fairly starving, i called home to find out if i could have dinner out before i came home, and was informed that i was expected at a steamboat dinner with the extended family, and i was to come home immediately. i must be completely out of the loop these days, at least since my translation course started, not to know of something big like a steamboat dinner. the dinner was very good, we also lao hei which i did, in great mirth and very vigorously. the kids tossed even more exuberantly. i never used to like things like that when i was young, but now that i haven't celebrated chinese new year at home for so long, (and don't think i'll be able to for another 6 years or so) i feel extra exuberant and want to participate in all the festivities and observe all the customs, however ridiculous. i even tried to con my dad into going to the flower market and buying some new year pussy willows (i saw people in the train carrying bundles of them when i was on the way home from chinatown last night) but he being kiamsiap said, not on your life, after chinese new year lah, which is practical but rather missing the point, like buying a christmas tree after christmas when the price has fallen. i shall persist.