Today was one of the darkest, rainiest days I can ever remember experiencing in Vancouver. The sky was dark by 2:00 this afternoon and it felt like night time. Catherine and I headed over to the mall for some lunch and were happily visited by the Dragon! This whole week is Chinese New Year and there will be all sorts of surprises in the neighbourhood in celebration.
I’ve seen plenty of lion dancers, but these guys were great. Maybe I didn’t pay attention to all the moves in the past, but these dancers made the dragon really come to life with the way they moved the dragon’s body. They made the dragon’s eyes blink, wiggled his tail and bum, and stood right up straight. I think one dancer was standing on the other dancer’s knees to get that standing up straight and tall move. I loved how he looked like he was really bowing to the audience at the beginning of the dance. He bowed his shoulders, head and closed his eyes at the same time. I forgot there were people inside for a second.
The dragon only lasted a few minutes, and when he was almost finished, he opened his mouth and a scroll unrolled from his mouth.
That’s the fortune for the year. I’m not sure what that says…something about boats? A voyage? Prosperity? All those good things, I’m sure.
The drumming was also very good. I noticed how they make that firecracker sound with the big drums – they hit the side with the drumsticks. Awesome. I’ll be watching for that again this weekend at the parade in Chinatown.
Meanwhile, back at my desk…
…a Justin Bieber pinata. Who wouldn’t want to smash that to pieces? He’s a twerp with a girl’s haircut. Absolutely nothing like Donny Osmond or Shaun Cassidy – the hearthrobs of my youth. Oh. I just totally dated myself just then. But I did have a Shaun Cassidy t-shirt and haircut in the 3rd grade.
Thankfully it was not for me to keep, but it’s a decoration for Lianne’s daughter’s 12th birthday on the weekend. Lianne thought I’d like to see it.
SNORT!
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LOVE the dragon
We didn’t get to any Chinese New Year celebrations this year
We did go to the big one in London last year though so I can look at my photos from then and reminisce 
The thing I really don’t get about the Bieber pinata – is that surely if these girls loooooooove him, they won’t feel comfortable pulverising his face with a baseball bat????