Miss Celania

Latest passing interest of mine is a re-read and re-watch of the Joy Luck Club. I am also reading Amy Tan's "The Bonesetter's Daughter, which could possibly be even more sad at times than the JLC. But all has new meaning to me, so I googled Ms. Tan, and she has a very humorous website, and is even in a band. She did not win the Pulitzer Prize, and the only doctoral degrees she has are honorary as she states herself. Her urban legend info listed on
http://www.amytan.net/MythsAndLegends.aspx

is an amusing read!

She was also in a band
http://www.rockbottomremainders.com/home.htm

skippack pike grand victorian, citizen panda and a purple russian (your joke here !)

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Let the Shopping Begin !!!!!!!!!

As the wait continues (like sands through the hourglass, blah blah blah),

Veni Vidi Visa ( I came, I saw, I shopped) !

Ok, kids, here is the theme, white furniture, pastel colours everywhere,

especially pink and tints of "the color purple". Today is "tv and movie plagiarism day".

Also, in church today, the priest was speaking about the first Sunday of Advent, and he also said the phrase "the color purple" but in reference to vestments and definitely not nursery decor !

When Bruce reads this, he will just shake his head at my crazy adult ADD and semi sacrilegious ramblings! But, although there are not too many sure things in life, one is that I bet he is used to this by now !

So the room idea and the bedding etc below strikes my fancy, and , as they say in Pensacola, Scott, I am just gonna 'git er done". I could hem and haw and research 100's of possibilities, but that is NOT how I shop.

I got or learned this trait from Dad, just make a decision !there are a 1000 possible choices or answers, just give them an answer !

Go, Dad, thanks for that sage advice !!!

No waffle-ing and definitely no FLIP FLOPPING ! This is also an official NO Flip Flop Zone, Mr. Kerry !

end of politico statement, now a few photos from Thanksgiving, which I will add to my next post

River Of Dreams
By Billy Joel
CodesAndLyrics.com

90 things to do while waiting for your baby

This list was from a member of th MSN Adopting From China message board.


90
. Learn to say please and thank you in Child's language.
89
. Find the cities you will be traveling to on a map.
88
. Watch videos about Child's country - check at library.
87
. Little list: pocket dictionary, travel book, sketch book.
86
. Double check with employer about adding child to insurance policy.
85
. Library / appointment / shopping day.
84
. Distraction Day - Do something else - REALLY! Watch a movie, read a book, etc.
83
. Little List: Tylenol, Motrin, (adult and child) extra dropper, Benadryl, Tums, Metamucil
82
. Visit international grocery store - if available. (Get catalog, view website?)
81
. Free Day!!!
80
. Little List: Neck Pillow (for sleeping upright) door block, stain removal packets, sink stopper (flat circle)
79
. Work on current projects day.
78
. Library / appointment / shopping day.
77
. Distraction Day - Do something else - REALLY! Watch a movie, read a book, etc.
76
. Evaluate your shoes - are they good for walking? If getting new ones, make sure you break them in!
75
. Try to make at least one food your child may be eating.
74
. Little List: Stacking cups, toy mirror, travel Kleenex, toothache med, baby gas drops, rash cream, pacificiers
73
. Read/look through a cookbook from your child's country. Some have great photos!
72
. Find the hours, price and location of the nearest children's museum/zoo.
71
. Little list: flashlight, Swiss army knife, duct tape, sewing kit, eyeglass repair kit (backup glasses.)
70
. Work on current projects day.
69
. Get diaper Dooley and refills.
68
. Get Hepatitis shots
67
. Read/review developmental milestones for age of child.
66
. Library / appointment / shopping day.
65
. Get wills made or updated.
64
. Make laminated "adoption" card in Chinese, English and Pinyin explaining why you are in China.
63
. Arrange to get new $100 bills.
62
. Distraction Day - Do something else - REALLY! Watch a movie, read a book, etc.
61
. Get 2nd round of Hepatitis shots (30 days, check with Dr.)
60
. Make copies of tax returns
59
.

China News: def. not fair balanced and one should be afraid!

http://beijingobserver.blogspot.com/

http://lifeafterjiangxi.toughblogs.com/blog


I happened upon this site, through a site that had a list of china blogs
http://www.chinabloglist.org/index.php?filter=0&orderby=1

and the excerpt below is from http://www.jasonbarbacovi.com/


"Finally, I just found out that KFC just opened it's 164th store in Shanghai. Yes, you read that right, that's just in Shanghai. (There are apparently about 1,500 in China.) And you thought I was joking when I said that there were five different KFCs that I could get to in less than 10 minutes from my front door. But what makes this newest KFC the latest and greatest is that it has .... a drive-thru, the first one in Shanghai. I know, I know--will wonders never cease? The Chairman is no doubt spinning in his grave. Or at least he would be, if he wasn't in a glass coffin that was on display for tourists. But how freaky would it be if that did happen? Seriously freaky. But boy, would it make for a good blog entry ..."

http://www.zonaeuropa.com/20051017_1.htm

The story below is quite long, but should provide some real insight into the whole child abandonment issue: click the link... !

