Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Strange Weather

The weather here lately has not been the best to say the least. Today is no exception, in fact the weather is down right strange. This morning we woke up to clouds and on occassion the sun would peek out. It then progressed to clouds, thunder and lightning! It then cleared up completely so the dog and I sat outside for and hour in the SUN. It was SO nice, in fact, my cheeks are pink. It is now cloudy, thunder and RAIN!!

Sunday, April 27, 2008

A Message from Tim

Back in Beijing, went out with another Indiana person and expat. Saw his apartment, very nice; it is in center of Beijing. Went to a traditional, small, dumpy chinese BBQ place ~ you cook the food yourself on a grill at the table. We ordered way too much food, but we only had pictures to order from. The other guys knew chinese numbers and the word for rice and of course beer! It was a fun experience and the food was good. {this is not his photo, but one from Google}

Then we went to a bar area, that had hundreds (not quite!) of small dumpy bars. Interesting experiece. Everyone kept asking me if I wanted to go to this one bar, must be quite popular, it was called Lady Bar. We never found it, but boy, was everyone inviting me to go for only 100RMB! :-) {this converts to about $10, I think}.

What I want to know is WHY would they even try to find the place?

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Talent Fix

Here is this weeks Britain's Got Talent highlight for this week.



There were actually a couple I could have posted but this is my favorite. Sad I know, but I really do like reality TV....good thing there is PLENTY of it to be seen. It's a good thing that my friends like it too ~ this way I know I am not alone with my addiction :-}

Friday, April 25, 2008

New Photos

Thank you AGAIN to Diana for sending me this! She was at the house today while the new fridge{it is not blue, that is protective film} and cooktop were delivered and took some photos for me. I am amazed at how green everything is in the yard...I can't wait to go back. As I LOVE my washer and dryer, she took a photo of them too! Good thing she likes to take photos don't you think??


You can also see my van in a photo too! A few months ago this post had me asking for opinions on what type of van to get. We ended up getting a Dodge Grand Caravan, the sister car of my original thought, the Town & Country. It is the same color as my other one and that it ok...it hid dirt well. This one has a sunroof which I REALLY wanted, as well as a few other bells and whistles, so I am a happy mom.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Phantom in London

I am going to see the Phantom of the Opera in London!!

Myself and two friends are going for a girls weekend in London the early part of June. Actually it is not a weekend but a day and half, but that doesn't matter. Anyway, I have always wanted to see this so it was a perfect opportunity to get away and go to the theater. The funny thing is that prior to moving here I would have NEVER gone away for a weekend without the family. Maybe it was because the kids were younger or the fact that everything was so much further away when in the states. Either way, I am glad I am doing this and hope to be able to do things like this when we move back.

What makes this happen is that Tim is flexible, for the most part, with work so he is able to get kids to and from school.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Simple Politics

A big thank you to Cara for sending these to me today. I was struggling trying to think of a post as nothing really exciting is going on at the moment.

DEMOCRAT
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
You feel guilty for being successful.

REPUBLICAN
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
So?

Monday, April 21, 2008

A Taste of Home


I went shopping today at TKMAXX, it is TJMAXX but with a different letter! Anyway, I was looking around and bought a nice little rolling travel case for the laptop and the other junk that goes with me on trips. I REALLY didn't need it but for $30 it was a good buy. I brought it home and while looking at it noticed the tag. I was shocked when I saw the following tag....Who would have thought a KOHL'S tag...I have to admit I did smile when I saw it. See, even here I can get a touch of home when I least expect it.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Our lawn boy, AKA Nicholas, was at the house the other day and while there Diana took a few photos for us ~ THANK YOU!! We have also imposed on her to take delivery of a few things for the new kitchen and for that we are grateful.

We are blessed to have such wonderful friends who are willing to help us out in this transition time ~ again, a huge thank you to both Diana and Karen!! We cannot thank you enough for all of your help. Drinks are on ME in May :-}

Same Language?

In response to Karen's comment on the post below I thought I would take a few moments to discuss the English language here in the UK. Prior to our move here we had the false sense of security of speaking the 'SAME' language. Well, as we soon found out it is not the same but similar!

