In Beijing…

By now we would have landed in Beijing, walked through the smoky, silent corridors of the new airport in Beijing. It would be 6:30 pm. Made it through incoming customs and security posts, picked up the luggage.

Oops, forgot there was a stroller with us! John & Tu race back to the luggage area to get it.
Bus ride from the airport reminds me of Chicago and trips from O’Hare into town — including billboards in English.

Long check-in process at the hotel, set up tours, and then a surprise. Tu has an updated photo of each baby, taken in the last month. A treasure, for sure.

After gazing at the photo of the happy baby playing in her new orphanage playroom, I tuck it into my pocket journal, next to Macalester and Sydney’s photos. All my babies in photos taken in the same time period — together at last, in photographic form at least.

Check into our room, watch the WTO riots in Seattle on CNN International, eat and sleep.
I’m in China. Amazing.

Related Links/Previous Stories:
http://thewallsofstpaul.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-view-of-soon-to-be-familar-face.html

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Girls Shopping Trip

Of course no girls trip is complete without a token male. Aren’t we lucky SpongeBob was nearby?

At the MOA right now, after purchasing unmentionables. Enjoying refreshment at Starbucks. Then off to American Girl, and home. A full 2 hours. We just need to keep out of the way of scrapbookers.

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Busier

Life has entered the Busier season. I use “busier” because we are always busy. Now it’s back to the rutine of scholl, chior rehearsal, church services, and gymnastics. Oh and Chinese classes. Sarah’s in band and the Girl Scout troop isn’t dissolving after all.

Lots of schedules and calendar entries.

I’m not in a panic, but it’s hard to remember to dump all the details into calendars and to do lists. I certainly can’t keep it all in my head anymore. I think my head would explode.

I’m still in cooking and preserving mode, thanks to our farm share. Our fridge is overflowing, and I have to find room for more stuff tonight. But the eating is good.

Three more weeks and the share ends. Then I can enjoy the vegetables of my labor (no fruit in our share). And get ready for Christmas.

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Early Morning Results

Last week, I wrote about getting up at 4 am to start my day. After two weeks I can say I have an 80% success rate getting to work at 6 am. I’m not always out of bed at 4 am, but I get myself going in time to get to work when I want.

I need to work on getting to bed earlier. That includes setting my iPod up so I can download the audio for Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow.

I feel physically and mentally better leaving work at 3 pm. I gave a full day, plus some, and I don’t owe anymore. It’s like I have a clean slate–at least until I get off the bus. Then the evening work cycle begins.

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A Reason to Watch Football This Season

Brett Favre is in training camp with the Vikings. I think my Sunday afternoon calendar this fall just filled up…

I’ve always liked Favre–even in his early interception throwing days. Back when I did fantasy football, I always drafted Favre, if I had the chance.

The Vikings could be interesting this year.

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Into the Ether

I had an idea for a post about the dogs this morning. It’s gone now, at 3pm.

A couple days ago I wrote a post about jigsaw puzzles and my grandpa. I sent that post and it never showed up on the site.

I’m having a week where I’m distracted, thoughts go flying off–with some eventually returning. I think this may be a byproduct of my schedule change. It’s also the end of one semester/beginning of a new semester. I have feet in both terms. It’s crazymaking. Maybe things will settle down by next week.

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New Schedule

I decided I needed to put myself on a different schedule, to try to get some peace back into my life.

  • I’m getting up at 4 am, so I can reliably get to work at 6.
  • I’m also going to stop my paper grading somewhere between 8:30 and 9 pm, because I hit a wall at that time of day.
  • Get myself and the kids ready for bed, and hit the hay by 9:30.

I don’t know how long the schedule will last, but I’m willing to give it a try.

Sarah is having a hard time not seeing me in the morning. She calls me 3 or 4 times each morning. Each call really isn’t about anything. She just needs to know I’m there. On the other hand, Rachel’s just happy to sleep.

I’m hoping the new schedule will give me some time to exercise and take care of me. And maybe get in a walk with a dog. Provided the dogs are ready to get out of bed.

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