sound machine thing. You can imagine how much they've been used by the boys... They might go "missing" soon.
In March I"m looking forward to visiting my sister in the DC area with Paul. Hopefully we get to see Cherry Blossoms!
I hated 1099s. We had a lot of amended ones due to BDCs mostly, and I actually sold my MLPs because I hate K1s! Unfortunately I still have one K1, and yes, I'm still waiting! Also I almost always had to pay, so would submit my taxes on April 14th. This year I will probably get money back as its the first year I did estimated taxes and I just paid 110% of the year before so I would not have to try to figure out 2026 in advance.
DeleteFEBRUARY:
ReplyDelete1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? Basketball is a Wrap - 3 girls on 3 different teams at 3 different schools - Feb was a lot of b-ball and I am here for it, but I'm also sort of happy to have a few weeks off before all 3 girls start track practice
2. What did you learn last month? I learned (sort of discovered) that Lad and Tank compared notes on their jobs, basically Tank asked Lad for advice in his new role in his job and it made my heart happy
3. What was the weather like where you are? a week of unexpected warm days were so great, but mostly cold - those warm days, AMAZING
4. What event last month was your favorite? Hmm, hard to choose, maybe the musical Bernadette. We took my folks and the 2 younger girls. but I also loved our dinner out with another couple - friends we rarely see
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? I didn't love the books I read last month, but I am really like The Book of Names, so I'll count that since I started in in Feb
6. Tell us one funny recent story. A baby I sit for pooped during her nap, and took off her pants and her diaper. Really gross. The mom felt horrible. The next day the tot waddled into my daycare with a giftbag that included a candle and a note: "Curly, sorry I pooped in your room. This is to clear the air. I'll try to be a better roommate." So funny.
MARCH:
7. What are you looking forward to this month? We are driving to Florida for spring break. Not till the end of the month - but yeah. Also, Reg will be home next week and Mini is going on a mission trip for her spring break, but she might come home for the last weekend, or we might pick her up and go to a St. Pat's party in Michigan which would be fun. Coach will be out of town the next two weekends teaching classes, so that'll be interesting as he and I try to spend time with the girls to give one another a break.
Bonus question! Do you have any suggestions of what to watch on Apple TV? Have you ever been to a naked thermal bath? I don't have Apple TV but I've herad Ted lasso is good - been around for awhile, so maybe you've seen it.