Here are few examples of the same BUT different words:
custodian = person who tends to graveyards
caretaker = prison personnel
sister = nurse {also family relation}
tea = dinner {evening meal}
dinner = lunch
cheers = thank you
biscuits = cookies
wardrobe = closet
lorry = truck
garage = gas station
garden = yard
rubber = eraser
canteen = cafeteria
fag = cigarette

Saturday, April 19, 2008

What Was THAT???

Well, this weeks episode of Britain's Got Talent auditions did not disappoint! I have to give credit where credit is due and BRAVO to this woman for having the courage/mindset/stupidity to go on this show to WOW us with her dance talents. As for her choice of outfit?? That is cause for concern.

OK, as Dr. Phil would say "let's get real about this" she doesn't really have that much as far as talent goes but she sure knows how to put on a show. . I could not help but to smile during this....Simons face is priceless!!

Funny...

This past week at the boys' school they had a bring a friend to school day. Basically, it was a day to bring a friend to show them the school and maybe they would want to attend. It was mainly for the junior school, ages 5-12, but Andrew and some of his classmates brought their 'friends' to school too!Oh the humour of 8th graders! Obviously, this is not Andrew's hand as he would not let me take a photo as he thought it was DORKY for me to do so. You get the basic idea of what they did...they used ink pens!!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Spring??

Well the weather here is still cool {upper 40's} but today the SUN did come out so I was able to get a few photos of the spring flowers blooming in the yard. Unfortunately, the sun will be short lived as we are expecting more rain and winds later in the week. I am SO over this weather, it is spring....hello, the weather needs to cooperate.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

More Reality TV....

The new season of Britain's Got Talent has begun and so we get to endure 7 weeks of auditions. I doubt I will watch them all but last night I did watch and was AMAZED by this boys voice...he is only 13 and his natural talent amazed me.


Hope you have had a great weekend and hopefully this coming week will be more exciting than the last for our family.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Another room


I haven't posted a photo of Christopher's new room yet so figured I would do that today. I think the color choices are very nice and fitting for a teenage boy...he can add many things to the room for additional color and character.

Not much else is going on here at the moment. The weather continues to be awful, however, the sun did come out for a bit today. I was beginning to forget what that was at all. The forecase is for more rain and high winds for the next week or so. It is supposed to be spring...where is it??

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

My NEW sink


We have ordered our new kitchen sink and I can honestly say I am SO excited for it. We originally were going to go with traditional bisque color but they came out with new colors TODAY and I got this one instead. It is one large bowl not divided like the one in the photo. It will look great with the granite.

Neat...Neat...Neat

Tim has customers visiting from Beijing and they brought him gifts! What makes this funny is that we were just talking about this with Hank and Diana the other night at dinner. Anyway, what he was given is just so neat.
They are limited edition commemorative items for the Beijing Olympics this summer. The first is a set of mascot coins in a decorative case.
The other, my favorite, is a framed Nine Dragons Screen pin set.
What nice gifts and they are appreciated. He heads of to China next week until the end of the month. I asked him what he will bring to the people over there ~ hmmmmmmmm, any ideas??

Thursday, April 03, 2008

BIG oops!


Yesterday, while priming the walls in the dining room for paint I had a HUGE, HUGE OOPSIE!!! Can you guess what I did? Well I knocked over the can of primer...so there is now a huge grey spot in the carpet. After all the painting we have done over time it is amazing that this has not happened yet. We were planning on replacing the carpet at some time just not THIS soon. Oh well, mistakes happen.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Cleveland Browns Bedroom


Here is a photo of the finished product of Andrew's Cleveland Browns inspired room! {The orange paint was still wet so it is showing some streaking} There are 3 brown walls and 1 orange accent wall. He has wanted these colors for his room for a couple of years now and he is thrilled with the results. Now he just needs his stuff in the room and it will really look nice. I am on a mission to find him an illuminated Browns light to hang on the wall.

Some brief history about some past comments about his colors of choice. Where we live there are 2 high schools ~ one has orange and brown for their colors and the other blue and white. Andrew will be attending the school with the blue and white so his room has the opposing school colors :-)

He finds it quite amusing!!