Savoring the Manhattan Experience One More Time

On July 30, 2015July 30, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, hotels, New York City, Nightlife, Shopping, Travel, Uncategorized, walkingLeave a comment

Back in NYC after a business trip to Orlando (in July…HELLO, event planner, what were you thinking???–so hot and humid I was always moist) I couldn’t help but immediately take to the streets. It’s what I do and makes my FitBit so happy. On the way to work on Sunday morning, yes I work 24/7, I managed to walk by Rockefeller Center, the LOVE sculpture, Central Park and St. Pat’s Cathedral. Only in Manhattan is that all in a morning’s walk.

FishEddy's is my go-to store every time I am in NYC — Fishes Eddy is my go-to store every time I am in NYC

St. Pat's Io's always awe-inspiring and iconic — St. Pat’s Io’s always awe-inspiring and iconic

Waiting for Thom to join me later in the week so we can celebrate out 27th Wedding Anniversary, I wanted to save the fun stuff so we could do it together but I did manage a walk to my favorite store, Fishs Eddy, on Sunday. The lure of kitschy hand towels, Hillary mugs, and fun stuff always has me leaving with a bag of goodies to bring home. Putting in 17,000+ steps = 7+ miles on Sunday left the feet hot and tired for sure but, fueled by my beloved $1 cheese pizza, I just kept on walking, walking, walking….

With Thom finally here, we set off for the TKTS booth in Times Square to get a deal on Broadway tickets. Having scoped out the Tony Awards and the NYTimes reviews, I knew exactly what shows I wanted to see and, sure enough, at 7:00 p.m. last night we scored 50% off 4th row seats to see Taye Diggs in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. AMAZING. GO. He’s only been the lead for 7 shows yet I can’t imagine anyone else pulling off that story with the grit and sassy bravado he showed off in this explosive drama musical. We were just shy of the water spout he shot out into the crowd and three rows away from him grinding on me like he did the lucky gal in the first row who really was into it. That’s cool–little too up close and personal for me anyway.

Despite some microphone miscues, Taye just rolled with it and shook his fist at the so-called ghost who haunts the Belasco Theater and cussed him out. Leaping out into the audience, he picked on the preppy guy in the second row, licking his glasses and then politely handing them back. Sharing spit is caring! This is the type of show I could go to again and enjoy it even more. If you’re in NYC, go to TKTS, get your tickets at 50% off and enjoy it–may want to avoid that third row middle seat, however, unless you wear a raincoat.

Classic theater and explosive drama musical

Adding to my Broadway sippy cup collection makes me so happy!

Today, we celebrate our 27th anniversary. Seems like yesterday that I was in NYC at the Cadillac Bar picking up the cute guy with the long hair, earring and fur-lined leather jacket. We went dancing the night away at the trendy Limelight Bar in an old church and have never stopped the adventure of enjoying our lives together. While I had to work today, Thom braved the rain and got to see his Mets play (and lose-pity!) but enjoyed the experience thoroughly. Tonight we will go to Toshi’s, our favorite bar in the Flatiron District with Hello Brooklyn singing on stage and will thoroughly enjoy the Presidential Suite the lovely Grand Hyatt just upgraded us to.

Using my many Diamond status perks, we had been promised last night to be moved but there were Secret Service here who took priority, watching over somebody far more important than us. Hmmm… wonder who?? Could Thom be wearing the very hotel robe that a foreign President just wore??? Yes, we are not only blessed with ridiculous adventures but, more importantly, we have each other. I don’t have to worry about anything because, no matter what, I know Thom has my back and will be there to support me and love me and, really, what else matters?? Best friends and soulmates for the last 27 years. How lucky I am.

Presidential Suite at the Grand Hyatt is amazing!

The adventure continues... — The adventure continues…

Soaking Up A Month of Music from Seattle to Manhattan

On May 4, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Music, New York City, Nightlife, Seattle, Travel, Uncategorized1 Comment

Oh what a month it has been to enjoy live music from coast to coast and I’ve enjoyed every moment with every artist. From Elvis Costello to Allen Stone to Griffin House to Hello Brooklyn to the Beatles cover band in the subway, we have been lucky enough to partake of their musical stylings.

