"Scrooge” Christmas?

Our family is frighteningly small.  I mean tiny…super tiny.

My parents were never particularly close to their siblings, so we were never close to our cousins. When we moved to California what little contact we had was gone. Our Aunts and Uncles came out every once in awhile, but we pretty much were on our own.

When we moved to Texas, our tiny family became even more isolated.  Mom, Dad, Mair, Stew and Bill in LA, me, Corey, the kids and Corey’s parents with us in TX. To overcome the divide, Christmas became opulent.  We showed our love for each other and how much we missed each other through gifts.

Fast forward through the years, a move to Seattle, the loss of all of the elders of the family, my brother wandering off into his alcoholism…and we became even more compact.

Toss a move to Hong Kong into the mix and now Christmas became exponentially large.  The living room floor groaned under the weight of gifts…it took hours to open.  Each person opened one gift at a time…we all paid attention, reveling in our togetherness that shortly would end.

SO…after Christmas 2014, after Merry Mosas were consumed, after breakfast was served, and all the wrapping paper tossed...we looked around...loved everything we saw...but my sister had an idea.

How about instead of the mounds and mounds of gifts...we do experiences.  Change it up.

How about Christmas on Maui?  Corey and I would take our condo for December...Mair would get the condo next door...and Kari and Kirk could share a unit in the complex.

Kirk and Skyler decided to go to Los Angeles to be with her family...hard but acceptable since, well...Skyler HAS family.  And yes....she is allowed to see them at Christmas sine she'd been away for a few years.

Christmas 2015 WAS a change!  We decided it would be the trip and stockings only.

Corey had a tough time with it...called it "Scrooge Christmas" and bent the rules by buying a nice gift for every stocking.

While it WAS a new way to celebrate....we still had Maui err Merry Mosas...we just had them with 75 degree tropical breezes and a stint by the pool before dinner was cooked.

Fast forward one year...and hear we go.  All things have changed. AGAIN.  Corey and I are living on Maui now...the kids have even less vacation...and Corey and I are both working, in retail, so long leisurely holidays have ended .  It't the busiest two weeks of the year...too tough to be gone.

This year we are continuing with the "scrooge" Christmas if you really want to still say that.  (It didn't feel scroogy to me last year!).

This year we agreed to exchange names.   We all joined a website www.drawnames.com   The Website takes care of pulling names for Secret Santa.  The spend limit is $100.00  (not including shipping).

We will all meet in Los Angeles at my sister's house.  We won't see each other for very long, but I"m happy we will all be together again.

Mary Ann has even devised a way to keep the stockings secret until Christmas Day!  We are all in to this!

I gotta tell ya.  WHAT A RELIEF.  We focus our efforts on one person...ridiculous amounts of money are not being spent...and we get to see and enjoy each other.

Merry Mosas will still be had...good food will still be had. Togetherness will still be had.  All of this without the running and dashing and spending to spend.

I'm looking forward to it.

Not sure this will be how we do Christmas forever...but we learned last year changing traditions is NOT terrible.  We even liked it....just a little bit.

Tourists? Locusts? People…

Chinese New Year (CNY) is upon us.

You can tell this because of how the city transforms itself.  Smoothly transitioning from (sometimes crazy) Christmas decorations to bright reds and glimmering golds.  Showcasing the creature that we are in the “Year” of.

The creature this year has brought much consternation and discussion among the Non-Chinese. 

Is it the Year of The Goat?  The Year of The Ram?  The Year of The Sheep?  The answer is “Yes”

It depends who you ask, where you look, what page from Google you click on. From what I can tell, this is the year of a “horned” thing…but NOT Ox.  In OUR house, this is the “Year of Kari”  She’s been waiting…she is waiting for her birth-year’s place on the window sill with the other gold figurines we have collected. (each figurine represents a year in Hong Kong for us…if only I had done this with my LINKS bracelet)

I digress.

CNY brings HOARDES and I mean HOARDES of people to Hong Kong.  The celebration is about one month long.  EVERYONE in China has this time (or part of it) off.  Many travel back to their homes and villages, and with China being HUGE…this can take awhile.

However, now that it is very common for Chinese to travel…Hong Kong is a pretty popular destination. 

This is not really new…Chinese Tourism to Hong Kong has been on the upswing for years.  This has caused much debate, distaste, distress to those who live and work here.  See…Hong Kong is pretty packed as it is…add tons more people…and well, our orderly life gets interrupted.

I’m going to list some of those interruptions…and when I do…because I’ve been thinking about this…we all pretty much seem like a whiny bunch of spoiled brats…and we are.  We want these people gone from “our” city (seriously…OUR city?).  NOW…also let it be said that I am writing from personal experience and thoughts…

We have to wait longer for trains.  The transport system here is one of the best in the world.  It is clean. somewhat orderly (except when you can’t get off the train b/c people are jamming on – which is a year long event…not tied to these two weeks) efficient, reliable, timely.  Boo Hoo…we have to wait 3 min to the next train?  WAHHHHHHH

We have to be more vigilant of our handbags and safety:  - With crowds brings opportunists. Tourists are known targets…and because it is drilled into us that Hong Kong is SO safe…we ourselves might get a bit lax in taking care of our stuff.  Thefts will soar these next few weeks…and I doubt seriously it is Mainlanders doing the thieving…   I get a bit careless…and after a couple of reports these last few weeks, I am watching…and zipping my bags…and putting my wallet in the “middle” of the bag…not on top… Shouldn’t we just be smarter anyway?

