Just chattin'

I had some thoughts running through my head, they might be gone by now, and decided to jot them down in blog form. Now that I've logged in via China Telecom, I may have lost them all as the interface for Blogger is a little . . skewed.

Off the top of my head:
- great to get an actual email from Jeff in Seattle. I miss that guy and we typically swipe at each other via blog comments. I'm glad I inspired him via Ann N.'s survey to send me a mail. Now he's put deviant thoughts in my head, such as turkey on a toasted bagel. Mmmm.

- amaretto on the rocks is kinda girly, but a nice summer evening drink. I stand by it.

- I still haven't found an acceptable antiperspirant, though I have found Fa, Adidas, Nivea and some others at all the possible outlets. Outlets = stores, ya perverts. I bought some Nivea and on day two remembered the smell makes me ill. I'll make my boss bring me something next month.

- Been working late, but making satisfying progress on things. The lean training two weeks ago and working on my resume have helped me to refocus on work and career. I'm enjoying what I'm doing and I hope to go out with a *BANG!* of good work for people to remember me by.

- One of the things i don't do enough of is socialize with coworkers. Today I took 3 of them out for lunch and it was fun to get to know more about them. Afterwards I sent them all a photo of me with goatee sitting on my VFR. They were quite amused. Lunch was good and I cemented some more friendships.

- Lewis Black is funny. I've listened to one of his shows 3 times now and I need to find more. Also listening to Mitch Fatel who is almost diametrically opposite to Lewis, but also funny.

- I soaked onion and cucumber slices in vinegar, salt and pepper for 2 days (a la every year of my life since mom showed me how) and GP and I have been enjoying. Mmm, such a good comfort food and great for hot weather.

- My driver has a habit that pops up about once a week; I haven't decided if it is unwashed clothes or unwashed body, but it creates, in conjunction with the hot weather, a situation where I ride to work with the window down. Ewww.

- GP is doing well, thanks to all who ask (and it is an amazing number of people - online and in the streets), though she is boggled by how much the baby grows each day. Also surprised by how much the baby dances, morning, noon and night.

- I'm posting some resumes online, conventional format and a new thing I'm trying. We'll see what pops up. I'm concentrating on Seattle just so I can hear Jeff play some live music again. He's got to come through by wearing the piano tie, though.

- I just finished "Freakanomics" (a book) and it was very interesting. Next I'll read "Blink" while continuing to go through Rex Stout and others via ebooks. I'm working on some Tom Clancy, but I must say it's irritating me. I think it might be one where he had a ghost writer and the heavy conservatism and anti-Chinese attitude is pissing me off. I may have to skip it and get back to Matt Helm or Nero Wolfe.

Quote of the Night: King Pin was on TV and this line caught my ear:

Roy: Yeah, well he blessed you, too, and I'll give you a hint what it is. It's round, has three holes, and you put your fingers into it.
Ishmael: You leave Rebecca out of this.

Good news and shopping (also good news)

First, let me act as tourist advisor and say this: there's no reason to go to Guangzhou. Just stay away, especially when the weather is 95/95 (Actually it was closer to 100F and I don't know what the humidity was.) Also, they talk funny there (lots of Cantonese - this area was originally called "Canton" if that gives you a hint).

On the good side, the China Hotel by Marriott was very nice and not too expensive. We should have stayed closer to the Tian He area as we went there at least once everyday. Only $5 by taxi, but still would have been more convenient and enjoyable. We had some good food (middle Eastern was great and the Westin buffet was excellent. China Hotel buffet was AWFUL!) and some good shopping. Many baby things we hadn't seen in Suzhou or Shanghai, though we still didn't find the diapers I had read about. Also still didn't find deodorant >:^\

On the very good side, GP was granted an immigrant visa which we must use by January 23 or so. We still need lots of details about after we get to the US, but I'm confident they will appear when we need them. Thanks to everyone for your good wishes!

Some photos from the 3 days of hot:
GP in the China Hotel lobby

Garden of the 5 Rams (some history of Guangzhou thing)


There were a few signs that said "don't stride" instead of "don't walk". It's not something personal against Aragorn :)









These group of oldsters (probably grandparents in China) were playing a hacky-sack game. And they were *good*






Across from our hotel was a Lamborghini dealer. wow.

We ate at 1001 Nights, an Arabian restaurant. So tasty! The bellydancing was mediocre, though.






At one of the big shopping malls.

And, of course, we bought baby things. But this is the last batch. We couldn't resist the wrist-and-socks rattles.

The crackdown is affecting my life!

