I woke up this morning wondering if Sarah (our 2-year-old and quite precocious second-born child) was in fact a double-agent working for The Covenant, The Alliance, or some splinter cell of the now-defunct terrorist organization, SD-6.

(If you aren’t familiar with the show Alias you may as well stop reading now…)

In my blurry post-waking mindframe, it all made perfect sense.  From day one here in Xining it has seemed that some forces have been aligned against us in our effort to complete our mission (i.e. renovate the Zhang family home in the Haiguan Duimian Apartment Complex.) As we made strategic moves, or "strikes" if you will (i.e. painting, laying floors, buying appliances, etc.) it always seemed as if our moves were countered by some nefarious form of sabotage (i.e. poor quality paint, destructive work crews, the Great Radiator Debacle, etc.) These counter-strikes seemed too convenient and well-timed (almost planned?) for it to have been done without knowledge of our plans (i.e. prior intel.) This lead me to the conclusion that we must have a "Mole" in our own family whose ultimate goal is to dismantle our operation from within.

Since Anna is at pre-school four hours a day, she wouldn’t have access to the required intel she would need to be the Mole.

Since Christa is so busy with so many activities, the likelihood that she would have enough time to be a very effective Mole seems implausible.

Since I know I’m not the Mole that leaves only one…

The one with the sly grin, the mischievous nature, and the strong-will. The adventurer; the quick-handed; the one with the disarming giggle. Her name: Sarah Colette, her end-game: ?

I’m not sure exactly what she hopes to benefit by misdirecting us with a temper-tantrum or by secretly letting Covenant operatives (disguised as workmen) know the most inappropriate time to come knocking. One can only speculate what she is thinking or planning as she innocently stares at her Chip N’ Dale cartoons, but I assure you she’s up to something diabolical.

It could be I’ve been watching too much TV, OR it could be that we have some serious problem on our hands…

Whether my suspicions are true or not, I am convinced of one thing: It is going to take a Milo Rimbaldi device to fix our current living situation. If we can collect the pieces in time and if Anna is, indeed, the Passenger, we may avert the coming Apocalypse–as shadowy figures dig deeper and deeper into our dilapidated bathroom.

(And for the record, as far as I’m concerned, every HDAC manager I’ve met is just a well-disguised Sark–mercenary through and through, willing to work for the highest bidder. Time to start shelling out some kuai. And the Big Boss? Well, Sloane comparisons abound…)

Note to Alias fans:

Question 1: Does the show just continue to get more ridiculous? We’re mid-way through season 3 and it’s become so absurd as to become laughable. While watching it, I laugh often in fact…until Christa pokes me and tells to stop.

Question 2: Could Vaughn be any more of a pathetic wimp? I’m sorry but he’s useless when it comes to actual missions. I think the Sidney-to-Vaughn save ratio is about 50:1. I call him "Puppy Dog" because he always looks like he’s going to cry. He actually saved Sidney in the last episode I watched but ONLY by shooting a guy in the back…Coward!