Andrew (12) has had rat tail for a few years; this weekend, he rather suddenly decided it was time to change his look. I think he didn't care for the attention it caused.

He went through with it without hesitation, but he was a little sad afterwards. He brought it home from the barber but threw it away once he showed Michelle.

Before:

After:

The boys are way into Chuck Norris jokes these days; apparently they're all the rage right now at school (last year it was "your momma" jokes).

Andrew (12) generally gets the genre and has come back from school with a few good ones like "Chuck Norris counted to infinity. Twice." or "When Chuck Norris jumps into the water, he doesn't get wet. The water gets Chuck Norris'ed."

Michael (9) doesn't quite understand what makes these funny but is still trying to make up jokes, like "Chuck Norris doesn't rob banks. He just walks in and they give him the money." We'll have to keep working on this with him.

Here's a list of funny ones I found. A few of my favorites:

"Chuck Norris doesn't breath. He holds air hostage."

"When the boogeyman goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris."

Last year, I wrote about the icy fun Beijingers enjoy on the frozen lakes here. This year, we decided to try it out ourselves. We had a rare combination of a warm (for a Beijing winter anyway) sunny day with clear skies (read: little pollution) -- perfect for day of riding ice chairs at Houhai (a lake near the Forbidden City). It's a picturesque area surrounded by old Chinese buildings including the Drum Tower and the Bell Tower (see in the pix below.)

Our driver gave us a great tip -- avoid the first two skating areas (first one is too small/crowded, the second is primarily for ice skaters) -- so we headed straight for the third and last skating area. We bought three tickets for 10RMB (about USD$1.50) to get on the ice and another 40RMB for unlimited use of two ice chairs (plus a deposit of 80RMB each to make sure we returned the chairs.)

As you can see from the photos below, the chairs are pretty rudimentary -- just a welded steel frame with two seats covered with a little scrap of carpet.

After you pick out your chair, you choose the poles you'll use to propel yourself on the ice. These are literally just screwdrivers welded to sharpened steel shafts. It's something of a miracle that none of us came back with new holes in our body.

As it turns out, you can really get going on the ice on one of these chairs. Obviously, this is super fun. Our driver explained that they all used to do this because they didn't have money to buy skates before.

Andrew (12) quickly figured out how to do spins on his chair and started doing 720s. Invariably, Michael (9) decided that ramming Andrew was more fun.

There was really quite a scene on the ice. There were vendors right out on ice selling drinks, cotton candy, kebabs (chua'r), and such plus midway-style games even including the electronic free throw basketball games.

Trains of ice chair riders were pretty popular. Somehow, it seemed pretty nuts to have so many with sharp sticks in such close proximity.

There were other ways of getting around on the ice. Ice bikes were a popular rental. These looked pretty fun and got moving pretty fast too, although sometimes the wheel would just spin.

There was also a guy with a sleigh pulled by some animal (alpaca?). I didn't see anyone riding the sleigh.

You could even rent an electric powered cart. These were clearly repurposed bumper cars. I only saw fat, smug boys riding these.

I have to say, it was a very enjoyable afternoon. There were families, couples, old folks, young folks, and piles of friends all having a great time. People were all smiling, pretty polite (even apologizing if they crashed into you), and clearly having fun. Even the vendors were nice (the cotton candy guy even offered me a cigarette). This was pretty different from our usual experience in Beijing and was evidence that at it's best, Beijing is an awesome place. We'll undoubtedly go back to Houhai for more ice play again.

I liked this shot of Michael (9) playing with his new Legos on Christmas morning.

Andrew (12) humored me yesterday by standing very still for this photo at Shibuya Crossing, the crazy, uber-busy pedestrian intersection by the Shibuya subway station in Tokyo. It's a "scramble" crossing where all auto traffic stops so pedestrians can go in every direction. (This was also the debut of my zippy new lightweight, carbon fiber tripod. I love gear!)

Canon 40D, 28-105 3.5-4.5 at f22, 1.5 seconds.

I'm very pleased to welcome my new nephew, Simon Chengjie Chor, to the world and our family! He was born November 30 in Minnesota to my sister-in-law, Aimee, and brother, Ives. He's healthy and home now, ready to deny sleep to Aimee and Ives and charm everyone who comes by.

Andrew (12) and Michael (9) are ready to teach him all manner of bad things as soon as he's ready. I think my mom is crazy now because there are no daughters on our side of the family, but I'm sure she'll be fine (especially if Aimee and Ives have a girl next...).

For me, I can't wait to meet him. I love little, little babies! Anyway, congrats to Aimee and Ives!

The other day Michael (9) came blazing down the stairs when the doorbell rang. Michelle teasingly asked him if he thought it was his girlfriend.

Michael: "I have a girlfriend you know."

Michelle: "Oh really?"

Michael: "Yeah, and she's HOT!"

Michelle: "Really? What's her name?"

Michael: "I don't know. I haven't asked her yet."

Cocky kid.

Michael (9) and Michelle somehow had a discussion today that I'm really the Tooth Fairy. Michael seemed to know this already and was sanguine about it.

However, it apparently took some more explaining by Michelle that I'm not everyone's Tooth Fairy (which Michael thought might explain why I'm up so late all the time).

Some ideas die hard.

Here's a shot of the boys that I like a lot from this weekend.

Yesterday, we were hanging out in the lovely Beihai Park (near the Forbidden City) when we saw a line of military aircraft making a pass along Chang An Avenue (this is the big road that passes between the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square - famous for a particular photo of a gentleman standing with some tanks). They were rehearsing for the upcoming celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China where there will be a big military parade replete with tanks, missiles, high-stepping troops, and (apparently) military aircraft).

After we saw the fighters, helicopters, bombers, and an airborne warning plane go over, Andrew (12) asked, "Are those American fighters?" I replied, "No, if those were American fighters over Beijing, we'd be in big trouble."

(Separately, it was interesting that the planes flew over in a well-spaced single file line. I think American forces would have come by in tight formation. Just a difference in style or some concern over their ability to fly close together over government officials and population?)