Allen Stone and his band rocked the Paramount

Allen Stone was first on our feast of music and he served a buffet of soul in spades. If you haven’t heard of him or listened to his music, DO. IT. NOW. He led the best concert I have ever seen with his deep connection to the crowd, who clearly knew his music and sang along, swaying to the tunes. His energetic trumpet and trombone artists danced as well as they played and the rest of his entourage created a powerful support for Allen’s amazing voice. If I had to pick a similar artist to Allen, it would probably be a cross between “good karma” Jason Miraz and an energetic gospel preacher. After sitting through his rapper warm-up act who encouraged everyone to “light up” and they enthusiastically obeyed, sending up a cloud of weed that enveloped us like a smokey blanket in the balcony to the point my eyes were watering. Got to love Seattleites! After the smoke cleared, we enjoyed this hometown boy’s performance and I predict Allen Stone will be a HUGE artist soon.

Then, same classic and gorgeous venue-the Paramount-but a week later and with a very different tone set by the legendary Elvis Costello performing solo with a few guitars, a piano and a playbook filled with forty years of music to share. Thom is a huge fan but I’m not that familiar with his tunes but was impressed with his artistry. He played all the hits that Thom expected and more with three encores to delight the sold out crowd. Along the way, he shared personal stories of his family and how his music evolved. Quite the entertaining evening.

Lost count of the multiple Elvis guitars he used to serenade us — Lost count of the multiple guitars Elvis C. used to serenade us

Moving on to NYC, we landed and immediately after checking in to our hotel, we set off on foot to walk a few miles to the City Winery to see Griffin House, an artist that I’m sure you have never heard of but might enjoy. We like this venue so much that we wanted to go while in NYC and Tuesday was our free night so Griffin House happened to be playing that night and off we went. I had checked out his indie/slightly country music but enjoyed his live performance even more. Slightly shy and awkward at first, he gradually got into it and finished very strong with the crowd calling out their favorite songs for him to play, which he gladly performed. He is one of the many struggling artists out there just looking for their big break and working hard, living in Nashville and hitting the road to tour the small clubs. He’s coming to The Tractor in Seattle and then to Boise so check him out later this summer/fall.

Griffin House sharing his bluesy tones with us at City Winery

Finally, walking home from a gallery opening after a short hike on the Highline, we were in our old neighborhood near the Flatiron and decided to check out who was playing at Toshi’s, our favorite local music bar. Lucky for us, Hello Brooklyn was playing great cover tunes so we sat back with some refreshments and enjoyed their set. Toshi’s dog is the bouncer outside the club and Toshi himself is a charming host. If you are ever in NYC, you must go to Toshi’s and enjoy whatever music offering they have that evening. It’s sure to be a good time. Guaranteed.

Toshio's bouncer is a cutie — Toshio’s bouncer is a cutie

Finally, taking the subway to one of Thom’s old college buddies for dinner, we were serenaded by a Beatles cover band in the subway. I love this trend of officially sanctioned music in airports (Seattle) and subways (NYC) to entertain the commuters. They were quite good and having a rocking time both times we saw them-coming and going. I hope their tips were plentiful and the people appreciated their artistry. I did. Who knows what music we will enjoy next but I’m sure we’ll be spinning the tunes on Thom’s new turntable when we return to Seattle. Let the music and the good times roll…..

Rocking out with a healthy pour and Hello Brooklyn at Toshi's — Rocking out with Hello Brooklyn at Toshi’s

New York, Here We Come!

On April 13, 2015April 13, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Food, New York City, Parks, Shopping, Travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

$1 Pizza… top of the “to do” list…. bagels from a street cart…a must… live music at City Winery…VIP seats at $28 each…. oh what fun we will have-carbs and wine, oh my! Thom and I are off to NYC on a business trip for a few days and we will revel in being back where we belong. When we moved out of our Chelsea apartment after my assignment ended there in 2/2012, we weren’t quite as sad as when we left Shanghai because we knew we would be able to go back. China, probably not. Since that move out of Manhattan, we have been lucky enough to enjoy our favorite urban setting a few times, always taking advantage of the local delicacies. Nothing fancy for us–one dollar will buy you a huge slice of cheesy heaven or a chewy bagel buttered thick and eaten on the street while you’re walking around the city. I’m salivating as I type…YUM! Good thing that we walk miles when we are there or I would be in serious trouble. Have you ever had a true NYC Black and White cookie??? The sugar content just coats your tongue and overwhelms the senses in an amazing sugar coma way. They are THE bomb!

