Wherever you are, or whatever you are doing tonight to celebrate the coming new year, be sure to sing Auld Lang Syne at midnight (even though you don’t know the words, and/or the meaning behind the song - god knows I don’t!) Be safe and have fun!!
There are not too many times The Engleson Files goes political, but I feel the need to on this issue. Just got back from a great day of pond hockey only to read the news that Saddam Hussein was officially executed by hanging. My thoughts on the whole issue are saddness, dissapointment and frustration. I am not in any way suggesting that Hussein is/was a good man that didn’t deserve his punishment, but to have him hung on such a stage is a disgraceful end to a ridiculous situation. What next, the guillotine on CNN?? The whole Iraq issue is a joke and there is just something about this ending that doesn’t seem right. When will us stupid human beings wake up and learn? Comment if you please…
With a big 3-1 win over the surprising Germans, Canada has now solidified first place in their round robin pool with a 3-0 record. Everything is looking good going into the medal round where we now have a first place date with the Swiss.
Wow, I don’t really know where to begin on this one. For those of you who have been following the blog, you already know the tales that have been occuring at the bathhouse. Well, it happened again a couple of nights ago, but this time with a bit of a twist. For the most part, Magnus is very capable of speaking chinese to people the things that he likes and dislikes. So, again, people were constantly patting him on the head or poking him on the arm and he would tell them (in Chinese) “no touch,” or, “Magnus no like touch.” - loosely translated. Anyways, one guy came up and did the ol’ “something-something” to Magnus and I finally stepped in and did what I have been scheming to do for a long time: and that’s grab them by the you-know-what’s and see how they like that. So, this is what happened: the guy comes up to Magnus and does that, Magnus yells at him “No!”, I come in barking in my horrible broken chinese “Quit doing that!”, grab him down there and say “do you like it when people do that to you,” to fully extensuate what I thought my point was, and then…he just looks at me as though nothing happened. It did not phase him in the least that I grabbed him down there. I was (and still am) at a complete loss for words and could not recover from that shock. How could this be? I mean, not even a flinch. So, my grand plan has blown up in my face and I am right back at square one on this issue and have no idea what to do next. I thought for sure this drastic action would have been the clincher in stopping this problem. So, if any of you have any ideas on how to help me and Magnus, please leave a comment so we can all solve this solution once and for all.
Without question this is one of the things I miss most about not being at home this time of year: and that’s watching Canada play in the World Junior Hockey Championships. I love this tournament more than anything and, for me, it is a huge part of the Christmas tradition. Getting up at whatever time is needed, rum and coke in hand, ready to watch the team play - I just love it! So, while I cannot do that, I will follow the team as best I can and cheer them on as best I can as well. Let’s go Canada, bring home the three-peat!!
Well, it’s back to work for us. The three days off were nice, but now we have to jolt ourlseves back into reality and come to terms with a holiday season that feels a lot like this! It is very tough to take some days!
Yes, Magnus awoke this morning with a single mission in his mind: attack all these presents under the tree! And by looking at the carnage around the house right now, it is clear to see his mission was completed. Magnus had a wonderful Christmas and today was the climax to a wonderful holiday season - thank you to everyone for your wonderful gifts. Here are a few pictures and videos of his special day. Enjoy!
Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you!!
For as long as I can remember, Eggs Benedict has been the Engleson family traditional Christmas breakfast. As a small child it was painfull to wait for this meal to be cooked with a stack full of presents under the tree, but, as I have grown older (and become much more sophisticated!) I have come to fully embrace this tradition. There is nothing like good ol’ eggs benny, and champagne and orange juice, to get Christmas going just right - sorry Magnus, you’re just going to have to wait!
The weather in Dalian has been absolutely splendid the past few days, which made it ideal for Magnus and I to head up to our local pond to go for a quick skate. Our pond is only about 10 minutes away from our house which makes it perfect for the odd hockey game, curling match or leisurely skate with the family - it is our little piece of Canadian wintertime heaven. Now, really, since it is only us Canadians who do this type of activity here it always creates quite the buzz with the Chinese who are walking about. They definitely do not comprehend why we do this and insist on standing around for hours just watching us. Anyways, Magnus and I went out and met up with Blake Defieux and skated around for awhile today. At first we both skated around and then Magnus just wanted to run around on the ice and chase the different colored balls - a great time was had by all and I hope to do it all again tomorrow after we open up Santa’s gifts!
Well, tonight the whole Maple Leaf gang are going to get together at the Colorado’s for Christmas dinner. Even though we do not have family around at this time of year, friendships become hightened to fill in that gap - it is another aspect that makes this whole China experience so wonderful. I am looking forward to tonight very much! Now, the picture above was taken at dinnertime on Christmas day in 1977, where here, Mom and Dad are forcing me to eat my brussel sprouts!! I mean, c’mon, who eats brussel sprouts on Christmas day??!! Shame, shame. But anyway, here’s to friends, family, turkey dinner and no brussel sprouts!!
While Magnus is running around the house freaking out about trolls sneaking around his house, Dad lounging about drinking rum and coke, Kristin is busy baking up all her wonderful holiday treats. First up, chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies (which her and Magnus will cut into Christmas figures later on.) Grand plans include: peanut butter cookies, chocolate cookies, apple crisp, rice crispies squares (if we can find some marshmellows!) and brownies. Another great tradition with the Christmas season!
Yes, tonight is the last night for the Jólasveinar to visit young Magnus this year. Grýla has accumulated enough naughty children for her Yuletide stew and has beckoned for her children to come back home. It looks as though Magnus was a good enough boy to survive the season - we will see if he can survive again next Christmas. All in all, a lot fun (for myself, really) but we are all a little sleep deprived due to these little Icelandic trolls visiting every night. Thank you Grýla and your Jólasveinar for the gifts and we look forward to your return next year!