(October 17, 2005) The Death of a Hair Salon Girl In this week's Nanfang Weekend, the Shenzhou VI launch was overshadowed on the front page by a stunning story about a seemingly insigificant person. You can read a full translation of that story here. In her story are all the elements of the economics of poverty.

Many Years ago on Oahu...

North shore, Oahu,Hawaii

Kathy, remember we went there for almost 3 weeks, since we had a free place to stay. Then Lt. Commander Scott let us stay in his apartment which had a captivating view of a golf course and Pearl Harbor Memorial in the distance.

Many times over the past decade, we have both thought, "Why didn't we visit Maui on that trip. We could have flown over to that island and stayed over nite for $100 or so, a mere pittance now, seemed like too much, then, as we neared the end of our stay, i guess our $$$ were dwindling!

I think neither of us have been back to Hawaii since! That is Kathy in the long blue skirt, left side of photo.

new Year's 2004

Monique & I , 12/31/04, at Normandy Farms.

We were just reminiscing that we have known each other for 10 or 11 years now!

Time flies, and we always have fun!

Another Libra Birthday coming up Friday

www.onebag.com
Is this guy crazy? Obviously, he never needed to carry kid clothes, kid food , kid diapers, etc etc. in one carry on!

Anyway, Friday, 10/14/2005, took the day as a vacation day, because it really stinks working on your birthday!

We may go to the art museum, philamuseum.org
they have a photo exhibit and a few others that seem interesting!

Photos, Grace and I at the SPCA wine and beer tasting event, benny for the spca, adopt a dog program. the featured dog is Buckley, 8 yrs old.
More hilarious than me roughing it on the extremely soggy, muddy ground in my gold flats from Nordstrom, is my appearance at an event for pets !

More of China , circa 1994

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Pacific Princess 1994

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A blog a day, or is that a frog a day?

http://www.research-china.org
our AA sent us a form letter suggesting that starting a scrapbook would help pass the time to rrrrreferral day!. D'oh, quel rockette scientists! This blog is that scrapbook.

Anyway, photos of the frog prince rug i bought for mademoiselle's room, on sale @ $35 ($70 value ). and photos of the nieces being helpful !


_________________________________________
suggested reading for right wingers:

100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (And Al Franken Is #37) (Hardcover)by Bernard Goldberg "WHY DO SO MANY AMERICANS who ought to know better find the United States such a terrible place?..."

and : http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/archives.cgi

Not sure why this program is adding the photos twice, but now, Scott, there are 2 photos of you on my blog.

You can try to elude the camera, but "I will find you!"

Sorry the tiramisu wasn't as good as the one you make! But , happy retirement anyway!! I bet I know somebody down pensacola way who is taking a lot more weekend call than ever he did before!

that alone should make your day!



I think I would like to have a post baptism luncheon party at the William Penn, for la petite mademoiselle, since we got through this party without being banned from ever dining there again! And I didn't even send my food back for correction!

Finally, a voice of reason

One night in a restaurant whose name escapes us. One of our local haunts whose identity we cannot determine from the plant in background or the fabric of the banquette seating.

As I add to the blog, Bruce is on the other computer (yes we each have one, his doing, so I wouldn't mess up his organized 'desktop' and file system) practicing his Chinese language lesson. Listening to the pronounciation as dictated from somewhere in the computer ! Oi vei, c'est tres difficile, hear me now and believe me later, I can teach our daughter French, but will have to rely on the local FCC group for teaching her her native language!



September 9, 2005
The end of an evening dinner party at the William Penn Inn.
Bruce, possibly channeling Augustus Caesar . Fitting, since he can name nearly all of the caesers without faltering!


http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=8693

hi

hi from Bruce,

Where is my steak?
June wants to know, not if there is a KFC in China, (for sure) but if there is a Chick Fil A ...

mmmm. chick-fil-a. As Homer Simpson says, "remember kids, if it has a toothpick in it, its free !"

China finally knows we are out there !