Shopping is a must so after I finish working and while Thom hangs at a Mets game with his buddies from kindergarten (no kidding-they are still besties!), I will be walking downtown to FishsEddy, the most fantastic quirky store that I love so much at 19th and Broadway. What do they have that’s so unique? Well, I have gotten NYC theme salt & pepper, soap dish, towels, etc. that sound cheesy but they do them in a really cool way and the classic Hillary Clinton mug that Hannah loves, the naughty nude lady mug that I just had to give as a Christmas present to my sis’s hubster, and the list goes on and on. Note to self: MUST bring empty bag to carry back all the stuff I just have to buy. We were thrilled to see that West Elm now carries a little boutique of FishsEddy stuff in Seattle (see, I told you they were cool) but I still want to shop at the original in NYC. I think my favorite item is their ceramic hand collection. I have a small one that holds my most precious rings on my very cluttered jewelry display.

Give FishsEddy a Hand! Best store in NYC.

First night in town, we already have tickets to a concert at City WInery to see Griffin House, an indie bluesy singer out of Nashville, I had never heard of him but love the venue so I downloaded some of his songs and he’s really good. So, tickets purchased, I look forward to sipping some wine in a lively intimate environment down in SoHo. On our way down to the concert, we just have to stop by our favorite Barnes & Noble in Union Square and go to a book signing for the authors of the Dr. Who books. Thom is a Dr. Who freak who even got a Tardis tattoo on his arm, so he will geek out seeing these guys. My husband is so weird and wonderful. Just saying…

Yes, I will be adding to my Broadway Booze sippy cup collection

A Broadway play is a given for another night with TKTS providing a great bargain for people like us who wait till the last minute and take whatever is left on a week night. Musical, drama, I don’t care as long as it’s Broadway, baby, it’s good! I remember the last time we were there we took one of my China peers to see Kinky Boots. As he was drooling over the babes kicking up their heels on stage, I leaned over and told him they were all dudes. The look on his face was priceless and he proclaimed that he would never see such a thing in China. He is probably still telling stories in Beijing about his Broadway experience.

The Met is on the list as the Temple of Dendur is my happy place. When Thom and I lived in NYC, we were members of the Met and went there almost every week to gaze upon the Monets and enjoy so many wondrous works of art. Love it!!! Of course, we will see friends and Thom will get to see his beloved Mets play on Sunday before we go home. We will walk through Central Park after the Met and visit Madison Square Park where Izaak spent his days frolicking with the pups when we lived here. Ahhhhh….the smell of urine-soaked gravel does bring back the memories. NYC… Here we come!

But where are the dancing ladies?

On February 15, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, China, Dog, Parks, Seattle, Shanghai, Travel, Uncategorized1 Comment

Walking with my Thor enjoying the mild weather

Where are the dancing ladies/couples and the families with their tents camping out for a day in the park??? Seattleites, take a cue from the Chinese who know how to have fun in their parks and get to socializing. Wake up and smell the coffee (preferably Stumptown) and realize that life is short so stop and enjoy this fine, fine weather, aka Global Warming. Whatever, it’s warm and sunny in February in Seattle.

Enjoying El Nino to the max, Thom and I spent the weekend wandering about and walking around town, usually with the puppies. Yet, I couldn’t help but compare the park culture here and Shanghai as we traversed downtown Seattle. In February in Shanghai, if the sun came out with temps way above average, every park would be filled with families socializing, flying kites, dancing, drawing calligraphy on the sidewalks, and celebrating the good fortune of being able to be outside during the winter instead of being shut inside their typically small homes with no heat. Here, while you do see folks out and about, it’s definitely more of a “get to where I’m going” vibe as people move through the parks with purpose on their way to something vs. just being in the park with friends & family to enjoy being together. While we have the dogs as the main reason to walk around, we are also guilty of moving with purpose as well. On a typical weekend in Shanghai, we would go to Fuxing or Century Park just to soak up the culture, always seeing interesting people enjoying the outdoors. I miss it. Lots. Don’t miss the foul pollution though. Wearing masks are no fun and neither is chronic bronchitis.

