Best Birthday EVER!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxsJgUEn6NY

Day 11 in Shanghai

Ok, so fast forward...but this place has been so great I haven't had a chance to write! I've eaten every kind of food (Chinese, Japanese, American, Thai, German...), sang Karaoke, walked by the river, visited Temples, gone shopping, and met great people that it's been hard to slow down. Shanghai has really been a wonderful place with kind people. The only thing I would watch out for is the traffic! Boy, if you are not looking you will get plowed! Enjoy the pic!

Day 3 in Shanghai

All is good. The only thing crazy so far is the food. Besides the "Chicken" soup, now I've had a petrified egg. It was clear with a green yolk. Wow! Thankfully the food that followed was much tastier.

Also, I've managed to move my wake-up time from 4am to 6am. Still early, but it looks like I'm adjusting.

More later...

Day 1 in Shanghai

I made it! After the longest plane ride ( which was lucky enough to be full) and followed by the scariest car ride ever from the airport, I'm here. Plane ride was not that bad. Darn movies didn't work, but thankfully I'm reading the longest book ever! I also watched the "moving map." You know, were you get to follow you plane's travel to your destination! I think we literally went over the North Pole to get here. It was cool.

Once we arrived here, we showered and went out to our first Chinese eating experience. ("We" being my co-worker Lori and I.). Since no one at the restaurant spoke English, or gave indication that they did, we just pointed at pictures. Everything was fine except the soup. Apparently when you order "Chicken Soup" you better be prepared for A CHICKEN in A SOUP. Too funny!

Finally, we wound down the day with cocktails at the hotel. Our hotel has to be one of the nicest I have ever stayed in...and this comes from a former hotelier! The only thing left for me is sleep. As I write this it is 4am. I'm still trying to adjust! I'm going to give it a go again, wish me sweet dreams!

2008 coming to a close.

This has been a rough year...economy wise. I know I've had my share of stuggles, and my brother has been hit hard as well. But I look back and think of all the great things that came out of 2008. My other brother was married, I had a good friend married, and three different couples have announced that they are getting ready to have babies in 2009. At the end of the day, life goes on. I believe that we "humanity" still have an optimistic disposition and will help each other out. Maybe that's naive, but without hope, I simply don't seem why any of us would bother. So, as I approach 2009, I have my own optimistic outlook. I will have ups and downs I'm sure (probably when I hit the ole 3-0). But I have set goals for the new year. I am planning to go on a European vacation, I am going to keep looking for love :) , I'm going to take better care of my body and try to be healthy, but most of all, I will enjoy life. I was already dreading New Years Eve this year. I hate when the clock hits Midnight and there is noone there for me to kiss. But I reminded myself of what it brings....a New Year. A new beginning, a chance to start over, and a feeling that you can change your life if you want to. So wish me luck in 2009 and Happy New Year!

Busy

I'm trying to stay busy. Busy, busy, busy. I'm going to Political club meetings, bowling, e-dating, sporting events, etc. I figure if I don't slow down then I can avoid thinking about my life and all the things I haven't done (because I'm about to turn 30). Maybe if I keep running fast I'll make something happen, run into someone, fall in to something. Busy, busy, busy....I just hope I don't get too exhausted!

Waiting for Gas

The stock market hit an all time low last week, and 2 weeks ago I had to sit in line to wait for gas. It made me think, "Is this as bad as it's going to get, or is it just the beginning of hard times in America?" More and more these days, people are starting to talk about how we are approaching economic hardships that haven't been seen since the Great Depression. I see my parents retirement fall away, my brother struggle to keep his home for his wife and 3 kids, and I join the paycheck to paycheck status that many Americans now are facing in this country. But I still remain optimistic. Because even though times may be tough, I feel blessed. I have my health. I have my family. And I still live in a democracy where I can speak, vote, and choose my leaders who can lead the change to a better future. This is an election year...maybe one of the biggest ones in my life. I hope our new President can handle the challenges he will be faced with when he takes over the Oval office and is prepared to deal with the economic, social, and military decisions that face this country. It must be many sleepless nights and I respect anyone, ANYONE, who volunteers for this public service. God bless our president, current and future. God bless my family, and God bless America.