I am both grateful and disappointed to admit that someone has finally made authentic Buffalo wings commercially available in Beijing.

Grateful, because it's nice to have something to snack on late at night (though not terribly good for my diet. I just had five wings on my way home tonight). Disappointed because I wasn't the first to get to it.

It never bothered me that some places offered "spicy chicken wings." Nobody has ever gotten it right. When you make good, authentic Buffalo wings, people like them. Now, if it were my bar, I'd include the celery and carrot sticks for free (especially in China, where vegetables cost less than water), but, we can't be perfect.

So, for those of you who don't know, COX is the name of the place that serves the wings. They're connected (not physically, but ownershipwise) to The Saddle. COX is a hellishly goofy name, but their wings get my approval. They need to work on the Qingdao. It's so bad that I wouldn't finish a nice cold bottle of it despite my burning mouth.

As an aside, I just did a Google search for "Cox Beijing," and got Jim Boyce's site as the first result. I love the internet.

Labels: Diet, Drinks

When I've had this much to drink, I have a bizarre clarity and blurriness at the same time.

I see street lights that I've passed hundreds of times yet never knew existed. I hear every note that the cab driver sings to himself.

Yet the scenery flies by too quickly and too slowly at the same time. I feel the speed bumps long after we've passed over them. I perceive cars long after they pass in front of the car I'm in. I really shouldn't be driving.

Many people around me know I become very open when I drink, that I say everything I think, regardless of appropriateness, etc. What I also do is open up to myself, and I see exactly what it is I'm feeling. It's as if my inhibitions stop me from feeling.

Labels: Drinks

My notebook computer has a 17" screen, weighs as much as a healthy toddler, and I like it that way.

What I mean to say is that my idea of what a laptop is does not congrue with the general public's idea. I do not own a desktop computer, but I need the power of one. I need to be able to do the graphics and design work and I need to be able to do it wherever and whenever I want/need to. Have you ever lugged a desktop computer with you? Now those things are heavy. And they don't even run on battery power.

I consider my computer an ultralight desktop. Sure, the accesories make my bag a bit heavier still, but I only carry the ones I need. Okay, so I don't need the USB headphones...

Anyhow, some time ago I was out with a friend and neglected to bring Lucille (my laptop) along. I neglected to bring her because, well, my shoulder needed some rest. I needed to check my email quickly and find an address in an online directory, but was stymied by the fact that I didn't have a computer. I looked around at the others in the cafe and thought, "I'd really like one of those portable laptops, you know, the ones you can just get some quick work done on and send a few pieces of email."

It honestly took a few moments befored it occured to me that that is precisely what other people use their laptops for.

I'd actually like to know what percentage of graphic designers use laptops and not desktops for their work. It's really become a viable option, and I'm guessing it's not terribly odd now. However, it's hard for me to gauge, because in my paradigm, laptops are vastly superior to desktops. It just seems natural that everyone would prefer one.

link back to month 1

In Beijing it is very difficult to maintain a diet and lose weight, even with a hefty amount of exercise. Especially while freelancing.

It's not just that there's a wealth of great and easily accessible food in Beijing, but also that there are a lot of generous, friendly people in my life.

I have a strict diet, which I am very good at keeping. My friends, business associates and clients are terrible at keeping my diet. I don't mean to complain about generosity and friendliness, all I mean to say is that I'm not refusing your fifth round of beer out of politeness.

Then there's the business dinners, which, are truly more about dinner than about business. Which is nice, enjoyable, and terrible for my health. Not to mention the fact that every week, some friend or friend of a friend is leaving Beijing forever or visiting Beijing for the first time or celebrating a birthday or whatever the hell else so we have to take them to the best freaking restaurant in town and follow up the huge feast with a big party or loads of cocktails.

Like I said, it's an enjoyable life which, for whatever reason doesn't make other people fat.

Another problem is the complete lack of encouragement. I have quite a few Chinese friends (I say this because a lot of expats in Beijing don't) and most of them engage in the national pasttime of telling me I'm fat.

One month on and, though I realize that others cannot see the fact I've lost weight, pants that once fit snugly now fall down as I walk. Running into a Chinese friend today while working she said, "你又胖了！(you're even fatter!)" It's really hard to keep a positive attitude about it.

In any case, I've been fairly successful in changing my habits, and expect eventual change. I'm still convinced others will see a difference by the end of March, and after another three months I'll be very healthy.

Then again, tonight I am getting together with some friends to go to Din Tai Fung (the one that is always hyped up as 'one of the top ten restaurants in the world' according to the New York Times) and there's not even a special event.

Labels: Diet

I resolve only to make promises that I cannot keep.

When it comes to the Christmas and New Year's holiday, I'm solidly 'bah humbug' about the whole thing. I genereally can't wait for them to be over.

I like Christmas less than I like New Years. When I lived with my parents, this wasn't the case, but now Christmas equals boredom and loneliness. Nearly everyone I know is out of town, or busy with some family obligations. Work slows down or stops altogether. The rest of the year, I'm too busy to spend a lot of time with my friends.

It's too cold outside- and more importantly too dry- to enjoy going for a walk, taking pictures of the city. Even though I've been taking it easy, resting, exercising, and geting a lot of vitamin C, I've still managed to get myself a nasty cold.

At least in Beijing I don't have to deal with the fact that everything is closed for the holiday. Or the fact that when I want to go to the store to buy something simple I have to deal with throngs of holiday shoppers.

Fortunately, it's all going to fade away for another year. I'll still have vague reminders of the season continuing through August in the form of Santa Claus decorations or those frosted spray snowflakes that just refuse to leave the window they've been stuck upon.

Well, till next year, at least.