So, we enjoyed the sermon today from Rev. Moe-so relevant with social media references to “liking” comments on Facebook and tying in the scripture with a movie quote from one of my fav movies, You’ve Got Mail–encouraging parishioners to ” Go to the mattress” from The Godfather to parallel Jesus telling the disciples not to give up in their religious journey. Funny. After meeting Cowboy, the dog who enjoys church services with his owner, we ran home to get the pups and take them to the dog park near our home. Izaak used to go there all the time but Thor is new to the dog park culture and doesn’t quite get it, though he made a friend and started to learn to chase the tennis ball he couldn’t quite fit in his mouth.

After all that fresh air and sunshine (sorry friends in the Midwest/Northwest enduring snowpocalypse), it was nap time. Izaak threw his long arm over tiny Thor and they spooned together like the Brothers from a Different Mother that they are. Cuteness x2..seriously. It’s just like having kids–you take them to the park and run them ragged to wear them out so they will give you some rest when you get home. Only difference–you can throw them some bones to chew on to get added peace and quiet. Dog park fun:

At the end of the day, Lord I pray for more wonderful weekends like this to enjoy life as good as it gets. Thank you, God!

Gorgeous weekend capped off by a spectacular sunset

Thor’s Incredible Improbable Journey

On December 28, 2014December 28, 2014 By Travels with MelindaIn China, Dog, expat, Seattle, Shanghai, Travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

From his very humble beginnings in China as the runt of the litter, riddled with illness and unwanted by everyone including his mama, by all measures, Thor should not have even lived let alone be now enjoying life in Seattle. Rescued by a kind expat who found him in the Shanghai stable where she rode horses, he was given a second chance at life. However, she almost immediately faced a life crisis of her own when she had to leave China quickly due to personal issues. She reached out via our apartment complex’s Shimao Riviera Facebook group that Thom belonged to and improbably we became foster parents to a Chinese rescue dog in July 2014.

Teeny tiny Thor barely weighed a pound when we got walks between James' legs — Teeny tiny Thor barely weighed a pound when we got him. Here, he explores walking between the legs of the giant, otherwise known as my son James.

Thom quickly started taking Thor to the vet to do whatever it took to nurse the little one pounder back to health. I had been in the U.S. on business and came home to meet the little ball of fur that would steal our hearts despite all the odds against him. Sequestered inside for the first few months as he got his shots, we were finally able to take him outside at about four months old. Teaching him to climb stairs was vastly amusing and the look on his fuzzy face when he met his first cat, who promptly hissed at him, was priceless. Of course when we found out that we were repatriating to the U.S. in October, we knew Thor had to come too. Though we feared what a transatlantic flight experience would be like with a puppy, we prayed heavily and, miraculously, he silently sat underneath the seat and was perfect the whole trip to the point we were poking him to see if he was still alive he was so quiet. Amazing!

Not that Thor is always perfect. Last week, as we transitioned from our temporary apartment to our new digs in Seattle, he went through a “I’ll piss on Thom” rampage every day as his teeny tiny bladder needs what feels like constant attention vs. his older brother, Izaak, who only needs walked a couple times a day. Thor’s more of a “walk me every two hours or I’ll piss on you” type of dog. Thom especially hopes his bladder grows stronger quickly as he ages but, in the meantime, water is regulated and walks are frequent. He is just getting old enough to be fixed so, on Valentine’s Day as is our custom on this romantic day with our dogs, we will take him to the vet to be changed forever. Maybe that will help? Here’s hoping!

