Happy Birthday, Jordan!

A special little girl turns 6 years old today. Everybody send her happy birthday wishes :) Best wishes from China, Jordan.

The new apartment is working out very well. Some day I'll have time to put together some photos so everyone can see it's wonderfulness. I also got the address in English and Chinese if anyone wants to send postcards or letters. I've got a mailbox and everything :) Well, a mailbox and a key for said mailbox.

Only complaints so far - sink drains with no traps (yes, sewer gas smell in a very nice apartment) and a dog in the building next door that whines loudly starting about 7am. And continuing into the night :p Oh, and the 6:10am fireworks this morning. What the heck? Someone was celebrating their congee?

Next week the office is closed for 3 days for the holiday, so I hope to catch up on blogging. I've decided not to do any travel (a hard decision), so maybe I can catch up on correspondence and my bootleg DVDs, too.

Kid tested, Mother approved

Not actually. More like "Matt & Horst tested, Matt & Horst approved".

We found a new bar tonight. Actually found it last week, but tested tonight. First Italian food at Sorrento (not bad, though the bar did not have Sambuca) and then drinks and very loud dance music at Maya Bar. Just like the US, but less dancing and prettier girls (in general).

Now trying to focus, getting ready for bed, and listening to Modest Mouse. Yes, back in rotation :)

Ah, how the days pass

Time moves very quickly here. Due to the level of business (not "bizness", but "busy-ness"). I have done more in a few weeks here than I did the last 2 years in the US for the same company. It's rewarding when I convince myself I'm making a difference. Other days, . . . oh, well. I'm influencing young engineers at least :)

Happy Birthday, Maura! Of all the people to take out for a birthday, Maura is top of my list. And yet I'm not there to do so :( Everyone send happy wishes her way.

While we're doing it, send birthday greetings to dear sister, KBF, Sep 16th and to the dear, departed Becky, Sep 17th. I'd like to take you both out for margaritas, but I'm a few thousand miles too far away. Physically closer to Becky than Kelli for a change, but still 6000 miles :)

Give yourselves a margartia and a spanking from me. Wish I could do it myself.

I'm not saying it's true, but it might be

another week begins . . too soon

Why so tired? Why am I up until 1 or 2 am every night? Eek! hard to go to bed at 1:30 and get up at 6:30 :p

It was a good weekend, smiled through most of it. Saturday I found a new apartment, bought a bicycle, did some shopping. Sunday rode my bicycle around town, dropped off laundry, bought groceries, new visa photos (I need to get 2 more visas for my China work permit - 5 in all :p). Good thing my bike has a big basket on the front - I filled it yesterday.

Today I pedalled to work, about 10 minutes, and feel good for the exercise. Weather is about the same as Philadelphia, nice and cool in the morning and night, not bad during the day.

Still trying to sell things in Hatboro. Maura is a great help as I'm listing items on Craigslist and she's taking care of the handling. Thanks, Maura! I'm thinking I should have asked more for the anvil, but I'll be glad to have it gone. Along with the stereo, the turntable and many other things. There'll be a very nice dinner for my logistics friend :)

Condolences to the Ebys for their recent loss. Best wishes to you all.

Worst episode ever

Well, worst garage sale ever. Maura and I spent a bunch of the week getting things together, cleaning the garage and stuffing it with tables of stuff, and then it is a horrendous day. Rain and wind all day long. Thanks go out to Horst for dropping by and buying stuff.

I took some photos and I'll advertise on Craig's list while I'm gone. Hopefully everything will sell before I get back in October. What doesn't sell goes into the dumpster or to the Salvation Army. I'm telling them to bring the big truck.

Now I'm sitting in O'Hare, drinking bad coffee. This is my most-ever-luggage flight. Two big checked bags, largest possible carryon. I was worried about being overweight on the checked bags (50lb limit, $25 after that). I checked in at 42 and 38lbs :p I coulda gone more! Now I'm drinking bad coffee and waiting for my flight to Pudong. Delayed twice. Now estimated to leave at 12:40 instead of 10:55 :(

The party is somewhat firmly scheduled for Oct 14. Be there or be sober.

Busy as a . . insert humorous comment here

I'm about insane with all to do this week. Trying to sell things, organize for storage, working almost every night to stay on China time, going to the office. It's difficult to fill every room with packing - garage sale pile here, storage here, Maura's stuff here - and then sell the items the stuff is on :) Selling the day bed and couch this weekend will give me mixed feelings.

Also, it's scheduled to rain this garage sale :( Only rain in the morning, though. Thunderstorms in the afternoon ;(

On the bright side, 4 big bags of clothes went, two very full trashcans are heading out this morning, and I have a storage space reserved for the next (final) trip back.

Someday it'll be done. But not this trip.

Matt