Go back! We're full!

So, this weekend was the beginning of Chinese New Year. For those who celebrate in some way, know what I speak of...for those that don't, this will be a primer.

Besides red envelopes and fire crackers...we Chinese like to eat and give things to be eaten on CNY. Now you must know this...expand your awareness...not all Chinese people celebrate CNY the same way. There is no one way to celebrate it.

I have heard, over my many years, a myriad of ways/traditions/rituals other people do. We are not here to discuss that...that is a book all unto itself.

What we are here to discuss is how I spend it...or how my parents wishes it was spent and how it is actually spent.

So...on saturday, along with my pops, we were to trek to chinatown to purchase a chicken (cooked) and a piece of roast pork. Traditional fare to offer to ancestors...then we eat it. We arrive in chinatown at 10am. Sea of people. I have never been to India, which I hear is worse, but I bet in India there aren't any little old chinese ladies that plow through you, using elbows, to get to the front of the line.

You see, it's like how pigeons aren't really scared of people anymore. They been around them so long, they are used to it. Old ladies in chinatown have become elbow wielding robots...robots with no remorse as they cut right through you. Now, you say what can a little old lady do to me. Well...little old lady robots are roughly 5'1'', maybe 5'3''. Either way...when they raise elbows...let's just say it's near my crotchular region. Not fun. O...it was raining too...which mean umbrellas that stick right into my eye. Double the pleasure. But I digress.

So...looking for steamed chicken and roast pork. There are about >50 such delis in chinatown that sell them. All of them had lines out the door...down to the next deli. Couldn't tell where one line ended and one began. So my pops says, " Screw this...let's go to the deli near our house."

Off we go...which is like 15min outside of chinatown. We get there...line to the end of the block. My pops says, " Screw it!...Let's just go home."

Driving home...kinda quiet...until my pops speak (this is how the conversation went):

Pops: Where did they all come from? (exasperated)
Me: Who?
Pops: Them! You know, the chinese.
Me: We're chinese.
Pops: No...they are different.
Me: What?!
Pops: These chinese come here...look for handouts, get on welfare, take advantage, don't work. While i'be been here for 40 years...put in my time...worked very hard. And I can't even get a piece of roast pork!
Me: Uhhhhhhh.
Pops: I worked in the hospital of over 30 years...now they can't even fill my prescription without charging me tons of cash. These newcomers get here...get on welfare...and everything is free for them. How is that fair.
Me: World is not fair.
Pops: You telling me, son.

Quiet

Pops: I wish these people would go back and leave this country alone.


You see...my pops, when he came over to the US and signed in at immigration to be a US Citizen...he promptly turned around and told everyone else to go back to where they were from...his country is now full.

Personal space. Invaded.

I work at this largish biotech company, which will remain un-named.

Today we had this all hands...company wide expo/meeting. Anyway...you know how all your friends at work tend to sit together at these things...same thing here.

Altough today something different happened.

So...I was sitting next to a friend, let's call her Joan, she was to my right. She leaves about 15 minutes in, but she told me she'll be back in 20 minutes. Fine. Great. No problems.

I am three seats in from the aisle. Now after Joan leaves...there are two seats open. 5 minutes later, this guy, who runs about 5'7'' and 180 lbs comes in to the row and guess where he sits.

If you are guessing the seat on the aisle...which leaves an empty seat between me ( a stranger ) and him. You would be wrong.

Not only does he sit next to me...he sits right up next to me. Shoulder to shoulder. No space. I am a big guy myself...which wouldn't be that much of a problem, if he weren't a "leg spreader" as well.

So this guy, sits right up next to me...touching...and spreads his legs wide...invading MY leg spreading space. Even though I've already established my borders.

Now I don't know about you, but when I grew up...there was this "every other seat rule" with guys. Unless it was a crowded movie or other crowd impossible situations. There were many seats open.

He chose to invade my borders this day. And you know what? He won. I am all frazzled.

To put out a fire...turn out the lights.

Well this is my first post...but this will be about something that happened yesterday.

Me and my fiancee were heating up some left-overs last night in the microwave, some corned beef and cabbage. We also had a leftover burrito we wanted to heat up...it was in one of those styrofoam take out boxes.

My fiancee placed the box inside the microwave, while I was washing some dishes. The microwave began to make noises, as sparks came flying out of the box. Apprently we forgot the burrito was wrapped in foil. Anyway...i yell over to her and the box caught on fire.

I turned off the microwave. We stood there a couple of seconds...watching the fire. Then I said to her...thinking to myself...we should close the doors so the entire house doesn't smell like smoke..."close the door."

Apparently I did not make myself clear and she went and turned off the kitchen lights.

There we stood. Watching the fire. In the dark.