We have to wait longer in line at Starbucks. Ok…I will admit it…I was a tad annoyed this morning when the family of six was ordering their pastries and  I really could not make my away around them to the counter.  Since this was BC (before coffee) I had my moment.  Then I calmed.  (This is what got me thinking about this subject).  I got my coffee…moved myself away from what I was SURE would be unruly children (they weren’t). 

We have to Dodge Duck Dip Dive and Dodge as we walk down the street: As a rule, Hong Kongers don’t walk well…at all.  It is every man/woman for themselves.  Heads down, watching a video, playing IPhone Mahjong, serpentining their way through life.  Some days we are in the mood to move…some days we are not.  These next couple of weeks we tend to “not” be in the mood, especially with the added traffic.  Take your eyes off of your own phone…you will be happier for it.

Waiting in line as “they” check out at the stores:  Once again, it comes down to the “waiting”  We are all in such a G/D hurry…all the time…we can not fathom having people in front of us.  NOW…what tends to get us all crazy is the queue jumping…and I’m with you on that…THAT one (also a year long event) gets me nuts at this time of year. That one I don’t tolerate…

WHAT COULD THEY BE BUYING? 

And THERE it is.  This is what grabbed me today…really got me and I’m hoping that it will carry me through the next two weeks.

EVERYTHING.

Hong Kongers tend to call these tourists Locusts.  I’ve read it, I’ve seen it depicted in a child’s art show (locusts sitting on houses in the New Territories – drawn by a 15 year old boy); I’ve heard fellow ExPats say it.

Why do they do it?  WHY are they HERE buying EVERYTHING. Why are they lining up on Canton Road to get into LV, Hermes, Coach?  Why has baby formula been limited to two tins per traveler? 

BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE:

They cannot trust the purity of their food.

They cannot trust the purity of their beauty products.

They cannot trust the authenticity of their glamour goods .

They cannot (do not) trust their government to handle the above.

Wow…Not sure anyone is still here…reading b/c that was a long time to get to this point : We live a charmed life…really charmed.  The freedoms afforded us are endless…fought for by brave men and women.

MOST of the time…we don’t give the first three things a thought…I mean…bad things happen, but tainted food is jumped on pretty quickly…and as to the governments… Right now I’m not a fan of either side of the aisle in the US Government…but…I’d much rather THEM be my government than the one those visiting Hong Kong over the next couple of weeks have to endure.   I’m sure most of my ExPat friends from where ever they are will say the same thing.

Next time you see the term “locust” or even want to use it…think about the above?  They are just moving through their lives, seeing something new.  Taking advantage of Hong Kong’s plusses.    These people also spend a TON of money here…I mean…that has GOT to be good right?

SO…I’m going to try to stay calm…travel on slightly off peak times…and maybe try to catch the eye of someone I’m passing…smile…then jump out of the way as they veer into me.

Technorati Tags: Chinese New Year,Hong Kong,Starbucks,Year of the Ram

Technorati Tags: Year of the Goat,Year of the Sheep

Getting “Fit” My body does NOT like it

 

Corey loves to hike.  This is not a secret.  His lungs are strong.  His legs are stronger. He also has been working diligently over the past 2 1/2 years to remove his weight.  His hard work has been rewarded with low heart rates, normal cholesterol and a half empty closet because nothing fits anymore!

I do not like to hike.  The thought of it makes me anxious, angry, and pretty much impossible to be around. I do not have strong legs, I do not have strong lungs…(at least my cholesterol is fine.  )

So WHY do it?  I want to be with Corey.  Like Scuba Diving, this is something we can do together.  However, I LOVE scuba diving (falling off a boat, floating, descending, ascending…not hard…not hard at all)

Over the past 2 years we have been hiking in Hong Kong and we are three stages from finishing every “formal” trail. 

Over the past 2 years I have hyperventilated on every trail.  I have bitched, moaned, cried, yelled (yes…there was that one temper fit), and basically been a real pain in the ass.

SO…after last hiking season…I decided that if I was going to continue to hike, I had better do something about my overall fitness level. Being at a healthy weight does NOT mean you are a healthy person.  It does not mean you are fit.

So starting in May, I have worked pretty darn hard to get some fitness back into my life. 

For the first two months I was working out…and “sort” of journaling my food. While I saw some improvement in my heart rate…my weight barely moved.

Then I went back to Hawaii for a few weeks.  In Hawaii I was able to attend Weight Watchers meeting regularly.  

ACCOUNTABILITY.  What a concept.  For the first time in a LONG time…my weight moved…every week…down…for five meetings.  There was even that one day Corey had our car…so I walked 8 km to the meeting (I did end up going the very long way and coming home a much shorter way…but still…) I was committed.

