HAPPY HALF YEAR TO THE MOUSE

Today the Mouse is 6 months old. She doesn't know it, sees no significance, but we will celebrate nonetheless.

Perhaps we'll commemorate the day by taking her favorite food source(s) and replacing them with a bottle. I think her mama will celebrate that more than baby will :)

Happy Birthday to Jeff in Seattle

A good friend who I haven't seen in a long time (2 missed opportunities recently) is turning another year older today. He's still younger than me, though, which is good for him. Help me wish Jeff a big happy birthday today.

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Tomorrow is moving day and I just heard there will be snow in the morning :p Good thing Horst is helping us. Wish is luck for agreeable weather as the furniture arrives and we try to get as much as possible into the new place. I've had fun changing address online and in person for most of the important places. The bank seems to still be a PITA, though. I'll have to send them a letter.

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Yesterday I had a really good phone interview for a job in NJ. It sounds like a very good position for me and the location is pretty good, not far from the shore. Cross your fingers, eh?

The most special birthday of the year

Happy Birthday, Mom. Thanks for everything.

A happy birthday - a little late, and more

Very special happy birthday to my niece, Suzy. We missed her birthday while on the road to Omaha, but are very glad to wish her happiness even if it is a little late.

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The road trip to Omaha was fairly easy. Most days on the road by 10am, stopped by 5pm when the Mouse couldn't take anymore of riding in her car seat. We saw our very good friend Ann (see her blog here) in Columbus the first night and she treated us to Texas Road House for dinner. She also very kindly gave Mouse a Christmas present of some pretty new clothes. She wore one yesterday and it looks great! No, I was too lazy to get a photo, but I'm sure I'll get to one while the clothes still fit.

Our second night was in Peoria where the wind was howling and the temperature was around 0F. It was a whole new experience in cold for GP as she's never felt that kind of cold before. On the way to Iowa, we were kicked off I-74 by the state police as visibility was about an eighth mile and there was some ice on the road. I know as we slid a little sideways when driving over a bridge at 75mph. Yikes!

Luckily, we were able to pick up speed again back on I-80 and made it to Des Moines just a little late. Our friends Steve and Kathy showed us their new house and treated us to some tasty (heavy on the cheese) pizza. We will have to catch Scot on the way back to Philly. Thanks again, Steve and Kathy, for the hospitality. They also gave Mouse a nice present, this one penguin flavored for her father's tastes. We'll break it out as soon as she can bowl :)

Now we are in Omaha (viz Waterloo) and enjoying time with the family. Tomorrow (Christmas) we go to the water park for a nontraditional Christmas frenzy and some relaxation.

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Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and other holiday greetings to all of our dear readers and friends.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to nephew Ben, the oldest of many nieces and nephews. We're looking forward to seeing all of the family soon.

Ok, Steve, too

Happy Birthday to Steve, the gravel biker from Iowa. I shall hoist a cold, interesting beer to you tonight. Or this morning - hey, traveling across time zones makes you realize it's always noon somewhere :)

Do something fun tonight and send me the photos.

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.

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.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Kathleen, one of my favorite people in the world. Sorry we cannot be there to celebrate with you, but have a good time anyway :)

So many October birthdays - it makes an interesting calendar target for our Mouse to hit. If any delivery date pools are started, we are personally figuring Oct 7.

Other upcoming birthdays (in case I get too busy and cannot say hello): Matt, Ann, Elizabeth, and Natalie.

A beautiful day for a birthday

The weather is cooling in Suzhou and I was presented with a blue sky and crisp air this morning as I left home. Ah, so nice! It will be a good day; a little work in the morning (finish wrapping up a last project) and then to GP's house to check out her renter, set up the new TV and make it clean for the next tenant. Anybody need a 500 sqft apartment in Suzhou?

More importantly, today is the birthday of a special girl. Happy Birthday, Jordan! Have a wonderful birthday weekend.

Another special Birthday

Happy birthday to KBF! A frequent reader and witty contributer (and my pretty, younger sister - wo de piao liang mei mei - 我的漂亮妹妹). Be happy and enjoy (and tell me when you receive your present).

Special Birthday wish

Please help me wish a dear, special friend happy birthday today.

Happy Birthday, Maura! I hope it is as special and exciting as you :)

Happy Birthday and trip planning

Happy Birthday to Breanna! She celebrates August 14th and we send her happy wishes from China :)

I've got many things lined up for my trip in 10 days. I'm still waiting for feedback from the family (hint, hint) about Sunday brunch, but I'm sure they are up for it.

I ordered gift cards, Amazon goodies, and made hotel and car reservations. Adjusted my airplane seats (exit aisle the whole way!) and I am making a shopping list of goodies to bring back to Suzhou. GP and I are shopping this Saturday in Shanghai and I hope to get some goodies to take to the US. It's always hard to decide what someone might like.

We've been watching the Olympics and the parts I've seen have been pretty exciting. It's fun to have two teams to root for and we have yet to come to blows when it's China vs. US. When all is said and done, it doesn't matter to us who wins, we enjoy watching the athletes do their best.

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.

Birthdays and Mother's Day

Happy #2 Birthday to Zoe. I hope we can get some birthday photos (hint, hint) of her in her pretty qi pao.

And we might as well throw in birthday wishes for Zoe's dad, Trevor. He is much more than 2 years old, but will probably smash cake into his face just like his daughter :)

Most importantly, happy Mother's Day and very big thank you's from GP and I to our mothers. Enjoy something special and remember we love you.

Happy Birthday to my brother

He won't see this and probably won't care if he does see it, but I'm sending a birthday wish to my brother, Dan. Everyone spank him when you see him on Wednesday - he might like it!

Happy Birthday Suzy!

Everyone please send happy birthday wishes to my niece, Suzy. Set aside a piece of cake for me :)

Happy Birthday to Ben!

First nephew, Ben, will celebrate a birthday on Thursday. GP and I hope it is a great one :)

In China, no big changes. I've still got a little head cold and GP came down with some stomach virus. We went to the hospital to see a doctor Monday night and she ended up with the always-prescribed IV (glucose, KCl and something else). She got two bottles and the KCl makes the transfer more painful, so we had to go slow. Left home at 8pm and got back at 3:15am :P It was fun seeing what shows up at a Chinese emergency room.

Christmas decorating is big in China. The trees, the fake frost in the windows, the stockings. I'm not sure they understand *why" there is Christmas (probably no worse than the western world's understanding), but they know what lao wai (foreigners) like. I bought a nice wreath and two stockings. I'll have to come up with some stocking stuffers for GP's first, real Christmas. And teach her carols, of course.

I really need to find A Christmas Story DVD. "You'll shoot your eye out" will sound very cute in Chinese :)