Two Weeks to Go - Really!?

That really blows me away, to think we'll be in Beijing this time in two weeks. I have too much to do! I'll never get all my planning done, all the prep for leaving the kids behind (with Cathy Trani, luckily) and getting work ready as well! But I am truly excited that it's finally just about here. This will be absolutely the biggest trip I've ever taken, and maybe ever will. It's daunting, but doable.

Anyway, here is our itinerary:
Leave Denver Sept. 11 (I know, but probably the safest day to fly, if you think about it!)
Beijing - 3 nights
Xi'an, home of the Terracotta Warriors - 2 nights
Guilin to Yangshuo, area of the karst peaks on the river - 3 nights
Shanghai, where the World's Expo is going on - 4 nights
Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for the wedding festivities - 3 nights
Sun Moon Lake - 2 nights
Taipei - 1 night
Hong Kong - 3 nights
Home, sweet home, on Day 23!


A lot of traveling, a lot of hotels and new cities to learn, but our new netbook is going to be a godsend. Wifi seems to be readily available everywhere, and we've got Skype ready to go to keep in touch. We're even leaving our cellphones home, in part to avoid the outrageous charges we racked up on our trip to France in 2008!

First, a Little Pre-Trip Trip to Chicago!

We had been toying with the idea of meeting Scott and Emily somewhere once Scott's school work was done in April, before he had to start work. Las Vegas seemed an obvious choice, but it's not like we hadn't been there quite a bit in the past few years. When the possibility of Chicago came up, I jumped at it. It's the most major U.S. city I've never been to, outside a few days for business and a wedding, all in the outer suburbs.

We were finally able to lock in a date, the weekend of April 23, for our trip. Scott found a good rate for a hotel from within Canada and airfares were very decent for us, under $200 RT.

Other than getting to visit a very cool city, the big draw for this trip is get Scott and Emily to ourselves for a few days to pepper them with so many questions that have been building up about what to expect in China, but especially Taiwan. We've been wondering about her family history, what will be expected of us during our stay with them, what we should bring as gifts, etc. etc. I'm not sure they're prepared for our onslaught!

There will be so much to see in Chicago, that we'll just scratch the surface, but what will be cool is to have two architects be our tours guides. They've been to Chicago before and apparently like it very much. The weather could be iffy, but as I like to say, "There's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing!" I've got on my tentative itinerary to see Millenium Park and The Bean (above), Hancock Tower (oh, do they have a cocktail lounge all the way up there?), architectural boat tour, Sunday brunch in a cool neighborhood, perhaps Andersonville, Chicago Art Institute, Wrigley Field, deep dish pizza and Chicago style hot dog, and Saturday dinner at John's old favorite, Gene and Georgetti's.

Ah, life's incomplete if I don't have a trip "in the bag!"

Guess Where We're Going This Year!

John and I are going to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong in September! That decision has evoked more excitement - and dread - than any other plans I’ve ever had to travel anywhere, or do just about anything, in my life. When the opportunity first presented itself, it was really a no-brainer. John’s son Scott is planning his marriage to Emily, whose family lives in Taiwan. We determined early on that it would be best if we not attend the wedding ceremony in Toronto. However, we learned that Emily’s parents would invite us as their guests to the bride and groom’s “homecoming reception” in Kaohsiung, Taiwan a week later. That is an invitation I would loathe to turn down. So since we would be “in the neighborhood” how could we not take advantage and visit neighboring China and Hong Kong?

I have been in a frenzy of trip planning since the decision was made to undertake this momentous journey. We decided that three weeks would be the minimum needed to do justice to all the things I've always wanted to see. Right now, it looks like we'll start in Beijing, and see the Great Wall, of course. Then on to Xi'an for the Terracotta Warriors, which has been on My List for a long time. After that, to the karst mountains of Guilin, or more specifically, Yanghuo, to float on the Li River and enjoy a country respite. The last stop in China will be Shanghai to soak in the modern vibe as well as the World's Fair going on at that time. We'll stay a few days in Kaohsiung, Taiwan's second-largest city, during which the bride and groom's homecoming will be celebrated in grand style! We've also just learned that we've been invited to join the family for several days in the mountains of central Taiwan at Sun Moon Lake, at the Lalu Resort, only five stars of luxury in a spectacular setting! WOW! Oh, not to forget, a night in Taipei on route to Hong Kong for the four last nights of our Asia epic adventure!