Thor’s brother, Izaak, our eight year old Vizsla who stayed with our daughter while we were living in China, has become his new chew toy and constant partner in crime. Izaak has taught Thor to raid our trash cans. They also just love to chew on toilet paper right off the roll-yum, yum. Thor can only dream of getting big enough to eat off the kitchen counters and drink out of the toilets like Izaak can do if left unmonitored. They love chasing each other, lapping the apartment. Our neighbor below us doesn’t find it nearly as fun and pounds on his ceiling (with a broom??) to show his displeasure. Too bad grumpy person–dogs just LOVE to have fun and while Thor at four pounds doesn’t sound like the thundering herd, Izaak topping out at 50+ pounds probably does sounds like a small pony galloping around. So sorry! Thor has also become the consummate sock stealer and only needs a second left alone to take off and hide under the couch to chew on his ill gotten goods. Our pet sitter, Madeline, found out the hard way as she must have left the dynamic duo alone for a few minutes, in which time Thor stole her socks while Izaak collapsed on our bed/pillows for a quick nap-check out this tag team of devious dogs below. P.S. Izaak chose Thom’s pillow to park his ass and I got doggy drool on my pillow. Ahhhh, being a pet owner is fun.

Thor guards his stolen sock booty while Thor naps on our memory foam pillows — Thor guards his stolen sock booty while Izaak naps on our memory foam pillows

My What A Difference A Year Makes

On December 24, 2014 By Travels with MelindaIn Boise, Christmas, expat, Holidays, UncategorizedLeave a comment

My what a difference a year makes! Last year on Christmas Eve, we attended one of the few church services offered in Shanghai after a lovely dinner at Lost Heaven with our son James while our daughter Hannah was pregnant and oh so far away in Boise enjoying a quiet holiday with her husband Mike. Fast forward to 2014 and a baby has been born changing all our lives forever. Welcome Mia to your first Christmas Eve with your Nai Nai!

So happy to be with Hannah and Mia and Mike in Boise this year!

Hannah graciously shared Mia with us this week so we could get to know our girl. We also enjoyed staying in the house we bought in Boise but had rarely used. It’s filled with all our stuff and since we have been waiting for two months for our China accumulated belongs to arrive from literally a slow boat from China, it was really nice and comforting to see the Broadway posters from our NYC life and the Black Keys/One Republic posters from our Seattle life hanging on the walls. While I try to not care about material things, living out of a suitcase for months on end does grow old at times….. at least until the next adventure comes around!

Back to Christmas! This year we are in Boise, it’s snowing hard and we have started new traditions. When the kids were growing up, I normally worked Christmas Eve, being in retail, and the kids would join me at work to hand out candy canes to everyone and then we would eat out and go to church services, coming home to the new pj’s that the elves had laid out carefully on the their beds. Now that I have a different type of job, we were able to enjoy volunteering today at Mike’s job, the Idaho Food Bank. Stuffing frozen green beans into bags so they could be distributed, it was a gentle reminder to once again count our blessings and make sure we find time in our hectic schedule to help others not so fortunate as we are. Indeed, we are blessed.

WP_20141224_011 — James and Thom enjoying new family tradition volunteering at the Idaho Food Bank

After quickly wrapping a few gifts, we headed out to dinner (all the meat you can eat!) and then a neighborhood church where the pastor quoted David Brooks from the NY Times so, of course, we loved her. Home to elf-provided pj’s (tradition lives on in Boise!) and a trip through the snow to our lovely cottage while Hannah and Mike continued the Christmas Eve wrapping of presents tradition that we did for so many years for the kids, I’m enjoying a glass of wine and not feeling too sad that all our gifts are already wrapped. Sorry kids!

No doubt we miss China and the adventures we had there and the wonderful people we met. But new adventures await and, while there will be gifts exchanged tomorrow, the biggest gift of all is being all together as a family after a separation last year and celebrating the birth of babies–one many, many years ago and more recently, the smartest most beautiful girl in the world, our Mia. Merry, merry Christmas to all!

Back in Sleepy Seattle and Off to Chinatown

On November 15, 2014 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Food, Seattle, Shanghai, UncategorizedLeave a comment

It’s taken a few weeks of settling into a new routine in the U.S. and obsessing over a new job for me to find my Seattle voice. When I found out we would be leaving Shanghai, I wondered what the hell I would write about in boring, sleepy Seattle. China was exciting and odd and wonderful all at the same time. Even reading the Shanghai Daily would produce laughs and a story to share. So, off to Chinatown we went today. Surely I would be inspired there!