Coming back to Hong Kong those days were over.  I took a good look at HOW I was tracking my food.  Every day I was writing down my food…but then, I would turn the page, and move on. 

After one person took a look…she said “do you KNOW what vegetables are?  SO…while I was (sort of) eating in my points range…I was not eating “”well”

I designed my own tracker in excel.  I can see my whole week in one glance…looking at my week this way let me see if my “five fruits and veg” requirement was not really happening. 

It is an eye opening experience. 

After 14 years of working and working for Weight Watchers…it is still a challenge…I want to “get away” with things.  I want my wine and drink it too. Alas, I don’t’ think that strategy will work anymore.

I got through the Holidays unscathed.  I left Hong Kong at one weight…and came back the exact same weight.  I will take it!

But now…now I want to move forward.  There is still weight to remove and fitness to improve. 

My body is fighting me…my brain is fighting.  I took a really good look at my food diary vs. my activity…and they are NOT offsetting each other.  I am earning between 8 – 10 Activity Points a day…and my weight is pretty much stuck right now.

That tells me that I can not play loose and fast with my tracking.  I can not play loose and fast with my points.  My allotment is 26 points a day…and supposedly…49 extra points a week.  I really think I am getting to the point where I can’t use all 49 and lose weight.  SIGH. 

Fitness IS one thing.  Weight IS another thing.  However…I have to think that hiking will be easier with less weight on me.  the less of me there is…the less of me there is to haul over a mountain (or up steps…or down a hill).

So my goal is to track even more diligently.  My goal is to use my points wisely.  My goal is to stick as close to 26 as possible and see…if this moves me off of this weight.

It’s back to basics…just like 14 years ago. 

Technorati Tags: Weight Watchers,trakking,Hiking,Fitness,Fitbit,Activity Points

January 6 2015

I’ve done my writing for the day…twice.  Finished an article for the AWAre magazine…and finished up a blog post from March.

But do you want to know what I hate…I went to work on another Blog Post…with a catchy title…I’m sure I had all intensions of it being pretty darn funny… (well….I would have found it funny) and I ended the post with

“So here’s the thing”…

AND I DON’T REMEMBER WHAT THE “THING” WAS!

Sigh.

Lesson learned!

I am realizing…

As my project continues, that my writing is going to take various forms.  Todays’ exercise was to finish an article for the AWAre magazine.  I worked for 30 minutes…quietly and somewhat focused.

My goal is to maybe write a blurb about my days…but also catch up on my travel writing.  THIS is a task that while I let it get away from me….got larger and larger and thus, more daunting.

I will persevere.

So…my storyboard had to say “FIRST” thing?

I have gotten into this “nap” a bit in the evening habit…and then am awake until late. This does NOT help someone who sleeps badly anyway.

Corey has been researching giving “micro-loans” to people all over the world and was up late doing that.

I got Corey sick.  We had full intentions of hiking today…but with his very late night, and now the cold, and MY late night…I actually stayed in bed today until 9…hoping it will turn the tide and almost get me into a normal pattern.

It’s Saturday night in the US.  First day of NFL Playoffs.  For the first time in two years the Steelers are IN.

I wake up, realize it’s time for kick off, turn on the computer, make coffee…go to turn on our Slingbox and ….

STOP

You said you would write 15 min a day.  This is a “lesson in discipline” 

So I unhook all the wires (we use my computer for the Slingbox mostly)…come to my spot. I set the timer.

Sigh.  The game will still be there.

Yesterday was one of “those” days in Hong Kong.  It was cooler, bright, just perfect.

Corey and I had lunch at the Metropolitan Café (they have good lettuce and a decent salad bar) then we walked past LegCo.  Corey had not seen the “layout” of Occupy Hong Kong. 

The waterfront walk between Wanchai and Central is just gorgeous.  I brought my camera with me for the day…an am so glad I did. 

 

I’m rusty.  Maybe another “discipline” after I get this one down is to shoot more.  So much of my camera I still rely on “auto”  No sometimes I realize you just want to take a picture…but I’m also kind of sick of the “spray and pray” habit I’ve developed.  It leads to disappointment.

AIA Insurance is hosting a very fun carnival.  Mostly for kids…but we had fun walking around .  It wasn’t a bad deal.  125 HKD gets you in with 10 tokens…and each token is worth 10 HKD. 

c

Christmas was the early theme…but since it goes to February, I’m sure it will switch.

Pictures, games, it was very fun.

Corey is a killer at a dart game.

And went on to give some away.

We got out before the crowds got crazy…Ferry ride home.  Light workout.  Salmon.  (nap)

A lovely day.

And now….

#herewego

My Quest for 2015 - Jan 3

 

Resolutions are for the birds…but why should we strap birds down with such baggage (except maybe Eagles…Eagles can carry a lot of weight)…

HOWEVER…I do know the power of having a goal.  A very specific goal. 

Having small, attainable, specific goals is how I removed my weight and it is how I encouraged others to lose theirs. 

