Happy Chinese New Year

It's the year of the rat. According to Wikipedia, the rat was welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity. Interesting...in Europe, the rat was welcomed as a bringer of plague and death. But so much for the history lesson. Mike and I went to the Chinese New Year festival in Raleigh. It was very much like the Indian fesitival we went to over the holidays...lots of kids in traditional costumes singing and dancing. I had no idea there was such a large ethnic community right here in little ol' North Carolina. It's great. I love it. Those little Asian girls were so cute. I told Mike I wanted one. Maybe after we get rid of some of these cats...