This isn't going to be an easy, relaxing vacation. The prospect of negotiating a country where so little of the communication will be understood, distances long and everything completely foreign is daunting. It's a lot to plan. But luckily, I love trip planning! I don't know how anyone ever pulled off a vacation without the internet to provide so much information, so many tips and tricks. Little by little, I will identify hotels and flights, restaurants and sights. I have to try to leave room for the unexpected too, which sometimes I'm not good with. That's going to be critical for a trip like this. Despite all the challenges, I am so excited for this opportunity!

Don't Fret About the Polls!

Really, that convention "bounce" they're all talking about, the Righties with the hardons for Sarah, the outrageous lies and protestations that anyone who questions Palin's record is being sexist... screw 'em all. We are so not going to lose this election:

OMG, What Are You Watching?!

My 13-year-old son was in the living room watching TV. I was horrified by what was on the screen.

"What are you watching?" I exclaimed shrilly. "Oh my god, turn that off!"

"Why, Mom?" he asked quizzically. "It's just guys talking!"

"No, no, no! You have to shut that off before it has a bad influence on you!"

He sheepishly grabbed the remote and pressed the Power button. I took a deep breath and sat down beside him.

"Son, you have to learn this life lesson sooner or later. You must never, never, ever do that again!"

"Do what, Mom?"

"Listen or watch Republicans speaking, especially at their convention!"

"But why, Mom?"

"They're nothing but a pack of liars, selfish bastards spewing evil, evil thoughts."

"But they were just talking about family values!"

"Oh, please! Their family values consist of telling other families that they're no good because they're not 'traditional' or 'normal.' They want privacy for their own transgressions, but want to stick their noses into everyone else's business. Let me explain the word 'hypocrite' to you."

"Oh Mom, please, can't I just go to bed now?"

"Well, we can just turn the channel. Let's see if The Sopranos or some other nice family entertainment is on."

Here's a hilarious video about how McCain choose Palin as his running mate:
http://barbinmd.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/2/204250/9437/820/583957

I've Got To Get All Political Now

I can't help it. I've been so wrapped up in the presidential campaign since the Democratic caucuses last February, even volunteering as a local convention delegate (three conventions!), knocking on doors and making phone calls. I am so passionate about getting the current administration and all their ilk out of all public offices. I cannot stomach what they have done to this country, on so many levels. Don't get me started!

So I'll just comment on today's latest outrage. Sarah Palin and her soon-to-be grandchild.

First off, in no way would I ever condemn or judge the poor child for what has occurred. She is a victim of the tsunami of publicity and harsh criticism that is coming her way and in no way deserves this. She had sex. I'm very sorry that it resulted in conception and hence such public turmoil.

But as for her mother... there are a few things I have to say (or read and agree with) about her and her nomination:

1. What kind of mother knowingly and deliberately thrusts her daughter into such a world-wide maelstrom of scrutiny by accepting the vice presidential nomination? What horrific selfishness!
2. The McCain people couldn't have known about the pregnancy. No way would she have been selected otherwise.
3. The party "base" who have all been praising the Palins for making the right choice are in their own way acknowledging there IS a choice. Sarah Palin wants to take this choice away. Hey, if having your teenager give birth works for you and your family, more power to you. It's an intensely personal decision and I won't begin to put myself in their shoes. However, I want all options available for my daughter should we ever find ourselves in a similar situation. The anti-abortion people base their opinion on their religious beliefs about the beginning of life. I do not subscribe to that theory and insist that I not be subject to their tenets.
4. Does anyone get the punchline of the "abstinence only" joke that is being held up to the light so well? It's a fact that it is more likely that teenagers who are taught "abstinence only" sex education get pregnant at a great rate than teenagers who are taught about sexuality and birth control. Sarah Palin and a whole lot of Republicans want this to be the standard in public schools. I am not in favor of these people procreating at such an alarming rate!
5. I wonder how much of a choice Bristol had anyway about whether to continue the pregnancy, moral issues aside. How available are women's health services in Alaska anyway? I'd love to know how many clinics are in or close to Vagisilla, AK (or whatever the hell town they come from.) Plus the fact, how easy would it be to get a condom or other birth control in a place where the pharmacist calls you by name?

At first, the Palin nomination seemed like a hilarious joke such as I saw in this new campaign sign:

I'm not laughing any more.

Pictures and Pie... and I?

I've submitted my credentials to take part in an interesting challenge; I'm going to submit a photo every day for the next year to a website called Pictures and Pie. It's a group of women (I think about 50 have signed up) who will have full license to submit just one picture a day, on any subject they wish. I think I could do that. I hope no one misreads the title and submits a picture of a pie every day. Maybe that should be my first subject:

Apple Pie?

or Pumpkin Pi?