I miss Lisa already

In honor of my last dinner at Lisa's for a while (at least until August!) I thought I would post these little beauties that Bill and I made for her birthday back in February.  They really highlight the special relationships that Lisa shares with her friends....and her wine.  I can't wait to share a glass with you in Eton, Lis! xox

Newbury Street Brunch

It was the Mimosas vs the Sangrias on Newbury Street this afternoon.  (This makes me want to start snapping my fingers and singing "when you're a Sangria, you're a Sangria all the way....") It's been a long time since the ladies got together for brunch.  Somehow Sandy, our organizer,  didn't make it into a photo but she there while Whitney and Denise were with us in sprit.  

After brunch Diane and I spent some quality time in Anthropologie  - me buying new outfits for the UK ( "Windsor Wear") while Diane shopped for knobs.... for her dresser, what did you think I meant?

Another Atwood Saturday Night

Crumpet and Sausage had dinner with Laura tonight.  Very fun!  We were reminiscing about the old days when Crumpet and I were working at a software start up.  She told a story I didn't even recognize that centered around me doing something inappropriate to a life sized cardboard photo of the company president just as he walked into his surprise party.  I swear I don't remember doing this but I'm sure it added to the surprise.

Bill's down under

I can read the blog again!  The Chinese block things like Facebook, Twitter and Jen and Bill's Blog!  Now that I'm in Australia I can catch up on my own life and read what's going on.
So let's get to it.

 Look at how steep the Great Wall of China is. 

The Chinese love their Mao.

 This is C.C.  She was my guide for the day.

 Look at how crowded the Wall is.  This reminded me of the scene in Animal House when the band is led away from the parade and into an alley where they walk right into a brick wall.  This dead end on the Great Wall took a sharp reverse turn but it look like it just ends.

I was embarrassed that I was so tired walking the wall when 80 year women were taking it on.  This part is so steep that she needed to ease down a bit at a time.

I saw these street singers in Beijing.  They reminded me of the Chinese version of the Buena Vista Social Club.

Addicted

Boo hooooooo!!!!!  This morning was the very last day of my steroids.  I started these on Monday after my sciatica gave me a horrific night of hip and leg pain.  I was so against taking them that I had them in my bathroom for weeks as if I was better than that, as if somehow taking them made me weak.  And now, here I am, mourning the last pill and wishing I could score another pack.  Do they sell these on playgrounds? 

 I'd forgotten what it was like to get up from a chair and actually stand straight or to sit and read without having to constantly contort myself into a brief comfortable position.   Of course, the doctor also sent me to PT and they want me to stretch and do stomach crunches but why when the drugs are so much easier!! 

One mini Russian, coming right up!

I had lunch with Jessica today at our favorite strip mall chinese bbq joint.  She said just looking at her pulled chicken sandwich and cole slaw got the baby moving.  Doesn't she look fantastic?  

Just to connect the dots for blog followers, Jessica's husband is known in our house as "The Russian".  He is an ex-pro Russian soccer player and the only man at our Christmas party who was under the illusion that he was the king of his castle.  (Legend has it, that when the men went out to drink around the campfire last December, someone asked the question, "Who is in charge at your house?"  Most of the men had the good sense to say "my wife!"  But not Dima!  He left them standing round the fire in stunned admiration.  His legend lives on.)

4th of July at Home and Abroad

Yet another picture of the Chinese getting my husband all liquored up.  I've had pictures of Bill drinking in my inbox every morning since he started this trip.  He told me that when someone says "cheers" they have to down their little glasses.  It sounds like the Chinese equivalent of "Hi Bob!"   Tomorrow is the Great Wall and then on to Australia.  Probably the only difference in the photos will be the change over from Tsingtao to Fosters.

 Meanwhile, I had one of my bookish nights - meeting up with some friends from the Boston Goodreads group.  I missed the last night out (despite being the one to organize it!) because Bill and I were on our house-hunting trip.  So I was glad to get some of the girls together again before I go.

 This morning is the 4th of July.  Not my favorite holiday although I like the fact that the day is starting out cool and rainy in Newburyport.  I don't like it because

1. it's one of those holidays that everyone asks what you are doing to celebrate so there is pressure to do something and all I want to do is nothing 
2. its almost always hot and sticky and 
3. it celebrates history's biggest blunder - our separation from the Queen!  What were we thinking??

I decided to spend the morning having "Breakfast at Wimbledon" and made a fast pit stop last night to get strawberries in preparation.  I don't have cream but I do have a crumpet!  (I mean an actual crumpet - not my friend formerly known as Noelle)

Advice for a Summer Night

NPPS had apps on Denise's porch tonight until the fire alarms went off.  (Ambrose came out to tell us then ran back to his cozy seat in front of the TV unconcerned about the ear piercing shrieks or potential danger.)  We were cooking corn on the cob still in the husks on the kitchen grill. "That's the way Bill does it," according to Henry and it got a little smokey, I guess.  End result was yummy corn with a not so yummy movie - we are watching The Titanic miniseries written by Julian Fellows.  It's really quite awful but we keep watching now that we are half way through.  In an attempt to pack in as much drama and as many characters as possible every scene is over the top, every nuance of class structure is exaggerated, every look is meaningful. It's actually making me appreciate James Cameron's version a little more.

Bottom line:  

DO cook corn on a grill in the husks.  (but keep a close eye on it)

DON'T rent The Titanic miniseries.

Bill's Shanghai Adventure Continues

Bill sent me this picture titled:  Testicles for Lunch.

It's nice to see Bill being Bill even in Shanghai (pink shirt, cigar, man bag).

More from China and Newburyport

This is lunch on both sides of the world.  Bill sent me this picture of four cab drivers getting drunk on a lunch break.  (I don't know how he knew they were drivers but I hope Bill didn't take any afternoon cab rides.)

 Meanwhile, this was Lisa and I having sangria and quesadillas sitting outside at the Mexican restaurant.  It's a small world - cabbies and chicks indulge on both sides of it.