We entertained over twenty guests today from 1 o’clock to 11 o’clock. For dinner we went to a restaurant (this one, actually) and ate lamb hot pot. You all know what hot pot is. It was hella good. I have to say, before Cirque and China, I never had lamb. Or maybe I did but I don’t remember. Probably because we were poor East Oakland folk who only ate mashed potatoes and meat loaf, with ketchup on top. Okay I’m joking, we had our share of Cheeto’s and Top Ramen, oh and don’t forget Eric’s “Rice, Tuna and Peas” creation in the plastic Tupperware bowl with the “big” spoon. (I copied that one a few times in Boston.)

So after the delectable hot pot we all walked to the house and everyone continued to play hours of mahjong. I was on tea duty and poured over 100 little cups of tea for everyone. We served Pu’er Cha (poo-’ARE), a Yunnan specialty that is very difficult to find outside of Yunnan. (My sources tell me that it sells for 10x the price in Beijing.) It’s fermented tea, comes in green and red, and has a unique production process (involving steaming and “compressing”). The green version is caffienated, so take it easy on that one.

It was a fun day and the weather was just a touch under 70. Right now I’m going to watch a little of the 15th Asian Games with Chun Mei and then go to sleep, with hopes to get back on a normal sleep schedule. Jimmy, thanks for the call last night, you are the first one to randomly call me on a phone in China! (Sorry I was alseep! I loved the, “ALLLLLL-RIIIIIIIIIGHT!! IT WORKED!” Made me laugh today.)

-BOB-