Sunday, July 25, 2010

One Month From Today

We leave for China on the 8 p.m. flight out of Las Vegas.

I am still very frightened and don't sleep very well at nights...

To put it another way, we leave in

30 days
720 hours
2 592 000 seconds.

Still trying to do something every day to get ready.

Still trying to figure out why we are doing this...

We will miss out on:
Jenn's graduation as a PhD! Now, that is big!
Visits from our grandchildren
Hubert's 95th year

So, the 30 day countdown begins today.....

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Monday, July 19, 2010

Terrified!

Can't sleep...

Stomach in a knot....

Margo suggested a blessing...

Good Idea.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Day Trip

"Whew," he said as we came through the back door.

"It's so good to be home!'

I totally agreed.

And, we had been gone FOUR HOURS!!!!!!!

How will we survive 11 months?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Monday, July 12, 2010

Okay, I Can Survive in China Now....


as long as Google can be there with me!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Oh Sure...Just When We Decide to Go....


"Wait and buy it in China!" everyone says when I tell them I might need stuff...."everything is so cheap there," they say.
WRONG...look at this headline of 7/09/10...so what that means is that prices are going up. The article also says many companies are moving their manufacturing plants back to America....
Yeah, right, just when we go to China.
Well, we've always been good at helping the economy. We bought our home in SG when the prices were at the absolute highest peak. I buy stuff at the grocery store, come home to see that it is on sale the next day, etc, etc, etc.
So, high prices in China...just in time for US!
Sorry, kids and grandkiddies, it looks like no Chinese trinkets for you all!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Once the News Was OUT...

sugggestions started pouring IN....

(this is my personal favorite)

* Be SURE to take one suitcase full of toilet paper...countries like that don't use toilet paper...believe me, you'll be glad you took your own!

* Black walnut and Garlic pills will save your digestive system...trust me...I went to Africa...I know all about below-the-belt problems. You won't be sorry if you have some Black Walnut and Garlic when you start eating strange foods.

* Take lots of mosquito repellant...the mosquitos are vicious. Also, load up on American sunscreen....their sunscreen and repellant are not as effective as American brands.

* You are going to need sweaters...it will be VERY cold in the classroom in the winter.

* Don't expect things to run as smoothly or be as organized as America....remember this is CHINA!

* Relax, enjoy, and just know that you will LOVE it!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

How to Get Your Home Ready to Rent for a Year

1. Take down all pictures, so the new renters can hang their own, and make it feel like it is their space.

2. Remove all knick knacks so the newlyweds can display what they just received at their reception.

3. Clean out all closets, drawers, shelves, etc.

4. Wash windows, toilets, shelves; do thorough job of vacumming, including baseboards, all drawers, shelves, etc.

5. Clean out desk in office, office shelves.

6. Hide valuables - HA! that's easy, what valuables?

7. Put manuals in place where young man can easily find them to fix anything needing repairs. (Okay, so first you have to FIND the manuals.)

8. FINALLY, realize it's just too overwhelming, and clean one little shelf in the bathroom and say, "Okay, kids, just squeeze your stuff next to our stuff!"