2016 New year eve vegetarian dinner with colleagues' families

Had new year eve dinner at a gourmet Chinese vegetarian restaurant with two old colleagues' families in Rockville. One family lives in North Potomac, while the other is visiting from Houston. We chatted over a lot of delicious vegetarian food. Appetizers included sesame & Spanish pancake, stuffed curry dumplings, sizzling rice soup. Main courses included yellow bird with broccoli, pumpkin Chichen with mushroom in hot pot, lotus root with chicken, veggie smoked duck, spicy tofu in hot pot, etc. These mock meat dishes do not have the same textures as meats but did look much like meats and spiced the same ways. — eating vegetarian food at Yuan Fu Vegetarian.

Movie Bridge Of Spies at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse

This was the 1st time ever that I standed by to get into the theater because of sold out. My patience paid off against the odds of 9 prepaid people no show. I will book online next time for $2 movies. I liked this entertaining yet truth story of a courageous and wise lawyer who defended a soviet spy then negotiated his exchange for a U.S. Spy-plane Pilot captured by the soviet. This movie was regarded with Oscars potential by critics. — watching Bridge Of Spies at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse.

Last time $1 ice skating in 2015

Last time $1 ice skating in 2015. The rink was packed with kids, falls, and injuries — checked in to Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

.3-day yoga retreat at south Virginia

Taking a 3-day 2-night yoga retreat at south Virginia. Room and board ( vegan) included. Dinner after 1.5 hrs yoga class. — checked in to Yogaville. Attended a Christmas chanting ceremony, and then toured the Lotus shrine and multi faith museums in the yoga retreat center after dinner. Woke up 5:30 am to take a guided meditation and then a joint free yoga, which turned out to be the most interesting yoga class I had. There should have classes on how to move when we grew up rather than picking up the gestures from whoever around us. I am glad that I can work on my wrong gestures and movement from now on to have lasting freedom of movement without pain at old age! After the hearty breakfast, now in a lecture on "Yoga on Action." — checked in to Yogaville. Attended an Hindi ceremony for worshiping shiva, which remained me my parents' funerals in Taiwan. Shiva is regarded as limitless, transcendent, unchanging and formless. The yoga retreat center respects all faith, and celebrates all religious holidays. The central act of Hindu worship is puja, a ritual to engage the senses of both the devotee and the gods. Shiva is treated like a member of royalty, A representation of the deity is bathed in milk, curds, honey, butter, and water; adorned with jewelry and flowers; and offered flowers, food, and water. The ritual also involves the scent of incense; the sound of music, bells, and chants; and the light and warmth of lamps. Well, lunch time.  Hiked around the yoga retreat then enjoyed my last yet best meal in the retreat center.       A big coffee break on the way back to DC and toured the university in 70f — checked in to University Of Virginia Lawn.

TWO Christmas Eve parties

Christmas party I as an extended guest to visit a Korean family to have small talks, watched the Christmas firetruck driven by, and gingerbread house building competition. I brought with me stuffed Target dogs for the kids. — checked in to Burke, Virginia.         Christmas party II as an extended guest to visit a South American family to have wine, desserts, and played with a 12-yr-old 130 lb dog which was put on a diet during the holiday season. — checked in to Burke, Virginia.

REI lecture: Summiting Mt. Whitney: Preparing for Success

Went for a lecture on Summiting Mt. Whitney: Preparing for Success. I have no plan to do that but thought it might be helpful for hiking PCT. I got some useful tips, such as plastic twist open bear canister and full contingency discussion with teammates, etc., but the speaker spent too much time promoting Outdoor Afro. I ran 10 miles then after plus 10 miles on Friday to prepare mr. Bill Peters 50 miles hike along the toll path in February 2016. — checked in to REI Tysons.

Friends' last Christmas & house sending away party

Attended one friend's last Christmas & house sending away party, and I am really happy for her decision of downsizing and freedom after her 1-yr tour around the world trip. I am also happy to see Eddie Ty and his girlfriend after we accidentally ran into one another in Bosnia in October 2015. They just finished their 6-month trip and are settling back in DC — checked in to Washington DC, USA.