Another Anniversary - prepping for Israel - what button did *that*?

In reverse order:
I started this post, hit a wrong button trying to or something, and made a post titled "A" with no other words in it. And that happened twice. Odd, but that's what computers are about. I'm sure you've all had that happen, but I'm one of the few people here who hit a wrong button and started typing in pinyin instead of English :) (click the links and learn a little something)

It's time to get ready for my trip to Israel. I have the work stuff to organize, the clothes and such to take, and trying to decide what book for the flights and the 3 hours each way in Frankfurt. Not quite enough time to go out of the airport :( I found out a coworker will be there at the same time, so I'll have someone to dine with. I hope she doesn't want to look for Chinese food.

Finally, happy anniversary to Steve & Kathy. Two great friends from Iowa. they might have gotten the "hi ho" earlier, but my two calendars aren't in sync. Depends on if I post from home or work. Best wishes, guys.

Looking at the Wikipedia page, I'm reminded that Iowa is always farther north than I think. So's Pennsylvania. My geography ain't so good :p

Happy Anniversary - and phone pics!

Two of the most important people in my life are having an anniversary today - I ran out of fingers and toes, but I think it might be 45 years (I know I got it wrong last year - and wrong again this year! Thanks, Kel.)

Congratulations, Mom and Dad. You've set a high standard for the rest of us to meet.

*****

I finally cleaned off my mobile phone for the first time in many months. Some interesting photos to share.

The car after I slid into the garage wall a few months ago. More damage than I would have guessed.


The last hospital trip - mandatory IV.


Sign in my building's elevator: "When surround in the elevator, please grow to press down urgent button"


The sign is misleading. The massage is 50RMB ($6.60US) for 1 hour, but the Golden Finger costs extra.


Love for someone who normally doesn't get along with people.


And the obligatory food photos:
Piquant Bullfrog With Cayenne Pepper


Hot & Spicy Greasyback Shrimp


My new ride. 45 volts of screaming power. Well, it doesn't scream, but it does whine a little (yes, I mean the scooter). Gratuitous cheesecake shot unintentional, but most likely appreciated.


The ride I would like to have in Suzhou. I've seen a few nice bikes with sidecars around. Some in the smaller cities look very homemade.

Ok, two very important decisions

As the hinting was, well, hinting, I'll be nice and say it out loud. GP and I have gotten married. The wedding party is this Saturday, May 26. It'll be in Suzhou, so, while you are all invited, probably none of you will make it. If GP can get a US tourist visa this time, we'll be sure to see who we can while in the US.

The second new bit of news is that I've made a verbal committment to my boss to stay in Suzhou for a second year. It's a good opportunity for me to continue learning how to be a R&D director and makes me more marketable in the future. It's also a good way to save up some money for my (our) eventual return to the US. And GP will get to finish her degree that she is currently working on. This also means I need to do something better with my storage garage of stuff still in PA. The VFR will probably be sold so it doesn't dry rot in storage. I'm sure I'll replace it quickly after returning, no worries there. Maybe we'll do a US road trip; load a van in PA and drive it to Omaha. Sounds like a good way to show GP the Eastern half of the US. "Look, here's more of I-80!"

There will be photos of the wedding party early next week. My hair should look better than in the previous photos :P

Happy birthday!

It's a little belated, but everyone help me wish Horst a big Happy Birthday. I'm sorry I wasn't able to treat him to dinner and drinks this year. I hope there was a little cake throwing like last year :)

Happy early birthday wishes to Baby Cathcart. Her papa hosts this webpage and has been extremely poor about sending new photos of the baby (hint, hint). C'mon, man!

I was going to write more, but I'm still sick and can't remember :p Perhaps later . . .

Chinese Wedding Tradition

In China (and Taiwan, Singapore, Korea - the ones I know for sure), there is a big photo and dinner tradition. You do the paperwork months (sometimes many months) before the wedding dinner. And an entire day of photos. In many costumes. Sometimes with ridiculous poses and hair style. And, in Suzhou if you are a local, you rent a Cadillac or Lincoln, form an entourage of cars, and tour through the city videotaping the whole thing. Last Saturday, one of my engineers had his wedding party; 5am to 10pm to get through the day.

For an example of some wedding photos, you can check out this page I put together. Not for the faint of heart. (I had no control over what they did to my hair)

"Call my friends to share some wine . . ."

It's Friday evening here in Suzhou, 7:55pm. 7:55am where many of my friends are on US's east coast. 6:55am in the Midwest where my dear family is. I left work a little early, came home for some exercise and a little relaxing and then went out for a run. Walking back to my building in the dark, a song came on my mp3 player and I got a little homesick. If you are someone who reads this blog, I'm probably thinking about you tonight. And I miss you. Yes, John, that means you, too :)

I left work a little early for two reasons. 1) It's Friday. 2) I have to do some work this weekend. I have to do some work this weekend because I must fly to Taiwan on Monday for a Tuesday customer meeting. Taiwan isn't too far from Shanghai, but you must fly through Hong Kong. Monday, 11:30am I leave Shanghai, 5pm arrive in Kaohsiung. Meet customer Tuesday after lunch. No flights go late enough from HK to Shanghai, so I'll stay in Kaohsiung Tuesday night, too. Wednesday, leave Taiwan 8am, arrive Suzhou about 4pm. Three days for a 4 hour meeting.

At the end of the month, I fly to Israel to meet with my boss and some coworkers. It's my first Israel trip and I'm looking forward to it. I'm on Lufthansa through Frankfurt, so there's two more firsts for me :)

Finally, end of June and over 4th of July holiday, I should be in the US. With any luck, I'll be bringing the delightful GP with me. She's anxious to meet everyone. I hope she can get a visa this time. If not, it'll be a less enjoyable trip home for me. Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing most of you then. And we'll share some wine.

Big week of Birthdays

I'm waiting to start a review meeting conference call, so I'll do a quick post for birthdays.

Happy b-day to Dan, my brother, "di di" as he is known in Chinese. May 7
Happy special 1st birthday to Zoe. I'll have to do one of my infamous qi pao purchases for her :)

Finally, happy many birthday to Trevor on Friday. I just noticed he's a year younger than Dan. Dan is getting old fast! Good thing I slowed the aging process when I shaved my beard off :)

Big happy wishes to all 3 of you. And to those who aren't on the ISU Alumni caldendar in my office.

The day goes down, the day goes up

I realized this morning that someone stole my bicycle. I bought it about 9 months ago, installed my nice headlight from the US and enjoyed riding it. And now it is gone . I need to decide if I should replace it with another bike, or get a scooter for more serious touring around Suzhou. Perhaps both.

On the upside, I had a great massage and then took GP and a friend named Candy out to a cool club we visited before. It looks like a neat bar / strip club at first, but it turns out to be a lot of singing and dancing. And some jokes in Chinese (I like the dancing best). I guess it is a 70s variety show without Goldie Hawn. Thank god.

We had a good time and the beer is cheaper than just going to the bar we visited last night (where Candy works). Hard to belive you can get more for less. Three of us had 6 bottles of beer, some free popcorn and about 3.5 hours of good time for $20US. I'll take it.