The Red Flaming Grreeeennnn Monster

so.... one of my co-workers got back from his trip to China Huanhuan It's this cute lil red flaming Olympics mascot. One of the five mascots actually....

Here's a little something I copied and pasted from the link Huanhuan points to:

Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.

Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame.

Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.

When you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.

Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- all stylistic rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.

and..........

this is what Huanhuan stands for:



n the intimate circle of Fuwa, Huanhuan is the big brother. He is a child of fire, symbolizing the Olympic Flame and the passion of sport -- and passion is the blessing he bestows. Huanhuan stands in the center of Fuwa as the core embodiment of the Olympic spirit. And while he inspires all with the passion to run faster, jump higher and be stronger, he is also open and inviting. Wherever the light of Huanhuan shines, the inviting warmth of Beijing 2008 -- and the wishful blessings of the Chinese people -- can be felt. The fiery designs of his head ornament are drawn from the famed Dunhuang murals -- with just a touch of China's traditional lucky designs. Huanhuan is outgoing and enthusiastic. He excels at all the ball games and represents the red Olympic ring.

He got a few of us these sweet lil gifts from China the host for the 2008 Olympics.....

Along with these he also got some nice yummy treats. My favorite has been the Green bean Cake...... for many reasons......

1. I got my wisdom tooth extracted last Friday and as a result, I am on soft foods.... and the good thing is that this small (tiny I should say) lil green bean cake melts in my mouth.
2. I love the taste of it.... It's nothing even remotely close to how green bean would taste...
3. they're tiny treats, so I dun feel so bad having too many in quick succession... hehehe!!!!!!
4. Lucky for me, I am pretty much the only consumer of these delightful green bean cakes.... wooohhooo!!!!!!!