WP_20141115_006 — James doing his best job to eat all the dim sum including my favorite–egg tarts.

As we wandered the quiet, deserted streets today on our way to Chinatown for lunch with James (yes, trying to recreate the past!), I noticed not one dude peeing in the street. Weird. In fact, there wasn’t hardly a soul to be seen anywhere in the downtown area. Where was the fruit lady and the shoe guy? Amazing when you go from 25 million people in a city to under 1 million you do feel a distinct difference in the pace and most sane people would appreciate it. Not me—I like the busy streets and hum of a vibrant urban environment. Shanghai! Manhattan!

At lunch, I couldn’t wait to taste and compare the egg tarts, one of my favorite delicacies that didn’t make me sick in Shanghai. Definitely not as good as what we had in China, but the Seattle version was still delicious. James dug into shrimp fried puffs, red bean paste sesame buns, barbeque buns and dumplings. I loved that when I spoke Chinese to the staff that they immediately knew what I was saying. Mydan! Check please! When we asked for “take way”, our waitress chided James to eat more so she could fit everything in one small box. Done. You don’t have to beg a 21Year old boy to eat more.

We walked through Chinatown, Seattle style, and ogled the pastries in the bakery. YUM. Hearing a soulful tune, we stopped to listen to the old guy in the park making beautiful music with his Erhu traditional string instrument while checking out the jumbo size lawn chess set available for all to play but no one was–everyone was too busy stuffing their faces with hot and steamy dim sum on this cold, crisp day with skies so blue and air so clean you could actually take deep breaths, which I couldn’t get enough of. It’s good to be home.

Shanghai Farewell Tour-Witnessing the Feast of Sacrifice

On October 7, 2014 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, China, Shanghai, Travel, Trips outside Shanghai, UncategorizedLeave a comment

WARNING: Do NOT read this post if you are a child, have a weak stomach or love sheep. REALLY. I’M NOT JOKING. This interlude may have scarred Patti for life and instead of remembering the cuddly Panda’s we saw at the zoo, she’ll never forget the sheep doomed to die. That being said, it is China and as we say here, you can die fast or you can die slow. The sheep unfortunately had to go the route of the former vs. the latter.

While strolling as a group to the local wet market as part of our cooking class, little did we know we were going to witness a ritual to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice. NOOOOOOO…we thought we would pick up some ingredients for our lovely lunch and then merrily skip back to Helen’s apartment for our class. Along the way we saw the cutest sheep tied to the fence so we stopped to take some photos. It’s not often you see live animals in the streets of Shanghai, so I had to take a photo of the boy feeding the cute sheep a leaf. Little did I know that would be his last meal on Earth.

BEFORE

Coming out of the market, we saw a group of people with their phones out taking pictures. As we got closer, we saw that the cuddly sheep had been sacrificed and were strung up by their hooves and were being butchered right there on the street IN FRONT OF CHILDREN! While Emily, the vegetarian in our cooking class, quickly ran away screaming, I felt I had to document what was the most gruesome sight I have ever seen. If I wasn’t somewhat of a vegetarian before, I am now. Thom quickly informed me as he shot photos, that this must be the hajj faithful offering a sacrifice by slaughtering a sheep with the meat going to the needy.

In the Shanghai Daily, Thom had read an article on the festival that 1.5 billion Muslim around the world celebrate. While I respect the culture, it was shocking to see it played out in public for all to see. But that’s why I came on this adventure-to experience new and different cultures–so it was fitting that I witnessed this while still in China. Still, the sheep were so cute….

Shanghai Farewell Tour-Newfound Love for Martini’s

On October 3, 2014 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, China, expat, Seattle, Travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

With my best buddy Patti along for the martini tour, we have been sampling Shanghaitini’s as often as possible. Believe it or not, Patti had NEVER EVER tasted a martini before in her whole entire life. WHAT??? I am so honored to be able to be the one to initiate this martini virgin into the ways of the tini.