For example…right now…when I ask this question:

“Raise your hand if, you want to remove some weight”

I am betting many of your hands just went up. 

The next question to ask is…

“Raise your hand if you have a plan to get that weight off”

Ummm, are the same amount of hands still up?  I’m betting not. 

That old saying “You don’t plan to fail, you fail to plan”…  Well, it’s true.

Without a specific plan, with specific goals, things just don’t happen.  It sounds like a good idea to lose weight.  You know you want to do it…but you blink…and then it’s Thursday, and you figure…”Eh, I will start Monday” And then months and possibly years go by. 

TRUST ME!  I’m a master at this.

Writing down the goal…and then the steps to get there is a wonderful way to achieve….well, anything.

In Weight Watchers the tool was “Storyboarding” and it was one of my very favorite meetings (next to The Paper Plate meeting…NOTHING is better than The Paper Plate meeting)

SO…I bet some of you are thinking…”Well, Kate has put some weight back on and she is going to Storyboard her way back to goal”

WRONG

This is not about weight…this time. 

My goal for 2015:

WRITE EVERY DAY

I’ve been past neglectful of this blog.  I’ve been past neglectful of documenting my experiences beyond my pictures. (Just backed them up last night, over 25,000 images with two cameras in 3 years).  I rarely can remember what I had for lunch…do I really think I will remember the nuances of a trip I took last year? 

I’m not egotistical enough to think my kids or friends or family will jump to read it.  However, I come from a tiny tiny family.  Seriously.  SMALL.  I know little to nothing about my relatives and our history.  Maybe one day, someone will find it.  Maybe not.

I will sit down, and write, uninterrupted for a minimum of 15 minutes.  EVERY DAY.

It might be drivel.  But it will be an exercise in discipline.  Will every day happen?  Fingers Crossed. 

WHAT’S THE PLAN?

I don’t know how to do flow charts and such…and I just spent 20 minutes putting one together…just to struggle pasting it here…SO…please trust there IS a flow chart… and here is what it says (I will print it)

GOAL – WRITE 15 MINUTES EVERY DAY >> do not open internet >> do not make phone calls >> make coffee >> turn on computer >> wake up.

Now, there are  some days I am out early early…but here is the game plan…here is the strategy.

Let the games begin.

(by the way…this took 50 minutes…I’ll get better and I figure that almost covers Jan 1 and Jan 2!

“Seeing” Hong Kong thru the eyes of the sight impaired

 

Once again I was offered an opportunity to participate in an activity that, while not unique (due to its availability in other cities), was definitely off the radar, yet life changing, and excuse this…eye opening.

One of my volunteer opportunities is Reading for the Blind.  My group is responsible for clipping news articles from periodicals for a two week period, then reading them in a recording booth. The readings are transferred to tapes, so the sight impaired of Hong Kong can check out tapes and hear news and, well, English.  I love doing it.  I am always amazed as I walk through the facility how many sight-impaired workers are there…doing office work, dealing with computers…just day to day stuff millions do around the world…but most of those millions CAN SEE.  I thought by going to the Hong Kong Society for the Blind I had a clue as to what went on with a sight impaired person…nope, not one inkling.

SO…the opportunity afforded to me (us, I went with a group) was to experience Hong Kong as a sight impaired person would experience Hong Kong.

We journeyed to Mei Foo…one of the stops on the Tsuen Wan line of the MTR (our subway). I take the MTR most days and don’t think twice about it. Buzz myself in with my Octopus card, go downstairs to my train (left is to one set of locations, right to another)  Get on, watch for the stop, get off. 

We walked over to The Household Centre ( a shopping mall of course) and took the escalators to our destination.  For those that needed the restrooms, off we went…those that wanted water at the SUPER HUGE Park ‘N Shop, yep, scattered to reconvene a few minutes later.

Travel.  Walking to destinations. Restrooms.  Supermarkets.  Just things that happen.  Just things we do.  In 90 minutes, my perception of all of that would change!.

We are met and briefed.  We are told to stow our belongings in a locker…NO PHONES!   Nothing that illuminates (watches, etc.).  NO glasses.  You won’t need them (total darkness) and I guess there might be a falling issue. We are shown how to hold a walking cane (you hold it like a pen??).  We are broken into two groups.  My group has 5 individuals, the other 4. 

We are moved into an area that is shrouded with curtains, I think to get us used to the darkness to come.  We are told to stand with our backs to the wall…and somehow, I end up as the last person (Matthew, the brilliant, personable twenty-something Pastor moved right to the front.  Oh the confidence of youth!).  We are told that when our guide is ready, she or he will turn on a green light, and we will enter the exhibition.

I have to tell you, I am getting anxious…like really anxious.  I figure this has to be a safe environment…I mean if the guests were hurt constantly, how would this place stay in business?

SO…on goes the green light, and we file into a dark room.  When I mean dark…well, DARK.  PITCH black.  We were told to keep our eyes closed as much as possible so when we exit the tour, our eyes won’t need as much time adjusting…but I would vary from opening to closing my eyes trying to get a glimpse of light.  Yea, there wasn’t a lick!