Date: August 15, 2005
To: June &. Bruce

From: Amy , Dossier Coordinator
Re: Confirmed Dossier Logged in with CCAA. We are very happy to inform you that on 7/5/2005, your China documents have been officially logged in with CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs). Your dossier will first be translated and forwarded to the Registration Department where an initial review of the documents is performed. This process can take 2-4 months. The next step in the process is for your dossier to go to Department One where the documents are more closely scrutinized for their content. This part can also take approximately 2-4 months. After leaving Department One, your dossier goes is Department Two, the Matching Room. The Matching Room is the department where you will be matched with a child referral. The officials use the information in your dossier and your family letter to match you with a child. Once the referral information is forwarded to our office and reviewed, we will call you with the news of your assignment.Currently, the issuance of child assignments has been taking approximately 6 to 7 months - from the time that your dossier is logged in with CCAA to the assignment of a childOnce a child is assigned we will contact you by telephone the day it is received in our office. Once you have accepted the referral, we express-mail your written acceptance to China. Following the receipt of your acceptance, the Chinese government will prepare the final paperwork for the adoption and forward it to the province where the child lives. In parallel, travel permission will be forwarded to La Vida. The final paperwork process should take approximately 4 to 6 weeks, during which time we will be making very tentative travel plans. As soon as we receive your travel permission, we contact the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China to request an appointment for your family. Upon receipt of a confirmed appointment, we will notify you (with a tentative itinerary) and complete the details of your trip. We make every effort to have you in China as quickly as possible given all current constraints and timing issues. This typically occurs within 3-4 weeks of receipt of travel permission, however, we ask that you understand that final schedules are not within our total control.In the mean time, please make sure that you have valid passports for travel. Your passports must be valid a minimum of six months after your estimated travel time (currently your estimated time of travel is approximately 7 to 8 months from your login date). When you receive your child assignment, we will also send you a visa application along with instructions for applying for your Chinese visa and other important information. Near the time that we expect to receive your child assignment, you will also be sent a comprehensive packet of travel preparation materials and an invitation to attend a group travel preparation meeting to help you better prepare for your exciting trip. We hope that you will be able to attend this meeting because we know that it will be very informative and you will enjoy the meeting. You will have the opportunity to meet other travelers and learn what to expect during your trip. By then, we will have a better estimate of the time schedule for you.We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to your family. Please do not hesitate to contact us whenever we may be of service.

Cape May NJ July 2005

This is the B and B at which we stayed this past July. Supposedly haunted, by a ghost named Esmeralda.

The house was great, the ghost frequents the Turret Room, and we stayed in one of the other suites, so we had no sighting of Esme !

The paint on the front porch, especially the newel posts, needs some TLC, but everything else was spot on!

Ship Manifest, Princesz Irene,Grandfather Vincent Trezza's "Cruise Ship" !

http://www.china.org.cn/english/index.htm

http://www.china.org.cn/english/847.htm
(the above is a link to the "online confucious institute" which professes to teach one Chinese online.


hăi dĭ lāo zhēn
【 海 底 捞 针 】
Fish for a needle in the ocean; search for a pin in a haystack

Popular words & phrases:
wăng luò chōng làng
网 络 冲 浪
Surfing the net; net surfing
wăng shàng gòu wù
网 上 购 物
Online shopping
xu nǐ xiàn shí
虚 拟 现 实
Virtual reality

and most important, how to read the Chinese menu (or to paraphrase warren zevon, drinking a pina colada at Trader Vics,

I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand, Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain



liáng bàn qié ní
凉 拌 茄 泥
Mashed eggplant in sauce
táng cù lĭ yú
糖 醋 鲤 鱼
Carp in sweet and sour sauce
yú xiāng ròu sī
鱼 香 肉 丝
Fish-flavored shredded pork
qīng zhēng páng xiè
清 蒸 螃 蟹
Steamed crabs
má pó dòu fu
麻 婆 豆 腐
Stir-fired bean curd in spicy sauce
tiĕ băn niú liǔ
铁 板 牛 柳
Beef with ginger and scallions on a hot plate

_____________
I think learning Chinese will be a huge challenge!
http://www.china.org.cn/e-learning/35/poetry.htm (web site with music, cool !)

Captain June speaks her mind (as always)!

Scott, you are a great American !

And You too, Sean !

http://www.hannity.com

http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/

http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/

Go, Dubya, Go !!!

Bruce & June on the Grand Canal

Two young Republicans in Venice !

So much to see here, got roped into the requisite guided tour of the Murano glass factory and taken to the SHOWROOM where Marcello or Massimo or whomever, stuck like glue,hoping we would buy a chandelier for 25,000 Euros.
We settled for two garnet and gold coloured wine glasses in custom satin lined box for E250 .

C'est la vie en La Serenissima !

La Bocca della Verita

Rome, May 2003
Roman Honeymoon, stayed at the Hotel Imperiale, Via Barberini, just off Via Veneto, great location, saw Pope John Paul II, had an 'audience' with him and thousands of our closest friends !

Two plus years later, we await the adoption of our daughter from China! Still 6 to 8 months away.