For those who haven't noticed, the Beijing Olympics start in about 3 weeks. The Olympics are HUGE in China, everything has the fuwa (mascots) on it and t-shirts and other memorabilia abound. For GPs birthday, I bought her a mobile phone dangle with the fuwa characters and a pack of stickers with each character doing a different Olympic sport :)

Anyway, the import/export, visas, etc have gotten very tight because of the games. Our company's imports have to go through extra screening which results in 2-3 weeks of delays. Imagine how all the companies in China are handling that. Tourist visas are very hard to get; I joked with our OB how she would be very busy for Aug 8 (8/8/8 is *very* popular date to marry and/or have baby in China) and she said, "No, not really. The foreigners can't get visas, so they are going home to have their babies."

I knew all this was happening and it did influence my decision about visiting the US in the next 2 months (baby-on-the-way influences it more), but it never really hit me until yesterday. I stopped at all of the foreign groceries looking for deodorant and found NONE. No deodorant, antiperspirant or combination is to be had. It isn't popular for the Chinese (the crowded mall elevator Saturday was testament to that), so it's mostly for the foreigners. I paid about $12 for the last Right Guard I bought, and I'd do it again if I could just find it.

Don't offer to send me any, though I would appreciate the offer. It would just get stuck in customs for 3 weeks. Maybe I can find some in Guangzhou this week.

Family update

Originally I titled this "Baby Update" but then I realized it's a whole family update, not just about the Mouse.

I went to Shanghai last Monday after work for Tuesday-Friday training classes on Lean Product Development and Rapid Product Development. The training was great, though fast since only 2 days each, and it was exactly what my company should have given me long before I came to China. Stupid company :p I quickly found it's not just my company (I never thought it was), but some of the other managers, engineers, etc. I met were more organized than us. Not too hard to be.

I made some good contacts and perhaps something will come out of the networking in the future. I know the actual learning has inspired me to learn more on my own and use these things in my future work.

GP went to Shanghai Friday morning and got her immigration physical report. Everything is super #1 A-OK with her as we expected so we are ready for the interview next Thursday in Guangzhou. I think the hardest part of the trip will be the flights :) I hope that is the hardest part.

Saturday morning we had a baby check where the doctor said the mouse is doing very well. We will go every two weeks for awhile and then probably every week for the last month. I'm glad I still have a company car through September.

After the baby check, we did some shopping and finally started to buy some baby things. The stroller we bought earlier (maybe I already posted a pic) from an Australian couple. We restrained ourselves in the way of clothes since she can't wear too many in the first 3 months, right? Also bought some colder weather stuff for Nov and Dec in a little bigger size. My favorite is the big winter suit in Chinese motif. I think this will look great when we visit the family for Christmas :)







Most of the stuff is eBaby and seems to be from Shanghai. It has the US and EU quality tags and appears to be good quality, so we are pretty happy. Some of the other Chinese stuff we found was poor quality - onesies like cheesecloth :p

Happy Birthdays!

Oh, now we are getting to some VIP birthdays!

Happy 1st birthday to a E&T's little boy in Pennsylvania. He's going to be quite a guy when he grows up, not that I ever get any news about him (hint, hint).

Happy birthday also to my long-lost friend, Cheryl. We met a long time ago in Philadelphia and then again when I visited London. Who knows where we will meet next. Happy wishes to you, my friend.

Last and most important, happy birthday to the prettiest woman in China, Gao Ping! We plan to have a big party and special gifts for her :)

Birthday for an old friend

I have a good friend, let's call him Scot, who I've known for a long time. I was telling people just tonight that his birthday is soon and I realized I've known him 22 years. Wow.

Happy Birthday, Scot. I hope each year is better than the last and I can see you soon.

Sunday Evening update

I'm probably missing some birthdays and such, but I'm too lazy to put them here :) Been too lazy to post, also, so it's been quiet. Sorry 'bout that for the 5 of you who check in now and then.

Things are good in Suzhou. GP and the baby are doing very well. We watched the baby moving (yes, externally visible) for awhile after lunch. It's been hot (around 100F today), so we mostly stay inside, though I did go out for a few hours to shop by myself. I went to the shopping street I usually avoid, but it was fun as I was in a good mood anyway and I can move quickly by myself. I was able to buy a couple of little presents for GP's birthday (July 17, btw).

I also put some recent photos together to post. We have Gao Ping and friends Sun Wei and Guo Qing Qing (remember her?) and I going out for teppenyaki and mahjong. Lot's o' fun. Also three of GP's classmates came over a few weeks ago to cook. When four pretty ladies are cooking delicious food for me, it's understandably tempting to stay in China :)

















After the last baby visit, GP eating crawdads in the car.

New Korean dress and fake pearls