Of course, first stop was Morton’s who has an incredible Happy Hour with a variety of martini’s with unlimited steak sandwiches too for only 45 RMB. What a bargain for strong alcohol and bloody meat that won’t kill you. SCORE! That being said, don’t ever eat off the menu at Morton’s cause it will cost you a fortune. Still smarting from that $350 US dinner bill we had this year after I failed to realize just how expensive steak is in China. Never again, Thom! I don’t care how good that filet mignon was, it’s not made of gold.

But back to the alcohol….While I used to avoid any drinks with ice and any drinks that even touched ice to cool down the alcohol due to the water toxicity in the ice, I have since gotten over it and embraced cold cocktails in China. Bring on the margarita’s and martini’s–I am fearless AND stupid now.

Patti enjoying the second martini of her life at Blue Marlin

With a cinnamon sugar rim and a nice pour, Patti enjoyed her first sip and that was it. A martini fan was born. Though I still drink martini’s too fast vs. sipping wine, I feel a need to mix up my alcohol choices. A woman doesn’t live by wine alone but, I guess you could.

At the Blue Marlin (where we have been eating free for months due to winning a 2500 RMB gift certificate at the Irish Ball), we decided a martini tasting was in order. While the rim was only sugar, the taste was still there–sweet and sour and green all over-yum. Looking forward to tasting more martini’s in Seattle when I return. I’m betting Patti finds a martini bar in Indiana to continue tasting Appletini’s Midwest Style.

The Shanghai Farewell Tour Begins

On September 23, 2014 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Beijing, China, Seattle, Shanghai, Travel, Trips outside Shanghai, Uncategorized1 Comment

This the hardest blog post I have ever written and I’ve been avoiding it for days. Because, if I don’t write about it, it won’t be true. But it’s time to face the truth and move on. Last Friday, I found out that we would be leaving China two years earlier than I thought. It was sudden news and unexpected to say the least. While I am lucky to still be employed, I almost feel like a part of me has died. I have so loved this great adventure in China. The unusual, always fascinating world swirling around me daily, as I walk to work and travel with Thom will be ending next month and I am sad.

Big Plus to Repatriate-spending time with Hannah!

Why didn’t we travel more? Why didn’t I work less? I thought the first year here would be the time to dive deeply into the new job and learn and create and work harder than ever. Then, I could enjoy more of this exotic region the next two years with plans to visit Cambodia, Australia, Thailand, Taiwan, and other parts of China over the many Chinese holidays we are given. Alas, we have really only seen Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai plus Hong Kong. We so enjoyed our visits to Vietnam that I know that other parts of Asia would be equally cool. DAMN. If only….

So, while I am thankful for what I have and the experiences we enjoyed, it is a life lesson to share with all that should be remembered. Enjoy the moment. Live in the day and don’t wait for anything. Yes, you still have to plan for the future but you just never know. So, the next few weeks while we have our friends, Patti and Larry, staying with us from the U.S., we will conduct the Shanghai Farewell Tour and visit new places as well as say good bye to our favorite haunts around China.

This week, I had already scheduled a work trip to Beijing so despite the news, we are still going and I will get to say good bye to the wonderful folks I hired and trained here. I’ll get to take my childhood friend to the Great Wall (my fourth trip) and we will scream all the way down the toboggan there-one of my favorite things to do in China. We will find a panda somewhere to gaze at and maybe even hold for enough RMB—hoping the Shanghai zoo has a few since Patti really, really wants to see one and we’ll enjoy eating out on our gift certificates to various restaurants that we have acquired and, of course, the VIP massage card. Patti is very willing to help us use up the RMB still left on the massage account. Foot massages galore!

So, I will hold back the tears and appreciate everything I have been given. I will look forward to seeing my awesome family more often and spoiling my granddaughter, the beautiful and smart Mia, who is the inspiration for our new online business, Mama and Mia, that we will launch soon with my Hannah creating fashionable headbands that ALL the cool babies will want to wear and personalizing baby quilts from Vietnam and blankets from Uganda—benefitting the women around the world who make them.

Most of all, I will be grateful that I have had a chance to live in a different culture and understand that the world is a big wonderful place that Thom and I will continue to explore from our Seattle base. While one adventure is ending, many more are just beginning! Watch out world-here we come!

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