In San Francisco, Happy Birthday Oscar!

So, I've been in San Fran for two days, I have a Friday interview (in about 15 hours) with a company that sounds *very* interesting. If there's an offer from them, it would have to include a big number after the $, though. Cost of living here is high.

I had dinner with Becky (remember her?) last night and it was fun doing a little catch up (she also thinks the Mouse is ultra-cute) and getting her opinion of good and bad in this area. She's doing quite well and offered to babysit if we move to the SF area.

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Happy Halloween Birthday to Oscar, the cutest 1 year old boy in China (his mom is one of my (former) engineers). Let's all wish him a happy and healthy (he has a cold) 1st birthday.

Keeping busy

As if a new baby wasn't enough work (and it's much more work for GP than for me), I've decided to take the job interviews by the horns (so to speak).

I'm flying to the US this Wednesday and have 2 of 3 interviews set up. They are numbers 1 & 2 on my priority list, so if the third doesn't fall in place, I won't be too upset. I think I've given up on the Belgium job; it sounds very interesting, but trying to meld into another culture, with a foreign wife and new baby seems like more effort than it is worth.

So, I'll get in Wednesday night, hopefully interview in LA on Thursday, San Francisco on Friday, fly to Columbus and visit 1dreamr and interview on Monday. Tuesday is either a rest day in SF or the LA interview (if it isn't Thursday). Wednesday, back to Shanghai where I HOPE to pick up the Mouse's US passport. Then we can start the paperwork to have her give up her automatic Chinese citizenship. If all of THAT works well, we'll move to the US sooner than expected, though maybe not in time for Thanksgiving.

Today was a cool, sunny day and we decided to take the Mouse for her first official walk. She did well, sleeping until 5 minutes from home and then crying for food. We made a note to bring a bottle next time. It's all preparation for the big move to the US - anyone volunteer to fly her home for us?

A visit from Grandma

GP's mom is visiting for a week or two to cook all the traditional Chinese "just had a baby" foods and help with the baby. Gives me time to blog, though I am mostly cooking my own food ;) She's a great lady and we get along well; she speaks no English and I can't understand her Chinese, so we remain on good terms.

As soon as she cleared the door, I took her bag and she ran to hold the baby. Who can blame her.

UPDATE: I don't know why, but I can't get the photos uploaded to the server. I will keep trying.

UPDATE 2: It worked when I went through the US VPN. Ah, Chinese internet. I took the opportunity to add a photo of the Mouse with Aunt Tracy, too.

Fancy schmancy

GP had told me that the hospital we went to, United Family Hospital, Shanghai was a popular one with singers, TV stars, etc. I could understand as it is ostensibly the nicest place in Shanghai to have a baby.

Today, GP was reading the local news and saw a photo of a Shanghai TV star at the hospital. She'd had her baby there on the 14th. What a coincidence, so close to stardom. When I asked the woman's name, GP told me "Ji Xue Ping" and I realized that she was in the birthing room right next to us for two or three days. I always saw the name on the door, but never realized she was famous.

Our baby is more beautiful than hers, though ;)

Politicians and political (wry) humor

I've been listening to Lewis Black for a couple of months now and find him pretty funny, smart, though his language is pretty crude. Some of his funniest bits are about politicians and he picks on all of them equally; he doesn't like *any* of them.

One of his best is describing how the Republicans and Democrats work together.

"The only thing dumber than a Republican or a Democrat is when these pricks work together.
We have a two-party system. The Democratic party, which is a party of no ideas.
And the Republican party, which is a party of bad ideas.
The way it works is the Republican stands up in Congress and goes, 'I GOT A REALLY BAD IDEA!'
Then the Democrat says, 'AND I CAN MAKE IT SHITTIER!'"

Carried away

Anything new in my life becomes a supply for many and often postings about that thing. Now you must suffer through baby photos.

The birth announcement in the hospital lobby (the webpage announcement will be up next week).


I knew daughters take maintenance, but I never thought she'd get into fake tanning before owning a cell phone.


That's all until I'm witty again tomorrow ;)

Happy Birthday!

So many October birthdays. Next up are Elizabeth (Hi, Elizabeth!) on the 11th and Natalie (ni hao, gu gu!) on the 14th. I don't remember if I hit Ann with early birthday greetings - if not, happy late b-day, Ann! (6th)

I had thought that we somehow dodged all the October birthdays and found a unique one (within reason) for the Mouse. Turns out I was wrong as I received a congratulations note from my major professor, Iver, and it turns out he and Mouse share a birth date. I can imagine it put a smile on his face.

More of the Mouse

A funny story before the photos. On the way to the hospital, GP asked about things that might happen during a C-section.

GP: "So, they will give me an ID?" (pointing at wrist)
M: "It's IV and, yes, they will give you an IV"
GP: "VD?" (she says still misunderstanding the letters)
M: "I *hope* they don't give you VD"

Black and white looks better given the poor lighting and Mouse's slight jaundice (we're starting some light therapy today). The second photo should pop into a bigger version in a separate window.

Mouse, Day 3

Luckily for us, our baby has a beautiful cry. Also luckily, we are starting to figure out how to keep her from practicing so much.

Here are more photos and there are some at Picasaweb (see the link in the title bar). Video will have to wait until I get back to my transfer cables in Suzhou (and learn how to transfer, edit & post videos :p ).

Houston, we have a Mouse

name: Mouse aka Xiao Lao Shu aka Xiao Mei Nv
DOB: 2008 Oct 7
time: 12:26 local
wt: 3.55kg (7lb 13oz)
length: 52cm (20.5in)
looks: OMG so pretty