My new hobby of Origami

A few weeks ago, when we went to visit the cherry blossoms, we also visited the exhibit of a Japanese artist named Hokusai at the Sackler museum. Hokusai was the guy who painted "The Wave". Anyway, that museum is the Asian art museum and in the gift shop I found some Origami books.

I didn't buy a book at first, I just looked up some diagrams on the internet. After successfully making 3 different birds and a pig, I decided to buy a book and some pretty paper. In Dan's absence I needed something to do besides watch TV. So far, I've really only made those birds and the pig. It's harder than it looks. I've tried to make a bear, but I get stuck. Hopefully I can figure it out. It's pretty neat. I of course use plain paper until I get it right, but it looks like I may be stuck with the easy birds and the pig. I do like the pig, it's cute and I had some pink paper for it.

Unfortunately Dan has the camera in China, so I can't take any pictures of my projects, but I will be sure to post them when my camera returns.

We're talkin' about China here!

So Dan is leaving for China on Saturday morning. Although I think it's kind of neat that he gets to go to China, I'm also a little jealous. After this visit, he'll only need to go to South America to have visited every continent. I don't even have a passport! The most cultured I get is Canada.

I remember that when I was young (little Danny's age, in fact), I really wanted to visit China because my BFF Betty Chin was Chinese and I thought her culture was so cool. At the time, I didn't realize that it was an over-populated communist country. All I knew was that everyone rode bikes. I haven't seen Betty in almost 15 years. I wonder what she's up to.

Anyway, I'm going to be alone in Virginia for 2 weeks. The thought is a little scary. Not only will I be lonely without Dan, I don't know how to get anywhere that isn't near our house or near my work. The receptionist at my work (who is mom aged) offered to give me her number in case I need anything. I think that was awfully nice of her. She's from Massachusetts too.

I hope Dan brings back some fun Chinses souvenirs. He wants to buy cheap electronics so he can sell them on Ebay.

red sox away game

Sunday afternoon, I went to Baltimore to see the Red Sox play the Orioles. I thought I'd be a minority in my Red Sox gear, but there were so many Red Sox fans there, it was almost like being at home! The chants were "let's go Red Sox" not Orioles. Go figure. We sat along the left field foul pole. A nice view to see Manny Ramirez scratch his bum for half of the game. Even with the bum scratching, a nice time was had by all. Luckily Sunday was a beautiful day. The Orioles' stadium was nice and Baltimore wasn't as gross as I thought it would be.

Cherry Blossom-tastic

Not so many years before world war II, Japan gave the US a gift of cherry blossom trees. They are the only foreign plant in the US. Several years later, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and became enemies. Still we got to keep the pretty pink trees. They bloom in Washington DC every year for about 2 weeks, so Dan and I went to see them in person.