I was behind Eileen.  Eileen is a good egg.  I did apologize in advance for any random touches, grabs, etc. that might happen. Believe me…it happened!

Our first moments were to just get acclimated to the dark.  Eyes open?  Eyes closed?  It just didn’t matter…dark is dark.

Our first steps get us used to changing elevations.  They aren’t great changes…I am talking cement to grass…and back.  I’ve decided that tiny steps and shuffling is a pretty safe way to go.

Without leaving the floor of this warehouse, our guide has us move through different parts of “Hong Kong”  We cross a bridge, we cross a road (trying to get across before the light changes and the onslaught of waiting passenger cars and taxis hits us. Our ears are our allies.  The changing tones of the chimes as we cross the street lets us know the timing involved.  While I know I will not be smashed, I am still quite anxious.

We were instructed to bring a little bit of cash so when we stop at a store, we could buy refreshments.  We were told the menu (water, juice, milk, iced coffee) then ordered and offered change. I had a $20 bill carefully folded in my buttoned pocket. My water was $10 HKD,. I handed over my $20 and  I knew I got correct change since a $10 HKD bill is very distinct (small and plastic)…but it got me thinking…in the US…all bills are the same size…how DO the site impaired know?? They have to rely on the honesty of others for the correct change…and I’m guessing that does not always happen.

Our fingers move over products that are in barrels, feeling the goods that are for sale.  The store here was a general hardware type …buckets, mops, sponges.  The are large and obvious for a reason, but of course, that would never always be the case.

The next challenge sounded so simple…find a seat in a theater for a concert.  However, we were not prepped as to the seat arrangements. How many rows were there…how many seats in that row…was there someone else IN the seat?  I only tripped twice and sat on someone once before I kind of stumbled into a chair. Luckily the chairs did not move, or I would have been on floor.

Truly listening to music in the dark is a pretty amazing experience.  With nothing to distract you, the music is 100% of the focus.  Instead of watching performers, your mind has a chance to paint its’ own picture of what you are hearing.  I do not know the name of the piece we heard…but it reminded me of space travel.  It was great.

Soon enough we were making our way to the end of the tour.  We were escorted out and told one of the guides would come and speak with us and answer questions when the 2nd group was done.

In the mean time…we were given the opportunity to try our hand at braille writing.  Each letter of the alphabet has a series of bumps attached to it…as do numbers.  You read it from left to right…of course…but here’s a thing…you WRITE it right to left…backwards…so when you flip the page over it reads properly (think mirror).  HOLY HECK!  It took forever to write my name…let alone a paper, or a test.  WOW. 

When our 2nd group returned, their guide was escorted in.  She was a lovely young lady.  Born in China, brought to Hong Kong at age 9 or so to go to school.  She lost her sight very young…and was just kept at home while her sisters went to school.  Hong Kong gave her the opportunity to go to school. 

The BEST BEST BEST part of the entire day is Eileen (remember Eileen?  I apologized to her early on for the probable groping that would happen!)…She taught this young lady years ago at Ebenezer School and Home for the visually impaired  here in Hong Kong.  The minute Eileen tried to re-introduce herself, the young girl knew exactly who Eileen was and got up to give her a big hug.

It was such a lovely moment and what a statement to what the school does for students.  This young lady was educated there.  She left and went to a main stream school in Sha Tin and now has worked for Dialog in the Dark in other cities. 

It brought the whole thing full circle for all of us I think. 

To this day I look at the tracks on the ground and listen to the bells as I cross the street and know how lucky I am…and again to take opportunities as they are opened to me.

Dodgers Down Under

 

                          

Over and over and, well, over,  I am amazed at the opportunities I have.  This last one brought some Americana our way…via Australia.

I miss sports.  I miss sports A LOT! I got in the habit of watching ESPN and Sports Center because there doesn’t tend to be much  BAD news there (except if your team is having a season like the Steelers had this past year).  I’ve never really gotten used to watching College football on Sunday, Pro Football on Monday AND drinking coffee during those games ! 

Low and behold, the Dodgers announce they will be “opening” their season against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Sydney!  I mentioned to Corey that we should think about going…after all…Sydney is a mere 9 hours away!  A hop for us compared to those coming from the US for the game…well, mentioned probably is the wrong word…let’s just say I brought it up …repeatedly…you know, JUST in case he happened to have a trip into Australia that … week. 

My mentions (wishing, urging) stuck in Corey’s head…and yes, the trip was a few days before the games were to be played.  He moved heaven and earth to have me go with him from Tuesday – Sunday, but tight flights and my schedule had me going into Sydney on Thursday night.  Corey secured the tickets …airline and game…we were set.  (What a guy!)

Major League Baseball claims they wanted to help expand baseball in Australia.  It had been 100 years since Professional American Baseball had been played there. Others have theories of MLB going to Australia to expand a fan base, a fan base that would buy merchandise (oh boy…was that part right!).

