Nanjing

Welcome to our new home.

We have relocated to Nanjing, China. I am so far out of
my norm it is amazing. I cannot begin to explain the
mixed emotions that course through me. I am elated
with the experience but overwhelmed.
It took about 6 days to get over the jet lag. The first
four days were horrible. Waking up at 5AM thinking
it was nearly noon. Around 2pm your body would start
shutting down. You wanted dinner but adjusting to the
smells and food is more then you can stand so you a leery
of anything you go eat. Around 6 to 7pm you are ready to
go to bed. Derek and I both fell asleep on the sofa for
several nights. You just cannot make yourself stay awake.
I was finally able to stay awake till 10pm, then midnight
to allow my body to sleep in till 7am. It is getting easier everyday.

Food is getting easier. There are some great places to eat.
The biggest problem is language. I am starting Chinese
lessons next week. We always complain about people
coming to live in the US and not learning English. I am not
going to be one of those people so I will learn Chinese. At least
I hope to figure it out enough not be a dork. So ordering food is
the challenge. We have two great German places
with wonderful dishes. There are a couple Mexican restaurants
that we have not tried but heard good things about and a couple Italian.
The place that I like the best has been a Chinese
place that we just call HOTPOTS.

These are pictures that I took today as we wondered around.
I cannot spell it but it sounds like FUGI MAA, is a shopping area around
a Confucius temple. Bill, Derek and I wondered around the temple for
I bit and tried to read what signs were in English. It is amazing how old this city
is and how much there is to see and learn.

More to come......

Chicago Days

I am in Chicago.

It has been a great week with Nicole and Chris. Andrew, college roommate, joined us for the weekend.

Friday evening will not be mentioned due to the amount of martini's consumed. Bar is across the block from the kids apartment and a pleasant stroll home.

Sat. was the Puerto Rican Day Parade in downtown. Probably not the most sane idea to go walk the waterfront but we did. Great weather and on a few extra miles. Lovely afternoon. Rode the Ferris Wheel on Navy Pier. Wonderful views and my height phobia only hummed in the background.

Sunday was chill in downtown Naperville. Love the river walk for a stretch after lunch at the Frank Sinatra Bar. Barefoot in the park. Horrific band playing somewhere close by. Sounded like cats coughing up hairballs.

The remainder of the week has consisted of hanging around the house. Tuesday I made Gumbo for my future son in law. Condition of invading their home. Tomorrow I am on the road again to the UP. Eleven more days till Bill arrives and I am counting down the days.

Till we meet again. Peace.

Thank you Lord for friends that just get you.
Let me introduce my girls, Kathy on the left and Ashley in the middle.
This are two of the most amazing women I have met. Both of them have been a tremendous support to me and my family in the past several years. I am really going to miss friday nights in the pole barn. Jeiger and Redbull. Sugar Free, remember one regular redbull equals a Whopper. Silver Patron and singing Johnny Cash. You two are the definition of Friend. Thanks for all the love.

Homeless

We are on the road. Derek and I left Kentucky on Friday the 30th of May. Off to Upper Pennisula of Michigan. Fun times, freazing times.
Why was it 87 degrees in Kentucky and 51 degrees in the UP? Twelve hours, that is the total amount of time it took for me to be butt numb and freezing. I now remember why I don't want to live here any longer. I like to be warm but not too warm. Louisiana warm. Uck.
So I am freezing, tired and cranky.
Good news is I have a month till I see Bill and a month till Rothbury Festival.
There is 39 days till we permenantly relocate to China. Cool.
Okay, so it is a little chilly in the UP. I will deal with it.

Cannot Sleep

It is friday night. End of the work week. Take a little mental break. Me, not so much.
I left work early today. The sun was finally shining, breeze was warm. I am going to get the hoola hoop out and hangout is my yard. I walk in the door and frolicking in the sun is forgotten. My house is a nightmare. Stinky dogs, dirty floors, dirty dishes and dirty clothes. This is my life. Work at the office and work at the house.
I am not good at the domestic stuff. Just ask my mom. I am sure that she has a list of stuff that I am not good at....I'll save that for another day.
Bill and I do the house keeping together. Yes ladies, it can happen to you too. Bill has been gone for three months. I am doing to stuff that needs to be done. Maybe not at the pace it needs to be done nor to level of expertise. Man, I really really truly hate to clean. For me to get a good cleaning jag going to usually means that I am so pissed off at someone that if I don't do something I will probably end up in jail.
I hate to clean. I think somewhere in my past life's I was RICH. I really think that you should be able to use dish and throw it away. I love paper plates, plastic utensil and solo cups. I love TV dinners. One bag sensations. Cook it - one pan=one dish to wash. If I was home alone. I could probably live by this code of throw it away. I am going to save the economy by purchasing a new $5 pan at Wallyworld weekly.
Can we talk about hardwood floors. They are beautiful. Love the lines, love the feel on my feet first thing in the morning, sliding across them in my clean socks. When did I get a rabbit? The floor is covered in fur, grey fur. Did I mention the stinky dogs. One is white and one is black. Lab mixs, do you know what white fur mixed with black fur makes. GREY FUR. I don't know if I am supposed to mop the floor or shave it. Dogs that shed and hardwood floors = high maintenance.
I missed out on my hoola hoop time. I missed the warmth of the sun. I mopped. I vacuumed. I scrubbed to bathroom. One of them at least. I wiped down the cabinets and fed the dogs and Derek, too. OK it was Burger King but I had already cleaned the skillet.
Did you really think I was going to get it dirty right after cleaning it....NOT.
Maybe tomorrow.

Bowl for Kids Sake
Big Brothers Big Sisters