The games were to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). It is a BEAUTIFUL cricket ground with history and holds upwards of 70,000 people.  Some of it reminded me of the Ironwork around The Ballpark at Arlington (my favorite park)

A cricket field is a pitch. A Cricket Pitch is HUGE!  WAY bigger than a baseball field, so getting this particular field ready was a Herculean effort.  50,000 TONS of sand was brought in from San Diego to make the infield and fill Center Field.  Fences were erected, measurements to somewhat equal a big league ballpark.  Tarps were dropped over seats in “center field” so the batters would not be distracted.  It took 16 days to pull this off!  LORD only knows the money!  Four games were scheduled…two against Team Australia and then the Major League Openers.

Herculean efforts brought Herculean ticket prices:

The tickets were very dear!  There is very little need for a currency converter here…the AUD is just about even with the USD. So, yep…you wanna SEE baseball?  You’re gonna PAY to see baseball.

Traffic was a nightmare…is that the way everywhere?

We ended up walking in.  It was a good night for it!

Corey was met right away with a few Dodger friends.  WHAT a picture opportunity!

They were so nice to stand by while he posed.

I loved that the ushers and attendants did not keep fans away from the field (pitch) during batting practice.  There was no pretense of “these are not your seats”.  There were tons of us down at the rail (or as close as we could get) snapping pictures, hoping for an autograph.

MY best spot of the night was this one:

a small glimpse of Vin Scully in the broadcast booth!

Some fans got souvenirs.  Most of us settled for being close to the field and grabbing some decent pictures.

It was a perfect night. 

All too soon it was time to head to our seats, hear the anthems and Play Ball!

The Dodgers were playing the Diamondbacks.  So we got to see Kirk Gibson (who was the inspiration for our Kirks naming)

                               

Corey and I had a great time…the Dodgers won! 

AND…nice people took our pictures! 

You know how your mom ALWAYS told you NOT to talk to strangers…

(this could also be called “Almost Shanghaied in Shanghai!

Most of what I have written is about my travels…and most of my travels have been in China.

As a blonde (cough cough) traveller in Asia…I experience what to the Westerners seems odd…but once you consider whence it comes…you learn to accept it.  Now, my brunette and red-headed friends have also been approached…but blondes…well “us” blondes seem to get the most attention.

People want to take their pictures with us.  A LOT.  This tends to happen most in more remote areas of Asia…and when I say Asia…I really mean China.

The Chinese have really just started to travel in the last few years…so coming from remote areas to the “big city” affords them to see things they just don’t normally see…and when I say “things they don’t normally see” I mean fair people…and by fair people I really mean blondes. 

What I know about the gene pool can fill a thimble…but I do know that Asian genes are dominate…and with 1.3 billion dominate people…blonde just is NOT going to sprout….ever.

SO…now they are traveling,..and blonde haired people just stop them in their tracks. 

The first time I really was aware of this was Chengdu.  The ladies I traveled with were inside shopping…the sales clerk had irked me so I left.  I was standing on the sidewalk waiting when a little girl came around the corner slightly ahead of her grandfather.  She saw me and she stopped in her tracks.  STOPPED DEAD.  She turned back to Grandpa…and thankfully, for my self esteem at least, she did not burst into tears. He bent down to her…whispered in her ear…and THEN she turned to me and gave me the slightest wave.

I really think I was the first fair-haired person she had ever seen.

Friends have told me about being stopped for pictures.  It happened to me in Beijing and Harbin…in Harbin I could have charged!  I literally had to step away or risk losing the tour group.

The other crazy time I’ve ever seen with Chinese Nationals being enthralled by blondes was in Jiuzhaigou and Chengdu (the second time).  Most of our group was blonde:

This is literally my favorite pic of the trip!

…but Becky Wong was approached relentlessly.  She was a good egg and took many pics…smiled her beautiful smile, and took it all in stride.

SO…what’s this all got to do with our title?

Fast forward to Shanghai.  Now…this city gets LOTS of tourists…cruise ships…so tons of westerners and tourists from inside the country.

I like to travel with Corey.  I like to travel with Corey which means I get to tour alone most of the time.  I can do whatever I want…go when I want…come back when I want…selfish maybe…but it just works!

Today I decided to take a walk on the Bund (I will write about this another time) and take a river cruise. 

There were 15 of us on a boat that held 100’s.  I was the only blonde…hell, I was the only westerner. 

It was windy and cold (not Harbin cold…but the wind chill was impressive).  I stayed outside the entire time…hoping to capture “that” shot of Shanghai

 

Yea…that didn’t happen…sigh

So we cruised for 50 min…and at the very end I was approached by a young couple who wanted to take a pic with me.  I obliged.  Two snaps…off I went…they took TONS of other pics…I didn’t think anything of it.

My other goal today was to walk the Bund.  ALL OF IT.  Well, I thought it was longer than it was b/c my Active Link is being STUPID (it’s telling the truth)…and I only earned 3 activity points so far…

As I walked…I was approached by a young lady who wanted me to take a picture of her w/Mao.  “Make SURE you get the statue”  Ok…whatever…

(here he is)

After I took the picture…she starts to chat me up…Also not super new b/c students like to practice their English.  She goes on and on…and I chat back…I’m from HK…here for 5 days…nothing terrible.  She talks about how her friend has not time for her b/c she is working and she is from Harbin (I’ve been there!)…She asks what I am doing today (meeting my husband LIE).  She asks what I have planned (lunch with husband LIE) Then she tells me she has made a reservation for a tea ceremony and would I like to go? “Come with me”…and goes to take my arm. 

SEE ABOVE NOTE.  I like to be alone…and well, seriously…I’m going to follow a stranger in SHANGHAI (have you NEVER seen a Bonanza or Big Valley episode people…they barely got Nick back alive!)? I don’t’ think so.

I decline…move away…off I go.  About 30 minutes later (still walking stupid active link…) and I am approached again by another young couple.  Yes, I will take a picture with them.  He asks me where I am from…do I speak Cantonese (no…)and the girl goes…I kid you not…”What are you doing…we are going to a tea ceremony.  Come with us" 

HUH?  I’ve lived in HK 3 years and I’ve not been invited to tea EVER…let alone a tea ceremony in a new place…let alone twice in 30 minutes.  I decline and move on.

I finish the walk…start making my way back to my hotel.  I am stopped one last time by an older couple and yes…I will take a pic…he flashed the “peace” sign…and thank me and off they go.

SO…I walk along and walk some more… stop in to see if the tunnel from this side to the other is work 70 Mao's to use…I see a curious sign about not believing “tour guides” and the “coMsumption trap”…and my mind starts to work overtime.  What is WITH all of these invitations? 

I get back to our beautiful room with a view, download my pics (sigh again…just nothing great today)….Well…I DO like this one….

I couldn’t capture it …but all the flags…straight out, being whipped by the wind…on top of all of these old buildings…it just looked cool …

And I do a GOOGLE search.  Yes, you CAN do GOOGLE searches here…I’ve been able to find answers for things I want to know…but I’m not looking for anything too interesting…

I search  “Tea Ceremony + Scam + Shanghai”  (no quotes and YES KIRK I KNOW…I don’t need the “+” anymore).

In .26 seconds I get 1000’s of results.  Yep…my instincts held true…being a “glass half empty” person served me well…Mom’s training came in handy.

These overly friendly strangers are indeed scammers.  They take you over the river, through the neighborhoods to a tea place (the one girl called it a festival)…where you taste 3 cups of normal tea…then get the bill for 100’s of Yuan.  I guess the deal is the scammers and the tea place split what is paid b/c people are afraid to rock the boat in a foreign country…so they pay, escape, and kick themselves all the way back to their hotel. Some report paying upwards of 50-100 (or more) USD….for 3 cups of tea! 

There ARE reports of people getting the police and finding their way back (the police stand by…really don’t get involved)…but most of the stories just say “learn from me…learn from my lesson”

Here’s what I’ve learned:

***Your gut is good to follow.  If it feels wrong…it probably is. 

***Do an internet search for scams in the city you are visiting.  I have NEVER done this before…but I will from now on.

***When people want a picture with me…they just want a picture…not a conversation…those that want a conversation…want something else…

***Signs on the main tourist walkway that don’t’ seem to make sense….WILL make sense…you just need to mull it over

When what has always been there…Won’t Be

 

Today…was a rough day here in Hong Kong.  Nothing personally happened to me…but I received a bit of news that saddened me beyond belief.

It is no secret that 13 1/2 years ago…I walked into a Weight Watchers meeting in Lynnwood Washington.  I was greeted by Phil Cook, Jean Osborn, Marcia Montgomery … all of whom were supportive…and later became friends and colleagues.

From October of 2000 to August of 2001…I removed around 45 pounds…I traveled (twice to Italy, one time was a cruise – and yes I lost weight).  My father was diagnosed with cancer and died that year.  No, I did not eat my way through it.

In 2002, 2003 and 2004 I trained for and completed Sprint Triathlons (this from the girl whose athletic life peaked in the 1st grade after I won the potato sack race). 

In 2002 I became a staff member as a receptionist, and later, from the urging of Linda Guangorena and Caryn Shively, I became a leader.  I was well trained, molded, lost my fear of public speaking, and if I do say so myself, became pretty damn good at working a meeting. 

I watched, urged, and supported 100’s of people as they worked themselves into a healthier lifestyle.  I witnessed Marisa and her mom collectively lose over 200 lbs.  Virginia could not walk from bench 1 to bench 2 at Green lake…and 75 lbs. later…was walking the whole thing.  Marissa received her lifetime award THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING!  Which SUCKED…b/c most people were too afraid to be there…so she celebrated with a smaller group than she deserved.  She is now a staff member and doing AWESOME!  A real role model. 

Our Saturday meeting walked/ran a 5k to help get people moving…we collected canned goods for “lose for Good”  I got to go into people’s work and watch them change and become healthier people and embrace activity as a lifestyle (Ms. Virginia…you rock) .  And even while some friends did not stay with WW…they continued their work to become healthy and fit (Rhonda is KILLING it)

I never left my work in a worse mood than when I entered.  How many of you can say that about your work?  Not very many I am betting.

I worked with the BEST group of people…all seriously and ridiculously fun, awesome and dedicated. Ms. Claire was especially dear to me…I think to all of us.  My 2nd day of training as a receptionist…I was pushed into the deep end of the pool…she stood next to me…but I was on my own.  I swam…I loved her. 

So…forward to January 2011.  I said goodbye to my friends, members and colleagues and moved to Hong Kong.  Day 2 I got my HKID (took a bus alone…but Corey met me)  Day 4 I went to CHAT (the AWA’s Come Have a Talk).  Day 7?  I was in a Weight Watchers meeting. 

When I found out we were moving…that’s what I looked up.  Where was my meeting?

I blogged about finding the meeting.  Again was met by great staff members…Thanks Tonda and Lisa .  I met two friends who immediately introduced themselves and took me under their wings and invited me to lunch.

Have you figured it out?  Weight Watchers has been a huge part of my life for all of these years.

And Monday I found out that Weight Watchers Hong Kong is closing.  Forever

Well…not just Hong Kong…China too…but I never went there…Hong Kong.  Closed . 

So…this girl (lady, old broad) has a hole in her week.  I have struggled with 8 lbs. for 4 years…I’ve always been at a “healthy” weight…just not the weight I want to be…and I’m not in the “shape” I want to be. I’ve been up…down…but always in the range.  My meetings kept things from getting out of hand…and reinforced the knowledge I had the tools to keep/take control of my world. 

I am not thinking that without a meeting I will regain all my weight.  I won’t let not having a meeting derail the efforts of all of these years.

HOWEVER…and it’s only been 2 days…I have a true sense of mourning and loss .  It will be fine.  I know my friends will be there for me in a more casual way. 

But please... don’t’ take for granted what’s “always been there”…b/c you just never know when what has “always been there” won’t be anymore…

By the way…if you want something to stick around …YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP.  Just sayin’

The Lion Dance Comes to K-11 Art Mall

 

Chinese New Year is a beautiful time.  There are decorations and flowers everywhere…

(these little “orange” trees are ever-present)

One very popular one are these wishing trees…branches with Lai-See packets hung from them.

During the weeks of Chinese New Year Lion Dances are EVERYWHERE!

At first glimpse…one might think they are watching a Dragon at work…but alas, no, these are Lions.  You will see them on corners, in parks, at malls.  Well…actually, you tend to HEAR them before you see them.

My first real encounter with Lion Dancing happened in January 2012.  Most Mondays a group of us would head down to Pacific Place to have salad at the Metropolitan Café.  We would eat, rehash our Weight Watchers meeting…and then sit and chat.  It was a weekly tradition and we had loads of fun sitting and catching up.  After 2 PM, the Café would empty out,and we would have the place pretty much to ourselves.

Then…the drums started from afar…and we didn’t think much of it.  Then the drums continued, and continued…and got closer, and closer, and then…the drums arrived.  We tried to wait out the drumming…but it went on and on.  FOR HOURS.  After an hour of TRYIING to keep conversation going…we left. (Note to self…NO MUSIC during dinner at any weddings I’m involved in planning!)

Fast forward to today.  I entered the K-11 Art Mall (I live above it)…and I heard the drums.  FLASHBACK…I wanted to flee. As I made my way upstairs…I noticed the “offerings” hanging above the doors OF EVERY RETAILER in the Mall!

See the “greens” hanging…every shop had one!  A quick search discovered the following:

“Chinese martial art schools or Chinese guild and associations will visit the houses and shops of the Chinese community to perform the traditional custom of "cai qing" (採青), literally means "plucking the greens", a quest by the 'lion' to pluck the auspicious green normally 'vegetables' like lettuce which in Chinese called 'cái'(菜)that sound like 'cái'(财)(fortune) and auspicious fruit like oranges tied to a "Red Envelope" containing money; either hang highly or just put on a table in front of the premises.”  --From Wikipedia 

The Lion grabs the greens

…then carefully cuts away the greens and  Lai-See (offering packet attached)…shakes it’s head…and TOSSES the greens back into the store!

(see above…going in for the kill…grabbing the packet)

 

Shaking his head (YES…I know it’s blurry)…getting ready…and

TOSSED … back into the store.

The aftermath…

This goes on from store to store to store!

SMILE Yogurt wasn’t quite ready…and had to hurry to get their offering up in time!

A new one for me…(well, it’s all new)…was one of the jewelry stores had MANY packets tacked to the walls…and the lion went from packet to packet and grabbed all of the offerings.  Entering the store:

  It looks a bit like the Lion is licking the wall…but EVERY packet must be collected!

The Lion travels with a big group!

And it must take hours to go from store to store to store…EVERY store participates b/c it is believed the greens and packets will bring good luck and fortune to the store!

Here is the Lion…in all it’s glory.  Shots were tough b/c of the crowds!

I’m in absorption mode…must take pics and admire all that is Hong Kong.